新概念第三册自学导读 Lessons8

Listen to the tape then answer the question below.

听录音，然后回答以下问题。

What are the St. Bernard dogs used for?

The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy. At 2, 473  metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe. The famous monastery of St. Bernard, which was founded in the eleventh century, lies about a mile away. For hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass. These friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watchdogs even in Roman times. Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains, the Pass is less dangerous, but each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty. Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot.

During the summer months,  the monastery is very busy,  for it is visited by thousands of people who cross  the Pass in cars. As there are so many people about,  the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure. In winter, however,  life at the monastery is quite different. The temperature drops to-30°and very few people attempt to cross the Pass. The monks prefer winter to summer for they have more privacy. The dogs have greater freedom, too, for  they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure.  The only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at Christmas and Easter. These young people, who love the peace of the mountains,  always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.

New words and expressions生词和短语

monastery（title）/'m&n+stri/n．寺院，修道院

enclosure（1. 12）/in'kl+({+/n．围场，圈地

St．Bernard（1. 1）/?seint-b+'na:d/圣伯纳德

monk（1. 14）/m)Rk/n．和尚，僧侣

pass（1. 2）/pa:s/n．关隘

privacy（1. 14）/'priv+si/n．清静，隐居

watchdog（1. 7）/'w&tMd&g/n．看门狗

skier（1. 16）/'ski:+/n．滑雪者

rashly（1. 9）/'r$Mli/adj．莽撞地，冒失地

Easter（1. 16）/'i:st+/n．复活节

Notes on the text课文注释

1  Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains，由于一条穿山隧道已经开通。now that是连词，当“既然”，“由于”讲，引导一个原因状语从句，说明一种新情况。

2  As there are so many people about, …about为副词，作“在附近”，“到处”讲。也可用around表示。

3  The monks prefer winter to summer，修道士们喜欢冬天而不喜欢夏天。 prefer…to…有“喜欢……而不喜欢……”的意思，to的前后要用名词或动名词来表示所对比的事物或活动。

参考译文

圣伯纳德大山口连接着瑞士与意大利，海拔2，473米，是欧洲最高的山口。11世纪建造的著名的圣伯纳德修道院位于离山口1英里远的地方。几百年来，圣伯纳德修道院驯养的狗拯救了许多翻越这道山口的旅游者的生命。这些最先从亚洲引进的狗，待人友好，早在罗马时代就给人当看门狗了。如今由于在山里开挖了隧道，翻越山口已不那么危险了。但每年还要派狗到雪地里去帮助那些遇到困难的旅游者。尽管修通了隧道，但仍有一些人想冒险徒步跨越圣伯纳德山口。

夏天的几个月里，修道院十分忙碌，因为有成千上万的人驾车通过山口，顺道来修道院参观。由于来人太多，狗被关在专门的围栏里。然而到了冬天，修道院里的生活则是另一番景象。气温下降到零下30度，试图跨越山口的人寥寥无几。修道士们喜欢冬天，而不太喜欢夏天。因为在冬天，他们可以更多地过上无人打扰的生活。狗也比较自由，被放出围栏，四处遛达。冬天常来修道院参观的只有一批批滑雪者。他们在圣诞节或复活节到那儿去。这些热爱高山清静环境的年轻人每年都受到圣伯纳德修道院的热烈欢迎。

Summary writing摘要写作

In not more than 80 words give an account of life at St. Bernard's Monastery in summer and in winter. Do not include anything that is not in the last paragraph.

Answer these questions in note form to get your points:

1  When is St. Bernard's monastery visited by thousands of people?

2  How do these people cross the Pass?

3  Why are the dogs kept in a special enclosure?

4  How low does the temperature drop in winter?

5  Are there few visitors then, or are there a great many?

6  Do the monks prefer the winter season or not?

7  What are the dogs free to do in winter?

8  What sort of people regularly visit the monastery in winter?

9  Do they stay there the whole winter, or do they stay only at certain times?

10  Are they warmly welcomed or not? 

Vocabulary词汇

Give another word or phrase to replace the following words as they are used in the passage: famous (1. 2); founded (1. 3); lies (1. 4); now that (1. 7); rashly attempt (11. 9-10); quite (1. 13); drops (1. 13).

Composition作文

In not more than 200 words, write an imaginary account of the way a traveller was rescued on St. Bernard's Pass in winter. Use the ideas given below. Do not write more than three paragraphs. Title: Rescue.

Introduction: A monk took two dogs out for exercise ---- the dogs were restless ---- a search party was organized.   Development: The dogs led the monks through the snow ---- high winds the previous night ---- now heavy fog ---- temperature 20°below ---- they got near ---- heard cries ---- a man was trapped under the snow ---- the dogs dragged him out ---- he was taken to the monastery on a sledge.

Conclusion: The man was unconscious ---- recovered later ---- told them what had happened the previous night.

Letter writing书信写作

Write a letter of about 80 words to a friend recommending a hotel in the Alps to him. Supply a suitable Introduction and Conclusion.  Use the following ideas to write the Purpose: why you recommend it----you stayed there last year ---- fine views ----healthy mountain air ---- comfortable ---- moderate prices ----you intend to go this year as well.

Key structures关键句型

Verb forms: review. 动词时态复习（IKS 83）（参见第2册第83课关键句型）

Exercise练习

A  Underline the verbs in the passage which tell us what always happens, what happened and what has happened. Note how they have been used.

B  Write sentences using the following words and phrases: ago; for six months;  when;  since 1988.

Special difficulties难点

The dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty. （11. 8-9）请记住，ever有时可同who，what，when，where等一起构成代词或连词，用来加强句子（特别是疑问句）的语气。

Compare these pairs of sentences:

He did what I asked him to do.

He did whatever I asked him to do.

Who told you that?

Whoever told you that?

I'll tell you when you make a mistake.

I'll tell you whenever you make a mistake.

Where has he gone?

Wherever has he gone?