英语四级读美文【15】12984.pdf

《英语四级读美文【15】12984.pdf》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《英语四级读美文【15】12984.pdf（18页珍藏版）》请在淘文阁 - 分享文档赚钱的网站上搜索。

1、Unit 15 American Culture 美国文化 Text 1 Set Free from Aristocratic Society The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies that were free from the controls that existed in European societies.They wanted to escape the controls placed on their lives by kings and governmen

2、ts,priests and churches,noblemen and aristocrats.To a great extent,they succeeded.In 1776,the British colonial settlers declared their independence from England and established a new nation,the United States of America.In so doing,they overthrew(推翻)the king of England and declared that the power to

3、govern would lie in the hands of the people.They were now free from the power of the kings.In 1789,when they wrote the Constitution for their new nation,they separated church and state so that there would never be a government-supported church.This greatly limited the power of the church.Also,in wri

4、ting the Constitution,they expressly forbade titles of nobility(贵族)to ensure that an aristocratic society would not develop.There would be no ruling class of nobility in the new nation.The historic decisions made by those first settlers have had a profound effect on the shaping of the American chara

5、cter.By limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy(贵族统治),they created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual.The United States came to be associated in their minds with the concept of individual freedom.This is probably the most

6、basic of all the American values.Scholars and outside observers often call this value individualism,but many Americans use the word freedom.Perhaps the word freedom is one of the most respected popular words in the United States today.A climate B concept C ensure D escape E establish F govern G prof

7、ound H succeeded I independence 无贵族社会 最初的殖民者到达北美大陆，为的是建立新的殖民地，摆脱存在于欧洲社会的各种桎梏。他们想逃避国王和政府、牧师和教会以及贵族阶层给他们的生活施加的控制。在很大程度上，他们获得了成功。1776 年，这些英国殖民者宣布他们从英国独立出来，并建立一个新的国家，即美利坚合众国。这样，他们就推翻了英国国王对殖民地的统治，并宣告权力将掌握在人民的手中。他们摆脱了国王的控制。在 1789 年，当他们为他们的新国家撰写宪法的时候，他们将教会和政府分离，这样就再也不会有政府支持的教会了。这很大地限制了教会的权力。同时，在撰写宪法时，他们明确地

8、禁止贵族头衔，从而确保社会不会发展成为一个贵族社会。新国家中将没有贵族统治阶级。那些最初的殖民者所作出的历史性决定对今日美国特征的形成有着深刻的影响。通过限制政府和教会的权力并消除形式上的贵族阶层，他们创造了一种注重个人的自由风气。在他们的头脑中，美国与个人自由的概念联系在了一起。这也许是所有美国价值观中最基本的一点。学者们和外国的观察家常常称这种价值观为个人主义，但许多美国人称之为自由。在今天的美国，自由这个词可能是最受尊重也是最流行的单词之一。难 句 解 析 1.The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to es

9、tablish colonies that were free from the controls that existed in European societies.【分析】多重复合句。其中包含两个定语从句，第一个 that 引导的修饰 colonies，第二个 that 引导的修饰 controls。2.In 1789,when they wrote the Constitution for their new nation,they separated church and state so that there would never be a government-supporte

10、d church.【分析】多重复合句。when 引导的从句作时间状语，so that 后接从句表结果。3.By limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy,they created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual.【分析】复合句。句首为由 by 引导的介词短语作状语，表方式，其中 limiting 和 eliminating 是并列关系，由 and 连接，where

11、引导定语从句修饰 a climate of freedom。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09 高频词汇 establish*/I9stblIS/vt.确定，证实；建立，创办【联想】e stabl(看作 stable 稳定的)ish(使)使稳定确定【引申】同根establishment n.建立，确立；机构同义set up 创立，建立【活用例句】The defense attorneys established the innocence of the accused.辩护律师证明被告是无罪的。escape*/I9skeIp/vi.逃跑；溢出，漏出 vt.逃避，避开 n.逃跑，逃避【联想

