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Mandarin Companion Graded Readers
Level 1: 300 characters
盲人国
Mángrén Guó
The Country of the Blind (Sample)
by H.G. Wells
Mind Spark Press LLC
SHANGHAI
Mandarin Companion Graded Readers
Mandarin Companion creates books you can read! This series offers Chinese
learners enjoyable and interesting reading materials to accelerate language
learning. Each book uses characters, words, and grammar that a learner is most
likely to know at each level based on in-depth analysis of textbooks, education
programs, and natural Chinese language. Every story is written in a style that is
easy for a learner to understand and enjoyable to read.
Mandarin Companion Level 1
Level One is intended for Chinese learners who have obtained an elementary level
of Chinese. Most students will be able to approach this book after one to two
years of traditional formal study, depending on the learner and program. In
creating this story we have carefully balanced the need for level-appropriate
simplicity against the needs of the story's plot.
When writing a story in Chinese, close attention must be paid to both Chinese
characters and vocabulary words. The level is designed around Mandarin
Companion's core set of 300 basic characters ensuring that most vocabulary will
be simple, everyday words, composed of characters that the learner is most likely
to know. This book contains approximately 400 unique words, a figure similar to
low-level graded readers for English learners. New words and characters may be
added as the plot requires but are strictly limited to fall within the principles of
extensive reading. Corresponding pinyin readings and English definitions are
provided at each occurrence.
What level is right for me?
If you are able to read this book without stopping every sentence to pull out a
dictionary to look up a character, then this book is probably at your level. If you
are able to ready fluidly and quickly without interruption, then you may be ready
for a higher level. Even if you can read all of the characters and words but are not
able to read fluidly, it is recommended that you build your reading speed before
moving to a higher level.
Learners should read at a level where they can understand most of the words in the
book. It is ideal to have only one unknown word or character for every 40-50
words or characters. New characters and words that fall outside the level of this
story are introduced throughout the book with numbered footnotes referenced in
the glossary with pinyin and an English definition.
How will this help my Chinese?
Reading extensively in a language you are learning is one of the most effective
ways to build fluency. However, the key is to read at a level of high
comprehension. Reading at the appropriate level in Chinese will increase the
speed of your character recognition, help you acquire vocabulary faster, allow you
to naturally learn grammar, and train your brain to think in Chinese. It also makes
learning Chinese fun and enjoyable. You'll finally be able to experience the sense
of accomplishment and confidence that only comes from reading entire books in
Chinese.
Please visit the chapter Extensive Reading and Graded Readers for more
information.
Table of Contents
Story Adaptation Notes
Characters and Locations
1 盲人国
2 那个很远的地方
3 找盲人国
4 这是哪里？
5 这是什么人？
6 两个世界的人
7 什么是“看见”？
8 我错了！
9 眼睛
10 最后的决定
Key Words
Discussion Questions
Extensive Reading and Graded Readers
Credits and Acknowledgements
About Mandarin Companion
Other Stories from Mandarin Companion
Story Adaptation Notes
This story is an adaptation of English sci-fi author H.G. Wells’ 1904 classic story,
The Country of the Blind. This Mandarin Companion graded reader has been
adapted into a fully localized Chinese version of the original story. The characters
have been given authentic Chinese names as opposed to transliterations of English
names, and the locations have been adapted to well-known places in China. We
have used the English language classic title's official translation in Chinese, but
we have converted all character names to natural Chinese names and changed
some details to better fit a Chinese setting.
The time period of this adaptation is left up to the reader’s imagination, but
clearly modern technology does not play a role in the story. The original 1904
story and a revised version published in 1939 actually have different endings. We
have made an unusual choice in this case and decided to follow neither original
ending exactly, rather giving the story our own twist. We hope you enjoy it.
Character Adaptations
The following is a list of the characters from The Country of the Blind in Chinese
followed by their corresponding English names from Wells’ original story. The
names below aren't translations; they're new Chinese names used for the Chinese
versions of the original characters. Think of them as all-new characters in a
Chinese story.
陈方远 (Chén Fāngyuǎn) - Nuñez
江天雨 (Jiāng Tiānyǔ) - Yacob
江雪 (Jiāng Xuě) - Medina-Saroté
Cast of Characters
Locations
贵州 Guìzhōu Guizhou Province is in southwest China, between Yunnan
and Hunan. Like Yunnan, it is home to many Chinese ethnic minorities,
and is also a very mountainous province.
