英语泛读教程3---UNIT2(刘乃银).doc

Exercises A. Determining the main idea. Choose the best answer. Do not refer to the text. The main idea of the text is that _ . ( B )(a) the British people are so particular with politeness that it is almost impossible to make friends with such a nation (b) good manner rules the daily life of the British people and that explains such qualities as reserve, modesty, sense of humor and politenesstypical qualities of the British people (c) the British people give us impression of coldness, but deep in their hearts, they are friendly to every one (d) the British people have many good qualities though sometimes it is difficult to understand them B. Comprehending the text. Choose the best answer. 1. If English people are making a journey by train, they will try _. ( D ) (a) to share a compartment with a stranger (b) to keep a compartment with a stranger (c) to ask personal questions in order to get to know each other (d) to sit alone as they are unwilling to talk with strangers 2. According to the text, if a friendly stranger does start a conversation, _. ( D ) (a) the English people may make an unwilling reply (b) he will be considered ill-bred (c) the English people may respond coldly (d) his friendliness may please the English people 3. The self-disapproval and modesty of the English people _. ( B ) (a) is understandable to most foreigners (b) often results in misunderstanding (c) shows that they dont really care about anything (d) is considered bad behavior 4. The ideal of English sense of humor is _. ( C ) (a) to laugh at others failures (b) to show sympathy to a tragedy (c) to laugh at oneself (d) a disrespectful attitude towards life 5. We may well guess from the text that English people _. ( D ) (a) do not always obey rules of sport (b) are good at playing tennis (c) are bad-tempered when defeated (d) show respect for other peoples feelings 6. The starting point of politeness in Britain is_. ( C ) (a) a positive attitude to life (b) to show hospitality to others (c) to show consideration for each other (d) to please other people 7. “Would you mind if I open the window?” A polite answer to the question is _ ( C ) (a) “No, please.” (b) “Yes.” (c) “Of course not.” (d) “Please do.” 8. Politeness towards women and old people is based on _. ( A ) (a) the feeling that they are in need of protection (b) the fact that they are physically weak (c) their actual need (d) the feeling that they are more experienced C. Understanding vocabulary. Choose the correct definition according to the context. 1. Similarly, conversation in Britain is in general quiet and restrained and loud speech is considered ill-bred. ( B ) (a) quick-tempered (b) badly-behaved (c) thoughtless (d) healthy 2. On the other hand, they are perfectly human behind their barrier of reserve, and may be quite pleased when a friendly stranger or foreigner succeeds for a time in breaking the barrier down. ( A ) (a) destroying (b) interrupting (c) separating (d) protecting 3. Within their hearts, the English are perhaps no less conceited than anybody else, but in their relations with others they value at least a show of modesty. ( D ) (a) modest (b) cool (c) excited (d) self-important 4. This attitude is never cruel or disrespectful or malicious. ( D ) (a) deceptive (b) keen (c) critical (d) hateful 5. Women especially, for reasons of sexual attraction, long to “stay young” and there is no greater compliment to a mature woman than to be told “How young you look!” ( A ) (a) praise (b) prudence (c) concern (d) help 6. Rules are the essence of sport, and sportsmanship is the ability to practise a sport in obedience to its rules, while also showing generosity to ones opponent and good temper in defeat. ( C ) (a) friend (b) enemy (c) rival (d) master 7. When the request is granted, and at any time when you are receiving something, however obviously you are entitled to it, you are always expected to say “Thank you”. ( A ) (a) have the right to (b) are worthy of (c) are respected for (d) are opposed to 8. It is still considered polite to give up ones seat to a woman who is standing, to open doors for her, help her alight from the bus. ( A ) (a) get off (b) get on (c) keep away (d) sit away 9. Old age and seniority alone do not command authority. ( C ) (a) being expert (b) high rank (c) higher standing through long service (d) modesty D. Discussing the following topics. 1. According to the British standard, what sort of behaviors are considered rude? 答案Troubling someone without saying Excuse me or disturbing someone without expressing regret. Also, when you receive something or when others have done you a favor, it is impolite not to express your appreciation. Direct requests or actions that involve inconvenience are not proper. (More examples of this sort of behavior are expected to be found by yourself.)2. What is your general impression of politeness in Britain? 