INTRODUCTION序
Welcome to Way Ahead. As we begin our study, let us think about what our book title means. If I say, "This book will get you way ahead," I mean that studying the book will help you improve significantly as an English reader. This reading course will help you journey far ahead as a language learner.
The phrase "way ahead" has an additional meaning. When a friend shows you the way or path to a place you want to get to, he or she is showing you the way ahead. And just as all paths have a starting place, so does our reading path. Our study of the art of reading starts with the great literary classics. Since the classics provide the finest examples of English reading, we take the time to understand and appreciate selected readings from famous literature. Each chapter begins with one or more selections or excerpts from a literary master. This method of learning English reading skills is a solid way ahead for you.
I trust you will find all the classic readings in this book to be both inspirational and instructive. They are of various genres, including prose, poetry, journalism and children's literature. Moreover, each one uses particular literary and rhetorical devices, or methods of writing, which we will study in some depth. Since the reader of classic as well as of current or contemporary writings will regularly encounter these devices, it is important for you to know them.
Each chapter has two readings. Reading 1 is the literature excerpt. Reading 2 develops a theme from the first reading. For example, Reading 1 for Chapter 1 is from Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island which tells the thrilling adventure of a group of people flying in a balloon. Reading 2 continues the theme of flying. The reading is called "Plane Spotters and Flying Enthusiasts". Or consider Chapter 4 which begins with the classic reading from a poem by Emily Dickinson. This poem discusses the theme of mind exploration which is related to the theme of the second reading in the chapter: space probes sent to explore the sun. The chart below summarizes the book's connecting themes.
While the focus of this book is on reading, the book is also designed to help you develop the other English language skills of listening, speaking and writing. For example, each chapter has grammar explanations and writing exercises, related directly to the readings.
I wish you the best of success as you journey forward in the fascinating world of reading.
-The author, May 2021