This part focuses on the reception by the city mayor.

Paras. 7

These paragraphs give a detailed description of the logical movement of the happenings.

7.Thanks to his map, I was able to find a taxi driver who could take me straight to the canal embankment, where a sort of barge with a roof like one on a Japanese house was moored. The Japanese build their traditional houses on boats when land becomes too expensive, The rather arresting spectacle of little old Japan adrift amid beige concrete skyscrapers is the very symbol of the incessant struggle between the kimono and the miniskirt.

Q1: What do you know from this paragraph?

A1: This paragraph makes a description of the boat restaurant.

Q2: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1. Thanks to his map... with a roof like one on a Japanese house was moored.

(Para.7)

1） thanks to: on account of; because of

2） embankment: a raised bank built to confine a river or canal

3）barge: a large flat-bottomed boat for carrying goods or people on rivers or canals

4）a sort of: used to suggest that what is referred to does not fully deserve the name；a kind of；something like a…

5）moor: to secure a boat with cables

2.The rather arresting spectacle…between the kimono and the miniskirt. （Para.7）

The traditional floating houses among high modern buildings are also used as symbols to represent the constant struggle between old tradition（traditional culture）and new development（Western style）.

1）arresting: striking；attracting and holding the attention

2）the rather arresting spectacle of little old Japan: the rather striking picture of traditional Japan

3）adrift: afloat without control，at the mercy of wind and sea；floating freely without being steered

4）beige: brownish grey or grayish yellow（the color of sandstone）

5）concrete: cement mixed with sand and gravel，etc.

6）skyscraper：摩天大楼；“scrape” means “to touch.”

7）struggle between the kimono and the miniskirt: “Kimono” and “miniskirt”

here are used as symbols representing the "old” and the "new” or the East and the West.

Paras. 8-9

At the door to the restaurant, a stunning, porcelain-faced woman in traditional costume asked me to remove my shoes. This done, I entered one of the low-ceilinged rooms of the little floating house, treading cautiously on the soft tatami mating and experiencing a twinge of embarrassment at the prospect of meeting the mayor of Hiroshima in my socks.

He was a tall, thin man, sad-eyed and serious. Quite unexpectedly, the strange emotion which had overwhelmed me at the station returned. And l was again crushed by the thought that I now stood on the site of the first atomic bombardment. where thousands upon thousands of people had been slain in one second, where thousands upon thousands of others had lingered on to die in slow agony.

Q1: What do these two paragraphs tell?

A1: They serve to reveal the emotional state of the narrator.

Q2: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1. a stunning，porcelain-faced woman…my shoes.（Para.8）

1）stunning: very attractive；delightfully beautiful

2）porcelain-faced: using the traditional white make-up；a face with a fair delicate complexion

3）remove: to take off

2 .…treading cautiously on the soft tatami matting.…in my socks.（Para.8）

I was not accustomed to walking in my socks so I walked carefully，fearing that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen.

1）tread: to move on foot；to walk

2）cautious: careful to avoid danger，harm

3）a twinge of embarrassment: sudden sharp feeling of shame

4）at the prospect of: at the expectation of

5）experiencing a twinge of embarrassment…in my socks: suffering from a strong feeling of shame when I thought of the prospect of meeting the mayor of Hiroshima in my socks

3. sad-eyed（Para.9）

looking sad

4 ...the strange emotion which had overwhelmed me at the station returned…

（Para.9）

I was again overcome by a guilty conscience as I had been when I first arrived at the station.

5. I was again crushed by the thought that…（Para.9）

The thought that …once again overwhelmed me.

6. slay（Para. 9）

（literary）to kill or murder

7...lingered on to die in slow agony. （Para.9）

died slowly and in great pain

1）linger: to be slow in dying；to be slow or reluctant to leave

e.g. They lingered over dinner.

2）agony: great pain or suffering

Paras. 10-19

The introductions were made. Most of the guests were Japanese, and it was difficult

For me to ask just why we were gathered here. The few Americans and Germans seemed just as inhibited as I was.

“Gentlemen,” said the mayor, “I am happy to welcome you to Hiroshima.”

Everyone bowed, including the westerners. After three days in Japan, the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.

"Gentlemen, it is a very great honor to have you here in Hiroshima."

There were fresh bows, and the faces grew more and more serious each time the name Hiroshima was repeated.

"Hiroshima, as you know, is a city familiar to everyone, “continued the mayor.

"Yes, yes, of course, “murmured the company, more and more agitated.

"Seldom has a city gained such world renown, and I am proud and happy to welcome you to Hiroshima, a town known throughout the world for its-oysters."

I was just about to make my lite bow of assent, when the meaning of these last words sank in, jolting me out of my sad reverie.

“Hiroshima-oysters？What about the bomb and the misery and humanity's most heinous crime？”

Q1: What do these paragraphs generally tell?

A1: They talk about the speech delivered by the mayor.

Q2: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1.…just why we were gathered here. （Para.10）

the exact reason for our coming here

2. inhibited（Para.10）

feeling restrained，having to suppress ones emotion

3. After three days in Japan.… extraordinarily flexible. (Para.12)

After three days in Japan one gets quite used to bowing to people as a ritual in greeting and to show gratitude.

