Section B 2 To master the reading skill To understand the text To practice the phrases and patterns To learn to conduct a surveyObjectives Finding my way

Section BSection B

22

To master the reading skill

To understand the text

To practice the phrases and patterns

To learn to conduct a survey

ObjectiveObjectivess

Finding my way back homeFinding my way back home

3Unit

Warming-up

Reading skills

Text study

Comparative study

ContentsContents

Unit project

Finding my way back homeFinding my way back homeSection B

Warming-up

Lead-inLead-in

Background Background informationinformation


1. How does the man on the bus feel now and why?

Watch a video clip and answer the following questions

TipsTips

TipTipss

2. What did the man ask his love to do in the letter

and what happens in the end?

Lead-Lead-inin

BackBack

Watch a video clip and answer the following questionsLead-Lead-inin

TipTipss

Lead-Lead-inin

His heart is filled with uncertainty and anxiety because he doesn’t know whether his love will accept him or not after three years of imprisonment. He is so anxious that he even asks the bus driver to look for him because he couldn’t bear to see what he might see.

1. How does the man on the bus feel now and why?


Lead-Lead-inin

2. What did the man ask his love to do in the letter and what happens in the end?


The man asked his love to tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree to show that she still wants him. To his great surprise, his love ties a hundred yellow ribbons around the old oak tree to welcome him home, which is responded with cheer of all the passengers.

TipTipss

1. What is the American Dream? TipTipss


2. Do young people in America value stability as much as the old generations did?

TipTipss

1. What is the American Dream?


TipsTips

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

2. Do young people in America value stability as much as the old generations did?


TipsTips

From about 1946 to the 1960s people enjoyed a stable era after World War II. Most people married young, settled down, had children and chased the so-called American Dream which was defined by material possessions and a comfortable life. Today’s world, however, is marked by global economic instabilities and faster than ever turn over and changes. For young people now, mobility is a more desirable goal than stability and the best measure of success is one’s ability to adapt to instability.

Reading skills

Presentation of the Presentation of the skillskill

Reading skill Reading skill practicepractice


To make language more interesting and entertaining, we often use expressions which are not literally true. For example, we use figurative language in speaking and writing. Figurative language is language that compares, paints a picture for the readers. Figurative language can be confusing if it is understood literally. The ability to recognize and interpret or explain figurative language can help us fully understand a writer’s point.


Understanding figurative language


Different ways of using figurative language

1. Simile (明喻 /直喻 ): a figurative expression which directly compares one thing to another by using the words as or like, such as as white as snow.



2. Metaphor (暗喻 ): a figurative expression in which the comparison is only implied, without using as, like and the like.

3. Personification (拟人化 ): a figurative expression which compares non-human things to humans.



Now, let’s take a look at the following examples from Text A:

1. Today we have an equivalent need to recognize a new phase of life that comes after high school graduation, continues through college, and then leads to starting a family and having a career, the so-called odyssey years. (Para. 4)



2. Nations around the world have witnessed similar trends toward delaying marriage and spending more years than ever shifting between higher education and settling down with a career and family. (Para. 10)

3. If you’re a little late with your goals, don’t feel like a failure! Stay strong, be positive, and keep focused! Someday you will look back and wonder at the vast changes as you passed through the odyssey years. (Para. 12)



The first one is a metaphor because it compares the new phase of life to The Odyssey, a well-known ancient Greek poem that depicts the Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home; both contain a long journey. Thus the figurative meaning is obvious though not directly said.



The second one is personification because the sentence compares non-human things (nations) to humans (only living things can witness).

The third one is definitely a simile since it compares the feeling to “failure” directly using the word like.


Reading skill practiceReading skill practice

The following sentences are from Text B. Explain the underlined figurative language and also indicate in brackets which particular way is used.

1 “Dear Dad,” I wrote, “I want to come home from my exile.” (Para. 1)

Explanation: _________________ ( )

2 Like a volcano erupting, I snapped. (Para. 3)

Explanation: _________________ ( )

The following sentences are from Text B. Explain the underlined figurative language and also indicate in brackets which particular way is used.

