Unit 4 Turning Off TV:A Quiet HourUnit 4 Turning Off TV:A Quiet Hour

大学英语 精读 ( 第三版 ) 第一册

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Lead In

Background

Text

Reading Skills

Writing1. Questions to the Text2. Discourse Analysis3. Grammatical Points4. Classroom Activity

1. Questions to the Text2. Discourse Analysis3. Grammatical Points4. Classroom Activity

1. Questions to the Text2. Discourse Analysis3. Grammatical Points4. Classroom Activity

1. Questions to the Text2. Discourse Analysis3. Grammatical Points4. Classroom Activity

Fun Time

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• I. Lead In• 1. Warm-Up Questions

• 1).Which one is your most favorite? Why?

• 2).Do you like watching TV? Why or why not?

• 3).Did you ever find watching TV getting in the way of your study and daily activities? If yes, what did you do then?

2. Group Discussion

• Disadvantages • Disadvantages

• Advantages• Advantages

Yes No

Reality

Turning off Tv: A Quiet Hour

Soap operasSoap operas

• II. Background Information

• TV---past and today• Who invented television? the eternal debate. I set ou

t with the firm idea, told to me by my father, learned at school, and read and re-read in hundreds of books, and asked on hundreds TV quiz shows and hundreds of pub quizzes up and down the country that the answer to 'who invented television? was John Logie Baird. But in researching this article I found that more and more I began to have my doubts. So much so that regular visitors to this site may notice that this opening chapter has altered a number of times.

•

• II. Background Information

• TV---past and today• Who invented television? the eternal debate. I set ou

t with the firm idea, told to me by my father, learned at school, and read and re-read in hundreds of books, and asked on hundreds TV quiz shows and hundreds of pub quizzes up and down the country that the answer to 'who invented television? was John Logie Baird. But in researching this article I found that more and more I began to have my doubts. So much so that regular visitors to this site may notice that this opening chapter has altered a number of times.

•

• In the course of researching a biography of John Logie Baird for this website I came across a number of articles relating to the life and work of this extraordinary man.

• One of the things that I was surprised to discover was how the public image of Baird has altered over the years, to the point where it became popular to dismiss Baird's contributions towards the development of television as "nothing more than that of a romantic who was destined to nothing more than failure due to the fact that his mechanical system was replaced by electronic television", (from a 1952 biography of Baird subtitled "The Romance and Tragedy of the Pioneer of Television" by Sydney Moseley).

Later still, in 1957 an attempt to convert the family home in Scotland to a public museum of television was thwarted by some powerful figures in the British government who said bluntly, "Baird did not invent television.“

• In a book on television by Francis Wheen, the author seemingly went out of his way to discredit the pioneering work of Baird by quoting negative remarks and dismissing most of his groundbreaking work as feats of "one-upmanship", whilst disregarding any of Baird's recognised achievements. And even in 1991 in his book "Setmakers -A History of the Radio and Television Industry", author Keith Geddes stated, ..."apart from stimulating public interest in television it (Baird's low-definition television) contributed nothing to the high definition systems that succeeded it."

Later still, in 1957 an attempt to convert the family home in Scotland to a public museum of television was thwarted by some powerful figures in the British government who said bluntly, "Baird did not invent television.“

• In a book on television by Francis Wheen, the author seemingly went out of his way to discredit the pioneering work of Baird by quoting negative remarks and dismissing most of his groundbreaking work as feats of "one-upmanship", whilst disregarding any of Baird's recognised achievements. And even in 1991 in his book "Setmakers -A History of the Radio and Television Industry", author Keith Geddes stated, ..."apart from stimulating public interest in television it (Baird's low-definition television) contributed nothing to the high definition systems that succeeded it."

Who invented television?Who invented television?

Discourse analysis

Main IdeaLinesPart

1 1 — 3

2 4 — 28

3 29 — 42

The author proposes that every evening, for 60 to 90 minutes, all television broadcasting in the U.S. be prohibited by law.

The author mentions some problems caused by watching too much TV and suggests some activities to fill the time when turning off TV.

