B1U4课文及语言点

新世纪大学英语综合教程第一册   

B1U4 Text A课文

Many teenagers believethat growing up is a struggle to be independent. They want to be free fromtheir parents’ control and they want to be different. Read the following textand see how a young man struggles to stand on his own two feet.

The Doctor’s Son

Harold Eppley with RochelleMelander

1          My parents moved to Vermont when I was still an infant. A soft-spoken man, my father settled quietly into his medical practicein a small town called Enosburg. Soon the local people accepted him as one oftheir own. Word passes quickly insmall Vermont towns. They know good people when they meet them. Aroundtown the neighbors greeted my father as “Doc Eppley.” And I soon learned thatas long as I lived in Enosburg I would always be known as “Doctor Eppley’sson.”

2          On the first dayof school, my classmates crowded around me because I was the doctor’s son. “If you’re anything like your father, you’ll be a smart boy,” my first-grade teacher said. I couldn’t stopbeaming.

3          Somewhere in themidst of my teenage years, however, something changed. I was sixteen years oldand the neighbors still called me “Doctor Eppley’s son.” They said that I wasgrowing up to be an honorable and industrious young man, living an honest lifejust like my father. I groaned whenever I heard theircompliments.

4          I wondered how I would ever fit in with my teenagefriends. Ihated being followed by my father’s good name. And so when strangersasked me if I was Doctor Eppley’s son, I replied emphatically, “My name isHarold. And I can manage quite well on my own.” As an act of rebellion, I began to call my father by his first name, Sam.

5          “Why are you acting so stubborn lately?”my father asked me one day in the midst of an argument.

6          “Well, Sam ,” Ireplied, “I suppose that bothers you.”

7          “You know it hurts me when you call me Sam,” my father shouted.

8          “Well, it hurts mewhen everybody expects me to be just like you. I don’t want to be perfect. I want to be myself.”

9          I survived my last years of high school until finally I turned eighteen. The next fall I enrolled in college. I chose to attend a school far from Enosburg, a place where nobody called me “Doctor Eppley’s son.”

10       One night at college I sat with a group of students in the dormitory as we shared stories about our lives. We began to talk about the things we hated most about our childhoods. “That’s easy,” I said. “I couldn’t stand growing up in a town where everybody always compared me with my father.”

11       The girl sitting next to me frowned. “I don’tunderstand,” she said. “I’d be proud to have a father who’s so well respected.”Her eyes filled with tears as she continued, “I’d give anything to be called my father’s child. But I don’t know where he is. He left my mother when I was only four.”

12       There was an awkward silence, and then I changed the subject. I wasn’t ready to hear her words.

13       I returned home for winter break that year,feeling proud of myself. In four months at college, I had made a number of new friends. I had become popular in my own right, without my father’s help.

14       For two weeks I enjoyed being back in Enosburg. The main topic of interest at home was my father’s new car.

15       “Let me take it out for a drive,” I said.

16       My father agreed,but not without his usual warning, “Becareful.”

17       I glared at him. “Sam, I’ msick of being treated like a child. I’m in college now. Don’t you think I 31know how to drive?”

18       I could see the hurt in my father’s face, andI remembered how much he hated it whenever I called him “Sam.”

19       “All right then,” he replied.

20       I hopped into the car and headed down theroad, savoring the beauty of the Vermont countryside. My mind was wandering. At a busy intersection, I hit the car right in front of mine before I knew it.

21       The woman in the car jumped out screaming: “You idiot! Why didn’t you look where you were going?”

22       I surveyed the damage. Both cars had sustained serious dents.

23       I sat there like a guilty child as the woman continued complaining. “It’s your fault,” she shouted. I couldn’t protest. My knees began to shake. I choked back my tears.

24       “Do you have insurance? Can you pay for this? Who are you?” shekept asking. “Who are you?”

25       I panicked and, without thinking, shouted, “I’m DoctorEppley’s son.”

26       I sat there stunned. I couldn’t believe what Ihad just said. Almost immediately, the woman’s frown became a smile of recognition. “I’m sorry,” she replied, “I didn’t realize who you were.”

