B2_U01_A

nullnullWinston Churchill — His Other LifeUnit 1 : Part A21st Century College English: Book 2null Pre-reading Activities Text A: Language Points Exercises AssignmentUnit 1: Part AnullPre-reading Activities Preview Pre-ListeningnullWhat is it that makes someone great? Why do certain people go down in history as outstanding characters, admired by millions? Are heroes and heroines truly different from other people — more intelligent, more courageous, stronger and better? Or is their fame just a matter of chance? The articles you’re going to read in this unit take a closer and more personal look at three every different figures from modern history: Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa and Princess Diana. As you read the texts, you’ll consider the acts these three are famous for; their strength of will, warm spirit and love of life; as well as the difficulties they faced, their personalities and their human nature — the “other side” of what made them special.PreviewPre-reading Activities: Previewnullprime minister author painter politician World War I romantic fearless serious passionate World War IIYou're about to hear a conversation about Winston Churchill. Before you listen, take a look at the words below. Which do you think you're likely to hear when people discuss Churchill? Then, as you listen to the tape the first time, circle the words you hear.Pre-reading Listening, p. 2Check-upPre-reading Activities: Listeningnullprime minister author painter politician World War I romantic fearless serious passionate World War IIYou're about to hear a conversation about Winston Churchill. Before you listen, take a look at the words below. Which do you think you're likely to hear when people discuss Churchill? Then, as you listen to the tape the first time, circle the words you hear.Pre-reading Listening, p. 2ScriptPre-reading Activities: ListeningnullM: So how was your visit to the museum? W: Fine. And you’ll never believe what I saw there: a painting by Winston Churchill! I never knew he was a painter. M: A painter? That can’t be right. It must have been a different Winston Churchill. W: No, it really was the famous one — the Prime Minister. The museum guard told me. M: I don’t believe you! When would Winston Churchill the Prime Minister have time to become a painter? Listening PassagePre-reading Activities He was too busy with the war. People don’t become painters overnight, you know! W: Well, World War II didn’t last forever. Maybe he became a painter after he retired. M: But he was a politician! Politicians aren’t artistic. You need passion to be a painter. W: So maybe he had a passionate side to his character that we don’t know about. Anyway, if you don’t believe me, we can check in the encyclopedia.nullIntensive Study Intensive Study Difficult sentences Key words, phrases & usages Comprehension exercisesnullWinston Churchill — His Other Life by  Mary SoamesText A:Intensive Studynull Winston Churchill — His Other Life by Mary Soames 1 My father, Winston Churchill, began his love affair with painting in his 40s, amid disastrous circumstances. As First  Lord of the  Admiralty in 1915, he had been deeply involved in a campaign in the Dardanelles that could have shortened the course of a bloody world war. But when the  mission failed, with great loss of life, Churchill paid the price, both publicly and  privately: He was removed from the Admiralty and lost his position of political influence. Intensive Studynull2 Overwhelmed by the disaster – “I thought he would die of grief,”said his wife, Clementine – he retired with his family to Hoe Farm, a country retreat in Surrey. There, as Churchill later recalled, “The muse of painting came to my  rescue!” 3 One day when he was wandering in the garden, he chanced upon his sister-in-law sketching with  watercolors. He watched her for a few minutes, then borrowed her brush and tried his hand – and the muse worked her  magic. From that day forward, Winston was in love with painting. Intensive Studynull4 Delighted with anything that distracted Winston from the dark thoughts that overwhelmed him, Clementine rushed off to buy whatever paints and materials she could find. Watercolours, oil paints, paper, canvas — Hoe Farm was soon filled with everything a painter could want or need. 5 Painting in oils turned out to be Winston's great love – but the first steps were strangely difficult. He contemplated the blank whiteness of his first canvas with unaccustomed nervousness. He later recalled: Intensive Studynull6 “Very hesitantly I selected a tube of blue paint, and with  infinite precaution made a mark about as big as a bean on the snow-white field. At that moment I heard the sound of a motorcar in the drive and threw down my brush in a panic. I was even more alarmed when I saw who stepped from the car: the wife of Sir John Lavery, the celebrated painter who lived nearby.Intensive Studynull7 “'Painting!' she declared. 