Unit 6Unit 6

The First Day at SchoolThe First Day at School

Useful expressions in listening and Useful expressions in listening and speaking activitiesspeaking activities

The traffic is terribleThe traffic is terribleThe traffic is heavyThe traffic is heavyI’m always ready to listenI’m always ready to listenYou’re a quick learnerYou’re a quick learnerLet them downLet them downIt is funIt is funWhat do you say we go skiing?What do you say we go skiing?Why don’t we go skiing?Why don’t we go skiing?

About the Author:One of America’s greatest black writers,

Richard Wright was also among the first African American writers to achieve literary fame and fortune, but his reputation has less to do with the color of his skin than with the superb quality of his work. He was born and spent the first years of his life on a plantation, not far from the affluent city of Natchez on the Mississippi River, but his life as the son of an illiterate sharecropper was far from affluent. Though he spent only a few years of his life in Mississippi, those years would play a key role in his two most important works: Native Son, a novel, and his autobiography, Black Boy.

Key points for textKey points for text

Warming up questions:Warming up questions:

1) What was your first day in school 1) What was your first day in school like?like?

2) Try to list as many words as 2) Try to list as many words as possible to describe your feeling for possible to describe your feeling for the first day at school.the first day at school.

Laughing stockLaughing stock

If you say that a person or an organization has become If you say that a person or an organization has become aa laughing stocklaughing stock, you mean that they are supposed to be , you mean that they are supposed to be important or serious but have been made to seem ridiculous. important or serious but have been made to seem ridiculous. n.n. 笑柄笑柄

e.g.e.g. an international an international laughing stocklaughing stock 在国际上遭耻笑的对象在国际上遭耻笑的对象The truth must never get out. If it did she would The truth must never get out. If it did she would be a be a laughing-stocklaughing-stock..

...his policies became the ...his policies became the laughing stocklaughing stock of of the financial community.the financial community.

lift (v.)lift (v.)

1) raise from a lower to a higher position1) raise from a lower to a higher position

e.g. He was too weak even to e.g. He was too weak even to liftlift his hand. his hand. 他虚弱得连手都抬不起来。他虚弱得连手都抬不起来。

2) take hold of something and move it to a different location2) take hold of something and move it to a different location. .

e.g. I e.g. I liftedlifted the child down from the tree. the child down from the tree. 我把孩子从树上抱了下来。我把孩子从树上抱了下来。

3) move upwards3) move upwards e.g. The mist began to e.g. The mist began to liftlift. . 雾开始消散。雾开始消散。

Lift (n)Lift (n)

1) 1) lifting; being lifted;lifting; being lifted; 抬； 举抬； 举e.g. Give him a lift. He is too small to see ae.g. Give him a lift. He is too small to see a

nything. nything. 把他抱起来，他人太矮，什么也看不见。把他抱起来，他人太矮，什么也看不见。 2) 2) elevatorelevator 电梯电梯e.g. He pressed the button to call the e.g. He pressed the button to call the liftlift. . 他按键招呼电梯。他按键招呼电梯。

gigglegiggle

1. v. 1. v. If someone If someone gigglesgiggles, they laugh in a childlike , they laugh in a childlike way, because they are amused, nervous, or way, because they are amused, nervous, or embarrassed.embarrassed.

e.g. e.g. Both girls began to giggle...Both girls began to giggle... `I beg your pardon?' she giggled.`I beg your pardon?' she giggled. ...a giggling little girl....a giggling little girl. 22 n. n. If you say that someone has If you say that someone has the gigglesthe giggles, you , you

mean they cannot stop giggling.mean they cannot stop giggling.e.g. e.g. I was so nervous I got the giggles...I was so nervous I got the giggles... She had a fit of the giggles.She had a fit of the giggles.

stiffen v.stiffen v.1) If you 1) If you stiffenstiffen, you stop moving and stand or sit with muscles th, you stop moving and stand or sit with muscles th

at are suddenly tense, for example because you feel afraid or aat are suddenly tense, for example because you feel afraid or angry.ngry.

e.g. e.g. Ada Ada stiffenedstiffened at the sound of his voice... at the sound of his voice... 2) If your muscles or joints 2) If your muscles or joints stiffenstiffen, or if something , or if something stiffensstiffens them, t them, t

hey become difficult to bend or move.hey become difficult to bend or move.e.g. e.g. The blood supply to the skin is reduced when musclThe blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscl

es es stiffenstiffen.. These clothes restrict your freedom of movement and These clothes restrict your freedom of movement and stifstif

fen up(=stiffen)fen up(=stiffen) the whole body... the whole body...

