I. Lead-in Questions

1.1. What happened when Juanita Brooks What happened when Juanita Brooks applied for a job more than 50 years ago?applied for a job more than 50 years ago?

2. 2. What is the so-called “one-drop” rule?What is the so-called “one-drop” rule?

3. 3. What changes enabled Juanita Brooks to What changes enabled Juanita Brooks to claim to be both black and white?claim to be both black and white?

II. Cultural Notes

1. 1. PluralismPluralism 1. 1. PluralismPluralism

2. MulticulturalismMulticulturalism 2. MulticulturalismMulticulturalism

PluralismPluralism

It refers to the existence in a society of groups having distinctive ethnic origin, cultural forms, religions, etc. These groups of people maintain participation in the development of their traditions and special interests while cooperatively working toward the independence needed for a nation’s unity.

Although America’s culture is becoming more uniform, its society remains a diverse mix of ethnic, racial, and religious groups. The United States is a pluralistic society, meaning it is composed of many nationalities, races, religions, and creeds. Some of the people who immigrated to America embraced the opportunity to leave old cultures behind and to remake themselves unencumbered by past traditions and loyalties.

Others found that the liberties promised under the Bill of Rights allowed for distinctiveness rather than uniformity, and they have taken pride in preserving and celebrating their origins. Many Americans find that Pluralism adds to the richness and strength of the nation’s culture.

Multiculturalism A concept with many meanings. But it is often referred to as cultural pluralism, a term describing the coexistence of many cultures in a locality, without any one culture dominating the region. By making the broadest range of human differences acceptable to the largest number of people, multiculturalism seeks to overcome racism, sexism and other forms of

discrimination.

III. Language Points

PhrasesPhrases

1. in decline/on the decline: losing strength; declining 衰落中，衰退中

e.g. He is still one of the world’s most popular tennis players, but his game is in decline.

他仍然是世界上最受欢迎的网球明星之一，但他的竞技水平已经下滑。

As she was getting older, her mental power was on the decline.

随着年岁的增大，她的智力逐渐衰退。

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2. debtn. something owed, such as money, goods, or services 债务，欠债，负债 e.g. I plan to pay all my debts in one month time 。我打算在一个月内偿还我的债务。He was 2000 dollars in debt. 他负债 2000 美元。

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3. characteristicadj. 特有的，典型的 e.g. Rainy days are characteristic of May in this city. 多雨是本市五月的特点。

n. 特征，特性 e.g. The ability to use language is one of the distinctive characteristics of mankind. 使用语言的能力是人类的特征之一。building socialism with Chinese characteristic 建立有中国特色的社会主义

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4. paralyze:v. make ineffective; make (sb. ) lose the ability to move part or all of the body 使瘫痪 , 使麻痹；使失去功能

e.g. He had a minor stroke in 1987, which left him partly paralyzed.1987 他犯了轻微的中风，致使他身体部分瘫痪。The explosion killed about 200 people and paralyzed part of the city’s transportation system. 爆炸造成 200 人死亡，和城市部分交通瘫痪。

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5. historical:adj. concerning past events; based on the study of history 历史上的，有关历史的e.g. Museums collect objects of scientific, aesthetic, or historical importance.博物馆收集具有科学、美学或历史意义的物品。Many historical documents and photographs are preserved in the provincial archives in Nanjing. 很多历史文件和照片都保存在南京的省档案馆内。

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6. precedent: adj. earlier happening, decision, etc. taken as an example or rule for what comes later 先例，惯例e.g. The trial could set an important precedent for dealing with large numbers of similar cases.这次审判为以后大量类似的案件作出了一个重要的先例。There are substantial precedents in using multimedia facilities in teaching.使用多媒体教学已经有很多先例。

WordsWords7. pluraladj. / n. 1) Relating to or composed of more than one member, set, or kind: 复数的：一个以上的成员、群体或种类组成的；或与其有关的：e.g. The plural of child is children. Child 的复数是 children.Mice” is the plural of “mouse”. Mice 是 mouse 的复数形式 .2)more than one, various 多于一的，多种的，多元的e.g. This country adopts a plural system of education.该国采用多层次教育制度。 There are the plural societies of the world.世界上有各种各样的社会。