'What fun. But what are you waiting for? Let me have the brush — the big one.' She plunged into the paints and before I knew it, she had swept several fierce strokes and  slashes of blue on the absolutely  terrified canvas. Anyone could see it could not hit back. I hesitated no more. I seized the largest brush and fell upon my wretched victim with wild fury. I have never felt any fear of a canvas since.” Intensive Studynull8 Lavery, who later tutored Churchill in his art, said of his unusual pupil's artistic abilities: “Had he chosen painting instead of politics, he would have been a great master with the brush.”Intensive Studynull9 In painting, Churchill had discovered a  companion with whom he was to walk for the greater part of his life. Painting would be his comfort when, in 1921, the death of his mother was followed two months later by the loss of his and Clementine's beloved three-year-old daughter, Marigold. Overcome by grief, Winston took refuge at the home of friends in Scotland — and in his painting. He wrote to Clementine:“I went out and painted a beautiful river in the afternoon light with red and golden hills in the background. Many loving thoughts ... Alas, I keep feeling the hurt of Marigold.” Intensive Studynull10 Life and love and hope slowly revived. In September 1922 another child was born to Clementine and Winston: myself. In the same year, Winston bought Chartwell, the beloved home he was to paint in all its different aspects for the next 40 years. Intensive Studynull11   My father must have felt a glow of satisfaction when in the mid-1920s he won first prize in a prestigious amateur art exhibition held in London. Entries were anonymous, and some of the judges insisted that Winston's picture — one of his first of Chartwell — was the work of a professional, not an amateur, and should be disqualified. But in the end, they agreed to rely on the artist's honesty and were delighted when they learned that the picture had been painted by Churchill. Intensive Studynull12 Historians have called the decade after 1929, when Winston again fell from office, his  barren years. Politically barren they may have been, as his lonely voice struggled to awaken Britain to the  menace of Hitler, but artistically those years bore abundant fruit: of the 500-odd Churchill canvases in existence, roughly half date from 1930 to 1939. Intensive Studynull13 Painting remained a joy to Churchill to the end of his life. “Happy are the painters,” he had written in his book Painting as a  Pastime, “for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day.” And so it was for my father. (776 Words)Intensive StudynullText-related Informationnulllove affair — romance between two people who love each other but who are not married to each other; great enthusiasm or liking (for sth.) e.g. • The girl’s love affair with the 60-year-old man worries her parents.. • She started her love affair with ballet when she was only six.nullcircumstances n. (pl.) — conditions of a situation which has an effect on what is done or on the way sth. is donee.g. • In some circumstances it may be necessary for the manager to come here in person. • Even under the most favourable circumstances this is not easy.nullText-related InformationnullText-related Informationnullmission n. — an important job sb. is sent to do in another place, esp. for a military or political purposee.g. • The foreign minister’s mission to Paris is to negotiate a cease-fire. • It is his sole mission to expand the company’s business abroad.nullprice n. — what must be given, done, or undergone to obtain or compensate for sth.e.g. • We paid a heavy price for the victory, for we lost 10,000 soldiers. Translate This is a small price to pay for independence.Key 这是为独立付出的小小代价。nulloverwhelm vt. — make (sb.) feel completely helpless, astonished, or embarrassed.Translate Fear overwhelmed me.e.g. • At the age of forty, he was overwhelmed with work, illness and family problems.More to learnnullOverwhelmed by the disaster, … A past participial phrase, usually that of a transitive verb, can function as an adverbial modifying the main verb of the sentence to indicate cause, time, condition, concession, etc.Model As he was overwhelmed by the disaster, he retired with his family to a country retreat in Surrey. — Overwhelmed by the disaster, he retired with his family to a country retreat in Surrey.More to donullDrill 1. We were startled by the appearance of a mouse, so we promptly decided to clean our room. 2. Because they’re tired of their own cooking, they’ve decided to go to a restaurant for a change. Startled by the appearance of a mouse, we promptly decided to clean our room.Tired of their own cooking, they’ve decided to go to a restaurant for a change.Overwhelmed by the disaster, …nullretreat n. — a quiet or private place that one goes in order to rest or to concentrate on a particular problem or task.e.g. • a summer retreat • a weekend retreatnullcome/go to the/one’s rescue — help sb. when they are in danger or difficultyTranslate 士兵们救起了这个快淹死的人。