On the first day(Voice-over: Harrison meets Jenny before the first class.)Harrison: I'm Harrison. Good to meet you.Jenny: Good to meet you. I'm Jenny.Harrison: So, you've bought the books for this biology class.Jenny: Yeah. I think everyone had to before class started.Harrison: No. Usually no one does much on the first day because it's still add-drop.Jenny: What's that?Harrison: Changing from class to class to find out which is best.Jenny: Have you had this teacher before? I've heard he is really good.Harrison: He's good if you're a hard worker. He expects a lot.Jenny: Oh, I guess that's good. I hope I can keep up with everyone else in the class. Maybe I need your help after class.Harrison: You're welcome.(Voice-over: Jenny catches up with Harrison after the first class.)Jenny: Harrison, wait up!Harrison: So what do you think of the professor's lecture?Jenny: I think about half of what he said went over my head.Harrison: Don't worry. A lot of what he said is explained in the reading.Jenny: Hey, would you mind if I borrowed your notes tonight to look them over?Harrison: No problem. We don't have class until Wednesday. Here you go.Jenny: Thanks. I just want to make sure I'm prepared for the seminar.Harrison: Yeah. Participation in the discussion is an important part of the education here.How to select elective courses?Consider these tips on elective courses and you'll choose those that will serve you best.To begin with, you should select the courses that fit your profession. It is a good idea to choose elective courses closely related to your chosen profession. Potential employers will appreciate every bit of extra training and knowledge that they don't have to give you. For example, you may select elective courses in chemistry, biology or even physics if you are doing a science major. For business majors, select electives in accounting, business administration, and even computing, as you'll never know when these will come in handy in the corporate world.Moreover, you can choose an education that includes many fields of study. If you are taking a heavy load of career-related courses, you may prefer electives that are not directly related to your major. If you receive a well-rounded education, some employers believe that you have better potential. For example, if you have courses in science along with your business degree, you could possibly win a job over someone who majored purely in business with no outside electives. Finally, you can also select a challenging elective course. Part of getting an education is learning how to learn, and elective courses should help you achieve this goal. You need not to memorize all the information from each class, but you should get a better understanding of the world. So, pick elective courses that challenge your belief system and make you look at the world in a different way. For instance, you can consider a philosophy elective if you have been told that you are a little narrow-minded.We should have proper respect for nature!Martha: Do you think most people in your culture respect nature?Ed: I thi nk so. Um…more now than before.Martha: What do you think is the most serious environmental problem in the world today?Ed: Today... I think damage to the ozone layer is a big problem, and another problem is pollution in big cities and things like that.Martha: How do you learn about environmental problems?Ed: Um... through school. A lot of clubs promote environmental safety, and some TV programs, too. They talk about environmental safety and stuff like that.Martha: Do you think students should learn more about the environment at school?Ed: I think so. So, as they grow older, they can be more aware of all the problems that are going on, and prevent more problems from occurring.Martha: If you could create a new law to help the environment, what would it be?Ed: A new law for the environment? Um... I'd probably say that when people throw away their cigarette butts, they have to throw them into the garbage bin, not just throw them everywhere because it's just littering and I hate that. So they should be fined if they throw them on the floor or on the ground.Martha: That's a good idea. What do you personally do to help protect the environment?Ed: I'm so against littering. I never litter. If I see somebody litter, I get really angry. So I always throw my trash into the garbage bin.Unit 3Americans’ work ethicFor 400 years or more, one thing has been a characteristic of Americans. It is called their "work ethic". Its roots were in the teachings of the Christian Puritans who first settled in what is now the northeastern state of Massachusetts. They believed that it was their moral duty to work at every task to please God by their diligence, honesty, attention to details, skill, and attitude. To these Puritans, it was a sin to be lazy or to do less than your best in any task. They and later Americans tried to follow the Bible's teachings, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." Therefore, Americans have for centuries believed that they were guilty of sin if they did not work as carefully and hard as they could when they did anything. God would punish those who were careless or lazy in their work. Even as children they were taught, "If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing well.''But some people have gone beyond the usual sense of diligence. They are especially attracted to the notion of "climbing the ladder" so as to increase their status, financial position, and sense of self-worth.In English a new word has been created to describe