1 “Dear Dad,” I wrote, “I want to come home from my exile.” (Para. 1)

Explanation: _________________ ( )

2 Like a volcano erupting, I snapped. (Para. 3)

Explanation: _________________ ( )


Reading skill practiceReading skill practice

3 The truck driver smiled and said, “Look at that, would you! Just like in a fairy tale! ...” (Para. 28)

Explanation: _________________ ( )

4 Four bamboo cane chairs are sitting on the porch, with lighted lamps in every one of them, and an old man, as still as a statue, is out there with a flashlight aimed toward the road. (Para. 28)

Explanation: _________________ ( )

3 The truck driver smiled and said, “Look at that, would you! Just like in a fairy tale! ...” (Para. 28)

Explanation: _________________ ( )

4 Four bamboo cane chairs are sitting on the porch, with lighted lamps in every one of them, and an old man, as still as a statue, is out there with a flashlight aimed toward the road. (Para. 28)

Explanation: _________________ ( )


Text study

Text comprehensionText comprehension

Language focusLanguage focus

Critical Critical thinkingthinking


1. When would the son always fall into despair when writing to his father? ( Para. 1)

2. What’s the main reason for the son’s running away from home and what was he like at that moment? (Paras. 2 & 3)

3. What did the son seem to learn from his experiences in looking for a job? (Para. 6)

4. Why was the son willing to have a conversation with the deputy? (Para. 18)

5. Why did the son say that it was torture to look at his home? (Para. 27)

6. How did the truck driver depict the father and what did that indicate? (Para. 28)

7. What is the main idea of the text?

Text comprehensionText comprehension Questions previewing

1. When would the son always fall into despair when writing to his father? ( Para. 1)

TipsTips

Text Text comprehensioncomprehension

He was not quite sure about his father’s attitude toward him.

原句：I wanted to go home—home to my parents and sisters, but I would always hesitate … I didn’t know if it was feasible. (Para.1, L6)解释 : I wanted to go home to be with my parents and sisters, but I couldn’t make up my mind because I didn’t know whether my father would accept me more than one year after the bitter fight.

译文：我想回家——回到有我父母和姐妹的家，但我

总是犹豫不决 ······ 不知回家之路是否行得通。

Text comprehensionText comprehensionSentence interpretation

2. What’s the main reason for the son’s running away from

home and what was he like at that moment? (Paras. 2 & 3)

TipTipss


His family code demanded that he go to college after finishing high school, but he was tired of school, and he thought he was miserable because the allowance his father gave him was pitiful and the work on the farm was hollow and dull, so he had a fight with his father, like a volcano erupting, and ran away from home.

3. What did the son seem to learn from his experiences in looking for a job? (Para. 6)


Traveling east to west, the son did a series of jobs, while none of them amounted to very much because the employers always wanted college graduates, so the son came to realize that having a good educational background is very important.

TipTipss

4. Why was the son willing to have a conversation with the deputy? (Para. 18)

The boy thought the deputy wanted to listen to him

and the deputy was a good person that he could

trust.


TipTipss

原句：He seemed truly interested. There was real integrity in his face. (Para. 18)

解释 : He seemed to be very interested in the conversation, and, to me, he was trustworthy as well.

译文：他好像真的很感兴趣，脸上写满了真诚。


5. Why did the son say that it was torture to look at his home? (Para. 27)

He wasn’t sure whether there would be a light shining on the porch, which symbolizes his father’s forgiveness and acceptance. His heart was filled with strong desire to go home and deep fear of being rejected.

TipsTips


原句：It was torture to look and I couldn’t bear to do it. Suddenly, we were there. I surrendered myself to my fate! (Para. 27, L 2)

解释 : When the young man was approaching his home, he was so anxious to learn about his father’s attitude to his coming back home that it was just like torture to him. He felt he was simply not in control of his own fate at that moment. 译文：每看一眼就好似一种折磨，我简直受不了了。刹

那间，我们到了。我只能听天由命，任凭命运摆布了！


6. How did the truck driver depict the father and what did that indicate? (Para. 28)

The truck driver said that his father was as still as a statue, standing out there with a flashlight aimed toward the road. By doing so the father wanted to indicate that he had forgiven his son.


TipsTips

7. What is the main idea of the text?

TipsTips


A lost son got his way back home through self-discovery.

