Unit 4Unit 4

American DreamAmerican Dream

What is American Dream in your opinion?

American Dream

I Have a I Have a DreamDream

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.“

我梦想有一天，这个国家将会奋起，实现其立国信条的真谛：“我们认为这些真理不证自明：人人生而平等。”

   

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

我梦想有一天，在佐治亚州的红色山岗上，昔日奴隶的儿子能够同昔日奴隶主的儿子同席而坐，亲如手足。

   

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

我梦想有一天，我的四个孩子将生活在一个不是以肤色的深浅，而是以品格的优劣作为评判标准的国家里。

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the AMERICAN DREAM.

此时此刻，我们虽然遭受种种困难和挫折，我仍然有一个梦想，这个梦想是深深扎根于美国的梦想中的。

American dream began 300 years ago, when the May Flower crossed the Atlantic to arrive Maryland. It gave everybody the equal opportunity to create his own dream so long as you work hard enough.

Later on, the country became the superpower in the world, which is the code word of freedom and high-industrialization, and still the term of American Dream exists, yet with more connotation.

Even today, the president finished the book about “thoughts on reclaiming the American Dream” to tell everybody to keep dreams.

The The American DreamAmerican Dream means different things means different things to different people. to different people.

It refers toIt refers to the belief of Americans that their the belief of Americans that their country offers opportunities for a good and country offers opportunities for a good and successful life. For minorities and immigrants, successful life. For minorities and immigrants, the dream also includes freedom and equal the dream also includes freedom and equal rights. rights.

For the majority, the dream is that For the majority, the dream is that talent and talent and hard work can take you from log cabin to hard work can take you from log cabin to White houseWhite house..

Do Do you you

have a have a dreamdream

??谁说猪没有理想

In what ways can a person be cIn what ways can a person be considered successful?onsidered successful?

What is the key to success?What is the key to success?

Cultural NotesCultural NotesImmigrants: Apart from "Native Americans" — Indians — who we

re living in North America when people first arrived there from Europe, all Americans have ancestors who were immigrants. In the US, People are proud to say that their ancestors were immigrants who came with very little and built a better life for themselves.

Most Americans have a clear idea of what life was like for the immigrants: they left home because they were poor and thought they would have better opportunities in the US. For them the American dream was that talent and hard work could take them from log cabin to White House.

Once in the US, life was not easy. Many immigrants had to work for little money in factories where conditions were hard and dangerous and lived in crowded buildings. But slowly they improved their lives and many wrote home to encourage others to come.

Depression days: the period of severe economic failure in most countries of the world that lasted from 1929 until World War II. It began in the US when the New York Stock Exchange fell on 29 October 1929, known as Black Tuesday. Many businesses and banks failed and millions of people lost their jobs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt improved the situation with his New Deal policy. but the Great Depression was only ended by industrial production for the war.

The title of the text is American Dream, and I’d like you to finish the exercise on Page106 to know more about the truth of it.

Reading GuidanceReading GuidanceClues for a reading the text and the Clues for a reading the text and the main contentsmain contents Main idea of the text : This text is a narrative ,which narrates Tony’s life story : How he managed to make his own dream come true---Tony

Trivisonno realized his American dream through his own efforts .

Its structure and the main contents : As it’s a narrative ,we should pay attention to the four elem

ents---time ,place ,character and event while reading . The text can be roughly divided into two parts . The first part (Paras 1-29) focuses on the life story of Tony Trivisonno. the second part (Paras 30-33) gives the author’s reflection or comments on the story of Tony .

While you are reading , 1). Be careful with time sequence ,which makes a

smooth transition between sentences or paragraphs gives us a clear thread to help us understand the text easily. some expressions of time in the text :

One evening…the next morning…The next two days… On Friday…Summer passed into fall… The months passed…One day…A year or two passed…After about two years…Sometime later…Then ,during the war…

In this ,Tony fulfilled his American dream step by step .

2). Be careful with Tony’s broken English, which shows that Tony wasn’t educated in English learning and he was a poor English speaker.

For example :

“I mow your lawn”---

May I mow your lawn ? Or :will you allow me to mow your lawn ? etc.

3). List the List the main eventsmain events which help Tony fulfill his American Dre which help Tony fulfill his American Dream.am. (his business was from small to large ,and his hard work together with talent took him from log cabin to White House).

