unit 1
Unit One
I Teaching aims:
1. to learn the new words and expressions;
2. to improve reading skills
3. to analyze the structure of the text
II.Teaching focus:
1.key words:
Text A
budget, acute, replace, elbow, interaction, convention, assess, surroundings, conduct, consequently, conduct, increasingly, obtain, competent
Text B
desirable, fascinating, spite, clash, tradition, amuse, hostile, distress, devise, cope, isolate, avoid, favorable, symptom, distinction, acquisition
2.key phrases and expressions:
Text A:
result in, account for, in a rush, go with, save for, due to, be worthy of
Text B:
result in, account for, in a rush, go with, save for, due to, be worthy of
III.Teaching steps:
First period: Text A
~~ Time-Conscious Americans ~~
I.Introduction
American people are very time-conscious. They consider time a precious resource. So it seems everyone is in a rush. They are trying to get things done within the least possible time. Therefore, they make every effort to save time, for example, producing a steady flow of labor-saving devices, communicating through faxes, phone calls or emails. In American’s view, work efficiency, not how much time spent in a job, is the most important thing.
II.Structure:
Part one: The Americans agree that time is a precious resource.
Part two: The Americans work hard and try every means to save time.
Part three: The Americans usually so and solve a problem quickly and successfully through faxes, phone calls and emails, while some people from other countries think the task is considered insignificant unless it cost a certain.
III.Language points:
1.budget: v. plan the spending of (time, money, etc.), or provide (time, money) in the plan
She budgeted for buying a new car.1.count: vi. If sth. counts, it is important or valuable
Every second counts.
2.brief: a. short and not containing too many details
His remarks were brief and to the point.
3.convention:n.1) general, usu. unspoken, agreement about how people should act or behave in certain situations; customary practice
Convention now allows women to smoke in public.
2)meeting of members of a profession, political party, etc.
Hotels attract conventions because they bring a lot of business.
4.interaction: n.1) communication
informal interactions among adults
2)acting on each other; working together
Increased interaction between the police and citizens will improve the rate of solving crimes.
5.go with: exist or take place at the same time, be found together
Happiness does not go as an automatic result with money.
6.assess: vt. judge the quality, importance, or worth of
He’s so lazy that it’s difficult to assess his ability.
7.surroundings: the things in the neighborhood of, or the conditions affecting a person or thing
The house is in beautiful surroundings.
8.much less: and even less likely
The old man can hardly walk, much less run.
9.given: taking into account
Given her interest in children, teaching should be the right career for her.
10.save…for: keep sth. for future use, not use up st
Save your strength for hard work you’ll have to do later.
11.at hand: under discussion or being considered
Her question was not related to the matter at hand.
12.conduct:vt.1)organize and carry ou
I decided to conduct an experiment.
2)act as the path for (electricity, heat, etc.)
Plastic and rubber won’t conduct electricity, but copper will.
14.in person: physically present, by oneself
I can’t attend the meeting in person, but I’m sending someone to speak for me.
15.obtain: get, achieve
The news writer immediately set out to obtain the important facts.
16.whereas: but, in contrast; while
We thought she did not like us, whereas in fact she was very shy.
17.in one’s eyes: in the opinion or judgment of someone
The expert is always right in the eyes of everybody.
18.worthy of: meriting
He is worthy of our praise.
19.competent: a. having the necessary ability, skill, knowledge, etc.
He is competent for the task.
20.fulfill:vt 1)do or perform
They fulfilled their work ahead of time as we did ours.
2)supply or satisfy
The company should be able to fulfill our requirements for product quality.
21.fall behind: become bit by bit further behind
The student has been working hard for fear that he should fall behind.
22.result in: have as a result; cause
Acting before thinking always results in failing.
23.nothing but: only
He’s nothing but a criminal
24.kill time: make time pass quickly by finding sth. to do
We killed time by playing cards.
25.account for: 1)give a satisfactory explanation about (how sth. is used)
Jenny had to account to her husband for every penny she spent.
2)be the cause or origin of
North Sea oil accounts for a high proportion of our trade earnings.
26.charge for: ask ( an amount of money ) as a price
How much do you charge for washing a car?
