Unit Two Matriculation Fixation

1. Joe Queenan Unit Two Matriculation Fixation

2. Joe Queenan • Joe Queenan ( November 3, 1950--) • a humorist, critic and author from Philadelphia who graduated from Saint Joseph's University. He has written for various publications, such as Spy Magazine, TV Guide, Movieline and the New York Times Book Review, and is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal. • None of his writing efforts have reached any commercial best seller list of note. He has not achieved any formal recognition for his writing nor has he been singled out by his peers for specialconsideration.

3. Title • Matriculation: [U] formal admission to study at a university or college. • Matriculation exam • Matriculation certificate • fixation: obsession, unhealty emotional attachment. • fixation (with / on sb/sth) • a mother fixation • He's got this fixation with cleanliness.

4. Pre-reading Questions 1:Why do many people in China now have an obsessive interest in attending elite colleges? 2:How do universities influence our life?

5. Outline In this essay the author offers his sincere advice to those parents who have college bound children. First, he criticizes some parents who try to select universities for their children. (supported by the example of his high school friends.)

6. Outline Second, he tells those disappointed parents whose children are unlikely to enter prestigious universities that many people achieve hugh success in the society without a degree from a prestigious university. (supported by his own experience) finally, he reminds those parents that life doesn't have just one act. there is often Act Two. And Act Five.

7. Paragraphs 1-2 Questions 1: Explain the meaning of "bright but not brilliant". 2: How do you understand "with other college-bound children in the family queue"? 3:What does the sentence "fewer contacts would be made"mean?

8. Detailed Study Languish:If someone languishes somewhere,they are forced to remain and suffer in an unpleasant situation. He continues to languish in prison. The children are languishing in orphanages waiting for adoption. Expect~Expectedly~unexpectedly Expectantly: hopefully, full of expectation He looked expectantly at Sarah, but she didn't speak. Expectancy:when you think that something exciting or pleasant is going to happen:[U] There was a general air of expectancy in the crowd.

9. Detailed Study Surgery: operation Surgeon:doctor who performssurgical operations physician:a doctor, especially one who is a specialist in general medicine and not SURGERY give one's undivided attention (to sth/sb): concentrate fully (on sth/sb)

10. Detailed Study briefing :detailed information or instructions that you get before you have to do something session:a period of time that is spent doing a particular activity a photo / recording / training session The course is made up of 12 two-hour sessions. wear on: (of time) pass, esp tediously As the evening wore on, she became more and more nervous. His life was wearing on towards its close.

11. Detailed Study garner: (formal) to obtain or collect sth such as information, support, etc. Synonym: GATHER, ACQUIRE Allthe information that we garnered has been kept on file. He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. Paraphrase: But as...details.

12. Detailed Study Paraphrase:Though I listened absentmindedly to the stranger who was telling me about his daughter's college plans, I managed to grasp most of the important information in his speech. Briefing sesson wore on: He spend some time in giving me some information about his daughter’s college plans

13. Detailed Study tier 1 one of several rows or layers of something with each one at a different height a wedding cake with three tiers 2:A tier is a level in an organization or system. two tiers of management the bottom tier of society

14. Tier/Layer

15. Detailed Study rue/ruː/ (rues ruing rued) If you rue something that you have done, you are sorry that you did it, because it has had unpleasant results. = regret He'll rue the day he married her.

16. Detailed Study be within striking distance of sth a)to be close enough to reach a place easily　 By now they were within striking distance of the shore. b)to be very close to achieving something　 The French team are within striking distance of the world record. Paraphrase: Her degree would put...on the road itself.

17. Detailed Study Paraphrase: After she graduates from a secondclass university, she will be close tothe path to success, though not directly on it, but still there will be a gap between.

18. paragraphs 3-4 Questions 1:what does the author mean by"...the sun never set without my thanking God for...."? 2: Explain "to carve out a nice little niche for myself". 3: what is the meaning of "pressed for biographical data"?

