A new chapter

江苏南菁高级中学 李现宝

Step 1感知·阅读导航

话题导入

这是一篇记叙文（narrative writing），讲述的是一个社区书店因为时代的发展、人们阅读方式和习惯的改变、经营管理模式与社会脱节等因素面临倒闭，但是，这个书店见证了社区居民的成长经历，承载着社区居民的童年记忆和相互之间深厚的情谊。于是，在社区居民的共同努力下，过时的社区书店蜕变为一个紧跟时代发展，充满流行元素，却又不失旧时特色和回忆的新时代的书店。新的书店不仅仅是掀开了书店发展的新篇章，也暗示着人们的生活、人们的思想意识、整个社会也都掀开了一个新的篇章。好的东西不会过时，有爱、有创意的地方永远是最流行的！

全文以第一人称视角讲述整个书店的变化过程，字里行间充满着对旧书店的爱和不舍，又透露出对新书店的惊讶和欣慰。文章简洁明了，却又处处充满着耐人寻味的语言，很容易引起读者共鸣。全文544词，建议用时7分钟。

阅读目标

1.找出作者面对书店变化不同阶段的不同感受，体会书店对于作者（或者社区居民）的特殊意义；

2.通过对故事梗概的理解，寻找书店发生巨大变化背后的原因，体会小说的主题；

3.深刻体会标题“A new chapter”的多重含义，并从中感悟发展、创新、进步的重要性，揭开属于自己的新篇章。

难词扫障

1.legendary adj.非常著名的；享有盛名的

2.sympathy n.同情；赞同；支持

3.exterior n.（尤指建筑物的）外部；外观；表面；外貌

4.pore v.仔细打量

5.organic adj.有机的；不使用化肥的；绿色的

6.humble adj.谦逊的；普通的

The day I heard that the Rainbow Bookstore was closing after fifty years of business,I was heartbroken.The bookstore,which was alegendaryfixture in the neighborhood,was a place where anyone could drop in and connect through their love of books.

When I hurried to the store,I saw that the books were already being packed into boxes.I had a long chat with Casey,the store's elderly owner.Sighing deeply,he told me how it was becoming difficultto run an independent bookstore.Most young people preferred reading e-books on tablets.More and more customers were being attracted by chain stores and online discounts.I tried to think of some words ofsympathy,but I had to admit that the Rainbow Bookstore couldn't stay in business much longer.

Childhood memories came back to me so clearly,as if the events had happened only yesterday.A bunch of us kids would frequently drop by the store after school.We'd look at the new books,or just chat with old Casey.He knew every book in the store and would always pick the perfect one for us from a dusty shelf.We spent hours reading,seated on the store's old,but comfortable furniture.Casey encouraged us to share our ideas and comments on the books by writing them on a large board in one corner of the store.

When I left the bookstore,it was becoming cold and dark outside.I turned to wave goodbye to Casey,but both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist.It made me realize that the bookstore and all that old Casey had given to the community could soon disappear for good.

A few months later,I was back in the neighborhood during my spring break vacation and was surprised to see that the Rainbow Bookstore was still there and open for business.Its old brickexteriorhadn't changed,but inside it was like a different world.In one area,a book reading was being delivered.Nearby,customers wereporingover shelves selling stationery,posters and other best-seller-themed gifts.The large board in the corner had been replaced by a big screen,where customers'comments on the month's best-seller were being displayed.Clearly,the Rainbow Bookstore was in good and creative hands.

I was told that the community had decided to work together on a campaign to save the Rainbow Bookstore.The campaign had been led by Jennifer Oakley,a saleswoman who had grown up in the neighborhood and who had now taken over the bookstore from Casey.

Under Jennifer's leadership,the bookstore was being turned into a place for literatureloving members of the community to get together.It had a café sellingorganicfood,and there were now more community events such as book readings,poetry recitals and even jazz concerts and movie nights,where people could gather to share an experience that couldn't be downloaded.

I joined Casey,who was looking up at the screen on which readers'comments kept popping up. “Well,as you can see,corporate knowledge combined with creativity has brought myhumblebookstore into the 21st century!I'm so pleased to see that everything I wanted it to offer to the community is still here.”

Step 2 实践·文本解读

目标呈现

Ⅰ.Grasp the main content.

What brings the bookstore back to life again?

A.The well-designed decoration,familiar environment and modern facilities.

B.The joint efforts of the community and the creative ideas to run the bookstore.

C.The potential profits of running a bookstore there.

D.The desire to read from the masses.

Ⅱ.Understand the structure.

Complete the table with corresponding information.

（续表）

Ⅲ.Analyse the writing techniques.

“When I left the bookstore,it was becoming cold and dark outside.I turned to wave goodbye to Casey,but both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist.”

How do you understand “it was becoming cold and dark outside” and “both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist”?_

【点石成金】对故事中细节的细细品味和感悟能帮助我们更好地理解书中人物的情感（变化），深刻体会人物与书店之间那种无法割舍的情感，感受这种简单而又深厚的情谊，同时，享受英语阅读和思考的乐趣。阅读时，应注意环境描写对烘托人物心理所起到的暗示或象征的作用。

Step 3 运用·读写整合

Ⅰ.Critical reading

Who saved the Rainbow Bookstore?What qualities was it that contributed to the success in saving the bookstore?

Ⅱ.Creative writing

How do you understand the title “A new chapter”?What would you do to write a new chapter for yourself as a student/family member/citizen...?Choose one of the topics and write a short passage about how to start a new chapter of your own.The title of your composition is“My new chapter”.

Step 4 提升·素养建构

标题的作用

标题是文章的眼睛。通过对A new chapter故事的阅读，我们能够感受到一个好的标题的巨大作用：

1.设置悬念，引起读者兴趣；

2.贯穿文章，组织全文的线索；

3.铺开情节，呼应细节，推动故事的发展；

4.揭示文章主旨，寄托情感，深化主题。

Read the following story and answer the questions according to the text.

Title:______________________________

A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present.On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office,a street urchin（流浪儿）was walking around the shiny new car,admiring it.

“Is this your car,mister?” he said.

Paul nodded.“My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded.“You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything?Boy,I wish...”He hesitated.

Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for.He was going to wish he had a brother like that.But what the lad said jarred（使烦躁）Paul all the way down to his heels.

“I wish,” the boy went on,“that I could be a brother like that.”

Paul looked at the boy in astonishment,and then impulsively he added,“Would you like to take a ride in my car?”

“Oh yes,I'd love that.”

After a short ride,the boy turned with his eyes aglow,said,“Mister,would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul smiled a little.He thought he knew what the lad wanted.He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile.But Paul was wrong again.“Will you stop where those two steps are?”the boy asked.

He ran up the steps.Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back,but he was not coming fast.He was carrying his little crippled brother.He sat him down on the bottom step,then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

“There she is,Buddy,just like I told you upstairs.His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent.And some day I'm going to give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about.”

Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car.The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.That Christmas Eve,Paul learned what Jesus meant when he said，“It is more blessed to give...”

1.What could be the best title for the text？

A.Brother's wish

B.Brother's kindness

C.A crippled brother

D.A Christmas present

2.What does the wish mean to Paul，the younger brother and the street boy?