|
|
November 19
Protecting the written word
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2009-04-29
STUDENTS are always looking for shortcuts. And it's no secret that school
papers are a pain to research and write.
So it's hardly surprising that students have quickly taken advantage of the
Internet to "borrow" some language and text from others. Teachers and
administrators have seen an increasing number of instances of plagiarism, so
they're starting to look for solutions.
Interestingly, technology is a major part of the problem, and technology is at
least one of the answers. In China, we've seen an anti-plagiarism campaign in Xinjiang,
where several large universities announced that they would employ an
"Inappropriate Academic Conduct Detection System" to check graduation
theses and doctoral dissertations.
The Xinjiang system makes use of computer programs that can match the text of a
research paper to that of a host of databases containing academic papers. If
there are a lot of "matches"–say, 10-30 percent, the student's work
will be flagged as suspect. The student reaction to this detection system has
been passionate.
Remember, plagiarism is the inappropriate or unacknowledged
"borrowing" of ideas or words from someone else. In academia or the
news, this means the writer has not "credited" the source. While it's
easy for a computer to match "words", tracking ideas that have been
snitched can be much harder–even though new digital tools seem to be coming
almost weekly.
There are, for example, increasingly powerful translation programs and multi-faceted
tools for grading essays. England's East Anglia University just announced new software that can lip-read and
even find what language the person is speaking. So it is tempting to think that
technology can achieve almost any purpose. But that is not the case.
At present, there is no perfect technological system for evaluating language.
Software that follows "matching rules" can be fooled by superficial
word changes. It may unfairly flag a student's work in certain situations–for
example, scientific writing, where it is common to use the same phrases over
and over. In the Humanities, we are conditioned to paraphrase. That's part of
our liberal arts training.
In fact, many universities overseas already use electronic systems to check
student writing. In the US, Blackboard and Turnitin both advise university
customers that software results alone cannot always determine whether a student
has "plagiarized": Only a teacher can make that judgment.
That is why I believe universities need to train teachers in the issues
surrounding high-tech plagiarism. The proliferation of online "essay
mills" and other materials has made it just too easy for students to lift
text at the click of a mouse.
Teachers are on the front line in this battle and need to hold their students
accountable. Only when teachers become more "tech-savvy" can they
begin to tell the "inappropriate borrowers" from the students who
have rigorously carried out their own research and writing.
BONUS
be flagged as
被标为
It's strange: Your e-mail is being flagged as spam by my mailing system.
真奇怪，我的邮件系统把你的邮件标为了垃圾邮件。
on the front line
在前线、前沿
The hospital found itself on the front line of the flu outbreak when the first
cases started pouring in.
流感爆发后，不断有病人入院，医院处在了抗击疾病的最前线。
URL：http://www.www.21stcentury.com.cn/story/51397.html
June 14
Would the Confucius brand do?
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2009-04-08 799
NOT long ago, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the appointment of three unlikely representatives–the "ambassadors of cute".
The idea was to give a better understanding of Japanese culture overseas by using young women who represented unique aspects of anime and Japanese-style "kawaii" culture.
In response to this, the culture scholar and blogger Wu Zuolai, in reflecting on China’s image, compared Japan’s search for "soft power" with China’s. He made specific reference to the Confucius Institute brand and wryly asked how "lovable" Confucianism was.
Confucius is hardly a candidate for cuteness. Yet Wu’s question raises some interesting issues. How do cultural icons shape a nation’s image beyond its own borders? And how do the perceptions of "outsiders" affect a nation’s sphere of influence and economic well-being?
Different countries have chosen different PR strategies to promote their cultural heritage. Still, a country’s branding initiative has ultimately to attract, persuade and move the target audience. This "lovability" approach has been a PR strategy used by two very dissimilar countries–Japan and Ireland.
Japan has spotlighted popular culture since 2002, when the media first began talking about "Gross National Cool". But it was in 2008 when, astonishingly, cute culture reached diplomatic stature. That was when two cats–Hello Kitty and Doraemon–were appointed "ambassadors" by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Why did the stodgy Japanese government opt for the "cute" approach? Simple. People overseas had already shown interest in Japanese comics and anime through their pocketbooks. Big time. As if to illustrate this fact, in 2004, the largest single anime market–the US–was equal to $48.4 million (330 million yuan), or several times higher than revenues from steel exports to the US, for the same period!
