Unit 4 Five Symbols of American Culture 新视野大学英语第三册

1、Section A Five Famous Symbols of American CultureUnit 4I Words and expressions 雕像，塑像，铸像雕像，塑像，铸像 自由女神像自由女神像2. 1.赞同赞同 2.批准，同意批准，同意 我赞成你试着挣钱，但不要忽视你的学习我赞成你试着挣钱，但不要忽视你的学习 n. 乱世佳人乱世佳人的的中文版中文版两个司机对事故的描述不同。两个司机对事故的描述不同。 He always puts a wrong interpretation on what I say. 他总是曲解我的话。他总是曲解我的话。口译员口译员The story w

2、as inspired by a chance meeting with his old friend. 故事的灵感来自于他和一位老朋友的偶遇。故事的灵感来自于他和一位老朋友的偶遇。 inspire sb. to + n. to do sth.nI hope this success will inspire you to greater efforts. / inspire you to work harder.n我希望这次的成功能激励你更加努力。我希望这次的成功能激励你更加努力。ninspiration n. 鼓舞；灵感鼓舞；灵感Several government officials c

3、ame to inspect our university last week. I got out of the car to inspect the damage. He carefully inspected the china for cracks.我下车检查损坏情况。我下车检查损坏情况。他仔细检查瓷器看有无裂纹。他仔细检查瓷器看有无裂纹。 签约签约/ 毁约毁约根据合同条款，你如果打算离职必须提前三个月通知根据合同条款，你如果打算离职必须提前三个月通知我们。我们。contract to do sth.They contracted to work fixed hours each we

4、ek.他们订立合同确定每周固定的工作时数。他们订立合同确定每周固定的工作时数。He contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion.Metals expand when heated and contract when cooled.他输血时感染了艾滋病。他输血时感染了艾滋病。金属热胀冷缩。金属热胀冷缩。 The society is always trying to find ways of attracting new recruits.We are having difficulty recruiting enough qualified staff.我

5、们难以招到足够的合格职员。我们难以招到足够的合格职员。该社团总是想方设法吸引新成员加入。该社团总是想方设法吸引新成员加入。You will have to work on the weak points in your English if you want to pass the examination. 如果你想通过考试，你就得在英语的弱项上花些功夫。如果你想通过考试，你就得在英语的弱项上花些功夫。III. Background informationLiberty Enlightening the World Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue

6、 of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The statue is 111 feet, 1 inch tall and made from 225 tons of copper.It was given to the people of the United States by France

7、on July 4, 1884 to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the American Revolution. It was dedicated on October 28, 1886.Barbie dolls An Introduction: Barbie dolls are sold nearly worldwide. They have been the subject of numerous books and controversies, plus the star in their own movies. There are even

8、lines of Barbie-inspired cosmetics and clothing. Size of Barbie Dolls: Barbie is, almost universally, 11.5 inches tall. and Skipper (Barbies Little Sister) 10 inches. Barbie has had a few shorter friends and relations as well.Ken is generally 12 inches tall. Creator of Barbie Dolls: The late Ruth Ha

9、ndler created Barbie. One day she saw her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls, and Ruth thought that girls would enjoy a 3-D doll with outfits you could change, like paper dolls. The Mattel design team couldnt envision what Ruth wanted. Then when in Germany, Ruth saw Bild Lilli, a doll with an ad

10、ult-proportioned body, 11.5 inches tall. Ruth thought this doll was just right for concept. So, she brought Bild Lilli to Mattel and Barbie was born.Three first editions of Barbie dolls from 1959 Collection of Barbie DollsAlice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts and the Mad HatterLine Of Star Trek B

11、arbie Shanghai Store American GothicnWith American Gothic, Grant Wood tells the story of Midwestern life and culture through the use of many traditional symbols: nthe rick-rack(荷叶边荷叶边 )on the womans apron, the gothic window, the pitchfork held in the tight fist of the somber farmer.It propelled the

12、artists career from local to national recognition.The American Bison, or Buffalo, ranged across America in to Canada. It is estimated that there were over 50 million bison in North America. The decline of the great bison herds was caused by extensive commercial hunting and the protection of agricult

13、ural areas which restricted the bisons grazing areas. By the 1890s fewer than 1000 animals survived. The population level has now risen again to around 50,000, and the future of the species is assured.nThe obverse sidenThe reverse sidenFlagg, James Montgomery nAmerican illustrator, poster artist, an

14、d portrait painter known for his illustrations particularly for his World War I recruiting poster of a pointing Uncle Sam with the caption “I Want You” .nThe poster was reissued during World War II.the recruiting poster of a pointing Uncle Sam with the caption “I Want You”James MontgomeryIII Text An

