Section A

Are Books an Endangered Species?

PreparationPreparation

Getting the Message

Getting the MessageGetting the Message

DirectionsDirections: Answer the following questions : Answer the following questions according to the text. according to the text.

1. How many books were there in the “library” of the author’s home?

2. What does the book symbolize?

3. What is more frightening than the problem mentioned above?

4. What effects has this reading problem brought to the cultural

marketplace?

5. Why does the author say that we are living in a passive age.

>>Key

Getting the MessageGetting the Message 1.1. There were hundreds of books in that room. There were hundreds of books in that room. 2. 2. The book is a symbol of the permanence of thought and the The book is a symbol of the permanence of thought and the

handing down from one generation to the next. handing down from one generation to the next. 3. 3. Of those same college freshman, many had ranked in the Of those same college freshman, many had ranked in the

top half of their high school classes. top half of their high school classes. 4.  4.  Commercial book sales are sliding quickly. Commercial book sales are sliding quickly. 5. 5. Because a cultural consumer prefers those passive Because a cultural consumer prefers those passive

activitiesactivities －－ listening to a record, sitting through a movie, listening to a record, sitting through a movie,

watching cartoons on televisions—requiring nothing of the watching cartoons on televisions—requiring nothing of the

cultural consumer, except for his mere presence. cultural consumer, except for his mere presence.

Reading Reading

ThroughThrough

New WordsNew Words campuscampus

reinforcereinforce

elementaelementa

ryry

rankrank

plentifulplentiful

marketplmarketpl

aceace

slideslide

instanceinstance

exceedexceed

cartooncartoon

presencepresence

participant participant

outletoutlet

reverencereverence

inspectioninspection

ultimatelyultimately

primitiveprimitive

>>>more>>>more

Phrases and ExpressionsPhrases and Expressionscome of agecome of age

hand downhand down

close byclose by

carry aroundcarry around

so farso far

sit throughsit through

time and againtime and again

on the go on the go

Main Idea and StructureMain Idea and Structure

First reading: Scan the text and try to First reading: Scan the text and try to catch the main idea. The following words catch the main idea. The following words are for your reference to organize the idea:are for your reference to organize the idea:information age, precious symbol, the information age, precious symbol, the

reading of books, endangered speciesreading of books, endangered species

Second reading: read the passage again and try Second reading: read the passage again and try to identify the structure of this passage. to identify the structure of this passage.

For your reference

For your reference

With the coming of information age, the reading of books could not

be given the reverence. In this passage, the author mainly put the focus

on the present situation of book which has been a precious symbol of

the permanence of thought. The contrast between the past and the

present shows the difference in the changing view of reading, also

including his own view. So the problem is: May the book be a new

addition to our list of endangered species?

Main IdeaMain Idea

StructureStructureStructureStructure

Part I(para. 1 )

The author’s recall about the book stored in his family’s library

Part II (para. 2-4 )

Part III (para. 4-5)

The present situation of the reading of books

The analysis on the present problem and

the reason caused the problem

Intensive Reading: Para. 1

Are Books an Endangered Are Books an Endangered SpeciesSpecies? ?

In the house where I grew up, we had a room In the house where I grew up, we had a room we called the library. It wasn't a real library, of cowe called the library. It wasn't a real library, of course. It was just a small room that was urse. It was just a small room that was dominateddominated by a television set. But there were bo by a television set. But there were bookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds ookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds of books surrounded us in that room. The books, cf books surrounded us in that room. The books, collected by my parents and grandparents throughollected by my parents and grandparents throughout their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.out their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.

Chinese

Para. 2Para. 2 My generation, the generation that My generation, the generation that came ofcame of age in the 1950s and 1960s, may be the last to aage in the 1950s and 1960s, may be the last to appreciate being surrounded by millions of words ppreciate being surrounded by millions of words working together to create working together to create plotsplots of every kind. Th of every kind. These days, in the 1970s, we are seeing a gradual, ese days, in the 1970s, we are seeing a gradual, but unmistakable, movement away from such thinbut unmistakable, movement away from such things. The bookgs. The book －－ a precious symbol of the a precious symbol of the permanencepermanence of thought, the of thought, the handing downhanding down of wisof wisdom from one generation to the nextdom from one generation to the next －－ may be a may be a new addition to our list of endangered species. new addition to our list of endangered species.