19. Detailed Study a man/woman of the `world:person with a lot of experience of life, public affairs, business, etc, esp one who is not easily surprised or shocked requisite: necessary for a particular purpose: She lacks the requisite experience for the job. Mediate: to succeed in finding a solution to a disagreement between people or groups They mediated a settlement. mediate a peace In question: under discussion The woman in question is sitting over there. Paraphrase: (I told the man...full lives.)

20. Detailed Study Paraphrase: I told the man that many of my high school friends had graduated from the second-class university his daughter would be attending, and now they are all living full and fruitful lives.

21. Detailed Study carve sth out (for oneself):build (one's career, reputation, etc) by hard work She carved out a name for herself as a reporter. He moved to San Francisco to carve out a new life for himself. Niche: n suitable or comfortable position, place, job, I don't think he's yet found his niche in life, He eventually found his niche in sports journalism. carve out a niche for sb as sb: sb establishes a successful career by doing sth He hopes to carve out a niche for himself as a successful writer. Paraphrase:(I told him...niche for myself)

22. Detailed Study Paraphrase: I told him that I myself had graduated from a second-class university in Philadelphia, just like the one his daughter was entering, and had managed to establish quite a successful career for myself.

23. Detailed Study illumination: an explanation that makes something easier to understand spiritual illumination inspiration: a sudden feeling of enthusiasm or a new idea that helps you to do or create sth dedicated :~ (to sth) working hard at sth because it is very important to you Synonym: COMMITTED a dedicated teacher She is dedicated to her job.

24. Detailed Study press sb (for sth):try repeatedly to persuade sb to give sth The bank is pressing us for repayment of the loan. biographical:Biographical facts, notes, or details are concerned with the events in someone's life. The book contains few biographical details.

25. Detailed Study tick off: 1: to tell someone a list of things, especially when you touch a different finger as you say each thing on the list　 Carville began ticking off points on his fingers. 2:you speak angrily to them because they have done something wrong. Mrs Watts will tick you off if you're late again. 3: to mark the things on a list with a tick to show that they have been dealt with American Equivalent: check off　 As you finish each task, tick it off. 4:to annoy someone Her attitude is really ticking me off.　

26. Detailed Study credentials [pl.]~ (as / for sth) the qualities, training or experience that make you suitable to do sth: He has all the credentials for the job. She will first have to establish her leadership credentials.

27. Paragraphs 5-6 • feignv pretend (sth) • feign illness, madness, ignorance, • He survived the massacre by feigning death. • 'Who cares?' said Alex, feigning indifference. • 'A present for me?' she asked with feigned surprise.

28. Detailed Study • curriculum vitae • (abbr cv) (US also resume) • brief account of sb's previous career, usu sumitted with an application for a job. • Devastated:extremely upset and shocked • His family is absolutely devastated.

29. Detailed Study If you end up doing something or end up in a particular state, you do that thing or get into that state even though you did not originally intend to. If you don't know what you want, you might end up getting something you don't want. Every time they went dancing they ended up in a bad mood. She could have ended up a millionairess. = finish up

30. Paragraphs 7-8 Questions • 1: Explain the meaing of “neurotic gabbiness". • 2: why does the author say that he will never participate in a mind-numbing discussion about college selection process, once his kids have left home? • 3: What does cribbage stand for?

31. Detailed Study neurotic : adj 1:caused by or suffering from neurosis; 2: abnormally anxious or obsessive • She became neurotic about keeping the house clean. • a brilliant but neurotic actor • She's neurotic about her weight - she weighs herself three times a day. • Gabby: talking a lot, especially in an annoying way • Gabbiness: excessive talkativeness

32. Detailed Study Afflict:(formal) to affect sb/sth in an unpleasant or harmful way About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. It is an illness which afflicts women more than men. whereof::conj: of what or which I know whereof I speak They killed thousands of the inhabitants, whereof many were innocent children. Follow suit:to do the same thing as someone else When one airline reduces its prices, the rest soon follow suit.

33. Detailed Study every cloud has a silver `lining there is always a comforting or more hopeful side to a sad or difficult situation. mind-numbing: extremely boring a mind-numbing job Be lapped out: be eliminated in a race On this subject, I am completely lapped out: I have no interest in this subject at all.

