Additional lnformation for the Teacher’s Reference

U3 Warm-up Activities Additional lnformation for the Teacher’s Reference Text The Ant and the grasshopper Further Reading Speaking Skills Additional Work

Warm-up 1 Warm-up Activities 1. The teacher may divide students into five or six groups and ask them to introduce any fable that they have heard of to their group members. 2. Introduce to the students the fable The Ant and the Grasshopper and invite comments on the ant and grasshopper in the fable. To which party does your sympathy go? In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

Warm-up2 “Why not come and chat with me”, said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?” “Jam helping to lay up food for the winter”, said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same”. “Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper, “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing, every day, corn from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

Additional lnformation for the Teacher’s Reference AIFTTR1 1. Somerset Maugham Somerset Maugham was a famous English novelist, short-story writer, playwright and critic. He was born in Paris and educated at King’s School, Canterbury, and at Heidelberg. In World War I, he served as a secret agent. He qualified in 1897 as a doctor from St. Thomas medical school but abandoned medicine after the success of his first novels and plays. His players are no longer popular, and his fame rests on his many short stories and four of his novels: OfHuman Bondage (1915), The Moon and Sixpence (1919), Cakes and Ale (1930) and The Razor’s Edge (1944). These reveal a cynical but sometimes compassionate view of humanity.

2. La Fontaine AIFTTR2 La Fontaine was a French writer , remembered especially for his Fables (1668 - 1694), moral tales drawn from AESOP and oriental sources which he used to comment satirically on contemporary society.

3. Monte Carlo AIFTTR3 Monte Carlo is a town in the independent principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean coast known as the French Riviera. It is an international resort with a gambling casino, a yacht harbor and an annual automobile rally and the Monaco Grand Prix car race.

Text Main Idea of the Text Introduction to the Author and the Article The Ant and the Grasshopper Notes Phrases and Expressions Exercises

Main Idea of the Text MIOTT1 In this short story, Somerset Maugham, by describing two brothers’ attitudes toward life, examines the nature and inconsistent qualities of human beings. George was a hard-working and respectable man with a decent job as a lawyer. He was also a faithful husband and loving father to four daughters. He believed that the industry should be rewarded and giddiness punished. His brother Tom, however, was an unscrupulous and good-for-nothing scoundrel. He philandered with the prettiest girls, danced, ate in the most expensive restaurants, and dressed beautifully. He borrowed money from relatives and friends. At the beginning, he fooled George

by making empty promises repeatedly. Later on he even went to such an extreme that he blackmailed his brother. Loading money to his brother, George appeared to be in Tom’s favor at the first sight. On a second thought, readers can find that George helped his brother only for his own sake. For instance, he gave Tom some money in order that Tom might quit his job as a bartender. By doing so, he saved his face and the good reputation of his family. But unfortunately Tom took advantage of his weakness of vanity over and over again. The story offers a new interpretation of the fable of La Fontaine The Ant and the Grasshopper whose classical teaching is that in an imperfect world industry is rewarded and giddiness punished, and reveals the dual personality of ordinary people. MIOTT2

Introduction to the Author and the article Introduction to the Author and the Article William Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965) was a famous English novelist, short-story writer, playwright and critic. He was born in Paris and educated at King’s School, Canterbury, and at Heidelberg. After qualifying as a medical student he became a successful playwright and novelist. His plays are no longer popular, and his fame mainly rests on his many short stories and four of his novels, Of Human Bondage (1915); The Moon and Sixpence (1919), Cakes and Ale (1930) and The Razor’s Edge (1944).

Introduction to the Author and the article2 In this short story, which is chosen from Maugham’s CollectedShort Stories, Maugham, by describing two brothers’ attitudes toward life, examines the nature and inconsistent qualities of human beings.