3) stiffened: 3) stiffened: If something such as cloth If something such as cloth is stiffenedis stiffened, it is made fir, it is made firm so that it does not bend easily.m so that it does not bend easily.

e.g. e.g. This special paper was actually thin, soft Sugiwara pThis special paper was actually thin, soft Sugiwara paper that had been aper that had been stiffenedstiffened with a kind of paste... with a kind of paste...

coax v.coax v.

coax sb. into doing sth. = persuade them tcoax sb. into doing sth. = persuade them to do sth.o do sth.

e.g. The government e.g. The government coaxed them tocoaxed them to give give (or (or coaxed them intocoaxed them into giving)up their stri giving)up their strike by promising them temporary resideke by promising them temporary residence permits.nce permits.

impulse n.impulse n.

a sudden desire to do sth.a sudden desire to do sth.

e.g. He resisted an impulse to smile.e.g. He resisted an impulse to smile.

An impulse buy/ impulse purchaseAn impulse buy/ impulse purchase: something you decid: something you decide to buy when you see it, although you had not plannee to buy when you see it, although you had not planned to buy it.d to buy it.

Those books were an impulse buy.Those books were an impulse buy.

on impulse:on impulse:

e.g. After lunch, she decided on impulse to take a bath.e.g. After lunch, she decided on impulse to take a bath.

Impulsive adj.Impulsive adj.

flash v.flash v.

1) If something 1) If something flashes throughflashes through or or intointo your mi your mind, you suddenly think about it.nd, you suddenly think about it.

e.g. e.g. A ludicrous thought flashed through HA ludicrous thought flashed through Harry's mind...arry's mind...

2) If something 2) If something flashesflashes past or by, it moves past past or by, it moves past you so fast that you cannot see it properly.you so fast that you cannot see it properly.

e.g. It was a busy road, cars flashed by evee.g. It was a busy road, cars flashed by every few minutes.ry few minutes.

flash n.flash n. You talk about You talk about aa flashflash ofof something when you are saying something when you are saying

that it happens very suddenly and unexpectedly.that it happens very suddenly and unexpectedly.e.g. e.g. `What did Moira tell you?' Liz demanded with `What did Moira tell you?' Liz demanded with

a flash of anger...a flash of anger...The essays could do with a flash of wit or hThe essays could do with a flash of wit or h

umor.umor.

If you say that something happens If you say that something happens in a flashin a flash, you mean th, you mean that it happens suddenly and lasts only a very short time.at it happens suddenly and lasts only a very short time.

e.g. The answer had come to him in a flash...e.g. The answer had come to him in a flash... It was done in a flash.It was done in a flash.

redeem v.redeem v.

If you If you redeemredeem yourselfyourself or your reputation, you do somet or your reputation, you do something that makes people have a good opinion of you ahing that makes people have a good opinion of you again after you have behaved or performed badlygain after you have behaved or performed badly

e.g. He had realized the mistake he had made ane.g. He had realized the mistake he had made and wanted to redeem himself...d wanted to redeem himself...

e.g. The sole redeeming feature of your behavioe.g. The sole redeeming feature of your behaviour is that you're not denying it.ur is that you're not denying it.

