新视野大学英语2 Unit8

Unit 8

Section A

Pre-reading Activities

First Listening

Please listen to a short passage carefully and prepare to answer some questions.

Second Listening

Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following questions with your own experiences.

1) How do young students and older teachers see the role of education differently?

2) What is "quality of life" and how can it be improved?

3) According to the writer, what must educators prepare students for?

There's a Lot More to Life than a Job

It has often been remarked that the saddest thing about youth is that it is wasted on the young.

Reading a survey report on first-year college students, I recalled the regret, "If only I knew then what I know now."

The survey revealed what I had already suspected from informal polls of students both in Macon and at the Robins Resident Center: if it (whatever it may be) won't compute and you can't drink it, smoke it or spend it, then "it" holds little value.

According to the survey based on responses from over 188,000 students, today's college beginners are "more consumeristic and less idealistic" than at any time in the seventeen years of the poll.

Not surprising in these hard times, the students' major objective "is to be financially well off. Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life." Accordingly, today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting.

Interest in teaching, social service and the humanities is at a low, along with ethnic and women's studies. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up.

That's no surprise either. A friend of mine (a sales representative for a chemical company) was making twice the salary of college instructors during her first year on the job —even before she completed her two-year associate degree.

"I'll tell them what they can do with their (music, history, literature,

etc.)," she was fond of saying. And that was four years ago; I tremble to think what she's earning now.

Frankly, I'm proud of the young lady (not her attitude but her success). But why can't we have it both ways? Can't we educate people for life as well as for a career? I believe we can.

If we can not, then that is a conviction against our educational system —kindergarten, elementary, secondary and higher. In a time of increasing specialization, a time when 90 percent of all the scientists who have ever lived are currently alive, more than ever, we need to know what is truly important in life.

This is where age and maturity enter. Most people, somewhere between the ages of 30 and 50, finally arrive at the inevitable conclusion that they were meant to do more than serve a corporation, a government agency, or whatever.

Most of us finally have the insight that quality of life is not entirely determined by a balance sheet. Sure, everyone wants to be financially comfortable, but we also want to feel we have a perspective on the world beyond the confines of our occupation; we want to be able to render service to our fellow man and to our God.

If it is a fact that the meaning of life does not dawn until middle age, is it then not the duty of educational institutions to prepare the way for that revelation? Most people, in their youth, resent the Social Security deductions from their pay, yet a seemingly few short years later find themselves standing anxiously by the mailbox.

While it's true all of us need a career, preferably a prosperous one, it is equally true that our civilization has collected an incredible amount of knowledge in fields far removed from our own. And we are better for our understanding of these other contributions — be they scientific or artistic. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More importantly, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs.

Weekly we read of unions that went on strike for higher wages, only to drive their employer out of business. No company, no job. How shortsighted in the long run.

But the most important argument for a broad education is that in studying the accumulated wisdom of the ages, we improve our moral sense. I saw a cartoon recently which depicts a group of businessmen looking puzzled as they sit around a conference table; one of them is talking on the intercom: "Miss Baxter," he says, "could you please send in someone who can distinguish right from wrong?"

In the long run that's what education really ought to be about. I think it can be. My college roommate, now head of a large shipping company in New York, not surprisingly was a business major. But he also hosted a

classical music show on the college's FM station and listened to Wagner as he studied his accounting.

That's the way it should be. Oscar Wilde had it right when he said we ought to give our ability to our work but our genius to our lives.

Let's hope our educators answer students' cries for career education, but at the same time let's ensure that students are prepared for the day when they realize their shortsightedness. There's a lot more to life than a job.

