Lesson One Never late (1)

1. Lesson OneNever late (1) • Guide Questions • Analysis and Explanation • Reading Comprehension • Summary of The Lesson

2. Guide Questions • What’ the story about? • Where did the story take place? • Why did the narrator have to get off at Mendova? • What was the name of the train? • What did the narrator think of the train? • Why was the journey tiring to the narrator that day? • What happened when the train reached Mendova? • What did the narrator do when the train began to move? return

3. An Englishman who worked in a hot country far from England, had traveled in hundreds of trains. One day something unusual happened to him in the train from Paris to Endoran. He should get off at Mendova and then change to a ship. But that day the train was very crowded: the corridor was filled up with people and the floor was covered with all kinds of things.return

4. So no doubt when the train reached Mendova. It was very hard for him with a suitcase in each Mendova it was very hard for him, with a suitcase in each hand, to pass down the corridor to the door.No sooner had he reached the door than the train began to move. In despair, he stopped the train by following the instructions on the notice. return

5. Never Late (1)Never late for what? Who is never late? Upon reading the title of the story ,you may have these questions in your mind. If you then read the whole story you'll get the answer.Life is a strange business. Perhaps you have noticed that yourself. You do the same things again and again, and nothing happens. Then, one day, you do the same thing once more and something certainly happens. Though I have travelled in hundreds of trains, few unusual things have ever happened to me. But one day in a train something did happen. I do not mean that I was hurt: no one was hurt. return

6. I do my work in a hot country far away from England. Every September I go there to do my business, and every July I come back to England to have a rest. So every September I go to Paris and take a train from the great French city to Mendova, and at Mendova I catch my ship.There is one very fast train from Paris to Mendova, and it suits me well. It is one of the best trains in the world. It goes as far as Endoran, but it stops at Mendova for a few minutes to let travellers get out or in. It is called (English) The flying bluebird. It goes every day, it reaches Mendova at seven minutes past nine in the morning, and it is never late. return

7. A ship leaves Mendova at half past eleven every Tuesday morning, and so you will understand that The flying Bluedbird suits me very well, I always travel by it, and I have nearly two and a half hours at Mendova to go from the station to the ship. That is more than enough time. Well, one September night, I took my place in The flying Bluebird as usual. I had a place by the window, and I hoped for a restful journey. The train leaves Paris at nine o‘ clock every night, and I was in my place soon after half past eight. There were three or four people there with me, but very soon a lot of others got into the train. When no more people could sit down, they began to stand up near us and also in the corridor. In a short time the corridor was full too, and it was impossible for any more travelers to get into the train.return

8. I could see a lot of other people outside the corridor windows, but they could not get in, and the train left Paris without them. We left at nine o’clock and were soon traveling very fast. The man sitting next to me started to ask all kinds of questions: “Where do you work?” he said ,“How long does it take you to get there? Are you married? How many children have you? How much money do they pay you every year? How much have you in the bank? How much do you spend every month?”return

9. He asked questions for about twenty minutes but I did not give him any clear answers, and at last he stopped and began to read the paper.I usually sleep quite well in the train, but this time I slept only a little. There were too many people, and there were too many things: small bags, large bags, coats hats, boxes, newspapers and food. As usual, we got angry about the window. Most people wanted it shut, and two of us wanted it open. But that always happens. It was shut all night, as usual. return

10. The train went on noisily through the night and sometimes I was able to get a little sleep. I was sorry for all the people who were standing up in the corridor. There was no sleep for them: it was hard enough for them to stand up, because the floor was covered with all kinds of things. One or two of them sat on their boxes, but most of them had to stand up all the way. When I awoke in the early morning I felt hot and dirty, and glad that the journey was reaching its end. We were now not far from Mendova; and as soon as we reached Mendova, I always got out and had a wash and something to eat and drink. return

