Lesson One

Lesson OneLesson One Lesson OneLesson One

Christmas Day in the MorningChristmas Day in the Morning

By Pearl S. BuckBy Pearl S. Buck

Christmas Day in the MorningChristmas Day in the Morning

By Pearl S. BuckBy Pearl S. Buck

Background Information

Pearl S. Buck （中文名：赛珍珠）The Birth of Jesus according to the Bible

Pearl Buck


Pearl Buck was born on June 26, 1892, in West Virginia. Pearl was the fourth of seven children (and one of only three who would survive to adulthood). When she was three months old, she was taken to China, where she spent most of the first forty years of her life. From childhood, Pearl spoke both English and Chinese. She was taught principally by her mother and by a Chinese tutor. In 1934, Pearl moved permanently to the US. From the day of her move to the US, Pearl was active in American civil rights and women's rights activities. In 1938, Pearl won the Nobel Prize in literature for The Good Earth.


Pearl Buck died in March, 1973, just two months before her eighty-first birthday. By the time of her death in 1973, Pearl would publish over seventy books: novels, collections of stories, biography and autobiography, poetry, drama, children's literature, and translations from the Chinese. She is buried at Green Hills Farm.

Green Hills Farm


The Birth of Jesus according to the Bible This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived （怀胎） in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins （罪孽） ."


All this took place fulfills what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. It was warm and dry in the stable and Mary and Joseph rested on the clean straw. Later that night another little cry was heard; the baby Jesus was born. Mary carefully wrapped him in warm blankets and put him to sleep in the manger （马槽） . Together Mary and Joseph thanked God for the safe arrival of their little one.

Text Discussion Text Discussion

A Glimpse & General A Glimpse & General Understanding of the TextUnderstanding of the Text

““Christmas Day in the Morning” is intended to inspire peoplChristmas Day in the Morning” is intended to inspire people to high ideals and noble sentiments. The story is written to coe to high ideals and noble sentiments. The story is written to convey the idea of universal love as advocatednvey the idea of universal love as advocated （倡导）（倡导） by Christiby Christianity. Because the characters and the plot are simple and dowanity. Because the characters and the plot are simple and down-to-earth, the story would appeal to a mass audience. They min-to-earth, the story would appeal to a mass audience. They might see themselves as the same type of persons, and they migght see themselves as the same type of persons, and they might imagine themselves as giving a loved one a similar type of sht imagine themselves as giving a loved one a similar type of special gift. For these reason, “Christmas Day …” is a story that pecial gift. For these reason, “Christmas Day …” is a story that would be found in certain kinds of popular magazines in North would be found in certain kinds of popular magazines in North America such as Reader’s Digest, which has an extremely large America such as Reader’s Digest, which has an extremely large circulation.circulation.

The central idea of this story is expressed in the statement tThe central idea of this story is expressed in the statement that hat love alone can waken lovelove alone can waken love. It means that love is always mut. It means that love is always mutual and always begins with giving.ual and always begins with giving.

Text Discussion Text Discussion

Detailed Learning of the TextDetailed Learning of the Text

Strange how the habits of his youth clung to him still!Strange how the habits of his youth clung to him still!

The complete form should be: It was strange how...The complete form should be: It was strange how...The elliptical form is often used in informal speech The elliptical form is often used in informal speech or narration. or narration. Other examples:Other examples: No wonder he lost his job.No wonder he lost his job. Interesting how she came to know him.Interesting how she came to know him. Funny how it all started.Funny how it all started.

Yet what was the magic of Christmas now?Yet what was the magic of Christmas now?This is a negative statement in question form. This is a negative statement in question form. Another example:Another example:What’s the use of going there?What’s the use of going there?

ParaphraseParaphrase

Christmas no longer had much attraction since tChristmas no longer had much attraction since they were old and there were only the two of thehey were old and there were only the two of them at home.m at home.

His childhood and youth were long past, and his own chilHis childhood and youth were long past, and his own children had grown up and gone.dren had grown up and gone.

"his childhood and youth were long past" means that he "his childhood and youth were long past" means that he was no longer young.was no longer young.past: no longer current; gone by; over: past: no longer current; gone by; over: 过去的：不再现的；过去的：不再现的；过去的；结束的：过去的；结束的：His youth is past. His youth is past. 他的青春已过他的青春已过

long: long: adj.adj. of relatively great duration of relatively great duration a long timea long time adv. adv. for or throughout a specified periodfor or throughout a specified period They talked all night long. They talked all night long. 他们谈了整整一个晚上他们谈了整整一个晚上long: long: adj.adj. of relatively great duration of relatively great duration a long timea long time adv. adv. for or throughout a specified periodfor or throughout a specified period They talked all night long. They talked all night long. 他们谈了整整一个晚上他们谈了整整一个晚上

He had never thought of it before, taking for granted the He had never thought of it before, taking for granted the tie of their blood. tie of their blood.


He bad never thought of the fact that his father loveHe bad never thought of the fact that his father loved him because he took the relationship of father and d him because he took the relationship of father and son as matter of course. son as matter of course.

A thought struck him like a silver dagger.A thought struck him like a silver dagger.strike: to enter one's mind; occur tostrike: to enter one's mind; occur toThe thought struck me from out of the blue (The thought struck me from out of the blue ( 完全出于意完全出于意外外 ) ) 我突然有了这想法。我突然有了这想法。

a silver daggera silver dagger is used to suggest the lightening speed is used to suggest the lightening speed with which the brilliant idea flashed across his mind.with which the brilliant idea flashed across his mind.


