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Book 3, Unit 8Book 3, Unit 8

Wang Yinquan

21 Century College English21 Century College English

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۞ Preview

۞ Text A

۞ Text B

Table of Contents

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Preview

What is technology for? What is the point of endless innovation?

Text A reminds us of the value of things that are slow and simple.

Text B challenges us with some highly individualistic criteria for assessing innovations.

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Text AText A

The Highs of Low TechnologyThe Highs of Low Technology

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Teaching Tasks

Pre-reading Activities

Pre-reading Activities

Spot Dictation

Background Information

Spot Dictation

Background Information

While-reading Activities

While-reading Activities

Framework of the text

Key Language Points

Framework of the text

Key Language Points

Post-reading Activities

Post-reading Activities

Writing

Exercises

Writing

Exercises

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Spot Dictation

In the famous tale Though the Looking-Glass, Alice finds her way through a mirror to a very strange land. In the scene you’re about to hear, Alice has been sitting under a tree and talking with the Red Queen. Listen to the passage twice and fill in the missing words from the text below.

Suddenly they began to run.

Alice never could quite understand how they began: All she remembers is that they were running hand in hand, and the Queen went so fast that Alice could hardly manage to keep up with her. The Queen kept crying “_____________”But Alice couldn’t go faster, though she had no breath left to say so. She felt as if she would never be able to talk again, she was getting so out of breath. And still the Queen cried “______________”and dragged her along.

“__________________” Alice managed to gasp.

“_____________” the Queen repeated. “Why, ____________ ten minutes ago! _______” And they ran on, with the wind whistling in Alice’s ears and almost blowing her hair off her head, she imagined.

Faster! Faster!

Faster! Faster!

Are we almost there?Almost there?! Faster

!we passed it

They went so fast that at last they seemed to hardly touch the ground with their feet. And then suddenly, just as Alice was getting quite exhausted, they stopped, and she found herself sitting on the ground.

Alice looked around in great surprise. “Why, I do believe _______________________________________.”

“Of course we have,” said the Queen. “What would you expect?”

“Well in my country,” said Alice, “you’d generally _________________________________________________________________.”

“___________________” said the Queen. “Here it takes ___________________________________________.”

we’ve been under this same tree the whole time!

get somewhere else if you ran very fast for a long time as we’ve been doing

A slow sort of country!

all the running you can do to stay in the same place

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Background Information

pioneer

May May FlowerFlower

Pioneers (settlers), the first members of a group to settle in an area, are especially important in the history of North America.

Pioneers often suffer great hardships and are often responsible for forming the basic structure of society for those who follow.

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Framework of the Text

Part 1 (Para. 1)

Part 2 (Para. 2)

Part 3 (Para. 3)

Part 4 (Para. 4-6)

Part 5 (Para. 7)

The problem with the author’s old-fashioned bicycle --- different attitudesI like my wonderful bike: I have confidence in it and it gives me power.

My family refers to it as “a piece of junk”, which can be found in dump or at garage sales.

What kind of comments does the bicycle invite from other people?

The bike has become a real conversation piece. There are many comments on it. People just feel a bit curious about the old bicycle that’s familiar to everyone but is now rarely seen. Even motorcycle-riders suggest she protect her hands while riding.

How do we interpret the comments about the old bicycle?

Are these people admiring her? Or maybe they just feel genuinely curious as if they were confronted with a dinosaur bone. The author isn’t sure what and why it is so as no one thinks she is crazy to ride an old-fashioned bike in an age of high technology.

The explanation of the puzzle --- advantages of the bicycle as seen by the author:

With the old bicycle, the author feels relaxed, coasting along the street and feeling the wind on her face.

The old bicycle gives the author a sense of control.

The old bicycle gives people a sense of something manageable and not complicated.

Conclusion about the old-fashioned bicycle and the corresponding low technology:

We should respect things that are simple and manageable. The old bicycle, the piece of “junk”, has its own merit: to allow people the opportunity to relax and to escape what they don’t understand.

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Key Language Points

The Highs of Low Technology

high: n. something that is high; a high point or level The word is used here in contrast to low in “low

technology”. It means “advantage”.

low technology: simple, unsophisticated technology The term is patterned after “high technology”, which

means scientific technology involving the production or use of advanced or sophisticated devices, esp. in the fields of electronics and computers.

Title

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garage sale (line 3)

(AmE) a private sale of used furniture, household appliances, personal articles, clothing, tools, and other items, held in the garage or other part of a seller’s home

Things that you get at garage sales are usually very cheap and of no great value.

So…

Part I, P

ara

. 1

The author’s family think that the bicycle is really old and use

less.

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I cherish its simplicity. (line 5)

I appreciate its simplicity.

Cherish implies a special love and care. Appreciate often connotes understanding and admiration.

eg. She cherishes her children above all.

eg. We all appreciate beautiful things.

