Class Activities

Brainstorm

Expressions for plans/ planning:

Schedule, timetable, intentions, expectations, ambitions, hopes, aspirations志向，抱负, prospects, outlook前景, forecast, prediction, dream, goal, aim, have intention of doing, be going to, be about to, plan to do, look forward to, expect to do, address （deal with）some (problems), maintain one’s commitment 承诺to…

Expressions for possibilities/ impossibilities/ uncertainties:

Perhaps, maybe, probably, certainly, surely, no doubt, it’s likely/certain/ unlikely to do…

Expressions for realizing/failing to realize a plan:

Realize, reach, fulfill, accomplish, come true, be satisfied, be disappointed, let down, feel hopeless, fail to do, be/fall short of target, sense of accomplishment, …to the fullest satisfaction

John Ruskin

John Ruskin was born in London on 8 February 1819. He was one of the greatest figures of the Victorian age, poet, artist, critic, social revolutionary and conservationist.

Comprehension work:

Summarize the story:

The two roads refer metaphorically to two choices in a person’s life. One will bring happiness and success. The other leads to failure, sorrow, discomfort and a total waste of one’s life. Those who choose the second road (the wrong road) would mourn over their mistakes when they get old, but they cry of remorse would not bring back their youth.

B summarize the paragraphs:

1. The first paragraph: A sixty-year old man meditated over his long and painful journey in life with great remorse on New Year’s Eve.

2. The sixth paragraph: The young man was brought back to reality and realized that it was not too late for him to choose the right road.

3. The last paragraph: The writer makes an appeal to those young people who hesitate before choosing a road in life and warns them of the consequences of failing to make well-considered decision about their future.

参考译文：

除夕之夜，一位老人伫立窗前。他满眼哀伤，仰望着深蓝色的天空，那儿，星星如清澈平静的湖面上的朵朵白莲在漂移着；后来，他将目光投向地面，几个比他更加绝望的人正在走向人生的终点——坟墓。在通往人生终点的道路上，他已走过了60多个驿站，除了过失和悔恨，他一无所获。现在，他健康欠佳，精神空虚，心情忧郁，缺少晚年应有的舒适和安逸。

青春的岁月如梦幻般浮现在他眼前，他回想起父亲将他放在人生岔路口上的关键时刻，当时，他面前有两条路：一条通向和平宁静、阳光灿烂的地方，那里到处是花果，到处回荡着柔和甜美的歌声；另一条则通向黑暗无底的深渊，那里流淌着毒液而不是清水，恶魔肆虐，毒蛇嘶嘶爬动。

他仰望天空，痛苦地哭喊

：“哦，青春，你回来吧！哦，爸爸，请把我重新放到人生的路口上吧，我会做出更好的选择。”然而他的父亲和他的青春年华皆离他远去。

他看见灯消逝在黑暗中，那便是他虚度的时光；他看见一颗星星从空中陨落、消失，那是他自身的象征。悔恨如同一支利箭，深深地刺进他的心。接着，他想起童年时代的朋友，他们曾与他一同踏上人生的旅程，现已获得成功，受到人们的尊敬，此刻正在幸福中欢度除夕。

教堂塔顶的钟声响了，使他回忆起父母早年对他的爱，他们曾给予他谆谆教诲，曾为他的幸福祈祷上帝。可他偏偏选择人生的歧途。羞愧和忧伤使他再也不敢正式他父亲所在的天堂。他双眼黯然无光，饱噙着泪水，在绝望中，他拼力高喊：“回来吧，我那逝去的年华！回来吧！”

青春真的回来了，因为以上所发生的一切只是他在除夕所做的一场梦。他仍旧年轻，当然他真的犯有过失；但还未堕入深渊；他仍然可以自由地走上通向宁静和光明的道路。

在人生路口徘徊，不知该不该选择光明大道的年轻人啊，你们千万要记住：当你青春已逝，双足在黑暗的群山中举步维艰，跌跌撞撞之时，你才痛心疾首地呼唤：“哦，回来吧、青春！哦，把我的美好年华还给我！”，这只会是徒劳无益的。下载本文