LESSON THREE
ON READING
The Author’s Club
London, S.W.1
2nd January, 19_
Dear Francisco
I’m glad to know you enjoyed the books I sent you for Christmas. Your letter of thanks was very well written and I congratulate you on being able to write so well.
You ask me for advice on reading. That’s a very difficult request. I always hesitate to advise my friends on what to read. How can I possibly know what will interest other people? And you don’t say in your letter what you want to read.
What you do say is that you’re very fond of reading, and I’m delighted by that. Do you know the essays of Francis Bacon, who lived about the same time as Shakespeare? They’re full of good advice about reading. Here is a bit from the essay “Of Studies.”
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
I can’t give you better advice than that. It tells you how to read books of different kinds. I suppose most travel books are “to be tasted”; it’s enough to dip into them and read bits here and there. If you’re fond of stories, you will, if you’re like me, read them quickly; you’ll “swallow” them. And then there are books that you’ll read slowly and carefully. If a book’s on an important subject and a subject you’re interested in, you’ll want to “chew and digest” it
If the book’s in English, that may mean slow progress for you. But I don’t advise you to read too slowly. When I was living in Tokyo many years ago, I used to go to the second-hand bookshops. They were full of English books. The first twenty of thirty pages of many of them had their margins filled with penciled notes and there were dozens of words and phrases underlined. The owners, probably earnest students, had started out very seriously, determined to master the books. Then , as I turned the pages over, I found clean white margins, with not a single note. It was clear that the reader had given up in despair.
I suppose that’s a common experience in many countries with books in a foreign language. The reader starts out, full of hope and determination. Then the need to turn to a dictionary or a reference book, perhaps ten or even twenty times a page, tires him out.
There are two or three answers to this problem. The first is: Don’t start reading a book unless you see, from the first few pages, that it’s one you can read with ease and understanding. Don’t try to run before you can walk. There are plenty of books that have been rewritten in simple language – and shortened too, if necessary.
My second answer to this question of difficult vocabulary is, I think, a much better one. Don’t stop every time you come to a word or phrase you don’t know. Read the whole chapter quickly. Quite often you’ll find the unknown word comes again, perhaps several times, and by the end of the chapter you’ll have guessed its meaning. That’s how we learn the meaning of words in our own language, isn’t it? When we’re children, I mean. When I’m telling a story to children, they seldom stop to ask what a word means. Even when they read, they don’t turn to the dictionary every time they see an unknown word.
Read a chapter quickly, and then go back and read it more slowly. This time, use your reference books when necessary. But try to judge what is worth looking up and what is not.
You’ll tell me that it’s difficult, very often, for you to judge whether an unknown word is important or not. I agree that this is often true. But it’s not always difficult. You’re going to be an architect, so words used in architecture are important to you. If they’re new to you, you’ll look them up. But if the reader is not interested in architecture, he could pass them by. They’re not at all necessary for his enjoyment of the book.
When I read my Times these days I often find articles about the uses of atomic energy. There are sometimes words I don’t know – and some of them are so new that they’re not yet in the dictionaries. But I’m slowly beginning to understand what some of the words mean – simply by meeting them so often.
Well, that’s my advice to you. I hope you’ll find it helpful. It isn’t perfect, I know. There will be times when, if you decide not to look up a reference, you’ll miss something that may be important.
But I feel I’m right in advising you not to be too thorough in your use of reference books – except when you’re studying your own special subject. If you’re too thorough, you’ll lose heart and perhaps give up.
