现代大学英语8themerlyverygood

1、Contemporary College EnglishLesson EightThe Merely Very GoodWarm-up questions:Who is Jeremy Bernstein? Jeremy Bernstein is a physicist as well as a journalist, and was a staff writer for the New Yorker for 39 years, where he specialized in profiles of scientists. Background Information (I)Robert Opp

2、enheimer, American physicist who is called “father of the Atomic Bomb”, has been in charge of the Los Alamas nuclear laboratory for many years. Stephen Spender, English poet and critic, concentrates on themes of social injustice and class struggle in his work. Perhaps his closest friend and the man

3、who had the biggest influence on him was W. H. Auden. Background Information (II)Paul A. M. Dirac, English physicist, won Nobel Prize in 1933 at the age of 31 for his pioneer work in the quantum mechanics, and made major contributions in many areas of modern theoretical physics.W. H. Auden, English

4、poet, was regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. His work is noted for its stylistic and technical achievements, its engagement with moral and political issues, and its variety of tone, form and content. Detailed Study of the Text: Part II (Para1): the 1981 conference a

5、nd the authors indecisionWhy didnt the author accept the invitation immediately to give a lecture at a writers conference in the year 1981?Language Points in Part I1. A study of the map convinces me that: after studying the map, Im sure thateg. A look of the room assures me that no one has come.2. M

6、y first inclination: 我的第一反应3. did physics: did some research in physicsDetailed Study of the Text: Part IIII (Para2-3): earlier life of Oppenheimer and his contact with Dirac at Gottingen during 1925-1927Do you think it necessary for the author to make a detailed description of Oppenheimers life and

7、 achievements? Why or why not?Detailed Study of the Text: Part IIWhat are the similarities and differences of Dirac and Oppenheimer as shown in Paragraph 3? 1. Both were young, in their twenties. 2. Both were physicists, working on quantum mechanics. 3. When Oppenheimer was showing his talent in doi

8、ng calculation better in the quantum theory, Dirac had invented the theory. Dirac had already been famous. 4. Dirac concentrated on physics while Oppenheimer also wrote poetry.Language Points in Part IIe to mind: to be remembered2.be awarded a fellowship: be granted a sum of money to do some researc

9、h assistance拿到奖学金3.nervous breakdown: 神经衰弱症4.be sympathetic to sb/sth: show favor or approval 对表示好感Language Points in Part II5. Quantum mechanics: 量子力学6. I was conscious of his superiority in a way which was embarrassing and led to trouble. I knew that Oppenheimer was a man of great talent but his w

10、ay of showing his talent caused uneasiness and resentment among people.7. to go over well: to be well received eg. How did her speech go over?Language Points in Part II8. This didnt seem to be the sort of anecdote that would go over especially well at a conference devoted to poetry. The author was a

11、sked to talk about the connection between physics and poetry at the conference. This anecdote, though interesting, might not be appreciated by the audience, who were devoted to poetry.Detailed Study of the Text: Part IIIIII (Para4): the authors decision to attend the conference in 1981, and the two

12、pairs of contrast: Dirac & Oppenheimer and Auden & Spender.What were the two powerful reasons for the authors going to the conference?According to the author, whats the difference between “being great” and “being merely very good”?Language Points in Part III1.to pit against: to set in competition ag

13、ainst. eg. To pit oneself against the champion2.to carry the day: to win. eg. Despite strong opposition, the ruling party carried the day.3. live on ones savings: 靠积蓄生活4. She was finding it pretty rough going. She was finding that it was terribly hard to make progress in writing. Language Points in

14、Part III5. in the same boat: sharing the same adverse circumstance eg. They were in the same boat: they both failed the exam.6. This aside=This being put aside: apart from this7. right off: without hesitation8. establishment figure: 权威人士9. perennial visits: 长期访问Language Points in Part IIILike Englis

