知识点1

---

教师讲解：

Paras. 1

When I awoke on the morning of Sunday，the 22nd，the news was brought to me of Hitler's invasion of Russia. This changed conviction into certainty. I had not the slightest doubt where our duty and our policy lay. Nor indeed what to say. There only remained the task of composing it. I asked that notice should immediately be given that I would broadcast at 9 o'clock that night. Presently General Dill，who had hastened down from London，came into my bedroom with detailed news. The Germans had invaded Russia on an enormous front，had surprised a large portion of the Soviet Air Force grounded on the airfields，and seemed to be driving forward with great rapidity and violence. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff added，“I suppose they will be rounded up in hordes.”

Q1: What do you know about the historical background of the speech?

A1: In March 1939, Britain and France started talks with the Soviet Union on possible cooperation against Fascist Germany. At that time Britain under Chamberlain and France under Daladier were pursuing a policy of appeasement. After three months' fruitless negotiation, the talks were broken off. Then in order to protect itself, the Soviet Union signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler's Germany on August 23.

On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. On September 17, Soviet troops also crossed the border and moved into Poland, taking 77,000 square miles of territory.

The Russo-Finnish war began on November 1,1939, and ended in March 1940. The Finns sued for peace and ceded an area of over 16,000 square miles to the Soviet Union. In June 1940 Soviet troops occupied the three Baltic States and part of Rumania.

Before the fall of Poland, British intelligence officers managed to get hold of a German coding machine and a group of code-breaking experts, called the Bletchly Park Group, soon discovered how the machine worked. With the help of this machine, the British were able to decipher all German coded messages.

So on June 6, the British had already learnt that Hitler was to attack Russia and passed on a warning to the Soviet Union, which was unheeded. On June 20, two days before the invasion, Churchill worked on a speech to be broadcast to the world when the invading forces rolled into Russia. The speech was carefully composed, full of grave themes and weighty arguments. Churchill polished the text on June 22 in his Elizabethan Manor at Chequers.

Q2: What do you know about Winston Churchill?

A2: Sir Winston Spencer Churchill (1874-1965) was a British statesman, writer and orator. A political conservative, Churchill was a Member of Parliament for 63 years and held many important government posts between 1919 and 1955. He is regarded as one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century. He was Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, and Minister of Defense (1940-1945). As the British leader during World War II, Churchill braced his allies all over the world with vitality, boldness and confidence in defeating Nazi Germany. He led Britain from near defeat to victory. During the war Churchill made many inspiring speeches that aroused the courage and hope of the British people as well as peoples in European countries occupied by the Nazi troops.

About these speeches, Churchill said in 1954, "I have never accepted what many people have kindly said, namely that I inspired the nation. It was the nation and the race dwelling around the globe that had the lion heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar.” After the war he served as Leader of the opposition (1945-1951), and became Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury again (1951-1955). He retired in 1955 from his long political career. In a speech given in Fulton, Missouri in 1946, Churchill coined the term "Iron Curtain," warning Western countries of the Soviet Union's expansionist tendencies. From his early days, Churchill was a prolific writer of history, politics and biography. Among these works are The Second World War (in six volumes) (1948-1954) and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples (in four volumes) (1956-1958). In 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Q3: What do paragraphs 1-6 tell?

A3: They are on the decision of the British government to fight Nazi Regime.

Q4: What does paragraph 1 mainly talk about?

A4: They are on the nature of Nazi regime.

Q5: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1.… the news was brought to me of Hitler's invasion of Russia. (Para.1)

1) The "of" phrase modifies the noun "news.” It is an adjective phrase.

2) News always has the plural form but takes a singular verb.

e.g. The news is bad.

2. This changed conviction into certainty. (Para.1)

In the past it was my belief that Hitler would soon attack the Soviet Union; but now it was no longer a belief, it had become a fact.

conviction: a very firm and sincere belief

e.g. I speak in the full conviction that our cause is just. From the way she spoke, you could tell she was speaking from conviction.

(Note: "Conviction” generally implies that a prior doubt existed and now has been removed because one has been convinced or assured of the truth.)

3. I had not the slightest doubt where our duty and our policy lay. (Para.1)

lie: to exist; to be found; to reside

e.g. In unity lay strength.

We know where our problems lie, and we have begun to solve some of them.

The bitter experience of the past few years has shown that prosperity lies in unity and cooperation.

The next step lies with us. In battle, the art of command lies in understanding that no two situations are ever the same.

4. Nor indeed what to say. (Para.1)

Nor had I indeed the slightest doubt as to what I was/ought to say.

5. There only remained the task of composing it. (Para.1)

The only task left was to put what I was going to say into shape; to write down what I was going to say; to work out the statement. Here "it” refers to "what I was to say."

6. I asked that notice should immediately be given that I would… that night. (Para.1)

1) The second that clause is an appositive clause.

2) give notice: inform (the BBC)

7. Presently General Dill... with detailed news. (Para.1)

1) presently: before long, shortly, soon

2) hasten: to (cause to) move or happen faster, connoting urgency or sometimes a sudden and premature result e.g. The storm's approach hastened our departure. The results of the election hastened his decision. When Ludendorff’s army met defeat on the Western front, Germany hastened to open negotiations for an armistice.

8. The Germans had invaded Russia... on the airfields.… (Para.1)

When the Germans attacked, they took the Russians by surprise and destroyed a high percentage of Soviet airplanes before they could take off.

