李观仪《新编英语教程》第5册 UNIT8

1、Unit 8Why Nothing Works Marvin HarrislCultural BackgroundlText AnalysislWriting SkilllQuestions on the TextlLanguage PointslDiscussionlExercisesPomo Indians and their basketrylThe Pomo Indians belong to a North American Indian tribe that forms the second largest tribal group in California, U.S.A. Th

2、e name “Pomo” comes from a suffix that the Pomo people add to many words in their language. The Pomo womens fine basketry is the artistic triumph of the people. Pomo basketry includes small masterpieces as well as large, colorfully decorated containers, and is considered among the worlds finest.Eski

3、mo skin boatlA Mongoloid people who live in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Northeastern Asia. They are found in Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland, and northeastern Siberia. The Eskimo skin boat is a one-man skin canoe and is called a kayak.lTraditionally, nearly all parts of

4、animals killed by the Eskimo were used. Eskimo clothing was made from skins of birds and animals (seal, caribou(北美驯鹿), and polar bear). Sewn with sinew thread and bone needles, hooded jackets, pants, and waterproof boots were well adapted to cold and wet climatic conditions. Skins were also processe

5、d into tents and boats, and bones were made into weapons. Two kinds of boats were common. The umiak was a large open boat consisting of a wooden frame covered usually with walrus(海象) hide; it was used both to transport people and goods and, especially in northern Alaska, to hunt whales. The other ty

6、pe of craft distinctive of the Eskimo and their cultural relatives, the ALEUTS, was the kayak. This one-man hunting vessel was entirely decked over with sealskin or caribou skin. The hunter sat in a cockpit(船尾座) inside, dressed in tight-fitting waterproof clothing made from seal or walrus intestine(

7、肠). The kayak glided silently through the water and enabled the hunter to move very close to his prey.Kayak and umiaklkayaklumiakText analysislThis is a cause and effect paper. The writer first states the effect, then he makes a causal analysis.lEffect: poor-quality products (para. 1)lMajor cause: h

8、uman rather than technology (para. 2). citing the example of artifacts in ancient timelPara. 3: using examples of Indian basket and Eskimo skin boat to further explain that the relation between manufacturer and consumer decides the quality.lParas.4-5: using a contrast to prove his idea that the lack

9、 of intimate, permanent and caring relationship between manufacturer and consumer leads to shoddy goods.Writing skilllHarris employs process and contrast in his article. Process is used to help explain the formation of social relationship between producer and consumer. This step-by-step explanation

10、ensures a smooth rhythm and makes it easier for the reader to follow the authors flow thought.lContrast is used to reveal what is distinctive about the quality of a product which is made by a stranger and which is to be used by a stranger. It adds more emphasis to the thesis. 1. What role does Murph

11、ys Law play in Harriss writing? l Murphys Law, which seems to be an answer to the question posed by the title “Why Nothing Works?”, is in fact no answer at all. But it calls the readers attention to a phenomenon so common that it is often taken for granted. Thus it helps lead to what Harris intends

12、to discuss in this passage: What causes things to go wrong so quickly? Can we do anything to prevent it? 2. Which sentence in para.1 tells us that Harris thinks Murphys Law is irresistible? l The sentence “While Murphys law can never be wholly defeated, its effects can usually be postponed.” tells u

13、s that Harris thinks the law is irresistible. 3. Explain the meaning of the word “inputs” as used in “If these human inputs are assisted by” (para.1).l “Inputs”, as the compounding indicates, means “what is put in.” In this context, the word refers to the efforts made and responsibility taken by hum

14、an beings, to the “intelligence, skill, and commitment” they contribute to production. 4. For what reason(s) does Harris think that people nowadays honour the label “handmade”? l People have a high regard for handmade products because of their reliability and their association with a more personal r

15、elationship between the producer and the consumer. 5. Harris takes his readers through two developmental stages of what he terms “prehistory” in para.3. What are they? What remained unchanged in these two stages? l 1) People made things for themselves and for their close kin. l 2) People obtained ma

16、ny items through barter and trade. l The connection between the producer and the consumer remained intimate, permanent, and caring. 6. If we take this extract as a complete essay in itself, where can you find its thesis statement? l Last sentence of the first paragraph. Language Points1.corollarycfo

17、rmal sth. that is the direct result of sth. else 直接的结果(结论)e.g. This is the inevitable corollary of his determination to succeed. 2. forestall v T to prevent or defeat sb. by acting firste.g. The police forestalled the burglars attempt to break into the jewellers. Gero urged reforms in order to fores

18、tall trouble. 杰罗督促进行改革以防止出现麻烦. Labour and management agreed on a temporary settlement, thereby forestalling a strike. 3. commitment, n c a promise to do sth or to behave in a particular way e.g. Jim is afraid of emotional commitment. 吉姆害怕感情上的承诺. u the hard work and loyalty that someone gives to an o

19、rganization, activity etc 辛劳,忠诚,奉献 e.g. Her commitment to work is beyond question. 她的敬业精神不容置疑. c sth that you have previously arranged to do e.g. Shes got several teaching commitments over the summer. 整个夏天她安排好要进行几项教学活动.4. subject to: a. owing obedience toe.g. We are subject to the law of the land. 我

20、们应受当地法律的约束.b. Having a tendency to; prone toe.g. Are you subject to colds?c. Conditionally upone.g. The plan is subject to confirmation. 本计划须经批准.5.do the trick: spoken 奏效,达到预期效果e.g. A bit more flour should do the trick. 再来一点面粉就可以了.use every trick in the book使出各种绝招e.g. Ed used every trick in the book

21、 to get that contract.7.artifact: n.c an object such as a tool ,weapon etc that was made in the past and is historically importancee.g. an exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts 古埃及器物展览 Various artifacts of prehistoric times were discovered during the excavation.8. dispel: remove (false belief, do

22、ubt, fear) by proving them wrong.e.g. His encouraging words dispelled all my doubts about my own inability.Cf: scatter, dispel, disperse, dissipate 这些词都是指分开向不同方向散去.scatter指随便的,散布很广的分散. At the bell the class scattered into the hallway. Dispel常用于比喻,dispel doubts and fears. Disperse表示一块或一组东西的分散.The cro

23、wd dispersed at the command of the police. Dissipate 表示减少至没有.A strong wind dissipated the clouds.(一阵强风驱散了云.) His anger soon dissipated. (他的怒气很快地就消了.)9.evoke: v. T to produce a strong feeling or memory in someone 引起,唤起(强烈的感情或回忆)e.g. The pictures evoked memories of my school days.Cf. remind10. be invo

24、lved in: a. be as a necessary part ine.g. Are you involved in your classs new project? Im afraid your son is involved in an accident.b. the amount that is needed in order to succeed in doing something (work, money, effort, risk etc)e.g. Most people dont realize the amount of efforts that is involved

25、 in writing a novel. 大多数人都不明白写一本小说要花多少心血. 11. sabotage v. T a.to secretly damage or destroy equipment, vehicles etc that belong to an enemye.g. Every single fighter plane had been sabotaged. b. to deliberately spoil someones plans(故意破坏)e.g. Her father sabotaged her acting ambitions by refusing to pay for her to go to the drama school. 她父亲有意挫伤她学演艺的抱负,拒绝供她上戏剧学校.Discussionl What is your personal view on the cause of shoddy goods? Exercise1.fire