大学英语精读第二册课件Unit2
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大学英语精读第二册Unit Two-The Dinner PartyA heated discussion about whether men are braver than women is settled in a rather unexpected way.The Dinner PartyI first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true -though any naturalist1 would know it couldn't be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down.The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests -- officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist -- in their spacious2 dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda3.A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown4 the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the- sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't."A woman's reaction in any crisis," the major says, "is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts."The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing5 behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen :he quickly leaves the room.Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.The American comes to with a start. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing -- bait for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room. He looks up at the rafters -the likeliest place -- but they are bare. Three corners of the room are empty, and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course. There is only one place left -- under the table.His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion6 would frighten the cobra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so commanding that it silences everyone."I want to know just what control everyone at this table has.I will count three hundred -- that's five minutes -- and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit7 50 rupees. Ready?"The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "...two hundred and eighty..." when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut."You were right, Major!" the host exclaims. "A man has just shown us an example of perfect self-control.""Just a minute," the American says, turning to his hostess."Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that cobra was in the room?"A faint smile lights up the woman's face as she replies :"Because it was crawling across my foot."NEW WORDSheateda. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 热烈的;激烈的unexpecteda. not expected 意外的naturalistn. one who makes a special study of plants or animalsoutdoors 博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者)shortlyad. Soon; (in) a little time 不久,马上colonial]a. of or related to a colony or colonies 殖民地的spaciousa. big; having much space 广阔的;宽阔的diningn. 餐厅bare。
Unit 2Part I New Wordsdeclaration n. 宣布,宣告,宣言,声明a declaration of independence 独立宣言The government will issue a formal declaration tomorrow. 政府将于明天发布正式声明。
declare v. 断言,宣称He declared (that) he was right. 他力陈他是对的。He declared his true feelings to her. 他向她表白了自己的真实感情。
independence n. 独立;自主;自立I've always valued my independence. 我一向很重视自己的独立。I-Day 美国独立纪念日(7月4日)Young people have more independence these days. 现在的年轻人更加独立自主。
independent a. 自主的;独立的India became independent in 1947. 印度于1947年独立。I wanted to remain independent in old age. 我希望年老时还能自给自足(独立生活)。
obtain v. 得到,获得;行,得到公认,应用Where can I obtain the book? 我在哪里能买到(得到)这本书?These ideas no longer obtain. 这些见解已经行不通了。Different laws obtain in different places. 不同的法律适用在不同的地方。
besides prep./ad. 除…以外(还);而且,也He had other people to take care of besides me. 除了我以外, 他还需要照料其他人。I don't want to go; besides, I'm too tired. 我不想去, 再说我也太累了。
investigation n. 调查,审查The letter calls for an investigation of the facts. 来信要求对这些事实进行调查。The singer is currently under investigation for possessing illegal drugs. 这名歌手正在接受关于非法藏毒的调查。
investigate v. 调查Everyone with a possible interest in your brother's death must be thoroughly investigated. 所有可能与你兄弟死亡有利害关系的人都必须予以彻底调查。The police are investigating the murder. 警察在调查那起凶杀案件。
appoint v. 任命,委派;约定She has been appointed to the board. 她被任命为董事会董事(board of administration, board of directors)。We must appoint a day to meet again. 我们要约定好下次会面的日期。appointment n. 任命,委派;约会,约定I have an appointment with him at four o'clock. 我和他四点钟有个约会。The board has confirmed the appointment of James as Sales Manager. 董事会确认任命詹姆斯为销售经理。
committee n. 委员会a committee meeting 委员会会议financial committee 财政[务]委员会I talked to some of the people on the committee. 我在委员会会议上跟几位委员谈了话。
capitol n. 议会大厦;美国州议会大厦capital n. 首都,首府;资本,资金
canoe n. 独木舟 v. 划独木舟They slid the canoe down to the water. 他们使小舟滑到水中。He had once canoed down the Nile. 他曾划着独木舟顺尼罗河而下。
on-the-spot a. 现场的,当场的humble a. 谦卑的,谦逊的I felt very humble when meeting her. 遇到她时我觉得很卑微。He built the business empire from humble beginnings. 他从小生意开始逐步建立了这个商业王国。
origin n. 起源,由来;出身,血统the origins of civilization 文明的起源The Origin of Species 物种起源He had risen from humble origins through hard work. 他出身卑微,通过努力工作才获得了成功。Her family is Portuguese in origin. 她的家族是葡萄牙血统。
original a.原来的;最初的;创新的The original settlers in the American are the Indians. 最早在这里定居的是印第安人。the original owner of the house 房子原主人an original idea创新的构想(原创思维)
originally ad. 一开始,起初;原来Potatoes originally came from South America. 马铃薯原产于南美。
gardener n. 园丁,花匠/ garden n. 花园nobleman n. 贵族=noblenoble a. 高贵的,高尚的It was very noble of you to look after your old neighbour when she was sick. 你的心真好, 你的老邻居生病时你一直照料她。When the nobles rebelled, the king battled them. 当贵族谋反时, 国王便出兵攻打他们。
dissatisfy v. 使(某人)不满 / dissatisfaction n. 不满I have tried to write this story five times but I am still dissatisfied with me. 我已经把这个故事写了五遍了,可是我还是不满意。She expressed her dissatisfaction with him. 她对他表示不满。
satisfy v. 使满意,使满足 / satisfaction n. 满足,满意Social services is trying to satisfy the needs of so many different groups. 社会服务部门正努力满足许多不同群体的需要。Although we didn’t win, we were able to take some satisfaction from our performance. 虽然没赢,但我们对自己的表现还是比较满意。
satisfied a. 满意的,满足的 / dissatisfied a. 感到不满的,不高兴的There was a dissatisfied look in the manager’s eyes. 经理的眼睛里露出不满的神色。
threaten v. 威胁The boss threatened to fire her. 老板威胁要开除她。She threatened him with a gun. 她用枪威胁他。
threat n. 威胁His threats are just talk. Don’t worry! 他的威胁只不过是空话而已, 不要担心!The government refused to give in to the hijackers’ threats. 政府拒绝屈服于劫机者的威胁。
reject v. 拒绝,抵制He was afraid she would reject him. 他担心她会拒绝他。The board rejected all our ideas. 董事会拒绝了我们的所有意见。
rejection n. 拒绝,抵制Children who have had bad experiences fear rejection. 有过不幸遭遇的孩子害怕遭人嫌弃。He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection. 他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
nephew n. 侄子,外甥 / niece n. 侄女,外甥女error n. 错误,差错spelling errors 拼写错误
judgment n. 判断;审判;看法I acted on my own judgment. 我按自己的判断行事。They obtained a judgment in their favour. 他们得到了胜诉的判决。Landing a plane requires fine judgment. 驾驶飞机着陆需要准确的判断。