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Pre-reading tasks

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Title: Pre-reading tasks


1
Pre-reading tasks
  • What are the special contributions of Abraham,
    John and Martin to the Americans?
  • They all advocated black civil rights.
  • How did they die?
  • They were all assassinated.

2
Knowledge of American geography
  • the USA was divided after the Abolition Act
    (???????) the Northern States supported it,
    while the Southern States disapproved of it.
  • the Southern States
  • (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
    Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
    Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia)
  • the Deep South states
  • (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
    Mississippi, South Carolina and eastern Texas)

3

4
Knowledge of Christianity
  • When we learn a foreign language, we must also
    learn the culture of the speakers of that
    language.
  • for historical reasons, many black slaves
    believed in Christianity, like Uncle Tom in Uncle
    Tom's Cabin. Therefore, in black writings there
    are frequent references to Christianity.

5
Knowledge of Christianity
  • Some terms in this text are markedly Christian,
    like "Methodist Minister", "Bible", "Quaker".
  • Others refer to characters or places from
    Biblical stories, such as Moses who led the
    Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt, or
    Bethlehem, a holy city for Christians.

6
Cultural Notes
  • the civil rights movement
  • (in the US) the national campaign by
    African-Americans for equal rights, especially in
    the 1950s and 1960s.
  • The campaign included boycotts (refusals to buy
    particular products), the actions of freedom
    riders, and in 1963 a march to Washington led by
    Martin Luther King.
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting
    Rights Act of 1965 were also introduced as a
    result of the civil rights movement, which has
    helped to change the attitudes of many white
    Americans.

7
Cultural Notes
  • the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • the US law that forced the southern states to
    allow African-Americans to enter restaurants,
    hotels, etc. which had been reserved for white
    people only and to end the practice of having
    separate areas for black and white people in
    theatres, train stations, buses, etc. The act was
    mostly the result of the civil rights movement
    and was strongly supported by President Lyndon
    Johnson. It was followed the next year by the
    Voting Rights Act.

8
Cultural Notes
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin
  • a novel (1852) by the US writer Harriet Beecher
    Stowe which increased support for the movement to
    free slaves. It is about a kind slave called Tom
    who is badly treated and finally killed by Simon
    Legree. Tom's daughter Little Eva also dies, and
    another well-known character in the novel is the
    slave child Topsy. The name Uncle Tom is
    sometimes used as an insult to describe an
    African-American who has too much respect for
    white people.

9
Cultural Notes
  • the Underground Railroad
  • a secret system used in the US before the Civil
    War for helping thousands of slaves to escape to
    the free northern states or Canada. The slaves
    were called "passengers", the people who helped
    them were "conductors", and the slaves hid in
    "stations"(safe houses) along the way.

10
Cultural Notes
  • Slavery
  • Slavery played a particularly important role in
    the history of the US.
  • The first slaves were taken to North America from
    Africa by the Dutch in 1619. By the time of the
    American Revolution (1775) there were 500 000
    slaves, mostly in the South. After the Revolution
    the northern states made slavery illegal but the
    South needed cheap labor for the cotton
    plantations.

11
Cultural Notes
  • Gradually the South's economy became dependent on
    slaves and by 1860, the year before the Civil
    War, there were about 4 million slaves.
  • Conflict between the North and the South
    increased, and it became clear that supporters
    and opponents of slavery could not continue to be
    part of the same country. In 1861 the slave
    states left the US and formed their own
    government.

12
Cultural Notes
  • This was the beginning of the Civil War. After
    the North won the Civil War and brought the
    southern states back into .the US, slavery was
    ended. But little changed for former slaves. Some
    moved to the North but there were not enough jobs
    there and many suffered prejudice from Whites.
    Those that stayed in the South often worked on
    the plantations where they had been slaves. They
    were paid for their work, but had to buy food and
    clothes. Many had to stay there trying to pay off
    debts which became larger each year.

13
Cultural Notes
  • Bill Clinton (1946- )
  • the 42nd US President, elected in 1992 and 1996.
    He is a Democrat and was previously the governor
    of Arkansas. The US economy improved under
    Clinton, and the North American Free Trade
    Agreement has been signed. His successes in
    helping to achieve world peace include the Camp
    David Agreement for the Near East and the Dayton
    Agreement to end the war in Bosnia and
    Herzegovina. His wife Hillary (1947- ) tried
    without success to improve the US health system.
    In 1998 President Clinton admitted that he had
    had a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a
    junior member of the White House staff, after
    denying it earlier. He was impeached for lying
    under oath and obstructing justice, but the
    Senate judged him not guilty.

14
Cultural Notes
  • Quaker
  • any member of the Society of Friends, a religious
    group established in England in the 1650s by
    George Fox. They were originally called Quakers
    because members were thought to "quake" or shake
    with religious excitement. Quakers worship Christ
    without any formal ceremony or fixed beliefs, and
    their meetings often involve silent thought or
    prayer. They are strongly opposed to violence and
    war, and are active in education and charity work.

