大学英语1

Content: Unit 1 How to improve your study habits?Aim: Make students know about the effective study methods.Emphasis: Phrase and expressionsTeaching time: 6 lessonsCourse:Introductory Remarks:“How can I study well?”This question must have occurred to you from time to time. Have you found a satisfactory answer for yourself? In fact, no one can offer a cure-all kind of answer to the question. How to study well—it depends on an interplay of many factors, such as motivation, determination, mental ability, preparedness to work hard and method of study. One thing is certain, though: good study habits, or effective learning techniques, will lead you to a successful college career. In this lesson, the author suggests several simple ways of improving your study habits. Of course, you may have come up with some helpful learning techniques of your own. To share them with your classmates you’ll be invited to a discussion on how to improve study habits. Language points:1.average: 1)ordinary, normale.g. What is the yearly income of an average family in Shanghai?I was average in my class though I had hoped I would be better.2) meane.g. What is the average yearly income of an ordinary family in Shanghai?The average age of the students in this class is 19.2.necessarily: as an inevitable result; unavoidablye.g. Tourism is an industry that has a necessarily close connection withgovernments.Great books are not necessarily bestsellers.3.case: 1) the actual conditione.g. He thought he had found the right answer, but that was not the case.With Internet we can communicate with people far away cheaply. A few years ago that was not the case at all.2) instance of a diseased conditione.g. Five cases of flu have been reported.3) question to be decided in a law courte.g. The child-murder case attracted world-wide attention.4. fill in: write in; put ine.g. Fill in your address, please.You should fill in all the blanks on this application form.mit: 1) assign to a specified purposee.g. One million dollars was committed for a program to relieve therefugees.Sorry, the President is unable to see you. His time is fully committed.2) perform a crime, a foolish act.e.g. commit a crime6. decide on: decide in favor of; determinee.g. He has decided on a date for departure.I have not yet decided on any definite plan.7. be sure to do: not faile.g. Be sure not to be late again.Be sure to leave adequate time for play.8. set aside: reserve for a special purposee.g. Have you set aside some money for a possible emergency?She set aside part of her dinner for next day’s lunch.9. occupy: 1) take upe.g. After retirement, she occupied herself with work.Her son occupies all her attention.2) take and possesse.g. Sorry, this seat is occupied.It took great courage to work in enemy-occupied areas.10. as well: also; tooe.g. This book tells about Lu Hsun’s writings, and his life as well.With the changes in their social role, women’s position in the family has been improved as well.11. solve: find the answer toe.g. In old times, many Britishers spent their evenings solving crossword puzzles.How did you solve that question?12. be aware of: have knowledge of; realizee.g. Everyone should be aware of the dangers of cigarette smoking.Are you aware of your mistakes?13. furthermore: besides, in additione.g. We offer cheap prices; furthermore, goods are delivered to the door.Employees in this company are well paid; furthermore, they enjoy free medical care.14. enable to do: make able to doe.g. Airplanes enable people to travel great distance rapidly.The rabbit’s speed enabled it to get away.15. adequate: 1) enough: amplee.g. Be fair. James even did not have adequate time to prepare.Owing to inflation, the old man’s pension is not even adequate to buy a decent dinner.2) suitable; fite.g. Those officials who are not adequate for their position must step down.Do you think he is adequate to the task?16. concentrate on: keep or direct all one’s efforts, thoughts, attentione.g. He concentrated on his reading so that he could understand the story.Please concentrate on your work?17. skim:1) look quickly throughe.g. It is Mr. Ginsberg’s habit to skim the newspapers at breakfast.She skimmed over the notice.2) remove floating matter from the surface of a liquide.g. skim the milk3) move lightly over a surface, touching here and theree.g. On summer evenings, dragonflies are seen to skim the river.18. look over: examine; inspecte.g. I looked hurriedly over the apples in the basket and took one that looked good.My sister is busy looking over her mail.19. organize: arrange in order; form into a wholee.g. The hostess is known for organizing dancing parties.Allow me a minute to organize my thoughts.20. double: make or become twice as greate.g. The price of eggs has doubled in the past few weeks.How did you double the profits of this factory in so short a time.21. later: later; afterwardse.g. The event was frequently mentioned in later historic documents.We will discuss this problem in detail later.22. go over: read again; review; examinee.g. We often went over our lessons together at night.Our teacher is busy going over examination papers.23. mention: 1) vt. speak or write about something in a few words.e.g. What were you talking about? I heard my name mentioned.Do not mention to his wife that he started smoking again.2) referring toe.g. At the mention of the headmaster, the pupil’s heart sank.Has there been any mention of this meeting in the newspapers?24. be confused: be bewildered; be mixed upe.g. The students showered me with so many questions that I really got confused.I am confused about the difference between these expressions.25. lead to: have as a result; causee.g. Hard work leads to success.The wording is too vague; it is likely to lead to ambiguity.26. attitude: 1) what one thinks about something or somebodye.g. What is your attitude to women’s rights?The Government takes a firm attitude in cracking down crimes.2) pose, manner of holding one’s bodye.g. He stood there in a menacing attitude.She struck a menacing attitude.27. purpose: aim; plan; designe.g. Last month Jim came to China for business purpose.The purpose of the meeting is to raise money for medical supplies.28. share with: use or have with others.e.g. I share the office with two other teachers.Share the candy with your sister.29. helpful: giving help; beneficiale.g. You were most helpful during our stay in Shanghai.Exercises are helpful to our health.Content: Unit 2 Sailing Round the WorldAim: Make students know about the history and trip of Sir Francis Chichester’s sail.Emphasis: Word BuildingTeaching time: 6 lessonsCourse:Introductory Remarks:Many people have traveled round the world, but no one else has done it the way Chischester did. He traveled round the world alone in a small yacht called the “Gipsy Moth IV” in spite of the fact that he had lung cancer. This text tells us briefly what happened to him on his voyage, one of the greatest seafaring exploits of all time. To begin with, let’s draw a map of Chichester’s course. Language points:1.single-handed: done by one person without help from otherse.g. In the end he had to man the ship single-handed.The job cannot be done single-handed.2.adventure: an exciting and dangerous journey or activity; strange or unusualhappeninge.g. Every journey outside the house is an adventure to the baby.Eating in Guangzhou is quite an adventure.3.fail: 1) vi. be unsuccessful; become weak or exhaustede.g. She failed in everything she tried.The enemy’s attack failed.2) vt. unable to do something; disappoint; do not pass an exame.g. Jim failed to pass the final exam.Words failed me.4.give up: stop having or doing; abandon hope for something or the attempt todo somethinge.g. You’d better give up smoking.We should not give up halfway.5.determined: with one’s mind firmly made upe.g. He is determined that his child will not lead a poor life.The Government is determined to further the reform.6.carry out: complete or fulfille.g. She carried out well the tasks assigned her.It is said that these attacks were carried out by terrorists.7.retire: 1) give up one’s job because of old age.e.g. Professors usually retire at 60 in China.Next year I will retire from the school.2) go away; withdrawe.g. After dinner, the ladies retired to the drawing room, leaving the men totheir cigars and drinks.Each side retired 15 miles from the frontier.3) go to bede.g. The writer usually retires at midnight.8. voyage: n. sea journeye.g. The letter was written on Hemingway’s voyage from the US to Paris.The first space shuttle voyage was devoted entirely to astronomy.v. go on a sea journeye.g. The seaman has almost voyaged around the world.9. plenty of: a large quantity or number ofe.g. plenty of water/sugar10. all by oneself: completely alone; without any helpe.g. She there all by herself.We finished this task all by ourselves.11. device: something made for a special purposee.g. Hunters use different devices to trap different animals.A wind vane is a device to tell from which direction the wind blows.12. damage: vt. cause harm toe.g. Hurricane Andrew damaged thousands of