新概念英语第三册 Lesson 14 A noble gangster 讲义

Lesson 14 A noble gangster Part 1: Text There was a time when the owners of shop and businesses in Chicago had to pay large sums of money to gangsters in return for' protection' If the money was not paid promptly, the gangsters would quickly put a man out of business by destroying his shop. Obtaining 'protechon money' is not a modern crime. As long ago as the fourteenth century, an Englishman, Sir John Hawkwood, made the remarkable discovery that people would rather pay large sums of money than have their life work destroyed by gangsters.Six hundred years ago, Sir John Hawkwood arrived in Italy with a band of soldiers and settled near Florence. He soon made a name for himself and came to be known to the Italians as Giovanni Acuto. Whenever the Italian city-states were at war with each other, Hawkwood used to hire his soldiers to princes who were willing to pay the high price he demanded. In times of peace, when business was bad, Hawkwood and his men would march into a city-state and, after burning down a few farms, would offer to go away if protection money was paid to them. Hawkwood made large sums of money in this way. In spite of this, the Italians regarded him as a sort of hero. When he died at the age of eighty, the Florentines gave him a state funeral and had a picture painted which was dedicated to the memory of 'the most valiant soldier and most notable leader, Signor Giovanni Haukodue'. Part 2: New words and expressions 1.gangster ['g st ] n.歹徒，强盗 2.Chicago [ i'ka:g u] n.芝加哥(美国城市) 3.protection [pr 'tek n] n.保护 4.promptly ['pr mptli] ad.准时地；迅速的 5.destroy [dis'tr i] v.毁掉；消灭 6.remarkable [ri'ma:k bl] a.不寻常的 7.band [b nd] n.帮，团伙 8.Florence ['fl r ns] n.佛罗伦萨(意大利城市) 9.city-state n.(古代)城邦 10.hire ['hai ] v.租出，雇佣 11.prince ['prins] n.(小附属国的)君主，诸侯；王子 12.Florentine ['fl r ntain] n.佛罗伦萨人 13.funeral ['fju:n r l] n.葬礼 14.dedicate ['dedikeit] v.奉献，题献给 15.memory ['mem ri] n.纪念 16.valiant ['v lj nt] a.英勇的 ★ noble 1.崇高的；品质高尚的 e.g. (1) 伟大的领袖 a noble leader (2) 他为了高尚的事业而牺牲。 He died for a noble cause. 2.e.g. 出身高贵的人 a man of noble birth the nobility) 贵族 ★protection [pr 'tek n] n.保护 1.保护；保障 e.g. 她那单薄的外衣不怎么御寒。 Her thin coat gave/provided little protection against the cold. 2.保护物 e.g. 鞋是用来保护脚的。 Shoes are a protection for the feet. v. protect 保护，维护，防护 e.g. (1) 这些珍禽受到专门法令的保护-它们是受保护的物种。 These rare birds are protected by special laws--they are protected species. (2) 维护自己的名誉 to protect one’s reputation (3) 戴墨镜可以保护眼睛不受阳光刺激。 Wearing dark glasses can protect your eyes from the sun. ★promptly ['pr mptli] ad.准时地；迅速的 例：I'll be here promptly at nine o'clock. 我一定九点准时到这里。 prompt adj. [pr mpt] 1. (行动)立刻的；迅速的；准时的 e.g. (1) 如蒙即期结账, 则不胜感激。 Prompt payment of bills is greatly appreciated. (2)他付房租从不拖延。 He is prompt in payinghi ... ...