第一部分 (Lesson 1 – lesson 5)
Lesson1, Gifts of the Magi
麦琪的礼物
重点段落如下（p4）
“Della stopped crying. she stood by the window and looked out .Tomorrow would be Christmas day and she had only are dollar eighty-seven cents with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months and this is all she had got. She had spent many happy hours planning something nice for him something fire and beautiful which was really worthy of Jim”
主人公Della和Jim是因为彼此深爱对方却不能为对方送礼物而伤心哭泣。对于心理的描写细腻入微，传神逼真。
将Della满怀深情的无奈和热烈甜蜜的憧憬通过具体的描绘呈现在读者面前。字里行间似乎是仅仅是因为没有适合心意的礼物而透出淡淡的忧伤，但深层含义还包含着真爱，抗争，风险和社会的不公，以及，贯穿始终的圣诞的礼物，爱人间的礼物，生命的馈赠和礼物。
文章另外一个重点段落，也就是文章的结尾段。
“The Magi brought presents to Jesus Christ on the first Christmas of all Christmas .They first had the idea of giving Christmas presents. They were wise. Here I have told you this story of two foolish children in a poor set of rooms who gave up for each other his or her greatest treasure. They chose their presents unwisely; but those gifts which are the sign of real love are the best gifts of all.
这一个结尾段点明了文章所要表达的主旨
real love is the best gifts of all .Meanwhile, please focus on some key words would help you better comprehensive. For instance: Wise, two foolish children, poor rooms greatest, give up. Unwise real love, If you can print out all these words which form an outline of the whole story .do you can use them to retell the story and answer the questions many related.
《麦琪的礼物》作为经典名篇，最可能考察的有以下几点：1 主旨 2人物性格 3 写作风格。其中“写作风格”一向比较复杂，可以额外归纳为注重情节和心理刻画，以细节取胜，结局出人意料。
Focus on details and psychological description, Plots winner and unexpected ending. Good order and delicate word choosing.
Tell you what’s the meaning of real love Touch your heart with beautiful story.
本文的另外一个重点是作者，O Henry: 欧.亨利。
O Henry is the penname of William Sidney Porter. He began to write in name of O. Henry at the time he was in prison. He is famous for short novel. He is a productive whiter and a celebrated author.
本文可能会出现的问题。Possible questions and suggestion answers.
1) Do you think it is unwise of Mr. Mrs. young to give up for each other his of her greatest treasure what comments do you make about their choice?
（你认为他们彼此放弃最宝贵的东西是不明智的么？对于他们的选择你有什么评论么？）
(本文可以对照lesson30 true love 来学习。)
2） what is the theme (主题)of the story? How do you feel about the end of the story?
3） Where do you think the climax of the story lies?
(参考回答2.The theme of the story is “real love is the greatest treasure in the world.” Love is a complex word including the conflict between reflex and reflection The end of the story is the best part of the story. It has conquered the reader’s heart and offer them an unexpected strange for imagination.
3 The climax of the story lies on the when Jim and Della surprised saw each other with cut their own best treasures at the moment they want to gave out their planned presents.
Lesson 2 No Marriage No apologies
文章讲述的是现代人在不同年龄段和生活背景下对于婚姻的看法和观点。以及作者对此所展开的思想和讨论。文章的体裁类似于社会调查报告，通过案例分析，数据对比，正反面论证，背景资料剖析等方法。理智分析了婚姻这一社会性问题。

