Unit 4 American Dream.doc

Unit 4 American DreamObjectivesStudents will be able to:1. understand the main idea (Tony Trivision realized his American Dream through his own efforts) and structure of the text (one part telling the story of Tonys life and the other giving the authors comments on it);2. learn to describe by his/her characteristic features, together with supporting details which demonstrate the features;3. grasp the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;4. conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities centred upon the theme of the unit.Time Allotment1st period2nd period3rd period4th periodPre-reading tasks Cultural notesText organizationLanguage study Language studyText analysisPost-reading tasksPre-reading Tasks1. T asks several Ss the following questions to check if they have listened to the taped interview with Dr. Herts:-What did American Dream mean to Dr. Hertzs grandparents? (hint: It first meant getting out of poverty; later it meant the chance for their children to succeed.)-Why does Hertz say that the American Dream is in ones head and in ones pocket ? (hint: It is in ones head because one wants to live as well as or better than others; it is in ones pocket because one has to keep on spending money so as to have things other people have.) 2. Ss do Cloze B in after-class exercises to have a better understanding of the American Dream; when they finish, T and Ss will discuss what they have filled in those blanks. 3. Based on the above two activities, T asks Ss opinions on the essence of the American Dream. 4. T sums up and leads into the text by saying: Weve often heard about the American Dream, and by now we know it means the belief that everyone can succeed as long as he/she works hard enough. Of course, we must realize that here success is narrowly defined as financial success. In this unit you will read how much a dream came true. (5 minutes)Text Organization and AnalysisPartsParagraphsMain IdeasPart OneParas 1-29With determination, and with help from Mr.Crawford, Tony achieved his dream of owning his own farm.Part TwoParas 30-33Tony s career set the author thinking about why and to what extent he had been successful.This text, like Text A in Unit 1, employs time words and phrases in narration. Time words and phrases serve as transitional devices by which an author switches from one event to another. The latter event may take place either before or after the former, which allows an author freedom in narration. For example, Text A in Unit 1 thus becomes a piece of narration interspersed with flashbacks. For another example, the author of this text is able to keep his narration concise by simply recounting Tonys steps toward success, since the time phrases make it unnecessary to squeeze in too many details about how he succeeded during each step.However, we are not saying that details are unimportant. Those details vital to the story development are carefully inserted into the text. For example, why is Tonys faulty English sentence “I mow your lawn” repeated four times? Thats because it shows Tonys determination in finding a job, and his optimistic view that people would help a man who needed a job. Besides, does the author himself ever make a statement claiming Tony to be a good worker? No. He makes you infer from other peoples compliments (e.g., “my wife said he was very helpful”; the personnel department “said Tony was a very good worker”; “I got a report that he had graduated as a skilled grinder”; when Tony died, people found “the farm green with vegetables, the little house livable and homey. There were a tractor and a good car in the yard. The children were educated and working, and Tony didnt owe a cent.”) Or consider the three instances where Tonys physical appearance is described. They present an increasingly well-to-do Tony. Or, have you noticed that Tony had remained standing when he talked to Mr. Crawford until in Line 65 “we sat down and talked”? Tonys social status improved enough to allow him to sit down with Mr. Crawford.Cultural Notes1. American Dream: the belief of Americans that their country offers opportunities for a good and successful life. For minorities and immigrants, the dream also includes freedom and equal rights.2. Immigrants: Apart from “native Americans”-Indians-who were living in North America when people first arrived there from Europe, all Americans have ancestors who were immigrants. In the U.S. the word immigrants is often used with a positive meaning. People are proud to say that their ancestors were immigrants who came with very little and built a better life fro themselves.Most Americans have a clear idea of what life was like for the immigrants: they left home because they were poor and thought talent and hard work could take