Book I  Unit 1

Section A  Time-Conscious Americans

Included in This Unit Are:

Section A  Time-Conscious Americans

Section B  Culture Shock

I. Objectives

  1) Listening: understanding words, sentences and passages

  2) Speaking: practice conversation skills

  3) Reading: Reading for the Main Ideas in a Paragraph

4) Writing: a paragraph of Genera statement supported by specific details and reasons

5) Translation: developing translation skills

II. Important Points

1.       vocabulary development---word power

a)        Learning words and expressions used to talk about Americans attitude towards time and how they try to save time.

budget, acute, replace, abrupt, assess, whereas, interaction, convention in a hurry, under pressure, racing through daytime meals, in public eating-places, communicate through, faxes, phone calls, personal contacts, emails face-to-face conversation , sign in person, teleconference, obtain information, conduct business, worthy of proper respect, a sign of skillfulness, a sign of being competent, pour into capital, energy, and attention, result in, account for, by satellite

b)        Word building: noun formation using ment, ation, tion, sion, ion

2.  Grammar

c)        subjunctive mood  (3.1-3.6, student self-teaching)

III. Difficult Points

1)      finding out word meanings

2)      Using “much less” and using “whereas “ to introduce a clause

A Brief Introduction to the text

Communicating successfully with people of another culture is one of the most challenging things we do. Cultural differences cause most wars, political tensions and arguments between peoples and nations. Unless we learn how others’ beliefs, values and customs differ from ours, we will likely destroy this planet. We cannot automatically expect another culture to understand ours; all of us bear the responsibility of helping others to learn our ways. We must never stop learning about our cultural differences. Our lives depend on it.

Step 2

Background Information

1. Cultural differences: Students and teachers need to be aware that the ethnocentric attitudes of writers are precisely the way cultural conflict is encouraged. Why is understanding a culture always the others’ responsibility? Is it not possible that each culture could be made aware of different conventions? Both sides must work at rising above cultural differences and be willing to compromise…and, in both cases, most likely neither side has access to the cultural conventions of the other so blaming is not the answer. Educating is.

2. Cultural shock: a term meaning strong feelings of discomfort, fear, or anxiety, which people may have when they enter another culture. Usually when a person moves to live in a foreign country, he/she may experience a period of culture shock until he/she becomes familiar with the new culture.

Step 3

Warm-up activities

1. Proverbs about time

1) Time works wonders.               時間創(chuàng)造奇跡。

2) Time tries truth.                    時間檢驗真理。

3) Time is the best healer.             時間是治愈創(chuàng)傷的良藥。

4) Time and tide wait for no man.       時間不等人。（時不我待。）

5) All time is no time when it is past.    機不可失，時不再來。

The Spring Festival;                          

the Lantern Festival (元宵節(jié));

the Mid-autumn Festival (中秋節(jié));               

the Dragon Boat Festival (端午節(jié));

the Double Nine Festival（重陽節(jié)）;             

