
Unit One Section A Time-Conscious Americans
1. Pre-reading
1. 1 Background information
Time orientation
Americans place considerable value on punctuality. Because they tend to organize their activities by means of schedules, they may seem harried, always running from one thing to the next and unable to relax and enjoy themselves. Since Americans are so time conscious, the pace of life may seem very hectic(紧张的). Being on time is regarded as very important, and in the U.S. most people make an effort to arrive on time. Not all Americans are punctual, but almost everyone is conscious of time. Different types of activities have different conventions. One should arrive at the exact time specified for meals, and for appointments with professors, doctors, and other professionals. You can arrive any time between the hours specified for parties, receptions, and cocktail parties. Plan to arrive a few minutes before the specified time for public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, sports events, classes, church services, and weddings. If you are unable to keep an appointment, it is expected that you inform the other party that you will be late or unable to arrive.
Hourglass: A glass container holding fine sand for measuring time, which is narrow in the middle like a figure 8 so that the sand inside can run slowly from the top half to the bottom taking exactly one hour.
Proverbs of time
Read the following proverbs. Have you ever learnt them?
What are the Chinese versions for them?
1. Time works wonders.时间创造奇迹。2. Time tries truth.时间检验真理。
3. Time is the best healer. 时间是治愈创伤的良药。4. Time and tide wait for no man.
时间不等人。(时不我待。)5. All time is no time when it is past.机不可失,时不再来。
6.An inch of time can not be bought by an inch of gold. 寸金难买寸光阴。
1. 2 Topic-related video
1. 3 Topic-related discussion
2. While-reading
2. 1 Global reading
2. 1. 1 Understanding the major details of the text
1. What precious resource do Americans value and save?
Time & labor.
2. What is a foreigner’s first impression of the US likely to be? And how do city people appear in the writer’s eyes?
Everyone is in a rush---often under pressure. In the writer’s eyes, city people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going, restlessly seeking attention in a store, elbowing others as they try to complete their shopping.
3. What examples does the writer give to show that Americans work hard at the task of saving time?
Americans produce a steady flow of labor-saving device: they communicate rapidly through faxes, phone calls or emails rather than through personal contacts.
2. 1. 2 Understanding the organization of the text
Main idea of the text: Americans value time and save time carefully. In their eyes, time is regarded as precious resource. A person who tends to waste his own time or that of others is never accepted in American culture. Consequently, Americans try every means to save time in their daily life, business and work so as to make every minute count. Besides, to solve a problem or fulfill a job with speed in U.S.A is taken as a sign of skillfulness or being competent.
Division of the text:
Part One―(Paras. 1―2) Americans value time and save time carefully. Time is regarded as precious resources.
Part Two―(Paras.3―7) Americans try every means to save time. They save time in their daily life , business and work as well. They also create a series of devices to improve efficiency.
Part Three C(paras. 8) Saving time is regarded as a sign of skillfulness or being competent.
2. 2 Detailed reading
2. 2. 1 Words and Phrases
1) result (L.2) Acting before thinking always results in failing. (cause, lead to)
The accident resulted from his careless driving. (be caused by).事故是由于他粗心驾驶造成的。
2) nothing but… (L.5)Don’t have him for a friend: he is nothing but a criminal. ( 只有,只不过)
屋里除了一张桌子以外什么也没有。There is nothing in the room but a table.
注意:nothing but 前或之间出现实意动词 do 一词时,but 后要跟上不带 to 的不定式;但是,nothing but 前且之间没有出现实意动词do一词时,but 后要跟上带to 的不定式。
如:They could do nothing but go home on foot. 他们只能步行回家。
3)charge (L.7) How much do you charge for a washing car? (v. ask an amount as a price收费)
We charge 200 dollars for a single room one night.
As long as you have paid advance, we won’t charge you for the delivery.
4) count (L.11) She’s the only person that really counts around here. (v. be important)
对他们来说,重要的只有钱。For them, what counts is nothing but money.
5) beyondUnderstanding this article is beyond my capacity. (prep. 超出,出乎,为…所不能及)
我看不懂这篇文章。 Do you know the English expression of the following:
出乎某人的预料 beyond one’s expectation; 非我力所能及: beyond my ability
做梦都想不到: beyond one’s dream; 够不着 beyond one’s reach;不能再修复 beyond repair
6) assess (L.27) The annual income of school teachers in this place was assessed at$900. (v. to estimate the value of sth..评价,估价)这地方的学校教师的收入为900美元。
词语辨析:assess v. 常用表示对收入,财产等进行“估价”(常作为课税或罚款等的根据);
estimate v. 指一种猜测性的“估价、估计”,强调其估计结果可能是错误的;evaluate v. 强调评定人或物的价值
All the experts presented found it very difficult to assess the value of the antique.
It was difficult to estimate how many people had been wounded in the earthquake.
7) generally (L.29) Generally, the student go to the library three times a week. (ad. usually)
人们普遍认为吸烟有害健康。______that smoking is bad for health. (ad. by most people, widely)
8) consequently (L.32) The bank refused to help the company; consequently it went out of business. (ad. as a result)银行拒绝帮助这家公司,公司因此倒闭了。
The documents are not ready. Consequently we cannot sign them.
9) given(L.35)考虑到他们缺乏经验,他们算做得不错了。
Given their inexperience, they’ve done a good job. ( prep. considering )
__________, they’ve done a good job. Given that they are inexperienced
Given good weather, our ship will reach Shanghai Monday evening. ( If provided…)
Notice that “given” is followed by a noun phrase, while “given that” is followed by a finite clause.
10) increasingly (L.40) The increasingly dull nature of many industrial jobs has led to the alienation of many workers. ( ad. more and more)
People are increasingly aware of the importance of being healthy.