them from log cabin to White House.Once in the US, life was not easy. Many immigrants had to work for little money in factories where conditions were hard and dangerous and lived in crowded buildings. But slowly they improved their lives and many wrote home to encourage others to come.3. Depression days: the period of severe economic failure in most countries of the world that lasted from 1929 until World War II. It began in the US when the New York Stock Exchange fell on 29 October 1929, known as Black Tuesday. Many businessmen and banks failed and millions of people lost their jobs. President Franklin D. Rooselvelt improved the situation with his New Deal policy, but the Great Depression was only ended by industrial production for the war.Language Study1. turn away: refuse to help (sb.) or allow (sb.) to enter a placeHe is my son after all. I cant just turn him away when he is in trouble.The lecture hall was already full and many of the students were turned away.2. work out: plan; solve; calculateFinally I worked out that the parcel had been sent to Paris by mistake.My mother allowed me to take the trip, but asked me to work out the total cost first.3. assume: suppose:assumed that prices would riseI assume you always get up at the same time. assume this to be trueassume new duties / responsibility4. do with: (used in questions or negative sentences with what)The teacher didnt know what to do with the class.What are you going to do with the food left over from the party?What shall do with the drunken sailor?“What are you going to do with it?” “Keep it, of course.”5. determination: the ability to continue trying to achieve what you have decided to do even when this is difficult (uncountable noun, often followed by infinitive to)He showed great determination by continuing to play after hurting his foot.Her determination to do well made her keep on studying.That girl has great determination; I am sure she will do well.approach the task with determination and energy坚决努力地致力于这项任务return to school with a determination to finish带着完成学业的决心回到学校6. capacity: the ability to understand or do sth. (often followed by for or infinitive to) Not everyone has a capacity for languages.Those math problems were beyond my capacity.I dont think its within a five-year-old boy/s capacity to spread computer virus.7. turn down: refuseHe was offered the job but he turned it down because it involved too much traveling.Look, I am offering you a free meal-you are surely not going to turn me down?8. grind: to crush, or reduce to powder by friction, especially by rubbing between two hard surfaces:grind wheat into flour把小麦磨成面粉9. for sale: available to be boughtReluctantly my parents put a “For Sale” sign on the house.Her former home is for sale at $495,000.Not for Sale 非卖品That house is for sale. 那座房子待售。a sale on cash credit现金出售赊销a clearance sale清仓拍卖July is the season for sales.七月是大减价的季节。There is no sale for watches of that kind nowadays.目前这种款式的表没有销路。Sales are up down.销售额上升下降。10. wreck: sth. such as a ship, car, plane, or building which has been destroyed, usu. in an accidentWe thought of buying the house as a wreck, doing it up, then selling it.The wreck of the plane could be clearly seen on the hillside.11. call on: visit sb. for a short timeId like to call on my former professor while I am on business in Beijing.He wanted to call on his girlfriend after work, and then go to see a movie with her.大纲中的含有call的词组：call back回电话 call for叫（某人）来；要求，需要 call in叫进来，召来 call off取消 call on / upon1.访问，拜访；2.召集，要求 call up1. 打电话（给）；2.召集；3.使人想起12. character: the particular collection of qualities that make sb. a particular kind of personThe chief flaw in her character was impatience.How can he beat his wife? Ive never seen that cruel side of his character .He has a strong but gentle character. 他有坚强但温柔的性格。The new buildings have changed the character of the village.新建筑改变了这个村庄的特点。be different in character有着不同的性质the characters in Charles Dickens novels狄更斯小说中的人物13. reluctant: unwilling; disinclined:reluctant to help a reluctant smile reluctant assistance勉强的协作The child was reluctant to leave her mother. He was very reluctant to go away.14. discard: (formal) throw awayIm going to discard those magazines if youve finished reading them.These potatoes are past their best-Id better discard them.discard ones wife / old beliefs / prejudices discard the gross and select the essential去粗取精15. odds and ends这种词组在英语中叫对词。