现代大学英语精读4Unit2

UNIT2历史学家们为什么意见不一大多数学生通常是通过一本厚厚的课本接触历史的，他们很快就被淹没在姓名、日期、时间和数据中。

然后学生的技能通过考试来检验，考试考的是他们记住了多少材料。

记得越多，分数就越高。

我们可以从中得出几条明显的结论：学习历史就是学习“史实”；作为历史专业的学生，知道的“史实”越多，你学得就越好。

专业的历史学家只不过是把大量的“事实”搜集在一起的人。

因此，当学生们发现历史学家们即使在研究同一事件时意见也有很大分歧的时候，他们常常感到困惑不解。

对于这种情况，学生们根据自己的常识作出的反应是，断定一位历史学家是正确的，而另一位是错误的。

而且，据此推测，错误的历史学家给出的“事实”是错误的。

然而，实际情况很少如此。

历史学家的论证通常很有道理，并且有说服力。

而且，“事实”——姓名、日期、事件和数据——常常是被证明是正确的。

此外，学生们还经常发现争论不休的历史学家对事实大致持相同意见；也就是说，他们使用大体相同的材料。

他们作出的结论不同，是因为他们看待过去的角度不同。

历史，本来已定就是记忆“史实”，现在变成了从众多解释中挑选一个令人满意的解释的事情。

历史的真相成为了个人偏好问题。

这种看法很难使人满意。

学生们肯定会想，对同一事件的两种完全不同的观点不可能同时是正确的；然而，他们没有能力在两者之间作出选择。

要了解历史学家们为什么意见不一致，学生们必须考虑一个他们或多或少认为是理所当然的问题。

他们必须问问自己，历史到底是什么。

从最广泛的意义上来说，历史指的是人类过去的总和。

比较狭义的概念是，历史是有记录的过去，即留下了某种记录的人类生活的一部分，比如民间故事、手工艺品或者有文字记载的文献。

最后，历史可以被定义为历史学家们书写的过去。

当然，这三种定义互相联系。

历史学家们的记述以过去人们的遗留物为根据；显然，他们不可能对所有的事情都了解，原因很简单，并不是每一件大小事件都被完整地记录下来了。

因此，历史学家充其量也只能接近历史。

■现代大学英语精读4■教冲用韦这么回事。

”30.说完一阵咳嗽声开始从他的胸腔传了出来，他紧跟着一瘸一瘸地走到他儿子迈克尔干活的那块地去了。

31.到太阳快落山的时候，马丁已经播种了五垄地。

他把铁锹扔到地上，伸了伸胳膊和双腿。

他感到浑身骨头都疼，就想躺下休息。

他对玛丽说：“该回家了，玛丽。

”32.玛丽伸直了腰，不过她实在太累了，没有力气回答马丁的话。

她疲意地看了马丁一眼，觉得自打他俩清晨从家里出来，好像已经过了好多年了。

然后这时她又想到要走回家的路程，想 到了到家以后要喂猪，要赶鸡鸭回窝，还要做晚饭，种种家务活都等着她去干。

刹那间她脑 子里闪过一种抗拒的念头，真不愿再忍受一个农妇繁重的劳役。

但这种情绪也就一闪而过。

马丁边穿衣服边和她说：33.“哈！今天成绩不错。

种完了五垄地，垄垄都像钢条一样笔直。

上帝可以作证，玛丽，说你完全有理由为给马丁 •德莱尼当老婆感到自豪，这话不是吹牛吧。

不过我说得也不全面，老婆。

今天这个幸运的日子，你干的那份活，也比村里别的所有女人干得都好。

”34.他们静静地又站了一会儿，看着他们种完的地。

她和丈夫共同完成的工作，让玛丽感到无比的甜美和由衷的舒畅，浑身都舒服，顿时，她所有的不满和疲劳感都烟消云散了。

这些活是 他俩一起干的。

他们在地里一起播下了种子。

明天，明天的明天，一辈子，每到春天来临，他俩都会弯腰播种，直至两人的手和全身的骨头都因关节炎而变形。

不过一到夜晚降临，睡眠会使他们忘却白天的艰辛。

35.在他们慢步回家的路上，马丁走在前面，和另外一位农民伙伴谈论自家春播的事情，玛丽跟在他身后，两眼瞅着地，独自思忖着。

远处传来母牛哞哞的叫声。

IV Key to ExercisesPreviewQ Do the following exercises.1Guess the meaning of the following words.Adjective suffix “-y” has the following meanings:1. full of or having a lot of sth2. having the quality of sth3. made of or seeming to be made of sth4. resembling sth5. very interested in sth6. tending to do sth38Unit 22Describe what kind of sounds the following are.These are examples of onomatopoeia. They can be translated into Chinese as:1. banging猛敲猛撞声16. munching大声咀嚼2. baying猎犬吠叫声17. murmuring喃喃私语3. bubbling起泡沸腾声18. pounding猛击猛敲声4. chuckling轻轻暗笑声19. ra ttlin g响尾蛇尾巴摇动声；火车行进5. cracking使破裂的噼啪声声；门窗摇动声6. crunching阻嚼松脆食物的声音20. ringing 铃声7. giggling咯咯傻笑声21. roaring P fi哮声8. groaning痛苦呻吟声22. rustling树叶沙沙声9. grumbling咕浓抱怨23. screaming 尖叫声10. gurgling汩汩流水声24. screeching车突停时剌耳声11. hammering 锤击声25. snoring 軒声12. humming轻轻哼歌声；昆虫嗡嗡声26. splashing戏水拍水涉水声13. lowing哞哞牛叫声27. tinkling银铃叮当声14. moaning呻吟抱怨声28. yawning 哈欠声15. mumbling含糊不清地说话Give synonyms of the following words.1. angry10. clever2. depressed11. painful3. wrinkled12. to begin4. husky/harsh13. to glisten/to gleam5. village14. to jump6. from then on15. to spread7. annoyance16. to bend8. mound17. to conquer9. pre-historic18. tremblingVocabularvQ Translate the following expressions.Into English1. assert one’s manhood 4. secure one’s food2. cross one’s mind 5. scatter the darkness3. measure the ground 6. rub his eyes39■现代大学英语精读4|教师用韦7. munch her bread and butter8. overpower that feeling of dread9. carry a long way10. bend their backsInto Chinese1.燃烧着的煤2.他那张长有雀斑的脸6. 一家之主7. 一颗评评直跳的心8. —群山间小屋9. 一块狭长的地10.—副凶猛严厉的表情3.淡淡的八字须4.