Unit 5
Life of millionaires
Book Three
Unit 5
1
Around the topic
2
Reading
3
Language in Use
4
Project
5
Culture Tips
6
Enjoy English
Around the topic
The following is an excerpt of a classic song from the famous American
musical High Society (1956). Listen to the song and answer the following
question: materialistic possession and true love, which is much more
important to the singers?
Who wants to be a millionaire?
I don’t.
Have flashy flunkies everywhere.
I don’t.
Who wants the bother of a country estate?
A country estate is something I’d hate.
Who wants to wallow in champagne?
I don’t.
Who wants a supersonic plane?
I don’t.
Who wants a private landing field, too?
I don’t.
And I don’t ’cos all I want is you.
Warm-up
Who wants to be a millionaire?
I don’t.
Who wants uranium to spare?
I don’t.
Who wants to journey on a gigantic yacht?
Do I want a yacht? Oh, how I do not.
Who wants a fancy foreign car?
I don’t.
Who wants to tire of caviar?
I don’t.
Who wants a marble swimming pool, too?
I don’t.
And I don’t ’cos all I want is you.
Around the topic
Listen to some sentences and note down the words related to
“having a lot of money”. The first one has been done for you.
Words meaning “ having a lot of money”
Adjectives
rich,
prosperous,
well-off,
better-off,
affluent,
wealthy,
well-to-do
Nouns
wealth
luxury
riches
prosperity
fortune
treasure
windfall
Around the topic
You are going to hear three stories about some rich people who
do not spend their money wisely. Listen to the recording twice and
note down the key events while listening. Then work in pairs and retell
the stories to your partner.
Millionaires
What has happened?
Hetty Green
She may be the most miserly millionaire of all time. When her
son fell ill, she wasted so much time trying to find a free medical
clinic that he finally had to have his leg amputated.
Val Johnson She spent the prize money foolishly and had five failed marriages
Alice Hopper
during four years. Now she’s penniless and alone.
The prize money brought her nothing but misery. She quit her
job and left her husband. Her son was killed while driving on the
motorbike which his mother had bought for him. Her business
failed. She now sings in a local Karaoke bar to earn money for
groceries.
BACK
The sayings about money
1.Wisdom in the mind is better than
money in the world.
脑子里充满智慧胜于手中攥满金钱。
2. They who are of the opinion that
money will do everything may well
be suspected of doing everything for
money.
那些认为金钱万能的人很有可能为了金
钱而做任何事情。
3. The real measure of your wealth
is how much you’d be worth if you
lost all your money.
能真正衡量你财富的是当你一无所有
时的个人价值。
4. Only after the last tree has been cut
down;
Only after the last river has been
poisoned;
Only after the last fish has been
caught;
Only then will you find that money
cannot be eaten.
直到最后一棵树被伐倒；
直到最后一条河流被污染；
直到最后一条鱼被捉走；
只有那时你才发现金钱一无所用。
5. Money isn’t the most important
thing in life, but it’s reasonably
close to oxygen on the “gotta have
it” scale.
金钱不是生活中最重要的东西，但又
像氧气一样是不可或缺的。
Reading
Pre-reading Tasks
Reading Comprehension
After-reading Tasks
BACK
Pre-reading Tasks
Before you read, discuss the following
questions in groups:
1. What are the advantages
and disadvantages of being
a millionaire?
BACK
2. It is said that money is a good
servant but a bad master. What
does this saying mean? Do you
agree with it?
Reading Comprehension
Sorrows of the millionaire
Translation
Para. 1~2
1. The millionaire class, a small but growing one into which any of us may be
flung tomorrow by the accidents of commerce, is perhaps the most neglected in
the community. As far as I know, this is the first article that has ever been written
for millionaires.