In contrast, the Republic of Ireland’s lovability factor has drawn not on hip animation, but on the usage of legends that have existed for centuries. Stories of fairies and leprechauns abound. Leprechauns, it is said, are tricky little people who might lead you to their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And on March 17, in many places worldwide, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. That’s the day when people "wear green" and immerse themselves in the charm of Irish culture.
The Irish have always valued their cultural assets: Their 6th-century kings were not allowed to own land; and poets were exempt from manual labor. PR comes naturally to this country of story-tellers and writers, who today still display a joie de vivre in conveying information and imagery about their culture, inviting tourists to visit the "land of enchantment". The Irish national branding strategy flows from history and lore that is still actively and passionately celebrated.
And China? China’s long history and vast cultural legacy offer so many possibilities for a national branding campaign. So how best to inspire and influence international opinion? No matter which path is chosen, one thing is certain–passion and imagination will be key ingredients.
英语词汇解析
ambassador 大使
anime 动漫
broker 经纪人、中间人
candid 率直的
censorship 审查制度
Confucius 孔子
derision 嘲笑
documentary 记录片
enchantment 魅力
immerse 沉浸
implement 执行
ingredient 成分
initiative 主动性、积极性
kawaii (日语)可爱的
legacy 遗产
leprechaun 妖精
notoriety 恶名
perception 悟性、洞察力、看法
priority 优先权、重点
revenue 收入
showcase 显示
stodgy 无趣的、无生气的
BONUS
big time 非常;很;大大地
You made such a mess around the house while your mom was away, she’s going to complain big time when she gets back.
你在你妈不在的时候把家里弄得一团糟。等她回来大发牢骚吧。
joie de vivre 生活乐趣
I think it was Allen's gentle upbringing by classical musician parents that gave him so much joie de vivre.
我认为艾伦能如此深谙生活乐趣得益于他的音乐家父母给他的良好教育。
来源：http://www.21stcentury.com.cn
URL：http://www.www.21stcentury.com.cn/story/50689.html April 16
Ways of healing historic wounds
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2009-03-18 796
THE sale of the bronze rabbit and rat "spouts" at Christie's
auction house has led to discussions in the Chinese media. Though the two heads
were but a small part of the large collection held by the late Yves Saint
Laurent, they attracted considerable attention.
From the outset, Chinese were eager to repatriate the heads. In public and
private sectors, diplomatic and legal steps were taken, with a bit of drama. In
the end, the French court ruled against a Chinese lawsuit and Christie's said
the legal ownership of the heads had been confirmed.
To many Chinese, this is incomprehensible. In the art market, however, one
major factor in determining who "owns" an object is its
"provenance" or chain of ownership. Most respectable museums, auction
houses and private collectors go to great lengths to investigate the trail of
an object's ownership throughout history. Most will not handle an item if it is
deemed stolen.
The problem, of course, is that, during turbulent times, especially times of
war–such as the 1860 British and French burning and looting of Yuanmingyuan,
the Old Summer Palace–it is not that easy to track provenance.
Chinese scholar Liu Yang has commented that the heads were not necessarily
taken during the burning. Because the fountain had stopped working, the
Emperor's mother had commanded it be dismantled and stored in the warehouse. So
it is difficult to establish legal ownership–to prove just when the artifacts
were removed, and exactly who was involved in the process. On the other hand,
it seems obvious to anyone familiar with Chinese history that many objects were
stolen in 1860, and that any objects affiliated with the Old Summer Palace are symbols of national pride. So what can be done?
Past groups facing similar legal challenges have found resourceful ways to
repatriate lost objects. Many Jewish families have made applications to German
and Austrian museums for art confiscated by the Nazis. European countries have
published detailed lists of artwork and announced processes for how works can
be returned. Especially critical is any information documenting the chain of
ownership during 1933-1945.
Even when records are not available, there are ways. One example is the 1999
return of the "Ghost Dance Shirt" to the Sioux (a native American
tribe) by Glasgow Museums in Scotland. Like the bronze heads, the Ghost Dance Shirt was a
powerful symbol of Native American history. It came from a fallen warrior in
the Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, when many Sioux were massacred by US
soldiers. Because the shirt had been legally purchased by the museum, there
could be no legal appeal. So the Sioux applied on moral and spiritual grounds.
They successfully convinced the museum that the significance of the ghost dance
(a religious ceremony) and the battle (a deeply historic event) were powerful
reasons warranting the object's return. Incredibly, a tribal elder then created
a replica shirt for the museum so visitors could learn more about Sioux culture.
