Unit 2 Unit 2 Tyranny of the UrgentTyranny of the Urgent

ContentsContents

Pre-reading questionsPre-reading questions Background informationBackground information Structural analysis of the textStructural analysis of the text Comprehensive questionsComprehensive questions Language PointsLanguage Points Sentence highlightsSentence highlights Language appreciationLanguage appreciation Grammar pointsGrammar points Comprehensive questions of Text IIComprehensive questions of Text II

Text I Tyranny of the UrgentText I Tyranny of the Urgent

Pre-reading questionsPre-reading questions

1. Do you often feel pressed by time? Do you hate meeting deadlines?

2. Do you think the busier you are, the more accomplished your life will be?

Background information (1)Background information (1) about the author and the text: Charles E. Hummel, former direct

or of faculty ministries for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and president of Barrington College in Rhode Island, has written several books and Bible studies among which quite well-known are Fire in the Fireplace: Contemporary Charismatic Renewal, The Galileo Connection, and The Prosperity Gospel. The text is adapted from Tyranny of the Urgent, a classic booklet by Hummel that offers ideas and illustrations for effective time management.

Structural Analysis (1)Structural Analysis (1)

Is this text a narration, argumentation, Is this text a narration, argumentation, description or explanation? Clarify “thesis”, description or explanation? Clarify “thesis”, “supporting ideas”, “evidence”, and “supporting ideas”, “evidence”, and “conclusion”.“conclusion”.

Thesis: Thesis: We should not let the urgent matters take We should not let the urgent matters take

priority over important ones.priority over important ones. Supporting idea 1: Supporting idea 1: Evidence for supporting idea 1: Evidence for supporting idea 1: Supporting idea 2: Supporting idea 2: Evidence for supporting idea 2: Evidence for supporting idea 2: Conclusion: Conclusion:

Structure analysis of the text (2)Structure analysis of the text (2)

This is a well-organized argumentative essay. This is a well-organized argumentative essay. The writer begins the essay by explaining that The writer begins the essay by explaining that the prolongation of time can not really help the prolongation of time can not really help relieve people of the pressure. Then he relieve people of the pressure. Then he justifies the argument that the pressure in our justifies the argument that the pressure in our life originates from the mishandled problems life originates from the mishandled problems of priorities. In the concluding paragraph, the of priorities. In the concluding paragraph, the writer points out that we are slaves to “ the writer points out that we are slaves to “ the tyranny of the urgent.” tyranny of the urgent.”

Structure analysis of the text (2)Structure analysis of the text (2) Paragraphs 1-2Paragraphs 1-2

The first two paragraphs serve as an introduction. In The first two paragraphs serve as an introduction. In the first paragraph, the writer mainly explains why the first paragraph, the writer mainly explains why people wish for a thirty-hour day. In the second, he people wish for a thirty-hour day. In the second, he goes on to explain why this extra time not help goes on to explain why this extra time not help people much. people much.

Structure analysis of the text (3)Structure analysis of the text (3)

Paragraphs 3-5Paragraphs 3-5 This is the main body of the essay. The writer This is the main body of the essay. The writer

explains the problem of priorities and explores the explains the problem of priorities and explores the cause of “ tyranny of the urgent”cause of “ tyranny of the urgent”

Structure analysis of the text (4)Structure analysis of the text (4)

Paragraph 6Paragraph 6 In this paragraph, the writer comes to the In this paragraph, the writer comes to the

conclusion that we have become slaves to the conclusion that we have become slaves to the “tyranny of the urgent”.“tyranny of the urgent”.

Comprehension questions (1)Comprehension questions (1)

Is hard work alone adequate alone for one to Is hard work alone adequate alone for one to feel a sense of achievement?feel a sense of achievement? No. We must ensure we are working hard on No. We must ensure we are working hard on

important things rather than those that are merely important things rather than those that are merely urgent. urgent.

Comprehension questions (2)Comprehension questions (2)

What is the key to good time management?What is the key to good time management? Learning to prioritize. We shouldn’t let the urgent Learning to prioritize. We shouldn’t let the urgent

crowd out the truly important things while merely crowd out the truly important things while merely doing those that are not really important. doing those that are not really important.

Comprehension questions (3)Comprehension questions (3)

Why is there a constant tension between the Why is there a constant tension between the urgent and the important?urgent and the important? Because urgent things call for instant attention and Because urgent things call for instant attention and

immediate action while important things hardly do immediate action while important things hardly do so. If we crowd out schedule with too many urgent so. If we crowd out schedule with too many urgent engagements, we will have less time to deal with engagements, we will have less time to deal with truly important things. truly important things.

