Mr. Wu's Blog

Unit 1

 

 

Difficult Sentences

 

1. There is often a reference to William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens to encourage him even more.

Who are “William Shakespeare” and “Charles Dickens”?

(= Shakespeare is the world’s most popular playwright while Dickens is the greatest English novelist of the 19th century.)

Why are they mentioned in the advertisements?

(= The people who run the advertisements just want to use quotations to support their points.)

 

2. If it were as easy to learn English as they say, I would have to look for another job, because very few qualified teachers would be needed.

What is the author’s profession?

(= He must be an English teacher whose job is to train qualified English teachers.)

 

3. …, and it is no use pretending that anyone has discovered a perfect way of teaching English in every possible situation.

What are the meaning and the usage of the phrase “it is no use …”?

(= 1) The phrase means “it has no effect …”.

2) Whenever we use this phrase we should always use the V-ing form after it.

More examples:

* It’s no use complaining.

* It’s no use crying over spilt milk, — he’s spent all the money, and there’s nothing you can do about it.)

Translate this part into Chinese.

(= 而且也无需装模作样地声称有什么人已经找到了一个万能的适合所有学习环境的教学方法。)

 

4. No doubt this is true to a certain extent, but it is not very helpful to students.

What can we learn from the expression “This is true to a certain extent, but …”?

(= We can see the author doesn’t totally agree with the previous statement.

Then, what, in the author’s opinion, is helpful to students?

(= Students should have some good methods in learning English.)

 

5. Some students go to the opposite extreme and think they can teach themselves at home with dictionaries.

What can we infer from the phrase “go to the opposite extreme”?

(= From this phrase, we can see that the author doesn’t think learning English by using dictionaries only is a good method, either.)

 

6. But it is wrong to assume that each word in English has a precise equivalent in another language and vice versa.

Translate the sentence into Chinese.

(= 如果你认为英语中的每一个词在另一语言中都有完全对等的词（或反之亦然），那就错了。)

 

7. If we were parrots or chimpanzees, these methods might be successful.

What can we infer from the sentence?

(= The author uses subjunctive mood here to show he disagrees with behaviorists.)

 

8. Human beings, unlike parrots and chimpanzees, … can relate them to their own lives.

Why does the author compare human beings with parrots and chimpanzees?

(= The author does so in order to tell us human beings speak English because they are interested in it.)

 

9. It is worth remembering that language is a means of communication.

Pay attention to the usage of the word “worth”.

(= When we use this expression we should always use the V-ing form after the word “worth”, never an infinitive.

More examples:

The book is worth reading/It’s worth reading the book. )

Paraphrase the sentence.

(= It is likely to give a satisfactory or rewarding return for us to keep in mind that language is a way to communicate.)

 

10. What they listen to and read cannot be a formula.

Translate the sentence into Chinese.

(= 人们所听所读的不应该是程式化的东西。)

 

 

Words and Expressions

 

1. personal: adj. concerning, belonging to, or for the use of a particular person; private

* My personal view is that the students should be doing more work outside the classroom.

* When I went to her room all her personal belongings had gone.

 

2. advertisement: n. a picture, short film, song, etc. which tries to persuade people to buy a product or service

* a television/newspaper advertisement for a new car

* They put an advertisement in The Morning News, offering a high salary for the right person.

* The organizers of the concert had taken out a full page advertisement in The New York Times.

Collocation:

answer an advertisement 应广告之聘

put an advertisement in/on 在……做广告

run an advertisement 做广告

buy things from/in advertisements 购买广告上宣传的商品

 

3. claim:

1) vt. state that sth. is true, even though it has not been proved

* All parties have claimed success in yesterday’s elections.

* The company claims that their product “makes you thin without dieting”.

战斗结束后, 双方均宣称获胜。

(= After the battle both sides claimed victory.)

2) n. a statement that sth. is true, even though it has not been proved

* They made claims they couldn’t live up to.

她对这块土地产权提出的要求最终得到法庭的认可。

(= Her claim to the ownership of the land was finally recognized by the court.)

 

4. on one’s part: of or by someone

* There has never been any jealousy on my part.

(= 我从没有感到忌妒。)

* It was probably just a mistake on her part.

