Text: The Marry Month of May
Focus 1 Language Skills Focus 2 Language Use Focus 3 Translation Skills Focus 1 Language Skills Background Information Warm Up Vocabulary Intensive Reading
Exercises: I , II, III, IV, V, VI, VII Warm Up:
1. Why is May the marry month?
2. What crazy things did you do in the month of May? Vocabulary • Stray: a.
• 1)lost from home ; having no home • He often feeds stray dogs and cats
• 2)seperated from other things or people of the same kind. • A civilian was killed by a stray bullet. • A few stray hairs • Sag: v
• 1) to hang or bend down in the middle, espcially of weight or pressure • The tent began to sag under the weight of the rain. • 2) to become weaken or fewer
• Their share of the vote sagged badly at the last election. • Sniff
• Sniff around/round: try to find out information about sb/sth • We don’t want journalists sniffing around
• Sniff around/round sb: to try to get sb as a lover,employee
• Hollywood agents have been sniffing around those who have the potential to become a super star.
• Sniff at sth: to show no interest in or respect for sth • He sniffed at my efforts at writing.
• Sniff sb/sth out: to discover or find sb/sth by using your sense of smell or looking
• The dogs are trained to sniff out drugs.
• Journalists are good at sniffing out a scandal. • Plump
• A plump body/face/figure • Plump tomatoes/cushions
• Verb. Plump sth(up) to make sth larger, softer and rounder
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He learned forward while the nurse plumped up his pillows Draft: v
1) to write the first rough version of sth such as a letter To draft a contract/ bill
2) to choose people and send them somewhere for a special task Extra police are being drafted in to control the crowds. Bow
1) to move your head forwards and downwards She bowed her head in shame.
They stood in silence with their heads bowed. 2) to bend or make sth bend The pines bowed in the wind.
Bow out ( of sth): to stop taking part in an activity, esp. one in which you have been successful in the past.
She has finally decided it’s time to bow out of international tennis.
Bow to sth: to agree unwillingly to do sth because other people want you to They finally bowed to the pressure from the public. Sour
Go/turn sour: to stop being pleasant or satisfactory Their relationship soon went sour.
Sour grapes: used to show that you think sb is jealous and is pretending that sth is not important
He said that he didn’t want the job anyway, but that’s just sour grapes. Take it into one’s head: it occurs to someone that..
She took it into her head to go and see her aunt, whom she had not visited for many years.
He took it into his head that he even couldn’t approve his identity to the policeman.
Chase after: to run, drive,etc. after sb/sth. In order to catch him. The kids chased after each other in the garden.
In the air: felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening There is romance in the air
There are rumors in the air that the war will be at end. I(Tom/Susan)，take thee(Tom/Susan) to my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us apart, according to God’s holy ordiance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.
我以上帝的名义，郑重发誓：接受你成为我的妻子，从今日起，不论祸福、富贵、贫穷、疾病还是健康，都爱你，珍视你，直至死亡将我们分开。
That’s funny-he was here a moment ago and now he’s gone. strange
If there has been any funny business, we’ll soon find out. Suspicious/illegal
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Don’t you get funny with me. Without respect
I feel a bit funny today. Ill/sick
Take it into one’s head: it occurs to someone that…
1) she took it into her head to go and see Jane, whom she had not visited for many years.
• 2)They took it into their heads to exchange their houses for a month. • Run off with sb: to leave home,one’s husband, wife. etc, in order to have a relationship with anther person. • 1) She ran off with her boss.
• 2) Running with a kind man was her best choice when being forced to marry an old local tyrant.
• Chase after: to run.drive.etc, after sb./sth.in order to catch them. • 1) my dog liks to chase after rabbits.
• 2) The kids chased after each other in the garden.
• All smiles:looking very happy, esp. soon after you have been looking worried or sad.
• 1) Twenty-four hours later he was all similes again.
