1. Lesson 14 After Twenty Years

2. Background information Contents
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Background information
Contents
Author
The American West
a. General Introduction
b. the Rocky Mountain States
c. the Pacific Coast States
d. Frontier Spirit and Expansion Towards the West
e. Violence in the 19th Century

3. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Author
O. Henry (1862—1910) was the pen name of William Sydney Porter, an American short story writer. His short, simple stories are noted for their careful plotting, ironic coincidences, and surprise endings.
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4. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Author
O. Henry was born William Sydney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina. He went to Texas in 1882 and worked at various jobs—as teller in an Austin bank (1891—1894) and as a newspaperman for the Houston Post.
To be continued on the next page.

5. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Author
In 1898 an unexplained shortage in the Austin bank was charged to him. Although many people believed him innocent, he fled to the Honduras but returned to be with his wife, who was fatally ill. He eventually served three years in prison, where he first started writing short stories.
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6. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Author
Upon his release he settled in New York. Although his stories have been criticized as shallow and contrived, O. Henry did catch the color and movement of the city and evidenced a genuine sympathy for ordinary people.
O. Henry's humorous, energetic style shows the influence of Mark Twain and Ambrose Bierce.
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7. Author Write what you like; there is no other rule. --- O. Henry
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Author
Write what you like; there is no other rule.
--- O. Henry
His approximately 300 stories are collected in Cabbages and Kings (1904), The Four Million (1906), The Voice of the City (1908), Options (1909), and others.
The end of Author.

8. The end of General Introduction.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
General Introduction
The American West is generally considered to include the eight Rocky Mountain states and the three Pacific Coast states. Historically, the West has been mainly a sociopolitical or even mythological concept rather than a specific geographical area.
The end of General Introduction.

9. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
The Rocky Mountain States: This region consists of eight states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
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10. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Idaho
Arizona
Colorado
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11. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
New Mexico
Montana
Nevada
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12. The end of the Rocky Mountain States.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Utah
Utah Lake
Yellow Stone
Wyoming
The end of the Rocky Mountain States.

13. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
The Pacific Coast States: This division includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington — and, as its name suggests, they all have coastlines on the Pacific Ocean (and are the only states that border that ocean) according to the United States Census Bureau's definition of West Region.
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14. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Alaska
Hawaii
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15. The end of the Pacific Coast States.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
California
Oregon
Washington State
The end of the Pacific Coast States.

16. Frontier Spirit and Expansion To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Frontier Spirit and Expansion
towards the West
This spirit has shaped American history in a unique way. The frontier spirit that existed in the 19th century was born in part of a need to own land. And the government then encouraged the white to exploit the West. This mentality and historical experience is favored by most Americans today as adventurous, active, and enterprising. .
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17. Frontier Spirit and Expansion To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Frontier Spirit and Expansion
towards the West
In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson sent a secret message to Congress calling for an expedition into the area west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. From then on the white Americans spared no effort to exploit the West; during this course, the West was developed but the native Americans suffered extremely especially in the 19th century.
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18. Frontier Spirit and Expansion
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Frontier Spirit and Expansion
towards the West
The Americans were a competitive, ambitious, upwardly mobile people who had a strong sense of self-reliance. The conquering of an environment by an individual was a mark of success. Fear of unknown places was unacceptable and a hindrance to movement. These traits, first formulated in western expansion, persist today with the slightest modifications.
The end of this part.

19. Violence in the 19th Century The end of the American West.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
The American West
Violence in the 19th Century
In the 19th century, the settlers in the west were most very tough and imprudent. The way they settled conflicts with each other was very violent as then there were no adequate system of law and governmental institutions to turn to. And gunfighters were common. To be able to handle guns seemed to be a basic survival skill under the circumstances.
The end of the American West.

20. Text Appreciation Contents Text Analysis Writing Devices
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Appreciation
Contents
Text Analysis
Writing Devices
Ironic Ending
Euphemism
III. Sentence Paraphrase

21. I. Text Analysis Plot of the story
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
I. Text Analysis
Plot of the story
Bob and Jim had obviously been close friends twenty years ago when they were young. Before their separation, they made an appointment to meet again at exactly the same place and the same hour twenty years later.
The end of Plot.

22. Text Analysis Setting of the story On a business avenue of New York:
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Setting of the story
On a business avenue of New York:
Referring to Paras. 1, 11
The same hour: ten o’clock at night
Referring to Paras. 3, 4, 5 and 7
The same place:
‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant 20 years ago—in the doorway of a hardware store now
The end of Setting.

23. Text Analysis Drama of the story
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Drama of the story
When they met again twenty years later, they should find themselves on opposite sides of the law—one was the man wanted by the police and the other turned out to be the police officer instructed to watch out for the runaway criminal. But no matter how much Jim had cherished their friendship, he would not let a personal relationship stand in the way of discharging his duty.
The end of Drama.

24. Text Analysis Theme of the story Loyalty to friend
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Theme of the story
Loyalty to friend
VS. Devotion to duty
The end of Theme.

