Unit 3 The Unhappy American Way

Text Comprehension
• Para. 1-5
– Problem
• • • • Rich men Professional men Everybody English-speaking people vs. Frenchmen; Italian; Mexican
– …although it was Sunday.
The Unhappy American Way
Wilma HU
Text Comprehension
• Para. 1-5
– How do you understand “but the price of alcohol and tobacco in my country has provided sufficient external causes for melancholy”? – What problem did the author find while traveling in the United States? Is he exaggerating the problem? Do you agree that the problem is peculiar to English speaking people?
Text Comprehension
• P. 6-12
– Language Points
• • • • • • • • • cold-shoulder cultured get the upper hand give free rein yield to uproot An iron hand/fist in a velvet glove to boot low-brow---highbrow; middlebrow
– Your friend looks as if he’s had one drink too many.
• lapse into
Text Comprehension
• P. 6-12
– What are the two causes of the – The author likes to use extreme or exaggerated examples to illustrate a statement? Do you think Para. 6 is a case in point? What rhetorical effect does such overstatement produce? – How do you understand “And so you have to be content with dollars instead of creative satisfaction”?
Text Comprehension
• P. 6-12
– Why or to what degree should impulse be allowed to play its role? – Do you find some humorous tone from this essay? Pls. find some examples. – The author states that a life lived on principle is unhappy no matter whether the principle is true or false. Do you agree? – The author’s stand seems extreme and inaccurate. Do you think it has any value? What value could it have?
Text Comprehension
• P. 6-12
– For most Americans life is a competitive struggle and happiness lies in winning the competition? According to the author, what is wrong with this theory? – Is the bored man who pretends to be still enjoying the sunshine acting on impulse or principle? What makes him bored? Is he really happy?
– Language Points
• somber + Noun • outlook • pose … problem
Text Comprehension
• Para. 1-5
– Language Points
• • • • • Poverty were abolished. millennium tickle the jaded palate indulge one drink too many
Text Comprehension
• P. 6-12
– Paraphrase
• Everything has to be flattened out except when the prejudices of the editor are concerned.
– Language Points
• • • • • • put a stopper on/put the stoppers on condemn sb. to sth. vision on impulse make for reflect
Research on Writing Style of Russell’s Prose
Assignment
• After-text exercises • Translate the last paragraph of the text (Group work)
Key to Translation
1. The ship being stranded, they were condemned to a fortnight stay on the desolate island. 2. In the third round he gained the upper hand over his opponent and knocked him out. 3. It is easy to lapse into bad habits or even crimes if you don't listen to people's advice. 4. His tongue ran riot when he was asked to talk about what he saw and heard in Japan. 5. The charms of Egypt consist in not only its long history and scenic beauty, but also its mysteries: unusual customs and peculiar traditions. 6. Your heart is badly diseased. You mustn’t give free rein to your temper like that. 7. Fresh from school, she worked with gusto, and came to the clinic very early everyday to treat patients. 8. On impulse he submitted a letter of resignation, giving up the wellpaid job.