Thirteen equals one
Our vicar is always raising money for one cause or another,but he has never managed to get enough money to have the church clock repaired.The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since.
One night,however,our vicar work up with a start: the clock was striking the hours!Looking at his watch,he saw that it was one o'clock,but the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.Armed with a torch,the vicar went up into the clock tower to see what was going on.In the torchlight,he caught sight of a figure whom he immediately recognized as Bill Wilkins,our local grocer.
'Whatever are you doing up here Bill?' asked the vicar in surprise.
'I'm trying to repair the bell,' answered Bill.'I've been coming up here night after night for weeks now.You see,I was hoping to give you a surprise.'
'You certainly did give me a surprise!' said the vicar.'You've probably woken up everyone in the village as well.Still,I'm glad the bell is working again.'
That's the trouble,vicar,' answered Bill.'It's working all right,but I'm afraid that at one o'clock it will strike thirteen times and there's nothing I can do about it."
We'll get used to that,Bill,' said thevicar."Thirteen is not as good as one,but it's better than nothing.Nowlet's go downstairs and have a cup of tea.'
Part 1: Lead-in question:
Q:Was the vicar pleased that the clock was striking? Why?
A: Yes, he was quite pleased, because it was working again. Striking the wrong hours is better than nothing.
Part 2: Words and Expressions
1. equal: adj.相等的，平等的; All men are created equal.《独立宣言》
vt.等于;比得上;使相等;同样看待; Two plus two equals four.
n.同样的人;相等的数量. Our teacher treated us all as equals.
2. Vicar:（英国国教的）教区牧师
拓展词汇：priest(天主教的神父)，pastor（基督教的神父），rector（掌管一个教区的神父）clergyman（神职人员的总称）
3.raise: v.筹集; raise money/cash/capital/fund
v.养育;raise a son/raise afamily
4.cause: n.事业 the cause of worldpease 世界和平事业
5.have the church clock repaired 请人修钟
have sth done:请人做事. Have my hair cut. 剪发
开心一刻
Teacher: Have you finished your homework? Xiaoming: Yes. Certainly. I have my homework done. The English teacher got mad. Why?
6. strick the hours:报时. Strick后面可以直接加数字，表示几点。
When the clock was stricking twelve, Cinderella ran away. 钟敲十二下，灰姑娘赶紧跑了。
7. day and night: all the time.
由反义词构成的词组还有: up and down:上上下下。back and forth: 前前后后
8. damage v.损害（指事物）
词汇拓展：destroy: v.彻底摧毁（指事物）；injure:受到伤害（身体上）；hurt: 伤害（心灵上）:You hurt my feelings.
9.start: n/v猛地一惊
What a start you gave me.吓死我了
I started at the sound of the phone.
10. arm: v 武装 armed to the teeth 全副武装
v.携带she came to the meeting, armed with all the facts and figures.
11. catch sight of :看见 lose sight of看不见
I caught sight of an empty seat in the subway.
Fall in love at the first sight.一见钟情.
12. better than nothing 还行，凑合，聊胜于无
The only hotel here was dirty, but it was better than nothing.
My boyfriend is unromantic/boring, but it is better than nothing.
13.Whatever are you doing up here Bill?'
特殊疑问词wh-+ever表强调，到底、究竟=wh-……on earth
Whoever is that girl with you last night?=Who is that girl with you last night on earth?
助动词do/does/did+动词原形也可以表示强调，如下文的you did give me a surprise.
再如：I do love you. You do look beautiful.
对除了谓语以外的强调可以用强调句型：it is/was …that/who…
It is you that I like the most.
Part 3:Culture
宗教文化
许多美国人都信教，他们认为只有敬畏上帝的人，才会在世上诚实，规矩，恭敬地做人，否则就有可能无法无天，胆大妄为。
在美国旅行，到处可以见到教堂。美国的教堂一般都建在交通便利，地理位置优越的地方。教堂除了供人们进行宗教活动以外，还兼具社交的功能，人们来教堂祷告时，开始前和结束后都可以进行社交。想要练习英语口语的小伙伴们最好的办法就是跑到当地教堂去找外国人练习啦。
我记得第一次去教堂是在义乌的一个教堂。教堂专门派车来我们学校接我们过去。一进去，有很多各种肤色的外国人。所有人都穿戴整齐，仪表端庄。现代化的乐队，吉他，钢琴，小提琴，长笛，架子鼓一字摆开。在乐队的伴奏下，人们开始唱圣歌，热情高涨，异常陶醉。接着，一位美国牧师为大家讲述一段圣经故事，一位中国人在他旁边做翻译，当时他讲的故事是诺亚方舟。故事讲完，一个小箱子传到我的手上，原来是募捐箱。接着，是一位普通信徒上来分享圣经故事，最后大家一起读经。读完以后，有免费的午餐享用，有鸡肉，鱼肉等，非常丰盛。也有很多流浪汉在教堂领饭吃。