15、h bishops on the Quantum Theory. It sounds ridiculous to put bishops together with quantum theory. The former is to make official pronouncement for the Anglican Church on matters of faith, while the latter deals with laws in physics. The Church relates everything to God, whereas physics believes tha

16、t nature can be revealed through science.Detailed Study of the Text: Part IVIV (Para5-7): Spenders journal entry on the description of Oppenheimer in 1956Where did Oppenheimers small collection of paintings come from? In your opinion, why didnt he expand the collection?Language Points in Part IVjour

17、nal entry:日记的记载covered in grime: 满身尘土have the sunwrinkled look of someone who had spent a great deal of time outdoors: 因有长期的户外活动，脸上显出太阳曝晒的痕迹Siamese cats: 暹罗猫disembody: (of a soul or spirit) separated from the body a disembodied figure:（本文）毫无生气的人物Language Points in Part IVclearance: permission for sb

18、 to work with secret information, etc. eg. Give/deny sb security clearanceOppenheimer has been “tried” for disloyalty to this country the word “tried” is in quotes because Oppenheimer was not tried by a court but was called before a Security Board set up by the Atomic Energy Commission to hear accus

19、ations against him. The Security Board had to admit in its final report that it had not found any act of disloyalty committed by Oppenheimer. The real reason for Oppenheimers “trial” is that he opposed the development of hydrogen bomb by the US in 1954, the time of McCarthyism. Detailed Study of the

20、 Text: Part VV (Para8-9): the authors meeting with Oppenheimer and Dirac in Princeton University in 1958Why didnt Dirac really have collaborator？How did Dirac teach his class at Cambridge? Why did he teach in that way?Language Points in Part Vhold Lucasian chair: be granted an important professorshi

21、p, which is endowed by Lucas 获得卢卡斯教授席位in attendance: attending 出席wear much of a blue suit: wear clothes somewhat like a blue suitmake an indelible impression:留下难以磨灭的印象attempt a profile of Dirac: tried to write a short biographical and character sketch of Dirac试着写一篇Dirac的传略Detailed Study of the Text:

22、 Part VIVI(Para10-16): the authors meeting with Spender in 1981What made the author feel annoyed at the conference in 1981? small audience; no response after his lecture; no official lunch (his efforts was not appreciated)Language Points in Part VIcobble sth together: put sth together or make sth ha

23、stily 胡乱拼凑striped shirts: 条纹衬衫out of sorts: in a bad temper; annoyedpoetry workshop: 诗歌讲习班read into：to attribute a particular meaning to; to project excessive significance into sth.Language Points in Part VIunder their shadow: under their influence or dominationHe seemed to be on autopilot. He was r

24、ather mechanical, without giving the writings much thought.egregious: exceptional, outstandingeg. egregious cowardice极其胆怯Detailed Study of the Text: Part VIIVII(Para17-20): concluding, returning to the time of writing in 1996Whats the authors opinion towards “being great”?1.Great poetry and great ph

25、ysics cant be imitated.2.Great poetry and physics are pushed ahead by unanticipated genius.3.To be original and profound, one had to be focused.Language Points in Part VIIA compulsive collector of data from my past have an irresistible, even irrational impulse to keep all the papers containing infor

26、mation of my past activities. 着迷于收集自己过去的资料 eg. a compulsive liar说谎成性To jog ones memory: help sb to recall sth 唤起某人的记忆Jagged: with rough, uneven, often sharp edges; notchedLanguage Points in Part VIIcrotchety: bad-temperedlady-in-waiting: lady attending a queen or princessTalmud: collection of ancien

27、t writings on Jewish law and traditionOrganization of this articleThe author uses the 1981 conference as the benchmark and goes back to earlier times and in the last two paragraphs returns the scene to the time of writing. This technique of montage is used largely in cinema.How are different people introduced into the article?His decision to go to the conferenceOppenheimers anecdote: Oppenheimer and Dirac meeting at Gottinggen, talking about poetry and physics Spenders being at the conference -Spenders obsession with Auden-great versus merely