12、】es(off)cape(海角)离开海角逃跑【搭配】have an escape 逃走；make(good)escape(顺利)逃脱；narrow escape 九死一生，幸免于难【引申】同义avoid vt.避免flee v.逃走；逃避【活用例句】He is a desperate criminal willing to kill anyone to escape.他是个危险罪犯，为了逃脱可杀掉任何人。同义 flee /fli:/vi.逃走，逃掉 vt.逃离，避开，逃避【联想】看见要收费(fee)就逃走(flee)【搭配】flee in panic 吓得逃跑；be forced to fle

13、e the country 被迫逃往国外【活用例句】The customers fled from the bank when the alarm sounded.警铃响起，顾客们纷纷从银行逃走。succeed*/s5k9si:d/vi.成功；接着发生；继承 vt.接在后面；接替；继承【搭配】succeed to the throne 继承皇位；succeed sb as Prime Minister 继某人出任首相【活用例句】But for the help of their group,we would not have succeeded in the investigation.要不是

14、有他们小组的帮助，我们这次调查还没法取得成功呢。同根 successive /s5k9sesIv/a.接连的，连续的【搭配】set successive records 连续创造纪录【活用例句】It has rained for ten successive days and as a result many villages were flooded.已经连续下了 10 天雨，结果许多村庄都被淹了。independence*/8IndI9pend5ns/n.独立，自主，自立【词根】in(not)depend(依赖)ence 不依赖独立【搭配】independence from.脱离【引申】同

15、根independent a.独立自主的，不受约束的dependent a.依靠的，依赖的【活用例句】The country has made great advances since independence.独立以来，这个国家取得了巨大的进步。govern*/9g(f6)vn/vt.统治，治理，管理；支配，影响【搭配】govern his behavior 支配他的行为【引申】同根government n.政府；治理governor n.州长；主管同义rule v.统治，支配control vt.控制，支配【活用例句】They demand the right to govern them

16、selves.他们要求自治权。同义 regulate /9regjUleIt/vt.管制，控制；调节，校准；调整【词根】reg(统治，管理)ulate(做)【搭配】regulate ones conduct 节制个人的行为；regulate a clock 校准钟表【活用例句】The use of chemicals in food should be strictly regulated.在食品中使用化学品应受到严格控制。派生 regulation*/8regjU9leIS5n/n.规则，法令【搭配】keep to the regulations 遵守规则；laws and regulati

17、ons 法令【活用例句】From now on any violation of the regulation must be cruelly punished.今后任何违反秩序的行为会受到严厉惩罚。ensure*/In9SU5(r)/vt.保证，担保，确保【词根】en(使)sure(确信的)【引申】同根insure vt.确保；给上保险insurance n.保险assure vt.使确信，使放心同义pledge vt.&n.保证，誓言，许诺【活用例句】A letter of introduction will ensure you an interview.凭一封介绍信保准会接待你。同义

18、guarantee /8gr5n9ti:/vt.保证，担保 n.保证(书)【联想】guar(看作 guard 保卫)ant(蚂蚁)ee连小蚂蚁都保卫保证【搭配】be under guarantee 在保修期间；stand guarantee for.替担任保证人【阅读例句】I can almost guarantee that if you long for more energy,the problem is not with your body.我断定，如果你想要更多的力量，其问题不在于你的身体。06.12 profound /pr59faUnd/a.深度的，深切的；知识渊博的；见解深刻的

19、【词根】pro(前)found(创立)有超前创见性深远的【搭配】profound questions about life and death 生死方面的玄奥问题；profound insight 深邃的见解【引申】同义thoughtful a.沉思的，思考的；体贴的，关心的【阅读例句】The change poses profound questions for government and society,of course.这种改变自然而然给政府和社会带来深远的问题。02.1 climate /9klaImIt/n.气候，气候区；风气；气氛【搭配】the present politica

20、l climate 当前的政治气候；the current climate of opinion 目前的舆论倾向【活用例句】Britain has a temperate climate.英国气候温和。concept*/9k(e7)nsept/n.概念，观念；思想【搭配】the concept of social class 社会等级的概念；invent a concept 首创一个概念【活用例句】The concept of“environment”is certainly difficult and may even be misunderstood,but we have no hand