15
Cultural Notes
  • Methodist
  • a member of the Methodist Church, the largest of
    the Protestant Free Churches in Britain and the
    US. It was established in 1739 by John Wesley as
    part of the Church of England but it became
    separate from it in 1795. It was introduced into
    the US in the 18th century and today has over 50
    million members around the world. It emphasized
    the importance of moral issues, both personal and
    social.

16
Language Study
  • slender
  • (of people) slim not very wide but comparatively
    long or high
  • Examples
  • Although her face was quite plain, she had long,
    slender expressive hands, like a concert pianist.
  • King crabs have long, slender legs, with a span
    over 1 meter (3 feet).

17
Language Study
  • give up
  • abandon an attempt to do sth.Examples
  • He's given up smoking since his illness.
  • She was working part-time but she suddenly gave
    up.

18
Language Study
  • ironically
  • it seems ironic (that)
  • Examples
  • Ironically the widespread use of antibiotics
    seems to be causing a lot of unexpectedhealth
    problems.
  • ????????,?????????.
  • Ironically it is often the poorer people who give
    the most.

19
Language Study
  • racial
  • relating to a person's race, or to different
    races of people
  • Examples
  • Slavery is closely associated with racial
    prejudice, the belief that one race is superior
    to another.
  • ????
  • Racial discrimination

20
Language Study
  • historic
  • famous or important in history
  • Examples
  • In his book, Churchill recalls that historic
    first meeting with Roosevelt.
  • Cf. historical
  • Examples
  • Many historical documents were destroyed when the
    library was bombed.

21
Language Study
  • site
  • place where a building, town, etc. was, is, or
    will be situated
  • Examples
  • ????????????????????.
  • The local government hasn't yet chosen the site
    for the new skyscraper.
  • There are many archaeological sites in southern
    England.

22
Language Study
  • mission
  • particular task or duty undertaken by an
    individual or a group
  • Examples
  • Some delegates were immediately sent to Israel.
    Their mission was to negotiate a ceasefire.
  • The five young people have been on a mission to
    help the Cambodians.

23
Language Study
  • forge
  • (fig) create by means of much hard work
  • Examples
  • ?????????????
  • The two countries agreed to forge closer economic
    ties.
  • She forged a new career for herself as a singer.

24
Language Study
  • web
  • network of fine threads spun by a spider or some
    other spinning creature complex series or
    network
  • Examples
  • ????????????????.
  • The little boy was frightened by the spider's web
    in the window.
  • Every day thousands of web surfers flock to this
    popular site, posting messages.

25
Language Study
  • authorize
  • give approval or permission for (sth.) give
    authority to
  • Examples
  • The central government authorized 200 billion to
    construct new dams to generate cheap
    hydro-electric power.
  • ?????????????.
  • She authorized her partner to negotiate in her
    behalf.

26
Language Study
  • peer
  • look closely or carefully, esp. as if unable to
    see well (followed by at/through/into, etc.)
  • Examples
  • The moon peered from behind dark clouds.
  • ???????????
  • ???
  • children who are easily influenced by their
    peers.
  • ??????????

27
Language Study
  • decade
  • period of ten years
  • Examples
  • Education budgets have been increased over the
    last decade in China.

28
Language Study
  • capture
  • capturing or being captured seize
  • Examples
  • Rebel forces captured the city after a week-long
    battle.
  • FBI???????911???????.
  • Some of the terrorists who were involved in the
    9.11 event were captured by the FBI.
  • memories of his childhood,

29
Language Study
  • religious
  • of religion
  • Examples
  • Daoism (Taoism) is one of the three main Chinese
    religious and philosophical traditions, the
    others being Confucianism and Buddhism.

30
Language Study
  • conviction
  • firm opinion or belief
  • Examples
  • The old woman had a firm conviction that there
    would be a better life after death.
  • Tom?????????.
  • Tom doesn't have any religious convictions.

31
Language Study
  • terminal
  • ???, ??, ???
  • adj. ??, ???
  • Examples
  • terminal stages of cancer
  • ????
  • Most large airports have shops, restaurants, and
    banks in the terminal building, plus special
    lounges for departing passengers.
  • All staff have terminals attached to the
    company's main computer.

32
Language Study
  • impose
  • 1) place a (penalty, tax, etc.) officially on
    sb./sth.
  • Examples
  • ????????????.
  • The government has made a decision to impose a
    further tax on wines and spirits.
  • 2) try to make sb. accept (an opinion or a
    belief)
  • Examples
  • It may not be wise for parents to impose their
    own tastes on their children.

33
Language Study
  • transport
  • take sth./sb. from one place to another in a
    vehicle
  • Examples
  • public transport.
  • ??????
  • inland transport
  • ????
  • Pipelines are used mainly to transport liquids or
    gases over long distances.

34
Language Study
  • disguise
  • give sb./sth. a false appearance (used in the
    pattern disguise sb./sth. as) , to conceal or
    obscure
  • Examples
  • She disguised herself as a man so she could fight
    on the battlefield.
  • It is impossible to disguise the fact that
    finance is bad.
  • ???????????????

