英语四级读美文【1】.doc

Unit 1 Family life 家庭生活Text 1 The roles of men and women In a family where the roles of men and women are not sharply separated and where many household tasks are shared to a greater or lesser extent, notions of male superiority are hard to maintain. The pattern of sharing in tasks and in decisions makes for equality, and this in turn leads to further sharing. In such a home, the growing boy or girl learns to accept that equality more easily than did their parents and to prepare more fully for participation in a world characterized by cooperation rather than by the “battle of the sexes”.If the process goes too far and mans role is regarded as less important, and that has happened in some cases, we are as badly off as before, only in reverse.It is time to reassess the role of the man in the American family. We are getting a little tired of “Momism(母亲崇拜)”, but we dont want to exchange it for a “neo-Popism”. What we need, rather, is the recognition that bringing up children involves a partnership of equals. There are signs that psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and specialists on the family are becoming more aware of the part men play and that they have decided that women should not receive all the credit nor all the blame. We have almost given up saying that a womans place is in the home. We are beginning, however, to analyze mans place in the home and to insist that he does have a place in it. Nor is that place irrelevant to the healthy development of the child.The family is a cooperative enterprisefor which it is difficult to lay down rules, because family needs to work out its own ways for solving its own problems.Excessive authoritarianism has unhappy consequences, whether it wears skirts or trousers, and the ideal of equal rightsand equal responsibilities is pertinent(相关的) not only to a healthy democracy, but also to a healthy family.A credit B reverse C notions D analyze E exchange F cooperation G irrelevant H partnership I consequences Jcooperative男女角色 在一个男人和女人的角色没有明显区别的，许多家务或多或少由两人共同承担的家庭中，男性优越的观念就很难继续存在。这种共同分担工作和做出决定的模式有助于男女平等，而这种平等反过来又有利于更进一步地分担责任。在这样的家庭中成长的男孩或女孩比他们的双亲更容易接受这种平等，学习为踏入以协作而不是“性别大战”为特征的社会做更充分的准备。但如果发展太过，男人的角色变得不如以前重要，而在一些情况下也发生过这样的事，我们就会像过去一样处境维艰，仅仅是将情况反过来罢了。是重新评价美国男人在家庭中的作用的时候了。对“母亲崇拜”我们已逐渐变得有点厌倦，但我们也不想代之以“新的父亲崇拜”。我们更需要的是要认识到养育孩子涉及到两个人的合作。有迹象表明，精神病学家、心理学家、社会工作者和家庭问题专家更加关注男人所扮演的角色，他们已觉得妇女不应该得到所有的赞誉也不应该承受所有的责备。我们已不再说妇女的职责就是呆在家里。反之，我们开始分析男人在家里的职责，并坚持认为他在家里确实有职责。而他们的职责与孩子的健康发展有很大关系。家庭是一个合作企业，因而很难为此制定规则，因为每个家庭需要用自己的方法来解决它自己的问题。 不管它披上什么样的外衣，过度的权力主义都会带来不愉快的结果，平等权利、平等责任的理想不仅与健全的民主政治有关，还与健康的家庭相关。难 句 解 析1. In a family where the roles of men and women are not sharply separated and where many household tasks are shared to a greater or lesser extent, notions of male superiority are hard to maintain.【分析】多重复合句。In a family.extent 为状语，其中含有两个 where 引导的定语从句修饰 family，主语 notions of male superiority 放在句末，这样做是为了避免头重脚轻，使文章更流畅。