21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解60篇

1/121世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解60篇21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解1BillHeavy

Whenmyfatherrings,Ihurrydowntothefrontdoorofmycondo.Thereheis,incorduroypants,thetreadwornofftheknees,andashirtIoutgrewintenthgrade.He'scometohelpmeputinanewgarbagedisposal.Actually,I'mhelpinghim.Hismechanicalgenepassedoverhisonlyson,onitswaytosomefuturegeneration.At39,I'vemademypeacewiththis.

Myfatherhasn'tbeentomyplacesincehehelpedmepaintfouryearsago.Thetruthis,I'moftennotsurehowtotalktohim.Butthistimeitwillbeeasy.Wehaveajobtodo.

Inminuteshehastakenoverthewholeenterprise,lyingunderthesinkandsquintingupintothemachinery.AndsuddenlyIam12yearsoldagain,watchinghimfixthingsandfeelinguseless.

Asachild,IidentifiedsostronglywithmymotherthatIthoughtmyfatherwasjustalongtermhouseguestwithspankingprivileges.SheandIarebookish,introvertedworriers.Myfatherisanoptimistwhohasneverhadasleeplessnightinhislife.

Likemostfathersandsons,wefought.Buttherewasnocoolingoffperiodbetweenrounds.ItwasacoldwarlastingfromtheonsetofmyadolescenceuntilIwentofftocollegein1973.Ihatedhim.Hewasaformernavyfighterpilot,withanIrishtemperandabeliefthatalltheproblemsoftheworld—includinganoverprotectedsonwhoneversawanythingthroughtocompletion—couldbecuredbytheapplicationofmorediscipline.

Atatimewhenaneighthgrader'ssocialstatuswasmeasuredinthefractionofaninchofhairkissinghiscollar,myfatherwouldmarchmedowntothebarbershoponSaturdaysandtriumphantlytellthemanwiththescissors."Justleavehimenoughtocomb."Iwouldclosemyeyes,determinednottogivehimthesatisfactionofseeingmecry.Withouteventhinkingaboutit,Ifrozehimoutofmylife,speakingonlywhenspokento.Ilearnedtousesilencelikeaknife.Myonecommuniqueforanentiredinnerwasusuallyasarcastic"MayIbeexcusednow?Ihavehomework."

IlayawakeatnightimagininghimbeingtransferredbythegascompanyheworkedfortoanoilrigintheNorthSea.Butitdidn'thappen,andsoonallthatremainedwasthecontestofwills.

Iwentofftocollege,buthewasstillinmyhead.IcouldhearhisvoiceeverytimeIfellshortinanything.OnlywhenIbeganseeingmyfreelancearticlesinprintdidIbegintofeelthatIwasslippingbeyondhisreachandintomyownlife.

EventuallyIdiscoveredthatthereisnoantiinflammatoryagentliketime.NowIwondered,couldthisaging74yearoldbethegiantwhooncethunderedupthestairstospankme,ofwhomIwassoafraidthatIwetmypants?InhisplacewassomeoneIworriedabout,whomIdressedinmydownhuntingjacketforhisannualpilgrimagetotheArmyNavygame.Myprofession,whichhehadonceridiculed,saying,"Gee,doyouthinkthere'sanymoneyinit?"nowbecameasourceofpridewhenfellowRotariansmistookhimforBillHeavy"thewriter."ItwasasifnowthatInolongerneededsodesperatelytopleasehim,Ihadsucceeded.Wehadbecometwooldveteransfromopposingarmies,shakinghandsyearsafterthefighting,thecombatsodistantastobeadream.

Beforewecaninstallthedisposal,wehavetosnakeoutthepipes.Soonwegetstucktryingtofigureouthowagasketfits.

"Ah,"hesaysfinally,"we'regoingtohavetocallaplumber."

ThisisnothowIrememberhim.Heusedtobesostubborn,thekindofguywhocouldmakeIRSexaminersthrowuptheirhandsinfrustrationandlethimoff.NowthatIhavehismindsetanddon'twanttogiveup,it'sasifhe'sacquiredmine.

Hesays,"Besides,Igottagethome.YourmotherandIhavetobeatadinnerpartyat7:30."

"Don'tyoupayfortheplumber,"hesays."PuttingthisthinginispartofmyChristmaspresenttoyou."

Thoughwe'vefailedtoinstallthedisposal,it'sbeenoddlysatisfying.Atlastwe'reonevenground.Maybehewasn'tthebestfather.MaybeIwasn'tthebestson,butIrealizeIwillneverbereadytocopewithhisleaving.IknowthatI'mluckierthansomeofmyfriends,whosefathersdiedwhiletheywerestilllockedinthebattlethatneitherreallywanted.

