21st Century College English: Book 1
Unit 6: Part A
Nerds and Geeks
Unit 6: Part A
• Pre-Reading Activities
• Intensive Study
• Exercises
• Assignment
Pre-reading Activities
• Warm-up Questions
• Listening
Pre-reading Activities
Are
there any negative terms in China that are
used in connection with a fellow student? What
values do they express? Are they used for hard
working students?
Pre-reading Activities
Do you know the terms “nerds” and “geeks”? If
not, skim through the first two paragraphs to guess
their meaning.
Pre-reading Activities
First Listening:
Before listening to the tape, have a quick
look at the following words.
insult
侮辱
bite
咬
prefer
宁愿
constructive
建设性的
rival
对手
professional
专业人员
ignore
忽视不理
compete
竞争
Pre-reading Activities
Second Listening:
Listen to the tape again. Then,
choose the best answer to each of the following questions.
Check-up
Pre-reading Activities
1. The main purpose of this listening passage is to _____.
A) argue against higher salaries for athletes
B) offer solutions to current economic problems
C) complain about the lack of respect for intellectuals
D) describe changes in the English language
Pre-reading Activities
2. What is the meaning of the words “nerd” and “geek”?
A) They are insulting terms which are applied to smart
students.
B) They are used in the U.S. to describe students from
other countries.
C) A nerd is a good student and a geek is a poor student.
D) A nerd is a poor student and a geek is a good student.
Pre-reading Activities
3. The passage says that in nations other than the U.S.,
_____.
A) hardworking students are praised
B) professors are paid better salaries
C) more respect is given to intellectuals
D) all of the above
Pre-reading Activities
4. The passage suggests that the words “nerd” and “geek”
should _____.
A) be made illegal
B) become words of praise, rather than insults
C) be used to describe athletes instead of students
D) all of the above
Script
Pre-reading Activities
Throughout
U.S.,
children
prefer
to “nerd”
read
How
longthat
canthe
America
remain words
awho
world
power
if we books
value
The fact
we
use insulting
such
as
and
rather
than
play
football
become
socially
unpopular.
Evenand
at
social
physical
abilities
than
intelligence
“geek”skills
to and
describe
our
most rather
intelligent,
hard-working
a top university like Harvard, students are ashamed to admit
hard
work?
How
we expect
to compete
on the
world
students
shows
thatcan
something
is very
wrong with
American
how much they study.
market
society. if we do not support our best pupils or their
Our economic rivals in East Asia don’t have this problem.
underpaid teachers?
The word
“geek”
to a performer
who shocks
the
In those
nations,
a kidrefers
who studies
hard is praised
and held
up
as
example.
In
those
countries,
university
professors
In an
order
to the
succeed
inoffthe
century,
must
public
by
biting
heads
live21st
chickens.
TheAmerica
word
“nerd”
are
respected
andof
well-paid
but
in math
America
teach
our
that
keyprofessionals,
to astudent,
good and
satisfying
lifebut
is
creates
thechildren
image
anthe
awkward
good
at
athletes are the heroes. Ballplayers get popularity and huge
to
exercise
one’sBy
mind.
until
“nerd”
and “geek”
are
terrible
socially.
usingNot
these
words
to describe
our best
salaries while professors and other intellectuals are ignored
words
of praise,
rather
thanthat
insults,
do we
stand a chance.
students,
America
shows
it has
a mixed-up
sense of
and underpaid.
values.
Intensive Study
• Intensive Study
 Difficult sentences
 Key words, phrases & usages
 Comprehension exercises
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
Nerds and Geeks
by Leonid Fridman
1
There is something very wrong with the system of values in a
society that has only unkind terms like nerd and geek for the
intellectually curious and academically serious.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
2
We all know what a nerd is: someone who wears thick glasses
and ugly clothes; someone who knows all the answers to the
chemistry or math homework but can never get a date on a
Saturday night. And a geek, according to “Webster’s New World
Dictionary”, is a street performer who shocks the public by biting
off heads of live chickens. It is a revealing fact about our language
and our culture that someone dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge
is compared to such a freak.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
3
Even at a prestigious educational institution like Harvard, anti-
intellectualism is widespread: Many students are ashamed to
admit, even to their friends, how much they study. Although most
students try to keep up their grades, there is but a small group of
undergraduates for whom pursuing knowledge is the most
important thing during their years at Harvard. Nerds are looked
down upon while athletes are made heroes of.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
4
The same thing happens in U.S. elementary and high schools.
Children who prefer to read books rather than play football, prefer
to build model airplanes rather than idle away this time at parties
with their classmates, become social outcasts. Because of their
intelligence and refusal to conform to society’s anti-intellectual
values, many are deprived of a chance to learn adequate social
skills and acquire good communication tools.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
5
Enough is enough.
6
Nerds and geeks must stop being ashamed of what they are.
Those who don’t study hard must stop teasing those who do, the
bright kids with thick glasses. The anti-intellectual values that
have spread throughout American society must be fought.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
7
There are very few countries in the world where anti-
intellectualism runs as high in popular culture as it does in the U.S.
