a. The shop doesn’t charge for delivery. b. They charge a heavy tax on imported wine.

2) A noun meaning “a person of the same age, class, position, etc. as oneself”: (Para. 1)

Write down the target word here: peer

a. The opinions of his peers are more important to him than his parents’ ideas. b. Children tend to be influenced by peer pressure.

3) A phrase meaning “to arrive at a particular state or position”: (Para. 2) Write down the target phrase here: come to

a. The two brothers quickly came to blows during their quarrel. b. All this sex and violence on the TV — what is the world coming to?

4) A noun meaning “an amount of money that a person, business, etc. borrows, especially from a bank”: (Para. 2) Write down the target word here: loan a. How soon do you have to pay off the loan? b. Jim took out a loan to pay for his car.

5) A noun meaning “the total produced when numbers, amounts, etc., are added together”: (Para. 2)

Write down the target word here: sum

a. I had to spend a large sum of money to have my damaged car repaired.

b. The company was sold for an undisclosed sum.

6) An adjective meaning “involving the use of imagination to produce new and original ideas or things”: (Para. 9)

Write down the target word here: creative

a. A creative person has the ability to invent and develop original ideas, especially in the arts.

b. This job is so boring. I wish I could do something more creative.

7) A verb meaning “to make sb. feel it necessary to do sth., especially because of a sense of duty”: (Para. 10)

Write down the target word here: obligate

a. He felt obligated to visit his parents every weekend.

b. Do you feel obligated to see your teacher who is now in the hospital?

2 Match the words in Column A with the meanings in Column B. Put the corresponding letter in the blank after each word.

Column A Column B

1) project b a. difficult to deal with; not easy

2) unique e b. a piece of work that needs skill, effort, and careful planning

3) tough a c. being expected to happen at a particular time 4) due c d. (a feeling of) nervous anxiety, worry, or pressure 5) tension d e. being the only one of its type

6) solution f f. answer to a problem, question, difficulty

3 Rewrite each of the following sentences with a phrase that appears in Text B. Focus on the italicized parts. The number of the paragraph in which the target phrase appears is given in brackets.

1) Don’t worry. He might accept our suggestion if someone tries to influence him properly. (Para. 1)

Don’t worry. He might accept our suggestion if someone works on him properly.

2) He is studying French as the chief subject at the university. (Para. 9)

He is majoring in French at the university.

3) Sandra was determined to become a doctor and after 10 years her persistence (坚持不懈) became successful and profitable. (Para. 9)

Sandra was determined to become a doctor and after 10 years her persistence paid off.

4) Of course I admire her — in spite of everything, she is a great politician? (Para. 10)

Of course I admire her — after all, she is a great politician.

5) The story of Linda and Barbra in Text B is symptomatic of all the pressures

combined. (Para. 13)

The story of Linda and Barbra in text B is symptomatic of all the pressures put together.

6) May I draw your attention to the fact that if we don’t leave now we shall miss the bus? (Para. 16)

May I point out that if we don’t leave now we shall miss the bus?

Checking Your Comprehension

1 Answer the following questions with the information contained in Text B.

1) What does the writer mean by “brutal economy”?

Para. 2 in the text provides the answer. Studying at college means a huge sum of money to pay for tuition, room and board, books and many other expenses. A student may have a loan of up to $5,000 when he graduates, and this same student has to work both part-time and full-time whenever possible at college.

2) Why are humanities courses not popular with parents?

Parents want to make sure that their children have a secure future and they don’t think that humanities subjects with no “practical” value will pay off.

3) What are the possible reactions of a student who suffers from peer pressure?

Examples of possible reactions include:

a. always thinking other students are brighter and study harder;

b. studying at the library as late as possible; c. doing homework till early morning;

d. getting into a panic when exams are approaching and papers are due; e. getting sick and stuck;

f. oversleeping due to tiredness; and g. doing more than expected.

4) Who can help to free students from the pressures they suffer from?

Professors, parents, and friends can help to free students from the pressures they suffer from, but it is the students themselves who should relieve themselves of the pressures.

5) Explain in your own words why, according to the text, economic pressure is closely connected with parental pressure, and peer pressure with self-induced pressure.

a. Students normally find it hard to cope with different kinds of fees at college without parental help. However, when students do get financial help from their parents, they will feel obligated to follow their parents’ advice, sometimes against their own will, because after all, their parents are paying all their expenses at college.

b. When a student thinks that his / her peers are brighter and study harder, he / she will push himself / herself more, which will in turn induce more pressure on himself / herself.