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实用英语综合教程第二册-10

时间:2007-01-11 16:00来源:互联网 提供网友:belle0920   字体: [ ]
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UNIT 10
Text A

PRE-READING TASK

Exercise 1
Before reading the passage, answer the questions.

1. What are the main differences between city life and country life?
2. Which do you like better? City life or country life? Why?

Now read the passage and compare your answers with the author's.

Back to Nature

1 For centuries town and country have been regarded as being in opposition1 to each other. It has been suggested that the superficial differences between the two -- wide-open spaces contrasting with brick and concrete -- are less important than the contrasting attitudes towards town and country.
2 I am one of the many city people who are always saying that given the choice we would prefer to live in the country away from the dirt and noise of a large city. I have managed to convince myself that if it weren't for my job I would immediately head out for the open spaces and go back to nature in some sleepy village buried in the country. But how realistic is this dream?
3 Cities can be frightening places. The majority of the population live in massive tower blocks, noisy, dirty and impersonal2. The sense of belonging to a community tends to disappear when you live fifteen floors up. All you can see from your window is sky, or other blocks of flats. Children become aggressive and nervous -- cooped up at home all day, with nowhere to play; their mothers feel isolated4 from the rest of the world. Strangely enough, whereas in the past the inhabitants of one street all knew each other, nowadays people on the same floor in tower blocks don't even say hello to each other.
4 Country life, on the other hand, differs from this kind of isolated existence in that a sense of community generally binds5 the inhabitants of small villages together. People have the advantage of knowing that there is always someone to turn to when they need help. But country life has disadvantages too. While it is true that you may be among friends in a village, it is also true that you are cut off from the exciting and important events that take place in cities. There's little possibility of going to a new show or the latest movie. Shopping becomes a major problem, and for anything slightly out of the ordinary you have to go on an expedition to the nearest large town. The city-dweller who leaves for the country is often oppressed by a sense of unbearable6 stillness and quiet.
5 What, then, is the answer? The country has the advantage of peace and quiet, but suffers from the disadvantage of being cut off; the city breeds neurosis and a feeling of isolation7 -- constant noise batters9 the senses. But one of its main advantages is that you are at the centre of things, and that life doesn't come to an end at half-past nine at night. Some people have found (or rather bought) a compromise between the two; they have expressed their preference for the "quiet life" by leaving the suburbs and moving to villages within commuting10 distance of the large conurbations. They generally have about as much sensitivity as the plastic flowers they leave behind -- they are polluted with strange ideas about change and improvement which they force on to the unwilling11 original inhabitants of the villages.
6 What then of my dreams of leaning on a cottage gate, chewing a piece of grass and murmuring "mornin"' to the locals as they pass. I'm keen on the idea, but you see there's my cat, Toby. I'm not at all sure that he would take to all that fresh air and exercise in the long grass. I mean, can you see him mixing with all those hearty13 males down on the farm? No, he would rather have the electric imitation-coal fire any evening.