15、alysisFive Famous Symbols of American CulturenPart 1 (Para. 1-4) The Statue of LibertynPart 2 (Para. 5-10) Barbie nPart 3 (Para. 11-14) American GothicnPart 4 (Para. 15-18) The Buffalo NickelnPart 5 (Para. 19-22) Uncle SamQuestions & AnswersPara. 2n1. Who created the Statue of Liberty and what w

16、as he? n2. When?n3. What is the purpose to create the statue?n4. What do we know about the creator?Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, French artist.In the mid-1870s.Celebrating US independence and the France-America alliance.He was in love with a woman whom he married in 1876 in spite of his mothers object

17、ion. Para. 3nHow did he create the Statue of Liberty?nIt is said that he had used his wifes arm as the model, but felt her face was too beautiful for the statue. So for the face, he chose his mothers.Para. 4 nWhen did the creator finish the statue? nIn 1886.nHow did he like the statue?nThe creator c

18、alled it “my daughter, Liberty”.Para. 6:nWhat was the real name of Barbie?nHer real name was Barbara Handler. Paras. 8-10: nHow popular is Barbie according to the text?nSince her introduction in 1959, Barbie has become the universally recognized Queen of the Dolls. The average American girl owns ten

19、 Barbie dolls, and two are sold somewhere in the world every second.Para. 12nWho painted American Gothic?nGrant Wood.nHow did Wood get the idea of painting American Gothic?nHe was inspired by the Gothic windows of an old farmhouse.Paras. 16-17: nWhat do we know about American coins? nAmerican coins

20、honor prominent figures of the US government but the Buffalo nickel has three actual American Indians as models.nWho created the Buffalo nickel?nIt was James Earle Fraser who created the Buffalo nickel.nWhat was the buffalo nickel produced for?nIt honored a pair of connected tragedies from the settl

21、ement of the American frontier - the destruction of the buffalo herds and the American IndiansPara. 18 nWhy did Fraser go to New York Citys Central Park Zoo ?nBecause buffalo no longer wandered about the great grasslands.nHow was the Buffalo nickel created?nAs most of the buffaloes were killed, Jame

22、s Earle Fraser was forced to sketch an aging buffalo from New York Citys Central Park Zoo for the coin.Paras. 20-22 nWhat did the employee say when he was asked about the letters “EA-US”?nHe said “US” was short for “Uncle Sam” Wilson.nHow did Flaggs portrait of Uncle Sam look like?nIt was a self-por

23、trait of Flagg.Before all the different types of Barbie dolls for sale now, (Para. 6) nfor sale: intended to be sold nThe sign on the house says For Sale. n房子上的标牌写着房子上的标牌写着“出售出售”。non sale: being offered at a reduced price 折价销售；减价出折价销售；减价出售售 Ruth came up with the idea (Para. 7) ncome up with: find or

24、 produce (an answer, a solution, etc.) nI hope you can come up with a better plan than this. n我希望你能拿出一个比这更好的计划。我希望你能拿出一个比这更好的计划。n科学家找到了节省能源的新途径。科学家找到了节省能源的新途径。nScientists have come up with new ways of saving energy. Mattel refashioned the doll into a decent, all-American (Para. 7)nrefashion into: ch

25、ange into; make intonCan you refashion this dress into a skirt? n你能将这件连衣裙改成短裙子吗？你能将这件连衣裙改成短裙子吗？nfashion v. 把把.做成做成形状；形状； 塑造塑造nOur attitudes towards politics are fashioned by the media.n我们对政治的态度是在媒体的影响下形成的。我们对政治的态度是在媒体的影响下形成的。 although with an exaggerated breast size (Para. 7) nexaggerate: v. make (s

26、th.) seem larger, more important, better or worse than it really is nDont exaggerate. I was only two minutes late, not twenty. n别夸大其词，我只迟到了两分钟，不是别夸大其词，我只迟到了两分钟，不是20分钟。分钟。nThe problem has been greatly exaggeratedn这个问题被极度夸大了。这个问题被极度夸大了。 version and named it after Barbara, (Para. 7) nname sb./sth. afte

27、r sb. : give sb./sth. the name of sb. as an honornThe bridge was named after the hero. n这座桥是以那位英雄的名字命名的这座桥是以那位英雄的名字命名的.nSome people name their children after famous figures.n有些人以名人的名字给小孩起名。有些人以名人的名字给小孩起名。Barbie has become the universally recognized Queen of the Dolls. (Para. 8) nuniversally: ad. (be

28、lieved or accepted) by everyone; in the world or in all situationsna universally accepted point of view n人人接受的观点人人接受的观点 nIt is universally acknowledged that. n人们普遍认为人们普遍认为.Grant Wood instantly rose to fame in 1930 with his painting American Gothic, an often-copied interpretation of the solemn pride

29、of American farmers. (Para. 12) nMeaning: Grant Wood became famous immediately when he finished his painting American Gothic in 1930. The painting, which is often copied in other forms of art such as posters, cards, and souvenirs, reflects his understanding of the sincere pride of American farmers.