 

5. fluently: adv.

fluent: adj. [often used with in] (of a person) speaking, writing, or playing a musical instrument in an easy smooth manner

* The company will give priority to an applicant who is fluent in English.

* He speaks fluent Spanish.

 

6. reference: n.

1) a mention of sth.

* Knowing what had happened, I avoided making any reference to weddings.

他最近出的书中提到了中东问题。

(= His recent book makes references to the issue of the Mideast.)

2) sth. that shows you where else to look for information, for example the page number of another place in a book

* Make a note of the reference number shown on the form.

3) the act of looking at sth. for information

* Use the dictionary for easy reference.

* Keep their price list for further reference.

Collocation:

a reference book参考书，工具书

a reference library（不外借书的）参考书阅览室

for reference 作参考

in/with reference to关于

 

7. efficiently: adv.

efficient: adj. working well, quickly, and without waste

* an efficient secretary

(= 能干的秘书)

* an efficient heating system

(= 高效能的供暖系统)

CF: efficient & effective

这两个形容词均有“有效的”之意。

efficient指积极有效，效率高，效果好，节省精力。指人时，强调其能干、熟练的技巧。

effective强调产生实际的效果、效力或具有取得预期效果的能力，指人指物都适用。

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words above. Change the form where necessary.

1) The local government has taken some _____ measures to reduce unemployment. (=effective)

2) We need someone really ______ who can organize the office and make it run smoothly. (=efficient)

3) The city’s transport system is one of the most ____ in Europe. (= efficient)

4) An ____ teacher will always produce better exam results. (=effective)

 

8. argue:

1) vi. disagree with someone in words, often in an angry way

我们听到邻居正在争吵。

(= We could hear the neighbors arguing.)

* They’re always arguing about/over money.

2) v. give the reasons for one’s opinion, idea, belief, etc.

* The lawyers argued the case for hours.

* Baker argued against cutting the military budget.

Collocation:

argue down 驳倒

* They argued him down fiercely. 他们狠狠地驳得他哑口无言。

argue out 辩论清楚

* The teacher and his class argued the whole matter out. 老师和学生透彻地论证了这个问题。

argue the toss反对某项已成定局的决定

* Let’s not argue the toss — we have to accept his choice. 我们不必争论已经决定的事——只好听他的。

 

9. individual:

1) n. a single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set to which they belong

每一个人都有永远不可剥夺的权利。

(= Every individual has rights which must never be taken away.)

2) adj.

① single; separate

* Each individual person is responsible for his own arrangements.

② of or for one person; by or from one person

* food served in individual portions

(= 按一人一份供给的食物)

* an individual effort/contribution

(= 个人的努力/贡献)

 

10. personality: n.

1) the whole nature or character of a particular person

* Everyone loves her for her cheerful personality.

他是个个性很强的有抱负的人。

(= He was an ambitious man with a strong personality.)

2) a famous person

* personalities from the film world

(= 影界名流)

费德勒是网球界最著名的人物之一。

(= Roger Federer is one of the best-known personalities in the world of tennis.)

CF: personality, character, nature & temper

这些名词均有“性格、气质、性情、习性”之意。

personality主要指一个人稳定的心理特征。例如：

* Though their personalities differed, they got along as friends.

虽然他们性格迥异，但却相处友好。

character指对个性或人格所作出的客观评价，常常与道德有关。例如：

* What does her handwriting tell you about her character? 你从她的书法中看出她有什么样的个性？

nature指天生的、不可改变的性格。例如：

* It’s his nature to be kind to people. 他天生为人厚道。

temper指从感情方面体现出来、决定处理问题的方式的性格或性情，这种性情可以是暂时的也可以是长久的。例如：

* The girl has a sweet temper. 那女孩性情温婉。

 

11. no doubt: almost certainly, very probably

* We will, no doubt, discuss these issues again at the next meeting.

* 想必你要在吃饭前打开行李休息一下。

(= No doubt you’ll want to unpack and have a rest before dinner.)

 

12. to a certain extent: to the degree specified

* They are financed to a certain extent by advertising revenue.

(= 他们的资金在一定程度上来自广告收入。)

* I agree with what you say to a certain extent.

