Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 Active Reading 1

Warming up Photo scrapbook More

Photo scrapbook Warming up whip a top trundle a hoop play on the swing ride a goat blow soap bubbles play slingshot trace the playmate skip the rubber band play the house plan play glass marbles More

Superman Taylor Swift Enjoy the song and fill out the blanks: Warming Up Enjoy the song and fill out the blanks: Superman Taylor Swift Tall, dark and superman He puts papers in his _________ and drives away  To save the world or go to work  It's the same thing to me  He's got his mother's _____, his father's _________ I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him  And I know every word that you say, yay   You smile and say "How are you?” I say "Just fine."  I always _______ to tell you, I love you, I love you ... forever

Warming Up I watched Superman ________ You've got a ________ day today To save the world I'll be around I watched superman ________ Come back I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ________ When you come back down

Warming Up Tall, dark and beautiful He's ____________, he's irrational  But I hope someday You take me away and save the day, yeah  Something in his deep brown eyes has me sing  He's not as bad like this, __________   I can't hear one ______ word they said, noooooo  You will leave, you’ve got places to be and I'll be OK I always forget to tell you, I love you, I loved you from the very first day

Warming Up I watched Superman fly away You've got a busy day today To save the world I'll be around I watched Superman fly away Come back, I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down

Warming Up And I watch you fly around the world And I hope you don't see some other ______  Don't forget, don't forget about me I'm far away but I'll never let you go  I'm lovestruck and looking out the ________  Don't forget, don't forget where I'll be  Right here Wishing the _______ were from you  Wishing the ______ was from you  Wishing the ______ was from you  'Cause I've loved you from the very first day

Warming Up I watched Superman fly away You've got a busy day today To save the world I'll be around forever and ever here I watched Superman fly away I ______ I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down La, la, la ... ... When you Come back down Script

Superman Taylor Swift Enjoy the song and fill out the blanks: Warming Up Enjoy the song and fill out the blanks: Superman Taylor Swift Tall, dark and superman He puts papers in his _________ and drives away  To save the world or go to work  It's the same thing to me  He's got his mother's _____, his father's _________ I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him  And I know every word that you say, yay   You smile and say "How are you?” I say "Just fine."  I always _______ to tell you, I love you, I love you ... forever briefcase eyes ambition forget

Warming Up I watched Superman ________ You've got a ________ day today To save the world I'll be around I watched superman ________ Come back I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ________ When you come back down fly away busy fly away ground

Warming Up Tall, dark and beautiful He's ____________, he's irrational  But I hope someday You take me away and save the day, yeah  Something in his deep brown eyes has me sing  He's not as bad like this, __________   I can't hear one ______ word they said, noooooo  You will leave, you’ve got places to be and I'll be OK I always forget to tell you, I love you, I loved you from the very first day complicated reputation single

Warming Up I watched Superman fly away You've got a busy day today To save the world I'll be around I watched Superman fly away Come back, I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down

Warming Up And I watch you fly around the world And I hope you don't see some other ______  Don't forget, don't forget about me I'm far away but I'll never let you go  I'm lovestruck and looking out the ________  Don't forget, don't forget where I'll be  Right here Wishing the _______ were from you  Wishing the ______ was from you  Wishing the ______ was from you  'Cause I've loved you from the very first day girl window flowers card call

Warming Up I watched Superman fly away You've got a busy day today To save the world I'll be around forever and ever here I watched Superman fly away I ______ I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down La, la, la ... ... When you Come back down swear

Text About the author About the title Go to the text

Text Sylvia Plath (1932–1963) Sylvia Plath was an American poet, novelist, short story writer, and essayist. Widely considered one of the major American poets of the 20th century, Plath is known for The Bell Jar , which describes her struggle with depression. She married the English poet, Ted Hughes, and they had two children, but their relationship was unhappy and she committed suicide.

Text Superman Superman is an American fictional hero of comics, radio serials, TV programmes, films and video games. Superman is a newspaper reporter who has special abilities to fly and is fantastically strong. When he becomes Superman he changes into a special blue suit with a red cape and fights crime. Nobody knows who he really is, but he always turns up in moments of danger. Superman has iconic status and has set a trend for other superheroes with extreme abilities and skills, e.g. Batman, Spiderman, Wonder woman etc.

Text

Text SUPERMAN 1 he year the war began I was in the fifth grade at the Annie F. Warren Grammar School in Winthrop, and T that was the winter I won the prize for drawing the best Civil Defense signs. That was also the winter of Paula Brown's new snowsuit, and even now, 13 years later, I can recall the changing colors of those days, clear and definite as a pattern seen through a kaleidoscope.

far off across the darkening water. Text 2 I lived on the bay side of town, on Johnson Avenue, opposite the Logan Airport, and before I went to bed each night, I used to kneel by the west window of my room and look over the lights of Boston that blazed and blinked far off across the darkening water.

Text The sunset flaunted its pink flag above the airport, and the sound of waves was lost in the perpetual droning of the planes. I marveled at the moving beacons on the runway and watched, until it grew completely dark, the flashing red and green lights that rose and set in the sky like shooting stars. The airport was my Mecca, my Jerusalem. All night I dreamed of flying.

Text 3 Those were the days of my technicolor dreams. Mother believed that I should have an enormous amount of sleep, and so I was never really tired when I went to bed. This was the best time of the day, when I could lie in the vague twilight, drifting off to sleep, making up dreams inside my head the way they should go. My flying dreams were believable as a landscape by Dali, so real that I would awake with a sudden shock, a breathless sense of having tumbled like Icarus from the sky and caught myself on the soft bed just in time.

Text roaring by in his shining blue suit with his cape whistling in the wind, looking remarkably like my Uncle Frank who was living with mother and me. In the magic whirling of his cape I could hear the wings of a hundred seagulls, the motors of a thousand planes. These nightly adventures in space began when Superman started invading my dreams and teaching me how to fly. He used to come

Text 4 I was not the only worshipper of Superman in our block. David Stirling, a pale, bookish boy who lived down the street, shared my love for the sheer poetry of flight. Before supper every night, we listened to Superman together on the radio, and during the day we made up our own adventures on the way to school.

Text 5 The Annie F. Warren Grammar School was a red-brick building, set back from the main highway on a black tar street, surrounded by barren gravel playgrounds. Out by the parking lot David and I found the perfect alcove for our Superman dramas. The dingy back entrance to the school was deep-set in a long passageway which was an excellent place for surprise captures and sudden rescues.

Text 6 During recess, David and I came into our own. We ignored the boys playing baseball on the gravel court and the girls giggling at dodge-ball in the dell. Our Superman games made us outlaws, yet gave us a sense of windy superiority. We even found a stand-in for a villain in Sheldon Fein, the sallow mamma's boy on our block who was left out of the boys' games because he cried whenever anybody tagged him and always managed to fall down and skin his fat knees.

Text 7 At first, we had to prompt Sheldon in his part, but after a while he became an expert on inventing tortures and even carried them out in private, beyond the game. He used to pull the wings from flies and the legs off grasshoppers, and keep the broken insects captive in a jar hidden under his bed where he could take them out in secret and watch them struggling. David and I never played with Sheldon except at recess. After school we left him to his mamma and his bonbons and his helpless insects.

