普通高中课程标准实验教科书 英语选修7 Unit 4 Sharing - Readin

Dear Students,

         I would like to welcome you to Plan International on behalf¹ of your newly² sponsored³ child, Orlando. My name is Rosanna and I work as a community volunteer in an area of Ecuador where Orlando and his family have lived for as long as they can remember. 1 recently visited Orlando's family and talked to Maria, Orlando's mother.

         Orlando is five years old and Maria told me that he enjoys playing with toy cars and singing. He is too young to go to school yet, but helps his family by collecting firewood⁴, sowing⁵ and weeding. In this part of the world children grow up fast as they have to make a contribution to the family finances⁶. Although they still have time to play, they also have to help with daily jobs, which can take up a lot of time.

         Orlando is not able to write his own letters. However, we will encourage him to send you drawings. Fernando, his brother, is eager to write on behalf of Orlando's family. Although children in this community are very shy about writing to someone from a different country, we encourage them to write letters and send drawings. It is exciting for them to receive a letter or a photograph and so I hope you will find the time to send Orlando and his family a message occasionally⁷.

         There are ten members of Orlando's family altogether. His father, Manuel (40), is a poor farmer and his mother, Maria (36), is a housewife⁸. Orlando is the youngest child in the family. He has four sisters and three brothers. This may sound like a very large family to you, but this is usual in this part of the world. At home the family speak Spanish.

         Orlando's family lives in a small metal house that has a roof of dried grass and a dirt floor. They do not have their own toilet and have to use an open field. This increases the chances of disease⁹. Maria told me that for the last six months the three youngest children suffered from a skin disease but now they are fully¹⁰ recovered, This has been a great relief for the family. If any family members are sick, they have to travel for two hours to get to the nearest health centre. If there is an emergency, they have to travel three hours to get to the nearest hospital.

         Orlando's family, like other families in the community, has a very small income and it is a struggle to be able to meet their basic needs. So your financial contribution will be especially appreciated. Even so the family has a lively social life. During their spare time, Orlando's family love to sit around their radio with friends, listening to the news and music.

          We hope that your friendship with Orlando will be an unforgettable¹¹ experience and that hearing from Fernando will give you an opportunity to learn about another culture far away. We look forward to writing to you again about Orlando and his family's progress and achievements.

Yours sincerely,

Rosanna Chulco

1 behalf   

n.利益，方面；支持，赞成

参考例句：

• Ken is not present,so I shall accept the prize on his behalf.肯没有出席，所以我将代表他领奖。
• They fixed on him to speak on their behalf.他们已经确定他作为代表发言。

2 newly   

adv.新近，最近；重新，再度；以新的方式

参考例句：

• Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗？
• It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树，还没有扎下根来。

3 sponsored   

v.赞助( sponsor的过去式和过去分词)；资助（某人的培训或教育）；为慈善活动捐资；发起，倡议adj.赞助的；发起的

参考例句：

• The exhibition was sponsored by the Society of Culture. 这个展览会是由文化学会主办的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The company sponsored several TV programs. 这家公司赞助了几个电视节目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 firewood   

n.木柴；柴火

参考例句：

• Turn the firewood over and sun it.把柴火翻过来晒晒。
• He cut down the tree and cut it up for firewood.他把树砍倒，并把它劈成烧火用的小块。

5 sowing   

n.播种v.播（种），播种于( sow的现在分词 )；灌输；激起；散布

参考例句：

• The government's repressive policies are sowing the seeds of rebellion. 政府的镇压政策正在播下叛乱的种子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Autumnal Equinox is the best time for wheat-sowing. 秋分种麦最相宜。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 finances   

n.(pl.)财源，资产

参考例句：

• I need a professional to sort out my finances. 我需要专业人士为我管理财务。
• The company's finances are looking a bIt'shaky. 这个公司的财政情况看来有点不稳定。

7 occasionally   

adv.偶然地；非经常地

参考例句：

• He went on talking,occasionally wiping at his face with a towel.他继续说着，偶尔用毛巾擦一下脸。
• I like playing football best,but occasionally I play table tennis,too.我最喜欢踢足球，偶尔也打打乒乓球。

8 housewife   

n.主妇，家庭主妇

参考例句：

• The cleverest housewife can't cook a meal without rice.巧妇难为无米之炊。
• She was a housewife of experience.她是一个有经验的主妇。

9 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

11 unforgettable   

adj.难忘的

参考例句：

• The trip had been unforgettable experience for both of us.那趟旅行是我们两人难以忘怀的经历。
• He created many unforgettable characters in his novels.他在他的小说中创造了很多令人难忘的人物。