新視野大學(xué)英語(yǔ)讀寫(xiě)教程第一冊(cè)課文原文unit2

Section A

Pre-reading Activities

First Listening

You are about to read an early morning exchange between a daughter and her parents.

Second Listening

Discuss the following questions after the second listening.

1. What are some of the things you think the daughter and her parents might have different ideas about?

2. How can the older and the younger generation have real communication with and understand each other?

A Busy Weekday Morning

The radio clicked on. Rock music blasted forth. Like a shot, the music woke Sandy. She looked at the clock; it was 6:15 A.M. Sandy sang along with the words as she lay listening to her favorite radio station.

"Sandy," shouted her father. "Sandy, turn that music off!" Steve Finch burst into her room. "Why do you have to listen to such horrible stuff? It's the same thing over and over. I'm not sure it is really music though it does have rhythm. Hmmm. No, it isn't really music. It's weird. It is definitely horrible stuff."

"I like that music, Dad; it's my favorite group — Green Waves. Listen for a minute; I'm sure you'll like it. It has a really powerful message. Didn't you ever listen to music like this when you were a youngster?" Sandy reached for the radio to turn it up louder.

"No, no, don't do that. I can't stand it. The music I listened to had a message, too, but the words were clear and the musicians didn't use such offensive language. Turn that radio down so your mother and I can't hear it. I'm sure that music is hurting your ears as well as your brain. Now, would you please hurry up and turn it off? Get ready for school or you'll be late!"

Sandy walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. At first, the water felt cold. It helped her wake up. Then, as the water got hotter, she thought, "This shower feels great and in here I can be alone and sing. No one disturbs me in here." She grabbed the soap and washed thoroughly, including her hair. If she stayed in the shower too long, her mom or dad usually banged on the door to rush her so she grabbed a towel and dried off.

After her shower, Sandy brushed her hair, put on her old, green T-shirt and some jeans and wrapped her sweater around her shoulders. Then she put on her makeup, grabbed her books and went to the kitchen.

She looked at the clock again; it was late. As usual, she didn't know what to have for breakfast, so she grabbed a glass of milk and ate a piece of toast while standing by the sink. Just then, her mother, Jane, entered the kitchen.

"Sandy, why don't you sit down and eat your breakfast? It isn't healthy to eat standing up."

"I know. Mom, but I'm already late for school. I don't have time to sit down and eat."

"Did you finish your homework, dear?"

"Yes."

"Do you have your instrument?"

"Uh-huh."

"And your lunch?"

"Yah."

"Did you brush your teeth?"

"Mom, I haven't finished eating breakfast yet. I'll brush my teeth when I'm done."

"You should brush your teeth when you wake up and then brush them again after breakfast. Sandy, why are you wearing that old T-shirt? It's disgusting. I know you have some nice blouses in your closet."

"Mom, please stop."

"Stop what, dear?"

"Stop bugging me."

"Sandy, are you wearing eye-liner?"

"Yes, Mom, I've been wearing eye-liner for months. Isn't it pretty? It's called French Lilac Blue. I just love it." Sandy pretended not to notice that her mother was a little annoyed.

"Sandy Finch, you're too young to wear that much makeup. Please go upstairs and wash it off."

"Mom, I'm fifteen. I'm old enough to wear makeup. Believe me, all the girls at school wear makeup. Some have tattoos and pierced ears, and noses and tongues, too. Mom, I don't have time to talk about this now — I'm late. I've got to go. See you later." Sandy kissed her mother quickly on the cheek, picked up her books, and bolted out of the house.

As she ran to catch the school bus, Sandy thought of her older brother Bill who was away at college. He phoned her often so they could talk and share their problems, but she hadn't heard from him for a while. She missed him. Since Bill had gone to college, her mother bugged Sandy much more than before, and she was arguing with her mother a lot more than usual, too.