Before the War

河南 陳志強

Step 1 感知·閱讀導航

話 題 導 入

閱讀目標

1.了解小說的三要素：人物、情節(jié)和環(huán)境。理解環(huán)境描寫在小說中的多重作用。

2.掌握小說情節(jié)的起因、發(fā)展、高潮和結局；了解小說推進故事情節(jié)的方法并理解小說情節(jié)對刻畫人物形象所起的作用。

3.掌握小說的寫作手法，把握小說的語言風格，并理解二者與小說主題的關系。

4.探究小說的主題意義，并對人類的局限性進行反思，培養(yǎng)批判性思維能力。

《大戰(zhàn)火星人》（The War of the Worlds）又名《星際戰(zhàn)爭》，是英國著名科幻小說作家赫伯特·喬治·威爾斯的作品。小說描寫了火星人入侵地球的過程。小說故事發(fā)生在大英帝國建立了龐大殖民地、稱霸世界的19世紀末期，火星人從天而降，在倫敦附近著陸，拉開了征服地球戰(zhàn)爭的序幕。人類以機槍大炮面對火星人的先進武器——“熱光”和“黑煙”。幾十個火星人以雷霆萬鈞之勢，所向披靡，在短短幾天時間里就打得英國軍隊落花流水，致使政府、制度、社會土崩瓦解。然而，火星人尚未徹底征服地球，滅頂之災就悄然向它們襲來。令人啼笑皆非的是，它們的克星竟是地球上最卑微、最渺小的生物——細菌。通過這次教訓，人類不再相信自己是這個宇宙中唯一的智慧生靈。

《大戰(zhàn)火星人》不僅以超前的思想“創(chuàng)造”了激光和機器人等尖端機器，還通過該作品暗中極大地批評英國等列強通過對弱國進行侵略來實現殖民主義的無恥暴行。

本節(jié)講述的是戰(zhàn)爭前夕的故事。全文731詞，建議用時13分鐘。

It would have seemed impossible to anyone living at the end of the nineteenth century to think that the earth was being scientifically observed by highly intelligent creatures on another planet.At that time, men went about their days as usual,thinking themselves completely safe and in control.The chances of other life existing on nearby planets were thought extremely small;and it was popularly believed that,if such life did exist,it would probably be less intelligent than man.Yet,soon,man would awaken from this false dream,for the beings that lived on Mars，otherwise known as Martians,wanted the earth for themselves and were making preparations to take it.

The planet Mars is much older than the earth.Although we know little about the planet,we do know that most of its natural resources are nearly gone.Its oceans are disappearing,its air is without oxygen, and its temperatures are extremely low.Those living on Mars have been forced to do what people on earth would do if they were in the same situation:look for a new home.

How attractive the earth must then look to them with all of its oceans and greenery;and how stupid and simple we humans must seem.When you consider the importance of survival to all living beings,from man to the lowest form of life,it can be understood that the Martians had no choice but to attack our planet and take it from us.Yet,today,when people look back on the Martian attack,six years ago,many still think of the Martians as evil.But have humans not done the same kinds of things to animals and even to other human beings?If one were to consider how the natives of New Zealand were almost all killed by the Europeans,it would not seem so beyond human understanding.

For years,the Martians made their preparations right under the noses of our scientists,who,although constantly observing,could not see Mars clearly enough through their instruments.In 1894,an observatory reported seeing a flash of light on the red planet.Looking back at that,I can only guess that that was the time they put their huge gun in place.Then,just six years ago,a scientist in Java reported that a large burst of fiery gas had been released from Mars and was coming towards earth.Very few people,however,paid much attention to the discovery.One of the people who did was my friend,Ogilvy.He was so excited by the news that he invited me to join him in his observatory the next evening.

I remember looking through his telescope and thinking about how much space was out there between the stars and planets.Just between the earth and Mars lay tens of millions of miles.The red planet looked so small,like the head of a pen.Then I caught sight of something,a flash of light.I told Ogilvy,and he took my place at the telescope.It was another burst of fire from Mars.He explained that it was probably large pieces of rock from space hitting the surface of the planet.I,of course,had no idea what it was and just remember wishing I had a cigarette to smoke.The night was so quiet and peaceful.No one had any idea of the terrible danger that was coming straight for them in the night's silence.

