1、大学英语综合教程2第一单元笔记II. Text Analysis An essay is usually made up of three parts: a beginning where the topic is introduced; the body part where the topic is elaborated on, and a conclusion. Besides stating the topic directly, there are many other ways to introduce a theme. In this text, an anecdote or a
2、n incident is used. The author of Text A, Unit 6, Book 1 (What Animals Really Think) introduces his topic by posing a question: Do animals all have thoughts, what we call consciousness? Text B, Unit 3, Book 1 (How to Make Sense out of Science) begins by quoting newspaper headlines: New Drugs Kill Ca
3、ncer Devastation by El Nino - a Warning 6:30 p.m. October 26, 2028: Could This Be the Deadline for the Apocalypse? Text B of this unit, Children and Money, begins with an imagined argument between a child and his parent over the control of pocket money. Discover other forms of introduction as you re
4、ad on. However, the more important point is that you should learn to vary your own writing by adopting various types of topic introduction. Without a conclusion, an essay lacks a sense of completeness. A conclusion may be a restatement of the main points previously mentioned, a proposed solution, a
5、quotation from some book or person, a prediction of future developments, a suggestion for further study, etc. Text B, Unit 3, Book 1 ends by giving a simile, comparing scientific research to mountain climbing, a process filled with disappointments and reverses, but somehow we keep moving ahead. In t
6、his text, Howard Gardner makes a suggestion in the form of a question. III. Cultural Notes1. Education in the West: There is no common agreement in the West concerning the best method of education. A variety of views can be found among parents, teachers and students. Indeed, it might be argued that
7、it is this very existence of contending points of view that is characteristic of Western education. This can be seen as far back as in the work of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, who encouraged his students to question everything, even their most fundamental beliefs. Yet even then there was
8、no general agreement that this was the best way to teach. Socrates, after all, was condemned to death by his fellow citizens for corrupting the morals of the young by his way of teaching. Many later periods of Western history were no more tolerant of encouraging students to challenge traditional bel
9、iefs: Darwins theory of evolution, for example, was for a time banned from schools in some American states on the grounds of religious belief. Much of the current debate over education surrounds the extent to which learning should be teacher-based or student-based. Which of the two should decide wha
10、t should be learned, how it should be learned, and when it should be learned? Comparing Western and Asian methods of learning it is generally true that Western methods are more student-centered, expecting students to discover things for themselves rather than relying on their teachers to tell them.
11、An extreme version of the student-centered approach can be seen at Summerhill, a school in England established by the educationalist A.S. Neill. There children have complete freedom to decide what they are going to learn and which lessons they will attend. If they wish they need not attend any at al
12、l. Mainstream education in England is far more strict, demanding that children attend lessons and follow a national curriculum. This curriculum and the importance of achieving good exam results tend to reinforce a more teacher-centered approach, as both teachers and students find the pressure of tim
13、e, leaves less opportunity for an exploratory approach to learning. The extent to which learning is teacher-centered or student-centered also depends on differences between subjects. In recent years, for example, there has been a trend in the teaching of mathematics in school classrooms in England a
14、way from having pupils work on their own or in small groups back towards a more traditional approach, with the teacher guiding the entire class Step-by-step through a lesson. This followed research that suggested that, as far as maths was concerned, a more teacher-centered method was more effective.
