現(xiàn)代大學(xué)英語精讀1課文

UnitOneUnitOneHalfaDayIwalkedalongsidemyfather,clutchinghisrighthand.Allmyclotheswerenew:theblackshoes,thegreenschooluniform,andtheredcap.Theydidnotmakemehappy,however,asthiswasthedayIwastobethrownintoschoolforthefirsttime.Mymotherstoodatthewindowwatchingourprogress,andIturnedtowardsherfromtimetotime,hopingshewouldhelp.Wewalkedalongastreetlinedwithgardens,andfieldsplantedwithcrops:pears,anddatepalms."Whyschool?"Iaskedmyfather."WhathaveIdone?""I'mnotpunishingyou,"hesaid,laughing."School'snotapunishment.It'saplacethatmakesusefulmenoutofboys.Don'tyouwanttobeusefullikeyourbrothers?"Iwasnotconvinced.Ididnotbelievetherewasreallyanygoodtobehadintearingmeawayfrommyhomeandthrowingmeintothehuge,high-walledbuilding.Whenwearrivedatthegatewecouldseethecourtyard,vastandfullofboysandgirls."Goinbyyourself,"saidmyfather,"andjointhem.Putasmileonyourfaceandbeagoodexampletoothers."Ihesitatedandclungtohishand,buthegentlypushedmefromhim."Beaman,"hesaid."Todayyoutrulybeginlife.Youwillfindmewaitingforyouwhenit'stimetoleave."Itookafewsteps.Thenthefacesoftheboysandgirlscameintoview.Ididnotknowasingleoneofthem,andnoneofthemknewme.IfeltIwasastrangerwhohadlosthisway.Butthensomeboysbegantoglanceatmeincuriosity,andoneofthemcameoverandasked,"Whobroughtyou?""Myfather,"Iwhispered."Myfather'sdead,"hesaidsimply.Ididnotknowwhattosay.Thegatewasnowclosed.Someofthechildrenburstintotears.Thebellrang.Aladycamealong,followedbyagroupofmen.Themenbegansortingusintoranks.Wewereformedintoanintricatepatterninthegreatcourtyardsurroundedbyhighbuildings;fromeachfloorwewereoverlookedbyalongbalconyroofedinwood."Thisisyournewhome,"saidthewoman."Therearemothersandfathershere,too.Everythingthatisenjoyableandbeneficialishere.Sodryyourtearsandfacelifejoyfully."Well,itseemedthatmymisgivingshadhadnobasis.FromthefirstmomentsImademanyfriendsandfellinlovewithmanygirls.Ihadneverimaginedschoolwouldhavethisrichvarietyofexperiences.Weplayedallsortsofgames.Inthemusicroomwesangourfirstsongs.Wealsohadourfirstintroductiontolanguage.WesawaglobeoftheEarth,whichrevolvedandshowedthevariouscontinentsandcountries.Westartedlearningnumbers,andweweretoldthestoryoftheCreatoroftheuniverse.Weatedeliciousfood,tookalittlenap,andwokeuptogoonwithfriendshipandlove,playingandlearning.Ourpath,however,wasnottotallysweetandunclouded.Wehadtobeobservantandpatient.Itwasnotallamatterofplayingandfoolingaround.Rivalriescouldbringaboutpainandhatredorgiverisetofighting.Andwhiletheladywouldsometimessmile,shewouldoftenyellandscold.Evenmorefrequentlyshewouldresorttophysicalpunishment.Inaddition,thetimeforchangingone'smindwasoverandgoneandtherewasnoquestionofeverreturningtotheparadiseofhome.Nothinglayaheadofusbutexertion,struggle,andperseverance.Thosewhowereabletookadvantageoftheopportunitiesforsuccessandhappinessthatpresentedthemselves.Thebellrang,announcingthepassingofthedayandtheendofwork.Thechildrenrushedtowardthegate,whichwasopenedagain.Isaidgoodbyetofriendsandsweetheartsandpassedthroughthegate.Ilookedaroundbutfoundnotraceofmyfather;whohadpromisedtobethere.Isteppedasidetowait.WhenIhadwaitedforalongtimeinvain,Idecidedtoreturnhomeonmyown.Iwalkedafewsteps,thencametoastartledhalt.GoodLord!Wherewasthestreetlinedwithgardens?Wherehaditdisappearedto?Whendidallthesecarsinvadeit?Andwhendidallthesepeoplecometorestonitssurface?Howdidthesehillsofrubbishfindtheirwaytocoveritssides?Andwherewerethefieldsthatborderedit?Highbuildingshadtakenover;thestreetwasfullofchildren,anddisturbingnoisesshooktheair.Hereandtherestoodconjurersshowingofftheirtricksormakingsnakesappearfrombaskets.Thentherewasabandannouncingtheopeningofacircus,withclownsandweightlifterswalkinginfront.GoodGod!Iwasinadaze.Myheadspun.Ialmostwentcrazy.Howcouldallthishavehappenedinhalfaday,betweenearlymorningandsunset?Iwouldfindtheanswerathomewithmyfather.Butwherewasmyhome?Ihurriedtowardsthecrossroads,becauseIrememberedthatIhadtocrossthestreettoreachourhouse,butthestreamofcarswouldnotletup.Extremelyirritated,IwonderedwhenIwouldbeabletocross.Istoodtherealongtime,untiltheyoungboyemployedattheironingshoponthecornercameuptome.Hestretchedouthisarmandsaid,"Grandpa,letmetakeyouacross."UnitTwoGoingHomeTheyweregoingtoFortLauderdale,Florida.Thereweresixofthem,threeboysandthreegirls,andtheygotonthebusat34thStreet,carryingsandwichesandwineinpaperbags.Theyweredreamingofgoldenbeachesandseatidesasthegrey,coldspringofNewYorkvanishedbehindthem.Vingowasonthebusfromthebeginning.AsthebuspassedthroughNewJersey,theybegantonoticethatVingonevermoved.Hesatinfrontoftheyoungpeople,hisdustyfacemaskinghisage,dressedinaplainbrownsuitthatdidnotfithim.Hisfingerswerestainedfromcigarettesandhechewedtheinsideofhislipalot.Hesatincompletesilenceandseemedcompletelyunawareoftheexistenceoftheothers.Deepintothenight,thebuspulledintoaHowardJohnson'srestaurantandeverybodygotoffthebusexceptVingo.Theyoungpeoplebegantowonderabouthim,tryingtoimaginehislife:perhapshewasaseacaptain;maybehehadrunawayfromhiswife;hecouldbeanoldsoldiergoinghome.Whentheywentbacktothebus,oneofthegirlsbecamesocuriousthatshedecidedtoengagehiminaconversation.Shesatdownbesidehimandintroducedherself."We'regoingtoFlorida,"thegirlsaidbrightly."Yougoingthatfar?""Idon'tknow/'Vingosaid."I'veneverbeenthere/'shesaid."Ihearit'sbeautiful.""Itis,"hesaidquietly,asifrememberingsomethinghehadtriedtoforget."Youlivethere?""IwasthereintheNavy,atthebaseinJacksonville"."Wantsomewine?"shesaid.Hesmiledandtookaswigfromthebottle.Hethankedherandretreatedagainintohissilence.Afterawhile,shewentbacktotheothersasVingonoddedinsleep.InthemorningtheyawokeoutsideanotherHowardJohnson'sandthistimeVingowentin.Thegirlinsistedthathejointhem.Heseemedveryshyandorderedblackcoffeeandsmokednervously,astheyoungpeoplechatteredaboutsleepingonbeaches.Whentheygotbackonthebus,thegirlsatwithVingoagain.Afterawhile,slowlyandpainfully,hebegantotellhisstory.HehadbeeninjailinNewYorkforthelastfouryears,andnowhewasgoinghome."Areyoumarried?""Idon'tknow.""Youdon'tknow?"shesaid."Well,whenIwasinjailIwrotetomywife.Isaid,'Martha,Iunderstandifyoucan'tstaymarriedtome.'IsaidIwasgoingtobeawayalongtime,andthatifshecouldn'tstandit,ifthekidskeptaskingquestions,ifithurthertoomuch,well,shecouldjustforgetme.Getanewguy—she'sawonderfulwoman,reallysomething—andforgetaboutme.Itoldhershedidn'thavetowritetomeoranything,andshedidn't.Notforthree-and-a-halfyears.""Andyou'regoinghomenow,notknowing?""Yeah,"hesaidshyly."Well,lastweek,whenIwassuretheparolewascomingthroughIwroteheragain.Itoldherthatifshehadanewguy,Iunderstood.But,ifshedidn't,ifshewouldtakemebacksheshouldletmeknow.WeusedtoliveinBrunswick,andthere'sagreatoaktreejustasyoucomeintotown.Itoldherifshewouldtakemeback,sheshouldtieayellowribbontothetree,andIwouldgetoffandcomehome.Ifshedidn'twantme,forgetit,noribbonandI'dunderstandandkeepgoingonthrough.""Wow,"thegirlsaid."Wow."Shetoldtheothers,andsoonallofthemwerecaughtupintheapproachofBrunswick,lookingatthepicturesVingoshowedthemofhiswifeandthreechildren.Nowtheywere20milesfromBrunswick,andtheyoungpeopletookthewindowseatsontherightside,waitingfortheapproachofthegreatoaktree.Vingostoppedlooking,tighteninghisfaceintotheex-con'smask,asiffortifyinghimselfagainststillanotherdisappointment.Thenitwas10miles,andthenfive,andthebusbecameveryquiet.Thensuddenlyalloftheyoungpeoplewereupoutoftheirseats,screamingandshoutingandcrying,doingsmalldances,shakingclenchedfistsintriumphandexaltation.AllexceptVingo.Vingosattherestunned,lookingattheoaktreethroughhismistyeyes.Thetreewascoveredwithyellowribbons,30ofthem,50ofthem,maybehundreds,atreethatstoodlikeabannerofwelcome,blowingandbillowinginthewind.Astheyoungpeopleshouted,theoldconslowlyrosefromhisseat,holdinghimselftightly,andmadehiswaytothefrontofthebustogohome.UnitThreeUnitThreeMessageoftheLandYes,theseareourricefields.Theybelongedtomyparentsandforefathers.Thelandismorethanthreecenturiesold.I'mtheonlydaughterinourfamilyanditwasIwhostayedwithmyparentstilltheydied.Mythreebrothersmovedouttotheirwives'houseswhentheygotmarried.MyhusbandmovedintoourhouseasisthewaywithusinEsarn.Iwastheneighteenandhewasnineteen.Hegavemesixchildren.Twodiedininfancyfromsickness.Therest,twoboysandtwogirls,wentawayassoonaswecouldaffordtobuyjeansforthem.Ouroldestsongotajobasagardenerinarichman'shomeinBangkokbutlateranemploymentagencysenthimtoaforeignlandtowork.Myothersonalsowentfaraway.OneofourdaughtersisworkinginatextilefactoryinBangkok,andtheotherhasajobinastore.Theycomehometoseeusnowandthen,stayafewdays,andthentheyareoffagain.Oftentheysendsomemoneytousandtellusthattheyaredoingwell.Iknowthisisnotalwaystrue.Sometimes,theygetbulliedandinsulted,anditislikeaknifepiercingmyheart.It'seasierformyhusband.Hehasearswhichdon'thear,amouthwhichdoesn'tspeak,andeyesthatdon'tsee.Hehasalwaysbeenpatientandsilent,mindinghisownlife.Allofthemremainmychildreninspiteoftheirlongabsence.Maybeit'sfatethatsentthemawayfromus.Ourpieceoflandissmall,anditisnolongerfertile,bleedingyearafteryearand,likeus,gettingoldandexhausted.StillmyhusbandandIworkonthisland.Thesoilisnotdifficulttotillwhenthereisalotofrain,butinabadyear;it'snotonlytheploughsthatbreakbutourhearts,too.No,wetwohaven'tchangedmuch,butthevillagehas.Inwhatway?Onlytenyearsago,youcouldbarterforthings,butnowit'sallcash.Yearsago,youcouldaskyourneighborstohelpbuildyourhouse,reapthericeordigawell.Nowthey'lldoitonlyifyouhavemoneytopaythem.Plasticthingsreplacevillagecrafts.Menusedtomakethingswithfinebamboopieces,butnolonger.Plasticbagslitterthevillage.Shopshavesprungup,filledwithcolorfulplasticthingsandgoodswehavenousefor.Theyounggoawaytotownsandcitiesleavingusoldpeopletoworkontheland.Theythinkdifferently,Iknow,sayingthattheoldareold-fashioned.Allmylife,Ihaveneverhadtogotoahairdresser,ortopaintmylipsornails.Theseroughfingersandtoesareforworkinginthemudofourricefields,notforlookingpretty.Nowyounggirlsputonjeans,andlooklikeboysandtheythinkitisfashionable.Why,theyarewillingtoselltheirpigorwaterbuffalojusttobeabletobuyapairofjeans.Inmyday,ifIweretoputonapairoftrousersliketheydonow,lightningwouldstrikeme.Iknow,timeshavechanged,butcertainthingsshouldnotchange.Weshouldofferfoodtothemonkseveryday,gotothetempleregularly.Youngpeopletendtoleavethesethingstooldpeoplenow,andthat'sashame.Why,onlytheotherdayIheardaboyshoutandscreamathismother.IfthatkindofthinghadhappenedwhenIwasyoung,thewholevillagewouldhavecondemnedsuchanungratefulson,andhisfatherwouldsurelyhavegivenhimagoodbeating.Asforme,Iwouldn'tchange,couldn'tchangeevenifIwantedto.AmIhappyorunhappy?Thisquestionhasneveroccurredtome.Lifesimplygoeson.Yes,thisbagofbonesdressedinragscanstillplantandreapricefrommorningtilldusk.Disease,wounds,hardshipandscarcityhavealwaysbeenpartofmylife.Idon'tcomplain.Thefarmer:Mywifeiswrong.Myeyesdosee—theyseemorethantheyshould.Myearsdohear—theyhearmorethanisgoodforme.Idon'ttalkaboutwhatIknowbecauseIknowtoomuch.Iknowforexample,greed,anger,andlustaretherootofallevils.Iamatpeacewiththelandandtheconditionsofmylife.ButIfeelagreatpityformywife.Ihavebeenforcingsilenceuponheralltheseyears,yetshehasnotoncecomplainedofanything.Iwantedtohavealotofchildrenandgrandchildrenaroundmebutnowcitiesandforeignlandshaveattractedmychildrenawayanditseemsthatnoneofthemwillevercomebacktolivehereagain.TowhomshallIgivethesericefieldswhenIdie?Forhundredsofyearsthisstripoflandhasbelongedtoourfamily.Iknoweveryinchofit.Mychildrengrewuponit,catchingfrogsandmudcrabsandgatheringflowers.Stillthelandcouldnottiethemdownorcallthemback.Wheneachofthemhasapairofjeans,theyareofflikebirdsonthewing.Fortunately,mywifeisstillwithme,andbothofusarestillstrong.Woundshealovertime.Sicknesscomesandgoes,andwegetbackonourfeetagain.Ineverwanttoleavethisland.It'snicetofeelthewetearthasmyfingersdigintothesoil,plantingrice,tohearmywifesighing,"Oldman,ifIdiefirst,Ishallbecomeacloudtoprotectyoufromthesun."It'sgoodtosmellthescentofripeningriceinNovember.Thesoftcoolbreezemovesthesheaves,whichrippleandshimmerlikewavesofgold.Yes,IlovethislandandIhopeoneofmychildrencomesbackonedaytolive,andgivesmegrandchildrensothatIcanpassontheland'ssecretmessagestothem.UnitFourTheBoyandtheBankOfficerIhaveafriendwhohatesbankswithaspecialpassion."Abankisjustastorelikeacandystoreoragrocerystore",hesays."Theonlydifferenceisthatabank'sgoodshappentobemoney,whichisyoursinthefirstplace.Ifbankswererequiredtosellwalletsandmoneybelts,theymightactlesslikechurches."IbeganthinkingaboutmyfriendtheotherdayasIwalkedintoasmall,overlightedbranchofficeontheWestSide.Ihadcometoopenacheckingaccount.Itwaslunchtimeandtheonlyofficerondutywasafortyishblackmanwithshort,pressedhair,apencilmustache,andaneatlypressedbrownsuit.Everythingabouthimsuggestedacarefullydressedauthority.ThisofficerwasstandingacrossasmallcounterfromayoungwhiteboywhowaswearingaV