新视角研究生英语读说写2六单元课后练习答案

Unit 6: Exercises

Exercises

Reading Comprehension Structure of the Text Vocabulary Cloze Translation

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

1.

At the very beginning of the article, the author points out: ―ambition is a quality that is hard to praise and easy to deplore‖. Why does he say so? And how is this related to the fact that presently many people are doubtful about ambition? What belief do these people hold about ambition? ReferenceBecause ambition is ―an unrelenting oppressor, which robs us of time and peace of mind‖, meaning that ambition can mercilessly cause people much distress and suffering, driving them to work overtime with little time left for leisure and relaxation and filling their minds with dissatisfaction, worry and anxiety. This is especially true in economically booming periods such as the present when there are more opportunities alluring people. As a result, presently many people are doubtful about ambition, believing that ambition has become too hard to control and is forcing us to make too great efforts and hold too strong desires which will finally destroy ourselves.

Ex. I, pp.114~115

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

2.

In paragraphs 2 and 3, the author cites some examples to show that ambition is not merely the pursuit of wealth, actually people from every walk of life have their own ambition to achieve. What different ambitions do different people have? According to the author, which of them is most commonly shared by people? And what role does money play in its fulfillment?

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

Reference

1) 2)3) 4)

The author cites four examples: Al Gore’s ambition is to be elected American president; America’s computer moguls’ ambition is to control the nation’s cyberagenda; American football players’ ambition is to score a touchdown; Most people’s ambition is to search for status symbols that separate them from the crowd. The last one is most commonly shared by people. Money is not the only way but surely the most common way to realize this ambition, as it can easily change into some other symbol of identity and status, such as a bigger house, a more exotic vacation, a niftier bike, a faster computer.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

3.

In paragraph 3, the author says ―One-upmanship is a national mania.‖ Do you know the meaning of the word ―one-upmanship‖? And can you find some other expressions in the article which have similar meaning? What’s the relationship between oneupmanship and all the above-mentioned examples of ambition? In the author’s mind, ambition is not only ―a quest for riches‖, then what is it?

ReferenceThe word ―one-upmanship‖ means gaining an advantage and a feeling of superiority over other people. Expressions such as ―outdo‖, ―excel‖ have similar meaning. The desire for oneupmanship can summarize all the above-mentioned examples of ambition. In the author’s mind, ambition is a quest for oneupmanship —

to be better or more successful than other people.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

4.

In the sentence ―One-upmanship is a national mania.‖, the word ―mania‖ is also a deliberate choice on the part of the author. What image does it evoke in your mind?

Reference The word ―mania‖ originally refers to a mental illness in which somebody has an obsession about something that makes them extremely anxious, violent or confused(躁狂症). Here it means an extremely strong desire or enthusiasm for something shared by a lot of people at the same time. It evokes a picture of a lot of people behaving in an anxious, violent and confused way in order to surpass each other.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

5. In paragraph 4, the author says ―the contest seems futile.‖ What does ―the contest‖ refer to? Why is it ―futile‖? To prove this point, the author describes a paradoxical phenomenon in today’s society, that is, although people’s

income is rising, they still have to work hard only to be ableto make ends meet. According to the author, what is the cause of this phenomenon?

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

Reference “The contest” refers to the consumption competition — the competition for one-upmanship in the search for status symbols that separate one from the crowd. It is “futile” because there is no chance of winning it since material pursuit is endless. The cause of this paradoxical phenomenon is that ―they’re running in the pack with everyone else‖, that is, people are not simply struggling to own more material wealth, instead, they are struggling to surpass others — to own more material wealth and thus achieve higher social status than others. They not only have to possess widely owned consumer products in order not to be considered a crank or a pauper, but also have to buy expensive products beyond their financial capacity so that they can be more successful than other people with whom they compare themselves. As there are always more fashionable and more expensive luxuries coming out, their material desires seem infinite. Consequently, their rising incomes often cannot satisfy their rising wants.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

6.

In paragraph 6, the author lists three negative impacts of playing the futile contest of competitive consumption on people. What are they? What statistics and examples does the author quote to illustrate these points?

Reference The 3 negative impacts are: 1) Frustration is preordained, which is proved by the result of a Newsweek Poll that, despite the booming economy, adults found it more difficult to live the kind of life they want. 2) The stress can lead to tragedy, which is illustrated by Mark Barton, a day trader who murdered 12 people and then committed suicide when he was disillusioned by stock loss. 3) People routinely try to beat the system through get-rich-quick schemes, which is indicated by the popularity of legalized gambling.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

7.

