new practical english 2 passage i for conversation press # 1 unit 3 communication by phone

New Practical English 2

Passage I

For Conversation Press # 1

Unit 3 Communication by Phone


Related InformationRelated Information

A cell phone is a small telephone you can carry with you that operates through networks of radio antennas or space satellites. Other expressions of a cell phone:

a. a cellular phone/telephone

b. a mobile phone /telephone

c. a handset

A Cell Phone A Cell Phone 手机手机



ATM is the abbreviation for automated teller machine. ATMs are found in business districts and shopping malls. People use them to get cash from their bank accounts and in many places, to pay for gas, groceries, and other things.

ATM ATM 自动取款机自动取款机



A Voice Mail A Voice Mail 有声邮件有声邮件

A voice mail is a telephone answering system on which spoken messages are left by one person for another.


(Para. 1) I’ve got a cell phone, email and

voice mail. But why am I so lonely?

(Para. 2) A funny thing happened on the

way to the communications revolution: we

stopped talking to one another.

(Para. 3) I was walking in the park with a

friend recently, and his cell phone rang, interrupting our conversation. There they were, talking and talking on a beautifully sunny day and I became invisible, absent from

the conversation.

Passage Passage II For Conversation Press # 1For Conversation Press # 1

1

2

3


(Para. 4) The park was filled with people talki

ng on their cell phones. They were passing other pe

ople without looking at them, saying hello, noticing

their babies or stopping to pet their puppies. Eviden

tly, the untethered electronic voice is preferable to

human contact.

Passage Passage II


(Para. 5) The telephone used to connect you to t

he absent. Now it makes people sitting next to you fee

l absent. Recently I was in a car with three friends. Th

e driver hushed the rest of us because he could not he

ar the person on the other end of his cell phone. There

we were, four friends zooming down the highway,

unable to talk to one another because of a gadget desi

gned to make communication easier.

Passage Passage II

4


(Para. 6) Why is it that the more connected we get,

the more disconnected I feel? Every advance in commun

ications technology is a setback to the intimacy of human interaction. With email and instant messaging over the Internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another. With voice-mail, you can conduct entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. If my mom has a question, I just leave the answer on her machine.

Passage Passage II

5


(Para. 7) As almost every conceivable contact between human beings gets automated, the alienation index goes up. You can’t even call a person to get the phone number of another person any more. Di

rectory assistance is almost always fully automated.

(Para. 8) Pumping gas at the station? Why say good morning to the attendant when you can swipe your credit card at the pump and save yourself the b

other of human contact?

Passage Passage II

6

7

8


(Para. 9) Making a deposit at the bank? Why

talk to a clerk who might live in the neighborhood when you can just insert your card into the ATM?

(Para. 10) Pretty soon you won’t have the burden of making eye contact at the grocery store. Some supermarket chains are using a self-scan

ner so you can check yourself out, avoiding those

annoying clerks who look at you and ask how you are doing.

Passage Passage II

9


(Para. 11) I am no Luddite. I own a cell phone,

an ATM card, a voice-mail system, an email account. Gi

ving them up isn’t an option--- they are great for wh

at they are intended to do. It’s their unintended

consequences that make me cringe.

Passage Passage II

10

11

12


means “with the purpose

of”

1. (Title) For Conversation Press # 1

通话按 1 号键。 Translation

Difficult Sentences

# stands for No., therefore #1 is read as No.1.


2. (Para. 3) I was walking in the park with a friend recently, and his cell phone rang, interrupting our conversation.

最近我和一位朋友正在公园里散步，突然他的手机响起来，打断了我们的谈话。 Translati

on

现在分词短语作结果状语

Difficult Sentences


3. (Para. 3) There they were, talking and talking on a beautifully sunny day and I became invisible, absent from the conversation.

在一个阳光明媚的日子，他们在那儿谈啊谈，而我却被冷落，成了谈话的局外人。 Translati

on

现在分词短语作伴随状语

Difficult Sentences


现在分词短语作伴随状语

4. (Para. 5) There we were, four friends zooming down the highway, unable to talk to one another because of a gadget designed to make communication easier.

我们四位朋友坐在车里，飞驰在高速公路上，却因为有了那个被设计来方便通信的小玩艺儿而不能互相交谈。

Translation

过去分词作定语

Difficult Sentences


5. (Para. 6) Why is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel?

为什么我们联系得越多我却越感到失去了联系呢？ Translation

“it” stands for the subject that-clause, where the

comparative structure is used. Similar structure

can be found in “What is it that ...?”

Difficult Sentences


6. (Para. 7) As almost every conceivable contact between human beings gets automated, the alienation index goes up.

随着人们之间几乎每一种联系都变得自动化起来，疏远的指数就上升。 Translati

on

conj. meaning “at the same time that…”

Difficult Sentences


7. (Para. 8) Pumping gas at the station?

你在加油站加油吗？ Translation

省略句The complete sentence should be: Are you pumping gas at the stati

on?

Difficult Sentences


8. (Para. 8) Why say good morning to the attendant when you can swipe your credit card at the pump and save yourself the bother of human contact?

