ESL 67: It's the Thought that Counts


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Adam and Constance were very religious. Both had been raised in Catholic families. Except for her uncle Chandler, who was agnostic, all their relatives were devout Catholics. Adam's oldest brother was, in fact, a priest. Adam, as a youth, had been an altar boy and had prayed to God to become a priest. Instead, God made him a fireman. Constance had seriously thought about becoming a nun, but that was before she met Adam.

Her heart fluttered at her first sight of Adam. He was taking pictures with kids at a charity event. What a big, strong man, she thought. And so good-looking! Constance took her nephew over to get his picture taken. She couldn't believe it when she saw that Adam was wearing a St. Christopher medal around his neck. He's Catholic, too! she marveled. Not being a shy woman, Constance started up a conversation with Adam.

One thing, as they say, led to another. Both sets of parents were so happy that their child had fallen in love with a Catholic! There was a huge wedding at the cathedral. Adam's brother married the two lovebirds. Everyone said it was the best wedding ever.

When Adam and Constance got around to opening their gifts a few days later, Constance opened an envelope from her uncle Chandler. In it was $100 cash. But, the cash was inside a Jewish card for Happy Hanukkah! The note in the card was, "I couldn't find a wedding card that I liked. I know this is Jewish, but it really is a beautiful card, don't you think? Love, and Best Wishes." Constance did not send her uncle a thank you note, nor did she ever talk to him again. She was unable to think about her wedding again without thinking about that card.

*Vocabulary:

• agnostic:
• altar:
• cathedral:
• Catholic:
• charity:
• devout:
• except:
• flutter:
• Jewish:
• marvel:
• medal:
• neck:
• nephew:
• nun:
• priest:
• religious:

=================

*Yes/No Questions:

1.Were Adam and Constance very religious?

2.Had they been raised in Jewish families?

3.Was her uncle Chandler a devout Catholic?

4.Was her uncle Chandler an agnostic?

5.Was Adam's youngest brother a priest?

6.Had Adam been an altar boy?

7.Had Adam prayed to God to become a fireman?

8.Did Adam become a fireman?

9.Had Constance thought about becoming a nun?

10.Did her heart stop at her first sight of Adam?

=====================

*Fill in the blanks:

Adam and Constance were very religious. Both had _____ raised in Catholic families. Except for her uncle _____ , who was agnostic, all their relatives were devout _____ . Adam’s oldest brother was, in fact, a priest. _____ , as a youth, had been an altar boy _____ had prayed to God to become a priest. _____ , God made him a fireman. Constance had seriously _____ about becoming a nun, but that was before _____ met Adam.

Her heart fluttered at her first _____ of Adam. He was taking pictures with kids _____ a charity event. What a big, strong man, _____ thought. And so good-looking! Constance took her nephew _____ to get his picture taken. She couldn’t believe _____ when she saw that Adam was wearing a _____ . Christopher medal around his neck. He’s Catholic, too! _____ marveled. Not being a shy woman, Constance started _____ a conversation with Adam.

One thing, as they _____ , led to another. Both sets of parents were _____ happy that their child had fallen in love _____ a Catholic! There was a huge wedding at _____ cathedral. Adam’s brother married the two lovebirds. Everyone _____ it was the best wedding ever.

When Adam _____ Constance got around to opening their gifts a _____ days later, Constance opened an envelope from her _____ Chandler. In it was $100 cash. But, the _____ was inside a Jewish card for Happy Hanukkah! _____ note in the card was, “I couldn’t find _____ wedding card that I liked. I know this _____ Jewish, but it really is a beautiful card, _____ ’t you think? Love, and Best Wishes.” Constance did _____ send her uncle a thank you note, nor _____ she ever talk to him again. She was _____ to think about her wedding again without thinking _____ that card.

