Unit 7

1. Unit 7 Learning about English

2. Unit 7 Part Ⅰ Pre-reading activities Part Ⅱ Text A Part Ⅲ Text B Part Ⅳ Post-reading activities

3. Pre-reading Activities: Listen to the passage carefully and then think over the following questions: 1. What is the passage about? 2. What’s your impression of the English language? 3. Can you give one or two examples to illustrate the messiness of the English language? 4. Can you guess what the texts in this unit are going to be about?

4. Pre-reading Activities: Look at these following pairs and try to master the usages of them: a wise guy / a wise man overlook / oversee burn up / burn down go off / go on when stars are out / when lights are out wind up a watch / wind up a speech a slim chance / a fat chance fill in a form / fill out a form back

5. Text A Robert MacNeil The Glorious Messiness of English

6. Cultural Notes: Winston Churchill Churchill became Britain’s Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in 1940, and was reelected as Prime Minister in 1951. His radio speeches during World WarⅡgave the British people a strong determination to win the war. (1874-1965) “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

7. Cultural Notes: Julius Caesar (100-44BC) He is the best-known of all the ancient Roman leaders, and the first to land in Britain with an army in 55 and 54 BC respectively, although Britain did not become part of the Roman empire until nearly a hundred years later.

8. Cultural Notes: William Caxton (c.1422-1491) He set up the first printing firm in Britain. He printed his first book in 1474. By printing books in English, Caxton had a strong influence on the spelling and development of the language. Many of the books he published were French stories which he translated himself.

9. Cultural Notes: Otto Jesperson (1860-1943) Danish philologist, grammarian, and educationist. He promoted the use of the “direct method” in language teaching with the publication of his theoretical work How to Teach a Foreign Language (1904). Other books include his seven-volume Modern English Grammar (1909)

10. Cultural Notes: Viking: A member of people from Scandinavia who attacked parts of northern and western Europe, including Britain and Ireland in the 8th to 11th centuries. In Britain, they were also known as Norsemen. They were feared as violent and cruel, but they were also noted for their skills in building ships and as sailors.

11. Cultural Notes: Norman: Any of the people from Normandy in northern France who settled in England after their leader William defeated the English King at the battle of Hastings in 1066. The Normans took control of the country, a process known as the Norman Conquest. The language of government became first Latin, and then Norman French, and this caused many new words to be added to the existing English language.

12. Language study 1. massive: large in scale, amount, or degree Examples: The ancient temple’s massive stone pillars had begun to crumble. The scale of the problem is so massive that it will require all our resources to deal with it. 2. snack: a small meal Examples: I usually have a snack of hamburger and a glass of coke at lunchtime. The children in the kindergarten have a midmorning snack of milk and biscuits.

13. Language study    3. corrupt: (1) cause errors to appear in Examples: The academy ruled that such foreign expressions were not permitted, as they corrupted the language. Has Japanese been corrupted by the introduction of foreign words? These jargons merely corrupt your good English. (2) cause to act dishonestly in return for personal gains Examples: We believe film of violence would corrupt young people.

14. Language study To our great surprise, the former mayor turned out to have been corrupted by the desire for money and power. To gain more profits, the businessman tried every means to corrupt the officials in the local government. 4. ban: forbid (sth.) officially (used in the pattern: ban sth.; ban sb. from sth./doing sth.) Examples: Scientists from many countries called on the international community to created an international convention to ban human cloning as soon as possible. Tom was banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding again.

15. Language study n. ban (followed by on) Examples: The government is considering a total ban on cigarette advertising. The ban on underground nuclear tests is a vital step toward disarmament. 5. invent: (1) make or design (sth. that has not existed before); create (sth.) Examples: James Watt invented the steam engine. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.

16. Language study (2) give (a name, reason, etc. that doesn’t exist or is not true) Examples: All the characters in the novel are invented. Standing still in the teacher’s office, the boy tried to invent a plausible excuse for his absence from class. Cf.: invent, discover If somebody invents something, they are the first person to think of it or make it. Examples: Walter Hunt and Elias Hone invented the sewing machine.

17. Language study If somebody discovers something, they find out about something which exists but which was not previously known. Examples: The planet Pluto was discovered in 1930. 6. fascinating: of great interest or attraction Examples: The story of his adventures in the Arctic was fascinating to listen to. It is fascinating to imagine what might have happened if the US had not declared war against Japan in World WarⅡ.

18. Language study 7. tolerance: (1) the quality of allowing other people to say and do as they like, even if you don’t agree or approve of it (followed by of/for) Examples: School teachers have to have a great deal of tolerance in order to deal with difficult children. I think tolerance between students is extremely necessary since they live and study together. (2) the ability to hear sth. painful or unpleasant (followed by of/for)

19. Language study Examples: Human beings have limited tolerance of noise. The patient had no tolerance for pain. 8. necessity: (1) sth. you must have in order to live properly or do sth. Examples: Water is a basic necessity of life. A lot of people would consider a TV as more of a necessity than a luxury item. The workers’ wages were so low that they hardly had enough money to buy the bare necessity of life.

