新标准大学英语综合教程3 1-5单元 课后答案

Unit 1 Active reading (1) Catching crabs Language points 1 … and we all started to get our heads down … (Para 1) To get one’s head down means to concentrate and focus on studying. In other British informal contexts, it can mean to sleep. Note also, to kee p one’s head down means to continue to do something quietly, especially when there is trouble happening around you. Unit 1 Discovering yourself 2 Most important of course were the final exams in April and May in the following year. (Para 1) This is a conversational elliptical sentence. A standard way of saying this is: The most important things, of course, were the final exams in April and May in the following year. 3 No one wanted the humiliation of finishing last in class, so the peer group pressure to work hard was strong. (Para 1) Peer group pressure is the pressure to conform that people, especially children and young people, often feel from the immediate group of those around them who are of the same age or status. 4 Libraries ... were standing room only until the early hours of the morning, and guys wore the bags under their eyes and their pale, sleepy faces with pride, like medals proving their diligence. (Para 1) The expression standing room only means there are no more seats available because the place is crowded. This expression is often used in public performances, for sports events and on public transport to mean that you have to stand because the place is packed with people. Bags under their eyes refer to loose dark areas of skin that you get when you have not had enough sleep. The expression guys wore the bags under their eyes with pride means that the students were proud that their tired appearance showed how hard they had been studying, and the bags under their eyes were like medals. 5 It wasn’t always the high flyers with the top grades who knew what they were going to do. (Para 2) A high flyer refers to someone who has achieved a lot and has the ability and determination to continue to be successful in their studies or job. In university, a high flyer is a top student. 6 Quite often it was the quieter, less impressive students who had the next stages of their life mapped out. (Para 2) To have something mapped out means to have something that will happen planned in detail. 7 One had landed a job in his brother’s advertising firm in Madison Avenue, another had got a script under provisional acceptance in Hollywood. (Para 2) To land a job means to get a job that you wanted. Provisional acceptance refers to an acceptance which is arranged (in principle), but is not yet definite. It is temporary and could be changed. 8 The most ambitious student among us was going to work as a party activist at a local level. (Para 2) A party activist is someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political change, someone who is a member of a political organization. 9 We all saw him ending up in the Senate or in Congress one day. (Para 2) To end up somewhere means to be in a particular place or state after doing something or because of it. Here, a party activist might end up in Congress, as a result of making career progress. 10 But most people were either looking to continue their studies … and then settle down with a family, a mortgage and some hope of promotion. (Para 2) To look to continue their studies here means to hope or expect to continue their studies – whether they can do so would probably depend on their exam results and grades. You can also look to someone for help, advice or support. Discovering yourself Unit 1 A mortgage is a legal agreement in which you borrow money from a bank or financial organization in order to buy a house. You pay back your mortgage by making monthly payments, plus interest. Thus, getting a mortgage for many young people means getting a flat or house of their own. 11 I braced myself for some resistance to the idea. (Para 10) A brace is a piece of wood or metal which supports an object so that it does not fall down. So to brace oneself means to hold oneself together in readiness for something difficult or unpleasant. 12 You don’t need to go into a career which pays well just at the moment. (Para 16) To go into a career means to start working in a particular job, business or career. 13 Several times the crab tried to defy his fellow captives, without luck. (Para 25) The crab tried to defy the others as it resisted others or refused to obey them when it tried to escape. The expression without luck means without success, being unable to do what you want. Reading and understanding 3 Choose the best summary of what happened in the crab cage. 3 The cage was full of crabs. One of them was trying to escape, but each time it reached the top the other crabs pulled it back. In the end it gave up trying and started to prevent other crabs from escaping. 4 Choose the best answer to the questions. 1 What happened to the students in the fall of the final year? (a) They became more relaxed. (b) They became more serious. (c) They spent more time outside. (d) They stopped going to lessons. 2 Why did some people have bags under their eyes in the morning? (a) They’d been to an all-night party. (b) They’d started worrying about their future. (c) They’d spent all night in the library. (d) They wanted to impress their teachers. 3 Which students had already planned their future? (a) The ones who had the best grades. (b) The ones who came from wealthy families. (c) The quieter ones who didn’t have the best grades. (d) The ones who wanted to get married and start a family. 4 Why did the writer go home? (a) He wanted to speak to his father. (b) He could study better at home than at college. (c) He had to attend a job interview. (d) It was a national holiday. Unit 1 Discovering yourself 5 Why did his father take him out to catch crabs? (a) They needed to get something to eat for dinner. (b) He wanted to show him how to catch crabs. (c) He wanted to tell him something about life. (d) They both wanted to enjoy the coastline and the sea. 6 What advice did his father give him? (a) Get to know yourself better. (b) Watch what others do carefully. (c) Always listen to your father. (d) You can’t always do what you want. Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 achieving good results (productive) 2 the fact of being present at an event, or of going regularly to school, church etc (attendance) 3 the refusal to accept something new, such as a plan, idea, or change (resistance) 4 determined to be successful, rich, famous etc (ambitious) 5 agreement to a plan, offer, or suggestion (acceptance) 6 the written words of a play, film, television programme, speech etc (script) 7 very good, large, or showing great skill (impressive) 6 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. To be a successful film scriptwriter takes more than training although (1) attendance on a screenwriting course will definitely help you learn the skills. You also need to be very (2) ambitious – the film business is very competitive. You have to be prepared to work hard and be very (3) productive because it takes more than just one good idea to make it big. No matter how (4) impressive your idea is, there will always be (5) resistance from producers because it’s too expensive. So make sure you have plenty of others to show them. What are you waiting for? Get on with writing that brilliant (6) script and plan your (7) acceptance speech for when you win your first Oscar! 7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. 1 We’ve seen a place we like and we’re applying for a loan to buy a house. (mortgage) 2 We stood on the top floor of the boat and watched the coast disappear into the horizon. (deck) 3 I love to walk along the beach and watch the waves breaking, and the white water hitting the shore. (surf) 4 In seaside areas in the north-east of the country, life is hard and fishermen have to go against the forces of nature every time they go to work. (coastal; defy) 5 Agreement was finally reached after a long and heated discussion. (lengthy) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 If you watch an impromptu performance of something, has it (a) been prepared, or (b) not been prepared? 2 When you map out your future, do you (a) plan it carefully, or (b) draw a sketch of it on paper? Discovering yourself Unit 1 3 If you brace yourself for something unpleasant, do you (a) try not to think about it, or (b) prepare yourself for it mentally and physically? 4 Do you moor a boat by (a) turning the steering wheel, or (b) tying it to a post with a rope? 5 Is a rusty piece of metal something that (a) is bright and shiny, or (b) might have been left out in the rain and is covered with brown substance? 6 If a bowl is brimming with soup, is it (a) very full, or (b) half empty? 7 If someone is being held captive, are they (a) free to do as they please, or (b) being kept as a prisoner? 8 If you have figured out something, have you (a) added numbers together, or (b) understood it? Active reading (2) 2 Work in pairs. Look at the title of the passage and choose the best way to complete the sentences. 1 The passage will be (c) . (a) a newspaper article about life expectancy (b) a sad story about death (c) advice about how to make the most of your life (d) a warning that modern lifestyles are bad for health Unit 1 Discovering yourself 12 2 The passage is likely to be (d) . (a) serious (b) funny (c) depressing (d) a mixture of all three 3 The passage is likely to say (b) . (a) young people don’t think enough about death (b) life is short (c) people are dying unnecessarily (d) people don’t enjoy life enough We are all dying Background information The passage is taken from Everything That Happens to Me Is Good, a book of thoughts, experiences and insights from the life of Geoff Thompson. The writer worked in many different jobs, including nine years as a “bouncer” in a nightclub in London (a bouncer has the tough job of making sure that no one causes trouble, eg if they are rude, drunk or violent). He then trained full-time in karate, judo and other martial arts and became well-known as a martial arts instructor. He lived out his dream to become a writer, authoring over 30 books on self-defence and self-improvement and has recently been making films and writing for the screen. Asked what he had learnt from his years in martial arts, he said, “The main thing I’ve learned is that wherever there is discomfort there is growth, but what people do is to look for growth in areas of comfort – and there’s no growth in comfort. So look for areas of growth that are uncomfortable but allow you to grow, and learn to become comfortable in those areas.” Language points 1 I have some good news and some bad news for you (as the joke goes). The bad news –and I’m very sorry to be the bearer –is that we are all dying. It’s true. I’ve checked it out. (Para 1) Good news and bad news are often paired together in jokes and in comments on new information or recent events where there is a mixture of positive and negative aspects, eg The good news is … But the bad news is … To check something out means to examine something or someone in order to be certain that everything is correct, true, satisfactory or acceptable. Check this out! is an attention-getting exclamation which means here’s something interesting to have a look at. 2 … we are all going to be either coffin dwellers or trampled ash in the rose garden of some local cemetery. (Para 1) Coffin is a long box in which a dead person is buried. The expression coffin dweller is a humorous way to refer to dead people. The expression trampled ash in the rose garden of some local cemetery refers jokingly to the ashes of a dead person placed in a cemetery garden where people walk on the buried ashes. Discovering yourself Unit 1 13 3 After all, we never quite know when the hooded, scythe-carrying, bringer-of-the-last-breath might come-a-calling. (Para 1) The expression the hooded, scythe-carrying, bringer-of-the-last breath refers to the reaper, a person who reaps or cuts corn for the harvest and is a symbol of death from medieval times of the West. A reaper is personified as a tall figure dressed in a black cloak with a hood covering his face and carrying a scythe, a cutting tool with a long curved metal blade used for cutting, or reaping long grass or corn. The reaper brings death or brings your last breath. The expression when the reaper arrives means when death comes to you. 4 … and nothing underlines the uncertainty and absolute frailty of humanity like the untimely exit of a friend. (Para 1) The word exit here means leaving this world or death. The word untimely means happening at a time that is not suitable because it causes problems. An untimely death is too soon or when a person is young. 5 Knowing that we are all budding crypt-kickers takes away all the uncertainty of life. (Para 3) That we are all budding crypt-kickers is a humorous way of saying that we are all potentially soon to be buried, ie dead. 6 The prologue and epilogue are already typed in. All that’s left is the middle bit ... choose the meat of the story. (Para 3) A prologue is a piece of writing at the start of a book, or the beginning of a play, film or TV programme that introduces a story. An epilogue is at the end of a novel, play or piece of writing, which carries an extra comment or extra information about what happens after the main story. Here, the writer’s point is that the prologue (birth) and epilogue (end, death) of your life are already written, but we all choose to write the middle bit –the meat of the story. 7 So, all those plans that you have on the back burner, you know, the great things you’re going to do with your life “when the time is right”? (Para 4) A back burner is literally one of the back parts of a cooker which is used for heating or cooking food. Metaphorically, if you put something on the back burner, it means you have decided not to do it until later. It is at the back of the cooker, just simmering or cooking slowly, so you don’t give it priority because it doesn’t need your full attention. The expression this back-burner stuff (Para 10) thus refers to things which have low priority and get little attention. 8 There’s only a promissory note that we are often not in a position to cash. (Para 5) A promissory note is a document giving details of your promise to pay someone a particular amount of money by a particular date. The writer means that tomorrow, or the future, is like a promissory note for which you never get the cash, because the future never comes unless you act now and use time wisely, as if tomorrow is today. 9 … but regret and a rear-view mirror full of “could haves”, “should haves” and “would haves”. (Para 5) A rear-view mirror is a mirror fixed to the front window of a car that lets the driver see what is happening behind. Here, the mirror refers to the past, which is behind us. We don’t want such a mirror full of regrets about things we could / should / would have done, but did not do. Unit 1 Discovering yourself 14 10 I love watching people ingeniously stack the cucumber around the side of the bowl –like they’re filling a skip –and then cramming it so high that they have to hire a forklift truck to get it back to the table … They just know that they only have one shot at it. (Para 6) A skip is a large metal container used in the building industry for waste; it is carried away by a truck when it is full. A forklift truck is a vehicle that uses two long metal bars at the front for lifting and moving heavy objects. The writer is using the images of a skip and a truck to emphasize how people use the opportunity to serve themselves, because they only have one shot –they only have one chance or attempt, t hey can’t return for more salad in this type of buffet, so they make the most of this opportunity. 11 So what I’m thinking is (and this is not molecular science) … (Para 10) It means this is not specialized knowledge. It’s not rocket science; it’s simple and straightforward. 12 The right time is the cheque that’s permanently in the post, it never arrives. (Para 10) That the cheque is in the post means money has been sent, its on its way. This is often said as an excuse for late payment, so if the cheque’s p ermanently in the post, it means the money never comes. 13 It’s the girl who keeps us standing at the corner of the Co-op looking like a spanner … She’s stood us up. (Para 10) The expression looking like a spanner on the street corner means he looks awkward and out of place, waiting for a girl who is late and never arrives. To stand someone up means not to come to meet them when you have arranged to meet them, especially someone with whom you are having or starting a romantic relationship. The word us is an informal and personal way to include others who will recognize that this is a typical experience. 14 Act now or your time will elapse and you’ll end up as a sepia-coloured relative that no one can put a name to in a dusty photo album. (Para 13) The expression you’ll end up as a sepia-coloured relative means that in the end you will be only an old half-forgotten photograph in a photo album. I can’t put a name to someone is said when you halfrecognize a person but you can’t quite remember his name. 15 Better to leave a biography as thick as a whale omelette than an epitaph. (Para 14) An omelette is flat round food made by mixing eggs together and cooking them. The expression as thick as a whale means extremely thick. The writer means it is better to leave a very large biography than an epitaph, or, in other words, live a full life which is worth writing about. Reading and understanding 3 Choose the best summary of the passage. 3 Life is short. So there’s no point in planning for a future which may never come. Now is the time to do what we want to do. There’s no time to lose. Dealing with unfamiliar words 4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 involving three things of the same kind (triple) 2 an area of ground where dead people are buried (cemetery) Discovering yourself Unit 1 15 3 the part of a place or thing that is at the back (rear) 4 a book that someone writes about someone else’s life (biography) 5 to put people or things into a space that is too small (cram) 6 at the very beginning of a career and likely to be successful at it (budding) 7 continuing only for a limited time or distance (finite) 8 to pass (elapse) 5 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. 1 About two hours elapsed before we reached the cemetery where the war dead were buried. 2 I sat in the rear seat behind the driver. My three sisters were all crammed in the front. 3 The entrance to the car park was blocked, so the road was full of cars which had been triple-parked one against another, making it almost impossible to get past. 4 We have a number of budding authors in our class this year, one of whom has written a fascinating biography of his grandmother. 5 The time we have on this earth may be finite, but there are no limits to the human imagination. 6 Answer the questions about the words. 1 If you substantiate a claim, do you (a) prove it is true, or (b) persuade someone that it is true? 2 If someone tramples over something, do they (a) pour water over it, or (b) walk all over it? 3 If someone’s arrival is untimely, is it (a) at the wrong moment, or (b) late? 4 If events are described chronologically, do they occur (a) in the order in which they happened, or (b) in no particular order? 5 Is ingeniously likely to mean (a) artistically, or (b) cleverly? 6 Is knackered an informal British word meaning (a) very relaxed, or (b) extremely tired? 7 Is patently likely to mean (a) obviously, or (b) usually? 8 When something is allotted to you, is it (a) given to you, or (b) taken from you? 7 Answer the questions about the phrases. 1 If you check something out, do you (a) find out, or (b) not think about it? 2 If you see something from the sidelines, do you (a) take part in the action, or (b) stay away from it? 3 If something is down to you, is it your (a) bad luck, or (b) responsibility? 4 If you have something on the back burner, (a) will you look at it later, or (b) are you interested in it now? 5 If you are in a position to do something, are you (a) able, or (b) unable to do it? 6 If time is ticking away, does it seem (a) as if it will last forever, or (b) to be passing quickly? 7 If you can have one shot at something, (a) are you allowed to shoot it, or (b) do you have only one chance to do it? 8 If you make the best of something, do you (a) enjoy it while you can, or (b) work hard to make it a success? 9 If a girl stands you up, does she (a) fail to turn up for a date, or (b) refuse to sit down when you ask her to? Language in use word formation: compound words 1 Find more examples of each use of hyphens in the passage We are all dying . ? I’ve double- and triple-checked it. (compound verb) ? budding crypt-kickers (compound noun) ? a rear-view mirror (compound adjective) ? the once-a-year holiday to Florida or Spain (compound adjective) ? back-burner stuff (compound adjective) ? standing at the corner of the Co-op (compound noun) ? a sepia-coloured relative that no one can put a name to (compound adjective) 2 Rewrite the phrases using compound adjectives. 1 a party which is held late at night (a late-night party) 2 a library which is well stocked (a well-stocked library) 3 a professor who is world famous (a world-famous professor) 4 some advice which is well timed (some well-timed advice) 5 a population which is growing rapidly (a rapidly-growing population) 6 an economy which is based on free market (a free-market economy) 7 a boat trip which lasts for half an hour (a half-hour boat trip) It’s what / how …that … 3 Rewrite the sentences using It’s what / how …that … 1 What other people think of us is determined by how we behave. It’s how we behave that determines what other people think of us. Unit 1 Discovering yourself 20 2 What sort of job we are going to end up doing is usually determined by our character. It’s what our character is that usually determin es what sort of job we are going to end up doing. 3 What we do as a career isn’t always determined by the marks we get at university. It isn’t always what marks we get at university that determine what we do as a career. 4 How we react to life’s problems i s often determined by our childhood experiences. It is often what we experienced in our childhood that determines how we react to life’s problems. 