Theplumbercomestwodayslater.HesecuresthedisposalinitsplaceaseasilyasIbucklemybelt.

Notlongago,Istartedbadgeringmyparentstogettheirestateinorder.Theydidn'twanttodealwithit.IfinallywrotethemalettersayingifIwereaparent,Iwouldwanttomake*suretheIRSgotaslittleofmymoneyaspossible.Iknewthiswouldpushmyfather'sbuttons.Itworked.Theymetwithalawyer.xc

Later,myfatherandIlunchatarestaurantnearmyofficesohecanfillmeinonthedetails."OnethingIdon'twantyoutoworryaboutiswhat'llhappentome,"hesays,withthesatisfiedairofamanwhohastakencareofbusiness."TheNavywillcrematemeforfree."

"Andwhatabouttheashes?"Iask,concernedonlywithpracticalthings.Itisasifwearetalkingabouthowtogetridoftheolddisposal.

"Theyscatterthematsea."Heturnsaway,lookingaroundforourwaiter.Somethingbreaksinsideme.Whenheturnsback,Iamcrying,hottearsspringingupinmyeyessosuddenlyI'malmostchoking.

"Idon'twantyoutodie,"Imanagetosay."Idon'twantthemtoscatteryourashes.I'llscatteryourashes."

"Oh,Bill,"hesays,takenaback,totallyatalossaboutwhattosay."Ijustdidn'twanttoburdenyouwithit."

IhavenowaytotellhimthatIwanttobeburdenedwithit,thatitismybirthrighttobeburdenedwithit."Iknow,"Isay.

Idon'tevenlookaroundtoseeifanybodyiswatching.Idon'tcare.Ireachacrossthetableforhishandandholdit,tryingtostopthetears.

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解2condo

n.anapartmentinablockofapartmentsofwhicheachisownedbythepeoplewholiveinit公寓套间

corduroy

n.growfasterortallerthan长大(或长高)而穿不下(原有的衣服等);长得比…快(或高)

garbage

n.rubbish,refuse垃圾

garbagedisposal

(装于厨房洗涤槽排水管内的)污物碾碎器

mechanical

a.1.of,connectedwith,producedbymachines机械的';与机械有关的;由机械制成的

2.手工操作的;技工的

squint

vi.looksidewaysorwithhalfshuteyesorthroughanarrowopening瞟;眯着眼看;由小孔窥视

spank

vt.punish(achild)byslappingonthebuttockswiththeopenhandoraslipper,etc.(用巴掌或拖鞋等)打(小孩的)屁股

introverted

a.(性格)内向的;不爱交际的

worrier

n.personwhoworriesalot担心的人，发愁的人

optimist

n.apersonwhoisalwayshopefulandlooksuponthebrightsideofthings乐观的人;乐观主义者

coolingoffperiod

aperiodoftimewhentwopeopleorgroupswhoarearguingaboutsth.cangoawayandthinkabouthowtoimprovethesituation(争执双方冷静下来考虑如何改善关系的)冷却期

onset

n.thebeginning(esp.ofsth.unpleasant)(尤指不快之事的)开始

navy

n.海军

fraction

n.1.asmallpart,bit,amount,orproportion(ofsth.)(某物的)小部分，一点儿，少许;片断

2.分数;小数

collar

n.partofagarmentthatfitsaroundtheneck衣领

barbershop

n.placewhereamangetshisfaceshavedandhaircut理发店

triumphantly

ad.joyfully,satisfactorily(atasuccessorvictory)得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地

communique

n.officialannouncement公报

sarcastic

a.讽刺的，嘲笑的，挖苦的

rig

n.alargestructureintheseausedfordrillingoilwells钻井架;钻塔

freelance

a.自由作家的;自由职业者做的

antiinflammatory

a.抗炎的，消炎的;息怒的

agent

n.substance,naturalphenomenon,ducinganeffect剂;自然力;动因

down

n.fine,softfeathersofyoungbirds羽绒

pilgrimage

n.1.ajourneytoasacredplaceorshrine朝圣;朝觐

2.ajourneytoaplaceassociatedwithsb./sth.onerespects到敬仰的某处之行

ridicule

vt.makefunof;mock嘲弄;嘲笑

gee

int.(usedtoexpresssurprise,admiration,etc.)(用以表示惊奇、赞赏等)哎呀，嘿

oppose

vt.fightorcompleteagainstinabattle,competition,orelection反对;反抗;与…较量

snake

vt.用长铁丝通条疏通(管道)