1
盲人国
在 贵 州 的 大 山 里 ， 有 一 个 漂 亮 [2]的 地 方 。 人 们 听 说 [3]过
那 里 ， 但 是 从 来 没 有 [4]去 过 ， 所 以 他 们 很 想 知 道 那 个 地
方 的 样 子 [5]。 听 说 [3]， 有 一 条 [6]路 可 以 去 那 个 地 方 ， 但 是
很 难 。 如 果 要 去 那 个 地 方 ， 人 们 需 要 [7]走 过 几 个 大 山 ，
然 后 走 过 一 个 长 长 的 山 洞 [8]。 后 来 [9]， 二 三 十 个 人
带 [10]着 孩 子 、 一 些 吃 的 和 他 们 所 有 的 钱 ， 走 了 一 个 月 ，
真 的 到 了 那 里 。 那 是 个 漂 亮 [2]的 地 方 ， 这 几 十 个 人 到 了
那 里 以 后 就 一 直 [11]生 活 [12]在 那 个 地 方 ， 他 们 都 很 开 心 。
很多很多年以后，贵州下了一次大雨，大雨下了一
个 月 。 山 洞 [8]里 的 路 变 成 [13]了 一 条 [6]河 [14]， 从 那 以 后 [15]，
再 也 没 有 [16]路 去 那 个 漂 亮 [2]的 地 方 了 。 山 洞 [8]里 的 这
条 [6]河 [14]让 贵 州 变 成 [13]了 两 个 世 界 [17]， 一 个 是 那 个 漂
亮 [2]的 地 方 ， 一 个 是 山 洞 [8]外 面 的 世 界 [17]。
但是在那次大雨以前，有一个老人从那个地方走了
出 来 。 外 面 的 人 都 问 他 ： “那 个 地 方 怎 么 样 ？ 你 为 什 么
从那里出来？”
他 想 了 一 下 ， 然 后 说 ： “ 这 是 一 个 很 长 的 故 事 [18]。
那 个 地 方 很 漂 亮 [2]， 我 们 在 那 里 的 生 活 [12]很 开 心 。 可 是
不 知 道 为 什 么 ， 最 近 几 年 ， 那 里 的 人 的 眼 睛 [19]慢 慢 出
现 [20]了 一 些 问 题 。 大 人 们 慢 慢 看 不 见 [21]东 西 了 ， 所 有 刚
出 生 的 孩 子 都 是 盲 人 [1]。 我 的 眼 睛 [19]是 最 好 的 ， 我 也 知
道 出 来 的 路 。 所 以 他 们 给 了 我 所 有 的 钱 ， 希 望 [22]我 能 到
外 面 的 世 界 [17]里 ， 找 到 一 个 好 办 法 帮 他 们 。 ” 可 是 他 没
想 到 [23]， 他 出 来 以 后 ， 大 雨 下 了 一 个 月 ， 那 个 山 洞 [8]里
的 路 变 成 [13]了 一 条 [6]河 [14]， 他 没 有 回 去 的 路 了 。 所 以 他
只 能 忘 记 [24]那 里 的 老 婆 [25]、 孩 子 和 朋 友 ， 在 外 面 的 世
界 [17]里 生 活 [12]。 “ 他 们 还 在 等 我 ， 可 是 我 回 不
去 [26]了 ！ ” 想 到 [23]这 些 ， 他 难 过 [27]地 哭 了 。
后 来 [9]， 那 个 老 人 的 眼 睛 [19]也 慢 慢 看 不 见 [21]了 ， 不
长 时 间 以 后 ， 他 就 死 了 。 人 们 很 快 就 忘 记 [24]了 他 ， 但 是
人 们 记 住 [28]了 他 的 故 事 [18]： 在 贵 州 的 一 个 大 山 里 ， 有 一
个 漂 亮 [2]的 地 方 ， 那 个 地 方 的 人 都 是 盲 人 [1]。 所 以 现
在 ， 外 面 的 人 叫 那 个 地 方 “ 盲 人 [1]国 ” 。
2
那个很远的地方
外 面 世 界 [17]的 人 都 知 道 盲 人 [1]国 是 一 个 很 漂 亮 [2]的 地
方 。 那 个 从 盲 人 [1]国 里 出 来 的 人 告 诉 [29]过 他 们 ： “ 那 里
有你们想要的所有的东西。天气不冷也不热。山很高，
山 上 有 很 多 大 树 [30]， 树 [30]上 的 水 果 又 大 又 好 吃 。 每 年 6
月 到 8 月 ， 山 上 的 雪 [31]就 变 成 [13]了 水 ， 然 后 到 了
河 [14]里 。 我 们 喝 河 [14]里 的 水 ， 也 用 它 种 [32]花 、 种 [32]菜 。
动 物 每 天 都 去 河 [14]边 喝 水 。 住 在 那 里 的 人 都 是 朋 友 ， 我
们 的 生 活 [12]很 开 心 。 ”
后 来 [9]， 那 个 从 盲 人 [1]国 里 出 来 的 老 人 就 死 了 ， 但
