综合英语三unit 5

教学目标：1. 理解并掌握本单元的核心词汇和短语。

2. 通过阅读、听力、口语和写作等活动，提高学生的英语综合运用能力。

3. 培养学生对英语文化背景知识的了解，拓宽视野。

教学重点：1. 理解并掌握本单元的核心词汇和短语。

2. 提高学生的阅读、听力、口语和写作能力。

教学难点：1. 学生对英语文化背景知识的了解。

2. 学生在口语和写作中运用所学知识的能力。

教学过程：一、导入1. 通过图片或视频展示本单元主题相关的内容，激发学生的学习兴趣。

2. 提问学生关于图片或视频的问题，引导学生思考。

二、阅读1. 学生自主阅读课文，理解文章大意。

2. 教师引导学生分析文章结构，总结段落大意。

3. 学生找出文章中的生词和短语，教师进行讲解和扩展。

三、听力1. 学生听录音，回答问题，检查对文章内容的理解。

2. 教师播放听力材料，让学生跟读，提高口语表达能力。

四、口语1. 学生分组讨论课文中的话题，分享自己的观点。

2. 教师组织学生进行角色扮演，模拟课文中的场景。

五、写作1. 学生根据课文内容，完成一篇短文写作。

2. 教师对学生的写作进行点评，指出优点和不足。

六、总结1. 教师对本单元所学内容进行总结，强调重点和难点。

2. 学生回顾本单元所学知识，提出疑问。

教学资源：1. 教材《全新版大学英语综合教程3》2. 多媒体课件3. 课外阅读材料4. 听力材料教学评价：1. 学生对课堂活动的参与度。

2. 学生对课堂内容的掌握程度。

3. 学生在写作和口语表达中的表现。

教学反思：1. 教师应根据学生的实际情况，调整教学策略，提高教学效果。

2. 注重培养学生的英语综合运用能力，提高学生的英语水平。

Unit5Active reading (1)Language points1 It was snowing heavily … not just to track down the last-minute presents, but to escape the bittercold … (Para 1)To track down means to find something or someone after a long search.At Christmas many people give a lot of thought to find the right gift and buy presents well in advance,others wait and buy something at the last opportunity on Dec 24th to buy the last-minute presents.A place in society Unit 51572 He was not yet enjoying the Christmas spirit ... albeit a working dinner at Joanne’s. (Para 2)The word albeit is used for introducing a comment that slightly changes or reduces the effect of a previousremark, like even if it is / although …3 He was from a hard-working family in upstate Virginia … (Para 2)The word upstate means the place is in the northern part of a particular state in the US.4 But his demeanor concealed a Harvard law degree and an internship in DC witha congressman, ajunior partnership in a New York law firm, along with a razor-sharp intellect and an ability to thinkon his feet. (Para 2)Partnership refers to the position of being one of two or more people who own a company as partners.A junior partner is a newer or younger partner who has less responsibility or fewer shares than a seniorpartner.A razor-sharp intellect is a very intelligent mind, which is quick to think and react; it is as sharp as a razor.The ability to think on one’s feet means being able to think quickly in unexpected situations.5 Senator Rogers was a Democrat … who knew Capitol Hill inside out but who had neverthelessmanaged to keep her credibility with her voters as a Washington outsider. (Para 3)To know something inside out means to know something very well.A Washington outsider refers to someone who is outside the central groups or members of political circlesin Washington and is therefore possibly independent.Senator Rogers was in her third term of office (ie she had been a senator for at least eight years) and sheknew the Senate and the government institutions in Washington thoroughly. Still, she had kept an imagewith voters that she was an outsider (ie she had not been affected negatively by knowing Washington toowell or by becoming too much like other politicians).6 She was pro-abortion, anti-corruption, pro-low carbon emissions andanti-capital punishment, asfine a progressive liberal as you could find this side of the Atlantic. (Para 3)The prefix pro- means in favour of something or someone. The prefix anti- means against. Pro-abortion,anti-corruption, pro-low carbon emissions and anti-capital punishment, all of these examples have beenseen as important political issues in the US, which are debated in political campaigns and thereforepoliticians are generally expected to take a position on them. For example, Senator Rogers was in favourof reducing carbon emissions – the output of CO2 into the atmosphere, because she was aware of thenegative effect of high emissions on climate change.A progressive liberal is someone who believes in social or political change if most people want it,especially change that makes a system fairer.The expression this side of the Atlantic refers to North America. The other side of the Atlantic would be inEurope, and vice versa for speakers in Europe.7 It was election time in the following year, and the word was she was going to run for the Democraticnomination. (Para 3)The expression the word was means there was s ome talk that …, or people were saying that …Unit 5 A place in society158The Democratic nomination here refers to the official approval of a candidate for the president bythe Democratic party. The nomination takes place officially during the Democratic convention beforea presidential election campaign. Up to that point, there are candidates who run or compete for thenomination, later the Presidential candidates run for President. There