英语专业本科《综合英语》授课教案
第四册
Lesson Plan For Contemporary College English(BookⅣ)
Lesson 1 Thinking as a Hobby
Ⅰ.教学目的
了解作者背景；掌握文章的主题和结构及修辞；学会欣赏名篇，体会文章中的幽默内涵，并能回答
相关的问题；掌握重点词汇、短语、构词法以及有关语法结构。
Ⅱ.教学内容
1）文化背景
2）词汇：acquaintance，anguish，bulge，confer，contemplate，contempt，exalt，heady，Hustle，impediment，
integrate， muscular， proficient， stampede，
3）短语：at the time，do away with，few and far between，for (one’s) money，in the flesh，lag behind，
make for，nothing but，on… occasion，out of one’s depth，think well of，stand by
4）构词法：Prefix：-hind-， Suffix：-ette， Derivative: orate， Suffix：-fer
5）语法：lest 引导虚拟语气，现在分词做伴随状语，平行结构，补语的用法
6）修辞：Metonymy，Synecdoche，Hyperbole，Simile，Irony，Metaphor
Ⅲ.重点难点
1）文章主题。
2）有关核心词汇、短语的学习；
3）长难句分析理解。
4）修辞手法。
Ⅳ.教学方法
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。
启发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学
生自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用背诵、复述课文形式等。
Ⅴ. 教学过程
Step 1. Warm-up activity
I. Picture Description
Please describe the following pictures in detail and depict their symbolic meaning in your
own words. Compare your answer with that of the author, and try to find their symbolic
meaning in the boy’s (the author) eyes.
II .Pre-class work
1. Have you ever sowed before? Describe it in your own words.
2. Do you know how spring sowing is done in our country?
3. What’s your opinion of being a farmer?
Step2 Background information
I. Author
Sir William Gerald Golding (September 19, 1911—June 19, 1993) was an English novelist,
poet and 1983 Nobel Laureate in Literature:
The Nobel Foundation cited: "his novels which, with the perspicuity of realistic narrative
art and the diversity and universality of myth, illuminate the
human condition in the world of today".
William Golding’s main works: Poems (1934) Lord of the Flies (1954) The Inheritors (1955)
Pincher Martin (1956) Free Fall (1959) The Spire (1964) Darkness Visible (1979) The
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Trilogy Rites of Passage (1980, Booker Prize) Close Quarters (1987) Fire Down Below
(1989), republished under the general title To The Ends of the Earth
II. Rodin’s Thinker
Resting on the horizontal panel above the doors, The Thinker became the focal point of The
Gates of Hell and subsequently perhaps the most well-known
sculpture of all time. The athletic-looking figure, inspired by the sculpture of Michelangelo,
depicts a man in sober meditation, yet whose muscles strain
with effort—possibly to evoke a powerful internal struggle. Rodin initially
referred to the figure as Dante but eventually what we know as The Thinker
evolved into a more symbolic representation of creativity, intellect, and above all—thought.
III. Goddess Venus
Venus de Milo (about 150—100 BC) is considered by many art historians
to be the ideal of Hellenistic beauty. It was carved out of marble and stands
approximately 205 cm (6 ft 10 in) high. As Roman Goddess of Love and
Beauty, Venus is associated with cultivated fields and grdens and later
identified by the Romans with the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite.
8 major planets in the solar system： Venus; Jupiter; Mercury; Mars; Saturn; Uranus;
Neptune X Pluto
Step3. Vocabulary study
1. acquaintance
n. a. (CN) a person whom one knows
b. (UN) knowledge or information about something or someone
n. acquaintanceship
v. acquaint: to come to know personally; to make familiar; to inform
Examples:
Mrs. Bosomley has become merely a nodding acquaintance. 点头之交
Few of my acquaintances like Sheila. 认识的人
The guide has some acquaintance with Italian. 懂一点意大利语
He has a wide acquaintanceship among all sorts of people. 交往甚广
Examples:
Let me acquaint you with my family.
You must acquaint yourself with your new duties.
Please acquaint us with your plans.
Expressions:
be (become, get) acquainted with:
I am already acquainted with the facts.
make sb.’s acquaintance (make the acquaintance of sb.):
So pleased to have made your acquaintance.
2. anguish
v. (vi.) to feel or suffer anguish
n. agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
a. anguished
Synonyms: suffering, agony, distress, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, pain, sorrow,
torment, torture
2
Examples:
anguished cries
She was in anguish over her boyfriend’s breaking up with her.
3. bulge
v. to curve outward; to swell up; to stick out
n. a. a protruding part; an outward curve or swelling
b. a sudden, usually temporary increase in number or quantity
Synonyms: protrude, project, stick out
e.g. His pocket was bulging with sweets.
The baby boom created a bulge in school enrollment. 生育高峰造成学校入学人数的
暴涨
protrude :v. to push or thrust outward; to stick out from a place or a surface
e.g. protruding eyes/teeth
The policeman saw a gun protruding from the man’s pocket.
Nails protruded from the board and had to be removed for safety.
Compare:
Bulge suggests a swelling out in an excessive or abnormal fashion; it may be used when the
impression to be given is that there is an imperfection, a defect, or a cause of strain that
explains the swelling
e.g. the wall bulged in the center
Above her boots … the calves bulged suddenly out.
-- Bennett
Stick out does not imply abnormality as a rule but construction, formation, or position that
permits a thing to extend outside or beyond the flat line of a
surface Protrude implies a trusting forth esp. in an unexpected place; it applies esp. to sth. that
does not seem to belong or that sticks out obviously
-- Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Synonyms
Culture Notes:
Lost Generation: Lost Generation, group of expatriate American writers residing primarily in
Paris during the 1920s and 1930s. The group never formed a cohesive literary movement, but
it consisted of many influential American writers like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott
Fitzgerald. The group was given its name by the American writer Gertrude Stein to refer to
expatriate Americans bitter about their World War I (1914-1918) experiences and isillusioned
with American society. Hemingway later used the phrase as an epigraph for his novel The
Sun Also Rises (1926).
Hemingway: A Farewell to Arms (1929)
For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)
The Old Man and the Sea (1952)
“The Snows of Kilimanjaro” (1938)
Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby (1925) Tender is the Night (1934)
Beat Generation: Beat Generation, group of American writers of the 1950s whose writing
expressed profound dissatisfaction with contemporary American society and endorsed an
alternative set of values. The term sometimes is used to refer to those who embraced the ideas
of these writers. The Beat Generation's best-known figures were writers Allen Ginsberg and
Jack Kerouac.
Ginsberg: Howl (1956)
Kerouac: On the Road (1957)
4. confer
a. to give sb. an award, a university degree or a particular honor or right
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confer sth. on sb.
b. (vi.) to discuss sth. with sb. esp. in order to exchange opinions or get
advice 协商
confer with sb. on/about sth.
Synonym: award
Examples:
The government conferred a medal on the hero.
Diplomas were conferred on members of graduating class.
conferred an honorary degree on her
授予她荣誉学位
Examples:
Martin Ruther King Jr. was awarded the peace Nobel Prize of 1964 for advocating
nonviolence policy in the movement for civil rights.
He was awarded his damages in the shipwreck by the court.法院判定他获得船只失事的损
害赔偿金。
5. contemplate
v. a. to look at attentively and thoughtfully
b. to consider carefully and at length;
c. to have in mind as an intention or possibility
Synonyms: consider, ponder, meditate, deliberate, brood over
Examples:
She stood contemplating her figure in the mirror.
The young surgeon contemplated the difficult operation of kidney transplant.
She is contemplating a trip to Europe, but she hasn’t planned it yet.
6. contempt
contemptible: deserving of contempt; despicable 卑劣的，可鄙的
contemptuous: manifesting or feeling contempt; scornful 鄙视的；看不起；鄙视的
Examples:
It was contemptible of him to speak like that about a respectable teacher!
It was a contemptible trick to tell lies and play on an old friend!
He was contemptuous of Britain’s army.
Seeing I failed to understand, he gave me a contemptuous look.
7. heady a.
Try to translate the following phrases:
heady liqueur
醉人的烈酒
intoxicating
the heady news of triumph 振奋人心的获胜消息
exciting
a heady outburst of anger 猛一声怒喝
thrilling
a heady current
一股湍流
swift and violent
heady tactics
机敏的战术
showing intelligence and good judgment
too heady to reason with 太专横而无法与之理论 domineering; overbearing
8. impediment
n. a. a fact or event which makes action difficult or impossible
b. an organic defect preventing clear articulation
Examples:
The main impediment to development is the country’s huge foreign debt.
He has an impediment in speech. 他讲话口吃。
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V. impede
Synonyms: hinder, hamper, obstruct, block, dam, bar
9. integrate
v. a. to make into a whole by bringing all parts together; to unify
b. to join with something else; unite
disintegrate: to become reduced to components, fragments, or particles
Examples:
Many suggestions are needed to integrate the plan.
The teachers are trying to integrate all the children into society.
The extracted case was so old it just disintegrated when a worker picked it
up. Word Formationa. integrated 综合的, 完整的
10. muscular
a. a. of, relating to, or consisting of muscle
b. having well-developed muscles
c. having or suggesting great power; forceful or vigorous
Examples:
a muscular build 一副强壮的体格
muscular contraction 肌肉的收缩
muscular advocacy groups 有力的拥护团体
Compare:
masculine 男性的, 男子气概的, [语法] 阳性的--> fenimine
11. stampede
v. to (to cause to) flee in panic or to act on mass impulse
n. a. a sudden frenzied or headlong rush or flight
b. a mass impulsive action
Examples:
Rumors of a shortage stampeded people into buying up food.
a herd of stampeding cattle
a stampede of support for the candidate 纷纷支持那个候选人
Step4 Text Analysis
1. General understanding of the title
1.) What does “hobby” mean?
2. ) Why does author use this word in the title?
(hobby: an activity you do for pleasure when you are not working
If thinking is just a hobby, then it’s purpose is just to have fun, do you think we think only
because we want to have fun?
Hint: The last sentence of this essay is “I dropped my hobby and turned professional”. What
does it mean? Please discuss with your partner about the title.)
2. Theme:
Thinking is not just for professional thinkers like philosophers. It is something all
educated people should enjoy doing, and it is considered one of the most precious qualities in
young scholars for the healthy mental development. However, most people do not have this
ability or could not think well: according to the author, nine tenths of the people are
grade-three thinkers, still less are grade-two thinkers, not to mention grade-one thinkers, they
are “few and far between”.
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What kind of thinker do you think you are? Why?
3. Structure:
Part 1 (Para. 1—24 ) about: How the subject of thinking was first brought up to the author
and his understanding of the nature of “grade-three thinking”
Part 2 (Para. 25—29) about: The author’s analysis of the nature of “grade-two thinking”
Part 3 (Para. 30—35) about : The author’s understanding of the “grade-one thinking” and his
desire for it.
4. Text Analysis
A: They represented the whole of life. The leopard stood for all animal needs or desires;
Venus stood for love and the Thinker stood for thinking as a uniquely human feature.
An humorous and sarcastic effect has been achieved by the author’s description of the
statuettes, which established a background to support his later analysis of three grades of
thinking and some human natures.
Question: How did the author describe the following figures to demonstrate his analyses of
different grades of thinking?
Headmaster: nothing human in his eyes, no possibility of communication (not understand his
students)
Me, the boy: delinquent, not integrated, misunderstanding the symbolic meaning of the
statuettes, couldn’t think
Mr. Houghton: ruined by alcohol, preaching high-moral life but showing hypocritical and
prejudiced nature
A pious lady: who hated German with the proposition of loving enemies
Ruth: foolish argument, illogical and fled at last
British Prime Minister: talking about the great benefit conferring on India by jailing Nehru
and Gandhi
American politicians: talking about peace and refusing to join the League of Nations
Me, the author: not easily stampede, detect contradiction; turned into a professional thinker?
The summary of the characteristics of the three grades of thinking
characteristics
examples
Grade-three
Ignorance, hypocrisy, prejudice,
Mr. Houghton, nine tens of
people
self-satisfied, contradictions
Grade-two
Detecting contradictions; do not
Ruth, the author, (maybe)
stampede easily; lag behind, a
some acquaintances
withdrawal, destroy but not create
Grade-one
To find out what is truth, based
few and far between,
on a logical moral system
only in books
Further Questions on Appreciation:
1. What does the author mean when he say “… I dropped my hobby and turned professional”?
2. Why is the author much more conclusive and informative about grade-three and grade-two
thinking than about grade-one? What do you think grade-one thinking is? Have you got any
indication from the essay?
3. Give examples of Golding’s wit. Does his sense of humor and the use of some writing
devices help him achieve his purpose in this essay? Give some examples.
Step5 Detailed study of the Text
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Paragraph 1-2:
I came to the conclusion that thee were three grades of thinking…
to come to a conclusion means to reach/ arrive at/ draw a conclusion
grade: an accepted level or standard
e.g. This grade of wool can be sold at a fairly low price. 这种等级的羊毛可以以相当低的
价格卖出.
grammar school: In Britain, it refers to a school for children over 11 who are academically
bright. Today, there are few grammar schools. Most secondary schools are called
“comprehensive” and take in all children over 11 whatever their abilities. In the US, a
grammar school used to mean an elementary school, but it is now considered old-fashioned.
study: a room intended or equipped for studying or writing
e.g. The dictionary is in my study.
那本词典在我的书房里。
nothing but: nothing except; only
e.g. The doctor told her that it was nothing but a cold.
He cared for nothing but his name and position.
He was nothing but a coward.
lest: (fml. and old-fashioned) conj. for fear that 唯恐，以免 (see Note 2 on P6)
Note: The subjunctive mood is used in the clause lest introduces.
e.g. Be careful lest you fall from that tree.
I was afraid lest he might come too late.
…and since she had no arms, she was in an unfortunate position to pull the towel up
again.
be in position to do sth: to be able to do sth because or have ability, power or money to do it
e.g. I am not in a position to lend you money.
Next to her, crouched the statuette of a leopard, ready to spring down at the top drawer
of a filing cabinet.
crouch:
a. to stoop, especially with the knees bent
b. to press the entire body close to the ground with the limbs bent
e.g. They crouched over the grate with a flashlight, searching for the lost gem.
a cat crouching near its prey
spring: to jump over
Beyond the leopard was a naked, muscular gentleman.
“-ed” as suffix
e.g. a naked man, a learned professor, that blessed morning, a wicked boy, the wretched life,
our beloved country, ragged pants, my aged parents, rugged individualist, dogged efforts
Paragraph 4:
I was not integrated, I was, if anything, disintegrated.
integrated: forming a part of a harmonious group
disintegrated: the direct opposite of “integrated”, and therefore means some kind of trouble
maker. This is not the way the word is normally used.
another explanation: the word “disintegrated”, which looks like the opposite of “integrated”,
refers to nuclear fission. It means “destroyed” in everyday use. The boy who has been sent to
the head‘s office is destroyed inside, is the victim of a nuclear attack. ’I would sink my head
etc.
我简直是散慢不羁
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if anything: on the contrary 如果一定要；恰恰相反
e.g. I never had to clean up after him. If anything, he did most of the cleaning.
I’m not ashamed of her. If anything, I’m proud.
Paragraph 9:
The muscular gentleman contemplated the hindquarters of the leopard in endless gloom.
contemplate: to think for a long time in order to understand better in a gloomy manner
The author expressed the boy’s viewing of the image of Thinker in a humorous way to show
that the thinking doesn’t make any sense to him.
His spectacles caught the light so that you could see nothing human behind them. There
was no possibility of communication.
caught the light: to have the light shine on it brightly and suddenly
The teacher’s glasses caught the light and therefore the boy could not see the teacher’s eyes.
He could not have any eye contact. The implied meaning of this sentence is that they could
not communicate, not because of this but because of the teacher’s lack of understanding of the
boy.
Paragraph 13:
On one occasion he headmaster leaped to his feet, reached up and put Rodin’s
masterpiece on the desk before me.
leaped to his feet: to jump up
reach up: to move a hand or arm upward in order to touch, hold, or pick up sth. Also: to reach
sth. down; to reach out (for); to reach into
Three parallel verb phrases are used to describe the sequence of his actions.
to one’s feet 站起来
to leap to one’s feet
一跃而起;
to rise to one’s feet 站起身来
to struggle to one’s feet
挣扎着站起来 to stagger to one’s feet 蹒跚而立
to help sb. to one’s feet
扶某人站起来 to pull sb. to his feet 把某人拉起来
on… occasion
Please translate the following sentences:
He talked about his work on every occasion. 总是，不管什么时候
She was invited to the Master’s room on several occasions. 有几次
On occasion, we feel like celebrating and have a party. 有时，遇必要时
On one occasion, he landed in a deserted car park.曾经，有一次
Paragraph 15:
Nature had endowed the rest of the human race with a sixth sense and left me out.
a sixth sense: a keen intuitive (直觉的) power. Here the author means the ability to think.
endow sb. with: to provide sb. with a natural quality or talent
left me out: not including me; except me
Paraphrase: Everybody, except me, are born with the ability to think.
e.g. She is one of those lucky women who are endowed with both a sharp brain and great
beauty.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,
and the pursuit of Happiness.
--The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson
Paragraph 17:
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Sometimes, exalted by his own oratory, he would leap from his desk and hustle us
outside into a hideous wind.
exalted: filled with a great feeling of joy
oratory: art of public speaking
hustle: to make sb. move quickly by pushing them in a rough aggressive way
Paraphrase: Sometimes he got carried away and would jump from his desk and hurry us
outside into a cold and unpleasant wind.
Paragraph 19:
You could hear the wind, trapped in his chest and struggling with all the unnatural
impediments. His body would reel with shock and his face go white at the unaccustomed
visitation. He would stagger back to his desk and collapse there, useless for the rest of
the morning.
trapped in his chest and struggling with all the unnatural impediments: the fresh air had to
struggle with difficulty to find its way to his chest because he was unaccustomed to this.
reel with shock: he would stagger or be thrown off balance.
reel: to move in a very unsteady way
useless for the rest of the morning: unable to do anything for the rest of the morning
Note the humorous effect achieved through the use of the exaggeration and formal style
Paragraph 20:
Mr. Houghton was given to high-minded monologues about the good life, sexless and full
of duty.
be given to: to be habitually inclined to do (sth.)
e.g. He is much given to blowing his own trumpet.
She was given to hasty decision.
high-minded monologues: a highly moral speech
Obviously in Mr. Houghton’s clean life, there is no place for alcoholic drink, sex, and other
worldly pleasures. This is, of course, ironical.
Yet in the middle of these monologues, if a girl passed the window, his neck would turn
of itself and he would watch her out of sight. In this instance, he seemed to me ruled not
by thought but by an invisible and irresistible spring in his neck.
turn of itself: to turn by itself; to turn on its own
an invisible and irresistible spring in his neck : metaphor, here refers to his sexual impulse
The author is ridiculing the contradiction between his high moral tone and the working of his
genes which compels him to turn his head toward young girls.
Paragraph 21:
think well of: to have a good opinion of sb.; to think favorably of sb.; to like sb.
Try to make some sentences with the phrases:
not think much of
看轻
think better of sb.
对某人印象好；看重某人
think better of sth.
改变······念头；打消主意
think highly of
看重；器重
think well of
重视；喜欢
think little of
看轻；看不起
think poorly of
不放在眼里；轻视
think nothing of
轻视；认为无所谓；认为没什么了不起
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Paragraph 23:
Through him I discovered that thought is often full of unconscious prejudice, ignorance
and hypocrisy. It will lecture on disinterested purity while its neck is being remorselessly
twisted toward a skirt.
Q: What does “it” stand for?
A: Mr. Houghton.
metonymy 转喻: a common figure of speech in which an idea is evoked or named by means
of a term designating some associated notion.
e.g. The world is watching closely what the White House will do next. (the American
government)
Technically, it is about as proficient as most businessmen’s golf, as honest as most
politicians’ intentions, or as coherent as most books that get written.
coherent: orderly, logical, and consistent relation of parts
This ironical sentence shows that the author not only considers those people incompetent,
dishonest and incoherent, but also despises most businessmen, distrust most politicians and
dislikes most publications.
Paragraph 24:
I no longer dismiss lightly a mental process.
I no longer consider the way grade-three thinkers think unimportant because they account for
nine-tenths of the people and therefore have great power. Now I know that ignorance,
prejudice and hypocrisy are very powerful enemies.
A crowd of grade-thinkers, all shouting the same thing, all warming their hand at the
fire of their own prejudices… Man enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way
on the side of a hill.
warming their hand at the fire of their own prejudices: all feeling very content and happy
because they share the same prejudices
Man enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way on the side of a hill: (simile) enjoy
the peaceful, safe and harmonious environment
The author thinks that it is probably human nature to enjoy agreement because it seems to
bring peace, security, comfort and harmony.
