Unit 8 Society
Part A
Listening Strategy
Summarizing (2)
Good listeners, after listening to a text, will form in their minds a short report of its main points. This report is a summary, which covers the main idea, major events, and important details such as numbers, names, and places. To work out the main points of a text, one of the important things to notice is the change of the subtopic (a text usually has one topic and several subtopics). In other words, during the listening, listeners need to pay attention to when the speaker moves from one subtopic to another. And then they should go on to catch those related important details under each subtopic. Thus a summary of the listening text can easily be formed.
The passage you are going to listen to contains 9 recommendations to keep you happy. Listen twice and write down the first sentence of each recommendation. Some have already been done for you. 1. Don’t expect money to buy you happiness. 2. Enjoy the moment. 3. Learn to like yourself. 4. Self-esteem grows out of achieving realistic goals. 5. Take occasional days of rest. 6. Put on a happy face — even if you don’t feel happy. 7. Exercise. 8. Get enough sleep to feel rested. 9. Build close relationships. Script:
Do you want to know the secret of happiness? Just listen to psychology professor David G. Myers.
He analyzed hundreds of studies from around the world to determine how important friendships, money and other things are to our happiness. Here’s what he recommends.
Don’t expect money to buy you happiness. The actual amount of money people earn has little effect on how happy they feel. What does count is how satisfied they are with their income.
Enjoy the moment. Happiness comes from little things that happen every day, rather than occasional great pieces of good fortune. Learn to like yourself. “Studies show that people with healthy self-esteem are less weak to setbacks and struggles,” said Dr. Myers, author of “The Pursuit of Happiness”.
Self-esteem grows out of achieving realistic goals.
Take occasional days of rest. Spend hours enjoying quiet time alone.
Put on a happy face — even if you don’t feel happy. Smiling can actually make you feel better, according to Dr. Myers of Hope College in Michigan.
Exercise. Aerobic exercise, such as walking, biking, swimming and running works as an antidote for mind depression and anxiety. Get enough sleep to feel rested.
Build close relationships. The best remedy for unhappiness is a caring nurturing friendship. And if you’re married, a good relationship with your spouse can be especially important. Part B
Pre-Listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about society. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. What kinds of lottery tickets are available in China?
2. Why do people buy lottery tickets? Do all of them dream of winning the lottery? 3. Do you buy lottery tickets? Why or why not?
4. What is the intention of the Chinese government in issuing welfare lottery tickets?
5. Have you or your relatives ever won the lottery? If so, what did you or they do with the prize money? 6. Many Americans buy lottery tickets. Can you guess how lottery winners in the US spend their prize money? 7. What would you do if you won a million yuan in a lottery? Demo:
1. What kinds of lottery tickets are available in China?
Well, I know that lottery is a big business in China though I don’t have the official figure. Roughly there are two types of lottery in our country. They are China Welfare Lottery and China Sports Lottery. For each type, there are different games with their own rules. For example, one can buy a Sports Lottery ticket, betting on the result of a particular football match. The money raised from lottery sales will be used in sports undertakings or to help the poor and the needy. But there could also be certain social problems if people treat lottery as a form of gambling and spend too much money on lottery tickets.
Additional Question for Discussion
Some people quit their jobs and stay idle after winning a lottery. Do you think it is wise to do so? Demo:
I don’t think it is a wise decision. Quitting a job is OK, especially when you don’t like the job. But staying idle is a different thing. In my opinion, living a happy life is a goal for everyone, and that goal lies in doing something meaningful and what one likes. I can’t imagine that staying idle day in and day out would be enjoyable to anyone. When you have won a lottery and no longer have to worry about money, you should find something that you really love to do and go for it. I believe the true happiness will come when you spend your winnings in charity or other meaningful social work.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.
There are welfare lottery tickets, sports lottery tickets and soccer lottery tickets available in our country.
Lottery tickets are issued to raise money for state projects / a charity / a worthy cause. The money raised from lottery sales will be used to help the poor and the needy.
People who buy lottery tickets dream of winning a large sum of money easily and quickly / want to try their luck / intend to support a worthy cause / want to help the state with its social welfare projects.
I’ve bought some lottery tickets but I’ve never been lucky enough to win a prize.
I’ve never bought any lottery tickets because I don’t believe in getting money quick / I don’t think I’d have the luck to win anything / I’ve no idea how they work.
My father won a third prize last year, and the prize money was used for my tuition / the down payment for our new apartment / a family trip to the Yellow Mountains.
Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets.
Most American winners quit their jobs after winning the lottery.
Some winners spend their money on education for themselves or their children, some on traveling and some on home improvement.
The prize money can enable the winner to pursue his or her dreams more easily.
The prize money can bring the winner security / higher social status / opportunities for a change of lifestyle. It is not a wise idea for the winner to quit work after winning the lottery.
Money does not necessarily bring happiness / cannot replace the happiness one gets from one’s work.
If I won a million yuan, I would use part of it for furthering my studies / buy an apartment for my parents / donate a large part of it to social welfare causes / help build a primary school in my hometown / invest the money in a business.
Listening Tasks
Lottery Winners
Word Bank
lottery n. a scheme in which many numbered tickets are sold; several numbers are later chosen at random and those whose
tickets have the chosen numbers on them win the prize money 抽彩给奖法（发行彩票或奖券，然后抽出获奖者）
extra a. additional 额外的
bowl v. to play an indoor game in which a large heavy ball is rolled along a wooden track in an attempt to knock down
bottle-shaped wooden objects 打保龄球
bored security
a. uninterested 厌烦的
n. the state of being safe from harm or loss 安全；平安
lottery ticket a numbered ticket in lottery 彩票 Script:
Do you dream of winning the lottery? Millions of people do. Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets. They are hoping to win $100,000, $1,000,000 or more. What happens after you win the lottery?
When you win a million dollars, you don’t receive a check for the total amount. You may choose to receive $50,000 a year for twenty years. Also, you must pay taxes. After taxes, you receive from $25,000 to $40,000 a year for twenty years. This is a lot of extra spending money.
What have some people done with their money? Let’s look at three past winners.
Lisa K wanted to be an artist, but she didn’t have enough money to go to art school. She was working at a job she didn’t enjoy. In August, Lisa bought one ticket and won two million dollars. She quit her job three weeks later and is now attending art school.
Mark L was a car salesman. He worked seven days a week and had little time for family life. After he won the lottery, he quit working. Now he spends his time bowling, working in the garden, and fixing things in his house. But, he’s bored. He doesn’t want to sell cars again, but he isn’t sure what he wants to do with his life.
Jack B is one of the small number of winners who did not quit his job. Jack still teaches at a school near his home. But now he and his wife take their children on an interesting vacation every year. And they don’t worry about sending their children to college. They say that money brings security and gives a person opportunities, but it doesn’t bring happiness.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information
Lottery tickets are issued in many countries. In the United States private lottery was banned in the early 19th century because of fraud, so were public lotteries not long after that. It was only in 1963 that state lotteries were legalized again. Now lottery tickets are issued in 37 US states and there are several multi-state games as well. Lotteries are administered by State governments. Part of the
revenue generated by the sale of lottery tickets is used for supporting educational, charitable and religious enterprises and for maintaining public buildings. The rest is used for the prizes and administrative expenses. The prize is carried forward to the next draw if no one wins the prize. Therefore, the grand prize can accumulate to a very large sum if there is no winner for several draws. There are two ways for the winner to receive the grand prize. One of them is to receive it in installments over 20 years (as is stated in the passage). The other is to receive a lump sum amount which is the net present value of those installment payments. Most people choose the latter. Lottery sales worldwide have reached about $100 billion a year, $13 billion of which is generated in Asia.
Since 1987, our country has also issued lottery tickets for social welfare causes. But in the Chinese lottery scheme, the maximum amount of prize money winners can receive is so far limited to five million yuan. 2. This is a lot of extra spending money.
This means a lot of money added to your normal spending budget.
3. They say that money brings security and gives a person opportunities, but it doesn’t bring happiness.
With the prize money, winners will feel safe economically. They no longer have to worry about paying bills, providing money for health care or their children’s education. The money will also open up new opportunities for them. They will not have to be tied down to their old jobs and will be able to explore their own interests, if any. However, there is no one-to-one relationship between money and happiness. Human experience has shown time and again that those who have a lot of money are not necessarily happy.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. If you win a million dollars, how much can you get before tax? a. $ 100,000 immediately. b. $ 50,000 a year for twenty years. c. $ 20,000 a year for fifty years. d. $100,000 a year for ten years.
2. If you win a million dollars, how much can you get after tax annually? a. $10,000 to $25,000. b. $15,000 to $30,000. c. $20,000 to $35,000. d. $25,000 to $40,000. 3. What did Lisa K do after she won the lottery? a. She quit her job and opened an art school.
b. She began to spend her time traveling around the world. c. She stayed on her job, but took an interesting vacation every year. d. She quit her job and began to study art. 4. What did Mark L do after he won the lottery? a. He quit his job and began to work for himself.
b. He began to spend his time bowling, working in the garden, and fixing things in his house. c. He didn’t quit his job, but went sightseeing every year. d. None of the above.
5. What did Jack B do after he won the lottery? a. He quit his job and led a leisurely life at home.
b. He began to spend his time exercising, gardening, and traveling.
c. He stayed on his job, but took his family on an interesting vacation every year. d. None of the above.
6. What is the main idea of the passage?
a. To win the prize is the dream of every lottery ticket buyer.
b. Most winners quit their jobs after winning the lottery to lead a carefree life. c. The winner of the lottery cannot receive the total amount of the prize money. d. Winning the lottery means security and opportunities but not necessarily happiness.
Exercise 2
Listen again and fill in the blanks to complete a summary of the main points of the passage.
Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets and dream of winning the lottery. If you win one million dollars, you can receive from $25,000 to $40,000 a year for twenty years after paying taxes. Winners spend the large amount of money in different ways. Some use the money to pursue their own interests, some on home improvement and travel, and others save the money for their children’s college education. Most winners quit their jobs and only a small number of them still stay on their jobs. Some winners realize that money brings security and gives them opportunities, but money does not mean happiness.
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Asking About People’s Opinions / Giving Opinions Asking About People’s Opinions What do you think of people’s standard of living today? Giving Opinions All things considered, I think people’s standard of living today is much higher than it was two decades ago. Do you think our economy is doing well? Are you sure it is a good idea to issue lottery tickets? Judging from recent statistics / from the fact that ..., I would say our economy is getting stronger and stronger. If you ask me, I think it is a good way to collect funds for social welfare projects. What do you think about the government’s emphasis on education? Drug addiction / Illegal use of guns seems to be on the rise. How do you feel about that / What’s your view on that / How do you think we should deal with this? In my opinion / To my mind, our society should place a greater emphasis on education. I definitely think we should address this problem seriously. As I see it, we must wage an all-out struggle against drug dealers / keep a tight control of the use of guns. That’s the way to solve the problem. Don’t you agree that there is a widening of the generation gap in our society? Why is it that you are against capital punishment? Honestly, I’ve never thought about that. I’ve nothing to say on that issue. Well, the point is capital punishment does not really stop crime.
Additional Vocabulary community center (社区活动中心) community service (社区服务) neighborhood race / tribe / social group social welfare solidarity / unity / fellow feeling old age / nursing home generation gap housing shortage traffic jam sanitation problem (卫生问题) waste disposal population explosion unemployment
to volunteer / do voluntary work to live in harmony to care for the young to respect the elderly to uphold equal rights for men and women to protect the rights of women and children to fight against domestic violence crime and punishment burglary robbery armed robbery arson (纵火) rape (强奸) kidnap (绑架) drug addiction (毒瘾)
Listen to the following dialogues and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1 A: I’ve won the lottery!
B: Really? That’s fantastic! What are you going to do with the prize money? A: Well, I’d like to hear your opinion. What do you think I should do? B: Well, if I were you, I would take a long vacation.
A: A long vacation? That’s a good idea. Now you’ve been to many places. Where do you suggest I should go?
B: As I see it, Europe is worth visiting. Fascinating places, beautiful landscape, rich culture, friendly people. I think you would like to
make the trip.
A: Sounds exciting. I think I’ll make inquiries right away. B: Are you going to quit your job? A: I haven’t decided. What’s your opinion?
B: Well, if you ask me, I think it depends on whether you like your job or not. A: I do. In fact, I love my job.
B: Then it would be wise to stay on, don’t you think so? A: I think you have a point there.
Conversation 2
(Professor Anderson, an economic expert, is being interviewed on TV by Betty Lee, a talk show hostess. The following is part of the interview.)
Betty: What do you think of the economy of our city?
Anderson: Well, judging from the statistics I’ve seen recently, I think our economy is doing very well. Production is growing steadily, and
the income of the majority of the people is rising.
Betty: Do you think the economy will continue to grow for the next two quarters?
Anderson: As I see it, we are heading for an economic boom, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t. Betty: But what about the unemployment rate? Isn’t it on the rise too?
Anderson: I’m glad you raised that question. It is true that unemployment has risen in certain sectors of the economy. But the point is a
great many new jobs have also been created.
Betty: I see your point. Thank you very much, Professor, for being here. Anderson: Thank you. Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. Ask your partner what he / she thinks is the most important issue of our society. Suggest two things that you consider very important, for example, education and economy.
2. You and your friend are discussing the traffic situations in your town. Express your opinion as to what the local government and each member of society should do to solve the problem caused by too many traffic jams. (You may consider the following solutions in your conversation:to build a highway; to give training to drivers; to issue strict traffic regulations; to persuade people to observe traffic regulations and not to cross the street when the red light is on.) Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the story and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. When and where was a newborn baby found? a. In a deserted park yesterday.
b. In a rock garden early yesterday morning. c. On a rock in Central Park early yesterday morning. d. In lower Manhattan before dawn yesterday. 2. How did the police feel when they found the baby? a. Sorry.
b. Surprised.
d. Relieved.
c. Unhappy.
3. Who might be the woman that had abandoned her baby?
a. A young homeless woman who called the head of Hope Foundation. b. A woman who called a fire station early yesterday. c. A homeless woman who called a hospital hotline.
d. A homeless woman who called a baby rescue hotline early yesterday. 4. Which of the following can be learned from the passage? a. The Hope Foundation couldn’t help the woman. b. The police are determined to find the mother.
c. The mother gave up her baby because she was homeless. d. The mother was eager to hide her identity. Script:
A healthy newborn girl was discovered in Central Park yesterday morning. The baby was abandoned on the top of a rock shortly before dawn after the mother gave birth to her there. The police said that the baby was healthy and weighed 7 pounds. Now they were searching for the mother. A policeman said that they had never had anything like this before. They really didn’t get babies left in the park. But they were just happy the baby was all right. The police rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. Fortunately she was OK. The police believed the baby was born less than half an hour before she was discovered. They also believed, judging from the amount of blood found on the rock, that the mother might have given birth there. It was 70 degrees when the baby was found.
Detectives were investigating whether the mother was a homeless woman who called a baby rescue hotline early yesterday. The head of Hope Foundation said that his hotline received a call about 5:30 a.m. from a young homeless woman in Manhattan. The caller asked, “How do I get rid of my baby?” She was apparently in labor. Then she was told to go to either a hospital or a fire station. But the woman was afraid she would be recognized there. The head also said that the woman wouldn’t even tell him where he could possibly meet her since they had two teams that could help with the delivery, if necessary.
Unit 9 Dreams and Ambitions
Part A Listening Strategy
Drawing Inferences
The ability to draw correct inferences from what we have heard is an important skill in listening comprehension because sometimes a speaker does not state directly what he / she intends to say but implies it instead. A speaker’s attitude towards what he / she discusses, in particular, often has to be inferred from the hints he / she has dropped. So we must learn to synthesize all these hints so as to get a complete picture about what is being discussed. In addition, we can rely on the speaker’s choice of words to help us: the use of words of positive, negative or neutral meaning can indicate a positive, negative or neutral attitude respectively.
Listen to the following story and do the multiple-choice exercise below. 1. We can learn from the passage that Jane _____________. a. wanted to travel because she led an uncomfortable life
b. used to live a comfortable life but it wasn’t the life of her dream c. didn’t want to change her lifestyle until she reached 35
d. all of sudden, wanted to see the world, though she lived quite a good life 2. We can infer from the passage that Jane _____________. a. liked Africa more than Europe and India
b. had never had any boyfriends before she met John c. fancied an adventurous life as a teenager d. realized that London was the best place to live in the world
3. The speaker’s attitude towards Jane’s decision to pursue her dream is ________. a. critical b. neutral c. negative d. positive Script:
Two years ago, Jane had a well-paid job, and an active social life. But it wasn’t the life she had dreamed of as a teenager. At 35, she thought life was passing her by and she decided to change things. She had always wanted to travel round the world, so she gave up her job and set off to follow her dream.
The journey took her through Europe and Africa. And it was in Tanzania that she met John, an American who taught in a school there. John was like no other man that she had ever met, and she fell madly in love with him. After two romantic weeks together, Jane continued her journey to India, but then she decided to fly back to Africa.
Six weeks later, Jane and John were married. Now they live in London. Jane was very happy that she made that decision to follow her dream. But for that she wouldn’t have met so many wonderful people, or seen so many interesting places. Most of all, she wouldn’t have met the man of her dreams.
Part B Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about your dreams and the realization of them. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. What did you dream of becoming when you were a little child? 2. What is your big dream at present? What do you want most in life? 3. How great are the chances that you can realize this dream? 4. What are you going to do to make this dream come true?
5. What do you think is the most important factor in realizing one’s dreams? 6. Are opportunities important to the realization of one’s dream? Demo:
5. What do you think is the most important factor in realizing one’s dreams?
I think among many factors, the most important one is determination. You have to be able to follow your dreams regardless of any obstacles. If you have a sound enough reason “why” you are doing something, you will be more determined in accomplishing it. Great determination can help you face tough situations with courage and perseverance. It makes you move along the path you’ve chosen no matter what stands in your way. No dreams can ever be realized without determination.
Additional Question for Discussion
What does the expression “the American Dream” mean? Demo:
We often hear about the American Dream. We know that Americans value the ability to start with a dream and then realize that dream through one’s own efforts. I guess the American Dream would mean different things to different people. However, in most cases, the dream would be associated with success in one’s life or career. It can be the better quality of life or a notable achievement. The efforts towards that end may include an education to improve oneself or hard work to earn money. In a word, the American Dream is a person’s hope to achieve a good life in America.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.
When I was young, I wished to become a world-famous scientist / great novelist / poet / astronaut / movie star / pop singer … At present, I wish to find a job I dreamed of / I’m really interested in / related to my major / offering a handsome salary. I wish I can take / acquire / obtain / receive a master’s degree / PhD.
What I want most in life is someone that really cares for me / a house of my own / a good job …
I want to devote my life to changing my home town into a prosperous one / taking care of orphans and homeless children / setting up my own business.
I never doubt / have little hope that my dream will come true some day. My chances of becoming a … are very good / quite slim. I’m afraid I don’t stand much chance of becoming a …
Perseverance is most important if you want to make your dreams come true. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The hardest thing is to keep pursuing one’s dream in spite of difficulties.
In pursuing a dream, one must keep a balance between one’s strong wish for the dream to come true and the realities of one’s abilities and circumstances.
I think it is wise to be realistic / not to aim at something that is beyond you. Talent and a bit of luck are all you need to realize your dreams.
Talent alone is not enough; you must be quick to seize the opportunities available to you.
Listening Tasks
Larry’s Dream
Word Bank dash practically
v. to destroy 使破灭 ad. almost 差不多
Opportunities favor a prepared mind.
nil n. zero 零
basic a. of a primary level 起码的，最基本的 generous a. willing to give more than one expected 慷慨的
tip n. a small amount of money given for a service provided 小费，赏钱 fascinate a. to attract the strong attention and interest of sb. 吸引，迷住 abrupt a. sudden and unexpected 突然的，出其不意的 would-be
a. wanting to do a particular thing 想要做……的
scribble v. to write in a hurry 潦草地书写
keep body and soul together to have just enough money, food, etc., to live on 勉强维持生活 Script:
Larry had always wanted to become a movie star. His hopes for success were dashed again and again, however. Hollywood just did not seem interested. But Larry refused to admit that his chances of getting into movies were practically nil. Someday, he told himself, his big opportunity would come.
To keep body and soul together, Larry found a job parking cars for one of Hollywood’s big restaurants. The pay was basic but since the guests were quite generous with their tips, he managed to make a living.
One day he recognized an important film director driving into the parking lot and getting out of his car. Larry had recently heard that the man was making a new picture.
Larry got into the car and prepared to drive it on into the lot and park it. Then he stopped, jumped out and ran over to the director. “Excuse me, sir, but I think it’s only fair to tell you that it’s now or never if you want me in your new picture. A lot of big companies are after me.”
Fascinated by Larry’s abrupt statement, the director stopped. “Yes? Which companies?”
“Well,” replied the would-be star, “there’s the telephone company, the gas company, and the electric company, to mention only a few.”
The director laughed, then scribbled something on a card and handed it to the young man. “Come and see me tomorrow.” Larry got a small part in the director’s next film. He was on his way!
Language and Culture Notes 1. Hollywood
center of American film industry located in the northwest part of Los Angeles, California 2. Hollywood just did not seem interested.
Directors at Hollywood did not want him to act in their movies. 3. he found a job parking cars for one of Hollywood’ big restaurants
Larry found a job as a valet (车管员) at a big restaurant in Hollywood, parking cars for its customers. Expensive restaurants usually provide valet parking service for their customers. Valets like Larry park customers’ cars for them when they arrive and bring their cars to them when they leave. Customers are supposed to give tips for the service.
4. it’s now or never
an emphatic way of saying that something must be done immediately because if you miss the chance, it will never come again 5. A lot of big companies are after me.
This sentence can be understood in two ways: 1) A lot of important film companies are interested in me; 2) A lot of utility companies (referring to gas, electricity, telephone companies, etc.) are pressing me to pay their bills. Here Larry cleverly exploited the ambiguity in the sentence to impress the film director. The director was amused by Larry’s sense of humor when he realized the real meaning of the sentence. 6. the would-be star
referring to Larry. We can use “would-be” to describe someone who wants to do a particular thing, especially to take up certain career, e.g., a would-be writer, a would-be singer, etc.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. 1. What does the story mainly tell us?
a. How Larry found a job in a restaurant in Hollywood.
b. How Larry managed to make a living in Hollywood. c. How Larry started his career in Hollywood. d. How Larry met an important film director in Hollywood. 2. Which of the following statements about Larry can be inferred? a. Larry was an idealistic dreamer. b. Larry had a fine sense of humor. c. Larry was going to be a great movie star. d. Larry was broke when he met the film director. 3. Why was the film director interested in Larry?
Exercise 2
Listen again and write down answers to the following questions.
1. What helped Larry to carry on with life when his dream was dashed again and again? His belief that one day he would become a movie star. 2. What job did Larry find in order to support himself? Parking cars for one of Hollywood’s big restaurants.
3. Was Larry well-paid and how did he manage to make a living?
No, his pay was only basic. But he got generous tips from guests driving into the restaurant. 4. What happened one day that changed Larry's life?
Larry parked the car of a famous film director and was able to introduce himself to the man. 5. Larry said: “A lot of big companies are after me.” What can be the two meanings of this statement? a. Many big film companies are interested in me. b. Many big companies are pressing me to pay their bills.
Speaking Tasks a. He was amused by Larry’s unusual way of recommending himself. b. He thought Larry would make a good actor. c. He was sorry for Larry.
d. He didn’t want Larry to be employed by other companies.
Communicative Function: Expressing Certainty and Possibility Asking About Certainty Are you sure you want to give up your job and go traveling around the world? Are you fully aware of the risk you are taking? Are you certain you will have no regrets? Do you think your decision is really a good one? Asking About Certainty Are you going to continue studying for a master’s degree in business after graduation? Are you planning to go abroad for furthering your studies? I’m uncertain / unsure of that. I haven’t made up my mind. Asking About Possibility Do you think most of us can fulfill our dreams if we never give up? I think so. It is possible for most of us to fulfill our dreams if we never give up. It is possible that most of us will fulfill our dreams if we persevere in doing what we decide to do. Our dreams may be fulfilled if we always have faith in what we want to achieve. Perhaps / Possibly / Maybe we will fulfill our dreams if we never lose hope. Asking About Possibility Do you think we can visit the moon as tourists in the near future? Response: Expressing Impossibility I don’t think so. It is impossible that we could make the trip soon. I doubt it. It is impossible for us to do that so soon.