20. Language study (2) circumstances that force one to do sth.; the state of being necessary; the need for sth. (followed by of/for) Examples: There is absolutely no necessity for you to be involved in the project. The reached an agreement on the necessity of educational reforms. 9. arouse: provoke (a particular feeling or attitude) Examples: These educational toys give children a feeling of self worth by arousing their interest in challenging tasks.

21. Language study The man’s strange behavior aroused the policeman’s suspicions. 10. surrender: give in (followed by to ) Examples: After several weeks of severe attacks, Afghanistan’s Taliban forces surrendered to the North Alliance. After the bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered. We’ll never surrender to terrorism despite the terrorist attacks.

22. Language study 11. virtually: for the most part, almost Examples: It’s virtually impossible to tell the imitation from the real thing. It has been raining virtually non-stop for the past several days. 12. invade: enter with armed forces Examples: In July 1937 the Japanese army invaded China. The Germans invaded Poland in 1939, leading to the start of World WarⅡ.

23. Language study 13.mystery: sth. that people can’t, or have not been able to understand or explain Examples: The politician’s sudden death remains a mystery to us all. How Egyptian pyramids were built still remains a mystery. No one has ever been able to explain the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. 14. resemble: be like or similar to Examples: I’d say he resembles his mother more than his father. In his childhood, Stevie Wonder loved music and would pound spoons or forks on any surface that resemble a drum.

24. Language study 15. systematic: done according to a system Examples: Our professor not only imparts knowledge to us, but also teaches us how to read books in a systematic way. The staff made a systematic check to make sure that no name had been omitted from the register. 16. descend: come down (from a source), go down (followed by from) Examples: These ideas descend from those of the ancient philosophers. The Japanese are thought to be descended from tribes from the north of China.

25. Language study 17. establish: (1) cause to be, set up Examples: The school was established in 1905 by an Italian Professor. The bank helps people wanting to establish their business. (2) place or settle sb./oneself in a position, an office, etc. (used in the pattern: establish sb./oneself as) Examples: She established her fame as an actress.

26. Language study 18.drift: move or go somewhere in a slow casual way Examples: Jimmy spent the year drifting around Europe. As rural factories shed labor, people drift towards the city. The football match was over, and the crowds drifted away from the stadium. 19.climate: (an area or region with) a regular pattern of weather condition Examples: Brought up in the south of China, she wouldn't't’t enjoy living in such a cold climate. Due to the greenhouse effect, changes in the earth’s climate have taken place.

27. Language study 20.addition: a person or thing added (followed by to ) Examples: The baby is a welcome addition to the Smith family. The young professor will be a most valuable addition to our board. 21.conquer: take possession and controlled of (a country, city, etc.) by force; defeat Examples: Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance conquered Kabul a month ago. She has conquered the hearts of many men. The Spanish once conquered most of South America.

28. Language study 22.royal: of a king or queen, or other members of their family, and things relating to them Examples: The new born baby was welcome not only by the Japanese royal family but by the country at large. The royal wedding drew large crowds from across the country. 23.alternative: one of two or more possibilities (followed by to) Examples: Check out the alternatives before deciding whether to go to a nearby college. What was the alternative to going home?

29. Language study 24.modify: change slightly Examples: The school authorities plan to modify the school regulations. The computer programmers tried to modify the design of the software to make it suitable for commercial production. 25.enrich: (1) make rich or richer Examples: That once coastal village has been enriched by the profits from tourism. The development of oil fields enriched many Arabian countries.

30. Language study (2) improve Examples: It is important to enrich the soil prior to planting. Travel enriches people’s lives. 26.classic: a work of art recognized as having lasting value Examples: Both Tom Jones and Wuthering Heights are classics. His manual on botany has become a classic among scientists.

31. Language study 27.source: a place from which sth. comes or is obtained Examples: Tourism, which is a major source of income for the city, has been serious affected by the terrorist attacks. The source of the anthrax outbreak in the USA remained a mystery. 28.fortunately: by good luck Examples: Fortunately, my friend survived the car accident. Fortunately a life guard noticed that the woman was drowning and she was rescued. I had forgotten my key, but fortunately the door wasn’t locked.

32. Language study 29.strictly speaking: if one uses words, applies rules, etc. in their exact sense Examples: He’s not strictly speaking an artist; he is more of a performer. Strictly speaking she was not qualified for the job. But we employed her because of he honesty. 30.to a (very real, certain, etc.) extent: to the degree specified Examples: I agree with him to some extent but there are still some areas of sharp disagreement between us.

33. Language study 31.out of control: no longer able to be controlled Examples: The fire was out of control by the time the second fire engine arrived. There was nothing they could do about it. The situation was out of control. 32. put into practice: Examples: Having delayed several times, we must put this plan into practice now. They weren't’t allowed to put into practice in their daily lives the teachings they received.

34. Language study 33.strike out: start being independent; start doing want one wants to do in life Examples: After working for his father for about ten years, he decided to strike out on his own. 34.pass (sth.) on to (sb.): hand or give (sth.) to (sb.) Examples: When you have finished reading the novel, please pass it on to Laura. The King passed on much of his fortune to the princess.

35. Text Organization:

36. Text Organization: back

37. The Role of English in the 21st Century Melvyn A. Hasman Text B

38. Language study 1. status: (high) social position Example: Women have very little status in many countries. 2. exceed: go beyond in quantity, degree, etc. Examples: The price will not exceed 100 pounds. Their success exceeded all expectations. 3. trend: general tendency or direction Example: The trend of prices is still upwards. 4. crude: not refined Example: His paintings are rather crude. 5. contribute to: help to cause

39. Language study Example: The chairman encourages everyone to contributeto the discussion. 6. give way to: yield to Example: One should not give way to difficulties. 7. integrate: make into a whole Example: The buildings are well integrated. 8. unique: being the only one of its kind Example: She is the unique person to do this job. 9. authority: power to give orders and makes others to obey Example: The leader must be a person of authority.

40. Language study 10. to name a few: to give just a few examples Example: Mammal is any of the class of animals that give birth to live offspring and feed them on milk, to name a few, cat, dog, and sheep, etc.. 11. aspect: an element or side of a situation or idea Example: We should look at every aspect of the problem. 12. predict: declare or tell in advance Example: The earthquake had been predicted several months before. 13. genuine: real, not fake or artificial Example: This is a genuine pearl.

41. Language study 14. in transition: in the course of changing into another state or condition Example: His attitude is in transition. 15. rid oneself of: free oneself from Example: Many students want to rid themselves of heavy homework. 16. shift: change or move from one position or direction to another Example: The wind shifted from east to north. 17. substantial: large in amount; considerable Example: Her contribution to the discussion is substantial.

42. Language study 18. economic: of an economy or economics Example: It is not always economic for buses to run on Sundays. 19. professional: of or belonging to a profession Example: The doctor was accused of professional misconduct. 20. dominate: have control of or a very strong influence on Example: He has authority, but he doesn't try to dominate others.

43. Text Organization back

44. Post-reading Activities Text A: 1. Try to draw a picture or a chart of the development of the English language. (Keys) 2. Translation practice Text B: 1. Language practice 2. Comprehension check

45. Development of Englishback Indo-European language the parent language Anglo-Saxon words by Germanic tribes Greek and Latin words by Christian religion Old English Old Norse by Vikings French words by Norman Conquest Middle English Printing press European Renaissance Modern English Br. English Am. English

46. Translation Translate the following passage into English, using the words and phrases given below: mystery descend enrich pass on to tolerance independent source out of control 虽然英语是如何产生的还是个谜，语言学家倾向于认为它和许多 欧洲语言来自同一个源头，即印欧母语。英语最初是在公元五世纪 入侵英国的盎格鲁萨克逊人中间使用的。他们将英语的基本词汇传 给了我们。在十五个多世纪的发展中，英语大量借用了其他语言。 这种借用大大丰富了英语的词汇。随着移民来到美洲建立了独立的 美利坚合众国，英语又增添了一个新的变种：美语。虽然有人担忧 英语的发展失控了，但大多数以英语为母语的人对他们语言的宽容 性感到自豪。

47. Translation Keys: Though how the English language come into existence remains a mystery, linguists/language scientists now tend to believe that English and most other European languages have descended from a common source: the Indo-European parent language. English was first spoken by the Anglo-Saxons who invaded England in the fifth century. They passed onto us the basic vocabulary of English. In its over 15 centuries of development, English has borrowed from other languages massively, and such borrowing has greatly enriched its vocabulary.

48. Translation As settlers, landed in America and established the United States as an independent nation, a new variety was added to the English language: American English. Though some people worry that the language is running out of control, many native speakers of English take pride in the tolerance of their language. back

49. Language Practice Use the proper form of the following words or phrases to fill in the blanks. give way to substantial in transition professional economic authority crude shift unique rid oneself of predict integrate aspect genuine to name a few dominate trend status had contributed to exceeding

50. Language Practice 1. If you think I will ______your threats, you are mistaken. 2. Everybody thinks that it will be a very close race and no one dare to _______ its outcome. 3.We should be thankful to Emily for he______contribution to our project. 4. Daniel found it difficult to ______himself into a society whose culture was completely different fro his own. 5. The Chinese economy is still _______from a planned to a market economy. 6. Lighting is a vitally important ______of filmmaking. 7. It’s the sort of ad that is intended to appeal to teachers, lawyer, doctors and other______.