Unit 9 Section A Premarital Agreements Warm-up Questions & Background Information 1.premarital agreements ??? Premarital agreements or prenuptial agreements are binding legal contracts between two people who intend to marry each other.. WHAT ARE PREMARITAL AGREEMENTS? Pre-Marital Agreements (also called "pre-nuptial" or "ante-nuptial agreements") are binding legal contracts between you and the one you intend to marry. Among the purposes people have in wanting such written agreements is to try to ensure that their assets remain theirs if the marriage fails, to provide that their assets, or at least a large portion of them, go to their children in the event of death, and to work out arrangements for matters that may become problems after the marriage. For some, it is a smart and practical way to acknowledge the fact that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. WHAT IS TYPICALLY COVERED? Pre-Marital Agreements typically cover at least several of the following topics: (1) Prior marital history, and family circumstances, (2) What property and prospects each spouse is bringing into the marriage, (3) Who will own the investment earnings from such property, (4) What will happen with the earnings of each spouse, (5) What happens with property one spouse may inherit, (6) What happens in the event of death of a spouse, (7) Where the couple will reside, (7) How taxes will be handled (e.g. joint or separate returns), (8) The level of support in the event of a divorce, and (9) What happens to debts owed before the marriage and those thereafter incurred. Where one or the other party is marrying for a second or third time, commonly provisions will be found bequeathing certain assets to a child of a previous marriage rather than to the new spouse. 2. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ??? Born on July 28, 1929, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was first lady of the United States during the administration (1961-1963) of her first husband, John F. Kennedy. She had been a newspaper reporter and photographer before their marriage in 1953. As first lady, she was a patron of the arts and an international fashion-trendsetter. Under her supervision the White House was restored and redecorated and declared a national museum. She was riding beside President Kenney when he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov 22, 1963. In 1968 she married the Greek shipping millionaire Aristotle Onassis. After her second husband’s death, in 1975,she worked as an editor in book publishing. Do you know Jacqueline and President Kennedy ?  The inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961 brought to the White House and to the heart of the nation a beautiful young wife and the first young children of a President in half a century. She was born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, daughter of John Vernon Bouvier III and his wife, Janet Lee. Her early years were divided between New York City and East Hampton, Long Island, where she learned to ride almost as soon as she could walk. She was educated at the best of private schools; she wrote poems and stories, drew illustrations for them, and studied ballet. Her mother, who had obtained a divorce, married Hugh D. Auchincloss in 1942 and brought her two girls to "Merrywood," his home near Washington, D.C., with summers spent at his estate in Newport, Rhode Island. Jacqueline was dubbed "the Debutante of the Year" for the 1947-1948 season, but her social success did not keep her from continuing her education. As a Vassar student she traveled extensively, and she spent her junior year in France before graduating from George Washington University. These experiences left her with a great empathy for people of foreign countries, especially the French. In Washington she took a job as "inquiring photographer" for a local newspaper. Her path soon crossed that of Senator Kennedy, who had the reputation of being the most eligible bachelor in the capital. Their romance progressed slowly and privately, but their wedding at Newport in 1953 attracted nationwide publicity. With marriage "Jackie" had to adapt herself to the new role of wife to one of the country's most energetic political figures. Her own public appearances were highly successful, but limited in number. After the sadness of a miscarriage and the stillbirth of a daughter, Caroline Bouvier was born in 1957; John Jr. was born between the election of 1960 and Inauguration Day. Patrick Bouvier, born prematurely on August 7, 1963, died two days later. To the role of First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy brought beauty, intelligence, and cultivated taste. Her interest in the arts, publicized by press and television, inspired an attention to culture never before evident at a national level. She devoted much time and study to making the White House a museum of American history and decorative arts as well as a family residence of elegance and charm. But she defined her major role as "to take care of the President" and added that "if you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much." Mrs. Kennedy's gallant courage during the tragedy of her husband's assassination won her the admiration of the world. Thereafter it seemed the public would never allow her the privacy she desired for herself and her children. She moved to New York City; and in 1968 she married the wealthy Greek businessman, Aristotle Onassis, 23 years her senior, who died in March 1975. From 1978 until her death in 1994, Mrs. Onassis worked in New York City as an editor for Doubleday. At her funeral her son described three of her attributes: "love of words, the bonds of home and family, and her spirit of adventure." John Kennedy On November 