Unit One Ways of LearningText A Learning, Chinese-StyleLanguage Focus1. attach: fasten or join (one thing to another) (used in the pattern: attach sth. to sth.)Examples: Scientists discovered they could measure wind speed by attaching a wind meter toa kite and sending it up.Attached to this letter you will find a copy of the document you asked for.四级大纲中动词后跟to 的类似词组还有：adapt…to使适应于add…to加到……上adjust…to(使) 适应于admit to承认agree to同意(某一建议、安排等) amount to总计达, 相当于, 等于apologize to向(某人)道歉appeal to向……呼吁; 诉诸于; 对……有吸引力apply to向(某人)申请attend to处理, 料理; 照顾, 照料belong to属于challenge…to向……挑战, 要求(比赛、决斗等)communi cate…to向……传达compare…to把……比作confess to承认, 忏悔confine…to把……限制在consent to同意, 答应contribute to捐献, 捐赠; 有助于correspond to 相当于; 相符, 符合devote…to为……而奉献entitle…to给……权利(或资格) lead to(路等)通向; 导致limit…to把……限制到object to反对occur to被想到, 出现在脑海中owe…to把……归功于prefer…to喜欢……胜过……propose to向……求婚react to对……作出反应refer to提到, 涉及; 查阅, 参考relate to有关, 涉及reply to对……作出回答resort to诉诸, 求助于respond to回答, 响应see to处理stick to坚持; 忠于, 信守subject to使遭受, 使服从submit to服从, 听从surrender to投降, 屈服turn to找(某人寻求帮助等) yield to投降, 让步2. not in the least: not at allExamples; I am not in the least touched by the Marilyn Monroe kind of beauty.Ann didn't seem in the least concerned about her study.3. find one's way: reach a destination naturally; arrive atExamples: Shanghai is not an easy city to find your way around.Drunk as he was, Peter still found his way home.Similar phrases:struggle one’s way; elbow one’s way; make one’s way; push one’s way, etc.4. phenomenon: (pl. phenomena) sth. that happens or exists and that can be seen or experiencedExamples: Hurricanes are a relatively common phenomenon in the Caribbean.Stress-related illness is a common phenomenon in big cities.Thunder and lightening are natural phenomena.5. Initial: of or at the beginning, first (adj., used only before n.)Examples: If a car suddenly pulls out in front of you, your initial reaction may include fear and anger.Their initial burst of enthusiasm died down when they realized how much work the job involved.6. assist: help (used in the pattern: assist sb. to do sth., assist sb. with sth.)Examples: The professor was assisting his students to prepare their project.The college student decided to assist the boy with his study.Word choice: help, assist, give/lend a hand, help out, come to sb’s aid/assistance, aid, give/send aidHelp and assist can both describe people or institutions helping each other do a job. However, assist is more formal and often suggests that the person assisting is doing a simple or unimportant part of what has to be done, e.g.My company assists businesses in all their office cleaning requirements.You will assist the administrative officer with day-to-day organization.In more informal English people often use give/ lend a hand or help out, especially where there is something practical to do and not enough people to do it:Can you give me a hand with the drinks?I sometimes lend a hand / help out at eh old folk’s home.If someone is in danger or trouble, you may help them or more formally come to their aid/ assistance:My car’s broken down, can you help?If you get into difficulties, the lifeguard will come to your assistance.If a person, charity, or government helps with money or other necessary things, aid (formal)or often give/ send aid may be used; help would be used informally:Many projects are aided by Oxfam.Aid will be sent to the area as soon as possible.Please help the homeless.7. insert: put, fit, place (in, into, between)Examples: Wait for a couple of minutes with your mouth closed before inserting the thermometer.The doctor carefully inserted the needle into my left arm.8. somewhat: to some degree, a little Examples:It is reported that conditions in the village have improved somewhat since November.____ "Are you concerned about your exam results?"____ "Somewhat."9. await: (fml) wait forAwait is a fairly common word in formal writing, but you do not usually use it in conversation.Instead you use "wait for." Examples:We must await the results of field studies yet to come.After I sent the letter asking for a job, I had nothing to do but await the answer.10. on occasion: now and thenExamples'. I was usually the only foreign participant, although on occasion I brought otherAmericans in as guests.Steve spent almost all his time doing his research, but, on occasion, he would take his son to see a film.11. neglect: give too little attention or care toExamples: He gave too much attention to his career, working long hours and neglecting his wife.Their investment turned out to be a failure and the manager was accused of neglecting his duties.Cf.: ignore: pay no attention to sb./sth. on purpose, or as if sth. has not happenedExample: I said "Good morning" to her, but she just ignored me and walked on.12. relevant: directly connected with the subject (followed by to , opposite irrelevant) Examples:Only a few people feel the debate about the cloning of human beings is relevant to their daily lives.While writing my term paper I was able to borrow all the relevant books from the school library.13. investigate: try to find out information about (used in the pattern: investigate sth., investigate +wh-clause) Examples:Police are still investigating how the car accident happened.We can assure you that your complaint will be fully and properly investigated.14. exception: sb./sth. that a comment or statement does not apply to Examples:Normally, parents aren't allowed to sit in on the classes, but in your case we can make an exception.We feel that all the students in this class, with one or two exceptions, support the educational reforms.Without exception all our youngsters wanted to leave school and start work.When you are mentioning an exception, you often use the expression "with the exception of”.Example: We all went to see the film, with the exception of Otto, who complained of feeling unwell.15. on one's own: 1) without anyone's helpExamples; You needn't give me any help. I am able to manage on my own.There are jobs your child can do on her own.2) aloneExamples: The child was left on her own for hours as her mom had to deal with the emergency.I'd rather not go to dance on my own. I do wish you'd come with me.四级大纲中以on 开始的类似词组还有:on a large (small) scale大（小）规模地on account of由于，因为on an/ the average平均，通常on behalf of代表，为了on board在船（车、飞机）上on business因公，因事on condition that如果on duty当班，值班on earth究竟，到底on fire起火，着火on foot步行on guard站岗，值班on hand在场，在手边on one’s guard警惕，提防on purpose故意，有意on sale出售；廉价出售on schedule按时间表，准时on second thoughts经重新考虑，继而想on the contrary正相反on the grounds of根据，以……为理由on the point of即将……的时候on the road在旅途中，在……过程中on the side作为兼职，作为副业，正事以外on the spot在场，到场；马上，当场on the whole总的来说，大体上on time准时16. accomplish: manage to do (sth.)Examples: Unless you practice you'll accomplish nothing.Considering their capacity, the possibility of accomplishing the task is not high.If I work hard, I think I can accomplish my goal of getting 6 A's at the end of the semester. 17. in due course: at the proper time; eventuallyExamples'. Your book will be published in due course.Be patient. You'll get your promotion in due course.18. critical: 1) very importantExamples; Environmentalists say a critical factor in the city's pollution is its population.How well you accomplish this task will be critical to the success of your career.2) very serious or dangerousExamples: In yesterday's car accident, ten people were killed and five people are still in a critical condition.As the situation in Afghanistan became critical, the UN Secretary-General appointed a special representative to tackle it.19. principal: adj. (rather fml) main, chiefExamples; The couple's principal concern is to earn enough money to send their children to school.Her principal interest in life was to be a world-renowned pianist.n. The principal of a school or college is the person in charge of it.Example: Complaints from the students began arriving at the principal's office.Cf.: principle (see Confusable Words p.16 )A principle is a basic rule that explains or controls how something works or a guiding rule for behaviour.Examples: These machines work on the same principle.Mr. Ward is a man of high principles.20. make up for: repay with sth. good, compensate forExamples'- I didn't travel much when I was younger, but I'm certainly making up for lost time now.Her husband bought her a present to make up for quarreling with her the day before.21. in retrospect: on evaluating the past; upon reflectionExamples: The young man knew in retrospect that he should have married his first love Emily.In retrospect, I wish that I had chosen biology as my major.四级大纲中以in 开始的类似词组还有:in a sense从某种程度上，从某点上看in any case/ event无论如何，不管怎样in brief简单地说in common共同的，共有的in consequence因此，结果in debt 欠债，欠情in detail详细地in difficulty处境困难in effect实际上，事实上in favor of支持，赞成in general一般来说，大体上in hand在进行中，待办理in honor of为庆祝，为纪念in itself本质上，就其本身而言in line成一条直线，成一排in line with与……一致；与……符合in memory of纪念in no case无论如何不，决不in no time立即，马上in no way 决不in order按顺序，按次序；整齐in part部分地in particular特别，尤其in person亲自，本人in place在合适的位置in place of代替，取代，交换in practice在实践中，实际上in proportion to与……成比例in public公开地，当众in quantity大量in question正在谈论的in regard to关于，至于in relation to有关，与……相比in return作为报答in sight看得见，被见到；在望，在即in step齐步，合拍；一致，协调in tears流着泪，在哭着in the course of在……期间, 在……过程中in the event of如果……发生, 万一in the face of 不顾, 即使; 在……前面in the least丝毫, 一点儿in (the) light of鉴于,由于in the way挡道, 妨碍人的in the world究竟, 到底in touch 联系, 接触in vain陡然, 白费力22. extreme: very greatExample: The girls were afraid of snakes and walked along the mountain trail with extreme caution.n. the furthest possible limit, an extreme degreeExample: I know I always say that you eat too much, but there is no need to go to the other extreme.