Ruthless Distant Education College, Jilin University 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions 2. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge 3. Text Analysis

Ruthless

Distant Education College, Jilin UniversityDistant Education College, Jilin University

1. Warm-up Questions

2. Background Knowledge

3. Text Analysis

4. Exercises

5. Questions For Discussion

Warm-up Questions


1. What does the word “ruthless” mean? Could you give some of its synonyms?

2. Who does the word “ruthless” refer to in this passage? Why do we say he was ruthless?

3. Did his plan work?

Return

Background Knowledge


New York City is the largest city in the U.S. It is divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond. (Pictures)

In 1626, the Dutch bought Manhattan from the Indians for what today would be the equivalent of $24, and named it New Amsterdam. In 1674, it became an English colony and was renamed New York. After the American Revolution, New York became the first capital of the United States. The city grew rapidly during the 19th century, thanks to the millions of immigrants who landed there. New York became one of the largest and most powerful cities in the western world and has at present a population of more than 8 million.

More

Background Knowledge


Modern New York is an exciting city. The architecture of Manhattan, with its soaring skyscrapers, is not soulless, as many foreigners imagine. The materials used — stainless steel, concrete and glass — give the buildings a striking beauty. The long avenues, broad and straight, lined with expensive stores and massive apartment houses, impress by their scale alone.

New York is an impressive city for those who love the arts. Its museums and numerous art galleries, its concerts, opera and ballet performed at Lincoln Center, and its theaters on and off Broadway, make it one of the world’s centers of the arts.

New York, of course, has other faces less attractive. The poor districts of the city have some of the worst slums in the U.S.A., and its crime rate is among the highest in the western world.

Return

Exercises


Return

1. True/False Questions

2. Multiple-choice Questions

3. Fill in the blanks and then translate

True/False Questions


Answer

1. Judson Webb works in New York City and lives in the countryside.

2. Judson was a man of high position. He had the power to make laws.

3. Judson planned to kill the thief by putting poison in the whiskey.

4. Unlike her husband, Helen was a kind woman.

5. Alec made Judson drink the poison whiskey in order to punish him.

6. Judson drank the poison whiskey and died from his own trap.



Answer

1. Judson Webb works in New York City and lives in the countryside. (F)

2. Judson was a man of high position. He had the power to make laws.







Answer


2. Judson was a man of high position. He had the power to make laws. (F)







Answer



3. Judson planned to kill the thief by putting poison in the whiskey. (T)






Answer




4. Unlike her husband, Helen was a kind woman. (T)





Answer





5. Alec made Judson drink the poison whiskey in order to punish him. (F)




Return





5. Alec made Judson drink the poison whiskey in order to punish him. (F)

6. Judson drank the poison whiskey and died from his own trap. (T)

Multiple-choice Questions


Answer

1. Judson Webb used to leave the city and go to the country in summer because_____.

A) he had a lovely cottage there

B) he could drink as much whiskey as he wished

C) he was eager to go fishing

D) he wanted to take good care of his big closet



Next

1. Judson Webb used to leave the city and go to the country in summer because_____. (A)

A) he had a lovely cottage there

B) he could drink as much whiskey as he wished

C) he was eager to go fishing

D) he wanted to take good care of his big closet



Answer

2. For Judson Webb life in the country seemed to be_____.

A) rather dull

B) very interesting

C) inviting in summer

D) uncivilized, compared with city life



Next

2. For Judson Webb life in the country seemed to be_____. (C)

A) rather dull

B) very interesting

C) inviting in summer

D) uncivilized, compared with city life



Answer

3. Judson’s face grew serious as he looked at the shelf on which he kept his whiskey because_____.

A) he found one bottle missing

B) he had already put tablets into one of the bottles

C) he found that someone had stolen one bottle of his whiskey

D) he was wondering what to do with his whiskey when he was away from his cottage



Next

3. Judson’s face grew serious as he looked at the shelf on which he kept his whiskey because_____. (D)

A) he found one bottle missing

B) he had already put tablets into one of the bottles

C) he found that someone had stolen one bottle of his whiskey

D) he was wondering what to do with his whiskey when he was away from his cottage



Answer

4. How did Helen react to her husband’s plan?

A) She was indifferent.

B) She encouraged her husband to poison the thief.

C) She tried to persuade her husband not to punish the thief so severely.

D) She did not dare try to persuade her husband.