Words: 821

NEW WORDS

formal

a. 1. following accepted rules of behavior 正式的；合乎礼仪的

2. in appearance; by name only 形式上的，名义上的

informal

a. not formal 不正式的，不拘形式的，随便的

poll

n. 1. [C] a survey of public opinion 民意测验，民意调查

2. (also pl.) the giving of written choices at an election 选举投票

resident

a. 1. having a home in a place 居住的，居留的

2. attached to and working regularly for a particular organization 住校的，住院的，住在任所的

n. [C] a person who lives or has his/her home in a place 居民，定居者

▲compute

v. count (sth.); work (sth.) out 估算，算出，计算

■consumeristic

a. believing in spending money and buying goods 消费主义的

accordingly

ad. 1. for the reason; so 因此，所以

2. in a manner that is suggested by what is known or has been said 按照所说的情况

▲humanity

n. 1. (pl.) subjects concerned with human culture 人文学科（尤指文学、语言、历史和哲学）

2. [U] human beings as a whole; people 人的总称，人类

3. [U] kind-heartedness 仁慈，仁爱，善心

▲ethnic

a. of a national or racial group that has a common cultural tradition （有共同文化传统的）民族的，种族的；部落的

▲enroll

v. become or make (sb.) a member (of sth.) （使）成为……的成员，注册

enrollment

n. 1. [C] the number of people enrolled 注册或登记的人数

2. [U] enrolling or being enrolled 登记，注册，入会

salary

n. [C] a fixed amount of money given every week, month, or year as pay for an employee 薪金，薪水

kindergarten

n. [C, U] a school for very young children 幼儿园

elementary

a. 1. of or in the beginning stage; related to primary schools 初级的；小学的

2. simple or easy; basic 简单的，基本的，基础的

secondary

a. 1. (of education or a school) for children over 11 years old （教育、学校）中等的

2. less important than related things 次要的

specialize

vi. (in) give particular attention to (a subject, product, etc.) 专攻，专门研究（某课题、产品等）

specialization (英specialisation)

n. [U, C] specializing 专业化，专门化

corporation

n. [C] a business company 公司

agency

n. 1. [C] a government organization 政府机构

2. [C] a business or place of business providing a service 经销处，代理处

confine

n. (pl.) limits, borders 界限，范围

vt. keep sb./sth. within certain limits 把……限制于

occupation

n. 1. [C] a job; employment 工作，职业

2. [C] a way of spending time; an activity done in one's spare time 日常活动，消遣

render

vt. 1. give 给予，提出

2. cause sb./sth. to be in a particular state 使得，使成为

institution

n. 1. [C] (building of an) organization, (sometimes) an organization for helping people with special needs 机构；慈善机构，社会福利机构（如孤儿院、养老院）

2. [C] a custom, system or organization that has existed for a long time and is accepted as an important part of a particular society 制度，习俗

▲revelation

n. 1. [U] making known sth. that was secret or hidden 泄露，揭示，展示2. [C] sth. which is revealed 所揭露的事，惊人的新发现

preferable

a. preferred; more suitable 更可取的，更合意的，更好的

preferably

ad. rather than anything, anywhere, etc. else 更可取地，宁可

civilization (英civilisation)

n. [U, C] a human society with its highly developed social organizations, or the culture and way of life of a society or country at a particular period in time 文明，文化

incredible

a. impossible or very difficult to believe 难以置信的

contribution

n. [C, U] action of giving (money, support, help or ideas) towards a particular aim or purpose; sth. given towards a particular aim or purpose 捐助（物），贡献（物），奉献

artistic

a. 1. of art or artists 艺术的，美术的；艺术家的

2. skillful and attractive 富有艺术性的，精美的，精彩的

wisdom

n. 1. [U] experience and knowledge; quality of being wise 经验与知识，智慧，睿智

2. [U] good judgment 正确判断，贤明

weekly

ad. once a week or every week 一周一次地，每周地

a. happening once a week or every week 一周一次的，每周的

n. [C] a newspaper or magazine which is published once every week 周报，周刊

union

n. 1. [C] a club formed by uniting people or groups; an organization of employees 协会，俱乐部；工会

2. [C] (the act or instance of) uniting or being united 联合，合并

accumulate

v. collect a large number of things over a long time; gradually increase in number or amount 累积，积累

cartoon

n. 1. [C] an amusing drawing in a newspaper or magazine 漫画，幽默画2. [C] a film made by photographing a series of gradually changing drawings 动画片

