19 The Angel’s Voice
一、请根据两个提示句进行故事续写,150词左右。
Music has always been an integral essential part of my family. As a little girl, Iremember my mother singing with the choir, her clear soprano(女高音)blending with the others in praise. As I grew older, she and I would sing while we did the dishes or hung clothes on the line. When my brother Dean was born, he was also a musical soul, and he learned to play guitar as well as sing. In good times and in bad, there was always music in our house. It shaped us, comforted us, and gave us an outlet for feelings that might otherwise have gone unspoken.
After Dean became a father, we learned that his oldest son was on the autism spectrum(自闭症). My nephew Dj did not handle social situations well, and sometimes even for him to speak aloud to more than just the family was a struggle. He worked very hard to overcome his fears, so much so that the year he was eight, he decided he wanted to be part of the Christmas music program at church with the other children in his Sunday school class. The part he had been offered was one that required him to sing a verse all on his own — a solo.
My brother carefully explained to him that to do this would mean that he would be singing in front of the whole audience; there would be no one singing with him. Dj considered this very carefully. After a couple of days, he decided that he would accept the part. He explained to us that he believed he could do it because it was a very special occasion, and he would practice until he was as perfect as he could be.
For over a month, he and his father practiced together. Every evening would find them locked away in the music room, my brother on guitar, and my nephew’s small voice coming from somewhere deep down inside his little body. He gained confidence, and when the day of the concert arrived, he was certain all would go well. My brother waited backstage with him that night until it was almost time to go on. After giving Dj double thumbs-up, he came out to sit with the rest of the family to watch and take photos.
When Dj was to sing, other angels filed out, with wings on shoulders and shining halos on heads. _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Being silent, the pianist started over again, and the cue came a low voice filled the air. _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________
二、原作品读
The Angel’s Voice
Music has always been an integral part of my family. As a little girl, I remember my mother singing with the choir, her clear soprano blendingwith the others in praise. As I grew older, she and I would sing while we did the dishes or hung clothes on the line. When my brother Dean was born, he was also a musical soul, and he learned to play guitar as well as sing. In good times and in bad, there was always music in our house. It shaped us, comforted us, and gave us an outlet for feelings that might otherwise have gone unspoken.
After Dean became a father, we learned that his oldest son was on the autism spectrum(自闭症). My nephew Dj did not handle social situations well, and sometimes even for him to speak aloud to more than just the family was a struggle. He worked very hard to overcome his fears, so much so that the year he was eight, he decided he wanted to be part of the Christmas music program at church with the other children in his Sunday school class. The part he had been offered was one that required him to sing a verse all on his own — a solo.
My brother carefully explained to him that to do this would mean that he would be singing in front of the whole congregation; there would be no one singing with him. Dj considered this very carefully. After a couple of days, he decided that he would accept the part. He explained to us that he believed he could do it because it was a very special occasion, and he would practice until he was as perfect as he could be. He said he knew his daddy would help him to be the best singer possible.
For over a month, he and his father practiced together. Every evening would find them locked away in the music room, my brother on guitar, and my nephew’s small voice coming from somewhere deep down inside his little body. He gained confidence, and when the day of the concert arrived, he was certain all would go well. My brother waited backstage with him that night until it was almost time to go on. After giving Dj double thumbs-up, he came out to sit with the rest of the family to watch and take photos.
When it was finally time for Dj to sing, he and the line of angels filed out, with feathered wings perched on little shoulders and tinsel halos on tousled heads. They each stepped forward to sing their verses — until the time came for Dj to sing. The music played on, he heard his cue to sing, and he froze. His little face grew pale, and we could see the panic in his eyes as the silence grew. He seemed to get smaller as each note played out. The pianist started the intro again and played the cue, but still nothing came out. The entire congregation seemed to lean forward in anticipation. The silence seemed enormous.
The pianist started over again, and when the cue came, a low voice filled the air. It was my brother, singing the song in his son’s place. Everyone turned to see who was singing, but my mother and I were fixed on the littlest angel on stage. With each word his father sang, Dj stood a little taller. The color came back to his face, and his eyes began to sparkle. He opened his mouth and began to sing along, his little voice growing stronger with each word. He finished his verses, stepped back into line, and the rest of the angels each took their turn. The show ended to thunderous applause, with the kids bowing dramatically, accepting their praise for a job well done.
From the back seat of the car on the way home that night, I looked at my family with new insight. My brother — this giant of a father, who had once been a goofy, tow-headed little monster who took every opportunity to prank me and torment me, but who also climbed into bed with me after having nightmares and cried if he couldn’t follow me everywhere — had shown everyone what love was that Christmas Eve night.
His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, and he reached a hand back between the seats to hold mine for a moment.
No words needed to be spoken. The understanding between us was louder than the voices of the choir that night.