Over the next ten days,a burst occurred each day at midnight.Soon,the newspapers started to take more interest in the volcanoes of Mars.No one was willing to believe the idea that it might be someone or something trying to communicate with us from another planet.Ogilvy was even completely against the idea.

It is almost humorous and wonderful to remember how man carried out his daily life just before the Martians arrived. I, for example, was learning how to ride a bicycle and was writing some philosophical papers on “right and wrong in the modern world”.I remember taking a walk with my wife and teaching her about the different patterns of stars in the sky.I even showed her which planet was Mars.There was a group of young people playing the guitar and singing.The sound of the nearby train could be heard,which was slowly moving along its tracks.The world felt very calm and peaceful.

目標呈現

Ⅰ. Fast-reading

1．For the main idea

What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Why man thought nothing of the Martians．

B．What the author experienced before the war．

C．Why the Martians decided to invade the earth．

D．What happened before the war between the Martians and man．

2．For the key information

3．For the structure

Step 2 理解·文本解讀

Ⅱ. Careful-reading

1．For the settings of the war

（1）What did man on the earth think of the creatures beyond the earth?

（2）What situation were the Martians faced with before the war?And what would they do?

（3）What did the Martians think of the earth?

（4）What was the fundamental reason for the Martians to attack and occupy the earth?

2.For the plot of the novel

【點石成金】閱讀小說時，應充分關注小說中的“LOCK 系統(tǒng)”?！癓OCK 系統(tǒng)”的各個要素分別為：L代表主角（Lead），O 代表目標（Objective），C 代表沖突（Confrontation），而K 代表沖擊結尾（Knockout）。這可以概括為一個公式：故事情節(jié)=主角+目標+沖突+沖擊結尾。閱讀本章節(jié)時應時時關注小說中兩大沖突主角的行為，即火星人和地球人的行為。關注小說以時間為順序進行敘述，推進故事情節(jié)的手法。在把握故事情節(jié)的過程中，還應注意將兩者的行為進行對比，為推測小說的后續(xù)情節(jié)做好鋪墊，從而明白小說的結局，即火星人戰(zhàn)勝地球人具有其必然性。

3.For the information about“Ⅰ”

Clues in the novel What I did My characteristic（s）T li h gh e t M on a r tt hi a en s re g da p v le a no ef f t i a n f 1l a 8s 9h 4 .o f（1） （2）Six years ago,a large burst of fiery gas was released from Mars and（3） （4）was coming towards earth.T ri h v e e i M n a tr ht ei a n ea s rt w he.re about to ar-（（5 6））（7）

【點石成金】小說以第一人稱推進故事發(fā)展，使得情節(jié)的敘述更加真實。小說中的“我”是星際戰(zhàn)爭的見證者、親歷者和反思者。把握“我”的行為，有助于理解小說的主題意義，推動學生批判性思維能力的形成。通過對“我”的行為的掌握，學生可以為后續(xù)的縮寫進行有效鋪墊。

Ⅲ. Post-reading

1.For the characteristics of the Martians and man

Characters （Possible）Clues Possible characteristic（s）For years,the Martians made their preparations. （1）the MartiansI a n f l 1 a8 s h 9 4 o,f t lh i g e hy t p ou nt tt hh ee i rr e dh u pg le a ng eu t.n in place,giving off（2）Man refused to believe that the earth was being scientifically observed by highly intelligent creatures on（3）another planet.Man thought that the chances of other creatures existing on nearby planets were extremely small and（4）they would probably be less intelligent than man.Very few people paid much attention to the scientists'Mand le i as c se o dv e f r ry o mt h a Mt a a r sl a ar ng de wb u as rs c t o o mf i f ni e gr y to w ga a s r dh sa e d a rb te he.n re-（5）No one was willing to believe the idea that a burst o so c mc u er tr hi in ng g e ta r y c ih n gd a t o y ca ot m m mi d un ni ig ch at t em w ig it h ht ub se f s ro o mm e ao nn oe t ho-r（6）er planet.●Man carried out his daily life as usual just before●A th e g rM o u a pr t oi a f n ys o ua nr r gi v pe ed o.ple were playing the guitar and（7）singing.

2.For role experience

（1）Suppose you are man on the earth,what would you think of the Martians?What would you say to man?And what would you do to man?Why?

（2）Suppose you are Martian,what would you do before the war?Would you persuade your race to give up the war against the earth?And what would you say to man?

