Unit Four

Turning Off TV: A Quiet Hour

Unit Four

Turning Off TV: A Quiet Hour

1. Worthwhilea.---good enough for the

time or effort needed

1. Worthwhilea.---good enough for the

time or effort needed

Ⅰ.New Words:Ⅰ.New Words:

eg. a worthwhile task

It is worthwhile to visit

that country.

eg. a worthwhile task

It is worthwhile to visit

that country.

worth

a.--- eg. This old book

is worth $300.

worth

a.--- eg. This old book

is worth $300.

Don’t lock the door,

it isn’t worth the trouble.

His suggestion is worth

considering.

Don’t lock the door,

it isn’t worth the trouble.

His suggestion is worth

considering.

worthy

a.--- eg. His deed is

worthy of praise.

His deed is worthy

to be praised.

worthy

a.--- eg. His deed is

worthy of praise.

His deed is worthy

to be praised.

2. program

n.--- a commercial

program; a live program

2. program

n.--- a commercial

program; a live program

3. current

a.---of the present time

3. current

a.---of the present time

eg. the current issue of a magazine the current year; current affairs; current prices

eg. the current issue of a magazine the current year; current affairs; current prices

4. propose

vt.--- offer or put forward

for consideration

4. propose

vt.--- offer or put forward

for consideration

eg. I propose an early

start / to start early

/ starting early/ that

we should start early.

eg. I propose an early

start / to start early

/ starting early/ that

we should start early.

--- offer marriage eg.

Tom has proposed

(marriage) to Mary.

--- offer marriage eg.

Tom has proposed

(marriage) to Mary.

proposal

n.--- eg. a proposal

for peace

proposal

n.--- eg. a proposal

for peace

make / present proposal;

reject /turn down proposal;

accept/ adopt proposal

make / present proposal;

reject /turn down proposal;

accept/ adopt proposal

His proposal is that the meeting should be postponed.He made a proposal (of marriage) to her.

His proposal is that the meeting should be postponed.He made a proposal (of marriage) to her.

5. prohibit

vt.---forbid by law

5. prohibit

vt.---forbid by law

eg. Smoking is prohibited

in this hospital.

Children are prohibited

from buying cigarettes.

eg. Smoking is prohibited

in this hospital.

Children are prohibited

from buying cigarettes.

6. communicate

vi.--- share or exchange

opinions, ideas, news, etc.

6. communicate

vi.--- share or exchange

opinions, ideas, news, etc.

eg. We can communicate

with people in most

parts of the world by

telephone.

eg. We can communicate

with people in most

parts of the world by

telephone.

We communicate with each other by letter. --- conavey eg. He communicated his intention to me.

We communicate with each other by letter. --- conavey eg. He communicated his intention to me.

communications eg. a world communications network; communications satellites

communications eg. a world communications network; communications satellites

7. disturb vt.--- make sb. worried 7. disturb vt.--- make sb. worried

eg. She was disturbed to hear of /about her mother’s sudden illness.

eg. She was disturbed to hear of /about her mother’s sudden illness.

interrupt eg. I’m sorry to interrupt you but the noise in your room disturbs my study.

interrupt eg. I’m sorry to interrupt you but the noise in your room disturbs my study.

8. involve vt.---have as a part or result

8. involve vt.---have as a part or result

eg. Taking the jobs

involves living

abroad.

eg. Taking the jobs

involves living

abroad.

To apply for university

study involves taking the

College Entrance

Examination.

To apply for university

study involves taking the

College Entrance

Examination.

--- Don’t involve me in

your quarrel.

Some leaders were

involved in the scandal.

--- Don’t involve me in

your quarrel.

Some leaders were

involved in the scandal.

II. Language Points II. Language Points

1. a quiet hour--- an hour without the distraction of TV programs

1. a quiet hour--- an hour without the distraction of TV programs

2. Without the distraction

of TV, they might sit

around together after

dinner and actually talk

to one another.

2. Without the distraction

of TV, they might sit

around together after

dinner and actually talk

to one another.

The prepositional phrase

“without the distraction

of TV” functions as a

conditional clause---

“if they had not the

distraction of TV”

The prepositional phrase

“without the distraction

of TV” functions as a

conditional clause---

“if they had not the

distraction of TV”

3. in part: partly;

to some degree

The driver was in part

responsible for the

accident.

3. in part: partly;

to some degree

The driver was in part

responsible for the

accident.

4. emotional difficulty of

one kind or another

---various problems

relating to one’s feeling

or emotions.

4. emotional difficulty of

one kind or another

---various problems

relating to one’s feeling

or emotions.

5. get to: begin to

We got to know the

professor at the party.

5. get to: begin to

We got to know the

professor at the party.

6. take a ride: make a trip

on an animal or vehicle.

to take a ride in a car;

to take a ride in the bus

6. take a ride: make a trip

on an animal or vehicle.

to take a ride in a car;

to take a ride in the bus

7. remember feet?

–do we ever remember

that we can travel on

foot?

7. remember feet?

–do we ever remember

that we can travel on

foot?

8. see the neighborhood

with fresh, new eyes

--- see the neighborhood

(街坊 ) as if for the first

time

8. see the neighborhood

with fresh, new eyes

--- see the neighborhood

(街坊 ) as if for the first

time

9. grow up: become adult

The little girl has grown

up into a pretty young

woman.

9. grow up: become adult

The little girl has grown

up into a pretty young

woman.

10. come up with: produce;

think of (a plan,

an answer, etc.)

They came up with a

good excuse for being

late.

10. come up with: produce;

think of (a plan,

an answer, etc.)

They came up with a

good excuse for being

late.

11. It has been only

twenty-five years

since television came

to control American

free time.

11. It has been only

twenty-five years

since television came

to control American

free time.

“It has been (is) …

years / months / weeks

/ since…”

is a useful sentence pattern.

“It has been (is) …

years / months / weeks

/ since…”

is a useful sentence pattern.

It has been two months

since he left for Beijing.

It is several weeks since

the scientist disappeared.

It has been two months

since he left for Beijing.

It is several weeks since

the scientist disappeared.

12.It wasn’t that difficult.

Honest. The truth is we

had a ball.

12.It wasn’t that difficult.

Honest. The truth is we

had a ball.

--- It wasn’t so difficult for

people to occupy their

spare time without the

help of TV.

--- It wasn’t so difficult for

people to occupy their

spare time without the

help of TV.

I’m telling you the truth:

we Americans used to have

a very good time before TV

came into our life.

I’m telling you the truth:

we Americans used to have

a very good time before TV

came into our life.

“have a ball” is an

American slang

expression, which means

“ have a lot of fun” or

“ have a good time.”

“have a ball” is an

American slang

expression, which means

“ have a lot of fun” or

“ have a good time.”