I. Useful Words and Expressions (Text A)

1. reserve (L19)

① [ C] & [ U] a quantity of something kept for future use; store 贮藏；储备

This area has great reserves of energy.  这个地区有巨大的能源储备。

② [ C] a piece of land set aside for wild animals, plants etc. 保护区

a nature reserve 自然保护区     a wildlife reserve 野生动物保护区

a game reserve 禁猎区          a forest reserve 森林保留地

③ [ U] a lack of warmth or openness in manner or expression 矜持，拘谨

She smiled and some of her natural reserve melted.

她微微一笑，那天生的矜持也随之消失。

④ vt. To set aside, set apart or keep for a special purpose 保留

These seats are reserved for old and sick people.  这些座位是留给老人和病人坐的。

I reserve the right to disagree.  我保留持不同意见的权利。

⑤ vt.  to make a reservation 预定

I have reserved a room for you at the hotel.  我已在旅馆为你预订了一个房间。

习惯用语：

in reserve 备用的

We always reserve some money in reserve.  我们总是存起一些备用的钱。

without reserve 无保留地；无条件地

I believe your story without reserve. 我毫无保留地相信你说的。

2. handicap (L26)

① vt. (of a quality or situation ) to cause (sb.) to have a disadvantage 妨碍，使不利

Lack of money handicapped him in his business badly.

资金短缺严重影响了他的企业发展。

② n. any condition or situation likely to cause disadvantage or difficulty 缺陷，不利

They told me that my lack of experience was a handicap.

他们说我缺乏经验是个很不利的因素。

handicapped  adj. having a disability of the body or mind 残疾的

The success of the handicapped man incites us to pursue our dreams.

这位残疾人的成功激励我们追求自己的梦想。

Note: A more polite expression for such group of people is “the disabled” or “the disabled people”

3. specify (L35)   vt. state or name definitely

Names and telephone numbers were not specified.  姓名和电话号码均未明确给出。

Blank filling

specific adj. 明确的  specifically adv. 明确地    specification n.（pl） 规格

1) Can you be a bit more ____________?

2) The police ____________ told you to avoid the main road.

3) The car was built according to strict ___________.

4. follow the herd （L59）  do just what everyone else does 随大流

You are always following the herd. Is there no individuality in you?

你一味随俗，就没有一点自我吗？

5. differ vi. (L60)

differ in 在…方面不同     differ from 与…不同

differ from… in… 与……在……方面不同

The two desks differ in color but not in size. 这两张桌子的区别在于颜色而不在于大小。

Their house differs from mine in having no garage.

(Or: Their house differs from mine in that theirs does not have a garage.)

他们的房子和我们的不同，区别在于他们的没有车库。

6. complement (L63)   vt. vo make ( something) complete or perfect; supply what is lacking in (something) 使…完善；补充

This wine complements the food perfectly.  用这种酒配这种菜肴最妙不过了。

n. something which, when added to something else, completes it or makes it perfect 补足物；使完备之物

A fine wine is a complement to a good meal.  美食加美酒才算完备。

Compare: supplement complement

Supplement n. sth added to sth. else to improve or complete it 增补（物）；an additional part of a magazine or newspaper 增刊；vt. add to or complete sth. with sth. else  增补

辨析：supplement 仅仅表示“补充，增补”，暗含“不够，不足”的情况下进行的“增补”；而complement表示“增补”的目的是为了完善和完美。

e.g.: iron supplements 铁质补充剂   vitamin-C supplements 维他命C补充剂

a supplement to a family income 家庭收入的补充

He is doing extra jobs to supplement his income. 他在做一些零活以补充收入。

7. assess or judge sth. on its (own) merits (L65)  judge sth. only on what one sees when one looks at it rather than what one knows from other people or things  对客观……评价

We must judge each plan on its own merits. (by its own qualities, not by our opinions)

我们必须以其本身的好坏来评价每一个计划。

8. to sb. credit：(L75)  used to indicate that something praiseworthy has been achieved, especially despite difficulties  值得表扬的是（尤指克服困难做成了值得赞扬的事）

It is greatly to your credit that you gave back the money you found.

