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1、ByGeorgeGrow05October,2012Now,theSpecialEnglishprogram,AMERICANSTORIES.TodaywetellatraditionalAmericanstorycalleda"talltale."Atalltaleisastoryaboutapersonwhoislargerthanlife.Thedescriptionsinthestoryareexaggerated–muchgreaterthaninreallife.Longago,thepeoplewhosettledinundev
2、elopedareasofAmericafirsttoldtalltales.Afterahardday'swork,peoplegatheredtotelleachotherstories.Eachgroupofworkershaditsowntalltalehero.AnAfricanAmericanmannamedJohnHenrywastheheroofformerslavesandthepeoplewhobuilttherailroads.Hewasknownforhisstrength.Railroadsbegantolinkth
3、eUnitedStatestogetherinthenineteenthcentury.Therailroadsmadeitpossibletotravelfromonesideofthecountrytotheotherinlessthanaweek.Beforethen,thesametripmighthavetakenuptosixmonths.Railroadcompaniesemployedthousandsofworkerstocreatethesmooth,flatpathwaysrequiredbytrains.JohnHen
4、rywasperhapsthemostfamousworker.HewasbornaslaveinthesouthernUnitedStates.HebecameafreemanasaresultofAmerica'sCivilWar.Then,heworkedfortherailroads.ConfirmingdetailsofJohnHenry'slifeisnotpossible.Thatisbecausenooneknowsforsureifhereallylived.Thisisoneofthethingsthatmakeshiss
5、toryinteresting.However,JohnHenryisbased,inpart,onrealevents.ManypeoplesayherepresentsthespiritofgrowthinAmericaduringthisperiod.Now,hereisShepO'Nealwithourstory.PeoplestilltalkaboutthenightJohnHenrywasborn.Itwasdarkandcloudy.Then,lightninglitupthenightsky.JohnHenry'sbirthw
6、asabigevent.Hisparentsshowedhimtoeveryonetheymet.JohnHenrywasthemostpowerful-lookingbabypeoplehadeverseen.Hehadthickarms,wideshouldersandstrongmuscles.JohnHenrystartedgrowingwhenhewasonedayold.Hecontinuedgrowinguntilhewasthestrongestmanwhoeverlived.JohnHenrygrewupinaworldth
7、atdidnotletchildrenstaychildrenforlong.Oneday,hewassittingonhisfather'sknee.Theboypickedupasmallpieceofsteelandaworkman'stool,ahammer.Helookedatthetwoobjects,thensaid,"Ahammerwillbethedeathofme."BeforeJohnHenrywassixyearsold,hewascarryingstonesforworkersbuildinganearbyrailr
8、oad.Bytheageoften,heworkedfromearlyinthemorninguntilnight.Often,hewouldstopandlist