大纲中要求掌握的对词有：back and forth来回地，反复地black and blue青一块紫一块by and by不久，迟早by and large大体上，总的来说day and night见 night and dayebb and flow兴衰，起伏far and wide到处few and far between稀疏的，稀少的first and foremost首要的是，首先here and now此时此刻here and there各处in black and white白纸黑字odds and ends零星杂物，琐碎物品 *off and on断断续续地，间歇地，有时on and on继续不断地，不停地once (and) for all一劳永逸地，永远地over and above除之外（还），超过over and over (again)一再地，再三地safe and sound安然无恙then and there / there and then当场，当即through and through完全，彻底time and again/ time after time 屡次，一再by / in leaps and bounds极其迅速地 *by trial and error反复试验，不断摸索 *every now and then时常，不时，间或the rank and file普通士兵，普通成员*through thick and thin不顾艰难险阻，在任何情况下16. spot: a mark on a surface differing sharply in color from its surroundings; a stain or blot.She had spots on her face when she was ill. 当她生病的时候，她脸上有斑点。 In this disease spots appear on the legs.得了这种病,腿上会出现斑点。This is a nice spot for a house. 这里是建房的好地方。 the spot where he was murdered 他被谋杀的地点 Traveling on my own, I can decide which spot can be skipped over to save energy or time for another spot.我独自去旅游,我可以决定哪些风景点可不去,省下精力和时间去玩其它景点。on the spot在场，到场；立即，马上，当场17. confidence: the quality of being certain of your abilities or of trusting other people, plans, of the future (followed by in or infinitive to)He would be a better speaker if he had more confidence.I have every confidence in you. You can make a great progress.Good training will give a beginner the confidence to enjoy skiing.He has won her confidence; she trusts him.他已得到她的信任,她相信他。Its a tragedy that one lacks confidence in himself.一个人如果缺乏自信心,那就是悲剧。We have full confidence that we shall succeed.我们完全有把握取得成功。18. amaze: surprise (sb.) very muchDave amazed his friends by suddenly getting married.I was amazed by the news of Georges sudden death.听到乔治突然去逝的消息,我感到惊愕。It amazed me that you would believe those lies.It amazed me to discover how long the dinosaur age lasted.Her knowledge amazes me. 她的学识令我吃惊。Visitors were amazed at the achievements in the car manufacture of the city during the past decade.参观者对这城市过去十年中汽车制造工业的成就感到惊奇。19. diet: food and drink usu. taken by a person or groupMost people dont have enough fiber in their diet.Poor diet and too much smoking will seriously damage the health of your hair.Nowadays many people prefer a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables.to go on a diet 节食；吃限定食物 He began his diet a week ago.他在一星期前开始节食。People who are on a diet mustnt have chocolate.正在节食的人不能吃巧克力。20. send for: ask for the arrival ofDont worry about your son. I have sent for the doctor.He sent for his parents to attend the graduation ceremony at Harvard.大纲中含send的词组有:send away把打发走 send for1.派人去请，召唤；2.函购，函索 send in递送，呈报，提交send off邮寄，发送send out1.发送（信函、货物等）；2.发出（声音等） send up使上升21. hunt: (1) search thoroughly (followed by for)They were hunting the area for a new house.Many college students start hunting for a job in the fourth year.We have been hunting all over town for the right carpet.(2) chase and kill wild animals for food or as a sportThey had gone up the hill to hunt deer.At one time man had to hunt to survive.22. abandon: give up completely or foreverMy car broke down and I had to abandon in on the main road.The young couple abandoned their daughter hoping they that would give birth to a boy.As the plane was badly damaged, the pilot had to abandon it.abandon a friend in trouble抛弃处于危难中的朋友abandoned the ship弃船abandon ones idea放弃自己的想法abandon the search for the missing hiker放弃搜寻走失的远足者abandon ones home 离弃家园He abandoned his wife and went away with all their money. 他抛弃了妻子还带走了两人所有的钱。23. property: (1) land, building or both togetherWith more and more people purchasing houses, property prices have been on the rise.A lot of property in the city center was destroyed in the war.(2) the thing or things that sb. ownsPolicemen searched the criminals home and found weapons and stolen property in the basement.Thats my personal property/ leave it alone.24. sponsor: support (a person, organization or activity) by giving money, encouragement or other helpThe old couple sponsored the young man who wanted to study in the United States for a year.The soccer team is sponsored by Coco-cola, so the players wear the letters Coco-Cola on the shirts.The 4th Foreign Languages and Culture Festival was sponsored by Oxford University Press.25. amuse: cause to laugh or smile; cause to spend time in a pleasant manner.The computer games amused the children for hours.The kids amused themselves playing hide-and-seek.He thought of various activities that might amuse the children till bedtime.His story amuses me. 他的故事使我发笑。 We were all amused at his foolish behavior.我们对他那愚蠢的行为都感到好笑。She amused herself by reading detective stories. 她读侦探小说消遣。The boys amused themselves by playing hide-and-seek games.男孩们玩捉迷藏游戏取乐。26. approach: come near (er) toAs they approached the wood, a rabbit ran out of the tees.If you look out of the window on the right of the bus, youll see that were now approaching the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.27. pass away: dieThe old lady pass away peacefully in her sleep.The teenager has lived on his own since his parents passed away four years ago.大纲中含pass的词组:pass away去世 pass by经过，从旁走过pas