Unit 8 Society
Part A
Listening Strategy
Summarizing (2)
Good listeners, after listening to a text, will form in their minds a short report of its main points. This report is a summary, which covers the main idea, major events, and important details such as numbers, names, and places. To work out the main points of a text, one of the important things to notice is the change of the subtopic (a text usually has one topic and several subtopics). In other words, during the listening, listeners need to pay attention to when the speaker moves from one subtopic to another. And then they should go on to catch those related important details under each subtopic. Thus a summary of the listening text can easily be formed.
The passage you are going to listen to contains 9 recommendations to keep you happy. Listen twice and write down the first sentence of each recommendation. Some have already been done for you. 1. Don’t expect money to buy you happiness. 2. Enjoy the moment. 3. Learn to like yourself. 4. Self-esteem grows out of achieving realistic goals. 5. Take occasional days of rest. 6. Put on a happy face — even if you don’t feel happy. 7. Exercise. 8. Get enough sleep to feel rested. 9. Build close relationships. Script:
Do you want to know the secret of happiness? Just listen to psychology professor David G. Myers.
He analyzed hundreds of studies from around the world to determine how important friendships, money and other things are to our happiness. Here’s what he recommends.
Don’t expect money to buy you happiness. The actual amount of money people earn has little effect on how happy they feel. What does count is how satisfied they are with their income.
Enjoy the moment. Happiness comes from little things that happen every day, rather than occasional great pieces of good fortune. Learn to like yourself. “Studies show that people with healthy self-esteem are less weak to setbacks and struggles,” said Dr. Myers, author of “The Pursuit of Happiness”.
Self-esteem grows out of achieving realistic goals.
Take occasional days of rest. Spend hours enjoying quiet time alone.
Put on a happy face — even if you don’t feel happy. Smiling can actually make you feel better, according to Dr. Myers of Hope College in Michigan.
Exercise. Aerobic exercise, such as walking, biking, swimming and running works as an antidote for mind depression and anxiety. Get enough sleep to feel rested.
Build close relationships. The best remedy for unhappiness is a caring nurturing friendship. And if you’re married, a good relationship with your spouse can be especially important. Part B
Pre-Listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about society. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. What kinds of lottery tickets are available in China?
2. Why do people buy lottery tickets? Do all of them dream of winning the lottery? 3. Do you buy lottery tickets? Why or why not?
4. What is the intention of the Chinese government in issuing welfare lottery tickets?
5. Have you or your relatives ever won the lottery? If so, what did you or they do with the prize money? 6. Many Americans buy lottery tickets. Can you guess how lottery winners in the US spend their prize money? 7. What would you do if you won a million yuan in a lottery? Demo:
1. What kinds of lottery tickets are available in China?
Well, I know that lottery is a big business in China though I don’t have the official figure. Roughly there are two types of lottery in our country. They are China Welfare Lottery and China Sports Lottery. For each type, there are different games with their own rules. For example, one can buy a Sports Lottery ticket, betting on the result of a particular football match. The money raised from lottery sales will be used in sports undertakings or to help the poor and the needy. But there could also be certain social problems if people treat lottery as a form of gambling and spend too much money on lottery tickets.
Additional Question for Discussion
Some people quit their jobs and stay idle after winning a lottery. Do you think it is wise to do so? Demo:
I don’t think it is a wise decision. Quitting a job is OK, especially when you don’t like the job. But staying idle is a different thing. In my opinion, living a happy life is a goal for everyone, and that goal lies in doing something meaningful and what one likes. I can’t imagine that staying idle day in and day out would be enjoyable to anyone. When you have won a lottery and no longer have to worry about money, you should find something that you really love to do and go for it. I believe the true happiness will come when you spend your winnings in charity or other meaningful social work.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions. ? ?
There are welfare lottery tickets, sports lottery tickets and soccer lottery tickets available in our country.
Lottery tickets are issued to raise money for state projects / a charity / a worthy cause. The money raised from lottery sales will be used to help the poor and the needy. ?
People who buy lottery tickets dream of winning a large sum of money easily and quickly / want to try their luck / intend to support a worthy cause / want to help the state with its social welfare projects. ? ?
I’ve bought some lottery tickets but I’ve never been lucky enough to win a prize.
I’ve never bought any lottery tickets because I don’t believe in getting money quick / I don’t think I’d have the luck to win anything / I’ve no idea how they work. ?
My father won a third prize last year, and the prize money was used for my tuition / the down payment for our new apartment / a family trip to the Yellow Mountains. ? ?
Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets.
Most American winners quit their jobs after winning the lottery.
? Some winners spend their money on education for themselves or their children, some on traveling and some on home improvement.
? ? ? ? ?
The prize money can enable the winner to pursue his or her dreams more easily.
The prize money can bring the winner security / higher social status / opportunities for a change of lifestyle. It is not a wise idea for the winner to quit work after winning the lottery.
Money does not necessarily bring happiness / cannot replace the happiness one gets from one’s work.
If I won a million yuan, I would use part of it for furthering my studies / buy an apartment for my parents / donate a large part of it to social welfare causes / help build a primary school in my hometown / invest the money in a business.
Listening Tasks
Lottery Winners
Word Bank
lottery n. a scheme in which many numbered tickets are sold; several numbers are later chosen at random and those whose
tickets have the chosen numbers on them win the prize money 抽彩给奖法（发行彩票或奖券，然后抽出获奖者）
extra a. additional 额外的
bowl v. to play an indoor game in which a large heavy ball is rolled along a wooden track in an attempt to knock down
bottle-shaped wooden objects 打保龄球
bored security
a. uninterested 厌烦的
n. the state of being safe from harm or loss 安全；平安
lottery ticket a numbered ticket in lottery 彩票 Script:
Do you dream of winning the lottery? Millions of people do. Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets. They are hoping to win $100,000, $1,000,000 or more. What happens after you win the lottery?
When you win a million dollars, you don’t receive a check for the total amount. You may choose to receive $50,000 a year for twenty years. Also, you must pay taxes. After taxes, you receive from $25,000 to $40,000 a year for twenty years. This is a lot of extra spending money.
What have some people done with their money? Let’s look at three past winners.