(phrase: go to extremes: do sth. so much, state sth. so strongly, that people consider your actions unacceptable and unreasonableExamples: John went to such extremes to get his promotion that everyone at the office hates him now.The film is not very good, but some critics have gone to extremes, saying it is the worst of the decade. )23. performance: 1) the standard achieved by a person or group of people in carrying out a particularjob or activityExamples: The athlete was awarded $10,000 for his good performance in the Olympics.After several bad performances, the soccer team found their form again.2) sth. performed in front of an audience, e.g. a play, a dance or other entertainmentExamples; Stevie Wonder fought back from the shadow of death and went on to give more performances.His performance in the new production of Hamlet received much praise.24. so much so that: to such an extentExamples; Americans treat their children as separate individuals, so much so that someone who remains dependent on their parents longer than the norm may be thought to be "immature."Some parents spoil their children, so much so that they never ask them to do an studying.25. Continual: happening again and again, repeatedExamples: The construction of the airport continued despite continual complaints from local residents.The dog's continual barking disturbed the whole neighborhood.Word choice: continual(ly), continuous(ly)Continual describes separate actions (often annoying actions you do not like) which are repeated over a period of time, e.g. :These continual interruptions are driving me mad.She’s continually flying off to different places.Continuous especially describes things and events that go on without a break, e. g. : The police formed a continuous line round the building.This product is the result of years of continuous development.We landed after flying continuously for 16 hours.26. apply: 1) be relevant (to sb./sth.); have an effect (used in the pattern: apply to sb./sth.)Examples: The new pension arrangements won't apply to people born before 1960.The advice given by the professor only applies to some of the college students.2) write a letter or fill in a form in order to ask formally for sth. (used in the pattern: applyfor sth., apply to do sth.)Examples: How many jobs had you applied for before you were offered this one?We went to the sports club so often that we decided that we might as well apply to join.27. work on/at: try hard to achieve or improve (sth.)Examples: Sophia needs to work at/on her typing speed.John came back ahead of time to continue working on his thesis.28. priority: 1) sth. that one must do before anything elseExamples: Being a qualified teacher is her first priority.Earning enough money to maintain his family is a high priority.2) sth. that holds a high place among competing claims6Examples: The school will give priority to English and computer studies.The proposals deserve support as they give priority to the needs of children.29. evolve: (cause to) develop gradually (followed by into/from)Examples; The story evolves into a violent tragedy.Popular music evolved from folk songs.As knowledge of genetic engineering evolves, beliefs change.If you want to be a poet, you must evolve your own style of writing.30. summarize: make a short account of the main points of (sth.)Examples: Basically, the article can be summarized in three sentences.The workers' demands can be summarized as follows: shorter hours and more pay.31. contrast: compare (two people or things) so that differences are made clear (used in the pattern:contrast A and/with B)Examples; Carrie contrasted the situation then with the present crisis.Students were asked to contrast Ernest Hemingway with Mark Twain.n. action of contrastingExamples: I was always reading when I was a kid, but my daughter, in contrast, just watches TV all day.In contrast to the hot days, the nights are bitterly cold.32. on the one hand ... on the other hand: to introduce two contrasting circumstancesExamples: On the one hand her temper was likely to cause trouble, but on the other hand we needed her expertise.On the one hand, we have good reason to feel pleased with our progress. On the other hand, we mustn't get complacent.33. promote: help to grow or developExamples: You don't have to sacrifice environmental protection to promote economic growth.Regular exercise will help promote physical and mental health.34. emerge: come out (followed by from)Examples: The postman emerged from his van soaked to the skin.The magician emerged from behind the curtain.n. emergence (pay attention to the difference between emergence and emergency)35. pick up: gain, learnExamples: He picked up quite a lot of English during his one-year stay in America.I had picked up a bit of data-processing from my son.36. enormous: extremely large (same as huge, immense)Examples: Catherine inherited an enormous fortune from her parents.The New Year's concert was an enormous success.37. exaggerate: make (sth.) seem larger, better, etc. than it really isExamples; In her resume, she has clearly exaggerated her talents a little.— "I am bleeding to death!"