事情的紧迫性5. —位精明的妇女Q Point out and correct mistake(s) in the following sentences.1. Change “glare” to “gleam，” and change “glistening” to “glimmering.”2. Change “imminent” to “approaching fast，” and change “imminent” to “eminent.”3. Change “rate” to “speed,” and change “pace” to “speed.”4. Change “whirled,” “swung” to “threw/flung，” “hurled.”5. Change “raw leather” to “raw hide/pelt/skin/peel.”6. Change “unconscious” to “unaware,” and change “unaware” to ‘"unconscious.”7. Change “wriggling” to “writhing,” and change “split” to “hit/broke，，，change “tedious” to“hideous.”8. Change “devised” to “designed.”9. Change “libertines” to “liberals.”10. Change “hideous” to “tedious.”Q Translate the following sentences into English.1. Zhuge Liang pretended to be very calm and succeeded in hiding the fact from Sima Yi thatthe city was really unguarded. He proved himself worthy of the admiration he had received.2. He knew that a bloody battle was imminent and his army was terribly outnumbered. So hepretended to be retreating quickly to the re a r. Actually he was laying a trap for the enemy troops.3. Social Darwinists asserted that we can compare human society to the animal world. It didnot cross their minds that human beings could be different from other animals. They reliedon their brain rather than their instinct.4. These mass-produced chickens do not compare with the chickens we used to raise athome. Chicken farms may have increased the output, but they have robbed the chickensof their good taste.5. The financial bubbles finally burst, causing a serious crisis that swept over the whole world.6. Thanks to our price edge, our exports to that region increased by 30% compared with the 40Unit 2same period the previous year.7. The reporters were all bursting with questions. But the government spokesperson saidthat all she knew was that people were watching a play when some thirty armed terroristsburst into the theater.8. When the prisoners burst out singing, the prison warden was frightened.9. The area is dotted with factories. It also has holiday inns dotted around the whole island.But there are already signs that many local people will rebel against this trend.10. He declared that all the rebels would be pardoned if they laid down their arms.Q Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate.6. D2. A 7.D!8.C：9. A;10. DQ Choose the right word(s) in their proper forms.11. bosom, breast, bosom 2. chest 3. chest 4. breast, bosom 5. breast6. breast2 1. jump/leap 2. leaped 3. skip, jumped/sprang 4. jumping5. hopping/jumping, leaping/skipping6. skip/jump3 1. verge 2. verge 3. border 4. edge 5. brim 6. rim 7. edge4 1. swearing 2. curse, curse 3. abused 4. calling names/name-calling5 1. rubbing 2. scraped 3. scratch 4. scraped 5. scratched6. rubbed, scraped6 1. scattered 2. spread 3. sprayed 4. spreading 5. scatteredQ Fill in the blanks with appropriate adverb(s).1. clearly/evidently/obviously, whole-heartedly/heartily/greedily/hungrily2. fiercely/furiously/feverishly3. gruffly/sharply/rudely, tiredly/wearily4. doubtlessly/undoubtedly/unquestionably/undeniably/indisputably, proudly/arrogantly/boastfully5. cruelly/brutally/heartlessly/mercilessly/pitilessly/remorselessly/savagely/ruthlessly6. oddly/strangely7. coolly/calmly/evenly/placidly41■现代大学英语精读4■教碲闲韦8. convincingly/persuasively/rationally, completely/entirely/wholly/thoroughly9. triumphantly/happily, greatly/dramatically/considerably/enormously/immenselyGrammarQ Study