Lisa K wanted to be an artist, but she didn’t have enough money to go to art school. She was working at a job she didn’t enjoy. In August, Lisa bought one ticket and won two million dollars. She quit her job three weeks later and is now attending art school.
Mark L was a car salesman. He worked seven days a week and had little time for family life. After he won the lottery, he quit working. Now he spends his time bowling, working in the garden, and fixing things in his house. But, he’s bored. He doesn’t want to sell cars again, but he isn’t sure what he wants to do with his life.
Jack B is one of the small number of winners who did not quit his job. Jack still teaches at a school near his home. But now he and his wife take their children on an interesting vacation every year. And they don’t worry about sending their children to college. They say that money brings security and gives a person opportunities, but it doesn’t bring happiness.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information
Lottery tickets are issued in many countries. In the United States private lottery was banned in the early 19th century because of fraud, so were public lotteries not long after that. It was only in 1963 that state lotteries were legalized again. Now lottery tickets are issued in 37 US states and there are several multi-state games as well. Lotteries are administered by State governments. Part of the
revenue generated by the sale of lottery tickets is used for supporting educational, charitable and religious enterprises and for maintaining public buildings. The rest is used for the prizes and administrative expenses. The prize is carried forward to the next draw if no one wins the prize. Therefore, the grand prize can accumulate to a very large sum if there is no winner for several draws. There are two ways for the winner to receive the grand prize. One of them is to receive it in installments over 20 years (as is stated in the passage). The other is to receive a lump sum amount which is the net present value of those installment payments. Most people choose the latter. Lottery sales worldwide have reached about $100 billion a year, $13 billion of which is generated in Asia.
Since 1987, our country has also issued lottery tickets for social welfare causes. But in the Chinese lottery scheme, the maximum amount of prize money winners can receive is so far limited to five million yuan. 2. This is a lot of extra spending money.
This means a lot of money added to your normal spending budget.
3. They say that money brings security and gives a person opportunities, but it doesn’t bring happiness.
With the prize money, winners will feel safe economically. They no longer have to worry about paying bills, providing money for health care or their children’s education. The money will also open up new opportunities for them. They will not have to be tied down to their old jobs and will be able to explore their own interests, if any. However, there is no one-to-one relationship between money and happiness. Human experience has shown time and again that those who have a lot of money are not necessarily happy.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. If you win a million dollars, how much can you get before tax? a. $ 100,000 immediately. b. $ 50,000 a year for twenty years. c. $ 20,000 a year for fifty years. d. $100,000 a year for ten years.
2. If you win a million dollars, how much can you get after tax annually? a. $10,000 to $25,000. b. $15,000 to $30,000. c. $20,000 to $35,000. d. $25,000 to $40,000. 3. What did Lisa K do after she won the lottery? a. She quit her job and opened an art school.
b. She began to spend her time traveling around the world.
c. She stayed on her job, but took an interesting vacation every year. d. She quit her job and began to study art. 4. What did Mark L do after he won the lottery? a. He quit his job and began to work for himself.
b. He began to spend his time bowling, working in the garden, and fixing things in his house. c. He didn’t quit his job, but went sightseeing every year. d. None of the above.
5. What did Jack B do after he won the lottery? a. He quit his job and led a leisurely life at home.
b. He began to spend his time exercising, gardening, and traveling.
c. He stayed on his job, but took his family on an interesting vacation every year. d. None of the above.
6. What is the main idea of the passage?
a. To win the prize is the dream of every lottery ticket buyer.
b. Most winners quit their jobs after winning the lottery to lead a carefree life. c. The winner of the lottery cannot receive the total amount of the prize money. d. Winning the lottery means security and opportunities but not necessarily happiness.
Exercise 2
Listen again and fill in the blanks to complete a summary of the main points of the passage.
Every day, millions of Americans buy lottery tickets and dream of winning the lottery. If you win one million dollars, you can receive from $25,000 to $40,000 a year for twenty years after paying taxes. Winners spend the large amount of money in different ways. Some use the money to pursue their own interests, some on home improvement and travel, and others save the money for their children’s college education. Most winners quit their jobs and only a small number of them still stay on their jobs. Some winners realize that money brings security and gives them opportunities, but money does not mean happiness.
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Asking About People’s Opinions / Giving Opinions Asking About People’s Opinions What do you think of people’s standard of living today? Giving Opinions All things considered, I think people’s standard of living today is much higher than it was two decades ago. Do you think our economy is doing well? Are you sure it is a good idea to issue lottery tickets? Judging from recent statistics / from the fact that ..., I would say our economy is getting stronger and stronger. If you ask me, I think it is a good way to collect funds for social welfare projects. What do you think about the government’s emphasis on education? Drug addiction / Illegal use of guns seems to be on the rise. How do you feel about that / What’s your view on that / How do you think we should deal with this? In my opinion / To my mind, our society should place a greater emphasis on education. I definitely think we should address this problem seriously. As I see it, we must wage an all-out struggle against drug dealers / keep a tight control of the use of guns. That’s the way to solve the problem. Don’t you agree that there is a widening of the generation gap in our society? Why is it that you are against capital punishment? Honestly, I’ve never thought about that. I’ve nothing to say on that issue. Well, the point is capital punishment does not really stop crime.
Additional Vocabulary community center (社区活动中心) community service (社区服务) neighborhood race / tribe / social group social welfare solidarity / unity / fellow feeling old age / nursing home generation gap housing shortage traffic jam sanitation problem (卫生问题) waste disposal population explosion unemployment
to volunteer / do voluntary work to live in harmony to care for the young to respect the elderly to uphold equal rights for men and women to protect the rights of women and children to fight against domestic violence crime and punishment burglary robbery armed robbery arson (纵火) rape (强奸) kidnap (绑架) drug addiction (毒瘾)
Listen to the following dialogues and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1 A: I’ve won the lottery!
B: Really? That’s fantastic! What are you going to do with the prize money? A: Well, I’d like to hear your opinion. What do you think I should do? B: Well, if I were you, I would take a long vacation.
A: A long vacation? That’s a good idea. Now you’ve been to many places. Where do you suggest I should go?
B: As I see it, Europe is worth visiting. Fascinating places, beautiful landscape, rich culture, friendly people. I think you would like to
make the trip.
A: Sounds exciting. I think I’ll make inquiries right away. B: Are you going to quit your job? A: I haven’t decided. What’s your opinion?
