Maintaining a Sharp Eye
Passage I
I Am a Bit Nervous
About My English
Passage II
Oh Chinese, This
Tortured Language
New Practical English 1
Passage I
I Am a Bit Nervous About My English
 Related Information
 Intensive Study
 Practice
New Practical English 1
Text-related Information
TOEFL stands for the Test Of English as Foreign
Language. The purpose of the test is to evaluate the
English proficiency of nonnative speakers of English
who wish to study in American colleges and universities.
TOEFL scores are used by more than 2 300 institutions in
the U.S. and Canada. There is no single “passing score”
for this test. The minimum score for admittance to an
institution is set by that institution. TOEFL is
administered by ETS --- the Educational Testing Service.
New Practical English 1
The full name for GRE is the Graduate Record
Examination, which is a multiple-choice examination
designed to measure the verbal, quantitative, and
analytical skills one has developed in the course of his
academic career. The general scholastic ability is
measured by the General Test. The Advanced Test (also
Subject Test) deals with specific subject matter
corresponding to the specific graduate study. Because
there is a strong correlation between high GRE scores
and the probability of success in graduate school, many
graduate and professional schools require that their
applicants take GRE. GRE is also administered by the
ETS, in Princeton, New Jersey.
New Practical English 1
Intensive Study
Text
Difficult Sentences
Important Words
New Practical English 1
Passage I
I Am a Bit Nervous About My English
(Para. 1) I'm Robert Lee, a senior at a Chinese
university. I am planning to study Electronic Engineering
in the United States this coming summer if I am lucky
enough to be admitted to Miami University. However,
I am
1
a bit nervous about my English, so I'm spending a lot of
time studying it hard. I think my pronunciation isn't
accurate enough to make myself understood, and I might
easily get confused. 2 I'm embarrassed when people lose
me in the middle of a conversation or vice versa. 3 Also, I
find the grammar very difficult. Sometimes, I know every
word in an expression, but I don't know what it implies.
Honestly, I understand very little.
New Practical English 1
Passage I
(Para. 2-1) It is funny because I used to study
English just for entertainment, to kill time, but now I
have a particular purpose for it, so I have found a
tutor for myself. 4 My tutor holds her master's degree
in education and is very helpful. She assigns me
quite a lot of homework, and wants me to memorize
all the phrases and expressions. She says it is
necessary to practice as much as possible until they
are fixed in my mind. 5 And the more I apply them in
real situations, the more natural they will become. 6
New Practical English 1
Passage I
(Para. 2-2) However, I find it so boring to practice so
much and I'm getting discouraged. My tutor also says
language is a tool, and people use it to express their
ideas,
thoughts
and
feelings,
and
all
these
are
determined by culture. As a result, when I understand
the cultural background, I can use the language better.
She also asks me to read a lot. My tutor sounds like a
professor, and I feel lucky to have her as my tutor.
New Practical English 1
Passage I
(Para. 3) My American friend Burt helps me a lot,
too. He knows my problem because I have exchanged
my ideas with him. He told me to relax. He said actually
the most efficient way to reach my goal would be to
have a tape recorder or a CD player. Either the CDs or
tapes have native voices, and I can study them by
listening again and again and imitating the sounds as
many times as I wish. 7 I think this is a good idea. That
way I'm not only training my listening comprehension
but also my speaking ability.
New Practical English 1
Passage I
(Para. 4) Luckily, I
have already passed
both
the
English
Language
as
Test
of
Foreign
(TOEFL)
and Graduate Records
Exam (GRE), but I feel
I still have a long way
to go in English study.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
1.
(Para.
1)
I
am
planning
to
study
Electronic Engineering in the United Sates
this coming summer if I am lucky enough to be
admitted to Miami University.
“accepted
by”
Translation
Example
“adjective + enough”
structure
如果我能够幸运地被迈阿密大学录取, 我打算
今年夏天去美国学电子工程。
I would compete for Mayer if I were famous
enough to be known by the whole town.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
2.
(Para. 1) I think my pronunciation isn’t accurate
enough to make myself understood, and I might easily
get confused.
