Unit 2
The Fourth TuesdayWe Talk About Death
Introduction
People know they’re going to die but nobody believes it.
To be prepared for death at any time, you can be more
involved in your life. Do what the Buddhists do; have a
bird on your shoulder that asks, “Is today the day?” Once
you learn how to die, you learn how to live.
Body I
People don’t really believe they are going to die because
most of them don’t experience the world fully. They
automatically do the things that they think they have to do.
However, facing death can strip away all that stuff and
make people focus on the essentials.
Body II
If you really accepted that you could die at any time, you
might not be as ambitious as you are. You might make
room for some more spiritual things. We tend to spend too
much time on materialistic things but take spiritual things
for granted such as the loving relationships we have, the
universe around us.
Conclusion
Though Morrie can’t go out freely without fear of getting sick, he
appreciates the window more than Mitch does. Since he knows his
time is almost done, he is drawn to nature like he is seeing it for the
first time. That’s what Morrie means by saying, “Learn how to die
and you learn how to live.”
1/11
“People know they’re going to die,” Morrie said,
“but nobody believes it. If only we did, we
would do things differently.”
“So we kid ourselves about death,” I said.
“Yes, but there’s a better approach: to know
you’re going to die, and to be prepared for it at
any time. That’s better. That way, you can actually
be more involved in your life while you’re living.”
“How can you ever be prepared to die?” I asked.
 If only we did, we would do things differently.”
If only在此譯作「要是…」，表示「與現在事
實相反」， 動詞要用假設的時態。
例: If only Julia could speak Japanese, she could
have a chat with Ayu.
要是Julia會說日文，她就可以和Ayu聊天。
例:If only I had been able to swim that summer!
要是那年夏天我會游泳就好了!
[問題1]
1.但願人類能和大自然和諧相處。
2. 我剛剛上課要是有作筆記就好了。
3. Mary要是有帶雨傘，現在就不會淋濕了。
 kid vt. 欺騙 (= deceive/fool/trick)
◊ The widow tried to kid herself that everything
would be okay.
be prepared for + N. (prepare oneself for)
be prepared to + V.
be involved in 參與；投入
 at any time 隨時 (= anytime, any time)
◊ The salesperson promised that if the cell
phone couldn’t work, I could exchange it
for a new one at any time.
2/11
“Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have
a little bird on your shoulder that asks, ‘Is today
the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do?
Am I being the person I want to be?’ ”
He turned his head to his shoulder as if the
bird were there with him now. “Is today the day I
die?” he asked.
“The truth is, Mitch,” he said, “once
you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
I nodded.
 what 在此作複合關係代名詞，即the things which ，
前方不需先行詞。what 在此引導的名詞子句，作動
詞do 的受詞，例：
◊ Barbie couldn’t grasp what I just said, so I had to
explain to her again.
複合關係代名詞除了有what之外，還有whoever、
whomever、whatever、whichever等，由疑問詞加上“ever”字尾的字詞，例：
◊ Whoever attend the meeting will get a special gift.
(→ whoever引導名詞子句，作主詞)
◊ You may send the invitation to whomever you wish to
invite. (→ whomever引導名詞子句，作受詞)
◊ Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can say
whatever you want to hurt other people.
(→ whatever引導名詞子句，作受詞)
◊ Whichever day you choose is fine with me.
(→ whichever引導名詞子句，作主詞)
所謂的複合關係代名詞就是先行詞加上關係代名
詞，其可以引導名詞子句，作主詞、受詞或者是補
He turned his head to his shoulder as if the
語，也可以引導表示「讓步」的副詞子句，例：
bird were there with him now.
◊ Whatever your parents say, they don’t mean to hurt
you.
(→ whatever引導表示「讓步」的副詞子句)
◊ Whichever I choose, it cost me more than ten
thousand dollars.
(→ whichever引導表示「讓步」的副詞子句)
Am I doing all I need to do?
Am I being the person I want to be?
