Book Two Unit 8

Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. grasp the main idea of the text (There’s a lot more to life than a job.)

2. master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;

3. conduct a serious of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme of the unit.

Warm-up exercises

1.How do young students and older teachers see the roles of education differently?

2.What is ‘quality of life’ and how can it be improved?

ng to the writer, what must educators prepare students for?

Background information

Macon is a city in the middle part of Georgia, U.S.A.

Robins Resident Center is a service/training center foe the U.S. Air force,which is located in Macon State College.

Associate degree is awarded to a student after he or she finishes a 2-year study at a junior college in the U.S.

Richard Wager (1813-1883) is a famous German composer and writer.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), the son of an eminent Dublin surgeon, was among the outstanding Victorian dramatists. He is renowned for a brilliant series of domestic comedies—Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892), A Woman of No Importance (1893), and An ideal Husband (1894).

Global reading

Outline of the text

1. outcome of the survey and its further explanation (Paras. 1-8)

2. Author’s point of view: we can educate people for life as well as for a career (Para. 9)

3. Possible causes for the current situation and people’s realization of the meaning to life (Paras. 10-13)

4. The function of education in helping people gain the right understanding of life and its supporting details (Paras. 14-18)

5. Author’s suggestion as to what education can do to help the learners gain more than a job in their life (Para. 19)

Detailed reading

Words and expressions

formal

1. following accepted rules of behavior

正式的;合乎禮儀的

She has a very formal manner.

她舉止文雅。

The letter was in very formal language.

這封信使用了非常正式的語言。

2. in appearance; by name only 形式上的，名義上的

I am the formal leader of this project but the everyday management is in the hands of my assistant.

我是該項目名義上的領導，而日常的管理工作都是由我的助手在做。

Resident

Adj.1. having a home in a place 居住的，居留的

The town's resident population is over 10,000.

該城鎮(zhèn)的居住人口超過一萬人。

ed to and working regularly for a particular organization

住校的，住院的，住在住所的

The film company needed a resident artist.

電影公司需要一個能住在任所的藝術家。

n.[C] a person who lives or has his/her home in a place

居民，定居者

The local residents were angry at the lack of parking spaces.

當地居民對停車場地不足感到惱火

Humanity

n. 1.(pl.) subjects concerned with human culture

人文學科(尤指文學、語言、歷史和哲學)

Susan has always been more interested in the humanities than the sciences.

蘇珊對人文科學一向比對自然科學更感興趣。

[U] human beings as a whole; people 人的總稱，人類

Hitler was guilty of great crimes against humanity.

希特勒對人類犯下了滔天罪行。

[U] kind-heartedness 仁慈，仁愛，善心

For more than five years, they were denied humanity.

在五年多的時間里，他們受到了非人的待遇。

Ethic of a national or racial group that has a common cultural tradition

(有共同文化傳統(tǒng)的)民族的，種族的;部落的

The exhibition celebrated ethnic differences.

展覽會公開贊美了種族差異。

Enroll v. become or make (sb.) a member (of sth.)

(使)成為……的成員，注冊

We enrolled him as member of the society.

我們接納他為協(xié)會會員.

Enrollment n.

1.[C] the number of people enrolled 注冊或登記的人

Student enrollments at the university have increased steadily in recent years.

近幾年這所大學的學生入學人數穩(wěn)步增長。

2. [U] enrolling or being enrolled 登記，注冊，入會

the enrollment of five new members 五個新會員的登記

Specialize (英specialise) vi. (in) give particular attention to (a subject, product, etc.)

專攻，專門研究(某課題、產品等

We went to a restaurant that specializes in Italian food.

我們去了一家專門做意大利菜的餐館。

Specialization n.[U, C] specializing 專業(yè)化，專門化

In the course I'm taking, there's no opportunity for specialization until the final year.

我正在學的課程要到最后一學年才進入專業(yè)課學習

Render vt.

給予，提出

This is a reward for services rendered.

這是酬謝所提供服務的獎金

2. cause sb./sth. to be in a particular state 使得，使成

We were rendered helpless by the accident.

我們被這意外事故弄得束手無策。

Contribution n. [C,U] action of giving (money, support, help or ideas) towards a particular aim or purpose; sth. given towards a particular aim or purpose

捐助(物)，貢獻(物)，奉獻

His last novel is his greatest contribution to the literature of Spain.

他最后的一部小說是他對西班牙文學的最大貢獻。

All contributions, no matter how small, will be much appreciated.

所有捐獻，無論多少，我們都表示深深的感謝。

Puzzle

v.1. (make one) feel confused or slightly worried because one cannot understand sth.

