Introduce the story: Today we'll talk about collecting.
Step 1: Intensive reading.
Try to answer the question below while you’re reading:
Question: What in particular does a person gain when he or she becomes a serious
collector?
Vocabulary:
amass v .积聚
relaxation n .休息，娱乐
indiscriminate adj .不加选择的
verify v .查证，核实
clutter n .一堆杂物
bearing n .关系，联系
string n .细线
like-minded adj.志趣相投的
requisite n .必需品
mania n .癖好
specimen n .标本
sketch n .草图，图样
constructively adv .有益的，积极的
remote adj .（机会，可能性）少的，小的
contented adj .心满意足的
strong-minded adj .意志坚强的
boredom n .烦恼，无聊
Passage:
People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so.
Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which
they did not know they owned. Those who never have to move house become
indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave
unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they
may one day need just those very things. As they grow old, people also accumulate
belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which
are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment. Things owned for a
long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with relatives who are dead,
and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.
人们喜欢收藏东西，有时并没有意识到自己在这样做。确实，一旦无意之中从自
己的收藏品中找到某件有用的东西时，可以给人一种惊喜的感觉。那些从来不必
搬家的人们成了一种无所不容的收藏家。他们专门收藏那些只能被称作杂货的东
西。他们在抽屉里、碗柜中、阁楼上堆放着一些不用的东西，一放就是好几年，
相信总有一天需要的正好是那些东西。人们年老之后也喜欢收藏东西，不过是出
于两个不同的原因：一是体力、精力均不佳，这二者是清除无用的东西必不可少
的因素；另一个原因是感情因素。东西搁得时间久了，便会充满着与过去岁月的
联系，比方说与死去的亲戚有关。因此这些东西慢慢获得了一种超出它本身的价
值。
Notes:
1 in the belief that，这个介词短语在句子中作谓语动词 leave 的状语。
2 those very things ，就是那些东西，very 在这里起强调作用，可译作“正是那个
（些）ℽ, ℼ正是所要的”。
3 for two other reasons，lack of physical and mental energy，… and sentiment，在这
个句子中，lack of…和 sentiment 是两个并列的成分，作 reasons 的同位语，而 both
of which…是 physical and mental energy 的非限定性定语从句。
4 beyond their true worth，超过它们的实际价值。
Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste.
Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel
has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. Collecting small items can
easily become a mania. I know someone who always cuts sketches out from
newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money. As she
is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote;
but she is never sufficiently strong-minded to be able to stop the practice. It is a
harmless habit, but it litters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it;
loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.
居家度日，有目的地收藏某些东西是为了防止浪费。这些东西中我想举出线绳和
包装纸为例。节俭的人们打开包裹后便把这两样必备的东西收藏起来，省得日后
去买。收集小玩艺儿很容易着迷。我认识一个人，她总喜欢从报纸上剪下流行服
装的图样，等以后有钱时去买服装。由于她并不富裕，她买得起这些服装的可能
性十分渺茫。但她又缺乏足够坚强的意志把这一收集活动停下来。这种习惯无害，
只是把写字台里堆得满满当当，以致每次打开抽屉总能带出许多纸片四处飞扬。
Notes:
5 to such an extent that，达到了这样的程度， that 后面的从句作 extent 的同位语。
Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides
relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy. One does
not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home.
Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books, china, glass, antique
furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always something to
do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition, to
verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen
subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it. There are also
other benefits. One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, to compare
notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find. So one's circle of friends grows.
Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip
abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country.
Over the years, one may well become an authority on one's hobby and will very
probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to
larger audiences. In this way self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject,
then from being able to talk about it. Collecting, by occupying spare time so
constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.
作为一种严肃的业余爱好的收藏活动完全是另外一回事，它具有许多益处。它可
以使人在闲暇中得到休息，因为欣赏自己收藏的珍品总会充满了乐趣。人们不必
走到户外去寻求娱乐，因为收藏品都是存放在家中。不管收藏品是什么，邮票、
唱片、头版书籍、瓷器、玻璃杯、老式家具、绘画、模型汽车、鸟类标本，还是
玩具动物，从为新增添的收藏品寻找摆放位置到核对参考书中的事实，总归有事
可做。这种爱好不仅能使人从选择的专题中受到教育，而且也能从与之有关的一
般事物中获得长进。除此之外，还有其他的益处。收藏者要会见情趣相投的收藏
者，以获取教益、交流经验、交换收藏品、炫耀自己的最新收藏。朋友的圈子就
这样不断扩太。用不了多久，有这种爱好的人便开始旅行，也许是去另一个城市
参加会议，也可能是出国寻找一件珍品，因为收藏家是不分国籍的。一人积了多
年经验会成为自己这种爱好的权威，很可能应邀在小型集会上作非正式的讲话。
如果讲得好，可能向更多的人发表演说。这样，你自信心不断增强，先是因为掌
握了一门学问，接下来是因为能够就此发表见解。收藏活动通过富有建设性地利
用业余时间使人感到心满意足，不再有无聊之日。
Notes:
6 as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy，因为欣赏自己收藏的珍品总会充
满了乐趣。 as 是连词，引导原因状语从句。
7 have some bearing on it，与它有关。
59.2【阅读理解】Collecting
Step 2: Comprehension questions.