Text Part2_T1 The Ant and the Grasshopper William Somerset Maugham When I was a very small boy I was made to learn by heart certain of the fables of La Fontaine, and the moral of each was carefully explained to me. Among those learned was The Ant and the Grasshopper, which is devised to bring home to the young the useful lesson that in an imperfect world industry is rewarded and giddiness punished. In this admirable fable ( I apologize for telling something which everyone is politely, but inexactly, supposed to know) the ant spends a laborious summer

Part2_T2 gathering its winter store, while the grasshopper sits on a blade of grass singing to the sun. Winter comes and the ant is comfortably provided for, but the grasshopper has an empty larder, he goes to the ant and begs for a little food. Then the ant gives him her classic answer: “What were you doing in the summer time?” “Saving your presence, I sang, I sang all day, all night. ” “You sang. Why, then go and dance.” I do not ascribe it toperversityonmypart, but rather to the inconsequence of childhood, which is deficient in moral sense, that I could never quite reconcile myselfto the lesson. My

Part2_T3 sympathies were with the grasshopper and for some time I never saw an ant without putting my foot on it. In this summary (and I have discovered since, entirely human) fashion I sought to express my disapproval of prudence and common-sense. I could not help thinking of this fable when the other day I saw George Ramsay lunching by himself in a restaurant. I never saw anyone wear an expression of such deep gloom. He was staring into space. He looked as though the burden of the whole world sat on his shoulders. I was sorry for him. I suspected at once that his unfortunate brother had been causing trouble again. I went up to him and held out my hand.

Part2_T4 “How are you?” I asked. “I’m not in hilarious spirits,” he answered. “Is it Tom again?” He sighed. “Yes, it’s Tom again.” “Why don’t you chuck him? You’ve done everything in the world for him. You must know by now that he’s quite hopeless.” I suppose every family has a black sheep.Tom had been a sore trial to his for twenty years. He had begun life decently enough, he went into business, married and had two children.

Part2_T5 The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people and there was every reason to suppose that Tom Ramsay would have a useful and honourable career. But one day, without warning, he announced that he didn’t like work and that he wasn’t suited for marriage. He wanted to enjoy himself. He would listen to no expostulations. He left his wife and his office. He had a little money and he spent two happy years in the various capitals of Europe. Rumours of his doings reached his relations from time to time and they were profoundly shocked. He certainly had a very good time. They shook their heads and asked what would happen when his money was spent. They soon found out, he borrowed. He was charming

Part2_T6 and unscrupulous. I have never met anyone to whom it was more difficult to refuse a loan. He made a steady income from his friends and he made friends easily. But he always said that the money you spent on necessities was boring; the money that was amusing to spend was the money you spent in luxuries. For this he depended on his brother George. He did not waste his charm on him.George was a serious man and insensible to such enticements. George was respectable. Once or twice he fell to Tom’s promises of amendment and gave him considerable sums in order that he might make a fresh start. On these Tom bought a motor-car and some very nice jewellery. But when circumstances forced George to realise that his brother would

Part2_T7 never settle down and he washed his hands of him, Tom, without a qualm, began to blackmail him. It was not very nice for a respectable lawyer to find his brother shaking cocktails behind the bar of his favorite restaurant or to see him waiting on the box-seat of a taxi outside his club. Tom said that to serve in a bar or to drive a taxi was a perfectly decent occupation, but if George could oblige him with a couple of hundred pounds, he didn’t mind for the honour of the family giving it up. George paid. Once Tom nearly went to prison. George was terribly upset. He went into the whole discreditable affair. Really Tom had gone too far. He had been wild, thoughtless and

Part2_T8 selfish, but he had never before done anything dishonest, by which George meant illegal; and if he were prosecuted he would assuredly be convicted. But you cannot allow your only brother to go to gaol. The man Tom had cheated, a man called Cronshaw, was vindictive. He was determined to take the matter into court; he said Tom was a scoundrel and should be punished. It cost George an infinite deal of trouble and five hundred pounds to settle the affair. I have never seen him in such a rage as when he heard that Tom and Cronshaw had gone off together to Monte Carlo the moment they cashed the cheque. They spent a happy month there.