22, 1963, when he was hardly past his first thousand days in office, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed by an assassin's bullets as his motorcade wound through Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was the youngest man elected President; he was the youngest to die. Of Irish descent, he was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. Graduating from Harvard in 1940, he entered the Navy. In 1943, when his PT boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy, despite grave injuries, led the survivors through perilous waters to safety. Back from the war, he became a Democratic Congressman from the Boston area, advancing in 1953 to the Senate. He married Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953. In 1955, while recuperating from a back operation, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the Pulitzer Prize in history. In 1956 Kennedy almost gained the Democratic nomination for Vice President, and four years later was a first-ballot nominee for President. Millions watched his television debates with the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon. Winning by a narrow margin in the popular vote, Kennedy became the first Roman Catholic President. His Inaugural Address offered the memorable injunction: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." As President, he set out to redeem his campaign pledge to get America moving again. His economic programs launched the country on its longest sustained expansion since World War II; before his death, he laid plans for a massive assault on persisting pockets of privation and poverty. Responding to ever more urgent demands, he took vigorous action in the cause of equal rights, calling for new civil rights legislation. His vision of America extended to the quality of the national culture and the central role of the arts in a vital society. He wished America to resume its old mission as the first nation dedicated to the revolution of human rights. With the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps, he brought American idealism to the aid of developing nations. But the hard reality of the Communist challenge remained. Shortly after his inauguration, Kennedy permitted a band of Cuban exiles, already armed and trained, to invade their homeland. The attempt to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro was a failure. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union renewed its campaign against West Berlin. Kennedy replied by reinforcing the Berlin garrison and increasing the Nation's military strength, including new efforts in outer space. Confronted by this reaction, Moscow, after the erection of the Berlin Wall, relaxed its pressure in central Europe. Instead, the Russians now sought to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. When this was discovered by air reconnaissance in October 1962, Kennedy imposed a quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba. While the world trembled on the brink of nuclear war, the Russians backed down and agreed to take the missiles away. The American response to the Cuban crisis evidently persuaded Moscow of the futility of nuclear blackmail. Kennedy now contended that both sides had a vital interest in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and slowing the arms race--a contention which led to the test ban treaty of 1963. The months after the Cuban crisis showed significant progress toward his goal of "a world of law and free choice, banishing the world of war and coercion." His administration thus saw the beginning of new hope for both the equal rights of Americans and the peace of the world. Aristotle Onassis ???Born on January 20, 1906, Aristotle Onassis was a Greek shipping millionaire who accumulated a fortune of more than $500 million. Born of Greek parents in Turkey, he went to Buenos Aires in 1923 and became a telephone operator there. Soon Onassis established a tobacco import business, and by 1930s he bought unused freighters at low prices and by the end of World War II had amassed great wealth in shipping. After the war he increased his shipping fleet by purchasing surplus wartime freighters. He was also one of the pioneers in the construction of oil supertankers. Onassis used his profits to acquire hotels and banks throughout the world, as well as Olympic Airways. Onassis, who was divorced in 1960, had a well-publicized friendship with the soprano Maria Callas. In 1968 he married Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Writing Skills A general statement supported by examples Look at the sample composition on page 256. Sample paragraph: Knowledge often results only after persistent investigation. Albert Einstein, after a lengthy examination of the characteristics of matter and energy, formulated his famous Theory of Relativity, which now acts as a basis for further research in nuclear physics. Using plaster casts of footprints, fingerprints, and stray strands of hair, a detective pertinaciously pursues the criminals. Investigations into the causes of polio have provided us with the means for prevention and cure of this dreaded disease only after many years of research. As student, we too are determined in our investigation to find, retain, and contribute to the store of human knowledge. Text Structure Analysis ? The essay focuses on one social phenomenon: prenups or premarital agreements. The author uses many different writing techniques such as general-specific details and general-examples to tell us what prenups are, who want prenups, the points to be taken care of before signing prenups and finally a general evaluation of prenups. ??? The whole passage can be roughly divided into 4 parts: ??? 