外报外刊

外报外刊选读教案Reading English Newspapers

2009—2010学年第一学期

课程类型：选修课

教材：英语报刊选读，高等教育出版社

教学对象：2007级

云南师范大学外国语学院

高年级教研室彭庆华

2009.9

Contents

Text 1: Clinton Falls into the Inspirational Gap

Text 2: Ahead of 3 primaries, a Dash about Chesapeake

Text 3: Freshers‘ Guide, How to Balance the Books

Text 4: ―Mindless Maths‖ Turns Students Off

Text 5: Researchers Detect Variations in DNA That Underlie Seven Common Diseases

Text 6: BA looks into anti-missile technology

Text 7: The lending Crisis as Crack Epidemic

Text 8: No sympathy for jobless bankers

Text 9: Laws Limit Options When a Student Is Mentally Ill

Text 10: At least 86,000 people are killed in China earthquake Text 11: Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis Kills at least 7

Text 1: Clinton Falls into the Inspirational Gap

1.A b o u t t h e q u e s t i o n s p r o p o s e d

Irresponsible questions: Students should consult the references for the questions, first.

a. Could you tell me some information about Healthcare crisis?

b. What does ― swing states ― in Page 6 mean ?

c. How to understand the words"in places"?(in paragraph 5)

U n n e c e s s a r y q u e s t i o n s

a. Does Obama really stands for civil rights?

b. What‘s the difference between Obama‘s and Hillary‘s policy?

c. Why Mr. Obama could be supported by so many people, only because he

had an inspirational advantage over Clinton?

d. What's the Obama's health policy?

2.M e a n i n g s o f l i n g u i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n s

When you encounter an unfamiliar expression in a text, what strategy of meaning decoding do you often use, literal meaning, implied meaning, and

metaphorical meaning?

What‘s your understanding of the terms ?implied meaning‘ and ?metaphorical meaning‘ ?

E x p r e s s i o n s u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n t e r m s o f t h r e e l e v e l s

Literal meaning

Metaphorical meaning

Implied meaning

Metaphorical meaning

1) …with mouths stretched wide open to sream, bottoms bouncing in seats

and placards being shaken frantically with two clenched fists.

2) …laced with substance and carefully drawn dividing lines …

3) …fresh from his hat-trick of victories …

4) … turned this crowd of … into a writhing…

5) What is the significance of the sentence ―Her own speech had been

received politely at the annual dinner‖? … etc..

Implied meaning

W o r d‘s i m p l i e d m e a n i n g:c o n n o t a t i v e,a s s o c i a t i v e,m e t a p h o r i c a l

S e n t e n c e m e a n i n g&u t t e r a n c e m e a n i n g:i m p l i e d m e a n i n g

T e x t‘s i m p l i e d m e a n i n g:s p e a k e r‘s i n t e n t i o n

e.g.B u t i t w a s t h e a r r i v a l o f…

3.C o n t e x t i n t h e r o l e o f m e a n i n g d e c o d i n g

1) Cases analysis (p. 3)

a. What does ―I really don‘t buy into all this hope stuff ―mean ?

b. What does the sentence ―So why was her wearing on Obama sticker?‖

c. How to understand‖Mr Obama is appealing now to heads rather than

hearts…‖?

2)W h a t d o e s?c o n t e x t‘m e a n?

Context comprises those factors manifested as linguistic forms before or after

a linguistic expression and those subjective or objective environmental factors

on both of which a good grasp of the definite meaning of the linguistic expression depends during the process of communication.

3)Q u e s t i o n s&c o n t e x t

Questions involved in linguistic context: e.g.

a. In the second paragraph , if the word ―substance‖ means fact, what is

the fact; if not, what does ―substance‖ mean?

b. How to understand "In the midst of all the tumult was Tom Urban"?

c. What the meaning of ―is morphing into one that can appeal to both ―in

the last of paragraph 7 ?

Questions involving non-linguistic context, e.g.

a. Some words I can‘t unde rstand according to text, such as

"Independents―, "the Rights".

b. Can you tell us more about the background and process of American

election?

c. How to understand‖knock out of the ring‖?

4.A n a l y s i s o f t e x t A

About the United States presidential election (p. 8-9)

Paragraph analysis (p. 9-10), key words: inspiration gap; orientation; reception;

writer‘s intention; people‘s stance

Structure of the text: questions : evidence (solutions) : conclusion

Way of the writing: contrast

Text 2: Ahead of 3 primaries, a Dash about

Chesapeake

1.M e a n i n g c h o i c e

How to understand ―Hopscotching around the region on the eve of the so-called Chesapeake primaries.‖?

