1、 5. What do you think about the ending of the story?It is very impressive. Weckerly ends the story with a metaphor which catches the essence of the particular moment accurately. He compares himself to a rookie skydiver preparing for his first plunge, which leads to possible outcomes: sheer excitemen
2、t or eventual death. The last sentence He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and jumps symbolizes the fact that from that day on the author jumps into the future of being independent no matter how long and complicated the road to it is.What is the effect of saying farewell and actual leaving on t
3、he author? Whom did the author like to say good-bye to? What was the authors mood like before the day of departure and after? How did his mothers mood change during his brunch with her? What was the significance of the particular day to the author?Suggested Summary The time of saying good-bye and ac
4、tual leaving makes a great impact on the author, which is fully demonstrated in the opening sentence. He gives a general description of how he feels on that particular day, during which his own mood changes from sheer excitement for the prospect of becoming independent and free to fear and uncertain
5、ty to a mixture of both. By his brunching with Mom and saying good-bye to her, he makes a very smooth depiction of the change of his mothers mood from being chatty and cheerful at the beginning to being quiet, even somber as the final moment comes. To bring the story to its climax, the author ends t
6、he story with a symbolic description. He compares himself to a rookie skydiver preparing for his first plunge that leads to possible outcomes: sheer excitement or eventual death. No matter what will happen, he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and jumps into the future. Unit2 The New Economics of
7、 Oil 1. Why wont oil prices rise at all over the long time?Firstly, because producers need the cash from oil too much to let their supply be interrupted for long. Secondly, and more important, because demand growth cant push prices upward as long as it is balanced by supply growth. 2. Why cant the m
8、embers of the OPEC raise oil prices?Because if they do, non-OPEC sources will grab market share by developing fields where technology has made production affordable. 3. Why have most majors cut their costs on oil?Because technology lets the companies maintain healthy earnings at steadily lower oil p
9、rices. 4. Who takes a lead in the oil companies?Those that master technology and efficiency, such as Shell, Exxon, and British Petroleum. Should we worry about the oil price? What is the main reason for oil price to fall? Is Rainwaters high-price theory right? What influences oil industry profits mo
10、st? How will lower oil price influence the world economy?The article aims at establishing the idea that oil price will not rise even as demand soars. To begin with, the author shows the increasing consumption of oil around the world and the impact of technology on oil industry. By giving several exa
11、mples, he draws the conclusion that the need for cash and dependence on technology leads to the fact that oil prices will even fall. Furthermore, technological updating, slashing the costs of finding, producing, and refining oil, is also a reason to support the authors point. There is evidence that
12、technology lets the world companies maintain healthy earnings at lower oil prices. In conclusion, cheap oil accelerates the world economy, and a downside price scenario is increasingly likely. 1. In the first year of peace, Lebanons GDP soared by almost 40%. （C） A. flew B. hovered C. increased D. de
13、creased 2. SAICs previous skirmishes with investigators had attracted little attention. （D） A. conflicts B. struggles C. skates D. arguments 3. The boy grabbed hold of my bag and disappeared quickly into the crowd. （C） A. seized B. snapped C. snatched D. sneaked 4. Although Chicago has fared better
14、than some cities, unemployment remains a problem. （A） A. got on B. charged C. offered jobs D. provided welfare 5. The dwarfs were devastated, because they could not figure out how to save Snow White this time. （D） A. calculate B. rate C. consider D. decide 6. His distrust of the power of critics mad
15、e him ready to gibe at David Sylvester. （A） A. laugh B. ridicule C. deride D. taunt 7. Children are most vulnerable to abuse within their own home. （A） A. unprotected B. sensible C. susceptible D. harmful 8. Short of the President himself, probably no one could have put the American case more persua
16、sively. （B） A. Rather than B. Other than C. Less than D. Short for Unit7 Competition Is Destructive 1. Why is competition destructive according to the author? （para. 3） According to the author, competition is destructive because it undermines self-esteem, poisons relationships and holds us back from
17、 doing our best. 2. What are the purposes of the games devised or collected by Orlick and others? （para. 6） The idea of the games devised or collected by Orlick and others is for each person on the field to make a specified contribution to the goal, or for all the players to reach a certain score, o
18、r for everyone to work with their partners against a time limit. 3. What is the difference between teamwork and team competition? （para. 8） The difference between teamwork and team competition is that in teamwork everyone on the field is working together for a common goal, while in team competition
19、a given player works with and is encouraged to feel warmly toward only half of those present. 4. Why do most kinds of fun require competition? （para. 10, 11, 12） First of all, people dont know any other way or people have never tasted the alternative. Secondly, we overlook the psychological costs of
20、 competition: it causes self-doubt and feelings of self-worth become dependent on external sources of evaluation. 5. Who is to blame for competition? It is the structure of the game itself that is to blame rather than the individuals, since it sets competition at the very beginning. Directions: Use
21、the questions given below as a guide to write a summary. You can refer to Task 1 and Task 2. What kind of games does the author use to illustrate the points? Whats the significance of changing an opponent into a partner?s the difference between teamwork and team competition? What are the possible re
22、asons that a large number of people insist that we cant do without win/lose activities? What is the real problem?By using the game of musical chairs, the author illustrates that competition is destructive not only in our daily work but also in entertainments. It is important and possible to change t
23、he form of the game by way of turning an opponent into a partner: Everyone on the field can work together for a common goal （teamwork） instead of competing with each other （team competition）. Cooperative games and sports provide satisfaction and challenge without competition. The reason that a large
24、 number of people insist that we cant do without win/lose activities are that they dont know any other way and that they overlook the psychological costs of competition and the toxic effect of competition on our relations. Competition is not conducive to trust and it may lead one to look at others t
25、hrough narrowed eyes and even invite outright aggression. We are inclined to blame individuals for all this, but it is the structure of the game itself which causes competition. To solve the problem of competition, we need to be teaching our children how to enjoy themselves without competition. Iden
26、tify one of the four choices A, B, C or D which best keeps the meaning of the underlined word or phrase. 1. She has been eliminated from the swimming race because she did not win any of the practice races. （C） A. got out B. taking away C. got rid of D. driving away 2. One of the major flaws in the e
27、xisting system is that the prosecutor has immunity from law suits claiming malicious prosecution. （B） A. useful B. spiteful C. harmless D. cheerful 3. They define a good patient as one who accepts their statements and their actions uncritically and unquestioningly. （A） A. characterize B. confine C.
28、fix D. limit 4. Roberts poor physical condition combined with nagging injuries prevented him from playing more than 51 games in the past four seasons. （A） A. troubling B. following C. complaining D. accompanying 5. Constant correction by a teacher is often counterproductive, as the student may becom
29、e afraid to speak at all. （C） A. evil B. not productive C. unfavorable D. hurting 6. For centuries we women have gloated over the one negative aspect of aging more evident in men than women: balding. （B） A. praised B. felt maliciously satisfied with C. felt sorry for D. expressed great pleasure of 7. In the conducive atmosphere around the fort, General Bradley immediately found out about the plot. （D） A. good B. suitable C