Part2_T9 For twenty years Tom raced and gambled, philandered with prettiest girls, danced, ate in the most expensive restaurants, and dressed beautifully. He always looked as if he had just stepped out of a bandbox. Though he was forty-six you would never have taken him for more than thirty-five. He was a most amusing companion and though you knew he was perfectly worthless you could not but enjoy his society. He had high spirits, an unfailing gaiety and incredible charm. I never grudged the contributions he regularly levied on me for the necessities of his existence. I never lent him fifty pounds without feeling that I was in his debt. Tom Ramsay knew everyone and everyone knew Tom Ramsay. You could not approve of him, but you could not help liking him.

Part2_T10 Poor George, only a year older than his scapegrace brother, looked sixty. He had never taken more than a fortnight’s holiday in the year for a quarter of a century. He was in his office every morning at nine-thirty and never left it till six. He was honest, industrious and worthy. He had a good wife, to whom he had never been unfaithful even in thought, and four daughters to whom he was the best of fathers. He made a point of saving a third of his income and his plan was to retire at fifty-five to a little house in the country where he proposed to cultivate his garden and play golf. His life was blameless. He was glad that he was growing old because Tom was growing old too. He rubbed his hands and said:

Part2_T11 “It was all very well when Tom was young and good-looking, but he’s only a year younger than I am. In four years he’ll be fifty. He won’t find life so easy then. I shall have thirty thousand pounds by the time I’m fifty. For twenty-five years I’ve said that Tom would end in the gutter. And we shall see how he likes that. We shall see if it really pays best to work or be idle.” Poor George! I sympathized with him. I wondered now as I sat down beside him what infamous thing Tom had done. George was evidently very much upset. “Do you know what’s happened now?” he asked me.

I was prepared for the worst. I wondered if Tom had got into the hands of the police at last. George could hardly bring himself to speak. “You’re not going to deny that all my life I’ve been hardworking, decent, respectable and straightforward. After a life of industry and thrift I can look forward to retiring on a small income in gilt-edged securities. I’ve always done my duty in that state of life in which it has pleased Providence to place me.” “True. ” “And you can’t deny that Tom has been an idle, worthless, dissolute and dishonourable rogue. If there were any justice he’d be in the workhouse.” “True. ” Part2_T12

Part2_T13 George grew red in the face. “A few weeks ago he became engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother. And now she’s died and left him everything she had. Half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in London and a house in the country.” George Ramsay beat his clenched fist on the table. “It’s not fair, I tell you, it’s not fair. Damn it, it’s not fair.” I could not help it. I burst into a shout of laughter as I looked at George’s wrathful face, I rolled in my chair, I very nearly fell on the floor. George never forgave me. But Tom often asks me to excellent dinners in his charming house in Mayfair and if he occasionally borrows a trifle from me, that is merely force of habit. It is never more than a sovereign.

Notes Part2_TA_Notes1 La Fontaine (Jean de la Fontaine 1621-1695): French writer, remembered especially for his Fables (1668 -1694), moral tales drawn from AESOP and oriental sources which he used to comment satirically on contemporary society Saving your presence: with an apology for saying this in your presence. a black sheep: a person who does something bad, especially something which brings embarrassment and loss of respect to the family

Notes Part2_TA_Notes2 Monte Carlo: a town in the independent principality of Monaco, on the Mediterranean coast known as the French Riviera. It is an international resort with a gambling casino, a yacht harbor and an annual automobile rally and the Monaco Grand Prix car race. He always looked as if he had just stepped out of a bandbox: He always looked very clean and fresh. Providence: God Mayfair: a fashionable area in London, east of Hyde Park sovereign: a former British gold coin worth ￡1

Phrases and Expressions Part2_TA_ Phrases and Expressions settle down: adopt a more stable or quiet way of life; get used to a new way of life wash one’s hands of sb. / sth.: refuse to be responsible for sb. / sth. any longer be in sb’s debt: feel grateful to sb. for his / her help make a point of doing sth.: do sth. because one considers it important or necessary

