11.研究生英语课文11单元True Height

Lesson 11
Text A True Height
VOCABULARY ITEMS
Excellent vocabulary books:
How To Increase Your Word Power
Word for the wise
1. (grab/ grasp) grip: n. a part, such as a handle, that is designed to be grasped and held柄，把手: grab; grasp/ Everything has two handles.任何事物都有正反两面。

2. obstacle: n. sth. that prevents action or slows progress障碍; optical光学的; OCR: optical character recognition (software); omnipage/ finereader; omni-: powerful
3. quench: v. to slake; satisfy使缓和，满足
4. pole-vaulting: n. 撑杆跳: fishing pole; North pole; Poland; Nor(th)way
5. stand: n. an open-fronted building at a sports ground with rows of seats看台; stand up: fruit
stand/ newspaper stand报摊; stand for (sth.)代表6. glamour: n. the exciting and charming quality of sth. unusual or special, with a magical power of attraction魅力，风度; magician魔术师7. gymnast: n. a person who is skilled in doing certain physical exercises体育运动员; gymnasia 体操；gymnasium体操馆
8. quest: n. a long search; an attempt to find sth.探索，探寻; to question sb.审问
9. chunk: n. a thick piece or lump with a usu. irregular shape大块，大部分
10. outrun: v. to run faster or further than比…跑得快
11. locomotive: n. a railway engine机车，火车头; (motive->) motivate: urge/ encourage
12. soar: v. to rise rapidly猛增，聚生
13. hard-core: adj. to
change死硬的，顽固不化的
14. regiment: v. to put into systematic order; systematize严格而统一地管理[组织]；系统化15. (change<->) alternate (->change): adj. happening by turns; first one and then the other交
替，轮流的; alterative (n.): choice/ option选项16. obsession: n. a fixed and often unreasonable idea with which the mind is
困扰，固定的想法；成见;
偏见
17. thrilled: adj. excited greatly非常激动的; thriller悬念片/ 恐怖片/ action movie武打片18. arrogant (->arrogance): adj. unpleasantly proud, and lack of respect for other people傲慢，自大的
19. inflate: v. to fill until swelled with air or gas; blow up（使）充气，膨胀; inflation; inflatable cushion充气气垫
20. oblivious (=forgetful): adj. not noticing; unaware遗忘的，健忘的; forgettable->unforgettable<->forgetful (person) 21. ritual: n. the prescribed order of a religious ceremony典礼，（宗教）仪式，礼节; prescription 22. bale: a large tightly tied mass of esp. soft material ready to be taken away大包，大捆
23. push-up: n.: [体]俯卧撑
24. (view->vision->) envision: v. to picture in
the mind; imagine想象，预想; foresee->foretell; able->enable sb. to do sth.; foreman工头，领班；forehead前额
25. trickle: v. to flow or fall in drops or in a thin stream滴流; drop (n./ vi/ vt.) ->drip (vi.); stream->river
26. sprint: v. to run at top speed, esp. for a short distance全速短跑; at high voice; at high cost
27. (erupt->) eruption: n. the act or process of erupting爆发，火山灰
28. thump: n. a blow with a blunt object重击，抽打; thumb->thumbing
29. runway: n. a strip of level, usually paved ground on which aircraft take off and land跑道30. giggle: v. to laugh with repeated short, spasmodic sounds哈哈地笑
31. swarm (with): v. to be full of充满，包围;
32. heartfelt (=sincere<-> insincere): adj. deeply or sincerely felt; earnest衷心的，真诚的，诚挚的; heart->mind->brain; insincere: adj.
33. coincide with: to happen at the same time;
be in agreement巧合; an incident; coin->coinage 生造词，momism母鸡司晨
34. work out: to exercise锻炼身体; work out: figure out= solve a problem
35. strive for: to struggle hard to get sth.奋斗，力求; strike->be/ go on strike罢工
NOTES
Astroturf: a trademark used for an artificial grass-like ground covering阿斯特罗人工草坪，用于人工制作的草状地面覆盖物
Text A
True Height (n.<->high：adj.)
By David Naster
[1] “The greater the obstacle(is), the more glory (happiness) (you get) in over coming it." (Moliere)
[2] “When it is dark (<->black) enough, you can see the stars.” (Charles A. Beard)
(palm tree/ game hunting)
[3] His palms were sweating (A man perspires and a horse sweat). He needed a towel to dry his grip. A glass of ice water quenched his thirst but hardly cooled (vt.) his (intense->intensive->) intensity (tense/ tension). The Astroturf he sat on was as hot (heated discussion) as (when) the competition he faced today at the National Junior Olympics. The pole was set at 17 feet. That was three inches higher than his personal best. Michael Stone confronted (=faced) the most challenging day of his pole-vaulting career. (job->career, student career/ writer’s ~)
