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第一课

一、课文原文

A Puma at Large

Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.

The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening. Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits. Paw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes. Several people complained of "cat-like noises" at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree. The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma, but where had it come from? As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape. The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught. It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.

二、核心词汇与词组精讲、拓展及例句

1. Spot

  • 英文释义：To notice someone or something, especially when they are difficult to see or recognize.
  • 中文释义：看出；发现；认出。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • find（强调发觉的结果）：I finally found my lost keys under the sofa.
    • notice（无意中注意到）：I noticed a strange man standing outside the door.
    • observe（有目的地、科学地观察）：The scientist observed the behavior of the birds through a telescope.
    • glimpse（匆匆一瞥）：I caught a glimpse of her as she passed by in the crowd.
    • peer（在视线不清时费力地看）：He peered into the dark room to see if anyone was there.

2. Accumulate

  • 英文释义：To gradually get more and more of something over a period of time. - With water accumulating from the rivers, a pool eventually emerged there.
  • 中文释义：积累；积聚（强调逐渐增加的过程）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • gather（聚拢，把某人召集在某处）：The teacher gathered the students in the hall for a meeting.
    • collect（搜集，采集）：He likes to collect stamps from all over the world.
    • amass（大量积聚，多指财富等）：The corrupt official amassed a huge fortune during his time in office.

3. Oblige

  • 英文释义：To force someone to do something because it is a duty or the situation makes it necessary. - She was obliged to marry an old man in exchange for a large sum of money for her parents (or who compensated her parents financially).
  • 中文释义：使……感到必须；迫使。
  • 核心词组：feel/be obliged to do sth.（感到有必要/有义务做某事）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • compel（被迫做某事，强调外部原因）：The heavy rain compelled us to cancel the picnic.
    • impel（感到有必要做某事，强调内部驱动力）：A strong sense of responsibility impelled him to help the victim.

4. Corner

  • 英文释义：To force someone or an animal into a difficult situation from which they cannot escape.
  • 中文释义：使走投无路；使陷入困境（作动词时）。
  • 核心词组：drive sb. Into a tight corner（把某人逼入绝境）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • back/push sb. Into a corner（将某人逼到角落/绝境）：The police pushed the thief into a corner.
    • corner the market（垄断市场）：The company tried to corner the market on rare metals.

5. Cling

  • 英文释义：To stick to something or seem to surround it.
  • 中文释义：粘；贴。（注：过去式和过去分词为 clung）
  • 核心词组：cling to sth.（粘在/贴在……上；紧紧抱住/抓住）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • stick（粘住）：The wet shirt stuck to his back.
    • sticky（粘的）：My hands are sticky because I ate some candy.

6. Convince/kən'vɪns/

  • 英文释义：To make someone feel certain that something is true.
  • 中文释义：使……信服；使确信。
  • 核心词组：convince sb. Of sth.（使某人相信某事）；be convinced that...（确信……）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • convincing（令人信服的，有说服力的）：He gave a very convincing explanation for his absence.
    • persuasive（有说服力的，侧重于能说服别人去行动）：She is a highly persuasive speaker.
    • compelling（非常令人信服的，通常用于书面语）：The lawyer presented compelling evidence to the jury.

7. At large

  • 英文释义：Having escaped and not yet been captured (usually referring to dangerous people or animals).
  • 中文释义：逍遥法外；未被捕获的（逃遁的）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • on the loose（在逃的，常用于口语）：The police warned the public that the murderer is still on the loose.

三、特别语法点拨（长难句）

分隔式同位语从句

  • 原句：When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London...
  • 解析：正常语序下，同位语从句 that a wild puma had been spotted... 应该紧跟在它解释说明的名词 reports 后面。但为了避免句子“头重脚轻”（因为谓语 came into London Zoo 较短，而从句很长），作者将从句后置到了谓语之后，形成了分隔式同位语从句。这种结构在高级英文写作中非常常见，能让句型显得更加稳重和平衡。

四、智慧版写作指导

1. 运用“定义句式”进行高级开篇

  • 写作指导：在介绍某一事物时，摒弃平铺直叙的简单句，采用“主系表 + 复合形容词 + 定语从句”的结构，先给出事物的核心定义，再补充其背景信息，使开篇极具学术感和画面感。
  • 课文示范：Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America.
  • 实战仿写：Koalas are small, bear-like animals which live in Australia.（考拉是一种体型娇小、形似熊的动物，生活在澳大利亚。）

2. 精准替换“看”的动词，提升细节表现力

  • 写作指导：在记叙文或描写文中，尽量避免反复使用 "see" 或 "look"。根据观察的难易程度、目的性和偶然性，选择更精准的动词，能让读者的代入感瞬间增强。
  • 课文示范：... A wild puma had been spotted...（在荒野中发现美洲狮极其不易，用 spot 完美传达了这种“费力辨认后终于发现”的语境）。
  • 实战替换：
    • 无意中注意到：I noticed a strange man outside.
    • 费力地看：He peered into the dark room.
    • 匆匆一瞥：I caught a glimpse of her as she passed by.

3. 巧用“形式主语”引出深层情绪

  • 写作指导：在议论文或夹叙夹议的文章结尾，当你想表达某种社会现象或事件带给你的主观情绪时，使用 It is + 情绪形容词 + to think that... 句型。这比直接用 "I feel..." 显得更加客观、深刻且具有文学张力。
  • 课文示范：It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
  • 实战仿写：
    • 表达担忧：It is worrying to think that...
    • 表达生气：It is irritating to think that...
    • 表达欣慰：It is comforting to think that...

注意

以上内容由AI生成，请自主辨明是否存在问题。