11) due to (L.46) Due to the change the weather, we gave up our plan. (because of)
Some areas, _____their severe weather conditions, are hardly populated.
a. due to b. in spite of c. but for d. with regard to
12) whereas (L.47) They want a house, whereas/while we would rather live in a flat. (conj. but, while)他们想住一所房子, 可我们宁愿住在一套公寓房里。
Their country has plenty of oil, ______________.(whereas/ while ours has none)
Some students want to make big money right after graduation from university, wheras some other students want to go to graduate schools.
13) competent (L.52)
词语辨析:competent,只用作褒义,主语通常是人,表示“胜任的,有能力的”,常用于“be competent for”;able也只用作褒义,主语通常也必须是有生命的人或动物,表示“有才能的, 能够的”,常用于“be able to”;capable 则可以表示褒义与贬义,不仅可用于有生命的人或动物,还可以用于无生命的事物,表示“(褒义)有…能力的;(贬义)能干得出…的,敢于…的”,常用于“be capable of”
He was one of those who are ______of playing all kinds of tricks. capable
Although he received little education, he is______ to do the work.. able
When Chinese football team has won several games, people began to think that this Yugoslavian coach is _________. competent
14) fulfill (L.53) He has fulfilled the orders that I gave him. (v. carry out, complete) They fulfilled their work ahead of time as we did ours.
2. 2. 2 Sentence patterns
1) 原句Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor.
句型提炼: 名词/名词短语+V-ing /V-ed……, 主句...… (分词主格结构做状语 )
(1) 表示时间 The bell ringing, all the pupils went into the classroom.
(2) 表示原因 The question being rather difficult, we must take time to consider it carefully.
(3) 表示条件 Weather permitting, we shall start tomorrow.
(4) 表示伴随状况 Almost all metals are good conductors, silver being the best of all.
应用:任务完成以后,他休了3个月的假。_________, he had three months’ leave.
The teacher_______, the students resumed their discussion.
a. being left b. having left c. left d. had left Key: b
2) 原句:Time is treated as if it were something almost real. (L.5)
句型提炼: …as if / as though + subj.+v-ed(had+v-ed)+obj.
He operated the machine as if he had been a skilled worker.
I remember the whole thing as if it were yesterday.
3) 原句: Normally, Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed surroundings over extended small talk; much less do they take them out for dinner… (L27-28)
句型提炼: 否定主句,much less… 更别提……
应用:People in the desert are always short of water to drink,______________.
Indeed, almost every scientist now finds it impossible to read all the works connected with his own subject, ______________________(更不用说大量阅读自己学科以外的东西了)
4)原句:To us the impersonality of electronic communication has little or no relation to the significance of the matter at hand. In some countries no major business is conducted without eye contact, requiring face-to-face conversation. (L. 37)
句型提炼:To sb., sth. has little / no relation to sth. else; whereas / while, to sb. else, nothing can be done without sth. else. 就某人而言,某事与另一事很少/完全没有关系; 然而对于另一人,没有另一事什么事都做不成。
应用:对于美国人而言,缺乏面对面的接触和生意的成败无关; 但对中国人而言,没有经常性的边吃边面谈什么生意都做不成。To the American people, lack of personal contact has no relation to the success or failure in their business; whereas, to the Chinese people, no business can be conducted without frequent face-to-face chats over meals.
就过去的人来说,生活跟电没有多大的关系,然而对现在的人而言,没有电什么也做不成。To people in the past, electricity has little relation to their living; whereas, to people in the modern society, nothing can be done without electricity.
3. Post-reading
3. 1 Useful expressions
1) 投身于(研究、实验和探索)commit to (researching, experimenting and exploring)(L.2)
2) 只受时间的支配be slaves to nothing but the clock (L.5)
3) 解释…的原因 account for (L.6);4) 深感(人生的短暂)to have a rather acute sense of (the shortness of each lifetime) (L.7);5) 在压力下be under pressure (L.11);6) 在规定的时间内(赶回去工作)(get back to work) within the time allowed (L.15);7) 针对某个人take it personally (L.18);8)不得当地(浪费时间)(waste the time) beyond a certain appropriate point (L.20)
9) 喝着茶或咖啡招待客人的礼节性交往the ritual interaction that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee (L.23);10) 增进相互间信任to develop a sense of trust (L.29);11) 源源不断地生产出节省劳力的器具 produce a steady flow of labor saving devices (L32);12) 与手头的事情(很少有或)完全没有关系to have (little or) no relation to the matter at hand (L.37);13) 被看作是一个人能力强的表现be taken as a sign of skillfulness (L.52)
3. 2 Summary of the text Summarize the passage using the tips below.
1) concerned about time 2) consider time a precious resource. 3) always in a rush 4) exchange smiles or brief conversations 5) use quite a few labor-saving devices 6) more and more popular 7)is saved for after-work hours or for social weekend gatherings8) fulfilling a job successfully is a sign of
3. 3 Assignment:
1) Finish all the exercises related to Section A of Unit 1.
2) Preview Section B, including reading skills, the passage and the related exercises.
3) Written work: Write a paragraph about “The importance of rain”.
4) Oral Exercise: Paragraph recitation:Paragraph 3 of Section A.
Unit 2 Learning the Olympic Standard for Love
1. Pre-reading
1. 1 Background information
1. 2 Topic-related video
1. 3 Topic-related discussion
2. While-reading
2. 1 Global reading
2. 1. 1 Understanding the major details of the text
2. 1. 2 Understanding the organization of the text
2. 2 Detailed reading
Words and Phrases
1) pat
Vt. The teacher patted the student on his shoulder, encouraging him to try harder next time.
n. Jim used to give his dog a pat before he left for work in the morning.
2) promising
The promising student couldn't go on with his studies because his family was too poor to afford it.。
3) amateur
a. My elder brother is an amateur photographer, but he really takes very nice pictures.
n. Only amateurs will be allowed to participate in this match.
4) lower v.
The price will be lowered from $150 to $100 to attract more customers.
The old man lowered his hand so that the pigeons could eat the corn out of his palm.
5) gratitude
I showed my gratitude to Susan by sending her a box of chocolate.