B: Well, if you ask me, I think it depends on whether you like your job or not. A: I do. In fact, I love my job.
B: Then it would be wise to stay on, don’t you think so? A: I think you have a point there.
Conversation 2
(Professor Anderson, an economic expert, is being interviewed on TV by Betty Lee, a talk show hostess. The following is part of the interview.)
Betty: What do you think of the economy of our city?
Anderson: Well, judging from the statistics I’ve seen recently, I think our economy is doing very well. Production is growing steadily, and
the income of the majority of the people is rising.
Betty: Do you think the economy will continue to grow for the next two quarters?
Anderson: As I see it, we are heading for an economic boom, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t. Betty: But what about the unemployment rate? Isn’t it on the rise too?
Anderson: I’m glad you raised that question. It is true that unemployment has risen in certain sectors of the economy. But the point is a
great many new jobs have also been created.
Betty: I see your point. Thank you very much, Professor, for being here. Anderson: Thank you. Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. Ask your partner what he / she thinks is the most important issue of our society. Suggest two things that you consider very important, for example, education and economy.
2. You and your friend are discussing the traffic situations in your town. Express your opinion as to what the local government and each member of society should do to solve the problem caused by too many traffic jams. (You may consider the following solutions in your conversation:to build a highway; to give training to drivers; to issue strict traffic regulations; to persuade people to observe traffic regulations and not to cross the street when the red light is on.) Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the story and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. When and where was a newborn baby found? a. In a deserted park yesterday.
b. In a rock garden early yesterday morning. c. On a rock in Central Park early yesterday morning. d. In lower Manhattan before dawn yesterday. 2. How did the police feel when they found the baby? a. Sorry.
b. Surprised.
d. Relieved.
c. Unhappy.
3. Who might be the woman that had abandoned her baby?
a. A young homeless woman who called the head of Hope Foundation. b. A woman who called a fire station early yesterday. c. A homeless woman who called a hospital hotline.
d. A homeless woman who called a baby rescue hotline early yesterday. 4. Which of the following can be learned from the passage? a. The Hope Foundation couldn’t help the woman. b. The police are determined to find the mother.
c. The mother gave up her baby because she was homeless. d. The mother was eager to hide her identity. Script:
A healthy newborn girl was discovered in Central Park yesterday morning. The baby was abandoned on the top of a rock shortly before dawn after the mother gave birth to her there. The police said that the baby was healthy and weighed 7 pounds. Now they were searching for the mother. A policeman said that they had never had anything like this before. They really didn’t get babies left in the park. But they were just happy the baby was all right. The police rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. Fortunately she was OK. The police believed the baby was born less than half an hour before she was discovered. They also believed, judging from the amount of blood found on the rock, that the mother might have given birth there. It was 70 degrees when the baby was found.
Detectives were investigating whether the mother was a homeless woman who called a baby rescue hotline early yesterday. The head of Hope Foundation said that his hotline received a call about 5:30 a.m. from a young homeless woman in Manhattan. The caller asked, “How do I get rid of my baby?” She was apparently in labor. Then she was told to go to either a hospital or a fire station. But the woman was afraid she would be recognized there. The head also said that the woman wouldn’t even tell him where he could possibly meet her since they had two teams that could help with the delivery, if necessary.
Unit 9 Dreams and Ambitions
Part A Listening Strategy
Drawing Inferences
The ability to draw correct inferences from what we have heard is an important skill in listening comprehension because sometimes a speaker does not state directly what he / she intends to say but implies it instead. A speaker’s attitude towards what he / she discusses, in particular, often has to be inferred from the hints he / she has dropped. So we must learn to synthesize all these hints so as to get a complete picture about what is being discussed. In addition, we can rely on the speaker’s choice of words to help us: the use of words of positive, negative or neutral meaning can indicate a positive, negative or neutral attitude respectively.
Listen to the following story and do the multiple-choice exercise below. 1. We can learn from the passage that Jane _____________. a. wanted to travel because she led an uncomfortable life
b. used to live a comfortable life but it wasn’t the life of her dream c. didn’t want to change her lifestyle until she reached 35
d. all of sudden, wanted to see the world, though she lived quite a good life 2. We can infer from the passage that Jane _____________. a. liked Africa more than Europe and India
b. had never had any boyfriends before she met John c. fancied an adventurous life as a teenager d. realized that London was the best place to live in the world
3. The speaker’s attitude towards Jane’s decision to pursue her dream is ________. a. critical b. neutral c. negative d. positive Script:
Two years ago, Jane had a well-paid job, and an active social life. But it wasn’t the life she had dreamed of as a teenager. At 35, she thought life was passing her by and she decided to change things. She had always wanted to travel round the world, so she gave up her job and set off to follow her dream.
The journey took her through Europe and Africa. And it was in Tanzania that she met John, an American who taught in a school there. John was like no other man that she had ever met, and she fell madly in love with him. After two romantic weeks together, Jane continued her journey to India, but then she decided to fly back to Africa.
Six weeks later, Jane and John were married. Now they live in London. Jane was very happy that she made that decision to follow her dream. But for that she wouldn’t have met so many wonderful people, or seen so many interesting places. Most of all, she wouldn’t have met the man of her dreams.
Part B Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about your dreams and the realization of them. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner. 1. What did you dream of becoming when you were a little child? 2. What is your big dream at present? What do you want most in life? 3. How great are the chances that you can realize this dream? 4. What are you going to do to make this dream come true?
5. What do you think is the most important factor in realizing one’s dreams? 6. Are opportunities important to the realization of one’s dream? Demo:
5. What do you think is the most important factor in realizing one’s dreams?
I think among many factors, the most important one is determination. You have to be able to follow your dreams regardless of any obstacles. If you have a sound enough reason “why” you are doing something, you will be more determined in accomplishing it. Great determination can help you face tough situations with courage and perseverance. It makes you move along the path you’ve chosen no matter what stands in your way. No dreams can ever be realized without determination.
Additional Question for Discussion
What does the expression “the American Dream” mean? Demo:
We often hear about the American Dream. We know that Americans value the ability to start with a dream and then realize that dream through one’s own efforts. I guess the American Dream would mean different things to different people. However, in most cases, the dream would be associated with success in one’s life or career. It can be the better quality of life or a notable achievement. The efforts towards that end may include an education to improve oneself or hard work to earn money. In a word, the American Dream is a person’s hope to achieve a good life in America.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions. ? ? ? ? ?
