新世纪研究生英语教程

Unit1 Free Falling

1. What is the main subject introduced in paragraph one?

It is the description of the effect of saying farewell to his parents, friends and folks on the author.

2. How is the story organized?

The story is chronologically organized (following the time sequence in which the event unfolded itself).

3. How did Weckerly feel before the day of his departure?

He felt eager and excited to wait for the day to come.

4. How did his mood change when the day had really come?

At the very beginning he became sentimental about saying good-bye to many people around him. Facing the reality of becoming independent, he began to feel afraid and uncertain .

5. What do you think about the ending of the story?

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It is very impressive. Weckerly ends the story with a metaphor which catches the essence of the particular moment accurately. He compares himself to a rookie skydiver preparing for his first plunge, which leads to possible outcomes: sheer excitement or eventual death. The last sentence \\breath, and jumps\he future of being independent no matter how long and complicated the road to it is.

What is the effect of saying farewell and actual leaving on the author? Whom did the author like to say good-bye to? What was the author's mood like before the day of departure and after?

How did his mother's mood change during his brunch with her? What was the significance of the particular day to the author?

Suggested Summary

The time of saying good-bye and actual leaving makes a great impact on the author, which is fully demonstrated in the opening sentence. He gives a general description of how he feels on that particular day, during which his own mood changes from sheer excitement for the prospect of becoming independent and free to fear and uncertainty to a mixture of both. By his brunching with Mom and saying good-bye to her, he makes a very smooth depiction of the change of his mother's mood from being chatty and cheerful at the beginning to being quiet, even somber as the final moment comes. To bring the story to its climax, the

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author ends the story with a symbolic description. He compares himself to a rookie skydiver preparing for his first plunge that leads to possible outcomes: sheer excitement or eventual death. No matter what will happen, he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and jumps into the future.

Unit2 The New Economics of Oil

1. Why won't oil prices rise at all over the long time?

Firstly, because producers need the cash from oil too much to let their supply be interrupted for long. Secondly, and more important, because demand growth can't push prices upward as long as it is balanced by supply growth.

2. Why can't the members of the OPEC raise oil prices?

Because if they do, non-OPEC sources will grab market share by developing fields where technology has made production affordable.

3. Why have most majors cut their costs on oil?

Because technology lets the companies maintain healthy earnings at steadily lower oil prices.

4. Who takes a lead in the oil companies?

Those that master technology and efficiency, such as Shell, Exxon, and British

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Petroleum.

Should we worry about the oil price?

What is the main reason for oil price to fall?

Is Rainwater's high-price theory right?

What influences oil industry profits most?

How will lower oil price influence the world economy?

Suggested Summary

The article aims at establishing the idea that oil price will not rise even as demand soars. To begin with, the author shows the increasing consumption of oil around the world and the impact of technology on oil industry. By giving several examples, he draws the conclusion that the need for cash and dependence on technology leads to the fact that oil prices will even fall. Furthermore, technological updating, slashing the costs of finding, producing, and refining oil, is also a reason to support the

author's point. There is evidence that technology lets the world companies maintain healthy earnings at lower oil prices. In conclusion, cheap oil accelerates the world economy, and a downside price scenario is increasingly likely.

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1. In the first year of peace, Lebanon's GDP soared by almost 40%. (C)

A. flew B. hovered C. increased D. decreased

2. SAIC's previous skirmishes with investigators had attracted little attention. (D)

A. conflicts B. struggles C. skates D. arguments

3. The boy grabbed hold of my bag and disappeared quickly into the crowd. (C)

A. seized B. snapped C. snatched D. sneaked

4. Although Chicago has fared better than some cities, unemployment remains a problem. (A)

A. got on B. charged C. offered jobs D. provided welfare

5. The dwarfs were devastated, because they could not figure out how to save Snow White this time. (D)

A. calculate B. rate C. consider D. decide

6. His distrust of the power of critics made him ready to gibe at David Sylvester. (A)

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A. laugh B. ridicule C. deride D. taunt

7. Children are most vulnerable to abuse within their own home. (A)

A. unprotected B. sensible C. susceptible D. harmful

8. Short of the President himself, probably no one could have put the American case more persuasively. (B)

A. Rather than B. Other than C. Less than D. Short for

Unit7 Competition Is Destructive

1. Why is competition destructive according to the author? (para. 3)

According to the author, competition is destructive because it undermines self-esteem, poisons relationships and holds us back from doing our best.

2. What are the purposes of the games devised or collected by Orlick and others? (para. 6)

The idea of the games devised or collected by Orlick and others is for each

person on the field to make a specified contribution to the goal, or for all the players to reach a certain score, or for everyone to work with their partners

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against a time limit.

3. What is the difference between teamwork and team competition? (para. 8)

The difference between teamwork and team competition is that in teamwork everyone on the field is working together for a common goal, while in team competition a given player works with and is encouraged to feel warmly toward only half of those present.

4. Why do most kinds of fun require competition? (para. 10, 11, 12)

First of all, people don't know any other way or people have never tasted the alternative.

Secondly, we overlook the psychological costs of competition: it causes self-doubt and feelings of self-worth become dependent on external sources of evaluation.

5. Who is to blame for competition?

It is the structure of the game itself that is to blame rather than the individuals, since it sets competition at the very beginning.

Directions: Use the questions given below as a guide to write a summary. You can refer to Task 1 and Task 2.

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What kind of games does the author use to illustrate the points? What's the significance of changing an \\ What's the difference between teamwork and team competition?

What are the possible reasons that a large number of people insist that we can't do without win/lose activities?

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