Quick-Fix-Society

1、Quick Fix Society What is the meaning of “fix”? How do you understand “quick fix”?quick fixlI have to get my car fixed.lWe need a long-term solution, not just a quick fix.“Fix” means solution. “Quick fix” in this essay means quick solution. It refers to the lifestyle of modern people who are impatie

2、nt to get everything done and want to find the quick solution to everything.Brainstorming1.What are the three features of a quick fix society according to the author? Summarize them in your own words.2.How is “quick fix society” reflected in the following aspects? transportation and communication ea

3、ting habits and consumption habits entertainment reading habits, learning habits working style What are the advantages of “quick fix society”? What are the disadvantages of “quick fix society”? Do you want a fast paced life or slow paced one? Chinese to English提倡，主张提倡，主张同盟的，联合的同盟的，联合的浓缩，精简浓缩，精简微波微波漂

4、亮的漂亮的肤浅地肤浅地版本版本 advocate confederate condense microwave gorgeous version superficiallyCheck-on Preview高速公路高速公路田园景色田园景色老爷车老爷车医药箱医药箱畅销书畅销书自动提款机自动提款机读者文摘读者文摘 express way pastoral scenery antique car medicine cabinet best seller automatic teller machine Readers DigestBackground InformationFast roads in

5、the U.S.lHighways: connect cities公路，大路lSuperhighways: a road with six or more laneslInterstate highways: connect cities in different stateslFreeways: roads within a city高速公路lExpressways: fast roads in or near citieslTurnpike: pay money before you use it.Pennsylvania Dutch townlLancaster County, the

6、heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is located in south central Pennsylvania 1 1/2 hours west of Philadelphia. Most of the Amish Country attractions are in Lancaster County, and almost all of the local Amish people live here as well.locationPennsylvania Dutch townlAmish 宗阿们宗派(十七 世纪成立的孟诺教派, 因创此教

7、派的雅可布 阿们而得名)The Amish are a religious group who live in settlements in 22 states and Ontario安大略湖北美洲中东部(美国和加拿大共有的湖), Canada. The oldest group of Old Order Amish, about 16,000-18,000 people live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish stress humility, family and community, and separation from the

8、 world. People Pennsylvania Dutch town The Amish was part of the early Anabaptist(再洗礼派教徒：16世纪宗教改革激进运动的成员，相信圣经的权威性，洗礼是对教徒内心信仰个人契约的外部证明，相信政教分离、信徒和非信徒分离) movement in Europe, which took place at the time of the Reformation. The Anabaptists believed that only adults who had confessed their faith should b

9、e baptized（洗礼）, and that they should remain separate from the larger society. They also believe in non-resistance and basic Bible doctrines.Amishs beliefsPennsylvania Dutch townlThese people as a whole are not as materialistic as modern society today. They do not use electricity or modern convenienc

10、es lAmish men have beards, but not mustaches lMost Amish are trilingual:dialect of German, High German高地德语and English lOld Order children attend one-room schools through the eighth grade .Amishs life stylePennsylvania Dutch townlThey are a private people who believe God has kept them together. They

11、are a strong example of a community that supports and cares for its members. They are a people apart; they are also a people together.Amishs life stylePennsylvania Dutch town“Sunday Antiques Capital of the United States. Over 3000 antique dealers gather here to display and sell their merchandise.Ant

12、ique shoppingOutlet shoppingHere, youll find over 240 factory outlet stores featuring name brands and quality merchandise prices at reduced prices.Pennsylvania Dutch townlScenery Amish oldest meeting houseHand-made quiltsPennsylvania Dutch townScenery Covered bridgeThey ride their horse and buggy（轻便

13、马车） and have a slower-paced lifestyle.Cliffs NoteslCliffs notes is a series of reference book written to help undergraduate students to understand and appreciate important literary works.lWith such notes, students dont have to read the work itself and be able to write papers and take exams.Iceberg P

14、rinciplel After the publication of his last major work, The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway explained his iceberg theory of fiction writing If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, w

15、ill have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of the iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. The writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing.Civil War was the war from

