拇指英语说， 分享英语学习心得，技巧和方法。让英语学习变得更有趣，更简单。
在英语学习中，阅读是学生获得英语知识，提高英语能力与素养的重要途径。通过阅读，学生们可以增强语感、积淀文化知识，提高学生跨文化交际能力，从而整体提高他们的英语综合能力。
为增加阅读素材的多元化，拇指英语说特推出“报刊时文阅读素材积累系列”。众所周知，报刊阅读的材料内容丰富，真实感和时效性强，语言地道，话题轻松活泼，贴近学生生活。因此，报刊阅读是对校内英语教材的有益补充，有利于培养学生的阅读兴趣，提高阅读技能。本系列适合小学高年级至初中年级学生。按阅读难度，分为一星（小学高年级），二星（初中低年级）和三星（初中高年级）。
[来源】Teens
[难度系数】 ***
【Sharing seconds】分享时刻
最高贵的复仇方式是宽容。宽容就像清凉的甘露，浇灌了干涸的心灵；宽容就像温暖的壁炉，温暖了冰冷麻木的心；宽容就像不熄的火把，点燃了冰山下将要熄灭的火种；宽容就像一只魔笛，把沉睡在黑暗中的人叫醒。 ——雨果
Reading
When I was a teenager, I did a six-week summer learning program at a college. It helped kids get a taste of what college is like. We had classes in the morning and the evenings were filled with fun activities. We did have a break in the afternoons, however. One afternoon, my friend Claude and I found an old basketball. We went to an outdoor basketball court for a game of one-on-one.
At the time, Claude was taller than me. He was also better at basketball. I fell behind fast. I was determined, though, so I drove hard to the basket – and missed it! The ball bounced off the rim (从篮筐弹回) and I jumped up to catch it. Just as I was about to catch it, I saw an elbow above my face.
As Claude grabbed the ball, his elbow came down hard, right into my eye. I saw stars everywhere. The pain was terrible. Claude kept saying “sorry” over and over. I laughed through the pain.
I spent the next few days walking around with a black eye, but it was worth it. For years afterward, I got a laugh whenever I told the story and joked about Claude’s elbows of death.
In this life, we all get an elbow to the eye sometimes. Our plans fail. Things work against us. Our ups become downs. When this happens, it’s best to face it with laughter and forgiveness (原谅). In this way, you can turn your pain to joy and you can learn and grow.
【Treasure box】
Word Work
- determined adj. 坚决的
- pain n. 疼痛
- worth adj. 值得的
- joke v. 开玩笑
- fail v. 失败
Just as I was about to catch it, I saw an elbow above my face.
- 释义：就在要接住它的时候，我看见一只胳膊肘冲着我的脸过来了。
点拨：be about to 意为“将要”，表示马上、即刻要做某事；be going to 表示计划、打算做某事。
例句： Every time I am about to get angry, he makes faces at me.
每次我要生气时，他就冲我做鬼脸。
For years afterward, I got a laugh whenever I told the story and joked about Claude’s elbows of death.
- 释义：多年来，每当我讲起这个故事，并拿Claude 的死亡之肘开玩笑时，总会引来一阵笑声。
点拨：句中 whenever 作连词，意思是“无论何时”，引导让步状语从句，相当于 no matter when。常见的“疑问词+ever”构成的连词还有：whatever = no matter what (无论什么); wherever = no matter where (无论何地); however = no matter how (无论如何)。
例句： He is famous for giving a hard stare whenever he meets someone he doesn’t like.
每当他遇到不喜欢的什么人时，他是出了名的喜欢瞪别人眼睛。
【Comprehension test】
1. Which is TRUE about the program’s schedule?
A. There were no classes in the morning.
B. There was no break in the afternoon.
C. There were many fun activities in the evening.
D. There was a basketball class every afternoon.
2. What happened to the author while he was playing basketball?
A. He couldn’t run as fast as Claude.
B. He hit Claude’s elbow as hard as he could.
C. He couldn’t touch the rim of the basket.
D. He was hit hard by Claude’s elbow.
3. What did the author think of the accident?
A. Claude was too competitive.
B. Claude hit his eye on purpose.
C. He was hurt but he forgave Claude.
D. He would never play with Claude again.
4. What does the author want to tell us in this story?
A. Life is always full of ups and downs.
B. Remember your pain and grow with it.
C. Stay away from dangerous activities.
D. Face life with laughter and forgiveness.
Vocabulary in use
Fill in the blanks:
5. I ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ (体验了一把) office work during the summer and that was enough.
6. All the streets ___________ ___________ ___________ (塞满了) people yesterday. Our car couldn’t move at all.
7. He was ill for six weeks and ___________ ___________ (落下) with his schoolwork.
8. Playing games ____________________ (一对一) can be a little bit tricky and sometimes no fun for the student.
9. As I __________ __________ __________ (即将) leave, he arrived.
Keys:
1-4 CDCD
5. got a taste of
6. were filled with
7. fell behind
8. one-on-one
9. was about to
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