Unit 8Unit 8

Honesty:

Is it Going out of Style? College English College English Book 2Book 2

Part I Background Information

Part II Text & Listening

Part III New Words & Expressions

Part IV Supplement

Unit 8Unit 8

Part IBackground Information

Introductory Remarks:Introductory Remarks:American education systemAmerican education system

Introductory Remarks

The text is from Senior Scholastic, Oct. 31, 1980

Author: Stacia Robbins, British writer.

In recent years, there are heated discussions in China about the issue of cheating in exams. Some people hold that cheating only exists in China because of the fierce academic competition, however, the fact is that cheating is also rampant in America. There are reports that some universities require the students to show their ID card when attending an exam, in order to prevent cheating.

In the text, the author shows her doubts: Is honesty going out of style? Or there are some other reasons? If the students are given sufficient trust, maybe they won’t commit cheating. Trust may bring back honesty.

American Education System Primary school American children start school at the

age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is required of all American children enrolled in the American education system. The second year at school is considered the first year of primary school and is referred to as first grade.

Secondary school Upon completion of fifth grade (the last

year of primary school), American children enrolled in the American education system advance to secondary school. Secondary school most commonly consists of a total of seven years, referred to as sixth through twelfth grades. The ninth through twelfth grades are most commonly referred to as high school.

Undergraduate school Students who have completed

high school and would like to attend college or university must attend what is referred to as an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelors degree) in a specific course of study.

Graduate school Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees. The first is a master’s degree. This is usually a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a specific fieldCertain courses of study are only available at the graduate school level in America. The most notable of these are law, dentistry, and medicine. Students who want to pursue a degree in one of these fields must first obtain a bachelor’s degree.

In America, there isn’t a universal exam for enrolling a college or a university, because different universities have different requirements. In the last year of high school, the students have to apply several schools and take the exams of each school respectively.

Harvard UniversityHarvard University

It is estimated that 61% of American high school students have committed cheating on exams at least once, and cheating is also considered to be a major problem in colleges and universities. Likewise, signs of dishonesty in business and government seem much more numerous in recent years than before. Does all this go to prove that honesty is going out of style in American society? Now let's take up this article to see how the author looks into this problem.

Part II Text & Listening Ever thought about cheating on a test? Of course not. But some students are not

quite so honest …

Honesty: Is It Going Out of Style?Honesty: Is It Going Out of Style? By Stacia Robbins According to a recent poll, 61 percent of American high school students have

admitted to cheating on exams at least once. It can be argued such a response my not mean much. After all, most students have been faced with the temptation to peek at a neighbor's test paper. And students can be hard on themselves in judging such behavior. However, there are other indications that high school cheating may be on the rise.

More and more states are requiring students to pass competency tests in order to receive their high school diplomas. And many educators fear that an increase in the use of state exams will lead to a corresponding rise in cheating. A case in point is students in New York State who faced criminal misdemeanor charges for possessing and selling advance copies of state Regents examinations.

Cheating is considered to be a major problem in colleges and universities. Several professors say they've dropped the traditional term paper requirement because many students buy prewritten term papers, and they can't track down all the cheaters anymore.

Colleges and universities across the nation have decided to do more than talk about the rise in student cheating. For instance, the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland launched a campaign to stop one form of cheating. As 409 students filed out of their exam, they found all but one exit blocked. Proctors asked each student to produce an ID card with an attached photo. Students who said they'd left theirs in the dorm or at home had a mug shot taken. The purpose of the campaign was to catch "ringers," students who take tests for other students.

The majority of students at the University of Maryland applauded the campaign. The campus newspaper editorial said, "Like police arresting speeders, the intent is not to catch everyone but rather to catch enough to spread the word."

We frequently hear about "the good old days", when Americans were better, happier, and more honest. But were they more honest? Maybe yes, a long time ago when life was very different from what it is today.

School children used to know the story of how Abraham Lincoln walked five miles to return a penny he'd overcharged a customer. It's the kind of story we think of as myth. But in the case of Lincoln, the story is true … unlike the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. Washington's first biographer invented the tale of little George saying to his father, "I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my ax." What is important in both stories, however, is that honesty was seen as an important part of the American character.