▲depict

vt. show (sb./sth.) as a picture; describe (sth.) in words 描绘，描述

puzzle

v. 1. (make one) feel confused or slightly worried because one cannot understand sth. （使）困惑，（使）为难

2. (make one) think hard about sth. in order to understand it （使）苦思

n. 1. [C] a game or toy in which parts must be fitted together correctly, intended to amuse or exercise the mind 智力测验，智力玩具，谜

2. [C] a question that is difficult to understand or answer 难题，难解之事

conference

n. [C, U] (meeting for) discussion or exchange of views 会议，讨论（会）

■intercom

n. [C] a system by which one can talk through a machine to sb. in a near place 内部通话系统

distinguish

vt. 1. recognize the difference between (people or things) 辨别，识别2. (oneself) behave or perform noticeably well 表现突出

classical

a. (of music) serious and traditional in style 古典的

■FM (abbreviation for frequency modulation)

n. [U] a radio system of broadcasting 调频

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

if only

(used to express a strong wish) （用来表示强烈的愿望）但愿，真希望

according to

as stated by (sb.) or in (sth.) 根据

be well off

be in a good position, esp. financially 经济充裕，富裕

at a low

at a low level or figure 处于低水平（或数字）

be fond of

have a great liking for sb./(doing) sth. 很喜欢，很喜爱

be proud of

take pride in 为……感到自豪

arrive at

reach (sth. such as a place or conclusion) 达成，得出

be meant to do

be supposed to do 应做

read of

find out about (sb./sth.) by reading 通过阅读发现（或查明）

go on strike

be engaged in/start a strike 举行罢工

in the long run

after a long period; in the end 从长远的观点来看；终究，最后

PROPER NAMES

Macon

梅肯（美国乔治亚州中部城市）

Robins Resident Center

罗宾斯住宿中心

Baxter

巴克斯特

Oscar Wilde

奥斯卡·王尔德（爱尔兰作家、诗人，19世纪末英国唯美主义的主要代表）Section B

What Youngsters Expect in Life

Back in the good old days of stable economic expansion — the 1950s and 1960s —a person could choose to do something new, exciting, and creative in life but could also choose to say, "That's not for me: I am going to play it safe in life. I am going to stay in my home town and have a nice comfortable career in a salaried job." That second choice no longer exists for the vast majority of Americans. All of us are going to be creators and pioneers over the next 10 years whether we like it or not, and many of us don't like it.

Just look at what the attitude surveys tell us. In the United States, three-quarters of the adults surveyed by the Harris poll and two-thirds of all high-school seniors surveyed by Scholastic magazine say they believe that the United States will be a worse place 10 years from now than it is today. No wonder young people are disaffected. No wonder they are not motivated to learn. They think the world in which they are going to spend their lives won't be a very satisfactory place.

Young men, in particular, are not happy with their prospects for the future. When surveyors ask U.S. female high-school students what they are going to do when they graduate, they list all kinds of roles they want to fill, like doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, civil servants, police and firemen, and fighter pilots. In short, they want to do all the things that

men have always done. Moreover, less than 10% of female high-school seniors expect to spend their adult lives solely as mothers and domestic managers, while nearly 90% are committed to having both a career and a marriage based on equality.

By comparison, nearly half of male high-school students express their preference for a traditional, male-headed, one provider, nuclear family, where the wife stays home as mother and housewife. And when male

high-school students are asked what kinds of careers they would like to have, the only two job fields that consistently receive large numbers of responses in open surveys are "professional athlete" and "media personality". A large proportion of America's young men — one third or more — simply say they don't know what they're going to do as adults. If these people do not acquire some constructive vision of purpose for themselves, they are likely to be very destructive forces of resistance in society throughout their lives. We already see that. One recent estimate is that one-sixth of all fourteen-to twenty-four-year-olds in America —mostly males —are currently "disaffected and disconnected". They are not associated with any formal role in society, nor are they in any formal relationship with another person. These are the folks who are joining the gangs in inner cities and swelling the ranks of the rural military gangs. They see no roles for themselves in an Information Age society, and they are angry about their empty future.