Translation of the Text Part2_TA_t1 乔治兄弟威廉·毛姆当我还是个小男孩的时候，就有人教我背诵拉封丹的寓言故事，并细心地给我讲解每一个故事的寓意。记得有一则名为“蚂蚁和草蜢”的寓言，它向孩子们揭示了一个有益的启示：在不完美的社会里存在着奖勤罚懒的规则。在这则绝妙的寓言中（很抱歉，我插一句，客气地说，应该人人都听说过，但不够精确。），小蚂蚁劳累了整整一个夏天，储备冬粮，而草蜢则坐在草叶上对着太阳放声歌唱。冬天到了，小蚂蚁粮食充足而草蜢则粮仓空空。他到蚂蚁家去乞讨食物，蚂蚁给了他一个经典式的回答：

Part2_TA_t2 “你整个夏天都在忙什么？” “恕我直言，我在唱歌，我在唱歌，我整日整夜在唱歌。” “原来你在唱歌。那么你就接着唱吧，接着跳吧。” 其中的寓意我一直难以接受。我认为不是因为自己过于执拗，而是因为儿时不合逻辑的思维，那时尚未形成健全的道德观。我非常同情那只草蜢，甚至有一段时间我一见到蚂蚁就非踩上一脚不可，以这种简明的方式来表明自己看不惯蚂蚁这种审慎、理性的做法（自那以后我发现自己这样做也是完全合乎人性的）。前几天，当我看到乔治独自在餐馆用餐，我禁不住想起了这则寓言。我从未见到过任何人有如此阴郁的表情。他怔怔地望着前面，看上去似乎全世界的重担都落到了他一个人的肩膀上。我为他感到难过。我怀疑是他不争气的兄弟又给他惹了麻烦。我走过去，向他伸出了手。

“你好吗？”我问。 “就是心里不太高兴。”他答道。 “又是汤姆惹的吗？” 他叹了口气。 “是的，又是他。” “干嘛还要管他？你已经做得仁至义尽。你该知道他已经是无可救药的了。” 我认为家家户户都有败类。20年来汤姆一直是个令家人头疼的家伙。他的人生起步颇为体面：开始做生意，后来结婚而且有两个孩子。拉姆齐一家人非常受人尊敬，完全有理由相信汤姆会有一个成功而风光的人生。但有一天，事先没有任何征兆的，他声称自己讨厌工作，而且也不适合婚姻生活。他要享受人生。他不听任何人的规劝，就离开了妻子，离开了办公室。他有点钱，在欧洲不同国家的首都快快活活地过了 Part2_TA_t3

两年。有关他的种种行为的传闻不时传到了亲戚的耳朵里，他们都深感震惊。毫无疑问，他生活得很开心。亲戚们无可奈何地摇着头说，等他把钱花完了看他怎么办。他们很快发现：他靠借债过日子。他富有魅力，而且厚颜无耻。他向我借钱时，我从未遇到过比他更难以拒绝的人。他从朋友那里获得稳定的收入，而且特别善于交友。他经常说把钱花在生活必需品上毫无意义，而有趣的花钱方式是用它来享受奢华。为此他依赖哥哥乔治来满足自己的享受，而他的魅力在乔治身上没有白费。乔治是个一本正经的人，对汤姆的花言巧语丝毫没有察觉，同时他也是个正派的人，有一两次轻信了汤姆要改过自新的诺言，给了他一笔数目可观的钱让他重新开始生活。汤姆用这笔钱买了一辆汽车和一些漂亮的珠宝饰物。但当事实使乔治明白他的弟弟决不会安定下来，因而不想再管他时，汤姆开始敲诈乔治，良心上丝毫没有感到不安。当一位受人尊重的律师发现自己的弟弟在自己喜爱的餐馆的柜台后面调制鸡尾酒，或看见他坐在出租马车的驭座上 Part2_TA_t4