1) surprise: to attack suddenly and without warning; to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly

2) grounded: (past participle) lying stationary on the airfields

9. … seemed to be driving forward with great rapidity and violence. (Para.1)

seemed to be advancing rapidly, and their attack was fierce.

10. "I suppose they will be rounded up in hordes." (Para.1)

I think the Red Army men will be surrounded and captured in very large numbers.

1) round up: to herd/collect together (people or animals who are scattered, or who have fled, etc.)

2) horde: a large moving crowd or throng

3) You can't find the antecedent of "they” in the previous sentence because it is in quotes "they" means the Red Army men.

Para. 2

I spent the day composing my statement. There was not time to consult the War Cabinet，nor was it necessary. I knew that we all felt the same on this issue. Mr. Eden，Lord Beaverbrook，and Sir Stafford Cripps-he had left Moscow on the 10th-were also with me during the day.

Q1: What does this paragraph tell?

A1: It reveals the unanimity of the British cabinet to fight Germans.

Q2: How do you paraphrase the following knowledge points?

1. There was not time to consult the War Cabinet... (Para.2)

consult: to ask advice of; to discuss

2. I knew that we all felt the same on this issue. (Para.2)

I knew that we had the same attitude; we shared the same view on the issue of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union.

Paras. 3－6

3 The following account of this Sunday at Chequers by my Private Secretary，Mr. Colville，who was on duty this weekend，may be of interest：

4 "On Saturday, June 21, I went down to Chequers just before dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Winant, Mr. and Mrs. Eden, and Edward Bridges were staying. During dinner Mr.

Churchill said that a German attack on Russia was now certain, and he thought that Hitler was counting on enlisting capitalist and Right Wing sympathies in this country and the U.S.A. Hitler was, however, wrong and we should go all out to help Russia. Winant said the same would be true of the U.S.A.

5 "After dinner, when I was walking on the croquet lawn with Mr. Churchill, he reverted to this theme, and I asked whether for him, the arch anti-Communist, this was not bowing down in the House of Rimmon. Mr. Churchill replied,' Not at all. I have only one purpose, the destruction of Hitler, and my life is much simplified thereby. If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons.'

6 "I was awoken at 4 a.m. the following morning by a telephone message from the F.O. to the effect that Germany had attacked Russia. The P.M. had always said that he was never to be woken up for anything but Invasion (of England). I therefore postponed telling him till 8 a.m. His only comment was,' Tell the B.B.C.I will broadcast at 9 tonight.' He began to prepare the speech at 11 a.m., and except for luncheon, at which Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Cranborne, and Lord Beaverbrook were present, he devoted the whole day to it. The speech was only ready at twenty minutes to nine."

Q1: What can be known from these paragraphs?

A1: They are on the decision to fight Hitler as testified by the account of the private secretary of Churchill

Q2: What do you understand the following knowledge points?

1. The following account... may be of interest... (Para.3)

1) account: a descriptive report

2) (of) interest: quality of exciting or holding one’s attention

2. Mr. and Mrs. Winant... were staying. (Para.4)

Mr. and Mrs. Winant... were visitors (or guests).

3…. he thought that Hitler was counting on enlisting... the U.S.A. (Para.4)

Hitler was hoping that if he attacked Russia, he would win in Britain and the US. the support of those who were enemies of Communism.

1) enlist: to win the support of to get the help or services of; to obtain (help, sympathy, etc.)

e.g. Can l enlist your help in collecting money for the people made homeless by the foreign invaders?

He tried to enlist their sympathies.

2) sympathy: a feeling of approval of or agreement with an idea, a cause, etc.

3) Right Wing: the more conservative or reactionary section of a political party, group, etc.

4.… we should go all out to help Russia. (Para.4)

go all out: to make one's utmost effort

5.… the same would be true of the U.S.A. (Para.4)

The United States would do the same, adopt the same attitude; this would also be the attitude of the U.S.

true of: true concerning; true as regards

6..… he reverted to this theme. (Para.5)

1) revert: to go back to a former subject; to talk about again

2) "This theme” refers to the subject they had been talking about during dinner, namely Hitler's imminent attack and their stand.

7.… whether for him, the arch anti-Communist... of Rimmon. (Para.5)

whether he was not renouncing his previous attitude toward communism; whether he was not changing his position since he had all along been opposed to communism bowing down in the House of Rimmon: a metaphor and a biblical allusion

8.… my life is much simplified thereby. (Para.5)

In this way, my life is made much easier; in this way, it will be much easier for me to decide on my attitude towards events.

thereby: by that means; as a result of that

9. If Hitler invaded Hell I would make... in the House of Commons. (Para.5)

If Hitler should attack Hell, a most hated place, I would still say a word in favor of the Devil, the foe of mankind, in the House of Commons; I would say a word in favor of anyone who is attacked by Hitler, no matter how bad, how wicked or evil he had been in the past.

reference: an individual allusion or direction of the attention

10. to the effect (Para.6)

having that result or implication; with general meaning

11. except for (Para.6)

apart from

e.g. Except for an old lady, the bus was empty.

I know nothing about him except for the fact that he lives next door.

He answered all the questions except for the last one.

He has done nothing all day except for watching TV.

12.… he devoted the whole day to it. (Para.6)

"It” refers to "the speech."