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Background knowledge |
Warm-up activity |
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Warm-up activity
1.
What did the boy desire his father to be?
The boy desired his father to be a proud, silent, dignified father.
2.
What did the boy think of his father at the beginning?
The boy thought that his father was talkative, boastful, shameless, foolish, humble. The boy hated his father, even wished he weren¡¯t his father.
3.
What¡¯s motivation of the father to make up stories and make jokes?
Serving in the Civil War , the father lived an adventurous life outside the small town. After the war ended, he returned home and was confined to the narrow circle and regular activities. He became another man, and often made jokes in order to forget the drab and monotonous life. And the most probably reason is that he tries to liven up dull life in the small town.
4.
The boy mentioned several times his mother¡¯s reaction to the father¡¯s actions, what do you think his mother¡¯s reaction?
She is proud of her husband and defends his way of life. Just as she said: ¡° He isn¡¯t ever dull like most of the men in this street. Life is never dull when man is about.
5.
Why did the father¡¯s harness shop go bankrupt?
The father gave too much credit.
6.
The boy disliked his father, but the father was very popular with people in the town. Why?
Because the father livened up the dull life of the town. He could make people laugh.
7.
Did the boy like his father after swimming? Why?
Yes. Because when they swam , the boy found in the father strength and power which he thought the father had lacked. His awe-inspiring silence, the strength and power met the boy¡¯s expectation of a powerful and dignified father. ( pay attention to the words used to describe the father: ¡° big shoulders¡±, ¡° a powerful swimmer¡±, ¡° the movements of his muscles¡±, ¡° he the strong swimmer¡±, ¡.)
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