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8. have a / the sense that: feel / believe / realize that 感到、意识到e.g. As soon as we had the sense that something was wrong, we moved the children away. 我们一意识到有问题，就把孩子给挪走了。We had the sense that one month’s preparation is far from enough if we want to accomplish the project. 我们感到如果我们想要完成这项任务，一个月的准备时间足够了。

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9. for the first time 第一次 e.g. Airplanes were used in a major military campaign for the first time during World War I.在一战期间，飞机第一次被用于军事行动。The Summer Palace Opens to the Public for the First Time after its reconstruction.颐和园在重建后首次对公众开放。

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10. polycentricadj. having many centers, especially of authority or control: 多中心主义的：具有许多中心的，尤指权威或控制上的：e.g. The world has shifted from Soviet - American hegemony to a polycentric world. 世界已经从美苏霸权转变为多中心世界。

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11. leave behind: 1 ） cause (sth.) to remain; 留下，遗留 e.g. The storm left a trial of destruction behind.暴风雨过后留下满目疮痍的景象。I am afraid we’ll have to leave the dog behind at home.恐怕我们得把狗留在家里。

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2 ） fail or forget to bring or take 不带，忘记带上 e.g. Take care not leave anything behind. 注意别拉下什么东西。

3）把…撇在后面e.g. I was left behind in the race.我在比赛中被拉下了。

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12. immigrant: adj. / n. A person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another. 移民 ,侨民，离开自己的国家并到别国永久定居的人，指来自国外的移民。e.g. Canada has many immigrants from Europe.加拿大有很多欧洲移民。This is a school for immigrant school-children.这是一所移民学童学校。

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13. exploitationn. 1) the act of employing to the greatest possible advantage: 开发，开拓：充分利用的行为：e.g. exploitation of gold mine 开发金矿2 ） self use, use for one’s own benefit利用，剥削e.g. The system of exploitation of man by man was abolished after liberation. 解放后废除了人剥削人的制度。3 ） An advertising or a publicity program.广告，宣传：一种广告或宣传节目

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14. constructive adj. having a useful purpose; helpful 建设性的，有裨益的e.g. Criticism is welcome only when it is constructive criticism. 只有建设性的批评才受欢迎。After their meeting, both sides described the talks as frank, friendly andconstructive.会后，双方称此次会谈是坦诚的，友好的，具有建设性的。

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15. destructiveadj. causing destruction 毁灭性的，破坏性的e.g. The destructive earthquake left the whole city ruined.那场毁灭性的地震使得整个城市变成一片废墟。Technology can be conceived as both a creative and a destructive process.科技可以被看作是既有创造性又有破坏性的过程。

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16. cooperationn. working or acting together for a common purpose合作 ,协作e.g. Your cooperation means much/a great deal to us. 你的合作对我们意味着很多。The workers, in cooperation with the management, have increased output by 10%.工人们与厂方合作是产量增加了 10% 。

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17. conceptionn. idea about what sth. Is like or understanding of sth.; process in which sb. forms a plan or idea ； plan 观念 ,概念 ;构思 ,构想；计划e.g. After hearing what he said, I got a clear conception of the whole situation. 听了他所说的以后，我对整个形势有了清楚的了解。A good ad. Designer need s great power of conception. 出色的广告设计师需要丰富的想象力。

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18. show up: put in an appearance; be present 暴露，显露；来到，露面e.g. Did everyone you invited show up.你邀请的人都到场了吗。If I don’t show up for class this morning, I’ll be kicked out.如果今天我不去上课，我就会被开除了。

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19. offendv. 1) hurt the feeling of ; give offence to 伤害……的情感；得罪；e.g. He apologized for his comments and said he had no intention of offending the professor. 他为他所说的话而道歉，并说他无意冒犯教授。Her words offended me. 他的话伤害了我。

