全新版大学英语综合教程第三册UNIT6-1

    The song you are about to hear was first performed at a concert given to raise money to fight against poverty in Africa. Its message is simple, "There are people dying¹ and it is time to help, to lend a hand. It's no use pretending that someone somewhere will do it for us. So let's start giving to those with less than ourselves." The message is clear. The song sings that we are all of us, everyone in the world, part of one great big family. We should care for one another, because, as the song says,

We are the world...

We are the ones

Who make a brighter day.

    Now here is the song:

We Are the World
                   Michael Jackson

There comes a time
When we heard a certain call,
When the world
Must come together as one.
There are people dying;
And it's time to lend a hand to life,
The greatest gift of all.
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone somewhere will soon
Make a change.
We are the part
Of God's great big family.
And the truth you know,
Love is all we need.
We are the world,
We are the children,
We are the ones
Who make a brighter day.
So let's start giving.
There's a choice we are making,
We are saving² our own lives.
It's true we'll make a better day,
Just you and me.
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares.
And their lives
Will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us,
By turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping³ hand.
When you're down and out,
There seems no hope at all.
But if you just believe,
There's no way we can fall.
Let us realize
That a change can only come
When we started together as one.

Listen to the recording⁴ two or three times and then think over the following questions:

1. Faith, hope and charity are traditionally grouped together as three important virtues⁵. Which do you think the singer Michael Jackson may consider as the most important?
2. Some say that charity begins at home, that we should take care of those closest to us rather than worrying about strangers. What do you think Michael Jackson would say to that?
3. In the words of the song, to solve the problems of this world, "Love is all we need." Is it?
4. Can you figure out what the stories of this unit are going to be about?

The following phrase in the recording may be new to you:

down and out a. 穷困潦倒;落魄

 

 

1 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

2 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

5 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。