是 ， 盲 人 [1]国 的 故 事 [18]还 没 有 说 完 。
盲 人 [1]国 里 的 人 都 在 等 那 个 去 了 外 面 世 界 [17]的 老
人 ， 他 们 希 望 [22]他 能 找 到 一 个 办 法 帮 他 们 。 可 是 ， 那 个
老 人 一 直 [11]没 有 回 去 ， 他 们 不 知 道 ， 他 回 不 去 [26]了 。 老
人 们 的 眼 睛 [19]越 来 越 [33]差 [34]， 年 轻 人 也 慢 慢 看 不 见 [21]东
西 了 ， 孩 子 们 什 么 都 看 不 见 [21]了 。
但 是 ， 因 为 在 盲 人 [1]国 里 ， 外 面 都 是 高 山 ， 中 间 是
一 个 很 大 很 大 的 草 地 [35]。 没 有 可 怕 [36]的 动 物 ， 也 没 有 不
好 的 天 气 。 那 里 有 吃 不 完 [37]的 菜 、 肉 和 水 果 ， 所 以 ， 如
果 看 不 见 [21]， 盲 人 [1]国 里 的 生 活 [12]也 不 难 。
最 后 一 个 看 得 见 [38]的 人 死 了 以 后 ， 盲 人 [1]国 里 的 人
还 是 生 活 [12]得 很 开 心 。 他 们 慢 慢 忘 记 [24]了 眼 睛 [19]， 忘
记 [24]了 外 面 的 世 界 [17]， 忘 记 [24]了 很 多 很 多 事 。 但 是 ， 他
们 也 学 会 了 很 多 。 没 有 眼 睛 [19]， 他 们 也 可 以 种 [32]花 、
种 [32]菜 、 做 饭 。 他 们 不 需 要 [7]看 ， 就 知 道 自 己 要 去 哪
里，也知道身边有没有别人。
盲 人 [1]国 里 的 人 只 是 眼 睛 [19]看 不 见 [21]， 但 是 他 们 的
身 体 很 好 。 他 们 生 [39]了 很 多 孩 子 ， 慢 慢 地 ， 盲 人 [1]国 里
的 人 越 来 越 [33]多 。 从 那 个 老 人 出 去 到 现 在 ， 已 经 三
百 [40]年 过 去 [41]了 ， 盲 人 [1]国 也 已 经 变 成 [13]了 一 个 小 世
界 [17]， 盲 人 [1]国 里 的 人 生 活 [12]在 自 己 的 世 界 [17]里 。 他 们
已 经 忘 记 [24]了 他 们 以 前 从 外 面 的 世 界 [17]来 ， 也 忘 记 [24]了
外 面 世 界 [17]的 样 子 [5]。
盲 人 [1]国 里 的 人 不 会 想 到 [23]， 有 一 天 ， 一 个 人 会 从
外 面 的 世 界 [17]来 到 盲 人 [1]国 ； 他 们 也 不 会 想 到 [23]， 盲
人 [1]国 里 会 发 生 [42]那 么 多 有 意 思 [43]的 事 。
We hope you enjoyed this sample! Please visit www.MandarinCompanion.com for
a full copy of this book and to browse other titles in this series.
Key Words
关键词 (Guānjiàncí)
1.
盲人
mángrén
n. blind person
2.
漂亮
piàoliang
adj. pretty
3.
听说
tīngshuō
v. to have heard of, to hear talk of
4.
从来没有
5.
样子
6.
条
7.
需要
xūyào
8.
山洞
shāndòng
9.
后来
hòulái
10.
带
11.
一直
yīzhí
12.
生活
shēnghuó
v.; n. to live; life
13.
变成
biànchéng
v. to turn into, to become
yàngzi
tiáo
dài
cónglái méiyǒu
phrase to have never (done something)
n. appearance
mw. [a measure word for rivers, roads, and other long, thin things]
v. to need
n. cave (lit. "mountain hole")
tn. afterward
v. to carry, to take (a person somewhere to do something)
adv. all along, continuously
14.
