Lesson 36

Danger for the Fun of ItDanger for the Fun of It

Risky Sports

Scuba divingScuba diving Skin divingSkin diving CanoeingCanoeing Mountain/Rock climbingMountain/Rock climbing Hot air ballooningHot air ballooning Hang glidingHang gliding BungeeBungee

Americans vs. Chinese people

Regard with the attitude toward risky Regard with the attitude toward risky sports, how are Americans different from sports, how are Americans different from Chinese people? And why?Chinese people? And why?

Culture (tradition, philosophy of life), Culture (tradition, philosophy of life), character, education, economy, etc.character, education, economy, etc.

Infinitive, white-water canoeing

1.1.To put some excitement into his lifeTo put some excitement into his life, he , he spends many weekends and vacations spends many weekends and vacations white-water canoeingwhite-water canoeing..      

Infinitive as adverbial of purpose Infinitive as adverbial of purpose White-water canoeing: boating in the rip White-water canoeing: boating in the rip

current that runs very fast. current that runs very fast.

The number of, take sth up

2. He is 2. He is one of the growing number of one of the growing number of Americans who in recent years have Americans who in recent years have taken taken upup dangerous sports to fill their leisure dangerous sports to fill their leisure hours.hours.

He is one of Americans whose number is He is one of Americans whose number is growing in recent years and have been growing in recent years and have been involved in dangerous sports to fill their involved in dangerous sports to fill their leisure hours. (the number ofleisure hours. (the number ofa number of) a number of)

Take sth up

Take sth up: adopt sth as a hobby or pastime; Take sth up: adopt sth as a hobby or pastime; start or begin sth, esp. a jobstart or begin sth, esp. a job

My grandmother took up gardening after she My grandmother took up gardening after she retired.(Adopt sth as a hobby or pastime)retired.(Adopt sth as a hobby or pastime)

He has taken up golf. (She has begun to He has taken up golf. (She has begun to learn to play golf.)learn to play golf.)

It’s said that the new manager is going to It’s said that the new manager is going to take up his duties next week. (Start a job)take up his duties next week. (Start a job)

He took up the narrative where John had left He took up the narrative where John had left off. (Continue an unfinished story) off. (Continue an unfinished story)

Participate in sth, have sth in common

3. People who 3. People who participateparticipate in risky sports in risky sports usually have several things usually have several things in commonin common..

Participate: take part or become involved (in Participate: take part or become involved (in an activity)an activity)

Participate in a competition, discussion, etcParticipate in a competition, discussion, etc She actively participates in local politics.She actively participates in local politics.

Participant: person or group of people who Participant: person or group of people who participate in sth participate in sth

Thrill seeker, yet

4.They don’t like others to thing of them as 4.They don’t like others to thing of them as thrill thrill seekersseekers, , yetyet they admit the dangers of their they admit the dangers of their sport. And almost all of them look down on sport. And almost all of them look down on sports like tennis and golf. sports like tennis and golf.

Thrill: (n) excited feeling; experience causing Thrill: (n) excited feeling; experience causing thisthis

a thrill of joy, fear, horror (a thrill of joy, fear, horror ( 一阵欢乐、害怕、恐怖一阵欢乐、害怕、恐怖 )) It was a real thrill when you finally succeed after It was a real thrill when you finally succeed after

making many efforts. making many efforts.

Thrill

Thrill: (v.) cause sb to feel a thrillThrill: (v.) cause sb to feel a thrill a thrilling experiencea thrilling experience The fill thrilled the audience.The fill thrilled the audience. We were thrilled to hear your wonderful We were thrilled to hear your wonderful

news.news.Thriller (novel, play or film with an exciting Thriller (novel, play or film with an exciting

and gripping plot, esp. one involving crime)and gripping plot, esp. one involving crime) a thriller writer (a thriller writer ( 写惊险故事的作家写惊险故事的作家 ) )

Yet

(adv.) by this or that time; until now/then (adv.) by this or that time; until now/then (often used in negative sentences and (often used in negative sentences and questions in the present or past perfect tense)questions in the present or past perfect tense)

I haven’t received his letter yet.I haven’t received his letter yet. You don’t need to start yet.You don’t need to start yet. Yet again we can see the results of hasty Yet again we can see the results of hasty

decision-making. (Yet again: once more) decision-making. (Yet again: once more)

Yet

(conj.) but at the same time; nevertheless(conj.) but at the same time; nevertheless His handwriting is difficult to recognize yet His handwriting is difficult to recognize yet

beautiful.beautiful. She worked very hard yet still failed in the She worked very hard yet still failed in the

exam. exam.