To me, these examples suggest positive and effective ways of repatriating lost
artworks and of healing historic wounds.
英语词汇解析
auction 拍卖
confiscate 没收
deem 认为
dignity 尊严
diplomatic 外交的
dismantle 拆除
loot 掠夺
massacre 残杀
repatriate 使归还
spout 喷口
tribe 部落
warrant 使有正当理由
来源：http://www.21stcentury.com.cn
February 10
秦苏珊托福写作挑战赛，火热进行中！
郭靖没有高人点拨，就使不出降龙十八掌；
机器猫没有任意门，就去不了世界各地；
阿拉丁没有神灯， 就得不到心爱的公主；
哈利波特没有魔仗，就变不出强大的守护神；
有时候，借助一点力量，才能发现自我，做的更好！
我们的比赛口号：challenge yourself, you can do better!
我们寻找的挑战者是：热爱英文写作的你，这里是你展示才能的平台！
即将面临托考的你，这里就是你实战演习的练兵场！
托福写作有待提高的你，这里能帮你找到问题所在！
我们的比赛活动特点：堪比真题的写作题目，专业权威的托福老师亲自点评！
具体挑战赛规则（首版2009年2月8日）
l 举办目的：为了帮助同学们提高写作能力与技巧，秦苏珊英语中心特别举办本活动。
l 挑战者的条件：考托在即
喜欢英语写作
喜欢挑战自我，
想提高托福写作水平
只要你符合任意一点，快来加入吧！
l 比赛进行时间：即日开始直到中心宣布停止为止。
l 参赛步骤：
1．访问“秦苏珊托福写作挑战赛- 有机英语托福独立写作题题目”网页（在秦苏珊英语中心官网首页http://www.susanchyn.com.cn/左上角以会员身份登陆后察看），任意选择题目进行写作练习。可以选多个题目。
2．写完之后可以将自己的文章通过“添加评论”上传到“我能！”网站上。添加评论时请注意把文章添加到本活动托福写作挑战赛的日志项，添加到别处的文章将被删除。
3． 添加评论需有Windows Live ID，没有的人请注册申请一个Windows Live ID 。实在有困难的话，可以将文章发至toefl.writing@susanchyn.com，由我们代为上传。
4．上传的文章必须先列出文章的题目然后再列出文章的正文。没有题目的文章或者题目不是来自有机英语托福独立写作题题目网页的文章可能被删除。
5．请参加者尽量在托福考试规定的写作时间内完成作文，以保证测试的水平与托福考试接轨。
6．中心负责此项活动的美籍托福专家老师会密切关注同学们以“评论”形式发上来的帖子，并选择性给予批注。专家老师的批注帖也将以“评论”的形式上传。
l 心动奖励：赛后会从参赛文章里评出一等奖1名，二等奖2名，三等奖3名。获得一等奖的同学将会被秦苏珊英语中心选中，通过视频与世界英语考试与教学权威秦苏珊女士见面，并接受有关英语考试、英语学习、留学就业、乃至于人生规划的个性化指点。获二、三等奖的同学会在秦苏珊官网通告上予以鼓励，并得到设立于北京外国语大学、上海外国语大学、以及西安外国语大学三处的秦苏珊英语中心托福班的学费折扣优惠。
特别声明：参加活动者在发给中心文章时即表示同意无条件接受本活动规则，同意中心可随时视需要修改活动规则，并且同意中心在活动中及活动结束后无偿使用发给中心的文章内容。中心保留对本活动规则的解释权。
为了方便日后查找，建议现在收藏托福写作挑战赛的日志项网页：
http://susanchynchina.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!783D1310DE8DCAAC!572.entry
别再犹豫了，我们寻找的挑战者就是你！快来参加吧～ January 12 China lovers face a steep learning curve
Susan Chyn 2009-01-07
21st Century Newspaper 787
Last month, many Chinese media reported the incident of a German journal (Max Planck Forschung) mistaking a striptease show advertisement for classical Chinese poetry and using it as its cover. Just how could this publication known for its meticulous academic research make this kind of mistake?
It's fair to say that the editors had no clue what the elegant characters on the cover meant; there was no intent to offend. Rather, the problem was a lapse in "quality control." The journal's sinologist should have checked the meaning with a native speaker.
