unit 2

Unit 2

Part I Lead-in 1) Do you think rich people must be happier than

poor people? Why? Or: Can we identify wealth with happiness? If not,

why are there so many people in the world spending their whole life on the pursuit of possessions?

2) If you should become a millionaire one day, would you still live a simple life? Give your reasons (Cf. richness felt within and richness proven by owning things).

A Life Full of Riches--- By Karl R. Green

Text A

Part II Cultural Notes (1)Salvation Army

a Christian charity and social services organization.

founded by William Booth and his wife Catherine Booth in London in 1865

got the name because of a popular saying that “The Christian Mission is a volunteer army.”

Part II Cultural Notes (1)

The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign It was first started in San Francisco in 1891, the campaign, during which volunteers put a red kettle at a prominent place of public gathering such as the entrance to a shopping mall and ring a bell to urge passers-by to drop money into the kettle in the spirit of Christmas, has traditionally been The Salvation Army’s most prominent fund-raiser.

Cultural Notes (2)

Wal-Mart Founded by Sam Walton in 1962, Wal-Mart Stores,

Inc. is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. Now the company is the largest private employer and the largest grocery retailer in the United States.

Sam Walton: The founder of Wal-mart

If judged by appearance Sam Walton was a very ordinary man. He was raised in the Depression years, and served in the army during World War II. It was he who, from humble beginnings, built the world’s most admired retail organization.


Sam had a passion to compete and an appetite for adventure. He was also a good motivator of people, because he practiced what he preached. He remained guided by the old-fashioned principles of hard work, honesty, neighborliness and thrift. Even after his death in 1992, those principles continue to guide the company.


Sam Walton’s guiding philosophy for his stores from the beginning was to offer consumers a wide selection of goods at a discounted price. The company saved money by keeping advertising costs low and located stores in small towns where residents had few options for retail shopping.

Wal-Mart also expanded into other countries in the 1990s, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, and China.


Personal Income Tax in the US

a progressive tax on the taxable income from the federal government of the US

personal income taxes from some state and municipal governments

individual


The federal government of the United States imposes a progressive tax on the taxable income of individuals. Some state and municipal governments also impose personal income taxes. A progressive tax is a tax by which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases, where people with more disposable income, or people in a higher income bracket, pay a higher percentage of that income in tax than those with less income, or in a lower income bracket.

Part III Writing Features

The author of this text is an expert in giving supporting details to the points he wants to make. Also, he dexterously interweaves the theme of “not rich” with that of “rich” in the essay.

Evidence showing that the author is not rich in a material sense:

He falls into the lowest income brackets;

there is a lack of “things” in his apartment and life;

and a date once left him for “what’s on the outside”.

Evidence showing that the author is quite well-off:

He has exceptionally good health;

he cherishes the gift of creativity;

and he feels a strong sense of belonging each December because he loves helping others as well as being appreciated for the help.

Part IV Difficult Sentences

His mother scolded him for the social no-no, and they hurried off to do their shopping (Lines 2-4, para. 2)

His mother scolded him for his words were socially inappropriate, and then they left in a hurry to do their shopping. Here “no-no” means “a way of behaving that is not acceptable”.


Yet I feel nothing more than a passing whim to attain the material things so many other people have. (Lines 1-2, para.4)

However, I have only occasionally felt the urge to go after the material things so many other people have. Here, “nothing more than” means “only, just”, e.g. Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.


And I love the “can do” attitude that follows (Lines 5-6, para. 5).

And I love the feeling of self confidence brought by brisk exercises.


In a society that spends so much emotional energy on the pursuit of possessions, I feel out of place (Lines 2-3, para. 7).

In a society where people are mainly concerned with the pursuit of material wealth, I feel very uncomfortable and a complete outsider. Here “out of place” means “feeling uncomfortable or not suitable in a particular situation”.


I think most people feel the same way—except when there are social consequences to not having particular items (Line 2-4, para.10)

I think most people feel the same way—except when not having a particular something will put people under social pressure they might think differently.

Part V Language Points confront (para.1): 1) (of a problem, difficulty, etc.) face (sb.) threateningly

e.g. A major difficulty that confronts international students is how best to judge the quality of a program in a foreign university.The explorers were confronted with mountains almost impassable.

2) (of a person) face and deal with (a problem, difficulty, etc.)e.g. Astronauts have to confront the unknown.A soldier has to confront danger and death.

