Oct 18-19 Chopin: Poet of the Piano

(Photo byYuan Pu Chiao http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=282541&id=589049107&ref=mf)

Main idea:
This is the biography of Chopin, often referred to as a poet of the piano.  This Polish composer was a prodigy, studying the piano at the age of 5 and composing as well as performing his music at 10.  By 20, he had already composed many pino peices.  He once traveled and lived in Paris and Majorca, working on his compositions.  However, his health condition was not good enough to keep this master longer in life; he passed away when he was 39.
Grammatical points to pay special attention to:
p.36
line 2   exceptional
except可做介系詞，表示「除了…之外」，如：Everyone loves the singer, except (for) me.  I see nothing good in him.
exception是上次段考範圍，叫做例外，如：Many people enjoy watching movies as a recreation; I am  no exception.
exceptional這便是指優異的，其實就是被另外獨立出來的。同義字為outstanding
line 5 end up 
end up最後變成，後面要加V-ing這個題目在學測指考已經出現過不少次啦，快記起來吧 ！
line 8 prodigious
prodigy神童
line 4 embark on
embark 原為乘船的意思，在此延伸為「走上…的路」，的意思

p. 37
line 1  make a living by V-ing
表示靠著某方法賺錢，make a liveing as + 身分，表示以某種身分來賺錢
line 4 prefer to傾向
Jenny prefers to shop in stores, rather than on the Internet.
Jenny prefers shopping in stores to shop on the Internet.
Jenny would rather shop in stores than on the Internet.
line 13 dedicated奉獻於、致力於
Chopin was dedicated to composing.
= Chopin dedicated himself to composing.
= Chopin was devoted to composing.
= Chopin devoted himself to comopsing.


Vocabulary check:
(A) exceptional  (B) contemporary  (C) convention  (D) compositions 
(E) landlord  (F) heartbreaking  (G) paced  (H) settle down

1. Adapating to the city, Jenny decided to _______ in Taichung.
2. Linda has difficulty appreciating classical music; instead, she prefers ________ music, like pop songs.
3. Aftter Nina told the _______ story of her love persuit, everyone wept tears of sadness.
4. My _______ has several houses for rent.  If you are interested in getting a place to live here, you may call her.
5. We need to write many different styles of ______ in our creative writing class.
6. Anxious at the final result, Mr. Wang _______ back and forth on the hallway.
7. Jay's musical talent is ________.  He can play several differnt instrument.