课文

People are not so honest as they once were. The temptation to steal is greater than ever before--especially in large shops. A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible.Then the woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. The girl 'gave' her mother a free dress once a week !

“偷”之种种：
steal / take：偷窃
rob：抢劫
burgle：入室抢劫
pick sb.'s pocket：扒窃

**once **

1. adv. 曾经，以前
2. adv. 一次
   once a week / year 每周 / 每年一次
   at once：立刻，马上
   once more / once again = one more time：再一次
   Once again she refused me.
   once in a while：偶尔
   once upon a time：很久很久以前
3. conj. 一旦
   Once you begin, you must continue.

temptation
n. 诱惑，有诱惑力的事物
tempt - temptation
resist / overcome the temptation：抵挡 / 战胜诱惑
give in to the temptation：经不住诱惑
I finally gave in to the temptation and had a bar of chocolate.

article

1. n. 物品
   article & thing & goods
   article：一件一件独立的物品
   thing：东西，事物（统称）
   goods：商品总称
2. 文章
3. 冠词
   the definite（明确的） article 定冠词：the
   the indefinite article不定冠词：a / an

wrap
v. 包，裹
wrap up：包起来
Could you wrap the box in shiny paper?
wrapping paper：礼物的彩色包装纸

simply

1. adv. 仅仅，只不过
   It isn't simply a question of money.
   simple：adj. 简单的
2. 简单地，简易地
   to put it simply：简单地说

**arrest **
v. / n. 逮捕
arrest sb. for sth.：因为某事逮捕某人
be under arrest = kept by the police

课文讲解

People are not so honest as they once were.

so ... as ...
比较状语从句:
常用连接词：as, than
as + adj. / adv. + as
English learning is not as difficult as you think.
在否定句中，第一个as可以用so来代替

The temptation to steal is greater than ever before--especially in large shops.

to steal - 动词不定式，做后置定语
than - 二者；可比性
*The weather of the South is wetter than that of the North. *
… than ever before：比以往任何时候

A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings.

watch (secretly)：暗中监视
I feel like I'm being watched.

One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her.

as usual：像平常一样
than usual：比平常 …
when …：时间状语
so …：结果状语
it is + adj. + (for sb.) to do sth.：对某人来说做某事 ...

After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible.

after a little time：过了一会儿
choose - chose - chosen
as … as possible：尽可能 ...

句型演练

表示比较常用句型

1. as … as
   not as … as / not so … as
2. less（+ 不可数n.）… than / fewer（+ 可数n.）… than
   =not as much … as / not as many … as
3. not much / not many= little / few

*He hasn't as many books as I have.
=He has fewer books than I have.

He hasn't got as much work to do as I have.
=He has got less work to do than I have.

There isn't much I can do to help him.
=There is little I can do to help him.*

作文

I arrived at the office late as usual but Mr. Blake saw me and he was very angry. 'This is your last day here, Jones,' he said. 'You can either stay here or go home!'

To go into temptation to find how strong you are, is as wise as to go before a mirror, with closed eyes, to find how you look when asleep.