一、 文章的主题表现在结尾段的评述中
The theme of passage is : “We can’t go back to a society where people don’t have sex or live together at all before marriage, Nor do they want to one whole people are matched up at 20 for life”.
So, we should treat marriage with a wisely eye and calm attitude. Follow with the social trace and find our own way.
二 如何学习类似文章：
此类刊登在报刊上的文章往往通过摆事实讲道理，例证，数据，等具体信息来阐述对于某一社会问题的见解。借以引起人群的广泛探讨。 我们建议通过略读和寻读相结合的方法。即：注重文章的关键部分，每一部分的首句和结尾句。寻读信息的出现点，数据，例证，结论等。这样一来。看似杂乱无章的布局也会轮廓清晰起来，细节理顺了，主题理解自然也会水道渠成。
三 文章中的重点论证：
The very dramatic thing is the difference in attitudes in nontraditionally family behavior. Professor Bumpass, citing data from survey that showed only small segment of people disapproved of the premarital sex and cohabitation . It is clear to me that the trends we have been observing are likely to continue, with a declining emphasis on marriage.
People see little difference between marriage and cohabitation.
需要注意的10个词语：
1 disapprove of 2 skittish 3 cautious 4 spirit 5 mores 6 institution 7 consultant 8 cohabitation 9 fidelity 10 match up
(Compare with Lesson 11)
Possible questions:
1 For what reason are more people choosing cohabitation rather than marriage?
(For many people, cohabitation provides a chance for a shared life without a shared bank account; no less strength of commutation, more freedom and less duties.)
2 Do you think that there is a cause – and – effect relation between cohabitation and divorce?
( Cohabitation can not translate into a good marriage but can effect the divorce because of it’s limitations.)
Lesson 11
It is about upbringing a child and the education problem. Upbringing and education are interdependent. Where one stage of child development has been left out, or not sufficiently
Experienced, it will influence his or her later development.
从更加一般的意义上讲，培养孩子的问题是一个家庭内部关系的问题，其中首要的前提是孩子与父母有稳定的感情，他们在对待孩子的问题上必须态度一致，既考虑孩子的心理健康也要适时开启他们的智力道德和社会责任感。
Lesson 3 The Decameron
I)The author : Giovanni Boccaccio ,influenced by Pettrach (彼特。拉克) the pioneer of Europe Humanity Movement . His work including legendary, epic, poem, essay and so on. His most important work is “The Decammeron”

《十日谈》记述了1348 年， 意大利佛罗伦萨流行黑死病。十名青年（三男七女）结伴避于一乡间别墅。为了消磨时光，他们每人每天讲一个故事。〈〈十日谈〉〉记述了他们所讲的100个故事，其中许多故事取材于中世纪传说，东方故事和历史事件。〈〈十日谈〉〉是欧洲文学史上第一部现实主义巨著，是意大利古典散文完美的典范，对欧洲文艺复兴的文学影响极为深远
“ it is the first great work of realism in literature history in Europe ,as well as the perfect model of Italian classical essay. It has profound influence on Europe renaissance literature for then and forever.
(II) The main idea of the story :
It is about a very beautiful and accomplished young girl Lisabetta ,who was born in a rich family with three young brothers. She fallen in love with Lorenzo who worked for her brothers and saw to all of their work. Her brother discovered their love affairs and they proposed to kill Lorenzo in order to apart the two lovers. At last, the Lisabetta died of crying and sadness. After a time the whole affair became known to many people. And hand down form generation to generation.
学习《十日谈》重点在于作家和作品背景，抓住文章主旨和深层含义。以及他所要反映的现实主义思想。呼唤思想解放和人性自由的愿望。人文主义思想也是学习的另一重点。

Lesson 4 and Lesson 5 The Canterbury Tales (i) (ii)
The Canterbury Tales vividly pictured the life of 14century and the people of every work of the society. It reflects the humanism spirit of rebelling to the feudalism and church. It contains 24 stories.
《坎特伯雷故事集》是英国现实主义文学创始人乔叟的代表作。他生动描述了十四世纪英国各界层的生活，体现了反封建反教会的人文主义思想。 乔叟被称为英国诗歌之父。在文学史上享有很高声誉。
Possible questions:
1) What was beauty according to the old ugly woman? What do you think is real beauty?
2) How did the Queen to find a way to save the life of knight?
3) Did the knight promise to what he promised?
4) Is there anything suggestion to men in the wife of Bath’s tale?
5) Do you agree that the love money is the cause of guilty?
6) How do you understand the word of “death” in the title?
Key sentences:
1) The love of money is the cause of all evil, It is the cause of all wrong-doing and of all the bad things which can happen to man.
2) To pardon means to forgive .God will then pardon them for any evil which they have done.
3) The three young men were very pleased to see all this money. They did not remember that they were trying to find Death.

