Section B 3 3 UNIT A life in film To master the reading skill To understand the text To practice the phrases and patterns To learn how to design and write

Section B

3

3UNIT

A life in film

A life in film

To master the reading skill

To understand the text

To practice the phrases and patterns

To learn how to design and write a profile article

Objectives

Life stories

Warming-up

Reading skills

Text study

Comparative study

Contents

Unit project

A life in filmSection B

Warming-up

Lead-in

Background information


Video Watching

1. How do you describe this movie?

Tips

Tips

2. What is the theme of this movie?

Back

Tips

1. How do you describe this movie?

• Romantic element;

• Reality not fantasy;

• Love story about human nature;

• Deep connection with animals;

• Trust between human and animals;

…

• Home is the place that I always aspire to return to.

• Tradition way with our family.

• Keeping close with our children.

• The theme of “coming home” is always so important to me.

• We need courage to follow our hope.

2. What is the theme of this movie?

Tips

1. Who is Steven Spielberg?

2. Do you know Universal Studios?

3. Do you know Steven’s films?

Tips

Tips

Tips


1. Who is Steven Spielberg?

Tips Steven Allan Spielberg is an American film director,

screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio

entrepreneur.

He won the Academy Award for Best Director for

Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).

Three of his films—Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-terrestrial

(1982), and Jurassic Park (1993)— achieved box office

records.


2. Do you know Universal Studios?

Tips

Universal Studios (also known as Universal

City Studios or Universal Pictures), is one of the

six major movie studios in Hollywood. Founded

in 1912, it is the oldest American movie studios

still in continuous production.


3. Do you know Steven’s films?


Reading skills

Presentation of the skill

Reading skill practice


A biography of a famous person usually

includes important facts and opinions about

the person. When you read such non-fiction

articles, it is very important for you to know

how to distinguish between facts and

opinions. The ability can help you better

follow the writer’s thinking and reasoning

process and understand the reading deeper.

Distinguishing between facts and opinions

Example 1

She was hungry and malnourished, as her family was bankrupted as a result of the invasion. Audrey’s father abandoned the family, and two of her uncles were taken captive and killed. (Text A, Para. 3)

Facts are statements that tell what really happened or what really is the case. A fact can be proved with direct evidence. It is something known by actual experience or observing.


Example 2

Even as her life ended at 63 years of age, she remained a gracious woman who perpetually signified simplicity, charity, charm and kindness. (Text A, Para. 14)

Opinions are statements of belief, judgment or feeling. They show what someone thinks or feels about a subject. Solid opinions, of course, are based on facts. However, opinions are still somebody’s view of something and are not facts themselves.


The key difference between facts and opinions lies in the difference between knowing and believing. Opinions may be based on facts, but they are still what people think, not what people know. Opinions are debatable; facts are not.

A writer often combines the two in such a way that we do not always notice where fact ends and opinion begins. And you must decide whether the main point of the statement is essentially fact or opinion, which can help you understand the statement, even the whole article, better.


Example 3

In that role, her lifelong passion for helping those in need, found its greatest calling. (Text A, Para. 9)

Note: On the surface it is a statement of fact, but actually it is only a comment of the writer according to his understanding of the subject.



Look at the following statements from Text B and decide which are facts (F) and which hare opinions (O).

1. At 12 years old, Steven Spielberg was already visiting film shooting at Universal Studio.

2. Such persistence is hardly surprising from a boy whose lifelong conviction was to “Make sure you are right and go on!”

3. When Steven was eight years old, his father gave him a Brownie 8 mm film camera as his birthday present.

4. His achievements are certainly related to the personal obstacles and setbacks he faced from an early age.


5. The theme of the lack of a father figure consistently infected Steven’s film.

6. He applied to two of the best film schools in the country.

7. Unwilling to give up, Steven entered the California State University, where he hoped the program in TV and radio might open his way to Hollywood.

8. Instead, it is Steven’s committed spirit that has strengthened him in standing fast against all rejections, prejudice and skepticism, and driven him to keep moving onward.