16、1861 to 1865 fought between the northern and southern states.The Civil War battlefield mentioned in paragraph 2 is the battlefield of famous Gettysburg (葛底斯堡）battle in July, 1863. At Gettysburg, Union army defeated Confederate army. This victory is the turning point of the Civil War. After the campa

17、ign, on November 19, President Lincoln delivered the well-known Gettysburg Address.Lugwig Van Beethoven is one of the greatest composers in the world.His famous symphonies include:No. 5 (Fate)No. 6 (Pastoral)No. 9 (Choral)USA Today is one of the most popular daily national newspapers serving the int

18、erest of a general public in the United States.Text AnalysisLets slow down and enjoy what nature offers us and what mankind has left us and rediscover life.ThemeThe theme is summed up at the very end.Part 1 (Paras. 1 ):Part 2 (Paras. ):Part 3 (Paras. ):Structure34678Her ride on fast roads and her re

19、turn trip of a country roadNow instead of laterFaster instead of slowerSuperficially instead of thoroughlySlow down and rediscover lifeBackgroundGenreExplanatory Writing Comparison and Contrast (e.g. para. 4) Exemplification (e.g. para.5) Use of Rhetorical Questions Repetition of Structure and Words

20、Definition The central paragraphs (4-6) define “ a quick fix society” by describing three features of such a society.ContrastA contrast paragraph or essay discusses the differences between (at least) two things. This essay mainly discusses the differences between the lifestyle of modern American peo

21、ple and that of American people in the past.In the first two paragraphs, the writer contrasts her featureless ride driving on fast roads and the pleasure of the return trip of a different route. ContrastFind out the words that show the contrast in the first two paragraphs.Fast lane tripThe herd of c

22、ows is reduced to a few dotsReturn trip the herds of cowsno longer little dots this timelying in it.Pastoral scenery slid by us at 55mph.We drove slowly through main streets, slowing to twenty miles an hour getting there wasnt any fun at all. getting there had been the fun.ContrastFind out the words

23、 that show the contrast in Para. 4.Once upon a timeput a little of each paycheck away “for a rainy day”Now take out loansrelax now, pay laterDeferred satisfactionWe arent so patient.If we wanted to become thinner, we simply ate less.try the latest miracle dietContrast in Para. 4 ContrastFind out the

24、 words that show the contrast in Para. 6.In the pastlistened to every note of Beethovens Fifth SymphonyNow enjoy 26 seconds of that famous themelinger over every word of a classic novelread the condensed versionlisten to the tapedevote large parts of our days to our loved onesreplace them with “qual

25、ity time”Contrast in Para. 6 Rhetorical QuestionsWhy is it that the featureless turnpikes and interstates are the routes of choice for so many of us? Why doesnt everybody try slowing down and exploring the countryside? (Para. 3)A rhetorical question implies that the answer is obviousthe kind of ques

26、tion that does not need actually to be answered. It is used for rhetorically persuading someone of a truth without argument, or to give emphasis to a supposed truth by stating its opposite. More examplesRhetorical QuestionsHow dare anyone keep America waiting longer than overnight? (Para. 5)Why wast

27、e 45 minutes listening to the whole thing when someone else has saved us the trouble of picking out the best parts? (Para. 6)Why are we in such a hurry to save time? (Para. 7)Rhetorical QuestionsIf winter comes, can spring be far behind?Didnt I tell you he would forget?What difference does it make?R

28、epetition is a major rhetorical strategy for producing emphasis, clarity, amplification, or emotional effect.RepetitionRepetitionIf we wanted a new sofa or a week at a lakeside cabin, we saved up for it, If we lived in the right part of the country, we planted corn If we wanted to be thinner, we sim

29、ply ate less of our favorite foods and waited patiently for the scale to drop, a pound at a time. (Para. 4)repetition of sentence structureThen we take our fast money to a fast convenience store, And if our fast meal doesnt agree with us, we hurry to the medicine cabinet foryou guessed itsome fast r

30、elief. (Para. 5)Repetitionrepetition of wordsExemplificationUsing an example or examples is one of the simplest ways of explaining anything.e.g. Para.5 & Para.6Detailed AnalysisPart I: Main IdeaHow did the author find her trip to West Virginia and back home? Why?What did the two trips set the au