When I was young, I wished to become a world-famous scientist / great novelist / poet / astronaut / movie star / pop singer … At present, I wish to find a job I dreamed of / I’m really interested in / related to my major / offering a handsome salary. I wish I can take / acquire / obtain / receive a master’s degree / PhD.
What I want most in life is someone that really cares for me / a house of my own / a good job …
I want to devote my life to changing my home town into a prosperous one / taking care of orphans and homeless children / setting up my own business. ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
I never doubt / have little hope that my dream will come true some day. My chances of becoming a … are very good / quite slim. I’m afraid I don’t stand much chance of becoming a …
Perseverance is most important if you want to make your dreams come true. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The hardest thing is to keep pursuing one’s dream in spite of difficulties.
In pursuing a dream, one must keep a balance between one’s strong wish for the dream to come true and the realities of one’s abilities and circumstances. ? ? ?
I think it is wise to be realistic / not to aim at something that is beyond you. Talent and a bit of luck are all you need to realize your dreams.
Talent alone is not enough; you must be quick to seize the opportunities available to you.
?
Opportunities favor a prepared mind.
Listening Tasks
Larry’s Dream
Word Bank dash practically
v. to destroy 使破灭 ad. almost 差不多
nil n. zero 零
basic a. of a primary level 起码的，最基本的 generous a. willing to give more than one expected 慷慨的
tip n. a small amount of money given for a service provided 小费，赏钱 fascinate a. to attract the strong attention and interest of sb. 吸引，迷住 abrupt a. sudden and unexpected 突然的，出其不意的 would-be
a. wanting to do a particular thing 想要做……的
scribble v. to write in a hurry 潦草地书写
keep body and soul together to have just enough money, food, etc., to live on 勉强维持生活 Script:
Larry had always wanted to become a movie star. His hopes for success were dashed again and again, however. Hollywood just did not seem interested. But Larry refused to admit that his chances of getting into movies were practically nil. Someday, he told himself, his big opportunity would come.
To keep body and soul together, Larry found a job parking cars for one of Hollywood’s big restaurants. The pay was basic but since the guests were quite generous with their tips, he managed to make a living.
One day he recognized an important film director driving into the parking lot and getting out of his car. Larry had recently heard that the man was making a new picture.
Larry got into the car and prepared to drive it on into the lot and park it. Then he stopped, jumped out and ran over to the director. “Excuse me, sir, but I think it’s only fair to tell you that it’s now or never if you want me in your new picture. A lot of big companies are after me.”
Fascinated by Larry’s abrupt statement, the director stopped. “Yes? Which companies?”
“Well,” replied the would-be star, “there’s the telephone company, the gas company, and the electric company, to mention only a few.”
The director laughed, then scribbled something on a card and handed it to the young man. “Come and see me tomorrow.” Larry got a small part in the director’s next film. He was on his way!
Language and Culture Notes 1. Hollywood
center of American film industry located in the northwest part of Los Angeles, California 2. Hollywood just did not seem interested.
Directors at Hollywood did not want him to act in their movies. 3. he found a job parking cars for one of Hollywood’ big restaurants
Larry found a job as a valet (车管员) at a big restaurant in Hollywood, parking cars for its customers. Expensive restaurants usually provide valet parking service for their customers. Valets like Larry park customers’ cars for them when they arrive and bring their cars to them when they leave. Customers are supposed to give tips for the service.
4. it’s now or never
an emphatic way of saying that something must be done immediately because if you miss the chance, it will never come again 5. A lot of big companies are after me.
This sentence can be understood in two ways: 1) A lot of important film companies are interested in me; 2) A lot of utility companies (referring to gas, electricity, telephone companies, etc.) are pressing me to pay their bills. Here Larry cleverly exploited the ambiguity in the sentence to impress the film director. The director was amused by Larry’s sense of humor when he realized the real meaning of the sentence. 6. the would-be star
referring to Larry. We can use “would-be” to describe someone who wants to do a particular thing, especially to take up certain career, e.g., a would-be writer, a would-be singer, etc.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. 1. What does the story mainly tell us?
a. How Larry found a job in a restaurant in Hollywood.
b. How Larry managed to make a living in Hollywood. c. How Larry started his career in Hollywood. d. How Larry met an important film director in Hollywood. 2. Which of the following statements about Larry can be inferred? a. Larry was an idealistic dreamer. b. Larry had a fine sense of humor. c. Larry was going to be a great movie star. d. Larry was broke when he met the film director. 3. Why was the film director interested in Larry?
Exercise 2
Listen again and write down answers to the following questions.
1. What helped Larry to carry on with life when his dream was dashed again and again? His belief that one day he would become a movie star. 2. What job did Larry find in order to support himself? Parking cars for one of Hollywood’s big restaurants. 3. Was Larry well-paid and how did he manage to make a living?
No, his pay was only basic. But he got generous tips from guests driving into the restaurant. 4. What happened one day that changed Larry's life?
Larry parked the car of a famous film director and was able to introduce himself to the man.
5. Larry said: “A lot of big companies are after me.” What can be the two meanings of this statement? a. Many big film companies are interested in me. b. Many big companies are pressing me to pay their bills.
Speaking Tasks
a. He was amused by Larry’s unusual way of recommending himself. b. He thought Larry would make a good actor. c. He was sorry for Larry.
d. He didn’t want Larry to be employed by other companies.
Communicative Function: Expressing Certainty and Possibility Asking About Certainty Are you sure you want to give up your job and go traveling around the world? Are you fully aware of the risk you are taking? Are you certain you will have no regrets? Do you think your decision is really a good one? Asking About Certainty Are you going to continue studying for a master’s degree in business after graduation? Are you planning to go abroad for furthering your studies? I’m uncertain / unsure of that. I haven’t made up my mind. Asking About Possibility Do you think most of us can fulfill our dreams if we never give up? I think so. It is possible for most of us to fulfill our dreams if we never give up. It is possible that most of us will fulfill our dreams if we persevere in doing what we decide to do. Our dreams may be fulfilled if we always have faith in what we want to achieve. Perhaps / Possibly / Maybe we will fulfill our dreams if we never lose hope. Asking About Possibility Do you think we can visit the moon as tourists in the near future? Response: Expressing Impossibility I don’t think so. It is impossible that we could make the trip soon. I doubt it. It is impossible for us to do that so soon.