[4] The stands were still filled with about 20, 000 people, even though the final race had ended an hour earlier. The pole vault is truly the glamour event (item项目) of any track and field competition. It combines the grace of a gymnast with the strength of a body builder (健美运动员). It also has the element of flying, and the thought of flying as high as a two-story (stery) building is a mere (only) fantasy (->fantastic; dream) to anyone watching such an event. Today and now,
it is not only Michael Stone's reality and dream (persuit)-- it is his quest (goal-> objective-> purpose-> aim).
[5] As long (far) as Michael could remember he had always dreamed of flying. Michael's mother read him numerous stories about flying when he was growing up (in his childhood). Her stories were always ones that described the land from a bird's-eye view. Her excitement and passion for details (->detailed) made Michael's dreams full of color and beauty. Michael had this one (occur->) recurring dream. He would be running down a country(side) road. He could feel the rocks and chunks of dirt (earth/ soil) at his feet. As (when) he raced (ran) down the golden-lined wheat fields, he would always outrun (surpass) the locomotives passing by. It was at the exact moment he took a deep breath that he began to lift off the ground (took off). He would begin soaring (flying) like an eagle.
[6] Where he flew would always coincide with his mother's stories. Wherever he flew was with a
keen (sharp) eye for detail and the free spirit of his mother's love. His dad (daddy/ father), on the other hand (on the contrary), was not a dreamer. Bert Stone was a hard-core (practical/ pragmatic) realist (现实主义者). He believed in hard work and sweat. His motto: If you want something (#anything), work for it! (believe sb.= think what sb. says is true; believe in sb.=trust sb.<->beilieve in sth.持有…信仰/ behold sth.)
[7] From the age of 14, Michael did just that. He began a very careful and regimented (controlled/ disciplined/ systematic) weightlifting program (project, plan). He worked out (carried out) every other day (every two days) with weights, with some kind of running work on alternate days. The program (plan) was carefully monitored (supervised) by Michael's coach, trainer and father. Michael's (dedicate->) dedication (devotion), (determine->) determination and discipline were a coach's dream. Besides (In addition to) being an honor student and only child, Michael Stone continued
to help his parents with their farm chores (tasks). Michael's persistence (恒心) in striving (struggle) for perfection was not only his obsession (favor/ like) but his passion. [devote/ dedicate oneself to sth.献身于…事业]
[8] Mildred Stone, Michael's mother, wished he could relax a bit more and be that "free dreaming" little boy. On one occasion she attempted (tried) to talk to him and his father about this, but his dad quickly interrupted, smiled and said, "(If) You want something, work for it!"
[9] All of Michael's vaults today seemed to be the reward for his hard work (training). If Michael Stone was surprised, thrilled (excited) or arrogant (proud) about clearing the bar at 17 feet, you couldn't tell (know). As soon as he landed on the inflated landing mat (cushion), and with the crowd on its feet, Michael immediately began preparing for his next attempt at (fly: vi/ vt.->) flight (n.). He seemed oblivious of the fact he had just surpassed his personal best by three inches and that he was one of final two competitors in
the pole-vaulting event (运动会项目) at the National Junior Olympics.
[10] When Michael cleared (vt.) the bar at 17 feet 2 inches and 17 feet 4 inches, again he showed no emotion. Constant preparation and determination were his vision (thoughts). As (when) he lay on his back and heard the crowd groan, he knew the other vaulter had missed his final jump. He knew it was time for his final jump. Since the other vaulter had fewer misses (mistakes), Michael needed to clear this vault to win. A miss (mistake) would get (make) him second place (finish first/ come out first). Nothing to be ashamed of, but Michael would not allow himself the thought of not winning first place. [11] He rolled over and did his ritual of three finger-tipped push-ups along (together) with three Marine (sea)-style push-ups. He found his pole, stood and stepped on the runway that led to the most challenging event of his 17-year-old life. [12] The runway (feel->) felt (was) different
