1. Complete the story
——Focus on the clues
浙江省永嘉中学
潘淑芬

3. From Longman Dictionary Contemporary English
clue
information that helps you understand the reasons why something happens

4. Basic elements of a story
Step 1 Read for main idea
Basic elements of a story
When
Where
Who
What
an October afternoon
in Vera's aunt's house
James, Vera, the aunt

5. Step 2 Read for plots the aunt's tragedy Line 10-23 Setting: Event:
(time & place)
Event:
Influence:
three years ago today, in a wetland
Her husband and her two young brothers drowned with their bodies unfound.
They always kept the door wide open.
“She still believes that they will ...”
“She has often told me how they went out...”
“Do you know, sometimes, on quiet evenings like
this, I almost get a strange feeling that... ”

6. How did Vera feel about the tragedy?
Line 10-23
Line 10-23
How did Vera feel about the tragedy?
L 10 “So you don’t know her great tragedy. ” sighed the girl.
L 18 Here the girl’s voice lost its calm.
vividly
L the girl shook her head sadly.
L 23 She stopped and trembled.
Tip1: Use the clues to infer the feeling.

7. James was a ______________ person.
nervous
L 3 James wondered what to say to the young girl.
Strangers always made him feel nervous.
L 4 In fact, he had come to the countryside to calm his nerve.
L 8 He made the last statement in a slight voice.
L 11 “Her tragedy?” asked James, nervously.
L 23 It was a relief to James when the aunt entered the room
and apologized for being late.
Tip2: Use the clues to infer the personality .

8. Step 2 Read for plots
How did Vera's aunt feel ?
sad ?
cheerful ?

9. Vera was a ______________person.
tone(语气): It was a tragedy?
joke!
L 1 You have to put up with me until then.” the young girl
told James jokingly.
L 5 Do you know any people around here?” asked the
calm girl. Her words broke a long silence.
L 7 “Then you don’t know anything about my aunt?”
explored the young girl .
to confirm
L 25 “I hope my lovely Vera has been amusing you!” she said.
“I hope you don't mind the open door,” said the aunt
cheerfully.
Vera was a ______________person.
naughty /calm/
outgoing/ lovely ...
Tip3: Use the clues to infer the tone.

10. Step 3 Read for thinking
Paragraph 1
“I hope you don't mind the open door,” said the aunt cheerfully.
___________________________________________________
Paragraph 2
In the dim light, three figures were walking across the lawn towards the door,___________________________________
She might explain the reason
Who the three figures are
Key words: James nervous tragedy door warm shooting
little brown dog white raincoat strange Vera
Character:_______________________________________
Events:__________________________________________
Feeling:__________________________________________
James
Vera
tragedy
door
shooting
little brown dog
white raincoat
nervous
warm
strange

11. action Clues feeling James Vera The aunt ... Character
...said the aunt cheerfully

12. Homework
Complete the story based on the clues.
Thank you!