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1、(全新版)大学英语综合教程第一册 Unit 8 Coping With a Educational Problem I. Cultural Notes1. U.C.L.A.: (University of California at Los Angeles) the largest of the eight branches of the University of California. It was established in 1919 and now has about 35,000 students. UCLA is known especially for its film stu
2、dies. 2. The Wealth of Nations: an important work of economic and social theory by Adam Smith (a Scottish philosopher and economist), published in 1776. Its full title was An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. In it he analyzed the relationship between work and the producti
3、on of a nations wealth. His conclusion was that the best economic situation results from encouraging free enterprise (an economic system in which there is open competition in business and trade, and no government control). This idea has had a great influence on economic theories since and it formed
4、the basis of the economic policies of the Conservative government in Britain in the 1980s. Language Study1. run out of: use up or finish a supply of (sth.) Examples: 1) To our disappointment, our car ran out of gas halfway home. 2) When they ran out of food, the soldiers set about hunting for more.
5、2. handful: a small number (used as singular noun, followed by of) Examples: 1) Youd better hurry up. A handful of people are already waiting in the hall. 2) I have to give up the plan because only a handful of students are willing to spend the New Years Eve on campus. 3. in amazement: with a feelin
6、g of great surprise or disbelief Examples: 1) Aunt Sophia gazed at her picture in amazement: she looked like a teenage girl in it. 2) All the people in the lecture hall stared at him in amazement when he talked loudly with his friend.4. upset: make (sb.) worry or feel unhappy (usu. used in the patte
7、rn: be upset by/about) Examples: 1) They are terribly upset by the break-up of their parents marriage. 2) He was upset about the argument he had with his wife. 5. ignorant: knowing little or nothing (often used in the phrase: be ignorant of/about) Examples: 1) Some people are ignorant of the facts a
8、bout global warming. 2) She was ignorant of her husbands illegal activities. Otherwise she would have done everything possible to stop him. ignorance n. 6. slice: 1) a part of sth. (followed by of) Examples: a) Fiction takes up a large slice of the publishing market. b) The boss promised that everyo
9、ne would get a slice of the profits. 2) a thin flat piece cut from sth. (often used with of) Examples: a) Try to eat at least four slices of bread a day. b) Cut the pork into thin slices.7. The ability to perform even the simplest calculations is only a memory among many students I see.: Many studen
10、ts whom I see dont have the ability to perform even the simplest calculations any longer. ability: power or skill to do, make, or think; talent (followed by infinitive to) Examples: We elected him monitor because he had the ability to bring out the best in others. He lost the ability to walk after a
11、 car accident. 8. sum up: give a brief summary (of sth.) Examples: 1) Alice summed up her Christmas holidays in one word: “Terrible.“ 2) My teacher would sum up the main points of the lesson before he ended the class. 3) We discussed the proposed changes for most of the meeting. The chairman only to
12、ok a few moments at the end to sum up.9. compete with / against: try to be better than (sb. else) (used in the pattern: compete with / against sb. for sth.) Examples: 1) More than 2,300 candidates from 93 political parties are competing for 486 seats. 2) We are having to compete with three other dep
13、artments for the fund. 3) They found themselves competing with foreign countries for a share of the market. 10. human capital: Here human capital refers to peoples knowledge and skills. 11. accumulate: collect, or gather together, esp. over a period of time Examples: 1) I have accumulated many books
14、 over the last few years. 2) While we were away on vacation, a lot of letters accumulated in our mailbox. 12. affect: have an influence on Examples: 1) The 20th century was full of inventions that have affected the way we live. 2) More than seven million people have been affected by the drought. 3)
15、The Asian financial crisis didnt affect our national economy. 13. function: operate; act Examples: 1) When the camera is functioning properly the green light comes on. 2) Athens functioned as a center of trade in the thirteenth century. 14. idle: lazy; not doing anything Examples: Most of the men were idle during the depression. She is so idle, we can never get her to do anything.15. jam: get stuck Examples: 1) The lock jammed and I couldnt open it.