现代大学英语精读1.Unit11_The Midnight Visitor

1、Lesson Eleven (Book One): The Midnight Visitor1. Warm-up Activity1) What is the image of a spy like in the minds of ordinary people? What are the necessary qualities that a good spy should possess? What has caused the difference between our imagination and the reality? 2) Performance2. Word Building

2、describedescriptionc.f. subscribe, prescribeexplainexplanationexplanatory (explanative)e.g.explanatory notes an explanatory letter The notes are self-explanatory. He looked explanatorily at me. (He looked at me, as if trying to explain something.)extendextensionextensive e.g. extensive land/ view ex

3、tensive knowledge c.f. intensive reading, extensive readingfrustratefrustrationfrustratedfrustratinghesitatehesitanthesitatione.g. hesitate to do/ about doingc.f. He is hesitant to seek advice. = He is hesitant about seeking advice. He is hesitant in seeking advice. mysteriousmysteryromanticromancer

4、omanticismmoodmoodymoodilyillusionillusionary automaticautomation 3. Word Expansionsecret agent1) word expansionsecret agent (agency)spy n./ v.espionagesabotage2) Info: Some renowned secret/ intelligence agencies:Ministry of State Security (MSS) 中国国家安全部Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Central I

5、ntelligence Agency (CIA)Military Intelligence Six 军情六处KGB of the Soviet Union (Committee for State Security)figurefigure: an important person character: a person (in a play, story, etc; personality)role/ part (hero/ heroine): a leading role (starring)/ a supporting role/ a small rolecast: a set of a

6、ctors in a play, all people who act in a playpistol1) word expansionpistol/ revolverbuttgunfirehandgunbarrelgunshotshort guncartridgegunpowderriflebulletgunboatmachine-gun sub-machine gun trigger (pull) gunship 武装直升机2) e.g. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.armchairarmchairsofacouchap

7、artmentapartment (AmE)/ flat (BrE)terraced house (terrace)semi-detached housevillaunit/ suite: a set of rooms, esp. in a hotel living room (sitting room) balcony4. Related Expressionssetting1) comparesetting: the time and place where an event of a book, film, etc takes placeplot: the main events in

8、a story , play, film or novel a secret plan (to do sth. illegal or wrong) subject: sth being considered or talked about in a conversation, booktopic theme 2) translate: The play was set in the mid-nineteenth century/ in a small town. (The story took place in) It was a lovely setting for a picnic. ac

9、cent1) comparedialect: form of a language used in a part of a country or by a class of peopleaccent: national, local or individual way of pronouncing wordsc.f. language, tone, pidgin2) example: He speaks English with/ in an Cantonese accent.automatic1) compareautomatic: (of a device) working by itse

10、lf without human controlmanual: (of a device) operated or controlled by hand2) examples:Everything in the factory works automatically.He did his work manually, not mechanically.3) word root: automobile, autonomy, manufacture, manuscriptblink1) compareblink (at): shut and open the eyes quicklywink (a

11、t): close one eye briefly, esp. as a private signal to sb 2) meanings generated by the use of different prepositions:She had to blink back her tears before she continued her story. She blinked away a tear as she spoke.mood1) compareemotion: strong feeling (Love, hatred, and grief are all emotions.)m

12、ood: a state of the emotions at a particular time temper: a particular state or condition of the mind, with regard to anger 2) examples be in a good/ bad temper; a quick/ nasty temper, quick-tempered be in a good/ bad mood She was in no mood for dancing. Do you feel in the mood for dancing? He broke

13、 the chair in a fit of temper. extend1) compareextend: (of space, land or time) to reach, stretch or continue expand: (to cause to) grow larger c.f. enlarge 2) examples:Iron expands when it is heated.The garden extends as far as the river.3) exercise:Our college has been expanded from 1,000 students

14、 to 8,000 in five years.The hot weather extended into October.risk1) comparedangerdangerousendangerperil perilousimperil his life to save mine (vt.)jeopardy hazardoushazardhazardriskyriskrisk 2) error-correction: * We cant risk to miss the train. We cant risk missing the train.3) examples: I dont wa

15、nt to risk my money/ health/ my neck. (vt.)losing my best friend. Ill not put my own life at risk. (n.) He saved my life at the risk of losing his own. (n.) I dont want to run/ take the risk of getting cold. (n.)dealShe can deal with the situation. (manage, tend to, cope with, discuss, get along wit

16、h) A grocery deals in foods and other daily things. (sell, trade in) Profits will be dealt out to the investors. (give out, distribute) block off1) compareOur cars get blocked in and we cant leave for ages! The management promised to block the balcony off. I had to block the thoughts out of my mind.

17、 The heavy curtain blocked out the daylight. 2) translateA large crowd blocked (up) the corridor. (obstruct)The police blocked off the street after the explosion. (separate one place from another using a barrier) checkIll check (up /on) the information/ her/ the time. (find out the information)Would

18、 you check out the names and numbers please? (examine carefully to make sure that everything is correct or safe) They checked in/out of their hotel this morning. (register as a guest at a hotel; pay the bill and leave)I want to check with him before I sign the papers. (discuss with him to make sure)

19、 wish1) “wish” used with the subjunctive moodI wish we had more money! I wish I hadnt said that.I wish you wouldnt smoke any more. 2) Other usage:I wish to leave.I wish you to accept our proposal.I wish you safe/ well.I wish you a safe journey.before long1) comparebefore long: soon (It wasnt/ wont b

20、e long before)long before: a long time before some events2) blank-filling:The book will be published before long. Before long he joined the army.I had known about him long before I knew him. 5. ParaphraseAusable did not fit the description of any secret agentwas not at all what a secret agent should

21、 look likeIt was hardly a setting for a romantic figure.It was not the kind of time and place fit for a romantic person like a secret agent.He has never altogetherlost the New England accent.Completely/ entirelyYou are disillusioned.What you believe is wrong.Take cheer.Cheer up.You will see a paper come to me in the next-to-last step of its journey into official hands.When I received the paper, Ill place it in the hands of the proper authorities. By then, I will