And these are just two stories out of many. Students in the last century usually didn't read "fun" stories. They read stories that taught moral values. Such stories pointed out quite clearly that children who lied, cheated, or stole came to bad ends.

Parents may have further reinforced those values. It's difficult to know. We do know that children didn't hear their parents talk of cheating the government on income taxes - there weren't any.

A clue as to why Americans may have been more honest in the past lies in the Abe Lincoln story. Lincoln knew his customer. They both lived in a small town. Would a check-out person at a large supermarket return money a customer? It's less likely. On the other hand, would overnight guests at an inn run by a husband and wife, steal towels? It's less likely.

Perhaps this tells us that people need to know one another to be at their honest best.

The vast majority of Americans still believe that honesty as an important part of the American Character. For that reason, there are numerous watch-dog committees at all levels of society. Although signs of dishonesty in school, business, and government seem much more numerous in recent years than in the past, could it be that we are getting better at revealing such dishonesty?

There is some evidence that dishonesty may ebb and flow. When times are hard, incidents of theft and cheating usually go up. And when times get better such incidents tend to go down.

Cheating in school also tends to ebb and flow. But it doesn't seem linked to the economy.

Many educators feel that as students gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, they are less likely to cheat. Surprisingly, some efforts to prevent cheating may actually encourage cheating - a person may feel "they don't trust me anyway," and be tempted to "beat the system." Distrust can be contagious. But, so can trust!

NEW WORDSNEW WORDS Honesty :n. freedom from deceit, cheating, etc. 诚实 Style: n. fashion 时髦 Poll: n. survey of public opinion by putting questions to a

representative selection of persons 民意测验 Admit: v. state or agree to the truth of; confess 承认，供认 Admission n. Temptation: n. the act of tempting or being tempted 引诱；诱惑 Peek: vi. look (at sth.) quickly, esp. when one should not 偷看 behavio(u)r : n. way of behaving 行为 behave:v. Indication: n. sign or suggestion 迹象 Competency: n. ability; being competent 能力；胜任 Diploma: n. official paper showing that a person has successfully

finished a course of study or passed an examination 文凭 Corresponding: a. matching 相应的 Criminal: a. of crime misdemeano(u)r: n. crime that is less serious than, for example,

stealing of murder 轻罪 Charge: n. accusation 指控 possess: n. have, own 占有，拥有 advance: a. made available before the date of general publication or

release 预先的

regent: n. member of a governing board （学校董事会的）董事 drop: vt. give up; discontinue 放弃；革除 traditional: a. of or according to tradition 传统的 tradition: n. requirement: n. sth. required; sth. demanded as a condition 要求；必要条件 prewritten: a. written beforehand; written in advance psychology: n. science of the mind 心理学 psychological: a. launch: vt. start, set going 发起；发动 campaign: n. series of planned activities for some special purpose 运动 file: vi. march or move in a line 排成纵队行进 exit: n. way out of a place 出口（处） proctor: n. 临考人 ID card: n. identity card 身份证 dorm: n. (short for) dormitory 宿舍 mug: n. the face or mouth shot: n. a single photograph mug shot: n. (sl.) photograph of a person's face, used for purposes of

identification 面部照片 ringer: n. any person who pretends to be another 冒名顶替者 applaud: vt. praise esp. by striking one's hands to gether 拍手称赞 campus: n. university; the grounds of a university, college, or school 大学 ; 校

园

editorial: n. leading article 社论 arrest: vt. seize (sb.) in the name of the law 逮捕 speeder: n. person who drives an automobile at a higher speed than is lawful 违法超