34. Detailed Study stem from sth: arise from sth; to be caused by something discontent stems from low pay and poor working conditions unalloyed adj (fml ) not mixed,eg with negative feelings; pure, complete, unalloyed joy, enthusiasm, excitement Paraphrase: this lack of interest does not...people's offspring.

35. Detailed Study Paraphrase: The reason why I am not interested in it is not because I am selfish or looking down upon other people's children.

36. Detailed Study banal :adj commonplace; uninteresting banal remarks, thoughts, sentiments aggrandize: aggrandize someone means to make them seem richer, more powerful, and more important than they really are At the dinner table, my father would go on and on, showing off, aggrandising himself. Self-aggrandizing: self-important, arrogant

37. Detailed Study flagellate :to whip yourself or sb else, especially as a religious punishment Self-flagellatory: self-punishing punitive: intended as punishment There are calls for more punitive measures against people who drink and drive.

38. Paragraph 9 Questions 1: Explain "the parent clearly seeks a decisive, career-validating moment of emotional closure. 2: How do those parents feel when their children enter a top university? 3: Explain the meaning of “economic mirth”. 4: Explain the sentence “ Parents such as these…less gifted.”

39. Detailed Study Infuriating:making you extremely angry validate:to prove or confirm that it is true or correct. This discovery seems to validate the claims of popular astrology. =Confirm top-`flight very high in quality, ability, or status irrevocable :that cannot be changed or revoked; final an irrevocable decision, judgement, etc Paraphrase: the most infuriating conversation...economic mirth.

40. Detailed Study Paraphrase: The most annoying conversation is the one where the parents try to be emotionally settled once for all by selecting for the child a good college that guarantees his or her future career.

41. Detailed Study upwardly mobile moving towards a higher social position, usually in which you become richer upwardly mobile immigrant groups an upwardly mobile lifestyle Prussia normally refers to The kingdom of Prussian between 17th century and 18th century. It united Germany in 200 years.After 1810 Prussia dominated Germany politically, economically, and in population, Prussian spirit is absolutism and militarism 对其他国家来说，是国家拥有一个军队，对普鲁士 而言，是军队拥有一个国家。

42. Detailed Study belligerence: n.A hostile or warlike attitude, nature, or inclination; = aggression a belligerent attitude sotto voce: in a low voice, so as not to be heard by everyone a sotto voce remark The defendant leant forward and spoke to his barrister,sotto voce Taunt =jeer an insulting or unkind remark that is intended to make sb angry or upset: Black players often had to endure racist taunts. She ignored his taunt.

43. Detailed Study child-rearing:[U]the practice of looking after children until they are old enough to look after themselves a prep school: In the United States, a prep school is a private school for students who intend to go to college after they leave. sign up (for sth) join a club, enrol on a course, etc

44. Detailed Study Tuscany:Tuscany: is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres (8,900 sq mi) and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence Tuscany is known for its gorgeous landscapes, its rich artistic legacy and its influence on high culture. Tuscany is regarded as the true birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and has been home to some many influential people in the history of arts and science, such as Petrarch, Dante, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Luca Pacioli and Puccini. Six Tuscan localities have been designated World Heritage Sites:

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46. Paragraph 9

47. Paragraph 10 Questions 1: what does Paragraph 10 tell us? 2: explain "end up on welfare or skid row". 3: what do Age 17 and Age 21 signify?

48. Detailed Study first-class: they are extremely good and of the highest quality. The food was first-class. screw-up:a situation in which someone makes a big mistake another government screw-up skid row:noun[U]used to describe the poorest part of a town, the sort of place where people who have no home or job and who drink too much live to be on skid row

49. Detailed Study screw up:mess up, handle (a situation) very badly; make a mess of sth Don't ask them to organize the trip, they'll only screw everything up. She realized that she had screwed up her life.

50. Paragraph 11 Questions 1.Explain" their brand X children aren't going to make the cut". 2.what does the author mean by "those grandiose delivery-room dreams of Amberst ,Bard, and Duke are suddenly going up in smoke"? 3.Explain "the glamourless institutions their progeny are skulking off to". 4.Explain "whose capitals only repeat winners on Jeopardy can name".