Unit 5 Cruelty
Pre-reading Task
(P.331 for script)
• Why do some people tend to be heartless
and cruel? Were they born that way or did
circumstances harden them?
• Do some people care too much for people
in general and forget the needs of their
closest friends?
• Ranking activity (see next page)
Easy to Be Hard
by Three Dog Night
The name came from an Australian
expression referring to it being so
cold that one would need three dogs
for warmth.
In the years 1969 through
1974, no other group had
more top 10 hits, moved
more records or sold more
concert tickets
- www.threedognight.com.
Text A
A Friend in Deed
• Ranking activity -- the determining forces
in shaping human nature:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Nature
Genes;
Vs.
Family;
Nurture
Parenting;
Schooling;
Peers;
Socioeconomic factors;
…
?
Maugham, W. Somerset
(1874-1965)
• British novelist, playwright, shortstory writer, highest paid author in
the world in the 1930s.
• Despite his popularity, Maugham
did not gain serious recognition –
he stood “in the very first row of
the second-raters”.
• Maugham's skill in handling plot
has been compared by critics in
the manner of Guy de Maupassant.
Maugham, W. Somerset
(1874-1965)
• "I have never pretended to be
anything but a story teller. It has
amused me to tell stories and I
have told a great many. It is a
misfortune for me that the
telling of a story just for the
sake of the story is not an
activity that is in favor with the
intelligentsia."
(Creatures of Circumstance, 1947)
Maugham, W. Somerset
(1874-1965)
• He was born in Paris as the youngest
son of the solicitor to the British
embassy. He learned French as his
native tongue. At the age of 10
Maugham was orphaned.
• Maugham studied medicine at
Heidelberg University and in London. He
qualified in 1897 as doctor from St.
Thomas' medical school but abandoned
medicine after the success of his first
novels and plays.
威廉· 萨默塞特· 毛姆
OF HUMAN BONDAGE (1915)
《人性的枷锁》
THE MOON AND SIXPENCE (1919)
《月亮和六便士》
THE TREMBLING OF A LEAF (1921)
《叶之颤抖》
ON CHINESE SCREEN (1922)
《中国见闻录》
THE PAINTED VEIL (1925)
《彩色的面纱》
CAKES AND ALE (1925)
《寻欢作乐》
…
Text A
A Friend in Deed
The author shows us how powerful contrast
is in delineating a person’ character.
What are your first impressions of
– the title?
– Edward Burton?
How are they changed while you are reading
on?
Text A
A Friend in Deed
Text Organization (P.169)
Text analysis and language study
Exercises
Text analysis and language study I
Part I (Para. 1)
It is no easy job to judge people, for they
aren’t always what they appear to be.
1. deceptive (p.160)
2. to shrug (one’s) shoulders (L.2)
Text analysis and language study II
Part II (Paras. 2-3)
Kind and gentle, Edward Burton, a wealthy
merchant, appeared as if he could not bear to hurt
a fly.
3. merchant (L. 7)
5. definite (L.12)
7. dry (L. 22)
9. benign ( L. 29)
4. in business (L. 8 )
6. station (L. 16 )
8.affectionate (L. 26)
Text analysis and language study III
Part III (Para3. 4-51)
As it turned out, Burton was cold-blooded
enough to send a friend to certain death.
• the story can be subdivided into 3 sections:
Section 1: Para3. 4-16
Section 2: Para3. 17-31
Section 3: Para3. 32-51
Text analysis and language study IV
Section 1 (Para3. 4-16)
What Edward knew about Lenny
10 . frail ( L. 35)
11. lounge (L. 37)
Text analysis and language study V
Section 2 (Para3. 17-31)
How Edward respond to Lenny’s request
12. …he was all to pieces ( L. 85)
Text analysis and language study VI
Section 3 (Para3. 32-51)
How Edward, a “kind” gentleman, handled
a friend in desperate need of help
13. on account of (L. 105)
14. creek (L116)
15. “ Done!” ( L.118)
16. dissipation (L.124)
1. deceptive (p.160)’
n.
v.
adj. deceiving or intend to deceive
deception
deceive
1. deceptive (p.160)’’
Deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that
causes confusion, bewilderment, or helplessness
< The salesman tried to deceive me about the
car.> ant. Undeceive, enlighten
Mislead implies a leading astray from the truth that
may or may not be intentional
< I was misled by the confusing sign >
Delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to make
one a fool or to make one unable to distinguish the
false from the truth
< We were deluded into thinking we were
safe> ant enlighten
Beguile stress the use of charm and persuasion to
deceive
< His ingratiating ways beguiled us all >
2. to shrug (one’s) shoulders (L.2)
to raise (one’s shoulder) esp. as an
expression of doubt or lack of interest
He shrugged ( his shoulder) saying he didn’t
know and didn’t care.
