Unit 3

Teaching Contents

Section A: Longing for a New Welfare System

Section B: A Blind Man Helped Me See the Beautiful World

Section C: A Hard Job to Come By (as reading assignment)

Listening and Speaking

Teaching Arrangement

8 periods

Time DistributionReading: 4 periodsWriting: 1 periodListening: 1 periodSpeaking: 1 period Integrated Practice: 1 period

Teaching Aims

Reading: to understand figurative language

Writing: to write a short composition with a general statement supported by examples

Listening: to understand words, sentences and passages that appeared in the text

Speaking: to be able to express oneself on the topic “Are the disabled inferior to healthy people?”

Teaching FocusReading Skill:Generally speaking, figurative language is the

comparison in writing, which is not literally true.Pay great attention to personification and

metaphor.

Writing Skill:To make a detailed outline of the structure of a

general statement supported by examples before writing the composition.

Longing for a New Welfare System

Section A

Warm-up Questions

What do you expect to know in the text after reading the title “Longing for a New Welfare System”?

E.g.: Who might be the author?

What kind of opinion is possibly maintained by him?

What does he mean in the text by “a new welfare system”

The welfare state

The idea of the "welfare state" means different things in different countries.

An ideal model. The "welfare state" usually refers to an ideal model of provision, where the state accepts responsibility for the provision of comprehensive and universal welfare for its citizens.

State welfare. Some commentators use it to mean "welfare provided by the state". This is the main use in the USA.

Social protection.In many "welfare states", social protection is not delivered by the state at all, but by a combination of independent, voluntary and government services. These countries are still usually thought of as "welfare states".

Background Knowledge

What does a “welfare system” or a “welfare state” mean to you?

Who are supposed to get assistance from the welfare system?

What kinds of support are expected to be gained from the welfare system?

American welfare system is very much focused on (one can say also limited) to protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. The Department of Health and Human Services is the US government's principal agency in this field, the department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities:

Medical and Social Science research

Preventing outbreak of infectious disease, including immunization services

Assuring food and drug safety

Medicare and Medicaid

Financial assistance for low-income families

Child support enforcement

Improving maternal and infant health

Preventing child abuse and domestic violence

Substance abuse treatment and prevention

Services for older Americans

The Structure of the Text

Part I (pa.1 – pa.3): how the people concerned behave under the present welfare system.

Part II (pa.4 – pa.14): the problems of the present welfare system.

Part III (pa.15 – pa.17): what should be done with the present welfare system.

Part IWho are concerned with the present welfare system? What are they supposed to do?A welfare client is supposed to cheat while the caseworkers are expected to detect any dishonest report from the clients.In what ways do welfare clients cheat the system?Gifts from friends and relatives are not declared; money from pension is understated and the rent is exaggerated.

Be supposed to (l.1)Be expected to (l.11)

Be V-ed + to V (Ex. VIII, p.69)

Pension (l.4)

该公司的职员在 50岁时领养老金退休，退休后他们都靠养老金生活。Employees in the company are being pensioned off at 50 and they retired on a pension.

Opt to (l.6)

Mike18岁时选择了上大学，在学校里他涉足了多种选修课，还决定参加了网球俱乐部。Mike opted to go to college at 18, where he attended various optional courses and he opted in the tennis club as well.

Very-high profile. (l.10)

When we refer to somebody as high-profile person or something as a high-profile event, we mean they attract a lot of attention or publicity.

Here it means the big magazines appear to be open and above-board as they honestly report to the welfare caseworkers the amount of money I make.

Deep down (l.11)

本质上他们是一群受到挫折的青少年。Deep down they are frustrated youngsters.

他心里明白他将不得不认罪。He knew, deep down, that he would have to admit his guilt.

Are being made fools of (l.12)

他喝酒时出尽了洋相，最后被愚弄了。He was drinking and making a fool of himself and was made a fool of finally.

I’m not being bitter. (l.13)“be being + adj. / n.” is use to talk about action and behaviour.You’re being stupid.

= You are doing stupid things.I was being very careful.

= I was doing something very carefully.The structure is not used to talk about feelings.I’m happy just now. (Instead of saying “I’m being happy just now.”)

Part IIWhat are the problems with the present welfare system?

Welfare clients are forced to report anything new to welfare caseworkers. (pa.4 – pa.8)

Welfare clients find it extremely difficult to have their wheelchairs repaired. (pa.9 – pa.12)

If welfare clients make money, they have to go through the embarrassing situation of being questioned to account for every penny. (pa.13)

The law does not encourage welfare clients to work part time and make a gradual shift away from welfare. (pa.14)

Certify (l.40)

Certify that …

Certify sb. / sth. (as) + adj.

金融部门证实这些帐目是准确的。The accounts were certified (as) correct by the finance department.

医生给我开具证明说明我下个月不适宜上班。The doctor certified me unfit to go to work ro the next month.

Alert (l.42)

Bob酒后驾车头脑不清醒导致了严重车祸，警察发现他以后立即向急救中心求救。Bob could’t stay alert while driving after drinking, which in turn led to a severe car accident. Finding him, the policeman immediately alerted the emergency services.

Part IIIWhat are the suggestions made by the author to improve the present welfare system?

The rights of welfare clients should be protected. (pa.15)

The welfare system should help those who are earn part of all of their own livings.

A new system should encourage the clients instead of convicting them of cheating. (pa.16)

There needs (l.55)There seems to be some problems.

There happens to be a lecture going on.

In a small town there once lived a poor man.

There tends to be jealousy when your colleague is promoted.

There remains nothing more to be done.

Suddenly there entered a strange man in black.

There followed an uncomfortable silence.

With some verbs (e.g.: say, think, feel, report, understands, presume, etc.), the passive structure is possible with “there”

There are thought to be more than 3,000 different languages in the world.

There was said to be disagreement between the Prime Minister and the Queen.

Lends itself to (l.56)

Lend oneself to: be easily used for a particular activity or result

有些问题不适合用钱来解决。Some problems do not lend themselves to financial solution.

Sit on (l.62)

在参加了一系列严格的考试之后， Peter终于在该学术委员会中任职了。After sitting for a series of strict examinations, Peter sat on the academic committee eventually.

Convict them of cheating (l.66)convict … of … / accuse … of … / charge …with …

He is convicted of murder (with definite evidence).

He is accused of being dishonest / lazy / crime.

He is charged with committing a crime / not doing their duty (with definite evidence).

Understanding Figurative Language

1. I’m tempted to get paid under the table. (l.8)

2. … big magazines are not going to get involved in some sticky situation. (l.9)

3. I shall call “Suzanne”, a detective in shorts. (l.17)

4. I’ve heard that you put a lot more miles on that wheelchair than average. (l.31)

5. She looked into every corner in search of … or a new helicopter parked out back. (l.46)

Explanation1. Under the table: without others’ knowing that I’m working to make money.

2. Sticky situation: situation that one cannot get rid of

3. A detective in shorts: the caseworker is being compared to a detective and a sportsman who chased the clients and tired to find faults with them

4. Put a lot more miles on: providing the image that the wheelchair is overused

5. A new helicopter parked out back: the exaggeration and ironic tone to the effect that the client disliked the caseworker’s “visits”