AR1unit4课文详解.ppt

1、,Text,Background information,Go to the text,Background information This was written in 1972 by Russell Baker (1925 ), a well-known American journalist and writer. It was collected by Sandra Fehl Tropp and Ann Pierson DAngelo in their edited book Essays in Context (2000), published by Oxford Universi

2、ty Press. The essay leads readers to think from a childs perspective and to evaluate how a job is seen and understood in corporate America. It uses satire and humour to illustrate the writers critical views on corporate America.,Text,Work in corporate America 1 It is not surprising that modern child

3、ren tend to look blank and dispirited when informed that they will someday have to go to work and make a living. The problem is that they cannot visualize what work is in corporate America.,Text,2 Not so long ago, when a parent said he was off to work, the child knew very well what was about to happ

4、en. His parent was going to make something or fix something. The parent could take his offspring to his place of business and let him watch while he repaired a buggy or built a table. 3 When a child asked, “What kind of work do you do, Daddy?” his father could answer in terms that a child could come

5、 to grips with, such as “I fix steam engines” or “I make horse collars”.,Text,4 Well, a few fathers still fix steam engines and build tables, but most do not. Nowadays, most fathers sit in glass buildings doing things that are absolutely incomprehensible to children. The answers they give when asked

6、, What kind of work do you do, Daddy? are likely to be utterly mystifying to a child.,Text,5 I sell space. I do market research. I am a data processor. I am in public relations. I am a systems analyst. Such explanations must seem nonsense to a child. How can he possibly envision anyone analyzing a s

7、ystem or researching a market?,Text,6 Even grown men who do market research have trouble visualizing what a public relations man does with his day, and it is a safe bet that the average systems analyst is as baffled about what a space salesman does at the shop as the average space salesman is about

8、the tools needed to analyze a system.,Text,7 In the common everyday job, nothing is made any more. Things are now made by machines. Very little is repaired. The machines that make things make them in such a fashion that they will quickly fall apart in such a way that repairs will be prohibitively ex

9、pensive. Thus the buyer is encouraged to throw the thing away and buy a new one. In effect, the machines are making junk.,Text,8 The handful of people remotely associated with these machines can, of course, tell their inquisitive children Daddy makes junk. Most of the workforce, however, is too remo

10、te from junk production to sense any contribution to the industry. What do these people do?,Text,9 Consider the typical 12-story glass building in the typical American city. Nothing is being made in this building and nothing is being repaired, including the building itself. Constructed as a piece of

11、 junk, the building will be discarded when it wears out, and another piece of junk will be set in its place.,Text,10 Still, the building is filled with people who think of themselves as working. At any given moment during the day perhaps one-third of them will be talking into telephones. Most of the

12、se conversations will be about paper, for paper is what occupies nearly everyone in this building.,Text,11 Some jobs in the building require men to fill paper with words. There are persons who type neatly on paper and persons who read paper and jot notes in the margins. Some persons make copies of p

13、aper and other persons deliver paper. There are persons who file paper and persons who unfile paper.,Text,12 Some persons mail paper. Some persons telephone other persons and ask that paper be sent to them. Others telephone to ascertain the whereabouts of paper. Some persons confer about paper. In t

14、he grandest offices, men approve of some paper and disapprove of other paper.,Text,13 The elevators are filled throughout the day with young men carrying paper from floor to floor and with vital men carrying paper to be discussed with other vital men. 14 What is a child to make of all this? His fath

15、er may be so eminent that he lunches with other men about paper. Suppose he brings his son to work to give the boy some idea of what work is all about. What does the boy see happening?,Text,15 His father calls for paper. He reads paper. Perhaps he scowls at paper. Perhaps he makes an angry red mark

16、on paper. He telephones another man and says they had better lunch over paper. 16 At lunch they talk about paper. Back at the office, the father orders the paper retyped and reproduced in quintuplicate, and then sent to another man for comparison with paper that was reproduced in triplicate last yea

17、r.,Text,17 Imagine his poor son afterwards mulling over the mysteries of work with a friend, who asks him Whats your father do? What can the boy reply? It beats me, perhaps, if he is not very observant. Or if he is, Something that has to do with making junk, I think. Same as everybody else.,Text,在美国

