Unit 5Text I:The Plug-in Drug: TV and the American Family, Part IMarie WinnI)Pre-reading Brainstorming:1).What do you know about “drug” and “drug taking”?Drug in one sense is a habit-forming substance one takes for pleasure or excitement. Harmful drugs include tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, opium, etc. The plug-in drug is a term used by the author to refer to TV which works when it is plugged in. TV is compared to a drug because, on the one hand, the American family has formed the habit of watching TV at leisure time and, on the other hand, TV has undesirable effects on the family.2).For or against TV viewing: advantages and disadvantages;Note: TV has become the primary entertainment and information medium in the U. S. In 1974, the Bureau of the Census reported that 97% of U.S. households contained at least one TV set and 45% had 2 or more sets.The average American has his set turned on for about 6. 5 hours each day. In fact TV has become the American's eyes and ears .II)Comprehension:1) Main Idea:The domination of television has exerted strong influence on the way of life of many American families, diminishing their daily activities and affecting the sound growth of their children.2) Purpose of writing and Tone:To seriously demonstrate the dangers of the domination of television in American families3) Organization and Development:Introduction: (P1-4)Introduction of the topic --- the effect of television on family life as viewed by early observers;Body: (P5-16)Discussion about the effect of television on family life, esp.on childrenConclusion: (P17)The domination of television will surely affecting the sound growth of their children.Note: Quotations cited by Winn for her purposes of writing:1. In paras. 2 - 4, three quotations from the early writers and commentators show the general view in favor of the new invention without the slightest foresight as to its possible negative effect.2. In para. 7. a quotation of the authors of an early and influential study of television effect on children illustrates a popularly accepted view which helped to soothe the concern parents began to feel about the negative effects TV might have on their children. When the study was carried out, the negative effects of TV were already felt by some parents.3. In para. 10, a quotation from Urie Bronfenbrenner powerfully states the view that TV had negatively affected family life and the transformation of children into adults.4. In para. 12, there is a quotation from a first-grade teacher's report. and in para. 13, there is a quotation from an article written by a mother carried in The New York Times. Both of these try to show how TV dominates the life of a family and reduces interaction between parents and children.4) Comprehension Questions:1. Explain the sentence “… the television set has attained the rank ofa legal necessity, safe from repossession in case of debt.”--- The television set has become so important in the life of a family that its possession is guaranteed by law. Even when a person is in debt, it cannot be taken away from him by whomever he owes a debt.2. Why does Winn accuse the early observers of myopia?--- The early observers only saw the favourable effects of TV and none of them was sufficiently far-sighted to predict the negative effects of TV in the future. That is why they are accused of myopia, i.e. ,short-sightedness.3. what is the meaning of the word “refrain” in para. 7? What does it refer to in the context?--- The word "refrain" has two meanings: 1) a regularly occurring melody, 2) a much repeated saying or idea. In this context the word is used in the 2nd sense. It refers to the quotation that follows.4. How do you interpret the seemingly parad oxical statement “While it has, indee, kept the members of the family from dispersing, it has not served to bring them together” (para. 9)--- The TV helps to keep all the family members in the house in a physical sense. But they are not really doing things together. Instead, they watch their own favourite programmes with little interaction between them. In this sense the TV undermines the relationships between family members.5. In what way do the children today spend their childhood differently from children in early times?--- We can compare the way the children in a TV-dominated family spend their leisure time with the way children in the Victorian age spent theirs. Now all their spare time is devoted to TV viewing with no time left for family rituals, games, jokes, songs, etc.6. What examples does Winn cite to show the loss of social interaction in families dominated by television?--- Refer to paras. 12 and 13. What a first-grade teacher reports and what an article in The New York Times describes are examples of the loss of social interaction.5) Difficult Sentences for Paraphrasing1. The peer group has television-oriented, and much of the time children spend together is occupied by television viewing. (l. 40-41)--- The Children have become television addicts, devoting much of the time when they are together to watching TV.2. Television is not merely one of a number of important influences on today’s child. (l. 44-45)--- Television is not simply just one among many important factors that may influence a child today.3. Through the changes it has made in family life, television emerges as the important influence in children’s lives today. (l. 45-46)--- Television has brought about great changes in family life, playing the dominant role is shaping the lives of children today.4. The television set casts its magic spell, freezing speech and action, turning the living into still statues so long as the enchantment lasts. (l. 53-54)--- . . . the television has its magic power over people. As soon as the television is on, people stop talking and doing anything else, growing to be lifeless statues before the TV screen. They will remain so till the end of the programme.5. Turning on the television set can turn off the process that transforms children into people. (l. 58-59)--- The moment a child sits down to watch television is the moment his growth towards maturity is suspended.6) Difficult Sentences for Translation (E-C):1. (l. 26-30) Nor did anyone imagine the number of hours children would eventually devote to television, the common use of television by parents as a child pacifier, the change television would effect uponchild-rearing methods, the increasing domination of family schedules by children’s viewing requirements --- in short, the power of the new medium to dominate family life.2. (l. 107-110) But surely the needs of adults are being better met than the needs of the children, who are effectively shunted away and rendered untroublesome, while their parents enjoy a life as undemanding as that of any childless couple.3. (l. 110-112) In reality, it is those very demands that young children make upon a