Section A

1. Section A Life in a Violin Case

2. Background Information Spring Hill College Spring Hill College is the first Catholic(天主教的) college in the Southeast of the USA, the third oldest Jesuit （耶稣教会会士）college in the country and the fifth oldest Catholic college in America. It is a four-year, coeducational（男女同校的）, liberal arts （文科）and sciences institution located near the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama

3. Background Information Columbia University Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King’s College by the Royal Charter of King George II of England, which defined the institution’s goal as “the institution and Education of Youth in the Learned Languages and Liberal Arts and Sciences”. After the American Revolution, the College reopened in 1784 with a new name--- Columbia--- that embodied（体现） the patriotic fervor（爱国热情） that had inspired（激发） the nation’s search for independence. Located in the city of New York, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.

4. Preparation Getting the Message Direction: Read the following statements and decide whether they are true(T) or false (F) according to the text. • My parents disapproved of music as an occupation because my grandfather taught music and earned barely enough to provide for his family 2. By saying “the wolves were kept at bay”, the author means they were protected from being attacked by wolves. 3. I left college before graduation and went into business in order to save enough money to study music in Europe. 4. I think poorly of business. 5. Money is the only thing I got out my job in business. 6. I would eat a mean meal at some cheap café instead of lunching with my coworkers in order to save enough money to study music in Europe . 7. I don’t believe being wealthy is being successful in living. 8. I think giving up a good salary for happiness is foolish.

5. Reading Through • Main Idea This text is about the author’s life as a musician and how he enjoys this kind of life. Actually at the very beginning, his parents insisted that he should not go into music as a career because his grandfather, who took music as an occupation, earned barely enough to support the family. So he had to go into business to help his family out of their money problems. But later, he was able to go abroad to study music with the money, which became the turning point in his life. He enjoyed his life as a musician because he feels he is really making a success of living.

6. violin disapprove occupation nearly community economical wolf bay Consequence cafe abroad mild all-too-often primary mention existence duty aside satisfaction aim dawn coworker seek practically condition salary gee bring up New Words

7. Phrases and Expressions in view of provide for keep the wolves/wolf at bay/from the door as a consequence insist upon/on run into not for a moment speak poorly of aside from get…out of pass sb.by/over walk on air break away from pay a /the price for

8. Detailed Study of Text A 1. In order to tell you what I believe, I must briefly bring up something from my personal history. 2. …, the very mention of music as a career carried with it the idea of an uncertain existence. 3. Now, I do not for a moment meanto speak poorly of business; my whole point is that it was just not for me. 4. So conditioned are most of us to the idea that success is money– so much so that the thought of giving up a good salary for happiness seems foolish.

9. bring up  mention or bring to attention (a subject) 提出（议题）e.g. There is no need to bring up his past when we are considering him for employment. 在考虑是否聘用他时没必要提他的过去。e.g. Who brought up the subject of money? 谁提到钱的事了？

10. 译文：……,只要一提到以音乐为生，我们就想到了朝不译文：……,只要一提到以音乐为生，我们就想到了朝不 保夕的生活。 句型结构 The very mention of sth. carries with it the idea of sth. else. 只要一提到某事，人们就不禁想到了其它事情。 e.g. The very mention of Ping pang as the national ball game of China carries with it the idea of the glorious history of the Chinese Ping pang team.

11. 1) not for a moment:  not at all 一点没有；根本不 e.g. I didn‘t for a moment like the girl. 我根本不喜欢这个 女孩。 2) to speak poorly of: say unkind things about 贬低； 讲……的坏话 e.g. The students speak poorly of their history teacher. 学生 们对历史老师的评价不高。

12. 译文：我们大多数人习惯地认为金钱等于成功– 这种想 法如此根深蒂固，以至于在大多数人看来，为了幸福而 放弃高薪的想法似乎是愚蠢的。 句型结构 So conditioned is / are sb./people to the idea that… --so much so that the thought of doing sth. is /seems foolish / wise 某人或人们习惯地认为……--- 这种想法如此根深蒂固，以至于做某事的想法是/似乎很愚蠢/明知。 e.g. So conditioned are many people to the idea that money means happiness – so much so that the thought of giving up material comfort for spiritual satisfaction seems foolish.