Lesson 20 Today’s Dropouts

Distant Education College, Jilin University Lesson 20 Today’s Dropouts 1.Warm-up Questions 2.Background Knowledge 3.Text Analysis 4.Exercises 5.Questions For Discussion Extensive Reading II

Distant Education College, Jilin University Warm-up Questions 1.What do dropouts mean in this article? 2.Why do people quit their jobs? 3.How do the dropouts survive? 4.What would Sam say about these dropouts if he were alive? Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University Background Knowledge 1.Dropouts: This article discusses one kind of “dropout”: the person who decides that working every day is like being on a treadmill. You never get to any place. This kind of dropout exists in the United States, but less so than in the 1970s. Because of the disillusionment as a result of the Vietnam War and because of a growing “Back to the Land” movement, many young and not-so-young people dropped out of the larger society. They retreated to farms and tried to live without the stress and the prosperity of urban life. More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Background Knowledge Recently, the trend has been in the other direction. Young people who graduate from college and perhaps go on to law, medical, or business school are very ambitious. Thus they are willing to work over sixty hours a week — to impress the boss and make a lot of money. So they have no time for family or friends. Only work is important. They become “workaholics”. Perhaps someday the pendulum will swing back again. More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Background Knowledge 2.the 1930s: The 1930s refers to the Great Depression, a period of US and world economic depression during the 1930s. This was a period of high unemployment, failing businesses and banks and falling agricultural prices. Millions of workers were out of work during the Great Depression (some 16 million in the U.S. alone in 1933). There were many causes of the depression: easy credit had led to widespread stock speculation; the world had not recovered completely from WWI; US economic policies under President Hoover had created domestic overproduction and less foreign trade. Franklin Roosevelt, elected president in 1932, brought in NEW DEAL measures, but full recovery of the economy only occurred with the beginnings of defense spending immediately prior to WWII. Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University Questions for Discussion 1.What’s your attitude towards work? Do you think hard work can bring happiness? Explain your reasons. 2.Do you enjoy studying? Describe some ways in which you could make your study more interesting or enjoyable. Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University Exercises 1. True/False Questions 2. Multiple-choice Questions 3. Translation Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.People drop out of the working world for various reasons. 2.Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems. 3.Many dropouts have a hard time getting odd jobs to do. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.People drop out of the working world for various reasons. T 2.Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems. 3.Many dropouts have a hard time getting odd jobs to do. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.People drop out of the working world for various reasons. T 2.Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems. F 3.Many dropouts have a hard time getting odd jobs to do. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 1.People drop out of the working world for various reasons. T 2.Most of the dropouts are well-off. They can do whatever they want to do after they quit their jobs without worrying about financial problems. F 3.Many dropouts have a hard time getting odd jobs to do. F More