18、大公司工作 1 现在的孩子要是有人跟他们说长大后要“去工作来谋生”，往往会表现出一脸的茫然和沮丧，这并不奇怪。问题在于，他们想象不出美国的大公司里都有哪些工作。,Text,2 不久以前，当家长说他要去工作了，孩子很清楚他去做什么。他不是去做东西就是去修理东西。父亲可能会带着孩子去他干活的地方，让他看着自己修马车，或是打桌子。 3 要是孩子问“爸爸，您是干什么的？”，爸爸会用孩子能理解的语言回答他，比如：“我是修蒸汽机的”，或者“我是做马项圈的”。,Text,4 可是，现在修蒸汽机或是打桌子的父亲很少了，绝大多数人都不干这个了。现在，大多数的父亲坐在有玻璃外墙的大楼里，做着孩子们根本理解不了的工

19、作。当被问道“爸爸，您做什么工作？”时，他们的回答往往让孩子大惑不解。,Text,5 “我是推销空间的。”“我做市场研究的。”“我是数据处理员。”“我在公关部工作。”“我是系统分析师。”这些解释对小孩子来说肯定是毫无意义的。他怎么可能想象得出一个人是怎么去分析系统和研究市场的呢？,Text,6 即使是那些从事市场研究工作的成年人也难很想象公关部的人每天都在做些什么，一名普通的系统分析师肯定不知道空间推销员在店里都干些什么，就好像空间推销员对分析系统的工具也一窍不通一样。,Text,7 在普通的日常工作中，没有什么东西是手工制作出来的 了。现在什么东西都是机器生产的。也极少有东西需要修 理。机器

20、生产出来的东西很容易散架，而这样的东西要拿去修理的话费用非常高，不值得。于是消费者被怂勇着把那东西扔了，再买个新的。事实上，机器是在生产垃圾。,Text,8 少数跟这些机器能搭上点关系的人当然可以对好追根究底的孩子说：“爸爸是制造垃圾的”。但是，大多数劳动者离生产垃圾的现场很远，根本感受不到自己对垃圾制造业的贡献。那这些人到底在做些什么呢？,Text,9 想想美国城市里一栋典型的12层玻璃外墙的楼房吧。在这栋楼里，没有什么被生产出来，也没有什么在被修理着，连楼房本身也用不着修。这栋楼本来就是被当成一件垃圾建造起来的，所以当大楼变得破旧了，就会被当作垃圾扔掉，在原地盖一栋新的垃圾楼。,Text,

21、10 即便如此，大楼里仍然挤满了自以为是在工作的人。一天中任何一个时间里，大概会有三分之一的人在打电话。电话里说的大都与文件有关，因为整栋楼里几乎每一个人都在为文件而忙前忙后。,Text,11 大楼里的有些工作需要有人在文件上写字。有些人要把字工整地打成文件，有些人要看文件，并在空白处作批注。有的人要复印文件，有的则在递送文件。有的人把文件存档，有的则往外取文件。,Text,12 有些人寄文件，有些则打电话让别人把文件送过来。有的人打电话打听文件在哪儿，有的则在商讨文件。在最豪华的办公室里，有的文件被审议通过了，有的则被驳回。,Text,13 电梯里从早到晚都挤满了把文件从一层楼送到另一层楼的

22、年轻人，以及拿着文件的重要人士，他们正要和其他重要人士商讨文件。 14 一个孩子怎么能理解这一切呢？也许他父亲身居要职，午餐时都要和别人讨论文件。试想他带着儿子来上班，让孩子对他的工作有一些概念。孩子能看到些什么呢？,Text,15 他父亲打电话让别人送文件过来，他读文件。可能他会冲着文件发火，或是在文件上用红笔愤怒地打个记号。他打电话告诉另一个人，说中午要一起吃饭讨论有关文件的问题。 16 午饭时，他们讨论文件。回到办公室，父亲让人把文件一式五份重新打印好给另一个人，那个人要把这份文件和去年一式三份的那份文件作比较。,Text,17 可以想象，在这之后如果有小朋友问他“你爸爸是做什么的？”，

23、这个可怜的孩子和他的小伙伴都会对这种神秘的工作百思不得其解。他会怎么回答呢？如果他的观察力不够敏锐，他也许会说，“我说不清。”如果他非常善于观察，他会回答说，“我想，是做跟制造垃圾相关的工作吧。跟每个人都一样。”,Text,Words show a visual scene in your mind, to imagine sth. that is outside your experience, which has not happened or does not exist 展望；设想 e.g. 1. Lets envision a world full of peace and happ

24、iness. 让我们展望一个充满和平和幸福的世界。 2. Instead of constantly worrying and stressing, set aside time each day to envision a new life. 不要不停地担心、为压力而焦虑，每天抽空来想象新的生活。 Synonym: visualize,Words consider (sth.) wrong 不赞成；反对；不喜欢 e.g. 1. Animal conservationists disapprove of experimenting on animals. 动物保护主义者不赞成用动物做试验。 2

