以下是《西南联大英文课》文章阅读理解问题本人原创回答，作为读书笔记，答案可供参考。我们一起阅读提高。今天是Day two:)

文中注解补充：

At first when you see the coolie on the road, bearing his load, it is as a pleasing object that he strikes the eye. In his blues rags, a blue of all colours from indigo to turquoise and then to the paleness of milky sky, he fits the landscape.

strike the eye: very noticeable 非常引人注意，冲击视觉

这里的coolie 跟中文”苦力“ 读音近似。让我想起了描写重庆山城的”棒棒“，还有挑山工。

Questions and Responses 

1. Describe the coolie on the road as 'a pleasing object'? Why 'object'?

We ususally use the word 'object' to refer to inanimated things. The writer used this word, first, to imply the inferior status of those coolies.

2. Describe a string of coolies showing how they at first form 'an agreeable pattern' but later grow 'distressing to watch'?

Those coolies moved along one by one with similar poles on their shoulders hanging two bales. This looked very unified in the writers' eyes. Next, he started to worry about their physical health when seeing those coolies working excessively so that they looked like patients suffered from heart disease. 

3. Why is your compassion useless?

Because that's how those coolies have made a living since two thousand years ago. Although we can be sympathetic about their health, their labour work cannot be replaced by us. 

4. What is a beast of burden? Name some beasts of burden.

'A beast of burden' literally refers to animals used for heavy work such as horses and donkeys carrying or pulling things. In this text, the writer used this word 'beast' for implying the inferior and miserable lives of labourers and workers. Other than coolies mentioned in this text, we can still see camels, horses and donkeys are trained for delivering and conveying goods.