4Unit 8

Unit Eight: The Media: 

Unit Eight: The Media Preparation Listening-Centered Activities Reading-Centered Activities

1. The mass media we know. Direction: we know that TV, radio, newspapers and magazines are the four most popular mass media nowadays. Work in groups and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. : 

1. The mass media we know. Direction: we know that TV, radio, newspapers and magazines are the four most popular mass media nowadays. Work in groups and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

2. What is the content.Directions: Read the following headlines. Then : 

2. What is the content. Directions: Read the following headlines. Then First dog is a mouser: the dog of the first family (the President’s family) in the US like to catch mice. Delays hamper shuttle liftoff: the launching of the space shuttle has been delayed. Bonanza at the box office doesn’t translate to Oscars: The large profits of the movie made at the box office does not win it an Oscar. Jessica steal the spotlight: Jessica (a movie star) attracts a lot of attention. New drug tax hits wallet: the new drug tax forces people to pay more. Red carpet out for the ousted leader: the once ousted leader is welcomed. McCartney still can draw ’em in: Paul McCartney, despite his age can still attract an audience.

Exercise III.Direction: work in pairs to decide in which parts of the newspaper you would expect to find the following headlines.: 

Exercise III. Direction: work in pairs to decide in which parts of the newspaper you would expect to find the following headlines. Welcome to Bangkok: the travel page. Prime Minister resigns: the front page. Celine Dion is expecting: the entertainment page. Greene breaks world record: the sports section. Grey is in this spring: the fashion page. Will there be elections this fall?: The Op-Ed page. promising careers: the jobs available section. The President and his critics: the features page / the Op-Ed page.

Exercise I: Listen to the passage carefully and decide which of the following job titles and newspaper features are mentioned in the passage. Put a check in the space provided. : 

Exercise I: Listen to the passage carefully and decide which of the following job titles and newspaper features are mentioned in the passage. Put a check in the space provided. Job titles mentioned: journalists, editor, critic, reporter, reviewer, cartoonist, advertising manager. Features mentioned: the fashion page, the gossip column, the sports page, classified ads, horoscopes, announcements of births and marriages, the situations vacant column, the editorial, the women’s page, obituary. Horoscope, sign, highlight, cartoonist, supplement, obituary

Exercise II: Listen to the passage again and answer the following question.: 

Exercise II: Listen to the passage again and answer the following question. Why is it not easy to be a young reporter on a local newspaper? Because he/ she has to be everything, without being anyone. Which column of the newspaper is only concerned with the Mayor and his friends? The gossip pages. Which part of the newspaper are most readers interested in? The sports pages. Why can’t the narrator criticize the films? Because the owner of he newspaper also owns the local cinemas.

Slide8: 

Why can’t the narrator work as a cartoonist? Because he can’t draw. How many journalists are working with the newspaper? Two. How does Sally do the fashion page? She copies it out of the color supplements in the national Sunday papers. What does the advertising manager think of the narrator’ work? It’s rubbish.

Exercise I: In a news report, information about who, what, when, where, and how is always clearly given at the beginning of the story. Listen to the news report and write down the relevant information in the space provided.: 

Exercise I: In a news report, information about who, what, when, where, and how is always clearly given at the beginning of the story. Listen to the news report and write down the relevant information in the space provided. Who: two men on a touring holiday of Britain. What: they were injured. When: Yesterday. Where: in the center of Norwich. How: By an explosion in their van. touring holiday, explosion, van, Norwich, Red Lion Street, Leap, Gary Houser, Ohio, Charles Lynn, San Francisco, Leslie Webster, deputy, pavement, in shreds, extinguisher, Ambulance, blaze, the Continent.