Paragraph 25:
Grade-two thinkers do not stampede easily, though often they fall into the other fault
and lag behind. Grade-two thinking is a withdrawal, with eyes and ears open. It destroys
without having the power to create.
stampede: to get easily frightened and run with the crowd
fall into the other fault: to go to the other extreme, that is to act too slowly and lag behind
withdrawal: detachment 冷漠, as from social or emotional involvement; refusing to be part of
the crowd
It set me watching the crowds cheering His Majesty the King and asking myself what all
the fuss was about, without giving me anything positive to put in the place of that heady
patriotism. But there were compensations.
fuss: too much attention or excitement to unimportant things
to put in the place of: to replace
compensations: pay, reward
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It made me watch people shouting in joy and support of the King and wonder what this
senseless excitement was all about although I did not have anything good to replace this
exciting or intoxicating patriotism. But I did get something out of it.
Paragraph 26:
She claimed that the Bible was literally inspired. I countered by saying that the
Catholics believed in the literal inspiration of Saint Jerome’s Vulgate and the two books
were different. Argument flagged.
literally inspired: a true historical record
Saint Jerome’s Vulgate: the Latin translation of the Bible, used in a revised form as the
Roman Catholic authorized version
flag: to decline in interest; to become dull
e.g. his flagging interest in the subject
他对这问题的兴趣减退
“Both Methodists and Catholics believed that their Books are a true record of the God’s
divine plan.” The author used this example to defy Ruth’s illogical opinion, therefore the
argument became dull because Ruth didn’t know how to respond to it.
Paragraph 27:
That was too easy, said I restively since there were more Roman Catholics than
Methodists anyway; …
restively: restlessly, difficult to control one’s emotion
Here, the author pointed out Ruth’s logical error. The number of people who hold a view is no
proof of its validity.
I slid my arm around her waist and murmured that if we were counting heads, the
Buddhists were the boys for my money. She fled. The combination of me arm and those
countless Buddhists was too much for her.
if we were counting heads: if we were talking about the number of people who believe in this
the Buddhists were the boys for my money: I would bet on the Buddhists; I am sure, they are
greater in number
too much for her: more than she could accept or bear
Note the author’s description of the contrasting combination of his intimate action and strong
defiant expressions, which eventually made Ruth withdraw and give up as a grade-two
thinker.
for (one’s) money: according to one’s opinion, choice, or preference
e.g. For my money, it’s not worth the trouble.
Try to translate these sentences with money phrases:
for love or money
无论如何，不管以任何代价
in the money
非常有钱，有利可图
money to burn
大量的钱
get one’s money’s worth
花钱值得
put money on
为······打赌
I wouldn’t give him my dog for love or money.
After years of struggle and dependence, air transportation is in the money.
Dick’s uncle died and left him money to burn.
It is a bit expensive, but you get your money’s worth.
to put money on outcome of a race
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Paragraph 28:
I was given the third degree to find out what had happened. I lost Ruth and gained an
undeserved reputation as a potential libertine.
was given the third degree: to be severely questioned or interrogated
libertine: one who acts without moral restraint; a dissolute person
放荡不羁的人；没有道德约束的人
The author lost his girlfriend and won a bad name even as a grade-two thinker, satisfying
himself by finding out deficiencies but not seeking for the truth.
Note the effect of the author’s self-mockery.
Paragraph 29:
To find out the deficiencies of our elders satisfies the young ego but does not make for
personal security. It took the swimmer some distance from the shore and left him there,
out of his depth.
satisfies the young ego: to make one fell proud of one’s ability and cleverness
out of his depth: to be in the water that is too deep for you to stand in and breathe
The author uses this metaphor to express the idea that grade-two thinking has its limitations. It
does not have anything positive to offer.
out of one’s depth
水深过头；超越自己的能力；理解不了的
Examples:
Jack was not a good swimmer, add nearly drowned when he drifted out beyond his depth.
I am out of my depth when it comes to natural science.
in depth 广泛地；彻底地
a study in depth of the poems
explore a subject in depth
an in-depth study
Paragraph 30:
in the flesh: in the person, present
e.g. I have corresponded with him for some years, but I have never met him in the flesh.
He is nicer in the flesh than in his photograph.
flesh and blood 血肉之躯
make one’s flesh creep
使人毛骨悚然
thorn in the flesh 肉中刺
e.g. Those sorrows are more than flesh and blood can bear.
The author doesn’t give his characters any flesh and blood.
逼真的形象
His story made my flesh creep.
The guerrilla band was a thorn in the flesh of the invaders.
Paragraph 31-32:
I came up in the end with what must always remain the justification for grade-one
thinking. I devised a coherent system for living. It was a moral system, which was wholly
logical.
According to the author, grade-one thinking must be based on a coherent and logical system
for living, in other words, a moral system, without which you cannot prove yourself to be a
grade-one thinker. Judging by the context, this system probably refers to one’s world outlook
and basic political beliefs and moral principles.
It was Ruth all over again. I had some very good friends who stood by me, and still do.
12
But my acquaintances vanished, taking the girls with them.
all over again: repeatedly
What had happened to Ruth and me now happened again. My grade-two thinking frightened
away many of my acquaintances.
Phrases and Expressions
at a time
在······时候
at all times
在任何时候，经常
at one time
一度，曾经
at the time
那时候
at times
有时候
at the same time
尽管如此，同时
at the best of times
在最有利的时候
do away with
Please translate the following sentences:
They have done away with corporal punishment in our school.
废除体罚
The city has decided to do away with overhead wires.
消除高架线
They agreed that privileges must be done away with.
取消特权
The robbers did away with their victims.
干掉受害者
It is about time all this obsolete machinery was done away with.
处理掉旧机器
stand by
a. to remain uninvolved; to refrain from acting
b. to remain loyal to; to aid or support
c. to keep or maintain
d. to be ready or available to act
Examples:
You can’t stand by and allow such a thing.
He stood by me through all my troubles.
You should always stand by your promises.
The police are standing by to control the crowd if it is necessary.
Paragraph 33:
Had the game gone too far? In those prewar days, I stood to lose a great deal, for the
sake of a hobby.
game: his grade-two thinking which he takes as a hobby
go too far: to go beyond what is reasonable and acceptable
stand to lose to be likely to lose
In those prewar days when many people were fully worked up to a political frenzy, it was
very dangerous to voice different opinions. You might lose friends or your job.
Paragraph 34-35:
Now you are expecting me to describe how I saw the folly of my ways and came back to
the warm nest…
Now you think I will tell you how I gradually saw my stupidity in being a grade-two thinker
and therefore decided to give it up and return to the majority of grade-three thinkers.
But you would be wrong. I dropped my hobby and turned professional.
But you guessed wrong. I did not drop my hobby of thinking (here, we can say he might give
up the hobby of grade-two thinking). Instead I went further and became a professional thinker.
13
Step6 Writing Devices
1. Metonymy （转喻）
In metonymy, an idea is evoked or named by means of term designating some associated
notion. “It” stands for “thought” in grammar, but actually refers to Mr. Houghton, and it is
vulgar to refer to a girl as a skirt.
It will lecture on disinterested purity while its neck is being remorselessly twisted toward a
skirt. (Para. 23)
The burglar was in Sally’s mind all day long. (burglar=some idea of the burglar)
Democracy favors the vote rather than the bullet. (Vote=election, bullet=military solutions)
“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” (Mao Zedong refers it to the military
revolution)
Bill Gates is the king of operating systems worldwide. (Bill Gates = Microsoft)
The pen is mightier than the sword. (pen = writer; sword = fighter)
2. Synecdoche （提喻）
Synecdoche can be included in metonymy, and it refers to the substitution of the part for
the whole or of the whole for the part.
If we were counting heads, the Buddhists were the boys for my money. (Para. 27)
(head = person)
There are two mouths to feed in my family.
(mouth = person)
God bless the hands that prepared this food. (hand = person)
3. Irony （反语）
Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the
opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
Technically, it is about as proficient as most businessmen’s golf, as honest as most politicians’
intentions, or as coherent as most books that get written. (Para. 23)
Mr. Houghton was given to high-minded … about the good life, sexless and full of duty. (Para. 20)
4. Hyperbole （夸张）
It is the deliberate use of overstatement or exaggeration to achieve emphasis.
You could hear the wind, trapped in his chest and struggling with all the unnatural
impediments. His body would reel with shock and his face go white at the unaccustomed
visitation. He would stagger back to, useless for the rest of the morning. (Para. 19)
5. Simile （明喻）
It makes a comparison between two unlike elements having at least one quality or
characteristic in common. To make the comparison, words like “as”, “as... as”, “as if” and
“like” are used to transfer the quality we associate with one to the other.
They all came tumbling down like so many rotten apples off a tree. (Para. 31)
Man enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way on the side of a hill.
(Para. 24)
6. Metaphor （暗喻）
It is like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a
simile, this comparison is implied rather than stated.
He seems to me ruled not by thought but by an invisible … in his neck. (Para. 20)
It took the swimmer some distance from the shore and left him there, out of his depth. (Para. 29)
Step7 Assignment
Comment on the text with 150words.
14
Ⅵ. 教学反思
Lesson 3
Why Historians Disagree
Ⅰ.教学目的
1.了解文章的美国总统 Woodrow Wilson 和 Zimmerman Note。
2.掌握 assumption，contemplate，contend，crude，eliminate, elusive, emerge, immerse,
presumably, quest, resolve, restricted, self-evident, subtlety, validity, at (the) best, be
relevant to, be destined to, cannot help but do, concern oneself with, from a… perspective, in
the event of, read of, piece together, stem from, take… into account, to sb.’s disadvantage, by
way of 等重点词汇和短语的意义及用法.
3.掌握、运用简单的 Transitional Expression。
4.通过句子释义，理解课文中难句。
5.通过篇章结构分析，掌握文章的主旨大意和写作方法。
Ⅱ.教学内容
1．课文背景介绍
2．语言难点
3．语言技能训练
4．难句讲解
5．写作手法分析
6．篇章结构分析
7．课堂讨论
8．练习及作业
Ⅲ.教学重点
1.掌握重点词汇及其同义、同形词辨析。
2.明喻和暗喻写作修辞手法。
3.加强学生的口语练习。
Ⅳ.教学方法
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。
启发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学
生自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用背诵等形式。
Ⅴ.教学过程
Step 1. Warm-up
1. Before you study this text, what’s your view of the study of history? With the help of the
writers of this text, we realize that we have misunderstood the study of this subject. Yet,
what may be the reasons for this misunderstanding?
2. What is a historian supposed to do? What would you say are the most important
characteristics of a good historian?
3. What is history? (For the possible implications, you may consult the discussion exercise
of Oral Work.)
Step 2. Background Information
About the Author
The present text is based on the introduction to a book entitled Conflict and Consensus in
Modern American History edited by Allen F. Davis and Harold D. Woodman, professors at
15
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), America ’s 28th president(1913-1921), was a professor of
law, the president of Princeton University , and the governor of New Jersey before he was
elected to the White House.
When Woodrow Wilson took office, he faced economic crisis, democratic decay, and a world
at war. Meeting those challenges with progressive ideas and high-minded ideals, he
reinvented the presidency, crafting a vibrant legacy that has defined the powers and
responsibilities of every president to this day.
Zimmerman Note
The Zimmerman Note was a communiqué authored by German Foreign Secretary Arthur
Zimmerman and intercepted by American Intelligence. The note had been designed to entice
Mexico into declaring war against the United States should the U.S. declare war on Germany .
As a reward, Mexico would then receive Arizona , New Mexico , and Texas after the war.
Full text of The Zimmermann Telegram: On the first of February we intend to begin
submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral
the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the
following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We
shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost
territory in New Mexico , Texas , and Arizona . The details are left to you for settlement. You
are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as
soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest
that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan
suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between
Germany and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the
employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in
a few months.
Zimmerman
(Sent January 19, 1917)
Step 3. Text Appreciation
1.Theme
In this essay the two authors discuss the definition of history, the role of the historians and
the reasons why historians disagree.
2. Introduction to the text
The present text is based on the introduction to a book entitled Conflict and Consensus in
Modern American History edited by Allen F.Davis and Harold D .Woodman, professors at
Temple University and Purdue respectively, who also wrote the introduction. In this essay, the
two authors discuss the definition of history, the role of the historian and the reasons why
historians disagree. They point out the common misunderstanding that history is just names,
dates and statistics of the past, and the historian’s job is to find and remember as many of
them as possible. They tell us that historians do not just collect facts. They give meaning to
the facts. And because they have different interests and a different understanding of human
motivation and human behavior which in turn is due to their different background in age, sex,
race, class, education, religion, politics, etc, they tend not only to be interested in different
facts but also interpret the same facts differently.
Therefore, the two historians emphasize the importance of understanding the historians’
approach, perspective and philosophy rather than the facts they have used or left out.
16
In China , history began as part of literature , usually about kings and generals , and about
the rise and fall of dynasties ,which supposedly contains numerous moral lessons for
posterity[pɔs‘teriti] 子孙后代 . In extreme cases it was even treated as a tool for propaganda
宣传.Due to the influence of modern western culture , in China , people came to see history as
a science . However today people generally agree that it is not a science in the sense that
physics or chemistry are sciences . History has to do with human activities and social
development , and , as a result , it is not purely objective .
Besides, there are far more variables involved than in the natural sciences . That is why it is
so challenging and intriguing[in‘tri:ɡiŋ] 有趣的 . And we students today must understand
that it is very important part of our education .
It should be noted that although this essay is about why historians differ in their opinions,
actually the basic views can also be used to explain why people disagree generally. And to
understand why people disagree is the first necessary step toward learning to deal with them.
This is particularly important today because we are confronted with an information explosion
and surrounded by people who are trying to influence our thinking for their own selfish
reasons.
3. Structure
Part 1: (Paras. 1—3): How the students of history major study history and what confuse
them
Part 2:(Paras. 4—10): Historians may view the same historical event from different
perspectives
Part 3: (Paras. 11—13): The authors summarize the reasons why historians disagree and the
disagreement is everlasting.
Step 4 Language Points Study
assumption
n. something that you think is true although you have no definite proof
Examples:
When historians and anthropologists first began to investigate the issue of pre-patriarchal
cultures they made two assumptions.
While the criticisms vary, the underlying assumption is that overall economic growth has
been speeding up.
contemplate
v. a. to have in view as a purpose, intention
Examples:
Have you ever contemplated committing suicide?
Secondly, we shall need to contemplate the various options available for disposing of the
company’s properties.
b. to look at (with the eyes, or in the mind)
Examples:
She stood contemplating her figure in the mirror.
He contemplated her with a faint smile.
contend
v. a. to struggle, to be in rivalry
b. to argue, to assert
Examples:
17
I know the charms of my rival are too powerful for me to contend with.
Three armed groups are contending for power.
Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought.
crude
a. not finished properly; badly worked out
b. (of materials) in a natural state, not refined or manufactured
c. not having grace, taste or refinement
crude schemes
crude ore
a crude shelter
crude remarks
crude manners
crude ideas
crude oil/sugar
eliminate
v. a. to completely get rid of something that is unnecessary or unwanted
b. to defeat a team or person in a competition, so that they no longer take part in it
c. to kill someone in order to prevent them from causing trouble
Examples:
The credit card eliminates the need for cash or cheques.
Our team was eliminated in the first round.
The dictator eliminated anyone who might be a threat to him.
elusive
a. a. (of a person) difficult to find or see
b. (of result) difficult to achieve
c. (of idea or quality) difficult to describe or understand
Examples:
She managed to get an interview with that elusive man.
She enjoys a firm reputation in this country but wider international success has been
elusive.
For me, the poem has an elusive quality.
emerge
v. a. to appear or come out from somewhere
b. (of facts, ideas) to appear; to become known
c. to come out of a difficult experience
Examples:
The moon emerged from behind the clouds.
New evidence has emerged to contradict earlier claims.
Local government has recently emerged as a major issue.
She emerged from the divorce a stronger person.
immerse
v. a. to put sth. under the surface of a liquid
b. to involve oneself deeply (in sth.)
Examples:
He immersed the knife in boiling water.
Immerse the cloth in the dye for 20 minutes.
I walked into the study and found Mr. Johnson immersed in his writing, as usual.
When Alfred inherited his father’s estate, he immersed himself in pleasure.
18
presumably
adv. used to say that you think something is probably true
Examples:
Presumably there’s a good reason for her absence, as she doesn’t usually stay away from
work.
Few women, presumably, would want to return to the assumptions on which the old
system was based.
quest
n. a long search for something that is difficult to find
Examples:
At their roots, both quests originated out of human inquisitiveness.
World leaders are now united in their quest for peace.
Foreign powers had long penetrated the area in quest of wealth or influence, or to counter
the lusts of their adversaries.
resolve
v. a. to solve or settle a problem or difficulty
b. to make a definite decision to do sth.
Examples:
Congressmen called for a third meeting to resolve the conflict.
I resolved to keep quiet about what I had heard, since it would only cause trouble.
She resolved that if he couldn’t find the necessary courage, she would.
restricted
a. a. small or limited in size, area, or amount
b. limited or controlled, especially by laws or rules
Examples:
It’s difficult trying to work in such a restricted space.
The sale of alcohol is restricted to people over the age of 18.
There is restricted access to this information (=only certain people can have it).
self-evident
a. clearly true and needing no more proof
Examples:
The facts in this case are self-evident and cannot be denied.
Even the principle of democracy, which seems self-evident in the West is challenged
elsewhere.
It is self-evident that childhood experiences influence our adult behaviour.
subtlety
n. a. the quality that sth. has when it has been done in a clever or skilful way, with careful
attention to small details
b. a thought, an idea, or a detail that is important but difficult to notice or understand
Examples:
She argued her case with considerable subtlety.
Some of the subtleties of the language are lost in translation.
To appreciate all of this beauty relies upon your noticing its subtleties.
validity
n. state or condition of being valid
19
Examples:
I would question the validity of that statement.
Lawyers are questioning the validity of the city’s new telecom contract.
You don’t know enough about the subject to question the validity of my statements.
at (the) best
taking the most hopeful view
Examples:
Your mother, as the physician has informed you, is in a most critical condition; at (the)
best she cannot be with us longer than a few weeks.
The city was at (the) best an ordinary sort of place.
His answers were at best evasive, at worst very misleading.
at its/his/their… best
in the best condition
The garden is at its best in April.
He was at his best yesterday evening and kept us all amused.
Every year, when the peach blossoms are at their best, a festival is held at the Beijing
Botanical Garden .
be relevant to
be relating to, be connected with
Examples:
What experience do you have that is relevant to this position?
Kids have to understand how school is relevant to their lives.
These issues are directly relevant to the needs of slow learners.
be destined to
seeming certain to happen at some time in the future
Examples:
We were destined never to meet again.
She was not destined to be a great painter but she had the confidence and luck to be a
successful one.
At first their predictions seemed destined to come true.
cannot help but do
used to say that someone is unable to change their behavior or feelings, or to prevent
themselves from doing something
Examples:
Lee could not help but agree with her.
I couldn’t help but notice the bruise she had under her eye.
can’t help doing
cannot but do
concern oneself with
to become involved in sth. because you are interested in it or because it worries you
Examples:
He loved his wife, and concerned himself with her needs and desires.
For several weeks I did not concern myself with any thought of the future.
Our country’s leaders must concern themselves with environmental protection.
from a… perspective
20
looking at sth. from a certain angle
Examples:
The novel is written from a child’s perspective.
We have to look at everything from an international perspective.
If you look at things from a feminist perspective they are, in fact, not equal.
from a feminist/Christian/global perspective
in the event of
used to tell people what they should do if something happens
Examples:
It offers vital financial cover in the event of you being permanently disabled in an
accident.
The countries involved have pledged to offer mutual assistance in the event of a spill.
read of
to find out information from books, newspapers etc
Example:
I was shocked when I read of his death.
read as 把······错误地当作
read off 宣读，很快地读出；读完
read out 宣布开除； 朗诵；宣读
read sb. a lesson/lecture 训斥某人
read through/over 从头到尾细读一遍
read up 攻读；熟读
read sb.’s mind/thoughts 看出某人的心思
read between the lines 体会字里行间的言外之意
piece together
to use all the information you have about a situation in order to discover the truth about it
Examples:
Police are trying to piece together his movements before the murder.
Her early life has been pieced together from several different sources.
stem from
to develop as a result of something else
Examples:
His headaches stemmed from vision problems.