既然你可以用信用卡在加油泵旁自动刷卡，免于与人打交道的麻烦，何必还要对加油站的工作人员打招呼呢？

Translation

why + 动词不定式结构

Difficult Sentences


9. (Para. 10) Some supermarket chains are using a self-scanner so you can check yourself out, avoiding those annoying clerks who look at you and ask how you are doing.

有些超市连锁店正在使用自动扫描仪，你可以自己结账，避开那些令人心烦的店员，他们总是看着你问长问短。

Translation

表结果， “ 因此”

Difficult Sentences

现在分词短语作结果状语


10. (Para. 11) I am no Luddite.

我并不反对自动化。 Translation

means “not at all”

Difficult Sentences


11. (Para. 11) Giving them up isn’t an option —— they are great for what they are intended to do.

放弃他们并不可取——人们赋与它们的功能太美妙了。 Translati

on

means “very good for ”

Difficult Sentences

means “what they are designed to

do ”


12. (Para. 11) It’s their unintended consequences that make me cringe.

只是他们无意中带来的后果却使我感到不寒而栗。 Translati

on

强调句型

Difficult Sentences


Without friends, Selena felt lonely in the city she had just arrived in.

I shall have a companion in the house after all these lonely years.

He felt lonely when his best friend moved to another place.

alone and feeling sad, lonesome 孤独的，寂寞的

lonelylonely adj.adj.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


I saw my friend recently; we had dinner together last week.

Recently, my brother has been working on his master’s degree at the university.

I’ve only recently begun to learn German.

not too long ago; starting not too long ago and still going on, (syn.) currently 最近；近来

recentlyrecently adv.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


Mr. Lowenberg evidently regarded this as a great joke.

From the warm temperature and abundant flowers, it is evidently spring here.

Evidently your sister was sensitive on the topic of operations.

as it appears, seemingly, (syn.) apparently 明显，显然

evidentlyevidently adv.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


She found life in the city preferable to her quiet life in the country.

Gradual change is preferable to sudden, great change.

Milk is fine, but cream would be preferable.

better or more suitable, to be preferred 更可取的；更好的

preferablepreferable adj.adj.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


The telephone operator connected me with

the human resources department.

I connected the antenna to the TV set.

A new road connects the two small cities.

to attach, join together; to reach sb. by telephone连接，接通

connectconnect v.v.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


I am unable to cycle to school because my bicycle is broken.

He is unable to walk because of a bad ankle.

He is unable to do the job for lack of experience.

not able, incapable 不能的，不会的

unableunable adj.adj.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


There have been great advances in medicine in the last 50 years.

This model is a great advance on previous ones.

Under this system popular science education made great advances.

an improvement, (syn.) a breakthrough 前进，进展 advanceadvance n.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words

in advance ofin advance of: more highly developed

Their training facilities are far in advance of anything we have.

in advancein advance: ahead of time

Everything had been fixed in advance.


Sam deposited ten dollars in his savings account.

Mrs. Heckler deposited her jewelry in a safe.

She left a deposit on the coat.

depositdeposit

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words

•v. to place sth. valuable, such as money, in a bank or brokerage account; to place valuables for safekeeping 存放，存储 •n. a partial payment to hold goods or property until the buyer makes complete payment 定钱，押金


The old lady carefully inserted the letter into an envelope carefully.

The professor inserted a comment in the margin.

A film of oil is inserted between the sliding surfaces of a bearing.

to put sth. into, between, or among 插入，嵌入

insertinsert v.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


The king’s murder started a chain of events

that led to a war.

That bookstore is part of a chain; you can

find the chain stores in cities all over the

country.

a series of related things or events; a group of stores, restaurants 一连串；连锁店

chainchain n.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


I have a checking account at Metropolitan

Bank.

The accounts were perfectly in order.

He opened an account at my bank in your

name.

money kept in a bank for present or future use 账，账户

accountaccount n.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


He drank heavily and died as a consequence.

I’m quite willing to accept the consequence.

He does not consider the consequences.

the result of doing sth. 结果，后果

consequenceconsequence n.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Important Words


1. Why does the author feel lonely with a cell phone, e-mail and voice mail in hand? ?

Because people stopped talking face to face to one another.

Read and ThinkRead and ThinkAnswer the following questions according to the passage.


2. Why does he become invisible and absent from his conversation with his friend?

Because his friend was busy talking on

his cell phone, completely forgetting

his presence.

Read and ThinkRead and Think


3. Why does he think cell phones are preferable to human contact?

Because they can be used anywhere

and anytime.



4. What are the advantages of e-mail and voice mail?

With e-mail, we can communicate without seeing

or talking to one another; and with voice mail, we can

conduct entire conversations without ever reaching anyone.



5. What’s the consequence brought about by the communications technology?

People lose their intimacy of interaction.



6. What’s the author’s attitude towards the communications revolution?

He thinks it’s great, but worries about its

unintended consequences.



Read and CompleteRead and Complete Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage.