5 When we die is determined by our genetic clock, and the changes we make to it. It’s what our genetic clock is and what changes we make to it that determine when we die. It is / was not just that …but … 4 Rewrite the sentences using It is / was not just that …but … 1 Not only were the shops all closed for Thanksgiving, there was also no one in the streets. It wasn’t just that the shops were all closed for Thanksgiving, but there was no one in the streets. 2 Not only did she spend all her time at college going to parties, she also took the time to gain a first-class degree. It wasn’t just that she spent all her time at college going to parties, but she took the time to gain a firstclass degree. 3 Not only were they not listening to what he said, it also seemed as if they weren’t at all interested. It wasn’t just that they weren’t listening to what he said, but it seemed as if they weren’t at all interested. 4 Not only was I upset, I also felt as if I was going to burst out crying. It wasn’t just that I was upset, but I felt as if I was going to burst out crying. 5 Not only was the Grim Reaper intended to frighten people, it was also a figure of fun. It wasn’t just that the Grim Reaper was intended to frighten people, but it was also a figure of fun. collocations 5 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 settle When you settle somewhere you go there to stay. (a) Where is dust likely to settle in a room? On the surfaces that aren’t used very often or aren’t cleaned. (b) If you settle an argument, is the conclusion satisfactory? Yes, it is, because the disagreement is solved and each party is satisfied with the outcome. (c) If you settle the bill, what is there left to pay? Nothing, because you have paid everything that is owed. (d) What do you do when you settle back to watch a film? We relax in a comfortable chair and enjoy it. 2 smooth This word can mean flat or soft, comfortable, easy or confident. (a) If the sea is smooth, are you likely to feel seasick? No, because the sea is calm. We will feel seasick if it is rough. Discovering yourself Unit 1 21 (b) If a changeover from one government to the next is smooth, are there lots of problems? No, because the changeover has gone well, without difficulties. (c) Is it a good idea to trust a smooth talker? Not necessarily, because some people who talk confidently like that do so to trick you, like a confidence trickster or conman. 3 offer This word can refer to something you would like someone to take, something someone gives, or something that is for sale. (a) If you decline an offer, do you say “yes” or “no”? We say “no”, because we are refusing it. (b) If you offer an apology to someone for something you have done, what do you say? We should say, “I apologize” or “I’m sorry”. (c) Where are you likely to see special offer? In a shop, because the shop is offering a special price or reduction for something. (d) If someone has a lot to offer, what kind of person are they? They are intelligent, talented, gifted or creative and they will bring these kinds of qualities to their work. 4 bear If you bear something you carry or bring it. If you cannot bear something, you dislike it or cannot accept it. (a) If you bear something in mind, do you forget it? No, we will remember it and consider it for a particular occasion in future. (b) If you bear a resemblance to someone, in what way are you like them? We look similar in certain physical features. (c) Is there anything you can’t bear to think about? I can’t bear to think too much about some of the problems in the world, famine, war, poverty etc. In the modern world, why don’t we just solve them? 5 resistance This word can refer to the refusal to accept something new, the ability not to be harmed by something, or opposition to someone or something. (a) If there is resistance to an idea, do people accept it? No, not easily. They refuse to accept the idea maybe because it’s just a bad idea, or they may change their mind if they understand it better. (b) If the soldiers met with resistance, what happened? The soldiers met opposition from those they were fighting against. (c) Is there a way to build up your resistance to cold? Yes, we can keep ourselves as healthy as possible with a good diet and getting enough exercise so that we are less likely to catch a cold, or if we do get one, we won’t suffer so badly. 6 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese. 1 We all sensed we were coming to the end of our stay here, that we would never get a chance like this again, and we became determined not to waste it. Most important of course were the final exams in April and May in the following year. No one wanted the humiliation of finishing last in class, so the peer group pressure to work hard was strong. Libraries which were once empty after five o’clock in the afternoon were standing room only until the early hours of the morning, and guys wore the bags under their eyes and their pale, sleepy faces with pride, like medals proving their diligence. (?and guys wore the bags under their eyes and their pale, sleepy faces with pride … 这句的动词wear 后面带两个宾语,中 Unit 1 Discovering yourself 22 文找不到能带这两个宾语的动词,故处理成四个中文短句;翻译like medals proving their diligence 时,采用“增词法”增加“这些”来概括前面所描写的“眼袋”,“脸色苍白”,“睡眼惺忪” 等,使译文含义更加清晰流畅。) 我们都觉得在校时间不多了,以后再也不会有这样的学习机会了,所以都下定决心不再虚度光阴。 当然,下一年四五月份的期末考试最为重要。我们谁都不想考全班倒数第一,那也太丢人了,因此 同学们之间的竞争压力特别大。以前每天下午五点以后,图馆就空无一人了,现在却要等到天快 亮时才会有空座,小伙子们熬夜熬出了眼袋,他们脸色苍白,睡眼惺忪,却很自豪,好像这些都是 表彰他们勤奋好学的奖章。 2 Tom orrow? It’s all a lie; there isn’t a tomorrow. There’s only a promissory note that we are often not in a position to cash. It doesn’t even exist. When you wake up in the morning it’ll be today again and all the same rules will apply. Tomorrow is just another version of now, an empty field that will remain so unless we start planting some seeds. Your time, which is ticking away as we speak (at about 60 seconds a minute chronologically; a bit faster if you don’t invest your time wisely), will be gone and you’ll have nothing to show for it but regret and a rear-view mirror full of “could haves”, “should haves” and “would haves”. (?本段的难点在于对一些词的理解与翻译,如an empty field that will remain so, chronologically, invest your time wisely, have nothing to show for it but 等等。“could haves”, “should haves”,“would haves” 是表达与事实相反的条件句,指自己没有做,但有可能或应该做的事情。) 明天行吗?明天只是个谎言;根本就没有什么明天,只有一张我们常常无法兑现的期票。明天甚至 压根儿就不存在。你早上醒来时又是另一个今天了,同样的规则又可以全部套用。明天只是现在的 另一种说法,是一块空地,除非我们开始在那里播种,否则它永远都是空地。你的时间会流逝(时 间就在我们说话的当下嘀嗒嘀塔地走着,每分钟顺时针走60 秒,如果你不能很好地利用它,它会走 得更快些),而你没有取得任何成就来证明它的存在,唯独留下遗憾,留下一面后视镜,上面写满 了“本可以做”、“本应该做”、“本来会做”的事情。 7 Translate the paragraphs into English. 1 对于是否应该在大学期间详细自己的未来,学生们意见不一。有的人认为对未来应该有一个明 确的目标和详细的,为日后可能遇到的挑战做好充分的准备;有的人则认为不用过多考虑未 来,因为未来难以预料。(map out; brace oneself for; uncertainty) Students differ about whether they should have their future mapped out when they are still at university. Some think they should have a definite goal and detailed plan, so as to brace themselves for any challenges, whereas some others think they don’t have to think much about the future, because future is full of uncertainties. 2 经过仔细检查,这位科学家得知自己患了绝症。虽然知道自己将不久于人世,他并没有抱怨命运的 不公,而是准备好好利用剩下的日子,争取加速推进由他和同事们共同发起的那个研究项目,以提 前结项。(tick away; make the best of; have a shot at) After a very careful check-up, the scientist was told he had got a fatal disease. Although he knew that his life was ticking away, instead of complaining about the fate, the scientist decided to make the best of the remaining days, and speed up the research project he and his colleagues initiated, and have a shot at completing it ahead of schedule. Unit 2 Active reading (1) Language points 1 ... I can recall the changing colors of those days, clear and definite as a pattern seen through a kaleidoscope. (Para 1) A kaleidoscope is a toy that shows changing patterns. It is made of a tube with mirrors and colored pieces of glass inside. The glass pieces move as you turn the kaleidoscope. As a metaphor, kaleidoscope means a view, situation or experience that keeps changing and has many different aspects. 2 … and look over the lights of Boston that blazed and blinked far off acr oss the darkening water. (Para 2) To blaze means to burn strongly and brightly. The lights ... that blazed and blinked means the lights were bright and went on and off continuously, like the blinking of eyes. 3 The sunset flaunted its pink flag above the airport, and the sound of waves was lost in the perpetual droning of the planes. (Para 2) To flaunt means to deliberately try to make people notice something, eg your possessions, beauty, abilities etc, because you want them to admire you. The sunset flaunted its pink flag means the pink color of the setting sun was like a flag which the sun was using to try to make everyone notice and admire it. To drone means to make a continuous low sound. Because Logan is an international airport, the noise of the planes continued all the time. So it was perpetual. 4 I marveled at the moving beacons on the runway and watched, until it grew completely dark, the flashing red and green lights that rose and set in the sky like shooting stars. (Para 2) A beacon is a bright light that shines in the dark and is used as a signal to warn people of danger or to show them the way to somewhere. Beacons are used in airports to show approaching and departing planes the position of the runways to help them land and take off safely. A shooting star is a meteor, a large piece of rock in space that falls through the earth’s atmosphere and makes a bright line of light in the sky. When you see a shooting star, it is said to be lucky, and some people make a wish. 5 Out by the parking lot David and I found the perfect alcove for our Superman dramas. (Para 5) A parking lot is the American equivalent of a car park, British English. A lot in American English refers to a small area of land used for a particular purpose. 6 During recess, David and I came into our own. (Para 6) To come into one’s own means to have the opportunity to show how good or useful someone is. Here the two children are good at imaginative play with Superman games. Childhood memories Unit 2 45 7 We ignored the boys playing baseball on the gravel court and the girls giggling at dodge-ball in the dell. (Para 6) Dodge-ball is a game played by children standing in a circle or on opposite sides of an area. A rubber ball is thrown by those outside, who try to hit those in the circle. The children in the circle try to dodge the ball to avoid being hit. 8 Our Superman games made us outlaws … (Para 6) An outlaw is a criminal, especially one who moves from place to place to avoid being caught. There are many famous stories of outlaws in Western culture, eg Robin Hood, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Ned Kelly etc. Here, the two children are outlaws because they play their imaginative games against the custom of other games like dodge-ball. 9 … the sallow mamma’s boy on our block who was left out of the boys’ games ... and skin his fat knees. (Para 6) Mamma, mama, momma, mummy are children’s names for mother (mum). A mamma’s boy is one who depends too much on his mother and is not independent when he should be. To skin one’s knees means to hurt one’s knees by falling on a rough surface in a way that causes some skin to be removed. 10 At the time my Uncle Frank was living with us while waiting to be drafted … (Para 8) The draft means conscription into the armed forces for military service. People who are drafted are made to join the army, navy etc; they are conscripts or draftees not volunteers. Reading and understanding 3 Answer the questions. 1 What were Sylvia Plath’s most important memories? She remembered winning a prize, P aula Brown’s new suit and the view from her window. 2 Where did she live and what could she see from her bedroom window? She lived on the bay side of town, on Johnson Avenue, and she could see the lights of Boston and Logan Airport from her bedroom window. 3 What did the view make her want to do? It made her want to fly in her dreams. 4 Why did she have such vivid dreams? Because she was rarely tired when she went to bed. 5 Who appeared in her dreams? Superman appeared and taught her to fly. 6 Why did she enjoy the radio adventures of Superman? Because she loved the sheer poetry of flight. 7 Where did her friend and she play Superman? At the dingy back entrance to the school, an alcove in a long passageway. Unit 2 Childhood memories 46 8 Why do you think they chose Sheldon to be the villain? Because he was a mamma’s boy and was left out of the other boys’ games. 9 How did she feel about her Uncle Frank? She admired him as she thought he bore an extraodinary resemblance to Superman incognito. 4 Choose the best summary of the passage. 3 Sylvia Plath wrote about her real and imaginary life as a child. Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 accurate and true (definite) 2 continuing all the time (perpetual) 3 to spin quickly in circles (whirl) 4 to shine very brightly (blaze) 5 to laugh in a nervous, excited or silly way that is difficult to control (giggle) 6 to encourage someone to speak or continue speaking (prompt) 7 to fall to the ground (tumble) 6 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. Plath never needed to be (1) prompted to talk about her childhood memories. They were very (2) definite and still real to her as an adult. She imagined she could fly and (3) whirl through the air like Superman. Coming from the highways around Boston was the (4) perpetual sound of traffic. In the distance a plane was taking off, its lights (5) blazing into the night sky. She remembered the sound of (6) giggling which came from the group of girls. Sadly in her later life it seemed as if Superman had (7) tumbled to earth. 7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. 1 The lights at the airport went on and off all day and night. (blinked) 2 The playground was like a desert. It was without any interesting or positive features and unfriendly. (barren) 3 The boys were playing a children’s game in which the players chase and try to touch each other and the girls were gossiping and giggling. (tag) 4 Pulling the legs off insects is a form of action causing extreme physical pain by someone as a punishment, and is extremely cruel. (torture) 5 The similarity in appearance between the twins was striking. (resemblance) 6 He would cover candy with a piece of cloth used for cleaning lips and hands, and make it disappear. (napkin) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 If you look through a kaleidoscope, are you likely to see (a) changing coloured patterns, or (b) a single coloured pattern? 2 If you flaunt something, do you (a) deliberately try to make people notice, or (b) try to hide it? 3 If you marvel at something, do you find it (a) boring, or (b) surprising and fascinating? Childhood memories Unit 2 47 4 Are shooting stars likely to (a) move brightly through the night sky, or (b) stand still? 5 Is the twilight likely to be (a) at the end of, or (b) in the middle of the day? 6 If you drift off to sleep, are you likely to fall asleep (a) quickly, or (b) slowly? 7 If someone is bookish, are they likely to be (a) more, or (b) less interested in reading books than doing other activities? 8 If you make up something, do you (a) invent it, or (b) borrow it from someone else? 9 If you come into your own, are you likely to show (a) how effective and useful, or (b) ineffective and useless you can be? 10 Is a villain likely to be a (a) good, or (b) bad person? 11 If you are left out of something, are you likely to be (a) included, or (b) excluded? Active reading (2) Language points 1 These changing ideas about children have led many social scientists to claim that childhood is a “social construction”. (Para 4) A social construction refers to the process or result of creating an idea or system of behaviour in social contexts, ie it is created and developed between people and is not something natural or genetic. Childhood memories Unit 2 53 2 Social anthropologists have shown this in their studies of peoples ... (Para 5) Social anthropologists are scholars and researchers who study human societies, customs and beliefs from a social perspective, which may be distinct from the focus of physical anthropologists or linguistic anthropologists. 3 Because they can’t be reasoned with, and don’t understand, parents treat them with a great deal of tolerance and leniency. (Para 5) Tolerance is the attitude of someone who is willing to accept other people’s beliefs or way of life without criticizing them even if they disagree with them. The word leniency means giving a punishment or acting in a way that is not as severe or harsh as it could be. 4 They are seen as being closer to mad people than adults because they lack the highly prized quality of social competence … (Para 6) Something is prized if it is considered to be very important or valuable. The examples in the passage emphasize how different cultural communities may give importance to quite different qualities which they expect from children, so the children are brought up very differently. 5 They are regularly told off for being clumsy and a child who falls over may be laughed at, shouted at, or beaten. (Para 6) To tell someone off means to criticize someone angrily for doing something wrong. If you are told off for doing something in a serious or official way, you are reprimanded. 6 Looking at it from a cross-cultural perspective shows the wide variety of childhoods that exist across the world … (Para 11) A cross-cultural perspective is a view which considers different cultures separately or independently and then makes comparisons. An intercultural perspective would look at the relations and interactions between different cultures or communities, taking inside views of each culture into account. A transcultural perspective would look at different cultures using knowledge, skills and insights which are thought to apply to a wide range of cultural contexts and which would help people in intercultural contexts. Reading and understanding 3 Read the passage again and complete the table. Teaching tips ? When Ss have completed the table on their own, divide the class into seven groups, each group being responsible for one row in the table. They have to summarize the characteristics of childhood of this ethnic group, and also include an example. Then they report to the class. Each group should also add related information they learned from the passage, and the language and culture notes. The presentation of each group could be given from that exact roles of parents from that exact cultural or ethnic group. If this is difficult, T may give each group a copy of the example below, and ask them to practise and present it to the class. ? As a way to follow this up, T can ask each group, one by one, to compare their result with that of another group, without looking at their books. An alternative follow-up is for the T, together with one or two Ss, to take the roles of TV reporters who meet each group and ask them “on camera” to compare themselves with another group, and talk about how they understand the other group from a cross-cultural perspective. Unit 2 Childhood memories 54 1 We are American colonial people. We lived in the 17th and 18th centuries on the east coast of America and our families settled here from Europe. In our time, children were expected to be good and industrious. That was the main characteristic of childhood. For example, when our girls were four they knitted stockings and mittens; when they were six they spun wool. We called them “Mrs” to show the girls our appreciation. 2 We are Inuit people from the Arctic regions. Some of us are from Canada and Greenland, Denmark, others from Russia and Alaska of US. For us, children need to get ihuma – you would call this the process of acquiring thought, reason and understanding. That’s the main characteristic of childhood. For example, as parents we are tolerant and lenient with children until they are old enough to develop ihuma, then we can teach them and discipline them. 3 We are from Tonga, a kingdom of about 170 islands in the south-west Pacific Ocean. As parents, we may regularly beat our children if they haven’t yet developed poto. You would think of poto as social competence. For us, it’s the main quality that our children need to develop. So we treat them with discipline and physical punishment when they are mischievous or wilful. 4 We are the Beng people. We live in different parts of West Africa. The main characteristic of childhood is that young children are thought to be in contact with the spirit world. They come to the world reluctantly because life in the spirit world is so pleasant. As parents, we have to look after our children properly, or they may return to the spirit world. We have to treat them with care and reverence. They can know and understand everything we tell them, whatever languages we use. 5 We are parents from the Western world today. Some of us are from Europe, others from North America, Australia and other places. The main characteristic of childhood in our countries is that children are incompetent and dependent, so they should play, be part of the family and go to school. Children should not work. For example, a child und er 14 can’t look after a younger child unsupervised because they aren’t competent or responsible yet. If we found a child of 12 working in a factory or in a market, the social services could intervene and the family could be prosecuted. 6 We are Fulani people. Most of us live in West Africa. For us, the main characteristic of childhood is that children are competent and responsible. So by the age of four our girls can care for their younger siblings; by six they can pound grain or produce milk and butter which they can sell in the market alongside us. 7 We are the Yanamam? people from the Amazonian rainforest. We live among the hills where you probably call the border between Brazil and Venezuela. The main characteristic of childhood is that children are responsible and competent. Our girls help their mothers from a young age and by the age of ten they will be running the house. This is important because they will probably be married at 12 or 13. Our boys have fewer responsibilities. They can play because the y don’t get married until later. Culture / Ethnic group Characteristics of childhood American colonial expected to be good and industrious Inuit develop a process of acquiring thought, reason and understanding Tonga regularly beaten and told off by parents and older siblings, seen as being very naughty, until they develop social competence Beng treated with great care and reverence, believed that they are in contact with the spirit world Childhood memories Unit 2 55 Culture / Ethnic group Characteristics of childhood Western world today seen as incompetent and irresponsible; playing not working, going to school not labouring, consumption instead of production Fulani competent and responsible; expected to work Yanamam? competent and responsible; girls expected to work from a young age, be married and have children at 12 or 13; boys having fewer responsibilities and getting married later 4 Choose the best way to complete the sentences. 