Unit 1 A Brush with the Law.doc

Unit 1Text: A Brush with the LawTeaching Procedure:I. Pre-reading:A. Explain the title “brush” refers to a short fight or quarrel. For example, “she had a brush with her husband last night.” “A brush with the law” means a brief encounter with the law. If someone commits any crime, we can say he has a brush with the law. The title tells us that something against the law happened in the story.B. DiscussionWhen it comes to the law, we have international law, domestic law, etc. In China the basic law is the Constitution while in western countries there are all sorts of laws. So according to your common sense (general knowledge), what is the main purpose of law? When someone does something against the law, what will happen to him/her?(Have you heard of the serious case happening on March 3rd, 2006? A female taxi driver, named Wang Li was robbed by a man whose name is He Hanyue. He got on the taxi on the long-distance bus station and asked Mrs Wang drive towards suburb. When it became dark, he robbed her cruelly. It is said that Wang had two chances to escape, but she gave up because she was mortally afraid. It was her first time to encounter such a situation. So she never thought it happened to her. She didnt prepare in mind. She was not brave enough, which caused her to be murdered. According to the law, the murder He Hanyue was sentenced to death on August 14th.From the real example, we can find the purpose of the law. Laws are rules that define peoples right and responsibility toward society. Without laws we couldnt hold on to our property. We couldnt go to bed at night at ease, expecting to wake up in the morning and find we ahd not been robbed. Our banks would not be safe places for our money. So we can draw the conclusion that the chief purposes of law are (1)to maintain peace and order; Without laws the society will be in utter disorder. Social life would be impossible without laws to control the way people treat each other. (2)to protect the rights of citizens; such as property right, life right, reputation right ect. (3) to secure justice and to punish wrong-doers; The criminal law provides that anyone who murders others on purpose will be sentenced to death.)C. Introductory remarks We all know that the chief purposes of law are to maintain peace and order, to protect the rights of citizens, to secure justice and to punish wrong-doers. Good laws are those that are considered to serve the cause of justice for the society to which they apply. It is laid down in the Constitution that “Everyone is equal before the law.” But even good laws may be unjustly applied or may be unjust in certain situations. In that case, we cannot make the laws equal to everyone. For example, nowadays in our real life, even someone commits the crime such as stealing, robbing, murdering, raping, etc., he attempts to bribe the police or the judge to make himself innocent. Meanwhile someone is wronged and put into the prison. So to some extent, it is difficult to for people to be real equal before the law. In the story we are going to study today, the author tells us about what happened to him more than a decade ago. At that time in Britain, people who were well-educated and belonged to high social class were regarded as good citizens and they were unlikely to commit crimes. The authors experience was very unpleasant, yet it provides us with much food (material) for thought.II. While-reading:A. Organization of the text: This text is taken from Penguin Advanced Writing Skills compiled by James O Driscoll. The whole text can be divided into three parts:Part1(para.1): The whole process of the narrators being arrested and taken to court was arbitrary. It was a rather unpleasant experience.Part2(paras.2-20): By telling why he was arrested and how he was released, the narrator reveals that both the police and the court dealt with the matter quite arbitrarily.Part3(paras.21-22): The narrator believes that if he had come from a different background, he would have been found guilty.B. Questions about the text.1. What happened to the author one day? How did he feel about the incident at the time it occurred? What does he think of it now?2. When did the story happen? What did the author think got him into trouble with the law?3. What grounds did the policemen have for suspecting that the young man was wandering with intent to steal milk bottles?4. What does the author mean by his “big mistake”?5. What were the things his release from the charge depended on?6. What did the policeman probable mean by saying “You could have been a bit more helpful when we arrested you”?C. Study for language points.1. brush : n.(1)a short fight or quarrel; an argument or disagreement (with) 与某人有小冲突 Eg: -She had a nasty brush with her boss this morning. 今天早上她与老板大吵了一架。 -to have a brush with the police/ the Customs men/the enemy -It is his third brush with the law in less than a year. (2)a kind of tool 刷子 Eg: -tooth-brush; paintbrush漆刷; hairbrush发刷 (3)land covered by small trees and shrubs; undergrowth 灌木从地带，矮树丛2. take sb to court : take legal action against sb 起诉某人；控告某人 Eg: -I told him that I would take him to court if he didnt repay money in a week. -If you go on ill-treating your wife, youll be taken to court. Court : n. place where trails or other law cases are held 法庭，法院 Hold court : entertain visitors, admirers, etc. 接待来访者，敬慕者 Eg: -The firm star held court in the hotel lobby. 这位电影明星在旅馆的大厅里接见了影迷。 