【读后续写】语篇素材积累（二）
The Hitchhiker
John Henderson was driving home late last night from an exhausting business trip. He had put off visiting the company’s new headquarters in order to get home before midnight, and now he was having trouble staying awake. He turned up the radio and tried to concentrate on the news — something about a robbery — but his eyes kept on closing. His wife, Marsha, was back home in Dayton, and he misd having her company on this long trip.
It was then that he noticed the hitchhiker (搭便车者) at the side of the road. Without even thinking about what he was doing, he slowed down and stopped the car. He couldn’t help feeling sorry for the young man who looked so wet and mirable in the rain. “Get in,” he said.
John remembered having to hitchhike home from the university before he had a car. He couldn’t stand sitting at the side of the road for hours, waiting for rides. The hitchhiker got in
and immediately John was sorry that he had picked him up. The young man had a strange face and very sharp eyes. His clothes were old and dirty, and his long hair needed cutting. The hitchhiker lit a cigarette and said he was going to Woodsville but when John asked him other questions, the young man avoided giving him any personal information and changed the subject. John began to sweat and his thoughts turned nervously to his wallet and all the money he was carrying on the backat. He desperately tried to remember what the newscaster had said earlier about a robbery. “Don’t be ridiculous!” He thought to himlf. “Stop imagining things! This guy isn’t a criminal. What’s the u of panicking?”
At this moment, John felt like having a cigarette, even though he had quit smoking three months before. He asked his pasnger for one but before lighting it, he had to wait for his hands to stop shaking.
“Stop the car!” cried the hitchhiker all of a sudden. John slammed on the brakes, hands shaking even more violently. “What’s wrong?” He nervously turned to the young man.” It’s
Woodsville,” the young man replied briefly and slowly reached into his pocket. “This is it!” thought John. “He is the criminal!” So panicked was John that he felt his lips trembling. He suddenly hit on a way out, stuttering, “All... all my money is on the backat. Take it away and spare me, plea!”
The young man looked puzzled, “It is I that am to pay.” Contrary to John’s wild imagination, he pulled out veral wrinkled bills, instead of a gun or a knife. “Thanks for your ride and company!” he said. Dumbfounded, John was too embarrasd to utter a word. “How ridiculous I was!” He thought to himlf. Waiting until his pasnger disappeared from sight, he stepped on the gas and drove out of town. He just couldn’t wait to share the amusing story with Marsha!
【主题语境】
人与自我，人与社会
【文章大意】
John Henderson半夜开车赶回家，途中偶遇一个年轻人搭便车。他以为那个年轻人是一个抢劫犯……
【重点语句】
1. ...and now he was having trouble staying awake.
……现在他很难保持清醒。
2. It was then that he noticed the hitchhiker at the side of the road.
就在那时，他注意到了路边搭便车的人。
3. At this moment, John felt like having a cigarette, even though he had quit smoking three months before.
这时，约翰觉得自己想抽烟，尽管他三个月前已经戒烟了。
4. So panicked was John that he felt his lips trembling.
约翰惊慌失措，感到嘴唇在颤抖。
5. Dumbfounded, John was too embarrasd to utter a word.
约翰目瞪口呆，不好意思说一句话。
【文章出处】《大学英语精读》第一册
