section b 2 2 unit what college brings us? to master the reading skill to understand the text to...

Section B

2

2 College—The ladder to success? UNIT

What college brings us?


To master the reading skill

To understand the text

To practice the phrases and patterns

To learn about letter writing

Objectives

Warming-up

Reading skills

Text study

Comparative study

Contents

Unit project

Section B What college brings us?

Section B

Warming-up

Lead-in

Background information


Video Watching

1. How did Bill Gates comment on his college experience at Harvard?

Tips

Tips

2. Do you think going to college is worth it or not? What are the advantages of going to college?

According to Bill Gates, studying at Harvard was a phenomenal experience: Academic life was fascinating, and he used to sit in on lots of classes he hadn’t signed up for; Dorm life was terrific.

Bill Gates described the experience as exhilarating, intimidating, sometimes even discouraging, but always challenging. It was an amazing privilege – and though he left early, he was transformed by his years at Harvard, the friendships he made, and the ideas he worked on.

Tips

1. How did Bill Gates comment on his college experience at Harvard?


Tips

2. Career Advancement: a college degree may give you an edge over other job applicants or, at least, keep you competitive with them.

3. Career Direction: College provides students the opportunity to explore new fields and concepts.

The benefits of going to college may include:1. Fulfilling Requirements: though a college education

is by no means a prerequisite to success, it has been considered a great asset and may open doors otherwise closed to non-college graduates.

4. Networking Opportunities: You meet a lot of people in college and will always share something in common with others who graduated from your school.

Tips

5. Maturity: A college degree will expose you to a variety of new information, to people with different backgrounds than you, and to new experiences. This undoubtedly will broaden your horizons and, with the right attitude, can help you mature into a thoughtful, curious, and disciplined individual.


1. What are community colleges in the USA?

2. What do you know about the higher education in the USA?

Tips

Tips


In the United States, community colleges usually refer to two-year colleges, which are sometimes called as junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges. Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. Community colleges typically offer two-year associate’s degrees, although some community colleges offer a limited number of bachelor’s degrees. After graduating from a community college, some students transfer to a four-year college or university for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree. Community colleges are generally publicly funded and offer career certifications and part-time programs.

1. What are community colleges in the USA?

Tips


College in the United States includes a variety of institutions of higher education. Public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges all have a significant role in higher education in the United States. Strong research and funding have helped elevate U.S. colleges and universities among the world’s most prestigious, making them particularly attractive to international students, professors and researchers in the pursuit of academic excellence.

2. What do you know about the higher education in the USA?

Tips


Reading skills

Presentation of the skill

Reading skill practice


When we are reading a paragraph, we

should first try to identify the main idea of

the paragraph and then try to separate the

major detail from the secondary or less

important details. There are two ways to

help us locate the major details:

Reading for major details

Skills of reading for major details

Learn to read for the main idea. If we are active readers and keen enough to identify the main idea of a paragraph, the major detail to support that main idea will stand out.

Understand that facts, evidence and details in a paragraph are not equally important. Only look for those that further support and closely relate to the main idea.


In addition, we can identify the minor

or less important details of a paragraph;

the minor details usually answer some

of the questions concerning the major

detail.



Read the following paragraphs from

Text B. Then find the main idea and

major detail of each paragraph.

1.The reality is that college has never been magical for everyone. Now that close to half our high school graduates are attending college, those who don’t fit the pattern are becoming more numerous. Excess college graduates are selling shoes and driving taxis.

(Para. 2)

Main idea: _________________________________Major detail: _____________________________ _____________

College has never been magical for everyone.

More high school graduates don’t fit the pattern of college.



2. Some adventuresome educators and campus watchers have openly begun to suggest that we revise our attitudes and reform the system. College may not be the best, the proper or even realistic place for every young person after the completion of high school. Critics suggest we may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside down through the rosy glow of our own remembered college experiences. (Para. 3)Main idea: ______________________________ _______________

College may not be the best place for every young person.

Major detail: ___________________________ __________________

We only judge things based on our own college experiences.


