Unit 7

The Virtues of Growing Older

Structural Analysis of the Text

Part1(Paragraph 1-2): statement of the writer’s view about growing older.

Part 2 (Paragraph 3-5): presentation of the distinct advantages of growing older.

Part 3 (Paragraph 6): restatement of the writer’s view.

convince: v. persuade sb. to do sth. convince sb of …

Translation: 除非你能说服我这次活动的安全性，否则我不会批准。

I won’t approve this operation unless you can convince me of its safety.

convincing & convinced. He is so ____ of his own theory that it is impossi

ble to turn him around. I had to let him go, because his reasons are very

____.

Part I Language Points

work out

to train the body by physical exercise

e.g. I worked out regularly to keep fit. to develop in a successful way; prove to be succ

essful or effective

e.g. My first job didn’t work out.

Your method worked out! work sb. out 了解，理解（某人性格）

e.g. I would never be able to work her out.

Text Comprehension

Why do people want to hide their gray hair and delay the effect of age?

They worship youth and are afraid of growing older, so they try every means to look young.

aging: the process of growing old

age: become older

elderly/aged people; senior citizens; the elderly; the old; the aged

dread v. to feel great fear about

dread sth.

Translation: 我害怕期末考试。 dread to do sth./ dread doing sth.

Translation: 我害怕长大。

Text Comprehension

What does the writer mean when she says “it is un-American to say so”?

She means these questions seem contrary to the values commonly held by most American people. And the American people would do anything possible to delay aging.

distinct adj. noticeable; unmistakable 明白的；清楚的

e.g. There is a distinct possibility that she’ll be appointed manager of the company.

Text Comprehension

Does the writer deny the virtues of being young?

No, she doesn’t. The writer admits the virtues of being young, but what she really wants to talk about is those advantages of growing older, which are discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. So the last sentence of the second paragraph is both thematic and transitional..

Part II (3-5) The Advantages of Growing Older

What is the first advantage of growing older mentioned by the author?

apt: likely, liable, inclined be apt to do … e.g. Food is apt to go bad in this weather. He’s a clever boy but apt to get into mischief.

obsess v. to completely fill your mind so that you can’t think of anything else. 使

痴迷，使迷恋，使着迷 be obsessed with: be preoccupied with; be deeply attracted by e.g. She’s completely obsessed with him. Translation: 他醉心于他的新工作。 He is obsessed with his new job.

obsession n. Translation 她对整容手术的执迷不悟实在荒谬。 Her obsession with plastic surgeries is just ridiculous.

obsessive adj. e.g. The obsessive use of drug eventually led to his death.

perfect: to make something perfect e.g. Ann decided to stay in Paris for a co

uple of years to perfect her French.

megadose: very big dose mega- : a million / large quantity giga-: a billion dose: 剂量 e.g. Obviously the patient has been over

dosed. a dose of bad luck

turn into: to change completely and become something else.

e.g. The ugly duckling finally turned into a beautiful swan!

diet: 1 ） v. to eat less so as to lose weight Translation: 你不需要减肥。 2 ） n. be on a diet/ go on a diet Translation: 上个月我在减肥。 plead: to beg plead for sth: beg for sth. fall apart: break down; collapse

tailor: v. to fit or provide (a person) with clothes made to that person‘s measurements; to make, alter, or adapt for a particular end or purpose 剪裁使合体；使适合

Translation: 我们应该使自己的知识符合社会的需要。 We should tailor our knowledge to the need of the society.

tolerate: v. tolerance (n), tolerant (adj.), tolerable (adj.), intolerable (ad

j.) If I can be ____ of this monstrosity, then there is nothing _

____ to me.

beyond: outside the range or limit of e.g. This job is beyond my capability.

agony: extreme mental or physical pain or suffering e.g. The wounded soldier was in great agony.

deny oneself: not to allow oneself to have something that one normally has

e.g. She denied herself sweet food in order to lose weight.

e.g. He denied himself happiness after his wife’s death.

And women, I’m embarrassed to admit, … at the mercy of fashion.

I am embarrassed to admit that women are less capable than men of resisting the temptation of fashion.

What is the second advantage of growing older according to the author?

Do older people still have important choices to make?

