1、提升英语阅读素养，探索构建名著阅读课程体系，探索学科拓展新路径。After Twenty YearsOHenryO.Henry (18621910) was the pen name of William Sydney Porter，an American short story writer.His short，simple stories are noted for their careful plotting and surprising endings.The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively.The impr
2、essiveness was habitual and not for show，for spectators were few.The time was barely 10 oclock at night，but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well nigh depeopled the streets.Trying doors as he went，twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements，turning now and then to
3、 cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare，the officer，with his stalwart form and slight swagger，made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.The vicinity was one that kept early hours.Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter；but the majori
4、ty of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk.In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned，with an unlighted cigar in his mouth.As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up qui
5、ckly.“Its all right，officer，” he said，reassuringly.“Im just waiting for a friend.Its an appointment made twenty years ago.Sounds a little funny to you，doesnt it? Well，Ill explain if youd like to make certain its all straight.About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands B
6、ig Joe Bradys restaurant.”“Until five years ago，” said the policeman.“It was torn down then.”The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar.The light showed a pale，square-jawed face with keen eyes，and a little white scar near his right eyebrow.His scarfpin was a large diamond，oddly set.“Twe
7、nty years ago to-night，” said the man，“I dined here at Big Joe Bradys with Jimmy Wells，my best chum，and the finest chap in the world.He and I were raised here in New York，just like two brothers，together.I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty.The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortu
8、ne.You couldnt have dragged Jimmy out of New York；he thought it was the only place on earth.Well，we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time，no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come.We figured that in twent
9、y years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made，whatever they were going to be.”“It sounds pretty interesting，” said the policeman.“Rather a long time between meets，though，it seems to me.Havent you heard from your friend since you left？”“Well，yes，for a time we correspon
10、ded，” said the other.“But after a year or two we lost track of each other.You see，the West is a pretty big proposition，and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively.But I know Jimmy will meet me here if hes alive，for he always was the truest，stanchest old chap in the world.Hell never forget.I cam
11、e a thousand miles to stand in this door to-night，and its worth it if my old partner turns up.”The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch，the lids of it set with small diamonds.“Three minutes to ten，” he announced.“It was exactly ten oclock when we parted here at the restaurant door.”“Did pretty we
