關於英語報紙的學習資料：傑出女性

Rita Dove

The poet Rita Dove (1952-) is the first African-American to become poet Laureate (桂冠詩人) of the United States (1993-1995). But that was only one of many positions held by this talented author and teacher. Besides poetry, she has written dramas, short stories and a novel.

Still, it’s as a poet that Dove is best known. Her poetry often vividly recreates the lives of real people, both figures from her own family and others. Her book Thomas and Beulah (1986) is about her own grandmother and grandfather.

Dove has very often placed the lives of Africans in other parts of the world at the heart of her work. She has been concerned with what is called the African diaspora. That means the “spread” of a people away from their original continental home. Because of slavery this was the fate of many African-Americans. It has had a mighty (巨大的) effect on later generations. Her most famous work Sonata Mulattica: A Life in Five Movements and a Short Play (2009) reflects Dove’s interest in the African diaspora.

It is a highly ambitious (雄心勃勃的) piece of writing about a fascinating historical figure, George Bridgetower. Bridgetower was a part African-Caribbean, part German, part Polish musician who was a friend of Ludwig Van Beethoven. He originally dedicated (致敬) an orchestral (交響樂的) work to Bridgetower. Not much is known about him, and therefore Dove had to mostly imagine his life. She was fascinated by the connection between a partly black musician and the famous German composer. To most people, European classical music is a very “white” kind of music. This figure – a highly trained black musician in a very white and certainly racist (種族歧視的) culture – was appealing to Dove.

Dove has also been a controversial figure. She edited a book of American poetry and left outmany poets who others see as central to the tradition. That offended many of her fellow poets and academics (學者). Still, Dove’s career has been of remarkable, and continuousachievement.

Eileen Collins

Although she’s never walked on a runway with models in a fancy dress, Eileen Collins isreferred to by many as “Miss Universe”. That’s because Collins (1956-) is an astronaut and NASA’s first female shuttle pilot and mission commander.

Until quite recently, the profession of astronaut was one you’d only find men in. There seemed to be little possibility of entry for females. For female astronauts therefore, Collins is a pioneer.

Astronauts are highly qualified people with mainly scientific backgrounds. Collins’ educational career in mathematics and, especially, space systems management were a great aid in her selection.

In 1995, she piloted the Discovery shuttle during a flight to the Russian space station. Four years later, she headed a shuttle mission aboard Columbia.

(shuttle來往於兩地之間的航班(或班車、火車)

mission太空飛行任務 mission accomplished used when you have successfully completed what you have had to do 任務已完成)

Collins’ history shows a record of determination and achievement. Becoming an astronaut is not something that happens overnight. It takes years, even decades, of preparation. Since the job requires great responsibility, this is hardly surprising.

But to understand the roots of Collins’ love of piloting, we have to go back to her childhood. Collins knew from a very young age that she belonged in the skies. She grew up in Elmira in New York state, a town with a significant flight history. The first US national gliding (滑行) contest was held there in 1930.

As a small girl, Collins was fascinated by gliders, and later by a television show about space travel, her mother said.

Collins’ passion was also helped by books on the flight-pioneering Wright brothers. Starting at age 16, Collins took on small jobs and started saving. Three years later, she hadsaved up enough money to accomplish her dream of learning to fly.

Collins said she was actually quite shy, but the call from the sky was stronger. When the US Air Force opened its doors to female pilots in 1978, the young woman applied and started her training as a military pilot.

In 1990, NASA hired Collins as an astronaut. Her team described her as humble (謙卑的'), despite all her achievements.

Her parents agree. “She is very down-to-earth. She is thoughtful. Nobody handed her anything. Everything she is today, she’s earned,” her mother said.

TASK 1

詞彙學習：

描述人的話題詞彙：

is very down-to-earth. She is thoughtful.

2. Collins’ history shows a record of determination and achievement

3. Astronauts are highly qualified people with mainly scientific backgrounds.

4. Still, Dove’s career has been of remarkable, and continuous achievement.

5. Dove has also been a controversial figure.

6. It is a highly ambitious (雄心勃勃的) piece of writing about a fascinating historical figure。

7. Dove has very often placed the lives of Africans in other parts of the world at the heart of her work. She has been concerned with what is called the African diaspora.

8. She has always been very straightforward and tough.

9. Someone drawing up a list of the greatest athletes in the world would surely reserve a high place for US tennis star Serena Williams

10. Although she’s had her ups and downs since that time, it’s always been clear that she’s a special player.

11. If you look at the facts of Sheryl Sandberg’s (1969-) career, it would seem that she’s made effortless progress from being top of the class in high school to academic brilliance at Harvard to the height of the business world.

12. She has suffered great sadness in her life as well as enjoyed success.

詞彙復現、熟詞生義、詞性轉化學習：

a small girl, Collins was fascinated by gliders, and later by a television show about space travel, her mother said.

was fascinated by the connection between a partly black musician and the famous German composer.

3. It is a highly ambitious (雄心勃勃的) piece of writing about a fascinating historical figure, George Bridgetower.

4. Equality between men and women seems to be the ideal she thinks we should aspire to (嚮往)

5. Sandberg also has her critics. Many say that her criticism of sexism is fine, but she pays attention only to powerful and wealthy women.

句式學習：

1. Still, it’s as a poet that Dove is best known.

2. Not much is known about him, and therefore Dove had to mostly imagine his life.

【本文作者：徐州七中 彭向梅 。(公眾號：草根英語行思教)】

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