Text 8 At the time my Uncle Frank was living with us while waiting to be drafted, and I was sure that he bore an extraordinary resemblance to Superman incognito. David couldn't see the likeness as clearly as I did, but he admitted that Uncle Frank was the strongest man he had ever known, and could do lots of tricks like making caramels disappear under napkins and walking on his hands.

Text 超 人 1 战争爆发的那一年，我在温斯罗普的安妮·F.沃伦文法学校读五年级，那年冬天我获得了民防图标设计赛冠军。也就是在那个冬天，波拉·布朗买了新的防雪服，即便是13年后的今天，我仍然能清晰地记起那些精彩纷呈的日子，它们历历在目，犹如万花筒里看到的图案那样色彩斑斓。

Text 2 我的家位于城里靠海湾的一侧，在洛根机场对面的约翰逊大道上。每天晚上睡觉前，我都会跪在卧室朝西的窗户旁，眺望黑幽幽的海水那边波士顿城明亮闪烁的灯光。

Text 夕阳将粉色的余晖洒在机场上空，浪涛的声音永远淹没在一架架飞机永无休止的嗡嗡声中。我惊奇地望着跑道上的移动信标，看着那些闪烁的红灯、绿灯像流星般升起、降落，直到机场变得一片漆黑为止。机场就是我的麦加，我的耶路撒冷。我整夜都在做梦，梦见自己在空中飞行。

Text 3 那正是我梦想斑斓的岁月。妈妈认为我需要大量的睡眠，所以我每天上床睡觉时一点儿都不觉得累。那是一天中最美好的时光，我可以躺下，在昏暗的暮色中慢慢进入梦乡，脑子里制造出许多奇异的梦来。我的飞行梦像达利的风景画那么真实可信，以致于自己常常会在一阵惊吓中醒来，好像伊卡罗斯那样从天空中摔下来，虽然发现自己刚好掉到软软的床上，但也被吓得喘不过气来。

Text 当超人开始侵入我的梦乡，并教给我飞行的技巧之后，我每夜的太空冒险便开始了。超人身着耀眼的蓝色衣服，肩披随风飕飕作响的斗篷，经常从我身边呼啸而过。他长得太像我的舅舅弗兰克了，舅舅那会儿正跟妈妈和我住在一起。超人的斗篷神奇地旋转时，我好像能听见上百只海鸥的振翅声，上千架飞机的马达轰鸣声。

Text 4 我不是这个街区里唯一的超人崇拜者，在街另一头，那个脸色苍白、有点书呆子气的男孩儿戴维·斯特令和我一样，热爱飞行的纯粹的诗意。每天晚饭前，我们一起收听电台的超人故事，白天在上学的路上，我们自己设计出各种各样的冒险活动。

Text 5 安妮·F.沃伦文法学校是一座红砖楼，座落在远离主干道的一条黑色柏油街道上，学校四周是光秃秃的铺着碎石的操场。戴维和我发现学校外面停车场附近有一个角落，那里是我们玩超人游戏的绝佳场所。那条长长的过道通向学校又黑又脏的后门，非常适合玩意外抓捕和快速解救的游戏。

Text 6 课间休息时，我和戴维可以大展身手了。我们对在碎石操场上打棒球的男孩儿们视而不见，也不搭理那些在小山谷里一边玩躲球游戏一边咯咯傻笑的女孩儿们。超人游戏让我们变得像两个逃犯似的，但也给了我们一种虚幻的优越感，我们甚至找谢尔登·费恩来充当恶棍。他是街区里一个脸色苍白、胆小怕事的孩子，没有男孩儿愿意和他玩，因为一有人追他他就哭，而且老是自己摔倒在地，擦伤他那胖胖的膝盖。

Text 7 一开始我们还得教谢尔登怎么扮演他的角色，可没过多久他就变成了一位发明虐刑的专家，甚至私下里悄悄实施他的刑罚。他常常扯下苍蝇的翅膀，揪掉蚱蜢的腿，并把这些残废了的昆虫囚禁在瓶子里，藏到床底下，这样他就可以偷偷把它们拿出来，看着它们痛苦挣扎的样子。戴维和我只在课间休息的时候和谢尔登玩，放学后我们就让他回家跟他的妈妈、棒棒糖以及那些无助的昆虫为伴。

Text 8 那时候，弗兰克舅舅住在我们家，等着参军。我肯定他和隐姓埋名的超人长得特别像。戴维却看不出我舅舅和超人有多么相像，但他承认弗兰克舅舅是他这辈子所见过的最强壮的人，而且他会变很多戏法，比如用餐巾一盖上糖果，糖就没了，他还能倒立行走。

Useful expressions 1. the Civil Defense signs 1.民防图标设计 2. the changing colors of those days 2.那些精彩纷呈的日子 3. clear and definite 3.历历在目 4. the darkening water 4.黑幽幽的海水 5. the sunset flaunted its pink flag above… 5.夕阳将粉色的余晖洒在··· 6. the sound of waves was lost in… 6.浪涛的声音淹没在··· 7. the shooting stars 7.流星 8. the days of my technicolor dreams 8.我梦想斑斓的岁月 More

Useful expressions 9. in the vague twilight 10. drift off to sleep 9.在昏暗的暮色中 9. in the vague twilight 10.慢慢进入梦乡 10. drift off to sleep 11.在一阵惊吓中醒来 11. awake with a sudden shock 12.每夜的太空冒险 12. the nightly adventures 13.肩披随风飕飕 作响的斗篷 13. with one’s cape whistling in the wind 14.当他的斗篷神奇 地旋转时 14. in the magic whirling of his cape 15.上百只海鸥的振翅声 15. the wings of a hundred seagulls 16.上千架飞机的马达轰鸣声 16. the motors of a thousand planes More

Useful expressions 17. the worshipper of Superman 18. a bookish boy 17.超人的崇拜者 17. the worshipper of Superman 18.有点书呆子气的男孩 18. a bookish boy 19.飞行的纯粹的诗意 19. the sheer poetry of flight 20.光秃秃的铺着碎石的操场 20. the barren gravel playground 21.意外抓捕和快速解救的游戏 21. surprise captures and sudden rescues 22.一种虚幻的优越感 22. a sense of windy superiority 23.胆小怕事的男孩 23. mama’s boy 24.教谢尔登怎么扮演他的角色 24. prompt Sheldon in his part 25.和隐姓埋名的超人长得 特别像 25. bear an extraordinary resem- blance to Superman incognito

Words & Phrases grammar school marvel nightly snowsuit beacon cape definite runway whirl kaleidoscope shooting star worshipper blaze technicolor bookish blink twilight poetry darken drift tar flaunt believable barren perpetual breathless alcove drone tumble dingy

passageway villain incognito recess sallow likeness giggle tag caramel Words & Phrases passageway villain incognito recess sallow likeness giggle tag caramel dodge prompt napkin dodge ball torture dell grasshopper outlaw bonbon windy helpless superiority draft stand-in resemblance

drift off set back Words & Phrases come into one’s own bear a … resemblance to

Logan Airport（波士顿）洛根机场 Words & Phrases Winthrop 温斯洛普（美国一地名） Civil Defense 民防系统 Paula Brown 波拉·布朗（人名） Johnson Avenue 约翰逊大街 Logan Airport（波士顿）洛根机场 Boston 波士顿 Mecca 麦加 Jerusalem 耶路撒冷 Dali 达里 （1904-1989）