此兩句均為現在進行式
 He turned his head to his shoulder as if the bird
were there with him now.
as if在此譯作「彷彿」，在此句中引導表示與
事實相反 的子句，事實是他旁邊並沒有鳥。
as if 假設的用法，是比較與主要動詞是否同一
時間，若同一時間，則假設用過去式；若發生
時間較早或有完成概念，則假設用過去完成式。
例: Mary looks at me as if she didn’t know me.
(事實是Mary knows me.)
(情境knows與looks同一時間，故假設用過
去式didn’t know)
例:Sue was new here, but she talked to her
neighbors as if she had known them for a long
time.
(“認識很久”有完成概念，故假設用過去完成
式had known)
[問題2]
1. Joe打破了花瓶，但他表現得彷彿沒事發生一樣。
2. 麥可(現在)吃東西的樣子好像好幾天沒吃東西了。
 once conj. 一旦
◊ Once you try this drug, you may get addicted to it.
3/11
“I’m going to say it again,” he said.
“Once you learn how to die, you learn how
to live.” He was making sure I absorbed
this point, without embarrassing me by
asking if I had really got it. It was part of
what made him a good teacher.
 He was making sure I absorbed this point,
without embarrassing me by asking if I had
really got it.
 make sure 確認
◊ Celia made sure that she signed her name before
handing in the contract.
 absorb vt. 理解，汲取(知識等)
(= take in/get/grasp)
◊ The genius spent only ten seconds absorbing all
the information in the article.
 He was making sure I absorbed this point,
without embarrassing me by asking if I had
really got it.
 此處為間接問句，if在此譯作「是否」，即
whether，引導名詞子句，作動詞ask的受詞。
[問題3]
請將本句(間接問句)改為直接問句:
…by asking, “
?”
4/11
“Did you think much about death before you
got sick?” I asked.
“No,” Morrie smiled. “I was like everyone
else. I once told a friend of mine, in a moment
of exuberance, ‘I’m gonna be the healthiest old
man you’ve ever met!’ ”
“How old were you?” I asked.
“In my sixties,” Morrie smiled again.
“So you were optimistic,” I said.
“Why not?” Morrie replied. “Like I said,
people don’t really believe they’re going to die.”
[問題4]
請將以下句子(直接問句)改為間接問句
“Did you think much about death before you
got sick?” I asked.
I asked
“How old were you?” I asked.
I asked
.
 a friend of mine限定詞(如冠詞、指示形容
詞、不定形容詞、所有格等)可用以修飾名
詞，但不能同時使用 兩個。若要同時使用
，必須改以「雙重所有格」的形式呈現，
以表示關係。「雙重所有格」 的寫法為「
限定詞 + N + of + 所有格代名詞」，例：
◊ Have you learned this news of the teacher’s?
5/11
“But everyone knows someone who has died,” I
said. “Why is it so hard to think about dying?”
“Because,” Morrie continued, “most of us all walk
around as if we’re sleepwalking. We really don’t
experience the world fully, because we’re half asleep,
automatically doing the things we think we
have to do.”
“And facing death changes all that?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. You strip away all that stuff and you
focus on the essentials,” he said. “When you realize
you are going to die, you see everything much
differently.” He sighed. “Learn how to die, and you
learn how to live.”
 “Because,” Morrie continued, “most of us all
walk around as if we’re sleepwalking.
[問題5]
1. 此句中的 we’re是甚麼的縮寫?
2. 又此句中的 as if 有搭配與事實相反的假設嗎?
3. 本句要表達的意思是什麼?
[問題6]
We really don’t experience the world fully,
because we’re half asleep, automatically doing
the things we think we have to do.”
=…, because we’re half asleep
things we think we have to do.”
the
 本句主詞為動名詞片語facing death，其後動詞應
與其一致，使用單數動詞。
◊ Thinking positively helps the patient who suffers
from stomach cancer stay in a jovial mood.
 essential n. pl. (the ～) 要素，要點
◊ Diligence is one of the essentials for success.
 連接詞and用於祈使句之時，譯作「那麼…」，
此句型可代換成if
◊ Never give up, and you’ll finally reach your goal.
= If you never give up, you’ll finally reach your goal.
or則譯作「否則…」
◊ Don’t eat too much, or you’ll gain weight.