25、. He strongly disapproved of his daughter staying out late at night. 他强烈反对女儿深更半夜外出不归。 Word family: disapproval n. Antonym: approve / approval,Words triplicate three copies; and duplicate two copies. 回到办公室，父亲让人把文件一式五份重新打印好给另一个人，那个人要把这份文件和去年一式三份的那份文件作比较。,Language Points,翻译：,Exercises,Reading and under

26、standing,Dealing with unfamiliar words,Reading and interpreting,Developing critical thinking,Reading and understanding 2. Choose the best summary of the passage. 3. Check () the true statements.,Exercises,Reading and understanding 2. Choose the best summary of the passage. 1 In todays America jobs a

27、re not what they used to be. Everything is made by machines, not people. Nearly all the jobs today are office jobs, and for an outsider, such as a child, it is difficult to understand what these jobs really are. 2 Machines have made work in America unnecessary. Apart from a few manual jobs which are

28、 left, almost all of todays jobs are not worth doing, and many people spend all their time in the office reading the paper.,Exercises,3 Industry in America no longer produces anything that lasts for more than a few years (including buildings), after which things have to be thrown away. Nowhere is th

29、is more apparent than in office jobs, where huge quantities of paper are wasted every day. Key: Sentence 1 is the best summary of the passage.,Exercises,3. Check () the true statements. 1 Children today dont have much idea what jobs their parents do. 2 Nobody makes or repairs things like tables any

30、more. 3 Children cant understand job titles like “systems analyst”. 4 Its easy for adults to understand other peoples job titles.,Exercises,5 Most manufactured goods can be repaired cheaply by machines. 6 The typical office in America is a 12-floor building made of glass. 7 Typical office workers fe

31、el they are not really working. 8 If you walk into any office, more than half of the people will be talking on the phone. 9 Almost everyone in the world has a job which involves paper.,Exercises,Dealing with unfamiliar words 4. Match the words in the box with their definitions. 5. Complete the sente

32、nces with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. 6. Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the following words. You may need to make other changes. 7. Answer the questions about the expressions.,Exercises,4. Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 old, broken or use

33、less things junk 2 relating to large companies, or a particular large company corporate,Exercises,ascertain bet confer corporate disapprove eminent junk margin scowl visualize,3 to not approve of someone or something disapprove 4 to form a picture of someone or something in your mind 5 an agreement

34、in which you risk an amount of money by saying what you think will happen bet,Exercises,ascertain bet confer corporate disapprove eminent junk margin scowl visualize,visualize,6 to find out something 7 the space at the left or right side of a page where words are not usually printed or written margi

35、n 8 to discuss something with other people in order to reach a decision confer,Exercises,ascertain bet confer corporate disapprove eminent junk margin scowl visualize,ascertain,9 important, respected, and admired eminent 10 to twist your face into an expression that shows you are angry scowl,Exercis

36、es,ascertain bet confer corporate disapprove eminent junk margin scowl visualize,5. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. 1 Its not easy to _ what life was like in the age of the steam engine. 2 If you _ of these plans, you should let me know exactly what you find

37、wrong with them. 3 Thomas room is full of _ like broken electrical equipment and old computer parts he doesnt need.,Exercises,visualize,disapprove,junk,ascertain bet confer corporate disapprove eminent junk margin scowl visualize,4 My _ is that this type of job wont give you much satisfaction. 5 Wer

38、e going to need some time to _ with our lawyers before we make a decision. 6 The _ of the pages in this document have all been written on. 7 We cant accept your application, without _ the authenticity of your qualifications.,Exercises,bet,confer,margins,ascertaining,ascertain bet confer corporate di

39、sapprove eminent junk margin scowl visualize,8 It was a(n) _ decision to close the bank, not the choice of any individual. 9 Shes a very nice person, and a very _ professor. 10 Why is he _ at me? What have I done?,Exercises,corporate,eminent,scowling,ascertain bet confer corporate disapprove eminent

40、 junk margin scowl visualize,6. Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the following words. You may need to make other changes. 1 A curious child is often eager to inquire about the jobs their parents do. An inquisitive child is often eager to inquire about the jobs their parents do.,

41、Exercises,dispirited incomprehensible inquisitive jot observant prohibitively whereabouts,inquisitive,2 Most people think the decision they took is impossible to understand. 3 Could you write down any ideas you have during the meeting on this piece of paper? 4 You are very careful about noticing det