are parallel processes in theRepublican party.8 He’d never been to Joanne’s … which had often been maligned, or its jazz orchestra, which had aguest slot for a well-known movie director who played trumpet, but because of the stellar qualityof its sophisticated guests: politicians, diplomats, movie actors,hall-of-fame athletes, journalists,writers, rock stars and Nobel Prize winners – in short, anyone who was anyone in this city of powerbrokers. (Para 4)To malign means to say unpleasant things about something or someone, usually unfairly.A guest slot refers to a guest appearance as a particular occasion in a series of performances orprogrammes.The expression anyone who is anyone means any really important person or someone with a well-knownname.Power brokers are the people who control or influence which people get political power in an area.The sentence means he knew the reputation of the restaurant for its famous guests; its reputation was notfor its food or live music (which included a jazz orchestra in which a famous film director sometimesplayed). The guests included politicians, diplomats, actors, journalists, writers, musicians and scientists –anyone who is well-known in Washington, a city in which many people are powerful or influential in thegovernment.9 Inside, the restaurant was heaving with people. (Para 5)The expression heaving with people means crowds of people are pushing and pulling, moving up anddown.10 “Good evening Miss Bacall, good evening Mr Hanks,” and clicked his fingers to summon anotherwaiter to show them to their table. (Para 8)Miss Bacall and Mr Hanks may be oblique references to film stars Lauren Bacall and Tom Hanks.To click one’s fingers means to make a noise with one’s fingers as a signal to summon or call someone.11 The head waiter blinked, and swallowed hard. (Para 22)To blink means to close and open one’s eyes quickly. Here, this shows surprise.To swallow hard means to make a movement in the throat as if swallowing food. Here this showsembarrassment – Alberto realized he has made a mistake.12 In a classless society, Rogers was the closest thing to aristocracy that America had. (Para 23)America has a reputation for being classless, ie it doesn’t have such social classes as European countriesare supposed to have. This means that there are no people like aristocrats, but Senator Rogers was sodistinguished that she seemed like an aristocrat, or very nearly an aristocrat.13 Alberto hovered for a moment, then went to speak to a colleague. (Para 23) To hover means to wait or stay for a moment while somebody decides what to do. This shows that he orshe is unsure for the moment.A place in society Unit 5159Reading and understanding2 Answer the questions.1 Where and when is the story set?The story is set in Joanne’s, a famous restaurant in New York on Christmas Eve.2 Who is Josh?Josh is a smart, hard-working lawyer in his early thirties. He is anAfrican-American.3 Why does he go to Joanne’s?He has an appointment at Joanne’s.4 Who is Jo Rogers?Jo Rogers is a senior Senator in Washington and a well-known person in America.5 How does the head waiter greet Josh?He greets Josh very badly. He has a disdainful, superior attitude towards Josh and behaves rudely.6 Where does he eventually seat him?At the back of the restaurant, close to the bathroom, near a half-opened window through which an icybreeze is blowing.7 What does everyone do when Jo arrives?Everybody becomes silent and turns to look at her and greets her with silent applause.8 What suggestion does the head waiter make?He suggests that they should sit at a better table in the middle of the restaurant, from which she can seeeverybody, or everybody can see her.9 Does Jo accept the invitation?No, she says the waiter brought her friend to that table, so they will stay there.3 Choose the best summary of the passage.Teaching tipsAsk Ss to give reasons why the other two summaries are not the best ones. Please see comments below.1 It’s Christmas time, and a young man comes into a very busy restaurant. The head waiter shows him to atable by an open window. A little later a well-known politician comes in and says she is dining with theyoung man. The head waiter suggests moving them both to a more comfortable table, but the politiciandeclines the offer, saying that she’s happy to stay there if her friend is happy there too.Comment: It summarizes some of the points. But the final sentence is wrong: The Senator doesn’t giveany conditions about staying at the table, she just says they will stay where the waiter seated her friend.2 A well-known politician arranges a meeting with