Unit NineText I Where is the News Leading Us? I. Library Work 1. OPEC: acronym for the Organization

of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a group of countries that produce oil and plan together how to sell it

I. Library Work

2. YMCA: abbreviation of Young Men’s Christian Association, an international organization that promotes the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare of young Christians

I. Library Work

3. Walter Lippmann (1889 – 1974): U.S. journalist and political philosopher, was k

nown for his writings on current social and political events and phenomena. His widely syndicated column “Today and Tomorrow” for the New York Herald Tribune ( 《纽约先驱论坛报》 )was read by millions from September 1931 until his retirement in 1967.

II. Organization of the Text

1. Cause to the disaster-proneness of the newspaper and the TV news (Paragraphs 1 – 8)

A. Question addressed to the two journalists: why are the newspaper and the TV news so disaster prone? (1 – 3)

B. Author’s judgment of the journalists’ answer to the question (4 – 8)

II. Organization of the Text

① Responsibility of the definition of news for disaster-proneness (4 – 6)

② Consequence of the definition (7 – 8) II. Responsibility of the news media:

search out and report on important events --- whether or not they come under the heading of conflict, confrontation, or catastrophe (9 – 13)

II. Organization of the Text

A. Author’s argument (9) B. Examples of positive development of

the world (10) C. Attention called to the responsibility

journalists have for affecting the way people think and the role the media play in shaping the mind of the people (11 - 13)

III. Key Points of the Text

Paragraph 1anchorman: a broadcaster or

newscaster at a central station who coordinates and integrates a broadcast consisting of coverage coming from several different locations; host

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to the (very) core: right to the center; thoroughly, completely 直至核心；透顶的，十足的，地道的

E.g.: He is honest to the core. 他这人真是诚实到家了。

The gentleman is English to the core. 那绅士是个地道的英国人。

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rotten to ( 或 at) the core: thoroughly bad 烂透了，坏透了

E.g.: The whole family is rotten to the core. 那一家人全坏透了。

tough: strong; not easily weakened; able to suffer uncomfortable condition; unyielding; hard; stubborn 强壮的；坚强的；能吃苦耐劳的

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E.g.: a tough mountaineer 强壮的登山运动员

a tough plant 耐寒植物 Camels are tough and hardy creatures.

骆驼是能吃苦耐劳的动物。

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aggressive: (derogatory) always ready to quarrel or attack; threatening; (appreciative) not afraid of opposition 侵犯的；侵略的；挑衅的；活跃有为的；积极进取的

E.g.: The unidentified disease made him aggressive. 查不出起因的疾病使他暴躁好斗。

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take aggressive action 采取积极的行动 be aggressive in pursuing a new policy

积极执行新政策 an aggressive salesman 一个得力的推销

员

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savvy: (informal) knowledgeable 聪慧的；具有实际知识的；机智的；知识渊博的；有经验的；诡计多端的

E.g.: be savvy about something 通晓某事 the vivacious and savvy wife of Senato

r Walter 参议员沃尔特那位充满活力而聪明的妻子

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She’s been around and savvy to a lot of things. 她见过世面，懂得许多事情。

savvy in the ways and means of solid reporting: intelligent, sensible, and knowledgeable in the methods of reporting substantial and reliable news based on facts

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ways and means: a set phrase meaning: a. methods and means of accomplishing something, b. legislation and methods for raising revenues for public expense

E.g.: He tried every ways and means to get his work done ahead of time.

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the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representative, U.S.A. 美国众议院赋税委员会（即监督财政立法的常务委员会）

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solid: of a substantial character, not superficial, trifling, or frivolous 认真的；精深的；扎扎实实的

E.g.: solid instruction 认真地教导 solid learning 扎实精深的学问 In spite of his eloquence, he had no so

lid evidence to support his views.

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scrutinize: The noun for scrutinize is scrutiny. Both these words have the meaning of examining in detail with careful attention in order to find some useful information about something.

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The verb scrutinize means to give scrutiny (close study or look; careful and thorough examination) to; examine closely 详细检查；仔细观察；细查；细阅

E.g.: The building inspector scrutinized the architect’s design.

His proposal to improve public transportation is under close scrutiny.

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scrutinize somebody’s lungs 仔细检查某人的肺部

The policeman looked in the file and scrutinized his face for a moment. 警察看看档案，并审视他的面容。

The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 珠宝商仔细察看钻石有没有瑕疪。

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to meet those obligations: to fulfill those responsibilities

meet: satisfy E.g.: The new chain store was able to

meet the demand of the wide public. The principal of the school promised

to meet the needs of the low-achievers.

