Unit 5Unit 5

England As Seen by AmericansEngland As Seen by Americans

Key Points in Listening and Key Points in Listening and Speaking ActivitiesSpeaking Activities

How have you been?How have you been? I’d love to…I’d love to… Thanks a lot for -doing…/sth.Thanks a lot for -doing…/sth. Prefer toPrefer to What makes you choose…?What makes you choose…?

Questions:Questions:

1. Can you name some famous English 1. Can you name some famous English people? What do you know about people? What do you know about them? them?

2. What are English people like in your 2. What are English people like in your mind?mind?

ProverbProverb

When in Rome, do as RWhen in Rome, do as Romans do. omans do. 入乡随入乡随俗俗

II. Key Points in the texts: II. Key Points in the texts: obvious obvious adj.adj.

If something is If something is obviousobvious, it is easy to see or , it is easy to see or understand.understand.

e.g. e.g. Determining how the Democratic Determining how the Democratic

challenger would conduct his challenger would conduct his presidency isn't quite so obvious.presidency isn't quite so obvious.

= clear = clear

22 ADJ disapproval ADJ disapproval

If you describe something that If you describe something that someone says as someone says as obviousobvious, you are , you are being critical of it because you think it being critical of it because you think it is unnecessary or shows lack of is unnecessary or shows lack of imagination.imagination.

e.g. e.g.

There are some very obvious phrases There are some very obvious phrases that we all know or certainly should that we all know or certainly should know better than to useknow better than to use

PHRASEPHRASE stating the obvious:stating the obvious:

saying something that everyone already knows asaying something that everyone already knows and understands.nd understands.

==easily seen, recognized or understood; cleareasily seen, recognized or understood; clear

e.g. It may be stating the obvious, but e.g. It may be stating the obvious, but most tele-working at present is connectmost tele-working at present is connected with computers. ed with computers.

averageaverage

n. An n. An averageaverage is the result that you get when you is the result that you get when you add two or more numbers together and divide add two or more numbers together and divide the total by the number of numbers you added the total by the number of numbers you added together.together.

e.g. Take the average of those ratios e.g. Take the average of those ratios and multiply by a hundred.and multiply by a hundred.

= mean = mean

adj.adj.1) e.g. The average price of goods rose 1) e.g. The average price of goods rose

by just 2.2%...by just 2.2%... = mean = mean 2) You use 2) You use averageaverage to refer to a number or size to refer to a number or size

that varies but is always approximately the that varies but is always approximately the same.same.

e.g. It takes an average of ten weeks e.g. It takes an average of ten weeks for a house sale to be completed. for a house sale to be completed.

3) 3) An An averageaverage person or thing is typical or person or thing is typical or normal.normal.

e.g. e.g. The average adult man burns The average adult man burns 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day... 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day...

Phrase The averagePhrase The average

An amount or quality that is An amount or quality that is the averagethe average is the nor is the normal amount or quality for a particular group of things mal amount or quality for a particular group of things or people.or people.

Most areas suffered more rain than usual, with NMost areas suffered more rain than usual, with Northern Ireland getting double the average for the moorthern Ireland getting double the average for the month.nth.

= norm = norm

PHRASEPHRASE: : on (an) averageon (an) average

You say You say on averageon average or or on an averageon an average to indicate that a to indicate that a number is the average of several numbers.number is the average of several numbers.

e.g. American shares rose, on average, by e.g. American shares rose, on average, by 38%.. 38%..

If you say that something is true If you say that something is true on averageon average, you mean , you mean that it is generally true.that it is generally true.

e.g. On average, American firms remain the e.g. On average, American firms remain the most productive in the world. most productive in the world.

superiorsuperior

Superior: n; adjSuperior: n; adj n. 1) person of higher rank, position.n. 1) person of higher rank, position. 上上

级；长官级；长官 Eg: As a soldier, he must obey his superiEg: As a soldier, he must obey his superi

or.or. 他是一名士兵，必须服从长官。他是一名士兵，必须服从长官。 22 ）） person or thing that is better.person or thing that is better. 较好的较好的

人或事；优胜者人或事；优胜者 Eg: He has no superior as an actor.Eg: He has no superior as an actor. 作为演员，他很成功，无人能出其右。作为演员，他很成功，无人能出其右。

The average Englishman is not very The average Englishman is not very open

If you describe a person or their characters as oIf you describe a person or their characters as open, you mean they are honest and do not wanpen, you mean they are honest and do not want to try to hide anything or to deceive anyone.t to try to hide anything or to deceive anyone.

e.g. He had always been open with her and she ale.g. He had always been open with her and she always felt she would know if he lied.ways felt she would know if he lied.