e.g. • We were about to close down the business, but the bank came to our rescue. • I was embarrassed as I couldn’t remember his name; fortunately Mary came to my rescue.Key The soldiers went to the rescue of the drowning man.nullchance upon/on — meet or discover unexpectedlyTranslate He chanced upon the solution to the problem.e.g. • She chanced upon some old love letters her husband kept in the back of the drawer. • I chanced upon an old friend in the street yesterday.nulltry one’s hand (at/doing sth.) — try a new activity to test one’s ability; make an inexperienced attempte.g. • After she lost her job, she thought she’d try her hand at writing a novel. • I tried my hand at repairing the bike, but without much success.nullcontemplate vt. — look at (sth.) for a long time in a quiet and very thoughtful way; gaze ate.g. • She lay back on the grass to contemplated the high, blue sky. • The lonely little boy contemplated the waves at the seashore.nullplunge into push (sth.) suddenly and deeply into (sth.else) get involved in (sth.) suddenly, without thinking carefully or preparing for ite.g. • Heather plunged her hands deep into her pockets. • She plunged bravely into the debate.nullbefore sb. know it — (informal) very quickly and suddenlye.g. • At this time of the year, you could catch cold before you know it.Translate 嫌疑人很快就被带到了警察局。Key The suspects were taken to the police station before they knew it.nullfall upon — attack suddenly and violentlye.g. • Terrorists were falling upon men and women in the street.Translate 强盗们从树后袭击了他。Key The robbers fell upon him from behind the trees.nullcomfort n. — (a person or thing that brings) relief from worries, unhappiness, or disappointmente.g. • The President’s visit has given some comfort to the earthquake victims. • His occasional visits and phone calls are a comfort to his parents in their old age.nullovercome vt. — overpower or overwhelm in body or minde.g. • The firefighters were overcome by smoke. • Receiving the prize in honour of her dead father, she was overcome with emotion.Translate 要克服恶习并不容易。Key It is not easy to overcome a bad habit.nulltake refuge in — find protection, help or relief in a place, person, action, etc.e.g. • During the frequent air-raids people took refuge in their cellars.Translate The troubled movie star took refuge in silence.Key 麻烦缠身的电影明星以沉默来逃避一切。nullentry n. — the act of entering; a person, thing or group that is entered in a race, competition, etc.e.g. • Entry into the competition is free to all citizens. • Organizers of the speech contest have received over 10 entries.null odd a. — (used after a number) with some extra; or soe.g. • twenty odd years ago • six hundred odd children • thirty-odd years二十多年前六百多个学生三十多岁null keep sb. company — 陪伴某人e.g. • Don’t worry. I’ll keep you company until your husband comes back. • The old couple were grateful for Mary’s company.Translate 他总是很高兴与漂亮姑娘做伴。Key He is always glad of pretty girls’ company.nullAnd so it was for my father. 1. His shoes are cheap, so is his suitcase. He plays golf well, so does his brother. So + auxiliary verb + subject adding new informationCompare the following groups of sentences:More to learnnullAnd so it was for my father. 2. I said I would come, and so I will. — You have forgotten your hat. — Ah, yes, so I have. So + subject +auxiliary verb expressing agreementCompare the following groups of sentences:More to donullAnd so it was for my father. Drills 1. I hear you had a quarrel with your parents yesterday. _______（ 的确如此 ）, but it has been made up already. 2. In the end, I decided to apply to medical school, and ________________ （我兄弟也申请读医）. 3. She recalls her father in this article in an emotional way. __________（的确是这样）. There’s a lot of feeling in it.So I didSo did my brotherSo she does nullExercisesComprehension Vocabulary Listening nullAnswer the following questions:What was the nature and outcome of the “mission” mentioned in the first paragraph? How did it affect Churchill personally?Key: It was a military campaign in which many soldiers died. The effects for Churchill were (a) he lost his political position and (b) he was overwhelmed with grief.Comprehension《读写教程 II》: Ex. II, p. 10null2. What did Churchill mean by the statement “The muse of painting came to my rescue!” (para. 2)?Answer the following questions:Key: He felt so inspired to paint that he was distracted from his personal problems.Comprehensionnull3. Three women played key roles in getting Churchill involved in painting. Who were they, and what parts did they play?Answer the following