2. Do you think youth and confidence can help one withstand the metaphorical dark？Why or why not?  （1）I don’t think so.In our opinion, the metaphorical dark means nada，nothing in one’s inner heart. In the article, the younger waiter had both youth and confidence; however, he never made full use of them. As we can see, he didn’t understand the old man’s suicide and excessive drinking, and failed to see his tomorrow through the old man’s present situation.
（2）What’s more, he had no idea that youth is not permanent, which cannot guarantee love and work. From above, there is no denying that he didn’t realize his nada. Therefore, his youth and confidence never contributed to  withstanding his metaphorical dark.
（3）I think that, nowadays, youth and confidence do can help to withstand the metaphorical dark, for one can bravely face the reality and overcome the nada with youth and confidence. But they only serve as two main factors. In fact, we need some other factors such as courage, dignity and so on if we want to withstand the metaphorical dark successfully. 
3.The older waiter said to the younger waiter:“We are of two different kinds.” In what way do you think they are different? 
（1）I think they are different from each other in the following four aspects：In the beginning, they are in different ages.The older waiter was in his middle age; while the other was much younger.
（2）Then, they have different attitudes towards the old man. From the article, we know the older waiter had suffered a lot. He had maintained a clean and well-lighted place in his heart, and he could understand the old man and show sympathy to him. However, the young man was very selfish. He wanted to go home early so that he finished the business one hour earlier and forced the old man to leave. He showed hatred rather than sympathy to the old man.
（3）Next, they have different attitudes towards life. The older waiter had a deep sense of life. He was brave and wanted to fight again nada. Besides, he cared about others. The younger one was totally different; he has a shadow understanding of life. He satisfied with his present love and work, he only care about himself and was reluctant to take others into consideration. He even never thought of his future.（4）Finally, they have different attitudes towards nada. The older waiter had realized that it is impossible to avoid nada in one’s whole life. The only thing he can do is to keep a kind of clearness in his own mind. So he was willing to work late for the lonely old man and was pleased to help those who are suffering nada. But out of youth and confidence, he failed to overcome nada. On the contrary, the younger waiter had the two most important  factors for withstanding nada; however, he didn’t realize the nada in his heart at all. Then his youth and confidence became useless. 

Unit 17 20th -Century American Poets
Robert Frost
(1)Fire and Ice 
1. What are the symbolic meanings of fire in this poem?
Fire symbolizes natural disaster, human passion, as well as war. 
2. Why does the speaker say that ice is also great for destruction? Explain what ice stands for here. 
Ice, oppose to fire, is also a dreadful natural disaster in this world, and ice is always related to indifference, coldness, hatred, and the other negative sentiments of human beings.
3. What is your opinion about fire and ice? Which one is more destructive? 
Both fire and ice can destroy this beautiful world if they are beyond control of human beings. Therefore we should be open-minded and reduce our prejudice and pride so as to keep this world in peace.
(2)Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening
1. In your opinion, what was the reason that made the speaker stop by the woods on a snowy evening?
The poet was deeply attracted by the natural beauty of the scene at that very moment.
2. Why did the horse give the harness bell a shake? 
The horse grew impatient by stopping in the middle of the dark, cold woods at midnight. It was eager to go home.
3. Why couldn't the speaker stay longer by the woods to appreciate its mysterious beauty? 
He realized that it was late at night and he would have to hurry home to get some food and sleep, because the next morning he would have a lot of work to do.
4. What is the effect of repetition in the last two lines? 
The refrain-like repetition in the last two lines reminds the reader a simple fact of life: whatever happens, one must go forward in the journey of his or her life.
(3) The Road Not Taken  
1. What is the speaker's initial response to the divergence of the two roads? 
The speaker is at a loss which road he should choose, and he feels sorry that he cannot explore both roads at the same time.