中国地质大学长城学院

Lead-in Activities Text-structure Analysis language points tewxt1 text2

中国地质大学长城学院

Pre-reading questions (1) Suppose you are making a deal with the devil, trading your youth for whatever you want. What would you trade your youth for? Why? (2) What would you like your life to be when you are retired?

中国地质大学长城学院 The Virtues of Aging by Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter "We are not alone in our worry about both the physical aspect of aging and the prejudice that exists toward the elderly, which is similar to racism or sexism. What makes it different is that the prejudice also exists among those of us who are either within this group or rapidly approaching it.

中国地质大学长城学院 When I have mentioned the title of this book to a few people, most of them responded, 'Virtues? What could possibly be good about growing old?' The most obvious answer, of course, is to consider the alternative to aging. But there are plenty of other good answers-- many based on our personal experiences and observations.

中国地质大学长城学院 What, in your opinion, are the advantages and disadvantages of growing older? What do you think are the virtues of being young? How should the whole society take care of the old people? Describe some of the occasions that people show their concern to the old.

中国地质大学长城学院 poor memory Will You Marry Me? A widower and widow had known one another for a number of years. One evening there was a community supper in the big activity center. These two were at the same table, across from one another. As the meal went on, he made a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered up his courage to ask her, "Will you marry me?"

中国地质大学长城学院 After about six seconds of 'careful consideration,' she answered. "Yes. Yes, I will." The meal ended and with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective homes. Next morning, he was troubled. Did she say "yes" or did she say "no"? He couldn't remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory.

中国地质大学长城学院 With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her. First, he explained to her that he didn't remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the lovely evening past. As he gained a little more courage, he then inquired of her "When I asked if you would marry me, did you say 'Yes' or did you say 'No'?" He was delighted to hear her say, "Why, I said, 'Yes, yes I will' and I meant it with all my heart." Then she continued, "And I am so glad that you called...because I couldn't remember who had asked me."

中国地质大学长城学院 poor health I'm Dead An older couple is lying in bed one morning, having just awakened from a good night's sleep. He takes her hand and she responds, "Don't touch me." "Why not?" he asks. She answers back, "Because I'm dead."

中国地质大学长城学院 The husband says, "What are you talking about? We're lying here in bed together talking to one another." She says, "No, I'm definitely dead." He insists, "You're not dead. What in the world makes you think you're dead?" "Because I woke up this morning and nothing hurts."

中国地质大学长城学院 poor hearing Hearing Test An elderly gentleman feared his wife was getting hard of hearing. So he called her doctor to make an appointment to have her hearing checked. The doctor made an appointment for a hearing test in two weeks, and meanwhile suggested the husband try a simple informal test to give the doctor some idea of the state of her problem.

中国地质大学长城学院 'Here's what you do," said the doctor, "start out about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response. “ That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he's in the living room. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for supper?" No response.

中国地质大学长城学院 So the husband moved to the other end of the room, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for supper?" Still no response. Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for supper?"

中国地质大学长城学院 Again he gets no response so he walks up to the kitchen door, only 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?" Again there is no response, so he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for supper?" Finally he hears this response: "Damn it Earl - for the fifth time - chicken!"

中国地质大学长城学院 Success At age 4 success is...not peeing in your pants. At age 12 success is...having friends. At age 16 success is...having a drivers license. At age 20 success is...having sex. At age 35 success is...having money.

中国地质大学长城学院 At age 50 success is...having money. At age 60 success is...having sex. At age 70 success is...having a drivers license. At age 75 success is...having friends. At age 80 success is...not peeing in your pants.

中国地质大学长城学院

Text Comprehension 1. General questions (1) What is the writer ’ s attitude towards growing old? (2) What are the main benefits of growing old listed in the text? (3) What examples does the writer use to illustrate each of the benefits?

中国地质大学长城学院 text structure Part 1(Para.1-2): the two paragraphs make up the first part of the text. Part 2(Para.3-5): the writer, in paragraph three, offers the first advantages of growing older – not being obsessed with one ’ s appearance.

中国地质大学长城学院 The second advantage is discussed in paragraph 4 — people in their forties are less uncertain than adolescents. Paragraph 5 presents the third and the greatest benefit of growing older

中国地质大学长城学院 Part 3(Para.6): after sharing her own experience in contrast to adolescents ’ problems with the readers, in this paragraph the writer turns the issue to the similar to the one mentioned in the first paragraph: the validity of American values on the aging problem.

中国地质大学长城学院

Part one （ 1-2 ） 1. Why do people want to hide their gray hair and delay the effect of aging? 2. What does the writer mean when she says “ it ’ s un-American to say so ” ? 3. Does the writer deny the virtues of being young?

