《四季随笔》（节选）

George Gissing

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难词探意

1.gulp down狼吞虎咽

2.profanation/'prɒfə'neɪʃn/n.亵渎

3.cinder/'sɪndər/n.灰烬

4.withdraw/wɪθ'drɔː/v.（使）撤回；撤离

One of the shining moments of my day is that when,having returned a little tired from an afternoon walk,I await the tea plate.Perhaps it is while drinking tea that I most of all enjoy the sense of being free.In days that have gone by,I could but gulp down the tea.Often I was quite neglectful of the flavour,of what I drank.Now,how delicious the flavour is!It floats into my study,with the appearance of the teapot!What comfort in the first cup,what careful sipping of that which follows! What a glow it brings after a walk in the rain!For a while,I look around at my books and pictures,tasting the happiness of their peaceful possession.

In nothing is the English genius for family life more significantly declared than in the custom of afternoon tea,for it marks the end of domestic work and worry and the beginning of restful,sociable evening.I care nothing for your five o'clock tea of fashionable drawing-rooms.I speak of tea when one is alone at home which is different from the worldly sense.To admit only strangers to your tea-table is profanation;on the other hand,English hospitality has here its kindliest aspect;never is a friend more welcome than when he drops in for a cup of tea.

I like to look at my housekeeper when she carries in the tray.Quickly her eye glances around my room,only to have the pleasure of noting that all is in order.If she speaks,it will only be a pleasant word or two.Should she have anything important to say,the moment will be after tea,not before it,which she knows naturally.Perhaps she may just go to sweep back a cinder which has fallen—she looks after the fire;it is done quickly and silently.Then,still smiling,she withdraws,and I know that she is going to enjoy her own tea in the warm,comfortable and sweet-smelling kitchen.

Reading Check

1.How does tea influence the author's life?

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2.How does tea influence your family life?

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Language Study

Difficult sentence

Perhaps it is while drinking tea that I most of all enjoy the sense of being free.

【翻译】____________________________________________________________________________

【点石成金】本句中,it is...that...是强调句型，强调 while drinking tea，the sense of...意为“……的感觉”。