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Book 4 Unit 1 Active reading 1
Words
1. fraught a. full of worry or anxiety; tense
Work in pairs. Translate the sentences into Chinese:
1.Their marriage has been fraught with difficulties/problems.他们的婚姻一直充满了困难/问题。
2. There was a fraught atmosphere in the meeting会上气氛紧张。
3. Jane sounded fraught.听上去珍妮很担忧。
2. clutch v. grip, grasp: to hold something tightly, closing your fingers around it.
v. grab: to quickly and suddenly take hold of sb./sth
n. (复数) control power or influence that sb. has
Replace “clutch” with correct words in the box. grip; grasp; control; grab
1. She was clutching a bottle of wine. grip; grasp 紧紧攥着
2. The man clutched at a pillar (立柱) for support. grab 突然抓住立柱作为支撑
3. The bad news clutched at Mary’s heart. grab 突然感到揪心
4. She will have the man in her clutches soon enough. control 控制在手中
3. slump v. to lean against because not strong enough to stand; decrease suddenly; bend forward
Discuss the meanings of the following sentences.
1. the wall, defeated. fell or leaned (靠着) against/back
2. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears. bended forward because unhappy, tired etc.
3. Sales slumped by 20% last year because of the financial crisis. decrease suddenly
4. grunt v. to say something quietly and unclearly
Grunt: Say in a low & rough voice, esp. when not interested in others
Murmur: Say with soft & low voice, difficult to hear (默默地说着)
Mumble: Say quietly and unclearly so others can not understand (含糊地说)
Whisper: Say quietly using breath rather than voice.
Mutter: Say quietly, esp. when annoyed
Pair work. Fill in the blanks with proper words.
murmur grunt mumble whisper mutter
1. The man could only _mumbled_ an apology for the mistake he made.
2. The child __murmured_ something in its sleep.
3. He just _grunted_ something I didn’t catch and went on reading his book.
4. “Why do I have to do all the work?” She _muttered_.
5. You don’t have to _whisper_. There is no one around.
5. revert v. go back to something/doing something
Pair work. Translate the sentences:
1. We go home for Christmas and revert to being children again. 我们回家过圣诞,重归孩童时代。
2. The city reverted to its former name St. Petersburg.这座城市重新回到原来的命名——圣彼得堡。
3. 几周后,一切回到正常。After a few weeks, everything reverted to normal.
6. comprehensive adj. including all elements or aspects needed dealing with
Work in pairs and translate the following into Chinese.
comprehensive review全面回顾 comprehensive collection of works 内容广泛的作品集
comprehensive study 综合性研究 comprehensive guide 综合指南
comprehensive insurance (汽车)综合险 comprehensive school综合中学(英国)
7. proceed v (formal) continue to do something
Pair work. Translate the sentences:
1. Before proceeding further, we must define our terms. 在继续深入探讨之前,我们需要界定一些术语。
2. 工作正在按计划进行。Work is proceeding according to plan.
3. 他先脱去外套,然后开始脱鞋。He took off his coat and proceeded to undo his shoes.
proceed Cf precede
proceed (formal) continue to do something after doing something else first; continue to somewhere else.
Precede happen or exist before something else; to go somewhere before sb. else
Fill in the blanks with proper words:
1. Lunch will be _preceded_ by a short speech from the chairman. (午饭前主席作了个简短的讲话。)
2. This is a type of cloud that _precedes_ rain. (这种云总在雨前出现。)
3. Now that our plan is settled, let us _proceed_. (既然计划已定,我们开始吧。)
4. Don’t let me stop you, _proceed_ with your work (继续你的工作)
5. The guard _precedes_ them down the corridor (保安沿着走廊在他们前面给他们开道).
8. transition n (formal) when something change from one form / state (形式/状态) to another
Pair work. Translate the sentences:
1. Make sure to have a smooth transition from full-time work to full retirement.
一定要确保从全职工作到完全退休之间的平稳过渡。
2. Making the transition from youth to adulthood can be very painful.
从青少年到成人的这一转变是痛苦的。
3. 这是一个由过渡政府领导下的正处于转型期的社会。
The society is in transition with a transitional government.
9. advocate n n. a person who publicly support an idea, way of life etc.
v. publicly support somebody or something
Pair work. Translate the sentences:
1. He is an advocate of cold baths in the morning. 他是清晨洗冷水浴的倡导者。
2. She is an advocate for the disabled.她为残疾人说话 (或者:她是残疾人的支持者)。
3. 他是网络环境下英语学习的倡导者。He is an advocate of Web-based learning of English.
4. 恐怖主义者公然支持暴力。 The terrorists openly advocate violence.
10. look on A. watch something happening without taking part in
B. to consider sb. or sth. in a particular way
Figure out the meanings of the words with proper letter (A or B) in the brackets.
