Winston Churchill - His Other Life
Ⅰ.Reading Strategy: Denotation and Connotation
Denotation (本义) means the thing pointed to by a word rather than the feelings or ideas.For example, if you tell your friend“I saw apes in the zoo”，you mean you saw large monkeys such as gorillas or chimpanzees.Word denotation can also be understood as its literal meaning.
Connotation (隐义),on the other hand, is a meaning or idea suggested by a word or thing besides the literal meaning or thing.The connotations of a particular word or thing refer to ideas or qualities which you may associate with the word.For example,“intermediate”has connotations of the inferior and the second rate.The bad connotations of the word“skinny”are quite different from the good connotations of the word“slim”. The same is true with the word “ape”in the sentence: “He is an ape of playing cards”,which means he is very cunning when he plays cards.
Connotation is similar to figurative meaning.In order to understand better the meaning behind a word,you should also have some knowledge of culture differences, especially of the words which carry particular culture in formation in another language.For example, the word “dragon”in Chinese is the symbol of the emperor, while in English it often m eans an imaginary fire-breathing animal in children stories.Connotation is an important reading strategy.If you fail to recognize the connotations in your reading, you cannot fully understand what you are reading.As a matter of fact,the reading comprehension parts in CE T Band 4 and Band 6 cover quite a few questions about connotation.
Ⅱ.Applying the Reading Strategy
In this part,you are required to use the reading strategy you have just learned.What is the proper meaning of the underlined words in the following sentences?1.There is a mixture of the tiger and ape in the character of Hitler.
A.cruelty B.craftiness C.kindness D.bravery.
2.Beijing is a place everyone wishes to visit.It is also my Mecca since my childhood.
A.city B.capital.C.sacred place D.historic place.
3.We were disappointed at what the teacher said, but her last words brought a ray of sunshine into the classroom.
A.pleasure B.sadness C.anger D.smile.
4.As a young scientist,you should be more creative.Parroting a theory is much easier.
A.Crying B.Making C.Voicing D.Repeating.
5.Sam knows he can depend on his family, rain or shine.
A.wet or dry B.bad or good.C.cool or warm D.workable or unworkable.
The following is a poem by Robert Frost, an American poet.Read it carefully and try to guess the real meanings behind the words “crown”，“scale”，and“cross”.
The Peaceful Shepherd.
If heaven were to do again,And on the pasture barsI learned to line the figures in Between the doffed stars.
I should be tempted to forget,I fear,the Crown of Rule,The Scales of Trade, the Cross of Faith,As hardly worth renewed.
For these have governed in our lives,And see how men have warred,The Cross, the Crown, the Scales may all As well have been the Sword.
Ⅲ.Reading Tasks
A.Pre-reading activity
Jesse Bolero is an African American.He taught himself to become a singer,writer, actor as well as a restaurant owner.Now, you are required to read the following passage quickly and try to figure out the connotations of the underlined words and phrases.
B.Reading
Jesse Bolero
Jesse Bolero, like so many other great singers, got his start singing in church.Initially, he sang with his baby sister as a duo.At age 13, he was singing with the Spirit of Jackson,a popular gospel quartet touring the state of Mississippi.At age 17, the Mississippi native was in Chicago, enrolled at the Sadie Bruce Dance School.
He taught himself how to do impressions of the late Duke Ellington and Earl Garner on the piano.Jesse, the singer, writer, actor, hears the music,feels the music and sings the music in any style.
In Chicago, he met his cousin, the late great Dorthy Donegan,a classical music trained jazz pianist and world recognized entertainer.Dorthy encouraged Jesse to work for her and during their travels, he met her numerous show-business friends.While working and traveling, he realized the show-business bug had seriously bitten him.A move to Hollywood followed.Once there, he moonlighted as a pianist in a popular Beverly Hills establishment.
Years later, Jesse moved to New York where he studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute.While in New York he landed a lead role in La Traviata.
He also studied at a black musical school, the Church of the Master.Years later, he had his own show on Broadway at Lloyd Price s Turntable.From New York he traveled and performed abroad in England.
Living in Las Vegas since 1990, Jesse s first job was at the Dunes Hotel,where he worked beside Debbie Reynolds in“Jazz Room”. He also played the Riveria and has done commercials for Hotels and Casinos.Jesse travels on County Fair tours as well.
Before moving to Las Vegas, Jesse slipped away from his craft to re-think，and re-direct his career.He opened a restaurant that served no red meat,and none compared.Many actors, actresses and entertainers enjoyed his menu.
Jesse was never been able to escape the entertainment industry s effect on his life.Celebrities gravitate to his cooking and his performing.
Jesse was inspired by the Beatles, Little Richards, Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix.He produced Café Society, a 40 s musical, and was the assistant producer for A tribute to Musical Giant Quincy Jones.He co-produced a record titled It s Sunday.Jesse s impressions of Cab Calloway, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, Richard Burton,Pearl Bailey, Carol Channing, Richard Nixon and Lily Tomlin are included in his roster of over fifty voices.
Since launching his singing career in a Mississippi church with his baby sister, Jesse Bolero has come full circle as a polished entertainer.It s uncanny how his appearance and performance as Cab Calloway in“ The Cotton Club Revue”brings the legendary performer to life right before your very eyes.Jesse says,“I m gonna keep on cooking as long as I can.”
C.Post-reading activityFigure out the real meaning of the underlined words in the passage:
1.What is meant by“the show-business bug had seriously bitten him”?
A.Show-business became less attractive.