David Stirling 戴维·斯特令（人名） Words & Phrases Icarus 伊卡罗斯 David Stirling 戴维·斯特令（人名） Sheldon Fein 谢尔登·费恩（人名）

Words & Phrases 1) (AmE) a primary school 小学 grammar school n. [C] 1) (AmE) a primary school 小学 e.g. He almost certainly attended the Grammar School in the town, but we cannot be sure of this. 几乎可以肯定他当时在镇上念小学，但对此我们没有绝对把握。 A grammar school is a slightly old-fashioned term for an elementary school in the US. Words & Phrases

In Britain a grammar school refers to a secondary school. Words & Phrases 2) (BrE) a school in the UK for children between the ages of 11 and 18 who have passed a special examination to be allowed to go there 文法学校（供11岁至18岁孩子上的学校，需通过特殊考试后方能获准进入） e.g. So many students gained entry to Oxford this year, which was pretty good going for a provincial Grammar School. 今年这么多学生考进了牛津大学。这对一个偏远的文法学校来说是相当大的进步。 In Britain a grammar school refers to a secondary school.

e.g. I put on my red snowsuit and black boots. 我穿上红色滑雪服和黑色的靴子。 Words & Phrases snowsuit n. [C] a child's over garment for cold weather 儿童风雪服 e.g. I put on my red snowsuit and black boots. 我穿上红色滑雪服和黑色的靴子。

1. She’s not definite about retiring from the game. Words & Phrases definite a. 1) (never before noun) very clear about what you say so that everyone understands you; (of a person) certain or sure about sth. 清楚的；清晰的；（人）确信的，肯定的 e.g. 1. She’s not definite about retiring from the game. 她尚未表明是否退出比赛。 2. The doctor is quite definite about Tom having measles. 医生十分肯定汤姆得了麻疹。 2) clearly decided and specific 明确的；确切的 e.g. We haven’t arranged a definite date for our visit yet. 我们还没有安排访问的确切日期。

Words & Phrases kaleidoscope n. [C] a toy that shows changing patterns, consisting of a tube with coloured pieces inside 万花筒 The ~ of the ages 时代的万花筒 A ~ of colour and pattern 颜色和图案千变万化 The ~ of life 人生的万花筒 The ~ of illusions 瞬息万变的幻觉

1) shine very brightly 发强光；闪耀 Words & Phrases blaze vi. 1) shine very brightly 发强光；闪耀 e.g. The sun blazed down as we walked along the valley. 我们沿着山谷走，头顶太阳灼人。 2) burn strongly and brightly 熊熊燃烧 e.g. The following morning the building was still blazing. 第二天早上，那座建筑还在熊熊燃烧。

1) if a light blinks, it goes on and off continuously （灯）闪烁 Words & Phrases blink vi. 1) if a light blinks, it goes on and off continuously （灯）闪烁 e.g. Neon signs were blinking outside bars and casinos. 酒吧和赌场外霓虹灯招牌闪烁。 2) close your eyes for a very short time and quickly open them again 眨（眼） e.g. He blinked his eyes nervously. 他紧张地眨着眼睛。

1. The sky darkened and a few drops of rain fell. Words & Phrases darken v. become darker, or make sth. darker（使）变暗；（使）变黑 e.g. 1. The sky darkened and a few drops of rain fell. 天空暗了下来，下了几滴雨。 2. The evening shadows darkened the room. 黑夜来临，房子里暗了下来。 Word family: dark a. Word formation: a. + en →v. red →redden short →shorten sharp →sharpen

1. Lawrence didn’t flaunt his wealth – he lived a simple life. Words & Phrases flaunt vt. deliberately try to make people notice your possessions, beauty, abilities etc, because you want them to admire you 炫耀；夸耀；夸示 e.g. 1. Lawrence didn’t flaunt his wealth – he lived a simple life. 劳伦斯从不炫富，他过着简朴的生活。 2. If you have lots of money, do you like to flaunt it? 如果很富有，你会想要去炫耀吗？

1. Many people live in perpetual fear of losing their jobs. Words & Phrases perpetual a. continuing all the time; happening so often that you become annoyed as a result 无休止的；频繁（以致令人生厌）的 e.g. 1. Many people live in perpetual fear of losing their jobs. 许多人老是生活在失业的恐惧中。 2. We heard his perpetual noise in the room. 我们听见他在房间里老是发出声音。

1. An airplane droned overhead. Words & Phrases drone vi. make a low continuous noise 发出嗡嗡声 e.g. 1. An airplane droned overhead. 一架飞机在头上嗡嗡飞过。 2. I got rid of the fan, because it was much more pleasant to work on a computer that didn't drone all the time. 我去掉了散热扇，因为使用一台不嗡嗡作响的电脑来工作更令人愉悦。

1. We marvelled at the view that opened up before us. Words & Phrases marvel v. (~ at / over) show or feel surprise or admiration (对……)感到惊讶；钦佩 e.g. 1. We marvelled at the view that opened up before us. 我们对展现在面前的一片景色惊佩不已。 2. Visitors to Rome marvel over the beauty of the city. 来到罗马的游客无不惊叹于它的美丽。 Word family: marvelous a. e.g. Never have we seen so marvelous landscape. 我们从来没有见过如此美妙的风景。

e.g. The beacon on the coast is to warn and guide ships. Words & Phrases beacon n. [C] a bright light or fire that shines in the dark and is used as a signal to warn people against danger or to show them the way somewhere 指示灯；灯标；烽火 Beacons are used in airports to show approaching and departing planes the position of the runways to help them land and take off safely. e.g. The beacon on the coast is to warn and guide ships. 海岸上的信号灯是用来提醒和引导船舶的。

1. A plane this size can't fly off such a short runway. Words & Phrases runway n. [C] a long road used by planes when they land and take off, usually at an airport（通常指机场的）跑道 e.g. 1. A plane this size can't fly off such a short runway. 这样大的飞机无法从这么短的跑道上起飞。 2. The runway has been cleared for take-off. 跑道已经畅通，可以起飞。

1. A shooting star lightened the sky. Words & Phrases shooting star n. [C] a meteor that makes a line of light as it falls through the sky 流星 e.g. 1. A shooting star lightened the sky. 一颗流星划亮了天空。 2. Do you wish when you see a shooting star? 你看见流星时许愿吗？

e.g. It is a lush technicolor coat. 这件外套颜色艳丽。 Words & Phrases technicolor n. [U] (AmE) an extremely colorful quality or appearance, especially one that looks artificial（尤指看起来不自然的）鲜艳的色彩 e.g. It is a lush technicolor coat. 这件外套颜色艳丽。

e.g. Clouds are violet in the summer twilight. 夏天暮色中云彩是紫罗兰色的。 Words & Phrases twilight n. [U] 1) the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from the atmosphere 暮色；暮光 e.g. Clouds are violet in the summer twilight. 夏天暮色中云彩是紫罗兰色的。 2) the time in the evening when the sky is beginning to get dark 黄昏；薄暮时分 e.g. Twilight was falling as we left the place. 我们离开那里时已是傍晚。

1) be pushed along very slowly by the movement of air or water 漂流；漂 Words & Phrases drift vi. 1) be pushed along very slowly by the movement of air or water 漂流；漂 e.g. Thick smoke drifted across the town. 浓烟在镇上飘荡。 2) move somewhere slowly as though you do not know where you are going 随意走动；游荡 e.g. He spent the year drifting around the Europe. 他这一年来一直在欧洲各地漂泊。 See also: drift off.