中国地质大学长城学院 worship 1.to show respect and love for a god, especially by praying in a religious building. a church where people have worshipped for hundreds of years 2.to admire and love someone very much He absolutely worships her. 3. worship the ground somebody walks on to admire or love someone so much that you cannot see their faults

中国地质大学长城学院 Hero-worship: great admiration for sb. who is thought to be very brave, good, skilful etc - often used to show disapproval They bowed their heads in worship. Your/His Worship: to talk to or about a public official such as amayoror magistrate act of worship (=religious ceremony)

中国地质大学长城学院 convince : v. to bring by the use of argument or evidence to firm belief or a course of action convince sb of … 除非你能说服我这次活动的安全性，否则我不会批准。 I won ’ t approve this operation unless you can convince me of its safety. convincing & convinced. He is so ____ of his own theory that it is impossible to turn him around. I had to let him go, because his reasons are very ____.

中国地质大学长城学院 Grecian Formula

中国地质大学长城学院 Oil of Olay

中国地质大学长城学院 jog to run slowly and steadily, especially as a way of exercising I go jogging every morning. to knock or push something lightly by mistake [= bump] You jogged my elbow. jog somebody's memoryto make someone remember something

中国地质大学长城学院 Dread to feel great fear or anxiety about E.g. I ’ ve got an interview with the bank manager tomorrow – I ’ m dreading it. E.g. He always dreaded asking them for their rent because he knew it would end in an argument. Aging the process of growing old E.g. Our society is full of attitudes towards aging and old people.

中国地质大学长城学院 Age bracket: the people between two particular ages, considered as a group [= age group] =age range single people in the age bracket the age of consentthe age when someone can legally get married or have a sexual relationship

中国地质大学长城学院 the New Age movement: relating to spiritualbeliefs, types of medicine, and ways of living that are not traditional Western ones Old age pension: money that is paid regularly by the state to old people who do not work any more = social security

中国地质大学长城学院 Distinct noticeable; unmistakable E.g. There is a distinct possibility that she ’ ll be appointed manager of the company. clearly different or belonging to a different type distinct types/groups/categories etc distinct from A distinct lack of enthusiasm

中国地质大学长城学院 Para 3 The first advantage of growing older--- not being obsessed. The technique of contrast is used to project the difference between adolescents and people in their forties. They are focused on 2 aspects: the shape of their bodies and clothes. With her own experience, the writer drive home her point.

中国地质大学长城学院 be apt to do somethingto have a natural tendency to do something exactly right for a particular situation or purpose [= appropriate] 'Love at first sight' is a very apt description of how he felt when he saw her. The punishment should be apt for the crime. an apt pupil/student formala student who is quick to learn and understand

中国地质大学长城学院 Obsess: if something or someone obsesses you, you think or worry about them all the time and you cannot think about anything else - used to show disapproval (be) obsessed with /by to have an unreasonably strong and continuous interest in particular things or persons E.g. She became obsessed in her old age with what to do with her immense wealth.

中国地质大学长城学院 be obsessing about/over something/ somebody (informal) to think about something or someone much more than is necessary or sensible Stop obsessing about your hair. It's fine. A lot of young girls are obsessed by their weight

中国地质大学长城学院 Mega-: a million - used with units of measurement; extremely; very big 1000 megawatts of electricity Her family is megarich! a megastore ( giga- : a billion) Adj. very big and impressive or enjoyable Their first record was a mega hit.

中国地质大学长城学院 diet V. to limit the amount and type of food that you eat, in order to become thinner N. the kind of food that a person or animal eats each day balanced/healthy/poor etc diet Bamboo is the panda's staple diet (=main food). a diet of somethingtoo much of an activity that you think is boring or has bad effects Kids today are raised on a constant diet of pop music and television.

中国地质大学长城学院 Plead: to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way [= beg]: plead with somebody (to do sth.) plead guilty/not guilty/innocent She stayed home from work, pleading illness. The wife of one of the hostages appeared on TV last night to plead for her husband ’ s life.

中国地质大学长城学院 Freak: someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject so that other people think they are strange or unusual a fitness / religious / computer freak someone who is considered to be very strange because of the way they look, behave, or think [= weirdo] These glasses make me look like a freak.

中国地质大学长城学院 tailor : v. to fit or provide (a person) with clothes made to that person ‘ s measurements; to make, alter, or adapt for a particular end or purpose 我们应该使自己的知识符合社会的需要。 We should tailor our knowledge to the need of the society. tolerate : v. tolerance (n), tolerant (adj.), tolerable (adj.), intolerable (adj.) If I can be ____ of this monstrosity, then there is nothing _____ to me.