35
Language Study
  • abolish
  • end the existence of (a law, custom, system,
    etc.)
  • Examples
  • ????????????
  • These superstitious practices should be abolished
    as soon as possible.
  • Slavery was not finally abolished in the British
    Empire until 1833.

36
Language Study
  • compel
  • make (sb.) do sth. force
  • Examples
  • In the past children were frequently compelled to
    work from an early age.
  • ??????????
  • The rain compelled us to stay indoors.

37
Text Analysis
Parts Paras Main Ideas
Part One Paras 1-5
Part Two Paras 6-23
  • It is high time to honor the heroes who helped
    liberate slaves by forging the Underground
    Railroad in the early civil-rights struggles in
    America.
  • By citing examples the author praises the
    exploits of civil-rights heroes who helped slaves
    travel the Underground Railroad to freedom.

38
Text Analysis
Paras Main Ideas
Story One Story Two Paras 6-10 Para 11-15
Story Three Para 16-23
After winning his own freedom from slavery, John
Parker helped other slaves to escape north to
Canada to get freedom.
Supported by a strong religious conviction, the
white man Levi Coffin helped black slaves to
escape at huge risk.
By traveling the Underground Railroad, Josiah
Henson reached his destination and became free at
last.
39
Text Analysis
  • The author tells three stories about the
    Underground Railroad and the early Black civil
    rights movement. The three stories are chosen
    because they are representative of all
    participants in this movement
  • John Parker is a freed slave who later turned
    into a courageous "conductor"
  • Levi Coffin is a brave white "conductor"

40
Text Analysis
  • Josiah Henson is a slave who struggled his way to
    freedom with the help of the Underground
    Railroad.
  • We learn about the name of Josiah Henson at the
    beginning of the text, yet his full story is not
    told until the last part. In this way the author
    achieves coherence of text.

41
Language Study
  • (line 6) The Creator intends that all men to be
    created equal.
  • intend
  • plan to design for a specific purpose to have
    in mind for a particular use to signify or mean.
  • We intend to go. They intend going. You intended
    that she go.
  • ?????. ????. ??????
  • The book is intended for beginners.
  • ???????????

42
Language Study
  • (line 9) has lived on through the character
  • live on
  • To remain in human memory
  • ?????
  • an event that lives on in our minds.
  • ??????????

43
Language Study
  • (line13) stand up (for sb./sth.)
  • speak, work, etc. in favour of sb./sth. support
    sb./sth.
  • Examples
  • You have to be prepared to stand up for the
    things you believe in.
  • Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.

44
Language Study
  • historic
  • famous or important in history
  • Cf. historical
  • Examples
  • Historical people, situations, or things existed
    in the past and are considered to be a part of
    history.

45
Language Study
  • (line 28) The center is scheduled to open in
    2004.
  • schedule
  • v. to plan or appoint for a certain time or date
  • ?????????????????
  • He is scheduled to arrive Monday.
  • To make up a schedule for????
  • I haven't scheduled the coming week yet.
  • ???????????
  • n.
  • ahead of schedule ??????
  • on schedule ??
  • behind schedule ??????

46
Language Study
  • be intent on doing sth.
  • be eager and determined to do sth.
  • Examples
  • Working day and night, Janet seems intent on
    breaking the record in the Guinness Book of
    Records.

47
Language Study
  • on the side
  • as an additional job or source of income
    secretly
  • Examples
  • Some workers have to find ways of making some
    money on the side.
  • In order to earn enough money to send his
    children to school, he makes a little money on
    the side by cleaning windows in his spare time.

48
Language Study
  • close in (on/around)
  • come near to, esp. in order to attack from
    several directions surround
  • Examples
  • Hitler committed suicide as Soviet forces were
    closing in on Berlin.
  • Right after the suicide explosion, Israeli troops
    began to close in on the Palestinian city.

49
Language Study
  • Be motivated by
  • Be driven by, be impelled by
  • Examinations do not motivate a student to seek
    more knowledge.
  • ?????????????????

50
Language Study
  • as for
  • with regard to
  • Examples
  • As for your request for a free sample, we will
    send it to you in about ten days.
  • Some people have complained, but as for me I'm
    perfectly satisfied with the working conditions
    here.

51
Language Study
  • make the best of
  • accept an unsatisfactory situation cheerfully and
    try to manage as well as you can
  • Examples
  • I know it's cold and raining but we're here now,
    so let's just make the best of it.
  • The living conditions in the village were very
    poor, but we had to make the best of it.

52
Language Study
  • at risk
  • threatened by the possibility of loss, failure,
    etc. in danger
  • Examples
  • It is reported that some areas in the west are at
    high risk of desertification.
  • The buildings in the slum tend to be overcrowded
    and at risk from fire.

53
Language Study
  • in the eyes of
  • in the opinion of
  • Examples
  • In the eyes of his students, Richard is a
    sensible and reliable teacher.
  • In the eyes of my parent, I am still a young
    person although I am already in my thirties.

54
Language Study
  • pass for
  • appear like be accepted or looked upon as (same
    as pass as)
  • Examples
  • He speaks American English well enough to pass
    for an American.
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