2. In such a home, the growing boy or girl learns to accept that equality more easily than did their parents and to prepare more fully for participation in a world characterized by cooperation rather than by the “battle of the sexes”.【分析】复合句。由两个并列关系的不定式共同作 learn 的宾语补足语，而这两个不定式中各自都有一个由than构成的比较结构，前一个 than 引导倒装句，表示强调。其中 characterized by.sexes 是过去分词作后置定语，修饰 a world。3. There are signs that psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and specialists on the family are becoming more aware of the part men play and that they have decided that women should not receive all the credit nor all the blame.【分析】多重复合句。在该句中前两个 that 引导的句子作 signs 的同位语，表示 signs 的内容，第三个 that 引导的从句作decide 的宾语。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09高频词汇notion* /9n5USFn/ n. 概念，观念；意图，想法，(怪)念头【联想】有情绪 (emotion) ，意图 (notion) 是想通过自己的提议 (motion) 【词根】not(知道) ion(名词后缀)知道了有一定概念概念【搭配】have no notion of time 没有时间观念；have a sudden notion to leave 突然想离开【引申】同义idea n. 想法；概念belief n. 信念opinion n. 意见，看法thought n. 想法，见解view n. 看法，见解【阅读例句】White believes our notions of a more child-centred society should be challenged. 怀特认为，我们社会以孩子为中心的观点应该受到挑战。08.12 同义perspective* /p59spektIv/ n. 想法，视角；景观；透视画法【联想】他很有悟性(perceptive)，观点(perspective)独到【词根】per(贯穿) spect(看) ive 穿过看透视图【搭配】view an issue from a historical perspective 用历史的观点看待问题；gain a perspective on the future 展望未来【阅读例句】Clearly, from the schools perspective, theres a lot of money to be saved. 很明显，站在学校角度，远程教育能节省不少钱。07.12cooperation /k5U8(e7)p59reISn/ n. 合作【词根】cooperat(e)(合作) + ion(名词后缀)【搭配】close cooperation between colleges 大学之间的紧密合作【活用例句】Your participation will contribute a lot to our future cooperation. 你们的参与将会极大地促进我们今后的合作。reverse* /rI9v(ae):s/ vt. 撤销；使位置颠倒 vi. 反向，倒转 n. 对立面；反面 a. 反向的，相反的【联想】他创作了丰富多彩 (diverse) 与她相反的 (reverse) 诗歌(verse)【词根】re(=back) vers(turn 转) e 向后转移倒转【搭配】in reverse 反过来；与相反；reverse moral decline 扭转道德下降的局面；reverse a trend 彻底改变趋势【活用例句】She used to work for me, but our situations are reversed now. 过去她为我工作，而现在我们的地位对调了。exchange* /Iks9tSeIndZ/ n. 交换，交易；汇兑，兑换率 #09 vt. 调换，互换；交流【词根】ex change(变换)完全变换交换，互换【搭配】a fair exchange公平的交易；the rate of exchange汇率；exchange ideas with colleagues 与同事们交换意见【写作例句】Since China entered WTO, there has been a tremendous increase in foreign investments and cultural exchanges in the country.自从中国加入世贸组织以来，国内的外商投资出现了巨幅增长，对外文化交流活动也大大增加。partnership /9pA:tn5SIp/ n. 合伙关系【词根】来自partner (伙伴) ship(关系)【活用例句】My business was most successful when I formed a good partnership with someone else.当我与别人建立了良好的合伙关系时，我的生意最兴旺发达。同根partner* /9pA:tn5(r)/ n. 配偶，搭档；伙伴，合伙人 vt. 做的搭档【搭配】be partnered for the dance 结成舞伴【听力例句】I think youd better find another partner. I love table tennis, but I dont think Im improving.我认为你最好另外找一个搭档。我喜欢乒乓球，但我认为我并没有进步。04.1credit* /9kredIt/ n. 信任，荣誉【联想】她因编辑 (edit) 名书而得到主编的信任 (credit) 【词根】cred(相信) it 信任【搭配】be bare of credit 名誉不好，无信誉；be to sbs credit 为某人增光；get credit for. 