3. Let’s acknowledge the facts. The New York Times reports close to 80 percent of new jobs can be performed by someone without a college degree. The US Department of Education estimates that only 62 percent of those enrolled in four-year institutions had earned a bachelor’s degree six years later! This dilemma means that 38 percent have likely wasted time and accumulated debt!

To be continued


In addition, in the US, the cost of college has risen tenfold over the last 30 years, a ratio that is three times as much as general inflation over the same time period. It is clear, from an objective point of view, that many more students should be attending technical schools or two-year colleges to prepare for the jobs that will actually be available to them. (Para. 5)

Main idea: ______________________________ _____________________________

Many more students should attend technical schools or two-year colleges.

Major detail: __________________________ __________________________

College education seems to have wasted time and accumulated debt.

Text study

Text comprehension

Language focus

Critical thinking


1. Why has there been a general consensus that all high

school graduates ought to go to college? (Para.1)

2. What does the author mean by saying “college has never

been magical for everyone?” (Paras.2-3)

3. Why do many students still choose to go to college? (Para.

4)

4. What are college graduates likely confronted with?

(Para.8)

5. What suggestions does the author provide to high school

graduates? (Para.10)

Major details in a paragraph are facts, evidence and details that further support and closely relate to the main idea.

1. Why has there been a general consensus that all high school graduates ought to go to college? (Para.1)

Tips

Note

Tips: …will help them … than those who don’t go. Get a job/earn more money/become “better” people/be more responsible citizens

college may not be the best/ the proper or even

realistic place/magical / don’t fit the pattern / the

rosy glow of our own remembered college

experiences

2. What does the author mean by saying “college has

never been magical for everyone?” (Paras.2-3)

Tips

原句：Critics suggest we may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside down through the rosy glow of our own remembered college experiences. (Para.3, L3-4)解释 : The real situation is not all the students can benefit from college, or college is never meant for everyone. College only fits those who really want to study. For some others, it may be a waste of their time and money. Our own college experiences may affect our viewpoints about the surveys and statistics.

Sentence interpretation

原句：Critics suggest we may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside down through the rosy glow of our own remembered college experiences. (Para.3, L3-4) ）

译文：批评家暗示，我们可能是凭借自己记忆中那段

大学经历的玫瑰色光环，把所有的调查和统计都看颠倒了。


原句：Critics suggest we may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside down through the rosy glow of our own remembered college experiences. (Para.3, L3-4)

In English, the word “rosy” is used when describing something likely to be successful or happy such as “rosy future”. However, sometimes the word implies that it seems better than it really is.

Note


pressure from parents and teachers / an alternative to a far worse fate / quiver at thought of the army or a dead-end job/ anything is better than staying at home / don’t want to work “solely for the money”

3. Why do many students still choose to go to

college? (Para. 4)

Tips

原句：They quiver at the thought of the army or a dead-end job, and almost anything is better than staying at home. (Para.4, L3-4)

解释 : They tremble whenever they think about joining the army or doing an unpromising job, and they also feel there is nothing worse than staying at home with nothing to do.

译文：他们想到参军或做没前途的工作就不寒而栗，又觉得做任何事都比呆在家强。

工资低且无晋升机会的工作


4. What are college graduates likely confronted with?

(Para.8)

Tips

have to adjust / jobs that do not need a

university degree / a hard time to find jobs /

having a university degree may be a barrier

to evaluate the college equation /

calculate as a consumer product / if the

value proposal is worth the investment

5. What suggestions does the author provide to high

school graduates? (Para.10)

Tips

原句：In brief, our high school graduates need to evaluate the college equation more closely and critically, calculate it as a consumer product, and decide if the value proposal is worth the very large investment each student and family must make.

解释 : A “value proposal/proposition” is a part of business strategy. It is based on a review and analysis of the benefits, costs and value that an organization can deliver to its customers. Here, it is the overall value or benefits offered by college, compared against the large investment needed to go to college.


原句：In brief, our high school graduates need to evaluate the college equation more closely and critically, calculate it as a consumer product, and decide if the value proposal is worth the very large investment each student and family must make.