1. The first part is made up of 4 paragraphs, from Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 4. Paragraph 1 is a humorous beginning — crazy clauses of premarital agreements, or a joke about what prenups are about. Then the author corrects himself by saying that most of the prenups are about how financial assets will be divided up if a couple divorces. Then Paragraph 3 deals with the general definition of prenups: premarital agreements are designed to address the division of financial assets when a couple put an end to their marriage. And prenups are negotiated by lawyers for the prospective spouses, and signed before a marriage ceremony. Paragraph 4 is just one example of prenups: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis won $26 million through her prenups with her second husband Aristotle Onassis. ??? 2. The second part consists of 4 paragraphs, from Paragraph 5 to Paragraph 8. The 4 paragraphs are about who need to have prenups. The author goes into detail to talk about 4 types of people who need to have prenups before a marriage. ??? 3. The third part has 6 paragraphs, from Paragraph 9 to Paragraph 14. The 6 paragraphs deal with what points should be taken care of when one goes into a premarital agreement.? ??? 4. The fourth part is made up of 2 paragraphs, Paragraph 15 and Paragraph 16. They are about the general evaluations of prenups, one negative and the other positive.? New Words 1.collection n. 1.收藏品，收集的东西 a fine collection of paintings 精美的绘画收藏品 a stamp collection 邮票收藏 a collection of poems 诗集 2. [U, C] 收集，收取 There are two collections a day from this letter-box. 这个信筒每天收信两次. collective a.集体的，共同的 collective action 集体活动 n. [C] 团体，集体 a workers’ collective工人的集体组织 2.verify vt.证明，证实，核实 The computer verified that the data was loaded correctly. 计算机已查实数据输入正确. [试题] I don’t know if the story is true but I will try to _____ it. A)identify B)confirm C)conform D)verify 答案：D)verify 证实（某事之真伪）。 A) identify 认出 B) confirm 确认某事曾经发生过C) conform(与介词to连用) 符合，遵守 3．clause n.条款，款项 The last clause says that the payment should be made within a year. 最后一项规定一年内付款。 2.分句，从句 a noun clause 名词从句 an attributive clause 定语从句 a principal clause 主句 4．bind vt. 连结，联合，结合 the feelings that bind him to her把他和她结合在一起的感情 2. 捆绑，捆扎 bind A to B; bind A and B (together) They bound his legs (together) so he couldn’t escape. 他们将他的双脚捆在一起，使他无法逃脱。 He was bound to a chair.他被绑在一把椅子上。 3. 迫使，约束 bind him to pay a debt使他必须还债 [试题]The welfare of the individual is bound up ______ the welfare of the community. A)with B)from C)at D) to 答案：A) be bound up with表示“和…分不开”，是固定搭配。 5．acceptance n. 1.接受，接纳 Since we sent out the invitations we've received five acceptances and one refusal. 我们发出请柬后，得到的回复是五份接受一份拒绝。 2.赞同，承认 The new laws gained widespread acceptance. 新法例得到广泛的赞同。 6． division n. 1. 分开，划分 the division of wealth 财产的分配 2. [C, U]分歧，差异 the deep divisions in society today 当今社会中巨大的差距 3. [C]部门 the sales division of our company 本公司的销售部 <常见译法> bureau--局 section--科 division--处 department--部 office--室(或科) 7． headline n.标题；新闻提要 headline news新闻头版头条 the headlines 新闻内容提要 hit/make/reach the headlines 成为头条新闻 8． contest v. 1.质疑，辩驳 contest a will 对遗嘱提出质疑 2.争取，争夺；与……竞争 contest a seat in Parliament 争取国会席位 n. 1.竞赛，比赛(通常由一组评委评定的) a beauty contest 选美比赛 2. [C]争夺，竞争 the contest for leadership of the party 对党内领袖职务的争夺。 9． candidate n. [C]候选人；参加考试者 offer oneself as a candidate for a post 自荐为某职位的候选人 Most candidates passed in grammar.参加考试的人大多数语法及格。 [试题] There were five hundred _____ at the state unified examination of CET-4 in our university last year. A)applicants B)attendants C)participants D)candidates 答案：D)candidates 考生。题意为：去年我们学校有500名考生参加了全国英语四级统一考试。A) applicant申请人 B)attendant侍者，随从 C)participants 参与者 10． sting vt.激怒，刺痛 His words certainly stung her. 毫无疑问，他的话刺伤了她。 2.刺伤，蛰伤 A bee stung me on the cheek. 一只蜜蜂蛰了我的脸。 n. [C]刺痛，刺伤 His tongue has a nasty sting.他说话伤人。 [试题] Harry was ____ by a bee when he was collecting the honey. A)stung B) stuck C) bitten D) scratched 答案：A) stung (原形sting) 刺,蛰,叮. B) stuck(stick) 戳，刺 C)bitten (bite) 咬D)scratched 抓（伤），搔 11．exposure n. [U, C] 暴露，曝光，揭露 Exposure to the cold wind left my lips feeling dry. 暴露在寒风中，我觉得嘴唇干裂。 [试题] The doctor told Penny that too much ____ to the sun is bad for the skin. A)exposure B) extension C) exhibition D) expansion 答案：A) exposure(to)在（日光，风雨，危险等中）暴露，暴晒B) extension（of） 延长，扩展 C) exhibition 展览会D) expansion 扩张，扩大，膨胀 12． chapter n. 1. [C]支部，分会 That building is where the chapter meet on Thursdays. 那幢房子是分会在星期四集会的地点。 2. [C]章，回 I’ve just finished Chapter 3. 我刚看完第3章。 13． payment n. [C, U]支付的款项 The television can be paid for in ten monthly payments of $50. 这电视机可月付钱50美元10次付清。 We would be grateful for prompt payment of your account. 如即付款不胜感激。 14． shield vt.防护，保护，庇护 shield sb/sth(against/from sb/sth) shield one’s eyes from the sun with one’s hand 用手遮挡阳光保护眼睛 I try to shield him against journalists. 我竭力为他挡驾，拦住记者。 n. [C]防护物，护罩，盾（状物） a welder’s eye-shield 电焊工的护目罩 [试题] Motorcyclists should wear helmets to ____ them from injury. A)save B) shield C)shelter D)defend 答案:B).shield保护,防护,与from连用;A)save拯救, 与from连用;C)shelter庇护,掩护,与from连用;D)defend保护,防御,与from连用,指保护某人或物以使其不受到侵犯 15． retire v. 1. (使)退休，(使)退役 He will retire from the army next year. 他明年从部队退役。 2.退下，离开 I retired to my study upstairs. 我回到我楼上的书房。 The jury retired (from the courtroom) to consider their verdict. 陪审团退庭以考虑如何裁断。 retired a.退休了的 a retired Civil Servant 退休的公务员 16． enforce vt. 1.使生效，实施，执行 The police are there to enforce the law. 有警察管执法。 2.强迫，迫使 Illness enforced him to remain idle. 疾病迫使他终日闲着。 [试题] They enforced obedience _____ me. A)on B) to C) into D)in 答案：A). enforce sth. on/upon sb. (=force sth. on /upon sb.)