Unit 2, Book I

1. Unit 2, Book I 郧阳师专英语系综合英语教研室

2. Dialogue I A Trip to Huangshan

3. Listening Comprehension • What does B think is the best time to go to Huangshan? • How long does the whole trip take, including the time on the road? • How long does it take from Shanghai by bus? • What does Huangshan famous for? • Did B tell A the details about how to find the famous pine trees and the unique rock formations?

4. Broad Questions • Why do people visit Huangshan? • Why do some people take the train while others take the bus to get to Huangshan? • Why didn’t B tell A the details about how to find the famous pine trees and unique rock formations?

5. Four Wonders of Huangshan • The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs are the four wonders of Mt. Huangshan. • Strange pines • Huangshan pines are seen in every corner of Mt. Huangshan. You will be amazed by their vitality and strength. The seeds fall into the crevices where they take root and grow with great vigor. The uneven terrain prevents the pines from growing upright. Instead they become crooked and even downward. Another feature of Huangshan pines is that many trees grow branches on one side only. The pines grow very slowly due to the poor soil and climatic conditions.

6. Strange Pines A tree less than 3 meters (9.84 feet) high may have grown for over one hundred years or even several hundred years. The root of a pine is several times or several dozens times longer than the trunk, therefore Huangshan pines stand firmly with dignity, withstanding wind and rain. Every pine is unique though: Guest-Greeting Pine (in front of the stone lion of the Jade Screen Pavilion in the Jade Screen Scenic Area), Guest-Goodbye Pine (to the right of the Jade Screen Pavilion), Cushion Pine at Lotus Valley, Phoenix Pine at the Sky Sea, Chessboard Pine at Pingtian Stone Bridge, Kylin Pine between Bei Hai Hotel and the Refreshing Terrace, Black Tiger Pine and Sea Exploring Pine are among the most famous ones.

7. Absurd Stones (I) • Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your imagination. Some look like human beings, birds or animals or many other objects. Something that makes the stones even more fascinating is that they assume varied shapes when seen from different angles. Every stone has its own fantastic legend. • The rocks known as the 'Celestial Basking Shoe' and the 'Celestial Basking Boot' share a most romantic story. Once upon a time, in the Celestial Heaven Taoist Temple on Zuoshu Peak lived an old Taoist priest Dao Xuan and his disciple Tai Qing while in the Purple Cloud Temple on Pine Forest Peak lived a Taoist nun Lian Yu and her disciple Miao Zhen.

8. Absurd Stones (II) • The West Sea Valley separated the two temples as well as a strict commandment, therefore they had no dealings with each other. However, one winter, there was no kindling in Celestial Heaven Taoist Temple. Seeking help, Dao Xuan asked Tai Qing if he could borrow some from the nun at the Purple Cloud Temple. It so happened that the two young disciples fell in love at first sight. From then on, they spent time together when they fetched water or collected firewood. Unfortunately, they were discovered by both masters and the two disciples were punished severely. They were forbidden to go beyond the boundaries set by their masters and threaten with a beating should they disobey.

9. Absurd Stones (III) • One day when both the masters went down the mountain, they stealthily dated again and agreed upon a good idea: Tai Qing would place a boot in front of the mountain gate if his master was not at home; likewise Miao Zhen would place a shoe. One day, when they were together, their masters unexpectedly returned. Knowing they would be punished, the lovers pondered over their plight. Eventually, they decided that since they could not live together, they would rather choose to die together. Thus, they jumped into a cloud sea. They even did not have time to take back the boot and the shoe. As the days passed, the boot and the shoe turned into two rocks - 'Celestial basking shoe' and 'Celestial basking boot'.

10. Sea of Clouds (I) • Mt. Huangshan is home to clouds and mists. The Sea of Clouds has a fairy tale beauty. Winter is the best season for this spectacle. According to their locations, the seas of clouds are divided into East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea and Sky Sea. If you climb up the Lotus Peak, the Heaven Capital Peak and the Bright Peak, you will find yourself above the level of the clouds and they appear as a sea beneath you. It is true that a sea of clouds can be seen in many high mountains but that of Mt. Huangshan is unique with its oddly shaped rocks and ancient pines. Peaks, large and small, hide and reappear in the boundless waves of clouds. The Heavenly Capital Peak and the Bright Peak appear as isolated islands within this white sea.

11. Sea of Clouds (II) • All the colors seem more vivid in the sunshine. The clouds are forever changing, from being like a mirror when all is calm to rolling waves when the wind is strong. At sunrise or sunset, the glistening clouds assume every hue from red to purple. You cannot help marveling at this gift from the Creator! You will be struck by the beauty when all the red leaves are floating on the white clouds in autumn, when the clouds gush between the peaks like a raging river while the red leaves flutter delicately in the breeze. • Go to the Jade Screen Pavilion to view the South Sea, the Refreshing Terrace for the North Sea, the Paiyun Tower for the West Sea, the White Goose Ridge for the East Sea and the Legendary Turtle Peak for the Sky Sea.

