Lesson 20 Today’s Dropouts 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions 2. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge 3. Text Analysis Text Analysis 4. Exercises

Lesson 20 Lesson 20 Today’s Today’s

DropoutsDropouts

1. Warm-up Questions2. Background Knowledge

3. Text Analysis4. Exercises

5. Questions For Discussion

Distant Education College, Jilin UniversityDistant Education College, Jilin University

Extensive Extensive Reading IIReading II

Warm-up Questions


Return

1. What do dropouts mean in this article?

2. Why do people quit their jobs?

3. How do the dropouts survive?

4. What would Sam say about these dropouts if he were alive?

Background Knowledge


More

1. Dropouts: This article discusses one kind of “dropout”: the person who decides that working every day is like being on a treadmill. You never get to any place. This kind of dropout exists in the United States, but less so than in the 1970s. Because of the disillusionment as a result of the Vietnam War and because of a growing “Back to the Land” movement, many young and not-so-young people dropped out of the larger society. They retreated to farms and tried to live without the stress and the prosperity of urban life.



More

Recently, the trend has been in the other direction. Young people who graduate from college and perhaps go on to law, medical, or business school are very ambitious. Thus they are willing to work over sixty hours a week — to impress the boss and make a lot of money. So they have no time for family or friends. Only work is important. They become “workaholics”. Perhaps someday the pendulum will swing back again.

2. the 1930s: The 1930s refers to the Great Depression, a period of US and world economic depression during the 1930s. This was a period of high unemployment, failing businesses and banks and falling agricultural prices. Millions of workers were out of work during the Great Depression (some 16 million in the U.S. alone in 1933). There were many causes of the depression: easy credit had led to widespread stock speculation; the world had not recovered completely from WWI; US economic policies under President Hoover had created domestic overproduction and less foreign trade. Franklin Roosevelt, elected president in 1932, brought in NEW DEAL measures, but full recovery of the economy only occurred with the beginnings of defense spending immediately prior to WWII.



Return

1. What’s your attitude towards work? Do you think hard work can bring happiness? Explain your reasons.

2. Do you enjoy studying? Describe some ways in which you could make your study more interesting or enjoyable.

Questions for Discussion


Return

1. True/False Questions

2. Multiple-choice Questions

3. Translation

Exercises


Return

1. People drop out of the working world for various reasons.

2. Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems.

3. Many dropouts have a hard time getting odd jobs to do.

True/False Questions


Answer

1. People drop out of the working world for various reasons. T

2. Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems.




Answer


2. Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems. F




Answer


2. Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems. F

3. Many dropouts have a hard time getting odd jobs to do. F



More

4. Sam never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life.

5. In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people.

6. Sam worked so hard that he never could spare time for a holiday.



Answer

4. Sam never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. T

5. In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people.




Answer


5. In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people. T




Answer


5. In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people. T

6. Sam worked so hard that he never could spare time for a holiday. F



Return

1. In the last fifteen or twenty years, people like George have chosen to drop out of the working world because _______.

A) they have earned enough money to spend for the rest of their lives

B) they are not well paid at work

C) they want to live a more leisurely life

D) all of them have work that is too demanding

Multiple-choice Questions


Answer



More

1. In the last fifteen or twenty years, people like George have chosen to drop out of the working world because _______. C