27.acute: a. 1) ( of feelings or the senses ) fine; sharp
Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
2)severe, very great
an acute lack of water.
28.run out of:1)(of liquid or sth. like liquid) flow out of
Many rivers run out of the Himalayas.
2)use all one’s supply, have no more
I’m afraid we’ve run out of gas.
29.replace: vt. 1) put sth. back where it was before
Replace the book on the shelf.
2)take the place of
George has replaced Edward as the personnel manager.
3)change (some person or object) for another, often better, newer, etc.
We’ve have to replace those old computers with new ones.
30.in a rush: in a hurry
Why is she always in such a rush?
31.under pressure: in a condition of being forced or hurried
race through: do sth. in a hurry He works best under pressure.
The child raced through his homework in order to watch the football match on TV.
IV.Summary:
America is called melting pot, which melts all kinds of characters of immigrants from various cultures and nations.
V.Homework: translation on Page11
Second period: Finish Exercises of Text A
Third period: Text B
~~Culture Shock~~
1.Introduction:
After the first excitement and desirable fun in a forting country, you may encounter some challenges, which are called culture shock. And in the process of culture shock adjustment, there are at least four essential stages: “the honeymoon”, “hostility stage”, “recovery” and adjustment”.
Culture shock is unavoidable. One should deal with it carefully.
II.Language points:
1.desirable: a. worth having, doing or desiring because it is useful, necessary, or popular
It’s most desirable that he should attend the convention.
2.fascinating: a. interesting and able to attract
This is a fascinating old city full of very old buildings.
3.in spite of: despite
In spite of great efforts we failed to carry our plans through.
4.clash: vi. Disagree seriously, come into argument or non-agreement state
Their interests clashed with ours.
5.familiar to: if sth. is familiar to you, it is well known to you or you often experience/encounter it. He talked of other cultures as if they were more familiar to him than his own.
Cf. familiar with: if you are familiar with sth., you have a good knowledge of it or you know it in detail.
Are you familiar with the rules of baseball?
6.at least:not less than
Cut the grass at least once a week in summer.
7.anyway; at any rate
You might at least answer.
8.excitement: n. the state of being excited
As the end of the game grew nearer, the crowd’s excitement increased.
9.amusement: n. sth. that make one’s time pass pleasantly
Big cities have theatres, films, football matches and many other amusements.
10.as though: as would be the case if; appearing to be the case that
The animal was walking as though it had hurt its leg.
11.ending: n. the end, esp. of a story, film, play or word
Many people like stories with happy endings.
12.hostility: n. strong reaction against; unfriendliness
I have no hostility towards anyone.
13.(be) tired of: (be) impatient or have no interest in sb. or sth.
When you are tired of on dress, change to another.
14.moreover: ad. in addition; as well as what has been said
The price is too high, and, moreover, the house isn’t in a suitable position.
15.distress: n.1) great pain, sadness, suffering
The sick man showed signs of distress.
2)suffering caused by lack of money
a company in funding distress
3)a state of danger or great difficulty
Send out a distress signal; the ship is sinking.
16.devise: vt. create or invent (a plan, method, etc.) by carefully thought
New long-range goals must be devised.
17.cope: vi. (of a person) deal with sth. difficult successfully
She is not a competent driver and can’t cope with driving in heavy traffic.
18.solation: n. keeping oneself alone; separating from others
The writer lived in complete isolation in the country for a year in order to finish his book.
19.avoid: vt. keep oneself away from; prevent, stop sth. from happening
The student avoided his teacher’s eyes.
20.recovery: n.1)a return to a normal state
The government’s policies bit by bit led to the country’s economic recovery.
2)getting back
She has a reasonable chance of recovery from the insurance company.
22.favorable: a.1)good, pleasing, suitable, helpful
This is a time favorable for a trip.
2)giving or showing agreement, expression significant approval
I have been hearing favorable accounts of your work.
23.appreciate: vt. understand and enjoy
My boss does not appreciate my abilities.
24.go through: experience
Have you thought about the difficulties your children would go through?
25.furthermore: ad. also; in addition to what has been said; moreover
The house is too small, and, furthermore, it’s too far from the office
III.Exercises of Text B
IV.Homework:
