Unit4ARedLightforScofflaws解析

III. Organization and development of the text
Para. 1 introductory paragraph: Millions of Americans are taking increasing liberties with the legal codes. Para. 2 Scofflaws abound in amazing variety. Para. 3 The dangers of scofflawry vary widely. Para. 4 The most flagrant scofflaw is the red-light runner. Para. 5 The flouting of basic rules of the road leaves deep dents in the social mood. Para. 6 Scofflaws are a symptom of elementary social demoralization. Para. 7 The prospect of the collapse of public manners is not merely a matter of etiquette. Para. 8 Scofflawry at various levels of social life was by no means a less serious menace to the foundation of law of the US than violent crimes. Para. 9 The scofflaw spirit is dangerously infectious; something 11 must be done to check its spread.
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Chinese Style of Crossing Roads “crossing the roads without taking traffic lights into consideration, as long as you are part of a crowd.”
scribbling on the walls/spitting
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Language points
flurry: a small amount (as of snow or wind) that suddenly appears for a short time and moves in a rushed, swirling way (=whirl) Snow flurries had been predicted. Their front runners collided, sending up a flurry of sparks.
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ordinance: (formal) official rule or order; regulation In 1972 the city passed an ordinance compelling all outdoor lighting to be switched off at 9:00 p.m.
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Language points
ethic: idea or moral belief that influences the behavior, attitudes, and philosophy of life of a group of people (=principle) the American “frontier ethic of expansion and opportunity” the Protestant work ethic ethics: moral beliefs and rules about right and wrong a conscious, rational, scientific code of ethics the basic ethics which any religion sets forward
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take to: 1) to be pleased by or attracted to; 2) begin to do sth. as a regular habit
The dog seldom takes to strangers. His manner was so taking that I took to him at once. After a few years he abandoned journalism and took to writing novels. I’m sorry to hear that he has taken to drink. Recently I have taken to getting up earliera 1. Problem: Millions of Americans are breaking the legal codes.
Language points
take liberties with: behave in a bold or impolite way towards She would never have taken a liberty with anyone. He was not the sort of man with whom one took liberties. supposedly: allegedly a robot supposedly capable of understanding spoken commands a supposedly inferior form of life such as the reptile
然而显然令人烦恼的是数以百万计的美国人尽管从没有认为自己会违反法律更不用说会成为罪犯了却正在越来越随便地对待那些专为保护与造福他们的社会所制定的法规
Unit 4
A Red Light for Scofflaws
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I. Learning objectives
Have an idea of the variety of scofflaws and the dangers they may cause. Understand the importance of evidence in expository writing.
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Scofflaw is a noun coined during the Prohibition time meaning a person who drinks illegally. It is a compound of the words scoff and law, meaning one who mocks or ridicules the law. The meaning has since been extended to describe one who flouts any law, especially those which are difficult to enforce, and particularly traffic laws.
overload
Crossing street without walking on pestrian pavement running red light
Litterbug crossing traffic fence
II. Warm-up questions
Look up the word “scofflaw” in a dictionary, and name some kinds of scofflaws. Have you ever been a scofflaw in a sense? Do you know any acquaintance of yours who has been a scofflaw? Tell us a story.
法律和秩序是美国历史上持续时间最长的、也可能 是政治上的最热门的话题。然而，显然令人烦恼的 是，数以百万计的美国人尽管从没有认为自己会违 反法律，更不用说会成为罪犯了，却正在越来越随 便地对待那些专为保护与造福他们的社会所制定的 法规。当然，现今确实有些时候似乎无视法律代表 了未来的潮流。哈佛大学的社会学家大卫· 莱斯曼怀 疑，大多数美国人喜欢犯那种他们认为是无关紧要 的玩忽职守的错误。莱斯曼说，美国社会的伦理道 德已经处于这样的危险之中：即，“如果你遵纪守 法，你就是个傻瓜”。
Language points
plague: v. keep happening and cause a great deal of trouble, difficulty, or suffering The system is still plagued by technical faults. He suffered severe back injuries, which plague him to this day. I don’t know why we have been plagued with such ill luck.
Language points
exempt from: not affected or bound by (=excused) These houses are exempt from paying rates. convert: change into a different form (=transform) A solar cell takes radiation from the sun and converts it into electricity. Energy is converted from one form to another.
Para 2
How many scofflaws are mentioned here and what are they?
abound: v. to exist in large number or great quantity abound in / abound with: to have in large fronts or great quantity 1) The land abounds in springs and streams of water. 2) The jungle abounds with snakes. 3) The book abounds in printing mistakes.
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Language points
derelictions: deliberate neglect; negligence
a matter of course: If sth. is done as a matter of course, it is done as part of a normal situation and is not regarded as unusual or exceptional. (=automatically) The father does his share of the housework as a matter of course when at home.
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duck out of: avoid doing, esp. by making an excuse (=back out) It was too late to duck out of going with them.
Language points
fester: (a difficult or unpleasant situation, feeling, or thought) grow worse and be characterized by increasing bitterness, anger, and hatred. His memories festered into hate. an anger that must find outlet or fester inwardly hazardous: dangerous, esp. to people’s health or safety