15、2. Standing on the shoulders of giants: a well-known phrase, frequently employed by inventors to express modesty about their achievements. The suggestion is that while they have been able to see further than those who came before them, it is not because they themselves are intellectual giants. Rathe
16、r it is because they have been able to build upon the accumulated discoveries of their great predecessors.IV. Language Study1. attach v.: fasten or join (one thing to another) (used in the pattern: attach sth. to sth.) Examples: We can measure wind speed by attaching a wind meter to a kite and sendi
17、ng it up into the air. Attached to this letter you will find a copy of the agreement. 2. not in the least: not at all Examples: I am not in the least touched by this kind of beauty. Ann didnt seem in the least concerned about her family. 3. find ones way: reach a destination naturally; arrive at Exa
18、mples: Shanghai is not an easy city to find your way around. Drunk as he was, Peter still found his way home.4. phenomenon: (pl. phenomena) sth. that happens or exists and that can be seen or experienced Examples: Stress-related illness is a common phenomenon in big cities. Thunder and lightening ar
19、e natural phenomena.5. initial: of or at the beginning, first (adj., used only before n.) Examples: If a car suddenly pulls out in front of you, your initial reaction may include fear and anger. Their initial burst of enthusiasm died down when they realized how much work the job involved.desirable a
20、dj worth having; to be wished for 【 (that.)】a desirable residence, solution 称心的住所、 解决方法It is most desirable that they should both come. 他们两人都来, 这最好不过了.n. v. desireCf. desirous渴望的; desired 被要求做的Ex. 填空It is most desirable that he should attend the conference. Everybody is desirous of success to succee
21、d.6. assist v. help (used in the following patterns: assist sb. with sth. 帮助某人做某事assist sb. to do sth. 帮助某人做某事assist sb. in doing sth. 帮助某人做某事.)Examples: The college student decided to assist the boy with his study. The professor was assisting his students to prepare their papers.We all assisted him
22、 in preparing their papers.7. somewhat adv. to some degree, a little, slightly Examples: Conditions in the village have improved somewhat since November.Are you concerned about your exam results?Somewhat.8. await v. (fml) wait for Await is a fairly common word in formal writing, but you do not usual
23、ly use it in conversation. Instead you use wait for. Examples: We must await the results of field studies yet to come. After I sent the letter asking for a job, I had nothing to do but await the answer.9. on occasion: now and then Examples: Steve spent almost all his time doing his research, but, on
24、 occasion, he would take his son to see a film. on one occasion 曾经, 有一个时候 on several occasions 屡次, 好几次on this occasion / on the occasion of 在.的时候, 值此之际 take/seize (the) occasion to do.抓住(做.)的好时机, 乘机.10. neglect v. give too little attention or care to忽视, 疏忽, 漏做 Examples: The manager was accused of ne
25、glecting his duties. Dont neglect to lock the door. Compare.: ignore: pay no attention to sb./sth, on purpose, or as if sth. has not happened, 忽视, 不理睬; 抹煞(建议) Example: I greeted her, but she just ignored me and walked on. I tried to tell her but she ignored me.11. relevant (to) : directly connected
26、with the subject (opposite irrelevant) Examples: The debate is closely relevant to their daily lives. I shall go to borrow all the relevant books from the school library for my term paper12. exception: sb./sth, that a comment or statement does not apply to Examples: Normally, parents arent allowed t
27、o sit in on the classes, but in your case we can make an exception. All the students in this class, with one or two exceptions, support the educational reforms.Without exception all the students wanted to leave school and start work. When you are mentioning an exception, you often use the expression
28、 with the exception of. Example: We all went to see the film, with the exception of Otto, who complained of feeling unwell.13. on ones own: 1) without anyones help 独立地, 主动地 Examples: You neednt give me any help. I am able to manage on my own. Your child can do the work on her own. 2) alone 独自地, Id r
29、ather not go to dance on my own. I do wish youd come with me.14. in due course: at the proper time; eventually及时地, 在适当时 Examples: Your book will be published in due course. Be patient. Youll get your promotion in due course.15. principal adj. : (rather frei) main, chief n. 负责人, 首长, 校长 adj. 主要的, 首要的
30、Examples: Their principal concern / interest is to earn enough money to send their children to school. n. The principal of a school is the person in charge of it. Example: Complaints from the students began arriving at the principals office. Cf.: principle n. 法则, 原则, 原理 They agree to the plan in pri
31、nciple. 16. make up for: repay with sth. good, compensate forExamples: I lose much time last term, but Im certainly making up for lost time now. Her husband bought her a present to make up for quarreling with her the day before.17. in retrospect: on evaluating the past; upon reflection回顾/回顾往事/检讨过去 E
32、xamples: The young man knew in retrospect that he should have married his first love Emily. In retrospect, I wish that I had chosen biology as my major.18. extreme: adj. very great Example: with extreme caution, extreme sports, . n. the furthest possible limit, an extreme degree Example: I know I always say that you eat too much, but there is no need to go to the other extreme. (phrase: go to extremes: do sth. s
