unit1现代大学英语精读.doc

8Unit1 一、 Author and backgroundJohn CiardiAmerican poet, editor, critic, author of books for children, nonfiction writer, and translator (of Dantes The Divine Comedy: “The Inferno”, “The Purgatorio”, and “The Paradiso”).二、 Text Analysis1. Theme : The author tries to clarify the purpose of a university: to put the students in touch with the best civilization that human race has created.2. Structure Part 1 (Paras. 1 8 ): The writer describes his encounter with one of his students.Part 2 (Paras. 9-14 ): The author restates what he still believes to be the purpose of a university: putting its students in touch with the best civilizations the human race has created. 三、 Language points1. accomplishment n. sth. completed successfully; an achievementExamples: a girl of many accomplishments 多才多艺的姑娘Among her accomplishments were sewing, cooking, playing the piano and dancing.accomplish eg. accomplish ones object 达到目的 ; accomplish ones mission 完成使命 He can accomplish more in a day than any other boy in his class.2. assume v. a. to take for granted; to suppose b. to take upon oneselfExamples: They had assumed that prices would rise these days, but in fact they were wrong. assume responsibilities; assume anothers debts3. certify v. to confirm formally as true, accurate, or genuine.;( to declare or state officially ,esp. in writing.) + that +sb./sth. as +sb./sth. to beExamples: The accounts were certified (as) correct.He was certified (as) insane.certified accountant 注册会计师n. certification; a. certified 有书 面证明的，已证实的4. expose v. a. to subject or allow to be subjected to an action or an influence 使受影响 b. to subject (a photographic film, for example) to the action of light 使曝光 c. to make known (sth. discreditable); to reveal (the guilt or wrongdoing of) 揭发（有损信誉的事）；揭露（罪恶或错误的行为） Examples: The parents exposed their children to classical music at home.This film has been exposed.The crime of the corrupt officials must be exposed without any reserve.5. faculty n. a. any of the powers of the body or mind b. department or group of related departments in a university c. the whole teaching staff in one of the departments or in the whole universityExamples: the faculty of the sight; mental facultiesthe Faculty of Law The entire faculty of the university will attend the meeting.cf. staff n.a. group of assistants working together in a business, etc. responsible to a manager or a person in authorityb. those people doing administrative work Examples: the hotel staff, the shop staff; We need more staff in the office.I have a staff of ten. a head teacher and her staff 校长及全体教工The school staff are expected to supervise school meals. 6. generate v. to produce as a result of a chemical or physical process Examples: a generating station 发电厂，发电站 When coal burns, it generates heat. generative reproduction 有性繁殖 7. nevertheless adv. in spite of that, howeverExamples: She was very tired, nevertheless she kept on working.We are going nevertheless we shall return.8. rear v. a. to care for (children or a child) during the early stages of life; to bring up b. to tend (growing plants or animals) c. to rise high in the air; to tower n. a hind part 后面，后边；后边的部分Examples: to rear a child; to rear poultry to rear a monument to a persons memory 为纪念某人而建立纪念碑the rear of the hall 9. species n. a fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreedingExamples: Some species of animals have become extinct because they could not adapt to a changing environment.The Origin of Species物种起源10. suffice v. to meet present needs or requirementsExamples: These rations will suffice until next week. Fifty dollars will suffice me. Fifty dollars will suffice for my needs.a. sufficient n. sufficiency 11. put it : to express; to state 表达；陈述Examples: to put it another way 换句话说; to put it mildly 说得婉转些 to put it strong 说得刻薄12. go through a. to examine carefully 仔细检查John went through the students papers b. to experience We went through hell while working on this project.13. see to it that: to try to make sure that Example: The parents asked the girl to see to it that her younger brothers behave well at the table.14. preside over: to be in charge of Examples: preside over a meeting 主持会议; preside at tea 招待客人吃茶点 The manager presides over the business of this store. 主持管理业务15. be out to do sth. : to try to do sth. Example: You professor raise your kids your way; Ill take care of my own. Me, Im out to make money.16. be on ones/the way to : to be in the process of coming, going, or traveling Examples: She is on her way out the door. ;/ Winter is on the way. You are on your way to being that new species of mechanized savage, the push-button Neanderthal.17. The chances are that: It is possible that Examples: The chances are ten to one that the guest team will win. If you have some one on your mind, let her know. Chances are you are on hers as well.cf. There is a chance that I will see him these days. Is there any chance of rain?chancevi. to come about by chance; occur 偶然发生，出现vt. to take the risk or hazard of 冒的危险Examples: It chanced that the train was late that day. Although there is still hope, he is not not willing to chance it.18. in essence by nature; essentially 本质上；实质的 Example: In essence, leadership involves accomplishing goals with and through people.19. make available: to do sth. so that one thing can be used or can easily be bought or foundExamples: Dental clinics shall be made available within ten miles of each community. Parking facilities were made available for the disabled. Addition1. fresh ( be fresh out of / from sth.): to have just come from a particular place; to have just had a particular experienceeg: Students fresh from Business school should have a three-month probation in the company . freshness: n. freshen: (freshen up) : to make sth. cleaner and more pleasantereg: The air freshened his lungs. Fresher/ freshman: a student who has just started university or college2. body: 1). a group of people as a unit who work and act together, often for an official purpose , or who are connected in some other way.Eg: a legislative body / a law-making bodyThe governing body of the University is / are very concerned about students safety on the new campus. 