Unit 3
Text Ⅰ Alienation and the Internet
Background information
意识形态自查报告About the author: Will Baker is an essayist in Vermont of the United States.
mantra (Paragraph 4): Originally it is a word or sound in Hinduism and Buddhism repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Here it means a statement or slogan repeated frequently. For instance, the environmental mantra that energy has for too long been too cheap.
Utopia ((Paragraph 7): Originally it refers to an imaginary island described in Sir Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc. Here it is ud for an ideal state.
Analysis
What is the author’s long cherished position about the strong points of the Internet?
As a marvelous forum for the free exchange of ideas, the Internet can help realize the human potential by globalizing ideas and ultimately promote the social progress.
How did the author start his argumentation?
He started his argumentation by prenting an apparent contradiction: on the one hand, the Internet facilitates global unification by enabling the free exchange of ideas; on the ot
her, it alienates the participants.
When and how did the fragmentation of society begin?
According to the author, the fragmentation of society probably began after World WarⅡ when soldiers returned home from the overas battlefields. They believed that only when people purchad cars could society progress. To push forward the social progress, they promoted the posssion of automobiles.
群通知怎么发Why does the author discuss the question whether the Internet is a real place?
To prove that the overu of the Internet may distort the ur’s n of reality, the author has to define the key concept “the n of reality”. Whether or not the Internet is a real place is directly connected with the concept.
According to the author, what underlies the trend of overusing the Internet in our society?
People tend to overu the Internet becau it is the best way of getting immediate gratification, which is most valued by society.
Does the author believe it is within human capacity to reap the benefit of the Internet without being penalized?
Yes. He thinks that people are able to maintain their n of place while exploiting the resources of the Internet.
Language work
further: help forward
Additional training is probably the best way to further your career the days.
The interests of an organization will never be furthered through acts of terrorism.
alienate: cau (someone) to feel very distant from or not welcome to someone el
She was alienated from her brother by her foolish behavior.
All the changes to the newspaper have alienated灯笼样式 its traditional readers.
addicted: being dependent on something and wanting to spend as much time doing it as possible.
Some youngsters are hopelessly addicted鱼头的做法 to video games.
She’s become addicted to love stories.国庆手抄报简单
skew: cau to be not straight or exact; twist
The company’s results for this year are skewed becau not all our customers have paid their bills.
Today’s election will skew the results in favour of the northern end of country.十字相乘法口诀
lament: express sadness and regret about something
He lamented the death of his friend.
She 课间小游戏lamented that she had never been to Paris.
at the expen of: at the sacrifice of
世界人口密度
According to this study, women have made notable gains at the expen of men.
The orchestra has more discipline now, but at the expen of spirit.
confront: meet face to face; t face to face
He challenged his accurs to confront him openly.
The lawyer confronted the accud man with the forged check.
value: regard highly; esteem
We value your cooperation and would like to expand business with you.
I value your comments on the report.
Structural analysis
This text falls into the genre of argumentation, which is typically compod of three parts, i.e. the opening part or the thesis part, the argument part, and the summary part or conclusion part.
The first two paragraphs rve as an opening part, in which the writer prents his thesis.
The following four paragraphs constitute the body of argumentation, where the author supports his point with evidences and reasons.