Exercise II: Listen to the news again and choose the best answer to each of the questions you hear from the tape.: 

Exercise II: Listen to the news again and choose the best answer to each of the questions you hear from the tape. What did the two men do when the accident took place? A. Were the two men seriously injured in the accident? B Ho used an extinguisher to help to cut out the fire? C What was Mr. Webster doing when the explosion took place? B Why did one of the two men go back to the car? A Which of the four statements is true according to the news? D

Exercise III: Work in groups and write a piece of news for the campus newspaper.: 

Exercise III: Work in groups and write a piece of news for the campus newspaper. Sample: Fly Your Kite Spring is here, bringing us bright sunshine and gentle breezes. It’s the perfect season for flying kites. In order to bring back our golden childhood and make our college life more colorful, a Kite Festival will be held on April 11th at our university. Those who want to take part in the kite-making festival should sign up on April 7th. They will be given materials and two day’s time to make their kites. On April 11th, there will be a kite exhibition in front of the dining hall at noon. Whoever makes the most beautiful and the most original kite will be proclaimed the best kite designer. In the afternoon, all the kites will be flown on the large sports ground. The student whose kite flies the highest and the steadily will win the grand prize of the Kite Festival. The Festival is being organized by the Students’ Union. All students are welcome to participate.

In-class Reading: 

In-class Reading

eclipse (L.1): 

eclipse (L.1) n. blocking of the light of the sun (when the moon is between it and the earth) or of the moon (when the earth’s shadow falls on it)日食，月食 a. An eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth. b. We saw a partial eclipse of the sun by the moon. (我们看到了由月亮造成的日偏食。) v. (fig.) cause sb. to seem less important, clever, famous, etc., by comparison使（某人）相形见绌，使黯然失色 a. He is eclipsed by his wife, who is much cleverer and more amusing than he is. (他的妻子比他聪明而又风趣，显得他黯然失色。) b. The young opera star eclipsed the established singer. (那位年轻的歌剧明星使得已确立地位的歌唱家黯然失色。)

dazzle (L.10) v. （usu. passive）: 

dazzle (L.10) v. （usu. passive） 1) blind (sb.) briefly with too much light, brilliance（因强光，闪烁等）使人目眩 a. I was dazzled by his headlights.(他的车头灯照得我目眩。) b. He was dazzled at the victory. 2) (fig.) impress sb. greatly through splendor, ability 使人赞许，称奇 a. He was dazzled by her beauty and wit. b. He dazzled her with his knowledge of the world. dazzling adj. dazzle n. [note] 与dazzle 形近的词有: daze (n./v.) 眼花缭乱, 使茫然; dazed (adj.) 茫然的; dizzy (adj.)头晕目眩的, doze (v./n.)瞌睡；dozy (adj.)困倦的。

medium (L.13): 

medium (L.13) adj. in the middle中等的，适度的（常作定语） a. He was of medium height with blond hair and blue eyes. b. The clothes should be washed at medium temperature. medium n.. (pl. media) means by which sth is expressed媒介，手段 a. Commercial TV is an effective medium for advertising. b. In this country, English is chosen as the medium of instruction. multi-media 多媒体的

anonymous (L.15): 

anonymous (L.15) adj. with a name that is not known不知姓名的，姓名不公开的, 匿名的 a. An anonymous donor gives a million dollars to the charity. b. He received an anonymous letter threatening to disclose the details of his affairs if he didn’t pay the money.

diverse (L.15): 

diverse (L.15) adj. of different kinds 不同的，多种多样的 a. Her interests are very diverse. b. New York is a very culturally diverse city. diversify v. diversity n. Compare: diverse reverse adverse reverse 1) v. 颠倒，倒转 a. The videotape reversed automatically when it finished. b. The garage is open, so you can reverse the car into it. adj. 倒转的，相反的 a. The wrong attitude will have exactly the reverse effect. b. Statistics showed a reverse trend to that recorded in other countries. adverse adj. 不利的，有害的 a. The adverse weather conditions made travel difficult. b. Too much stress can have an adverse effect on one’s health.

singular (L.25): 

singular (L.25) adj. 1) of the form used in speaking or writing of one person or thing 单 数的 a. The word “man” is singular. b. What’s the singular form of the word “children”? 2) very great or very noticeable 非凡的 a. He is a person of singular courage and honesty. b. He showed a singular lack of tact in the way he handled the situation. 3) unusual or strange, not ordinary a. What happened after you left was most singular. b. Isn’t it unwise to make yourself so singular in your dress?

stretch (L49): 

stretch (L49) v. make sth. longer, wider by pulling拉长，撑大 a. The road stretches across the desert into the distance. b. The market stretched all the way along the street. n. continuous expanse or extent扩展，连绵 (常用作单数) a. The visitors were attracted by this particular stretch of coast. b. The farmer owned a stretch of land of the river.

