21st Century College English: Book III

21st Century College English: Book III21st Century College English: Book III

College PressuresCollege PressuresUnit 4: Part AUnit 4: Part AUnit 4: Part AUnit 4: Part A

• Pre-Reading Activities

• Text A: Language Points

• Exercises

• Assignment

College PressureCollege Pressure

Unit 4 Part AUnit 4 Part A

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

Friday evening:Friday evening:

During the coming During the coming month:month:

Next term:Next term:

In the fall:In the fall:

Next spring:Next spring:

work on history paper at the librarywork on history paper at the library

finish history paper, prepare for finish history paper, prepare for economics test, finish reading assignments economics test, finish reading assignments for government class and start next term’s for government class and start next term’s readingsreadings

concentrate on sociology and managementconcentrate on sociology and management

??? [unspecified in the passage]??? [unspecified in the passage]

have a nervous breakdownhave a nervous breakdown

Pre-reading ActivitiesPre-reading Activities

2.2. HowHow did you feel while you were listening to Annette? did you feel while you were listening to Annette?

What was it like trying to keep up with her? How do What was it like trying to keep up with her? How do

students like Annette make you feel?students like Annette make you feel?

Answer the QuestionAnswer the Question

ScriptScriptScriptScript


Brad:Brad: Hi Annette! Some of us are going to see that new play on Hi Annette! Some of us are going to see that new play on Friday, and then out for a pizza afterwards. Do you feel like Friday, and then out for a pizza afterwards. Do you feel like going?going?

Annette:Annette: I’d love to, Brad, but I have to finish this paper for history I’d love to, Brad, but I have to finish this paper for history class. I planned to spend Friday evening at the library.class. I planned to spend Friday evening at the library.

Brad:Brad: Annette, that paper isn’t due for a month!Annette, that paper isn’t due for a month!

AnnetteAnnette [[talking faster and faster, sounding more and more mindlesstalking faster and faster, sounding more and more mindless]]: : But there’s test in economics that same week. I have to get But there’s test in economics that same week. I have to get the history paper out of the way so I can start preparing for the history paper out of the way so I can start preparing for that. Plus I have to finish the reading assignments for that. Plus I have to finish the reading assignments for government class for this term so I can start on the readings government class for this term so I can start on the readings for next term. That way I can concentrate on sociology and for next term. That way I can concentrate on sociology and management next term and hopefully get far enough ahead management next term and hopefully get far enough ahead so that in the fall I won’t have to … so that in the fall I won’t have to …


Brad: Brad: [[interruptinginterrupting]: Whoa, slow down, Annette! You’re just wearing ]: Whoa, slow down, Annette! You’re just wearing yourself out! You’re going to have a nervous breakdown!yourself out! You’re going to have a nervous breakdown!

AnnetteAnnette [[still sounding mindlessstill sounding mindless]: Oh, that’s okay ]: Oh, that’s okay — I’ve scheduled in — I’ve scheduled in time for a nervous breakdown during the spring term next time for a nervous breakdown during the spring term next year.year.

Text AText A

Language PointsLanguage Points

College College PressuresPressures

College College PressuresPressures

College PressuresCollege Pressures

ByBy William Zinsser William Zinsser

11 I am master of I am master of Branford College at Yale. I live on the ca. I live on the ca

mpus and know the students well. (We have 485 of them.) I lmpus and know the students well. (We have 485 of them.) I l

isten to their hopes and fears — and also to their stereo musiisten to their hopes and fears — and also to their stereo musi

c and their piercing cries in the dead of night (“Does anybodc and their piercing cries in the dead of night (“Does anybod

y care?”). They come to me to ask how to y care?”). They come to me to ask how to get through the rest the rest

of their lives.of their lives.


22 Mainly I try to remind them that the road ahead is a Mainly I try to remind them that the road ahead is a

long one and that it will have more unexpected turns than long one and that it will have more unexpected turns than

they think. There will be plenty of time to they think. There will be plenty of time to

change jobs, change careers, change whole attitudes and appr

oaches

. They don’t want to hear such news. They want a map ——

right now right now —— that they can follow directly to career that they can follow directly to career

security, financial security, security, financial security, social security and, presumably,

a prepaid grave.


33 What I wish for all students is some release from the What I wish for all students is some release from the

grim grip of the future. I wish them a chance to enjoy grim grip of the future. I wish them a chance to enjoy

each segment of their education as an experience 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.


44 My wish, of course, is naive. One of the few rights My wish, of course, is naive. One of the few rights

that America does not proclaim is the right to fail. 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.


