Unit 10 The Wonderful Lousy Poems.doc

Unit 10 The Wonderful Lousy Poems (abridged)Text Analysislousy adj. (informal) very bad, unpleasant, useless; covered with licelouse v.; : lousy with something / somebodyEx: 1) 糟糕的假日 a lousy holiday 2) 我觉得很不舒服。I feel lousy. 3) 八月里这地方游客多如牛毛。In August the place is lousy with tourists.About the title: The title of the text “The wonderful Lousy Poems” sounds like a paradox since “wonderful” and “lousy” seems to contradict with each other. What do you expect the writer to tell us about the poem? (figures of speech: oxymoron)n oxymoron means that words expressing contradictory and inconsistent ideas are joined together to produce a peculiar rhetoric effect, esp. for emphasis.e.g.: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” (from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare) “New York has the poorest millionaires, the littlest great men, the haughtiest beggars, the plainest beauties, the lowest skyscrapers, the dolefulest pleasures of any town I ever saw.” (by O. Henry) tycoon n. a businessman or industrialist with great wealth and powerEx: 1) 石油大亨 an oil tycoon 2) 报业巨子 a newspaper tycoonMy mother was a founder and prime mover in various intellectual projects：My mother was one of those who engaged in the establishment of various intellectual projects, and she had great influence in the development of these projects.我母亲是许多教育方案的奠基人和先驱。prime mover: person or thing that has great influence in the development of sth. importante.g.: He was the prime mover in the revolt against the government.exuberant adj. (of people and their behavior) overflowing with life and cheerful excitement; (of plants) growing strongly and plentifully exuberance n.Ex: 1) 游乐场上兴高采烈的儿童 exuberant children at a fair 2) 枝叶繁茂的植物 plants with exuberant foliage 3) 丰富的想象力 an exuberant imagination4) 她生动地介绍了那一聚会的情形。She gave an exuberant account of the ud-bursting adj. full of pride; with overflowing pridestammer v. to speak or say with pauses and repeated sounds, either habitually or because of excitement, fear, etc. stammer n.; stammerer n.; stammeringly adv. : stammer something out e.g. “G-g-goodb-b-bye,”she stammered. Ex: “给、给、给我那本、本、本书，”亨利结结巴巴地说。“G-g-give me that b-b-book,” said Henry, unable to stop stammering.Why, this poem was nothing short of genius.：Oh, this poem showed that you had talent for being a poet. 天哪，这首诗绝对出自天才之手！glow v. to give out heat and /or soft light without flames or smoke; to show redness and heat, especially in the face, after hard work or because of strong feelings : glow with somethingglow n.; glowing adj.Ex: 1) 灼热的余烬 glowing embers 2) 熔炉中炽热的金属 glowing metal in a furnace3) 黑暗中有枝香烟发着光。A cigarette glowed in the dark.4) 郊野焕发出斑斓的秋色。The countryside glowed with autumn colors.flourish n. a showy movement or manner that draws peoples attention to somebodyEx: 1) 在目前的经济气候中，任何新生意都兴旺不起来。No new business can flourish in the present economic climate.2) 这种花在温暖的气候中长得茂盛。This species of flower flourishes in a warm climate.3) 全家人身体都很好。All the family are flourishing.crayon n. a stick of colored wax or chalk used for writing or drawing, especially on papercrayon v. Ex: 彩色蜡笔画 a crayon drawingsuspense n. a state of uncertainty about something that is undecided or not yet known, causing either anxiety or sometimes pleasant excitement suspension n.Ex: 1) 我们焦急万分地等候医生做出诊断。We waited in great suspense for the doctors opinion.2) 别再让我们着急，快告诉我们出了什么事了！