大学英语Book2 Unit 2

Section A

The humanities: Out of date? Background information 1the humanities

The humanities are a group of academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative. The humanities, called social sciences, include history, anthropology, communication studies, cultural studies, law, language, literature, philosophy,religion,music and theater,etc.

Through exploration of the humanities,students learn how to think creatively and critically,to reason,and to ask questions.Because these skills allow students to gain new insights into everything from poetry and paintings to business models and politics,humanistic subjects have been at the heart of a liberal arts education.Today,humanistic knowledge continues to provide the ideal foundation for exploring and understanding the human experience.However,with the economic downtrend,many colleges and universities intend to cut liberal arts courses to save money,and students also try to take natural science courses to help them seek job opportunities.Whether or not studying courses in the humanities has thus become a controversial question.

2 self-awareness

Self-awareness isn’t a quality that you demonstrate by telling a story,but rather it has to do with how you tell the story and your ability to communicate what you learned.Being able to explain to the admissions committee why you value one accomplishment above others,what you learned from a setback,or the deeper meaning of your career goals,is evidence of self-awareness.Furthermore,the self-aware individual has knowledge of both his strengths and weaknesses.

3 James Cameron

World-famous director of the movie,Titanic.The film received 14 Academy Award nominations and was awarded 11 Oscars（奥斯卡奖).

4 Sally Ride

An American physicist and former NASA(m美国国家航空航天局) astronaut.In 1983,at age 32,she became the first American woman and then youngest American to enter space.

5 Bruce Lee

A Chinese-American actor,martial arts instructor,philosopher,film director,film producer,and screenwriter.He was considered the most influential martial artist and a cultural icon.Born in San Francisco,he was raised in Hong Kong until his late teens.He moved back to the United States at 18 and studied philosophy at Washington University.

6 Gwyneth Paltrow

An American actress and singer.She gained worldwide recognition through her performance in Shakesperar in Love(1998),for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress.

7 Renee Zellweger

An American actress and producer.She received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

8 Matt Damon

An American actor and screenwriter.He and his friend Ben Affleck won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award（金球奖） for Best Screenplay for their work—Good Will Hunting(1997).He also got multiple Best Actor nominations.

9 Harold Varmus

An American Nobel Prize-winning scientist and the 14th and current Director of the National Cancer Institute.He was a co-recipient of the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the origins of cancer.

10 Michael Eisner

An American businessman.He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.

Detailed study of the text

1 when the going gets tough,the tough take accounting.(Para.1)

Meaning:When conditions or situations become difficult,determined people choose to study the subject of accounting,hoping they can more easily find a job in the future.

when the going gets tough:when the situation becomes difficult当形势变得严峻时 When the going gets tough,women can get as tough as men.当形势变得严峻时，女人可以变得跟男人一样坚强。

NOTE A more common saying in the similar strcture is”When the going gets

tough,the tough get going “.this is an informal expression and an old motto meaning”When the situation becomes difficult,strong people take the necessary action to deal with it(艰难之路唯勇者行)”.Now people often creative use the motto,by only quoting the first part”When the going gets tough…”.The author is very witty to use”take accounting”here to be humorous and sarcastic.

accounting:n.[U] the work if accounting or the methods they use 会计；会计学 Students’major objective is to be financially well off.Accordingly,today the most popular course is not literature ir history but accounting.学生的主要目的是在经济上富裕。因此，当今最流行的课程不是文学或历史，而是会计。 take accounting:choose to study the subject of accounting选择会计学

2When the job market worsens,many students calculate they can’t major in English

or history(Para.1)

Meaning:When there are fewer iob openings,many college students make a judgment from the situation and think they can’t study English or history as their major.

Meaning beyond words :Many students will not take the classes that won’t help them locate a decent job later. calculate:vt.

1) make a judgment about what is likely to happen using the available information估计；预测；推测

It’s difficult to calculate the long-term effects of these changes in the law.这些法律上的变化带来的长期影响是难以预测的。 2）find out how much sth. will cost, how long sth. will take, etc. by using numbers 计算，核算

Nowadays the accountants in enterprise use computers to calculate the cost of production with accuracy. 如今，企业财会人员利用电脑来计算准确的生产成本。

Major in: (AmE)study sth. as your main subject at college or university 主修（某一）科目

The high demand for persons with knowledge about computers is why chose to major in computer science at the university.对具有电脑知识人才的高需求是我选择在大学主修计算机科学的原因。

3They have study something that boosts their prospects of landing a job.(Para.1)

Meaning:They have to study something that improves their chances of success in finding a job.

Boost:vt. increase or improve sth. to make it more successful 促进；推动；使兴旺

Some countries hope that warmer weather and more rain will boost their farm output.一些国家希望更温暖的天气和更多的降雨能提高他们的农业产量。 Prospect：n. sth. that is possible or likely to happen in the future, or the possibility itself 可能的事情；很可能发生的事情；前景

Career prospects in science and technology are virtually unlimited.科

技类职业的前景几乎是无可限量的。

4The data show that as students have increasingly shouldered the

ever-rising cost of tuition, they have defected from the study of the humanities and toward applied science and “hard” skills that they bet will lead to employment. (Para.2)

Meaning: The facts and information show that as students have spent increasingly more money on tuition, they have turned away from the humanities to some practical courses that they believe will enable them to get a job more easily. Defect:

Vt. leave a country, political party, or organization to go to another one 背叛；叛逃

He defected from the party in the late 1970s.他在20世纪70年代后期背叛了该党。

N． a fault in sb. or sth. 缺点；欠缺；不足之处

Stammering is probably an inherited defect. 口吃可能是一种遗传缺陷。 Defect deficiency 1在表示“人的缺点，设计制造方面的缺点或缺陷”时，名词defect和deficiency的词义相近。