the Tomb-sweeping Day（清明節(jié)）

一）（三）時間是尺，萬物皆檢 Time tries friends as fire tries gold. (時間考驗朋友，烈火考驗黃金）
Time tries truth. （時間檢驗真理）
Time is the father of truth. （時間是真理之父）
Time will tell. （時間能說明問題）
Time brings the truth to light. （時間使真相大白。或時間一到，真理自明。）
Time and chance reveal all secrets. (時間與機會能提示一切秘密）
Time consecrates: what is gray with age becomes religion. （時間考驗一切，經(jīng)得起時間考驗的就為人所信仰）
Time reveals(discloses) all things. （萬事日久自明）
Time tries all. （時間檢驗一切）
（四）時間是秤，衡量權(quán)質(zhì) There is no time like the present. （現(xiàn)在正是時候）
Take time by the forelock. (把握目前的時機）
To choose time is to save time. （選擇時間就是節(jié)省時間）
Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today. （今日事，今日畢）
Procrastination is the thief of time. （拖延為時間之竊賊）
One of these days is none of these days. 拖延時日，終難實現(xiàn)?；颍焊奶旄奶?，不知哪天）
Tomorrow never comes. （明天無盡頭，明日何其多）
What may be done at any time will be done at no time. 常將今日推明日，推到后來無蹤跡）
（五）時間是水，淘金流沙 Time works wonders. （時間可以創(chuàng)造奇跡或時間的效力不可思議）
Time works great changes. （時間可以產(chǎn)生巨大的變化）
Times change. (時代正在改變）
Time and tide wait for no man.歲月不待人
Time cannot be won again.時間一去不再來
Time lost can not be recalled.光陰一去不復(fù)返
Time flies like an arrow , and time lost never returns.光陰似箭，一去不返
Lost time is never found again. 歲月既往，一去不回。
No one can call back yesterday. 昨日不會重現(xiàn)。
One cannot put back the clock. 時鐘不能倒轉(zhuǎn)。
One hour today is worth two tomorrow. 爭分奪秒效率高。
Time lost cannot be won again. 時光流逝，不可復(fù)得。
To save time is to lengthen life. 節(jié)約時間就是延長生命。
An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. 一日之計在于晨。
A year's plan starts with spring.一年之計在于春。
Everything has its time and that time must be watched. 萬物皆有時，時來不可失。
Time is life and when the idle man kills time, he kills himself.時間就是生命，節(jié)省時間，就是延長生命
To choose time is to save time.選擇時間就是節(jié)省時間
Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today.今日事，今日畢
What may be done at any time will be done at no time.常將今日推明日，推到后來無蹤跡
A young idler, an old beggar. 少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。
Do you love life ? Then do not squander time ; for that\'s the stuff5 life is made of .(Benjamin Franklin , American president )
你熱愛生命嗎？那么，別浪費時間，因為生命是由時間組成的。(美國總統(tǒng) 富蘭克林. B.)
In delay there lies no plenty , Then come kiss me , sweet and twenty , Youth\'s a stuff that will not endure . (William Shakespeare , British dramatist)
遷延蹉跎，來日無多，二十麗姝，請來吻我，衰草枯楊，青春易過。(英國劇作家 莎士比亞. W.)
The time of life is short ; to spend that shortness basely, it would be too long . (William Shakespeare , British dramatist )
人生苦短，若虛度年華，則短暫的人生就太長了。(英國劇作家 莎士比亞. W.)
To choose time is to save time .( Francis Bacon , British philosopher )
合理安排時間就是節(jié)約時間 。( 英國哲學(xué)家 培根. F.)

2. Discussion on the topic concerned in the text

1) What precious resource do Americans value and save?

Time and labor.

2) Why is time so important for Americans?

Because Americans think that time is a precious resource.

3) Why do Americans believe no one stands still?

If you are not moving ahead, you are falling behind.

4) What labor-saving devices do Americans use in order to save time?

Americans produce a steady flow of labor-saving devices: they communicate rapidly through faxes, phone calls or emails rather than through personal contacts.

5) How do Americans conduct business?

   Americans conduct business by meeting more and more through television screens, holding teleconferences to solve problems, instead of face-to face conversation. However, they will normally sign a final agreement in person.

Step 4

Guidance on Understanding the Whole Text—Structure Analysis

Step 5

Details of the text & Further discussion

1.      What do Americans believe according to the author and why?

Americans believe no one stands still. If you are not moving ahead, you are falling behind.

2.      What does this attitude result in?

This attitude results in a nation of people committed to researching, experimenting and exploring.

3.      How is time treated in America? And Why?

Time is treated as if it were something almost real. People budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it; they also charge for it. They do this because time is a precious resource.

4.      What is a foreigner’s first impression of the U. S. likely to be? And how do city people appear in the writer’s eyes?

Everyone is in a rush--- often under pressure. In the writer’s eyes, city people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going, restlessly seeking attention in a store, or elbowing others as they try to complete their shopping.

5.      What is the writer’s advice to the States “miss smiles, brief conversations, small exchanges with strangers”? And Why?

Don’t take it personally. This is because people value time highly, and they resent “wasting” too much time.

  6.  What will many new arrivals to the U.S. miss?

They will miss the opening exchanges of a business call, the ritual interaction,, leisurely business chats, small exchanges , sweet smile and brief conversations.

7.  Why will new arrivals to the States miss many social behaviors during a business call?

This is because Americans generally assess and inquire about their visitors professionally rather than socially. They start talking business very quickly. Time is always ticking in their inner ear.