It also tries to say that women’s problems stem from either their sexuality or the family.
Much of the friction stemmed from a debate about which technology to use.
take… into account/take account of sth.
take… into consideration
Examples:
These figures do not take into account the changes in the rate of inflation.
A valuation of a smaller company must take account of its potential as a takeover target.
open an account 开户头
settle one’s account 结清欠帐，（喻）报复
give an account of 描述，叙述
account for 解释；说明；占百分比
on one’s account 为一己的目的和利益
21
on this/that account 为了这个/那个缘故
on no account 决不；切莫
take no account of 对某事物不予考虑
to sb.’s disadvantage
giving someone a disadvantage
Example:
Her height will be very much to her disadvantage if she wants to be a dancer.
be at a disadvantage 处于不利地位
be taken at a disadvantage 被人乘隙攻击，攻其不备
to the disadvantage of 对
不利
put/keep… at a disadvantage 使某人处于不利地位
to sb.’s disadvantage 对某人不利，使某人吃亏
by way of
a. through, by route of, via
b. as a means of; as a type of; serving as
Examples:
You can get this information by way of the Internet.
He sent her some flowers by way of an apology.
They decided to give a party by way of welcome to the distinguished guests.
Step5. Language Understanding
1) Most students are usually introduced to the study of history by way of a fat textbook
and become quickly immersed in a vast sea of names, … and statistics. (Para. 1)
P: Most students usually come to have their first experience of the study of history through the
reading of a thick history textbook and soon are overwhelmed by a large number of names,
dates, events and statistics.
2)Their common-sense reaction to this state of affairs is to conclude that one historian is
right while the other is wrong. (Para. 2)
P: When a person is faced with this kind of situation, the normal, practical response will be
that one historian is right whereas the other is wrong.
3) This position is hardly satisfying. (Para. 3)
P: This is not a happy solution or happy situation. Students expect to be given clear-cut
answers, either yes or no. But now they have to shop around for the proper answer. The
answer becomes a personal choice. This makes them feel very uncomfortable.
4) Therefore the historian can only approximate history at best. No one can ever claim
to have concluded the quest. (Para. 5)
P: Therefore the best the historian can do is to get as near as possible to the historical truth.
But no one can ever boast that he/she has completed this search. It goes on for ever.
5) Sometimes this appears to be easy, requiring very little sophistication and subtlety.
(Para. 7)
P: Sometimes this appears to be easy, demanding no special training or profound knowledge
or the ability to understand very complex issues and fine distinctions.
6) The choice as to which fact to use is based on a theory—admittedly, in this case a
rather crude theory, but a theory nonetheless. (Para. 7)
P: The choice concerning which fact to use is based on a theory. I am willing to concede that
the theory used here is unrefined, yet it is still a theory.
22
7) Similarly a third group of historians might maintain that the various items on the list
should not be given equal weight. (Para. 10)
P: Similarly a third group of historians might argue that the various points put on the list
should not considered equally important.
8) In the examples given, historians disagree because they begin from different premises.
(Para. 11)
P: In the examples we have given above, we can see that historians disagree because they
begin from different assumptions.
9) The theory here would be that economic matters are the key to human motivation,
and that a small number of wealthy bankers have a disproportionate ability to
influence government. (Para. 10)
P: The theory here would be that the answer to human purpose in doing sth. lies in economic
factor and that the influence of the bankers on the government is much greater than their
number.
10) Neither statement can be faulted on the grounds that it is inaccurate. (Para. 11)
P: You cannot find fault with either statement and say it is not accurate. (Neither statement
can be criticized on the grounds that it is inaccurate.)
11) If the state of our knowledge were such that it provided us with a model of
unquestioned validity that completely explained human behavior, we can. (Para. 13)
P: We can if our knowledge could give us a perfect model that completely explained human
behavior. Unfortunately no such model has ever existed.
12) But since we do not have such a complete and foolproof explanation, disagreements
are destined to remain. (Para. 13)
P: But since we do not have such a complete and infallible explanation, disagreement are
bound to exist.
13) When students realize that… “truth” is but an elusive yet intriguing goal in a
never-ending quest... (Para. 13)
P: When students realize that… “truth” is only a goal that is beyond reach yet extremely
attractive and should be sought in a permanent search.
Step6. Writing Devices
1. Style---Exposition. This is a piece of expository writing. The purpose of expository
writing is to explain or to give the reader information to help him understand the world
around him.
2. Stylistic Feature
1. )long sentences
2.) formal words
3.) impersonal structures
This is a piece of expository writing. The language used in the passage is a little formal,
with impersonal structures, long sentences and formal words, which are typical of this kind of
academic writings. The whole passage is well and logically organized and the ideas are
clearly presented.
3. Questions on Writing Devices
1.) What is exposition? ( Exposition means expounding or explaining.)
2.) Who are most likely to use the expository writing style?
It is most frequently used by a student, a scientist, or a professional.
23
3.) In which scope and field do they use it?
An expository paper explains or explores sth., such as the process of making a machine, the
causes of a natural or social phenomenon, the planning of a project, or the solution of a
problem. That is, use an expository writing when we explain how the object is made, how it is
used, and how it may change. It mainly deals with processes and relationships.
4.) What is the most important quality of exposition? How to achieve it?
The most important quality of exposition is clarity. To achieve this the writer should:
● Limit his subject or the scope of discussion, for it’s impossible to explain many things
clearly in a short essay.
● Prepare enough material (details of examples) to help his explanation; the reader often finds
abstract discussions hard to follow if they are not illustrated by concrete examples.
● Present his facts and views in proper order, in the order of time or of logical sequence
depending on the nature of the subjects.
● Make his exposition, if possible, interesting or moving;
5.) What methods are adopted for paragraph development in the expository writing?
● illustration
— the use of example to illustrate a point, helping to clarify a writer’s thought by making the
general specific, and the abstract concrete; and also adding interest and help to persuade or
convince the reader;
●division and classification
division—separate things into parts (glasses—[\frame, lens);
classification—organize things which share certain qualities (courses—obligatory and
optional);
● comparison and contrast
(the subject-by-subject pattern, the point-by-point pattern);
●analogy
—shows the similarities between two different class;
● cause and effect;
●definition;
6.)What is the genre of this text? Exposition—illustrates the definition of history, the role of
the historians and the reasons why they disagree.
7).What is the writing purpose? To emphasize the importance of understanding the historians’
approach, perspective and philosophy rather than the facts they have used or left out. (TB)
8.)What are the unique features of the writing style? Formal and logical; thesis is well
supported (Students can be suggested to draw an outline of the text to follow the writers’ train
of thought.)
9.) What is the key information the author wants to communicate to us? People’s
misunderstanding of history, the study of history, and the role of historians; the reasons why
historians disagree with others and themselves; the beauty and necessity of studying history.
Step7 In-class Discussion
What are the three definitions of history?
What is the role of the historians?
Why do historians disagree?
What is the misunderstanding the authors are trying to clarify in Para.1?
What is the confusion of the students put forward in Paras.2-3?
24
What is the main idea of Paras. 7—8? How are the two paragraphs developed?
What is the main idea of Paras. 9—10? What are the interpretations of the three schools?
What can be concluded in Paras. 9—10?
What are the two reasons listed in Para . 11 to explain why historians disagree?
How do the authors view the controversy among historians?
Of the three possible definitions of history the authors have listed in the text, which do you
think is the most accurate? Why?
Do historians ever agree in their interpretation of a historical event? Can you think of a few
examples on which the historians sharply disagree? How come they disagree since they are
dealing with facts?
When two historians disagree, does it always mean that one historian is right and the other is
wrong? Why not?
Is it safe to say that historians can differ, but they can never be wrong?
Will the disagreement among historians eventually come to an end one day? Why and
why not? Do you accept the view that this disagreement is what lends excitement to the study
of history?
Do you think that history is a science? If your answer is yes, would you say that it is a
science just like physics and mathematics?
Not only historians but also we disagree with each other? How does it happen?
Step8 Homework
Title: “How should history be taught?” Write an essay with 200 words.
Ⅵ.教学反思
Lesson Four A Drink in the Passage
Ⅰ.教学目的
1.了解作者的写作背景；
2. 深入分析并灵活运用重点语言点；
3. 就文章的种族歧视问题展开讨论，理解文章内涵；
4. 熟悉掌握主谓一致；
5.掌握文章写作技巧和语言特色；
6.掌握重点词汇、短语、构词法以及有关语法结构。
Ⅱ.教学内容
1．文化背景、文章主题。
2 词汇：avert，backdrop，confidentially，conscience ，constrain， contemplation，expel，
impersonal，inarticulate，insoluble，jubilee，outcry，polish，renounce，Reprimand，segregate，
sensation， strained，sociable，slump
3．短语：and all，be at one’s ease，be lost in the，contemplation of，bring sth. to a close，
feel up to sth.， get beyond sb ，not for all the money in，the world，out of/from nowhere，
out of the corner of，one’s eye，put down a drink，save sb./sth. From， squint at，talk out
one’s ，heart to sb，take a leap
4 ． 语 法 ： Subject-verb Concord—guiding principle ， Subject-verb Concord—guiding
principle ，Subject-verb Concord—guiding principle，强调句
5．写作技巧：Flashback，Figurative Language
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Ⅲ.重点难点
1．文章主题。
2．核心词汇，词组。
3．难句的理解。
4．写作技巧与修辞。
Ⅳ.教学方法
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。
启发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学
生自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用讲故事、复述课文形式等。
Ⅴ. 教学过程
Step1. Warm up
1.What do you know about South Africa?
2. What do you know about the situation in South Africa at the time the story was written?
3. Have you ever heard of the “apartheid”? What do you know about it?
4. What dramatic changes have taken place in this country since the time this story was
written?
5. Has racism been a serious problem in human history? Is the problem resolved6. Is it easy to
detect the existence of racism? Why or why not?
7. Does racism only involve governments and politicians?
8. “I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they (the whites of South Africa) have
turned to loving, they will find we (the blacks) are turned to hating.” —Alan Paton (Please
make your comments on this quote.)
Step2. Background Information
1. About the author:
Alan Stewart Paton (1903-1988) was born and educated in Pietermaritzburg,
KwaZulu-Natal. He started his career by teaching at a school in Ixopo where he met and
married his first wife. The dramatic career change to director of a reformatory for black
youths at Diepkloof, near Johannesburg, had a profound effect on his thinking. The
publication of Cry, The Beloved Country (1948) made him one of South Africa's best known
writers. It is a searing account of the inhumanity of apartheid told in a lyrical voice which
emphasizes Paton’s love for the land and people of South Africa, and his hope for a change in
the future. It remains a world bestseller and probably one of the most recognizable titles from
this country. Paton became a fulltime writer after this novel, producing novels (Too late the
Phalarope 1953, Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful 1981), two volumes of his autobiography
(Towards the Mountain 1980, Journey Continued 1988), short stories and biographies of J.H.
Hofmeyr and Bishop Geoffrey Clayton among other writings. Following his non-racial ideals,
he helped to found the South African Liberal Party and became its president. He remarried
after the death of his first wife and remained living in Durban until he died.
2. About the social conditions of South Africa in Paton’s time:
Alan Paton’s most successful novel is Cry, the Beloved Country. Undoubtedly much of
the power of the novel comes from its depiction of the particular social conditions in its
contemporary South Africa. The novel takes place in the time immediately before the
institution of apartheid in the nation (the character Msimangu even discusses the possibility of
apartheid), which occurred within a year of the novel's 1948 publication. Therefore, although
the novel does not discuss the state of South Africa during the apartheid years, Cry, the
26
Beloved Country is often used as a proxy for lessons concerning apartheid-era South Africa.
Even before the apartheid years, as Paton makes clear in his novel, discrimination against
blacks in South Africa was significant. Blacks were forbidden from holding political office,
had no viable unions, and certain positions were closed to them. The 1913 Native Lands Act
prevented blacks outside of the Cape Province from buying land not part of certain reserves.
In 1948, the National Party enshrined apartheid (the political separation of black and white
people in South Africa 种族隔离) into law with such legislation as the Group Areas Act,
which specified that separate areas be reserved for the four main racial groups (whites, blacks,
Coloreds, and Asians). The African National Congress, a group of black leaders under the
leadership of Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela, emerged as the principal opposition to
apartheid and the National Party's reforms. The African National Congress became
increasingly militant, even using terrorist tactics that led to the government banning the ANC
in 1960.
After several decades, the end of apartheid was a slow one that began with the election of
F.W. de Klerk as leader of the National Party and President of South Africa. De Klerk began
to permit multiracial crowds to protest against apartheid and met with blacks leaders such as
Bishop Desmond Tutu. Most importantly, he lifted the ban on the ANC and ordered the
release of the imprisoned Nelson Mandela. By 1993, the National Party and the ANC reached
an agreement that pledged to institute a democratic South Africa. The ANC won political
power in April of 1994 during the first nonracial democratic election, with 63 percent of the
vote. Under the ANC, Mandela repealed all apartheid legislation, while the South African
parliament approved a new constitution in 1996.
3. His Works
1953. Too Late the Phalarope
1961. Debbie, Go Home
1968. Instrument of Thy Peace
1973. Apartheid and the Archbishop: the life and times of Geoffrey Clayton, Archbishop of
Cape Town
1975. Knocking at the door
1980. Towards the Mountain
1981. Ah, but your land is beautiful
1986. Deploy: reflections of Diepkloof Reformatory
1988. Journey Continued
1995. Songs of Africa: collected poems
4. Apartheid
South Africa was colonized by the English and Dutch in the 17th century. English
domination of the Dutch descendents (known as Boers or Afrikaners) resulted in the Dutch
establishing the new colonies of Orange Free State and Transvaal. The discovery of diamonds
in these lands around 1900 resulted in an English invasion which sparked the Boer War.
Following independence from England, an uneasy power-sharing between the two groups
held sway until the 1940’s, when the Afrikaner National Party was able to gain a strong
majority. Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a means to cement their
control over the economic and social system. Initially, aim of the apartheid was to maintain
white domination while extending racial separation. Starting in the 1960s, a plan of “Grand
Apartheid” was executed, emphasizing territorial separation and police repression.
27
With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized.
Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between
non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of “white-only” jobs. In 1950, the Population
Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three
categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed decent). The coloured category
included major subgroups of Indians and Asians. Classification into these categories was
based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent. Non-compliance with the race laws were
dealt with harshly. All blacks were required to carry “pass books” containing fingerprints,
photo and information on access to non-black areas. In 1953, the Public Safety Act and the
Criminal Law Amendment Act were passed, which empowered the government to declare
stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting against or supporting the
repeal of a law. The penalties included fines, imprisonment and whippings. In 1960, a large
group of blacks in Sharpeville refused to carry their passes; the government declared a state of
emergency. The emergency lasted for 156 days, leaving 69 people dead and 187 people
wounded. Wielding the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the white
regime had no intention of changing the unjust laws of apartheid.
The penalties imposed on political protest, even non-violent protest, were severe. During
the states of emergency which continued intermittently until 1989, anyone could be detained
without a hearing by a low-level police official for up to six months. Thousands of individuals
died in custody, frequently after gruesome acts of torture. Those who were tried were
sentenced to death, banished, or imprisoned for life, like Nelson Mandela. The apartheid
policy was highly effective of achieving its goal of preferential treatment for whites, as is
demonstrated by the statistics in Figure 1.
Step3 Text Appreciation
1. Text Analysis
Plot of the story :
a well-educated black finds himself cordially invited to split a bottle with a white man in
the passage of the latter’s apartment building
Setting of the story:
social setting: Apartheid South Africa in 1960
story setting: in the passage
Protagonists of the story: “I”—the black
sculptorWriting techniques of the story: go to Writing Devices
Theme of the story:
The story tells us how racial prejudice can prevent us reaching, touching and connecting
with each other. This invisible wall exists between the white and the black and hampers their
free communication and full understanding. It is not just a wall imposed by apartheid laws,
but a wall deeply rooted in their hearts.2. StructurePart 1 (Paras. 1-6 ) about: Against
what background and from whom the story comesPart 2 (Paras. 7-76) about: How the story
goes3. Questions on Appreciation
(1) In the year 1960 the Union of South Africa celebrated its Golden Jubilee, and there
was a nationwide sensation when the one-thousand-pound prize for the finest piece
sculpture was won by a black man… (Para. 1)Questions:
Why did the black man’s success cause such a nationwide sensation?
What background does this opening sentence intend to unravel?
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(2) However, a crisis was averted, because the sculptor was “unfortunately unable to
attend the ceremony”. (Para. 3)Questions:
What did the author mean by saying that a crisis was finally averted? What is it about?
What would have happened if Simelane had attended the ceremony personally to accept the
prize?
(3)“I wasn’t feeling up to it.” Simelane said mischievously to me. “My parents, and my
wife’s parents, and our priest, decided that I wasn’t feeling up to it. And finally I decided
so too. (Para. 4)Questions:
In what sense did Simelane think he wasn’t “feeling up to it”? Did he mean he was physically
unable to attend the ceremony?
Why did Simelane give the author that mischievous look?
(4)Of course Majosi and Sola and the others wanted me to go and get my prize
personally, but I said, “boys, I’m a sculptor, not a demonstrator.” (Para. 4)
Questions:
Who do you think Majosi and Sola were? Why did they strongly advise Simelane to and get
the prize personally?
How to understand “I’m a sculptor, not a demonstrator”?
(5)They gave a whole window to it, with a white velvet backdrop, if there is anything
called white velvet, and… (Para. 7)Questions:
What did he mean when he said “… if there is anything called white velvet”? Could he be
playing with the word “white” here?
What qualities are usually associated with “velvet”?
(6)“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Look at that mother’s head. She’s loving that child, but
she’s somehow watching too. Like someone guarding. She knows it won’t be an easy
life.” (Para. 14)Questions:
Did the white man admire the sculpture purely from an artistic point of view? Why and why
not?
Do you think the exhibited sculpture transformed the mind of this young Africaner? In what
way?
(7)I couldn’t have told him my name. I said I was Vakalisa, living in Orlando.Questions:
Why didn’t Simelane tell the white man his true name?
What do you think was the reason why van Rensburg decided to befriend this black stranger?
(8)Then he said to me, “Are you educated?”I said unwillingly. “Yes.” Then I thought to
myself, how stupid, for leaving the question open. (Para. 27)Question:
Why did he say that he was a fool to leave the question open?
(9)Now I certainly had not expected that I would have drink in the passage. (Para.
30)Questions:
How did Simelane feel when he realized that they were going to drink in the passage? Did he
feel insulted and angry?
Why do you think Simelane was not invited in?
(10)On the other side were the doors, impersonal doors. (Para. 37)
… I was thinking that one of the impersonal doors might open at any moment… (Para.
39Question:
Why did Simelane keep referring to the “impersonal doors”? Why impersonal?
29
(11)… and van Rensburg, in a strained voice that suddenly came out of nowhere, said,
“Our land is beautiful. But it breaks my heart.” (Para. 44)
“You know,” he said, “about our land being beautiful?” (Para. 69)Question:
What did van Rensburg mean when he said that he thought their land was beautiful but
sometimes broke his heart?
(12) What he was thinking, God knows, but I was thinking he was like a man trying to
run a race in iron shoes, and not understanding why he cannot move. (Para. 75)Question:
What did Simelane mean when he said that van Rensburg was like a man trying to run a race
in iron shoes, and not understanding why he cannot move?
Step4 Language Understanding
1. In the year 1960 the Union Africa celebrated its Golden Jubilee(50th anniversary),
and there was a nationwide (throughout the nation)sensation (extreme excitement or
interest) when the one-thousand-pound prize for the finest piece of sculpture was won by
a black man, Edward Simelane. (Para. 1)In the year 1960, the Union of South Africa
celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and there was a great excitement throughout the country
when people heard that the prize for the finest piece of sculpture was won by a black man.
2. His work, African Mother and Child, not only excited the admiration, but touched the
conscience or heart or whatever it was that responded, of white South Africa. (Para. 1)
His sculpture, African Mother and Child, not only won the admiration of the white people
for its artistic merit, but also deeply touched or moved their hearts and conscience because the
work made them see the injustice of racial discrimination and the black people’s yearning for
a better life for their children.
