differences.
Pre-Reading Activities
The sense of dominates every modern culture to such an extent that most people never . Relying mainly on sight seems so natural — how could a culture favor instead? What would such a culture be like? It’s almost impossible to imagine. But is in fact not as ―natural‖ as we normally think. Although most humans are born with , no one is born knowing how to . We must learn , and many of the rules we learn vary . is an excellent example: Before artists invented formal rules for portraying three dimensions, no one thought of distant objects as looking . If you doubt this, try explaining to a young child. C… for most of us, that clear-eyed vision — that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring — is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood. that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring — in apposition to “that clear-eyed vision”, a variation of the phrase “sense of wonder”
使…看不清楚；变暗淡或模糊
a. (of a light) not bright; not easy to see 昏暗的；模糊的 Examples: Paraphrase
? age hasn’t dimmed her memory. • Old most of middle us have of little or storm, no morethe sense of wonder •• In the the lights suddenly as we grow up dimmed. • A dim bulb provides the only light in the hall. • I had only a dim memory of a tall, slender man.
• The children watched the magician in silent wonder.
misfortune — n. bad luck Examples: • • They had the misfortune to be hit by a violent storm. She bore her misfortunes bravely.
21st Century College English: Book 3
Unit 3
Part A
The Sense of Wonder
Unit 3: Part A
• Pre-Reading Activities • Text A: Language Points
• Exercises
• Assignment
If I had influence with the angels who are supposed to preside over all children, I would ask that their gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life. influence with sb. — ability to obtain favorable treatment from sb., usu. by means of acquaintance, status, wealth, etc.
… for most of us, that clear-eyed vision — that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring — is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood. clear-eyed vision — untainted outlook
If I had influence with the angels who are supposed to preside over all children, I would ask that their gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life. preside over — be head or director of; control or be responsible for e.g. • The city council is presided over by the mayor. • The present director has presided over a rapid decline in the firm’s profitability.
preside vi. — be chairman (at a conference, meeting, etc.) e.g. • The vice president will preside at today’s meeting.
keep alive their natural sense of wonder without any such gift from the angels
Pre-Reading Activities The sense of sight dominates every modern culture to such an extent that most people never consider that it could be otherwise . Relying mainly on sight seems so natural — how could a culture favor touch or hearing instead? What would such a culture be like? It’s almost impossible to imagine. But sight is in fact not as ―natural‖ as we normally think. Although most humans are born with the potential to see , no one is born knowing how to use this potential . We must learn how to see , and many of the rules we learn vary from culture to culture . Perspective is an excellent example: Before artists invented formal rules for portraying three dimensions, no one thought of distant objects as looking different from nearby ones . If you doubt this, try explaining the rule of perspective to a young child.
More to learn
… for most of us, that clear-eyed vision — that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring — is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood. dim v. make (or become) less bright or unable to see clearly
wonder
n.
— a feeling of great surprise and admiration caused by seeing or experiencing that is strange and new Examples:
• The sight of the Great Wall filled them with wonder.
The Sense of Wonder
Pre-Reading Activities
Listening
Before you listen to the passage, predict the words that are missing in the printed version of the passage. Then when you hear the passage, mark where you hear differences between your predictions and what’s actually on the tape. Don’t worry about writing down exactly what you hear — just note where you hear