I owe a debt of gratitude to you. I couldn't have achieved anything without your support.
6) perceptivity
You can always sense her perceptivity whenever she makes comments on something.
The writer is worth admiring for his outstanding perceptivity and memory.
7) massive
They made massive efforts to carry out the research with limited budget.
I was impressed by the massive walls surrounding that ancient city.
8) fatigue
Vt. Having been climbing the mountain for two hours, we all felt fatigued.
Whenever he felt fatigued, he got angry easily.
n. The girl looked pale with fatigue after the long journey.
I ran for another two kilometers before I stopped because of fatigue.
9) approximately
She has lost approximately 10 pounds since I met her last time.
The train will arrive in approximately five minutes.
10) fuss
v. I'm afraid you're fussing too much about your health. Just follow the doctor's advice and you'll be fine.
Don't fuss; we will solve this problem for you immediately.
n. Why are you making so much fuss over losing 100 yuan?
Why is she so excited? She must be making a fuss about nothing again.
11) indifferent
Seeing his sick mother lying on the bed, his manner was rather indifferent.
Many girls wear skirts in the winter, seeming indifferent to the cold.
12) shift
Julie shifted her position slightly and smiled.
The emphasis has shifted in recent years.
13) makeshift
He couldn't find his way before it got dark, so he decided to find a makeshift shelter for the night.
14) stack
The postman was stacking the packages up against the wall.
We just moved in, so the floor is still stacked with boxes.
15) assert
Ada asserted that the short man was the one who attacked her that night.
The man asserted his innocence, but I didn't think he was worth trusting.
16) sweat
The boss swore at the waitress when she broke a plate.
All soldiers swore to fight for the independence of their nation.
17) outburst
Hearing an outburst of weeping from the neighboring apartment, I realized the husband was abusing his wife again.
18) frown
Trying to concentrate on his study, Jim frowned at the noises from outside.
The boss frowned all the time as he read the financial report of the company.
19) persist
I'm afraid he cannot stay here any longer—he simply persists in causing trouble to us.
20) indissoluble
The tie between these two nations seemed indissoluble for a time, but it broke easily after the dispute.
3. Post-reading
Assignment:
1) Finish all the exercises related to Section A of Unit 2.
2) Read Section B, including reading skills, the passage and the related exercises.
3) Oral Exercise: Paragraph recitation:Paragraph 3 of Section A.
Unit 3 Marriage Across Nations
Teaching Objective
1. Master the important vocabulary and structure
2. Be able to talk about cross-cultural communications in English
Teaching Content
1. Important Points:
Understand differences between Chinese cultures and western cultures.
Key words & phrases: tolerance, compromise, mutual, overlook, counsel, subsequent, harbor, prejudice, confirm, suspect, harsh, hesitate, cancel, proceed, resolve, ups and downs, work out, all along, at one’s worst, take care of
Structure: never too…to; the appositional structure
World building: suffixes: -al, -ing, -age, -hood, and –ship; -dom
Writing technique: denial of some opinions followed by some other opinions
2. Difficult Points:
Westerners’ outlook of love and marriage.
Some long and difficult sentences
I. Warm-up Questions / Activities
1. What conditions are needed for a successful marriage? Discuss the following aspects in groups and students can add more.
Family background Appearance, height Financial conditions Characters
Compatible Personalities True love
2. It’s said that love is a business between two people, but marriage is a business between two families. Do your agree?
II. Comprehension of the Text
Deal with the comprehension exercise of the text on Page 67.
III. Text Structure
Divide the text into 3 parts and find the topic sentence in every part.
Topic: Gail and Mark decided to marry despite their racial and cultural differences after being together for two years and getting to know each other better, but their marriage plans met with opposition from the girl’s parents.
Part 1 (Para. 1-4): Gail and I decided to marry after being together for two years to get to know each other better and learn to take a realistic view on a mixed marriage.
Part 2 (Para. 5-9): Gail’s mother’s resistance to her planned marriage.
Part 3 (Para. 10-21): Gail’s father’s objection to her planned marriage.
IV. Background Information The Citizenship Department
V. Intensive Reading
1. … we had experienced the usual ups and downs of a couple learning to know, understand, and respect each other.
Meaning: Like any other couples who were learning to know, understand, and respect each other, we had had both happy and unhappy periods.
ups and downs: a mix of good experiences and bad experiences
----Life is full of ups and downs.
2. Our racial and cultural differences enhanced our relationship and taught us a great deal about tolerance, compromise, and being open with each other.
Meaning: Our racial and cultural differences helped to better our relationship and taught us a great deal about how one recognizes and respects the beliefs or practices of the other (that is, tolerance), how one settles differences between us by sharing decision responsibilities (that is compromise) and being honest with each other.
3. Gail sometimes wondered why I and other blacks were so involved with the racial issue, ...
Meaning: Gail sometimes expressed a wish to know why I and other blacks gave so much time, energy and attention to the racial issue.
(be / get) involved with: give a lot of time, effort, or attention to ...
----He was involved with working out a plan. 他专心致志地在制订计划。
4. Gail and I had no illusions about what the future held for us as a married, mixed couple in America.
Meaning: Gail and I were not idealistic about what the future would offer us in America as a married couple, one being black and the other being white.
illusion: n. [C] false idea, belief or impression
----I have no illusions about his ability ; he is just no good.
----The sun appears to go round the Earth, but that is only an illusion.
----We are all under the illusion that the country is doing well economically, but in fact it is in serious difficulty.
hold: vt. own, be able to contain or offer
----The cinema holds 500 people.
----Life holds many surprises for us. (喻) 人生中有许多意想不到的事情。
5. they overlooked serious personality conflicts in the expectation that marriage was an automatic way to make everything work out right.
Meaning: They ignored serious personality conflicts. They hoped that everything would go right automatically when they lived their married life.
6. I harbored reservations about a mixed marriage, prejudices you might even call them.
Meaning: I had doubts whether a marriage between a white and a black would work out well, which you might even call prejudices.