因而得到好评；have the credit of. 有的好名声【活用例句】If you pay your bills on time, your credit will be good. 如果你能按时支付账单，你的信誉将会维持得很好。analyze* /9n5laIz/ vt. 分析；细察，细查【词根】ana(分开) lyze(放)分开放分析【搭配】analyze the matches in detail 详细地分析了比赛；analyze problems 分析问题【阅读例句】When he came to analyze their embarrassing lapses (差错) in a scientific report, he was surprised to find that nearly all of them fell into a few groupings. 当他分析这些人的尴尬差错并将其写成一份科学报告时，他惊奇地发现几乎所有的差错都可以归入几类。03.6irrelevant /I9rel5v5nt/ a. 不相关的【搭配】be irrelevant to 与不相关【引申】同根irrelevantly ad. 不恰当地，不合适地irrelevance n. 不重要，不相关irrelevancy n. 不恰当，离题；不相干的事物relevant a. 相关的【写作例句】Statistics show that the number of graduates who take jobs irrelevant to their majors has been rising dramatically.数据显示，大学毕业生在从事与自己专业无关的工作的人数急剧上升。cooperative /k5U9(e7)pFr5tIv/ a. 有合作意向的，乐意合作的；合作的 n. 合作社，合作商店(等)【词根】co(一起)operat(操作)ive(的)一起来操作合作的【阅读例句】The classroom offers opportunities for children to replace angry, violent behaviors with cooperative, peaceful ones. 课堂给孩子们提供机会，用和平协作的行为来取代愤怒的暴力行为。07.12consequence* /9k(e7)nsIkw5ns/ n. 结果【联想】排名结果 (consequence)是分次序(sequence)的【词根】con(一起) sequ(跟随) ence 跟随其后结果【搭配】as a consequence 因而，结果；face the consequences of ones action 自食其果；in consequence 因此，结果；in consequence of. 的结果，因为的缘故【活用例句】She was found guilty, and lost her job in consequence (of it). 她被发现有罪，因而失去了工作。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09常用词汇role* /r5Ul/ n. 角色，任务【搭配】play an important role in. 在中起重要作用；play the role of sb (在剧中)扮演某人的角色【引申】同义part n. 角色mission n. 任务，使命【活用例句】It is important to maintain their leading role in world affairs. 保持他们在国际事务中的领导作用是很重要的。turn* /t(ae):n/ v. 转动，扭转；(使)转向；(使)变化 n. 转动；(轮流的)顺序，轮班【搭配】by turns 轮流地，交替地；take turns 依次，轮流；turn around 转变，(使)转好；turn away 回绝，把打发走；turn back (使)折回，(使)往回走；turn down (ones proposal) 拒绝(某人的求婚), 调低；turn in(weapons and ammunition) 交还，上交(枪支弹药)；turn off (the light, oven) 关掉(灯，烤箱)；turn on(the computer) 接通，打开(计算机)；turn out(to be his cousin) 结果是(是他的堂弟)，证明是；turn over (to police) 将移交(警方), 翻过来，翻倒；turn to (a friend)求助于(朋友), 查阅；turn up 开大，出现，来到【听力例句】He turned a failing newspaper into a success. 他使一家濒临倒闭的报社起死回生。07.12equal* /9i:kw5l/ a. (to)相等的；平等的；胜任的#09 n. 同等的人，相等的数量 vt. 等于；比得上【搭配】be equal to 等于；other things being equal 作条件状语 在其他条件都相同的情况下【阅读例句】Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth. 在信息传达的真实性方面，各种通讯技术间差别极大。06.6 同义parallel /9pr5lel/ n. 可相比拟的事物；平行线(面)；纬线 a. 平行的；类似的；并列的 vt. 与相似，比得上【词根】para(半) llel平行面分成两半平行面【搭配】a parallel investigation同时进行的调查；in parallel with sth；sb与某物；人同时【阅读例句】While you need to employ both to get to a finished result, they cannot work in parallel no matter how much we might like to think so. 无论我们多么喜欢，两者也不能同时运用，还是需要综合运用两者达到一个完美结果。07.6insist* /In9sIst/ vt. 坚持，坚决主张 vi. 坚持，强调【词根】in(里边) sist(站立)一直站在里边坚持【搭配】insist on the right to keep the baby 坚持抚养婴儿的权利【引申】同根insistence n. 坚持insistent a. 坚决的，坚持的|persist vi. 