新编英语教程第一册Unit11

Unit 11

DIALOGUE I

Before the Mid-term Exam

A: Do you know when we're going to take the mid-term exam for the comprehensive English course?
B: Yes, in a fortnight. Don't tell me you didn't know that.
A: No, I had no idea. It's not spelt out in the course syllabus¹ and nobody told me about it.
B: That's right. You were on sick leave when the teacher announced the date of the exam.
A: I was down with a serious case of bronchitis and stayed in bed for a whole week.
B: How do you feel now?
A: I'm OK. I've come round.
B: I'm glad you've recovered.
A: But I've missed all that I should know about my exams. This is the mid-term point and I don't want to look bad on the exams, you know. I would appreciate it if you'd tell me what'll be covered in the English exam.
B: Don't worry. You have a decent² academic record. About our mid-term, we'll be held responsible for the first nine units, excluding Unit One. According to the teacher, this exam will focus on our integrated³ language skills. It will also cover vocabulary and grammar.
A: Will there be an oral test?
B: Yes, we'll have one, that's for sure. We'll take a twenty-minute test in small groups on the day following the written test. We're expected to do questions and answers, guided talks, role playing, and things like that.
A: OK, the usual stuff. I hope the questions will come from the coursebook and what we usually do in class. I've learned all the texts and exercises by heart.
B: Well, you'll be disappointed then. Memorization of the texts and the exercises is necessary but not sufficient for the oral test if you want to get more than a passing grade. According to our teacher, what will be tested is not only what we actually say but how we say it.
A: I don't get it.
B: I mean language fluency⁴, accuracy, and the appropriate use of words and expressions on a given topic — all these combined will add up to one's oral English grade. According to the teacher, this is an integral⁵ approach to testing.
A: It's quite a new approach.
B: Yes, it's not a bad idea. Anyway, you'd better get yourself a partner and practise speaking on various topics.


DIALOGUE II

Dialogue:
A: What did you think about the film we went to see last night?
B: Well, I was a bit disappointed. I didn't really enjoy it at all.
A: In my opinion, it was the best film I've seen all year.
B: Oh, you don't really mean that, do you?
A: Yes, I do...
B: I'm afraid I don't agree with you at all!
A: Why?
B: Well, the acting⁶ was terrible, and there was no story to it. I was so bored.
A: You're the first person I have met who hasn't enjoyed it.
B: In fact, I thought the music was so bad. I nearly left!
A: I can't understand that. How did you feel about the main actor?
B: Well, he was quite good, I suppose.
A: That's exactly how I felt! I'm glad we agree on something!


READING I

Crossword⁷ Puzzles

The crossword puzzle is a pencil-and-paper game in which the solver fills in words on a pattern of blank squares separated by solid blocks. The crossword, as its name indicates, uses different, interlocking words across and down and is provided with two sets of numbered definitions, one for those words to be written across the pattern and one for those to be written down. Many blanks are numbered and each number matches a definition bearing⁸ the same number either across or down or both. The letters of the word that fits the definition are put in the blank squares. The filled-in puzzle is usually printed later so that each person can check his accuracy and learn the words he has been unable to identify.
Have you ever wondered how the crossword puzzle came into existence? The first crossword puzzle appeared on December 21, 1913. Arthur Wynne created it for the New York World newspaper. Wynne made the puzzle in the form of a diamond. He gave 35 clues and called it a wordcross. He was not certain how the puzzle would be received, but it proved to be an immediate⁹ success.
It can be said that the crossword puzzle, as it is called today, is the world's most popular form of recreation. Nearly 90 per cent of the world's newspapers publish crossword puzzles. In the United States alone it is estimated that there are 30 million fans.
Most forms of recreation require a partner, but crossword puzzles do not. This is, perhaps, the reason why they are so popular. They can be done by one person in almost any place.
It is believed that most people do crossword puzzles just for fun. Most puzzle fans do not do them for their educational value, and most experts doubt that puzzles teach anything.
What is the challenge of crossword puzzles? Most dedicated¹⁰ fans explain that they want to test their mental ability. And others say that they want to test their speed and perseverance¹¹ in solving the puzzle. Many hope that they will improve to meet the challenge of more difficult puzzles.

1 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

2 decent   

adj.象样的，不错的，体面的，正派的，恰当的

参考例句：

• We want to raise our children to be decent men and women.我们盼望把孩子们培养成优秀人才。
• There isn't even a decent table in this room.这屋里连张像样的桌子也没有。

3 integrated   

a.整合的，完整的

参考例句：

• A fully integrated low phase noise LC voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is presented.介绍了一种全集成的LC压控振荡器(VCO)的设计。

4 fluency   

n.流畅，雄辩，善辩

参考例句：

• More practice will make you speak with greater fluency.多练习就可以使你的口语更流利。
• Some young children achieve great fluency in their reading.一些孩子小小年纪阅读已经非常流畅。

5 integral   

adj.必不可少的，构成整体所必需的

参考例句：

• She is our best player,who is integral to our team.她是我们最好的球员，我们队离不开她。
• That's an integral part of the country.那是构成国家所必需的一部分。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 crossword   

n.纵横字谜，纵横填字游戏

参考例句：

• He shows a great interest in crossword puzzles.他对填字游戏表现出很大兴趣。
• Don't chuck yesterday's paper out.I still haven't done the crossword.别扔了昨天的报纸，我还没做字谜游戏呢。

8 bearing   

n.关系，影响，举止，姿态，方位，方向

参考例句：

• What you said had not much bearing on the problem.你说的话跟这个问题没有多大关系。
• He preserved his grave and dignified bearing.他保持庄重威严的仪态。

9 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

10 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

11 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。