3. It was by an oversight (a mistake that you make by not noticing sth. or by forgetting
to do sth.) that his work was accepted… (Para. 2)
It was by a careless mistake
that his work was accepted, because as a black person, he was not supposed to participate in
the competition4. but in certain powerful quarters (a usually unspecified group of people),
there was an outcry(a strong protest or objection) against any departure from (a
divergence from a rule or traditional practice)the “traditional policies” (referring to the
racial policies which had been in effect for many years)of the country… (Para. 3) but
in certain politically influential circles, there was a strong protest against this decision as it
was not in conformity with the traditional, apartheid policies of the country…5. In Orlando
you develop a throat of iron (metaphor: a strong throat ) and you just put back your
head and put it down, in case the police should arrive. (Para. 5) -----In Orlando you (the
blacks) gradually develop a throat as strong as iron, and you just throw back your head and
drink the brandy up in one gulp in order to avoid police detection.6. They gave a window to
it, with a white velvet backdrop, if there is anything called white velvet, (It’s hard to
associate “white velvet” with “softness” “smoothness” in an apartheid country)and some
complimentary words. (words expressing praise/admiration)(Para. 7)They gave a
whole window to the sculpture with a white curtain at the back and some words in praise of
the work. The curtain (backdrop) was made of white velvet, if there is such a thing as white
velvet7. … so I thought I’d go and see the window, and indulge certain pleasurable
human feelings. I must have got a little lost in(be engrossed/absorbed in)the
contemplation (quiet, serious thinking about sth)of my own genius… (Para. 9)
So I thought I’d go and see the window, and enjoy secretly some pleasant
feelings—feelings of pride for example for one’s genius. I must have become too absorbed in
30
my thinking about my own genius…8. I wasn’t only feeling what you may be thinking, I
was thinking that one of the impersonal doors might open at any moment, and someone
might see me in “white” building, and see me and van Rensburg breaking the liquor
laws of the country. (Para. 39)
You might be thinking that it was an insult to have me drink in the passage instead of
inviting me into their apartment, to sit down and drink properly. Yes, I was feeling that way.
But there was sth. else. I was also afraid that one of the cold, unfriendly doors might open at
any moment and someone might see me in this “whites only” building, drinking with a white
man and breaking the laws on drinking.
9. Anger could have saved me from the whole embarrassing situation, but you know I
can’t easily be angry. Even if I could have been, I might have found it hard to be angry
with this particular man. (Para. 39)I could have simply left then and there angrily and
thus freed myself from the awkward situation. But you know, I’m not the kind of person who
can easily get angry. Even if I could, I might have found it hard to be angry with this
particular man. He seemed so nice to me.
10. … and van Rensburg, in a strained voice that suddenly came out of nowhere
(happening or appearing suddenly and without warning), said, “Our land (our
country)is beautiful. But it breaks my heart (make one extremely sad).” (Para. 44)Van
Rensburg suddenly appeared and, in a worried voice, said, “Our land is beautiful. But it
breaks my heart.”11. All of us were full of goodwill, but I was waiting for the opening of
one of those impersonal doors. Perhaps they were too, I don’t know. Perhaps when you
want so badly to touch someone, you don’t care. (Para. 63)
All of us were full of warm and friendly feelings toward each other, but I was hoping that
one of those doors would open and someone would come out and see me. Perhaps van
Rensburg and the others were hoping the same thing, I am not quite sure. Perhaps when you
want to reach out so eagerly, you don’t care what might happen.
12. We drove up Eloff Street, and he said, “Did you know what I meant?” I wanted to
answer him, but I couldn’t, because I didn’t know what that something was. He couldn’t
be talking about being frightened of Orlando at night, because what more could one
mean than just that? (Para. 67)
We drove up Eloff Street, and he asked, “Did you know what I meant?” He wanted to make
sure that I understood him. Being a black, I knew very well that he couldn’t be talking about it
being dangerous in Orlando at night. He was saying that it was dangerous to break the
Apartheid laws by showing up in Orlando at night. What else could he mean other than that?
13. Yes, I knew what he meant, and I knew that for God’s sake he wanted to touch me
too and he couldn’t; for his eyes had been blinded by years in the dark. And I thought it
was a pity he was blind, for if men never touch each other, they’ll hurt each other one
day. (Para. 70)
Yes, I knew what he meant, and I knew, too, that he really wanted to touch me. But he
couldn’t, for he had been influenced by racism for so long that he was now unable to see the
truth and behave accordingly. And I thought it was a sad thing, because if you don’t
understand each other and don’t care for each other, some day you will hurt each other. Racial
prejudices are bound to lead to terrible sufferings for both sides.
31
14. And it was a pity he was blind, and couldn’t touch me, for black men don’t touch
white men any more; only by accident, when they make something like Mother and Child.
(Para. 70)
And it was a pity he could not see the truth and couldn’t open up completely to me and
embrace me as his brother, for black people could only touch them by accident as in this case.
They would not have had the chance to be moved by the sculpture Mother and Child if it had
not been for the oversight.
15. … and my inarticulateness (being unable to express oneself clearly; being at a loss
for words)distressed me,… (Para. 72)
 and my inability to express myself upset me; Or The fact that I could not clearly express
what I was thinking made me upset.
16. … but I was thinking he was like a man trying to run a race in iron shoes, and not
understanding why he cannot move. (Para. 75)
But I was thinking that he was much like a man trying to run but couldn’t because he was still not
completely free from racist prejudices which were dragging his feet like iron shoes. And the sad thing was
that he still did not know what was preventing their land, which otherwise was so beautiful, from becoming
a country that would not break his heart. The wall was in his own heart.
Step5. I. Word Study
.
1.avertvt. to prevent something unpleasant from happening
Examples:
Talks will be held today in a final attempt to avert strike action.
Luckily the pilot saw the other plane just in time, and a disaster was narrowly averted.
I was relieved that we had averted yet another financial crisis.
Synonyms: prevent/stop/avoid/head off/guard against
avert one’s gaze/eyes: look away;look up;look around;turn your face away
to look away from something so that you do not see it
Examples:
I wish I had power, just power enough to avert my eyes from her.
Henry averted his eyes as she undressed.
I averted my gaze and felt uncomfortable2.backdrop
n. a. the scenery behind something that you are looking at
b. the conditions or situation in which something happens
Examples:
The sea made a splendid backdrop to the garden.
All this romance is set against a backdrop of rural Irish life.
3.confidential :
covert;undercover;be veiled/ shrouded/cloaked in secrecy hush-hush
a. spoken or written in secret and intended to be kept secret
Examples:
The information we received is of a highly confidential nature and relates to national security.
We hold confidential records on each employee.
conscience (1)n. a. the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally
right or wrong Examples:
He was a man of strong social conscience, who actively campaigned against poverty in all its
forms.
32
Well, at least I can face them all with a clear conscience (=when you know that you have done
nothing wrong).conscience (2) guilt; remorse; shamen. b. a guilty feeling that you have about
something bad you have doneExamples:
Ian felt a pang of conscience at having misjudged her.
They have no conscience at all about cheating. (=not feel guilty about cheating)5.constrainv.
a. to stop someone from doing what they want to do
b. to limit something
Examples:
Financial factors should not constrain doctors from prescribing the best treatment for patients.
He felt constrained to accept the invitation.
Women’s employment opportunities are often severely constrained by family commitments6
contemplationn. quiet, serious thinking about something Examples:
The monks spend an hour in contemplation each morning.
He, too, made simplifications, but slowly, after studied reflection and contemplation.
. expel (1)v. a. to force air, water, or gas etc out of your body or out of a container
Examples:Hold the liquid in your bladder for as long as you can before expelling it.
This spawning procedure will continue until the female has expelled all her eggsexpel (2):
throw/kick out; exclude
b. to officially force someone to leave a school or organizationExamples:
Two girls were expelled from school for taking drugs.
The main opposition leader was expelled from her party.
They threatened to expel him if he didn't follow the party line.
expel (3): exile/send sb. into exile; deport; banish; repatriatec. to force a foreigner to leave a
country, esp. because he has broken the law or for political reasonsExamples:He was
expelled for making racist remarks.
The government is trying to expel all foreign journalists.
8. inarticulate : be at a loss; be lost for wordsa. a. not able to express your feelings clearly or
easily
b. speech that is inarticulate is not clearly expressed or pronounced
Examples:
My meetings with him left me inarticulate with
rage.
He is a shy and inarticulate man.
He was calling, making inarticulate noises, grunting and angry.
9. insoluble: unsolved; insolvable; intractable; dissolve; melt
a. a. difficult or impossible to solve or explain; insolvable
b. that cannot be dissolvedExamples:The cleaning-up operation after the oil spill will be
difficult but not insoluble.
The government has to deal with what seems like an insoluble political problem—racial
harmony within the community.
insoluble matter
jubilee
n. a date that is celebrated because it is exactly 25 years, 50 years etc after an important event
Do you know how many years they are markingsilver jubilee : 25years
golden jubilee: 50years
diamond jubilee :60 years11. outcry :complaint; protest; grievance; gripe
33
n. an angry protest by a lot of ordinary people
Examples:The closure of the local hospital has caused a huge public outcry.
The public outcry against the executions made little difference.
There was a widespread outcry over the increase in fuel tax.
polish
(1)v.& n. a. to make something smooth, bright, and shiny by rubbing itExamples:After she
had polished the furniture, she cleaned the windows.
A good polish now and then will keep the table looking new.
furniture/shoe/floor,etc. polish(=a liquid, powder, or other substance that you rub into a
surface to make it smooth and shiny)
polish
(2)v.& n. b. to improve a piece of writing, a speech etc by making slight changes to it before it
is completely finished
Examples:Your essay is good, you just need to polish it a bit.
Carla’s writing has potential, but it lacks polish1) polish sb./sth. off
a) to finish food, work etc quickly or easily
b) American English to kill or defeat a person or animal when they are weak or wounded
Examples:Sam polished off the rest of the pizza.
He was polished off with a shotgun blast to the face.
2) polish sth. up
a) to improve a skill or an ability by practising it (=polish up on sth. )
b) to make something seem better or more attractive to other people
Examples:You should polish up your Spanish before you go to Chile.
The company needs to polish up its image.
13.renounce (1) :give up; abandon; relinquish; disclaim
v. a. to give up (a title, for example), especially by formal announcement
Examples:
Edward renounced his claim to the French throne.
Rudolph voluntarily renounced his U.S. citizenship.
Bernard and Ellen went to visit Belinda, who had renounced her separatist tendencies
sufficiently to marry a graphics designerrenounce (2): reject; deny; spurnv. b. to publicly say
or show that you no longer believe in something, or will no longer behave in a particular
wayExamples:We absolutely renounce all forms of terrorism.
These groups must renounce violence if there is to be progress towards peace.
Young people renounced capitalism in favor of peace and love.
14.reprimand :scold; rebuke; tell sb. off; pull sb. up have a bone to pick with
v.& n. to tell someone officially that something they have done is very wrong
Examples:Batley and Sheffield Eagles received a severe reprimand yesterday for the fighting
which took place during their first-round Yorkshire Cup tie.
Once he had forgotten to lock Mr Corcoran’s office and had been harshly reprimanded.
The military court reprimanded him for failing to do his duty.
segregate (1) :separate; keep sb. Apart; isolate; cut sb. off /from
keep… in quarantine; apartheid(=segregation)
v. a. to separate one group of people from others, especially because they are of a
different race, sex, or religion
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(oppo.) integrateExamples:Male prisoners were strictly segregated from the females.
Schools should not segregate children with disabilities.
Blacks were segregated from whites in schools.
(2)v. b. to separate one part of a place or thing from another
Examples:
The coffee room had been segregated into smoking and non-smoking areas.
They too were segregated into wagons for families and those for single men16.sensation
(1)n. extreme excitement or interest, or someone or something that causes this
Examples:The news caused a sensation because it proved that Dorlin still had gold deposits.
This is a show that would cause a sensation in London or New York.
In 1779 he created a sensation with a pocket chronometer, called No. 36.
(2)n. a feeling that you get from one of your five senses, especially the sense of touch
Examples:But the thick, hardened layers of dead skin sometimes press on the nerve, causing
a burning sensation when you walk.
One sign of a heart attack is a tingling sensation in the left arm.
A prickling sensation running the length of her spine told her that Rourke had made an
appearance.
(3)n. a feeling that is difficult to describe, caused by a particular event, experience, or memory
Examples:Caroline had the sensation that she was being watched.
It was a strange sensation—I felt I’d been there before.
At first there is the odd sensation of panic, the feel of coming to an alien city.
strained
(1)a. a. showing the effects of worry or too much work
Examples:Nina’s voice sounded strained.
She had difficulty attending to Mrs. Browning’s questions and replied in a strained voice.
Lesley-Jane looked strained and peaky and her performance was once again subdued.
(2): tense; uneasy; unsettling; nerve-wracking charged; a. b. a strained situation or behavior is
not relaxed, natural, or friendlyExamples:
After the argument there was a strained silence.
I couldn’t stand the strained atmosphere at dinner any more.
Our relationship became very strained because I had refused to lend him money.
strain one’s authority
滥用权威
strain one’s eyes/ears
尽力倾听/注视
strain every nerve
全力以赴；竭尽全力
Do not strain yourself.
别太劳累
the strain of sleepless nights
连夜不眠的过度劳累
be a strain on sb. Resources
对某人的财力是一项重担
a strain in the arm
手臂扭伤
a stained laugh
勉强的笑
crack/collapse under the strain
不堪重负
19. sociable a. someone who is sociable is friendly and enjoys being with other people
Examples:She’s a friendly, sociable woman.
Some research has shown that people without brothers and sisters tend to be less sociable.
She had her back to me and didn’t seem very sociable.
slump (1)v. a. to fall or lean against something because you are not strong enough to stand
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b. to suddenly go down in price, value, or number
Examples:Carol slumped back in her chair, defeated.
Ben staggered and slumped onto the floor.
As house sales have slumped, so has spending on department-store specialties like furniture,
carpets and electrical appliances.
The currency slumped to a record low.
slump (2): depression; recession; crash
n. a. a sudden decrease in prices, sales, profits etc
b. a period when there is a reduction in business and many people lose their jobs
Examples:The slump in the property market is making it difficult for people to sell their
homes.
The post-war slump sent the unemployment figures to twice the expected level.
The war was followed by an economic slump.
II. Phrases and Expressions 1.. and all:including the thing or things just mentioned
Examples:
They ate the whole fish—head, bones, tail, and all.
The boss promised to provide me with a computer and all.
She had survived the accident, and all that mess afterwards.
be at one’s ease feeling relaxed, esp. in a situation in which people might feel a little
nervousExamples:
She is never particularly at her ease in his office.
And they looked happy and at (their) ease as they moved inside to the enormous champagne
reception Mel had arranged.
. be lost in the contemplation of thinking so hard about something, or being so interested in
something, that you do not notice what is happening around you Examples:Like a dreamer,
the Apolline artist is lost in contemplation of something outside himself and does not identify
with it.
William is looking out of the window, lost in contemplation.
bring sth. to a closeto end or conclude sth.Examples:
Finally the meeting was brought to a close by the new chairman.
Philpot’s retirement brought to a close an era in the life of the school.
cfAt the close of trade, the Dow Jones index was 1.92 points down.
The monsoon season was drawing to a close (=ending).
The event came to a close (=finished) with a disco.feel up to sth.to have the strength, energy
etc to do something; to be well enough to Examples:I just didn’t feel up to going.
You don’t need to go back to school if you don’t feel up to it.
He is scheduled to join the team in Calgary late today if his back is feeling up to it.
get beyond sb.to become too difficult for someone to understand Examples:
The whole problem got beyond him.
Why Joan ever married such an idiot in the
first place got beyond me.
not for all the money in the worldit is impossible to obtain or to do sth.
Examples:
I can’t get a hold of that book for all the money in the world.
And you still can’t get a good daily woman now to clean, not for all the money in the
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world.out of/from nowherehappening or appearing suddenly and without
warningExamples:
In the last few seconds, Gunnell came from nowhere to win another gold medal.
From out of nowhere he asks me to marry him!
I got to be careful—cars just suddenly come out from nowhere and it’s easy to have an
accident.
out of the corner of one’s eyeto notice something accidentally, without turning your head
towards it or looking for it Examples:
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the dog running towards her.
I caught a man tailing me out of the corner of my eye.
put down a drink: gulp down; swallow to drink sth. up in one gulp
Examples:
He put down his coffee and asked for the bill.
She put down her milk and ran for the bus.
save sb./sth. from to make someone or something safe from danger, harm, or destruction
Examples:
He saved the child from drowning.
Conservationists are trying to save the whale from extinction.
Financial experts are trying to save one of Britain’s biggest holiday companies from
bankruptcy.
squint at
to look at something with your eyes partly closed in order to see better
Examples:
Mrs. Fanning squinted at the writing on the door.
Stop squinting at the screen—put your glasses on.
He had/took a squint at the headline of the news.
talk out one’s heart to sb.to tell everything in one’s mind thoroughly and freely to sb.; to
pour out one’s feelings to sb.
Examples:
Sometimes we need to talk out our heart to our friends.Come and talk out your heart to us.
We’re ready to offer you help.
. take a leapto have a quick jump/move in sth.Example:
He took a leap in the interview and first asked me how much money I would expect to get in a
month.
take a leap over an obstacle 越过障碍物
in one leap
以一跃
an enormous leap forward
巨大的跃进
in/by leaps and bounds
飞跃地；极迅速地
a leap of (the) imagination 想象力的飞跃
a leap in the dark
冒险的行动；轻举妄动
leap year
闰年
leap of faith
相信不可捉摸之事物
Look before you leap.
三思而后行
leap at
急切地抓住（机会等）
Step6 Writing Devices
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Point of View:
Now observe the following sentences carefully. What is the focus of narration?
Then one night I was working late at the Herald, and when I came out there was hardly
anyone in the streets, so I thought I’d go and see the window, and indulge certain pleasurable
human feelings. I must have got a little lost in the contemplation of my own genius, because
suddenly there was a young white man standing next to me. (Para. 9)
What is point of view?
Point of view signifies the way a story gets told—the mode (or modes) established by an
author by means of which the reader is presented with the characters, dialogue, actions,
setting, and events which constitute the narrative in a work of fiction.
The first person point of view
This narrative mode limits the matter of the narrative to what the first-person narrator knows,
experiences, infers, or can find out by talking to other characters. We distinguish between the
narrative “I” who is only a fortuitous witness and auditor of the matters he relates (Marlow in
Heart of Darkness); or who is a participant, but only a minor or peripheral one, in the story
(Nick in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby); or who is himself or herself the central
character in the story (Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre).
Flashback
Now study the following paragraph. What is the function of it?
He said to me. “This is the second cognac I’ve had in my life. Would you like to hear the story
of how I had my first?” (Para. 6)
This paragraph serves to introduce a flashback.
What is flashback?
Flashbacks are interpolated narratives or scenes (often justified, or naturalized, as a
memory, a reverie, or a confession by one of the characters) which represent events that
happened before the time at which the work opened. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
(1949) and Ingmar Bergman’s film Wild Strawberries make persistent and skillful use of this
device.
Figurative Language
Now study the following sentences and tell us what figurative speech is used in each and how
it contributes to the expressive effect of the language.
1. It’s also the first time I’ve drunk a brandy so slowly. In Orlando you develop a throat of
iron. (Para.5)
2. He sat slumped in his seat, like a man with a burden of incomprehensible, insoluble grief.
(Para. 75)
3. What he was thinking, God knows, but I was thinking he was like a man trying to run a
race in iron shoes, and not understanding why he cannot move. (Para. 75)
Step7. Assignment
Give some comments on the text within 200 words
Ⅵ. 教学反思
Lesson 5
Man of the Moment
Ⅰ.教学目的
1.了解文章及作者背景知识；
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2. 理解文章题目与文章的含义；
3.了解戏剧的写法和结构及讽刺特点；
4. 能回答相关的问题并进行故事复述；
5. 掌握重点词汇、短语、构词法以及有关语法结构。
Ⅱ.教学内容
1 文化背景。
2 词汇：abuse，confirm，crack，fantasize ，frenzied，infuriate，impotence，instrumental，
obscene，onslaught，outburst， pinion，scrap，shade， torment
3 短语：at length，blow off one’s head， cross word，drift away ， end up with，fend sb.
Off， (have) a liking for ，heave (oneself up)，in the hope of，land a blow，lay a finger on
sb，pull oneself together，resign oneself to sth.，screw one’s way round，sum up the scene，
tail away/off，thrash about/around
4 构词法：Prefix:：dis-， ex-，un5 语法：tag questions
Ⅲ.重点难点
1 文章主题。
2 核心词汇，词组。
3 难句的理解。
4 戏剧的写作技巧。
Ⅳ.教学方法
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。
启发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学
生自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用角色扮演、小品短剧形式等。
Ⅴ.教学过程
Step1 Warm-up
1.What has happened to Vic Parks and Douglas in the past 17 years? How to understand
the title “Man of the Moment”?