1 The characteristics of childhood a hundred years ago (d) . (a) would have interfered in their education (b) are similar to those of today (c) would be illegal today (d) meant that children were treated more like adults 2 The idea that childhood is a social construction suggests that (a) . (a) children experience childhood in different ways according to the society in which they live (b) enormous transformations have taken place within a relatively short time (c) children in the past worked harder (d) all children are different from adults 3 Both Inuit and Tongan parents understand that (b) . (a) their children need to be treated in a way which would be considered harsh by outsiders (b) their children don’t yet possess certain prized qualities, such as reasoning and social competence (c) growing up is a process of acquiring thought, not social skills (d) bringing up their children requires tolerance and discipline 4 Parents of Beng children treat them with great care because they (d) . (a) think children know all human languages and understand all cultures (b) think life in the earthly world is unpleasant (c) believe the children still live in a spirit world (d) fear the children may choose to return to the spirit world where they lived before they were born 5 Western childcare practices (c) . (a) include allowing eight-year-old girls to work and 12-year-old girls to marry (b) treat the child in a bizarre and possibly harmful way (c) see the child as being incompetent, dependent on the parents, and incapable of looking after other children (d) are only similar to Yanamam? childcare pr actices in that girls help out at home, and boys are allowed to play well into their teens 6 The main idea of the passage is that (c) . (a) history shows us how our perception of childhood has changed (b) childhood is viewed in different ways according to the child’s cultural and social upbringing (c) both history and society can affect our perception of childhood (d) Western notions of childhood are outdated and not informed (continued) Unit 2 Childhood memories 56 Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Read the passage again and find the words in the box. Choose the best definition in the context of the passage. 1 consumption (a) the process of buying or using goods (b) the process of eating, drinking, or smoking something 2 colonial (a) relating to a system or period in which one country rules another (b) made in a style that was common in North America in the 18th century 3 knit (a) to make something such as a piece of clothing using wool and sticks called knitting needles (b) to join together or work together as one group or unit 4 harsh (a) unpleasant and difficult to live in (b) strict, unkind, and often unfair 5 contact (a) communication between people, countries, or organizations either by talking or writing (b) a situation in which people or things touch each other 6 impose (a) to force someone to have the same opinion, belief as you (b) to cause extra work for someone by asking them to do something that may not be convenient for them 7 perspective (a) a way of thinking about something (b) a sensible way of judging how good, bad, important etc something is in comparison with other things 6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box. Our (1) knowledge and understanding of childhood is undergoing a process of (2) nonstop change. In the West we see children as being (3) in need of adult control. However, among other (4) socio-cultural groups with similar traditions children are (5) mainly considered to be capable of assuming greater responsibilities. So there is a (6) strong desire for (7) someone who does not belong to this group to think that such practices might be odd or even harmful. But while most ethnic groups may at first show (8) hesitation about integrating other traditions and customs with their own, (9) outside pressures usually make them change their traditional view of childhood. Key: (1) notion (2) continual (3) dependent on (4) ethnic (5) largely (6) temptation (7) an outsider (8) reluctance (9) external 7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 Is prosecution likely to be (a) the act of accusing someone of a crime, or (b) the process of supervision by the social services? Childhood memories Unit 2 57 2 Is intricate likely to be (a) very basic, or (b) very detailed in design? 3 Is leniency likely to involve (a) kindness and understanding, or (b) strict discipline? 4 If someone tells you off, are they (a) criticizing, or (b) praising you? 5 Is a mischievous child likely to (a) be well behaved, or (b) enjoy having fun by causing trouble? 6 If a child is wilful, are they likely to cause damage or harm (a) deliberately, or (b) by mistake? 7 When a child is unsupervised, are they likely to be (a) looked after by adults, or (b) without an adult looking after them? 8 Is something bizarre likely to be (a) strange and difficult to explain, or (b) very usual? Language in use unpacking complex sentences 1 Look at the sentences from the passage Superman and answer the questions. 1 My flying dreams were believable as a landscape by Dali, so real that I would awake with a sudden shock, a breathless sense of having tumbled like Icarus from the sky and caught myself on the soft bed just in time. (a) What were believable? Her dreams about flying were believable. (b) How real were they? They were very real. Unit 2 Childhood memories 60 (c) Who had the sense of having tumbled like Icarus? The writer, Sylvia Plath. (d) Why would she wake up with a breathless sense? Because she felt she was really flying. (e) What did the breathless sense feel like? It felt like a sudden shock. (f) Why did she catch herself on the soft bed just in time? Because she felt she was falling. 2 We even found a stand-in for a villain in Sheldon Fein, the sallow mamma’s boy on our block who was left out of the boys’ games because he cried whenever anybody tagged him and always managed to fall down and skin his fat knees. (a) What did we find? We found someone who could be a villain. (b) Who was the stand-in for a villain? Sheldon Fein. (c) What was he like? He was sallow and a mamma’s boy. (d) Where did he come from? He came from their block. (e) Why was he left out of the boys’ games? Because he always cried and fell over. (f) What happened when he always managed to fall down? He skinned his knees. 2 Rewrite the sentence from the passage Cultural childhoods in a diagram below. He has written how a Yanamam? girl is expected to help her mother from a young age and by the age of ten will be running a house. 3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of suitable expressions from the collocation box. Sometimes more than one collocation is possible. 1 The Australian bush fires blazed for several days before they were brought under control. 2 As a child Ruth’s long dark hair tumbled down her back. 3 He comes from a very close-knit / tight-knit family with three brothers and two sisters. 4 I remember my father used to knit his brows / eyebrows together when he was thinking hard about something. 5 It was extremely hot and the sun was blazing. He has written how a Yanomam? girl from a young age and will be running a house is expected to help her mother by the age of ten Childhood memories Unit 2 61 6 Did you knit that jumper / hat yourself? It’s really beautiful! 7 I’m watching the financial markets –I think the prices of stocks will tumble quite soon. 4 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese. 1 My flying dreams were believable as a landscape by Dali, so real that I would awake with a sudden shock, a breathless sense of having tumbled like Icarus from the sky and caught myself on the soft bed just in time. These nightly adventures in space began when Superman started invading my dreams and teaching me how to fly. He used to come roaring by in his shining blue suit with his cape whistling in the wind, looking remarkably like my Uncle Frank who was living with mother and me. In the magic whirling of his cape I could hear the wings of a hundred seagulls, the motors of a thousand planes. 我的飞行梦像达利的风景画那么真实可信,以致于自己常常会在一阵惊吓中醒来,好像伊卡罗斯那 样从空中摔下来,虽然发现自己刚好掉到软软的床上,但也被吓得喘不过气来。当超人开始侵入我 的梦乡,并教给我飞行的技巧之后,我每夜的太空冒险便开始了。超人身着耀眼的蓝色衣服,肩披 随风飕飕作响的斗篷,经常从我身边呼啸而过。他长得太像我的舅舅弗兰克了,舅舅那会儿正跟 妈妈和我住在一起。当超人的斗篷神奇地旋转时,我好像能听见上百只海鸥的振翅声,上千架飞 机的马达轰鸣声。 2 In contrast, children on the Pacific island of Tonga, studied by Helen Morton, are regularly beaten by their parents and older siblings. They are seen as being closer to mad people than adults because they lack the highly prized quality of social competence (or poto as the Tongans call it). They are regularly told off for being clumsy and a child who falls over may be laughed at, shouted at, or beaten. Children are thought of as mischievous; they cry or want to feed simply because they are naughty, and beatings are at their most severe between the ages of three and five when children are seen as particularly wilful. Parents believe that social competence can only be achieved through discipline and physical punishment, and treat their children in ways that have seemed very harsh to outsiders. (?这段话里有多处被动用法,有些译成中文时仍保留被动态,有些则应该变成主动,否则译文就 不通顺。) 相反,根据海伦·莫顿的研究,太平洋岛国汤加的儿童经常挨父母和哥哥姐姐的打。人们认为儿童 和成年人相比更像疯子,因为他们缺乏被大家看重的社会能力(汤加人称之为poto)。小孩子经常 因为笨手笨脚而挨骂,他们连摔跤都会被嘲笑、呵斥,甚至被打。人们认为儿童很顽皮,都是因为 淘气他们才哭闹,或者要东西吃。在大人看来,三至五岁的儿童尤其任性,因此他们打这个年龄段 的孩子也打得最狠。父母们相信,只有靠训导和体罚才能使孩子获得社会能力,所以他们用一种在 外人看来非常严厉的方式对待孩子。 5 Translate the paragraphs into English. 1 在火车站上,有一位老人给我讲述了他参加解放战争的经历,那些战斗对我有着极大的吸引力。 后来他上了车,列车从我身边隆隆地开走了。可那些故事仍然是那么清晰可见,对于英雄们的壮举, 我钦佩不已。(fascination; roar; marvel at) At the railway station, an old man told me his experience in the Liberation War, the fighting stories of which were of great fascination to me. Then he got up on the train and it roared past me. But the stories were so real and definite that I greatly marvelled at the courageous deeds of those war heroes. Unit 2 Childhood memories 62 2 行之有效的环保政策不仅能创造良好的生态环境,还能大大降低能源消耗。回顾这个地区近年来的 发展情况,我们惊喜地发现地区政府强制实行的环保政策不但没有受到任何批评,还促使居民增强 了环保意识,尽其所能节约能源。(consumption; impose; take exception to; prompt) Effective environmental policy might bring about a good environment, as well as reducing energy consumption. Looking back on the recent development of this region, we find, to our pleasant surprise, that little exception has been taken to the environmental policy of the local government, and the policy has also raised the environmental awareness of the local residents and prompted them to save energy as possible as they could.__ Handout and Key to Unit 3& unit 4 Unit 3 Language points 1 For lack of a better terminology, one might name these: (1) the sensuous plane, (2) the expressive plane, (3) the sheerly musical plane. (Para 1) The expression for lack of a better terminology is used to introduce rather inexact terms. It means since we don’t have any exact terms, I’m going to use these rather rough terms. The word sensuous suggests physical pleasure which relates to your physical senses rather than to your emotions and thoughts. A plane is a level of thought, development or existence. The word sheer is used to emphasize the amount or degree of something. The sheerly musical plane refers to the level of the musical material, melodies, rhythms, harmonies etc. The sheer pleasure (Para 2, Line 2) means great or pure pleasure. 2 The only advantage to be gained from mechanically splitting up the listening process into these hypothetical planes is … (Para 1) The word hypothetical means to be based on situations or events that seem possible rather than on actual ones. Here, the planes are not real, they are just part of a model for analysis and discussion. 3 One turns on the radio while doing something else and absent-mindedly bathes in the sound. A kind of brainless but attractive state of mind is engendered by the mere sound appeal of the music. (Para 2) To bathe means to swim or wash yourself in a bath, river or lake. To bathe in the sound means to immerse yourself in the sound, like in water. To engender means to cause a feeling or attitude to exist. The expression engendered by the mere sound appeal means to be created only by the appeal or attraction of the sound. 4 Music allows them to leave it ... dreaming because of and apropos of the music yet never quite listening to it. (Para 3) The expression apropos of means relating to; it is used to introduce something else about the subject you are talking about. The expression is derived from French, and the final -s is silent in pronunciation. Unit 3 Art for art’s sake 82 5 ... but you must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest. The sensuous plane is an important one in music ... but it does not constitute the whole story. (Para 4) To usurp means to take a job or position that belongs to someone else without having the right to do this. The sentence you must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest means don’t let it take up a wrong amount of your interest. The expression it does not constitute the whole story means there is more to it than this. 6 Here, immediately, we tread on controversial ground. (Para 5) The expression we tread on controversial ground contains a metaphor: These are ideas that some people will probably disagree about or not approve of. 7 Composers have a way of shying away from any di scussion of music’s expressive side. (Para 5) To shy away from something means to avoid someone or be unwilling to do something because you are nervous, afraid or not confident. 8 Is it pessimistically sad or resignedly sad; is it fatefully sad or smilingly sad? (Para 6) The word resignedly means with resignation, accepting that something unpleasant must happen or that you cannot change it. The whole sentence gives nuances – shades of meaning –of different kinds of sadness: sadness which has a feeling of p essimism (things are bad and we can’t change them easily), sadness to which we may feel resigned – we accept it, sadness that we feel is part of our fate –we can’t avoid it and it is part of our life, and sadness that also has humour, so we smile even though we feel sad. 9 It is very important for all of us to become more alive to music on its sheerly musical plane. (Para 9) To become / be alive to something means to know that something is happening and realize how important it is. 10 After all, an actual musical material is being used ... He must hear the melodies, the rhythms, the harmonies, the tone colors in a more conscious fashion. (Para 9) The musical materials refer to the elements of music, usually discussed under the headings of melody (the tune), rhythm (the effects of time or duration of the beats of music, the pulse), harmony (how the notes of music combine with each other in chords or sequences of notes), tone color (how the precise sound of notes can vary), and form (how the music is organized with all the elements and patterns of repetition and variation). 11 Perhaps an analogy with what happens to us when we visit the theater will make this instinctive correlation clearer. (Para 11) An analogy is a comparison between two situations, processes etc, that is intended to show that the two are similar. That the two things are analogous means the same things are true of or relevant to both of them. Dealing with unfamiliar words 4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. Teaching tips To go through the answers, T assigns Numbers 1–7 to seven Ss, and ask each student to read one definition. T then assigns Numbers 8–14 to another seven Ss, and ask them to give corresponding answers orally. For example, “You could use the word constitute,” or “That means the same as constitute.” 1 to make up or form something (constitute) 2 happening or done at the same time (simultaneously) 3 able to do something because you have the knowledge, skill, or experience that is needed (qualified) 4 a regular pattern of sounds in music that you can show by moving, hitting your hands together, or hitting a drum or other surface (rhythm) 5 to receive or obtain something from something else (derive) 6 someone who writes music, especially classical music (composer) 7 as much as is needed (sufficiently) 5 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. Johann Sebastian Bach is possibly the greatest (1) composer the world has ever known. His Well- Tempered Clavichord (2) constitutes one of the most complete works for keyboard ever written. It is (3) simultaneously both a series of technical exercises which explore the possibilities of the keyboard, and Art for art’s sake Unit 3 85 a masterpiece of expressive feeling. Although he was a highly (4) qualified musician (as an organist and a choirmaster), he was not considered to be (5) sufficiently “modern” by the generation which followed him, and he was soon forgotten. But his music was rediscovered in the 19th century, for its perfect sense of (6) rhythm and harmony. Indeed, many of the great composers of the 20th century, such as Stravinsky, (7) derived a lot of their musical ideas from him. 6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box. You may need to make other changes. 1 Shh! They’re about to announce the winner of this year’s International Piano Competition. (proclaim) 2 It’s quite easy to make a comparison between poetry and music. (analogy) It’s quite easy to make an analogy between poetry and music. 3 We are amazed by her ability to express herself with great clearness and simplicity. (clarity) 4 How many artists have given up everything for the cause of their art? (for the sake of) 5 Internet emerges as a powerful and effective force in advertising new products. (potent) 6 I enjoyed the performance, but I thought the clothes the actors were wearing were a bit silly. (costumes) 7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 If you split something up, do you (a) divide it into parts, or (b) put the parts together? 2 If you do something absent-mindedly, are you (a) thinking about what you are doing, or (b) thinking about something else? 3 Do you look for consolation (a) after a piece of bad news, or (b) after a piece of good news? 4 If you are treading on controversial ground, are you (a) taking a risk, or (b) making everybody happy? 5 If you shy away from something, do you (a) keep close to it, or (b) keep your distance from it? 6 If you pin something down, are you (a) able to examine it carefully, or (b) unable to examine it carefully? Unit 3 Art for art’s sake 86 7 If you know the melody of a piece of music, are you familiar with (a) the tune, or (b) the meaning of the music? 8 Is an instinctive reaction to something (a) automatic, or (b) one which follows a lot of thought? Reading and interpreting 8 Work in pairs and choose the best answer to the questions. 1 Which is the writer’s main purpose? (a) To show how complex listening to music is. (b) To get people to listen to music more. (c) To discourage some people from listening to music. (d) To get people to think about how they listen to music. 2 Who does the writer address as you? (a) Musicians. (b) Theatregoers. (c) Composers. (d) Intelligent music lovers. 9 Check (?) the statements you agree with. √ 1 The analysis the writer makes is a fair and accurate one. Yes, I think this is a reasonable analysis of listening to music. 2 He describes the sensuous listener in negative terms. He does mention some negative aspects of sensuous listening but he says several times that we listen in all three ways, so I don’t think he is actually negative about this way. √ 3 He thinks all great music is expressive. He doesn’t actually say this, but this seems to be his point of view. 4 He thinks most listeners are not intelligent enough. No, he doesn’t say this. He says most listeners are not conscious enough of the third plane, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent. √ 5 He is probably a professional musician. I guess this is true because of his knowledge of Stravinsky and Bach, and his insights into the effective way of listening to music. √ 6 He is probably a good teacher. I think so because of his way of explaining the three planes and because of the way he uses the analogy of the theatre, which non-musician might appreciate. Active reading (2) Language points 1 We know his work includes paintings of religious and mythological themes, domestic interiors and landscapes. (Para 2) Domestic interiors are the inside of households with the rooms, furniture and decorations. Landscapes are paintings of an area of land, showing the scenery sometimes with people but the focus mostly on nature. 2 While Griet goes about her duties, she attracts the attention not only of a butcher’s boy, Pieter, but also of the painter himself. (Para 6) To go about her duties means to do the work that she is supposed to do. Being on duty means to be working at the moment; being off duty means to be not working at the moment. 3 Despite their different backgrounds and class, he invites her into his studio and engages her in his world. (Para 6) To engage her in his world means to help her to take an interest, understand or take part in what he does. 4 Vermeer recognizes Griet as having visual talent and artistic promise, and takes her on as his studio assistant. (Para 7) The expression she has artistic promise means she shows the sign that she is likely to be successful as an artist in the future. 5 Her role is to grind paints and develop the colours which Vermeer will use for his paintings ... (Para 7) To grind paints means to break something into very small pieces or powder by crushing it between two surfaces or using a machine. In Vermeer’s time, artists made their own paints by grinding up different colours and mixing the powder with water or other substances. This task was often done by an apprentice or assistant. 