B1U2课文及语言点

新世纪大学英语综合教程第一册   

B1U2 Text A课文

As English is becoming aninternational language and thus a useful tool for people in the world tocommunicate with one another, more and more people are learning English. Andthey naturally hope that they can become competent users of this languagewithin the shortest possible time. But are there easier, quicker ways to masterEnglish? Read the following essay and see what a language teacher has to say.

A Language Teacher’s Personal Opinion

 Will Pidcroft

1   Every day I see advertisements in the newspapers and on the buses claiming that it is easy to learn English. Accordingto these advertisements, with very little effort on the student’s part, he will be able to speak the language fluently in threemonths or even ten days. There is often a reference to William Shakespeare orCharles Dickens to encourage him even more.When I see advertisements like this, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Ifit were as easy to learn English as they say, I would have to look for anotherjob, because very few qualified teachers wouldbe needed. But a large number of people must believe these ridiculous claims, or elsethe advertisements would not appear.

2   It is natural for students to beattracted to methods that will teach them as quickly and efficiently and cheaply as possible. But it is difficult for anyone to explain in simple language why one method is better than another, and itis no use pretending that anyone hasdiscovered a perfect way of teaching English in every possible situation.Some experts even argue that there are as many goodmethods of teaching a language as there are good teachers, because every teacher is an individual with his own personality.No doubt this is true toa certain extent, but it is not very helpful to students.

3   For a long time people believed that the only way to learn a language was to spend a great deal of time in a country where it was spoken. Of courseit is clear that students who go to England,America, or Australiato learn English have a great advantage overothers, but a large number of students cannot afford to do so. Some students go to the opposite extreme and think they can teach themselves at home with dictionaries. But it is wrong to assume that each word in English has a precise equivalent in another language and vice versa,and it is impossible for any translation method to provide students with the natural forms of alanguage in speech, let alone produce good pronunciation and intonation.

4   A great deal of teaching is still based on behaviorist psychology. Behaviorists are fond of making students repeat phrases and making them do exercises where they continually have to change one word in a sentence. If we were parrots or chimpanzees, these methods might be successful. A large number of theorists seem tothink it is a pity we aren’t, because it would make it easier to use theirmethods.

5   In my personal opinion, no one can ever learn to speak English or any other language unless he is interested in it. Human beings, unlike parrots and chimpanzees, do not like making noises unless they understand what the noises mean and can relatethem to their own lives. It is worth remembering that language is a means of communication. What people want to say and write in another language is probably very similar to what they want to say and write in their own. What they listen to and read cannot bea formula. It must be real.

6   There is another relevant point worth mentioning here. We need other people to talk to and listen to when we communicate. If what we are learning is strange to us, it will be helpful if there are other students around us who can work with us and practise the unfamiliar forms with us in real situations, talking to each other about real life in real language.

参考译文

一名语言教师的个人看法

威尔·皮德克罗夫特

1  我每天都会在报纸上、公共汽车上看到各种广告，声称轻轻松松就能学好英语。按照这些广告的说法，学生不必费什么力气，要说一口流利的英语只需短短3个月,甚至10天就行。广告还常常提到威廉·莎士比亚和查尔斯·狄更斯等英语文学大师的名号进一步激励学生。每当看到诸如此类的广告时，我真是哭笑不得。如果学英语真像这些广告所说的那么轻松，我恐怕得另谋出路了，因为不需要那么多合格的英语教师了。但是肯定有许多人相信这些可笑的噱头，不然的话这些广告也不可能出现。

2   学生们喜欢实惠的速成学习方法也在情理之中，但要用浅显易懂的语言去解释为什么某一方法比另一方法更有效并不是一件简单的事，而且也无需装模作样地声称有什么人已经找到了一个万能的适合所有学习环境的教学方法。一些专家甚至认为，有多少个好老师就有多少种好的教学方法，因为每一个老师都有其自身的特点。这种说法无疑是有几分道理的，但对学生来说不是很有帮助。