Part V Language Points

curiosity (para. 1): a strong desire to know

e.g. We burned with curiosity over what was in the box.

Just to satisfy my curiosity, how much did you pay for your car?

Collocation:

在好奇心驱使下from/out of curiosity

公然出头过问与自己无关的事in open curiosity

好奇伤身。Curiosity killed a cat.

Part V Language Points stammer (para. 2): speak with a tendency to repeat

rapidly the same sound or syllable

e.g. It is cruel to make fun of people who stammer.

He stammered his thanks. 他结结巴巴地道了谢。


fill out (para. 3): add information such as your name and address in (a form or document)

e.g. It took me quite a while to fill out the questionnaire.

The information below lists things you’ll need to prepare for filling out your application.

Part V Language Points fall into (para.3): belong to (a particular group of things that

have similar qualities)

e.g. The council members disagreed, falling into liberal and conservative camps. 理事会成员们意见相左，分成自由和保守两个阵营。All whales fall into two groups, those with teeth and those without.


fabricate (para.6): make up (a story, a piece of information, etc.) in order to deceive people

e.g. Have you ever lied a little, or fabricated a story about yourself, to impress someone you meet the first time?The excuse for her absence was obviously fabricated.


tickle (para.6): 1) amuse and interest

e.g. The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.It tickled her to think that her boss would dress up as a clown at the New Year party.

2) move one’s fingers on a sensitive part of another’s body in a way that makes them laughe.g. She tickled the boy’s feet and made him laugh.Babies like to be tickled and hugged.


vital (para.7): very important, necessary, or essential

e.g. This point is vital to my argument.

The leader’s vital and cheerful manner filled his men with courage.

Pattern:

be vital to… 对…极为重要


well off (para. 7): rich, or having enough money to live well

e.g. The Communist Party of China will lead the Chinese people in building a well-off society.

If he had worked harder when young, he would be well off now.


out of place (para.7): feeling uncomfortable or not suitable in a particular situation

e.g. Your jokes are out of place on such a solemn occasion.At the formal party I felt very awkward and out of place.


focus (para.11): concentrate (one’s attention, etc.) on (sth.); concentrate (on sth.)

e.g. You should focus your attention on your work.

The only way to attain your goals is to stay focused and work hard.

Part V Language Points affluent (para.11): rich enough to buy things for pleasure

e.g. land affluent in natural resourcesIn an affluent society people can afford to strike a balance between work and life.

Cf.: rich, wealthy and affluent这三个词都是形容词，都有“丰富”、“富有”之意。rich 意为“有钱的”、“富有的”，其程度超过正常需要的，语气强烈；形容人时，指拥有大量金钱、财产，其引申义为“富于…”。

e.g.The richer get richer while the poor get poorer.


wealthy 指人、家庭或国家富有、安康、富裕；语气较缓，程度可大可小。尤指拥有大量财产、财富。

e.g. Some wealthy people are likely to be philanthropists. affluent 意为“富裕的”、“富足的”，尤指家庭和社会，在这一点上相当于 wealthy ，是较正式用语。

e.g. It’s our duty to build an affluent and civilized society in the new century.

Part V Language Points go through (para.12): experience (sth. difficult or

unpleasant)

e.g. He’s amazingly cheerful considering all that he’s gone through.When he was a child, he went through one hardship after another.

Part V Language Points linger (para.12): 1) last or continue for a long time

e.g. Before leaving Suzhou, we took a last lingering look at the beautiful view.

The beautiful melody is lingering in my mind. 2) take a long time to leave or disappear

e.g. He lingered outside the school after everybody else had gone home.

Part V Language Points tangible (para.13): that can be clearly seen to exist; that

you can touch and feel

e.g. Sculpture is a tangible art form.Tangible assets refer to those assets that have a physical form, such as machinery, buildings and land.

antonym: intangible

Part VI Writing Techniques How to write a telling introduction

Using a short anecdote is a good way to start your essay. If you have a relevant anecdote ready, using it in the introduction will make your essay more interesting and attract the attention of your reader. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point and relevant to your topic.

Part VI Writing Techniques Homework for Writing

You are required to start an essay entitled Help the Homeless with an anecdote. In this essay, you will try to persuade your readers that people should have sympathy for the homeless because many of them suffer from misfortune and need help.

unit 2

Documents

cultural notes

rich people

disposable income

higher income bracket

progressive tax

personal income taxes

lower income bracket

taxable income of individuals