27       An hour later, I drove my father’s battered new car back home. With my head down and my knees still shaking, I trudged into the house. I explained what had happened.

28       “Are you hurt?” he asked.

29       “No,” I replied.

30       “Good,” he answered. Then he turned and headedtoward the door. “Harold,” he said as he was leaving, “Hold your head up.”

31       That night was New Year’s Eve, and my family attendeda small party with friends to celebrate the beginning of another year. When midnight arrived, people cheered and greeted each other. Across the room I saw my father. I stepped toward him. My father and I rarely hug. But recalling the day’sevents, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. And I spoke his real name for the first time in years. Isaid, “Thank you, Dad. Happy New Year.” 

Unit 4Useful Expressions

Good Usage  (Para.1)

settled quietly into hismedical practice

accepted him as one of theirown

Word passes quickly

greeted my father as

as long as

would always be known as “DoctorEppley’s son”

Good Usage (Paras. 2-3)

crowded around me

If you’re anything like yourfather

couldn’t stop beaming

Somewherein the midst of

I wasgrowing up to be an honorable and industrious young man

livingan honest life just like my father

Good Usage (Paras.4-8)

how Iwould ever fit in with ……

hatedbeing followed by ……

managequite well on my own

an actof rebellion

call myfather by his first name

actingso stubborn

in themidst of an argument

everybodyexpects me to be just like

you

I wantto be myself.

Good Usage (Paras.9-10)

I survived my last years ofhigh school

I enrolled in college

I chose to attend a school far from …

I sat with a group of students

shared stories about our lives

the things we hated most

I couldn’t stand growing up ina town …

compared me with my father

Good Usage (Paras.11-13)

I’d be proud to have a fatherwho’s so well respected

Her eyes filled with tears

give anything to be called myfather’s child

an awkward silence

changed the subject

returned home for winter break

feeling proud of myself

made a number of new friends

become popular in my own right

Good Usage (Paras.14-19)

enjoyed being back

The main topic of interest

take it out for a drive

glared at him

sick of being treated like a child

Good Usage  (Paras.20-23)

hopped into the car

headed down the road

savoring the beauty of …

jumped out

surveyed the damage

sat there like a guilty child

choked back my tears

Good Usage  (Paras.24-26)

a smile of recognition

Good Usage  (Paras.27-30)

trudged into the house

headed toward the door

Hold your head up

Good Usage   (Para.31)

attended a small party

celebrate the beginning ofanother year

stepped toward him

wrapped my arms around hisshoulders

for the first time in years

Key Words and Expressions for Text  A

Key Words and Expressions for Text  A

settle in/into sth.:

get used to (new surroundings, a new job, etc.) 习惯于（新环境、新工作等）

e.g.  1. It didn’ttake her long to settle into a new routine.

2. We only moved house last week and we haven’tsettled in yet.

NB: settle (sb.) in/into sth. 在这个短语中，动词settle后也可以加宾语；介词into和in可以互换，例如：

We settled the children in/into new schools when we moved to London.

beam:

1. v.

1) smile brightly and happily 笑，眉开眼笑

e.g. (1)Maggie beamed at herfriend with admiration.

(2) He beamed on his visitors.

2) emit or transmit 发射，发送

e.g. (1) This program is beamed toEuropean countries at 10:00 daily.

(2) The news was beamed to thewhole globe by satellites.

这条新闻由卫星向全世界传送。

2. n.

1) a bright and happy look or smile 容光焕发，展颜而笑

e.g. The old lady opened the door witha beam.

2) a ray or shaft of light （光）束；（光）线

e.g. Suddenly the beam of an electric torch wasflashed into his face.

Collocation:

beam withsatisfaction                       满意地微笑

beam with joy                          眉飞色舞, 笑逐颜开

a beam of light                         一束光线

a beam of delight                              笑逐颜开

fit in with:

(cause to) match or agree （使）符合，适合，适应

e.g. 1.His ideas didn’t quite fitin with our aims.