12. Hot Springs • To be able to refresh yourself in the hot springs on Mt. Huangshan must be one of the best ways of enjoyment and relaxation. Running out of the Purple Peak of 850 meters (2, 789 feet), the hot spring in Mt. Huangshan is the first stop following the entrance. Legend has it that Huang Di, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, bathed here 49 days before he ascended to heaven and became immortal.

13. Tips • 1. Hot spring is not suitable for everyone. If you suffer from high blood pressure or heart diseases, it would be wise to consult your doctor first. • 2. Do not bathe in the hot spring if you do not feel very well or when you are hungry. • 3. Leave the hot spring whenever you feel uncomfortable.

14. Language Points • I certainly will one of these days when I have a chance. The phrase “one of these days” in this sentence is used as time adverbial which means “in the near future, before long”. => I certainly will visit Huangshan when I have a chance in the near future.

15. 2. resort (n.) [C] a place where a lot of people go on holiday or vacation 3. afford (v.) ① be able to spare or give up ② be able to buy, be able to spend without serious loss or damage

16. When “afford” is related to the two meanings mentioned above, it must be used with “can, could, be able to”. E.g.: We’re not able to afford a new house. • However, when “afford” has the meaning of “③ provide with; supply with; give”, it has no limitation of using with the modal verbs. For examples: ⅰ. The tree afforded us shelter from the rain. ⅱ. a sport affording good exercise

17. 4. session (n.) [ScotE.] a school or university year 学年 term (BrE) = trimester (AmE): one of the three periods in the year during which classes are held in schools, universities. 学期（在英国，学校一年分三个学期） semester: (especially in the US) one of the two periods that the school or college year is divided into （在美国一学年分两个学期）

18. 5. trade-off (n.) • The original meaning is “an exchange of one thing for another, esp. to produce a desirable result”, but here it means “as a compensation”. • scene (n.) [C] a view that you see • scenery (n.) [U] the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, when you are thinking about them being attractive to look at => 你也可以乘坐汽车，只是时间较长些，而且感觉也不舒服；但作为一种补偿，可以欣赏到许多田园风光，或许也能节约点儿钱。

19. 6. winding(adj.) following a curving, twisting or spiral course wind [waind] (v.) – wound – wound [waund] => (of a road, river, etc.) to have many bends and twists wind [wind] (n. / v.) – winded – winded => To make sb. unable to breathe easily for a short time wound [wu:nd] (n. / v.) – wounded

20. 7. stretch (v.) extend the limbs, and thus tighten the muscles 8. incidentally (adv.) equals to “by the way”, used to lead a new different topic 9. unique (adj.) ① very special or unusual ② being the only one of its kind formation (n.) [C] a thing that has been formed, especially in a particular place or in a particular way 组成物；形成物

21. 10. take a package tour --- follow a completely planned tour or trip at a fixed price arranged by a travel agency, which includes travel, hotels, meals, etc. back-packer; donkey travel agency = travel agent’s: a company that arranges travel and/or accommodation for people going on a holiday or journey

22. Reading I Leaving Home

23. Broad Questions • What’s the name of the narrator? • Where would he go? And why? • What time did he choose to tell his father his decision? • How did his parents feel on hearing the news? • Were his parents in good health?

24. Specific Questions • Why did the narrator choose the time of telling his parents the news carefully? • What might be the reasons for their reaction? • Do you think the narrator would leave home after all? • How would your parents react if you decide to go abroad? Agree or disagree?

25. Language Points • She looked at me as if I had slapped her face. slap (v.) [-pp-] to hit sb/sth with the flat part of your hand In this sentence, “as if” leads a manner adverbial which means “好象，仿佛”. state mood表示可能符合事实的情况 subjunctive mood表示不符合事实或与事实相反的情况

26. Subjunctive mood is not an important grammatical category in modern English. We can use various grammatical ways to express subjunctive mood: ① simple past form E.g. It’s time we had a rest. ② past progressive form E.g. I was wondering if you would let me use your car.

27. ③ past perfect form E.g. How I wish I had gone there with you! ④ past form of modal verb + verb to be or its perfective aspect E.g. I should be there by now if I had started earlier. He would have been there by now if he had not missed the train.

28. Moreover, we can use one special verb form, that is subjunctive pattern: be – subjunctive & were – subjunctive • Looking more and more like someone who had just been given a few months to live by his doctor. (This is father’s reaction) => Looking as if he had been someone who had just been given a few months to live by his doctor.

29. The manner adverbial clause leads by “as if /as though”: ① When it is used to express an event is opposite to the present fact, the predicate verb is usually in simple past form. E.g. He behaves as though he were better than us.

30. ② Opposite to the past fact, the predicate verb is in past perfect form. E.g. She stared at John as if she had seen a ghost. ③ When it is used to express something may not happen in the future, we use “would/might/could + bare – infinitive”. E.g. He grasped the money tightly as if it would fly.