30、n1930年，格兰特年，格兰特伍德因其画作伍德因其画作美国哥特式美国哥特式一举成名。此画体现了美国农民庄严的自豪，一举成名。此画体现了美国农民庄严的自豪，常常被人临摹。常常被人临摹。 nfame: n. the state of being well-knownnThe novel earned him fame and fortune. n这部小说使他名利双收这部小说使他名利双收。 ncome/rise to fame 出名出名Grant Wood instantly rose to fame in 1930 with his painting American Gothic, an oft

31、en-copied interpretation of the solemn pride of American farmers. (Para. 12) with his painting American Gothic, an often copied interpretation of the solemn pride of American farmers. (Para. 12)nsolemn: a.na solemn statement n庄严的庄严的声明声明nmake a solemn promise n作出作出郑重的郑重的承诺承诺nHer solemn face told them

32、 that the news was bad. n她她严肃的严肃的表情告诉他们那是坏消息。表情告诉他们那是坏消息。 but the faces in his composition were what captured the worlds attention. (Para. 12) nIt was her words not her looks that captured his attention. n吸引他注意的是她的言谈而不是她的容貌。吸引他注意的是她的言谈而不是她的容貌。 For the grave farmer he used his dentist, a sour-looking

33、 man. (Para. 13)ngrave: a. He was looking extremely grave. n他神色极为凝重。他神色极为凝重。ngrave consequences 严重后果严重后果ngrave situation 严峻的局势严峻的局势ngrave n. I put some flowers on the grave. n我将一些花放在了坟墓上。我将一些花放在了坟墓上。He stretched the models necks a bit, but there was no doubt who posed for the portrait. (Para. 13) ns

34、tretch: v. nMy T-shirt stretched when I washed it. n我的我的T恤衫洗后变大了。恤衫洗后变大了。nThe long white beaches stretch for miles along the coast. n长长的白色海滩沿着海岸绵延数英里。长长的白色海滩沿着海岸绵延数英里。 and earned a reputation for being honest and hard working. (Para. 20) nreputation: nan international reputation 国际声誉国际声誉nhave a good

35、/bad reputation 声誉好声誉好/坏坏n他所在的大学有着良好的学术声誉。他所在的大学有着良好的学术声誉。nHis university has a good academic reputation. nThe rumors ruined his reputation. n这些传言破坏了他的声誉。这些传言破坏了他的声誉。 his form evolving from an earlier cartoon character called Brother Jonathan that was popular during the American Revolution. (Para. 2

36、2) nevolve from: nDarwin believed that we evolved from apes.n达尔文相信人类是从猿进化而来的。达尔文相信人类是从猿进化而来的。nevolution n.nthe evolution of the computer over the past 30 yearsn计算机在过去三十年里的发展计算机在过去三十年里的发展n美国哥特式，1930年，76.2x63.5cm,板 油彩,芝加哥艺术学院,The Art Institute of Chicago,格兰特伍德,Grant Wood,1892-1942年,美国 n1928年,格兰特伍德去了德国

37、慕尼黑，很为那里的哥特艺术所迷恋。所谓的哥特式建筑，主要由石头的骨架券和飞扶壁组成。其基本单元是在一个正方形或矩形平面四角的柱子上作双圆心骨架尖券，四边和对角线上各一道，屋面石板架在券上，形成拱顶。采用这种方式，可以在不同跨度上作出矢高相同的券，拱顶重量轻，交线分明，减少了券脚的推力，简化了施工。由于采用了尖券、尖拱和飞扶壁等建筑形式，哥特式教堂的内部空间高旷、单纯、统一。装饰细部也都用尖券作主题，使建筑风格与结构手法形成有机整体。 n1930年8月，伍德在Iowa南部的一个小镇看到一所颇具哥特式风格的房子，它建于1880年代，有五个房间。此建筑物的紧凑和坚实的设计，尤其是阁楼上的哥特式窗户，

38、给伍德留下了非常深刻的印象。他想象着一个农夫和他的女儿站在房子前面，然后拍下这个房子的照片带回了他的工作室。他请他62岁的牙医和他30岁的妹妹作为画中人物的模特，并让他们穿上19世纪维多利亚时期的衣服。虽然在画中两人是站在一块的，但实际上这两个人物是在不同的场合下完成的。伍德花两个月的时间完成了这幅作品，及时赶上了芝加哥艺术学院的展览。虽然一开始裁判们对是否要接受他这幅画上有分歧，但这幅画最后得以参展并获得了铜奖和300美元的奖励。当时这幅画引起了极大的争议，一个艺术批评家指责该画是“侮辱普通乡村人民的漫画”。有人认为伍德用这幅画来讽刺中西部文化的狭隘和压抑，但伍德本人否定了这种说法；也有人把