55 I see four kinds of pressure working on college I see four kinds of pressure working on college

students today: economic pressure, parental pressure, peer students today: economic pressure, parental pressure, peer

pressure, and pressure, and self-induced pressure. It’s easy to look pressure. It’s easy to look

around for bad guys around for bad guys —— to blame the colleges for charging to blame the colleges for charging

too much money, the professors for assigning too much too much money, the professors for assigning too much

work, the parents for pushing their children too far, the work, the parents for pushing their children too far, the

students for driving themselves too hard. But there are no students for driving themselves too hard. But there are no

bad guys, only victims.bad guys, only victims.


6 6 Today it is not unusual for a student, even one who Today it is not unusual for a student, even one who

works part time at college and full time during the summer, works part time at college and full time during the summer,

to have accumulated $5,000 in loans after four years to have accumulated $5,000 in loans after four years ——

loans that the student must start to repay within one year loans that the student must start to repay within one year

after graduation (and incidentally, not all these loans are after graduation (and incidentally, not all these loans are

low-interest, as many non-students believe). Encouraged at low-interest, as many non-students believe). Encouraged at

the commencement ceremony to the commencement ceremony to go forth into the world, the world,

students are already behind as they go forth. How can they students are already behind as they go forth. How can they


not feel under pressure throughout college to prepare for not feel under pressure throughout college to prepare for

this 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.


77 Along with economic pressure goes parental pressure.

Inevitably, the two are deeply 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.


88 “Do you want to go to medical school?” I ask them.“Do you want to go to medical school?” I ask them.

99 “I guess so,” they say, without conviction, or, “Not “I guess so,” they say, without conviction, or, “Not

really.”really.”

1010 “Then why are you going?”“Then why are you going?”

1111 “My parents want me to be a doctor. They’re paying “My parents want me to be a doctor. They’re paying

all this money and …”all this money and …”


1212 Peer pressure and self-induced pressure are also Peer pressure and self-induced pressure are also

intertwined, and they begin from the very start of freshman intertwined, and they begin from the very start of freshman

year. “I had a freshman student I’ll call Linda,”one year. “I had a freshman student I’ll call Linda,”one

instructor told me, “who came in and said she was under instructor told me, “who came in and said she was under

terrible pressure because her roommate, Barbara, was much terrible pressure because her roommate, Barbara, was much

brighter and studied all the time. I couldn’t tell her that brighter and studied all the time. I couldn’t tell her that

Barbara had come in two hours earlier to say the same thing Barbara had come in two hours earlier to say the same thing

about Linda.”about Linda.”


1313 The story is almost funny 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?”


1414 Probably they won’t. They will get sick. They will sleep. Probably they won’t. They will get sick. They will sleep.

They will oversleep. They will bug out.They will oversleep. They will bug out.

1515 I’ve painted too grim a portrait of today’s students, I’ve painted too grim a portrait of today’s students,

making them seem too solemn. 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 them primarily as driven creatures who largely ignore

the joyful side of life, it’s because that’s where the the joyful side of life, it’s because that’s where the

problem is problem is —— not only at Yale but throughout American not only at Yale but throughout American

education. It’s why I think we should all be worried education. It’s why I think we should all be worried

about the values that are nurturing a generation so about the values that are nurturing a generation so

fearful of risk and so goal-fearful of risk and so goal-obsessed at such an early age.


1616 I tell students that there is no one “right” way to get I tell students that there is no one “right” way to get

ahead — that each of them is a different person, starting ahead — that each of them is a different person, starting

from a different point and from a different point and bound for a different a different

destination. I tell them that change is healthy and that destination. I tell them that change is healthy and that

people don’t have to fit into pre-arranged slots. One of people don’t have to fit into pre-arranged slots. One of

my ways of telling them is to invite men and women who my ways of telling them is to invite men and women who

have achieved success outside the academic world to have achieved success outside the academic world to

come and talk informally with my students during the come and talk informally with my students during the

year. I invite heads of companies, editors of magazines, year. I invite heads of companies, editors of magazines,


politicians, politicians, Broadway producers, artists, writers, economists,

photographers, scientists, historians —— a mixed bag of

achievers.

1717 I ask them to say a few words about how they 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 trips. The students are startled. They can hardly

conceive of a career that was not preplanned. They can a career that was not preplanned. They can

hardly imagine allowing the hand of God or chance to hardly imagine allowing the hand of God or chance to

lead them down some unforeseen trail.lead them down some unforeseen trail.


get throughget through

— — manage to live through (a period of time during whichmanage to live through (a period of time during whichsomething unpleasant is happening)something unpleasant is happening)

e.g.e.g.