8.  What does the author mean “The US is definitely a telephone country”?

Almost everyone uses the telephone to conduct business, to chat with friends to make or break social appointments and so on.

9.  How do Americans view the impersonality of electronic communication?

The impersonality of electronic communication has little or no relation to the      significance of the matter at hand.

Now, have a discussion on the following question:

1. Americans have a saying “Time is money.” How do you understand it?

Time is a precious resource. Time can bring profits. If we make good use of time and work efficiently, we may expect good results and big profits. On the contrary, if we work with tardiness, we’ll waste our precious time and gain less than we should gain. Therefore, time is really money and saving time is just like saving money. As individuals, we should treasure our limited time and let every minute count.

2. In America, there’s another saying about time: “We are slaves to nothing but the clock.” How do you understand this saying?

American culture is a time-conscious culture and people value time highly. Time is treated as if it were something almost real. Many people have a rather acute(敏感的) sense of the shortness of each lifetime. Time is always ticking(滴答響) in their inner ear. As a result, sometimes people just feel helpless in front of time. They are under control of time and are slaves to the clock.

Step 6

Key Words & Expressions

A: New words

1.      budget  

vt. plan the spending of or provide (money) in a plan

The company has ~ed $10 million for advertising.

You should ~ time very carefully.

vi. save or spend money (for a particular purpose)

He ~ed for buying a new car.   為買新汽車而計劃節(jié)省開支

adj. inexpensive; cheap

A ~ flight / house

n. Very often this word is used as a noun to mean a plan of how to spend money, etc. during a particular time for a particular purpose.

balance one’s ~;  a family ~;  the government ~ for the coming year

2.  acute:

1) (of feeling or the senses ) fine; sharp

acute hearing/sense of smell      

Dogs have an acute sense of smell.    狗有敏銳的嗅覺。

2) intelligent

acute understanding/ analysis/observations   敏銳的觀察

3) serious, severe

~ pain;   劇痛    ~ lack of water   嚴(yán)重缺水

Food shortage has become acute in this area.

cf. acute, sharp, keen

   sharp/ keen knife;          acute/ sharp pain

   acute/ keen hearing/sense of smell  

3. replace:

1) put sth. back where it was before

The telephone line was dead. Cindy ~d the telephone handle.   擱上話筒

~ the book on the shelf.

2) take the place of sb./ sth.

George has ~d Edward as personnel manager/monitor.

 We’ll have to ~ those old computers with/by new ones.

cf. substitute:  Can you substitute for me at the meeting?    

They were substituting violence for dialogue.  以暴力取代對話

4. elbow:

vt. push others out of the way using elbows 

 She ~ed her way through the crowd.  從人群中擠了過去

n. joint where the arm bends

5. assess:

vt. judge the quality, importance, or worth of

   assess→assessment    self-assessment

   It’s too early to ~ the effects of the new law.     要評價新法令的效果現(xiàn)在還為時過早。

cf. assess 估價，評價      access 接近，入口        excess 超過

Access: The only access to the farmhouse is across the fields.

Students must have access to good books.

Excess: Luggage in excess of 100kgs will be charged extra.

6. conduct:

vt. 1) organize or carry out           ~ a survey/ experiment/ inquiry

   2) music                        ~ the orchestra

   3) act as the path for (electricity, heat, ect.)

    Plastic and rubber won’t ~ electricity, but copper will.

   4) show sb sth            

    The guide ~ed us round the castle.

n. [U] He can’t distinguish good conduct from bad one.

7. whereas

conj. But in contrast; while

   Our country has plenty of oil, whereas theirs has none.  

他們國家石油豐富, 而我們國家則一點也沒有。

   We thought she did not like to talk to us, whereas in fact she was very shy.

   我們以為她不喜歡我們，然而事實是因為她很害羞。

8. competent:

adj. (of people )  having the necessary ability, skill, knowledge, etc.

    competent→competence

    He is ~ for the task.   能勝任這項任務(wù)

    He is a ~ director.   稱職的主任

cf.  be competent for sth. /to do sth.

    be capable of (doing ) sth.  He’s capable of working under pressure.

    be able to do sth.

