Part A

School and Life

1.Warm-up Questions

2.Passage Learning

3.Exercises

1.What is the main purpose of your going to school?

2.What is your major?And what is the practical value of your major?

3.If you could change your major,what major would you like to change to?why?

I In my experience the problem of what to do in life was not made any easier by those who were entrusted with my education. Looking back, it seems most odd that never once in all about careers. As presumably the main object of going to school is to prepare for the rest of one's life, it surely would have been very easy and relevant to organize lectures or discussions designed to give boys a broad view of the enormous variety of occupations open to men of average intelligence.

recalling what happened in

the past

Of course many boys were destined from birth to follow their fathers' careers, but even these would have benefited by glimpses of a wider horizon. Again and again since graduation from college I have come across people doing jobs that I had never dreamed of before, and which would have thrilled me had I been told about them at school. I suppose the reason for this extraordinary omission is that so many schoolmasters themselves had such a restricted view.

Spending all their time working to a rigid curriculum, the passing of examinations by their pupils gradually became the whole object of their working life. I recognize the importance of being made to learn things that one does not like, but surely it was not good to give the young mind the impression that all education was a form of mental exercise.

Intellectual work or training which is

done mechanically

For example, I used to find geometry rather fun, and, when I still had the childish idea that what I was being taught might have some practical value, I asked what geometry was for. The only answer I ever got was that it taught one how to solve problems.

If, instead, I had been told the simple fact that the word was derived from the Greek ge, the earth, and metron, a measure, and that the meaningless triangles that I was asked to play with formed the basis of geographical exploration, astronomy and navigation, the subject would immediately have assumed a thrilling romance, and, what is more, it would have been directly connected in my mind with the things that most appealed to me.

II My experience in this connection may have been unfortunate, but it was by no means unique; many of my friends who went to different schools confess to having had a similar experience, and complain that when they had completed their school education they had not the remotest idea of what they wanted to do. Moreover, I do not think that the curiously detached attitude towards education was confined to schools.

Acknowledge to have had a

similar experience

It had been intended that I should go to one of the great universities. I was not very enthusiastic about the idea myself, for I had developed a dislike for the very thought of educational establishments. However, the prospect of three extra seasons in the Alps was a considerable stimulus, and by means of an enormous mental effort, I succeeded in cramming sufficient Latin into my head to pass (at my second attempt) the necessary entrance examination.

emphasis “just”

Educational institutions such as schools, colleges

and universities

A big enough encouragement or

attraction

In due course I went to be interviewed by the master of my prospective college. When I was asked what subject I proposed to take when I came up to the university, I replied, somewhat diffidently, that I wanted to take Geology—diffidently, because I still regarded such things as having no reality in the hard world of work. The answer to my suggestion confirmed my fears.

Attend the university

later

"What on earth do you want to do with Geology? There is no opening there unless you eventually get a first and become a lecturer in the subject." A first, a lecturer—I, who could not even learn a couple of books of Horace 2 by heart! I felt that I was being laughed at. In fact I am sure I was not, and that my adviser was quite sincere and only trying to be helpful, but I certainly did not feel like arguing the matter.

I listened humbly to suggestions that I should take Classics or Law, and left the room in a state if profound depression. “Oh Lord,” I thought, “even here I won’t be able to escape from Kennedy’s Latin Primer,” with which I had been struggling for ten years.

those who were entrusted with my education.Those who were in charge of my education,namely,teachers at school and college.

odd adj.

1.strange, unusual, peculiar.

e.g.:She wears rather odd clothes.

It is odd that a person like him would have made such mistakes.

2. that can not be divided by two;not even( of numbers)

e.g.:1,3,5,and 7 are odd numbers.

3.of one of a pair, set, series, etc. when the other(s) is /are missinge.g.:You’re wearing odd socks,i.e. two that do not form a pair.

odds n.probability or chance (that a certain thing will or will not happen)e.g.:The odds are in your favor.( i.e. You’re likely to succeed.)

The odds are that ( i.e. It is possible that) he’ll win.

Idioms:

odds and ends. 零星杂物，琐碎物品

against all the odds despite strong opposition or disadvantages. 尽管极为不利或遭强烈反对 be at odds (with sb.) (over/on sth.) be disagreeing or quarrelling (with sb) (about sth)

…never once in all about careers.

Inversion to emphasize “never”. The normal order of the sentence is:

In all the years that I was at school there was never once any general discussion about careers.

Analyze the structure of this sentence:

it 为形式主语，真正的主语是不定式 to organize, 在不定式中分词短语 designed to give …intelligence 为后置定语修饰 lectures or discussion 词组。 open to men of … 为形容词短语修饰前文 occupations.

be designed to do sth.:be planed to do sth. 用来，目的是

destine v.

1. To determine beforehand; preordain: 预定：事先决定；预定

e.g.: a film destined to become a classic. 一部必定会成为经典的电影

2. To assign for a specific end, use, or purpose:

指定：为特定目的或用处而指定：

e.g.:money destined to pay for their child's education. 被指定用来偿付他们孩子的教育费用的钱

3.To direct toward a given destination:

朝着…：朝着一个给定的目的地：

e.g.:a flight destined for Tokyo. 以东京为目的地的飞行

destined adjective

1 [not before noun] certain to have something or do something at some time in the future [+ for]:

e.g.: She seemed destined for a long and successful career.

destined to do sth: We were destined never to meet again.