So this is a very pregnant moment, not only for the future of America, but also for all of the mature industrial economies and, ultimately, for the world at large. It is an uncertain moment, a scary moment. It is the kind of moment in history when, to summarize in the words of Alfred North Whitehead, familiar patterns fade, familiar solutions fail, and familiar options disappear. Of course, the books and periodicals that are warning society about the removal of jobs, "the end of work", and wage decreases only serve to increase public anxiety — a slow-motion variation of shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

These alarming forecasts are largely simple projections of the past two or three decades of workplace trends. However, in the absence of plausible alternative explanations for the gloomy economic news of the past 15 —20 years and the gloomier prospects implicit in the projections of those trends, industrial societies —fearful for the future —might very well take backward steps. These steps will principally serve the interests of the economically dominant groups who want to protect their assets and resources from the forces of change. Nations that take such steps will lose balance. Social and economic progress will grind to a halt and more and more jobs will be eliminated by the negative side of this transformation. The anger and frustration displayed by people who do not understand what is happening to them will be a terrible and dangerous force in all the major industrial economies.

Words: 750

NEW WORDS

expansion

n. [U] action of expanding; state of being expanded 扩大，扩张，膨胀

scholar

n. 1. [C] a person who studies a subject deeply 学者

2. [C] a student who has been awarded money after a competitive exam, etc. 获奖学金的学生

scholastic

a. relating to school and education 学校的，学院的，学术上的

motivate

vt. 1. cause to want to do sth. 激起（兴趣），激发（行动）

2. be the reason for (sb.'s action); cause (sb.) to act in a particular way 作为（……行为的）动机；激励

prospect

n. 1. (pl.) chance of success 前景，前程，前途

2. [C, U] possibility or strong chance of sth. happening 前景，可能性

accountant

n. [C] sb. who keeps or examines the records of money received, paid, etc. by a company or person 会计师，会计

civil

a. 1. of or relating to ordinary people rather than the armed forces or the Church 平民的（与军队、教会无关的）；文职的

2. within the country 国内的

fireman

n. [C] a person whose job is putting out fires 消防队员

equality

n. [U] state of being equal 平等，同等，均等

comparison

n. 1. [U] the act of comparing 比较；对照

2. [C] a statement of the points of similarity and difference between two things 经比较得出的结论

preference

n. 1. [U] (sing.) liking for sth. (more than sth. else) 较喜欢，宁愿，偏爱

2. [C] a thing that is liked better or best 喜爱物，偏爱物

housewife

n. [C] a woman whose work is inside the home, cleaning, cooking, etc., and who usually does not have any other job 家庭主妇，家庭妇女

athlete

n. [C] a person who trains to compete in physical exercises and sports 运动员

proportion

n. 1. [C] a comparative part or share of a whole 部分，份

2. [U] relation of one thing to another in quantity, size, etc. 比例，比率

construct

vt. build (sth.); put or fit together; form 建造，构筑；构成；形成

constructive

a. having a useful purpose; helpful 建设性的，积极的，有益的

vision

n. 1. [C] an imagined mental image of sth., often including one's goal or dream 想像，构想，设想

2. [U] power of seeing; sight 视力，视觉

gang

n. 1. [C] a group of criminals; a group of usu. young men who cause trouble 一群罪犯；一伙，一帮

2. a group of friends, esp. teenagers 结伴的朋友（尤指少男少女）

vi. (up) unite as a group against sb. 结成一伙，联合起来

swell

v. 1. (cause to) become greater （使）变强，（使）增加，（使）提高

2. (cause sth. to) become larger （使）增大，（使）膨胀，（使）肿起

rank

n. 1. (usu. the ～s or the ～ and file) ordinary members of an organization, esp. of the armed forces 普通成员，普通士兵

