Unit 10 Text A Surveys, Surveys, and More Surveys I. Teaching aims 1.Get students to master the following words and phrases. ancient, decade, dramatic, interview, media, medium, mysterious, package, rate, response, tend, a great deal of ,adjust to, along with, at a faster rate, for purpose of, go down Get students to master the following structures a. Verb form b. such/so c. Question tag Help students to know the importance of carrying out surveys and form a sound attitude toward surveys. Ⅱ.Main difficult points 1.Comprehension of the text 2.Usage of the words, phases and skills mentioned above 3.Forming a sound attitude toward surveys. Ⅲ.Teaching arrangement The whole unit will be finished within 8 periods, 4 for text A and 4 for text B respectively. As to text A, 4 periods will be used to cover the words, background information and comprehension of the text, and the other 2 for the language points and the exercises. As to text B, 2 periods will be needed for the text and exercises respectively. Teaching Procedures Ⅰ.Introduction Introductory remark A survey is a detailed investigation of people’s behavior or opinions. As a major research tool, surveys have been used by politicians ,business people and social scientists to find out more about a group of people. The most complete and important survey in the United States is the national census, which is an official count of the number of people living in the country. The censor gives a great deal of information about both population and changes in American life. And it helps the government and people to under-stand and to adjust to the changing society. 2.Text-related Information 1) Opinion Polls: A survey of potential voters to determine their mood and attempt to determine he outcome of the election . Opinion polls started to play a part in American politics in the 1930s when the Gallup poll predicted the election of President Roosevelt in 1936. 2)Census(Latin census ,”to assess”) Term primarily referring to the official and periodical counting of the people of a country or section of a country; also, the printed record of such a counting. In actual usage the term is applied to the collection of information on the size and characteristics of population, as well as on the number and characteristics of dwelling units, various business enterprises, and governmental agencies. The earliest known census enumerations were conducted for purposes of levying taxes of for military conscription. City tablet fragments from ancient Babylon indicate that a census was taken there as early as 3,800BC to have conducted census. Not until the Romans began a count of their empire’s inhabitants, however, did enumerations take place at regular intervals. The Roman census designed for both taxation and military conscription, were the responsibility of local censors. In addition to registering the population and collecting taxes,, the censor was also in charge of maintaining public morals. The first true census in modern times ,however, was taken in the colony of New France(France’s North American empire),where the enumeration of individuals began in 1665.The rise of democratic governments resulted in a new feature of the census process; The first census enumeration in the United States began on the first Monday in August 1790,underthe authority of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Seventeen U.S. marshals hired as many assistants as was deemed necessary to travel through the countryside soliciting answers to six questions: the name of the head of the household; the number of free white males 16years of age and older; the number of free white males under16years of age; the number of free white females; the number of other free persons; and the number of slaves. When the first U.S. census was taken, maps of the new nation were scarce , town and country boundaries were vague or unknown, and many untrusting citizens were uncooperative. Eighteen months after the enumeration began, the work was completed. Final tallying revealed a population of slightly less than 4 million inhabitants in the 16 states and The Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio, which later became Tennessee and part of Mississippi. During the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the practice of census taking spread throughout the world. International organizations, such as the United Nations, have encouraged all countries to adopt uniform standards in taking their census. Decennial censuses are now taken by many countries throughout the world. According to the United Nations, about 120 countries conducted censuses between 1980 and 1984. In addition to operations mandated by law, the Census Bureau consults extensively with the users of its statistics. Advisory committees meeting at conferences and workshops discuss methods of handling census materials so that the statistics are appropriate for most data users. Census data directly influence decisions on matters of national and local importance such as education, employment, transportation, military-personnel potential ,business cycles, health-care needs, parks, natural resources, energy, and international relations. By comparing successive censuses, demographers can extrapolate population trends and predict future patterns of settlement, population age structure, and population growth. Examining the age structure in given community ,for example, assists local planners in deciding whether to build elementary schools or housing for the elderly. Ⅱ.Outline: Paras.1-2 Surveys are an important part of American life. They are used to find out more about the human being.  Paras.3-6 The most complete and important survey for Americans is the national census. 1) A census offers information on population. 2) A census also offers information on recent changes in American life. 3) A census helps the government and the people to understand and to adjust to the changing society.  Ⅲ.Detailed Study of the Text 1.…that’s a widespread believed that statistics don’t lie. —…Most people believe that statistics tell the truth. statistics: facts or a collection of information shown in numbers (used with plural verbs) e.g. Statistics suggest that the population of this country will be doubled in ten year’s time. Have you studied the recent divorce statistics? When the word is used in the sense of the science of collecting , classifying and analyzing information shown in numbers, it takes a singular verb. e.g. Statistics is a branch of mathematics. 2.Perhaps that’s why surveys are such an important part of American life. —Maybe that’s the reason why surveys are such an important part of American life./ Perhaps that accounts for the important part surveys play in American life. cf.. play a (key) part / role in…:be involves in sth and have an effect on it Women are playing a key part in building our socialist country with Chinese characteristics. 