2. Hisgood mood fit in with the joyful occasion.

Pattern:

fit in (with)                                                 适合；适应；符合；协调

fit into                                                         适应；协调

fit on                                                           装上；把……置于原处；试穿

fit oneself for                                              作好……的准备  

on one’s own:

withouthelp 独立地，无援地

e.g. 1. She lives on her own.

2. Travelingon my own, I can decide when to start on my way and where to linger a littlelonger.

我独自去旅游,我可以决定什么时候出发上路,在什么地方多玩一会儿。

stubborn: adj.

determined,esp. to an unreasonable degree; with a strong will 固执的，顽固的，执拗的；倔强的

e.g. He is astubborn child who won’t obey his mother.

Collocation:

as stubbornas a mule                                 像骡子一样顽固; 非常固执

a stubbornresistance                                  顽强的抵抗

a stubbornillness                                        顽疾

a stubborn problem                                    棘手的问题

NB:名词形式为stubbornness。

survive:

1.      vt. continueto live or exist after experiencing a difficultsituation, a dangerous or unhappy event, etc. 比…活得长，经历（危险、不快事件等）之后还存在

e.g. 1) Only twopeople survived the fire that took place last night.

2) The house survived the storm.

2.      vi. to remainalive or in existence 幸存，活下来

e.g. 1) The man was very ill, but he survived.

2) Few survived after the flood.

洪水过后，生还者极少。

NB:名词形式为survival。  

enroll: v.

[(as, in)]make (oneself or another person) officially a member of a group [常与as或in连用]吸收（某人）为成员；（使）入会（入学，入伍）；登记，注册

e.g. 1. She decided to enroll in the historycourse.

2. Weenrolled him as a member of the society.

我们吸收他为会员。

NB: enroll为AmericanEnglish拼法，在BritishEnglish中，该词拼写为enrol，二者对应的名词形式分别为enrollment和enrolment。

comparewith:

examine orjudge (one thing) in relation to another thing in order to show the points ofsimilarity or difference （与…）作比较；（与…）对照

e.g. I compared the copy with the original but found no difference.

Collocation:

compare onething with another                 将一物与另一物比较

comparefavorably with                              优于；不亚于

not to becompared with                              相差极远，远不如

CF: compare, compare to, compare with & contrast

这些动词和动词短语均含“比较”之意。

compare          侧重比较两个或更多东西的异同优劣，强调相同或类似之处。

compare to       指两物有类似或相似之处，从而“把（一物）比作（另一物）” 。

compare with   指“把……用……作比较”以便找出差异或好坏。

contrast           指比较两个或更多东西之间的差异，侧重不同点。

Directions:Fill in the blanks with the words or phrases above. Change the form wherenecessary.

1. The poetcompares his lover to a rose in his poems.

2. Heractions contrasted sharply with her promises.

3. If you compareher work with his, you’ll find hers is much better.

4.Scientists sometimes compare the human brain to a computer.

frown: vi.

bring theeyebrows together in anger or effort, causing lines to appear on the forehead （表示愤怒或烦心而）皱眉，蹙额

e.g. 1)He frowned withdispleasure as he read his son’s school report.

2) The teacher frowned angrily at the noisy class.

3) He frowned on the use of so much salt in the food.

  他不同意食物里放这么多盐。

Pattern:

frown at (on,upon) 不赞成，不以为然

would give anything/a lot/the world (to do sth.):

would very muchlike (to do or have something) 非常愿意做（或拥有某事物），愿付出一切做（拥有）

e.g. People tend to give anything for moneywhen they are young; but when they get old they would give anything for health.

NB:一个类似的短语是 would givethe world to know sth. 为了知道某事愿付出一切代价

awkward: adj.

1. causingdifficulty or uncomfortable feelings; inconvenient or embarrassing 尴尬的，为难的，麻烦的；棘手的

e.g. 1) Aunt Lena came to visit us at anawkward time.

2) There was an awkward silence, when no one knew whatto say.

2. notsmooth or grateful; ungainly  （行动）笨拙的；（姿势）别扭的

e.g. The child is still awkward with his chopsticks.

