Wilkie Collins:
Wilkie Collins was born into an artist’s family in 1842 and died in 1889.
In his lifetime, he wrote 25 novels, more than 50 short stories, at least 15 plays, and more than 100 non-fiction pieces. Wilkie Collins was a close friend of Charles Dickens. His first novel, a historical work called Anatonia or The Fall of Rome, was published in 1850.At that time, Collins was one of the best known, best loved, and, for a time, best paid of Victorian fiction writers. Now Collins is also being given critical and popular attention. Needless to say, he was a superstar of Victorian fiction. Here are some of his works: The Frozen Deep,The Haunted Hotel, I Say No, Law and the Lady, My Lady’s Money, the New Magdalen, No Name, A Rogue’s Life, The Two Destinies, and The Woman in White. His novel The Moonstone is considered as the first detective story in the history of England.
Words and Expressions:
词型变化：
informal
formal
consider
consideration
considerate
considerable
considering
coincide
coincidence
elegant adj. (相貌或仪态)优雅；文雅的；高雅的
elegantly adv. He always dresses elegantly. 他总是穿的很讲究。
elegance n. (u) 优雅
bachelor n. 未婚男子， 获学士学位的人
master n. 主人，获硕士学位的人
doctor n. 医生，获博士学位的人
assist v. 帮助，援助 assist sb. with/in sth. assist sb. (in) doing sth.
assistance n. (u) 帮助，援助，帮忙
assistant n. (c) 助手，助理
enquire
enquiry
guilty adj.
guilt n. (u) 罪，罪行
suspicion n.
suspicious adj.
assume v.
assumption n.
cancel v.
cancellation n.
1. curse:
vi & vt. 1)诅咒某人/某物（at sth./sb.）
He cursed (at) his bad fortune.
他诅咒自己运气不好。
2) 念咒语诅咒
The witch-doctor has cursed our cattle.
巫医念了咒语想叫我家的牛遭殃。
be cursed with 受某事物之害（尤指经常）；为某物所苦
be cursed with bad health/ a violent temper/ bad luck
因身体有病/脾气暴躁/命运不好而吃苦头
n. 1) (c) 咒骂语
2) (c) 祸根，祸由
Gambling is often a curse.
赌博往往是个祸根。
His wealth proved a curse to him.
他的财富到头来害了他。
cursed adj. 受到诅咒的，可恨的，讨厌的
a cursed box
a cursed job 可恨的工作
2. considerate: adj. thoughtful 考虑周到的，体贴的，常接介词to, towards或of
a considerate person 体贴别人的人
He was considerate to everyone. 他能体谅每一个人。
it is considerate of you not to play the piano while I was asleep.
在我睡觉时你不弹钢琴真是体贴入微。
拓展：
consider: v.
1). 考虑，细想 consider sth./doing sth.
I am considering changing my job.
我在考虑换工作
2). 认为，视…为
We consider this (to be) very important.
我们认为这非常重要。
He’s generally considered to have the finest tenor voice in the country.
现在公认他是该国最佳的男高音歌手。
We consider that you are not to blame.
我们认为不该责备你。
He is well considered in the company.
他在公司中受到很高的评价。
习语：
all things considered 考虑到问题，情况的各个方面
All things considered, we’re doing quite well.
从各方面的情况看， 我们目前干的挺好。
consideration n.
take…into consideration (account) 考虑到，顾及
in consideration of 考虑到，由于；作为对…的酬报
a small payment in consideration of their services.
作为答谢他们帮忙的一点儿报酬。
considerable adj. 相当大的，相当多的
He bought the vase at a considerable expense.
这个花瓶花了他相当多的钱。
considering prep.&conj. 考虑到，就…而言
She’s very active, considering her age.
就她的年龄而言，她是够活跃的
Considering he’s only just started, he knows quite a lot about it.
考虑到他只是刚刚开始，他对此的了解已经不少了
3. coincidence n.(u/c) （在时间或空间上）巧合；巧事
The plot of the novel relies too much on coincidence to be realistic.
这部小说的情节多靠巧合安排而无真实感。
By a strange coincidence we happened to be traveling on the same train.
巧得出奇，我们正好坐同一列火车。
coincide vi. ~ with sth （指事情）同时发生
Her arrival coincided with our departure.
她来到时我们正好离开。
coincident adj. 巧合的
coincidental adj. 由巧合造成的
coincidentally adv.
