Unit 1 Fresh StartKey to the ExercisesText comprehensionI . Decide which of the following is NOT part of the theme of the essay.C(This statement goes to extremes. Though the author stresses the notion that we should find our true selves and be faithful to them in college, she does not mean we should ignore others in pursuit of our true selves.)II. Judge, according to the text, whether the following statements are true or false.1. F (Refer to Paragraph2. Evelyn acted carefully and put on air of assurance for fear that other students might notice she was a freshman.)2. T (Refer to Paragraph 6. When she fell, she seemed to see the failure of her entire life, as if it ended with the first day of college classes.)3. F (Refer to Paragraph 7. All the students in the cafeteria stood up, cheering and clapping, making fun of the most miserable person. And Evelyn knew that they had all noticed her embarrassment and "determined that I would never forget it.")4. T (Refer to Paragraphs 9 and 10. The response of the football player gave her a sudden realization that she had been taking herself far too seriously, and what she had interpreted as a malicious attempt to embarrass a freshman had been merely a moment of college fun.)5. F (Refer to Paragraphs 12 and 13. She did make some mistakes on purpose, but the purpose was to try new experiences like new articles of clothing in order to find out her real self.)III . Answer the following questions.1. Refer to Paragraphs 1 and2. She felt "first-gradish" on her arrival at the campus. The "first-gradish" feeling refers basically to naivety and anxiety, so she attempted to behave in a perfect way with the hope that no one would notice she was a freshman.2. Refer to Paragraph3. She chose to sit in the front row and to the side. This was because the freshman manual suggested sitting near the front to show that one is an intelligent and enthusiastic student, but as she was not confident enough to sit in the professor's direct line of vision, she chose a side seat in the front row.3. Refer to Paragraph 6. She felt as if her life had plunged into total failure and the doom of life had come.4. Refer to Paragraph 9. The football player got up, hands held high above his head in a victory clasp, which is an expression of fun. At this moment, Evelyn realized that she hadbeen too serious and on the contrary her slip could be a moment of fun for other people and herself alike. Everyone may have done something dumb, but they have all survived after all.5. Refer to Paragraphs 13 and 14. She understood that one could live his college life as an experiment. She should not be afraid of making mistakes because it is only through trial and error that one can find his real self and finding his real self is the ultimate purpose of a college education. The college allows one to make massive mistakes. And even after graduation, she was still making mistakes of which she was no longer afraid.IV. Explain in your own words the following sentences.1. I planned to keep silent and act in such a way that nobody would notice that I was only a new-comer in college.2. For three days, I had not been to the cafeteria due to my feeling of humiliation and shame. Instead, I stayed alone in my room and ate junk food of various kinds from a vending machine which was in just the right place to aid me in avoiding others.3. It didn't matter whether or not you were widely accepted or admired; you did not have to behave to the liking of everybody else.Structural analysis of the textUnlike a piece of expository writing, which usually expresses the main idea in a thesis statement, in a piece of narrative writing, the point is shown through dialogues, actions or events. The three incidents that are treated expansively in this essay are related to one another by their implicit messages -- the author made mistakes and her reaction toward the mistakes. It was in this process that the author achieved significant insight into life and herself.Rhetorical features of the text"I knew everyone would stare. Forget it. I settled into my chair and tried to assume the scientific pose of a biology major, bending slightly forward, tensing my arms in preparation for furious notetaking, and cursing under my breath" (Paragraph 5). "Keeping myself upright and getting out of the mess was not going to be easy, and this flailing of my feet was doing no good. Just as I decided to try another maneuver, my food tray tipped and I lost my balance" (Paragraph 6). The italicized parts in the selections offer vivid pictures of what she did or how she looked in the embarrassing situations.Vocabulary exercisesI. Explain the underlined part in each sentence in your own words.1. I had just the feeling of a newcomer at college without the strength a mature student might possess2. my apparent confidence3. some food to appease my hunger (as well as my anxiety)4. going with the tide was no longer crucial to one's success5. foolish and glaring mistakesII. Fill in the blank in each sentence with a word taken from the box in its appropriate form.1. distress2. clutched3. pose4. sneaked5. preoccupation6. shackles7. curse 8. deliberationIII. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the given words.1. assure2. discretion3. relaxation4. humiliate5. strategy6. embarrassment7. maneuverable 8. immaturityIV. Fill in the blank(s) in each sentence with an appropriate phrasal verb or collocation taken from the text.1. lived up to2. headed for3. seek out4. has broken out5. groped for6. trying on7. go out to8. tipped offV. Give a synonym or an antonym of the word underlined in each sentence in the sense it is used.1. Antonym: vague (indistinct)2. Synonym: inconspicuously (unobtrusively)3. Synonym: self-restraint (self-control)4. Antonym: clever (intelligent, sensible)5. Synonym: manner (behavior)6. Antonym: excited (agitated)7. Synonym: sneak8. Antonym: mature (sophisticated)VI. Explain the underlined phrasal verbs in your own words.1. became popular2. respect3. keep up4. lead to5. understand6. found7. use8. startGrammar exercisesI. Combine each nominal clause in Column A with a sentence fragment in Column B to create a sensible sentence.1. c2. d3. b4. f5. a6. e7. h8. gII. Rewrite the following sentences, beginning each one with a noun phrase or a nominal clause.1. My decision to resign was wise.2. Their readiness to accept the peace agreement really surprised the diplomatic world.3. My determination to pass the test helped me.4. Her failure to get into college disappointed her parents.5. My willingness to cooperate was appreciated.6. His refusal to help surprised me.7. The proposal that we should import more equipment is to be discussed at the meeting.8. Who can have told you that puzzles me.III. C omplete each sentence with what you think is the most appropriate of the four choices given.1. D2. B (That introduces an appositive clause.)3. C4. C5. A6. B (When the antecedent is the way, the relative word can be that or in which.)7. D8. B (Or not is sometimes used at the end of clauses introduced by whether or if. It canalso be used directly after whether, but not if.)IV. Combine the two sentences in each group into one, using so that.1. I spent the afternoon seeking out each of my classrooms so that I could make a perfectly timed entrance before each lecture.2. He wore glasses and a false beard so that nobody would recognize him.3. The stranger spoke very slowly so that I could understand what he said.4. She locked the door so that she wouldn't be disturbed.5. John whispered so that others couldn't hear him.6. Please arrive early so that we can start the meeting on time.7. John has bought a bicycle so that he may save money on bus travel.8. The lecturer showed some slides so that he might illustrate his point.V. Complete the following sentences using the words in the box.1. Although /Though(Very often, both although and though can be used in the same way. Though is more common in informal speech or writing.)2. yet3. however / though4. however / nevertheless / though(Though can be put at the end of a sentence, with the meaning of "however.")5. Although / Though still / nevertheless6. Despite / In spite of7. although / though8. however9. However(However, as an adverb of degree, precedes the adjective or adverb.)10. Despite / In spite ofVI. Make sentences of your own after the sentences given below, keeping the italicized parts in your sentences.1. e.g. We have to get the car fixed no matter how much it costs.You can't go in no matter who you are.2. e.g. He finished all the paper work at five o'clock, getting up, refilling the teapot, then his cup, and adding a touch of skimmed milk.The children ran out of the room, laughing and talking merrily.Translation exercisesI. Translate the following sentences into Chinese.1. 事实是，尽管我满心希望自己老练成熟，我还是感觉自己有那么一点大一新生的菜鸟气。
unit 1 Mr. Doherty Builds His Dream LifeIn America many people have a romantic idea of life in the countryside. Many living in towns dream of starting up their own farm, of living off the land. Few get round to putting their dreams into practice. This is perhaps just as well, as the life of a farmer is far from easy, as Jim Doherty discovered when he set out to combine being a writer with running a farm. Nevertheless, as he explains, he has no regrets and remains enthusiastic about his decision to change his way of life.在美国，不少人对乡村生活怀有浪漫的情感。
许多居住在城镇的人梦想着自己办个农场，梦想着靠土地为生。
很少有人真去把梦想变为现实。
或许这也没有什么不好，因为，正如吉姆·多尔蒂当初开始其写作和农场经营双重生涯时所体验到的那样，农耕生活远非轻松自在。
但他写道，自己并不后悔，对自己作出的改变生活方式的决定仍热情不减。
Mr. Doherty Builds His Dream LifeJim Doherty1 There are two things I have always wanted to do -- write and live on a farm. Today I'm doing both. I am not in E. B. White's class as a writer or in my neighbors' league as a farmer, but I'm getting by. And after years of frustration with city and suburban living, my wife Sandy and I have finally found contentment here in the country.多尔蒂先生创建自己的理想生活吉姆·多尔蒂有两件事是我一直想做的――写作与务农。