表示“把…强加于某人 17． consultant n. [C]顾问 a firm of management consultants 管理咨询公司 [试题] I think we need to see an investment ____ before we make an expensive mistake. A)guide B) entrepreneur C)consultant D) assessor 答案：C)consultant顾问. A) guide 向导，指南 B) entrepreneur 企业家 D) assessor陪审法官 18． invitation n. 1. [U, C]邀请；邀请信 Admission is by invitation only.凭请柬入场。 2. [C]引诱，诱惑 An open window is an invitation to burglars. 窗户开着，会引来窃贼。 19．cite vt.1.引用，引证 She cited(a verse from) Keats. 她引用济慈的诗句. 2．（军队的）传令嘉奖 [sait] cite v. 引用;表彰 sight n.视力;情景 site n.场地;工地 20. awkward a.1.困窘的，尴尬的 a long awkward silence after their quarrel 他们吵架后就是长时间尴尬的沉默 2.难操纵的，使用不便的 The handle of this teapot has an awkward shape. 这个壶把儿的形状真别扭。 3.笨拙的，不灵巧的 I was always an awkward dancer.我跳舞总是笨手笨脚。 [试题] The shy girl felt _____ and uncomfortable when she could not answer her teacher’s questions. A) amazed B)awkward C)curious D)amused 答案：B)awkward 尴尬的，难为情的 。A) amazed惊讶的，惊奇的 C)curious (about) 好奇的D)amused(at,by)好玩的，开心的 21．edit vt.编辑，剪辑，校订 edit a Shakespeare play编辑一本莎士比亚剧本 edition n.版本 a first edition 初版 a revised edition 修订版 editor n. 编辑 22． forge vt. 1.锻造，锤炼；使形成 forge a sword 锻造剑 a friendship forged by adversity 患难之中建立的友谊 2.伪造，假冒，仿造 forge a will, signature, banknote, etc伪造遗嘱，签字，钞票等 23． dispute n. [C, U]争端，分歧 It’s a matter of dispute whether they did the right thing. 他们做的还是不对，这是有争议之处。 beyond/past dispute 无可争辩的 without dispute毫无疑义的 v. 1.争论，争吵，辩论 Some people love to dispute. 有些人好争论。 2.对……表示异议，反对，辩驳 The election result was disputed. 有人对选举结果提出异议。 24．circumstance n.情形，情况，状况 under no circumstances 无论如何不，决不 in/under the circumstances 在此情况下，（情况既然如此） [试题] We have been told that under no circumstances _____ the telephone in the office for personal affairs. A)may we use B)we may use C)we could use D)did we use 答案:A).某些含否定意义的介词短语如in no case, in no way, under no circumstances 等放在句首要引起部分倒装。D) did we use 不可选，因为that从句的内容不是发生在过去。 25． static a.静止的，不变的 House prices have been static for several months.房价稳定了几个月。 static electricity 静电 26．bearing n. 1. [U]关系，影响 What he said had not much bearing on the problem. 他的话和这个问题没多大关系. 2. (sing.)举止，姿态 her dignified bearing她端庄的举止 3. [C]方位，方向 They lost their bearings in the dark. 他们在黑暗中迷失了方向。 27． justification n. [U]正当的理由 He was getting angry--with some justification.他生气了—事出有因。 I can see no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 我不明白有什么理由要把这家公司分成几个小公司。 28． heap n. 1. [C]一堆 clothes lay in heaps on the floor衣服堆放在地板上。 2. (often pl.)大量，许多 We have heaps of time。我们有许多时间。 vt.（使）堆起 heap (up) stones to form a dam 把石头堆成一道堤坝 [试题] Though her parents ____ her musical ability, Jerrilou’s piano playing is really terrible. A)pour scorn on B)heap praise upon C)give vent to D)cast light upon 答案: B)heap praise upon大加赞赏.A) pour scorn on 嘲笑C)give vent to 发泄D)cast light upon使某事清楚明白的显现出来 29． shed shed shed shedding vt.流出，流下，发出 shed tears流泪 shed blood 流血 2. 去掉，摆脱 shed one’s clothes on a hot day 天热时脱掉衣服 3.脱落，脱去 These trees shed their leaves in fall. 这些树秋天落叶。 n. [C]棚，小屋 a tool shed 工具房a wood shed 柴房a bicycle shed 自行车棚 Phrases &Expressions 1． work out 发展很好；证明是成功的 I'm sure things will work out for the best in the end. 我相信事情最终会圆满解决的。 at work 在工作；在起作用 out of work 失业 work off 消除,去除 work at/on 从事于,致力于 work up 激发,激起;制订出,精心作出 2. store away 收起来，储存，储备 Now it's time to store away your fur coats for the summer. 夏天快到了，该把你的皮大衣收起来了。 in store 储存着，准备着；即将发生的 set store by 重视，尊重 3． make no mistake (about sth.) 别弄错了；毫无疑问 If you don't improve your behavior, you'll be punished; make no mistake about it. 要是不改正你的行为，你将受到惩罚，这是毫无疑问的。 4．gain in得到更多的…… gain in confidence 增强信心 Cyber bars have gained in popularity in recent years. 网吧近年来越来越流行。 gain on 赶上，逼近 5.call for 需求，要求 This sort of work calls for a lot of patience. 这工作需要极大的耐性。 call at/on 拜访 call back 回电话 call in 叫…进来，召来 call off 取消 call on/upon 号召，要求 call up 打电话给；召集；使人想起 6．be in line for即将获得，很可能得到 Who's next in line for promotion in your department? 你那个部门下一位有希望得到晋升的是谁？ 7．draw up 1.写出，制定 Has your lawyer drawn up the contract yet? 你的律师是否起草好了合同？ 2.停住 He drew up his car outside his house. 他将车停在他家的外面。 draw in （天）渐黑，（白昼）渐短；（汽车，火车）到站 draw on 吸，抽（烟）；动用（金钱等），利用；临近，接近 8．send out 发出，寄出 You can send out a call for help over the radio. 你可以通过无线电发出求援信号。 send away 把…打发走 send for 派人去请;函购,函索 send in 递送,呈报,提交 send off 邮寄,发送 send up 使上升 9.take advice 采纳某人的意见 You should take legal advice. 你应该请教律师。 10.under sb.'s nose 就在... ...面前 The pen I thought I'd lost was on my desk, right under my nose. 我以为丢了的笔就在书桌上，在我的眼皮底下。 11. break out 1.突然开始，爆发 War broke out in 1937. 战争于1937年爆发。 2.逃离 He broke out of the prison last night. 他昨天晚上越狱而逃。 break away 突然离开，强行逃脱 break down 损坏；垮掉，崩溃 break in vi. 非法闯入；打断，插嘴 break into vt. 非法闯入，强行进入 break off 中断，突然停止 break through 突围，冲破；取得突破性成就 break up 打碎，粉碎；散开，驱散；终止，结束 12．enter into sth.开始讨论；着手处理 to enter into a contract with a firm 同一家公司签定合同 enter on/upon sth 着手做某事，开始某事 13．end up 结束，告终 He'll end up dead if he carries on driving like that. 如果他照这样开车，早晚会死于非命的。 end in 以…为结果 Their struggle ended in failure.他们的斗争以失败告终。 14．lay bare 揭示，说出 The director was careful not to lay the firm's plans bare. 经理小心翼翼，不说出公司的计划。 15．shed/throw/cast light on (使)更容易理解 These discoveries may shed light on the origins of the universe. 这些发现会有助于理解宇宙的起源。 Language Points 1．A future husband wanted to be sure that if his marriage didn't work out,he could keep his treasured ice-cream collection safely stored away in a freezer. (Para. 1) Meaning: A groom-to-be wanted to be sure that if his marriage failed, he was able to have his collection of ice-cream that he likes very much safely kept in a freezer. Note the subjunctive mood is used in the sentence to indicate the supposition that is less likely. 2．A woman insisted on verifying who would walk the dog. (Para. 1) Meaning: A woman wanted to make clear who would walk the dog after marriage. 3．