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 4.Sam never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. 5.In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people. 6.Sam worked so hard that he never could spare time for a holiday. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 4.Sam never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. T 5.In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people. 6.Sam worked so hard that he never could spare time for a holiday. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 4.Sam never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. T 5.In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people. T 6.Sam worked so hard that he never could spare time for a holiday. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University True/False Questions 4.Sam never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. T 5.In the past a man who did not want to work would be looked down upon by people. T 6.Sam worked so hard that he never could spare time for a holiday. F Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 1.In the last fifteen or twenty years, people like George have chosen to drop out of the working world because _______. A)they have earned enough money to spend for the rest of their lives B)they are not well paid at work C)they want to live a more leisurely life D)all of them have work that is too demanding Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 1.In the last fifteen or twenty years, people like George have chosen to drop out of the working world because _______. C A)they have earned enough money to spend for the rest of their lives B)they are not well paid at work C)they want to live a more leisurely life D)all of them have work that is too demanding More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 2.After leaving her position the thirty-five-year-old woman felt _______. A) relieved and peaceful, though worried about her security B)bored, without friends and companions C)that she needed another job D)the pressures and burdens of life Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 2.After leaving her position the thirty-five-year-old woman felt _______. A A) relieved and peaceful, though worried about her security B)bored, without friends and companions C)that she needed another job D)the pressures and burdens of life More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 3.According to the text, people would probably not drop out of the work force if they _______. A)often worry about their work B)work without any complaints C)find it very easy to do their jobs D)don’t mind being controlled by others Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 3.According to the text, people would probably not drop out of the work force if they _______. B A)often worry about their work B)work without any complaints C)find it very easy to do their jobs D)don’t mind being controlled by others More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 4.According to Sam, a man’s value lies in ________. A)reaching a higher position in society B)enjoying full freedom and independence C)working hard and having a good relationship with his community D)earning money and sending his children to colleges and universities Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 4.According to Sam, a man’s value lies in ________. C A)reaching a higher position in society B)enjoying full freedom and independence C)working hard and having a good relationship with his community D)earning money and sending his children to colleges and universities More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 5.Which of the following statements might cause Sam and George to argue? A)To be either a shopkeeper or a geologist will give one satisfaction. B)Happiness can be obtained only through hard work. C)Dropouts live a happier life than anyone else. D)Dropouts live a miserable life if they have no financial security. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 5.Which of the following statements might cause Sam and George to argue? B A)To be either a shopkeeper or a geologist will give one satisfaction. B)Happiness can be obtained only through hard work. C)Dropouts live a happier life than anyone else. D)Dropouts live a miserable life if they have no financial security. More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 6.By telling Sam’s story and the stories of today’s dropouts the writer tries to tell us that _____. A)the younger generation in the U.S. often leave boring jobs because there are lots of other work opportunities B)people in America enjoy more freedom than those in other parts of the world C)the U.S. is a rich country that can support its idle people D)today one’s individual values are very important Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Multiple-choice Questions 6.By telling Sam’s story and the stories of today’s dropouts the writer tries to tell us that _____. D A)the younger generation in the U.S. often leave boring jobs because there are lots of other work opportunities B)people in America enjoy more freedom than those in other parts of the world C)the U.S. is a rich country that can support its idle people D)today one’s individual values are very important Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 1.Some, like George, have given up a career that was demanding too much from them. Others couldn’t stand the pressure and the competition. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 1.Some, like George, have given up a career that was demanding too much from them. Others couldn’t stand the pressure and the competition. 有些人，像乔治一样，已经放弃了使他们过多地耗费精力的工作，另外一些人则不能忍受（工作带来的）压力和竞争。 More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 2.She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 2.She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind. 她有两个孩子，而且没有积蓄。她也为将来担忧，但这未能破坏她轻松愉快的心情和一种新的内心的平和。 More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 3.Neither had he ever dreamed of doing anything but selling groceries and chatting with Fred. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 3.Neither had he ever dreamed of doing anything but selling groceries and chatting with Fred. 除了卖食品和与弗雷德闲聊外，他也从来没有梦想过要做其他事情。 More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 4.In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 4.In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession. 那时工作是一个人最宝贵的财富，无论这项工作多没意思，或者报酬多低。 More

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 5.But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience. Answer

