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Unit1(BOOK4)
Part B The Hospital Window
Jack and Ben, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. Jack, whose bed was next to the room's only window, was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. But Ben had to spend all day and night flat on his bed. To kill time the two men began to talk. They talked for hours about their wives, families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, and where they had been on vacation. As days went by, a deep friendship began to develop between them.
Every afternoon when Jack could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to Ben all the things he could see outside the window. And Ben began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees beautified the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As Jack described all this in exquisite detail, Ben would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scenes.
One warm afternoon Jack described a parade passing by. Although Ben couldn't hear the band -- he could see it in his mind's eye as Jack portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of Jack, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
Ben was heart broken. Life without Jack was even more unbearable. How he longed to hear Jack's voice and his melodious descriptions of the outside world! As he looked at the window, an idea suddenly occurred to him. Perhaps he could see for himself what it was like outside. As soon as it seemed appropriate, Ben asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself! He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall!
What could have compelled my roommate to describe such wonderful things outside this window?' Ben asked the nurse when she returned.
Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you to live on,' she said. 'You know, he was blind and could not even see the wall.'
Questions:
1. What does the story mainly tell us?
2. Which of the following adjectives can best describe Jack?
3. What did Jack describe to Ben according to the story?
Part C
Additional Listening
Short Conversations
Conversation 1:
M: How do you like your roommate, Debby?
W: Ever since we met on the first day of college, we've been inseparable.
Q: What do you know about Debby and her roommate?
Conversation 2:
M: Have you heard from Linda lately? You two were so intimate in college.
W: Well, honestly, I haven't heard from her as much as I used to since she moved to the east coast two months ago. But I'm sure the friendship between us is as strong as it was before.
Q: What can you infer from the woman’s response?
Conversation 3:
W: Do you keep in touch with your old friends back home now that you don't see them regularly?
M: Frankly, after I moved to this city, I'm out of touch with most of them except a few close ones.
Q: What does the man mean?
Conversation 4:
W: It's polite to call a friend before we visit, isn't it?
M: You're right. People usually don't like surprise visits. But close friends often drop in on each other.
Q: What does the man mean?
Conversation 5:
M: Cathy, it seems that you and Sally do almost everything together.
W: That's true. You see, we were born on the same day. We both majored in fashion designing. And we even have the same love for using bright-colored material in our designs. Isn't it amazing!
Q: What can we learn from the conversation?
Part D
The Colors of Friendship
Legend has it that the colors of the world started to quarrel one day. All claimed that they were the best, the most beautiful.
Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die."
Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but have you ever considered the color of the sky and the sea?"
Hearing this, Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. I am the color of the sun, the moon and all the stars. Without me there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious, for I serve the needs of human life."
At this, Red could stand it no longer. He shouted: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of blood -- life's blood! I am also the color of danger and bravery, of passion and love."
Purple rose up to his full height: "I am the color of royalty and power. I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection."
And so the colors went on boasting. Their quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning, followed by a roll of thunder. Rain started to pour down. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
Just then rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
Then rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky to form a great bow of colors as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, a rainbow appears in the sky, to let us remember to appreciate one another.
adj. 中斷的；被打斷的；不規則的 vt. 打斷；中斷