Pay court to sb : 向（尤指女人）献殷情，讨好，求爱 Eg: -He always pays court to the lady who has a lot of money. Laugh sb/sth out of court (infml) : dismiss sb/sth scornfully对某人蔑视而不予理会3. It makes a good story now. : it provides material for a good story now. Make : to have the qualities needed for (sth good); be or become sth through development; turn out to be 演变成，结果是Eg: -If you train hard, youll make a good footballer. -Hell never make an actor. -The hall would make a good theatre. -Iced tea makes an excellent drink in summer.4. What makes it rather disturbing was the arbitrary circumstances both of my arrest and my subsequent fate in court.The author was arrested simply because the policemen thought he intended to steal milk bottlers and later in court he was released from the charge just because he has the “right” accent, respectable middle-class parents, reliable witnesses and so on. That is to say, he was arrested arbitrarily and released arbitrarily. And it is this arbitrariness of both his arrest and his release that the author thinks rather disturbing.Arbitrary : a.(1)based on ones own wishes or will rather than reason 任意的，任性的，主观的Eg: -The choice of players for the team seems completely arbitrary. -If a leader makes decisions without conducting investigations, he is being arbitrary. -The arbitrary decisions of the management caused anger among workers. (2)using uncontrolled power without considering others; dictatorial霸道的，专横的，独断独行的 Eg: -an arbitrary ruler 专横的统治者 -arbitrary power 霸权 -arbitrary government Arbitrarily ad. Arbitrariness n. Circumstance : conditions, facts, etc. connected with an event or a person 环境，情形，情况 Eg: -Circumstances forced us to change our plans. -We can not expect him to continue these activities under such unfavorable circumstances. In/under the circumstances 在这种情况下 Eg: -Under the circumstances, he felt unable to accept the job.In/under no circumstances : in no case; never 在任何情况下决不，无论如何都不 Eg: -Under no circumstances, should you lend him any money. Circumstances (pl.) : financial position 经济状况 Eg: -in easy/poor circumstances, ie have much/not enough money 处于富裕/贫穷境况 Subsequent : a. coming after, following 后来的，随后的 Eg: -Subsequent events proved that my judgment of the situation was right. -The story will be continued in subsequent issues of the magazine. Subsequently : ad. afterwards 后来，随后，接着 Eg: -They subsequently heard he had left the country. Subsequent to (prep.) : follow sth; after 继续之后；在之后 Eg: -Subsequently to its success as a play, it was made into a film. 该剧在舞台上获得成功之后，又摄制成了电影。 -He confessed to other crimes subsequent to the bank robbery.5. and was not due to go to university until the following October : In Britain the university terms are: October-December; January-march; April-June. Due : a. (1)expected or scheduled to arrive or be ready; supposed to Due to do sth 预定，约定，预期 Eg: -The flight from Beijing is due at 1:30. 预计在1：30到 -The next train to Nanjing is due to leave at ten. (2) to be paid or returned; requiring immediate payment 作表语，须立即支付，到期 Eg: -fall/become due 到期-When is the rent due? -The books are due today but I want to renew some of them. -My rent isnt due till Wednesday. Due to sth /sb : cause by sth/sb; because of sth/sb 由引起；由于 Eg: -The teams success was largely due to her efforts. In due course : at the appropriate time; eventually 在适当时期；最终 Eg: -Your request will be dealt with in due course. 你的要求将在适当的时期予以处理。6. take ones time : not to hurry; do sth in an unhurried way Eg: -Just take your time and tell me clearly what happened at the meeting yesterday. -Its better to take your time over a piece of work and do it properly than to hurry and make mistakes.7. It must have been this obvious aimlessness that led to my downfall. Im sure my arrest was the result of my wandering in the streets without any definite purpose.Obviour : easy to see or understand; clearDownfall : ruin8. commit : do sth wrong, bad, foolish, or unlawful 做（不合法的，错的）事情；犯 Eg: -commit murder, suicide, theft, a blunder, an unforgivable error, etc. -If we fail to understand this, we shall commit a lot of mistakes. -During their occupation of China, the Japanese invaders committed many horrible crimes against the Chinese people.9. The Sixties “youth counterculture”The word “counterculture” was coined in the 1960s for the attitude and life style of many young people who rejected conventional social values and demanded more personal freedom. The counterculture first arose in the U.S. during the 1960s and soon spread to Britain, France and other western countries. These young people were opposed to the Vietnam War and dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs in their society. Yet, unable to find a more constructive way of struggling against these, they indulged themselves in sex, drugs, alcohol and rock music and took great pride in wearing long hair and unusual clothes and in taking up anything that was unconventional. The counterculture declined in the late 1970s.10. in the most casual and conversational tone I could manage:trying to sound as unconcerned and informal as I couldCasual : a. (1)relaxed and unconcerned about what is happening or what one is doing; showing little concern; nonchalant; irresponsible 漠不关心的，无动于衷的，不负责任的 Eg: -Because of his casual attitude toward the work, he was fired. (2)made or done without much care or thought; offhand 不经意的，随便的，马马虎虎的，临时的 Eg: -He tried to appear casual as he asked the pretty girl to dance. -a casual remark 漫不经心的话 (3)happening by chance 偶然的，碰巧的 Eg: -a casual encounter, meeting, visit (4) (of clothes) for informal, occasion; not formal 便服的，非正式的 Eg: -casual wear (5)not permanent; irregular; part-time 非永久的，不定期的，部分时间的 Eg: -earn ones living by casual labour -a casual labourer (6) slight; superficial 轻微的，表面的 Eg: -a casual acquaintance11. it confirmed them in their belief that I was a thoroughly disreputable character : It reinforced their belief