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addressed a question to my two colleagues: This is a formal way of saying: “asked my two colleagues a question.”

address to: direct speech or writing to 对…说话

E.g.: address one’s thanks to one’s host 对主人表示感谢

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address a talk to a teenage audience 对一群青少年听众讲话

address a warning to a friend 对友人提出警告

prone: likely to suffer from an illness; tending to show a particular negative characteristic 有…倾向的，易于…的，很可能…的 (to)

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E.g.: be prone to colds 易患感冒的 He is prone to be late for work. 他上班

往往迟到。 I feel rather prone to agree with you.

我很有点儿同意你的意见。

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- prone: having a tendency towards (usually something undesirable)

E.g.: an accident-prone person 易出事故的人

a hurricane-prone zone 易刮飓风的地带

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distortions: In this context, the negative happenings or news.

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apt: having a tendency to do something; likely ( 习性 ) 易于…的，有…倾向性的

E.g.: A careless person is apt to make mistakes. 粗心的人易犯错误。

plants apt to suffer from drought 习性惧旱的植物

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The boy is apt to get into mischief. 这男孩好淘气。

eruptive: of a sudden or unexpected nature 爆炸性的

sniper: a shooter who shoots from a hidden position at unprotected people

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holds 250 people hostage: 把 250 人扣留为人质

collide with: crash violently into E.g.: The fully-loaded truck collided with

a station wagon. He ran so fast that he collided with a p

edestrian in the street.

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a misshapen picture: a distorted view of the world

the sum total: the entire amount of something when all the various parts are considered together; the whole

E.g.: The sum total of what she said amounted to a flat refusal.

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ingredient: constituent, component. This word is often used in cooking, referring to the different things that combine to make some kind of food.

E.g.: Flour, eggs, sugar, and shortening ( 起酥油 ) are the chief ingredients of any kind of cake.

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change for the better: an improvement. Better here is a noun.

E.g.: We hope his changed attitude towards work will bring him a change for the better.

The opposite of a change for the better is a change for the worse.

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E.g.: Contrary to all expectations, his efforts resulted in a change for the worse.

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inhibitors of progress: hindrances or obstructions to progress

unrelieved: not varied in any way; continuous or complete 未减轻的；未得缓解的；未获宽慰的；无变化的，单调的

E.g.: a life of unrelieved misery 始终痛苦不堪的生活

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deplete: lessen greatly in quantity, contents, power, or value; empty of something important 耗尽；大大减少

E.g.: The fire had depleted the wild game in the forest. 大火使那森林里的鸟兽濒于绝迹。

a man with depleted hair 头发稀少的男人

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deplete a country of its natural resources 耗尽一个国家的自然资源

A long drought had depleted reservoirs. 长时间的干旱使水库枯竭。

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in-depth: thorough E.g.: an in-depth study of the situation 对形势

的深入研究 We’re able to do in-depth research and thus

spot future trends. 我们能作深入的研究，因而能看出未来的趋势。

Our decision has to be made on unbiased, in-depth information. 我们必须根据不偏不倚的全面信息做出决定。

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get across: cause to be understood or accepted (especially by a large group) (口 ) ( 使 ) ( 观点等 ) 被理解 ( 或被接受 ) ；讲清楚自己的意思

E.g.: The idea got across (to him). 这个主意被（他）接受了。

The plan seems quite simple to me, but I just can’t get it across. 这个计划在我看来很简单，但我却没法把它讲清楚。

He gets across well, doesn’t he? 他能说清楚自己的意思，不是吗？

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Compare get through: cause to be understood by someone ( 向某人 ) 讲清楚自己的意思；把… ( 向某人 ) 讲清楚； ( 讲话等 ) 被理解，被接受 (to)

E.g.: It’s difficult to get through to students who don’t want to learn. 要不愿学习的学生听懂是困难的。

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I can’t get it though to him that smoking is bad for his health. 我没法说服他接受吸烟有害于健康的道理。

I told the dealers that their advertising wasn’t getting through. 我告诉商人们他们的广告没有效果。

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roundup: 综述；摘要 E.g.: a roundup of books 对各种书籍的综述

a news roundup 综合新闻报道

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once (and) for all: for the last time; now but never again 一劳永逸地，一次了结地；永远地，彻底地

E.g.: We have decided to settle the matter once (and) for all. 我们已经决定一劳永逸地解决这个问题。

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boost: help to advance or improve 提高；增强

E.g.: We need a holiday to boost our spirits. 我们需要休假一次以养精蓄锐。

boost one’s standing within the bank 提高在银行中的地位

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That boosted my confidence. 那增强了我的信心。