questions:Key: His sister-in-law’s painting inspired him to try his hand at it; his wife rushed out to buy all the materials he would need; and the wife of Sir John Lavery helped him overcome his fear of a blank canvas.Comprehensionnull4. What caused Churchill’s nervousness when he first tried his hand at oil painting? Why does the author call it “unaccustomed nervousness”? Answer the following questions:Key: The blank whiteness of the canvas made him feel he didn’t know where to begin. The nervousness was not typical of Churchill, who was known publicly as a brave and strong-willed person.Comprehensionnull5. How do you interpret the sentence “Anyone could see it could not hit back.” (para. 7)?Answer the following questions:Key: Churchill was comparing the canvas to an opponent in a fight, and he could now see that he would win the “battle”.Comprehensionnull6. What did Sir John Lavery mean by saying “Had he chosen painting instead of politics, he would have been a great master with the brush”? Answer the following questions:Key: He meant that Churchill would have been a great painter, just as he was a great politician.Comprehensionnull7. What role did painting play in Churchill’s life in 1921?Answer the following questions:Key: It was his comfort when the death of his mother was followed quickly by the death of his daughter.Comprehensionnull8. Why was Churchill’s painting almost disqualified from the exhibition in the mid-1920s? And why were the judges later delighted?Answer the following questions:Key: Because the judges suspected that it was not painted by an amateur; they were later delighted because Churchill was already a famous political figure and the fact that he also painted well surprised them.Comprehensionnull9. Does the writer agree with the historians who have called the decade after 1929 Churchill’s barren years?Answer the following questions:Key: No, she considers that decade an artistically fruitful one.Comprehensionnull10. What did Churchill mean when he wrote that “painters … shall not be lonely”? What did painting mean to him, and what does this tell you about his relationships with people around him?Answer the following questions:Key: He meant that painting was like a friend who never betrayed or abandoned him. This seems to suggest that he often felt lonely, misunderstood and/or disappointed in his relationship with other people.ComprehensionnullVocabularynullIII. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary.1. I’ve always envied painters and poets — I have no _____ abilities at all.2. He’s struggling to _____ his fear of flying, but he still panics sometimes when he has to board a plane.Vocabulary artistic overcome《读写教程 II》: Ex. III, p. 11null3. She held her newborn baby with _____ tenderness.4. The whole nation was _____ into profound grief when Princess Diana died in an accident.VocabularyIII. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. infinite plungednull5. The volunteers’ _____ is to work with the police to reduce crime on the streets of New York.6. The city is planning a public _____ to awaken people to the problem of noise pollution.VocabularyIII. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. mission campaignnull7. He was knocked unconscious by a stone, and after I _____ him, he didn’t recognize me.8. Once their books are open, A students don’t let anything _____ them from their studies.VocabularyIII. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. revived distractnull9. Amanda wasn’t feeling well that day but she performed in the play with her _____ ease.10. When you feel overwhelmed by the complications of life in the big city, it’s good to _____ to the countryside for a few days.VocabularyIII. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. accustomed retreatnull11. In times of war, people usually buy and store more food as a _____ against shortage.12. The closing of the cigarette factory had _____ effects on the town’s economy.III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. precaution disastrousVocabularynull1. Though excited about the beautiful scenery he was painting, Churchill kept thinking about his daughter Marigold.2. He struggled for many years before his efforts produced results.IV. Replace the underlined parts in the following sentences with the words or expressions from the text that best keep the original meaning. Vocabularydelighted withbore fruit《读写教程 II》: Ex. IV, p. 12null3. I wonder who kept Clementine from feeling lonely while her husband was painting in Scotland.4. In a market-driven economy, a business can’t depend on the government to help it out.VocabularyIV. Replace the underlined parts in the following sentences with the words or expressions from the text that best keep the original meaning. kept Clementine companyrely onnull5. Home is the place where you can always