7. my friends talk.
talk: vi. speak about other people’s actions and private lives, tell stories
----Don’t park your car outside my house; you know how people talk!
8. ours was an ideal marriage with every indication that it would last forever.
Meaning: Our marriage was perfectly good and it was very likely that it would last forever.
every: as much as possible; total; entire
----There is every chance that she will succeed.
9. time will only confirm what we feel deeply about each other.
Meaning: In the future our deep love of each other will be supported by the truth of facts in the future.
10. But I still think that waiting won’t hurt. (Para.9)
Meaning: But I still think it is wise to wait (to make sure that you are doing the right thing); but I still think it’ll do you good not to be in haste.
11. Gail’s father, David, whom I had not yet met personally, approached our decision with a father-knows-best attitude.
Meaning: I had not yet met Gail’s father, David, face to face. He dealt with our decision in a way that seemed he was the most experienced in finding out the truth.
approach: vt. begin to consider or deal with
---There are several ways of approaching this problem.
---The bank has approached the issue in a practical way.
12. What’s his citizenship status? (Para.10)
Meaning: Which country is he lawfully accepted as belonging to?
13. that’s harsh
Meaning: You are unkind to say so and you don’t understand.
14. Then why the rush? Buy time, buy time
Meaning: Then why do you want to get married so soon? Delay your decision about marriage that seems too soon.
buy time: delay an action or decision that seems to be coming too soon
----She tried to buy time by doing a lot of talking.
15. Dad, are you a racist? (Para.16)
Meaning: Dad, do you believe that some people are not as good as us because they belong to a particular race?
16. If we had to resolve all doubt before we acted, very little would ever get done.
Meaning: If we take action only after we are sure that everything is very safe, then we can achieve almost nothing.
17. it’s never too late to change your mind. →Exercise VII on Page 69
Meaning: You can change your mind any time, however soon or late.
----One is never too old to learn.活到老学到老。
----It is never too late to mend. (proverb) (谚)亡羊补牢未为晚也。
Period 3-4
VI. Language Points
1. tolerance: n.
1) [U] willingness or ability to accept sth. 容忍,宽容
----It's a culture in which there is absolutely no tolerance of disagreement.
----This period in history is not famous for its religious tolerance.
2) [U] the ability to bear sth. unpleasant, or to continue existing in spite of bad conditions ----My tolerance of heat is greater after having lived in the Far East for years.
2. compromise
n. [C, U] giving up of certain demands by each side, so that an agreement may be reached which satisfies both to some degree 妥协,折衷,和解
----She found that compromise was always the best way when she quarreled with her mother.
vi. settle a difference, etc., by making a compromise妥协,折衷
----Well, you want $400 and I say $300, so let's compromise at $350.
vt. bring sb. / sth. / oneself into danger by foolish acts 危及... ...的安全,使受牵连
----He has compromised himself by accepting money from them.
3. mutual: a.
1) (of feeling or an action) felt or done by each to the other(指感情或行动)相互的
----Their working well together was based on mutual respect, trust and understanding.
2) shared by two or more people (两人或多人) 共同的,共有的
----mutual interests 共同的利益 ---The plan was ended by mutual agreement.
4. overlook: vt. 1) fail to notice or realize how important something is, miss
----You have overlooked several of the mistakes in this work.
2) pretend not to notice; forgive
----We’ll overlook your bad behavior this time, but don’t do it again.
3) have or give a view of (a place) from above
----Her bedroom has large windows overlooking a lake.
5. counsel
vt. advise, give advice and support to
----He counseled them to give up the plan.
----The school is now providing a service to counsel students with drug problems.
n. [U] advice; ideas
----I should have listened to my father's wise counsel, and saved some money instead of spending it all.
6. harbor: (英harbour)
vt. 1) keep (sth.) secretly in one's mind 心怀,怀有
----Tiffany's been harboring spite against our boss ever since her transfer was refused.
2) give shelter to (a criminal, etc.); protect 庇护,窝藏(罪犯),隐匿
----The trees harbor monkeys. 树林里有猴子。
n. [C, U] place of shelter for ships 港,港口
----All the ships stayed in the harbor during the storm.
7. reservation: n.
1) a private doubt in one’s mind
----I have some reservations about his story.
2) limiting condition
----I accepted your offer completely and without reservation(s) (毫无保留地)
3) order of seats, etc.
---- make a reservation for a double room
8. confirm: vt. 1) show that something is definitely true
----The recent airplane crash confirms my belief that stronger safety rules are needed.
2) make (a plan or meeting) certain, often by telephone or writing
---- I’d like to confirm a reservation for a double room on the first of July.
9. suspect: vt. believe (esp. something bad) to true or likely
----He seems poor, but I suspect that he has quite a lot of money.
----We suspect they’ll be a little late.
Compare:
doubt: believe that something is probably not true or possible.
----I doubt that he’ll come. 我怀疑他是不会来了。
10. hesitate: vi. pause slightly while someone is doing or saying something, or just before one does or says it, usually because one is uncertain, embarrassed, or worried about it
----In case you need something, please don’t hesitate to ask me.
11. proceed: vi.
1) start to do something, often after doing something else first
----As soon as he came in, he proceeded to tell us all his troubles.
2) advance, move in a particular direction, go on
----The interview proceeded in a most friendly environment.
12. resolve vt.
1) end (a problem or difficulty) 解决,解除
----We need to resolve this difference quickly.
2) decide; determine 决定,决心
----The company resolved to take further action against the thieves.
13. work out: 1) have as a result, turn out, happen or progress in a certain way
----How the situation will eventually work out only time can tell.
2) find by reasoning or figuring
----Have you worked out the answer?
14. all along: all the time; from the beginning 始终
----I realized I had had it in my pocket all along.
15. at one's worst: showing the most unpleasant side of sb.
----I'm at my worst in the morning.
