Unit1 SectionA
Time-Conscious Americans
Detailed study of the Text
1. Americans believe no one stands still.(Para.1) Meaning:Americans believe no one keeps motionless;everyone moves. →Here “stand” means “keep or stay in a particular position or state”.In this sense, “stand” is followed by adjectives.More examples: The room stands idle .这房间闲置着。
Stand firm-don’t let them tell you what to do.要坚定，不要让他们对你指手画脚。 They stand opposed to the new law.他们反对这项新法律。
2. …you are falling behind. (Para.1)
★ fall behind : move more slowly than other people so that one is behind them. fall behind in science在科学方面落后
fall behind one’s competitors落后于竞争对手。
The student has been working hard for fear that he shuold fall behind .这个学生一直很努力， 唯恐落后。 3. This attitude results in a nation of people committed to researching ,experimenting and
exploring. (Para.1) Meaning:This way of thinking and doing things causes Americans to devote their time and ennergy to researching , experimenting and exploring. result in : make something happen; cause
Acting before thinking always results in failure.做事不事先考虑总会导致失败。 The accident resulted in the death of two people.这场事故造成两人死亡。 ★ compare:
result from:be caused by something that has happened previously Nothing has resulted from his efforts.他的努力终成泡影。
The child’s illness resulted from eating unclean food.孩子生病是由于吃了不干净的事物。 4. Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully ,the other being labor. (Para.1) Meaning:Americans use two things with great care(or:Americans never waste two things ):One is time and the other is labor. →Notice here we have a special type of adverbial clause : “the other being labor”.The structure is: subject+V-ing(or:V-ed).This type of clause can also be put at the beginning of the whole sentence. No further discussions arising ,the meeting was brought to an end.没有作进一步讨论，会议就结束了。
Lunch finished ,all the guests returned to the sitting room.吃完午饭，所有客人都回到了起居室。
5. We are slaves to nothing but the clock…(Para.2) Meaning:We are under the control of time only and nothing else,or we are only dominated by time… ★ slave to sth: a person who is being completely influenced or dominated by something
a slave to drink酒鬼
a slave to money金钱的奴隶 ★ nothing but:only
He’s nothing but a criminal. 他只不过是个罪犯。
He did nothing but complain.他只是抱怨，别的什么都不干。
6. We budget it ,save it ,waste it ,steal it ,kill it ,cut it ,account for it ;we also charge for it.
(Para.2) Meaning:We plan how to spend it ,save it ,waste it ,spend it more efficiently ,find ways to pass it quickly ,reduce it ,explain how we use it ;we also money for it. →In this sentence ,“time” is used metaphorically as something of real value. ★ budget:v.plan carefully how much of something will be needed
She has made so many commitments that she has to budget her time very carefully.她答应下 来的事太多，因而不得不精心安排自己的时间。
By the time he learned to budget his resources , it was too late.到他学会理财时，已经太迟 了。
vi.plan the spending of money carefully
She budgeted for buying a new car.她为买新汽车而计划节省开支。
The government has budgeted for two bridges in the city.政府计划在该城市建造两座桥，并 为此制定了预算。
n.［C］the amount of money a person or organization has to spend on something a family/week’s budget 家庭/每周预算
It is important to balance this year’s budget .重要的是要平衡今年的预算开支。 ★ kill it (=kill time):make time pass quickly by finding something to do.
We killed time by playing cards.我们用打纸牌来消磨时间。
He drove to the club to kill a couple of hours.他驾车去俱乐部消磨了几个小时。 ★ account for:
1)explan the cause of something解释原因
Jenny had to account to her husband for every penny she spent.珍妮得向丈夫说明每一分是 怎样花的。
The man charged with the crime couldn’t acount for the fact that the money was found in his house.被告无法解释在他家里找到钱这个事实。
2)make up a particular amount or part of something占据的比例
North sea oil accounts for a high proportion of British trade earnings.北海石油占英国贸易 收入的很大一部分。
Paying rent accounts for half of my expenditures.我的开销中租金占了一半。 ★ charge:v.ask somebody for amount of money for a service
How much do you charge for washing a car?你们洗一部车要收多少钱？ We charge $200 a night for a single room.单人房每晚收费200美元。
7. Many people have a rather acute sense of the shortness of each lifetime. (Para.2) Meaning:Many people have a very strong feeling that life is short. →Notice the use of “sense” in the following examples: a sense of humor/duty/direction 幽默感/责任感/方向感 have a rather acute sense of:深刻感受到 深感知识匮乏的人，往往会有更大的动力去学习。
lack of knowledge/tend to/have a great motive to do sth.
