21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（完整文档）

时间：2023-06-18 17:00:08 来源：网友投稿

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍1　　Whenaseven-year-oldboydeclaredthathehadfalleninlovewithaseven-year-oldgir下面是小编为大家整理的21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（完整文档）,供大家参考。

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍1

　　When a seven-year-old boy declared that he had fallen in love with a seven-year-old girl, the *s laughed, and the young ones did not understand why. In their eyes, their love was serious and important indeed.

　　Young and in Love

　　Jeanne Marie Laskas

　　Ryan has never had a girlfriend. Not because he is against the idea, but because it has never actually occurred to him. He is 7.

　　When Ryan"s father tells him about Katie, a girl who will also be at the weekend getaway, Ryan starts bouncing around as if hit with an electric charge. Maybe it"s just that there will be a kid the same age there. He gets so sick of being the only kid around when he and his dad do stuff.

　　Or maybe it"s that Katie is reported to like a lot of the same things Ryan likes. Maybe it"s the words his father says, the words that Ryan will not be able to get out of his ears: "They say she has 311 Pokemon cards."

　　Ryan has never met anyone with 311 Pokemon cards. He himself has 204. He gathers all of his and puts them in a box, so that he can show them to the girl named Katie.

　　The place is filled with grown-ups when he arrives, old friends drinking beer. Ryan wanders around, saying, "Where"s Katie?" until someone points to the family room. He charges in there, hoping it"s true.

　　He sees her there curled up on a couch with her mother, watching "Rug-rats." She has long brown hair and big green eyes. "I"m Ryan!" he announces.

　　She looks at him. She says something Ryan has never heard before. She says: "I have pneumonia."

　　Ryan has never met anyone with pneumonia before. There is no denying it any longer. This girl is special.

　　He says, "Do you want to see my Pokemon cards?" She stands up, takes him away to compare collections. She does not brag about the fact that she has more cards than he does, which you have to admit is a class act.

　　A half-hour goes by. Ryan and Katie return to the family room, where many of the grown-ups have gathered. "He asked me to be his girlfriend!" Katie announces.

　　"I have a crush on her!" Ryan says.

　　"I had two boyfriends before," Katie says. "But they were annoying. Not like Ryan. He is the best boyfriend I have ever had."

　　Katie and Ryan can"t understand why the grown-ups are laughing; they don"t understand that sweethearts don"t just come out and say these things. Love isn"t like this. Love is something that happens in code. Love is a complicated game of pretending not to love, not to care, so that the other one will have no choice but to love and care. At least this is how it works when you"re... mature.

　　They spend the day comparing Pokemon cards. It feels as if they could do this forever. Katie gives Ryan a Psyduck card, and not just because she has six of them. She gives it to him because Psyduck is her very favorite Pokemon character.

　　When it is time to go, Ryan asks if someone can please show him a map, so he can see how far away Katie lives. His father tells him it"s a few hundred miles. Ryan feels like throwing up. Katie says, "How about e-mail?" Katie has all the good ideas. Katie"s mom and Ryan"a dad agree to set up accounts for the kids.

　　On the drive home, Ryan holds his Psyduck card. He flips it over. He places it next to his cheek. As soon as he walks in the door, he turns on his dad"s com*r. For his screen name he chooses Psyduck plus a few of Katie"s favorite numbers, and KRKRKR for a password, as many K"s next to as many R"s as he can fit. In his message he says, "Dear Katie, Hi it"s me. What"s up? I was just wondering (what was up.) I miss you. Love, Ryan."

　　He awaits her response. He waits an hour. By the second hour, he is sitting at the com*r in tears. "What happened?" he wails to his dad. He wonders if she forgot about him, if any of it was really true. The answer could mean everything. This is love at ground zero. This is a trial run for a heart that will one day occupy a man.

　　"You"ve got mail," the com*r says. And there she is. "Dear Ryan," she writes. "I just got home. I miss you. I am so glad I am your girlfriend. Love, Katie."

　　Ryan is so happy he can hardly type the words back. "I got your message!" he writes. "It was a great message. It"s the only message I have ever got, so it is and always will be my favorite."

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍2

　　girlfriend

　　n. 女朋友

　　weekend

　　n. 周末

　　getaway

　　n. a period of rest and relaxation, esp. a short one (离开大城市的)短暂休假

　　bounce

　　vi. 1. jump up and down 蹦蹦跳跳

　　2. strike a surface and rebound 反弹

　　charge

　　n. 电荷;电量

　　vi. rush forward 向前冲

　　dad

　　n. 爸爸

　　grown-up

　　n. *

　　beer

　　n. 啤酒

　　* couch

　　n. 长沙发

　　pneumonia

　　n. 肺炎

　　deny

　　vt. say that (sth.) is not true 否认;不承认

　　collection

　　n. 收藏(品)

　　brag

　　v. say or declare sth. in a proud way 自夸，吹嘘

　　class

　　n. (口)高质量;出色的风度

　　class act

　　(美俚)出类拔萃的人;出色的事物

　　annoy

　　vt. make (sb.) angry 使烦恼，使生气

　　sweetheart

　　n. 心上人，恋人

　　code

　　n. 代码;密码

　　complicated

　　a. difficult to explain or understand 复杂的，难懂的"

　　mature

　　a. fully grown or developed 成熟的

　　e-mail

　　n. electronic mail 电子邮件

　　* flip

　　vt. turn (sth.) quickly 快速翻动;转动

　　cheek

　　n. 脸颊

　　screen

　　n. 屏幕

　　password

　　n. 口令，密码

　　await

　　vt. wait for 等待

　　wail

　　vt. 哭着说

　　trial

　　n. 试;试验

　　trial run

　　试行;试车;试航;试演

　　occupy

　　vt. take up (a place) 占据

　　purpose

　　n. an intention or plan 目的

　　mail

　　n. 邮件

　　Phrases and Expressions

　　be sick of

　　be tired of 厌倦

　　curl up

　　sit or lie with legs drawn up 蜷缩

　　brag about

　　say or declare (sth.) in a very proud way 夸口，吹嘘

　　go by

　　pass (时间)过去

　　have a crush on

　　(口)非常喜欢;狂热地爱上

　　come out

　　appear in public 露面

　　throw up

　　vomit 呕吐

　　set up

　　establish or arrange 建立

　　flip over

　　turn over (quickly) 快速翻过来

　　in tears

　　crying 哭泣着，流着泪

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇扩展阅读

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（扩展1）

——21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit4课文讲解60篇

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit4课文讲解1

　　One day, a man who seemed to own everything he could want suddenly felt a deep, inexplicable sadness. What"s wrong with him? Did he finally regain his happiness? Here is the story...

　　The Happiest Man in the World

　　Adapted by Amy Friedman

　　Once upon a time there lived a man named Henry who had both land and money. He loved his wife and their strong and healthy children. In short, Henry had everything a man could want. At least that"s the way it seemed to everyone who knew him.

　　But one morning Henry awoke from a deep sleep beneath a warm comforter, his eyes filled with tears. His heart felt heavy. "I"m unhappy," he said. For a moment he was frightened by such a feeling, but then he jumped out of bed, packed a picnic lunch and set off for a walk in the woods. He was determined to feel happy again.

　　Henry hiked for hours, looking at the bright blue sky, enjoying the crisp autumn day. Everyone he passed greeted him. His neighbor"s dog barked hello. Another neighbor, meeting him as he returned home, handed him a freshly baked pumpkin pie, which he took home for supper.

　　Henry had always loved pumpkin pie, but even the pie, and his children"s happy voices and the blaze of the fire in the hearth, did not lift his spirits. He fell asleep feeling unhappier than he had ever before felt in all his life.

