The American Car Dependency Absurdity

1. Unit4

2. Text Analysis Structural Analysis “Out of Step” is an exposition that presents the absurdity of the Americans’ dependence on cars. The Americans, being so accustomed to using cars, have almost forgotten the existence of their legs. Wherever they go, they go in their cars. As a result, pedestrian facilities are neglected in city planning or rejected by the inhabitants. Global Reading - Main idea 1

3. Text Analysis Structural Analysis The writer introduces his idea with an anecdote. Structural analysis 1 In this part, the author presents the fact that the Americans are habituated to using cars for everything. In this part, the author shows that pedestrian facilities are neglected or discarded.

4. Detailed Reading What kind of town is it? Detailed reading1--Quesion 1 It is a small, pleasant and agreeable town. The inhabitants are friendly and willing to help. But although the town is compact, few people go about on foot.

5. Detailed Reading What is considered the author’s “eccentric behavior”? Detailed reading1--Quesion 2 Instead of riding a car, the author walks around the city, doing his shopping, going to the movies or visiting the café or bar. To people who are used to going everywhere in a car, he is an eccentric.

6. Detailed Reading Why would drivers “depart reluctantly, even guiltily” when their offer was declined? Detailed reading1--Quesion 3 With cars becoming the basic essentials of their life, people are so habituated to using the car for everything. The scene of somebody walking around seemed so unusual to them that they would naturally show their concern to him. When their offer to give him a ride was declined, they were sorry for not being able to help him out.

7. Detailed Reading Why did the author say “Actually, I’m surprised it was that much”? Detailed reading1--Quesion 4 When the author found that the newly planned suburbs totally overlooked pedestrian needs, he assumed there was no budget for pedestrian facilities at all. So he says he was surprised to learn that there actually was less than one percent of budget on it. Here the author writes with a touch of irony.

8. Detailed Reading Why did Laconia change its downtown pedestrian mall to one with parking lots? Detailed reading1--Quesion 5 Although the pedestrian mall was well decorated, shoppers were unwilling to walk to the stores from a parking garage. As a result, it was a commercial failure. The government had to compromise with the public preference.

9. Detailed Reading Class Activity Group discussion: What does the title mean? With the use of this title, the writer seems to suggest Detailed reading1– Activity 1 people no longer walk in America; the few people who do walk seem to be old-fashioned and “eccentric”.

10. Detailed Reading sedatea. calm, serious and formal e.g. She is a sedate old lady; she is caring but never talks much. The fight against a nuclear power station site has transformed a normally sedate town into a battlefield. Detailed reading1– sedate v. make calm or sleepy, esp. with a drug e.g. The patient was heavily sedated and resting quietly in bed. Derivation: sedately(ad.),sedation(n.),sedative(a., n.)

11. Detailed Reading eccentric a. (of people or behavior) unconventional and slightly strange e.g. The old gentleman, who lived alone all his life, was said to have some eccentric habits. Detailed reading1– eccentric n. a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior e.g. The old gentleman enjoyed a colorful reputation as an engaging eccentric.

12. Detailed Reading curbn. (British English: kerb) a line of raised stones separating the footpath from the road v. / n.(place) a control or limit on sth. undesirable Detailed reading1– curb e.g. Poor nutrition can curb a child’s development both physically and mentally. There will be curbs on drunk-driving from next month.

13. Detailed Reading habituate v. accustom by frequent repetition or prolonged exposure Detailed reading1-- habituate You must habituate yourself to reading aloud. By the end of the school term, the students had been habituated / accustomed / used to rising at five o’clock. e.g.

14. Detailed Reading contortion n. a twisted position or movement that looks surprising or strange Detailed reading1– contortion 1 e.g. The spectators cannot but admire the contortions of the gymnasts. Derivation: contort (v.) cause sth. to twist out of its natural shape and looks strange or unttractive

15. Detailed Reading Comparison: distort, twist, deform, contort, warp These verbs mean to change and spoil the form or character of sth. To distort is to alter in shape, as by torsion or wrenching; the term also applies to verbal or pictorial misrepresentation and to alteration or perversion of the meaning of sth. Detailed reading1– contortion 2 distort: e.g. The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it. (Francis Bacon).

16. Detailed Reading Comparison: twist: Twist applies to distortion of form or meaning. e.g. Detailed reading1– contortion 3 a mouth twisted with pain He accused me of twisting his words to mean what I wanted them to. deform: If you deform sth., or if it deforms, its usual shape changes so that its usefulness or appearance is spoiled. e.g. Great erosion deformed the landscape. The earlier part of his discourse was deformed by pedantic divisions and subdivisions.

17. Detailed Reading Comparison: contort: If you contort sth., or if it contorts, it twists out of its normal shape and looks strange or unattractive. Detailed reading1– contortion 4 e.g. a face contorted with rage a contorted line of reasoning warp: Warp can refer to a turning or twisting from a flat or straight form. e.g. The floorboards had warped over the years. It also can imply influencing sb. in a way that has a harmful effect on how they think or behave. e.g. Prejudice warps the judgment.

