Lesson Nine Quick Fix Society By Janet Mendell

Lesson Nine Quick Fix Society By Janet Mendell Goldstein

Janet M. Goldstein n 《大学英语课外自学系列·心声与价值观— —大学英语读写训练》Janet M. Godestein

vocabulary Advocate-vt. 提倡, 鼓吹 n Our premieradvocates higher salaries for teachers. 我们的总理主张提高教师的资。 n Amusement-n. 娱乐, 消遣, 娱乐活动 n Amuse- vt. 给. . . 娱乐/消遣, 使. . . 喜欢/高兴, 逗. . . 乐/笑 n amuse oneself with 以. . . 自娱 --I amuse myself with (by) reading. 我以读书自娱。 n be amused at/by/with 以. . . 为乐; 对. . . 觉得有趣[好笑] --We were amused at the joke. 我们觉得这个笑话真有趣。 n

antique-n. 古物, 古董 --an antique dealer 古董商 adj. 古时的, 过时的 --antique clothes n bicentennial-n. 二百年, 二百周年纪念 ---bi-cent-ennial Bicycle, century, annual n briefing-n. 简报 n cabinet-n. (有抽屉或格子的)橱柜, <美>内阁 --cabinet matters内阁成员的事务 --a cabinet minister. 内阁大臣 n Carriage-n. 客车; 四轮马车; ([美]=car)客车车厢 n Civil-公民的，市民的，国内的 --the Civil War [美]南北战争（1861 -1865） --civil liberty 公民的言论和行动自由 n

compress-vt. 压缩 --compress two months' work into one 将两个月的作并在一个月做 n condense-v. (con- + dense 浓缩) (使)浓缩, 精简 --Steam is condensed to water when it touches a cold surface. 水蒸汽触及冷的表面即凝结成水。 --condensed milk 炼乳 n confederate-adj. 同盟的, 联合的 --the Confederate Army（美国南北战争时）南部邦联 --play confederate to策应 n convenience-n. 便利, 方便, 有益 --at one's (own) convenience在方便时 --at your earliest convenience得便务请. . . 从速 --for convenience (sake)为了方便起见 --for the convenience of为. . . 方便起见 n

defer-v. 推迟, 延期, 听从, 服从 --I shall defer replying till I hear from home. 我将等接到家信以后再给你答复。 n diet-n. 进规定的饮食：吃规定的饮食 n digest-n. 分类, 摘要 v. 领会, 领悟 --digest everything in the book 领会了书中的一切 n eagle-n. 鹰, 鹰状标饰 n featureless-adj. 无特色的, 平凡的 n gorgeous-adj. 华丽的, 灿烂的 n gratification-n. 满意 --Your approval gives me much gratification. 承蒙认可, 我非常高兴。 n gratify-vt. 使满足 n His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at n

Guarantee-vt. 保证, 担保 n My watch is guaranteed for one year. 我的表保修一年 n Herd-n. 兽群, 牧群 n a herd of elephants一群大象 n iceberg-n. 冰山, 冷冰冰的人 n ignore-vt. 不理睬, 忽视 --She saw him coming but she ignored him. 她看见他走过来, 但装做没看到他 --neglects her appearance. 没太重视她的外貌 n infect-vt. [医] 传染, 感染 --be infected with n 感染, 沾染上 n

interstate-n. 州际公路：延伸于并连接美国相邻 48个主要城市的高速公路体系 n lane-n. （乡间）小路, 巷, 狭窄的通道; 单向行车道： --a breakdown lane发生故障的行车道 --an express lane快车道 n linger-v. 逗留, 闲荡, 拖延 --linger over one's work 磨洋 n liposuction-吸脂术 n overnight-adv. 在前一夜, 整夜 --became a sensation overnight. 突然引起轰动 --overweight; overload; over-high, oversensitive n pastoral-adj. 牧人的, 田园生活的, 牧师的 --pastoral poetry [poem]田园诗 n

paycheck-n. 付薪水的支票 n refresh-v. (使)精神振作, (使)精力恢复, 更新 --refresh oneself with a cup of tea喝杯茶提神 n revitalize-v. 使新生/复兴：给予新生活或力 --tried to revitalize a flagging economy. 试图给正在衰退的经济以新生 n route-n. 路线, 路程, 通道 --a train [bus] route火车[公共汽车]路线 n scenery-n. 风景, 景色 --enjoying the varied mountain scenery. 欣赏不同的山景 n skim-v. 撇去 --skim the cream off [from] the milk (=skim the milk of its cream) 撇去牛奶上的奶油; [喻]提取精华浏览，略读 skimmed through the newspaper. n