people who work compulsively. The word "workaholic" describes an individual who is as addicted to work as an alcoholic is to alcohol. There are conflicting points of view about workaholics. Those concerned with problems of mental stress believe workaholics abuse themselves physically and mentally. Others hold that workaholics are valuable members of society because they are extremely productive. The American culture values achievement, efficiency, and production, and a workaholic upholds those values.Nuclear family living patternsA nuclear family is typical in highly-industrialized societies.Beginning in the early 20th century, the two-parent family known as the nuclear family was the predominant American family type. Generally children live with their parents until they go away to a college or university, or until they find jobs and acquire an apartment or home of their own. In the early mid-20th century, the father was typically the sole wage-earner, and the mother was the children's principal caregiver. Today, often both parents hold jobs. Dual-earner families are the predominant type for families with children in the United States. Increasingly, one of the parents has a non-standard shift, that is, a shift that does not start in the morning and end in the late afternoon. In these families, one of the parents manages the children while the other works. Prior to school, adequate day care of children is necessary for dual-earner families. In recent years, many private companies and home-based day care centers have sprung up to fulfill this need. Increasingly, companies are getting involved in the arrangement of day care. Governments are providing assistance to parents that require day care as well.Unit 5What to do for mom?Young men and women, tomorrow will be Mother's Day. Some of you are still wondering what to do for your mom. Here's my advice.Look out for anything that she plans to buy, and buy it if you can afford it. For example, a casual dress or formal office wear. Or, it may be a hair clip with a touch of difference. Check out if she is planning to get a new microwave or a new steam iron, and give it to her if you can afford it. You can get some ideas by considering what her likes and dislikes are. If she likes cats, how about giving her a pet or something that has a cat's picture on it? But make sure she doesn't find out that you're getting her a present. Let her gift be a pleasant surprise.Definitely spend some time with her, especially if you are not living with her. Make her feel special. For example, you can cook a special dish for the day. You can also throw a little party and invite those who are close to her.And of course, if she enjoys outings, take a little trip with her. And if possible, take one with your entire family. She'll love it for sure. After all, she is the one who takes care of all of you. A special trip to the countryside could show her how much you care for her. If she is happy, I'm sure you'll feel happy, too.Unit 7Attending a business receptionChris: I've been looking forward to this reception for weeks. I can't wait to get some of my own leads. You know, start making new connections.Nora: Smart thinking. But what are you going to do with all those brochures?Chris: The party ends at 2:00. I figure I can have them all distributed by 1:30.Nora: No, no, no. Let me clue you in. Those brochures will make you look like a green hand. Chris: What should I do then?Nora: Hand out business cards. That's the way to do it.Chris: I don't understand what's wrong with these brochures about our company.Nora: This room is going to be filled with potential clients, but there is an unwritten law: You leave your work at the door.Chris: But how am I supposed to get anything out of this if we can't talk business?Nora: You have business cards. Get in there and exchange cards. Just get a card for a card. Chris: Then follow up on Monday?Nora: You catch on quick. Let's split up so we can cover more ground.Chris: Great idea. This is going to be a piece of cake. I'll meet you back here at 2:00.Start-up companiesStart-up companies can come in all forms, but the phrase "start-up company" is often associated with high-growth, technology-oriented companies. Investors are often attracted to those new companies that have lower bootstrapping costs, higher risk, and higher potential returns on investment. Successful start-ups are typically more scalable than established businesses, in the sense that they can potentially grow more rapidly with limited investment of capital, labor, or land.Start-ups have a number of options for funding. Venture capital firms and angel investors may help start-up companies begin operations, exchanging cash for an equity stake. In practice though, many start-ups are initially funded by the founders themselves.A critical task in setting up a business is to conduct research in order to assess the business ideas, the opportunities and risks in future development, and the commercial potential. If a company's value is based on its technology, it is often equally important for the business owners to obtain intellectual property protection for their ideas. The news magazine The Economist estimated that up to 75 percent of the value of U.S. listed companies is now based on their intellectual property (up from 40 percent in 1980). Often, 100 percent of a small start-up company's value is based on its intellectual property. As such, it is important for technology-oriented start-up companies to develop a sound strategy for protecting their intellectual capital