3   有很长一段时间，人们认为学好一门语言唯一的方法就是去使用那种语言的国家待上一段时间。当然去英国、美国、或者澳大利亚等国家学英语的学生肯定比那些不能去的学生具有很大优势，但是很多学生支付不起那笔费用。有些学生走向另一极端：他们认为可以借助词典在家自学。如果你认为英语中的每一个词在另一语言中都有完全对等的词，那就错了，反之亦然。通过翻译法来给学生讲解口语的自然形式是不可能的，更不要说做到语音、语调地道了。

4    现在大量的教学活动还是建立在行为主义心理学的基础之上。行为主义者热衷于让学生复述短语，不断做一些只需更换句中某个词的练习。假如我们是鹦鹉或黑猩猩，那这些方法或许能奏效，可惜我们不是，这似乎让很多理论家引以为憾，否则他们提出的那些方法用起来就会容易得多了。

5    我个人认为，假如没有兴趣，任何人都不可能学好英语或其它任何语言。与鹦鹉或黑猩猩不同，人类不会无缘无故地发出噪音，除非他们明白这些声音是什么意思，并且能将其与自己的生活联系起来。值得牢记的是：语言是一种交际手段，人们在母语中怎么说怎么写，用另一种语言表达时也大同小异。因此，人们所听所读的不应该是程式化的东西，听的读的材料必须真实自然。

6    还有一个相关的问题值得一提：在交际时我们需要有交谈或倾听的对象。在学习较生疏的内容时，如果身边的其他学生能和我们在中一起学习，一起练习那些陌生的语言形式，用真实的语言去谈论真实的生活，那一定会受益匪浅。

Unit 2语言点

Good Usage  （Para. 1）

according to these advertisements

with very little effort on the student’spart

a reference to William Shakespeare orCharles Dickens

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry

ridiculous claims

or else

Good Usage  (Para. 2)

as quickly and efficiently and cheaply aspossible

in simple language

it is no use pretending

in every possible situation

there are as many good methods of teaching alanguage as there are good teachers

an individual with his own personality

no doubt (that)

to a certain extent

Good Usage  (Para. 3)

have a great advantage over others

afford to do

go to the opposite extreme

it is wrong to assume that .

a precise equivalent

vice versa

provide students with .

let alone

Good Usage  (Para. 4)

is based on

are fond of making students repeat phrases

if we were parrots

it is a pity

Good Usage  (Para. 5)

in my personal opinion

unless he is interested in it

relate them to their own lives

It is worth remembering that language

… is a means of communication.

is very similar to

Good Usage  (Para. 6)

another relevant point worth mentioning

we need other people to talk to and listento when …

Key Words and Expressions for Text  A

personal a.

[no comp.]concerning, belonging to, or for the use of a particular person; private [无比较级]个人的；私人的

e.g. 1. Please do not take whatI said too seriously; it was just my personal opinion.

2. I don’t want to havea hand in his personal affairs.  

我不愿意过问他个人的事。

CF: personal,private, individual

    这些形容词均含“个人的，私人的”之意。

personal指属于或关于某人或某些特定的人，以区别于其他人。例如：

He learned this lesson the hard way — from his own personalexperience.

private指属于私人所有或具有私营性质，以区别于集体或公共的，有时含不公开的意味。例如：

His childrengo to a private school.

individual与“集体的”相对，指“个别的”或“个体的”。例如：

They waitfor the group to decide rather than making individual decisions.

claim vt.

declare to be true; state,esp. in the face of opposition; maintain(尤指面对反对意见)断言；声称；主张

e.g. 1.  I don’t claim to be an expert, but I did studythe subject when I was a university student.

2. They claim to havediscovered a cure for the disease.

他们声称已经发现了治疗此病的一种药物。

n.

a statement that sth. istrue or real, esp. one that other people may disagree with 声称；（尤指他人可能反对的）主张；断言

e.g. 1.  Janet made a claim at our meeting — she wantedto have an office entirely to herself.

2.  Though the work is broad in scope, it makesno claim to completeness.

尽管该作品涉及面很广，但它并不追求面面俱到。

on one’spart

ofor by sb. 在某人一方；就某人而言

e.g. 1. It was an error on mypart; I do feel sorry about that.