homes.The scandal damaged his career.n. harm; losse.g. We must find ways to repair the damage.Hurricane Andrew did great damage to the crops.13. cover: pass over or travele.g. The travelers covered 400 miles a day by car.They covered three states in two days.14. previously: beforee.g. Previously the two were good friends.We planned previously to visit the Museum, but we simply do not have the time.15. must not/mustn’te.g. You mustn’t move any of the books on my desk.You don’t have to come tomorrow if you do not want to.16. set off: begin a journey; starte.g. We set off at dawn.17. in spite of: regardless ofe.g. The children went to school in spite of the storm.She did it in spite of our efforts to stop her.18. attempt: n. effort to do somethinge.g. A true friend will make every attempt to help you.The enemy’s attempt at a surprise attack failed.Vt. try to do somethinge.g. Do not attempt the impossible.He attempted to win her love by sending her expensive gifts.19. dissuade somebody from doing something: prevent somebody from doingsomething by giving reasons.e.g. They dissuaded her from leaving school.The father finally dissuaded his son from giving up the job in the factory.20. by far: by a large degreee.g. This is by far the better of the two.She is by far better than Jim at spelling.21. so that: to such a degree thate.g. Was he so angry that he hit her?She ran so fast that we couldn’t catch up with her.22. turn over: reverse in position by bringing the bottom to the top or vice versae.g. The car turned over when the driver was making a sharp turn.A big wave turned the boat over.23. fortunately: luckilye.g. Many of my classmates have caught a heavy cold, fortunately I have not.Fortunately Matthew caught the train.24. contact: vt. get in touch withe.g. Do you contact your old classmates often?As soon as the reporter arrives, he will contact you.n. state of touching or communicatione.g. Many people are afraid of contacts with AIDS patients.Robinson Crusoe was out of contact with everybody else for a long time.25. nearby: not far offe.g. My son studied at a nearby school.There is a school nearby.26. waken: vi. stop sleepinge.g. He wakened at the first ray of daylight.Vt. wake up somebodye.g. The alarm bell wakened him out of a sound sleep.27. drag: pull along with difficultye.g. You have to drag the bookworm into exercising outdoors.The capital prisoner was dragged from his cell.28. very: same; identicale.g. You are the very man I want to see.Everyone says he is the very man for the job.29. accomplish: finish successfullye.g. Women can accomplish anything men can do.Having accomplished its goal, the expedition team was on its way home.30. conquer: defeat; overcomee.g. More and more people have come to realize that we must not “ conquer”nature, but we should make good use of it, instead.It is very hard to conquer bad habits.31. undoubtedly: certainlye.g. Thomas Jefferson is undoubtedly an admirable statesman.Undoubtedly this play is a great success.32. moreover: in addition; furthermoree.g. I don’t like going out in the evening; moreover the film is not worthseeing.He is undoubtedly not an ideal husband. He smokes and drinks.Moreover, he is lazy.Content: Unit3 The PresentAim: Understanding the text deeply.Emphasis: Words and ExpressionsTeaching time: 6 lessonsCourse:Introduction:What we are going to study is a simple story. It is an account of what happens to an old woman on her eightieth birthday. She is very excited that day. She gets up early and puts on her best dress. She wishes her daughter would come to see her, though deep down she has her doubts. But one thing is certain: she will get a present from her daughter anyway. So she waits with eagerness. Finally the postman comes; the old woman, however, does not receive the parcel she has been expecting, but a printed birthday card along with a check. She is so disappointed, so hurt, that she tears the check into small pieces. The story, simple as it is, shows us some aspects of the family relationship in Western society and gives us an insight into the frustrations lonely old people suffer.Language points:1.present: n. gifte.g. I’d like to send Mary a wedding present.Do you think this dictionary will make a great birthday present?v. give; submit; introducee.g. The little girl presented a bouquet to the Queen.John presented his resignation letter after quarreling with his boss.2.rare: 1) unusual; not often happening or seene.g. He was wild with joy when he found the rare book.Natural resources are rare in this region.2) thin, not densee.g. The