Words & Phrases Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence. In order to make things convenient for the people, the department is planning to set up some ________ shops in the residential area. (CET4-2004-06-41) A) flowing B) drifting C) mobile D) unstable C

1. The evidence must be considered believable or worthy of trust. Words & Phrases believable adj. seeming possible or true 可相信的；可信任的 e.g. 1. The evidence must be considered believable or worthy of trust. 证据必须是可信的或令人信服的。 2. Characters must be believable so that the audience can care about them. 角色必须是可信的，这样观众才能关注他们。 Word family: believe v.

1. She was breathless after running up the stairs. Words & Phrases breathless adj. breathing very fast and hard, for example after exercising; holding or as if holding the breath due to excitement or other strong feelings 呼吸急促的；气喘吁吁的；（由于激动或其他强烈的感情而）屏息的 e.g. 1. She was breathless after running up the stairs. 跑上楼梯她就气喘吁吁了。 2. The children are breathless as they watch the tightrope act. 孩子们在看走绳索表演时都屏住了呼吸。 Word family: breath n.

e.g. Jack lost his balance and tumbled backwards. Words & Phrases tumble vi. 1) fall to ground 摔倒；跌倒 e.g. Jack lost his balance and tumbled backwards. 杰克失去了平衡，仰天摔了一跤。 2) fall suddenly and sharply （价格或价值）猛跌；暴跌 e.g. 1. Oil prices have tumbled. 油价已暴跌。 2. Share prices tumbled on the stock-market. 股市上股票价格暴跌。

1. My husband and I like watching the nightly talk show. Words & Phrases nightly a. & ad. (happening) every night 每夜(的)；每晚(的) e.g. 1. My husband and I like watching the nightly talk show. 我和丈夫爱看每晚的谈话节目。 2. The mysterious lights appear nightly in the abandoned house. 神秘的亮光每天晚上都在那间废弃的房子里出现。 Word family: night n.

e.g. What do you think of my new cape? Words & Phrases cape n. [C] 1) a loose piece of clothing without sleeves that hangs from your shoulders 披肩；披风 e.g. What do you think of my new cape? 你觉得我新披肩怎么样？ 2) A large area of land that continues further out into sea than the land it is part of. This word is often used in the names of places. 海角；岬（常用于地名） e.g. They knew by radio that the ship had just circled the Hope Cape. 他们通过无线电了解到船刚刚绕过了好望角。

1. We watched the seagulls whirling and shrieking over the harbour. Words & Phrases whirl v. spin quickly in circles（使）飞旋；（使）旋转 e.g. 1. We watched the seagulls whirling and shrieking over the harbour. 我们看海鸥在港口上空盘旋鸣叫。 2. It may whirl either clockwise or counterclockwise. 它可能顺时针方向或逆时针方向旋转。

1) someone who loves someone or something very much 崇拜者 Words & Phrases worshipper n. [C] 1) someone who loves someone or something very much 崇拜者 e.g. He has received a postcard from a worshipper. 他收到了一张来自崇拜者的明信片。 2) someone who worships a god 敬神者；拜神者 e.g. Before the temple was opened, the worshipper had begun his chants. 寺庙还没有开门，拜神者已经开始了吟唱。 Word family: worship v.

1. Jane was always a bookish child. 简一直是个爱学习的孩子。 Words & Phrases bookish a. more interested in studying and reading books than in taking part in physical activities such as sports 好学习的；喜欢读书的 e.g. 1. Jane was always a bookish child. 简一直是个爱学习的孩子。 2. They think Charles might not be learned and bookish enough to please Lady Russel. 他们认为，也许因为查尔斯没有学问，缺乏书卷气，不讨拉塞尔夫人喜欢。

e.g. Perhaps there is more poetry in traditional Chinese paintings. Words & Phrases poetry n. [U] 1) someone or something of great beauty, emotion, or imagination, or the quality of beauty, emotion, or imagination Words 诗一般的美（或感受、想象）；诗意；诗情 e.g. Perhaps there is more poetry in traditional Chinese paintings. 也许中国画里的诗意较多一点。 2) poems 诗；诗歌 e.g. Poetry helps to interpret life. 诗歌有助于阐释人生的意义。

1. This is a newly tarred road. 这是一条新铺的柏油马路。 Words & Phrases tar n. [U] a thick black liquid made from coal, used especially for making the surfaces of roads （尤指用于铺路的）沥青；柏油 e.g. 1. This is a newly tarred road. 这是一条新铺的柏油马路。 2. The roof was covered with tar. 屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。

barren or marginal farmland 荒芜边远的农田 writing of barren insight 缺乏洞察力的作品 Words & Phrases barren a. (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation （土地）贫瘠的；（地方）荒芜的， 不毛的 barren land 不毛之地 barren or marginal farmland 荒芜边远的农田 writing of barren insight 缺乏洞察力的作品 the barren, inhospitable desert 那片贫瘠荒凉的沙漠

e.g. A card table was set up in an alcove in the living room. Words & Phrases alcove n. [C] a small area in a room that is created by building part of one wall further back than the rest of the wall 凹室；壁龛 e.g. A card table was set up in an alcove in the living room. 起居室的凹室里放着一张牌桌。

1. He ate lunch in a dingy little cafe next to the station. Words & Phrases dingy a. a dingy place or object is rather dark in an unpleasant way and often looks dirty 暗淡的；灰暗无光的 e.g. 1. He ate lunch in a dingy little cafe next to the station. 他中饭是在车站旁一家的灰暗的咖啡厅里吃的。 2. He left for his small dingy room. 他走向自己狭窄昏暗的房间。

1. He led me down a narrow passageway. Words & Phrases passageway n. [C] a long narrow area with walls on each side that leads from one room or place to another 走廊；过道 e.g. 1. He led me down a narrow passageway. 他带我走过一条狭长的走道。 2. A musical bell softly sounded somewhere in the passageway. 走廊的某处响起轻柔悦耳的铃声。

e.g. Her favorite things at school are music and recess. Words & Phrases recess n. 1) [C, U] (AmE) a period between school lessons when students can eat, rest, or play 课间休息 e.g. Her favorite things at school are music and recess. 她在学校最喜欢的是音乐课和课间休息。 2) [C] a space in a room where part of a wall is further back than the rest of it 凹进处；壁龛 e.g. You could create two groups of miniatures in the recesses on either side of the fireplace. 你可以在壁炉两边的凹陷处创作两组缩微画。

