The Day Mother The Day Mother CriedCried

Unit 5

Chinese MotherChinese Mother

慈母手中线 慈母手中线 游子身上衣 游子身上衣 临行密密缝 临行密密缝 意恐迟迟归 意恐迟迟归 谁言寸草心 谁言寸草心 报得三春晖报得三春晖

Western MotherWestern Mother

Mother's Day is a time Mother's Day is a time of commemoration and of commemoration and celebration for Mom. celebration for Mom. It is a time of breakfastIt is a time of breakfast in bed, family gatherings, in bed, family gatherings, and crayon scribbled and crayon scribbled "I Love You"s"I Love You"s. .

孟母三迁的故事

① 孟家临近坟地，孟子小的时候常跟邻居的孩子们在墓地玩耍，模仿丧事。孟母觉得这个环境对孩子成长不利，于是把家搬到邹国都城的西关。

② 新家摆脱了坟地和丧事的烦扰，但处于闹市之中，是各种各样人会聚的地方。孟母因担心孟子受到街头不良习气的影响而感到烦恼。

③ 经过比较，孟母最后把家搬到一所学校旁边。这里人们揖让有礼，孟子从中可以受到良好修养的熏陶。

Questions:

1.What are the differences and similarities

of the personality among mothers in the

east and west? 2. Tell how your mother’s influence

made you a better person?

A mother and her son learn more from a moment of defeat than they ever could from a victory. Her example of never giving up gives him courage for the rest of his life.

An introduction to the story about mother and son that

happened in the west

Word-web

anticipation/ n. expectation anticipate/ vt. issue / n. 发行物 ( 刊物的 ) 一期 tuck / vt. put or push into a desired convenient position so as to hold tightly; draw together into a small space 塞 ( 进 ); 卷 ( 起 ) bound /vi. move along quickly by jumping or leaping move- ments 跳跃 flip /v. turn or move quickly or with a jerk tight / a. drawn, fixed or fastened together firmly 紧的 , 牢的 ad. firmly, closely couch / n. a long comfortable seat with a back and arms on which more than one person may sit; sofa 长沙发椅 approach/ v. come near or nearer (to) cautiously/ad. very carefully 细心地 , 谨慎地 cautious/ a. type/ vt. write (sth.) with a typewriter line/ n. a row of words in a poem; a row of words on a page of writing or in print( 诗 , 文的一行） helpless/ a. unable to look after oneself or take

powerless assume/ vt. take as true without actual proof; suppose 假使 , 主观认为 nursery / n. a place where small children are temporarily cared for 托儿所 day nursery/ n. a place where small children are cared for during the day correspondence/ n. the act of exchanging letters 通信correspondence course/ n. 函授课程 qualify / vt. make fit or competent for a special purpose 使具有资格

frantic / a. wildly anxious, afraid, happy; etc. addition/ n. the act of adding 加 , 加法 typewriter/n. 打字机

Phrase.s & Expressions have sth. to oneself have sth. for one's own private use catch on (to) (informal) learn; understand 学会，懂得 set one's mind to (or on) pull all one's efforts into doing (sth.) 决心做 stand/be in sb's way be in a position to delay or prevent someone from his in- tended actions 阻碍 , 妨碍 send away for request (sth.) or order (goods) to be sent by post 函索 run out come to an end ; be used up 到期 ; 用 完 , 耗尽 in addition (to) besides; as well (as) help out give help; help (sb.) at a time of need 帮助 on guard ready to defend or protect; watchful 警惕提防 hold back control; make (sth.) stay in place 抑制 , 阻止 go on take place or happen go ahead make progress; advance

The Day Mother Cried

1. Coming home from school that dark winter's day so long ago, I was filled with anticipation. I had a new issue of my favorite sports magazine tucked under my arm, and the house to myself. Dad was at work, my sister was away, and Mother wouldn't be home from her new job for an hour. I bounded up the steps, burst into the living room and lipped on a light.

