unit2-詞匯.docx

Unit 2 Words and Expressions1 When the going gets tough, the tough take accounting. (Para. 1)Meaning: When conditions or situations become difficult, determined people choose to study the subject of accounting, hoping they can more easily find a job in the future.when the going gets tough: when the situation becomes difficult 當形勢變得嚴峻時e.g. When the going gets tough, women can get as tough as men. 當形勢變得嚴峻時，女人可以變得跟男人一樣堅強。accounting: n. U the work of accountants or the methods they use 會計；會計學e.g. Students major objective is to be financially well off. Accordingly, today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting. 學生的主要目的是在經(jīng)濟上富裕。因此，當今最流行的課程不是文學或歷史，而是會計。take accounting: choose to study the subject of accounting 選擇學會計2 When the job market worsens, many students calculate they cant major in English or history. (Para. 1)Meaning: When there are fewer job openings, many college students make a judgment from the situation and think they cant study English or history as their major.Meaning beyond words: Many students will not take the classes that wont help them locate a decent job later.major in: (AmE) study sth. as your main subject at college or university 主修（某一）科目e.g. The high demand for persons with knowledge about computers is why I chose to major in computer science at the university. 對具有電腦知識人才的高需求是我選擇在大學主修計算機科學的原因。3 They have to study something that boosts their prospects of landing a job. (Para.1)Meaning: They have to study something that improves their chances of success in finding a job.boost: vt. increase or improve sth. to make it more successful 促進；推動；使興旺e.g. Some countries hope that warmer weather and more rain will boost their farm output. 一些國家希望更溫暖的天氣和更多的降雨能提高他們的農(nóng)業(yè)產(chǎn)量。prospect: n. C, U sth. that is possible or likely to happen in the future, or the possibility itself 可能的事情；很可能發(fā)生的事情；前景e.g. Career prospects in science and technology are virtually unlimited. 科技類職業(yè)的前景幾乎是無可限量的。4 The data show that as students have increasingly shouldered the ever-rising cost of tuition, they have defected from the study of the humanities and toward applied science and “hard” skills that they bet will lead to employment. (Para. 2)Meaning: The facts and information show that as students have spent increasingly more money on tuition, they have turned away from the humanities to some practical courses that they believe will enable them to get a job more easily.defect:vi. leave a country, political party, or organization to go to another one 背叛；叛逃e.g. He defected from the party in the late 1970s.他在20世紀70年代后期背叛了該黨。n. C a fault in sb. or sth. 缺點；欠缺；不足之處e.g. Stammering is probably an inherited defect. 口吃可能是一種遺傳缺陷。Usage NOTE defect, deficiency1 在表示“人的缺點，設(shè)計制造方面的缺點或缺陷”時，名詞defect和deficiency的詞義相近。例：physiological defect / deficiency 生理缺陷The new car had to be withdrawn from the market because of a mechanical defect. 這款新汽車因有機械缺陷，必須被撤出市場。The deficiency of this plan is very clear, so it cant possibly succeed. 這項計劃的缺陷是很明顯的，所以它不可能成功。2 但表示“ 缺少；不足”（shortage）時，只可用deficiency。例：There are serious deficiencies in the number of suitable aircraft. 符合要求的飛機數(shù)量嚴重不足。During the war children suffered from a deficiency of food. 戰(zhàn)爭期間孩子們遭受了缺乏食物之苦。applied: a. (usu. before noun) used for describing educational subjects when they are studied for their practical uses （學科）應用的，實用的e.g. Industry leaders want scientists to engage in basic research, not applied research.產(chǎn)業(yè)領(lǐng)導者們希望科學家們從事基礎(chǔ)研究，而不是應用研究。5 In other words, a college education is more and more seen as a means for economic betterment rather than a means for human betterment. (Para. 2)Meaning: In other words, a college education is more considered as a method to improve students future economic status rather than improve human nature or behavior.Meaning beyond words: The quality of a college education is increasingly questionable because the trend among many colleges is to become more like a business and less like an academic setting.6 This is a trend that is likely to persist and even accelerate. (Para. 2)Meaning: Very likely, the trend will continue to exist and even go faster than ever.persist: vi.1) (fml.) continue to exist 繼續(xù)存在；持續(xù)e.g. If the bad weather persists, the farmers will suffer great losses this year. 如果惡劣天氣持續(xù)，農(nóng)民今年將遭受巨大的損失。2) continue to do sth., although this is difficult, or other people oppose it 堅持；執(zhí)意e.g. Students must persist in their efforts if they wish to do well. 