中国地质大学长城学院 Tolerant: adj. allowing people to do, say, or believe what they want without criticizing or punishing them tolerant of/towards, a tolerant society Tolerable: a situation that is tolerable is not very good, but you are able to accept it The heat in this room is barely tolerable.

中国地质大学长城学院 Agony: very severe pain; a very sad, difficult, or unpleasant experience extreme mental or physical pain or suffering E.g. He lay in agony until the doctor arrived. He was in agonies of remorse. Agony aunt: someone who writes an agony column

中国地质大学长城学院 Deny oneself not to allow oneself to have something that one normally has; to decide not to have something that you would like, especially for moral or religious reasons: E.g. He denied himself all small pleasures and luxuries in his effort to live a holy life. deny that/doing something there's no denying (that/something)

中国地质大学长城学院 为了保持身体苗条，她克制自己不吃冰激 凌。 To keep slim, she denied herself ice- cream. to refuse to allow someone to have or do sth. His parents denied him the opportunity to go to university. She could deny her son nothing.

中国地质大学长城学院 Pecan pie

中国地质大学长城学院 Lanky: someone who is lanky is tall and thin, and moves awkwardly [= gangling]: Leggy: a woman is tall and attractive with long legs Giant: a man is very tall, esp. when you are surprised.

中国地质大学长城学院 mercy if someone shows mercy, they choose to forgive or to be kind to someone who they have the power to hurt or punish

中国地质大学长城学院 8. preferable : adj. more desirable or worthy than another; preferred prefer: v. prefer A to B ：喜欢 A 多过 B 我喜欢在黑夜里游走而不是在白天徘徊 I prefer roaming at night to wondering in the daytime. preference : n. e.g. sexual preference, political preference, etc. 9. critical: adj. very important, essential, urgent; crucial, etc. e.g. a critical situation, a critical element, etc.

中国地质大学长城学院 10. await vt. wait for 等待 (it is a vt.!!!) e.g. The committee is awaiting a decision from head office before it takes any action. 11. pursue : v. to strive to gain or accomplish 追求 n. pursuit (in pursuit of … ) 世人对名利的疯狂追求令我恶心。 The world ’ s mad pursuit of fame and fortune sickens me. 12. sanity: n. the quality of being sane. 心智健 全 sane : adj. insane e.g. You went all the way to him in the rain? That ’ s just insane!

中国地质大学长城学院 13. automatically: adv. 自动地 automatic. adj. automation: n. ( 自动化 ) 14. contradict v. to be opposite in nature to 同... 矛盾, 同... 抵触 e.g. The results of his experiments seemed to contradict the laws of physics. n. contradiction adj. contradictory e.g. Your eloquence doesn ’ t help a lot since your theory is contradictory to common sense.

中国地质大学长城学院 15. premise : n. 逻辑前提；房产 要先树立前提，然后才能得出结论。 You need to establish your premise first before you draw the conclusion. These are premises of the big multi-national company. 16. contentment n. feeling contented 满意, 知足 e.g. They finally found contentment in living a simple life. ant. Discontent 在这次会议上我终于有机会一吐胸中的不快。 I finally got a chance to give vent to my discontent at this conference.

中国地质大学长城学院 2. Paraphrase the following sentences (1) Perhaps it is un-American to say so, … (para. 2) (2) When young, you are apt to be obsessed with your appearance. (para. 3) (3) … in order to turn his wiry adolescent frame into some muscular ideal. (para. 3) (4) By way of contrast, forty is sanity. (para. 5) (5) We are all human beings --- neither saints nor devils. (para. 5) (6) Most Americans blindly accept the idea that newer is automatically better. But a human life contradicts this premise. (para. 6)

中国地质大学长城学院 I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests leading to suitable activities. It is in these activities that long experience is really fruitful, and that the wisdom born experience can be used without becoming a burden. It is no use telling grown-up children not to make mistakes, both because they will not believe you, and because mistakes are an essential part of education. But if you are one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests, you may find that your life will be empty unless you concern yourself with your children and grandchildren. In that case you must realize that while you can still help them in material ways, you must not expect that they will enjoy your company.

中国地质大学长城学院

When young, you are apt to be obsessed with your appearance. When you are young, you tend to be troubled with how you look. How could we go to school wearing loose- fitting school blazers when everyone else would be wearing smartly tailored leather jackets? How could we go to school in loose, big and unfit school uniforms while our schoolmates would be wearing suitable and beautiful clothes. Detailed Explanation

中国地质大学长城学院