and learn the use of such connectives as if, even if, if only, only if, suppose/ supposing, and unless.1Study the use of connectives in the following sentences,if:a. used to say that sth might happen or be true, as in 2b. used to say that sth that might have happened, but did not, as in 5c. used to emphasize the truth of a statement，as in 7d. used in statements or questions to express doubt, as in 10even if: used to emphasize that sth will still happen or be true if sth else might prevent it,as in 8if only: used to express a strong wish, esp. when you know what you want cannot happenor be true, as in 9only if: (f m l) used to state the only situation in which sth can happen, as in 3suppose/supposing: functioning as a conjunction to denote a possible condition/situation,usually followed by a question eliciting a possible result，as in 1, 4unless: used to say that sth will happen or be true or be done if sth else does not happen orbe true or be done, as in 62 Complete each of the sentences with an appropriate connective from the list below.1. If2. suppose/supposing3. If4. only if5. If6. even if7. unless8. Suppose/Supposing9. If 10. IfQ Learn more about the negative determiner no.1Classify the uses of no as a determiner in the following sentences.O 1,2，4,5, 8, 9,10©3,7G62 Translate the following sentences using the determiner no.1, As the saying goes, there’s no smoke without fire.42Unit 22. There’s no denying that the film has no equal in cinema history.3. I warned him about the danger involved, but he paid no heed to my warning.4. There’s no generally accepted definition of happiness.5. These are no ordinary students; they are going to be trained as astronauts.6. There are no easy or painless solutions to the company’s financial problems.7. Away from home for the first time, college students have to do day-to-day choresthemselves. It’s no bad thing, though.8. The two sides are so far apart on key issues that there’s no telling how long the talkscould drag on.9. That’s the kind of holiday I dream of—no telephone, no TV and no worries.10. Some of the nation’s top economists say that they se e no sign of economic recovery inthe country.Q Study the grammatical structure of these involved sentences.1. This is a compound sentence consisting of two coordinating clauses connected by theconjunction “and.”The first oneMain sentence: Martin looked too young to be married (subject + link verb + predictive)Qualifier: the prepositional phrase “with…fair moustache” used as an adverbial modifying “looked too young”The second oneMain sentence: his wife looked hardly more than a girl (subject + link verb + predictive)Qualifiers:red-cheeked and blue-eyed (two adjectives)her black hair piled at the rear of her head with a large comb gleaming in the middle of the pile, Spanish fashion (one absolute construction)All these qualifiers modify the subject “his wife.”2. This is a complex sentence.Subject: MaryPredicate verb: thought ofObject: many thingsQualifiers: two attributive clauses“As there are in life” modifies “many things.”“As a woman would (think of) in the first joy and anxiety of her mating” modifies “manythings as there are in life.” -Both clauses are introduced by the relative pronoun “as.”43■现代大学英语精读4|教晞用韦'Q Translate the selection into Chinese.此时此刻西里尔•博吉斯先生装扮成一位身着袍服的牧师，除此之外，倒也看不出他有什么邪恶阴险之处。

