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UNIT 3
Text A
PRE-READING TASK
Exercise 1
Before reading the passage, think about the question.
What would you feel in times of crisis? Try to use some of the words given to describe your feeling when you are facing a crisis.
depressed troubled
anxious hopeless
determined challenging
confident cheerful
strong discouraged
hopeful courageous
Now read the passage and try to find out what the author thinks we should do in the face of a crisis.
Coping with Crisis
1 If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and, when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." Then repeat to yourself the most comforting of all words, "This too shall pass."
2 To forgive oneself in the face of a devastating experience is perhaps the most difficult of life's challenges. Most of us find it much easier to forgive others.
3 In many instances we can't control what happens to us, but we can control our reactions to what happens to us. We can stay down for the count and be carried out of the ring, or we can pull ourselves back to our feet. If we are victimized by others, we must refuse to give them the power to break our spirit, make us physically ill, perhaps even shorten our lives. Most doctors will tell you that worry, anxiety, tension and anger can make you sicker than a virus.
4 The expression "nervous breakdown" suggests that nerves have broken down, but organically the nerves are healthy. The problem is purely emotional. A doctor on the staff of the Mayo Clinic has said the majority of patients in hospital beds today are there because of illnesses that were psycho-generated. This means the sickness was triggered by an unresolved problem.
5 I believe in blind faith. I have known people who have suffered deep personal tragedies, and this faith has helped them. But I also believe in the efficacy of positive action to overcome grief. Time is a healer, but those who help time by using it wisely and well make a more rapid adjustment.
6 Grief, in part, is self-pity turned inside out. The widow who cries, "He was everything to me. How can I go on without him?" is crying for herself, not for him. The mourner who refuses to let go of his grief eventually isolates himself from his friends. The world may stop for a few hours, or perhaps a few days, to hold a hand or to wipe away a tear, but friends and relatives have problems of their own. Life goes on -- and those who refuse to go on with it are left alone to wallow in their misery.
7 The best prescription for a broken heart is activity. I don't mean plunging into a social whirl or running off on trips. Too many people who try to escape by doing just that succeed only in taking their troubles with them. The most useful kind of activity involves doing something to help others. I have told thousands of depressed people, "Enough of this breast-beating. No matter how bad things are with you, there is someone who is worse off -- and you can help him."
8 Most touching to me is the heroism, the courage and faith of the average people in the world. Often readers who write about a problem will add something about their personal lives. I am moved by the magnificent people who write such lines as, "My husband lost his sight shortly after we married, but we manage beautifully." Or, "I've had two operations for cancer, but I know I'll be able to attend my son's graduation in June and I'm so thankful for that."
9 No one knows why life must be so punishing to some of God's finest creatures. Perhaps it is true that everything has a price and we must sacrifice something precious to gain something else. The poets and philosophers say adversity, sorrow and pain give our lives an added dimension. Those who suffer deeply touch life at every point; they drain the cup to the dregs while others sip only the bubbles on top. Perhaps no man can touch the stars unless he has known the depths of despair -- and fought his way back.