How do they ever How do they ever get throughget through Siberian winters? Siberian winters?

TranslateTranslate

他们帮我渡过了那段辛酸的日子。他们帮我渡过了那段辛酸的日子。

KeyKey

They helped me to get through those miserable They helped me to get through those miserable

days.days.

e.g.e.g.

1)1) The design was not The design was not in itselfin itself bad. bad.

2)2) The plan wasn’t illegal The plan wasn’t illegal in itselfin itself, but it would lead to , but it would lead to some doubtful practices.some doubtful practices.

in itselfin itself

— — in its own nature; intrinsicallyin its own nature; intrinsically

TranslateTranslate

问题本身倒并不很重要，但其长远影响可能是重大的。问题本身倒并不很重要，但其长远影响可能是重大的。

KeyKey

The problem is unimportant in itself but its long The problem is unimportant in itself but its long

term effects could be very serious.term effects could be very serious.

e.g.e.g.

1)1) She She tripped overtripped over a stone. a stone.

2)2) He He trippedtripped and fell, tearing a hole in his trousers. and fell, tearing a hole in his trousers.

trip trip vi.vi.

—— (~ over/up)(~ over/up) knock one’s foot against something knock one’s foot against something when when walking and lose balance so that one falls or walking and lose balance so that one falls or nearly nearly fallsfalls

TranslateTranslate

她让猫绊了一跤她让猫绊了一跤。。

KeyKey

She tripped over the cat and fell.She tripped over the cat and fell.

e.g.e.g.

1)1) We tried to put off the We tried to put off the day of reckoningday of reckoning..

2)2) The The day of reckoningday of reckoning has come for him. has come for him.

TranslateTranslate

别看你现在逍遥，将来会遭报应的。别看你现在逍遥，将来会遭报应的。

KeyKey

You’re enjoying yourself now, but a day of You’re enjoying yourself now, but a day of

reckoning will come.reckoning will come.

day of reckoningday of reckoning

— — time when a person pays or when he is punished time when a person pays or when he is punished for things that he has done wrong for things that he has done wrong

Cf. reckon and calculateCf. reckon and calculateBoth Both reckonreckon and and calculatecalculate mean “determine mean “determine

something mathematically”, but something mathematically”, but reckonreckon usually usually connotes simpler mathematical process, especially connotes simpler mathematical process, especially such as can be carried on in one’s head or aided by the such as can be carried on in one’s head or aided by the use of a counting device, while use of a counting device, while calculatecalculate is usually is usually preferred when highly advanced, complex processes preferred when highly advanced, complex processes are followed with precision and care and when the are followed with precision and care and when the result arrived at is not readily proven by measuring.result arrived at is not readily proven by measuring.

e.g.e.g.

1)1) Will Western industry ever Will Western industry ever catch up withcatch up with Japanese Japanese

innovations?innovations?

2)2) They haven’t They haven’t caught upcaught up yet yet withwith the latest styles. the latest styles.

TranslateTranslate

他因病一学期未上课，得努力赶上（其他同学）。他因病一学期未上课，得努力赶上（其他同学）。

KeyKey

After missing a term through illness he had to After missing a term through illness he had to

work hard to catch up (with the others).work hard to catch up (with the others).

catch up withcatch up with

—— reach (and sometimes overtake) (sb. Who is reach (and sometimes overtake) (sb. Who is aheahead); (in competition, trade, standard, etc.) ad); (in competition, trade, standard, etc.) become eqbecome equal to ual to

e.g.e.g.

1) Failing health often 1) Failing health often goes alonggoes along with old age. with old age.

2)2) Increased unemployment has Increased unemployment has gone along withgone along with rising rising prices all over the world. prices all over the world.

go along withgo along with

— — be found together withbe found together with

TranslateTranslate

事实证明，成功总是和勤奋分不事实证明，成功总是和勤奋分不开的。开的。

KeyKey

It is proved that success always goes with It is proved that success always goes with

diligence.diligence.

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:

Along with economic pressure goes parental pressure.Along with economic pressure goes parental pressure.

Parental pressure takes place together with economic Parental pressure takes place together with economic pressure.pressure.

e.g.e.g.

1)1) It couldn’t have happened It couldn’t have happened except thatexcept that it did. it did.

2)2) She would have protested She would have protested except thatexcept that she was she was

afraid.afraid.

