Rich Meeting His Future Mother-In-Law Section B Rich Meeting His Future Mother-In-Law

Reading Skill Facts and Opinions

The particular reading skill introduced for this unit is recognizing differences between facts and opinions. The ability to recognize differences between fact and opinion is important because it can help us to achieve a deeper level of understanding in our reading. Facts are statements that tell what really happened or what really is the case. A fact can be proved or disproved with direct evidence. It is something known by actual experience or observing. Look at the following example taken from Reading Passage A:

Her mother, Deborah, all along had been supportive of our relationship, and even joked about when we were going to get married so she could have grandchildren. (Para. 5, Reading Passage A, Unit 3)     This sentence tells us about a past state of affairs: certainly it is a fact. 

Opinions are statements of belief, judgment or feeling Opinions are statements of belief, judgment or feeling. They show what someone thinks or feels about a subject. Some words can serve as clues to statements of some kinds of opinion. For example, probably, perhaps, usually, often, sometimes, on occasion are used to limit a statement of fact and to indicate the possibility of other opinions. Other words, such as I believe, I think, in my opinion, I feel, I suggest, say clearly that an opinion will follow. Look at the following examples:

Back 1. Any mother would be proud to have him for a son-in-law. (Para. 7, Reading Passage A, Unit 3)     2. When we met I saw him as my beloved, intelligent, charming, and caring. (Para. 7, Reading Passage A, Unit 3)     3. I’m sure that time will only confirm what we feel deeply about each other. (Para. 8, Reading Passage A, Unit 3)      4. Maybe our children will have some problems, but whose children don’t? (Para. 18, Reading Passage A, Unit 3)

But it is not always easy to tell opinion from fact But it is not always easy to tell opinion from fact. A writer often combines the two in such a way that we do not always notice where fact ends and opinion begins. When we have fact and opinion combined in a single statement, we must decide whether the major clause or main point of the sentence is essentially fact or opinion. Sometimes an opinion is presented as if it were a fact:

Back But one thing they’ll always have: our love and devotion. (Para. 18, Reading Passage A, Unit 3)     On the surface it is a statement of fact, but actually it is only a promise, something yet to be realized in the future.

Find and look at the following statements from Reading Passage B Find and look at the following statements from Reading Passage B. Which are facts? Which are opinions? Select O for opinion or F for fact. F 1. _____ After much thought, I came up with a brilliant plan for Rich to meet my mother and win her over. F 2. _____ One day, my mother called me, to invite me to a birthday dinner for my father.

O 3. _____ I knew she would do this, because cooking was how my mother expressed her love, her pride, her power, her proof that she knew more than any one else. F 4. _____ Rich was not only not Chinese, he was also my junior, a few years younger than I was. O 5. _____ And unfortunately, he looked much younger with his curly red hair, smooth pale skin, and the splash of orange freckles across his nose.

O 6. _____ In his dark business suits, he looked nice but easily forgettable, like somebody’s nephew at a funeral. 7. _____ I felt compelled to defend on his behalf, a bit too heatedly as I raised my voice above the noise of the kitchen. O 8. _____ He had brought a bottle of French wine, something he did not know my parents could not appreciate. F

O 9. _____ But the worst happened when Rich criticized my mother’s cooking, and he didn’t even have a clue about what he had done. F 10. _____ As is the Chinese cook’s custom, my mother always made negative remarks about her own cooking.

Text Learning

1. She can only cook looking at directions 1. She can only cook looking at directions. My instructions are in my fingers. (L11) Auntie Suyuan can only cook while looking at directions. I am so skilled that I can cook without much thinking as if my fingers did it by themselves. 她只会看着烹饪指南烧菜， 而我对烹饪操作了如指掌。 2.He was a bit on the short side, compactly built.(L22) He was a little too short and had a small, but well-shaped body. 他稍微矮了一点，但长得很结实。

3. I could feel the goose bumps rise on my back. (L29) I was so disappointed that I could feel the tiny lumps or thick or hard raise areas on my back. 我听后感到背上起了鸡皮疙瘩。 4. But before we could be so diplomatic, … (L50) 但是我们还没能来得及说一些圆滑得体的话，…… Before we could say something skillfully to please my mother, …

5. As is the Chinese cook’s custom, my mother always made negative remarks about her own cooking. (L43) My mother always said something negative about her own cooking skills to show modesty as most of the Chinese cooks do. 我妈妈总是要对她自己的烹饪发表一些评论，说一些自己的菜烧得不好之类的话，这是中国厨师的习惯。

Word Using 1. come up with (L1) Translation 他总能想出一个理由来让他们再耽搁上一个月。 Key think of or suggest Translation 他总能想出一个理由来让他们再耽搁上一个月。 Key He could always come up with a reason for them to linger another month.

2.concerning prep. (L16) Translation 针对他的行为我和他谈了话。 Key about (sb./sth.) Translation 针对他的行为我和他谈了话。 Key I spoke to him concerning his behavior.

3. compel (L30) Translation 雨迫使我们停止了比赛。 Key v. force Translation 雨迫使我们停止了比赛。 Key The rain compelled us to stop our game.

4. criticize (L42) Translation 报道对警方未能解决这个问题提出了强烈批评。 Key v. point out the mistake of sb. or sth. Translation 报道对警方未能解决这个问题提出了强烈批评。 Key The report strongly criticizes the police for failing to deal with this problem.

5. clue (L43) Translation 警方仍在寻找线索以便找到失踪的女孩。 Key n. a fact or idea as a guide or aid in a problem Translation 警方仍在寻找线索以便找到失踪的女孩。 Key Police are still looking for clues in their search for the missing girl.

6. proclaim (L49) Translation 他声称自己是班上最好的学生。 Key v. make sth. known publicly Translation 他声称自己是班上最好的学生。 Key He proclaims himself the best student in the class.

anticipate: v. 2. expect (sth.) 预料，预期，期待 1. Do you anticipate meeting any trouble? 1. 你预料到会遇到什么困难吗？ 2. 不可能预料这事何时发生。 2. It is impossible to anticipate when it will happen.

1. criticize: to talk about one’s fault Word Experiencing 1. criticize: to talk about one’s fault When does your father or mother criticize you? 2. arrange: to organize or make plan for sth. What do you arrange for the coming National Day/winter holidays …? I was criticized when … We are arranging (a party, a tour) for …

My mother’s phone is mainly concerning … ( my life at the college). 3.concerning: about What is your mother’s letter or phone normally concerning? My mother’s phone is mainly concerning … ( my life at the college). 4. miserable: very unhappy or uncomfortable In what situation do you feel miserable? It is miserable for me to … I felt miserable when …

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Assignment Do post-reading exercise Read section C by yourself and finish the exercises.