2). the main part of sth. eg: The body of the writing is not well-developed. the body of a vehicle (a plane, a ship ); the body of a building 3). a body/ bodies of sth. : large amount of sth.eg: a body of rumour/ evidence/ information 3. point to/point outpoint to: if sth. points to place or points in a direction, it shows where the place is or faces in that direction. Eg: There must be a street sign pointing to the scenic spot.If sth. points to a particular situation , it suggests that the situation exists or is likely to occur. Eg: All evidence points to his guilt.Point out: to draw attention to / to inform sb. of sth. 4. specimen : a single plant or animal which is an example of a particular species or type.5. enroll: 1. (Vi)to arrange for yourself or somebody else to officially join a course , school , etc., eg: To better communicate with his clients, he enrolled in a business English course at a night school. 2. (Vt.) make sb. a member of , eg: Universities will enrol new students this spring.Enrolment: N. 6. reach for: to try to obtain sth.eg: what are the goals in life to reach for ?7. scroll: a long roll of paper or other material with writing on it.9. specialize in : to limit all or most of ones study ,business ,etc. to a particular activity or subject,eg. Shes hired a lawyer who s in (= limits her studying or work to )divorce cases. The shop specializes in (= selling) antique furniture. I went to a restaurant that s in Italian food. specialization /-isation n. U CEg. In the courseIm taking, there s no opportunity for (=limiting my studying or work to one particular area) until the final year. The lawyer said that he was unable to help us because our case fell outside his (=his particular area if knowledge.) 9. matter: v. to be important or to have an important effect on sb./ sth.10. average: n./ adj./ v.n. on an average/ on the average/ on averagev. average : eg: Her life expenses average 700 yuan RMB a month. average out to : to come to an average or ordinary level or standard, esp. after being higher and lower. 11. hold: (hold good): to be true or valid/ to apply eg: Will the rule hold in all cases? The principle will hold in the coming century.12. be employed in doing sth. : to spend your time doing sth., Eg : When his mother stepped into the room, he was employed in playing computer games.13. assume1 ) to believe sth. to be true without actually having proof that it is; suppose 认为，揣想，假定eg: Scientists assume that there is no animal life on Mars. A witness in a murder trial is assumed to know the facts in the case.Assuming it rains tomorrow, what shall we do? 2）to pretend to have, to begin to have装出（样子），显出eg: He assumes a well-informed manner but in fact he knows very little.His illness assumed a very grave character.3) to take or claim for oneself (sometimes without the right to do so); begin to have or use 开始执行（任务），开始做He himself is to assume the direction of the business.The prince assumed power when he was only fifteen. 14. along with: in addition to sb./ sth.; in the same way as sb./sth.eg: He put all his money, along with his will into his safe before he suicide. 15. penetratepenetrate vi/vt : (into) through pierce into or through 渗透，穿透，深入 Rain water has (through) the roof of my house.Above my head a pale sun tried to the heavy sky.The Smell d into the whole house. understand or discover看穿，洞察It was impossible to the mystery.Were you able to the authors symbolism? be d with. (fill or spread through sth/sb) 充满（某种情绪，遍布）The whole country is with fear. 16. be stuck for: not to know what to do in a particular situation. Eg: In the middle of the speech, he was stuck for words.17. have no business doing sth. / to do sth.: to have no right to do sth. , shouldnt have been / be doing sth. eg: She has no business telling me to do this and to do that. He has no business to get involved into the scandal. 18. civilized: educated / refined19. be true of (a person or a situation) : to apply to , eg: What is true of some groups of children may not be true of all of them.Chinese children are taught to “Respect the old and cherish the young ”, which is true of all the nations. 20. add to: to increaseeg: You have no business to add to the ache of her heart. Her wonderful performance added to our enjoyment .add sth. to sth.: add fuel to the flame/ add insult to injuryadd up to : eg: Your long explanation added up to a refusal.Do you think what I suffered in the past twenty year could add up to nothing? 21. in literal time: in reality literal adj. 1.if you say that sth. is a literal fact or literal truth, you are emphasizing that it is true.2. literal translation means word-for word translation rather than paraphrase 3. (cf : figuative)if you use a word or expression in its literal sense, you use it with its most basic meaning or with its main meaning . Eg. The meaning of television is seeing from a distance. Her translation is too (= done one word at a time and therefore unnatural). Richard can be very -minded sometimes. When I said Id rather die than spend a weekend with Nancy, he thought I meant it.literacy n. U the ability to read and write识字literate adj. (cf. illiterate) 识字的Eg. According to the latest national survey, illiterate rate in the country has decreased from 15.88% to 6.72% in ten years. (with the rising literate proportion of the population) (fig.) People who are computer have a better chance of finding a job. literary adj. of literature文学（上）的；书面的 eg. works; a language/style22. contain(Cf. hold/consist/ compose ): to have or be capable of having within23. humanity 1) human being generally 人类 (U) Id like to do something for poor humanity.All humanity will be helped by advances in medical sciences.2) the quality of being humane , human nature人性 (U)It is an act of humanity to help the oppressed.They treated the prisoner with humanity. 3) humanities subjects of study concerned with human culture, esp literature,language, history and philosophy 人文学科 humane: showing human kindness and qualities of a civilized person人道的, 仁慈的, 慈悲的 A humane person would not hurt any creature.Helping that family was a very humane thing to do. human 1) of or concerning man 人类的 That was the beginning of human life. Its human nature that parents should be frightfully fond of their children. 2) showing the feelings, esp. those of