Unit Seven Section A: A Rose Is a Rose Warm-up questions: What gift will you choose to give your lover on Valentine’s Day? And why? Do you know the origin of Valentine’s Day? Related information: Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday. The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. Text Structure Analysis: The essay focuses on one central theme: the rose business must adapt to changing conditions in the marketplace in order to succeed. One characteristic writing technique that runs throughout the reading passage is a problem-solution pattern. The whole passage can be divided into 4 parts: The first part is Paragraph 1. The paragraph deals with the general situation of the passage. As long as the rose remains the most popular flower as a symbol of love, any changing conditions in the nation's rose industry mean much to rose growers, and to those who distribute roses and those who sell. The second part of the passage is a complete problem-solution pattern. The part consists of 5 paragraphs, from Paragraph 2 to Paragraph 6. Paragraph 2 presents the problem: Selling roses is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops as supermarkets now offer convenience and discount rose shops help those hopelessly in love save money. Paragraph 3 is about one example of rose selling companies dealing with the problem: Roses Only — a company that was transformed from a traditional shop and has its headquarters in New York. It has 3 stores in New York, 1 in Canada and 5 in Spain, and plans to expand to three more U.S. cities this year. Paragraph 4 presents the first solution to the rose selling problem: Roses Only tries to attract customers with beautifully-decorated arrangements and make them feel they can buy roses cheap there. Paragraph 5 presents the second solution to the rose selling problem: Roses Only tries to encourage customers to buy in dozens instead of in ones, twos and threes by cutting down the price. Paragraph 6 is about the third solution: Roses Only tries to hold prices down by controlling every link in the rose chain. It grows its own roses and provides fresh roses via overnight delivery to anywhere in the country. The third part of the passage is another complete problem-solution pattern. The part is made up of 6 paragraphs, from Paragraph 7 to paragraph 12. Paragraph 7 presents the problem for rose growers: Because of severe foreign competition, U.S. rose growers are going bankrupt. Today, more than 57% of roses sold in the USA are grown in other countries. Paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 are about one example of rose growers dealing with the problem: Johnson Flowers, which complains that the profit margin has dropped substantially. Michael Johnson with his family members has been working in the flower growing business for many years. They have rich experience: they even had the bitter experience of being driven out of the business of growing carnations because of overseas carnation growers. Paragraphs 11 and 12 are about the solutions that Johnson Flowers have adopted in order to succeed. The solutions include working with foreign flower growers instead of fighting them, having a few distribution centers to sell imported roses, widening their business area and being a representative for overseas flower producers. Besides, they also start to sell other types of flowers. They took advantage of a recent frost that killed 25% of Colombia's rose crop. But they feel it's hard to operate a business on someone else's disaster. The fourth part is made up of two paragraphs, Paragraph 13 and Paragraph 14. The two paragraphs present the conclusion to the reading passage. When people in the rose business are trying to adapt to changing conditions in the marketplace in order to succeed, they long for the good old days of steady profits for them. And the