11. At seven minutes past nine The Flying Bluebird stopped. We were at Mendova, and I stood up thankfully. I got down my two suitcases, held one in each hand, and tried to move towards the door into the corridor. In order to get out of the train, I had to pass down the corridor to the door at the far end. There was no other way out . I could not even get into the corridor. There was a suitcase on the floor by my feet, and three men were standing in my way. I felt a touch of fear. I had to get out, you see; I had to catch my ship, which left at half past eleven. And the train did not stop again until it reached Endoran, two hundred miles away.“I must get out!” I cried, Everyone there understood me, but no one could move. return

12. At last I was able to put one foot over the suitcase on the floor, and I nearly reached the door into the corridor. But then, very slowly, the train began to move. It was taking me away!“Stop!” I cried. “I want to get out!”But no one outside the train could hear me, and the people inside did not care much. The train moved a little faster. What could I do? I was not even in the corridor. return

13. Fear made me think quickly. In front of my eyes, just above the door, was a notice that told everyone how to stop the train. I had to pull an iron thing near the notice. I did not waste time. I pulled it . Of course, no one likes to stop a train if there is no need. But it seemed to be the right thing for me to do at the time. I had to catch my ship. That was the only thought in my mind: to get out and catch my ship.return(to be continued) Approximately 1100words.

14. Reading Comprehension True or False • The narrator lives in England and works in a hot country far away from his home. T • Each time, going back to work, he has to travel by train from England to Paris F • One day he took a train from Paris to Mendova, and planned to continue his journey by ship. T • But something unusual happened to him. He could not get out at Mendova. T • The train took him away to the next station. F return

15. Multiple-choice 1. On this journey on The Flying Bluebird, the narrator had a bad experience because _____. • [A] he couldn't find a seat by the window • [B] he was angry with the man sitting next to him • [C] there were too many people on the train • [D] the window was kept shut all night key: [C] return

16. 2. The narrator didn't like the man sitting next to him because _____ • [A] that man talked to him all night • [B] that man was not English • [C] that man kept asking him foolish questions • [D] they got angry about the window Key: [C] return

17. 3. When the train reached Mendova, the narrator couldn't get out. He felt a touch of fear. What was his fear? • [A] He was afraid of having to spend another sleepless night on the train. • [B] He was afraid of missing his ship. • [C] He was afraid that more people might crowd in. • [D] He was afraid that he would have to buy another ticket. Key: [B] return

18. 4. How did the narrator feel when the train was stopped? • [A] He was afraid. • [B] He felt he had no choice but to stop the train. • [C] He felt joyous. • [D] He was very upset that the people wouldn't let him off the train. Key: [B] return

19. 5.What did you find out aboutThe Flying Bluebird? • [A] It is often very crowded. • [B] It is seldom very crowded. • [C] It is never crowded. • [D] It is usually crowded. Key: [B] return

20. 6. What clue did you get from the text to support your choice in Question 5? • [A] The Flying Bluebird is a very fast train. • [B] The Flying Bluebird goes every day. • [C] The narrator usually has a place by the window. • [D] Few unusual things have ever happened to The Flying Bluebird and the narrator always travels by it. Key: [D] return

21. Questions for discussion • What would you do if you were in the narrator's position? • Have you ever had the narrator's experience when taking a bus or a train? How did you solve the problem? return

22. This sentence means: Life is a strange thing. Pay attention to the usage of the word “business”. Eg. It is not my business.return

23. A hot country far away from English远离英国的一个炎热国家According to the context, “country” here doesn’t means “countryside”. return

24. catch vt.catch one’s ship赶乘轮船EG，She will catch her ship at Dalian this weekend. return

25. Hurt vt.To cause physical damage or pain to; injure.伤害，受伤引起肉体的伤害或疼痛；损害To cause mental or emotional suffering to; distress.受伤害，使苦恼引起精神或感情上的痛苦；使忧伤To damage or impair:损害或损伤：The bad publicity has hurt the candidate's chances for victory.坏名声降低了这位侯选人的胜算 return

26. The Flying Bluebird: The name of a French express train. 法国的蓝鸟号快车。bluebird蓝鸟、蓝知更鸟，北美产SIALIA鸟类return

27. In sentence "But one day in a train something did happen.", "did" is a aux. verb. for emphasis.Pay attention to the usage of the word that:1. before the verb emphasized 2. only for present and past tense. return

