武汉工程大学：《综合英语》Unit Five

Unit Five TEXT I: The Plug-in Drug: TV and the American Family, Part I

Unit Five TEXT I: The Plug-in Drug: TV and the American Family, Part I

re-class ACtIvity Discussion on the topic Pros and cons on tv Question 1. What effect does TV have on the Chinese family as a general rule? 2. What effect do you think TV has on the American family

Pre-class Activity Discussion on the topic: Pros and Cons on TV Question: 1. What effect does TV have on the Chinese family as a general rule? 2. What effect do you think TV has on the American family

afflict: trouble asset: valuable object; advantage preposterous: unthinkable, absurd splintering: splitting, breaking up the peer group: a group of people of the same age, class, position, etc; here, a group of children of the same age television-oriented interested in and influenced by TV equivocal: ambiguous sorcerer: person who performs magic by using the power of evil spirits

New Words and Expressions afflict: trouble asset: valuable object; advantage preposterous: unthinkable, absurd splintering: splitting, breaking up the peer group: a group of people of the same age, class, position, etc; here, a group of children of the same age television-oriented: interested in and influenced by TV equivocal: ambiguous sorcerer: person who performs magic by using the power of evil spirits

fixed TV programmer conjure up: bring into the mind sane:(in this context) in possession of good relations/of a close bond backlog: a reserve

stint: fixed amount of work; here, the fixed TV programmer conjure up: bring into the mind sane: (in this context) in possession of good relations/of a close bond backlog: a reserve

TV and the American family in an encyclopedia TV has become the primary entertainment and information medium in the u.s. In 1974 the Bureau of the Census reported that 97% of u.s. households contained at least one v set and 45% had 2 or more sets. The average American has his set turned on for about 6.5 hours each day. In fact TV has become the American's eyes and ears on the world

Background TV and the American family in an encyclopedia TV has become the primary entertainment and information medium in the U. S. In 1974, the Bureau of the Census reported that 97% of U.S. households contained at least one TV set and 45% had 2 or more sets. The average American has his set turned on for about 6.5 hours each day. In fact TV has become the American's eyes and ears on the world

Questions 1. What is the main idea of the article? The domination of television has exerted strong influence on the way of life of many American families diminishing their ordinary daily activities and affecting the sound growth of their children 2. DoT or F on P63 Answer:1.T2.3.4.5F6.7F

Skimming Activity Questions: 1. What is the main idea of the article? 2. Do T or F on P63 The domination of television has exerted strong influence on the way of life of many American families, diminishing their ordinary daily activities and affecting the sound growth of their children Answer: 1. T 2. T 3. T 4. T 5. F 6. T 7. F

1.that has seen medium become so deeply ingrained a American life..----TV has become an indispensable part of American life, so much so that cannot be done away with medium- a way or means of giving information, expressing one's ideas, or communication with people e.g. TV is a medium for giving information as well as for entertainment ingrained --fixed so firmly and deeply that it is difficult to remove e.g.: an ingrained habit/belief/prejudice

Language points 1.…that has seen medium become so deeply ingrained a American life … ----TV has become an indispensable part of American life, so much so that cannot be done away with medium- a way or means of giving information, expressing one's ideas, or communication with people. e.g. TV is a medium for giving information as well as for entertainment ingrained -- fixed so firmly and deeply that it is difficult to remove. e.g.: an ingrained habit/belief/prejudice

Tegar necessity----The television sel has by law been placed in the class of goods which are necessary to life. What a legal necessity is is explained in the following phrase attain succeed In getting something especially after some effort e.g. He attained his objectives/hopes after much hard work A man of attainments is one who has accomplished/achieved a great deal Ts.:我们的老师不到四十岁就取得了正教授的 任积资格 Our teacher attained full professorship before he was forty

2. the television set has attained the rank of a legal necessity----The television set has by law been placed in the class of goods which are necessary to life. What a legal necessity is is explained in the following phrase. attain -- succeed in getting something, especially after some effort. e.g.:He attained his objectives/hopes after much hard work. A man of attainments is one who has accomplished/achieved a great deal. Trs.:我们的老师不到四十岁就取得了正教授的 任职资格。 Our teacher attained full professorship before he was forty

repossession, that Is, a claim/a demand made by the original owner to regain the possession of 4. sufficient perspective -enough overview, enough comprehensive point of view 5. a curious myopia afflicted those early observers a strange shortsightedness troubled those early observers afflict - cause to suffer in the body or mind trouble e.g. John is afflicted with a chronic headache Ts.环境污染正在危害着全世界的许多城镇。 e.g.: Environmental pollution is afflicting many cities and towns all over the world

3. safe from repossession—protected from repossession, that is, a claim/a demand made by the original owner to regain the possession of … 4. sufficient perspective -- enough overview, enough comprehensive point of view 5. a curious myopia afflicted those early observers – a strange shortsightedness troubled those early observers afflict -- cause to suffer in the body or mind; trouble. e.g. :John is afflicted with a chronic headache. Trs.: 环境污染正在危害着全世界的许多城镇。 e.g.: Environmental pollution is afflicting many cities and towns all over the world

word. Wonderful is the more usual word 7. invariably always, without exception e.g.: Cartoons on TV remain invariably children 's favorite He is invariably late for school 8. preposterous --so strange as to be unlikely; absurd荒谬的 e.g.: The suggestion that all wild animals must be tamed is preposterous

6. wondrous: This is a formal or literary word. Wonderful is the more usual word. 7. invariably -- always, without exception. e.g.: Cartoons on TV remain invariably children's favorite He is invariably late for school. 8. preposterous -- so strange as to be unlikely; absurd 荒谬的. e.g.: The suggestion that all wild animals must be tamed is preposterous