===================

*Translate into Vietnamese:

………………

Done

Done

*Vocabulary:

• agnostic(a): thuộc thuyết bất khả tri
• altar(n): bàn thờ
• cathedral(n): thánh đường
• Catholic(n): người theo đạo Thiên Chúa
• charity(n): việc từ thiện
• devout(a): sùng đạo, mộ đạo
• except(conj): ngoại trừ
• flutter(v): run rẩy,xao xuyến
• Jewish(n): người Do Thái
• marvel(v): kinh ngạc, ngạc nhiên
• medal(n): huy chương
• neck(n): cái cổ
• nephew(n): cháu trai
• nun(n): nữ tu sĩ, ni cô
• priest(n): linh mục, thầy tu
• religious(a): ngoan đạo

=================

*Yes/No Questions:

1.Were Adam and Constance very religious?Yes

2.Had they been raised in Jewish families?Yes

3.Was her uncle Chandler a devout Catholic?No

4.Was her uncle Chandler an agnostic?Yes

5.Was Adam's youngest brother a priest?No

6.Had Adam been an altar boy?Yes

7.Had Adam prayed to God to become a fireman?Yes

8.Did Adam become a fireman?Yes

9.Had Constance thought about becoming a nun?No

10.Did her heart stop at her first sight of Adam?No

=====================

*Fill in the blanks:

Adam and Constance were very religious. Both had __been__ raised in Catholic families. Except for her uncle __Chandler___ , who was agnostic, all their relatives were devout __Catholic___ . Adam’s oldest brother was, in fact, a priest. _Adam____ , as a youth, had been an altar boy ___and__ had prayed to God to become a priest. _Instead____ , God made him a fireman. Constance had seriously __thought___ about becoming a nun, but that was before __she___ met Adam.

Her heart fluttered at her first __sight___ of Adam. He was taking pictures with kids __at___ a charity event. What a big, strong man, __she___ thought. And so good-looking! Constance took her nephew ___over__ to get his picture taken. She couldn’t believe __it___ when she saw that Adam was wearing a __St___ . Christopher medal around his neck. He’s Catholic, too! __She___ marveled. Not being a shy woman, Constance started __up___ a conversation with Adam.

One thing, as they __say___ , led to another. Both sets of parents were __so___ happy that their child had fallen in love __with___ a Catholic! There was a huge wedding at __the___ cathedral. Adam’s brother married the two lovebirds. Everyone ___said__ it was the best wedding ever.

When Adam __and___ Constance got around to opening their gifts a _few____ days later, Constance opened an envelope from her __uncle___ Chandler. In it was $100 cash. But, the ___cash__ was inside a Jewish card for Happy Hanukkah! ___The__ note in the card was, “I couldn’t find _a____ wedding card that I liked. I know this _is____ Jewish, but it really is a beautiful card, __don___ ’t you think? Love, and Best Wishes.” Constance did __n't___ send her uncle a thank you note, nor __that___ she ever talk to him again. She was __unable___ to think about her wedding again without thinking __about___ that card.

===================

*Translate into Vietnamese:

Cách cho quý hơn của cho

Adam và Constance rất ngoan đạo. Cả hai đều lớn lên trong những gia đình Thiên Chúa Giáo. Ngoại trừ chú của cô là Chandler, ngưòi theo chủ nghĩa bất khả tri, tất cả mọi họ hàng của họ đều sùng đạo Thiên Chúa. Người anh lớn nhất của Adam, sự thật, là một linh mục. Adam, là một người trẻ tưổi, đã là một hưóng đạo sinh và đã cầu nguyện Chúa để trở thành một linh mục. Thay vì đó, Chúa cho anh ta trở thành lính cứu hoả. Constance đã kiên quyết nghĩ về việc trở thành một nữ tu sĩ, nhưng đó là trưóc khi cô gặp Adam.