TranslateTranslate

她（对他）什么都不记得，只记得他的头发是黑的。她（对他）什么都不记得，只记得他的头发是黑的。KeyKey

She remembered nothing (about him) except that She remembered nothing (about him) except that his hair was black.his hair was black.

except thatexcept that

—— (used to introduce a statement which states or (used to introduce a statement which states or implies something contrary to the preceding one) implies something contrary to the preceding one) only only that, but thatthat, but that

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:The story is almost funny The story is almost funny — except that it’s not.— except that it’s not.

The story (about Linda and Barbara thinking that The story (about Linda and Barbara thinking that

each is working harder and doing better than the each is working harder and doing better than the

other) sounds somewhat funny, but in fact it’s not other) sounds somewhat funny, but in fact it’s not

funny.funny.

If you say something is If you say something is only half of the storyonly half of the story, or , or part of part of the storythe story or or not the whole storynot the whole story you mean that there are you mean that there are more details that need to be known in order to more details that need to be known in order to understand the situation.understand the situation.

that’s only half of their storythat’s only half of their story

— — That’s only part of the situation with the students.That’s only part of the situation with the students.

e.g.e.g.

1)1) What he told us yesterday is What he told us yesterday is only half the storyonly half the story; ; there are more people concerned in this affair than there are more people concerned in this affair than

he knows about.he knows about.

2)2) These figures gave These figures gave only part of the storyonly part of the story..

e.g.e.g.

1)1) The fear of death The fear of death obsessed obsessed her throughout her old her throughout her old

age.age.

2)2) She She was obsessed withwas obsessed with the idea that she was going the idea that she was going

to die.to die.

TranslateTranslate

她总觉得受人监视而心神不宁。她总觉得受人监视而心神不宁。

KeyKeyShe was obsessed with the idea that she was being She was obsessed with the idea that she was being watched.watched.

obsessobsess vt.vt.

—— fill the mind of (sb.) continually and make thinking fill the mind of (sb.) continually and make thinking

about anything else difficultabout anything else difficult

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:

the values that are nurturing a generation so fearful of the values that are nurturing a generation so fearful of risk and so goal-obsessed at an early agerisk and so goal-obsessed at an early age

the social principles that are bringing up a generation the social principles that are bringing up a generation so afraid of taking risks and so excessively concerned so afraid of taking risks and so excessively concerned about their future career when so youngabout their future career when so young

e.g.e.g.

1)1) Jane invited Jane invited a mixed baga mixed bag of people to her party. of people to her party.

2)2) The songs on this record are (quite) The songs on this record are (quite) a mixed baga mixed bag..

a mixed baga mixed bag

— — a thoroughly varied mixture (of people or things)a thoroughly varied mixture (of people or things)

e.g.e.g.

1)1) When can we When can we get startedget started??

2)2) It’s time we It’s time we got startedgot started on the washing up. on the washing up.

get startedget started

—— begin begin

Brandford College at YaleBrandford College at Yale

Brandford College is one of the oldest of Yale uniBrandford College is one of the oldest of Yale uni

versity’s twelve residential colleges. It opened its dooversity’s twelve residential colleges. It opened its doo

rs in the start of the academic year in 1933.rs in the start of the academic year in 1933.

Text-related informationText-related information


Social SecuritySocial Security

Social security generally refers to all measures Social security generally refers to all measures

established by legislation to maintain individual to established by legislation to maintain individual to

family income at certain levels, to assure income iffamily income at certain levels, to assure income if

employment is lost, and to provide aemployment is lost, and to provide a great number of great number of

benefits covered by other programs. These benefits benefits covered by other programs. These benefits

may include maternity payments, cash for medical may include maternity payments, cash for medical

needs, legal aid, compensation for crop failure, andneeds, legal aid, compensation for crop failure, and

funeral expenses.funeral expenses.

BroadwayBroadway

Broadway is one of the principal business Broadway is one of the principal business

thoroughfares of New York City, extending in a thoroughfares of New York City, extending in a

generally north-south direction. Laid out in the early generally north-south direction. Laid out in the early

1717thth century by the Dutch, Broadway grew in length century by the Dutch, Broadway grew in length

as the city developed from a small settlement on the as the city developed from a small settlement on the

southern tip of Manhattan Island. It now extends 27 southern tip of Manhattan Island. It now extends 27

km (17 mi) to the city’s northern boundary in the km (17 mi) to the city’s northern boundary in the

Bronx. Broadway forms the central thoroughfare ofBronx. Broadway forms the central thoroughfare of

More to learnMore to learnMore to learnMore to learn


New York City’s theater district. This stretch is one of New York City’s theater district. This stretch is one of

the most highly concentrated entertainment centers in the most highly concentrated entertainment centers in

the United Stats, and includes official Broadway the United Stats, and includes official Broadway

theaters, smaller off-Broadway playhouses, movie theaters, smaller off-Broadway playhouses, movie

theaters, restaurants, and bars. Also located on theaters, restaurants, and bars. Also located on

Broadway are Lincoln Center for the Performing Broadway are Lincoln Center for the Performing

Arts and Columbia University (1754).Arts and Columbia University (1754).