Physiological defect/deficiency生理缺陷

The new car had to be withdrawn from the market because of a mechanical defect.这款新汽车因有机械缺陷，必须被撤出市场。

The deficiency of this plan is very clear, so it can’t possibly succeed.这项计划的缺陷是很明显的，所以它不可能成功 2但表示“缺少，不足”（shortage）时，只可用deficiency

There are serious deficiencies in the number of suitable aircraft符合要求的飞机数量严重不足

During the war children suffered from a deficiency of food.战争期间孩子们遭受了缺乏食物之苦。 Applied： a. used for Describing educational subjects when they are studied for their practical uses （学科）应用的，实用的

Industry leaders want scientists to engage in basic research, not applied research.产业领导者们希望科学家们从事基础研究，而不是应用研究。

Bet：vt. be fairly sure that sth. is true, that sth. will happen,ect., although you can’t prove this 肯定

I bet the train will be late. 我敢打赌，列车会晚点

V. risk money on the result of a race, game, competition or other future event 下赌注；与??打赌

I bet my life that he will take my money and life. 我敢用我的命打赌，他将拿着我的钱离开。

5In other words, a college education is more and more seen as a means

for economic betterment rather than a means for human betterment. (Para.2) Meaning: In other words, a college education is more considered as a method to improve students’ future economic status rather than improve human nature or behavior.

Meaning beyond words: The quality of a college education is increasingly questionable because the trend among many colleges is to become more like a business and less like an academic setting.

6This is trend that is likely to persist and even accelerate.

Meaning: Very likely, the trend will continue to exist and even go faster than ever. Persist: vt.

1) continue to exist 继续存在；持续

If the bad weather persists, the farmers will suffer great losses this year.如果恶劣天气持续，农民今年将遭受巨大的损失。 2) Continue to do sth., although this is difficult, or other people oppose it坚持；执意

Students must persist in their efforts if they wish to do well.学生如果想取得好成绩就必须坚持努力 Persist insist

1 persist可用来表示“继续存在；持续”，尤其用于不好的事情，而insist没有此意。

Contact your doctor if the cough persists.如果咳嗽持续，请联系您的医生。

2 persist和insist容易混淆主要是当两者均表示“坚持”时。 Persist用于表示“坚持”时，表示“坚持反复做同一件事”，后接介词In,多用于褒义，指“坚持继续做某事”，有时用于贬义，指“不听劝告；顽固坚持”。

Her mother tried to persuade her to go to bed early, but she persisted in working until the small hours.她的母亲劝她早点睡，但她坚持工作到凌晨。

He persisted in drinking even though the doctor had told him that it did harm to his body.即使医生告诉他饮酒伤身，他仍坚持饮酒。

Insist用于表示“坚持”时，表示“坚持做某件事（尤指麻烦或令人讨厌的事）”，后接介词on。

She insisted on washing her hair just when I wanted to have a bath.当我想泡个澡的时候，她还在那洗头。

3 insist还可用于表示“对意见、主张等的坚持”。Insist用于此意时，后可接介词On，也可以接that引导的从句（是否用虚拟语气，视情况而定，即看从句的内容是否为事实），而persist无此意。

They insist on having a job done well no matter how much time is required.

他们坚持无论需要多少时间都要将工作做好。

The doctor insisted that she (should) take the medicine, but she insisted that she was not ill.医生坚持让她服此药，但她坚持自己没病。

Accelerate: v. happen or make sth. happen at a faster rate （使）加快；促进

Human activities can cause or accelerate permanent changes in natural systems.人类活动可能导致或加速自然系统的永久变化。

7Over the next few years, as labor markets struggle, the humanities will

probably continue their long slide in succession. Meaning: For the next few years, as the going gets tough with labor markets, the subjects of the humanities will continue to shrink and worsen for a long time each year.

NOTE Students have learned the world slide before but it might be

worthwhile to have a review of the word used as either a noun or a verb: n.[usu.sing.]a situation in which sth. gradually gets worse or sb. develops a problem（情况）变糟，恶化；（人）出现问题

School administrators were unable to explain the slide in student’s performance.学校管理人员无法解释学生成绩下降的原因。

v. gradually become worse, or begin to have a problem 逐渐败坏；开始出现问题

Students’test scores started to slide in the mid-1990s.20世纪90年代中期，学生们的考分开始下降。

Succession：n.[sing.]a series of people or things of the same type 一连串，一系列（同类型的人或物）

After graduation, he took a succession of low-paid jobs.毕业后他干了一连串报酬低廉的工作。

In succession: happening one after the other without anything different happening in between 连续发生地，接连发生地

She is an accomplished athlete and won the championship four times in succession.她是一名成功的运动员，连续四次获得冠军。

8There already has been a nearly 50 percent decline in the portion of

liberal arts majors over the past generation, and it is logical to think that the trend is bound to continue or even accelerate.(Para.3)

Meaning: Based on the fact that there already has been about 50 percent decrease in the number of students majoring in liberal arts over the past years, it is reasonable to think that the trend will surely continue or even speed up. Liberal: a.

1） (～arts)school or college subjects that give students a general

education and teach them to think rather than those subjects that develop practical skills 文科

The liberal arts are college or university subjects such as history, languages and literature but not sciences.文科是学院或大学的如史，语言和文学之类的学习科目，而不是理科学科。

2）Accepting different opinions and ways of behaving and tending to be sympathetic to other people心胸宽广的；开明的

She is known to have liberal views on divorce.人们知道她对离婚持有开明的观点

Logical：a. connecting ideas or reasons in a sensible way合乎逻辑的；合理的

It is logical to think that when people are deprived of their familiar surroundings they will feel disoriented. 脱离熟悉的环境时，人们会感到迷失方向，这样想是符合逻辑的。

Bound： n.(~to)sth. that is bound to happen will almost certainly happen 一定的；几乎肯定的

The weather is bound to get better tomorrow.明天的天气肯定会更好。

9 Once the dominant pillars of university life, the humanities now play

little roles when students take their college tours. These days, labs are more vivid and compelling than libraries. (Para.3)

Meaning: The humanities that once dominated university now play a trivial role when students have their college visits; nowadays, labs are more eye-catching and fascinating than libraries.

