Unit Eight 

Section B  How Your Attitude Affects Your Health

I. Introduction

    There are three good qualities in one’s character. First of all, one is rather competitive, which helps him succeed in many cases. Next, one has strong self-confidence, which enables him overcome many difficulties in his life. Last, one is curious about everything, which arouses his interest in asking questions and coming up with new ideas. When asked what kind of life is successful, people views may vary from person to person. They may list a lot of things symbolizing a successful life, such as great wealth, good health, true friendship, a nice family and son.

II. New Words and Phrases

1. succeed   v. 1) do what one has tried

His strong will has helped him succeed in many difficult situations.

他坚强的意志使他成功地面对很多艰难时刻。

2) be the next to take a position

He had no son to succeed him.                          他没有儿子继承他。

2. patience   n. the ability to wait calmly for a long time

She has reached the limit of her patience.              她已到了忍无可忍的地步。

Looking after children requires patience.               照料孩子需要耐心。

3. undertake  vt. 1) take up or accept

The old lady undertakes some light household duties.    这位老太太在家只承担一些轻松的家务活。

The work was undertaken by members of the committee.    此项工作由委员会成员承担。

2) promise

He undertook to buy a car for his son.                  他答应给他儿子买辆车。

4. relax  v.make or become less active and worried; less stiff or tight

I hope the holiday will give you a chance to relax.     我希望这个假期将给你一个放松的机会。

Listening to music is a good way to relax. 　　　　　　 听音乐是放松身心的好方法。

5. stress  n. 1) [C;U] (a state of worry resulting from) pressure caused by the problems of living, too much work, etc.

Susan was completely weighed down by the stress of examinations.　　 苏珊被考试的压力压垮了。

I can't bear the stresses and strains of modern life.  　我不能忍受现代生活的压力和紧张。

2) [U] a sense of special importance; emphasis

She laid great stress on the need for secrecy.           她充分强调要保密。

vt. give particular importance to; mention strongly; emphasize

The employer stressed that in his company all workers would be treated equally.  

老板强调，在他公司里，所有工人都会受到平等的对待。

6. considerable  a. fairly large or great；of an amount or degree that must be taken seriously

He made a considerable sum of money in real estate.    他做房地产生意赚了大笔钱。

Paul is a considerable person in his town.             保罗是镇上的一位重要人物。

7. in haste: hurriedly; quickly

Marry in haste and repent at leisure.                  结婚太急, 后悔莫及。

8. hold down: keep a job

He couldn’t hold down his job in the company any longer owing to his poor health.

由于身体不好，他在公司的那份工作再也维持不下去了。

9. at the risk of: although there is a possibility of something unpleasant resulting

At the risk of being blamed, he drove his father’s car to school.

冒着被责备的风险，他开着他爸爸的车去上学了。

10. at odds with: not getting on well with somebody

She is such a nice woman that nobody is at odds with her. 

她是那么好的一个女人，以至于没人和她有矛盾。

III. Text Learning

1. Are you usually pressed for time?

Meaning: Do you usually feel you barely have enough time to do things you need to do?

be pressed for sth: have barely enough of something

e.g. Many students said they were too pressed for time to read all the books assigned by the teacher.    许多学生说他们的时间太紧张了，无法读完老师要求读的书。

I'm pressed for cash. Can you lend me some?             我现金不够，你能否借我一点吗？

2. If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, I can make a few predictions about you, based on a recent eight-year study of nearly two thousand people who live the way you do.

Meaning: If you answer most of the above questions with “yes” , I can tell something about you, according to the findings of a recent survey which lasted for eight years, and studied almost two thousand people who live in the same way as you do.

3. … you are about twice as likely to have a heart attack as someone who is more relaxed about life. (Para.9)

Notice the structure: (…) times as +adj./adv. + as

e.g.  He ran twice as fast as I did.                    他跑得比我快一倍。

We produced three times as much steel this year as we did in 1990.  

我们今年的钢材产量是1990年的3倍。

IV.  Practical Writing: Understanding and writing notices

  Ask the students to write a notice after learning the samples.