Step 1: Intensive reading.
Try to answer the question below while you’re reading:
Question: What are the St. Bernard dogs used for?
Vocabulary:
monastery 寺院，修道院
enclosure 围场，圈地
St .Bernard 圣伯纳德
monk 和尚，僧侣
pass 关隘
privacy 清静，隐居
watchdog 看门狗
skier 滑雪者
rashly 莽撞地，冒失地
Easter 复活节
Passage:
The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy. At 2, 473 metres, it is the
highest mountain pass in Europe. The famous monastery of St. Bernard, which was
founded in the eleventh century, lies about a mile away. For hundreds of years, St.
Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass. These
friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watchdogs even in
Roman times. Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains, the Pass is less
dangerous, but each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller
is in difficulty. Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt
to cross the Pass on foot.
圣伯纳德大山口连接着瑞士与意大利，海拔 2473 米，是欧洲最高的山口。11 世
纪建造的著名的圣伯纳德修道院位于离山口 1 英里远的地方。几百年来，圣伯纳
德修道院驯养的狗拯救了许多翻越这道山口的旅游者的生命。这些最先从亚洲引
进的狗，待人友好，早在罗马时代就给人当看门狗了。如今由于在山里开挖了隧
道，翻越山口已不那么危险了。但每年还要派狗到雪地里去帮助那些遇到困难的
旅游者。尽管修通了隧道，但仍有一些人想冒险徒步跨越圣伯纳德山口。
Notes:
1 Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains，由于一条穿山隧道已经开
通。now that 是连词，当“既然”，“ 由于”讲，引导一个原因状语从句，说明一种
新情况。
During the summer months, the monastery is very busy, for it is visited by thousands
of people who cross the Pass in cars. As there are so many people about, the dogs
have to be kept in a special enclosure. In winter, however, life at the monastery is
quite different. The temperature drops to -30°and very few people attempt to cross the
Pass. The monks prefer winter to summer for they have more privacy. The dogs have
greater freedom, too, for they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure. The only
regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at
Christmas and Easter. These young people, who love the peace of the mountains,
always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.
夏天的几个月里，修道院十分忙碌，因为有成千上万的人驾车通过山口，顺道来
修道院参观。由于来人太多，狗被关在专门的围栏里。然而到了冬天，修道院里
的生活则是另一番景象。气温下降到零下 30 度，试图跨越山口的人寥寥无几。
修道士们喜欢冬天，而不太喜欢夏天。因为在冬天，他们可以更多地过上无人打
扰的生活。狗也比较自由，被放出围栏，四处遛达。冬天常来修道院参观的只有
一批批滑雪者。他们在圣诞节或复活节到那儿去。这些热爱高山清静环境的年轻
人每年都受到圣伯纳德修道院的热烈欢迎。
Notes:
2 As there are so many people about, …about 为副词，作“在附近”，“到处”讲。也
可用 around 表示。
3 The monks prefer winter to summer ，修道 士们 喜欢 冬 天 而 不 喜欢夏 天 。
prefer…to…有“喜欢……而不喜欢……”的意思，to 的前后要用名词或动名词来表
示所对比的事物或活动。
8.2【阅读理解】A famous monastery
Step 2: Comprehension questions.
Comprehension:
1 Which two countries are connected by the Great St. Bernard Pass? (Switzerland and
Italy)
2 How high is the pass? (2,473 metres.)
3 How does it compare in height with other mountain passes in Europe? (It's the
highest.)
4 Who founded the famous monastery near the Pass? (St. Bernard.)
5 When? (In the eleventh century.)
6 What have St. Bernard dogs done for hundreds of years? (Saved the lives of
travellers crossing the dangerous pass.)
7 Where did these dogs originally come from? (Asia.)
8 Why is the Pass less dangerous these days? (Because a tunnel has been built through
the mountains.)
9 What do some travellers still try to do? (Attempt to cross the Pass on foot.)
10 Are the dogs still used for rescues? (Yes, they are.)
11 Why is the monastery very busy during the summer months? (Because it is visited
by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars.)
