Unit 4 lesson 8
My Graduation Speech
By Neil Postman
The ability to express yourlf clearly and effectively in a few words is a mark of true mastery over language. The burden心律不齐吃什么药好 or brevity汉语言文学排名 has pressured the speaker to hone their messages to the sharpest edge, to communicate and inspire within the narrow period of time before the attention of their audience wanes. The way in which the speaker can express such an inspirational, heartfelt message in so few words is a lesson to us all.
十大忠诚卫士1. Background information | ………………………………… | 异端邪说1 |
2. Language points | ………………………………… | 3 |
3. Text and translation | ………………………………… | 10 |
| | |
1. Background information
1. Neil Postman
Neil postman is the chair of the Department of Culture and Communications and professor of media ecology at New York University. He is a critic of online education.
2. Democritus (460 --- 370BC)
Democritus was a Greek philosopher who developed the atomic theory of the univer, which had been originated by his mentor, the philosopher Leucippus.
3. The Visigoths
The Visigoths (or western Goths) were ancient Germanic peoples who invaded the Rome Empire. Beginning in the 4th century AD, they ttled in areas of what are now Spain, Portugal, and France.
4. The Roman Empire
When the ancient Greeks were reaching the height of their glory, the power of Rome, to t
he west, was slowly rising. The genius of the Greeks lay in art, literature, science, and philosophy. The Romans were best in warfare, engineering, and government.
During the later republic and most of the empire, Rome was the dominant power in the entire Mediterranean basin, most of western Europe, and large areas of northern Africa. The Romans possd a powerful army and were gifted in the applied arts of law, government, city planning, and statecraft, but they also acknowledged and adopted contributions of other ancient peoples—most notably, tho of the Greeks, much of who culture was thereby prerved.
The Romans called the Mediterranean Mare Nostrum--“our a.” The map indicates why they had good reason to do so. The map shows that the empire extended from the British Isles in the northwest to Egypt in the southeast and from Armenia in the northeast to Mauretania (now Morocco) in the southwest. The Roman Empire thus encompasd the Mediterranean, ruled every civilized land in Europe and Africa, and extended into Asia. The only other civilized countries in the world lay farther east, in Asia. Emperor Trajan extended Roman rule into Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Hadrian, however, withdrew to the previous frontier.
7． The Dark Ages
The period in history from the end of the Rome Empire to about 800 AD is often called the Dark Ages, or later the Early Middle Ages. The Early Middle Ages saw the continuation of trends t in Late Antiquity, depopulation, deurbanization, and incread barbarian invasion. There was not much progress made in Europe during this period. The foundations were laid, however, for important advances that were to follow in the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The stirrup was probably invented during the Dark Ages. Water wheels also made their first appearance then. They were ud as sources of power in small rivers and in a inlets, where they were run by tidal currents. The water wheels led to the windmill, which was introduced in about 1100. the magnetic compass was also invented at about this time.
2. Language points
eminence
n. superiority in rank, position, achievement, etc. 出众，卓越
孙策简介revel
炒楼花vi. make merry; celebrate noisily 作乐；狂欢
tedious
a. long and boring; uninteresting 冗长的；乏味的
pointless
a. without meaning or purpo 无意义的；无目的的
inspirational
a. of or giving inspiration 有灵感的；给予灵感的；鼓舞人心的
inspiration
n. 灵感；鼓舞人心的人（或事物）
banal
a. dull or unoriginal 陈腐的，老一套的
hereby
ad. by doing or saying this; as a result of this 据此；因此
permission
n. connt; authorization 同意；许可
permissable
a. 可允许的，许可的
foremost
ad. in the first place; before all el 首先；首要地
ancestor
教师个人师德小结
n. any (esp. remote) person from whom one is descended 祖先，祖宗
spiritual
a. of or concerning the spirit as oppod to matter 精神上的
align
v. come, bring or arrange into a line （使）成一直线
literate
a. able to read and write; having studied or read a great deal 有读写能力的；有文化修养的
vigor
n. great physical or mental strength 精力，活力
vigorous
a. full of vigor; showing physical strength or activity 精力旺盛的；充满活力的
epic
n. a long poem about the deeds of gods and great men, or the early history of a nation 叙事长诗；史诗
unsurpasd
a. unexcelled, not capable of being improved on 未被超越的；超群的，卓绝的 如何消除嘴角纹
moderation
n. avoidance of excess or extremes; the ability or quality of keeping one's desires within reasonable limits 适度；节制
ecology
n. the branch of biology dealing with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings 生态学
flourish
vi. grow vigorously; prosper; be in one's prime 繁荣；兴旺；处于旺盛时期
spectacularly
ad. in a spectacular manner, stunningly 引人注目地；令人吃惊地
spectacular
a. grandly out of the ordinary; striking or amazing 壮观的；令人称奇的
horman
n. a rider on horback; a skilled rider 骑马的人；骑手