12、ll out West，didnt you？” asked the policeman.“You bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well.He was a kind of plodder，though，good fellow as he was.Ive had to compete with some of the sharpest wits going to get my pile.A man gets in a groove in New York.It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him.”The p
13、oliceman twirled his club and took a step or two.“Ill be on my way.Hope your friend comes around all right.Going to call time on him sharp？”“I should say not！” said the other.“Ill give him half an hour at least.If Jimmy is alive on earth hell be here by that time.So long，officer.”“Good night，sir，” s
14、aid the policeman，passing on along his beat，trying doors as he went.There was now a fine，cold drizzle falling，and the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow.The few foot passengers astir in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat collars turned high and pockete
15、d hands.And in the door of the hardware store the man who had come a thousand miles to fill an appointment，uncertain almost to absurdity，with the friend of his youth，smoked his cigar and waited.About twenty minutes he waited，and then a tall man in a long overcoat，with collar turned up to his ears，hu
16、rried across from the opposite side of the street.He went directly to the waiting man.“Is that you，Bob？” he asked，doubtfully. “Is that you，Jimmy Wells？” cried the man in the door.“Bless my heart！” exclaimed the new arrival，grasping both the others hands with his own.“Its Bob，sure as fate.I was certa
17、in Id find you here if you were still in existence.Well，well，well！twenty years is a long time.The old gone，Bob；I wish it had lasted，so we could have had another dinner there.How has the West treated you，old man？” “Bully；it has given me everything I asked it for.Youve changed lots，Jimmy.I never thoug
18、ht you were so tall by two or three inches.” “Oh，I grew a bit after I was twenty.” “Doing well in New York，Jimmy？” “Moderately.I have a position in one of the city departments.Come on，Bob；well go around to a place I know of，and have a good long talk about old times.” The two men started up the stree
19、t，arm in arm.The man from the West，his egotism enlarged by success，was beginning to outline the history of his career.The other，submerged in his overcoat，listened with interest. At the corner stood a drug store，brilliant with electric lights.When they came into this glare each of them turned simulta
20、neously to gaze upon the others face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm. “Youre not Jimmy Wells，” he snapped.“Twenty years is a long time，but not long enough to change a mans nose from a Roman to a pug.” “It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one，”said the tall man.“Yo
21、uve been under arrest for ten minutes，Silky Bob.Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way and wires us she wants to have a chat with you.Going quietly，are you? Thats sensible.Now，before we go on to the station heres a note I was asked to hand you.You may read it here at the window.Its from Pa