　　When he woke the next morning, he was even sadder. "I must fix this," he said, and set off for the city, where he thought he would find a hundred ways to cheer himself. He purchased silver bracelets for his wife and bags of candy for his children. He bought himself a pair of the softest slippers he could find. He dined in an elegant restaurant, and ate his favorite foods. And still that night he felt a deep sadness.

　　Weeks passed in this way. The ripe pumpkins in the field that had once brought him joy did nothing to raise his spirits. Neither did the moonlit nights, the honking geese, the flowing streams, the fields of hay, the chatter of the children, the feel of his soft new slippers. Henry sipped hot chocolate. He ate ripe apples. He bathed in warm baths and listened to beautiful music. But nothing helped.

　　At last, at his wit"s end, Henry went to see a wise man, and there he begged with a voice filled with misery and longing. "Sir, please tell me what I can do to find a way to lift my heavy heart. I must be cured of this terrible illness, which seems to have come from nowhere. I must find happiness."

　　"That which is clear to some people is sometimes hidden from others," the wise man said. "You must find the happiest man in the world. When you find him, ask him to trade his shirt for yours. Happiness will be yours once again."

　　Henry set off at once to find the happiest man in the world. One after another he came upon men who told him they were happy. Then Henry asked them one question: "Would you be happier if I gave you all my money?"

　　"Yes," each man answered.

　　"Then you are not the happiest man in the world," Henry said, and he went on searching.

　　One day as he walked through the forest, he heard someone in the distance singing the happiest song he had ever heard. He followed the sound and soon came to a woodcutter chopping logs.

　　"Excuse me. My name is Henry, and I am looking for the happiest man in the world," he said.

　　"You"ve come to the right man," the woodcutter said. "I"m happy as can be."

　　"Ah, then," Henry said, "would you like me to give you all my money?"

　　The woodcutter laughed. "I have no need for your money. Look at all I have," and he beckoned Henry to look at the forest—at the red and golden leaves, at the squirrels scurrying across the forest floor, at the birds perched overhead, at the deer grazing nearby.

　　"At last!" Henry cried. "I have been searching for you for a long time now. The wise man told me that if I exchanged shirts with the happiest man in the world, I would be cured of my illness. You see, I"m unhappy. Please, will you exchange your shirt for mine?"

　　The happiest man in the world looked closely at Henry, and then he began to laugh and laugh. He laughed until the forest echoed with his laughter.

　　When at last he quieted himself, Henry asked him, "How can you laugh at such a serious request? You see my shirt. It"s made of the finest cotton, and it will be yours. All I need is to wear yours."

　　And then the woodcutter unbuttoned his tattered coat, and Henry saw that the happiest man in the world wasn"t wearing a shirt.

　　"I own no shirts," the woodcutter said. "But now you know that you have the strength to seek all that you think you should have."

　　Henry smiled, for now he understood why the wise man had sent him on this journey. He felt his heart became light once more.

　　(841 words)

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit4课文讲解2

　　beneath

　　prep.in or to a lower position than 在…的下面

　　comforter

　　n. (美)盖被

　　unhappy

　　a. 不愉快的，不幸福的

　　picnic

　　n. 郊游野餐;户外用餐;(个人自带食品的)聚餐

　　determine

　　v. (cause to) make a decision (使)下决心

　　* hike

　　v. take a long walk in the country (在乡间)作徒步旅行;远足

　　* crisp

　　a. 1. (of the air, weather, etc.) cold, dry and fresh (空气、气候等)干而冷的;清爽的;清新的

　　2. hard and dry; easily broken 干而硬的;脆的;易碎的

　　bark

　　vi. (at) make the short, sharp cry that a dog and some other animals make (狗等动物)吠，叫

　　* pumpkin

　　n. 南瓜

　　pie

　　n. 馅饼(一种西式点心)

　　* blaze

　　n. 1. (a burst of) a bright flame 火焰;烈火

　　2. a bright show of lights, colours, etc. 光辉;灿烂

　　vi. burn brightly and strongly 熊熊燃烧

　　hearth

　　n. 壁炉炉床;壁炉边(被认为是家庭生活的"中心)

　　purchase

　　vt. (fml) buy [正式]购买

　　n. 1. (fml) the act of buying [正式]购买

　　2. a thing that has been bought 购买之物

　　bracelet

　　n. 手镯;臂镯

　　candy

　　n. (esp. AmE) a sweet, sweets, or (a piece of) chocolate (尤美)糖果

　　slipper

　　n. a type of soft comfortable shoe for wearing inside the house 室内便鞋，拖鞋

　　* dine

　　vi. (fml) eat dinner [正式]用膳;进餐

　　elegant

　　a. beautiful and graceful 高雅的，优美的

　　sadness

　　n. 悲伤

　　moonlit

　　a. lighted by the moon 有月光的，月明的

　　honk

　　v. (雁)叫;按汽车喇叭

　　flow

　　v. (of liquid) move continuously and easily (液体)流动，流淌

　　stream

　　n. 1. a natural flow of water smaller than a river 小河，小溪

　　2. (of) a continuous flow of things or people 一连串，川流不息

　　hay

　　n. long grass that has been cut and dried, esp. used as animal food (作牲畜饲料用的)干草

　　chatter

　　n. rapid unimportant conversation 喋喋不休，饶舌

　　vi. talk quickly, continuously, and for a long time, usu. about sth. unimportant 喋喋不休，饶舌

　　* sip

　　v. drink only a little at a time 小口地喝，啜饮

　　n. a very small amount of a drink 一小口

　　chocolate

　　n. 巧克力;巧克力饮料

　　wit

　　n. 1. power of thought 才智，才能

　　2. the ability to use words in a clever and humorous way 风趣;幽默

　　* misery

　　n. great unhappiness or great pain (of body or mind) (身心的)痛苦，不幸

　　longing

　　n. (for)a strong feeling of wanting sth. 渴望

　　nowhere

　　ad. 什么地方都不，无处

　　woodcutter

　　n. a man whose job is to cut down trees in a forest 伐木者，樵夫

　　chop

　　v. cut by repeatedly hitting with an axe or other sharp instrument 砍，劈

　　log

　　n. a thick piece of wood cut from a tree 原木，圆材，干材

　　beckon

　　v. call or signal with a movement of the head, head, etc. (用头或手的动作)示意，召唤

　　squirrel

　　n. 松鼠

　　scurry

　　vi. hurry; move quickly, esp. with small short steps (尤指用小步)急跑，急赶

　　perch

　　vi. (of a bird)come to rest, esp. on a thin, raised object such as a branch (鸟)飞落，暂栖

　　overhead

　　a. & ad.(located or passing) above one"s head 在头顶上(的)，在空中(的)

　　deer

　　n. 鹿

　　* graze

　　vi. feed on growing grass, as cattle, sheep, etc. (牛、羊等)啃食牧草

　　nearby

　　a. & ad. near; close by (在)附近(的)

　　exchange

　　v. (for, with) give sb. sth. and receive sth. of the same kind in return 交换

　　echo

　　vi. (with) (of a place) be filled with echoes 发出回声，产生回响

　　n. a sound sent back or repeated from a surface such as a wall 回声，声音

　　laughter

　　n. an act or sound of laughing 笑，笑声

　　request

　　n. an act of asking for sth 要求，请求

　　vt. ask (for) 要求，请求

　　unbutton

　　v. 解开(纽扣)

　　tattered

　　a. (esp. of clothes) old and torn (尤指衣服)破旧的，破烂的

　　Phrases and Expressions

　　in short

　　briefly stated; in a few words 总而言之

　　at least

　　至少

　　for a moment

　　片刻，一会儿

　　set off

　　start going 出发，动身

　　at last

　　终于

　　at one"s wit"s end

　　(infml) completely at a loss or in despair [非正式]智穷计尽;全然不知所措

　　from nowhere

　　从不知道的地方

　　once again

　　再一次

　　one after another

　　one by one; repeatedly or continuously 一个接一个地;接连地

　　come upon

　　meet, find, or discover by chance (偶然)遇见，发现

　　go on

　　continue without stopping or without change 继续

　　once more

　　再一次

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（扩展2）

——21世纪大学英语读写基础教程单元七内容讲解60篇

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程单元七内容讲解1

　　"Why do I have to learn math? I"ll never use this again in my whole life." This kind of complaining can often be heard among students. Is it true that nobody needs math? Well, the author is going to tell you the story...

