Unit 1
Section A Time-Conscious Americans
Ⅰ. Abstract
This passage shows the way of Americans regarding time。Americans are famous for their time-consciousness. His/her belief is that no one stands still. No moving ahead means falling behind. This results in a country that people of it devote themselves into researching, experimenting and exploring. Time is the most important thing for Americans lives.
On one hand, Americans try their best to save up time by different ways. They are in hurry to get their destination, push the others in order to finish their shopping quickly. Racing through daytime meals is part of the pace of life in America. People make full use of modern ways to communicate with each other efficiently.
On the other hand, people miss the relaxed way of living. They like the opening exchanges of a business call. They miss the ritual interaction that is suitable for a welcoming cup of tea or coffee. The people coming from different cultures have different ideas from those of American.
Ⅱ. Culture Notes
1. The Definition of Culture
Culture is a very broad term used to describe the arts, the beliefs, the values, the traditions, the customs, and the institutions that are considered to be characteristic of a community, a people, a region, or a nation. Culture also includes the languages and dialects that people use to express their feelings and to communicate with each other. It is often difficult to dissociate language and culture since, in most cases, language is the main medium through which culture is transmitted. Most people feel that it is impossible to really know a culture without speaking the language. In some immigrant populations in North America, however, the original language (French, German, Chinese, Polish, etc.) has been lost but customs and traditions are still maintained
2.Time Orientation Culture
Past-orientated cultures believe strongly in the significance of prior events. History, established religions, and tradition are extremely important to these cultures, so there is a strong belief that the past should be the guide for making decisions and determining truth. We see this orientation in China, which because of its long and splendid history continues to respect the past.
Present-orientated cultures hold that the moment has the most significance. For
them, the future is vague, ambiguous, and unknown and what is real exists I the here and now.
Future-orientated cultures, such as the one found in the United States, emphasize the future and expect it to be grander and nicer than the present.
Ⅲ. New Words
1.budget:
v. plan the spending of (time, money, etc.), or provide (time, money) in the plan
vt.编入预算; 设计使用vi.安排开支n.预算 a.便宜的，廉价的
She budgeted for buying a new car. 她为了买新汽车而计划节省开支。
It is important to balance this year's budget.
[词组]balance one’s budget 平衡预算
within / below budget 在预算之内
budget for doing sth. 为做……做预算
2.acute: adj. fine, sharp, severe, very great
(1)敏锐的；灵敏的;(2) 剧烈的；厉害的;(3) 严重的;(4) 急性的（疾病）
He still has very acute hearing, though he is 80 years old.
She is suffering acute pain.
[辨析]acute ；keen；sharp意思都含“锐利的”(包括它的引伸义)意思。
用于物时,(1)sharp 指“尖或刃”, 如:a sharp point 锐利的尖。
(2)keen 一般指“刃”, 如:a keen edge锋刃。
(3)acute 只用于学术语中, 如:an acute angle锐角。
用于人时, (1)sharp 表示“有洞察力的, 精明的, 机警的”, 着重“狡猾”“不易受骗”, 如:
You won't catch him. He's very sharp.你骗不了他, 他精明极了。
(2)keen 表示人的“锐敏”、“聪明”、“善于思索”, 如:He's a keen mind.他头脑灵敏。
(3)acute 侧重指“人观察事物的深刻性以及分辨问题的细致性。”如:
He has given an acute analysis of the situation.他对形势做了深刻的分析。
3.replace vt.（常与with, by连用）用…代替
[辨析]replace; supersede; supplant 都含“代替”的意思。
(1)replace 指“代替某人”或“取代已经失去的、毁坏的或用坏的东西”, 如: We replace defective tubes.我们更换有毛病的管子。
(2)supersede系正式用语, 指“用更好的、最新的东西替换过时的或无用的东西”, 如:
The sailing ships were superseded by the steamships.帆船已被汽船所取代。
(3)supplant 指“以武力、欺骗等手段替代原来的人或其职位”, 如:
The prime minister was supplanted by his rival.首相被他的政敌赶下台了。