Trái tim cô xao xuyến khi lần đầu tiên thấy Adam. Anh ta đang chụp ảnh với những đứa trẻ tại một lễ từ thiện. Một chàng trai cao lớn, khoẻ mạnh làm sao, cô nghĩ. Và rất điển trai nữa! Constance dẫn cháu trai của mình tới để anh ta chụp ảnh. Cô không thể tin được là Adam đang mang một chiếc huy chương nhà thờ St. Christopher quanh cổ. Anh ta cũng theo đạo Thiên Chúa nữa! cô ngạc nhiên. Không phải là một phụ nữ nhút nhát, Constance bắt đầu một cưộc nói chuyện với Adam.

Một điều, như ngưòi ta vẫn nói, dẫn họ tới với nhau. Hai bên cha me đều rất hạnh phúc vì con của họ kết hôn với ngưòi theo đạo Thiên Chúa! Một lễ cưói lớn diễn ra tại nhà thờ. Anh trai của Adam tuyên bố kết đôi cho hai kẻ si tình. Mọi người đều nói đó là đám cưói tuyệt vời nhất.

Khi Adam và Constance tập trung quà lại để mở vài ngày sau đó, Constance mở một phong bì từ chú của cô là Chandler. Trong đó có 100$ tiền mặt. Nhưng, tiền lại ở trong một tấm thiệp Do Thái mừng lễ hôi Hanukkah! Dòng chữ trong tấm thiệp đề, "Chú không thể tìm một tấm thiệp cưói mà chú thích. Chú biết cái này là lễ ngưòi Do Thai, nhưng nó cũng đẹp mà, cháu có nghĩ như vậy không? Yêu thương, Chúc tốt lành." Constance không gửi lại một tấm thiệp cám ơn chú cô, cô cũng không nói chuyện với ông ta thêm một lần nữa. Cô không thể nghỉ về lễ cưới của mình mà không nghĩ về tấm thiệp.

LESSON 67:

IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS.
CỦA CHO KHÔNG BẰNG CÁCH CHO.

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*Vocabulary:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
• agnostic: người theo thuyết bất khả tri.
• altar: bàn thờ, bệ thờ, án thờ.
• cathedral: giáo đường, thánh đường.
• Catholic: công giáo.
• charity: từ thiện.
• devout: thành kính, mộ đạo, sùng đạo.
• except: trừ ra, loại ra.
• flutter: bối rối, xao xuyến, run rẩy.
• Jewish: do thái giáo
• marvel: ngạc nhiên, kinh ngạc, lấy làm lạ.
• medal: huân chương, huy chương.
• neck: cổ.
• nephew: cháu trai.
• nun: nữ tu, ni cô.
• priest:linh mục, thầy tu.
• religious: mộ đạo, ngoan đạo.

===========================================================

*Yes/No Questions:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.Were Adam and Constance very religious?
- Yes, they were. Adam and Constance were very religious.

2.Had they been raised in Jewish families?
- No, they hadn't. They hadn't been raised in Jewish families. They had been raised in Catholic families.

3.Was her uncle Chandler a devout Catholic?
- No, he wasn't. Her uncle Chandler wasn't a devout Catholic.

4.Was her uncle Chandler an agnostic?
- Yes, he was. Her uncle Chandler was an agnostic.

5.Was Adam's youngest brother a priest?
- No, he wasn't. Adam's youngest brother wasn't a priest. His oldest brother was a priest.

6.Had Adam been an altar boy?
- Yes, he had. Adam had been an altar boy.

7.Had Adam prayed to God to become a fireman?
- No, he hadn't. Adam hadn't prayed to God to become a fireman. Adam had prayed to God to become a priest.

8.Did Adam become a fireman?
- Yes, he did. Adam became a fireman.

9.Had Constance thought about becoming a nun?
- Yes, she had. Constance had thought about becoming a nun.

10.Did her heart stop at her first sight of Adam?
- No, she didn't. Her heart fluttered at her first sight of Adam.

===========================================================

*Fill in the blanks:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Adam and Constance were very religious. Both had been raised in Catholic families. Except for her uncle Chandler , who was agnostic, all their relatives were devout Catholic . Adam’s oldest brother was, in fact, a priest. Adam , as a youth, had been an altar boy and had prayed to God to become a priest. Instead , God made him a fireman. Constance had seriously thought about becoming a nun, but that was before she met Adam.