22、trolman Wells.”The man from the West unfolded the little piece of paper handed to him.His hand was steady when he began to read，but it trembled a little by the time he had finished.The note was rather short.“Bob：I was at the appointed place on time.When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw
23、 it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago.Somehow I couldnt do it myself，so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job.JIMMY.”.Reading and Comprehending：Fill in the blanks with the words given about the characters.adventurous；ambitious；boastful；dangerous；devoted；familiar；loyal；respo
24、nsible；stubborn.Writing：You are required to complete the following two paragraphs according to the requirements below.1With about 100 words altogether in two paragraphs.2The beginning of each paragraph has already been offered to you.3The words and phrases offered below shall be included in your sto
25、ry.(the old restaurant，alive，Jimmy Wells，appointment，New York) 4Underline the words you use from the above in your story.Paragraph 1：The hurried man went directly to the loiterer. Paragraph 2：Suddenly，the loiterer recognized that the man was not his friend Jimmy Wells.So the hurried man gave the loi
26、terer a note written by Jimmy Wells and 参考译文二十年以后欧亨利一名执勤的警察正威风凛凛地沿街巡逻。路上行人寥寥，所以他的威严并不是做秀，只是习惯成自然。差不多是晚上十点了，一阵阵寒风带着雨意，几乎把街上的行人都赶光了。他灵巧地来回转着手里的警棍，每家每户都仔细查看，警觉的目光不时地投向安静的街道，这位警察，身材强壮，昂首阔步，俨然一个和平守护者。附近的街区睡得都早，偶尔能看见一个雪茄店或通宵餐馆还亮着灯，其他的店铺早就打烊了。走到一个街区靠近中段的地方，警察突然放慢了脚步，他看见一家昏暗的五金店门口斜靠着一个人，嘴里叼着一支没有点燃的雪茄。当警察向他走
27、过去时，这个人立马开口说话了。“这边没事儿，警官，”他镇定自若地说。“我在等一个朋友。我们二十年前约好的，这听起来有点好笑是不是？你要是不放心呢，我可以把事情说给你听听。二十年前，这家店是一家餐馆，叫大乔布雷迪餐馆。”“五年前就拆了。” 警察说。店门口的这个人，划了根火柴，把雪茄点着。火光映出了一张苍白的，方正下巴的脸，一双尖锐的眼睛，右眼眉梢有块小小的白色的伤疤。他的领带别针是一块大钻石，镶得古里古怪。“二十年前的这一天夜里，”他说，“我和吉米威尔斯在这家饭店吃饭，吉米是我最好的朋友，也是全世界最好的人。我俩一起在纽约长大，情同手足。那年我十八，他二十。我决定第二天早上就动身去西部，想办法发
28、点财。吉米可不愿意去，他觉得全世界就纽约最好。然后，我们就约好，二十年以后还在这里见面，不管我们到时候混成什么样，赶多远的路。我们设想在二十年内我们的命运已成定局，也总该有了家产，不管前途如何。”“听起来挺有意思，”警察说。“我看这时间挺长的，你走了之后你们没联系吗？”“联系过，有一段时间我们写信，”另一个人说。“但一两年之后我们就失去联系了。你知道，西部不好混，这些年我就忙着赚钱了。可我知道只要吉米活着，他就一定会来，因为他一直都是世界上最忠诚、最讲义气的朋友。他绝不会忘的，今晚我千里迢迢赶来，站在这家店门口，只要能见他一面，就值得。”这个等候着的人掏出一块漂亮的怀表，表上也镶着些小钻石。“
29、还差三分钟十点，”他大声说，“二十年前我们就是十点在这个门口分开的。”“在西部混得不错，是吗？” 警察问他。“当然了！吉米的光景要是能赶上我的一半就好了。虽然他是个好人，但他是个迟钝的人。为了发财我得天天和一些极其精明的人竞争。一个人在纽约可以墨守成规，过过舒服日子，在西部就像刀架在脖子上，惶惶不可终日。”警察晃了晃警棍，向前走了一两步。“我得走了，但愿你朋友一会能来，就等到十点吗？”“当然不，我至少多等他半小时，只要吉米还活着，他一定会来。再见，警官！”“晚安，先生。” 警察说，一路继续挨家挨户地巡逻。天空中飘来冷冷的毛毛雨，忽大忽小的风开始猛烈地吹。街上零星的有几个行人，他们不声不响，闷闷
30、不乐地赶路，外衣的领口翻得高高的，手插在兜里。而站在五金店门口的那个人，千里迢迢来践约同年轻时代的朋友的聚会，这个约会本来就是极端靠不住的，现在只好一边抽烟一边等待。大概等了二十分钟，一个高个子，穿着长大衣的人走近了，衣领竖到了耳朵，急匆匆地从街的对面赶来，径直走向这个等待的人。“鲍勃，是你吗？”他将信将疑地问道。“吉米威尔斯，是你吗？”门口的人大声喊道。“哎哟，我的天！”后到的人喊着，双手紧握对方的手。“是鲍勃，千真万确，我就知道，只要你活着就一定会来。好，好，好！二十年可真不短啊。那家老餐馆已经不存在了，鲍勃，我希望它还在，我们好在这里再吃一顿。你在西部怎么样，老朋友？”“好极了！我想要的
31、，现在都有了。你的变化很大，吉米，我从来没有想到你会长得这么高，好像高了两三英寸。”“我二十岁以后又长个了。”“在纽约还不错吧？吉米。”“凑合吧。在市政府工作呢。来吧，鲍勃，咱们去我知道的一个地方，好好叙叙旧！”两个人挽着臂开始走在大街上。从西部来的那个人由于发迹而开始自我膨胀了，滔滔不绝地描述他的发家史。另一个人则低着头，饶有兴致地听着。在一个拐角处有一家药店，灯光明亮，当他们走到这个光圈里，两个人同时转过身打量着对方的面孔。西部回来的这个人突然停下了，放开了他的手臂。“你不是吉米威尔斯！”他厉声说道。“二十年的确很长，但再长也不能把一个人的鹰钩鼻变成狮子鼻。”“二十年有时却能把一个好人变成坏人，”大高个说道。“十分钟之前你已经被捕了，滑头鲍勃。芝加哥警方认为你可能潜逃到此，早就通知我们说，他们想跟你聊聊。咱们悄悄地去，好吗？那样做明智些。趁我们到警察局之前，这里有张便条，是人家托我亲手交给你的。你可以靠近窗口看一看，这是巡警威尔斯给你的。”从西部来的人打开交给他的小纸条。开始看的时候他的手很稳，但看完时却有点颤抖。那张纸条并不长。鲍勃：我按时到达了约定的地点。当你擦火柴点燃雪茄的时候，我看到一张芝加哥警方通缉的人的脸。可我下不去手，因此我走开并找到一个便衣警察来做这件事。吉米