But make no mistake about it, what most of them are about is money - and how financial assets will be divided up if a couple divorces. (Para. 2) Meaning: But sure enough, what most of the clauses are about is money, and how to divide up the properties when a couple divorces. In this sentence, "it" refers to the matter talked about, and "them" refers to the clauses of premarital agreements. financial assets: properties, such as money, housing, etc. 4.Prenuptial agreements - or "prenups" - are designed to address these problems as they arise. (Para. 3) Meaning: Prenuptial agreements, which are called "prenups" for short, are made to deal with these money problems when they occur. 5．They have been gaining in acceptance in the United State since the early 1980s, when more states began passing laws that affected the division of financial assets in a divorce. (Para. 3) Meaning: More and more Americans have come to accept premarital agreements since the early 1980s, when more states started to pass divorce laws that obliged the couple to divide their properties in certain ways. 6．The laws are based either on "community property" (split evenly) or on "reasonable distribution" (whatever a judge thinks is "fair"). (Para. 3) Meaning: The laws are based either on "community property" (half-and-half division) or on "reasonable distribution" (division that a judge thinks is "fair"). community property: property that belongs to both the man and the woman reasonable distribution: fair division of the property 7．But prenuptial agreements are also for lesser known, although wealthy folks. (Para.5) Meaning: But premarital agreements are also applicable to those people who are less famous but very rich. 8．A typical candidate for a prenuptial agreement is a man who has accumulated considerable wealth, has already been stung once, and wants to reduce his exposure to future problems. (Para. 6) Meaning: A man of substantial wealth, who was once hurt by a bitter marriage and who expects no more of such problems in the future, is typically fit for a prenuptial agreement. 9．The effort to shield assets to be passed on to children and grandchildren is making prenups more common among retired people in their 60s and 70s who are remarrying after a spouse has died. (Para. 7) Meaning: The effort to protect children and grandchildren and to ensure that assets are handed down to them is making premarital agreements more common among people in their 60s and 70s, who have retired and are remarrying after a spouse has died. 10．But even when both parties have signed such an agreement, it can be impossible to enforce it in court if proper guidelines have not been followed. (Para. 9) Meaning: But even when both the husband and wife have signed a premarital agreement, it can be impossible to carry it out in court if they have not followed proper guidelines. 11．But never, ever, warn marriage law consultants, should you use the same lawyer as your future spouse does. (Para. 9) Meaning: But marriage lawyers warn that you should never employ the same lawyer who is also employed by your future spouse. 12．"I figure there's a sword hanging over their head, and that's pressure," they said. (Para. 10) Meaning: "I think the pressure under which an agreement is signed is like a sword hanging over the couple's heads," they said. a sword hanging over their head: a dangerous thing to them 13．A classic example is cited by lawyers: "An agreement is stuck under somebody's nose on the day of the wedding - and it's usually a 'she' - and she signs, but doesn't even read it." (Para. 11) Meaning: A typical example mentioned by lawyers is that a premarital contract is too hastily signed on the wedding day, usually by a bride who doesn't even have time to read it. 14．Another lawyer recalled one awkward episode where the two sides were still editing the contract, arguing over what to keep and delete, as 150 wedding guests were arriving for the wedding. (Para. 11) Meaning: A lawyer remembered one embarrassing scene where the bride and groom were still revising the prenups, disagreeing on what to keep and leave out, while 150 wedding guests were arriving for the wedding. 15．…prenuptial agreements were "just about ignored" by the courts because English law says that circumstances of a marriage aren't static, and therefore a judge should decide how financial assets will be divided. (Para. 12) Meaning: ... British courts almost paid no attention to prenuptial agreements because English law says that conditions of a marriage change over time, and therefore a judge should decide how to divide financial assets between the couple. 16．That can lead to "court-shopping", since what matters is the law of the country where the couple is getting divorced. (Para. 13) Meaning: Consequently, people can choose which court to get a divorce in because the important thing is the law of the country where the couple is getting divorced. court-shopping: a new coinage, probably modeled after "window-shopping". The implied meaning of "court-shopping" is that one may choose one court among several for one's legal suit. 17．The issue of where it will be held can greatly multiply the amount of time required to reach a settlement. (Para. 13) Meaning: It takes much more time to settle a divorce case when there is a problem about which country the couple should go to. 18．Their justification: some 50 percent of all marriages in the United States end up on the trash heap. (Para. 14) Meaning: Here is their reason: about half of all marriages in the United States finally result in divorce. 19．Moreover, the discussions for a prenuptial agreement, which involve laying bare all one's finances, sometimes save a couple from a terrible marriage. (Para. 15) Meaning: What's more, if a couple can honestly tell one another about their financial situations while drawing up a premarital contract, this open discussion may help them avoid disputes after marriage. 