Text study

Text comprehension

Language focus

Critical thinking


1. How to understand the quotation: “Make sure you are right and go on!”? (Para. 1)

2. How did Steven win the national contest? (Para. 2)

3. What was Steven like when he was in school? (Para. 3)

4. What impact did Steven’s father have on him? (Para. 4)

5. What about his learning experience? (Paras. 5-6)

6. What is the main idea of Paragraph 7? (Para. 7)

7. What film win Steven a seven-year contract with Universal Studios? (Para. 8)

8. Which film make Steven famous? (Para. 9)

9. Why can Steven achieve success? (Para. 10)

Questions previewing

Steven had to face rejections and obstacles in his film-creating efforts, but his persistence and dedication tranformed the obstacles into an alternative route to success.

1. How to understand the quotation: “Make sure you are

right and go on!”? (Para. 1)

Tips

help him overcome them and finally become successful

原句：… even though he didn’t have a legitimate security pass, he would try to manipulate his way past the guards and into his personal paradise. (Para. 1, L7)

解释 : … he didn’t have a valid permit to get into the film shooting places, but he would try his best to figure out a way to pass the guards and get into the studios where he found his own paradise..

译文：即使他没有合法安检通行证，他依然设法绕过看守，进入自己的天堂。

Sentence interpreation

(1) Get _____________ a film camera;

2. How did Steven win the national contest? (Para. 2)

Tips

(2) Collect of family events;

(3) Simulate with his toy;

(4) With his neighborhood friends as ;

(5) Win a prize for ;

(6) Win the national contest for his film ______________________.

Brownie 8 mmfootage

action scenes

actors

cinematography

Escape to Nowhere

3. What was Steven like when he was in school? (Para. 3)

Tips

A. He was athletic and friendly in school.

B. He had natural intelligence and usually earned a good grade.

C. He was popular because of his interest in film.

D. He was avoided and laughed at by his classmates.

Choose the best answer to the question.

4. What impact did Steven’s father have on him? (Para. 4)

Tips

A. Steven later consistently shot films that lacked a father figure.

B. Steven inherited the artistic personalities from his father.

C. Steven was good at engineering with the help of his father.

D. Steven hated his father because his father abandoned the family.


(1) The University of Southern California.

(2) The University of California, Los Angeles.

(3) The California State University.

5. What about his learning experience? (Paras.5-6)

Tips

Because of his low grades.

原句：But even with a formidable 10 years of experiences in filmmaking and his friends at Universal Studios endorsing him, his grades were too poor, and he was flatly turned down at both institutions. (Para. 5, L4) 解释 : Despite his 10 years of impressive experiences in filmmaking and the support from his friends at Universal Studios, he got an absolute refusal from the two universities because of his low grades at school.

译文：尽管有十年丰富的电影制作经验和环球影视公司朋友的支持，但是由于成绩太差，他仍被两个大学断然拒绝。

断然拒绝

Sentence interpretation

原句：Despite his manifest talent, his low grades sabotaged transfer attempts, forcing real film schools to withhold acceptance. (Para. 6, L5)

解释 : Though his talent was easy to see, his grades were too poor for him to be transferred to real film schools, which refused to accept him.

译文：尽管他才华出众，但学业成绩太低使他转学受挫，真正的电影学校都不接纳他。

故意破坏

Sentence interpretation

6. What is the main idea of Paragraph 7? (Para.7)

Tips

A. Steven diverted his attention away from films.

B. Steven often cheated people at Universal Studios.

C. Steven managed to change the situation by himself.

D. Steven was too smart to be caught and expelled.


Amblin.

7. What film win Steven a seven-year contract with Universal Studios? (Para.8)

Tips

8. Which film made Steven famous? (Para.9)

TipsJaws

E.T.

Jurassic Park

Schindler’s List

9. Why can Steven achieve success? (Para.10)

Tips

committed spirit

prejudice skepticism

As his first producer said, “It is not by any ___________ that Steven is in his present position.” Instead, it is Steven’s ______________ that has strengthened him in standing fast against all rejections, __________ and __________ driven him to keep moving onward.

coincidence

persistence and

dedication

rejections and obstacles

film shooting

Steven had to face ______________________ in

his film-creating efforts, but his ______________

______________ transformed the obstacles into

an alternative route to success.

When he was 12 years old, he was already

visiting _______________ at Universal Studios.

By the time he was 17 years old, Steven had

established himself as a director with the artistic

intuition of a man twice his age.

Text summary

natural intelligenceDespite his __________________, Steven consistently earned low grades. His low grades ____________ transfer attempts, forcing real film schools to __________________. Steven __________________ the situation on his own by ____________________ away from academics. His film Amblin win him a seven-year contract with Universal Studios.