that I was a person with bad reputation Confirm : v. (1)strengthen; make firmer 肯定，巩固，加强 Eg: -The sudden snowstorm during the night confirmed my decision not to leave. -What you have told me about Steve confirmed me in my suspicion that he has stolen my gold watch. -The result of my experiments has confirmed my belief that your theory is correct. (2)prove to be true or correct 证明，证实，确认 Eg: -Please write to confirm your reservation. -When asked, she confirmed that she was going to retire. -The Mayor confirmed the report that his son had been kidnapped.12. Magistrates and the magistrates court :In England, a magistrate is a person appointed to try minor offences. He is either an unpaid layman or, in London and some other large cities, a paid judicial officer.In England, every district has a magistrates court. It is the lowest court of law. The magistrates court can only try people for minor, ie not very serious, offence. It cannot give prison sentences totaling more than 12 months, nor can it order fines of more than $400 for one offence.13. I wanted to conduct my own defence in courtI wanted to defend myself in court instead of hiring a lawyerIt indicates that the narrator was fairly independent in character. He knew for sure that his parents were rich enough to hire a good solicitor, who would most likely succeed in getting his release from the charge. Nevertheless, he did not want to get his parents involved in the case. He would rather rely on his own efforts to defend himself in court. Conduct : v. manage; direct; carry out; control 管理，指挥，主持，经营 Eg: -conduct business, a meeting, negotiations, etc. 经营生意，主持会议，谈判等-After failing a dozen times or so, Dr. Wilson decided to conduct the experiment in a different way. -The police are conducting investigations into these murders.14. lawyer, solicitor, advocate, barristerLawyer is the general term for anyone whose work it is to advise his clients about the law and represent them in court. A solicitor is a lawyer who gives advice, appears in lower courts, and prepares cases for a barrister to argue in a higher court. Advocate, in a general sense, is one who pleads for another in a court of law or other tribunal. In the United Kingdom, professional advocates are called barristers and are permitted to plead or argue cases before the High Court of Justice. A barrister is a lawyer who has the right of speaking an arguing in the higher courts of law. If a person gets into trouble with the police, he will probably ask a solicitor to help prepare his defence and, if the offence is to be heard in a Magistrates Court, he can ask a solicitor to appear for him and argue his case. If the case goes to a higher court, the solicitor still advised him, but he must get a barrister to appear for him.15. call (up)on : (1)invite, require 郑重邀请或要求某人（讲话等） Eg: -I now call upon the chairman to address the meeting. 现在请主席致辞 -Dr. Smith was often called upon to speak at these gatherings. (2)appeal to or urge sb to do 恳求或促使某人做 Eg: -We are calling upon you to help us. -The President called on his people to work hard for national unity. Call sb/sth up : telephone sb; recall sth; summon sb for military service16. My trail didnt get that far.My trail ended before it reached the stage when witnesses would be called on to give evidence.The adverb far here means “to a certain point, degree, or stage”. Eg: -How far can he be trusted? -I didnt know geological science had got that far. (I didnt know biological science had developed to such a stage as that.)17. dismiss : v. (1) (of a judge) stop (a court case), refuse to consider a (complaint, plea, etc.) in a court 驳回（上诉）；不授理 Eg: -The magistrate dismissed the case because of lack of evidence. (2) dismiss sb from sth : remove sb from a position免除职务，开除，解雇 Eg: -workers who have been unfairly dismissed 被无理解雇的工人 (3) dismiss sb/sth form sth : put (thoughts, feelings, etc.) out of ones mind 屏除（思想，感情等） Eg: -He tried without success to dismiss her/her memory from his thoughts. 他尽量不去想她，但无济于事。18. getting costs awarded against the police :getting the magistrates to make the decision that the expenses of the case should be paid by the police. Cost : here refers to the expenses of a lawsuit or case which the court requires the losing party to pay. 诉讼费 Eg: -He was jailed for 6 months and ordered to pay $500 costs. Award : ad. to decide upon or settle by law 判定 Eg: -A High Court Judge awarded him $2 million damages.19. Middle classIn Britain, the middle class refers to the class of people between the nobility and the working class. It includes professional men (such as doctors, lawyers and architects), bankers, owners of business and small gentry. In the United States, however, the middle class refers to the class of people between the very wealthy class and the class of unskilled labourers and unemployed people. It includes businessmen, professional people, office workers, and many skilled workers. Apart from occupations and economic status, the term “middle class” can also be used to describe values and attitudes.20. Given the obscure nature of the chargeConsidering the vague or unclear nature of the chargeThe charge against the narrator-wandering with intent to commit an arrestable offence-was very vague or unclear. The magistrate might find him guilty if he had a criminal record, or the magistrate might find him innocent if he had reliable witnesses to prove his good character. Given : prep. Considering , if one takes into account 考虑到 Eg: -Given her interest in children/Given that she is interested in children, I am sure teaching is the right career for her. -Given his age, the performance is amazing.21. and (if I) had really been unem