He who has a rather acute sense of lack of knowledge tends to have a greater motive to learn . 8. Once the sands have run out of a person’s hourglass,they cannot be replaced. (Para.2)
→Notice that the whole sentence is a metaphor,which means:Once time has passed ,it will not return. ★ run out:
1)(of food ,money ,etc.)there is none left
Their supplies soon ran out .他们的补给很快就耗尽了。 Time is running out.时间快到了(或：时间不多了。) My pocket is running out quickly.
2)use all of something and not have any left
I’m afraid we’ve run out of gas.我们的汽油恐怕已用完了。 I’m running out of patience.我快没耐心了。 ★ replace:vt.
1) put something back where it was before Replace the caps on the bottles.把瓶盖盖好。
Replace the book on the shelf.把书放回到书架上。 2) take the place of
George has replaced Edward as the personnel manager.乔治接替爱德华担任人事部经理。 3) change some person or object for another ,often better ,newer ,etc.
We’ll have to replace those old computers with new ones.我们必须用新电脑替换那些旧电脑。
9. We want every minute to count. (Para.2) Meaning:We want every minute to be put into good use(since it is precious). 10. …everyone is in a rush—often under pressure. (Para.3) Meaning:…everyone is doing things in a hurry, because they are often under pressure to do so. ★ in a rush:in a hurry
Don’t be in such a rush;you’ve only just now arrived .别这么急，你才刚刚到。
Why is she always in a rush?为什么她总是匆匆忙忙的？ 王进喜生前常说，井没压力不出油；人没压力轻飘飘。
during one’s lifetime/under no pressure/produce oil/under no stress/grow light-headed
During his life time ,Wang Jinxi used to say ,“A well ,under no pressure ,does not produce oil ,while a man ,under no stress ,grow light-headed .”
11. …restlessly seeking attention in a store ,or elbowing others…(Para.3) Meaning:…impatiently trying to get service in a store , or pushing others out of the way by their elbows… ★ restless:a.unable to keep still because one is nervous ,bored ,or impatient.
The passengers grew restless after waiting for half an hour at the bus stop.乘客们在汽车站等 了半个小时，变得不耐烦起来。
With a month after he returned home ,Billy had been restless,thinking about getting on the road again.回家一个月后，比利坐立不安，又想着上路外出了。
★ restlessly:ad.in a restless manner;impatiently
The manager paced the floor of his office restlessly with so many problems on his mind.心头压着许多问题，经理在办公室里不安地走来走去。
The man repeatedly looked at his watch while walking up and down restlessly in the room.那人一边不耐烦地在屋子里走来走去，一边一遍又一遍地看手表。
★ elbow:v.push others out of the way using elbows
She elbowed her way through the crowd.她从人群中挤了过去。
The old brands have been elbowed out of the home market.老品牌已经被挤出了国内市场。 12. Racing through daytime meals（一日三餐）is part of the pace of life(=rhythm of life) in this country. (Para.3) Meaning:Eating their meals hurriedly during the day is part of America’s fast pace of life. ★ race through:do something in a hurry
The child raced through his homework in order to watch the football match on TV.为看电视 转播的足球赛，那孩子匆匆做完了作业。 13. Don’t take it personally. (Para.3) Meaning:Don’t let it upset you(because they treat everybody this way;or because they are not doing this to you in particular). ★ take…personally:feel that a failure or unpleasant situation is your fault and be upset about it
You mustn’t take her negative comments of your plan personally.你不应该把她对你计划的 批评当做对你个人的攻击。 不得当地，不得体地：beyond a certain appropriate point 14. Many new arrivals in the States will miss the opening exchanges of a business call（商业访谈）… (Para.4) Meaning:Many newcomers to the United States will be sad to find that there is no polite small talks at the beginning of a business call… ★ opening:a.first;beginning;starting
the opening words开场白
They returned to take part in the season’s opening game.他们回来参加本赛季首场比赛。
n.
