Unit 8 Text A

1. 21st Century College English: Book 3 Unit 8 Text A The Highs of Low Technology

2. Unit 8: Text A • Lead-in Activities • Text Organization • Reading andWritingSkills • Language Points • Guided Practice • Assignment The Highs of Low Technology

3. Lead-in Activities Questions for Discussion 1. How has technology changed our life? (by presenting some pictures concerning the high technology. ) 2. What do you think of the change?

4. Text Organization The structure of Text A I. Different attitudes towards the old-fashioned bicycle Para. 1 II. People’s warm reactions to the old bicycle Para. 2 III. The author’s unsuccessful efforts to try to interpret people’s reactions Para. 3 IV. Analysis of the advantages of the old bicycle Paras. 4-6 V. we should respect things that are simple and manageable Para. 7

5. Different attitudes: I like my wonderful bike: I have confidence in it and it gives me power. My family refers to it as “a piece of junk”, which can be found in the dump or at garage sales. Text Organization I. The problem with the author’s old-fashioned bicycle.

6. The bike has become a real conversation piece. There are many comments on it. People just feel a bit curious about the old bicycle that’s familiar to everyone but is now rarely seen. Even motorcycle-riders suggest she protect her hands while riding. Text Organization II. What are the comments made by other people?

7. It seems to be a puzzle. The author starts to ask a question and speculates about two possible answers to the puzzle. Are these people admiring her? Or maybe they just feel genuinely curious as if they were confronted with a dinosaur bone. The author isn’t sure what or why it is so as no one thinks she is crazy to ride an old-fashioned bike in an age of high technology. Text Organization III. How to interpret these comments?

8. The explanation of the puzzle—advantages of the old bicycle as seen by the author: Text Organization IV. What is the possible answer to the puzzle? Exercise XIII

9. We should respect things that are simple and manageable. The old bicycle, the piece of “junk”, has its own merit: to allow people the opportunity to relax and to escape what they don’t understand. Text Organization V. What can we conclude from the story of the old bicycle?

10. she feels relaxed, coasting along the street and feeling the wind on her face Text Organization Part 4 The advantages of the old bicycle: 1. Although the bicycle is only representative of a world gone by and is not speedy, __________________. (Para. 4) 2. Modern inventions made the author feel inadequate, not secure or comfortable while __________________. (Para. 5) 3. Even though the author could eventually accept the so-called conveniences as part of life, she could never be convinced of their merits. However, the old bike ____________________. (Para. 6)

11. the old bicycle gives her a sense of control Text Organization Part 4 The advantages of the old bicycle: 1. Although the bicycle is only representative of a world gone by and is not speedy, __________________. (Para. 4) 2. Modern inventions made the author feel inadequate, not secure or comfortable while __________________. (Para. 5) 3. Even though the author could eventually accept the so-called conveniences as part of life, she could never be convinced of their merits. However, the old bike ____________________. (Para. 6)

12. the old bicycle gives her a sense of control Text Organization Part 4 The advantages of the old bicycle: 1. Although the bicycle is only representative of a world gone by and is not speedy, __________________. (Para. 4) 2. Modern inventions made the author feel inadequate, not secure or comfortable while __________________. (Para. 5) 3. Even though the author could eventually accept the so-called conveniences as part of life, she could never be convinced of their merits. However, the old bike ____________________. (Para. 6)

13. Writing and Reading Skills 1) Question-answer technique Present a puzzle of your won, then use the question/ speculation/ answer to ponder it . Take Text A for example: The first tow paragraphs build a puzzle: the old bike is taken as a piece of junk but it receives warm comments from the people. → In Para.3 the author asks herself a question and forms tow possible answers in order to solve the puzzle. → In Paras.4-6 she presents the answer that she likes best. 2) Making predictions by anticipating the general direction the author is going.

14. Language Points Text A: The Highs of Low Technology By Johanne Mednick

15. Language Points The Highs of Low Technology By Johanne Mednick 1 I have a wonderful bicycle. My family refers to it as “that piece of junk” — an ancient piece of metal, the likes of which can be found in the dump or, if you’re lucky, at garage sales. But I have confidence in my bike. It gives me power, and I cherish its simplicity.