New Words

opposition
n. 1.相反,对立
2.反对, 反抗

superficial
a. of or on the surface only 表面的

contrastv. to compare so that differences are made clear 比较,对比
n. 对比,对照

concrete
n. 混凝土
a. definite 明确的

convince
v. to make someone believe or feel certain 使...信服,使相信

impersonal
a. not involving human emotions 没有人情味的,冷漠的

aggressive
a. (行为等)过分的,放肆的

coop
v. 将...禁锢(在狭小空间), 监禁

nowhere
ad. not anywhere; (in, at or to) no place 无处

isolate3
v. to separate, put or keep apart from others 使隔离,使孤立

isolated
a. 孤独的, 与世隔绝的

whereas
conj. but in contrast; while on the other hand 然而,但是

nowadays
ad. now 当今,现在

disadvantage
n. an unfavourable condition 不利条件

slight
a. small; not serious or important 轻微的,不重要的

slightly
ad. 稍微,有点

expedition
n. a journey or voyage for a definite purpose (为特定目的而作的)旅行,远征

city-dweller
a. 城市居民

oppress
v. to cause to feel troubled, uncomfortable 使烦恼,使难受

unbearable
a. that cannot be endured 不能忍受的,忍无可忍的

breed
v. 1. to be the cause of 引起,造成
2.(动物)生产,孕育

neurosis
n. (pl. neuroses) 神经(官能)症,恐惧症

isolation
n. isolating14 or being isolated 隔离,孤立

batter8
v. 撞击,连续打击

compromise
n. 1.折中办法,妥协方案
2.妥协,和解

preference
n. a special liking15 for one thing over another 偏爱

conurbation
n. (连带卫星城镇和市郊的)大都市,集合城市

sensitivity
n. 敏感,灵敏度

improvement
n. improving or being improved 改进,提高

lean
v. to rest against something to support one's weight 倚,靠

chew
v. 咀嚼

murmur12
v. to say something very quietly, or in a low voice 低声说

mornin'
n. (=morning) 早晨,上午

hearty
a. 1. strong, and healthy 强健的,健康的
2. (of feelings) sincere (指感情)诚恳的

imitation-coal
n. 仿造煤,人造煤

Phrases and Expressions

in opposition to 与...相反,反对

head out
出发, 启程

belong to
属于

in that
因为,在于

turn to
求助于,依靠

cut off (from)
使...从(分离,使...从) 隔绝

out of the ordinary
不寻常的,特殊的

go on
为(某一目的)而去

at the centre of
在...中心, 在...中央

come to an end
结束,告终

leave behind
丢下,把...丢在后面

be keen on
热衷于..., 对...着迷

take to
喜欢上,从事

Proper Name

Toby
托比(人名)


Text B

PRE-READING TASK

Exercise 1
Before reading the passage, consider the questions.

1. Which of the following cities has the largest population?
A. Shanghai.
B. New York.
C. Mexico City.
2. How many people will a largest city have in the future?
A. 50 million.
B. 100 million.
C. One billion.

Now read the passage and compare your answers with the author's.

Huge Cities of the Future

1 By the end of the next century, a single city may have more than 100 million inhabitants. Eventually, there may be cities with more than a billion residents.
2 This frightens planners struggling to cope with today's metropolises17. But large cities could offer more benefits than problems. Under favorable conditions, a city with a billion inhabitants could be a very pleasant and exciting place to live.
3 Still, one must sympathize with planners' anxieties. The world's largest city -- Mexico City -- now has 18 million people and a huge array of problems. Smog blankets the city. Traffic noise turns citizens deaf. The subway becomes jammed. Millions of Mexico City's people live without running water or electricity.
4 Even so, Mexico City continues to look good to the rural peasants who pour into the city. The city will have more than 26 million residents by the year 2000, according to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.
5 Pessimists18 believe further population growth will eventually cause a virtual collapse19 of public services in many cities. Potholes21, unrepaired bridges, and other problems will make streets impassable to motor vehicles, so bicycles and animal-drawn22 vehicles will prevail.
6 But optimists23 see the current problems of expanding cities as merely part of an evolutionary24 process. London and New York had similar problems but were able eventually to establish an orderly and safe environment for their citizens. Today, many wealthy people who could live anywhere in the world choose to live in those cities, even though they continue to have many problems.
7 But can the huge cities of the future really function without overloading26 all their services to the point of collapse and destroying the environment through pollution of air and water?
8 The answer, I believe, is yes. A city of one billion could provide a very desirable place for people to live and not even seem crowded.
9 Here's how Billion City might work:
10 It would be completely three-dimensional, with many levels of activity. Today's cities operate largely on a single plane -- the ground. The result is traffic jams, frequent accidents, and often unpleasant crowding for pedestrians27. Billion City would have many levels, so that various transportation systems could work without interfering28 with each other. One level might be for pedestrians, another for electric automobiles29, a third for bicycles, a fourth for high-speed automobiles, a fifth for buses, and sixth for trains (subways). High-speed elevators, escalators, and moving sidewalks would convey people swiftly between one level and another.
11 By building the city both deep into the ground and high above it, there would be room for far more people and everything else than there is in today's two-dimensional city. Yet residents would not feel crowded, because they would not be jostled or inconvenienced by others as much as they are today.
12 Air and water would be constantly recycled. As a result, air would be cleaner and water purer than in today's cities.
13 Electricity for the city would come from many sources, including the burning of trash from the city's refuse collections. Powerfrugal systems would keep electricity usage low so that the demand on outside sources is low.
14 Soundproof walls would prevent people from disturbing each other by having loud parties or playing musical instruments.
15 Electronic monitors would watch over the public areas so that there would be little crime.
16 Paintings and video scenes of oceans and forests would compensate30 for the lack of windows. There would be windows of course but they might be fairly expensive; besides, most people wouldn't feel the need for them provided there were suitable interior decorations.
17 All kinds of new technologies are becoming available to help with city problems. What seems to be lacking are the human leadership and management systems to do the job. If we get those, something like Billion city may someday be built, and it will be a great place to live.