Good luck to you in your reading. Do write again, and if you think I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Yours ever,
John Churchman
WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
Author n.作家；作者
Club n.俱乐部；社团
Francisco n.弗朗西斯科（男名）
Congratulate vt.祝贺
Advise vt.忠告，劝告，建议
Delight vi. & vt.（使）欢喜，（使）高兴 n.欢喜，高兴
Essay n.散文；小品文；论说文
Francis Bacon 弗朗西斯.培根（1561-1626，英国哲学家及作家）
Shakespeare 莎士比亚（William, 1564-1616，英国剧作家及诗人）
Swallow n., vt. & vi. 吞，咽
Chew vt. & vi.嚼，咀嚼
Digest vt. & vi.消化 n.文摘
Dip into 看一看，浏览
Subject n.问题；主题；题目
Tokyo n.东京（日本首都）
Second-hand adj.第二手的；用过的；旧的
Margin n.页边的空白；栏外
Penciled adj.用铅笔写的
Dozen n.一打（十二个） dozens of几十；许多
Phrase n.短语；习惯用语
Underline vt.在……下划线
Earnest adj.热切的，认真的
Determined adj.坚决的；有决心的
Note n.注释
Reader n.读者；读本
Determination n.决定；决心
Reference n.参考；参考书；附注
Turn to求助于，求教于
Tire vt.使疲倦；使厌倦 vi.累；厌倦 tire out使筋疲力尽
Ease n.安逸，熟练，轻易 vt.使……舒服；放松 with ease轻易地，毫不费劲地
Understanding n.理解；领悟；谅解
Rewrite vt.重写；改写
Simple adj.单纯的；简易的；朴素的
Shorten vt. & vi.缩短
Vocabulary n.词汇表；词汇；词汇量
Chapter n.（书籍）章；回
Meaning n.意思，意义
Architect n.建筑师
Architecture n.建筑；建筑学
Pass by（by作副词）忽略，不过问
Enjoyment n.享乐；欣赏
Atomic adj.原子的
Thorough adj.彻底的；非常精确的；（对细节）不厌其烦的
Lose heart灰心，气馁
John Churchman 约翰.邱奇门（人名）
NOTES TO THE TEXT
1. 英文书信有一定的格式。若是公务性的或商业性的书信，要把发信人的地址和发信日期写在第一张信纸的右上角，从靠近信纸的中央写起，上面要留至少一英寸的空白。这一部分称为信头（Heading）。把收信人的姓名、职位和地址写在信头下面靠左边，也可写在签名下面的左边。这一部分称为信内陆址（Inside Address）。
发信人的地址和日期，第一行写门牌号和街名或路名，第二行写地名和邮政区号，若寄往国外，还要加上国家的名称。第三行写日期。日期可以先写日子，再写月份，最后写年份，也可先写月份，再写日子，最后写年份。收信人地址的写法与发信人的相同。
一般个人来往信件，可以不写发信人和收信人的地址，只写发信日期。
结尾客套语（Closing）写在正文（Body）下面二三行的地位。一般从信纸中央写起，只有第一个字母要大写，末了加个逗号。
签名（Signature）是在结尾客套语的下面，稍微偏右，使末尾一个词与上面的正文一样齐。
信的正文前的称呼（Greeting）一般用“Dear ____,”（加逗号或冒号）
2. S.W.1是邮政区号。伦敦按方位划区。S代表South, S.W.代表Southwest。S.W.1是“西南一区”。
3. Congratulate somebody on something为某事祝贺某人。On是介词，后面跟名词或动名词。例如：
I congratulate you on your success.我祝贺你获得成功。
They congratulated me on having passed the exam.他们祝贺我通过了这次考试。
4. I always hesitate to advise my friends on what to read.我总是不大愿意指点我的朋友们该读些什么书。
hesitate在这里的意思是be unwilling to do something（不愿意做某事），是一种委婉的说法。又如：
He hesitated to take such a big risk.他不大愿意冒这样大的险。
I hesitate to say he lied but he certainly didn’t tell me the truth. 我不大愿意说他撒了谎，但是他的确没有对我说实话。
advise somebody on something（= give advice to somebody on something）就某事向某人提出意见或建议。例如：
He is the right man to advise you on this question.关于这个问题，去请教他最合适。
Please advise me on what to do.请告诉我该怎么办。
5. What you do say is that you’re very fond of reading, and I’m delighted by that.你倒是说了你非常喜欢读书，这一点使我感到很高兴。
助动词do在这里是用来加强语气。又如：
He did tell me that he would help us in the work.他确实告诉过我他要在工作上帮助我们。
She does feel that way.她的确有那种感觉。
I do think you should go.我的确认为你应当去。
be delighted by (at)意思是“因……感到高兴”。又如：
I was delighted by the concert.这音乐会使我很高兴。
We were delighted by (at) the news of the victory.我们听到这个胜利的消息很高兴。
6. “Of studies” = “On studies” 《论读书》。
of在这里作about讲，是旧的用法，现在一般用on。
7. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested.有些书是应当尝尝滋味的，有些书是应当吞下去的，有少数书是应当咀嚼和消化的。（这是些比喻的说法，大体上相当于我们常说的“涉猎”、“浏览”、“通读”、“精读”之类。）
8. I suppose most travel books are “to be tasted”; it’s enough to dip into them and read bits here and there.我想游记之类的书大多是应当“尝尝滋味”的，随便翻阅一下，这里看一点，那里看一点，就满可以的了。
dip into在这里的意思是read (a book) or study (a subject) quickly and not carefully（随便翻阅；稍加研究）。例如：
I’ve dipped into his book on Shakespeare, but I haven’t read it right through.我随便翻阅一下他那本论莎士比亚的书，但是没有从头到尾读完。
He dipped into oil painting a few years ago.他几年前曾对油画稍作研究。
I usually dip into a book before deciding whether to read it.我在决定是否阅读一本书之前通常先浏览一下。