速驾驶者 intent: n. purpose; intention frequently: ad. at short intervals, often 频繁地 overcharge: vt. charge too much 对 ... 要价太高 customer: n. person who buys goods from a shop, esp. regularly 顾客 myth: n. 神话 unlike: prep. not like, different from cherry: n. 樱桃 biographer: n. person who writes about another person's life 传记作家 ax(e): n. 斧子 character: n. mental or moral qualities that make one person, race, etc. different from

others 性格，品质 moral: a. concerning principles of right of wrong 道德的 reinforce: vt. encourage of strengthen 加强 tax: n. 税，税款 clue: n. sth. that helps to find an answer to a question 线索 check-out: n. desk where one pays the bill of the goods one has chosen 结帐处 supermarket: n. large shop where one serves oneself with food and goods 超级市场 overnight: a. for or during the night 住一夜的；一整夜的 inn: n. small hotel 小旅馆，客栈 towel: n. 毛巾

vast: a. very big numerous : a. many watch-dog: a. organized or acting as a watchful guardian, esp. against unlawful

practice 起监督作用的 dishonesty: n. the quality of being dishonest reveal: vt. make known 揭露 evidence: n. sign or proof 证据 ebb: vi. (of the tide) flow back from the land to the sea; grow less; become

weak or faint 落潮；低落，衰退 flow: vi. (of the tide) come in; rise; run or spread smoothly （潮）涨；上升；流 incident: n. event; happening 事件 theft: n. (the act of, an instance of) stealing tend: vi. have a tendency 易于，往往会 link: vt. join or connect 连接；联系 economy: n. 经济 anyway: ad. at all; in any case 究竟；无论如何 tempt: vt. attract (sb.) to do sth. wrong or foolish 引诱 system: n. 体制；制度 systematic: a. distrust: n. lack of trust; mistrust 不信任，怀疑 contagious: a. tending to spread easily from person to person 传染的

PHEASES & EXPRESSIONSPHEASES & EXPRESSIONS out of style: no longer fashionable 过时的，不再流行 according to: as stated or shown by; in a way that agrees with 按照，根据 (be) faced with: 面对 be hard on: 对 ... 过分严厉 on the rise: increasing steadily 在增长 ; 在加剧 a case in point: a very good example 恰当的例子 all but: all except 除了 ... 都 (be) different from: unlike, not the same as 与 ... 不同 think of ... as: regard as in the case of: 就 ... 来说 , 至于 come to: arrive at a particular state or position 变成 ( 某种状态 ) lie in: exist in 在于 on the other hand: from the opposed point of view 另一方面 , 反过来说 at one's best: in as good a state as possible 处于最佳状态 go up: rise; increase 上升 ; 增加 go down: fall; decrease 下降 ; 减少

PROPER NAMESPROPER NAMES Stacia Robbins 斯泰茜娅 . 罗宾斯 Maryland 马里兰 ( 美国州名 ) Abe 艾贝 (Abraham 的昵称 )

Part III New Words and Expressions

1.out of style & in styleout of style: unfashionable

Examples ：a. The skirt has gone out of

style.b. Honesty will never be out of

style. in style: in a grand waya. The rich lady likes to give

dinner parties in style.b. The millionaire isn’t used to

live in style.c. She dresses in style.

2. admit to: (formal) confess to; not deny

Examples:

--Did the young man admit to taking these commodities without paying for them?

--Mrs. Cross admits to being easily annoyed.

-- Mr. Smith admitted readily to a great liking for horror films.

3. It can be argued such a response may not mean much.: Some people may have a good reason to say that such a response from high school students may not be significant.

Similarly:

--It can be argued (that) money may not bring you happiness.

-- It can be argued (that) success in exams may not mean much.

4. be faced with:

be confronted with; meet face to face

Examples:

-- Now we arc all faced with a very difficult situation.

--Faced with such a rival, he has little chance of winning.

5. be hard on: be stern or strict with; be an unjust or unlucky burden on

Examples:

--Don't be too hard on the child.

--It's hard on John, having to work when the rest of us are vacationing.

6. behavior: (1) way of behavingExamples: -- His son won a prize for good behavior at

school. --I am surprised to witness his rude

behavior to his mother. (2) the way a machine behavesExample: --The new furnace's behavior is satisfactory.

7. indication: (1) sign or suggestionExamples: -- There is not much indication that the draught will be

over soon. -- The bed showed indications of being slept in. (2) pointing to or outExamples: -- We use different tones for the indication of

different meanings. -- The indication of that arrow is that visitors should

turn left here.

8. on the rise: increasing

Examples:

-- The number of students in our school is on the rise.

-- The sales volume of the new products has been on the rise since the manager advertised them on TV.

