新世纪大学英语综合教程4第二版U2

新世纪大学英语综合教程4第二版U2
第二单元
Man and Technology
Enhance Your Language Awareness
Words in Action
▆ Working with Words and Expressions
1.In the box below are some of the words you have learned in this unit. Complete the following sentences
with them. Change the form where necessary.
▆ Answers:
1)productivity
2)phenomenon
3)isolation
4)gradual
5)opponent
6)advent
7)genetic
8)universal
9)extreme
10)nasty
11)boom
12)formal
13)survey
14)Similarly
15)modify
16)rough
2. In the box below are some of the expressions you have learned in this unit. Do you understand their
meanings? Do you know how to use them in the proper
context? Now check for yourself by doing the blank-filling exercise. Change the form where necessary.
▆ Answers:
1)at the same time
2)are stuck with
3)for certain
4)make no difference
5)on average
6)when it comes to
7)are better off
8)built into
9)come to mind
10)close to
11)i n favor of
▆Increasing Your Word Power
1.You will read six pairs of words which are similar in meaning but are different in usage. Reflect on the
differences in usage between the words in each group and fill in each blank with a proper one. Change the form if necessary.
▆ Answers:
1)exterior
2)external
3)delightful
4)pleasant
5)separate
6)isolate
7)company
8)companion
9)acquire
10)learn
11)ripe
12)mature
2. Fill in each blank with one of the words listed below in the appropriate form, paying special attention
to the meaning and spelling.
▆ Answers:
1)accept
2)oppression
3)loss
4)excerpts
5)depression
6)loose
7)except
8)expectations
9)lose
10)suppress
3.Words that come from the same root may be said to belong to the same family. Getting acquainted with
each member of the family is a sure way to increase your word power. Now complete the following table with words of the same family. You may consult a dictionary if necessary.
▆ Answers:
1)technology
2)eternity
3)miracle
4)relevance
5)analysis
6)luxurious
7)leisurely / leisured
8)subjective
9)prosperous
10)i nnovative
GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT
Task 1: Complete the following sentences with appropriate connectives listed in the following table.
▆ Answers:
1)Whatever
2)Although / Though
3)whereas
4)However
5)though / although
6)Granted / Granting that
7)as
8)While
Task 2: Translate the following sentences into English.
▆ Answers for reference:
1)Though it was raining hard, yet they went on playing football.
2)You will have to attend the commencement whether you are free or busy.
3)She leaves her bedroom windows open, however cold it is.
4)We will make a trip even if / though the weather is bad.
5)No matter who / Whoever you are, you must abide by the law.
6)Difficult as the job was, they decided to accept it.
7)No matter what I say or how I say it, he always thinks I’m wrong.
8)She seems to have a ready answer, whenever / no matter when I ask her a question.
Cloze
Complete the following passage with words chosen from this unit. The initial letter of each is given.
▆ Answers:
1)emphasize
2)opposite
3)improved
4)luxuries
5)benefited
6)obviously
7)consciously
8)fractures
9)eternal
10)groundbreaking
11)entitled
12)correlation
13)depends
14)exclusively
Translation
1.Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and expressions given in brackets.
▆ Answers for reference:
1)He really knows a lot about theory, but when it comes to actual work, he seems to be quite ignorant.
2)The latest survey shows /showed that the majority of the citizens support / supported the government’s plan to build a new library.
3)The two countries could reach agreement successfully on scientific and technological cooperation because
several factors favorable to their cooperation had been at work.
4)I saw the film when I was in the primary school, but the title just won’t come to mind for the moment.
5)He has been stuck with heavy debt though he works about twelve hours every day on average.
6)Is it necessary to know his height? To me, it is not relevant to whether he can be a good lawyer or not.
7)The cupboard is built into the wall so that it both saves space and is convenient to use.
8)These workers earn more than we do, but the other side of the coin is that their job is more dangerous.
9)Helen majors in economics at the university and at the same time she studies philosophy as her second major.
10)What is most important is that you must find out and solve the problems by yourselves. It makes no
difference whether I go there or not.
2.Translate the following passage into English.
▆ Answers for reference:
Nowadays, many people are enjoying the benefits brought about by material and technological advances unimaginable in previous eras. With the development of science and technology, people’s standard of living is getting higher and higher. People’s life exp ectancy has soared, too.
However, oddly enough, many people do not feel happier than they used to be. It can be seen that there is no close correlation between people’s income and their happiness. Happiness cannot, after all, be bought with money.
Although the majority of people are not very satisfied with their lives, they are happy to be alive, and the more time they live on earth, the better off they feel they’ll be. What is important is that material wealth is far from enough. People need spiritual
happiness, too.
Theme-Related Writing
Write an essay of no less than 150 words about a technological invention. Y our writing should cover the following points:
1) a brief description of the invention
2) the positive impact of the invention on people’s life
3) the negative impact of the invention on peo ple’s life
4) your opinion
▇Sample essay:
The Impact of the Mobile Phone on People’s Lives
Among the many technological inventions, the mobile phone impresses me most.
The mobile phone brings considerable convenience to our lives. It not only enables us to keep in touch with each other almost anytime and anywhere but also helps us solve problems or do business efficiently. In emergencies, a mobile phone can even be a life-saver. Besides, its multi-functions add ease and color to our lives. With a mobile phone, we can receive mail, read news, listen to music, play games, and take pictures.
Yet, the mobile phone has its disadvantages, too. Most of us have experienced the nuisance of unwanted or wrong calls. We are inconvenienced by calls on occasions when we least expect one. Besides, the technology infrastructure to support mobile communication has consumed valuable natural resources and caused significant environmental problems. It is reported that electromagnetic radiation waves from the phone may result in health problems.
Despite its negative side, the advantages of the mobile phone outweigh its disadvantages. I believe that with advances
in science and technology, improved and safer models of mobile phones will surely serve us still better. (184 words)。