1) [C] the beginning or first part of something The opening of a book/film书/电影的开头(部分)
2) [C] an occasion when a new building ,road , etc. is used for the first time ,esp. one that involves a ceremony
Three hundred people swarmed at the front door for the store’s grand opening .有300人聚集 在商店前门庆祝商店的盛大开业。
3) [C] a position that is available in a business or firm
There were a few openings at the company , so he applied .那家公司有几个空缺职位，所以 他申请了。
He inquired at the front desk about openings in the marketing department.他在接待处询问营 销部空缺职位的情况。
15. They will miss the ritual interaction that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee that may
be a convention in their own country. (Para.4) Meaning:They will be sad because they will not have the usual exchanges(with the person who invited them)that go with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee.These exchanges may be a common practice on similar occasions in their own country. ★ go with:exist or take place at the same time with something else
Rights always goes with obligations.权利总是伴随着义务。
Crime does not always goes with poverty.贫穷并不总是伴随着犯罪。
★ convention:n.
1) [C,U] general,usu . unspoken agreement about how people should act or behave in
certain situations
It is a convention for men to wear suits on formal occasions.男子在正式场合穿西装是一种 惯例。
It was a convention for people to wear black to a funeral.穿黑色衣服参加葬礼是一种习俗。 2) [C] a meeting of members of a profession ,political party ,etc.
Conventions are usually held in large cities.会议通常在大城市里举行。
Hotels try to attract conventions because they bring a lot of business.宾馆设法承办各种会议，因为会议可以带来大量生意。
16. They may miss leisurely business chats…(Para.4)
★ leisurely:a.without hurry
They enjoyed a leisurely lunch at a restaurant.他们在餐馆里享受了一顿悠闲的午餐。 I had a leisurely glass of beer.我慢悠悠地品了一杯啤酒。
→In English, “-ly” can be added to some nouns to form adjectives.Words of similar structure include:friendly ,brotherly ,fatherly ,etc.
17. Normally ,Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed surroundings over extended
small talk…(Para.4) Meaning:Usually Americans do not judge or evaluate their visitors in relaxed places(such as restaurants or coffee houses)during long,light conversations… ★ assess:vt.judge the quality,importance,or worth of somebody or something
He’s so lazy that it’s difficult to assess his ability.他懒得很，所以很难评估他的能力。 It’s too early to assess the effects of the new law.要评价新法令的效果现在为时过早。 ★ small talk:light conversation on unimportant or non-serious subjects
18. …much less do they take them out for dinner,or around on the golf course…(Para.4) Meaning:…it is even less likely that Americans take their visitors out for dinner or to play golf… →Note that te phrase “much less” is often used after a negative statement ,to indicate that the statement is more true of the person ,thing ,or situation that you are going to mention . The old man can hardly walk ,much less run .这位老人几乎不能行走，更不用说跑了。 They are always short of water to drink ,much less to take a bath .他们连饮用水也总是不够，更 别提洗澡了。
★golf course:an area of grass which is designed for people to play golf on
19. Since we generally assess and probe professionally rather than socially ,we start talking business very quickly. (Para.4) Meaning:Since in most cases we evaluate our visitors and ask them questions from a professional point of view instead of from a social one,we start talking business very quickly(and there is no need to spend time on small talk and the like). ★ probe:v.try to find out the truth about something
The police are probing(into) trading which breaks the law.警方正在调查非法交易。 He probed(into) the housing market for a good opportunity to invest.他仔细研究房产市场， 寻找投资的好机会。
20. Time is ,therefore ,always ticking in our inner ear. (Para.4) Meaning:Therefore ,we are always aware of time.It is just like the constant sound of a clock that
we hear.