as early as possible.Start-up companies, particularly those associated with new technology, sometimes produce huge returns to their creators and investors. Based on a research, founder CEOs of high-tech companies can typically expect their stock to be worth about $16.5 million if the company succeeds in going public. However, the failure rate of start-up companies is very high.Unit 8Battling povertyToday I'll be presenting a report on our findings on the condition of the world's population. It may be a surprise to you that half the people in the world live on less than two dollars a day, and a billion people live on less than one dollar a day.I'm going to look at poverty and its relationship to population issues. We must work fast if we hope to reduce poverty by half, by the year 2015.Our survey shows the first step should be to improve health care systems. In the world's poorest countries, people are expected to live just 49 years. One in 10 children doesn't reach his or her first birthday. According to our study, poor health and poverty are linked. Women are affected most by poor health care systems, especially pregnant women.The second job we have to do, as many of you can guess, is to reduce birth rates. We havefound that when given a choice, poor people in developing countries have fewer children than their parents did. A possible reason for this is probably that smaller families have fewer expenses and more chances of increasing their earnings and savings. Since the 1970s, developing countries with lower birth rates have had faster economic growth. They have had higher productivity, more savings and more investments. Obviously we must encourage family planning and lower birth rates.Now, here is the third measure we must take: Promote education in developing countries. Investing in education, especially for women, can reduce poverty. Educated women have more opportunities to work and a chance to live better. Moreover, they tend to send their children to good schools so that they can climb the social ladder.Well, any questions? None? OK. Now I'll talk about the fourth step we need to take…Unit 9The smaller the airport, the greater the security!Paul: The airport security checks sometimes seem very strange to me.Sylvia: What do you mean?Paul: I just completed an international flight. And with all the threats to security of travel today, I expected to have my luggage searched.Sylvia: That's understandable. I mean, with all the fear out there about terrorism, of course they're going to check your baggage—especially your carry-ons.Paul: I don't mind them checking my baggage. In fact, I expect it. But there seems to be an inverse ratio at work.Sylvia: What on earth do you mean? They check everyone's baggage, don't they?Paul: Yes, but here's what's funny: The smaller the airport, the greater the security. The less likely a plane is to be hijacked, the more precautions they take.Sylvia: Are you serious? Why should a small airport be more aware of security than a large one? Paul: Here's what I've experienced: Once at a small airport, they seized a roll of adhesive tape and argued that it could be used in hijacking. Then they asked me to remove my digital camera from its case and demonstrate that it could take pictures.Sylvia: And is this different from a large airport?Paul: According to my experience, it is. When I flew from Vancouver to Paris, they simply ran my bags through the scanner, and I was on my way.Sylvia: If that's the case, the baggage checking system is really strange.Unit 10How to improve your memory?Everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize huge amounts of information. Here are some tips:First, take mental exercise. Regularly "exercising" the brain keeps it growing and promotes the development of new nerve connections that improve memory. By learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument, you can keep your brain active.Second, take physical exercise. Regular aerobic exercise promotes blood circulation to the brain and helps it avoid the memory loss that comes with aging.Third, eat well and eat right. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, blueberries andspinach are the best sources of the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Antioxidants protect and support brain functions. Also, you need to get enough protein, which is necessary to maintain healthy muscles, organs, and nerve cells. Eating five or six small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals also seems to improve mental functioning by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may affect the brain negatively.Fourth, avoid chemical poisoning. Avoid eating foods that contain such additives as artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and artificial colors. These chemicals can accumulate in the body and become toxic, causing brain damage, memory loss, and Alzheimer's disease. If you eat foods polluted with pesticides or insecticides instead of organically grown foods, the toxic chemicals can affect nerve functions and cause memory loss. Moreover, avoid alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs; they destroy brain cells at a rapid rate.Fifth, sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep—a minimum of seven hours a night—can improve your memory.Sixth, reduce stress. Chronic stress can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stress can make it difficult to focus on concepts or to observe things. So, you should try to relax. Regularly practice yoga or other calming exercises.。