language so that the idiomatic usage is achieved.
Inversion: changing the order of words and arranging them in a natural order of the target language.
Affirmation to negation / negation to affirmation: using words with negative / affirmative implications to express affirmative / negative meanings.
Subordination: arranging essential information in the main clause and the non-essential information in the subordinate clause in accordance with the idiomaticity of target language.
Division: dividing a long sentence into several short parts, usually employed in translation from English to Chinese.
Integration: clustering several short sentences into a long one, usually employed in translation from Chinese to English.
Unit 2 Christmas Stories
Text A Angel on a Doorstep
Language Points
1. It took slow, careful questioning to extract the story from him. (Para.3)
Meaning: It was a time-consuming and meticulous task for the narrator to make an inquiry into what had happened to him.
extract: to obtain information or money, etc. by taking it from somebody who is disinclined to offer it.
2. … with six children and another on the way. (Para. 4)
Note: In the text, on the way indicates that the woman is expecting her seventh baby.
3. I repeated my condolences and let the matter rest. (Para.6)
Meaning: I continually offered my sympathy on Ben?s loss and tried to let his passion subside.
4. Worried that this incident would sour a warm person, I mulled over what to do.
(Para. 6)
Meaning: I was anxious that the unpleasant experience would devour Ben?s kindness and I pondered on some solutions to help him. 5. I let the subject drop. (Para. 13)
Meaning: I stopped further discussion of my solution to his problem. 6. … it seemed he lightened up a bit more. (Para.16)
Meaning: the dark cloud of his loss on his face seemed to disappear gradually. light up: if somebody?s face or eyes light up, they probably express happiness or excitement.
7. … she?d forgotten to leave a forwarding address. (Para.24)
Meaning: she had forgotten to write (jot) down a new address for Ben to find her. 8. …and I didn?t have the foggiest idea what I was crying about. (Para.29)
Meaning: I did not know exactly what I was crying about. foggy: not clear
9. I was really glad you talked me into this. (Para. 29)
Meaning: I was really glad you let me believe this. 10. “Heck no,” … (Para.31)
Note: “Heck” is an exclamatory word used to express that you are slightly annoyed or surprised by something. Here Ben used this exclamatory word to show that he was extremely annoyed by the narrator?s inquiry.
Cultural Notes
1. I was a stranger and you took me in (Para. 11).
This sentence originates from Matthew, the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. Jesus tells people that when the Son of Man sits on his throne in heavenly glory, he will separate people who are blessed by his Father on the right and those who are cursed by his Father on the left. The Son of Man explains to the righteous, who stand on the right, why they have been blessed by his Father that, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The righteous, who will go to eternal life, cannot remember when they did such good deeds to the Son of Man and ask him about it. The Latter replies that, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” 2. The Angel Gabriel (para.27)
Gabriel is an archangel who appears in both the Old Testament and in the New as a messenger to humans from God. In Luke, the third Gospel of the New Testament, Gabriel appeared to both Zechariah, the priest, and Virgin Mary and foretold them respectively that John the Baptist and Jesus would be born. The archangel?s mission may be well justified by his own words in the New Testament that, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.”
Keys to Exercises
Post-Reading Exercises I. Reading Comprehension 1-5 CCADB
II. Micro-writing Skills
1. Vocabulary Building
1) walk 2) dropped 3) extract 4) soured 5) gloomy 6) indignant 7) longing 8) bristled 9) sympathize 10) rejoiced
2. Sentence Cumulating
? One day, while out hunting with his master, he encountered a wild boar and boldly seized the beast by the ear, but his teeth gave way, and the boar escaped.
? His master rushed to the scene and began giving the hound a good scolding and sound beating, but stopped when the feeble dog looked up and said, “Spare your old servant, dear master!
3. Close Testing
1) when 2) then/once 3) had 4) same 5) them 6) whose 7) wrote 8) later 9) stood 10) either
4. Functional Training
1) unhappy mood:
wasn?t his usual sunny self seemed in no mood for talking was gloomy
was distraught at his stupidity for allowing this bill to grow so large. his anger seemed worse
He bristled as he talked about… he replied indignantly happy mood:
Ben?s jovial conversation lightened up
arrived with a tremendous smile and a glint in his eyes grinning
2) Adverbial clauses:
When Ben delivered milk to my cousin?s home that morning, (he wasn?t his usual sunny self.)
(He bristled) as he talked about the messy young ones who had drunk up all his milk.
But when Ben left, (I found myself caught up in his problem and longed to help.)
“When someone has taken from you, (give it to them, and then you can never be robbed.”)
(We?d joke about it) when he?d come.
Before I knew what was happening, I started to cry, and I didn?t have the foggiest idea what I was crying about. Coordinate clauses:
It was late November 1962, and (as a newcomer to Lawndale, Calif, I was delighted that milkmen still brought bottles of milk to doorsteps.) Prepositional phrases:
In the weeks that my husband, kids and I had been staying with my cousin while house-hunting, (I had come to enjoy Ben?s jovial repartee.) On a sunny January morning two weeks later, Ben almost ran up the walk.
Noun phrases:
Today, (however, he was gloomy as he dropped off his wares from his wire carrier.)
The next time I saw him, (his anger seemed worse.)
The next time Ben delivered milk, (I told him I had a way to make him feel better about the $79.)
Every time I?d ask the question, (it seemed he lightened up a bit more.) Then, six days before Christmas, (it happened.)
Text B A Doll from Santa
Language Points
1. … they were no replacement for a mother?s love. (Para.1)
Meaning: …they could not fill the space left by Alice?s mother?s death. 2. In the aftermath of her loss, Alice vowed to care for others. (Para.3)
Meaning: As a consequence of her loss, Alice promised to care for others. 3. …but an unfilled void seemed to remain. (Para.3)
Meaning: … but the loss of maternal love seemed to exist. void: a large empty space
Example: Below her was nothing but a black void.
4. One of my customers approached me with a sample of her handiwork… (Para.4)
Meaning: One of my customers spoke to me with a specimen of her handiwork, hoping that I could take orders for Christmas.
3) approach: to speak to somebody about something, especially to ask them for
something or to offer to do something
5. …one with gray hair and spectacles… (Para.4)
Meaning: … one with gray hair and a pair of glasses… 6. So I placed my Christmas order: two dolls… (Para.5)
Meaning: So I made a request to buy (purchase) two dolls for Christmas… 7. Things really started to fall into place … (Para.6)
Meaning: Things really started to become smoother…
fall into place/ slot into place: if something complicated or difficult to understand falls or slots into place, it becomes organized or clear in your mind. 8. I began to get ready for what would turn out to be one of the most memorable days of my mother?s life. (Para.6)
Meaning: … I began to make preparations for what would become one of the most unforgettable days of my mother?s life.
9. …along with one for my mother tucked into the bottom of Santa?s bag. (Para.7)
Meaning: … along with the doll for my mother hidden in the bottom of Santa?s bag.
tuck: to put something into a small space, especially to hide it or keep it safe or
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