People could have more fun if they turned off TV for one or two hours every day as they did in the past.

• Questions to the text• 1.How do many people in the United States

spend their free time?• 2.How does the author feel about the amount of

time his countrymen spend watching TV?• 3. What might the results be if families used a

quiet hour to discuss their problems?

III. Text

Many people in the United States spend most of their free time watching television. Certainly, there are many worthwhile programs on television, including news, educational programs for children, programs on current social problems, plays, movies, concerts, and so on. Nevertheless, perhaps people should not be spending so much of their time in front of the TV. Mr. Mayer imagines what we might do if we were forced to find other activities.

• Turning Off TV: A Quiet Hour• Robert Mayer• I would like to propose that for sixty to ninety minutes

each evening, right after the early evening news, all television broadcasting in the United States be prohibited by law.

• Let us take a serious, reasonable look at what the results might be if such a proposal were accepted. Families might use the time for a real family hour. Without the distraction of TV, they might sit around together after dinner and actually talk to one another. It is well known that many of our problems — everything, in fact, from the generation gap to the high divorce rate to some forms of mental illness — are caused at least in part by failure to communicate.

We do not tell each other what is disturbing us. The result is emotional difficulty of one kind or another. By using the quiet family hour to discuss our problems, we might get to know each other better, and to like each other better.

On evenings when such talk is unnecessary, families could rediscover more active pastimes. Freed from TV, forced to find their own activities, they might take a ride together to watch the sunset. Or they might take a walk together (remember feet?) and see the neighborhood with fresh, new eyes.

With free time and no TV, children and adults might rediscover reading. There is more entertainment in a good book than in a month of typical TV programming. Educators report that the generation growing up with television can barely write an English sentence, even at the college level. Writing is often learned from reading. A more literate new generation could be a product of the quiet hour.

A different form of reading might also be done, as it was in the past: reading aloud. Few pastimes bring a family closer together than gathering around and listening to mother or father read a good story. The quiet hour could become the story hour. When the quiet hour ends, the TV networks might even be forced to come up with better shows in order to get us back from our newly discovered activities.

At first glance, the idea of an hour without TV seems radical. What will parents do without the electronic baby-sitter? How will we spend the time? But it is not radical at all. It has been only twenty-five years since television came to control American free time. Those of us thirty-five and older can remember childhoods without television, spent partly with radio — which at least involved the listener’s imagination — but also with reading, learning, talking, playing games, inventing new activities. It wasn’t that difficult. Honest. The truth is we had a ball.

worthwhile: sufficiently valuable or important to justify the expenditure of time or effort

Eg:This book is worthwhile the money.worthwhile, worth, worthy & worth (one’s) while这四个词都是形容词 , 都表示值得。

worthwhile 作定语用较多；也可作表语，一般不再接其他

Eg:There are many worthwhile programs on TV.• worth “ …” “ …” 只作表语，表示 价值 或 值得 ， 后多接名词、代词或动名词的主动语态，不接不定式。

Eg:This T-shirt is worth 100 yuanworthy 表示“值得、相称或配得上”时，作表语用，后

接不定式被动语态，或接 of 加名词、动名词被动语态；表示“可敬的”时，作定语用。

Eg:His job is worthy of praise. / His job is worthy of being praised.

worth (one’s) while 只作表语，后多接不定式。Eg:It’s worth your while to make another attempt.

propose : vt. suggest; put forward for considerationeg:We propose that the meeting be held on time.eg:Our teacher proposes reading aloud for 30 minute

s every day.• Note: propose 后常跟虚拟形式的宾语从句。动词

要求用原形。类似的动词还有： suggest, demand, request, ask, move, insist, urge, require, order, command, advise, desire, recommend, maintain, vote, etc.

Pattern: • {that …(should) do• propose {doing • {to doproposal: n. plan or schedule eg:His proposal to put off the meeting was rejected.

prohibit: vt. forbid (especially by rules or laws) S: 该航班禁止吸烟。T:Smoking is prohibited on this plane.T:Her parents prohibit her from going out at

night.Pattern: • prohibit sth./doing sth. • prohibit sb. from doing sth.

disturb: vt.• 1) make worried• eg:The letter disturbed me greatly.