this time. It (surprised) him for a brief
moment. Then it all hit him like a wet bale of hay. The bar was set at nine inches higher than his personal best. That's only one inch off the National record, he thought. The intensity of the moment (full<->) filled his mind with (anxious->) anxiety. He began shaking the tension from his body. It wasn't working. He became more tense (nervous). Why was this happening to him now, he thought. He began to get (became more) nervous. Afraid would be a more accurate description (word). What was he going to do? He had never experienced these feelings. Then out of nowhere, and from the deepest depths of his soul, he envisioned (saw) his mother. Why now? What was his mother doing in his thoughts at a time like this? It was simple. His mother always used to tell him when you felt tense, anxious or even scared (frightened), take deep breaths.
[13] So he did. Along with (Together with) shaking the tension from his legs, he (gentle->) gently (slightly) laid (put) his pole at his feet. He began to stretch out his arms and upper body. The
light breeze that was once there was now gone (stopped). He could feel a trickle of cold sweat running down his back. He carefully picked up his pole. He felt his heart pounding. He was sure (=believed) the crowd did, too. The (silent->)
the singing of some distant robins in flight, he knew it was his time to fly.
[14] As he began sprinting (running) down the runway, something (runway) felt wonderfully different, yet familiar. The surface below him (feet) felt like the country (countryside) road he used to dream about. The rocks and chunks of dirt, the visions (sight) of the golden wheat fields seemed to fill his thoughts when (suddenly) he took a deep breath, it (magic/ miracle) happened. He began to fly. His take-off was effortless (without effort). Michael Stone was now (then) flying, just like in his childhood dreams. Only this time he knew he wasn't dreaming. This was real. Everything seemed to be moving in slow (move->) motion (~ picture->movie<-> film).
The air around him was the purest and freshest he had ever sensed (felt). Michael was soaring (flying) with the majesty (grace) of an eagle. [15] It was either the (erupt->) eruption of the people in the stands or the thump of his landing that brought Michael back to earth (reality). On his back with that wonderful hot sun on his face, he knew he could only envision (see) the smile on his mother's face. He knew his dad was probably smiling too, even laughing. Bert would always do that when he got (became) excited, smile and then sort of giggle. What he didn't know was that his dad was hugging his wife and crying. That's right: Bert "If You Want It, Work For It" Stone was crying like a baby in his wife's arms. He was crying harder than Mildred had ever seen before. She also knew he was crying the greatest tears of all: tears of pride (骄傲, 自豪). Michael was immediately swarmed with people hugging and congratulating him on the greatest accomplishment (achievement) of his life. He later went on (continued) that day to clear (vt.) 17
feet 6½ inches: a National and International Junior Olympics record.
possibilities and swarming herds (crowd) of heartfelt (sincere) congratulations, Michael's life would never be the same (as before). It wasn't just because he won the National Junior Olympics and set a new world record. And it wasn't because he had just increased his personal best by 9 1/2 inches. It was simply because Michael Stone is blind. (1, 313 words)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Naster is an American writer. This text is excerpted from A Third Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Book.
EXERCISES
I. Reading Comprehension
Answer the following questions or complete the following statements.
1. How did Michael Stone feel when he confronted the most challenging day of his
pole-vaulting career?
A. Very intense.
B. Extremely hot.
C. Quite competent.
D. Cool inside.
2. According to the text, why does pole-vaulting attract so many people?
A. Because it is the last event of the sports meeting.
B. Because it is a combination of grace and strength.
