一 words and expressions
1. handsome man, hale and hearty, given to drink, big-hearted and generous.
hale and hearty: someone, especially an old person, who is hale and hearty is very healthy and active〔尤指老人〕精神矍铄的，老当益壮的
2. Thanks particularly to the invention of printing in this province a century earlier, a sudden impetus had been, given to learning
impetus: an influence that makes something happen or makes it happen more quickly刺激; 推动（力）; 促进
3. But first something must be said about this birthday, lest we but add to a certain confusion plaguing Chinese biographies abroad.
plague: 困扰；使烦恼；折磨If you are plagued by unpleasant things, they continually cause you a lot of trouble or suffering.
二 Problem solving
1) main idea:
This chapter talked about the hometown and family of Su Shi.
2)sentences
1. It was the year 1036, a baby boy was crying and kicking in his swaddling clothes.
This sentence described the birth of Su Shi vividly, especially the verbs crying and kicking.
2. The ceremony was preceded by a sacrificial offering to the god of agriculture, and the people ate and drank and made merry before they dispersed to their homes.
This scene shows that people in this city gain satisfaction from this ceremony.
3. The second thing to be said about the birthday is that he was born under Scorpio.
The author used the constellation to illustrate the intrinsic nature of Su Shi compared with another celebrity who has the same star sign.
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