第二部分 寓言，童话， 幽默小品文：
Lesson 6 The lady or the tiger
Lesson 8 The Fishman and his wife
Lesson 9 The Animals of Aesop
Lesson 10 The Celebrated Jumping Frog of the Calareras County
Lesson 9 The Animals of Aesop
The animals in Aesop always be given a moral or a lesson which we can learn from. Fables are never about true events, but they can tell us things about ourselves. Aesop wrote many fables about animals that talked and acted like human. And when we can find ourselves in them, we enjoy the stories even more.
In Aesop’s fables monkey, fox, crow, eagle, wolf are all on behalf of man’s personality and they do things like men do. They all represent different life attitude and different moral behaviors, whatever wise and stupid, kind and cruel. Aesop give life to animals and made them alive for hundreds and hundreds years.
伊索，约公元前六世纪古希腊寓言家。相传他原为奴隶。善讲寓言故事，讽刺权贵，褒贬时政，抗议不公正的生活阶层的不幸。每一个故事都有道德方面的教训和深刻的寓意。
（II） Key sentences:
I It is not good to listen to too much flattery words.
2 When a person says: “I didn’t want that anyway, ” it is often a case of “sour grapes”
Lesson 10 The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calareras Country
《卡拉维拉斯县有名的跳蛙》这原来是在酒店里流传的笑话，马克.吐温听过多次，在1865年纽约一家报纸上发表，以下就成了美国文学边疆幽默故事的代表作，马克.吐温从此名声大噪。这个看似荒诞怪异的故事，初看上去冗长，恼人，无用，甚至让人感到乏味无聊。但是他真正的魅力就在于次。于轻松幽默之间。平淡无奇之中令人捧腹开怀，而后思揣良久。故事语言生动亲切，人物造型丰满，结构紧凑完整。
The key Characteristics:
Leonidasw. Smiley ; Jim Smiley; and Simon Wheeler
Possible questions:
1) Why couldn’t Daniel jump? How much did Smiley lose because he couldn’t jump?
2) What other kinds of animals did Smiley own besides his frog and horse?
第三部分 小说和题材小说
Novels and fiction

Lesson 12 A Day’s Wait
Lesson 13 Art for Heart’s Sake
Lesson 14 How to Live Like a Millionaire
Lesson 15 Rip Van Winkle (I)
Lesson 16 Rip Van Winkle (II)