C. Because it is the quest of all young athletes.
D. Because it is thought of as a flying dream coming true.
3. According to the text, Michael's recurring colorful dream _____.
A. was a reflection of what he was in the day
B. reflected his desire to be a top pole-vaulting athlete
C. originated from his mother's excitement and passion for details
D. inspired him to strive for reaching his life's goal
4. The sentence "Michael's dedication, determination and discipline was a coach's dream." probably means that _____.
A. a coach's dream is realized in Michael's dedication, determination and discipline
B. with dedication, determination and discipline, a coach can fulfill his dream
C. a coach dreamed of being as dedicated, determined and disciplined as him
D. his personal qualities made him an ideal athlete for any coach
5. What was Michael's reaction after he had surpassed his best personal record?
A. He wasn't aware of the fact.
B. He didn't show any emotion.
C. He tried his best to calm down.
D. He was thrilled and arrogant.
6. Michael developed a habit of _____.
A. being oblivious of any success he had made
B. not allowing himself to make any mistakes
C. doing push-ups before stepping on the runway
D. drinking a cup of ice water before competition
7. It can be inferred that the National record was _____.
A. 17 feet and 934 inches
B. 17 feet and 4 inches
C. 17 feet and 634 inches
D. 17 feet 7 inches
8. How did Michael shake off his fear before he cleared the height for championship?
A. He followed his mother's advice and took deep breaths.
B. He heard his mother in the crowd and was encouraged.
C. He relaxed for some time and stretched out his arms and upper body.
D. He was greatly relieved by the singing of some distant robins in flight.
9. What's the probable meaning of the word "regimented" in the sentence of "he began a very
careful and regimented weightlifting program'?
A. Long and tedious.
B. Slow and hard.
C. Planned and controlled.
D. Intense and fast.
10. What does the title "True Height" imply?
A. It is the highest point that man can reach.
B. This height had been a National record.
C. The height has been Michael's life goal.
D. It is an unusual height achieved by a blind. II. Vocabulary
A. Read the following sentences and decide which of the four choices below each sentences is closest in meaning to the underlined word. 1. He has got the key to the apartment
(finally). And on the way home he could envision the smile on he wife's face. (This is key to the lock)
A. foresee (foretell)
B. imagine
C. (memory->) memorize
D. recall
2. She opened the refrigerator and took a bottle of cold mineral water to quench her thirst [->thirsty].
A. ease (n./ vt./ to ~the pain/ feel at ~)
B. grip
C. release
D. query(渡口/渡轮)
3. "Man's ingenuity (=creativity) has outrun his intelligence." (Joseph Wood Krutch). [at one’s wit’s end江郎才尽; witty=intelligent]
A. outwitted
B. excelled (胜过,超过,优于)
C. output (n.产量/ vt.出产)
D. exceed (cede/ cess=go)
4. After that, the airhostess continued to demonstrate (show) how to inflate the life-jacket in an emergency.
A. blow up
B. take up
C. break up
D. make up
5. The unsuccessful democratic (candle->) candidate seemed oblivious of the fact that he stood for no chance in running for (govern=rule->)governor (州长/总督).
A. preoccupied (occupation职业)
B. thrilled
C. (sensitive灵敏的，神经质<->)insensitive
D. (be) unaware (of sth.) (=not realize))
6. Most of the (city state->) citizens (citizenship) in that country have already felt the pressure of soaring inflation because of the changes in economic policy after the financial crisis in Asia.
A. rising
B. roaring
C. progressing
D. amounting (~ to =mount to …高达多少/ to mount a horse上马; Mount Tai泰山)
7. When men are most sure and arrogant, they are commonly most mistaken.
A. polite
B. (obey->)obedient (->obedience)
C. proud
D. courteous (polite)
8. This untutored (self-made自学成才的) mathematician had an obsession with numbers.
A. (imagine->) imagination
B. (be addicted to sth.) addiction
C. (hate->)hatred
D. sense (lose one’s ~丧失理智)
9. You should not be afraid to aim high in the quest (pursuit追求探索) for an improvement in your income.
A. (pursue->) pursuit (n.)
B. belief
C. claim
D. (real->realize->) realization