In most industrialized nations, not least of all our economic rivals
in East Asia , a kid who studies hard is praised and held up as an
example to other students.
8
In many parts of the world, university professorships are the
most prestigious and materially rewarding positions. But not in
America, where average professional ballplayers are much more
respected and better paid than professors of the best universities.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
9
How can a country where typical parents are ashamed of their
daughter studying mathematics instead of going dancing, or of
their son reading Weber while his friends play baseball be
expected to compete in the technology race with Japan or remain
a leading political and cultural force in Europe? How long can
America remain a world-class power if we constantly put social
skills and physical strength over academic achievement and
intellectual ability?
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
10 Do we really expect to stay afloat largely by importing our
scientists and intellectuals from abroad, as we have done for a
major portion of this century without making an effort to also
cultivate a pro-intellectual culture at home? Even if we have the
political will to spend a lot more money on education than we do
now, do we think we can improve our schools if we laugh at our
hard-working pupils and fail to respect their impoverished teachers?
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
11 Our fault lies not so much with our economy or with our
politics as within ourselves, our values and our image of a good
life. America’s culture has not adapted to the demands of our
times, to the economic realities that demand a highly educated
workforce and innovative intelligent leadership.
Text A: Nerds and Geeks
12 If we are to succeed as a society in the 21st century, we had
better do away with our anti-intellectualism and teach our children
that a good life depends on exercising one’s mind and pursuing
knowledge to the full extent of one’s abilities.
13 Not until the words “nerd” and “geek” become terms of praise
rather than insults do we stand a chance.
…a society that has only unkind terms like nerd and geek
for the intellectually curious and academically serious.
Paraphrase:
?
those students who have genuine curiosity for academic
knowledge and who regard study as a serious business.
dedicate to
— devote (esp. oneself) to a special task or purpose
e.g.
dedicated
• very
Mother
Teresa in
dedicated
her whole
life to helping
—
interested
and working
wholeheartedly
for the
poor.
e.g.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life/himself to
• The
student is dedicated to finding a cure for
Civilmedical
Rights Movement.
AIDS.
• The elderly gentleman was a dedicated teacher.
pursuit
n.
— the act of pursuing someone or something
e.g.
Translate:
• His main interest in life is the pursuit of fame.
Cf:
他一生都在追求名和利,但一样都没有得到.
pursue:
— make continued efforts to gain
Key
e.g. He wants to pursue his studies in Britain after
Hegraduation.
has pursued fame and fortune all his life but has
achieved neither.
deprive of
— to take away from, prevent from using
Translate:
e.g.
剥夺他的公民权是非法的。
• The young man was deprived of his bachelor’s degree.
Key
• The
deprived
him ofhim
hisof
factory.
It isfire
illegal
to deprive
his citizen’s right.
Enough is enough.
Translate:
?Key:
适可而止吧。
least of all
— especially not (used after a negative statement)
Typical pattern:
no one/nothing …, least of all …
e.g.
Translate:
I told
a seemed
funny
story,
but any
nobody
least
of all
• No
The
one
food
is barely
toenough
pay
for attention
onelaughed,
family,
toleast
the of
teacher,
mythe
father.
all
least
ofwhole
all thevillage.
kids.
Key
我讲了个笑话，但没人笑，尤其是我父亲。
hold up v.
— to show with respect as an example
e.g.
• The old man often holds up his youngest daughter as
an example of hard work.
• Michael Jordan is held up by many American blacks
as an example to follow.
stay afloat/keep afloat v.
— (of a ship) float instead of sinking;
(figuratively) free of debt or get over difficulties
Translate:
e.g.
Do we really expect to stay afloat largely by importing
• The company managed to stay afloat during the
our scientists and intellectuals from abroad, …?
crisis.
Key
难道我们真的希望这样靠从国外引进科学家和知识分子
来生存下去吗? …
lie with v.
— be the responsibility of, to rest with
e.g.
Practice
• Thea report
said
that
Dianna’s
Make
sentence
with
“lie
with”. accident lies with the
drunk driver.
?•
It lies with you to accept or reject the suggestion.
adapt to v.
— make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation),
change so as to be suitable
e.g.
•
Some freshmen find it difficult to adapt to Sichuan’s
hot food.
• Don’t worry. You will soon adapt to college life.
do away with v.
— put an end to, get rid of
e.g.
Practice
•Make
That
school did
away
uniforms
a sentence
with
“dowith
away
with”. years ago.
• It’s important for government officials to do away
? with those outdated notions.
… a good life depends on exercising one’s mind and
pursuing knowledge to the full extent of one’s abilities.
Paraphrasing:
?
making all possible efforts to gain knowledge.
stand a chance
v.
— to have the possibility of achieving something
Translate:
e.g.
我们队有获胜的希望。
• If you get straight As, you will stand a good chance of
winning the scholarship.
•Key
Unskilled workers will stand almost no chance of
Our team
still stands a chance of winning the game.
being
reemployed.
not so much as
With a noun or a phrase, we use this phrase to express
quantity
Translate:
e.g.
The
professor
not so
much
scholar
a businessman.
• She
worksisvery
hard
nota so
muchasfor
money as for
Keypleasure.
• 这个教授与其说是学者还不如说是个商人。
His success lies not so much with his intelligence as
with his connections.
More to learn
Exercises
《读写教程 I》: Ex. X, p. 164
Exercises
X. Combine the following pairs of sentences, using as … as or
not so much … as after the model.