6 Catharina has long been forbidden to enter the studio, so the apprenticeship takes place in secret. (Para 7) The apprenticeship refers to employment as an apprentice to work for someone, or a company, usually for low pay, in order to learn the type of work they do. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was normal for people to learn how to be an artist by serving as an apprenticeship. 7 The film shows very effectively the tension ... for the portrait commissioned by his patron. (Para 12) To commission means to ask someone officially to do some work for you. Commissioning a work of ar t means asking the artist to produce a particular work of art in exchange for payment Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 someone who looks at a picture, photograph, or piece of art (viewer) 2 a painting, drawing or photograph of someone, especially of their face only (portrait) 3 relating to people’s homes and f amily life (domestic) 4 the inside part of something, especially a building or vehicle (interior) 5 as a result (consequently) 6 to start to employ someone or use their services (engage) 7 to officially ask for a piece of work to be done for you (commission) 6 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. In the beginning it was only the rich and famous who had their (1) portraits painted. But from the Renaissance onwards things changed. Firstly, the growing importance of the middle classes led many ordinary people to (2) commission paintings, often of members of their family. Secondly, artists became interested in showing scenes of (3) domestic life, set in the (4) interiors of ordinary houses, and (5) consequently they began to (6) engage ordinary people, such as servant girls, as models. Part of the mystery for (7) viewers today concerns the identity of these models, in masterpieces such as Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Additional activity 7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box. 1 He changed his religion from Protestantism and became a Catholic. (converted) 2 One of the assistant’s jobs was to break into a powder the paints. (grind) 3 The newspaper started to change the fact so that it was no longer true ever since it existed, and the local government was definitely one of the victims. (distort) Unit 3 Art for art’s sake 94 4 You don’t have to make a hole in your ears to be able to wear these earr ings. (pierce) 5 The lives of artists have often been linked to shocking events and situations. (scandals) 6 One of the most striking aspects of the painting is the turban she is wearing on her head. (features) 7 I’ll finish the painting this evening, so f rom now until then you can have a break. (in the meantime) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 Are exotic clothes likely to be (a) ordinary, or (b) unusual? 2 Is a sitter someone who (a) is being painted, or (b) spends a lot of time sitting down? 3 Is a conventional sense of beauty one which is (a) shared and understood by most people, or (b) different from what is shared and understood by most people? 4 Is an enigmatic expression one which is full of (a) good humour, or (b) mystery? 5 If you have a volatile personality, do you get angry (a) quickly, or (b) only when you can’t tolerate? 6 If you are wary of something, are you (a) excited about it, or (b) careful and nervous about it? 7 If you show something explicitly, do you (a) make its meaning very clear so there is no doubt about it, or (b) leave its meaning unclear? 8 If a woman tries to keep her modesty, does she (a) cover her hair and body to avoid any sexual feeling in men, or (b) talk and act with good grace? 9 Is jealousy the feeling you get when you think someone you love (a) is attracted to somebody else, or (b) doesn’t love you any more? Language in use word formation: compound nouns 1 Form compound nouns to indicate: 1 a writer of songs (songwriter) 2 a director of films (film director) 3 a scarf you wear around your head (headscarf) 4 a pack you carry on your back (backpack) 5 a stick you use to make your lips red (lipstick) 6 a lace you use to tie up your shoe (shoelace) 7 polish that you put on your nails (nail polish) might have been / done 2 Rewrite the sentences using might have been / done . 1 It’s possible that the artist and the model became lovers. The artist and the model might have been lovers. 2 It’s possible that Catharina was never jealous of the model. Catharina might never have been jealous of the model. 3 It’s possible that the model became Vermeer’s assistant. The model might have become Vermeer’s assistant. 4 It’s possible that Vermeer painted other masterpieces which have since been lost. Vermeer might have painted other masterpieces which have since been lost. 5 It’s possible that Vermeer died in poverty. Vermeer might have died in poverty. may be due to the fact that … 3 Complete the sentences with your own ideas using may be due to the fact that … 1 The y oung pianist’s musical genius may be due to the fact that his mother played the piano a lot while she was pregnant, so he has always heard music from day one. 2 The late arrival of the train may be due to the fact that there were severe storms last night. 3 The misunderstanding may be due to the fact that she speaks very little Chinese and I don’t speak much Spanish. Art for art’s sake Unit 3 97 4 The book’s enormous popularity may be due to the fact that it has been aggressively marketed on TV and it was discussed in several prime time TV shows. 5 His dislike of music may be due to the fact that he was exposed to loud rock music for many hours a day when he was quite small. insist that … 4 Rewrite the sentences using insist that … 1 I met an old friend who refused to let me go before I had a drink with him. I met an old friend, who insisted that I have a drink with him before he let me go. 2 The customs people refused to let me through unless I signed a document they gave me. The customs people insisted that I sign a document they gave me before they let me through. 3 We refused to let him start the concert before having an hour’s rest. We insisted that he have an hour’s rest before he started the concert. 4 They refused to publish the book until he changed some of the things he had written. They insisted that he change some of the things he’d written before they published the book. 5 She refused to let me see the painting until I apologized for what I had done. She insisted that I apologize for what I had done before she let me see the painting. collocations 5 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 appeal This word means the quality that something has that makes people like it or want it. (a) If a radio station wants to widen its appeal, what does it need to do? It needs to appeal to a wider audience by having more popular programmes. (b) Are games and sports that have a popular appeal liked by many people or a few people? They are liked by many people. (c) When an organization makes an appeal for money, what does it do? It asks people to give money, probably for a charity. (d) How would the police launch an appeal to the public for information? They would have a special event like a TV broadcast in which they ask the public to come forward with any relevant information. 2 qualified This word can mean thoroughly trained for a particular job. (a) If you are a highly qualified doctor, what do you have? You have lots of medical qualifications. (b) If a job advertisement asks for fully qualified engineers, what does it expect? It expects people with degrees in engineering and work experiences to apply. (c) If someone is well qualified to give an opinion, who are they? They are expert on the topic for which they are asked to give an opinion. Unit 3 Art for art’s sake 98 3 engage This word can mean to start to employ someone or use their services. (a) If you get engaged to someone, what are you planning to do? You are planning to get married with the person. (b) If government forces have engaged with rebels, what is happening? The government forces are fighting the rebels. (c) If you engage someone in conversation, what do you do? You talk to them and try to interest them in a conversation. 4 convert This word can mean to change from one system, use, or method to another. (a) Where can you convert pounds into dollars? You can exchange the money in banks, at the airport, according to the current exchange rate. You should be sure to check the exchange rate because it can change from day to day. (b) What useful piece of furniture do some sofas convert into? They convert into beds so that people can use them for overnight guests. (c) What would a farmer have to do to convert to organic food production methods? They would have to stop using artificial methods of food production and start to use more natural ones. 5 grind When you grind something, you break it into small pieces or powder, by using a machine or by crushing it between two hard surfaces. (a) What happens to coffee, spices or pepper when you grind it? The beans or seeds become powder. (b) Did you know that 20 per cent of people grind their teeth at night? No, the number of the proportion sounds horrible. (c) If the traffic grinds to a halt, does it stop suddenly or slowly? It stops slowly and will probably become a traffic jam unless it gets moving again quickly. 6 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese. 1 Listen, if you can, to the 48 fugue themes of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavichord. Listen to each theme, one after another. You will soon realize that each theme mirrors a different world of feeling. You will also soon realize that the more beautiful a theme seems to you the harder it is to find any word that will describe it to your complete satisfaction. Yes, you will certainly know whether it is a gay theme or a sad one. You will be able, in other words, in your own mind, to draw a frame of emotional feeling around your theme. Now study the sad one a little closer. Try to pin down the exact quality of its sadness. Is it pessimistically sad or resignedly sad; is it fatefully sad or smilingly sad? 可能的话,你不妨听听巴赫的《平均律钢琴曲集》中的48个赋格主题。依次地、一个个地听听其中 的每一个主题,你很快就会意识到每个主题都反映了一个不同的情感世界,你很快也会意识到你越 觉得某个主题美妙,就越难找到令你完全满意的字眼来描述它。是的,你当然知道那个主题是欢快 的还是悲伤的。换句话说,你能够在脑海中勾勒出那个主题的情感框架。那么就更仔细地听一下这 个悲伤的主题吧,要明确悲伤的性质。是悲观厌世的悲伤,还是无可奈何的悲伤?是时运不济的悲 伤,还是强颜欢笑的悲伤? Art for art’s sake Unit 3 99 2 We know less about the Girl with the Pearl Earring than any of Vermeer’s works. Indeed, the unexplainable lack of background information may even contribute to the worldwide popularity the painting enjoys. With so much mystery, the painting has been the theme of first, a novel and later, a film, both of which attempt to answer some of the questions about the painting, as well as one, which is immediately more appropriate to the medium of the novel or the film: Are her wide eyes and enigmatic half-smile innocent or seductive? 我们对《戴珍珠耳环的少女》的了解比对维梅尔的其他作品都少。实际上,这种无法解释的背景资 料的缺失甚至会使得该画更受欢迎。 正因为如此神秘,这幅画先是成了一部小说的主题,而后又被一部电影所采纳。它们都试图揭开有 关这幅画的一些谜题,其中一个是:女孩那双睁得大大的眼睛,以及那一丝神秘的微笑,到底是天 真还是诱惑?像小说或电影这类媒介更适合作出回答。 7 Translate the paragraphs into English. 1 随着婚礼的临近,苏珊变得非常焦虑。她说不清楚是什么让自己如此烦恼。在同好友凯特长谈了一 次后,她才意识到,尽管自己已经28岁了,但在情感方面还不够成熟,还没有为婚姻做好准备,也 不知道这桩婚姻是否会给自己带来美满的家庭生活。(pin down; guarantee) As the wedding ceremony was approaching, Susan had become quite anxious. She could not pin down what exactly was troubling her. After a long talk with her close friend Kate, she realized that, although she was 28 years old, she was not emotionally mature enough to be ready for marriage and she was not sure whether the marriage would guarantee her a happy family life. 2 她知道中国学生总是不愿意表达自己的情感和想法,这不仅仅因为他们对自己的英语口语不够自 信,还因为他们相信稳重是一种美德。因此她特意了一些简单的话题,鼓励学生参与讨论,让 他们增强自信心,拉近彼此间的距离。(shy away; engage sb in) She knew that Chinese students had a way of shying away from revealing their feelings or opinions, due not merely to their lack of confidence in spoken English, but to their belief in the virtue of modesty. So she specially conceived a couple of simple topics and encouraged them in the discussion, in order that they might become more confident and closer with each other. Unit 4 Reading 1 Language points 1 Work in corporate America (Title) Corporate America is a general term given to a large non-government-owned organization or company in the United States, eg a bank, a marketing research company etc. It has both positive and negative connotations. Positively, it means that a company or an organization produces wealth and improves people’s living standards in a free market and competitive society by people working together to achieve the goals. This mainly refers to financial gains and success. Negatively, it seems to indicate the promotion of self-interest, financial gains, greed and irresponsibility in the workplace. 2 It is not surprising that modern children tend to look blank and dispirited when ... (Para 1) To look blank means that modern children show no sign of understanding or emotion about the corporate workplace, they seem unresponsive and have blank looks. Someone who is dispirited does not have the hope, enthusiasm or interest that they had earlier; they are in low spirits or downhearted. 3 The parent could take his offspring to his place of business and let him watch while he repaired a buggy or built a table. (Para 2) A buggy is a vehicle used for babies and toddlers by carers (parents, grandparents and adults in caring professions), to push them around. It is also called a pushchair. In the US, it is called a stroller. 4 When a child asked … his father could answer in terms that a child could come to grips with, such as “I fix steam engines” or “I make horse collars”. (Para 3) The expression come to grips with normally means to face up to a problem, situation or difficult job and deal with it. Here, it means that someone gets to understand something that is difficult or unpleasant. It has the similar meaning as to come to terms with, tackle, handle, manage etc. Horse collars are made of leather and fit around animals’ necks to allow them to pull heavy things. When horses are used to pull carts or carriages they wear horse collars. Here, in corporate America, this is a deliberate image of something very old-fashioned, just like steam engines. 5 How can he possibly envision anyone analyzing a system or researching a market? (Para 5) The word envision is a verb which means to show a visual scene in your mind, to imagine something that is outside your experience, which has not happened or does not exist. 6 Even grown men … and it is a safe bet that the average systems analyst is as baffled about what a space salesman does at the shop as the average space salesman is about the tools needed to analyze a system. (Para 6) The expression it is a safe bet means that the speaker or writer is sure about something (they would be willing to risk money to confirm it). Changing times Unit 4 117 A space salesman deals with the arrangements for the use of space in offices and other places: How many rooms might be needed for what purposes, what sorts of work people do in particular offices and how the office furniture and equipment can best be arranged for the maximum effectiveness, how much it costs to rent or use office accommodation in different parts of a city ... But probably, a space salesman mainly deals with people who want to rent office space. In this sentence the writer is saying he is quite sure that neither the systems analyst nor the space salesman knows about each other’s wo rk and what they actually do. 7 The machines that make things make them in such a fashion that they will quickly fall apart in such a way that repairs will be prohibitively expensive. (Para 7) The expression in such a fashion means in a particular way or manner. The cost is prohibitively expensive when it prevents you from buying something, as it is beyond the limits of what you can afford. Or, we may say the cost is prohibitive. The sentence means that the machines make things in such a way that they will break or fall into pieces so that they can’t be cheaply repaired. It is implied that the things are made to be short-lasting so that the manufacturers can sell more later. 8 The handful of people remotely associated with these machines can, of course, tell their inquisitive children “Daddy makes junk”. (Para 8) Inquisitive children are those who like to ask lots of questions, especially things that adults do not want to talk about. 9 Most of the workforce, however, is too remote from junk production to sense any contribution to the industry. (Para8) The sentence means most workers are distant from the process of junk production so they do not feel that their work has any part in it. 10 Others telephone to ascertain the whereabouts of paper. (Para 12) The expression ascertain the whereabouts of something means to find out where something is. 11 Back at the office, the father orders the paper retyped and reproduced in quintuplicate, and then sent to another man for comparison with paper that was reproduced in triplicate last year. (Para 16) The word quintuplicate means that something is made into five copies. To quadruplicate means to make into four copies; triplicate three copies; and duplicate two copies. Dealing with unfamiliar words 4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 old, broken or useless things (junk) 2 relating to large companies, or a particular large company (corporate) 3 to not approve of someone or something (disapprove) 4 to form a picture of someone or something in your mind (visualize) 5 an agreement in which you risk an amount of money by saying what you think will happen (bet) 6 to find out something (ascertain) 7 the space at the left or right side of a page where words are not usually printed or written (margin) 8 to discuss something with other people in order to reach a decision (confer) 9 important, respected, and admired (eminent) 10 to twist your face into an expression that shows you are angry (scowl) 5 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. 1 It’s not easy to visualize what life was like in the age of the steam engine. 2 If you disapprove of these plans, you should let me know exactly what you find wrong with them. 3 Thomas’ room is full of junk like broken electrical equipment and old computer parts he doesn’t need. 4 My bet is that this type of job won’t give you much satisfaction. 5 We’re going to need some time to confer with our lawyers before we make a decision. 6 The margins of the pages in this document have all been written on. 7 We can’t accept your application, without ascertaining the authenticity of your qualifications. 8 It was a corporate decision to close the bank, not the choice of any individual. 9 She’s a very nice person, and a very eminent professor. 10 Why is he scowling at me? What have I done? 6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the following words. You may need to make other changes. 1 A curious child is often eager to inquire about the jobs their parents do. (inquisitive) An inquisitive child is often eager to inquire about the jobs their parents do. 2 Most people think the decision they took is impossible to understand. (incomprehensible) 3 Could you write down any ideas you have during the meeting on this piece of paper? (jot) 4 You are very careful about noticing details if you can remember exactly what the manager was wearing. (observant) 5 I’m afraid we don’t know the place where Helen is right now. (whereabouts) I’m afraid we don’t know the whereabouts of Helen. Changing times Unit 4 119 6 Do n’t be unhappy and lacking in enthusiasm. I’m sure one of the applications will be successful. (dispirited) 7 I’d like to buy an open top car, but they’re all so terribly expensive. (prohibitively) 7 Answer the questions about the expressions. 1 If you look blank about something, do you (a) understand, or (b) not understand it? 2 If you come to grips with a problem, do you (a) start to deal with it, or (b) stop thinking about it? 3 When something falls apart, is it (a) in the wrong place, or (b) broken? 4 When something wears out, does it (a) not look very nice, or (b) become old and unusable? 5 If you mull over a problem, do you (a) think carefully about it for a long time, or (b) quickly solve it? 6 Do people sometimes say “It beats me” because they (a) un derstand, or (b) don’t understand something? Active reading (2) Language points 1 There’s nothing new about our obsession with the new, says Dominic Sandbrook. (Introduction) Obsession is an emotional state in which someone or something is so important that you are always thinking about them, in a way that seems extreme to other people. 2 We live in a world of unprecedented, dazzling change. (Para 1) The word unprecedented means never having happened or existed before, eg an unprecedented situation, an unprecedented change. 3 Thanks to globalization, national frontiers are collapsing around us, while technological innovations are fundamentally reshaping our lives in ways we can barely comprehend. (Para 1) Because of the situation of globalization – that the whole world is developing a single complex economy, communication system and culture – it seems that there are no national borders and new technologies are influencing our lives in basic ways which we cannot really understand. 4 So run the clichés, anyway. (Para 2) A cliché refers to a phrase or idea that is boring because people use it a lot, and it is no longer original and sounds empty. The expression so run the clichés means these are the clichés you often hear. 5 But it is only our obsession with novelty, ignorance of deeper historical patterns and arrogant insistence on our own importance that leads us into this kind of talk. (Para 2) Historical patterns refer to major events in history which make patterns because they are related to each other or similar. Changing times Unit 4 125 6 Yet there is a good case that we do not, in fact, live in very interesting times at all. (Para 2) A case here is a set of facts or arguments that you can state for or against something. A case for something is positive support or a good case; a case against something is a counter-argument or reasons why the case is not valid; a poor case is weak and does not have solid facts or reasons behind it. You can state, make or argue a case. 7 Take the example of globalization, which, according to its American champion, Thomas Friedman ... influencing “the politics, environment, geopolitics and economics of virtually every country in the world”. (Para 3) The word champion here refers to someone who publicly supports or defends a set of beliefs or political aims, ie a strong supporter. Geopolitics means the study of how a country’s position, economy or population can influence its politics, especially in relation to other countries. 