.Section B

Read for the Key Idea in a SentenceRead for the Key Idea in a Sentence

Reading skill

Separate minor details from the main idea.

main ideamain idea:: who is doing what

minor detailsminor details:: what, when, where, why, how

Read for the Key Idea in a SentenceRead for the Key Idea in a Sentence

The key idea in a sentence usually tells:

a.a. Who a person is or what an object is. Who a person is or what an object is.

b.b. What a person or an object is doing.What a person or an object is doing.

• 1. At the end of each semester, as long as the students pass final exams, American authorities grant a certificate, which is recognized in Brazil.

2. And so begins yet another segment of this longest journey—all the longer because we don’t exactly know when it will end, when we’ll reach our destination.

ExercisesExercises

American authorities grant a certificate.

And so begins yet another segment of this longest journey.

In order to find the key idea of a sentence we have to:

    a) ask who or what the sentence is about. 

    b) ask what the person or object is doing, or what is

happening to the person or object.

    c) learn to separate details from the key idea. Many words

in a sentence describe things about the subject of the sentence

and only add details around it. If we ask when, what kind,

where, or why, we will find details. As a result it will be easier

for us to see the key idea. Now look at the following example

taken from Reading Passage A:

Yet for 38 young passengers between fifteen

and eighteen years of age, it is the start of a new

experience: they will spend 10 months of their

lives studying abroad, far from their families.

(Para. 2, Reading Passage A, Unit 4)

The key idea of this sentence is that it is a start

of a new experience. The information as to for

whom and why it is a start of a new experience

simply adds details.

EX. XIV

• 1. Another segment of this longest journey begins.

• 2. We don’t know about dining cars and we can

hardly afford that.

• 3. I become silently indifferent.

• 4. My sister is ill with a fever.

• 5. Two people come to greet us.

Summary

Complete the Statements

I. Complete the StatementsI. Complete the Statements

01

Tip

On their way to Vancouver, they don’t go to the dining cars in the train because _______________________________________.

they think it is too expensive to have meals there

02

Tip

It seems to the author that the ceaseless rhythm of the wheel is like scissors cutting a 3,000 miles rip through her life because ____________________________________________________________________.

she feels her life divided into the past and the future while listening to the rhythm of wheels

03

Tip

The author shrinks into a silent indifference because __________________________ _______________.the strange landscape hurts her soul as well as her eyes

04

Tip

On the second day, my father enters into a dynamic conversation with a passenger who speaks Yiddish to __________________________________________________.get some information about life for the Polish in the strange land

05

Tip

After we hear the story about a Polish Jew, my father is excited while I become even more silent because _____________________________ ______________.such words as “millionaire” and “emigration” mean little to me

06

Tip

The mother tells us to get off on the right foot because ________________________.she believes it will bring them good luck

07

Tip

The author describes the rainy day, the empty platform, and the gray background to show that ______________________________ __________________________.she is heavy-hearted and uncertain about their future life in the strange land

08

Tip

The title “Experiences in Exile” implies that _________________________________________________________. the family have to leave their homeland and move to a strange land for some reason

II. SummaryII. Summary Use one sentence to summarize

your feeling after reading the text.

The love that people ___________________________________________________

have toward their homeland is quite the same all over the world.

Paraphrase

Translation

&

1. We are in Montreal, in an echoing, dark train station,

and we are squeezed together on a bench, … (L1)(L1)ParaphraseParaphrase

We are in a noisy and dark train station in Montreal, and we are all pressed against each other on one bench uncomfortably.

Translation我们到了蒙特利尔，呆在一个嘈杂的、黑暗的火我们到了蒙特利尔，呆在一个嘈杂的、黑暗的火车站里，紧紧地挤着坐在一条长凳上 ……车站里，紧紧地挤着坐在一条长凳上 ……echo: repeat a sound

教室里回荡着他们快乐的笑声。教室里回荡着他们快乐的笑声。

The room echoed with the sound of their happy laughter.

ParaphraseParaphrase And then another part of this very long journey begins, and it seems even longer as we don’t know exactly where our destinationis and when we’ll reach there.

TranslationTranslation这样就开始了我们经历过的最漫长的旅程中的又这样就开始了我们经历过的最漫长的旅程中的又一段路程，说它漫长， 是因为我们既不能确切一段路程，说它漫长， 是因为我们既不能确切地知道它究竟什么时候才是个尽头，也不知道我地知道它究竟什么时候才是个尽头，也不知道我们何时才能到达目的地。们何时才能到达目的地。

2. And so begins yet another segment of this longest journey—all the longer because we don’t exactly know when it will end, when we’ll reach our destination. (L3)(L3)

ParaphraseParaphrase

With the little money my father had with him, we can hardly pay for even one meal a day there in the dining car.