V+O+OC
structure
get-type passive
voice
Translation
“adjective +
enough”
structure
我觉得自己的发音不准, 说英语别人听不懂,
我自己也很容易搞糊涂。
She had great fear that she wasn’t worldly
Example enough to make herself accepted by her future
parents-in-law, and she might get irritated.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
3.
(Para. 1) I’m embarrassed when people
lose me in the middle of a conversation or
vice versa.
adv.
反之亦然
Translation
Example
当在谈话中人们无法理解我或是我听不懂别
人的话时,我觉得尴尬极了。
The couple both feel awkward when the
husband starts to argue with the wife or vice
versa.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
“过去（常常）”
4.
(Para. 2) It is funny because I used to study English
just for entertainment, to kill time, but now I have a
particular purpose for it, so I found a tutor for myself.
都表示“目
的”
Translation 说来好笑, 因为我过去学英语只是觉得好玩, 为
了消磨时间；但是现在我却有特定的目的,所以
我为自己找了一位家教。
Example I used to read bestsellers for entertainment,
to kill time.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
形式主语
5.
(Para. 2) She says it is necessary to drill as much
as possible until they are fixed in my mind.
引导时间状语从句
修饰动词
不定式
Translation 她说我必须尽可能多地练习,直到它们刻印在
我的脑海中。
Example
It is exciting to swing as high as possible
until you become scared.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
6.
(Para. 2) And the more I apply them in real
situations, the more natural they will become.
“the more … the more…”
structure
Translation 而且在实际情况中应用得越多,英语就越自然。
Example
The more I contact him, the more I understand
him.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
7.
(Para. 3) Either the CDs or tapes have native
voices, and I can study them by listening again and
again and imitating the sounds as many times as I wish.
Correlative conjunction
“either ... or …”
无论是影碟还是录音带都有原声，我可以一遍
Translation 又一遍地听,随心所欲地一遍又一遍地模仿这些
声音, 学习它们。
Example Either work or entertainment brings fun to your
life, and you can enjoy it by working as hard as
you can and relaxing as much as possible.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
senior
n.
[AmE.] a student in the last year of a school or university
(美)（普通学校或大学）最高年级（毕业班）的学生
FOR EXAMPLE
Being seniors, everyone is busy looking for a job.
He worked as a teacher's assistant when he was a senior
at high school.
Related Words
freshman 大学一年级学生 sophomore 大学二年级学生
junior
大学三年级学生 senior
New Practical English 1
大学四年级学生
Important Words
admit
v.
permit (a person or thing) to enter, let in
许可进入；录取
FOR EXAMPLE
I cannot admit you into the theatre.
He was admitted to the best university of the
country.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
accurate
adj.
careful and exact 准确的
FOR EXAMPLE
This is an accurate description of
what had happened.
The writing is praised
accurate choice of words.
for
New Practical English 1
its
Important Words
confuse
v.
make less clear; make more difficult to understand
使混乱；使迷惑
 confusing adj.
令人迷惑的
 confused adj.
觉得迷惑的
FOR EXAMPLE
You must be confusing me with someone else.
I get more confused after your explanation.
The situation at present is rather confusing.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
kill time
make time pass quickly by doing something
消磨时间，打发时间
FOR EXAMPLE
He likes playing
puzzle to kill time.
crossword
She used to kill time by making
dresses.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
assign
v.
give someone the work to do 分配(任务)
FOR EXAMPLE
The general manager called him to assign him
the new task.
She has been assigned to take care of kids.
 assignment
n. 任务，（课外）作业
New Practical English 1
Important Words
memorize
v.
记住，记忆
learn and remember
FOR EXAMPLE
The girl is so clever that she can memorize the
poem after hearing it only twice.
How I wish I could memorize all the rules and
their exceptions of the English grammar.
 memory
n.
记忆
New Practical English 1
Important Words
apply
v.
bring or put it into use 使用，应用
# apply … to…
把……应用到……
FOR EXAMPLE
You must be able to apply what you learnt at
school to your future work.
This scientific
industrially.
discovery
can
New Practical English 1
be
applied
Important Words
determine
v.
be the cause of, control, be depended on
确定，限定，控制
FOR EXAMPLE
Whether he will go or stay is determined by the
girl he loved.
