Unit 1
Section A Time-Conscious Americans Ⅰ. Abstract
This passage shows the way of Americans regarding time。Americans are famous for their time-consciousness. His/her belief is that no one stands still. No moving ahead means falling behind. This results in a country that people of it devote themselves into researching, experimenting and exploring. Time is the most important thing for Americans lives.
On one hand, Americans try their best to save up time by different ways. They are in hurry to get their destination, push the others in order to finish their shopping quickly. Racing through daytime meals is part of the pace of life in America. People make full use of modern ways to communicate with each other efficiently.
On the other hand, people miss the relaxed way of living. They like the opening exchanges of a business call. They miss the ritual interaction that is suitable for a welcoming cup of tea or coffee. The people coming from different cultures have different ideas from those of American.
Ⅱ. Culture Notes
1. The Definition of Culture
Culture is a very broad term used to describe the arts, the beliefs, the values, the traditions, the customs, and the institutions that are considered to be characteristic of a community, a people, a region, or a nation. Culture also includes the languages and dialects that people use to express their feelings and to communicate with each other. It is often difficult to dissociate language and culture since, in most cases, language is the main medium through which culture is transmitted. Most people feel that it is impossible to really know a culture without speaking the language. In some immigrant populations in North America, however, the original language (French, German, Chinese, Polish, etc.) has been lost but customs and traditions are still maintained 2. Time Orientation Culture
Past-orientated cultures believe strongly in the significance of prior events. History, established religions, and tradition are extremely important to these cultures, so there is a strong belief that the past should be the guide for making decisions and determining truth. We see this orientation in China, which because of its long and splendid history continues to respect the past.
Present-orientated cultures hold that the moment has the most significance. For
them, the future is vague, ambiguous, and unknown and what is real exists I the here and now.
Future-orientated cultures, such as the one found in the United States, emphasize the future and expect it to be grander and nicer than the present.
Ⅲ. New Words
1.budget:
v. plan the spending of (time, money, etc.), or provide (time, money) in the plan
vt.编入预算; 设计使用 vi.安排开支 n.预算 a.便宜的，廉价的
She budgeted for buying a new car. 她为了买新汽车而计划节省开支。 It is important to balance this year's budget.
[词组] balance one’s budget 平衡预算
within / below budget 在预算之内 budget for doing sth. 为做??做预算
2.acute: adj. fine, sharp, severe, very great
(1)敏锐的； 灵敏的;(2) 剧烈的；厉害的;(3) 严重的;(4) 急性的（疾病） He still has very acute hearing, though he is 80 years old. She is suffering acute pain.
[辨析] acute ；keen； sharp意思都含“锐利的”(包括它的引伸义)意思。 用于物时,(1)sharp 指“尖或刃”, 如:a sharp point 锐利的尖。 (2)keen 一般指“刃”, 如:a keen edge锋刃。
(3)acute 只用于学术语中, 如:an acute angle锐角。
用于人时, (1)sharp 表示“有洞察力的, 精明的, 机警的”, 着重“狡猾”“不易受骗”, 如:
You won't catch him. He's very sharp.你骗不了他, 他精明极了。 (2)keen 表示人的“锐敏”、 “聪明”、 “善于思索”, 如:He's a keen mind.他头脑灵敏。
(3)acute 侧重指“人观察事物的深刻性以及分辨问题的细致性。” 如: He has given an acute analysis of the situation.他对形势做了深刻的分析。 3.replace vt.（常与with, by连用）用?代替
[辨析]replace; supersede; supplant 都含“代替”的意思。
(1)replace 指“代替某人”或“取代已经失去的、毁坏的或用坏的东西”, 如: We replace defective tubes.我们更换有毛病的管子。 (2)supersede系正式用语, 指“用更好的、最新的东西替换过时的或无用的东西”, 如:
The sailing ships were superseded by the steamships.帆船已被汽船所取代。 (3)supplant 指“以武力、欺骗等手段替代原来的人或其职位”, 如: The prime minister was supplanted by his rival.首相被他的政敌赶下台了。
4. restless adj.得不到休息的, 不平静的, 不安宁的
restlessly: ad. impatiently
The man repeatedly looked at his watch while walking up and down restlessly in the room.