　　Math, Who Needs It?

　　Carlie Vanwilligen

　　"That"ll be $6.52," the cashier said. I handed her a $10 bill. She looked at it, then looked at me. As I waited, she started writing on a pad of paper. After what seemed like several minutes, she handed me the change. "$4.52 is your change," she smiled.

　　I stared at the change, then at her. "That"s not right," I said. She looked at me, confused. "I gave you a $10, the change would be $3.48." I handed the money back to her.

　　"I"m sorry," she replied. "Our com*r is down, and I have to do this by hand. I"m not very good at math." She counted out my change, and I left.

　　As I think back on this exchange, I feel sad, sad because it wasn"t the first time it had happened, sad because I know it won"t be the last. I taught high school math for years, and every year, the conversation was the same: "Why do I have to learn this? This isn"t important. I"ll never use this again in my whole life."

　　Unfortunately, students don"t see the eventual impact of studying a subject. And when that subject is math, they see the value even less. I no longer teach full-time, but I look back on those conversations and think about how my reactions changed each year. The first year I taught, the question caught me off guard. "Because" was my standard answer. The second year, my response was similar, "If you want to graduate, you learn this stuff." It took me until my third year of teaching to realize that, if I genuinely wanted students to learn, they needed motivation. So, instead of my standard "because" and "if you want to pass" answers, I asked them what they"d like to do when they graduate—or when they "grow up". For each career path, I had "math" that they needed to know in order to be successful. For the construction workers, architects, and engineers, there was the geometry involved in getting a building to stand solidly. For the prospective teacher, it was the statistics involved in seeing if your tests were fair to the students. For the prospective "I want to be a stay-at-home mom", there was the calculating involved in maintaining a household. For the financial wizard wanna-be, there was the understanding of economics that comes with being a successful investor or accountant. For the stubborn, who insisted they didn"t want to be anything, and didn"t need math, a simple role-play involving them being "ripped-off" when they couldn"t make change drove my point home.

　　Who needs math? We all do! We use it every day. Not only that, but the problem solving we learned during the days of "if one train leaves Springfield at 6:00pm travelling east at 75mph", can now help us with a myriad of "*" crises. Do I have enough gas to get to work and back without filling the tank? Which bills do I pay and when in order to have enough money in the bank? How much grass seed do I need to cover that 10"×10" bare patch in the front yard?

　　For those still teaching, it is using these examples, and developing activities for students that bring the reality of math into their worlds. For parents, the same holds true. When your child complains that he or she "doesn"t get" math, give your child an example. Take your child to the grocery store. Give your child $10. Tell your child to provide a dinner for the family, complete with the four basic food groups and dessert, for that $10. Show your child the importance of thinking mathematically. It will do your child some good—who knows, you might learn something too!

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程单元七内容讲解2

　　cashier

　　n. a person whose job is to receive and pay out money in a shop, hotel, etc. 出纳员

　　pad

　　n. 便笺本;拍纸簿

　　confused

　　a. unable to think clearly; bewildered 糊涂的，迷惑的

　　com*r

　　n. a machine that stores information and works out answers 计算机;电脑

　　conversation

　　n. informal talk 交谈;谈话

　　eventual

　　a. happening at last as a result 最后的;最终的

　　full-time

　　ad. 全日地;作为专职

　　a. 全日的;专任的

　　reaction

　　n. behavior, a feeling or an action that is a direct result of sth. else 反应，回应

　　similar

　　a. having a likeness or resemblance 相似的;类似的

　　genuinely

　　ad. really 真正地

　　motivation

　　n. 动机，动力，诱因

　　construction

　　n. the act or process of constructing 建筑

　　architect

　　n. a (qualified) person who designs buildings 建筑师

　　geometry

　　n. 几何(学)

　　involve

　　vt. 1. cause (sb.) to be connected with 牵涉

　　2. include or use (sth.) as a necessary part, etc. 包含，含有

　　solidly

　　ad. firmly 牢固地，坚固地

　　* prospective

　　a. possible, likely, expected; probable 预期的;未来的;可能的

　　statistics

　　n. 统计学

　　calculate

　　vt. determine by mathematics or by reckoning 计算

　　maintain

　　vt. 1. support (sb.) financially 赡养

　　2. continue to have; keep in existence 保持;维持

　　financial

　　a. concerning money and finance 财务的

　　wizard

　　n. a person with extraordinary abilities; genius 有非凡才能的人;奇才

　　wanna

　　v. (口)= want to

　　economics

　　n. 经济学

　　investor

　　n. a person who invests money 投资者

　　accountant

　　n. 会计师;会计员

　　* stubborn

　　a. unreasonably unwilling to change 顽固的，执拗的

　　ripped-off

　　a. (俚语)(人)遭劫的;受剥削的;被欺诈的

　　(缩)= afternoon 下午(源于拉丁文 post meridiem)

　　mph

　　(缩)= miles per hour 英里/小时

　　tank

　　n. a large container, usu. for liquid or gas (通常盛液体或气体的.)大桶;箱;大容器;油箱

　　solve

　　vt. find an answer to (a problem, etc.); explain or make clear 解决;阐明;解释

　　bare

　　a. without covering; empty 光秃的，无遮的;空的

　　patch

　　n. a small piece of land, esp. one used for growing vegetables (尤指种菜用的)小块土地

　　complain

　　vt. & vi. speak in an unhappy, annoyed, dissatisfied way 抱怨;发牢骚

　　grocery

　　n. 食品杂货店

　　basic

　　a. most simple in nature or level 基本的

　　dessert

　　n. any sweet dish, (eg. pie, ice-cream) eaten at the end of a meal (饭后的)甜食(如馅饼，冰激凌)

　　importance

　　n. the quality or state of being important 重要性

　　mathematically

　　ad. 从数学上

　　Phrases and Expressions

　　a pad of

　　一本(便笺本)

　　by hand

　　by a person, not a machine 用手

　　count out

　　count (sth.) one by one, esp. slowly 逐一数出

　　think back on

　　recall and reconsider (sth. in the past) 回想，回忆

　　catch sb. off guard

　　surprise sb. by doing sth. that he or she is not expecting and is not ready for 乘某人不备;使某人措手不及

　　be involved in

　　be part of, included in, mixed with 参与;卷入;牵涉进

　　rip off

　　cheat (sb.), esp. financially (尤指在钱财上)欺骗

　　drive sth. home

　　make sth. clearly understood 把…讲得透彻明白，使充分理解

　　a myriad of

　　an extremely large number of 无数;极多

　　do sb. good

　　benefit sb. 有益于某人

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（扩展3）

——21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍 (菁选2篇)

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍1

　　When a seven-year-old boy declared that he had fallen in love with a seven-year-old girl, the adults laughed, and the young ones did not understand why. In their eyes, their love was serious and important indeed.

　　Young and in Love

　　Jeanne Marie Laskas

　　Ryan has never had a girlfriend. Not because he is against the idea, but because it has never actually occurred to him. He is 7.

　　Ryan has never met anyone with 311 Pokemon cards. He himself has 204. He gathers all of his and puts them in a box, so that he can show them to the girl named Katie.

　　He sees her there curled up on a couch with her mother, watching "Rug-rats." She has long brown hair and big green eyes. "I"m Ryan!" he announces.

　　She looks at him. She says something Ryan has never heard before. She says: "I have pneumonia."

