Unit 2 The Virtues of Growing Older
eachtime
I. Main idea
This piece of writing is an attempt to subvert the “traditional” view and convince the reader that growing older is not necessarily that dreadful. The author points out a number of advantages
of growing older. The advantages are enumerated on the basis of the experiences of her brother and her own. By means of contrast (being young and being old) the author reveals true happiness and contentment in old age, which have often been overlooked.
II. Structural analysis
1. Divide the text into parts by completing the table.
在一起英文Paragraphs | Main ideas |
1-2 | The writer airs her view about growing older. |
3-5 | The writer discuss three distinct advantages of growing older. |
6 | The writer winds up her discussion with reference to her parents’ life to reaffirm that growing older would be “a better pha” of her life. |
| |
四大发明 翻译2. What techniques does the author adopt to prent the advantages of growing older?
The author illustrates them with examples and by contrast (being young and being old).
Text I
The Virtues of Growing Older
Carol Siskin1
1 Our society worshipsvolar youth. Advertiments convince us to buy Grecian Formula and Oil of Olay2 so we can hide the gray in our hair. Middle-aged folks work out in gyms and jog down the street, trying to delay the effects of aging.
2 Wouldn’t any person over thirty gladly sign with the devil just to be young again3? Isn’t aging an experience to be dreaded? Perhaps it is un-American to say so, but I be
lieve the answer is “No.” Being young is often pleasant, but being older has distinct advantages.
Questions
1. Why do people want to hide their gray hair and delay the effects of aging? (Para. 1)
They worship youth and are afraid of growing older, so they try every means to look young.
2. What does the writer mean when she says “it is un-American to say so” in Para. 2? (Para. 2)
She means the questions em contrary to the values commonly held by most Americans. And the American people would do anything possible to delay aging.
3. Does the writer deny the virtues of being young? (Para. 2)
No, she does not. The writer admits the virtues of being young, but what she really wants to talk about is the advantages of growing older, which will be discusd in the subquent paragraphs. So the last ntence is both thematic and transitional.
Words and Expressions
1. convince: To bring by the u of argument or evidence to firm belief or a cour of action. persuade
2. work out: To engage in strenuous exerci for physical conditioning.
optical是什么意思
3. jog: To run in such a way for sport or exerci.
4. delay: To cau to be later or slower than expected or desired.
5. aging n. the process of becoming old
e.g. People want to figure out whether doing sports can influence aging in the body.
Comparison:
elderly a. a polite word meaning old
e.g. The building has now been converted into a retirement home for the elderly.
nior citizen a polite expression meaning old people
6. devil: In many religions, the major personified spirit of evil, ruler of Hell, and foe of God.
7. un-American: Considered contrary to the institutions or principles of the United States.
8. distinct a. noticeable, unmistakable
Derivation:
distinction n.
distinctly ad.
Sentences
1. Advertiments convince us to buy Grecian Formula and Oil of Olay so we can hide th
e gray in our hair. (Paragraph 1)
Translationhealth是什么意思: 广告使我们相信，只要购买了希腊处方染发剂和玉兰油就能使我们青春永驻。
3. gladly sign with the devil just to be young again (Paragraph 2)
Explanation: Literally, the phra means to sign a contract with the devil, so that the devil would help you become young again in exchange for your soul. In the text the phra is metaphorically ud to mean be willing to do anything (even bad) to become young again.
3 When young, you are apt to be obsd with 容易被外貌问题困扰（总爱纠结于外貌问题）our appearance. When my brother Dave and I were teens, we worked feveri
shly to狂热地修炼我们的体格擘画怎么读perfect the bodies we had. Dave lifted weights, took megados 大剂量维他命of vitamins4, and drank a half-dozen milk shakes 奶昔a day in order to turn his wiry adolescent frame 瘦长的青春体格the weepiesinto some muscular ideal某种肌肉的样榜. And as a teenager, I dieted constantly我不断地控制饮食（节食）. No matter what I weighed, though, I was never satisfied with我总不满意我的模样the way I looked. My legs were too heavy, my shoulders too broad, my waist too big. When Dave and I were young, we begged and pleaded 乞求和争辩要买适合的衣服for the “right” clothes. If our parents didn’t get them for us, we felt our world would fall apart. How could we go to school wearing loo-fitting blazers蓬松的夹克 when everyone el would be wearing smartlytailored 精心剪裁的leather jackets? We would be considered freaks怪异. I often wonder how my parents, and parents in general, manage to tolerate容忍 their children during the adolescent years. Now, however, Dave and I are beyond such adolescent agonies青春期苦恼了. My roundedfigure ems fine, and I don’t deny mylf a英国留学 slice of pecan pie出国留学行李 if I feel in the mood. Dave still works out, but he has actually become fond of his tall, lanky 瘦长的frame. The two of us enjoy wearing fashionable clothes, but
we are no longer slaves to style5. And women, I’m embarrasd 很难为情地承认to admit, even more than men, have always emed to be at the mercy of 受时尚的支配fashion6. Now my clothes are attractive yet easy to wear. We no longer feel anxious about what others will think. As long as we feel good about how we look, we are happy.