customers today wonder about the rose price more than before. Please note that the second part and the third part are running parallel to each other as both of them are structured in a problem-solution pattern. Both of them start with a problem, then one example of dealing with the problem followed by their solutions. ??? General situation: The rose is going to remain the most popular flower because love never goes out of style. The nation’s rose industry relies much on the selling and growing of roses.? ??? Para. 1  　________________________________________  Problem 1:? Selling roses is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops.? ? Para. 2   ?Solutions: ??Example of solution: Roses Only — a general introduction of the company: The company was transformed from a traditional shop. With its headquarters in New York, it has 3 stores in New York, 1 in Canada and 5 in Spain. It plans to expand to three more U.S. cities this year. ? Para. 3   ?Roses Only's solution 1: Well-decorated shops attract customers and the high quality of the roses make them think they can buy roses cheap there.? ?Para. 4   ?Roses Only's solution 2: Encourage customers to buy in dozens instead of in ones, twos and threes by cutting down the price.? ? Para. 5  ?Paras. 2- 6  ?Roses Only’s solution 3: To cut down the cost, the company grows its own roses to sell fresh roses via overnight delivery and the company also sells other items such as balloons and stuffed animals. ?Para. 6       ?Problem 2: U.S. rose growers are going bankrupt. ?Para. 7?   ?Solutions: ?Example of solution: Johnson Flowers — a general introduction of the company: Even though Michael Johnson with his family members has been working for the rose industry for years, they complain that their profit margin has dropped substantially. The company has its bitter experience in that they were driven out of the business of growing carnations because of overseas carnation growers. ?Paras. 8-10   ?Johnson Flowers' solutions: Working with foreign flower growers, having a few distribution centers to sell imported roses, widening their business area and being a representative for overseas flower producers. They got a break this Valentine's Day as a recent frost killed 25% of Colombia's rose crop. But it's hard to operate a business on someone else's disaster. ?Paras. 11 & 12   ?Paras. 7-12       ??? Conclusion:? As a result of severe foreign competition, those in the rose business long for the good old days whereas ordinary people wonder about the rose price more than before. Paras. 13 & 14   Word Study festival n. 节日；节期；喜庆日2）（音乐、戏剧、电影等的）会演： --Christmas and Easter are Christian festivals. A festival atmosphere 节日的气氛 --the Edinburgh Festival 爱丁堡艺术会演 --a jazz festival 爵士音乐会演 distribute v. distribute sth (to/among sb/sth) 分发、分配某事物 --In a co-operative profits are distributed among the work force. 在合作社中，利润是在全体劳动者中进行分配的。 --The demonstrators distributed leaflets to passers-bys.示威者向行人分发传单。spread(sth); scatter; place at different parts使（某物）散开；散布；分散放置--Baggage loaded onto an aircraft must be evenly distributed. 飞机载运的行李应均匀放置在各个部位。 distribution 1) 分发，分配；分送：2) 分布 --The distribution of catalogues forms; prizes etc --the distribution of schools in this district. executive a. 经营管理的，经营的，经理的； --executive duties; possess executive abilities 有执行权的， 行政的，决策的：--executive authority 行政当局 person or group in a business organization, trade union, etc with administrative or managerial power 行政领导；经理；董事；董事会： --a sales executive 营业主任 --The executive has/have been making decisions about the future of the company.领导层一直在研究公司未来的决策。 行政人员 --executive officer discount n .[u, c]. 1) 折扣 2）不受重视的；不时兴的： --We give a 10% discount for cash. 现金付款，我们予以九折优惠。 --Concern for others seems to be at a discount today 如今好象不兴关心别人。Discount shop:廉价商店 v: 不重视，不相信，不理会（某人、某事） --You can discount what Jack said: he’s a dreadful liar. 