Text comprehensionText comprehension Text summary

I was tired of

a series of

amounted to

despair

exile bond with

Text comprehensionText comprehension Text summary

feasible

demonstrate

offered me a ride

surrendered myself to my fate

Practical phrasesLanguage focusLanguage focus

Practical PhrasesPractical Phrases MeaningsMeanings1. fall into （突然）陷入（某种心境）2. not amount to

much/anything/ a great deal不太重要；没什么了不起

3. bond with （与某人）培养一种亲密或紧密的关系

4. resign oneself to sth. 使自己顺从于（做某事）5. offer / give sb. a ride 开车捎某人一段路程6. drift off 慢慢入睡7. surrender oneself to sth. 听任某事摆布；屈服于某事

（尤指突然）陷入（某种心境）

(a strong feeling of frustration / intense frustration)

The failure gives me such a strong feeling of frustration that I fall into a deep pain.

fall into 短语逆译

短语应用失败让我体验到了强烈的挫败感，我陷入了深深的痛苦之中。意群提示

Language focusLanguage focus Practical phrases

不太重要；没什么了不起

not amount to much / anything / a great deal短语逆译

(later on)

What he said did not seem to amount to much, but later on it helped us a great deal.

短语应用他的话当时似乎没有多大意思，可是后来对我们有很大帮助。意群提示

Language FocusLanguage Focus Practical phrases

（与某人）培养一种亲密或紧密的关系

(quiet private time)

The hospital gives mothers quiet private time in which to bond with their babies.

bond with短语逆译

短语应用医院给母亲安静的私人时间以帮助她们培养与婴儿的感情。

意群提示


使自己顺从于（做某事）

(a loss on the sale)

We had to resign ourselves to a loss on the sale.

resign oneself to sth. 短语逆译

短语应用我们只好接受销售造成的亏损。

意群提示


开车捎某人一段

(to have no transportation of one’s own)

If you have no transportation of your own, I’ll be happy to give you a ride to work.

give sb. a ride短语逆译

短语应用如果您没有自己开车，我会很乐意开车送您去工作。

意群提示


慢慢入睡

(sit in the warm afternoon sun)

As the old man was sitting in the warm afternoon sun, he grew tired and drifted off into a sleep.

drift off短语逆译

短语应用老人坐在温暖的午后阳光下，觉得很疲倦，就慢慢地入睡了。

意群提示


听任某事摆布；屈服于某事

(hijackers)

The hijackers eventually surrendered themselves to the police.

surrender oneself to sth. 短语逆译

短语应用劫机者最终向警方投降。

意群提示


Language focusLanguage focus

Functional PatternsFunctional Patterns Functions & UsagesFunctions & Usages

1. Sb. had done sth. many times but would always do sth…

“某人已做某事好多次，但却总是…”。用于表述做某事没有产生预期的结果或不能持之以恒。

2. Sb.hates/dislikes/resents/likes/loves sb. /sth., finding him/it + adj…

“某人厌恶或喜欢某人 / 某事物，觉得他 / 它……”。用于表达对某人或某事物的感受

3. Like sb. /sth. doing…, sb. does sth.

“某人像…一样做某事”。类比，用于表述事物间的相似性。

4. Sb. asks sb. else to demonstrate sth./ that…by doing sth. .

“某人请求 / 要求他人做某事以表明…”。用于表述某人的主观意愿。

Functional patterns

句型提炼句型提炼

这封信我已写了好多次开头，但每次都以绝望而告终。

原句译文

逆译练习

I’d started this letter many times but would always fall into despair. (Para.1, L4)

Language focusLanguage focusFunctional patterns

句型应用句型应用

Sb. had done sth. many times but would always do sth. .

句型提炼

应用提示

用于表述”做某事没有产生预期的结果或不能持之以恒。”


(fitness and body building exercises /give up halfway)

He had started fitness and body building exercises many times but would always give up halfway.

典型例句他开了好几次头做健身锻炼，但总是半途而废。

意群提示



我讨厌这样的工作，发现它既没意思又单调乏味 !

原句译文

逆译练习

I hated the work, finding it hollow and dull! (Para.2, L7)



sb. hates/dislikes/resents/likes/loves sb. /sth., finding him/it + adj…

句型提炼

应用提示

用于表达 “对某人或某事物的感受。”


(newly-enrolled cadet / military training)

This newly-enrolled cadet loves his first day of military training, finding it challenging and meaningful.

典型例句这个新入校的学员很喜欢他军训的第一天，觉得它充满了挑战，富有意义。

意群提示



我突然发怒，犹如火山爆发。

原句译文

逆译练习

Like a volcano erupting, I snapped. (Para.3, L1)



Like sb. /sth. doing…, sb. does sth.

