Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader -- Christmas Carols English-Chinese Contrast

Author: Li Zhengshuan et al. (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Views on Reading from Famous Figures in the English World. A few dry English sentences are not enough. Don't always put the purpose of reading in terms of improving English; reading is primarily about absorbing knowledge, and in the process of absorbing knowledge, the language is naturally absorbed as well. — Xu Guozhang
Thinking in English is an ideal that many English learners aspire to, as it is the foundation for expressing thoughts fluently in English. For a Chinese student living in a non-English environment, it is indeed very difficult to think partly or entirely in English, but it is not an unattainable goal. From my own experience in learning English, I have found that persistent extensive reading is one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal. — He Qixin (Vice President and Doctoral Supervisor, Beijing Foreign Studies University)
For elementary and intermediate English learners, I especially recommend easy English readers. The materials should be simple and easy to understand, with a strong narrative element, and the reading speed should be as fast as possible. The more you read, the better. This is a proven and effective method for learning English. — Hu Wenzhong (Professor, Beijing Foreign Studies University)
Old Scrooge was a notorious businessman in the ancient city of London. He was a peculiar old man, sharp-tongued and mean, with neither relatives nor friends. His only goal was to make money, but wealth brought him no joy whatsoever. Although he was rich, he was extremely stingy, forbidding his poor employee, Bob Cratchit, from making a fire in the cold office during the freezing winter. Scrooge had a nephew, a talented young man who brought laughter wherever he went. However, Scrooge despised his nephew's optimistic attitude. He once had a friend, Jacob Marley, who had passed away. To call them friends was absolutely because they shared a common obsession with making money, a shared indifference to the suffering of others, and a shared hatred for Christmas. If it weren't for being mistaken for Jacob Marley this afternoon, he would have long forgotten this former friend. Why would someone suddenly be looking for Jacob Marley? Scrooge was furious at the mention of this name, not because of the cursed Christmas! Someone actually wanted him to collect donations for the poor on Christmas! Wasn't there enough people in the world? What's the big deal if a few died? Hehated Christmas the most, yet everywhere he went, people were shouting "Merry Christmas"! But this Christmas was different for Scrooge. When he returned home and opened the door, he saw Jacob Marley's pale face on the doorknob! He thought it was a hallucination, but soon, Marley's ghost truly appeared in Scrooge's bedroom! Marley was wrapped in heavy chains and a metal money box, which he claimed to have made for himself in life. He said that souls like his had no place to go after death and could only wander around in heavy shackles. He came today to save Scrooge, to give him one last chance to atone. He told Scrooge that three ghosts would visit him, hoping he would cherish this opportunity. After speaking, Marley vanished.
Scrooge waited nervously for the arrival of the three ghosts. The ghosts he would see were the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. They took Scrooge to see Christmas as it had been, as it was, and as it would be in several years. Scrooge relived his past joys and felt his cruelty. Just as he had resolved to change his ways, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come showed him his miserable death. Scrooge screamed in agony and clung to the ghost, only to find himself lying in bed, drenched in cold sweat. He was immensely relieved that it had all been a dream and that he had not missed this Christmas.
So, would Scrooge change from then on? Dear readers, you will have to find the answer in the book yourself!