以下是《西南聯(lián)大英文課》文章閱讀理解問題本人原創(chuàng)回答盗温，作為讀書筆記充坑，答案可供參考。我們一起閱讀提高凌那。今天是Day two:)

文中注解補充：

At first when you see the coolie on the road, bearing his load, it is as a pleasing object that he strikes the eye. In his blues rags, a blue of all colours from indigo to turquoise and then to the paleness of milky sky, he fits the landscape.

strike the eye: very noticeable 非常引人注意胧沫，沖擊視覺

這里的coolie 跟中文”苦力“ 讀音近似昌简。讓我想起了描寫重慶山城的”棒棒“占业，還有挑山工。

Questions and Responses?

1. Describe the coolie on the road as 'a pleasing object'? Why 'object'?

We ususally use the word 'object' to refer to inanimated things. The writer used this word, first, to imply the inferior status of those coolies.

2. Describe a string of coolies showing how they at first form 'an agreeable pattern' but later grow 'distressing to watch'?

Those coolies moved along one by one with similar poles on their shoulders hanging two bales. This looked very unified in the writers' eyes. Next, he started to worry about their physical health when seeing those coolies working excessively so that they looked like patients suffered from heart disease.?

3. Why is your compassion useless?

Because that's how those coolies have made a living since two thousand years ago. Although we can be sympathetic about their health, their labour work cannot be replaced by us.?

4. What is a beast of burden? Name some beasts of burden.

'A beast of burden' literally refers to animals?used for heavy work such as horses and donkeys carrying or pulling things. In this text, the writer used this word 'beast' for implying the inferior and miserable lives of labourers and workers. Other than coolies mentioned in this text, we can still see camels, horses and donkeys are trained for delivering and conveying goods.?