Dont keep us in suspense any longer: tell us what happened!exquisite adj. very finely made or done; extremely beautiful or skillful; (of power to feel) sensitive and delicate exquisitely adv.; exquisiteness n.Ex: 1) 精致的工艺 exquisite workmanship 2) 精美的花边 an exquisite piece of lace3) 细腻的感情exquisite sensibilityhighball n. an alcoholic drink, especially whiskey or brandy mixed with water or soda and served with iceoath n. a solemn promise; an expression of strong feeling using religious or sexual words improperlyIdioms: 1) be on / under oath: have sworn to tell the truth in a court of law e.g. The judge reminded the witness that she was still under oath.2) on my oath: used to emphasize that one is telling the truth e.g. I didnt tell anyone, on my oath.3) put / place somebody on / under oath: (law) require somebody to swear an oath4) swear / take an oath (esp. law) promise solemnly to tell the truth, give ones loyalty, etce.g. Before giving evidence the witness had to take an oath.Ex: 1) 法庭中使用的誓词有固定的格式。There is a standard form of oath used in law courts.2) 他咒骂了妻子几句，砰的一声关上门就走了。He hurled a few oaths at his wife and walked out, slamming the door.rant v. (usually derogative) to talk in a loud, uncontrolled way, using grand but meaningless phrases ranter n. : rant at somebody / somethingIdioms: rant and rave at somebody / something: condemn or censure somebody / something loudly and forcefully e.g. You can rant and rave at the fine, but youll still have to pay it.Ex: 1) 他大声数落我的过失。He ranted at me about my mistakes.2) 这演员背台词拿腔拿调。This actor rants his lines.verdict n. the official decision made by a jury in a court of law at the end of a trial, especially about whether the prisoner is guilty or not guilty; (informal) a statement of opinion; judgment or decision given on any matterEx: 1) 有罪 / 无罪的判决 a verdict of guilty / not guilty2) 陪审团做出了判决。The jury returned / announced / brought in their verdict.3) 我妻子认为我做的饭菜极好。My wifes verdict on my cooking was very favorable.my father held his ground.：.my father maintained his argument; he insisted that my poem was “lousy.”The Wonderful Lousy Poems (abridged)我父亲坚持他的观点。soothe v. to make less angry, excited, or anxious; to comfort or calm; to make less painful soothing adj.; soothingly adv.Ex: 1) 哄啼哭的小孩儿 soothe a crying baby 2) 减轻某人牙痛 soothe somebodys toothache3) 这有助于减轻你晒伤处的疼痛。This will help to soothe your sunburn.vernacular n. the language spoken in a country or region, especially as compared with the official languageEx: 1) 阿拉伯土语 Arabic vernaculars2) 用本国语创作的文学作品很快取代了拉丁文学。Vernacular literature quickly replaced Latin.bawl v. to shout in a loud rough voice; to cry noisily : bawl something / something outEx: 1) 那婴儿已经大声哭叫了好几个小时。That baby has been bawling for hours.2) 他在街道的另一边冲着我大喊。He bawled at me across the street.3) 我们大声求援可是无人听见。We bawled for help but no one heard us.4) 那个中士大声发令。The sergeant bawled out a command.stagger v. to walk or move unsteadily and with great difficulty, almost fallingstagger n.; staggering adj.; staggeringly adv.Ex: 1) 她踉跄了几步，跌倒在地。She staggered and fell.2) 摇摇晃晃地站起来 stagger to ones feetanecdote n. a short interesting or amusing story about a person or event anecdotal adj.that she could criticize me without crushing me.：that she could judge my poem with disapproval and point out its faults, but not discourage me or destroy me.她批评我，却不会让我泄气。dawn v. to begin to be perceived or understood : dawn on somebodyEx: 1) 最后我才明白他一直在撒谎。It finally dawned on me that he had been lying.2) 他开始弄明白真相。The truth began to dawn on him.counsel v. (formal) to advise as a suitable course of action; to give advice and support to (especially somebody experiencing difficulty) counseling n.; counselor n.Ex: 对酗酒者提出建议的精神病科医生a psychiatrist who counsels alcoholics我奉劝在此情况下务必小心。I would counsel caution in such a case.他建议他们放弃这项计划。