Then his movie Jaws was _____________ and it made Steven famous. It is Steven’s _______________ that has strengthened him in ______________ against all rejections, prejudice and skepticism and driven him to ___________________.

sabotagedwithhold acceptance

contrived to rectify diverting his attention

committed spirit

a box office hit

standing fast

keep moving onward

Text summary

Practical Phrases Meanings1. establish oneself (as / in) 使被接受，使得到承认2. be related to sth. / sb. 与…相关，与…有联系3. put effort into (doing) sth. 努力做…4. end (sth.) with sth. 以…作为结束5. (all) on one’s own 无援地；独立地6. stand fast 坚持立场；拒不让步7. drive sb. to do sth. 迫使，促使（某人做某

事）8. immerse oneself in sth. 潜心于某事，专心于某事

Language focus

Practical phrases

使被接受，使得到承认

(establish oneself (as / in) / outstanding)

At Yale University, he quickly established himself as a brilliant student among a class of many outstanding students.

establish oneself (as / in) 短语逆译

短语应用他在耶鲁大学很快让自己成为了拥有众多杰出学生的班级中出色的一员。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

与…相关，与…有联系 be related to sth. / sb.短语逆译

(be related to / humorous poem)

I’m not exactly sure what she does there, but it seems to be related to humorous poems.

短语应用我并不确切的知道她为什么会出现在那些结果中，但似乎与幽默诗歌有关。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

努力做…

(put effort into sth / be no limit to )

If they put effort into everything, there is no limit to what they can do.

put effort into (doing) sth. 短语逆译

短语应用如果他们努力做每件事，他们能做成任何事。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

以…作为结束

(end sth. with sth. / light-hearted temperament)

My light-hearted temperament makes me able to greet, and also to end each day with a smile.

end (sth.) with sth. 短语逆译

短语应用

无忧无虑的性格使我能够用微笑迎接和结束每一天。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

无援地；独立地

(all on one’s own / inherit the orchard)

She had inherited the orchard and was running it all on her own.

(all) on one’s own短语逆译

短语应用

她已继承了这片果园，果园的打理全靠她自己。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

坚持立场；拒不让步

(stand fast / as it has done) Switzerland will stand fast in the future as it has stood fast in the past.

stand fast 短语逆译

短语应用就像在过去拒不让步一样，瑞士在未来也会坚持立场。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

促使（某人做某事）

(drive to / anticipation of)

Anticipation of an upcoming test would logically drive student to study.

drive sb. to do sth.短语逆译

短语应用预料到即将要考试自然会促使学生学习。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

潜心于某事，专心于某事

(immerse sb. in sth / encourage sb.)

The teacher encourages the students to immerse themselves in learning English.

immerse oneself in sth.

短语逆译

短语应用

老师鼓励学生全身心投入到英语学习中。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

Functional Patterns Functions & Usages

1. It is not +… that clause; it is +… that clause

强调句，用于凸显后一观点或事实。

2. Such persistence/ commitment / determination / devotion…is hardly surprising / amazing… from sb. whose…

某人坚持 / 执著 / 决心 / 奉献…的精神不让人觉得意外。表示做某事的坚定信念。

3. Sb. do sth, while doing another thing…

一边做某事，一边做另一件事。表示某人同时做两件事。

Language focus

Functional patterns

史蒂文能达到目前的地位绝非偶然，相反，是史蒂文执著的精神让他能够脚踏实地，直面所有拒绝、偏见和怀疑，并推动他持续向前。

原句译文

逆译练习It is not by any coincidence that Steven is in his present position. Instead, it is Steven’s committed spirit that has strengthened him in standing fast against all rejections, prejudice and skepticism and driven him to keep moving onward. (Para.10) 句型提炼

Language focus

Functional patterns

It is not +… that clause; it is +… that clause

句型提炼

应用提示强调句，用于凸显后一观点或事实。

句型应用

Language focus

Functional patterns

(striving to cultivate / an air of innocence )

It is not because I am striving to cultivate an air of innocence that I often dress in white; it is because I have to think of my own convenience for entering and leaving my place of work that I wear white.