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2) feel sick, uncomfortable 使厌恶，是不舒服；e.g. He was deeply offended at their refusal to come. 他们不肯来，他感到很生气。I was offended by his rudeness.他的粗鲁令我很不愉快。

3) be against 违犯，违反e.g. In What way have I offended?我犯了什么罪？You offended against the curfew.你违反了宵禁

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20. in the … sense: as far as … is concerned 在……意义上e.g. In the academic sense, this article is not well written. 在学术意义上，这篇文章写得不怎么样。In the cultural sense, this is a typical stereotype. 在文化意义上，这是典型的成见。

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21. submerge v. (cause to) go under the surface of water; cover or completely hide 使沉没，遮盖e.g. I watched the submarine gradually submerging. 我看着潜水艇逐渐沉没。The raging waters submerged the tiny village.凶猛的河水淹没了小村庄。

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22 ． from the perspective of: from the viewpoint of 从……角度；从……视角e.g. From the perspective of women, the articles is well worth reading.从女性角度，这些文章值得读。The novel Harry Potter is written from the perspective of a child.小说哈里波特是从儿童视角写的。

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23 ． ethnic ：adj. of a race or the races of mankind 人种的，种族的；具有民族特色的e.g. Long-held ethnic tensions escalated into a violent armed conflict.长期的种族紧张愈演愈烈，升级为暴利武装冲突。I was attracted by the ethnic arts of Miao nationality.我对苗族的民族艺术非常着迷。

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24 ． essential: adj. 1) fundamental; most important必不可少的 ,绝对必要的 ,非常重要的e.g. Air and water are essential to life. 空气和水是生命必不可少的。It is essential that the essay be handed into your tutor in time.你必须及时将论文交给你的导师。( 与 essential连接的名词性从句要使用 should 型虚拟语气 )

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2) necessary 本质的 ,实质的 ,基本的e.g. What is the essential difference between these two economic systems?这两个经济体系的本质区别是什么。n. （ usu. pl）必需品；要素，要点e.g. The room was furnished with the simplest essentials; a bed, a chair and a table房间里仅布置一些必须的家具：一张床，一把椅子，一张桌子。They are not alike in some essentials such as hair, height and age.他们在头发，身高，年龄方面并不相似。

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25 ． combination n. joining or putting together; state of being joined 联合 ,结合e.g. His character is a combination of strength and kindness. 他的性格坚强且善良。The company is developing a new product in combination with several research institutes. 该公司正在联合几家研究所开发一种新产品。

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26 ． destiny n. 1 ） fate 命运，定数e.g. Destiny brought them together. 命运使他们连在一起。George determined to put his destiny in his own hands.乔治决心要掌握自己的命运。

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2 ） A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control:注定一个事件预先决定的 ,超越了人的能力和控制的过程e.g. Marriage and hanging go by destiny. 婚姻与死亡都是命中注定的It was his destiny to become the king of this great country. 他命中注定要成为这个伟大国家的国王。

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27 ． discourage:v. take away the courage or confidence of 使气馁，使沮丧；劝阻e.g. Michael was so discouraged by repeated failures that he decided to giveup his project. 由于多次失败使得麦克非常沮丧，以至于想要放弃他的计划。Many people were discouraged by the seemingly endless economic depression 很多人因这看似无休止的经济萧条而变得非常沮丧。

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discourage sb. from doing sth. 阻止某人做某事e.g. I tried to discourage him from trying that dangerous game. 我试图阻止他尝试那个有危险的游戏。Her parents discouraged her from going camping in this season. 她的父母阻止她在这个季节去露营。

IV. Comprehension IV. Comprehension

122

1. Text Organization 1. Text Organization Parts Paragraphs Main Ideas

Part 1 Paras1-5 America is not declining, but is in the process of creating a new collage-like civilization.

Part 2 Paras6-21 Los Angeles is a good example of such a collage.

Part 3 Paras22-24 There is something in America that acts as “glue” to piece different parts together to make the American collage: the chance to try.

2. Main Idea2. Main Idea

.

People tend to worship things printed in black and white. Yet we would like to cultivate in our students the ability to think critically. They should understand that not everything they read is true. At the same time they need to be able to, and they should be able to, justify their disbelief.