3. merchant (L. 7)
merchant n. a person who buys and sells goods,
esp. in large amounts in foreign countries
<Merchant of Venice a comedy (c.1596) by
Shakespear>
businessman n. a man in business, esp. as an
owner or executive
merchantman n. also merchant ship 1) a ship
carrying goods for trade 2) {Archaic} a merchant
merchant adj. of or used in trade; commercial
merchant fleet
merchant town
4. in business (L. 8 )
1) 经商， 经营
He is in business himself.
2) 开始工作
The 15-member committee is expected to
be in business by early June.
on business
visit Africa on official business
No admittance except on business
5. definite (L.12)
Definite stresses precise, clear statement or
arrangement that leaves no uncertainty or
indecision < The law is definite regarding such
cases> ant indefinite, equivocal
Explicit implies such verbal plainness and
distinctness that there is no need for inference and
no reason for ambiguity or difficulty in
understanding < The dress code is explicit> ant.
Ambiguous
Express implies both explicitness and direct and
forceful utterance < Her express wish was to be
cremated>
Specific applies to what is precisely and fully
referred to or treated in detail or particular < Two
specific criticisms of the proposal > ant vague
6. station (L. 16 )
n. [of + U] (lit.) one’s position in life;
social rank:
She married beneath her station
(= someone of lower rank)
people in humble stations
地位低下的人们
all stations of life社会各阶层
7. dry (L. 22)
amusing without appearing to be so;
quietly ironic
I like his dry humor.
dry wit
8.affectionate (L. 26)’
full of affection, tender and loving
She was very affectionate to / with him
affectation n.
1) behavior which is not one’s natural manner:
She is sincere and quite without
affectation.
2) a feeling or manner that is pretended
8.affectionate (L. 26)’’
affection suggests warm, tender feelings,
usually not as powerful or deep as those implied by
love
< He has no affection for children>
love implies intense fondness or deep
devotion and may apply to various relationships or
objects
< sexual love, brotherly love,
love of one’s work, etc.>
9. benign ( L. 29)’
adj:
1) having or showing a kind or gentle nature:
a benign teacher/ expression
2) med. (of disease) not dangerous to life, not
malignant:
A benign tumor can usually be cured.
3) favorable, beneficial:
a benign effect a benign influence
9. benign ( L. 29)’’
benign suggests a mild or kindly nature and is
applied especially to a gracious superior rather
than an equal
< a benign employer> ant: malign
kind implies the possession of sympathetic or
generous
qualities,
either
habitually
or
specifically, or is applied to actions manifesting
these
< he is kind only to his mother, your kind
remarks > ant: unkind
kindly stresses more the expression of
sympathetic nature, mood, or impulse
< take a kindly interest in the poor of the
community> ant: unkindly
10 . frail ( L. 35)
adj. Slenderer and delicate; not robust;
frail suggests an inherent or constitutional
delicacy or weakness, so as to be easily broken or
shattered
< a ~ body, conscience, etc >
weak the broadest in application of these words,
basically implied a lack of inferiority of physical,
mental or moral strength
<a ~ muscle, mind, character, foundation,
excuse> feeble suggests a pitiable weakness or
ineffectiveness
< a ~ old man, a feeble joke>
infirm suggests a loss of strength or soundness,
as through illness or age
< his infirm old grandfather>
11. lounge (L. 37)
n.
a comfortable room for sitting in, as in a house, hotel,
or inn:
arrivals lounges in principal airports
v.
1) to stand or sit in a leaning lazy manner :
lounge against the wall;
lounge on a sofa
2) to pass (time) in a lazy manner, doing nothing:
She lounged the afternoon away at the beach.
He lounged away the day reading
12. …he was all to pieces ( L. 85)
1) to break into pieces; fall apart
The ship went to pieces on the rock.
The economy of that country went to pieces.
2) to lose all-self-control, morally or emotionally
She went to pieces when her husband died.
of a (one) piece (with)
pick up the pieces
pick ( pull) to pieces
13. on account of (L. 105)
- because of
resign on account of age
on account - on a charge account:
He owed $50 and sent me $10 on account.
on no account - also not on any account not
under any circumstances:
On no account should you go.
on/for someone’s account - for someone’s sake
I hope you didn’t bring beer to the picnic just
on my account.