New Words
humanity
n. the human race 人，人类
devastating
a. 毁灭性的，令人泄气的
challenge
n. 1. 挑战
2. 要求，需要
v. 1. 提出挑战
2. 对…表示异议
victimize
v. to cause (someone) to suffer unfairly 使受害，使牺牲
shorten
v. to make or become short 缩短，减少
tension
n. 1. (a feeling of) nervous anxiety, worry or pressure （精神上的）紧张
2. the degree of tightness 拉紧，绷紧
virus
n. 病毒
breakdown
n. a sudden weakening or loss of power of the body or mind 崩溃
nerve
n. 1. 神经
2. courage 勇气，力量
organic
a. 1. 器官的，器质的
2. of living things 有机的 organically
ad. 器官方面地，器质方面地
clinic
n. (a part of) a hospital or institution where medical advice and treatment are given 诊所，（医院的）门诊部
generate
v. to cause to exist; produce 产生，造成
psycho-generated
a. caused by (the illness of) the mind 由心理（或精神）造成的
trigger
v. to start 引起，发动
resolve
v. to settle or clear up (a difficulty)解决
unresolved
a. that has not been or is not settled 未解决的，未解答的
efficacy
n. 功效，功力
grief
n. deep or great sorrow 悲伤，悲痛
healer
n. a person or thing that causes (something) to become healthy 治疗物，医治者
widow
n. a woman whose husband is dead 寡妇
mourner
n. a person who attends a funeral or feels sorrow 送葬者，哀悼者
wallow
v. 沉迷，纵乐
miseryn. great suffering 痛苦, 不幸
prescription
n. 1. 解救方法
2. a doctor's written order for a medicine (or treatment)处方
whirl
n. 1. 一连串纷至沓来的事情，接连不断的活动
2. 旋转（物）
breast
n. 胸，胸部
breast-beating
n. （悲痛、遗憾、不幸等）感情的强烈表露
heroism
n. the quality of being a hero 英雄品质，英勇
magnificent
a. 伟大的，高尚的，宏伟的
graduation
n. 1. a ceremony at which degrees are conferred 毕业典礼
2. 毕业
thankful
a. 欣慰的，感激的
sacrifice
v. to give up or lose, esp. for some good purpose 牺牲，献出
precious
a. of great value and beauty 贵重的，宝贵的
poet
n. a writer of poems 诗人
philosopher
n. a person studying or teaching philosophy 哲学家
adversity
n. bad fortune; trouble 厄运，逆境
sorrow
n. sadness 悲伤
dimension
n. 1. 范围，方面
2. 尺寸，尺度
drain
v. 1. 喝干
2.（液体）排出，放出
dreg
n. （常用复数）残渣，渣滓
sip
v. to drink in very small quantities 小口地喝，抿
bubble
n. (in liquid) a ball of air or gas that rises to the surface 气泡，泡沫
Phrases and Expressions
hold one's head high
昂首，不垂头丧气
look...in the eye(s)
正视，直视
in the face of
在…面前
down for the count
（拳击手）被击倒由裁判数10判定胜负的
to one's feet
起来
turn inside out
使混乱，混淆，彻底查看，把…翻过来
isolate...from
使隔离，分隔开
hold/a someone's hand
给某人（道义上的）支持
wipe away
擦去，去除
run off
迅速离开，逃走
be worse off
更加糟糕，更加贫穷
at every point
在每一方面
drain to the dregs
喝干
Proper Name
the Mayo Clinic
梅奥诊所
Text B
PRE-READING TASK
Exercise 1
Before reading the passage, think over the questions.
1. How many decibels（分贝）do you think may cause hearing damage?
2. What sort of noise you personally dislike most?
3. Are there any sorts of noise that you enjoy?
Now compare your answers with your neighbours'.
Millions of Britons Endure Life with
Noisy Neighbours
Many people believe they are powerless to act, but environmental health officers have a battery of legislation at their disposal.
1 Booming music, banging doors and chatter from the house next door, and traffic noise are blighting the lives of up to 18 million people according to a survey published today.
2 Environment researchers found that nearly a third of Britons claim their home life is being spoiled by noise from neighbours, road traffic, aircraft and trains. Their findings indicate that the levels of noise pollution are rising, particularly from "amplified music, noisy animals and people's voices".
3 The study, which will be presented to a national society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection Seminar in Birmingham, questioned 2373 adults from randomly selected households in 1991. The report claims official statistics on noise complaints greatly underestimate the harm it can cause to people's lives and health.
4 Colin Grimwood, a researcher with the Environment Department's Building Research Establishment, said that between 60 and 70 per cent of people who endure noise from neighbours never complain. A small number approach neighbours directly and some consider direct and violent measures. Only 16 per cent will contact a council's environmental health officer, who may have powers to end the misery.
5 The survey found that nearly 30 per cent of those questioned claimed they were adversely affected by traffic noise, 22 per cent objected to noise from neighbours, 16 per cent suffered from aircraft noise and 4 per cent from train noise.
6 A similar survey carried out in the late 1980s found that 11 per cent of people were affected by traffic and 14 per cent by noisy neighbours.
7 My Grimwood said people reacted to noise, particularly from neighbours, in a variety of ways. These included irritation, anger, a desire to move house, fatigue and depression.
