熱點小說短篇小故事
❶ 經典短篇小說閱讀-毛姆
外刊毫無疑問是學英文的絕佳材料。但各種新聞層出不窮，五花八門的熱點稍縱即逝，如果平時只看新聞（無論中文還是英文），整個人難免會變得越來越浮躁。
因此，閱讀一些經典文學作品，和讀者朋友們一起搭建一塊安靜的「小型避難所」。
長篇小說的篇幅往往比較長，基礎不太好的同學不容易堅持，也很難享受到閱讀的快感。於是我決定帶大家從短小精悍的短篇小說讀起。
第一部作品，我選擇了毛姆先生的《患難之交》(A friend in Need)。毛姆是我最鍾愛的作者之一，這也是一篇我很喜歡的小說，後勁很大，以至於在看完這篇小說後的好幾年，我都經常想起它。
今天我就帶大家一起讀一讀這篇小說。希望大家能找到一塊完整的時間，安靜地閱讀下面這個故事。
A friend in need
患難之交
By William Somerset Maugham
study v. If you study something, you consider it or observe it carefully in order to be able to understand it fully. 研究；調查；仔細觀察
engage sb v.to employ sb to do a particular jobfor the most part 僱傭，聘用
draw conclusions from sth 從...得出結論
for the most part used to say that something is generally true but not completely true 就絕大部分而言；基本上，大體上
contour [ˈkɑːntʊr] n.[C]the outer edges of sth; the outline of its shape or form 外形；輪廓
all of a piece 一致，協調；相符合
cannot afford to do sth 承擔不起做某事
self-contradictory adj. containing ten ideas or statements that cannot both be true 自相矛盾的
incomprehensible [ɪnˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪbl] adj. impossible to understand 無法理解的；難懂的
haphazard [ˌhæpˈhæzəd] adj.with no particular order or plan; not organized well無秩序的；無計劃的；組織混亂的
tubular [ˈtjuːbjʊlər] adj. shaped like a tube 管狀的
incongruity [ˌɪn.kəŋˈgruː.əti] n. the fact that something is strange, unusual, or unsuitable in a particular situation 不和諧；不合適；不相稱
incongruous adj.不合適的; 不相稱的; 不協調的;
eg. Such traditional methods seem incongruous in our technical age. 此類傳統方法似乎同我們今天的科技時代格格不入。
cart n.馬車
shrug one's shoulders 聳聳肩
vanity [ˈvæn.ɪ.ti] n. [U] too much pride in your own appearance, abilities or achievements 自負；自大；虛榮；虛榮心：
for my / her / their part speaking for myself, etc. 就我(或她、他們等)而言
puzzle v.to make sb feel confused because they do not understand sth 迷惑；使困惑
occur to sb to come into your mind 被想到；出現在頭腦中
slender adj. thin in an attractive or elegant way 苗條的；纖細的
wrinkled [ˈrɪŋ.kl ̩d] adj. having wrinkles 有皺紋的
in accordance with sth according to a rule, system etc 按照某事物
dry hunour 冷幽默，十分微妙的幽默
It happened that... 碰巧...
sentimental [ˌsentɪˈmentəl] adj.Someone or something that is sentimental feels or shows pity or love, sometimes to an extent that is considered exaggerated and foolish. 感傷的；多情的；多愁善感的
something of a 在某種程度上是
frail [freɪl] adj.physically weak and thin 瘦弱的
lounge [laʊndʒ] n.a public room in a hotel, club, etc. for waiting or relaxing in 休息室
restful [ˈrestfəl] adj.that makes you feel relaxed and peaceful 閑適寧靜的；使人感到悠閑的
presently adv. in a short time 馬上，一會兒，不久，很快
catch sight of sb / sth to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see 忽然看到某人/某物
seat v.向…提供座位；(使)就座；坐；落座
seat oneself 某人坐下，某人落座
"What do you say to a little drink?"
「我們來點小酒怎麼樣?
nod a greeting 點頭問候
remittance [rɪˈmɪtəns] n.[U]the act of sending money to sb in order to pay for sth 匯付；匯款
sb's namesake 同名的人
uncanny adj. strange and difficult to explain 異常的；難以解釋的
sip v.to drink sth, taking a very small amount each time 小口喝；抿
think a lot of sb have a very good opinion of sb/sth 對…感興趣；敬慕…；對…高度評價
credit n.[U] an arrangement that you make, with a shop / store for example, to pay later for sth you buy 賒購；賒欠
down and out without money, a home or a job, and living on the streets 窮愁潦倒；一無所有
give credit 允許賒購
on the account of sth because of sb / sth 由於；因為：
current n.[C] the movement of water in the sea or a river; the movement of air in a particular direction 水流，潮流；氣流：
be taken aback (by sb / sth) to be shocked or surprised by sb / sth （被…）嚇了一跳；大吃一驚；震驚
- The End -
思考題：
1. 你認為這篇文章的結尾有什麼樣的特點，能說出它的風格和另外哪位作家比較接近嗎？
2.你如何理解這篇小說的標題：A Friend in Need
3.文中的Edward Burton的「表象」是什麼？「本性」是什麼？
❷ 最熱門小說排行榜
最熱門小說排行榜：全職法師、傭兵天下、放開那個女巫、瘋巫妖的實驗日誌、惡魔法則。
1、全職法師：是一部由作者亂所創作的一部高人氣魔法類小說，截止2020年4月起點的推薦數為420萬，網路指數為130798，後又被改編為動畫，收獲了較高的人氣。