她有着开城不公，令人信赖的本性。她有着开城不公，令人信赖的本性。She has an openShe has an open ， ， trusting nature.trusting nature.

建立在诚实互信基础上的友谊。建立在诚实互信基础上的友谊。A relationship based on honesty and openA relationship based on honesty and open

nessness

open to:open to: （（ suggestion or ideassuggestion or ideas ）） ready to aready to and willing to consider or accept themnd willing to consider or accept them

e.g. They are open to suggestions on how e.g. They are open to suggestions on how working conditions might be improved.working conditions might be improved.

overpoweroverpower

v. To get the better of by superior power; make v. To get the better of by superior power; make helpless, overwhelmhelpless, overwhelm

e.g. It took ten guardsmen to overpower him.e.g. It took ten guardsmen to overpower him.

The rebels were overpowered and arrested.The rebels were overpowered and arrested.

I was overpowered by my guilt and my shame I was overpowered by my guilt and my shame that I was unable to speak.that I was unable to speak.

overpoweringoverpowering An overpowering feeling is so strong that you cannot rAn overpowering feeling is so strong that you cannot r

esist it.esist it.e.g. The desire for revenge can be overpowering.e.g. The desire for revenge can be overpowering.=overwhelming=overwhelming An An overpoweringoverpowering smell or sound is so strong that you smell or sound is so strong that you

cannot smell or hear anything else.cannot smell or hear anything else.e.g. There was an overpowering smell of alcohol.e.g. There was an overpowering smell of alcohol. An overpowering person makes other people feel uncoAn overpowering person makes other people feel unco

mfortable because they have such a strong personality.mfortable because they have such a strong personality.e.g. e.g. Mrs Winter was large and somewhat overpoMrs Winter was large and somewhat overpo

wering.wering.

inquisitiveinquisitive An An inquisitiveinquisitive person likes finding out person likes finding out

about things, especially secret things.about things, especially secret things.e.g. e.g. Barrow had an inquisitive nature...Barrow had an inquisitive nature... I liked children, loved their innocence I liked children, loved their innocence

and their inquisitiveness.and their inquisitiveness.

<Compare> acquisitive adj. (disapproval)<Compare> acquisitive adj. (disapproval) If you describe a person or an organization as If you describe a person or an organization as

acquisitiveacquisitive, you do not approve of them because you , you do not approve of them because you think they are too concerned with getting new think they are too concerned with getting new possessions.possessions.

e.g. We live in an acquisitive society...e.g. We live in an acquisitive society...

inferiorinferior adj. 1) Something that is adj. 1) Something that is inferiorinferior is not as good as is not as good as

something else.something else. e.g. The cassettes were of inferior e.g. The cassettes were of inferior

quality...quality... If children were made to feel If children were made to feel

inferior toinferior to other children their other children their confidence declined.confidence declined.

2) 2) If one person is regarded as If one person is regarded as inferiorinferior toto another, another, they are regarded as less important because they they are regarded as less important because they have less status or ability.have less status or ability.

e.g. He preferred the company of those e.g. He preferred the company of those who were intellectually inferior to himself. who were intellectually inferior to himself.

n. n. A gentleman should always be civil, A gentleman should always be civil, even to his inferiors.even to his inferiors.

inferiority n.inferiority n.e.g. I found it difficult to shake off e.g. I found it difficult to shake off

a sense of social inferiority.a sense of social inferiority.Inferiority complex Inferiority complex 自卑情结自卑情结<SYN> <SYN> Superior adj./ superiority n.Superior adj./ superiority n.

superiorsuperior

adj.1) adj.1) better than averagebetter than average

e.g. a man of superior intelligence e.g. a man of superior intelligence

~ to….: better; strong; than sb/sth. else.~ to….: better; strong; than sb/sth. else.

e.g. This house e.g. This house is superior tois superior to that one. that one.

