人教版八年级下册英语Unit8Unit 8 Have you read Treasure Islan

LittleWomenIn1868,LouisaMayAlcottwrotethebookLittleWomen.Itisastoryoffourgirlswhoovercomeplentyoftroubleintheirlifeandbecomemature.ShewrotethestorytotherequestofThomasNiles,Louisa'spublisher,whowantedagirls’story.Thisnovelwaspublishedin1869,andmorethan13,000copiesweresoldimmediately.Thenovelwasbasedonherownexperiences.LouisaMayAlcottwasbornonNovember29,1832inGermantown,Pennsylvania. ShehasthreesistersAnna,Elizabeth,andMaywerealleducatedbytheirfatherBronsonAlcott. LouisawastheseconddaughterofAbigail,andBronson. BronsonwasateacherandwasraisedbyaChristianfamily. Shestartedtakingonmanyjobswhenshewasayoungteen.LouisahadgreatsuccesswithLittleWomen.LouisaMayLouisaMayAlcottendedupdyingattheageof56,leavingalargeamountofliteraturebookstoall.LittleWomenisastorybasedonthefactoftheauthor’slife.IttellsastoryoftheMarchsisters:Meg,Jo,BethandAmy.Theirfatherisawayfightinginthewar,theylivewiththeirmother.Mrs.Marchistheauthorityofthefamily.Sheattachesimportancetotheeducationofthegirlteachesthemmanypreciousvirtues.Althoughtheyarepoor,shestillhelpspeoplewhoarepoorer.Forinstance,inchapterone,shetellsherchildrenthereisafamilywhoisstarvingandasksgirlsiftheycangivetheirbreakfastaspresentstothepoorfamily.Megistheeldestoneinthefamily,shehasasweetandpiousnature,whichunconsciouslyinfluencedhersisters,especiallyJo,wholovedherverytenderly,andobeyedherbecauseheradvicewassogentlygiven.Butshealsohassmallvanities,atlastshecorrectsitandmarriesamanwhoisnotrichbutlovesherverymuch.Inchapternine,Meggoestovanityfair.MegleavesthefamilyforafortnightandstayswiththeMoffats.WhilestayingwiththesegirlsMegisintroducedintothelifeofayounglady.Sheattendsdinners,goestothetheaterandtriesonmanynewairs.Meg,however,isashamedthatherfamilyispoorandthatshecannotaffordanewdressliketheothergirls.TheMoffatsdressMegupforaballandMegplacesherselfondisplay.LaurieattendsthepartyandisnotpleasedwithMeg'sappearanceorbehavior.WhenMegreturnshomesheconfessestohermotherthatshewasmadetolookfoolishandthatmanygossipythingsweresaidaboutherandherfamily.Mrs.MarchtellsMegtonevermindthegossipandtobetruetoherselfbynotpretendingtobesomethingthatsheisnot.Meghasalessonandpromisesthatshewillnotbevainanymore.Amyisafairlady,shealwayswantstomarryarichman,andregardhersuccessfulmarriageasherobligationtoherfamily.Shethinkssheisselfish,andshefightsfortheshortcomingallthetime.SheusesherallmoneytobuyabigbottleastheChristmaspresentforhermotherbecausesheistrulytryingnottobeselfish.Andintheend,sherefusedFredandmarriedLauriewhoisnotasrichasFred.Sheknowsshewillnotmakeanameinpainting,shethinkssheneedtohelppeoplewhoaretalentedbutpoor.Bethisshy,kind,sensitiveandverygentle.Shenevermindsmakingsacrificeforothers.Sheisfondofmusic.Unfortunatelyshediedwhenshewasveryyoung.Jo,clearlyisthemaincharacterofthestory,shewasatomboyandhatedalltheprimandproperwaysoftheladies.Jowasverybluntandalwayssaidexactlywhatwasonhermind.JowastheonewhofirsthadenoughcouragetogoovertothefrighteninghousenextdoorandtalkwiththeLaurenceBoy.Johasanuncontrollabletemperthatcaneruptatanytime.ThisisquiteevidentonedaywhenAmyburnsoneofJo'smostpreciousbooksthatshewrotestoriesinandhadforyears.SheissooutragedthatshecannotevenlookAmyinthefaceandstormsoutofthehouse.JothenwatchesasAmyfollowsherandLaurieoutsidetoapondtogoice-skating.LauriewarnsJothattheiceisverythininthemiddle,butAmydoesnothearhimandproceedstoskateintothecenter.Jodoesnothingtostopher.Amyalmostdiedthatday,andJorealizedthatherselfishnessandangeralmostcostherownsister.Mrs.MarchthenteachesJohowtocontrolhertemper,andthatwasoneofthemostvaluablelessonssheeverlearned.Shelikesreadingverymuch,thelibraryofauntMarchandMr.Laurenceistheplacessheoftengoesto.Plentyofreadingisusefultoherwriting.Whenherfatheriswounded,shecutsherhairandsellsthemtoraisemoneyforhermother.Johastheabilitytoseethingsastheyare.Shecaresaboutherfamilyanddoeswhatevershecantohelpherfamiliestolivebetterlives.TheirneighborLaurieislonelyandshy.Jomakesfriendswithhimandmakeshimhappyandoutgoing.WhenheasksJotomarryhim,Jodoesnotaccepthimjustbecauseheisrich,sheanalyseseveryaspectofhersandhis,thinkingthattheyarenotmatchable.Suchsimilarthingstempergirls’volition,theyarewellonthewayofself-perfecting.WearealsoHavedifferentshortcomingsandneedtoconquerthem,thegirlsinthisbookaregoodmodelforus,rnomatterhowhardsituationsget,andnooneshouldevergiveup.Andinourlives,familyisthemostimportantthing.