A) they have earned enough money to spend for the rest of their lives

B) they are not well paid at work

C) they want to live a more leisurely life

D) all of them have work that is too demanding

2. After leaving her position the thirty-five-year-old woman felt _______.

A) relieved and peaceful, though worried about her security

B) bored, without friends and companions

C) that she needed another job

D) the pressures and burdens of life



Answer



More

2. After leaving her position the thirty-five-year-old woman felt _______. A

A) relieved and peaceful, though worried about her security

B) bored, without friends and companions

C) that she needed another job

D) the pressures and burdens of life

3. According to the text, people would probably not drop out of the work force if they _______.

A) often worry about their work

B) work without any complaints

C) find it very easy to do their jobs

D) don’t mind being controlled by others



Answer



More

3. According to the text, people would probably not drop out of the work force if they _______. B

A) often worry about their work

B) work without any complaints

C) find it very easy to do their jobs

D) don’t mind being controlled by others

4. According to Sam, a man’s value lies in ________.

A) reaching a higher position in society

B) enjoying full freedom and independence

C) working hard and having a good relationship with his community

D) earning money and sending his children to colleges and universities



Answer



More

4. According to Sam, a man’s value lies in ________. C

A) reaching a higher position in society

B) enjoying full freedom and independence

C) working hard and having a good relationship with his community

D) earning money and sending his children to colleges and universities

5. Which of the following statements might cause Sam and George to argue?

A) To be either a shopkeeper or a geologist will give one satisfaction.

B) Happiness can be obtained only through hard work.

C) Dropouts live a happier life than anyone else.

D) Dropouts live a miserable life if they have no financial security.



Answer



More

5. Which of the following statements might cause Sam and George to argue? B

A) To be either a shopkeeper or a geologist will give one satisfaction.

B) Happiness can be obtained only through hard work.

C) Dropouts live a happier life than anyone else.

D) Dropouts live a miserable life if they have no financial security.

6. By telling Sam’s story and the stories of today’s dropouts the writer tries to tell us that _____.

A) the younger generation in the U.S. often leave boring jobs because there are lots of other work opportunities

B) people in America enjoy more freedom than those in other parts of the world

C) the U.S. is a rich country that can support its idle people

D) today one’s individual values are very important



Answer



Return

6. By telling Sam’s story and the stories of today’s dropouts the writer tries to tell us that _____. D

A) the younger generation in the U.S. often leave boring jobs because there are lots of other work opportunities

B) people in America enjoy more freedom than those in other parts of the world

C) the U.S. is a rich country that can support its idle people

D) today one’s individual values are very important

1. Some, like George, have given up a career that was demanding too much from them. Others couldn’t stand the pressure and the competition.

Translation


Answer

Translation


More

1. Some, like George, have given up a career that was demanding too much from them. Others couldn’t stand the pressure and the competition.

有些人，像乔治一样，已经放弃了使他们过多地耗费精力的工作，另外一些人则不能忍受（工作带来的）压力和竞争。

2. She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind.

Translation


Answer

Translation


More

2. She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind.

她有两个孩子，而且没有积蓄。她也为将来担忧，但这未能破坏她轻松愉快的心情和一种新的内心的平和。

3. Neither had he ever dreamed of doing anything but selling groceries and chatting with Fred.

Translation


Answer

Translation


More

3. Neither had he ever dreamed of doing anything but selling groceries and chatting with Fred.

除了卖食品和与弗雷德闲聊外，他也从来没有梦想过要做其他事情。

4. In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession.

Translation


Answer

Translation


More

4. In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession.

那时工作是一个人最宝贵的财富，无论这项工作多没意思，或者报酬多低。

5. But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience.

Translation


Answer

Translation


Return

5. But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience.

但那仅仅是因为，他通过劳动获取了闲暇，他能够问心无愧地来享受这份乐趣。

Today’s Dropouts

In the United States today there are more people like George who drop out of the work force than in earlier times. What leads them to give up their work? Would George’s father understand them if he were alive today?

George’s case is not unique. In the last fifteen or twenty years, quite a number of men and women have chosen to drop out of the working world to try a different kind of life. Most of them are in their thirties and forties, often well educated, although all ages and backgrounds can be found among them. A variety of reasons have led them to give up their work and the security it provided.

Text Analysis


Next

Some, like George, have given up a career that was demanding too much from them. Others couldn’t stand the pressure and the competition. A thirty-five-year-old woman, who had a high position in her company, decided to leave when she found herself suffering from allergies that made her life miserable. She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind. Her health improved. She may never work again; if she does, she says that she will take small temporary jobs.