An idea suddenly crossed his mindAn idea suddenly crossed his mind

Milking for once was not a choreMilking for once was not a chore::

chore: an unpleasant or burdensome taskchore: an unpleasant or burdensome task


For the first time milking was not a tedious, unpleasant, For the first time milking was not a tedious, unpleasant, boring task.boring task.

His father was laughing, a queer sobbing sort of a His father was laughing, a queer sobbing sort of a laughlaugh

His father was so touched that he was choked with His father was so touched that he was choked with emotion. Or: He was laughing, but not in the normal emotion. Or: He was laughing, but not in the normal way.way.


The words broke from him of their own.The words broke from him of their own.


He was so excited that these words just came out He was so excited that these words just came out naturally and automatically. He just poured out his naturally and automatically. He just poured out his emotion without thinking.emotion without thinking.

Come to think of itCome to think of it... (inf.) = I've never thought about it ... (inf.) = I've never thought about it before, but now when I think about it. I realize that…before, but now when I think about it. I realize that…

come to think of it/come to thatcome to think of it/come to that: used to add sth. that : used to add sth. that you have just realized or remembered.you have just realized or remembered.Eg. Eg. Come to think of it, George did seem a bit depressed Come to think of it, George did seem a bit depressed yesterday.yesterday.We must hurry. Come to think of it, we only have two We must hurry. Come to think of it, we only have two days left.days left.I normally write home once every month. Come to think I normally write home once every month. Come to think of it, I should write to my mother today.of it, I should write to my mother today.

Exercise Check-up Exercise Check-up

worth, worthy, worthwhile worth, worthy, worthwhile

Worth adj. 值得的，相当于…价值的eg. The instrument is worth 10,000 yuan. How much is it worth? The problem is worth notice. It is not worth the trouble. be worth doingeg. The problem is worth noticing.

Worth n. 价值eg. a jewel of great worth 一颗价值昂贵的珠宝 twenty dollars’ worth of sugar 20 元的糖 two yuan’s worth of coins 两元钱的硬币

worth, worthy, worthwhile worth, worthy, worthwhile

Worthy adj. 有价值的，可尊敬的 , 配得上的eg. a worthy man The bank would think you are worthy of loan. The idea is worthy of consideration. We all hope that he is worthy of her. worthy members of the community

Worthwhile adj. 值得花费时间，金钱，精力的eg. a worthwhile movie that was compelling enough to watch again The president’s trip to Washington this week seems to have been worthwhile. It might be worthwhile to consider your attitude.

10) Translate (p 19)10) Translate (p 19)a)a) Up to this day some of them are still clinging to the Up to this day some of them are still clinging to the

old ideas.old ideas.b) Although the experiment failed, it was worth doing. b) Although the experiment failed, it was worth doing. c) This is not worth mentioning. I’ve only done what I c) This is not worth mentioning. I’ve only done what I

should.should.d) In those days, the money was not worth the paper it d) In those days, the money was not worth the paper it

was printed on.was printed on.e) Using this method, we will have no trouble separating e) Using this method, we will have no trouble separating

oil from vinegar.oil from vinegar.

f) Now that he knew what had happened that day, he f) Now that he knew what had happened that day, he regretted having criticized the children.regretted having criticized the children.g) Nobody (has) told me about it. I happened to walk g) Nobody (has) told me about it. I happened to walk past the window and overheard them talking.past the window and overheard them talking.h) I wish I were twenty years younger.h) I wish I were twenty years younger.i) It’s time you changed / dropped / quit those bad i) It’s time you changed / dropped / quit those bad habits.habits.J) Everybody has to take his turn.J) Everybody has to take his turn.

k) There are many ways to get rich in the countryside. k) There are many ways to get rich in the countryside.

One can get rich by planting trees, raising fish, One can get rich by planting trees, raising fish, chickens, pis or even cows.chickens, pis or even cows.l)l) A good idea struck him. Why not build a school for A good idea struck him. Why not build a school for village with the money?village with the money?m) He checks carefully every evening to make sure that m) He checks carefully every evening to make sure that

all the doors are locked.all the doors are locked.n) They decided to go to Xian by plane instead of by train) They decided to go to Xian by plane instead of by trai

n.n.

o) Come to think of it, we really can’t wait any more.o) Come to think of it, we really can’t wait any more.p)p) When she heard that her son was killed in the air When she heard that her son was killed in the air

crash, she burst into tears.crash, she burst into tears.q) Don’t take things for granted. You’d better look it up q) Don’t take things for granted. You’d better look it up

in a dictionary.in a dictionary.r) The comrades showed great concern for him. But he r) The comrades showed great concern for him. But he

took it all for granted.took it all for granted.

Proverbs about loveProverbs about loveFaults are thick where love is thin. Faults are thick where love is thin. Love at first sight. Love at first sight. Love cannot be forced. Love cannot be forced. Love is blind. Love is blind. Love is neither bought nor sold. Love is neither bought nor sold. Love is the mother of love. Love is the mother of love. Love lives in cottages as well as in courts. Love lives in cottages as well as in courts. No herb will cure love. No herb will cure love. One love drives out another.One love drives out another.Love me, love my dog.Love me, love my dog.Whom we love best to them we can say least. Whom we love best to them we can say least.

Lesson One

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