Transcript Book 6 Unit 7

Paper Moons
1
Paraphrasing
Many a man would rather you heard his story
than granted his request.
Many men would rather you heard their
invented stories than you directly gave
them whatever they asked for.
2
The ruinous imbalance of trade 贸易逆差
If the value of exports exceeds that of
imports, the nation is said to have a
favorable balance of trade. The reverse
situation is an unfavorable balance of trade,
or imbalance of trade.
3
Protective tariffs 保护性关税
If tariffs (taxes collected by a government on
goods coming into a country) were raised, imports
could be restricted.
4
An intellectual mercenary
Who was paid to speak at the conference in order
to persuade people to support or adopt an opinion,
for propaganda.
5
Strategic Defense Initiative
战略主动防御计划/星球大战计划
Proposed by Reagan in 1983 to develop a strategic
defense system based in part outside the earth’s
atmosphere. By this system, the enemy nuclear
missiles were to be obstructed midway before they
could reach their target.
6
Supply-side economics 供应经济学
A cut in taxes by government will encourage
investment and so increase production (supplies),
which will in turn slow down inflation and lead to
economic growth. According to the theory, a tax
cut will not reduce overall tax revenues, because
economic prosperity will compensate the effects of
lower tax rates (by Reagan administration).
7
Paraphrasing
Townsend is a large and shambling man,
nearly always dressed in a rumpled suit but
blessed with an evangelist's talent for
sincerity and a sophist's gift of phrase.
Townsend is fortunate enough to have the
natural ability to put on a very sincere
expression when speaking , and to speak
extremely fluently and persuasively.
8
Paraphrasing
They hadn’t marched to the music of as
many different drums in the ideological
wars.
The other consultants, being younger than
Townsend, hadn’t participated in as many
debates on different points of views as
Townsend had.
9
Bow ties and suspenders
10
Chinese Cross Talk
The lesser performer （捧哏）who puts up a
straight face pretends not to see the point of the
major performer’s（逗哏）witty remarks. Actually
he does this to sacrifice himself by appearing
stupid.
11
Paraphrasing
Townsend kept smiling and shaking his
head until the lesser consultants subsided
into respectful silence. Murray was kind
enough to ask the straight-man’s question.
…until the junior consultants sank into
silence. Murray, appearing stupid, was kind
enough to ask a silly question.
12
Paraphrasing
They are in love with
the idea of a thing,
not the thing itself.
They have a passion
for the associations
that the thing brings
to them, not the
thing itself.
13
14
15
Who are they?
16
Do cameras tell a lie?
17
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
18
Paraphrasing
Political promises belong to the realm of
surrealist fiction.
Promises made by politicians are whatever
happens to occur to their minds at the
moment of speaking and so have no
rational basis.
19
Explanation
“Heavier than adjectives, or even
balanced phrases, but still metaphors.
Metaphors of power.”
Tanks are more powerful than adjectives
(words or phrases). If you use adjectives
to describe the US military power, other
nations will not be scared. What is
important is not to use the weapons in
wars but is the idea of power that goes
with the weapons. In this sense, weapons
are still metaphors.
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Discussion Topics
1. What fascinates you most about America? Do you
think studying in America will make you more Chinese
or American? Why?
2. How are college students in love with the idea of a
thing rather than the thing itself? Why?
3. Are luxury foreign goods anything more than
expensive status symbols? Why?
4. Why do some female stars strive hard to seek a
billionaire or the like as their mate? Cite examples.
5. Should China’s wealthier citizens maintain a lower
profile, out of consideration for the country’s poor?
21
Translation (1)
1.上周我偶然遇见了我在大学里的一位老同学，他目前
受雇于一家中美合资企业。
2.我忠心地感谢你给予我的支持。
3.他病得很严重，幸好医生一接到我的电话就赶来了。
4.这位心理学家受雇于一家外资医院。
5.这家公司为了推广新产品，召集了一些媒体机构开了
个新闻发布会。
22
Translation (2)
6.人们向他尽情地鼓掌，这是他当之无愧的。
7.该公司为这个地区的各个城镇供应粮食、棉花以及其
他日用品。
8.他们答应为我们提供我们正急需的粮食和药品。
9.一位好老师有权威，但很少有必要用它。
23
Key to Translation (1)
1. Last week, I ran across an old friend of mine in the
university, who is now in the employ of a Sino-American
joint venture.
2. I sincerely thank you for the favor you bestowed upon
me.
3. He was seriously ill, fortunately, the doctor came at once
in answer to my call.
4. The psychologist is in the employ of a foreign-funded
hospital.
5. In order to promote their new product, the company
rounded up some media authorities to have a news
conference.
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Key to Translation (2)
6. He deserved the applause ungrudgingly bestowed
upon him.
7. The company furnished every town and city in the
district with food, cotton and other daily necessities.
8. They've promised to furnish us with the food and
medicine of which we are badly in need.
9. A good teacher has authority but rarely has
occasion to employ it.
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