10. She was blinded by the glitter and the glamour of her own life.
A. spectacle (spectacle snake眼镜蛇cobra->spectacular壮观的)
B. (brilliant->)brilliance (a ~businessman杰出的商人)
C. hardship
D. defeat
B. Choose the best word or expression from the list given for each blank. Use each word
or expression only once and make proper changes where necessary.
strive for coincide with glamour ritual persistence swarm with work out motto fantasy recurring
1. It's to participate and support anything that encourages charities to strive (struggle) for the highest standards.
2. What the (employ->employer->) employee wants to know and understand does not necessarily coincide with what the organization needs him to know and understand.
3. His (scribe->) prescription for success "If you want something, work for it" could be taken (regarded/ considered) as a motto for rule (principle规律).
4. So many of our dreams, however, are mixtures of fact and fantasy that I do not feel any great reliance can be placed on what seem to be insights (understanding) into our former (past) lives when we are asleep.
5. This highlights (vt. shows) one of the (occur->) recurring dilemmas in education, that is (namely/ i.e.也就是说) the difficulty of (quality <-> quantity) quantitatively measuring (evaluation/ assessment) many of the desired outcomes of the education process.
6. Within minutes the area was swarming with officers who began searching a nearby wood (woods/ forest/ wooden木质的).
7. In order to make his body fit (healthy) he works out (carries out) at a gym or swims twice a week.
*8. She was blinded by the glitter and the
glamour of her own life (被名利所蒙蔽).
9. This will mean always dressing in the same way and making it into a ritual. (a mean person/ transportation means交通工具)
10. Susan (decided) was determined to become
a doctor and her persistence (is) paid off (rewarded).
III. Cloze
There are ten blanks in the knowing passage. Read the passage carefully and choose the
right word or phrase front the list given below for each of the blanks. Change the form if necessary.
fundraising bowling alternate organizations program bring together unlike
take place pattern after emphasis
Special Olympics is an international program
(project/ plan) of year-round sports training and (athlete->) athletic competition for people with mental retardation (智障). It places (put/ emphasizes) equal 1 emphasis on both training and competition. Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by American civic worker Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of former president John F. Kennedy. The 2 program serves more than 1 million athletes in more than 140 countries.
Special Olympics Games are 3 patterned after (copied/ imitated) the Olympic Games and feature (establish) more than 20 summer and winter sports, including 4 bowling gymnastics, (skating<->snow/ water) skiing, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field. 5 Unlike the Olympic Games, Special Olympics competitions are held throughout the year, with more than 5, 000 events taking place annually. Chapters （组委会）throughout the world hold their own Games each year or every two years. Chapters and programs in Canada, the United
States, and other countries join together every two years for the World Games, which _6 alternate between competitions for winter and summer sports. The 1999 World Summer Games were held in the so-called Triangle region of North Carolina and Chapel Hill. The 2001 World Winter Games 7 take place in Anchorage, Alaska.
Additional Special Olympics programs have been developed in recent years. Special Olympics Unified Sports 8 bring together athletes with and without mental retardation to train and compete on the same team.
Special Olympics is financed (fund/ sponsored) primarily by grassroots 9 fundraising efforts, which are directed by state chapters and national programs. Individuals, 10 organizations corporations, and foundations also contribute to Special Olympics programs.
IV. Translation
Put the following puts into Chinese.
1. His palms were sweating. He needed a towel to dry his grip. A glass of ice water quenched his thirst but hardly cooled his intensity. The Astroturf he sat on was as hot as the competition he faced today at the National Junior Olympics.
他的手心在出汗。