Meaning beyond words: Libraries were once the only place where students spent much time reading materials, doing research and writing papers. However, as more students are taking science courses, labs where students do scientific experiments play a more important role for learning than traditional libraries.

NOTE A “college tour” is series of campus visits to a number of colleges

or university by a prospective student. College tours may be taken individually or by school groups and educational programs as a way for a large number of people to visit several schools over a short period of time. In addition, many colleges now offer virtual tours on the Internet. Dominant: a. more important, powerful, or successful than the other people or things of the same type有优势的；占统治地位的

Unemployment rate will be the dominant issue at the next president election.失业率将是下次总统选举中的主要话题。 Pillar： n.[C]

1） a very important part of a system of beliefs or ideas（信仰或思想）

非常重要的部分

Equality is one of the pillars of a stable society. 平等是一个稳定社会的支柱之一。

2） a thick strong upright post that supports part of a building 柱子；支柱

Eight massive stone pillars supported the roof. 八根巨大的石柱支撑起房顶。

vivid ：having or producing very clear and detailed images in the mind 清晰的，生动的

He gave a very vivid and often shocking account of his time in prison .他描述了他在监狱的往事，非常生动，也非常让人震惊。 compel ：for sb to do sth .强迫；迫使

As a school boy . he was compelled to wear shorts even in winter .当他还是一个小男孩时，即使在冬天他也被迫穿短裤。

Usage NOTE

compel , oblige , force

这三个词都有“强迫”之意，但程度不同。

1Compel 表示“强迫；迫使”，指“运用权力、力量迫使对方做某事”，尤其在被动

语态

中含“别无他法，不得不做”之意，compel的意义比force弱。 He illness compelled him to stay in bed .他的病迫使他卧床休息。

2Oblige表示“强制，不得不”，指“因法律、道义、习俗或许诺的约束而必须去做

某事”，多用被动语态，语气相对较弱。

We are oliged to stop the car at a red light .我们遇到红灯时必须停车。

3Force表示“强迫，迫使，逼迫”，指“以暴力威胁，武力强迫对方做某事”，后面

跟的动作常是不情愿做的事，force的语气比compel和oblige强。

The poor peasant was forced to sell his daughter to the landlord .那位贫穷的农民被迫将自己的女儿卖给地主。

compelling ：interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention completely 有强吸引力的，引人入胜的

Steve Jobs’ life makes a compelling story .史蒂夫乔布斯的一生是一个引人入胜的故事。

10Here , please allow me to stand up for and promote the true value that the

humanities add to people’s lives .(Para.4)

Meaning：I here ask for your permission to let me defend and advertise the true value that the humanities bring to people’s lives.

stand up for: support or defend a person or an idea when they are being attacked 支持；保卫；维护

Mary stood up for me at the meeting, sparing me some embarrassment. 玛丽在会议上支持了我，使我免受了一些尴尬。

promote: vt. Support or encourage sth. 支持；鼓励；提倡

To acknowledge other cultures will promote good will among people of different background. 承认别人的文化会促进不同背景的人之间的友好亲善。

11since ancient times, people have speculated about the mystery of those inner

forces that drive some people to greatness and others to self-destruction.(para.4)

Meaning: Ever since ancient times, people have thought carefully and seriously why the mysterious forces coming from their inner world could be so powerful that it could make some people great while others morally deteriorate.

speculate; v. consider or discuss why sth. has happened 思索；沉思；推测；猜测 Archeologists speculate that people first reached the island over 1,000 years ago. 考古学家们推测人类第一次到达这些岛屿是在一千多年前。

Speculate about / on: make guesses about the possible causes or effects of sth. without knowing all the facts or details 猜测；推测

It is too early to speculate about the outcome of the negotiations between the workers union and the company’s leadership. 要推测工会和公司管理层之间的谈判结果，还为时过早。

mystery; n. [c, usu. sing. ] sth. That you are not able to understand, explain, or get information about 不可思议的事物；无法解释的事物；谜

No one had ever been able to explain the mystery of the Burmuda Triangle. 从来没有人能够解释百慕大三角之谜。

destruction; n. [U] damage that is so severe that sth. stops existing or can never return to its normal state 毁灭；摧毁；破坏

The destruction caused by too many wars and the death of millions of people shook the foundation of Western idealism. 太多的战争所造成的破坏和数以百万计人的死亡动摇了西方理想主义的基础。

12 This inner drive has been called many things over the centuries. (para.4)

Meaning: Over the past centuries, many different names have been used to describe this inner force of human beings.

13The famous psychologist, Sigmund Freud, called it the “unconscious mind” or,

more familiarly, “instinct”. (para.4)

Meaning: Sigmund Freud, a famous psychologist, named it the unintentional mind or, more familiarly to us, natural ability to know something.

unconscious: a. relating to or coming from the part of your mind in which there are thoughts and feelings that you do not realize you have 潜意识的；下意识的；无意识的

I don’t know if he noticed my unconscious desire. 我不知道他是否注意到我潜意识的愿望。

14From the beginning of time, this inner aspect of our being, this drive that can be

constructive or destructive, has captured our imagination. (para.5)

Meaning：Since ancient times, it is this very inner force of our being, either constructive or destructive, that has stimulated our imagination.

destructive: a. causing severe damage or harm 破坏性的；毁灭性的

Lack of trust is very destructive in a relationship. 缺乏信任在人际关系中是很具有破坏性的。

15The stories of this amazing struggle have formed the basis of cultures the world

over. (Para .5)

Meaning: It is these stories about this fascinating inner struggle of human beings that have laid the foundation of the world cultures.