Many Chinese readers laughed at the error, but used the incident to gauge China's "soft power" and lament the extent to which Chinese culture is disseminated throughout the world. How is it possibile that even foreign "experts" are unable to understand stock phrases in Chinese?
The answer is painful but simple: The Chinese language is incredibly difficult for non-native speakers to master. It can take over 20 years for us to learn language conventions and grasp the social contexts underlying the words. Did the ad for the burlesque show look like a poem? Not really. The foreign sinologist was fooled by the flowery, semi-classical descriptions of the women. There was no explicit reference to strippers. To understand the ad, one had to read between the lines-- and for a non-native speaker, reading between the lines can be very tough.
So what about China's global soft power? Because so many young people are choosing to study Chiense these days, the prevailing assumption is that foreigners are knowedgeable about China. More than a few young Westerners in Beijing have confided to me that they hope to become "fluent" within two years and then return home to use Chinese on the job. I listen to their dreams and wish them well. But my own experience suggests that it's virtually impossible to become conversant in Chinese language and culture in the space of two years. The learning curve is just too steep.
That's why we should be surprised when an "expert" sinologist fails to understand an indirectly worded text such as the burlesque show ad. For China's soft power to grow, we all need to realize how large an investment is required for foreigners to attain true competency in the Chinese language and a cultural literacy that allows them to "read between the lines." Clearly, China needs to continue to support its Confucius academies and other language training programs. Chinese characters must be better understood before China's cultural influence can expand in tandem with its integration into the global economy.
LEXICAL CHUNKS 词串
burlesque - 下流粗俗的表演
competency - 能力
Confucius- 孔子
conversant- 收悉的
disseminate - 散布
gauge - 评估
integration - 结合
lament - 悲叹
lapse in quality control - 品质管制的失误
learning curve is too steep - 学习曲线过于陡峭
meticulous - 小心翼翼的
sinologist - 汉学家
striptease - 脱衣舞
in tandem with x - 随着 x 行
underlying - 隐含的
confide in x - 向 x 袒露心事
例句
That teacher is very popular with the students. In fact, many of them like to confide in her about their personal problems.
这个老师非常受学生欢迎，许多学生乐于向她袒露心事。
read between the lines - 体会言外之意
例句
His writing contains a lot of sarcasm, and so you need to read between the lines to understand what he is saying.
他的写作风格十分讥讽。要理解他到底在说什么你必须体会言外之意。 October 20
Why the Sarah Palin Choice
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2008-09-17 期号：771
WHEN Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his choice for vice-president, the media riveted on Palin and what she represents. It’s no wonder: The high-energy Alaskan governor means many things to many people. To working mothers, she represents the possibility of a woman holding a job while raising a family. To some feminists, she embodies an advancement in women’s rights. But more fundamentally, Palin became a lightning rod for voters throughout the US by appealing to social conservatives on key ideological issues.
What strain of social conservatism is Palin channeling? Like many other western states, Alaska embraces the values of a rugged wilderness–a land with relatively few people, where guns and hunting are routine parts of life and where social interactions revolve around shared community and church activities.
Voters who live in small towns tend to live in relatively homogenous communities. They feel threatened by the nontraditional lifestyles they see portrayed on television. They may worry more about the preservation of “family values” than about policy issues related to economics or foreign affairs.
The buzzword “family values” means different things to different people. But a politician who advocates “family values” will likely stress the importance of a “nuclear family”, where a mother and father live under the same roof. The morality associated with “family values” often presumes a literal interpretation of the Bible, as well as the assumption that the family will attend church and participate in service activities, such as helping homeless people.
Perhaps their most polarizing belief is the “pro-life” assertion that abortion should be made illegal (citing Christian doctrine) and that “creationism” (God created the universe and Adam and Eve, etc.) should be taught in schools alongside evolution.
It is not easy for Asians and Europeans to understand the influence “family values” have on American politics. But there are several facts that can help put social conservatism in context. First, in terms of sheer numbers, more than 80 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christian. One-third of these consider themselves to be “evangelical”. These may very well vote for a social conservative candidate on a Republican ticket. But one should also keep in mind that there are many types of conservatives in the US.
Moderate conservatives may care more about controlling government spending and limiting the “intrusion” of the federal government on state government than they do about abortion and school prayer. They might be registered Republicans; but they might also be “Independents”, meaning they base their vote not on party affiliation, but on the individual candidate and the issues. Therefore, it is not easy or wise to label conservative voters or make simplistic predictions about the American election.
