Unit 7 A Christmas Carol

戏剧 A Christmas Carol （圣诞欢歌）在时间上都发生在圣诞前的一天，但又可以细细分为四个不同场景：第一个场景发生在 Scrooge 的办公室，人物有 Scrooge 和他的雇员 Bob Cratchit ，情节为 Scrooge 阻止 Bob 用蜡烛暖手，阻止 Bob 向Scrooge 请假过圣诞节，展现了 Scrooge 对人苛刻、吝啬、自私的一面。

第二个场景发生在 Scrooge 和他的外甥 Fred 之间，情节为 Fred 邀请他舅舅 Scrooge 一起庆祝圣诞，但是 Scrooge 断然拒绝，还奚落了 Fred ，从中可以看出 Scrooge 没有亲情、惟利是图的本性。第三个场景发生在 Scrooge 和一位慈善机构的先生之间，慈善机构的先生向 Scrooge 募捐，然而 Scrooge 非但分文不给，相反还建议把那些穷人关进监狱，从这个场景我们可以看出 Scrooge 没有社会责任感、缺乏怜悯心的特点。

第四个场景发生在圣诞前夜 Scrooge 的梦中，主要人物为 Santa Claus （圣诞老人）和 Scrooge ，圣诞老人前来提醒 Scrooge 所做过的梦。在第四个场景后面还留下了一个悬念，让我们思考接下去 Scrooge 将会发生什么变化。为后面阅读 Integrating Skills 中的 A Christmas Carol 的第二部分埋下良好的伏笔。

True or false exercises:(1). It was cold in Scrooge’s office and Bob had to warm himself over the candles.

(2). Scrooge was willing to let Bob have a day off because it would be Christmas the next day.

(3). Scrooge was invited by his niece and he accepted the invitation happily.

(4).A man arrived at Scrooge’s office because he wanted to collect some money for the poor. (5). Scrooge didn’t want to give the poor any money because he was poor himself.

(6). In Scrooge’s dream he met Jacob Marley.

True

False

False

True

False

False

Can you say something about some of the characters in the play?

He is a selfish, mean, old man, and a greedy bad boss who thinks nothing but money and profits. He has no friend except his business partner, Jacob Marley. He cares for nobody but himself.

1.Ebenezer Scrooge

He is said to be a person who brings presents to children the night before Christmas, but in our unit he is a guide in the dream and will lead Ebenezer Scrooge into his past, his present and his future.

2.Santa Claus

He is Ebenezer Scrooge's former business partner and he is a man just like Ebenezer Scrooge. After his death, he can't get rest and happiness. In the dream he tells Scrooge how to avoid the sad fate of his.

3.Jacob Marley

He is the assistant of Ebenezer Scrooge. He often works long hours but he is paid very little. It's very cold and he often feels too cold to write on.

4.Bob Cratchit

He is Scrooge's nephew. He is happy though he is poor. He wants to invite his uncle, Scrooge to Christmas dinner. But Scrooge thinks they are too poor.

5.Fred

Close TestClose Test

It was the day before C and

the w was terrible. Bob wanted

to have a day o in order to have a go

od Christmas dinner but his boss, Scr

ooge, who was c , mean and only int

erested in making m ， didn’t all

ow him to do so at first. Scrooge’s

It was the day before C and

the w was terrible. Bob wanted

to have a day o in order to have a go

od Christmas dinner but his boss, Scr

ooge, who was c , mean and only int

erested in making m ， didn’t all

ow him to do so at first. Scrooge’s

hristmashristmas

eathereather

ffff

oldold

oneyoney

nephew—Fred wanted to i Scrooge

to attend their Christmas dinner but he

was r . A gentleman who wanted t

o collect some money for the poor was a

lso t down by Scrooge. At last whe

n all the others left, Scrooge had a d

, in which he met Santa Claus.

nephew—Fred wanted to i Scrooge

to attend their Christmas dinner but he

was r . A gentleman who wanted t

o collect some money for the poor was a

lso t down by Scrooge. At last whe

n all the others left, Scrooge had a d

, in which he met Santa Claus.

nvitenvite

efusedefused

urnedurned

reamream

1.Reading comprehension:1. It is Christmas Eve but Mr. Scrooge still checks his cler

k’s work. From here, we can see that he is ______.A serious and demandingB hardworking and enterprisingC selfish and cold-hearted D thrifty( 节俭的 ) and efficient2. The gentleman comes in and tries to collect money for th

e poor, but Mr. Scrooge talked about prisons, because he thinks _____.