Comprehension questions (4)Comprehension questions (4)

What does the author imply about the impact of the What does the author imply about the impact of the technological development on our time management?technological development on our time management? The development of modern science and technology, The development of modern science and technology,

especially that of the modern means of communication, is especially that of the modern means of communication, is accused as an accomplice of the tyranny of the urgent. The accused as an accomplice of the tyranny of the urgent. The telephone lines has tied us to the fast-growing outside telephone lines has tied us to the fast-growing outside world to which we have to give instant response. So our world to which we have to give instant response. So our life has been cursed with endless callings and intrusions, life has been cursed with endless callings and intrusions, for which the development of modern technology is for which the development of modern technology is partially responsible. partially responsible.

Comprehension questions (5)Comprehension questions (5)

Does the writer suggest that we should neglect Does the writer suggest that we should neglect urgent things?urgent things? No. The message the writer wants to convey is that No. The message the writer wants to convey is that

we should not let urgent things crowd out we should not let urgent things crowd out important things. He does not mean we should important things. He does not mean we should leave urgent things unnoticed. leave urgent things unnoticed.

Language PointsLanguage Points

trail: a stream of dust, smoke, people, vehicles, trail: a stream of dust, smoke, people, vehicles, etc. behind something movingetc. behind something moving He went inside, leaving He went inside, leaving a trail ofa trail of muddy footprints muddy footprints

behind him.behind him. The hurricane has left The hurricane has left a trail ofa trail of destruction across destruction across

much of the area. much of the area.

trail: a stream of dust, smoke, people, vehicles, trail: a stream of dust, smoke, people, vehicles, etc. behind something movingetc. behind something moving He went inside, leaving a He went inside, leaving a trailtrail of muddy footprints of muddy footprints

behind him.behind him. The typhoon has left a The typhoon has left a trailtrail of death and of death and

destruction across much of the area.destruction across much of the area.

haunt (v.): to be always in the thoughts ofhaunt (v.): to be always in the thoughts of The decision to leave her children now The decision to leave her children now haunts haunts her. her. Thirty years after the fire he is still haunted by imaThirty years after the fire he is still haunted by ima

ges of death and destruction.ges of death and destruction.

exacting: (of a person or piece of work demanexacting: (of a person or piece of work demanding too much care, effort and attention ding too much care, effort and attention Volunteers are needed for an exacting assignment

dilemma: a situation in which one has to make a dilemma: a situation in which one has to make a difficult choice between two courses of action, difficult choice between two courses of action, both perhaps equally undesirableboth perhaps equally undesirableThe doctor’s dilemma was whether he should tell the patient the truth or not.

priority: something that needs attention, priority: something that needs attention, consideration, service, etc, before others.consideration, service, etc, before others. You have to learn to get your You have to learn to get your prioritiespriorities straight. straight. Getting your Getting your priorities priorities in order is an efficient way not to in order is an efficient way not to

waste time on trivial or even meaningless pursuit. waste time on trivial or even meaningless pursuit.

misgiving: (a feeling of ) doubt, distrust, or fear , misgiving: (a feeling of ) doubt, distrust, or fear , esp. about a future eventesp. about a future event- We had misgivings about flying near mountains in

such weather. - The plan seemed utterly impractical and I was fille

d with misgiving about it.

crowd out: to keep out for lack of spacecrowd out: to keep out for lack of space Pressure on study space has Pressure on study space has crowded outcrowded out new new

students from many university libraries.students from many university libraries. The article was The article was crowded outcrowded out of yesterday’s edition. of yesterday’s edition.

maxim(n.): a short saying that expresses a maxim(n.): a short saying that expresses a general truth or a rule for good and sensible general truth or a rule for good and sensible behaviorbehavior Aesop’s fables illustrate moral Aesop’s fables illustrate moral maximmaxim..

rebuke(v.): to speak angrily to (somebody)rebuke(v.): to speak angrily to (somebody) Her mother rebuked her for frightening her Her mother rebuked her for frightening her

brother.brother. He was rebuked for cheating.He was rebuked for cheating.

breach(v.): to break (a promise, agreement, breach(v.): to break (a promise, agreement, etc.); to make an opening in a wall or fenceetc.); to make an opening in a wall or fence TheyThey breached breached the agreement they had made with the agreement they had made with

their employer.their employer.

imperious(adj.): too commanding; expecting imperious(adj.): too commanding; expecting obedience from othersobedience from others She sent them away with anShe sent them away with an imperious imperious wave of hand. wave of hand.

devour: to use up all of something; to eat devour: to use up all of something; to eat hungrily and in large quantities, so that hungrily and in large quantities, so that nothing remainsnothing remains Her job devours all her energy. The young cubs hungrily devoured the deer that

the lion had killed.

in the light of: because ofin the light of: because of In the light ofIn the light of recent incidents, we are asking the recent incidents, we are asking the

customs to take particular care of their personal customs to take particular care of their personal belongings.belongings.

prominence: the fact or quality of being well-prominence: the fact or quality of being well-known and importantknown and important He came to He came to prominenceprominence during the World Cup in during the World Cup in

Italy.Italy. Most of the papers give Most of the papers give prominenceprominence to the same to the same

story this morning.story this morning.