Lesson 12 A Day’s Wait
Written by Ernest Hemingway （欧内斯特.海明威）
海明威的著作有长篇小说《太阳照样升起》The Sun also Rises ,1926 《永别了，武器》（A Farewell to Arms,1929）《丧钟为谁而鸣》（For Whom the Bells tolls, 1940）
and 《老人与海》 （The Old Man and the Sea, 1952）
In 1954 he won the Nobel Prize of literature. Hemingway often thought of courage as a person’s ability to be calm and controlled in the face of death.
He is noted for writing short story, simple sentences but powerful. You can look at the text closet and decide whether this is true of the language.
The story is built around the misunderstanding between the father and his little son. They are each thinking of different things in the conversation. We can see the character of the father form the hunting scene and his influence upon his son.
Lesson 14
How do you accumulate wealth?
Do you agree with that millionaires who measure success by how much net worth one has accumulated? The story tells us information is crucial not only to the investors but also to the other fields of life and work.
Whatever we did, it occurred to us that we are making wealth accumulation to your good every day. So art for heart’s sake. Because in today you are walking into tomorrow and don’t pay all you attention ton what you want to accumulate the wealth.
Lesson 15 　　Lesson 16
（I）（Rip Van Winkle）瑞普.凡.温克尔的作者 Washington Irving 华盛顿，欧文。 出生于美国独立战争结束的1783年。在这样一个特殊的历史背景下， 已有的社会习惯和社会生活方式发生了很大的改变，人们生活的各个方面也有了重大变革。一切都需要变化同时也需要适应。从人们的思想、习惯、价值观和工作态度，不再需要彷惶和茫然，需要的是积极的顺应变化并且找到自己的新的位置。
像在 Dutch Village （荷兰殖民者留下的小村，直到1776年 美国独立前一直是英属殖民地。）
Rip is a lazy man , idleness and henpecked husband. After a 20 years sleeping. Everything has changed, the village where he lived, the friends who feel pity upon him, the inn where he could got fun and the tree where he could got relax. Everything had changed and vanished forever. He was himself alone and he couldn’t adopt to the new society and the same time he refused to acknowledged the time of the new world .
（II） Washington Irving 华盛顿.欧文 是第一位引起世界文坛注意美国作家，被誉为美国文学之父。他最著名的散文民间故事集《见闻札记》其中的现代短篇小说《睡谷的传说》(The legend of the Sleepy Hollow) and ( Rip Van Winkle)
He is skilled in situational description and plot foil. His gentle style and beautiful language made him distinguished from the writers at his age.

Key parts:
1every change of season, every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day, produces some change in the colors and shapes of these mountains.”
2 In place of these, a thin, disagreeable –looking fellow was talking loudly about the rights of citizens ---- elections---- Members of Congress---- Liberty and other words, which mean nothing to the puzzled Van Winkle.”
3No one know whether this expressed acceptance of his fate or joy at his deliverance.
4 Whatever Dane Van Winkle’s name was mentioned however, he shook his head and cast his eyes toward heaven.
Lesson17
It is about the computer crime.
Miriam everyday listen and absorb the knowledge of computer. She would set up some fictitious accounts in other banks in order to withdraw the money, and then return the program to it’s original condition, but, finally, she was arrested for fraud and bank robbery.
Lesson18 The wrong House
The writing technique of the story is very important. For example: in the second paragraph “silence perfect silence”. The repetition and alliteration can stress the tone and make the effort more effectively attractive.
重复和头韵的写作手法在文中的使用，令句子节奏更加紧凑，节奏感强，从修辞角度来说更有说明力和音乐感。因此，通篇文章读起来生动、有趣，兼有写实性和文学性的效果。
Lesson 19 Lady in the Dark
It wasn’t difficult to find out all you wanted to know so long as you took your time and were sensible. A lady, who was blind use her wisdom and courage help the policeman arrested the robber.
文章题目非常吸引人，既是指“在黑暗中”也是指“眼前一片黑暗”，是对环境和人物的双重塑造。
The possible questions:
1) Why did the old lady keep on playing with her long knitting needle?
2) What can you conclude from the story?
3) What does money mean to you .
Key: 1) The old lady want to mark the robbers characteristics and personality as the clue.
3) Treasure doesn’t mean all for a person, without a quiet heart, the desire of money can only push you into crime.
第四部分 人物 传记 文学类
多样广泛的选材范围（报章、杂志、历史传记、文学作品）要求有广博的阅读面。而不同类型的题材又具有不同的阅读要求。阅读报章、杂志旨在较短的时间内捕获最大的信息量，而政论性、传记体和文学作品则要求不仅是简单地明白浅层意义，更重要的是理会文章的深层意义，即言外之义，也就是人们常说的字里行间的意思。
领略谋篇布局，善于发现作者的语言技巧及修辞手段。理解、分析、推理和欣赏。
Lesson20 Three Day s to see 《假如给我三天光明》
一、 作者介绍 The introduction of the writer
Helen Keller (1880---1968) 美国聋哑女作家、教育家。两岁时因疾病失去了听力。