16. Language Points 2What intrigues me, in this age of technological innovation (which is nowhere more apparent than in the bicycle world), is the number of people who stop me and comment on my bike. It’s a real conversation piece. “Where did you get that thing?”“I haven’t seen one of those in ages.”“What a great bike.”I get all kinds of comments — the best one being from a motorcycle gang who cornered me while I was locking it up. They politely suggested that I should wear gloves while riding to protect my hands. Maybe I should also put on a leather jacket.

17. Language Points 3 But really, what is it that people are admiring? Are they admiring me for resisting the lure of mass bicycle consumerism? I must look like an eyesorepedaling behind my family, who all ride the latest model of mountain bike. (To them, I’m some sort of odd person, an embarrassment not fit to be on the road.) On the other hand, maybe people are just genuinely curious, as they would be if confronted with a dinosaur bone. I never get the feeling that they think I’m crazy for riding something so old when I could be fussing withgears and having a presumably easier time of things. My bike seems to touch a sensitive chord in people, and I’m not quite sure what or why that is.

18. Language Points 4 Perhaps my bike is representative of a world gone by: the world before gimmicks and gadgets, accessories and attachments. A time when people thought in terms of settling into a cushioned seat, stopping the movement with their heel and travelling a bit slower than we are travelling now. My bike is certainly not built for speed, but who needs speed when I can coast along the streets, hold my head high and deliciously feel the wind on my face? My bike is built for taking time. It makes people feel relaxed.

19. Language Points 5 When I’m riding my bike, I feel as though I have control. And I don’t feel that way about most things these days. I don’t deny that my computer and my microwave make my life a lot easier. I use these things, but they also make me feel rather small and, in a strange way, inadequate. What if I press the wrong button? What if something goes wrong? Maybe if I learned to understand these appliances I’d feel better — more secure about my relationship with technology. But frankly, I’m not comforted by manuals and how-to courses. Of course there are always “experts”I could go to who seem to know everything about anything. Relatives, friends, salespeople—people who seem at ease with all the latest inventions and who delight in ingenuity.

20. Language Points 6 I just don’t get excited over the idea of yet another thing I could do if I pulled the right lever or set the right program. Nervous and unsure in the beginning, I eventually adapt to these so-called conveniences and accept them as a part of life, but I’m not entirely convinced of their merit. I hunger for simplicity and I have a sneaking suspicion that many people feel the same way. That’s why they admire my bike. It comforts them and gives them a sense of something manageable, not too complicated.

21. Language Points 7 I’m not suggesting that we all go back to a pioneer-village attitude. But I do think it’s important to respect that which is simple and manageable—no doubt difficult in a time when more means better and new means best. I’m proud that my “piece of junk”makes me and others feel good. It allows me the opportunity to relax and, when I’m heading down the road, to escape what I don’t understand.

22. refers to it as — speak about sb./sth. as ...; call sb. Something • e.g. • He always refers to his wife as “the old woman”. • This kind of art is often referred to as “minimal art” （极简抽象艺术）.

23. the likes of which — sth./sb. of the same kind • e.g. • He was a very great actor — we won’t seethe likes of himagain. • You don’t know what loss of employment means to the likes of me.

24. garage sales —宅前出售(在出售人住所进行的清宅旧货出售) A garage sale in American English is a private sale of used furniture, household appliances, personal articles, clothing, tools, and other items, held in the garage or other part of a seller’s home. Things that you get at garage sales are usually very cheap and of no great value.

25. I cherish its simplicity. — I appreciate its simplicity. Cherish is, however, different from appreciate in that it implies a special love and care, while appreciate often connotes understanding and admiration. • e.g. • She cherishes her children above all. • We all appreciate beautiful things.

26. intrigues — vt. excite interest or curiosity 激起…的兴趣 • e.g. • Anything colorful intrigued the little boy. • Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

27. nowhere — ad. not anywhere; in/at/to no place • e.g. • My keys are nowhere to be found. • He went nowhere yesterday.

28. conversation piece —sth. that stimulates conversation between people 话题；可作话题的东西 • A conversation piece is an unusual object which causes people to start talking. • e.g. • Her collection of Victorian dolls provided a conversation piece for her guests.

29. cornered — get sb. into a place or situation difficult to escape 缠住某人; 将某人逼入困境 • e.g. • The police pursued and cornered the escaped prisoner. • He once cornered me (= talked to me alone and made it difficult for me to get away from him) at a party and bored me to death about his difficult childhood.

30. locking it up — fasten sth. with a lock锁住 • e.g. • Although the jewels were locked upin a strongbox (保 险箱), the thieves stole them without any difficulty. • It’s cruel to keep the dog locked up all day.