2. I was shocked into stillness by what I saw. Mother, pulled into a tight ball with her face in her hands, sat at the far end of the couch. She was crying. I had never seen her cry.

By Gerald Moore

The setting of the story,

when, who and where

Sth that is out of the author’s

expectation

3.. I approached cautiously and touched her shoulder. "Mother?" I said. "What's happened?"

4. She took a long breath and managed a weak smile. "It's nothing, really. Nothing important. Just that I'm going to lose this new job. I can't type fast enough. "

The hard job of a cook

translation

5.. "But you've only been there three days, "I said. "You'll catch on. "I was repeating a line she had spoken to me a hundred times when I was having trouble learning or doing something important to me. 6. "No, "she said sadly. "I

always s aid I could do anything I set my mind to, and I still think I can in most things. But I can't do this."

7. I felt helpless and out of place. At age 16 I still assumed Mother could do anything. Some years before, when we sold our ranch, and moved to town, Mother had decided to open a day nursery. She had had no training, but that didn't stand in her way.

The author takes granted what his mother has done

She sent away for correspondence courses in child care, did the lessons and in six months formally qualified herself for the task. It wasn't long before she had a full enrollment and a waiting list . I accepted all this as a perfectly normal instance of Mother's ability.

The author thinks that his mother can easily solve the problems

8. But neither the nursery nor the motel my parents bought later had provided enough income to send my sister and me to college. In two years I would be ready for college. In three more my sister would want to go. Time was running out, and Mother was frantic for ways to save money. Itwas clear that Dad could do no more than he was doing already -- farming 80 acres in addition to holding a fulltime job.

About the author’s familyconditions

9. A few months after we'd sold the motel, Mother arrived home with a used typewriter. It skipped between certain letters and the keyboard was soft. At dinner that night I pronounced the machine a "piece of junk."

The first typewriter

10. "That's all we can afford, "Mother said. "It's good enough to learn on. "And from that day on, as soon as the table was cleared and the dishes were done, Mother would disappear into her sewing room to practice. The slow tap, tap, tap went on some nights until midnight.

Sholes' 1868 demonstration model

11. It was nearly Christmas when I heard Mother got a job at the radio station. I was not the least bit surprised, or impressed. But she was ecstat ic.

12. Monday, after her first day at work, I could see that the excitement was gone. Mother looked tired and drawn. I responded by ignoring her.

13. Tuesday, Dad made dinner and cleaned the kitchen. Mother stayed in her sewing room, practicing. "Is Mother all right? "I asked Dad.

14. "She's having a little trouble with her typing,

"he said.“ She needs to practice. I think she'd appreciate it if we all helped out a bit more."

15."I already do a lot, "I said, immediately on guard.

16. "I know you do, "Dad said evenly. "And you may have to do more.

You might just remember that she is working primarily so you can go to college. "

17. I honestly didn't care.I wished she would just forget the whole thing.

18. My shock and embarrassment at finding Mother in tears on Wednesday was a perfect index of how little I understood the pressures on her. Sitting beside her on the couch, I began very slowly to understand.

The author began to

understand his

mother

18. "I guess we all have to fail sometime, "Mother said quietly. I could sense her pain and the tension of holding back the strong emotions that were interrupted by my arrival. Suddenly, something inside me turned. I reached out and put my arms around her.

19. She broke then. She put her face against my shoulder and sobbed. I held her close and didn't try to talk. I knew I was doing what I should, what I could, and that it was enough. In that moment, feeling Mother's back racked with emotion, I understood for the first time her vulnerability.

She was still my mother, but she was something more: a person like me,

capable of fear and hurt and failure. I could feel her pain as she must have felt mine on a thousand occasions when I had sought comfort in her arms.

20. A week later Mother took a job selling dry goods at half the salary radio station had offered. "It's a job I can do, "she said simply. But the evening practice sessions on the old green typewriter continued. I had a very different feeling now when I passed her door at night and heard her tapping away. I knew there was something more going on in there than a woman learning to type.