解释 : 简言之，高中毕业生需要更仔细审慎地评估上大学的综合因素，要把上大学作为一个消费产品来核算，然后决定上大学这个价值主张是不是值得每个学生及家庭进行大手笔投资。


There has been a general _________ that

all high school graduates ought to go to

college because college will help them

become “better” people than those who

don’t go. However, given ______________

attending a university and the ________ job

market, should we not re-examine the case

for college? The reality is that college has

never been ________ for everyone.

consensus

the huge cost of

shrinking

magical

To be continued

Text summary

Many students go to college because of

pressure from parents and teachers and

stay there because it seems to be an

_________ to a far worse fate, but in the

current ________ it has become evident

that there never are enough promising jobs.

It means that 38 percent have likely wasted

time and accumulated debt! It is clear that

many more students should be attending

________________ or two-year colleges to

prepare for the jobs that will actually be

available to them.

alternative

slowdown

technical schools

To be continued

Text summary

In brief, high school graduates need to

________the college equation more

closely and critically, ________ it as a

consumer product, and decide if the

value proposal is worth the very large

_________ each student and family

must make.

calculate

evaluate

investment

Text summary

Practical Phrases Specific Meanings1. now that 既然；由于2. compel sb. to do sth. 强迫某人做某事3. at the thought of 想起；想到4. be stacked against 情况对……不利5. be available to 可获得；可利用6. expose sb. to sth. 使某人接触某事（物）7. for its own sake 只是为了……本身

Language focus

Practical phrases

既然；由于

(mention/ explain it further)

Now that you mentioned it, I have to explain it further.

now that短语逆译

短语应用既然你提起了这件事，我得给你再解释解释。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

强迫某人做某事 compel sb. to do sth. 短语逆译

(resign/ scandal /credibility/ reputation)

She was compelled to resign because the scandal had damaged her credibility and reputation.

短语应用她的信用和信誉因丑闻受损，被迫辞职。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

想起；想到

(cheer up)

He cheered up at the thought of seeing her again.

at the thought of短语逆译

短语应用一想起又可以见到她 , 他便兴奋起来。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

情况对… 不利

(be expected much/ the odds )

They are expected much, but the odds are heavily stacked against Chinese players in the World Cup.

be stacked against短语逆译

短语应用人们对中国队期望很高，但世界杯上的形势对他们非常不利。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

可获得 / 利用

(in sufficient quantities/ satisfy demand)

Cheap goods are available to the local people, but not in sufficient quantities to satisfy demand.

be available to短语逆译

短语应用当地居民可以买到一些廉价商品，但是数量不足以满足需求。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

使某人接触某事（物）

(learn from the textbooks)

Besides learning from the textbooks, college students need to expose themselves to various social activities.

expose sb. to sth. 短语逆译

短语应用除了学习课本知识，大学生们还需要体验各种社会活动。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

为了… …本身

(lose sight of )

We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that education is important for its own sake.

for its own sake短语逆译

短语应用我们不应忽略的事实是教育本身是很重要的。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

Functional Patterns Functions & Usages

1. There has been/is a consensus that sb. should /ought to do…

用于表达“理应做……是大家的普遍共识。”

2. There is little/no doubt that… 用于表达“毋庸置疑 / 毫无疑问……”。

3. Sb. needs to evaluate…, calculate it as…, and decide….

用于表达“评估……，核算……，做出决定”的过程。

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型提炼

普遍的共识是所有的高中毕业生都应该上大学，因为大学会帮他们找到工作，挣更多钱，成为“更好的”人，并学会如何做一个比那些不上大学的人更负责的公民。

原句译文

逆译练习There has been a general consensus that all high school graduates ought to go to college because college will help them get a job, earn more money, become “better” people, and learn to be more responsible citizens than those who don’t go. (Para.1, L2-4)

Language focus

Functional patterns

There has been/is a consensus that sb. should /ought to do…

句型提炼

应用提示

用于表达“理应做某事是大家的普遍共识……” 。

句型应用

Language focus

Functional patterns

(take part-time jobs / expose sb. to / be independent) There has been a general consensus that college students should take part-time jobs in vacations, because these jobs can expose them to society and help them to be economically independent.