New Words

eventually
ad. in the end 最后,终于

billion
n. 1.(英)万亿
2.(美)十亿

resident
n. a person who lives or has a home in a place 居民

metropolis16
n. 主要都市,大城市,大都会

favorable
n. helpful; advantageous31 有利的

sympathize
v. to feel or express sympathy or support (with) 同情,同意

array
n. a large number (of) 一大批,一系列

smog
n. the mixture of smoke and fog 烟雾

subway
n. the underground railway in a town 地铁

growth
n. increase 增加

collapse
n. 崩溃

pothole20 n. a large hole (as in a road surface) 路面凹坑

unrepaired
a. not repaired 失修的

impassable
a. impossible to travel through or on 不可通行的

animal-drawn
a. drawn by animals 牲畜拉的

evolutionary
a. developing 发展的

orderlya. well arranged; in good order 有秩序的

wealthy
a. rich 富裕的, 富有的

overload25
v. to put too great a load on 使过量负荷,使超载

destroy
v. to kill or put to an end to 毁灭

desirable
a. 1.使人喜爱的,值得拥有的
2.可取的,有利的

dimensional
a. (用以构成复合词)...维的

operate
v. to be in action; work 起作用

largely
ad. to a great extent 大部份,大半

frequent
a. often happening 频繁的

pedestrian
n. a person who walks in the street 行人

interfere32
v. to get in the way of another 妨碍,干扰

escalator
n. a moving staircase on which people can go up or down 自动扶梯

sidewalk
n. a path at the side of a street for persons to walk 人行道

convey
v. to take, carry 运送

swift
a. quick or rapid 快,迅速

swiftlyad. quickly, fast 快地

jostle
v. 撞,挤

inconvenience
v. to cause discomfort33 or trouble to 使感到不便

trash
n. 垃圾

collection
n. collecting 回收,收取

powerfrugal
a. 省电的

usage
n. 使用,用法

soundproof
a. 隔音的

disturb
v. 1. to break the calm state of 打搅,扰乱
2. to move something out of order 弄乱

monitor
n. 1.监测器
2.班长

compensate
v. to give something to make up (for loss, injury, etc.) 弥补,补偿

lack
n. & v. 缺少,缺乏

provided
conj. on the condition that 假如,假使

suitable
a. right for the purpose or occasion 合适的

interior
a. situated34 inside; of the inside 内在的,内部的

leadership
n. 1.领导才能
2.领导

someday
ad. at some future time 将来某一天

Phrases and Expressions

cope with
应付,对付

under (favorable) conditions
在(有利)条件下

sympathize with
同情,同感

an array of
一系列

pour into
大量涌入

see...as
把...看作

to the point of
到达...的程度

interfere with
妨碍,干扰

watch over
监督

compensate for
弥补,补偿

help with
对...有用,帮助

Proper Names

Mexico City
墨西哥(墨西哥合众国首都)