1>.Tony worked as a gardener at Mr. Crawford’s house.

2>.Tony got a job clearing snow at Mr. Crawford’s factory.

3>.Tony learning to become a skilled worker;

4>.Tony bought a house with Mr. Crawford’s help;

5>.Tony bought a farm and sent for his family in Italy;

6>.Tony died, leaving his family a prosperous farm and his children educated.

Each step of the above-mentioned is similarly defined by the appearances of time phrases .

4). Be careful with the changes of Tony’s appearance or looks ;

1>.He was …thin (lines 3-4) 2>.He seemed to stand a little straighter .He w

as heaver .He had a look of confidence (lines 59-60)

3>….neatly dressed .(line 71) Hint : These changes indicate that Tony was getting richer and he had more

confidence in himself.

5). Be careful with the seven scenes of Tony’s appearance and his different meeting intention :

scene 1. one evening …standing in the drive way ,behind my garage . asking for help---”I mow your lawn .”

scene 2. on Friday (late afternoon)…behind the garage . still asking for help to mow the lawnscene 3. one evening, asking for a job of clearing snow at the facto

ry . scene 4. at our meeting place behind the garage ,wanting to be an a

pprentice .scene 5. in his waiting place ,not asking for but accepting a help to

buy a house .scene 6. in our familiar meeting spot …sat down and talked. withou

t asking for help .scene 7. arrived on a Sunday afternoon (Perhaps in the house or at

least in the courtyard). Visiting, not asking for, especially not waiting this time

Summary : 1-4. asking for help 5. getting a help 6-7. wanting no help 6. sat down 1-6. the same meeting place waiting (except for the six

time) 7. another meeting place not waiting Question : What do the changes of meeting ways ,places and inte

ntions suggest ?To show us that Tony is becoming more and more succe

ssful and the improve of his social status to allow him to sit there and have a talk with Mr. Crawford

Text AnalysisText Analysis Did the author himself ever make a statement

claiming Tony to be a good worker ? No. He makes you infer from other people’s

compliments “my wife said he was very helpful”; the personnel department “said Tony was a very

good worker”; “I got a report that he had graduated as a skilled

grinder”; when Tony died ,people found “the farm green with

vegetables ,the little house livable and homey . There were a tractor and a good car in the yard . The children were educated and working ,and Tony didn’t owe a cent .”)

Language StudyLanguage Study 11. ... hard to comprehend his . ... hard to comprehend his broken broken

EnglishEnglish:: If someone talks in broken English, they If someone talks in broken English, they

speak slowly and make a lot of mistakes speak slowly and make a lot of mistakes because they only know a little of the because they only know a little of the language.language.

2. yes, Depression days were difficult, but how could I turn away a person who had come to me for help?(L10):

turn away :refuse to help or allow (sb.) to enter a place 拒绝入内 .

♀The guard turned away several people who didn’t have the tickets.

turn down: refuse ( a request, suggestions, etc.) Examples: He was offered the job but he turned it d

own because it involved too much traveling.

3. I managed to3. I managed to work outwork out somesome kind of smallkind of small weeklyweekly pay, pay, and each day …(L24):and each day …(L24):

Work out:Work out: plan, solve, calculate.plan, solve, calculate.

♀ ♀ I’ve worked out your share of the expenses at I’ve worked out your share of the expenses at ＄＄ 10.10.

Weekly: (adj.) Weekly: (adj.) happening once a week or every week.happening once a week or every week.

♀ ♀ He thinks his weekly wage of 100 yuan is enough.He thinks his weekly wage of 100 yuan is enough.

(adv.)(adv.) once a week, every week, by the week.once a week, every week, by the week.

♀ ♀ 21st Century is published weekly.21st Century is published weekly.

(n.)(n.) a publication issued once a week.a publication issued once a week.

♀ ♀ News Weekly <News Weekly < 新闻周刊新闻周刊 >>

♀ ♀ twice weekly twice weekly 半周刊半周刊

4. Well, what do you do with such determination and hope?(L30):

① （ used in question with what ） deal with ♀ Tell me what you did with yourself this week.

② tolerate ♀ 我不能忍受他和他的无礼。 I can’t do with him and his impoliteness.

