課文
People are not so honest as they once were. The temptation to steal is greater than ever before--especially in large shops. A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible.Then the woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. The girl 'gave' her mother a free dress once a week !
“偷”之種種：
steal / take：偷竊
rob：搶劫
burgle：入室搶劫
pick sb.'s pocket：扒竊
**once **
- adv. 曾經，以前
- adv. 一次
once a week / year 每周 / 每年一次
at once：立刻，馬上
once more / once again = one more time：再一次
Once again she refused me.
once in a while：偶爾
once upon a time：很久很久以前 - conj. 一旦
Once you begin, you must continue.
temptation
n. 誘惑，有誘惑力的事物
tempt - temptation
resist / overcome the temptation：抵擋 / 戰勝誘惑
give in to the temptation：經不住誘惑
I finally gave in to the temptation and had a bar of chocolate.
article
- n. 物品
article & thing & goods
article：一件一件獨立的物品
thing：東西，事物（統稱）
goods：商品總稱 - 文章
- 冠詞
the definite（明確的） article 定冠詞：the
the indefinite article不定冠詞：a / an
wrap
v. 包，裹
wrap up：包起來
Could you wrap the box in shiny paper?
wrapping paper：禮物的彩色包裝紙
simply
- adv. 僅僅，只不過
It isn't simply a question of money.
simple：adj. 簡單的 - 簡單地，簡易地
to put it simply：簡單地說
**arrest **
v. / n. 逮捕
arrest sb. for sth.：因為某事逮捕某人
be under arrest = kept by the police
課文講解
People are not so honest as they once were.
so ... as ...
比較狀語從句:
常用連接詞：as, than
as + adj. / adv. + as
English learning is not as difficult as you think.
在否定句中，第一個as可以用so來代替
The temptation to steal is greater than ever before--especially in large shops.
to steal - 動詞不定式，做后置定語
than - 二者；可比性
*The weather of the South is wetter than that of the North. *
… than ever before：比以往任何時候
A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings.
watch (secretly)：暗中監視
I feel like I'm being watched.
One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her.
as usual：像平常一樣
than usual：比平常 …
when …：時間狀語
so …：結果狀語
it is + adj. + (for sb.) to do sth.：對某人來說做某事 ...
After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible.
after a little time：過了一會兒
choose - chose - chosen
as … as possible：盡可能 ...
句型演練
表示比較常用句型
- as … as
not as … as / not so … as - less（+ 不可數n.）… than / fewer（+ 可數n.）… than
=not as much … as / not as many … as - not much / not many= little / few
*He hasn't as many books as I have.
=He has fewer books than I have.
He hasn't got as much work to do as I have.
=He has got less work to do than I have.
There isn't much I can do to help him.
=There is little I can do to help him.*
作文
I arrived at the office late as usual but Mr. Blake saw me and he was very angry. 'This is your last day here, Jones,' he said. 'You can either stay here or go home!'
To go into temptation to find how strong you are, is as wise as to go before a mirror, with closed eyes, to find how you look when asleep.
