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Unit 3
Section A
Pre-reading Activities
First Listening
Having ideas about a story before you read it is an important reading skill. Please listen to a very short piece of recording.
Second Listening
Now listen to the recording for the second time and try to the best of your ability to answer the following questions.
1. Why do you think people stared at the father and the son?
2. What do you think a "good heart" is?
3. What is the difference between how the son felt about his father as a youth and how he feels many years later?
4. Now read the story below. How close did you come to knowing the answers before you read the whole story?
A Good Heart to Lean On
More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance.
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was severely crippled and very short, and when we walked together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. I would inwardly struggle at the unwanted attention. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to coordinate our steps — his halting, mine impatient — and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you."
Our usual walk was to or from the subway on which he traveled to work. He went to work sick, and despite nasty weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make to the office even if others could not. A matter of pride.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help. At such times my sisters or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., on a child's wagon with steel runners to the subway entrance. Once there, he would cling to the hand-rail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept free of ice. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home.
When I think of it now, I am amazed at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to subject himself to such shame and stress. And at how he did it—without bitterness or complaint.
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a "good heart", and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don't know precisely what a "good heart" is. But I know the times I don't have one myself.
Unable to engage in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way. When a local baseball team found itself without a manager, he kept it going. He was a knowledgeable baseball fan and often took me to Ebbets Field to see the Brooklyn Dodgers play. He liked to go to dances and parties, where he could have a good time just sitting and watching.
On one occasion a fight broke out at a beach party, with everyone punching and shoving. He wasn't content to sit and watch, but he couldn't stand unaided on the soft sand. In frustration he began to shout, "I'll fight anyone who will sit down with me! I'll fight anyone who will sit down with me!"
Nobody did. But the next day people kidded him by saying it was the first time any fighter was urged to take a dive before the fight began.
I now know he participated in some things through me, his only son. When I played ball (poorly), he "played" too. When I joined the Navy, he "joined" too. And when I came home on leave, he saw to it that I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, "This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different." Those words were never said aloud.
He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about trifles, when I am envious of another's good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart."
At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, "You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you."
Words: 694
NEW WORDS
lean
vi. 1. rest on sth. in a listing position for support 倚；靠
2. be in a listing position; bend 倾斜；倾向；偏向
balance
n. 1. even sharing of weight; even; equal 平衡；均衡
2. condition that exists when two opposites are equal or in even lots or percents 均势，平衡
v. 1. (cause to) be even and keep in balance （使）平衡，（使）均衡
2. consider in relation to something else; compare 权衡；比较
severe
a. 1. very bad, intense, difficult, etc 非常恶劣的；紧张的；困难的
2. strict or hard in thinking or treatment; using strict discipline 严格的；严肃的；严厉的
severely
ad. in a severe or strict way 严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地
▲cripple
vt. 1. make a person unable to walk or move properly because of damage to the back or legs 使跛；使残废
2. damage or reduce strength (sth.) seriously 严重地损坏；削弱
n. [C] someone who is unable to use one or more of his body parts, esp. the legs 伤残人（或动物）
inward
a. 1. located within; inside (esp. in the mind or spirit) 在内的；内部的（尤指在头脑中、精神上）
2. turned toward the inside 向内的
inwardly
ad. in mind or spirit 内心或精神方面
coordinate
vt. cause (different parts, body parts, etc.) to work together very well 使协调
halt
v. stop; interrupt 暂停；中断；中止
n. a stop or pause 暂停；中断；中止
impatient
