Vocabulary Idioms & Phrases

Reading-Paragraphs 6-13

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Listen to paragraphs 6-13.

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Answer the following questions .

When did the business community start to offer employment to the disabled ?

After the Department of Labor issued regulations that authorize equal-employment opportunities for the handicapped.

This procedure continued for approximately five minutes, at which point even my saint-like disposition deserted me.

..., at which point... 此為非限定用法的關係子句， which 為關係形容詞用法，修飾前面的句子。• The argument started to get very violent, at which point I left.• The patient was asleep, during which time the nurse was beside the bed.

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This procedure continued for approximately five minutes, at which point even my saint-like disposition deserted me. N-like 為複合字 如…的saint-like fatherlike childlike sportsmanlikegodlike gentleman-likeladylike Next

This procedure continued for approximately five minutes, at which point even my saint-like disposition deserted me. This procedure continued for approximately five minutes[, at which point even my saint-like disposition deserted me].→ This event lasted for about five minutes, and then I lost my temper.

Look,” I finally blurted out, “this is absolutely ridiculous. Okay, granted I can’t see, but it’s got to have become pretty clear to both of you that I don’t need an interpreter.”granted 作副詞，用於承認某事為真，置於句首或句尾皆可。• Granted I didn’t do well, but I had tried my best.it 是虛主詞，表示 that 子句的內容，而has got to 「必定」是用來加強語義。

“He says he doesn’t need an interpreter,” the orderly reported to the woman.

The toughest misconception of all is the view that because I can’t see, I can’t work.

that 子句在此為 the view 的補語，說明其內容，其他如： fact, idea, belief, feeling 或 suggestion 等後面也常加 that 子句，形成補語用法。• It is a fact that he got the highest score on the exam.• I have a feeling that Mary will be late for the meeting.

I was turned down by over forty law firms because of my blindness, even though my qualifications included an above average degree from Harvard College and a good ranking in my Harvard Law School class.

turn down = reject; refuse; decline 回絕• He tried to join the army but was turned down because of his poor health. Next

I was turned down by over forty law firms because of my blindness, even though my qualifications included an above average degree from Harvard College and a good ranking in my Harvard Law School class.because of = on account of; owing to; as a result of 　 因為 ( 後面接名詞 )• The baseball game was cancelled because of the heavy rain. Next

I was turned down by over forty law firms because of my blindness, even though my qualifications included an above average degree from Harvard College and a good ranking in my Harvard Law School class.

The Introduction of Harvard College

The Introduction of Harvard Law School

The Introduction of Harvard College

Harvard College 「哈佛學院」坐落在麻薩諸塞州劍橋，自 1636 年創建以來，這所美國高等教育學府就從一個地方性的小學府 (local college) ，轉變成全國性知名的 Harvard University 「哈佛大學」。在這過程當中，歷任哈佛大學校長之銳意興革，功勞最大。

The Introduction of Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School 「哈佛法學院」於 1817年創立，雖然比大學部 (Harvard College) 建校 (1636) 晚近兩百年，仍是美國最古老的法學院並傳承著常春藤盟校的盛名。哈佛大學部及法學院向來皆列全美排行前三名。

The attempt to find employment, the continuous frustration of being told that it was impossible for a blind person to practice law, and the rejection letters, not based on my lack of ability but rather on my disability, will always remain one of the most disillusioning experiences of my life.

全句主詞為 the attempt to find employment, 其後的 the continuous…law 和 the rejection …disability為同位語補充說明其內容 . Next

The attempt to find employment,

the attempt to find employment 為不定詞修飾名詞的用法 .• Her ability to get on with her colleagues is her chief asset.• The child’s offer to work in the store

was not taken seriously.• We were pleased by his willingness to share the work.

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... it was impossible for a blind person to practice law....

it 為虛主詞代替 to practice law ，常見此類用法的形容詞尚有： important, necessary, convenient, easy, difficult, dangerous 等。• It is necessary for you to have the car washed before Saturday.• It is difficult for most people to break with a deep-rooted habit.

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...the rejection letters, not based on my lack of ability but rather on my disability....not based on...disability 為前面省略了 which are 的分詞片語，修飾主詞 the rejection letters.based on = on the basis of; according to 根據• His view of life is based on his experience on the sea.not...but 不是…而是…• Happiness and success in life depend

not on circumstances but on ourselves.