Roosevelt was given credit for his ability to use the new medium so effectively, (L.22): 

Roosevelt was given credit for his ability to use the new medium so effectively, (L.22) ------ Roosevelt was praised for being able to make good use of the new medium---the radio.

Intimacy is itself both cause and effect of another singular truth about radio: most people, most of the time, listen to their radios in solitude. (L.25): 

Intimacy is itself both cause and effect of another singular truth about radio: most people, most of the time, listen to their radios in solitude. (L.25) ------ Wanting to get intimacy, most people in most of the time would listen to the radio by themselves. That is also the effect they want to get.

It didn’t matter anymore that I couldn’t detect any evidence of humankind on a lonely stretch of Highway 49. (L.48-49): 

It didn’t matter anymore that I couldn’t detect any evidence of humankind on a lonely stretch of Highway 49. (L.48-49) ------ I didn’t care whether I can see any person on the lonely road any more.

It could provide me with a wealth of information on, and a hearty appreciation for, a place as different from my hometown as any in the country. (L.51-52): 

It could provide me with a wealth of information on, and a hearty appreciation for, a place as different from my hometown as any in the country. (L.51-52) ------I can learn much knowledge about any place in our country that is different from my hometown.

After-class Reading: 

After-class Reading

After-class Reading: 

After-class Reading Power of the Press

hatred (L.27) n.: 

hatred (L.27) n. a. She has the hatred for the enemy. b. I have the hatred at housework. hate 憎恨

profitable (L.67): 

profitable (L.67) adj. beneficial 有利可图的 a. She spent a profitable afternoon in the library. b. It would be more profitable to combine the two factories. profit v. profitability n.

An individual’s only defense against the press is the law of libel, but considerable harm and much pain can be caused without going so far as to commit libel that can be taken to court for judgment. (L.31-33): 

An individual’s only defense against the press is the law of libel, but considerable harm and much pain can be caused without going so far as to commit libel that can be taken to court for judgment. (L.31-33) ------ 个人对新闻界的唯一的武器就是有关诽谤罪的法律，但是仍有许多利用新闻界对别人进行的攻击，给人造成伤害，而这些行为又远未严重到犯诽谤罪从而引起法律惩处的程度。

It is greater, one could say, in any field in which the knowledge and interest of the man in the street is lesser. (L.55-56): 

It is greater, one could say, in any field in which the knowledge and interest of the man in the street is lesser. (L.55-56) ------ 可以说，在任何领域里，公众对某条大街上某个人的了解和兴趣变得不再重要。

Does this seem to ague a too shrewd, calm and sensible attitude on the part of the ordinary newspaper reader? (L.71-72): 

Does this seem to ague a too shrewd, calm and sensible attitude on the part of the ordinary newspaper reader? (L.71-72) ------ 从这一点上看，是否可以证明部分普通的报纸读者具有非常聪明、沉静而明智的态度呢？

They don’t feel it as a power in their lives, but as a working-day prerequisite. (L.74-75) : 

They don’t feel it as a power in their lives, but as a working-day prerequisite. (L.74-75) ------ 在公众看来，新闻界并没有如此强大，只不过读报已成为日常生活的固定习惯了。

After-class Reading: 

After-class Reading Sounding the Water

corresponding (L. 21): 

corresponding (L. 21) adj. that corresponds 相符的，通信的（只作定语） a. Imports in the first three months have increased by 10% compared with the corresponding period last year. (前三个月的进口额与去年同期相比增长了10％。) correspondent n. 1) person who contributes news or comments regularly to newspaper, a radio station etc. 通信员，记者 a. The correspondent filed a report to the news agency. 2) people who write letters to others a. He is a good correspondent, ie. He writes regularly.

corresponding (L. 21): 

corresponding (L. 21) correspond v. 1) be in agreement 相一致，相符合 a. Your account of events corresponds with hers. 2) be similar 相当的，相似的 a. The American Congress corresponds to the British Parliament. 3) exchange letters 通信 a. We’ve corresponded with each other for years, but I’ve never met him. correspondence n. 1) agreement, similarity一致，相似 a. There is a close correspondence between the two accounts. 2) letter writing 通信 a. She has a lot of correspondence to deal with.

narrate (L.36) v: 

narrate (L.36) v tell 叙述，讲述 a. At the party, John narrated the details of the accident. b. The documentary is narrated by a well-known actor.

