Unit One
Teaching Aims
To memorize new words and phrases in this unit
To master the grammatical structure —Conjunction “Whereas” To improve students’ reading skill of reading for the main ideas in paragraphs
To learn to write a general statement that is supported by specific details and the reason
To be aware of American’s attitude to time
To improve the listening skills of making inference To learn to express likes and dislikes; to make suggestion Time Allotment for Teaching Contents Period 1---2 Teaching Contents 1. Introduction of Background information. 2. Giving topics for discussion. 3. Explaining new words and expressions. 4. Language points in the text of Section A. 3---4 1. More details interpretation in Section A. 2. Some exercises in this section. 5---6 1. Useful words & Expressions in Section B. 2. Language points in the section B. 3. Listening and Speaking Unit 1. Contents
I. Key words and useful expressions:
1. Section A: budget, acute, replace, convention, assess, probe, conduct, elapse, fulfill, account for, charge for, fall behind 2. Section B: desirable, clash, hostility, distress, cope, isolation,
rejection, favorable, appreciate, adjust to, recover from, go through II. Sentence patterns
1. It seems in their eyes as if the task being considered were insignificant 2. Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed
surroundings over extended small talk; much less do they take them out for dinner. 3. However, people are meeting increasingly on television screens. 4. Usually, the more important a task is, the more capital, energy, and attention will be poured into it in order to “get it moving”.
Warm-up:
1. How is time treated in America? And why?
2. What precious resource does Americans value and save?
3. Do you think studying in a different country is something that sounds very exciting? Text Study:
Section A: Time-Conscious Americans Background Information:
Cultural differences: Students and teachers need to be aware that the ethnocentric attitudes of writers are precisely the way cultural conflict is encouraged. Why is understanding a culture always the others? responsibility? Is it not possible that each culture could be made aware of different conventions? Both sides must work at rising above cultural differences and be willing to compromise… and, in both cases, most likely neither side has access to the cultural conventions of the other so blaming is not the answer. Educating is. New Words & Expressions 1. budget
vt. plan the spending of or provide (money) in a plan 为......做预算，编制预算
The government plans to budget a new hospital. 政府计划在预算中拨款建一家新医院。
The government has budgeted 10 million dollars for education spending. 政府在预算中拨款一千万美元作为教育经费。
vi. save or spend money (for a particular purpose)（为特定目的）节省或用钱
If we budget carefully, we'll be able to buy a new car. 如果精打细算，我们就能买一辆新车。
They budgeted for a new copying machine. 他们打算花钱买一台新复印机。
n. [C, U] a plan to show how much money a person or organization will
make and how much they will need or be able to spend 预算 It is important to balance one's budget. 使收支平衡十分重要。 They are preparing for the company's advertising budget for 1993. 他们正在制定该公司1993年的广告预算。 a. inexpensive; cheap便宜的，廉价的
There is a budget motel at the corner. 拐弯处有一家收费公道的汽车旅馆。
The travel company will only charge you a budget price for going to Florida in spring.
