2) be content with: be satisfied with (sth.), not wishing for more 对…满意;对…感到满足 e.g. Brexit shows that many British are no longer content with the EU as it is. 脱欧公投表明不少英国人对欧盟现状颇为不满。 I’d be content with a modest income. 有所收入我就满足了。
3) keep up with: move or progress at the same rate (as sb./sth.) 跟上 e.g. Wages are failing to keep up with inflation. 工资赶不上通货膨胀啊。
4) derive from: have (sth.) as a starting-point, source or origin; come from 源自;源于 e.g. Thousands of English words derive from Latin. 有几千个英文单词来自拉丁文。
Our ideas of various colors and materials derive from experience. 我们有关不同色彩、不同材料的想法来自经验。 5) poke fun at: make fun of 嘲弄,开玩笑
e.g. Many late night comedy shows poke fun at politicians. 不少深夜脱口秀节目都拿政客开涮。
6) vanish: vi. pass out of sight, especially quickly; disappear 消失;突然不见 e.g. We ran out after the thief, but he had vanished without a trace. 我们紧追着小偷,可他突然就没了影踪。
7) episode: n. one of a series of scenes or stories constituting a literary work 片段,插曲 e.g. What do you think of the final episode of the TV series that was aired last night? 你觉得昨晚播放的那个连续剧的最后一集怎么样? It was an episode in his life that he’d like to forget. 那是他宁可忘却的人生插曲。
8) core: n. the central and most important part of sth. 核心 e.g. A desire for justice is at the core of his arguments. 对正义的渴望是他的核心论点。 9) come into being: 形成;产生
e.g. A booking contract between a hotel and a guest may come into being in several different ways.
酒店与客人的订房协议有几种不同的达成方式。
We do not know exactly when the universe came into being. 我们并不确定宇宙是什么时候形成的。 10) open up: cause (sth.) to open 展开,打开
e.g. The sales manager wants to open up new markets in the Far East. 销售经理想在远东开辟新的市场。
11) for that matter: as far as that is concerned 就此而言,在这一问题上 e.g. Do not talk like that to your mother, or to anyone else for that matter. 别这么跟你妈说话,跟谁也别这么说话。
12) uncertain: a. not completely certain; not known or definite 不确定的;不确知的 e.g. She’s uncertain whether to go to New Zealand or not. 她拿不定主意要不要去新西兰。
Torn apart by war, the country now faces a very uncertain future. 因战争而分裂的这个国家前景不定。
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13) perceive: vt. become aware of (sth. or sb.) 感知到,意识到
e.g. New technology is perceived by some people to be a threat to employment. 有人把新技术视为就业的威胁。
14) out of date: no longer fashionable 过时的;不再流行的 e.g. That radio looks so out of date. 这台收音机真是老古董了。
15) vicious: a. acting or done with evil intentions 恶意的
e.g. The police said that this was one of the most vicious attacks they’d ever seen on a helpless victim.
警察表示,这是他们所见过的对无助受害者最恶毒的攻击。
16) guilt: n. a feeling of having done sth. wrong or failed in an obligation 内疚,不安 e.g. He suffered deep feelings of guilt about/at/for/over exposing his children to danger. 他令孩子们陷入危险,因而深感内疚。
Her husband’s death left her with an overwhelming sense of guilt. 丈夫之死令她深感内疚,难以解脱。
17) most of all: to a greater degree than anyone or anything else 尤其是 e.g. What I want most of all is to spend more time with my little daughter. 我最希望多陪陪年幼的女儿。
18) put it best/well/cleverly...: express (a thought or comment) in a good/clever way 极好地/很好地/巧妙地表述
e.g. The professor put it best when he said, “How you look tells the world how you feel.” 教授说得好:你的外表反映了你的内心感受。
19) attribute sth. to sb./sth.: regard sth. as being caused by 把…归因于;把…归咎于 e.g. He liked to attribute his success to a “lucky break”. 他喜欢把自己的成功归因于机遇。
Her teachers attributed her learning difficulties to emotional problems. 她的老师把她的学习困难症归咎于情感问题。 20) ultimately: ad. in the end; finally 最后;最终
e.g. Technological advances could ultimately lead to even more job losses. 技术的发展最终将导致更多的失业。
The way you arrange plants in your garden is ultimately a matter of personal preference. 花园里种些什么终究只是个人喜好。
4. Comprehending Reading 1
Teacher calls students’ attention to the title of the text, asks them to make a guess as to what this article is about.
List some items and ask Ss to divide them into necessities and luxuries, according to their understanding. The list may include items such as satellite TV, high-speed internet access, sport utility vehicles, cosmetic surgery, professional quality home gym equipment, hourly paid domestic cleaning and cooking services, second homes, trips abroad, etc. Ask Ss to briefly explain the reasons for their division.
Ask Ss to list some factors that drive conspicuous consumption in China. Ss may refer to the
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“Why We Do It” section in the text.
Teacher guides students to skim the text before doing the task in Comprehending Check for Reading 1.
Teacher asks students to go trough the text. For each paragraph, teacher asks one student to pick sentences he/she has difficulty understanding. Encourage other students to offer their interpretations. Teacher may provide help when need arises. Then do the task in Translation.
5. After Reading
5.1 Viewing and Listening
Teacher introduces Viewing & Listening to the class: Buffett & Gates Go Back to School is an interview program in which multi-billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates answer questions from business students on a variety of issues. One student asks them how they ensure that in such a materialistic society as America, their children value things that aren’t material and things that will truly make them happy in the end. Now let’s see what Buffett & Gates have to say.
Teacher briefly explains the new words before playing the video and asks students to fill in the blanks. Teacher may play the video for two or three times for students to do the exercise and check their answers.
5.2 Speaking
Divide Ss into groups ensuring that there is a mix of views within each group. Ss are supposed to exchange their opinions on the topic.
5. 3 Assignments:
1. Read the text in Reading 2 and finish the exercises 2. Write an expository writing 3. Preview the next unit.
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