Distant Education College, Jilin University Translation 5.But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience. 但那仅仅是因为，他通过劳动获取了闲暇，他能够问心无愧地来享受这份乐趣。 Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Today’s Dropouts In the United States today there are more people like George who drop out of the work force than in earlier times. What leads them to give up their work? Would George’s father understand them if he were alive today? George’s case is not unique. In the last fifteen or twenty years, quite a number of men and women have chosen to drop out of the working world to try a different kind of life. Most of them are in their thirties and forties, often well educated, although all ages and backgrounds can be found among them. A variety of reasons have led them to give up their work and the security it provided. Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Some, like George, have given up a career that was demanding too much from them. Others couldn’t stand the pressure and the competition. A thirty-five-year-old woman, who had a high position in her company, decided to leave when she found herself suffering from allergies that made her life miserable. She had two children and no savings; but even her anxiety about the future couldn’t spoil her feeling of relief and her new peace of mind. Her health improved. She may never work again; if she does, she says that she will take small temporary jobs. Previous Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Some people, on the contrary, have quit jobs that were boring or meaningless to them. An office employee who has been pushing papers for years may start wondering whether those papers are achieving anything. An engineer in a large company, aware that he could be replaced by any man with the same training, may come to feel unimportant as an individual. Such people leave their work in the hope of finding stronger interests and a sense of personal worth. Previous Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis There are also people who leave their work to fulfill an old dream, such as writing books, painting, sailing to remote islands, or growing fruit trees. An army officer left the service at thirty-eight to build doll houses, and another one, who had always been interested in archaeology, did the same at forty-five to dig ancient Indian sites. His wife was delighted—instead of keeping house, she was going to satisfy her own dream of learning to make paper. Previous Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis But most of the men and women who drop out of the working world have no special interest and no desire to take up any occupation. They want only to enjoy their freedom, their independence, and their leisure. No more rushing to catch a morning train, no more commuter traffic, no more anxiety to please a boss, no more meetings, no more obligations to behave and dress according to the rules. This endless vacation does not necessarily bring happiness; many of those who have chosen it as a style of life admit that leisure, too, can become boring. But they still prefer it to their former existence. The main problem remains the lack of financial security, for, with few exceptions, the “dropouts” are not wealthy. And so they survive by selling their possessions, by borrowing from friends and family, and by taking an odd job now and then for a short time when it becomes absolutely necessary. Previous Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis Sam would never have understood their attitude. In the first place, he had never been unhappy with his occupation, and he had never felt any conflict between his work and his personal life. Neither had he ever dreamed of doing anything but selling groceries and chatting with Fred. And there was yet another factor. Today’s dropouts can always find some small job to do when they are in need of money, or perhaps they can get unemployment compensation from the government for a while. But Sam had lived through the 1930s, when work of any type was almost impossible to find. In those days a job, no matter how unpleasant or poorly paid, was a man’s most precious possession. Losing it was a disaster; not looking for another one, a shame. As for not wanting to work at all, it was unthinkable, for society was not used toloafers then. A nonworking family man would have lost the respect of his friends and his place in the community of responsible men. Previous Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis George might have tried to explain to his father the new point of view, to tell him that people have a right to be free, independent, and to watch birds all day if they want to. But he would not have convinced Sam, for whom independence and leisure were luxuries that had to be deserved through hard work. Sam himself had enjoyed a vacation once in a while, and he had been happy to rest in the sun without his tie. But that was only because, having earned his fun, he could enjoy it with a good conscience. Previous Next

Distant Education College, Jilin University Text Analysis It would have shocked Sam to learn that those “shameless” people who choose to live in unearned idleness have a good conscience too. From A Changing Scene, ed., Lucette Rollet Kenan, New York, 1982. Approximately 800 words. Previous Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University dropout [5drRpaJt] n. （美）退出习俗社会的人=person who withdraws from conventional societye.g. Michael chose to be a dropout by living a self-sufficient life in the woods.迈克尔选择作一个出世的隐士，它在森林中过着自给自足的生活。 Words to Know Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University unique [ju:5ni:k] a.独一无二的=without an equal or equivalent; unparallelede.g. That building is unique because all the others like it were destroyed. 那座建筑很独特，因为所有像它那样的其他建筑都毁坏了。 Words to Know Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University variety [vE5raIEtI] n.多样性，多变性= diversitye.g. At school we learn a variety of things. 在学校我们学习各种东西。 Words to Know Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University allergy [5AlEdVI] n.过敏症=an abnormally high sensitivity to certain substancese.g. I have an allergy to penicillin.我对青霉素有过敏反应。 Words to Know Return

Distant Education College, Jilin University spoil [spCIl] vt.损坏，宠坏= impair the value or quality ofe.g. The rain has spoilt my painting. 雨水毁了我的画。 Words to Know Return

Lesson 20 Today’s Dropouts