Why is it that the more connected we

get, the more 1 ____________ I feel? Every

advance in communications technology is a 2

________ to the intimacy of human interaction.

With e-mail and instant messaging over the 3

_________, we can communicate without seeing

or 4 _______ to one another. With voice mail,

you can conduct entire conversations without

ever 5 _________ anyone. If my mom has a

question, I just leave the 6 _______ on her

machine.

setback

Internet

reaching

disconnected

talking

answer


Read and CompleteRead and Complete

As almost every conceivable 7

________ between human beings gets

automated, the alienation index 8

________. You can’t even call a person to

get the 9 ______ number of another person

any more. Directory assistance is almost

always fully 10 ___________.

goes up

phone

contact

automated


Complete each of the following statements according to the passage.

1.A funny thing happened on the way to __________________________: we stopped talking

to one another.

2. The park was filled with people talking on ________________.

3. Evidently, the untethered _______________ is preferable to human contact.

their cell phones

the communications revolution


electronic voice


4. With _________ and instant messaging over

the Internet, we can communicate without

seeing or talking to one another.

5. With __________, you can conduct entire

conversations without ever reaching anyone.

6. __________________ is almost always fully

automated.

7 The author likes to use his cell phone, his

ATM card, his voice-mail and his e-mail

account, which he thinks are _______ for what

they are intended to do.

voice- mail

e-mail


Directory assistance

great


Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions given below, changing the form if necessary. lonely interrupt invisible evidently

preferable advance attendant insert

deposit chain burden pet

1. Over-working can be a __________ on both

body and mind.

2. New __________ in medicine improve the

quality of health care.

burden

advances



3. Without friends, he felt __________ in the city he had just arrived in.

4. Music is __________; we can hear it and feel it, but not see it.

5. She forgot to __________ the letter into the envelope.

6. The Queen’s __________ were always surrounding her.

7. She loves her cat and often __________ it on the back.

lonely

invisible

insert

attendants

pets



8. That restaurant is part of a large ________,

which you can find in cities all over the

country.

9. A dark suit is __________ to a light one for

evening wear.

10. Linda has $500 on __________ in her

account.

11. The picnic was ____________ by a hard

shower yesterday.

12. __________, he likes music so much that

he’s taking piano lessons.

chain

preferable

deposit

interrupted

Evidently



Read and TranslateRead and TranslateTranslate the following sentences into English.

1. 请给家里打个电话，告诉他们我正在去公司的路上。

on the way to

Please dial home and tell them I’m on the way to the company 。

2. 从那时起生产就一直没有倒退过。

setback

Since then there has never been any setback in production.


Read and TranslateRead and Translate

3. 我看见他把钥匙插入锁中。

I saw him insert the key into the

lock.

4. 我建议你把钱存入银行。 make a deposit

I suggest that you make a deposit at the bank.

insert … into

5. 昨天王先生结账离开了那家旅馆。

Yesterday Mr. Wang checked out from that hotel.

check out


Read and SimulateRead and SimulatePay attention to the italicized parts in the English sentences and translate the Chinese sentences by simulating the structure of the English sentences.

1. The park was filled withwas filled with people talking on their cell phones.

The hall was filled withwas filled with young people watching the performance.

The hall was filled with students waiting for the interview.

The square of the village was filled with people watching the football match of the World Cup.

Now you try: 大厅里挤满了等待面试的学生。村子的广场上挤满了看世界杯足球赛的人。


Read and SimulateRead and Simulate

2. The telephone used toused to connect you to the absent.

I used toused to write poems when I was his age.

We used to grow beautiful

roses.

Peter used to go to the small town .

Now you try:过去我们常常种漂亮的玫瑰花。

过去彼得常常到那个小镇去。



3. Why is it thatWhy is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel?

Why is it thatWhy is it that the temperature in the room is rising higher and higher?

Why is it that this conclusion is wrong?

Why is it that she can sing better than I?

Now you try:这个结论为什么会是错的呢？

她为什么会比我唱得还好呢？



4. AsAs almost every conceivable contact between human beings gets automated, the alienation index goes up.

This thought grew asas the days passed.

As I knew him better, I discovered that my first impression of him had been/was right.

We get wiser as we get older.

Now you try:随着我对他的进一步了解，我发现我对他的第一次印象是正确的。

随着年龄的增长，我们变得更聪明。


Read and SimulateRead and Simulate5. Why sayWhy say good-morning to the attendant when you when you

cancan swipe your credit card at the pump and save yourself the bother of human contact?

Why talkWhy talk to a clerk who might live in the neighborhood when you canwhen you can just insert your card into the ATM?

Why use wood when you can use plastic?

Why ask me to do it when you can do it yourself?

Now you try:既然能用塑料，何必非要用木料呢？

既然你能自己做，何必非要让我做呢？



6. Pretty soonPretty soon you won’t have the burden of making eye contact at the grocery store.

Pretty soonPretty soon you won’t take the trouble to go to the village on foot.

Pretty soon you won’t have the burden of cooking breakfast for him.

Pretty soon you won’t take the trouble to send her to go to school every morning.

Now you try:用不了多久，你就可以免去为他做早饭的负担。用不了多久，您就不必费神每天早晨送她去上学了。


The Development of Communication MeansThe Development of Communication Means

new practical english 2 passage i for conversation press # 1 unit 3 communication by phone

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