答案Politeness in Britain is based on the elementary rule of showing consideration for others, and acknowledging the consideration they show to you. This is a reasonable social rule. Western civilization is famous for its politeness towards women, the idea of which originates from the inequality between men and women. This politeness is less observed today as women have become equal with men in many aspects. Old people are respected in Britain because they are felt to be in need of protection and support, the idea of which is different from that of the Chinese people who respect the aged not merely because they need protection but also because they are worthy of the respect.Practice A. Read each headline in the left column and decide what kind of a story it introduces. Match the headline with the most suitable story category in the right column. 1. ( g )Job-hunting made worse a. A Decision2. ( e )Old feud flares anew b. A Treaty Signing 3. ( c )Govt. to launch probe into disasterc. An Investigation4. ( b )UK, Iceland to ink fishing pact?d. A Criticism5. ( d )Parents rap school administratione. A Dispute6. ( f )Faulty power line triggers factory blazef. A Fire 7. ( a ) Rate of wage rises slowsg. An Disappointment8. ( g ) Blow for old folk B. Give the full name or form of the following. Aussie ( Australia )lib ( liberation )pix ( pictures )tech ( technology )vet ( veteran )rep ( representative ) biz ( business ) grad ( graduate ) sec ( secretary )natl ( national )coml ( commercial )ctee ( committee )UNESCO ( United Nations Educational， Scientific and Cultural Organization )OPEC ( Organization of Pretroleum Exporting Countries )WTO ( World Trade Organization )ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations )IOC ( International Olympic Committee )WHO ( World Health Organization )VIP ( very important person )DJI ( Dow-Jones Index )Passage One Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair. I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy ecstasy so great that I would often have sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves loneliness that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the union of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and thought it might seem too good for human life, this is what at last I have found. With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I have wished to know why the stars shine.A little of this, but not much, I have achieved. Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer. This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance were offered me. (302 words) 1.The passage, taken from Bertrand Russells (1872-1970) autobiography, is mainly about Russells _ .( D ) (a) longing for love (b) search for knowledge (c) unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind (d) three passions that governed his life 2. In the first paragraph, Russell says that _ .( B ) (a) he longs for love and never despairs (b) he has pity for the suffering of mankind and often feels anguish (c) he has traveled over a great ocean for the three passions (d) the result of his search is despair 3. In the second paragraph, Russell thinks that he has found in his search for love all the following EXCEPT _. ( B ) (a) great joy (b) loneliness(c) the vision of the heaven (d) relief from solitariness 4. Regarding knowledge, Russell thinks that _ . ( D ) (a) he knows why the stars shine (b) he understands the hearts of men (c) he has a good knowledge of things (d) he has succeeded a bit but not much 5. Whenever Russell thinks of the sufferings of mankind, he _. ( C ) (a) is mocked by human life (b) becomes lonely (c) suffers too (d) feels he goes upward toward the heavens TOP Passage Two It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined, and as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him, and he concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. The true gentleman carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make everyone at their ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company, he is seldom prominent in conversation, and never wearisome. He makes light of favors while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort, he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets everything for the best. He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, he is too well employed to remember injuries, and too indolent to bear malice. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain because it is inevitable, to bereavement because it is his destiny. He may be right or wrong in his opinion, but he is too clear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is forcible, and as brief as he is decisive. Nowhere shall we find greater candor, consideration, indulgence; he throws himself into the minds of his opponents, he accounts for their mistakes. He knows the weakness of human reason as well as its strength, its province and its limits. (336 words) 6. According to the writer of the passage, a gentleman _. ( B )(a) feels it his responsibility to show what people should do (b) avoids clashes of opinions or feelings (c) studies carefully the obstacles in the way of free and unembarrassed people (d) always thinks of those about him 7. The author thinks that when a gentleman talks with others, _ . ( D ) (a) he shows his