　　Ryan has never met anyone with pneumonia before. There is no denying it any longer. This girl is special.

　　A half-hour goes by. Ryan and Katie return to the family room, where many of the grown-ups have gathered. "He asked me to be his girlfriend!" Katie announces.

　　"I have a crush on her!" Ryan says.

　　"I had two boyfriends before," Katie says. "But they were annoying. Not like Ryan. He is the best boyfriend I have ever had."

　　On the drive home, Ryan holds his Psyduck card. He flips it over. He places it next to his cheek. As soon as he walks in the door, he turns on his dad"s computer. For his screen name he chooses Psyduck plus a few of Katie"s favorite numbers, and KRKRKR for a password, as many K"s next to as many R"s as he can fit. In his message he says, "Dear Katie, Hi it"s me. What"s up? I was just wondering (what was up.) I miss you. Love, Ryan."

　　He awaits her response. He waits an hour. By the second hour, he is sitting at the computer in tears. "What happened?" he wails to his dad. He wonders if she forgot about him, if any of it was really true. The answer could mean everything. This is love at ground zero. This is a trial run for a heart that will one day occupy a man.

　　"You"ve got mail," the computer says. And there she is. "Dear Ryan," she writes. "I just got home. I miss you. I am so glad I am your girlfriend. Love, Katie."

　　Ryan is so happy he can hardly type the words back. "I got your message!" he writes. "It was a great message. It"s the only message I have ever got, so it is and always will be my favorite."

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍2

　　girlfriend

　　n. 女朋友

　　weekend

　　n. 周末

　　getaway

　　n. a period of rest and relaxation, esp. a short one (离开大城市的)短暂休假

　　bounce

　　vi. 1. jump up and down 蹦蹦跳跳

　　2. strike a surface and rebound 反弹

　　charge

　　n. 电荷;电量

　　vi. rush forward 向前冲

　　dad

　　n. 爸爸

　　grown-up

　　n. *

　　beer

　　n. 啤酒

　　* couch

　　n. 长沙发

　　pneumonia

　　n. 肺炎

　　deny

　　vt. say that (sth.) is not true 否认;不承认

　　collection

　　n. 收藏(品)

　　brag

　　v. say or declare sth. in a proud way 自夸，吹嘘

　　class

　　n. (口)高质量;出色的风度

　　class act

　　(美俚)出类拔萃的人;出色的事物

　　annoy

　　vt. make (sb.) angry 使烦恼，使生气

　　sweetheart

　　n. 心上人，恋人

　　code

　　n. 代码;密码

　　complicated

　　a. difficult to explain or understand 复杂的，难懂的"

　　mature

　　a. fully grown or developed 成熟的

　　e-mail

　　n. electronic mail 电子邮件

　　* flip

　　vt. turn (sth.) quickly 快速翻动;转动

　　cheek

　　n. 脸颊

　　screen

　　n. 屏幕

　　password

　　n. 口令，密码

　　await

　　vt. wait for 等待

　　wail

　　vt. 哭着说

　　trial

　　n. 试;试验

　　trial run

　　试行;试车;试航;试演

　　occupy

　　vt. take up (a place) 占据

　　purpose

　　n. an intention or plan 目的

　　mail

　　n. 邮件

　　Phrases and Expressions

　　be sick of

　　be tired of 厌倦

　　curl up

　　sit or lie with legs drawn up 蜷缩

　　brag about

　　say or declare (sth.) in a very proud way 夸口，吹嘘

　　go by

　　pass (时间)过去

　　have a crush on

　　(口)非常喜欢;狂热地爱上

　　come out

　　appear in public 露面

　　throw up

　　vomit 呕吐

　　set up

　　establish or arrange 建立

　　flip over

　　turn over (quickly) 快速翻过来

　　in tears

　　crying 哭泣着，流着泪

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（扩展4）

——21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册Unit4大学压力60篇

21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册Unit4大学压力1

　　1. As you listen to the passage, fill in as much information as you can about Annette"s plans.

　　Friday evening:

　　During the coming month:

　　Next term:

　　In the fall:

　　Next spring:

　　2. How did you feel while you were listening to Annette? What was it like trying to keep up with her? How do students like Annette make you feel?

21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册Unit4大学压力2

　　William Zinsser

　　I am master of Branford College at Yale. I live on the campus and know the students well. (We have 485 of them.) I listen to their hopes and fears — and also to their stereo music and their piercing cries in the dead of night ("Does anybody care?"). They come to me to ask how to get through the rest of their lives.

　　Mainly I try to remind them that the road ahead is a long one and that it will have more unexpected turns than they think. There will be plenty of time to change jobs, change careers, change whole attitudes and approaches. They don"t want to hear such news. They want a map — right now — that they can follow directly to career security, financial security, social security and, presumably, a prepaid grave.

　　What I wish for all students is some release from the grim grip of the future. I wish them a chance to enjoy each segment of their education as an experience in itself and not as a tiresome requirement in preparation for the next step. I wish them the right to experiment, to trip and fall, to learn that defeat is as educational as victory and is not the end of the world.

　　My wish, of course, is naive. One of the few rights that America does not proclaim is the right to fail. Achievement is the national god, worshipped in our media — the million-dollar athlete, the wealthy executive — and glorified in our praise of possessions. In the presence of such a potent state religion, the young are growing up old.

　　I see four kinds of pressure working on college students today: economic pressure, parental pressure, peer pressure, and self-induced pressure. It"s easy to look around for bad guys — to blame the colleges for charging too much money, the professors for assigning too much work, the parents for pushing their children too far, the students for driving themselves too hard. But there are no bad guys, only victims.

　　Today it is not unusual for a student, even one who works part time at college and full time during the summer, to have accumulated $5,000 in loans after four years — loans that the student must start to repay within one year after graduation (and incidentally, not all these loans are low-interest, as many non-students believe). Encouraged at the commencement ceremony to go forth into the world, students are already behind as they go forth. How can they not feel under pressure throughout college to prepare for this day of reckoning? Women at Yale are under even more pressure than men to justify their expensive education to themselves, their parents, and society. For although they leave college superbly equipped to bring fresh leadership to traditionally male jobs, society hasn"t yet caught up with this fact.

　　Along with economic pressure goes parental pressure. Inevitably, the two are dee* intertwined. I see students taking premedical courses with joyless determination. They go off to their labs as if they were going to the dentist. It saddens me because I know them in other corners of their life as cheerful people.

　　"Do you want to go to medical school?" I ask them.

　　"I guess so," they say, without conviction, or, "Not really."

　　"Then why are you going?"

　　"My parents want me to be a doctor. They"re paying all this money and..."

　　Peer pressure and self-induced pressure are also intertwined, and they begin from the very start of freshman year. "I had a freshman student I"ll call Linda," one instructor told me, "who came in and said she was under terrible pressure because her roommate, Barbara, was much brighter and studied all the time. I couldn"t tell her that Barbara had come in two hours earlier to say the same thing about Linda."

　　The story is almost funny — except that it"s not. It"s a symptom of all the pressures put together. When every student thinks every other student is working harder and doing better, the only solution is to study harder still. I see students going off to the library every night after dinner and coming back when it closes at midnight. I wish they could sometimes forget about their peers and go to a movie. I hear the rattling of typewriters in the hours before dawn. I see the tension in their eyes when exams are approaching and papers are due: "Will I get everything done?"

　　Probably they won"t. They will get sick. They will sleep. They will oversleep. They will bug out.

　　I"ve painted too grim a portrait of today"s students, making them seem too solemn. That"s only half of their story; the other half is that these students are nice people, and easy to like. They"re quick to laugh and to offer friendship. They"re more considerate of one another than any student generation I"ve ever known. If I"ve described them primarily as driven creatures who largely ignore the joyful side of life, it"s because that"s where the problem is — not only at Yale but throughout American education. It"s why I think we should all be worried about the values that are nurturing a generation so fearful of risk and so goal-obsessed at such an early age.

