e.g. She has a faculty for inspiring confidence in people.
Each man is free to exercise his special faculty to the utmost.
creative a. apprec producing new and original ideas and things ; imaginative and inventive〖褒〗创造（性）的；有创造力的
e.g. I like to do things in a creative way which is different from everyone else.
He has shown a creative genius since young.
specific a. particular; fixed, determined, or named 具体的，特有的，特定的 e.g. The money was collected for a specific purpose.
Can you cite any specific evidence in support of your opinion?
profession n. a form of employment, esp. one that is possible only for an educated person and after
training (such as law, medicine, or teaching) and that is respected in society as honourable （尤指受过教育和专门训练的法律、医学、教育等脑力劳动方面的）专业，职业 e.g. She decided on law as her ultimate profession.
He left the teaching profession in 1995 to set up his own business. CF : profession, occupation, trade, vocation, business 这些名词都可表示“职业”。
? profession常指受过相当高的教育才能达到的职业位置，而且指涉及人们创造性的脑力劳动，而
不是体力劳动的职业。例如：She intends to make teaching her profession.
? occupation指某人通常赖以谋生的并训练有素的工作职位，不一定指某人眼前正在干的工作。例
如：By occupation, the unemployed is a teacher.
? trade指一项谋生的方式，从手艺性职业，技艺劳动，到低微的仆役工作。例如：He is learning the
carpenter’s trade.
? vocation指人们愿意选择来长期从事工作的领域，它不一定是他们谋生的手段。例如：He chose
painting as his vocation and earned his living by working as a waiter.
? business指人们为了追逐利润而从事的职业，如商业、贸易、银行业等。例如：His business is
foreign trade.
severe a. causing serious harm, pain, worry, or discomfort; not kind or gentle in treatment; not allowing failure or change in rules, standards, etc. 严重的；剧烈的；严厉的；严格的；严肃的；苛刻的
e.g. Doctors say that his head injuries are severe and an operation must be performed immediately.
Lesley has been under severe pressure recently.
truly ad. really; exactly; in accordance with the truth 真正地；确实地，准确地，严格地 e.g. Mushrooms aren’t truly vegetables, but many people think they are.
I am truly grateful for all your help.
obligated a. morally or legally bound; constrained （感到）有责任的，有义务的 e.g. Parents are obligated to support their children.
A witness in court is obligated to tell the truth.
fulfill vt. BrE carry out (an order, conditions, etc.); obey 〖英〗履行（条件等）；执行；遵守（命令等）
e.g. The conditions of the contract must be fulfilled exactly.
He has sacked his finance minister for ―having failed to fulfill his job obligations‖.
expectation n. the act of expecting or sth. that is expected 预期；预期的事物 e.g. We thought Mary would pass the test, but against expectation, she didn’t.
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Now that our two groups have merged we can all have great expectations for the future. Collocations:
come up to / live up to / meet expectation 不负所望 fall short of expectation 辜负期望 great / high expectation 厚望 beyond expectation 出乎意料地
dean n. (in some universities) a person in charge of a division of study or in charge of studies and their behaviour （某些大学的）学院院长；系主任；训导长，学监
e.g. The Dean will be taking all freshmen on a tour of the department this afternoon.
He has obtained the consent of the dean for going abroad.
dawn n. the time of day when light first appears; the first appearance of light in the sky before the sun rises 黎明，拂晓
e.g. I’ve never seen a dawn as beautiful as the one this morning.
When dawn came, his bed lamp was still burning.
tension n. (a feeling of) nervous anxiety, worry, or pressure; an anxious, untrusting, and perhaps
dangerous condition in the relationship between people, countries, etc. 紧张，焦虑，焦急（的心情）；（人与人，国家与国家等之间的）紧张关系，紧张局势 e.g. You could feel the tension in the room as we waited for our exam results.
The incident has further increased the tension between the two countries.
approach vi. come near or nearer in time 临近
e.g. New Year’s Day is approaching and we are planning a fancy-dress ball (化妆舞会).
Lunchtime is approaching, so let’s take a break now.
due a. (esp. showing arrangements made in advance) expected or supposed (to happen, arrive, etc.) 约定的；预期的，该发生的；应到达的 e.g. The next train is due in twenty minutes.
The next meeting is due to be held in three months’ time.
oversleep vi. sleep beyond the intended time for getting up 睡得过久，睡过了头 e.g. John was late for work again because he overslept.
I missed the train this morning because I overslept again.
multiply vt. greatly increase in number or amount; combine by multiplication （使）大大增加；乘，使相乘
e.g. Cigarette smoking multiplies the risk of cancer.
He said that combining the two field armies would multiply their strength not just by two but several times over.
deliberately ad. done in a way that is intended or planned 故意地；深思熟虑地；盘算周到地 e.g. She deliberately ignored me when I passed her in the street.
I’m sure he says these things deliberately to annoy me.
perceive vt. [not in progressive forms] fml (come to) have knowledge of (sth.) through one of the senses (esp. the sight) through the mind; become conscious of or understand ［不用进行式］〖正式〗察觉，发觉；意识到；领悟，理解
e.g. He perceived a subtle change in her manner as they were having dinner together.
I perceived a note of unhappiness in his voice.
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psychologically ad. as regards mental health and well-being 心理上；用心理学方法；精神上 e.g. Boys mature more slowly than girls both physically and psychologically.
I was psychologically unprepared for her refusal.
ultimately ad. finally, after everything else has been done or considered 最后地，终极地 e.g. A poor diet will ultimately lead to illness.
