综合教程3-Unit3-out-of-step

1、Out of StepUnit 3Unit 3Out of StepUnit 3Watch the movie clip and answer the following questions.1. Where is the engine of the 911?Audiovisual SupplementCultural InformationIn the back of the car.The product and their manufacturing process are one unit. Automation, technology and skilled human labor

2、combine to build the Porsche 911. And the factory runs like a precision machine.2. Whats the secret of success of that factory?Audiovisual SupplementCultural InformationNarrator: A German factory builds one of the worlds most famous cars. The 911 is the icon of the sports car industry. Its the shape

3、, its the engine in the back, its the feel it gives you, its the emotion. The factory runs like a precision machine, building hundreds of engines a day. The product and our manufacturing process are one unit, and thats our secret of success. Automation, technology and skilled human labor combine to

4、build 16 versions of the Porsche 911, including the 911 GT3.Audiovisual SupplementCultural InformationCar culture has been a major niche lifestyle in America.In the 1950s, the post-war boom produced a generation of teenagers with enough income to buy their own cars. These cars became so much more th

5、an just modes of transportation. They were reflections of a lifestyle. The ability to tune and soup-up muscle cars gave average Joes the opportunity to show off their power, their speed and their style in a way that personified the car as character.1.2. Audiovisual SupplementCultural InformationWe d

6、ream of cars as we dream of lovers. Americans have always cherished personal freedom and mobility, rugged individualism and masculine force. 3.Audiovisual SupplementCultural Information4.5.6.Like Granny in Jan and Deans 1964 song “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” we cant keep our foot off the acc

7、elerator.We are crazy about our cars and always have been. “The American,” William Faulkner lamented in 1948, “really loves nothing but his automobile.”Text AnalysisStructural Analysis “Out of Step” is an exposition that presents the absurdity of the Americans dependence on cars. The Americans, bein

8、g so accustomed to using cars, have almost forgotten the existence of their legs. Wherever they go, they go in their cars. As a result, pedestrian facilities are neglected in city planning or rejected by the inhabitants.Text AnalysisStructural AnalysisParagraphsMain idea1-67-13 14-20 The writer intr

9、oduces his idea with an anecdote.In this part, the author presents the fact that the Americans are habituated to using cars for everything.In this part, the author shows that pedestrian facilities are neglected or discarded. After living in England for 20 years, my wife and I decided to move back to

10、 the United States. We wanted to live in a town small enough that we could walk to the business district, and settled on Hanover, N.H., a typical New England town pleasant, sedate and compact. It has a broad central green surrounded by the venerable buildings of Dartmouth College, an old-fashioned M

11、ain Street and leafy residential neighborhoods. It is, in short, an agreeable, easy place to go about ones business on foot, and yet as far as I can tell, virtually no one does.Bill BrysonOut of StepDetailed Reading12 Nearly every day, I walk to the post office or library or bookstore, and sometimes

12、, if I am feeling particularly debonair, I stop at Rosey Jekes Caf for a cappuccino. Occasionally, in the evenings, my wife and I stroll up to the Nugget Theatre for a movie or to Murphys on the Green for a beer, I wouldnt dream of going to any of these places by car. People have gotten used to my e

13、ccentric behavior, but in the early days acquaintances would often pull up to the curb and ask if I wanted a ride. “Im going your way,” they would insist when I politely declined. “Really, its no bother.”Detailed Reading34 “Honestly, I enjoy walking.” “Well, if youre sure,” they would say and depart

14、 reluctantly, even guiltily, as if leaving the scene of an accident without giving their name. In the United States we have become so habituated to using the car for everything that it doesnt occur to us to unfurl our legs and see what those lower limbs can do. We have reached an age where college s

15、tudents expect to drive between classes, where parents will drive three blocks to pick up their children from a friends house, where the letter carrier takes his van up and down every driveway on a street.Detailed Reading567 We will go through the most extraordinary contortions to save ourselves fro

16、m walking. Sometimes its almost ludicrous. The other day I was waiting to bring home one of my children from a piano lesson when a car stopped outside a post office, and a man about my age popped out and dashed inside. He was in the post office for about three or four minutes, and then came out, got