21. When I left for college two years later,Mother had an office job with better pay and more responsibility. I have to believe that in some strange way she learned as much from her moment of defeat as I did,because several years later, when I had finished school and proudly accepted a job as a newspaper reporter; she had already been a journalist with our hometown paper for six months.

22. The old green typewriter sits in my office now, unrepaired. It is a memento, but what it recalls for me

is not quite what it recalled for Mother. When I'm having trouble with a story and think about giving up or when I start to feel sorry for myself and think things should be easier for me, I roll a piece of paper into that cranky old machine and type, word by painful word, just the way Mother did. What I remember then is not her failure; but her courage, the courage to go ahead. It's the best memento anyone ever gave me.

The valuable thing left to the author

Language points: 1.issue: a particular edition of magazin

e or newspaper Eg. The latest issue of Time contains a c

over story entitled It Came from Outer space.

2. have sth to oneself: to have sth. for one’s own private use

Eg.When he dines in a restaurant Mark likes to have a table to himself.

You can have the place entirely to yourself.

3. catch on : understand ,learn about (often used with to)

Eg. You’ll catch on to the job (You’ll get some idea of how to do the job) after you’ve been here a week or two.

The first time the teacherexplained the problem, onlya few students caught on.

4. set one’s mind to: give all one’s attention to doing st

Eg: After hearing the sad news, Jack could not set his mind to his work that afternoon.

If I set my mind to finishing this article byTomorrow, I can certainly do so.

5. assume: take as true without actual proof

Eg. I assumed that you agree with what Mary has just said.

David is not such a fool as you assume him to be.

6. stand in sb’s way: prevent sb. from doing sth.

Eg. If you think you can get a job elsewhere, I’ll certainly not stand in your way.

Jane tried to clean the house, but her 16-month-old baby was always in her way.

7. qualify: cause sb to reach the level needed for sth or to do sth

Eg. This training will qualify you as a computer operator.

8 run out: come to an end: be used ,spend or consumed

Eg. She expressed her gratitude for our help.

Hurry up ! Time is running out. With a Ph.D degree from Harvard Univers

ity, he is assumed to be well qualified for this post.

9. in addition to: besides

Eg. In addition to some English novels, Mary mailed me an English dictionary.

In addition to teaching in the school, Jane gives piano lessons to some children at home.

10. help out : give help at a time of need (to sb.)

Eg.Out neighbours helped out when Mother became ill.

Would you please help me out with this math problem?

11. on one’s guard: watchful; ready to defend or protect

Eg. As the bus was very crowded, the conductor warmed the passengers to be on their guard against pickpockets.

12. sometime, some time, sometimes sometime: at some uncertain or unstated

timeEg: He first came to china sometime arou

nd 1932. They’ll meet again sometime next week.

Some time : a certain amount of time

Eg: It will take some time to read the whole book.

Sometimes: at times ; now and then

Eg: Sometimes I come to school by bus and sometimes on foot.

13. hold back: control Eg. Mr. Jackson managed to hold back

his anger and avoided a quarrel with his 16-year-old son.

14. tension: a feel of worry and nervousness

Eg. With tension in her voice Ann said she had some bad news to tell me.

Just before the job interview, the young man felt his tension building.

15. give up: admit defeat; stop trying

Eg: I give up. I can’t work the problem out.

You gave up too easily. You could have worked it out if you had really set your mind to it.

16. swift: a. rapid; prompt Eg. The river is too swift to swim in.

17. in secret: secretly Eg. The meeting was held in secret.

They found she had been meeting her boyfriend in secret.

a dead secret keep a (the) secret

keep sth. a secret from sb.

不把某事告诉某人

还未泄露的秘密保守秘密

Discussion

1. What did the typewriter recall for the author’s mother and what does it recall for the author himself?

2. Compare the personality of Western Mothers with Eastern Mothers? Any similarities and differences?

The end