9. fulfill:

vt. 1) do or perform

     ~ a duty/promise/ the terms of a contract     履行

     We ~ed our work ahead of time.

   2) supply or satisfy ( a need, demand or requirement)

     ~ a desire/ hope/ dream  

     The traveling library ~s an important need for people who live in the country areas.

     流動圖書館滿足了鄉(xiāng)村居民的一項重要需求。

     The company should be able to fulfill our requirements for product quality.

     這家公司必須能滿足我們對產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量的要求。

B: Phrases

Para 1

1.  stand + adj / adj phrase (here “stand “ is used as a linking verb)

 The room ~s idle. = useless/ unoccupied   這間房間閑置著。

 They stand opposed to the new law.    他們反對這項新法律。

2.  result in （L.2）

Bad living habits will result in disease.

result in: have sth as a result, cause

result from: be caused by

Acting before thinking always results in failing. 做事不先考慮會導(dǎo)致失敗。

The child’s illness resulted from eating unclean food.

Nothing has resulted from his efforts.   他的努力終成泡影。

3.  commit to （researching, experimenting and exploring）投身于（研究、實驗和探索）(L.2)

People of all walks of life have committed themselves to the fight against SARS.

各行各業(yè)的人們都已投身于抗擊非典的戰(zhàn)役中。

Paras 2

4.  We are slaves to nothing but the clock. (L5)

Meaning: We are under the control of time only and nothing else.

slave to sth.: a person who is completely influenced or dominated by sth.

a slave to drink 酒鬼

a slave to money 金錢的奴隸

nothing but: only

The report contains ~ lies.    這篇報道滿篇謊言。

He is ~ a criminal.     他只不過是個罪犯。

5． account for:

1）explain the cause of

This corrupt official couldn’t account for the source of his income.  這個貪官無法解釋他的收入來源。

His illness ~ his absence.

2）be the cause or origin of

   The sales of computer accounts for a high proportion of our company profits.   占了…的很大部分

6.  count: here it means “to be very important” (not in progressive)  (L10)

If something counts, it is important and valuable.

First impression really ~s.

Every minute ~s.

Paras 3-5

7.  Racing through daytime meals is part of life in this country. (L13)

Meaning: To eat their meals hurriedly during the day is part of Americans’ fast pace of life.

race through: do sth. in a hurry

  I raced through the passage in order to get a main idea.

  The child raced through his homework in order to watch the football match on TV.

8.  Don’t take it personally. (L18)

Meaning: Don’t get upset because they treat everybody the same way.  

    You mustn’t take her negative comments of your plan personally. 

你不應(yīng)該把她對你計劃的批評當(dāng)作對你個人的攻擊。

9.  interaction: n.  (L23)

1) communication

    human-computer ~   /teacher-student ~

2) acting on each other; working together

    complex ~ between mind and body    合作

10. go with: (L23)

1) exist or take place at the same time, be found together 伴隨

    Happiness does not go as an automatic result with money.

    健全的頭腦要有健康的身體。 Healthy mind goes with a healthy body.

2) be in harmony with 配合， 調(diào)和

    These new curtains go well with your carpet.

11. Consequently, we work hard at the task of saving time.

Meaning: As a result, we try our best to invent and produce things that can help save time.

Consequently: ad. As a result, so, accordingly, hence, therefore

The bank refused to help the company; ~ it went out of business.  公司因此倒閉了。

Para 8

12. Assignment are, consequently, felt to be given added weight by the passage of time.

Meaning: as a result, people feel that tasks are getting additional importance with the passing of time.

weight [U] importance     the ~ of the evidence/meeting

Don’t worry about what he thinks; his opinion doesn’t carry much weight.  沒有多少影響

Step 7

Expressions & Patterns

1. …the other being labor (adverbial clause)  (L4)

subject + -ing / -ed verb  This type of clause can also be put at the beginning of the whole sentence.

No further discussions arising, the meeting was brought to an end.

She stood there, tears streaming down her cheeks.

So many people being absent, we had to put off the meeting.

There are two doors, one leading to the bedroom.

He rushed into the room, his face covered with sweat.

Lunch finished, all the guests returned to the sitting room.

