The Virtual World The Virtual World --- --- Unit 4Unit 4

A Virtual LifeA Virtual Life

(Text (Text A)A)

Table of Contents

I. Background InformationBackground InformationII. Comprehension Questions

III. Vocabulary and III. Vocabulary and ExpressionsExpressions

I. Background Information

The Internet & The First Computer

What better way topractice math skillsThan with an abacus!Still used today, theabacus is as fast ascalculators. A greatmental workout forkids and adults. Ourabacus is made tobe used everyday inAsia at home, school,or office. Approx.13“ long, made ofplastic For durability.

The World's First Computer: Abacus

Inventor of the Modern Computer

The First Freely Programmable Computer invented by Konrad Zuse

Konrad Zuse's Z1 Circa 1938

The Harvard MARK I Computer - Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper, 1944

A New Type of Computer

The Internet

is changing

our lives and

a paralleluniverse israpidlyemergingonline.

Today there's scarcely an aspect of our life

that isn't being upended by the torrent of

information available on the hundreds of

millions of sites crowding the Internet, not

to mention its ability to keep us in constant

touch with each other via electronic mail.

The Internet

is saving

Companies

billions of

dollars in

producing

goods and

serving the

needs of their

customers.

The Internet and e-commerce are viewed as

a global mega-trend along the lines of the

printing press, the telephone, the computer

and the electricity.(a megawatt, a megabyte).

You would behard pressed toname somethingthat isn’t availableon the Internet.Consider: books,health, movietickets, babyclothes, stocks,real estate,toys and airlinetickets.

Some Popular TV Companies in

U.S.A.

Cable News Network

  

The National Broadcasting Company (1940)

The Public Broadcasting Service

The American Broadcasting Company

Reading Comprehension Questions

Part II

1. What is a virtual life according to the text?

2. How is the relationship between the author and her boyfriend developed?

3. What is the author’s profession now?

4. Does she enjoy the life on the Internet always?

5. What is her personality?

6. Was she once happy with the real life?

7. Why did she want to re-enter the virtual life, a place of safety?

8. Have you found any value of virtual life?

9. Have you found any English learning environment on the Net?

10. Can you distinguish virtual life from real life?

Part III. Vocabulary Exercises

Fill in the blanks of the followingsentences with the given words

below,and change the form when

necessary.

Abuse, Conversely, Data, Edit, In sight,Symptom, Tone, Virtual,1. She visits ______ stores and did ______

shopping via computer every day.

2. Before we draw the conclusion, we must

collect sufficient _____ and analyze them

in scientific ways.

3. After three years of campaigning, the end

is finally _______ for John.

virtual virtual

data

in sight

4. Your essay is interesting, but it needs some ______ before it can be published.

5. Though Father was angry with the boy, he tried

to use a sympathetic _____ of voice.

6. The new laws are intended to prevent government officials from _______ their power.

Abuse, Conversely, Data, Edit, In sight, Symptom, Tone, Virtual,

editing

tone

abusing

Abuse, Conversely, Data, Edit, In sight, Symptom, Tone, Virtual,

7. His forgetfulness may be a ________ of brain trouble.

8. He does not prefer her wife’s working condition, but _________ he is proud of her achievement.

symptom

conversely

Part IV Vocabulary & Expressions

1. Virtual a. 1) 虚拟的 : created and existing only in a computer virtual shopping/bankingI can visit a virtual store and put what I

want in my basket at the click of a mouse button.

Some people spend too much time escaping from reality into the virtual world conjured up on their computer screens.

2) 实质上的Our deputy manager is the virtual head of the business.virtually   adv. almostTheir twins are virtually identical.That wine stain on my shirt has virtually disappeared.

2. Interpret v.

1) understand (sth. said, ordered, or done)

They are worried that the students might interpret the new regulation as a restriction of their rights.

She interprets the dream as an unconscious desire to be young again.

