I. Check on preview

1. Try to work out a list of words or expressions used in sowing.

  open the earth; plant seeds; measure theground; lay seeds; cut the sod; turn up the sod; till the earth; cover theridge; spread seeds

2. Please give a simple character sketch of the couple.

3. Do you know that proper words can drive people’s dissatisfactions and tiredness away? Give an example from the text.

II. Text comprehension

Theme: The story describes the first day of thefirst spring planting of a newlymarried couple against the background of atraditional agricultural country. For Mary and Martin Delaney, this was anextremely important day, because it not only would determine the crop theywould harvest in auturnn, but would also show what kind of husband and wifethey would prove to each other and what kind of family they were going to have.

 Structure analysis 

I. Martin and Mary began their first day of springsowing as a couple. (paras. 1-4)

A. The young couplegot up early. (paras. 1- 2)

B. They were filledwith both excitement and anxiety. (paras. 3- 4)

II. The couple worked in their field before sunrisetill sundown. (paras. 5-31)

A. They set outwith the joy of spring and were the first to start. (paras. 5一11)

B. Martin'sattention was wholly devoted to work. (paras. 12- 14)

C. They had a lunchbreak in the field. (paras. 15- 20)

D. Martin'sgrandfather came to inspect their work. (paras. 21- 31)

III. They were proud of their good day's work.(paras. 32-35)

A. For a fleetingmoment Mary dreaded being a farmer's wife. (para. 32)

B. Martin waspleased with his display of manhood. (para. 33)

C. Mary looked intoher future realistically. (paras. 34-35)