Additional Vocabulary to dream of becoming a(n) explorer / astronaut / entrepreneur / philanthropist / fashion model / filmmaker / world-famous composer / pianist / rock star / Olympic award-winner to travel around the world to visit the famous cities in the world to climb up Mount Qomolangma to explore the North Pole (Arctic Pole) / South Pole (Antarctic Pole) to go abroad and see the world to further my studies abroad to pursue postgraduate programs to win first prize in an English speech contest to excel in athletics / compete in the Olympics to design buildings strong enough to withstand powerful earthquakes to invent a cure for cancer / life-threatening diseases to buy a cozy apartment / brand-new car to marry my true love to run a company of my own Response: Expressing Possibility I’m sure of it. Yes, I am. I can assure you I understand it perfectly. I’ve no doubt about that. I’ve no doubt it is the best decision I’ve ever made. Response: Expressing Uncertainty I’m not sure / certain whether I’ll continue studying or not. Response: Expressing Certainty
to open a store on the web
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1 A: B: A: B:
I like the story we’ve just heard very much. So do I. It’s very entertaining.
I wonder if Larry would really become a famous movie star. It is quite possible. He was so clever.
A: But being clever alone doesn’t make you a good actor.
B: I suppose so. But at least he had realized his dream of acting in a Hollywood movie. A: That’s true. By the way, what’s your dream? B: I don’t know. I’m not so ambitious as Larry, I think. A: So what do you want most in life, then?
B: A decent job, an apartment of my own and a family that I really love. A: I guess most people would like to have those. B: What more can you wish for?
A: Well, I’ve always wanted to be a singer. B: Have you? No wonder, you sing so well.
Conversation 2 A: B: A: B: A: B: A: B:
Conversation 3 A: B: A: B: A: B: A: B: Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. Ask your partner about his / her plan to pursue postgraduate studies. Try to use the language that expresses certainty and possibility in your conversation.
Hi, Ling Pin. How’s your cousin doing?
He’s tired. He has just taken the Civil Service Test (公务员考试).
No wonder I haven’t seen him for ages. Why did he want to take such a test? The civil service has recently become a popular career choice. Do you think he can get his dream job?
I’m not certain of that. The competition is very, very tough, you know. Anyway, dream brings hope. It is good for him to have a dream. I think so, too.
Hi, Xiao Fang. How have you been?
Oh, hello, Xiao Li. I’ve been pretty busy these days.
Are you preparing to go to the Northwest this summer as a volunteer? Yes.
Do you think your application will be approved? Absolutely sure.
So you can now realize your dream of teaching kids there. I have no doubt about that.
2. Ask your partner about his / her dreams. You can use some expressions from the Additional Vocabulary above and other expressions you’ve learned in this unit.
Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. When did Zaslow start writing stories? a. In 1988. b. In his childhood. c. At Carnegie Mellon University. d. At the Chicago Sun-Times.
2. How old was Zaslow when his column became popular with readers in Chicago? a. 33. b. 31. c. 28. d. 41. 3. What is the major benefit Zaslow has got from his years in the advice business? a. He has realized his dream of becoming a writer. b. He has greater faith in his fellow men. c. He earns a good salary. d. He has made many friends.
4. What can be inferred from the passage?
a. People playing the roles of cartoon figures at Disney World had a hard life. b. Zaslow did not like his job at the Wall Street Journal.
c. Jeffrey Zaslow was a better advice columnist than Ann Landers. d. To be an advice columnist has always been Zaslow’s dream. Script:
Jeffrey Zaslow, the advice columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, grew up in suburban Philadelphia. His biggest ambition in life was to be a writer. “I never wanted to be anything else,” he says. “I was ten or eleven when I saw Gone with the Wind and I wrote my own Civil War story.”
After earning a degree in creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University, he got a job at a newspaper in Orlando, Florida. He made his mark with his article on the rough working conditions endured by the people inside the Mickey and Minnie costumes at Walt Disney World. Later he became a staff writer for the Wall Street Journal.
In 1988, when the famous advice columnist, Ann Landers, quit her job at the Chicago Sun-Times, the paper launched a nationwide contest to find her replacement. Jeffrey Zaslow applied. Among the 12,000 contestants, women outnumbered men nine to one, and most of them had seen a lot more of life than Zaslow, who was 28 and not married. When he reached the semifinals, his editors at the Journal ran a headline: “Why He’ll Never Make It.” But Jeffrey did make it in the finals.
Today, thirteen years later, his column, “All That Zazz,” is read by thousands of readers in the Chicago area. His years in the advice business left him with a deep appreciation for people and their problems. He is also greatly moved by the generosity, sincerity and good nature of his readers. “Wonderful people,” he says, “do outnumber terrible people in this world. I have much more faith in my fellow men than I had before. And I’ve read plenty of letters to back that up.”
Unit 10 Disasters
Part A
Listening Strategy
Listening for Major Elements in a Disaster Report
To understand a report about a disaster, you need to pay special attention to when and where it occurred, the possible damage and loss, and the number of people injured or killed since these elements are the essential parts of this type of report.
You are going to hear two news reports of disasters. Pay attention to the elements mentioned above and complete the following charts. 1.
Type of disaster Time Place Number of people killed Number of people injured 2.
Type of disaster Time Place Number of people killed Number of people injured Number of people severely injured Cause Script:
1. Turkey says more than 10,000 people now are confirmed dead after the earthquake three days ago. Most of the deaths are in five northwestern cities. About 34,000 people are reported injured. Rescue workers are still searching for about 35,000 missing people; many are trapped under fallen buildings. Rescuers are using cameras, dogs and listening devices to search for survivors.
2. Early this morning a severe explosion took place in Shijiazhuang, the capital of North China’s Hebei Province, killing 108 and injuring 38, according to the Public Security Department. After treatment, 15 of those injured have been discharged from hospital care. Hospital officials say five among the 11, who were severely injured, are now out of danger. Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion. Part B
Pre-listening Task
Questions for Discussion
You are going to talk about accidents and disasters. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner.
