The Million Pound Bank Note Unit 3 The Million Pound Bank Note Warming Up and Reading

What do you know about the American writer Mark Twain? Do you know any of his works? Can you name any of them?

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835 – 1910), better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

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Have you ever read Mark Twain’s The Million Pound Bank Note or seen the film?

Imagine that somebody gives you a large sum of money to spend as you like. What would you do with it?

run a business donate to the poor buy a big flat spend it on food buy books do some science research buy clothes use them up share with friends travel around the world put it in the bank

A brief introduction to The Million Pound Bank Note

Two rich gentlemen made a bet on what would happen to a person if he was given one million pound note. Henry, the hero of the story, an American young man, sailed too far and drifted out to the ocean. Fortunately, a British ship for London, passing by, saved him.

What do you think will happen to Henry? Will the bank-note help him or get him into trouble?

Fast reading 1. How many characters are there in the play? Five. 2. What did Henry get? A letter with money.

Careful reading 1. Where did Henry come from? 2. Why did he stare at something that was left of the brothers’ dinner on the table? 3. What was Henry’s attitude when he got a letter? San Francisco in America. Perhaps he was very hungry. He didn’t want the charity. He just wanted an honest job.

4. What did he do in America? He worked for a mining company. 5. How did he land in Britain? He was sailing out the bay when he was carried out to sea by a strong wind and was survived by a ship for London.

Tell the statements a fact (F) or an opinion (O) after fast reading. _____ Henry wants to find a job in London. _____ Henry is given an envelop by the two brothers. _____ Henry is an unlucky young man. _____ The servant is called James. _____ Henry is foolish to go and meet the two F F O F O

Explain the words in the text in English. wander permit stare at spot seek move about aimlessly or without any destination allow, let look at sb. / sth. for a long time see or notice a person or thing, esp. suddenly look for; try to get or reach Try to make sentences with these words.

Read again and fill in the blanks. sailing A month ago Henry was ______ out of the bay. Towards nightfall Henry found himself _______ out to sea by a strong wind. The next morning Henry was ________ by a ship. Lastly Henry arrived in ________ by working on the ship unpaid. carried spotted London lost Now Henry was _______ in London and wandering in the street. Just at that time Roderick _______ him and asked him to step in. To Henry’s surprise Roderick gave Henry a _____ with money in it. called letter

Describe how Henry’s feelings change. What he says or does How he feels Before he enters the brothers’ house When he introduces himself When the brothers ask him about his plan When he tells them how he reached London by ship miserable, unhappy, anxious wandering round London curious why he has been asked to go into the house behaves politely and answers questions fully admits his problems and asks for work; explains his situation hopeful that he might find a solution to his troubles blames himself for his carelessness; remembers how hungry he was when he sees the food on the table grateful that he was rescued; aware of his hunger

Describe how Henry’s feelings change. What he says or does How he feels When they seem happy that he has no money When they give him the envelope When they tell him there is money in it Before he leaves the house replies angrily angry, irritated irritated that he cannot open the envelope at once wants to open the envelope straightaway unhappy to be given money rather than working for it explains he wants a job not charity agrees not to open the letter till 2 p.m. interested and curious

Discuss Why do you think that the brothers chose Henry for their bet? It was his first visit to London so nobody knew him. He had no money so he would have to rely on the bank note. They thought he looked honest because he asked for a job and not charity.

2. What kind of person do you think Henry is? Why do you think so? Overconfident – he thought he could sail better than he could Independent – he worked for his passage as an unpaid hand to England. Honest – tells the truth to the brothers. Hard-working – wants work but not charity.

Enjoy a scene from the film The Million Pound Bank Note.

Homework Review the text and the sentences with new words. Suppose you get one million yuan bank note, how would you spend it? Write down your plan. 3. Read the text and try to retell it in your own words next time.