What kind of weather we will get determines
whether we can go out for a picnic.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
exchange
v.
to give and receive (sth.) in return for (sth. else);
交换，交易
FOR EXAMPLE
Couples need to exchange ideas frequently in
order to understand each other.
She exchanged her opinion on this event with
him and found surprisingly he shared her view.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
relax
v.
(make) become less active and stop worrying
（使）放松，轻松
FOR EXAMPLE
The music will certainly relax you, come and
listen to it!
Sit down and relax, leave the work till tomorrow.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
efficient
adj.
working well and fast
效率高的
FOR EXAMPLE
She is a very efficient
secretary and runs the office
well.
This is an efficient method to
cut down the cost.
New Practical English 1
Practice
 Read and Think
 Read and Complete
 Read and Translate
 Read and Simulate
New Practical English 1
Read and Think
Read the passage carefully and do
the multiple choice exercise.
1. Robert Lee is ________.
a. an American student studying in a Chinese university
b. an American student planning to study in a Chinese
university
c. a Chinese student admitted to Miami University
d
d. a Chinese student planning to study at Miami University
2. Robert Lee feels embarrassed for ________.
a. his poor English pronunciation
b. spending a lot of time learning English
c. not being able to find people to have a conversation with
d
d. failing to follow people in a conversation
New Practical English 1
Read and Think
3. The phrase “to kill time” (Line 1, para. 2) means ________.
a. to spend a lot of time
b. to save time by every means
c to pass time by doing useless things
c.
d. to study for fun
4. Robert Lee thinks his tutor sounds like a professor because
________.
a. she holds a master's degree in education
b. she assigns a lot of homework
c her view on language and culture is quite academic
c.
d. she uses English to express her thoughts and feelings
New Practical English 1
Read and Think
5. Which of the following statements is true according to the
passage?
a
a. Language is a tool for people to communicate with each
other.
b. Too much language practicing is useless.
c. Cultural background can be ignored in learning a foreign
language.
d. Extensive reading should be discouraged in learning a
language.
6. According to Lee's friend, listening to CDs and tapes
________.
a
a. is a relaxing way to learn a language
b. only helps to improve her listening comprehension.
c. is good only for training one's speaking ability
d. is the only way to imitate the native voices
New Practical English 1
Read and Complete
 Fill in the blanks without referring back to the passage.
Robert Lee is studying English very hard and hopes to
Miami University He wants to study
be admitted to 1 ______________.
2 ___________________
Electronic Engineering there, but he is still worried about his
poor English. Though he has already passed 3 ___________
TOEFL and
_____
has a long way to go in his English study. He
GRE he still 4 __________________
a professor in
finds a 5 _____
tutor to help him, who sounds like 6 __________
language teaching and who helps him a lot. He also has
an American friend who offers him good advice in improving
7 ________________
his listening comprehension and speaking ability.
New Practical English 1
Read and Complete
 Complete the following statements according to the passage.
1. Robert Lee has
__________
passed both TOEFL and GRE and is
planning to study in the U.S.
pronunciation is not accurate
2. He still thinks his English ____________
grammar
enough and he has trouble in using English ________.
kill time but now he
3. Robert Lee used to study English to _______,
special purpose
has a ______________.
4. His tutor says language is a tool with which people
ideas, thoughts and feelings
express their ________________________.
5. The tutor wants him to memorize all the
phrases and expressions
_____________________.
6. His American friend says that listening to ____________
CDs or tapes
can help him a lot in improving both listening comprehension
and speaking ability.
New Practical English 1
Read and Complete
 Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions given
below, changing the form if necessary.
admitted
efficient
confuse
apply
determine
exchange
relax
assign
discouraged
being admitted to
1. As long as I work hard, my dream of _____________
Harvard University will come true.
exchanging business cards with
2. People have been used to __________
each other when they first meet.
3. Having taken the intensive training course for a whole
month, Robert Lee decided to go and see a movie to _____
relax
a bit.