42、ails if you can remember exactly what the manager was wearing.,Exercises,dispirited incomprehensible inquisitive jot observant prohibitively whereabouts,incomprehensible,jot,observant,5 Im afraid we dont know the place where Helen is right now. Im afraid we dont know the whereabouts of Helen. 6 Dont

43、 be unhappy and lacking in enthusiasm. Im sure one of the applications will be successful. 7 Id like to buy an open top car, but theyre all so terribly expensive.,Exercises,dispirited incomprehensible inquisitive jot observant prohibitively whereabouts,whereabouts,dispirited,prohibitively,7. Answer

44、the questions about the expressions. 1 If you look blank about something, do you (a) understand, or (b) not understand it? 2 If you come to grips with a problem, do you (a) start to deal with it, or (b) stop thinking about it? 3 When something falls apart, is it (a) in the wrong place, or (b) broken

45、?,Exercises,7. Answer the questions about the expressions. 1 If you look blank about something, do you (a) understand, or (b) not understand it? 2 If you come to grips with a problem, do you (a) start to deal with it, or (b) stop thinking about it? 3 When something falls apart, is it (a) in the wron

46、g place, or (b) broken?,4 When something wears out, does it (a) not look very nice, or (b) become old and unusable? 5 If you mull over a problem, do you (a) think carefully about it for a long time, or (b) quickly solve it? 6 Do people sometimes say “It beats me” because they (a) understand, or (b)

47、dont understand something?,Exercises,4 When something wears out, does it (a) not look very nice, or (b) become old and unusable? 5 If you mull over a problem, do you (a) think carefully about it for a long time, or (b) quickly solve it? 6 Do people sometimes say “It beats me” because they (a) unders

48、tand, or (b) dont understand something?,Reading and interpreting 8. Work in pairs and choose the best answer to the question. 9. Work in pairs. Look at the sentences from the passage and answer the questions.,Exercises,Exercises,8. Work in pairs and choose the best answer to the question. What is th

49、e writers main purpose in writing the passage? (a) To complain that people in America dont work anymore. No, because he talks a lot about people working; obviously they do work.,Exercises,(b) To make fun of people who spend their time in offices. Yes, because all of the second part of the passage do

50、es this, with the repetition of the word paper. (c) To show how far removed todays workforce is from manufacturing industries. No, although bits of the first part make this point, this is not the main purpose.,(d) To express regret that a lot of traditional jobs have been lost. No, if he feels regre

51、t, it is because children do not understand their parents work. But this point about regret is really only an introduction.,Exercises,(e) To discourage young people from looking for a job in “corporate America”. No, although the writer seems cynical about “corporate America”, he would know that youn

52、g people will need jobs somewhere. His purpose is to criticize with humour, or make fun of “corporate America”.,Exercises,Exercises,Now discuss any other aims you think the writer may have. The passage is humorous and somewhat exaggerated, but the purpose is not only to make fun of “corporate Americ

53、a” through irony, but also to satirize it, or to criticize it. The constant repetition of phrases with paper indirectly makes the point that all this paperwork has gone too far.,Exercises,9. Work in pairs. Look at the sentences from the passage and answer the questions. 1 In effect, the machines are

54、 making junk. What does the writer use the word junk to refer to? The word junk here indicates that the products are of a low quality and are made to be disposed of. 2 “Daddy makes junk”. Why would most people probably be unwilling to say this? The word junk sounds negative. If someone makes rubbish

55、 products, this may imply that the person is incompetent. Thus, it is hard for people to admit this.,Exercises,3 the typical 12-story glass building in the typical American city. What kind of buildings is the writer talking about? The writer refers to a tall office block or a skyscraper. 4 Construct

56、ed as a piece of junk, the building will be discarded when it wears out Why is the building described as junk? Because it was cheaply built, and it may be cheaper for the company to get rid of the building and build a new one on the same site rather than repair it.,Exercises,5 the building is filled

57、 with people who think of themselves as working. Are the people actually working, in the writers opinion? No, in the writers opinion, these people do not work effectively, although they may think they are doing so. 6 fill paper with words. Which word would you normally use instead of this phrase? Wr

58、ite or type.,Exercises,7 Some persons mail paper. Some persons telephone other persons and ask that paper be sent to them. Others telephone to ascertain the whereabouts of paper. What is the overall effect of the repetition of the words persons and paper? It emphasizes how repetitive and mundane the

59、 work appears. People all appear to be busy at something, but what they do is monotonous and unnecessary.,Exercises,8 He reads paper. What is strange about the sentence? There is a missing of the definite article the or a quantifying phrase such as a piece of paper. This indicates that what he reads is not anything particular b