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The attempt to find employment, the continuous frustration of being told that it was impossible for a blind person to practice law, and the rejection letters, not based on my lack of ability but rather on my disability, will always remain one of the most disillusioning experiences of my life.→ The effort of trying to find a job, the never-ending frustration of being told

that I am not suited to be a lawyer, and

the rejection letters due to my disability, not my inexperience, will always be one of the most disappointing experiences of my life.

Fortunately, this view of limitation and exclusion is beginning to change.

On April 16, the Department of Labor issued regulations that authorize equal-employment opportunities for the handicapped.

The Introduction of the Department of Labor

the introduction of the Department of Labor

美國勞工部 (The Department of Labor) 旨在提倡優良工作環境，協助勞工取得工作機會，並保障其退休及醫療保健上之權益。再者，該部門亦同時致力於協助雇主尋找員工，確保勞資雙方的集體協商管道能暢通無礙，並隨時追蹤全國之就業狀況、物價變動及其他經濟指標。該部門同時也執行許多與就業相關的法律，以確保勞工得有安全及健康的工作環境、享有最低時薪及加班給付、免於就業歧視、並保障其在失業救濟金及其他收入補助上的權益。

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On April 16, the Department of Labor issued regulations that authorize equal-employment opportunities for the handicapped. the handicapped/disabled = handicapped people 　殘障人士the + Adj 表示特定族群的人，常見的有： the rich/poor/ young/old/homeless/oppressed/educated/unemployed 等。that…handicapped 乃補語(complement) ，用以說明 regulations 的內容。

By and large, the business community’s response to offering employment to the disabled has been enthusiastic.by and large = on the whole; in general 大體上• By and large, the job has been rather good to me.response to... 對…的回應後面受詞多是名詞或如此句中的動名詞• It is disappointing that we haven’t received any response to our advertisement.

I therefore look forward to the day, with the expectation that it is certain to come, when employers will view their handicappedworkers as a little child viewed me years ago when my family still lived in Scarsdale.look forward to V-ing/N 　盼望…• I’m looking forward to seeing my friends soon/my summer vacation.

於此 with + NP乃一插入的介系詞片語，而 that 子句為 expectation 的補語。

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I therefore look forward to the day, with the expectation that it is certain to come, when employers will view their handicapped workers as a little child viewed me years ago when my family still lived in Scarsdale.as (conj.) 如同…一樣，按照…那樣• Jack didn’t stay at home as he had been told.• Mr. Smith teaches us to see the object as it really is.

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I therefore look forward tothe day, with the expectation thatit is certain to come, when employers will view theirhandicapped workers as a littlechild viewed me years ago whenmy family still lived in Scarsdale.→ Hence, I am hopefully expecting that there will surely be a day when employers will treat their handicapped workers in the same way as a little child treated me when my family still lived in Scarsdale years ago.

I was playing basketball with my father in our backyard according to procedures we had developed. according to = based on; in accordance with 　根據• According to the latest weather report, we are having a typhoon tomorrow.we had developed 為省略受格 that 的

關代子句，修飾先行詞 procedures 。

My father would stand beneath the hoop, shout, and I would shoot over his head at the basket attached to our garage.

attached...garage 為省略了 which was 的關係子句簡化而來的分詞片語，放在所修飾的名詞後面。

Our next-door neighbor, aged five,wandered over into our yard with aplaymate. “He’s blind,” our neighbor whispered to her friend in a voice that could be heard distinctly by Dad and me. Dad shot and missed; I did the same. Dad hit the rim; I missed entirely; Dad shot and missed the garage entirely. “Which one is blind?” whispered back the little friend.

aged five 為省略了 who was 的關係子句簡化而來的分詞片語，放在後位修飾主詞 .

I would hope that, in the near future, when a plant manager is touring the factory with the foreman and comes upon a handicapped and a nonhandicapped person working together, his comment after watching them work will be, “Which one is disabled?”I would hope/think/image希望或認為某件事是真的• I would hope that my friend has free time now.• I would imagine that Father is at work.

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I would hope that, in the near future, when a plant manager is touring the factory with the foreman and comes upon a handicapped and a nonhandicapped person working together, his comment after watching themwork will be, “Which one is disabled?”come upon = run/bump into; run/come across 偶遇• Yesterday I came upon an old friend

in the park after we had lost contact for years.