When something When something redeemsredeems an unpleasant thing or an unpleasant thing or situation, it prevents it from being completely situation, it prevents it from being completely bad.bad.

e.g. e.g. Work is the way that people seek to reWork is the way that people seek to redeem their lives from futility..deem their lives from futility..

redemption n.redemption n.

paralyse / paralyze v.paralyse / paralyze v.1) If someone 1) If someone is paralysedis paralysed by an accident or an illness, t by an accident or an illness, t

hey have no feeling in their body, or in part of their bohey have no feeling in their body, or in part of their body, and are unable to move.dy, and are unable to move.

e.g. e.g. Her married sister had been paralysed in a roHer married sister had been paralysed in a road accident.ad accident.

2) If a person, place, or organization 2) If a person, place, or organization is paralysedis paralysed byby so something, they become unable to act or function properlmething, they become unable to act or function properly.y.

e.g. e.g. For weeks now the government has been paFor weeks now the government has been paralysed by indecision...ralysed by indecision...

The strike has virtually paralysed the island.The strike has virtually paralysed the island.

paralysed adj.paralysed adj.e.g. The disease left him with a paralysed re.g. The disease left him with a paralysed r

ight arm.ight arm.He was absolutely paralysed with shock.He was absolutely paralysed with shock. paralysing adj.paralysing adj. e.g. e.g. ...paralysing shyness....paralysing shyness.

to the exclusion ofto the exclusion of

If you do one thing If you do one thing to the exclusion ofto the exclusion of something else, y something else, you only do the first thing and do not do the second thiou only do the first thing and do not do the second thing at all.ng at all.

e.g. Diane had dedicated her life to caring for hie.g. Diane had dedicated her life to caring for him to the exclusion of all else.m to the exclusion of all else.

exclude v.exclude v. e.g. e.g. The Academy The Academy excluded excluded women women fromfrom its clas its clas

ses...ses...exclusive adj. exclusive adj. 专一的，专用的，不包括的；专一的，专用的，不包括的；

flush (v.)flush (v.)1) 1) If you If you flushflush, your face goes red because you are hot or , your face goes red because you are hot or

ill, or because you are feeling a strong emotion such as ill, or because you are feeling a strong emotion such as embarrassment or anger.embarrassment or anger.

e.g.e.g. Do you sweat a lot or flush a lot?...Do you sweat a lot or flush a lot?...

He turned away embarrassed, his He turned away embarrassed, his face flushingface flushing. .

flush v.flush v.

2) When someone 2) When someone flushesflushes a toilet after using it, they fill the toilet a toilet after using it, they fill the toilet bowl with water in order to clean it, usually by pressing a hanbowl with water in order to clean it, usually by pressing a handle or pulling a chain. You can also say that a toilet dle or pulling a chain. You can also say that a toilet flushesflushes..

e.g. e.g. She flushed the toilet and went back in the She flushed the toilet and went back in the bedroom.bedroom.

...the sound of the toilet flushing....the sound of the toilet flushing.

3) 3) cause birds to fly suddenlycause birds to fly suddenly

e.g. The birds flushed with the sound of the gunshot. e.g. The birds flushed with the sound of the gunshot. 枪枪声惊飞了鸟。声惊飞了鸟。

Flush (n)Flush (n)

1) 1) sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassmensudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassmen

t or guilt or shame or modesty)t or guilt or shame or modesty) 脸红脸红2) 2) sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menosudden brief sensation of heat (associated with meno

pause and some mental disorders)pause and some mental disorders) 激动；兴奋激动；兴奋e.g. She shows a e.g. She shows a flushflush of joy at his coming. of joy at his coming.

对他的到来她表现出一阵兴奋。对他的到来她表现出一阵兴奋。

tittertitter

v. laugh nervouslyv. laugh nervously

e.g. The audience e.g. The audience titteredtittered politely. politely. 听众听众很有礼貌地吃吃地笑了笑很有礼貌地吃吃地笑了笑 ..