8 The Roman Empire, for example, is nothing if not a multi-ethnic, multicultural, transnational entity … (Para 4) The word transnational means affecting or involving several countries. The prefix trans- means across. 9 And for all the hype about the Internet, the brutal truth is that most of us use it to do remarkably old-fashioned things ... (Para 6) Hype refers to the use of a lot of advertisements or other publicity to influence or interest people. To hype up means to make something sound more interesting or impressive than it is. The brutal truth refers to the truth that is extremely honest, given in a way that seems unkind. 10 We are always being told that the Internet has “opened up” the world, yet a staggering 90 per cent of all web traffic is local. (Para 6) The word staggering means extremely surprising. Many people would think that much or most use, or traffic, of the World Wide Web would be global or international, but the writer says that, surprisingly, 90 per cent is local. 11 When Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey … talking to sentient computers and living on the Moon. (Para 7) Sentient computers are computers which are capable of feeling things through the physical senses. 12 But the cinema-goers of 1968 would have been deeply disappointed to realize that in fact they would be living in Milton Keynes and watching Midsomer Murders. (Para 7) This sentence presents a contrast with the previous sentence which gave a picture that people had in 1968 of possibly going into space. Instead, their future turned out to be living in a very ordinary town of many new streets which all seem identical (like Milton Keynes) and watching detective stories about rural villages on TV (like Midsomer Murders, a TV series based in rural southern England). 13 Even our neophilia is nothing new. (Para 8) The prefix neo- means modern or new. The suffix -phile describes someone who loves or likes something; thus an anglophile likes English things, a francophile likes French things, a sinophile likes Chinese things. The word neophilia means the love of new things or novelties. 14 If so, then we are lucky, because we don’t. (Para 10) We are lucky because we don’t live in interesting times, which means we should avoid the chaos and anxiety of interesting times. Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 an emotional state in which someone or something is so important to you that you are always thinking about them (obsession) 2 the study of the way that goods and services are produced and sold and the way money is managed (economics) 3 to proudly tell other people about what you have done or can do, or about something you own (boast) 4 a car (automobile) 5 an area or town near a large city but away from its centre, where there are many houses, especially for middle-class people (suburb) 6 a new idea, method, piece of equipment etc (innovation) 7 something that you suggest is true, although you do not say it directly (implication) 8 the limits of your experience (horizons) 6 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. 1 The middle-class dream used to be to live in a peaceful suburb and own a new automobile. 2 Today we have an obsession with healthy lifestyles and the latest technological innovations. 3 He has good reason to boast about the progress he has made in his career. 4 The implication is obvious: We are beginning to understand the impact of globalization. 5 Most of us need a professor of economics to explain how our horizons have been pushed back by the opening up of new world markets. 7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. You may need to make other changes. Teaching tips Ss need to realize that some adjectives, eg unprecedented and plausible, that you are going to insert should go before the nouns. 1 The water has risen to levels which we have never seen before. (unprecedented) The water has risen to unprecedented levels. 2 Can you give me any reason which I can believe to explain what has happened? (plausible) Can you give me any plausible reason to explain what has happened? 3 I think that the decision was based on the fact that he doesn’t know anything. (ignorance) I think that the decision was based on his ignorance. 4 The news you’ve just given me is absolutely incredible. (staggering) 5 I hope this crisis will be followed by a period in which there is no change. (stability) 6 Are computers the best thing that ever happened to us, or a piece of bad luck caused by someone who wants to hurt us? (curse) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. Teaching tips To go over the answers, T gives ten Ss a number, each between one and ten. T calls “One”, then S1 reads Question 1 to the class. He / She should choose the correct answer and make it a complete sentence. T calls “Two” and S2 reads Question 2 etc.T doesn’t need to say anything unless a student gives a wrong answer. In that case, T should ask other Ss to help them. Changing times Unit 4 129 1 If a change is dazzling, is it (a) very impressive, or (b) not impressive at all? 2 If you use clichés in your writing, does your writing (a) contain some boring words or ideas that people have used a lot, or (b) contain lots of fresh thoughts? 3 If someone is arrogant, do they think that they (a) never, or (b) always know better than everyone else? 4 Is an entity something that (a) has, or (b) doesn’t have internal unity? 5 If you behave in a brutal way, are you (a) very gentle, or (b) very violent? 6 Do people who always grumble never seem (a) happy, or (b) unhappy about anything? 7 If you brag about something, do you talk (a) in a proud way that annoys people, or (b) patiently because it is hard to understand? 8 Is the advent of something another way of talking about (a) the appearance, or (b) the disappearance of something? 9 If you refer to the magnitude of a problem, do you think that it might be (a) big, or (b) small? 10 If something happens in the wake of something else, does it (a) come before it, or (b) follow it? Language in use in such a way / fashion that … 1 Rewrite the sentences using in such a way / fashion that … 1 Because of the way this office is built, it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. This office is built in such a way that it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. 2 Due to the way in which the instructions were wri tten, I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. The instructions were written in such a fashion that I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. 3 Because of the way in which they welcomed me, I immediately felt at home in the new office. They welcomed me in such a way that I immediately felt at home in the new office. 4 Due to the way in which problems are dealt with, it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. The problems are dealt with in such a fashion that it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. 5 Because of the way in which I was taught English, I will probably never forget it. I was taught English in such a way that I will probably never forget it. word formation: in-, un-, dis- 2 Look at the sentences from the passage Work in corporate America and answer the question. What do the prefixes in-, un- and dis- have in common? They are all negative prefixes meaning not. 3 Replace the underlined words with the word in brackets and the appropriate prefix. You may need to make other changes. 1 I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be no good at his job. (competent) I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be incompetent at his job. 2 I don’t have the same opinion as you. I think he’s doing fine. (agre e) I disagree with you. I think he’s doing fine. 3 If you click here, you can cancel the last change you made to the document. (do) If you click here, you can undo the last change you made to the document. 4 How many people are without a job in this town? (employed) How many people are unemployed in this town? 5 I didn’t know that you had introduced all these new rules. (aware) I was unaware that you had introduced all these new rules. 6 Obviously, it wasn’t our intention not to obey the orders. (obey) Obvi ously, it wasn’t our intention to disobey the orders. Unit 4 Changing times 134 7 I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is not complete. (complete) I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is incomplete. 8 I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t have any bad feelings towards them. (like) I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t dislike them. 9 I’m afraid that software is not compatible with our system. (compatible) I’m afraid that software is incompatible with our system. for all + noun phrase 4 Rewrite the sentences using for all + noun phrase. 1 Although we are concerned about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. For all our concern about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. 2 He has a lot of knowledge about the world of finance, but he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. For all his knowledge about the world of finance, he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. 3 Although she said a lot of kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. For all her kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. 4 He has hundreds of bright ideas about developing new products, but he never seems able to put them down on paper. For all his bright ideas about developing new products, he never seems able to put them down on paper. 5 I do have a lot of doubts about this new software, but I recognize that it is quite innovative. For all my doubts about this new software, I recognize that it is quite innovative. as + adj. …as 5 Rewrite the sentences using as + adj. …as. 1 I am confused about how to apply for the job. Similarly, they are confused about who can apply. I am as confused about how to apply for the job as they are about who can apply. 2 My wife and I were worried about staying longer than we were supposed to. Similarly, our hosts were worried that we might not have enjoyed the meal. My wife and I were as worried about staying longer as our hosts were that we might not have enjoyed the meal. 3 Our generation knows little about cassette recorders and record players. Similarly our parents know little about iPods and MP3 players. Our generation knows as little about cassette recorders and record players as our parents know about iPods and MP3 players. 4 We are curious about what he does for a living. Similarly, he is curious about what our company does. We are as curious about what he does for a living as he is about what our company does. Changing times Unit 4 135 5 I have very little idea about how to shoe a horse. Similarly, he doesn’t have much idea about how to repair a motorbike. I have as little idea about how to shoe a horse as he has about how to repair a motorbike. collocations 6 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 margin This word usually means the space at the side of a page where you don’t write anything. (a) Do you have a habit of jotting notes in the margin when reading books? Yes, I do. But other people just take notes on a separate piece of paper because they don’t want to spoil the book. (b) If you win an election by a narrow margin, how big is the victory? The victory is not big; it is just a narrow or close victory. (c) What sort of problems are faced by people who live on the margins of society? They may face social and economic problems because they have fewer opportunities and may find it difficult to join the mainstream society. (d) If the margin of error in a calculation is very small, what are the chances that the calculation is wrong? The chances are small and any errors are likely to be very small. 2 ignorance This word usually means lack of knowledge or facts about something. (a) If an answer that you give betrays your ignorance, how do you feel? You feel embarrassed because your answer has shown people your ignorance and most people do not like to show this in public. (b) Do you think that ignorance of the law can ever be an excuse for breaking it? It’s a human excuse because it means that you didn’t know the law on that point, but it is not a legal excuse. (c) Do you know of any decisions that have been taken but which were based on ignorance? Yes. In the early days of the stock market in China, some people bought shares in the belief that all shares would make money quickly, but later they lost money when the shares lost value. They bought the shares in ignorance about how the market works and they had little idea of the risks. 3 sheer This word is usually used for emphasizing the amount or degree of something. (a) If somebody tells you that your company is sheer delight, how would you feel? I would feel complimented because that’s a nice thing to say to anyone. (b) If you were overcome by sheer weight of numbers, was it the quality or quantity of the opposition that defeated you? It would have been the quantity of the opposition, eg the large number of opponents. (c) Do you think it is easy to climb a sheer cliff face? Not at all, because that kind of cliff is nearly vertical and it is very difficult Ss need to realize that some adjectives, eg unprecedented and plausible, that you are going to insert should go before the nouns. 1 The water has risen to levels which we have never seen before. (unprecedented) The water has risen to unprecedented levels. 2 Can you give me any reason which I can believe to explain what has happened? (plausible) Can you give me any plausible reason to explain what has happened? 3 I think that the decision was based on the fact that he doesn’t know anything. (ignorance) I think that the decision was based on his ignorance. 4 The news you’ve just given me is absolutely incredible. (staggering) 5 I hope this crisis will be followed by a period in which there is no change. (stability) 6 Are computers the best thing that ever happened to us, or a piece of bad luck caused by someone who wants to hurt us? (curse) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. Teaching tips To go over the answers, T gives ten Ss a number, each between one and ten. T calls “One”, then S1 reads Question 1 to the class. He / She should choose the correct answer and make it a complete sentence. T calls “Two” and S2 reads Question 2 etc.T doesn’t need to say anything unless a student gives a wrong answer. In that case, T should ask other Ss to help them. Changing times Unit 4 129 1 If a change is dazzling, is it (a) very impressive, or (b) not impressive at all? 2 If you use clichés in your writing, does your writing (a) contain some boring words or ideas that people have used a lot, or (b) contain lots of fresh thoughts? 3 If someone is arrogant, do they think that they (a) never, or (b) always know better than everyone else? 4 Is an entity something that (a) has, or (b) doesn’t have internal unity? 5 If you behave in a brutal way, are you (a) very gentle, or (b) very violent? 6 Do people who always grumble never seem (a) happy, or (b) unhappy about anything? 7 If you brag about something, do you talk (a) in a proud way that annoys people, or (b) patiently because it is hard to understand? 8 Is the advent of something another way of talking about (a) the appearance, or (b) the disappearance of something? 9 If you refer to the magnitude of a problem, do you think that it might be (a) big, or (b) small? 10 If something happens in the wake of something else, does it (a) come before it, or (b) follow it? Language in use in such a way / fashion that … 1 Rewrite the sentences using in such a way / fashion that … 1 Because of the way this office is built, it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. This office is built in such a way that it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. 2 Due to the way in which the instructions were wri tten, I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. The instructions were written in such a fashion that I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. 3 Because of the way in which they welcomed me, I immediately felt at home in the new office. They welcomed me in such a way that I immediately felt at home in the new office. 4 Due to the way in which problems are dealt with, it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. The problems are dealt with in such a fashion that it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. 5 Because of the way in which I was taught English, I will probably never forget it. I was taught English in such a way that I will probably never forget it. word formation: in-, un-, dis- 2 Look at the sentences from the passage Work in corporate America and answer the question. What do the prefixes in-, un- and dis- have in common? They are all negative prefixes meaning not. 3 Replace the underlined words with the word in brackets and the appropriate prefix. You may need to make other changes. 1 I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be no good at his job. (competent) I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be incompetent at his job. 2 I don’t have the same opinion as you. I think he’s doing fine. (agre e) I disagree with you. I think he’s doing fine. 3 If you click here, you can cancel the last change you made to the document. (do) If you click here, you can undo the last change you made to the document. 4 How many people are without a job in this town? (employed) How many people are unemployed in this town? 5 I didn’t know that you had introduced all these new rules. (aware) I was unaware that you had introduced all these new rules. 6 Obviously, it wasn’t our intention not to obey the orders. (obey) Obvi ously, it wasn’t our intention to disobey the orders. Unit 4 Changing times 134 7 I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is not complete. (complete) I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is incomplete. 8 I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t have any bad feelings towards them. (like) I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t dislike them. 9 I’m afraid that software is not compatible with our system. (compatible) I’m afraid that software is incompatible with our system. for all + noun phrase 4 Rewrite the sentences using for all + noun phrase. 1 Although we are concerned about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. For all our concern about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. 2 He has a lot of knowledge about the world of finance, but he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. For all his knowledge about the world of finance, he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. 3 Although she said a lot of kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. For all her kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. 4 He has hundreds of bright ideas about developing new products, but he never seems able to put them down on paper. For all his bright ideas about developing new products, he never seems able to put them down on paper. 5 I do have a lot of doubts about this new software, but I recognize that it is quite innovative. For all my doubts about this new software, I recognize that it is quite innovative. as + adj. …as 5 Rewrite the sentences using as + adj. …as. 1 I am confused about how to apply for the job. Similarly, they are confused about who can apply. I am as confused about how to apply for the job as they are about who can apply. 2 My wife and I were worried about staying longer than we were supposed to. Similarly, our hosts were worried that we might not have enjoyed the meal. My wife and I were as worried about staying longer as our hosts were that we might not have enjoyed the meal. 3 Our generation knows little about cassette recorders and record players. Similarly our parents know little about iPods and MP3 players. Our generation knows as little about cassette recorders and record players as our parents know about iPods and MP3 players. 4 We are curious about what he does for a living. Similarly, he is curious about what our company does. We are as curious about what he does for a living as he is about what our company does. Changing times Unit 4 135 5 I have very little idea about how to shoe a horse. Similarly, he doesn’t have much idea about how to repair a motorbike. I have as little idea about how to shoe a horse as he has about how to repair a motorbike. collocations 6 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 margin This word usually means the space at the side of a page where you don’t write anything. (a) Do you have a habit of jotting notes in the margin when reading books? Yes, I do. But other people just take notes on a separate piece of paper because they don’t want to spoil the book. (b) If you win an election by a narrow margin, how big is the victory? The victory is not big; it is just a narrow or close victory. (c) What sort of problems are faced by people who live on the margins of society? They may face social and economic problems because they have fewer opportunities and may find it difficult to join the mainstream society. (d) If the margin of error in a calculation is very small, what are the chances that the calculation is wrong? The chances are small and any errors are likely to be very small. 2 ignorance This word usually means lack of knowledge or facts about something. (a) If an answer that you give betrays your ignorance, how do you feel? You feel embarrassed because your answer has shown people your ignorance and most people do not like to show this in public. (b) Do you think that ignorance of the law can ever be an excuse for breaking it? It’s a human excuse because it means that you didn’t know the law on that point, but it is not a legal excuse. (c) Do you know of any decisions that have been taken but which were based on ignorance? Yes. In the early days of the stock market in China, some people bought shares in the belief that all shares would make money quickly, but later they lost money when the shares lost value. They bought the shares in ignorance about how the market works and they had little idea of the risks. 