河
15.
从那以后
cóng nà yǐhòu
phrase from then on, from that point forward
16.
再也没有
zài yě méiyǒu
phrase never again (do something), (there was) never
n. river
hé
again
17.
世界
shìjiè
n. world
18.
故事
gùshi
n. story
19.
眼睛
yǎnjing
n. eyes
20.
出现
chūxiàn
v. to appear, to emerge
21.
看不见
22.
希望
xīwàng
23.
想到
xiǎngdào
24.
忘记
wàngjì
25.
老婆
lǎopo
26.
回不去
27.
难过
nánguò
28.
记住
jìzhu
kànbujiàn
vc. to be unable to see
v. to hope
vc. to think of, to imagine
v. to forget
n. wife (informal)
huíbuqù
vc. to be unable to go back
adj. sad, upset
vc. to memorize, to remember for the future
Part of Speech Key
adj. Adjective
adv. Adverb
aux. Auxiliary Verb
conj. Conjunction
mw. Measure word
n. Noun
num. Numeral
on. Onomatopoeia
part. Particle
pn. Proper noun
tn. Time Noun
v. Verb
vc. Verb plus complement
vo. Verb plus object
Extensive Reading
After years of studying Chinese, many people ask, "Why can't I speak Chinese?
I've been studying for years but I still can't speak!" Fluent speaking only happens
when the language enters our "comfort zone." This comfort only comes from
experience with the language. The more times you meet a word, phrase, or
grammar point, the more likely it will enter your comfort zone.
In the world of language research, the experts agree that learners can acquire new
vocabulary through reading if the overall text can be understood. Decades of
research indicate that if we know approximately 98% of the words in a book, we
can comfortably "pick up" the 2% that is unfamiliar. Reading at this 98%
comprehension level is called "Extensive Reading."
Research in extensive reading has shown that it accelerates vocabulary learning
and helps the learner to naturally understand grammar. Perhaps most importantly,
it trains the brain to automatically process the language thereby leaving space in
the memory for other things. As they build reading speed and fluency, learners
will move from reading "word by word" to starting to process "chunks of
language" at a time. A defining feature is that it's less painful than the "intensive
reading" commonly used in textbooks. In fact, extensive reading can be downright
fun.
Graded Readers
Graded readers are the best books for learners to "extensively" read. Research
has taught us that learners need to "encounter" a word 10-30 times before truly
learning it, often many more times for especially complicated or abstract words.
Learners can read a graded reader because the language is controlled and
simplified to their level, as opposed to reading native texts, which are inevitably
slow, difficult, and demotivating. Reading extensively with graded readers allows
learners to bring together all of the language they have studied and absorb how the
words naturally work together.
To become fluent, learners must not only understand the meaning of a word, but
also understand its nuances, how to use it in conversation, how to pair it with
other words, where it fits into natural word order, and how it is used in grammar
structures. No textbook could ever be written to teach all of this explicitly. When
used properly, a textbook introduces the language and provides the basic
meanings, while graded readers consolidate, strengthen, and deepen
understanding.
Without graded readers, learners would have to study dictionaries, textbooks,
sample dialogs, and simple conversations until they have randomly encountered
enough Chinese for it to enter their comfort zones. With proper use of graded
readers, learners can tackle this issue and develop greater fluency now, at their
current levels, instead of waiting until some period in the distant future. With a
stronger foundation and greater confidence at their current levels, learners are
encouraged and motivated to continue their Chinese studies to ever greater
heights. Plus they'll quickly learn that reading Chinese is fun!
Credits
Original Author: H.G. Wells
Series Editor: John Pasden
Lead Writer: Yang Renjun
Associate Editor: Yu Cui
Illustrator: Hu Shen
Producer: Jared Turner
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Yang Renjun, Yu Cui, Song Shen and the entire team at AllSet
Learning for working on this project and contributing the perfect mix of talent to
produce this series.
Thank you to our enthusiastic testers, Logan Pauley, Ashlyn Weber, Michelle
Helding Birkenfeldt, Vanessa Dewey, and Ariel Bowman. Thank you to Judy
Yang who helped with our cover and book design.
A special thanks to Rob Waring, to whom we refer as the "godfather of extensive
reading" for his encouragement, expert advice, and support with this project.
