The joyful gardener

河北邯郸一中 苏 娜

花园是园丁心中的一个小世界。园丁在自己的小世界里亲手埋下生命的种子，亲自参与生命的成长，看花开花落、草木枯荣，感受到的是怎样的快乐和人生感悟呢？

题材文章词数园艺3 5 5 难度 ★★★体裁建议用时记叙文7′

难词扫障

1.trimv.修剪；整理

2.evergreen shrub常绿灌木

3.budv.长出蓓蕾

4.witherv.枯萎；凋残

5.nourishmentn.滋养

6.pollinatev.给……授粉

7.spaden.铁锹

8.prunev.修剪（树枝）

Those who have experienced the joy of gardening know that there's no joy which precisely parallels it.One of the most important parts of a happy life—always looking forward to the future—is generously awarded to the gardener.Nor does it become weak as he grows older.

I once journeyed to the funeral of a 1._______，and，arriving a few hours before theservices， wentinto her garden.For a long time，she'd known that she would not 2._______from her illness，but the last morning she'd been able to be outdoors and there she hadtrimmedand reshaped a recently plantedevergreen shrub.It was spreading its branches now against the wall，neat and glossy and growing symmetrically（对称地） as she had intended.My friend knew she would never see this lovely tracery covering the wall，but sheacknowledgedthepersistenceof life and，as I stood before the work of her hands，I acknowledged it too.

This belief in the future，which gives quietness to the 3______._and liveliness to the body explains， I think， the astonishing energy with which the aged oftenapply themselves togarden tasks.For while they are thusoccupied，theyaren't conscious ofbeing old or 4______._but only of being part of surging，growing life.Flowersbud， open，wither， and fall.Theydraw in nourishmentfrom earth， air，water and sun.They attract birds and bees，arepollinated，make seed，scatter it，in a cycle as irresistible and synchronized（同步的）as the movements of the stars and planets.They are 5._______of the rhythm of life just as we are part of it and they accompany us through every mood.

This is theblessingwhich belongs to those who work in their own 6______._.Thus，it is true that every gardener is forever a beginner and always confident about the future that lightens the way like a flame.And thus it is also true，that the gardener，from his first awkward attempt with thespadeto his lastexpert pruningof an evergreen， is conscious—with deepest gratitude—that he is blessed.

Reading Check

Fill in each blank with only one word according to the context.

Language Study

Ⅰ.Important vocabulary in the text

1.acknowledgev.承认

2.persistencen.持续存在；维持

3.apply oneself to致力于

4.occupiedadj.无空闲的；忙碌的

5.be conscious of意识到

6.draw in吸收

7.blessingn.幸事；好事

8.expertadj.熟练的

Ⅱ.Appreciate symbolism

Symbolism（象征）

Symbolism（象征）是根据事物之间的某种联系，借助某人某物的具体形象，以表现某种抽象的概念、思想和情感。它可以使文章立意高远、含蓄深刻。恰当地运用象征手法，可以将某些比较抽象的精神品质化为具体的可以感知的形象，从而给读者留下深刻的印象和咀嚼回味的余地。

本篇文章也运用了象征的手法，用园丁对待花园中植物的态度象征一种积极乐观的人生态度：永远向前看，相信生命的延续。植物和人都是大自然的一部分，第三段作者写道“Flowers bud， open，wither， and fall.”，花的生命的过程就像人的一生一样，都是自然规律。园丁在照顾花园的过程中，体验了生命的过程，领悟了人生的真谛，坦然接受生命的各个阶段，收获了真正的满足和快乐。