 

13. have an advantage (over): have sth. that helps one to be more successful than others

* Her experience meant that she had a big advantage over her opponent.

* People who have been to university have a big advantage when it comes to finding jobs.

 

14. go to extremes: act too violently or behave in an extreme way

他们往往持极端观点。

(= They often go to extremes in their views.)

Collocation:

go from one extreme to the other 从一个极端走向另一个极端

be driven/forced to extremes 被迫走极端

* In the jungle, they were driven to extremes in order to survive. 在丛林中, 他们为了生存被迫采取极端行动。

in the extreme极端，极度，非常

* Her manner was friendly and welcoming in the extreme. 她的态度极其友好热情。

 

15. assume: vt. accept (sth.) as true before there is proof

* 我假定他说的是真的。

(= I assumed his story to be true.)

* The report was assumed to be valid.

* I assumed that you knew each other because you went to the same school.

CF: assume, presume & suppose

这些动词均含有“假设，猜想，推测”之意。

assume指无根据地武断推测或不合逻辑地推理。

presume强调以过去经验或根据现实的某些感觉把某事认定为是事实。

suppose常用词，意义较广泛，指缺乏确切事实、根据一些现象进行推测，也可指为论证而提出合乎逻辑推理的某种假定，有时仅表示个人意见。

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words above. Change the form where necessary.

1) Many scientists ___ the new damage to the forests to be the result of higher levels of pollution. (= presumed)

2) I didn’t see your car, so I ____ you’d gone out. (= assumed)

3) We have no reason to _____ that the girl is dead. (= suppose)

 

16. precise: adj. exact in form, detail, measurements, time, etc.

* It was difficult to get precise information on when the war broke out.

就在我昏倒之时，他一把拉住了我。

(= He caught me at the precise moment that I fainted.)

NB: 注意该词的词性变化，它的副词形式、名词形式与反义词分别为：precisely，precision和imprecise。

 

17. equivalent:

1) n. sth. that has the same value, purpose, function, etc. as sth. else

* There is no English equivalent for “bon appétit” so we have adopted the French expression.

2) adj. having the same amount, value, purpose, qualities, etc.

* I had no dollars, but offered him an equivalent amount of sterling.

美国的国会大致相当于英国的议会。

(= The US Congress is roughly equivalent to the British Parliament.)

 

18. vice versa: used to state that it is also true with the main items in the preceding statement the other way round

* He doesn’t trust her, and vice versa.

男孩也许会拒绝与女孩一起玩，女孩也一样。

(= The boys may refuse to play with the girls, and vice versa.)

 

19. provide: vt. give sth. to someone or make it available to them, because they need it or want it

* Putting more police on patrol doesn’t provide a real solution to the problem of increasing violence.

这本小册子提供了当地各类服务的有用信息。

(= This booklet provides useful information about local services.)

Pattern:

provide sb. with sth.

provide sth. for sb.

* The project is designed to provide young people with work.

旅馆为客人们提供擦鞋服务。

(= The hotel provides a shoe-cleaning service for guests.)

 

20. let alone: not to mention; much less

* We have no hospital, let alone an isolation ward.

* He hasn’t enough money for food, let alone amusements.

 

21. base

1) vt. [usu. pass.] place or establish; provide with a base or center

* Their relationship was based on/upon mutual respect.

这个电影是以马克?吐温的小说为题材的。

(= The film is based on a novel by Mark Twain.)

2) n.

① the lowest part of something, esp. the part on which something stands

* There is a hole in the base of the tree.

* There is a door at the base of the tower.

② a place where people in a military organization live and work

* a military base

(= 军事基地)

* a naval base

(= 海军基地)

* an air base

(= 空军基地)

CF: base, basis & foundation

这几个名词都有“基础，根基”的意思。

base指构成或支撑某一具体物体的基础，也可指军事基地或用作比喻意义。例如：

* The lamp stands on a circular base.

(= 落地灯由圆形底座支撑。)

* Some of the military bases on this island were built in the 19th century.

(= 这个岛上的一些军事基地建于19世纪。)

basis主要用作抽象或引申意义。例如：

* Charity toward others is the basis of her philosophy.