Words & Phrases Word family： recession n. a period when trade and industry are not successful and there is a lot of unemployment （经济）衰退，萧条 Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence. We should concentrate on sharply reducing interest rates to pull the economy out of ________. (CET4-2003-06-43) A) rejection B) restriction C) retreat D) recession D

1. Linda and Christina were giggling at some private joke. Words & Phrases giggle vi. (~ at) laugh in a nervous, excited, or silly way that is difficult to control 咯咯笑；傻笑 e.g. 1. Linda and Christina were giggling at some private joke. 琳达和克里斯蒂娜正因一些私人笑话而咯咯发笑。 2. The children couldn't stop giggling at the teacher's high-pitched voice. 教师的调门儿高，孩子们都不禁咯咯地笑起来。

Words & Phrases Cf. laugh, smile, giggle, grin, beam, sneer 均含“笑”之意 laugh: 最常用词，指因喜悦、愉快或轻视而出声的笑或大笑。 smile: 指面露微笑，侧重于无声。 grin: 指露齿而笑。 beam: 书面用词，指因心情舒畅而发出的笑，喜形于色地笑。 sneer: 指冷笑、嘲笑。 giggle: 指发出咯咯的笑声，较多地用于女人或孩子。

1. He made a sudden dodge aside. 他迅速闪避到一旁。 Words & Phrases dodge n. [C] a quick movement to avoid sth. 躲闪 e.g. 1. He made a sudden dodge aside. 他迅速闪避到一旁。 2. Flanders insisted he was not using his medical condition as a dodge to avoid testifying. 弗兰达坚称他没有利用自己的病情为借口躲避作证。 See also: dodge ball.

e.g. Let’s go and play dodge ball. Words & Phrases dodge ball n. [C] a game played by children standing in a circle using a large rubber ball that one child throws at another, who tries to avoid being hit 躲球游戏（儿童玩的游戏，在一个圈中尽量躲开别人投过来的皮球） e.g. Let’s go and play dodge ball. 我们去玩躲球游戏吧。 See also: dodge.

1. It’s a beautiful quiet dell. Words & Phrases dell n. [C] (literary) a small valley 小山谷 e.g. 1. It’s a beautiful quiet dell. 这是一个美丽寂静的山谷。 2. The driver broke the silence, by calling attention to the lush green valleys and wooded dells. 驾驶员打破沉默，让大家看繁茂青葱的山谷和树木茂盛的小溪谷。

1. The landscape in this photograph was familiar to the outlaw. Words & Phrases outlaw n. [C] a criminal, especially one who moves from place to place to avoid being caught 不法之徒；（尤指）逃犯 e.g. 1. The landscape in this photograph was familiar to the outlaw. 这张照片中的环境对这个歹徒来说是相当熟悉的。

e.g. I am not impressed by the politician’s windy talk. Words & Phrases windy a. 1) using a lot of long words to try to impress people but not really saying very much 浮夸的；夸夸其谈的 e.g. I am not impressed by the politician’s windy talk. 政治家的夸夸其谈没有给我留下什么印象。 2) with a lot of wind 刮大风的；多风的 e.g. A feather floats about on the air, especially on a windy day. 羽毛会在空中四处飘动，尤其是在多风的天气。 Word family: wind n.

Word family: superior a. Words & Phrases superiority n. [U] the fact that one person or thing is better, more powerful etc. than another 优秀；优良；优越 e.g. The intellectual superiority of human over other animals is quite clear. 人类与动物相比，智力上的优势是显而易见的。 Word family: superior a. e.g. The individual asking the questions is understood to be in a position superior to the individual being asked. 人们通常认为，和被提问的人相比，提问的人更优越。 Antonym: inferior a. inferiority n.

1. The star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes. Words & Phrases stand-in n. [C] someone or something that takes the place of another person or thing for a short time, especially in order to do their job while they are not available (某人或某物的)临时代替者 e.g. 1. The star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes. 这个明星有一个替身来应付危险场景。 2. Gilbert failed to find a stand-in and so could not go to the party. 吉尔伯特找不到代替他的人，也就去不了聚会了。

1. At the end of the story, the villain is caught and punished. Words & Phrases villain n. [C] the main bad character in a story, play, film etc. （故事、戏剧、电影等中的）反派角色，反面人物 e.g. 1. At the end of the story, the villain is caught and punished. 故事结束的时候，那个反派角色被逮住并且受到了惩罚。

1. She is ill with a sallow face. Words & Phrases sallow a. a pale yellow colour and does not look healthy （皮肤）灰黄色的，土色的 e.g. 1. She is ill with a sallow face. 她病了，面色发黄。 2. He was followed by a sallow, thin lawyer. 跟在他后面的是个面色灰黄、瘦弱的律师。

1) touch another player in some children’s games （在一些儿童游戏中）碰触而抓获（游戏者） Words & Phrases tag vt. 1) touch another player in some children’s games （在一些儿童游戏中）碰触而抓获（游戏者） e.g. Jeter was tagged out between second and third base. 基特在第一和第二垒之间就被碰触出局了。 2) fix a small piece of paper or other material to sth. to give information about it 给……加标签 e.g. Every item is tagged with a number that identifies it. 每件物品都有数字标签加以辨别。

1) encourage someone to speak or continue speaking 鼓励（某人说话或继续说下去） Words & Phrases prompt vt. 1) encourage someone to speak or continue speaking 鼓励（某人说话或继续说下去） e.g. The speaker was rather hesitant and had to be frequently prompted by the chairman. 那个发言人讲话结结巴巴的，经常得由主席来鼓励。 2) (mainly journalism) cause sth. to happen or be done 导致；促使；促发 e.g. News of the scandal prompted a Senate investigation. 有关丑闻的消息促使参议院进行调查。

1. The confession was made under torture. Words & Phrases torture n. [C] extreme physical pain caused by someone or something, especially as a punishment or as a way to make someone say something 拷打；拷问；酷刑逼供 e.g. 1. The confession was made under torture. 屈打成招。 2. The use of torture must disgust any civilized person. 施用酷刑必为文明社会的人所不齿。

1. Grasshoppers have long, powerful hind legs adapted for jumping. Words & Phrases grasshopper n. [C] a large insect with long back legs that moves by jumping and makes short high sounds 蚂蚱；蝗虫；蚱蜢 e.g. 1. Grasshoppers have long, powerful hind legs adapted for jumping. 蝗虫有适于跳跃的长的、强有力的后腿。 2. A grasshopper at the end of autumn – its jumping days are numbered. 秋后的蚂蚱，日子长不了。

e.g. He likes to eat bonbons very much. Words & Phrases bonbon n. [C] candies 糖果 e.g. He likes to eat bonbons very much. 他非常喜欢吃糖果 。

1. He looked helpless sitting there all alone. Words & Phrases helpless a. [C] not able to do anything without help 无助的；无奈的 e.g. 1. He looked helpless sitting there all alone. 他坐在那儿显得孤单无助。 2. The people felt helpless as they watched Mother Nature show her power. 看着老天爷发威，人们束手无策。 Word family： helpful a. helplessness n.