(1) Only one man tried to help us, the rest just look on in silence. ( A )
(2) I look on him as a good friend. ( B )
(3) Mr. Parson began to cough while his wife looked on helplessly.( A )
(4) Even doctors look on these patients as drug addicts. (B )
Discuss the meanings of the expressions in blue:
1. The father is going to look around for a new job. try to find a job
2. Do you have time to look these samples over? to examine something quickly
3. I’ve looked through all my papers but still can’t find the contract (合同).
look for something among a pile of papers
4. I’ll just look up the train times. try to find information in a book or computer, etc.
11. turn down A. to refuse B. to reduce the loudness, brightness
Figure out the meanings of the words with proper letters in the brackets.
(1) Can you turn the TV down? I am trying to work. ( B )
(2) Many boys courted Lynn, but she turn all them down. ( A )
(3) I will not turn down an invitation to go to the Expo. ( A )
12. in the same boat in the same bad situation; in the same trouble
Work in pairs. Translate the following sentences:
1. When the only factory in town closed hundreds of people lost their jobs, all the storekeepers are in the same boat. 镇上唯一的工厂关闭时,许多人丢了工作,镇上的商店同样陷入了麻烦。
2. Tom was disappointed when Mary refused to marry him, but he knew others were in the same boat.
玛丽拒绝了汤姆的求婚,这使后者很失望,但他知道别人的求婚者也同样倒霉。
13. come full circle
to end in the same situation when you start even though there has been changes in time
兜了一圈回到原位 = turn / go full circle
Match the sentences with the pictures
1. Sooner or later, fashion comes full circle. ( B )
2. The discussion has come full circle. Let’s not waste time. ( A )
14. take a soft line
Answer the question.When you take a soft line on something, do you (a) take a helpful and sympathetic attitude to sth., or (b) take a strict and tough attitude to something? (a)
Translate the sentences.
1. The school takes a very tough line on drugs. 学校对毒品持极严厉的态度。
2. 这对父母对子女离婚一事持宽容的态度。The parents took a soft line on the divorce of their children.
15. if nothing else
Used to emphasize good quality / feature sb. has, while suggesting that it might be the only good one.
Cf. be nothing if not sth.: used to emphasize a particular quality
Fill in the blanks with proper phrases and then translate into Chinese.
1. You have to admit that he _is nothing if not_ persistent. 你不得不承认他这人真的意志坚定。
2._If nothing else_, the report points out the need for better math education.
这篇报告至少指出了数学教育的必要性。
16. strike the right note
Answer the question When you strike the right note, do you (a) take notes in a correct way 记笔记 or (b) succeed in being right or suitable for a particular occasion? 说到点子上 (b)
Translate the sentences. 1. The President is hoping to strike the right note again with the voters.
这位总统正希望再次说到选民的心坎上。
2. 这人说话从来说不到点子上。
The man always stroke the wrong note / The man has never stricken the right note.
16
Language points
1. galvanize vt. shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction 使振奋;刺激;使(某人)震惊或激动(并采取行动)
1. His speech yesterday galvanized many workers into action.
他昨天的演讲激励不少工人行动起来了。
2. Her love galvanized him into youth.
她的爱使他焕发了青春的活力。
Word family: galvanization n.
2. Those memories of forking out thousands of pounds a year so that he could eat well and go to the odd party, began to fade. Until now.
The parents paid a lot of money for their son’s university fees and living expenses and for occasional social events – at graduation these memories of money were mostly forgotten because the parents were proud. But now the parents are thinking of money again because the son doesn’t have a job and doesn’t seem to be actively seeking one.
这时,记忆中每年支付几千英镑,好让儿子吃好、并能偶尔参加聚会的记忆开始消退。但现在,你又不得不再考虑钱的问题。
3. This former scion of Generation Y has morphed overnight into a member of Generation Grunt.
scion n. [C](literary) a young member of a rich or important family (名门望族的)子孙,后裔
morph v. gradually change one image into another using computer technology, or be changed in this way 转变;用计算机技术变换(图像)
1. The computer programmer morphed the image.
计算机程序员用计算机技术改变了图像。
2. In the video, Michael Jackson morphed into a panther.
视频中迈克尔·杰克逊变成了豹。
The word grunt is also associated with coarse behavior or bad manners and with the deep sound that is made by a pig. When people grunt they express disgust, but do not communicate with words – this may be how the parents of new graduates think their children communicate with them!
The main idea about Generation Y and Generation Grunt is that there is a succession of different generations or cohorts of adults who come into the workforce in North America and who are given different informal names to characterize them. First, “baby boomers” were born in the great increase of births (1940s–1960s) after World War II, followed by Generation X people (born in 1960s–1970s) who were said to bring new attitudes of being independent, informal, entrepreneurial, and expected to get skills and have a career before them.
Generation Y or the Millennial Generation (born in 1980s–1990s and becoming adults in the new millennium) are now making up an increasing percentage of the workforce. They are said to be spoilt by doting parents, to have structured lives, to be used to teamwork and diverse people in a multicultural society. In the passage, this generation is now becoming Generation Grunt, which is an ironic name referring to some graduates, who may have to take repetitive, low-status, routine or mindless work to get experience before they find something more suitable.