4. enquiry n.(Am.E) (C) 问询，查询 （=inquiry Br.E）
enquiry about/concerning sb./sth. 询问，查询
enquiry into sth. 正式调查某事
I’v been making some enquiries about it.
我一直在打听这件事。
call for a public enquiry into safety standards.
要求公开调查安全情况
enquire v. (also inquire)
enquire sth. of sb. 打听某人某事
enquire of sb. about sth. 打听某人某事
enquire after sb. 问候某人
enquire into 调查，探究
She enquired of me politely whether I wished to continue.
她有礼貌地问我是否想继续下去。
People called to enquire after the baby.
大家打电话来打听婴儿的情况。
We must enquire further into the matter.
我们必须进一步调查此事。
Exercise:
If you want to know the train schedule, please ______ at the booking office.
A. acquire B. inquire C. request D. require key: B
5. convince: vt. 使信服，说明
be convinced of
be convinced that
convince sb. of sth.
convince sb. that
convince sb. to do
He was convinced of his error.
他认识到了自己的错误。
I am more convinced than ever that this is the right approach to the problem.
我现在更加相信这是解决这个问题的正确方法。
It is difficult to convince him of his son’s guilt.
很难使他相信他儿子有罪。
The newspaper article has convinced me that cancer is associated with certain bad habits in daily life.
报上的文章使我深信癌症与日常生活中的某些坏习惯有关。
convincing adj. 令人信服的
a convincing speech 有说服力的讲话
a convincing argument 言之成理的论据
convinced adj.(作定语) 坚定不移的，有坚定信仰的
a convinced Christian 虔诚的基督徒
6. assume: vt.
1) 猜想，估计，假设
assume sth.
assume sb./sth. to be
assume that
You can assume his innocence before hearing the evidence against him.
在听到他犯罪的证据之前，你可以假定他是无罪的。
I assumed it to be the best possible translation.
我估计这可能是最好的译法了。
He assumed that the train would be on time.
他估计火车会准时到达。
2）担任，承担
The Prime Minister assumed office on May 29.
首相于五月二十九日任职。
We assume no responsibility for the goods damaged on the way.
我们对途中损坏的货物不承担责任。
3）假装，后接名词
She assumed an air of indifference.
她装出一副漠不关心的样子。
4）呈现，显出
Such disease assumes many forms.
这种病的表现形式是多种多样的。
The problem has assumed a new form.
这问题以新的形式出现了。
5）采取，采用
That man has assumed a new name.
那人已换用了一个新名字。
He assumed the royal title in 1880.
1880年他开始称王。
assumption n. (c) 假设， 假定
Exercise:
When college students _____ future employment, they often think of status, income and prestige.
A. anticipate B. apply C. assume D. demand
key: C 当大学生设想未来的职业时，他们常常想到的是地位，收入和名望。
7. cancel: vt.
1）取消，废除 (-ll-; US –l-)
cancel an agreement取消协议
She cancelled her trip to New York as she felt ill.
她觉得身体不适，故取消了纽约之行。
2）删除，划去，抹去
please cancel the last sentence.
请把最后一句删掉。
cancel (sth) out 抵消，对消
Her kindness and generosity cancel out her occasional flashes of temper.
她为人厚道，慷慨大方，倒也弥补了她偶尔发点小脾气。
cancellation n. (u) 取消，撤消
(c.) 取消，作废的事物
Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.
她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。
Are there any cancellations for this evening’s performances?
今晚演出的节目有取消的吗？
8. commit: vt.
1) 犯，做（不合法的，错或愚蠢的事）
commit suicide /a crime，自杀，犯罪
2）commit sb. (oneself) to sth./ doing sth.
Signing this form commits you buying the goods.
你签此表格后就一定要买这批货。
3）commit sb./sth. to sth. 将某人（事）交给某处保留（处理）
commit a patient to a mental hospital
把病人送进精神病院
4）commit oneself on 公开表明自己的意见（因而难以更改）
I asked her what she thought, but she refused to commit herself on it.
我问她是怎么想的，但她拒绝对此表示意见。
Exercise:
A violent crime was _____ every 32 seconds in this area of the city last year.
A. commited B. found C. sentenced D. made key: A
commitment n.
make a commitment
9. offend vt.
1) 触怒，冒犯，伤…的感情，此时常用语被动语态
She was offended at/by his remarks.
他的那些话把他把她给激怒了。
2）使…不快，恼怒，使…不适
sounds that offend the ear 刺耳的声音
an ugly building that offends the eye
一座难看的建筑
vi. ~ against sb./sth. 触犯，冒犯或得罪某人；触犯，侵犯或违反某事物
offend against humanity违反人性
His conduct offended against the rules of decent behaviour.
