Comprehension 理解
Answer these questions:
1 What do you understand by this sentence:‘All admit radical changes of destination once the journey has begun.’?(11.3-4)
2 What do you understand by the phrase‘organic process’?(1.8)
3 Quote a sentence from the passage from which you could deduce that a writer must be a lonely person.
Vocabulary 词汇
Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: eager discomfort (1.3); passes for (1.3); skeleton (1.5); beginning afresh (1.6);discern (1.7); a blurred image (1.9) ; fathom (1.12); interminably (11.12-13); winkling out(1.13); anarchy (1.21); ruthless (1.22); taking time off (1.22).
Summary 摘要
Drawing your information from the first paragraph (lines 1-15) write a summary of the author's account of how a writer works. Do not write more than 100 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.
Composition 作文
A Write a list of ideas in note form which could be used to discuss this subject:
Which do you prefer reading: novels, plays, poetry or non-fiction?
Give reasons for your choice.
B Drawing on your list of ideas, write a composition of about 400 words.
Key structures 关键句型
A Supply who, whom or which where necessary in the following sentences. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:
1 I have known very few writers, but those ____I have know, and ____I respect confess at once that they have little idea where they are going when they first set pen to paper.(11.1-2)
2 The writer comes to discern things in his material ____were not consciously in his mind when he began.(11.6-7)
3 Sometimes the yeast within a writer outlives a book____ he has written. (1.10)
4 I have heard of writers____ read nothing but their own books. (1.11)
B Note the use of little in this sentence: They have little idea where they are going. (11.1-2)
Write sentences using the following expressions: little expectation; little appreciation; little improvement.
C Compare these two sentences:
Instead of saying: I never heard of anyone who made a‘skeleton’, as we were taught at school.
We can say: I have never heard of anyone making a‘skeleton’, as we were taught at school. (11.5-6)
Change the following sentences in the same way:
1 This organic process, which often leads to moments of extraordinary self-discovery, is of indescribable fascination.(11.7-9)
2 I have often heard of writers who read nothing but their own books. (1.11)
3 A writer who does this is misunderstood. (1.14)
D Note the use of may/ might as well in the following sentences:
1 Of course a writer doing this is misunderstood: he might (or may) as well try to explain a crime or love affair.(11.14-15)
2 I haven't got anything else to do so I might (or may) as well do some gardening.
Write two sentences using may/ might as well in the ways shown above.
E Note the use of back in place of ago in the following:
A young English writer made the pertinent observation a year or two back… (1.18)
Write two sentences using back in this way.
Special difficulties 难点
A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.
1 destination (1.3)----destiny
Passengers flying on to other destinations in Europe must first clear their baggage at this airport.
Surly you don't believe someone can tell your destiny by looking at a pack of cards or a crystal ball?
2 indescribable (1.8)----undescribed
When they reached the top of the hill, they saw a scene of indescribable beauty.
Stephen's journey back home is undescribed in the novel.
3 capture (1.10)----arrest
Captured by the enemy, the soldiers were in danger of being shot.
He was arrested by the police for theft.
4 misunderstood (1.14)----not understood.
That is not what I meant. He must have misunderstood or misheard me.
Apparently this is not understood by all the students.
5 draft (1.19)----draught
It is said that he completed the first draft of the play within two days.
Can you close that window a bit, please, on account of the draught. (=cold air current)
6 judgment (1.20)----criticism
Find out everything you can, then make a judgment based on the facts.
Young people deeply resent any criticism of their friends by their parents.
B The words in italics in the following sentences are used metaphorically. What is their literal meaning?
1 He adds a brushstroke and another, and it is gone,… (1.9)
2 Sometimes the yeast within a writer outlives a book he has written. (1.10)
3 Like adolescents they stand before the mirror and still cannot fathom the exact outline of the vision before them.(11.11-12)
4 When he flirts with fame, he is taking time off from living with himself…(11.22-23)
Multiple choice questions 多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension 理解
1 According to the author, most writers he has known ____.
a．often change the location in which their novel is set
b．do not work to a detailed preconceived plan
c．follow the method of writing they were taught at school
d．rely on inspiration from the moment they start until they finish
2 According to the writer, the process of writing ____.
a．is predictable and methodical
b．brings out ideas that the writer was conscious of
c．is rather chaotic
d．depends on skilful planning
3 If a writer becomes too concerned with the reader, he ____.
a．might fail because he will lose touch with the creative process
b．will learn a lot about himself and his work will benefit
c．will find conversations with other people very boring
d．will understand the vision he is pursuing
4 The key to good writing is not so much the original inspiration, but____.
a．ruthless discipline
b．the anarchy of the writer's heart
c．the number of drafts that follow the first one
d．the quality of editing that follows the original draft
Structure 句型
5 I have known very few writers ____. (1.1)
a．in my life
b．recently
c．last year
d．since last year
6 ____ at school to make a‘skeleton’. (11.5-6)
a．We taught
b．They taught us
c．They were taught by us
d．They taught to us
7 I have heard of writers____ nothing but their own books. (1.11)
a．who they read
b．that they read
c．which they read
d．reading
8 Of course a writer ____ this is misunderstood. (1.14)
a．who doing
b．that doing
c．that he does
d．that does
Vocabulary 词汇
9 All admit____ changes of destination. (1.3)
a．important
b．fundamental
c．unforeseen
d．predictable
10 ____ image appears. (1.9)
a．A false
b．A visionary
c．A sudden
d．An indistinct
11 They stand before a mirror____ adolescents. (1.11)
a．as though
b．as if they were
c．as if to be
d．as
12 A young English writer made the____ observation…(1.18)
a．relative
b．extraordinary
c．relevant
d．cheeky