unit 9

UNIT9An Integrated English Course(6)TEXTGLOSSARYPhenomenon [fi`nɔminən] n. someone or sth. extremelysuccessful,often because ofspecial qualities or abilitiesHandicap [`hændikæp] n. sth.which makes it difficult for you to do sth.Sit-in [`sitin] n. the act of going as a group into a public building and refusing toleave or to allow normal activities to continue there until a situation that you are complaining about is changedBoycott [`bɔikɔt] n. the act of refusing to buy a product or taking park in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapprovalIncredulous [in`kredjuləs] a. not wanting or not able to believe sth.andusually showing thisLiberal [`libərəl] a. respecting and allowing many different typesof beliefs or behavior eliminate [i`limineit] v. to remove or take away Reap the reward to get the benefit,ect.that is the result of your own actions Undisguised clearly show or expressedMasculine [`mæskjulin] a. having characteristics that are traditionallythought to be typical of or suitable for menAfro [`æfrəu] n. a way of arranging the hair so that it is verythick,curly and has a rounded shape,especially like that of some black peopleUnit9Text I I'd Rather Be Black Than FemaleDashiki colorful short-sleeve pullover worn by black people Homemaker woman who manages a home and often raises children instead of earing money from employmentDarky (offensive,old-fashioned) a person who has black or browskinStereotype a fixed idea that people have about what someone or sth.is like,especially an idea that is wrong Tokenism actions which are the result of pretending to give advantage to those group in society who are often treated unfairly,in order to give the appearance of fairnessPredominate to be the largest number or the most important Menial describes work that is boring,tiring and given a low socialvalueEvade to avoid or escape from someone or sth.Insight (the ability to have)a clear,deep and sometimes suddenunderstanding of a complicated problem orsituationMold to try to change or influence someoneTEXT EXPLANATIONSIn "I'd Rather Be Black Than Female"(1970),the author Shirley Chisholm, a black woman, identifies and analyses the sexual discrimination in 1970's American politics and, after investigating her own bitter experiences before and after she became the country's first black congresswoman, draws the surprising conclusion that the prejudice based on sex is even more serious than racial prejudice.It is surprising because American society as a whole now acknowledges the racial inequality but both men and women are simply blind to the unfair treatment of women in the game of politics.she expresses her conviction that women have their own special contribution to make to the country and that their more active participation in politics would improve the country.ParagraphANALYSISThis paragraph introduces the topic and theme of the passage,i.e.the widespread and yet seemingly unnoticed sexual discrimination against women,which is even more serious than racial discrimination against blacks."... Being black is much less of a drawback than being female."Unit9An Integrated English Course(6) Teacher's Book1)"... Made me some kind of phenomenon"-...made me something unusual.2)"both handicaps"refers to being both black and female.Here 'handicap"means"disadvantage."LANGUAGE WORK1.Being the first black woman elected to congress has made me som kind ofphenomenon.Because I am the first black woman to be elected to congress,people think I am something extraordinary.The Beatles were a phenomenon-nobody had heard anything like them before.Her rise to fame was quite phenomenal-in less than two years she was a household name.His first novel was phenomenally successful-it was translated into over thirty languages.2.Of the two handicaps,being black is much less of a drawback than being female.Being a woman is a greater disadvantage than being a black.(Handicap and drawback are two synonyms meaning difficulty or disadvantage.)Doesn't she find it a bit of handicap trying to organize her social life without a phone?Traffic is a major drawback to living in any major city.Paragraphs2-4 ANALYSISIn this three paragraphs the author first mentions the "invisible" and deep-rooted prejudice against blacks America, and then, in the fourth paragraph, she points out that it will be harder to be eliminate the prejudice against women, who have accepted their inferior status themselves.QUESTIONS1)Why is being black a greater handicap than being a woman?It is because most white Americans, even the liberals, would not admit that they are prejudiced against blacks.The author predicts that it will take years for people to realize it .Then, in paragraph 4, she indicates that it takes an even longer time for them to eliminate prejudice against women because women themselves are more accustomed to their role as second- class citizens than blacks ever were.Unit9Text I I'd Rather Be Black Than Female2)How do you understand " 'who, us?' they asked in injured tones."? Why does the author use " they asked in injured tones."?The question here is a rhetorical question ,which is in effect a strong negative statement, i.e. "anyone but us." By "injured tones" the author suggests that the American people believe that there is no racial prejudice in their country and they are very proud of it. Any revelation of this fact would injure their pride, this where " the reeducation of whit America"should start, though it may be very "painful."LANGUAGE WORK3. That there is prejudice against women is an idea that still strikes nearly all men-and, I am afraid, most women- as bizarre. Almost all men and mose women are not aware of their own and other people's sexual prejudice against women. When someone asserts there is such prejudice in America, they will find it hard to belive. Here "bizarre" means very strange.Almost everything he said struck me as absurd.Doesn't it strike you as rather add that he never talks about his family?4.Prejudice against blacks was invisible to most whit American for many year. For a long time, most whit American did not realize that they were prejudiced against blacks.The Stealth Fighter is an aircraft designed to be invisible to radar.In her first novel, she examined the social invisibility of middle-aged women.5.It will take years for whites-including those who think of themselves as liberal-to discover and eliminate the racist