综合英语6_unit7 A Few Kind Words for
Superstition Warm-up Questions:
? 1．Give an example of superstition either handed down from one’s family tradition, or arising from your own mind or from other sources, and explain the irrationality in it.
? 2. Why do some people still cling to superstition handed down through the centuries?
? In grave discussions of “the renaissance of the irrational” in our time, superstition does not figure largely as a serious challenge to reason or science.
In serious discussions of “the renaissance of the irrational” in our time, people don't think that superstition is a great threat to reason or science.
Language Work
? Their names did not figure as potential helpers. ? I never figured that this would happen. ? It figures.
? I see superstition in its four manifestations, alive and flourishing among people who are indisputably rational and learned.
I see four ways in which superstition shows itself, very actively, among those people who are undoubtedly reasonable and well-educated.
? Four years ago, the country's tourist industry was flourishing. ? Watercolor painting began to flourish in Britain around 1750. ? Nothing seems to flourish in my garden --- perhaps the soil's too poor.
Question for paragraph 1-2
? What is the common assumption about people who believe in superstition? How does the author discredit this assumption? ? It is commonly assumed that people who believe in superstition are usually ignorant and na?ve. But the author notices the flourishing superstition among many learned people in his university.
? ...when I asked him why, he replied, with a wink, that it was “to hit the Devil in the eye.”
...when I asked him why he threw salt over his shoulder, he answered, jokingly, that it was “to hit the Devil in the eye.” ? He gave me a conspiratorial wink as they left the room.
? I didn't get a wink of sleep last night with that party going on next door.
Question for paragraph 3
? What does the author imply when he says “he did not smile until I asked him what he was doing”?
? The implication is that the learned professor truly believed in what he was doing and performed the whole thing seriously.
? “...a humble appeal to Fate to declare itself” a modest request for Fate to reveal itself. “to declare oneself”
to reveal ones intentions or identity
e.g. The committee declares itself in favor of regular quality inspection.
Question for Paragraph 4
? How should the expression “Almost, but not quite” be interpreted in its context?
? This expression, which is an elliptical sentence, is a response to the preceding statement “... their general level of education seems to absolve them of superstition.” The author suggests that the education they have received may not be able to help them to get rid of superstition.
? Another learned professor I know, who would scorn to settle a problem by tossing a coin ...
? Another knowledgeable professor I know, who would sneer at solving a problem by tossing a coin ...
? There are thousands of people on this continent who appeal to the I Ching, and their general level of education seems to absolve them of superstition ....
? There are thousands of people on this continent who are fascinated by the I Ching, and their level of education seems high enough to free them from superstition.
I've never been skiing --- it doesn’t really appeal to me. I think what appeals to me about his painting is the colors he uses.
The priest absolved him of all his sins.The report absolved her from/of all blame for the accident.
Question for Paragraph 5
? How should the expression “Almost, but not quite” be interpreted in its context?
? This expression, which is an elliptical sentence, is a response to the preceding statement “... their general level of education seems to absolve them of superstition.” The author suggests that the education they have received may not be able to help them to get rid of superstition.
? Investigation revealed that an engineering student, worried about a girl, thought that bribery of the Deity might help. ? Investigation disclosed that a student majoring in engineering, worried about a girl, thought God might help him if he could