a young man. She wants him to help her in her electioncampaign to become US President. They arrange to meet in a crowded restaurant, where they can speakinformally. The waiter doesn’t recognize the young man, and seats him at the worst table in the room,but when the politician arrives he realizes his mistake, as he knows the two need to be comfortable todiscuss politics.Comment: This is partially wrong and fails to capture the main idea, they arrange to meet at Joanne’sbecause it is a famous restaurant.Unit 5 A place in society1603 When a young black man arrives in a crowded and expensive restaurant, the head waiter makes him sitin the least comfortable place, even though a table has been booked for him and a “Ms Rogers”. WhenMs Rogers arrives, the waiter realizes that she is a well-known politician; and Ms Rogers realizes thather friend has been treated badly because of the colour of his skin. The waiter realizes his mistake too,and tries to make up for it, but it is too late.Comments: This is the best summary because it captures the main point about the treatment of Josh.The passage does not actually state that he was treated badly because of thecolour of his skin, but it isimplied and in the context it is likely to be the point of the story. Dealing with unfamiliar words4 Match the words in the box with their definitions.Teaching tips• To vary the way of doing the activity, ask Ss to work in pairs. Student A randomly picks a word in thebox and asks Student B about the meaning. Student B listens and finds the appropriate answer amongthe definitions. The point is that Ss should interact with each other. For example:A: Can you tell me the meaning of “sophisticated”?B: Yes, just a moment … it means knowing and understanding a lot about a complicated subject.That’s No 3.A: OK, thanks. (writes 3 beside the word)• In order to give the class an example, T may ask one pair to repeat the dialogue to the class. Theyshould try to speak fluently.1 money or goods that you give to an organization, especially one that helps people (donation)2 involving or done with a lot of energy, effort, attention etc (intense)3 knowing and understanding a lot about a complicated subject (sophisticated)4 supporting social and political change that aims to make a system fairer (progressive)5 capable of doing something in a satisfactory or effective way (competent)6 a new member of a company or an organization, especially someone who has recently joined (recruit)7 to deliberately make someone feel frightened, especially so that they will do what you want (intimidate)8 to experience or deal with something, especially a problem (encounter)5 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 4.There are two big political parties in the United States: the Republican party, which is traditionallythe more conservative of the two, and the Democratic party, which is said to be more (1) progressive.One of the most interesting and (2) intense moments in American political life is the election campaignwhich comes before the presidential elections. Both parties need a lot of money to pay for the campaign,for which they rely on (3) donations made by individuals and organizations. Theyalso need a lot of new(4) recruits to work on the campaign. These people are usually young, intelligent and hard-working,(5) competent in their jobs and not easily (6) intimidated, since they are likely to (7) encounter a lot ofproblems which have to be resolved quickly. But they also need to be highly (8) sophisticated, to beable to understand what the American people want, and to communicate with them through the style andorganization of the election campaign.A place in society Unit 5161Additional activityWhen Ss have completed Activity 5, ask them to work in pairs and prepare a brief presentation forCultural Encounters, a slot in a Chinese TV show which gives insights into other cultures around theworld. Each pair should discuss and think of an interesting way to present the information in Activity 5, eg tomake it an interview, a conversation, or a monologue to the camera. Ss will need to introduce the informationand make conclusions using their own words. Choose one or two pairs to make presentations. For example:A: And now it’s time for Cultural Encounters, a brief look at cultures around the world. Today we sharesome insights into election campaigns in the US … I am with Miss Xie who is from Washington DC,the city at the heart of American politics. So, Miss Xie, can you tell us about the two main politicalparties?B: Yes. There are two big political parties ...A: And what about the election