流利美国口语8.1

W: Who is your favorite poet?

M: Tagore is my favorite.

W: What do you think about his poetry?

M: His poetry is refreshing¹ and philosophical² and he won the Nobel prize for literature in 1913.

Dialogue 2.

W: Have you read any good books lately?

M: I have been reading Harry³ Potter books.

W: Really? They have become one of the most in demand book series among young readers.

M: Yeah, and I can’t wait to finish reading it.

Dialogue 3.

W: I am reading Thomas Hardy⁴ now. This term we are studying Tess of the D’urbervilles.

M: Are you enjoying the book?

W: I am enjoying it, but I found Thomas Hardy to be very depressing.

M: I agree. It seems that the people are in situations beyond their control.

W: It seems that fate rules their lives.

M: I am going to read a recreational book. I don’t want to end up feeling depressed⁵.

Exercise.

1. I’ve never read a more stirring story.

2. He has a passion for literature.

3. I am most attracted by Dickens.

4. I like Shakespeare better than Milton.

5. How much do you know about the works of George Eliot?

6. I found Thomas Hardy to be very depressing.

7. The old English classics are some of my favorites.

8. Her book is entertaining and well-written.

9. The movie was adapted from a novel.

10. Her novels are noted⁶ for their careful plotting and surprise endings.

11. Eugene O’Neil became the first American play write to win the Nobel prize for literature.

12. I guess that is popular with many people.

13. The book is really a spill binder⁷.

14. Who would you name as the greatest poet of our time?

15. The characterization of the people in this book is really wonderful.

1 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

2 philosophical   

adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的

参考例句：

• The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
• She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

5 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 binder   

n.包扎物，包扎工具；[法]临时契约；粘合剂；装订工

参考例句：

• The cloth flower snaps on with a special binder.这布花是用一种特殊的粘合剂固定住的。
• Purified water was used as liquid binder.纯净水作为液体粘合剂。