21. Consequently,we work hard at the task of saving time. (Para.5) Meaning:As a result ,we try our best to save time. ★ consequently:ad.as a result
He did nothing except practice ,and consequently he became a famous pianist.他专心练琴， 最终成为著名的钢琴家。
The bank refused to help the company;consequently it went out of business.银行拒绝帮助这家公司，公司因此倒闭了。
★ work at:put effort into something or doing something
He is working at being the best.他努力使自己成为最优秀的。
The director is working at increasing returns for investors.那位主管努力让投资者获得更大 的回报。
22. …especially given our traffic-filled streets. (Para.5) Meaning: …especially when we take into account our busy streets that are often full of traffic. ★ given:prep.taking something into account
Given tneir inexperience ,tney’ve done a good job.考虑到他们缺乏经验，他们已经做得不 错了。
Given her interest in children ,teaching should be the right career for her.从她对孩子们的兴 趣来看，教书应该是适合她的职业。
We can also use “given that…”for the same meaning:
Given that the time is limited ,they’ve done a good job.考虑到时间紧张，他们已经做得不错了。 sb. do sth. by/through…rather than by/through…,which through…, …especially given…某人是 通过…而不是通过…做某事，虽然后者…，但却…，尤其是考虑到…
在这种下雪天，我宁愿乘公交也不愿自己开车去上班，虽然自己开车自在，但更加危险，特
别是考虑到我糟糕的驾驶技术。
on such a snowy day/go to work/one’s poor skills in driving
On such a snowy day ,I would go to work by bus rather than by driving my car,which through comfortable ,is more dangerous –especially given my poor skills in driving.
23. We ,therefore ,save most personal visiting for after-work hours or for social weekend gatherings. (Para.5) Meaning:So ,if we want to pay a personal visit ,we can do it after work or on the weekend when there are social gatherings. ★ save…for:keep…for future use以备后用
Do not spend all your money now;save some for another day.不要把钱现在都用完，留点以 后哪天用。
Can you save your story for later?你能不能把你的故事留在以后讲？
24. To us the impersonality of electronic communication has little or no relation to the significance of the matter at hand. (Para.6) Meaning:To us, the lack of personal feelings of electronic communication has little or no relation to the importance of the matter we are discussing. ★ significance:n.[sing.,U]the importance of an event ,action ,etc.
Money at this time holds no significance for him.现在钱对他并不重要。
The significance for college students to do a part-time job is more than money and
experience.大学生打工的意义不仅仅在于钱和经验。
★ at hand:
1) under discussion;being considered
Her question is not related to the matter at hand.她提的问题跟正在考虑的事情无关。 The question at hand relates to our use of resources.我们考虑的问题与资源利用相关。
2) near in time or position
The great day is at hand.重大节日即将到来。
Realizing that the end of his career is near at hand ,he looked for some additional income.意 识到退休在即，他着手寻找额外的收入。
Having the right equipment at hand will be very helpful.手边有合适的设备可用将非常有 帮助。
25. In some countries no major business is conducted without eye contact ,requiring face-to-face conversation. (Para.6) Meaning:In some countries ,important business must be carried out with eye contact,and through face-to-face conversation. ★ conduct:vt.正式用语:conduct a survey
1) carry out
I decided to conduct an experiment.我决定做一个实验。
A team from the United Nations will observe the election to be sure that it is fairly conducted.
联合国代表团将观察这次选举，以保证其公正性。
2) act as the path for electricity ,heat ,etc.
Plastic and rubber won’t conduct electricity ,but copper will.塑料和橡胶不导电，但是铜导 电。
26. In America ,too ,a final agreement will normally be signed in person. (Para.6) ★ in person:doing something by oneself
Will you apply for the position by letter or in person?你是写信还是亲自前去申请那个职 位？ The general manager wanted to talk to him in person.总经理要亲自和他谈话。
27. However ,people are meeting increasingly on television screens ,coducting “teleconferences” to settle problems…(Para.6) Meaning:However ,people are meeting more and more through television ,holding teleconferences to solve problems… ★ increasingly: ad.more and more
The eastern part of the country has become increasingly populous since the start of the economic reform.该国的东部地区自经济改革以来人口越来越密集。
It is increasingly difficult to find a teaching position at a university.要在大学里找到一个教 职越来越难。
28. This is due partly to the fact that the telephone service is superb here,whereas the postal service is less efficient. (Para.7) Meaning:This is partly because of the fact that the telephone service is excellent here ,but by contrast the postal service is not so good. ★ due to: because of something
The flood was due to the melting of snow.洪水是雪水融化造成的。
Her success was due to her great love for her work.她成功是因为她非常热爱她的工作。 ★ whereas:conj.in contrast;while
→“Whereas” is often used to introduce a comment which contrasts with what is said in main clause.