Tibetans are used to the rare air around the Himalayas.3. occasion: special event; time when something happense.g. Birth, marriage and death are the three important occasions in a person’slife.We met on several other occasions.4.be sure: know and believe for a facte.g. We all are sure of success.Are you quite sure you locked the door?5.even if: in spite of the possibility that; thoughe.g. I will come even if it rains.I will finish the work even if it takes me the whole night.6. make: cause to bee.g. They make Professor Smith Chairman of the English Department.He was made our class representative.7.content to do something: pleased to do something; satisfied to doe.g. Will you be content to wait till tomorrow?No one is content to live in poverty.8.primary: 1) first, as in order, time or placee.g. Do you know the primary meaning of this word?The primary education is compulsory in our country?2) main; first in importancee.g. Blue, yellow and red are three primary colors.The primary concern of people is economic growth, isn’t it?9.arrange for: make preparations fore.g. They have arranged for a taxi to pick me up at 9 tomorrow morning.She has arranged for her secretary to meet you at the airport.10.minor: smaller; less important or seriouse.g. The house is in good condition; it needs just a few minor repairs.Allen has been troubled with a series of minor illnesses since his mid teens.11.operate: vi. perform surgery; worke.g. The machine is not operating well.He has his left knee operated on last Monday.vt. manage; make… worke.g. Do you know how to operate this machine?A telephone operator operates the switch board.12. efficient: capablee.g. Efficient secretaries are in great demand these days.My father is very efficient in saving time.13.after all: when everything has been considered; nevertheless.e.g. Bob thought he couldn’t go to the party because he had too muchhomework, but he went after all.Do not expect me to work such a miracle; after all, I am a mere mortal.14.endure: vi., vt. suffer, bear, put up withe.g. The company had to endure heavy financial losses.I left home because I could not endure my two noisy cousins.vi. laste.g. Their marriage has endured 35 years.15. choose to: decide to; prefer toe.g. You may do just as you choose to.We chose not to go to the movies yesterday evening.15.spot: 1) mark different in color from what it is on; staine.g. I like very much that blue tie with yellow spots.It is difficult to get rid of spots of ink, blood or grease.2) a particular placee.g. He happened to be on the spot when the robbery took place.3) recognize; discover; locatee.g. He was the first one to spot the comet.My house is painted green, you will easily spot it.16.extra: adj. additionale.g. Students do not welcome extra homework.adv. Especiallye.g. Mr. Johnson wears extra large clothes.n. additional thinge.g. Her income includes salary, investment returns, and extras.17. pang: a sudden sharp mental or emotional paine.g. a pang of sadnessa pang of remorse18. disappoint: fail to fulfill the hope ofe.g. He was disappointed to hear that the football star would not play thatday.Work hard. Do not disappoint your parents.19. reluctantly: unwillinglye.g. The child turned off the TV reluctantly.Almost reluctantly he picked up the phone.20. fold: bend into two or more partse.g. Soldiers are ordered to fold back their bedclothes neatly.21. tremble: shake; move to and froe.g. The old man’s hand trembled when he signed his name.her voice trembled with excitement.22. tear: pull apart or into pieces by forcee.g. to tear a letter into piecesContent: Unit4 Turning of TV: A quiet hourAim: Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of watching TV. Emphasis: Words and ExpressionsTeaching time: 6 lessonsCourse:Introduction:Television, since its first prevalence over radio in the 1950s, has played a more and more important role in people’s lives. As a matter of fact, it has become so much a part of human life that a modern world without television is unimaginable. Some people even say that life without television is not worth living. But some, on the other hand, argue against TV. They think television is taking up too much of a person’s time and making him lazy, not to mention its harmful influence upon him. The author of this article, for example, is raising his voice against TV, urging viewers to turn off their sets and enjoy a precious quiet hour, an hour without the distraction of TV.Language points:1.worthwhile: worthy of the time, efforts, etc.e.g. Can you recommend some worthwhile books