Fever （发热）

小儿子皓安（Godfrey）的身体并不太好，屡次患病，今天又因喉咙发炎而导致发热。照顾他比起照顾他的姐姐要多花三倍精力。我在STS中向学生们大吐苦水。

　　TEACHER'S

　　Dear students，

　　It is 11：45 P.M. now and my wife is just back from a wedding banquet. Today has been a tough day for me. My son， Godfrey， was suffering from a fever early in the morning. Originally， we planned to take him with us to attend the show of our daughter's ballet class. We changed our plan， of course. My wife went to the show while I took my son to see the doctor. As my domestic helper was on holiday today， I had to take him to the doctor alone.

　　Since Godfrey is only two years old， he is not allowed to take the front seat according to traffic law. So I seated him behind me. Of course I helped him to fasten the seat-belt first before I went to start the car. On the way I had to look back from time to time to check whether he was properly seated. It was lucky that he did not move much. Perhaps it was the effect of the fever. The doctor said his throat had got a little inflammation. But a little inflammation could cause quite high temperature in my son. It has been so ever since his birth. As a matter of fact， he is not a strong boy.

　　Normally， a new-born baby does not have illness during the first six months because it has got antibodies from its mother. My son， however， did not stop seeing doctors during the first six months. Normally， parents do not have to feed their babies in the middle of the night right after their babies are one to two months old. My wife and I， however， had to wake up twice in the middle of the night （wintertime mostly） to feed Godfrey until he was about one year old. It has not been easy taking care of this little boy but we love him very much.

　　As my wife had to attend her friend's wedding banquet， so I was left alone again taking care of my daughter and my son during dinner time before my domestic helper came back. Maybe you don't believe it-I am quite a good hand at baby-sitting.

　　One of you suggested that we have a party at my home. But I don't think my flat is big enough to hold you all. I think the Geography Room is a much better place. Right？ Larry Leung is willing to help with the arrangements. I would like to say thanks to him here. If some of you are also interested in organizing this party， please let me know.

　　Dennis

　　留意back的不同用法：

　　·He is just back. √（他刚回来。）

　　·He just came back.√（他刚回来。）

　　·He just back.×（语法错误）

　　·He backed his car.（他倒车。）

　　留意tough的不同用法：

　　·a tough day =艰辛的一天

　　·a tough job =艰苦的工作

　　·a tough guy =能吃苦耐劳的人

　　was suffering from a fever也可以说was having a temperature.

　　注意ballet以第二个音为重音。

　　…while I…语气等同于中文的“……而我则……”。

　　留意alone和lonely的区别：

　　·I was alone. =我独自一人。

　　·I was lonely. =我感到寂寞。

　　这里的Since以As或Because代替也可。但某些英语教师会认为以Because来开始一句句子并非纯正英语。

　　front seat是前座，而后座是back seat.

　　这里的seated解作“使（某人）就坐”，若用被动语态，则是：He was seated behind…

　　start the car解作“发动汽车”，学生们切勿写作 open the car（把车子拆开）

　　On the way的意思是“在路途上”。

　　was properly seated可以用was sitting properly代替。

　　inflammation解作“发炎”。

　　so在这里的意思是 like this.

　　new的副词是newly，留意正确用法：

　　·new-born baby√

　　·newly born baby×

　　·new-constructed house×

　　·newly constructed house√

　　·newly produced movie√

　　留意it是指“婴儿”。

　　antibodies解作“抗体”。

　　若要并列几个人称代词，应该将I放在最后。

　　这里的taking用 to take代替也可。

　　若要加强传意效果，可以说：I was left all alone…

　　若maybe出现次数太多，可改用perhaps.

　　a good hand的意思是“技术好的”，而an old hand解作“老手”（很有经验的）。

　　这里的home是名词，但作为副词时，home之前不须用介词：

　　·They go to home.×

　　·They go home.√

　　·They stay home.√

　　·They are home.√

　　这里的hold用accommodate代替不太恰当，因为他们不是住宿；用contain也不恰当，因为他们是人而不是物；不过这里可用house（动词）来代替。

　　I would like to say thanks to him…可简单地写作I would like to thank him…

　　学生们往往会误写为：I am interested to organize…应留意be interested in这句型并不能改动，后面应该用名词或动名词（动词+ing）。

　　LANGUAGE

　　Contrast

　　在写作时若能善用“对比”（contrast）的写作手法，必能增强文章的感染力，给读者留下深刻的印象。请参考本单元的STS所用过的“对比”写作手法。

　　EXAMPLE

　　1. My wife went to the show while I took my son to see the doctor.

　　“对比”的效果：显示出无奈的处境。

　　2. Normally， a new-born baby does not have illness…My son， however， did not stop seeing doctors during the first six months.

　　“对比”的效果：显示出小儿体质孱弱。

　　3. Normally， parents do not have to feed their babies in the middle of the night right after their babies are one or two months old. My wife and I， however， had to wake up twice…until he was about one year old.

　　“对比”的效果：显示出照顾孩儿的艰难。

　　4. It has not been easy taking care of this little boy but we love him very much.

　　“对比”的效果：显示出父母无条件的爱。

　　由于我在STS中运用了对比的写作手法，同学们也渐渐尝试运用这种写作手法。请在学生们的STSs中找出对比部分并画上横线。

　　Test Your Understanding

　　1. Actually， I am a very weak person. It is difficult for me to solve problems. I always hear people say that they won't give up easily despite failures. But many times I just want to give up before I start. Thank you very much for reading my “nonsense”。 I was impressed when I read your words written on my STS. I know you really care about my feelings.

　　2. I have told you about my headaches before but I think you have forgotten it. When my head is in pain， I can't concentrate on my studies. My classmates normally spend about 40 minutes writing a composition of 300 words but it takes me an hour to come up with about 50 words only.

　　3. From your STS， I know that you are a good baby-sitter. Has Godfrey recovered？ I hope he has. I know many girls want to help you organize the party. I also want to help but I can't. I really don't have much time. My family members are all in bed before eleven thirty but I am still working on a poster at two in the morning. As a committee member of the English Society， I need to help organize a large-scale activity for Warm Christmas.

　　4. Did you watch TVB yesterday？ I mean the program Life Rapid. It is about a five year-old kid who has got cancer. I felt ashamed when I watched that show. You know——my brother and I often fight （we are teenagers）； but the elder brother （only seven） was willing to take the pain of plasma extraction so as to help his younger brother. I was touched.