杰克说的话你不必当真，他可是个说谎大王。 headquarters n. 总部；司令部；大本营 --The firm’s headquarters are in London. avenue n. 1.林荫道，2，大街， 3，途径，手段 --an avenue to success成功、成名等之路 --We have explored every avenue. 我们已经探索过了各种途径。 circulate v. 1) （使某物）循环2)流通： --Blood circulates through the body. --open a window to allow the air to circulate 开窗使空气流通。 3) （使某事物）流传；传播：4) 发通知告知（某人） --The news of her death circulated quickly.她死去的消息迅速传开。 --Have you been circulated with details of the conference? 你收到会议详细的通知了吗？ circulation n. 1)血液循环 2)流传，传播，流通 --Police say a number of forged banknotes are in circulation. 警方称市面上有一定数量的伪钞。 3)报纸、杂志等售出的份数，发行额，销售量： --a newspaper with a daily circulation of more than one million --circulation figure 销售数字 counter n. 1)柜台 2)（指药品）无处方： --These tablets are available over the counter.这些药片无需处方可直接购买。under the counter暗中交易，走后门 --In Britain pornography was once sold under the counter. 在英国，色情书画曾一度在暗地里出售。 adv. counter to sth 与某事物的方向相反，相反地 act counter to sb’s wishes 违背某人的意愿 counter with sth, 反对，反击 --They countered our proposal with one of their own. 他们针对我们的建议提出了一项相反的建议。 index n. 1)索引：card index 卡片索引 2)指数：the cost-of-living index 生活费用指数 3）标志、表征、量度 4) 指数，幂 --The increasing sale of luxury goods is an index of the country’s prosperity. 奢侈商品销售量日增是该国繁荣的标志。 v. 1) 为…编索引，将某物编入索引 --This book is well indexed. indexation （工资、养老金的调整指数，指数化） index finger 食指 index-linked adj. （指工资、养老金等）按生活指数调整的 delivery n. 1)递送，投递，交付（信件、货物）等 --Your order is ready for delivery.你订购的货物可随时交付。 --We have two postal deliveries each day.我们每天收到两次信。 2）（递送或交付的）货物、邮件等 --We had a big delivery of coal today. 3) 分娩an easy /difficult delivery 4) （球的）投掷，（导弹的）发射 a fast, hostile delivery.快速投球，投出刁球 delivery note 送货单 delivery van 厢式送货车 v. 1) deliver (sth) (to sb/sth) 递送，传递（信件、包裹、货物等） 2)(只用于被动语态) be delivered of sb 生小孩 --She was delivered of a healthy boy. 3）助产，接生 --Her baby was delivered by her own doctor. 4)授课，讲道，讲话--She delivered a talk on philosophy to the society. soar v. 1) 急速升人高空; 2) 高耸，矗立; 3) 翱翔，滑翔 --The jet soared into the air. --Soaring temperatures 迅速增高的气温 --prices are soaring 物价飞涨 --cliff soaring above the sea 矗立在海上的峭壁 --skyscrapers soar above the horizon 摩天大楼拔地而起高耸入云 --seagulls soaring over the cliffs formula n. [C]分子式，公式：The formula for water is H2o. --The formula for converting gallons into liters 加仑与升的换算公式 [C] 套语，惯用语：--“How do you do” and “Excuse me” are social formula. 配方；药方；处方：--a formula for a new drug 方案，计划：--Managers and workers are still working not a peace formula. 劳资双方仍在商谈和解方案。 [C] 方法，计划，原则： --There is no sure formula for success.成功并没一定之规。 [U] 方程式Formula 1 racing cars一级方程式赛车 formulate V 1）. 将形式固定格式： formulate a rule, policy ,theory. etc 制定规则，制定政策，创立理论 2）确切地表达思想： --The contract was formulated in difficult legal language. formulation n.格式化，公式化，确切地表达 spray n. 1）小花簇 --He had a spray in his buttonhole.他的钮孔中插着一簇花。 2）雾状液体；水花；浪花： The spray of a waterfall 瀑布的水花 3）喷雾液体（如香水、消毒剂、杀虫剂） Hair spray 喷发定型剂 fly-spray 灭蝇喷剂 v. 1) spray sth (on/over sb/sth);向某人（某物）喷雾状的（液体） --A farmer spraying his crops with pesticide 给作物喷杀虫剂的农夫 sprayer 喷雾者，喷雾器，喷洒器 --He’s a paint sprayer in the local factory.他在当地工厂当喷漆工。 --a crop sprayer 作物喷雾器 spray-gun 喷枪 moisten v. 使潮湿，湿润：--His eyes moistened with tears moisture n. [U]潮湿，湿气，水气 --Humidity is a measure of moisture in the atmosphere. 湿度是空气内含水分多少的量度。 balloon n. 气球：hot-air balloon热气球 when the balloon goes up ：当意料中的麻烦到来时 --I don’t want to be around when the balloon goes up. 要出事了，我趁早离开是非之地。 v. 膨胀如气球： --Her skirt ballooned in the wind 她的裙子让风吹得鼓起来了。 go ballooning乘气球 via prep.经由（某事物）；通过： --go from London to Washington via New York. bloom n. [c]花 [u]fig.新鲜，完美： --These roses have beautiful blooms.这些玫瑰花开得真美。 be in/have lost the bloom of youth 正值（失去）青春 v. 开花：fig.茂盛，繁荣 --Daffodils bloom in the Spring. --Our friendship is blooming. 我们之间情长意深。 --They were blooming with health and happiness.他们既健康又快乐. bankrupt n.破产 adj. go/be bankrupt bankrupt of sth 完全缺乏 --bankrupt of ideas, moral scruples 毫无主意，道德上的约束 v. 