New college English
Unit One
I Preparation
III Further Development
II Reading Activities
IV Translation & Writing
Part I
1. Our Leisure Activities
2. Laughter
Preparation
Activity 1 Our Leisure Activities
Directions: Leisure activities can help to relax. Work in groups to
make a list of the things you do for fun in your leisure time. Choose 3
items as the most popular ones.
doing some sports, going to Karaoke
bars, playing cards, going to movies,
watching TV, playing computer games,
dancing, collecting stamps, collecting
coins, going to the pub, traveling,
listening to music, reading novels,
going to a concert, going to theatres
and museums, going shopping
Activity 2 Laughter
Directions: Laughter is a great medicine. Almost all of us
like jokes, appreciate humor, enjoy talk shows, cross-talk
or sketches. Now work in groups to discuss why crosstalk is popular in China.
Activity 2 Laughter
Cross-talk is very popular in China. You can listen to it
everywhere. Its popularity lies in its humorous
language, the performers’ quick wits, their funny
gestures and their presentation skills. Another reason
is that the subject of cross-talk is close to real life so
that it resonates（共鸣）with the audience.
Part II
Reading Activities
1. Pre-reading Questions
2. Text Organization
3. Sentence Study
4. Words & Phrases
Pre-reading Questions
Direction: Do you think humor is an important quality for a person or
a key to getting along with others? Please explain your answer.
Yes. I think so. I like to be with humorous people because
they can make me laugh when I am unhappy. They can
change an awkward situation and help people get rid of
embarrassment by making everybody laugh. With such
people, life becomes more interesting and enjoyable.
Therefore humorous people are like sunshine and are very
popular with others.
Text Organization
Para.1-3
Humor is universal, but people’s sense of humor varies.
Para.4
Even animals have a sense of humor. The author’s dog is a good
example.
Para.5
The typical three parts of a joke
Para.6-12
Different forms of humor
Para.13
Humor will persist even though some professional humorists think
today’s humor is not very intelligent or sophisticated.
Sentence Study
1.
But, what is it that makes a story or a joke funny?
(Line 2)
【译文】那么，到底是什么东西使一个故事或笑话让人
感到滑稽可笑呢？
【句型】本句为强调句型的疑问句，用于强调句子中的
主语。
Sentence Study
2. Why is it that several students in a class will fall out of their chairs
laughing after I tell a joke while the rest of the students look as if
I’ve just read the weather report? (Line 10)
【句型】本句为强调句型的特殊疑问句，用于强调原因状语。句中
it是形式主语， that引导真实主语从句。 句中的两个并列真实主语
是several students…和 the rest of the students…两个主语从句。
laughing after I tell a joke 是现在分词短语做伴随状语修饰
several students。
【例句】Why is it that every time I have a hot date, I break out
with a big zit on my face?
Sentence Study
3. The joke is no less funny because it is so often used. (Line 49)
【句型】这个笑话并没有因为经常讲
而变得不再那么好笑。
【例句】This person is no less
diligent than he used to be.
这个人和以前一样勤奋。
Sentence Study
4. “How come you completely copied somebody else’s
homework?” (Line 66)
【句型】How come: How did it happen ( that ) 为非
正式用语，用于询问，意思是“为什么？是怎么回
事？”，并表示惊讶。
【例句】How come there are no
commercials for bicycles?
Words & Phrases
1. universal (adj.) (Line1, Para1)
1) relating to everyone in the world or everyone in a particular
group or society 普遍的, 全体的
【例句】
1) Karaoke provides universal entertainment.
卡拉OK提供了大众化的娱乐。
2) SARS and bird flu have once caused universal panic.
非典和禽流感曾经引起过普遍的恐慌。
Words & Phrases
2. sense
(v.) (Line 94, Para.12) to have a feeling about something without
being told directly 感觉到，觉察到，意识到
(n.) (Line 16, Para.3) good practical understanding and judgment 见
识；判断力；领悟（常与of连用）
【例句】
1) She sensed that her suggestions were unwelcome.
她发觉自己的建议不受欢迎。
2) No one in their right senses would let a small child go out alone.
凡是有理智的人，谁都不会让那麽小的孩子独自出门。
Words & Phrases
3. trigger (Line 18, Para. 3)(v.) to start a chain of events;
be the immediate cause of (sth. serious or violent) 触
发，引发，为（某严重或暴力的事件的）直接原因
【例句】
1) This incident may trigger a chain reaction.
这一事件可能会引起连锁反应。
Words & Phrases
4. tempt (v.) (Line 28, Para. 4)
1) to try to persuade someone to do something which maybe
unwise or immoral 引诱, 诱惑
2) try to persuade someone to do something by making it seem
attractive 吸引, 引起……的兴趣
【例句】
1) He was tempted into a life of crime by greed and laziness.
他受贪婪和懒惰的驱使步入了罪恶的一生.
2)The warm weather tempted us into going for a swim.
暖和的天气诱使我们去游泳.
Words & Phrases
5. clarification (n.) (Line 95, Para. 12) added information to make
something easier to understand 澄清；阐明
【例句】
1) That newspaper printed clarification of the incorrect statements
about the effect of that medicine on its front page.
那家报纸在其头版澄清了对于那种药效的错误的声明。
2) After I read the clause, I feel it needs some clarification.