• 2) knowing that his disease was falsely diagosed as cancer, he was all smiles. • I’m all ears
• In the air: felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening • 1) There is romantic in the air.
• 2)There are rumors in the air that the war will be at end.
• 3) What changes they will make nobody know, but there is something in the air.
• Be getting on: ( informal)(of a person) to be becoming old. • 1) We are both getting on now.
• 2) Through my father is getting on, he still works hard. • This house would be lonesome without you • I couldn’t finish the job without you.
• But for the storm, we should have caught the train.
• Sweep into: move quickly and confidently, esp. because you are impatient or like to seem important.
• e.g. Eva swept into the meeting room and demanded to know what was going on. • As„as
• 1) One is as light as the other is heavy. • 2)She was happy as she was sad. Language Points
• Do sb.(no) good
• ---- to have a useful effect; to help sb • E.g.
• Having a financial awareness will do you good in the current society.
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Investing so much money into the project will do you no good. Have a heart of stone
--- to be a person who does not show others sympathy or pity E.g.
He has a heart of stone. He punished the maid who had made a mistake by torture。
作为中国历史上唯一女皇，她亲手杀了自己的孩子。真是铁石心肠。 She, the only empress in the history of China, killed her own baby. She has a heart of stone. To death
--- extremely; very much; to the utmost E.g.
I’m worried to death when I heard you had a car accident.
.百无聊赖的我孑然一人静静地坐在河边公园的长椅上，目光呆滞地望着渐渐西沉的夕阳，不言不语，满脸惆怅。
Bored to death, I sat on the bench along the riverside in the park in silence all by myself, with my eyes fixed on the fading sun, wearing an anxious expression.
So much for sth
---- used to say that a particular action,idea, statement, etc, was not useful or did not produce the result that was hoped for ··到此为止，仅仅这些 E.g.
So much for your advice, I still want to have a try. 既然开始下雨了, 我去散步的念头只好作罢。
Now it's started raining; so much for my idea of taking a walk. Wrap„up
--- put warm clothes on
E.g. It’s snowing today. You’d better wrap yourself up
---- complete a job or an agreement in a satisfactory way. 圆满完成，圆满结束(工作、协议等)
E.g.NATO defense ministers wrap up their meeting in Brussels today... 北约各国国防部长今天圆满结束了在布鲁塞尔的会议。 To the bone
--- affecting you very strongly. E.g.
That's an expensive piece of equipment, dude.
And the rest of us have had our budgets cut to the bone. 老兄，那玩意儿可不便宜。 而我们的预算经费被剥削了。 Pile up
--- to put things one on top of another; to form a pile; --- amass; get together E.g.
He piled the books up on the desk.
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Problems were piling up at work. Shut off
--- to stop the supply or flow of, e.g. gas, steam. Water, etc; cut off
--- avoid seeing other people, usually because you are feeling depressed. 避免见人 • E.g.
• Shut off the gas and electricity when you leave!
• Billy tends to keep things to himself more and shut himself off. • 比利更加倾向于把事情藏在心里，不与他人来往。 • Bring„ to life
• --- bring sth back to life; make sth more interesting • E.g.
• Flowers can bring a dull room back to life. • A great actor can bring a character to life. Text Analysis:
1 The month of May does funny things to us all. It is the month when the bank president suddenly marries the cleaning woman. It is the month when the rich widow takes it into her head to run off with a worker. It is the month when a show dog chases after the ugliest stray dog in town. It is the Marry Month of May!
widow: n. [C] 寡妇
e.g. (1) She gets a widow’s pension.
(2) She became a widow when she was 38. take it into one’s head: 突发奇想，心血来潮
e.g. (1) She took it into her head to go and see her aunt, whom she had not visited for many years.
(2) He took it into his head that he even couldn’t approve his identity to the policeman.
run off with sb.: 与某人私奔 e.g. (1) She ran off with her boss.