for me to read?It is worthwhile to come all the way to see the scenic spot.2.program: n.1) list of items for TV or radio broadcast, concerts, operas andother eventse.g. What’s the next item on the theater program?Most newspapers carry TV programs for the day.2) plan or strategye.g. According to the government report, the reemployment program isgoing on well.3) set of instructions that a computer follows in order to perform a particulartask.e.g. Bill Gates built his company by designing software programs.v. give a set of instructions to make it able to perform a particular taske.g. The robot is programmed to do dangerous jobs in place of men.3. current: adj. 1) of the present timee.g. The woman in blue over there is the current chairperson of ourdepartment.What is the current exchange rate for US dollars?2) generally accepted or in fashione.g. The current belief that human beings evolved from monkeys.In writing, do not use words that are no longer current.n. 1) stream of flowing water, air, gase.g. The cold currents of air from Siberia influence the climate of China.The body of the little boy swept away by the current was found days later.2) flow of electricity through a wire or cablee.g. alternate current direct current3) general course; tendencye.g. Newspapers influence the current of public opinions.A small incident can sometimes change the whole current of one’s life.4. social: 1) of or in societye.g. Single-parent families bring about many social problems.Myra was praised for the social work she had done.2) for companionshipe.g. Young ladies over-interested in social gatherings are called socialbutterflies.He dropped in at Mrs. Harts simply for social purposes.5.nevertheless: but; howevere.g. Mum was tired; nevertheless, she did not rest until all the sewing wasdone.He is quite handsome; nevertheless no girls like: he is too arrogant.6.propose: suggest; put forward for consideratione.g. He proposed that we go there on foot.We proposed to them that the meeting be put off.Proposal: n. 1) plan or schemee.g. The two warring countries agreed to the peace proposal.The President rejected the proposal to put off the meeting.2) offer of marriagee.g. The princess has had quite a number of proposals this year.7. prohibit: forbide.g. Smoking is prohibited in public places.Fishermen are prohibited from fishing in spring.8.actually: reallye.g. Actually I am here to borrow some money.I do not like the dinner, actually.9. gap: n. 1) unfilled space; openinge.g. When Jill laughs, the gap between her teeth shows.The sheep went out through a gap in the fence.2) a wide difference of opinion, charactere.g. It takes years to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor.You simply cannot bring John and Thomas together. There is a wide gap between their opinion.10.rate 1)percentagee.g. Speed is the rate between the change of distance and time.2) speede.g. Camels travel at a rte of 10 miles an hour.3) pricee.g. What is the postage rate for parcel to the US?In China, long-distance telephone rates depend on the distance.11.in part: partly; to some degreee.g. The driver was in part responsible for the accident.I admit that you are right in part.12. communicate: 1) share or exchange opinions, ideas.e.g. Public relations officers are experts in communicating with customers.Marriage fails when man and wife do not communicate with each other.2) pass on information, newse.g. Ancient Indian tribes communicated by sign language.It is the duty of the mass media to communicate news.13.disturb: 1) make worriede.g. She was disturbed by her husband’s not coming home in time.I was disturbed to hear there had been another murder the night before.2) break the peace or order ofe.g. Do not disturb him.Would you please turn down you radio? It is disturbing all your neighbors’sleep.14. get to : begin by chance; begin toe.g. We got to know the professor at the party.I was getting to like John when he left.15. neighborhood: an areae.g. There are a lot of lawns in the wealthy neighborhood.Aunt Ma is a neighborhood activist.16.typical: representative or characteristice.g. Zhuozheng Garden is a typical Suzhou garden.Such a roof is typical of buildings in Southern China.17.grow up: become adulte.g. The little girl has grown up into a pretty young woman.What are you going to be when you grow up, my child?18.barely: hardlye.g. In the orphanage, Oliver had barely enough to eat.Barely did he remember what had happened a week before.e up with: produce; think ofe.g. They came up with a good excuse for being late.Intelligent