• 2) break the peace or order of• eg:I hate disturbing people when they are

working

• barely: adv. hardly, just, only, almost notS:They barely had enough time to finish the test.• barely& hardly 这两个词都有“几乎不、仅仅、勉强”

的意思。barely 肯定意味较强，而相比之下， hardly 否定意味较

强。 barely 常和 enough 连用。 例如：S: He has barely enough money to buy the book.T: 他几乎没有钱买书。

hardly 否定意味较强，多强调困难，常用来修饰表示能力的词。该词通常置于 any, anything, anyone, anybody, at all 等之前，例如：

S: I can hardly believe this.T: 这叫我简直无法相信。hardly 与 when 连用时，构成词组，意为“刚…就…”。

通常 when 前面的动词用过去完成式时，后面的用过去时

S: Hardly had I got on board the train when it started to pull out.

at first glance: at first look• S: 乍一看，这幅画并不怎么样。• T:At the first glance, this painting doesn’t look good.

glance , stare & peer 这三个动词都有“看，瞧”之意。

glance 指匆匆地或粗略地一看，侧重心不在焉地、匆忙地看一眼。

S: He glanced over his watch and decided to leave.T: 他看了一下表决定离开。

stare 侧重因惊奇、好奇、粗鲁无礼等而睁大眼睛看。S:He stared the visitor up and down.T: 他把来访者浑身上下打量了一番。

peer 指眯着眼睛仔细地或略为吃力地看。S:She peered at the tag to read the price.T: 她仔细地看着标签上的价格。

involve: vt.1. have as a part or result

S: The offer of the job involves more hard work

2. cause to be mixed up (in sth.) S: 他不想把弟弟卷入这件事中去。 T: He doesn’t want to involve his brother into t

his business.

• Grammar• Article( 冠词 )• 冠词是一种虚词，不能独立担任一个成分，只

能附着在一个名词上帮助说明其词义，英语中有两个冠词：

• 1 ）定冠词（ The Definite Article ） ----the• 2) 不定冠词 (The Indefinite Article)----a /an• 冠词的基本用法• 1. 不定冠词主要用在可数名词单数前，表示：• 1) 一个 eg:four times a day• 2 ）某一个 eg:A car is waiting at the gate.• 3 ）某类人或物 eg:She is a dancer.

• 2. 定冠词的用法：• 1 ）某个（些）特定的人或东西• Eg ： Put the book(s) on the table.• 2 ）和某些名词连用表示整个民族、阶级、一

家人等：• Eg:The Dutch are very skillful engineers.• 3) 和某些形容词连用，表示一类人或某种品质• Eg:These seats are for the disabled• 4) 与表示世上独一无二的东西的名词连用• Eg:The moon had risen.

Back to the main

• Classroom Activity• 1.Talking about the pictures

• 2. Exercises

• Give the opposites of the following words and phrases.

• 1)busy--- free • 2)refuse---accept• 3)same--- different • 4)success---failure• 5)at most--- at least

6)necessary---unnecessary• 7)at present--- in the past

• 3. Translation• 1). 接受这份工作就得经常在周末上班，但

约翰并不介意。（ involve ）• To take this job would involve working on w

eekends frequently,but John didn’t mind.• 2). 众所周知，肺癌至少部分地是由于吸烟

过多而引起的。• It is well known that lung cancer is caused

at least in part by smoking too much.• 3). 我真希望你能拿出一个比这更好的解决

办法。 (solution)• I do hope that you can come up with a bett

er solution than this one.

• 4. Post-reading Activity: Group Discussion• 1.Did you ever find watching television getting in

the way of your study and other daily activities? If yes, what did you do then?

• 2.What can we do to make the best of television and at the same time prevent it from having ill effects on our studies and family relationships?

