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新視野大學(xué)英語讀寫教程第二冊unit1-a Time-Conscious Americans

所屬教程:新視野大學(xué)英語讀寫教程第二冊

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Unit One

Section A

Pre-reading Activities

First Listening
Please listen to a short passage carefully and prepare to answer some questions.

Second Listening
Listen to the tape again. Then answer the following questions with your own experiences.
1) What precious resource do Americans value and save?
2) What are the three kinds of behaviors that Americans consider to be a waste of time?
3) In what different ways do Americans approach time in business relations?

Time-Conscious Americans

Americans believe no one stands still. If you are not moving ahead, you are falling behind. This attitude results in a nation of people committed to researching, experimenting and exploring. Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor.
"We are slaves to nothing but the clock," it has been said. Time is treated as if it were something almost real. We budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it; we also charge for it. It is a precious resource. Many people have a rather acute sense of the shortness of each lifetime. Once the sands have run out of a person's hourglass, they cannot be replaced. We want every minute to count.
A foreigner's first impression of the U.S. is likely to be that everyone is in a rush — often under pressure. City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going, restlessly seeking attention in a store, or elbowing others as they try to complete their shopping. Racing through daytime meals is part of the pace of life in this country. Working time is considered precious. Others in public eating-places are waiting for you to finish so they, too, can be served and get back to work within the time allowed. You also find drivers will be abrupt and people will push past you. You will miss smiles, brief conversations, and small exchanges with strangers. Don't take it personally. This is because people value time highly, and they resent someone else "wasting" it beyond a certain appropriate point.
Many new arrivals to the States will miss the opening exchanges of a business call, for example. They will miss the ritual interaction that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee that may be a convention in their own country. They may miss leisurely business chats in a restaurant or coffee house. Normally, Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed surroundings over extended small talk; much less do they take them out for dinner, or around on the golf course while they develop a sense of trust. Since we generally assess and probe professionally rather than socially, we start talking business very quickly. Time is, therefore, always ticking in our inner ear.
Consequently, we work hard at the task of saving time. We produce a steady flow of labor-saving devices; we communicate rapidly through faxes, phone calls or emails rather than through personal contacts, which though pleasant, take longer — especially given our traffic-filled streets. We, therefore, save most personal visiting for after-work hours or for social weekend gatherings.
To us the impersonality of electronic communication has little or no relation to the significance of the matter at hand. In some countries no major business is conducted without eye contact, requiring face-to-face conversation. In America, too, a final agreement will normally be signed in person. However, people are meeting increasingly on television screens, conducting "teleconferences" to settle problems not only in this country but also — by satellite — internationally.
The U. S. is definitely a telephone country. Almost everyone uses the telephone to conduct business, to chat with friends, to make or break social appointments, to say "Thank you", to shop and to obtain all kinds of information. Telephones save the feet and endless amounts of time. This is due partly to the fact that the telephone service is superb here, whereas the postal service is less efficient.
Some new arrivals will come from cultures where it is considered impolite to work too quickly. Unless a certain amount of time is allowed to elapse, it seems in their eyes as if the task being considered were insignificant, not worthy of proper respect. Assignments are, consequently, felt to be given added weight by the passage of time. In the U. S., however, it is taken as a sign of skillfulness or being competent to solve a problem, or fulfill a job successfully, with speed. Usually, the more important a task is, the more capital, energy, and attention will be poured into it in order to "get it moving".
Words: 689

NEW WORDS

budget
vt. plan the spending of or provide (money) in a plan 為……做預(yù)算,編制預(yù)算
vi. save or spend money (for a particular purpose)(為特定的目的)節(jié)省或用錢
n. [C, U] a plan to show how much money a person or organization will make and how much they will need or be able to spend 預(yù)算
a. inexpensive; cheap 便宜的,廉價的


acute
a. 1. (of feelings or the senses) fine; sharp(指感覺或感官)深刻的,敏感的,尖銳的
2. severe, very great 嚴(yán)重的

replace
vt. 1. put (sth.) back in its place 把……放回原處
2. take the place of (sb./sth.) 代替,取代

foreigner
n. [C] a person from a country other than one's own 外國人

restless
a. 1. unable to be still or quiet, esp. because of lack of interest, impatience, anxiety, etc.(尤指因厭煩、煩躁和焦慮而引起的)不安定的或不安靜的
2. always moving 動作不停的,好動的

restlessly
ad. 不安定地,不安靜地

elbow
vt. push sb. to one side with the elbows 用肘把人推到一旁
n. [C] (outside part of the) joint where the arm bends 肘

▲abrupt
a. 1. (of behavior) rough; offensive(指行為)粗魯?shù)?,無禮的
2. sudden and unexpected 突然的,意外的

brief
a. 1. lasting only a short time; short 短暫的
2. (of speech or writing) using few words (指說話或?qū)懽鳎┯米趾喚毜?,簡潔?br /> vt. give sb. necessary information or instructions, esp. in order to prepare sb. for an activity 預(yù)先向……提供必要信息或指示

opening
a. first 初始的
n. 1. [C] (esp. sing.) beginning; start 開始
2. [C] a position (in a business or firm) which is open or not occupied(商號或公司的)職位空缺