等候在自己常去的俱乐部外面时，终究感到有点不光彩。汤姆说，做餐馆酒吧服务员或赶出租马车完全是个体面的职业，但如果乔治愿意给他几百英镑的话，他不会介意为了家族的荣誉放弃这种职业。乔治如数照付了。等候在自己常去的俱乐部外面时，终究感到有点不光彩。汤姆说，做餐馆酒吧服务员或赶出租马车完全是个体面的职业，但如果乔治愿意给他几百英镑的话，他不会介意为了家族的荣誉放弃这种职业。乔治如数照付了。 Part2_TA_t5 有一次汤姆差点坐牢。这让乔治非常不安。他后来还介入了整个让人丢尽脸面的事情。汤姆的确太过分了。他粗野、鲁莽、自私，但他从前从未干过任何骗人的事，也就是乔治所指的非法的事。如果汤姆被起诉，他肯定会被判刑的。可是乔治总不能让唯一的弟弟去坐牢。被汤姆欺骗的那个人叫克朗萧，他是个报复心极强的人。他坚决要和汤姆对簿公堂；他说汤姆是个恶棍，理应受到法律制裁。结果乔治花费了相当的精力和500英镑才平息了此事。但当他听到汤姆和克朗萧两人把支票兑换成现金后马上到蒙特卡洛去了，我从未见他如此暴跳如雷过。他们两人还在蒙特卡洛高高兴兴过了一个月。

20年来，汤姆时常吃喝嫖赌、出入豪华宾馆、打扮入时。他经常衣冠楚楚。尽管他已经40又6，但你决不会把他看成是35岁以上的人。和他相处令你非常开心，尽管你知道他一文不值，但还是会禁不住愿意和他交往。他兴高采烈，快乐无比，魅力十足。他经常向我要钱购买生活必需品，但我总是慷慨解囊。每当他向我借50英镑时，我总是感觉欠了他的债。无人汤姆不认识，无人不认识汤姆。你也许不欣赏他，但你无法不喜欢他。可怜的乔治，他比这个鲜廉寡耻的弟弟仅年长一岁，看起来却像60岁。25年来他每年的休假从未超过两个星期。他每天早晨9点半到办公室，直到6点才离开。他正直、勤奋、值得人们尊敬。他有个贤妻。他从未背叛过她，甚至连不忠的念头也从未有过。他有四个女儿，他是个最称职不过的父亲。他总是尽量省下三分之一的收入，打算在55岁退休后住到乡村里的一栋小房子里。他可以在那里种花养草，打打高尔夫球。他的一生无可挑剔。他很高兴自己一天天变老，因为汤姆也在变老，他搓搓手说道： Part2_TA_t6

“不错，汤姆年轻英俊时过得很快活。但他只比我小一岁。再有四年他就50了。那时候他就会知道生活不容易。到50岁时，我将有三万英镑的积蓄。25年来我一直认为他最终会穷困潦倒。等着瞧吧，汤姆将怎样忍受这样的日子。等着瞧吧，是努力工作有好报还是游手好闲有好报。”“不错，汤姆年轻英俊时过得很快活。但他只比我小一岁。再有四年他就50了。那时候他就会知道生活不容易。到50岁时，我将有三万英镑的积蓄。25年来我一直认为他最终会穷困潦倒。等着瞧吧，汤姆将怎样忍受这样的日子。等着瞧吧，是努力工作有好报还是游手好闲有好报。” 可怜的乔治，我很同情他。当我在他旁边坐下之后，我仍不知道汤姆到底干了什么不光彩的事。乔治显然很心烦。“你知道现在发生什么事了吗？” 我做好了最坏的准备。我猜想汤姆可能最终已落入警察之手。乔治几乎说不下去了。 “你不会否认吧，我这一辈子勤勤恳恳、为人正派、令人尊重，光明正大。我勤奋劳动，俭朴生活了一辈子，期望退休时能靠从金边股票中获得一笔小小的收入。我尽心尽职了一生，对此上帝感到很满意。” Part2_TA_t7