What important choices did the author make when young?

preferable: more desirable or suitable e.g. Life in the country is preferable to that in

the city. It is preferable to do sth. -Aren’t you going to the movies? -It is preferable to stay at home. preference: n. e.g. sexual preference, political preference,

etc.

critical adj. very important, essential, urgent; crucial, etc.

e.g. a critical situation, a critical element, etc.

e.g. critical thinking/reading

The patient is now at the critical stage.

California now faces critical shortage of math and science teachers.

confront: to deal with something in a brave and determined way; to bring face to face.

e.g. We try to help people confront their problems.

elect: 1) to choose by vote 2) select: 选课 3) decide e.g. In the end, Tanya elected to tell the truth.

await vt. wait for 等待 (it is a vt.!!!) e.g. The committee is awaiting a decision from head office

before it takes any action.

pursue: 1) to follow in order to capture e.g. He is being pursued by the police.2) to court e.g. When young, she was quite attractive and pursued by

many suitors.3) to strive to gain or accomplish e.g. Dennis is determined to pursue his dream as a professi

onal dancer. n. pursuit (in pursuit of…) Translation: 世人对名利的疯狂追求令我恶心。 The world’s mad pursuit of fame and fortune sickens me.

carefree adj. free of worries and responsibilities

e.g. In those days, I was young and carefree, living from day to day.

e.g. Sometimes she wishes she could give it all up and go to live a carefree life in the country, without any responsibilities to drag her down.

What is the third advantage mentioned by the author?

What is the most unsettling aspect of youth?

Examples?

unsettling: disturbing; making someone anxious and uncomfortable

uncertainty: the condition of not being certain; doubt

It means trying on new selves by taking up with different crowds.

It means that you make friends with different people in order to find a new identity for yourself.

accomplish: complete; succeed in doing accomplished: skilled, expert; successful e.g. He is an accomplished writer. accomplishment: sth. completed successfully

sanity: n. the quality of being sane. 心智健全 sane: adj. insane e.g. You went all the way to him in the rain? That’s jus

t insane!

quirk: a strange or unusual habit or part of someone’s character. 怪癖

e.g. Children often have these little quirks which they overcome in later life.

keep a running score of everything they did wrong raising me.

constantly reminding myself of all the unhappy things that my parents did to me in the process of bringing me up.

automatically: adv. 自动地 automatic. adj. automation: n. ( 自动化 ) contradict v. to be opposite in nature to

同 ... 矛盾 , 同 ... 抵触 e.g. The results of his experiments seemed

to contradict the laws of physics. n. contradiction adj. contradictory e.g. Your eloquence doesn’t help a lot sinc

e your theory is contradictory to common sense.

premise: n. 逻辑前提； ( 企业 , 机构等使用的 )房屋连地基

Translation: 要先树立前提，然后才能得出结论。 You need to establish your premise first before y

ou draw the conclusion. e.g. These are premises of the big multi-national

company. contentment n. feeling contented 满意 , 知足 e.g. They finally found contentment in living a si

mple life. ant. discontent Translation: 在这次会议上我终于有机会一吐胸

中的不快。 I finally got a chance to give vent to my disconte

nt at this conference.

Tips on Translation:1. They were all staring/looking at

me. To be honest/Honestly, I had never been so embarrassed in my entire life.

2. Before making/Before you make the right choice, you need more information (before you make the right choice).

3. The party had failed to convince the majority of the voters/most voters of its ability (that it was able) to govern the country.

4. She denies herself ice creams so as to keep slim.

5. He has taken up with two bad boys recently, which makes his parents very/really/extremely angry （ greatly irritates his parents ） .

6. Have you read the newspaper reports? They completely contradict each other!

7. In a number of / In some/ In certain professions it is possible for one to work beyond retirement age.

8. He sings his favorite song when he is in the mood.

I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests leading to suitable activities. It is in these activities that long experience is really fruitful, and that the wisdom born experience can be used without becoming a burden. It is no use telling grown-up children not to make mistakes, both because they will not believe you, and because mistakes are an essential part of education. But if you are one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests, you may find that your life will be empty unless you concern yourself with your children and grandchildren. In that case you must realize that while you can still help them in material ways, you must not expect that they will enjoy your company.