16Historians, architects, authors, philosophers and artists have captured the words,

images and meanings of this inner struggle in the form of story, music, myth, painting, architecture, sculpture, landscape and traditions. (Para. 5)

Meaning: Our historians, architects, authors, philosophers and artists have successfully caught the words, images and meanings of this mysterious inner force by way of story, music, myth, painting, architecture, sculpture, landscape and traditions. architect: n. [C] sb. whose job is to design buildings 建筑师

He is the architect of this building, and he’s always on the construction site. 他是这个大楼的建筑师，他总出现在施工现场。 philosophers：n. [C]

1) a photograph or painting showing an area of countryside or land 风景照；风景画 Adams is well-known for his landscapes of Yosemite National Park. 亚当斯以他所作的优胜美地国家公园风景画而闻名。

2) an area of land that is beautiful to look at or has a particular type of appearance(陆上的)风景，景致，景色

The landscape is dotted with the tents of campers. 露营者的帐篷点缀了风景。

17These men and women developed artistic“languages”that help us understand

these aspirations and also educate generations.(Para. 5)

Meaning: The artistic works and masterpieces created by these men and women help us understand the strong desires and beautiful dreams of human beings and also help educate future generations.

Meaning beyond words: “languages”is in the quotation marks because the word doesn’t just refer to the regular meaning but to all the things mentioned earlier: story, music, myth, painting, architecture, sculpture, landscape and traditions.

18 This fertile body of work from ancient times, the very foundation of civilization,

forms the basis of study of the humanities. (Para. 5)

Meaning: The large amount of work filled with rich ideas and imagination from ancient times—the fundamental components of civilization—provides the basis of the study of the humanities. fertile: a.

1) able to produce good ideas or results 富有成果的；有想象力的 A poet must have a fertile imagination. 诗人必须有丰富的想象力。 2) able to produce good crops or plants(土地)肥沃的，富饶的

Fertile soil helps Canada rank among the world’s leading wheat producers. 肥沃的土壤帮助加拿大跻身世界主要小麦生产国。

a /the body of sth.: a large amount or mass of sth., esp. sth. that has been collected大量的某物

Acquiring a language is learning a skill, not collecting a body of information. 学语言

成为一名医生，她现在是医学院的预科生。

33In summary, the humanities help to create well-rounded human beings with

insight and understanding of the passions, hopes and dreams common to all humanity. (Para. 10)

Meaning: To summarize, with the help of the humanities, we can create all-rounded people who are insightful and well understand the passions, hopes and dreams common to all humanity.

well-rounded human beings: human beings with a range of interests and skills and a variety of experience 全面发展的人

34The humanities, the ancient timeless reservoir of knowledge, teach us to see

things differently and broaden our horizons. They are as useful and relevant in our modern age as they have always been. (Para. 10)

Meaning: The humanities, the ancient timeless resource of knowledge, teach us to see things from different perspectives and to expand our horizons, which is useful and related to our modern life, just as it has always been.

Note: Humanities is considered as a plural noun when it refers to different subjects

such as history, philosophy, or English, but in modern tendency, it can be considered as grammatically singular when it refers to an academic discipline or field. reservoir: n. [C]

1) a large quantity of sth. that can be used 积蓄；储备

Colleges are a reservoir of talents for companies. 大学是企业的人才库。

2)an artificial or natural lake where water is stored so that it can be supplied to the houses in an area （人造的）水库；（天然）蓄水湖

If it rains heavily, the reservoir will overflow. 如果下大雨，水库里的水将会溢出来。

35Doesn’t it make sense to spend some time in the company of the humanities, our

outstanding and remarkable treasure of knowledge? (Para. 10)

Meaning: Isn’t it reasonable to spend some time with the humanities, our extremely good and marvelous treasure of knowledge?

Meaning beyond words: It’s beneficial to study the humanities.

Note: This is a rhetorical question(反问句), thereby requiring no answer at all. In

other words, a rhetorical question is one which is asked in order to make a statement rather than get an answer. For example:

Don’t you know you are mistaken again? 你难道不知道你又错了吗?

Why don’t you let your brother speak rather than interrupt each time he tries to talk? 为什么你不能让你哥哥说话，而是每次他试图说话时就打断他呢？ in the company of：in sb.’s company; with sb. 和某人在一起

She caught sight of her grandson, in the company of three other boys of similar age, going into the narrow alley which led to the railway. 她看见她的孙子与其他三个年龄相仿的男孩一起，进入了那条通向铁路的狭窄小巷。

outstanding：a. extremely good or impressive 杰出的；出众的；显著的

His performance in charitable activities was outstanding. 在公益活动方面，他的表现非常出色。

36Who knows how famous YOU might become! (Para. 10)

Meaning：No one can tell how famous you will be!

Section B

Background information

1 colleges in the United States

Colleges in the United States include a variety of institutions of higher education. Strong research and funding have helped elevate US colleges and universities among the world’s most prestigious, making them particularly attractive to international students, professors and researchers in the pursuit of academic excellence. According to Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities, more than 30 of the highest-ranked 45 institutions are in the United States (as measured by awards and research output). Public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges all have a significant role in higher education in the United States. According to UNSECO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the country also has the second largest number of higher education institutions in the world, with a total of 5758, an average of more than 115 per state.

2 post-secondary education in the United States

Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of four years of study at an institution of higher learning. Students traditionally apply for admission into college. Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a bachelor’s degree in a field of concentration known as major.

Professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelor’s degree depending on the program. These professional field do not require a specific undergraduate major, though medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment.

Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. Community colleges typically offer two-year associate’s degrees, although some community colleges offer a limited number of bachelor’s degrees. Some community college students choose to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Community colleges are generally publicly funded and offer career certifications and part-time programs.