典型例句我并不是因为要努力营造纯洁气氛才常穿白色衣服，而是因为我必须考虑进出工作场所方便才穿白色的。

意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

对于一位终身信念是“确定你是对的，然后勇往直前！”的小男孩而言，这种坚持并不让人意外。

原句译文

逆译练习Such persistence is hardly surprising from a boy whose lifelong conviction was to “Make sure you are right and go on!” (Para. 1)

句型提炼

Language focus

Functional patterns

Such persistence / commitment / determination / devotion…is hardly surprising / amazing…from sb. whose…

句型提炼

应用提示某人坚持 / 执著 / 决心 / 奉献…的精神不让人觉得意外。表示“做某事的坚定信念”。

句型应用

Language focus

Functional patterns

(commitment / heal the wounded and rescue the dying )

Such commitment is hardly surprising from a girl whose lifelong conviction was to be a respectable doctor who can heal the wounded and rescue the dying.

典型例句对于一位终身信念是成为一名救死扶伤、受人尊敬的医生的小女孩而言，这种执著并不让人意外。

意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

史蒂文一边再三向环球公司管理层证明自己，一边在餐厅打工攒钱买设备。

原句译文

逆译练习

Steven repeatedly tried to prove himself to the Universal executives, while working in a cafeteria to save up money for equipment. (Para. 8)

句型提炼

Language focus

Functional patterns

Sb. do sth, while doing another thing…

句型提炼

应用提示一边做某事，一边做另一件事。用于表达“某人同时做两件事。”

句型应用

Language focus

Functional patterns

(household chores / sense of achievement)

Turn on your favorite music, while doing household chores, this will make the task more enjoyable and will have a sense of achievement when you are completing them.

典型例句当你在做家务的时候可以放一些你喜欢的音乐。这能让你的家务劳动变得更加有趣并且能让你在完成家务的时候有成就感。意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

1. 转变成一条成功之道2. 公文包里带着午餐3. 终生的信念4. 他所经历的障碍和挫折5. 躲着他和取笑他6. 狂暴的争吵7. 断然拒绝8. 偷偷溜进去9. 偷偷混进去10. 票房冠军，卖座电影

an alternative route to success

lunch tucked into his briefcase

lifelong conviction

obstacles and setbacks he faced

shunned and mocked him

reverted to furiously arguing

flatly turn down

discreetly sneak into

smuggle himself back in again

a box office hit

Language focus

Genuine collocations

a. His persistence and

dedication transformed the

obstacles into an alternative

route to success.

他的坚持和付出将困难转变成了一条成功之道。

Language focus

Language appreciation

在社交方面，他体育上不擅长，也不受人欢迎。由

于他的兴趣明显都在电影上，他看上去古里古怪，

同学们不是躲着他就是取笑他。

b. Socially, he was not athletic

or popular, and since his

conspicuous interest in film

made him seem eccentric,

classmates shunned and

mocked him. (Para.3, L5)

Language focus


是史蒂文执著的精神让他

能够脚踏实地，直面所有拒绝、偏见和怀疑，并推动他持续向前。

c. It is Steven’s committed

spirit that has strengthened

him in standing fast against

all rejections, prejudice and

skepticism and driven him

to keep moving onward.

(Para. 10, L2)

Language focus


2. Which is more important to a person’s future achievement, experience or grades?

1. What stands in your way of pursuing your dreams and how do you handle it?

3. What could you get from your college education? Compared with Steven, what do you still lack?

Tips

Tips

Tips

Critical thinking

Further discussion

1. What stands in your way of pursuing your dreams and how do you handle it?

Tips

My dream is to be an astronomer. However, I have to face many challenges, such as difficulties in acquiring too much knowledge, years of tedious work on research projects, lack of a strong passion to keep me going, etc. I think I have to handle them with determination, hard work, as well as absolute patience.

Critical thinking

Further discussion


Tips

I think experience is more important to a person’s

future career achievement. Your experience not

only helps you obtain deep knowledge about your

goal, but also provides you with a real insight into

what you are pursuing and strengthens your

determination when you are confronted with

difficulties. To be continued

Critical thinking

Further discussion


Tips

Although many people believe experience is very

important, I think grades are more critical for one’s

future achievement. In my opinion, for students,

grades are a better indicator of their ability in

obtaining and applying knowledge, which is essential

in achieving one’s goal.