students can always come up with good solutions toproblems.20.glance: n. quick looke.g. The letter was so short that I finished it at a glance.Skimming is to glance over a piece of writing to find main ideas.v. look quicklye.g. Father glanced over the newspaper headlines at breakfast.She glanced shyly at him fro behind the harp.e to: grow to; arrive at mentallye.g. John has come realize his own mistake.Living here for years, she has come to know the city well.22.partly: in some degreee.g. This is partly my fault.What he told you is partly true.23.involve: 1) have as a part or resulte.g. To apply for university study involves taking the College EntranceExamination.Their visit to our company will involve a meeting without generalmanager.2) cause to be mixed upe.g. It is said that many politicians were involved in the drug traffic.24. invent: 1) produce something for the first timee.g. Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb.It is often difficult to decide who really deserves the credit for inventinga new device.2) make upe.g. He invented a story to explain why his watch was missing.Rumor is invented by ill-intentioned people.Content: Unit5 A miserable, merry ChristmasAim: Knowing something about ChristmasEmphasis: Words and ExpressionsTeaching time: 6 lessonsCourse:Introduction:Taken from the autobiography of Lincoln Steffens, a famous American journalist, it is a true story. Usually Christmas is big fun children look forward to. So how can Christmas be merry and miserable at one time? And what does the author mean by saying that Christmas was the best, and at the same time, the worst he ever knew? Keep these two questions in mind as you read the story closely.Language points:1.make sure: act so as to be certaine.g. Make sure you have the key.Father makes sure that all lights are off before he goes to bed.2.declare: make known clearly or formally; say strongly or openlye.g. The scientist declared the results of his experiment.Peace was declared at last.3.stick to: refuse to change or leave; continue one’s effort ate.g. I will stick to this task until it is completed.This fellow never sticks to anything for very long.4.ought to: followed by an infinitive to indicate duty or obligation,synonymous with should but stronger in meaning.e.g. You ought to be more careful.People ought not to drive like that.5.eve: the evening before a festival or an important evente.g. Bill stayed up late on the eve of the final exam.Firecrackers are heard everywhere on New Year’s Eve.6.hang up: place on a hook, peg or hangere.g. When the children come to school, they hang up their coats in theclassroom.Let’s hang up the picture in the classroom.7.miserable: very unhappy; pitiablee.g. You have made my life so miserable that I cannot put up with you anymore.The sick child looked pale and miserable.8.indignant: angry at something unfaire.g. The old man was indignant at his grandson’s wastefulness.Thomas Edison’s mother grew indignant when the teacher said he wasslow in learning, and decided to teach Thomas herself.9.some: somewhate.g. I am feeling some better today.This medicine helped me.10.weep: cry without a loud sound, with tears running downe.g. She wept with joy.11. rude: 1) not at all politee.g. In Western countries, it is rude to ask a woman her age.Do not be so rude to your patients.2) roughly made; simplee.g. These are the rude weapons made by people 2000 years ago.He lived in a rude cabin he had built himself.12.wrong: do wrong to; treat unfairlye.g. She has wronged no man by word or deed in all her life.She forgave those who had wronged her.13.or something: or something similar; or something of that sorte.g. Her father is a well-known artist or something.Are you sick or something?14.lest: in case; in order thate.g. The children kept quiet lest they wake up their mother.He always does whatever she tells him to do lest she be angry.15.anxiety: 1) being in fear or uncertainty of somethinge.g. Jane waited outside of the operation room in anxiety for her husband’ssafety.The political situation caused people in that country much anxiety.2) keen desiree.g. John’s workmates dislike him for his anxiety to please their boss.Anxiety for knowledge should be encouraged among students.16.impatience: inability to wait calmlye.g. Our impatience is large.His voice rises with impatience.17.catch sight of: seee.g. I turned round and caught sight of Helen getting into a taxi.As we drove by the harbor, we caught sight of a large steamship.18.such…as: of the same kind; of that kinde.g. I said no such thing as that.。