20．It sheds light on issues which could later widen and result in divorce, ... (Para. 15) Meaning: A prenuptial agreement helps a future couple more clearly understand some potential problems which could later get worse and destroy their marriage. New Words Grammar Enrichment 状语分句中主语或主语和操作词的省略现象 某些状语分句采取带连词的非限定分句，这类结构可看作省略了主语和操作词be的状语分句。例如： While (I was) waiting, I was reading some old magazines. If (it is) carefully done, the experiment will be successful. Don’t speak until (you are) spoken to. He will work hard wherever (he is) sent by the Party. 如果这类非限定状语分句是由状态动词的-ing分词构成，那就不存在省略操作词be的问题。 Although knowing French, he wrote his applications in English. = Although he knew French, … 带连词的无动词状语分句通常可解释为省略了主语和操作词be: Whether (it is) true or false, the story is interesting. Although (he is) very young, he works as hard as an adult. You must study hard while (you are) young, or you will regret when (you are) old. 当句首状语为否定词或带有否定意义的词语时，一般引起局部倒装。 Never have I found him in such a good mood. Not for one minute do I think I have any hope of getting promoted. No longer these days is it necessary for women to wear veils. Visit our stores. Nowhere else will you find such magnificent bargains. Hardly had he finished his work when the telephone rang. Rarely do I get invited into his office alone. Section B Is the Traditional Family Structure at Risk? Reading Skills Types of Reading Comprehension Questions ? ??? Generally speaking, reading comprehension questions fall into the following six types: ??? 1. Main idea questions; ??? 2. Specific detail questions; ??? 3. Guessing unknown word (or expression) questions; ??? 4. Inference questions; ??? 5. Logic structure questions; ??? 6. Attitude or tone questions. ??? Reading comprehension questions, if well designed and properly used, are not only effective in checking out how well a student understands a text, but can also lead the student to a better understanding of the text as a whole. ??? Here are some questions based on Passage A. Try to answer them and then decide what types of comprehension questions they belong to.? ??? 1. In the sentence “A woman insisted on verifying who would walk the dog.” (Para. 1), the word verifying means ________. ??? A. making sure???? B. making changes ??? C. correcting?????? D. declaring ??? The choice is A: guessing unknown word question. ??? 2. ________, prenuptial agreements have become more and more popular in the United States.? ??? A. Since the early 1960s???? B. Since the 1970s ??? C. Since the early 1980s???? D. Since the 1990s ??? The choice is C: specific detail question. Types of Reading Comprehension Questions ??? Generally speaking, reading comprehension questions, if well designed and properly used, are not only effective in checking out how well a student understands a text, but can also lead the student to a better understanding of the text as a whole.? Here are some examples based on Passage A: Example 1: Which of the following is NOT a reason for prenuptial agreements? A. Ensuring a fair division when divorce occurs. B. Protecting one’s personal wealth. C. Protecting children from a previous marriage. D. Winning more money in a lawsuit. The choice is D: inference question. Example 2: If you want a prenuptial agreement to be effective, then you have to ________. A. follow proper guidelines B. ask a lawyer to write it C. read it before you sign it D. know what countries you and your future partner are living in The choice is A: logic structure question. Example 3: Which of the following statements summarizes the main idea of the text? A. Prenuptial agreements are popular among wealthy people. B. Prenuptial agreements are popular among famous people. C. Discussions for a prenuptial agreement save a couple from a terrible marriage. D. One needs to pay close attention both to marriage and to prenuptial agreements.? The choice is D: main idea question. Example 4: On the whole, the attitude of the author towards prenuptial agreements is ________. A. critical B. ironical C. positive D. negative The choice is C: attitude question.       New Words 1.undergovt.经历，经受，忍受 undergo great hardship/suffering 遭受极度的艰难/困苦 2.concludev. 1.推断，得出结论 conclude sth from sth Those are the facts; what do you conclude from them? 事实就是这样，你会从中得出什么结论？ He concluded by saying that… 他结束讲话时说… 2.结束 conclude (sth) with sth The meeting concluded at 8 o'clock. 会议8点钟结束。 The story concludes with the hero’s death. 这故事以主人公死亡而告终. conclusion come to/arrive at/reach/draw a conclusion 得出结论 make a conclusion 下结论 bring…to a conclusion 使…结束 3.orderly a.整齐的，井然有序的 an orderly room 整洁的房间 an orderly mind 有条理的头脑 n. order --- disorder a. orderly --- disorderly 4.finding n.调查（或研究）的结果 (usu pl) the findings of the Commission 调查团的结果 5.dissolve v. 1.（使）结束，（使）解体 dissolve a business partnership, marriage, society 结束商业合伙关系，解除婚姻关系，解散会社 2．溶解 Water dissolves salt. 水能溶解盐。 Salt dissolves in water.盐在水中溶解。 [试题] Usually, gold scarcely ____in water, which is one reason why it is such a precious metal. melts B) dismisses C) dissolves D) distributes 答案：C). dissolve 溶解（在溶液里）；A) melt 指冰等溶化；B) dismiss 解散（人群等），解雇；D)distribute 分配，分布，散布。 6.burden n.[C]重负；(责任、义务等的)重担 bear/carry/shoulder a heavy burden 负有/负起/肩负重担 vt.加负荷于；使挑重担 I don't want to burden you with my problems. 我不想让我的问题困扰你。 7.north n.[U]北方，北部 Do you know which way is north? 你知道哪边是北方吗？ the north of England 英格兰北部 a.北方的，北部的，向北的 North America 北美洲 the North Pole 北极 ad.向北，朝北 sail, drive, walk north 向北航行，行驶，走 8.overtake v.1.突然降临于，意外侵袭 be overtaken by /with fear, surprise 不胜恐惧，惊奇 2.追上，赶上，超过 It's dangerous to overtake on a bend. 在弯道处超车是危险的。 Supply will soon overtake demand. 供很快就要过于求。 9.theme n.[C] 题目，主题 The theme of our discussion was ‘Europe in the 1980’s’. 我们讨论的题目是”八十年代的欧洲”. theme park 主题公园 theme song 主题歌 10.agenda n.