Part2_TA_t8 “是这样。” “你不能否认吧，汤姆是个无所事事、一无是处、生活放荡和不知廉耻的恶棍。如果真有公理的话，他应该呆在劳教所里。” “是这样。” 乔治的脸涨得通红。 “几星期以前他和一位大得几乎可以当他母亲的女人订了婚，现在这个女人死了，她的一切都留给了他。50万英镑，一艘游艇，在伦敦的一栋房宅和乡下一栋别墅。” 乔治捏紧的拳头重重地砸在桌子上。 “这不公平。我敢说，这不公平，他妈的，这太不公平了。” 我再也忍不住了。看着乔治愤怒的表情，我禁不住哈哈大笑，我在椅子里笑得前仰后合，几乎掉到地板上。乔治永远不会原谅我。不过，汤姆经常邀我到他在梅费尔漂亮的豪宅里去就餐。尽管他时而会向我借点钱，那也仅仅是出于习惯，从来没超过一英镑。

Part2_TA1_the ant and the The Ant and the Grasshopper, which is devised to bring home to the young the useful lesson that in an imperfect world industry is rewarded and giddiness punished. The fable The Ant and the Grasshopper is designed to instruct the young people with a practical moral teaching that in an imperfect society hard work is appreciated and it will payoff while being too fond of excitement and pleasure is discouraged and it will be punished.

Part2_TA2_I apologize for telling I apologize for telling something which everyone is politely, but inexactly supposed to know ... To be polite, I suppose that everyone has known the fable; but I doubt whether it is accurate, so I’m sorry for telling the story again.

Part2_TA2_I do not I do not ascribe it to perversity on my part, but rather to the inconsequence of childhood, which is deficient in moral sense, that I could never reconcile myself to the lesson. When I was a child I could never accept the moral lesson of the fable, which I attribute to my immature moral consciousness rather than to my unreasonable feeling or behavior.

Part2_TA2_In this In this summary (and I have discovered since, entirely human) fashion I sought to express my disapproval of prudence and common-sense. In this concise way (since then I found it a completely human way) I tried to show my disapproval of the ant’s carefulness and practical good sense and judgment.

Part2_TA2_For twenty-five For twenty-five years I’ve said that Tom would end in the gutter. And we shall see how he likes that. For twenty-five years I’ve said that Tom would end in poverty and let’s see how he feels when he lives in poverty.

Part2_TA2_Tom had been Tom had been a sore trial to his for twenty years. For twenty years Tom had been troublesome and annoying as a test of his family’s patience.

Part2_TA3_I suppose I suppose every family has a black sheep. I take it as a fact that every family has a person who brings embarrassment and loss of respect to the family.

Part2_TA4_I never I never saw anyone wear an expression of such deep gloom. He was the first one that I ever saw who appeared to be so gloomy.

Part2_TA4_He would He would listen to no expostulations. He wouldn’t listen to any earnest and kindly reasoning against what he was doing at all.

Part2_TA4_He made He made a steady income from his friends and he made friends easily. He borrowed money regularly from his friends and he was so charming that he won friendship easily.

Part2_TA4_He did not He did not waste his charm on him. He got what he wanted from his brother with his attractiveness.

Part2_TA4_George George was a serious man and insensible to such enticements. George was so sincere that he was easily fooled by his brother’s tricks.

Part2_TA4_Once or twice Once or twice he fell to Tom’s promises of amendment and gave him considerable sums in order that he might make a fresh start. For several times George believed Tom’s promises to change himself and gave him a considerable amount of money so that he could live a new life.

Part2_TA7_devise devise (a plan, system or machine) vt.— design Examples: She devised a method for quicker communications between offices. Scientists have devised a test that shows who is most likely to get the disease.

Part2_TA8_bring home sth. bring home sth.— make explicit sth. in an emphatic way Examples: The point is brought home in yesterday’s detailed statistics. The episode has brought home to me the pointlessness of this war.

Additional lnformation for the Teacher’s Reference