Teaching Poetry

　　No poem should ever be discussed or “analysed”,until it has been read aloud by someone,teacher or student.Better still,perhaps,read it twice,once at the beginning of the discussion and once at the end,so the sound of the poem is the last thing one hears.

　　All discussions of poetry are,in fact,preparations for reading it aloud,and the reading of the poem is,finally,the most telling “interpretation” of it—suggesting tone,rhythm,and meaning all at once.Hearing a poet read in his or her own voice,on records or on films,is obviously a special reward.But even those aids to teaching can not replace the student and teacher reading it or,best of all,reciting it.

　　I have come to think,in fact,that time spent reading a poem aloud is much more important than “analysing” it,if there isn’t time for both.I think one of our goals as teachers of English is to have students love poetry.Poetry is “a criticism of life”,and “a heightening of life”.It is “an approach to the truth of feeling”,and it can “save your life”.It also deserves a place in the teaching of language and literature more central than it presently occupies.

　　I am not saying that every English teacher must teach poetry.Those who don’t like it should not be forced to communicate this to anyone else.But those who do teach poetry must keep in mind a few things about its essential nature,about its sound as well as its sense,and they must make room in the classroom for hearing poetry as well as thinking about it.

　　【语篇导读】文章讲述作者作为英语教师,其目的之一就是让学生喜欢诗歌,并会在课堂上留出些时间来让学生听诗歌、思考诗歌。

　　1.To have a better understanding of a poem,one should 　　　.

　　A.analyze it by oneself

　　B.discuss it with others

　　C.practise reading it aloud

　　D.copy it down in a notebook

　　答案　C

　　解析　细节理解题。根据文章的第一句“No poem should ever be discussed or ‘analysed’,until it has been read aloud by someone”以及第二段的第一句“All discussions of poetry are,in fact,preparations for reading it aloud”可知,C项正确。

　　2.According to the writer,one of the purposes of teaching English is to get students 　　　.

　　A.to enjoy poetry B.to become poets

　　C.to become teachers D.to understand life

　　答案　A

　　解析　细节理解题。根据第三段中的“I think one of our goals as teachers of English is to have students love poetry.”可知,作为英语教师我们的目的之一就是让学生喜欢诗歌,所以选A项。

　　3.What does the last sentence in the third paragraph imply?

　　A.The teaching of poetry is more important than any other subject.

　　B.More importance should be given to the teaching of poetry.

　　C.Poetry is the foundation of all language and literature courses.

　　D.One cannot enjoy life fully without an understanding of poetry.

　　答案　B

　　解析　句意理解题。第三段最后一句是指诗歌应该在语言和文学教学中占有更重要的地位。由此可知,应该更重视诗歌教学。

　　4.The underlined phrase “make room” in the last paragraph could be best replaced by “　　　”.

　　A.provide equipment

　　B.build a school

　　C.set up a house

　　D.leave a certain amount of time

　　答案　D

　　解析　词义猜测题。根据画线单词后面的“in the classroom for hearing poetry as well as thinking about it” 可知,此处想表达在课堂要留出些时间来让学生听诗歌、思考诗歌。