1) spinal column: the backbone

2) flexible: easily bent; pliant

3) Notice the humorous effect achieved through the use of the formal, learned and scientific terms.

4.… the faces grew more and more serious each time the name Hiroshima was repeated. (Para.14)

The Mayor mentioned Hiroshima repeatedly and to the author (who was suffering from a guilty conscience) the repeated mention of the name created a suspense which he found hard to bear. That was also, perhaps, why the faces (of other foreigners) grew more and more serious.

5. familiar to (Para.15)

well-known to (cf. familiar with: having a good knowledge of)

6. "Yes, of course” murmured the company, more and more agitated. (Para.16)

1): the company the group of people present

2) agitated: disturbed; upset

7."Seldom has a city gained such world renown...? (Para.17)

Seldom has a city become so world-famous.

Common inverted forms: Seldom has a man accomplished so much in his lifetime.

Rarely have I seen such a good movie.

Never in my life have I heard such a stupid story.

Little did he suspect that the shy pretty girl was a spy.

Not only was he a great statesman, but he was also a great scientist.

Not until recently did I realize why I was lagging behind others.

Scarcely/hardly had he finished when people bombarded him with questions.

Only in this way can we overcome this difficulty.

So loudly did he speak that even people in the next room could hear him without difficulty.

Under no circumstances should we give up trying.

8 ...a town known throughout the world for its-oysters." (Para.17)

This is called anti-climax, a common literary device to achieve humor, surprise, satire, etc. The mayor said this because he did not want to embarrass the foreigners by talking about the disaster and he wanted people to forget the tragic past and because Hiroshima was famous for its oysters.

9. I was just about to make my little bow of assent...my sad reverie. (Para.18)

I was on the point of showing my agreement by nodding when I suddenly realized what he meant. His words shocked me out of my sad dreamy thinking

1) about to: on the point of (doing something); just going to (do something)

2) assent: an acceptance (of a statement) as true; agreement

3) sink in: to be fully absorbed or understood; to penetrate especially gradually

4) jolt: to shake up or jar, as with a bumpy ride or sharp blow; to shock or surprise

5) reverie: dreamy thinking, especially of agreeable things; the state of being absorbed in dreamlike contemplation; daydreaming

10. humanity's most heinous crime (Para.19)

the most wicked crime mankind has ever committed heinous:(literary) wicked in a high degree; atrocious

Paras. 20-27

While the mayor went on with his speech in praise of southern Japanese sea food，I cautiously backed away and headed toward the far side of the room Where a few men were talking among themselves and paying little attention to the mayor's speech.

“you look puzzled. “said a small Japanese with very large eyeglasses.

"well，I must confess that I did not expect a speech about oysters here. I thought that Hiroshima still felt the impact of the atomic cataclysm."

“No one talks about it anymore, and no one wants to, especially, the people who were born here or who lived through it.”

“Do you feel the same way，too？”

“I was here，but I was not in the center of the town. I tell you this because I am almost an old man. There are two different schools of thought in this city of oysters, one that would like to preserve traces of the bomb, and the other that would like to get rid of everything, even the monument that was erected at the point of impact.

"Why would they want to do that?"

"Because it hurts everybody, and because time marches on. That is why. “The small Japanese man smiled, his eyes nearly closed behind their thick lenses. “If you write about this city, do not forget to say that it is the gayest city in Japan, even if many of the town's people still bear hidden wounds, and burns."

Q1: What do these paragraphs generally tell?

A1: It focuses on the conversation between the narrator and a small Japanese.

Q2: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1. I cautiously backed away and headed toward the far side of the room…(Para.20)

backed away: moved backwards away from the mayor; moved toward the other end of the room

2. "You look puzzled." (Para.21)

You look bewildered.

3."I must confess that I did not expect a speech about oysters here." (Para.22)

I must admit that it never occurred to me that I would hear the mayor of Hiroshima talk about oysters.

4. I thought that Hiroshima still felt the impact of the atomic cataclysm."(Para.22)

I thought that people here had not forgotten the disaster the city had suffered.

1) impact: strong effect

2) cataclysm: a violent and sudden upheaval, especially a serious flood, an earthquake or a war; disaster

5. live through (Para.23)

to experience and survive

6."I tell you this because I am almost an old man." (Para.25)

The implication is that it is because I do not care if people should know I was here when the bomb was dropped. Other people might try to hide the fact.

7."There are two different schools of thought... the point of impact." (Para.25)

1) school: group of people sharing the same thought

2) trace: a visible mark or sign of the former presence of thing or event; vestige

3) preserve traces of the bomb: to maintain and protect the signs of destruction caused by the bomb

4) erect: to construct; to put up

5) at the point of impact: at the exact point over where the bomb exploded

8."They would also like to demolish the atomic museum."(Para.25)

1) demolish: to pull down or tear down

2) the atomic museum: the museum which houses the relics of the holocaust

9. time marches on (Para.27)

Things are changing; history is advancing.

10. gay (Para.27)

pleasure-loving (Note: Today it often refers to homosexual.)

11."… even if many of the town's people still bear hidden wounds, and burns."

(Para.27)

1) bear: to carry

2) burn: an injury produced by fire, heat, or a heat-producing agent

3) hidden wounds and burns: invisible scars