1) Explosion 2) Early this morning Shijiazhuang 3) 108 4) 38 5) 11 Unknown 1) Earthquake 2) Three days ago 3) Turkey 4) 10,000 5) 34,000
1. What are natural disasters? And what are man-made disasters? 2. What damage can they cause?
3. Describe a disaster you yourself have experienced or one you have read or heard about. When, where and how did it happen? 4. What are the chances of survival in a disaster?
5. What can we do to help people in a disaster-stricken area? 6. What should we do to prevent man-made disasters? Demo:
5. What can we do to help people in a disaster-stricken area?
There are quite a few things we can do to help people in a disaster-stricken area. For example, we can donate money and necessities to help them fight against the natural disaster. We can provide food, clothing and medical care for them. We can provide shelter for the homeless and take them into the warmth of our own homes. We can also send volunteers or go to the area as volunteers to assist the people there in their efforts to rebuild their homes.
Additional Question for Discussion
How can we reduce the damage caused by such natural disasters as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? Demo:
Right now human beings cannot predict accurately when the next earthquake or volcanic eruption will occur. But at least we can do two things. First, the government should set up research institutions or laboratories to study how to predict quakes and try to prevent those disasters from happening or reduce their destructive power (破坏力). Second, we should take protective measures and make necessary preparations to ensure the safety of human life and property so that, when a disaster does happen, its damage can be controlled. For example, we should build strong houses and buildings that are quake-proof.
Language Focus
Here are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions. ?
Natural disasters are caused by forces of nature. Earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, wild fires and droughts are natural disasters that are beyond the control of humans, while plane crashes, traffic accidents, explosions and fires belong to man-made disasters. ? ? ?
Sometimes accidents or even disasters happen due to human faults.
Natural disasters like earthquakes or floods may claim hundreds of thousands of lives and leave thousands of people homeless. I read in this morning’s newspaper / heard over the radio / saw on TV a volcano erupted in … / an earthquake struck … / a plane crashed shortly after takeoff / a strong typhoon hit … / a tornado landed on … / a heavy snowstorm swept through … / a fire broke out in the warehouse of a factory / two vehicles clashed, causing great / serious / severe / huge damage to human life and property. ? ? ?
The damage was severe, but fortunately no one was injured.
Car accidents are often caused by drivers who are drunk / try to overtake without warning.
People who fail to follow traffic rules when crossing the street may be hit by a car. And they have to bear full responsibility for the accident themselves. ? ? ? ?
I twisted my ankle / slipped and fell / broke my arm / broke my leg when I was playing football. It still hurts. Chances of survival in a … are almost zero / very little.
If rules and regulations were strictly followed, many man-made disasters could be avoided.
Professional dedication ought to be advocated. If everyone took a serious attitude toward their job, many accidents could be prevented. ?
We should do our best to help / donate money or clothing to / show sympathy for people in a disaster-stricken area.
Listening Tasks
Surviving a Plane Crash
Word Bank survive fasten roll groan aisle rescuer swamp jungle amazingly grab
v. not to die in an accident, etc. 从……中逃生 v. to make or become firmly fixed 系牢，缚紧 v. to swing from side to side 摇晃 n. a long, low sound of suffering 呻吟声 n. passage 通道，过道
n. a person who saves people in danger 营救人员 n. wetland 沼泽
n. a tropical forest （热带的）丛林 ad. extraordinarily 惊人地；了不起地 v. to seize, to snatch 抓住
plane crash an instance of an aircraft falling from the sky to hit the land or sea 飞机坠毁 work out to find the answer to a problem by reasoning or calculating 得出答案；算出 out of consciousness losing consciousness 失去知觉 Burma 缅甸（东南亚国家） Johan （人名） Script:
Three months ago I flew to Burma with my boyfriend, Johan. The plane was a small one and our seats were near the back. The sky looked very black as we took off, and throughout the flight, we kept our seat belts fastened. Twenty minutes later we flew into a terrible storm. The plane rolled and shook in the wind. We were both very frightened. I couldn’t remember anything after that until I opened my eyes. I didn’t know where I was. Slowly I realized that the plane had crashed. I was in terrible pain and I couldn’t move. “Johan,” I called, but he didn’t reply. It was dark, but I knew that he wasn’t in his seat. I heard groans and I worked out that possibly six other people were still alive. When daylight came, I could see all the bodies around me. Johan was on the other side of the aisle, but I knew that he was dead.
After a day or two the other voices stopped and I was alone. But the rescuers didn’t come. “They must be on their way,” I told myself. I didn’t know that we were in a swamp in the middle of a jungle and that the helicopters couldn’t fly in the heavy rain. Outside the window the floodwater was going slowly up. But that water saved my life. I managed to stay alive by drinking that dirty water. At night the mosquitoes came. I was out of consciousness because of pain and hunger. Then I heard voices. I pushed my hand out of the window and amazingly someone grabbed it. The rescue team had arrived nine days after the crash.
Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information
In the year 2000 alone, there were 17 major commercial passenger airline disasters worldwide, claiming more than 800 lives. Air disasters are caused by both natural forces and human failings. The most common causes are unusual weather conditions, structural failure, engine failure, navigational error, or terrorist attack. Planes may crash on takeoff, on landing, or on approach. They may hit a mountain, or be hit by lightning. They may overrun the runway, or collide in midair with another plane. In the passage, the crash was caused by a terrible storm and killed all the passengers except the narrator. 2. Burma
a country located in Southeast Asia. Its full name is the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. It has a tropical monsoon climate.
Exercise 1
Listen to the passage and complete the following chart with the missing information.
Type of disaster Time Place Cause Number of people killed Number of people injured
Exercise 2
Listen to the passage again and write down answers to the following questions. 1. What happened to the plane before it crashed? It rolled and shook in the wind. 2. Did the rescue team arrive immediately after the crash? Why or why not?
No. It arrived nine days later because it was raining heavily and the helicopters couldn’t fly in the heavy rain. To make the matter worse, the plane crashed in a swamp in the middle of a jungle. 3. Was the narrator seriously injured?
Yes. She was in terrible pain and couldn’t move. 4. How did she manage to stay alive? By drinking dirty floodwater.
