Learn the following famous saying:Learn the following famous saying:

1. The man who does not read books has no advantage over the man that cannot read them.

2. Always tell the truth; then you don’t have to remember anything.

About Mark TwainAbout Mark Twain

1.What do you know about the American writer Mark Twain?

2. Do you know any of his works? Can you name any of them?

Mark TwainMark Twain

How much do you know about him?

Mark Twain (1835—1910)

The greatest humorist of the 19th century in American literature. Also one of the greatestwriters in the world. Good at writing about children’s adventures

his masterpieceshis masterpieces

18761876

The Adventures The Adventures of Tom Sawyerof Tom Sawyer

his masterpieceshis masterpieces

18811881

The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

his short storieshis short stories

The £ 1,000,000 The £ 1,000,000 Bank-NoteBank-Note

       马克 ·吐温 (Mark Twain 1835.11.30--1910.4.21)是美国最孚众望的幽默小说家，原名 Samuel Langhorne Clements。 以善写男童历险故事及抨击人类的弱点与虚假而著称于世。他成长于密西西比河畔，浪漫粗犷的河上生活及天真无邪的童年给他留下了深刻印象。 11岁丧父，13岁辍学，后当过排字工人， 18-22岁外出漫游，成为轮船领航员。曾做过股票生意，淘过金，后为当地报纸撰写轶闻趣事，很受欢迎。 1863年开始用Mark Twain作笔名。 1865 年写出了他的第一个成功的故事 《卡拉维拉县有名的跳蛙》  (The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County )。  1872年以后，他把主要精力用于写作。他的主要代表作有《汤姆索耶历险记》（ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,1876), 《王子与贫民》（ The Prince and the Pauper,1881)等。

Listen to the passage and try to know more about Mark Twain

Read the short passage about Mark Twain on page23 and find out more information about him.

1. Where was Mark Twain born and where did he spend his childhood ?

2. What are the three of his most famous books and what do they describe?

3. What is his pen name? What’s its meaning? Why did he choose it as his pen name?

4. What happened to him at the age of 12 and what did he work as over the next two decades?

5. What was his  first successful story about?6. Why did his writing become famous?7.How did he become rich?8.What had happened to his writing in the last years of his life? Why?

“Twain” is an old word for “two”. So, to “mark twain” , is to say that the water is two fathoms deep. (A fathom is equal to six feet or 1.83 metres.)

His writing became famous for its description of common people and the way they talked, but especially for his humour.

He became rich from the many novels, short stories and travel journals he wrote and was very popular at public readings. Yale and Oxford Universities honoured him for his writing.

The last year of his life were filled with sad events, loneliness and the loss of much money.

Pay attention to the following phrases &sentences :Pay attention to the following phrases &sentences :

1. 两寻深2. 等于3. 随后的二十多年中4. 跳蛙比赛5. 因…而出名6. 因…而致富7. 充满

1. two fathoms deep2. be equal to3. over the next 20

years4. a jumping frog

contest5. be famous for6. become rich from7. be filled with

1. 他的写作之所以出名是因为他对普通老百姓以及他们说话方式的描述，特别是他的幽默风趣。

2. 他写过许多长篇小说，短篇小说和游记，并因此成为富翁；他的演讲也备受欢迎。

3. 他的晚年却充满了忧伤和孤独，失去了大量的金钱。

4. 他的作品也失去了幽默的色彩，变得跟他一样忧伤。　

Discussion 

1.A rich person gives you a large amount of money to use. What will you do with it? Why?

2.Have you ever made a bet with a friend?  If so, what did you bet on? How did you feel about the bet after it was won or lost?

• Henry a lost American businessman in London• Roderick a rich Englishman, Oliver’s brother• Oliver a rich Englishman, Roderick’s brother• Servant the servant of the brothers• Banker for the Bank of English

Main Characters

Two rich gentlemen made a bet on what would happen to a person if he was given a million pound note.

Act one

Scene 1

N=Narrator B=Banker O=Oliver R=Roderick

N A hundred years ago, when Britain was very rich, there was more gold deep within the Bank of English than anywhere else in the world. Money was safe, people used to say, safe as the Bank of English.

B Here it is, Mr Montpelier. I trust you will not be disappointed with its design. (He hands him a bank note.)

O No, it seems to me a thing of beauty.

R Allow me, Oliver. (He takes the note from his brother.) It looks good, it feels good, it is good.B And there’s only one other like it, which was used for a foreign loan.O Yes, we read about it. That’s what gave us the idea.B The idea?R I suppose it does seem strange that we should need such a large sum in one bank-note.B It certainly is an unusual request. I imagine it’s for business.

O Important business, isn’t it, Roderick? Do we tell this gentleman?R Yes. You see, my brother and I need this pretty, special piece of paper for a bet.B A bet? Did you say a bet?O A very important bet.B I should say it must be-for one million pounds!

Act one

Scene 2

Henry, the hero of the story, an American young man, sailed too far, drifted out to the ocean. Fortunately ,a British ship, for London, passing by, saved him.

N=Narrator H=Henry C=Clerk

N It is the summer of 1903. Henry Adams, an American businessman, had had some very bad luck. He is lost in London. He has no money and does not know what he should do. As Henry is walking down a sidewalk, he sees a family having a picnic in a park. However, he doesn’t look at them but at their food. He keeps walking. Then he reaches the entrance to a large old building and enters.

H “This embassy does not provide money to Americans in London.” well, that’s too bad. (He turns to the clerk.) I thought this would be just the place.

C It doesn’t mean we’re not glad to help you in other ways. You can work on a ship to take you home, if you like. (Henry notices the clerk eating peanuts from a bag. )

H Any chance I can find a work here?

C Well, if you’d like to come back in a week, we can find out for you.

H A week? That’s a long time. If I can just get money to last me a few days, I can find work for myself.

C We can give you a small loan if you can repay it. Can you offer us anything in exchange?

H Well, I’m smart and I can use my hands. Unless you don’t trust me, isn’t that enough?

C No, I’m afraid not. Many people pass through this office making similar requests. If we help you in this way, other will expect the same.

H I think I’ll try to help myself.

C Well, that’s up to you, young man. Come back if you have no money.

H I’ll do that. (He is still looking at the peanuts.) Say, may I have some of those?

C Of course. Oh, sorry, all gone. (He blows into the bag and pops it.)

Homework

Act one

Scene 3

Read this scene and get the main idea of it.