學生如果想取得好成績就必須堅持努力。Usage NOTE persist, insist1 persist 可用于表示“ 繼續(xù)存在；持續(xù)”, 尤其用于不好的事情，而insist沒有此意。例：Contact your doctor if the cough persists. 如果咳嗽持續(xù)，請聯(lián)系您的醫(yī)生。2 persist和insist容易混淆主要是當兩者均表示“堅持”時。persist 用于表示“堅持”時， 表示“堅持反復做同一件事”，后接介詞in，多用于褒義，指“堅持繼續(xù)做某事”，有時用于貶義，指“不聽勸告；頑固堅持”。例：Her mother tried to persuade her to go to bed early, but she persisted in working until the small hours.她的母親勸她早點睡，但她仍堅持工作到凌晨。He persisted in drinking even though the doctor had told him that it did harm to his body. 即使醫(yī)生告訴他飲酒傷身，他仍堅持飲酒。insist 用于表示“堅持”時，表示“堅持做某件事（尤指麻煩或令人討厭的事）”，后接介詞on。例：She insisted on washing her hair just when I wanted to have a bath. 當我想泡個澡時，她還在那洗頭。3 insist 還可用于表示“ 對意見、主張等的堅持”。insist用于此意時，后可接介詞on，也可以接that引導的從句（是否用虛擬語氣，視情況而定，即看從句內(nèi)容是否為事實），而persist無此意。例：They insist on having a job done well no matter how much time is required. 他們堅持無論需要多少時間都要將工作做好。The doctor insisted that she (should) take the medicine, but she insisted that she was not ill. 醫(yī)生堅持讓她服此藥，但她堅持自己沒病。accelerate: v. happen or make sth. happen at a faster rate（使）加快；促進e.g. Human activities can cause or accelerate permanent changes in natural systems. 人類的活動可能導致或加速自然系統(tǒng)的永久變化。7 Over the next few years, as labor markets struggle, the humanities will probably continue their long slide in succession. (Para. 3)Meaning: For the next few years, as the going gets tough with labor markets, the subjects of the humanities will continue to shrink and worsen for a long time each year.in succession: happening one after the other without anything different happening in between 連續(xù)發(fā)生地；接連發(fā)生地e.g. She is an accomplished athlete and won the championship four times in succession. 她是一名成功的運動員，連續(xù)四次獲得冠軍。8 There already has been a nearly 50 percent decline in the portion of liberal arts majors over the past generation, and it is logical to think that the trend is bound to continue or even accelerate. (Para. 3)Meaning: Based on the fact that there already has been about 50 percent decrease in the number of students majoring in liberal arts over the past years, it is reasonable to think that the trend will surely continue or even speed up.liberal: a.1) ( arts) school or college subjects that give students a general education and teach them to think rather than those subjects that develop practical skills 文科e.g. The liberal arts are college or university subjects such as history, languages and literature but not sciences. 文科是學院或大學的如歷史、語言和文學之類的學習科目，而不是理科學科。2) accepting different opinions and ways of behaving and tending to be sympathetic to other people心胸寬廣的；開明的e.g. She is known to have liberal views on divorce. 人們知道她對離婚持有開明的觀點。bound: a. ( to) sth. that is bound to happen will almost certainly happen 一定的；幾乎肯定的e.g. The weather is bound to get better tomorrow.明天的天氣肯定更好。9 Once the dominant pillars of university life, the humanities now play little roles when students take their college tours. These days, labs are more vivid and compelling than libraries. (Para. 3)Meaning: The humanities that once dominated university life now play a trivialrole when students have their college visits; nowadays, labs are more eye-catching and fascinating than libraries.Meaning beyond words: Libraries were once the only place where students spent much time reading materials, doing research and writing papers. However, as more students are taking science courses, labs where students do scientific experiments play a more important role for learning than traditional libraries.dominant: a. more important, powerful, or successful than the other people or things of the same type 有優(yōu)勢的；占統(tǒng)治地位的e.g. Unemployment rate will be the dominant issue at the next president election. 失業(yè)率將是下次總統(tǒng)選舉中的主要話題。pillar: n. C1) a very important part of a system of beliefs or ideas （信仰或思想）非常重要的部分e.g. Equality is one of the pillars of a stable society. 平等是一個穩(wěn)定社會的支柱之一。2) a thick strong upright post that supports part of a building 柱子；支柱e.g. Eight massive stone pillars supported the roof. 八根巨大的石柱支撐起房頂。compel: vt. force sb. to do sth. 強迫；迫使e.g. As a school boy, he was compelled to wear shorts even in winter. 當他還是一個在校的小男孩時，即使在冬天他也被迫穿短褲。Usage NOTE compel, oblige, force這三個詞都有“強迫”之意，但程度不同。1 compel 表示“強迫；迫使”，指“運用權(quán)力、力量迫使對方做某事”，尤其在被動語態(tài)中含“別無他法；不得不做”之意，compel的意義比force弱。例：His illness compelled him to stay in bed. 他的病迫使他臥床休息。2 oblige 表示“強制；不得不”，指“因法律、道義、習俗或許諾的約束而必須去做某事”，多用被動語態(tài)，語氣相對較弱。