Part I, P

ara

. 1

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What intrigues me, in this age of technological innovation (which is nowhere more apparent than in the bicycle world), is the number of people who stop me and comment on my bike. (line 6)

intrigue: vt. excite interest or curiosity eg. Anything colorful intrigued the little boy.

which is no where more apparent than in the bicycle world

which (technological innovation) is most clearly embodied in the improvement on bicycles

A particular world is a particular field of activity and the people involved in it.

eg. They are well-known names in the film world.

Part II, P

ara

. 2

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I get all kinds of comments --- the best one being from a motorcycle gang who cornered me while I was locking it up. (line 11)

the best one being from a motorcycle gang who cornered me: the best comment being from a group of motorcyclists who surrounded and pressed me

the absolute participle structure eg. Weather permitting, we’ll start tomorrow.

corner (a person, an animal, etc.): vt. get (a person, an animal, etc.) into a place or situation which they cannot easily escape from

eg. The police pursued and cornered the escaped prisoner.

Part II, P

ara

. 2

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the lure of mass bicycle consumerism (line 17)

the influence of advocacy of large-scale consumption of bicycles; the temptation to buy new bicycles

lure: n. attraction; temptation Lure suggests something that always attracts and often dec

eives yet does not necessarily leads one into evil or danger. Temptation often suggests the desire to do or have, through pleasure or gain, something one knows one should not do or have.

eg. She was attracted to Hollywood by the lure of the silver screen.

Part III, P

ara

. 3

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I never get the feeling that they think I’m crazy for riding something so old when I could be fussing with gears and having a presumably easier time of things. (line 23)

I never have the feeling that they think I’m fond of riding such an out-dated bicycle when I could be excitedly riding a bicycle with gears and having a possibly more comfortable experience with life.

fuss with sth.: be excited about and rush around doing sth. unimportant

eg. It irritates me the way she’s always fussing with her hair.

have a(n) easy / hard time of: have a(n) comfortable / uncomfortable experience with

eg. For the rest of the trip he had an easy time of it.

Part III, P

ara

. 3

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My bike seems to touch a sensitive chord in people … (line 28)

My bike seems to arouse a sensitive response in people …

touch / strike a chord: call up an emotion, usu. sympathy or enthusiasm

eg. The report touched a chord in the American people.

eg. The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.

Part III, P

ara

. 3

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the world before gimmicks and gadgets, accessories and attachments (line 32)

The world before the invention of all kinds of novel devices attached to the bicycle

Gimmicks and gadgets implies something novel, fanciful, unnecessary, and complicated.

Part IV

, Para

. 4

-6

I am old but useful

Do you know what is fashion?

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coast along the street (line 37)

ride a bicycle along the streets in a smooth and effortless manner

coast along: move along or make progress without much effort

eg. coast along on a bicycle (= ride along without pedaling)

eg. While I struggled and labored, my sister just coasted along with top grades in all subjects.

Part IV

, Para

. 4

-6

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feel small (line 43)

feel ridiculous, ashamed or humiliated (Also: look small)

eg. Talking to him makes me feel small.

eg. He is always trying to make me look small in front of my girlfriend.

Part IV

, Para

. 4

-6

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I eventually adapt to these so-called conveniences and accept them as a part of life. (line 55)

In the end I become used to these so-called conveniences and begin to use them in my daily life.

convenience: n. [C] appliance or device that is useful, helpful or suitable

eg. The house has all the modern conveniences, such as central heating and hot water supply.

eg. There is a public convenience (Brit. euph. = lavatory) on the corner of the street

Part IV

, Para

. 4

-6

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I have a sneaking suspicion that many people feel the same way. (line 58)

I’m not sure but I suspect that many people have the same feeling as I do.

a sneaking suspicion: an unproved and vague feeling of suspicion

If you have a sneaking feeling about someone or something, the feeling embarrasses you, for example, because it is caused by the realization that someone else was right and you were wrong, or because it is the opposite of what you normally feel about them.

eg. I have a sneaking suspicion that he stole my wallet.

Part IV

, Para

. 4

-6

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pioneer-village attitude (line 62)

Way of thinking of early American settlers and country people who used to have a simple, self-sufficient life

Here it implies a self-sufficient, industrious, simple way of living.

Part V

, Para

. 7

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Writing Directions: Present a puzzle of your own, then use the

question / speculation / answer format to ponder it in about 150 words.

Here are some puzzle you may want to ponder in your composition.

the preference to new products People’s reaction to an unusual habit, hobby or profession

of yours why we value an old custom or belief

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Sample Writing (My Preference to New Products)

The author of the text “The Highs of Low Technology” seems to express the idea that people like their older possessions, not the new ones. But I would rather prefer the new products to old ones. So maybe people would think that I am the sort of person who tries to create or follow the fashion. Or perhaps, I don’t have any old possessions at all.

These things are representatives of the world today, the things that people cannot live without: everything from microwave ovens and videocassette recorders to Scotch tape and aluminum foil.

Time is the scarce resource today. The kinds of things people will not be live without will be the kinds of things that free up time. Computers will allow us to squeeze in a few hours of work before bedtime; videocassette recorders will let us skip commercials and microwave ovens will warm up a bottle if milk in seconds. I just wonder why some people stick with old possessions when the new products are

making our life a lot easier.