(= 慈善待人是她人生观的基点。)

foundation用于具体意义时，指坚固结实的建筑物的基础或地基；用作比喻意义时，与basis基本相同。例如：

* The earthquake shook the foundations of the house.

(= 地震连屋基都震动了。)

* Those thoughts rocked her belief to its foundations.

(= 那些想法从根本上动摇了她的信念。)

 

22. continually: adv. without stopping; repeatedly

* We are continually reassessing the situation.

NB: 注意该词的词性变化，它的形容词形式与名词形式分别为：continual和continuation。

CF: continual, continuous, successive & constant

这些形容词均有“连续的”、“不断的”之意。

continual强调重复或持续发生，但连续之间允许有间断。

continuous语意最强，强调在时间和空间上没有间断。

successive强调事物一个接一个地发生，无间断。

constant多指习惯性的重复和不变的持续。

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words above. Change the form where necessary.

1) The refrigerator keeps food at a _________ temperature. (= constant)

2) The people in the city suffered a lot from the two weeks of ____ rain. (= continual)

3) Is this a _____ flight, or do we stop off anywhere? (= continuous)

4) My computer makes a _______ low buzzing noise. (= continuous)

5) The school has won five ______ games. (= successive)

 

23. means: n. a method or way (of doing)

* We need to find some other means of transportation.

没有办法查明发生了什么。

(= There is no means of finding out what happened.)

Collocation:

a means to an end 达到目的的方法

* For Tom, the job was simply a means to an end.

(= 对汤姆来说，这个工作仅仅是他达到目的的方法。)

by all means 尽一切办法；一定

* By all means try the medicine if you think it will do you any good.

(= 如果你认为这药对你的病有效，那务必要试试。)

by no means决不

* She is by no means stupid.

(= 她一点也不笨。)

 

24. communication: n.

communicate: v. share or exchange information, news, or ideas

* Television is an increasingly imp ant means of communication.

* Good communication is vital in a large organization.

 

 

Useful Expressions

 

1. 个人看法 personal opinion

2. 不费什么力气 with very little effort

3. 提到 a reference to

4. 哭笑不得 don’t know whether to laugh or cry

5. 另谋出路 look for another job

6. 合格的教师 a qualified teacher

7. 可笑的噱头a ridiculous claim                      

8. 在情理之中 It is natural … 

9. 做……没用 It is no use doing …

10. 这有几分道理 This is true to a certain extent …

11. 比……具有很大优势 have a great advantage over others

12. 走向另一极端 go to the opposite extreme

13. 完全对等的东西 a precise equivalent

14. 反之亦然 and vice versa

15. 建立在……基础上 be based on

16. 行为主义心理学 behaviorist psychology

17. 热衷于 be fond of

18. 我个人认为 in my personal opinion

19. 将……与……联系起来 relate … to …

20. 值得牢记的是 It is worth remembering that …

21. 交际手段 a means of communication

22. 与……大同小异 be probably very similar to …

23. 值得一提的相关问题 a relevant point worth mentioning

24. 做……将可受益 It will be helpful to …                   

 

 

Proverbs and Quotations

 

1. He alone is poor who does not possess knowledge.

没有知识，才是贫穷。

 

2. Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much are the three pillars of learning.

见识多、遭难重、钻研深是学识的三大要素。

 

3. The more we study, the more we discover our ignorance.

学得越多，就越发觉自己无知。

 

4. Activity is the only road to knowledge.

— George Bernard Shaw, British dramatist

行动是通往知识的唯一道路。

——英国剧作家 G. 肖伯纳

 

5. Grammar must be learned through language, and not language through grammar.

— Johann G. Herdor, German philosopher

必须从语言中学习语法，而不是从语法中学习语言。

——德国哲学家 J. G. 赫尔德

 

6. Hold what you really know and tell what you do not know; this will lead to knowledge.

— Confucius, ancient Chinese educator and philosopher

知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。

——中国古代教育家、哲学家孔子

 

7. Education is that which remains when one has forgotten everything he learned in school.

— Albert Einstein, American scientist

教育是在学校所学知识遗忘后剩下的东西。

——美国科学家A. 爱因斯坦