Next

4. How did Helen react to her husband’s plan? (C)

A) She was indifferent.

B) She encouraged her husband to poison the thief.

C) She tried to persuade her husband not to punish the thief so severely.

D) She did not dare try to persuade her husband.



Answer

5. Which of the following statements is not mentioned in the story?

A) Judson Webb had two homes.

B) Judson mistreated his wife.

C) Judson Webb loved his personal property better than anything else in the world.

D) Judson Webb thought it right to punish burglary by death.



Next

5. Which of the following statements is not mentioned in the story? (B)

A) Judson Webb had two homes.

B) Judson mistreated his wife.

C) Judson Webb loved his personal property better than anything else in the world.

D) Judson Webb thought it right to punish burglary by death.



Answer

6. Which word best describes Judson?

A) Selfish.

B) Stingy.

C) Shy.

D) Coldhearted.



Next

6. Which word best describes Judson? (D)

A) Selfish.

B) Stingy.

C) Shy.

D) Coldhearted.



Answer

7. Judson Webb was killed by_____.

A) the caretaker of his cottage

B) the thief

C) his own ruthlessness

D) his own carelessness



Return

7. Judson Webb was killed by_____. (C)

A) the caretaker of his cottage

B) the thief

C) his own ruthlessness

D) his own carelessness

Questions for Discussion


Return

1. What kind of person was Judson Webb? Pick out sentences from the text that imply his ruthlessness.

2. The author ends the story by leaving things unsaid. What do you think happened to Judson in the end?

3. What would people say about Judson Webb when they learned the truth?

4. Imagine you had a house or an apartment in the country. What would you do to ensure that thieves did not break in?

Text Analysis


Next

Judson Webb put poison into a half full whiskey bottle in order to punish anyone who dared to steal a drink of it. Who eventually drank it? The thief…?

Judson Webb was an American businessman. He had a comfortable flat in New York but in the summer he used to leave the dusty city and go to the country. There he had a cottage which consisted of three rooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. In one of the rooms there was a big closet. He liked his cottage very much, especially his closet where he kept his guns, fishing-rods, wine and other things. It was his own closet and even his wife was not allowed to have a key, for Judson Webb loved his personal possessions and got very angry when anybody else touched them.

Text Analysis


It was autumn now and Judson was packing his things for the winter. In a few minutes he would be driving back to civilization—to New York.

As he looked at the shelf on which the whiskey stood his face was serious. All the bottles were unopened except one. It was placed invitingly in front with a whiskey glass by its side. The bottle was less than half full. As he took it from the shelf, Helen, his wife, spoke from the next room:

“I’ve packed everything. Hasn’t Alec come to run the water off and get the keys?”

Previous Next

Text Analysis


Alec lived nearby and acted as caretaker.

“He’s at the lake taking the boats out of the water. He said he’d be back in half an hour!”

Helen came into the room carrying her suitcase. She stopped and looked in surprise as she saw the bottle in her husband’s hand.

“Judson,” she exclaimed, “you’re not taking a drink at ten in the morning, are you?”

“No, my dear. I’m not taking anything out of the bottle. I am just putting something into it.” He took two small tablets out of his pocket and put them on the table. Then he opened the bottle.

Previous Next

Text Analysis


“The person who broke into my closet last winter and stole my whiskey will probably try to do it again while we are away,” he went on, “only this time he’ll be very sorry if he comes.”

Then one by one he dropped the tablets into the bottle and held it up to watch them dissolve. His wife looked at him in horror.

“What are they?” she asked him at last. “Will they make the man sick?”

“Not only sick. They will kill him,” he answered with satisfaction.

Previous Next

Text Analysis


He closed the bottle and put it back on the shelf near the little whiskey glass. He was pleased. He said:

“Now, Mr. Thief, when you break in, drink as much as you wish…”

Helen’s face was pale.

“Don’t do it, Judson,” she cried. “It’s horrible, it’s murder!”

“The law doesn’t call it murder if I shoot a thief who is entering my house by force.”

Previous Next

Text Analysis


“Don’t do it,” she begged. “The law doesn’t punish burglary by death. What right have you?”

“When it comes to protecting my property, I make my own laws.”

He was now like a big dog which was afraid that somebody would take away his bone. “But all they did was to steal a little whiskey,” she said, “probably some boys. They did not do any real damage.”