1 What do people tend to amass? (Possessions.)
2 Are they always aware they are doing so? (No, they aren't.)
3 Do people who never move house become indiscriminate collectors? (Yes, they do.)
4 What do they become collectors of? (Clutter)
5 Where do they leave unwanted things? (In drawers, cupboards and attics.)
6 Why do people accumulate belongings as they grow old? (Because of the lack of
energy, and sentiment.)
7 Things that we have owned for a long time are full of something. What?
(Associations with the past)
8 Why are some things in the home collected deliberately? (To avoid waste.)
9 What things do some people keep, for example, when they have opened a parcel?
(String and brown paper.)
10 Can collecting small items become a mania? (Yes, it can.)
11 The author knows someone who cuts sketches from newspapers. Sketches of what?
(Model clothes that she would like to buy.)
12 Why doesn’t she stop doing it? (She isn’t strong-minded enough.)
13 It’s a harmless habit, but what does it do to her desk? (It litters it up.)
14 Does serious collecting have many advantages as a hobby? (Yes, it does.)
15 What does it provide for leisure hours? (Relaxation.)
16 Whatever your collection consists of, what are two things you can always do? (You
can find the right place for the latest addition or verify facts in a reference book.)
17 Do you increase your circle of friends by collecting? (Yes, you do.)
18 How? (By meeting other collectors, getting advice, comparing notes, and so on.)
19 Does collecting ever lead to travel abroad? (Yes, it does.)
20 What might happen if you become an authority on your hobby? (You will probably
be asked to give talks on it.)
59.3【拓展写作】Collecting
Step 3: Composition
Write a composition on the following subject; the length should be between 250 and
350 words.
• Write a short story beginning ‘There was a knock on the window ...’
Key to composition
Title: The knock on the window
Introduction: There was a knock on the window —hardly noticeable—branch on oak
tree?
Development: House stands on its own — countryside — lonely — few neighbours —
don't see each other
Heard blowing of wind—noise of traffic from main road
Conclusion: Looked out —no one there—came back in—knock on window—louder
—heart pounding—little girl from down the lane
Composition
There was a knock on the window. At first it was hardly noticeable, almost as if a
branch on the large oak tree outside had brushed against the window. It was repeated,
and then there was silence.
I got up and looked out of the window. I couldn't see anybody and my dog hadn't
started barking. It was mid-afternoon, about three o'clock and I had been listening to
the radio and reading a book. The house stands on its own, down the end of a long
lane in the middle of the countryside, so it is very lonely. I have few neighbours, but
the neighbours I have are very good, even though we don't see each other very often.
I had got so nervous recently that I had to summon up enough courage to unlock
the front door and go outside. There was no one there. True, there was a light breeze
and the wind was shaking the branches of the oak tree, but the only other sound was
the noise of the traffic on the main road a mile away. For one moment I thought I saw
someone hiding behind the fence, but nothing moved, so I thought I must be wrong.
I came back in and settled down by the fire with my book. Then there was a
knock on the window, this time louder. It was a real knock with a human hand, no
doubt about it — well, certainly not the branch of a tree and my heart started
pounding. I looked up and there, outside the window, was the little girl from down the
lane. Her mother had sent her down to see if I was all right, and she had decided to
play a trick on me!
(292 words)
课外练习：
1 What differentiates the indiscriminate collector from the serious one?
(a) What he collects is only of personal rather than communal interest.
(b) He lacks the physical and mental energy to go out and about.
(c) His possessions are varied but over the years they gain in value.
(d) He confines his collection to the home and therefore does not travel.
2 The author's friend is typical of the indiscriminate collector in that .
(a) she keeps newspapers in the hope that one day they may come in useful
(b) she collects sketches of clothes to save herself the cost of buying them
(c) she is too narrow-minded to be able to stop a sentimental practice
(d) she never gets round to sorting out the clutter she has accumulated
3 The serious collector can spend his leisure time .
(a) at home, as his collection is sufficient entertainment in itself
(b) at the same time as looking joyfully at his treasures
(c) educating himself and others by verifying facts in reference books
(d) occupying himself by constructing a house for his collection
4 belongings people accumulate. There are two reasons for this ...
(a) As they get older more
(b) In getting older there are more
(c) Only when they get older, do more
(d) The older they get the more
5 in the home in an attempt to avoid waste.
(a) People deliberately collect
(b) People deliberately collect some things
(c) People collect deliberately
(d) People collect deliberately some things
6 - but it litters up her desk that every time she opens it…
(a) so far
(b) as long as
(c) in as much
(d) so much
7 - something to do, from finding the right place the latest addition to ...
(a) where he puts
(b) in order to put
(c) for to put
(d) to put
8 - and then, if successful, to larger audiences.
(a) they will be
(b) one is
(c) it has been
(d) they were
9 Some things are collected in the home so as to avoid waste.
(a) systematically
(b) intentionally
(c) purposefully
(d) organizationally
10 Collecting as a serious hobby is and has many advantages.
(a) altogether separate
(b) rather unlike
(c) fairly diverse
(d) very distinguished
11- the right place for the latest addition to facts in reference books.
(a) insuring
(b) certifying
(c) identifying
(d) checking
12 - but also in general matters which .
(a) stand up to it
(b) relate to it
(c) bear it out
(d) carry it off
答案：1a 2d 3a 4d 5b 6d 7d 8b 9b 10a 11d 12b