31. lure — n. attraction; temptation 诱惑 — vt. attract, tempt 引诱，诱惑 • e.g. • She was attracted to Hollywood by the lure of the silver screen. • I know I shouldn’t eat chocolate cake when I’m dieting, but I find it hard to resist the temptation. • lure sb. away from his duty Compare lure and temptation: Lure suggests something that always attracts and often deceives yet does not necessarily leads one into evil or danger, while temptation often suggests the desire to do or have, through pleasure or gain, something one knows one should not do or have.

32. consumerism — n. the consumption of goods and services消费 • Consumerism is the state of advanced industrial society in which a lot of goods are bought and sold, or (disapproving) the state in which too much attention is given to buying and owning things. • e.g. • He disliked Christmas time and its rampant (发疯似的) consumerism.

33. eyesore — n. something ugly to look at • e.g. • They think the new library building is aneyesore.

34. pedal —v. 骑(自行车) 踩动踏板 —n.踏板 • e.g. • Anne pedaled(her bike) to school. • In the cities many people nowpedalaround on bicyclesinstead of polluting the environment by using cars. • Bicycles have twopedals, one for each foot. • This sewing machine is operated by a footpedal.

35. genuinely —ad. authentically; truly • e.g. • I’m genuinely sorry for what I said. • These will be the first genuinely free elections in the country.

36. fuss with — concern oneself with sth. unimportant（因小事而）惴惴不安 • e.g. • It irritates me the way she’s always fussing with her hair!

37. gears — n. set of wheels with teeth around the edges used to control the speed of a machine or vehicle,齿轮；排档 • e.g. • A piece of gum fell onto the gears, bringing the machine to a halt. • While driving up the hill, Anne shifted to a lower gear.

38. touch a sensitive chord — call up someone’s feelings; affect or stir someone’s emotions • e.g. • The issue of food safety touches a chord with almost everyone. • The report touched a chord in the American people. • The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.

39. is representative of — being an example or type of (a certain class or kind of thing) 代表…的 • e.g. • Are your opinions representative of all the workers here? • Is a questionnaire (调查问卷) answered by 500 people truly representative of national opinion?

40. gimmick — n. an unusual action, object or device which is intended to attract attention or publicity (为引人注意而搞的)小革新，小发明；巧妙的小玩意儿 • e.g. • I bought a gimmick that purifies (净化) water straight from the tap.

41. accessories — n. (oft. pl.) an extra part which makes sth. More effective or beautiful 附属物；附件 • e.g. • What accessories are available on this automobile? • She wore a green wool suit with matching accessories (= shoes, hat, bag, etc).

42. attachment — n. something that is fixed to something else附属物 • e.g. • This food processor has a special attachment for grinding coffee.

43. think in terms of — give primary consideration to sth./doing sth.; emphasize sth./doing sth. in one’s thinking; have sth./doing sth. as one’s priority首先考虑(做)某事; 认为(做)某事是最首要的 • e.g. • You should be thinking in terms of paying off your debts. • Heis thinking in terms of leaving.

44. cushion — n. a soft pillow or pad to rest on; protection from harm, esp. from impact 软垫；缓冲 — vt. reduce the force of; protect from hardship or sudden change • e.g. • My rocking chair has a soft cushion. • The three goals we scored in the first half give us a useful cushion against defeat.

45. coast along — move along or make progress without much effort • e.g. • coast along on a bicycle (= ride along without pedaling) • While I struggled and labored, my sister just coasted along with top grades in all subjects.

46. deliciously — ad. very pleasantly美美地；怡人地 • e.g. • As she dived into the pool, the water felt deliciously cool on her skin.

47. taking (one’s) time —use as much time as is needed; do not hurry • e.g. • Take your time — there’s no rush. • He’s certainly taken his time in answering my letter.

48. deny —vt. 1. declare untrue; refuse to accept as true 2. refuse to give or allow • e.g. • The students all denied cheating on the test. • He denied the news to be true. • Neil denies that he broke the window, but I’m sure he did. • No one should be denied a good education. • She denied her son nothing.

49. feel small — feel ridiculous, ashamed or humiliated (Also:look small) • e.g. • Talking to him makes me feel small. • He is always trying to make me look small in front of my girlfriend.

50. feel inadequate — feel lack of abilities or confidence • e.g. • He makes me feel totally inadequate. • I always feel inadequate when faced by a difficult problem.