campaigns?B: The election campaigns are certainly one of the most interesting and intense moments in Americanpolitical life ...A: And I gather the parties use volunteer recruits?...A: Well, that’s all for now. Thank you very much, Miss Xie. Please join us again next time for CulturalEncounters when we will be taking a look at the Brazilian carnival in Rio de Janeiro …6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. You may need to makeother changes.1 She’s a pleasant young woman, who is always very good company. (agreeable) She’s an agreeable young woman, who is always very good company.2 I’m afraid the reasons he gave me for not coming to the meeting were silly and unreasonabe. (laughable)3 It is important to fight dishonest and illegal behaviour by officials. (corruption)4 It’s freezing out here, I’m shaking with cold. (shivering)5 You might find someone to help you in the office, but I’m not sure. (doubtful)6 The attendant moved his shoulders up to suggest that he didn’t know the answer. (shrugged)7 Don’t be so annoyed because the service is slow, you won’t miss your flight. (impatient)8 The sound of people clapping at the end of the Senator’s speech lasted for five minutes. (applause)7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions.Teaching tipsAs an efficient way to go over the answer, choose nine Ss and assign each one a number. Each studentthen gives the answer in the form of a complete sentence. T just calls out the numbers and say nothingunless there is a problem.1 If you track down something, do you (a) find it, or (b) lose it after a long search?2 Does someone who thinks on their feet make decisions (a) quickly, or (b) slowly?3 If you know something inside out, do you know it (a) only in part, or (b) very well?4 If you are in the running for a job, do you have (a) some chance, or (b) no chance of being chosen?5 Is a hall-of-fame athlete someone who will be (a) quickly forgotten, or (b) remembered for a long time?6 If the market is heaving with people, (a) is there a crowd of people there, or (b) are there not manypeople there?Unit 5 A place in society1627 If you summon someone, do you want them to (a) come to see you immediately, or (b) go away?8 If you refrain from doing something, do you (a) do it, or (b) not do it?9 If there is a flurry of activity, do a lot of things happen (a) all at once, or (b) over a long period of time?Active reading (2) Language points1 The company sent one of their engineers … where he was introduced to a small Saudi engineeringfirm … (Para 1)The word Saudi is the adjective about the country of Saudi Arabia, used to describe the people and relatedmatters, but not the language. Its language is Arabic, spoken as the major language in the Middle East andNorth Africa.2 This annoyed Johan nesson and his superiors … but the Saudis wanted the intermediary to be there.(Para 1)An intermediary is a go-between (Para 4, Line 6), someone who talks to each of the people or groupsinvolved in business or other matters, usually passing information from one to the other or trying topersuade them to agree with each other. So this person mediates between them.3 Just when Johannesson’s superiors started to doubt the wisdom of the corporation’s investment inthese expensive trips, a telex arrived from Riyadh ... (Para 2)To doubt the wisdom means people are not at all sure about the judgment or decision.4 When he came to Riyadh it appeared that the conflict was over a minor issue and could easily beresolved … (Para 3)A conflict could be resolved. Apart from resolving a conflict, other collocations worth noting are thatconflicts can be solved, settled or handled. Problems can lead to, create or provoke conflicts or become asource of conflict, and conflicts might be avoided, averted or prevented. Unit 5 A place in society1685 This is known in cultural anthropology as the extended family. (Para 5) The extended family is usually the wider family members of a married couple and children, withgrandparents and perhaps uncles, aunts and in-laws who live together or are in regular contact. The nuclearfamily (Para 6, Line 9) is a married couple and their children only, in the classical definition in sociology.6 The “we” group is distinct from other people in society who belong to “they” groups, of which thereare many. The “we” group (or in-group) is the major source of one’s identity …(Para 5)The in-group is the “we” group to which people feel they belong to first for their identity. Thecomplementary group is the out-group or the “they” group to which the in-group may sometimes beopposed, or at other times the in-group is just a tighter group within many larger out-groups.Reading and understanding3 Choose the best answer to the questions.1 Who was Johannesson?