A The poor always break rules, so they should be sent to prisons.

B He pays taxes for prisons for no reason, so it’s their duty keeping the poor instead of the rich’s.

C Prisons are well equipped.D The passage doesn’t offer the answer.

C

B

3. Mr. Scrooge’s typical is “ Humbug”. Why? _____A. Because it was a fashionable word.B. Because he thought everything a trick and

incomparable to money.C. To show that he is educated.D. To show that he is very rich.4. Santa Claus’ typical is “ Ho, ho, ho”. Why?_____A because he is Father Christmas, an old man.B because he can not express himself clearly.C because he tries to make others happy by saying

such words.D this passage doesn’t offer the answer.

B

C

2. From the reading , what is Charles Dickens’ attitude towards the poor and the rich ? He showed deep sympathy and love for the poor and had a strong hatred of the rich who showed no mercy to the poor.

3. Discussion If you are asked to say to Scrooge, what will you say to him?

(1). Scrooge, although you have a lot of money, you aren’t happy. You should try your best to be friendly and generous to others. (2). Scrooge, Christmas is the time when people open their hearts freely. You should spend Christmas with your relatives and friends. (3). Scrooge, don’t always think about yourself, otherwise, you can’t get others’ love and respect. You will lead a meaningless and lonely life.

Reading : Integrating skills

1. Scan the play in two minutes and decide how many parts you can divide it into.

Three parts (according to three scenes)2. Read the first part and complete the following : Scene One Place__________ Time__________ Characters______________________________ Event___________________________________ Reasons _________________________________ Scrooge’s reaction __________________________

Scene One Place___________________________________ Time___________________________________ Characters______________________________ Event___________________________________ Reasons _________________________________ _________________________________________ Scrooge’s reaction __________________________

The place where Scrooge lived when he was young.The time when Scrooge was young.

Young Scrooge and his girlfriend

The girl wanted to be separated from Scrooge.Because Scrooge cared nothing except making

money, which made his girlfriend very disappointed.

He felt very uneasy.

2. Read the second part and judge whether the following sentences are true or false. (1). In the dream it was Christmas Eve and the Cratchits were having a Christmas dinner. (2). In the dream Tiny Tim was ill but his father couldn’t afford the medicine for him. (3). These things really happened to the Cratchits

(4). On seeing the scene, Scrooge wanted to change his life. (5). Scrooge ordered a big Christmas pudding for the Cratchits.

True

True

False

True

False

3. Read the last part and do the following

How did Bob Cratchit feel when he saw Scrooge and his turkey?

A. Satisfied B. Interested C. Angry D. Surprised

D is correct because he hadn’t expected that Scrooge would be so generous. Step II Post reading (P 62) 1. Santa Claus takes Scrooge on a journey through time. What is his role? Is he a guide, doctor or judge? Explain your answer.

I think his role is a guide. Because Santa Claus only made Scrooge realize his mistake.

2. Scrooge says that he doesn’t want to watch the scenes Santa shows him. Why not?Because he regretted what he had done.

3. An important scene in A Christmas Carol is when Scrooge watches his younger self talking with his girlfriend. (1). What is the talk between young Scrooge and the girl about?

(2). What does she mean by “the golden idol”?

(3). Why doesn’t she love Scrooge any more?

(4). What does it mean if people weigh everything by gain?

It is about their separation.

She means Scrooge loves money only.

Because Scrooge values money more than anything else.

It means people will be selfish and greedy.

4. Why does Mrs Cratchit not want to drink a toast to Mr Scrooge?

5. What is wrong with Tiny Tim? Would it be Scrooge’s fault if Tiny Tim died in the future?

Because she thinks Scrooge is not worthy of her toast .

He is ill. It has much to do with Scrooge’s meanness and selfishness if he would die in the future.