stuck

a.notabletomoveorcontinuedoingsth.不能动的;不能继续做某事的;被卡住的

gasket

n.垫圈;衬垫;密封垫

plumber

n.workmanwhofitsandrepairswaterpipes,bathroomarticles,etc.管子工

mindset

n.mentality,wayofthinking心态;思想倾向

buckle

n.(皮带等的)搭扣，搭钩

vt.用搭扣把…扣住(或扣紧、扣上)

badger

vt.pester;nagpersistently纠缠;烦扰

estate

n.allthemoneyandpropertythatapersonowns,esp.thatwhichisleftatdeath财产;(尤指)遗产

cremate

vt.burn(acorpse)toashes火化(尸体)

aback

ad.backwards向后地;退后地

birthright

与生俱来的权利

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解3putin

install安装

passover

movepastwithouttouching;overlook;failtonotice掠过;忽视;不注意

makeone'speacewith

settleaquarrelwith;accept与…讲和;接受

identifywith

regardoneselfassharingthecharacteristicsorfortuneswith与…认同

seethrough

notgiveup(atask,undertaking,etc.)untilitisfinished把(任务等)进行到底

freezeout

exclude(sb.)byacoldmanner,competition,etc.(以冷淡态度、竞争等)排斥(某人)

inprint

(ofaperson'swork)printedinabook,newspaper,etc.(指作品)已印出;已出版

throwupone'shands

showthatoneisannoyedorhasgivenuphopewithsb.orsth.thatcausestrouble(因厌烦等而)突然举起双手;认定无望而放弃尝试

letoff

excuse;notpunish;notpunishseverely原谅;不惩罚;对…从轻处理

pushsb.'sbuttons

startsb.inaction使某人行动起来

fillsb.in(onsth.)

givesb.fulldetails(aboutsth.)对某人提供(有关某事的)详情

forfree

withoutchargeorpayment不要钱;免费

getridof

becomefreeof扔掉，处理掉;摆脱

betakenaback

bestartled吃惊

ataloss

perplexed,uncertain困惑;不知所措

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解60篇扩展阅读

倍数

multi*vt.乘，使相乘

mast

n.anuprightpostofwoodormetalusedtosupportaship'ssails船桅，桅杆

voyage

n.alongjourney,esp.byseaorinspace航行，(尤指)航海;航天

colonial

a.of,relatingtoorpossessingacolonyorcolonies殖民地的;拥有殖民地的

stirrup

n.eitherofapairofmetalorleatherloopsthathangdownfromahorse'ssaddletosupportarider'sfeet马镫

knight

n.(欧洲中世纪的)骑士;(近代英国的)爵士(品位低于从男爵，其名前称号用Sir)

armo(u)r

n.(formerly)aprotective,usu.metal,coveringforthebody,wornwhenfighting盔甲

damsel

n.(arch)ayoungwomanwhoisnotmarried(古)(诗)少女，姑娘;闺女

chivalry

n.(intheMiddleAges)theidealqualitiesexpectedofaknight,suchascourage,hono(u)randconcernforweakandhelplesspeople骑士品质(或气概、精神、道德标准、信条等)(如勇武、荣誉感、侠义、扶持弱小、慷慨、谦恭、尊敬女性、对敌人宽容等);骑士制度

gunpowder

n.explosivepowderusedesp.inbombsorfireworks火药

bullet

n.asmallmissilewithapointedendthatisfiredfromagun子弹

literacy

n.theabilitytoreadandwrite识字，有文化;读写能力

movable

a.thatcanbemoved可动的，活动的

circulation

n.themovementofbloodroundthebodyfromandtotheheart血液循环

circulate

v.(使)环行;(使)环流;(使)循环

borrowingn.athingborrowed,esp.moneyorawordtakenbyonelanguagefromanother借用;采用;借用物;借用词语

downcast

a.(ofaperson,anexpression,etc.)depressed;sad垂头丧气的;沮丧的

allpervading

a.presentandseenorfelteverywhere遍及各方面的;无孔不入的

inextricable

a.socloselylinkedthatseparationisimpossible(绳结等)解不开的;分不开的

inextricably

ad.紧密地;不可分割地

gigantic

a.ofverygreatsizeorextent;huge巨大的;庞大的

originator

n.apersonwhooriginates;inventor创始人;发明者;创作者

inheritor

n.apersonwhoreceivesmoney,propertyetc.asaresultofthedeathofthepreviousowner继承人;后继者

resurrect

vt.1.bring(sb.)backtolifeagain使(某人)复活

2.revive(apractice,etc.);bringbackintouse使(某种做法等)重新流行;重新唤起对…的记忆;重新使用

ego

n.anindividual'sideaofoneself,esp.inrelationtootherpeopleortotheoutsideworld自我，自己