2. In the advertisements of the manufacturers of the country, I find that
everything is produced for the million and nothing for the millionaire. Children,
boys, youth, gents, ladies, artisans, professional men, even kings and peers, are
catered for; but the millionaire’s custom is evidently not worth having: there are
too few of him. While the poorest have their Rag Fair, a properly organised and
busy market in Houndsditch, where you can buy a boot for a penny, you may
search the world in vain for the market where the￡50 boot, the cloth of gold
bicycling suit, and the Cleopatra claret, four pearls to the bottle, can be
purchased wholesale.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Para. 3
3. Thus the unfortunate millionaire has the
responsibility of tremendous wealth without
the possibility of enjoying himself more than
any ordinary rich man. Indeed, in many things
he cannot enjoy himself more than many poor
men do, nor even so much, for a drum major
is better dressed; a trainer’s stable lad often
rides a better horse; the first-class carriage is
shared by office boys taking their young ladies
out for the evening; everybody who goes down
to Brighton for Sunday rides in the Pullman car;
and of what use is it to be able to pay for a
peacock’s brain sandwich when there is nothing
to be had but ham or beef?
Translation
Reading Comprehension
Para. 4
Translation
4. The injustice of this state of things has not been sufficiently considered. A
man with an income of ￡ 25 a year can multiply his comfort beyond all
calculation by doubling his income. A man with￡ 50 a year can at least
quadruple his comfort by doubling his income. Probably up to even￡250 a
year doubled income means doubled comfort. After that the increase of comfort
grows less in proportion to the increase of income until a point is reached at
which the victim is tired of or even sick of everything that money can purchase.
Reading Comprehension
Para. 5
5. To expect him to enjoy another hundred thousand
pounds because men like money is exactly as if you
were to expect a confectioner’s shop-boy to enjoy two
hours more work a day because boys are fond of sweets.
What can the wretched millionaire do that needs a
million? Does he want a fleet of yachts, a Rotten Row
full of carriages, an army of servants, a whole city of
town houses, or a continent for a game preserve? Can
he attend more than one theatre in one evening, or wear
more than one suit at a time, or digest more meals than
his butler? Is it a luxury to have more money to take
care of, more begging letters to read, and to be cut off
from those delicious Alnaschar dreams in which the
poor man, sitting down to consider what he will do in the
always possible event of some unknown relative leaving
him a fortune, forgets his own situation of being poor?
Translation
Reading Comprehension
Para. 6
Translation
6. And yet there is no sympathy for this hidden sorrow of the wealthy people.
The poor alone are pitied. Societies spring up in all directions to relieve all sorts
of comparatively happy people, from discharged prisoners in the first great joy
of their regained liberty to children dancing and feasting in the luxury of an
unlimited appetite; but no hand is stretched out to the millionaire, except to beg.
In all our dealing with him lies implicit the delusion that he has nothing to
complain of, and that he ought to be ashamed of rolling in wealth whilst others