他的行为已经离格了。
offence n.
offensive adj.
Reading and Integrating Skills
Reading:
1. What do you already know about the story The Moonstone?
2. How many main characters in the novel? Who are they?
Characters:
Rachel Verinder : a beautiful and wealthy young woman, who lives with her mother and several servants in a fine house in England.
Godfrey: a successful bachelor with many lady admirers, who asks Rachel to marry him .
Franklin Blake: Rachel’s childhood friend.
Dr. Candy: a local doctor who has a quarrel with Franklin about a prescription.
The Indians They follow the Moonstone around the world wait for an opportunity to take it back .
Rosanna: Rachel’s maid who seems fond of Franklin.
Sergeant Cuff: a policeman.
Analyse the structure of the passage:
Part 1 ---- Paragraph 1 : How Rachel gets the Moonstone as her present.
Part 2 ---- Paragraph 2: Rachel’s happy life before her eighteenth birthday party.
Part 3 ---- Para 3-4: What happens at the party.
Part 4 ---- Para 5: the Moonstone is missing and Sergeant Cuff is asked to investigate the case.
Part 5 ---- Para 6-9: how Sergeant Cuff analyse the case
Part 6 ---- Para.10 the last paragraph: Sergeant Cuff finds a vital clue of the theft ---- a smear in the wet paint on the door.
Careful reading
1.Who gave Rachel the Moonstone ?Why did he give it to her ?Where did her uncle get the Moonstone ?
Rachel’s uncle gave her the Moonstone .He wanted to pass on his bad fortune to her in an act of revenge .He stole the diamond from the temple in India.
2.What happened to the diamond after the birthday party ?
It was gone .
Decide true or false:
1.The man who stole the Moonstone left it to his sister’s daughter because he loved her very much. F
2.Godfrey was under suspicious for stealing the diamond because Rachel refused his marriage . 3.Sergeant Cuff has one vital clue_ the stained garment . F
4.Franklin’s being love with Rachel made Dr Candy angry for Dr Candy loved her deeply. F
5.Rosanna may have taken the diamond to please Franklin who had heavy debts. F
Choose the best answers
1.Why did the man who stole the Moonstone give it to his sister’s daughter ? C
A. Because he wanted to help her
B. Because he had no other relatives
C. Because he wanted to pass on his bad fortune to her
D. The text didn’t tell us
2. Why did Franklin quit smoking ? B
A. Because smoking damaged his health
B. Because Rachel asked him to
C. Because he wanted to please Rachel
D. The servants asked him to
3. Why did Godfrey ask Rachel to marry him ? A
A. Because he wanted to get the Moonstone because of his heavy debt
B. Because he loved her
C. Because he didn’t wish Rachel to marry Franklin
D. Because he wanted to destroy her family
4. The word “ vital ” is closest in meaning to ______ . B
A. deadly B. important C. curious D. clear
5. Why didn’t Rachel answer the detective’s question ? A
A. Because she loved him and she wanted to protect him
B. Because she didn’t see him move the Moonstone
C. She was afraid of being killed by Franklin
D. Because she hated Franklin
6. Who moved the Moonstone at night ? B
A. Dr. Candy B. Franklin C. Godfrey D. Rachel’s mother
7. You can find out the topic of the text simply from ______ . A
A. the title B. the first paragraph
C. the second paragraph D. the last paragraph
8. When did the real story of the Moonstone take place ? B
A. In the 1890s B. In the 1790s C. In the 1840s D. In the 1800s
9. In your opinion , who might kill Godfrey ? D
A. Franklin B. Dr. Candy C. Rachel D. The Indians
10. How many people saw Franklin move the Moonstone to his bedroom ? A
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. No one
Integrating Skills Solving the mystery of the moonstone
Step 1 Lead-in
In reading part, sergeant cuff had several suspects and it was difficult for him to make certain who was the theft. For the sake of the clue mentioned by cuff, can you guess the real theft?
Scan the passage and make out how the story develops:
Part 1---- Paras 1-2: how puzzled Sergeant Cuff was at the case before he knew the truth.
Part 2---- Paras3-7: the things that happened after the diamond had been stolen.
Part 3----Paras 8-9: the result of the case: Sergeant Cuff discovered the thief.
Part 4----: the feeling and thoughts Sergeant Cuff has about the case.