1) part of speech, 2) its collocation,

3) background knowledge 4) imagination

The contenders for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination traded

boasts and challenges on Monday

Can we say that people are trading in the conversation? How do you

understand the phrase ?exchange ideas‘?

How to understand the sentence "senator Hillary...say...to take on the

republican attack machine"?

What does the utterance ?he is a machine‘ imply?

What‘s the meaning of the sentence‖I‘m skinny but I‘m tough.‖?

1) skinny: of skin, thin, small and weak; skin implying ?surface‘,

?superfacial‘, and ?appearance‘

2) outside– skinny; inside– tough

3) inside– weak; outside– strong

In paragraph 3,how to understand "Let?"and "bring it on"?

1) Let ?–let‘s, or let us, or let me

2) If we say ?bring on‘ means ?take the responsibility‘, what does ?it‘

stand for?

What did Obama want to imply by saying "I am wily"in paragraph 3?

What‘s the difference between saying ?I am wily‘ and ?I am clever‘ ?

What is the meaning of ―the stimulus package‖ ?

1) the context of ?package & the next sentence‘

Why did Mr. Obama say ―We are the party of tomorrow, he is the party of yesterday ‖ ―he is the past, we are the future ‖ ?

What does ?time‘ in our daily life imply?

?past time‘ ? ?present time‘ ? ?future time‘ ? the choice of meanings in

In paragraph 23, what does ―we‘re picking up delegates‖ mean?

1) ?pick me up‘ means?

2) ?pick up a flower‘ means?

3) ?pick up English‘ means? a dictionary

2.Q u o t a t i o n&o b j e c t i v i t y

Direct quoting and indirect quoting ensure the objectivity of the new report.

Quoting indicates the third-person observation, and objective point of view.

For the quoters such Obama, Clinton and McCain, quotations provide

convincing/persuasive/strong evidence.

3.E x e r c i s e s

1) writing techniques to achieve the goal of objectivity

2) text reconstruction

3) Comparing the financial problems between Chinese college students and British college students, list 3 salient similar problems that both C & B students have, and list 3 prominent different problems that both C & B students are faced with.

Text 3: Freshers? Guide, How to Balance the Books

1. Questions & answers

Qu. 1: how to understand …freshers? and …balance the books? ?

Wha t‘s the difference between ?freshers‘ and ?freshmen‘ ?

Do you consult the idiom ?balance one‘s books‘?

And can we say ?books‘ here not only means ?account‘ or ?budget‘, but also

implies ?schooling‘?

Qu. 2: it pays students and their families to be financially aware from day one What does ?it‘ stand for?

Do you know the meaning of ?pays‘ in this context?

Qu. 3: phrases and sentences understanding in P. 5

Try to find out the deictic/indexical meanings of ?this‘.

Consult the phrases: mount up, take into account, set against, etc.

?fun‘ money – living costs: relation

About ?come to‘, how do you understand the meanings of the phrase in the

following?

1) He came to a door that led into a passageway.

2) Lunch came to $80.

3) That is another matter altogether. And we should come to that next.

4) Most of us know we should cut down on fat. But knowing such things

isn‘t much help when it comes to shopping and eating.

Multiple choice:

…don’t be blinded by freebies such as free music downloads or a ￡50

payment when you join.

a. cause s

b. to be unable to see

b. deprive sb. of understanding, judgment, or perception

c. confuse or overawe sb. with sth.

Qu. 4: About the understanding of Para. 6

Word formation for ?interest-free‘

Unnecessary question for ?rail card‘

Multiple choice for ?an overdraft facility‘:

a. space or equipment necessary for doing sth.

b. a service offered by an organization

c. an ability to do or learn sth.

Qu. 5: About the understanding of Para. 7

How m any ?bank cards‘ do you have ? How about the names of your cards?

And how about their functions?

Multiple choice for ?the message is to tread carefully‘.

Your choice/select:

a. to tread carefully

b. to read carefully

c. to treat carefully

The pragmatic functions of ?astronomical‘ and ?whittle down‘.

What‘s the difference between the uses of ?huge‘ or ?very large‘ and

?astronomical‘?

What‘s the difference between the uses of ?cut down gradually‘ and

?whittle down‘?