使（某人破产） bankruptcy n. --Ten bankruptcies were recorded in this town last year. 去年这个城镇有十起破产事件。 import v.进口,输入,引进(货物\思想等): import sth (from); import sth (into) --Cars imported from Japan 从日本进口的汽车 --Meat imported (into the United Kingdom)进口到英国的肉 --Importation n[U,C] a ban on the importation of drugs 禁止毒品进口的法令. importer 从事进口商品或服务的人或公司 n. 1.[C] 进口货;引进的劳物等: 2[U]进口,输入,引进: --restrict cheap foreign imports 限制廉价外国进口货 --the import of coal breadth n. 1) 宽度 2) [U]宽广的程度；范围 a room ten-meters in breadth 十米宽的房间 --Her breadth of experience makes her ideal for the job. 她经验丰富，最能胜任这项工作。 margin n. 1)空白边缘,页边空白: (2)边;缘;边沿: notes written in the margin / the margin of a lake, pool, pond, etc 3) 差度,差额,差距: --a wide margin between the winner and the loser胜负双方比分的巨大差数 4) 为成功和安全而应有的时空的量;余地: Leave a good safety margin between your car and the next. 要在你的汽车和另一辆车之间留出一段足够的安全距离. 5) 赢利, 利润: --A business operating on tight margins 赚头小的生意 marginal adj. launch v. 1) 使(某事物)运动;送上轨道: --Launch a blow, a missile, a torpedo, a satellite 发出一击、发射导弹、发射鱼雷、发射卫星 (fig)launch threats, insults, gibes, etc at sb 威胁、侮辱、奚落某人 2) 使（船，尤指新船）下水； --The queen is to launch a new warship today.今天女王要主持新军舰下水仪式。3) 使行动；使开始： --The company is launching a new model next month.下月公司将推出新型产品。--He’s launching his son on a career in banking. 他让儿子从事银行业。 n.（船的）下水，（航天器的）发射，（新产品的）投放或投放； --The launch of their new saloon received much media coverage. 他们投产的新轿车广获传媒报道。 launching pad 发射台 release v. 1) release sb/sth (from sth) 放走；释放或解放 --release a prisoner, hostage, kidnap victim, etc释放囚犯、人质、被劫持者等 2) fig 免除义务或责任： --release sb from a promise, duty, undertaking, etc 不要某人履行诺言、尽义务、承担任务等 3）release sth (to sb/sth)发布（新闻等） --The latest developments have just been released to the media. 最新的进展情况已向大众传媒发表。 4）向公众提供某事物： release a film, book, record, etc 发行影片、书、唱片等。 n. 1) [U,C]放走，释放，解脱，免除，放松，投掷，发表： --Death is often a welcome release from pain.死神往往是解除痛苦的救星。 2) [C]发行或发表的事物：a press release 新闻稿 unload v. 1) 从某物上卸下货物： unload shopping from a car 从汽车上卸下采购的物品。 2）从（枪、炮等）中退出弹药；从（照相机）中取出胶卷。卸下负载： --Lorries may only part here when loading and unloading. 卡车非装卸货物时不得在此停车。 chase v. chase (after) sb/sth 追捕，追逐 --He chased (after) the burglar but couldn’t catch him. chase after sb 向某人求爱 -- He’s always chasing (after) women. chase sb/sth away, off, out, etc 赶走； 驱逐 --chase the cat out of the kitchen. rival n. 竞争或相比的人或事物： rival (for/in sth) rivals in love情敌 --She has no rival in the field of romantic fiction.她写的浪漫小说谁也比不上。 v. 堪与竞争；比得上：rival sb/sth (for/in sth) --Cricket cannot rival football for/in excitement.板球不如足球有刺激性。 bundle n. 1) [C]捆，束： a bundle of sticks, clothes, newspaper a bundle of sth 大堆的东西；大量的事物 v. bundle sth (up) 把某物捆成捆 --we bundle up some old clothes for the jumble sale. 我们把一些旧衣物捆起来准备义卖。 crane n.1) 鹤2) 吊车，起重机v伸长（脖子） --crane one’s neck to see sth. Phrase & Expressions go out of style 不再时兴，过时 Classical music will never go out of style. in style 时兴，流行 range from …to … His interests ranged from chess to canoeing. 他的爱好从下国际象棋到划独木舟，范围很广。 be left over 剩下来，留下来 These matters will have to be left over until the next meeting. 这些事情只好留到下次会议再讨论了。 leave sb/sth out of (sth)排除在外；忽略掉 --Leave me out of this quarrel, please---I don’t want to get involved. leave sb/sth behind 忘记带某物 leave off 停止 hold sth down （使）保持低水平，（使）不增加，保持 --The rate of inflation must be held down. 通货膨胀率必须控制在低水平上。hold sb down: 压制某人，限制某人的自由 account for: 解释， 占去 --His illness accounts for his absence. 他因病缺席。 --Transportation accounts for 10% of my income. on account of sth 因为，由于 on no account 决不可以，切莫 go down 下降，降低，倒在地上 --The price of petrol is going down. --She tripped and went down with a bump.她绊了一下，猛地跌到在地上。 go down with 患病 on sb’s side 对某人有利，赞同某人的意见 --Whose side are you on anyway? 你究竟支持谁？ the other side of the coin 事情的另一面 take sides with sb 偏袒 long for sth 渴望， 极想 --The children are longing for the holidays. Language Points For rose growers, those who distribute roses, and those who sell, this year’s anticipated 7% increase in sales will be sweeter than a 5-pound box of chocolate candy. (Para. 1) Meaning: It is expected that sales of roses this year will increase by 7%. For rose growers, those who deliver roses, and those who sell, the increase will be sweeter than a 5-pound box of chocolate candy. But selling them is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops. (Para. 2) Meaning: But selling roses is no longer an exciting experience for traditional flower shops. This sentence implies that selling roses is no longer as easy for traditional flower shops as it was in the past. They need to make some improvement in their management. Customers—some dressed in work clothes, some in expensive suits and overcoats—circulate among the counter and stare at shelf after shelf of roses in more than 50 colors. (Para. 4) Meaning: Customers—some wearing work clothes, some dressed in expensive suits and overcoat—move about freely among the counters, looking eagerly at the roses in more than 50 colors from shelf to shelf. stare at shelf after shelf of roses: stare at the shelves of roses; look closely at the roses from shelf to shelf. Even on Valentine’s Day, when the price of a dozen roses and delivery can soar as high as $150, 12 of Roses Only’s most expensive flowers sell for just $35. (Para.5) Meaning: Even on Valentine’s Day, when the price of a dozen roses together with the delivery fee can go up as high as $150, Roses Only’s most expensive flowers sell for just $35 per dozen. In 1998, imports accounted for 34% of roses sold here. (Para. 7) Meaning: In 1998, imported roses were 34% of all roses sold in the United States. Then “overseas people”, that is, the foreign growers, began selling carnations in large numbers in America, he says, and practically drove U.S. carnation growers out of business. Meaning: Then overseas people”, that is, the foreign growers, began selling carnations in large numbers in America, ha says, and practically drove U.S. carnation growers out of business. The volume of rose imports has already crushed some domestic growers. (Para.11) Meaning: The huge number of imported roses has already destroyed some domestic rose growers completely. All the changes are making some in the rose business long for the good old days, when neighborhood flower shops arranged and delivered every Valentine’s Day bundle of flowers. (Para. 13) Meaning: All the changes are making some people who are engaged in the rose business want to keep the good old days, when nearby flower shops arranged and delivered every bundle of flowers on Valentine’s Day. “It generates attention,” says one rose seller. (Para. 13) Meaning: ”It draws attention,” says one rose seller. Here “it” refers to arranging and delivering every Valentine’s Day bundle of flowers. Grammar Enrichment Subjunctive mood 虚拟语气用于as if（though）引起的方式状语从句和表语从句中。其形式如下： 表示同时的情况：that主语+动词过去式（be动词用were） 表示先于的情况：that+ had+过去分词 表示将来的愿望：that主语+would（could等）+动词原形 例如： She loves the children in the kindergarten as if they were her own。 她爱幼儿园里的孩子好象他们是她自己的孩子似的。 Alan talked about Rome as if he had been there. 艾伦谈起罗马来好象自己到过那儿。 She looks as if she would cry. 她看起来好象要哭了。 [注] as if (though)引起的从句有时也用陈述语气,这时它表示较大的真实性或可能性。例如： It looks as if it is going to rain. 看起来天要下雨了。 Multiple choice: If the sea ______ 500 feet, India would become an island. A. is to rise B. were risen C. has risen D. were to rise [D对。全句指不可能出现的情况，又从主句谓语动词would become来判断，应选D项] It is advisable that everyone _______ have a map. A. must B. may C. can D. should [D对。That从句为主语从句，后置于形容词advisable，应选项D。注意：在It is advisable/desirable/curious/important/necessary/essential结构中的主语从句用动词原形或+动词原形] If only he _______ differently, he might still be the director of the faculty. A. behaved B have behaved C. had behaved D. behaves [C对。