现代大学英语精读1-lesson5

1、Lesson 5 Angels on a Pin Why is the article entitled “Angels on a Pin”?The title of the text “Angles on a Pin” comes from the much-talked about question: “How many angles can dance on the head of a pin?” which is used to ridicule those people who asked meaningless questions about the Bible in the Mi

2、ddle Ages. It is also used ironically to describe the kind of questions that philosophers ponder. Medieval scholastics were fond of debating such meaningless questions as “How many angels can dance on the point of a pin?” “Did Adam have a navel?” and “Do angels defecate?” The emerging sciences repla

3、ced such “scholarly” debates with experimentation and appeals to observable fact.DiscussionHow adults “kill” creativity?Insisting that children do things in the “right way” Teaching a child to think that there is just one right way to do things kills the urge to try new ways.Pressuring children to b

4、e realistic, to stop imagining. When we label a childs flights of fantasy as “silly”, we bring the child down to earth with a blow, causing the inventive urge to die. Making comparisons with other children. This is a subtle pressure on a child to conform; yet the essence of creativity is freedom to

5、conform or not to conform.Discouraging childrens curiosity.One of the indicators of creativity is curiosity; yet we often brush questions aside because we are too busy for silly questions. Childrens questions deserve respect. Introduction to the Text1.This article was written at a time when the whol

6、e of the United States was thrown into a panic over the launching of the first satellite by the Russians.2.Many Americans believed that there must be something seriously wrong with their educational system.3.The nations problem in education was the traditional teaching and testing methods, which emp

7、hasized book knowledge rather than students originality and creativity.Theme of the StoryPart of the nations problem in education is the traditional teaching and teaching methods, which emphasize book knowledge rather than students originality and creativity. Part 1 (para. 1) about:Part 2 (paras. )

8、about:Part 3 (paras. ) about: Text AnalysisStructure of the Text25610The author was asked to be a referee on the grading of an exam question.The students way of solving a problem of physics.The students flexible way of working things out arouses our awareness of the drawbacks of the present-day educ

9、ation.The end of Structure. Alexander Calandra is now Professor of Emeritus of Physical Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The present text is adapted from “Angels on the Head of a Pin: A Modern Parable” which first appeared in Saturday Review. Dec. 21, 1968 and has, since the

10、n, become a classic (or an often quoted) case on the problems of American education. Author The end of Author. Language study1. barometer baro- weightmeter: to measureMore examples:Thermometer (thermo=heat)Centimeter (centi-=hundred)Diameter(dia-=across)Seismometer(seismo-=shake)n. a. an instrument

11、that measures the air pressure and shows when the weather is going to change b. something that shows or gives an idea of changes that are happeningExamples: Infant mortality is a highly sensitive barometer of social condition. the barometer of public opinion2. bring sth. upe.g. bring up the stairs S

12、he was well brought up. bring up questions/problems/evidence He was brought up on a charge of causing a disturbance.(扰乱治安罪)“bring” VP p. 114 bring aboutbring downbring inbring back3. Credit学分 a measure of students worke.g. a 4-credit course earn credits It takes 158 credits to graduate.4. Competence

13、competence (in doing sth./ in/for sth.)e.g. Her mothers competence in handling money is beyond doubt. adj. competent be competent for/in ones work5. Warn1)to warn sb. about sth.eg. I warned her about the weather.Ma Yinchu warned us about the population problem.2)to warn sb. not to do sth.eg: She war

14、ned me not to catch cold.The doctor warned him not to smoke again3)to warn sb. thateg. I warned you that you had to hurry.We were warned that there was a storm coming.4)to warn sb. of sth. or against sth.eg. I warned her of the danger.Scientists warned the government against that policy.6. Pick up p

15、.1151)take up The bird picked up a worm.2) improve pick up ones spirits3) improve, recover A little food will pick you up.4) improve Business appears to be picking up.7. If vs. whether “if”cannot be used in the following situations but “whether”can.1) “or”He didnt know whether he should agree or not

16、.2) to infinitiveI dont know whether to laugh or cry.3) after prep.It depends on whether we have fund.8. Give up “give”VP p.1141) give up: stop doing; admit defeate.g. give up smoking/alcohol give sb. up2) give in give sth. in3) give back4) give off5) give out distribute; announce9. RecallTo remembe

17、r, bring back to the mind, recollect1) recall + n. e.g. I dont recall your name but recognize your face.2) recall + doing sth.e.g. I recall seeing the poster on the wall in our classroom.3) recall that-clausee.g. I dont recall that I ever met him / where he lives.10. proportion of sth to sth: eg the

18、 of imports to exports进出口比例in proportion: 符合相称Her features are in .她五官端正。 out of 11. prefer:like it betterThis word is usually used in the following patterns:1) prefer A to B2) prefer to do sth.3) prefer doing sth.4) prefer to do rather than do sth.1)To prefer A to BE.g: She prefers country life to

19、city life.He preferred history to literature.2)to prefer to do sth.eg. I preferred to work in Shanghai.She prefers to wear cotton shoes.3)to prefer doing sth.eg. -Shall we go to the Summer Palace or stay home tomorrow?-I prefer going to the Summer Palace.12. sophisticated adj.1)complex, refined, ela

20、borate, subtleeg. modern weapons 精良尖端的武器 embroidery 精美的刺绣品2）experienced老于世故的eg. I dont like working with very sophisticated person. 3)Sophisticate n. an experienced personSophistication n. quality of sophisticated13. in principle: generally.Eg: I think you are right in principle (not necessarily in

21、detail). In principle, every child has the right to go to school.The scheme seems OK in principle, but I want to know more details.14. to work out: to calculate.eg: Well have to work out how many people are needed.She could work out the answer quickly on a piece of paper.a. to calculate an answer, a

22、mount, price, or valueb. to think about sth. and manage to understand itc. to think carefully about how you are going to do sth. and plan a good way of doing itd. to get bettere. to excise1) You can work out the answer by adding all the numbers. 2) The plot is complicated; it will take you a while to work it out. 3) UN negotiators have worked out a set of compromise proposals. 4) I hope it all works out between Gina and Andy. 5) He works out with weight twice a week. 15. temptatione.g.There mi