Thank you to Heather Turner for being the inspiration behind the entire series and
never wavering in her belief. Thank you to Song Shen for supporting us, handling
all the small thankless tasks, and spurring us forward if we dared to fall behind.
Moreover, we will be forever grateful for Yuehua Liu and Chengzhi Chu for
pioneering the first graded readers in Chinese and to whom we owe a debt of
gratitude for their years of tireless work to bring these type of materials to the
Chinese learning community.
About Mandarin Companion
Mandarin Companion was started by Jared Turner and John Pasden who met one
fateful day on a bus in Shanghai when the only remaining seat left them sitting
next to each other. A year later, Jared had greatly improved his Chinese using
extensive reading but was frustrated at the lack of suitable reading materials. He
approached John with the prospect of creating their own series. Having worked in
Chinese education for nearly a decade, John was intrigued with the idea and thus
began the Mandarin Companion series.
John majored in Japanese in college, but started learning Mandarin and later
moved to China where his learning accelerated. After developing language
proficiency, he was admitted into an all-Chinese masters program in applied
linguistics at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Throughout his learning
process, John developed an open mind to different learning styles and a tendency
to challenge conventional wisdom in the field of teaching Chinese. He has since
worked at ChinesePod as academic director and host, and opened his own
consultancy, AllSet Learning, in Shanghai to help individuals acquire Chinese
language proficiency. He lives in Shanghai with his wife and daughter.
After graduate school and with no Chinese language skills, Jared decided to move
to China with his young family in search of career opportunities. Later while
working on a investment project, Jared learned about extensive reading and
decided that if it was as effective as it claimed to be, it could help him learn
Chinese. In three months, he read 10 Chinese graded readers and his ability
quickly improved from speaking words and phrases to a conversational level. Jared
has an MBA from Purdue University and a bachelor in Economics from the
University of Utah. He lives in Shanghai with his wife and three kids.
Other Stories from Mandarin Companion
Level 1 Readers: 300 Characters
The Secret Garden 《秘密花》
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Li Ye grew up never knowing the love and affection of her parents. After an
epidemic leaves her an orphan, Li Ye is sent off to live with her reclusive
Uncle in his sprawling estate in Nanjing. She learns of a secret garden where
no one has set foot in ten years. Li Ye finds the garden and slowly discovers
the secrets of the manor. With the help of new friends, she brings the garden
back to life, a decision that forever changes several lives.
The Monkey's Paw 《猴爪》
by W.W. Jacobs
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang live with their grown son, Xide, who works at a factory.
One day Mr. Qian, an old friend of Mr. Zhang, comes to visit the family after
having spent years traveling in the mysterious hills of Yunnan. Mr. Qian tells
the Zhang family of a monkey's paw he was given that has magical powers to
grant three wishes to the holder. Against his better judgment, Mr. Qian gives
the monkey paw to the Zhang family with a warning that the wishes come with
a great price for trying to change one's fate…
The Sixty-Year Dream《六十年的梦》
Based on "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving
Zhou Xuefa is well loved by everyone in his town, but always given a hard
time by his nagging wife. With his faithful dog Blackie, Zhou Xuefa spends
his time playing with kids, helping neighbors, and discussing politics in the
teahouse. One day after a bad scolding from his wife, he goes for a walk into
the mountains and meets a mysterious old man who appears to be from an
ancient time. The man invites Zhou Xuefa into his mountain home for a meal,
and after drinking some wine, Zhou Xuefa falls into a deep sleep. He awakes
to a time very different than what he once knew.
Sherlock Holmes and the Red-Headed League 《卷发会
的案子》
Adapted into “The Case of the Curly Haired Company” by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle
Mr. Xie was recently offered admission into the Curly-Haired League. He had
answered an advertisement in the paper, and although thousands of people
applied, he was the only one selected because of his very curly hair. For a
handsome weekly allowance, Mr. Xie was required to sit in an office and copy
articles from a book, while his assistant looked after his shop. When the
league unexpectedly dissolved, Mr. Xie sought out Gao Ming (Sherlock
Holmes) and shared his strange story. Gao Ming is certain trouble is afoot, but
will he solve the mystery in time?
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Mandarin Companion is a trademark of Mind Spark Press LLC.
www.MandarinCompanion.com
Design and Illustrations contained herein are © Mind Spark Press 2013.
First published 2013. This Chinese language original adaption © AllSet Learning
2013,
licensed exclusively to Mandarin Companion.
ISBN 978-0-9910052-3-9
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