attitudes they all actually have. It will be many years before whites-including those who consider themselves open-minded -become conscious of their own racial prejudice against blacks, and then give it up.A move towards healthy eating could help eliminate hear disease to some extent.The police eliminated him from their enquiries.6.... Women in America are much more brainwashed and content with their roles as second-class citizens than blacks were. Women in American have been made to belive only what American culture wants them to belive about their inferior roles in society. As a result they now feel quite comfortable with their inferior status. In comparison, blacks had never been so brainwashed and content with their inferior status.The government is trying to brainwash the people into thinking that a war is necessary.They seem content to socialize with a very small circle of people.Unit9An Integrated English Course(6) Teacher's BookParagraphs5-6 ANALYSISThere two paragraphs start to "explain" the author's point expressed in the preceding part by describing what inferior work she herself has done and millions of women are expected to do in "the American political world" which is dominated by men.QUESTIONWhat ,according to the author, is the role that women are supposed to play in American politics?Usually women are faithfully engaged in tedious such as envelope stuffing and card-party organizing. Although their contribution makes the difference on election day, it is men who reap the reward (get the honor and important positions). In contrast, women can at most get decorative and subordinate posts to echo what their male partners say.LANGUAGE WORK7.I have done the work- all the tedious that make the difference between victory and defeat on election day- while men reaped the rewards... Though my part in the campaign seemed to involve only some seemingly insignificant and boring add juds,it is these little jobs I've done that have made us win the election. That is to say, mywork was critically important. But in the end, all the credit went to men.Putting up some new wallpaper in the bedroom has made all the difference to it.You can ask him again if you like, but it won't make any difference-he'll still say no.In retirement he reaped the rewards of his earlier investment.They sold the terrorists most of their modern weapons and now they are reaping the bitter harvest.The lawyers are reaping the benefit from the current trend for suing the minute something goes wrong.8. The best any of them can hope for is the honor of being district or county vice-chairman, a kind of separate-but-equal position with which a woman is rewarded for years of faithful envelope stuffing and card-party organizing. After years of stuffing envelopes and organizing card-parties, a woman might be assigned to a position no higher than district or county vice-chairman. Women seem to enjoy equality whit men, but, in fact, that is no better than the old racist practice of segregating white and black passengers in the South. Rewarding the luckiest of women whit a position like district vice-chairman is as sexist as the so-called separate-but-equal polity was racist. PrejudiceLies behind both practices.I'm hoping for an interview next.The hoped-for interview didn't happen.I've repaired it as well as I can - we;ll just have to hope for the best.All his hard work was rewarded when he saw his book in print.He rewarded their kindness with hostility and contempt.Paragraphs7-9 ANALYSISIn these paragraphs the author describes the "bitter" reaction of the American political world when a woman attempts "to break" its "rules" by relating her own two election experiences,i.e. How that invisible prejudice becomes "undisguised hostility" when a woman deviates from them.2)"closed meetings" (Paragraph 8)-exclusive and closed-door meeting.3)"PTAs"(Paragraph 9)- parent-Teacher Associations, organizations that help build bonds between schools and families for kids' education.4)"card clubs" (Paragraph 9)- organizations that offer certain benefits for their card-holding members (discount prices for card-holding customers in some stores, admission privilege for card-holding members in some sport game.)QUESTIONWhy did the author's opponent, James Farmer, try to project a black, masculine image?Because he was aware that such a profile would gain people;s sympathy for blacks and voters' favor in a male-dominant society.LANGUAGE WORK3)From the start of that campaign, I faced undisguised hostility because of my sex.From the minute I began to run for the New York State Assembly seat, I could feel strongly the prejudice against me simply because I was a woman. Many people tried to stop me and they hardly tried to hide their intentionThere was a note of undisguised irritation in his voice when he spoke.She looked at the ice-cream with undisguised desire.10. Among members of my own party, closed meetings were held to discuss ways of stoping me. In order to prevent me from running for the New York State AssemblyUnit9An Integrated English Course(6) Teacher's BookSeat, some of my own party members held secret meetings to find ways to stop me.I was totally kept in the dark.The issue was considered so controversial that the government held the discussion behind closed doors.I'm afraid physics will always be a closed book to me.4)Mr. Farmer still doesn't quite know what hit him. Mr. Farmer is still unclear what made him lose.Demand for transatlantic flights has been hit by fear of terrorist attacks.He's always worrying about his weight, so if you want to hit him where it hurts, tell him he's looking a bit fat.Paragraphs10-12 ANALYSISIn these paragraphs, the discussion extend from the prejudice against women in politics to employment (Paragraph 10) and career development (paragraph 11). Paragraph 12 is the author's conclusion about sexual prejudice in America, which is a strong statement in the form of a rhetorical question."dead-end jobs" (paragraph 11)-jobs that offer no possibility for advancement.QUESTIONHow are women discriminated against in employment and career development?First of all ,they are deemed as different and inferior, so that they are thought or as only being capable of some work conventionally done by females; next they have far less chance to be promoted to important positions; third, they they are paid less than a man gets for the same job.LANGUAGE WORK5)The