unaided

a.notassistedbysb./sth;withouthelp无助的;独立的

folly

n.beingfoolish;lackofwisdom愚笨，愚蠢

complacency

n.(usu.derog)acalmfeelingofsatisfactionwithoneself,one'swork,etc.自满(情绪)，沾沾自喜

selfsatisfaction

n.(derog)afeelingofbeingtoopleasedwithoneselfandone'sownachievements沾沾自喜，自鸣得意

handful

n.asmallnumber少数，少量

pinnacle

n.thehighestpoint;thepeak顶峰，极点，顶点

mo(u)ldboard

n.acurvedmetalplateinaplow,whichturnsovertheearthfromthefurrow(农)犁壁

Strap

n.astripofleather,clothorotherflexiblematerial,oftenwithabuckle,usedforfasteningsth.,keepingsth.inplace,carryingsth.orholdingontosth.带，条带;皮带;布带;铁皮条

transport

vt.takesth./sb.fromoneplacetoanotherinavehicle运输，运送;输送;搬运

overland

ad.acrosstheland;byland,notbyseaorair横越大陆地;经由陆路

satisfactory

a.ofanacceptablenatureorstandard;goodenoughforapurpose令人满意的;可喜的;恰当的

shipment

n.acargoorgoodstransported,esp.byship装载(或交运)的货物(量)

sow

v.putorscatterseedinorontheground;plantlandwithseed播种，种;撒播(种子);播种于(土地)

effortless

a.needinglittleornoeffort不需要努力的;不(大)费劲的;容易的

backward

a.havingmadeormakinglessthannormalprogress落后的

underdeveloped

a.(ofacountry,etc.)nothavingachievedahighlevelofeconomicdevelopment未充分发展的;不发达的;落后的

adoption

n.theactoftakingoversth.andhavingorusingitasone'sown采取，采纳，采用

chasm

n.averywidedifferencebetweenpeople,groups,etc.,esp.onethatisunlikelytochange(感情、兴趣、意见等的)大差别，大分歧

intimate

a.(ofpeople)havingaverycloseandfriendlyrelationship熟悉的;亲密的;密切的

fundamental

a.thatneedtobeknownorlearnedfirst;mostimportant基本的，根本的;重要的

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册Unit9课文及词汇讲解3bring...toanend

cause...toend使…完结(终了、结束)

orrather

(usedtocorrectsth.onehassaidpreviously,ortogivemoreaccurateinformation)moreexactly;moretruly;itwouldbebettertosay或者确切点说

losesightof

failtoconsider(sth.);forget(sth.)忘记;忽略

set...right

put...right;rectify校正;纠正

take...toheart

considerseriously;bemuchaffectedorupsetby(sth.)认真考虑(某事);关注(某事);对(某事)想不开;为(某事)忧虑(或伤心、烦恼)

comeabout

happen,esp.inawaythatseemsimpossibletoprevent发生，产生

forlackof

becausethereisnotenough因缺乏

cometotheattentionof

draw(sb.'s)attention引起…的关注

comparedto/with

examinedtoseehowpeopleorthingsarealikeandhowtheyaredifferent与…相比

by/incomparisonto/with

(when)comparedwith/to与…相比

heeye(s)/face

lookat(sb.)steadilywithoutshameorembarrassment(心地坦然地)直视(某人)，正视(某人)

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册第8单元课文讲解60篇（扩展10）

——21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册第8单元内容详解(菁选3篇)

21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册第8单元内容详解1JohanneMednick

Ihaveawonderfulbicycle.Myfamilyreferstoitas"thatpieceofjunk"—anancientpieceofmetal,thelikesofwhichcanbefoundinthedumpor,ifyou'relucky,atgaragesales.ButIhaveconfidenceinmybike.Itgivesmepower,andIcherishitssimplicity.

Whatintriguesme,inthisageoftechnologicalinnovation(whichisnowheremoreapparentthaninthebicycleworld),isthenumberofpeoplewhostopmeandcommentonmybike.It'sarealconversationpiece."Wheredidyougetthatthing?""Ihaven'tseenoneofthoseinages.""Whatagreatbike."Igetallkindsofcomments—thebestonebeingfromamotorcyclegangwhocorneredmewhileIwaslockingitup.TheypolitelysuggestedthatIshouldweargloveswhileridingtoprotectmyhands.MaybeIshouldalsoputonaleatherjacket.

