The Price Of Gold · 选择金子 · A Christmas Carol · Simplified Mandarin · HSK 2

精灵让史古基看他的过去。一个女孩跑进学校里。她是史古基的妹妹，凡妮。凡妮抱着哥哥。凡妮看着哥哥笑。 “哥哥，我们要回家了！” 虽然凡妮笑着，但是史古基很难过。因为他知道妹妹会死。

几年后，凡妮生了一个男孩。然后凡妮就死了。史古基非常难过。因为凡妮死了，所以他不爱别人。他觉得金子比爱好。他也觉得金子比朋友好。

史古基开始和马利一起工作。马利很爱金子。马利告诉他，金子最好。虽然他以前有爱，但是他现在选择金子。他选择了金子。他不要爱。

很多年过去了。史古基和马利都很老了。有一天，老马利要死了。马利一个人在房间里。但是老史古基不想离开。他在办公室里一直工作。

马利自己一个人死了。老史古基不离开办公室。史古基看着老史古基。他非常害怕。他知道自己的心很冷。

语法 · Grammar

Continuous State Particle 着

Verb + 着

The particle 着 is attached directly to the end of a verb to indicate that an action or state is ongoing. It is often used to describe the background state or the manner in which another action is performed, similar to the English '-ing'.

凡妮抱着哥哥。Fan was hugging her older brother.

虽然凡妮笑着，但是史古基很难过。Although Fan was smiling, Scrooge was very sad.

Although... But... (虽然...但是...)

虽然 + [Statement A]，但是 + [Statement B]

This structure is used to connect two contrasting ideas. Note an important difference from English: in Chinese, you must use both 虽然 (although) and 但是 (but) in the same sentence.

虽然他以前有爱，但是他现在选择金子。Although he used to have love, he now chose gold.

虽然凡妮笑着，但是史古基很难过。Although Fan was smiling, Scrooge was very sad.

练习二 · Matching

Match each word or phrase to its English meaning.

1.别人

2.害怕

3.离开

4.觉得

5.一直

a.continuously / always

b.other people

c.scared

d.to leave

e.to feel / to think

1-b · 2-c · 3-d · 4-e · 5-a

译文 · Translation

The spirit let Scrooge see his past. A girl ran into the school. She was Scrooge's younger sister, Fan. Fan hugged her older brother. Fan looked at her brother and smiled. "Brother, we are going home!" Although Fan was smiling, Scrooge was very sad. Because he knew his sister would die.

A few years later, Fan gave birth to a boy. Then Fan died. Scrooge was extremely sad. Because Fan died, he did not love other people. He felt that gold was better than love. He also felt that gold was better than friends.

Scrooge began working together with Marley. Marley loved gold very much. Marley told him that gold was the best. Although he used to have love, he now chose gold. He chose gold. He did not want love.

Many years passed. Scrooge and Marley were both very old. One day, old Marley was about to die. Marley was alone in his room. But old Scrooge did not want to leave. He kept working in the office.

Marley died all by himself. Old Scrooge did not leave the office. Scrooge looked at old Scrooge. He was very scared. He knew his own heart was very cold.