典型例句普遍的共识是大学生应该在假期里去打工，因为打工可以使他们接触社会，帮助他们在经济上获得独立。

意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

毫无疑问，上大学能让年轻人接触新思想，建立新关系，且有助于提高他们的批判性思维能力。

原句译文

逆译练习

There is little doubt that attending college has the potential of exposing young people to new ideas and relationships and helps promote their critical thinking skills. (Para.7, L1-2)

句型提炼

Language focus

Functional patterns

There is little/no doubt that…

句型提炼

应用提示用于表示“毋庸置疑……”。

句型应用

Language focus

Functional patterns

(give insight into)

There is little/no doubt that English learning helps to improve students’ abilities to communicate with others and gives them deeper insights into other cultures.

典型例句毫无疑问，学习外语有助于提高学生的交际能力 , 加深学生对其他文化的了解。

意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

简言之，高中毕业生需要更仔细审慎地评估上大学的综合因素，要把上大学作为一个消费产品来核算，然后决定上大学这个价值主张是不是值得每个学生及家庭来大手笔投资。

原句译文

逆译练习In brief, our high school graduates need to evaluate the college equation more closely and critically, calculate it as a consumer product, and decide if the value proposal is worth the very large investment each student and family must make. (Para. 10, L1-3) 句型提炼

Language focus

Functional patterns

Sb. needs to evaluate…, calculate it as…, and decide….

句型提炼

应用提示

用于表示“评估…，核算…，做出决定”的过程。

句型应用

Language focus

Functional patterns

(give insight into)

College students need to evaluate the campus life equation more seriously and objectively, calculate it as an investment to the future, and decide how to spend their four years of college life.

典型例句大学生需要更加认真客观地全面评估大学生活的方方面面，要把在校学习看作是对未来的一种投资，然后决定自己应该如何度过四年的大学生活。意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

1. 普遍共识 2.日益萎缩的就业市场 3. 玫瑰色光环 4. 更糟糕的命运 5. 没有前途的工作 6. 让年轻人接触新思想 7. 终生学习的第一步 8. 知识渊博 9. 消费产品

a general consensus

the shrinking job market

the rosy glow

a far worse fate

a dead-end job

expose young people to new ideas

the first step of lifelong learning

breadth of knowledge

consumer product

Language focus

Genuine collocations

a. They quiver at the thought

of the army or a dead-end

job, and almost anything is

better than staying at

home.

他们想到参军或做没前途的工作就不寒而栗，

又觉得做任何事都比呆在家强。

Language focus

Language appreciation

b. Nevertheless, many

college graduates report

that what they learned on

campus was better

described as personal

rather than academic

development.

然而，很多大学毕业生反映，他们在校园所学

的东西，与其被称为学术发展，不如说是个人

的发展。

Language focus


c. College is an outstanding

place for that rare breed,

those young adults who love

learning for its own sake,

who would literally rather

read than bother to eat, and

who like nothing better than

writing research papers.

大学对那些凤毛麟角、为学习而学习的年轻人来说

是一个重要的地方。真的，他们甚至宁可读书，也不愿费心去吃东西，他

们最喜欢做的莫过于撰写科研论文。

Language focus


1. Why do parents compel their children to go to good colleges?

2. How do you think about students’ money invested in college education?

3. What are the most significant things students should learn from college?

Tips

Tips

Tips

Critical thinking

Further discussion

1. Why do parents compel their children to go to good colleges?

Tips

• Traditional ideology.• More promising future.• High expectations of their children.

Critical thinking

Further discussion

2. How do you think about students’ money invested in college education?

Tips

• Worth their money because it’s an investment that will pay off later.

• A waste of their money because the tuition is too high.

• Not sure if they’ll profit from the large sum they invested.

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Tips

3. What are the most significant things students should learn from college?

• Analytical ability.• Critical thinking skills.• Broad knowledge.

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Watch a video clip and discuss:

Compared with the US educational system, what characteristics do the Chinese schools have?

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Tips

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Tips

Compared with the US educational system, what characteristics do the Chinese schools have?

Chinese schools are teacher-centric and Chinese teachers are often seen above the students. Chinese educators should focus on helping students to cooperate and interact, narrowing the space between the teachers and students.

Chinese schools focus on the exams. Many Chinese students are obsessed or even paralyzed by the exams and the requirement to go to good universities.

