等待口試
【內容提示】
你或許經歷過多次口試了吧？漢語口頭作文，英語口試等。你還記得第一次等待口試的情景嗎？也許你的心在跳、口發乾、喉嚨在發癢、坐立不寧、忐忑不安等。請你用英語寫一篇短文，描寫你當時的心理活動。
【作文示範】
Waiting for Oral Exam
I still remember the day when I took part in the English oral examination.
That morning a great number of nervous and excited young examinees① stood in the hall, each waiting for his turn to have the oral exam. Some were talking loudly; others reciting and still others walking idly②.Like all these young people, I had a butterfly③ in my stomach, not knowing what to do and just sittingon the chair with my eyes fixed on the door of the room where I would have the exam. Every time the door opened and a young man came out of it, my heart would beat fast. Though I had prepared my lessons well, I still had some fears for it was the firsttime Ihad such an important oral exam and also I had had a cold the day before and my voice had become husky④ because of the bad cough. I was sitting on pins and needles⑤when suddenly my name was called.
I got up and walked quickly toward the door. Stopping in front of it, I hesitated about opening it. I felt my face red and my heart beat fast. Suddenly a kind and gentle voice rang in my ears,“Remember to be calm, not to be nervous and you can certainly pass the exam.”These words eased my mind and I calmed down. I bravely opened the door with confidence. I would certainly succeed.
（選自1986年10月28日《上海學生英文報》）
【詞語解釋】
①examinee [ig?z$mi＇ni:] n．受試人
②idly [＇aidli] ad．無所事事地；懶散地
③butterfly [＇b)t+flai] n．蝴蝶
④husky [＇h)ski] a．喉嚨發乾的；沙啞的
⑤(sit) on pins and needles 如坐針氈
【寫法指要】
本文寫作者第一次參加英語口試時應試前的心理活動。文中使用了三個典型的表達方式把作者忐忑不安的心情寫得真真切切： 1）I had a butterfly in my stomach.（隱喻）2）I was sitting on pins and needles.（隱喻） 3）I felt my face flushing and my heart beat fast.（心理動詞feel+形象表達flushing和 heart beat fast。）讀者讀著以這些表達為主線的心理描述時會感到自己也置身其間的。