He counseled them to give up the plan.triumphant adj. victorious or successful; taking great pride and joy in ones success or victorytriumph n.; triumphal adj.; triumphantly adv. Ex: 胜利的欢呼声 a triumphant cheerpeg n. a short piece of wood, metal, etc., usually thinner at one end than at the other, used for fastening things, hanging things on, etc.Idioms: 1) a peg to hang something on: reason, excuse or opportunity for doing something e.g. In her speech they found a minor offence which provided a peg to hang their attack on.2) off the peg: (of clothes) not made to measure; ready-made e.g. He bought a suit off the peg.3) take somebody down a peg (or two): make (a proud or conceited person) more humbleEx: 挂帽钉 / 挂衣钩a hat / coat pegcrest n. a showy growth of feathers on top of a birds head; the top or highest point of something, especially of a hill or a wave crested adj.Idiom: on the crest of a wave: at the point of greatest success, happiness, etc. e.g. After its election victory, the party was on the crest of a wave.Ex: 洪峰 the crest of a flood一座小山的山顶 the crest of a hil 在她事业的顶点 at the crest of her careerbuffet v. to strike forcefully or repeatedly buffeting n. : buffet somebody / something aboutEx: 经受过风吹雨打的花 flowers buffeted by the rain and wind 饱受灾祸的蹂躏 be buffeted by misfortune被大浪冲来冲去的船a boat buffeted about by the wavesnavigate v. to direct the course of (a ship, plane, etc.); to go by sea, air, etc. from one side to the other (of a place)navigation n.; navigator n. Ex: 1) 舰上哪个军官引航？Which officer in the ship navigates?2) 我来开车，你指路。Ill drive the car; you navigate. 3) 是谁首先横渡大西洋的？Who first navigated the Atlantic?capsize v. (especially of a boat) to turn over Ex: 船在大海中倾覆了。The boat capsized in heavy seas.Part III exercisesNothing short of something means little / nothing less than something or almost something.1)不这样就不能挽回局面。Nothing short of this could mend the case.2)他的行为简直是发了狂。His conduct was nothing short of madness.3)我们能够逃出来简直是奇迹。Our escape was nothing short of a miracle.Have no idea means not knowing or be incompetent.1)他根本不知道如何做人事工作。He has no idea how to manage people.2)对那件事我没有印象了。I had no idea about that.3)几点了？我不知道。What time is it? I have no idea.3. 虽然群众对他的决定高声提出抗议，裁判仍坚持他的立场。 To hold ones ground means to maintain ones claim, intention, argument, etc. not yield or give way.1)不管受到怎样的对待，他都没有屈服。He held his ground however treated.2)只要你坚守自己的观点他们就找不到辞退你的理由。If you continue to hold your ground, they will have no reason to dismiss you.3)坚持住自己的观点，是唯一能够取得胜利的途径。The only way to success is to hold your ground.To work something up means to increase something in numbers or strength.1)逐步扩展我们产品的用户范围 working up customers for our products2)增强对该党的支持力量 working up support for the party3)该乐曲达到激动人心的高潮而结束。The music worked up to a rousing finale.To dawn on somebody means to gradually become clear to somebodys mind or become evident (to somebody).1)最后他才明白他的力量来源被切断。Finally, it dawns on him that his power source is being cut off.2)他忽然明白了他应该做什么。It suddenly dawns on him what he was supposed to do.3)他从来没有意识到是他自己犯的错。It never dawned on him that it was he who made the mistake.To do justice to somebody / something means to recognize the true value of somebody / something or to treat somebody / something fairly.1)说句公道话，他挺聪明。To do him justice, he is brilliant.2)这个主题太复杂了，我不可能在一个简短的报告中全面论述。The subject is so complex that I cannot do justice to it in a brief survey.3)仅从这篇评论中看不可能对这潜水者有公平的评价。Within the scope of this review it is impossible to do justice to the diver.1. After several nuclear disasters, a _ has raged over the safety of nuclear energy. (CET-6,2001.1)A. quarrelB. suspicionC. verdict D. controversy2. Mainstream pro-ma