Studio Classroom 空中英語教室 – August 2019

25

KDUORWWH·V:HE tells the story of the

friendship between a gray spider named

Charlotte and a spring pig called Wilbur.

Through their friendship, the author explores

several themes. These include loyalty, friendship

and death. The story begins with 8-year-old Fern

Arable learning that her father is going to kill a runt

pig. Fern pleads for the SLJOHW·V life, and her father

gives the pig to her to care for. She names him

Wilbur and treats him like a pet. He soon grows too

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friend because he is snubbed by the other farm

animals. Charlotte, a spider whose web hangs

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he discovers he is being raised for slaughter.

Charlotte promises to find a way to save him, and

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kill a famous pig. So she weaves words in praise of

Wilbur into her web. The web is seen as a miracle,

and soon everyone is rushing to see the famous

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About the Author:

E.B. White

&KDUORWWH·V:HE was the last

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1HZ<RUN7LPHV%HVW6HOOHUV list

until the +DUU\3RWWHU series, 50

years later.

The author E.B. White

coauthored a style guide, 7KH

(OHPHQWVRI6W\OH, which has

helped thousands of writers learn

to write better.

&KDUORWWH·V:HE has been made into three

movies, a musical and a video game.

The farm in the book is real. E.B. White owned a

farm in Maine.

Charlotte is based on a real spider. White took

its egg sac home, and hundreds of baby spiders

hatched from it.

He wrote two other popular books for children,

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© iWhite Literary LLC / https://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._B._

White#/media/File:EB_White_

and_his_dog_Minnie.png

Q summarized by Ruth Devlin / PAGE DESIGN BY MICHAEL TSE / ILLUSTRATED BY ARNOLD LEE

Soon, to Wilbur’s horror, he discovers he is being raised

for slaughter. (p. 48, line 15)

raise be + being raised

for

raised for

• Farmer Joe has raised cattle all his life.
  Your turn

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Usage Tip

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LITERATURE

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