现代大学英语精读4第三版unit2读后感After finishing Unit 2 of Modern College English Reading 4 (Third Edition), I felt both challenged and inspired by the content of the unit. The unit focuses on the theme of "Exploration and Discovery," discussing various topics such as space exploration, deep-sea exploration, and the exploration of human emotions and relationships. Through reading the texts and completing the exercises, I gained a deeper understanding of these topics and their significance in our lives.One of the texts that resonated with me the most was the article about the exploration of Mars. The idea of humans traveling to another planet and potentially colonizing it in the future is both exciting and daunting. It made me reflect on the progress that we have made in space exploration and the possibilities that lie ahead. The article also raised ethical questions about the impact of human presence on other planets and the importance of preserving the environment.Another text that I found particularly interesting was the story about the discovery of the wreckage of the Titanic. The article discussed the challenges and risks involved in deep-sea exploration and the significance of uncovering historical artifacts. It made me appreciate the efforts of explorers and researcherswho work tirelessly to unravel the mysteries of the past and preserve our cultural heritage.In addition to these texts, I also enjoyed the reading comprehension exercises and vocabulary activities in this unit. They helped me improve my reading comprehension skills and expand my vocabulary. The exercises were challenging at times, but they were also rewarding as they deepened my understanding of the texts and helped me analyze them more critically.Overall, Unit 2 of Modern College English Reading 4 (Third Edition) was a thought-provoking and enlightening experience for me. It broadened my horizons, stimulated my curiosity, and enriched my knowledge of various exploration and discovery topics. I look forward to continuing my English studies and exploring more fascinating themes in the future units of this textbook.。

