Mark Twain—A Great but Sad Writer

周旋

Mark Twain left school when he was twelve. He had little school education. In spite of this， he became the most famous writer of his time. He made millions of dollars by writing. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens， but he is better known all over the world as Mark Twain， his pen name.

Mark Twain was born in 1835 and he was not a healthy baby. In fact， he was not expected to live through the first winter. But with his mothers care， he managed to survive. As a boy， he caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play jokes on all his friends and neighbors. He didnt like to go to school， and he often ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He was nearly drowned nine times.

After his fathers death， Mark Twain began to work for a printer， who only provided him with food and clothing. Then， he worked as a river boat pilot and later joined the army. But shortly after that he became a miner. During this period， he started to write short stories. Afterwards he became a full-time writer.

In 1870， Mark Twain got married. In the years that followed he wrote many books including Tom Sawyer in 1876， and Huckleberry Finn in 1884， which made him famous， and brought him great fortune.

Unfortunately， Mark Twain got into debts in bad investments and he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts. In 1904， his wife died， and then three of his children passed away.

At the age of 70， his hair was completely white. He bought many white suits and neckties. He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death on April 21， 1910.

【难句解析】

1. In fact， he was not expected to live through the first winter.

释义：事实上，没有预料他能活过第一个冬天。

点拨：expect， advise， allow， ask， beg， cause， command， drive， elect， encourage， forbid， force， get， permit等动词可以接不定式作宾语补足语，这些动词使用被动语态后要接不定式作主语补足语。例如：

Passengers are permitted to carry only one piece of hand luggage onto the plane. 乘客只允許带一个手提行李上飞机。

2. He used to play jokes on all his friends and neighbors.

释义：他过去常常拿他的朋友和邻居开玩笑。

点拨：used to表示“过去常常”，现在已经停止的情况或习惯，侧重今昔的对比，其中to是动词不定式符号，后接动词原形;be used to do sth. 意为“被用来做某事”，这是一个被动结构，可用于各种人称、时态，其中to是动词不定式符号，后接动词原形;be used to doing sth. 意思是“习惯于做某事”，可用于各种人称、时态，其中to是介词，后接V-ing形式;若强调动作或表示渐渐习惯于……”时，还可以用短语 get used to doing sth.。例如：

He used to cause lots of trouble for his parents. 他过去常常给父母惹许多麻烦。

The knife is used to cut things. 小刀是用来切割东西的。

I used to read books at home， but now Im used to reading in the library. 我过去常常在家看书，但我现在习惯在图书馆看书。

3. ... he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts.

释义：……他不得不写大量的小说来还债。

点拨：不定式to pay these debts在句中作目的状语。不定式表目的时，可放在句子的前面，也可放在句子的末尾。但在句子前面时，不定式常与句子用逗号隔开;而在句子末尾时不用逗号隔开。例如：

To get there on time， we set out at five in the morning. 为了按时到达那儿，我们早晨五点就出发了。

He goes there to enjoy the fresh air. 他去那儿享受新鲜空气。

4. He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death on April 21， 1910.

释义：他从头到脚只穿白色的衣服，直到于1910年4月21日去世。

点拨：until用于否定句中，意为“直到……才”，表示动作从until表示的时间才开始，主句动词延续性、非延续性均可。用于肯定句中，意为“到……为止”，表示动作一直持续到所说时间为止，主句的动词必须是延续性动词。例如：

I didnt know she was French until she spoke. 直到她开口说话我才知道她是法国人。

I will wait until / till I hear from you. 我会一直等到你写信来。

【阅读链接】

I. Choose the right answer.

1. In his childhood， ____.

A. he learned a lot at school                  B. he often went swimming with other boys

C. his mother often worried about his safety  D. he often played games with other boys

2. Which of the following shows the RIGHT order about Mark Twain？

a. He became a miner.                         b. He worked as a printer.

c. He got into debts.                            d. His father died.

e. He became a full-time writer.              f. He joined the army.

A. a—d—b—c—e—f                        B. d—b—f—a—e—c

C. d—a—f—e—b—c                        D. c—b—d—f—e—a

3. In order to make a living， Mark Twain ____.

A. first worked as a printer                    B. joined the army after he worked in a mine

C. wrote stories in the beginning             D. did many kinds of work

4. Before his death， Mark Twain ____.

A. became a white man                        B. was in low spirits

C. liked to buy all kinds of clothes                D. had nothing on

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. The company ships its goods ____ ____ ____ ____ （全世界）.

2. She ____ ____ ____ ____ （直到……才看电视） her mother came back.

3. All I know is that she ____ ____ （過去） work in a bank.

4. The house came to him when his parents ____ ____ （去世）.

5. ____ ____（为了成功）， we must make good preparation.

6. A giant panda ____ ____ ____ （逃离） the zoo in London.