Additional Vocabulary to dream of becoming a(n) explorer / astronaut / entrepreneur / philanthropist / fashion model / filmmaker / world-famous composer / pianist / rock star / Olympic award-winner to travel around the world to visit the famous cities in the world to climb up Mount Qomolangma to explore the North Pole (Arctic Pole) / South Pole (Antarctic Pole) to go abroad and see the world to further my studies abroad to pursue postgraduate programs to win first prize in an English speech contest to excel in athletics / compete in the Olympics to design buildings strong enough to withstand powerful earthquakes to invent a cure for cancer / life-threatening diseases to buy a cozy apartment / brand-new car to marry my true love to run a company of my own Response: Expressing Possibility I’m sure of it. Yes, I am. I can assure you I understand it perfectly. I’ve no doubt about that. I’ve no doubt it is the best decision I’ve ever made. Response: Expressing Uncertainty I’m not sure / certain whether I’ll continue studying or not. Response: Expressing Certainty
to open a store on the web
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1 A: B: A: B:
I like the story we’ve just heard very much. So do I. It’s very entertaining.
I wonder if Larry would really become a famous movie star. It is quite possible. He was so clever.
A: But being clever alone doesn’t make you a good actor.
B: I suppose so. But at least he had realized his dream of acting in a Hollywood movie. A: That’s true. By the way, what’s your dream? B: I don’t know. I’m not so ambitious as Larry, I think. A: So what do you want most in life, then?
B: A decent job, an apartment of my own and a family that I really love. A: I guess most people would like to have those. B: What more can you wish for?
A: Well, I’ve always wanted to be a singer. B: Have you? No wonder, you sing so well.
Conversation 2 A: B: A: B: A: B: A: B:
Conversation 3 A: B: A: B: A: B: A: B: Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. Ask your partner about his / her plan to pursue postgraduate studies. Try to use the language that expresses certainty and possibility in your conversation.
Hi, Ling Pin. How’s your cousin doing?
He’s tired. He has just taken the Civil Service Test (公).
No wonder I haven’t seen him for ages. Why did he want to take such a test? The civil service has recently become a popular career choice. Do you think he can get his dream job?
I’m not certain of that. The competition is very, very tough, you know. Anyway, dream brings hope. It is good for him to have a dream. I think so, too.
Hi, Xiao Fang. How have you been?
Oh, hello, Xiao Li. I’ve been pretty busy these days.
Are you preparing to go to the Northwest this summer as a volunteer? Yes.
Do you think your application will be approved? Absolutely sure.
So you can now realize your dream of teaching kids there. I have no doubt about that.
2. Ask your partner about his / her dreams. You can use some expressions from the Additional Vocabulary above and other expressions you’ve learned in this unit.
Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. When did Zaslow start writing stories? a. In 1988. b. In his childhood. c. At Carnegie Mellon University. d. At the Chicago Sun-Times.
2. How old was Zaslow when his column became popular with readers in Chicago? a. 33. b. 31. c. 28. d. 41. 3. What is the major benefit Zaslow has got from his years in the advice business? a. He has realized his dream of becoming a writer. b. He has greater faith in his fellow men. c. He earns a good salary. d. He has made many friends. 4. What can be inferred from the passage?
a. People playing the roles of cartoon figures at Disney World had a hard life. b. Zaslow did not like his job at the Wall Street Journal.
c. Jeffrey Zaslow was a better advice columnist than Ann Landers. d. To be an advice columnist has always been Zaslow’s dream. Script:
Jeffrey Zaslow, the advice columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, grew up in suburban Philadelphia. His biggest ambition in life was to be a writer. “I never wanted to be anything else,” he says. “I was ten or eleven when I saw Gone with the Wind and I wrote my own Civil War story.”
After earning a degree in creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University, he got a job at a newspaper in Orlando, Florida. He made his mark with his article on the rough working conditions endured by the people inside the Mickey and Minnie costumes at Walt Disney World. Later he became a staff writer for the Wall Street Journal.
In 1988, when the famous advice columnist, Ann Landers, quit her job at the Chicago Sun-Times, the paper launched a nationwide contest to find her replacement. Jeffrey Zaslow applied. Among the 12,000 contestants, women outnumbered men nine to one, and most of them had seen a lot more of life than Zaslow, who was 28 and not married. When he reached the semifinals, his editors at the Journal ran a headline: “Why He’ll Never Make It.” But Jeffrey did make it in the finals.
Today, thirteen years later, his column, “All That Zazz,” is read by thousands of readers in the Chicago area. His years in the advice business left him with a deep appreciation for people and their problems. He is also greatly moved by the generosity, sincerity and good nature of his readers. “Wonderful people,” he says, “do outnumber terrible people in this world. I have much more faith in my fellow men than I had before. And I’ve read plenty of letters to back that up.”
Unit 10 Disasters
Part A
Listening Strategy
Listening for Major Elements in a Disaster Report
To understand a report about a disaster, you need to pay special attention to when and where it occurred, the possible damage and loss, and the number of people injured or killed since these elements are the essential parts of this type of report.
You are going to hear two news reports of disasters. Pay attention to the elements mentioned above and complete the following charts. 1.
Type of disaster Time Place Number of people killed Number of people injured 2.
Type of disaster Time Place Number of people killed Number of people injured Number of people severely injured Cause Script:
1. Turkey says more than 10,000 people now are confirmed dead after the earthquake three days ago. Most of the deaths are in five northwestern cities. About 34,000 people are reported injured. Rescue workers are still searching for about 35,000 missing people; many are trapped under fallen buildings. Rescuers are using cameras, dogs and listening devices to search for survivors.
2. Early this morning a severe explosion took place in Shijiazhuang, the capital of North China’s Hebei Province, killing 108 and injuring 38, according to the Public Security Department. After treatment, 15 of those injured have been discharged from hospital care. Hospital officials say five among the 11, who were severely injured, are now out of danger. Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion. Part B
Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about accidents and disasters. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner.
1) Explosion 2) Early this morning Shijiazhuang 3) 108 4) 38 5) 11 Unknown 1) Earthquake 2) Three days ago 3) Turkey 4) 10,000 5) 34,000
1. What are natural disasters? And what are man-made disasters? 2. What damage can they cause?
3. Describe a disaster you yourself have experienced or one you have read or heard about. When, where and how did it happen? 4. What are the chances of survival in a disaster?
5. What can we do to help people in a disaster-stricken area? 6. What should we do to prevent man-made disasters? Demo:
5. What can we do to help people in a disaster-stricken area?
There are quite a few things we can do to help people in a disaster-stricken area. For example, we can donate money and necessities to help them fight against the natural disaster. We can provide food, clothing and medical care for them. We can provide shelter for the homeless and take them into the warmth of our own homes. We can also send volunteers or go to the area as volunteers to assist the people there in their efforts to rebuild their homes.
Additional Question for Discussion
How can we reduce the damage caused by such natural disasters as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? Demo:
Right now human beings cannot predict accurately when the next earthquake or volcanic eruption will occur. But at least we can do two things. First, the government should set up research institutions or laboratories to study how to predict quakes and try to prevent those disasters from happening or reduce their destructive power (破坏力). Second, we should take protective measures and make necessary preparations to ensure the safety of human life and property so that, when a disaster does happen, its damage can be controlled. For example, we should build strong houses and buildings that are quake-proof.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.
Natural disasters are caused by forces of nature. Earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, wild fires and droughts are natural disasters that are beyond the control of humans, while plane crashes, traffic accidents, explosions and fires belong to man-made disasters.
Sometimes accidents or even disasters happen due to human faults.
Natural disasters like earthquakes or floods may claim hundreds of thousands of lives and leave thousands of people homeless. I read in this morning’s newspaper / heard over the radio / saw on TV a volcano erupted in … / an earthquake struck … / a plane crashed shortly after takeoff / a strong typhoon hit … / a tornado landed on … / a heavy snowstorm swept through … / a fire broke out in the warehouse of a factory / two vehicles clashed, causing great / serious / severe / huge damage to human life and property.
The damage was severe, but fortunately no one was injured.
Car accidents are often caused by drivers who are drunk / try to overtake without warning.
People who fail to follow traffic rules when crossing the street may be hit by a car. And they have to bear full responsibility for the accident themselves.
I twisted my ankle / slipped and fell / broke my arm / broke my leg when I was playing football. It still hurts. Chances of survival in a … are almost zero / very little.
If rules and regulations were strictly followed, many man-made disasters could be avoided.
Professional dedication ought to be advocated. If everyone took a serious attitude toward their job, many accidents could be prevented.
We should do our best to help / donate money or clothing to / show sympathy for people in a disaster-stricken area.
Listening Tasks
Surviving a Plane Crash
Word Bank survive fasten roll groan aisle rescuer swamp jungle amazingly grab
v. not to die in an accident, etc. 从……中逃生 v. to make or become firmly fixed 系牢，缚紧 v. to swing from side to side 摇晃 n. a long, low sound of suffering 呻吟声 n. passage 通道，过道
n. a person who saves people in danger 营救人员 n. wetland 沼泽
n. a tropical forest （热带的）丛林 ad. extraordinarily 惊人地；了不起地 v. to seize, to snatch 抓住
plane crash an instance of an aircraft falling from the sky to hit the land or sea 飞机坠毁 work out to find the answer to a problem by reasoning or calculating 得出答案；算出 out of consciousness losing consciousness 失去知觉 Burma 缅甸（东南亚国家） Johan （人名） Script:
Three months ago I flew to Burma with my boyfriend, Johan. The plane was a small one and our seats were near the back. The sky looked very black as we took off, and throughout the flight, we kept our seat belts fastened. Twenty minutes later we flew into a terrible storm. The plane rolled and shook in the wind. We were both very frightened. I couldn’t remember anything after that until I opened my eyes. I didn’t know where I was. Slowly I realized that the plane had crashed. I was in terrible pain and I couldn’t move. “Johan,” I called, but he didn’t reply. It was dark, but I knew that he wasn’t in his seat. I heard groans and I worked out that possibly six other people were still alive. When daylight came, I could see all the bodies around me. Johan was on the other side of the aisle, but I knew that he was dead.
After a day or two the other voices stopped and I was alone. But the rescuers didn’t come. “They must be on their way,” I told myself. I didn’t know that we were in a swamp in the middle of a jungle and that the helicopters couldn’t fly in the heavy rain. Outside the window the floodwater was going slowly up. But that water saved my life. I managed to stay alive by drinking that dirty water. At night the mosquitoes came. I was out of consciousness because of pain and hunger. Then I heard voices. I pushed my hand out of the window and amazingly someone grabbed it. The rescue team had arrived nine days after the crash.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information
In the year 2000 alone, there were 17 major commercial passenger airline disasters worldwide, claiming more than 800 lives. Air disasters are caused by both natural forces and human failings. The most common causes are unusual weather conditions, structural failure, engine failure, navigational error, or terrorist attack. Planes may crash on takeoff, on landing, or on approach. They may hit a mountain, or be hit by lightning. They may overrun the runway, or collide in midair with another plane. In the passage, the crash was caused by a terrible storm and killed all the passengers except the narrator. 2. Burma
a country located in Southeast Asia. Its full name is the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. It has a tropical monsoon climate.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and complete the following chart with the missing information.
Type of disaster Time Place Cause Number of people killed Number of people injured
Exercise 2
Listen to the passage again and write down answers to the following questions. 1. What happened to the plane before it crashed? It rolled and shook in the wind. 2. Did the rescue team arrive immediately after the crash? Why or why not?
No. It arrived nine days later because it was raining heavily and the helicopters couldn’t fly in the heavy rain. To make the matter worse, the plane crashed in a swamp in the middle of a jungle. 3. Was the narrator seriously injured?
Yes. She was in terrible pain and couldn’t move. 4. How did she manage to stay alive? By drinking dirty floodwater.
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Talking About Disasters Inquiries Have you watched / read / heard the news this morning? Did you hear about the terrorists’ bombing in …? Responses Yes, I have. It’s terrible, isn’t it? No, I didn’t. What happened? Have you ever been in a(n) flood / fire / earthquake? Yes, I have. It was a terrible experience that I will never forget / I still have vivid memories of that terrible experience. Plane crash 1) Three months ago 2) In the middle of a jungle 3) A terrible storm 4) All on board the plane except the narrator 5) One (the narrator) When did it happen? When was it? Where did it happen? Yesterday morning. Last year. On … Street. In downtown … Inside a building. Near where I live. In a residential area. Outside … station.