TranslationTranslation爸爸随身带来的那几块美元几乎还不够我们一天爸爸随身带来的那几块美元几乎还不够我们一天去那里吃一次。去那里吃一次。

3. We can hardly afford to go there once a day on the few dollars that my father has brought with him. (L10)(L10)

ParaphraseParaphrase As the train goes on, with the rhythm of As the train goes on, with the rhythm of the wheels continuing endlessly, I feel as the wheels continuing endlessly, I feel as if my life was divided into two parts by the if my life was divided into two parts by the running of the train, with my past on one running of the train, with my past on one side and the future on the other. There is side and the future on the other. There is a distance of three thousand a distance of three thousand miles between the two sides.miles between the two sides.

Translation对我来说，车轮不间断地发出的有节奏的声音就对我来说，车轮不间断地发出的有节奏的声音就像一把剪刀，咔嚓咔嚓地在我的生命长河中剪出像一把剪刀，咔嚓咔嚓地在我的生命长河中剪出了一条长达了一条长达 30003000 英里的口子。从今以后我的一英里的口子。从今以后我的一生将被分成两个部分，火车的行程就是它的分界生将被分成两个部分，火车的行程就是它的分界线。线。

4. … and it seems to me that the ceaseless rhythm of the wheels is like scissors cutting a three-thousand-mile rip through my life. From then on, my life will be divided into two parts, with the line drawn by that train. (L13)(L13)

ParaphraseParaphrase

After a while, I lose all my interest in After a while, I lose all my interest in anything around me and become anything around me and become silent.silent.

Translation过了一会儿，我蜷缩成一团，一声不吭，对什么过了一会儿，我蜷缩成一团，一声不吭，对什么都不感兴趣。都不感兴趣。

5. After a while, I shrink into a silent indifference, ... (L17)(L17)

ParaphraseParaphraseThese peaks and valleys, these These peaks and valleys, these mountain streams and enormous mountain streams and enormous rocks, look strange and unpleasant rocks, look strange and unpleasant to me. They make me feel unhappy to me. They make me feel unhappy by reminding me I am far away by reminding me I am far away from my home surroundings.from my home surroundings.

TranslationTranslation这些山峰和峡谷、山中小溪和巨大岩石不但刺痛这些山峰和峡谷、山中小溪和巨大岩石不但刺痛了我的眼睛，而且还刺痛了我的心。了我的眼睛，而且还刺痛了我的心。

6. These peaks and valleys, these mountain streams and enormous rocks hurt my eyes; they hurt my soul. (L20)(L20)

ParaphraseParaphrase

My father gets into an active My father gets into an active conversation with him and learns conversation with him and learns some pleasant stories (about life of some pleasant stories (about life of Polish people in a new land).Polish people in a new land).

TranslationTranslation我父亲和他进行了一次热烈的谈话，听到了一些我父亲和他进行了一次热烈的谈话，听到了一些让人感到开心的故事。让人感到开心的故事。

7. My father enters into a dynamic conversation with him and learns some entertaining. (L26)(L26)

ParaphraseParaphrase

“Millionaire” is one of the words that only exists in fairy tales and thus has no meaning at all to me; it is the same with some other words like “emigration” and

““Canada”.Canada”.

Translation就像“移民”和“加拿大”这两个词一样，百万就像“移民”和“加拿大”这两个词一样，百万富翁对我而言只是童话故事词汇里的一个没有任富翁对我而言只是童话故事词汇里的一个没有任何意义的词而已。何意义的词而已。

8. “Millionaire” is one of those words from a fairy tale that has no meaning to me whatsoever like the words “emigration” and “Canada”. (L31)(L31)

ParaphraseParaphrase

Before they get off the train, the Before they get off the train, the mother tells her children to step mother tells her children to step onto the new land with their right onto the new land with their right feet first for good luck in new life. feet first for good luck in new life. This is a superstitious belief.This is a superstitious belief.

TranslationTranslation““ 下车时右脚先着地”，母亲嘱咐我们，“为下车时右脚先着地”，母亲嘱咐我们，“为了在新生活中交好运”。了在新生活中交好运”。

9. “Get off the train on the right foot”, my mother tells us, “For luck in the new life”. (L37)(L37)

New Words

1. cease v. (L14)

stop; end

TranslationTranslation… fold our wings and cease from wanderings.