There are very few countries in the world where antiintellectualism runs so high in popular culture as it does in the
U.S.
The fault lies not so much with our economy or with our policies
as within ourselves, our values and images of a good life.
1. a) His teacher is able to make the point clear and convincing.
b) He is also able to make the point clear and convincing.
 He is able to make the point as clear and convincing as
his teacher
Exercises
X. Combine the following pairs of sentences, using as … as or
not so much … as after the model.


There are very few countries in the world where antiintellectualism runs so high in popular culture as it does in the
U.S.
The fault lies not so much with our economy or with our policies
as within ourselves, our values and images of a good life.
2. a) This is not a matter of putting more money into education.
b) This is a matter of changing our anti-intellectualism
values.
 This is not so much a matter of putting more money into
education as a matter of changing our anti-intellectual
values.
Exercises
X. Combine the following pairs of sentences, using as … as or
not so much … as after the model.


There are very few countries in the world where antiintellectualism runs so high in popular culture as it does in the
U.S.
The fault lies not so much with our economy or with our policies
as within ourselves, our values and images of a good life.
3. a) They think that academic achievement is important to a
student.
b) They also think that social skills are important to a
student.
 They think that social skills are as important as academic
achievement to a student.
Exercises
X. Combine the following pairs of sentences, using as … as or
not so much … as after the model.


There are very few countries in the world where antiintellectualism runs so high in popular culture as it does in the
U.S.
The fault lies not so much with our economy or with our policies
as within ourselves, our values and images of a good life.
4. a) The purpose of this article is not to answer the question.
b) The purpose of this article is to discuss the question.
 The purpose of this article is not so much to answer the
question as to discuss the question.
Exercises
X. Combine the following pairs of sentences, using as … as or
not so much … as after the model.


There are very few countries in the world where antiintellectualism runs so high in popular culture as it does in the
U.S.
The fault lies not so much with our economy or with our policies
as within ourselves, our values and images of a good life.
5. a) Professors are respected and well paid in this country.
b) Professional ballplayers are also respected and well paid
in this country
 Professional ballplayers are as respected and well paid as
professors in this country.
Text-related information
Webster’s New World Dictionary
Webster’s New World Dictionary (College Edition) is
a well-known dictionary of the American language
intended for college students. Its definition of “geek” is
somewhat out-of-date as this word is currently used as a
slang term referring to anyone lacking social grace or
popularity.
Text-related information
Harvard
Harvard University ( 哈佛大学 ) is the oldest
American university, founded in 1636 at Cambridge,
Massachusetts. It is generally considered the most
prestigious university in the U.S., perhaps analogous to
Beijing University’s status in China. The main
university campus lies along the Charles River a few
miles west of Boston.
Text-related information
Max Weber, 1864-1920
Weber was a German sociologist
and political economist, one of the
founders of sociology. His ideas, which
spanned subjects from economic
history to the sociology of music,
continue to be extremely influential.
For a young person in the U.S. to be
reading Weber would be a marker of a
strong intellect.