Key to Exercise of Unit FourP.107 ex.39. to put back one’s head10.to put down a drink11. in case12.to squint at sth. Out of the corner of one’s eye13. to stand next to sth.14. to be lost in the contemplation of sth.15. to feel like sth.16. with---and all17. round the corner18.by this/that time19. to start off20. to walk abreast21. to be at one’s ease22. to weave sb. In23. to save sb. From24. to talk one’s heart to sb.25. not for all the money in the world26.to knock sb. Down27. to say sth. In a strained voice28.to get beyond sb.29. for God’s sake30. to do sth. By accidentP.108.5 March the words or expressions in the two columns that have similar meanings.A. 1=B. 4 A. 2=B. 6A. 3=B. 8 A. 4 =B. 10 A.A. 5=B. 12 A. 6=B. 11A.7=B. 15 A. 8=B.17A.9=B. 16 A.10 =B. 1A.11=B. 3 A.12=B. 7A.13=B. 18 A.14=B. 20A.15=B. 5 A. 16=B. 14A.17.=B. 9 A.18=B. 2A.19=B. 13 A.20 =B. 196. Give the equivalent of the following in British English.1. lift2.flat3. lorry4. autumn5.trousers6. term7. film8. cinema9. motorbike 10. sweet 11. cock 12. toilet13. pavement 14. clever 15. cheque 16. boot 17. railway 18. undergroundP.113 More Work on the Test1.T ranslate1.)Into Chinese1.难以解决的问题2.一本难以看懂的书3.一个爱交际的女人4.黑市5.黑色幽默6.害群之马7.黑人权利8.缺少表达能力的人9.全国性运动10.赞扬或恭维的话11.调皮的男孩12.某些大人物们13.种族隔离的学校14.他的无可争议的权威15.一个地位很高的人士16.公海17.上流社会18.机密消息19.冷淡而缺少人情味的门20.冷淡的公文式的信21.真诚的羡慕22.不自然的，紧张的说话的声音2）Into English1. to celebrate the Golden Jubilee2. to excite admiration3. to touch the conscience4. to win the prize5. to receive the reprimand6. to omit the words7. to renounce the prizes8. to avert a crisis9. to attend the ceremony10. to exhibit a works of art11. to indulge the pleasures12. to guard a child13. to feel up to it14. to bring sth. to a close15. to weave sb. in16. to save sb. from a situation17. to talk out one’s heart to sb.18. to knock sb. down19. to pour sb. a drink20. to raise (lift ) one’s glass二．Translate1.Import of the country’s beef wassuspended because of the mad cowscare.2.During the war, they had to suspendthe construction of the railway.2.it was a serious offence to take drugs, Robert was suspended from school for two weeks.3.She was reading in a hammock suspended from two tree branches.4.T he sales suspension has brought us heavy losses.5.T his is perhaps the longest suspension bridge in Asia.6.T he author is very good at creating suspense.7.H e used to watch wit great envy children of wealthy people go to school.8.I rather envy their school for its beautiful campus.9.S he averted her face so that people would not see her blush.10.He has always had an aversion to publicity.11.The government’s policy succeeded in averting a serious economic recession. 12.Michael Jordan is the envy of many black kids.13.Every summer, hundreds of thousands of people are sent to guard the riverbanks against floods.14.it was not easy to get the golden apple, for it was guarded by a furious giant. 15.Xicheng was practically unguarded so Zhuge Liang narrowly escaped being captured.16.The prisoners of war killed the guards and escaped into the woods.17.He is probably the greatest guard in the history of basketball.18.They took Americans off guard by launching a sudden attack on a Sunday. 19.There were two armed soldiers standing guard at the bridge.20.Napoleon exhibited his military talent early in life.21.These exhibits are all insured and carefully guarded.22.When the exhibition is over, the exhibit will be given to the host country as gifts.23.She is going to exhibit some of her most recent sculptures at the National Art Gallery.四．Put the most appropriate words in the blanks.1. C2. A3. B4. A5. D6. B7. C 8. D 9. A五．Study the difference between thefollowing pairs or groups of words1. 1) renounce 2) announce3) renounce 4)denounce2. 1) avoid , prevent 2) prevent3. 1) divided 2) segregated3)divided 4)separated4. 1) personage 2) person3) personality 4)person5. 1)complementary 2) complimentary 3) complimentary 4) compliment6. 1) secret 2) confidential3) secret 4) confidential, secret七．Choose the best word or phrase for each blank from the four supplied in brackets.1.sensible2. larger3. Unfortunately4. original5. receipt6. rejoin7. viciously 8. demanded 9. marched 10. assumed 11. cases 12. get away 13. protest 14. had spoken to15. couldn’t really have comfortedMore Work on the Text二．Complete the following sentences with the right form of theverb in the brackets.1.is2. are3. was4. frightens5. are6. is7. were all8. was9. knows10. are 11. are, am 12. is13. was 14. has 15. is, is三．Rewrite the sentences using the pattern shown in the example.1.It is now believed that foreign languageare most easily learnt by children under14.2.It is reported that the negotiationsbetween the two countries had made headway.3.It has been confirmed that a majorbreakthrough has been achieved in cancer research.4.It is strongly recommended that fishingin the lake be strictly forbidden during the spring season.5.It is agreed among the rival companiesthat joint efforts should be made to prevent the price of color TV from going through the floor.6.It shouldn’t be assumed that all ourproblems will be resolved overnight.7.It is generally assumed that depressionaffects a person’s health in many ways. 8.It was announced yesterday that a newtax law would be imposed beginning next year.9.In ancient times, it was believed that theheart , not the brain, was the center of thought.10.It is predicted (in a medical report) thenumber of AIDS victims in Asia will increase sharply in the next decade.四．Translate the sentences intoEnglish1.It’s widely rumored that Linda’s beingpromoted.2.It is estimated that the project will costRMB three billion.3.It is assumed that the Labor Party willremain in power.4.It was proposed a few years ago thatthe president be elected for one term only.5.It was announced that another bridgeacross the Yangtze would be built next year.6.it was believed even then that theabnormal state of affairs wouldn’t last long.二．Paying special attention to subject –verb agreement.1. The jury is having trouble reaching a verdict.2. Whenever either of us is in a tightcorner, we always come to each other’s help.3. Statistics are facts obtained from analyzing information given in numbers.4. Statistics is a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of information expressed in numbers.5. Neither his friends and nor his father was admitted by Tsinghai University.6. Xiao Li is one of the best foot players at our university who have ever participated in intercollegiate championships.五．Put in appropriate connectives. 1.as, where, that/which, if/whether , but.if2.When, if, Then, that/which, than六．Complete each of the following sentences with the most likely answer.1.B2. A3. A4. D5. C6. A7. D8.C9.C 1O.C 11. B 12.D 13. A 14. D 15.B 16 C。