此句为混合虚拟句，从句与过去情况相反。] Without metal, no railway, aeroplane, motor car, electric motor or interplanetary space vehicle _______ be made. A. can B. will C. may D. could [D对。现在虚拟句。Without metal=If there were no metal] He had just arrived, but he talked as if he _______ about our plan. A. had known B. knew C. knows D. has known [A对.as if引导的状语从句长用虚拟形式,指与事实相反或不大可能的事.] Section B The Chunnel Reading Skill: Identifying the Writer’s Purpose (I) Authors write for a reason. Three common purposes of writing are: 1. To inform — to provide readers with information about a topic; 2. To persuade — to convince readers to believe a certain viewpoint or to take a certain course of action;3. To entertain — to amuse readers in some way (although very often there’s some food for thought as well!) Reading effectively means recognizing the author's purpose — which may not always be as easy as it sounds, especially when you're reading in a foreign language. Writers sometimes disguise their aims: A text that appears to be factual information may really be full of emotional appeals meant to persuade you of the writer’s point of view; or an apparently serious piece of persuasion may in fact be a humorous text intended mainly to amuse you. There are also times when the question of whether a writer is serious may depend largely on each reader’s individual philosophy. However, there are some clues that effective readers can watch for to help them identify what kind of writing they're dealing with:? Informational writing features facts and evidence, not opinions or value judgments. It often contains dates, statistics or other figures, and/or quotes from experts or witnesses (见证人). Depending on the subject, the language may include technical jargon (行话), but the vocabulary and sentence structure are often quite simple. Persuasive writing features emotional appeals: opinions and arguments (which may be presented as if they were facts, so be careful!); rhetorical questions; evaluating language (good/bad, right/wrong, horrifying/wonderful, etc.) and/or judgmental language (must, should, had better, etc.). Texts written mainly to entertain can, of course, be very varied — but they often use rather informal language, simple sentence structure, dialogs, puns (双关语) and/or figures of speech.? Let’s have a look at an analysis of Passage A and then identify the writer’s aim.? First, the title of the article is “A Rose Is a Rose”. At the first glance, you might guess the article is going to be something about love or about some romantic stories as you remember the famous saying, “My love is like a red red rose”. Besides, a rose has always been a symbol of love, passion, or affection. However, when you come to the first paragraph and have gone through it, you know your guess is rejected as it talks about Valentine’s Day, the growing, sales and distributions of roses. You may also notice that the language in the paragraph is simple in diction and structure.? Second, when you have read the whole article, you notice that the numbers in it are statistics (mainly prices) and dates. Besides, the quotes are from a director, a rose customer and a rose grower. All these indicate they are facts instead of opinions. Third, as the text is featured by statistics, dates, quotes, and simple language, we can say the writer aims to be informational. New words downward(s) adj. 向下的；下降的；降低的：adv: 向下地 --a downward trend in prices 价格下降的趋势 (fig) on the downward path 走下坡路 --The garden sloped gently downwards the river.花园呈缓坡向河边倾斜。 exclude vt.不包括，把…排除在外 exclude sb/sth (from) sth --Lunch costs $5 per person, excluding drinks午餐费每人5美圆，不包括饮料exclusion [U] to the exclusion of sb/sth 排除（其他一切） --He spent his spare time gardening to the exclusion of all other interests. 他把空余时间都用在园艺上了，没有任何其他爱好。 exclusive adj. 1) 独有的；2) 高级的，高档的；3) 排他的 n. [C] exclusive 独家报道 --a Daily Mirror exclusive 每日镜报独家报道 beneath prep. 1) 在…下面2) 不值得 --The boat sank beneath the waves.