are starving.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Translation
Para. 1~2
1. 百万富翁是一个虽小却正在扩大成长的阶层，我们当中任何人都可能由于做生意发了横
财，明天就跻身于这个阶层。然而这个阶层在社会上或许是最受忽视的。为百万富翁鸣不平
的小文章，据我所知，这还是第一篇。
2. 从制造商各种各样的广告中我发现，每样商品都是为了百万大众而不是为百万富翁而生
产。这些广告迎合各种各样的人：儿童，少年，青年，绅士，太太小姐，手艺人，职员，甚
至贵族和国王，他们都能得到供应；但是百万富翁的惠顾显然并不值得欢迎，因为他们人数
太少。穷人们有他们的旧货商场，那是在猎狐犬沟的一个货源充足、生意兴隆的市场，在那
里一便士能买到一只靴子；然而你找遍全世界，也找不到一个市场能批发五十英镑一双的靴
子，骑自行车服装用的金线织品，值四颗珍珠一瓶的克娄巴特拉女王牌红葡萄酒。
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Translation
Para. 3
3. 因此，这不幸的百万富翁一方面要对自己的巨额财富负责，另一方面
却无法得到比普通富人更多的享受。事实上，在许多方面，他的享受不仅
不比穷人多，甚至还不如他们。因为一名军乐队的指挥穿得比他讲究，驯
马师的马童常骑更骏的马；头等车厢向来由服侍年轻太太小姐们晚间去兜
风的勤杂人员共享；去布莱顿度周日的人都得乘坐普尔曼式列车。在只供
应火腿和牛肉时，纵使他富得买得起夹孔雀脑的三明治，也只好徒唤奈何！
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Translation
Para. 4
4. 诸如此类不公平的情况，这里还远远没有说完。一个年收入25英镑
的人，如果收入翻倍，其生活舒适度会大大增加，而且增加的倍数是无
法估算的。一个年收入50英镑的人，如果收入翻倍，其生活舒适度至少
是原来的四倍；甚至对于一个年收入250英镑的人而言，收入的翻倍也意
味着生活享受的成倍增加。再往下推，享受的增加与收入增加之间的比
例就越来越低。降到某一点时，这个不幸的人就成了金钱的受害者，对
于能用金钱买到的一切东西都心生厌倦。
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Translation
Para. 5
5. 你不能因为人人都爱金钱，就期待这时的他会因为得到十万英
镑而高兴；正如你不能因为小孩都爱吃糖果，就期待糖果店的小伙
计会乐意每天加班两小时一样。这可怜的百万富翁要那一百万英镑
做什么呢？难道他需要买一大堆的游艇组成舰队？要挤满海德公园
骑马道那么多的马车？要一支仆从大军？要整城的住房？或者整个
一块大陆作为他狩猎的林苑？一个晚上他能上几个戏院看戏？一身
能同时穿几套衣服？一天又能比他的管家多消化几餐？看管更多的
钱，读更多的乞讨信，这些难道也算是一种享受？穷人可以随时找
个地方坐下来盘算如果哪天有一位素不相识的亲戚留给自己一笔财
产，该如何享用，借此忘掉眼前的困顿，但百万富翁连做这样的黄
粱美梦的机会都没有。
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Translation
Para. 6
6. 然而，没有人对富豪们的这种隐痛表示同情。人们只会去怜悯
穷人。各种各样的社会团体如雨后春笋般四处涌现，但帮助的都是那些
相对快乐的人。从刚刚获释的囚徒，他们正初尝重获自由的喜悦，到那
些贫苦的儿童，他们因能得到一顿饕餮大餐而狂喜不已；然而没有任何
人对百万富翁假以援手，除了乞讨之手。当我们与他打交道之时无疑有
这么一种错觉，认为他没有什么可以抱怨的，因为当别人挨饿时，他却
在钱堆里打滚，他应该为此感到羞耻才对。
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
1. fling v.
to throw something somewhere
using a lot of force用力投掷
e.g. 1. He flung the box into the
river.
2. She flung the book onto the
bed.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
2. The community n.
society and the people in it 社会群体
e.g. 1. We should work for the good
of the community.
2. The community is still ignorant
of the capabilities of children
who are blind.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
3. manufacturer n.
a company that makes large quantities of goods 制造商，企业
e.g. 1. Send these faulty goods back to the manufacturer.
2. She wants to buy directly from the manufacturer and cut out
the middleman.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
4. cater for
(also cater to) to provide a
particular group of people with
the things they need or want
满足需求
e.g. 1. TV must cater for many
different tastes.
2. Vegetarians are well
catered for.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
5. in vain
without success in spite of your
efforts 白费工夫
e.g. 1. Altman swore that his son’s
death would not be in vain.
2. Their efforts were not in vain.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
6. tremendous adj.
very big, fast, powerful, etc. 巨大的
e.g. 1. She was making a tremendous
effort to appear calm.
2. This plan could save us a
tremendous amount of money.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
7. multiply v.
to increase by a large amount or
number 大幅度的增加
e.g. 1. The amount of information
available has multiplied.
2. Smoking multiplies the risk of
heart attacks and other
health problems.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
8. quadruple v.
to increase and become four times as big or as high, or
to make something increase in this way （使）成四倍
e.g. 1. Food prices quadrupled during the war.