你拾金不昧是非常难能可贵的。

To their credit, both sides managed to overcome the difficulties and produce an exciting match.值得表扬的是，双方克服了困难，进行了一场精彩的表演。

have something to one’s credit : have achieved something notable  取得成就

He has 65 Tournament wins to his credit.  他获得65次联赛冠军。

do someone credit/ do credit to someone : make someone worthy of praise or respect

为某人增光

His improved performance does credit to his trainer. 他的表演有进步，为他的教练增了光。

9. dismiss （L78） vt.

① (from) refuse to consider (a subject or idea) seriously [常与from连用] 不予考虑；摒弃（念头，想法等）

A good few people dismiss the idea as sheer nonsense.

不少人认为这种想法是胡说八道。

The minister just laughed, and dismissed the idea as impossible.

部长认为那个想法是异想天开,因而一笑置之。

dismiss fear from one's mind  消除心里的恐惧

② to send away or allow to go 让….离开；解散

The teacher dismissed the class five minutes earlier.   老师提前5分钟下课了。

The chairman dismissed the meeting.   主席宣布散会。

③ （fml）to remove from a job; sack解雇，开除

He was dismissed from school.   他被开除学籍。

He was dismissed from his job.   他被解雇了。

10. take up (L79)

① to accept the offer of 接受（提议等）

Will he take you up on your offer of a meal?  他会接受你请客的邀请吗？

② to begin to spend time doing 开始花时间从事

He took up Spanish while in Spain.  当他在西班牙的时候，他开始学习西班牙语。

③ to continue继续，接下去

Harry took up the tale at the point where John had left off.

哈利接着约翰停止的地方继续讲那个故事。

④ to fill or use (space or time), especially in a way that is undesirable 占（时间、地方等），消耗

It took up a whole week to write the article. 写这篇文章花了整整一个星期。

11. unparalleled (L82)  adj. (fml) too great to be equaled （正式）无比的，无双的，空前的

近义词：exceptional    extraordinary    incomparable    matchless

remarkable    unbeatable      unequaled       unsurpassed

The recent economic recession is unparalleled since the 1930s.

最近的经济不景气是自三十年代以来最严重的一次。

空前的伟业 an unparalleled achievement

独步天下  be unparalleled in the world

色艺绝伦  be unparalleled both in beauty and in art

这是有史以来无可比拟的大变化。 It is a tremendous change unparalleled in history.

12. it is the job of sb. to do sth. (L 36-37)  做某事是某人的职责

It is the job of every student to work hard.  努力学习是每个学生的职责。

It is the job of every nurse to take care of the patient.  照顾病人是每个护士的职责。

13. chances are (high/ great/ low/ slim/ ) that …（L83-84) (很/ 不太)有可能

Chances are great that she has already heard the news.  很可能她已经听到这消息了。

If you don’t obey the rules in the company, chances are that you will be dismissed.

如果不遵守公司的规则，你有可能会被解雇。

II. Useful Words and Expressions (Text B)

1. at the very least (L5)

at least的意思是“至少”（指数量或程度上）。它与 at the least，at the very least同义，可互换使用，但后两者有强调意味，远不及前者用得普遍。例：

The total enrolment of the university in the academic year 1991-1992 was at least 10，000，including undergraduates and postgraduates．

在1991－1992学年期间，该大学至少有一万名大学生，包括本科大学生和研究主。

Even if you cannot help him，you can give him encouragement at least．

就算你未能帮助他，至少你可以鼓励他。

Whether you like it or not，at the very least，this is reality．

不管你是否喜欢，反正这是个现实。

2. keep …in check (L17-18)  keep sb. or sth. under control

It is a goog way of keeping inflation in check.  它是一种控制通货膨胀的好方法。

We are keeping the enemy in check.  我们正阻挡着敌人。

3. curb (L19) 动词过去式:curbed 过去分词:curbed 现在分词:curbing 第三人称单数:curbs

① vt. to control (sth. undesirable, such as strong feelings, wasteful spending etc); restrain 控制，约束

Measures have been taken to curb inflation.  已采取措施抑制通货膨胀。

② n. a controlling influence; check 控制，约束

keep a curb on your tempt.  你得控制自己的脾气。

The public demanded a curb on military spending.  公众要求限制军事开支。

4. conform to (L20)  to obey or be in accordance with established rules 遵守；符合

You must conform to the rules of the school.  你必须遵守学校规则。

The equipment does not conform to the safety standards.  这个设备不符合安全标准。

5. at hand (L35)

① under discussion or being considered 正考虑的

Her question was not related to the matter at hand.