17、 in the car and drove exactly 16 feet (I had nothing better to do, so I paced it off) to the general store next door.Detailed Reading8Detailed Reading And the thing is, this man looked really fit. Im sure he jogs extravagant distances and plays squash and does all kinds of healthful things, but I am

18、 just as sure that he drives to each of these undertakings. An acquaintance of ours was complaining the other day about the difficulty of finding a place to park outside the local gymnasium. She goes there several times a week to walk on a treadmill. The gymnasium is, at most, a six-minute walk from

19、 her front door.910Detailed Reading I asked her why she didnt walk to the gym and do six minutes less on the treadmill. She looked at me as if I were tragically simple-minded and said, “But I have a program for the treadmill. It records my distance and speed and calorie burn rate, and I can adjust i

20、t for degree of difficulty.” I confess it had not occurred to me how thoughtlessly deficient nature is in this regard.111213Detailed Reading According to a concerned and faintly horrified 1997 editorial in the Boston Globe, the United States spent less than one percent of its transportation budget o

21、n facilities for pedestrians. Actually, Im surprised it was that much. Go to almost any suburb developed in the last 30 years, and you will not find a sidewalk anywhere. Often you wont find a single pedestrian crossing. I had this brought home to me one summer when we were driving across Maine and s

22、topped for coffee in one of those endless zones of shopping malls, motels, gas stations and fast-food places. I noticed there was a bookstore across the street, so I decided to skip coffee and head over.1415Detailed Reading Although the bookshop was no more than 70 or 80 feet away, I discovered that

23、 there was no way to cross on foot without dodging over six lanes of swiftly moving traffic. In the end, I had to get in our car and drive across. At the time, it seemed ridiculous and exasperating, but afterward I realized that I was possibly the only person ever to have entertained the notion of n

24、egotiating that intersection on foot.1617Detailed Reading The fact is, we not only dont walk anywhere anymore in this country, we wont walk anywhere, and woe to anyone who tries to make us, as the city of Laconia, N.H., discovered. In the early 1970s, Laconia spent millions on a comprehensive urban

25、renewal project, which included building a pedestrian mall to make shopping more pleasant. Esthetically it was a triumph urban planners came from all over to coo and take photos but commercially it was a disaster. Forced to walk one whole block from a parking garage, shoppers abandoned downtown Laco

26、nia for suburban malls.18Detailed Reading In 1994 Laconia dug up its pretty paving blocks, took away the tubs of geraniums and decorative trees, and brought back the cars. Now people can park right in front of the stores again, and downtown Laconia thrives anew. And if that isnt sad. I dont know wha

27、t is.1920What kind of town is it?It is a small, pleasant and agreeable town. The inhabitants are friendly and willing to help. But although the town is compact, few people go about on foot. Detailed ReadingWhat is considered the authors “eccentric behavior”? Instead of riding a car, the author walks

28、 around the city, doing his shopping, going to the movies or visiting the caf or bar. To people who are used to going everywhere in a car, he is an eccentric. Detailed ReadingWhy would drivers “depart reluctantly, even guiltily” when their offer was declined? With cars becoming the basic essentials

29、of their life, people are so habituated to using the car for everything. The scene of somebody walking around seemed so unusual to them that they would naturally show their concern to him. When their offer to give him a ride was declined, they were sorry for not being able to help him out. Detailed

30、ReadingWhy did the author say “Actually, Im surprised it was that much”?When the author found that the newly planned suburbs totally overlooked pedestrian needs, he assumed there was no budget for pedestrian facilities at all. So he says he was surprised to learn that there actually was less than on

31、e percent of budget on it. Here the author writes with a touch of irony. Detailed ReadingWhy did Laconia change its downtown pedestrian mall to one with parking lots? Although the pedestrian mall was well decorated, shoppers were unwilling to walk to the stores from a parking garage. As a result, it

32、 was a commercial failure. The government had to compromise with the public preference.Detailed ReadingClass ActivityGroup discussion: What does the title mean?With the use of this title, the writer seems to suggest Detailed Readingpeople no longer walk in America;the few people who do walk seem to

33、be old-fashioned and “eccentric”. sedate a. calm, serious and formale.g.She is a sedate old lady; she is caring but never talks much.The fight against a nuclear power station site has transformed a normally sedate town into a battlefield.Derivation:sedately (ad.), sedation (n.), sedative (a., n.)v.