2.Do you find it strange that an ex-bank-robber should have become a famous TV
personality and remain such a scoundrel(恶棍)?
3.What is the wider social problem the author tries to reveal besides personal issues?
4. Can you give a brief introduction to all the characters? And which character(s)
impress(es) you most ? Why?
5. What does the play intend to tell us: goodness is forgotten, but badness will live
forever?
Step2 Background
Information
1. About the author
Alan Ayckbourn (1939---?),English playwright and director ,was born in London in
1939 .He is one of Britain’s most prolific dramatists and widely performed of English
language playwrights and a highly regarded theatre director.
He had his first play produces in 1959 and since then has written 62 plays for the
theatre. He is known for the wit and ingenuity(巧妙，心灵手巧) with which he portrays（描
绘，扮演） the foibles（怪癖） and anxieties of England’s suburban middle class and their
conflicts with those in the social spheres above and below them, Since 1970,Ayckbourn has
been artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Company in Scarborough ,where he began his
career, and her has taught at Oxford University since 1992.His antibourgeois(反对中产阶级
39
的) farces(闹剧), many of which were also produced in the United States and a number of
which have been televised,
Alan Ayckbourn’s Man of the Moment (1990) is a play about, among other things,
representation, truth, reality, hyper(宣传人员 ) reality and hyper consumerism(用户至上主
义). The story line is simple. Vic Parks, a once bank robber and an ex-convict, is now a well
sought after media celebrity. He is presented as a writer, benefactor(捐助者) and a kind of
pop star as well. Vic is killed in his Mediterranean summer Villa by acquaintances from his
past and present. To help promote hyper consumerism and hyper reality, media has
transformed the story of his murder to something different.
2. About the text
Man Of The Moment features one of the most fascinating and memorable characters in
the Ayckbourn play canon 准则，标准. In Vic Parks, Alan Ayckbourn creates a character of
appealing charisma [kə‘rizmə]神秘的个人魅力 and barely contained violence who is as
close to depicting the epitome [i’pitəmi] 缩影 of evil that Alan Ayckbourn has ever got. He
dominates a play which directly tackles 处理，解决 issues of good and evil, while taking a
satirical swipe 尖刻的话 at our obsession with the facile 温和的 world of television and
celebrity 名声.
Here was the inspiration for Man Of The Moment, which also fulfilled Alan’s desire to
tackle the issue of good and evil and to see whether he could write two convincing and
equally interesting characters who epitomized [i‘pitəmaiz] 概括 both sides of the moral
balance.
The play is also about Alan’s scepticism 怀疑论 of the media and the direction television
is going. It deals with how the media manipulates 利用 its audiences and how certain people
can manipulate the media or allow themselves to be shaped by the media to create often
undeserved fame and celebrity 名声、名人.
3. Comedy
Comedy (from the Greek ,komodia) as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse
generally intended to amuse, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be
carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose
Western origins are found in Ancient Greece. In the Athenian democracy, the public opinion
of voters was remarkably influenced by the political satire performed by the comic poets
at the theaters.
A comedy of manners typically takes as its subject a particular part of society (usually
upper class society) and uses humor to parody or satirize the behavior and mannerisms 习性
of its members. Romantic comedy is a popular genre that depicts burgeoning 急速增长的
romance in humorous terms, and focuses on the foibles of those who are falling in love.
Much comedy contains variations on the elements of surprise, incongruity, conflict,
repetitiveness, and the effect of opposite expectations, but there are many recognized genres
of comedy. Satire and political satire use ironic comedy to portray persons or social
institutions as ridiculous or corrupt, thus alienating their audience from the object of humor.
Satire is a type of comedy.
4. Black Comedy
Black comedy ,also known as black humor or dark comedy(荒诞喜剧), is a sub-genre 次
种类型 of comedy and satire（讽刺剧） where topics and events that are usually treated
seriously ---death, mass murder, sickness ,madness ,terror, drug , rape, war ,etc---are treated in
40
a humorous or satirical manner. Synonyms created to avoid possible racial overtones include
dark humor , morbid 病态的 humor , gallows 绞架 humor and off-color.
Black comedy is similar to sick comedy ,such as dead body jokes. However, in sick humor
most of the humor comes from shock and revulsion（厌恶）; black humor usually includes an
element of irony , or even fatalism（宿命论）.
Step3 Text Appreciation
1. Structure
PartⅠ(para1--37):In Vic’s villa Douglas saw Vic insulting his maid Sharon.
PartⅡ(para38--86): Douglas had a conversation with Vic’s wife Trudy about the bank raid
17 years ago and its influence to his wife.
Part Ⅲ(para87--104): Douglas left ;Trudy found Sharon ready to kill herself and talked with
her about Vic’s cruelty.
Part Ⅳ(para105--173):Vic talked Sharon into drowning herself and got drowned himself.
2. Theme
Man of the Moment is a play about, among other things, representation, truth, reality, hyper
reality and hyper consumerism, above all, a meditation on fame and morality.
3. Plot
Plot: seventeen years after the bank raid, the ex-bank robber and the hero are brought together
again to see how different fate has affected their lives.
Scene: in Vic’s Spanish villa
Protagonists: Vic (the ex-convict) & Douglas (the hero)
Conflicts: Major conflict: Vic v.s Douglas; Minor conflicts: Vic v.s Trudy; Vic v.s Sharon
Climax: Sharon killed Vic in the swimming pool, bringing every conflict to a close.
Step4 Language understanding
1. Some days I couldn’t look at her at all. My hands would shake and my voice used to crack
when I spoke and I’d feel sick in my stomach. (Para. 39)
I loved her so much that sometimes I did not even dare to look at her. Often when I saw her,
my voice would go hoarse and I would feel sick.
2. She was generally very nice and polite, but, so far as romance went, I think I was definitely
at the bottom of the reserves as far as she was concerned. (Para. 39)
She was nice and polite to me just as she was to everybody. But if we are talking about love, I
definitely would be the last one to win her heart. (I definitely would be her last choice.)
3. How rotten. Aren’t people rotten, sometimes? (Para. 50)
How terrible! How disgusting! Don’t you think people are terrible, deserting their friends like
that?
4. Sharon, it’s passing thing, I promise. It’s something we all go through. (Para. 98)
Sharon, I can assure you that this feeling won’t last very long. You will grow out of it. We all
have this experience when we are young.
5. And if you are honestly clinging on to life in the hope of getting one tiny scrap of care or
consideration back from that self-centered, selfish man, then all I can say is, you’d better
jump in there now, Sharon, and cut your losses. (Para. 104)
And if you really want to continue to live hoping that you will get a little bit of care and
consideration from that selfish and egotistic man, then my only suggestion is that you’d better
jump into the swimming pool now, so that you will not be hurt more.
6. Sharon, understandably, is a little shaken by this outburst. (Para. 104)
41
Sharon had never expected Trudy to say these things about her husband. She is shocked.
7. Nobody would miss her except the national union of bakers. (Para. 137)
Nobody cares whether she lives or dies. She is of no importance to anybody except to the
national union of bakers, because she is such a big consumer of their products.
8. Douglas reacts like a charger on hearing the bugle call. (Para. 144)
Douglas responds like a fearless horse when it hears the bugle call.
(History is now repeated. Vic, though now rich and successful, is still the bank robber in his
heart, and Douglas, though aware that what he did seventeen years ago was rash and silly,
reacts exactly in the same way when the occasion arises.)
9. She lands a blow that Vic doesn’t care for. (Para. 140)
She gives him a blow that he does not quite like/a blow he does not find amusing/a blow that
hurts.
10. Sharon comes up for air and props herself against the side of the pool, breathlessly and
strangely happy. (Para. 152)
Sharon comes to the surface to take a breath. She leans against the side of the swimming pool
and appears breathless and happy in an odd way.
Step5 Language Points
1. abuse :vt. a. to say rude or offensive things to someone
Example: He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
2. confirm :v. a. to say that sth. is definitely true, esp. by providing more proof
Examples:
The President refused to confirm the rumor.
Managers have so far refused to confirm or deny reports that up to 200 jobs are to go.
My brother will confirm what I have told you.
3. crack: v. if your voice cracks, it starts to sound different because you are feeling strong
Emotions
His voice cracked slightly as he tried to explain.
But forgive him if his voice cracks or he stumbles over a word.
4. fantasize: n. to imagine that you are doing sth. which is very pleasant or exciting, but which
is very unlikely to happen.
Sometimes she fantasized about buying a boat and sailing around the world.
I used to fantasize that my real parents were famous movie stars.
6. infuriate
Examples:
Her racist attitudes infuriated her co-workers.
It infuriated him that Beth was with another man.
Kramer’s stubborn refusal to answer any questions infuriated the officers.
Step6 Writing Device
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is a form of irony that is widely used in English especially when people are being
humorous. Generally the sarcastic speaker or writer means the exact opposite of the word they
use, often intending to be rude or to laugh at the person the words are addressed to. Study the
following sentences. Pay attention to the tone.
1. Do you know the reason why you’re sitting there like a great bowl of pork dripping?
(Para. 14)
42
2.It comes of being surrounded by people who nod at him all day at work. He prefers us all to
nod at home too… (Para. 36)
3. And if you are honestly clinging on to life in the hope of getting one tiny scrap of care and
consideration back from that self-centered, selfish man, then all I can say is, you’d better
jump in there now, Sharon, and cut your losses. (Para. 104)
4. Nobody would miss her except the national union of bakers… (Para. 137)
Step7 Homework
Give an analysis of the main characters in the text.
Ⅵ. 教学反思
Lesson 6
Groundless Beliefs
Ⅰ 教学目的
了解文章及作者背景知识；分析理解 groundless Beliefs 的五个来源；理解文章中的难句；了解
西方思维方式和传统；学习并欣赏文章的逻辑分析和层层推理的写作手法；掌握重点词汇、短语、
构词法以及有关语法结构。
Ⅱ教学内容
1．文化背景、文章主题。
2．词汇：allowance，attribute，belittle，classify，fundamental，grudge，inherit， prohibition，
originate， prestige， justify， consist， keen
3．短语：as a rule ，make allowances，in fashion，in the light of ，run out ，on the ground
of ，a shadow of ，at all costs
4．构词：Root–cide， Root–verse
5．语法：Abbreviated Adverbial Clause，
6．文章中的短语的理解和应用；词的辨析；分析文章的中长句的结构。
7．文章的赏析。
Ⅲ 重点难点
1．文章主题。
2．核心词汇，词组。
3．长难句的理解。
4．层层推理的写作技巧。
Ⅳ教学方法
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。启
发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学生
自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用背诵等形式。
Ⅴ. 教学过程
Step1 Warm-up
One thing we all do every day is express our views，state our beliefs or discuss our
ideas．We say to one another：I think，I believe，I’m convinced，I’m sure，It goes without
saying，It’s crystal clear，It’s as simple as ABC，No doubt．．．，etc，every day and often
many times a day．We may not be professional thinkers. But we all do thinking as a habit．We
may not have reached the level of grade-one thinking．But we cannot avoid thinking，rightly
or wrongly. However,
Do we really know what we are doing though?
43
Do we really know what it means when we say we are thinking?
Do we really think for ourselves? Are our beliefs and ideas really well-grounded?
Are we sure that all the beliefs we hold with intense conviction and accept without
question are really true?
What constitutes adequate grounds for beliefs?
Step2
Check students’ understanding of Text
What is the author talking about in the text? -- Beliefs, esp. groundless ones.
What is a groundless belief? -- It is a belief which has no ground or foundation. It is not
supported with proof or evidence.
Why do people hold groundless beliefs according to the author? -- Because of early
environment, parroting, taking sth as obvious truth, self-interest, one’s desire, one’s
sentimental associations, or fashions.
What does the author mean by parroting, obvious truth, self-interest, desire, sentimental
associations, and fashions?
Why does the writer write such an article for us?—wants us to find out how we come by our
beliefs and know the bases or the grounds of our beliefs, to see all sides of a question, to test
our beliefs and develop our critical thinking.
Step 3 Text Appreciation
1. Theme of the story:
The article is meant to serve as a suggestive example of a curious, inquiring mind at work. It
encourages us to find out how we came by our beliefs and manage to be bold enough to test
our beliefs.
2. Structure of the text
Part 1 (para.1) about: The author’s proposition of the general practice of thinking.
Part 2 (paras.2-21) about: The author’s analysis of five non-rational factors in the
determination of people’s opinions.
Part 3 (paras.22-25) about: The author’s encouragement on clear, fresh and rational ways of
thinking.
Question 1: According to the author, what are the five sources for many of our groundless
beliefs?
1. Result of early environment.
2. Parroting
3. Self-interest
4. Sentimental associations
5. Fashion
Question 2: Give examples of our most deeply-rooted and fundamental convictions that we
happen to have been “brought up” to them?
1. Money is dirty.
2. Man will struggle to conquer nature.
3. Many hands make light work.
4. We must save every penny to support our national reconstruction.
5. China is a large country with abundant natural resources.
Step 4 Language Study
allowance: an amount of money that is given to sb. regularly or for a particular purpose
e.g. an allowance of $100 a month
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make allowance(s) for 考虑到；估计到；体谅到
e.g. I am tired of making allowances for his lack of experiences.
Making allowances for bad weather and for my own laziness, I think that the job will be
finished before the end of the year.
attribute:
v. a.to relate to a particular cause or source;
b.to regard as the work of a specified agent or creator:认为是…所为(所写/所做)
e.g. David attributed his company's success to the unity of all the staff and their persevering
hard work.
a symphony attributed to Mozart
attribute: n. a quality or feature of sb./sth.
e.g. Organizing ability is essential attribute for a good manager.
Lightning bolts are an attribute of Zeus.
belittle: to make sb. or sth. seem unimportant
e.g. A poor but honest man is not to be belittled.
The size of the office tower belittles the surrounding buildings.
bungle: v. to do sth. badly or without skill; to fail at sth.
n. sth. that is done badly and that causes problems
e.g. He bungled the job.
a bungled robbery
c.f. blunder: v. to make a stupid or careless mistake
n. a stupid or careless mistake
adj. blundering; impatient and impetuous 浮躁的
conceive: to form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind; to imagine sth.; to become pregnant with
e.g. Ancient peoples conceived of the earth as flat.
She is unable to conceive.
…, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in Liberty,
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. (Gettysburg Address, Lincoln)
dogma: n. a fixed belief or set of beliefs that people are expected to accept without question
教义；教条
e.g. The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.
---Abraham Lincoln
dogmatic: a. being certain that your beliefs are right and that others should accept them,
without paying attention to evidence or other opinions 教条的；武断的；自以为是的
grudge: n. a feeling of anger or dislike towards sb. because of sth. bad they have done to you
in the past 积怨；怨恨
syn: resentment
bear (a) grudge (against): have no resentment against
e.g. I bear him no grudge.
He has a grudge against the society
v. to think that sb. does not deserve to have sth.
syn: begrudge
e.g. I grudge having to pay so much tax.
He grudges the time he spends idling around.
adj. grudging: given or done unwillingly
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syn: reluctant
headhunting: n. the practice of obtaining and preserving the heads of one’s enemies
猎头
headhunt: v. to find sb. who is suitable for a senior job and persuade them to leave their
present job 猎头
e.g. He was headhunted by a world 500 company.
improvident: a. not providing for the future; thriftless; incautious 不顾将来的；不节俭的；
鲁莽的
e.g. He was constantly being warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to "save for a
rainy day."
in the light of: after considering sth. 考虑到；鉴于
e.g. He rewrote the book in the light of further research.
他根据进一步的研究重写了那本书。
justify: to demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid
证明……正确；为……辩解/辩护；对……作出解释
e.g. It’s hard to justify the gunman’s killing 32 people in Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech
Uni.
You don’t need to justify yourself to me.
n. justification: a good reason for sth. 正当理由
legitimate: for which there is a fair and acceptable reason; allowed and acceptable according
to the law
e.g. legitimate consiceration/execuse/quesiton
Is his business strictly legitimate?
originate from/in sth.
originate from/with sb. : have sb/sth as a cause of beginning or as the creator or author of
(sth)
e.g. All theories originate from / in practice and in turn serve practice.
The optic theory originated with Einstein.
originate a new style of dancing
polygamy n.一夫多妻
rel. monogamy n. 一夫一妻
ant. polyandry n. 一妻多夫
Prohibition:
The period (1920-1933) during which the 18th Amendment forbidding the manufacture
and sale of alcoholic beverages was in force in the United States.
禁酒时期: 美国第十八条修正案禁止生产和销售烈性酒实施的时期（1920-1933 年）
sentiment: feeling or opinion, esp. that based on emotions; feelings of pity, romantic love,
sadness, etc. which may be too strong or not appropriate
情绪；伤感；哀伤
e.g. the spread of nationalist sentiments
Anti-American sentiment is running high in some countries
There is no room for sentiment in business.
sentimental: connected with emotions rather than reason; producing emotions such as pity,
romantic love or sadness, which may be too strong or not appropriate
情感的；伤感的
e.g. The ring wasn’t worth very much but it had great sentimental value.
Step 5 Detailed study of the Text
Paragraph 1:
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In future we are going to follow the practice—until it becomes a habit—of classifying
propositions according to their grounds.
classify: to arrange or organize according to class or category
ground: (usu. pl.) the foundation/underlying condition for an argument, a belief, or an action;
a cause or good reason for sth.
e.g. What were his grounds for wanting a divorce?
Neither statement can be faulted on the grounds that it is inaccurate. (Lesson 3)
groundless: a. not based on reason or evidence
e.g. groundless optimism
Our fears proved groundless.
Probably we shall be astonished at the number of propositions met with in everyday life
which we shall find it necessary to class as groundless.
be astonished at: be very surprised at
met with: encountered; experienced
class as: classify as
similar usage: see P117.5
to be astonished at; to be surprised at; to be alarmed at; to be amazed at; to be astounded at
to class as; to regard as; to describe as; to accept as; to view as; to conceive as; to recognize as
Paraphrase: Probably we will be surprised at the number of ideas we meet in everyday life
because there are too many of them, and we will find that these ideas have no ground or
foundation at all and it is necessary for us to classify them as “groundless”.
They rest upon mere tradition, or on sb’s bare assertion unsupported by even a shadow of
proof…
rest upon: to be based on; depend/rely on
bare assertion: strong statements without the support of proof
a shadow of: the slightest trace of
e.g. A shadow of a smile touched his mouth.
There is not a shadow of justification for your behavior.
She knew beyond a shadow of doubt that he was lying.
Paraphrase: They are only based on tradition, or merely on somebody’s assertion, but are not
supported even by the least amount of proof.
bare: a. naked; not covered with or protected by anything; empty; just efficient, mere…
e.g. bare arm/feet/wall/necessities/facts
the bare branches of winter trees
The fridge was completely bare.
Phrases:
with your bare hands: without weapons or tools
bare your soul: to tell your deepest and most private feelings
bare your teeth: to show your teeth in a fierce and
threatening way
barefaced: a. showing that you do not care about offending sb. or about behaving badly
e.g. a barefaced lie
Paragraph 2:
Perhaps it was way back in our early childhood…
way back in: a long time ago
e.g. I first met him way back in the 60s.
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Many of strongest convictions were established then.
conviction: a strong opinion or belief
established: formulated
Paraphrase: Many of our strongest beliefs were formulated at that time
conviction could also mean the judgment of a jury or judge that a person is guilty of a crime
as charged
e.g. He has six previous convictions for theft.
Paragraph 3:
But if the staunchest Roman Catholic and the staunchest Presbyterian had been exchanged
when infants, and if they had been brought up with home and all other influences reversed,
we can have little doubt what the result would have been.
when infants: elliptical sentence: when they were infants
with home and all other influences reversed: by exchanging all kinds of influence they’ve
got from home or other sources
Paraphrase: But if they were exchanged when they were infants and brought up in different
homes and under different influences, then the staunchest Roman Catholic would be the
staunchest Presbyterian, and vice versa.
Presbyterian（长老教信徒）: a member of the Presbyterian Church, a Protestant
denomination
Roman Catholic: a member of the Roman Catholic Church
It is consistent with all our knowledge of psychology to conclude that each would have
grown up holding exactly the opposite beliefs to those he holds now……
be consistent with: be in agreement with
conclude: to draw a conclusion; to arrive at a conclusion
e.g. The results are entirely consistent with our earlier research.
Paraphrase: We can conclude, based on all our knowledge of psychology, that each would
have grown up having exactly the opposite beliefs to what they have now.