21、y substitute.“环境”这个概念的确很难理解，甚至还有可能被误解，但是我们手头没有现成的替代词来代替这个概念。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09 常用词汇 settler /9setl5(r)/n.移民，殖民者【搭配】white settlers in Africa 非洲的白人移民 同根 settle /9setl/vt.解决，安排，安放 vi.安家，安定短语【短语】settle down 定居，过安定的生活，平静下来，定下心来；settle for 勉强认可 settle in/into 在新居安顿下来，适应新环境(或新工作)；settle on/upon 选定，决定；set

22、tle up 付清(欠账等)，结清(账目)【听力例句】After leaving their homes,they did not settle down again,but spent their lives moving from one place to another.在离开家以后，他们并没有再次定居下来，而是用尽他们的一生迁移。01.1 declare /dI9kle5(r)/vt.宣告，声明；断言 vi.(for，against)表态【联想】de(加强)clare(看作 clear 清楚)说清楚宣布，声明【搭配】declare war on.向宣战；declare sb(to be

23、)innocent 宣布某人无罪；declare for/against the scheme 支持/反对计划。【活用例句】The policeman declared that the blow on the victims head must have been made from behind.该警察称受害人头部所受的击打一定来自后面。派生 declaration /8dekl59reISFn/n.宣布，宣告；宣言，声明(书)；申报【搭配】issue a declaration 发布宣言；a declaration of income 收益申报表【完形例句】One third have

24、no idea when the Declaration of Independence was signed.三分之一的人不知道独立宣言是在哪一年签署的。04.6 limit*/9lImIt/vt.限制，限定【搭配】limit carbon dioxide emissions from cars 限制汽车二氧化碳排放【引申】同根limitation n.限制；局限limited a.有限的【活用例句】The amount of money you have to spend will limit your choice.你要消费的金额限制你的选择。同根 preliminary /prI9lI

25、mIn5rI/a.预备的，初步的 n.常 pl.初步做法，起始行为【词根】pre(=before)limin(limit 限制)ary(的)在限制线之前的预备的【搭配】a preliminary trial 初审；preliminary remarks 开场白【活用例句】Preliminary arrangements have been made for the talks.会谈的准备工作已经就绪。title /9taItl/n.称号；头衔；爵位；权利，资格【谐音】“抬头”抬头看见标题标题【引申】同根titled a.有官衔的，有爵位的【活用例句】Do they have any title

26、 to this land?他们对这土地有所有权吗?同根 entitle /In9taItl/vt.给权利，给资格；给(书、文章等)题名【词根】en(使)title(题目，标题)给题名【搭配】be entitled to(do)sth 对享有权利，有(做某事)的资格权利【活用例句】This ticket entitles you to a free boat tour on the lake.凭此券你可免费在湖上乘小船游览。historic /hI9st(e7)rIk/a.历史上著名的，具有重大历史意义的【搭配】a historic monument 有历史意义的纪念碑【活用例句】The ar

27、ea is of special historic interest.这个地区有特别的历史意义。value*/9vlju:/n.价值，益处；有用性，重要性；行为准则 vt.尊重；评价【搭配】value him as a good friend 将他视为好友；value his advice 重视他的建议【活用例句】The property has been valued at over$2 million.这处房产估价为 200 多万元。Text 2 American Population The first census(人口调查)of the new nation,conducted in

28、 1790,counted about four million people,most of whom were white.Of the white citizens,more than 8 out of 10 traced their ancestry back to England.African-Americans made up a surprising 20 percent of the population,an all-time high(有史以来的最高纪录).There were close to 700,000 slaves and about 60,000“free N

29、egroes”.Only a few Native American Indians who paid taxes were included in the census count,but the total Native American population was probably about one million.It was the white population that had the greater numbers,the money,and the political power in the new nation,and therefore this majority

30、 soon defined what the dominant culture would be.At the time of the American Revolution,the white population was largely English in origin,Protestant,and middle class.Such Americans are sometimes referred to as WASPs(White AngloSaxon Protestants).Their characteristics became the standard for judging

31、 other groups.Those having a different religion(such as the Irish Catholics),or those speaking a different language(such as the Germans,Dutch,and Swedes),were in the minority and would be disadvantaged unless they became assimilated.In the late 1700s,this assimilation occurred without great difficul

32、ty.According to historians Allan Nevins and Henry Steele Commager,“English,Irish,Germans.Dutch,Swedish mingled and intermarried(通婚)with little thought of any difference.”The dominant American culture that grew out of the nations early history,then,was English-speaking,Western European,Protestant,and