Para. 5

5. “5. “There’s just nothing happening in sports like There’s just nothing happening in sports like tennis and golftennis and golf,” said Steve Kaufman, a 44-year-,” said Steve Kaufman, a 44-year-old Manhattan old Manhattan bill collectorbill collector who scuba dives in who scuba dives in his spare time. his spare time. According to himAccording to him, the only people , the only people who who come close tocome close to the experience of scuba divers the experience of scuba divers are astronauts “because they’re in a totally are astronauts “because they’re in a totally alienalien environment, too.” Kaufman describes his sport as environment, too.” Kaufman describes his sport as “a“a total isolation from anything that can interfere total isolation from anything that can interfere with your own personal sense of self.with your own personal sense of self.” ”

Several points

There’s just nothing exciting and eventful in There’s just nothing exciting and eventful in sports like tennis and golf.”sports like tennis and golf.”

Bill collector: Bill collector: 收银员，收款人收银员，收款人 According to sb (him, her, them, etc.): according According to sb (him, her, them, etc.): according

to what sb said, etc. Cf. in my opinionto what sb said, etc. Cf. in my opinion The only people who come close to the experience The only people who come close to the experience

of scuba divers are astronautsof scuba divers are astronautsthe only people the only people who have similar experience as scuba divers have who have similar experience as scuba divers have are astronauts.are astronauts.

Alien

Alien: (n.) person who is not a naturalized Alien: (n.) person who is not a naturalized citizen of the country in which he is living citizen of the country in which he is living (( 外侨，外国人外侨，外国人 ), ), being from another world(being from another world( 从另从另一世界来的生物一世界来的生物 ))

((adj.) foreign, unfamiliar, strangeadj.) foreign, unfamiliar, strange Alienate: cause sb to become unfriendly Alienate: cause sb to become unfriendly

or indifferent, estrange sbor indifferent, estrange sb

Isolation, sense of self

““A total isolation from anything that can A total isolation from anything that can interfere with your own personal sense of interfere with your own personal sense of self”self”totally on your own without any totally on your own without any outside interference and you feel yourself outside interference and you feel yourself an independent being. an independent being.

Para. 6

Although many risk-takers Although many risk-takers see hang gliding assee hang gliding as the most dangerous sport of all, Weigel the most dangerous sport of all, Weigel feels hang gliders should not feels hang gliders should not be regarded asbe regarded as thrill seekers. Yet he said that hang gliding thrill seekers. Yet he said that hang gliding ““scares the living daylights out of mescares the living daylights out of me” and ” and that “everything else seems boring that “everything else seems boring compared to itcompared to it.” .”

Scare the living daylights out of sb

Scare the living daylights out of sb: make sb Scare the living daylights out of sb: make sb numb;numb;

Cf. beat/knick the living daylights out of sb Cf. beat/knick the living daylights out of sb (know sb out)(know sb out)

To see bungee jumping already scares the To see bungee jumping already scares the living daylights out of me, let alone jump in living daylights out of me, let alone jump in person. person.

Para. 7

Why do people willingly Why do people willingly seek outseek out danger? According danger? According to Dr. George Serban, associate professor of clinical to Dr. George Serban, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at New York University, most men do it psychiatry at New York University, most men do it to prove their masculinity.to prove their masculinity.

Seek (sought-sought)Seek (sought-sought) Seek after/for sth: look for sth, try to find or obtainSeek after/for sth: look for sth, try to find or obtain Seek sb/sth out: look for and find sb/sth Seek sb/sth out: look for and find sb/sth

Para. 8

““The nature of the male animal is to The nature of the male animal is to undertakeundertake dangerous tasks and to dangerous tasks and to confrontconfront them and to them and to succeed,” Dr. Serban said. When life succeed,” Dr. Serban said. When life becomes boring and becomes boring and routineroutine,” Serban says, ,” Serban says, and men do not have a chance for adventure and men do not have a chance for adventure or a chance to prove their masculinity, the or a chance to prove their masculinity, the only other possibility for them is to only other possibility for them is to undertake dangerous activities. undertake dangerous activities.

Undertake

Undertake: start to make oneself responsible Undertake: start to make oneself responsible for sth, agree or promise to do sthfor sth, agree or promise to do sth

Undertake a mission, task, and projectUndertake a mission, task, and project He undertook the organization of the whole He undertook the organization of the whole

scheme.scheme. She undertook to finish the job by Friday. She undertook to finish the job by Friday.

Confront

Confront: make sb face or consider sb/sth Confront: make sb face or consider sb/sth unpleasant, difficult, etc, faceunpleasant, difficult, etc, face

He didn't confess until the police confronted He didn't confess until the police confronted him with all the evidence of his guilt.him with all the evidence of his guilt.