34、make calm or sleepy, esp. with a druge.g.The patient was heavily sedated and resting quietly in bed.Detailed Readingeccentric a. (of people or behavior) unconventional and slightly strangee.g.The old gentleman, who lived alone all his life, was said to have some eccentric habits.n. a person of uncon

35、ventional and slightly strange views or behaviore.g.The old gentleman enjoyed a colorful reputation as an engaging eccentric.Detailed Readingcurb n. (British English: kerb) a line of raised stones separating the footpath from the roadv. / n. (place) a control or limit on sth. undesirable e.g.Poor nu

36、trition can curb a childs development both physically and mentally.There will be curbs on drunk-driving from next month.Detailed Readinghabituate v. accustom by frequent repetition or prolonged exposuree.g.You must habituate yourself to reading aloud.By the end of the school term, the students had b

37、een habituated / accustomed / used to rising at five oclock.Detailed Readingcontortion n. a twisted position or movement that looks surprising or strangee.g. The spectators cannot but admire the contortions of the gymnasts.Derivation: contort (v.) cause sth. to twist out of its natural shape and loo

38、ks strange or unttractiveDetailed ReadingThe human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it. (Francis Bacon). e.g.Comparison: distort, twist, deform, contort, warpThese verbs mean to change

39、and spoil the form or character of sth.To distort is to alter in shape, as by torsion or wrenching; the term also applies to verbal or pictorial misrepresentation and to alteration or perversion of the meaning of sth. distort:Detailed ReadingGreat erosion deformed the landscape. The earlier part of

40、his discourse was deformed by pedantic divisions and subdivisions. a mouth twisted with pain He accused me of twisting his words to mean what I wanted them to. e.g.Comparison: twist: Twist applies to distortion of form or meaning. e.g.deform: If you deform sth., or if it deforms, its usual shape cha

41、nges so that its usefulness or appearance is spoiled.Detailed ReadingThe floorboards had warped over the years.e.g.a face contorted with ragea contorted line of reasoninge.g.Comparison: contort: If you contort sth., or if it contorts, it twists out of its normal shape and looks strange or unattracti

42、ve.warp: Warp can refer to a turning or twisting from a flat or straight form.Detailed ReadingIt also can imply influencing sb. in a way that has a harmful effect on how they think or behave.Prejudice warps the judgment.e.g.bring sth. home to sb.make sb. realize sth.e.g.The professor drove home to t

43、hem that they must finish the writing assignment by Friday.Comparison: drive sth. home to sb., hit / strike homedrive sth. home to sb.: make sb. realize sth., esp. by saying it often, loudly, angrily, etc.e.g. The news report has brought home to us all the plight of the prisoners of war.Detailed Rea

44、dinge.g. You could see from his expression that her sarcastic comments had hit / stricken home.Comparison: hit / strike home: (of remarks, etc.) have the intended (often painful) effectDetailed Readingentertain v. consider an idea, etc. or allow yourself to think that sth. might happen or be truee.g

45、.He refused to entertain our proposal. entertain ideas, doubts, etc. Detailed Readingnegotiate v. get over or past (an obstacle, etc.) successfully; manage to travel along a difficult routee.g.The only way to negotiate the path is on foot.Frank Mariano negotiates the dessert terrain in his battered

46、pickup. Detailed Reading那攀登者得攀越一陡峭岩石。那攀登者得攀越一陡峭岩石。 那马轻易跳过了栅栏。那马轻易跳过了栅栏。 Practice:The climber had to negotiate a steep rock face. The horse negotiated the fence with ease. Detailed Readingcoo v. speak in a soft, gentle, and loving way, esp. when expressing surprisee.g.“How wonderful to see you again,

47、 darling,” she cooed.The little girl is always cooing over those parrots of hers.Detailed Readinganew adv. (fml.) again or one more time, esp. in a different waye.g.The scientists started the experiment anew.The film tells anew the story of her rise to stardom.Detailed ReadingIn the United States we