At long last, the political debate has begun in earnest and will continue until November. It will be interesting to see how America’s diverse communities, with their inherently pluralist belief sets, will respond to the choices they face.
affiliation 联系
creationism 神造论
credibility 可信性
doctrine 教旨
essence 本质
evangelical 基督教新教派的,该派信仰圣经教义的绝对权威
feminist 女权主义者
homogenous 同质的
honorary 荣誉的
ideological 意识形态的
inherently 固有地
intrusion 干涉
literal 照字面上的
nominee 被提名的人
obsolete 陈旧的
pluralist 多元论者
polarize 两极分化
presume 认为
physique 体格
recipient 接受者
revolve 绕转
stimulus 促进因素
transparency 透明度
BONUS
Expressions
buzzword
（流行，时髦的）用语
“Change” is the buzzword of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s campaign.
“变革”是民主党总统候选人奥巴马的竞选口号。
fine-tune
调整
It’s a very thorough plan; we only need to fine-tune it according to each employee’s workload.
这是一个非常详细的计划，我们只需根据每个雇员的工作量进行调整就行了。
rivet on
(注意力)固定在某人或物
He riveted his eyes on the roast turkey on the platter.
他两眼直勾勾地盯着过去的那个漂亮女孩。 September 30 Catching a Husband
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2007-10-31 期号：728
RECENT accounts
in the media suggest that there may be a growing number of Chinese university
women who spend significant amounts of time searching for husbands.
Rather than risk spinning their wheels preparing for a job that might never
materialize, these young women put everything on hold to find financial and
social security. The philosophy seems to be, "Quick! Get me a marriage
license, and throw in a house and car while you're at it." Careers come
later, if at all.
I find this
news more than a little troubling. These women seem determined to cash in on
their youth, good looks and college degrees before walking out into the world
and carving a path of their own.
Where in these women is the passion to walk out into the world and make
themselves a place in it? Where is the willingness to take a little time in
life for self-discovery? Life is, to borrow the line from the car commercial,
not about the destination, but the journey.
There are clear parallels with a western phenomenon. The
"Millennials", the no-nonsense generation of children born in the
1980s, are said to have a "self-esteem bubble" and an undeserved
sense of entitlement. Yet they have also proven themselves to be a task-oriented
group that knows how to get things done quickly. Networking on dating and
matchmaking websites comes naturally. Like their counterparts in China,
Millennials are not as willing to wait as their parents were. They want
short-cuts.
True, balancing career and family is no picnic. The pressure is great, the
choices are tough. Still, think for a moment about a woman's choices in feudal
times: Back then, one's parents chatted with a matchmaker and that was that.
Women didn't need to step out into the world. They could do embroidery in their
bedrooms and still end up with a house and a car (well, maybe a horse or two).
The point is that facing tough choices usually means that one has the freedom
to make those choices. Cashing in one's chips too soon might mean throwing away
choice and missing out on an incredible journey. If you have any lingering
doubts, just take a look around at Wu Yi and other talented college graduates
who have dared to make that journey. I'd say it's worth the trip.
---------------------------------------
carve 努力取得
millennial 80和90年代出生的人
esteem 尊重
embroidery 刺绣
feudal 封建制度的
lingering 逗留不去的
materialize 实现
Bonus points
cash in on: 利用
I've read so many dating tips in the magazine, now I need to find a girl to
cash in on my knowledge. 我在杂志上读到了许多关于约会的点子，现在我可要找个女孩利用一下我学到的知识。
spin one's wheel: 采取行动
Her dad span his wheel to find her a job in his work unit. 她父亲使了点儿劲，帮她在自己的单位里找了个职位。
September 10
公告
秦苏珊英语中心
Susan Chyn English Center
2008年9月9日星期二
抓住职场英语的热潮，主宰自己的前途！Workplace English: Catching a Ride to Destiny
| 中心总裁秦苏珊女士将在本月中、下旬应邀参加美国教育考试服务中心（ETS）与智联招聘在全国各地五所高校举办的“全国大学生首届职业英语学习与就业论坛”。苏珊老师是国际知名的英语教学和测评专家，此前长期供职于美国教育考试服务中心，历任ETS托福考试命题总监、托业项目总监、以及亚太市场总监。会上将与大家分享她多年积累的权威经历，并以“抓住职场英语的热潮，主宰自己的前途！Workplace English: Catching a Ride to Destiny！”为题，介绍职场英语对学生未来的重要性，并阐述英语学习的途径和方法。
|  |
|
城市
|
大学
|
日期
|
时间
|
|
武汉
|
武汉大学(人文馆主厅)
|
9 月18 日
|
14:30-17:30
|
|
天津
|
天津大学(大学生活动中心报告厅)
|
9 月19 日
|
19:00-21:30
|
|
哈尔滨
|
哈尔滨工业大学(一校区正心楼11教室)
|
9 月21 日
|
14:00-16:30
|
|
南京
|
南京大学(就业指导中心报告厅)
|
9 月23 日
|
18:30-21:00
|
|
成都
|
四川大学(望江校区文华活动中心)
|
9 月25 日
|
19:00-21:30 |
September 09
Essay Practice Beiwai Fall 20080907
Please remember to include the essay prompt in your essay. Essay Practice Beiwai Fall 20080915
Please remember to include the essay prompt in your essay. September 08
Tears cleanse and actions hearten us
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2008-06-04 期号：757
IN the wake of the tremors emanating from Wenchuan County, there have been many stories of bravery.
