Unit TwoTextPresenting a SpeechStephen LucasPre-readingDiscuss the following topics with your partner before reading the text.1. Have you ever presented an English speech in front of a crowd?2. Were you satisfied with your speech?3. What are the most important things you should pay attention to before and during yourspeech?4. As for an academic speech in English, what do you think you should do to prepare?1. Of all human creations, language may be the most remarkable. Through language we share experiences, formulate values, exchange ideas, transmit knowledge, and sustain culture. Indeed, language is vital to thinking itself. Contrary to popular belief, language does not simply mirror reality but also helps to create our sense of reality by giving meaning to events.2. Good speakers have respect for language and know how it works. Words are the tools of a speaker's craft. They have special uses, just like the tools of any other profession. As a speaker, you should be aware of the meanings of words and know how to use language accurately, clearly, vividly, and appropriately.3. Using language accurately is as vital to a speaker as using numbers accurately is to an accountant. Never use a word unless you are sure of its meaning: If you are not sure, look up the word in a dictionary. As you prepare your speeches, ask yourself constantly, "What do I really want to say? What do I really mean?" Choose words that are precise and accurate.4. Using language clearly allows listeners to grasp your meaning immediately. You can ensure this by using familiar words that are known to the average person and require no specializedbackground; by choosing concrete words in preference to more abstract ones, and by eliminating verbal clutter.5. Using language vividly helps bring your speech to life. One way to make your language more vivid is through imagery, or the creation of word pictures. You can develop imagery by using concrete language, simile, and metaphor. Simile is an explicit comparison between things that are essentially different yet have something in common; it always contains the words "like" or "as." Metaphor is an implicit comparison between things that are different yet have something in common; it does not contain the words "like" or "as."6. Another way to make your speeches vivid is by exploiting the rhythm of language. Four devices for creating rhythm are parallelism, repetition, alliteration, and antithesis. Parallelism is the similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences. Repetition is the use of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences. Alliteration comes from repeating the initial consonant sounds of close or adjoining words. Antithesis is the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structure.7. Using language appropriately means adapting to the particular occasion, audience, and topic at hand. It also means developing your own language style instead of trying to copy someone else's. If your language is appropriate in all respects, your speech is much more likely to succeed.8. Good speeches are not composed of hot air and unfounded assertions. They need strong supporting materials to bolster the speaker's point of view. In fact, the skillful use of supporting materials often makes the difference between a good speech and a poor one. The three basic types of supporting materials are examples, statistics and testimony.9. In the course of a speech you may use brief examples—specific instances referred to in passing -- and sometimes you may want to give several brief examples in a row to create a stronger impression. Extended examples -- often called illustrations, narratives, or anecdotes -- are longer and more detailed. Hypothetical examples describe imaginary situations and can be quiteeffective for relating ideas to the audience. All three kinds of examples help to clarify ideas, to reinforce ideas, or to personalize ideas. To be more effective, though, they should be vivid and richly textured.10. Statistics can be extremely helpful in conveying your message, as long as you use them sparingly and explain them so they are meaningful to your audience. Above all, you should understand your statistics and use them fairly. Numbers can easily be manipulated and distorted. Make sure that your figures are representative of what they claim to measure, that you use statistical measures correctly, and that you take statistics only from reliable sources.11. Testimony is especially helpful for student speakers, because they are seldom recognized as experts on their speech topics. Citing the views of people who are experts is a good way to make your ideas more credible. When you include testimony in a speech, you can either quote someone verbatim or paraphrase their words. As with statistics, there are guidelines for using testimony. Be sure to quote or paraphrase accurately and to cite qualified unbiased sources. If the source is not generally known to your audience, be certain to establish his or her credentials.12. The impact of a speech is strongly affected by how the speech is delivered. You cannot makea good speech without having something to say. But having something to say is not enough. You must also know how to say it. Good delivery does not call attention to itself. It conveys the speaker's ideas clearly, interestingly, and without distracting the audience.13. There are four basic methods of delivering a speech: reading verbatim from a manuscript, reciting a memorized text, speaking with PowerPoint, and speaking extemporaneously, or impromptu. The last of these -- speaking extemporaneously is the method you probably will use for classroom speeches and for most speeches outside the classroom. When speaking extemporaneously, you will have only a brief set of notes or a speaking outline. Speaking with PowerPoint is widely used now and very effective indeed.14. Certainly there are other factors you should consider, such as personal appearance, bodilyaction, gestures, eye contact, volume, pauses and so on. By paying enough attention to what is mentioned above, you may present an effective speech.ExercisesⅠ. Comprehension QuestionsA Getting informationl. Through language people can 1) ; 2) ; 3) ;4) ; 5) .2. As a speaker, you should know how to use language 1) ; 2) ;3) ; 4) .3. The four devices for creating rhythm effectively are 1) ; 2) ;3) ; 4) ;.4. The three basic types of supporting materials are 1) ; 2) ;3) ; 4) .5. The four basic methods of delivering a speech are 1) ; 2) ;3) ; 4) .B Answer