Unit9-Lesson4 Car Culture

The Road to Destruction

一、词汇和句型

the road to destruction, under construction, construction works, Construction Bank of China, get stuck in sth., get stuck on the first question, go up(down) by …, go up(down) to …, produce 99%of all carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, be related to…. climate change,  make excuses, cut the risk of heart disease by 50%, save you money, keep you fit, help you live longer, be addicted to sth, compared to sth,

How often ……?

……are nothing compared to sth.

形容词短语做状语:

1. How often do we arrive at work or school stressed out, tired and angry?

2. He eventually reached the top of the hill, tired and out of breath.

3. When the spaceship returned to the earth’s atmosphere, helicopters were flying to where he would land, ready to collect him.

4. She came back home, exhausted but happy.

二、句子（句组）背诵

1. How often have you heard these conversations? How often do we get stuck in traffic jams? How often do we arrive at work or school stressed out, tired and angry? For many people in Britain, the answer is every day. But anger and stress are nothing compared to the real costs of the motor car.

2. In the last ten years, the number of cars on the roads in Britain has gone up by 30%.

3. On average, about forty people travel in one bus, while the same number occupy thirty-three cars. Sometimes it can take a little bit longer, but so what? You can relax on the bus or train, read a book, talk to someone, meet the love of your life – who knows? (can在这里是什么意思？)

4. When I asked Jenny Trowe of Greenpeace for advice about how to give up, she told me six things.

5. We know that cars are bad for us. So why do we carry on using our cars so much?

6. Do you really have to go to that shopping centre on the other side of town? What about the shops around the corner?  (How about the shops around the corner? Why not try? … )

7. We often think there is nothing we can do about the noise, pollution and danger of traffic. There is.  (can在这里是什么意思？)

联想：We often think there is nothing we can do to stop the noise, pollution and danger of traffic.

8. Do whichever of these things that suit you. Don’t just sit around and complain!

whichever:

1. a.  any (one, two, etc., out of several) take whichever car you like

b.  (as pronoun) choose whichever appeals to you

2. a.  no matter which (one or ones) whichever card you pick you'll still be making a mistake

b.  (as pronoun) it won't make any difference, whichever comes first

what·ev·er   pron.

1. Everything or anything that: Do whatever you please.

2. What amount that; the whole of what: Whatever is left over is yours.

3. No matter what: Whatever happens, we'll meet here tonight.

4. Which thing or things; what: Whatever does he mean?

5. Informal What remains and need not be mentioned; what have you: Please bring something to the party-pretzels, crackers, whatever.

adj.

1. Of any number or kind; any: Whatever requests you make will be granted.

2. All of; the whole of: She applied whatever strength she had left to the task.

3. Of any kind at all: No campers whatever may use the lake before noon.

interj. Informal

Used to indicate indifference to or scorn for something, such as a remark or suggestion: We're having pizza tonight.-Whatever. I don't care.

Usage Note: Both whatever and what ever may be used in sentences such as Whatever (or What ever) made her say that? Critics have occasionally objected to the one-word form, but many respected writers have used it. The same is true of the forms whoever, whenever, wherever, and however. In adjectival uses, however, only the one-word form is used: Take whatever (not what ever) books you need. · When a clause beginning with whatever is the subject of a sentence, no comma should be used: Whatever you do is right. In most other cases, a comma is needed: Whatever you do, don't burn the toast. · When a noun followed by a restrictive clause is preceded by whichever or whatever, it is regarded as incorrect to introduce the clause with that in formal writing: whatever book that you want to look at; one should write instead Whatever book you want to look at will be sent to your office or Whichever book costs less (not that costs less) is fine with us. See Usage Notes at however, that.

9. Six easy ways to improve our environment. (We have six easy ways that can be used to improve our environment.)

10. I’m sorry I must finish this article. I’ve got to pick up my daughter from school at four o’clock. Then I’ve got to drive to Sainsbury’s to do some shopping. After that I have to take my son to a party. And tomorrow we’re driving over to see my mother. The traffic’s going to be awful, but what can I do? (can在这里是什么意思？)

Note:

1. a. Used to indicate physical or mental ability: I can carry both suitcases. Can you remember the war?

b. Used to indicate possession of a specified power, right, or privilege: The President can veto congressional bills.

c. Used to indicate possession of a specified capability or skill: I can tune the harpsichord as well as play it.

2. a. Used to indicate possibility or probability: I wonder if my long lost neighbor can still be alive. Such things can and do happen.

b. Used to indicate that which is permitted, as by conscience or feelings: One can hardly blame you for being upset.

c. Used to indicate probability or possibility under the specified circumstances: They can hardly have intended to do that.

3. Usage Problem Used to request or grant permission: Can I be excused?

Usage Note: Generations of grammarians and teachers have insisted that can should be used only to express the capacity to do something, and that may must be used to express permission. But children do not use can to ask permission out of a desire to be stubbornly perverse. They have learned it as an idiomatic expression from adults: After you clean your room, you can go outside and play. As part of the spoken language, this use of can is perfectly acceptable. This is especially true for negative questions, such as Can't I have the car tonight? probably because using mayn't instead of can't sounds unnatural. Nevertheless, in more formal usage the distinction between can and may still has many adherents. Only 21 percent of the Usage Panel accepts can instead of may in the sentence Can I take another week to submit the application? The heightened formality of may sometimes highlights the speaker's role in giving permission. You may leave the room when you are finished implies that permission is given by the speaker. You can leave the room when you are finished implies that permission is part of a rule or policy rather than a decision on the speaker's part. For this reason, may sees considerable use in official announcements: Students may pick up the application forms tomorrow.

11. Over 25% of car journeys are under two miles – short journeys we could easily walk or cycle. ( To go or pass over, on, or through by walking: walk the financial district of a city.)

三、文章结构

The road to destruction

Problems caused by cars-----(I admit I am addicted to my car.)advice from Greenpeace about how to reduce the use of cars (Don’t just sit around and complain!)-----too many excuses to use the car!

四、文章（标题）寓意

What do you think “the road to destruction” mean? Why does the author think our car culture is the road to destruction? Do you agree?

The traffic makes people stressed out, tired and angry. But many people still make excuses in order to continue using their car although they know that the more cars on roads, the worse the situation will be.