33、 middle class in character.It was this dominant culture that established what became the traditional values,described by Detocqueville in the early 1830s.Immigrants with these characteristics were welcome,in part because Americans believed that these newcomers would probably give strong support to t

34、he basic values of the dominant culture such as freedom,equality of opportunity,and the desire to work hard for a higher material standard of living.A ancestry B character C characteristics D conducted E dominant F minority G occurred H origin I referred 美国人口 这个新国家的第一次人口普查是在 1790 年进行的，统计人数大约为四百万，其中大

35、多数是白人。这些白人公民每 10 个中就有 8 个人的祖先为英国人。非洲裔美国人占到总人口的 20，这是一个惊人的比例，也是有史以来的最高纪录。其中有将近 700,000 奴隶和大约 60,000 的“自由黑人”。只有少数缴税的美国土著印第安人在人口普查中被计算在内，而美国土著人口总数大约是一百万。这个新国家中，美国白人数量更多、有更多财富和更大的政治权力，因此这些人很快就决定了主导文化应该是什么样的。在美国革命期间，白人大多是有英国血统的人、新教徒和中产阶级。这些美国人有时被称作 WASPs(白人盎格鲁撒克逊新教徒)。他们的特征成了评价其他群体的标准。那些具有不同宗教信仰的人(如爱尔兰的天主

36、教徒)或那些讲不同语言的人(如德国人、荷兰人和瑞典人)占人口的少数，如果他们不被同化就会处于不利的地位。在 18 世纪后期，这种同化没有遭遇太大的困难就出现了。据历史学家艾伦内文斯和亨利斯梯尔柯梅杰记载：“英国人、爱尔兰人、德国人、荷兰人和瑞典人之间相互融合并相互通婚，丝毫也没有考虑到他们各自有什么不同。”因此，源自美国早期历史的美国主流文化是以讲英语、西欧人、新教徒和中产阶级为特征的。正是这种主流文化确立了19 世纪 30 年代德托克维尔描述的后来成为传统价值观的东西。有这些特征的移民是受欢迎的，部分原因是因为美国人认为这些新移民可能会强烈支持他们的主流文化中诸如自由和机会均等之类的基本价值

37、观，以及为一个更高的物质生活标准而努力工作的愿望。难 句 解 析 1.The first census of the new nation,conducted in 1790,counted about four million people,most of whom were white.【分析】复合句。其中 conducted in 1790 为过去分词短语作状语，修饰 census,whom 引导的非限制性定语从句修饰 four million people。2.It was the white population that had the greater numbers,the mo

38、ney,and the political power in the new nation,and therefore this majority soon defined what the dominant culture would be.【分析】并列复合句。therefore 为连接副词，第一个分句为强调句，强调句子主语，在第二个分句中 what 引导的从句作define 的宾语。3.Immigrants with these characteristics were welcome,in part because Americans believed that these newcom

39、ers would probably give strong support to the basic values of the dominant culture such as freedom,equality of opportunity,and the desire to work hard for a higher material standard of living.【分析】多重复合句。主句中 with 短语作后置定语，修饰 Immigrants，because 引导原因状语从句，其中 believed 后接宾语从句，the basic values 与 the desire 为

40、宾语从句中并列宾语。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09 高频词汇 conduct*/9k(e7)nd(f6)kt,-d5kt/vt.引导；进行，管理；指挥；传导；(oneself)(行为)表现；9k?nd?kt；n.举止；管理(方式)【词根】con(加强)duct(引导)引导，指挥【搭配】conduct an experiment 做实验；conduct oneself in a most gracious manner 表现得极为温文尔雅；conduct ones private affairs 处理私事；conduct electricity 导电【引申】同根conduction n

41、.传导conductor n.导体，指挥【活用例句】Today,corporations hardly ever introduce major new products without conducting elaborate market research.如今，公司在开发重要新产品之前总要先进行详细的市场调研。ancestry /9nsestrI,-sIs-/n.祖宗，祖先，列祖，列宗【搭配】have Scottish ancestry 祖籍苏格兰【引申】同根ancestor n.孀冢嫦龋辉停惹?【活用例句】Many of the early settlers in America ha