3 sheer This word is usually used for emphasizing the amount or degree of something. (a) If somebody tells you that your company is sheer delight, how would you feel? I would feel complimented because that’s a nice thing to say to anyone. (b) If you were overcome by sheer weight of numbers, was it the quality or quantity of the opposition that defeated you? It would have been the quantity of the opposition, eg the large number of opponents. (c) Do you think it is easy to climb a sheer cliff face? Not at all, because that kind of cliff is nearly vertical and it is very difficult Ss need to realize that some adjectives, eg unprecedented and plausible, that you are going to insert should go before the nouns. 1 The water has risen to levels which we have never seen before. (unprecedented) The water has risen to unprecedented levels. 2 Can you give me any reason which I can believe to explain what has happened? (plausible) Can you give me any plausible reason to explain what has happened? 3 I think that the decision was based on the fact that he doesn’t know anything. (ignorance) I think that the decision was based on his ignorance. 4 The news you’ve just given me is absolutely incredible. (staggering) 5 I hope this crisis will be followed by a period in which there is no change. (stability) 6 Are computers the best thing that ever happened to us, or a piece of bad luck caused by someone who wants to hurt us? (curse) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. Teaching tips To go over the answers, T gives ten Ss a number, each between one and ten. T calls “One”, then S1 reads Question 1 to the class. He / She should choose the correct answer and make it a complete sentence. T calls “Two” and S2 reads Question 2 etc.T doesn’t need to say anything unless a student gives a wrong answer. In that case, T should ask other Ss to help them. Changing times Unit 4 129 1 If a change is dazzling, is it (a) very impressive, or (b) not impressive at all? 2 If you use clichés in your writing, does your writing (a) contain some boring words or ideas that people have used a lot, or (b) contain lots of fresh thoughts? 3 If someone is arrogant, do they think that they (a) never, or (b) always know better than everyone else? 4 Is an entity something that (a) has, or (b) doesn’t have internal unity? 5 If you behave in a brutal way, are you (a) very gentle, or (b) very violent? 6 Do people who always grumble never seem (a) happy, or (b) unhappy about anything? 7 If you brag about something, do you talk (a) in a proud way that annoys people, or (b) patiently because it is hard to understand? 8 Is the advent of something another way of talking about (a) the appearance, or (b) the disappearance of something? 9 If you refer to the magnitude of a problem, do you think that it might be (a) big, or (b) small? 10 If something happens in the wake of something else, does it (a) come before it, or (b) follow it? Language in use in such a way / fashion that … 1 Rewrite the sentences using in such a way / fashion that … 1 Because of the way this office is built, it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. This office is built in such a way that it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. 2 Due to the way in which the instructions were wri tten, I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. The instructions were written in such a fashion that I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. 3 Because of the way in which they welcomed me, I immediately felt at home in the new office. They welcomed me in such a way that I immediately felt at home in the new office. 4 Due to the way in which problems are dealt with, it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. The problems are dealt with in such a fashion that it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. 5 Because of the way in which I was taught English, I will probably never forget it. I was taught English in such a way that I will probably never forget it. word formation: in-, un-, dis- 2 Look at the sentences from the passage Work in corporate America and answer the question. What do the prefixes in-, un- and dis- have in common? They are all negative prefixes meaning not. 3 Replace the underlined words with the word in brackets and the appropriate prefix. You may need to make other changes. 1 I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be no good at his job. (competent) I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be incompetent at his job. 2 I don’t have the same opinion as you. I think he’s doing fine. (agre e) I disagree with you. I think he’s doing fine. 3 If you click here, you can cancel the last change you made to the document. (do) If you click here, you can undo the last change you made to the document. 4 How many people are without a job in this town? (employed) How many people are unemployed in this town? 5 I didn’t know that you had introduced all these new rules. (aware) I was unaware that you had introduced all these new rules. 6 Obviously, it wasn’t our intention not to obey the orders. (obey) Obvi ously, it wasn’t our intention to disobey the orders. Unit 4 Changing times 134 7 I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is not complete. (complete) I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is incomplete. 8 I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t have any bad feelings towards them. (like) I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t dislike them. 9 I’m afraid that software is not compatible with our system. (compatible) I’m afraid that software is incompatible with our system. for all + noun phrase 4 Rewrite the sentences using for all + noun phrase. 1 Although we are concerned about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. For all our concern about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. 2 He has a lot of knowledge about the world of finance, but he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. For all his knowledge about the world of finance, he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. 3 Although she said a lot of kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. For all her kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. 4 He has hundreds of bright ideas about developing new products, but he never seems able to put them down on paper. For all his bright ideas about developing new products, he never seems able to put them down on paper. 5 I do have a lot of doubts about this new software, but I recognize that it is quite innovative. For all my doubts about this new software, I recognize that it is quite innovative. as + adj. …as 5 Rewrite the sentences using as + adj. …as. 1 I am confused about how to apply for the job. Similarly, they are confused about who can apply. I am as confused about how to apply for the job as they are about who can apply. 2 My wife and I were worried about staying longer than we were supposed to. Similarly, our hosts were worried that we might not have enjoyed the meal. My wife and I were as worried about staying longer as our hosts were that we might not have enjoyed the meal. 3 Our generation knows little about cassette recorders and record players. Similarly our parents know little about iPods and MP3 players. Our generation knows as little about cassette recorders and record players as our parents know about iPods and MP3 players. 4 We are curious about what he does for a living. Similarly, he is curious about what our company does. We are as curious about what he does for a living as he is about what our company does. Changing times Unit 4 135 5 I have very little idea about how to shoe a horse. Similarly, he doesn’t have much idea about how to repair a motorbike. I have as little idea about how to shoe a horse as he has about how to repair a motorbike. collocations 6 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 margin This word usually means the space at the side of a page where you don’t write anything. (a) Do you have a habit of jotting notes in the margin when reading books? Yes, I do. But other people just take notes on a separate piece of paper because they don’t want to spoil the book. (b) If you win an election by a narrow margin, how big is the victory? The victory is not big; it is just a narrow or close victory. (c) What sort of problems are faced by people who live on the margins of society? They may face social and economic problems because they have fewer opportunities and may find it difficult to join the mainstream society. (d) If the margin of error in a calculation is very small, what are the chances that the calculation is wrong? The chances are small and any errors are likely to be very small. 2 ignorance This word usually means lack of knowledge or facts about something. (a) If an answer that you give betrays your ignorance, how do you feel? You feel embarrassed because your answer has shown people your ignorance and most people do not like to show this in public. (b) Do you think that ignorance of the law can ever be an excuse for breaking it? It’s a human excuse because it means that you didn’t know the law on that point, but it is not a legal excuse. (c) Do you know of any decisions that have been taken but which were based on ignorance? Yes. In the early days of the stock market in China, some people bought shares in the belief that all shares would make money quickly, but later they lost money when the shares lost value. They bought the shares in ignorance about how the market works and they had little idea of the risks. 3 sheer This word is usually used for emphasizing the amount or degree of something. (a) If somebody tells you that your company is sheer delight, how would you feel? I would feel complimented because that’s a nice thing to say to anyone. (b) If you were overcome by sheer weight of numbers, was it the quality or quantity of the opposition that defeated you? It would have been the quantity of the opposition, eg the large number of opponents. (c) Do you think it is easy to climb a sheer cliff face? Not at all, because that kind of cliff is nearly vertical and it is very difficult 11 Back at the office, the father orders the paper retyped and reproduced in quintuplicate, and then sent to another man for comparison with paper that was reproduced in triplicate last year. (Para 16) The word quintuplicate means that something is made into five copies. To quadruplicate means to make into four copies; triplicate three copies; and duplicate two copies. Dealing with unfamiliar words 4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 old, broken or useless things (junk) 2 relating to large companies, or a particular large company (corporate) 3 to not approve of someone or something (disapprove) 4 to form a picture of someone or something in your mind (visualize) 5 an agreement in which you risk an amount of money by saying what you think will happen (bet) 6 to find out something (ascertain) 7 the space at the left or right side of a page where words are not usually printed or written (margin) 8 to discuss something with other people in order to reach a decision (confer) 9 important, respected, and admired (eminent) 10 to twist your face into an expression that shows you are angry (scowl) 5 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. 1 It’s not easy to visualize what life was like in the age of the steam engine. 2 If you disapprove of these plans, you should let me know exactly what you find wrong with them. 3 Thomas’ room is full of junk like broken electrical equipment and old computer parts he doesn’t need. 4 My bet is that this type of job won’t give you much satisfaction. 5 We’re going to need some time to confer with our lawyers before we make a decision. 6 The margins of the pages in this document have all been written on. 7 We can’t accept your application, without ascertaining the authenticity of your qualifications. 8 It was a corporate decision to close the bank, not the choice of any individual. 9 She’s a very nice person, and a very eminent professor. 10 Why is he scowling at me? What have I done? 6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the following words. You may need to make other changes. 1 A curious child is often eager to inquire about the jobs their parents do. (inquisitive) An inquisitive child is often eager to inquire about the jobs their parents do. 2 Most people think the decision they took is impossible to understand. (incomprehensible) 3 Could you write down any ideas you have during the meeting on this piece of paper? (jot) 4 You are very careful about noticing details if you can remember exactly what the manager was wearing. (observant) 5 I’m afraid we don’t know the place where Helen is right now. (whereabouts) I’m afraid we don’t know the whereabouts of Helen. Changing times Unit 4 119 6 Do n’t be unhappy and lacking in enthusiasm. I’m sure one of the applications will be successful. (dispirited) 7 I’d like to buy an open top car, but they’re all so terribly expensive. (prohibitively) 7 Answer the questions about the expressions. 1 If you look blank about something, do you (a) understand, or (b) not understand it? 2 If you come to grips with a problem, do you (a) start to deal with it, or (b) stop thinking about it? 3 When something falls apart, is it (a) in the wrong place, or (b) broken? 4 When something wears out, does it (a) not look very nice, or (b) become old and unusable? 5 If you mull over a problem, do you (a) think carefully about it for a long time, or (b) quickly solve it? 6 Do people sometimes say “It beats me” because they (a) un derstand, or (b) don’t understand something? Active reading (2) Language points 1 There’s nothing new about our obsession with the new, says Dominic Sandbrook. (Introduction) Obsession is an emotional state in which someone or something is so important that you are always thinking about them, in a way that seems extreme to other people. 2 We live in a world of unprecedented, dazzling change. (Para 1) The word unprecedented means never having happened or existed before, eg an unprecedented situation, an unprecedented change. 3 Thanks to globalization, national frontiers are collapsing around us, while technological innovations are fundamentally reshaping our lives in ways we can barely comprehend. (Para 1) Because of the situation of globalization – that the whole world is developing a single complex economy, communication system and culture – it seems that there are no national borders and new technologies are influencing our lives in basic ways which we cannot really understand. 4 So run the clichés, anyway. (Para 2) A cliché refers to a phrase or idea that is boring because people use it a lot, and it is no longer original and sounds empty. The expression so run the clichés means these are the clichés you often hear. 5 But it is only our obsession with novelty, ignorance of deeper historical patterns and arrogant insistence on our own importance that leads us into this kind of talk. (Para 2) Historical patterns refer to major events in history which make patterns because they are related to each other or similar. Changing times Unit 4 125 6 Yet there is a good case that we do not, in fact, live in very interesting times at all. (Para 2) A case here is a set of facts or arguments that you can state for or against something. A case for something is positive support or a good case; a case against something is a counter-argument or reasons why the case is not valid; a poor case is weak and does not have solid facts or reasons behind it. You can state, make or argue a case. 7 Take the example of globalization, which, according to its American champion, Thomas Friedman ... influencing “the politics, environment, geopolitics and economics of virtually every country in the world”. (Para 3) The word champion here refers to someone who publicly supports or defends a set of beliefs or political aims, ie a strong supporter. Geopolitics means the study of how a country’s position, economy or population can influence its politics, especially in relation to other countries. 8 The Roman Empire, for example, is nothing if not a multi-ethnic, multicultural, transnational entity … (Para 4) The word transnational means affecting or involving several countries. The prefix trans- means across. 9 And for all the hype about the Internet, the brutal truth is that most of us use it to do remarkably old-fashioned things ... (Para 6) Hype refers to the use of a lot of advertisements or other publicity to influence or interest people. To hype up means to make something sound more interesting or impressive than it is. The brutal truth refers to the truth that is extremely honest, given in a way that seems unkind. 10 We are always being told that the Internet has “opened up” the world, yet a staggering 90 per cent of all web traffic is local. (Para 6) The word staggering means extremely surprising. Many people would think that much or most use, or traffic, of the World Wide Web would be global or international, but the writer says that, surprisingly, 90 per cent is local. 11 When Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey … talking to sentient computers and living on the Moon. (Para 7) Sentient computers are computers which are capable of feeling things through the physical senses. 12 But the cinema-goers of 1968 would have been deeply disappointed to realize that in fact they would be living in Milton Keynes and watching Midsomer Murders. (Para 7) This sentence presents a contrast with the previous sentence which gave a picture that people had in 1968 of possibly going into space. Instead, their future turned out to be living in a very ordinary town of many new streets which all seem identical (like Milton Keynes) and watching detective stories about rural villages on TV (like Midsomer Murders, a TV series based in rural southern England). 13 Even our neophilia is nothing new. (Para 8) The prefix neo- means modern or new. The suffix -phile describes someone who loves or likes something; thus an anglophile likes English things, a francophile likes French things, a sinophile likes Chinese things. The word neophilia means the love of new things or novelties. 14 If so, then we are lucky, because we don’t. (Para 10) We are lucky because we don’t live in interesting times, which means we should avoid the chaos and anxiety of interesting times. Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 an emotional state in which someone or something is so important to you that you are always thinking about them (obsession) 2 the study of the way that goods and services are produced and sold and the way money is managed (economics) 3 to proudly tell other people about what you have done or can do, or about something you own (boast) 4 a car (automobile) 5 an area or town near a large city but away from its centre, where there are many houses, especially for middle-class people (suburb) 6 a new idea, method, piece of equipment etc (innovation) 7 something that you suggest is true, although you do not say it directly (implication) 8 the limits of your experience (horizons) 6 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. 1 The middle-class dream used to be to live in a peaceful suburb and own a new automobile. 2 Today we have an obsession with healthy lifestyles and the latest technological innovations. 3 He has good reason to boast about the progress he has made in his career. 4 The implication is obvious: We are beginning to understand the impact of globalization. 5 Most of us need a professor of economics to explain how our horizons have been pushed back by the opening up of new world markets. 7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. You may need to make other changes. Teaching tips Ss need to realize that some adjectives, eg unprecedented and plausible, that you are going to insert should go before the nouns. 1 The water has risen to levels which we have never seen before. (unprecedented) The water has risen to unprecedented levels. 2 Can you give me any reason which I can believe to explain what has happened? (plausible) Can you give me any plausible reason to explain what has happened? 3 I think that the decision was based on the fact that he doesn’t know anything. (ignorance) I think that the decision was based on his ignorance. 4 The news you’ve just given me is absolutely incredible. (staggering) 5 I hope this crisis will be followed by a period in which there is no change. (stability) 6 Are computers the best thing that ever happened to us, or a piece of bad luck caused by someone who wants to hurt us? (curse) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. Teaching tips To go over the answers, T gives ten Ss a number, each between one and ten. T calls “One”, then S1 reads Question 1 to the class. He / She should choose the correct answer and make it a complete sentence. T calls “Two” and S2 reads Question 2 etc.T doesn’t need to say anything unless a student gives a wrong answer. In that case, T should ask other Ss to help them. Changing times Unit 4 129 1 If a change is dazzling, is it (a) very impressive, or (b) not impressive at all? 2 If you use clichés in your writing, does your writing (a) contain some boring words or ideas that people have used a lot, or (b) contain lots of fresh thoughts? 3 If someone is arrogant, do they think that they (a) never, or (b) always know better than everyone else? 4 Is an entity something that (a) has, or (b) doesn’t have internal unity? 5 If you behave in a brutal way, are you (a) very gentle, or (b) very violent? 6 Do people who always grumble never seem (a) happy, or (b) unhappy about anything? 7 If you brag about something, do you talk (a) in a proud way that annoys people, or (b) patiently because it is hard to understand? 8 Is the advent of something another way of talking about (a) the appearance, or (b) the disappearance of something? 9 If you refer to the magnitude of a problem, do you think that it might be (a) big, or (b) small? 10 If something happens in the wake of something else, does it (a) come before it, or (b) follow it? Language in use in such a way / fashion that … 1 Rewrite the sentences using in such a way / fashion that … 1 Because of the way this office is built, it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. This office is built in such a way that it is difficult to avoid wasting energy on heating. 