1. My dad was sixteen when he got drafted into the army. Words & Phrases draft vt. (AmE) (often passive) conscript someone into the armed forces 征召（某人）入伍 e.g. 1. My dad was sixteen when he got drafted into the army. 我爸被征入伍的时候才16岁。 n. 初稿、草稿 e.g. I faxed a first draft of this article to him. 我把这篇文章的初稿传真给他。 NBA draft: NBA选秀

1. The boy bears a striking resemblance to Jim. Are they twins? Words & Phrases resemblance n. [C, U] if there is a resemblance between two people or things, they are similar, especially in their appearance （尤指外表的）相似，类似 e.g. 1. The boy bears a striking resemblance to Jim. Are they twins? 这男孩与吉姆极其相像，他们是双胞胎吗? 2. Marcus has a great resemblance to his father. 马卡斯长得跟他父亲一模一样。 See also: bear a … resemblance to sb.

1. He didn't want to be recognized, so he travelled incognito. Words & Phrases incognito ad. using a false name, or changing your appearance so that you will not be recognized 隐名埋姓地；使用化名地 e.g. 1. He didn't want to be recognized, so he travelled incognito. 他不想被人认出，所以出行时隐瞒了身份。 2. The prince travelled incognito to avoid crowds and ceremonies. 王子微服旅行以避开人群及欢迎仪式。

1. His mannerisms bear a strong likeness to those of his father. Words & Phrases likeness n. [C, U] the quality of being similar to someone or something else 相像；相似 e.g. 1. His mannerisms bear a strong likeness to those of his father. 他的举止极像他父亲。 2. A family likeness can be seen among all the boys with a long curved nose in every face. 这家男孩们长得很像，都长着长长的弯勾鼻。

e.g. Father bought me a gateau frosted with caramel on my birthday. Words & Phrases caramel n. [C, U] a sweet made from sugar, butter, and milk 卡拉梅尔奶糖；焦糖 e.g. Father bought me a gateau frosted with caramel on my birthday. 我生日那天，父亲给我买了一个撒了糖霜的奶油蛋糕。

e.g. Flora put her napkin on the table and left the room. Words & Phrases napkin n. [C] a piece of cloth or paper used for protecting your clothes and wiping your mouth and hands while you are eating 餐巾；餐巾纸 e.g. Flora put her napkin on the table and left the room. 芙罗拉把餐巾放在桌上就离开房间了。

e.g. I was just drifting off when the phone rang. Words & Phrases drift off: start to sleep 开始入睡 e.g. I was just drifting off when the phone rang. 我正要睡着，电话铃响了。 See also: drift.

1. The house was set back some distance from the street. Words & Phrases set back: (often passive) place or situate (a house etc.) some distance from the street etc. 使（房屋等）离开马路等一段距离；（使建筑物等）位于不突出处 e.g. 1. The house was set back some distance from the street. 这房子离街道有一段距离。 2. The house is set 15 feet back from the road. 那座房子离公路15英尺。

市中心禁开汽车，因此自行车就大行其道了。 Words & Phrases come into one’s own: show how effective or useful you can be 施展自己的才干 e.g. 1. He came into his own in last Sunday's match, scoring three goals in the first half. 他在上周日的比赛中大展身手，前半场进了三个球。 2.  Cars are banned from the city centre so a bicycle really comes into its own here. 市中心禁开汽车，因此自行车就大行其道了。

Bear a marked ~ to 与…惊人的相似 Bear a physical ~ to 与…具有外形的相似之处 Words & Phrases bear a … resemblance to: have a degree of similarity to someone or something 与……相似 e.g. 1. This wallet bears a strong resemblance to the one I lost last month.  这个钱包和我上月丢掉的非常相似。 Bear much ~ to 与…很相似 Bear a marked ~ to 与…惊人的相似 Bear a physical ~ to 与…具有外形的相似之处 Bear a superficial ~ to 与…仅有表面相似 See also: resemblance.

Words & Phrases Winthrop 温斯洛普（美国一地名） Winthrop is the town in Massachusetts, US, not far from Boston, and where Sylvia Plath spent most of her childhood.

Words & Phrases Civil Defense 民防系统 Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery. Civil Defense signs were signs which children in schools were encouraged to draw and which showed what to do in the event of a nuclear attack.

Words & Phrases Paula Brown 波拉·布朗（人名） Paula Brown was a school friend of Sylvia Plath, and appeared in Sylvia Plath’s short story Superman and Paula Brown’s New Snowsuit, which describes an incident where the writer is wrongly accused of spoiling her friend’s new snowsuit, and from which this extract is taken.

Words & Phrases Logan Airport 洛根机场（波士顿） Logan International Airport is in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States (partly in the Town of Winthrop, Massachusetts. It covers 2,384 acres (965 ha), has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.

Words & Phrases Boston 波士顿（美国马萨诸塞州首府） Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region.

Words & Phrases Mecca 麦加（沙特阿拉伯圣城，先知穆罕默德的诞生地） Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest city for Islam, where the Prophet Muhammad was born. More than 13 million Muslims visit Mecca annually. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.

Words & Phrases Jerusalem 耶路撒冷（西南亚巴勒斯坦地 区著名古城，伊兰教、犹太教和基督教的圣地） Jerusalem is a holy city and place of pilgrimage for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is a symbolic centre for Jews. For Christians, this is the sacred city where Jesus lived, taught, died and was buried, and is believed to have been resurrected. For Muslims, this is the third holiest city (after Mecca and Medina) because the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have had a miraculous journey to Jerusalem and from there made a journey to heaven.

The Persistence of Memory Words & Phrases Dali 达里 （1904-1989，西班牙超现实主义画家） Salvador Dali is known as a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres. Dali was a skilled draftsman, best known for his strange dream-like paintings. His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed in 1931. The Persistence of Memory

Words & Phrases Icarus Icarus refers to the Greek myth about Daedalus, a craftsman who built a labyrinth (maze) for King Minos, king of Crete. But the king put Daedalus and his son Icarus in prison. Daedalus made wings so that they could escape. However, Icarus flew so near the sun that the wax holding the feathers together melted and he fell to his death in the sea. Daedalus reached Sicily where he was considered the inventor of many tools for carpentry and techniques for ship-building. The Icarus story often represents the consequences of too much ambition – he tried to fly too high.