Previous Next

Text Analysis


“It does not matter. If a man robs me of five dollars it is the same as if he took a hundred. A thief’s a thief.” She made one last effort:

“We won’t be here again till next spring. I shall worry all the time if I know that this bottle full of poison is here. Suppose something happens to us and nobody knows…”

He laughed at her earnestness. “We’ll risk it,” he said. “I’ve made my money by taking risks. If I die, it will all belong to you, and you can do as you please.”

Previous Next

Text Analysis


She knew it was useless to argue. He had always been ruthless in business. She went to the door with a sigh of defeat.

“I’ll walk down the road and say good-bye at the farmhouse,” she said quietly. She had made up her mind to tell the caretaker’s wife about it. Someone had to know.

“All right, my dear,” he smiled, “and don’t worry about your poor little burglar. No one is going to be hurt unless he breaks in.”

Previous Next

Text Analysis


Helen went down the road and Judson started to close the closet door. He suddenly remembered that he had not packed his hunting boots drying outside on the heavy table in the garden. So, leaving the door open, he went to fetch them. But when he went to reach for his boots he suddenly slipped on a stone and his head struck the massive table as he fell.

Several minutes later he felt a strong arm round him and Alec’s voice was saying: “It’s all right, Mr. Webb. It was not a bad fall. Take this—it’ll make you feel better.”

A small whiskey glass was pressed to his lips. Half-conscious, he drank. From English Reader published in

Moscow, 1961

Approximately 850 words.

ReturnPrevious

Words to Konw

ruthless [] a. 无情的，冷酷的= having no compassion or pity; mercilesse.g. She was deeply hurt by his ruthless cruelty.他无情的冷酷深深伤害了她。


Return

Words to Konw

flat [] n. 公寓，单元房= apartmente.g. He moved into a service flat.他搬进一处提供勤杂服务的公寓。


Return

Words to Konw

possession [] n. 所有物，财产 (esp. pl.)= wealth or propertye.g. He had few possessions. 他的财产很少。


Return

Words to Konw

civilization [] n. 文明，文化= an advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human societye.g. It is generally accepted that the Chinese civilization is one of the oldest in the world.普遍认为中国文化是世界上最古老的文化之一。


Return

Words to Konw

whiskey [] n. 威士忌酒= an alcoholic liquor distilled from graine.g. Two glasses of whiskey, please.请来两杯威士忌酒。


Return

Words to Konw

exclaim [] vi. 惊叫= to cry out suddenly or vehementlye.g. “What! ” he exclaimed.“ 甚么！”他喊道。


Return

Words to Konw

tablet [] n. 药片 , 碑，匾= a small flat pellet of medication to be taken orallye.g. She had to take a sleeping tablet to help her sleep.他不得不吃一片安眠药以帮助入睡。


Return

Words to Konw

dissolve [] vi. 溶解= to cause to pass into solutione.g. Sugar dissolves in water.糖溶于水。


Return

Words to Konw

horror [] n. 恐惧，震惊=an intense, painful feeling of repugnance and feare.g. He was filled with horror at the sight.他看见那种情景吓得发抖。


Return

Words to Konw

burglary [] n. 盗窃= the act of entering a building or other premises with the intent to commit thefte.g. It is clear that he committed a burglary.显然他犯了夜盗罪。


Return

Words to Konw

risk [] v. 冒险干= to expose to a chance of loss or damage; hazarde.g. He risked his life when he saved the child from the fire. 他冒着生命危险把孩子从火中救出。n. 风险，危险= the possibility of suffering harm or loss; dangere.g. He took a risk when he crossed the old bridge. 他冒险过这座旧桥。


Return

Words to Konw

property [] n. 财产，（房）地产= a possession, or a piece of real estatee.g. This car is my property. 这车是我的财产。


Return

Words to Konw

earnestness [] n. 认真，诚挚=the state of being sinceree.g. Robert is a young man of earnestness; you can trust him.罗伯特是个十分认真的年轻人 , 你可以信赖他。


Return

Words to Konw

burglar [] n. 窃贼= one who commits burglarye.g. The company has installed a new burglar alarm.这家公司安装了新的防盗警报器。


Return

Words to Konw

massive [] a. 大而重的，厚实的= large or imposing, as in quantity, scope, degree, intensity, or scalee.g. We must make massive efforts to improve things.我们必须作出极大的努力去改善一切。