坚持，持续【活用例句】She insists on discussing some details in another conference just when I was about to sign on the contract. 我正要在合同上签字时，她却坚持要再召开一次会议讨论一些细节问题。enterprise /9ent5praIz/ n. 事业，计划；事业心，进取心；企业(或事业)单位，公司【联想】enter(进)prise(奖赏)奖赏有进取心的人进取心【阅读例句】Rather, they see Frito-Lay as spreading the benefits of free enterprise across the world. 相反，他们认为Frito-Lay是在把自由企业的利益传遍全球。 05.12Text 2 American Family ValuesAmericans view the family as a group whose primary purpose is to advance the happiness of individual members. The result is that the needs of each individual take priority in the life of the family. In contrast to that of many other cultures, the primary responsibility of the American family member is not to advance the family as a group, either socially or economically, nor is it to bring honor to the family name. This is partly because the United States is not an aristocratic society. Family name and honor are less important than in aristocratic societies, since equality of opportunity regardless of birth is considered a basic American value. Moreover, there is less emphasis on the family as an economic unit because the American family is rarely self-supporting. Relatively few families maintain self-supporting family farms or businesses for more than one generation. A farmers son, for example, is very likely to go on to college, leave the family farm, and take an entirely different job in a different location.The American desire for freedom from outside control clearly extends to the family. Americans do not like to have controls placed on them by other family members. They want to make independent decisions and not be told what to do by grandparents or uncles or aunts. For example, both American men and women expect to decide what job is best for them as individuals. Indeed, young Americans are encouraged by their families to make such independent career decisions.What would be best for the family is not considered to be as important as what would be best for the individual.A advance B contrast C equality D maintain E desire F extends G generation H encouraged I economically 美国人的家庭观 美国人将家庭看作一个群体，其主要目的是促进个体成员的幸福。其结果是，在家庭生活中，个体的需要具有优先权。与其他文化相比，美国家庭成员的主要责任既不是从社会或经济的角度推进家庭作为一个整体，也不是光宗耀祖。部分原因是美国不是一个贵族社会。家庭名誉及其荣耀不像在贵族社会那么重要，这是由美国基本的价值观决定的，即不论出身，机会均等。此外，因为美国家庭很少是自给型的，因此他们很少强调家庭作为经济实体的作用。相对而言，很少有家庭能够将其自给型家庭农场或生意延续到下一代。比如，一个农场主的儿子很可能去上大学，离开家庭农场，并在不同的地方从事完全不同的工作。美国人对脱离外部控制的渴望明显地延伸到了家庭里。美国人不喜欢被其他家庭成员控制。他们希望独立做决定，不希望让祖父母或者叔叔舅舅或者姑姑姨姨来告诉自己该做什么。比如，美国男人和女人都希望自己作为一个个体来决定什么工作最适合他们。的确，美国家庭鼓励年轻的美国人做这样独立的职业选择。对家庭最好的与对个人最好的并不是同等重要的。难 句 解 析1. Americans view the family as a group whose primary purpose is to advance the happiness of individual members.【分析】复合句。view.as意思是“把视为，看待”，whose 引导定语从句修饰 family，advance为动词，意思是“促进，推动”。2. In contrast to that of many other cultures, the primary responsibility of the American family member is not to advance the family as a group, either socially or economically, nor is it to bring honor to the family name.