Lesson 4 Turning Off the World.doc

Lesson 4 Turning Off TV: A Quiet HourInformation related to the text:1. US television- yesterday and todayA demonstration of television was held at New York Worlds Fair in 1939, and during the 1940s networks were established and television sets began to be sold. But, for a while, radio still had complete control of the entertainment industry. It was in the 1950s that television started to take the place of radio in the United States, and in the early 1960s over 750 TV stations were telecasting to about 52 million sets with the result that the American TV audience included almost every family.Today there are a thousand stations all over the country, and in many places there is a choice of five or six channels, not counting in the cable programs one can buy. The Big Three of the networks- the National Broadcasting Company(NBC), the Columbia Broadcasting System(CBS), and the American Broadcasting Company(ABC)- introduce a large number of news shows, which are relayed throughout the United States and are often sold abroad.What is generally known as “cable TV ” is actually a system of “community antenna television (CATV)”. Cablevision, transmitted via direct cables to each television set, offers viewers a large choice of programs as well as excellent reception.There is also pay TV, known as toll TV or subscription TV, which differs from cable TV in two important respects. Pay TV entirely originates its own programs and charges a fee for viewing each program.Nearly all TV in the United States is commercial. So programs are interrupted every fifteen minutes or so for advertisement. There is , however, one channel where there are no commercial breaks. Programs on this channel are run by the Public Broadcasting Service(PBS). It has a loose organization. Its production facilities are not jointly organized and its revenue is uncertain. It receives a certain amount of money from the Congress, and the rest from foundation（基金）, public contribution(出资), and individual stations.2. The generation gap The term is used to mean differences in ideas, life styles and attitudes between older and younger people, differences which result in a lack of understanding between them and frequently lead to confrontations（对抗）. The “generation gap” is one of the most widely discussed and controversial有争议的 problems of recent years. Some doubt whether such a “gap” exists. They dont believe the younger generation is set apart from the older generation by a wide gap. Many others, on the other hand, insist a gap between parents and children is unavoidable and the generation gap today, if anything , is worse than it has been before. The reason they give is that the tremendous explosion of knowledge in the twentieth century has made life for young people today so very different from life as it was when their parents were young.3. High divorce rate in the US Divorce is a major problem in the US. At present, it is estimated, about one quarter to third of all American marriages end in divorce. There is great difference of opinion as to causes of this high rate of divorce. But studies indicate that there are more cases of divorce among persons with low incomes and inadequate education and among those who marry at a very young age. Apart from legally divorce cases there are many separated couples. The immediate result that arises from the high divorce rate is an increasing number of single parent homes, i.e., homes where children are being raised by only one parent. The breakup of a family affects the children most. They fear being deserted or left alone. Many children suffer from a feeling of guilt when their parents divorce. They think that perhaps some of their actions have caused the parents separation. Sometimes the children become angry at both parents for changing their lives. Sometimes they may direct their anger at the parent who has left or at the one who stays, who think has forced the other away.Introductory Remarks: Television, since its first prevalence over radio in the 1950s, has played a more and more important role in peoples lives. As a matter of fact, it has become so much a part of human life that a modern world without television is unimaginable. Some people even say that life without TV is not worth living. But some, on the other hand, argue against TV. They think TV is taking up too much of a persons time and making him lazy, not to mention its harmful influence upon him. The author of this article, for example, is raising his voice against TV, urging viewers to turn off their sets and enjoys a precious quiet hour, an hour without the distraction of TV.Language Points:1. worthwhile: worthy of the time, efforts, trouble, etc.l It is worthwhile to come all the way to see the scenic spot.l Ill recommend some worthwhile books for you to read next time.2. current: adj. of the present time; 当前的l Mr. Zhao is the current president of our college. adj. generally accepted or in fashion通用的， 流行的l Please open a current account for me. n. tendency, 趋势，倾向，潮流l A small incident can sometimes change the whole current of ones life.l We should not go against the current of the times. n. flow of electricity电流3. 在propose等表示建议命令要求想法的动词及其相应名词之后的that-从句中,常用虚拟语气 即从句中的谓语动词用动词原形.