9. The first twenty or thirty pages of many of them had their margins filled with penciled notes and there were dozens of words and phrases underline.其中许多的书头二、三十页的边上都用铅笔写满了批注，还有许多单词和短语的下面划了线。
filled是过去分词，作宾语their margins的补足语。
penciled notes用铅笔写的批注。
过去分词underlined用作定语，修饰words和phrases。
dozen与数词或several等连用时，复数不加-s。例如：
two dozen pencils两打铅笔 several dozen eggs几打鸡蛋
但是：dozens of pencils几十支铅笔 some dozens of people几十个人
10. The owners, probably earnest students, had started out very seriously, determined to master the books.书的原主很可能是些用功的学生，他们开始读的时候很认真，决心要把这些书读好。
形容词短语determined to master the books用作状语，修饰had started out，表示伴随情况。
11. Then the need to turn to a dictionary, or a reference book, perhaps ten or even twenty times a pape, tires him out.后来，每读一页，需要查阅词典或参考书十次甚至二十次，这就使他疲惫不堪。
turn to在这里的意思是go for help or advice（求助于，求教于）。又如：
Don’t hesitate to turn to him if you are in trouble.你要有困难，尽管找他好了。
All sorts of people turned to him for advice.各种人都来向他求教。
One can always turn to music for comfort.人们总是可以到音乐里去找安慰。
tire out的意思是tire completely（使筋疲力尽）。又如：
The hard work tired her out.这件费力的工作把她累坏了。
I must sit down and rest. I’m tired out! 我得坐下来歇一歇，简直累死了！
12. If necessary = if it is necessary
类似的说法还有when necessary, if possible, when possible等。
13. When we’re children, I mean. 我指的是我们小的时候。
这是事后想起的话，用来补充说明前句里how we learn the meaning of words in our own language。
14. I agree that this is often true. 我承认情况确实常常如此。
agree用作及物动词，后面可以接that引导的宾语从句。又如：
They agreed that it was a mistake.他们承认这是错误的。
I agree that the book is well worth reading. 我同意这本书很值得一读。
agree后面接动词不定式，表示“答应”。例如：
He agreed to help us. 他答应帮助我们。
agree with 后面接指人或表示意见的词。例如：
I agree with you. 我同意你的看法（意见）。
I agree with what you say. 我同意你的话。
agree to 后面一般接表示“计划”、“建议”、“办法”、“意见”等的词。例如：
She agreed to my proposal. 她同意我的建议。
Does he agree to this plan? 他同意这个计划吗？
15. Times在这里指The Times（伦敦）泰晤士报。
16. …you’ll miss something that may be important.……你会漏掉某些也许是重要的东西。
注意：当先行词为everything, anything, nothing等不定代词时，关系代词需用that；当先行词为something时，关系代词可用that,也可用which。例如：
Is there anything (that) I can do for you in town?有什么事要我在城里代你办吗？
There is nothing that is not useful.没有什么无用的东西。
He has told me everything (that) he knows about it. 他把他所知道的关于这件事的一切情况都告诉了我。
There’s something that (which) keeps worrying me. 有一件事老使我不安。
17. If you’re too thorough, you’ll lose heart and perhaps give up.如果抠得太细，你就会灰心丧气，多半不能坚持下去。
lost heart = lose hope of success灰心；气馁。
18. Yours ever你永久的朋友。
这是信的末尾加在署名前的一这是信的末尾加在署名前的一种客套语，也可以说Ever yours，用在熟人之间。第一个字母要大写，后面要加逗号。写信人的名字签在这客套语的下一行。措辞的变化是依照友谊而定。对方是比较亲密的，可用：
Faithfully yours Cordially yours Sincerely yours
一般的交际信，可用：
Yours sincerely Yours very sincerely Yours cordially Yours faithfully Yours affectionately Yours lovingly
EXERCISES
Ⅰ. Answer the following questions:
1. On what does Francisco ask the writer for advice?
2. Why does the writer consider Francisco’s request a difficult one?
1) Is it easy to advise others on what to read? Why not?
2) Does Francisco tell the writer what he wants to read in his letter?
3. What do you know about Francis Bacon?
1) Was he a German writer or an English writer?
2) About what time did he live?
3) Did he write an essay on studies? What is its title（题目）?
4. What’s the advice Bacon gave on reading?
5. Did the writer explain Bacon’s advice to Francisco? How?
1) What kind of books are “to be tasted”? What does “to be tasted”mean?
2) What kind of books are “to be swallow”? What does “to be swallowed” mean?
3) What kind of books are “to be chewed and digested”? What does “to be chewed and digested”mean?
6. What is a common experience with many people who read books in a foreign language?
1) What happens to them when they start to read a book in a foreign language?