Collocation:

an awkwardremark                                     令人窘迫的评论

an awkwardsilence                                     令人尴尬的沉默

an awkwardtime                                         不方便的时间

an awkwardquestion                                   棘手问题

an awkwardsituation                                   困难处境

in one’s own right:

because of apersonal claim that does not depend on anyone else 根据自己的能力或合法权利（而不依赖其他因素）

e.g. 1)He was born into a farmer’sfamily and became a scientist in his own right through hard work.

2) Elizabeth II is Queen in her own right.

Collocation:

as ofright/by right                                      基于正当的权利

stand onone’s own rights                           坚持自己的权利

withinone’s rights                                      不超越自己的权利范围

glare: v.

(at, on, upon) look in an angryway 怒目而视

e.g. 1) She glared at me.

2) The old gentleman just stood there glaring at thepickpocket and did not say a word.

这位老先生只是站在那里对那个扒手怒目而视,一句话也没有说。

CF: glare,stare, gaze & peer 这些动词都有“看，瞧”之意。

glare    指用愤恨、凶狠或含敌意的眼光死死看着某人。

stare    侧重因惊奇、好奇、粗鲁无礼等而睁大眼睛看。

gaze    指出于羡慕、感兴趣、关心或惊异而长时间目不转睛地看。

peer    指眯着眼睛仔细地或略为吃力地看。

Directions:Fill in the blanks with the words above. Change the form where necessary.

1. The oldlady peered through her spectacles at the contract.

2. Hedidn’t shout or swear, but just glared silently at me.

3. Thechild gazed at the toys in the shop window.

4. He staredat the word trying to remember what it meant.

5. He glaredfuriously at me when I contradicted him.

be sick of:

feel annoyance,dislike, and impatience from too much of something 感到厌倦；对……厌烦

e.g. 1)I am sick of your complaints, be quiet!

2) Get out! I am sick of the sight of you.

出去，我一见到你就厌恶。

Collocation:

sick ofwaiting                                           等得不耐烦

sick of itall                                                完全厌倦了这一切

sick andtired                                             筋疲力尽的

be sick and tired(of)                                 十分厌倦

be sick of doingnothing                            闲得发腻

wander: vi. (in, off)

1. walk ormove in a leisurely, casual or aimless way 漫步，闲逛，游荡

e.g. Thechildren wandered in the woods.

2. moveslowly from a fixed point or place 迷路，迷失方向

e.g. Thechild wandered off and got lost.

3. (of a person or thoughts) be or become confused andunable to make or follow ordinary conversation（人或思想）走神，开小差；错乱

 e.g. He realized his audience’s attention wasbeginning to wander.

Collocation:

wanderabout/over the world                     漫游世界

wander fromthe subject/point                   离题

wander fromthe path of righteousness      迷失了正途

NB: 注意wander和wonder是形近词，但是意思不相同。wonder表示“惊讶, 怀疑, 想知道”。

survey:

1. v.look at,examine, or consider sth. as a whole 纵览，审视，全面地观察

e.g. 1)She surveyed me unhappily overthe top of her glasses.

2) Have the house surveyed before you offer to buy it.

在你出价买那房子之前, 先找人鉴定一下。

2. n. a detailedinspection or investigation 调查

e.g. 1) a survey of air pollution 空气污染调查

2) an annual survey  年度调查

3) According to a recent survey, in Shanghai there areabout 2.5 million migrant workers.

NB:surveyor n.测量员，检查员

sustain: v.

1. suffer(harm or loss)  蒙受，遭受（伤害或损伤）

e.g. 1) He sustained a severe blow on thehead.

2) sustain a fatal injury 遭受致命的伤害

3) sustain losses 蒙受损失

2. keep(sb. or sth.) alive or in existence 支持，维持

e.g. You should eat good sustaining food, i.e. food thatgives strength.

CF: back, uphold, support & sustain

这些动词均有“支持，支援，拥护”之意。

back         通常指对论点、行动、事业等的强有力支持。

uphold     既可指积极努力支持陷入困境者，也可指在行动、道义或信仰上给某人支持。

support   含义广泛，指在道义上或物质上支持某人，也可指对某项事业的支持。

sustain     侧重指连续不断的支持。

Directions:Fill in the blanks with the words above. Change the form where necessary.