　　I tell students that there is no one "right" way to get ahead — that each of them is a different person, starting from a different point and bound for a different destination. I tell them that change is healthy and that people don"t have to fit into pre-arranged slots. One of my ways of telling them is to invite men and women who have achieved success outside the academic world to come and talk informally with my students during the year. I invite heads of companies, editors of magazines, politicians, Broadway producers, artists, writers, economists, photographers, scientists, historians — a mixed bag of achievers.

　　I ask them to say a few words about how they got started. The students always assume that they started in their present profession and knew all along that it was what they wanted to do. But in fact, most of them got where they are by a circuitous route, after many side trips. The students are startled. They can hardly conceive of a career that was not preplanned. They can hardly imagine allowing the hand of God or chance to lead them down some unforeseen trail.

21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册Unit4大学压力3

　　campus

　　n. the grounds of a university, college or school; a university 大学校园，学校校园;大学

　　piercing

　　a. (of voices, sounds, etc.) very sharp, esp. in an unpleasant way (声音等)尖厉的，刺耳的

　　pierce

　　vi. make a hole in or through (sth.) with a sharp point 刺穿，戳穿

　　presumably

　　ad. it may be supposed; probably 假定;可能

　　* presume

　　v. believe sth. to be true without direct proof but with some feeling of being certain; suppose (没有根据地)相信;推测

　　grave

　　n. the place where a dead person is buried 坟墓

　　a. serious or solemn in manner; (of a situation) serious and worrying 严肃的，庄严的;(形势)严重的.

　　gravity

　　n. 1. 严肃，庄严;严重

　　2. 重力;地心引力

　　grip

　　n. a firm hold; control 紧握;控制

　　vt. 1. take a very tight hold (of) 握紧，紧握

　　2. take hold of the attention or feelings of 吸引;引起

　　* segment

　　n. a part of sth. 部分

　　preparation

　　n. arrangement for a future event 准备

　　wealthy

　　a. rich 富有的

　　glorify

　　vt. praise highly 颂扬，赞颂

　　glory

　　n. great fame, honor, and admiration 光荣;荣誉

　　potent

　　a. powerful, strong, forceful or effective 强有力的;有权势的;有效力的

　　self-induced

　　caused or brought about by oneself 自己导致的

　　* induce

　　vt. lead or cause (sb.) to do sth.; persuade or influence (sb.) to do sth. 导致;劝使，诱导

　　* incidentally

　　ad. by the way 顺便说一句

　　commencement

　　n. 1. (AmE) a ceremony at which university or college students are given their degrees or diplomas (美)毕业典礼;学位授予典礼

　　2. beginning of sth. 开始

　　commence

　　v. begin; start 开始;着手

　　ceremony

　　n. 典礼，仪式

　　commencement ceremony

　　(AmE) a college or university graduation ceremony (美)毕业典礼

　　reckoning

　　n. settlement of an account or a bill; (fig.) punishment 结帐;(喻)算帐，惩罚

　　reckon

　　vt. 1. calculate; add up (an amount, cost, etc.) 计算;算出(数量、费用等)

　　2. consider, regard 认为，把…看作

　　day of reckoning

　　(a Biblical reference) the time when one must eventually be punished for what one has done wrong (源自《圣经》)清算日，最后审判日

　　equip

　　vt. prepare (sb.) for dealing with a particular situation by providing necessary tools, education, etc.; su* (sb./ sth. with what is needed for a particular purpose) (智力、体力上)使有准备;配备，装备

　　inevitably

　　ad. 不可必免地;必然发生地

　　inevitable

　　a. which cannot be avoided or prevented from happening; certain to happen 不可避免的;必然发生的

　　intertwined

　　a. joined tightly together; very closely connected 互相缠结的，缠绕在一起的

　　premedical

　　a. preparing for the study of medicine 医学预科的

　　* dentist

　　n. a doctor trained to take care of people"s teeth 牙医

　　cheerful

　　a. in good spirit; causing a happy feeling 兴高采烈的;使人愉快的

　　conviction

　　n. a firm opinion or belief 深信，确信;把握

　　roommate

　　n. 住在同室的人，室友

　　typewriter

　　n. 打字机

　　* bug

　　vt. 1. (AmE) (infml) trouble (sb.) continually (美俚)烦扰，纠缠

　　2. (infml) fit with a secret listening apparatus (口)在…装qie听器

　　n. (AmE) a tiny insect, esp. one that causes damage; (infml) a fault or difficulty (美)虫子;(口)故障;毛病

　　considerate

　　a. careful not to hurt or trouble others; thoughtful 考虑周到的;替人着想的

　　fearful

　　a. afraid, anxious 惧怕的，忧虑的

　　goal-obsessed

　　a. extremely eager to realize one"s goals 一心要实现目标的

　　pre-arranged

　　a. planned or prepared in advance 预先准备好的

　　arrange

　　vt. 1. plan in advance; prepare 安排，准备

　　2. set in good or pleasing order 整理;排列

　　* slot

　　n. 1. a place or position in a schedule, list or series (口)(在机构、名单、程序等中的)位置，职位

　　2. a narrow opening in a tool or machine 狭长孔;狭槽

　　informally

　　ad. 非正式地;不拘礼节地

　　economist

　　n. an expert in economics 经济学家

　　a mixed bag

　　a group of people or things of different kinds and different qualities (人或物的)混合体;大杂烩

　　circuitous

　　a. indirect 迂回的，绕行的

　　circuit

　　n. 1. 环行;环行道

　　2. 电路;线路

　　circular

　　a. 1. 环行的，圆形的

　　2. 循环的

　　trail

　　n. a path, often through a forest or across rough ground (荒野中的)小径，小道

21世纪大学英语读写教程第三册Unit4大学压力4

　　in the dead of night

　　in the quietest part of the night 夜深人静之时

　　get through

　　complete successfully; manage to live through (a difficult experience or period of time) 完成;消磨，度过(时间)

　　right now

　　immediately; at this moment 立刻，马上

　　in itself

　　considered as a complete thing or experience, without thinking of effects, consequences, etc. 本身，实质上

　　in the presence of sb.

　　in the place where sb. is; with sb. there 在某人面前，当着某人的面

　　work on

　　affect; influence 对…起作用;影响

　　go forth (into)

　　set out 出发

　　under pressure

　　influenced by need or necessity; suffering stress 被催逼;在压力下

　　put together

　　(used after a noun or nouns referring to a group of people or things) combined; in total 合在一起

　　bug out

　　(AmE sl.) become mentally unbalanced (美俚)烦恼，困惑

　　be considerate of/to/toward sb.

　　pay attention to sb. "s needs, wishes, or feelings 替某人着想，体贴某人

　　be fearful of

　　be afraid of 惧怕

　　be bound for

　　intending to go to; going to 准备到…去;开往

　　fit into

　　be the right size or shape for; be suitable for 与…相符，与…相适应

　　all along

　　all the time; from the beginning 一直，始终;从一开始就

　　conceive of

　　think of 构想出;设想

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（扩展5）

——21世纪大学英语读写教程第一册Unit1内容介绍60篇

21世纪大学英语读写教程第一册Unit1内容介绍1

　　Listening

　　First Listening

　　Before listening to the tape, have a quick look at the following words.

　　grade

　　分数

　　concentrate

　　全神贯注

　　schedule

　　时间表

　　pressure

　　压力

　　selectively

　　有选择地

　　relevant

　　有关的

　　skip over

　　跳过;略过

　　approach

　　方法

　　Second Listening

　　Listen to the tape again. Then, choose the best answer to each of the following questions.