(使)困惑，(使)為難

We're still puzzling about how the accident could have happened.

我們仍然對事故的發(fā)生原因感到困惑。

2. (make one) think hard about sth. in order to understand it

(使)苦思

Scientists are puzzling over the results of the research on the drug.

科學家們在苦苦思索藥物研究的結果。

n.1. [C] a game or toy in which parts must be fitted together correctly, intended to amuse or exercise the mind

智力測驗，智力玩具，謎

a crossword puzzle

縱橫填字游戲

2. [C] a question that is difficult to understand or answer

難題，難解之事

Their reason for doing it is still a puzzle to me.

他們干那件事的動機仍令我費解

Distinguish v.

1. recognize the difference between (people or things) 辨別，識別

The twins look so much like each other that no one can distinguish one from the other.

這對雙胞胎長得非常像，無人能分辨出誰是誰。

2. (oneself) behave or perform noticeably well 表現突出

He distinguished himself in British theatre at a very early age.

他很小就在英國戲劇界嶄露頭角了。

Be well off be in a good position, esp. financially

經濟充裕，富裕

You don't need to look for another job -- you're well off where you are.

你沒有必要再去找工作 -- 你現在的經濟情況就相當不錯了。

In the long run after a long period; in the end

從長遠的觀點來看;終究，最后

My mother always told me that in the long run I would be glad I didn't give up the piano.

我母親總是對我說，將來我定會為自己沒有放棄彈鋼琴而高興的。

Typical Patterns

1. It has often been remarked that…

It has often been remarked that the saddest thing about youth is that it is wasted on the young. (L.1)

e.g. 人們常說: 時光如流水，歲月不待人。

It has often been remarked that time and tide wait for no man.

2. less +形容詞+than 放在句首，主謂語倒裝

Less important than ever is developing a meaningful

philosophy of life. (L.11)

e.g. 看電視不像看電影那么有趣。

Less interesting than seeing film is watching TV .

3. if only引導的虛擬語氣

?If only I knew then what I know now. (L.4)

要是當初我就懂得了我現在才領悟到的東西，該有多好!

4. …not dawn until…

?If it is a fact that the meaning of life does not dawn until middle age, is it then not the duty of educational institutions to prepare the way for that revelation? (L.40)

?如果人們步入中年時才對人生的含義有所領悟的話，那么為這種領悟掃清障礙是否是教育機構的責任呢?

e.g. 直到昨天這個可憐的人才明白了真相。

The truth didn’t ______________until yesterday. (dawn upon the truth)

5. 主句，be+ 主語+表語+ or + 表語

And we are better for our understanding of these other contributions—be they scientific or artistic. (L.46)

e.g. 不管她是對是錯，我都會全力支持她。

Be she right or wrong, she will have my strong support.

The author found from a survey that nowadays some college students are more materialistic and less idealistic. Their major objective is to make money rather than pay attention to a meaningful life. Interest in some less profitable courses like teaching and humanities is on the decline while the interest in some practical courses like business and computer science is on the rise. When people reach maturity, they will come to the realization that education can prepare people for life as well as for a career. People can do much more to society than just make money. The purpose of education is not only to prepare students for a comfortable life but also to help them develop a moral sense and to have the ability to distinguish right from wrong. The author then calls on educators to meet students’ demand for a career education and at the same time to provide the latter with more insight into life.

After Reading

1. Discussion

Work in small groups and discuss the following questions.

1) Why do you come to college? (What are the reasons for you to pursue a college education?)

2) If it were possible for you to change your present major, what new major would you like to have or do you still want to stick to your old one?

Homework

1. Finish the exercises in Section A.

2. Prepare for Section B.

Section B

Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. grasp the main idea

2. master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;

3. grasp the reading skill---- Distinguishing Between Facts and Opinions

Reading Skill—— Distinguishing Between Facts and Opinions

Facts are statements that tell what really happened or what really is the case. A fact can be proved or disproved with direct evidence. It is something known by actual experience or observation. For example:

Example: Interest in teaching, social service and the humanities is at a low, along with ethnic and women’s studies. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up. (Para. 6, Passage A, Unit 8)

Opinions are statements of belief, judgement or feeling. They show what someone thinks or feels about a subject. Some words such as I believe, I think, in my opinion, I feel, and I suggest, say clearly that an opinion will follow. Look at the following examples:

Example: In the long run that’s what education really ought to be about. I think it can be. (Para. 17, Reading Passage A, Unit 8)

But it is not always easy to tell opinion from fact. A writer often combines the two in such a way that we do not always notice where fact ends and opinion begins. When we have a mixture of fact and opinion in a single statement, we must decide whether the main point of the sentence is essentially fact or opinion. Sometimes an opinion is presented as if it were a fact:

Example: If it is a fact that the meaning of life does not dawn until middle age, is it then not the duty of educational institutions to prepare the way for the revelation? (Para. 13, Passage A, Unit 8)

Do Exercise ⅪⅤ in the textbook:(at Page 221)

Language Points:

whether or not: (used to introduce two possibilities)

I wonder whether we should tell her or not.