2 Due to the way in which the instructions were wri tten, I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. The instructions were written in such a fashion that I couldn’t understand how to assemble the product. 3 Because of the way in which they welcomed me, I immediately felt at home in the new office. They welcomed me in such a way that I immediately felt at home in the new office. 4 Due to the way in which problems are dealt with, it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. The problems are dealt with in such a fashion that it is unlikely that the top managers ever get to know about them. 5 Because of the way in which I was taught English, I will probably never forget it. I was taught English in such a way that I will probably never forget it. word formation: in-, un-, dis- 2 Look at the sentences from the passage Work in corporate America and answer the question. What do the prefixes in-, un- and dis- have in common? They are all negative prefixes meaning not. 3 Replace the underlined words with the word in brackets and the appropriate prefix. You may need to make other changes. 1 I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be no good at his job. (competent) I’m afraid Matthew has turned out to be incompetent at his job. 2 I don’t have the same opinion as you. I think he’s doing fine. (agre e) I disagree with you. I think he’s doing fine. 3 If you click here, you can cancel the last change you made to the document. (do) If you click here, you can undo the last change you made to the document. 4 How many people are without a job in this town? (employed) How many people are unemployed in this town? 5 I didn’t know that you had introduced all these new rules. (aware) I was unaware that you had introduced all these new rules. 6 Obviously, it wasn’t our intention not to obey the orders. (obey) Obvi ously, it wasn’t our intention to disobey the orders. Unit 4 Changing times 134 7 I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is not complete. (complete) I’ve had a look at the report and I think it is incomplete. 8 I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t have any bad feelings towards them. (like) I don’t know my colleagues very well, but I don’t dislike them. 9 I’m afraid that software is not compatible with our system. (compatible) I’m afraid that software is incompatible with our system. for all + noun phrase 4 Rewrite the sentences using for all + noun phrase. 1 Although we are concerned about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. For all our concern about the environment, there is little that we can do to protect it. 2 He has a lot of knowledge about the world of finance, but he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. For all his knowledge about the world of finance, he doesn’t seem to know how to invest money wisely. 3 Although she said a lot of kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. For all her kind words, I don’t think she really appreciated just how much time we had spent on this project. 4 He has hundreds of bright ideas about developing new products, but he never seems able to put them down on paper. For all his bright ideas about developing new products, he never seems able to put them down on paper. 5 I do have a lot of doubts about this new software, but I recognize that it is quite innovative. For all my doubts about this new software, I recognize that it is quite innovative. as + adj. …as 5 Rewrite the sentences using as + adj. …as. 1 I am confused about how to apply for the job. Similarly, they are confused about who can apply. I am as confused about how to apply for the job as they are about who can apply. 2 My wife and I were worried about staying longer than we were supposed to. Similarly, our hosts were worried that we might not have enjoyed the meal. My wife and I were as worried about staying longer as our hosts were that we might not have enjoyed the meal. 3 Our generation knows little about cassette recorders and record players. Similarly our parents know little about iPods and MP3 players. Our generation knows as little about cassette recorders and record players as our parents know about iPods and MP3 players. 4 We are curious about what he does for a living. Similarly, he is curious about what our company does. We are as curious about what he does for a living as he is about what our company does. Changing times Unit 4 135 5 I have very little idea about how to shoe a horse. Similarly, he doesn’t have much idea about how to repair a motorbike. I have as little idea about how to shoe a horse as he has about how to repair a motorbike. collocations 6 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 margin This word usually means the space at the side of a page where you don’t write anything. (a) Do you have a habit of jotting notes in the margin when reading books? Yes, I do. But other people just take notes on a separate piece of paper because they don’t want to spoil the book. (b) If you win an election by a narrow margin, how big is the victory? The victory is not big; it is just a narrow or close victory. (c) What sort of problems are faced by people who live on the margins of society? They may face social and economic problems because they have fewer opportunities and may find it difficult to join the mainstream society. (d) If the margin of error in a calculation is very small, what are the chances that the calculation is wrong? The chances are small and any errors are likely to be very small. 2 ignorance This word usually means lack of knowledge or facts about something. (a) If an answer that you give betrays your ignorance, how do you feel? You feel embarrassed because your answer has shown people your ignorance and most people do not like to show this in public. (b) Do you think that ignorance of the law can ever be an excuse for breaking it? It’s a human excuse because it means that you didn’t know the law on that point, but it is not a legal excuse. (c) Do you know of any decisions that have been taken but which were based on ignorance? Yes. In the early days of the stock market in China, some people bought shares in the belief that all shares would make money quickly, but later they lost money when the shares lost value. They bought the shares in ignorance about how the market works and they had little idea of the risks. 3 sheer This word is usually used for emphasizing the amount or degree of something. (a) If somebody tells you that your company is sheer delight, how would you feel? I would feel complimented because that’s a nice thing to say to anyone. (b) If you were overcome by sheer weight of numbers, was it the quality or quantity of the opposition that defeated you? It would have been the quantity of the opposition, eg the large number of opponents. (c) Do you think it is easy to climb a sheer cliff face? Not at all, because that kind of cliff is nearly vertical and it is very difficult to climb without training. Unit 4 Changing times 136 7 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese. 1 Even grown men who do market research have trouble visualizing what a public relations man does with his day, and it is a safe bet that the average systems analyst is as baffled about what a space salesman does at the shop as the average space salesman is about the tools needed to analyze a system. 即使是那些从事市场研究工作的成年人也难很想象公关部的人每天都在做些什么。一名普通的系统 分析师肯定不知道空间推销员在店里都干些什么,就好像空间推销员对分析系统的工具也一窍不通 一样。 2 So run the clichés, anyway. But it is only our obsession with novelty, ignorance of deeper historical patterns and arrogant insistence on our own importance that leads us into this kind of talk. Hoping to prove our superiority over the generations that preceded us, we boast that we live in a period of unprecedented change. Yet there is a good case that we do not, in fact, live in very interesting times at all. 不管怎么说,这就是那耳熟能详的套话。可是,让我们有这种论调的正是缘自我们对新奇事物的过 度迷恋,对深层次历史模式的无知,以及我们的狂妄自大。为了证明相比于先辈们的优越性,我们 夸耀说自己生活在一个前所未有的变革期。但是,有一个很好的例子可以用来证明,实际上我们并 没有生活在多么有趣的时代。 8 Translate the paragraphs into English. 1 我们根本就看不懂他们的计划书,因为他们的观点不太容易把握。这很可能是因为我们双方对于 另一方的思维方式都感到同样的困惑。我认为应该安排一次面谈,让大家消除误会,扫除沟通的 障碍。(make of; come to grips with; it’s a safe bet that; as baffled … as) We couldn’t make of their proposal at all, because it was no easy job for us to come to grips with their perspective. It was a safe bet that we were as much baffled about their way of thinking as they were about ours. I think we need to arrange a meeting to clear up misunderstandings and to remove communication barriers. 2 从与他共事二十多年的一位同事所写的传记中不难得出这样的结论:他所代表的绝对是该国二战之 后的精英阶层,他们在宗教和政治方面的观念较为保守。(nothing if not; in the wake of; in terms of) From a biography written by one of his former colleagues who had worked with him for more than two decades, it is not difficult to conclude that what he represented was nothing if not the elite class of the country in the wake of World War II, who were rather conservative in terms of religious and political views. Unit5 Active reading (1) Language points 1 It was snowing heavily … not just to track down the last-minute presents, but to escape the bitter cold … (Para 1) To track down means to find something or someone after a long search. At Christmas many people give a lot of thought to find the right gift and buy presents well in advance, others wait and buy something at the last opportunity on Dec 24th to buy the last-minute presents. A place in society Unit 5 157 2 He was not yet enjoying the Christmas spirit ... albeit a working dinner at Joanne’s. (Para 2) The word albeit is used for introducing a comment that slightly changes or reduces the effect of a previous remark, like even if it is / although … 3 He was from a hard-working family in upstate Virginia … (Para 2) The word upstate means the place is in the northern part of a particular state in the US. 4 But his demeanor concealed a Harvard law degree and an internship in DC with a congressman, a junior partnership in a New York law firm, along with a razor-sharp intellect and an ability to think on his feet. (Para 2) Partnership refers to the position of being one of two or more people who own a company as partners. A junior partner is a newer or younger partner who has less responsibility or fewer shares than a senior partner. A razor-sharp intellect is a very intelligent mind, which is quick to think and react; it is as sharp as a razor. The ability to think on one’s feet means being able to think quickly in unexpected situations. 5 Senator Rogers was a Democrat … who knew Capitol Hill inside out but who had nevertheless managed to keep her credibility with her voters as a Washington outsider. (Para 3) To know something inside out means to know something very well. A Washington outsider refers to someone who is outside the central groups or members of political circles in Washington and is therefore possibly independent. Senator Rogers was in her third term of office (ie she had been a senator for at least eight years) and she knew the Senate and the government institutions in Washington thoroughly. Still, she had kept an image with voters that she was an outsider (ie she had not been affected negatively by knowing Washington too well or by becoming too much like other politicians). 6 She was pro-abortion, anti-corruption, pro-low carbon emissions and anti-capital punishment, as fine a progressive liberal as you could find this side of the Atlantic. (Para 3) The prefix pro- means in favour of something or someone. The prefix anti- means against. Pro-abortion, anti-corruption, pro-low carbon emissions and anti-capital punishment, all of these examples have been seen as important political issues in the US, which are debated in political campaigns and therefore politicians are generally expected to take a position on them. For example, Senator Rogers was in favour of reducing carbon emissions – the output of CO2 into the atmosphere, because she was aware of the negative effect of high emissions on climate change. A progressive liberal is someone who believes in social or political change if most people want it, especially change that makes a system fairer. The expression this side of the Atlantic refers to North America. The other side of the Atlantic would be in Europe, and vice versa for speakers in Europe. 7 It was election time in the following year, and the word was she was going to run for the Democratic nomination. (Para 3) The expression the word was means there was some talk that …, or people were saying that … Unit 5 A place in society 158 The Democratic nomination here refers to the official approval of a candidate for the president by the Democratic party. The nomination takes place officially during the Democratic convention before a presidential election campaign. Up to that point, there are candidates who run or compete for the nomination, later the Presidential candidates run for President. There are parallel processes in the Republican party. 8 He’d never been to Joanne’s … wh ich had often been maligned, or its jazz orchestra, which had a guest slot for a well-known movie director who played trumpet, but because of the stellar quality of its sophisticated guests: politicians, diplomats, movie actors, hall-of-fame athletes, journalists, writers, rock stars and Nobel Prize winners – in short, anyone who was anyone in this city of power brokers. (Para 4) To malign means to say unpleasant things about something or someone, usually unfairly. A guest slot refers to a guest appearance as a particular occasion in a series of performances or programmes. The expression anyone who is anyone means any really important person or someone with a well-known name. Power brokers are the people who control or influence which people get political power in an area. The sentence means he knew the reputation of the restaurant for its famous guests; its reputation was not for its food or live music (which included a jazz orchestra in which a famous film director sometimes played). The guests included politicians, diplomats, actors, journalists, writers, musicians and scientists – anyone who is well-known in Washington, a city in which many people are powerful or influential in the government. 9 Inside, the restaurant was heaving with people. (Para 5) The expression heaving with people means crowds of people are pushing and pulling, moving up and down. 10 “Good evening Miss Bacall, good evening Mr Hanks,” and clicked his fingers to summon another waiter to show them to their table. (Para 8) Miss Bacall and Mr Hanks may be oblique references to film stars Lauren Bacall and Tom Hanks. To click one’s fingers means to make a noise with one’s fingers as a signal to summon or call someone. 11 The head waiter blinked, and swallowed hard. (Para 22) To blink means to close and open one’s eyes quickly. Here, this shows surprise. To swallow hard means to make a movement in the throat as if swallowing food. Here this shows embarrassment – Alberto realized he has made a mistake. 12 In a classless society, Rogers was the closest thing to aristocracy that America had. (Para 23) America has a reputation for being classless, ie it doesn’t have such social classes as European countries are supposed to have. This means that there are no people like aristocrats, but Senator Rogers was so distinguished that she seemed like an aristocrat, or very nearly an aristocrat. 13 Alberto hovered for a moment, then went to speak to a colleague. (Para 23) To hover means to wait or stay for a moment while somebody decides what to do. This shows that he or she is unsure for the moment. A place in society Unit 5 159 Reading and understanding 2 Answer the questions. 1 Where and when is the story set? The story is set in Joanne’s, a famous restaurant in New York on Christmas Eve. 2 Who is Josh? Josh is a smart, hard-working lawyer in his early thirties. He is an African-American. 3 Why does he go to Joanne’s? He has an appointment at Joanne’s. 4 Who is Jo Rogers? Jo Rogers is a senior Senator in Washington and a well-known person in America. 5 How does the head waiter greet Josh? He greets Josh very badly. He has a disdainful, superior attitude towards Josh and behaves rudely. 6 Where does he eventually seat him? At the back of the restaurant, close to the bathroom, near a half-opened window through which an icy breeze is blowing. 7 What does everyone do when Jo arrives? Everybody becomes silent and turns to look at her and greets her with silent applause. 8 What suggestion does the head waiter make? He suggests that they should sit at a better table in the middle of the restaurant, from which she can see everybody, or everybody can see her. 9 Does Jo accept the invitation? No, she says the waiter brought her friend to that table, so they will stay there. 3 Choose the best summary of the passage. Teaching tips Ask Ss to give reasons why the other two summaries are not the best ones. Please see comments below. 1 It’s Christmas time, and a young man comes into a very busy restaurant. The head waiter shows him to a table by an open window. A little later a well-known politician comes in and says she is dining with the young man. The head waiter suggests moving them both to a more comfortable table, but the politician declines the offer, saying that she’s happy to stay there if her friend is happy there too. Comment: It summarizes some of the points. But the final sentence is wrong: The Senator doesn’t give any conditions about staying at the table, she just says they will stay where the waiter seated her friend. 2 A well-known politician arranges a meeting with a young man. She wants him to help her in her election campaign to become US President. They arrange to meet in a crowded restaurant, where they can speak informally. The waiter doesn’t recognize the young man, and seats him at the worst table in the room, but when the politician arrives he realizes his mistake, as he knows the two need to be comfortable to discuss politics. Comment: This is partially wrong and fails to capture the main idea, they arrange to meet at Joanne’s because it is a famous restaurant. Unit 5 A place in society 160 3 When a young black man arrives in a crowded and expensive restaurant, the head waiter makes him sit in the least comfortable place, even though a table has been booked for him and a “Ms Rogers”. When Ms Rogers arrives, the waiter realizes that she is a well-known politician; and Ms Rogers realizes that her friend has been treated badly because of the colour of his skin. The waiter realizes his mistake too, and tries to make up for it, but it is too late. Comments: This is the best summary because it captures the main point about the treatment of Josh. The passage does not actually state that he was treated badly because of the colour of his skin, but it is implied and in the context it is likely to be the point of the story. Dealing with unfamiliar words 4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. Teaching tips ? To vary the way of doing the activity, ask Ss to work in pairs. Student A randomly picks a word in the box and asks Student B about the meaning. Student B listens and finds the appropriate answer among the definitions. The point is that Ss should interact with each other. For example: A: Can you tell me the meaning of “sophisticated”? B: Yes, just a moment … it means knowing and understanding a lot about a complicated subject. That’s No 3. A: OK, thanks. (writes 3 beside the word) ? In order to give the class an example, T may ask one pair to repeat the dialogue to the class. They should try to speak fluently. 1 money or goods that you give to an organization, especially one that helps people (donation) 2 involving or done with a lot of energy, effort, attention etc (intense) 3 knowing and understanding a lot about a complicated subject (sophisticated) 4 supporting social and political change that aims to make a system fairer (progressive) 5 capable of doing something in a satisfactory or effective way (competent) 6 a new member of a company or an organization, especially someone who has recently joined (recruit) 7 to deliberately make someone feel frightened, especially so that they will do what you want (intimidate) 8 to experience or deal with something, especially a problem (encounter) 5 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. There are two big political parties in the United States: the Republican party, which is traditionally the more conservative of the two, and the Democratic party, which is said to be more (1) progressive. One of the most interesting and (2) intense moments in American political life is the election campaign which comes before the presidential elections. Both parties need a lot of money to pay for the campaign, for which they rely on (3) donations made by individuals and organizations. They also need a lot of new (4) recruits to work on the campaign. These people are usually young, intelligent and hard-working, (5) competent in their jobs and not easily (6) intimidated, since they are likely to (7) encounter a lot of problems which have to be resolved quickly. But they also need to be highly (8) sophisticated, to be able to understand what the American people want, and to communicate with them through the style and organization of the election campaign. A place in society Unit 5 161 Additional activity When Ss have completed Activity 5, ask them to work in pairs and prepare a brief presentation for Cultural Encounters, a slot in a Chinese TV show which gives insights into other cultures around the world. Each pair should discuss and think of an interesting way to present the information in Activity 5, eg to make it an interview, a conversation, or a monologue to the camera. Ss will need to introduce the information and make conclusions using their own words. Choose one or two pairs to make presentations. For example: A: And now it’s time for Cultural Encounters, a brief look at cultures around the world. Today we share some insights into election campaigns in the US … I am with Miss Xie who is from Washington DC, the city at the heart of American politics. So, Miss Xie, can you tell us about the two main political parties? B: Yes. There are two big political parties ... A: And what about the election campaigns? B: The election campaigns are certainly one of the most interesting and intense moments in American political life ... A: And I gather the parties use volunteer recruits? ... A: Well, that’s all for now. Thank you very much, Miss Xie. Please join us again next time for Cultural Encounters when we will be taking a look at the Brazilian carnival in Rio de Janeiro … 6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. You may need to make other changes. 