about an (1) utter change to our lifestyles. But the problem with mobile phones is that theycan (2) distract you from doing your job. The businessman gives his mobile phone number to(3) practically everyone he knows. Without his mobile, he isn’t necessarily able to do thingsimpulsively. He (4) speculates that he could give up his mobile, but life would be rather (5) tedious and dull withoutit. The schoolgirl has to make social arrangements on thelandline at home in order to avoid having a (6) solitary life for a few days. At firstthe working mother thinks it’s (7) risky not to have amobile phone, as her family might be in danger. Herfirst (8) impulse is to worry that they couldn’t contact her, although they think she’smaking a (9) fuss about not having a mobile. Finally she feels it is like (10) therapy when no one interruptsher.
Active reading 2
Dealing with unfamiliar words
4 Match the words in the box with theirdefinitions.
1 the distance from one side of an object to the other (breadth) 2 a hit or knock to a part of your body (bump)
3 slightly nervous, worried, or upset about something (uneasy) 4 strange and unusual, sometimes in a way that upsets you (weird) 5 thinking seriously about something (thoughtful)
6 a feeling that you do not understand something or cannot decide what todo (confusion)
7 the attitude of someone who is willing to accept someone else’s beliefs,way of life etc without
criticizing them even if they disagree with them (tolerance) 8 the ability to notice things (awareness)
9 to include something as a necessary part of an activity, event or situation(involve)
5 Replace the underlined words with thecorrect form of the words in the box. When you meet people from other cultures, there will be many (1) timeswhen someone behaves in a way which you (2) notice as being unusual, but whichis (3) acceptable in their culture. If it (4) attracts
your (5) attention, it’s all right to (6) ask about cultural differences,because people are (7) usually happy to (8) reply. But don’t worry if you areunsure about what to do or what to say. Just remember that finding out aboutcultural differences should give you pleasure and not (9) unhappiness anddiscomfort. Key: (1) occasions (2) perceive (3) conventional (4) arouses
(5) curiosity (6) inquire (7) generally (8) respond (9) misery
Language in use it + passive voice
1 Rewrite the sentences using it + passivevoice.
1 Russell Crowe couldn’t get a call out to Australia. Someone said this. It was said that Russell Crowe couldn’t get a call out to Australia.
2 Mobile phones have been the biggest factor of change in everyday behaviourin Britain over the past 15 years. Someone has claimed this.
It has been claimed that mobile phones have been the biggest factor of changein everyday behaviour in Britain over the past 15 years. 3 When told “Have a nice day!”, an Englishman replied “I’m sorry, I’vemade other arrangements.”
Someone reported this.
It was reported that when told “Have a nice day!”, an Englishman replied“I’m sorry, I’ve made other arrangements.” 4 You don’t need to say “Thank you” in Spanish as much as you do inEnglish. Someone has suggested this.
It has been suggested that you don’t need to say “Thank you” in Spanish asmuch as you do in English.
5 Disneyland is a typically American place. Someone thinks this. It is thought that Disneyland is a typically American place.
6 Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee. Someone hasbelieved this. It has been believed that good communication is as stimulating as blackcoffee. over
2 Complete the sentences about yourself usingover .
1 I’ve owned a mobile phone over the last three years or so. 2 Over the winter I’ve called my parents every week.
3 Over the summer my best friends and I wenttravelling to South China.
4 Over the last semester my social life has been very limited:I think I need a better study-life balance.
5 Over the last year the number of people from different culturesI’ve met is quite extraordinary, compared to the few I met in middle school. 6 Over the last two weeks my favourite expression in English has been “Go on, youcan do it!”
emphatic structures with what
3 Rewrite the sentences using the emphaticstructure with what . 1 Life can be solitary without a mobile phone. I rediscovered this.
What I rediscovered was that life can be solitary without a mobile phone. 2 My mobile phone is an essential, not a luxury. I think this.
What I think is that my mobile phone is an essential, not a luxury. 3 The people who needed to, got hold of me. I found this.
What I found was that the people who needed to, got hold of me. 4 People kiss each other four times. This happens in Paris.
What happens in Paris is that people kiss each other four times.
5 By not saying “Thank you” so often, he was perceived to be rude. Hedidn’t understand this.
What he didn’t understand was that by not saying “Thank you” so often, hewas perceived to be rude.
4 Translate the sentences into Chinese.
1 Mobile phones have been the biggest factor of change in everyday behaviourin Britain over the past 15 years. Today it is thought that there are more than55 million mobile phone subscribers, a rise from less than 10 million in 1997.
在过去的15年里，手机已成为改变英国人日常行为方式的最主要的因素。据估计，目前英国手机用户已超过5,500万，而在1997年还不足1,000万。
2 Now it has been announced that the signal range throughout London willbe extended, nowhere in London will be beyond the reach of a mobile phone, noteven the Underground. 现在有消息说，伦敦的手机信号覆盖范围将拓展延伸。以后，在伦敦的每一个角落都有手机信号，就连地铁也不例外。
3 This subject of research aroused my interest and took me the length andbreadth of France.
这个研究话题激起了我的兴趣，为此，我走遍了法国各地。 4 These episodes and incidents all involve a cultural bump, somethingwhich you notice usually with
curiosity, usually with pleasure, occasionally with shock orembarrassment. 这些插曲、事件都包含着文化碰撞，使你感到好奇、愉悦，但偶尔也会让你感到震惊或尴尬。 5 But it’s not a matter of knowing all the conventions and rituals indifferent cultures. It’s impossible
to collect all the information you might need to be relaxed in the manydifferent cultures around the world.
但是这不等于说我们需要悉数掌握不同文化的风俗习惯和礼仪。丰富的知识能使你自如地应对世界各国不同的文化，但是你不可能掌握全部必备的知识。 5 Translate the sentences into English.
1 据估计，目前中国4亿手机用户中，有大约一半人的隐私受到了威胁。(it is estimatedthat ?; privacy)
It is estimated that today, the privacy of half of the 0.4 billion mobilephone subscribers is in danger.
2 人们在购买生活必需品上的花费越少，他们安排的诸如旅游等娱乐活动就越多。(the less ? the more?)
The less people spend on daily necessities, the more arrangements they willmake for leisure activities, such as travelling. 3 对我来说，旅游最大的好处就是可以去不同的地方，了解不同文化背景下人们的生活方式以及传统习俗。(What Iespecially like about ? is ?) What I especially like about travelling is that I can go to differentplaces and learn about particular
lifestyles, conventions and customs in different cultures.
4 在大多数情况下，文化碰撞激起的是人们对不同文化的好奇心，只有在极少数情况下，文化碰撞会造成尴尬。(culture bump;on rare occasions)
In most cases, cultural bumps arouse people’s curiosity about different cultures.Only on rare occasions can they cause embarrassment. 5 你可以保留自主选择的权利，但作为一个成年人，你做事不要冲动。(reserve theright to; act on impulse)
You can reserve the right to make your own choices, but as an adult, youshould not act on impulse.