16. take care of: be responsible for; deal with 负责,处理
----You can leave now; I’ll take care of the unfinished work.
VII. Summary
1. Ask several students to summarize the reasons why Gail’s parents disapproved of her planned marriage.
Mother: She harbored reservations about a mixed marriage.
Her friends talk.
Her own marriage might be a good example.
Waiting won’t hurt.
Father: Don’t make a decision in haste.
He suspected Mark’s motive – to solve the problem of citizenship .
Mixed couples have higher divorce rate.
Children of mixed marriage may suffer a lot.
2. Finish story summary on P70-71.
VIII. In-Class Exercises
Vocabulary Word Building Structure
IX. Homework
Finish the rest exercises of Section A
Unit Six As his name is, so is he!
Teaching Objective:
1. Get to know the background information of text
2. Understand the main idea and the structure of the text
Teaching content:
1. Pre-reading tasks (Warm-up activities, culture notes)
2. Listening Exercise of Unit 6
Teaching focus: To talk something about smoking and structure analysis.
Teaching difficulties/importance: discourse analysis
Teaching duration: 90 minutes (for one class)
Teaching Procedure:
First period: Pre-reading Tasks (15 minutes)
Step 1: Topic and Background Information
1. The topic for this unit is ways of communication common to all of us yet seldom considered as part of the process and kinds of prejudice associated with these continual messages.
2. Background Information:
① The Bible — It is the holy book of the Christians, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
② A brief explanation of the names that appeared in the reading passage
3. Idioms of Name: Read the following sentences. What are the Chinese meanings for them?
1) They call each other all sorts of names. 他们用各种恶言恶语互骂。
2) He was a chairman only in name.他是个名义上的。
3)His name is mud.他声名狼藉。
4)Thomas Edison was a great name in science.托马斯•爱迪生是个科学伟人。
5)In fishing, patience is the name of the game.钓鱼时,耐心是更重要的。
6)He doesn’t have a penny to his name.他一文不名。
4. Listening Comprehension — Listen to a short passage (read by teacher or tape-recorder) carefully and answer the following questions.
Passage:
In the traditional Chinese culture, people attached great importance to names, as evidenced in the old saying “It’s more important to teach children skills than grant them a thousand pieces of gold, whereas it’s even more important to bestow good names on children than teach them skills”. People believe a name reveals one’s emotion, will and ambition, and symbolizes one’s image, qualities and tastes. An elegant name which fits a person can imply psychological guidance, give him self-confidence, contribute to his success and accompany him for the whole life. As a result, people make painstaking efforts to choose outstanding names, wishing for success, good luck and more wealth.
Questions:
1. What are some of the ways names can make a difference?
2. In what way can teachers be guilty of name prejudice?
3. What does the writer suggest you do if your name does not suit you?
Step 2: Discussion (10 minutes)
Are you satisfied with your names? Why or why not?
Discussion: According to your experience, do you like or dislike a person just by hearing his or her name? And, explain the reasons for that.
We all admit that names do influence us in different ways, but any overestimation of their effects on us, as many people put it, is just fatalism. No matter what differences names make to our life and career, their symbolic function can never be changed. As a matter of fact, names themselves by no means lead to success or professional achievements in one’s life. Therefore, if your name fits you, keep it; if you don’t feel like your name, change it for a better one.
Step3. Main Idea of the Passage (10 minutes)
(Give the students ten minutes to read the passage quickly. Then, ask some of them to express the main idea of the passage and the organization of it.)
Main idea — The passage reveals the relationship between one’s personality and one’s name. Names can greatly affect people’s life. On the one hand, good names give people more self-confidence, establish favorable images and promote social status. On the other hand, names result in prejudices against people both in their daily contacts with others and in classroom activities. So if your name doesn’t suit you, you should change it as soon as possible.
Step 4: Text Structure (10 minutes)
Organization — The passage contains three parts: The first part introduces the topic—importance of names; the second explains positive and negative effects of names on life; and the third concludes the necessity of changing names.
Text Structure Analysis :
Para. 1-2 Introductions: Debbie who changed her name into Lynne gained more confidence and achievement.
Para. 3-7 Main body: Name can affect one’s life since it’s stereotyped and most people hold such prejudice notions.
Para. 8 Conclusion: If your name doesn’t fit you, change it.
Second Period: Listening Practice (50 minutes)
Step 1. New words and Phrases (45 minutes)
1. As…, So…: 表示类比,可倒装,也可不倒装
As is the teacher, so is the student. As you treat me, so I shall treat you.
2. feel like (doing) sth.: 1. 【口】想要2. 摸起来好像是...;觉得好像是...
I don’t feel like a president. Do you feel like having some ice-cream?
3. fill out: 填写,长胖
I filled out a form to apply for that vacancy. Her cheeks have filled out.
4. substitute: v. 替代,代用;代理人,代用品;用...代替;代替[(+for)]
The new player substituted for the injured star. Horses have been replaced by car.
5 associate: (cause to) join as friends or as partners in business
e.g. They were closely associated with each other during the war.
6 confident: feeling or showing confidence
e.g. We should be confident of ourselves.
7. approval: showing or saying that one thinks sth. is good or satisfactory
e.g. The father expressed approval of what the son did.
8. talent: 1. 天才,天资[U] [(+for)] 2. 天才们,有才能的人们;天才[C]
6. characteristic: adj. & n. 1. 特有的,独特的;典型的;表示特性的[(+of)] 2. 特性,特征,特色
Urban inhabitants have to live with the characteristic noises of cities.
Quick decision is characteristic of him.
7. for better or worse: 不管结果好坏
He has resolved to take her for better or worse.
8. reserve: 1. 克制;沉默寡言;含蓄;冷淡[U] 2. 储备,保存;保留[(+for)] 3. 预约,预订
He spoke with reserve.
These seats are reserved for special guests.
9. turn down: 拒绝;驳回
He tried to join the army but was turned down.
His proposal was turned down.
10. refine v.