The same thing is true, of course, of many beliefs other than those of a religious nature.
be true of: can apply to
e.g. The proverb " it is never too old to learn" is true of everyone.
other than: here means apart from; the traditional meaning is except
e.g. I don’t know any French people other than you.
adopt: to take into one's family through legal means and raise as one's own child ; to start to
use or to accept…
e.g. to adopt a child
adopt a different approach
adopt a name/title/language
Q: Here the author says that some of our convictions are strong because they have been in our
mind for a long time, because they were imprinted on our mind when we were little children
when we could not judge for ourselves, or because they were passed on to us during our most
formative years and often by people we trusted and loved, do you agree with the author? Can
you give some specific examples of this kind of conviction(s)?
Note:
formative: having an important and lasting influence on the development of sth. or sb.’s
character
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e.g. the formative years of childhood
formative education
Paragraph 4:
Of course we do not cease…to adopt new beliefs on mere suggestions… to take only the most
striking examples, the enormous influence of newspapers and the effectiveness of skilful
advertising.
cease to: stop to do
e.g. You never cease to amaze me!
striking: attractive; noticeable
Paraphrase: Of course it does not mean that when we grow up we no longer have these
mistaken beliefs. We still do. We are still easy and often willing victims of newspapers and
advertising.
Phrases and expressions:
wonders will never cease: (spoken, usu. ironic) to express surprise and pleasure at sth.
Much of what passes as such is not, strictly, thinking at all. It is the mere “parroting” of ideas
picked up by chance and adopted as our own without question. Most people, most of the time,
are mere parrots.
what passes as such: what people take as thinking
pass as=pass for: be accepted as
e.g. He speaks the language so well he could easily pass as/for German.
parrot: n. 鹦鹉; one who imitates the words or actions of another, especially without
understanding them
v. to repeat what sb. else has said without thinking about what it means
Paraphrase: Most people, most of the time, are mere parrots. They simply echo, or repeat
others’ ideas without question.
But as we leave childhood, we tend to accept only such new ideas as fit in with the ideas we
already hold; …
fit in with: to say the same thing or follow the same principle; to agree with
Comment: If we tend to accept such new ideas as fit in with the ideas we already hold, they
are, strictly speaking, no longer new ideas. Therefore it is often the case that when we say we
are thinking, we are really rearranging our deeply-rooted prejudices.
Possible psychological reasons: force of inertia; fear of the unknown; fear of losing face; fear
of loss of interest, etc.
Can you give some examples?
e.g. climb/jump on the bandwagon: (infml, disapproving) to join others in doing sth. that is
becoming fashionable because you hope to become popular or successful yourself
Paragraph 5:
But we should fully face the fact that beliefs which are merely inherited from the past must
have originated at a time when men knew much less than they know today. So the fact that a
belief is “old” is no argument in its favour.
in its favour: in its support
Paraphrase: But we should admit that the beliefs passed on to us by our ancestors are based
on the limited knowledge of the old time. Their beliefs must be lack of strong supports since it
is certain that we know much more than our ancestors did. Therefore, we should not adopt a
belief just because it is old.
49
Paragraph 6:
We need especially to be on our guard when we come across propositions which seem to be
“obviously” true.
be on our guard: to be very careful
Paragraph 7:
When we find ourselves entertaining an opinion about which there is a feeling that even to
enquire into it would be absurd, unnecessary, undesirable or wicked---- we may know that
opinion is a non-rational one.
find ourselves entertaining: to realize that one is unconsciously doing sth
enquire into: to find out more information about; to investigate
wicked: morally bad; evil; in Spoken English it can mean mischievous
Paraphrase: When we find that we have the very feeling that our certain opinion is sure to be
true and that we should not question its validity and that if we do so it would seem very
ridiculous, needless, objectionable, or even evil of us, we should come to the conclusion that
this opinion is not a rational one since a rational opinion is one that is open to question and
challenge.
entertain: to extend hospitality toward; to interest and amuse sb. in order to please them; here
(formal.) to consider or contemplate
e.g. to entertain a doubt/suspicion
持怀疑态度
entertain an idea
考虑一个主意
entertain few illusions
几乎不抱幻想
Paragraph 8:
…, we should remember that the whole history of the development of human thought has
been full of cases of such “obvious truths” breaking down when examined in the light of
increasing knowledge and reason.
break down: to cease to be useful; to fail to function; to stop being acceptable
in the light of: in consideration of; as a result of
Examples of such cases:
We used to regard the following as obvious truth: that the sun moves round the earth; the
earth is flat; the air is weightless; there is always a king; men are always stronger than women;
etc.
Paragraph 9:
The age-long struggle of the greatest intellects in the world to shake off that assumption is
one of the marvels of history.
intellect: person of great intellectual ability
shake off: get rid of
Paraphrase: It took many scientists of greatest learning hundreds of years to struggle against
the assumption that the planets moved in circles. The success of getting rid of that assumption
is one of the miracles in human history.
The struggle between the Roman Catholic Church and 17th-century Italian physicist
and astronomer Galileo has become symbolic of the clash between authority and
intellectual freedom. Galileo refused to obey orders from Rome to cease discussions of his
theories and was sentenced to life imprisonment. It was not until 1992 that a papal
commission acknowledged that the church was wrong.
that the church had made a mistake in condemning Galileo.
50
suggested reading: Retrying Galileo, 1633-1992
---Maurice A. Finocchiaro
Paragraph 10:
Many modern persons find it very difficult to credit the fact that men can ever have supposed
otherwise. Yet—they did.
credit the fact: believe the fact
otherwise: differently
Paraphrase: Many modern people are hard to believe that for some time men had ever
thought they were thinking with their hearts. Yet it is true that the ancient people really
thought in that way.
Paragraph 12:
An assumed or dogmatic proposition which had been universally accepted as “obvious”; and
which, when challenged, was supported by reference to a dogma of Aristotle. Until Galileo
actually demonstrated the contrary, nothing could have seemed more beyond possibility or
doubt.
demonstrate the contrary: to prove that the contrary is true by means of a demonstration
beyond possibility or doubt: be impossible or unquestionable
Paraphrase: It was a proposition that had been universally accepted as an obvious truth.
Whenever it was challenged, it would be proved true with the strong support of Aristotle’s
theory, one of the most firmly held dogmas. It would never be questioned or doubted if there
was no Galileo who proved that the contrary was true by means of a demonstration.
Paragraph 13:
Progress in human thought seems to consist mainly in getting rid of such ideas.
Compare:
consist of: to be made of or composed of
consist in: to have a basis in; to lie in; to be found in
e.g. Happiness consists in appreciating what you have.
True education does not consist in simply being taught facts.
The committee consists of ten members.
Their diet consisted largely of vegetables.
Para 14: Self-interest (and modern psychology)
a general rule: the person concerned is about the last person in the world to be able to
recognize this in himself
Para 15: Explanation of “self-interest” in its general sense.
Para 16: Explanation of “self-interest” in its broad sense: our attitude toward our opinion
Para 17: a similar case: desire to justify (finding excuses)
leave no room for doubt: to make it impossible for people to doubt
cling to: to be unwilling to get rid of sth., or stop doing sth.
e.g. Throughout the trial she had clung to the belief that he was innocent.
He had one last hope to cling on to.
pay sb to do sth: to bring benefit or advantage to sb to do sth
e.g. It pays to tell people the truth.
It pays to forgive others.
It doesn’t pay to work too hard at the expense of your health.
is about the last person to do sth: is the least possible person to do sth
attribute…to…: result as resulting from
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to extend the term: to extend the meaning of the word; to understand the word in a broader
sense.
to be somebody in some circle: to be and important person in a certain group of people who
know each other
sour grapes
e.g. He said he didn’t want the job anyway, but that’s just sour grapes.
Para 18: Sentimental association (definition)
One’s thought is associated with memories of particular persons who held similar opinions,
(illustration) e.g. a man who was hostile to his father in childhood, other examples
Para 19: Its influence on people’s thought
recollection: memory; a thing that you remember from the past
e.g. have a vivid/vague recollection of sth.
I have no recollection of meeting her before.
To the best of my recollection I was not present at that meeting.
recollect: v. to remember sth., esp. by making an effort to remember it
e.g. I don’t recollect what she said then.
antagonism: hostility; dislike; resentment
keen satisfaction: strong satisfaction
keen: eager; enthusiastic about;
e.g. He is very keen to help.
She is one of the keenest supporters of that team.
keen is also often used before noun, it could mean quick to understand, strong or deep, or
very sensitive or sharp
e.g. a keen mind/intellect
keen interest/satisfaction
keen sense of smell
My friend has a keen eye for a bargain.
dispose sb to do sth: to make sb more likely to fell or think a particular way about sth
dispose of sb./sth.: to get red of; to deal with (P178)
Para 20: Fashion (illustration)
Para 21: Its influence on people’s thought (sooner or later our thought become fixed)
Para 22: We tend to have fixed thinking habit (thought pattern)
Para 23: Illustration: people with fixed thoughts are quite common in everyday life.
Para 24: How it functions to our thought and changes us to Old Fogeys.
Para 25: Purpose of this essay: be inquisitive, critical, rational…
well worn: old because it has been used for a long time
brain-centre (BrE) = nerve centre (AmE) 神经中枢
connect up: join two or more things together
e.g. connect up these computers
stock anecdotes: stories about your personal experiences that you keep telling people
whenever you can think of nothing else to tell
e.g. “No comment” is entertainers’ stock response. (P179)
go to the dogs: to get into a very bad state
e.g. This firm has gone to the dogs since the new management took over.
Phrases and expressions:
52
every dog has his/its day
raining cats and dogs
sick as a dog
let sleeping dogs lie: to avoid mentioning a subject or sth. that happened in the past in order
to avoid any problems or arguments
straight can mean honestly and directly
e.g. I told him straight that I didn’t like him.
Are you playing straight with me?
Step 6 Assignment
Comment on the text.
Ⅵ. 教学反思
Lesson 7
Spring Sowing
Ⅰ.教学目的
1.了解文章作者的背景；
2. 掌握文章的结构与写作技巧；
3.深入分析并灵活掌握运用重点语言点；
4.引导学生就不同人群的理想价值观念和生存方式进行讨论；
5.掌握单词的拼写，理解文章的含义 ；
6.掌握重点词汇、短语、构词法以及 as 的用法。
Ⅱ.教学内容
1．文化背景、文章主题。
2．词汇：assert ，cluster ，depressed，gruff，imminence，numb，overpower ，revel，
streak ， subjugate，throb，tremor
3．短语：as it were，on fire，better off，at this rate，take complete hold of，open up ，
be cross with，fall over，take for， in the name of God，be chained to ，be dotted with ，
rob sb. of sth.，carry a long way ，a flash of sth.，cross one’s mind，
4．构词：Compound，Suffix— -en
5．语法：The Use of “As”及长句子的英文释义和结构。
6．文章赏析：主题、结构与写作技巧。
Ⅲ.重点难点
1．文章主题。
2．核心词汇，词组。
3．长难句的理解。
4．写作技巧: description of planting；description of characters, their mental activities and the
physical environment, etc.
Ⅳ.教学方法
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。启
发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学生
自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用复述课文等形式。
Ⅴ. 教学过程
Step1 Warm-up-------- Group discussion
 What do you make out the background of the story?
 When and where is the story set?
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 What kind of clothes do they wear?
 What kind of tools do you use?
 Is there any machinery or home electronics or modern conveniences?
 What do you know about the young couple?
 Are they typical or exceptional?
 Is there anything symbolic about this day?
 Can you describe the technical details of their planting step by step?
 What values and moral principles are being idealized here?
Step2 Background Information
1. About the author
Liam O'Flaherty is one of the most significant and important modern Anglo-Irish
authors. His novels have not been met with much critical analysis over the last forty years
because he stopped publishing work in 1956. Both his novels and his short
stories define Anglo-Irish literature in that his themes stem from his experiences
growing up in a poverty-stricken society on the island of Aran; his naturalistic,
mystical, romantic, and realistic styles were also defined by his experiences in his
native Ireland.
Liam O’Flaherty was born in Ireland in 1896. He wrote in English and Irish. His main
works include the novels:
Thy Neighbour’s Wife
The Black Soul
The Informer
The Assassin
Shame the Devil
Famine
2. Do You Know?
Liam O'Flaherty is an often overlooked, though quite prolific, Irish writer. His
writings are hard to quantify. He vacillates from the romantic to the realistic to the
naturalistic to the mystical. O'Flaherty never really found his place in society, which may
have actually helped his writings. His abandonment led to imaginative insights.
His rebellious nature led to a passion for his writings. The mythical history of Ireland and his
impoverished upbringing affected O'Flaherty for the remainder of his life.
The unique author Liam O'Flaherty died in Dublin on 7 September 1984.
Step 3 Text Appreciation
1. About the story:
“Spring Sowing” is taken from the author’s first collection of short stories which bears
the same title published in 1924. The story describes the first
day of the first spring planting of a newly-wedded couple against the
background of a traditional agricultural country.
2. Theme
The simple life, honest nature and good wishes of the newly-married couple are presented
through the descriptions of their spring planting in minute detail. It reveals the traditional
virtues of a typical farmer: hard work, simple living, discipline, and above all, strong sense of
responsibility for the happiness of his wife and family.
3. Text Structure
54
The young couple’s preparations for the first day of their first spring
sowing
Part 2 (Paras. 9—23): A detailed description of the spring sowing.
Part 3 (Paras. 24—26): The young couple’s yearnings for the future.
Step 4 Language Points of the Text
Para 1
rake out …: remove ashes from ( a fire, kiln, etc)
live coals
live: still burning or glowing; not extinct
e.g. live spark; a live volcano
other:
a live TV program; a live performance; a live bomb
hearth: the area around a fire place or the area of floor in front of it
streak: a streak is a long thin mark, line or band of a different substance or color. Here in the
text, it refers to the ray of early sunlight which was white against the dark sky.
e.g. There are streaks of gray appearing in her black hair.
streak (v.): 1) to cover with lines
e.g. The woman finished her moving story, our faces were streaked with tears.
2) to move very fast
e.g. The cat streaked across the road with the dog behind it.
(idm.) 1) like a streak of lightning: very quickly
2) a winning/losing streak: refers to the repeated success/failure during a time of
good or bad luck
as it were: seemingly; in a way; so to speak ( used to comment on the speaker’s
own choice of words, which may give only an approximate meaning)
e.g. She seemed very relaxed--- in her natural setting as it were.
Para 2
hateful: unpleasant; detestable
freckled: covered with small light-brown spots on the human skin
fair: light in color; blond. Westerners hold the notion that light coloring is
desirable.
Her black hair piled at the rear of her head with a large comb gleaming in
the middle of the pile, Spanish fashion.
P: Her black hair is piled into a mass at the back of her head with a comb shining in the
middle (of the pile), in the way Spanish do.
Para 3
They ate in silence, sleepy and yet on fire with excitement, for it was the first day
of their spring sowing as man and wife.
P: They had their breakfast, keeping silent, although still not fully awake, the young couple
was already greatly excited, because that day was the first day of their first
planting after they got married.
on fire: burning; (fig.) burning with emotion, passion or sensation; greatly excited;
full of ardor; very enthusiastic, excited, or passionate
e.g. He was on fire with excitement at this marvelous sight.
man and wife: husband and wife
Part 1 (Paras. 1—8):
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glamour: the attractive and exciting quality of sth. 魅力
e.g. glamour model
open up: (cause sth to) be available for development, production, etc
e.g. open up undeveloped land, new territory, etc
But somehow the imminence of an event that had been long expected, loved,
feared and prepared for made them dejected.
P: The couple had been looking forward to and preparing for this spring planting for a long
time. But now that the day had finally arrived, strangely, they felt somehow a bit sad.
the imminence of an event: the fact that sth (usu. unpleasant) is now about to take place.
“Event” here refers to the spring planting
dejected: irritated; in low spirits; depressed; sad
Para 4
Martin fell over a basket in the half-darkness of the barn, he swore and said that
a man would be better off dead than…
P: In the barn, it was still very dark as it was very early in the morning. So Martin tripped
over a basket. He cursed and said that it would be better for him to die
than ( to have to get up at such an early hour and begin the day’s toil--- probably
for the rest of his life).
be better off (doing sth): be wiser ( to do sth specified ); in a more favorable position or
financial circumstances
This phrase is the comparative form of “ well off”.
e.g. He'd be better off going to the police about it.
They would be better off flying than driving there.
be cross ( with sb) (about sth): be rather angry or irritated; annoyed; ill-tempered
e.g. She was cross with him for his being late.
And somehow, as they embraced, all their irritation and sleepiness left them. And
they stood there embracing until at last Martin pushed her from him with pretended
roughness and said: “Come, come, girl, it will be sunset before we begin at this
rate.”
P: However, all of the unhappiness and drowsiness melt away with their hug. They
remained in each other’s arms until finally Martin pushed her away, with pretended
roughness, to show that he was now the bread-winner of the family and had serious
work to do and therefore must stop this sentimental nonsense, otherwise they would not
be able to get anything done in the whole day.
at this rate: at this speed
Para 5
Still, as they walked silently in their rawhide shoes through the little hamlet, there
was not a soul about.
P: When they walked silently through the small village, they saw not a single person around
then because they were earlier than everybody else.
hamlet: a small village
soul: here it means a person, not the spiritual part
e.g. I’ve never seen a more honest soul than Tom.
She promised not to tell another living soul about this.
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And they both looked back at the little cluster of cabins that was the center of their world,
with throbbing hearts. For the joy of spring had now taken complete hold of
them.
P: Both of them looked back towards their small village, which was the most
important place for them because they and their forefathers before them were born
and raised here. Their hearts were quivering with excitement at that moment, for the
coming of spring had already filled their hearts with pleasure.
a cluster of: number of people, animals or things grouped closely together
a cluster of cabins: a group of wooden houses very close together
e.g. cluster of houses, spectators, bees, islands , etc
throbbing: beating rapidly or violently
to take complete hold of: to gain complete control or influence over sb; to have
great power over sb; to hold tightly
e.g. She felt a strange excitement taking hold of her.
manure: v. here means to fertilize
rot: to decay, naturally and gradually
e.g. rotting leaves/fruit
heap (of sth.): an untidy pile of sth. 一堆
e.g. The building was reduced to a heap of rubble.
spit it out [俚]请说吧! 毫无保留地讲, 大声说
Para 9
peg: n. a small piece of wood or metal that is used for fastening sth. or to hang st
on 钉, 栓, 桩; a piece of wood or plastic used for attaching clothes 衣夹 (=clothes
peg=clothespin)
v. to fasten or plug with a peg or pegs; here in the text just means to fasten
Phrases:
off the peg (BrE)=off the rack (AmE)
clothes that are made in large numbers and sent to shops, not made specially for a
particular person 成品的；现成的
e.g. He buys his clothes off the peg.
row: a row of things or people is a number of them arranged in a line
when you row a boat, you sit in a boat and make it move through the water by
using oars
Phrase : in a row: sth. happen several times or repeatedly
e.g. They have won the championships in a row.
advance: v. to move forward
to the head: to the front
commence: to begin; to start
Para 10
in the name of (God): used to add force to determination
palm: the inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the base of the
fingers; any of various chiefly tropical evergreen trees
five fingers’ names: thumb; index finger, forefinger; middle finger; ring finger; little finger
Phrases:
butterfingers: a person who often drops things
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green fingers: if you have green fingers, you are good at making plants grow
be all thumbs: very awkward
thumbs up/down: show acceptance/rejection
a rule of thumb: a practical method of doing sth.
stand/stick out like a sore thumb: to be very noticeable in an unpleasant way
twiddle you thumbs:
to move your thumbs around each other with your fingers joined because of boredom
to do nothing while you are waiting for sth. to happen
thumb your nose at sb./sth.:
to make a rude sign with your thumb on your nose; to show that you have no
respect for sth..
Para 12
Suppose anybody saw us like this in the field of our spring sowing, what would the
take us for but a pair of useless, soft, empty-headed people that would be sure
to die of hunger.
P: If people should see us like this (with your arm round my waist), what would they think of
us? They were sure to take us for a pair of good-for-nothings, people who are unable to
endure hardship and foolish and, therefore, were sure to die of hunger.
take for: regard as
e.g. I think they took me for Japanese.
soft: here means weak in character, not able to endure hardship and tend to live
comfortable and easy life
empty-headed: stupid; silly and ignorant
His eyes had a wild, eager light in them as if some primeval impulse were burning within his
brain and driving out every other desire but that of asserting his manhood and of subjugating
the earth.