The world has seen heart-wrenching images of courage in the face of danger; of resilience in the face of what seems like the endless movement of the earth. And while the toll of the disaster has yet to be completely fathomed, we can already palpably feel the outpouring of humanity.
This said, the case of Fan Meizhong, the former Chinese language teacher at the Dujiangyan Guangya School, stands out as an exception. By any standards, the actions and words of Fan failed to meet both tests–of heroism and of humanity.
From that fatal hour when the shake first hit to the ensuing days, Fan's actions–or non-actions–were rationalized by many. To the press and the Web community, Fan cited a variety of ism's to explain his behavior. Philosophies from "pan-moralism" to liberalism were invoked; homage was paid to several Russian intellectuals. I was not convinced. Why? In times of need, words pale, tears cleanse and actions hearten.
Fan, along with many in the blogosphere, suggested that heroism is not required in times of disaster. That we should not expect "everyday people" to sacrifice self-interest on behalf of others. That Lei Feng is an exception, a legend of his times. I would argue that nothing is further from the truth.
Heroic acts can–and should–be seen in the everyday world we live in. Seen on a Beijing public bus, when a 13-year-old girl gives up her seat for a 50-year-old man, even when she is dead-tired from school. Seen in Shanghai, when a white-collar businessman waits and holds a door open for a migrant worker and her young child to go in first. Seen in a Jinan dormitory, when a student gives up her Sunday afternoon to nurse a classmate who has fallen ill.
The small but instinctive gestures of unsung heroes are rooted in a common willingness to act. When people are in clear need–especially children and the elderly, we should invariably reach out without thinking about ourselves. As the British orator John Henry Newman once said, "Calculation never made a hero."
Most of us will never fight in a war, put out fires or save lives. But that doesn't let us off the hook. Like shoes and the feet that go into them, heroes come in all shapes and sizes. If we recognize, innately, we are bound by our common humanity, then the choice is simple. When we are able to help people in need, we should.
---------------------------------------
innately 天生就有地
cleanse 纯净
legend 传奇人物
invoke 援引
ism 主义
pan- 表示"全, 总, 泛"之义
palpably 可感觉到地
wrench 猛扭
toll 伤亡人数
resilience 适应力
fathom 彻底了解
Bonus
Expressions
in the wake of之后
There're many problems to deal with in the wake of the flood.
洪水过后有很多问题需要处理。
off the hook 从困境中解脱
We found the guy who stole the money, so we know you didn't do it. You're off the hook.
我们找到了偷钱的人，所以这不是你干的，现在你没事了。
pay homage to致敬
Tomb-sweeping day is a time when people pay homage to their dead family members.
人们在清明节祭奠死去的亲人。
Cheats won't stop until we make them
The problem of athlete doping
作者：SUSAN CHYN 时间：2008-08-13 期号：766
ATHLETE doping is decried by sports federations and fans worldwide. Drug testing is more aggressive than ever before. So why do athletes, in anonymous surveys, still answer “Yes” to the question: “If you could get away with it, would you take banned substances?”
Virtually one-third of Australia’s top athletes recently indicated they would use drugs if they could escape detection, according to The Australian newspaper. And a national survey conducted late last year revealed that between 27 and 58 percent of German athletes competing internationally admitted to doping. Throughout the world, the shadow of doping pervades the upper echelons of sports.