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Talking About Disasters Inquiries Have you watched / read / heard the news this morning? Did you hear about the terrorists’ bombing in …? Responses Yes, I have. It’s terrible, isn’t it? No, I didn’t. What happened? Have you ever been in a(n) flood / fire / earthquake? Yes, I have. It was a terrible experience that I will never forget / I still have vivid memories of that terrible experience. Plane crash 1) Three months ago 2) In the middle of a jungle 3) A terrible storm 4) All on board the plane except the narrator 5) One (the narrator) When did it happen? When was it? Where did it happen? Yesterday morning. Last year. On … Street. In downtown … Inside a building. Near where I live. In a residential area. Outside … station.
How did it happen? Some … placed a bomb inside that building, levelling it to the ground. A commercial plane crashed into a building, causing it to crumble. A driver lost control of his vehicle, which crashed into another one passing by. What about the casualties? Was anyone injured? What did they do with the victims? What do the government and people do to help those in a disaster-stricken area / those who are injured / families of the victims? … were injured and … were left homeless. They were sent to hospital for treatment. The government is sending relief workers to the area / expressing sympathy for families of the victims. People volunteer to donate blood / donate money and supplies / help out at the scene of disaster.
Additional Vocabulary Man-made Disasters road accident surgery accident air crash plane collision train collision train derailment bombing fire gas leakage shipwreck bridge collapse mine collapse oil pipe explosion terrorist attack
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: Hi, Wu. You don’t look happy. What’s up? B: Bad luck! I fell off my bicycle and hurt my leg. A: Did you? That’s too bad. How did it happen?
B: I was coming to school on my bike yesterday when another one from behind crashed into mine and knocked me over. Fortunately I
was not seriously hurt. A: Did the rider apologize to you?
B: No. He just picked up his bike and sped away, without so much as looking at me. A: It’s unbelievable! How could he behave like that?
B: Well, the world is made up of all sorts. Maybe he was in a hurry.
Conversation 2
A: You know, a severe flood has hit Guangdong and Hubei Provinces. B: So I have heard. How terrible! A: Have you ever been in a flood? B: Yes, I have. A: When was that?
Natural Disasters volcanic eruption earthquake drought landslide mudflow flood tsunami sandstorm snowstorm hailstorm blizzard hurricane tornado whirlwind avalanche cyclone heat wave forest fire acid rain
B: About two years ago, before I entered this college. My hometown was hit by a serious flood. A: What happened?
B: Well, it rained heavily for about two weeks and the river in our town overflowed. The water was about a meter deep. We had to be
evacuated.
Conversation 3
A: Do you know a powerful earthquake struck western India on Friday? B: No. Was it a strong quake?
A: Yes. It was measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. B: Were many people hurt?
A: Yes. Over 20,000 people were killed, 33,000 were said to be injured and hundreds of thousands left homeless. B: That’s really horrible. Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the sentences and structures above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. You lost your bicycle one day but it was recovered two days later. You tell your partner about the incident by saying “Do you know what happened to my bicycle?” Your partner will ask you questions such as when, where and how the bike was “stolen”, and how it was returned. You answer your partner’s questions according to the following pictures and the words given under each picture.
A B C A. Left unlocked outside the canteen B. Could not be found after the meal C. Reappeared two days later
2. Tell your partner about a road accident you have seen on TV, starting with “Oh, there was a terrible accident.” Your partner will ask you questions according to the prompts on Card A and you answer him / her with the information on Card B. Card A
Traffic Accident Report Name of the injured Occupation Details of the accident: Date Time Place
Reporter: That’s wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Burnstein. Dave: My pleasure.
Reporter: Once your order is in, the computer takes over. The computer turns your grocery list into a print-out. Workers then get the
goods on your list from a warehouse. Meanwhile you go about your business and, three hours later, drive up to the market, punch your code into a terminal, and write a check while your groceries are loaded into your car.
There are disadvantages to this fast lane grocery shopping. You can’t stop and sniff the fish or squeeze the melon. However, I heard no complaints about the freshness of the food. And you pay a $1.50 service charge on each order, but prices are comparable to traditional grocery stores. And as one customer put it, “My time is worth more than a dollar and a half an hour.”
Language and Culture Notes 1. catalog shopping
In Western countries, shopping from catalogs has become an important way of buying all kinds of items, from exotic foods to large appliances. Those catalogs are sent to people by different catalog companies. With a catalog in your hand, you can either place an order over the phone or by mail and the order will be delivered to your doorstep. 2. drive-in grocery shopping
Drive-in grocery shopping has combined the characteristics of a drive-in service with catalog shopping. That means you place your order over the phone from a catalog and then a few hours later you drive to the market to collect your order without having to step out of your car. 3. fight for a parking space
Parking spaces are difficult to find outside a big supermarket, especially during the weekends when most people do their weekly grocery shopping. Sometimes several customers may be eyeing the same available space. But the rule of “first come, first served” is usually honored.
4. phone in the item numbers
call the market and give the numbers of the items you have chosen 5. Phone-In Drive-Through Market
The name means: call in the numbers and drive through the market without having to stop and shop. 6. drive-through convenience
the convenience of driving through a place of business, such as a bank or a fast food restaurant, completing a transaction from one’s car, and driving out. Some banks have outside tellers’ windows to accept deposits from customers. Fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, have outside windows to take customers’ orders. 7. go about your business attend to the work you are doing Exercise 1
Listen to the interview twice and complete the answer to each of the following questions. 1. Why does drive-in grocery shopping appeal to customers?
Because customers don’t need to fight for a parking space, push a grocery cart around in the market, or stand in line at the check-out.
2. Who is Dave Burnstein?
He is the vice-president for the Phone-In Drive-through Market. 3. What are the two proven successful ideas applied to grocery shopping according to Mr. Burnstein?
One is the success of drive-through convenience — which has been proven to be successful with banks and fast food; the other is the proven success of catalog shopping.
4. Why have they applied the two proven successful ideas to grocery shopping? To help customers save time. 5. What are the disadvantages of drive-in grocery shopping?
Customers can’t stop and check if the goods they have ordered are of good quality or not; and they have to pay a $1.50 service charge on each order.
Exercise 2
Listen to the interview once again and write down the procedure of doing drive-in shopping in the table below. The first step has already been written out for you.