39、这幅画理解为对美国乡村道德品质的颂扬；还有人认为这部作品的主题非常暧昧，既有赞扬的肯定，又不乏讽刺的意味。后来伍德自己透露他的画中含有讽刺的因素，但至于是哪些因素他缄口不言。American Gothicn男人的眼睛直直地向前平视，双唇紧闭，黄瘦的脸上表情十分严肃，鼻梁上一丝不苟地架着圆圆的眼镜。他沾满泥巴的手里拿着一个叉，它既代表了在农业占主导地位的年代，农民们勤劳耕作的精神，也象征着在19世纪男权社会中，不容置疑的男性权威和力量。从构图上来看，这个叉与人物椭圆形的脸和人物身后哥特式窗户的线条相呼应。站在他身边的女人一副典型的维多利亚时期女性的装扮，从发型到服饰，甚至到表情，都让人联想起简爱

40、。同男人一样，女人的表情也不苟言笑，只因那个年代的女性以严谨、矜持、勤劳、克己为美德。她略微站在男人身后，眼睛看向男人，有点“唯他是听”的意味。n在三十年代早期，欣赏这幅画的评论家也认为这幅画意在嘲讽美国乡村或小镇生活的刻板。但是几年之后，美国遭遇了大萧条，工业化程度高、更讲究精致的东部生活不下去了，种地为生的中西部人照样可以自给。人们开始以不同的眼光看待伍德这幅画，它不再被理解为讽刺，而是变成了对大众民粹主义的颂扬。论者认为农夫和他的妻子是美国精神的化身，“美国的民主以有着勇敢的心和结实的下巴的劳动者为基础，就是这幅画所画的这样的人。” n关于画中的两个人物的关系，也一直是大家争论不休的话题

41、，到底是一对农场老夫妻还是父亲和女儿？如果是夫妻，很多Iowa农夫的妻子认为这是一副诋毁她们形象的画作；如果是父女，那么男人手里拿着一把叉，到底是表示一个普通耕作的农夫，还是一个不无妒意地赶走女儿追求者的传道夫呢？理解为父女关系的评论家把女儿下巴和颈部的褶皱理解为“老处女的尖锐”，但也有人认为这些褶皱暗示着女儿并不像她的穿着（扣子紧紧封住脖子）那样刻板。 美国哥特式渐渐获得了人们的认可，现在已经成为美国最广为人知的画作之一，成了美国流行文化的一部分。很多人对这幅画进行戏仿和调侃。 IV Old to newfreedom from accept; permitlovefit togetherw

42、idespreadserious-looking encouragelibertyapproveaffectionassembleuniversalsolemninspireI. Old to Newset freelook at sth. closely showdevelop graduallyliberateinspectdisplayevolveII. Chinese to English 着手（研究，设计）着手（研究，设计）爱上爱上赞成赞成出售出售一举成名一举成名work onfall/be in love withapprove offor salerise to fame杰出人物

43、杰出人物反传统反传统签合同签合同继续继续拒绝采访拒绝采访以以命名命名prominent figurebe against traditionsign a contractgo aheaddecline interviewname after为为当模特当模特前任总统前任总统从从发展而来发展而来征兵海报征兵海报想出想出(主意主意)pose forformer presidentevolve fromrecruiting postercome up withV TranslationTranslate the following into English.His parents did not ap

44、prove of his plan to go and study abroad with a girl they had never met, but he went ahead and got to New York with her.1. 他父母不他父母不赞成赞成他和一个他们没有见过面的他和一个他们没有见过面的姑娘姑娘到国外学习到国外学习的计划，可他的计划，可他还是去了还是去了，和，和她一起去了纽约。她一起去了纽约。approve ofgo aheadgo and study abroadIt is said that the painter used his aunt as the m

45、odel in the painting whose face represented suffering yet strength.2. 据说据说，画家以他的婶婶作他画中的模特，画家以他的婶婶作他画中的模特，她的面容她的面容饱经沧桑却不失坚定饱经沧桑却不失坚定。represent suffering yet strength3. 真正的肯不喜欢三维芭比娃娃，这种娃娃真正的肯不喜欢三维芭比娃娃，这种娃娃被描绘被描绘成成具有具有“出卖肉体之女人出卖肉体之女人”的模样的模样。be described asThe real Ken did not like the three-dimensional Barbie dolls, which were described as having the appearance of “a woman who sold sex”.have the appearance of4. 这位小说家于这位小说家于1950年年因出版因出版再见，亲再见，亲爱的爱的一举成名一举成名，小说的，小说的灵感来自于他灵感来自于他和一位姑娘和一位姑娘在他哥哥的农场在他哥哥的农场的经历的经历。 The novelist inst