-neckedsweater,khakis,andloafers.Hehadsandyhair;andIthinkIwasespeciallyawareofhimbecausehelookedmorelikeakidfromaprepschoolthanacustomerinaWestSidebank.Theboycontinuedtoholdmyattentionbecauseofwhathappenednext.Hewasholdinganopensavings-accountbookandwearinganexpressionofopendismay."ButIdon'tunderstand,"hewassayingtotheofficer."Iopenedtheaccountmyself,sowhycan'tIwithdrawanymoney?""I'vealreadyexplainedtoyou/'theofficertoldhim,"thatafourteen-year-oldisnotallowedtowithdrawmoneywithoutaletterfromhisparents.""Butthatdoesn'tseemfair;"theboysaid,hisvoicebreaking."It'smymoney,Iputitin.It'smyaccount.""Iknowitis,"theofficersaid,"butthosearetherules.Nowifyou'llexcuseme."Heturnedtomewithasmile."MayIhelpyou,sir?"Ididn'tthinktwice."Iwasgoingtoopenanewaccount/1Isaid,"butafterseeingwhat'sgoingonhere,IthinkI'vechangedmymind.""Excuseme?"hesaid."Look,"Isaid."IfIunderstandwhat'sgoingonherecorrectly,whatyou'resayingisthatthisboyisoldenoughtodeposithismoneyinyourbankbuthe'snotoldenoughtowithdrawit.Andsincetheredoesn'tseemtobeanyquestionastowhetherit'shismoneyorhisaccount,thebank'sso-calledpolicyisclearlyridiculous.""Itmayseemridiculoustoyou,"herepliedinavoicerisingslightlyinirritation,"butthatisthebank'spolicyandIhavenootherchoicebuttofollowtherules".Theboyhadstoodhopefullynexttomeduringthisexchange,butnowIwasjustashelpless.SuddenlyInoticedthattheopensavingsbookhecontinuedtograspshowedabalanceofabout$100.Italsoshowedthattherehadbeenaseriesofsmalldepositsandwithdrawals.Ihadmyopening."HaveyouwithdrawnmoneybeforebyyourselP"Iaskedtheboy."Yes,"hesaid.Imovedinforthekill."Howdoyouexplainthat?"Izeroedinontheofficer."Whydidyoulethimwithdrawmoneybefore,butnotnow?"Helookedannoyed."Becausethetellerswerenotawareofhisagebeforeandnowtheyare.It'sreallyverysimple".Iturnedtotheboywithashrug."You'rereallygettingcheated,"Isaid."Yououghttogetyourparentstocomeinhereandprotest."Theboylookeddestroyed.Silently,heputhissavingsbookinarear-pocketandwalkedoutofthebank.Theofficerturnedtome."Youknow/'hesaid,"youreallyshouldn'thaveinterfered.""Shouldn'thaveinterfered?"Ishouted."Well,itdamnwellseemedtomethatheneededsomeonetorepresenthisinterests.""Someonewasrepresentinghisinterests,"hesaidsoftly."Andwhomightthatbe?""Thebank."Icouldn'tbelievewhatthisidiotwassaying."Look,"Iconcluded,"we'rejustwastingeachother'stime.Butmaybeyou'dliketoexplainexactlyhowthebankwasrepresentingthatboy'sinterests?""Certainly,"hesaid."Wewereinformedthismorningthatsomeneighborhoodbullyhasbeenshakingthisboydownformorethanamonth.Theotherguywasforcinghimtotakemoneyouteveryweekandhanditover.Thepoorkidwasapparentlytooscaredtotellanyone.That'stherealreasonhewassoupset.Hewasafraidofwhattheotherguywoulddotohim.Anyway,thepoliceareonthecaseandthey'llprobablymakeanarresttoday.""Youmeanthereisnoruleaboutbeingtooyoungtowithdrawmoneyfromasavingsaccount?""NotthatIeverheardof.Now,sir,whatcanwedoforyou?"LessonFiveAngelsonaPinSometimeago,IreceivedacallfromJim,acolleagueofmine,whoteachesphysics.HeaskedmeifIwoulddohimafavorandbetherefereeonthegradingofanexaminationquestion.Isaidsure,butIdidnotquiteunderstandwhyheshouldneedmyhelp.Hetoldmethathewasabouttogiveastudentazeroforhisanswertoaphysicsquestion,butthestudentprotestedthatitwasn'tfair.Heinsistedthathedeservedaperfectscoreifthesystemwerenotsetupagainstthestudent.Finally,theyagreedtotakethemattertoanimpartialinstructor.AndIwasselected.Iwenttomycolleague'sofficeandreadtheexaminationquestion.Itsaid:"Showhowitispossibletodeterminetheheightofatallbuildingwiththeaidofabarometer."Thestudenthadanswered:"Takethebarometertothetopofthebuilding,tiealongropetoit,lowerthebarometertothestreet,andthenbringitupandmeasurethelengthoftherope.Thelengthoftheropewillbetheheightofthebuilding."Ilaughedandpointedouttomycolleaguethatwemustadmitthestudentreallyhadaprettystrongcaseforfullcreditsincehehadindeedansweredthequestioncompletelyandcorrectly.Ontheotherhand,Icouldalsoseethedilemmabecauseiffullcreditweregiventohimitcouldmeanahighgradeforthestudentinhisphysicscourse.Ahighgradeissupposedtoprovecompetenceinthecourse,buttheanswerhegavedidnotshowhisknowledgeonthesubject."So,whatwouldyoudoifyouwereme?"Jimasked.Isuggestedthatthestudenthaveanothertryatansweringthequestion.Iwasnotsurprisedthatmycolleagueagreed,butIwassurprisedthatthestudentdid,too.ItoldthestudentthatIwouldgivehimsixminutestoanswerthequestion.ButIwarnedhimthatthistimehisanswershouldshowsomeknowledgeofphysics.Hesatdownandpickeduphispen.Heappearedtobethinkinghard.Attheendoffiveminutes,however,Inoticedthathehadnotputdownasingleword.Iaskedhimifhewishedtogiveup,buthesaidno.Hehadnotwrittenanythingdownbecausehehadtoomanypossibleanswerstothisproblem.Hewasjusttryingtodecidewhichwouldbethebestone.Iexcusedmyselfforinterruptinghimandaskedhimtogoon.Inthenextminute,hedashedoffhisanswer,whichread:"Takethebarometertothetopofthebuildingandleanovertheedgeoftheroof.Dropthebarometerandtimeitsfallwithastopwatch.Then,usingtheformulaS=1/2at2,calculatetheheightofthebuilding."Atthispoint,Iaskedmycolleagueifhewouldgiveup.Henoddedyes,andIgavethestudentalmostfullcredit.WhenIleftmycolleague'soffice,Irecalledthatthestudenthadsaidthathehadotheranswerstotheproblem.Iwascurious,soIaskedhimwhattheywere."Oh,yes,"saidthestudent."Therearemanywaysofgettingtheheightofatallbuildingwiththeaidofabarometer.Forexample,youcouldtakethebarometeroutinasunnydayandmeasuretheheightofthebarometer,thelengthofitsshadow,andthelengthoftheshadowofthebuilding,andbytheuseofasimpleproportion,determinetheheightofthebuilding.Thebeautyofthismethodisthatyoudon'thavetodropthebarometerandbreakit.""Fine,"Isaid."Anymore?""Yes,"saidthestudent."Thereisaverybasicmeasurementmethodthatpeoplewilllike,becauseitissosimpleanddirect.Inthismethod,youtakethebarometerandwalkupthestairs.Asyouclimbthestairs,youmarkoffthelengthofthebarometeralongthewall.Youthencountthenumberofmarks,andthiswillgiveyoutheheightofthebuildinginbarometerunits.Theonlytroublewiththismethodisthatitdoesn'trequiremuchknowledgeofphysics.""Ofcourse,ifyoupreferamoresophisticatedmethod,amethodthatwillreallyshowsomeknowledgeofphysics,youcantiethebarometertotheendofarope,swingitasapendulumanddeterminethevalueof'g'atthestreetlevelandatthetopofthebuilding.Fromthedifferencebetweenthetwovaluesof'g'theheightofthebuildingcan,inprinciple,beworkedout."Finally,heconcludedthatwhiletherearemanywaysofsolvingtheproblem,"Probablythebestandthemostpracticalinareal-lifesituationistotakethebarometertothebasementandknockonthesuperintendent'sdoor.Whenthesuperintendentanswers,youspeaktohimasfollows:Mr.Superintendent,Ihavehereafinebarometer.Ifyouwilltellmetheheightofthisbuilding,Iwillgladlygiveyouthisbarometer!"Atthispoint,Iaskedthestudentifhereallydidn'tknowtheexpectedanswertothisquestion.Hesmiledandadmittedthathedid,butsaidhewasfedupwithstandardanswerstostandardquestions.Hecouldn'tunderstandwhythereshouldbesomuchemphasisonfixedrulesratherthancreativethinking.Sohecouldnotresistthetemptationtoplayalittlejokewiththeeducationalsystem,whichhadbeenthrownintosuchapanicbythesuccessfullaunchingoftheRussianSputnik.AtthatmomentIsuddenlyrememberedthequestion:Howmanyangelscandanceontheheadofapin?Weteachersarealwaysblamingthestudentsforgivingwronganswers.Perhapsweshouldaskourselveswhetherwearealwaysaskingtherightquestions.UnitSixTheMonstersAreDueOnMapleStreet(ActI)ItisMapleStreet,aquiet,tree-lined,residentialstreetinatypicalAmericantown.Thehouseshavefrontporcheswherepeoplesitandtalktoeachotheracrosstheirlawns.STEVEBRANDpolisheshiscarparkedinfrontofhishouse.Hisneighbor,DONMARTIN,leansagainstthefender,watchinghim.AGoodHumormanridesabicycleandisjuststoppingtosellsomeicecreamtoacoupleofkids.Twowomengossiponthefrontlawn.Anothermanwatershislawn.Atthismomentoneoftheboys,TOMMY；looksupandlistenstothesoundofatremendousroarfromoverhead.Aflashoflightplaysonhisface,thenmovesdownthestreetpastlawnsandporchesandrooftops,andthendisappears.STEVEBRAND,themanwhohasbeenpolishinghiscar,standstherespeechless,staringupwards.HelooksatDONMARTIN,hisneighborfromacrossthestreet.Steve:Whatwasthat?Ameteor?Don:That'swhatitlookedlike.Ididn'thearanycrash,though,didyou?Steve:Nope,Ididn'thearanythingexceptaroar.Mrs.Brand(fromherporch):Steve?Whatwasthat?Steve:Guessitwasameteor,honey.Cameawfulclose,didn'tit?Mrs.Brand:Muchtooclose!(Peoplestandontheirporches,watchingandtalkinginlowtones.WeseeaMANscrewinginalightbulbonafrontporch,thengettingdownoffthestooltoturnontheswitchandfindingthatnothinghappens.AMANworkingonanelectricpowermowerplugsintheplug.Heturnsontheswitch,onandoff,butnothinghappens.ThroughthewindowofafrontporchaWOMANisseendialingherphone.)Woman:Operator;operator,something'swrongwiththephone,operator!(MRS.BRANDcomesoutontheporch.)Mrs.Brand(calling):Steve,thepower'soff.Ihadthesouponthestove,andthestovejuststoppedworking.Woman:Samethingoverhere.Ican'tgetanybodyonthephone,either.Thephoneseemstobedead.FirstVoice:Electricity'soff.SecondVoice:Phonewon'twork.ThirdVoice:Can'tgetathingontheradio.FourthVoice:Mypowermowerwon'tmove,won'tworkatall.(PETEVANHORN,atall,thinman,isseenstandinginfrontofhishouse.)VanHorn:I'llcutthroughthebackyard...seeifthepower'sstillononCherryStreet.I'llberightback!Steve:Doesn'tmakesense.Whyshouldthepowerandthephonelinegooffallofasudden?Don:Maybeit'sanelectricalstormorsomething.Charlie:Thatdoesn'tseemlikely.Sky'sjustasblueasanything.Notacloud.Nolightning.Nothunder.Nonothing.Howcoulditbeastorm?Woman:Ican'tgetathingontheradio.Noteventheportable.Charlie:Well,whydon'tyougodowntownandcheckwiththepolice,thoughthey'llprobablythinkwe'recrazyorsomething.