这个房子比那个好。这个房子比那个好。2) 2) higher in rank or positionhigher in rank or position

e.g. a superior court e.g. a superior court 上级法院上级法院 3) 3) showing that one thinks one is better than others.showing that one thinks one is better than others.

e.g. a superior smile e.g. a superior smile 带着优越感的笑容带着优越感的笑容

comparecomparev. v. 1. When you 1. When you comparecompare things, you consider them and things, you consider them and

discover the differences or similarities between themdiscover the differences or similarities between theme.g. e.g. Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is,

then then comparecompare it it toto the skin on the elbow. the skin on the elbow.

2. 2. If you If you comparecompare one person or thing one person or thing toto another, you another, you say that they are like the other person or thing.say that they are like the other person or thing.

e.g. e.g. Some commentators compared his work to that of Some commentators compared his work to that of James Joyce.James Joyce.

33 If one thing If one thing comparescompares favourably favourably withwith another, another, it is better than the other thing. If it it is better than the other thing. If it comparescompares unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing.unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing.

e.g. Our road safety record compares favourable.g. Our road safety record compares favourably with that of other European countries.y with that of other European countries.

How do the two techniques compare in terms of How do the two techniques compare in terms of application?application?

44 If you say that something does If you say that something does not not compare wicompare withth something else, you mean that it is much w something else, you mean that it is much worse.orse.

e.g. The flowers here do not compare with those e.g. The flowers here do not compare with those at homeat home......

comparison n.comparison n.

e.g. e.g. The comparison of her life to sea The comparison of her life to sea

voyage simplifies her experience.voyage simplifies her experience.Is human heart weak Is human heart weak in comparison in comparison

with/in comparison to/by comparison with/in comparison to/by comparison withwith the other organs? the other organs?

There is no comparison betweenThere is no comparison between the the knowledge and skill of such a player knowledge and skill of such a player and casual participant.and casual participant.

In a wayIn a way

If you say that something is true If you say that something is true in a wayin a way, y, you mean that although it is not completely ou mean that although it is not completely true, it is true to a limited extent or in certtrue, it is true to a limited extent or in certain respects. You use ain respects. You use in a wayin a way to reduce t to reduce the force of a statement.he force of a statement.

e.g. In a way, I suppose I'm frightened of failing...e.g. In a way, I suppose I'm frightened of failing... It made things very unpleasant in a way.It made things very unpleasant in a way.

other phrasesother phrasesYou use You use wayway in expressions such as in expressions such as in in

some wayssome ways, , in many waysin many ways,, and and in in every wayevery way to indicate the degree or to indicate the degree or extent to which a statement is true.extent to which a statement is true.

e.g. e.g. In some ways, the official opening is a In some ways, the official opening is a formality…formality…

She described her lover as `perfect in She described her lover as `perfect in every way'.every way'.

You use You use in no wayin no way or or not in any waynot in any way to to emphasize that a statement is not at all emphasize that a statement is not at all true.true.

e.g. e.g. A spokesman insisted the two events A spokesman insisted the two events were `in no way related'...were `in no way related'...

in that respectin that respectYou use expressions like You use expressions like in this respectin this respect and and in in

many respectsmany respects to indicate that what you are to indicate that what you are saying applies to the feature you have just saying applies to the feature you have just mentioned or to many features of something.mentioned or to many features of something.

e.g. e.g. The children are not unintelligent–The children are not unintelligent–in fact, they seem quite normal in in fact, they seem quite normal in this respect...this respect...

Similar phrasesSimilar phrases

1)1) in respect of:in respect of: 涉及涉及 (( 关于关于 ,, 在在 ...... 方面方面 ))

e.g. e.g. In respect ofIn respect of financial standing, this financial standing, this firm is reliable. firm is reliable.

在资信方面在资信方面 , , 这家商行还是很可靠的。这家商行还是很可靠的。The book is admirable The book is admirable in respect ofin respect of style. style. 这本书风格极佳这本书风格极佳 ..

2) in one respect: 2) in one respect: 在一个方面在一个方面 ; ; 在一点上在一点上

e.g. His opinion differs from mine in one respect.e.g. His opinion differs from mine in one respect.

他的意见和我的有一点不同之处。他的意见和我的有一点不同之处。 The difference between two points in a system The difference between two points in a system

which differ in one respect. which differ in one respect. 一个系统中在某方面不同的二点之间的差异。一个系统中在某方面不同的二点之间的差异。