③ (often with could, can) desire ♀ I could do with a cup of tea.♂ do without 没有…也行， 将就 do away with 废除， 去掉 have something to do with 和…有点关系 have nothing to do with 和…毫无关系

5. determination:5. determination: the ability to continue tryi the ability to continue trying to achieve what you have decided to do eng to achieve what you have decided to do even when this is difficult (uncountable noun, ven when this is difficult (uncountable noun, often followed by infinitive to) often followed by infinitive to)

E.g: Her determination to do well made her E.g: Her determination to do well made her keep on studying.keep on studying.

V.V. determine to do sth. determine to do sth. be determined to do sth.be determined to do sth.

6.I asked the 6.I asked the personnelpersonnel department for a report.(L32): department for a report.(L32):

① ① the department in a large organization that deals with empthe department in a large organization that deals with employees.loyees.

♂ ♂ personnel administration personnel administration 人事管理人事管理 personnel department personnel department 人事部人事部 // 处处 // 科科 personnel director personnel director 人事部长人事部长 // 处长处长 // 科长科长

② ② all the persons working in an organization, in the army, etc.all the persons working in an organization, in the army, etc.

♀ ♀ All personnel were allowed to take part in the party.All personnel were allowed to take part in the party.

¤ ¤ personal:personal: of or related to a person of or related to a person

♀ ♀ Please leave us alone—we have something personal to disPlease leave us alone—we have something personal to discuss.cuss.

♀ ♀ a personal appearance a personal appearance 亲自出面亲自出面

7. But I doubted whether Tony had the capacity to read blueprints and micrometers …(L37):

① the ability to understand or do sth.

the capacity for sth. or to do sth.

♀ the capacity for language

understanding the book is beyond my capacity

②The maximum amount that can be contained 容量 :

♀ a trunk filled to capacity

the seating capacity of the theatre is 500.

8. I got a report that he had graduated as a skilled grinder(L40): ① having skill, trained, experienced 有技能的；

♀ skilled worker 有技术的工人 ② needing skill 需要技能的

♀ skilled work 技术性工作♂ skilled skillful ﹠skilled ：指受过正规训练，有多年实践经验，而掌握某项专门

技术。skillful: showing skills 指人聪明，做事很灵巧，灵巧的。♀ He is a __________ surgeon.♀ 罗斯的父亲是个老练的机械师，因而她也很会修理自行车。 Rose’s father is a _______ mechanic so she has become ______

at repairing bicycles too.

skilled/skillful

skilled skillful

9. He had learned to read the millionths of an inch on the micrometer and to shape the grinding wheel with an instrument set with a diamond (lines 40-42)

译文：他学会了在千分尺上辩识一百万分之一英寸，学会了用镶嵌着金刚石的工具制作砂轮。

1). millionth num. 第一百万 ( 个 ); 百万分之一 ( 的 )

2). micrometer n. 千分尺 3). with an instrument set with a diamond

with +n. + 过去分词短语 ---with 结构作后置定语。 又如： with an amused look in his eye , …(line 74)

他眼里露出顽皮的神色，… with +n. + 介短语 ----with 结构作状语

10. My wife and I were delighted with what w10. My wife and I were delighted with what we felt was a satisfying end of the story (line 4e felt was a satisfying end of the story (line 42-432-43 ， ， para 16para 16 ）） .:.:

My wife and I were delighted with what ToMy wife and I were delighted with what Tony had achieved, and thought that the whole ny had achieved, and thought that the whole thing had thus been settled.thing had thus been settled.

10. He had found a house for sale, a complete wreck (L47 ， para 18):

for sale ： offered to be sold, esp. by a private owner

♀ The company will put the houses for sale.

♂ Not for sale: 非卖品on sale: available 出售；现有供应的a sale on credit: 赊购

11. down payment:11. down payment: an initial amount given a an initial amount given as partial payment at the time of purchases partial payment at the time of purchase

(If you make a (If you make a down paymentdown payment on sth., you p on sth., you pay only a percentage of the total cost when yay only a percentage of the total cost when you buy it. You pay the remaining amount laou buy it. You pay the remaining amount later.)ter.)