1) make (sb./sth.) more elegant
E.g. He has refined his taste and manners.
2) make pure or improve esp. by removing unwanted material
E.g. Crude oil is refined into various petroleum products.
11. despair
vi. have lost all hope
E.g. He despaired of being elected again.
12. blind date: 第三方安排的男女约会;别人代为安排的男女初次会面
He is the first blind date of my life.
13. come up to: 1. 走近;2. 等于;到达(标准等) 3. 符合
He came up to me and asked if he could help.
14. press for sth.: 反复请求,紧急请求;迫切需要
Everyone began pressing him for more details
15. ill at ease: 不自在,困窘; 局促不安;不自在
I always feel ill at ease in a strange environment.
16. free from: 1. 不具。。,没有;免于2. 无...之忧
He leads a life (which is) free from care.
17. be guilty of: 对。。有罪责
He was guilty of an important false judgment.
18. take charge of: 负责管理; 开始管理,接管
John will take charge of the next meeting.
19. thoughtful: 1. 深思的,沉思的2. 细心的,注意的 [(+of)] 3. 体贴的,考虑周到
That put us all in a thoughtful mood.
20. stick with sth.: 1. 坚持,无法摆脱2. 承担,肩负
You gave me the courage to stick with my reform to the end.
Unit 7 Section A Lighten Your Load And Save Your Life
1. Pre-reading
1.1 Background information
Stress: “Americans’ #1 Health Problem.” So reads the headline of an article published by the American Institute of Stress that claims the biggest threat to health today is neither cancer nor AIDS. The report says: “it has been estimated that 75-90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related problems.”
According to the National Consumers League, ‘work is the top source of stress for adults who have problems and stress in their lives (39%), followed by family (30%). Other sources include health (10%), concern about economy (9%) and concern about international conflict and terrorism (4%).
1. 2 Topic-related listening/video
2. While-reading
2. 1 Global reading
2. 1. 1 Understanding the major details of the text
1)What is stress? What causes stress?
Stress is a state of tension that just results when a person responds to the demands and pressures. It may come from work, family and other external sources, as well as those internal factors, like self-imposed demands and self-criticism derived from fear, uncertainty, doubt, improper ambition and lack of self-control. This is particularly true with hard-working professional women and people with no goals in life. Stress, once it goes to excess, can almost ruin a person.
2) What are the NICE factors? Why are they important?
NICE factors include new, interesting, and challenging experiences. These factors help people relax themselves and take charge of their life. Consequently, they are more likely to be able to cope with the stress, because trying new, interesting and challenging things can give people’s negative feelings an outlet and relieve their psychological burden. With a relaxed mind and good mood, people will put their talents to better use, thus making greater achievements.
3) How do we follow Ben Franklin’s example?
When it comes to what to do in order to relax and take control of our life, we may follow Ben Franklin’s example. According to Ben Franklin, first we can write down the important goals we want to achieve in our life. And then, we can narrow down the list and set our priority. However, if we have some problems we are unable to bring under control, we may as well learn to accept and get used to them.
2. 1. 2 Understanding the organization of the text
1) Main idea of the text
Stress exerts great impact upon people both (1)_____________________. According to the research done by Dr. Robert S. Eliot (2)_____________ may cause tremendous and rapid increases in (3)__________________ and then bring damage to (4)_____________. In fact these problems may be attributed to such FUD factors as (5)___________, (6)___________, (7)_____________ and (8)_____________. To cope with stress, we should (9)______________ our life, lighten the load and learn to fit in with the life.
(1) physically and psychologically (2) excess stress (3) blood pressure (4) the heart (5) fear (6) uncertainty (7) doubt (8) lack of control (9) take charge of
2) Division of the text
Part I (Paras. 1-3)
Stress, once (1)________________, will threaten your life. So if you don’t want it to affect your health, you need to (2)_______________ and (3)__________________ of your ability.
(1) spinning out of your control (2) take charge of your life (3) recognize the limit
Part II (Paras. 4-6)
The research finds that stressed people have (4)______________ levels, which is because excess stress can burst (5) _____________ and then cause (6) _____________, thus making it impossible for one to live.
(4) higher cholesterol / (5) heart muscle fibers / (6) crazy heart rhythms
Part III (Paras. 7-11)
There are many factors leading to stress but the main predictors of destructive levels of stress are (7) __________________.
(7) the FUD factors
Part IV (Paras. 12-20)
To cope with stress in life, people need to take charge of the life and recognize some parts of their life (8) _____________ and learn to (9) ____________.
(8) beyond their control (9) flow
2. 2 Detailed reading
2. 2. 1 Words and Phrases
1) be out of control (L. 1)
If you often feel angry and overwhelmed, like the stress in your life is spinning out of control, then you may be hurting your heart. (L. 1-2)
如果你常常生气、心烦意乱、情绪激动,好像你生活中的压力正在快速加剧并变得失去控制,那么你可能是在损害你的心脏了。
常用搭配:
be out of control 失去控制 be beyond control 失去控制
be under control 控制住 bring…under control 把……控制住
have control over sth. 控制某事物
2) among other things (L. 11)
Eliot says researchers have found that stressed people have higher cholesterol levels, among other things. (L. 10-11)
埃利奥特说,研究人员已经发现,有压力的人除了其他症状外,胆固醇的含量也较高。
Among other things, diet and exercises are of vital importance to health.
Robert is very keen on sport: ________________(除其他活动外,他每星期打三次篮球).
among other things, he plays basketball three times a week.
3) excess (L. 11)
We’ve done years of work in showing that excess alarm or stress chemicals can literally burst heart muscle fibers. (L. 11-12)
我们已经做了多年研究,证明过分忧虑或紧张所产生的化学物质的确会损伤心肌纤维。
If you take more luggage than is allowed, you will have to pay for the excess luggage (adj. extra or additional)
Factors affecting general health include excessive smoking and drinking of alcohol and polluted water supplies. (Unit 9-B, Book I)
Now, 500 years later, excessive fishing has reduced the number of fish to dangerously low level.(Unit1-A, BookII) 五百年后的今天, 过度捕捞已使鱼的数量减少到危险的程度。
4) attribute …to… (L. 16)
He attributes some of the cause to stress. (L. 16)
Experts attributed the frequent sandstorms this winter to erosion and deforestation.