slide-(使)滑动, (使)滑行 (slid, slid) --slid past the door without anyone noticing. 滑过门口，没被任何人发觉 n spicy-adj. 辛辣的 --a spicy tomato sauce. 辛辣的蕃茄酱 n subtle-敏感的, 微妙的, 精细的 --subtle smiles n superficial-adj. 表面的, 肤浅的, 浅薄的 --a superficial resemblance. 表面上的相似 n symbolic-adj. 象征的, 符号的 --symbolic art. 象征主义艺术 n symphony-n. 交响乐, 交响曲 --symphony orchestra 交响乐团[队] n

theme-n. 题目, 主题, [音乐] 主题, 主旋律 --a favourite theme for poetry诗里喜欢用的主题 n tour-n. v. 旅行, 游历, 巡回, 漫游 --a tour of the house. 巡视一下房屋 --toured Europe last summer去年夏天在欧洲观光 n turnpike-收费公路 n urge-n. 强烈欲望, 迫切要求 --suppressed an urge to laugh. 压制住笑的冲动 --He urged her to study physics. 他极力劝她学习物理。 n version-n. 译文, 译本, 翻译 --Your version of the accident differs from mine. 你对这件事故的叙述与我的不同 n

Organization of the text Part I (P. 1 -3): the comparison of the ride on fast roads to West Virginia and her return trip by a different route. --The transition “Our country has become a nation in search of the quick fix—in more ways than one”. n Part II (p. 4 -6): three ways Americans seek a quick fix. n Part III (p. 7 -8): conclusion: Let’s slow down and enjoy what nature offers us and what mankind has left us, and rediscover life. n

Writing skills Explanatory writing: 1. Comparison and contrast (p. 1 -2, 4) 2. Examples: (p. 5 -6) 3. Rhetorical questions: (p. 3, 5, 7) 4. Repetition --Of structure (p. 4) --Of words (p. 5) n

Language and style n n Informal Plain words, everyday expressions and phrasal verbs Not so many long and complicated sentences Use of contemporary expressions and abbreviations

Language points in the text Can’t wait/ can hardly wait: eager to do sth. or keen to do sth. n When she received the letter of admission from PKU, she couldn’t wait to tell her parents the good news. --Turnpike / tollway <美>收费公路 --interstate --Highways (connects cities, two lanes, near cities, three or more)公路, 大路 --Superhighway (many lanes)(超级)高速公路 --Freeways (within cities, drive very fast without stop, three or more lanes)高速公路 --Expressways (fast road near or in cities))高速道路 n

As pastoral scenery slid by us at 55 mph Slid by us: move very quickly past us mph: miles per hour n And the herd of cows is reduced to a few dots in the rear-view mirror: a mirror in a vehicle, such as a car or a bus, which lets the driver see the area behind the vehicle. n For four hours, our only real amusement consisted of counting exit signs and wondering what it would feel like to hold still again. ---The 4 -hour drive on fast road was tedious; the only fun we had was to count the exist signs we were passing and to figure out how we would feel if we stopped again. n

5 n n Getting there certainly didn’t seem like half the fun; in fact, getting there wasn’t any fun at all. We had expected that our ride to West Virginia would be fun, and that half of the fun we’d get from the trip would come from it. But we were wrong. It wasn’t fun at all.

6. insist: v. 坚持, 强调 n insisted on giving me a second helping. 坚持再给我一次帮助 n They insisted that she (should) be invited. n n 他们坚持要邀请她。

We toured a Civil War battlefield… Battlefield: An area where a battle is fought. n take on-occupy n vain attempt: --vain -adj. 徒然的, 无益的 --attempt - n. 努力, 尝试, 企图 n get-被：作为被动语气助动词而与及物动词的过去分词连用 --got stuck in the elevator. n 被困在电梯里了get killed n

We drove slowly through… n n n sleepy: quiet and where nothing happens. slow: to go at a slower speed accelerate: to move faster crowd: to cause the horses and horse carriages to move close together to make way for us 推挤：用压或推或用压或推逼迫

We admired toy trains… n n admire: appreciate欣赏 We stopped to admire the beautiful scenery.

We stuffed ourselves… n n n Stuff… with sth: to fill … with sth. His wallet is always stuffed with bills. …lying in it: lyin gin the sunshine

Comparison and contrast Featureless drive on the fast road vs. pleasure of return trip n What was it like on the fast road? -- Cow—dots --Farm—checkerboards n What did they do on the fast road? --Counting exit signs, wondering n --getting there was not fun at all!

