Lesson 83       After the elections

Why did Patrick Keep on asking the same question?

The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections. He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad. My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane’s Radical Progressive Party. After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister’s house. When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on duty told him that since his defeat, the ex-Prim Minister had gone abroad. On the following day, Patrick went to house again. The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question. Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer. The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question. This time, the policeman lost his temper. ‘I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,’ he shouted,  ‘ Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!’

‘I know,’ answered Patrick, ‘but I love to hear you say it!’

Summary writing

Give an account of what happened in not more than 80 words.

   The politician was giving a pre-election speech, in order to win the election. But he was so self-confident自信 and ambitious有野心的 that he gave big promises: he would provide提供more houses for the workers, set up some new school for the poor children, and adopt采取 better economic 经济上的and foreign policies方针政策.

   Then the audience began to ask him questions. He answered them one by one patiently at first. But when the members of the audience asked him some rude questions, he lost his temper, and said that the audience did not deserve more houses, high wages, etc. and he walked off angrily. As a result, the politician was defeated in the election.

Letter writing

The conclusion. Learn the following phrases by heart:

I am very sorry for all the trouble this has caused you. I wish you good luck/every success in…

I have heard that you lost your new car. It’s really a great loss for you. You must feel sad and frustrated失意的，for without a car, you have to go to work by bus. I am very sorry for all the trouble this has caused you. And I wish you good luck in getting it back with the help of the police.

                                             61 words

Key structures

Review KS74-82

What is happening?

What always happens?

What has happened?

What was happening?

A peculiar fish was caught near Madagascar?

Special difficulties

Words often confused

Temper and Mood.

Study these exmples:

This time, the policeman lost his temper. (He got angry.)

Keep your temper! (Don’t get angry!)不要发火

After what happened last night, I was surprised to find that he was in such a good temper情绪很好 this morning. (He was not angry.)

You should apologize to him. He’s in a very bad temper非常生气.

I enjoyed myself at the party. I was in a very good mood. (I was cheerful.)

Don’t disturb him. He’s in a very bad mood. (He is not cheerful, but not necessarily必要的 angry.)

I’m in the mood很想 for a drive into the country. (I would very much like to go for a drive into the country.)

Exercise

Use each of the above italicized phrases in sentences of your own.

1.     He refused to help us and I lost my temper with him.

2.     They were very rude but I managed to keep my temper.

3.     He isn’t usually in such a good temper on a Monday morning.！

4.     Don’t ask him for a rise now. He’s in a very bad temper today.

5.  She’s just won a prize in the lottery彩票，so she’s in a very good mood.

6. He’s just lost a lot of money, so he’s in a very bad mood.

7. Let’s go out. I’m in the wood for a celebration庆典!

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1 If Mr. Wentworth Lane had won the recent election___.

A he would probably have gone abroad

B he would probably have been Prime Minister again

C he would probably have returned from abroad

D he would probably have given up politics

B

2 Patrick kept asking about the former Prime Minister___.

A because he was so pleased that Mr. Lane had been defeated

B because he wanted information信息资料

C because he wanted to annoy the policeman

D because he didn’t understand what the policeman had told him

A

Structure

3 He has always been a fanatical opponent and he still____.

A has been

B was

C is

D has

C note: A 和前面的时态重复

4 He has been an opponent. He has been opposed___ it.

A against

B for

C to

D from

C note: 需要一个介词，固定短语

5 He asked if Mr. Lane lived there. He didn’t know ___ Mr. Lane lived there.

A whether

B that

C unless除非如果不

D providing that 假如  以…为条件

A

6 The policeman was suspicious怀疑＿＿Patrick.

A to

B of

C for

D from

B

7 He has gone to live abroad. He ___ abroad for some time now.

A has gone

B went

C has been

D did go

C note: a 是瞬间动作

Vocabulary

8 Mr. Lane was the former Prime Minister. He was the ___one.

A first

B previous以前的

C latter

D before

B

9 He was defeated in the elections. He was ___.

A conquered 战胜

B won

C beaten被打败的

D destroyed破坏消灭

C

10 Patrick has always been a fanatical opponent. He is ___ him.

A opposite 对面

B anti 不单用

C at

D against

D

11 The policeman lost his temper. He ___ .

A got angry

B was in bad mood

C lost his never害怕畏缩

D was in a bad humour

12 Mr. lane was defeated in the elections. He didn’t get enough___.

A marks

B votes选票

C points

D grades分数等级

B

Sentence structure

Rewrite this sentence, then check your answer against the text.

Just as the same policeman was walking slowly past the entrance, Patrick asked the same question.

The same policeman___.

The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question.