Key ………… 收起我们的翅膀，停止流浪。收起我们的翅膀，停止流浪。

Word Using

2. shrink v. (L17) move back; become smaller

TranslationTranslation1.The little boy shrank back with a cry at the sight of a snake.2. 近来汽车的销售量在减少。近来汽车的销售量在减少。

Key1. 1. 这个小男孩一看到蛇，就惊叫一声往后退这个小男孩一看到蛇，就惊叫一声往后退缩。缩。2. Car sales have been shrinking recently.2. Car sales have been shrinking recently.

3. dynamic adj. (L27)

with much energy

TranslationTranslationWith her dynamic market, China is

becoming the most attractive place

for many overseas investors.

Key中国因市场富有活力而吸引了众多的海外投资者。中国因市场富有活力而吸引了众多的海外投资者。

4. make a fortune (L29)

make a large amount of money

TranslationTranslationSam went to the west in the gold rush and made a fortune.

Key山姆在淘金热时去了西部，发了财。山姆在淘金热时去了西部，发了财。

2. 东京是我们最终的目的地。2. 东京是我们最终的目的地。2. Tokyo was our final destination. 2. Tokyo was our final destination.

1. 到达目的地时 , 我们又累又饿。1. 到达目的地时 , 我们又累又饿。1. We reached our destination, tired and

hungry.

1. We reached our destination, tired and

hungry.

destination: n. n. place to which sb. or sth. place to which sb. or sth.

is going or being sent is going or being sent 目的地目的地

2. 我们在海滩上玩得很痛快。2. 我们在海滩上玩得很痛快。2. We had a tremendous time on the beach.2. We had a tremendous time on the beach.

1. 那对我来说是极为重要的。1. 那对我来说是极为重要的。1. It makes a tremendous difference to me. 1. It makes a tremendous difference to me.

tremendous: a.a. 1. very large 1. very large 巨大的，极巨大的，极大的 大的 2. very good; excellent 2. very good; excellent 很好的很好的，非常好的，非常好的

2. 教小孩子需要极大的耐心。2. 教小孩子需要极大的耐心。2. It takes infinite patience to teach little

children.

2. It takes infinite patience to teach little

children.

1. 从理论上讲宇宙是无限的。1. 从理论上讲宇宙是无限的。1. The universe is potentially infinite. 1. The universe is potentially infinite.

infinite: a. without limits; endless without limits; endless 无限无限的，无穷的的，无穷的

2. 很难相信在这个富裕的国家里，饥饿会成为一个严重的问题。

2. 很难相信在这个富裕的国家里，饥饿会成为一个严重的问题。

2. It's hard to believe that in this prosperous country, hunger could be a serious problem.

2. It's hard to believe that in this prosperous country, hunger could be a serious problem.

1. 她是一个富有的银行家的女儿。1. 她是一个富有的银行家的女儿。1. She was the daughter of a prosperous

banker.

1. She was the daughter of a prosperous

banker.

prosperous: a. successful, esp. financially successful, esp. financially

成功的，繁荣的，兴盛的成功的，繁荣的，兴盛的

2. 她在两个场合穿戴同一套衣服。2. 她在两个场合穿戴同一套衣服。2. She wore the identical dress on both

occasions.

2. She wore the identical dress on both

occasions.

1. 这幅画和我母亲的一幅画完全一样。1. 这幅画和我母亲的一幅画完全一样。1. This picture is identical to the one my

mother has.

1. This picture is identical to the one my

mother has.

identical: a.a. 1. similar in every detail 1. similar in every detail 完完全一样的，完全相同的 全一样的，完全相同的 2. the same 2. the same

同一的同一的

After-class assignment

Finish post-reading exercise.

Do things about applying for a university abroad

Apply reading skill in doing section C.

Application Form for Admission

Search the websites of some world famous universities for their application forms, and try to fill them as a practice.

http: / / www. dartmouth. eduhttp: / / www. harvard. eduhttp: / / web. mi t. eduhttp: / / www. yai e. eduhttp: / / www. cornel l . eduhttp: / / www. nyu. eduhttp: / / www. rpi . eduhttp: / / www. upenn. eduhttp: / / www. pri nceton. eduhttp: / / www. georgetown. eduhttp;//www.unc.edu

http: / / www. gatech. eduhttp: / / www. wustl . eduhttp: / / www. northwestern. eduhttp: / / www. umi ch. eduhttp: / / www. stanford. edu