我不知道我們是應該告訴她還是不告訴她。

motivate : vt. 1. cause to want to do sth

the reason for (sb.’s action); cause (sb.) to act in a particular wayThey are ted by a desire to help people. 他們這樣做是出于想幫助人的愿望。

prospect : n 1. (pl.) chance of success

2.[C, U] possibility or strong chance of sth. happening

eg. 這場戰(zhàn)爭不大可能很快結束

The meteorological office says there is little C of rain in the near future.

A. perspective B. foresight

C. prospect D. outlook

by comparison (with): when compared (with)

The tallest buildings in London are small by comparison with those in

New York.

倫敦最高的建筑與紐約的相比就相形見絀了

at large:as a whole; in general

基礎教育是重要問題，需要整個社會來討論。

Elementary education is an important issue that needs to be discussed by society at large.

eliminate: vt. remove or take away

A move towards healthy eating could help eliminate heart disease.

養(yǎng)成健康的飲食習慣有助于根除心臟病。

Construction vt.. build (sth.); put or fit together; form

建造，構筑;構成;形成

It's an elegantly constructed theory, but I'm afraid it's not right.

這是一個精心構建的理論，但恐怕并不正確。

Constructive adj. having a useful purpose; helpful

建設性的，積極的，有益的

She criticized my writing but in a way that was very constructive — I learned a lot from her.

她對我的作品進行了建設性的評論——我從她那兒學到了很多東西。

Swell v. 1. (cause to) become greater (使)變強，(使)增加，(使)提高

Twenty-five employees have joined the union in this month alone, swelling its number

to 110.

僅這一個月就有25名雇員加入工會，使會員人數迅速增加至110人

2.(cause sth. to) become larger (使)增大，(使)膨脹，(使)腫起

His face was swollen up with toothache.

由于牙痛，他的臉都腫起來了

Rank

1.(usu. the ~s or the ~ and file) ordinary members of an organization, esp. of the armed forces

普通成員，普通士兵

The party leadership seems to be losing the support of the ranks.

這個政黨的領導似乎正在失去普通黨員的支持。

2. [C, U] position higher or lower than others', showing the importance or the degree of

responsibility of the person having it; (high) social class地位，級別;(高)社會階層

Having a large income is one of the advantages of rank.

高級職位的好處之一是有高額的收入。

3. [C] a row, esp. of people or things standing side by side行，列，排

In Cambridge, ranks of bikes line the streets outside the colleges.

在劍橋，各學院外面的街道旁擺放著一排排自行車。

Eliminate vt remove or take away 排除，消除，根除

A move towards healthy eating could help eliminate heart disease.

養(yǎng)成健康的飲食習慣有助于根除心臟病。

Test Yourself— Multiple Choice

For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence.

1. The teacher said that the children are vigorous and have good__C___.

A. perspective B. respect

C. prospect D. prosperity

2. The poet __B___ the woman he loves to a rose.

A. contrasts B. compares

C. compels D. companies

3. The annual income of school teachers in this

place was __D________ at $900.

A. budgeted B. predicted

C. accounted D. assessed

4. We prefer to discuss the plan fully_C___ it in

practice hurriedly.

A. than put B. to put

C. rather than put D. to putting

5. My heart _A___ with pride as I watched my child win the competition.

A. swelled B. swore

C. swept D. increased

6. The _B____ problem is to unite all the members and go on with our cause.

A. principle B. principal

C. primarily D. chiefly

7. It is quite necessary for a qualified teacher to have good manners and _A____

knowledge.

A. extensive B. intensive

C. expansive D. expensive

8. She _C___ great self-control when they told her the news.

A. dislike B. dispose

C. display D. disorder

9. Can we ever _A____ hunger from the world?

A. eliminate B. throw

C. stop D. prevent

10. When traveling, you are advised to take travellers’ checks, which provide a secure __D__to carrying your money in cash.

A. substitute B. preference

C. selection D. alternative