6/11
I noticed that he quivered
now when he moved his hands.
His glasses hung around his
neck, and when he lifted them
to his eyes, they slid around
his temples as if he were
trying to put them on
someone else in the dark. I
reached over to help guide
them onto his ears.
[問題7]
His glasses hung around his neck, and when he
lifted them to his eyes, they slid around his temples
as if he were trying to put them on someone else in
the dark.
請解釋本句中as if 之句型
(有假設與否?為什麼動詞用were trying)
7/11
“Thank you,” Morrie whispered. He smiled
when my hand brushed up against his head. The
slightest human contact was immediate joy.
“Mitch,” he said. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course,” I replied.
“You might not like it,” he cautioned.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Well, the truth is,” he began, “if only you
really listened to that bird on your shoulder and
accepted that you could die at any time, then you
might not be as ambitious as you are.”
brush against 輕拂
◊ Phoebe’s long hair brushed against my
arm in the breeze.
caution (v.) 警告；告誡
 . . . “if only you really listened to that bird on your
shoulder and accepted that you could die at any time,
then you might not be as ambitious as you are.”
 if only在此譯作「要是…」，表示「與現在事實相
反」。此句型詳細用法請見本課句型解析1。
 A + be + as adj. as + B為原級形容詞的比較句型，譯
作「A和B一樣…」，例：
◊ The captain of the team is as excellent as his coach has
expected.
原形比較級
1 S1 + be + as adj. as + S2
→ S1 + be + the same + N + as + S2
◊ My PE teacher is as old as my father.
→ My PE teacher is the same age as my father.
2 S1 + V + as + adv. + as + S2
◊ Mark claimed that he could play golf as well as Yani
Tseng.
3 S1 + be/V + as + adj. + N(P) + as + S2
◊ I can draw as beautiful a picture as Marc Chagall (does).
4 S1 + be + not + as/so + adj. + as + S2
→ S1 + be + less + adj. + than + S2
◊ Linkin Park’s songs are not as/so familiar to the locals as
Jay Chou’s.
→ Linkin Park’s songs are less familiar to the locals than
Jay Chou’s.
8/11
I forced a small grin.
“The things you spend so much time on all this
work you do might not seem as important,” he
continued. “You might have to make room for
some more spiritual things.”
“Spiritual things?” I asked.
“You hate that word, don’t you?” Morrie said.
“ ‘Spiritual.’ You think it’s touchy-feely stuff.”
“Well,” I said.
He tried to wink, a bad try, and I
burst into laughter.
 force a grin/smile/laugh 強作笑顏
◊ In order not to worry his parents, the boy who
just broke up with his girlfriend forced a grin
upon getting home.
 make room (for sth) (為…)騰出空間
◊ If you want to buy any new furniture, first and
foremost you have to make some room.
 “You hate that word, don’t you?”
附加問句(tag question)通常用於口語或非正式用
法之中，可置於肯定句或否定句後方，用以表示
尋求他人認可或請求協助。附加問句的語氣必須
與主句相反。肯定句的附加問句應為否定語氣，
否定句的附加問句則應為肯定語氣。
附加問句
1 aren’t I：在I am . . . 的句子中，附加問句應為aren’t I，例：
◊ I’m the first person to come to the party, aren’t I?
2 否定字詞：否定句中並不一定會出現not，而是可能改用never、
seldom、hardly、little、none等否定字詞，其後附加問句依然
必須為肯定語氣，例：
◊ You have little money left, do you?
3 祈使句：祈使句中，省略了主詞you，因此在加上
附加問句時，應使用won’t/will/would/can/can’t/
could you，例：
◊ Turn off the TV before you go to bed, won’t you?
4 let’s：在以let’s為首的句子中，附加問句一律使用
shall we，以表示提議，例：
◊ Let’s go to a movie together tonight, shall we?
5 請求協助：否定句加上附加問句可用以表示請求他
人提供協助，例：
◊ You couldn’t pass me the pepper, could you?