她提的问题跟正在考虑的事情无关。

② near in time or place 临近的，在手边

He realized that the end of his career was near at hand.  他意识到退休在即。

It is very important to have a dictionary at hand when you are studying English.

当你学英语的时候，手边有一本字典是非常重要的。

6. have/get/follow one’s (own) way (L53-54)

get or do what one wants in spite of opposition 一意孤行，随心所欲

I could give good counsel to my descendants, but I know they’ll get their own way, for all their grandfather’s sermon.  我可以给我的儿孙很好的教导，可是我知道他们仍旧要各行其是，他们祖父的一切训悔等于耳边风。

Don't let children always get their own way.

7. let one’s defences down (L63) 放下戒备心理

Although her husband has promised again and again to be faithful to her, Mary is still hard pressed to let her defences down. 尽管她的丈夫再三承诺会对她忠诚，玛丽还是很难放下戒备心理。

His genuine smile immediately let our defences down.

他真诚的微笑很快使我们放下戒备心理。

8. own up to (doing) sth. (L71)

admit or confess to having done something wrong or embarrassing 坦白，承认

He owns up only to a few mistakes.  他只承认了一些错误。

She finally owned up to haing taken the money from her friend.

她终于承认从她朋友那里拿了钱。

9. shift the blame/ responsibility (for sth.) (onto sb.) (L72-73)

make sb. else responsible for sth., esp. for sth. bad that has happened

He tried to shift the responsiblity for the crime onto his colleage.

他试图把犯罪的责任推到同事身上。

Don’t try to shift the blame for the mistakes onto me.  不要把错误推到我身上。

10. streak (L83)  a quality of someone’s character which is different from their other or usual qualities, uaually in a bad way （通常指不好的）个性特征（倾向）

She has got a mean/ stubborn streak.  她的个性有点小气 [固执]。

The man has a streak of cruelty in his character.  那个汉子性情有些残酷

III. Key to the exercises Enhance Your Language Awareness (p230—237)

WORDS IN ACTION

Working with Words and Expressions

1. 1) viewpoint   2) conventional   3) typical       4) merely        5) valid

6) productive   7) assess       8) alter          9) emloyment   10) convey

11) competent  12) objective   13) professional   14) reserve      15) shift

16) dismiss   17) personally   18) strengths      19) intense      20) norms

2. 1) in reserve   2) To his credit   3) In view of     4) in person      5) take up

6) follow the head   7) assess / judge… on its (own) merits   8) takes an…turn

Increasing Your Word Power

1. 1) to         2) on   3) to     4) about // of    5) to       6) on // with

7) to // with   8) on   9) to    10) to

2. 1) deep   2) total    3) heavy   4) high     5) deep     6) strong

7) high   8) heavy   9) close   10) total

3. trustworthy   sightseeing   viewpoint    self-fulfilling  good-looking   light year

feedback     air force     fault-finding  guideline     sidewalk       fast food

GRAMMAR REVIEW

1. 1) what   2) whether   3) whose   4) whoever   5) what     6) where

7) how   8) which     9) that    10) that

2. 1) The children said (that) they had seen some of those animated cartoons.

2) John said (that) he knew he wouldn’t be able to do it.

3) Mary said (that) Joe couldn’t have done such a thing, for he was such a conscientious young man.

4) Last Friday Mary asked John whether / if he was going to plant trees with them the next day.

5) He asked John how long he had been waiting for them.

6) The old lady downstairs told us to be quiet after midnight.

7) The monitor reminded us not to forget to take our notebooks with us.

8) John remarked what a lovely house it was. / John remarked that it was a lovely house.

CLOZE

1) being    2) who    3) essential   4) employee   5) role      6) goals    7) specific

8) common  9) on    10) line      11) mean      12) agree   13) offer

TRANSLATION

1) 我们一起工作已经很长时间了，从来没有因为意见分歧而妨碍到我们之间的友谊。（get in the way of sth.）

We’ve worked together for a long time and have never let our differing opinions get in the way of our friendship.

2）这项协议将为两国间的持久和平铺平道路。（pave the way for）

This agreement will pave the way for a lasting peace between the two countries.

3）他们通常要等你开始放松警惕，才提出他们的要求。（let one’s defenses down）

They usually don’t mention their requirements until you are beginning to let your defenses down.