This type of the clause can be rewritten by adding the preposition “with”:

With lunch finished, all the guests returned to the sitting room.

2. as if + 從句: as if 引導(dǎo)的方式狀語從句，一般用虛擬語氣

Time is treated as if it were something almost real. (L5)

Unless a certain amount of time is allowed to elapse, it seems in their eyes as if the task being considered were insignificant, not worthy of proper respect. (L50)

他表現(xiàn)得好像沒有發(fā)生什么事似的。

He acted as if nothing had happened.

他工作熱情這么高，好像從不知道疲倦似的。

He works with such enthusiasm as if he never knew fatigue.

3. subject +predicate + object+ much less…:and even less likely  (L28)

1)        much less + n.

I can’t speak English, much less French.

2)        much less + v.

The old man can hardly walk, much less run.

3)        much less + to do

They are always short of water to drink, much less to bathe in.

4)      much less + p.p

I’ve never seen the man, much less spoken to him.

4. given (prep.) + noun phrase.: taking into account    (L35)

Given their inexperience/age, they’ve done a good job.

Given her interest in children, teaching should be the right career for her.

We can also use “given + a finite clause” for the same meaning

Given that they are inexperience, they’ve done a good job.         

Given that she is interested in children, teaching should be the right career for her.

5. …people are meeting increasingly on screens…   (L40)

be increasingly 越來越…

他對我越來越無理。     

He is increasingly rude to me.

人們越來越意識到健康的重要性。  

People are increasingly aware of the importance of health.

Step 1

Reading skills: Reading for the Main Ideas in Paragraphs

Introduction (page 16)

The particular reading skill introduced for this unit is reading for the main idea in a paragraph. This skill is one of the most useful reading skills students can develop. Finding the main idea is necessary for the understanding of a piece of writing.

The main idea of a paragraph is usually stated by one of the sentences in the paragraph. The main idea sentence is commonly known as “a topic sentence” or “a topic statement”. It may appear in one of several places in the paragraph. Most frequently the first sentence of a paragraph states the main idea. However, the main idea sentence may also appear in other places: in the middle or at the end of a paragraph.

    Please notice that sometimes there is no sentence in the paragraph which directly states the main idea. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a main idea in the paragraph, only the main idea is implied. In these cases you have to write a sentence to sum up the main idea of the paragraph.

Step 2

Words & Expressions:

A.  Words & Phrases:

1.            fascinating adj. having great attraction or delight

a ~ voice/ story

fascinate v.→ fascination  n.

2.            clash vi. / n.

   clash with    Their interests clashed with ours.   他們的利益與我們的相沖突。

   a clash of/ between

    There is a clash of personalities among them.

    There is a boundary ~ between the two countries.

3.            sth familiar to sb

sb familiar with sth.

This English song is very familiar to me.

He not only speaks English well, but also is familiar with the cultures in English speaking countries.

4.            hostility n. strong reaction against; unfriendliness

I have no ~ towards anyone.    我對任何人都沒有敵意。

Note: When the word is used to mean acts of war or fighting, it is used in its plural form.

    The meeting led to and end of the hostilities between the two counties.  他們的會談促成了雙方停火。

hostile adj.           They are ~ to reform.

5.            distress ; vt.  (usu. Passive) cause great pain or suffering

He was too ~ed to speak when he heard the news.

distress: n.

1)      great pain, sadness, suffering

The sick man showed signs of ~.    病人顯出很痛苦的樣子。

2)      suffering caused by lack of money

 a company in funding ~           陷入資金短缺狀況的公司

3)  a state of danger or great difficulty

   Sent out a distress signal; the ship is sinking.    發(fā)出求救信號

6．acquire → acquisition

   language acquisition

   Children progressed quickly in the acquisition of basic skills.  孩子們在掌握基本技能方面進步很快。

7.  alleviate: vt. ease; make sth. less severe

   ~ pain / loss of jobs  減輕疼痛/ 緩解失業(yè)問題

8.      furthermore: ad. (fml) also; in addition to what has been said; moreover

The house is too small, and ~ it’s too far from the office.

