1、Unit FiveText IOn Not Answering the TelephoneI. Objectives To learn how to organize an argumentative piece of writing; To listen to and read some material about the telephone so as to learn some useful words and expressions related.II. Teaching Emphasis:1. The comprehension and appreciation of Text

2、I;2. New words and expressions:pose, suspense, irritate, asphyxiated, ventilate, fidget, indiscreet, chatterbox, elope, obstinacy, willfulness, escapism, justify, tycoon, aptitude, stumble, for a start, turn a deaf ear to, ex-directoryIII. Teaching Procedures: (7 hours)Lead-in1. Movie Clip2. Quotes1

3、. Movie ClipWatch the movie clip and answer the following questions.1. What attitude does Miss Darbus hold towards students' use of cell phones in her class?She doesn't allow them to use cell phones in class. In her words, she has zero tolerance for cell phones in class.2. How does Miss Darb

4、us punish the students using cell phones in class?She will sec them in detention.Discussion:From (he perspective of a student, do you think teachers should allow students (o use mobile phones in class? Why or why not? This is an open question.Script-Miss Darbus?-Do you remember the night before?-No,

5、 not at all. All I remember is like, pink jelly, I.-Excuse me.-Ooh!-Hi, Troy.-Hi.-1 trust you all had splendid holidays. Check the sign-up sheets in the lobby for new activities, Mr. Bolton, especially our winter musicale. Wc will have singles auditions for our supporting(4) attempt: v. try to do so

6、mething, especially something difficultc.g. In this article the author attempts to explain what led up to the war.The only time that they attempted to do something like that was in the city of New York.(5) pose: v. behave in an insincere or exaggerated way to make a particular impression on otherpeo

7、plee.g. He criticized them for dressing outrageously and posing pretentiously.She loves to pose when men are around.(6) pest: n. an annoying thing or persone.g. Tell that boy to stay away from here. He is such a pest.That child is an absolute pest. He keeps ringing the doorbell and (hen running away

8、.(7) suspense: n. a feeling or state of excitement or anxiety about something that is going to happenvery soone.g. Come on then, tell me what happened; the suspense is killing me.The patient's parents waited in great suspense fbr the doctor's opinion.(8) irritating: a. annoyinge.g. She told

9、me that Tom was the most irritating man she had ever met.Students' habitual tardiness is irritating to their teachers.(9) engaged: a. (a telephone or a telephone line) already being used by someone else so that theperson one is phoning cannot be reachedc.g. 1 tried to call you back but you were

10、engaged.The number is engaged at the moment. Try again in five minutes.(10) horrible: a. very unpleasant and often frightening, worrying, or upsettinge.g. I have a hon ible feeling that we're going to miss the plane.August is so horrible that even dedicated psychiatrists abandon posts and patien

11、ts for the entire month.(11) asphyxiate: v. prevent someone from breathing normally, usually so that they diee.g. It was reported that an old man died in his bath, asphyxiated by the fumes from a gas water-heater.Unfortunately, all the people working in the coalmine were asphyxiated by the bad gas.(

12、12) stale: a. (air) not fresh or pleasant, (food) no longer fresh or good to eate.g. I did this to remove the horrible stale cigarette smell from our car the previous owners smoked heavily in it.The owner of the bakery had to empty sacks of stale rye bread into the vat.(13) unventilatcd: a. no fresh

13、 air getting into (a room or building)e.g. That explosion was set off by an accumulation of gas in an unvcntilatcd tunnel.She asked me to wear protective gloves and never use cleaning products in an unvcntilatcd area.(14) chill: v. make sb. feel very cold: suddenly frighten someone, especially by se

14、eming very cruelor violente.g. Soon after I sat on the marble seat in the wintry garden, it was beginning to chill me. The anger in his face chilled her.(15) fidget: v. keep moving one's hands or feet, especially because he or she is bored or nervous e.g. One myth people believe is that we fidge

15、t more when we lie. Actually, (he opposite istrue.People don't actually fidget or look away when they're lying.(16) strong-minded: a. not easily influenced by other people to change what you believe or want=determinede.g. He is so strong minded that nothing can bring him to his knees.The str

16、ong-minded rarely follow the crowd.(17) dazed: a. unable to think clearly, especially because of a shock, accident, etc.e.g. At the end of the long interview I was dazed and exhausted.The frightened girl looked dazed and remained speechless for the rest of the day.(18) apace: ad. happening quicklye.