伊卡罗斯（希腊神话中巧匠Daedalus之子，与其父双双以蜡翼粘身飞离克里特岛，因飞得太高，蜡被阳光融化，坠爱琴海而死） Words & Phrases 伊卡罗斯（希腊神话中巧匠Daedalus之子，与其父双双以蜡翼粘身飞离克里特岛，因飞得太高，蜡被阳光融化，坠爱琴海而死）

Language Points … I can recall the changing colors of those days, clear and definite as a pattern seen through a kaleidoscope. A kaleidoscope is a toy that shows changing patterns. It is made of a tube with mirrors and colored pieces of glass inside. The glass pieces move as you turn the kaleidoscope. As a metaphor, kaleidoscope means a view, situation or experience that keeps changing and has many different aspects. ……我仍然能清晰地记起那些精彩纷呈的日子，它们历历在目， 犹如万花筒里看到的图案那样色彩斑斓。 翻译：

Language Points … and look over the lights of Boston that blazed and blinked far off across the darkening water. To blaze means to burn strongly and brightly. “The lights ... that blazed and blinked” means the lights were bright and went on and off continuously, like the blinking of eyes. 翻译： ……眺望黑幽幽的海水那边波士顿城明亮闪烁的灯光。

Language Points The sunset flaunted its pink flag above the airport, and the sound of waves was lost in the perpetual droning of the planes. The sunset flaunted its pink flag means the pink color of the setting sun was like a flag which the sun was using to try to make everyone notice and admire it. To drone means to make a continuous low sound. Because Logan is an international airport, the noise of the planes continued all the time. So it was perpetual. Bees drone: to make a continuous low sound Drones don’t work: a type of male bee that does not do any work A drone bomber: an aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled from the ground The drone of the airplane: a continuous low noise 翻译： 夕阳将粉色的余晖洒在机场上空，浪涛的声音永远淹没在一架架飞机永无休止的嗡嗡声中。

The airport was my Mecca, my Jerusalem. Language Points The airport was my Mecca, my Jerusalem. Mecca and Jerusalem are both considered holy cities. As places for pilgrimage they attract people from far and wide, so as metaphors they represent a significant goal or attractive destiny. 机场就是我的麦加，我的耶路撒冷。 翻译：

... when superman started invading my dreams … Language Points ... when superman started invading my dreams … When I started to dream of superman. 翻译： ……当超人开始侵入我的梦乡……

Language Points Out by the parking lot … A parking lot is the American equivalent of a car park, British English. A lot in American English refers to a small area of land used for a particular purpose. 翻译： 外面停车场……

During recess, David and I came into our own. Language Points During recess, David and I came into our own. To come into one’s own means to have the opportunity to show how good or useful someone is. Here the two children are good at imaginative play with Superman games. 课间休息时，我和戴维可以大展身手了。 翻译：

Our Superman games made us outlaws … Language Points Our Superman games made us outlaws … An outlaw is a criminal, especially one who moves from place to place to avoid being caught. There are many famous stories of outlaws in Western culture, e.g. Robin Hood, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Ned Kelly etc. Here, the two children are outlaws because they play their imaginative games against the custom of other games like dodge-ball. 课间超人游戏让我们变得像两个逃犯似的…… 翻译：

… the sallow mamma’s boy … Language Points … the sallow mamma’s boy … Mamma, mama, momma, mummy are children’s names for mother (mum). A mamma’s boy is one who depends too much on his mother and is not independent when he should be. 翻译： ……一个脸色苍白、胆小怕事的孩子……

Language Points ... skin his fat knees. To skin one’s knees means to hurt one’s knees by falling on a rough surface in a way that causes some skin to be removed. 翻译： ……擦伤他那胖胖的膝盖。

Language Points At the time my Uncle Frank was living with us while waiting to be drafted … The draft means conscription into the armed forces for military service. People who are drafted are made to join the army, navy etc; they are conscripts or draftees not volunteers. 那时候，弗兰克舅舅住在我们家，等着参军…… 翻译：

Reading and understanding Exercises Reading and understanding Dealing with unfamiliar words Reading and interpreting Develop critical thinking

Reading and understanding Exercises Reading and understanding 3. Answer the questions. 4. Choose the best summary of the passage.

Exercises 3. Answer the questions. 1 What were Sylvia Plath’s most important memories? She remembered winning a prize, Paula Brown’s new suit and the view from her window. 2 Where did she live and what could she see from her bedroom window? She lived on the bay side of town, on Johnson Avenue, and she could see the lights of Boston and Logan Airport from her bedroom window. 3 What did the view make her want to do? It made her want to fly in her dreams.

Exercises 4 Why did she have such vivid dreams? Because she was rarely tired when she went to bed. 5 Who appeared in her dreams? Superman appeared and taught her to fly. 6 Why did she enjoy the radio adventures of Superman? Because she loved the sheer poetry of flight.

Exercises 7 Where did her friend and she play Superman? At the dingy back entrance to the school, an alcove in a long passageway. 8 Why do you think they chose Sheldon to be the villain? Because he was a mamma’s boy and was left out of the other boys’ games. 9 How did she feel about her Uncle Frank? She admired him as she thought he bore an extraordinary resemblance to Superman incognito.

Exercises 4. Choose the best summary of the passage. 1 Sylvia Plath described an important event in her childhood. 2 Sylvia Plath spent much of her childhood preparing for her life as a writer. 3 Sylvia Plath wrote about her real and imaginary life as a child. 4 Sylvia Plath had a creative imagination which affected the truth of her childhood memories.

Dealing with unfamiliar words Exercises Dealing with unfamiliar words 5. Match the words in the box with their definitions. 6. Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. 7. Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. 8. Answer the questions about the words and expressions.

blaze definite giggle perpetual Exercises 5. Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 accurate and true 2 continuing all the time 3 to spin quickly in circles 4 to shine very brightly 5 to laugh in a nervous, excited or silly way that is difficult to control 6 to encourage someone to speak or continue speaking blaze definite giggle perpetual prompt tumble whirl definite perpetual whirl blaze giggle prompt 7 to fall to the ground tumble

blaze definite giggle perpetual Exercises 6. Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. Plath never needed to be (1) ________ to talk about her childhood memories. They were very (2) ________ and still real to her as an adult. She imagined she could fly and (3)______ through the air like Superman. blaze definite giggle perpetual prompt tumble whirl prompted definite whirl

blaze definite giggle perpetual Exercises Coming from the highways around Boston was the (4)_________ sound of traffic. In the distance a plane was taking off, its lights (5)_______ into the night sky. She remembered the sound of (6)_______ which came from the group of girls. Sadly in her later life it seemed as if Superman had (7)________ to earth. blaze definite giggle perpetual prompt tumble whirl perpetual blazing giggling tumbled

barren blink napkin resemblance tag torture Exercises 7. Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. 1 The lights at the airport went on and off all day and night. 2 The playground was like a desert. It was without any interesting or positive features and unfriendly. 3 The boys were playing a children’s game in which the players chase and try to touch each other and the girls were gossiping and giggling. barren blink napkin resemblance tag torture blinked barren tag

barren blink napkin resemblance tag torture Exercises 4 Pulling the legs off insects is a form of action causing extreme physical pain by someone as a punishment, and is extremely cruel. 5 The similarity in appearance between the twins was striking. 6 He would cover candy with a piece of cloth used for cleaning lips and hands, and make it disappear. barren blink napkin resemblance tag torture torture resemblance napkin

Exercises 8. Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 If you look through a kaleidoscope, are you likely to see (a) changing coloured patterns, or (b) a single coloured pattern? 2 If you flaunt something, do you (a) deliberately try to make people notice, or (b) try to hide it? (a) changing coloured patterns, (a) deliberately try to make people notice,

Exercises 3 If you marvel at something, do you find it (a) boring, or (b) surprising and fascinating? 4 Are shooting stars likely to (a) move brightly through the night sky, or (b) stand still? 5 Is the twilight likely to be (a) at the end of, or (b) in the middle of the day? (b) surprising and fascinating? (a) move brightly through the night sky, (a) at the end of,

Exercises 6 If you drift off to sleep, are you likely to fall asleep (a) quickly, or (b) slowly? 7 If someone is bookish, are they likely to be (a) more, or (b) less interested in reading books than doing other activities? 8 If you make up something, do you (a) invent it, or (b) borrow it from someone else? (b) slowly? (a) more, (a) invent it,

Exercises 9 If you come into your own, are you likely to show (a) how effective and useful, or (b) ineffective and useless you can be? 10 Is a villain likely to be a (a) good, or (b) bad person? 11 If you are left out of something, are you likely to be (a) included, or (b) excluded? (a) how effective and useful, (b) bad (b) excluded?