大学英语精读4 unit2课件1. Introduction本课件是针对大学英语精读4课程中的Unit 2而编写的教学材料。

本单元的主要内容是关于国际关系和全球化的讨论。

通过本课程，学生将了解到有关国际关系的重要概念，并学会阅读并分析相关的英语文章。

2. Learning Objectives本单元的学习目标包括：•了解全球化和国际关系的定义和背景；•掌握本单元涉及的核心词汇和表达；•学会阅读并分析相关的英语文章；•提高关于国际关系的英语写作能力。

3. Unit Outline本单元的内容主要分为以下几个部分：3.1 全球化的定义和背景在这一部分，我们将探讨全球化的概念以及对国际关系产生的影响。

学生将了解到全球化的背景和原因，并通过案例分析来深入了解全球化对经济、文化和社会的影响。

3.2 国际关系中的重要概念这一部分将介绍国际关系中的一些重要概念，如国家主权、国际法、联合国等。

学生将学习这些概念的定义和相关的背景知识，并了解它们在实际的国际事务中的应用。

3.3 国际关系中的核心词汇和表达在这一部分，我们将学习与国际关系相关的核心词汇和常用表达。

这些词汇和表达将帮助学生更好地理解相关的文章和进行书面和口头表达。

3.4 阅读和分析相关的英语文章本单元还将包括阅读和分析相关的英语文章的训练。

学生将通过阅读和讨论来进一步理解国际关系的重要议题，并学会从英语文章中提取关键信息。

3.5 提高写作能力在这一部分，我们将进行有关国际关系的英语写作训练。

学生将学习如何撰写关于国际关系的议论文，并提高写作技巧和思维能力。

4. Assessment本单元的评估方式主要包括以下几个方面：•课堂参与和讨论：学生在课堂上积极参与讨论和提问，展示对国际关系的理解和分析能力。

•阅读报告：学生需要阅读指定的英语文章，并撰写阅读报告，分析其内容和观点。

•写作作业：学生需要完成有关国际关系的写作作业，包括议论文和摘要等。

5. Resources为了辅助学习，以下是一些可以参考的资源：•教科书：《大学英语精读4》•课件资料：本课件提供的教学资料和范例•英语词典：如牛津高阶英汉双解词典等，帮助理解核心词汇和表达•网络资源：如相关的学术文章、新闻报道和学术论坛等，帮助扩展阅读和研究的范围6. Conclusion通过本单元的学习，学生将对国际关系和全球化有更深入的理解，并提高相关的阅读和写作能力。

现代大学英语精读4unit2读后感English:After reading Unit 2 of Modern College English Reading 4, I found myself deeply touched by the story of Bethany Hamilton. Her resilience, determination, and positive attitude in the face of a life-changing event are truly inspiring. The message that one can overcome any challenge with perseverance and a positive mindset resonated with me and reminded me of the importance of staying strong in the face of adversity. Additionally, the story of Bethany's journey to becoming a successful professional surfer despite losing her arm serves as a powerful reminder that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Overall, the unit left me feeling motivated and encouraged to face whatever obstacles come my way with grace and strength.中文翻译:在阅读《现代大学英语精读4》第二单元后，我深受Bethany Hamilton的故事感动。

现代大学英语精读4unit2读后感Having completed Unit 2 of Modern College English Intensive Reading Book 4, I find myself deeply moved and intellectually stimulated. The unit, titled "The Value of Life," explores the profound meanings of existence and the choices we make in pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. Through a collection of thought-provoking readings, theunit challenges readers to reflect on their own values, goals, and the significance of their lives.The first reading, a narrative essay titled "The Joy of Living," captures the essence of the human experience. It tells the story of a man who, despite facing significant challenges and hardships, finds joy and meaning in the smallest moments of his life. The author's ability to find happiness in the simple pleasures of existence, such as the beauty of nature and the warmth of human connections, serves as a powerful reminder of the value of every moment. The second reading, a philosophical dialogue titled "The Meaning of Life," delves deeper into the complexities of life's purpose and the individual's role in it. This reading encourages readers to question their own beliefsand assumptions about life, asking them to consider the meaning of existence beyond material gains and social status. The dialogue explores the idea that the meaning of life is subjective and evolves with each individual's experiences and perspectives.The final reading, a poem titled "Ode to Life," brings a sense of celebration and gratitude to the discussion. The poem extols the virtues of life, celebrating its beauty, wonder, and potential. It serves as a powerful reminder of the preciousness of life and our responsibility to cherish and make the most of it.As I reflect on these readings, I am reminded of the importance of living intentionally and with purpose. Each moment of our lives is valuable, and it is up to us to fill them with meaning and fulfillment. The readings in Unit 2 have challenged me to reevaluate my own values and goals, asking me to consider the deeper meanings of my existence beyond the day-to-day grind.In conclusion, Unit 2 of Modern College English Intensive Reading Book 4 has been an enriching and thought-provoking experience. It has challenged me to think deeplyabout the value of life and the choices I make in pursuitof happiness and fulfillment. These readings have left me with a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude for the precious gift of life.**现代大学英语精读4第二单元读后感**在完成现代大学英语精读4的第二单元后，我深感震撼，心灵受到了深刻的触动。

