Unit Three

The Present

Unit Three

The Present

1. present1. present

Ⅰ.New Words:Ⅰ.New Words:

n.--- gift (present is a general term, but gift is a little formal term)

n.--- gift (present is a general term, but gift is a little formal term)

eg. I’d like to send M

ary a wedding presen

t.

eg. I’d like to send M

ary a wedding presen

t.

a.--- the time now. eg. the past, the present, and the future

--- (of a person) being in the place

a.--- the time now. eg. the past, the present, and the future

--- (of a person) being in the place

eg. There were 200

People present at

the meeting.

vt. --- to give, but more formal than give. eg. He presented a silver cup to the winner.

vt. --- to give, but more formal than give. eg. He presented a silver cup to the winner.

He presented the winner

with a silver cup.

He presented the winner

with a silver cup.

2. rare 2. rare

a.---uncommon and perhaps valuable things are rare. eg. a rare bird

a.---uncommon and perhaps valuable things are rare. eg. a rare bird

--- not happening often

eg. It’s rare for Mrs.

Green to go out at night.

--- not happening often

eg. It’s rare for Mrs.

Green to go out at night.

3.occasion 3.occasion

n.---special time; time when sth. happenseg. This is not an occasion for laughter.

n.---special time; time when sth. happenseg. This is not an occasion for laughter.

He has had few occasions to speak French. He has had few occasions to speak French.

Phrase: on this/that occasion

eg. On that occasion I was not at home.

Phrase: on this/that occasion

eg. On that occasion I was not at home.

4. aged 4. aged

a.--- old eg. My son is

aged 10 years.

a.--- old eg. My son is

aged 10 years.

5. content 5. content a.---satisfied eg. Tom is content with his present salary.

a.---satisfied eg. Tom is content with his present salary.

---be willing or ready to do sth ---be willing or ready to do sth

eg. I am content to remain where I am now. I am not content to admit defeat.

eg. I am content to remain where I am now. I am not content to admit defeat.

6.arrange 6.arrange a.---make preparations a.---make preparations

eg. The tourist Bureau arranged everything for our journey to Rome.

eg. The tourist Bureau arranged everything for our journey to Rome.

The manager has

arranged for his

secretary to go there.

The manager has

arranged for his

secretary to go there.

I have arranged for a

car to meet you at the

airport.

I have arranged for a

car to meet you at the

airport.

7.operate 7.operate

vt. vi.--- (cause to )work, be in action

eg. operate a machineThe lift is not operating properly.

vt. vi.--- (cause to )work, be in action

eg. operate a machineThe lift is not operating properly.

---manage eg. The company

operates three factories.

---manage eg. The company

operates three factories.

---cut the body in order

to set right or remove a

diseased part.

---cut the body in order

to set right or remove a

diseased part.

eg. The doctor decided to operate on her for appendicitis promptly.

eg. The doctor decided to operate on her for appendicitis promptly.

8. endure 8. endure

vt.---bear (pain, suffering, etc.)eg. The mountaineers had to endure the intense cold.

vt.---bear (pain, suffering, etc.)eg. The mountaineers had to endure the intense cold.

The company had toendure heavy financial losses.

The company had toendure heavy financial losses.

vi.---last eg. Their marriage has endured 35 years.

vi.---last eg. Their marriage has endured 35 years.

9. disappointed 9. disappointed

a. eg. My parents will bedisappointed with me, if I fail the exam.Are you very disappointed at /about losing the race?

a. eg. My parents will bedisappointed with me, if I fail the exam.Are you very disappointed at /about losing the race?

10.round / around the corner 10.round / around the corner

eg. He lives just round/around the corner.Christmas is round thecorner.

eg. He lives just round/around the corner.Christmas is round thecorner.

11. minor 11. minor

a.---smaller; less important or serious a.---smaller; less important or serious

eg. The house is in good

condition; it needs just

a few minor repairs.

eg. The house is in good

condition; it needs just

a few minor repairs.

12.efficient 12.efficient

a.---capableeg. My father is very efficient in saving time.

a.---capableeg. My father is very efficient in saving time.