例：We are obliged to stop the car at a red light. 我們遇到紅燈時必須停車。3 force 表示“強迫；迫使；逼迫”，指“以暴力威脅、武力強迫對方做某事”，后面跟的動作常是不情愿做的事，force的語氣比compel和oblige強。例：The poor peasant was forced to sell his daughter to the landlord. 那位貧窮的農(nóng)民被迫將自己的女兒賣給地主。compelling: a. interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention completely 有強烈吸引力的；引人入勝的e.g. Steve Jobslife makes a compelling story. 史蒂夫喬布斯的一生是一個引人入勝的故事。10 Here, please allow me to stand up for and promote the true value that the humanities add to peoples lives. (Para. 4)Meaning: I here ask for your permission to let me defend and advertise the true value that the humanities bring to peoples lives.stand up for: support or defend a person or an idea when they are being attacked 支持；保衛(wèi)；維護e.g. Mary stood up for me at the meeting, sparing me some embarrassment. 瑪麗在會議上支持了我，使我免受了一些尷尬。promote: vt. support or encourage sth. 支持；鼓勵；提倡e.g. To acknowledge other cultures will promote good will among people of different backgrounds. 承認別人的文化會促進不同背景的人之間的友好親善。11 Since ancient times, people have speculated about the mystery of those inner forces that drive some people to greatness and others to self-destruction. (Para. 4)Meaning: Ever since ancient times, people have thought carefully and seriously why the mysterious forces coming from their inner world could be so powerful that it could make some people great while others morally deteriorate.speculate: v. consider or discuss why sth. has happened 思索；沉思；推測；猜測e.g. Archeologists speculate that people first reached the islands over 1,000 years ago. 考古學家們推測人類第一次到達這些島嶼是在一千多年前。speculate about / on: make guesses about the possible causes or effects of sth. without knowing all the facts or details 猜測；推測e.g. It is too early to speculate about the outcome of the negotiations between the workers union and the companys leadership. 要推測工會和公司管理層之間的談判結(jié)果，還為時過早。12 This inner drive has been called many things over the centuries. (Para. 4)Meaning: Over the past centuries, many different names have been used to describe this inner force of human beings.13 The famous psychologist, Sigmund Freud, called it the “unconscious mind” or, more familiarly, “instinct”. (Para. 4)Meaning: Sigmund Freud, a famous psychologist, named it the unintentional mind or, more familiar to us, natural ability to know something.14 From the beginning of time, this inner aspect of our being, this drive that can be constructive or destructive, has captured our imagination. (Para. 5)Meaning: Since ancient times, it is this very inner force of our being, either constructive or destructive, that has stimulated our imagination.15 The stories of this amazing struggle have formed the basis of cultures the world over. (Para. 5)Meaning: It is these stories about this fascinating inner struggle of human beings that have laid the foundation of the world cultures.16 Historians, architects, authors, philosophers and artists have captured the words, images and meanings of this inner struggle in the form of story, music, myth, painting, architecture, sculpture, landscape and traditions. (Para. 5)Meaning: Our historians, architects, authors, philosophers and artists have successfully caught the words, images and meanings of this mysterious inner force by way of story, music, myth, painting, architecture, sculpture, landscape and traditions.in the form of: in the way sth. is or appears to be 以形式；以方式e.g. They received a benefit in the form of a tax reduction. 他們通過減稅的方式獲益。17 These men and women developed artistic “l(fā)anguages” that help us understand these aspirations and also educate generations. (Para. 5)Meaning: The artistic works and masterpieces created by these men and women help us understand the strong desires and beautiful dreams of human beings and also help educate future generations.Meaning beyond words: “Language” is in the quotation marks because the word doesnt just refer to the regular meaning but to all the things mentioned earlier: story, music, myth, painting, architecture, sculpture, landscape and traditions.18 This fertile body of work from ancient times, the very foundation of civilization, forms the basis of study of the humanities. (Para. 5)Meaning: The large amount of work filled with rich ideas and imagination from ancient times the fundamental components of civilization provides the basis of the study of the humanities.a / the body of sth.: a large amount or mass of sth., esp. sth. that has been collected 大量的某物e.g. Acquiring a language is learning a skill, not collecting a body of information. 