(2) She isn’t going to run off with Tom. chase after: 追赶，追逐
e.g. (1) My dog likes to chase after rabbits.
(2) The kids chased after each other in the garden. stray: a. 流浪的，无主的，走失的
e.g. (1) He often feeds stray dogs and cats.
(2) Statistics show that the number of stray dogs in Taipei has decreased from 30,000 to 18,000 this year. Question about Para. 1
(1) When did the story take place? The story took place in May.
2 It enters the bones of us all, young and old alike. It was in the bones of old man Coulson, sagging in a chair by the open window, sniffing the scent of flowers in the window box. He was dreaming pleasantly about his plump, rosy
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housekeeper Mrs. Widdup. But his gouty foot hurt. It was time for his medicine. He rang for the butler, Higgins. But it wasn’t Higgins who came. It was Mrs. Widdup. He enjoyed the sight of her. She was all smiles. all smiles: 满脸笑容
e.g. (1) Twenty-four hours later he was all smiles again.
(2) Knowing that his disease was falsely diagnosed as cancer, he was all smiles.
plump: a. 丰腴的，微胖的
e.g. (1) A short plump woman came waddling along the street.
(2) She is a small, plump woman, aging now but with a shiny, warm face. scent: n. [U, C] 香味；气味
e.g. (1) The scent of lemons filled the garden. (2) These flowers have no scent. sniff: vt. 嗅，闻；抽鼻子
e.g. (1) He sniffed the perfume she wore.
(2) He sat in the garden, sniffing the fresh morning air. 3 “Higgins is out, sir. He’s gone to mail a letter.”
4 “Out, is he?” cried Mr. Coulson. “Hah! There’s no one in this house. Who cares if I die here in this chair for lack of attention!”
Translation: “希金斯出去了，先生，他出去寄信了。” “他出去了？”库尔森先生问，“唉，我没有人侍候，如果我由于无人照管而死在这椅子里也不会有人在乎！” Questions about Paras. 2-4
(2) What disease did Mr. Coulson suffer from? Mr. Coulson suffered from gout.
(3) Why did Mrs. Widdup come to serve the old man? Because the butler had gone out to mail a letter.
(4) What did the old man mean by complaining that no one cared for him even if he should die?
He meant that he needed Mrs. Widdup’s care and love.
5 “Oh, that’s not true, sir.” Mrs. Widdup blushed a deep pink. “There are those who care more than you know. What may I do for you, sir?”
6 “My medicine, if you please. The bottle is on the table. Just three drops, in a glass of water. Thank you, Mrs. Widdup.” “In the spring, a young man’s fancy, desire, or romantic imagination—I mean an old—I mean any man’s fancy—lightly turns into thoughts of love.” blush: vt./vi.（因尴尬或害羞）脸红，羞愧
e.g. (1) She blushed with embarrassment at the memory of the conversation. (2) I blushed at his rudeness.
blush 还可以作名词，意为“（因难堪、羞愧）面部泛起的红晕”。 e.g. He walked away to hide his blushes.
romantic: a. 浪漫的，多情的；不切实际的，空想的；有浪漫色彩的，传奇性的
e.g. (1) The hotel is promoting their romantic candlelit dinner.
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(2) She has a romantic view of American life. (3) Keats is one of the greatest Romantic poets.
(4) She insisted that she didn’t have a romantic relationship with her teacher. Question about Para. 5
(5) How did Mrs. Widdup respond to Mr. Coulson’s complaint?
Mrs. Widdup blushed a deep pink, saying, “Oh, that’s not true, sir. There are those who care more than you know.”
7 “Isn’t that the truth,” sighed Mrs. Widdup. “Seems like it’s in the air. Is there something more I might do for you, sir?”
8 “You might,” said Mr. Coulson, looking suddenly shy, “or you might not. Could you believe, Mrs. Widdup, that an old man could feel…” 9 “Oh, not an old man, sir. Just—urn—getting on a bit.”