How did it happen? Some … placed a bomb inside that building, levelling it to the ground. A commercial plane crashed into a building, causing it to crumble. A driver lost control of his vehicle, which crashed into another one passing by. What about the casualties? Was anyone injured? What did they do with the victims? What do the government and people do to help those in a disaster-stricken area / those who are injured / families of the victims? … were injured and … were left homeless. They were sent to hospital for treatment. The government is sending relief workers to the area / expressing sympathy for families of the victims. People volunteer to donate blood / donate money and supplies / help out at the scene of disaster.
Additional Vocabulary Man-made Disasters road accident surgery accident air crash plane collision train collision train derailment bombing fire gas leakage shipwreck bridge collapse mine collapse oil pipe explosion terrorist attack
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: Hi, Wu. You don’t look happy. What’s up? B: Bad luck! I fell off my bicycle and hurt my leg. A: Did you? That’s too bad. How did it happen?
B: I was coming to school on my bike yesterday when another one from behind crashed into mine and knocked me over. Fortunately I
was not seriously hurt. A: Did the rider apologize to you?
B: No. He just picked up his bike and sped away, without so much as looking at me. A: It’s unbelievable! How could he behave like that?
B: Well, the world is made up of all sorts. Maybe he was in a hurry.
Conversation 2
A: You know, a severe flood has hit Guangdong and Hubei Provinces. B: So I have heard. How terrible! A: Have you ever been in a flood? B: Yes, I have. A: When was that?
Natural Disasters volcanic eruption earthquake drought landslide mudflow flood tsunami sandstorm snowstorm hailstorm blizzard hurricane tornado whirlwind avalanche cyclone heat wave forest fire acid rain
B: About two years ago, before I entered this college. My hometown was hit by a serious flood. A: What happened?
B: Well, it rained heavily for about two weeks and the river in our town overflowed. The water was about a meter deep. We had to be
evacuated.
Conversation 3
A: Do you know a powerful earthquake struck western India on Friday? B: No. Was it a strong quake?
A: Yes. It was measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. B: Were many people hurt?
A: Yes. Over 20,000 people were killed, 33,000 were said to be injured and hundreds of thousands left homeless. B: That’s really horrible. Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the sentences and structures above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. You lost your bicycle one day but it was recovered two days later. You tell your partner about the incident by saying “Do you know what happened to my bicycle?” Your partner will ask you questions such as when, where and how the bike was “stolen”, and how it was returned. You answer your partner’s questions according to the following pictures and the words given under each picture.
A B C A. Left unlocked outside the canteen B. Could not be found after the meal C. Reappeared two days later
2. Tell your partner about a road accident you have seen on TV, starting with “Oh, there was a terrible accident.” Your partner will ask you questions according to the prompts on Card A and you answer him / her with the information on Card B. Card A
Traffic Accident Report Name of the injured Occupation Details of the accident: Date Time Place
Injuries Cause Actions taken Card B
Traffic Accident Report Name of the injured Occupation Details of the accident: Date Time Place Injuries Cause Actions taken Tom Smith Truck driver 2nd April 2:30 a.m. 3rd Street near a supermarket Cuts, bruises, shock Driver fell asleep, lost control of the truck, which hit a tree Police notified Family notified Victim sent to hospital for treatment Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. What does the passage mainly tell us?
a. How Jan and five others were helped out of an elevator by firefighters. b. How Jan rescued five passengers in an elevator. c. How Jan saved himself and five others. d. How Jan escaped death with his courage and wisdom. 2. Which of the following is true?
a. Jan and the five others had only one hour to escape from the damaged building.
b. After they kicked the wall apart they found themselves in the corridor of the 50th floor of the building. c. The North Tower collapsed at 10:23 a.m. that day. d. It took Jan 95 minutes to escape death. 3. What does Jan do? a. He’s a window cleaner. b. He’s an elevator operator. c. He’s an elevator cleaner. d. He’s an office worker.
4. Which of the following can best describe Jan? a. Kind-hearted. b. Strong-willed. c. Calm. d. Brave.
Script:
On the morning of September 11th Jan was in an elevator of the North Tower of the World Trade Center with his window cleaning equipment when the building was hit.
There were five other passengers in the elevator. All of a sudden the building shook and the elevator stopped and began to swing to and fro. Although the men were not aware of it, they had only 100 minutes to get out of the damaged tower before it would crumble to dust.
Soon smoke began coming into the elevator. The men realized that something was wrong. They forced the doors open only to find a wall in front of them! The wall had the number 50 on it and they knew they were at the 50th floor. But their elevator normally did not stop there, so there was no opening for them to escape. Jan decided that they would have to make their own.
Knowing that the wall was made of a material that could be cut through, Jan grabbed his 18-inch squeegee, and began chopping away at the wall. When he felt tired, others helped.
Starting with one small hole, they cut through the three-inch deep wall and then widened it. Then they kicked the wall, two at the same time. The wall cracked apart. They saw before them a 2-by-4 inch metal beam and a tile wall! Refusing to give up, the desperate men bent the beam, knocked a hole through the tiles, then made the opening big enough to squeeze through. Astonished, firefighters took them to the nearest staircase and they ran down flight after flight. By 10:23, when Jan and the others emerged on the street, they had used up 95 of the 100 minutes they had. Five minutes later, the North Tower crumbled.
Unit 11 Famous People
Part A
Listening Strategy
Identifying the Speaker’s Attitude
As was said in the previous lesson, a speaker’s attitude or opinion towards what he / she is discussing often has to be inferred. We need to rely on information embedded in his / her choice of details, use of language, intonation, etc. to find out what the speaker’s attitude is towards his / her subject matter, or whether his / her opinion of the character depicted is favorable or not.
Now you are going to hear three short passages. Choose one or two words from the following box to describe the speaker’s attitude towards the character discussed in each passage.
neutral negative positive sympathetic respectful disrespectful
1. What is the speaker’s attitude towards Napoleon?
Neutral. (The speaker mainly gives a factual account of Napoleon’s life even though he holds that Napoleon waged wars against many countries.)
2. What is the speaker’s attitude towards Tom Cruise?
Positive. (“World renowned actor”, “almost everyone respects him” and “international star” show the speaker’s attitude.) 3. What is the speaker’s attitude towards Warren Edward Buffett?
Positive, respectful. (In “regarded as one of the world’s greatest stock market investors”, the choice of the word “great” indicates the speaker’s attitude.) Script:
1. Napoleon was many things but he was, first of all, remembered as a military leader. Rising from an artillery officer to the commander of the French army, he waged war after war against neighboring countries. In 1804, he declared himself emperor and became the most powerful man in the world. At one time he controlled most of Europe. But Napoleon’s power was short-lived. His defeat came when he decided to attack Russia. Soon the whole of Europe rose against him, eventually forcing him to give up his throne. In 1821, he died alone on the small island of St. Helena.
2. Tom Cruise has always represented cool, but somehow over the last couple of years, he has gone from just another Hollywood pretty boy to a certified world-renowned actor. It seems that everything he touches turns to gold. Not everyone likes him, but at least now almost everyone respects him. His movies make millions; he is an international star — men envy him, and women love him.
3. Warren Edward Buffett is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest stock market investors, and is the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. With an estimated net worth of around US$62 billion, he was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world as of February 11, 2008.
Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about famous people. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. Can you name some famous people you know about? 2. Who impresses you most? Why?
3. Do you want to be famous? Why or why not? 4. Do you know anything about Alan Greenspan? Demo:
3. Do you want to be famous? Why or why not? Positive answer:
People say that fame and fortune (名利) are what almost everybody wants in life. If that’s true, then I am no exception. I have my own ambitions and longing for success. I want to do something useful to the society and contribute to the progress of humanity. I want people to know about my contributions and my name. I think being famous would bring me a fortune and happiness as well. Negative answer:
Being famous may not bring happiness to a person. Along with fortune, it may also bring jealousy or hatred. What’s more, famous people have less privacy. So I am not particularly interested in becoming famous. What I want to do is something that will be useful to humanity as well as meaningful to myself. If I have done a good job, I hope people would recognize my achievement. If I become a little famous in the process, that’s fine. It doesn’t hurt. If people don’t know what I’m doing, I won’t be frustrated, either. Because fame will never be the ultimate goal in my life.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.
I’ve read a biography of ... and I’m deeply impressed by his / her talent in ...
I admire them for their perseverance in / devotion to the pursuit of truth / knowledge / world peace / their dreams. I respect them for their contribution to humanity / science / education / medicine.
I respect them for their contribution to the fight against war / poverty / injustice / racial discrimination / terrorism. I look up to them for their devotion to the cause of peace / space exploration / sports / public health. His / Her most impressive accomplishment is ...
He / She invented … / discovered … / founded … / wrote … / organized ... / made a breakthrough in ... / broke the world record in ... / successfully played the part of ...
I’m a film / football fan. I especially like the film star ... / the football player ... and I know all about him / her.
Celebrities / High-profile people / Famous actors and actresses / Pop singers usually get a lot of media attention / have no privacy. I’m a very private person / I cherish my privacy. I don’t think I’d like to be in the spotlight. As the old saying goes, “It’s bad for a man to become famous and for a pig to grow fat.” I think being famous is good. All doors are open to famous people.
Famous people can get access to almost everything and everywhere. I’ve heard of Greenspan, but know very little about him.
Greenspan was Chairman of the U.S. Reserve Board for nearly two decades, from 1987 to 2006. Greenspan was the man who usually announced interest rate cuts, wasn’t he?
Greenspan is an American economist. When he served as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, what he said and did unavoidably affected the American economy as well as the world economy. But even Greenspan couldn’t save the American economy from recession.
Listening Tasks
A Musician-turned Economist
Word Bank
stockbroker n. someone whose job is buying and selling stocks and shares for other people 证券和股票经纪人 retailing
n. selling goods direct to customers, usu. in small quantities 零售业
digit n. any of the numbers from 0 to 9 （从0到9的任何一个）数字 develop appreciation consulting chief drive
v. to start to have 产生
n. comprehension, clear perception 鉴赏力
a. providing specialist or professional advice 承接咨询业务的 n. head, leader, director, chairman 首领，领袖，长官 v. to provide the power for 驱动，推动
a musician who has now become an economist 乐师出身
musician-turned economist
的经济学家
Federal Reserve Board 联邦储备委员会 run low withdraw from ...
to run short将耗尽，几乎用光 to drop out of ... 离开……，退出……
New York University’s School of Commerce 纽约大学商学院 NYU
New York University 纽约大学
Wall Street 华尔街 Script
Alan Greenspan, who served as Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board for about two decades from 1987 to 2006, was regarded in those days as one of the most important men by many people in the world.
Greenspan was born on March 6, 1926. His father was a stockbroker and his mother worked in retailing. When he was four years old, his parents divorced and he was raised by his mother in New York.
Young Alan was a shy boy but he was very good at large numbers. When he was only five, his mother would get him to add two three-digit numbers in his head.
He loved baseball and tennis. And, like his mother, he developed a deep appreciation for music. In the mid-1940s he studied briefly at a music school in New York, and then toured the country for a year with a music band. Then he entered New York University’s School of Commerce and graduated with a degree in economics. He got a Master’s degree at NYU in 1949, and shifted to Columbia University to work on his PhD. When his money ran low, he withdrew from graduate school and went to work for the National Industrial Conference Board. He eventually earned a PhD from NYU in 1977.
In the mid-1950s Greenspan opened an economic consulting company. In 1987 he began to work in the Federal Government. His work as Chief of Federal Reserve Board was much the same as the work he did on Wall Street, trying to understand how the economy worked and what drove it, offering suggestions for improvement. He was, however, making less money.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information
Alan Greenspan (born March 6, 1926 in New York City) is an American economist and from 1987 to 2006 was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve of the United States. He currently works as a private advisor, making speeches and providing consulting for firms through his company, Greenspan Associates LLC.
First appointed Fed chairman by President Regan in August 1987, he stayed through four presidencies from Ronald Regan to George W Bush. He retired on January 31, 2006, and was succeeded by Ben Bernanke, an economist from Princeton University.
As chairman, Greenspan was largely responsible for directing U.S. national monetary policy. He was often praised for keeping inflation at very low levels, and was sometimes criticized for the boom-and-bust nature of the economy in the so-called “dot-com” era of the 1990s. Greenspan was considered to be the leading authority on American domestic economic and monetary policy, and his active influence continues to this day. 2. the Federal Reserve Board
a committee of seven governors appointed by the American President to supervise the Federal Reserve System, which is best known to the public for its influence on the interest rates by raising or cutting the amount of money available at any one time in the American financial system.
