book 4 unit8 The Discus Thrower

1、Unit 8,Text 1 The Discus Thrower,What do you think this text is about after you know its title? How do you think a dying man will most probably behave? What attitude do you think that we should take towards financial or physical problems?,This passage can be divided into three parts. Part One (Parag

2、raph 1): Spying on Patientsa Habit of Mine This part serves as an introduction to the background of the story. The narrator tells about one of his unique habits of “spying on” the patient and justifies himself for the sake of better medical treatment.,Part Two (Paragraphs 2-13): Encounters with a Pa

3、rticular Patient This part talks about the narrators contact with the “discuss thrower”. The miserable condition of the patient is compared to a bonsai. The reason for his “discus throwing” is that his plight throws him into despair and he hopes for nothing, only waiting for death.,Part Three (Parag

4、raphs 14-15): The Death of the Patient This part tells about how the man is found dead and the doctor discovered the secret that the man starved himself to death as is suggested by the doctors attention to the repeatedly washed place where the scrambled eggs dropped to the floor.,Language Work,Part

5、I 1. stance: n. the attitude of a person or organization towards sth. What is the newspapersstanceon the war? Hehaschangedhisstanceonmonetaryunion.他已经改变了对货币联盟的态度. hey have maintained a consistently neutralstance.,2. he might the more fully assemble evidence? he might gather evidence more fully than

6、without spying? The structure “the more fully” is the elliptical form of “all the more fully”. In English the structure “all/ so much/ none + the + the comparative degree of adjectives or adverbs” is used without “than”following it to express emphasis. Sometimes all can be omitted.,e.g. 1) She was w

7、aiting for the spring. She felt the younger for it. 2) I walked around for two hours yesterday, and the doctor said I was none the worse for it. (P67,V - 4) 3) I know theres danger ahead, but I am all the more set on driving forward.,3. furtive: attempting to avoid notice or attention; secretive I s

8、aw him cast a furtive glance at the woman at the table to his right. 她心里不安，回头偷偷瞥了一下。 She cast afurtiveglance over her shoulder. 他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑。 Hisfurtivebehaviour aroused our suspicion.,Part II (paras2-13),1. tan: v. cause sbs skin to become brown and or browner We lie in the sunshine for hours,

9、getting atan. (n.) The westerners like going to the beaches to get tanned on holidays.,2. It is rusted, rather, in the last stage of containing the vile repose within. vile: extremely unpleasant repose: n. temporary rest from activity, excitement, esp. sleep or the rest given by sleep 休息，安眠,Rather,

10、his skin gets dark brown because he was approaching the last stage of his life, that is, he was dying. Here “vile repose” is a metaphor, and it means “death”.,3. And the blue eyes are frosted, looking inward like the windows of a snowbound cottage. And (under scrutiny) the blue eyes are not clear bu

11、t covered with a gray frost-like layer, without looking outside at the external world like the windows of a snow-surrounded cottage.,4.he cups his right thigh in both hands. he holds his right thigh with his hands curved like a dish. cup: support or hold something with the hands that are curved like

12、 a dish He cupped his chin in the palm of his hand. David knelt, cupped his hands and splashed river water onto his face.,5. cache n. a secret store of valuables or money Police discovered acacheof weapons in the room. 警方在房间里发现了一批隐藏的武器。,6. swing: move something from one side to the other e.g. 1) A l

13、arge pendulum swung back and forth inside the big clock. 2) The truck driver swung himself up into the drivers seat.,7. disinfectant n./adj. Thisdisinfectantkills most germs. The nurse bathed the wound withdisinfectantwater.,8. blink v. The TV announcer never seems toblink.这个电视广播员似乎从来都不眨眼。 The light

14、s wereblinkingon the horizon.灯光在地平线上闪烁着。 blink away tears,9. inert adj. lacking the ability or strength to move She lay thereinert, I thought she must be dead. He stoodinertas the car came towards him. He“(helium) is one of the sixinertgasses.,10.slant Most handwritingslantsto the right. The carpent

15、erslantthe roof to allow water to run off.,11. scramble: A table was pushed over in thescramble. How can youscrambleup such a steep hillside?,12. probe: physically explore or examine (something) with the hands or an instrument; investigate 用探针测；探测；详细调查 They probed in/into the mud with a special dril

16、l, looking for a shipwreck. Detectives questioned him for hours, probing for any inconsistencies in his story.,13. heft: lift or hold (something) in order to test its weight e.g. I hefted a suitcase. 14. I see that we are to be accomplices. I see that I have to help the aide feed the patient.,Part T

17、hree (Paragraphs 14-15): The Death of the Patient,1. make ones rounds: make ones usual visits, esp. of inspection e.g. The production manage makes his rounds to check whether everything goes well.,2. dignified: having or showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect He has maintaine

18、d a dignified silence about the rumours. The defeated candidate in the election gave a dignified speech in which he congratulated his rival.,3.sweep: glide swiftly; speed along A 1970s fashion revival is sweeping Europe. Her gaze swept across the assembled crowd. The National Party swept into power with a majority of almost 200.,Questions Who is more responsible and considerate, the doctor or the medical aide? Find some clues in the text to support your opinion. Since doctor-patient conflict is unavoidable, can you give some suggestions to improve this situation?,Main Ideas of T