　　1. The purpose of this listening passage is ____.

　　A) to describe college life

　　B) to give advice for college success

　　C) to warn against being lazy at college

　　D) to increase college enrollment(入学人数)

　　2. According to the listening passage, the most important key to getting good grades at college is _____.

　　A) asking questions in class

　　B) doing assignments ahead of time

　　C) working as hard as you can

　　D) learning how to study effectively

　　3. Which of the following does the listening NOT say you should do?

　　A) Organize your time and materials.

　　B) Write down every word the professor says in class.

　　C) Treat studying like business.

　　D) Study together.

　　Pre-reading Questions

　　1. Based on the title, guess what the text is about.

　　2. Look at the subheadings, 1-8, in the text. Which of these activities do you already do? In which areas do you feel you need improvement?

　　3. Are there any "secrets" to your own success as a student? In other words, do you have any special study techniques which have been very successful for you?

　　Secrets of A Students

　　Edwin Kiester & Sally Valentine Kiester

　　Alex, now a first-year student in natural sciences at Cambridge, played football for his school in Manchester and directed the school production of a play — but he left school with five A"s. Amanda, studying English at Bristol University, acted in plays at her school and played tennis regularly. Yet she still managed to get four A"s.

　　How do A students like these do it? Brains aren"t the only answer. The most gifted students do not necessarily perform best in exams. Knowing how to make the most of one"s abilities counts for much more.

　　Hard work isn"t the whole story either. Some of these high-achieving students actually put in fewer hours than their lower-scoring classmates. The students at the top of the class get there by mastering a few basic techniques that others can easily learn. Here, according to education experts and students themselves, are the secrets of A students.

　　1. Concentrate! Top students allow no interruptions of their study time. Once the books are open, phone calls go unanswered, TV unwatched and newspapers unread. "This doesn"t mean ignoring important things in your life," Amanda explains. "It means planning your study time so that you can concentrate. If I"m worried about a sick friend, I call her before I start my homework. Then when I sit down to study, I can really focus."

　　2. Study anywhere — or everywhere. A university professor in Arizona assigned to tutor underachieving college athletes, recalls a runner who exercised daily. He persuaded him to use the time to memorise biology terms. Another student stuck a vocabulary list on his bathroom wall and learned a new word every day while brushing his teeth.

　　3. Organize your materials. At school, Tom played basketball. "I was too busy to waste time looking for a pencil or a missing notebook. I kept everything just where I could get my hands on it," he says. Paul, a student in New Mexico, keeps two folders for each subject — one for the day"s assignments, the other for homework completed and ready to hand in. A drawer keeps essentials together and cuts down on time-wasting searches.

　　4. Organize your time. When a teacher set a long essay, Alex would spend a couple of days reading round the subject and making notes, then he"d do a rough draft and write up the essay. He would aim to finish a couple of days before the assignment was due so that if it took longer than expected, he"d still meet the deadline. Amanda stuck to a study schedule that included breaks every two hours. "Trying to study when you"re overtired isn"t smart," she advises. "Even a short break to stretch or get some fresh air can work wonders."

　　5. Learn how to read. "I used to spend hours going through irrelevant material," Amanda remembers. "But then I got used to reading quickly; if the first sentence of a paragraph wasn"t relevant, I"d move on to the next paragraph." "The best course I ever took," says an Oklahoma student, "was speed-reading. I not only increased my words per minute but also learned to look at a book"s table of contents and pictures first. Then, when I began to read, I had a sense of the material and I retained a lot more." To such students, the secret of good reading is to be an active reader — one who keeps asking questions that lead to a full understanding of the material being read.

　　6. Take good notes. "Before writing anything, I divide my page into two parts," says Amanda, "the left part is about a third of the page wide; the right, two-thirds. I write my notes in the wider part, and put down the main ideas on the left. During revision, this is very useful because you can see immediately why the material is relevant, rather than being worried by a great mass of information." Just before the end of lesson bell rings, most students close their books, put away papers, talk to friends and get ready to leave. But a smart student uses those few minutes to write two or three sentences about the lesson"s main points, which he scans before the next class.

　　7. Ask questions. "If you ask questions, you know at once whether you have got the point or not," says Alex. Class participation is a matter of showing intellectual curiosity. In a lecture on economics, for example, curious students would ask how the Chinese economy could be both socialist and market-driven, thus interesting themselves not only in whats, but also in whys and hows.

　　8. Study together. The value of working together was shown in an experiment at the University of California at Berkeley. A graduate student there who observed a first-year calculus course found that Asian-American students discussed homework, tried different approaches and explained their solutions to one another while the others studied alone, spent most of their time reading and rereading the text, and tried the same approach time after time even if it was unsuccessful.

　　After all, the secrets of A students are not so secret. You can learn and master them and become an A student, too.

21世纪大学英语读写教程第一册Unit1内容介绍2

　　perform

　　vt. 执行, 完成; 演出, 表演

　　vi. 演出, 表演; 工作, 表现; 执行, 完成

　　high-achieving

　　a. 得高分的

　　lower-scoring

　　a. 得分较低的

　　concentrate

　　vi. direct all one"s attention, etc. towards sth. 全神贯注;集中思想;专注;专心

　　interruption

　　n. 打扰; 干扰; 中止; 阻碍

　　ignore

　　vt. take no notice of; refuse to pay attention to!! 不理;忽视

　　focus

　　v. direct attention, etc. on sth. 集中注意力于某事情

　　assign

　　vt. appoint to a job or duty 委派; 指派

　　underachieving

　　a. doing less well than was expected, esp. in school work 未能充分发挥学习潜力的;学习成绩不良的

　　athlete

　　n. a person who is good at or who often does spors 运动员

　　recall

　　vt. bring back to the mind; remember 回想(起);记得

　　memorise, -rize

　　vt. learn and remember 记住;熟记

　　missing

　　a. 缺失的，找不到的;失踪的`，下落不明的

　　notebook

　　n. small book for writing notes in 笔记本;记事本

　　folder

　　n. 文件夹

　　assignment

　　n. a duty or piece of work that is given to someone (指定的)作业;(分派的)任务

　　drawer

　　n. 抽屉

　　essential

　　n. (usu. pl.) sth. that is necessary or very important [常用复数] 必需品

　　a. (to, for) necessary; central 绝对必要的;非常重要的

　　essay

　　n. a short piece of writing giving sb. "s ideas about politics, society, etc. 论说文; 散文

　　draft

　　n. the first rough written form of anything or a rough plan 草稿;草案

　　vt. make a draft of 起草;草拟

　　due

　　a. expected or supposed (to happen, arrive, etc.) 到期的;预定应到的

　　*deadline

　　n. a date or time before which sth. mush be done or completed 最后期限

　　schedule

　　n. a timetable for things to be done 时间表;日程安排表

　　overtired

　　a. 过度疲劳的

　　stretch

　　vi. 舒展身体，伸懒腰

　　irrelevant

　　a. (to) not having any real connection with or relation to sth. else 不相关的;不相干的

　　relevant

　　a. directly connected with the subject or problem being discussed or considered 相关的; 相干的

　　speed-reading

　　n. 快速阅读

　　per

　　prep.for each 每;每一

　　content

　　n. 1.(pl.) a list in a book saying what the book contains [复数] 目录

　　2.the subject matter, esp. the ideas, of a book, speech, etc. 内容

　　retain

　　vt. keep (possession of); avoid losing 保持;保留

　　revision

　　n. 复习;修改

　　scan

　　vt. look at quickly without careful reading 浏览，扫视

　　participation

　　n. 参与;参加

　　participate

　　vi. (in) to take part or have a share in an activity or event 参与;参加

　　intellectual

　　a. of intellect 知识的;智力的

　　n. 知识分子

　　curiosity

　　n. the desire to know or learn 好奇(心);求知欲

　　economics

　　n. the scientific study of the way in which wealth is produced and used 经济学

　　economy

　　n. the system by which a country"s wealth is produced and used 经济(制度)

　　market-driven

　　a. 市场驱动的

　　graduate

　　a. 研究生的

　　vi. 毕业

　　n. 有学位者，大学毕业生

　　graduate student

　　研究生

　　calculus

　　n. 微积分

　　approach

　　n. a manner or method of doing sth. or dealing with a problem 方式;方法

　　v. come near or nearer to sb. or sth. 靠近;接近

　　solution

　　n. an act or way of finding an answer to a difficulty or problem 解决(办法)