Reading and interpreting Exercises Reading and interpreting 9. Look at the word combinations from the passage and explain the images they create. 10. Work in pairs. Look at the sentences from the passage and answer the questions.

Exercises

Exercises 9. Look at the word combinations from the passage and explain the images they create. 1 the darkening water The water looked darker in the sunset because there was less daylight. 2 the perpetual droning The planes landing and taking off at Logan Airport made a continuous low sound.

Exercises 3 the vague twilight There was a small amount of light in the sky so objects couldn’t be seen very clearly at this moment between day and night. 4 the sheer poetry of flight The writer thought of flight as exciting, innovative movement which gave a different view of the world, as poetry did through words. She also felt that flying was full of beauty and gracefulness.

Exercises 5 a sense of windy superiority The writer and David felt superior because they played imaginative games which the other children didn’t (or couldn’t) play. This feeling was windy because wind could give people a sense of excitement and difference. 6 the broken insects Sheldon pulled the wings and legs off the insects so they were not whole anymore – they were broken.

Exercises 10. Work in pairs. Look at the sentences from the passage and answer the questions. 1 ... I can recall the changing colors of those days, clear and definite as a pattern seen through a kaleidoscope. What sense (sound, sight, taste etc) is the writer describing? What are the key words in this sentence? The writer is describing the sight in which colors and perhaps shapes change rapidly, like looking through a kaleidoscope. The key words are “changing colors “clear”, “definite”, and “pattern”, and the comparison with a “kaleidoscope”.

Exercises 2 … and the sound of waves was lost in the perpetual droning of the planes. What sense is the writer describing here? What do planes do on a runway? The writer is describing the sounds of the planes as they land on and take off from the runway.

Exercises 3 … a breathless sense of having tumbled like Icarus from the sky and caught myself on the soft bed just in time. What does the writer feel as she comes out of her dream? What happened to Icarus? She feels she has been falling out of the sky, like Icarus. But, unlike him, she caught herself on the bed to save herself, while Icarus fell and died in the sea.

Exercises 4 Out by the parking lot David and I found the perfect alcove for our Superman dramas. Do they play alone or with other children? Where is this likely to be – a place where lots of people go? They play alone away from the other children in a place where few people go at recess time. The alcove by the back entrance would be used only at the beginning and end of the school day.

Exercises 5 Our Superman games made us outlaws, yet gave us a sense of windy superiority. Why do you think they’re outlaws? Are they similar to or different from the other children? They are different from the other children and they do not join the others for playground games, so they think of themselves as outlaws.

Exercises 6 After school we left him to his mamma and his bonbons and his helpless insects. So how does Sheldon’s behaviour while he plays with the writer contrast with his behaviour after they finish playing? Sheldon joined them as a villain. After being prompted, he could invent tortures in the games, as a villain might. However, after the games were over he went back to his mother’s sweets and he continued the torture outside the games by pulling off the legs and wings of insects.

Exercises 7 … he admitted that Uncle Frank was the strongest man he had ever known, and could do lots of tricks like making caramels disappear under napkins and walking on his hands. How is Uncle Frank compared with Superman in real life? Uncle Frank was very strong and he could do magic tricks and gymnastics, like walking on his hands. To the writer, Uncle Frank was as powerful as Superman.

Developing critical thinking Exercises Developing critical thinking 11. Work in pairs and discuss the questions. 1 As a child, which dreams, sights, sounds and feelings did you share with Sylvia Plath? Do you still have them now? I have one thing in common with her that I also had dreams about flying. I dreamed I was a bird, not Superman, though. I also remember pink sunsets which similar to her description. However, we didn’t have the droning sounds of planes. I admired my uncle but I didn’t think he was a Superman!

2 Do you think Sylvia Plath imagined she was a Superman herself? Exercises 2 Do you think Sylvia Plath imagined she was a Superman herself? When a child, Sylvia dreamed Superman was teaching her and he looked like her uncle. In a different way, she was a Superman when she wrote poems later. Because she became a different person who could do super things with words.

Exercises 3 Who in the passage do you think is the most important real-life person to her? Can you add to her description of them? What did they really look like? Probably her Uncle Frank is the most important real-life person to her. She admires him and thinks he’s like Superman. He is strong and can do magic tricks and gymnastics. On the other hand, David shares her love for the sheer poetry of fight and listens to the Superman serial on the radio. Especially, he’s her main companion at school. They play Superman games together. So maybe David is also an important person.

Exercises 4 Do you think Sylvia Plath had a happy childhood? How different do you think her adult life was? From this extract she seems to be lonely but imaginative when she was young. She didn’t really have happy relationships, with only one friend David, who was pale and bookish. But generally, she enjoyed her childhood. Her adult life was, it seems, also lonely and, as a poet, imaginative. She apparently got depressed from time to time and although her marriage was very productive and creative for five years it did not end well and there were times when she was very unhappy as an adult.

Exercises 5 What important events in childhood can affect people when they’re older? Many significant family events in childhood can have a deep effect, good or bad. Examples include moving house or changing school, divorce, death, poor health or unemployment of parents, or if your family suddenly becomes rich or poor. Other critical events in one’s environment can make a huge difference and change people’s lives: war, famine, or epidemics, disasters like earthquakes, accidents like car crashes, big financial changes in the country like a depression or financial crash may all have a negative effect.

Childhood Memories Activity 1: Extension Activities Childhood Memories Activity 1: Listen to the essay Mum and Childhood Days and do group discussion. Activity 2: Share a memorable childhood event with the class by showing them a picture.

Extension Activities Activity 1: Listen to the essay Mum and Childhood Days and do group discussion: 1. What do you think of the essay? 2. What does the essay remind you? Script

Extension Activities Mum and Childhood Days　 When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. You thanked her by weeping your eyes out. When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by crying all night long. When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You thanked her by running away when she called.　　

Extension Activities When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor. When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. You thanked her by coloring the dining room table. When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.

Extension Activities When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school. You thanked her by screaming, “I'M NOT GOING!” When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball. You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window. When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream. You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.

Extension Activities When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons. You thanked her by never even bothering to practice. When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another. You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

Extension Activities Activity 2: Share a memorable childhood event with the class by showing them a picture and tell the story of it.

Thank you