Lesson 1
Questions and Suggestions
I. Central Themes and Main Ideas:
1. Tell briefly about Mrs. Taylor and her circumstances.
Mrs. Taylor was a poor old woman, living alone in an attic room she rented from Mrs. Connell. Her husband Bert died. One of her two sons was killed in Italy in the war and another son Johnnie lived far away in Montreal. She was not in good health, longing for conversation and company with other people. She was a quiet, kind and considerate woman, clean, careful, economical and efficient in doing everything. She was very particular about her appearance, a little vainglory.
2. Why did Mrs. Taylor get up at five o’clock that morning?
She was going to take a short trip in the suburbs and then returned without the notice of her landlady.
3. Why did she do everything quietly and stealthily?
She did not want to disturb Mrs. Connell and she hoped to keep her short trip cret.
4. Was she afraid of Mrs. Connell, the landlady? How do you know?
谄媚什么意思 She was a bit afraid of Mrs. Connell, becau she didn’t want to answer the surprid questions of the latter.
5. What did she take with her in the suitca?
She took some underwear, a towel and soup, some handkerchiefs, two pairs of stockings, Bert’s picture and her son’s picture, her blou and blue skirt, etc.
Why did she put in the ill-fitting red velvet dress and the heavy Bible?
Becau she liked its rich color, and the feeling of opulence it gave, and the Bible rved as something to give her spiritual solace.
6. If she was going only a short distance, why then did she take such trouble with her packing?
She pretended to take a long trip. In addition, by preparing her luggage, she could enjoy a lot of pleasure.
礼物盒手工制作
7. Why did she decide to make the trip?
课程教育研究
She felt lonely and she was long for company and she hoped to e and talk with other people.
Why didn’t she go and live with Johnnie and Ruth?
She had nd his son’s reluctance when he invited her to live with them in Montreal. And she did not want to be a burden on her son and Ruth. She was an independent woman.
What is left unsaid in “but she’d en too much of that sort of thing in the past”?
She knew that in general the in-laws’ relationship was difficult to deal with. .
8. How did she manage to save the money for the trip?
She had managed to save the expens for the trip without a few things to eat over the past week.
9. How did she feel in the streetcar?
She felt important for the first time in months.
甄妮演唱会What was the attitude of the pasngers in general towards her?
They were all friendly to her.
10. Describe her encounter with the soldier.
左撇子节When she got off the streetcar, the young soldier took her suitca, and holding her by the arm, led her across the street. They had a nice talk.
11. Why did her voice crack with emotion when the soldier walked away?
She felt sorry for him for fear that he might be punished becau he had overstayed his pass. And the young soldier reminded her of her young Bert who had died in Italy.
12. Why do you think Mrs. Taylor thought the best part of any journey was the waiting for the train?
For her, the trip was very short. But before the trip really began, she had been busy by doing a lot of preparations. She had met a lot of people and talked with them. She had enjoyed fully her waiting experience to her heart’s content.
13. Describe her encounter with Mrs. Rawlinson.
Seeing Mrs. Rawlinson had trouble controlling the little boy, Mrs. Taylor offered her help by catching the boy around the waist. They two women got to know each other. Mrs. Taylor proved to be still efficient in looking after the children.
14. How did Mrs. Taylor feel on the streetcar back home?
She felt happy becau she had a wonderful trip.
参旗 What was in her mind during the ride?
女人爱听的暖心话
She was planning for another trip to the suburbs on the Winnipeg train.
15. In what n was the trip important to Mrs. Taylor?
By taking the trip, she met a lot of people and talked with them, which helped to overcome her loneliness, and which made her feel important again in front of others. The trip also brought a lot of happy memories back to her. Taking a trip becomes a new hope for her old age, rendering her life meaningful and interesting.
奇幻岛