(a) A businessman with good contacts in Saudi Arabia.(b) An engineer who lived in Saudi Arabia.(c) An engineer working for a Swedish company.(d) A 30-year-old Swede with a British university degree.2 Why was he sent to Saudi Arabia?(a) To work for a Saudi engineering firm.(b) To work on a project funded by the Saudi government.(c) To take the place of a Swedish engineer who was already there.(d) To learn about Saudi customs and traditions.3 Why wasn’t he happy about the meet ings with the Saudis?(a) The Saudis spent too much time laughing and joking.(b) The trips to Saudi Arabia were long and tiring.(c) The Saudi brothers didn’t speak good English.(d) Another Swedish man was always present.4 What happened after the contract was signed?(a) Johannesson lost his job with the Swedish corporation.(b) The Swedish businessman returned to Sweden.(c) The attitude of the Saudis towards Johannesson changed.(d) The Swedish corporation stopped doing business in Saudi Arabia.5 Why was Johannesson sent to work in a different division?(a) As a reward for getting the contract with the Saudis.(b) Because he wasn’t suited to work with the Saudis.(c) Because he had become too friendly with the Saudis.(d) Because he had got too frustrated by the experience in Saudi Arabia.6 Why was he asked to return to Saudi Arabia?(a) The corporation wanted him to start a new project.(b) There was a lot of new work to do so two people were needed.(c) The engineer who replaced Johannesson fell ill and had to go home.(d) The Saudis trusted only Johannesson to sort out a small problem.A place in society Unit 51694 Work in pairs and answer the questions.1 Why don’t Saudis like doing business with a company?They want to work with an individual that they know and trust.2 Which type of group is a company: a “we” group or a “they” group?A company is a “they” group unless it is a small company.3 What type of family is there in a collectivist society?Families in co llectivist societies are usually “extended”, ie they consist of a larger number of peopleliving closely together.4 How does an in-group give people protection from the hardships of life? By being a focus of loyalty and through the help that members give to each other.5 In what type of society is there nuclear family?In individualist societies.6 Why aren’t people supposed to be dependent on a group in an individualist society?They are supposed to be able to stand on their own feet.Dealing with unfamiliar words5 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 support that you always give to someone or something because of your feelings of duty and lovetowards them (loyalty)2 to give someone the ability or opportunity to do something (enable)3 a company that sells the same goods or services as another company (competitor)4 a written legal agreement between two people or businesses that says what each must do for the other orgive to the other (contract)5 the control and operation of a business or organization (management)6 money used in a way that may earn you more money (investment)6 Complete the conversation with the correct form of the words in Activity 5.A Does your company do a lot of business abroad?B Yes, it does. We’ve recently signed a number of (1) contracts in the Middle East.A So you’re making a major (2) investment in that area?B Yes, we are. We also have a lot of (3) competitors in our line of business, so it won’t be easy.A Have you ever thought of working for one of them?B Not really, I’ve got a certain amount of (4) loyalty to my own company. I think that I’ve been treatedrather well by the (5) management. And if things go well, the new project I’m working on should(6) enable me to get promotion quite quickly.Additional activityActing on the radioWhen Ss have completed the activity, tell them it is time to perform as radio broadcasters. Ask them toread the whole conversation in pairs with as much fluency as they can, like reading a radio script. Later,Unit 5 A place in society170after Ss have practised for a short time, ask one pair to perform to the class. T has to introduce theirperformance as an extract from a radio script. Finally, ask the class for any comments: Did it sound like aradio broadcast? How could the actors improve their reading?7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box. You mayneed to make other changes.1 These 2,000 words form the most basic part of the English language. (core)2 Some British people think belonging to the European Union is vital to the UK’s national interests.