Lesson 19 A very dear cat
一只贵重的宝贝猫
一、【Text】课文
Kidnappers are rarely interested in Animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs Eleanor Ramsay's cat. Mrs Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady,has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years. Rastus leads an orderly life. He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock. One evening, however, he failed to arrive. Mrs Ramsay got very worried. She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.
Three day after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs Ramsay received an anonymous letter. The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs Ramsay paid a ransom of &1000. Mrs Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door. At first, she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see Rastus again --the letter had made that quite clear--she changed her mind. She drew &1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions. The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word. Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening. He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk. The police were astounded when Mrs Ramsay told them what she had done. She explained that Rastus was very dear to her. Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!

二、【New words and expressions】生词和短语

◆dear adj. 亲爱的，珍贵的；昂贵的
◆kidnapper n. 绑架者，拐骗者
◆considerable    adj. 相当大的
◆wealthy    adj. 富的，有钱的
◆orderly    adj. 有规律的
◆disappearance n. 失踪
◆anonymous       adj. 匿名的
◆ransom    n. 赎金
◆cardboard n. 硬纸板
◆withdraw (withdrew, withdrawn ) v. （从银行）取钱
◆punctually adv. 准时地
◆astound    v. 使吃惊

★dear adj. 亲爱的，珍贵的；昂贵的
I can’t afford the car because it’s too dear.
The cat is dear to me.
cost sb dear 花了某人很多钱

★kidnapper n. 绑架者，拐骗者
kidnap 绑架

★★★considerable adj. 相当大的
a considerable business 大规模企业
He has got a considerable success.
considerably adv.
It’s considerably colder today than yesterday.
considerate adj. 体贴的
be considerate to sb 对某人很体贴入微
Are you considerate you wife?
considered 经过考虑的
It’s my considered opinion. 这是我经过考虑的看法。
all things considered 就各方面而言
Eg: All things considered, he finished the work well.
considering prep & conj. & adv.
Eg.: Considering his age, the little boy reads very well.

considering (that )
considering adv.
He studies English well, considering.

★wealthy adj. 富的，有钱的
★orderly adj. 有规律的
★disappearance n. 失踪
★anonymous adj. 匿名的
★ransom n. 赎金
pay ransom to sb.
The old lady paid a ransom of one thousand pounds to the kidnapper.
hold sb to ransom 绑票（索取赎金）
They kidnapped the boy and held him to rensom.

★cardboard n. 硬纸板
★withdraw (withdrew, withdrawn ) v. （从银行）取钱
★punctually adv. 准时地
not early nor late
punctual adj.
punctuality n.

★astound v. 使吃惊
语意程度比surprise要强得多

吃惊程度 astoud>amaze>astonish>surprise
He was astounded to hear of her death.
They were amazed to find the lazy girl came very early.

surprising----> surprised

三、【课文精析】

seldom take interest in

take great interest in

share sth. with sb.
I share the room with my friend.

for a long time

disciplined regular

take a short walk go for a stroll

however

look for  find

after可以和名词搭配
Three days after~ arrival
state;非常正式的声明

instruct: order
be instructed to do sth.
The journalist was instructed to obtain...

fearing 现在分词做原因状语

make it clear to sb that
The teacher has made it clear to us that we must read English aloud every day.

keep his promise
word 表示诺言时，要采用单数形式
keep his word break his word give sb. one’s word

as good as one's word 表示守信用，侧重点在于强调一个结果
go back on one's word 食言

sure enough 果然，无疑
I said would happen, and sure enough it did happen.

half a bottle of milk

in more ways than one ( way ) in many ways

双重意义：dear  price 昂贵； expensive 珍贵

The comma 逗号的用法
三个或三个以上的词、短语或句子只用一个并列连接词来连接，他们之间就要用逗号，并列连接词前也要用逗号。

插入语或同位语前后必须用逗号分开

状语从句位于句首时也要用逗号和主句分隔开来，放在句尾则不需要

非限制性定语从句必须用逗号分开

语次转变词也应该用逗号将其和句子其他成分分开

介词短语和分词短语位于句首时也必须加逗号加以分隔