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 (废除黑奴制法案): 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)

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. • 具有讽刺意味的是,常常是穷人付出最多. • 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. • 种族歧视 • 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: • 当地政府还没有选定修建这座摩天大楼的地点. • 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: • 两国同意推进两国的经济往来 • 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: • 这个小男孩被窗上的蜘蛛网给吓着了. • 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. • 她授权其同伴代表她进行谈判. • 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. • 月亮在浓云后面若隐若现 • 同龄人 • children who are easily influenced by their peers. • 易受同龄人影响的孩子

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逮捕了一些介入911事件的恐怖分子. • 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没有任何的宗教信仰. • Tom doesn't have any religious convictions.

31. Language Study • terminal: • 终点站, 终端, 接线端 • adj. 末期, 每期的 • Examples: • terminal stages of cancer • 癌症晚期 • 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 • 政府决定对红酒和烈酒加税. • 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. • 公共交通系统 • inland transport • 内陆运输 • 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. • 财政困难这一事实是无法隐瞒的。

35. Language Study • abolish: • end the existence of (a law, custom, system, etc.) • Examples: • 这些迷信做法应尽早取消。 • 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. • 雨迫使我们待在家里。 • The rain compelled us to stay indoors.

37. Text Analysis • 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 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. • 我们打算去. 他们要去. 你计划让她去 • The book is intended for beginners. • 本书是为初学者编写的。

42. Language Study • (line 9) … has lived on through the character… • live on: • To remain in human memory: • 留在记忆中： • an event that lives on in our minds. • 留存于我们脑海的事件

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: • 预定计划安排或计划一定的时间或日期： • He is scheduled to arrive Monday. • To make up a schedule for:制定计划： • I haven't scheduled the coming week yet. • 我还没有为下周制定计划 • n. • ahead of schedule 比时间表提前 • on schedule 准时 • behind schedule 落后于时间表

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. • 考试不能促使学生去追求更多的知识。

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.