New Practical English 1
Read and Complete
4. The teacher _________
assigned us so much homework that
almost every one of us felt _____________.
discouraged
5. To be able to communicate _________
with native
efficient
speakers is always the final goal of my English study.
apply
6. University graduates often find it hard to ________what
they have learned at college to their jobs.
confused
7. Too many choices at one time __________her,
and she
couldn't __________
determine which job to take.
New Practical English 1
Read and Translate
Translate the following sentences
into English.
say the wrong thing
embarrassed
1. 面试时她说错了话，感到很尴尬。
She felt embarrassed when she said the wrong thing at
the interview.
lucky
2. 她觉得自己很幸运，一下子考过了托福和GRE。
She felt lucky to have passed TOEFL and GRE at one time.
New Practical English 1
Read and Translate
again and again
opening ceremony
relax
3. 露丝一遍又一遍地提醒波特, 在开幕式上要放松。
Ruth reminds Burt again and again to relax at the
opening ceremony.
reach one’s goal
go out
4. 完成了目标，拿到了毕业文凭，克里斯想外出娱乐一下。
Having reached his goal and got his diploma, Chris
wants to go out for entertainment.
New Practical English 1
Read and Translate
weather report
5.只要拨打121，你就可以在电话里听到最新的气象信息，而且你
想听几遍都可以。
as many times as … wished
Dial 121, and then you can hear the latest weather report
on the phone as many times as you wish.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
Pay attention to the italicized parts in the English sentences
and translate the Chinese sentences by simulating the
structure of the English sentences.
1. I'm planning to go to the U.S. if I'm lucky enough to be
admitted to Miami University.
My pronunciation isn't accurate enough to make me
understood.
如果我有幸被派到欧洲，那么我一定不会放过这个机会。
If I’m lucky enough to be sent to Europe, I surely
won’t let this opportunity go.
如果汤姆有幸入选国家队，他一定不会让球迷失望。
If Tom is lucky enough to be selected for the National
Team, he will definitely not disappoint the fans.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
2. I used to study English for entertainment.
He used to smoke for relaxation.
以前他学弹钢琴是为了打发时光。
He used to learn to play the piano for killing time.
以前他帮助这个孤独的老妇人是为了好名声。
They used to help this lonely old lady for good
reputation.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
3. It is necessary to practice as much as possible until they
are fixed in my mind.
It is necessary to practice as much as possible until you
can use them.
有必要尽可能地多听，直到你能马上识别(identify)这些声音。
It is necessary to listen as much as possible until you
can identify the sound immediately.
有必要尽可能地多记生词，直到你能与外国人交流。
It is necessary to memorize as many words as
possible until you can communicate with native
speakers.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
4. The more I apply the rules in real situations, the more
natural it will be.
The closer I got to her house, the more nervous I became.
有时候，规则记得越多，我就越糊涂。
Sometimes the more rules I memorize, the more
confused I become.
中国的人口越多，我们需要面临的问题就越多。
The larger population we have in China, the more
problems we’ll have to face.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
5. I find it so boring to practice so much that I'm getting
discouraged.
I found it helpful to talk often with native English speakers.
我发现每天重复做同一件事真是太枯燥了。
I find it really boring to repeat the same thing every day.
我发现游览这么多城市真是太令人兴奋了。
I find it exciting to visit so many cities.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
6. My tutor sounded like a professor.
What he says about the job sounds like a manager.
别说了, 你听起来像个傻子。
Stop talking like that. You sound like a fool.
她关于那件事的描述听起来像是一个滑稽的故事。
What she said about that matter sounded like a
funny story.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
7. I feel lucky to have her as my tutor.
I feel happy to have him as my husband.
让格林太太做我的考官我感到真倒霉。
I feel unfortunate to have Mrs. Green as my examiner.
让这么不讲实际的人做我的搭档，我觉得真别扭。
I feel awkward to have such an impractical person as
my partner.
New Practical English 1
Read and Simulate
8. I feel I still have a long way to go in the English study.
She said she would have a long way to go in her career.
在学会如何与人相处方面，我还有很长的路要走。
I still have a long way to go in learning how to get on
well with others.
在住房改革方面，中国还有很长的路要走。
China still has a long way to go in the housing reform.