3. 3. Paraphase Paraphase .

1) I have a sense that what is going on here concerns much more than the fate of a nation.

It means what is happening here does not only determine the future of one nation. It is a matter concerning many races and cultures. The future may not be considered in terms of nation, but civilization, new civilization of multiculturalism and pluralism.

2) Linked more to the Third World and Asia than to the Europe of America’s racial and cultural roots

As far as the racial and cultural origins of its residents are concerned, los Angeles has a closer link with the Third World and Asia than with Europe…

3) It is incredible coming to America to find you are somewhere else—in Seoul, in Taipei, in Mexico City. You can travel inside this Korean culture right on the streets of Los Angeles.

It is amazingly good that when you come to America you will find yourself actually in some other places like Seoul, Taipei or Mexico City. You can experience Korean culture just by walking through some streets in Los Angeles.

4) Not infrequently, employees ask to work an extra twenty hours a week to earn enough money to help members of their extended family buy their first home.

An extended family is a family consisting of a family nucleus and various relatives, as grandparents, usually living in one household and functioning as a larger unit. A family composed of father, mother, and children is called a nuclear family.

5) For the destructive, paralyzed world where I have spent most of my life, it is important, simply, that such a possibility as Los Angeles exists.

The possibility of Los Angeles is a premonition of the potential of development once the Third World mentality merges with the Western one.

6) Destiny has already sentenced you. Your fate is predetermined. In a stagnant

society, once you fail, you won’t have any chance to try again. Your future has been predetermined and all you have to do is to accept it.

4. Grammar 4. Grammar .

It is + adj. + v-ing… Model: You come to America and find

you are somewhat else --- In Seoul, in Taipei, in Mexico City. This is incredible.

It is incredible coming to America to find you are somewhere else --- in Seoul, in Taipei, in Mexico City.

5. 5. Rhetorical Device Rhetorical Device .

Phrases used to indicate the range of a statement

Phrases like historically speaking, scientifically speaking, technically speaking, generally speaking, and strictly speaking are often used to indicate the range or relevance of the statement you are making. In other words, they can be used to show that you are talking from a particular point of view.

e.g. Historically speaking, America may not

decline, but instead fuse with the Pacific culture to create a kind of vast pacific collage a mix of Hispanic and Asia culture linked through the most modern communication technologies.

Politically speaking, the formation of such an alliance at this critical moment was a masterstroke.

6. Writing Technique6. Writing Technique

.

Ways to begin an essay Using a quotation

For instance, at the very beginning of the essay What’s American about America? (Text B, Unit 4,Book IV), the author quotes from the New York Times so as to lead to a discussion about in what way North America is unique in the word.

Asking a question

In the introduction of Is There Life on Planets Circling Other Stars (text B, Unit 4,Book III), the author poses a provocative question to stimulate readers’ interest; then, he sets out to explore the issue raised by the question.

Stating the time and place of the event to be described

In the introduction for The Normandy landings (TextB,Unit1,BookIV),for example, the author makes clear the time (in the summer of 1944) and the place (Northern France) of the event (the Normandy Landings) he is going to dwell on.

Providing relevant background information

For instance, in the introduction for The Icy Defender (Text A, Unit 1,Book IV), you can read about background information relevant to the theme of the essay--- underestimating the severity of the Russian winter caused Napoleon and Hitler to meet their waterloo in that country.

Giving a surprising or interesting fact

A case in point is the introduction for The Richest Man in America, Down Home. It tells about how surprised (and disappointed) the waiter was to find the millionaire lived such a simple life.

V. Post-reading Discussions

1.1. Has white mainstream American really given up Has white mainstream American really given up on policing the world?on policing the world?

2.2. As a modern non-western youth, do you agree As a modern non-western youth, do you agree with the author’s opinion on the non-western with the author’s opinion on the non-western concept of time? Why or why not?concept of time? Why or why not?

3. Can you think of something other than a city that 3. Can you think of something other than a city that symbolizes the American future?symbolizes the American future?