Paraphrase:
The distinguished son of Generation X (the parents’ generation who worked hard, got jobs, and had good careers and expected their son to do the same) has changed into a member of Generation Grunt – he doesn’t seem to communicate much, lies around and doesn’t get a job, or can only do a low-status routine job.
这位属于“千禧一代”的年青人一夜之间变成了“抱怨一代”的成员。
4. nag v. frequently ask someone to do sth. that they do not want to do 唠叨;对……纠缠不休
1. His parents keep nagging him to do something instead of staying at home all day.
他父母不停地对他唠叨,让他做点事情,而不是整天待在家里。
2. She nagged him into doing what she wanted.她向他唠叨,使他不得不去做她要他做的事。
3. She nagged him to death.她唠叨得把他烦死了。
5. Middlesex a former county of SE England, situated to the north west of London. In 1965 it was divided between Hertfordshire, Surrey, and Greater London 米德尔塞克斯郡(英国英格兰原郡名)
6. … a 2:1 …
A 2:1 means an Upper Second-Class Honours degree, which is one of the fi nal grades students can obtain. It’s based on the average mark of the assessed work which a student has completed. Other Honours degrees include First (First-Class Honours), 2:2 (Lower Second-Class Honours), and Third (Third-Class Honours).
二级一等荣誉学士学位
7. Nottingham 英国诺丁汉大学
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is considered among the top ten leading universities in the UK, and has been described by The Times as "the nearest Britain has to a truly global university" and "a prime alternative to Oxbridge".
8. Civil Service fast stream
the Civil Service n. [sing] a country’s government departments and the people who work in them(一国政府的)行政机关,全体公务员
1. There are few women in the upper reaches of the Civil Service.
行政部门的上层机构中很少有女性任职。
2. He used his influential friends to help him get into the Civil Service by the back door.
他利用那些有权有势的朋友帮助他走后门,到政府行政部门任职。
civil servant 公务员
Civil Service fast stream refers to the recruitment of graduates to serve in government departments or agencies. Their academic and personal records assure them of fast promotion in government service.
快速晋升人才培养计划
9. I passed the exams, but at the interviews they accused me of being ‘too detached’ and talking in language that was ‘too technocratic’, which I didn’t think possible, but obviously it is.
detached a. not feeling involved with someone or sth. in a close or emotional way 冷淡的;超然的
1. She had a detached expression on her face.她一脸的冷淡。
2. Through all the arguments among other committee members, she kept a detached attitude.
在其他委员会成员辩论时,她始终保持超然的态度。
technocratic a. 技术专家政治论的;技术专家治国论的
e.g. They call this “post totalitarian technocratic new authoritarian regime”.
他们称之为“后全能主义型的技术专家治国型的新权威主义体制”。
Word family: technocrat n. an exponent or advocate of technocracy
技术专家政治论者,技术专家治国论者
e.g. a new government led by a technocrat 在专家政治论者领导下的新政府
Jack passed the entrance exams for a government post, but he was criticized in the selection interviews. They said he was not personally involved and used the language of a technical expert or high authority. As a new graduate he probably wanted to show his expertise so he can’t understand this criticism.
我通过了笔试,但在面试时,他们说我‘太冷漠’了,谈吐‘太像专家政治论者’。我觉得自己不可能那样,但我显然就是那样的。
(Para 6.) 4. Jack spent the summer “hiding”. Hiding from what? Why are quotation marks used?
Hiding from the world of work, staying at home and not looking for a job.
The quotation marks tell us that he wasn’t literally hiding, he just spent a lot of time at home.
10. cop n. [C] (infml) a police officer 警察
1. I called the cops to come to get him.我报了警,让警察来抓他。
2. Traffic Cops is a UK television documentary series about traffic police.
《交通警察》是英国一部关于交警的纪录片电视剧。
11. For the rest it is 9-to-5 “chilling” before heading to the pub.
chill vi. pass time without a particular aim or purpose, esp. with other people; relax completely 消磨时光;放松
1. I spent most of the weekend chilling out at my friend's house.
我这个周末大部份时间都在朋友家悠闲地度过。
2. Chill out! We’ll get there on time! 别紧张!我们会按时赶到的!
3. I'm ready to chill for the rest of the morning. 我打算今天早上剩下的时间好好玩一玩,放松放松!
The others who do not have a routine low-status job (like stacking goods on a supermarket shelf) chill out all day (they spend their time casually relaxing – they don’t look for work) and go to pub for a drink in the evening.
其余的则都是朝九晚五地“无所事事”,晚上则去酒吧喝酒打发时间。
12. pull pints: work in a bar serving drinks 在酒吧提供酒水服务;做酒吧侍应
1. He used to pull pints at a local nightclub.他过去通常在夜总会当服务生。
2. He made a living
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