新世纪大学英语综合教程4(第二版)Lecture Notes_U2(4)

Television Cell Phone Computer Washing Machine Text B

Section A KEY WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS Key Words:

opponent n. extreme a. mechanization n. operator n. genetic a. obtainable a. modify vt. consumerism n. immortality n. additionally ad. exclusively ad.

opponent n. a person who opposes sth. or sb. 反对者 e.g. Opponents say the project will be too costly.

She is one of the strongest opponents of tax reform.

extreme a. often derog (esp. of opinions and those who hold them) going beyond the usual limits; likely to be disapproved of by most people 〖常贬〗（意见或人）过激的；极端的

e.g. The government had to take extreme measures to put down the riot in the jail.

They took extreme measures to conserve fuel in the harsh winter.

obtainable a. that can be obtained 能得到的，能达到的；可买到的 e.g. The timetable is obtainable from the airline office.

I’m afraid that the record you asked for is no longer obtainable.

consumerism n. [U] the idea or belief that buying as many goods as possible is desirable for a person or society 消费主义（认为高消费对个人和社会有利的看法） e.g. He disliked Christmas time and its extreme consumerism.

By the second half of the 19th century consumerism had taken root.

mechanization n. [U] 机械化，机动化

e.g. We are determined to realize the mechanization in agriculture.

All these measures will help speed up mechanization of farm work.

operator n. a person who works a machine, apparatus, etc. （机器、设备等的）操作员 e.g. The complex machine requires a skilled operator.

An operator’s voice announced that the call was long distance.

modify vt. change (a plan, an opinion, a condition, or the form or quality of sth.), esp. slightly （尤指程度不大地）更改，修改

e.g. I’m afraid we have to modify our plan a little bit.

The design has been modified to improve fuel consumption.

immortality n. [U] the state of being living for ever; never-ending life or endless fame 不死，不朽，流芳百世

e.g. No other people has been so obsessed with immortality as the Egyptians.

I do not believe in immortality, and have no desire for it.

genetic a. relating to genes or genetics 遗传学的

e.g. Genetic engineering is perhaps the most exciting recent development in biology. Physical characteristics are determined by genetic inheritance.

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additionally ad. in addition; moreover 加之，又

e.g. Additionally, I am sending along all the forms that you require at this time.

There were 27 events. Additionally, we added two non-competitive events: baseball and soft tennis.

exclusively ad. only; and nothing / no one else 排除其他地；专有地；单独地 e.g. This special offer has been exclusively designed for readers of this magazine.

My time is exclusively occupied with study.

Expressions:

take time to do the other side of the coin compared to

take time to do deliberately spend time doing 花费时间做

e.g. A suspect in a bank robbery took time to count the cash in a bar but was arrested then and there.

Take time to consider before you rush into anything.

the other side of the coin the other or opposite side of an argument, situation, etc. 事情（论点等）的另一面 e.g. Everyone assumes he’s to blame but they don’t know the other side of the coin. People who hold extreme views often fail to notice the other side of the coin.

compared to in comparison with与??比较

e.g. Your salary is nothing compared to what you could earn in America. Statistics show a 20% reduction in burglary compared to last year. Section B Difficult Sentences

1. The defenders of technology are as many as the opponents of it. (Para.1) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:

捍卫技术的人和反对技术的人数旗鼓相当。 2) Paraphrase the sentence. Key:

There are as many people who are for technology as those who are against it.

2. … nobody can neglect the fact that our living conditions have been improved due to technology … (Para.2) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:

??谁也不能反驳下面的事实：由于技术，我们的生活条件得到了改善?? 2) Make a sentence with the italicized structure. Key:

Nobody can neglect the fact that childhood experiences shape one’s character to a great extent.

3. But the other side of the coin has become already visible. (Para. 3) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:

但是，事情的另一面也已经显现出来。 2) Paraphrase the sentence. Key:

But the other side of the situation has already emerged and been noticed by people.

4. This can be seen if one looks at the possibilities of surgery in technologically developed countries like

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America as compared to countries which do not have this advantage. (Para. 5) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:

看一下在像美国这样技术发达的国家采用外科手术的种种可能性便清楚了，相比之下，有些国家是没有这种优势的。

2) Make a sentence with the italicized structure. Key:

My handwriting is good, but it is poor as compared to my father’s.

Section C Comprehension Questions

▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 1)

Q1: Why is technology always a “hot” issue in discussions?

A1: On the one hand, there are as many people who are for technology as those who are against it. On the

other hand, neither side would bother to listen to the other side’s viewpoint.

Q2: Why does the author compare technology as a knife?

A2: A knife can be used for both good and bad purposes. Similarly, technology can do both good and evil,

depending on how it is applied and who makes use of it. If it is used properly, it will improve our lives. Otherwise, it may destroy us. ▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 2)

Q: In what respects have our lives been improved due to technology?

A: Many diseases can be cured now; production has been increased and many products that were unimaginable in the past are now available to more and more people; people have more free time and their mental horizons have been broadened, and people in general live longer and better. ▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 3)

Q: What is the other side of the coin the author mentions concerning technology?