The text for River of Song was written by Elijah Wald, a music critic for the Boston Globe, a newspaper long noted for its support of the arts. (L.19-20) : 

The text for River of Song was written by Elijah Wald, a music critic for the Boston Globe, a newspaper long noted for its support of the arts. (L.19-20) ------ “歌声之河”的文稿是由伊莱贾 • 沃尔德完成的，他是波士顿的《全球》这家因支持艺术事业而享誉已久的报社的一位乐评人。

Their focus remains the same: to document the musical traditions that thrive on the banks of the Mississippi, from Lake Itasca in the northern state of Minnesota, the river’s source, to where the waters empty into the Gulf of Mexico in the state of the Louisiana. (L.23-26): 

Their focus remains the same: to document the musical traditions that thrive on the banks of the Mississippi, from Lake Itasca in the northern state of Minnesota, the river’s source, to where the waters empty into the Gulf of Mexico in the state of the Louisiana. (L.23-26) ------ 他们的宗旨是一致的：记录下那些密西西比河两岸的繁荣的音乐传统，从河源明尼苏达州北部的艾塔斯卡一直到河尾路易斯安纳州的墨西哥湾。

After-class Reading: 

After-class Reading What Make TV Most Entertaining

affiliate (L.12) adj .: 

affiliate (L.12) adj . (usu. passive) attach a person, a society to a larger organization 隶属，附属 a. The college is affiliated to the university. b. We are affiliated with the national group. [note] affiliate, inflict, afflict, conflict, inflict意为“使某人遭受打击”，尤其指将不受欢迎的事强加于人，后接on意为“打击”，如：He believed in assembling an overwhelming force and then inflicting a crushing blow on his opponent. afflict意为“折磨，使苦恼”，尤其指引起身体或精神上的痛苦。如：During the Middle Ages, millions of people were afflicted with the plague. conflict意为“冲突，战斗”，如：Their account of the events conflicted with ours.

timely (L.44): 

timely (L.44) adj. occurring at just the right time 及时的，适时的 a. My teacher gave me timely advice. b. The timely arrival of their friends helped Helen and John.

In addition, each network owns five stations itself, the maximum number under the rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). (L16-17): 

In addition, each network owns five stations itself, the maximum number under the rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). (L16-17) ------ 此外，每个电视网还拥有自己的五家电视台，这是美国通讯联邦委员会规定的最大数目。

There must be a dramatic story line, but one that can be introduced, developed, and concluded in less than two minutes.(L42-43): 

There must be a dramatic story line, but one that can be introduced, developed, and concluded in less than two minutes.(L42-43) ------ 它必须有一个扣人心弦的故事梗概，但它又必须在不到两分钟的时间里被介绍，说明和总结。

…a figure matched only by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. (L.51-52): 

…a figure matched only by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. (L.51-52) ------ 这一数据只有1941年日本偷袭珍珠港和1945年在日本投掷原子弹这两件事可比得上。

Dramatic film of staving African children may help get the story on the air, but film of fire victims leaping to their deaths from high buildings is better. (L55-56): 

Dramatic film of staving African children may help get the story on the air, but film of fire victims leaping to their deaths from high buildings is better. (L55-56) ------ 关于非洲挨饿孩子的感人电影也许有助于传播这条新闻，但是关于大火受难者从高楼往下跳而摔死的电影却更有影响力

Personalities are substituted for explanation. (L61-62): 

Personalities are substituted for explanation. (L61-62) ------ 新闻节目不去解释一个事件，而仅仅是报道名人。

Even if the inflation is the single most important problem confronting Americans, according to a national survey, this topic will be pushed aside in favor of coverage of presidential visits, ceremonial bill signings, strikes, protests, accidents, or fires for which action film is available. (L.70-73): 

Even if the inflation is the single most important problem confronting Americans, according to a national survey, this topic will be pushed aside in favor of coverage of presidential visits, ceremonial bill signings, strikes, protests, accidents, or fires for which action film is available. (L.70-73) ------ 根据一项全国调查，即使美国人所面临的最重要的问题是通货膨胀，但是为了报道一些可用来制作故事片的题材，如总统来访、议案签字仪式、罢工、抗议、事故或是火灾，这个主题也要被搁置一边。