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I would hope that, in the near future, when a plant manager is touring the factory with the foreman and comes upon a handicapped and a nonhandicapped person working together, his comment after watching them work will be, “Which one is disabled?”

working together 為省略了who are 的關係子句簡化而來的分詞片語，放在後位修飾。 Next

I would hope that, in the near future, when a plant manager is touring the factory with the foreman and comes upon a handicapped and a nonhandicapped person working together, his comment after watching them work will be, “Which one is disabled?”

...his comment after watching....→ ...his comment after he watches....

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I. Reading for the Main Idea and DetailsA. Choose the best answer for each of the following

questions.____ 1. What is the main idea of the reading? (A) The blind have many unpleasant

experiences in their lives. (B) The blind can hear, talk and work as

able-bodied people do. (C) The blind should be treated like ordinary

people and have equal opportunities.

(D) Even though a blind person is well- educated and well-qualified, his or her job application may still be rejected merely because of his or her blindness.

C

I. Reading for the Main Idea and DetailsA.Choose the best answer for each of the

following questions.____2. What does the title of the reading

“Darkness at Noon” mean? (A) Although blind, the author is a

man of insight. (B) Because he is blind, the author

feels sad and hopeless. (C) Because he is blind, the author is in

the dark even when it is noon.

(D) Although sighted, some people are unable to “see” how to treat the blind.

D

I. Reading for the Main Idea and DetailsB. What kind of detail does the

author use to support his main

idea? Check your answer. □ Causes. □ Facts. □ Examples. □ Explanations.

I. Reading for the Main Idea and DetailsC.What transitional expression is

used to introduce the supporting detail? Write your a

nswer in the blank.

___________________________For example .

I. Reading for the Main Idea and DetailsD. Indicate “M” (main idea) or “D”

(details) for the sentences by checking.

M D□ □ 1. Once at the airport, the ticket

counter clerk described me as

“a seventy” instead of a blind person.

□ □ 2. It was difficult for me, a blind person, to find a job as a lawyer.□ □ 3. I look forward to the day when other people won’t treat me as a disabled person.□ □ 4. In a restaurant, a waiter or waitress will not take my order.□ □ 5. A disabled person may not be less capable than a normal person.

II. Reading Strategy: ScanningScanning is a way to achieve high-speed reading. You should first have a question in mind and then scan the passage for the answer. In order to read faster, the practice of scanning is essential, for it can help you skip unimportant words and pay attention to the information you look for. You can scan almost all kinds of materials except for those that require you to read in detail, such as a textbook or a mystery story.

Exercise:Read the following questions. Then, scan the reading to find out the answers. Try to work as fast as possible!1. What date was the author's birthday? ________________________________ 2. What sport was mentioned in the reading? ________________________________3. Where did the author live when he was a child? _________________________________

November 5, 1944 .

Basketball.

Scar.

4. What word did the ground hostess use to refer to the disabled people? _________________________________5. In which university did the author study for a diploma in law degree? _________________________________

Seventy.

Oxford University.

1. Did you use to have any misconception about blind people? Now that you’ve read the reading, what do you think about your misconception(s)?

Reference answer : Yes, I used to think blind people had many limitations, and therefore, most of them were confined to their homes. I thought that without others' help, they could not do many things, let alone get a job. I even thought they were miserable and hopeless. However,

Reference answer : after reading this story, I find the author, although blind, is just as “able” as most ordinary people. Besides, he is even more optimistic than many of us. He accepts his own disability without complaints and views unfair treatment by others with humor. He truly deserves our respect.

2. Do you know how blind people overcome obstacles in their daily lives? For example, how do they tell time? Or how do they identify money of different values?

Reference answer :I guess there are watches that can “tell” blind people what time it is every hour or every half an hour. Or there are some watches with lids that can be opened up so that blind people can tell time by feeling the Braille characters at the different hour points. As for

Reference answer :identifying money of differentvalues, I think coins of different denominations are easy to tell apart. It’s because they have different sizes and raised patterns on them. Some of them even have the Braille characters on them to tell different denominations of

Reference answer :coins. As for paper money, there are some dots and bars (the number of them differs according to different values) designed for the blind printed. Another possible way to tell them apart, which I saw in a movie, is to fold paper money of different denominations in

Reference answer :different ways. That’s amazing. But I wonder what blind people can do to tell paper money when they get it from others if there were no dots and bars. 

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