　　Phrases and Expressions

　　make the most of

　　get the best use or greatest gain from 充分利用

　　count for much/little

　　be of much/little worth or importance 很有 / 没有多少价值或重要性

　　not the whole story/only part of the story

　　不是全部情况 / 只是部分情况

　　put in

　　spend (time or money) 花费(时间或金钱)

　　get (or lay) one"s hands on

　　find; obtain 把 … 弄到手

　　hand in

　　give (sth.) to sb. in charge by hand; send in 交上;提交

　　keep ... together

　　cause to remain together 把 … 聚在一起

　　cut down on

　　reduce 减少

　　stick to

　　keep to; not abandon or change 坚持;不放弃，不改变

　　work wonders

　　do things that people did not think possible 创奇迹;产生奇妙作用

　　go through

　　read from beginning to end; examine 从头至尾看;遍查

　　lead to

　　have as a result; cause 导致;引起

　　a couple of

　　two; a few 两(个);两三(个)

　　write up

　　write in a complete form 写出，写成

　　put down

　　write down 写下

　　put away

　　put (sth.) in its proper place 把(某物)收藏在合适的地方

　　time after time

　　again and again; repeatedly 一再;屡次

21世纪大学英语读写基础教程Unit8内容介绍60篇（扩展6）

——21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册Unit9课文及词汇讲解60篇

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册Unit9课文及词汇讲解1

　　Robert Temple

　　One of the greatest untold secrets of history is that the""modern world" in which we live is a unique synthesis of Chinese and Western ingredients. Possibly more than half of the basic inventions and discoveries upon which the "modern world" rests come from China. And yet few people know this. Why?

　　The Chinese themselves are as ignorant of this fact as Westerners. From the seventeenth century onwards, the Chinese became increasingly dazzled by European technological expertise, having experienced a period of amnesia regarding their own achievements. When the Chinese were shown a mechanical clock by Jesuit missionaries, they were awestruck. They had forgotten that it was they who had invented mechanical clocks in the first place!

　　It is just as much a surprise for the Chinese as for Westerners to realize that modern agriculture, modern shipping, the modern oil industry, modern astronomical observatories, modern music, decimal mathematics, paper money, umbrellas, fishing reels, wheelbarrows, multi-stage rockets, guns, underwater mines, poison gas, parachutes, hot-air balloons, manned flight, brandy, whisky, the game of chess, printing, and even the essential design of the steam engine, all came from China.

　　Without the importation from China of nautical and navigational improvements such as ships" rudders, the compass and multiple masts, the great European Voyages of Discovery could never have been undertaken. Columbus would not have sailed to America, and Europeans would never have established colonial empires.

　　Without the importation from China of the stirrup, to enable them to stay on horseback, knights of old would never have ridden in their shining armor to aid damsels in distress; there would have been no Age of Chivalry. And without the importation from China of guns and gunpowder, the knights would not have been knocked from their horses by bullets which pierced the armor, bringing the Age of Chivalry to an end.

　　Without the importation from China of paper and printing, Europe would have continued for much longer to copy books by hand. Literacy would not have become so widespread.

　　Johann Gutenberg did not invent movable type. It was invented in China. William Harvey did not discover the circulation of the blood in the body. It was discovered — or rather, always assumed — in China. Isaac Newton was not the first to discover his First Law of Motion. It was discovered in China.

　　These myths and many others are shattered by our discovery of the true Chinese origins of many of the things, all around us, which we take for granted. Some of our greatest achievements turn out to have been not achievements at all, but simple borrowings. Yet there is no reason for us to feel inferior or downcast at the realization that much of the genius of mankind"s advance was Chinese rather than European. For it is exciting to realize that the East and the West are not as far apart in spirit or in fact as most of us have been led, by appearances, to believe, and that the East and the West are already combined in a synthesis so powerful and so profound that it is all-pervading. Within this synthesis we live our daily lives, and from it there is no escape. The modern world is a combination of Eastern and Western ingredients which are inextricably fused. The fact that we are largely unaware of it is perhaps one of the greatest cases of historical blindness in the existence of the human race.

　　Why are we ignorant of this gigantic, obvious truth? The main reason is surely that the Chinese themselves lost sight of it. If the very originators of the inventions and discoveries no longer claim them, and if even their memory of them has faded, why should their inheritors trouble to resurrect their lost claims? Until our own time, it is questionable whether many Westerners even wanted to know the truth. It is always more satisfying to the ego to think that we have reached our present position alone and unaided, that we are the proud masters of all abilities and all crafts.

　　We need to set this matter right, from both ends. And I can think of no better single illustration of the folly of Western complacency and self-satisfaction than the lesson to be drawn from the history of agriculture. Today, a handful of Western nations have grain surpluses and feed the world. When Asia starves, the West sends grain. We assume that Western agriculture is the very pinnacle of what is possible in the productive use of soil for the growth of food. But we should take to heart the astonishing and disturbing fact that the European agricultural revolution, which laid the basis for the Industrial Revolution, came about only because of the importation of Chinese ideas and inventions. The growing of crops in rows, intensive hoeing of weeds, the "modern" seed drill, the iron plow, the moldboard to turn the plowed soil, and efficient harnesses were all imported from China. Before the arrival from China of the trace harness and collar harness, Westerners choked their horses with straps round their throats. Although ancient Italy could produce plenty of grain, it could not be transported overland to Rome for lack of satisfactory harnesses. Rome depended on shipments of grain by sea from places like Egypt. As for sowing methods — probably over half of Europe"s seed was wasted every year before the Chinese idea of the seed drill came to the attention of Europeans. Countless millions of farmers throughout European history broke their backs and their spirits by plowing with ridiculously poor plows, while for two thousand years the Chinese were enjoying their relatively effortless method. Indeed, until two centuries ago, the West was so backward in agriculture compared to China, that the West was the Underdeveloped World in comparison to the Chinese Developed World. The tables have now turned. But for how long? And what an uncomfortable realization it is that the West owes its very ability to eat today to the adoption of Chinese inventions two centuries ago.

　　It would be better if the nations and the peoples of the world had a clearer understanding of each other, allowing the mental chasm between East and West to be bridged. After all they are, and have been for several centuries, intimate partners in the business of building a world civilization. The technological world today is a product of both East and West to an extent which until recently no one had ever imagined. It is now time for the Chinese contribution to be recognized and acknowledged, by East and West alike. And, above all, let this be recognized by today"s schoolchildren, who will be the generation to absorb it into their most conceptions about the world. When that happens, Chinese and Westerners will be able to look each other in the eye, knowing themselves to be true and full partners.