读过这一条款之后，我觉得这条需要说明一下。
Part III
Further Development
1. Trying to be Most Entertaining
2. Racking Your Brains
Most Entertaining
Directions: Work in groups to prepare something that will
entertain or amuse your classmates. For example: a
joke. Riddle, song, magic tricks, mime, skit, etc.
present what your group has prepared for your class.
Then vote for the most entertaining group.
Most Entertaining
Jokes:
Bad or Worse
“How is the business?” asked Mike, as he walked into his
friend's dress shop.
“Terrible,” complained John. “Business is awful.
Yesterday I only sold one dress and today it was even
worse.”
“How could it be even worse?” asked Mike.
“Today the customer returned the dress she bought
yesterday.”
Most Entertaining
Game:
Directions: Here is a well-known game! Work in groups of 5 or 6.
Each member of the group has a piece of lined paper and a pen.
Each person begins by writing the first line of a story and a few
more words on the next line. The person then folds over the
paper so that the first line can’t be seen and then gives it to
his/her neighbor. The neighbor can only see the few words on
the next line. He or she must continue the story, fold over the
paper, making sure that there are a few words on the next line,
and then pass on the piece of paper to the next person. This
continues until each member of the group has contributed one
sentence to each of the stories. Then each group reads its
funniest story to the class. (From Games for Adults)
Week-long Holiday Project








 Sample Game: Pass it On
He ran out of the house.
Next day he went to London,
to go to the boat show. This was his dream.
He grew an enormous beard,
because he loved a beautiful girl.
But the monkey bit his finger,
so he was extremely happy, and went to bed.
The next morning, he wins the scholarship.
Racking Your Brains
Directions: Try to solve the following riddles.
What animal carries two hills on its back?
A camel
What goes up but never comes down?
Your age
What gets wet as it dries?
A towel
The longer it stands, the lower it grows.
A candle
Part IV Translation & Writing
1. Translation Skills
2. Writing Practice
Translation Skills
英译汉的长句翻译（１）—概述
Translation Skills
英译汉的长句翻译（１）—概述
英语重形合，句子结构可以借助各种连接手段加以扩展
和组合构成复杂的长句。这类长句可由若干分句、子句、
多种短语及词组构成。而汉语多意合，连词运用得较少，
结构较为自由，以短句居多。因此正确处理长句的翻译
是确保译文忠实、通顺的重要环节。
Translation Skills
We are faced with a choice between using technology to provide
and fulfill needs which have been regarded as unnecessary
or, on the other hand, using technology to reduce the
number of hours of work which a man must do in order to
earn a given standard of living.
我们面临着一种选择：要么利用技术来提供并满足一直被视为并无必
要的各种需求，要么利用技术来缩短人们为了维持一定的生活水
准而必须工作的时数。
Translation Skills
1. 英译汉长句翻译的步骤
英语句子虽然较长，但还是遵循一定的基本结构。
在翻译时，可以按照如下步骤进行：
1.1 句法分析
在英译汉中，首先需要理清原文的基本句法结构，并且判
断出句子的类型，是简单句、并列句还是复合句，并
找出主语和谓语，然后判断出各种修饰成分的关系 以
及句中代词所指代的对象。
Translation Skills
1.2 语言表达
可将长句中各个部分分别译出，并运用一定的方式，根据汉语的特点
不拘泥于原文形式，对译出部分进行整合，确保译文的通顺和流
畅。
e.g.
1) Even when young (1) Blitzen would tease Grandma (2) by very
selectively carrying one of her bedroom slippers into the living
room (3) where Grandma sat in her favorite, comfortable chair
(4).
布利茨恩在很小的时候就常常戏弄外祖母，当外祖母坐在起居室里她
最喜欢的那张舒适的椅子上时，布利茨恩就故意把她卧室里的一
只拖鞋叼到起居室。
Translation Skills
e.g.
2) Whether these stories are cartoons or jokes, told by a
slapstick comedian or a cross-talking team (1), they
appeal to people everywhere as funny stories (2)
because they have a note of reality to them, and the
unexpected punch line is quite funny (3).
无论这些故事是漫画还是笑话，是由演滑稽剧的喜剧演员
说还是由搭档的相声演员讲，都为各地人们所喜爱。
人们喜爱这些有趣的故事，因为它们贴近现实生活，
而且里面那些出人意料的妙语十分有趣。
Writing Practice
Directions: Write a composition on either of the following
topics. Use at least 6 words or phrases in your
composition from the list below.
relaxation take one's mind away entertainment
illusion
pursue
definitely limited appeal to
professional entertaining laughter
in advance
require concert
alternative
popularity
attraction fashion universal
Writing Practice
My Favorite Pastime
I began to like writing when I was a pupil in primary school. I
was imaginative and created many interesting stories at that time.
When I told my stories to my friends on our way home from
school, they enjoyed them. Then telling a story I wrote on the
way back home soon became my regular practice. That made me
really happy. I had never thought of writing as entertainment
before. Sometimes I wrote down my stories and passed them
around among my classmates.
Writing Practice
When I was in high school, I began to like poems. This was
because of the influence of my best friend. She liked poems
very much, so gradually I learned to appreciate poems. When I
am writing poems, I can concentrate for a long time, totally
losing myself. No matter whether I am happy or sad I start
writing poems to express myself.
Let me tell you a little secret. Now I'm writing a science
fiction about time travel. I'm sure it is original and interesting.
However, writing definitely takes time, and how I wish I could
have more time to pursue this hobby. I may not become a
professional writer, but I will always enjoy writing.
Thanks for Your Attention!