Many cheaters get caught. US runner Marion Jones was stripped of five medals in 2007 when she confessed to using steroids at the Sydney Olympic Games. More recently, seven Russian women athletes–all Olympic medal prospects, were provisionally banned from the Beijing Games. Several Indian weightlifters were barred from competing. And three top-tier Chinese athletes have tested positive this year, including the 2004 race walker Song Hongjuan.
And how can athletes ignore the health consequences of steroids and human growth hormones? Study after study has shown doping can lead to high blood pressure, strokes and mood swings. This is scary stuff. So why don’t our athletes stay clean? Is it because we pressure them to win at any cost? Is it because they think “everyone else” is doing it? Or is it because they think they can get away with it?
To the latter point, the World Anti-Doping Agency and national sports federations have been working together to increase the frequency of both in- and out-of-competition testing. About 4,500 tests are planned for the Beijing Olympics, and blood samples are now stored for eight years, so that tests can be conducted long after the athletic event is over, as new technologies evolve. In theory, this should be a powerful deterrent to athletes who are tempted to break the rules.
But I suspect the cheating will continue until spectators and the media make an unequivocal social stand. We should call for winners, but only winners willing to show they are “super clean.” By undergoing extra testing, top athletes can serve as role models and send a clear message to young competitors–who will realize it is possible to win through hard work and training, without compromising their health and their honor.
anonymous 匿名的
boycott 联合抵制
commodity 日用品
decry 谴责
deterrent 制止物
doping 服兴奋剂
echelon 等级
hormone 激素
lavish 慷慨给予
pervade 遍及
provisionally 暂时地
steroid 类固醇
tempt 诱惑
toil 苦干
traffic 买卖
transaction 交易
unequivocal 不含糊的
BONUS
Expressions
bar from
禁止做某事
She was barred from taking the rest of the exams after getting caught cheating on the first day.
在第一天被发现作弊后，她被禁止参加后面几天的考试。
get away with
违做错事不被发现或受惩罚
Do you think we could get away with using cheaper product?
你觉得我们用便宜的材料能不让人发觉吗？
top-tier
高层次的
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are three top-tier cities in China.
北京，上海和广州是中国的三大城市。
August 10 Essay Practice Beiwai Summer 20080807 February 06
Chapter 8, Advanced
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge the specific claims made in the reading passage. February 01
SCEC Prompt 3
| The fast-food industry has grown tremendously in recent times. Some people think these restaurants offer convenient meals for busy people. Do you believe this do be a change for the better or the worse? Please use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. |
SCEC Prompt 9
| If you were given the choice between living in the city in an apartment and living in the countryside in a house, which would you choose and why? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer. |
SCEC Prompt 11
| Do you agree with the following statement? Schools should give more scholarship money to star athletes than to outstanding academic performers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. |
SCEC Prompt 15
| Not everyone can afford to live alone, and many people must share their living space with roommates. If you had to choose one, which qualities would you look for in your ideal roommate? Use specific details and examples in your answer. |
SCEC Prompt 34
| Some people prefer to stay with one company for their entire lives, while others would rather move from company to company. Which career path would you prefer and why? Give specific examples and reasons to support your preference. |
SCEC Prompt 1
| Do you feel that it is important for people to attend college or university? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer. |
SCEC Prompt 6
| Some people have dreams about moving far away from their hometowns, while others cannot imagine living anywhere else. What is your preference? Give specific reasons why you would either choose to move from or stay in your hometown. |
SCEC Prompt 7
| Television programs, movies and video games promote violence and are responsible for violent crimes committed. Do you agree with this statement? Please support your answer with specific reasons and examples. |
SCEC Prompt 13
| Do you agree with the following statement? Eating out at restaurants should only be done on special occasions. Use specific reasons to support your answer. |
SCEC Prompt 28
| Most celebrities and famous people are great role models for today's youth, and that is why they are often covered in the media (television, newspapers, magazines, etc). Do you agree or disagree? Please give examples and specfic reasons to support your answer. |
SCEC Prompt 17
| Some people prefer to study with several other students in study groups, while others find that studying alone better. Which do you prefer and why? Please give specific reasons and examples for your choice. |
|
|
|
|
Tools 
Send a private message
Subscribe to RSS feed
Tell a friend
Add to My MSN
Add to your network
Sign up for alerts