18. Detailed Reading bring sth. home to sb. make sb. realize sth. The news report has brought home to us all the plight of the prisoners of war. e.g. Detailed reading1– bring sth. home to sb. 1 Comparison: drive sth. home to sb., hit / strike home drive sth. home to sb.: make sb. realize sth., esp. by saying it often, loudly, angrily, etc. The professor drove home to them that they must finish the writing assignment by Friday. e.g.

19. Detailed Reading Comparison: hit / strike home:(of remarks, etc.) have the intended (often painful) effect Detailed reading1– bring sth. home to sb. 2 e.g. You could see from his expression that her sarcastic comments had hit / stricken home.

20. Detailed Reading entertain v. consider an idea, etc. or allow yourself to think that sth. might happen or be true Detailed reading1-- entertain He refused to entertain our proposal. entertain ideas, doubts, etc. e.g.

21. Detailed Reading negotiate v. get over or past (an obstacle, etc.) successfully; manage to travel along a difficult route Detailed reading1– negotiate 1 e.g. The only way to negotiate the path is on foot. Frank Mariano negotiates the dessert terrain in his battered pickup.

22. Detailed Reading Practice: 那攀登者得攀越一陡峭岩石。 那马轻易跳过了栅栏。 Detailed reading1– negotiate 2 The climber had to negotiate a steep rock face. The horse negotiated the fence with ease.

23. Detailed Reading coo v. speak in a soft, gentle, and loving way, esp. when expressing surprise Detailed reading1– coo e.g. “How wonderful to see you again, darling,” she cooed. The little girl is always cooing over those parrots of hers.

24. Detailed Reading anew adv. (fml.) again or one more time, esp. in a different way Detailed reading1– anew e.g. The scientists started the experiment anew. The film tells anew the story of her rise to stardom.

25. Detailed Reading In the United States we have become so habituated to using the car for everything that it doesn’t occur to us to unfurl our legs and see what those lower limbs can do. Detailed reading1– In the United States … Paraphrase: People in the United States tend to drive for basically every purpose, so much so that they have forgotten that they still have legs and about what their legs can do.

26. Detailed Reading I confess it had not occurred to me how thoughtlessly deficient nature is in this regard. Detailed reading1– I confess it … Paraphrase: I admit that I have never realized I had been so stupid.

27. Detailed Reading … I was possibly the only person ever to have entertained the notion of negotiating that intersection on foot. Detailed reading1– I was possibly … Paraphrase: … I was likely to be the only person who had ever attempted to cross that intersection on foot.

28. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing Word Derivation Consolidation Activities- Vocabulary main Phrase Practice Synonym / Antonym

29. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 1)agree v.→ agreeable a. → agreement n. e.g. 我同意他对情况的分析。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 1 I agree with his analysis of the situation. 我觉得他极易相处。 I found him most agreeable. 与雇主们的协议终于达成了。 An agreement with the employers was finally worked out.

30. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 2) eccentric a./n. → eccentricity n. 这个俱乐部里好像都是怪人。 e.g. Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 2 The club seemed to be full of eccentrics. 他的怪僻之一是睡觉睡在床底下而不睡在床上。 One of his eccentricities is sleeping under the bed instead of on it.

31. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 3) acquaint v. → acquaintance n. → acquainted a. e.g. 那位律师了解委托人生意上的详情。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 3 The lawyer acquainted himself with the details of his client’s business affairs. 他交友甚广。 He has a wide circle of acquaintances. 你对莎士比亚的作品熟悉吗? Are you acquainted with the works of Shakespeare?

32. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 4) ridicule v. / n.→ ridiculous a. e.g. 反对派揶揄政府的建议，把它的说成是老调重弹。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 4 The opposition ridiculed the government’s proposals, saying they offered nothing new. 你穿上那紧身牛仔裤样子真可笑。 You look ridiculous in those tight jeans.

33. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 5) triumph n. → triumphant a. → triumphal a. e.g. 获胜的队奏凯而归。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 5 The winning team returned home in triumph. 胜利的欢呼声 a triumphant cheer 凯旋门 a triumphal arch

34. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 6) deficient a.→ deficiency n. e.g. 我们对此事了解不足。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 6 Our knowledge of the matter is deficient. 身体缺乏维生素就会生病。 Deficiency in vitamins / Vitamin deficiency can lead to illness.

35. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 7) woe n. → woeful a. → woefully ad. e.g. 她把自己的不幸遭遇都告诉他。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 7 She told him all her woes. 可悲的无知 woeful ignorance 准备工作未免太不够了。 The preparations were woefully inadequate.

36. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 8) contort v. → contortion n. e.g. 她的脸因疼痛而走了样。 Consolidation Activities-Phrase practice 8 Her face contorted / was contorted with pain. 瑜伽高手的柔软动作 the contortions of a yoga expert

37. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing Fill in the blank in each sentence with an appropriate phrasal verb or collocation from the text. 1) She wanted to refuse his proposal, but was not sure what was the best way of it. going about Consolidation Activities- Word derivation 1.1 _____________ 2) The country was a period of irreversible change. going through _______________ 3) When he opened the lid of the box, a clown . popped out _____________ 4) If you a distance, you measure it by walking from one end of it to the other. pace off _________

38. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing go about: When you are “going about” your normal activities, you are doing them. e.g. 尽管战争一触即发，人们仍像平时一样工作。 Consolidation Activities- Word derivation 1.3 Despite the threat of war, people go about their work as usual.  

39. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing go through: If you “go through” an experience or a period of time, especially an unpleasant or difficult one, you experience it. Consolidation Activities- Word derivation 1.4 e.g. 鉴于他经历过的种种遭遇，他的乐天达观令人惊叹。 He’s amazingly cheerful considering all that he’s gone through.

40. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing pop out: come out suddenly e.g. 我们一打开兔箱，兔子就突然跑出来了。 Consolidation Activities- Word derivation 1.5 The rabbits popped out as soon as we opened the hutch. 他一看到自己赢得的东西，顿时两眼瞪得大大的。 His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw what he had won.

41. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing pace off: measure sth. by taking regular steps across it e.g. 我步测出那座木桥长约100英尺。 Consolidation Activities- Word derivation 1.6 I paced off the wooden bridge and found it was about 100 feet long.

42. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 1. We wanted to live in a town small enough that we could walk to the business district, and settled on Hanover, N.H., a typical New England town — pleasant, sedate and compact. Consolidation Activities- Synonym / Antonym1 Antonyms: bustling, exciting 2. It has a broad central green surrounded by the venerable buildings of Dartmouth College, an old-fashioned Main Street and leafy residential neighborhoods. Synonyms: old, time-worn, antique

43. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 3. Nearly every day, I walk to the post office or library or bookstore, and sometimes, if I am feeling particularly debonair, I stop at Rosey Jekes Café for a cappuccino. Consolidation Activities- Synonym / Antonym2 depressed, downhearted, low-spirited Antonyms: 4. We will go through the most extraordinary contortions to save ourselves from walking. Sometimes it’s almost ludicrous. absurd, ridiculous Synonyms:

44. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 5. According to a concerned and faintly horrified 1997 editorial in the Boston Globe, the United States spent less than one percent of its transportation budget on facilities for pedestrians. Consolidation Activities- Synonym / Antonym3 Antonyms: indifferent, unconcerned 6. At the time, it seemed ridiculous and exasperating, but afterward I realized that I was possibly the only person ever to have entertained the notion of negotiating that intersection on foot. Synonyms: infuriating, irritating

45. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 7. Esthetically it was a triumph — urban planners came from all over to coo and take photos — but commercially it was a disaster.. Consolidation Activities- Synonym / Antonym4 Antonyms: failure, defeat 8. Now people can park right in front of the stores again, and downtown Laconia thrives anew. Synonym: again

46. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing Past Perfect vs. Past Perfect Progressive Consolidation Activities- Grammar main shall, should, will, would Adverbs

47. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing Past Perfect vs. Past Perfect Progressive Past perfect We use the past perfect to talk about a past event or situation that occurred before a particular time in the past. Past perfect progressive We use the past perfect progressive when we talk about a situation or activity that happened over a period up to a particular past time, or until shortly before it. Consolidation Activities- Grammar1.1 Example: Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never been to the zoo.

48. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing Use the action taking place before a certain time in the past Consolidation Activities- Grammar1.2 sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple putting emphasis on the course or duration of an action

49. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing Complete the sentences with the past perfect or past perfect progressive of the verbs in brackets. 1. For years we (talk) about buying new carpets, and last weekend we finally went out and ordered some. 2. She (work) for the same company before she retired. 3. He finally (work) his way up from the shop floor to a management position. 4. She (apply) for jobs, without success, since leaving university. had been talking __________________ Consolidation Activities- Grammar1.3 had been working ___________________ had worked _____________ had been applying ____________________

50. Vocabulary Grammar Translation Integrated Skills Oral Activities Writing 5. When the old lady returned to her flat, she saw at once that burglars (break) in during her absence, because the front door was open and everything in the flat was upside down. 6. Curiously enough, when I moved my foot, I found that I (stand) on a 50p piece. 7. A woman came in with a baby, who she said (swallow) a safety pin. 8. It was the first time he (be) abroad. had broken ____________ Consolidation Activities- Grammar1.4 had been standing ____________________ had swallowed ________________ had been __________