参考译文

我们不再像以往那样轻易相信别人了。在19世纪，小说家常在小说结尾处给读者准备一系列巧合——大部分是牵强附会，极不可能的。当时的读者却愉快地接受这样一些事实：一个低贱的女佣实际上是主人公的母亲；主人公一位长期失散的兄弟，大家都以为死了，实际上一直活着，并且正在策划暗算主人公；如此等等。现代读者会觉得这种天真的结局完全无法接受。不过，在现实生活中，有时确实会出现一些巧合。这些巧合除了19世纪小说家外谁也不会相信。

当我是个孩子的时候，我祖父给我讲了一位德国出租汽车司机弗朗兹·巴斯曼如何找到了据信已在20年前死去的兄弟的事。一次，他与妻子徒步旅行。途中，停下来与一个工人交谈，接着他们继续往前走去。巴斯曼夫人说那工人与她丈夫相貌很像，甚至猜测他可能就是她丈夫的兄弟。弗朗兹对此不屑一顾，指出他兄弟已经在战争中阵亡了。尽管巴斯曼夫人熟知这个情况，但她仍然认为自己的想法仍有百万分之一的可能性。几天后，她派了一个男孩去问那人是否叫汉斯·巴斯曼。不出巴斯曼夫人所料，那人的名字真是汉斯·巴斯曼，他确实是弗朗兹失散了多年的兄弟。兄弟俩团聚之时，汉斯说明了他活下来的经过。战争即将结束时，他负伤被送进医院，并与部队失去联系。医院遭到轰炸，汉斯步行回到了西德。与此同时，他所在的部队被击溃，他的所有档案材料全部毁于战火。汉斯重返故里，但他的家已被炸毁，左邻右舍谁也不知原住户的下落。汉斯以为全家人都在空袭中遇难，于是便在距此50英里外的一座村子里定居下来，直至当日。

Comprehension理解

Give short answers to these questions in your own words as far as possible. Use one complete sentence for each answer.

1How did many nineteenth century novels end?

2Why was Mrs. Bussman struck by the workman's appearance?

3How did Mrs. Bussman find out the identity of the workman?

Vocabulary词汇

Explain the meanings of the following words and phrases as they are used in the passage: credulous (1. 1); a conclusion (1. 2); improbable (1. 4); presumed (1. 6); plotting(1. 7); totally (1. 8); bring about(1. 9).

Summary writing摘要写作

In not more than 80 words write an account of what happened to Hans Bussman from the time he was wounded to the time he was reunited with his brother. Use your own words as far as possible. Do not include anything that is not in the last paragraph.

Composition作文

In not more than 250 words write an imaginary account of Franz Bussman's life story up to the time he was reunited with his brother. Use the ideas given below. Do not write more than four paragraphs.

Title: The past.

Introduction: Tried to get information about Hans ---- none available ---- gave up search.

Development: Found it hard to settle down ---- moved from place to place and from job to job ---- how he met Mrs.

Bussman ---- marriage ---- settled down at last ---- became a cook ---- disliked the work ---- went into partnership with a friend ---- became a taxi driver ---- once visited home town ---- block of flats where his house used to be ---- no one remembered him.

Conclusion: Future plans now that Hans has been found.

Letter writing书信写作

Write a letter of about 100 words in three paragraphs to your employer informing him that you will be absent from work for a few days because you are ill. Point out anything important that should be attended to in your absence and say when you hope to be back.

Key structures

and

Special difficulties关键句型和难点

Exercises练习

1We are less credulous than we used to be. In the nineteenth century, a novelist would bring his story… (11. 1-2). Supply used to and would in the following:

When I was young I ______ have a lot more free time than I do now. I ______ live near my work and … always get home early. Sometimes I ______ do a bit of gardening or go for a long walk. (IKS 55b) (参见第2册第55课关键句型b)

2Readers happily accepted the fact. (1. 4) Write two sentences illustrating the difference between accept and agree. (ISD 65b) (参见第2册第65课难点b)

3the hero's mother (1. 5). Supply apostrophes in the following: Georges umbrella; that womans handbag; Keats poetry; the childrens clothes; the soldiers uniforms; in six hours time; a hundred pounds' worth. (ISD 13) (参见第2册第13课难点)

4After having been wounded… (1. 18). Write two sentences beginning with After having been… (IKS 69) (参见第2册第69课关键句型)

Multiple choice questions多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension理解

1What would a modern reader find totally unacceptable in a novel today?

a．Having for a hero a man once presumed dead.

b．The happiness a hero might feel on being reunited with his mother.

c．Any character being so wicked as to plot against the hero.

d．Two brothers, each presuming the other long since dead, meeting again by chance.

2When Mrs. Bussman suggested that the workman might be Franz's brother ______ .

a．she was told for the first time that Hans had been killed

b．Franz objected to the idea of being associated with a workman .

c．Franz was so sure his brother was dead he did not take her seriously

d．they were both too shy to ask the workman if this was so themselves

3What did Hans Bussman do immediately after the war was over?

a．He went to hospital to have his wounds attended to.

b．He deserted his unit and walked back to his home town.

c．He inquired after his family's whereabouts but found no trace of them.

d．He settled in a village near his home, hoping his family would find him.

Structure结构

4---- his readers with a series of coincidences ______ wildly improbable. (11. 2-4)

a．mostly being

b．most of which were

c．most of them were

d．which would be most

5A long-lost brother had not in fact died and ______ to bring about the hero's downfall. (11. 5-7)

a．wickedly plotting

b．wickedly plotted

c．been wickedly plotting

d．had been wickedly plotting

6He stopped ______ . (11. 11-12)

a．in order to talk to a workman

b．a workman for a talk

c．talking to a workman

d．so that he talked to a workman

7She sent a boy to ask the workman ______ . (1. 16)

a．what was he called

b．what he was called

c．how he was called

d．if he was called

8Meanwhile his unit was lost and ______ had been destroyed. (11. 20-21)

a．each of his records

b．all records of him

c．all records of his

d．every record of his

Vocabulary词汇

9He found a brother who was thought to have been killed twenty years ______ . (11. 10-11)

a．ago

b．back

c．before hand

d．previously

10Mrs. Bussman told her husband that he and the workman ______ … (11. 12-13)

a．had a close look

b．had the same look

c．looked very alike

d．looked the same way

11---- there was the ______ chance she might be right. (1. 15)

a．remotest

b．scarcest

c．greatest

d．lightest

12---- how it had ______ that he was still alive. (1. 18)

a．become

b．arrived

c．resulted

d．come about