9. corresponding: (1) matchingExamples: --The peace talk was held between corresponding

officials in the two governments. --The average temperature in July this year is 0.5 degree

higher that in the corresponding period last year. (2) the sameExamples: -- You win the lottery if you had chosen a number

corresponding to the one published in the newspaper. -- The police found corresponding footprints outside the

house where the murder took place.

10. a case in point: a fit example

Examples:

-- An average student can be a top student with additional work. Cathy is a case in point.

--Nearly all major cities in the US are crime-ridden. A case in point is Chicago.

11. charge:(n.) (1) accusation Examples: -- The former football star was arrested on a charge of

manslaughter, -- The opposition brings a charge of corruption against the

administration. -- The ex-president now faces charges of sexual harassment, (2) price asked for goods or services Examples: -- Services charges are not included in hotel rates. -- You can dial 1 - 890 numbers free of charge. (3) amount of electricity contained in a substance Examples: -- a negative/positive charge

Charge (v.) (1) accuse Examples: -- His former secretary charged him with sexual harassment. -- The boxer was charged with rape. (2) ask as a price Examples: --The railway company charges half price fox students. -- The hotel charges $2 for washing and ironing a shirt. (3) put an amount of electricity into Example: -- Batteries for mobile phones need charging every eight hours.

12. possess: have; own

Examples:

--He was charged with possessing drugs.

-- He lost all he possessed in the fire.

-- The witch possessed magic powers.

13. requirement: sth. needed or demanded

Examples:

-- There is a greater requirement for electricity in summer than in any other season.

-- We will try our best to meet the requirements of our customers.

-- Chinese, maths, and English are three major requirements in college entrance.

--ISO 9000 is a set of quality requirements.

14. across the nation: throughout the country

15. to do more than talk: to do something instead of just talking

16. ... launched a campaign to stop one form of cheating: ... start a series of activities for stopping one form of cheating...

launch: (v.) (1) start; set going Examples: --Truck drivers in France launched a strike for earlier

retirement. -- The government launched an attack against corruption. (2) set a ship afloat Example: -- The First Lady was invited to launch the new ship. (3) set a rocket, missile, etc. in motion Examples: -- launch a satellite /rocket /missile -- It is expensive to launch an astronaut into outer space.

(n.) setting in ,notion Examples: -- The world was shocked at the failed launch of spaceship

"Challenger". -- The launch of a new ship is usually celebrated with champagne. campaign: (1) series of planned activities for some special purpose Examples: -- The Democratic Party waged /launched /carried on / mounted a

fundraising campaign. -- The Parent-Teacher Association started a campaign against

smoking in school. (2) series of planned military operations with a set purpose Examples: --The Saratoga Campaign is a turning point in American

Independence War. -- The soldier was awarded three campaign medals for bravery.

17. filed out of their exam: left the exam hall or room in a single file, i.e., one by one

18. had a mug shot taken "Mug " is a slangy word for "face", for

example: -- You have got an ugly mug. "A mug shot" is a photograph of a person's

face used on the driver's license, university ID card, etc. A mug shot may

also be taken by police for purposes of identification.

19. like police arresting speeders: A speeder is one who drives faster than the

posted speed limit. In the US the speed limit on a freeway or highway is 55 miles per hour. It varies from 30 to 40 miles per hour on some small roads or streets in towns and cities.

Generally the police do not arrest speeders; they are given traffic tickets which require the speeding offenders to pay a fine. However, if a person were driving in great excess of the speed limit, the police might arrest him and put him in jail.

arrest:

(v.) seize (sb.) in the name of law

Examples:

--The police arrested the drunken driver three days after the accident.

--My neighbor was arrested on suspicion of having sent several mail bombs.

(n. ) seizing (sb.) in the name of haw

Examples:

-- In the campaign to clean up the city. over 500 arrests were made.

--The forger was (placed/put) under arrest.

20. ... the intent is not to catch everyone but rather to catch enough to spread the word: the intension is not to catch all of the cheats, but to catch a sufficient number of them for the purpose of giving a warning to other students: if a few are caught, the other students will hear about it and be deterred from cheating.

21. in the case of: so far as someone or something is concerned

Examples: --Poverty depressed most people; but in the case of my

father (or: in my father's case) it only urged him to work harder.