42、d English ancestry.许多早期美国移民的祖先都是英国人。dominant /9d(e7)mIn5nt/a.占优势的，支配的；居高临下的【词根】dom(统治)in(在里)ant(的)统治的【引申】同根 dominate v.在占上风，支配domination n.支配，控制同缀共享形容词后缀-ant brilliant a.灿烂的，闪耀的【活用例句】My parents have been the dominant influence in my life.父母对我一生影响很大。同根 dominate*/9d(e7)mIneIt/vt.支配，统治；在中占首要地位；耸立于 vi.处

43、于支配地位【词根】dom(统治)inate(动词后缀)【阅读例句】There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what its like to work in a field dominated by men.在我的生活中，有段时间人们经常问在男人主导的领域内工作是什么样子。07.6 派生 domination /8d(e7)mI9neISFn/n.统治，控制，支配【词根】是 dominate 的名词形式【阅读例句】Just five one-hundredths of an inch t

44、hick,light golden in color and with a perfect“saddle curl,”the Lay potato chip seems an unlikely weapon for global domination.乐事薯片只有 0.05 英寸厚，浅浅的金黄色，呈完美的马鞍状；看起来并不像是一种能主宰全球的食品。05.12 origin*/9(e7)rIdZIn/n.起源，来源；出身，血统【词根】ori(begin 开始)gin 事物的开端来源【搭配】the origin of quarrel 争吵的起因；the origin(s)of civilizati

45、on 文明的起源；words of Latin origin 出自拉丁文的词；a man of humble origin 出身寒微的人【引申】同根original a.原始的，独创的 n.原物，原作originally ad.最初，原先originate vt.引起；创办 vi.起源，发生【活用例句】The Origin of Species was one of the most important books published during the 19th century.物种起源是 19 世纪出版的最重要的著作之一。refer*/rI9f(ae):(r)/vi.(to)涉及，提到，

46、谈到；指的是#09 vt.引参考(或查询)；求助于【词根】re(再)fer(带来)再次带来提交，参考【搭配】refer to(him)as(doctor Li)把(他)称作(李医生)，把当作；refer to the problem of pollution 谈污染问题【活用例句】I refer specifically to permanent residents,in contradiction to temporary visitors.我是专指永久居民而言，以区别临时访客。characteristic /8krIkt59rIstIk/n.特性，特征#09 a.特有的，典型的【词根】来自

47、 character(特性)istic(的)【搭配】be characteristic of.所独有的特征，有的特色【阅读例句】On the other hand,fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages.但对于所有年龄段的人来说，患流感后的典型特征就是发烧。05.1 minority /maI9n(e7)rItI,mI-/n.少数，少数派；少数民族【词根】来自 minor(较少的)ity(名词后缀)【搭配】minority population 少数民族人口数量【活用例句】Only a minori

48、ty of the class voted for the plan.班里只有少数学生投票赞成这项计划。occur*/59k(ae):(r)/vi.发生，出现，存在；被想起，被想到【词根】oc cur(run 跑)跑过去看发生了什么事发生【搭配】occur to sb 被想到，出现在头脑中【引申】同根occurrence n.发生的事情，事件；发生，出现【活用例句】Techniques for promoting sleep would involve learning to control both mind and body so that sleep can occur.促进睡眠的技巧在

49、于控制身心以使睡意出现。同 义 巧 辨#09take place,happen,chance,occur 都含“发生”的意思。take place 指“发生事先计划或预想到的事”；happen 为常用词语，指“一切客观事物或情况偶然或未能预见地发生”；chance 指“偶然发生”、“碰巧”；occur 属正式用语，指“按计划使某事或效果发生”，通常所指的时间和事件都比较确定，在以具体事物、事件作主语时，可与 happen 互换。character /9krIkt5(r)/n.性格，品质，品德；性质，特性；人物，角色；(书写或印刷)符号，汉字【联想】character(看作 actor 演员)演

50、员刻画人物性格惟妙惟肖【短语】in character(与自身特性)相符；out of character(与自身特性)不相符【阅读例句】Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall,I offered suggestions for characters,conflicts and endings for her tales.我告诉自己，我只是作为有经验的作家引导一个年轻的作家入门，接着我就为她故事中的人物、冲突和结尾提了建议。07.12 下面我们