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Exercises – Word Building

The prefix bi- means two. Study the following English words and their Chinese translations.

Words Chinese Meaning

biannual 一年两次的 ; 两年一次的bilateral 双边的bilingual 双语的binocular 双筒望远镜biplane 双翼飞机

bicultural 两元文化的

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Now complete the sentences below filling in each blank with one of these words.

The merits of _____________ education are a controversial issue in areas of the world with large minority populations.

A _____________ is an early type of airplane with two sets of wings, one above the other.

A _____________ publication comes out once every two years.

If you want to take up bird watching, the first thing you need is a good pair of ______________.

France and Germany have signed a ___________ agreement aimed at improving the balance of trade.

bilingual

biplane

biannual

binoculars

bilateral

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Exercises – Translation

1. 那位著名科学家把计算机制造厂家所作的技术革新称作对现代社会发展的伟大贡献。 technical

innovationrefer to … as a great

contribution to …

The famous scientist referred to the technical innovations made by computer manufacturers as a a great contribution to the development of modern society.

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2. 这对老人喜爱乡间生活。他们认为世界上别无他处可找到他们在那里所享受到的安宁。

delight in nowhere else in the world

The old couple delighted in their country life. They believed that nowhere else in the world could they find the peace they enjoyed there.

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3. 约翰暗中怀疑他妻子对于汽车是怎么擦破的说了谎。

have a sneaking suspicion

have gotten scratched

John had a sneaking suspicion that his wife was lying about how the car had gotten scratched.

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4. 这栋房子是这个城市新建筑的典型，因它兼具古典和现代建筑的优点。

be representative of merit

This house is representative of the new buildings in the city as it has all the merits of both classic and modern architecture.

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Text BText B

Why I’m Not Going to Buy a ComputerWhy I’m Not Going to Buy a Computer

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Teaching Tasks

Background Information

Key Language Points

Reading Comprehension

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Background Information

The greatest of Italian poets, Dante Alighieri is generally considered with Shakespeare and Goethe as one of the three universal masters in Western literature. His masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, is the most important Christian poem. Dante’s use of the Italian language in place of Latin in the poem influenced the course of European literature throughout the ages.

Dante (1265 – 1321)

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Key Language Points

I’m hooked to the energy corporations. (line 1)

I’m dependent on the power plant, the oil company, etc.

dependence on strip-mined coal (line 22)

dependence on electricity generated by burning coal from the strip mine

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I do not admire computer manufacturers much more than I admire the energy industries. (line 27)

I disapprove of computer manufacturing as much as I disapprove of energy production.

Do not admire is used as a mild way of saying “object to”.

(not) much more than: as much as; in the same way that

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I don’t see that computers are bringing us even one step nearer to anything that does matter to me. (line 36)

I find that nothing computers are doing makes the least contribution to what is really important to me.

Economic justice (line 38) (the principle of ) equal material distribution among

members of a society Some means of providing economic justice include social

welfare, minimum wages, etc.

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the “old model” in this case being not just our old Royal standard, but my wife, my critic, my closest reader, my fellow worker (line 45)

by the “old model” I mean not only our old Royal standard typewriter, but also the way in which my wife and I work together in writing – she is my critic, my closest reader, my fellow work

Here model is used in double meaning: a particular type or design of machine ( as in “a new model of car”) and a pattern of doing something (as in “economic growth on the Western model”).

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sacrifice an association (line 51) give up a family relationship

Let’s be scientific about this. (line 56) Let’s be matter-of-fact on this problem.

work that is demonstrably superior to Dante’s (line 57)

work that is obviously better than that of Dante

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They are as follows. (line 64) They are as listed below.

As follows is used to introduce a list of people or things or a description or explanation of the way something is done.

eg. The amount of benefit you are entitled to will be worked out as follows.

Grammatically speaking, as follows is a clause, in which as is a pronoun that functions as the subject and follows, the verb predicate in the present third person singular.

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Reading Comprehension

Why does the author use horses in his farming and pencils in his writing?

Because he doesn’t want to be hooked to the energy corporation; because he doesn’t want to be involved in what he perceives as the rape of nature any more than he absolutely must.

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How would using a computer involve the writer in the rape of nature?

It would require using electricity, which is provided by practices that damage the environment.

What is the author’s objection to putting computers into schools?

When schools that don’t have enough books for the students to read spend their money on computers, he clearly feel that the children’s education is being neglected.

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What does the author think is “typical of present-day technological innovation” (Para. 6)?

People lose jobs as a result of innovations.

What is it that the author doesn’t “wish to fool [ himself ]” about (Para. 7)?

He doesn’t wish to fool himself into thinking a computer would make him a better writer.

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Which of the “standard” listed at the end of the text shows that the author values independence and individualism very highly?

You could say all of them show individualism, since his whole line of thinking is pretty unusual! But number 5 shows that he values independence from the energy industries; number 6 shows that he values independence from needing other people’s services; and number 7 and 8 show that he supports small, independence local companies – i.e., he values the individual over big businesses, organizations, corporations, etc.

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