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Reading
Activity & Writing
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Reading Activity
(Reading with understanding depends on the interplay (相互作用)
of three factors (因素): vocabulary, structure (grammar), and
meaning; in other words, successful comprehension depends
on one's actual command (掌握) of the language. But generally
a good knowledge of reading techniques or skills will not
only make reading easier, but also help improve reading comprehension
to a certain extent (程度).)
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Skill:
Basic Reading Skill I
－－How to Read a
Text (Part I )
It is advisable (可取的) to read a comprehension passage at least
twice: the first time, to obtain (获得) a general impression (印象)
of the text, and then a second time to concentrate on the important
details (细节). Sometimes a third reading is necessary--to check
items (项
目) that caused difficulty. |
| First Reading |
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Learning to Read in College
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(1 )The Timkens sent
their child Laura off to college with a check for $7,000
in tuition (学费)
and thought that was the end of it. But soon after they
received a letter from the dean of studies (教务主任).
(2)" We are happy to announce that we have started a remedial
reading class for college freshmen
and strongly advise that your daughter Laura participate
in it . If she doesn't, it is our opinion
that Laura will not be able to keep
up with her studies. The cost will be $250."
Timken read the letter. "I thought Laura could read, " he
said to his wife.
"So did I. I think the problem is she can read, but she does
not understand what she reads."
"What did they teach her in public school and high school?"
(3)" I
have no idea, but if the college says she needs remedial
reading we'd better see that
she gets it or $ 7, 000 will be thrown away. "
A few days later they got another letter from the dean.
"The English Department
has informed
us that your daughter Laura cannot write. They have suggested
that she enroll in (报名参加) the remedial writing
class. We started it two years ago when we discovered this was
a common problem for most college students. If you agree that
Laura should get this special help, please send a check for
$250."
Timken was angry now. 20
"How did she get in college if she can't write?"
Mrs. Timken was much more optimistic
about it. "Laura can write. She just can't write
complete sentences. "
"She went to school for 12 years and she can't write a sentence?"
Timken said. "They
made an illiterate out of my daughter! "
"Oh, I believe that's a bit strong, I'm sure, anyway,
the college can help her learn to write. After
all, it is an institution
of higher learning. "
"So now we have to pay $ 250 for something they should have
taught her in grammar school?"
"Don't you remember what the principal
said years ago? (4) It was the school's responsibility
to make good citizens out
of the students, and the parents' responsibility to teach the
children to read and write. It seems that we're the ones
who failed. "
Timken sent in the check, and was not surprised to find another
letter waiting for him a week later.
It read: "We have found that no one in the freshman class
can add, multiply,
subtract or divide simple
sums. (5) We feel
it is urgent that
this deficiency (缺陷) be corrected early in a student's college
career. Therefore, we
are setting up a special remedial arithmetic
course. The fee will be $ 250. If
you do not want your daughter to take this course we cannot
guarantee she will graduate.
"
Once again Timken flew into a rage (勃然大怒). "I thought Laura
got A's in math in high school. "
Mrs. Timken said, "That was conceptional math. She never could
add or subtract. Don't you remember when you complained
once about it and Laura's and Laura's teacher told you, 'She
can always learn to add and subtract when she gets to college.'?"
--- Art Buchwald
Chinese
translation |
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1. Does the story take place after or before
Laura entered the college?
2. How is she getting along with her studies in general?
3. How many letters did her parents get from the dean
of studies?
4. What is the first letter about? What advice did the
dean offer in this letter?
5. What is the second letter about? What did the English
Department suggest?
6. What is the third letter about? What did the college
urge Laura's parents to do?
7. How much did the college ask Laura's parents to pay
for each of these remedial
courses?
8. How did the Timkens feel when they were told that their
daughter should attend all
these remedial classes? |
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1. When the Timkens
sent their daughter Laura off to college and paid the
tuition they thought
a. they had done what the parents-had to do and they
could do nothing about it.
b. they had paid what they ought to pay and the college
would take care of her studies.
c. she had entered the college and would enjoy a successful
college career.
d. all of the above. |
2. A remedial class
is
a. a class for college freshmen.
b. a class for those students who arc interested in reading
or writing.
c. a class for elementary arithmetic study.
d. a class for those students who need special help to
keep up their studies. |
3. From what the dean
says in his second letter we know for sure that
a. Laura is a student in the English Department, majoring
in (主修) English writing.
b. Laura is very poor in writing and has failed an important
examination.
c. Laura is very poor in writing but she is only one
of the very many who fail to write well'.
d. No college student can write, so that is really a
common problem. |
4. What is an "illiterate"?
a. A person who cannot add, multiply, subtract or divide
simple sums.
b. A person who is unable to read and write.
c. A person who has been to school for 12 years but cannot
write a sentence.
d. A person who has not formed good study habits. |
5. When Mrs. Timken
said, "Oh, I believe that's a bit strong",
a. she was blaming her husband for using strong language.
b. she thought her husband was exaggerating (夸大) the
fact in a way.
c. she thought it unnecessary for her husband to get
so angry.
d. she was not very happy to hear her husband describing
her daughter as an illiterate. |
6. "An institution
of higher learning" refers to
a. a college or university in general.
b. a college or university of high reputation.
c. a college which can produce good writers.
d. a college which is able to correct the students' deficiencies
in time. |
7. The statement "We're
the ones who failed" could be most suitably replaced by
a. we failed to cooperate with the school and teachers.
b. we did not keep in good contact with the school and
teachers.
c. we neglected (忽略) our duty as parents to teach our
child to read and write.
d. we failed to keep in mind what the principal said.
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8. What is Mr. Timken's
attitude toward his daughter's need for remedial courses?
a. Anger and confusion.
b. Happiness and joy. .
c. Love and hate.
d. Disgust (厌恶) |
9. What is Mrs. Timken's
attitude toward her daughter's need for remedial courses?
a. Acceptance of the fact that she needs them.
b. A feeling that she's failed Laura somehow.
c. A willingness to pay the fees.
d. All of the above. |
10.The title "Learning
to Read"------ in College" means
a. students who are not good at reading are offered a
good chance of learning to read
in college.
b. it is more effective to learn to read in college.
c. it is ironical (令人啼笑皆非的) that college student still
needs to learn to read in college.
d. all of the above. |
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Exercise
C Translate into Chinese the underlined
Sentences in the passage. 
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Key
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1.蒂姆肯夫妇以一张7,000美元的支票付了学费，将女儿劳拉送进大学，以
为此事就这样结束了。
2."我们很高兴地宣布，我们已为大学新生开设一个阅读补习班，并竭力建
议你们的女儿劳拉参加补习。
3."我不知道。但如果校方说她需要补习阅读，我们最好还是设法让她参
加，不然, 那7,000 白扔了。"
4.学校的职责是把学生培养成好公民，而教会孩子读书写字则是家长的职责。
5.我们认为，这一缺陷亟须在学生的大学生涯早期得到纠正。
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