2. The company has quadrupled its profits in just three
years.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
9. wretched adj.
very miserable 不幸的，可怜的
e.g. 1. They are living in wretched
poverty.
2. This aching tooth makes
me feel wretched.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
10. game n.
wild animals hunted for food 猎物（可指兽、鸟、鱼等）
e.g. 1. The forest has plenty of game.
2. A good hunter always has game on the table.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
11. relieve v.
to give comfort, help, support
or consolation to someone
为……提供帮助或援助
e.g. 1. The fund is for relieving
distress among the flood victims.
2. Knowing the truth relieved
the anxious parents.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
12. discharge v.
to officially allow someone to leave somewhere,
especially the hospital or the army 正式准许（某人）离开，
尤指让住院的病人出院或让服役的军人退伍等
e.g. 1. The accused man was found not guilty and discharged.
2. Several of the recruits were discharged from the army
due to medical problems.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
13. regain v.
to get something back that you
have lost; recover 重新获得
e.g. 1. When she regained
consciousness, she was
lying on the floor.
2. The doctors don’t know if
he will ever regain the use
of his legs.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
14. appetite n.
1）a desire for food 胃口
2）a desire or liking for a particular activity
e.g. 1. All that walking has given me an appetite
for dinner.
2. She has an amazing appetite for
knowledge.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
15. stretch out n.
to put out your hand, foot, etc. in order to reach
something 伸出，伸开
e.g. 1. Jimmy stretched out his hand to take the
candy.
2. to stretch out a helping hand
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
16. delusion n.
a false belief about yourself or the
situation you are in 错觉
e.g. He is under the delusion that I am
going to cheat him.
BACK
Reading Comprehension
Words & Expressions
17. roll in
to happen or arrive in large numbers or quantities 大量聚集
e.g. As the result of our appeal, the money came rolling in.
BACK
After-reading Tasks
Discussion
1. What does the writer want to tell us? What is
his tone?
2. Many people believe that life would definitely
be great if they were rich. However, research
shows once you’ve achieved a minimum level of
financial well-being, accumulating more money
doesn’t make you any happier. What’s your opinion?
BACK
Language in Use
Grammar
Development
Vocabulary
Building
BACK
Language in Use
Grammar Development
As a causal conjunction, for has a more restricted
use than because. The clause introduced by because
tells us why a certain action was performed, while a
for-clause does not often tell us the reason, but merely
presents a piece of additional information which helps
to explain it. To give reasons in spoken English, we
most often use because (often spoken as ’cos). In
formal or literary written English, for is often used to
indicate reasons.
Language in Use
Grammar Development
Complete the following sentences using for or because.
If both are possible, choose a better one.
1. She is often angry at her son ________his
performance
because
in school is always below average.
because
2. I sent him the letter, but it came back ________I
addressed it wrong.
because of
3. She couldn't go to school for a few weeks ________
an illness, but she'll be able to catch up with her lessons
quickly.
for your holiday.
4. You look all the better ____
for
5. The students were penalized ____showing
up late for
class.
Grammar tips
because引导的原因状语从句通常位于主句后，但也
可位于主句前，而for引导的原因状语从句通常只能置于主
句之后。because常用来引出直接的原因，而for常用来表
示推断的原因或者对主句进行说明。because可以被only,
just, simply, merely等副词修饰，for引导原因状语从句时
则很少和这些副词连用。because可以用于not…but…结
构(not because…but because…)，而for则比较少见这种
用法。回答以why开头的疑问句，通常用because而不用
for。在口语表达中，for引导的原因状语从句前常有个停顿；
在书面语中，则用逗号标出，有时用的是句号。
BACK
Language in Use
Vocabulary Building
Intensifying adverbs (2)
Intensifying adverbs, such as perfectly,
utterly, extremely can premodify certain
adjectives, often to intensify or emphasise
them. Some intensifying adverbs collocate
better with some adjectives than with others.