[C] 议程 What is the next item on the agenda? 议程表上的下一项是什么？ The agenda for the meeting is as follows…这次会议的议程如下… [试题] Since we have no objection to this item, let’s pass on to the next one on the_____ action B)agenda C)agency D) agent 答案：B). on the agenda表示”在议事日程上”,为固定搭配.place/put sth on the agenda把某事提到日程上来 11.maintain vt.1.支撑；赡养，抚养 She maintains two sons at university. 她要供养两个上大学的儿子。 2.维持，保有 maintain friendly relations, contacts (with sb) 与某人保持友好关系，接触 maintain prices 维持物价 12.contribute v.1.捐献，贡献 contribute sth to/towards sth The chairman encourages everyone to contribute to the discussion. 主席鼓励大家参与讨论。 2. 投稿 contribute an article to the newspaper向报社投稿 a contributed article 来稿 3. 有助于，促成 Her work has contributed to our understanding of this difficult subject. 她的著作有助于我们对这个难题的了解。 13.hay n.[U]（用作饲料或覆盖的）干草 a bale of hay 一捆干草 Make hay while the sun shines. ［谚］趁热打铁。 14.donkey n.驴 If a donkey brays at you, don't bray at him. [谚]别和蠢人一般见识。 15.vary v. （使）不同，更改，改变 Opinions vary on this point. 对这一点看法各异。 Prices vary with the seasons. 物价随季节而变化。 Her mood varied from optimism to depression. 她的情绪由乐观变为消沉。 [试题] Features such as height, weight, and skin color____ from individual to individual and from face to face. A) change B) vary C) alter D) convert 答案：B).身高，体重，肤色等特征因人而异。vary from…to…由…到…变化不定. A) change 改变；C) alter 微小的变化，不影响本质的改动；D) convert 把…变为，兑换，使转变（信仰） 16.adequate a.足够的；令人满意的 Their earnings are adequate to their needs.他们挣的钱足够需要。 [试题] By law, when one makes a large purchase, he should have ____ opportunity to change his mind. accurate B) adequate C) urgent D)excessive 答案：B).根据法律，当一个人购买大宗物品时，他应有改变主意的充分机会。A)accurate 准确的，精确的；C) urgent 紧急的，急迫的；D) excessive 过多的，过分的 17.optional a.可任意选择的，非强制的，随意的 optional subjects 选修课 Formal dress is optional.是否穿礼服自便。 [试题] You don’t have to have this radio in your new car; it’s an ____extra. optical B) optional C) compulsive D)compulsory 答案：B) 可任意选择的，非强制的。A) optical 眼的，视力的，光学的；C) compulsive 强迫的 D)compulsory 强制的，义务的 compulsory subjects 必修课 18.inflation n.[U]通货膨胀 control/curb inflation 控制/遏制通货膨胀 The rate of inflation was 10% last year.去年通货膨胀率为10%。 19.weave v.1.编织 cloth woven from silk and wool 丝和毛混纺的料子 2.编造，汇编 weave one’s idea into a story把自己的构思编成故事 20.casual a.1.漠不关心的，不经意的 His attitude to his job is rather casual.他的工作态度不太认真。 2. (衣服等)非正式的，随便的 casual wear 便服 3.偶尔的，偶然的 a casual encounter, meeting, visit, etc邂逅，不期而遇，不意的拜访 21.migrate vi.1.移居，迁移 migrate from…to… 2. 迁徙，定期迁移；洄游 These birds migrate northwards in spring and southwards in fall. 这些鸟春天向北迁徙，秋天向南迁徙。 emigrate 强调离开自己的祖国，移出 After the Nazis came to power in Germany, many scientists emigrated. immigrate 强调进入外国,移入 The prosperity in the US encouraged many people to immigrate. 22.scrape v.1.勉强维持 scrape a living勉强维持生活 2.刮，擦 I fell and scraped my knee.我跌倒时擦伤了膝盖。 n. 1.刮，擦，刮擦声 the scrape of sb’s pen on paper 某人的钢笔尖在纸上划出的沙沙声 a scrape on the elbow 胳膊肘上的擦伤 2. [C]（因愚蠢行为而造成的）困境 She is always getting into scrapes. 她总是作茧自缚。 scrape by/along: manage to live with no more than the necessary money I can just scrape by on what my parents give me. 靠着父母的资助，我只能勉强应付。 [试题] He doesn’t need to make up this term because he just___ through the examination. A)passed B) scraped C)past D)run 答案：B).他这学期不用补考了，因为他勉强通过了考试。scrape through 勉强通过. A)pass 通过,不必再用through;C)past ,是介词和副词；D) run through 穿过，浏览 23.currency n.1.货币，通货 gold/paper currency 金/纸币 foreign currency 外汇 2.流传，通用 The rumor soon gained currency.谣言很快传开了。 24.urgent a.紧急的，急迫的，紧要的 an urgent message, case, cry for help紧急的消息，情况，呼救 It is urgent that we operate.我们得马上动手术。 It is urgent that…(should)+动词原形 表示虚拟语气 25.subtract v. 减去，扣除 Subtract 3 from 7 is 4. 7减去3等于4。 3 subtracted from 7 is 4. 7减去3等于4。 subtraction n. 减，减法 26.scholarship n.1.奖学金 win a scholarship to the university 获得大学的奖学金 2.[U] 学问，学识 a teacher of great scholarship一位学识渊博的教师。 27.purse n.[C]（女式）钱包 Her purse was stolen from her handbag. 她的钱包放在手提包里被偷了。 Compare: wallet: a small, flat, folding case in which one keeps banknotes, credit cards, etc., usu. carried by a man 28.trim vt.1.削减，减少，缩减 We trimmed a lot off our travel budget. 我们大幅度削减旅行预算。 The article's too long. Can you trim it? 这篇文章太长了，你能否删掉一些？ 2.修理，修剪 trim one’s hair/beard 修剪头发/修胡子 29.invisible a. 看不见的 distant stars that are invisible to the naked eye肉眼看不到的遥远星球 invisible trade 无形贸易 30.entertainment n.1. [U] 娱乐；招待 the entertainment of a group of foreign visitors 宴请一批外宾 a place of entertainment 娱乐场所 2. [C] 娱乐活动，文娱节目 The local entertainments are listed in the newspaper. 本地娱乐活动项目刊登在报纸上。 Phrases &Expressions 1.serve as担任... ...；作... ...用，起... ...作用 He then served three years as an officer. 他后来当了三年军官。 serve out 分发（食物，饮料等）；做（或学）到期满 serve…right 给…应得的惩罚 serve up 端上（食物，饮料等） 2．be related to与... ...相关，与... ...有联系 I am related to him by marriage.我跟他是姻亲关系。 in relation to 关于,涉及;与…相比 The animal with the biggest head in relation to its body is the ant. 与其身体相比，头最大的动物是蚂蚁。 3．by the time到... ...的时候 By the time we got to the museum it was nearly dark. 等我们赶到博物馆时，已是日近黄昏了。 at a time 每次，一次 at no time从不，决不 at one time 曾经，一度 at times 有时，间或 in no time 立即，马上 4．care for照看，看护 Jane spent years caring for her sick aunt. 简照料她生病的婶婶许多年。 take care 当心，注意 take care of 爱护，照料 5．bring about使发生 What brought about the change in his attitude? 是什么使他的态度有了转变？ bring around/round 说服，使信服；使恢复知觉（或健康） bring forth 产生，提出 bring through 使（病人）脱险，使安全度过 bring up养育，教养；提出 6．to the point达到... ...的程度 She worked to the point of exhaustion. 她工作到了精疲力竭的地步。 beside the point 离题的，不相关的 make a point of 特别注意（做某事），重视 on the point of 正要…之际，就要…之时 point out 指出 7.go on to转入 Let's go on to the next scene, now. 咱们现在继续下一场。 8.scrape by勉强维持 I can scrape by on a reduced income for a short time, but not for ever. 收入减少我可以在短期内勉强维持，可是不能长此下去。 