2) Why do they give up after reading a few pages?
7. What are the writer’s answers to the question of difficult vocabulary?
1) What is the first answer?
2) What is the second answer?
8. How should we use reference books?
1) When should we use a reference book?
2) Need we look up every unknown word or phrase when we read? Why not?
3) If some of the new words are not yet in the dictionaries, what should we do with them?
4) What does the writer mean by “not to be too thorough in your use of reference books”?
Ⅱ. Learn the following:
A. Adj. v.
short shorten
hard harden
loose loosen
soft soften
weak weaken
wide widen
thick thicken
worse worsen
Ⅲ. Match the words and phrases given under A with the meanings under B. List B has some extra items.
A B
1. hesitate a. move (food or drink) down the throat from the mouth
2. be very fond of b. give advice to
3. be delighted c. crush food with the teeth
4. earnest d. be slow in deciding; be unwilling to do smoething
5. swallow e. make short or shorter
6. determined f. a group of twelve
7. with ease g. be greatly pleased
8. rewrite h. search for in a book reference
9. shorten i. draw a line under a word or words
10. advise j. without difficulty
11. dozen k. like … very much
12. underline l. firmly decided
m. write again
n. serious
Ⅳ. Fill in the blanks with the proper words or phrases from the list below:
A reference book an essay penciled notes a vocabulary an architect lose heart to digest a book
To dip into a book a second-hand bookshop a chapter
1. A short piece of writing on any subject called .
2. means to read it quickly and not too carefully.
3. are notes written in pencil.
4. means to study it carefully and take in the most important things in it.
5. is a book to which one goes for information.
6. A list of words used in a book is called .
7. When you , you feel that you cannot succeed.
8. is one that sells books that have been used.
Ⅴ. Fill in each blank with a suitable phrase in its proper form from the list below:
Congratulate … on advise … on be full of ask … for advice on Advise … to do …
give … advice on used to be delighted by pass … by tire out turn on lose heart
1. Will you please me some how to make notes?
2. I the news of our basketball team taking first place.
3. You can him whenever you are in trouble.
4. I you passing the college entrance examination.
5. They her travel for the benefit of her health.
6. You mustn’t ; sooner or later you will succeed.
7. He walked so fast that he soon me .
8. You’d better go and him how to develop your reading skill.
9. We’ll that matter for the moment.
10. I him where to spend his holiday.
Ⅵ. 1. Read the following letter, then point out the five parts of it:
a. body b. signature c. heading d. closing e. greeting
19 Grove Avenue
Warren, Alabama
Ala. 35233
June 9, 19
以上为A
Dear Cal, （B）
Our school will close on June 14. Can you come to visit me during the first week in August?
Our school will have a camp over at Wayland Park during that week. We’re going to have a good time there. We’ll go swimming, practice shooting and do some climbing. You can go to the camp with me if you come to visit us.
Let me know whether you can come.
以上为C
Your friend, (D)
Dick (E)
2. Read the following letter, then write a reply to it:
July 4, 19__
Dear Ah Fang,
With this letter I would like to introduce myself to you as a new pen friend. I am eighteen years old and have just graduated from Central High School. High school studies in this country last four to six years. In a few months I will enter a university to study education. I hope to be a teacher.
My interests, besides my studies, are art, music, and sports. I especially enjoy swimming, horseback riding, and skiing. It doesn’t snow much where I live, so when the skiing season comes, I have to travel to the mountains about ten hours away by car.
I am enclosing a photograph of myself. I would like to hear from you soon. Please tell me about yourself, your interest, and life in your country. I’m looking forward to being your pen friend and exchanging ideas on various subjects, even though we live so far away from each other.
Your friend,
Bob
Your reply to the letter may begin like this:
July 19, 19__
Dear Bob,
I was very glad to receive your letter of July 4. Thank you for writing. I would be very happy to your pen friend.
…
Ⅶ. Read the following passage, then translate it into Chinese orally:
Reading Skills
If you want to get the most out of the study of a language, you must also read for pleasure: novels, plays, travel books, and so on. And in reading books of this kind the important thing is to get on with the reading; to try to grasp what the writer is going to tell you in the book as a whole. This is impossible if you stop and think over the meaning of every single word which happens to be unfamiliar. You cannot enjoy a story if you stop half a dozen times on every page in order to look up words in the dictionary. You may even prevent yourself from understanding the story as a whole by doing this.
When you are reading books of this kind, therefore, you will usually have to rely mainly on the context to help you. If you meet an unfamiliar word, do not let it take too much of your attention from the main thread of the story. In all probability you will meet the same word again a few pages later on in a slightly different context, and each time you see it your understanding of it will become more exact.
转载