New Practical English 1
Passage II
Oh Chinese, This Tortured Language
 Related Information
 Intensive Study
 Practice
New Practical English 1
Text-related Information
The Popularity of Chinese Language
The number of foreign students
studying Chinese in China has grown even
faster. In the mid-1970s only a few
universities, such as Beijing Language
Institute, had foreign students studying
Chinese. By 1988 over 100 universities
across the country were teaching foreign
students.
In recent years some futurologists have predicted,
judging from Asian and Pacific economic development,
that Chinese will become one of the most important
languages in the world in the 21st century.
New Practical English 1
Intensive Study
Text
Difficult Sentences
Important Words
New Practical English 1
Passage II
Oh Chinese, This Tortured Language
(Para. 1) I’ve been wrestling with Chinese off and on
for ten years now. Ten years---that‘s one-third of my life. I
throw in the “off and on” partly because that explains my
still-existing weaknesses with this language. 1 “I’m sorry
that I have no idea what you are saying. It‘s just that I’ve
been studying off and on, you see.” 2
excuse.
New Practical English 1
A very convenient
Passage II
(Para. 2-1 ) In 1987 I began studying Chinese at a
University in the States. I had already learned French
and German and wanted something a bit more
challenging. The first year I had a very good teacher,
who came from Suzhou, and I made some progress.
But it was nothing compared to what I had to face
when I arrived in Taiwan for the first time. 3 The
teachers made us all memorize an average of 20 or 30
new characters every week, a pace so quick that soon
I began to forget Chinese characters faster than I
could remember them. 4
New Practical English 1
Passage II
(Para. 2-2) However, I survived, and I think Taiwan
left a good impression on me. Otherwise, I would have
given up on this tortured language a long time ago.5
(Para. 3) When I returned home and went back to
college, I continued and began to make headway once
more, much quicker than under the eye of my old
Taiwanese taskmasters. 6 Chinese grammar was not at
all trying, but the characters and their pronunciations
could be terrible. Chinese characters are not written with
an alphabet, making it very hard for a lot of Westerners to
remember. 7
New Practical English 1
Passage II
(Para. 4) Another catch is the existence of many
proverbs and phrases in modern Chinese that have
been carried over from classical Chinese writings. 8 If
you know nothing of classical Chinese, your eventual
understanding of proper Chinese may be difficult. So
I’ve spared no efforts in reading the greats of
contemporary Chinese literature so as to improve my
language. Many people now tell me that I talk like a book.
(Para. 5) Many foreign students also complain
about the four tones used in the Chinese language.
However, I’ve never had much difficulty, and many
Chinese who have spoken with me always say that my
pronunciation is just like that of a native.9 I know they
are simply being polite.10
New Practical English 1
Passage II
(Para. 6) I’ve been in Beijing for three years. So I
have to use Chinese to survive, and that is no small
motivation. Now I'm trying to read up on Lu Xun and
works by other famous writers. Though I often have to
consult a dictionary, my reading speed is not terribly slow.
(Para. 7) As more and more people express an
interest in learning Chinese, I have already been down
this very interesting road for years and intend to carry on.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
1.
(Para. 1) I throw in the “off and on” partly
because that explains my still-existing weakness with
this language.
pron.
referring to “off and on”
引导原因状语从句
“partly” adv. 部分
地
Translation
我抛出“断断续续”这个词，一半儿是因为它说
明我学习这种语言依然有困难。
Example I dislike this place partly because it is too
humid in summer.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
2.
(Para. 1) I’m sorry that I have no idea what you are
saying, it's just that I’ve been studying off and on, you see.
post-modifier of
the noun “idea”
Translation
“it's just
because”
a comment
clause
对不起，我不知道你在说什么，因为你知道，我
只是断断续续地在学。
Example I’m sorry that I cannot make it, it‘s just that
I’ve been busy these days, you see.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
3.
(Para. 2) But it was nothing compared to what I
had to face when I arrived in Taiwan for the first time.
refers to “the Chinese
the author learned in
the States”
Translation
a compound
preposition
但是与我第一次到台湾所要面对的情况相比, 这
简直算不了什么。
He is working ten hours a day now. But it
Example was nothing compared to what he used to
do when he was a farmer.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
4.