2. Text analysis

Why are many Web sites provided in the text? (Para. 8-9)

The organization of the text (p. 33)

Imperative sentence & authority, persuasion (p. 34)

Comparing the financial problems between Chinese college students and British college students

Comparison between C & B

Comparing the financial problems between Chinese college students and British college students, list 3 salient similar problems that both C & B students have, and list 3 prominent different problems that both C & B students are faced with.

3. Notes of Prof. He’s Lecture by Some Students

1) Learning experience:

Reading with thinking in English as much as you could, the more, the better.

2) Some challenges:

(1) Almost all of the schools have English course, and the expanding enrollment in

English has a serious influence in English study.

(2) Students spend little time in practicing English, so their language advantage has been

reduced.

3) Some suggestions:

(1) a strong foundation of English/ a good command of English

(2) be knowledgeable/ master wide knowledge

(3) to process some professional knowledge/to master some basic

professional skills

Text 4: “Mindless Maths” Turns Students Off

1. Questions & answers

Qu. 1: phrases and sentences understanding in P. 3

That approach is putting a generation off the subject.

a. s

b./sth.put sb. off sth.

b. sth. turn sb. off

What does ?off‘ imply?

Qu. 2: About the understanding of Para. 4

You can train people to do a task but, because there is no soil for it to grow in, they forget the knowledge and it evaporates.

a. What does ?soil‘ symbolize ?

b. What does ?it‘ refer to?

c. How is ?evaporate‘ used here to indicate t he meaning of being disappeared? Qu. 3: phrases and sentences understanding in P. 5

Your question: Why does Gardiner say that they had not taught to think about

maths?

My question: How do you understand the word of ?struggle‘?

Qu. 4: About the understanding of Para. 7

We are creating a nation of experts in what I call one-piece jigsaws. Give them

a three-piece jigsaw and they‘re screwed. It‘s an utter tragedy.

a. associative meaning of ?experts‘ and ?jigsaws‘

b. the difference between the first ?jigsaw‘ and the second ?jigsaw‘

c. the author‘s attitude/intention implied in the word ?utter‘

d. the similarity and difference between ?training‘ and ?creating‘Qu. 5: phrases and sentences understanding in P. 8

… turning instead to what they believe are …

a. My question: What is your understanding of ?off‘ and ?to‘?

b. The position of ?instead‘

Your question: How to understand para. 8

The clue: the words in para.7

How do we interpret the similarity and difference between these words: train, teach, create, drill, equip, develop ?

Qu. 6: About the understanding of Para. 10

comprehension model =

idiomatic usage + ?prep.‘ symbolization + collocation

come out with & listen pretty damn hard

2. Text analysis

Writing techniques

1) the use of modal verbs to reflect authority & persuasion

2) the application of negative words to imply attitude

3. Assignment

A. Exercises on P. 39-44

B. References on P. 220-221

C. Focus on question 5 on P. 41-44

Text 5: Researchers Detect Variations in DNA That Underlie Seven Common Diseases

1. Key words

(a new genomic) technique

DNA variation

(seven common) diseases

links

detection/discovery

2. Organization of the text

Text

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

the 1st stage the 2nd stage the 3rd stage

( paragraph 1) ( paragraph 2-17 ) ( paragraph 18-20)

3. Analysis of paragraph & linguistic points

Paragraph 1:

introduction

topic

extension (of the title)

key words

Paragraph 2-3:

The importance of this discovery and the names of the seven

diseases

Linguistic points:

pinpoint--

pathway--

Paragraph 4-5:

The whole genome association method

Linguistic points:

the promised payoff—

stand in contrast to—

claim—

Paragraph 6-10:

Research done by the consortium

Para.6–a transition: a new dawn…

Para. 7-10: about the specific research

The consor tium compared…

The consortium discovered…

Among its most interesting findings is…

The consortium also found …

Linguistic points:

dawn—

single—

hit—

variation & variant—

Paragraph 11-14:

The evaluations by people of high scientific reputation

The positive evaluation by Anne Bowcock & Marie Nierras

The not-too-positive evaluation by Kari Stefansson

Linguistic points:

companion study—

additional –

Paragraph 15-17:

The two possible sources of statistical bias: geographically

related & racially related

Linguistic points:

screen—

gradient—

speculate—

confer—

Paragraph 18-20:

Conclusion & implications for further/future study

Linguistic points:

much the same—

4. Suggestions for Exercises

Qu. 1: the lead & other paragraphs

Qu. 2: language expressions & writer‘s attitude

Qu. 3: the objectivity of the writing

Qu. 4: the structure of the writing

Text 6: BA looks into anti-missile technology

1. Questions coming from the title

What is BA‘s previous e xpectation/plan for?