3. the National Industrial Conference Board
Now called the Conference Board, it is a nonprofit research institution with headquarters in New York and Montreal. It was founded in 1916. It studies business economics and corporate administration and management. 4. Wall Street
Located in lower Manhattan, New York, it is the site of major U.S. stock exchanges and financial institutions, and has been a synonym for U.S. financial interests.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions.
1. How long has Greenspan been Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board according to the passage? a. Almost 20 years. b. 12 years. c. 5 years. d. 4 years. 2. What do you know about his parents?
a. They were poor. b. They divorced. c. They deserted him. d. They moved to New York. 3. What was young Greenspan fond of?
a. Baseball and basketball. b. Tennis and baseball. c. Movies and tennis. d. Sports and music. 4. Which of the following does the passage imply?
a. It is a pity that Greenspan has given up his career as a musician.
b. Greenspan as Chief of Federal Reserve Board could do whatever he liked to do. c. Greenspan’s income was higher when he worked on Wall Street.
d. Greenspan wasn’t very good at his studies since he earned his PhD at the age of 51. 5. Which of the following describes the speaker’s attitude towards Greenspan? a. Positive. b. Neutral. c. Negative. d. Critical.
Exercise 2
Listen to the passage again and fill in the blanks in the following chart with the missing information.
Alan Greenspan
Parents and Childhood Father Mother Born on Grew up in Education In the mid-1940s A 1) stockbroker Worked in 2) retailing 3) March 6, 1926 4) New York Studied at a 5) music school in New York, graduated with a degree in 6) economics from New York University’s School of 7) Commerce In 1949 In 1977 Working Experience After leaving Columbia University In the mid-1950s In 1987
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Talking About Famous People Inquiring When was ... born? And where? What did ...’s parents do? What kind of family was ... from? What’s ...’s family origin? What about ...’s education? Where did ... go to school / college? ... had little formal / a very good education. ... went to a prestigious university in ... ... graduated from ... with a degree in ... What about ...’s career? What about ...’s achievements? What major contributions did ... make? And in what area? ... has devoted his / her whole life to the study / research / exploration of ... ... broke a world record / invented ... / designed ... / discovered ... / made a breakthrough in the area of ... / took the lead in ... / won the first gold medal for ... ... was born on ..., in ... ... came from ... family. ...’s father is / was ... and ...’s mother works / worked at ... Responding Opened an 11) economic consulting company Began to work in the 12) Federal Government Got a 8) master’s degree at NYU Earned a 9) PhD from NYU Worked for the National 10) Industrial Conference Board
How popular is ...? How’s ... liked by the public? How’re ...’s books / movies, etc. received by the public? The stories / novels ... has written enjoy great popularity among the young people. The movies … has made are well loved by the public. What’s the significance of ...’s discovery / invention? The discovery / invention of … is of great significance to mankind.
Additional Vocabulary Nobel Prize winner scientist inventor novelist poet artist astronaut (宇航员) Oscar winner award-winning producer / composer / director / actor / actress celebrated / well-known fashion designer banker economist columnist (专栏作家) supermodel superstar pop star Olympic champion Olympic record holder anchorman / anchorwoman (新闻节目主持人) talk show host / hostess ambitious beautiful bright capable charismatic (有魅力的) committed (有献身精神的) devoted eloquent extraordinary far-sighted generous humorous intelligent irreplaceable open-minded quick-minded resourceful smart tactful (机智老练的) talented gifted unique wise
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: Have you read anything interesting recently? B: Yes, an article about an architect. A: An architect? Who? B: Bei Yuming.
A: Oh, I’ve heard of him. He is a Chinese American. B: Quite right. He was born in 1917 in Guangzhou. A: Where did he go to school?
B: He graduated from a middle school in Shanghai, then went to study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA and in 1940
got a BA in architecture. Then in 1946 he earned an MA in architecture from Harvard University. A: I hear he is world-famous.
B: Yes. In many parts of the world, there are buildings designed by him. The Fragrant Hill Hotel in Beijing is one of them.
Conversation 2
A: Who’s that man in the picture?
B: Don’t you know? Well, I’m not going to tell you, but you may ask me five questions to work out who he was. A: That sounds fun! You said “was”. Do you mean he is no longer alive? B: Yes. That’s Question 1. A: OK. What was his nationality? B: British.
A: When was he born and when did he die? B: That’s two questions. A: Oh, come on.
B: All right. He was born in 1940 and died in 1980. Two more questions left. A: What did he do? B: A singer and songwriter.
A: What were his most famous songs?
B: One of the famous songs he wrote was “A Hard Day’s Night”. A: John Lennon, I bet. B: You got it.
A: And I’ve made it in five questions! B: Good for you.
Now make similar conversations with your partner. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate. Your conversations should include the details given below. 1.
William Henry Gates III Personal: Born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Education: Dropped out of Harvard University after second year. Accomplishments: ● Wrote the first computer language for personal computers. ● At 19, co-founded Microsoft Corporation with Paul Allen. ● At 31, became the world’s youngest billionaire. 2.
Celine Dion Personal: Born in 1968 in Quebec, Canada. Accomplishments: ● At 12, composed a song entitled “It Was Only a Dream”. ● By 1983, became the first Canadian ever to have a gold record in France. ● In 1990, made her first English language record with Unison. ● The theme song of Beauty and the Beast she sang won both a Grammy and an Academy Award. ● In 1996, performed at the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Olympic Games. ● In 1997, recorded the theme song of Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On”.
Part C
Test Your Listening
A Compound Dictation
Listen to the passage three times and supply the missing information.
On June 28, 2008, amid cheers and tears 52-year-old Gates said good-bye to his 1) Microsoft employees. The following is his closing remarks during his 2) farewell event in Redmond: “My life’s work really is about 3) software and working with incredible people. I love working with smart people. I love working with Steve. I love working with all the incredible people here. Even the times that were the 4) toughest, in some ways those are the ones that bond you the most — when IBM decides to attack you, or when some 5) legal ruling isn’t quite right. And you have to do a press conference afterwards.
“The work here combines two things that I think are just so special. One is the 6) long-term impact — the impact on the world of what we do — is incredible. We can always go out and see things that remind us of that. See blind people who, using our accessibility, can browse the Internet. You know, their lives are just totally different because of that. So we can say, wow, this is so 7) impactful. “But I think the second thing, 8) which is that the day-to-day work is fun and enjoyable, that’s actually what’s made it so easy to want to work hard, to want to always improve things, to face up to whatever it is that needs to be done better. 9) So it’s a special group of people who put so much into it. “So let me just close by saying you’ve made it so much for me. 10) There won’t be a day of my life that I’m not thinking about Microsoft, and the great things that it’s doing, and wanting to help. So thank you for making it the center of my life, and so much fun. Thank you.”
Unit 12 The Internet
Part A
Listening Strategy
Finding the Main Idea
Finding the main idea of a conversation is a very important skill in listening comprehension. To acquire this skill, we must cultivate our ability to distinguish between major and minor information. We should learn how to listen for the general sense rather than for the meaning of every word. In fact, it is impossible for us to understand and remember every word uttered by the speaker and it is not necessary to do so. The first step to look for the main idea is to identify the topic the speaker is talking about. The topic is the subject or focus of what is being said and is usually conveyed through the words or phrases the speaker mentions or refers to the most. Then you have to focus your attention on the sentence or sentences that extend the topic to the message the speaker wants to get across to the listener.
You are going to hear three passages about computers and IT education. Listen carefully and complete the answers. 1. The main idea of the passage: Establishing computer labs for the schools in China’s poor rural areas. 2. The main idea of the passage: China is cooperating with India in training software professionals. 3. The main idea of the massage: The computer virus, Code Red II, is about to attack again. Script:
1. Students and teachers at 20 schools in China’s poor rural areas had their own computer labs at the end of 2001. The labs were jointly funded by the China Youth Development Foundation and Coca-Cola (China) Beverages Ltd., which planned to establish more computer labs in 1,200 rural schools.
2. China is now using India’s rich resources and expertise in IT education to meet its great demand for software professionals. An Indian company has recently signed a deal with China to establish a joint venture company in Beijing. It is the first Indian company to invest
in the education of software professionals in China.
3. Code Red II, the world’s most vicious cyber worm, is about to start another attack. Unlike its former peer, “I love you” bug, this time the Code Red series will target Internet servers and the network. Anti-bug experts are calling for greater online security. Part B
Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about the Internet. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. Do you often use a computer? 2. What do you use the computer for?
3. What problems have you encountered when using a computer? 4. What is the Internet?
5. What can you do on the Internet?
6. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet? Demo:
6. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet?
The Internet has contributed a lot to the social development. It has brought great convenience for communication across large distances. It offers a huge amount of information of various kinds. People can find plenty of entertainment online and get services like online banking and shopping, etc. However, it also has some disadvantages. There are many cases of theft of personal information which cause losses of money and privacy. Another threat is viruses which may disrupt the normal functioning of your computer systems. There are also some unhealthy websites on the Internet and could do great harm to the children.
Additional Question for Discussion
What security measures should we take when we use the Internet? Demo:
There are several measures we can take when we use the Internet. First, it is important that we use a secure server when transferring personal information like credit card numbers over the Internet because any stop along the way could log our credit card number. When we use a secure server, the number is encrypted (coded) and looks like gibberish (乱码的) to every computer except the one we are sending the number to. Look for a “secure server” option before entering the credit card number online and the PIN numbers. Second, use anti-virus software to guard your computer from being hacked. Third, when your computer crashes down, ask help from the official maintenance service department. Don’t give the computer to the person that cannot be trusted.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.
I have a computer at home / in my dorm.
I can use the computers at the school library / at an Internet bar.
I type my papers / coursework / use spreadsheets to solve problems / make tables and graphs / access the Internet on my computer.
The computer will suddenly crash / freeze / catch a virus. The mouse sometimes doesn’t work properly. The cursor on the screen doesn’t move.
I can’t start / shut down my computer / download documents from web sites / copy / paste tables to my document. I have set up my Internet account / have a computer with Internet access / can access the Internet on school computers. I spend every single moment of my spare time on the Internet.
I sometimes spend hours a day surfing the Internet / chatting with people on the Internet.
You can reach others within seconds by e-mail / send e-mail to anyone if you know his or her e-mail addresses. You can chat / engage in active discussion with friends, relatives, or strangers on topics of shared interests. You can make friends / download software / do shopping / hunt for jobs on the Net. You can express your viewpoints in your blog. Life online is very informative / attractive / colorful.
The Internet provides up-to-date information on a very wide range of subjects / covers almost every area of study / gives you a sense of connectedness to people across the world.
Students can widen their knowledge of the world through the Internet.
The Internet liberates teachers and students from the old constraints / offers high-quality teaching and study materials. The Internet provides extra fun for relaxation.
People can play real-time computer games / listen to their favorite music / enjoy new Hollywood films over the Internet. The Internet does wonderful things but accessing it can be quite expensive for a student.
Spending too much time on the Internet may keep students away from their schoolwork / cause some students to skip classes / hinder students from learning proper social skills.
Listening Tasks Nathen Dees
Word Bank
surf screen
v. to search through a computer network for information or entertainment 在网上浏览 n. the flat surface of a computer monitor on which pictures or words are displayed 屏幕
Playing games online for hours and hours is very harmful to one’s health.
You may lose all your data if your computer is attacked by a virus / suddenly crashes.
You may find your privacy invaded if you do not set up a powerful firewall to protect your computer from hackers. Hackers can attack computers / change users’ passwords / deny users’ access / steal data / commit economic crimes.
desperate a. nearly hopeless 绝望的 exclaim stare ambulance crew
v. to cry out suddenly because of surprise 惊呼
v. to gaze intently, esp. with wide open eyes 目不转睛地看
n. a vehicle specially equipped to take injured or sick people to the hospital 救护车
n. all the people who work together 一队工作人员
alarm call emergency call 求救呼叫 be linked up with to be connected to 与……接通 ring up (chiefly BrE) to telephone 打电话 Nathen Dees （男子名） Steffi Marks
（女子名）
Heilbronn a town in southwest Germany 海尔布隆（德国西南部城市） Script:
On a wet Sunday morning in Sydney last year, 13-year-old Nathen Dees switched on his computer. He was surfing the Net, looking for someone to talk to, when he saw a message on his screen from a girl named Steffi who was online:
“H-E-L-P”
“What’s the matter?” Nathen typed.
“I can’t breathe. Help me!” came the desperate reply. “Is this a game?” asked Nathen, rather annoyed.