5.elbow: vt. To push or jostle (another or others) with the elbow.用肘推挤（另一人或另一些人）
n. The joint or bend of the arm between the forearm and the upper arm. 肘关节上臂与前臂之间的关节或胳膊弯曲处
[词组] out at elbow(s)衣衫褴褛的,破旧的；千疮百孔的
elbow one’s way 用肘挤出路来 elbow sb. aside (off) 推到一边
She elbowed her way through the crowd. 她从人群中挤了过去。 6. abrupt: a.
1) (of behavior) rough粗鲁无礼的；唐突的
When I asked her about her new job, she was quite abrupt with me. 2) sudden and unexpected突然的
The meeting came to an abrupt end. 会谈突然结束。
[辨析]sudden; abrupt意思都含“突然的”。
(1)sudden指“事先未料到、无准备而迅速发生的”, 强调“先未警告的”, 如: a sudden outburst of temper突然大发雷霆。
(2)abrupt指“突然的”、“出其不意的”、“事先未告知的”, 如: He took an abrupt departure.他突然离去。
7.brief: a. short and not containing too many details
His remarks were brief and to the point. 他的话很简洁，而且说到了点子上。
[词组] in brief = in short简单地说；简明扼要的
Notice the use of the phrase \possible\
the news in brief 新闻提要
In brief, take no risks whatever. 简而言之, 千万不要冒险。
[派生词] brevity n. 简短
8.ritual:
1) a. of or done regularly followed in exactly the same way each time 通常的,习惯的
Every day the work begins with the ritual phrases of greeting. 每天，工作以例行的相互问候开始。
2) n. [C, U] method followed repeatedly in the same way every time 例行仪式;例行习惯
Wives make a ritual of their household duties.家庭主妇把家务作为自己每
天的例行公事。
9.interaction: n.
1) communication交流
informal interactions among adults 成年人之间非正式交流 2) acting on each other; working together 互相作用；互相影响
Increased interaction between the police and citizens will improve the rate of solving crimes. 警民之间加强合作将有助于提高破案率。
inter-[构词成分]表示“在…中”“相互” [派生词] interact v.互相作用
interact on作用, 影响, 制约, 配合 interact with与...相合
10.convention: n.
1) general, usu. unspoken, agreement about how people should act or behave in certain situations; customary practice习俗, 惯例
It is the convention for men to wear suits on formal occasions. 男子在正式场合穿西装是一种惯例。
2) meeting of members of a profession, political party, etc. 会议；协议；契约
Conventions are usually held in large cities, which have good transportation systems and interesting sights to see. 会议通常在大城市里举行，那里有完善的交通和观光的地方。
[词组] according to the convention 照惯例
[辨析]convention, congress , conference , assembly 会议，集会
convention 意为“会议，大会，年会”常指某一团体或政党为某一特殊目的所召开的会议。
e.g. They were arranging the entertainment at the company’s annual dealer
convention .
他们正在安排公司经销商年会上的招待问题。 congress 意为“代表大会，会议”，指各社会团体或国家的代表的正式会议，以交流情况和意见。e.g. A congress of heart specialists is meeting in Chicago.
一个心脏病专家会议正在芝加哥召开。 conference 会议；谈判；协商
e.g. He held conference with his assistants until late onto the night.
他和他的助手们一直磋商到深夜。
Assembly 与会者为一共同理由，如为立法的，宗教的，教育的或社会目的聚集在一起的人
e.g. The assembly of doctors discussed the latest medical research.
医生们举行会议讨论医学研究的最新动态。
Meeting 会议；集会