▲ritual
a. of or done regularly followed in exactly the same way each time 例行的,老規(guī)矩的,慣常的
n. [C, U] method followed repeatedly in the same way every time 固定的程序

interaction
n. [C, U] communication; working together 交流;相互作用,相互影響,合作

convention
n. 1. [C, U] (an example of) generally accepted practice, esp. with regard to social behavior 慣例,習(xí)俗,常規(guī)
2. [C] a meeting of members of a profession, political party, etc. (專業(yè)人員、政黨的)會議,大會

leisure
n. 1. [U] time free from work or other duties; spare time 空閑,閑暇
2. [U] ease 悠閑,安逸

leisurely
a. without hurrying 從容的,不匆忙的

assess
vt. judge or decide the amount, value, quality or importance of 估價,評價

surroundings
n. (pl.) all the objects, conditions, etc. that are around (and may affect) sb./sth.; environment 周圍的事物;環(huán)境

golf
n. 高爾夫球(戶外運動,打高爾夫球的人設(shè)法以最少擊球數(shù)把小硬球打入場內(nèi)9或18個洞中)


generally
ad. 1. usually, in a general sense 一般地, 通常地
2. by most people; widely 廣泛地;普遍地

▲probe
v. 1. examine (sth.) closely 刺探,查究,探究,徹底調(diào)查
2. explore or examine (sth.) with or as if with a probe (用探針或探測器)檢查,探查
n. 1. [C] 探針,探子(醫(yī)生用來檢查傷口的一種鈍頭細(xì)長工具)
2. [C] (esp. in news) complete and careful enquiry into sth. (尤為新聞用語) 刺探,查究,徹底調(diào)查

▲tick
vi. (of a clock, etc.) make a sequence of quiet short regularly repeated sounds (指鐘表等)滴答滴答地響
vt. put a (√) beside (a point, etc.) 在(項目旁)打上勾號
n. 1. [C] light and regularly repeated sound, esp. that of a clock or watch (尤指鐘表等)滴答聲
2. [C] a mark (√) 勾號(√)

consequently
ad. as a result; so 因此,所以

saving
n. 1. [C] amount saved 節(jié)省,貯存
2. (pl.) money saved up 儲蓄金

labor-saving
a. designed to reduce the amount of work or effort needed to do sth. 省工的,節(jié)省勞力的,減輕勞動的

device
n. 1. [C] a thing made or altered for a special purpose 器械,裝置
2. [C] a plan, esp. for a rather dishonest purpose 計劃,策略,詭計

fax
n. 1. [C, U] 傳真通信,電傳真
2. [C] 傳真機

email
n. 電子郵件(electronic mail 的縮略)

electronic
a. 1. produced or operated by a flow of electrons 電子的,電子操作的
2. concerned with electronic devices 和電子設(shè)備(如計算機)有關(guān)的

significance
n. 1. [U] meaning 意義
2. [U] importance 重要性

conduct
vt. 1.carry out, direct, manage 進(jìn)行, 指導(dǎo), 管理
2. act as the path for (electricity, heat, etc.) 傳導(dǎo)(電、熱等)
n. [U] person's behavior (esp. its moral element) 行為,品行

increasingly
ad. more and more 逐漸地,日益地,逐漸增加地

■teleconference
n. (通過電話、電視等的)電信會議

satellite
n. 1. [C] 人造衛(wèi)星
2. [C] 衛(wèi)星

obtain
vt. get (sth.); come to own or control (sth.) (by buying, borrowing, taking, etc.)取得,獲得;買到;借到


superb
a. excellent; outstanding; wonderful 極好的;壯麗的,華美的

whereas
conj.but in contrast; while 反之;卻,而

▲elapse
vi. (of time) pass (指時間)過去,逝去

skillful
a. having or showing ability to do sth. well 熟練的,有技巧的,靈巧的

skillfulness
n. 熟練,有技巧,靈巧

competent
a. (of people) having the necessary ability, skill, knowledge, etc. (指人)有能力(技術(shù)、知識)的,能干的,勝任的

fulfill
vt. 1. perform (sth.) or bring (sth.) to a completion 履行,執(zhí)行,完成
2. satisfy (sth.); answer 滿足;與……相符

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS

result in
have as a result, cause 致使,導(dǎo)致,造成……的結(jié)果

nothing but
only 只有,除……以外什么也不

account for
explain the cause of (sth.) 解釋,說明

sand in the hourglass
沙漏中的沙(沙漏上端所盛細(xì)沙用一小時從窄縫中漏到下端)

in a rush
in a hurry 匆忙的

under pressure
being influenced; being forced 在壓力下,在強力下

go with
exist or take place at the same time; be found together 同時發(fā)生;伴隨

work at
put effort into (sth. or doing sth.); engage in (some activity) 工作,從事于,鉆研

save for
keep (sth.) for future use; not use up (sth.) 儲存,儲蓄

at hand
1. being considered 正考慮的
2. near in time or position 在附近,在手邊,臨近的

in person
physically present 親身,親自

due to
as a result of, caused by, because of 由于,因為

be worthy of
(should) be given (sth.) 值得的,配得上的

 