25. Text Analysis Structure of the text
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Structure of the text
The policeman (Jimmy) met with Bob and had a conversation.
Part 1 (paras. 1—17) about:
Part 2 (paras.18—33) about:
Bob was arrested by a plain clothes man without his awareness until he found that the policeman was his expected friend Jimmy.
The end of Structure.

26. Protagonists of the story
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Protagonists of the story
Bob
Jimmy
smart
restless
ambitious
ready to try in every
way to reach his goal
He had made his
fortune, though.
He had many fights.
He had broken the law.
average height
a bit slow
strongly built
not so adventurous
honest, truthful,
responsible and devoted
He was obviously a good
police officer.
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27. Protagonists of the story
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
I. Text Analysis
Protagonists of the story
Para. 6: His tiepin was a large diamond, oddly set.
Bob:
Para. 10: He pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds.
Para. 31: He was wanted by the police.
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28. Protagonists of the story
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Protagonists of the story
Bob:
Para. 6: the light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and little white scar near his right eyebrow.
Para. 9: “The West is a pretty big place, and I kept running around over it pretty lively.”
Para. 13: “I’ve had to compete with some of the sharpest brains going to get my money. It takes the West to make a man really keen.”
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29. Protagonists of the story
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Text Analysis
Protagonists of the story
Jimmy:
Para. 2: the officer, with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.
Para.9: … “for he always was the truest, best old friend in the world.”
Para. 13: “He was a kind of slow man, though, good fellow as he was.”
The end of Text Analysis.

30. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Writing Devices
Ironic ending
We don’t know what happened twenty years ago that made them so special to each other. But it was clear that Jim was a good honest man and always true to his friends and Bob admired and trusted him. Slipping along this way, we would expect a very touching story. But the ending is very dramatic and surprising.
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31. The end of Ironic Ending.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Writing Devices
Ironic ending
O. Henry’s most famous stories, such as “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Furnished Room,” and “The Ransom of Red Chief”, make simple yet effective use of paradoxical coincidences to produce ironic endings. For example, in “The Gift of the Magi” a husband sells his watch to buy his wife a Christmas present of a pair of hair combs; unbeknownst to him, she cuts and sells her long hair to buy him a Christmas present of a new chain for his watch. His style of storytelling became a model not only for short fiction, but also for American motion pictures and television programs.
The end of Ironic Ending.

32. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Writing Devices
Euphemism
Examples
A euphemism is a word or phrase used to mask a rude or offensive concept. This figure of speech provides a technique to avoid taboos by being polite. Many euphemisms are so common, that we don't even recognize them as such.
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33. Writing Devices Euphemism Examples:
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Writing Devices
Euphemism
Examples:
We are experiencing heavy casualties. (many soldiers are being killed)
There is a logjam in the river. (constipation)
Downsizing, rightsizing or laying off. (getting rid of
employees)
Praying to the porcelain altar. (vomiting into the toilet)
If something happens to me. (if I die)
Sanitation Worker. (trash collector)
Unplanned landing. (plane crash)
The end of Euphemism.

34. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 1
The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. (para. 1)
beat: the area of the town or city that a police officer regularly walks around; his route, which he patrols
on the beat:
checking the area he is assigned to
go to 2

35. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 2
The impressiveness was… not for show, for spectators were few. (para. 1)
This policeman was impressive in a natural way. He was not trying to look important, because it didn‘t make sense—there were few people in the street to see him.
This description shows that Jim has become an excellent police officer.
go to 3

36. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 3
Trying doors as he went… a guardian of the peace. (para. 2)
This sentence showed Jim’s strong sense of responsibility.
His clever swinging of the club showed his confidence and competence as a cop. His air of superiority showed his pride and sense of dignity as a law-enforcing officer.
go to 4

37. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 4
Careful description of the details
In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. (para. 3)
It had to be a darkened store and Bob’s cigar had to be unlighted, otherwise Jim would see that it was the man wanted by the police in Chicago.
go to 5

38. Sentence Paraphrase 5 … to make certain it’s all straight. (para. 4)
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 5
… to make certain it’s all straight. (para. 4)
to make sure that it’s all true
Here means true, accurate. It also means honest, frank.
I’ll be straight with you. You will lose this job if you don’t work hard.
Yes or no? Can’t you give me a straight answer?
go to 6

39. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 6
The light showed a pale, square-jawed face… oddly set. (para. 6)
The match light showed a face which must have fitted the description of the wanted man.
the diamond placed in a strange or unusual way showing the owner’s lack of taste
go to 7

40. to calculate; to find out
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 7
We figure that in twenty years each of us ought to have our fate worked out… whatever they were going to be. (para. 7)
We guessed that by that time we should have already decided what to do with our lives, or we should have already found our places in society.
to calculate; to find out
go to 8

41. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 8
Haven’t you heard from your friend since you left? (para. 8)
General questions in the negative are often used to show surprise or doubt.
More examples
Mary’s back. Didn't you know?
Are you not coming? It is really a wonderful game.
go to 9

42. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 9
A man gets stuck in New York. It takes the West to make a man really keen. (para. 13)
Culture Notes
A man is unable to go very far or to be very successful in New York. He can’t escape the boring life. He has to go to the West to become an eager and exciting person.
go to 10
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43. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase
In the early 20th century, this also suggested that because New York city was “civilized”, it had too many laws, and so getting rich quickly was less likely. In the West, however, one could bypass the rules and through being tougher and smarter one could become rich very fast.
back to 9

44. Are you going to leave immediately? (15)
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 10
I’ ll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. (para. 15)
All right here means without any problem.
I have to go now.
Are you going to leave immediately? (15)
Jim wanted to make sure that Bob wouldn't escape while he was away.
go to 11

45. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase
all right can also means fairly healthy, well ; safe, uninjured
More examples
I hope you can understand the book all right.
I am feeling all right again.
The car turned over but the driver was all right.
back to 10

46. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 11
“Bless my heart!” exclaimed the new arrival, … (para. 22)
(= bless my soul) used to express surprise This expression is rather old-fashioned.
Here it refers to the man who has newly arrived.
go to 12

47. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 12
Moderately, I have a position in one of the city departments. (para. 26)
He didn't say straight that he had a position in the police department.
understatement
so-so; not too well, not too badly either
I have a job in one of the departments of the city government.
go to 13

48. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 13
Chicago… wants to have a chat with you. (para. 31)
Here refers to Chicago police.
euphemism
Chicago police is trying to track you down, arrest you and take you to court.
go to 14

49. The end of Sentence Paraphrase.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Sentence Paraphrase 14
Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job. (para. 33)
Somehow I couldn't arrest you myself, so I…
Jim had mixed feelings. He knew what his duty was. But the memories of their friendship, the expressions of Bob’s undying respect and admiration for him and the fact that Bob had come all the way from thousand miles away just to keep the appointment made 20 years ago must have deeply touched him.
The end of Sentence Paraphrase.

50. Contents Extension Oral Work  Quiz  Writing
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Contents
Extension
Oral Work 
Quiz 
Writing

51. The end of Group Discussion.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Oral Work
Have you got a teacher who is dedicated to his/her job? What teaching skills he/she is good at?
When your friend has done something wrong, will you point that out?
In our Chinese traditional community, people usually pay special attention to such relationship as friendship and “personal loyalty (义气)” is very much valued. As the saying goes, “At home we depend upon our relatives, while outside we rely on friends (在家靠亲戚，出门靠朋友).” Why do you think friendship is so important?
How do you think we can promote people’s conscientious performance on their job?
The end of Group Discussion.

52. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Oral Work
Topics for debating:
In order to please one’s best friend, it’s worthy to lose one’s job.
We should always share our pleasure with our best friend.
To serve our public job well, we must not let friendship affect our judgment.
The end of Debating.

53. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz
List
Quiz 1
Quiz 2

54. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz 1
Give a word or expression that has a meaning similar to the given words.
avenue
barely
slight
air (of importance)
keen (eyes)
keen (person)
lively (adv.)
dismally
position (employment)
street
almost/just
a little
appearance
sharp
active/having strong interest in
energetically/actively
cheerlessly/sadly
job
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55. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz 1
to figure
though (adv)
directly
to exclaim
moderate
simultaneously
nowadays
presents
to suppose/ to guess/ to think
in spite of that
straightforwardly
to cry out
average/passable
at the same time
now/at the present (time)
gifts
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56. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz 1
special
genuinely
to wake
to rely
queer
to gleam
to cast (one’s eyes)
now and then
in existence
extraordinary
truly
to awake
to depend
strange
to shine
to throw/direct
from time to time
alive
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57. Chinese phrases into English.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz 1
Put the
Chinese phrases into English. 赴约
发大财
习惯早睡
走一两步
放慢脚步
点上雪茄
打开纸条
投去警觉的眼光
使街上空无一人
to fill an appointment
to make a large fortune
to keep early hours
to take a step or two
to slow one’s walk
to light a cigar
to unfold the paper
to cast a watchful eye
to empty the street
The end of Quiz 1.

58. To be continued on the next page.
Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz 2
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
My family are a funny lot. ________ my father’s brother, Uncle George, for example. He’s the black sheep of the _____ and nobody ever mentions him ______ they are asked a direct ______ about him. He ran away to sea at the ______ of 15 and no one heard a _______ from him until he returned 20 years _____.
Take
family
unless
question
age
word
later
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59. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Quiz 2
As far as I am _______, this makes them all much _____ interesting than him and I don’t think it’s right that they should look ____ on their brother. He ____ be the black sheep to them but to me _______ all his years of excitement and hardship at sea he seems a _____.
concerned
less
down
may
after
hero
The end of Quiz 2.

60. Lesson 14 - After Twenty Years
Writing
1. Imagine you are Jimmy Wells and describe your encounter with Bob in about 100 words.
2. Imagine you are Bob and describe your life adventure in the last twenty years in about 100 words.
The end of Writing.