Butreally,whatisitthatpeopleareadmiring?Aretheyadmiringmeforresistingthelureofmassbicycleconsumerism?Imustlooklikeaneyesorepedalingbehindmyfamily,whoallridethelatestmodelofmountainbike.(Tothem,I'msomesortofoddperson,anembarrassmentnotfittobeontheroad.)Ontheotherhand,maybepeoplearejustgenuinelycurious,astheywouldbeifconfrontedwithadinosaurbone.InevergetthefeelingthattheythinkI'mcrazyforridingsomethingsooldwhenIcouldbefussingwithgearsandhavingapresumablyeasiertimeofthings.Mybikeseemstotouchasensitivechordinpeople,andI'mnotquitesurewhatorwhythatis.

Perhapsmybikeisrepresentativeofaworldgoneby:theworldbeforegimmicksandgadgets,accessoriesandattachments.Atimewhenpeoplethoughtintermsofsettlingintoacushionedseat,stoppingthemovementwiththeirheelandtravellingabitslowerthanwearetravellingnow.Mybikeiscertainlynotbuiltforspeed,butwhoneedsspeedwhenIcancoastalongthestreets,holdmyheadhighanddeliciouslyfeelthewindonmyface?Mybikeisbuiltfortakingtime.Itmakespeoplefeelrelaxed.

WhenI'mridingmybike,IfeelasthoughIhavecontrol.AndIdon'tfeelthatwayaboutmostthingsthesedays.Idon'tdenythatmycomputerandmymicrowavemakemylifealoteasier.Iusethesethings,buttheyalsomakemefeelrathersmalland,inastrangeway,inadequate.WhatifIpressthewrongbutton?Whatifsomethinggoeswrong?MaybeifIlearnedtounderstandtheseappliancesI'dfeelbetter—moresecureaboutmyrelationshipwithtechnology.Butfrankly,I'mnotcomfortedbymanualsandhowtocourses.Ofcoursetherearealways"experts"Icouldgotowhoseemtoknoweverythingaboutanything.Relatives,friends,salespeople—peoplewhoseemateasewithallthelatestinventionsandwhodelightiningenuity.

Ijustdon'tgetexcitedovertheideaofyetanotherthingIcoulddoifIpulledtherightleverorsettherightprogram.Nervousandunsureinthebeginning,Ieventuallyadapttothesesocalledconveniencesandacceptthemasapartoflife,butI'mnotentirelyconvincedoftheirmerit.IhungerforsimplicityandIhaveasneakingsuspicionthatmanypeoplefeelthesameway.That'swhytheyadmiremybike.Itcomfortsthemandgivesthemasenseofsomethingmanageable,nottoocomplicated.

I'mnotsuggestingthatweallgobacktoapioneervillageattitude.ButIdothinkit'simportanttorespectthatwhichissimpleandmanageable—nodoubtdifficultinatimewhenmoremeansbetterandnewmeansbest.I'mproudthatmy"pieceofjunk"makesmeandothersfeelgood.Itallowsmetheopportunitytorelaxand,whenI'mheadingdowntheroad,toescapewhatIdon'tunderstand.

21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册第8单元内容详解2garagesale

宅前出售(在出售人住所进行的清宅旧货出售)

*intrigue

vt.exciteinterestorcuriosity激起…的兴趣

*innovation

n.thecreationorintroductionofnewideas,methods,etc.;anewinvention,ideaormethod革新;新方法

nowhere

ad.notanywhere;in/at/tonoplace无处

conversationpiece

sth.thatstimulatesconversationbetweenpeople话题;可作话题的东西

motorcycle

n.摩托车

gang

n.agroupofpeopleassociatedtogetherinsome(oftencriminal)way群;帮

glove

n.手套

*lure

n.attraction;temptation诱惑

vt.attract,tempt引诱;诱惑

consumerism

n.theconsumptionofgoodsandservices消费

eyesore

n.somethinguglytolookat刺眼的东西

*pedal

v.骑(自行车);踩动踏板

n.踏板

genuinely

ad.authentically;truly真地;确实地

genuine

a.authentic;real,notpretended真的;真心的

fuss

vi.behaveinanunnecessarilyanxiousorexcitedwayoversmall*忙乱;小题大做

n.unnecessary,uselessexpressionofexcitement,anxiety,anger,etc.忙乱;大惊小怪

gear

n.齿轮;排档

*chord

n.twoormoremusicalnotesplayedatthesametime;afeelingoremotionthoughtofasbeingplayedonlikeamusicalinstrument和弦;心弦

representative

a.typical;beinganexampleof典型的;代表的

n.apersonactingonbehalfofanotherpersonoragroupofpeople代表;代理人

gimmick

n.anunusualaction,objec