Women enter the Broadway Theater in Denver, Women enter the Broadway Theater in Denver, Colorado. One woman wears a short fur coat, hat and Colorado. One woman wears a short fur coat, hat and evening dress. The Broadway Theater opened in 1890 on evening dress. The Broadway Theater opened in 1890 on 18th and Broadway Avenues. It was demolished in 1955.18th and Broadway Avenues. It was demolished in 1955.



A book:A book:

Broadway Theatres, an Broadway Theatres, an introduction of the history introduction of the history of Broadway.of Broadway.


change jobs, change careers, change whole change jobs, change careers, change whole attitudes and approachesattitudes and approaches

Paraphrase:Paraphrase:take another job, begin a new career, adopt an take another job, begin a new career, adopt an entirely different attitude and approachentirely different attitude and approachSomeone’s career is the series of jobs that they Someone’s career is the series of jobs that they

have in their life, esp. in the same area of work. So, if have in their life, esp. in the same area of work. So, if

a teacher quits teaching in one school and starts a teacher quits teaching in one school and starts

teaching in another, he changes his jobs, but if he teaching in another, he changes his jobs, but if he

quits teaching at all and starts running a business, he quits teaching at all and starts running a business, he

changes his career.changes his career.

Do you know the difference between “change Do you know the difference between “change jobs” and “change careers”?jobs” and “change careers”?

ComprehensionComprehension

Success is greatly admired by the whole country, Success is greatly admired by the whole country, highly respected in newspapers, on radio and highly respected in newspapers, on radio and television … and strongly praised in our approval television … and strongly praised in our approval of wealth.of wealth.

Achievement is the national god, worshipped in Achievement is the national god, worshipped in our media … and glorified in our praise of our media … and glorified in our praise of possessions.possessions.


to justify their expensive education to …to justify their expensive education to …

to prove to … that it is right for them to receive to prove to … that it is right for them to receive such an expensive education; such an expensive education;

to show to … that they can perform as well as or to show to … that they can perform as well as or even better than men for the expensive education even better than men for the expensive education they’ve receivedthey’ve received


as if they were going to the dentistas if they were going to the dentist

as if they were going to sufferas if they were going to suffer

Having one’s teeth treated often causes a lot of Having one’s teeth treated often causes a lot of

pain, and going to the dentist is never a pleasant pain, and going to the dentist is never a pleasant

experience. So students who study medicine under experience. So students who study medicine under

parental pressure feel as if they were going to the parental pressure feel as if they were going to the

dentist when they have to go to their labs.dentist when they have to go to their labs.


when … papers are duewhen … papers are due

when … it is time to hand in paperswhen … it is time to hand in papers


easy to likeeasy to like

= easy to be liked= easy to be liked


they … knew all along that it was what they they … knew all along that it was what they wanted to dowanted to do

they … knew from the very beginning that it they … knew from the very beginning that it (their present profession) was the profession (their present profession) was the profession they wanted to followthey wanted to follow


self-imposedself-imposed

self-inducedself-induced

—— caused or brought about by oneself caused or brought about by oneself

self-indulgentself-indulgent

decided by yourselfdecided by yourself

allowing yourself to allowing yourself to have or do anything have or do anything that you enjoy that you enjoy

self-inflictedself-inflicted (of something bad) (of something bad) done to yourselfdone to yourself

go force (into)go force (into)

—— set out set out

Could you make a sentence by yourself?Could you make a sentence by yourself?

e.g.e.g.

These two young musicians These two young musicians are bound forare bound for international international success.success.

be bound forbe bound for

—— intending to go to; going tointending to go to; going to

e.g.e.g.

He couldn’t He couldn’t conceive ofconceive of a time when he would have no a time when he would have no job.job.

I find it hard to I find it hard to conceive ofconceive of such cruelty. such cruelty.

conceive ofconceive of

—— think ofthink of

Documents

21st Century College English: Book III