skill at conversation (b) he likes to help others with his favors (c) he prefers receiving favors rather than offering them (d) he seldom speaks of himself 8. A gentleman, as defined in the passage, _ . ( B ) (a) never takes advantage while disputing with others (b) never makes personal attacks (c) is interested in slander and gossip (d) interprets peoples action as they really are 9. Faced with insults, injuries and malice, a gentleman will _ . ( D ) (a) feel angry (b) learn them by heart (c) keep him busy to forget them (d) pay little attention to them 10. A good title for the passage is : _ . ( B ) (a) Is There Such a Gentleman? (b) The Definition of a Gentleman (c) What a Gentleman Will Do. (d) An Idealized Gentleman. TOP Passage Three My favorite English teacher could draw humor out of the driest material. It wasnt imposed either. He took Samuel Johnsons dictionary, Addisons essays, and many other literary wonders from the eighteenth century and made them hilarious, even at eight oclock in the morning. The thing that amazed me most was that the first time I read these works on my own some of them seemed dead, but the second time, after his explanation, I couldnt believe that I hadnt seen the humor. The stories and poems and plays were suddenly filled with irony and allusions and hilarious moments. I learned more from him than from any other teacher. My least favorite English teacher also made people laugh. Some students found him to be wonderfully funny. Many others did not. He assigned journals over a six week period, to be written in every day. At the end of the six weeks I had a notebook full of jotted ideas, short story fragments, reactions to what we had read, and so on. Our teacher announced that we would be grading each others journals. Mine was passed to Joe, the class clown, who saw it fit to quip at the end of it, “This writing isnt fit to line the bottom of a birdcage.” Our teacher laughed at that. Funny stuff. It hurt me so much that the anger from it has driven my writing and teaching ever since. So what makes the difference? Humor is one of the most powerful tools teachers (or writers) have at their disposal. It can build up students and classes and make them excited about literature and writing, or it can rip them apart. (276 words) 11. The above passage discusses _ . ( C )(a) teaching (b) literature (c) humor(d) knowledge 12. The word “hilarious” means _ . ( D )(a) brilliant(b) weary (c) exciting (d) funny13. With his favorite English teacher, the writer found it most amazing that _ . ( D ) (a) his teacher was very learned (b) his teacher was very humourous (c) the works by Johnson and Addison were very humourous (d) he had not been able to find humor in works by Johnson and others 14. The English teacher the writer disliked most _. ( B ) (a) was not able to make people laugh (b) hurt his students feelings by laughing (c) didnt let his students do the grading (d) had no sense of humor 15. According to the writer, humor _. ( D ) (a) helps teachers in their work (b) helps students in their studies (c) is something hard to define (d) can be either productive or counterproductive Text 2 ExercisesDoes Anybody Really Care? Edgar Dale This cry of despair is more common than we may realize. Some of us speak these words rarely; others say them every day silently or aloud. To hear the cry for help requires extra-sensitive perception. We can hear it only if we listen with the third ear, a trenchant phrase of Theodore Reik. For example, I often visited a Negro friend in a home for the elderly. The place was sterilized and the environment was sterile. My friend was old, dispirited, and he wanted to die. He often said, Im a lost ball in the tall weeds. He felt unfulfilled. He knew that if he had been white, he could have been a successful professional man. I think about this every day of my life, he said. Who cared about this Negro workman who had helped erect many buildings in downtown Columbus? Hardly anyone. We have been remiss both in caring for and caring about the elderly. Perhaps they suggest too strongly our own morality, the guilt we may deservedly or undeservedly feel about our own aging parents. The Great Society needs a more creative approach to what are euphemistically called the golden years. The program of the First Community Village in Columbus, Ohio, and other similar centers may be a happy augury of things to come. Edna St. Vincent Millay once said, O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! To care for people is to wish to be close to them, in their presence, to penetrate the mask we all wear. It is interesting that our comments about communication with other people include such expressions as We were very close, I was deeply touched, He was greatly affected. To care deeply for persons is to see them not as plumbers, scientists, clerks, lawyers, mathematicians, or as white, yellow, or black. It is to see them as unique individuals with all their idiosyncrasies, strengths, and weaknesses, their similarities and differences. Caring is color-blind, uncalculating. To care or not to care is a problem of commun