--We can't make an exception in the case of Mary.

22. unlike: (prep.) & (a,) not like: different from

Examples:

--Unlike his brother, John is very interested in poetry.

-- it is unlike her to cry.

--The two movies are quite unlike though they depict the same period in history.

23. "fun" stories: humorous stories read for amusement

The intent of fun stories is usually to entertain rather than to educate.

24. moral (a.) concerning principles of right and wrong Examples: -- Moral standards change with time. -- A Godparent is supposed to be responsible

for the Godchild's moral welfare. (n.) that which a story, event, or experience

teaches Examples: -- The moral of this story is that one should

judge for oneself. -- You may draw your own moral from this

incident.

25. come to a bad end: come to some misfortune, esp. to an unpleasant death

Examples:

-- You will surely come to a bad end (or: come to no good end) if you keep driving so carelessly.

--If you don't give up crime, you'll come to a bad end.

26. reinforce: strengthen

Examples:

-- More troops were sent to reinforce the fortress.

--Most modern buildings are made of reinforced concrete.

-- The football team was reinforced by two foreign goalkeepers.

27. clue: sth. that helps to find an answer to a question

Examples: -- Holmes has found some clue to the mystery. -- The letter gave a clue as to where the treasure had

been buried.

28. lie in: exist in; be found in

Examples: -- The cure for ignorance lies in education. -- Do you believe that "Happiness lies in contentment“? --The greatest charm of the bride's costume lies in its

simplicity.

29. overnight:

(1) for or during the night Examples: --The bag contains things I will need when staying overnight

at a hotel. -- This kind of bamboo can grow 20 centimeters taller

overnight. (2) suddenly Examples: -- Those who grow rich overnight are eyed with suspicion. -- Public opinion tends to change overnight.

30. ... people need to know one another to be at their honest best.: ... people need to know one another well if they are to treat one another as honestly as possible.

Here the phrase "at their honest best" means "at their best as far as honesty is concerned".

at one's best: in one's best condition or state Examples: -- He acted in all kinds of plays, but he was at

his best in comedy. -- To see this part of the countryside at its best,

you need to come in June.

31 vast: (1) large in quantity Examples: --He inherited a vast sum of money from his aunt. -- Look out! A vast swarm of bees are coming this

way. (2) extensive Examples: -- Troops in the Yuan Dynasty captured vast

expanses of land in the West. -- The vast ocean stretches for thousands of miles.32. numerous: many Examples: --Numerous village and township enterprises have

sprung up since 1978. --Numerous stars were horn after the Big Bang.

33. ... could it be that we are getting better at revealing such dishonesty?: ...is it because we are becoming more skillful in revealing such dishonesty?

The conjunction "that" is used here to introduce an adverbial clause expressing cause.

Further examples: --I am happy that you have come after all. --I am afraid I have to decline your

invitation. Not that I am unwilling to come. but that I have been very busy these days.

reveal: (1) expose; make known Examples: --His wife did not reveal to the patient his hopeless

condition. -- Investigation revealed the women's 800-meter

race champion to be a man in disguise. -- His life was threatened for revealing the secret. (2) cause to be seen Examples: --Their faces reveal shock and disbelief. -- Those pictures reveal to us a wonderful world

under water.

34. evidence: sign or proof

Examples:

-- The case was dropped for lack of evidence.

-- The upturned furniture in the room was evidence of a fight.

--Scientists must have evidence for their statements.

35. incident: event; happening

Examples:

-- In her book she told some interesting incidents on her visit to Africa.

--Even such an ordinary incident reveals greatness in his character.

--The Communist Party and the National Party agreed to fight against Japanese invasion after the Xi'an Incident.

36. tend to: be apt to: have a tendency to

Examples:

-- Farmers tend to use more machinery now.

-- Children tend to tike action movies.

37. But it doesn't seem linked to the economy.: There seems to be no connection between cheating and the economy.

link: ( v. ) join or connect Examples: -- The two incidents were already linked

together in the newspapers. -- The Great Lakes link the USA and

Canada. -- Scholarships are linked to academic

performance.

(n .) one ring or loop of a chain; person or thing that connects two others

Examples: -- She kept a link of her mother's hair in the locket. -- Researches have established the link between smoking

and cancer. -- The old calendars are a link with the past.

economy: (1) control and management of the money, goods and other

resources of a community, society or household (~) Examples: -- The Industrial Revolution wiped out cottage economy in

Britain. -- The development of economy is of utmost importance to a country.

(2) careful use of money, time, strength, etc. Example: -- It is never a shame to practise economy.

38. anyway (1) in any case Examples: -- It's no use crying over spilt milk, anyway. -- Anyway you can try. (2) by any possible means Example: -- There must be something wrong with my computer. I couldn't get

hooked up to the internet anyway.

39. tempt: (1) persuade (sb.) to do sth. wrong or foolish Examples: --The serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. -- He was tempted into selling top military secrets to foreign

intelligence agents. (2) attract Examples: -- I feel tempted to eat more than is good for my health. -- The spring sun tempted us to go for a walk.

40. "beat the system": defeat or get the upper hand of the system

Phrases & Expressions:1. according to: based on 根据 电话费根据一天中的不同时段而不同。 Telephone charges vary according to the

time of the day.2. It can be argued such response may not

mean much. 人们可以争论说，这样的回答也许没有多大

意义。 It can be argued….. 这里用被动语态避免直

接提到主语是谁 mean much=be of importance 有重要的价值 mean everything 意味着一切

3. be faced with : face 面对，面临他们面对着困境。 They are faced with a very difficult

situation.

4. be hard on : be too strict with 对……过于严格

别对她太苛求了，她毕竟只是个孩子。 Don’t be too hard on her; she is a

child after all.

5. a case in point ： a very good example 恰当的例子,佐证 Nowadays, parents tend to spoil their children;

my neighbor is a case in point.6. Colleges and universities across the nation

have decided to do more than talk about the rise in student cheating.

across= throughout 全部，整个 across the nation/ world/ city…… to do more than talk = do sth. instead of just

talking 不止是说说而已 We must do more than talk. It’s time for action.

7. all but: all except 除了……以外都 除了三名成员外，其他人都交了所得税。 All but three of the members have paid

their income taxes.

8. be different from: differ from, be unlike 不同于

Man is different from other animals in his ability to learn and use a language.

9. think of…as : regard or consider…as

把……看作，认定……为 I think of him as a happy person with lots of

friends.

10. in the case of : as far as…be concerned, as to 就……来说，至于……

就人口而言，中国是世界上最大的国家。 In the case of the population.China is the

largest country in the world. 辨析 in the case of,in case of 与 in case

in case of: for fear that sth. should happen; if sth should happen 以防；万一

你最好带把雨伞，以防下雨。 In case of rain, you’d better take an umbrella.

in case: if, for fear that 如果，以防

如果他来的话，告诉我一声。 In case he comes, let me know.

Take your umbrella with you in case it rains.

11. out of : from among 其中，……之中 Six out of ten people in town have seen the

movie Titanic.12. come to: arrive at a particular state 变成 (某种状态 )

They are disappointed that their efforts have come to nothing. （完全失败，成泡影）

13. It’s less likely. 可能性比较小。 It’s likely that….. 从句，很可能 It’s very likely that he will come again. It’s likely to ….. 可能会 It’s likely to snow in the evening.

14. at one’s (the) best: in a state as good as possible 处于最佳状态

早上是我状态最佳的时候。 I am never at my best early in the

morning.

15. ebb and flow 潮的涨落 ,盛衰 ,消长

Part IV Supplement ----Some English Tests

1)TOFEL: Test of English as a Foreign Language 托福考试2)GRE: Graduate Record Examination 研究生考试 3)GMAT Graduate Management Admission Test 研究生管理科学入学考试 4)IELTS: International English Language Testing Service 国际英语测试 (雅思） 5)PETS: Public English Test System 全国公共英语等级考试6)BEC: Business English Certificate 商务英语证书7)CET4: College English Test Band 4 大学英语四级考试

Proficiency Test 水平测试 Aptitude Test 素质测试Achievement Test 成绩测试 Diagnose Test 诊断测试an oral test 口试 a written test 笔试