family that lead to growth, and it is the way parents accede to those demands that builds the relationships upon which the future of the family depends.7) Key Words and Expressions:1. afflict (l. 9) --- trouble2. asset (l. 11) --- valuable object; advantage3. preposterous (l. 25) --- unthinkable, absurd4. splintering (l. 25) --- splitting, breaking up5. the peer group (l. 34) --- a group of people of the same age, class,position. etc. here, group of children of the sameage6.television-oriented (l. 40-41) --- interested in and influenced by TV7. equivocal (l. 47) --- ambiguous8. sorcerer (l. 53) --- person who performs magic by using the power of evil spirits9. stint (l. 85) --- fixed amount of work: here, the fixed TV programme10. conjure up (l. 94) --- bring into the mind11.sane(l. 106) --- (in this context) in possession of good relations/ofa close bond12. backlog (l. 113) --- a reserve8) Key Language Points:1 . . . . that has seen the medium become so deeply ingrained in American life …--- TV has become an indispensable part of American life, so much so that it cannot be done away withmedium---- a way or means of giving information, expressing one's ideas, or communicating with people. Examples:TV is a medium for giving information as well as for entertainment.In our English classes, English is the medium of instruction (i.e., the language used in class for teaching).ingrained --- fixed so firmly and deeply that it is difficult to remove. Examples:an ingrained habit/belief/ prejudice2. the television set has attained the rank of a legal necessity --- The television set has by law been placed in the class of goods which are necessary to life. What a legal necessity is is explained in the following phrase.attain --- succeed in getting something, especially after some effort. Examples:He attained his objectives/hopes after much hard work. A man of attainments is one who has accomplished/ achieved a great deal.3. safe from repossession --- protected from repossession, that is,a claim/a demand made by the original owner to regain the possession of . . .4. sufficient perspective --- enough overview, enough comprehensive point of view5. a curious myopia afflicted those early observers --- a strange shortsightedness troubled those early observersafflict --- cause to suffer in the body or mind; trouble. Examples: John is afflicted with a chronic headache. Environmental pollution is afflicting many countries.6. wondrous --- This is a formal or literary word. Wonderful is the more usual word.7. invariably --- always, without exception. Examples: Cartoons on TV remain invariably children's favourite. He is invariably late for school.8. preposterous --- so strange as to be unlikely; absurd. Example: The suggestion that all wild animals must be tamed is preposterous.9.the changes TV would effect ( v. , cause, produce) upon child-rearing methods the possible effects ( n . , results or conditions produced by a cause) of so much TV viewingEffect is both a noun and a verb. Note the difference between them. Examples: They tried to effect the rescue of the hostages held by the terrorists.He is suffering from the effects of smoking and drinking.10. a steady refrain --- a remark that is repeated on and on.Refrain is often used to refer to "a part of a song that is repeated, especially at the end of each verse"11. ameliorate--- make or become better or less bad; improve. Example:Various means are taken to ameliorate the situation.12. television-oriented --- particularly interested in TVExamples to show the use of -oriented : export-oriented industry 外向型工业; research-oriented medical institution研究性医疗机构; examination-oriented education n13. television emerges as the important influence . . . --- television comes forth as the most important influence. Note the use of the word the in italics. When you wish to refer to something as almost the only one of its kind, you italicize the word the and pronounce the word with emphasis.emerge --- come out or appear from being hidden. Examples:The sun seemed to emerge from under the sea.Outstanding young medical doctors have emerged from a number of hospitals.14. TV's contribution to family life has been an equivocal one --- It is questionable whether TV has made a positive or negative influence on family life. /It is difficult to evaluate the contribution TV makes to family life.equivocal --- questionable; ambiguous. This is a formal word. Examples:She took second place in the speech contest, but her success was equivocal (ToShe gave an equivocal n) answer to my question.The antonym of equivocal is unequivocal, which means "completely clear, allowing no possibility of doubt" T - Example:She took an unequivocal stand on the issue of women's liberation.15. how the medium is involved in . . . - how television has a necessary part in . . . involve --- have as a necessary part or result. Example:A lot of work is involved in writing a research paper.16. "We were in the midst of a full-scale War ... a new battle ... a major skirmish . . . diplomatic negotiations . . ." --- These words said by the mother of two boys are metaphorical. She was describing the differences of opinions and differences in interests among her family members.17. The children's evening is regimented with an almost military precision. --- the children's activities in the evening are arranged in such an exact way that they were almost like military actions. Note the use of words related to the military to be in harmony with what the mother said about the "war, battles, and skirmishes. "18. without conjuring up memories of the Victorian era --- without calling to mind what happened in the Victorian eraconjure up - cause to appear as a picture in the mind. Example:At the alumni meeting, everyone present conjured up scenes at school in the past.19. that spontaneous taking up of an activity --- taking part in an activity without planning or preparation beforehandspontaneous --- unplanned, not prearranged. Example:He made a spontaneous offer to help the handicapped children.20. on the spur of the moment --- with a sudden tendency to act without thinking much; on a sudden impulse. Example:She gave a clever answer to the tricky question on the spur of the moment.21. mediating between the needs of both children and adults --- actingas a go-between concerning the needs of both the adults and childrenmediate - act as a peacemaker between opposing sides, e. g. , mediate between two opposing parties/employees and employers22. parents accede to those demands --- parents agree to those demandsaccede --- agree to, e. g. , accede to a proposal/a request23. anything other than a caretaking institution --- anything excepta caretaking institution. The whole clause means: "the family is likely to survive only as a caretaking institution. "9) Translation Exercise for Practice of Language Points (C-E):1. Jane 是个很聪明的孩子。
