Unit 7 The Fun They HadMain idea:This narrative story is a science fiction telling a story happening in the year of 2157. Margie and Tommy found a book in 21st century and they know something from the book about education in 21st century. Also, from the dialogue between Margie and Tommy, we, the people in 21st century know something of the education in the future predicted and imagined by the author. Structural AnalysisThis text can be divided into three parts.Part I (paragraph 1):This paragraph, which serves as the background of the story, tells us the time, characters, and the real book around which the story evolves.Part II (paragraphs 2-30):This part tells the story: Margie’s school life and school life of hundreds years ago she got from a book.Part III (paragraphs 31—35):This part tells Margie’s schoolroom, the mechanical teacher and Margie’s psychological activities Text Explanationhead1) lead; be at the front of; be at the top ofE.g.: The president’s car headed the procession.This canyon heads the list of natural attractions.2) be in charge of; take charge ofe.g.: The sales director heads a team of 20 representatives.crinklyhaving many thin folds; (of hair) curlye.g.: My shirts were all crinkly when I got them out of the suitcase.Her hair is a bit crinkly, which makes her look much prettier.be supposed to1) have a duty or responsibility to do sth.E.g.: Everybody is supposed to bring a bottle to the party.You are not supposed to smoke in here.2) be generally considered to be; have the reputation of beingE.g.: I haven’t seen it myself, but it is supposed to be a very good film.…and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving about the way they were supposed to—on a screen…and it was very amusing to read words that were motionless instead of moving the way they ought to – on a screenWhen you’re through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess.—When you have finished reading the book, you merely throw it away, I believe.When you have finished reading the book, you merely cast it away, I believe.through1) in at one side, end, or surface, and out at the other; all the waye.g.: The guard at the gate wouldn’t let us through.Does this train go right through to London?2) from the beginning to the end; to completione.g.: Have you read the letter right through?You should read the article through before you translate it.scornfulshowing contempt for;e.g.: His scornful laugh greatly embarrassed me.His scornful dismissal of the democratic process showed that he did not support it. What's there to write about school?This is a rhetorical question, which calls for no answer. A positive rhetorical question is negative in meaning. The rhetorical question here means: There is nothing at all to write about school. mechanical1) of or moved, worked, or produced by machinerye.g.: That factory manufactures a variety of mechanical products.Being a mechanical genius, that man is at home in mechanical applications.2) Done without thought or feeling; (done) from habit rather than wille.g.: He greeted me in a mechanical way by using mechanical compliments.superior:1) of a higher rank or class; better in quality or valuee.g.: Of the two books, this one is superior to that one2) of high qualitye.g.: This is a very superior make of car.Superior goods are very popular among the customers.regular:1) happening or appearing with the same amount of time or space between each one and the next; not varyinge.g.: Plant the seed at regular intervals.2) happening, coming or doing something again and again at the same times each day, week, month, etce.g.: We keep regular working hours.Mr. Smith is a regular customer of the small store.nonchalantly:indifferently, coldly, not feeling excitede.g.: He reacted nonchalantly to my suggestion.He treated me nonchalantly when I visited him.tuckv 1 (a) ~ sth into sth; ~ sth in/up, push or fold or turn the ends or edges (of cloth, paper, etc) so that they are hidden or held in place; draw (sth) together into a small space 将（布、纸等）的端部或边缘掖好、叠拢或卷起（使之看不见或固定住）;将（某物）缩拢起来塞入狭小空间: e.g. tuck your trousers into your boots.He tucked up his shirt-sleeves.The nurse tucked her hair (up) under her cap.dispute1) (about, over, with) argue about sth. Esp. angrily and for a long timeThe two governments disputed over the ownership of the territory.The question was hotly disputed in the Senate.2) Disagree about or question the truth or correctness ofI dispute the Minister’s figures—the true cost of the project is much higher.adjustv 1) put (sth) into the correct order or position; alter (sth) by a small amount so that it will fit or be right for use; regulate 整理; 校准; 调准; 校正:She carefully adjusted her clothes and her hair before going out.adjust the rear mirror,2)~ (sth/oneself) (to sth) become or make suited (to new conditions); adapt 使适合（新环境等）; 适应:The body quickly adjusts (itself) to changes in temperature.adjustable adjadjustmentlight up1) ignite; (cause to ) start to burn; give light toe.g.: The fire won’t light up.The stage was lit up by several powerful spotlights.2) cause to become bright with pleasure or excitement.e.g.: Suddenly, a smile lit up her face when she heard the news.Her face lit up with joy when she saw him coming.ExercisesParaphrase:1. Her mother asked the County Inspector to come over.2. The mechanical teacher finished the calculation of the mark very quickly.3. Tommy looked at Margie with an air which suggested he knew far better about school than others.4. A teacher, a computerized teacher on net, has to be changed slightly so as to be suitable for each boy and girl to learn from.Grammar:1.The usage of articles;2.“It … to do something” pattern.Translation:1. Yesterday a government delegation headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived in South Africa and began a three-day friendly visit to the country.2. It is awfully funny and splits your sides with laughter to observe these caricatures which satirize social ills.3. Computers are one of the most useful teaching aides, for all your lessons as well as all the questions asked and all the answers provided can be shown on a screen.4. As soon as his mother fell ill suddenly the day before yesterday, Xiao Zhang sent for a doctor, who came and diagnosed and treated his mother.5. He failed in the college entrance examination last year, but he did not feel disappointed. Instead, he continued to study hard, passed the examination successfully and became a student in a famousuniversity this year.6. There are many English words that this middle school student cannot pronounce correctly. Therefore, he has to make great effort to learn the phonetic symbols well and acquire standard English pronunciation.7. In this new ear marked by knowledge explosion and information explosion, we have to pursue constant study and take particular care to renew our knowledge. Only thus, can we become adjusted to the requirements of our specialized work.8. With his shirt tucked into the top of his trousers and a leather bag tucked under his arm, the boy looked just like a boss.9. Although she is only eight years old, the little girl is already very good at calculating fractions. No wonder her parents feel very proud of her.10. All the neighborhood have heard about the news, but you haven’t. Don’t you think it is very strange.Text II The LaugherMain idea:In this essay, the author introduces to the readers his occupation—a laugher. Being good at all kinds of laughter and portraying gaiety in work, the author, however, does not like his job and does not feel happy at all.Questions for discussion:1. He thinks that the nature of all the professions is clear and needs no further explanation.2. His talents in the field of mime and elocution are not good enough to meet the requirements of an actor.3. He is most probably a professional laugher, imitating the laughter of different kinds of people and of different occasions.4. He wants to stress that skill comes from practice.5. They do not feel at home in punch lines, as a result, their performance may fail to entertain its audience.6. He feels sad because he cannot change or control the way that things will happen.7. Like a pessimist, the author condemns his job because he thinks that it results in more pain than pleasure.8. He goes back to normal, and in fact the feels happy because he does not have to play the fool. Memorable QuotesJohann Wolfgang von GoetheGerman poet, novelist, playwright, courtier, and natural philosopher, one of the greatest figures in Western literature. In literature Goethe gained early fame with The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774), but his most famous work is the poetic drama in two parts, FAUST.Sir Francis Bacon (later Lord Verulam and the Viscount St. Albans) was an English lawyer, statesman, essayist, historian, intellectual reformer, philosopher, and champion of modern science.。