2. A frank question onhis part led to a frank answer on mine.

他问题提到直率，因此我也回答得坦诚。

qualified a.

havingsuitable knowledge or qualifications, esp. for a job 有资格的，适合的，胜任的

e.g. 1. What makes you thinkthat you are qualified for this job?

2. He is recognized tobe a qualified announcer.   

他被认为是合格的播音员。

ridiculous a.

derogdeserving ridicule; silly or unreasonable 〖贬〗可笑的；荒谬的

e.g. 1. Don’t be ridiculous! You can’t pay $ 50 for aT-shirt like this.

2. I’m glad thatridiculous plan has finally been laid to rest.

我很高兴那个可笑的计划终于被取消了。

or else

otherwise;if not 否则；不然的话

e.g. 1. We must be there bysix, or else we’ll miss the beginning of the movie.

2. He must be teasing,or else he’s mad.

他一定是在开玩笑, 不然他就是疯了。

natural a.

ofor being what exists or happens ordinarily in the world, not caused, made or controlledby people 自然的，天然的；非人力所为的

e.g. 1. Tommy has the naturalgifts of a football player.

2. Social problemscropped up in the wake of natural disasters.

自然灾害之后，出现了许多社会问题。

CF: normal, natural

这些形容词均含“规则的，正常的，正规的”之意。

normal：指不超过某种限度、符合某种标准或常规。例如：

Our telephone lines areopen during normal office hours.

natural：侧重某人或某物的行为符合其固有特性。例如：

Parents’ natural desire to protect theirchildren should be counterbalanced by the child's need for independence.

it’s no usedoing sth.

thereis no point in doing sth. because it will not be successful or have a goodresult 做……没用处的，无益的

e.g. 1. It’s no use arguingwith him any more; he is stubborn and would not listen to anyone.

2. It’s no use weepingover what can't be helped.

对于无能为力的事哭也没用。

argue vt.

givereasons why one thinks sth. is right or wrong, true or not true, especiallypersuade people that one is right提出理由（企图）证明；（坚决）主张，认为

e.g. 1. She argued that all ourefforts would be a waste of time.

2. Why do you alwaysargue against me?

你为什么老说我的不是？

CF: argue, quarrel, debate,discuss

这些动词均含“辩论，争论，说理”之意。

argue指提出理由或证据为自己或自己一方的看法或立场辩护，着重说理、论证和企图说服。

quarrel指两人之间或两个团体之间不友好的、吵吵嚷嚷地大声争论某事，尤指“吵嘴、吵架”。

debate侧重指意见等对立的双方之间正式或公开的争辩。

discuss最常用词，指就某一或某些问题表明观点、看法等，以便统一认识，解决问题。

individual n.

asingle person or thing, considered separately from the class or group to whichhe, she, or it belongs 个人，个体

e.g. 1. The rights of theindividual in a society are not unlimited.

2. He is anunimaginative individual who does everything by the book.

他是个一切照章办事、缺乏想象力的人。

no doubt

almostcertainly, very probably 多半；很可能；必定

e.g. 1. No doubt Mary will callus when she gets there.

2. There can be nodoubt that they will finally win out.

毫无疑问，他们会获得最后胜利。

to an /some / what / a certain / such an / extent

tothe degree specified 到某种（什么/一定的/这样的）程度

e.g. 1. I do agree with you toa certain extent, but you need to speak to Jane about the matter.

2. Language is areflector of a society to some extent.

从某种程度上来说，语言反映了社会。

have anadvantage (over)

sth. that may help one to be successful or to gain afavorable result 有利条件，优势

e.g. 1. Her experience meantthat she had a big advantage over her opponent.

2. A man who can thinkwill always have an advantage over others.

能动脑子的人总是会胜过别人。

go toextremes

acttoo violently or behave in an extreme way 走极端

e.g. 1. She tends to go toextremes in making decisions.