2. [C, U] position higher or lower than others', showing the importance or the degree of responsibility of the person having it; (high) social

class 地位，级别；（高）社会阶层

3. [C] a row, esp. of people or things standing side by side 行，列，排

industrial

a. having highly developed industries 工业高度发达的

▲periodical

n. [C] a magazine or newspaper that is published regularly 期刊，杂志a. happening repeatedly over a period of time 周期的，周期性的

variation

n. 1. [C] sth. that is presented in a slightly different form 变异, 变化

2. [C, U] change in amount or level 变化（量），变动（程度）

forecast

n. [C] a statement that predicts sth. with the help of information 预测，预报

vt. predict with the help of information 预言，预测，预报

absence

n. 1. [U] lack; non-existence 缺乏；不存在

2. [C, U] the state or a period of being away 缺席，不在，离开

▲plausible

a. (of a statement, an excuse, etc.) seeming to be right or reasonable （陈述、借口）似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的

▲gloomy

a. 1. (that makes people) sad and disappointed 令人沮丧的，令人忧郁的

2. dark or unlighted 昏暗的，阴暗的，阴沉的

▲implicit

a. 1. understood without being directly expressed, clearly intended even though it is not said 暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的

2. unnecessary to be questioned 深信不疑的，绝对的

fearful

a. 1. nervous and afraid 惧怕的，担心的

2. terrible, causing fear 可怕的，吓人的

backward

a. 1. directed towards the back or the starting point 向后的，倒着的

2. having made or making less than normal progress 进步迟缓的，落后的

principal

a. first in rank or importance; main 重要的，首要的，主要的

n. [C] the head in an organization, esp. in certain schools and colleges （学校或机构主管人的称谓）校长，院长

principally

ad. for the most part 大多，主要地

economic

a. connected with trade, industry, and the management of money; of economics 经济（上）的；经济学的

economically

ad. 1. concerning economics or economy 在经济（学）上

2. not wastefully 节约地，俭省地，经济地

dominant

a. more important, strong, noticeable, etc. than anything else of the same type 最重要的，占统治地位的，支配的

asset

n. 1. (pl.) thing, esp. property, owned by a person, company, etc. that has value and can be used or sold 财产，资产

2. [C] a valuable or useful quality, skill or person 有价值的特性（技能，人才）

grind

vi. make a harsh noise 发出摩擦的声音

vt. make sth. into small pieces, grain or dust by pressing between hard surfaces 磨碎，碾碎，磨成粉末

eliminate

vt. remove or take away 排除，消除，根除

display

vt. 1. show signs of having (a quality or emotion, etc.) 显露，表现出（一种品质或情感）

2. put sth. on show 陈列，展览

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

the good old days

an earlier period of time (in one's life or in history) seen as better than the present 过去的好时光

play (it) safe

carefully avoid risks 稳扎稳打，小心行事

whether or not

(used to introduce two possibilities) 是否，无论是不是，不管

no wonder

it is not surprising 不令人吃惊，难怪

be happy with

feel or express pleasure, satisfaction, etc. 对……感到满意，对……感到愉快

civil servant

a person employed in the civil service 文职人员，公务员

in short

in a few words; briefly 总之，简言之

by comparison

when compared 比较起来

associate with

join (people or things) together 联合，联系

inner city

oldest parts of a city, at or near its center 市中心区，老城区，内城

at large

as a whole; in general 全部，整个

protect sb./sth. from sth.

keep sb./sth. safe from harm, hurt, etc.; defend sb./sth. 防御，保护

grind to a halt

(of a process) gradually stop （指过程）慢慢停止

PROPER NAMES

Harris

哈里斯

Alfred North Whitehead

阿尔弗雷德·诺斯·怀特海德

Section C

What Life Is like When Out of Work

(Fortunately, Jan Halvorsen was unemployed only four months. She is now assistant editor of the Twin Cities Courier（《双城信使报》）in St. Paul, Minnesota. The following essay appeared as Newsweek's（《新闻周刊》）"My Turn" article in September of 1980.)