Words for understanding (加粗的单词为熟记单词,其它认识即可):
单词 音标 词性释义 单词 音标 词性释义
integral [ nt ɡr l] adj.不可或缺的 step [step] v.迈步
choir [ kwa (r)] n.合唱团 freeze [fri z] v.呆住
soprano [s prɑ n ] n.女高音 cue [kju ] n.提示,暗示
blend [blend] v.(使)融合,协调 panic [ p n k] n.恐慌
soul [s l] n.某种人 note [n t] n.音符
shape [ e p] v.塑造 intro [ ntr ] n.前奏
outlet [ a tlet] n.(情感的)发泄口 lean [li n] v.倾斜
otherwise [ wa z] adv.否则;不然 anticipation [ n t s pe n] n.期待;预期
handle [ h ndl] v.处理 enormous [ n m s] adj.巨大的
struggle [ str ɡl] n.难事 sparkle [ spɑ kl] vi.闪烁
verse [v s] n.歌曲的段落 thunderous [ θ nd r s] adj.雷鸣般的
solo [ s l ] n.独唱 bow [ba ] v.鞠躬
congregation [ k ɡr ɡe n] n.(教堂的)会众 dramatically [dr m t k( )li] adv.突然地
gain [ɡe n] v.增加 goofy [ ɡu fi] adj.愚蠢的
file [fa l] vi.列队排出 tow-headed ['t h'ed d] adj.头发蓬乱的
perch [p t ] vi.置于(顶上) prank [pr k] v.对…恶作剧
tinsel [ t nsl] adj.闪亮的 torment [ t ment] vt.& vi.戏弄
halo [ he l ] n.光环 nightmare [ na tme (r)] n.噩梦
tousled [ ta zld] adj.毛茸茸的 rearview ['r vju:] n.背面
短语 释义 短语 释义
lock away 锁起来 play out 做完;演完
deep down 在内心深处 lean forward 向前倾
file out 列队排出 fix on 固定;注视
Read to appreciate: Fill in the blanks according to Chinese translations
1. 给Dj双手点赞后,他出来和家人坐在一起观看和拍照。
After giving Dj _____________ _____________, he came out to sit with the rest of the family to watch and take photos.(Action)
2. 我和妈妈定睛注视着舞台上最小的天使。
My mother and I were __________ __________ the littlest angel on stage. (Action)
3. 他的小脸骤然苍白,随着沉默的加剧,他眼中的恐慌越发清晰可见。
His little face grew __________, and we could see the panic in his eyes as the silence grew.(Expression+Emotion)
4. 他的脸又恢复了血色,他的眼睛开始闪闪发光。
The color came back to his face, and his eyes began to __________ . (Expression)
5. 演出在雷鸣般的掌声中结束,孩子们深深地鞠躬,接受众人对其出色表演的称赞。
The show ended to _______________ ______________, with the kids bowing dramatically, accepting their praise for a job well done. (Environment+Action)
6. 全场观众似乎都期待着向前倾。
The entire congregation seemed to __________ forward in ______________. (Action)
7.随着音符的结束,他的身形似乎越变越小了。
He seemed to ___________ ______________ as each note played out.(Metaphor)
Language use
Application of the key words: Fill in the blanks according to the Chinese sentences
1. 地毯与墙壁的颜色搭配得十分协调。The carpet ____________well with the colour of the walls.
2. 无论喜欢与否,家庭影响了我们的生活,决定了我们成为什么样的人。
Like it or not, our families ____________ our lives and make us what we are.
3. 我背着几个沉重的包吃力地爬上山去。I ____________ up the hill with the heavy bags.
4. 他们的努力帮助人质获得了自由。
Their efforts helped the hostages ____________ their freedom.
5. 博物馆开门了,参观者鱼贯而入。
The doors of the museum opened and the visitors began to ____________ in.
6.我们小心翼翼地从碎玻璃上走了过去。We ____________ carefully over the broken glass.
7. 门慢慢开启时我吓呆了。I ____________ with terror as the door slowly opened.
8.枪声惊吓到马匹。The gunfire ____________ the horses.
9.能清楚地看到一名警察记下了经过车辆的车牌号。
One policeman was clearly visible _____________ the number plates of passing cars.
10.烛光下,她的首饰光彩熠熠。Her jewellery _____________ in the candlelight.
11.他们默默地垂头而立。They stood in silence with their heads _____________.
(2) Imitation of the scenes:
1. The music played on, he heard his cue to sing, and he froze. He seemed to get smaller as each note played out. His little face grew pale, and we could see the panic in his eyes as the silence grew. The pianist started the intro again and played the cue, but still nothing came out.
模仿:比赛倒计时铃声响了,艾伦呆呆地站在台上,说不出一个字来。我能看到他眼中的失望,大声呼喊他的名字,但是没有任何回应。
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
He opened his mouth and began to sing along, his little voice growing stronger with each word. He finished his verses, stepped back into line, and the rest of the angels each took their turn. The show ended to thunderous applause, with the kids bowing dramatically, accepting their praise for a job well done.
模仿:我先表演了一段独舞,再退回行列中和其余的伙伴们一起表演群舞。表演一结束,雷鸣般的掌声便从台下爆发出来。
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Key:
读后续写
When Dj was to sing, other angels filed out, with wings on shoulders and shining halos on heads.They each stepped forward to sing their verses — until the time came for Dj to sing. With music playing on, he heard his cue to sing but was frozen to the spot. His little face paled, and panic was in his eyes as the silence gradually ruled the whole church. The pianist started the intro again and played the cue, but still nothing came out. The entire audience seemed to lean forward in anticipation.
Being silent, the pianist started over again, and the cue came a low voice filled the air.All in a split second, everyone turned to see who was singing. My eyes fixed on the littlest angel on stage, his eyes began to sparkle. Opening his mouth and singing along, his voice grew stronger. No sooner had hefinished his verses than he stepped back into line, and the others took their turn. The show ended to thunderous applause, with the kids bowing dramatically, accepting their praise for a job well done. Tears blurring my eyes, the surpassing love between the father and the son was louder than the voices of the choir. (168 words)
III.
1.double thumbs-up 2.fixed on 3.pale 4.sparkle 5.thunderous applause 6.lean anticipation 7. get smaller
IV.
1.blends 2.shape 3.struggled 4.gain 5.file 6.stepped 7.froze 8.panicked 9.noting10.sparkled 11.bowed
1. The countdown bell rang, and Alan froze, standing stunned on the stage, unable to utter any word. I could see the disappointment in his eyes and exclaim his name, but nothing came out.
2. I first performed a solo dance, and then stepped back into line to perform a group dance with my rest of the partners. As soon as the performance was over, thunderous applause began to erupt from the crowds.