6 語調：附加問句的語調會根據語意的不同而
有所差異。若說話者對陳述的語句沒有把
握，想要徵求他人的認可時，其語調同一般
的疑問句，音調向上；若說話者對陳述的語
句相當肯定，只是用以引起他人注意或尋求
附和時，其語調下降。
burst into + N. (tears, laughter…)
= burst out + Ving 突然(大哭、笑)
(crying, laughing)
9/11
“Mitch,” he said, laughing along, “even
I don’t know what ‘spiritual development’
really means. But I do know we’re
deficient in some way. We are too
involved in materialistic things, and they
don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships
we have, the universe around us, we take
these things for granted.”
 take sb/sth for granted
將…視為理所當然
◊ Many children take it for granted that their
parents should offer them everything they
ask for.
10/11
He nodded toward the window with the
sunshine streaming in. “You see that? You
can go out there, outside, anytime. You can
run up and down the block and go crazy. I
can’t do that. I can’t go out. I can’t run. I can’t
be out there without fear of getting sick. But
you know what? I appreciate that window
more than you do.”
 此處屬於with + O + OC表示附帶說明的用法，
由於動詞stream和受詞the sunshine的關係為
主動，故改寫為現在分詞，作受詞補語。
 without fear (of sth) 不害怕(…)
◊ In spite of the approach of the typhoon, Miquel
went surfing without fear of drowning himself.
11/11
“Appreciate it?” I asked.
“Yes,” Morrie said. “I look out that window every day.
I notice the change in the trees and how strong the wind
is blowing. It’s like I can see time passing through that
windowpane. Because I know my time is almost done, I
am drawn to nature like I’m seeing it for the first time.”
He stopped, and for a moment we both looked out
the window. I tried to see what he saw. I tried to see time
and seasons, and my life passed in slow motion. Morrie
dropped his head slightly and curled it toward his
shoulder.
“Is it today, little bird?” he asked. “Is it today?”
 like在此並不是一般用以表示「像」
的介系詞。like在此為連接詞，譯作
「彷彿」，即as if或as though之意。
為非正式用法，不過，就正式的文
體看來，這是不適當的。下句的like
用法亦同。
Comprehension Check
I. Which of the following statements is the main
idea of the reading? Check ( ) the correct answer.
_____1. We should not be optimistic, since we
will die eventually.
_____ 2. Everything that we spend time doing
is of no importance at all.
_____ 3. Once we learn how to die, we learn
how to live.
_____ 4. We should study Buddhism in order
to learn more about spiritual things.
II. Choose the correct answer to each
question or statement.
( C ) 1. According to the reading, what can we
do to get prepared for death?
(A) We can keep birds on our
shoulders and talk to them.
(B) We can automatically do the things
that we have to do.
(C) We can try to become the people
that we really want to be.
(D) We can expect words of wisdom
from our elders to teach us more.
(
A ) 2. Why does Morrie say, “Once you learn
how to die, you learn how to live,”
more than one time?
(A) He wants to make sure that his
student has caught it.
(B) He does so because he doesn’t
remember saying it.
(C) He tries to persuade himself into
believing it.
(D) He repeats it to the bird on his
shoulder.
( C ) 3. Which of the following statements is
true?
(A) Knowing how to die will prevent
us from dying accidentally.
(B) People should avoid sleepwalking
because it is too dangerous.
(C) When we know life is coming to
an end, we will cherish the time
left for us even more.
(D) People can readily accept the fact
that they are going to die.
( C ) 4. From the reading, we can infer that
_______.
(A) just like Mitch, Morrie doesn’t like
touchy-feely things
(B) Morrie passes away after he curls
his head to his shoulder
(C) when people are dying, they will
often gain a different perspective
on life
(D) Mitch totally agrees with Morrie
about whatever Morrie tells him
about life
Questions for Discussion
I. In the passage, Morrie suggests that Mitch
make more room for “spiritual things.” What
are “spiritual things”? Share your thoughts
with the class.
II. In tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch regularly
visits Morrie, his old college professor, after
learning that the professor is going to die. If
someone you care about is going to die, what
will you do and how will you interact with
this person?