2) give or provide the meaning of, explain

How do you interpret his refusal to

see us? This dream can be interpreted in

several different ways.

3) translate what is said in one language into another

I am terribly sorry, but I don't understand a word. Could you interpret for me? No one in the tour group spoke Spanish so we had to ask the guide to interpret.

Interpreter n. 口译人员Translator n. 笔译人员

3. Highlight (EMPHASIZE) verb [T] to attract attention to or emphasize something important:

The report highlights the need for improved safety.

The spelling mistakes in the text had been highlighted in green.

Highlight(s) (HAIR) n. [C usually plural]a narrow strip of hair on a person'shead which has been made paler in colour than the surrounding hair

highlight (BEST PART) n. [C]the best or most exciting, entertaining

orinteresting part of something:Highlights of the match will be shownafter the news.

4. Commute (TRAVEL) v. [I] to make the same journey regularly between work and home

It's exhausting commuting from Brighton to London every day.

commute  n. [C] trip (INFORMA)It's at least an hour's commute to work.

commuter   n. [C] someone who regularly travels between work and home:The train was packed with commuters.

commuter train a train service especially for people

traveling between home and work

5. Stretch v. (cause to) become longer, wider, etc. without breaking

My working day stretches from seven in the morning to eight at night.

The child stretched the rubber band to its full extent.

6. Submit vt. to give or offer something for a decision 提交 , 递呈 You should submit your reports to the

committee. I am going to submit an application for

that job in Microsoft.

Peter submitted his plans for the new town square to the local government.

Submit  verb [I or T] -tt- to allow another person or group to have power or authority over you, or to accept something unwillingly:

We protested about the changes for a long time, but in the end we had to submit.

She decided to resign from the party rather than submit herself to the new rules.

submissive  adj. describes someone who allows himself to be controlled by other people

He was looking for a quiet submissive wife who would obey his every word.

7. Communicate (with) vi. contact sb.in any way, esp.by speaking to them, writing to them or calling themSome young people depend heavily on

e-mail to communicate with each other.

They have been divorced for years and never communicated with each other.

8. at times sometimes

She has been away from her home for about a year. At times she wishes she had never left.

He went on listening to her, at times impatient and at times fascinated.

Collocations:

at a time 每次，每一次at all times 在任何时候，经

常at any time 随时at one time 一度，过去曾经at the best of time 在情况最好时候

9. take in

1) 吸收，摄取 The earth takes in heat and light from

the sun. Fish take in oxygen through their gills. 2) 理解 I hope you can take in what I have said.3) 欺骗 He took me in completely with his story.

10. Spit v. send (liquid, food, etc.) out from the mouth

Pattern: spit sth. (out) (at/on/onto sb./sth.)

He took one sip of the wine and spat it out.

The baby spat its food out on the table.

11. on line connected to or controlled by a computer (network)Our system is on line to the main

computer.

The largest online institution is the University of Phoenix, with some 1000 students today and hopes of reaching 200,000 students in 10 years.

12. Symptom n.

1) sign of the existence of sth. bad

High interest rates are a symptom of a weak economy.

They regard the increase in crime as a symptom of a more general decline in moral standards.

2) change in the body that indicates an

illness

A cold, fever and headache are the usual symptoms of flu.

If the symptoms persist, it is important to go to your doctor.

13. Conversely adv. in a way that is opposite to sth.$1 will buy 100 yen worth of Japanese

goods. Conversely, 100 yen will buy $1worth of American goods.

You can add the fluid to the powder

or, conversely, the powder to the fluid.

14. Jar v. have a harsh or an unpleasant effect Pattern: jar sth., jar on sb./sth.

You shouldn't have too many colors in a small space as the effect can jar.

The loud bang jarred my nerves. Her squeaky voice jarred on me.

15. suck in (usu. passive) involve sb. in an activity, an argument, etc. Pattern: suck sb. in/into sth.; suck in

I don't want to get sucked into the debate about school reform.

