Country Sketch

Rural Sketch

"Russian" Turgenev

The last day of June. The vast expanse of Russia around me - my hometown.

The entire sky was dyed uniformly blue; there was only one cloud in the sky - I don't know whether it was floating or dissipating. There is no wind, the weather is sunny... and the air is as fresh as freshly squeezed milk!

The skylark is chirping loudly; the puff-breasted dove is cooing and whispering; the swallow is flying quietly; Some of the horses were snoring and some were chewing grass; the dogs did not bark, but stood aside docilely wagging their tails.

The air smells of smoke and grass - mixed with a little rosin and a little leather; the hemp flowers are in full bloom in the hemp fields, exuding a rich and pleasant aroma.

A deep, but gently sloping ravine. There are several rows of firecracker willows growing on both sides, their branches and leaves are whirling, but the trunks below are cracked. A small stream flows along the ravine; through the clear blue ripples, the small stones at the bottom of the stream seem to be trembling. In the distance, on the edge of the sky and the end of the earth, flashed the blue current of a large river.

Along the ravine - on one side are neat little granaries and small storage rooms with closed doors; on the other side are five or six small pine farmhouses with plank roofs. A tall pole with a bird's nest was erected on each roof; a small iron pony with a short mane was decorated on the small porch of each house. The seven colors of the rainbow reflected on the rough windowpane. The wooden framed windows depict vases. In front of each small farmhouse, there is an intact bench placed neatly; several cats huddled up on the small mounds of soil around the foot of the wall, their transparent ears raised; behind the high threshold, there are Cool, dark front room.

I spread out my horse clothes and lay on the edge of the ravine; all around me - piles of freshly cut hay, exuding a lazy fragrance. The clever owners spread the hay in front of the small farmhouse: let it dry more in the sun, and then put it from there to the hayloft! It would be more comfortable to sleep on it!

Questions:

(1) There are many dashes used in the passage. Underline the sentences containing dashes and talk about the functions of these dashes in the sentences.

(1) The last day of June. The vast expanse of Russia around me - my hometown.

Meaning: Explanation

(2) The entire sky is dyed uniformly blue; there is only one cloud in the sky - I don’t know whether it is floating or dissipating.

Meaning: a more detailed description

(3) Where is the air - as fresh as freshly squeezed milk!

Meaning: metaphor, a more detailed description of the article vivid.

(4) The air smells of smoke and grass - mixed with a little rosin and a little leather; the hemp flowers are in full bloom in the hemp fields, exuding a rich and pleasant smell. of fragrance.

Meaning: to make the description more vivid.

(5) Along the ravine - on one side are neat little granaries and small storage rooms with closed doors; on the other side are five or six small pine farmhouses with wooden roofs.

Meaning: Write a more complete description.

(6) I spread out my horse clothes and lay on the edge of the ravine; all around me - piles of freshly cut hay, exuding a lazy fragrance.

Meaning: explain clearly

The willow tree has tenacious vitality and is a testimony of ancient rural culture.

When we grow up, we must contribute to our motherland, hometown, and mother, because

They nurtured us and raised us when we were young