(Para. 2) The teachers made us all memorize an
average of 20 or 30 new characters every week, a pace so
quick that soon I began to forget Chinese characters
faster than I could remember them.
“so...that”
structure
Translation
老师让我们所有的人平均每周记住20 到30个生字,
这种速度太快了, 很快我就开始忘的比记的还快了。
The boss made him work out a complicated
Example website design within three days, a
requirement so unrealistic that he soon began
to be less motivated than he used to be.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
5.
(Para. 2) Otherwise, I would have given up on this
tortured language a long time ago.
subjunctive
mood
adv. 否则
Translation
否则我早就会放弃学习这门折磨人的语言了。
Example Otherwise, she would have gone abroad a
long time ago.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
6.
(Para. 3) When I returned home and went back to
college, I continued and began to make headway once
more, much quicker than under the eye of my old
Taiwanese taskmasters.
“more than”
structure.
Translation
回国之后, 我又重返校园继续学习,并且再一次开始
取得进步,比我在台湾那些老监工们的督促之下取得
的进步快多了。
When he finished his training in computer
Example programming, he changed his job and began
to make money, much more than with the
previous company.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
7.
(Para. 3) Chinese characters are not written with an
alphabet, making it very hard for a lot of Westerners to
remember.
present
participle
clause
Translation
passive
voice
structure
汉字不用字母, 这使许多西方人感到它非常难记。
Example The application was written with a pen,
making it very easy for the interviewer to read.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
8.
(Para. 4) Another catch is the existence of many
proverbs and phrases in modern Chinese that have been
carried over from classical Chinese writings.
the present perfect form of
the phrasal verb carry
over in its passive voice
Translation
另外的一个难点是现代汉语中有许多从古汉语中遗
留下来的谚语和词组。
You can find many virtues in him that have
Example been passed down from generation to
generation.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
9.
(Para. 5) However, I’ve never had much difficulty,
and many Chinese who have spoken with me always say
that my pronunciation is just like that of a native.
引导定语从句
Translation
pronoun, referring to
the pronunciation
然而,这方面我从未有很多困难。 跟我交谈过的中国
人总是说我的发音很地道。
Example The local people who are working with me say
that my working style is just like that of theirs.
New Practical English 1
Difficult Sentences
10.
(Para. 5) I know they are simply being polite.
used in present
continuous, emphasizing
the action is in process
Translation
我知道他们只是在说客气话而已。
Whatever I suggest, he always
Example says “No!”. I realize he is being
against me.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
convenient
adj.
suited to one's needs
方便的，舒适的
FOR EXAMPLE
It is convenient to go shopping since it is only a
five-minute walk away from the supermarket.
Is it convenient to you that we meet at 2 o’clock
this afternoon?
New Practical English 1
Important Words
excuse
n.
the reason, whether true or untrue, given when
asking to be forgiven for wrong behavior
理由，借口
FOR EXAMPLE
Do you have any excuse for being so late again?
This is only his excuse, I am sure he knows
where she's been.
 excuse v.
原谅
New Practical English 1
Important Words
challenging
adj.
causing competitive interest, action, or thought, esp.
because new, unusual, or difficult
有挑战性的
FOR EXAMPLE
Life as a housewife does not seem very
challenging to the highly educated girl.
It is quite challenging for the man to study the
foreign language at such an old age.
 challenge
n.
挑战
New Practical English 1
Important Words
compare
v.
examine or judge (one thing) against another in order
to show the points of likeness or difference 比较
 compare … with …
拿……和……相比较
FOR EXAMPLE
Compared with Tony, Timmy is more active and
talkative.
Why are you always comparing me with her, we
are simply different.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
average
n.& adj.
• n. 平均数; 平常
• adj. found by making an average; of the usual or
ordinary kind
平均的；平常的，普通的
FOR EXAMPLE
The average of 3, 8 and 10 is 7.
He is above / below average in his lessons.
On average we get 100 emails each day.
What's the average snowfall for December in
Beijing?
