A Christmas Carol(b)|《圣诞颂歌》

The plot of A Christmas Carol is a transforming journey. On the night before Christmas, Ebenezer Scrooge is warned that he will be visited by three spirits. Although startled by the vision, Scrooge dismisses it and goes to bed. Not long after, Scrooge is woken up by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who reminds him of the young man he used to be. Scrooge remembers with joy the people he loved and the fun he used to have.

The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present. This spirit takes Scrooge to the home of Bob Cratchit, where he finds the Cratchit family very poor but very kind. Scrooge takes a special interest in Cratchit's youngest son, Tiny Tim, who has a big heart and boisterous spirit despite being crippled. The final spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge sees the death of Cratchit's young son. He also sees his own passing, and no one cares or has a kind word to say about him. Terrified and ashamed, Scrooge wakes up to find it is Christmas morning. He immediately sets out to change his ways and future, beginning first with Bob Cratchit and his family.

Scrooge's journey from miser to Samaritan gives spotlight to the true meaning most people attach to Christmas. It's not about how rich you are in possessions, but how rich you are in love and family. Undoubtedly, this is the reason A Christmas Carol has stood the test of time and will hold a special place in the hearts of all for many years to come.

1.  Why did people originally celebrate Christmas?

(A) It was close to the end of the year.

(B) It was the birth of a religious leader.

(C) It marked the beginning of winter.

(D) It was in celebration of the first church ever built.

2.  What words best describe the main character of A Christmas Carol?

(A) Mean and stingy.

(B) Rich and well-liked.

(C) Poor and unemployed.

(D) Generous and warm-hearted.

3.  What happened to Scrooge on the night before Christmas?

(A) He wandered into a haunted house.

(B) He slept like a baby all night long.

(C) He was visited by three spirits in his dream.

(D) He went out and bought all his employees presents.

4.  How does A Christmas Carol end?

(A) Scrooge gives all of his possessions away to charity.

(B) Scrooge offers to pay for Tiny Tim's surgery.

(C) Scrooge dies a lonely old man.

(D) Scrooge redeems himself.

　　《圣诞颂歌》的情节是一趟转变的旅程。圣诞夜当晚，埃比尼泽‧史库奇被警告会有 3 个鬼魂来拜访他。这个幻象虽然吓到了史库奇，但他不予理会，仍旧上床睡觉。不久，『过去的圣诞节鬼魂』吵醒了史库奇，这个鬼魂让史库奇想起自己年轻的时候。史库奇回忆着过去他所爱的人和一些开心的事，心里充满喜乐。

　　第二位来的是『现在的圣诞节鬼魂』。这个鬼魂带着史库奇到鲍勃‧克雷契的家，史库奇发现克雷契家里很穷，但他们一家人都非常善良。史库奇对克雷契最小的儿子小提姆特别感兴趣，尽管他跛脚，却是个心胸宽大又活力四射的孩子。最后一个来的是『未来的圣诞节鬼魂』。史库奇看到克雷契小儿子之死。他也看到了自己的死亡，没有人在乎，也没有人说他的好话。史库奇感到既惊恐又羞愧，等他醒来后已经是圣诞节的早晨了。他马上着手开始改变待人的方式和他自己的未来，而头一站是到鲍勃‧克雷契的家里。

　　史库奇从守财奴变成慈善家的历程，点出了大多数人赋予圣诞节的真正意义。那与你拥有多少财产无关，而与你在爱和家庭当中的富有程度相关。无疑地，这也是《圣诞颂歌》能够经得起时间考验的原因，在未来许多年它仍将在所有人心中占有一席之地。

答案：1. (B)　2. (A)　3. (C)　4. (D)

For Your Information

好撒马利亚人（good Samaritan）是基督教文化中一个很著名的成语，代表『好心人、见义勇为者』。这个典故来自于《路加福音》第 10 章第 25-37 节中耶稣所说的寓言故事：一个犹太人被强盗打劫，受了重伤躺在路边。有祭司和利未人路过，但对他不闻不问。惟有一个好心的撒马利亚人路过，不顾种族隔阂照顾他。（数据源：维基百科）