4）要有勇气面对自己的失误，不要出了问题就想把责任推到别人身上去。（shift the blame onto sb.）

You should have the courage to face your own mistakes. Don’t try to shift the blame onto others when things go wrong. / …Don’t try to shift the blame onto other shoulders when things go wrong.

5）如果你经常担惊受怕，你会发现这本书很有帮助。（more often than not）

If you are more often than not affected by fear and worry, you will find this book very useful.

6）我既然接受了这个职位，就会尽自己所能完成本职工作。（to the best of one’s ability）

Now that I have accepted the position, I shall certainly do to the best of my ability all that is required of me.

7）如果你每天要做的事情没有计划，你就很可能做不了多少事。（Chances are high that…）

If you don’t have a plan of what you will do every day, chances are high that you won’t do much.

8）真是英雄所见略同啊，你的想法跟他的完全一致呢。（in line with）

Great minds think alike. Your ideas are completely in line with his.

IV. Writing

Refutation (驳论) is often used in writing an argumentative passage. There are three important steps in refutaion. Firstly, a wrong idea — the object for refutation, is stated, including the detailed reasons that are used to support this incorrect idea. Secondly, a corrrect idea is presented, with specific statements to prove why this idea is right. Finally, a conclusion is made.

Analyze the Structure of the Passage by Finding out the Refuted Statement, the Correct Statement and their respective Evidence.

Should Men and Woman be equal?

Should men and women be equal? This is a quesiton much talked about by many people. Some hold that men are superior to women in many aspects. Hence, the former should enjoy more right than the latter. They think that many a job men do can hardly be done by women, who are physicially not strong enough, and that nost of the world-famous scientists or statements are found to be males.

It would be wrong to argue that man should enjoy more right than women. In fact, women are playing an equally important role in society as men. It is a well-known fact that many women have been working side by side with men in many fields. Besides, there are many women, Madame Curit and Margreat Thatcher, to name only a few, in history who work as scientists and politicians. Observing objectively, you’ll find that women have succeeded in virtually any existing occupation you care to name: soldiers, doctors, university professors, lawyers, business executives and even presidents of countries.

Personally, I firmly believe that women should be given the same rights as men, because they are equally important in all human activities.

Write a Paragraph as Required

Directions: Please write a passage on the topic, Should Firecrackers Be Banned? on the outline (given in Chinese) below:

             1. 有人认为放鞭炮是中国人的传统习惯，不应禁止

             2. 我的观点完全不同，理由是

             3. 结论

Sample

Should Firecrackers Be Banned?

 

Recently, there is a general controversy over the ban on firecrackers. Some people complain that letting off firecrackers has long been a custom for the Chinese on their happy occations and should not be banned. They think that it reflects the heritage of Chinese culture and tradition. By leeting off firecrackers, the excitement and warm atmosphere can be strongly felt. In addition, evil spirits can be driven and luck can be brought If firecrackers are banned, people can’t have a happy new year.

I disagree with this reasoning. The reasons are as follows. First, addmittedly, letting off firecrackers will create a happy atmosphere, but it will not really bring luck to let off firecrackers. Besides, it is dangerous to let off firecrackers. It was reported that letting off firecrackers causes a lot of accidents, fire, injury, and even death every year. Moreover, firecrackers often cause enviormental pollution. For instance, on New Year’s Eve, there were usually deafening noises of explosion accompanied with choking smoke and hazardous sparks, which seriously polluted the air.

With all these hazards of firecrackers, can we spend our special holiday and the Spring Festival in a peaceful and joyful manner? It is no doubt that letting off firecrackers should be banned without hesitation.

Theme Related Writing for Unit 7  (p.238)

MY View of a Team Player

1) What does a team player mean?

2) Why do we need team players?

3) How do we make ourselves team players?

Sample

A team player is someone who can work well with other people in a team. But it is not enough just to get along with others. A true team player must be more positive and constructive than just following the herd; he or she must also be able to play an active part in decision-making.

Our society demands team players because by gathering all our various strengths together, we can accomplish more in a shorter time. It is because of teamwork that most businesses are able to function properly.

To become team players we must learn to compromise. When our views conflict with the general view of the team we must restrain our egos and listen to what others say. We should learn how to deal with criticism in a mature way; be honest and be aware of others’ feelings.                         (140 words)