Unit 1Fresh StartEvelyn HeraldI first began to wonder what I was doing on a college campus anyway when my parents drove off, leaving me standing pitifully in a parking lot, wanting nothing more than to find my way safely to my dorm room. The fact was that no matter how mature I liked to consider myself, I was feeling just a bit first-gradish. Adding to my distress was the distinct impression that everyone on campus was watching me. My plan was to keep my ears open and my mouth shut and hope no one would notice I was a freshman.With that thought in mind, I raised my head, squared my shoulders, and set out in the direction of my dorm, glancing (and then ever so discreetly) at the campus map clutched in my hand. It took everything I had not to stare when I caught my first glimpse of a real live college football player. What confidence, what reserve, what muscles! I only hoped his attention was drawn to my airs of assurance rather than to my shaking knees. I spent the afternoon seeking out each of my classrooms so that I could make a perfectly timed entrance before each lecture without having to ask dumb questions about its whereabouts.The next morning I found my first class and marched in. Once I was in the room, however, another problem awaited me. Where to sit? Freshmen manuals advised sitting near the front, showing the professor in intelligent and energetic demeanor. After deliberation, I chose a seat in the first row and to the side. I was in the foreground (as advised), but out of the professor’s direc t line of vision.I cracked my anthology of American literature and scribbled the date at the top of a crisp ruled page. “Welcome to Biology 101,” the professor began. A cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck. I groped for my schedule and checked the room number. I was in the right room. Just the wrong building.So now what? Get up and leave in the middle of the lecture? Wouldn’t the professor be angry? I knew everyone would stare. Forget it ,I settled into my chair and tried to assume the scientific pose of a biology major ,blending slightly forward, tensing my arms in preparation for furious notetaking, and cursing under my breath. The bottled snakes along the wall should have tipped me off.After class I decided my stomach (as well as my ego) needed a little nourishment, and I hurried to the cafeteria. I accidentally stepped in a large puddle of ketchup. Keeping myself upright and getting out of the mess was not going to be easy, and this flailing ofmy feet was doing not good. Just as I decided to try another maneuver, my food tray tipped and I lost my balance. As my rear end met the floor, I saw my entire life pass before my eyes: it ended with my first day of college classes.In the seconds after my fall I thought how nice it would be if no one had noticed. But as all the students in the cafeteria came to their feet, table by table, cheering and clapping, I knew they had not only noticed ,they were determined that I would never forget it. Slowly I kicked off my ketchup-soaked sandals and jumped clear of the toppled tray and spilled food. A cleanup brigade came charging out of the kitchen, mops in the hand. I sneaked out of the cafeteria as the cheers died down behind me.For three days I dined alone on nothing more than humiliation, shame, and an assortment of junk food from a machine strategically placed outside my room. On the fourth day I couldn’t take another crunchy-chewy-saltly-sweet bite. I needed some real food. Perhaps three days was long enough for the campus population to have forgotten me. So off to the cafeteria I went.I made my way through the food line and tiptoed to a table, where I collapsed in relief. Suddenly I heard a crash that sounded vaguely familiar. I looked up to see that another poor soul had met the fate I’d thought was reserved only for me. I was even more surprised when I saw who the poor soul was: the very composed, very upper class football player I’d seen just days before (thought he didn’t look quite so composed wearing spaghetti on the front of his shirt). My heart went out to him as people began to cheer and clap as they had for me. He got up, hands held high above his head in a victory clasp , grinning from ear to ear. I expected him to slink out of the cafeteria as I had, but instead he turned around and bega n preparing another tray. And that’s when I realized I had been taking myself far too seriously.What I had interpreted as a malicious attempt to embarrass a naïve freshman had been merely a moment of college fun. Probably everyone in the cafeteria had done something equally dumb when he or she was a freshman－and had lived to tell about it.Who cared whether I dropped a tray, where I sat in class, or even whether I showed up in the wrong lecture? Nobody. This wasn’t like high school. Popularity was not so important: running with the crowd was no longer a law of survival. In college, it didn’t matter. This was my bid chance to do my own thing, be my own woman－if I could get past my preoccupation with doing everything perfectly.Once I recognized that I had no one’s expectations to live up to but my own, I relaxed. The shackles of self-consciousness fell away, and I began to view college as a wonderful experiment. I tried on new experiences like articles of clothing, checking their fit andjudging their worth. I broke a few rules to test my conscience. I dressed a little differently until I found the Real Me. I discovered a taste for jazz, and I decided I like going barefoot .I gave up trying to act my way through college (this wasn’t drama school) and beg an not acting at all. College, I decided, was probably the only time I would be completely forgiven for massive mistake (including stepping in puddles of ketchup and dropping food trays). So I used the opportunity to make all the ones I thought I’d never m ake.Three years after graduation, I’m still making mistakes. And I’m even being forgiven for a few.全新的开始我第一次开始思考我的大学要做些什么，不管怎样我的父母把我送到大学校园便开车离开了，我一个人孤零零地站在停车场，此时此刻我只想平安地找到去我宿舍的道路。
