人教版高中英语人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT13-4

Wilkie Collins was born in London in 1824 and his first novel -- a historical romance¹ called “Anatonia” -- was published when he was 26. Shortly after this he met Charles Dickens, and they formed a close friendship that lasted for ten years and influenced both men's writing. Collins went on to publish 25 novels as well as many short stories, plays and works² of non-fiction. However, he is most well known for the two mystery novels “The Woman in White” and “The Moonstone”.
 
        Collins published both mysteries as serials³ in All the Year Round. When it appeared in the magazine in 1860, “The Woman in White” was so popular that it became the subject of a song and a play. It even influenced fashion, and many women started to dress in white. Eight years later “The Moonstone” was published and earned Collins the title "the father of the modern English detective novel". T S Elliot, another famous writer, said that The Moonstone was the "first and greatest of English detective novels", and it is still admired by modem⁴ crime writers today.
 
         An author of many mysteries, Dorothy L Sayers considered “The Moonstone” to be "probably the very finest detective story ever written", and many people agree with her. There are several reasons why they think so. One is the way the events in the novel are revealed⁵ to the reader. Collins uses different characters to tell each section of the story. The characters have very different personalities⁶ and voices, which are interesting and often amusing⁷. There are also several features of the plot which started trends in mystery writing. For example, many detective stories are set in a country house, in a situation where the theft must have been committed by one of the people in the house. The character of a famous detective with an unusual appearance and habits occurs in many books, and an innocent⁸ person is often under suspicion⁹ at first. A number of modem films have also used the idea of a cursed¹⁰ jewel stolen from a religious statue. And of course, in The Moonstone and most other good mystery novels, the person who at first seems the least likely to be the criminal turns out to be guilty.
 
          In the eighteenth century new farming methods in Britain made agriculture more efficient. This was followed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by changes in industry as factories started to use newly¹¹ invented machines. These two periods in British history were so important that they are known as the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. They were times of great economic and technical progress which also resulted in some huge changes in the society, one of which was a rise in crime.
 
        Farms could produce more with fewer workers, so people from the countryside moved to the cities to look for work in factories. However, there were not enough jobs for all those who wanted them. As urban populations increased, unemployment, overcrowding and poverty became widespread. As a consequence of their struggle to survive, many people became criminals. The crime rate rose rapidly, and by 1840 it was higher than ever before.
 
        The most common crimes were theft by pick pocketing or housebreaking, even though the punishment was extreme. Many criminals were sent to America or Australia, or found themselves living in terrible conditions in overcrowded and dirty prisons. In fact, until 1823 a person could even be put to death for stealing a piece of bread or picking a pocket.
 
        History books present the facts, but fiction that was written at the time also tells us what daily life was really like. Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone shows how wealthy people lived, and other writers provided¹² information about different sections of society. For example, Charles Dickens' novel “A Christmas Carol” explains the great difference that existed between the lifestyles of rich people and those who were poor.

1 romance   

n.恋爱关系，浪漫气氛，爱情小说，传奇

参考例句：

• She wrote a romance about an artist's life in Tokyo.她写了一个关于一位艺术家在东京生活的浪漫故事。
• They tried to rekindle the flames of romance.他们试图重燃爱火。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 serials   

n.连载小说，电视连续剧( serial的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The computer can alter the serials librarian and produce a bindery notice. 计算机可提醒管理连续出版物的馆员，并制作装订通知。 来自辞典例句
• I realized I have started to like a few of their serials. 我意识到我已开始喜欢上了不少他们的连续剧。 来自互联网

4 modem   

n.调制解调器

参考例句：

• Does your computer have a modem?你的电脑有调制解调器吗？
• Provides a connection to your computer via a modem.通过调制解调器连接到计算机上。

5 revealed   

v.显示( reveal的过去式和过去分词 )；揭示；泄露；[神学]启示

参考例句：

• They revealed to me that the experiment had failed. 他们向我透露试验失败了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His insincerity is revealed by the quick goggle of his eyes. 他眼睛的快速转动泄露了他的不诚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

7 amusing   

adj.有有趣的，好玩的

参考例句：

• The girl was amusing herself with a doll.那女孩在玩洋娃娃自娱。
• He related some amusing stories in his childhood to his children.他向孩子们述说了他少年时代的一些趣事。

8 innocent   

adj.无罪的，清白的；无害的；天真的，单纯的

参考例句：

• I'm not quite so innocent as to believe that.我还不至于简单到相信那种事的地步。
• I was very young,and very innocent.我那时非常年轻，幼稚无知。

9 suspicion   

n.猜疑，怀疑；怀疑，嫌疑

参考例句：

• There was just a suspicion of light in the east. 东方刚刚泛白。
• I confess to some suspicion of your honesty.我承认对你的诚实有所怀疑。

10 cursed   

a.可憎的，可恶的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• The necklace was cursed. 这条项链上附有会给人带来灾难的符咒。
• She cursed at one of her servants this morning. 今天早晨她大骂了一个仆人。

11 newly   

adv.新近，最近；重新，再度；以新的方式

参考例句：

• Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗？
• It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树，还没有扎下根来。

12 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。