12. Confidence n. have confidence in sth. or in doing sth. adj. confident be confident about /with sth.

13. He had hunted around the edge of town until he found a small, abandoned piece of property(L68).

Hunt: ①search thoroughly (for)

♀ The police are hunting for the escaped criminal in the mountain.

②go after (wild animals )for food or sport.

♀ We often go out hunting in the holiday.

abandon: v. give up completely and forever

♀ to abandon one’s family

Property: n. the things or things that sb. owns.

♀ the factory is my uncle’s private property.

♀ public property 公共财产 personal property 动产 real property 不动产

14. Tony was 14. Tony was sponsorsponsoringing him(L73) him(L73) ：：SponsorSponsor ：： v.v. support by giving money, encouragemensupport by giving money, encouragemen

t or other helpt or other help

♀ ♀ The exhibition was sponsored by the Society of CThe exhibition was sponsored by the Society of Culture.ulture.

n.n. One who puts forward or guarantees a proposal One who puts forward or guarantees a proposal

♀ ♀ a sponsor country a sponsor country 主办国主办国

15. pass away:15. pass away: （（ euphemismeuphemism ）） die die (You can say that sb. (You can say that sb. passed awaypassed away if you wan if you wan

t to avoid using the word t to avoid using the word diedie because you thin because you think it too blunt.) k it too blunt.)

Examples: The old lady passed away peacefExamples: The old lady passed away peacefully in her sleep.ully in her sleep.

kick the bucket kick the bucket ，， departing this life, going to departing this life, going to the great beyondthe great beyond

医生可能会对死者的亲属说“医生可能会对死者的亲属说“ We lost himWe lost him”” 。。

dustman senior citizensdustman senior citizensgraveyard memory gardengraveyard memory gardendie sanitary engineerdie sanitary engineerold people bathroom/washroomold people bathroom/washroomtoilet be no moretoilet be no more

16. He grew in stature in my mind （ line 85 ， para30 ） :

He grew taller and greater in my mind.

17. Tony did not begin on the bottom rung of the ladder. He began in the basement. （ line 89 ， para32 ） :

Tony had nothing when he arrived in the United States and he built up from nothing.

18. But, after all, the balance sheets were exactly the same (line 91.)

但是，不要忘了，两者的资产负债是完全一样的。

after all : 1). in spite of everything

2). it must be remembered (that)

费用和收入 费用和收入 exe. on page 101exe. on page 101 费用 1.adimission n. 入场费 admission by ticket only 2. charge n. v. 原价，要价 名词时常用复数，主要用于一次性劳务所收取

的费用，如服务费，行李超重费，旅馆费等；动词时用于“ charge sb. for …

What are the charges in the hotel? How much do you charge for the room one night? 3.cost n. 成本，原价 The cost of seeing a movie is $7.

4. fare n. 指旅客乘公共汽车，出租车，火车，轮船，飞机等所支付的费用

All fares, please. 5. fee n. 医生、律师或其它专门职业的佣金及会费、手续费、停车费等

My lawyer’s hourly fee is $100. 6. freight n. 运费 Who will pay the freight on this order? 7. postage n. 邮费 How much do I need to send this package?

8. tip n. 小费 to show thanks for service I gave my barber a fat tip. 9. tuition n. 学费 John took out a loan to pay his tuition.

收入 1. pay n. 工资收入 general word for the mo

ney you received for work v . 支付 pay…for… He gets his pay each Thursday. I paid $5 for the book. 2. salary n. fixed and regularly, paid monthly

into the bank. a high salary

3. wage n.3. wage n. Paid weekly in cash esp. to people Paid weekly in cash esp. to people who work with hands.who work with hands.

a weekly wage of $120a weekly wage of $120 4. income n.4. income n. 指包括投资、租金等各方面的指包括投资、租金等各方面的收入收入

Do you have any income apart from your pay?Do you have any income apart from your pay? 5. change n.5. change n. 零钱，找头零钱，找头 How much have you got in change?How much have you got in change?

Translation on page 107 After graduating from college, Tony decided to

start his own business. At the beginning, many a bank turned down his request for a loan. But he was not discouraged, and continued to call on one banker after another seeking help. Impressed by his determination and optimism, one banker finally agreed to loan him the money. Now he has become a wealthy businessman. Talking about his amazing achievement, Tony puts great emphasis on the importance of creating, rather than waiting for opportunities.