Unit Five

A Miserable, Merry Christmas

Unit Five

A Miserable, Merry Christmas

1. miserable:1. miserable:

Ⅰ. New Words:Ⅰ. New Words:

a. very unhappyeg. The girl felt miserable at her dead cat.

a. very unhappyeg. The girl felt miserable at her dead cat.

The sick child looked

pale and miserable.

The sick child looked

pale and miserable.

2. eve:

n. the day or evening before a festival or an important event

2. eve:

n. the day or evening before a festival or an important event

eg. Bill stayed up late on the eve of the final exam.

Firecrackers are heard everywhere on New Year’s Eve.

Firecrackers are heard everywhere on New Year’s Eve.

3. kneel: v. go down on the knees eg. Everyone knelt down to pray.

3. kneel: v. go down on the knees eg. Everyone knelt down to pray.

He knelt down to look for a coin he had dropped.He knelt down to look for a coin he had dropped.

4. indignant: a. angry at sth. unfair. 4. indignant: a. angry at sth. unfair.

eg. The old man was in-

dignant at his grandson’s

wastefulness.

She was indignant

with the terrorists.

She was indignant

with the terrorists.

5. weep:

v. cry without a loud

sound and with tears

running down

eg. She wept with / for joy. Lin Daiyu wept so often over her sad fate that her health was ruined.

eg. She wept with / for joy. Lin Daiyu wept so often over her sad fate that her health was ruined.

6. wrong: vt. do wrong to; treat unjustly eg. She forgave those who had wronged her.

6. wrong: vt. do wrong to; treat unjustly eg. She forgave those who had wronged her.

You wrong her by having such a low opinion of her ability.

You wrong her by having such a low opinion of her ability.

你对她的能力评价这么低， 实在冤枉了她。 你对她的能力评价这么低， 实在冤枉了她。

n. sth. wrong 邪恶， 坏事 n. sth. wrong 邪恶， 坏事

eg. a sense of right and wrong eg. a sense of right and wrong

7. lest: conj. in case ; for fear that

7. lest: conj. in case ; for fear that

eg. The children kept quiet lest they should wake up their mother.

8. anxiety: n. fear and worry 8. anxiety: n. fear and worry

eg. I felt anxiety about / for his safety when I heard the news of the train accident.

9. make sure: 9. make sure:

act so as to be certain act so as to be certain

eg. Make sure that you have the key.

eg. Make sure that you have the key.

Father makes sure that all lights are off before he goes to bed.

Father makes sure that all lights are off before he goes to bed.

10. nothing but: merely eg. Nothing by doubts can prevent you from succeeding.

10. nothing but: merely eg. Nothing by doubts can prevent you from succeeding. Nothing but a miracle can save him. Nothing but a miracle can save him.

11. stick to: refuse to change or give up eg. to stick to one’s promise / plans

11. stick to: refuse to change or give up eg. to stick to one’s promise / plans

I’ll stick to this task until it is completed.

I’ll stick to this task until it is completed.

12. hang up: 1) place on a hook eg. Let’s hang up the picture in the classroom.

12. hang up: 1) place on a hook eg. Let’s hang up the picture in the classroom.

2) to end a telephone call

eg. I’ll have to hang up

now because

someone is knocking

at the door.

2) to end a telephone call

eg. I’ll have to hang up

now because

someone is knocking

at the door.

13. or something: or sth. similar; or sth. of that sort (used when the speaker is not sure.) eg. Sam was a shopkeeper or something.

13. or something: or sth. similar; or sth. of that sort (used when the speaker is not sure.) eg. Sam was a shopkeeper or something.

I hear he has broken

an arm or something.

我听说他折断了手臂什么的。

I hear he has broken

an arm or something.

我听说他折断了手臂什么的。

II. Language PointsII. Language Points

1. declare: make known clearly or

formally;

say strongly or openly

eg. The scientist declared the results of his experiment. He declared that he would never help us.

eg. The scientist declared the results of his experiment. He declared that he would never help us.

I declare the story ( to be ) false.

I declare the story ( to be ) false.

2. That was hard. ------ It was a difficult choice to make ( between a pony and a pair of high boots. )

2. That was hard. ------ It was a difficult choice to make ( between a pony and a pair of high boots. )

3. There ought to be something to fill your stocking with, and Santa Claus can’t put a pony into a stocking.

3. There ought to be something to fill your stocking with, and Santa Claus can’t put a pony into a stocking.

------- As a matter of course, there should be some Christmas present in your stocking.

------- As a matter of course, there should be some Christmas present in your stocking.

But even if Father Christmas will satisfy your desire, he can’t put a small horse into a stocking.

But even if Father Christmas will satisfy your desire, he can’t put a small horse into a stocking.

eg. I’d like to find some-

one to play chess with.

eg. I’d like to find some-

one to play chess with.

She would like to have

someone to talk with.

She would like to have

someone to talk with.

4. …… it hung limp.

----- This pattern often happens in description with such verbs as “sit”, “stand”, and “lie.”

4. …… it hung limp.

----- This pattern often happens in description with such verbs as “sit”, “stand”, and “lie.”

eg. The sun rises red. eg. The sun rises red.

She stood there

calm and quiet, waiting

or their decision.

She stood there

calm and quiet, waiting

or their decision.

5. That helped some.---- The crying somewhat helped to relieve my disappointment. Some: somewhat

5. That helped some.---- The crying somewhat helped to relieve my disappointment. Some: somewhat Eg. I’m feeling some better today. Eg. I’m feeling some better today.

6. ……I saw his face, and

I think I can see now

the anxiety upon it, the

worried impatience.

6. ……I saw his face, and

I think I can see now

the anxiety upon it, the

worried impatience.

-----I saw his face, and

looking back now, I still

remember his facial

expression----

-----I saw his face, and

looking back now, I still

remember his facial

expression----

he looked very anxious and worried as if he was expecting something that should have come.

he looked very anxious and worried as if he was expecting something that should have come.

7. For such a horse as that I would have given anything.----- I would have been willing to give up all I had in exchange for a horse like that.

7. For such a horse as that I would have given anything.----- I would have been willing to give up all I had in exchange for a horse like that.

Such… as: of the same kind; of that kind Such… as: of the same kind; of that kind

eg. Metals are such things as iron, silver, and gold.

8. Too much.--- That was

too much for me to put

up with.

8. Too much.--- That was

too much for me to put

up with.

9. I fell upon the steps and broke into tears. ------I threw myself upon the steps and burst into tears.

9. I fell upon the steps and broke into tears. ------I threw myself upon the steps and burst into tears.

10. I think now that it was both. It covered the whole distance from broken-hearted misery to bursting happiness---too fast.

10. I think now that it was both. It covered the whole distance from broken-hearted misery to bursting happiness---too fast.

Today I think that Christmas was both the best and the worst I ever knew.

Today I think that Christmas was both the best and the worst I ever knew.

That morning, I experience misery and happiness in the extremes and was driven from one extreme of emotion quickly to the other within a couple of hours.

That morning, I experience misery and happiness in the extremes and was driven from one extreme of emotion quickly to the other within a couple of hours.