Her heart fluttered at her first sight of Adam. He was taking pictures with kids at a charity event. What a big, strong man, she thought. And so good-looking! Constance took her nephew over to get his picture taken. She couldn’t believe it when she saw that Adam was wearing a St. Christopher medal around his neck. He’s Catholic, too! She marveled. Not being a shy woman, Constance started up a conversation with Adam.

One thing, as they say , led to another. Both sets of parents were so happy that their child had fallen in love with a Catholic! There was a huge wedding at the cathedral. Adam’s brother married the two lovebirds. Everyone said it was the best wedding ever.

When Adam and Constance got around to opening their gifts a few days later, Constance opened an envelope from her uncle Chandler. In it was $100 cash. But, the cash was inside a Jewish card for Happy Hanukkah! The note in the card was, “I couldn’t find a wedding card that I liked. I know this is Jewish, but it really is a beautiful card, donn't ’t you think? Love, and Best Wishes.” Constance did not send her uncle a thank you note, nor did she ever talk to him again. She was unable to think about her wedding again without thinking about that card.

===========================================================

*Translate into Vietnamese:
----------------------------------------------------------------

Adam và Constance rất ngoan đạo. Cả hai đều lớn lên trong những gia đình Công giáo. Ngoại trừ ông chú Chandler của cô, là một người theo thuyết bất khả tri, tất cả họ hàng thân thuộc đều sùng đạo Công giáo. Trong thực tế, người anh lớn của Adam là một linh mục. Adam, khi còn là một thanh niên, là một lễ sinh và từng cầu nguyện với Chúa cho anh trở thành một linh mục. Chúa đã khiến cho anh trở thành một người lính cứu hoả. Constance có một suy nghĩ nghiêm túc về việc trở thành một nữ tu, nhưng đó là chuyện trước khi cô gặp Adam.

Trái tim cô đã xao xuyến khi lần đàu tiên trông thấy Adam. Anh đang chụp hình với mấy đứa trẻ tại một lễ hội từ thiện. Một người đàn ông cao lớn, mạnh khoẻ làm sao, Cô nghĩ thế. Và quá chừng đẹp trai nữa chứ! Constance dẫn đứa cháu trai tới phía trên để chụp hình. Cô không thể tin được khi cô trông thấy Adam đang mang huy chương Thánh Christopher quanh cổ. Anh ấy cũng là một người theo đạo Công giáo. Cô không thể tin được. Không phải là một phụ nữ nhút nhát, Constance bắt đầu một cuộc trò chuyện với Adam.

Mọi chuyện, như người ta thường nói, đã dẫn dắt người này đến với người kia. Cha mẹ hai bên đầu rất vui mừng khi thấy con mình phải lòng một người Công giáo. Đã có một đám cưới thật lớn tại thánh đường. Anh của Adam đã làm lễ cưới cho hai kẻ si tình. Mọi người đều nói đó là một đám cưới tuyệt vời nhất mà họ từng thấy.

Một vài ngày sau, khi Adam và Constance ngồi lại để mở quà, Constance mở phong bì của chú Chandler. Trong đó có 100 đô-la tiền mặt. Nhưng, tờ tiền được để trong một tấm thiệp chúc mừng lễ Hanukkah của đạo Do thái! Trong tấm thiệp viết: "Chú không thể tìm được tấm thiệp chúc mừng đám cưới mà chú ưng ý. Chú biết đây là thiệp Do thái, nhưng công nhận tấm thiệp này đẹp, cháu có nghĩ như thế không! Thương yêu và chúc mừng hạnh phúc." Constance đã không gởi cho chú mình lá thư cảm ơn, cũng không bao giờ nói chuyện lại với ông nữa. Cô không thể nghĩ về đám cưới của mình một lần nữa mà không nghĩ về tấm thiệp.