BACK
Language in Use
Vocabulary Building
Complete the sentences with the correct intensifying adverbs.
a
1. They ____will
not permit you to photograph any of the art work
in the museum.
a. absolutely
b. very
c. seriously
2. Although they are twins, they are _____opposite
in every way.
b
a. pretty
b. completely
c. terribly
3. These paintings by Van Gogh are _____valuable.
c
a. totally
b. utterly
c. extremely
a
4. They looked _____alike.
a. utterly
BACK
b. quite
c. perfectly
Project
Suppose you won a lottery of 2 million yuan and you are thinking
about how to use the money properly. Surely you have your own
plans. However, you still want to listen to your classmates’
opinions. In order to make sure your plans are wise enough, you
need to talk to ten people in your class and get their approval or
disapproval of each plan.
Step 1
Decide at least five ways to use your money and give reasons for
your decision. For example, you may want to invest the prize
money properly to earn more money or you may want to realise
your dream trip to Hawaii.
Talk to ten students separately in your class, asking them questions like
Step 2
“What do you think of my plans to spend the money?” “Why do you think so?”
Take notes when your classmates give their opinions. Mark a√ for their
agreement with your plan and a ×for their disagreement.
BACK
Project
Step 3
Step 4
Collect all the answers together and count the numbers of
agreement and disagreement for each plan. Some plans may be
more popular than others. Reorganise your plan list in order of
decreasing popularity.
Write a report based on this project and prepare for a class
presentation. You may discuss differences in attitudes towards
money reflected by this project.
BACK
Culture Tips
How to become a millionaire
Thomas J.Stanley has interviewed 1,000 millionaires since 1980.One of
the interesting survey questions is what they contribute their success to.
Here is a list of their top 12.
1. Being honest with all people. The great thing about this factor is
that it is accessible to anyone and you can start right away. Just be
honest. It sounds simple, but it requires a bit of courage at some points.
So do it—it’s the top success factor.
2. Having a supportive spouse. While being attracted to someone
is really important, perhaps even necessary, having a kind, supportive
spouse, who has similar goals, and is responsible is more important.
3. Getting along with people. I can’t think of having any job,
business, or career that has zero involvement with people.
BACK
Culture Tips
4. Loving career or business. The passion and love for your career
will make work not work anymore. Sure it might be really hard at times.
When you combine the passion with your discipline you will be
propelled to new heights.
5. Being physically fit. If you aren’t taking care of your health, then
your mind and body are not working properly.
6. Having strong leadership qualities. You have many issues to
deal with, however, there is only one of you. Concentrate on more
important issues. Having this skill is a top priority.
BACK
Culture Tips
7. Making wise investments. You can make high 6-figure income,
but if the money doesn’t grow, or if you put it into losing investments,
you’re basically wasting your time.
8. Seeing business opportunities. If you’re in a market having too
much competition, your chance of rising to the top, like the chance of
becoming a rock star, is slim. If money is what you’re after, not the
dream of being number one in “that” field, than find an unoccupied
field.
9. Being willing to take financial risk. If you do market research
and see business opportunities, then the risk is much less than you
think.
Culture Tips
10.Having good advisors. Learning amazing qualities from highly
successful people is easier than learning the road on your own. Once
your mentality is in the right place, success follows.
11.Investing in my own business. You have much more control
over your own business than you do in the stock market. You can
expand, make higher end products, or do whatever it takes to increase
your own income.
12.Living below your income. If your expenses are rising as fast as
your income you’re never going to save a good amount.
All that’s left now is to implement these 12 success secrets and
you’re on your way!
BACK
Enjoy English!
What is wealth? Who do you think is the most wealthy people in the world?
Now, please listen to the song and try to find out what does the singer think
Wealth is ?
Listen, now~
BACK
Homework
Rich people complain that money has stolen their happy days and
those who are not so financially fortunate say that only money could
bring them happiness. What’s your opinion?
Write a passage entitled The pros and cons of being rich.
You may write three paragraphs. The first paragraph
describes the advantages of being rich. The second
describes the disadvantages. The third gives your personal
opinion on the topic. Write about 250 words.
BACK
Unit 5
Thank You!
Book Three