Critical thinking

Further discussion

What I could get from my college education is

knowledge from books, faith in life, and equally

importantly, some interpersonal skills. Compared with

Steven, I think I still lack practical experience in work,

passionate love of what I’m doing, and most

importantly, the persistence in pursuing my dreams.

Tips

3. What could you get from your college education? Compared with Steven, what do you still lack?

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Talk about Western movie culture.

Critical thinking

Further discussion

1. What is the characteristic of Western movies?

2. Why did the Jaws become a box office hit?

Tips

Tips

Critical thinking

Further discussion

• Emphasis on personality.

— Individualistic heroism ( 个人英雄主义 ).

• Emphasis on consumption idea.

• Emphasis on subjugation (征服欲 ).

— Cultural imperialism ( 文化霸权主义 ).

• Emphasis on extermination (毁灭 ).

— Propensity to violence (暴力倾向 ).

Tips

1. What is the characteristic of western movies?

Critical thinking

Further discussion

• Initiates the new age of Hollywood thriller (惊悚片 );

• Full of reality;

• Pander to ( 迎合 ) the American’s hobby at that time;

• Amazing special effects (特技效果 );

• Profound ideological connotation (深刻的思想内涵 );

• Scary scenes and thrilling plots.

2. Why did the Jaws become a box office hit?

Tips

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Thematic study

Comparative study

Thematic study

Language features analysis


2. According to your own experiences, how can college students achieve the “success” and “self-worth”?

1. Compare the success of the two celebrities in their own domain in Text A and Text B.

Tips

Tips

1. Compare the success of the two celebrities in their own domain in Text A and Text B.

Audrey Hepburn Steven Spielberg1. Internationally famous

movie star;2. Win many Academy

Awards;3. To be an exemplary mother

and a UNICEF Ambassador;4. Have the duty to care for

those in need;5. Simplicity, charity, charm

and kindness;6. Spirit of social responsibility

and dedication.

1. Persistence and dedication;2. His terrific talent and artistic

intuition; 3. Win a prize for

cinematography;4. Win a national contest;5. Win the contract with

Universal Studios; 6. Get a box office hit and be

famous.

Tips

2. According to your own experiences, how can college students achieve the “success” and “self-

worth”?

• Have the courage to face rejections and

obstacles. • Full of commitment and determination. • Firmly believe your goal. • Try your best to study and work hard. • Stand fast and keep moving onward. • …

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.

Tips

Tips

Text B is a narration to do with coherence and to show the time relationship between sentences and ideas. It portrays the determination and fervent spirit of director and producer Steven Spielberg.

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

TipsText A is a biography which is written in chronological order. It pays attention to actress Audrey Hepburn’s noble endeavor and her contribution to the cause of UNICEF.

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

TipsText A develops a narrative essay in

chronological order (Paras. 3-6):

As a young girl during the Nazi occupation of

her native Holland...

After the war…

Soon…

Unit project


Designing a profile article

Writing a profile article

Designing and writing a

profile article


A profile article is simply a word sketch of a person. Where a normal biography usually begins with the date of birth and continues chronologically, a profile needs to be more creative, better designed and structured altogether. A profile article includes the lead, body, and closure.


The lead is the introduction to your article and your subject. It can be an anecdote, pure information, a description, a quote, a question or a comparison.The body weaves background material with details and quotes, could be organized thematically or chronologically. One way to make a closure is to have a circular ending by referring back to your lead or the article’s subject or thesis. Another way is a descriptive scene or a summary statement.


1 Discuss in groups and decide on the person you want to write a profile of. Take notes on the following:

• The subject: who and what theme to portray?

• The story: what is important or interesting to the reader? (the subject’s works, accomplishments, social influence, etc.)

2 Make a presentation in class based on your notes.

3 Write a profile article based on your presentation and class feedback.


Writing a profile article of Alfred Hitchcock

You may include the following points:

The subject:

Who and what theme to portray?

Alfred Hitchcock

Theme:•His life experience•His success

To be continued


Writing a profile article of Alfred Hitchcock

You may include the following points:

The story: What is important or interesting to the

reader?• He was an English film director and producer.• The magazine has described him as the most influential film-

maker of all time. • The Lodger was a major commercial and critical success in

the United Kingdom.• His works ranged from romantic comedy to courtroom drama,

to dark and disturbing films.


The End


Documents

Section B 3 3 UNIT A life in film To master the reading skill To understand the text To practice the phrases and patterns To learn how to design and write