Some students enjoy English classes ,whereas some hate them.有些学生喜欢英语课，而有些 人却讨厌英语课。
They want to see a movie ,whereas we would rather stay at home.他们想去看电影，而我们宁 愿呆在家里。
→In this sentence ,“whereas” is readily replaceble by “while” without any change in meaning. For example:
Their country has plenty of oil ,while ours has none.他们国家石油丰富，而我们国家则一点 也没有。 sb./sth. does/is sth. ,whereas/while sb./sth. else does/is sth. else.某人/某物…，然而另一个人/某 物…（用于表达事物之间的反差） enjoy←→hate
人的生命是有限的，而其对生命的热情是无限的。
be finite/one’s passion for life/be infinite
One’s life is finite ,whereas one’s passion for life is infinite.
29. Unless a certain amount of time is allowed to elapse ,it seems in their eyes as if the task
being considered were insignificant ,not worthy of proper respect.(Para.8) Meaning:If they don’t spend some time dealing with a certain task ,it will give the impression ,in their opinion ,that the task being considered is or not properly respected. ★ elapse:vi.(of time) pass
Five days elapsed ,and the patient’s condition had no improvement .五天过去了，但病人情况
不见好转。
Four years have elapsed since he left college and now he’s teaching at a local middle school. 他大学毕业已四年，现在在当地一所中学教书。
★ in one’s eyes:in the opinion or judgment of someone
Even in the eyes of the professionals ,he did a good job .即使在专业人士看来，他做得也很 出色。 The expert is always right in the eyes of ordinary people.在普通人的心目中，专家总是对的。
Unless…,it seems in one’s eyes (to one’s mind)as if…如果不…，某人就觉得好像是…
如果没为孩子提供力所能及的一切，中国父母就觉得好像对孩子关照不够。
provide everything for sb./within one’s power/not enough for sb.
Unless they provide everything within their power for their child ,it seems in the eyes of Chinese parents as if they did not care enough for him/her .
30. Assignments are ,consequently ,given added weight by the passage of time. (Para.8) Meaning:As a result ,people think that assignments are gaining additional importance with the passing of time. →The word “weight” here is used as an uncountable noun metaphorically to mean “importance”. More examples:
an idea of great weight一个很重要的观点
Don’t worry about what he thinks;his opinion doesn’t carry much weight .别担心他怎么想，他的 意见没有多少影响。
31. In the US ,however ,it is taken as a sign of skillfulness or being competent to solve a problem ,or fulfill a job successfully ,with speed. (Para.8) Meaning:In the US ,however ,if you can solve a problem or do a job quickly ,you will be considered a person having skills or ability. ★ take as:regard as
I will take the remark as a praise.我觉得这话是一种表扬。
She took the failure as the start for the coming success.她把这次失败看作今后成功的起点。 ★ competent:a..(of people)having the necessary ability ,skill ,knowledge ,etc. He is competent for the task. 他能胜任这项任务。
If you want to learn English well ,you must first find a competent teacher. 如要学好英语，你 首先得找一位称职的老师。
be taken as the sign of被视为…的标志
现如今，玩不转人际关系被视为是无能的标志。
one’s failure to sth . /handle interpersonal relation well/be incompetent
Nowadays,one’s failure to handle interpersonal relations well will be taken as a sign of being incompetent.
★ fulfill:vt.(BrE fulfil)
1) do what one must do fulfill a duty履行责任
I will fulfill my obligation to the best of my ability.我将尽我所能履行义务。
2) achieve something one wanted to do
He fulfilled his dream when he became a writer.他成为了作家，实现了自己的梦想。 They fulfilled their work ahead of time as we did ours.同我们一样，他们也提前完成了任 务。
★ with speed:fast;quickly
When we are traveling with speed ,the passing countryside just seems a blur.当我们开车高速
旅行时，沿途经过的乡村显得一片模糊。
32. Usually ,the more important a task is ,the more capital ,energy ,and attention will be poured into it in order to “get it moving”. (Para.8) Meaning:Usually ,if a job is more important ,people will put in more money ,effort ,and attention in order to get it done. ★ pour into:give a lot of effort ,money ,etc. to something
A lot of money/capital has been poured into the project.这个项目已经投入了大量资金。 She poured all her time and energy into her work .她把所有的时间和精力都投入到了工作 中。
Hope Project 希望工程
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