Spring SowingIt was still dark when Martin Delaney and his wife Mary got up. Martin stood in his shirt by the window, rubbing his eyes and yawning, while Mary raked out the live coals that had lain hidden in the ashes on the hearth all night. Outside, cocks were crowing and a white streak was rising form the ground, as it were, and beginning to scatter the darkness. It was a February morning, dry, cold and starry.The couple sat down to their breakfast of tea, bread and butter, in silence. They had only been married the previous autumn and it was hateful leaving a warm bed at such and early hour. Martin, with his brown hair and eyes, his freckled face and his little fair moustache, looked too young to be married, and his wife looked hardly more than a girl, red-cheeked and blue-eyed, her black hair piled at the rear of her head with a large comb gleaming in the middle of the pile, Spanish fashion. They were both dressed in rough homespuns, and both wore the loose white shirt that Inverara peasants use for work in the fields.They ate in silence, sleepy and yet on fire with excitement, for it was the first day of their first spring sowing as man and wife. And each felt the glamour of that day on which they were to open up the earth together and plant seeds in it. But somehow the imminence of an event that had been long expected loved, feared and prepared for made them dejected. Mary,with her shrewd woman's mind, thought of as many things as there are in life as a woman would in the first joy and anxiety of her mating. But Martin's mind was fixed on one thought. Would he be able to prove himself a man worthy of being the head of a family by dong his spring sowing well? In the barn after breakfast, when they were getting the potato seeds and the line for measuring the ground and the spade, Martin fell over a basket in the half-darkness of the barn, he swore and said that a man would be better off dead than.. But before he could finish whatever he was going to say, Mary had her arms around his waist and her face to his. "Martin," she said, "let us not begin this day cross with one another." And there was a tremor in her voice. And somehow, as they embraced, all their irritation and sleepiness left them. And they stood there embracing until at last Martin pushed her from him with pretended roughness and said: "Come, come, girl, it will be sunset before we begin at this rate."Still, as they walked silently in their rawhide shoes through the little hamlet, there was not a soul about. Lights were glimmering in the windows of a few cabins. The sky had a big grey crack in it in the east, as if it were going to burst in order to give birth to the sun. Birds were singing somewhere at a distance. Martin and Mary rested their baskets of seeds on a fence outside the village and Martin whispered to Mary proudly: "We are first, Mary." And they both looked back at the little cluster of cabins that was the centre of their world, with throbbing hearts. For the joyof spring had now taken complete hold of them.They reached the little field where they were to sow. It was a little triangular patch of ground under an ivy-covered limestone hill. The little field had been manured with seaweed some weeks before, and the weeds had rotted and whitened on the grass. And there was a big red heap of fresh seaweed lying in a corner by the fence to be spread under the seeds as they were laid. Martin, in spite of the cold, threw off everything above his waist except his striped woolen shirt. Then he spat on his hands, seized his spade and cried: "Now you are going to see what kind of a man you have, Mary.""There, now," said Mary, tying a little shawl closer under her chin. "Aren't we boastful this early hour of the morning? Maybe I'll wait till sunset to see what kind of a man I have got."The work began. Martin measured the ground by the southern fence for the first ridge, a strip of ground four feet wide, and he placed the line along the edge and pegged it at each end. Then he spread fresh seaweed over the strip. Mary filled her apron with seeds and began to lay them in rows. When she was a little distance down the ridge, Martin advanced with his spade to the head, eager to commence."Now in the name of God," he cried, spitting on his palms, "let us raise the first sod!""Oh, Martin, wait till I'm with you !" cried Mary, dropping her seeds onthe ridge and running up to him .Her fingers outside her woolen mittens were numb with the cold, and she couldn't wipe them in her apron. Her cheeks seemed to be on fire. She put an arm round Martin's waist and stood looking at the green sod his spade was going to cut, with the excitement of a little child."Now for God's sake, girl, keep back!" said Martin gruffly. "Suppose anybody saw us like this in the field of our spring sowing, what would they take us for but a pair of useless, soft, empty-headed people that would be sure to die of hunger? Huh!" He spoke very rapidly, and his eyes were fixed on the ground before hm. His eyes had a wild, eager light in them as if some primeval impulse were burning within his brain and driving out every other desire but that of asserting his manhood and of subjugating the earth."Oh, what do we care who is looking?" said Mary; but she drew back at the same time and gazed distantly at the ground. Then Martin cut the sod, and pressing the spade deep into the earth with his foot, he turned up the first sod with a crunching sound as the grass roots were dragged out of the earth. Mary sighed and walked back hurriedly to her seeds with furrowed brows. She picked up her seeds and began to spread them rapidly to drive out the sudden terror that had seized her at that moment when she saw the fierce, hard look in her husband's eyes that were unconscious of her presence. She became suddenly afraid of that pitiless, cruel earth, thepeasant's slave master that would keep her chained to hard work and poverty all her life until she would sink again into its bosom. Her short-lived love was gone. Henceforth she was only her husband's helper to till the earth. And Martin, absolutely without thought, worked furiously, covering the ridge with block earth, his sharp spade gleaming white as he whirled it sideways to beat the sods.Then, as the sun rose, the little valley beneath the ivy-covered hills became dotted with white shirts, and everywhere men