大学英语第一册

大学英语精读第一册第三课The Present

导语：生日那天我们都会收到亲朋好友送的生日礼物，下面我分享一篇有关礼物的英语课文，欢迎大家前来学习!

UNIT three: The Present

They say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us than others. Everyone was so kind to the old lady on her birthday. Surely her daughter would make an even bigger effort to please he?

The Present

It was the old lady's birthday.

She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.

Today she was sure the would be something. Myra wouldn't forget her mother's birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work the aged.

The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved. Enid had never married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school round the corner.

One evening, however, Enid said, "I've arranged for Mrs. Morrison to look after you for a few days, Mother. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital--just a minor operation, I'll soon be home."

In the morning she went, but never came back--she died on the operating table. Myra came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs. Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.

Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never.

The old lady was eight today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps--perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lined or endured just as you chose to look at it.

Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited--like a child. She would enjoy her day.

Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn't go out to play until the post had come.

"I guess you'll get lots and lots of presents," he said, "I did last were when I was six."

What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be lovely. Blue's such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.

She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.

Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.

"Granny, granny," he shouted, "I've got your post."

He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myra's writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.

"No parcel, Johnnie?"

"No, granny."

Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later by parcel post. She must be patient.

Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open. Folded in the card was a piece of paper. Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday -- Buy yourself something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harold.

The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady stooped to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.

relative

n. 亲属，亲戚

present

n. gift 礼物，赠品

postman

n. 邮递员

rare

a. not happening often 罕见的;不常发生的

occasion

n. special time; time when sth. happens 时刻，时机;场合

mayor

n. chief official of a city or town 市长

medal

n. 奖章

aged

a. old

content

a. satisfied; pleased 满意的';高兴的

primary

a. first; earliest 首要的;最初的

arrange

vi. make preparations; plan 作安排，筹划

minor

a. not serious or important 较小的;次要的

operate

vi. cut the body in order to set right or remove a diseased part 开刀，动手术

operating table

n. a special table in a hospital, where operations are done 手术台

funeral

n. 葬礼

efficient

a. able to plan and work well 效率高的

decade

n. ten years

endure

vt. bear (pain, suffering, etc.) 忍受，忍耐

spot

n. a round area that is different from the main surface 点，斑点

brighten

vt. make bright or brighter 使发光;使发亮

cheek

n. either side of the face below the eye 面颊

extra

a. additional 额加的，外加的

clean

n. cleaning

bunch

n. things of the same kind that are tied together (一)束，(一)串

marigold

n. 万寿菊(花)

packet

n. small parcel box 小包(裹)

mint

n. 薄荷糖

slipper

n. 拖鞋

cardigan

n. (羊毛)开衫

clatter

n. a number of rapid short knocking sounds 咔嗒声

granny

n. (colloq. for)grandmother

envelope

n. a paper cover for a letter 信封

unsealed

a. 未密封的

seal

vt.

sealed

a. 密封的

writing

n. handwriting 书法;笔迹

pang

n. sudden, sharp pain 剧痛

disappointment

n. sadness because one does not get what one hopes for 失望

disappoint

vt.

parcel

n. 包裹

reluctantly

ad. unwillingly 不情愿地，勉强地

reluctant

a.

fold

vt. bend into two or more parts 折叠

cheque

n. 支票

flutter

vt. move quickly to and fro in the air 飘动

stoop

vi. bend the body forwards and downwards 弯腰

tremble

vi. shake uncontrollably with quick short movements 颤抖

at other times

on other occasions 在别的时候;平时

round / around the corner

very near in distance or time 在附近;即将来临

after all

in spite of everything; it must be remembered 毕竟;终究

be sure of

对...有把握，确信

pick up

take hold of and lift up from a surface 拿起，捡起

Myra

迈拉(女子名)

Enid

伊妮德(女子名)

Morrison

莫里森(姓氏)

Grant

格兰特(姓氏及男子名)

Johnnie

约翰尼(John的昵称)

Jim

吉姆(James的昵称)

Harold

大学英语精读第一册第8课内容

导语：大学英语精读内容丰富有趣并有定的启发性，下面我分享大学英语精读第一册第8课的内容，欢迎学习!

A young boy faces the impossible task of trying to soften the blow of tragic mews.

You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine

The messenger got off his bicycle in front of the house of Mrs. Rosa Sandoval. He went to the door and knocked gently. He knew almost immediately that someone was inside the house. He could not hear anything, but he was sure the knock was bringing someone to the door and he was most eager to see who this person would be -- his woman named Rosa Sandoval who was now to heat of murder in the world and to feel it in herself. The door was not a long time opening, but there was no hurry in the way it moved on its hinges. The movement of the door was as if, whoever she was, she and nothing in the world to fear. Then the door was open, and there she was.

To Homer the Mexican woman was beautiful. He could see that she had been patient all her life, so that now, after years of it, her lips were set in a gentle and saintly smile. But like all people who never receive telegrams the appearance of a messenger at the front door is full of terrible implication. Homer knew that Mrs. Rosa Sandoval was shocked to see him. Her first word was the first word of all surprise. She said "Oh," as if instead of a messenger she had thought of opening the door to someone she had know a long time and would be pleased to sit down with. Before she spoke again she studied Homer's eyes and Homer Knew that she knew the message was not a welcome one.

"You have a telegram?" she said.

