Introduction: College English intensive reading is rich in content, interesting and enlightening. Let's share the contents of Lesson 8 of College English Intensive Reading Book 1 here. Welcome to study!

A little boy is faced with an impossible task: trying to soften the blow of bad news.

You go your way and I'll go mine.

The messenger got off the bike in front of Mrs Rosa Sandoval's house. He went to the door and tapped on the door. He knew that someone was in the house almost immediately. He can't hear anything, but he is sure that the knock on the door has brought someone to the door. He is most eager to see who this person will be-his woman's name is Rosa Sandoval, and she is now a hot spot of murder in the world and feels it in herself. The door hasn't been open for a long time, but the way it moves on the hinge is not in a hurry. The movement of the door is like, no matter who she is, she has nothing to fear in this world. Then the door opened and there she was.

For Homer, Mexican women are beautiful. He could see that she had been patient all her life, so after many years, there was always a gentle and holy smile on her mouth. But like all people who have never received a telegram, the messenger's appearance at the front door is full of terrible hints. Homer knew that Mrs Rosa Sandoval was shocked to see him. Her first word was the first word of all surprises. She said "Oh", as if she was not thinking of a messenger, but of opening the door for someone she had known for a long time and was willing to sit down and talk. Before she spoke again, she studied Homer's eyes, and Homer knew that she knew the information was unwelcome.

"Do you have a telegram?" She said.

It's not Homer's fault. His job is to send telegrams. Even so, in his view, he is part of the whole mistake. He felt embarrassed, as if he was the only one responsible for what happened. At the same time, he wanted to say bluntly, "I'm just a messenger, Mrs. Sandoval. I'm sorry I have to send you such a telegram, but it's only because it's my job."

"Who is it for?" The Mexican woman said.

"Mrs Rosa Sandoval, G Street 1 129." Homer said. He handed the telegram to the Mexican woman, but she wouldn't touch it.

"Are you Mrs. Sandoval?" Homer said.

"Please," said the woman. "Please come in. I can't read English. I'm Mexican. I only read La Prensa from Mexico City. " She paused for a moment and watched the boy standing awkwardly as close to the door as possible, still staying in the room.

"Excuse me," she said, "what does the telegram say?"

"Mrs. Sandoval," said the messenger, "the telegram says-"

But now this woman interrupted him. "But you must open the telegram and read it to me," she said. "You haven't opened it yet."

"Yes, madam," Homer said, as if he were talking to a school teacher who had just corrected him.

He opened the telegram with nervous fingers. The Mexican woman bent down to pick up the torn envelope and tried to flatten it. As she walked, she said, "Who sent the telegram-my son Juan Domingo?"

"No, madam." Homer said. "The telegram was sent by the War Department."

"War Department?" The Mexican woman said.

"Mrs. Sandoval," Homer said quickly, "your son is dead. Maybe it's a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, Mrs. Sandoval. Maybe it's not your son. Maybe someone else. The telegram said it was Juan Domingo. But maybe the telegram is wrong. "

Mexican women pretended not to hear.

"Oh, don't be afraid," she said. "Come on in. Come on in. I'll bring you candy. " She grabbed the boy by the arm, took him to the table in the middle of the room and sat him there.

"All boys like candy," she said. "I'll bring you candy." She went into another room and soon came back with an old chocolate candy box. She opened the box at the table and Homer saw a strange candy in it.

"Here it is," she said. "Eat this candy. All boys like candy. "

Homer took a piece of candy from the box, put it in his mouth and tried to chew it.

"You won't give me a bad telegram," she said. "You are a good boy-just like my little juanito when he was a child. Have another piece. " She asked the messenger to take another piece of candy.

Homer sat there chewing dry candy while the Mexican woman was talking. "This is our own candy," she said. "It comes from cactus. I made it for my juanito when he came home, but you ate it. You are also my child. "

Now she suddenly began to sob and control herself, as if crying was a shame. Homer wanted to get up and run away, but he knew he would stay. He even thought that he might stay for the rest of his life. He just doesn't know what else to do to make this woman less unhappy. If she asks him to replace her son, he won't be able to refuse because he doesn't know how to refuse. He stood up, as if he stood up to start correcting things that could not be corrected, and then he realized how stupid this idea was and became more embarrassed. He said over and over again in his mind, "What can I do? What the hell can I do? I am just a messenger. "

New words become soft

Verb (abbreviation of verb) (make) soft or soft; (make) moderate

tragical

A. I am very sad and unfortunate; Of or relating to tragedy; tragical

Messenger; messenger

A person employed to deliver telegrams, letters or packages.

gently

Advertising. gently

immediately

A. immediately

at once

a.

longing

A. characterized by strong interest or impression, desire and eagerness

key

key

anyone/anybody

No matter how fast. Whoever it is.

holy

A. like a saint; As sacred as a saint; divine

meaning

meaning

suggestion

transitive verb

shock

Surprise (sb).

transmit

The transitive verb takes (something). ) to its esp place. Something. It's not easy to send, send

clumsy

A. embarrassing

reliable

A. the reason for doing or becoming esp. Something. Bad (responsible)

Mexican

N & ampa. Mexican; Mexicans (humans)

expand

stretch?out

discontinue

A short pause

suspend

Stop (someone). By interrupting (someone's speech)

tense；nervous

A. neuroticism; Tense; tense；nervous

Madam

Madam (used as a direct address), madam, miss.

smooth

Make smooth or smooth. ...

department

Department; tie

promptly

Quickly, quickly; rapidly

fast

a.

Chocolate

Chocolate (sugar)

chew

Transitive verbs chew (food) with the teeth.

cactus

cactus

sob

Intransitive verbs cry with short breaths; sob

shame

Shame; A disgraced person (or thing)

unhappy

A. unhappy

hell

hell

Phrases and phrases. hear about

Understand or receive information about hearing.

Be responsible for ...

It is the cause of ... ...

Come out (with)

Speak out loud and clear.

eliminate

sleek

Control yourself

Control one's feelings

replace

Replace, replace, replace

Find the feeling

erect

again and again

Often, repeatedly, repeatedly

The proper name is Rosa Sandoval

Rosa Sandoval

Homer

Homer

Mexico City

Mexico City (the capital of Mexico)

Juan Domingo

Juan Domingo

War department

War Department (formerly known as)

Juanito

Juanito (nickname of Juan)

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