朗文3L看听学英语第四册 Lesson 59

　　Lesson 59 Television Day: Edward Lear
TV Commentary¹:
Do you remember the poem, "The Owl² and the Pussy-Cat"? Today we are going to learn something about the man who wrote it. His mane was Edward Lear. He was born in 1812 and th died in 1888. He was the youngest in a family of 21 children. His father was very rich, but lost all his money before Edward grew up. When this happened, Edward's favourite sister, Ann, said she would look after her brother. she said she could teach him to draw, write and play the piano. She said she had to look after him because his health ws so poor.
Edward owed a lot to Ann. When he grew up, he became a well-known artist. he travelled to many parts of the world and drew pictures. For a time during his life he worked as an artist for Lord Derby. He often entertained Lord Derby's grandchildewn with his beautiful "nonsense" poems. The children loved Mr Lear and his poems. Though the poems are very amusing³, Edward Lear was ofter ill and unhappy. He never married and he led a lonely life--even though he became quite famous and people everywhere wanted to meet him. Here are a few lines he wrote about himself:
How pleasant to know Mr Lear
Who has written such volumes of stuff!
Some think him ill-tempered and queer⁴,
But a few think him pleasant enough.

1 commentary   

n.评论，评注；实况广播报导，现场口头评述

参考例句：

• He is giving the commentary on the basketball game.他正在对篮球赛作评论。
• His running commentary on the football match was excellent.他对这次足球赛所作的实况报道十分精彩。

2 owl   

n.猫头鹰，枭

参考例句：

• Her new glasses make her look like an owl.她的新眼镜让她看上去像只猫头鹰。
• I'm a night owl and seldom go to bed until after midnight.我睡得很晚，经常半夜后才睡觉。

3 amusing   

adj.有有趣的，好玩的

参考例句：

• The girl was amusing herself with a doll.那女孩在玩洋娃娃自娱。
• He related some amusing stories in his childhood to his children.他向孩子们述说了他少年时代的一些趣事。

4 queer   

adj.奇怪的，异常的，不舒服的，眩晕的

参考例句：

• I heard some queer footsteps.我听到某种可疑的脚步声。
• She has been queer lately.她最近身体不舒服。