the following questions, and then write them out in the spaces provided below.l. What does the author mean by using language clearly?2. How can you make your speech vivid according to the author?3. In the author's opinion, what can make the difference between a good speech and a poor one?4. According to the author, how to make your speech very effective?5. What else should a speaker pay attention to in addition to what the author discussed in the previous paragraphs?C Choose the best answer to each question below.1. Which of the following about language is true according to the author?A. It can be regarded as a tool of exploiting the rhythm of language.B. It mirrors reality and also helps to create our sense of reality.C. It can create our imaginary about any event around us.D. It can help us to be aware of the meanings of words.2. What is true about good speakers, according to the author in Paragraph 2?A. They have respect for language and know how it works.B. They like to talk as much as possible in public.C. They must be professors or people who are well educated.D. They must have special talents in talking to others.3. Why did the author cite the example of an accountant using numbers accurately in Paragraph 3?A. He wanted to indicate the importance of language to an accountant.B. He was describing the difference between two occupations.C. He wanted to make accountants better understood.D. He was trying to stress the importance of using language accurately.4. When you use statistics in your speech, what should you pay attention to?A. You should be able to measure the statistics properly.B. They should be good enough to be manipulated and changed.C. You should get the statistics from reliable sources.D. They should be large enough to be impressive and surprising.5. What does "using language appropriately" mean?A. It means that your language should be vivid and interesting to your audience.B. It means that your language should adapt to the particular occasion, audience, and topic.C. It means that you should develop your own language and your own style.D. It means that you should not copy someone else's language.Ⅱ. VocabularyA Choose one word or phrase from the given list to fill in the blanks in the following sentences.Change the form where necessary.assertion contrary to look up implicit at hand in the course ofadapt sustain unbiased rhythm clutter metaphor1. what they predicted, the disease broke out and killed thousands of people.2. Without receiving her reply as scheduled, he regarded it as acceptance.3. He repeated his that he was not guilty in front of the jury in court.4. Using the Internet, he was able to information on a terrible disease torturing his wife.5. The young man well to the city life and his new environment.6. There is not enough oxygen in the Moon's atmosphere to plant life.7. When you prepare for your speech, be sure to cite qualified sources.8. children's language acquisition, adults should pay attention to grammar.9. It is known to all Arabic children that "ship of the desert" is a for the camel.10. is one of the things you should try to eliminate when you make a speech.B From the list given below, choose the word which is closest in meaning to the underlinedword or phrase in each sentence.1. The government decided to take concrete steps to support its faltering economy.( )2. The evidence he presented at the meeting was reliable, according to his viewpoint. ( )3. At the conference, he made an unprepared speech, which left a deep impression on every participant. ( )4. Experts warn that mankind should use natural resources economically. ( )5. An interesting story about Albert Einstein was rewritten and published in the Readers' Digest.( )6. He needs to build up his proof of his abilities and experience with his colleagues in biological research. ( )7. Winning the scholarship is evidence, of her intelligence in the field of physics. ( )8. The medical students were asked how they would treat a supposed case and were marked according to their responses. ( )9. Students should learn how to quote other people's statements and also how to restate them. ( )10. The photographer used a side-by-side position of fat and thin models to demonstrate the beauty. ( )ⅢTranslationA Translate the following sentences into Chinese.1. Through language we can share experiences, formulate values, exchange ideas, transmit knowledge, and sustain culture.2. Metaphor is an implicit comparison between things that are different yet have something in common.3. In fact, the skillful use of supporting materials often makes the difference between a good speech and a poor one.4. To be more effective, though, the examples you cite for your speech should be vivid and richly textured.5. Extended examples--often called illustrations, narratives, or anecdotes -- are longer and more detailed.6. Hypothetical examples describe imaginary situations and can be quite effective for relating ideas to the audience.7. Statistics can be extremely helpful in conveying your message, as long as you use them sparingly and explain them so they are meaningful to your audience.8. Citing the views of people who are experts is a good way to make your ideas more credible.9. Words are the tools of a speaker's craft. They have Special uses, just like the tools of any other profession.10. There are four basic methods of delivering a speech: reading verbatim from a manuscript, reciting a memorized text, speaking with PowerPoint, and speaking extemporaneously orimpromptu.B Translate the following passage into Chinese.Outlines are essential to effective speeches. By outlining, you make sure that related ideas are together, that your thoughts flow from one to another, and that the structure of your speech is coherent. You will probably use two kinds of outlines for your speeches -- the detailed preparation outline and the brief speaking outline.In a preparation outline, you should state your specific purpose and central idea, and identify main points and sub-points using a consistent pattern. The speaking outline should consist of brief notes to help you while you deliver the speech. It should contain key words or phrases to bolster your memory. In making up your speaking outline, follow the same visual framework used in your preparation outline. Keep the speaking outline as brief as possible and be sure it is plainly legible.C Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and phrases in brackets. Make additions or changes where necessary.1. 年青一代需要继续传承和发扬我们优良的传统和悠久的文化。