— "Don't exaggerate — it's only a little cut."Peter says he's seen "Titanic" at least 20 times but I think he's exaggerating.38. assuming (that):You use assuming that when you are considering a possible situation or event, so that think about the consequences.Examples: Assuming that we all work at the same rate, we should be finished by January.Assuming that this painting really is a Van Gogh, how much do you think it's worth?39. valid: based on truth or sound reasoningExamples; They put forward many valid reasons for not building the skyscraper.It is valid to consider memory the oldest mental skill.Scientific theories must be backed up with valid evidence.40. worthwhile: worth doing, worth the trouble takenExamples: It might be worthwhile to consider buying an insurance policy.A trip to the museum is always worthwhile.7Teaching is considered a worthwhile job.Cf.: worth: prep. & n.Worth is common only after the verb to be and after words for amounts of something, e.g.How much is the ring worth?The picture is worth about two thousand pounds.The balance sheet will not show the current worth of the company.Dick cashed about a thousand pounds’ worth of travelers cheques.There ‘s about a week’s worth of work left.41. superior: better than average or than others of the same type (followed by to )Examples: Long-term stock market investments have produced superior returns compared with cash deposits.The woman was greatly superior to her husband in education.四级大纲中形容词原形后跟介词to 表示比较的形容词(这类词来自拉丁语系) 还有:inferior, senior, junior, prior, etc. e.g. :Your thesis is superior to mine.She is three years senior to me.Text B Children and Money1.account: n . 1) an arrangement that you have with a bank to pay in or take out money, e.g.My salary is paid directly into my bank account.current account (BrE), checking account (AmE) 往来帐户，活期户（往往无利息）deposit account（可拿利息但需事先通知方可提取的）存款帐户savings account储蓄存款帐户（利息比deposit account 要高）credit account(BrE), charge account(AmE)（商店的）信用帐户expense account（有老板支付的）旅差费帐户2) description; a written or spoken description which gives details of an eventThere were several different accounts of the story in the newspapers.David gave us a vivid account of the his trip to Rio.her fascinating first-hand account of the Chinese Cultural Revolution2.furthermore: (sentence adverb) fml in addition to what has already been said; moreoverFurthermore, my aim is to provide the best service possible under these difficult circumstances.I suggest we go to the Italian restaurant--- it’s very good and furthermore it’s very cheap.3.intend: have something in your mind as a plan or purposeI didn’t intend her to see the painting until it was finished.He was insulted by my remark, but I hadn’t intended it to be offensive.It is intended that all new employees well receive appropriate training.4.access: n 1) the way by which you can enter a building or reach a placeAccess is by means of a small door on the right.Access to the restrooms is through the foyer.2) the right to do sthThe public don’t have access to the site.Access to the papers is restricted to Defense Department personnel only.My ex-husband has access to the children once a week.5.plus. prep. with the addition ofThree plus six equals nine.The unit deals with all lung and heart conditions, plus many other lesser ailments.6.devise: to plan or invent a way of doing something, especially something complicated and clever.She devised a method for quicker communications between offices.She is very good at devising language games that you can play with students in class.7.resource. (usu. pl) 1) something such as land, minerals, or natural energy that exists in a countryand can be used to increase its wealth:8Canada’s vast mineral resourcesBritain’s mineral resources include oil, coal and gas deposits.2) all the money or property , skills etc that you have available:We must make the best possible use of our limited financial resources.A big company like IBM have huge resources of money and skill.8.keep track of : follow the development of ; keep in touch withIt’s difficult to keep track of all the new disco veries in genetics.I always make sure I keep track of all the money I spend.9.deposit: n. a sum of money paid into a bank accountWe put down a deposit on a house last week.You’ll have to pay one month’s rent in advance, plus a deposit of $500.v. (fml) to put many in to a bank accountyou are advised to deposit your valuables in the hotel safe.If you deposit 20% now, you can pay the rest when the car is delivered.10.pace: n. speed or rate of development, movement etc.The troops marched at a steady pace.The pace of change in Eastern Europe has been breathtaking.Pensions and benefits have failed to keep pace with the rate of inflation.11.annual: adj. Happening or done every year or once a yearan annual conferenceSteel output reaches an annual figure of one million tons.Companies publish annual reports to inform the public about the previous year’s activities.12.protest: vi. Express strong disagreement or disapproval about sth.Several demonstrators protesting against cuts in health spending were arrested.All through the trial he protested his innocence, insisting he had not robbed the shop.13.fund: (usu. pl) sum of money saved or for a particular purposeThe hospital has set up a special fund to buy new equipment.She has a fund of knowledge about modern jazz.14.on demand: when demandedBabies should be fed on demand.The notes entitles the bearer to $20 on demand.15.from one’s point of view: from a particular way of thinking about or judging a situationFrom a purely environmental point of view, this is not a good decision.I respect your point of view, but I really don’t agree with you.16.fall apart: break, fall to piecesThese toys aren’t well made—they come/fall apart far too easily.17.end up (doing sth): find oneself in a situation that is not intended or expectedShe’ll end up penniless if she caries on spending as much as that./After working her way around the world, she ended up teaching English as a foreign language. 