28. It goes as far as Endoran.火车的终点站是恩多兰。as far as：The second "as" is a prep. which means in Chinese 远到······， 一直到······EG, I'll come as far as the edge of the small village with you.送你送到小村外。return

29. suit vt. n. To meet the requirements of; fit:适合，符合…的要求：This candidate does not suit our qualifications.这个候选人不符合我们的条件To be appropriate for; befit:合适：a color that suits you.适合你的颜色To please; satisfy: 使高兴，使感到满意：a choice that suits us all.一个让我们大家都满意的选择To provide with clothing; dress:供给…衣服，给…穿衣服：The NCOs suited the recruits in green uniforms.军士匀给新兵穿上绿色的制服 return

30. That is more than enough time.时间绰绰有余。句中的more than enough 为固定搭配形式，意思是“足够”，“大多”实际上more than 用于more than + adj. 结构常解释为“非常”，“极度”She is more than willing to be flattered.return

31. ... and I have nearly two and a half hours at Mendova to go from the station to the ship. 当中的"go" 可解释为（时间）消逝，过去。The evening went pleasantly enough. There are ten days to go before Easter. return

32. hope for希望（得到）（发生某种事情）Don't always hope for your parents' help since you've got married.既然你已成家立业，就别老是希望得到父母的帮助Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.作最好的打算，作最坏的准备。return

33. It is impossible for any more travelers to get into the train.该句中的”it" 为形式主语，真正的主语是后面的不定式符合结构。return

34. as usual He and his family spent their holiday in the remote area, as usual. return

35. ……. and I was in my place soon after half past eight.刚刚过八点半我就安然入坐了。return

36. He did not get any clear answers from the narrator because his questions are all about the private affairs. To answer those questions vaguely may be the wise choice.return

37. But that always happens.类似的事经常发生。Here “that” refers to passengers’ disagreeing with one another.return

38. The train went on noisily through the night.火车轰轰，侧夜行驶。“on” here is an adverb. “go on” means to go continuously.“noisily” and “through the night” are all adverbials modifying “went on” separately.Try to distinguish the following:go on readinggo on to readreturn

39. … but most of them had to stand up all the way 但是多数人不得不站一路。all the way一路上, 沿路 从远处, 特地 自始至终The dog has been with me all the way. 这条狗和我一路同行。all the other way相反的, 颠倒过来return

40. ……the journey was reaching its end.旅程即将结束了（到达终点）The train was coming near Mendova, my destination return

41. …I had to pass down the corridor to the door at the far end.我得穿过通往车厢另一端大门的走廊。return

42. I felt a touch of fear.我有点发慌。I was a little afraid.The use of the word ”fear” builds tension in the reader. Just as things would happen, the narrator was unable to get off in such a crowded train. Without thinking about the consequences, he stopped the train.return

43. And the train did not stop again until it reached Endoran, two hundred miles away.这列火车将直达ENDORAN，运行200英里，中途不停车。The train went straight from Mendova to Endoran.not … until 为特殊句型，表示“直到·······才” 的意思；until 后跟某个时间点，这个时间点可以是从句或名词return

44. Nobody is anxious about whether he could get out or not, so people inside and outside the train could not hear the narrator. return

45. … I nearly reached the door into the corridor.我几乎就要接近通往走廊的那扇门了。return

46. the only thought in my mind我脑子里唯一的念头The only thought in her mind at that time was to escape from the prison.return

47. notice n.A written or printed announcement:公告书面或印刷通告：vt.To take notice of; observe:注意…；发觉：noticed a figure in the doorway.注意到门廊上的人影return

48. again and again: 屡次，再三I have told him again and again that he should no longer indulge in drinking.return

49. take one’s place就坐，坐下，替代某人have a place 坐下return

50. … and three men were standing in my way.三个人挡住了我的去路stand in one’s way挡······的路return