Sentence HighlightsSentence Highlights

1.Paraphrase: Our lives leave a trail of unfinished tasks.

2. 2. Paraphrase:Paraphrase: Unanswered letters, unvisited friends, unwritten articles and unread books haunt quiet moment when we stop…

3. Paraphrase: We all know wheat it is to go full speed for long hours, … a sense of achievement and joy.

Language AppreciationLanguage Appreciation

1.We sense demands have driven us onto 1.We sense demands have driven us onto a a reef of frustration.reef of frustration. (Para.3) (Para.3)

““A reef of frustration” is a metaphor A reef of frustration” is a metaphor

2. … we have left undone those things, 2. … we have left undone those things, which we ought to have done; and we have which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to done those things which we ought not to have done. (Para. 3)have done. (Para. 3)

The use of parallel structure The use of parallel structure

3. A man’s home is no longer 3. A man’s home is no longer his castlehis castle; it is ; it is no longer a place away form urgent tasks no longer a place away form urgent tasks because the telephone breaches the walls because the telephone breaches the walls with imperious demands.(Para.6)with imperious demands.(Para.6)

““His castle” is a metaphor His castle” is a metaphor

Grammatical items Grammatical items

CoordinationCoordinationLike subordination, coordination is also a device for combining Like subordination, coordination is also a device for combining

and relating ideas. Generally speaking, subordination and relating ideas. Generally speaking, subordination establishes a kind of relationship which indicates that one idea establishes a kind of relationship which indicates that one idea is more important than the other, while coordination is more important than the other, while coordination establishes a relationship between ideas of approximately establishes a relationship between ideas of approximately equal importance.equal importance.

Men marryMen marry because they are tired. because they are tired. The italic part of this sentence is aThe italic part of this sentence is aFinite subordinate clause indicating causes.Finite subordinate clause indicating causes.Men marry because they are tired, Men marry because they are tired, andand women marry women marry

because they are curiousbecause they are curious..This sentence is a coordinate construction using the coordinator This sentence is a coordinate construction using the coordinator

“and”“and”

Basic coordinators: and, or, but.Basic coordinators: and, or, but.

Others: yet, so, nor, both…and…, Others: yet, so, nor, both…and…,

not only… but also…not only… but also…

either … or…either … or…

neither … nor …neither … nor …

并列连词连接两个分句时，其位置固定在并列连词连接两个分句时，其位置固定在所引导的分句句首。所引导的分句句首。

The dean left for Beijing yesterday, The dean left for Beijing yesterday, andand he wil he will be back next week.l be back next week.

Give the book to John, Give the book to John, or or you may just keep it.you may just keep it. He didn’t see me, He didn’t see me, butbut I saw him. I saw him. We must start early, We must start early, for for we have a long way twe have a long way t

o go. o go.

两个并列连词不可以连用， 比如不可以说：两个并列连词不可以连用， 比如不可以说： * The children can go to bed* The children can go to bed ， ， and orand or they c they c

an watch TV.an watch TV. *He did not like your suggestion, *He did not like your suggestion, and butand but he r he r

aised no objection. aised no objection.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (1)(1)

What is the writer’s mother’s view on time?What is the writer’s mother’s view on time? Time is eternity and men waste eternity by Time is eternity and men waste eternity by

wasting time.wasting time.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (2)(2)

What does the clause “and which contains life, What does the clause “and which contains life, death, and this earth as the blue sea contains death, and this earth as the blue sea contains the fishes courting and swimming the fishes courting and swimming together”(Paragraph 2) means?together”(Paragraph 2) means?

It means that we believe that time contains life, It means that we believe that time contains life, death, and us, who are just like fishes in the sea death, and us, who are just like fishes in the sea busy living and seeking happiness. busy living and seeking happiness.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (3)(3)

What does the fulfillment of expectation What does the fulfillment of expectation depend on?depend on? Generally speaking, the fulfillment of expectations Generally speaking, the fulfillment of expectations

depends on ourselves as well as the external depends on ourselves as well as the external circumstances. We need to work hard so as to circumstances. We need to work hard so as to realize our dreams, but sometimes we have to wait realize our dreams, but sometimes we have to wait for the opportunities to come. There are times for the opportunities to come. There are times when we depend more on time to bring us when we depend more on time to bring us opportunities, and there are others when we are opportunities, and there are others when we are better master of our own fate. better master of our own fate.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (4)(4)

What is the author’s view on time?What is the author’s view on time? The writer believes that time is within us rather The writer believes that time is within us rather

than outside us. It is not that we live in time but than outside us. It is not that we live in time but that time is defined by our existence. Time is that time is defined by our existence. Time is nothing in itself; it depends on our consciousness. nothing in itself; it depends on our consciousness.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (5)(5)

What is your view on time?What is your view on time?

Open for discussion. Open for discussion.