happy homemaker and the contented darky are both stereotypes produced by prejudice. The popular but false image of women who are happy with the role of caregiver at home and that of black people who were satisfied with life as it was are both the results of prejudice.Many teachers and parents are concerned that racist stereotypes are being passedon to children through toys and books.We tried not to give the children sexually stereotyped toys.In her passionate rejection of all stereotypical thinking she has,in fact,becomeUnit9Text I I'd Rather Be Black Than Femalesomething of a stereotype herself.7.Women have not even reached the level of tokenism that blacks are reaching. Apparently American society is making some effort to create the impression that blacks are treated as whites' equals, though that effort is symbolic,pretentious and far from sincere. But American women are even not as fortunate as American blacks, for even that symbolic symbolic effort is not being made in their respect.Even at the risk of tokenism, we would like to see the post go to a woman.Despite pronouncements about being committed to ending apartheid, many South African companies engage in tokenism.Paragraphs13-15 ANALYSISIn these paragraphs, the author returns to her own experiences- what a political leader said about anther woman and what" plenty of people" said about her (Paragraphs 13-14),as well as her personal reaction to the social expectation for her "to go back to teaching" and " leave politics to the men"-and why she refuses to do that (Paragraphs 14-15).Note that there are a number of negation(no longer, do not, nothing more )in this section used to emphasize the necessity of women's political participation.Stylistically, the author not only uses parallelism(paragraph 15), but also employs a number of contrastive words and expressions to project a picture of social injustices: hungry children vs. rich nation, wealth on hardware to murder people, enforced vs. evaded.QUESTIONS3)How did the author respond to others' advice that she should go back to teaching and leave politics to the men?The author admits that she loves teaching, but she firmly believe that women should be more active in politics to remove all social injustices, including prejudice against women.4)In the author's opinion, what were some of the problems in American society in the 1970s which needed to be resolved?Refer to paragraph 15.LANGUAGE WORK14. Why invest time and effort to build the girl up? Why should we bother to spendUnit9Text I I'd Rather Be Black Than FemaleSo much time and effort to prepare the girl for a career in politics?It took her ten years to build up her publishing business.Traffic on the new bypass is building up.6)... She'll only drop out of the game to have a couple of kids just about the time we're ready to run her for mayor. By the time we have prepared her well enough to run for mayor, she will quit this game of politics and have several children.Several students dropped out of the course after three weeks.If everything fails, i might just give up my job and become a dropout.7)Plenty of others have advised me, every time i tried to take another upward step, that i should go back to teaching, a woman's vocation, and leave politics to the men.Whenever i tried to make progress in my political career, many people would try to persuade me to give up politics, which was, according to them, a man's game, and return to teaching, which was a woman's job.The government has been urged to take decisive steps to end terrorism.We need to take urgent steps to reduce pollution.The president took the unusual step of altering his prepared speech in order to condemn the terrorist attack.Leave all the details to the editor.I left it her to make the decision.Don't leave it to me to explain the delay to the passengers.8)When we do not spend our wealth on hardware to murder people... When we stop spending so much money on weapons to be used in wars to kill people...9)... When the laws against unfair housing and unfair employment practices are enforced instead of evaded... ... When people really obey the laws against unfair housing and unfair employment practices, not just go round them...It isn't always easy for the police to enforce speed limits.The police have assured the public that the escaped prisoners will not evade recapture for long.Paragraphs16-17 ANALYSISThis is the concluding section in which the author strongly urges women's active participation in politics (paragraph 16), and points out the impact of women's natural qualities on the nation and politics (paragraph 17). The author winds up the passage with a call for more women's participation in politics.Note that the conjunction "and "can supply a more important element or explanationUnit9Text I I'd Rather Be Black Than FemaleIf it is separated by either a dash or a comma as in the case of "-and not just stuff envelopes ..."(paragraph 16) and "..., and its politics."(paragraph 17)QUESTIONWhy does the author think that we need more women in politics?Because the author believes that women have a very special contribution to make. They can bring natural qualities such as empathy, tolerance, patience and persistence to government, which are important for a nation.LANGUAGE WORK10)... What we need is more women in politics. Because we have a very special contribution to make. More women should engage in politics, because we can do much that men cannot do , and what only women can do will make a difference to politics.This invention made a major contribution to road safety.His last novel is his great contribution to Spanish literature.She didn't made much of a contribution at the meeting this morning .11)The woman of a nation mold its morals, its religion, and its politics by the lives they live. In every culture, it's the women who are mainly responsible for the formation of its morals,its religion, and its politics. The way that women live their lives set standards fora society.Firm discipline helps mold a child's character.I hate the way you're always trying to mold me into something you want me to be.KEY TO EXERCISESText comprehensionI. Decide which of the following best states the author's purpose. _C_Both A and B are anecdotes in the story and are employed by the author to back her primary goal of writing: to convince us that women are more handicapped by their sex than by their skin color.。