The government boosted security precautions. 政府加强保安预防措施。

Text II Should the Press Be Human? 人性记者？

I. Organization of the Text 1. Events illustrating the two options:

joining in or staying uncommitted and reporting the facts (Paragraphs 1 – 3)

2. The guidelines of the profession of journalism and of other professions (Paragraphs 4 – 6)

I. Organization of the Text

A. The guidelines of the profession of journalism (4 – 5)

B. The guidelines of other professions (6) 3. Conclusion (Paragraphs 7 – 8)

II. Key Points of the Text

Paragraph 1staggering: almost unbelievable; ver

y surprising and shocking; astonishing

E.g.: The numbers of dead are staggering. 死亡人数大得骇人。

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tease: upset; disturb 撩拨；缠扰 E.g.: She likes to tease men with her char

ms. 她喜欢卖弄风骚去挑逗男人。 She has been teasing her mother all da

y for some money. 她一整天缠着母亲要钱。

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hold up: delay 延迟；停止；使停顿；阻碍 E.g.: The ship was held up by fog for sev

eral hours. 船因遇雾耽搁了几小时。 Negotiations are likely to be held up by

differences between them. 由于他们间的意见分歧，谈判可能陷入停顿。

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tricky: (of a situation, piece of work, etc.) difficult to handle or deal with; full of hidden or unexpected difficulties 难处理的，棘手的，微妙的

E.g.: a tricky situation 微妙的局势 a tricky bit of work 需慎重对待的工作 a tricky problem 棘手的问题

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authentic: genuine 可靠的，可信的E.g.: an authentic news report 可靠

的新闻报道weigh in: join in a fight or argument

参加，介入

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take sides (with): be on one side or the other in a quarrel 支持一方；袒护

E.g.: not to take sides in the dispute 在争论中不偏袒任何一方

Mother took sides with David against Father in the argument. 在这场争辩中母亲支持大卫反对父亲。

He has never taken sides openly for or against his superior. 他从未公开支持或反对他的上级。

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ethic: a system of moral behavior 伦理，道德规范

enjoin: order (someone to do something or something to be done) 命令，吩咐，告诫

E.g.: enjoin silence on a class 要班级学生安静 enjoin that something should be done 责令必须完成某事

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uncommitted: not having given loyalty to any one thing, group, political belief, etc. 未作保证的；未表态的；中立的

E.g.: They were uncommitted to buying. 他们未作购买的保证。

a delegate uncommitted to either candidate 对两位候选人都未作承诺的代表

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an uncommitted country 中立国 Compare committed: having given one’s

whole loyalty to a particular aim, job, or way of life 忠于某一立场的，坚定地，忠诚的

E.g.: She is a committed revolutionary. 她是一位坚定的革命者。

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seedy: somewhat disreputable 粗鄙的，肮脏的

E.g.: seedy entertainment 下流的娱乐 seedy neighborhoods 下等街区 squalid: having or concerning low moral

standards; sordid 肮脏的，道德败坏的

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oppressive: cruel; unjust 暴虐的；不公正的；苛严的

E.g.: an oppressive ruler 暴虐的统治者 take oppressive measures to crush the

rebellion 采取严厉手段镇压叛乱 oppressive exactions 苛捐杂税

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leave out: fail to put in or include 遗漏；省略

E.g.: She left out an important detail in her account. 她在叙述中漏掉了一个重要的细节。

recoil: move back suddenly in fear or dislike 退却，畏缩

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E.g.: The advancing troops recoiled before the counterattack. 挺进的部队遭到反击后退了。

She recoiled in horror from the snake. 她看见蛇吓得直往后退。

birdman: an aviator 飞行员

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tangle: become a confused mass of disordered and twisted threads 缠结，被纠缠

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crunch: a difficult moment when something important must be decided 危急情况，紧要关头

rush off: do a job hastily and perhaps not carefully 赶紧做；匆匆生产

E.g.: I rushed off a note in time for this evening’s post. 我急忙写一封短信，好赶上今天晚班收信时间。

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Can you rush off another twenty copies? 你能赶快再印 20份吗？

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suppress: prevent from being shown 隐瞒

defuse: remove the fuse; make less dangerous or harmful 卸除…的引信；使缓和，平息

E.g.: defuse the tension 缓和紧张

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defuse the growing discontent of the people 平息人民日益高涨的不满情绪

bonfire: a large fire built in the open air, for pleasure, as a celebration, or to burn unwanted things 篝火；（为销毁垃圾而燃的）火堆

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newshound: a very eager newspaper reporter, who is always looking for news stories 新闻记者