Because of those negative effects of ambition on people, ambition has gotten many enemies. One opinion against ambition tells people to ―subdue ambition‖ and ―Search for deeper meaning in family, friends and faith‖, because ―Money cannot buy happiness.‖ But does the survey result cited in paragraph 7 support this idea?

Reference No. The 1998 survey shows a stronger relation between income and happiness than earlier polls, though marriage has a bigger impact than income.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

8.

In paragraph 8, it is said that Cornell University economist Robert Frank proposes a progressive consumption tax. What is the

purpose of this proposal?Reference The purpose of this proposal is to punish those extremely ambitious people and protect people against excessive spending

on luxuries in pursuit of a feeling of superiority over others.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

9.

Does the author agree with Robert Frank’s idea? What arguments and examples does he use in paragraphs 9 and 10 to support his own point of view?

Reference

No. In Paragraph 9, he argues that ―Ambition is socially useful. It sustains economic vitality. It prods people to take risks and exert themselves.‖ As an example in point, he cites the invention of the Internet by ambition-driven hardworking people, which has not only brought tremendous economic benefits but also improved the general social attitude. In Paragraph 10, he argues that people ―also venerate [ambition] as opportunity.‖ For instance, in America everyone has the opportunity to be rich, famous or powerful if they try hard, so in every walk of life people are ambitious and compete ruthlessly to be outstanding.

Unit 6: Reading comprehension

10. In the last paragraph, the author comes to the conclusion: ―Ambition is bitter as often as sweet; but without it, we’d be sunk.‖ Explain this sentence. According to this paragraph, why is ambition often bitter? Reference This sentence means: ambition brings people not only the joy of success but also the pain of failure; but without ambition, we would be certain to fail. Ambition is bitter when people fail to fulfill it. This happens often because people have to balance conflicting demands from their own feelings on the one hand and from the actual life on the other. People are especially likely to be disappointed when the American society makes alluring but unrealistic promises to offer everyone success, wealth, fame or power if they work hard, because it simply is not possible for everyone to become successful through determination and hard work alone.

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

1. Introduction (Para .1) 2. Body (Paras. 2–10)

Ex. II, p.115

3. Conclusion (Para. 11)

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

1.

Introduction (Para. 1)

The dual nature of ambition: On the one hand, ___________________________________; on the other hand, it is a great engine of American creativity _____________________

__________________________________ it is also an unrelenting oppressor, which robs us of time and __________________________________________________ peace of mind Doubt expressed by many people about ambition: ____________________________________________________ Ambition has gotten out of hand and is driving us to excesses of ____________________________________________________ striving and craving that are self-destructive.

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

2. Body (Paras. 2–10)

1) Definition of ambition (Paras. 2–3) 2) Negative effects of the most common ambition (Paras.4– 6) 3) Ambition’s enemies and the author’s refutation of them (Paras. 7–10)

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

2. Body (Paras. 3–15) 1) Definition of ambition (Paras. 2–3) Ambition is not only a quest for riches People from _______________. every walk of life have their own ambition to fulfill, which can be summed up as the desire for ___________________. one-upmanship

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

2. Body (Paras. 3–15) 1) Definition of ambition (Paras. 2–3) Ambition is not only a quest for riches People from _______________. every walk of life have their own ambition to fulfill, which can be summed up as the desire for ___________________. one-upmanship Examples: A. ________________________________________________. Al Gore strains to be president. B. _____________________________________________________ America’s computer moguls rival to control the nation’s _____________________________________________________. cyber agenda

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

2. Body (Paras. 3–15) 1) Definition of ambition (Paras. 2–3) Ambition is not only a quest for riches People from _______________. every walk of life have their own ambition to fulfill, which can be summed up as the desire for ___________________. one-upmanship Examples: C. A wide receiver prances into the end zone and raises his index _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________. finger D. A more common ambition is ____________________________. the search for status symbols And money is ________________________________________. the most common way to satisfy this urge

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

2. Body (Paras. 2–10) 2) Negative effects of the most common ambition . (Paras. 4–6) A. B. C. D. _____________________________________________. The contest seems futile __________________________________________. Frustration is preordained __________________________________________. The stress can lead to tragedy ___________________________________________________ People routinely try to beat the system through get-rich-quick schemes ____________________________________________________

Unit 6: Structure of the text

Text Outline

2. Body (Paras. 2–10) 3) Ambition’s enemies and the author’s refutation of them (Paras. 7–10)) 1) People should ______________

_________________________ subdue ambition, search for deeper meaning _______________________ in family, friends and faith Because____________________________________. money cannot buy happiness 2) Cornell University economist Robert Frank urges we penalize _________ _______________________________________________________. overambition to shield people from competitive consumption

本文来源：https://www.bwwdw.com/article/45f1.html