Why does BA want to look into the anti-missile technology?

What happens to the anti-missile technology now?

What is BA‘s present concern, or doubt, or consideration?

2. Organization of the text

Text

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Para.1 Para.2-4 Para.5-10 Para.11-13

3. Analysis of paragraph & linguistic points

Para. 1

The first part of the paragraph: one issue?

The second half of the paragraph: another matter?

For the readers‘ curiosity

Para. 2-4

Posing the problem insecurity

1) The air line urged governments… to protect land near airports…

2) the Department for Transport lifted its ban on … Mombasa, Kenya.

3) shoulder-fired missiles narrowly missed an Israeli charter plane …

form Mombasa

4) BBC report yesterday that a lorry-load of surface-to-air missiles …

police near Jeddah.

Words & phrases:

1) call– appeal

2) lift the ban on– remove the ban on

3) narrowly— almost

4) word formation: shoulder-fired, lorry-load /truckload

Para. 5-10

Analyzing the problem and producing the following ideas:

1) the most effective measure is…

2) … to invest in highly expensive systems that…

3) The cost of installing such anti-missile systems is …

An implication: it is not necessary to use anti-missile technology on

planes.

How to solve the problem then?

Words & phrases:

1) invest …in…

invest in…

2) …what might work…

…officials were working with …

3) part-owned part owner

partly-owned ?

Para. 11-13

How to solve the problem?

Solution one: offer the flares method

Solution two: provide the infra-red jammer

Solutions absolute or relational:

likely, possible, could

Words & phrases:

1) lock on to– lock + onto, lock= hold, fix in the position

2) prohibitive– too expensive

3) ground– stay on the ground, not allow to take off

A key cohesive word: anti-missile technology

= measures=options=countermeasures

=systems= flares & infra-red jammer

Para. 1

Para. 1

Para. 1

Para. 1

4. Suggestions for Exercises

Qu. 1: the lead & other paragraphs

Qu. 2: language expressions & writer‘s attitude

Qu. 3: the objectivity of the writing

Qu. 4: the structure of the writing

Text 7: The Lending Crisis as Crack Epidemic

1. Exchange of the two teams‘ presentations

Highlights & comments

Group 1

4 highlights

Group 2

3 highlights

1) When crack cocaine attacked the poor, it wasn‘t very, very long before

crack cocaine was the engine that drove the crime rate through the roof

2) Similarly, the attack on the poor (who are in danger of losing property)

has the same kind of effect on property values and on the markets —

whether it‘s the real estate markets or the Wall Street markets.

3) Mr. Hynes said the problem became apparent to him and his colleagues

about 18 months ago. ―It became clear to us that we were on the brink of a

profound tragedy in this country,‖he said

On the brink of 濒临，处于… 边缘

4) The frightening thing for me was to recognize that it is so difficult to

prosecute these cases — predatory lending, subprime lending.

predatory lending掠夺性贷款

subprime lending次级贷款

5) Ms. Green said that she was fighting the foreclosure and that she had hopes

that she would prevail. But she added that the stress of the situation has

taken a toll on her health.

prevail:先于→占上风

Take a toll on: divest 夺去

6) Richard Farrell, an assistant district attorney, said: ―This actually illustrates

some of the gray area here. A servicer not properly crediting your payments

doesn‘t qualify as a criminal act that I‘m aware of. It‘s a bad business

practice. You can sue them for damages and whatnot. But of course that‘s

time, that‘s money. But still that‘s something you have to be on top of. As

soon as you see a problem you need to address it right away.

2. Questions reviewing

Questions reviewing & answers offering

Paragraph 6– translation

Unless there is fraud, many of the predatory lending practices fall

under the category of bad business practices, not criminal acts.

Homeowners can pursue lawsuits, but Mr. Hynes and the other

officials said they were hoping to educate Brooklyn residents about the

warning signs for potential problems in obtaining a sustainable

mortgage.

3.Some supplements

Words & Phrases:

a profound tragedy, fall under, credit one‘s account/payments, whatnot,

out of reach, sign over the deed

A different explanation from the book writer‘s about ― whatnot”

Text 8: No sympathy for jobless bankers

1. Questions & answers

1) The latter merger alone fuelled speculation of a further 40,000 job losses as

the newly combined company looks to avoid duplication. (Para.7)

How to paraphrase this sentence?