Language points:
1. The novel The Moonstone is set in England in 1848, but the story really began 50 years earlier.《月亮宝石》这部小说是以1848年的英国为背景的，但是故事真正的开始是在此之前50年。
set: 设置（书本，戏剧，电影等的）背景
The book is set in France in the eighteenth century.
这部书是以18世纪的法国为背景的。
set还可以表示
1） 放，安放( to put)
He set his hand on my shoulder.
他把手放在我的肩上。
2） 布置，安排(to put into order for use)
Please set the table for dinner.
请摆好餐桌准备就餐。
3） 制定，确定(to fix or determine a rule, time, etc.)
Have you set the time for the meeting?
你们把开会的时间定下来了吗？
4）（太阳等的）下落(to go down）
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
太阳从东方升起在西方落下。
5) 镶嵌于(to fix…into)
He set a diamond in a ring.
他把一块宝石镶嵌在戒指上。
2. When he died he left the Moonstone to his sister’s daughter, Rachel, in an act of revenge, passing on his bad fortune to her. 当他去世时，他把月亮宝石留给他姐姐的女儿雷切尔。他是想作为报复，把不幸传给她。
an act of revenge 报复行为，这里act是名词，意为行为，动作，举动，act前面可以带形容词，或后接of短语
另外，act做名词时与action的用法区别：
1） 当action作可数名词时，常与act同义
a kind act/action 仁慈的行为
2）固定搭配
an act of war 战争行为
an act of cruelty 残忍的行为
an act of mercy 仁慈的行为
take action 采取行动
act也常作为动词使用：
Thinking before acting.
三思而后行。
The medicine was taken for a long time, but it failed to act.
药已经服了很长时间，但还未见效。
Revenge 是名词，意思为复仇，报仇，报复
Hamlet wanted revenge for his father’s murder.
Hamlet要报杀父之仇。
in/out of revenge for 表示为了报复…
take/get/ have revenge on 向…报复
We bombed their cities in revenge for attacks on us.
作为对他们攻击我们的报复，我们轰炸了他们的城市。
He took revenge on his employers by setting fire to the factory.
为了向雇主报复，他放火把工厂烧了。
Pass on … to … 把…传给…
Read the notice and pass it on to the other students.
看一看通知，然后传给其他学生
pass 和pass on (…to )的区别：
pass和pass on 均表示传递，传给，pass 表示直接传给，而pass on 表示传递信息，或转手传给
Would you please pass me the book?
请把书本递给我好吗？
Thank you all the same. They have passed the information on to me.
他们已经把信息传递给我了，但我还是要谢谢你。
3． His move to quit smoking cigars to please her is seen by the servants as evidence that he is in love in with Rachel.
为了取得雷切尔的好感，他主动提出戒烟。这一点佣人们看作是富兰克林爱上雷切尔的证明。
move: n.
1）行动，步骤，措施
It’s wise move to start his own company.
自己开公司是他明智的举动。
2） 搬家，迁居，调往
They’re now living in the city; their next move will be to a house in the country.
他们现在住在城里，下一步要搬进乡下的房子。
What does his move to the chairmanship mean?
他升职当主席了，这意味着什么？
4． At the end of the party everyone leaves except for Franklin and Godfry.
宴会结束时，除了富兰客林和戈德弗雷留下过夜外，其余的人都走了。
1） 这里except for=except
You can all go except (for ) George.
除了乔治，你们大家都可以走了。
2）在传统语法中，except 和except for用法有区别
We come to school every day except Sunday.
除了星期天，我们天天上学。（句中Sunday与every day 为相称的同类语）
The purse was empty except for some coins.
钱包中只有几个硬币。（句中coins 和purse 为不相称的非同类语）
3） 位于句首时，必须要用except for
Except for this, everything is in order.
除此之外，一切都很正常。
Except for two years during the war, she lived in Shanghai.
她一直住在上海，除了战争期间有两年没有在上海。
5． Rachel is stubborn in resisting his enquiries about the Moonstone to the degree that she makes it seem as if she does not want the mystery to be solved.
Rachel执意不让警察询问关于月亮宝石的事情，她如此固执以至使人认为她似乎不想解开这个迷团。
resist v.
resist sth./doing sth
He told us to get ready to resist the enemy attack.
他让我们做好准备，抵制敌人的进攻。
He can’t resist the temptation of chocolate.
他不能抵制巧克力的诱惑。
He found it hard to resist buying these books.