worked madly, without speaking, and women spread seeds. There was no heat in the light of the sun, and there was a sharpness in the still thin air that made the men jump on their spade halts ferociously and beat the sods as if they were living enemies. Birds hopped silently before the spades, with their heads cocked sideways, watching for worms. Made brave by hunger, they often dashed under the spades to secure their food.Then, when the sun reached a certain point, all the women went back to the village to get dinner for their men, and the men worked on without stopping. Then the women returned, almost running, each carrying a tin can with a flannel tied around it and a little bundle tied with a white cloth, Martin threw down his spade when Mary arrived back in the field. Smiling at one another they sat under the hill for their meal .It was the same as their breakfast, tea and bread and butter."Ah," said Martin, when he had taken a long draught of tea form his mug,"is there anything in this world as fine as eating dinner out in the open like this after doing a good morning's work? There, I have done two ridges and a half. That's more than any man in the village could do. Ha!" And he looked at his wife proudly."Yes, isn't it lovely," said Mary, looking at the back ridges wistfully. She was just munching her bread and butter .The hurried trip to the village and the trouble of getting the tea ready had robbed her of her appetite. She had to keep blowing at the turf fire with the rim of her skirt, and the smoke nearly blinded her. But now, sitting on that grassy knoll, with the valley all round glistening with fresh seaweed and a light smoke rising from the freshly turned earth, a strange joy swept over her. It overpowered that other felling of dread that had been with her during the morning. Martin ate heartily, reveling in his great thirst and his great hunger, with every pore of his body open to the pure air. And he looked around at his neighbors' fields boastfully, comparing them with his own. Then he looked at his wife's little round black head and felt very proud of having her as his own. He leaned back on his elbow and took her hand in his. Shyly and in silence, not knowing what to say and ashamed of their gentle feelings, they finished eating and still sat hand in hand looking away into the distance. Everywhere the sowers were resting on little knolls, men, women and children sitting in silence. And the great calm of nature in spring filled the atmosphere around them. Everything seemedto sit still and wait until midday had passed. Only the gleaming sun chased westwards at a mighty pace, in and out through white clouds.Then in a distant field an old man got up, took his spade and began to clean the earth from it with a piece of stone. The rasping noise carried a long way in the silence. That was the signal for a general rising all along the little valley. Young men stretched themselves and yawned. They walked slowly back to their ridges.Martin's back and his wrists were getting sore, and Mary felt that if she stooped again over her seeds her neck would break, but neither said anything and soon they had forgotten their tiredness in the mechanical movement of their bodies. The strong smell of the upturned earth acted like a drug on their nerves.In the afternoon, when the sun was strongest, the old men of the village came out to look at their people sowing. Martin's grandfather, almost bent double over his thick stick stopped in the land outside the field and groaning loudly, he leaned over the fence.“God bless the work, "he called wheezily."And you, grandfather," replied the couple together, but they did not stop working.'Ha!" muttered the old man to himself. "He sows well and that woman is good too. They are beginning well."It was fifty years since he had begun with his Mary, full of hope and pride,and themerciless soil had hugged them to its bosom ever since, each spring without rest. Today, the old man, with his huge red nose and the spotted handkerchief tied around his skull under his black soft felt hat, watched his grandson work and gave him advice."Don't cut your sods so long," he would wheeze, "you are putting too much soil on yourridge."''Ah woman! Don't plant a seed so near the edge. The stalk will come out sideways."And they paid no heed to him."Ah," grumbled the old man," in my young days, when men worked from morning till night without tasting food, better work was done. But of course it can't be expected to be the same now. The breed is getting weaker. So it is."Then he began to cough in his chest and hobbled away to another field where his sonMichael was working.By sundown Martin had five ridges finished. He threw down his spade and stretched himself. All his bones ached and he wanted to lie down and rest. "It's time to be going home, Mary," he said.Mary straightened herself, but she was too tired to reply. She looked atMartin wearily and it seemed to her that it was a great many years since they had set out that morning. Then she thought of the journey home and the trouble of feeding the pigs, putting the fowls into their coops and getting the supper ready, and a momentary flash of rebellion against the slavery of being a peasant's wife crossed her mind. It passed in a moment. Martin was saying, as he dressed himself:"Ha! It has been a good day's work. Five ridges done, and each one of them as straight as a steel rod. By God Mary, it's no boasting to say that you might well be proud of being the wife of Martin Delaney. And that's not saying the whole of it ,my girl. You did your share better than any woman in Inverara could do it this blessed day."They stood for a few moments in silence, looking at the work they had done. All her dissatisfaction and weariness vanished form Mary's mind with the delicious feeling of comfort that overcame her at having done this work with her husband. They had done it together. They had planted seeds in the earth. The next day and the next and all their lives, when spring came they would have to bend their backs and do it until their hands and bones got twisted with rheumatism. But night would always bring sleep and forgetfulness.As they walked home slowly, Martin walked in front with another peasant talking about the sowing, and Mary walked behind, with her eyes on the ground, thinking. Cows were lowing at a distance.。