United Nations Fund for Population Activities
联合国人口活动基金


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
2 impersonal Ck6yp     
adj.无个人感情的,与个人无关的,非人称的
参考例句:
  • Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远,没有人情味。
  • His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。
3 isolate G3Exu     
vt.使孤立,隔离
参考例句:
  • Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
  • We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。
4 isolated bqmzTd     
adj.与世隔绝的
参考例句:
  • His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
  • Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。
5 binds c1d4f6440575ef07da0adc7e8adbb66c     
v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 );装订;捆绑;(用长布条)缠绕
参考例句:
  • Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 unbearable alCwB     
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的
参考例句:
  • It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
  • The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。
7 isolation 7qMzTS     
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离
参考例句:
  • The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
  • He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后,生活比较孤寂。
8 batter QuazN     
v.接连重击;磨损;n.牛奶面糊;击球员
参考例句:
  • The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
  • Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。
9 batters f7ed21931431c6e07fb35b2002a84f83     
n.面糊(煎料)( batter的名词复数 );面糊(用于做糕饼);( 棒球) 正在击球的球员;击球员v.连续猛击( batter的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The pitcher has beaned as many as three batters in this game. 在这?热?投手投球竟打中了三个击手的头。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • A storm batters the ship. 一场风暴袭击了这条船。 来自辞典例句
10 commuting d2c3874ec246fb1858841223ffe4992e     
交换(的)
参考例句:
  • I used the commuting time to read and answer my mail. 我利用上下班在汽车中的时间来阅读和答复给我的函电。
  • Noncommuting objects are as real to the mathematicians as commuting objects. 对于数学家来说,不可交换的对象与可交换的对象是一样真实的。
11 unwilling CjpwB     
adj.不情愿的
参考例句:
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
12 murmur EjtyD     
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言
参考例句:
  • They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
  • There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。
13 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
14 isolating 44778bf8913bd1ed228a8571456b945b     
adj.孤立的,绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 );将…剔出(以便看清和单独处理);使(某物质、细胞等)分离;使离析
参考例句:
  • Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
  • This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句
15 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
16 metropolis BCOxY     
n.首府;大城市
参考例句:
  • Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
  • He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。
17 metropolises 3d837c2865033f3eb08d5709dbe6d0ee     
n.一国的主要城市(不一定是首都)( metropolis的名词复数 );中心;大都会;大城市
参考例句:
  • That season, you ride it, all metropolises achieve what one wishes! 那时节,您骑上它,一切都会如愿以偿! 来自互联网
  • Carl has carried the banner in infernal metropolises. 卡尔曾经在那些地狱般的大都市流浪街头。 来自互联网
18 pessimists 6c14db9fb1102251ef49856c57998ecc     
n.悲观主义者( pessimist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Pessimists tell us that the family as we know it is doomed. 悲观主义者告诉我们说,我们现在的这种家庭注定要崩溃。 来自辞典例句
  • Experts on the future are divided into pessimists and optimists. 对未来发展进行预测的专家可分为悲观主义者和乐观主义者两类。 来自互联网
19 collapse aWvyE     
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷
参考例句:
  • The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
  • The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
20 pothole hiay1     
n.坑,穴
参考例句:
  • As the car sped over a pothole she lurched forward.车子飞驶过一个坑洼时,她身子猛地向前一倾。
  • The young teacher knows every pothole in the 10-minute ride to school.这位年轻的老师熟悉这条往学校的10分钟路上的每一个坑洞。
21 potholes 67c9534ffabec240ee544b59b257feed     
n.壶穴( pothole的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Potholes are also home to tiny desert animals. 洞穴也是弱小动物的家。 来自互联网
  • If you're going to enjoy the good times, you've certainly got to deal with some potholes. 如果要享受甜美的胜利果实,当然要应付这些战绩不佳的指责压力。 来自互联网
22 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
23 optimists 2a4469dbbf5de82b5ffedfb264dd62c4     
n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Even optimists admit the outlook to be poor. 甚至乐观的人都认为前景不好。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Optimists reckon house prices will move up with inflation this year. 乐观人士认为今年的房价将会随通货膨胀而上涨。 来自辞典例句
24 evolutionary Ctqz7m     
adj.进化的;演化的,演变的;[生]进化论的
参考例句:
  • Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
  • These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。
25 overload RmHz40     
vt.使超载;n.超载
参考例句:
  • Don't overload the boat or it will sink.别超载,否则船会沉。
  • Large meals overload the digestive system.吃得太饱会加重消化系统的负担。
26 overloading 5d6065404e868eff08c1dbdf99107858     
过载,超载,过负载
参考例句:
  • Enables multiple users to search the site without overloading the server. 使多个用户搜索网站,而无需超载的服务器上。
  • The driver got stripped down again for overloading his trunk. 那位卡车司机因为超载又受到责备。
27 pedestrians c0776045ca3ae35c6910db3f53d111db     
n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
28 interfering interfering     
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词
参考例句:
  • He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事!
  • I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预,让我自己拿主意。
29 automobiles 760a1b7b6ea4a07c12e5f64cc766962b     
n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后,就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上,汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
30 compensate AXky7     
vt.补偿,赔偿;酬报 vi.弥补;补偿;抵消
参考例句:
  • She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
  • Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。
31 advantageous BK5yp     
adj.有利的;有帮助的
参考例句:
  • Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。
  • You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。
32 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
33 discomfort cuvxN     
n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便
参考例句:
  • One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
  • She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。
34 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的
参考例句:
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
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