Being laid off from work, job loss and recession（衰退）have always affected Walter Cronkite's tone of voice and the editor's page. And maybe they affected a neighborhood business or a friend's uncle. But these terms have always been just words, affecting someone else's world, like a passing ambulance. At least they were until a few weeks ago, when the ambulance came for me.

Even as I sat staring blankly（茫然地）at my boss, hearing, "I've got bad news: we're going to have to let you go," it still seemed no more related to my daily life than a "60 Minutes" program. I kept waiting for the alternative — "but you can come back after a couple of months," or "you could take a salary cut, a different position," or even, "April fool." But none of these came. This was final. There was no mistake and no alternative.

How it all echoes through your evenings and wakes you up in the morning. The mornings are probably the worst — waking up with the shock, for the first two weeks, thinking, "I'm late!" Late for what? The dull ache in your lower stomach reminds you: late for nothing.

Again, you face the terms: "Loss of self-worth and security, fear of the future, stress, depression（抑郁）." You wonder if eating a dozen chocolate-chip（碎片）cookies, wearing a house coat until 4, combing your hair at 5, cleaning behind the stove (twice) and crying in a job-agency parking lot qualify as symptoms of stress or maybe loss of self-worth. Fighting with your spouse/boyfriend? Aha — tension in personal relationships.

The loss of a job is rejection, resulting in the same hurt feelings as if a friend had told you to "bug off". Only this "friend" filled up 40 to 60 (or more) hours of your week. Repeated references（提到）to the staff as "family" only emphasize the feeling of being left alone and having been told a lie. You picture yourself going home to your parents or spouse and being informed, "Your services as our daughter/my wife are no longer required. Pick up your baby pictures as you leave."

Each new act that confirms your job loss starts the pain again: the first trip to the employment agency, the first friend you tell, the first interview and, most fearful of all, the first trip to the unemployment （失业）office.

You do eventually become accustomed to being unemployed, in the way you might accept a bad limp. And you eventually quit beating yourself for not having been somehow indispensable — or for not having become an accountant. You tire of straining（尽力使用）your memory for possible mistakes. You recover some of the confidence that always told you how good you were at your job and accept what the boss said: "This doesn't reflect on your job performance; sales are down 30 per cent this month."

But each time you recover that valued self-worth, you renew（重新开始）a fight to keep it. Each time you go to a job interview and give them your best and they hire someone else, you go another round with yourself and your self-worth. Your unemployment seems to drag on beyond all reason. You start to see a stranger in your rearview mirror. The stranger suddenly looks like a bum（无业游民）. You look at her with clinical curiosity. Hmmm. Obviously into the worst stages. Definitely not possible to be employed.

We unemployed share a social prejudice similar to that of the rape（强奸）victim. Whether consciously or subconsciously（下意识地）, much of the public driven by work ethics（伦理）feels that you've somehow "asked for it", secretly wanted to lose your job and "flirted（轻率对待）" with unemployment through your attitude —probably dressed in a way to invite it.

Almost everyone has heard about the need to be a useful member of society. What you didn't know about was the loneliness. You've spent your life almost always surrounded by people, in classes, in residences and at work. Suddenly to find yourself with only your cat to talk to all day alters your sense of reality.

But you always were, and still are, stronger than that. You maintain （保持）balance and perspective, mainly through relying frequently on sarcasm（讽刺）and irreverence（不敬）. Although something going wrong in any aspect（方面）of your life now seems to push you into temporary despair much more easily than before, you have some very important things to hang on to —people who care, your sense of humor, your talents, your cat and your hopes.

And beyond that, you've gained something — a little more knowledge and a lot more understanding. You've learned the value of the routine you hated and the importance of the job you took for granted. But most of all, you've learned what a "7.6 per cent unemployment rate" really means. Words: 798