Everything will ultimately depend on what is said at the meeting with the directors next week.
trap vt. place or hold firmly with no possibility of escape 困住，关住；使陷于绝境 e.g. Linda was trapped in an unhappy marriage.
The two men died when they were trapped in a burning building.
unique a. [no comp.] being the only one of its type; unusual; greater or esp. better than any other［无比较级］唯一的，独一无二的；独特的，罕见的，不平常的 e.g. None of these social problems is unique to this country.
Each person’s genetic code is unique except in the case of identical twins.
Expressions: work on come to major in pay off after all under pressure put together point out work on exercise influence on 对??施加影响；起作用于
e.g. This medicine will work on the affected part.
Don’t worry. He might accept our suggestion if someone works on him properly.
come to [no pass.] to arrive at a particular state or position ［无被动语态］达到（某种状态、状况）；结果是
e.g. It has come to my notice that the money is missing.
After many years, his plans have come to fulfillment.
major in study as the chief subject(s) when doing a university degree （在大学）主修 e.g. He majors in English, whereas his sister majors in medicine.
She majored in philosophy at Harvard.
pay off (of a plan or an action, especially one that involves risk) to be successful and bring good results 取得成果，得到好结果 e.g. Did your plan pay off finally?
It’ll be interesting to see if the investment pays off. after all in spite of everything 毕竟，终究
e.g. Of course I admire her — after all, she is a great politician.
Don’t blame on him, after all, he is a green hand.
under pressure in a condition of being forced or hurried; in or into a condition of being persuaded or influenced forcibly; not in one’s own will 在压力下；在强制下；被迫 e.g. He’s felt under pressure since his wife had the operation.
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Many students are under pressure to keep up with their schoolwork.
put together form by combining parts or members 组成
e.g. I think we can put together a very strong team for the open debate.
In only a hundred days, Henry and I put together a brand-new car.
point out draw attention to the fact; show who or what (a particular person or thing) is, esp. by pointing 指出，指明；把??指出来（给??看）
e.g. I would like to point out that if we don’t leave now we shall miss the bus.
The salesman pointed out all the new features of the hi-fi. Section B Difficult Sentences
1. It saddens me because I know them in other corners of their life as cheerful people. (Para. 4) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:
这让我很伤心，因为我知道在生活的其它方面他们是开朗快乐的人。 2) Paraphrase the sentence. Key:
It makes me sad because I know that they are happy and cheerful in other parts of life.
2. The parents mean well; they are trying to steer their sons and daughters toward a secure future. (Para. 9) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:
父母的本意是好的，他们想引导自己的孩子走向无忧无虑的未来。 2) Make a sentence with the underlined structure. Key:
My parents always tried to steer me toward a secure future as they had planned, but I had my own determination.
3. One part of them feels obligated to fulfill their parents’ expectations; after all, their parents are older and presumably wiser. (Para. 10)
1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:
一方面，他们觉得有义务不辜负父母对自己的期望，毕竟父母比自己年长，该更有智慧吧。 2) Make a sentence with the underlined structure. Key:
He did fulfill his parents’ expectations and finally became an outstanding scholar.
4. It’s symptomatic of all the pressures put together. (Para. 13) 1) Translate this sentence into Chinese. Key:
这表明所有压力都汇集在一起了。 2) Paraphrase the sentence. Key:
This incident is a sign of all the pressures that come together.
Section C Comprehension Questions
▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 1)
Q1: What are the four kinds of pressure that students are faced with?
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A1: They are: economic pressure, parental pressure, peer pressure, and self-induced pressure.
Q2: Who should we blame for those pressures?
A2: Nobody. There are no real villains, just victims.
▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 2)
Q1: What does the writer mean by ―Students today live in a brutal economy‖?
A1: By so saying, the writer means that students today pay too much money for their education at college. Even if the students work many hours part time and full time, they still have a huge amount to pay back after graduation.
Q2: When are the students expected to repay their loans for higher education? A2: One year after graduation.
▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 3-8)
Q1: Are students who have financial support from their parents free from pressure?
A1: No, they aren’t. Though they don’t have to worry about money, they suffer from parental pressure.
Q2: Give one example to show what parental pressure is.
A2: Some students don’t have a choice about what to major in. Their parents make the decision for them.
Q3: Do all students enjoy studying medicine?
A3: No, many don’t. When they go to their labs, they give others the impression as if they were going to the dentist.
▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 9)
Q1: What does the writer mean by ―caught in one of the oldest webs of love and duty and guilt‖?
A1: Parents and children are trapped in an age-old struggle between feelings of love, duty and guilt arising from their different outlooks.
Q2: Why are majors such as history or classics or philosophy regarded with disfavor by most parents? A2: Because they don’t think that there is much payoff on the humanities. And they want to make sure that
their children have a secure future, so they want them to take courses that point toward a specific profession.
Q3: What does the writer say about majoring in the humanities?
A3: The humanities do pay off and the intellectual faculties developed by studying subjects like history and classics are just the faculties that make creative leaders in business or almost any general field.
Q4: What is the possible implication of taking courses in law, medicine or business in the eyes of most people? A4: Those who take courses in law, medicine or business are very likely to have a good income in the future.
▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 10)
Q: How do the students feel when they can’t choose a major they like?
A: They feel extremely anxious and troubled. They are trapped in a dilemma of the obligation to their parents and their own likes and wishes.
▇ Comprehension questions (Para. 11)
Q1: What can be said about peer pressure and self-induced pressure?
A1: They are closely intertwined just like economic pressure and parental pressure.
Q2: Can you explain why economic pressure may be closely connected with parental pressure, and peer pressure with self-induced pressure?
A2: Based on the information in the text, the question can be approached this way:
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