Unit Five
The Value of Life
Enhance Your Language Awareness Words in Action
▆ Working with Words and Expressions
In the box below are some of the words you have learned in this unit. Complete the following sentences with the words given. Change the form where necessary.
▆ Answers: stretched remedy confine remarkable owe lower response reveal characterized picture adopt proposed trembling
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. Be sure to change the form where necessary.
▆ Answers: 1) singled out for 2) kept back 3) all but 4) in search of 5) on earth 6) in particular 7) first and foremost 8) took in
▆ Increasing Your Word Power
In each of the following sentences you are given two words in the bracket. Choose the appropriate one to fill in the blank. Please note that for some sentences, both words are acceptable.
▆ Answers: 1) similar
2) alike / similar 3) sleeping 4) asleep 5) cheerful 6) glad
7) afraid / frightened
8) frightened 9) living 10) alive
Fill in each blank in the following sentences with a proper word or phrase in the table.
▆ Answers for Reference: 1) regardless of
2) While / Though / Although 3) as
4) In spite of / Despite
5) Though / Although / While 6) disregard 7) regardless of 8) in spite of / despite 9) disregard 10) as
Word Building
Match each of the English word in Column A with its Chinese meaning in Column B. You may consult a dictionary if necessary.
▆ Answers: 1) o 2) g 3) i 4) n 5) b 6) k 7) h 8) c 9) d 10) a 11) l 12) m 13) e 14) j 15) f
Grammar in Context 1. Sequence of Tenses
Study the following paragraphs from the texts in this unit, paying special attention to the sequence of tenses. Reflect on its grammatical function in each sentence. ……
Now fill in each blank of the following passage with the proper form of the verb given in brackets, paying special attention to the sequence of tenses. ▆ Answers:
1) was encouraging / encouraged 2) has lived 3) had worked
4) would spend 5) should go / go 6) would be 7) was waiting 8) was smiling 9) was going 10) got 11) missed 12) go
13) has helped 14) have discovered
2. Complete the following sentences with proper tenses of the verbs given in brackets.
▆ Answers:
1) will have stayed 2) had been lying 3) have been enjoying 4) has been
5) were climbing 6) will object 7) does 8) keep
9) had intended 10) is…complaining
Cloze
▆ Complete the following passage with words chosen from Text A. The initial letter of each is given.
▆ Answers: 1) set
2) circumstances 3) as if 4) value 5) which 6) constant 7) granted 8) aware
9) characterizes 10) appreciate 11) who 12) damage 13) stricken 14) during
Translation
▆ Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in brackets.
▆ Answers for Reference:
Such a sight always moves me and sets me thinking.
Or: This is a sight that never fails to move me and set me thinking.
Stop scolding / blaming her — You’d have done the same thing under / in similar circumstances. We should be appreciative of / grateful for what we have instead of taking everything for granted. He may promise to change, but it’s the same old story of saying one thing and doing another. I racked my brains about how to break the terrible news to him.
It will be impossible for me to repay my parents for everything they have done for me.
For now, it remains to me to thank you once more for joining us and wish you good luck in your work.
I said right from the beginning that he would cause us trouble.
Theme-Related Writing
▆ Do one of the following writing tasks after class.
In Text A, Helen Keller reminds us of a common phenomenon, “It is human, perhaps, to appreciate little that which we have and to long for that which we have not.” Do you think some college
students have a similar attitude toward life? What would you like to say to the students who are not sufficiently appreciative of what they have now but idle away their time on campus? Write an essay of about 150 words with the tips given above.
It’s natural, and perhaps human, for people to feel overjoyed when given acknowledgement and honor. However, in Text B the author has more than just happiness to share with us about her success and honour. What is it then? Do you get the message the author tries to convey? Think
about, for example, your admission to college, a success of some degree for you and your family. Did you receive support, help, and encouragement from your family members, teachers, and friends? When looking back on your journey to the college, what do you want to say to them? Write an essay of about 150 words to share your feelings with your classmates.
▆Sample Essay for Task 1:
Today, many college students are from single-child families. Growing up in such environments, they tend to take for granted what they have. Some even develop bad habits and character flaws such as self-will, lack of responsibility and selfishness.
In my opinion, taking a listless attitude toward life is extremely harmful to them. With such a
negative attitude, they fail to appreciate the advantages they enjoy. They waste away their precious time, seeking pleasure in running after pop stars or indulging in computer games. In the end, they may have to leave college without having acquired any useful skills or knowledge.
Sometimes I think it is good for us to think more of the young people who are still struggling for their lives and education. Such an attitude would certainly impel us to cherish more our college life. And life would be more meaningful if we treat it with a gentleness, a vigor and keenness of appreciation.
▆Sample Essay for Task 2:
Being admitted to college was an important turning point in my life. I would never have been able to make it without the help and support of my parents, teachers and classmates.
Throughout the time I was preparing for the entrance examination my parents were always there to back me up. They allowed me to make my own decisions about which major I wanted to pursue. What’s more, they had full confidence in me.
I was lucky enough to have had fine teachers and kind classmates. My teachers were patient and competent to explain the problems I did not understand; my classmates helped me and encouraged me all the time. We shared our hopes and anxieties together. That was a memorable time in my life! I didn’t achieve everything alone. I owe a lot to those who have helped me to get where I am.
Unit Six
Learning to Work Together
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) viewpoint 2) conventional 3) merely 4) valid 5) productive 6) assess 7) alter 8) employment 9) competent 10) objective 11) professional 12) reserve 13) shift 14) dismiss 15) personally 16) strengths 17) norms 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) in reserve 2) To his credit 3) In view of 4) in person 5) take up 6) follow the herd 7) assess / judge, on its (own) merits 8) takes an, turn
▆ Increasing Your Word Power 1. Fill in each blank in the following sentences with a proper preposition, paying attention to the collocations of verbs and prepositions.
▆ Answers: 1) to 2) on