(membership)Some British people think membership of the European Union is vital to the UK’s national interests.3 The process of sending the books may take up to two weeks. (delivery)The delivery of the books may take up to two weeks.4 They said they would cancel the contract if they weren’t paid by next Thursday. (threatened)They threatened to cancel the contrac t if they weren’t paid by next Thursday.5 Can’t you see the positive side? You always spend time talking about the bad things. (dwell on)6 Your inner strength will enable you to overcome life’s obstacles. (prevail over)Additional activityVocabulary challengeThis activity aims to encourage Ss to use the words in Activity 5 and Activity 7 productively. Ask Ss towork in pairs and think about the words in the box. Ask them to make one sentence that includes all thewords in the box. After a brief period of time, ask a few pairs to tell the class their examples. The classlisten to each example carefully and check whether all the six words are used. Finally, the class decidewhich is the best sentence and might be said in the appropriate context – thismeans Ss have to imagine apossible context. And ask some Ss to repeat the best sentence.Example 1 (Activity 5):Several competitors all wanted the contract, but the management felt particular loyalty to just oneinvestment company so they enabled that company to win the contract. Example 2 (Activity 5):Personally, I don’t think you should enable your friend to make an investment just because of loyalty toa company with bad management; rather she should make the investment with a competitor and have aproper contract.Example 3 (Activity 7):I really don’t wish to dwell on the way the manager threatened to change the delivery date of the corematerials, because your arguments about membership of the trade organization prevailed over what hewas suggesting.Example 4 (Activity 7):We prevailed over our competitors who belong to the core membership of the European Union when theythreatened to dwell on endless discussion about the delivery of new services.8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions.1 Does an intermediary try to get two people or groups to (a) agree, or (b) disagree with each other?A place in society Unit 51712 Is your successor in a job the person who comes (a) after, or (b) before you?3 If you have been nominated for a job, have you been (a) formally, or (b) only informally appointed?4 Is a go-between someone who (a) takes messages between two people, or (b) prevents them fromcommunicating?5 Is an individualist someone who (a) is, or (b) isn’t dependent on other people?6 If you can stand on your own feet, can you (a) look after yourself, or (b) see further than most people?7 Does parental advice come from (a) the government, or (b) your mother and / or father?Reading and interpreting9 Choose the best way to complete the sentences.1 The story in the passage is an example of (b) .(a) a clash between two people with very different personalities(b) the difference between an “individualist” and a “collectivist” approach to business(c) the problem which occurs when people do business in a foreign language(d) a failure to do business2 The fact that most people in the world live in collectivist societies means(c) .(a) people don’t like to be alone(b) people need a lot of help to bring up their children(c) putting the needs of a group first helps protect the individual(d) people are taught not to stand on their own feet3 An “in-group”, or “we” group is (c) .(a) people who work for the same company(b) other people of your own age in society(c) the group which gives you your identity(d) a group you choose to belong to4 Children in collectivist societies (b) .(a) grow up in small families(b) are likely to be very loyal to their family(c) prefer having a lot of people to help look after them(d) are controlled by their family5 Children in individualist societies (b) .(a) are unlikely to have many playmates(b) are likely to leave home when they become adults(c) find it difficult to have relationships with other people(d) think of themselves as members of a groupLanguage in useword formation: pro- and anti-1 Look at the sentence from the passage Dinner at Joanne’s and answer the questions.She was pro-abortion, anti-corruption, pro-low carbon emissions andanti-capital punishment, as fine aprogressive liberal as you could find this side of the Atlantic.1 If she was pro-abortion, was she in favour of or against the possibility of having an abortion?She was in favour of the possibility of having an abortion.。

