# Lesson 96 The dead return 亡灵返乡

## 一、课文原文

A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan. This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living. As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them. Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way. All night long, people dance and sing. In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it. In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before, are placed into the water when the festival is over. Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world. This is a moving spectacle, for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.

---

## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| **festival** | /ˈfestɪvl/ | n. | 节日 | a music festival 音乐节；the Spring Festival 春节 |
| **lantern** | /ˈlæntən/ | n. | 灯笼 | a paper lantern 纸灯笼；the Lantern Festival 元宵节 |
| **spectacle** | /ˈspektəkl/ | n. | 景象，壮观，场面 | a magnificent spectacle 壮观的景象 |
| **cheerful** | /ˈtʃɪəfl/ | adj. | 快乐的，高兴的 | a cheerful smile 快乐的微笑；cheer v. 欢呼 |
| **occasion** | /əˈkeɪʒn/ | n. | 场合，时机 | on this occasion 在这个场合；on occasion 偶尔 |
| **journey** | /ˈdʒɜːni/ | n. | 旅行，旅程 | a long journey 长途旅行；journey vs. trip vs. travel |
| **drift** | /drɪft/ | v. | 漂流 | drift out to sea 漂向大海；drift apart 逐渐疏远 |
| **guide** | /ɡaɪd/ | v. | 引导，指引 | guide sb. to... 引导某人到……；也可作名词"导游" |
| **moving** | /ˈmuːvɪŋ/ | adj. | 感人的 | a moving story 感人的故事；move v. 感动，移动 |

### 词汇拓展

**1. the + 形容词 表示一类人**

| 表达 | 含义 | 谓语 |
|------|------|------|
| the dead | 死者 | 复数 |
| the living | 活着的人 | 复数 |
| the rich | 富人 | 复数 |
| the poor | 穷人 | 复数 |
| the blind | 盲人 | 复数 |
| the wounded | 伤者 | 复数 |
| the old | 老人 | 复数 |
| the young | 年轻人 | 复数 |

**2. spectacle 的词族**
- spectacle n. 景象，壮观 → spectacular adj. 壮观的 → spectacles n. 眼镜
- make a spectacle of oneself 出洋相
- 注意：spectacles（复数）= 眼镜

**3. journey vs. trip vs. travel vs. voyage**

| 词汇 | 含义 | 侧重 |
|------|------|------|
| journey | 旅行 | 陆上长途旅行（本课：亡灵的旅程） |
| trip | 旅行 | 短途往返旅行 |
| travel | 旅行 | 泛指旅行（不可数） |
| voyage | 航行 | 海上/太空旅行 |
| tour | 旅游 | 观光旅行 |

**4. drift 的用法**
- drift out to sea 漂向大海
- drift apart 逐渐疏远
- drift off (to sleep) 渐渐入睡
- drift through life 随波逐流

**5. moving 的近义词辨析**
- moving：感人的（侧重引起感情波动）
- touching：动人的（侧重触动内心）
- impressive：令人印象深刻的
- pathetic：令人同情的（含消极色彩）

---

## 三、语法知识点

### 1. 词汇难点总结（本课核心）

作为新概念英语第二册的最后一课，本课是对全册词汇难点的总结。以下归纳第二册中的核心词汇难点：

**难点一：同形异义词（Homonyms）**

| 单词 | 含义1 | 含义2 | 例句 |
|------|-------|-------|------|
| light | n. 光 | adj. 轻的 | the light of the moon / a light box |
| match | n. 火柴 | n. 比赛 | strike a match / a football match |
| bank | n. 银行 | n. 河岸 | deposit money in a bank / the river bank |
| ring | n. 戒指 | v. 按铃 | a gold ring / ring the bell |
| post | n. 邮政 | v. 派任 | post a letter / get sb. posted |
| fire | n. 火 | v. 开除 | set on fire / fire an employee |

**难点二：易混淆词汇**

| 词汇对 | 区别 | 例句 |
|--------|------|------|
| lay / lie | lay-laid-laid 放置 / lie-lay-lain 躺 | lay out food / lie on the bed |
| rise / raise | rise 不及物 / raise 及物 | the sun rises / raise your hand |
| sit / seat | sit 不及物 / seat 及物 | sit down / seat oneself |
| hung / hanged | hung 悬挂 / hanged 绞死 | lanterns are hung / he was hanged |

**难点三：动词 + 介词/副词 的搭配**

| 动词短语 | 含义 | 本册课次 |
|----------|------|----------|
| lay out | 摆开，展示 | L96 |
| hang out | 悬挂出 | — |
| throw away | 扔掉 | — |
| throw into | 扔进 | L96 |
| drift out | 漂出 | L96 |
| watch... drifting | 看着……漂流 | L96 |

**难点四：分词形容词（-ing vs. -ed）**

| -ing（修饰物） | -ed（修饰人） | 动词 |
|---------------|--------------|------|
| moving | moved | move |
| frightening | frightened | frighten |
| exciting | excited | excite |
| surprising | surprised | surprise |
| satisfying | satisfied | satisfy |
| terrifying | terrified | terrify |

### 2. 被动语态与习惯表达

> the dead **are said to** return to their homes

"the dead are said to..." = "It is said that the dead return..."，意为"据说死者……"

| 结构 | 含义 | 例句 |
|------|------|------|
| sb. is said to do | 据说某人做…… | He is said to be rich. |
| It is said that... | 据说…… | It is said that he is rich. |
| sb. is expected to do | 预料某人会做…… | They are expected to be hungry. |
| It is considered + adj. | 人们认为…… | It is considered unlucky. |