13.tremble 13.tremble

vi.---shakeHer voice trembledwith excitement.

vi.---shakeHer voice trembledwith excitement.

The house trembled

when the earthquake

took place.

The house trembled

when the earthquake

took place.

II. Language Points II. Language Points

1. from the second floor flat: from this expression we may infer that the author is English,

1. from the second floor flat: from this expression we may infer that the author is English,

for “flat” is a typical British English usage. An American writer would have used “apartment” instead.

for “flat” is a typical British English usage. An American writer would have used “apartment” instead.

In great Britain people say “ the ground floor, the first floor, the second floor, etc.”

In great Britain people say “ the ground floor, the first floor, the second floor, etc.”

while in the United

States people say “ the

first floor, the second

floor, the third floor,

etc.”

while in the United

States people say “ the

first floor, the second

floor, the third floor,

etc.”

2. Today she was sure there would be something.

2. Today she was sure there would be something.

Today she was certain there would be something in the post for her ---either a letter or a present.

Today she was certain there would be something in the post for her ---either a letter or a present.

be sure: know and believe for a fact We all are sure of success. I am not sure how to do it.

be sure: know and believe for a fact We all are sure of success. I am not sure how to do it.

3. even if: in spite of the possibility that3. even if: in spite of the possibility that

I’ll come even if it rains.I’ll come even if it rains.

4. make: cause to be (followed by an object and complement) He was made our class monitor.

4. make: cause to be (followed by an object and complement) He was made our class monitor.

5.Two years ago that was…--- That was two year ago… “That was” occurs as an afterthought tag.

5.Two years ago that was…--- That was two year ago… “That was” occurs as an afterthought tag.

6. Perhaps---perhaps Myra might come. The repetition of “perhaps” and the word “might” serve to accentuate the uncertainty she feels.

6. Perhaps---perhaps Myra might come. The repetition of “perhaps” and the word “might” serve to accentuate the uncertainty she feels.

7. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lived or endured just as you chose to look at it.

7. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lived or endured just as you chose to look at it.

1)“another decade lived or endured” is an absolute construction grammatically, serving as an adverbial of manner.

1)“another decade lived or endured” is an absolute construction grammatically, serving as an adverbial of manner.

2)An eightieth birthday is special because not everyone can live so long.

2)An eightieth birthday is special because not everyone can live so long.

It marks the end of a ten-year period you have lived through or endured, depending on your point of view.

It marks the end of a ten-year period you have lived through or endured, depending on your point of view.

3) Choose to: decide to; prefer to She chose to stay home because she had a cold.

3) Choose to: decide to; prefer to She chose to stay home because she had a cold.

8. spot: mark different in color from what it is on; stain I like very much that blue tie with yellow spots.

8. spot: mark different in color from what it is on; stain I like very much that blue tie with yellow spots.

9. extra: a. additional Students do not welcome extra homework.

9. extra: a. additional Students do not welcome extra homework.

10. “ I did last week when I was six.”10. “ I did last week when I was six.”

The word “did” is used here as a substitute verb for “got lots and lots of presents” to avoid repetition.

The word “did” is used here as a substitute verb for “got lots and lots of presents” to avoid repetition.

eg. She said she’d help me and she did. eg. She said she’d help me and she did.

11. in blue: a woman in white; a girl in red 11. in blue: a woman in white; a girl in red

12. pang: a sudden sharp mental or emotional pain a pang of sadness

12. pang: a sudden sharp mental or emotional pain a pang of sadness

13. That was it. ---- That was the reason why the parcel had not come yet.

13. That was it. ---- That was the reason why the parcel had not come yet.

“That was it” (if we use present tense it’s always “that’s it”) is an idiomatic expression which often means

“That was it” (if we use present tense it’s always “that’s it”) is an idiomatic expression which often means

“That explained/ explains what had/has happened”.

“That explained/ explains what had/has happened”.

14. tear: pull apart or into pieces by force to tear a letter into pieces to tear a sheet of paper in two

14. tear: pull apart or into pieces by force to tear a letter into pieces to tear a sheet of paper in two