Lesson 21 A DAY OF HARVESTING
A DAY OF HARVESTING
(A Page from a Student's Diary)
October 24.
Today we began harvesting.
We got up at daybreak,and after an early breakfast
we started off for the rice fields.
We got there after half an hour's walk.
The fields around us looked like a golden sea.
I have never seen anything so beautiful!
We worked side by side with the farmers.
At first some of us were rather slow.
The farmers showed us how to cut the rice and how to tie the bundles.
Soon we learned to work faster.
We worked in three groups.
"Faster,faster!We mustn't fall behind the others!"
That was the thought in everybody's mind.
Evening came before we realized it.
We put down our sickles and looked at each other.
Our clothes were wet with sweat.
On every face there was a smile.
We harvested thirty mu altogether.
That was not bad for the first day.
But tomorrow we shall certainly do better--much better.
Notes to the text
A page from a student's diary.
Keep a diary.
Write an entry in one's diary.
Today we began harvesting.
We got up at daybreak,
and after an early breakfast,we started off for the rice fields.
start off
They started off on their journey early in the morning.
Next week he will start off for Hongkong on business
start off for
start out for
leave for
set off for
set out for
at daybreak
We got there after half an hour's walk.
got=got to
go to a place
go there
come here
home
Is Mr.Smith at home?
Please make yourself at home.
go home
stay home
The fields around us looked like a golden sea.
looked like
be seem look
feel get taste smell sound turn
Silk feels very soft
One feels lonely as one gets old.
Swiss chocolate tastes wonderful.
This flower smells sweet.
This idea sounds great.
The leaves turn yellow in late autumn.
look like feel like
taste like smell like sound like
I have never seen anything so beautiful.
The farmers showed us how to cut the rice,and how to tie the bundles.
We worked in three groups.
He wrote a letter in English.
Will you pay in cash?
Faster!Faster!We mustn't fall behind the others!
faster
fall behind
the others
Evening came before we realize it.
We got to the railway station before we knew it.
Our clothes were wet with sweat.
Spring is gay with flower and song.
Autumn is rich with fruit and grain.
His face was red with anger.
mu
an acre
an acre=6.07mu
ten acres
kongfu
kowtow
mandarin
mandarin chinese
mahjong
Well,that's all for the study of the text.
Coming up next is our grammar study.
And for this we'll take a look at the infinitive.
GRAMMAR
To leave or not is up to you.
to leave or not
be up to somebody
It is up to you to leave or not.
It is a great pleasure to make friends.
It's time to start off.
He is the man to trust.
He tried again and again to give up smoking.
He must be ill not to come.
The only thing to do is to wait.