18.undoubtedly: certainlyIt is undoubtedly the best film of this year.Of course, she is good at her job--- that is undoubtedly true.19.adopt: take and use as one’s ownDr. Kenney has been adopted as the party’s candidate for South Cambridge.Roz has adopted one or two funny mannerisms since she’s been away.She adopted Indian dress during her stay in the country.The party has adopted a more pragmatic approach towards arms reduction.20.perspective: n. a particular way of thinking about sth.Her attitude lends a fresh perspective to the subject.During the novel, there is a shift in perspective from an adult’s view of events to a child’s view.Due to its geographical position, Germany’s perspective on the situation in Eastern Europe is rather different from Britain’s.9Unit 2 ValuesText A The Richest Man in America, Down HomeUseful Expressions1. a little dime store 廉价商店2. discount chain store 打折的连锁店3. get away with 过着安稳的日子4. wait in line 排队5. blend in 融洽6. throw one’s weight around 盛气凌人7. hold firm to 遵守8. folksy habits 平民习惯9. steer clear of something 避开10 cut prices and margins to the bone 让利11 the stingy employer 吝啬的雇主12 a company handout 公司的宣传册Unit 3 The Generation GapText A Father Knows BetterLanguage Points1. Father/Dad, you know better than that: know better, to be wise or well-trained enough (not to) Shewas old enough to know better than to take sweets from a stranger.2. … attempts which somehow or other always end up embarrassing them:/to be in the enda) He ended up (as) head of the firm.b) We set off for London but ended up in Paris.c) We didn’t like it at first, but w e ended up cheering.3. Then he got a job at this fast-food place, OK? Waiting tables:“wait”, usu. a intransitive verb, buthere, it is seemingly used as a transitive one. However, when it is used as “to serve meals, esp. asa regular job”, it is more likely to be “wait at table (BrE)”, or “wait on table (AmE)”. So, weguess here it is an informal usage for that phrase.4. And I assure you that if there are any subjects that need to be addressed, Sean and I will have aman-to-man talk.Address:a) to direct speech or writing to (a person or group) The Secretary had to address a hostile crowdof workers.b) to direct (speech or writing) to a person or group She addressed her remarks particularly tothose people in the area of earthquake.5. Overall, I wouldn’t trade my dad for anyone else’s: exchange sth. for sth.6. Well, whatever it is, dear, don’t keep us in suspense: keep/leave sb. in suspense, delay telling sb.what they are eager to know Highly skilled story teller can keep his audience in suspense to the end of his performance.7. (Stage whisper to SEAN) Something Diane won’t want to know, I’ll bet.stagea) to perform or arrange for public show to stage a play/an art show/a charity football gameb) to cause to happen (esp. for public e ffect or draw someone’s attention) The union staged aone-day strike. The Japanese staged an unexpected attack on the American fleets in Pearl10Harbor.8. My treat, I told him. And of course, he was glad to accept.treat, stand someone a treata) Something that gives great pleasure or delight, esp. when unexpected He took his son to thezoo as a birthday treat.b) Something that the stated person will pay for, for other people This meal is my treat, so putyour money away.9. (Very short with her)I’m sorry: short (with), rudely impatient I was rather short with you on thephone this morning --- I was rather busy at that time. He was very short-tempered.10. Diane, what has come over you? I just don’t understand the you nger generation. come over sb: (asudden strong feeling) take hold of (someone)The old man fainted when the rage came over him. A wave of terror came over her when the siren sounded.Text B When Father Doesn’t Know Best1. embrace vt. n. 拥抱e.g. They embraced (each other) on the station platform.They greeted each other with a warm embrace..2．respond vi. 回答，答复；（to）做出反应，响应e.g. To every question the police officer asked, he responded“I don’t know.”How did she respond to the news?3．contrary a. (to)相反的，对抗的n. (the --)相反，相反事物to the contrary 相反的（地）on the contrary正相反e.g. “If I don’t hear to the contrary (=If I’m not told that the arrangements have been changed )I’ll see you at ten.”“Didn’t you find the film exciting?” “On the contrary, I nearly fell asleep half waythrough it.”4．notion n. 概念，观念；意图，想法，（怪）念头e.g. The programme makers reject the notion that seeing violence on television has a harmfuleffect on children.这个节目制作者拒绝接受在电视上观看暴力行为会对儿童产生不良影响的观点。