His performance in class is just average.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
impression
n.
the image a person or thing gives to someone's mind,
esp. as regards its strength or quality 印象
FOR EXAMPLE
He left an extremely nice impression on his
boss.
What's your first impression of the guy?
 impress
vt.
留下印象
New Practical English 1
Important Words
catch
n.
a hidden problem or difficulty in a plan or course of
action
问题，蹊跷，诈
FOR EXAMPLE
That house is for sale very cheaply; there must
be a catch in it somewhere.
There is a catch in your plan, we must think it
over.
 catch vt.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
classical
adj.
traditional in form, style, or content
古典的，传统的
FOR EXAMPLE
Classical style of Chinese writing is very popular
among students.
Classical scientific ideas about light were
changed by Einstein.
I prefer classical music to pop songs.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
spare
v.
• keep from using, spending, etc. 爱惜，舍不得，节省
• save (someone) (need or trouble)
省掉，免除（某人的需要或麻烦）
FOR EXAMPLE
Nothing was spared to make sure the guest
enjoyed themselves.
She spared no trouble to help the poor boy out.
Use the telephone and spare yourself a visit.
E-mail her and spare yourself an international call.
New Practical English 1
Important Words
consult
v.
go to (a person, book, etc.) for information, advice,
an opinion.
请教，参考/查阅（书籍）, 咨询
FOR EXAMPLE
Have you consulted your
doctor about your illness?
If your baby is losing weight,
you
should
consult
professionals.
New Practical English 1
Practice
 Read and Judge
 Read and Rewrite
 Read and Translate
New Practical English 1
Read and Judge
Are the following statements true or false according to the
passage? Write T/F accordingly.
T 1. The author has been studying Chinese every now
and then for ten years.
F 2. He started to study Chinese in Taiwan.
F 3. Chinese is the third language he was studying.
F 4. He made a lot more progress in Chinese during his
stay in Taiwan than in the States.
T 5. He felt it so torturing to memorize Chinese
characters that he almost gave up his study.
New Practical English 1
Read and Judge
T
T
6. When he returned to the U.S., he made even
quicker progress in learning Chinese.
7. Chinese characters are not written with an alphabet,
which makes it difficult for many westerners to learn.
F
8. He is very proud of people's comments on his
pronunciation.
T
9. A big motivation for him to go on studying Chinese
in Beijing is to survive there.
T
10. The author thinks learning Chinese is interesting
though difficult.
New Practical English 1
Read and Rewrite
Rewrite the first two paragraphs in the third person in
one short paragraph. You can begin the paragraph like
this:
The writer has been studying Chinese on
and off for ten years…
Reference
New Practical English 1
Reference
The writer has been studying Chinese on and off for
ten years. Ten years---that's one-third of his life. In 1987 he
began studying Chinese at an American university. He had
learned French and German already, but he wanted
something more challenging. The first year, he had a very
good teacher, who came from Suzhou, and he made some
progress. But it was nothing compared to what he had to
face when he arrived in Taiwan for the first time. The
teachers there made them all memorize an average of 20
or 30 new characters every week. Soon he began to forget
Chinese characters faster than he could remember them.
However, he survived.
New Practical English 1
Read and Translate
Translate the following sentences.
断断续续地
1. He has been studying computer science on and off for five
years.
他断断续续学习了五年计算机。
对…不满意
2. He is not satisfied with what he has done. He needs
something a bit more challenging.
富有挑战性的
他不满足于他已经取得的成就，他需要做一些更具挑战性的事儿。
New Practical English 1
Read and Translate
没什么，算
不了什么
和… 相比
3. It was nothing compared to the difficulties he had met
before.
和他以前遇到的困难相比，这算不了什么。
公交IC卡
4. Traffic IC cards are used for the first time this year.
首次，第一次
今年公交IC卡首次投入使用。
New Practical English 1
Read and Translate
不遗余力
残疾儿童
5. She spares no effort in helping those disabled children.
她不遗余力地帮助那些残疾儿童。
沿着这条艰难的路
6. I have already been down this difficult road for years and
intend to carry on.
坚持，继续
我已经沿着这条艰难的路走了很多年，而且会继续向前走。
New Practical English 1