如:l Bill proposed that everyone_ there on foot.a. go b. went c. goes d. going l It was proposed that everyone _ there on foot.a. go b. went c. goes d. goingl It was Bills proposal that _ there on foot.a. go b. went c. goes d. goingl Bills proposal was that_ there on foot.a. go b. went c. goes d. going这类的动词还有: advise/advice, agree/agreement, decide/decision, demand, prefer/preference, determine/determination, indicate/indication, insist/insistence, order, propose/proposal, request, require/requirement, resolve/resolution, urge, vote,等等4. prohibit: forbid, ban prohibit侧重指受法律规则习惯等的禁止forbid-forbade-forbidden侧重指私人关系方面的禁止ban-banned-banned则正式受权威机关的禁止,适用于禁止一些严重危害公众利益的事,暗含谴责意义l Fishermen are prohibited from fishing in spring these years.l Smoking is prohibited in public places.l It is important to ban nuclear weapons.l The mother forbade her child to leave the house before his finishing homework.5. gap: unfilled space, opening缺口,裂缝l The sheep went out through the gap in the fence.l There is a gap between her teeth, so the gap shows when she laughs.a wide difference in opinion, character, etc.l It takes years to narrow the gap between the city and the countryside.l Im afraid there is a great gap between your view and mine.6. in part: partly, to some degreel The driver was in part responsible for the accident.l I admitted that you are right in part.7. communicate: to share or exchange opinions, ideas, etc.l Marriage fails when husband and wife do not communicate with each other. to pass on information, news, etc.l Its the duty of the mass media to communicate news.8. get to: get to+不定式/动名词: to begin by chance表示(经过一段过程或努力后偶然或者终于)开始, 如:l I got to know Mary at the party.l Im sure she will get to like her new job.to have a chance to , be able tol They wanted to go to the beach last Sunday, but it rained and they didnt get to.9. neighborhood:四邻,街坊,街道l There are a lot of lawns in the wealthy neighborhood.l The whole were stirred.街道l My father said that the VIP had once lived in their neighborhood.in the neighborhood of大约;附近l Youll find it somewhere in the neighborhood of the station.l He paid in the neighborhood of 5000 yuan for the car.10. typical: representative代表性的, characteristic典型的l This is a typical 18th church.l It is typical of him to take hard jobs. 11. barely: hardly; scarcely; almost not, only just几乎没有, 勉强, 仅仅这三个同义词都可以表示否定意思,但侧重点不同:barely 侧重于 “勉强够”意思,因此相对说肯定意思较强; hardly 侧重于 “困难”,多用来修饰表示能力的词, 否定意思较强; scarcely则侧重于数量或者程度的不足.l He had barely arrived when he had to leave again.l We have barely enough food to last the weekend.l She had barely time to catch the bus.= openly, publicly 公开地; 露骨地*He spoke his thoughts barely that he wanted 5000 yuan as return.另外, bare指光秃,赤裸,无遮盖指之意, 与naked(感观上的赤裸)/nude(艺术上的赤裸)/stripped(比喻上的一无所有) 同义. 常用为be bare of 如l The tree is bare of leaves.l The man is bare of hair.12. come up with:provide提供,拿出l For years he kept coming up with new and good ideas.think of想到, 提出l They suddenly came up with a good excuse for being late.13. come to:When it comes to computer I know very little.(concern涉及，谈到)Those anti-China scoundrels will come to no good ends.(reach, arrive at得到，结果)the water only came to my waist.(reach as far as到达)the bill came to 100 dollars.(amount to共计)when she came to (herself) she found herself in the first-aid room.(regain consciousness苏醒)14. involve:have as a part or result作为一部分或结果l Taking the job involves living abroad.l To apply for university study involves taking the College Entrance Examinations.cause sb to be mixed up with sth./sb.卷入,参与l It said that many VIPs were involved in the drug traffic.l We are involved in the event, whether we like it or not.15. invent:produce sth. for the first time发明l Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb.make up编造,虚构l Rumor is invented by those ill-intentioned people.l He invented a story to explain why his watch was missing.16. have a ball: have a good time.玩得开心Key to Study and PracticeComprehension of the Text: P. 74-75b-c-d-d a-c-c-bVocabulary: P.761. match the definitiong-f-h-i-a b-c-e-j-d2. the opposites P. 761. free2. accept3. at least4. different5. failure6. sunset7. quiet8. in the past9. unnecessary10. turn off3. fill-in P.76-771. involves2. proposal3. emotional4. At first glance5. actually6. disturbed7. typical8. come up with9. worthwhile10. Imagination 11. current12. neighborhood 13. gap14. program4. P. 771. come up with some good ideas/suggestions2. are prohibited from3. growing up4. to bring together people5. in its birth rate6. in partWord Building P. 781. honestly, dishonest, honesty, honest, honest2. childish, childishly, child, Childhood, childhood3. activities, act, active, act, actively, Actions, activity4. emotional, unemotional, emotion, Emotionally, emotional5. acceptable, acceptably, accept, acceptance, accept6. distraction, distracted, distracts, distracting, distractionsStructure P.801. take a ride2. pay a visit to3. had/ took a rest4. had a talk5. had a discussion on/ about6. took a last look P.811. With your support2. Even with air and water3. Without hard work/ Without working hard4. Without their assistance5. It has been /is about four and a half years since the Wangs settled down in this country.6. It has been/is less than three months since she joined the Youth League.7. It has been/ is 20 years since I got to know her in Beijing.8. It has been /is over a century since the railway was completed. P.821. He proposed that we put on a short play at the English evening.2. I (would like)suggest that he visit the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, etc.3. He proposed that the novel be made into a film.4. My proposal is that the dispute be settled by peaceful means.Cloze P. 82-1. proposed2. prohibited3. social4. actually5. rate6. bringing together7. proposal8. worthwhile9. involve1. fun 2. turn 3. in 4. different/interesting 5. make 6. will 7. By/ From 8. latest 9. and 10. in 11. watch 12. or 13. in 14. to 15. There 16. for 17. may 18. home 19. reasons1. but 2. used 3. little/bit 4. few 5. little 6. number 7. some 8. while 9. any 10. deal 11. no 12. Now Translation P.641. To take this job would involved working on weekends frequently, but John didnt mind.2. It is well known that lung cancer is caused at least in part by smoking too much.3. My grandparents said that the man who invented television had once lived in their neighborhood.4. I p