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Thematic study

Comparative study

Thematic study

Language features analysis


2. Do you agree to the authors’ ideas? How do you benefit from your college education?

1. Comparison between the authors’ ideas in Text A and Text B.

Tips

Tips

1. Comparison between the authors’ ideas in Text A and Text B.

Text AText A emphasizes the significance of studying the humanities.

Text BText B questions the necessity of a college education.

The author advocates that by taking courses in the humanities, students are likely to grow into good people.

The author opposes getting a college education only for a future career, an extreme thinking driven by the economic downturn.

Tips

2. Do you agree to the authors’ ideas? Why is college still worth the investment of students’ money?

Personally, I benefit a lot from my college education:• be exposed to new ideas and knowledge;• participate in a variety of activities;• form indissoluble relationships; …

Based on your study of

the two texts, compare

the writing styles of the

two texts in terms of their

typical language

features.

1. What are the typical language features of the two texts?

2. List more examples from the text to support your ideas.

Tips

Tips

Though the stands of the two readings are different, both arguments are supported by many specific facts, evidence, statistics and examples.

1. What are the typical language features of the two texts?

TipsThe tone of both readings is serious and persuasive, using the development method of argumentation.


TipsText A Arguments supported by statistics and examples:Perhaps the best argument in favor of the humanities is the scope of possibilities that are widely open to us. Did you know that James Cameron, world-famous director of the movie, Titanic, graduated with a degree in the humanities? So did Sally Ride, the first woman in space. (Para.8)


TipsText B Arguments supported by statistics and examples :The New York Times reports close to 80 percent of new jobs can be performed by someone without a college degree. … only 62 percent of those enrolled in four-year institutions had earned a bachelor’s degree six years later! (Para.5)

Unit project

Survey

Group discussion

Letter writing


In groups of four, complete

the following survey

questions and then share

the results with your group.

Survey

□ 1 The humanities have the greatest impact on the world because they can sketch new pictures suggesting new ways of thinking about the world.

□ 2 The humanities make us more open-minded and make us re-think and re-discover ourselves in a typical environment.

□ 3 We are at a crucial stage at which it is necessary to show how the humanities are continually relevant to the world.

□ 4 In general, we don’t want to take any “hard” course that is simply beyond us and end up with nothing being learned.

Check (√) the statements you agree with:

Survey

□ 5 There is no point of research if it doesn’t affect the way people think about the world and act in the world.

□ 6 While the humanities may not obviously seem as compelling as engineering, chemistry, or any of the other “hard” sciences, they play an indispensable role in the world.

□ 7 Arts and the humanities are essential for personal growth, regardless of career choice.

Check (√) the statements you agree with:

Survey

Work in groups and have a discussion

on the following topic.

Select three statements that you think would be

the most important reasons for studying the

humanities, and then brainstorm specific

details for the reasons selected by your group.

Group discussion

Writing a Letter to the Curriculum Committee

Suppose your university is planning to cancel many classes in the humanities and social sciences in order to save the courses which will boost students’ prospects of landing a job. As liberal arts majors, you want to appeal to the Curriculum Committee that it’s dangerous and harmful to cancel the liberal arts courses. To let your voice be heard, you need to articulate the advantages of offering the humanities courses in your letter.

Letter writing

Writing a Letter to the Curriculum Committee

You may include the following points:• Opening remarks and your purpose of writing

the letter• The advantages of offering the liberal arts

courses• Reiteration of your appeal & the conclusion

Letter writing

Useful expressions

• boost one’s prospects of …• be bound to• dominant pillar / play bit roles• stand up for • invest us with… • in a positive and constructive manner • make a long list • make breakthroughs on many barriers • be liable/likely to …

Letter writing

• well-rounded human beings • It makes sense to do …• in the company of• Sth. is/are more and more seen as … rather than …• Once + N., sth. now …• Perhaps the best argument in favor of / against sth. is …• If sb. only do sth. / If sb. do sth. alone, it’s likely that … /

sb. are liable to …

Letter writing

Useful expressions

The End


section b 2 2 unit what college brings us? to master the reading skill to understand the text to...

Documents

college degree

pattern of college

unitwhat college

excess college graduates

remembered college experiences

section bwhat college

major detailslearn

main idea