Text Analysis


NextPrevious

Some people, on the contrary, have quit jobs that were boring or meaningless to them. An office employee who has been pushing papers for years may start wondering whether those papers are achieving anything. An engineer in a large company, aware that he could be replaced by any man with the same training, may come to feel unimportant as an individual. Such people leave their work in the hope of finding stronger interests and a sense of personal worth.

Text Analysis


NextPrevious

There are also people who leave their work to fulfill an old dream, such as writing books, painting, sailing to remote islands, or growing fruit trees. An army officer left the service at thirty-eight to build doll houses, and another one, who had always been interested in archaeology, did the same at forty-five to dig ancient Indian sites. His wife was delighted—instead of keeping house, she was going to satisfy her own dream of learning to make paper.

Text Analysis


NextPrevious

But most of the men and women who drop out of the working world have no special interest and no desire to take up any occupation. They want only to enjoy their freedom, their independence, and their leisure. No more rushing to catch a morning train, no more commuter traffic, no more anxiety to please a boss, no more meetings, no more obligations to behave and dress according to the rules. This endless vacation does not necessarily bring happiness; many of those who have chosen it as a style of life admit that leisure, too, can become boring. But they still prefer it to their former existence. The main problem remains the lack of financial security, for, with few exceptions, the “dropouts” are not wealthy. And so they survive by selling their possessions, by borrowing from friends and family, and by taking an odd job now and then for a short time when it becomes absolutely necessary.

Text Analysis


NextPrevious

Sam would never have understood their attitude. In the first place, he had never been unhappy with his occupation, and he had never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. Neither had he ever dreamed of doing anything but selling groceries and chatting with Fred. And there was yet another factor. Today’s dropouts can always find some small job to do when they are in need of money, or perhaps they can get unemployment compensation from the government for a while. But Sam had lived through the 1930s, when work of any type was almost impossible to find. In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession. Losing it was a disaster; not looking for another one, a shame. As for not wanting to work at all, it was unthinkable, for society was not used to loafers then. A nonworking family man would have lost the respect of his friends and his place in the community of responsible men.

Text AnalysisDistant Education College, Jilin UniversityDistant Education College, Jilin University

NextPrevious

George might have tried to explain to his father the new point of view, to tell him that people have a right to be free, independent, and to watch birds all day if they want to. But he would not have convinced Sam, for whom independence and leisure were luxuries that had to be deserved through hard work. Sam himself had enjoyed a vacation once in a while, and he had been happy to rest in the sun without his tie. But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience.

Text Analysis


NextPrevious

It would have shocked Sam to learn that those “shameless” people who choose to live in unearned idleness have a good conscience too.

From A Changing Scene,

ed., Lucette Rollet Kenan, New York, 1982.

Approximately 800 words.

Text Analysis


ReturnPrevious

Words to Know

dropout [] n. （美）退出习俗社会的人=person who withdraws from conventional societye.g. Michael chose to be a dropout by living a self-sufficient life in the woods.迈克尔选择作一个出世的隐士，它在森林中过着自给自足的生活。


Return

Words to Know

unique [] a. 独一无二的=without an equal or equivalent; unparallelede.g. That building is unique because all the others like it were destroyed. 那座建筑很独特，因为所有像它那样的其他建筑都毁坏了。


Return

Words to Know

variety [] n. 多样性，多变性= diversitye.g. At school we learn a variety of things. 在学校我们学习各种东西。


Return

Words to Know

allergy [] n. 过敏症=an abnormally high sensitivity to certain substancese.g. I have an allergy to penicillin.我对青霉素有过敏反应。


Return

Words to Know

spoil [] vt. 损坏，宠坏= impair the value or quality ofe.g. The rain has spoilt my painting. 雨水毁了我的画。