31、thor thinking about?What purpose does the third paragraph serve? The writer took a weeks vacation in West Virginia. When she took the Turnpike to get there, she found the trip fast but very dull. When she came back, she took another way to slow down and enjoy the county life, which she found full of

32、 fun. The contrast made the writer think about whether the fast lane life of modern American people is the only lifestyle of people.What made the writer come to think about the lifestyle of American people?For four hours, our only real amusement consisted of counting exit signs and wondering what it

33、 would feel like to hold still again. (Para. 1)The 4-hour drive on fast roads was tedious; the only fun we had was to count the exit signs we were passing and to figure out how wed feel if we stopped again.gerund as object of “consist of”More examples1. Are you interested in buying second-hand books

34、?2. He has a strong objection to leaving early.Getting there certainly didnt seem like half the fun; in fact, getting there wasnt any fun at all. (Para. 1)We had expected that our ride to West Virginia would be fun, and that half of the fun wed get from the trip would come from it. But we were wrong

35、. It wasnt fun at all.gerund as subjectMore examples1. Its so nice sitting here with you.2. Traveling abroad can be very exciting.Definition: Gerund is used as a noun, but like a verb it can take an object.Example: For four hours, our only real amusement consisted of counting exit signs and wonderin

36、g what it would feel like to hold still again.Now its no use your saying anything, MotherIve made up my mind.Gerund as subject all we are good at is saving time not spending time.Gerund as predicativeWhy doesnt everybody try slowing down and exploring the countryside?Gerund as objectThe scene is set

37、 in the comfortable, well furnished living room of an American upper-class family, the Kents.Gerund as attributive modifierAfter all, why waste 45 minutes listening to the whole thing when someone else has saved us the trouble of picking out the best parts?Gerund as apposition to “trouble”The end of

38、 Grammar.We toured a Civil War battlefield and stood on the little hill that fifteen thousand Confederate soldiers had tried to take on another hot July afternoon, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, not knowing that half of them would get killed in the vain attempt. (Para. 2)We visited a Civil W

39、ar battlefield and stood on the little hill. One hundred and twenty-five years ago, on a hot July afternoon, 15,000 soldiers fighting for slavery, while trying to occupy the hill, had no idea that they would fail and that half of them would be killed in the battle.attributive clause modifying “hill”

40、13. stuff with (para. 2)a. to fill sb. with food until one is not hungryb. to fill a container or space with sth., especially sth. soft Examples:They stuff the children with food.The bed was stuffed with cotton so it was very soft.We stuffed ourselves with spicy salads and homemade bread in an “all-

41、you-can-eat” farmhouse restaurant, then wandered outside to enjoy the sunshine and the herds of cowsno little dots this timelying in it. (Para. 2)to fill with sth.to eat as much as you canWe had a meal in a farmhouse restaurant where for a certain amount of money you could eat as much as you wanted,

42、 and we fed ourselves with lots of spicy salads and homemade bread. After the meal, we walked leisurely outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and watch the herds of cowsthis time they did not seem like little dotslying in the sunshine.And we returned home refreshed, revitalized, and reeducated. (Para. 2)Wh

43、en we got home, we not only felt fresh and energetic, but also felt that we had experienced a new way of life.past participles used as subject complementMore examples1. The fire is reported controlled.2. He was seen angered at the delay.3. She was heard singing all the time. (present participle used

44、 as subject complement)4. The young man was considered to have great promise. (infinitive used as subject complement)Text AnalysisAnd we returned home refreshed, revitalized, and reeducated. (para.2)Alliteration: repetitive occurrence of the same letterIn fact, most Americans are constantly in a hur

45、ryand not just to get from Point A to Point B. Our country has become a nation in search of the quick fixin more ways than one. (Para. 3)quick solutionIn fact, most Americans are always in a rush. People are not only trying to find the fast way to get around from place to place, but also looking for