Detailed study of the text

1 The case for college has been accepted without question for more than a generation.

(Para.1)

Meaning: It is beyond question that the perceived need for a college education has been accepted for more than one generation.

Note The word case, from the context, refers to the” general consensus” mentioned in this paragraph: All high school graduates ought to go to college...

2 These has been a general consensus that all high school graduates ought to go to

college because college will help them get a job, earn more money, become “better” people, and learn to be more responsible citizens than those who don’t go. (Para.1) Meaning: It has been generally accepted that all high school graduate should go to college because doing so will enable them to get a job, earn more money, become so-called “better” people, and learn how to be more responsible than those who don’t go to college.

consensus: n. [sing., U] agreement among all the people involved 一致同意

We have reached a consensus after a long discussion.我们经过长时间的讨论后已经达成了共识。

3 However, given the huge cost of attending a university and the shrinking job

market, should we not re-examine the case for college? (Para.1)

Meaning: However, considering the huge cost of attending a university and the worsening job market, should we evaluate the case for going to college again? shrink: (shrank, shrunk)

vi. become smaller in amount, value, or range （数量、价值、范围）减少，下降，缩小

The company’s profits have shrunk from ￡5.5 million to ￡1.25 million. 公司的利润已经从550万英镑缩水到125万英镑。

v. become smaller or make sth. smaller in size （使）收缩；（使）缩小

Your sweater will shrink if you wash it at too high a temperature. 你的毛衣如果在过高的温度下洗涤，就会缩水。

4 The reality is that college has never been magical for everyone. (Para.2)

Meaning: The real situation is: Not all the students can benefit from college, or college is never meant for everyone.

Meaning beyond words: College only fits those who really want to study. For some others, it may be a waste of their time and money.

5 Now that close to half our high school graduates are attending college, those who

don’t fit the pattern are becoming more numerous. (para.2)

Meaning: Since nearly half of our high school graduates are attending college, more and more students now realize that college is not really a proper place for them.

6 Excess college graduates are selling shoes and driving taxis. (Para.2)

Meaning: Too many college students end up selling shoes and driving taxis.

Meaning beyond words: Too many college graduates don’t necessarily use the knowledge they learned from school, so what’s the point of going to college if the college can’t help them locate a decent job?

7 Some adventuresome educators and campus watchers have openly begun to suggest

that we revise our attitudes and reform the system. College may not be the best, but the proper or even realistic place for every young person after the completion of school. (Para.3)

Meaning: The suggestions that we change our viewpoints and improve the college system have been made by some creative education and campus observers, who also argue that college may not be the best or the proper or even practical place for every young person after they complete high school. revise: vt.

1) change your opinion or judgment of sb. or sth. 改变（观点、判断）

His behavior today has made me revise my original impression of him.他今天的行为改变了我原来对他的印象。

2）change, improve, or make additions to sth. such as a book, law, or piece of writing修改；订正；校订

You have to listen to the feedback from an audience before you revise what you have written. 在修改你写的东西之前，先听听观众的反馈意见。 reform:

vt. improve a situation by correcting things that are wrong or unfair, or make a system work more effectively 改革；革新；改进

Plans to reform the health-care system have failed more than once. 改革医疗保健系统的计划已经不止一次遭遇了失败。

n. [C,U] a change intended to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair or make a system work more effectively 改革；革新；改进

Some reforms of/to the system will be necessary. 对该系统进行一些改革是必要的。 realistic: a. based on facts and situations as they really are 实际的；现实可行的 They are still some students who don’t have realistic expectations regarding their career opportunities in today’s economy. 在现在的经济形势下，还是有一些学生对他们的就业机会抱有不切实际的期望。

8 Critics suggest we may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside

down through the rosy glow of our remembered college experiences. (Para.3)

Meaning: Skeptical people think that the way we have been viewing all those surveys

and statistics might be wrong, for we are motivated by the wonderful memory of our own college experiences.

Meaning beyond words: People might be biased when viewing all the surveys and statistics because of their own college experience. critic: n.[C]

1 sb. who does not like sth. and states their opinion about it 批评者

Critics of the scheme have said that it will not solve the problem of teenage crime. 此项计划的批评者说它解决不了青少年犯罪问题。

2 sb. whose job is to write or broadcast their opinions about things such as books, films, or plays （书、电影、戏剧等的）评论家，评论员

The play has been well received by the critics. 该剧受到了评论家的赞赏。

Usage NOTE

critic, critical

1 critic 是名词，意为“批评者；评论家”；critic不能用作形容词。

What did the New York critics have to say about the production? 纽约的评论家们对该产量有何说法？

critical是形容词，表示“审慎的；严谨的；一丝不苟的”之义时，只能用在名词前，作修饰语。

In his book, Laurence takes a critical look at modern life. 在他的书中，劳伦斯对现代生活作了严谨的阐述。

2 形容词critical表示“批评的；批判的；决定性的；关键性的；危急的”，既可

作名词修饰词，也可用在系动词后作表语。

Whole groups of nations adopted a more critical attitude toward apartheid.各民族都对种族隔离制度持批判态度。

The problem of food supplies is bound to be critical.粮食供应的问题肯定是决定性的。

survey: n. [ C ] a set of questions that you ask a large number of people or organizations 调查

The result of the online survey about the new products has proved to be positive.对新产品的网络调查结果是可喜的。

upside down: ad. with the top part at the bottom or lower than the bottom part 颠倒地;倒置地

To mix the contents well, turn the jar upside down and shake it.要把里面的东西搅拌好，你可以把罐子倒过来，并摇动一下。 Note In English, the word rosy is used when describing something likely to be successful or happy such as\future\However, something the word implies that it seems better than it really is. For example:

Politicians still paint a rosy picture of the American economy although most people know from their own experience that this is not so. 政客们依然描述着美国经济的大好前景，虽然大多数人从自己的经验得知事实并非如此。

9 Many students confirm that they feel compelled to go to college because of

pressure from parents and teachers and stay there because it seems to be an alternative to a far worse fate. (Para.4)

Meaning: Many students prove that it is because of the pressure from parents and teachers that they are forced to go to college, and they stay there because it seems to be the only choice to avoid a far worse destination. confirm: vt. prove that sth. is true证实

Although there are still people who disagree, evidence confirms that global warning is a fact. 虽然还有人不同意，可证据证实全球变暖是一个事实。 compel sb. to do sth.: force sb. to do sth. 强迫某人做某事

She was compelled to resign because the scandal had damaged her credibility and her reputation. 她的信用和信誉因丑闻受损，故被迫辞职。

fate: n. [C, usu. sing.] the thing that happen to sb. ,esp. unpleasant things 命运；（尤指）厄运

It wasn’t until after the war when he discovered his sister’s fate. 战争结束后，他才得知他妹妹的遭遇。

10 They quiver at the thought of the army or a dead-end job, and almost anything is

better than staying home. (Para.4)

Meaning: They tremble whenever they think about joining the army or doing an unpromising job, and they also feel there is nothing worse than staying at home with nothing to do.

quiver: vi. shake slightly because you cold, or because you feel very afraid, angry, excited, etc. 颤抖；发抖

The sick child was quivering in her arms. 那个生病的孩子在她怀里颤抖着。 Note “ A dead-end job” means “a job with low pay and no chance of progress”.

11 Potential college graduates say that they don’t want to work “solely for the

money” and that they want to do work that matters. (Para.4)

Meaning: Promising college graduates say that they don’t want to work only for money; they want to work that is important or makes sense to them.

Note The word “matter” means “be important to someone”. For example: Money was the only thing that matter to him. 对他来说，只有钱才是最重要的。

12 Their motive is to help people and save the world, but numbers are stacked

against them. (Para.4)

Meaning: their intention is to help people and save the world, yet they are unlikely to succeed because of the large amount of unfavorable statistics against them.

Meaning beyond words: The reality is that there are such jobs as they want and the numbers relates to the job market are not optimistic.

motive: n.[C] the reason that makes sb. do sth., esp. when the reason is kept hidden（尤指隐藏的）动机，原因，目的

What do you suppose was the killer’s motive? 你猜凶手的动机是什么？

13 Not only are there not sufficient jobs in the world-saving fields, but in the current

slowdown it has become evident that there never are enough promising jobs, presumably never will be, that require a higher education. (Para.4)

Meaning: Not only are there insufficient jobs that are beneficial to the world, in today’s economic downturn there obviously never are enough promising jobs, perhaps there will never be, that require a higher education.

Sentence structure NOTE

note only… but also…

1 not only… but also… 连接两个分句，并且not only位于句首时，第一个分句的

主语和谓语要部分倒装。例如：

Not only are mothers not paid but also most of their boring or difficult work is unnoticed. 母亲们不但没有任何酬劳，而且她们大部分枯燥或困难的工作也被忽视了。

2 not only… but also…仅连接两个并列词语，不用倒装结构。例如：

Not only you but also I am fond of music. 不仅你喜欢音乐，我也喜欢音乐。 sufficient: a. as much as is needed; enough 足够的；充足的

This recipe should be sufficient for five people. 这个菜谱的量足够五个人吃。

Usage NOTE

sufficient, adequate, enough

这组词都有“足够的”意思。sufficient指数量上能满足或达到某一需求，也可用于修饰抽象概念的名词，此用法相当于enough,同时enough也表示“完全满足需求（既不多也不少）”。adequate虽然也表示“足够的；充分的”，但是和另两个词之间有着细微差异，指数量或质量上能满足某一不太高的需求，是公平的，合理的，语气比sufficient弱；该词还可指能力、才能、资历等符合特定的标准。例如：

There is a real concern that food supplies will not be sufficient/enough to feed the increasing world population. 食品供应将不能充足地供养不断增长的世界人口，这让人们很担忧。

Five men will be enough. 五个人就足够了。(enough这里暗含“没有必要再多给一个人”之意)

I worked for him for three hours, and he paid me 20 pounds. I think 20 pounds are adequate for my job. 我为他干了三个小时的活，他付给了我20英镑。我觉得这工钱足够了。（必须用adequate, 因为这里说的“足够”包含“公平；合理”的意思）

His knowledge of Japanese is adequate for the job, although he is not fluent in the

language. 他的日语知识使他足以胜任这项工作，虽然他讲得还不是那么流利。 presumably: ad. used for saying that you think sth. is true based on what you know, although you are not really certain 可能；大概；也许

Presumably, he just forgot to send the letter. At least, that’s what he said. 他可能只是忘了发送信件。至少，他是那么说的。

14 Let’s acknowledge the facts. The New York Times report close to 80 percent of

new jobs can be performed by someone without a college degree. (Para.5)

Meaning: Let’s accept the facts. According to The New York Times, nearly 80 percent of new jobs can be done by someone without a college degree.

Meaning beyond words: College graduates are very likely to end up without the jobs that they were hoping to get. acknowledge: vt.

1) accept or admit that ath. is true or that a situation exists承认

Picasso is internationally acknowledged to be one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. 毕加索被国际上公认为是20世纪最伟大的艺术家之一。

2) public announce that you’re grateful for the help that sb. has given you（公开）感谢

Jennifer Lopez stuck her head out of the window to acknowledge people’s cheering. 珍妮弗·洛佩兹把头伸出窗外，向欢呼的人群表示感谢。

15 The US Department of Education estimates that only 62 percent of those enrolled

in four-year institutions had earned a bachelor’s degree six years later! (Para.5)

Meaning: According to the rough estimate from the US Department of Education, only 62 percent of registered students in four-year college had received a bachelor’s degree after six years’ study.