B.  Structure

1.  It is desirable + to do sth.

  For this job it is ~ to know something about medicine.  干這行最好懂點醫(yī)學(xué)。

  It is desirable that…(should)+v

It is desirable that she leave the company immediately.  明智的做法是她立即離開公司。

desirable←→undesirable

2.  have difficulty (in) doing sth.

The preposition “in” is often omitted.

   His English is very bad and I have great difficulty (in) understanding him.

   She had no difficulty (in) learning English well.

have difficulty with + n. (The preposition can never be omitted in this case.)

   The child seems to have a lot of difficulty with English grammar.

3.  would rather + do sth : (used to express a choice) prefer to

   Which would you rather do, go to cinema or stay at home?

   He would rather lose his job than make false accounts.

Notice that “would rather” can be used with different subjects, to say that one person would prefer another to do something. In this case, we generally use a past tense with a present or future meaning.

   I would rather you stayed with me tomorrow.

   “Shall I open a window?”   “I’d rather you didn’t.”

Step 3

Guidance on Understanding the Text

I.   Try to answer, in English, the following questions after reading the text.

1.  What does studying in a different country mean according to Paragraph 1?

It means meeting both advantages and challenges.

2.  Could you explain the meaning of “culture shock”?

When you move to live in foreign country, your views may clash with the different beliefs,  norms, values, and traditions that exist in different countries, you may have difficulty adjusting to a new culture and to those parts of the culture not familiar to you. This is culture shock.

3.        How many stages will you experience when you enter a new culture according to the writer? And what are they?

Four. They are honeymoon, hostility, recovery and adjustment.

4.        What do you feel in the “honeymoon”?

You feel excitement about living in a different place, and everything seems to be marvelous.

5.        What do you tend to do in the hostility stay stage?

You become tired of many things about the new culture and keep alone.

6.        When you are in the hostility stage, what defense mechanisms do you usually devise to feel better ?

Repression, regression, isolation and rejection.

7.        Is the shock of the new culture permanent or temporary?

It’s temporary.

8.        How do you feel about the new culture in the final stage of culture shock? And why?

I feel good because I understand what I didn’t understand before.

Testing section

Test yourself—multiple choices

1. The government has devoted a larger part of its national ___________ to agriculture than most other countries.

       A. resources        B. potential

       C. budget             D. economy 

2. In western countries, it is the _________ for men to wear suits on formal occasions.

       A. conviction        B. convention

       C. confession              D. concession

3. The annual income of school teachers in this place was __________ at $ 900.

       A. budget          B. predicted

       C. account           D. assessed

4. His long illness and _____________ absence put him far behind in his study.

       A. sequent           B. consequent

       C. frequent          D. subsequent

5. If you want to learn English, you must first find a ____________ teacher.

       A. able                 B. desirable

       C. competent              D. significant

6. Jane was the only one who _______ all the conditions: she was of the required age, height and degree.

       A. fulfilled             B. recovered

       C. appreciated     D. rejected

7. We ______ his idea for a music club, and decided to have an art club instead.

       A. turned              B. rejected

       C. accepted         D. isolated

8. I appreciate ________ herself to the cause of education.

       A. of her devoting           B. her to devote

       C. her devoting           D. to devote

9. It is most ________ that he attend the conference.

       A. desirous          B. desiring

       C. desired            D. desirable

10. The neighbors let their radio blare late in night just to ______ us.

       A. spit                  B. despite

       C. spite                D. inspire

11. She couldn’t hide her _______ at his foolish mistake.

       A. amusement      B. fascination

       C. hostility            D. recognition

12. The publisher’s ______ of his manuscript depressed him.

       A. ejection            B. rejection

       C. injection           D. dejection

13. It is highly desirable that every effort _______to reduce pollution in Beijing.

       A. was made       B. be made

       C. will be made    D. would be made

14. He is an artist, so these economic terms are not familiar _________ him.

       A. with                  B. of

       C. to                     D. on

15. Happiness does not necessarily ________ wealth.

       A. go after            B. go with

       C. go on               D. go out

Key to questions: 1-5 CBDBC   6-10 ABCDC  11-15 ABBCB

For fun

1. What fruit is never found singly?

Answer: a pear (pair)

2. Why are young men unwilling to date the daughter of the Fortunes?

Answer: Because she is Miss. Fortune. (misfortune)