他觉得要克制购买这些书的欲望是很困难的。
to…degree: 达到…程度
He was interested in his work to such a degree that he thought about nothing else.
他对工作是如此感兴趣，以至于从不想别的事情。
Chinese fans love Yao Ming to the degree that they will try to watch any match that Yao Ming competes in.
中国球迷很喜欢姚明，以至于只要有姚明参赛他们都想方设法观看。
6．As the story develops, we discover some secrets about the people at the house that night, and the reasons why they might have stolen the diamond.
随着故事的发展，我们发现了那些人的一些秘密，以及他们可能盗窃宝石的原因。
As: 随着：
As time went by, he began to realize that he should have studied hard.
随着时间的推移，他开始意识到他本应该好好学习的。
As 的连词的用法：
1) 象…一样
He doesn’t like skating as much as he used to.
他不象以前那么喜欢滑冰了。
2） 照…方式
I have told the story just as it happened.
我已如实讲了这件事。
3） 因为，既然
As you object, I’ll reconsider the plan.
既然你反对，我就重新考虑一下这个计划。
4） 虽然
Much as I like the book, I can’t afford to buy it.
尽管我很喜欢这本书，可我买不起。（副词做状语的倒装）
Old as I am, I can still fight.
我虽老，但仍能战斗。（形容词做表语的倒装）
Child as he is, he knows a lot.
尽管他是个孩子，但懂得不少事情。（单数名词做表语的倒装，其前不用定冠词）
Youngest as she is in our class, she speaks English best.
虽然她是我们班上年龄最小的，但英语说得最好。（形容词最高级做表语的倒装，其前不用定冠词）
Try as he might, he couldn’t solve the problem.
尽管他设法这么做，却不能解决这个问题。（动词做谓语时的倒装）
7. I began to wonder whether I had been mistaken about Rachel and Rosanna.
我开始想我是不是误解了Rachel和Rosanna
be mistaken about 弄错，误会，主要是表示人在意见，观点，理解方面的误解
I see I was mistaken about you.
我知道我误会你了。
be mistaken in 表示看错了某人性格的某些方面或其品质，也可用来表示错误的信念，陈述，事实等
I always took him for an honest man, but it appears that I was mistaken in him.
我总把他当老实人，但看来我看错了人。
8．Franklin Blake, meanwhile, received a letter from Rosanna saying that she knew what he had done on the night the Moonstone disappeared.
与此同时，Franklin Blake收到了Rosanna一封信，信中说她知道月亮宝石失踪那天晚上Blake干过什么事。
句中在night后的the Moonstone…是省略关系副词when的定语从句。在表示时间的名词后的关系副词when常被省略。
By the time (when ) he was five, he was able to recite many poems.
到他五岁时，他已经能背诵很多诗。
Help never stopped coming from the day (when) she fell ill.
从她生病的那天起，就一直有人来帮忙。
拓展：
1） 在先行词way后的关系词how或in which 常被省略
The way you look at problems is wrong.
你看问题的方法不对。
2） 在先行词reason后面的关系副词why间或可以省略
That’s the reason (why) I did it.
这就是我这样做的原因。
3） 在先行词place后面的关系副词where间或可以省略。
This is the place (where) we met yesterday.
这是我们昨天碰头的地方
meanwhile: adv. 同时，期间；另一方面
I finished the job on August 28th, but meanwhile a very interesting event took place.
我是在八月二十八日完成这项工作的，与此同时，一件有趣的事情发生了。
The income of men went up, meanwhile, part-time women workers saw their earnings fall.
男人们的收入在提高，而女临时工的收入在减少。
9. She admitted that she had hidden the evidence because she loved him and wanted keep him out of trouble.
她承认她把证据藏了起来，因为她爱他，因而想使他免除麻烦。
keep…out of… （使）置身于…之外
He learnt early in life that it was best to keep out of other people’s quarrels.
他很小就懂得最好置身于他人的争吵之外。
Keep out of what doesn’t concern you.
不关你的事不要插手。
10. Desperate for money, he tried to persuade Rachel to marry him.
由于急需钱用，所以他竭力说服Rachel嫁给他。
desperate adj.
1）非常需要的，非常渴望的be ~for/to do
He was desperate for money to save his little daughter.
为了救他的小女儿他急需钱。
He was desperate to see the manager and tell him what he had seen.
他极想见到经理，告诉他所见到的。
2）不顾一切的，极严重的
The prisoners became desperate in their attempts to escape.
囚犯们会不顾一切地想逃跑。