“No, it isn’t. I’m having trouble breathing. I can’t get out of my chair,” replied Steffi.
The alarm call was not a joke. Steffi Marks was a 20-year-old university student working on a history project alone in her house in Heilbronn, Germany. While surfing the Net for information, she felt a sudden pain in her legs. She tried to get out of her chair, but she couldn’t move. As the pain moved to her chest and made breathing almost impossible, she typed her cry for help.
“Can you call 000?” Nathan asked. He waited and got a shock when her reply came. “What is 000?”
000 is the emergency service number in Australia, but Steffi didn’t know she was linked up with an Australian, and Nathen hadn’t realized till then that he was talking to someone outside Australia.
“Where are you?” he asked.
There was a long pause and finally the letters appeared, “Heilbronn, Germany.” Nathen exclaimed in surprise. He stared at the screen. Someone in a country far away needed his help.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get help for you.” Nathen typed back. “What’s your home address, Steffi?” Steffi sent back her address and added that the pain was getting worse.
Nathen quickly rang up the international operator and asked to be put through to Germany. He explained the situation to the operator there and gave her Steffi’s address. Then he typed back, “Hold on, Steffi. Help is now on the way.” He waited anxiously for a reply.
Meanwhile, in Heilbronn, an ambulance crew got the emergency call and sped towards the address with two police officers. Once at Steffi’s house, they broke down the door and found her in great pain over the keyboard. She was able, however, to write one more thing to her Australian rescuer. The message Nathen had been waiting for finally flashed onto the screen.
“They are here. Thanks. Bye.” Steffi was finally safe, thanks to a young boy on the other side of the world.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Sydney
the most populous city in Australia, situated in the southeast coast of the country. It is the state capital of New South Wales, and the site of the first British colony in Australia. The city has hosted a number of international sporting, political and cultural events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics. The Sydney Opera House with its modern design is a favorite among tourists. 2. Is this a game? Are you joking? 3. 000
the emergency telephone number in Australia. The emergency number differs from country to country. Below is a table showing the emergency numbers used in a few countries. Country China Australia Germany United Kingdom United States and Canada 4. Heilbronn
a medium-sized town in southwestern Germany located directly on the river Neckar. It is surrounded by beautiful villages and rolling hills that are covered in vineyards. The town is known for its wine industry.
Police 110 000 110 or 112 999 or 112 911 112 Medical 112 Fire 119
Exercise 1
You are going to hear a story that happened on the Internet. Listen carefully and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. 1. What is the main idea of the passage?
a. A teenager, while surfing the Internet, came upon an emergency call for help.
b. A teenager responded promptly to a call for help on the Internet from a stranger far away and saved her life. c. A student suddenly fell ill and sought help on the Internet. d. A student was very sick, but she held on until help arrived. 2. In which country does the teenager live? a. Austria. b. Australia. c. Germany. d. Poland.
3. In which country does the student live? a. Austria. b. Australia. c. Poland. d. Germany. 4. How did the teenager feel when he learned where the student lived? a. Much annoyed. b. Very much surprised. c. Quite excited. d. Completely shocked.
5. What did the teenager do after he received the message? a. Called an ambulance to the student’s home. b. Went on with his surfing on the Internet.
c. Put a call to Germany through an international operator. d. Informed the student’s parents about her condition. 6. What could be inferred from the story?
a. The teenager knew exactly how to act in a case of emergency. b. The teenager and the student had been pen-friends for some time. c. The student could find no help from her own country. d. The student would have been healthy if she were not online. Exercise 2
Listen again and complete the following sentences with the information you’ve got from the recording. Then number the sentences from 1 to 5 to put them in the right order.
4 An emergency call reached an ambulance crew where the student lived. 2 Nathen learned that the message came from a student far away who had trouble breathing and moving. 5 Nathen received the student’s thanks soon after the rescuers came to her help. She was finally safe. 1 Nathen was surfing the Net for fun when he received an urgent message for help. 3 After learning about her home address, Nathen rang up the international operator and asked the operator to put a call through to the student’s country.
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Expressing Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction Inquiring About How Someone Feels Towards Something or Someone Else What do you think of the Internet? Are you happy with the computer you bought recently? It’s great / wonderful / perfect / terrific! I really like it. Yes. I’m really pleased with it. It works fine for my needs. I can’t say how satisfied I am. Do you care much for net-chatting? Of course. It’s a great pleasure to discuss topics of shared interest with others. I don’t think much of the Internet. What about you? Well, I think it’s the greatest thing we’ve ever had. The Internet provides us with up-to-date information on almost everything. What about the sound clips I downloaded for you? Oh, they’re really good. Excellent, in fact. They are just what I wanted. How about the document you asked me to download from the Internet? Is it OK? How do you like / Are you satisfied with your new cordless mouse? I wonder whether you’re satisfied with the new software. Why are you dissatisfied with your computer?
Additional Vocabulary virtual reality (虚拟现实) laptop (手提电脑) desktop computer (台式电脑) e-mail e-mail address software (软件) word processor (文字处理器) hard drive (硬盘驱动器) floppy disk (软盘) CD-ROM (只读光盘) cyberspace (网络空间) information highway terminal (终端)
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: What do you think of your university? B: It’s the best, I think. A: Really?
B: Yes. Our campus is very beautiful. And, on top of that, it has a very modern information center with lots of computers with Internet
access. We can use them for work and play. That’s really fantastic!
to send / receive / read an e-mail to access the Internet to have Internet access to surf the cyberspace / Web / Internet (网上冲浪) to download ... from a web site to attach a file to an e-mail to track down information to keep in contact with sb. via e-mail to keep up-to-date in one’s field using the Internet to purchase sth. online to use the information highway portable powerful Very good. It’s so easy to use. To tell the truth, I’m rather disappointed. I find it difficult to use. I’m sorry but it’s very disappointing. It gives me a lot of trouble. It isn’t as powerful as I thought. Well, I’m afraid it’s not at all what I wanted. Expressing Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction
A: I’m glad you like it. But you’d better not spend too much time on the Internet. B: Of course not. I still have to eat and rest.
Conversation 2
A: What are you doing now, Tom?
B: I’m downloading some sound and video clips from a website. A: They’re the latest releases, I suppose. B: Yes. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. A: Really? Oh, that’s terrific! I’d like to see that movie. B: Are you online too, Susan? A: Of course.
B: Then you can download the clips too, you know.
A: Well, but I like chatting with people on the Web more. We talk about everything: sports, books, movies and even romance. It’s a
real pleasure.
B: Yeah, that must be fun, too. Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. You are asked about what you think of the computer you are using. Say that you are satisfied with it.
2. You are asked about what you think of the Internet. Express your satisfaction and say what you like to do most online. Part C
Test Your Listening
A Conversation
Listen to the conversation and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. What are the two speakers doing? a. They’re having a chat about the Internet. b. They are talking about how to use the Internet.
c. One is interviewing the other about the use of the Internet. d. They are talking about the difference between the Internet and e-mail. 2. Mostly for what does the man use the Internet? a. Chatting online. b. Finding information. c. Joining in news groups. d. Looking through libraries. 3. How often does the man go online? a. Two or three hours a week. b. Around four to nine hours a week. c. Less than three hours a week. d. About four hours a week. 4. What do you know about the man?
a. He knows it’s important to limit himself in using the Internet.
b. He can’t use the Internet at daytime. c. He can’t resist the temptation of the Internet. d. He is only a beginning user of the Internet. Script:
W: When did you get started on the Internet, David?
M: Oh, about a year ago. I was doing a lot of e-mail and I got started through that really. M: So there’s a difference between the Internet and e-mail?
M: Yeah, e-mail is just like having a mailbox in your computer and the Internet is like the biggest research library in the world, but
there’s more than that.
W: Well, tell me a bit more about that.
M: OK, Basically there are three things you can use the Internet for: finding information, joining in news groups, and chatting online,
like on a telephone, only you type your messages rather than say them. W: And you use it for all three?
M: Not really. I use it mostly for finding information, you know, looking through university libraries, things like that. W: Uh huh.
M: And I chat online with my brother in New York. W: Why don’t you just call him? M: Well, it’s a lot cheaper. W: How often do you go online?
M: Let me see. I try to limit myself. I guess I use it about two or three times a week for about a couple of hours each time. I have to
stop myself. There’s this real temptation to just browse, you know. W: And when do you use it? Do you have a regular time?
M: Actually like a lot of people. I use it at cheap rate times, early in the morning or late at night.
W: I see. And one more thing, do you have any tips for anyone who might be interested in using the Internet?
M: Yeah, I guess I could say a few things. Definitely only use it at cheap rate times. That’s the first thing. And try to limit your time. And
don’t get sidetracked. W: Thanks for joining us, Dave. M: Thank you.
Unit 13 Human Virtues
Part A
Listening Strategy
Identifying the Topic
To find out the topic of a passage, we need to pay special attention to three things: 1) to its first sentence because the first sentence is often the topic sentence; 2) to sentences near its end since the concluding sentences usually give a summary of the major points of a passage; 3) to the words and expressions that appear repeatedly in the passage. All these give us clues as to what the topic of that passage is.
Now you are going to hear three short passages. Choose an appropriate topic from the following box to match each of the passages.
Topics a. Different kinds of virtues b. Some people need more help than children do c. The virtue of self-control d. Wisdom, the most important virtue e. Self-control and caring f. Teaching children to offer help to others
1. ( f ) 2. ( e ) 3. ( d ) Script:
1. Although children have little or no money of their own, they certainly have the capacity to be “givers”. As children often need so much help — even with everyday things, they might think that they are the only ones who should be helped. But you can let them know that everyone in this world needs some kind of help, and that some people need more help than others.
Encouraging children to be helpful is one of the best ways to help them develop a charitable attitude, and that’s an attitude that hopefully will grow all through their lives.
2. What is self-control? Self-control is listening to your friend talk when you want him to listen to you.
Being quiet in the library takes self-control, especially when a friend comes in and you want to call to him.
What is caring? When you help a turtle cross a path in the park so he will be safe — that’s caring. When you leave flowers to bloom so others can enjoy them too — that’s caring.
3. Plato thought there are four virtues: 1) wisdom, 2) courage, 3) temperance, or self-control, and 4) justice. The most important of these is wisdom, which is knowledge of what is truly good. People who have wisdom and, as a result, know what is truly good, will tend to do what is right. These people will act in their own interest and be in harmony with themselves. This harmony is the basis of all justice. People who are just, in Plato’s view, will tend to have other virtues as well. Part B
Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about human virtues. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. Can you name some good qualities that human beings possess? 2. What kinds of virtues are recognized by our society? 3. Which is more important, beauty or virtue? Why? 4. What kind of virtue do you value most? Why?
5. What do you think is the worst kind of human vice, greed, envy, or cruelty? Why? Demo:
1. Can you name some good qualities that human beings possess?
I think there are many different answers to this question. We human beings possess good qualities such as honesty, kindness, modesty, optimism, faithfulness, dependability, and helpfulness, etc. Because of the cultural differences, different nations around the world may have their own standards of good qualities. For example, women in Arabic countries are expected to be humble and reserved while the women in the U.S. are encouraged to be outgoing and independent.
4. What kind of virtue do you value most? Why?
In my opinion, honesty is a quality which is very rare among human beings. There is an English saying that goes, “Honesty is the best policy.” Honesty may cause painful feelings sometimes but it will go a long way. When people know you are an honest person, they will trust you in the long run even though they might feel hurt by your honesty at certain times. On the other hand, if you try to tell a lie for a benefit, you might be successful for a short period of time. However, one lie very often leads to another. Before long you would be found out and lose your credibility. Then you would be in a situation where no one would trust you even if you are telling the truth.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the questions.
There are many good qualities, or virtues, in human beings.
Every society recognizes / accepts / promotes certain virtues in its members.
Honesty, loyalty, truthfulness, courage, perseverance, friendliness, kindness, generosity, selflessness, sympathy, charity, thriftiness, forgiveness, patience and cooperation — all these good qualities are examples of human virtues.
I value honesty / courage / cooperation most.
To be honest is to be truthful / to tell no lies / to be trustworthy.
Courage enables people to face challenges, setbacks, frustrations and dangers fearlessly. The ability to cooperate with others is essential in getting things done / for a successful career. The spirit of forgiveness is needed for countries / enemies to solve conflicts.
As the saying goes, virtue is far fairer than beauty / beauty without virtue is a flower without perfume, for beauty is but skin deep but virtue never grows old.