17、g. The business has been growing apace fbr the last year.If red the sun begins his race, expect that rain will flow apace.(19) indiscreet: a. careless about what one says or does, especially by talking about things whichshould be kept secrete.g. Making an exceptionally high profit is sometimes indis

18、creet and asking for trouble. One indiscreet remark at the wrong moment could ruin the whole plan.(20) inquisitive: a. asking too many questions and trying to find out too many details aboutsomething or someone; interested in a lot of different things and wanting to find out more about theme.g. Excu

19、se me, I do not want to seem inquisitive, but what exactly are you doing?We still have a lot to learn about life, medicine, and healing but we need to approach these things with an open, inquisitive mind.(21) chatterbox: n. someone, especially a child, who talks too muche.g. My aunt is a chatterbox

20、who never shuts up.I remember when I was studying in college, al) my professors acted like chatterboxes repeating zero tolerance fbr plagiarism in any writing assignments and academic papers in any course.(22) fatal: a. resulting in someone's deathc.g. This type of allergy can very occasionally

21、be fatal. Nervousness or anxiety is in most cases a fatal killer of success.(23) obstinacy: n. resolute adherence to one's own ideas or desirese.g. I resisted their proposal with obstinacy.Sheer obstinacy prevented him from apologizing.(24) willfulness: n. the trait of being prone to disobedienc

22、e and lack of disciplinee.g. I refuse lo stand by and see the company allowed to run aground because of one person's willfulness.For most parents, occasional willfulness is tolerable, but continual willfulness can create a problem as it quickly gathers shaping power of its own.(25) escapism: n.

23、an inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy c.g. Suicide is regarded as the ultimate act of escapism by some people.Books were a fbnn of escapism from the real world.(26) justify: v. show or prove that something is reasonable or necessarye.g. I don't have to

24、justify myself to you or anyone else.Many reasons have been put forward to justify the imposition of censorship.(27) aptitude: n. natural ability or skill, especially in learninge.g. In language learning it is attitude, not aptitude, that determines success.He has demonstrated a great aptitude for c

25、arpentry skills.(28) slip: n. a small or narrow piece of papere.g. The odd thing is, when the poster arrived, there was a slip of paper telling me there was no receipt included.My friend wrote down his address and telephone number on a slip of paper.Notes1. Why don't I have a telephone? Not beca

26、use I pretend to be wise or pose as unusual.Here is an ordinary question followed by the writer's own answers and explanations. The ordinary question and answer is a rhetorical device to begin a paragraph or to organize small units of an essay. The second question in the same paragraph "Why

27、 don't I like the telephone?" leads to further explanations on (he part of the writer.2. Ill news travels apace.We may also say: Bad news has wings.Bad news travels quickly.Ill news flies fast.3. The truth will out.The (ruth will become publicly known. This is a proverb, and out here is an

28、intransitive verb.4. when you take off the receiver, you give your number or your nameIn some countries, the receiver of a telephone call lifts the receiver and gives his own number or name to the one who makes the call. This is not often done in China.5. a successful book so often reprinted as to m

29、ake any author enviousa successful book which is so often reprinted that it can make any author envious.e.g. Robert and Kate were so clever in steering the conversation as to have the old man easily tricked.The hitch-hiker was so careful about his clothing as to attract immediate attention.6. a book

30、 more in evidence than Shakespeare or the Biblea book which is more often seen or used than either Shakespeare's works, which are very famous, or the Bible, which is the sacred writings of the Christian religion and which every Christian owns7. It serves you right.It's your own fault. The Ch

31、inese equivalent of the sentence can be “你活該".8. (be) bent on questioning you(be) determined to question you. Bent here is an adjective.e.g. She is bent on becoming a good pianist.He is bent on making journalism his career.9. bed-ridden臥床不起的This is a compound adjective formed by a noun and an -

32、ed participle. More examples: weather-beaten 經(jīng)風(fēng)霜的),panic-stricken (*|®慌失措的)1(). there are two things for which the English seem to show particular aptitudethere are two things that the English seem lo be able to do especiallyShow aptitude for means "have the ability to do something'*.e

33、.g. Mozart showed particular aptitude for music when he was young.Lenin was a man of unparalleled virtue and talents, but what struck me most was his particular aptitude he showed for foreign languages.5. Comments on the TextThis text is an argumentative essay in which the writer argues for a propos

34、ition: that it is unnecessary to have a telephone because it brings more trouble than help. He makes his argument effective by setting forth clearly what is to be proved and what he is against. The way he develops his argument is inductive, that is, he uses large numbers of examples to prove his poi

35、nt. The writer divides his essay into three major parts.1. Introduction. The first paragraph serves as the introduction to the essay. Here he puts forward a premise on which he bases his argument. The sentence "I just haven't got a telephone., most clearly establishes the subject and draws

36、the reader into the essay.2. The body. The body of the essay consists of five sections (Paras. 2 ), in which the writer develops his argument by citing examples and facts as his supporting details to strengthen the main ideas.1) (a) The writer can live a normal life without a telephone.(b) A telepho

37、ne is a pest and a time-waster2) lb have a telephone at home is a nuisance.3) Without a telephone, news either good or bad, will reach anyone just as quickly.4) To have one's name and address printed in a telephone directory will bring one a world of (roubles.5) A telephone at home is not a nece

38、ssity even in case of emergency.3. Conclusion. The last paragraph makes a convincing finish in which the writer draws a conclusion from his preceding argument. Tb him it is unnecessaiy to have a telephone at all. A good conclusion usually reiterates the main argument.In this essay, the sentences are

39、 not complicated, nor is the syntax complex. A considerable number of first and second person pronouns are used, and numerous instances of everyday occurrences are given. The style is informal and the tone is humorous. All these traits make this essay quite different from a serious argument.In order