句型提炼

应用提示

类比，用于表述 “事物之间的相似性。”


(a candle flickering in the wind / be at one’s last gasp)

Like a candle flickering in the wind, the old lady in her hospital gown is at her last gasp.

典型例句穿着病号服的老太太如风中残烛一般奄奄一息。　

意群提示



爸爸，我请求您让我回家，请把门廊的灯打开，表明您已经原谅了我。

原句译文

逆译练习

And, Dad, I’m asking you to allow me to come home to demonstrate that you’ve forgiven me by leaving the porch light on. (Para.9, L2)



sb. asks sb. else to demonstrate sth./ that…by doing sth. .

句型提炼

应用提示

用于表述“某人的主观意愿。”


(be loyal to/ spare no efforts to / turn the corner)

The general manager asks the employees to demonstrate their loyalty by sparing no efforts to help the company to turn the corner.

典型例句总经理请求员工们竭尽全力帮助公司度过难关以表明他们对公司的忠诚。

意群提示


Language focusLanguage focusCollocations

fall into despair

family code

see one’s grief a series of

resign oneself to sb.’s decision

rouse oneself

drift off to sleep feeling refreshed

surrender oneself to one’s fate

离家出走后，我碰到过很多人，有的有教养，有的很粗俗。离家几个月后我才知道什么是家。

a. I’ve met many people since I’ve

been away; some were refined

and others very coarse. I didn’t

know what home meant until I’d

been away for a few months.

Language Language focusfocus

Language appreciation

我再也不能忍受那些焦虑不安的思念了。我振作起来，踏上了回家的漫漫之路。

b. I couldn’t bear my restless

thoughts any longer. I roused

myself and started down the

long road home.



他好像真的很感兴趣，脸上写满了真诚。

c. He seemed truly interested.

There was real integrity in his

face.



Further discussion

1. What do you think is the son’s main motive to find his way back home?

2. What are the main reasons for young people to run away from home?

3. What are effective ways to establish a healthy relationship between parents and children?


TiTipsps

TipsTips

TipsTips

• The lesson he learned through the odyssey journey.

• The anxiousness to live with his family after the long journey.

• The eagerness to admit his wrong doing to his father.

• The motivation to start his new life

Further discussionCritical Critical thinkingthinking

TipsTips

1. What do you think is the son’s main motive to find his way back home?

• The conflict with their parents;• The wish to have more freedom;• The desire to have a different life;• The wish to get rid of anxiety and stress;• The desire for self-exploration and discovery.


TipsTips

2. What are the main reasons for young people to run away from home?

Further discussion


TipsTips

3. What are effective ways to establish a healthy relationship between parents and children?

Further discussion

• Be understanding and put themselves in their shoes;

• Be patient and rational when dealing withtheir children;

• Try to acquaint themselves with theirchildren’s needs;

• Communicate with their children in a positive manner;

• Provide necessary and appropriate parentalguidance.


Cultural exploration

Talk about a Chinese idiom “三十而立” in terms of parents’ expectations of their children and young people’s self-exploration and self-awareness.

Talk about a Chinese idiom “三十而立” in terms of parents’ expectations of their children and young people’s self-exploration and self-awareness.

1. What does “三十而立” mean?

2. Can you get any inspiration from the Chinese

phrase “ 三十而立 ” to analyze the conflict

between the son and his father and his own

struggles?


TipsTips


TipsTips


TipsTips



This phrase, which originated from The Analects (《论语》 ), is Confucius’ own account of his gradual progress and attainments. The original statement is “吾十有五，而志于学。三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。” It means “At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I know the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right. ”


TipsTips


The phrase means that at the age of thirty a man should be independent and steadfast, realize what he should do and shoulder his responsibilities. This phrase is originally an account of attainment at the age of thirty when Confucius looked back on his life. Later on, it is regarded as the ideal state a man should be in at this age.



TipsTips


Chinese culture are different from American culture; however, some beliefs and expectations are universal. Parents in almost every country hope that their children can be independent financially and mentally when they become adults. The father insisted that the son go to college and be equipped with more knowledge so that he could stand firm on his own feet in the future, but the son refused to do so, which led to their conflict. When the son was away from home, it gradually dawned on him that he would have to go to college and learn how to be an organic farmer so that he would be independent in the future.

2. Can you get any inspiration from the Chinese phrase “三十而立” to analyze the conflict between the son and his father and his own struggles?