The latter merger: Bank of America and HBOS, Lloyds TSB, a banking

behemoth

Fuel: make speculation become more intense

Speculation: transaction of 40,000 job losses for their profits

The newly combined company: ??

Look to: hope, expect,

Duplication: (prag.) If you say that there has been duplication of something,

you mean that someone has done a task unnecessarily because it has already

been done before.

2) Don’t let the spivs destroy Britain.(Para.13)

What do the spivs refer to?

What’s the implied meaning of this sentence?

Spivs: a man who does not have a regular job and who makes money by

business deals which are usually illegal.

We cannot allow these wide boys to bring the destruction/disaster of

economy, livelihoods to the whole Britain.

3) Putting the high-roller on a short leash and penalising them for their

avarice.(Para.15) What’s the meaning of this sentence?

Put…on a leash: control, keep … under control,

Short: quick, fast

Penalize sb, for sth,: make sb, suffer some disadvantage because of sth,

4) The tabloid newspaper feared “the greed of a few bankers and corporate fat

cats could hand on undeserved lifeline to the failed creed of state socialism.”

(Para.16)

What does undeserved lifeline imply?

Why we say the creed of state socialism is the failed one?

Undeserved lifeline:

Undeserved: If you describe something such as a reaction, treatment,

or result as undeserved, you mean that the person who experiences it

has not earned it and should not really have it.

Lifeline: something that enables an organization or group to survive or to continue with an activity.

Creed: a set of beliefs, principles, etc.

5) Then again, perhaps it should also remembered that envy, lust and anger

share the bill with greed gluttony and pride.(Para.31)

What does this sentence mean?

The bill: In B.E., the bill is a piece of paper on which the price of the

meal you have just eaten is written which you are given before you

pay.

Share…with…: both sides use, carry out, accept, take, etc.

2. Interpretation exercises

1) The prevailing sentiment – that Lehman got what it deserved – seems based

on an assumption that the bank‘s staff of 20,000 worldwide consisted of

loadsamoney wide boy traders and smug, overpaid investment bankers,‖ she said.

2) Then again, perhaps it should also be remembered that envy, lust and anger

share the bill with greed ,gluttony and pride.

Text 9: Laws Limit Options When a Student Is

Mentally Ill

1. Style of the text: exposition

An exposition mainly consists of three parts, i.e., argument, grounds and

conclusion.

argument

grounds

conclusion

2. Structure analysis

Text

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

argument grounds conclusion ( title/para. 1) ( para. 2-25 ) ( para. 26-27)

Structure analysis

Argument: the title & para.1

Grounds: the problem universities are faced with, the actions they take to approach it, the relevant laws issued

Conclusion: the interaction of all these laws does not make things easy.

3. Language points

Paragraph 2:

And they cannot put students on involuntary medical record leave,

just because they develop a serious mental illness.

Paragraph 4:

They can‘t really kick someone out because they‘re writing papers

about weird topics, even if they seem withdrawn and hostile.

… so universities are in a bit of a bind that way.

Paragraph 7:

Universities can find themselves in a double bind.

… they may be liable if they…

…and used the university counseling service before setting herself

on fire,…

Paragraph 8-10:

O n the other hand, universities may be held liable if… p.8

Also last year, … p. 9

This is a very, very difficult and gray area,…p. 10

Paragraph 11-13:

Ms. Meloy estimated that situations complicated enough to involve a

university‘s lawyers arise,… p. 11

…,whatever a college‘s concerns about liability,… p. 13 Paragraph 15:

Students‘ explanation:

Go ahead

1) to travel in front of other people in your group and arrive

before them 走在前面，先走

2) to happen ,to be done 发生，进行

3) ~(with sth.) to begin to do sth. ,especially when sb. has given

permission or has expressed doubts or opposition (尤指

经某人允许，或有人表示怀疑或反对后)开始做，着手做Paragraph 19:

Students‘ explanation:

In one sense: 在某种意义上

Discrimination against /in favor of : the practice of treating sb.

Or particular group in society less fairly than other.

歧视，偏袒，区别对待

e.g: Discrimination against the elderly 歧视老人

discrimination in favor of the young 厚待年轻人

Ground-breaking: (only before noun) making new discoveries, using

new methods

Come up with: 想出，提出

Code of conduct: 管理法典，行动守则

Paragraph 20-21:

The meanings of ―see‖

―But in another sense ,it‘s ground-breaking since it‘s the first

time we‘ve seen states focus on student suicide and come up

with some code of conduct for school .‖ (paragraph 20)

College counseling service nationwide are seeing more

use .(paragraph20)