Language Points 1.Around the world, in rich and poor countries alike, the structure of family life is undergoing extreme changes, a new analysis of research from numerous countries has concluded. (Para. 1) Meaning: A new analysis of survey information covering a great many countries has come to the conclusion that around the world, whether in rich or poor countries, there is dramatic change in the structure of family life. in rich and poor countries alike: whether in rich or poor countries, the same applies undergoing extreme changes: experiencing great changes 2."The idea that the family is a stable and orderly unit in which father serves as economic provider and mother serves as emotional care giver is a myth," ... (Para. 2) Meaning: "The thought that family is an unchangeable and well-organized unit in which father plays the role of the main earner and mother gives emotional care to children is no longer true," ... 3.A summary of the major findings:... (Para. 4) Meaning: Here is a summary of the major results of the research:... 4.Whether because of abandonment, separation, divorce or death of a spouse, marriages are dissolving with increasing frequency. (Para. 5) Meaning: More and more people bring an end to their marriages for a variety of reasons such as being abandoned, separated, divorced or deprived of a partner. 5.Parents in their prime working years face growing burdens caring for children, who need to be supported through more years of education, and for their own parents, who are living longer. (Para. 6) Meaning: Parents in the best of their career years have to bear increasing responsibility both for the children, who need care and support through more years of education, and for their own parents, whose life spans are longer now. Please note the structure "burdens caring for children ... and for their own parents ..." 6.Children in single-parent households - usually families with only a mother present - are much more likely to be overtaken by poverty than those who live with two parents, largely because of the loss of support from the fathers. (Para. 8) Meaning: Children who live with one parent, usually with mothers, are much more likely to be poorer and therefore live a harder life than those children who live with both their mothers and fathers. This is mainly because they have no support from the fathers. single-parent households: single-parent families 7.The theme that families are changing in similar ways, even in very different cultures, should bring about new thinking on social policy, experts say, and in particular an increase in the importance of families in the agenda of governments. (Para. 10) Meaning: Experts say that the global changing trend in the structure of family life should make people have new ideas about social policy and especially make governments realize the increased importance of families and do more for it. 8....women were found to contribute about a third of household's cash income, but 55 percent of household support if the economic value of their activities at home, such as growing food or gathering hay to feed the family donkey, is included. (Para. 14) Meaning: ... women were found to earn about one third of family's cash income. But if you include the economic value of their activities at home such as growing food or raising domestic animals, then you'll see they provide 55 percent of family support. 9.While the reasons for entering the work force may vary from country to country, women everywhere are finding that to give their children an adequate life, getting a job is no longer optional. (Para. 16) Meaning: Although the reasons for women going to work may differ in different countries, women around the world are finding that to give their children a good enough life, getting a job is a must. 10.In Africa, an eighteen-year-old woman might need a job because she had a baby before marriage and has only a casual relationship with the father, or she might have a husband who goes on to another marriage and supports the children of that union. (Para. 17) Meaning: In Africa, an eighteen-year-old woman might want a job because she is an unmarried mother with a baby to raise but has no serious relationship with the father, or she might have a husband who marries another woman and supports the children from that marriage. that union: that marriage 11.And everywhere, parents are finding that there are fewer jobs that pay enough to allow a family to scrape by financially. (Para. 18) Meaning: And everywhere, parents are finding fewer jobs available that pay enough to allow a family to make ends meet (live on). 12.The fact that many developing countries must trim money from public education as part of their debt-reduction plans creates further pressure on families, she said. (Para. 19) Meaning: Families, she said, are put under increasing pressure due to the fact that many developing countries have to cut down on public education budget in order to reduce their heavy debt. 13.One apparent exception to the general trends is Japan, where single-parent households and unmarried mothers have remained relatively rare. (Para. 20) Meaning: There is one obvious exception to the general trends, i.e. in Japan there are fewer single-parent families and unmarried mothers. 14.The Population Council report found that while most countries have done extensive research on women as mothers, men as fathers have been virtually invisible to researchers. (Para. 21) Meaning: The report released by the Population Council found that researchers in most countries have done large-scale research on women as mothers, but they almost turn a blind eye to men as fathers. 15.Collecting child support (money paid by divorced fathers to support their children) is also difficult. (Para. 22) Meaning: It's also very difficult to collect money from divorced fathers to support their children.