10 “Just getting on a bit, then,” said Mr. Coulson. “Thank you, Mrs. Widdup. Could you believe that this old heart—this heart that’s getting on a bit—beats faster at the very sight of you?”
in the air: 可感觉到的，在传播中的，流行的 e.g. (1) There is romance in the air.
(2) What changes they will make nobody knows, but there is something in the air. (3) There are rumors in the air that the war will be at end. be getting on: 变老，上了年纪 e.g. (1) We are both getting on now.
(2) Though my father is getting on, he still works hard.
11 “Oh, Mr. Coulson!” Mrs. Widdup blushed again. This time her cheeks were as pink as the spring flowers. “You’re too kind, sir.”
12 “This house would be lonesome without you,” said Mr. Coulson. “It is a fine house, a large house. I am, after all, a millionaire. All this, my dear, could some day be yours if…”
lonesome: a. 孤独的，寂寞的
e.g. (1) She felt so lonesome after divorce.
(2) I get so lonesome here with no one to talk to. 13 “FATHER!”
14 All at once his daughter Constance swept into the room. She was as tall and thin as Mrs. Widdup was short and round. She was as pale as Mrs. Widdup was pink. She was as serious as Mrs. Widdup was smiley.
15 With her cold eyes, she noted the blush on Mrs. Widdup’s cheeks. She noted the silly smile on her father’s lips. all at once: 突然地
e.g. (1) He turned to silence all at once.
(2) All at once she felt a little dizzy and had no appetite. sweep into:（尤指因不耐烦或自大而）昂首阔步地走
e.g. Eva swept into the meeting room and demanded to know what was going on. Question about Para. 14
(6) How was Mr. Coulson’s daughter contrasted with Mrs. Widdup in appearance?
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Mr. Coulson’s daughter was as tall and thin as Mrs. Widdup was short and round. She was as pale as Mrs. Widdup was pink. She was as serious as Mrs. Widdup was smiley.
16 She had heard of many a foolish old man marrying his housekeeper in the month of May! She walked right to the window and slammed it shut. “There is a draft.” she said. “Now isn’t that better?”
17 “No!” cried the old man as Mrs. Widdup set down the medicine glass and hurried from the room. “I like the spring air.”
18 “Spring! Hah!” said Constance. “It’s still chilly outside. That draft will do you no good.”
many a: 许多，大量
e.g. (1) He does business with many a store.
(2) Many a quarrel has come about through a misunderstanding.
many a是一种古老的用法。现代英语中常用 a great/good many，不过后面要跟名词复数，动词用复数形式。
e.g. Helen has a great many friends indeed, but she does not think she has any she can confide in.
draft: n. [C] 穿堂风，通风气流
e.g. He sat in a draft and caught a cold. draft在英国英语中是draught。
draft还可作动词，意为“起草，草拟”。 e.g. (1) Who draft the first Property Law? (2) I’ll draft a contract for you. set down: 放下，卸下
e.g. (1) With the words, he set the box down. (2) I’ll set you down on the corner of the street. chilly: a. 寒冷的，阴冷的
e.g. (1) You’d better wear a coat. It’s chilly today.
(2) It often happens that a warm morning passes into a chilly afternoon. chilly由chill派生而来。chill 可以作名词，意为“寒冷，寒战，寒心”。 e.g. I can’t stand the chill here in Harbin. chill也可作动词，意为“使变冷；使寒心”。 e.g. I put the meat in the fridge to chill. do sb. (no) good: 对某人有（没有）好处 e.g. (1) A few days off will do you good.
(2) The latest changes in the company will do us no good.
19 Miss Constance Coulson cared nothing about the coming of spring. The scent of May flowers awoke no dreams. The chirping of sparrows gave her a pain. Miss Coulson had a heart of stone.
20 “Your housekeeper looks tired,” she said. “I think she needs a vacation. Why don’t we give her three or four days off?