That last problem we would like to That last problem we would like to encounter finally confronted us.encounter finally confronted us.

She was confronted with a dilemma.She was confronted with a dilemma.Confrontation Confrontation

Routine

Routine: fixed and regular way of doing Routine: fixed and regular way of doing thingsthings

She found it difficult to establish a new She found it difficult to establish a new routine after retirement.routine after retirement.

He just did it as a matter of routine.He just did it as a matter of routine. Routine tasks, chores, duties, procedure Routine tasks, chores, duties, procedure

Para. 9

Eric D. Rosenfeld, a 43-year-old Manhattan Eric D. Rosenfeld, a 43-year-old Manhattan layer who has been climbing mountains for layer who has been climbing mountains for 20years, 20years, spoke ofspoke of the the habit-forminghabit-forming nature nature of his sport. “It’s quite of his sport. “It’s quite addictiveaddictive,” he says. ,” he says. “You “You get addicted toget addicted to the risk factor.” the risk factor.”

Addictive, addicted, addict

Addictive, addicted, addictAddictive, addicted, addict a heroin addict, a chess/TV/football addicta heroin addict, a chess/TV/football addict be addicted to drugs, alcohol, be addicted to be addicted to drugs, alcohol, be addicted to

TV soap operaTV soap opera addictive drugs addictive drugs

Intellectual appreciation

10. Although several of his friends have died while 10. Although several of his friends have died while mountain climbing, Rosenfeld said, “I mountain climbing, Rosenfeld said, “I have an have an intellectual appreciationintellectual appreciation that it’s risky…” that it’s risky…”

… “… “I have an understanding that it’s risky…”I have an understanding that it’s risky…” Intellectual: intellectual faculties (Intellectual: intellectual faculties ( 智能智能 ), ),

intellectual people (intellectual people ( 善思考的人善思考的人 ), ), intellectual intellectual interests/pursuit (interests/pursuit ( 需用脑力的爱好、研究需用脑力的爱好、研究 ) )

Novelty

11. The 11. The noveltynovelty of the sport is what attracted of the sport is what attracted Susan Tripp, a 35-year-old Manhattan Susan Tripp, a 35-year-old Manhattan lawyer, to skin-diving. lawyer, to skin-diving.

Novelty: something newNovelty: something new

Introduce

12. At parties, he said, he simply 12. At parties, he said, he simply introduces introduces ballooning into the conversationballooning into the conversation, and he , and he becomes the center of attention for at least becomes the center of attention for at least an hour. an hour.

Frame 1: Quantifiers

A lot of/most/many/some/not many/a A lot of/most/many/some/not many/a few/few people think scuba diving is few/few people think scuba diving is exciting. (exciting. ( 用于可数名词前的数量词用于可数名词前的数量词 ))

A lot of/most/some/not much/a little/little A lot of/most/some/not much/a little/little food is bad for you.(food is bad for you.( 用于物质名词前的数量词用于物质名词前的数量词 ))

A few vs. a little, few vs. littleA few vs. a little, few vs. little

Frame 2: Comparisons with quantifiers

Boxers have Boxers have moremore injuries than wrestlers. injuries than wrestlers. Wrestlers have Wrestlers have fewerfewer injuries than boxers. injuries than boxers. Soccer has Soccer has moremore action than baseball. action than baseball. Baseball has Baseball has lessless action than soccer. action than soccer.

Frame 2: Comparisons with quantifiers

Joggers have just Joggers have just as many injuries asas many injuries as tennis tennis players.players.

Scuba divers have just Scuba divers have just as few injuries asas few injuries as swimmers.swimmers.

Swimmers get just Swimmers get just as much exercise asas much exercise as joggers.joggers.

My sister gets just My sister gets just as little exercise asas little exercise as my my parents.parents.

Frame 3: Quantifiers with of

A lot of people I know go scuba diving.A lot of people I know go scuba diving. All/many/most/some/a few/none of them All/many/most/some/a few/none of them

have been injured.have been injured. Both of them have been injured.Both of them have been injured. One/neither of them has been injured.One/neither of them has been injured. All/most/some/much/a little/none of it is All/most/some/much/a little/none of it is

wasted.wasted.

Composition 3

Topic: Nowadays Internet is very popular and Topic: Nowadays Internet is very popular and people spend more and more time on people spend more and more time on Internet. But as a coin has two sides, Internet. But as a coin has two sides,

Internet has its advantages and Internet has its advantages and disadvantages at the same time. What’s disadvantages at the same time. What’s

your opinion on this issue? your opinion on this issue?