Mark Twain—A Great but Sad Writer

周旋

Mark Twain left school when he was twelve. He had little school education. In spite of this， he became the most famous writer of his time. He made millions of dollars by writing. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens， but he is better known all over the world as Mark Twain， his pen name.

Mark Twain was born in 1835 and he was not a healthy baby. In fact， he was not expected to live through the first winter. But with his mothers care， he managed to survive. As a boy， he caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play jokes on all his friends and neighbors. He didnt like to go to school， and he often ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He was nearly drowned nine times.

After his fathers death， Mark Twain began to work for a printer， who only provided him with food and clothing. Then， he worked as a river boat pilot and later joined the army. But shortly after that he became a miner. During this period， he started to write short stories. Afterwards he became a full-time writer.

In 1870， Mark Twain got married. In the years that followed he wrote many books including Tom Sawyer in 1876， and Huckleberry Finn in 1884， which made him famous， and brought him great fortune.

Unfortunately， Mark Twain got into debts in bad investments and he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts. In 1904， his wife died， and then three of his children passed away.

At the age of 70， his hair was completely white. He bought many white suits and neckties. He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death on April 21， 1910.

【難句解析】

1. In fact， he was not expected to live through the first winter.

釋義：事實上，沒有預料他能活過第一個冬天。

點撥：expect， advise， allow， ask， beg， cause， command， drive， elect， encourage， forbid， force， get， permit等動詞可以接不定式作賓語補足語，這些動詞使用被動語態后要接不定式作主語補足語。例如：

Passengers are permitted to carry only one piece of hand luggage onto the plane. 乘客只允許帶一個手提行李上飛機。

2. He used to play jokes on all his friends and neighbors.

釋義：他過去常常拿他的朋友和鄰居開玩笑。

點撥：used to表示“過去常常”，現在已經停止的情況或習慣，側重今昔的對比，其中to是動詞不定式符號，后接動詞原形;be used to do sth. 意為“被用來做某事”，這是一個被動結構，可用于各種人稱、時態，其中to是動詞不定式符號，后接動詞原形;be used to doing sth. 意思是“習慣于做某事”，可用于各種人稱、時態，其中to是介詞，后接V-ing形式;若強調動作或表示漸漸習慣于……”時，還可以用短語 get used to doing sth.。例如：

He used to cause lots of trouble for his parents. 他過去常常給父母惹許多麻煩。

The knife is used to cut things. 小刀是用來切割東西的。

I used to read books at home， but now Im used to reading in the library. 我過去常常在家看書，但我現在習慣在圖書館看書。

3. ... he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts.

釋義：……他不得不寫大量的小說來還債。

點撥：不定式to pay these debts在句中作目的狀語。不定式表目的時，可放在句子的前面，也可放在句子的末尾。但在句子前面時，不定式常與句子用逗號隔開;而在句子末尾時不用逗號隔開。例如：

To get there on time， we set out at five in the morning. 為了按時到達那兒，我們早晨五點就出發了。

He goes there to enjoy the fresh air. 他去那兒享受新鮮空氣。

4. He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death on April 21， 1910.

釋義：他從頭到腳只穿白色的衣服，直到于1910年4月21日去世。

點撥：until用于否定句中，意為“直到……才”，表示動作從until表示的時間才開始，主句動詞延續性、非延續性均可。用于肯定句中，意為“到……為止”，表示動作一直持續到所說時間為止，主句的動詞必須是延續性動詞。例如：

I didnt know she was French until she spoke. 直到她開口說話我才知道她是法國人。

I will wait until / till I hear from you. 我會一直等到你寫信來。

【閱讀鏈接】

I. Choose the right answer.

1. In his childhood， ____.

A. he learned a lot at school????????????????? B. he often went swimming with other boys

C. his mother often worried about his safety? D. he often played games with other boys

2. Which of the following shows the RIGHT order about Mark Twain？

a. He became a miner.???????????????????????? b. He worked as a printer.

c. He got into debts.??????????????????????????? d. His father died.

e. He became a full-time writer.????????????? f. He joined the army.

A. a—d—b—c—e—f??????????????????????? B. d—b—f—a—e—c

C. d—a—f—e—b—c??????????????????????? D. c—b—d—f—e—a

3. In order to make a living， Mark Twain ____.

A. first worked as a printer??????????????????? B. joined the army after he worked in a mine

C. wrote stories in the beginning???????????? D. did many kinds of work

4. Before his death， Mark Twain ____.

A. became a white man??????????????????????? B. was in low spirits

C. liked to buy all kinds of clothes??????????????? D. had nothing on

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. The company ships its goods ____ ____ ____ ____ （全世界）.

2. She ____ ____ ____ ____ （直到……才看電視） her mother came back.

3. All I know is that she ____ ____ （過去） work in a bank.

4. The house came to him when his parents ____ ____ （去世）.

5. ____ ____（為了成功）， we must make good preparation.

6. A giant panda ____ ____ ____ （逃離） the zoo in London.