Chinese

Para. 3

I have a friend who runs a bookstore in a college town close I have a friend who runs a bookstore in a college town close by. He says that he can certainly notice the changing of the by. He says that he can certainly notice the changing of the tidestides jjust by looking at the things students are buying, and not buying, riust by looking at the things students are buying, and not buying, right now. "You know how we used to see people carrying around bght now. "You know how we used to see people carrying around book bags?" he tells me. "Well, now I look out the window of my shook bags?" he tells me. "Well, now I look out the window of my shop, and all I see are students carrying parcels from the record storop, and all I see are students carrying parcels from the record stores. Students who like to read are es. Students who like to read are scarcescarce these days." these days."

Chinese

Para. 4Para. 4

And he may be right. Stories of problems young peAnd he may be right. Stories of problems young pe

ople have with reading are not new, though things seem to ople have with reading are not new, though things seem to be getting worse. Recently, the head of the University of Illibe getting worse. Recently, the head of the University of Illinois's branch campus in Chicagonois's branch campus in Chicago reinforcedreinforced the reality of s the reality of such a problem in saying that 10 percent of the freshmen at uch a problem in saying that 10 percent of the freshmen at his university could read no better than the average studenhis university could read no better than the average student in t in elementaryelementary school. As sad a statement as this is, there school. As sad a statement as this is, there is something that will frighten you even more: of those samis something that will frighten you even more: of those same college freshmen, the chancellor reported that many had e college freshmen, the chancellor reported that many had rankedranked in the top half of their high school classes! in the top half of their high school classes!

Chinese

Para. 5Para. 5

The consequences such a reality brings to the natiThe consequences such a reality brings to the nation are abundant, and will become even more on are abundant, and will become even more plentifulplentiful i in the years to come. Such serious effects are already n the years to come. Such serious effects are already being felt in the cultural marketplace, where commercibeing felt in the cultural marketplace, where commercial book sales are al book sales are slidingsliding quickly. A first-rate work of ficti quickly. A first-rate work of fiction, for on, for instanceinstance, if it has any luck at all, will sell perhap, if it has any luck at all, will sell perhaps 3,000 copies in its first run. But what about a music rs 3,000 copies in its first run. But what about a music record? Well, a new group on the music scene, "Bostoecord? Well, a new group on the music scene, "Boston," recently released its first record. Sales n," recently released its first record. Sales so farso far have have exceededexceeded 3.5 million copies. What does such a contras 3.5 million copies. What does such a contrast say about the society we are living in? t say about the society we are living in?

Chinese

Para. 6Para. 6

Much of the problem, I think, is that we live in a passive Much of the problem, I think, is that we live in a passive age. To listen to a record, to sit through a movie, to watch cartoons age. To listen to a record, to sit through a movie, to watch cartoons on television — these activities all require nothing of the cultural on television — these activities all require nothing of the cultural consumer, save his mere presence. Reading a book, though, consumer, save his mere presence. Reading a book, though, requiresrequires that the consumer become an active participant. The that the consumer become an active participant. The person cannot just sit there; he must do something, even though person cannot just sit there; he must do something, even though the "something" is as simple an action as opening the book, the "something" is as simple an action as opening the book, closing the door, and beginning to read. In generations before my closing the door, and beginning to read. In generations before my own, this activity was as much a part of life as sleeping and eating own, this activity was as much a part of life as sleeping and eating — it was an outlet into another world. But now, at the dawn of the — it was an outlet into another world. But now, at the dawn of the information age, such reverence is not given to the reading of information age, such reverence is not given to the reading of books. If a young American reads at all, he is far more likely to books. If a young American reads at all, he is far more likely to purchase a book, give it a quick inspection, and then throw it away. purchase a book, give it a quick inspection, and then throw it away.

Para. 7Para. 7

Ultimately, in an age when everything seemUltimately, in an age when everything seems to be disposable, the book one keeps and reads ts to be disposable, the book one keeps and reads time and again is nothing more than a primitive item ime and again is nothing more than a primitive item from the past with little or no place in a society that from the past with little or no place in a society that is always is always on the goon the go. .

speciesspecies: : n.n. [C] [C] (( 动植物的动植物的 ) ) 物种；种 物种；种

这种玫瑰市场价格很高。

e.g. -This rare bird has become an endangered species.

这种珍禽已成为濒临灭绝的物种。

- This species of rose is very expensive in the market.

dominatedominate ：： vt.vt. 支配；控制 支配；控制

A family in which the husband dominates.

e.g. - She failed to dominate the debate.