Meaning beyond words: It usually takes longer time than expected for students to graduate from college. And even then, not everyone is successful.

enroll: v. officially arrange to join a school, university, or course or arrange sb. else to do it招（生）；吸收（成员）；注册（学习）

Is it too late to enroll in special classes for this academic year? 报名参加本学年的特殊班，是不是太晚了？

bachelor’s degree: n.[C] a first university degree 学士学位

Many graduates find it difficult to find a job with only a bachelor’s degree. 许多毕业生发现仅凭学士学位很难找到工作。

16 This dilemma means that 38 percent have likely wasted time and accumulated

debt! In addition, in the US, the cost of college has risen tenfold over the last 30 years, a ratio that is three times as much as general inflation over the same time period. (Para.5)

Meaning: This difficult condition means that 38 percent of the enrolled students have

likely wasted their time and piled up a large amount of debt. Furthermore, in the US, the cost of college has increased 10 times over the last 30 years, a proportion of three times as much as the increase in general prices over the same time period.

dilemma: n.[C] a situation in which you need to make a difficult decision（必须做出困难决定的）窘境，困境

The president is clearly in a dilemma about how to tackle the economic crisis. 显然，对于如何解决经济危机，总统进退两难。 accumulate:

vt. gradually get more and more money, possessions, knowledge, etc. over a period of time 积累；积聚

During a successful business career, she accumulated a great amount of wealth. 在成功地商业生涯中，她积累了大量的财富。

vi. gradually increase in number or amount 堆积；聚积

A think layer of dust had accumulated in the room. 房间里已经积累了一层厚厚的灰尘。

Usage NOTE

accumulate, collect, gather

1 accumulate几乎可用于指任何事物量的增加，侧重连续不断、一点一滴长期的积累，数量逐渐增加。例如：

To prove their theories, scientists must accumulate a certain amount of data as evidence. 为了证明他们的理论，科学家必须累积一定数量的资料作为证明。 2 collect 指把某物聚积起来，表示因某种用途或兴趣爱好而有所区别、有选择、有安排、有计划地收藏、收集、采集某种物品。例如：

He likes to collect from magazines and newspapers the articles which he thinks are useful. 他喜欢从杂志和报纸里收集一些他认为有用的文章。

3 gather 用于人时指按要求或自发地集合或聚集在一起：用于物时指将分散之物汇总、聚集在一起。例如：

About 100 people aged in their 20s and 30s gathered at a hotel for a blind date. 大约有一百名二三十岁的年轻男女聚在一个酒店里参加一场相亲会。

Before you begin your research, you should gather a large amount of date to the subject you are to work on. 在开始作研究之前，你需要收集大量与课题相关的资料。

in addition: used for adding an extra piece of information to what has already been said or written 另外；加之

The company provides cheap Internet access. In addition, it makes shareware freely available. 该公司提供廉价的因特网接入服务。此外，它还推出免费的共享软件。 ratio: n.[C] a relationship between two things expressed as two numbers or amounts 比例；比率

At the conference, women were in the minority as the radio of men to women was ten to one. 在这个会议上，女性是少数，因为男女比例是十比一。

inflation: n.[U] an economic process in which prices increase so that money becomes less valuable 通货膨胀

to counter the effects of inflation, the government has announced several new policies.

为了应对通货膨胀的影响，政府宣布了几项新政策。

17 It is clear, from an objective point of view, that many more students should be

attending technical school or two-year colleges to prepare for jobs that will actually be available to them. (Para.5)

Meaning: Objectively, it is clear that many more students should be going to technical schools or two-year colleges to prepare themselves for the jobs that they will a able to get.

be available to: be able to be obtained, taken, or used 可获得；可利用

There are many books which are available to you in the study of the humanities. 有许多书籍可用来帮助你学习人文学科。

Note Be available can also be followed by an infinitive.

The neighbors told me that they were always available to give me a ride if I wanted to go shopping. 邻居们告诉我如果我想要去购物，他们随时可以开车送我去。

18 So, for some people, obtaining a bachelor’s degree is but the first step of lifelong

learning. For them, a university degree is essential. (Para.6)

Meaning: Therefore, for some people, to get a bachelor’s degree is only the first step of learning throughout their life. For these people, to get a university degree is a must.

19 There is little doubt that attending college has the potential of exposing young

people to new ideas and relationships and helps promote their critical thinking skills. (Para.7)

Meaning: Undoubtedly, going to college can enable young people to experience new ideas and new relationships and also helps develop their critical thinking skills.

Sentence structure NOTE

There id little/no doubt that…表示“对某事（没）有疑问”。例如：

There is no doubt that all this puts a considerable burden on the teachers. 毫无疑问。这一切大大增加了教师的负担。

expose sb. to sth.: make it possible for sb. to experience new ideas, ways of life, etc. 让某人接触某事（物）；让某人体验某事（物）

Students need expose themselves to various social life.学生需要体验各种社交生活。

20 It also accords them a relatively safe environment for experimentation. (Para.7)

Meaning: College also provides students with a relatively safe environment where they can engage in experimentation and exploration. accord :vt.

1) (fml.) give sb. or sth. special attention or a particular type of treatment给予(关照

或其他待遇)

You will not be accorded any special treatment.你不会得到任何特殊待遇。 2）(~with sth.) agree with or be the same as sth. else 与…一致;与…相符

Helen's account of the events does not accord with police evidence.海伦对事件的描述与警方的证据不符。

21 Nevertheless, many college graduates report that what they learned on campus

was better described as personal rather than academic development.(Para.7)

Meaning: However, many college graduates claim what they learned from school might be more accurately stated as personal instead of academic development.

describe sb./sth. as: say what sb. or sth. is like by giving details about them 把…说成;把…称为

The attacker is described as around30, with dark and a beard.据描述，袭击者的年龄大约是30岁，黑发，蓄须。

22 Likewise, they report that the real value of college has more to do with

developing their identity and practicing social skills than anything to do with college curriculum. (Para.7)

Meaning: Similarly, students say that the true value of college is more closely connected with the development of their identity and practicing social skills but not with the courses they take.