46、 ways of getting things done quickly in various aspects of life.to try to findFix: more contexts to observelWe were in a real fix (i.e. Our car broke down and there wasnt a phone in sight.)lI need my fix of caffeine in the morning or I cant think. An injection of an addictive drug such as heroin can

47、 be referred to as a fix lThe election was a fix. lI sat and thought for a while, trying to get a fix on the situation. to understand what the situation is really likesth. that has been dishonestly arranged我们真有麻烦了。Part I: Words & ExpressionsWordsPhrasesWordsfix; insist; trip, tour, journeyPhrase

48、scant wait to; consist of; be reduced to; stuff with; in search of Sentence Patterncouldnt wait to ; I insist that; return home refreshed, revitalized and reeducatedGrammarso as not to; use of rhetorical questionsPart I: ExerciseTranslate the following sentences into English, using words in the brac

49、kets.1. 这个报告可以压缩为三大部分。(reduce) The report can be reduced to three main parts.2. 亨利掂着脚尖走进了讲座房间以免打扰旁人。(so as to) Henry tiptoed into the lecture room so as not to disturb others.3. 每次这个男孩去祖母那儿，她都会在孩子的口袋里塞满糖果。(stuff) Each time the boy went to see his grandma, she would stuff his pockets with candy.4. 我坚

50、持主张他应该去医院。(insist) I insisted that he should go to the hospital.5. 他四处走着寻找丢失的钥匙。(search) He walked around in search of his lost key. In Para. 4 In the past, Americans were patient to have their desires satisfied. They knew that it would take them some time to satisfy their needs. If they were patien

51、t enough, they would have more pleasure when they finally got what they wanted.Once upon a time, Americans understood the principle of deferred gratification.Question: How do you understand “deferred gratification”?Once upon a time, Americans understood the principle of deferred gratification. We pu

52、t a little of each paycheck away “for a rainy day”. (Para. 4)for a future time when money may be neededIn the past, Americans were patient to have their desires satisfied. We saved a little money each time we got paid in case we might need it in the future.satisfaction 9. put awayChinese存钱；收拾；抛弃；吃掉E

53、xamples:My grandfather had put away over $100,000.Put away all your books on the desk. The guest might come any time.Please put all negative thoughts away.The boy put away the dinner in just a few minutes.12. save up to keep or store something so that you can use it in the futureExamples:They are sa

54、ving (up) for a new car.She spent all the money I have saved (up) for our trip.If we wanted a new sofa or a week at a lakeside cabin, we saved up for it, and the banks helped us out by providing special Christmas Club and Vacation Club accounts. (Para. 4)If we wanted to buy some new furniture or spe

55、nd a week at a lakeside, we could open special accounts at the banks to save money for it.a savings account, as in a bank, requiring periodic deposits to ensure money for shopping at Christmas圣诞储蓄度假储蓄lThin is a general word to describe people who have little or no fat on their bodies. If someone is

56、thin in a pleasant way, we say they are slim or (less common, mostly of women) slender. We could also use lean (thin in a strong and healthy way). If they are too thin, they are skinny (informal) or underweight. 8. off the rackoff-the-rack (AmE)/ off-the-peg (BrE)ready madeon the rackin a difficult

57、situation that you cannot deal with;Under great stress处于重压下 现成的It was only a cheap suit, bought off the rack/off the peg.The interviewers questions put the President on the rack.And if we are in a hurry to lose weight, we try the latest miracle diet, guaranteed to take away ten pounds in ten days un

58、less were rich enough to afford liposuction. (Para. 4)If we want to lose weight quickly, we try the most recent miracle diet which is said to be effective and is sure to make us lose a pound per day. If we are rich enough to pay for the operation, we can have our unneeded fat removed from our bodies

59、.past participle used as attributive modifying “miracle diet” More examples1. The meeting, attended by over five thousand people, welcomed the Chinese delegation.2. Some of them, born and brought up in rural villages, had never seen a train.lCultural NotelA convenience (food) store in the US (or a c

60、orner shop in the UK) is a small store, usually but not always on a corner, which may sell almost any small items, such as food, cigarettes, alcohol, and other things needed every day. Convenience stores are usually open for longer hours than other stores. In the US such stores are usually part of a group o