Return trip What was the return trip like? --Filled with new experience n What did they do on the return trip? --Toured A Civil War battlefield, stood on the hill --Drove slowly through mains streets --Admired toy trains and antique cars --Stuffed with spicy salads and homemade bread --Wandered to enjoyed the sunshine and the herd of cows --Returned refreshed, revitalized, reeducated: getting there be fun!! n

Para. 3 n n n The route of choice—the preferred route In search of: try to find He wandered in the street in search of his lost wallet.

Part II (p. 4 -6): three ways Americans seek a quick fix. n n Once upon a time: in the past principle: n. 法则, 原理 He is a man of principle. In the past, Americans were patient about having their desires satisfied. We knew it took time for our dream to come true.

Paragraph 4 n n n For a rainy day: for a future time when money might be needed. Put away: to save money to use later We saved a little money each time we got paid in case we might need it in the future.

Paragraph 4 n n save up for: to keep and add to an account of money for a particular purpose or later use. I am saving up for a trip to Europe. helps sb. Out: to help sb, esp. in a difficult situation His relatives always help out on his farm at harvest time.

Paragraph 4 n n n For the scale to drop: to find the marks on the weighing machine had moved towards the zero side. at one time: separately or in groups of two, three, . . on each occasion They were interviewed once at a time. loan-n. （借出的）贷款 deposit-n. 存款 off the rack /peg--adj. 现成的

Paragraph 4: comparison and contrast n n n Past: save money; plant corn and beans; eating less for getting thinner, a pound at one time. Today: takeout loans; use credit card; buy ready -made food and clothing; try miracle diet for getting thinner Americans’ lifestyle has changed from “saving for a rainy day” to “relax now, pay later”.

Paragraph 5 Not only do we want it; we don’t even want to be kept waiting for it. --Not only have I never seen him, I have never heard of him. n “I-hate-to-wait” attitude. --“as-long-as-the-head-touches-the-pillow”guys --“do-it-yourself” n Automatic teller machine—ATM n Convenience store: 便利店 n

Paragraph 5 n n n Not agree with sb. : (of food) to make you feel ill I love seafood, but it does not agree with me. reduce-vt. 减少, 缩小, 简化 minute-记录, 摘录 The American Eagle: stands for the Express Mails

Paragraph 5: examples n n n n Money withdrawal Fast convenience store for frozen dinner or even fast food Fast relief when ill Fast pictures with Polaroid cameras Fast entertainment: record shows on the VCR Fast information: computer, fax, news, history “I-hate-to-wait” attitude is reflected in various aspects of American life.

Paragraph 6 after all: adv. 毕竟 n save sb. the trouble of doing sth—省去某人的麻烦 --Shopping on the web saves people the trouble of going out. n pick out sb. /sth. n He picked out the best wine for his parents. n News briefings: 新闻发布会 n

Paragraph 6 devote sth to sb / sth: 专心致力于, 献(身) --He devoted his life to literature. 他专心致志于文学。 n replace sth with sth-代替 --They want to replace their computer with a new one. n more often than not-时常 --When I make a request, more often than not my parents reject it. n

Paragraph 6: comparison and contrast: examples n n Past: linger over every word: today condensed version / a tape / Cliff’s notes Once: listen to every note of Beethoven’s fifth symphony; today: 26 seconds Magazine; news briefing; relationship Iceberg principle applies to the way many Americans live their lives

Paragraph 7: rhetorical questions n As we are constantly in a hurry, we lose sight of our purpose for such a rush. It seems that we save time for the sake of saving more time.

Paragraph 8 n n n Get sb wrong: don not understand sb correctly Be out of control, run / get out of control Thesis: let’s slow down and enjoy what nature offers us and what mankind has left us, and rediscover life.

Translation on Page 242 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Only Li Jun knows how to get in touch with him. They are all very nice. We’ll discuss which to choose this afternoon. I was shocked to hear that and, for a moment, I didn’t know what to say to him. Mrs. Zhang is teaching how to combine classical Chinese dance with modern dance. There, the soldiers learned how to survive in the wilderness.

Translation on Page 242 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The general manager hasn’t decided whether to take hi on. She asked me to find out who to turn to if her computer went wrong. Joan didn’t tell us when to start out. He asked the teacher what to do next. The teacher told him to continue observing the fish. As soon as I went into the room, somebody came to show me where to sit.

Translation on Page 246 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. something important to say ever built in Beijing known as a land on wheels as well-informed about Beijing opera as Anna called the fifth generation of Chinese directors living and working overseas with a big nose and big hands sitting in the corner to play center forward in the university team anything particular to do