2. We should not go toextremes and claim that all arranged marriages are failures.

我们不能走极端而认为所有的包办婚姻都是失败的。

assume vt.

believe(sth.) to be true without actually having proof that it is; suppose 假定，假设

e.g. 1.  It is reasonable to assume that the economy ofour country will continue to improve.

2. They naively assumethings can only get better.

他们天真地以为情况只会变好。

CF: assume, suppose,guess

这些动词均含为“假设，猜想，推测”之意。

assume：指有很少或完全无根据的武断推测或不合逻辑的推理。

suppose：常用词，意义较广泛，指缺乏确切事实，根据一些现象进行的推测，也可指为论证而提出合乎逻辑推理的某种假定，有时仅表示自己的意见。

guess：常用词，指毫无根据仅凭个人主观臆断或碰运气的猜测。

precise a.

exact in form, detail, measurements, time, etc. 精确的；准确的

e.g. 1. We were just talkingabout her when, at that precise moment, she walked in.

2. She gave me clearand precise directions.

她给了我清晰而准确的指示。

equivalent n.

sth. that is equal in value, amount, meaning, importance,etc. 等同物

e.g. 1. Can you change my moneyfor gold or its equivalent in US dollars?

2. This word has nosatisfactory equivalent in English.

这个词在英语中没有令人满意的对应词。

vice versa

Latin the opposite way from that just stated〖拉丁〗反过来（也是这样），反之亦然

e.g. 1. Students should learnfrom teachers and vice versa.

2. A man of high birthmay be of low worth and vice versa.

出身高贵的人可能价值低，出身微贱的人可能价值高。

provide(sb.) with

supplysb. with sth. 为…提供，供给

e.g. 1. These letters shouldprovide us with all the information we need.

2. Books providechildren with ideas and a stimulus for play.

书不仅给孩子们以思想，而且使他们玩得更有意思。

let alone

usedfor showing that the thing mentioned next is even less likely or believablethan the one mentioned before （用于表示接着提到的事）更不用说，更谈不上

e.g. 1. There isn’t enough roomfor us, let alone any guests.

2. He could barely keepbody and soul together let alone support his family.

他连自己的生活都难以维持，更不用说养家了。

be fond ofdoing sth.

likesth., esp. sth. one has liked for a long time 喜欢做某事

e.g. 1. Richard is fond oftelling people funny stories about foreigners travelling in China.

2. He is fond of havinga hand in everything.

他什么事都喜欢插上一手。

in one’sopinion

itis one’s view or feeling that 在…看来

e.g. 1. In her opinion I shouldvisit Beijing first and then meet her in Hong Kong.

2. In his opinion,California has the best climate under the sun.

在他看来，世界上就数加利福尼亚的气候最好。

relate vt.

fmlshow or establish a connection between 〖正式〗有关联；把…联系起来

e.g. 1. The police are stilltrying to relate these two pieces of evidence.

2. I found it difficultto relate the two ideas in my mind.

我觉得很难把这两种想法联系在一起。

relate sth.to sth. else

showor establish a connection between one thing and another 将…与…联系起来

e.g. 1. They will relate theamount of time you spend on the work to your pay.

    2. It is difficult to relate these resultswith any known cause.
很难把结果与任何已知原因联系起来。

be worth(doing) sth.

deserve(doing) sth. 值得（做）某事…

e.g. 1. The book is not worthreading because the information it contains is out of date.

2. Whatever is worthdoing at all is worth doing well.

任何一件值得做的事都应该把它做好。

means n.

amethod or way ( of doing ) 方法，手段

e.g. 1. Brian was prepared touse any means to get what he wanted.

2. Television is aneffective means of communication.

电视是一种有效的交流方式。

be similarto

belike (sb. or sth.) but not exactly the same 和…近似，类似，相似

e.g. 1. The new shoes I’ve justbought are very similar to a pair I had before.

2. A cat is similar toa tiger in many respects.

猫和虎在很多方面相似。

relevant a.

directlyconnected with the subject 有关的，有关主题的

e.g. 1. This type of universitycourse is no longer relevant to the needs of today’s students.

2. Her appearance isnot relevant to whether she can be a good teacher.

她的长相跟她能否当个好老师无关。

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