小船淹没在浪涛中。 --He considers such jobs beneath him.他认为做这样的工作有失身份。 adv: 在下面，在底下 --Her careful make-up hid the signs of age beneath. 她的精心化妆掩饰了脂粉下面岁月刻下的痕迹。 bore v. 1)钻孔，挖洞，凿井2)使…感到厌烦 --This drill can bore through rock.这台钻机能钻透岩石。 --I am bored: let’s go to the cinema. n. 1) 井眼 2) small-bore guns 小口径枪 Don’t be such a bore! 别这么讨厌！ boredom n. 厌烦,厌倦 boring:无趣的,乏味的 respective adj. 各自的,各个的,分别的 --They each excel in their respective fields.他们在各自领域里都是出类拔萃的. respectful adj. 尊敬的,表示尊敬或尊重的 --respectful of other people’s opinions:尊重他人的意见 respectable adj. 体面的,有身份的,正派的,值得尊敬的 --a respectable married couple一对值得尊敬的父亲 respectability n[U] 名望,体面,得体 conquer vt 1)征服: 2)击败 --She has conquered the hearts of many men.她已使许多男子倾心. --England conquered their main rivals in the first round of the competition. 英格兰队在第一轮比赛中就击败了主要对手. conqueror: 征服者 conquest n . 1) [U] 征服,击败2) [C] 掠取物,战利品,仰慕者,崇拜者 the Norman Conquest 诺曼征服 voltage: n [U. C] high/low voltage高低压 drag vt. 1) 拖拉,扯,拽2)使某物在地上拖拉 --The cat was dragging its broken leg. 那只猫拖着断腿吃力地走. --Drag oneself along, home 拖着疲惫的身子前行、回家。 --Your coat’s dragging in the mud.你的大衣拖到泥上了。 drag on 拖延 --The war may drag on, but victory will be ours. 战争也许要拖更长的时间，但胜利终将属于我们 drag one’s feet/heels 故意拖沓或怠工 whistle n. 1) 口哨声 the whistle of a steam engine 2) 哨子，汽笛警笛 --The referee blew his whistle 裁判吹响了哨子 v. 吹哨，鸣汽笛 --The wind whistled through a crack in the door. 风从门的裂缝中呼呼地刮了进来。 whistle in the dark 在惊险情况下尽力给自己壮胆。 underground adv. / adj. 在地面下，在地下，秘密地，暗中地 --He went underground to avoid the police. 他藏了起来以免警方发现。 --an underground car-part.地下停车场 --the underground press地下刑场 n.地铁 the tube, subway spur n. 1)马刺 a pair of spurs一副马刺 2) 激励，刺激 the spur of poverty穷则思变 --a spur to greater efficiency提高效率的刺激因素 v. 激励或刺激某人： --The magnificent goal spurred the team on to victory. 他们那一球进得漂亮，鼓舞了全队的士气夺取了胜利。 --He was spurred on by ambition 他胸怀大志。 punctual adj. 按时的；准时的 --a punctual start to the meeting会议准时开始 --be punctual for an appointment准时赴约 punctuality n及时，准时 punctually adv准时到达，离去 freight（美）货物 send goods by air freight 空运发货 equivalent adj. equivalent to sth 相同的 --What is $5 equivalent to in French francs? 5美圆相当于多少法郎？ n.对应词，相等的事物 --Is there a French word that is the exact equivalent of the English word ‘home’?法语中有没有和英语“home”完全一样的对应词？ pray v. pray to sb for sb/sth:祈祷，祷告 --They prayed to God for an end to their sufferings.他们为早日结束苦难而祈祷prayer n.祈祷，祷告 a prayer for forgiveness, rain, success为获得宽恕，雨水，成功而做的祷告 accuse v. accuse sb of sth:指控，控告，谴责 --accuse sb of cheating, cowardice, theft. 谴责某人欺诈，指责某人怯懦，控告某人偷窃 the accused 刑事被告 pessimistic adj. 悲观的，悲观主义的：pessimistic about sth --a pessimistic view of the world pessimism: n.[U]悲观，悲观主义pessimist 悲观主义者 optimism 乐观 reckon v. 1)认为某人某物是：reckon sb/sth among sth, reckon sb/sth as sth --We reckon her among our best reporters.我们认为她是我们最好的记者。 --The price was reckoned high.价钱未免太高了。 2) 假定，想，认为：--I reckon we’ll go next week. 3)猜想，约略地计算 --I reckon it will cost about $100. Phrases &Expressions exclude sb…from…拒绝进入，拒绝接纳 --exclude a person from membership of a society.拒绝接纳某人入会 for short 简称，缩写 --Her name is “Frances”, or “Fran” for short. in short 总之，简言之 die out 1)死亡，灭绝，绝迹 2)消失，过时 --The old traditions are dying out.旧传统正在消失 die off 一一死去，先后死去 die away: 减弱，淡化 die down 逐渐减弱，降低 introduce sb to sth-使某人了解某物 --The first lecture introduces new students to the broad outlines of the subject. 第一堂课是让新同学概括地了解这一科目。 get back to 回溯，追溯，回到某事物上 --Could we get back to the original question of funding? 我们可以回到最初有关集资的问题上吗？ Language Points Queen Elizabeth and French President Francois Mitterrand will ride a train downward into the $15 billion Channel Tunnel today… (Para.1) Meaning: Today Queen Elizabeth and French President Francois Mitterrand will take a train going down into the Channel Tunnel that cost $15 billion… Though today is the official opening ceremony, visitors are still excluded from the most enormous privately funded construction project ever. (Para.3) Meaning: Though the official opening is to be held today, visitors are still not allowed to see the most enormous construction project that is privately funded so far. When it really opens, probable in October, the 31-mile Channel Tunnel (the Chunnel, for short) will be 15 months behind schedule and $7 billion over a budget set in 1987. (Para.4) Meaning: It is probably in October that the 31-mile Channel Tunnel (the Chunnel, for short) will really open. If this is the case, then the Chunnel will be 15 months later than the planned time and cost $7 billion more than original budget which was set in 1987. behind schedule: later than the planned time --Owing to the recent bad weather, the work is several weeks behind schedule. And security: how to make such a big target attack-proof. (Para.4) Meaning: And another main cause of recent delays is the security problem: how to protect such a big target from attack. Water-proof 防水 sound-proof隔音 But most wonder if it’s worth it given their respective lack of affection for each other (Para.5) Meaning: But most people doubt if it’s worth constructing the Chunnel, since the peoples of both countries don’t like each other so much. given: prep. taking sth into consideration --Given their inexperience, they’ve done a good job. 考虑到他们缺乏经验这一点,他们已经做得很好了 If not for the channel, England or France surely would have swallowed the other. (Para.7) Meaning: Had it not been for the channel, England surely would have conquered France, or vice versa. If not for: if it were not/hadn’t been for; were it not for/ had it not been for --The Earth would be a frozen ball if (it were)not for the radiant heat of the sun. 要不是太阳放射出热量，地球可能已经成了一个冰球了。 “A whole generation still remembers when only 21 miles stood between Hitler and the conquest of England,” says a professor of English history. (Para.7) Meaning: “A whole generation still has the fresh memory of the time during World war Two when the 21-mile channel kept Hitler from conquering England,” says a professor of English history. The British think a sick animal will drag itself through the tunnel and introduce the island nation to new diseases. (Para.8) Meaning: The British think a sick animal from France will pull its sick body along through the tunnel and bring new disease to their country. Britain won’t improve its system until after the year 2000, spurring Mitterand to joke that passengers will have “plenty of time for sightseeing”. (Para.10) Meaning: Britain will not raise the speed of its trains until after the year 2000, which made President Mitterrand joke that passengers will have “plenty of time for sightseeing,” as the trains move very slowly. Eventually, the equivalents of 700,000 trucks a year will be transported through the Chunnel.(Para.14) Meaning: In time, the same amount of goods as 700,000 trucks a year will be transported through the Chunnel. One newspaper reported that Chunnel delays have been the result of faulty alarms, and only “partially successful” escape procedures. (Para.16) Meaning: one newspaper reported that Chunnel delays have been caused by wrong alarms and escape procedures that are only “partially successful” Each train has two engines, in case one fails. (Para.17). Meaning: Each train has two engines, for fear that one might break down. in case: because of the possibility of sth. happening --Please remind me of the meeting on Friday in time in case I forget. 请及时提醒我周五开会的事，免得我忘记。 Compare： in case of：if or when sth happens --In case of fire，break the glass and escape. 如果起火,就砸碎玻璃逃生. Engineers say a disaster is unlikely in the Chunnel because it wouldn’t be flooded by a bomb. (Para.18) Meaning: Engineers say it is impossible for a disaster to take place in the Chunnel because a bomb couldn’t blow it up and the Chunnel couldn’t be filled with seawater.