Unit 12 Out of Step

Unit12OutofStepTogettoknowacountry,youmusthavedirectcontactwiththeearth.It'sfutiletogazeattheworldthroughacarwindow.-AlbertEinsteinWhenIgetrealbored,Iliketodrivedowntownandgetagreatparkingspot,thensitinmycarandcounthowmanypeopleaskmeifI'mleaving.-StevenWright(Americancomedian,actorandwriter)CarQuotesPreviewCheck:Blank-filling1.ItissaidthattheUnitedStatesisanationonthe_____.2.AregionofthenortheastUnitedStatescomprisingthemodern-daystatesofMaine,NewHampshire,Vermont,Massachusetts,Connnecticut,andRhodeIslandiscalled________.3.VCDstandsfor“Video____Disc”.4.Thisdrinkcanonlyhelpyoutoloseweightasapartofa____-controlleddiet.5.Zebracrossingisap____crosswalk.6.Ifinddrivinginthefastl___ratherstressful.7.____storeisaretailstore,usuallylocatedinaruralcommunity,thatsellsawidevarietyofmerchandisebutisnotdividedintodepartments.Key:wheel;NewEngland;Compact;calorie;pedestrian;lane;GeneralPre-readingQuestionsHowimportantdoyouthinkisthecarforanordinaryAmerican?WhyisbicycleimportanttoChinesewhilecarcrucialtoAmerican?Doesthisreflecttwodifferentwayoflife?Andwhy?Willpeoplebecomeover-reliantoncarsinthefuture?StructuralAnalysisThreeparts:Part1Para.1-6Theauthorintroduceshisideawithananecdote.Part2Para.7-12TheauthorpresentsthefactthattheAmericansarehabituatedtousingcarsforeverything.Part3Para.13-20Theauthorexplainshatpedestrianfacilitiesareneglectedordiscarded.Part1(para.1-6)Questions:1.Whatkindoftownisit?2.Whatdoyouthinkoftheauthor’sbehavior?3.Whywoulddrivers“departreluctantly,evenguiltily”whentheirofferwasdeclined?sedate:(a.)calm,dignifiedandunhurried(v.)calmsb.ormakethemsleepSynonyms:composed,serene,calmasedatevillageIntheolddays,businesswascarriedonatarathermoresedatepace.sedate(v.)sb.byadministeringasedative(a.)drugakindofsedative(n.)Wordfamily:sedative-sedately-sedationvenerable:deservingrespectbecauseofage,highpositionorreligionsorhistoricalimportancevenerablerelics/institutionthemostveneratedpoetGandhibecameanobjectofwidespreadvenerationbecauseofhisunceasingstruggleforfreedomandequality.TheVenerable?Syn.respected;esteemed;revereddebonair:carefreeandhappy;(ofaman)confident,stylish,andcharmingadebonairdesigner/manner/appearanceeccentric:adj.unconventionalandslightlystrange;n.eccentricbehaviourMymother'sabitofaneccentric.His_____nowextendstoneverwashingorchanginghisclothes.eccentricityEinsteinpullup:(ofavehicleoritsdriver)cometoahaltHepulledupoutsidethecottage.pullsomeoneup:causesomeonetostoporpause;reprimandsomeoneShe'salwayspullingmeupfor/overmybadspelling.Theshockofhiswordspulledherupshort.(suddenlystop)pullaway/over/in/outReview:curb(n.v.)curbone’sanger(restrain,control)Translatethefollowing:1.TheGovernmentshouldacttocurbtaxevasion.2.Highinterestratesputacurbonspending.Part2(para.7-12)Questions:Howdoestheauthorsupportthisideainthispart?Whyaretheexamplesdescribedindetail?habituate:toaccustombyfrequentrepetitionorprolongedexposureYoumusthabituateyourselftoreadingaloud.Bytheendofwinter,hewashabituated/accustomed/usedtocold.habitualsmile/thief/druguseCf.inhabit,habitation,inhabitant,habitat1.acityof5million_____2.Theseremoteislandsare____onlybybirdsandsmallanimals.3.Onthesevastplainstherewasnotasinglehuman____.4.Withsomanyareasofwoodlandbeingcutdown,alotofwildlifeislosingitsnatural_____.Key:inhabitants;inhabited;habitation;habitatcontort:to(causesomethingto)twistorbendviolentlyandunnaturallyintoadifferentshapeorformHisfacecontortedwithbitternessandrage.facial/bodilycontortionscontort:Cf.distort,twist,deform,warp(homework)1.Thespectatorscannotbutadmirethe______ofgymnasts.2.Age_____thespine.3.Leftinthegaragewhereitwasdamp,thewoodenframehad___.4.Heaccusedmeof____hiswordstomeanwhatIwantedthemto.5.Themusicjustgets____whenyouplayitsoloud.Key:contortions;deforms;warped;twisting;distortedcontort:Cf.distort,twist,deform,warpcontort:impliesviolentchangethatproducesunnaturalorgrotesqueeffectsdistort:toalterinshape,tomisrepresentsth.twist:appliestodistortionofformormeaningdeform:disfigure/transfiguresothatthebeautyislostwarp:makeatwistingfromaflatorstraightformParaphrase:Wewillgothrough…walking.Aslongaswecouldavoidwalking,wearewillingtodoanythingpossible,howeverunnaturalorridiculousitmaybe.ludicrous:ridiculous,absurdaludicrousidea/suggestionpop:tomovequicklyandsuddenly,especiallyfromanenclosedspace:Whenyouopenthebox,aclownpopsout.Review:extravagantextravagantgifts/lifestyleextravagantdemandsSyn.1lavish,prodigal2excessive,unreasonableAnt.economical,frugal,thriftyRetrospect:-(i)umHowmanywordscouldyoufindthewordendingwith“-(i)um”(usu.ofaplace)aquarium,auditorium,gymnasium,sanatorium,museum,stadiumPart3(para.13-20)Questions:1.Whatdoestheauthortrytoexplaininthispart?Pedestrianfacilitiesareneglectedordiscarded.2.Whatdoestheauthormeanby”Actually,Iamsurpriseditwasthatmuch.”?bringsth.hometosb.:tomakesb.realizethefullsignificanceofsth.Herfirst-handaccountbroughthometomethepainoftheexperience.ThedangerreallycamehometomewhenIsawthepicturesonTV.(understanditclearly)Theprofessordrove/hammeredhometothemthattheymustfinishthewritingassignmentbyFriday.(explai