新概念英语第三册课文Lesson 1：A Puma at LargeTextA farmer in Puerto Rico had a strange experience. He was walking through a field one day when he realized that a huge puma was following him. The farmer was very frightened and tried to escape. He suddenly saw an old man who was working in the field. The farmer ran to the old man and told him about the puma. ‘Ah,’ said the old man, ‘he** won’t hurt you. He is old and almost blind. He is no longer a danger to anyone.’ ’But sir,’ said the farmer, ‘I’m afraid of** him.’ ‘Then take my advice,’ said the old man. ‘Don’t run away. Just keep on walking steadily towards him whenever you see him. Show him that you are not afraid and he will never attack you.’ The following day the farmer was walking through the field with a friend. Once again, the puma was behind him. The farmer followed the old man’s advice and didn’t run away. When the puma was only a few yards away, it suddenly jumped to one side and disappeared into the bushes.ExplanationThis lesson tells the story of a farmer in Puerto Rico who encounters a puma while walking through a field. Initially frightened, the farmer seeks help from an old man working in the field. The old man assures the farmer that the puma, being old and almost blind, poses no harm to him.Des pite his fear, the farmer follows the old man’s advice not to run away from the puma but to walk steadily towards it whenever he sees it. The next day, accompanied by a friend, the farmer once again encounters the puma. This time, he demonstrates his fearlessness by calmly walking towards the puma. Surprisingly, the puma jumps to one side and disappears into the bushes, leaving the farmer unharmed.This lesson highlights the importance of overcoming fear and facing challenges head-on. It suggests that by confidently confronting our fears, we can often find that they hold less power over us than we initially believed.Lesson 2: A close shaveTextOne day in 1902, in a small town in the west of England, a young woman made a phone call to the local police. She said that she had just seen a big grey animal with a long tail. It had come out of a wood and was running across a field. The woman added that it looked like a huge cat. The police didn’t take her seriously and said that a cat as big as a cow was impossible. But the woman insisted that she was right. ‘It may be a puma,’ she said. ‘There’s a zoo near here and one of the pumas has** escaped. I am absolutely certain that what I saw was a puma.’ The police still didn’t believe her, until the following day when a bus driver saw the animal. He** saw** it in the afternoon and it was only a few miles away from the town. Two days later, there were two more sightings of the puma. Then a farmer in a village ten miles away saw it one evening and others saw it too. The police now had proof that there was a puma in the area. They asked the army to help them find the animal. Soldierswith guns were brought to the town and the police were given orders to shoot the puma on sight. The poor puma didn’t stand a chance.ExplanationIn this lesson, a young woman in a small town in the west of England reports seeing a big grey animal with a long tail. She describes the animal as resembling a huge cat. However, the local police dismiss her claims, considering a cat of that size to be impossible.Undeterred, the woman suggests that the animal could be an escaped puma from a nearby zoo. The police remain skeptical until the following day when a bus driver also spots the animal a few miles from the town. Subsequently, there are several more sightings of the puma, including by a farmer in a nearby village.With mounting evidence, the police seek assistance from the army to locate and capture the puma. Orders are given to shoot the animal on sight. Unfortunately, the puma’s fate is sealed a s the armed forces are called in to deal with the situation.This lesson highlights the danger of jumping to conclusions and dismissing others’ claims without proper investigation. It also provides insight into the challenges that arise when dealing with potentially dangerous animals in a public setting.Lesson 3: A new houseText‘We are moving to the country,’ said Mother. ‘It is much better for children to grow up in the country than in a town. We are not so near the shops there,’ said Mother, ‘so we sha ll not be able to get things so easily.’ ‘That will be nice, Mummy,’ said Jane. ‘Nice, but** expensive,’ said Father. ‘We shall have room for hens and pigs and ducks,’ said Jane. ‘That will be fun.’ Last week Father found a house for us. It is small, but comfortable, and it stands in a garden. In the garden, there is a large tree with** thick leaves**. Under the tree, my mother wants to put a table and some chairs. She wants to serve tea under the tree in the summer. My mother wants to have tea under the tr ee, but I don’t want to. All sorts of things fall from the tree, things like caterpillars and snails. I don’t want caterpillars in my tea. Mother said, ‘Don’t be silly, Jane. Caterpillars won’t fall into the teapot.’ExplanationLesson 3 describes a family’s decision to move from the town to the country. The mother believes that living in the country will be better for the children’s upbringing. However, the father expresses concern about the increased expenses of living in a rural area.The family finds a small but comfortable house with a garden. In the garden stands a large tree with thick leaves. Jane, the daughter, envisions the garden becoming home to hens, pigs, and ducks, providing fun for the family.However, Jane is hesitant about her mother’s plan to serve tea under the tree in the summer. She worries that things like caterpillars and snails may fall from the tree and into the tea.Her mother dismisses her concerns, assuring her that caterpillars will not fall into the teapot.This lesson emphasizes the differences in perspective between children and adults and captures the relatable experience of having unique concerns and anxieties about seemingly ordinary situations.ConclusionThe third volume of the New Concept English series covers interesting and diverse lessons, ranging from encounters with dangerous animals to the excitement and challenges of moving to a new house. Each lesson offers a unique perspective and explores different themes, allowing learners to expand their English language skills while immersing themselves in engaging and thought-provoking content.With its carefully structured texts and comprehensive explanations, the New Concept English series continues to be a valuable resource for English language learners seeking to improve their reading, comprehension, and vocabulary skills.。
