英语听力网站《英语短篇小说教程》
练习参考答案
火星人
Keys to Unit Three
Richard Selzer: The Discus Thrower
1) Questions for discussion
(Suggested answers for reference)
(1) What impression do you get of the patient from the description given in the story?
(In spite of his rious illness, the man never moans or complains. He talks little and generally keeps the physical suffering to himlf. He tries to maintain an image of a real man although he is in the grip of Death. He behaves in the manner of Hemingway’s new day“tough guy” – acting by the principal that “A man can be destroyed but can not be defeated.”)
(2) In the short conversations, we hear the patient’s demand to know about exact time and his demand for shoes. Why is he still interested in time and what does he want shoes for since he can’t walk anymore?
(His interest in exact time and his demand for shoes em to suggest that, deep in his heart, the man refus to accept the fate. It might be the result of fierce psychological conflict within the patient, with reality and rationality on one side, and wish and will on the other side. Some abnormal behaviors indicate the man’s unwillingness to reconcile with the fate in spite of his lf-restrain.)
(3) Read carefully the paragraph about plate-throwing. Why does the writer give such detailed description of it? What is your interpretation of this rather abnormal behavior?
(From the detailed descriptions of his “discus” throwing, we em to learn that the man is rather skillful at that, and that he might have had some training in the sport of throwing discus. Then why do he throw plates? Is it becau it brings back the memory of the best moment in his life when his physical power wins the glory and cheers? By this impul
sive “reliving” or “restaging” of the explosive energy he once had, the man gains some satisfaction – he laughs after it – and proves that he is still alive. This action reveals the complicated inner world of a man who is forced to face death.)
(4) Why does the writer choo “The Discus Thrower” as the title? Is it coincidence that the short story has the same title as the famous Greek sculpture Discobolus (Discus Thrower)?
(In the Greek sculpture, we e the frozen moment of beauty: male vitality, energy and muscle power. It is a celebration of life and physical capability. This patient might once be a discus thrower, professional athlete or amateur, and now forms such a contrast to the sculptured image. This leaves a lot of room for reader’s own reflection on life and death.)
2) Explanation and interpretation
(Explain the implied meaning of the following ntences, and point out their significance in the context of the story.)
(1) a. From the doorway of Room 542 the man in the bed ems deeply tanned. Blue eyes and clo-cropped white hair give him the appearance of vigor and good health.
b. He lies solid and inert. In spite of everything, he remains impressive, as though he were a sailor standing athwart a slanting deck.
(The patient is fatally ill, but he looks, or keeps an image of a strong man. His life is threatened by dia, but the spirit of a strong man is still there. He does not collap, but does what he can, though rather vainly, to struggle to maintain the dignity of a man.)
(2) “Yes,” he says at last and without the least irony. “You can bring me a pair of shoes.”
(e suggested answer to Question 2.)
(3) It’s a blessing, she (the head nur) 外壳英文says.
(Though the head nur is the one who has complained a lot about the patient’s unreasonable behaviors and upon his death she says “It’s a blessing,” it does not mean t
hat she is cold blooded, and thus feels relieved of her troubles. She means that God has allowed him to go, so he no longer needs to suffer and to struggle in this world. It is thus a blessing from God.)
(4) He is still there in his bed. His face is relaxed, grave, dignified.
out from under(He is dead, possibly dying with relaxed feeling as he has kept his final image of being a true man with dignity and can now sleep in peace.)
《英语短篇小说教程》
练习参考答案
Keys to Unit Four
Somert Maugham: Mr. Know-All
会计英语
1) Opinions of Understanding:
quoted printable(1) Which of the following is a round character?
A. The narrator “I”. mixer B. Mr. Kelada. C. Mr. Ramsay. D. Mrs. Ramsay.
(2) Which of the following is a most typical flat character?
burma A. The narrator “I”. B. Mr. Kelada. C. Mr. Ramsay. D. Mrs. Ramsay.
(3) The narrator decided that he might have an unpleasant company even before eing Mr. Kelada becau _______.
A. he had to share a cabin with the latter
B. he had known the latter to be a loud and noisy person
is anyone upC. the latter had a foreign name