extensive reading-unit 7

Auspicious numbers VS. ominous numbers

auspicious [ɔ:‟spiʃəs] adj. favourable or propitious 吉祥的, 吉兆的
Eg: The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career. 我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
2. Text Appreciation
What follow are some questions concerning the text. Now you have 8 minutes to read Para.1-4, then answer the following questions one by one.
ominous [„ɔminəs] adj. foreboding evil 不吉的, 不祥的

Eg: Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic. 那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
Numbers and Omens
At weddings, at funerals, in daily life and even in business, numbers, auspicious or ominous, may influence people‟s choice or decision. Do you agree?


II. Text Appreciation
Questions: 1. According to the Book of Changes, why did ancients adopt ways to attract the auspicious and expel the malicious? Key: Because they found that misfortune in life came with certain signs of change in a particular matter.
1. Why don‟t people like odd numbers? Key: Because the character for “odd” in Chinese also means “alone”.
Eg: They expelled a foreign spy from their country. 他们把一个外国间谍驱逐出境。

New words and Phrases
malicious [mə‟liʃəs] adj. characterized by malice 恶意的, 恶毒的
What follow are some questions concerning the text. Now you have 5 minutes to read Para. 11-13 to the end, then answer the following questions one by one.
Para. 1-4
Why
do people in Gaoxiong City name their streets with numbers?
do Chinese people use numbers to do?
What
II. Text Appreciation
Questions: 1. Why do people in Gaoxiong City name their streets with numbers? Key: Because those auspicious names give people a warm feeling when they hear them, and bring much luck to the residents.
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3. What does “three yang make good fortune” mean?
Key: It means that misfortune will be held
at bay and good luck will follow.
New words and Phrases
antiquity [æn‟tikwiti] n. the quality of being ancient or very old 古老; 年代久远
New words and Phrases
chew out 严厉责备

Eg: The policeman chewed out the driver for reckless driving. 那位司机因为开车莽撞, 被警察狠狠批评了一 顿。
New words and Phrases
Unit 7
Part 1 Text appreciation
Numbers and Omens

omen [„əumen] n. a sign of something about to happen 前兆, 预兆
Eg: The omen of bankruptcy hung over the company. 那家公司出现了破产的预兆。

Eg: Their talk was slightly malicious. 他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。
New words and Phrases

take shape develop into a distinctive entity 成形, 变得有条理
Eg: 新大楼已初具规模。 The new building is beginning to take shape.

New words and Phrases

ascribe [əs‟kraib] vt. to credit or assign 把…归于
Eg: Darren ascribed his success to luck. 达伦把他的成功归因于运气。
2. Text Appreciation
Do you know those expressions?
1. Yixin----- one heart 2. Ersheng----- two Sacreds 3. Sanduo----- three Mores 4. Siwei----- four upholds 5. Wufu----- five fortunes 6. Liuhe----- six Realms 7. Qixian----- seven Virtues 8. Bade----- eight Moral Precepts 9. Jiuru----- Nine Wishes 10.Shiquan----- Perfect Ten
2. In the Book of Changes, what‟s the meaning of each number?
Key:
1-----tai-ji / great supreme 2-----two rituals 3-----three powers 4-----four directions 5-----five pathways 6-----six realms 7-----seven rules of government 8-----eight trigrams 9-----nine chains 10----ten depictions

Eg: Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes since antiquity. 大麻自远古以来就被作为药用。
New words and Phrases

expel [iks‟pel] vt. to eject or drive out with force 驱逐, 赶走, 放逐
Now you have 10 minutes to read Para.6-10, then answer the following questions one by one.
Words of Changes / 1 Ching 易经 Book
tally [„tæli] n. 账; 记录 knot [nɔt] n. 结 halo [„heiləu] n. 光环, 灵光 damp [dæmp] adj. 潮湿的, 不完全干燥的 plinth [plinθ] n. (柱的)底座; 基座 complication [,kɔmpli‟keiʃən] n. 困难, 难题 divination [,divi‟neiʃən] n. 预言 trigram [„traiɡræm] n. 三字铭,三线形 superstition [,sju:pə‟stiʃən] n. 迷信, 迷信行为
Numbers and Omens
Do
you think there is a connection between numbers and fortunes/ luck? is your favorite number? Why?
Which
Numbers and Omens
Numbers play an important role in Chinese culture and the use of numbers can be found in almostives.
Words
even number 偶数 odd number 奇数 lunar calendar n. 阴历 bride [braid] n. 新娘 groom [ɡrum] 新郎 digit [„didʒit] n. 数字
Para. 11 –13

Why don‟t people like odd numbers?
New words and Phrases
exclaim [iks‟kleim] v. to cry out or speak suddenly or excitedly 呼喊, 惊叫, 大声说

Eg: She exclaimed in delight when she saw the presents. 她见到礼品高兴得叫了起来。
Para.6-10

According to the Book of Changes, why did ancients adopt ways to attract the auspicious and expel the malicious? In the Book of Changes, what‟s the meaning of each number? What does “three yang make good fortune” mean?
2. What do Chinese people use numbers to do? Key: We use them to appeal for good fortune, and to chew people out.
Do you know those expressions?
1. Neither three nor four 2. 13 points
intimate [„intimit] adj. characterized by a close or warm personal relationship 亲密的, 密切的

Eg. He is my intimate friend. 他是我的密友。
2. Text Appreciation
What are the rules to make a “red envelope” of cash at weddings?


Why do people give offerings with the last digit being odd at funerals?
II. Text Appreciation