旅游公司对春季去佛罗里达的旅客，减价收费。 Collocation: balance one?s budget 是收支平衡
a family/government budget 家庭/政府预算 2. acute
a.1). (of feelings or the senses) fine; sharp（指感觉或感官）深刻的，敏感的，尖锐的
Dogs have an acute sense of smell.狗有灵敏的嗅觉。
The president suffered acute embarrassment from this news. 这一新闻使总统十分难堪。 2). severe, very great 严重的
There is an acute shortage of water in this region.这个地区严重缺水. 3. replace
v. 1).put (sth.) back in its place 把……放回原处
He replaced the magazine on the shelf.他把杂志放回到书架上。 She replaced the telephone handle.她搁上电话机听筒。 2).take the place of (sb./sth.) 代替，取代 Can anything replace a mother's love and care? 世上有什么东西能取代母亲的关爱吗？ 4. foreigner
n. ［C] person from a country other than one's own外国人
Many of my schoolmates are foreigners. 我的许多同学是外国人。 Foreigners are often amazed by our exceptional Chinese culture. 外国人常常对我们中国独特的文化感到惊讶。 5. restless
a.1).unable to be still or quiet, esp. because of lack of interest, impatience, anxiety, etc.（尤指因厌烦、烦躁和焦虑而引起的）不安定的或不安静的
After one month in the job, he felt restless and decided to leave. 这项工作他只干一个月就感到厌倦并决定不干了。
The children grew restless with the long wait. 由于等候太久，孩子们变
得不安静起来。
2). always moving 动作不停的，好动的
Restless wind moved through the trees.风不停地在树林里吹着。
The restless lion paced up and down in its cage. 狮子在笼子里不停地窜来窜去。 restlessly
ad. 不安定地，不安静地
She moved restlessly in her chair.她焦躁不安地在椅子上挪动着。 He moved about restlessly, lighting a cigarette.他点燃了一支烟，焦躁不安地走来走去。 6. elbow
vt. push sb. to one side with the elbow or elbows 用肘把人推到一旁 He elbowed me out of the way. 他用肘把我推开了。
She elbowed her way forward. 她用胳膊肘推挤着向前走。 n. [C] (outside part of the) joint where the arm bends肘
He sat with his elbows on the table. 他坐着，双肘架在桌子上。
His arm was wrapped from the elbow to the fingers.他的胳膊从肘部一直包扎到手指。 7. abrupt
a. 1). (of behavior) rough; offensive（指行为）粗鲁的，无礼的
The general was offended by his abrupt reply.将军被他生硬的回答激怒了。
The head teacher is very abrupt with parents.校长对家长们的态度很粗鲁。
2). sudden and unexpected 突然的，意外的
The road is full of many abrupt turns.这条路有许多急转弯。
His abrupt departure surprised everyone.他的突然离去使大家都很吃惊。 8. brief
a. 1). lasting only a short time; short短暂的
My time of knowing him is brief.我与他相识的时间不长。 Mozart's life was brief.莫扎特的一生是短暂的。
2). (of speech or writing) using few words （指说话或写作）用字简练的，简洁的
Be brief and to the point. 简单扼要一点！
I was given a brief introduction to the developing local history research. 我得到了有关地方史研究发展情况的简要介绍。
vt. give sb. necessary information or instructions, esp. in order to prepare sb. for an activity预先向... ...提供必要信息或指示
The Prime Minister was fully briefed before the meeting. 首相在会前获得了详尽的有关资料。
They briefed the press about the business failing.他们向新闻界通报了交易衰退的情况。
9. opening a. first初始的
The queen attended the opening night of the theatre.女王观看了这家剧院的首夜演出。
n. 1). [C ] (esp. sing.) beginning; start开始 the opening of a book书的开头
The establishment of the new China marks the opening of a new age. 新中国的成立标志着一个新纪元的开始。
2). [C] position (in a business or firm) which is open or not occupied（商号或公司的）职位空缺
There are few openings in publishing for new graduates. 出版行业能为新毕业的大学生提供的空缺职位极少。 I'm trying to apply for an opening in an advertising firm. 我正在申请广告公司的一个空缺职位。
10. ritual a. of or done regularly followed in exactly the same way each time 例行的，老规矩的，惯常的
Every day the work begins with the ritual phrases of greeting. 每天的工作以例行的问候语开始。
n. [C, U] a method followed repeatedly in the same way every time固定的程序
Wives make a ritual of their household duties. 家庭主妇每天都是一成不变地操持家务。
I've wound up the clock so many times that it has become a ritual. 我经常给钟上发条，以致这成了我的一个习惯。 11. interaction
n. [C, U] communication; working together 交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作
Increased interaction between different police forces would improve the rate of solving crimes. 警方间加强合作可以提高破案率。 The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas. 这两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。 12. convention
n. 1). [C, U] (an example of) generally accepted practice, esp. with regard to social behavior 惯例，习俗，常规
By convention the leader is always a man. 按照惯例，领导总是由男人担任。
Wearing a coat and tie to a good restaurant is an accepted convention.