综合英语第二册课件unit 2

2. priority 1) [c] something that is regarded as more important than others Education is a top priority. Our first priority is to improve standards. Financial security was high on his list of priorities. You need to get your priorities right. (American English) You need to get your priorities straight. 2) [u] priority (over something) high or top place among various things to be done Club members will be given priority. The search for a new vaccine will take priority over all other medical research. prioritize v. : to put tasks, etc. in order of importance
A2: People always find themselves in short supply of time. An extra six hours may relieve them of the pressure. No. The author does not think that the prolongation of time may solve the problem of short-age of time once for all because one's work is endless. With this extra time, he believes, people could only afford to do more work rather than all the work.
2. Text Analysis
This is a well-organized argumentative essay. Para 1-2 Introductory part: the prolongation of time can not really help relieve people of the pressure. Para 3-5 Body: the pressure in our life originates from the mishandled problem of priorities . Para 6 Concluding part: we are slaves to“ the tyranny of the urgent ”.
Part 2（P3-5）
Qs: 1 ) What is the problem of priorities? 2) When are people liable to frustration? 3) Why do people often delay an important task?
A1: What should people deal with first when confronted with endless tasks?
3. exacting→ (of a person or piece of work) demanding much care, effort and attention e.g. an exacting teacher/piece of work Volunteers are needed for an exacting assignment. [synonym] demanding exact v. insist on and obtain; require e.g. exact obedience from one’s staff (fml) Her work exacts great care and attention.
Language points
1. dilemma e.g. The doctor faced a dilemma as whether he should tell the patient the truth or not. The president finds himself in a dilemma over how to tackle the crisis. [synonym] predicament
I
Pre-reading Questions
1. Do you often feel pressed by time? Do you hate meeting deadlines? 2. Do you think you are successful in managing your time? Why or why not? Have you ever thought of ways to improve the management of your time?
II Text1.Background information: The American View of Time Americans treat time as if it were something almost tangible: they budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, and account for it; they also charge for it. It is a precious commodity. Most Americans live according to time segments laid out in engagement calendars. These calendars may be divided into intervals as short as fifteen minutes.
“The U.S. is definitely a telephone country.” As a result, Americans work hard at the task of saving time. They communicate rapidly through telexes, phone calls or memos rather than through personal contacts. People are meeting increasingly on television screens to settle problems by “teleconferences”. In the U.S., it is taken as a sign of competence to solve a problem, or fulfill a job successfully with rapidity. Consider the Chinese view of time!
3. misgiving : doubt, distrust, or fear, esp. about a future event The plan seemed utterly impractical and I was filled with misgiving about it. Translate: 我对是否接受那份工作顾虑重重。 I have serious misgivings about taking that job.
Language points
1. trail→ a long line or series of marks that is left by somebody/something e.g. He went inside, leaving a trail of muddy footprints behind him. Translate: 飓风过后满目疮痍。 The hurricane left a trail of destruction behind it.
A1: The author introduces his topic with a rhetorical question.
A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question posed for its rhetorical effect without the expectation of a reply (eg: "Why me?"). Rhetorical questions encourage the listener to think about the (often obvious) answer to the question. When a speaker states, "How much longer must our people endure this injustice?", no formal answer is expected. Rather, it is a device used by the speaker to achieve an emphasis.
Comprehension of the text Part Ⅰ （P1-2）
Qs: 1.How does the author introduce his topic? 2. Why do people wish for a thirty-hour day? Does the author believe that this extra time will help people to ease the pressure?
Tyranny of the Urgent
Charles E. Hummel
Tyranny: n.
unfair or cruel use of power or authority e.g. the tyranny of military rule (fig) submit to the tyranny of inflexible office hours
Urgent vs. Important
A2: When they find numerous tasks unfinished and especially when they find that they have left the important tasks aside. A3: People are constantly driven by urgent tasks while they are usually given more time to accomplish important tasks. As a result, they are likely to lack a sense of urgency for important tasks.
2. haunt → to be always in the thoughts of; return repeatedly to the mind of e.g. Thirty years after the earthquake he is still haunted by images of death and destruction. The memory of that day still haunts me. (of ghosts) visit (a place) regularly: a haunted house