14. creek (L116)
n. a small stream , somewhat larger
than a brook
brook,< creek,< stream.
15. “ Done!” ( L.118)
=“Agreed!”; “I accept”!
- “I ‘ll give you $5 for it”
-“Done!”
16. dissipation (L.124)
n. the continual search for
foolish or dangerous pleasure
a life of dissipation
放荡生活
dissipations of life
生活里种种无意义的消遣
Exercises for Unit 5
1. To be _____,
D
I don’t think you have the talent
to be a great violinist.
A. open
B. plain
C. general D. candid
D many horrible crimes against
2. They have _____
the Chinese people.
A. done B. made C. took
D. committed
C of thought in the country has turned
3. The _____
against war.
A. tide
B. flood C. current D. currency
Exercises for Unit 5
4. An _____woman
C
came to consult him about
her throat.
A. older
B. elder
C. elderly
D. eldest
5. Seeing a plain roared towards him, Tom was in
B
a blue _____.
A. frank
B. funk
C. funeral D. furnace
D to fly in this weather.
6. It’s _____
A. mad B. crazy C. crazed
D. insane
Exercises for Unit 5
B
7. She has too _____a
nature to get angry, even
if he has good cause.
A. bland B. mild C. militant D. middling
8. Take a _____ of my drink and see if you like it
B
or not.
A. suck
B. sip
C. lick
D. lap
9. Don’t bother to look for my umbrella, it will
_____ some day.
A. B
turn over B. turn up C. turn out D. turn on
Exercises for Unit 5
C
10. _____,
we were just talking about the same
thing.
A. Too oddly
B. Too strange
C. Oddly enough
D. Strength enough
11. If trade’s no better next month, we shall go
C and then what will you do for jobs?.
_____
A. stuck B. blocked C. broke D. blank
D a
12. His actions and principles are all _____
piece.
A. to
B. in
C. by
D. of
Exercises for unit 5
13. I don’t think the answer lies simply in their
physical _____
C or in something unique about
the climate in which they live. It is concerned
with their attitude toward life.
A. physician
B. constitute
C. constitution
D. institute
14. In many large cities of the UK, there are many
B
people who are _____.
They have no money,
no friends and no time.
A. down-to-earth
B. down and out
C. up and down
D. odds and ends
Exercises for Unit 5
B
15. He always _____
his beard with a pair of
scissors instead of a razor.
A. cuts
B. trims
C. plucks
D. trains
16. He was _____
when he heard he was
A
promoted. He had suffered too many years
from his wife’s endless complaints.
A. taken aback
B. taken ahead
C. taken away
D. taken after
17. Many people are of the opinion that
advertisements are _____.
C
A. receptive
B. conceptive
C. deceptive
D. deception
Exercises for Unit 5
C
18. He never cares about such _____
as he is a
broad-minded man.
A. stifles B. strife
C. trifles D. strives
C
19. His behavior has _____
shown that he is
trustworthy person.
A. imaginatively
B. intuitively
C. evidently
D. instinctively
20. He accepted our invitation to hold this party
_____.
C
A. in good grace
B. out of a good grace
C. with a good grace
D. with better grace
Exercises for Unit 5
B
21. Seeing the cute baby, I couldn’t help _____
his cheek tenderly.
A. teasing B. stroking C. contacting D.rubbing
22. Students will be punished if their behavior is
B school rules and regulations.
not _____
A. in accordance to
B. in accordance with
C. in according to
D. with accord to
C and do what you think is
23. Trust your _____
right.
A. self
B. confidence
C. instincts
D. nature
Exercises for Unit 5
B if you keep on
24. You’ll soon go all to _____
working like that.
A. bits
B. pieces
C. segments D. parts
25. Can’t you see all what he told us are _____
B
lies?
A. opaque
B. transparent
C. thorough
D. entire
26. I peg your pardon? I don’t know what you are
C
_____.
A. driving by
B. driving on
C. driving at
D. driving off
Exercises for unit 5
B
27. She has been in bad _____
these days so
she asked for a sick leave from the office.
A. time
B. condition
C. way
D. mood
28. He is making some progress in his work since
A
his last project was well done _____.
A. in a way
B. in a day
C. in a lay
D. in a ray
29. He doesn’t think he is suitable for this job for
his own _____.
D
A. reason
B. idea
C. division
D. part
Exercises for Unit 5
30. We have
programmer..
A. vacant
C. emptiness
a
_____
B
for
a
B. vacancy
D. gap
KEY to Exercises for Unit 5
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