### 3. 现在分词作伴随状语

> Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea **guiding the dead** on their return journey

guiding the dead 是现在分词短语作伴随状语，表示灯笼漂流的同时指引着亡灵。

> crowds of people stand on the shore **watching the lanterns drifting away**

watching... 是现在分词作伴随状语，表示人们站在岸边的同时看着灯笼远去。

| 分词作状语类型 | 例句 | 说明 |
|---------------|------|------|
| 伴随状语 | guiding the dead | 与谓语同时发生 |
| 伴随状语 | watching the lanterns | 与谓语同时发生 |
| 时间状语 | Walking in the park, I met Tom. | 在公园散步时 |

### 4. until 与 no more

> until they can **be seen no more**

no more = not...any more，"不再"。这是正式/文学化的表达。

| 表达 | 含义 | 语域 |
|------|------|------|
| not...any more | 不再 | 口语 |
| not...any longer | 不再 | 口语 |
| no more | 不再 | 文学/正式 |
| no longer | 不再 | 正式 |

---

## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. As they are expected to be hungry...

> **As they are expected to be hungry** after their long journey, food is laid out for them.

as 引导原因状语从句，"因为他们预料在长途旅行之后会饿"。be expected to 意为"预料会，预期会"。

### 2. Specially-made lanterns

> **Specially-made** lanterns are hung outside each house

副词 + 过去分词 构成复合形容词，修饰名词。specially-made = 特制的。

| 复合形容词 | 含义 |
|-----------|------|
| specially-made | 特制的 |
| hand-made | 手工的 |
| well-known | 著名的 |
| newly-built | 新建的 |
| poorly-dressed | 穿着破旧的 |

### 3. as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it

> **as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it**

结构分析：
- as 引导原因状语从句
- it 是形式主语
- for anyone living to eat it 是真正主语
- living 是现在分词作定语，修饰anyone
- 译文：因为人们认为活着的人吃了这些东西是不吉利的

### 4. guiding the dead on their return journey

> Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea **guiding the dead on their return journey** to the other world

现在分词guiding作伴随状语，修饰drift。灯笼漂流的同时指引亡灵。"the other world" 指"另一个世界"，即阴间。

---

## 五、课文翻译

日本每年过一次"亡灵节"。这个节日是个欢乐的日子，因为在这一天，据说死去的人要回到他们的家里来，活着的人则对他们表示欢迎。因为预料到他们在经过长途旅行之后会感到饥饿，所以为他们摆放好了食品。特制的灯笼挂在各家的门外，为的是帮助亡灵看清道路。整个夜晚人们载歌载舞。一大早，人们便把为死者摆放的食品扔进河中或海里，因为人们认为活着的人吃了这些东西是不吉利的。在靠海的城镇中，头天夜里挂在大街小巷的小灯笼在节后就放在了水里。成千上万只灯笼慢慢漂向大海，指引着亡灵返回另一个世界。这是一个感人的场面，人们成群地伫立在海岸上，注视着灯笼远去，直到再也看不见为止。

---

## 六、语言点精讲

**1. the dead / the living**

the + 形容词 表示一类人，谓语用复数。the dead = 死者；the living = 活着的人。这是英语中常见的表达。

**2. are said to return**

be said to do = It is said that...，"据说……"。这是一种常见的被动结构，表示传闻。

**3. are expected to be hungry**

be expected to 意为"预料会，预期会"，比be said to更强调合理性。

**4. food is laid out for them**

lay out 意为"摆开，展示"。food is laid out = 食物被摆放好。注意lay的过去式和过去分词都是laid。

**5. All night long**

all night long = the whole night，"整夜"。类似：all day long 整天。

**6. the food that had been laid out**

过去完成时被动语态的定语从句，表示在"扔掉"之前食物"已经被摆放好"。

**7. guiding the dead / watching the lanterns drifting away**

两个现在分词短语作伴随状语：
- guiding... 修饰drift，灯笼漂流的同时指引亡灵
- watching... 修饰stand，人们站在岸边的同时注视着灯笼

**8. until they can be seen no more**

no more 是文学化表达，意为"不再"。be seen no more = can't be seen any more。这种表达增添了庄严肃穆的氛围。

---

## 七、课后练习要点

### 1. 词汇练习
- 用festival, lantern, spectacle, drift, guide造句
- 掌握the + 形容词表一类人的表达，写出5个例子
- 辨析journey / trip / travel / voyage / tour

### 2. 语法练习
- 同形异义词辨析练习（light, match, bank, ring, post, fire等）
- lay / lie 词形变化填空
- -ing与-ed分词形容词选择

### 3. 句型练习
- 用be said to do改写It is said that...句子
- 现在分词作伴随状语改写并列句
- 复合形容词构词练习

### 4. 写作练习
- 写一篇短文介绍一个中国传统节日（100词左右），注意使用被动语态和分词结构

### 5. 全册复习
- 回顾第二册96课的语法体系：从简单句到复合句，从主动语态到被动语态，从陈述语气到虚拟语气
- 整理全册重点词汇和短语

---

## 八、本课小结

| 项目 | 内容 |
|------|------|
| **核心语法** | 词汇难点总结（同形异义、易混淆词、分词形容词）、the+形容词表一类人、现在分词作伴随状语 |
| **重点词汇** | 9个（festival, lantern, spectacle, cheerful, occasion, journey, drift, guide, moving） |
| **重点短语** | the dead, the living, lay out, all night long, the other world, no more, drift out to sea |
| **学习难点** | lay/lie词形辨析、-ing与-ed分词形容词选择、同形异义词辨析 |
| **文化知识** | 日本盂兰盆节（お盆）——纪念亡灵的传统节日，灯笼指引亡灵返乡 |

---

*本课作为新概念英语第二册的终篇，通过日本亡灵节的故事，系统总结了全册的词汇难点。从第1课的简单句到第96课的复合句，第二册的语法体系完整覆盖了英语的核心语法结构。*