3.public opinion polls: surveys of public opinion conduced by putting questions to a representative selection of people 4.George Gallup:(1901—1984) US public opinion expert, born in Jefferson, Iowa. He was Professor of Journalism at Drake and Northwestern Universities until 1932,then directed research for an advertising agency, and became professor at the Pulitzer school of Journalism , Columbia University. In 1935 he founded the American institute of Public Opinion, and developed the Gallup polls for testing public opinion. 5.the social sciences : any of the sciences, such as politics, economics, sociology, anthropology etc, that study society, the relationships between the individual and society. 6.the mass media: all the people and organization that provide information and news for the public, including television, radio, and newspapers 7.for purposes of: also for the purposes of , used to say that someone or something will be considered in a particular way in a particular situation e.g.. For the purpose of our argument, let us assume that sales rise by 5%. Many Americans come to China for purposes of learning Chinese language and literature. cf. on purpose: on design ;by intention e.g. You sometimes hurt yourself by accident but you don’t hut yourself on purpose. cf. to the purpose: useful for one’s purpose; relevant The reply was so little to the purpose that it was not worth our consideration. 8.…and the population has been growing steadily every decade. —…and the population has been increasing continuously every ten years. decade: a period of ten years e.g. We are now in the last decade of the present century. The world will change greatly in the next few decades. cf. century: a period of a hundred years millennium: a period of two weeks fortnight: a period of two weeks dozen: twelve score: twenty gross: twelve dozens 9.The 1980 census reported a population of 226 504 825. —According to the 1980 census, there was a population of 226 504 825 in America. 10. In addition to statistics on the total population , the 1980 census has given us a great deal of information about recent changes in American life. —The 1980 census has not only given us statistics on the total population, but also has given us a lot of information about recent changes in American life. a great deal of : a lot of e.g. There was a great deal of concern about energy shortage. There’s a great deal of sense in what you say. He has seen a great deal of the world. 11.One of the many important changes concerns where people live. —One of the many important changes is abort/relevant to the place where people live. 12.Americans are still a mainly urban people with about 75 percent of the population living in or near large cities. —Americans are still a mainly urban people as about 75 percent of American people live in or near large cities. Note the structure with +noun / pron.+ V-ing. 13.…the small communities have been gaining population at a faster rate than the cities or suburbs. —…the population has been growing faster in the small communities than in the cities or suburbs. rate: speed; price; the amount of one thing measured in relation to another e.g. the production rate 生产率 the fuel rate 燃料消耗率 the telephone rate 电话费 goods rate 货物运费 The car was going at the rate of 60 miles an hour. The hotel makes half rates for children under eight years of age. The city has grown at a very rapid rate. 14.This is a dramatic change from the trend in preceding decades. —This is surprisingly different from the trend in preceding decades. Here the trend refers to the tendency of Americans moving to urban areas. After the industrial Revolution, many factories appeared and cities began to grow up around the factories. Farmers and other country people moved to the growing cities to find jobs and an easier life. And cities became more and more crowded. trend: a change towards doing or being something different e.g. There is a trend towards equal opportunities for men and women. The trend of prices is still upwards. 15.States in the “Sun Belt”: states in the southern or southwestern part of the US, from Virginia to California the Sun Belt: the area of southern coastal states from California to North and South Carolina, where there is plenty of sunshine It is well-known what Americans are very crazy for the sun. The most desirable place for plenty of sunshine in the United States is the coastline from California(in the west)to North and South Carolina (in the east),which is called the Sun Belt. And the states within this area are called are called the Sun States. Here, ”belt” means an area that has some special feature. e.g. the cotton/coal belt 产棉/煤区 the rich black-soil belt 肥活的黑土地带 a green belt of a city 城市的绿化地带 the Black Belt 美国黑人居住地区 16．…have been gaining population,… —…have been increasing in population,…(The total number of people has been rising) gain: to get as an addition, increase, etc. e.g. gain speed: move faster gain height: become higher/taller gain weight: become heavier gain strength: become better in health(恢复体力) 17．…have been losing population. —…have been decreasing in population.(The total number of people has been falling .) lose: to fail to keep e.g. lose one’s temper/patience: become angry He has lost a lot of weight since his illness. 18.go down: to fall, decrease, become smaller in size or lower in amount cf. go up, :rise 19.the average family: the ordinary family average: adj., n., v. e.g. the average rainfall There was nothing about it special, it was only average. Tom’s work at school is above the average, Harry’s is below the average and Jim’s is about up to the average. These sentences average between 10to 20words. 20. along with :together with e.g. The body must be developed along with the mind. The eggs were delivered from the farm along with the milk. Once a month you would receive a statement trough the mail along with the cancelled checks that the band has paid. 21. adjust to: to change to make fit for If you adjust to a new situation or adjust yourself to it, you get used to it, especially by changing your behavior or your ideas. e.g. Some animals adjust themselves to their environment by instinct. You should adjust your expenditure to your income. He adjusted very quickly to the climate of the country. When I entered the dark room ,I had to close my eyes for several minutes to adjust to the darkness. IV. Summary of the Text Surveys exist everywhere in the life of American people. They began to appear in the 1800s, developed slowly in history and took shape in the 1930s and 40s to become a major research tool. However, the most complete and important survey for Americans is the national census, which provides information about both the total population and recent changes in this respect. These changes include the moving of Americans from one area to another and the marriage and family life of common Americans .In short, the census enables the government and the people to see what’s happening and to adjust to the new picture of a changing society. Ⅴ. Exercises Finish off the exercises for this part.