A: The other side of the coin the author mentions refers to the irrational invasion of nature, the unlimited exploitation of natural resources, the over-consumption of goods, the abuse of technological inventions for evil purposes, and the mechanization of work which leaves man as little more than a machine operator. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 4-5)

Q1: What is the difference between America and many other countries as far as surgery is concerned?

A1: In technologically developed countries like America, there are many possibilities of surgery, while in other

countries which do not have advanced technology, the possibilities are less.

Q2: What disadvantage does the application of medical equipment bring about according to the author?

A2: According to the author, the application of medical equipment makes doctors rely too much on the data

provided by machines. They no longer diagnose illness by the traditional and more comprehensive method, thus turning the way of treatment into a purely analytical approach.

Q3: What does the author mean by saying that the doctors today have become “good learners” but not “good

thinkers”?

A3: By saying that, the author means that doctors today are used to “translating” every piece of health data into

numbers and they give diagnoses based on the numbers from the medical equipment rather than on independent thinking.

Q4: What is the consequence of doctors’ being used to “translating” every piece of data to numbers?

A4: The consequence is that the close relationship and human interaction between doctors and patients no

longer exist and patients feel more like objects than persons.

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▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 6)

Q1: Why does the author think biotechnology fascinates man’s thoughts?

A1: Because, according to the author, scientists feel that they can “play” with the secret of life and that their

research on biotechnology can bring biological immortality to people, and people expect genetic engineering to produce miracles.

Q2: Can genetic engineering really produce miracles? Why or why not?

A2: I’m afraid not, because nature has its own secret laws. A high price must be paid for any disturbance of

these natural laws. According to the author, the more people get to know nature’s truth, the more complicated it becomes. When scientists find the cure for one kind of disease, something more terrible will appear to threaten human beings. ▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 7)

Q1: In which respect has war changed with technology?

A1: In the past when soldiers went to war, they fought hand to hand. Now, with the advance of technology,

they fight from a distance by, say, simply pressing buttons.

Q2: What is the difference between fighting face to face and fighting from a distance according to the author? A2: According to the author, fighting face to face needs some values like courage and commitment, while

fighting from a distance does not. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 8-9)

Q1: What is the relationship between technology and man’s values according to the author?

A1: According to the author, when man has values, technology serves him, but when man loses values,

technology cannot be controlled any more.

Q2: Is technology good or bad according to the author?

A2: According to the author, technology is neither good nor bad. It depends on how we use it.

Q3: What does the author strongly believe?

A3: The author strongly believes that the appropriate use of technology depends on those who have a strong

sense of social responsibility and social conscience, who respect human beings, and who respect nature and its secret laws.

Part IV Optional Classroom Activities

▇ Work in groups and prepare a mini drama of about 10 minutes. Each group needs to work out the ending first.

Situation: You are an alien (外星人) from an undeveloped planet and come to the earth by chance, where you meet a group of college students. Surprised by the technological products you come across, you ask those college students to explain to you some of them, such as light bulbs, cell phones, cameras, cars, computers, etc. Ending:

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

▇ Answers for Reference: (Open.)

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Par V Enhance Your Language Awareness

Section A Useful Expressions Useful Expressions from Text A by most standards be left largely unexamined when it comes to a universal phenomenon take it for granted keep in mind in other words on a deeper level Useful Expressions from Text B a “hot” issue the opposite point of view the other side of the coin make matters clearer as compared to on one’s own feel more like fight hand to hand Section B Grammar In Context

▇ Study the following sentences from Text A, paying special attention to the use of the adverbial clause of concession. Then do the following two tasks.

1) … even though Americans seemed to work extraordinarily hard, their pursuit of entertainment turned

media and leisure into multibillion-dollar industries. (Para. 1)

2) … the percentage of people who say they are “very happy” has fallen slightly since the early 1970s —

even though the income of people born in 1940 has, on average, increased by 116 percent …. (Para. 2) 3) … though poverty was strongly correlated with misery, … getting wealthier did not seem to make its

citizens any happier. (Para. 3)

4) … although winners were very, very happy when they won, their extreme excitement quickly

evaporated, .… (Para. 4)

让步状语从句

引导让步状语从句的连词主要有以下这些：though, although, while, as; even if, even though; whether...or...; no matter+疑问词，疑问词-ever，regardless of+名词/名词短语/名词从句，despite，in spite of。

1. though, although

表示“虽然，纵然”之意。这两个连词意思大致相同，在一般情况下可以互换使用。在口语中，though较常使用，although比though正式，二者都可与yet, still或never，the less连用，但不能与but连用。例如：

I will remain firm though I must lower my physical sights. Though I believe it, yet I must consider.

Although / Though he was exhausted, (still) he kept on working. Although / Though he is very old, (yet) he is quite strong.

Chinese Equivalences 根据大多数标准 基本上没有受到关注 当谈到 一种普遍现象 认为理所当然 牢记在心 换句话说 从更深的层次上说 Chinese Equivalences 一个“热门”话题 对立的观点 事情的另一面 使问题更清楚 相比之下 独立地 感觉更像 手对手地交战 20

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