P: His eyes shone and his only desire now was to prove what a strong man he was and how he
could conquer the land.
but: except; with the exception of; save
e.g. The problem is anything but easy.
to assert one’s manhood: to state strongly or behave in such a
way as to show
that you are already a full-grown man, an adult, a man capable of supporting his
family and able to handle all difficulties in life
Para 13 (Note the obvious contrast)
draw back: withdraw; retreat
e.g. I guess I looked terrible, because my mother drew back when she saw my face.
gaze distantly at the ground: to look at the ground as if she were far removed
from the present situation
Q: What information can we get from the description here about Martin and
Mary? Obviously they don’t think alike, why?
turn up: to dig up
basic meanings:
e.g. Turn up the radio a little bit. I can’t hear.
I don’t know why she didn’t turn up at the meeting the other day.
sod: a section of grass-covered surface soil held together with matted roots
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crunch: to make a crackling sound as if you are chewing sth noisily
Q: Why did Mary sigh? Why did she walk back hurriedly with furrowed brows?
Mary sighed probably because she was reluctant to dismiss her romantic feelings at
that moment. She sighed because she knew she would have to go back to work.
furrowed brows: wrinkled eyebrows; deep frowns
to drive out the sudden terror that had seized her at that moment when she saw the
fierce, hard look in her husband’s eyes that were unconscious of her presence.
P: (… she began to work hard) in order to get rid of the terror that suddenly took control of
her when she saw that her husband had suddenly changed from the
loving husband she knew into a fierce-looking farmer who did not seem to be aware
that his bride was with him.
She became suddenly afraid of that pitiless, cruel earth, the peasant’s slave master,
that would keep her chained to hard work and poverty all her life until she would
sink again into it bosom.
P: She became afraid of the earth because it was going to force her to work like a slave and
force her to struggle against poverty all her life until she died and was buried in it.
pitiless: without pity; unfeeling; cruel; merciless
to be chained to: to be bound to; to have your freedom restrained because of a
responsibility you cannot escape
e.g. Women nowadays refuse to be chained to the kitchen sink.
to sink again into its bosom: to die and be buried in the earth; to return to the
earth
bosom: a woman’s chest or breasts; a situation in which you are with people who
love and protect you
e.g. to live in the bosom of your family
bosom friend: very close friend
e.g. A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near. 海内存知己，天涯若比邻。
breast: man or woman’s chest; the front part of a bird’s body
e.g. breast feathers
chest: the part of the body between the neck and the abdomen
Her short-lived love was gone. Henceforth she was only her husband’s helper to till
the earth.
P: The love they had for each other did not last long. Their romance was now
replaced by their necessity to face the hard work. From then on, she was merely her
husband’s helper and had to work side by side with him.
Q: Do you think the same thing would also happen to most young couples, i.e.
their passion or love would be gradually be replaced by the necessity to do sth. or the
reality?
short-lived: lasting only for a short time
henceforth: from this time on; from now on
to till the earth: to prepare land for raising crops a by plowing and fertilizing; to
cultivate
And Martin, absolutely without thought, worked furiously…
P: Martin on the other hand had no time to waste on idle thoughts. He just
concentrated on his work and worked with great energy.
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furiously: with great energy; fiercely
whirl: to move around quickly in a circle or in a particular direction 挥动；转动
A sharp contrast is made in this paragraph between Martin and Mary, and this is also
the traditional contrast between husband and wife, please make a
comment on this.
e.g. man: realistic; rational…
woman: romantic; sensational …
Para 14
to be dotted with: to have people or things spread here and there over a wide area
There was a sharpness in the still thin air that made the men jump on their spade
halts ferociously and beat the sods as if they were living enemies.
P: The chilly and biting air of early spring made the peasants work fiercely with
their spades, beating the sods a if they were enemies.
halt: the top part of the spade which you press with your foot
ferociously: furiously; fiercely
to cock sideways: to tilt or turn (said of the head or ear) to one side
e.g. He paused and cocked his head as if listening.
dash: to walk or do thins suddenly or quickly
to secure: to get hold or possession o; to obtain after a lot of effort; to acquire
e.g. With a tremendous effort, she managed to secure a ticket for me.
Para 16
draught (AmE draft): one continuous action of swallowing liquid; the amount
swallowed 一饮（的量）
e.g. He took a deep draught of his beer.
other meaning:
e.g. a draught of air
mug: n. a tall drinking cup , usu. with straight sides and a handle; (slang) a person’s face;
(infml.) a stupid or foolish person
v. to threaten or assault (a person) with the intent to rob; to make exaggerated facial
expressions
e.g. a beer/milk/coffee mug
C.f. glass; cup; bowl; tumbler
I never want to see his ugly mug again.
She had been mugged in the street in broad daylight.
Para 17
“Yes, isn’t it lovely,” said Mary, looking at the black ridges wistfully.
wistfully: showing or expressing melancholy yearnings
wistful: pensively sad; melancholy 忧郁的；伤感的
What do you think was on Mary’s mind at that moment?
Comment: She was sad that this was going to be her life from now on, toiling and sweating
over the land until the day she died. But on the other hand what they had done that day also
make her proud and hopeful.
munch: v. to eat steadily and often noisily 大声咀嚼；用力咀嚼
The hurried trip to the village and the trouble of getting the tea ready had robbed her of
her appetite.
P: She was so tired after running back home, getting the tea prepared and coming back that
she lost her appetite.
to rob sb of sth: to deprive sb of sth belonging to that person by an unjust procedure
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e.g. The accident robbed him of his health.
to blow at the fire: to sent out a current of air to the fire
turf: peat; a soft brown substance like earth that is used for burning instead of coal, especially
in Ireland 泥炭
Compare
rim: usu. applies to the verge or edge of sth. circular or curving
edge: a sharply defined terminating line made by the converging of two surfaces (as of a
blade, a dish, a plank, or a box), it often implies sharpness and therefore power to cut 两平
面相接处
brim: applies to the inner side of the rim of a hollow vessel or to the topmost line of the
basin of a river, lake, or other body of water (杯, 碗等)边, 边缘
border: refers either to the boundary line or to the area that is immediately inside the
boundary 边界, 国界
verge: applies to the line or to a very narrow space which sharply makes the limit or
termination of a thing
margin: a border of definite width usu. distinguished in some way from the remaining
surface; the space immediately contiguous to a body of water 页边的空白, (湖、池等的)边
缘
brink: the edge of sth. steep (峭岸、崖的)边缘
e.g. the rim of the glass/cup
The rims of her eyes were red with crying.
He stood on the edge of the cliff.
a big house on the edge of town
Don’t put that glass so near the edge of the table.
I sat down at the water’s edge.
They had brought the country to the edge of disaster.
two wine glasses,. filled to the brim
a national park on the border between Kenya and Tanzania
It’s difficult to define the border between love and friendship.
the margin of a page/lake/river
people living on the margins of society
on the brink of collapse/war/death/disaster
the brink of the precipice/cliff
Phrases
border on sth.=verge on sth.: to come very close to being sth., esp. a strong or unpleasant
emotion or quality; to be next to
e.g. She felt an anxiety bordering on hysteria.
areas bordering on the Black Sea
on the verge of sth./doing sth.: very near to the moment when sb. does sth. or sth. happens
e.g. He was on the verge of tears.
These events left her on the verge of having a nervous breakdown.
teeter on the brink/edge of sth.: to be very close to a very unpleasant or dangerous situation
e.g. The country is teetering on the brink of civil war.
a strange joy swept over her: she was suddenly seized by a strange feeling of happiness
sweep: here means to suddenly affect sb. strongly
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e.g. A wave of tiredness swept over her.
Memories came sweeping back.
phrases: sweep the board: to win all the prizes in a competition
It overpowered that other feeling of dread that had been with her during the morning.
P: The feeling of joy drove away the feeling of terror that she had had in the morning.
overpower: to overcome by superior force
e.g. I was so overpowered by my guilt and my shame that I was unable to speak.
Her beauty overpowered him.
overpowering: adj. very strong or powerful
e.g. an overpowering smell of fish
an overpowering personality
The heat was overpowering.
dread: n. a feeling of great fear about sth.
e.g. The prospect of growing old fills me with dread.
My greatest dread is that my parents will find out.
She has an irrational dread of hospitals.
v. to fear that sth. bad is about to happen
e.g. This was the moment he had been dreading.
I dread being sick.
They dread to think what would happen if there really was a riot.
Para 18
Martin ate heartily, revelling in his great thirst and his great hunger, with every pore of his
body open to the pure air.
Comment: The heavy work made Martin thirsty and hungry and made him enjoy his lunch
and tea more.
heartily: with enthusiasm and enjoyment, here means with a good appetite
to revel in: to take much pleasure in; to delight in
Shyly and in silence, not knowing what to say and ashamed of their gentle feelings, …
Comment: Farmers are often described as men of few words. They are usually shy or bashful,
not very demonstrative. And they often feel ashamed of their gentle feelings because a
farmer’s life is tough, and a good farmer is not supposed to be soft and sentimental.
chase: v. to run, drive, etc. after sb./sth. in order to catch/get; to try to obtain; here in the text
means to rush or hurry somewhere
e.g. a dog is chasing a rabbit
Too many people are chasing too few jobs nowadays.
David’s been chasing after Jenny for months.
Para 20
sore: a. painful, esp. of one’s body being red because of infection or because a muscle has
been used too much
e.g. to have a sore throat/stomach
a sore point: a subject that makes you feel angry or upset
like a bear with a sore head: (infml) bad-tempered
stand/stick out like a sore thumb
Para 22
wearily: tiredly, exhaustedly
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Then she thought of the journey home and the trouble of feeding the pigs, putting the
fowls into their coops and getting the supper ready, and a momentary flash of rebellion
against the slavery of being a peasant’s wife crossed her mind. It passed in a moment.
P: When she thought of all the drudgery waiting for her at home, suddenly she wanted to
break the chains on her as a peasant’s wife, but it only lasted a very short time. She
immediately dismissed the idea.
fowl: n. (pl. fowl or fowls) a bird that is kept for its meat and eggs, for example a chicken
syn. poultry
coop: a shed for chicken
C.f. co-op: n. a cooperative shop
momentary: lasting for only a moment; passing; transitory
e.g. momentary confusion
a momentary lapse of concentration
a flash of sth: a sudden, brief and intense display of sth
e.g. a flash of anger/inspiration
a flash of white teeth
cross one’s mind: ( also: pass through one’s mind) suddenly occur to sb.
e.g. It never crossed my mind that they would turn the proposal down.
It passed through her mind that he might have got lost.
Para 24
overcome: v. here means to be extremely strongly affected by sth.
e.g. Her parents were overcome with grief at the funeral.
The dead woman had been overcome by smoke.
Para 26
Cows were lowing at a distance.
to low: to make the characteristic moo sound of a cow
4. Conclusion:
The story here does not have much of a plot. But the author has seized a very dramatic
moment in the young couple’s life and has shown their life and dreams through his
descriptions of their spring planting in minute detail. It is this quality that the power of this
story mainly lies.
5. Further Questions on Appreciation
1. What values and moral principles have been idealized here? Is it still the same today? Do
you agree that the traditional work ethic is out of date? Are such qualities as hard work,
diligence, thrift, responsibility, discipline, simple and honest living, rugged individualism
and self-reliance, etc. still valued?
2. Let’s pretend that you are Martin Delaney or Mary living in the 21st century. What kind of
a person would you like to have as your wife or husband? What qualities would you like to
find in your spouse?
Step 5 Writing Device
Onomatopoeia（拟声法）: the use of words that by their sound suggest their meaning
Some onomatopoetic words are “hiss”, “buzz”, “whirr”, “sizzle”, “crack”. However,
onomatopoeia in the hands of a poet or a writer becomes a much more subtle device than
simply the use of such words.
Examples:
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Outside, cocks were crowing and a white streak was rising from the ground. (Para. 1)
… he turned up the first sod with a crunching sound as the grass roots were dragged out of
the earth. (Para. 13)
She was just munching her bread and butter. (Para. 17)
The rasping noise carried a long way in the silence. (Para. 19)
Cows were lowing at a distance. (Para. 26)
A notable example appears in The Princess by Tennyson:
The moan of doves in immemorial elms,
And murmuring of innumerable bees.
… I have ever heard—the ripple of the river, the soughing of the trees swayed by the wind,
the murmurs of the crowds, the faint ring of incomprehensible words cried from afar, the
whisper of a voice speaking from beyond the threshold of an eternal darkness.
Step 6 Assignment
Comment on the text with 150 words .
Ⅵ. 教学反思
Lesson Eight
Globalization’s Dual Power
教学目的
1.理解文章的题目的内涵；
2. 引导学生就全球化这一双刃剑问题进行讨论。
教学内容
1. 文化背景
2 . 重点词汇、句式的学习
3. 写作手法和写作技巧
4. 长难句的理解
5. 文章的写作目的
教学重点与难点
1. 文章中的短语的英文解释和用法
2. be prone to sth 的用法
3．平行结构的使用
4.文章的意思和结构，学习议论文的写作手法
教学方法与手段
以听说为主的交际教学法，课堂上精讲多练，讲练结合，如问答、情景会话，pair work 等方式。启
发式、讨论式的教学方法，如学生分组讨论、相互问答等方式。文化背景和文化知识导入，如学生
自制文化背景知识 PPT 课件汇报等方式；以学生为中心，采用背诵等形式。
教学过程
Step1 Warm-up
1. What is globalization?
2. What is its positive roles?
3. What is its negative roles?
4. Why people around the world would hold mass protest against globalization?
Step2. Background Information
A. about the author
Robert J. Samuelson, a contributing editor of Newsweek, has written a column for The
64
Washington Post since 1977. His column generally appears on Wednesdays.
Robert J. Samuelson writes a regular column for Newsweek and The Washington Post Writers
Group. He began his career in journalism as a reporter for the Post in 1969. After leaving the
Post in 1973, he did freelance writing until mid-1976, when he joined the National Journal
magazine as an economics correspondent and columnist. The Post began using his National
Journal column in 1977; in 1984, he left the National Journal for Newsweek. He lives in
Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and three children.
B. Recent Columns
Thinking Small on The Budget (Post, April 22, 2005)
The New Economic Warriors (Post, April 13, 2005)
Economic Death Spiral (Post, April 6, 2005)
A New Era for Oil? (Post, March 30, 2005)
Welfare Junkies (Post, March 24, 2005)
Is the Global Economy Unstable? (Post, March 16, 2005)
Welfare vs. Wall St. (Post, March 11, 2005)
The Mystery of Low Interest Rates (Post, March 2, 2005)
Journalistic Malpractice (Post, Feb. 23, 2005)
Step3 Text Appreciation
1. Theme of the text
Globalization is a double-edged sword: a promise to help everyone and a peril to hurt
everyone.
2. A general introduction to the text
Globalization is a trendy word today．More and more people now believe that the world is
becoming more and more integrated．Indeed，people now think that it is becoming a small
global village．Globalization，they say，is not just an irresistible trend．It is already a fact．
Actually，in its broadest sense，globalization started a long time ago．One could trace it to
the early caravans across the Sahara Desert and along the Silk Road；the trade around the
Mediterranean or in the wake of the Crusaders, or across the Atlantic after Columbus
discovered America．The process reached its first peak around the end of the nineteenth
century，and although it was temporarily suspended by widespread protectionism which led to
the two world wars in the first half of the twentieth century，the tide returned in the latter half
with more tranquil international relations supported by the United Nations，GATT(today the
WTO，the World Bank and IMF．The pace of international economic integration accelerated in
the 1980s and 1990s，especially after the Cold War ended．Many political barriers that
hampered international trade were reduced or removed，and great technological development
facilitated easy transportation and communication．The most dramatic example of this new
round of globalization is no doubt the opening-up of China．But China is not the only country
caught up in this process．Today even the most secluded and isolated countries are taking their
first cautious steps in this direction．
However，this is only one side of the story．There also exists the opposite tendency，the
tendency of protectionism，regionalism，unilateralism，separatism，anti-globalization．The
reason for this is simple．As the author puts it，globalization is a double-edged sword. It cuts
both ways．On the one hand，it can bring new products and services；new investment and
markets；new technologies and management skills and generally higher living standards．But
it can also bring more debt, more instability，a greater gap between the rich and poor，far
65
worse environmental degradation, and the loss of national and cultural identity．In spite of all
the promises of a win-win situation in this game, nations are not equally positioned．They do
not have a 1evel playground．Therefore, there are bound to be winners and losers．People in
many developing countries are afraid that they stand to lose their hard-won independence.
They suspect that globalization is just another name for Americanization. They feel that they
are being marginalized rather than integrated．No wonder there has been an increasingly
intense mass protest against globalization around the world in recent years.
This does not mean of course that globalization is completely wrong．It simply means that
it is more complicated than we thought．It means that many new prob1ems will have to be
looked into and properly resolved。Globalization probably will eventually prevail．But it will
have to be a more equitable ， more humane ， more universally beneficial kind of
globalization．In this essay written at the edge of the twenty-first century，the author draws our
attention to the dual character of this trend and urges people to deal with the new problems．
China’s 15-year, long unremitting efforts to join the WTO show that we have made our
choice，We have decided，after weighing the pros and cons carefully，that we cannot afford to
be left out of this trend．the trend that we decided to embrace in 1978．Our achievements since
that time have proved the wisdom of this policy．However，we must not forget that there is the
other side．Our real challenges are still ahead when globalization requires big changes in
ideas，attitudes，practices，policies and institutional structures. It is for this reason that we
believe our students ought to know about globalization in all its subtlety and
complexity．They should think about how they，as individuals，can adjust themselves to the
challenges of a more open country and avail themselves of the new opportunities．
3. Structure
Part I (1-3): The author puts forward the view that it is a double-edged sword and gives the
detailed explanation of globalization
Part II (4-17): The process of globalization and the positive effects of globalization.
Part III (18-31): The negative effects of globalization.
Part IV (32-34): The other problems that may threaten the future of generalization and the
author’s further attitude on dealing with globalization.
4. Questions to help comprehension and appreciation
1) Guess when this article is written。What is it about? What is the author's overall position on
this issue? Is he for or against globalization? Why does he say that globalization is a
double-edged sword，or has dual power? What can globalization do to benefit or harm nations?
What is the daunting question the author visualizes for the 21st century? Why is it daunting?
2) How does the author define globalization? How does he explain the functions of the market?
Has the market become global all of a sudden? Why does the author say that in some respects
globalization is merely a trendy word for an old process? Where would you start if you want
to trace the history of international trade? The trade between China and other nations over the
Silk Road? The trade among the Mediterranean countries in the days of the ancient Greece?
The trade between Britain and other countries at the time when Britain was known as the
Workshop of the World? Why does the author start the discussion in the 20th century? What
in his opinion retarded the growth of the world's market that had gained great momentum
before the Depression in the U.S.?
3) The author said that after World War II，the market growth re-accelerated, driven by
political pressures and better technology．What does he mean? What political pressures?
66
Why，in the author’s opinion，does the U.S．champion trade liberalization? Do you agree with
him? What important measures were taken that facilitated the economic growth of its chief
followers?
4) One remarkable fact of globalization is no doubt the establishment of the European Union.
Do you know the ideas underlining the efforts to bring all European nations into a common
market? Who were the original masterminds? To what extent have they succeeded? Do you
think the EU is here to stay? Do you think the euro has a future? Do you think the integration
process irreversible?
5) Is politics the only driving force of this process? What are some of the most important
technological developments since WWII that favor more global commerce and help to turn
the world into a global village? Who are the most enthusiastic supporters of globalization?
The multinationals? Why? Does this mean that national governments which tend to guard
their power very jealously are bound to oppose globalization?
6) Would you say that globalization is the game of the economic powers? What is the general
attitude of the poorer countries? Why are some poorer countries so anxious to join the WTO?
How would you describe the consequences so far since China became a member in 2001?
7) What are the two problems in the author's opinion that can neutralize the potential benefits
of globalization and make it highly risky? Why does he say that the global economy is now
prone to harsher boom—bust cycles? Can the capital flow from the outside automatically
benefit a country? What example does the author use to illustrate his point? How does he
explain the serious financial crisis which occurred in Asia in 1997?
8) What other problems may threaten the future of globalization? What docs the author mean
when he says that the world economy is now flying on a single engine? Why is this a problem?
Why is it that there are so many people around the world—and the number is increasing--who
strongly oppose globalization? What does the author mean when he says that many of their
complaints are political，cultural, and social?
9) Where do we go from here? Does the author think globalization is historically inevitable
and irreversible? What can go wrong? What would be a scary prospect?
10) What do you think of the author's views? Do you think his views arc balanced? What do
you think we should do in view of a11 these complicated factors?