學語言是學習技能，而不是獲取大量的信息。19 Studying the humanities improves our ability to read and write. No matter what we do in life, we will have a huge advantage if we can read complex ideas and understand their meaning. We will have a bright career if we are the person in the office who can write a clear and elegant analysis of those ideas! (Para. 6)Meaning: Studying the humanities helps us improve our reading and writing ability. In whatever situation, it is a great advantage if we understand complex ideas through reading. To illustrate, if we are the person in the office who can write and analyze those complex ideas in a logical, clear, intelligent yet simple manner, we will have a promising career.Sentence structure NOTE no matter 常與疑問代詞或疑問副詞一起構(gòu)成連詞詞組引導讓步狀語從句，意為“不管，無論”，在使用時應注意以下幾點：1 注意從句的時態(tài)由no matter 引導的從句多用一般現(xiàn)在時。例如：No matter who you are, you must obey the rules.無論你是誰，都應該遵守規(guī)則。Our aim is to recruit the best person for the job, no matter where they are from. 我們的目標是招聘到該工作的最佳人選，不管他們來自哪里。2 注意被修飾的名詞、形容詞以及副詞的位置no matter what / whose / which 修飾名詞時，該名詞必須緊跟其后；no matter how 修飾形容詞或副詞時，該形容詞或副詞也必須緊跟其后。例如：No matter which method you use, you will get the same result. 不管你用哪種方法做，結(jié)果都一樣。No matter how hard he works, he finds it difficult to make ends meet. 無論他工作多么努力，他總是入不敷出。20 Studying the humanities makes us familiar with the language of emotion and the creative process. (Para. 7)Meaning: We get more familiar with the expressions of emotion and the process of creation by studying the humanities.21 In an information economy, many people have the ability to produce a useful product such as a new MP3 player. (Para. 7)Meaning: In an economy driven by information, many people are capable of producing a useful commodity like a new MP3 player.22 Yet, very few people have the ability to create a spectacular brand: the iPod. (Para.7)Meaning: But very few people have the ability to create an extremely impressive product name such as the iPod.23 Most importantly, studying the humanities invests us with great insight and self-awareness, thereby releasing our creative energy and talent in a positive and constructive manner. (Para.7)Meaning: The most important advantage for us to study the humanities is that it enables us to become more analytical and self-aware; therefore, our creativeness and talent are brought out in a positive and constructive way.invest sb. / sth. with sth.: (fml.) give sb. or sth. a particular quality 賦予（某人或某物）以（某種性質(zhì)）e.g. Nature has invested these animals with a capacity for not showing fear. 自然界賦予了這些動物不顯露恐懼的本領(lǐng)。thereby: ad. (fml.) because of or by means of what has just been mentioned 因此；從而；借此e.g. We started our journey early, thereby avoiding most of the traffic. 我們早早地開始了我們的旅程，從而避開了交通堵塞的高峰期。24 Perhaps the best argument in favor of the humanities is the scope of possibilities that are widely open to us. (Para. 8)Meaning: The most valid argument to support the humanities is perhaps they can provide us with a wide range of opportunities.in favor of: supporting a person or an idea, proposal, etc. that you believe is right 支持；贊同e.g. Congress has decided in favor of a $200 million housing development. 美國國會已決定贊成一個兩億美元發(fā)展住房的計劃。the scope of: the range of 范圍e.g. The Student Association has promised to widen the scope of activities. 學生會已承諾要擴大活動范圍。25 Famous people who studied the humanities make a long list indeed. Its easy to see that the humanities can prepare us for many different careers and jobs we can undertake, whether medicine, business, science or entertainment. (Para. 8)Meaning: It is true that famous people who studied the humanities can make up a long list. Obviously, the humanities enable us to engage in many different careers and jobs, no matter whether they are medicine, business, science or entertainment.undertake: vt. (undertook, undertaken) agree to be responsible for a job or project and do it 承擔；著手做e.g. Dr. Johnson undertook the task of writing a comprehensive English dictionary. 約翰遜博士著手寫一本詳盡的英語詞典。26 If we study only mathematics, its likely we will be a candidate only for jobs as a mathematician. (Para. 8)Meaning: If we study only mathematics, very possibly we will be a person who only competes for jobs as a mathematician.Meaning beyond words: We can be more competitive if we study the humanities, together with mathematics.27 If we in