Q1: Why they drink in the passage?
? In his writing, Paton explores the relationship between whites and blacks in his country. In this story, a well-educated black finds himself cordially invited to split a bottle with a white man in the latter’s apartment building. The black man is admired and praised by a group of friendly white people, but he has to drink in the passage. Throughout the story one can see that the two sides are both anxious to reach out to each other, but they do not know how. obviously there exists an invisible wall between them which hampers their free communication and full understanding, not just a wall imposed by apartheid laws, but a wall deep in their hearts. ? Discuss:
? Has racism been a serious problem in human history? Is the problem resolved?
? Is it easy to detect the existence of racism? Why or why not? Does racism only involve governments and politicians?
? Can we divide the world neatly into the victims and the victimizers of racism? Is it possible for them to change places?
(1) In the year 1960 the Union of South Africa celebrated its Golden
Jubilee, and there was a nationwide sensation when the one-thousand-pound prize for the finest piece sculpture was won by a black man… (Para. 1)Questions:
Why did the black man’s success cause such a nationwide sensation? What background does this opening sentence intend to unravel?
(2) However, a crisis was averted, because the sculptor was “unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony”. (Para. 3)Questions: What did the author mean by saying that a crisis was finally averted? What is it about?
What would have happened if Simelane had attended the ceremony personally to accept the prize?
(3)“I wasn’t feeling up to it.” Simelane said mischievously to me. “My parents, and my wife’s parents, and our priest, decided that I wasn’t feeling up to it. And finally I decided so too. (Para. 4)Questions: In what sense did Simelane think he wasn’t “feeling up to it”? Did he mean he was physically unable to attend the ceremony? Why did Simelane give the author that mischievous look?
(4)Of course Majosi and Sola and the others wanted me to go and get my prize personally, but I said, “boys, I’m a sculptor, not a demonstrator.” (Para. 4) Questions:
Who do you think Majosi and Sola were? Why did they strongly advise
Simelane to and get the prize personally?
How to understand “I’m a sculptor, not a demonstrator”?
(5)They gave a whole window to it, with a white velvet backdrop, if there is anything called white velvet, and… (Para. 7)Questions:
What did he mean when he said “… if there is anything called white velvet”? Could he be playing with the word “white” here? What qualities are usually associated with “velvet”?
(6)“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Look at that mother’s head. She’s loving that child, but she’s somehow watching too. Like someone guarding. She knows it won’t be an easy life.” (Para. 14)Questions:
Did the white man admire the sculpture purely from an artistic point of view? Why and why not?
Do you think the exhibited sculpture transformed the mind of this young Africaner? In what way?
(7)I couldn’t have told him my name. I said I was Vakalisa, living in Orlando.Questions:
Why didn’t Simelane tell the white man his true name?
What do you think was the reason why van Rensburg decided to befriend this black stranger?
(8)Then he said to me, “Are you educated?”I said unwillingly. “Yes.” Then I thought to myself, how stupid, for leaving the question open. (Para. 27)Question:
大学英语第四册第四课