她在辩论中没能占据主动。

由丈夫支配一切的家庭。

came of came of ：：成年；达到法定年龄（通常为成年；达到法定年龄（通常为 1818 岁或岁或 2121 岁） 岁）

等你成年后，就可以独自去旅行了。

e.g. - The party is to celebrate his coming of age.

这个晚会是庆祝他成年。

When you come of age, you can travel alone.

plotplot: : n.n. [C] [C] 情节；阴谋；秘密计划 情节；阴谋；秘密计划

What plots are you making ?

e.g. - The plot was so complicated that I couldn’t follow it. 情节太复杂了，我看不懂。

-你们在策划什么阴谋？

Our friendship is of permanence.

permanencepermanence: : n.n.[U] [U] 永久（性）；永恒（性） 永久（性）；永恒（性）

我们的友谊地久天长。

e.g. -Marrying him gives her a sense of permanence. 结婚给了她一种稳定感。

hand downhand down: : 传给（后代） 传给（后代）

这个风格将代代相传。

e.g. - Why follow the tradition handed down to us by our fathers?

为什么要遵循我们的祖先传下的规矩呢？

This custom will be handed down from generation to generation.

她总是赶时髦她总是赶时髦。。

tidetide ：： n.n.[C] [C] 潮流；倾向；趋势；潮汐 潮流；倾向；趋势；潮汐 e.g. - The tides of fashion are always changing. 时尚的潮流总在变化。

She always following the tide of fashion.

scarce scarce ：： adj.adj. 不足的；罕见的；缺乏的 不足的；罕见的；缺乏的 e.g. - Fresh water is scarce in some areas. 一些地区缺少淡水。

中国南方少雪。 Snow is scarce in south China.

reinforcereinforce ：： vt.vt. 加强；增强 加强；增强 e.g. - His words reinforced his neighbor’s hatred toward hi

m. 他的话使邻居更加恨他。

这样的评论会增加人们的愤怒。 Such opinion will reinforce people’ anger.

elementaryelementary ：： adj.adj. 初级的；基本的 初级的；基本的 e.g. elementary school （美）小学；初等学校

每个小孩都要完成初等教育。 Every child is required to complete an elementary education.

rankrank ：： vi.vi. 具有具有 ············ 的的等级（地位）等级（地位）

e.g. New York ranks first in wealth. 纽约州是最富的一个州。

上海是世界上最大的城市之一。 Shanghai ranks as one of the world’s largest cities.

plentifulplentiful ：： adj.adj. 丰富的；充足的 丰富的；充足的 e.g. We have plentiful water resources in south China. 中国南方有着丰富的水资源。

这里有充足的风能。 There is plentiful wind energy here.

slidslid ：： vi.vi. 滑落；滑动；偷偷地移动 滑落；滑动；偷偷地移动 e.g. The chief slid out while no one was looking. 看没有人注意时，小偷溜了出去。

杯子从她手中滑落。 The glass slid from her hand.

instanceinstance ：： n. n. [C] [C] 例子；实例；事例 例子；实例；事例 e.g. We have many instances of students’ cheating on the e

xam. 我们有很多学生考试作弊的事例。

请举几个例子。 Please give me some instances.

so farso far ：：到目前为止；迄今为止 到目前为止；迄今为止 e.g. So far, she is the best English teacher I have ever met. 到目前为止，她是我所碰到的最好的英语老师。

到目前为止，一切都好。 Everything is good so far.

exceedexceed ：： vt.vt. 超出；超过 超出；超过 e.g. Working hours must not exceed 42 hours a week. 工作时间每周不得超过 42小时。

费用不会超过 20元。 The cost will not exceed 20 yuan.

I suggested that he (should) finish up that project quickly.

Please notice the subjunctive mood used in the Please notice the subjunctive mood used in the that that clause clause after "require".after "require".

在表示命令、决定、建议等词语（如 insist, order, decide, suggest, demand, command, advise, instruct, request ）之后的由“ +that”引导的从句中，不管主语是什么人称，动词一律用原型或“ should+ 原型”。

e.g. He ordered that the books (should) be sent to his office at once. 他要求必须马上将这些书送到他的办公室。 Mary insisted that John (should) come. 玛丽坚持要约翰来。

我建议他尽快将项目做完。

on the goon the go ：：忙碌；忙个不停 忙碌；忙个不停 e.g. Life after leaving school is always on the go. 毕业后的生活总是处在不停地忙碌中。

我忙碌了一整天，累得筋疲力尽。 I’ve been on the go all day and I’m worn out.