Meaning beyond words: The school setting no longer has the function that it once had in the past because students now come to college for personal development and social networking.

likewise: ad.(fml.)in the same way or in a similar way同样的;照样的

The clams were delicious. Likewise, the eggplant was excellent.蛤蜊味道鲜美，茄子也同样美味。

have sth.(much/little/nothing) to do with sb./sth.: be related to sb. or sth., or be involved with sb. or sth. 与某人/某事物有关；与某人/某事物有联系

We have nothing to do with the film which has the office next door; we are a completely different company.我们与在隔壁办公的公司毫无关系，我们是一个与之完全不同的公司。

KEY TO EXERCISES

Section A

Pre-reading activities 1

1 C 2 B 3 A 4B 5 C

Language focus Words in use 3

1promates 2accelerate 3mystery 4insight 5boost 6analysis 7calculate 8barriers 9destruction 10prospect

Word building 4

Word learned New words formed

-ing

promise promising bear bearing house housing -ive

object objecting offensive offend exclusive exclude excessive excess executive execute -ify

intense intensify identify identity

5

1excess 2bearing 3objective 4intensify 5execute 6promising 7exclude 8identity 9offend 10housing

Banked cloze 6

1C 2H 3D 4J 5B 6L 7M 8G

Expressions in use

9F 10A 7

1 are liable to 2 in favor of 3 is bound to 4 speculate about 5 invested ...with 6 stand up 7 in the form of 8 prepared for 9 in the company of 10 in succession

Translation 9

慕课是一种网络课程，它旨在通过网络实现广泛参与和开放接入。慕课是远程教育迈出的最新一步，现已在高等教育领域引领潮流。通过这些课程，大学可以扩大影响范围，从影响成千上万住在城里付学费的学生，扩展到惠及全球上百万的学生。除了拥有传统的课程资料，慕课还给使用者提供互动论坛，支持学生和讲师之间的交流。慕课能够促进参与者之间的交流，使得多种观点、知识和技能涌现到课堂上来；它鼓励多模式学习，以各种学习风格满足学习者的需求；另外，慕课促进教学的改善，使技术在面对面授课中得以更好地应用

10

In recent years，with the development of Internet technology，the construction of digital education resource of our country has made great achievement. Many universities have set up their own digital learning platforms，and digital teaching is playing an increasingly important role in education. Compared with the traditional way of teaching，the digital way has a lot of advantages. On one hand，digital teaching makes global sharing of teaching resource possible；on the other hand，it expands the learner's study time and space to learn，allowing people to get access to the digital virtual schools through the Internet anytime and anywhere. These advantages make it possible for people to shift from one-time learning to lifelong learning.

Section B

Reading Comprehension

Understanding the text 2

1C 2D 3C 4A 5D 6B 7B 8A

Language focus Words in use 4

1enroll 2revise 3accumulate 4accorded 5evaluate 6prime

7confirm 8shrinking 9sufficient 10recruit

Expressions in use 5

1 bother to 2 is available to 3 been compelled to 4 described...as 5 exposed...to 6 rather than

7 have something to do with 8 for its own sake

Collocation

warm-up

1 sufficient/promising jobs 2 well-rounded human beings 3 develop identity 4 shrinking job market 5 dominant pillars 6 reform system 7 specialized fields 8 general consensus

8

1 promising 2 worsens 3 shrinking 4 dominant 5 land 6 great 7 well-rounded 8 creative 9elegant 10constructive 11skills 12make

Part|||

Reading Passage Translation

课文A

人文科学：过时了吗

1.当形势变得困难时，强者会去选学会计。当就业市场恶化时，许多学生估算着他们不能再主修英语或历史。他们得学一些能改善他们就业前景得的东西 2.数据显示，随着学生肩负的学费不断增加，他们已从学习人文学科转向他们相信有益于将来就业的应用科学和“硬”技能。换言之，大学教育越来越被看成是改善经济而不是提升人类自身的手段。这种趋势可能会持续，甚至有加快之势。 3.在未来几年内，由于劳动力市场的不景气，人文学科可能会继续其长期低俗的态势。在上一代大学生中，主修文科的学生数跌幅已近50%。这种趋势会持续、甚至加速的想法是合情合理的。人文科学曾是大学生生活的重要支柱，而今在学生们的大学游中却只是一个小点缀。现在我，实验室要比图书馆更栩栩如生、受人青睐。

4.在这儿，请允许我为人文学科给人们的生活所增添的真实价值进行支持和宣传。自古以来，人们一直在思索人类自身具有什么神奇的内力使一些人变得崇高伟大，而使另一些人走向自我毁灭。几个世纪以来，这股内力被称作很多东西。著名的心理学家西格蒙德?弗洛伊德称之为“潜意识”，或更为人熟知的“本能” 5.从一开始，人类这股可以是建设性也可以是毁灭性的内在驱动力、就令我们心驰神往。这些惊人的、充满内心挣扎的故事形成了世界文化的基础。历史学家、建筑师、作家、哲学家和艺术家们以故事、音乐、身神话、绘画、建筑、雕刻、风景画和传统的形式，捕捉到了这些撞击心灵的文字、形象及内涵。这些男男女女创造出了具有艺术性的“语言”，帮助我们了解人类的这些强烈愿望，并用以教育一代又一代人。从古时其起开始的这些充满想象的大量作品，正是文明的底蕴，

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