词语辨析1:
attribute…to…:归因于…… , 归功于…… owe…to… : 归功于…… (不用被动态)
I owe so much to my family for standing by me through all this.
1,150 deaths a year ___________ (死于酒后驾驶), which serves a good warning to drivers.
can be attributed to drunk driving
attribute: caused by 把。。。归因于 distribute: give out 分发; 分布 contribute: be helpful to 促使;有助于
Practice:
1.The natural resources in our countries are not ________in a balanced way. distributed
2.Regular exercises and proper diet will ________ to your health. contribute
3.Liu Xiang _________ his success in the Olympic Games to the cultivation and the encouragement of his coach. attributed
5) emphasis (L. 33)
And they give the same emphasis to a traffic jam that they give a family argument. (L. 32-33)
他们把交通堵塞看得和家庭纠纷一样重。
常用搭配:
give emphasis to sth. 强调,重视 lay / place emphasis on sth. 强调,重视
with emphasis (on) ad. 强调,着力
In the course of children’s growth, we should give as much emphasis to the cultivation of their love for others as to their intellectual development.
This course offers students a wide choice of study, with emphasis on literature from ancient times.
The new economic policy ___(着力降低通货膨胀). lays great emphasis on reducing inflation
6) outlet (L. 34)
If you own anger for more than five minutes---if you stir in your own juice with no safety outlet---you have to find out where it’s coming from. (L. 33-35)
常用搭配: find an outlet of / for: to let go of
Leave enough time for activities. Children need an _____________(发泄精力的机会).
outlet for their energy
7) recommend (L. 40)
Eliot recommends taking charge of your life. (L. 40)
常用搭配:
recommend sth. / sb. for sb. 向某人推荐……;推荐某人做…
recommend sb. as… 推荐某人为 recommend doing sth. =suggest doing sth. 建议做某事
recommend sb. to do sth. 劝某人做 recommend that (should) 建议……
We'd _____________(建议人们远离) these young men for their own safety, as there have been several violent incidents recently.
8) stimulate (L. 48)
He wrote down things like being a better father, being a better husband, being financially independent, being stimulated intellectually and remaining even-tempered---he wasn’t good at that. (L. 46-48)
Success will stimulate a person to further efforts/ make greater efforts. (v. make sb/sth. more active激励,促使) 成功激励人们更加努力。
常用搭配:
stimulate one’s imagination/ interest/ curiosity/motivation
3. Post-reading
3. 1 Useful expressions
1. 陷入……,沉浸于……; 被……征服 to feel / be overwhelmed (with…) (L.1)
2. 快速加剧而失去控制 to spin out of control (L.1)
3. 许多事情是身不由己的 there are many things beyond one’s control
4. 减轻压力(负担) to lighten one’s load (L.6)
5. 除其他……之外 among other things (L.11)
6. 将病因归于压力 to attribute cause of disease to stress (L.15)
Unit 8 There’s a lot more to life
I. Warm-up Activities
1. Do you feel happy? What does life mean to you ,and for you ,what is the most important thing in the life?
2. In fact, life is meant to be easy. Life becomes “not easy” when we lack understanding of it. Without some basic understanding of life we become controlled by negatives such as greed, selfishness, feelings, pride and prejudice .
Living a Rewarding and Happy Life Requires Balance and Focus.Good living is all about balance. Yet many people fail to realize this, and instead focus their energies on certain aspects of their life while neglecting others. This creates an imbalance, preventing us from reaching real and lasting satisfaction and fulfillment.
To live a good life, one must maintain areas of strength while identifying and improving areas of weakness. In order to be a balanced individual, you must have a clear mental state, a healthy body, a strong spirit, a dependable social network, romantic satisfaction, and financial stability. These are key components to a happy life.
II. Background Information
Tips of being happy:
1.Understand what it is that will make you happy. Everyone has unique requirements for attaining happiness and what makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy. Revel in your individuality and do not worry about whether or not your desires are comparable to those of your peers.
2. Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your mood will very likely increase as your pursue your goal because you will feel better about yourself for going after something you value.
3. Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. Conversely, if you are around people who are happy their emotional state will be infectious.
4. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy. These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continued happiness.
5. It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.
III. Drills of important phrases in the text
1.人们总是说: It has often been remarked that… 有这么一个事实…: it is a fact that…
2.在年轻的时候:On the young 3.调查报告: a survey report on…
4.非正式调查: informal poll 5.毫无价值: hold little value
6. 以…为基础,根据,按照: based on… 7. 在艰难困苦年代: In hard times
8. 主要目标: major objectives 9.经济上富足: financially well-off
10.人生哲学: philosophy of life 11.因此: accordingly
12.另一方面: on the other hand 13.销售代理: sales representative
14.想到…不寒而栗: tremble to think… 15两全: Have … both ways
16.为谋生也为事业而教育人们: educate people for life as well as for career
17.不相信: Conviction against 18.收支平衡单: A balance sheet
19.在一个日益专业化的年代: In a time of increasing specialization
20.得出必然的结论: arrive at an inevitable conclusion
21.生活质量: quality of life 生活意义: meaning of life
22.为… 铺平道路: Prepare the way for… 23.同样确实的是…: It is equally true that….
24.更为重要的是: More importantly 25.眼前的需求: immediate need
26.为…而罢工: Go on strike for… 27.为…做准备: be prepared for…
28.博教: a board education 职业教育: career education
29.从长远来看;最终: in the long run 30.道德意识: moral sense
31.世世代代积累的智慧:accumulated wisdom of the ages
32.明辨是非: distinguish right from wrong 33.渴求: Cry for…
34.把才能/天赋用到工作/生活中去: give ability to work, genius to lives
35.人生的意义岂止是谋生: there is more to life than a job.