Return

Words to Know

temporary [] a. 暂时的，临时的=lasting, used, serving, or enjoyed for a limited timee.g. Since our chairman was ill, Mr. Smith would be the temporary chairman.因为我们主席病了，史密斯先生将担任临时主席。


Return

Words to Know

remote [] a. 遥远的= far away; distant in spacee.g. He was born in a remote village. 他生于一个偏僻的村落。


Return

Words to Know

archaeology [] n. 考古学=the systematic study of the relics of the past e.g. The research of archaeology is to recover and study the material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery, remaining from past human life and culture.考古学的研究就是恢复与研究过去人类的生活及文化保存下来的物质证据，如坟墓、建筑物、工具及陶器等。


Return

Useful Phrases and Expressions

site [] n. 所在地，遗址=the place where a structure or group of structures was, is, or is to be locatede.g. The site of the new hotel is by the sea. 这座新旅馆的地基在海边。

ancient Indian sites: ancient Indian places. “Indian” refers to the natives in America before the Europeans came.


Return

Words to Know

occupation [] n. 工作，职业= a vocatione.g. What is his occupation? 他的职业是什么？


Return

Words to Know

commuter [] n. 往返两地上下班的人=one that travels regularly from one place to another, as from suburb to city and backe.g. Mr. Anderson became a commuter ever since his family moved to the countryside.安德森先生自从把家搬到了乡下就开始往返两地上下班。


Return

Words to Know

obligation [] n. 义务=dutye.g. We are under an obligation to help. 我们有义务帮忙。


Return

Words to Know

existence [] n. 生活（方式）=the fact or state of continued being; life:e.g. We must cherish our brief existence on earth.我们必须珍惜在地球上短暂的生存。


Return

Words to Know

conflict [] n. 冲突，抵触= clashe.g. The peace talk may end the conflict between the two countries.和谈可能结束两国间的冲突。


Return

Words to Know

compensation [] n. 补偿=the act of compensating or the state of being compensatede.g. The insurance company will make compensation for your losses.保险公司会补偿你的损失。


Return

Words to Know

precious [] a. 珍贵的= valuablee.g. This job will give you precious experience.这个工作会给你宝贵的经验。


Return

Words to Know

loafer [] n. 游手好闲的人=one who is habitually idlee.g. Our director disliked loafers on the job.我们经理讨厌对工作游手好闲的人。


Return

Words to Know

deserve [] vt. 值得，应受=be worthy of; merite.g. If you do wrong, you deserve punishment.你如做错事 , 应当受罚。


Return

Words to Know

shock [ ] vt. 使震惊，使愤怒=surprise, enragee.g. I was shocked when I heard about your accident. 当我听到你出事后我很震惊。


Return


conscience [] n. 良心，道德心=the awareness of a moral or ethical aspect to one‘s conduct together with the urge to prefer right over wronge.g. His conscience troubled him after he took the money. 他拿走了钱以后，他的良心使他不安。

(with or have) a good conscience 问心无愧e.g. I have a good conscience in making such a decision.我做这个决定问心无愧。


Return

Words to Know

case [] n.1. 箱子 =box, bag, containere.g. He took a case full of clothes with him. 他把一个装满衣服的箱子带在身边。2. 事；事例 =instance or example of the occurrence of sth.e.g. This is a case of stupidity, not dishonesty.这只是个愚蠢的例子 ,并非不诚实。3. 情形；场合；状况 =circumstances or special conditions relating to a person or thinge.g. “Well, in that case, I would prefer to stay on the bus”, I answered.“唉 , 那样的话 , 我宁愿留在车上啦“ , 我回答说。


More

Words to Know

4. 病症；病例 =instance of a diseased conditione.g. This is a case of fever. 这是一发烧的病例。5. 案件；诉讼 =question to be decided in a law courte.g. In this case I'm acting for my friend Mr. Smith.我在这次诉讼中代表我的朋友史密斯的利益。6. 事实；实情 = actual state of affairse.g. Is that the case? No, that's not the case.事实是那样吗 ? 不 , 事实并非如此。