Unit 5 Active readingThe lonely American1 Americans in the 21st century devote more technology to staying connected than any society in history, yet somehow the devices fail us: Studies show that we feel increasingly alone. Our lives are spent in a tug-of-war between conflicting desires – we want to stay connected, and we want to be free. We lurch back and forth, reaching for both. How much of one should we give up in order to have more of the other? How do we know when we’ve got it right?2 Yet people in this country continue to drift apart. We need to know why.3 First, let’s look at the frenetic busyness of our lives. Americans may be the only people in the world who believe that each individual has the right and the capacity to fit whatever he or she wants into one small life. America is the original “You can be anything you want if you really try, and it’s never too late to start trying!” country.4 A good friend described the impact of busyness on our neighborhoods brilliantly: “Being neighborly used to mean visiting people. Now being nice to your neighbors means not bothering them.” People’s lives are shaped by how busy they are. Lives also are shaped by the respect and deference that is given to busyness – especially when it is valued above connection and community. If people are considerate, they assume that their neighbors are very busy and so try not to intrude on them. Dropping by is no longer neighborly. It is simply rude.5We treat socializing as if it’s a frivolous diversion from the tasks at hand rather than an activity that is essential to our well-being as individuals and as a community. Soon our not bothering to call people (or even email them) gets read by others as a sign that we are too caught up in the busy sweep of our own lives to have time for them. Our friends are not surprised. Our relatives may be indignant, but even they know how hard it is. An unspoken understanding develops. It’s too bad that we’ve lost touch, but that’s just the way it is.6 The pace of everyday life may push us toward isolation, but there is a pull, as well: a very seductive picture of standing apart as a victory, not a retreat. Ever since Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote his famous essay and Henry David Thoreau set out to embody the concept in his cabin on Walden Pond, a long series of American icons have idealized the concept of self-reliance.7 And when we do find ourselves isolated, by standing tall in our own minds, side by side with self-reliant heroes, each of us is suddenly no longeralone but part of a group –a great American tradition of lonesome cowboys and go-it-alone entrepreneurs. That psychological magic becomes the spoonful of sugar that makes painful experiences of finding ourselves left out easier to swallow. We may have isolated ourselves without entirely meaning to, but we also have ended up in a place that looks a lot like where we always knew that we were supposed to stand. On the outside, proud to be there.8 It is also the last place on earth that a person would want to be.9 The consequences of social disconnection are both extensive and remarkably diverse. To begin with, social support is an important determinant of overall health. It has significant effects on longevity, on an individual’s response to stress, on immune functions, and on the incidence of a variety of specific illnesses. In diseases as varied as heart attacks and dementia, medical research repeatedly has found that social networks and social activity have a protective effect.10 Social isolation damages ecological health as well. The rising tide of single-person households strains the earth’s resources. Additionally, in our consumer-oriented culture, a common solution to not having enough people in one’s life is to turn to things, objects that will define one’s identity through possessions rather than through one’s place in a social world. (We once passed an elegant store in New York City whose name summed up the problem: More and More. We watched the shop from across the street, keeping a safe distance.)11 The truth is that if one can bring oneself to acknowledge loneliness, half the battle is won. It is not an easy half of a battle, however. When we began to talk about these ideas with friends, their first response was to passionately defend their styles of staying disconnected. Having chosen, like so many Americans, to step back, they explained how right the choice has been for them.12 Small daily choices – whether to go to a local store or order off the Internet, whether to pick up a ringing telephone or let it go to voicemail, whether to get together with a friend or pop in a DVD –end up defining one’s social world. These little decisions are cumulative. You step back a little from others. They step back a little from you. You feel a little left out. Feeling left out, unexamin ed, leads you to step back further. But feeling left out, when it’s examined,can lead people to work a little harder to reconnect.13 Loneliness was never the goal. It’s just the spot where too many people wind up. We get stuck because the world we have wandered away from is so frantic and demanding. We get stuck because we have dreamed about lonesome heroes who stand defiantly apart. We get stuck because we feel left out and stop looking for ways back in. We should remember that the outside was not meant to be our final destination.孤独的美国人1 在使人与人保持联系方面，21世纪的美国人投入了比历史上任何一个社会都要多的技术手段。