IV. Organization of the text
Part I (paras. 1-9): Main Idea: The long-standing mistaken idea on life.
Part II (paras. 10-17): Main Idea: The true meaning of life.
Part III (paras. 18-19): Main Idea: The educators’ duty to their students.
V. key words and expressions
A:Expressions:
1. if only --- If only I had gone by taxi. 要是我乘出租车去就好了。
2.consumeristic (line9p4)a . believing in spending money and buying goods
3. be well off (line12p5): be in a good position, esp. financially 经济充裕,富裕
The government claims that most people are better off than they were five years ago.
4.…Accordingly, today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting. accordingly ad.
1) for the reason; so 因此,所以
--- I was lost and accordingly I bought a map. 我迷路了,所以我买了张地图。
2) in a manner that is suggested by what is known or has been said 按照所说的情况
--- She’s an expert in her field, and is paid accordingly.
5… a conviction against our educational system --- kindergarten, elementary, secondary and higher. (L29-30P10)
She went to __ elementary _________ school at the age of 5.
We should learn the ____ advanced _____ technology of other countries.
6.. …conclusion that they were meant to do more than…(L34)
be meant to do;be supposed to do 应做
You’re meant to fill in a tax form every year. 你得每年填写税单。
7 .…beyond the confines of our occupations…(L38)
confine n. (pl.) limits, borders界限,范围
--This is beyond the confines of human knowledge. 这超出了人类知识的范围。
v. keep sb./sth. within certain limits 把······于
--- I don’t like a job in which I’m confined to doing only one thing.
8.…we want to be able to render service to our fellow man and to our god. (L38-39)
render v. 1. give 给予,提出
This is a reward for services rendered. 这是酬谢所提供服务的奖金。
2. cause sb./sth. to be in a particular state 使得,使成为
---His rudeness rendered me speechless. 他的粗鲁使我讲不出话来。
9.…the meaning of life does not dawn until middle age, …(L40)
Dawn: vi. (on/upon) grow clear in one’s mind
sth./it dawns upon/on sb (that…)
--- . The truth began to dawn upon the poor man. 这个可怜的人慢慢明白了。
10. …to prepare the way for that revelation?
Revelation: 1. [U] making known sth. that was secret or hidden
His wife divorced him after the revelation that he was having an affair(with sb).
2. [C] sth. which is revealed
His Hamlet was a revelation to the critics. 他所表演的哈姆雷特令评论家们大为惊讶
11 …preferably a prosperous one, it …(L44)
Preferably ad. rather than anything, anywhere, etc. else 更可取地,宁可
Put the potatoes into boiling water, preferably after taking the skin off.
12. How shortsighted in the long run. (L51)
in the long run: after a long period; in the end 从长远的观点来看;终究,最后
My mother always told me that in the long run I would be glad I didn’t give up the piano.
B. Patterns for you to use as models:
1. Typical patterns for introducing public opinion about sth.:
It has often been remarked that the saddest thing about youth is that it is wasted on the young.
1) It has often / always been remarked (said) that the saddest (the most pleasing) thing about sth. is that…人们常常说:对于某事而言,最令人悲伤/ 高兴的事情莫过于 ······
应用:人们常常说:对于人生而言,最大的幸福莫过于财富的积累——你获得的每一条经验,你发现的每一个真理,你结交的每一位朋友······
It has often been said that the happiest thing about life is that it is a buildup of treasures—every experience you’ve gained, every truth you’ve found, every friend you’ve made ...
2. Typical patterns for describing contrasts:
According to the survey conducted among 1360 teenagers from ten different schools, today’s children are more likely to be emotionally and psychologically hurt than at any time in 1980’s.
Interest in… ( Enthusiasm for… / Quest for… / Commitment to…) is at a low, along with… On the other hand, enrollment in… ( passion for… / pursuit of… / competition for…) is way up.
如今人们对······、还有······的兴趣(热情/追求/信奉)都处于低潮。另一方面,攻读 ······ 的人数(对·······的激情/追求/竞争)却在迅速增加。
应用:根据时下的时尚潮流,人们对正式、繁复的设计还有奢华的风格兴趣不高,另一方面,简约主义却正在兴起。
With the current trend in fashion, interest in formal and complex design is at a low, along with the luxury style. On the other hand, simplicity is way up.
VI. Assignment
Paragraph Writing
写作模式(介绍过程的说明文)
1) The process of doing sth. can be broken up into / fall into the steps as follows. (段首句) 2) The first one is ... (过程说明I) 3) A critical study of… is the basis for doing sth., this is because ... (进一步阐明) 4) The second step is… (过程说明II) 5) This may lead to… and may help you to ... (进一步阐明) 6) The third step is ... (过程说明III) 7) As the ripe experience proves,… as well as… will go a long way toward… (进一步阐明) 8) If you have failed / turned out to…, therefore, you may start over from the very beginning and try the steps as mentioned above. (结尾句)
Sample: How to Carry Out Your Career Planning
1) The process of your career planning can be broken up into the steps as follows. 2) The first one is to know yourself. 3) A critical study of your strengths and weaknesses, your goals in life, and the trends in your personal development is the basis for all career planning, this is because the self-knowledge you gain from this step enables you to figure out what careers may best fit your interests, abilities, and goals. 4) The second step is to write down a list of career goals you have ever dreamed of or you are likely to set for yourself. 5) This may lead to new ideas about your possibilities and may help you to see the connections between the impossible and the possible. 6) The third step is to talk over your plans with your parents or friends periodically in order to adjust your plans to the best of your advantage. 7) As the ripe experience proves, taking stock of your situation as well as exchanging ideas with the aged will go a long way toward your effective response to
the changes that are going on in the job market. 8) If you have turned out to be “a square peg in a round hole”, therefore, you may start over from the very beginning and try the steps as mentioned above.