1. Thebook’s weakness is the author’s inability to sustain an argument.

2. You mustback the argument with facts.

3. She supportsher husband with the money she earns from teaching.

4. Thejudge upheld the lower court’s decision.

NB: 名词sustenance表示“营养、食物”。

There’s not muchsustenance in a glass of orange juice.

guilty: adj.

[(of)] having broken a law ordisobeyed a rule [常与of连用]有罪的，犯罪的

e.g. 1)He was found guilty ofpassing on secret paper to a foreign power.

2) I felt guilty about visiting her so rarely.

我因极少去看望她而感到惭愧。

Collocation:

be guiltyof a crime                                    犯罪

pleadguilty to a crime                               认罪

a guiltyconscience                                    负罪感

complain: v.

express feelingsof annoyance, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, etc.; say in an annoyed, unhappy,dissatisfied way 投诉，抱怨，发牢骚，诉苦

e.g. Ourneighbour said that if we made any more noise he’d complain to the police.

Pattern:

complainabout/of

e.g. 1) They complained about the food.

2) Jean is always complaining about something.

      3) Almostimmediately he began to complain about the weather.

NB: complain常与that从句连用。

e.g. 1) They complained that the wages were too low.

2) They complained that the price of books had increased.

他们抱怨说书的价格提高了。

protest: v.

express one’sdisagreement, feeling of unfairness, annoyance, etc.抗议，反对

e.g. 1)We protested against hisbeing released from prison.

2) The tourists protested about the bad service at therestaurant.

游客们对那家饭店低劣的服务表示不满。

3) They protested with one accord (一致地) that they had not used any drug.

Pattern:

protestabout/at/against

protestthat …

chokeback:

control (esp. violent or very sadfeelings) as if by holding them in the throat 抑制, 强忍住

e.g. 1) I couldtell she tried hard to choke back her tears.

2) It is very difficult to choke back her anger.

Collocation:

choke down                                               用力咽下，强抑制住，按捺住

choke in                                                     激动得说不出话来, 紧张得发呆

insurance: n.

[U(against)] guarantee of compensation for loss, damage, sickness, death, etc. inreturn for regular payment [常与against连用]保险

e.g. 1) All driversin Britain must have third-party insurance.

2) He claimedto be an insurance salesman but later was found to be a fraud.

他自称是个保险公司的推销员,但后来发现原来是个骗子。

3) A balanced diet is an insurance against malnutrition.

Collocation:

provideinsurance against                           提供防止……的措施

aninsurance policy                                     保险单

laborinsurance                                            劳动保险

accidentinsurance                                       意外保险

automobileinsurance                                  汽车保险

insurancefor medical care                          医疗保险

panic:

1. v. (panicked,panicking) (cause to) feel sudden uncontrollable, quickly-spreading terror oranxiety（使）恐慌

e.g. 1) Thecrowd panicked at the sound of the gunfire.

枪炮声使群众惊慌失措。

2) Hepanicked and ran as fast as he could to safety.

3) Thebanks were panicked into selling dollars.

Pattern:

panic at/over sth.

panic into

2. n. a sudden,overpowering terror, often affecting many people 恐慌

e.g. 1) When the theater caught fire, there was a panic.

2) a stock-market panic 股市恐慌

rarely: adv.

not at alloften 不常，很少，难得

e.g. 1) He rarely comes here anymore.

2) Big Ben has rarely gone wrong.

大本钟很少出差错。

CF: rarely, hardly, scarcely & barely

这些副词均含“几乎不”之意。

rarely      强调不经常，多指频率。

hardly     指接近最低限度，差不多没有多余，强调困难和程度。

scarcely   指不太充分，不太够，不足，不能令人满意，强调数量。

barely      指仅仅够，一点不多，强调没有多余。

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words above.Change the form where necessary.

1. There is scarcely enough food.

2. I rarely eat in restaurants.

3. They had barely time to catch the plane.

4. I could hardly hear the speaker. 

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