Comparative study

Thematic studyThematic study

Language features Language features analysisanalysis


2. What do you think are the rewards of the odyssey years after reading the two passages?


1. Make comparison between young people’s psychological states before and after their odyssey years.

TipsTips

TipsTips

1. Make a comparison between young people’s psychological states before and after their odyssey years.

Before •To take full advantage of the opportunity;•To challenge themselves;•To face new exciting experiences;•To reap the benefits of college years;•To learn to carry responsibility.

Before •To take full advantage of the opportunity;•To challenge themselves;•To face new exciting experiences;•To reap the benefits of college years;•To learn to carry responsibility.

After•To grow in incredible ways;•To take the courses seriously; •To make friends with genuine people;•To treasure the youth and university experience;•To spend college years with passion.

After•To grow in incredible ways;•To take the courses seriously; •To make friends with genuine people;•To treasure the youth and university experience;•To spend college years with passion.


On the one hand, the odyssey years saddle young people with enormous pressure, making them anxious, confused and upset; On the other hand, experiencing the odyssey years helps them to know the gap between dream and reality, gain mental and economic independence, and learn how to communicate with their parents. Someday when they look back they will find that the odyssey years is a period of self-sublimation.

TipsTips


2. What do you think are the rewards of the odyssey years after reading the two passages?

Based on your study of

the two texts, compare

the writing styles of the

two texts in terms of their

typical language features.


1. What are the typical language features of the two texts?

2. List more examples from the text to support your ideas.

Language Features Language Features AnalysisAnalysis

TipTipss

TipTipss

In both text A and text B, the independent genitive

(独立主格结构 ) is employed. The independent

genitive used in text A is “with + n. +v-ing”, and in

text B it is “with + n. + prepositional phrase”.

In both text A and text B, the independent genitive

(独立主格结构 ) is employed. The independent

genitive used in text A is “with + n. +v-ing”, and in

text B it is “with + n. + prepositional phrase”.

1. What are the typical language features of the two texts?

Language Features Language Features AnalysisAnalysis

TipsTips

2. List more examples from the text to support your ideas.


TipsTips

Example in text A:We think of infancy before childhood and middle age before old age, with each unique phase bringing its own peculiar set of challenges.

Example in text B:Four bamboo cane chairs are sitting on the porch, with lighted lamps in every one of them.

Example in text A:We think of infancy before childhood and middle age before old age, with each unique phase bringing its own peculiar set of challenges.

Example in text B:Four bamboo cane chairs are sitting on the porch, with lighted lamps in every one of them.

Unit project

Letter Letter writingwriting

SurveySurvey

PresentatioPresentationn


SurveySurvey

Conducting a survey on Conducting a survey on

the odyssey yearsthe odyssey years

Conducting a survey on the odyssey yearsConducting a survey on the odyssey years

1. Work in groups of four. Brainstorm a list of survey questions to work out a survey questionnaire. You can see the following for reference.

SurveySurvey

Conducting a survey on the odyssey yearsConducting a survey on the odyssey years

2. Conduct your survey. Each person needs to interview at I east five people.

3. Share and summarize your survey results.

SurveySurvey

1. Discuss and provide some constructive suggestions as to how young people can effectively overcome the difficulties confronting them during the odyssey years.

2. Prepare a 10-minute presentation about your survey results and suggestions.

3. Deliver your presentation to the class and vote for the

best one.

PresentatioPresentationn

Suppose you are a parent of a child who ran away from Suppose you are a parent of a child who ran away from home, write a letter to him or her.home, write a letter to him or her.

• Your feelings after he/she ran away

• Inquire about your child’s present conditions

• Inform your child about the consequences of

wandering outside and urge him/her the to

come home.

You may include the following points:

Letter writingLetter writing

Useful expressions Useful expressions Useful expressions Useful expressions

Letter WritingLetter Writing

• After you ran away, I almost cried my heart out.• Your running away from home shattered my heart and

annihilated my spirit.• I felt unworthy and guilty for not being patient and rational

as a mother/ father. • We worried a lot about your safety, wondering whether

your could take good care of yourself outside. • Your father and I want you to know that you are in our

thoughts and in our prayers. • You have own forgiveness. • We hope you can realize your errors and mend your

ways.

The EndThe End


Documents

Section B 2 To master the reading skill To understand the text To practice the phrases and patterns To learn to conduct a surveyObjectives Finding my way