1 She’s a pleasant young woman, who is always very good company. (agreeable) She’s an agreeable young woman, who is always very good company. 2 I’m afraid the reasons he gave me for not coming to the meeting were silly and unreasonabe. (laughable) 3 It is important to fight dishonest and illegal behaviour by officials. (corruption) 4 It’s freezing out here, I’m shaking with cold. (shivering) 5 You might find someone to help you in the office, but I’m not sure. (doubtful) 6 The attendant moved his shoulders up to suggest that he didn’t know the answer. (shrugged) 7 Don’t be so annoyed because the service is slow, you won’t miss your flight. (impatient) 8 The sound of people clapping at the end of the Senator’s speech lasted for five minutes. (applause) 7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. Teaching tips As an efficient way to go over the answer, choose nine Ss and assign each one a number. Each student then gives the answer in the form of a complete sentence. T just calls out the numbers and say nothing unless there is a problem. 1 If you track down something, do you (a) find it, or (b) lose it after a long search? 2 Does someone who thinks on their feet make decisions (a) quickly, or (b) slowly? 3 If you know something inside out, do you know it (a) only in part, or (b) very well? 4 If you are in the running for a job, do you have (a) some chance, or (b) no chance of being chosen? 5 Is a hall-of-fame athlete someone who will be (a) quickly forgotten, or (b) remembered for a long time? 6 If the market is heaving with people, (a) is there a crowd of people there, or (b) are there not many people there? Unit 5 A place in society 162 7 If you summon someone, do you want them to (a) come to see you immediately, or (b) go away? 8 If you refrain from doing something, do you (a) do it, or (b) not do it? 9 If there is a flurry of activity, do a lot of things happen (a) all at once, or (b) over a long period of time? Active reading (2) Language points 1 The company sent one of their engineers … where he was introduced to a small Saudi engineering firm … (Para 1) The word Saudi is the adjective about the country of Saudi Arabia, used to describe the people and related matters, but not the language. Its language is Arabic, spoken as the major language in the Middle East and North Africa. 2 This annoyed Johannesson and his superiors … but the Saudis wanted the intermediary to be there. (Para 1) An intermediary is a go-between (Para 4, Line 6), someone who talks to each of the people or groups involved in business or other matters, usually passing information from one to the other or trying to persuade them to agree with each other. So this person mediates between them. 3 Just when Johanne sson’s superiors started to doubt the wisdom of the corporation’s investment in these expensive trips, a telex arrived from Riyadh ... (Para 2) To doubt the wisdom means people are not at all sure about the judgment or decision. 4 When he came to Riyadh it appeared that the conflict was over a minor issue and could easily be resolved … (Para 3) A conflict could be resolved. Apart from resolving a conflict, other collocations worth noting are that conflicts can be solved, settled or handled. Problems can lead to, create or provoke conflicts or become a source of conflict, and conflicts might be avoided, averted or prevented. Unit 5 A place in society 168 5 This is known in cultural anthropology as the extended family. (Para 5) The extended family is usually the wider family members of a married couple and children, with grandparents and perhaps uncles, aunts and in-laws who live together or are in regular contact. The nuclear family (Para 6, Line 9) is a married couple and their children only, in the classical definition in sociology. 6 The “we” group is distinct from other people in society who belong to “they” groups, of which there are many. The “we” group (or in-group) is the major source of one’s identity … (Para 5) The in-group is the “we” group to which people feel they belong to first for their identity. The complementary group is the out-group or the “they” group to which the in-group may sometimes be opposed, or at other times the in-group is just a tighter group within many larger out-groups. Reading and understanding 3 Choose the best answer to the questions. 1 Who was Johannesson? (a) A businessman with good contacts in Saudi Arabia. (b) An engineer who lived in Saudi Arabia. (c) An engineer working for a Swedish company. (d) A 30-year-old Swede with a British university degree. 2 Why was he sent to Saudi Arabia? (a) To work for a Saudi engineering firm. (b) To work on a project funded by the Saudi government. (c) To take the place of a Swedish engineer who was already there. (d) To learn about Saudi customs and traditions. 3 Why wasn’t he happy about the meetings with the Saudis? (a) The Saudis spent too much time laughing and joking. (b) The trips to Saudi Arabia were long and tiring. (c) The Saudi brothers didn’t speak good English. (d) Another Swedish man was always present. 4 What happened after the contract was signed? (a) Johannesson lost his job with the Swedish corporation. (b) The Swedish businessman returned to Sweden. (c) The attitude of the Saudis towards Johannesson changed. (d) The Swedish corporation stopped doing business in Saudi Arabia. 5 Why was Johannesson sent to work in a different division? (a) As a reward for getting the contract with the Saudis. (b) Because he wasn’t suited to work with the Saudis. (c) Because he had become too friendly with the Saudis. (d) Because he had got too frustrated by the experience in Saudi Arabia. 6 Why was he asked to return to Saudi Arabia? (a) The corporation wanted him to start a new project. (b) There was a lot of new work to do so two people were needed. (c) The engineer who replaced Johannesson fell ill and had to go home. (d) The Saudis trusted only Johannesson to sort out a small problem. A place in society Unit 5 169 4 Work in pairs and answer the questions. 1 Why don’t Saudis like doing busin ess with a company? They want to work with an individual that they know and trust. 2 Which type of group is a company: a “we” group or a “they” group? A company is a “they” group unless it is a small company. 3 What type of family is there in a collectivist society? Families in collectivist societies are usually “extended”, ie they consist of a larger number of people living closely together. 4 How does an in-group give people protection from the hardships of life? By being a focus of loyalty and through the help that members give to each other. 5 In what type of society is there nuclear family? In individualist societies. 6 Why aren’t people supposed to be dependent on a group in an individualist society? They are supposed to be able to stand on their own feet. Dealing with unfamiliar words 5 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 support that you always give to someone or something because of your feelings of duty and love towards them (loyalty) 2 to give someone the ability or opportunity to do something (enable) 3 a company that sells the same goods or services as another company (competitor) 4 a written legal agreement between two people or businesses that says what each must do for the other or give to the other (contract) 5 the control and operation of a business or organization (management) 6 money used in a way that may earn you more money (investment) 6 Complete the conversation with the correct form of the words in Activity 5. A Does your company do a lot of business abroad? B Yes, it d oes. We’ve recently signed a number of (1) contracts in the Middle East. A So you’re making a major (2) investment in that area? B Yes, we are. We also have a lot of (3) competitors in our line of business, so it won’t be easy. A Have you ever thought of working for one of them? B Not really, I’ve got a certain amount of (4) loyalty to my own company. I think that I’ve been treated rather well by the (5) management. And if things go well, the new project I’m working on should (6) enable me to get promotion quite quickly. Additional activity Acting on the radio When Ss have completed the activity, tell them it is time to perform as radio broadcasters. Ask them to read the whole conversation in pairs with as much fluency as they can, like reading a radio script. Later, Unit 5 A place in society 170 after Ss have practised for a short time, ask one pair to perform to the class. T has to introduce their performance as an extract from a radio script. Finally, ask the class for any comments: Did it sound like a radio broadcast? How could the actors improve their reading? 7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box. You may need to make other changes. 1 These 2,000 words form the most basic part of the English language. (core) 2 Some British people think belonging to the European Union is vital to the UK’s national interests. (membership) Some British people think membership of the European Union is vital to the UK’s national interests. 3 The process of sending the books may take up to two weeks. (delivery) The delivery of the books may take up to two weeks. 4 They said they would cancel the contract if they weren’t paid by next Thursday. (threatened) They threatened to cancel the contract if they weren’t paid by next Th ursday. 5 Can’t you see the positive side? You always spend time talking about the bad things. (dwell on) 6 Your inner strength will enable you to overcome life’s obstacles. (prevail over) Additional activity Vocabulary challenge This activity aims to encourage Ss to use the words in Activity 5 and Activity 7 productively. Ask Ss to work in pairs and think about the words in the box. Ask them to make one sentence that includes all the words in the box. After a brief period of time, ask a few pairs to tell the class their examples. The class listen to each example carefully and check whether all the six words are used. Finally, the class decide which is the best sentence and might be said in the appropriate context – this means Ss have to imagine a possible context. And ask some Ss to repeat the best sentence. Example 1 (Activity 5): Several competitors all wanted the contract, but the management felt particular loyalty to just one investment company so they enabled that company to win the contract. Example 2 (Activity 5): Personally, I don’t think you should enable your friend to make an investment just because of loyalty to a company with bad management; rather she should make the investment with a competitor and have a proper contract. Example 3 (Activity 7): I really don’t wish to dwell on the way the manager threatened to change the delivery date of the core materials, because your arguments about membership of the trade organization prevailed over what he was suggesting. Example 4 (Activity 7): We prevailed over our competitors who belong to the core membership of the European Union when they threatened to dwell on endless discussion about the delivery of new services. 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 Does an intermediary try to get two people or groups to (a) agree, or (b) disagree with each other? A place in society Unit 5 171 2 Is your successor in a job the person who comes (a) after, or (b) before you? 3 If you have been nominated for a job, have you been (a) formally, or (b) only informally appointed? 4 Is a go-between someone who (a) takes messages between two people, or (b) prevents them from communicating? 5 Is an individualist someone who (a) is, or (b) isn’t dependent on other people? 6 If you can stand on your own feet, can you (a) look after yourself, or (b) see further than most people? 7 Does parental advice come from (a) the government, or (b) your mother and / or father? Reading and interpreting 9 Choose the best way to complete the sentences. 1 The story in the passage is an example of (b) . (a) a clash between two people with very different personalities (b) the difference between an “individualist” and a “collectivist” approach to business (c) the problem which occurs when people do business in a foreign language (d) a failure to do business 2 The fact that most people in the world live in collectivist societies means (c) . (a) people don’t like to be alone (b) people need a lot of help to bring up their children (c) putting the needs of a group first helps protect the individual (d) people are taught not to stand on their own feet 3 An “in-group”, or “we” group is (c) . (a) people who work for the same company (b) other people of your own age in society (c) the group which gives you your identity (d) a group you choose to belong to 4 Children in collectivist societies (b) . (a) grow up in small families (b) are likely to be very loyal to their family (c) prefer having a lot of people to help look after them (d) are controlled by their family 5 Children in individualist societies (b) . (a) are unlikely to have many playmates (b) are likely to leave home when they become adults (c) find it difficult to have relationships with other people (d) think of themselves as members of a group Language in use word formation: pro- and anti- 1 Look at the sentence from the passage Dinner at Joanne’s and answer the questions. She was pro-abortion, anti-corruption, pro-low carbon emissions and anti-capital punishment, as fine a progressive liberal as you could find this side of the Atlantic. 1 If she was pro-abortion, was she in favour of or against the possibility of having an abortion? She was in favour of the possibility of having an abortion. 2 If she was anti-capital punishment, was she in favour of or against the death penalty? She was against the death penalty. 3 How are the words formed? These words are formed using the prefixes pro- and anti-. 4 What information do they give about people’s characters? They indicate a person’s political ideas. Unit 5 A place in society 174 Now form new words to describe someone who is: Teaching tips Ss need to be reminded that the suffix -ist which is used to describe a person is necessary in forming these new words. For example, anti-racist describes a person, anti-racism the idea or belief. T should check that Ss understand the meanings of the new words. Teaching steps Choose two Ss. For each item, Student A reads the answer to the class, and Student B explains the meaning of the new word. Please see examples given below. (a) against racism An anti-racist: a person who is against racism, ie against the belief that people of their own race are better than those of other races, and against the unfair and violent treatment to people from other races. (b) in favour of devolution A pro-devolutionist: a person who is in favour of devolution of power, finance, decision-making on education, health etc to regional or local administrative bodies, rather than keeping such power and control centrally with the government. (c) against intervention An anti-interventionist: a person who is against intervention by the central government in business, education, health etc especially for regional or local matters. (d) against protecting the environment An anti-environmentalist: a person who is against environmentalism, ie who is against those who think we need special action to protect the environment. (e) in favour of a market economy A pro-market economist: a person who is in favour of letting market forces have their own process with minimal government intervention or control. (f) in favour of the government A pro-governmentalist: a person who is in favour of the government policies and actions. not just to …but to … 2 Rewrite the sentences using not just to …but to … 1 I needed to see him for two reasons. I wanted to tell him about the new contract, and I also wanted to check whether he was still interested in working with us. I needed to see him not just to tell him about the new contract, but to check whether he was still interested in working with us. 2 People w ent to Joanne’s for two reasons. They went because they were curious to see who their fellow diners were, but also to be seen themselves. People went to Joanne’s not just to see who their fellow diners were, but to be seen themselves. A place in society Unit 5 175 3 Matthew decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for two reasons. Firstly, it was a personal challenge, and secondly, he wanted to raise money for a children’s charity. Matthew decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro not just to face this personal challenge, but to raise money for a children’s charity. 4 I agreed to go to Egypt for two reasons. I wanted to see an old friend, and I also needed a break from the northern winter. I agreed to go to Egypt not just to see an old friend, but to take a needed break from the northern winter. 5 Florence left home for two reasons. She couldn’t find a job in the area where she lived, and she was beginning to find family life oppressive. Florence left home not just to find a job in this area, but to escape from her family life which she found oppressive. prep. + which / whom 3 Complete the sentences with an appropriate prep. + which / whom. 1 It’s not always easy to identify the group to which someone belongs. 2 The global community, of which we are all part, is changing very rapidly. 3 The friends with whom I grew up all left home years ago. 4 The standards by which we are judged today seem to have little to do with traditional values. 5 The society in which I grew up was rather different in those days. 6 My parents, to whom I owe so much, came from a very poor background. unpacking complex sentences 4 Look at the sentences from the passage Dinner at Joanne’s and answer the questions. Teaching tips When Ss have finished the activity, choose one or two pairs to go over the answers in the form of a dialogue: Student A reads the questions, and Student B gives the answers. 1 Did Joanne’s have a reputation for good food? No, in fact, the food was often maligned. 2 How did Josh know it? He knew it by reputation, ie he had heard or read good comments about it. 3 What was special for its orchestra? The orchestra had a guest slot for a well-known movie director who played trumpet. 4 Who were the sort of guests it had a reputation for? They were celebrities, eg politicians, diplomats, movie actors, hall-of-fame athletes, journalists, writers, rock stars, Nobel Prize winners etc. 5 Who does anyone who was anyone refer to? It refers to anyone who is famous or who has star quality. Unit 5 A place in society 176 collocations 5 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions. 1 intense When a feeling or action is intense, it is usually very strong or extreme, or it exists in large amounts. (a) If the pain is intense, what do you feel like doing? You feel like screaming or crying with pain. (b) What sort of work requires intense concentration? Difficult or hard work on which you need to focus all your attention. (c) What kind of weather is intense heat? Very hot and dry weather. 2 delivery This word usually means carrying goods somewhere and giving them to someone who is waiting to receive them. (a) How many of the online bookstores offer free delivery? A few offer free delivery. (b) What do you do if you are asked for cash on delivery? You pay when what you have ordered is delivered. (c) If a mother has had an easy delivery, what has she just brought into the world? A baby; she has just given birth in a comfortable manner. 3 core This word usually means the centre of something, or the most important and necessary part of something. (a) What do you do with the apple core when you’ve finished eating? You throw it away because it is not the part to eat, but it has the most important part for the apple tree – the pips or apple seeds. (b) How many words do you think should be included in a core vocabulary of English? A limited number of basic and frequent words. (c) How devoted are a hard core of fans who stay up all night to greet their heroes? They are very devoted and loyal. 6 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese. 1 Josh shivered as he che cked the address on the slip of paper in his hand. He’d never been to Joanne’s, but knew it by reputation, not because of its food, which had often been maligned, or its jazz orchestra, which had a guest slot for a well-known movie director who played trumpet, but because of the stellar quality of its sophisticated guests: politicians, diplomats, movie actors, hall-of-fame athletes, journalists, writers, rock stars and Nobel Prize winners – in short, anyone who was anyone in this city of power brokers. 乔希打了个冷战,他打开手里的纸条核对了一下地址。之前他没来过乔安妮餐厅,但对于它的鼎鼎 大名却早有耳闻,倒不是因为这里的饭菜有多美味,其实这里的菜品屡遭恶评,也不是因为这里的 爵士管弦乐队有一位知名电影导演客串吹小号,而是因为这里汇集了有头有脸的宾客,可以说是星 光璀璨,他们中有政客、外交家、电影明星、载入名人堂的体育明星、记者、作家、摇滚明星、诺 贝尔奖得主等等——总之,这里的每一位客人都是这座权力之城里的一个人物。 A place in society Unit 5 177 2 The Swedes and the Saudis in this true story have different concepts of the role of personal relationships in business. For the Swedes, business is done with a company; for the Saudis, with a person whom one has learned to know and trust. As long as one does not know another person well enough it is convenient to have present an intermediary or go-between, someone who knows and is trusted by both parties. At the root of the difference between these cultures is a fundamental issue in human societies: the role of the individual versus the role of the group. 在这个真实的故事里,瑞典人和沙特人对人际关系在商业中的作用有着不同的理解。对瑞典人来 说,他们是在和一个公司做生意;但对沙特人来说,他们是在和一个他们了解并且信任的人做生 意。只要他们对某个人还不够了解,就会让一位双方都认识并信任的中间人或介绍人在场,这样做 会比较方便。这两种文化的差异源于人类社会的一个根本问题:即个人角色与集体角色的问题。 7 Translate the paragraphs into English. 1 这位年轻人是个侦探小说迷,在看了福尔摩斯探案故事之后,他自以为完全掌握了侦探技巧,于是 就开始调查一起抢劫案。经过几个星期的周密调查,他倒是追查到了三名疑犯,只可惜案发时这三 个人都身在国外。(know sth inside out; track down) This young man liked reading detective stories. After finished reading Holmes’ stories, he thought he had known the detective’s skills inside out and started to investigate a case of robbery. After a few weeks of close investigation, he tracked down three suspects, who turned out to be abroad when the robbery took place. 2 在本书中我们确实体会到了两种文化之间的差异。不过作者没有详细叙述这些差异,而是仔细讨论 了两种文化的相同点,其中说得最多的是为什么这两种文化都如此强调工作的热忱。(dwell on; of which; loyalty) In this book, we do find some differences between the two cultures. But instead of dwelling on the differences, the author presents lengthy discussions on things they have in common, of which their loyalty to work are most thoroughly touched upon.