Lesson 4
Words to the text
holiday
suggest
reservior
the Guanting Reservoir.
the Great Wall
Anzhuang
revisit
bank
the Yongding River
the year before
surrounding
form
close
tie
villager
spirit
be in high spirits
still
outside
well-cultivated
Shijingshan
pass
power
plant
valley
below
leap
keep doing sth
pleased
strong
achieve
sheep
pig
horse
sign
prosperity
grow
dig
pit
joy
exciting
picnic
add
Words to the dialogue
the rest
entrance
suppose
camera
bloom
be in bloom
none
Text
AN OUTING
We were discussing where to go for an outing during the spring holidays. Some suggested the Guanting Reservoir. Others wanted to see the Great Wall. Then someone said, "Why not go back to Anzhuang for a visit?"
At this we all cheered. Of course, we would revisit that beautiful mountain village on the banks of the Yongding River!
The place was dear to us all. We had gone there the year before to plant trees in the surrounding mountains. We had formed close ties with the villagers.
So early next morning we were off to Anzhuang on the 7:30 train. It was a fine day in April. Everyone was in high spirits. We could hardly sit still, for there were so many interesting sights outside the window. We saw new factories and well-cultivated fields all along the line. At Shijingshan we passed the huge steel mill and the power plant. Then suddenly we saw the green Yongding River in the valley below. Our hearts gave a leap, for we knew that in a few minutes we would be with our friends at Anzhuang again.
They were overjoyed to see us. The old villagers kept asking how we were. They were pleased to see how much stronger some of us had become. Then some old friends of ours took us to see what they had achieved. New houses, larger schools, more sheep, more pigs and chickens, more cows and horses - everywhere we saw signs of prosperity. Then we climbed the mountains. The villagers showed us the trees we had planted. We were happy to see that most of them were growing well. At one place we found some young people digging pits. They were getting things ready for this year's tree-planting. We all joined them in the work.
But the time soon came for us to return. It was getting dark.
We told our friends that we would soon come back to plant trees again.
Back in the train, we told each other what a wonderful time we had had that day.
"An outing like this is certainly more exciting than picnicking in the Summer Palace," one student said.
"Or on the Great Wall," another added.
They spoke for us all.
Dialogue
Getting ready for a picnic
A: So you are going to have a picnic in the Summer Palace! What time are you leaving?
B: At seven. Five of us are going by bicycle. The rest are going by bus. We'll meet at the entrance.
A: You will go boating, I suppose?
B: Yes, if we can get boats. Then we'll have a picnic on the hillside.
A: The park must be lovely, with all the flowers in bloom. Why don't you take a camera with you and take a few pictures?
B: We'd love to, but none of us has a camera.
A: Why don't you borrow one from Yang Ling? She's got one. |