1. Racing For Love— The Story of Atalanta and Hippomenes
Lesson 9
Racing For Love— The Story of Atalanta and Hippomenes
Main Reading

2. Group Work! Form groups of five or six.
Each group will receive a packet in which there are pieces of passages and a piece of paper with double-sided tape on it.
Please work together and put all the pieces of passages in a reasonable order.
The first group who finishes this work with the right order will receive a small reward from the teacher.

3. Background of the Story
Setting/Place: Greece Time: In ancient times
Characters: Princess Atalanta, Hippomenes, Aphrodite

4. 精通
be skillful in/at + Ving/N.
e.g. Jerry is skillful in math.
(Paragraph 1)
Princess Atalanta was a terrific athlete in ancient Greece. Very skillful in masculine activities, the fair young lady was an excellent runner, archer, and huntress. Proud of their vigorous and graceful princess, everyone in the country wondered what young man could ever be a match for her. But Atalanta did not want to give up her freedom. She consented to marry only if a man could outrun her in a race. Many men made the attempt but none could keep up with her. It soon became clear that no other human being could run as fast as Atalanta.
分詞構句(Being)
分詞構句(Being)
= beautiful
only if + 子句
只要…
consent to + N./V. 同意
= wanted to know
(n.) 適合她的人
= no one among them
跑得比她快
make the attempt to + V. 嘗試
= catch up with 趕上
(adv.)

5. (Paragraph 2)
One young man, Hippomenes, watched in awe as Atalanta won one of her races. As she sped by, the maiden seemed as swift and graceful as a falcon. Her dark hair rippled over her white shoulders, the colored ribbons she wore fluttered, and her face grew rose-colored during the fierce race. Hippomenes fell deeply in love with Atalanta. Unable to outrun the beautiful huntress, however, he prayed to Aphrodite for help.
speed by 加速經過
= when
玫瑰色的
fall in love with …
和…陷入愛河
分詞構句(Being)
pray to/ask 人 for help 向…求助

6. (Paragraph 3)
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, heard Hippomenes and decided to help him. She appeared to the man and gave him three apples of pure gold. Aphrodite told him to use the golden apples in the race and then she vanished.
同位語
出現在…面前
= disappeared

7. (Paragraph 4) So Hippomenes challenged Atalanta to a race
(Paragraph 4) So Hippomenes challenged Atalanta to a race. When Atalanta saw Hippomenes, she was struck by the beauty of his golden hair and the smoothness of his face. For a moment, she was not sure if she must outrun this young handsome man. Still, her desire for freedom tugged at her heart.
challenge 人 to + N. 向某人挑戰N.
被….所吸引、所震懾住
有一瞬間 是否
= However
desire for + N.
desire to + V. …的慾望

8. (Paragraph 5)
The race began and Atalanta immediately outpaced Hippomenes. The young man had to toss one of the golden apples right away. It landed near Atalanta’s feet and rolled to the side of the road. The apple diverted the princess’s attention. She stopped briefly to pick it up. Hippomenes took the opportunity and caught up with her. But Atalanta started running again and soon pulled ahead, so Hippomenes had to throw another apple.

9. (Paragraph 5-Cont.) Once more, Atalanta stopped to get it, and Hippomenes got ahead. When Atalanta was back in the race, she picked up her pace and recovered the lead. Hippomenes hurled the last apple further away from the road. Atalanta hesitated. The goal was now in sight, but the shining golden apple was too tempting a prize to pass up. She decided to run to the apple and grab it.

10. (Paragraph 5)
The race began and Atalanta immediately outpaced Hippomenes. The young man had to toss one of the golden apples right away. It landed near Atalanta’s feet and rolled to the side of the road. The apple diverted the princess’s attention. She stopped briefly to pick it up. Hippomenes took the opportunity and caught up with her. But Atalanta started running again and soon pulled ahead, so Hippomenes had to throw another apple. 立刻
丟、拋
立刻 = immediately
stop + Ving 停止…
stop + to + V. 停止正在做的事，去… 滾
把握機會
短暫地

11. (Paragraph 5-Cont.)
Once more, Atalanta stopped to get it, and Hippomenes got ahead. When Atalanta was back in the race, she picked up her pace and recovered the lead. Hippomenes hurled the last apple further away from the road. Atalanta hesitated. The goal was now in sight, but the shining golden apple was too tempting a prize to pass up. She decided to run to the apple and grab it.
= Once again
= picked up her speed
= farther
far-further-furthest 距離更遠、程度更甚
far-farther-farthest 單指 “距離”更遠 領先
= the other apple
領先地位
在視線範圍內
too adj. to. + V. 太…以致於不能…

12. (Paragraph 6) Now Hippomenes had a bigger lead
(Paragraph 6) Now Hippomenes had a bigger lead. He was almost approaching the finish line. His face was red with exhaustion and he was gasping for air. Atalanta, on the other hand, was running as swiftly as an arrow shooting toward its target. But it was too late. Hippomenes crossed the finish line first, and he was barely one step ahead. Atalanta lost the race. She had to keep her promise and marry Hippomenes. (Paragraph 7) From then on, the couple were seen racing in the countryside many times. But Hippomenes never won again.
大幅領先
= because of
信守諾言
= keep her word
(which was)
分詞片語，修飾arrow
= only
早一步
from…(某個時間點)…on 從…起

13. Comprehension Check: The Main Idea (p.168)B
What is the main idea of “Racing for Love─The Story of Atalanta and Hippomenes”? (A) To outrun the fastest runner, we need to grow a golden-apple tree. (B) With the help of Aphrodite, Hippomenes won Atalanta’s heart with a special strategy. (C) If we want to realize a dream, we can ask a god or goddess for help. 手段 計策

14. Comprehension Check: True or False (p.168)
1. Atalanta didn’t want to get married for fear of being outrun. 2. Hippomenes took the lead during the race most of the time. 3. Hippomenes sped past Atalanta after he threw the second apple. 4. Hippomenes outran Atalanta because he had practiced diligently. 5. Hippomenes defeated Atalanta in a race only once. F
因為害怕被超越 F T F
勤勞的 T

15. Background of the Story
Setting/Place: Greece Time: In ancient times
Characters: Princess Atalanta Hippomenes

16. Sequence of Events: 1
( ) Princess Atalanta was an excellent athlete, and no man could be her match.
( ) Hippomenes challenged Atalanta to a race.
( ) During the game, Hippomenes tossed the three apples one at a time to divert Atalanta’s attention.
( ) Unable to outdo Atalanta, Hippomenes turned to Aphrodite for help.
( ) A young man, Hippomenes, madly loved her at first sight.
( ) He finally defeated her in the race and married her.
( ) Aphrodite decided to help Hippomenes and gave him three golden apples.
( ) Princess Atalanta agreed to marry if a man could outrun her in a race. 6 7 4 3 8 5 2