【分析】并列句。介词短语 in contrast to 作状语，nor 等否定词在句首要倒装，it 指代 responsibility。nor 为并列连词。3. What would be best for the family is not considered to be as important as what would be best for the individual.【分析】多重复合句。句首为 what 引导的主语从句，第二个 what 引导的从句做 be as important as 的宾语。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09高频词汇advance* /5d9vA:ns/ v. 提出(建议等)；促进；预先支付； (使) 前进 n. 前进；进展 a. 预先的；先行的【搭配】advance reasonable proposals 提出合理化建议；advance him a months salary 预支他一个月的薪水；advance with the times 与时俱进【引申】同根advanced a. 先进的【听力例句】Through interviews and E-mails, she finds out in advance her listeners educational level and what information they want to know. 通过面谈和电子邮件，她会在演讲前了解她的听众的教育水平以及他们想要了解什么信息。08.12 同义promote* /pr59m5Ut/ vt. 促进，增进；提升；推销(商品等)【词根】pro(向前) mot(动) e 向前动促进【搭配】promote the cause of world peace 促进世界和平事业；try to promote good feelings (between.)设法促进(彼此之间的)好感派生promotion /pr59m5USFn/ n. 提升，提拔；促进，增进【搭配】accelerated promotion 加速的晋升；the promotion of a new product 一种新商品的促销【活用例句】Your promotion to Senior Editor is now official. 你现在正式晋升为高级编辑。contrast /k5n9trA:st/ n. 对比；差异；对照；k?n?tr?st $ -?trAst； v. 对比，对照【联想】签合同(contract)时要对比 (contrast) 不同合同文本【搭配】in contrast to . #09与成对比；by contrast 相比之下【阅读例句】Perhaps it was the extreme contrast with Japanese society that prompted American firms to pay more attention to women buyers.大概正是与日本社会产生强烈反差的鼓励了美国企业重视女性顾客。06.12economically /8i:k59n(e7)mIk5lI,8e-/ ad. 经济地，节俭地，节省地【引申】同根economy n. 经济，节俭economical a. 经济的，节俭的，省钱的economic a. 经济学的economics n. 经济学，经济状况【阅读例句】Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound ways. 政府还应该通过经济且环保的方法提供水，以便保护水资源。01.6equality* /I9kw(e7)lItI/ n. 相等，平等【词根】来自 equal(平等的) ity(表状态)【引申】同根equal a. 相等的，同样的equivalent a. & n. 等同物(的)【活用例句】Competition in business is also believed to strengthen the ideal of equality of opportunity.人们还认为商业竞争有利于加强机会均等思想。maintain* /meIn9teIn,m5n-/ vt. 维持，维修；坚持，主张；赡养，负担【词根】main(主要) tain(保持)保持大体上的完好维持，维修【搭配】maintain and renew the old roofs 保养更新旧房子屋顶；maintain one child 养活一个孩子【引申】同根maintenance n. 维修，保养；维持，保持【阅读例句】Although some magazines will maintain national audiences, a large number of magazines will entertain narrower audiences.虽然有些杂志能覆盖全国的读者，但是，大部分杂志的读者群仍相对较小。08.6generation* /8dZen59reISFn/ n. 一代【搭配】generation gap 代沟【听力例句】And this new knowledge can be transmitted to our children to help them become healthier than our generation.而且这些知识也可以传到我们的下一代，让他们变得比我们这代人更健康。01.6 同根generate* /9dZen5reIt/ vt. 生成，产生；引起，导致【词根】gener(produce 生产) ate(做)生成【搭配】generate electricity 发电；generate profits 产生收益【引申】派生generator n. 发电机【活用例句】Extensive reporting on television has helped to generate interest in a wide variety of sports and activities. 由于电视上的广泛报道，使人们对各种体育运动产生了兴趣。desire* /dI9zaI5(r)/ v. & n. 渴望，欲望【联想】探险队希望 (desire) 赶紧脱离这片沙漠 (desert) 【搭配】desire for a higher moral standard 期待更高的道德标准；appeal to peoples desire 迎合人们的愿望【引申】同根desirable a. 