Drive-in Grocery Shopping Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6
Speaking Tasks
Communicative Function: Talking About Advantages and Disadvantages Asking About Advantages and Disadvantages What are the advantages of drive-in / online shopping? Responding to Enquiries About Advantages and Disadvantages It saves time / it’s less time-consuming. With online shopping you don’t even need to step out of your home. It’s especially helpful during hot summer and cold winter days. A few clicks on your computer and your purchase is completed and your order will be delivered to your doorstep. Online shopping often gives you a better deal. How superior is drive-in shopping to shopping at a supermarket? What does … appeal to you? It saves time, reduces stress, and is fun. It is a fabulous way to save time and money. What is so good about this equipment? The best thing about it is … It’s user friendly / environmental-friendly. It uses less gas. It’s energy-efficient. It’s less expensive but better in quality than similar products. How does this dictionary compare to that one? It has more entries / idioms / examples / explanations on usage / comparisons of synonyms. It uses simple and clear language to explain difficult words. It’s just the right kind of dictionary for beginners. Drive-in shopping has made shopping much easier and faster. You make up your grocery list from a 4,000-item catalog. You phone in the item numbers of the goods you order. The computer makes a print-out of your list. Workers in the market find the goods on your list in a warehouse. Three hours later, you drive up to the market, and punch your code into a terminal. You write a check while workers load your groceries into your car.
Are there any disadvantages of online shopping? What are the demerits of online shopping? Well, you sort of lose the enjoyment of retail shopping. You can’t try on a jacket, smell a perfume, or squeeze a melon. To name just one, I’d say it lacks the personal touch. There is no clerk to smile at you and say, “Have a good day.” What is the downside of …? One thing that I don’t feel happy about … is … Sometimes the item that arrived at my door is not as good as the one advertised in a catalog / does not meet my expectations. I wonder if you find anything unsatisfactory in …? I’d say … Everything is fine except that …
Additional Vocabulary 24-hour service goods descriptions receipt invoice fake / shoddy goods practical economical superior in quality
Listen to the following conversations and repeat after the recording. Then role-play them with your partner. Conversation 1
A: Drive-in grocery shopping is terrific. You don’t even need to use a grocery cart or stand in line. A phone call can help order
everything you need.
B: But you have to drive to collect the order yourself.
A: That’s true. However, it won’t take much time. In less than two minutes everything is done.
B: That’s where the problem lies. You don’t even have time to stop and check whether your order is of good quality or not. A: I guess you may have a point there. But so far I’ve found nothing wrong with the goods I bought this way. B: You can’t be sure that it will never happen in future.
A: Well, anyway I enjoy drive-in shopping ’cause it saves me a lot of time.
Conversation 2
A: Do you do online shopping?
B: Never. I think online shopping lacks the personal touch. There is no clerk to smile at you and say, “How are you today?”
A: If you’ve never done any, you’ve probably missed the pleasure of shopping from the comfort of your own home. You see, if it is hot
outside, you don’t have to go out in the heat. If there is a foot of snow on the roads and you can’t get out, you can still shop. Also, if you don’t feel well, it’s definitely the way to shop.
B: I guess you may be right. But you can’t pay cash or write a check online. You have to use a credit card. A: Isn’t it easier than paying cash?
B: But don’t you think it’s not safe using a credit card online?
A: You know what, they say using a credit card on the Internet is as safe as using it in a normal store. B: Then maybe I’ll try online shopping one of these days.
convenient time-saving trouble-saving reasonably-priced durable effective unreliable energy-saving
Exercise
Now make similar conversations according to the given situations. Use the structures and expressions above in your conversations where appropriate.
1. You and your partner are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of retail shopping and online shopping. Retail shopping: buying goods directly from a store in small quantities. Online shopping: shopping done via the Internet.
2. You want to purchase a dictionary. Talk to your partner about whether you should get an English-Chinese dictionary or an English-English dictionary. Part C
Test Your Listening
A Passage
Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions. 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
a. Why young people above 18 in the U.S. prefer to attend local colleges.
b. The reasons why more and more young people in America move back to their parents’ homes rather than live on their own. c. Young people in America should leave home when they reach 18. d. How young people in the U.S. try to cope with the rising costs of housing. 2. What do you know about Sallie?
a. She moved back to her parents’ home mainly because she didn’t have money to buy a new car. b. She felt miserable when she was away from home. c. She was not satisfied with her job as a teacher. d. She doesn’t want to pay much money for rent. 3. What can you learn from the passage?
a. Most parents in America welcome their children’s return to the nest.
b. An away-from-home college education is no longer affordable to middle class people in America. c. Failure in marriage is an important reason for the return to the nest. d. Young people in America have trouble establishing their own identities.
4. What is one of the reasons why most psychologists disapprove of lengthy homecomings? a. Because they are resented by the aging parents. b. Because they are against the American tradition. c. Because they are harmful to the housing industry.
d. Because they are damaging to the growth of the young people. Script:
In America there is a na?ve notion that children grow up and leave home when they’re 18, but the truth is far from that. Today 59% of men and 47% of women between 18 and 24 depend on their parents for housing. Most college students now live at home. Also, 14% of men and 8% of women aged 25 to 34 are dependent on their parents for housing. “This is part of a major shift in the middle class,” declares a sociologist at Northwestern University.
Analysts cite a variety of reasons for this return to the nest. First, the marriage age is rising. Second, a high divorce rate and a
declining remarriage rate are sending economically pressed and emotionally battered survivors back to parental shelters. What’s more, for some, the expense of an away-from-home college education has become so high that many students now attend local schools. Even
after graduation, young people tend to stay home because of rising housing costs.
Sallie, 26, moved back to her parents’ home to save enough money to buy a car. Her job as a teacher provided only enough money to cover car payments and an additional loan she had taken out. Once the loan was paid off, she decided to start a modeling career. Living at home, says Sally, continues to give her security and moral support.
Lucille returned home with her two daughters after a divorce. That was 12 years ago. She is 37 now, and she and her daughters still live with Lucille’s mother, who has welcomed having three generations in the same house.
Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on? Most psychologists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake. Offspring, struggling to establish separate identities, can feel a sense of defeat and failure. And aging parents, who should be enjoying some financial and personal freedom, find themselves burdened with responsibilities.