3.For critical thinking

（1）What did the novelist think of the war against man from the Martians?Find out the clues in the novel.

（2）What is your opinion about the war against man from the Martians?Share it with your classmates.

Step 3 運用·讀寫整合

Summary writing

Write a summary of the novel in the first person.Your summary should be about 60 words.The following key words may be helpful to you:

【點石成金】小說的概要寫作應抓住三要素：人物、情節(jié)和環(huán)境。在敘述小說的情節(jié)時，應考慮敘述的順序，凸顯小說情節(jié)的起因、發(fā)展、高潮和結局。同時，還應注意，在縮寫時語言要高度概括，不要穿插小說中的細節(jié)和不重要的情節(jié)。

Step 4 提升·素養(yǎng)建構

Writing techniques

1.旁敲側擊的satire（諷刺）

satire（諷刺）意為“a way of criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way,or a piece of writing or play that uses this style”（Cambridge Dictionary）。諷刺常用委婉的詞語來論述、評價事物或人物，或采用拐彎抹角、旁敲側擊、含沙射影的說法去暗示某人，或某些有損榮譽的事，以免引起諷刺對象的傷感與不快。satire（諷刺）旨在嘲弄，以求達到一種生動活潑、幽默風趣的語言效果。

Clues Deep meaning（s）But have humans not done the same kinds of things to animals and even to other human beings?If one were to consider how the natives ofIt was evil/unjust of the UK New Zealand were almost all killed by the Europeans,it would notto colonize New Zealand.seem so beyond human understanding.It is almost humorous and wonderful to remember how man carried outMan was very stupid and his daily life just before the Martians arrived.wretched.

2.豐富多樣的description（描寫）

Clues Types●At that time,men went about their days as usual,thinking themselves completely safe and in control.●...and it was popularly believed that,if such life did exist,it would probably be less intelligent than man.Psychological description●No one was willing to believe the idea that it might be someone or something trying to communicate with us from another planet.●The night was so quiet and peaceful.●The sound of the nearby train could be heard,which was slowlyEnvironmental description moving along its tracks.The world felt very calm and peaceful.●I was learning how to ride a bicycle and was writing some philosophical papers on“right and wrong in the modern world”.●I remember taking a walk with my wife and teaching her about theBehavior description different patterns of stars in the sky.I even showed her which planet was Mars.

【點石成金】小說中的描寫可以分為語言描寫、行為描寫、肖像描寫，以及環(huán)境描寫（包括自然環(huán)境描寫和社會環(huán)境描寫）等。小說中語言描寫和行為描寫可以折射出小說人物的特征，而環(huán)境描寫則可以起到交代故事背景、渲染氣氛、烘托心情、推動情節(jié)發(fā)展、深化主題等多種作用。描寫是小說的重要表現手法之一。同學們在平時的閱讀中要強化對小說中描寫語言的積累，以便為讀后續(xù)寫積累必要的語料，并學會在小說中嫻熟地運用描寫手法。

主題閱讀

社交媒體，說愛好難

主題感知·素養(yǎng)解讀

社交媒體是新型在線媒體，用戶能以文字、圖片、音頻和視頻等形式分享意見、觀點和經驗。其具有信息廣、傳播快、互動強和成本低的特點，為所有人搭建了一個平等、公開和透明的平臺。由此，社交媒體成為重要的信息源，并深刻而又全方位地改變著我們的生活。

在社交媒體上擁有自由發(fā)布信息的權利并不意味著人們可以對自己的言論不加約束，更不意味著人們可以對自己言論帶來的后果不負責任。遵守國家法規(guī)和道德規(guī)范，抵制虛假信息，傳播積極信息，是信息發(fā)布者必須做到的事情，而負責任地表達是每一個公民最基本的素養(yǎng)之一。

主題實踐·視角拓展

Reading focus

主題語境 社交媒體，說愛好難 主題視角Topic 1 History of social media:Then and now 社交媒體的歷史Topic 2 The social media drain 社交媒體的影響Topic 3 Frequent use of social media harms teenagers 社交媒體的危害Topic 4 Reflection on social media's responsibility after the attack 社交媒體的責任Topic 5Regulate social media?It's not as easy as it seems!社交媒體的監(jiān)管Topic 6Guardians of the Galaxy on social media個人社交媒體的安全