n. a nervous restrained laughn. a nervous restrained laugh嗤笑嗤笑 ,, 偷笑偷笑

笑笑 smile smile 微笑，亲切愉快的；微笑，亲切愉快的； laugh laugh 出声大笑；出声大笑； grin grin 露齿而笑；露齿而笑； giggle giggle 哧哧地笑，傻笑；哧哧地笑，傻笑； guffaw guffaw 哄笑；哄笑； beam beam 面露喜色；面露喜色； sneer sneer 冷笑；冷笑； titter titter 窃笑，偷偷地笑；窃笑，偷偷地笑；

desperate adj.desperate adj.1) arising from or marked by despair or loss of h1) arising from or marked by despair or loss of h

opeope 绝望的绝望的e.g. a e.g. a desperatedesperate cry for help cry for help

2) (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent a2) (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despairs from urgency or despair 不顾一切的不顾一切的

e.g.e.g. He was rifling through her desk in a He was rifling through her desk in a despedespe

raterate search for the letter. search for the letter.

Utter (adj)Utter (adj)

adj. without qualification; used informally as (ofadj. without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; total.ten pejorative) intensifiers; total. 全然的全然的 ,, 绝绝对对 ,, 完全 完全

e.g. What e.g. What utterutter rubbish he talks! rubbish he talks! It‘s an It‘s an utterutter waste of time. waste of time. Our new radio is an Our new radio is an utterutter failure. failure. 我们的新收音机完全是个废物我们的新收音机完全是个废物 ..

Utter (v)Utter (v)

articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, oarticulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noiser noise 发出发出 ,, 作声 作声

e.g. e.g. How can you How can you utterutter such falsehoods? such falsehoods? 你怎么能说出这种谎言？你怎么能说出这种谎言？

Utterly (adv)Utterly (adv)

completely and without qualification; used informalcompletely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers ly as intensifiers 完全完全 ,, 全然全然 ,, 绝对 绝对

e.g. e.g. She She utterlyutterly despises him. despises him. We We utterlyutterly failed to convince them. failed to convince them. He was He was utterlyutterly shameless in his demands. shameless in his demands.

prolongprolong (vt.) (vt.)

lengthen in time; cause to be or last longerlengthen in time; cause to be or last longer 延延长长 ,, 拖延 拖延

e.g.e.g.The meeting may be The meeting may be prolongedprolonged into the eve into the eve

ning because so many problems have to bning because so many problems have to be solved tonight. e solved tonight.

我们怎样才能延长短促的人生？我们怎样才能延长短促的人生？How can we endeavor to How can we endeavor to prolongprolong the brevit the brevit

y of human life? y of human life?

prolonged (adj.)prolonged (adj.)

relatively long in durationrelatively long in duration 持续很久的持续很久的 (( 长时期的长时期的 ,, 长时间的长时间的 ))

e.g:e.g:After After prolongedprolonged questioning, she finally c questioning, she finally c

onfessed. onfessed.

The crowd burst into The crowd burst into prolongedprolonged cheering. cheering.

Keys to translationKeys to translation

1. Three days’ hard work made John tired 1. Three days’ hard work made John tired out / exhausted.out / exhausted.

2. This point is no doubt quite absurd.2. This point is no doubt quite absurd.

(No doubt this point is quite absurd.)(No doubt this point is quite absurd.)

3. I was about to answer the phone when the 3. I was about to answer the phone when the door-bell rang.door-bell rang.

4. Please place the book back when you have 4. Please place the book back when you have finished reading it.finished reading it.

5. The meeting was prolonged into the 5. The meeting was prolonged into the evening.evening.

6. Maggie spends almost all her spare time 6. Maggie spends almost all her spare time reading, to the exclusion of other reading, to the exclusion of other entertainment.entertainment.

Written workWritten work

Write a passage on one of the following Write a passage on one of the following topics:topics:

1. My First Day at School1. My First Day at School

2. My First Day at College2. My First Day at College

3. Tips on the First Day at School3. Tips on the First Day at School

You must use at lease five of the You must use at lease five of the following words in your writing:following words in your writing:

(a)laughing stock, be about to (a)laughing stock, be about to do…do…

impulse, flush, confidence, impulse, flush, confidence,

burst into laughter/tears, perform, burst into laughter/tears, perform, no doubt, no doubt,