12 Why do the dogs have to be kept in special enclosure in the summer? (Because
there are so many people about.)
13 How low does the temperature fall in winter? (-30。.)
14 Are there few travellers in winter? (Yes, there are.)
15 Why do the monks prefer winter to summer? (Because they have more privacy.)
16 What about the dogs? (They have more freedom, too.)
17 Who are the regular visitors in winter? (Parties of skiers at Christmas and Easter.)
18 How are these skiers received at St. Bernard's monastery? (With a warm welcome.)
8.3【拓展写作】A famous monastery
Step 3: Composition
In not more than 200 words, write an imaginary account of the way a traveller was
rescued on St. Bernard's Pass in winter. Use the ideas given below. Do not write more
than three paragraphs.
Title: Rescue.
Introduction: A monk took two dogs out for exercise — the dogs were restless — a
search party was organized.
Development: The dogs led the monks through the snow — high winds the previous
night — now heavy fog — temperature -20 。below — they got near-heard cries
— a man was trapped under the snow — the dogs dragged him out — he was
taken to the monastery on a sledge.
Conclusion: The man was unconscious — recovered later — told them what had
happened the previous night
Key to composition
A possible answer
Rescue
One very cold morning, a monk took two St. Bernard's dogs out for exercise. He
immediately noticed that the dogs were very restless. Suspecting a traveller might be
in difficulty, the monk returned to the monastery to organize a search party.
The two dogs led four monks through the snow. Two of the monks pulled a sledge
behind them, in case they needed it. There had been very high winds the previous
night, but now everything was still and visibility was bad because there was a heavy
fog. Moreover, the temperature had fallen to-20. The dogs led the monks towards the
Pass and as the monks got near, they heard cries in the distance. The dogs soon found
a man who was trapped under the snow and immediately dragged him out. The man
was alive, but frozen stiff. The monks strapped him to the sledge and took him back to
the monastery.
The man was unconscious, but he soon recovered in the warm atmosphere of the
monastery where he was given plenty of hot drinks and food. When the traveller was
able to speak, the monks listened with interest as he told them what had happened the
previous night.
课外练习：
1 St. Bernard dogs are best known for .
(a)being a great summer tourist attraction
(b)having saved people's lives before the new tunnel was built
(c) being able to search people out who have been trapped in the snow
(d) the freedom they have to wander about in the winter
2 What is the main advantage of the new tunnel?
(a)It prevents people from endangering their lives by climbing the Pass.
(b)It brings thousands of tourists to the monastery each summer
(c)It provides a fast and safe communication across the Swiss-Italian border.
(d) It brings the St. Bernard monks into greater contact with the world.
3 In what way does life at the St. Bernard monastery differ in winter?
(a)The great number of visitors must come to the monastery on skis.
(b)The dogs are free to save the lives of people lost in the snow.
(c)The monks are more welcoming to their visitors.
(d)The monks can pursue their occupation relatively undisturbed.
4 The highest mountain pass in Europe is .
(a)of 2,473 metres
(b)at 2,473 metres high
(c)high 2,473 metres
(d)2,473 metres high
5-a few people who are to cross the Pass on foot.
(a)rash enough
(b) so rash
(c) too rash
(d) very rash
6 so many people about, the dogs have to be kept in an enclosure.
(a)With
(b)Being
(c)Because
(d) Having
7 The monks let outside their enclosure.
(a)them to wander
(b) to them wandering
(c)them wander
(d) them wandering
8 Parties of skiers the monastery in winter.
(a) visit to
(b)are visiting at
(c)visit
(d) are visiting
9 The great St. Bernard Pass lies Switzerland and Italy.
(a)within
(b)between
(c)about
(d) along
10 The dogs are sent out into the snow a traveller is in difficulty.
(a)if ever
(b)in case
(c)all the time
(d)while
11 Thousands of people over the Pass.
(a)trip
(b)voyage
(c)conduct
(d) drive
12 They are allowed to outside their enclosure.
(a)graze
(b)drift
(c)roam
(d)wonder
答案：1c 2c 3d 4d 5a 6a 7c 8c 9b 10a 11d 12c