值得拥有的，值得想望的【阅读例句】They meet the natural desire for freedom, for expression, for creativity and beauty of life. 书籍能满足人们对自由、表达、创造力和生命之美的自然追求。08.12同义appetite* /9pItaIt/ n. 胃口，食欲；欲望【联想】ap(加强)pet(宠物宠爱)ite宠爱的东西会勾起人的欲望欲望【搭配】strong appetite for knowledge 强烈的求知欲；lose / have ones appetite没有 / 有食欲【活用例句】A quarrel during the dinner will spoil everyones appetite.吃饭时争吵会破坏每个人的胃口。extend* /Ik9stend/ vt. 延伸；扩展；提供 vi. 伸展，延伸；(在范围或应用上)达到【词根】ex(外) tend(伸)向外伸出扩展，延伸【引申】同根extension n. 伸展，延伸extensive a. 广阔的，广泛的【活用例句】The Great Wall extends as far as the Jiayu Pass.长城一直延伸到嘉峪关。/He extended his hand to the new employee. 他主动与新雇员握手。encourage* /In9k(f6)rIdZ/ vt. 激励，鼓励【联想】en(使) courage(勇气)使有勇气鼓励【搭配】encourage sb in sth / to do sth鼓励某人做某事；encourage independent thinking 鼓励独立地思考【引申】同根courage n. 勇敢，勇气encouragement n. 鼓励，支持同义inspire vt. 鼓舞【写作例句】The issue of whether we should encourage the development of private cars is now under heated discussion.关于我们是否应该鼓励发展私家车的问题正在热烈讨论中。反义discourage* /dIs9k(f6)rIdZ/ vt. 使泄气，使灰心；阻止；打消(做的念头)【词根】dis(消失) courage(勇气)勇气消失使泄气【搭配】discourage sb from doing sth 阻止某人做某事【活用例句】Doctors discourage massive doses of painkillers. 医生不赞成大量服用止痛片。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09常用词汇individual* /8IndI9vIdjU5l，-dZU5l/ a. 个人的，单独的 n. 个人，个体【联想】in(不) divid(看作 divide 分，划分) ual 不可再分的个体【搭配】protect individuals against stress 保护个人免受压力的侵扰；an individual way of dressing独特的穿衣方式【完形例句】But the ignorance of history does affect our future as a democratic nation and as individuals. 但是对历史的无知确实会影响到我们民主国家以及我们个人的未来。04.6regardless /rI9gA:dlIs/ a. 不管，不注意，不顾【搭配】regardless of #09不顾，不考虑，不关心【引申】同根regard n. 关心，注意，尊敬 v. 视为，注意，和有关regarding prep. 关于【听力例句】She often calls her parents regardless of the rates. 她经常给父母打电话，不管价钱有多贵。03.1 consider* /k5n9sId5(r)/ vt. 考虑；认为，把看作；关心，考虑到【引申】同根considerable a. 相当大的，相当多的considerate a. 为别人考虑的，体贴周到的consideration n. 考虑，顾及considering prep. & ad. 鉴于，就而论【阅读例句】You should also consider eliminating the name and location of your current employer. 你也应该考虑删除现在雇主的姓名和地址。07.6relatively /9rel5tIvlI/ ad. 比较而言，相对而言【引申】同根relative a. 相对的relative to. 与有关【活用例句】Some people believe that imaginative kids are relatively clever. 有人相信想象力丰富的孩子比较聪明。freedom* /9fri:d5m/ n. 自由【搭配】freedom of speech 言论自由；freedom of action 行动自由【听力例句】Their prisoners are allowed freedom to visit their families. 犯人允许自由接见家人。02.1 同义liberty* /9lIb5tI/ n. 自由，自由权；许可；常 pl. 过于随便，放肆【词根】政府许可(liberty)他的财产(property)拥有权【词根】liber(自由) ty(名词后缀)【搭配】at liberty 自由的，不受囚禁的【活用例句】We have liberty to use all the library facilities.我们可以使用图书馆中所有的图书资料。Text 3 Leisure Time in AmericaThe popularity of home computers and “surfing the net” seeing what is on the Internet and the World Wide Web has brought a whole new world of leisure time activities to Americans. Some value the enormous educational opportunities it brings, while others prefer spending their time in “chat rooms” (having discussions with others “on-line”