48、 have become so habituated to using the car for everything that it doesnt occur to us to unfurl our legs and see what those lower limbs can do.Paraphrase: People in the United States tend to drive for basically every purpose, so much so that they have forgotten that they still have legs and about wh

49、at their legs can do.Detailed ReadingI confess it had not occurred to me how thoughtlessly deficient nature is in this regard. Paraphrase: I admit that I have never realized I had been so stupid.Detailed Reading I was possibly the only person ever to have entertained the notion of negotiating that i

50、ntersection on foot. Paraphrase: I was likely to be the only person who had ever attempted to cross that intersection on foot.Detailed ReadingWord DerivationPhrase PracticeSynonym / AntonymVocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar1) agree v. agreeable a. agreement n.Vocabu

51、laryTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammarI agree with his analysis of the situation.我同意他对情况的分析。我同意他对情况的分析。 I found him most agreeable. 我觉得他极易相处。我觉得他极易相处。An agreement with the employers was finally worked out.与雇主们的协议终于达成了。与雇主们的协议终于达成了。e.g.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOr

52、al ActivitiesWritingGrammar2) eccentric a./n. eccentricity n. The club seemed to be full of eccentrics.这个俱乐部里好像都是怪人。这个俱乐部里好像都是怪人。One of his eccentricities is sleeping under the bed instead of on it.他的怪僻之一是睡觉睡在床底下而不睡在床上。他的怪僻之一是睡觉睡在床底下而不睡在床上。e.g.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWr

53、itingGrammar3) acquaint v. acquaintance n. acquainted a.The lawyer acquainted himself with the details of his clients business affairs. 那位律师了解委托人生意上的详情。那位律师了解委托人生意上的详情。He has a wide circle of acquaintances. 他交友甚广。他交友甚广。Are you acquainted with the works of Shakespeare? 你对莎士比亚的作品熟悉吗你对莎士比亚的作品熟悉吗? ?e.g.

54、VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar4) ridicule v. / n. ridiculous a.The opposition ridiculed the governments proposals, saying they offered nothing new.反对派揶揄政府的建议，把它的说成是老调重弹。反对派揶揄政府的建议，把它的说成是老调重弹。You look ridiculous in those tight jeans.你穿上那紧身牛仔裤样子真可笑。你穿上那紧身牛仔裤样子真可笑。

55、e.g.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar5) triumph n. triumphant a. triumphal a.The winning team returned home in triumph.获胜的队奏凯而归。获胜的队奏凯而归。a triumphant cheer 胜利的欢呼声胜利的欢呼声a triumphal arch凯旋门凯旋门e.g.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar6)

56、deficient a. deficiency n.Our knowledge of the matter is deficient. 我们对此事了解不足。我们对此事了解不足。Deficiency in vitamins / Vitamin deficiency can lead to illness. 身体缺乏维生素就会生病。身体缺乏维生素就会生病。e.g.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar7) woe n. woeful a. woefully ad.She told him all he

57、r woes.她把自己的不幸遭遇都告诉他。她把自己的不幸遭遇都告诉他。woeful ignorance 可悲的无知可悲的无知 The preparations were woefully inadequate.准备工作未免太不够了。准备工作未免太不够了。e.g.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar8) contort v. contortion n.Her face contorted / was contorted with pain. 她的脸因疼痛而走了样。她的脸因疼痛而走了样。the co

58、ntortions of a yoga expert 瑜伽高手的柔软动作瑜伽高手的柔软动作e.g.4) If you a distance, you measure it by walking from one end of it to the other. 3) When he opened the lid of the box, a clown . VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammar1) She wanted to refuse his proposal, but was not sure

59、 what was the best way of it. going about_2) The country was a period of irreversible change. going through_popped out_pace off_Fill in the blank in each sentence with an appropriate phrasal verb or collocation from the text.VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammargo abou

60、t: When you are “going about” your normal activities, you are doing them.e.g.尽管战争一触即发，人们仍像平时一样工作。尽管战争一触即发，人们仍像平时一样工作。Despite the threat of war, people go about their work as usual. VocabularyTranslation Integrated SkillsOral ActivitiesWritingGrammargo through: If you “go through” an experience or a