Patience and perseverance are needed in every kind of human activity / will enable us to get whatever we want. Greed / Cruelty / Envy / Vanity / Untruthfulness / Corruption / Unkindness is the worst kind of human vice.
Sympathy for the suffering / the needy / the weak / those who suffer / those who are in need / those who are weak makes us caring persons / should be cultivated from childhood.
Listening Tasks
Professor Sabbatucci’s Noble Act
Word Bank
noble a. worthy 高尚的
scene n. a place where an event or action happens （事件）发生地点，现场 trace
v. to find by searching carefully and methodically （根据踪迹）仔细寻找
motorist n. a person who drives a car 驾车者
lire n. plural for lira, the unit of Italian currency before 2002 里拉（原意大利货币单位lira的复数形式） conscience n. sense of right and wrong 良心；道德心 anonymity n. the state of not revealing one’s name 无名，匿名 guarantee v. to promise; to assure 许诺；保证
hand over to give (sth. to sb. esp. after being asked or told to do so) 交出 trick ... into ... turn out
to deceive ... into ... 骗……做…… to prove to be the case 原来（是）
burst into tears to start crying suddenly 突然哭起来 Vinicio Sabbatucci （人名） Script:
A thief who dropped a winning lottery ticket at the scene of his crime has been given a lesson in honesty. His victim, who picked up the ticket, managed to trace him, and handed over the cash.
The robbery happened last Saturday when maths professor Vinicio Sabbatucci, 58, was changing a tire on an Italian motorway. Another motorist, who stopped to “help”, stole a suitcase from his car and drove off.
The professor found the dropped ticket and put it in his pocket before driving to his home in eastern Italy. Next day, he saw the lottery results on TV and, unfolding the ticket, realized it was a winner. He claimed the 60 million lire prize.
Then began a battle with his conscience. Eventually, he decided he could not keep the money despite the fact that he had been robbed.
He advertised in newspapers and on radio, saying: “I’m trying to find the man who robbed me. I have 60 million lire for him — a lottery win. Please meet me. Anonymity guaranteed.”
Professor Sabbatucci received hundreds of calls from people. All of them tried to trick him into giving them the cash. But there was one voice he recognized — and he arranged to meet the man in a park.
The robber turned out to be a 35-year-old unemployed father of two children. He gave back the suitcase and burst into tears. He could not believe what was happening. “Why didn’t you keep the money?” he asked. The professor replied:“I couldn’t because it’s not mine.”
Then he walked off, ignoring the thief’s offer of a reward.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information
All societies and religions have their own moral principles. But certain qualities are accepted as virtues around the globe. Among these are honesty, truthfulness, courage, sympathy, justice, perseverance, etc. Similarly certain weaknesses such as greed, deceit, envy, cruelty, vanity, etc. are condemned by mankind in general as vices. It is common belief that virtue will triumph over vice. 2. 60 million lire
This equals 27,760 U.S. dollars.
3. Then began a battle with his conscience.
To the professor, the temptation of the large sum of money was great, but it would be against his conscience to take it. So, whether to yield to the temptation or maintain his integrity as an honest man was a painful struggle for the professor. 4. Anonymity guaranteed.
The professor promised that he would not reveal the name of the thief to the public. 5. The robber turned out to be ... It was discovered that the robber was ...
Exercise 1
Listen to the recording and choose the right answer to complete each of the following sentences. 1. When the maths professor was driving home, _______________. a. his car broke down b. his car was stopped by a robber c. his car collided with another one d. his car lost a tire
2. One driver passing by stopped and ________________. a. offered his lottery ticket to the professor b. gave him some advice and then drove off c. pretended to offer help d. changed a tire for him
3. When the professor realized that the lottery ticket was a winner, ________. a. he decided to return it to its owner immediately b. he decided to keep it c. he was beside himself with joy
d. he had a painful struggle deciding whether to keep it or return it 4. The lesson of the story is that _________________. a. we must not take what is not ours b. we must never accept a thief’s reward c. we must be brave enough to admit our mistakes d. we must not be taken in by those who pretend to help 5. The topic of the story is _____________________. a. the struggle between good and evil b. honesty
c. education and virtue d. crime and punishment
Exercise 2
Listen to the recording again and fill in the blanks with the missing information.
Professor Sabbatucci’s Noble Act Time: last Saturday Place: Italy People: a 58-year-old maths professor and a 35-year-old unemployed father What happened: While pretending to help the professor change a tire, a thief stole a suitcase from the latter’s car, but in doing so he dropped his lottery ticket at the scene. It was later picked up by the professor. Next day, the professor learned from TV that the ticket was a winner. To return or keep the prize troubled the professor’s conscience but in the end he decided to return the money to its owner. By advertising in newspapers and on radio, he found the very man, though there were hundreds of people trying to trick him into giving them the cash. Thus 60 million lire were handed over to the owner. This was quite beyond the thief’s expectation. The Professor’s noble act moved him to tears.
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Expressing Real and Unreal Conditions Inquiries What would you do if you saw a little boy slip and fall on the sidewalk? If an elderly woman fainted in the street, would you help send her to hospital? What would you do if you happened to see a little boy fall into a river? If I were at the scene I’d jump into the river to rescue him right away. Would you go and help put out the fire if you saw a burning house? I would first call 119. Sure / Certainly. I’d do so without a second thought. Responses I’d help him up, of course.
How would you react if you witnessed a robbery in your next-door neighbor’s home? Suppose you had picked up a large sum of money, would you do your best to trace its owner? To be honest, I would feel too scared to do anything. I would call 110 at once for help. I don’t know if I would go to such trouble. I think I would hand the money over to the police. If you were the professor in the story, would you have done the same? I believe so.
Additional Vocabulary charitable (慈善的；宽容的) cooperative courageous faithful friendly generous gentle honest just loyal
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: That was a touching story we heard, wasn’t it?
B: Yes. The professor is really a noble soul. Not many people would have done that. A: Well, if you were in his position, what would you do? B: I think I’d do exactly the same thing. A: Why?
B: You see, the professor’s act moved the thief to tears. If what I do can awaken a criminal’s conscience, I’d be only too happy. A: That’s a reward in itself, isn’t it? B: Yes. And more valuable than money.
Conversation 2
A: I saw on TV last night that an old lady was knocked over by a vehicle. B: Was she seriously injured?
A: I think so. But she had been lying there helplessly for some time before the police arrived at the scene. The driver drove off and
passers-by pretended not to see her.
B: That’s unbelievable. How could they be so cold-hearted? A: Horrible, isn’t it? Some people are so mean.
B: Suppose you had been one of the passers-by, what would you have done? A: I would have rushed her to a hospital and notified her family as soon as possible. B: So would I. It’s only right to offer a helping hand to those in need. Don’t you think so? A: Absolutely. I wish everyone in our society would be more caring. Exercise
patient prudent (小心谨慎的) selfless sympathetic truthful wise to have self-control to place oneself after others to be ready to help others to be respectful to one’s elders
Now make similar conversations with your partner according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. Suppose you are walking along a river, and suddenly you hear a little boy crying for help in the river, but you cannot swim. What would you do to try to save the boy?
2. Suppose you are at home, preparing for an exam. And an old lady next door suddenly falls ill and asks you to accompany her to a hospital far away. Would you go with her?
3. Suppose you are being interviewed for a very good position in a large company. The interviewer suddenly tells you that he has recognized that you are the person who saved her daughter from a fire last year. In fact, you are not. Would you tell the truth or not?
Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. Which of the following is true of Christina?
a. She went traveling with her family in many parts of Kenya. b. She spent four days with the Samburu tribe people in Kenya. c. She spent her last summer vacation with a tribe people in Kenya. d. She took many pictures of children in Kenya. 2. What did Christina do to help the Samburu tribe people? a. She gave them 200 dollars out of her own savings.
b. She taught them to paint pictures and paid them a lot of money. c. She taught the children how to paint pictures and turn them into cards. d. She bought the children’s paintings and sold them back home. 3. What did she do with the profit money from sales during the last Christmas season? a. She used it to train the tribe people to make beaded bracelets and other ornaments. b. She used it to build a dam, buy cows, and pay medical bills for two children. c. She used it to buy cows for poor families. d. She used it to build a children’s hospital. 4. What can we learn from the story?
a. Without Christina’s Samburu Project, the tribe people would not be able to survive. b. The Samburu people are born artists and craftspeople. c. Christina is a good artist. d. Christina is a caring girl. Script:
On a trip to Kenya with her family, 17-year-old Christina spent four days with the Samburu tribe people. Two years of drought had killed their cattle and left the tribe with nothing to eat. Christina wanted to help them.
For fun, she taught the children how to paint and the children came up with amazing drawings of animals. Christina decided to turn the paintings into cards and sell them back home. She paid the children $200 of her own money for the pictures. “That fed them for two and a half weeks,” she said.
It was then that she got the idea of paying the tribe people for their crafts, which she’d sell in local stores. Her goal was to raise enough money to buy a cow for each family and to dam the nearby springs so the tribe would never be troubled by droughts again. Obtaining a loan from her parents, she started the Samburu Project.
Now the men and women there are making beaded bracelets and other ornaments. And the children are painting giraffes and zebras. Christina sets aside every penny of profit for the tribe. Sales during last year’s Christmas season yielded $10,000 in profit. She was able to collect enough money to buy the cows, build the dam and even pay the medical bills of a girl who had a brain tumor and a boy badly burned in a fire.
Christina’s enthusiasm is catching. When her friends learned about this, they also wanted to buy a cow. That gave her another idea: people could donate $50 to purchase a cow for the Samburu people. By now 67 people have done so.
Christina adds what she can to the kitty. “I take the money I would spend on CDs or a soda and throw it into a jar for the Samburu.”
Unit 14 Culture
Part A
Listening Strategy
Finding the Sequence of Events in a Narrative
When we listen to a narrative, it is important to follow the sequence of events so that we do not lose track of how a story or an
event begins, develops and ends. A useful way is to pay attention to time expressions, such as “at first”, “in the beginning”, “by that time”, “by then”, “later”, “after a few years”, “after a while”, “soon”, and “in the end”. We should also listen for specific periods of time and dates or years like “in the 20th century”, “in 2009”, “on May 20th”, etc. If we put together the information that follows such time expressions we can usually follow the sequence of events in a narrative.
Listen to the passage and complete the chart below.
How the Hills Family Won the Copyright to the Song “Happy Birthday to You” Time In 13 Event Mildred and Patty Hill, two American kindergarten teachers, composed the song “Good Morning to All” to greet their students every morning. Later The title of the song was known as “Good Morning to You” when it was used for children to greet their teacher. In 1924 The song appeared in a book of music edited by Robert Coleman. And a second verse “Happy Birthday to You” was added to it. The writer of the lyrics to the second verse remained unknown. By mid-1930s The song appeared repeatedly in movies, radio shows, and Broadway musicals without the permission of the Hill family. In 1934 Jessica Hill filed a suit and won the copyright to the song “Happy birthday to You” for her elder sisters. She proved in court that “Happy Birthday to You” was actually “Good Morning to All” with different lyrics. From then on Script:
Every time the song was sung publicly, the Hill family gets paid. In the English-speaking world, it is customary to sing the song “Happy Birthday to You” to the birthday person. Do you know that it was originally written as a song to greet students in the morning? Two American kindergarten teachers, Mildred Hill and her sister Patty Hill wrote the song. In 13, Mildred, who studied music, came up with the melody and Patty added some lyric to it and the song became “Good Morning to All”, which they sang every morning to their students. And the lyrics ran like this: “Good morning to you. Good morning to you. Good morning, dear children. Good morning to all.”
Later the title of the song was known as “Good Morning to You” when it was used for children to sing it to their teacher. And the
third and fourth lines became “Good morning, dear teacher. Good morning to you.”
In 1924 the song appeared in a book of music edited by Robert Coleman. And a second verse, “Happy Birthday to You”, was added to it. But it is unclear who supplied the words to the second verse.
This second verse quickly became more popular than the first, and within a short time of the book’s publication, the song was known to all as “Happy Birthday to You”. And by mid-1930s it was used frequently in movies, radio shows, and Broadway musicals without the Hill family’s permission. A third sister, Jessica Hill, decided to act on behalf of her elder sisters. She filed a suit to prove that “Happy Birthday to You” was their song with different lyrics. She won in 1934, and now every time “Happy Birthday to You” is sung publicly, the Hill family gets paid. Part B
Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about culture. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. Do you often go shopping?