他需要一条毛巾擦一擦撑杆的握柄。

一杯冰水使他不再感到口渴，却很难缓解他的紧张感。

他坐在阿斯特罗牌的人造草皮上，草皮就像今天全国少年奥运会中的这场比赛一样热。

2. All of Michael's vaults today seemed to be the reward for his hard work. If Michael stone was surprised, thrilled or arrogant about clearing the bar at 17 feet, you couldn't tell.
今天在撑杆跳中的一切表现似乎是辛苦锻炼的回报。

迈克尔·斯通跃过了17英尺高的横杆，却看不出他是惊喜、激动还是洋洋自得。

3. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. The air around him was the purest and freshest he had ever sensed. Michael was soaring with the majesty of an eagle.
一切仿佛都慢了下来，他从未感到周围的空气如此纯净、如此清新。

迈克尔用鹰一般的傲岸身姿腾空而起。

4. It was either the eruption of the people in the stands or the thump of his landing that brought Michael back to earth.
要么是看台上山鸣海啸般的欢呼，要么是他落地时的砰然之声，使得迈克尔回过神来。

5. Michael was immediately swarmed with people hugging and congratulating him on the greatest accomplishment of his life.
迈克尔立刻被蜂拥而至的人们围住，人们拥抱他，祝贺他取得一生中最出色的成绩。

6. The light breeze that was once there was now gone. He could feel a trickle of cold sweat running down his back. He carefully picked up his pole. He felt his heart pounding. He was sure the crowd did, too. The silence was deafening. When he heard the singing of some distant robins in flight, he knew it was his time to fly.
刚才的那阵微风已经过去了。

他能感觉到冷汗在后背上一滴一滴地流淌着。

他小心翼翼地
拿起撑杆。

他感到心在砰砰地跳，他相信观众也是如此。

全场鸦雀无声。

听到远处飞翔的知更鸟鸣时，他知道该是他起飞的时候了。

7. With all media attention, endorsement possibilities and swarming herds of heartfelt congratulations, Michael's life would never be the same.
有大众媒体的关注，或许还有赞助，以及纷至沓来的由衷祝贺，迈克尔的生活将从此改变。

Practice and discussion
1. The passage begins with a description. Can you depict the situation in your own words [Vaulting was the glamour event of any track and field competition. The stands were filled with spectators waiting for the game. The player Michael Stone was very nervous. His palms were sweating and he needed a towel to dry the grip. Even though he had drunk a glass of cool water, he couldn’t calm himself. The competition was as hot as the day.]
2. What an important role did Michael's mother
play in his childhood?
[When Michael was young, she often read stories to him. It was her excitement and passion for details of the stories that made Michael’s dreams full of color and beauty. During the competition, Michael thought of his mother more than once. It was her encouragement that calmed him down to face the competition bravely.]
3. What were the differences between Michael's mother and father in personality? In what different ways did they contribute to the growth of their son?
[Michael’s mother and father were quite different in personality. His mother was a dreamer, kind and considerate with a keen eye for details and free spirit. His dad, on the contrary, was a down-to-earth realist. He believed in hard work and sweat. His motto is “If you want something, work for it!” He was a strict trainer a nd coach as well. It was under his training and guidance that Michael laid a solid foundation for his success.]
4. Why does the author quote Michael's father's mottos three times in the passage?
[The author quotes the motto three times and each time it plays a different role. The first time it is quoted, the author makes a contrast between Michael’s mother and his father, in order to emphasize that the father was a strong-willed and hardworking realist. It is quoted for the second time when Michael’s mothe r tried to make her son relaxed but was interrupted by his father. The motto here reveals the fact that there is no shortcut in achieving success and success can only be attained by persistent hard work. At the end of the story, the father’s motto is cited once again. This means the author has an affirmative attitude to it. It is the strict training and strong will that leads to success.]
5. Why doesn't the author mention the fact that Michael was blind until the end of the story? [One of the reasons for this is to create some suspense in the story. At the end of the story,
when the readers realize that Michael was blind, they will be profoundly impressed by his achievement and understand how unusual it is for Michael to be a successful athlete, and then readers will be deeply moved by his strong willpower and persistence. All in all, it is quite a successful technique the author has employed.] 6. What role do you think a father and a mother should play respectively in the growth of their children? Do you have any personal experiences? (Either in a child's perspective or parents').
Text B How to Pursue Happiness
Adair Lara
[1] A woman I know climbed on the bathroom scale after two weeks of butterless toast and chilly jogs around the park. The needle was still stuck on the number where she's started. This struck her as typical of how things had been
going lately. She was destined never to be happy.
[2] As she dressed, scowling at her tight jeans, she found $20 in her pocket. Then her sister called with a funny story. When she hurried out to the car—angry that she had to get gas—she discovered her roommate had already filled the tank for her. And this was a woman who thought she'd never be happy.
[3] Every day, it seems, we're flooded with pop-psych advice about happiness. The relentless message is that there's something we're supposed to do to be happy—make the right choices, or have the right set for beliefs about ourselves. Our Founding Fathers even wrote the pursuit of happiness into the Declaration of Independence.
[4] Coupled with this is the notion that happiness is a permanent condition. If we are not joyful all the time, we conclude there is a problem.
[5] Yet what most people experience is not a permanent state of happiness. It is something more ordinary, a mixture of what essayist Hugh。