40、 to make his proposition more easily accepted, the writer resorts to several ways which can be categorized as follows: 1. exaggeration 2. reversal of the reader's expectations, and 3. striking comparison.1. Exaggeration. This is a figure of speech by which something is exaggerated out of proport

41、ion for special or comic effect.Examples of exaggeration:1) 1 think it is a pest (and a tbne-yvaster.) (Para. 2)2) When you do get into the box, you are half asphyxiated by stale, unventilated air; flavoured with cheap face -powder and chain smoking; and by the time you have begun your conversation

42、your back is chilled by the cold looks of somebody who is fidgeting to lake your place. (Para. 2)3) It will all be the same in a hundred years 'time. (Para. 3)4) Have you never rushed dripping from the bath, or chewing from the table, or dazed from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong n

43、umber? (Para. 3)2. Reversal of the reader's expectation. This is a kind of rhetorical device the writer often uses to achieve humour so (hat (he reader will laugh and feel funny or amused.An example of reversal of the reader's expectation:/ have just been handed a slip of paper to say that s

44、omebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think / had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important. (Para. 7)3. Striking comparison. This is also a stylistic device the writer uses by making a strongcomparison between one item which the reader is unfamiliar

45、 with and other items that he knows well to achieve argumentative purpose.An example of striking comparison:Perhaps you have been indiscreet enough to have your name and number printed in the telephone directory, a book with a large circulation, a successful book so often reprinted as to make any au

46、thor envious, a book more in evidence than Shakespeare or the Bible, and found in all sorts of private and public places. (Para. 5)6. ExercisesGive an exact reference as evidence that each of the following statements is wrong.1. The 2nd paragraph is totally devoted to explaining why the author has n

47、ot got a home phone. He also explains why he doesn't like to use a public telephone box.2. When the writer writes (hat he does not like the telephone, he means only home and office phones.He doesn't like public telephones, either. He thinks that using a public phone box is a horrible thing t

48、o do.3. In the 3rd paragraph the writer seems to indicate that usually people don't answer (he telephone when they are busy with something else.He says no matter how busy anyone is or what he is doing, he will try to answer the telephone because he thinks there may be some important news or mess

49、age for him.4. In the 5th paragraph the writer claims that it is convenient to have one's number listed in the telephone directory.He thinks it unwise for anyone to have his name and telephone number printed in the telephone directory.5. In the 5th paragraph the writer implies that Shakespeare,

50、the Bible and the telephone directory can be found anywhere.He indicates that a telephone directory can be found in more places than Shakespeare or the Bible.6. In the 6th paragraph the writer suggests that one needs a telephone in case of emergency.He says that even in case of emergency il is not n

51、ecessary I。have a telephone, because in England one is seldom far from a telephone.Explain the following in your own words.1. . or pose as unusual. or pretend to be uncommon / out of the ordinary.2. . flavoured with cheap face-powder and chain-smoking . filled with the odour of women's low quali

52、ty face-powder and the smell left behind by the ceaseless smoking of cigarettes .3. Are you strong-minded enough to .?Do you have enough strong will power to .?4. only to be told that .?then you are just told that.?5. "The truth will out.''No matter how hard you try to hide it, people w

53、ill learn the facts sooner or later.6. a book more in evidence than Shakespeare or the Bible .a book which can be seen in more places than Shakespeare or the Bible .7. . to escape from some idle or inquisitive chatterbox, or somebody who wants something for nothing . to keep away from some lazy or c

54、urious gossip, or from somebody who wants something but not lo offer anything in return.8. . or from some reporter bent on questioning you . or from some reporter who is determined to question you .9. . your back is chilled by the cold looks of somebody . somebody's cold stare behind your back i

55、s sufficient to give you a shudder .10. . (here are two things fbr which the English seem to show particular aptitude .The English seem to be especially talented in two areas .Text II1. TextRemote ControlRecently the Washington Post printed an article explaining how the appliance manufacturers plan

56、to drive consumers insane.Of course they don't say they want to drive us insane. What they say they want to do is have us live in homes where "all appliances are on the Internet, sharing infbrmation, and appliances will be "smarter than most of their owncrs., For example, the article s

57、tates, you could have a home where the dishwasher "can be turned on from the office” and the refrigerator "knows when it's out of milk'' and the bathroom scale "transmits your weight to the gym."1 frankly wonder whether the appliance manufacturers, with all due respec

58、t, have been smoking crack. I mean, did they ever stop to ask themselves why a consumer, after loading a dishwasher, would go to the office to start it? Would there be sonic kind of career benefit?your boss: What are you doing?you (tapping computer keyboard): I'm starting my dishwasher!your boss

59、: That's the kind of productivity vve need around here! you: Now I'm flushing the upstairs toilet!Listen, appliance manufacturers: We doivt need a dishwasher that we can communicate with from afar. If you want to improve our dishwashers, give us one that senses when people leave dirty dishes on the kitchen counter, and shouts at them: "Put those dishes in the dishwasher right now