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册Unit9课文及词汇讲解2

　　untold

　　a. not told to anyone 未说过的，未被讲述的;未透露的

　　synthesis

　　n. (pl syntheses / -si:z /) the combining of separate things, esp. ideas, to form a complex whole 综合，结合，综合体

　　Westerner

　　n. a native or inhabitant of the West, i.e. Europe and North America 西方人，欧美人

　　onwards

　　ad. forward in time or space 向前

　　dazzle

　　vt. (often passive) to impress sb. greatly through beauty, knowledge, skill, etc. 使昏眩;使惊奇;使赞叹不已;使倾倒

　　amnesia

　　n. partial or total loss of memory [医] 记忆缺失;遗忘(症)

　　regarding

　　prep.with reference to; concerning 关于;至于;就…而论，在…方面

　　awestruck

　　a. suddenly filled with wonder and respect or fear 充满敬畏(或畏怯、惊奇)之心

　　astronomical

　　a. of astronomy 天文学的;天文的，天体的

　　decimal

　　a. based on or counted in tens or tenths 小数的;十进位的

　　wheelbarrow

　　n. (also barrow) an open container for moving small loads in, with a wheel at one end, and two legs and two handles at the other 手推车;独轮车

　　multi-stage

　　a. having many stages (火箭、导弹等)多级的

　　underwater

　　a. situated, used or done below the surface of the water 在水下的;供水下用的;在水中操作(或生长)的

　　parachute

　　n. 降落伞

　　hot-air

　　a. filled with heated air 热空气的

　　brandy

　　n. a strong alcoholic drink usu. made from wine 白兰地(酒)

　　whisky

　　n. (US or Irish whiskey) a strong alcoholic drink made from malted grain, esp. barley or rye 威士忌酒

　　importation

　　n. the act of bringing goods, services, ideas, etc. from a foreign country into one"s own country 进口;输入

　　nautical

　　a. of ships, sailors or sailing 船舶的;海员的;航海的

　　navigational

　　a. relating to the action, process or art of finding the position and direct the course of a ship, an aircraft, a car, etc., using maps, instruments, etc. 航行的;航海的`;航空的

　　navigation

　　n. 航行;航海;航空

　　rudder

　　n. a vertical piece of wood or metal at the back of a boat, used for steering (船的)舵

　　compass

　　n. (also magnetic compass) a device for finding direction. with a needle that always points to the north 罗盘(仪)，指南针

　　multiple

　　a. having or involving many individuals, items or types 多个(或多项、多种)的

　　n. <数> 倍数

　　multi*vt. 乘，使相乘

　　mast

　　n. an upright post of wood or metal used to support a ship"s sails 船桅，桅杆

　　voyage

　　n. a long journey, esp. by sea or in space 航行，(尤指)航海;航天

　　colonial

　　a. of, relating to or possessing a colony or colonies 殖民地的;拥有殖民地的

　　stirrup

　　n. either of a pair of metal or leather loops that hang down from a horse"s saddle to support a rider"s feet 马镫

　　knight

　　n. (欧洲中世纪的)骑士;(近代英国的)爵士(品位低于从男爵，其名前称号用 Sir)

　　armo(u)r

　　n. (formerly) a protective, usu. metal, covering for the body, worn when fighting 盔甲

　　damsel

　　n. (arch) a young woman who is not married (古)(诗)少女，姑娘;闺女

　　chivalry

　　n. (in the Middle Ages) the ideal qualities expected of a knight, such as courage, hono(u)r and concern for weak and helpless people 骑士品质(或气概、精神、道德标准、信条等)(如勇武、荣誉感、侠义、扶持弱小、慷慨、谦恭、尊敬女性、对敌人宽容等);骑士制度

　　gunpowder

　　n. explosive powder used esp. in bombs or fireworks 火药

　　bullet

　　n. a small missile with a pointed end that is fired from a gun 子弹

　　literacy

　　n. the ability to read and write 识字，有文化;读写能力

　　movable

　　a. that can be moved 可动的，活动的

　　circulation

　　n. the movement of blood round the body from and to the heart 血液循环

　　circulate

　　v. (使)环行;(使)环流;(使)循环

　　borrowingn. a thing borrowed, esp. money or a word taken by one language from another 借用;采用;借用物;借用词语

　　downcast

　　a. (of a person, an expression, etc.) depressed; sad 垂头丧气的;沮丧的

　　all-pervading

　　a. present and seen or felt everywhere 遍及各方面的;无孔不入的

　　inextricable

　　a. so closely linked that separation is impossible (绳结等)解不开的;分不开的

　　inextricably

　　ad. 紧密地;不可分割地

　　gigantic

　　a. of very great size or extent; huge 巨大的;庞大的

　　originator

　　n. a person who originates; inventor 创始人;发明者;创作者

　　inheritor

　　n. a person who receives money, property etc. as a result of the death of the previous owner 继承人;后继者

　　resurrect

　　vt. 1. bring (sb.) back to life again 使(某人)复活

　　2. revive (a practice, etc.); bring back into use 使(某种做法等)重新流行;重新唤起对…的记忆;重新使用

　　ego

　　n. an individual"s idea of oneself, esp. in relation to other people or to the outside world 自我，自己

　　unaided

　　a. not assisted by sb./sth; without help 无助的;独立的

　　folly

　　n. being foolish; lack of wisdom 愚笨，愚蠢

　　complacency

　　n. (usu. derog) a calm feeling of satisfaction with oneself, one"s work, etc. 自满(情绪)，沾沾自喜

　　self-satisfaction

　　n. (derog) a feeling of being too pleased with oneself and one"s own achievements 沾沾自喜，自鸣得意

　　handful

　　n. a small number 少数，少量

　　pinnacle

　　n. the highest point; the peak 顶峰，极点，顶点

　　mo(u)ldboard

　　n. a curved metal plate in a plow, which turns over the earth from the furrow (农)犁壁

　　Strap

　　n. a strip of leather, cloth or other flexible material, often with a buckle, used for fastening sth., keeping sth. in place, carrying sth. or holding onto sth. 带，条带;皮带;布带;铁皮条

　　transport

　　vt. take sth./sb. from one place to another in a vehicle 运输，运送;输送;搬运

　　overland

　　ad. across the land; by land, not by sea or air 横越大陆地;经由陆路

　　satisfactory

　　a. of an acceptable nature or standard; good enough for a purpose 令人满意的;可喜的;恰当的

　　shipment

　　n. a cargo or goods transported, esp. by ship 装载(或交运)的货物(量)

　　sow

　　v. put or scatter seed in or on the ground; plant land with seed 播种，种;撒播(种子);播种于(土地)

　　effortless

　　a. needing little or no effort 不需要努力的;不(大)费劲的;容易的

　　backward

　　a. having made or making less than normal progress 落后的

　　underdeveloped

　　a. (of a country, etc.) not having achieved a high level of economic development 未充分发展的;不发达的;落后的

　　adoption

　　n. the act of taking over sth. and having or using it as one"s own 采取，采纳，采用

　　chasm

　　n. a very wide difference between people, groups, etc., esp. one that is unlikely to change (感情、兴趣、意见等的)大差别，大分歧

　　intimate

　　a. (of people) having a very close and friendly relationship 熟悉的;亲密的;密切的

　　fundamental

　　a. that need to be known or learned first; most important 基本的，根本的;重要的

21世纪大学英语读写教程第4册Unit9课文及词汇讲解3

　　bring...to an end

　　cause...to end 使…完结(终了、结束)

　　or rather

　　(used to correct sth. one has said previously, or to give more accurate information)more exactly; more truly; it would be better to say 或者确切点说

　　lose sight of

　　fail to consider (sth.); forget (sth.) 忘记;忽略

　　set...right

　　put...right; rectify 校正;纠正

　　take...to heart

　　consider seriously; be much affected or upset by (sth.) 认真考虑(某事);关注(某事);对(某事)想不开;为(某事)忧虑(或伤心、烦恼)

　　come about

　　happen, esp. in a way that seems impossible to prevent 发生，产生

　　for lack of

　　because there is not enough 因缺乏

　　come to the attention of

　　draw (sb."s) attention 引起…的关注

　　compared to/with

　　examined to see how people or things are alike and how they are different 与…相比

　　by/in comparison to/with

　　(when) compared with/to 与…相比

　　look...in the eye(s)/face

　　look at (sb.) steadily without shame or embarrassment (心地坦然地)直视(某人)，正视(某人)

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