2. Where do you usually buy grocery? Supermarkets or at a farmer’s market? 3. Is there anything that annoys you when you go shopping in a supermarket? 4. Have you ever heard of “drive-in restaurant / cinema / service in a bank”? 5. What can be “drive-in grocery shopping”? Demo:
4. Have you ever heard of “drive-in restaurant / cinema / service in a bank”?
Yes, I’ve heard of “drive-in”, which is a type of fashionable service in the West. A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out to take orders and return with food, encouraging diners to remain parked while they eat. At a drive-through restaurant, conversely, customers wait in a line and pass by one or more windows to order, pay, and receive their food, and then take their meals elsewhere to eat.
Additional Question for Discussion What is culture shock? How to overcome it? Demo:
Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term expresses the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate. The feeling of culture shock can usually set in after the first few weeks of arriving in a new country. Since you have never encountered a particular situation in your own country, the discrepancy between your culture and the experience in foreign countries may conflict with your expectations, and thus make you feel out of place.
Probably, the best thing to do is to be open to differences and be flexible to change. Differences are not good or bad, but just common phenomena in society. Accepting the fact that people do things differently is the first step to understanding culture shock. Be willing to try new things and avoid criticizing others. By doing this, you’ll be able to adjust to any new environment.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.
I usually go shopping in a supermarket / online.
Supermarkets offer almost all kinds of things we need in daily life. It’s so convenient. Shopping in a big supermarket can be quite time-consuming / take up a lot of my time.
Very often I need to spend hours getting all I need / loading my cart with groceries and other things. There are usually long lines at check-out points, especially at weekends.
For people who drive to a supermarket to do shopping, there’s always the trouble of finding a parking space. Drive-in service at banks saves a lot of time for busy people / people who have little patience to wait in long lines. Drive-through restaurants are restricted to fast food restaurants because the food they serve is easy to prepare. Drive-through restaurants are convenient for people who need to grab something to eat in a hurry. A drive-in cinema is a cinema designed for people to remain seated in their cars while watching a film.
Therefore, drive-in service in a bank is a service which enables customers to do banking without having to step out of their cars. I guess drive-in grocery shopping means customers can buy grocery without getting out of their cars. Listening Tasks
Drive-in Grocery Shopping
Word Bank
check-out n. a place at a supermarket where you pay for your goods （超市的）收银台
catalog n. a publication containing details and often photographs of a list of items for sale商品目录 proven
a. that has been proved true 已经得到证实的
print-out n. sth. printed 打印件
code n. a system used for brevity or secrecy of communication in which words, letters, figures or symbols are used to
represent others 密码；代码
load
v. to put a large amount of goods in a shopping cart or some other container 装货
sniff v. to smell sth. by drawing air through the nose in short, audible inhalations（出声地）吸气；嗅 squeeze
v. to firmly press (sth. soft) with one’s fingers （用手指）用力挤压
record time shortest time on record 创纪录的（短）时间 go about to carry on with 做，从事
punch sth. in / into to enter information by typing on the keyboard of a computer 输入信息 fast lane one of the lanes on a road where you can drive at a faster speed 快车道 be comparable to to be similar to 相似的，类似的 Dave Burnstein
Script: Reporter:
In Los Angeles some 1,200 people are doing their weekly grocery shopping in record time without the grocery carts or without the check-out lines. They don’t have to fight for a parking space, or to stand in line, or even to get out of their car. They make up their grocery lists from a 4,000-item catalog and then phone in the item numbers.
Dave Burstein is the vice-president for the Phone-In Drive-Through Market. Now let’s hear what Mr. Burnstein has to
say.
Hi, Mr. Burnstein, can you tell us what makes you start this kind of supermarket?
Dave: Well, we took two ideas that have been proven successful. One was the success of drive through convenience — which has
been proven to be successful with banks and fast food, and then we took the proven success of catalog shopping, and applied both to grocery shopping. Our reason is to save time. We feel we can get customers in and out of here in less than two minutes.
（男子名） （姓）
Reporter: That’s wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Burnstein. Dave: My pleasure.
Reporter: Once your order is in, the computer takes over. The computer turns your grocery list into a print-out. Workers then get the
goods on your list from a warehouse. Meanwhile you go about your business and, three hours later, drive up to the market, punch your code into a terminal, and write a check while your groceries are loaded into your car.
There are disadvantages to this fast lane grocery shopping. You can’t stop and sniff the fish or squeeze the melon. However, I heard no complaints about the freshness of the food. And you pay a $1.50 service charge on each order, but prices are comparable to traditional grocery stores. And as one customer put it, “My time is worth more than a dollar and a half an hour.”
Language and Culture Notes 1. catalog shopping
In Western countries, shopping from catalogs has become an important way of buying all kinds of items, from exotic foods to large appliances. Those catalogs are sent to people by different catalog companies. With a catalog in your hand, you can either place an order over the phone or by mail and the order will be delivered to your doorstep. 2. drive-in grocery shopping
Drive-in grocery shopping has combined the characteristics of a drive-in service with catalog shopping. That means you place your order over the phone from a catalog and then a few hours later you drive to the market to collect your order without having to step out of your car. 3. fight for a parking space
Parking spaces are difficult to find outside a big supermarket, especially during the weekends when most people do their weekly grocery shopping. Sometimes several customers may be eyeing the same available space. But the rule of “first come, first served” is usually honored.
4. phone in the item numbers
call the market and give the numbers of the items you have chosen 5. Phone-In Drive-Through Market
The name means: call in the numbers and drive through the market without having to stop and shop. 6. drive-through convenience
the convenience of driving through a place of business, such as a bank or a fast food restaurant, completing a transaction from one’s car, and driving out. Some banks have outside tellers’ windows to accept deposits from customers. Fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, have outside windows to take customers’ orders. 7. go about your business attend to the work you are doing Exercise 1
Listen to the interview twice and complete the answer to each of the following questions. 1. Why does drive-in grocery shopping appeal to customers?
Because customers don’t need to fight for a parking space, push a grocery cart around in the market, or stand in line at the check-out.
2. Who is Dave Burnstein?
He is the vice-president for the Phone-In Drive-through Market. 3. What are the two proven successful ideas applied to grocery shopping according to Mr. Burnstein?
One is the success of drive-through convenience — which has been proven to be successful with banks and fast food; the other is the proven success of catalog shopping.
4. Why have they applied the two proven successful ideas to grocery shopping? To help customers save time. 5. What are the disadvantages of drive-in grocery shopping?
Customers can’t stop and check if the goods they have ordered are of good quality or not; and they have to pay a $1.50 service charge on each order.
Exercise 2
Listen to the interview once again and write down the procedure of doing drive-in shopping in the table below. The first step has already been written out for you.
Drive-in Grocery Shopping Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Talking About Advantages and Disadvantages Asking About Advantages and Disadvantages What are the advantages of drive-in / online shopping? Responding to Enquiries About Advantages and Disadvantages It saves time / it’s less time-consuming. With online shopping you don’t even need to step out of your home. It’s especially helpful during hot summer and cold winter days. A few clicks on your computer and your purchase is completed and your order will be delivered to your doorstep. Online shopping often gives you a better deal. How superior is drive-in shopping to shopping at a supermarket? What does … appeal to you? It saves time, reduces stress, and is fun. It is a fabulous way to save time and money. What is so good about this equipment? The best thing about it is … It’s user friendly / environmental-friendly. It uses less gas. It’s energy-efficient. It’s less expensive but better in quality than similar products. How does this dictionary compare to that one? It has more entries / idioms / examples / explanations on usage / comparisons of synonyms. It uses simple and clear language to explain difficult words. It’s just the right kind of dictionary for beginners. Drive-in shopping has made shopping much easier and faster. You make up your grocery list from a 4,000-item catalog. You phone in the item numbers of the goods you order. The computer makes a print-out of your list. Workers in the market find the goods on your list in a warehouse. Three hours later, you drive up to the market, and punch your code into a terminal. You write a check while workers load your groceries into your car.
Are there any disadvantages of online shopping? What are the demerits of online shopping? Well, you sort of lose the enjoyment of retail shopping. You can’t try on a jacket, smell a perfume, or squeeze a melon. To name just one, I’d say it lacks the personal touch. There is no clerk to smile at you and say, “Have a good day.” What is the downside of …? One thing that I don’t feel happy about … is … Sometimes the item that arrived at my door is not as good as the one advertised in a catalog / does not meet my expectations. I wonder if you find anything unsatisfactory in …? I’d say … Everything is fine except that …
Additional Vocabulary 24-hour service goods descriptions receipt invoice fake / shoddy goods practical economical superior in quality
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: Drive-in grocery shopping is terrific. You don’t even need to use a grocery cart or stand in line. A phone call can help order
everything you need.
B: But you have to drive to collect the order yourself.
A: That’s true. However, it won’t take much time. In less than two minutes everything is done.
B: That’s where the problem lies. You don’t even have time to stop and check whether your order is of good quality or not. A: I guess you may have a point there. But so far I’ve found nothing wrong with the goods I bought this way. B: You can’t be sure that it will never happen in future.
A: Well, anyway I enjoy drive-in shopping ’cause it saves me a lot of time.
Conversation 2
A: Do you do online shopping?
B: Never. I think online shopping lacks the personal touch. There is no clerk to smile at you and say, “How are you today?”
A: If you’ve never done any, you’ve probably missed the pleasure of shopping from the comfort of your own home. You see, if it is hot
outside, you don’t have to go out in the heat. If there is a foot of snow on the roads and you can’t get out, you can still shop. Also, if you don’t feel well, it’s definitely the way to shop.
B: I guess you may be right. But you can’t pay cash or write a check online. You have to use a credit card. A: Isn’t it easier than paying cash?
B: But don’t you think it’s not safe using a credit card online?
A: You know what, they say using a credit card on the Internet is as safe as using it in a normal store. B: Then maybe I’ll try online shopping one of these days.
convenient time-saving trouble-saving reasonably-priced durable effective unreliable energy-saving
Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. You and your partner are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of retail shopping and online shopping. Retail shopping: buying goods directly from a store in small quantities. Online shopping: shopping done via the Internet.
2. You want to purchase a dictionary. Talk to your partner about whether you should get an English-Chinese dictionary or an English-English dictionary. Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
a. Why young people above 18 in the U.S. prefer to attend local colleges.
b. The reasons why more and more young people in America move back to their parents’ homes rather than live on their own. c. Young people in America should leave home when they reach 18. d. How young people in the U.S. try to cope with the rising costs of housing. 2. What do you know about Sallie?
a. She moved back to her parents’ home mainly because she didn’t have money to buy a new car. b. She felt miserable when she was away from home. c. She was not satisfied with her job as a teacher. d. She doesn’t want to pay much money for rent. 3. What can you learn from the passage?
a. Most parents in America welcome their children’s return to the nest.
b. An away-from-home college education is no longer affordable to middle class people in America. c. Failure in marriage is an important reason for the return to the nest. d. Young people in America have trouble establishing their own identities.
4. What is one of the reasons why most psychologists disapprove of lengthy homecomings? a. Because they are resented by the aging parents. b. Because they are against the American tradition. c. Because they are harmful to the housing industry.
d. Because they are damaging to the growth of the young people. Script:
In America there is a naïve notion that children grow up and leave home when they’re 18, but the truth is far from that. Today 59% of men and 47% of women between 18 and 24 depend on their parents for housing. Most college students now live at home. Also, 14% of men and 8% of women aged 25 to 34 are dependent on their parents for housing. “This is part of a major shift in the middle class,” declares a sociologist at Northwestern University.
Analysts cite a variety of reasons for this return to the nest. First, the marriage age is rising. Second, a high divorce rate and a
declining remarriage rate are sending economically pressed and emotionally battered survivors back to parental shelters. What’s more, for some, the expense of an away-from-home college education has become so high that many students now attend local schools. Even
after graduation, young people tend to stay home because of rising housing costs.
Sallie, 26, moved back to her parents’ home to save enough money to buy a car. Her job as a teacher provided only enough money to cover car payments and an additional loan she had taken out. Once the loan was paid off, she decided to start a modeling career. Living at home, says Sally, continues to give her security and moral support.
Lucille returned home with her two daughters after a divorce. That was 12 years ago. She is 37 now, and she and her daughters still live with Lucille’s mother, who has welcomed having three generations in the same house.
Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on? Most psychologists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake. Offspring, struggling to establish separate identities, can feel a sense of defeat and failure. And aging parents, who should be enjoying some financial and personal freedom, find themselves burdened with responsibilities.
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