Return

Useful Phrases and Expressions

consist of 由…组成，由…构成e.g. The committee consists of ten members.委员会由十人组成。


Return


run…off 放掉（水管里的水）e.g. You should run off the water first.你首先应该把管子里的水放掉。


Return


break into (break in) 破门而入e.g. He broke into the shop 他闯入商店。


Return


rob…of 抢夺（某人）财物e.g. They robbed the bank of thousands of dollars.他们抢走了那家银行几千美元。


Return


belong to 属于e.g. That dictionary belongs to the library.那本词典是图书馆的。


Return


make up one’s mind 下定决心，决定e.g. He thought for a night, still, he couldn’t make up his mind.他想了一夜，也不能下定决心。


Return


reach for 伸手去拿e.g. The baby tried to reach for her toy.婴儿试着去够她的玩具。


Return

Fill in the blanks and then translate


Answer

1. Judson made money taking risks.

2. She stopped and looked surprise.

3. He was afraid that somebody would enter his house force.

4. He wanted to punish burglary death.



Answer

1. Judson made money by taking risks.

贾德森通过冒险行为赚钱。

2. She stopped and looked surprise.





Answer



2. She stopped and looked in surprise.

她停住脚步惊奇地瞧着。





Answer





3. He was afraid that somebody would enter his house by force.

他恐怕有人会强行进入他的房子。




Next





3. He was afraid that somebody would enter his house by force.

他恐怕有人会强行进入他的房子。

4. He wanted to punish burglary by death.

他想用死亡作为对盗窃的惩罚。



Answer

5. She looked at him horror.

6. He answered her question satisfaction.

7. She went to the door a sigh defeat.

8. Judson suddenly slipped a stone.



Answer

5. She looked at him in horror.

她惊恐地望着他。

6. He answered her question satisfaction.





Answer



6. He answered her question with satisfaction.

他满意地回答了她的问题。





Answer





7. She went to the door with a sigh of defeat.

她无奈地叹了口气便朝门口走去。




Return





7. She went to the door with a sigh of defeat.

她无奈地叹了口气便朝门口走去。

8. Judson suddenly slipped on a stone.

贾德森突然踩着一块石头滑倒了。

Difficult Sentences

In a few minutes he would be driving back to civilization ——to New York: He would soon go back to modern life in New York City.他马上就要驱车返回文明的都市——纽约城了。


Return

Difficult Sentences

It was placed invitingly in front with a whiskey glass by its side.

这瓶打开的酒放在前面极其诱人，旁边还有一个酒杯。


Return

Difficult Sentences

When it comes to protecting my property, I make my own laws.

当涉及到保护我个人财产的问题时，我自己制定法律。

When it comes to protecting my property: When it is a matter of protecting my property


Return

Difficult Sentences

…only this time he’ll be very sorry if he comes.只是这次他若来了定会后悔不已


Return

Difficult Sentences

No one is going to be hurt unless he breaks in.没人会受到伤害，除非他非法入宅。unless 是连词，常常与 if...not互换；它引导的从句中不能用将来时形式：e.g. You will fail unless you work harder. You will fail if you don't work harder.除非你更加努力／如果你不更加努力，你会不及格的。


Return

Difficult Sentences

“The law doesn’t call it murder if I shoot a thief who is entering my house by force.”“如果我开枪击毙强行入室的盗贼，法律不会认为这是谋杀罪。”


Return

Difficult Sentences

The law doesn’t punish burglary by death.法律不会以死刑来惩罚偷盗。


Return

Difficult Sentences

If a man robs me of five dollars it is the same as if he took a hundred.如果一个人抢走我 5 美元，就如同拿走 100 美元一样。


Return

Difficult Sentences

I’ve made my money by taking risks.“ 通过冒险，我才赚到了钱。”


Return

Difficult Sentences

He suddenly remembered that he had not packed his hunting boots drying outside on the heavy table in the garden.他突然想起晾在花园里石台上的猎靴还未打入行李中。


Return

Difficult Sentences

It was not a bad fall. Take this—it’ll make you feel better.您摔得并不厉害。把这个喝了——会使您感觉好一点儿。

It was not a bad fall: You are not seriously hurt.


Return

pictures

Return

A View of New York

the Statue of Liberty

Documents

Ruthless Distant Education College, Jilin University 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions 2. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge 3. Text Analysis