8 Many of those questioned said telephone conversations, reading and sleeping were disrupted by noises from next door.
9 Voices were the most frequently reported sounds from next door. Ten per cent of those surveyed said they could hear them and more than half objected.
10 Mr Grimwood said the impact of a noise depended on how loud it was, how long it lasted and the type of noise. For example, neighbours laughing were often said to be enjoyable sounds, while heavy traffic and emotionally charged or frightening noises such as arguments or children crying triggered stressful or violent moods.
11 Sounds that were unpredictable, perceived as inconsiderate or unfamiliar also trigger hostile or distressed reactions. These included alarms, building work with no foreseeable date of completion, engines being revved and foxes crying.
12 Howard Price, of the Institute of Environmental Health Officers in London, said many people wrongly believed they were powerless to act.
13 He said action could be taken under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and laws that came into force in January covering nuisance noise on streets.
14 Mr Price said people could cause a noise problem not because they were unreasonable but because the building in which they lived had poor sound insulation.
New Words
endure
v. to put up with 忍受
powerless
a. without power; unable 无能为力的，无力量的
battery
n. a set of similar things 一系列，一组
legislation
n. a body of laws 法律，法规
booming
a. （声音等）低沉有回响的，隆隆作响的
bang
v. to knock, beat, or push forcefully 砰地敲，击
chatter
n. 喋喋不休，震颤声
blight
v. to be a bad influence on or ruin 破坏，摧残
spoil
v. 1. to cause to be useless or unsatisfactory 毁掉，损害
2. 宠坏，溺爱
aircraft
n. an aeroplane 飞机
finding
n. (usu. pl.) what is learnt as the result of inquiry （常用复数）调查（或研究）的结果
amplify
v. to increase the strength of, esp. sound 放大（声音等），增强
seminar
n. 研讨会，讨论会
adult
n. a fully grown person 成年人
randomly
ad. 随机地，任意地
complaint
n. a statement of dissatisfaction 抱怨
underestimate
v. to have too low an opinion of the degree or number of 低估
harm
n. damage 危害
approach
v. 1. to speak to, esp. about something for the first time商量
2. to come near(er) to 接近
n. 1. 靠近，临近
2. 方法，态度
violent
a. using great force 强烈的
adversely
ad. 不利地，有害地
irritation
n. 生气，恼怒
fatigue
n. the condition of being very tired 疲劳，劳累
depression
n. a feeling of sadness and hopelessness 沮丧，消沉
disrupt
v. to bring or throw into disorder 扰乱，使中断
impact
n. a strong influence 影响，作用
stressful
a. 紧张的，压力重的
mood
n. a state of mind and feelings 情绪，精神状态
unpredictable
a. that can not be predicted 不可预测的，易变的
perceive
v. to become aware of, esp. through the eyes or the mind 感知，感觉
considerate
a. thoughtful (of the needs of others) 考虑周到的
inconsiderate
a. (of a person )thoughtless 考虑不周的
hostile
a. unfriendly; showing dislike 怀敌意的，不友善的
distress
v. to cause great pain to 使痛苦
distressed
a. 痛苦的
foreseeable
a. that can be known in advance 可预见到的
completion
n. the state of being complete or the act of completing 完成
engine
n. 1. 器械，机械
2. 引擎，发动机
rev
v. to increase the speed of (an engine) 加速
fox
n. 狐
nuisance
a. 讨厌的
n. a thing, a person or an act that causes trouble 讨厌的事，讨厌的人（或行为）
insulation
n. 隔音，隔热
Phrases and Expressions
at someone's disposal
任某人处理，由某人支配
up to
多达
object to
反对
react to
对…作出反应，对…起反应
come into force
开始生效，开始实施
Proper Names
Briton
大不列颠人，英国人
Nick Nuttall
尼克.纳托尔（人名）
Clean Air and Environmental Protection Seminar
清洁空气和环境保护研讨会
Birmingham
伯明翰（英国英格兰中部城市）
Colin Grimwood
科林.格里姆伍德（人名）
the Environment Department's Building Research Establishment
环境部建筑研究机构
the Institute of Environmental Health Officers
环境卫生官员协会
Howard Price
霍华德.普赖斯（人名）
the Environmental Protection Act 1990
1990年环境保护法
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