• Related information

• 1) Lost generation: It appeared in the 1920s as a result of World War I and compulsory politics （强权政治） .They were disillusioned and felt lost, and pessimistic about their life.

•  

• 2) Beat (Silent ) Generation: It appeared in the late 1950s as a result of bad political atmosphere (political persecution). In their eyes, those taking part in political movements are naive/simple and would be persecuted. So they lived aimlessly and are considered the most passive generation. They rejected conventional social values and stressed individuality. They indulged themselves in drugs, wore long hair and unusual clothes.

•

• 3) Youth Counterculture: The word ‘counterculture’ was coined in the 1960’s for the attitude and life style of many young western people who rejected conventional social values and demanded more personal freedom. Unable to find a more constructive way of struggling against the existing state of affairs in their society, they included themselves in sex, drugs, alcohol and rock music, and took pride in wearing long hair and unusual clothes. The counterculture declined in the late 1970’s.

•  

• Hippies appeared during this period.[hippie=hippy （美国）颓废派的一员（也音译作“嬉皮士”） ]

• • 4) Baby Boomer (about 1970s): The baby boomers were born during the period of the post World War II baby boom (1946---1964) in America. This generation was practical, worked hard, earned money, was highly concerned about “making it” financially.

• 5) Me Generation: 70’s, turn a blind eye to public affairs, seek self-satisfaction

• 6) Yuppies [young urban professionals +(Hip)pie （美）城市少壮职业人士，雅皮士 ]

• 7) Yuffies: end of 80’s, young urban failure

• Sandwich Generation: They had both their parents and their children to take care of. 上有老下有小

• Dinks ( double income, no kids) 双份工资，不要孩子

• 8) X Generation: born after 1965-1970, the name was coined in 1991 by Douglas Coupland, a trendy classification, college educated, dissatisfied with careers,overeducated, underemployed, pessimistic attitude, disillusioned with corporate America

• Two stereotypes: • slackers: no motivations, whiners• computer hackers: own their own business

•    

• tick: n. 1) light, regularly repeated sound, esp. of a clock or watch

• 2) small mark (often) put against names, figures, etc. in a list or to show that sth is correct

• v. 1) ( of a clock, etc.) make ticks• e.g. The taximeter was ticking away.• 2) put a tick against e.g. tick off a name

•  

Unit Three Generation X

• What makes it tick: (colloq.) What makes it function, behave as it does, etc.? (fig., of a person) What makes him act, behave, as he does?

pop (up): (infml) appear or occur , esp. when not expected

• e.g. Suddenly she popped up / out from behind the bush.

• A wonderful idea popped into his head.• If any problems pop up, just give me a ring.

•    pool: n. a common supply of money, goods, workers, etc. which may be used by a number of people

• e.g. Our firm has a car pool, so if I need a car, there’s always one there.

•   • ??? 1. They ~ed their money to buy a car.

• 2. The teachers ~ed their experience.

•

 dub: vt. 1) give a name, esp. as a nicknamee.g. The region is dubbed the paradise on earth.2) Change the sound, speech on a movie or TV,or the original voices to a different language

e.g. I’d rather watch a film with subtitles than one dubbed into Chinese.

• couple: join, connect, link• e.g. The sleeping car was coupled onto the restaurant car.

• Gambling is always ~d with degradation.

• Cf. pair• e.g. I found a couple (two things of the same kind) of socks in the bedroom but they don’t make a pair ( a set of things like shoes).

• wean: to cause a baby/young animal to stop feeding on its mother’s milk and to eat other food, esp. solid food instead

• E.g. ~ one’s baby• As a child, she was ~ ed on TV soap operas and rock music . (grew and developed being strongly influenced by…)

• To ~ sb off/from a habit: gradually cause them to stop it

• E.g. I’m trying to ~ myself off fatty foods.

• take on: 1) accept ( work, responsibility) 2) assume; begin to have (a quality or appearance)e.g. The city took on a festive air.

3) receive for carrying; be loaded with• e.g. take on passengers

4) start to employ; give a job to sb

5) accept challenge in business or a contest• E.g. take sb on at table tennis

•

commitment: 1) promise, pledge2) state of being dedicated or devoted ( to sth )

• e.g. • Jim’s afraid of emotional commitments.• I was impressed by the energy and commitment shown by the players.

---ridden: p.p. of “ride” (esp. in compounds) oppressed or dominated by

• e.g. a bed-ridden invalid • a debt-ridden father • crisis-ridden/ crime-ridden• a weed-ridden garden / be ridden by fears •

  propensity: n. a natural tendency• 1) ~ ( for/to/towards sth)• 2) ~ (for doing sth)• 3) ~ to do sth• E.g. • He is well-known for his natural ~ for indiscretion.

• She inherited from her mother a ~ to talk too much /find fault.

• accessible: that can be reached, used• e.g. a town ~ by rail • an easily ~ person / a place ~ to kids• Medicine should not be kept where it is ~ to children.

• overheads: the regular and necessary costs, such as rent, heating ,lighting a building etc. that are involved in operating a business

• E.g. If we cut our prices any further, we won’t even cover our ~ .

venture: v. 1) take the risk of, expose to danger/loss

• 2) dare• e.g. ~ one’s life to save sb from drowning

• Does he ~ to object?

• ~ a guess / a remark /an opinion

• Nothing ~(ed), nothing gain (ed)

• n. undertaking in which there is risk

• 1. Unlike the young people today, we had to take on family responsibilities and help our parents with housework when we were teenagers.

• 2. Generation X’ers take work seriously, but they disdain the workaholic, slave-to-the-job mentality of their parents and bosses.

• 3. Many young kids today can work with a variety of software programs on their own and comprehend them quickly.

• 4. They were referred to as the Lost Generation because they were disillusioned and did not know what to do with their new liberties.

• 5. The young people of diverse cultural backgrounds all have in common a love for the same clothing styles, music and entertainment.

• 6. Generation X has a strong propensity for fun and enjoyment, and it is a priority for them to have a good time whether they are at work, school or home.

• 7. Most people in China look upon their job as a career and have loyalty and commitment to the workplace.

• 8. These young people desire to upgrade their situation and they are always jumping ship at he hint of a better position.

• 9. Being spoiled by their guilt-ridden, seldom-home parents, X’ers are not ready to take over in politics, education and business.

• 10. Young entrepreneurs are encouraged to team up with their colleagues to do the research and create new products at unparalleled rates.