Step4. A Detailed Study of the Text
1．At the edge of a new century，globalization is a double-edged sword：a powerful
vehicle that raises economic growth，spreads new technology and increases living
standards in rich and poor countries alike, but also an immensely controversial process
that assaults national sovereignty; erodes local culture and tradition and threatens
economic and social instability．(para. 1)
As the new century approaches，globalization means two different things．It can have both
negative and positive effects. On the one hand, it can greatly increase economic production,
spread new technology and improve the living standards in both rich and poor countries；on
the other hand，it is highly controversial because it threatens national sovereignty，destroys
local culture and traditions，and is likely to cause economic and social instability．
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the edge：(fig) the point just before sth very different and noticeable happens，e．g．
on the edge of bankruptcy 处于破产的边缘
It was reported in today’s paper that the company is on the edge of (or：on the verge of)
collapse．
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The opposition leader claimed that the government had brought the country to the edge
of a catastrophe．
double-edged：Sth that is double-edged acts in two ways，both positive and negative, e．g．
The increase in petrol prices is double-edged because it will make life harder for some，but it
will reduce congestion and pollution．
Tourism is double-edged, both boosting the economy and damaging the environment. 旅游
业既有积极的意义，也有消极的影响，一方面他促进了经济，另一方面它破坏了环境。
to spread：to popularize
vehicle：sth you use to achieve sth else，e．g．
The conference was seen as an ideal vehicle for increased cooperation between the member
states．这次会议被看做是成员国之间不断合作的理想媒介。
to assault：to attack
to erode：to wear away；to reduce gradually
Our personal freedom is being gradually eroded away. 我们的个人自由正在逐步被削弱。
2．A daunting question of the 21st century is whether nations will control this great
upheaval or whether it will come to control them．(Para. 2)
daunting：intimidating；disheartening；discouraging，e．g．
In spite of unification，the country was still faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming
four decades of division．
The task seemed rather daunting for him. 这项任务令他生畏。
upheaval：a great change，esp. causing or involving much difficulty，activity or trouble
currency upheaval 货币动荡 economic upheaval 经济震荡
3．In some respects，globalization is merely a trendy word for an old process． (para. 3)
To some extent，globalization is not new．The world has always been in the process of market
expansion．What is new is the term“globalization”，which became fashionable only recently．
trendy：(infml) modern and unconventional；of the latest fad or fashion
4．The Cold War，from the late 1940s through the 1980s，caused the United States to
champion trade liberalization and economic growth as a way of combating
communism．(para. 4)
The Cold War was a state of extreme hostility between countries with opposing political
systems existing after the Second World War to the demise of the Soviet Union - the“socialist
camp”headed by the Soviet Union and the“free world”headed by the United States, which
expressed itself not through shooting wars，but through fierce economic competition，as well
as through political and military pressure and threats．During the Cold War, the United States
enthusiastically fought for trade liberalization partly in order to prevent communism．
to champion for：to fight for；to support or defend a principle，movement or person
champion a just cause 支持、拥护、捍卫
大部分人都支持政治经济改革。Most people champion the political and economic reform.
to combat：to try to stop sth unpleasant or harmful from happening or increasing，e．g。
The government is spending millions of dollars in its attempt to combat drug abuse．
Also：to combat crime／terrorism／inflation／disease
5．Europeans saw economic unification as an antidote to deadly nationalism．(Para. 5)
Europeans regarded economic unification as a way to prevent nationalism．They knew that
what had caused two world wars could cause more if they could not curb this nationalism by
turning Europe into a common market first and then organizing it into some kind of political
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union．This was the vision of a few far-sighted politicians in Europe．Today, after nearly half
a century’s Herculean effort，this dream is beginning to come true．
antidote：a chemical，esp．a drug，which limits the effects of a poison；(fig) a way of
preventing or acting against sth bad, e.g．
Hard work is the best antidote to mischief. 繁忙的工作是防止为非作歹的最好方法。
Humor can be an effective antidote to hostility．
High interest rates are the only known antidote to a persistent consumer boom．
6．As recently as 1990，governments--either individually or through such multi-lateral
institutions as the World Bank--provided half the loans and credits to 29 major
developing countries．(para. 8)
multilateral：involving more than two groups or countries．Notice the prefix“multi”，which
means having many，e．g．multilingual, multimedia，multiple，multinational．
credit：Here：an amount of money placed by a bank at the disposal of a client，against
which he may draw 信贷
loan：a sum of money which is borrowed，often from a bank，and has to be paid back，
esp．together with an additional amount of money that you have to pay as a charge for
borrowing--- called “interest’’
She’s trying to get a $50，000 loan to start her own business．
the World Bank：an international organization which was formed in 1945 to help rebuild
war- torn Europe，but soon afterward began to focus on the underdeveloped world to bring
them into the international economy
7．A decade later．even after Asia’s 1997-96 financial crisis，private capital flows dwarf
governmental flows．(para.8)
Ten years later，even after Asia’s financial crisis of 1997- 98, private capital flows are still
greater in number than governmental capital flows．
to dwarf：to make sth seem small by comparison
The new skyscraper will dwarf all those near it．
flow：movement in one direction，esp．continuously and easily，e．g.
the flow of goods／supplies／ideas／information
a flow of traffic 车水马龙
The tide is on the flow. 正在涨潮。
8．Meanwhile，multinational companies have gone on an international acquisition
binge．．
．the value of new cross-border mergers and acquisitions passed $500 billion in
both advanced and developing countries．(para.9)
to go on a binge：(infml) to do too much of sth，such as eating，drinking，shopping
a week-end binge 周末狂饮
cross-border：between countries
Notice the prefix“cross-”．Also：cross-culture，cross state，cross-breed，cross-examination
mergers and acquisitions：兼并与收购
9 ． The recent takeover struggle between British and German wireless giants is
exceptional only for its size and bitterness．(para.10)
The only difference between the recent takeover struggle between British and German radio
giants and other cases is that this takeover is much bigger and a lot more bitter.
takeover：the act of assuming control or management of 接管；合并
giant：a large company
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exceptional：being an exception；uncommon；extraordinary
a man of exceptional talent 具有特殊才能的人
exceptional weather 异常的气候
She has exceptional ability as a pianist．
The company has shown exceptional growth over the past two years.
10．Behind the merger boom lies the growing corporate conviction that many markets
have become truly global．(para. 11)
The reason for the merger boom is that more and more business people now believe that many
markets have truly become global．They are no longer producing just for the people in their
own country. They want to combine or merge with others to become multinational
companies．
corporate：of corporations
conviction：a firm belief or a fixed opinion, e．g．
His argument has brought conviction to many waverers. 他的论点使许多犹豫不决的人信
服。
She had a firm conviction that life would be better．
11. In Europe．the relentless pursuit of the single market is one indicator．This reflects a
widespread recognition that European companies will be hard-pressed to compete in
global markets if their local operations are hamstrung by fragmented national
markets．(para. 13)
In Europe，the persistent and unremitting effort to turn all countries on the continent into a
single market shows that there is a general agreement that if the European market remains
divided into many small parts behind national borders，their companies will not be able to
compete in the international market．
relentless：steady and persistent；unremitting, e.g．
He believes that the relentless push for economic growth is damaging the environment．
a widespread recognition：a general opinion；a general agreement；a general consensus
to be hard-pressed：to be heavily burdened；to have serious difficulties
to hamstring：to cripple；to destroy or hinder the efficiency of，e．g．
The company is hamstrung by its poor management．
operation：business operation 企业运营；经营；业务
fragmented：broken into parts
12．Among poorer countries．the best sign of support is the clamor to get into the World
Trade Organization…And 32 are seeking membership．(para.14)
Many poorer countries want to join the World Trade Organization. This shows that they
support globalization．
clamor：a noisy outcry
to seek membership：to try to join；to apply for the membership；to try to be a member of
13．Despite its financial crisis, rapid trade expansion and economic growth sharply cut
the number of the desperately poor．(para. 16)
In spite of the financial crisis，rapid increase of trade and economic growth drastically reduced
the number of the very poor people．
to cut the number：to reduce the number
desperately poor：extremely poor
14．Meanwhile, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa--whose embrace of the world
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economy has been late or limited--fared much less well．(para.17)
Meanwhile，Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, whose integration with the world
economy has been late and limited, were not so lucky.
sub-Saharan Africa：the African countries south of the Sahara Desert(See Notes to the Text．)
sub-： 1) below or under，e.g. sub-Sahara；submarine
2) almost or nearly e.g. subtropical；subhuman；subconscious
3) less important or lower in rank，e.g. subordinate；substandard
4) a smaller part of a whole，e.g. subcontinent; subcommittee; subculture
fare：(slightly dated) to get along；to turn out，e.g.
How did you fare in London? 你在伦敦过得怎样?
It has fared well[ill] with him.他境况很顺利[不顺利]。
How did you fare in your exams?
The coal miners have fared badly in recent years because the coal mine is depleted．
15. … two problems could neutralize its potential benefits．(para.18)
Two problems could offset the possible benefits．
This is a transitory sentence．The following paragraphs are going to discuss the negative
aspects of globalization．
to neutralize：to offset；to negate；to make ineffective
16．The global economy may be prone to harsher boom-bust cycles than national
economies individually．(para.19)
Once integrated with the world market，nations will naturally be more vulnerable to the
fluctuations of the world economy．The capital flows in and out a country，for example，can
create a boom or bust very quickly and with much harsher effects．
to be prone to sth：1iable to sth；1ikely or inclined to do sth，e．g．
be prone to err 易犯过失
The fierce competition makes students more prone to nervous breakdowns．
Workers who are forced to work long hours are prone to accidents．
She is prone to asking stupid questions on such occasions．
boom：a period of sudden economic growth or prosperity as opposed to bust
There are many idiomatic pairs of nouns like boom and bust．For example：
She walked out，bag and baggage, and left him．
I am all for it，body and soul．
It was just a bread and butter (not very interesting) job．
Modern spies no longer fit in with our traditional image of cloak and dagger adventures．
A new nation was born through the test of fire and sword．
We will never go to war against our own flesh and blood．
They were bound hand and foot．
Other examples：friend and foe；land and sea；heart and soul；part and parcel；vice and virtue；
skin and bone；profit and loss；pins and needles
17．The Asian financial crisis raised questions on both counts．(para.20)
The Asian financial crisis brought these two questions to people’s attention：investment funds
were not well used and trade flows became too lopsided．
on both counts：on both points under discussion，e．g.
I’m afraid l do not agree with you on all counts.
18. The ensuing spending boom in turn aided Europe，Japan，and the United States by
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increasing imports from them．(para. 21)
The growth in spending that followed helped Europe，Japan，and the United States by
increasing imports from them．
to ensue：(fml) to happen as a result of sth，e.g.
What will ensue from [on] this? 这会产生什么结果呢?
If the Middle East crisis is not resolved，terrible problems will ensue．
An argument broke out between them and a knife fight ensued.
in turn：in proper order or sequence(然后又……)，e．g．
If you treat workers better and make them happier，they in turn will work harder．
The government should respect people’s democratic rights，and the people in turn should obey
government regulations．
19. …it became apparent that as a result of“crony capitalism”．inept government
policies and excess optimism, much of the investment had been wasted on unneeded
factories．office buildings and apartments．(para. 21)
It became clear that because of the corruption in those countries where political and financial
resources are in the hands of a few privileged people along with their dishonest friends，their
foolish government policies and unreasonable optimism，much of the investment was wasted
on unneeded factories and a real estate bubble．
crony：a close friend or companion
crony capitalism：an economic，political and social system controlled by a small gang of
people bonded by private interests and based on favoritism
inept：not effective；foolish；clumsy
He's quite inept at tennis. 他打网球太笨。
excess adj.：(an amount which is)more than necessary or reasonable, e．g．
Excess enthusiasm can impede our calm reasoning．
We seem to be carrying excess supplies but they might be necessary in an emergency．
office buildings and apartments：写字楼和公寓房
20．What prevented the Asian crisis from becoming a full．scale economic downturn has
been the astonishing U.S. economy．(para.22)
It was the surprisingly vigorous growth of the U．S．economy that saved the Asian crisis from
escalating into an all round economic depression．
downturn：a reduction in the amount or success of sth，such as a country’s economic
activity，
There is evidence of a downturn in the building trade．
Notice the structure of the word (adverb + noun = noun)．
Also：upturn，downpour，downfall，uproar，input，output’outcome，outset，outlook，
onrush
Note that the article was written in 1999 when Clinton was President.
21．Since 1996，the U．S．current-account deficit in its balance of payments… (para.
23)
current-account：(here)an account of credits，debits，receipts，and expenditures between
two countries 经常项目账目
balance of payments：the difference between a country’s imports and exports 国际收支
balance of payments surplus 国际收支顺差／赢余
balance of payments deficit 国际收支逆差／亏损
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22. The world economy…has been flying on one engine．(para.24)
The world economy has been driven by only one country’s economy，namely the economy of
the United States．In other words，the world has become too dependent on one country’s
prosperity．
23. …a slowdown or recession--reflecting a decline in the stock market, a loss of
consumer confidence or higher interest rates--might snowball into an international
slump．(para.25)
A slowdown of the U．S. economy might develop into a serious international depression
because the world economy is so dependent on it.
to snowball into: to grow into；to escalate into；to develop into with escalating speed，
e．g．
This project will have a snowball effect in creating a lot of new possibilities for the
company.
Ten years ago，we started raising money for helping poor children’s education．Soon the
project snowballed into a nationwide campaign．
Poor economic performance is usually described as economic stagnation，a slowdown, a
slackening, a downturn，a decline，a setback，a recession，a depression，a slump，or a crisis，
roughly in this order of seriousness．
24．In 2000, the European Union’s gross domestic product will grow 2.8 percent, up from
2.1 percent in 1999， according to projections by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development in Paris．(para.26)
For European Union and 0ECD，see Notes to the Text．
gross domestic product：(GDP)国内生产总值
projection：forecast；estimate
25．Japan is projected to grow… (para.27)
Japan is expected to grow．．．／Japan is predicted to grow．．．／Japan is estimated to grow
26．If the forecasts materialize--and the OECD’s growth estimates for Japan exceed most
private forecasts ---- they will restore some balance to the world economy and relieve
fears of a global recession．(para.27)
If the forecasts come true---and the OECD’s growth estimates for Japan are higher than most
private forecasts--they will，to some extent，help the world economy return to its earlier
balance，and reduce the{ear of a worldwide recession．
to materialize：to become actual fact；to come true
to materialize one's ideas 实现自己的理想
With a wave of his hand he materialized a taxi.他一挥手就召来了一辆出租汽车。
to relieve：to alleviate or to reduce(fear，pain，suffering，etc)，e．g．
to relieve sb. from anxiety 消除某人的忧虑
She was given a shot of morphine to relieve the pain．
The good news relieved me of my anxiety．
The council is considering banning certain vehicles through the town center to relieve
congestion．
27．It remains possible that abrupt surges of global capital, first moving into Asia and
then out，will have caused，with some delay, a larger instability． (para.28)
It is still possible that sudden increase or withdrawal of the world’s capital, first moving into
Asia and then out of it，will have made Asia more unstable．
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surge：a sudden and great increase，or a sudden and great movement forward, e.g.
A surge of anger rushed over him . 他勃然大怒。
There has been a surge in house prices recently．
A sudden surge of imports can threaten a domestic industry．
The company did not expect the surge in demand for their products．
28．The street protesters at the Seattle meeting of the World Trade Organization in early
December may have lacked a common agenda or even a coherent case against trade．But
they accurately reflected the anxiety and anger that globalization often inspires．So do
European fears of genetically modified food or nationalistic opposition to cross-border
mergers．(para.30)
The street protesters．．. may not have a common program or even good reasons against free
trade. But they showed clearly their worries and anger about globalization.
European fears of GM food or opposition to cross-border mergers also showed their worries
and anger．
agenda：a list of things to be done；a program
a case against sth：grounds for opposing sth
to inspire：(said of emotions) to stimulate；to create
inspire a new thought into sb.将新思想灌输给某人
inspire sb.with courage 鼓起某人的勇气
genetically modified food：转基因食品
nationalistic opposition：opposition based on your loyalty to your nation’s interests
viewed as separate from international common interests
29．Just because globalization is largely spontaneous propelled by better communication
and transportation--does not mean that it is inevitable or completely
irreversible．Government can…shield local industries and workers against imports or
discriminate against foreign investors．(para.32)
Just because globalization on the whole occurred quite naturally as a result of better
communications and transportation，it does not mean that it is bound to happen and can not be
turned back．Government can．．. protect local industries and workers against imported
products or discriminate against foreign investors．
irreversible：incapable of being reversed；impossible to return to a previous condition，
e．g．
the irreversible decisions of the court 不能取消的法庭判决
Technology has had an irreversible impact on society．
He listed some of the irreversible effects of aging．
to shield：to protect，esp. from blame or lawful punishment，e．g．
shield a country from invasion 保护一国家不受侵犯
shield one's eyes with one's hand 用手遮护眼睛
The ozone layer shields the earth from the suns radiation
Several officials are accused of trying to shield the defendant．
to discriminate against sb：to act on the basis of prejudice against sb，e.g.
She felt she had been discriminated against because of her age．
30 ． It is precisely this logic that has persuaded so many countries to accept
globalization．(para. 32)
It is exactly this way of thinking that has persuaded so many countries to accept globalization.
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logic：a particular way of thinking，esp。one which is reasonable and based on good
judgment，e．g．
There is no logic in the decision to reduce staff when orders are the highest for years．
If prices go up，wages will go up too --- that’s just logic.
31．But this does not mean that a powerful popular backlash，with unpredictable
consequences, is not possible．(para.33)
But this does not mean that a powerful hostile reaction from ordinary people，which will have
unpredictable consequences，is not possible．
popular：carried on by the common people or people at large
backlash: an excessive or marked adverse reaction
32．A plausible presumption 5S that practical politicians would try to protect their
constituents from global gluts．(para.33)
We can presume that practical politicians would no doubt try to protect their voters from the
flood of products from other countries．
plausible：seeming likely
presumption：supposition；assumption
constituent：sb represented by an elected official
glut：an oversupply of sth
33. If too many countries did, globalization could implode．(para.34)
If too many countries did, globalization could collapse violently from the inside．
to implode：if sth such as an organization or an economic system implodes，it is
completely
destroyed by things that are happening within it，e．g．
The country’s economic system is facing very serious problems. If they are not addressed
immediately and effectively，it could implode any day.
Cf．to explode：to burst or be destroyed by an explosion
34．It’s a scary prospect．Economic interdependence cuts both ways．(para.35)
It’s a terrifying possibility．Economic mutual dependence can have good and bad effects.
prospect：sth to he expected；possibility 前景
The prospect is cheerful.前途乐观; 前景美好。
We have good prospects.我们有美好的前途。
I see no prospect of his recovery.我看不出他有痊愈的可能性。
interdependence：mutual dependence；the condition of depending on each other
to cut both ways：(infml) to have disadvantages as well as advantages
35．Globalization’s promise may exceed its peril--but the peril is still real．Both await the
new century．One of the great dramas will be to see which prevails．(para. 35)
Globalization may bring US more advantages than disadvantages but the dangers are still
there．But let’s wait and see how things will develop in the new century. One of the most
interesting things will be to see which will be greater：the advantages or the disadvantages．
to await：(fml) to wait for
drama：a series of events or a situation which is exciting like a dramatic play
to prevail：to triumph；to succeed；to win out
prevail against a person 胜过某人
Truth will prevail.真理必胜。
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The custom prevails over the whole area.这风俗存在于这整个地区。
Step5 Writing Device
1. At the edge of a new century, globalization is a double-edged sword: a powerful
vehicle that raises economic growth, spreads new technology and raises living standards
in rich and poor countries alike,… (Para. 1)
Three verb phrases are coordinatedly used as predicate of the attributive clause. similarity of
structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses
2. What we call the market is simply the joining of buyers and sellers, producers and
consumers and savers and investors. (Para. 3)
Three noun phrases are coordinatedly used as the object of preposition “of”.
3. Economic history consists largely of the story of the market’s expansion: from farm to
town, from region to nation and from nation to nation. (Para. 3)
In this sentence, three prepositional phrases are used together to describe the market’s
expansion.
4.Globalization’s other problem is political, cultural and social. (Para. 29)
Three adjectives are coordinated to show the other problems of globalization.
Step6. Further discussion
1.Is globalization a good thing or bad thing?
2.Will globalization simply mean Americanization?
3. Hold a debate between those for and those against globalization.
Step7. Assignment
Write a compos ion about “Is globalization a good thing or bad thing?”
教学反思
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