 

Unit 1
    時間觀念強的美國人
    美國人認(rèn)為沒有人會停止不前。如果你不求進(jìn)取,就會落伍。 這種態(tài)度造就了一個決心投身于研究、實驗和探索的民族。 時間是美國人注意節(jié)約的兩個要素之一,另一個則是工作。人們一直在說: “只有時間才能支配我們。” 人們似乎是把時間當(dāng)作一個差不多是實實在在的東西來對待的。 我們安排時間、節(jié)約時間、浪費時間、擠搶時間、消磨時間、縮減時間、對時間的使用作出解釋; 我們還要因時間而收取費用。時間是一種寶貴的資源。 許多人都深感人生的短暫。 一旦人生的光陰逝去,就不能復(fù)返了。 我們應(yīng)當(dāng)讓每一分鐘都過得有意義。
    外國人對美國的第一印象很可能就是:每個人都顯得匆匆忙忙—常常是處于壓力之下。 城里人看上去總是在匆匆地趕往他們要去的地方,在商店里他們焦躁不安地指望店員能馬上來為他們服務(wù),或者為了想趕快買完東西,用肘來推搡他人。 白天人人都急急忙忙地吃飯則部分地體現(xiàn)了這個國家的生活節(jié)奏。工作時間被認(rèn)為是寶貴的。 在公共用餐場所,人們等著別人吃完,這樣可以輪到他們,以按時趕回去工作。 你還會發(fā)現(xiàn)汽車司機開車很魯莽, 人們推搡著在你身邊過去。 你會懷念微笑、簡短的交談及與陌生人的隨意閑聊。 不要覺得
這是針對你個人的,這是因為人們非常珍惜時間,而且也不喜歡他人不得當(dāng)?shù)?ldquo;浪費”時間。
    許多剛到美國的人會懷念諸如商務(wù)拜訪等場合開始時的寒喧。 他們也會懷念那種喝著招待客人的茶或咖啡的禮節(jié)性交往, 這也許是他們自己國家的一種習(xí)俗。 他們也許還會想念在飯店或咖啡館里談生意時的那種輕松悠閑的交談。一般說來,美國人是不會在如此輕松的環(huán)境里通過長時間的閑聊來評估他們的客人的,更不用說他們會在增進(jìn)相互間信任的過程中帶他們出去吃飯,或帶他們?nèi)ジ郀柗蚯驁觥?既然我們通常是通過工作而不是社交來評估和了解他人的,我們就開門見山地談生意。 因此時間老是在我們的耳朵里嘀嗒嘀嗒地響著。因而我們千方百計地節(jié)約時間。 我們發(fā)明了一系列節(jié)省勞力的裝置;我們通過發(fā)傳真、打電話或發(fā)電子郵件與他人迅速地進(jìn)行交流, 而不是通過直接接觸。 雖然面對面接觸令人愉快,但卻要化更多的時間, 尤其是在馬路上交通擁擠時。因此我們把大多數(shù)個人間的拜訪放在下班以后的時間里或周末的社交聚會上進(jìn)行。
    就我們而言,電子交流的缺乏人情味與我們手頭上事情的重要性之間很少有或完全沒有關(guān)系。 在有些國家里, 沒有當(dāng)面接觸就做不成大生意, 需要面對面的交談。 在美國,最后協(xié)議通常也需要本人簽字。 然而現(xiàn)在人們越來越多的是在電視屏幕上見面,開電信會議不僅能解決本國的問題,而且還能— 通過衛(wèi)星—解決國與國之間的問題。美國無疑是一個電話王國。 幾乎每個人都在用電話做生意、與朋友聊天、安排或取消社交約會、說聲 “謝謝”、 購物、或去獲得各種信息。 電話不但能免去你的走路之勞,而且還能為你節(jié)約大量時間。 其部分原因在于這樣一個事實:美國的電話服務(wù)是一流的,而郵政服務(wù)的效率則差勁多了。有些初來美國的人很可能來自其它的文化背景,在那里人們認(rèn)為工作太快是一種失禮。 在他們看來,如果不是花一定時間來處理某件事的話 ,則這件事就好像是無足輕重的,不值得給予適當(dāng)?shù)闹匾暋?因此,人們覺得用的時間長會增加所做事情的重要性。但在美國, 能迅速而又成功地解決問題或完成工作,則被視為是有水平、有能力的標(biāo)志。 通常,工作越重要,投入的資金、精力和注意力就越多,其目的是 “使工作開展起來”。 

 

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