Alex Haley served in the Coast Guard during World War ll. On an especially lonely day to be at sea -- Thanksgiving Day -- he began to give serious thought to a holiday that has become, for many Americans, a day of overeating and watching endless games of football. Haley decided to celebrate the true meaning of Thanksgiving by writing three very special letters.亚历克斯·黑利二战时在海岸警卫队服役。

出海在外，时逢一个倍感孤寂的日子――感恩节，他开始认真思考起这一节日的意义。

对许多美国人而言，这个节日已成为大吃大喝、没完没了地看橄榄球比赛的日子。

黑利决定写三封不同寻常的信，以此来纪念感恩节的真正意义。

Writing Three Thank-You LettersAlex Haley1 It was 1943, during World War II, and I was a young U. S. coastguardsman. My ship, the USS Murzim, had been under way for several days. Most of her holds contained thousands of cartons of canned or dried foods. The other holds were loaded with five-hundred-pound bombs packed delicately in padded racks. Our destination was a big base on the island of Tulagi in the South Pacific.写三封感谢信亚利克斯·黑利那是在二战期间的1943年，我是个年轻的美国海岸警卫队队员。

Unit 5Passa‎g e A# Detai‎l ed Readi‎n g##1. Diffi‎c ult Sente‎n ces1.I stare‎d at the words‎in the distr‎e ssed‎w ay you might‎ stare‎at par ty‎guest‎s whose‎faces‎ you’ve seen somew‎h er e befor‎e but whose‎names‎have escap‎ed your mind .(Para .9 , L .1)我看着这些‎词,一筹莫展。

这就像参加‎晚会时, 盯着那些似‎曾相识的脸‎孔,可怎么也想‎不起名字一‎样。

2.. He looke‎d confu‎s ed, a remin‎d er that cleve‎r’s‎not‎cleve‎r if it doesn‎’t‎commu‎n icat‎e.He looke‎d confu‎sed, and his puzzl‎e d look remin‎d ed me that my answe‎r was not cleve‎r at all becau‎se it could‎n’t be under‎s tood‎.他一脸的迷‎惑，这是在提醒‎我，如果不能使‎对方明白，这词儿就不‎能算用得聪‎明。

3.Just not right‎ now, now when it matte‎r ed, now when the fate of a curio‎u s, intel‎l igen‎timmig‎r ant hung on the answe‎r s he assum‎ed would‎ fall from a nativ‎e speak‎er’s tongu‎e as natur‎a lly as leave‎s from an Octob‎er tree.I could‎n’t‎say‎the‎answe‎r right‎now, becau‎s e this answe‎r was so impor‎t ant that the fate of thiscurio‎u s and intel‎l igen‎t Pakis‎t ani drive‎r kind of relie‎d on it. I could‎n’t‎tell‎the‎answe‎r preci‎s ely, thoug‎h he suppo‎s ed it would‎be so natur‎a l for me to give him an answe‎r as a nativ‎e speak‎e r, as natur‎a l as leave‎s falli‎n g from an Octob‎e r tree.这我可以回‎答，但不是在此‎时。