21 “That’s very kind,” said Mr. Coulson, “but no more than four days. I’d miss her.”
22 “Four days, then,” agreed Miss Coulson. There was an odd smile on her face.
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“Four days will be plenty.”
have a heart of stone: 铁石心肠，冷酷无情
e.g. (1) He doesn’t seem to care about the suffering of others. He has a heart of stone.
(2) He has a heart of stone. He whipped his own daughter until she fell down. Questions about Paras. 20-22
(7) What suggestion did the daughter give to her father?
She suggested that Mrs. Widdup should have several days of vacation. (8) How many days was Mr. Coulson’s housekeeper off? Four days.
23 The next morning, when the iceman came around, the cook told him Miss Coulson wished to see him in the basement.
24 “I wish to place an order,” said Miss Coulson. “I would like to have you deliver one thousand pounds of ice to this basement every day for four days. I will show you where to place it each day. And this is for your trouble.”
25 She handed him a ten-dollar bill. The iceman took off his hat and bowed. “It will be a pleasure, madam. I will bring the first thousand pounds at once.” bow: vi. 鞠躬，点头；弯曲
e.g. (1) He bowed low to the man who saved his life.
(2) When you bow to others, you should stand at attention to show your respect. bow还可以用作名词，表示“弓形物；鞠躬”。
e.g. He took out his bow and arrows, and shot at the bird. Question about Para. 24
(9) What order did Miss Coulson give the iceman?
She would like the iceman to deliver one thousand pounds of ice to the basement every day for four days.
26 Four days later Mr. Coulson dropped a glass on the floor, broke the spring of his bell by pulling on it too hard, and yelled for Higgins.
27 “I’m freezing to death!” he cried out. “Get me a blanket! Bring me a hot rum punch! Do something!”
28 “It has been getting a bit nippy in the past few days,” said Higgins. “I’ll close the window, sir. And here’s a nice warm blanket.” to death: 极度，非常
e.g. (1) I’m bored to death of your endless chattering.
(2) I’m worried to death when I heard you had a car accident. blanket: n. [C]毯子，毛毯
e.g. (1) He covered himself with a blanket to keep warm. (2) The traveler wrapped himself with a blanket.
29 “So much for the month of May!” sighed Mr. Coulson, wrapping himself up. “It feels like the dead of winter in this room!”
30 Later in the day, his daughter came in to see how his gout was getting along. 31 “Not well,” he said sourly, “Tell me, daughter. How is the weather outdoors?”
32 “Bright,” she said, “but chilly. One needs a warm coat outdoors.”
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33 “One needs a warm coat indoors, too,” said Mr. Coulson “I’m chilled to the bone.”
so much for sth.: 有关„„就到此为止，仅仅这些
e.g. (1) He’s late again. So much for good intentions.
(2) So much for our hopes of going abroad, we can forget it.
so much 作副词时，意思是“这么(全然)”。
e.g. (1) He is not so much a genius as a hard worker.
(2) I have so much work to do that I can’t go out with you. wrap … up:穿暖
e.g. (1) It’s snowing today. You’d better wrap yourself up. (2) Be sure to wrap up your son in wool. sourly: ad. 乖戾地，没好气地
e.g. (1) He complained sourly that the new policy only benefited the rich. (2) Mike said sourly, “Drop it.” to the bone:影响极强地；深刻地
e.g. (1) Our housekeeping has been cut to the bone. (2) It chills me to the bone. Question about Paras. 27-29
(10) What happened after so many pounds of ice were piled up in the basement?
The pleasant feeling of May was gone and Mr. Coulson was freezing to death in the room.
34 When his daughter had gone out, the door to his room opened again. It was Mrs. Widdup. “I’m back, sir,” she said with a shy smile. “As I recall, there was something you were about to tell me just when your daughter came in the other day. Is that right, sir? Is that why you rang?”
