Lesson Ten
The richer, the Poorer
Warming-up: Discussion
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1. What is so called “moonlight goddess” in the
modern society? What’s their opinion and
behavior toward life and work?
2. Do you remember Walt Disney’s animated
movie named “the ants and grasshopper”, which
one do you like ---- the ants or the happy
grasshopper?
3. Whom do you agree with ---- Lottie’s life
experience or Bess’ happy but poor life? Why?
For them who is richer and who is poorer?
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4. What is work for ---- earn money/ house/ bank
account/ for your old age/ for your parents and
children? Or for spending the money/ enjoying
life?
5. One of my friends once saw a car accident and
an innocent person died. She was shocked by the
scene and felt great pity for the young victim.
Then after her work she bought something
beautiful and expensive she dreamed but never
spent for. She also had a good meal in a decent
café. What’s your comment on her unusual act?
Background Information
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The Gypsies, or
Romani, first appeared
in Western Europe in
the early 15th century.
Linguistic evidence
points to several group
migrations from the
Indian subcontinent,
the first possibly
around 390BC.
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Most Gypsies lived in
tents, though
travelling vans were
adopted by some
from the mid
nineteenth century.
Introduction to the Text
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1. Comparison and Contrast
A good example of comparison and
contrast: it concentrates on the differences
of the two sisters’ different lifestyles and
experiences from childhood to old age.
The climax is their reunion in old age,
when they, for the first time, seem to share
similar opinions on life.
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2. Point of View
From Lottie’s point of view.
Lottie: all work and no play make a
satisfactory life in one’s old age.
Bess: Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow
we die.
Words and phrases:
1. cashier: teller
2. dime=10 cents: quarter=25 cents nickel=5
cents penny=1 cent
3. dismal: lacking hope or comfort, showing
or causing sadness
e.g. in a dismal voice a dismal rainy day
4. errand: a short trip to do sth. for sb.
e.g. Your errand is to mail the letter.
 run errand for sb.: to go somewhere for sb.
to do sth.
e.g. She looked after babies, she ran errand for
the old.
5. giddy: (dizzy) feeling a little sick and
unable to balance because everything
seems to be moving
e.g. We looked down from a giddy height.
我们从使人头晕的高处往下看。
6. grieve: to feel extremely sad, esp. when sb.
you love has died
e.g. grieved over her father's sudden death
7. indulge: to let yourself do or have what you
want even if it is bad for you
 indulge in sth. indulge oneself (with sth.)
e.g. They went into town to indulge in some
serious shopping.
I indulged myself with a long hot bath
 indulge sb.
e.g. He even indulged his children.
8. miserly adj. stingy; reluctant to spend
money
9. sentimental: too easily affected by tender
feelings such as love, sadness, etc. n.
sentiment
10. smart v. to hurt with stinging pain
e.g. The slap delivered to my face smarted.
在我脸上的这一巴掌开始剧烈地疼痛。
 “No creature smarts so little as a fool”
(Alexander Pope)
“傻瓜是受到精神上折磨最少的”(亚历山
大·波普)
11. spree: a short period of time doing sth. you
enjoy 狂欢; 纵乐
e.g. He’s out on a spree.
他到外面潇洒去了。
12. threadbare: wore out; in bad condition 破
旧的；陈腐的
e.g. threadbare rugs 衣衫褴褛
threadbare excuses 陈腐的借口
Structure of the Text
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Part One: (Para. 1) The two sisters’
contrasting financial conditions in old age
Part Two: (Para. 2-19) Recall on every
earlier crucial stage of their lives
Part Three: (Para. 20-34) Their reunion in
old age and similar opinions they share on
life