• 5.Culture Tips------AMERICAN CULTURE TIPS

What should you do in this situation? You are eating delicious potatoes at an American's house. When you are finished eating the potatoes, the American asks you if you want more. You do want more, but what should you say? Choose one:a) Say "no" twice, and after they ask you a third time, say "yes."b) Say "no thanks" with a smile, and hope they know you mean "yes."c) Hold out your plate.d) Say "yes, please." The correct answer is the last one--d. It is best to say clearly if you want something or if you don't. For instance, if you don't want more potatoes, you would say, "No, thank you." C is not a correct answer because it is considered bad manners to hold out your plate without saying anything.

• Five Things You Should Not Say to Someone:“You’re fat.”“You’re very big.”“You’ve gained weight.”“You must have a lot of money.” “You’re a redneck.”

Also, never make comments about someone’s physical features. For instance, do not say, “Your nose is big,” or “Your skin is so brown,” or “Your arms are small, but your legs are really wide,” accompanied with gestures, as if you're showing the person how big or small they are.

Five Things You Should Not Ask Someone:“Who did you vote for?”“How much do you make?” "Does your husband/wife make a lot of money?""Why aren't you married?""Why don't you have children?"

•Five Things to Know about American Culture:

1)    The individual is important. For instance, if someone has a choice of activities, they will choose whatever is best for them; they want to do what will benefit them the most.2)    Independence is strength. It is a part of U.S. history, such as the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. A strong person is considered someone who is self-reliant, free of others’ expectations and rules.3)    Women are considered equal. Do not be condescending towards them or assume that they can’t do something. Also, do not leer at them or make comments about their bodies.4)    A multicultural society requires flexibility. Because Americans come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, you have to be sensitive to these differences and understand that there isn’t just one “right” way to behave.5)    Respect people’s space. If someone does not want to go somewhere with you or if they want to be alone, respect their decision. Don’t pressure them to conform to your expectations.

• IV. Reading Skills---Using Context Clues for Word Meanings

• Context Clue1: Definition• Eg:Jane is indecisive, that is, she can’t make up h

er mind.• Context Clue2: Restatement• Eg:Carbon monoxide(CO)is a noxious gas which

can cause death.• Context Clue 3:General knowledge• Eg:The door was so low that I hit my head on the l

intel.• Context Clue4:Related information• Eg: Tom was now angry…Once again he flew into

a rage.

• Reading Materials:• Try to use context hints or clues in the senten

ces in order to make up a definition.• A lot of people got new televisions, but not u

s.My parents didn‘t like televisions. They didn’t think it was good for children. Being a good docile son, I didn’t argue with them.But I did secretly watch television---at my friends’ homes.

• *docile--- obedient

• V. Writing:• Write a paragraph of about 120 words

discussing the disadvantages of watching TV.

• Model Writing:• Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes

to write a short essay entitled Volunteers Needed .You should write at Least 120 words following the outline given below : 1 、校学生会组织依次暑假志愿活动现招聘志愿者2 、本次志愿者活动的目的、内容及安排3 、报名条件和联系方式

• Volunteers Needed        • Ladies and gentlemen, our Students’Union is cal

ling for your due attention for a voluntary program to be launched in this imminent summer vacation and we are looking forward to your keen concern and active participation in earnest.

• This Program is designed to offer the young kids from a certain poverty-stricken area of Yun Nan Province an opportunity of tree education, which means a two-month stay there. We are convinced it is bound to help us university students to put our learning to full play, to foster a meaningful conception of life of being more caring and tolerant and to assume new tasks and responsibilites after graduation.

• Dear fellow students, we are beneficiaries of a rare privilege of formal education, meanwhile, there are many people, as innately lalented as us, have been deprived of this equal chance, therefore, we hope sophomores and juniors, if interested and willing to help, in this university to contact us at www.cet4v.com or by 021-12345678.

• VI. Fun Time• 1. The Riddle: What falls but doesn’t break, and

what breaks but doesn’t fall?• The Answer: Night and Day• 2. A Joke• Say sorry • dad : "son, how can you call your aunt stupid?

go and say sorry to her" • son : (goes over to the aunt) "aunt, i am sorry

you are stupid. •