Return


drop out of 退出世俗社会e.g. To his parents’ surprise, the little boy alleged that he would drop out of the society.这个小男孩宣称要退出世俗社会，这使得他的父母大为惊讶。


Return


on the contrary 恰恰相反，相反地e.g. I'm not sick; on the contrary, I'm in the peak of health.我没有病；恰恰相反，我健康极了。


Return


take up 开始做，从事e.g. He took up art while at school. 他在学校时开始对艺术感到兴趣。


Return


anything but 除…以外都不，一点也不e.g. That little boat is anything but safe.那只小船一点也不安全。


Return


as for 至于，关于e.g. As for you, I never want to see you here again.至于你，我再也不想在这里见到你。


Return


be used to 习惯于，适应于e.g. He was used to sleeping late and getting up late.他习惯于晚睡晚起。


Return


once in a while 偶尔地e.g. She would go back to her hometown to visit her old grandparents once in a while.她偶尔会回家乡看看年老的祖父母。


Return

Difficult Sentences

As for not wanting to work at all, it was unthinkable, for society was not used to loafers then.至于说根本不想工作，那是绝对不可思议的。因为那时的社会不能容忍懒汉。


Return

Difficult Sentences

But he would not have convinced Sam, for whom independence and leisure were luxuries that had to be deserved through hard work.但他是不可能说服萨姆的，因为对萨姆来说，悠闲自在是一种奢侈，必须靠辛勤劳动去挣得。


Return

Difficult Sentences

It would have shocked Sam to learn that those “shameless” people who choose to live in unearned idleness have a good conscience too.若是得知那些不劳而获终日无所事事的无耻之徒居然问心无愧，定会使萨姆大吃一惊。


Return

Difficult Sentences

In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession.那时工作是一个人最宝贵的财富，无论这项工作多没意思，或者报酬多低。

no matter how (conj.)用来引导让步状语从句，修饰形容词或副词，形容词或副词必须紧跟 how：e.g. No matter how poor you are, I'll marry you.不管你有多穷，我都要嫁给你。


Return

Difficult Sentences

Most of them are in their thirties and forties, often well educated, although all ages and backgrounds can be found among them.虽然他们当中各种年龄和经历的人都有，但多数在三四十岁而且往往是受过良好教育的。


Return

Difficult Sentences

A variety of reasons have led them to give up their work and the security it provided.各种各样的原因导致他们放弃工作和它提供的保障。


Return

Difficult Sentences

No more rushing to catch a morning train, no more commuter traffic, no more anxiety to please a boss, no more meetings, no more obligations to behave and dress according to the rules.再不必在早晨赶乘火车，再不必受上下班交通拥挤的困扰，无需再为如何取悦上司而焦虑，无需再开会。举止不必按要求，而穿戴也不再受限制了。


Return

Difficult Sentences

But they still prefer it to their former existence.=But they like it more than working for a living.他们仍然觉得这种日子比过去的活法好。


Return

Difficult Sentences

The main problem remains the lack of financial security, for, with few exceptions, the “dropouts” are not wealthy.主要问题是缺乏经济保障，因为几乎所有放弃工作的人都不富裕。


Return

Difficult Sentences

She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind.她有两个孩子，而且没有积蓄。她也为将来担忧，但这未能破坏她轻松愉快的心情和一种新的内心的平和。

but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind: in spite of her worries about her future, she felt peaceful and free from a heavy burden


Return


has been pushing papers: has been doing paperwork


Return


by taking an odd job: by taking a small temporary job


Return

Difficult Sentences

But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience.但那仅仅是因为，他通过劳动获取了闲暇，他能够问心无愧地来享受这份乐趣。

having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience:having worked hard for his leisure time, he could enjoy it without shame


Return

Documents

Lesson 20 Today’s Dropouts 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions 2. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge 3. Text Analysis Text Analysis 4. Exercises