2. be destined for to be traveling towards a particular place: e.g.: a flight destined for Cairo

3. destined lover/profession etc literary the person, thing etc that you will have in the future

many boys were destined from birth to follow their fathers' careers

It was decided at the time of their birth to take as their job what their fathers had been doing, it was their destiny to have the same career as their father had

glimpses of a wider horizon

(metaphor),

exposure to other possibility, informed of other choices

which would have thrilled me had I been told about them at school.

Which would have made me feel so excited if I had been told about them at school.

其中“ had I been…” 为省略 if 的虚拟语气，倒装。

I suppose the reason for this extraordinary omission is that so many schoolmasters themselves had such a restricted view.

I guess the reason why the boys were not told of their job possibilities was that so many schoolmasters were too narrow-minded to realiz

e them themselves

omit verb [transitive] 1 to not include someone or something, either deliberately or because you forget to do it; leave out

e.g.: Please don't omit any details, however trivial they may seem.

2 omit to do sth formal to not do something, either because you forgot or deliberately:

e.g.: Oliver omitted to mention that he was married.

omission noun

1 [uncountable] the act of not including or not doing something:

e.g.: The omission of her name was not a deliberate act.

2 [countable] something that has been omitted

e.g.: It was one of many errors and omissions pushing up the cost of the road works. | a glaring omission (=one that is very bad and easily noticed)

Spending all … their working life.

Normally, the logical subject of a participle phrase is the same as the subject of the main clause in a sentence, we may rewrite the sentence like this: Spending all their time working to a rigid curriculum, the schoolmasters gradually came to have only one object in their working life:to make their pupils pass examinations.

Working to a rigid curriculum: working according to or following a curriculum which can hardly be changed

be derived from: take its origin from

有…派生出，起源于 e.g.: The English word “pork” is derived form the French word “porc”.

derive … from 有…得到：e.g.: He derived great pleasure

from traveling abroad.

have assumed a thrilling romance

Would have seemed to be exciting an full o

f adventure

Main Idea of 1st Paragraph:

Life after school was never discussed in school. Therefore, school boys were not aware of the many job possibilities after school. Such omission and ignorance were largely due to the fact that education was made to seem like mental activity which had no use or purpose outside of school.

in this /that connection with reference to this /that在这（那）方面

e.g.: I’d like to tell you a story in this connection.

You should make greater effort in this connection.

He is unwilling to talk about his parents in this connection

by no means: not at all; certainly not 决不，并没有

e.g.: She is by no means hardworking.

They are by no means agreeable at school.

This is by no means the first time I hear you say so.

remote adjective

1 far away in space or time

2 far from towns

e.g.: As a westerner I was a strange sight in this remote spot

3 very different from something [+ from] e.g.: It was so alien, so remote from anything he had ever known.

4 a remote chance/possibility a very slight chance or possibility [+ that]:e.g.: There's a remote chance that you will catch him before he leaves.

5 unfriendly, and not interested in peoplee.g.: She was quiet and remote, and had an annoying air of superiority

6 not have the remotest idea used to emphasize the fact that you know nothing about something[+ what/where/who etc]e.g.: Miranda hasn't the remotest idea where he's gone.

I do not think that the curiously detached attitude towards education was confined to schools.

I do not think that the strangely indifferent or disinterested attitude towards the real purpose of education are to be found in school only.

confine verb [transitive]

1 to keep someone or something within the limits of a particular activity or subject; restrict :e.g.: A former editor now confined to organizing the letter page 2 be confined to a) to affect or happen to only one group of people,

or in only one place or time: e.g.: This disease is not just confined to children.

b) to have to stay in a place, especially because you are ill: an elderly woman confined to a small apartment | confined to bed: I was confined to bed for 10 days with a nasty bout of flu. | confined to a wheelchair (=unable to walk): Although confined to a wheelchair, she is very active in church life.

It had been intended that I should go to one of the great universities

Most probably his parents wanted him to attend a

great university.

by means of by way of

e.g.: He has managed to finish the work in time by means of a new method.

by all means spoken used to mean 'of course' when politely allowing someone to do something or agreeing with a suggestion:

e.g.: Can I bring Alan to the party?" "By all means!"

by no means/not by any means not at all

e.g.: She's not a bad kid, by any means.

a means to an end something that you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it: e.g.: For Geoff, the job was simply a means to an end.

beyond your means (=costing more than you can afford): These medical costs are beyond the means of most working people.

man/woman of means literary someone who is rich

ways and means special methods for doing something, especially something secret or illegal: There are ways and means of getting drugs in prison.

pass at my second attempt

I took the examinations and

failed the first time but passed the second time

In due course I went to be interviewed by the master of my prospective college

In due course: When the right time came

prospective college: the college I planned to go

propose verb

vt. to suggest, to present for consideration

vi. to make an offer of marriage

He wanted to propose a toast at the dinner.

Let’s propose a talk between the tow parties to solve the problem.

He is going to propose to her tonight.

I replied, somewhat diffidently, that I wanted to take Geology—diffidently, because…

The use of “----”and the repetition of “differently” is because “differently” is modified by the clause “because I still regarded…”

I still regarded such things as having no reality in the hard world of work

Such things: such subjects as geology

The hard world of work: the working place where one goes after finishing school, in which one has to make a living( it is hard because outside school the world is real and tough.

There is no opening there unless you eventually get a first and become a lecturer in the subject

No job is available in the field of geology except to be the no.1 student so as to become a lecturer of geology.

even here I won’t be able to escape from Kennedy’s Latin Primer

even at college I had to study the basic textbook of Latin by Kenned

y

Main Idea of 2nd Paragraph:

The author’s school experience was shared by many of his peers who went to different school. Later, he discovered that universities were very much like schools in their restricted and indifferent view towards the real purpose of education.