a. 1. unable to deal calmly with sth./sb. or to wait for sth.; easily annoyed by sth./sb.; not patient 不能冷静地对待或等待的；易烦躁的；不耐心的
2. very eager to do sth. or for sth. to happen; anxious 急切的；渴望的
pace
n. 1. speed, esp. of walking or running （尤指走或跑的）速度
2. speed of progress or development, esp. of an activity 进步或发展的速度（尤指某项活动的速度）
vi. walk with slow, regular, even steps 踱步，慢步走
adjust
v. 1. (to) become or make suited (to new conditions); change 使适应（新环境）；适应
2. (to) change (sth.) by a small bit so that it will fit or be right for use; make regular 调整；校准；调准
subway
n. 1. [C] a railway under the ground in a city（城市中的）地下铁道
2. [C] a tunnel for walking under the ground, esp. one under a road or railway （尤指马路或铁路下方的）地下通道；人行隧道
despite
prep.without being influenced by (the points mentioned) 尽管；不管
▲nasty
a. 1. unpleasant; horrible; disgusting 令人不快的；令人厌恶的
2. unkind; hostile 不友善的；恶意的
wagon
n. 1. a kind of toy handcart for children 儿童手推车
2. a four-wheeled box for carrying heavy loads, usu. pulled by horses or oxen 四轮运货马（牛）车
3. a railway goods or passenger car 铁路货车（或客车）车厢
▲cling
vi. 1. (to) hold on tightly to sb./sth. 抱住；抓紧
2. (to) be unwilling to let go of sth.; refuse to give sth. up 坚持, 坚守；拒不放弃；抱定
rail
n. 1. [C] 横挡；栏杆；护栏
2. [C]（火车或电车的）铁轨
hand-rail
n. [C] （楼梯等的）扶手
tunnel
n. [C] a passage under the ground, e.g. for a road or railway through a hill or under a river or the sea 地下隧道；（为公路或铁路穿过山岭、河流或海底的）隧道
▲basement
n. [C] the lowest room or rooms in a building, partly or wholly below ground level 地下室
amaze
vt. fill (sb.) with great surprise or wonder 使大为惊讶；使惊愕
stress
n. 1.demands or worry (resulting from mental or body problems, difficult situations, etc.)（由于精神、体力不适或困境等造成的）压力；忧虑；紧张
2. special pushing or importance 强调；重视
vt. 1. give particular importance to; push 强调；重视
2. give force to (a word or word-part) when speaking 重读，读重音
complain
vi. (about, of) say that one is not satisfied or unhappy 抱怨；诉苦
complaint
n. 1. the act of saying that one is not satisfied or unhappy 抱怨；诉苦
2. a report of lack of satisfaction 控告；投诉；抱怨
envy
n. (of, at, towards) feeling of lack of worth caused by sb. else's good fortune or success, esp. when one wishes this for oneself 妒忌；羡慕
vt. feel envy of (sb.) or at (sth.) 羡慕；妒忌
envious
a. (of) full of envy; feeling, showing or expressing envy 妒忌的；羡慕的
owner
n. a person to whom sth. belongs 物主；所有人
precise
a. 1. stated clearly and accurately 精确的；准确的；明白的；无误的
2. exact; particular 正好；就在
precisely
ad. exactly; just 准确地；精确地；正好；恰恰
engage
v. 1. (in) (cause sb.to) take part in or be occupied in sth.（使）从事；（使）忙于
2. employ sb.; hire sb. 雇用；聘用
3. use or attract (sb.'s thoughts, time, etc.) 使全神贯注；引起（注意）；占用（时间）
local
a. belonging to a particular place or district 地方的；当地的；本地的
n. someone who lives in the area 当地居民
baseball
n. 棒球运动；棒球
occasion
n. 1. [C] a particular time (at which an event takes place)（事件发生的）特定时刻；时机
2. [C] a suitable or right time (for sth.); an opportunity （适当的）时机；机会
punch
v. 1. strike (sb./sth.) hard with the fist 用拳猛击
2. use a punch to cut (a hole) in (sth.) 用打孔机打孔
▲ shove
vi. push (sb./sth.) roughly 推；挤；撞
aid
n. [U] help 帮助；援助；救护
vt. give support to; help 帮助，援助
unaided
a. without help; by one's self 无助的；独力的
kid
vi. 1. make fun of (sb.) 开玩笑
2. deceive (sb.), esp. through playing; fool 欺骗；哄骗
n. a child or young person 小孩或年轻人
urge
vt. 1. try hard or repeatedly to persuade (sb.) 力劝
2. encourage or excite sb. to do sth. 鼓励；催促；鞭策
n. a strong wish or need 强烈愿望，迫切需求
dive
n. (American slang)a pretending to be struck down to the ground in boxing （美俚）（拳击中）假装被击倒
vi. throw oneself head first into the water 跳水，潜水
navy
n. 1. （一国的）海军
2. 一个国家的军舰及其全体官兵
reluctant
a. unwilling and therefore slow to work with sb. or to agree, etc. 不愿意的；迟迟不合作的；不同意的
reluctance
n. [U] not willing to do sth. 不愿；勉强
worthy
a. 1. having respect or careful thought 值得尊敬的；值得考虑的
2. (of) owning sth. or to do sth. 值得……的；应……的；足以……的
unworthy
a. 1. not owning 不值得的；不配的
2. not suited to the nature of sb./sth.（与……的身份、资格、性质）不适合的；不相称的
▲trifle
n. a thing, question or activity that has little value or importance 无价值的或不重要的东西、问题、行动、琐事，小事
v. (with) treat without the necessary seriousness or respect 轻视，小看
PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS
grow up
develop from being a child to being a man or woman 成长，长大
start out
begin a journey 出发
make it
arrive in time 及时赶到
even if
although 即使，虽然
subject to
cause to experience or suffer 使……遭受
now that
because (something has happened) 既然
even though
in spite of the fact that, even if 虽说，即使
in some way
in a certain manner 以某种方式
have a good time
enjoy oneself (by doing sth.) 过得愉快
break out
begin suddenly and often violently 爆发，突然发生
on leave
spending time away from work or duty 休假
see to
take care; make sure 照料；务必做到，务须
PROPER NAMES
Brooklyn
布鲁克林区（美国纽约市行政区名）
Manhattan
曼哈顿区（美国纽约市行政区名）（由曼哈顿岛等构成）
Ebbets Field
埃贝茨球场
Dodgers
道奇队
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