35 “I did not ring!” snapped the old man, barely glancing at her. “My fingers are far too cold to ring a bell!”
snap: vt./vi. 厉声说，不耐烦地说；（使喀嚓）断裂，绷断；（使啪地）打开或关上
e.g. (1) “Don’t smoke.” she snapped. (2) He snapped the door open.
snap也可以用作名词，意为“吧嗒声；抢拍的照片”。 e.g. (1) She close the bag with a snap.
(2) She mailed us her family’s holiday snaps. Question about Para. 34
(11) What did Mrs. Widdup ask Mr. Coulson when she returned from her vacation?
She asked what he had been about to tell her before his daughter came into the room the other day.
36 “Cold, sir? But it’s such a beautiful spring day! Warm and fine. Birds are singing. Flowers are blooming. Children are playing in the park. The sun is shining. Would you like me to open the window?”
37 “No! How can you ask? It’s icy cold in this room!”
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38 “It is a bit chilly,” she said, “but outside the sun is…”
39 “You are a fool, woman!” cried Mr. Coulson. “I am freezing to death! And here you stand, chattering of birds and flowers and sunshine. When Higgins comes back, tell him to bring me a hot rum punch. And now—get out of my sight!”
bloom: vi. 开花
e.g. (1) The chrysanthemums bloom in autumn.
(2) These flowers will bloom all through the spring. bloom也可作名词，意为“花（朵）”。 e.g. (1) What beautiful blooms! (2) The gardens are all in bloom.
40 The month of May was gone from the old man’s heart.
41 A night passed. In the morning, Higgins helped Mr. Coulson into his chair by the window. The cold of the room was gone. It was May once again. When Mrs. Widdup came in, the old man reached out his bony hand and took her plump pink one.
42 “Mrs. Widdup,” he said. “Dear Mrs. Widdup. This house would be no home without you. My room is warm now. And so is my heart. I still have a million dollars, and…”
Translation: 老人的心里不再有五月了。过了一夜。第二天上午，希金斯把库尔森扶到窗边的椅子上。房间里不再冷了，又是五月天了。当威达普太太走进房间，老人伸出一只瘦骨嶙峋的手，抓住她那圆润的、红扑扑的手。 “威达普太太，”他说，“亲爱的威达普太太，这屋子里没有你就不能称为家。我的房间现在温暖了，我的心也温暖了。我还有一百万美元，还有„„” 43 “I found out what made the room cold, sir,” said Mrs. Widdup, adjusting his pillows. “It was ice, tons of it, all piled up in the basement. I have no idea why. So I shut off the cold air into your room. And now it’s May again!”
44 “It is,” said the old man, “and springtime has brought my heart to life once more. You and I, Mrs. Widdup—but oh, what will my daughter say?”
45 “Oh, nothing, sir!” Mrs. Widdup said happily. “Miss Constance ran off with the iceman last night.” pillow: n. [C] 枕头
e.g. (1) He falls asleep as soon as he touches the pillow. (2) She buried her face in the pillow. pile up: 堆放；挥起；叠放
e.g. (1) He piled the books up on the desk. (2) The clothes piled up in the corner.
shut off: 关，停止供应（煤气、蒸汽、水等）
e.g. (1) Why didn’t they shut off the gas and electricity? (2) They shut off the gas before leaving the house. bring …to life: 使„„苏醒，使更生动，使更有趣 e.g. (1) Flowers can bring a dull room back to life.
(2) Let’s invite Mary because she knows how to bring the party to life. Questions about Paras. 43-45
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(12) Who found out why the room was so cold? It was Mrs. Widdup.
(13) Why needn’t Mr. Coulson and Mrs. Widdup worry about Miss Constance Coulson’s attitude towards their marriage?
Because Miss Constance Coulson had run off with the iceman the night before. Homework：Write an article about what happened after the old man knew his daughter had run off with the iceman?
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