Some teenagers don't want to get involved with gangs, but they find themselves getting sucked in.

16. keep up with learn about or be aware of (the news …)

Carrie likes to keep up with the latest fashions.

He didn't bother to keep up with the news. His only concern was to study.

17. in sight

1) visible It was early in the morning and

there wasn't anyone in sight on campus.

2) likely to come soon Two months passed, and victory was

not yet in sight. A solution to the problem of

environmental pollution now seems

in sight.

18. Remark n. thing said or written as a comment

The principal of the school made some remarks about educational reform at the meeting.

Mr. Smith approached us and made a

couple of remarks about the weather.

19. Emotional

1) of the emotions

She is grateful to him for his emotional support while she was in trouble.

It's quite difficult to handle emotional

problems.

2) having emotions that are easily excited

Marie got very emotional when we parted, and started to cry.

It's said that the Italians are more emotional than we are.

20. Cue n. anything that serves as a signal about what to do or say

(followed by to/for)

Then he started to talk about the finances, which was our cue to get up quietly and leave.

When I nod my head, that's your cue to give flowers to him.

21. Routine n. a fixed and regular way of doing things

The job is really just a dull series of fairly routine tasks. I don't think you'll take it.

He established a new routine after retirement.

22. Abuse n. wrong or bad use or treatment of sth./sb. The World Health Organization

(WHO) has published a report on drug abuse and addiction.

The policemen are making an investigation of child abuse.

23. Restore v. bring back to a former condition

Pattern: restore sth.; restore sb. to sth.

Law and order will be quickly restored after the incident.

Doing sports every day restored the old man to good health.

24. Arrange v. prepare or plan

Pattern: arrange sth.; arrange to do sth.; arrange for sb./ sth. to do sth.

Her marriage was arranged by her parents.

Let’s arrange to have a dinner together

some time before we graduate. I have arranged for a taxi to pick us up

at 8:00 a.m.

25. Flee v. run away (from)

Pattern: flee from/to; flee someplace

The customers fled from the bank when the alarm sounded.

During the war, thousands upon thousands of Afghans fled the country.

26. Interview v. & n.

1) n. 接见，面试In an exclusive interview with our

reporter, the film star revealed some of his personal affairs.

She has had a couple of job

interviews, but no offers.

2 ） v. 接见，采访，面试

After the press conference, the journalist interviewed the U.N. Secretary General about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I will be interviewed next week for the Chief Executive's job.

Writing Topics

1. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Modern Computer (Description)

2. Computer & the Internet (Description)

E-commerce, E-shopping E-learning, E-education E-mail

The End

To be continued

Answer 1:

Working, learning, communicating , purchasing, entertaining, playing, dining etc., via computer, without leaving one’s house

Back

Answer 2:

The relationship between the author and her boyfriend is computer assisted, in its development.

Back

Answer 3:

She is now a telecommuter (writer of a certain column of a press), formally a television producer.

Back

Answer 4:

No, not always. Sometimes she was in bad state, aggressive, offensive, attacking and hurting people on the Net.

Back

Answer 5:

She is shyer, more cautious and more anxious in virtual life and overexcited and talkative in the real life.

Back

Answer 6:

Yes, she found the voices of the TV program

comforting, sucked in by soap operas and

the news program and weather reports.

No, being face to face too much, she felt her

friend’s ringing laughter intolerable, the

noise of conversation in the

restaurant unbearable. Back

Answer 7:

She feels noises of conversation in the restaurant unbearable, and her friend’s ringing laughter intolerable.

Back

Answer 8:

Its value is being convenient, time-saving, money-saving, energy-saving, privacy-keeping …It can also keep the surfer timely / well-informed, without going out of his/her room.

It also enables the language learners to learn a foreign language in the virtual situation.

Back

Answer 9:

Yes, such as Learn English for free online

http://www.eslpartyland.com/students/inter.htm

Back