It wasn't Homer's fault. His work was to deliver telegrams. Even so, it seemed to him that he was part of the whole mistake. He felt awkward and almost as if he alone were responsible for what had happened. At the same time he wanted to come right out and say, "I'm only a messenger, Mrs. Sandoval, I'm very sorry I must bring you a telegram like this, but it is only because it is my work to do so."

"Who is it for?" the Mexican woman said.

"Mrs. Rosa Sandoval, 1129 G Street." Homer said. He extended the telegram to the Mexican woman, but she would not touch it.

"Are you Mrs. Sandoval?" Homer said.

"Please," the woman said. "Please come in. I cannot read English. I am Mexican. I read only La Prensa which comes from Mexico City." She paused a moment and looked at the boy standing awkwardly as near the door as he could be and still be inside the house.

"Please," she said, "what does the telegram say?"

"Mrs. Sandoval," the messenger said, "the telegram says --"

But now the woman interrupted him. "But you must open the telegram and read it to me," she said. "You have not opened it."

"Yes, ma'am," Homer said as if he were speaking to a school teacher who had just corrected him.

He opened the telegram with nervous fingers. The Mexican woman stooped to pick up the torn envelope, and tried to smooth it out. As she did so she said, "Who sent the telegram -- my son Juan Domingo?"

"No, ma'am." Homer said. "The telegram is from the War Department."

"War Department?" the Mexican woman said.

"Mrs. Sandoval," Homer said swiftly, "your son is dead. Maybe it's a mistake, Everybody makes a mistake, Mrs. Sandoval. Maybe it wasn't your son. Maybe it was somebody else. The telegram says it was Juan Domingo. But maybe the telegram is wrong,"

The Mexican woman pretended not to hear.

"Oh, do not be afraid," she said. "Come inside. Come inside. I will bring you candy." She took the boy's arm and brought him to the table at the center of the room and there she made him sit.

"All boys like candy," she said. "I will bring you candy." She went into another room and soon returned with an old chocolate candy box. She opened the box at the table and in it Homer saw a strange kind of candy.

"Here," she said. "Eat this candy. All boys like candy."

Homer took a piece of the candy from the box, put it into his mouth, and tried to chew.

"You would not bring me a bad telegram," she said. "You are a good boy -- like my little Juanito when he was a little boy. Eat another piece." And she made the messenger take another piece of the candy.

Homer sat chewing the dry candy while the Mexican woman talked. "It is our own candy," she said, "from cactus. I made it for my Juanito when he come home, but you eat it. You are my boy, too."

Now suddenly she began to sob, holding herself in as if weeping were a disgrace. Homer wanted to get up and run, but he knew he would stay. He even thought he might stay the rest of his life. He just didn't know what else to do to try to make the woman less unhappy, and if she had asked him to take the place of her son, he would not have been able to refuse, because he would not have known how. He got to his feet, as if by standing he meant to begin correcting what could not be corrected and then he knew the foolishness of this intention and became more awkward than ever. In his heart he was saying over and over again, "What can I do? What the hell can I do? I'm only the messenger."

soften

v. (cause to) become soft(er) or gentle (使)软化;(使)温和

tragic

a. very sad, unfortunate; of or related to tragedy 悲惨的;悲剧的

messenger

n. a person employed to deliver telegrams, letters or parcels 送信人，电报投递员

gently

ad. softly 轻轻地

immediately

a. at once

immediate

a.

eager

a. marked by strong interest or impatient desire 热切的，渴望的

hinge

n. 铰链

whoever

pron. no matter who 无论谁，不管谁

saintly

a. like a saint; very holy 像圣徒一样的;圣洁的

implication

n. 含义

imply

vt.

shock

vt. cause unpleasant or angry surprise to (sb.) 使(某人)震惊

deliver

vt. take (sth.) to the place where it esp. sth. bad 交付，递送

awkward

a. uncomfortable 尴尬的`

responsible

a. having done or been the cause of esp. sth. bad(应)负责的

Mexican

n & a. 墨西哥人;墨西哥(人)的

extend

vt. hold out 伸出

pause

vi. stop for a short time暂停，中止

interrupt

vt. stop (sb. speaking) by breaking in 打断(某人讲话)

nervous

a. 神经质的;紧张的

ma'am

madam (used in direct address)夫人，太太，小姐

smooth

vt. make smooth or smoother把...弄平

department

n. 部门;系

swiftly

ad. rapidly, quickly快速地;敏捷地

swift

a.

chocolate

n. 巧克力(糖)

chew

vt. crush (food) with the teeth 咀嚼

cactus

n. 仙人掌

sob

vi. cry with short, quick breaths 啜泣;呜咽

disgrace

n. shame 耻辱;丢脸的人(或事)

unhappy

a. not happy

hell

n. 地狱

hear of

have knowledge of or receive information about 听到，听说

be responsible for

be the cause of 应对...负责的

come out (with)

speak out 大声地说，清楚地说

smooth out

make smooth(er)

hold oneself in

control one's feelings

take the place of

act or be used instead of, replace 代替，取代

get to one's feel

stand up

over and over again

very often, repeatedly 反复地，再三地

Rosa Sandoval

罗莎.桑多瓦尔

Homer

霍默

Mexico City

墨西哥城(墨西哥首都)

Juan Domingo

胡安 多明哥

the War Department

(美国)陆军部(旧称)

Juanito

胡安尼特(Juan的昵称)