Passage A
Before Reading
Activity 1
Please read the famous quote below, understand the quote by consulting the reference and then recite it.
The object of a higher education is to bring out the intelligent moral power of our nature; to make a new and better society; and to enable us to abide in the highest excellence.When a man has a standard of excellence before him, and only then, will he have a fixed and definite purpose; with a fixed and definite purpose, and only then, will he be able to have peace and tranquility of mind; with tranquility of mind, and only then,will he be able to have peace and tranquility of soul; with peace and serenity of soul, and only then, can he devote himself to deep, serious thinking and reflection; and it is only by deep, serious thinking and reflection that a man can attain true culture.In physical nature, there are causes and effects.In human affairs, there are springs of actions and consequences.When a man knows that he must first attend to the one before he can deal with the other, he is then not far from the truth.
— Higher Education translated by Gu Hongming
Activity 2
Please enjoy a video clip “How to Kickass in College” which is relevant to the passage we are going to learn.Fill in the blanks while watching.
How to Kickass in College
Tip 1:Remember that it’s about your college courses first.You need to understand that even though you do have this freedom, you still have responsibility.And your top responsibility is to 1) .
Tip 2:Go to class.If you go to your class, and don’t 2) , you’ll be successful to a degree.
Tip 3:Choose your friend wisely.If you start 3) with people that don’t have the same goal as you, they’re going to pull you down to their level.
Tip 4:Party responsibly.Don’t drink too much, don’t drink too often, and don’t do recreational drugs.You need to be safe.
Tip 6:Maintain a 4) .It just means you need to have balance.
Tip 7:Stick to a schedule.Now go to sleep and get up at reasonable hour.You need to get in 5) maintaining a schedule.
*kickass/ kɪkæs /(informal)strikingly or overwhelmingly tough,aggressive,powerful a.(非正式) 强势的；有力的
Activity 3
Please conduct a survey by completing the questionnaire below.
Activity 4
Please report to the classmates the result of the survey in reference to the following suggested sentence structures.
To introduce:
■ The purpose/aim of this report
■ As requested
■ This survey was carried out/conducted by means of
■ The questionnaire consisted of
■ ...
To generalize:
■ In general
■ Generally
■ On the whole
■ ...
To refer to a fact:
■ The fact is that
■ In fact
■ In practice
■ ...
To conclude/ summarize:
■ In conclusion
■ All things considered
■ To sum up
■ All in all
■ It is not easy to reach any definite conclusions
■ If any conclusions may be drawn from the data
■ It is clear that
■ The survey shows/indicates/demonstrates
■ ...
Play with Words
Challenge Your Classmates
Before you start to read the passage, please complete the questionnaire below.
Use this questionnaire to interview your classmates, and then report your f indings in class.
Develop Your Understanding
Try to f ind answers to the following questions.
1.What do the students think of college life before going to college?
2.What are the main tasks for a college student?
3.What benefits can the students get from the Student Union activities?
4.What are the differences between high school education and college education?
5.What does the author comment on the first year experience in college?
My First Year Life in College
Many high school graduates wrongly assume that college life is free from worry.However, many may find later that the situation may be beyond their expectation.
The adults around always tell me that college life is free and comfortable, but I’d like to say that it is not true.In reality, my college life is so busy that I sometimes wonder if my energy is enough.
Francis Bacon once said, “Knowledge is power.” As to my first year in college, life is mainly made up of two parts— study and social activities, but study is the main task.In order to get good grades, I have to get used to the new college lifestyle and pursue learning as much as possible.It is the focus on learning method that reveals most of the differences between high school education and college education.
As we know, college education will enhance students’ opportunities for better jobs in the future.So I’m sure that spending time on study is worthwhile.To some extent, study and some social activities should start from the very beginning of the freshman year.The Student Union is a good place where one can develop social skills, get his abilities trained,have his competence recognized and make a lot of friends.
My first year in college is not free, but it is full of curiosity and satisfaction.And I see that the chance will come only if you have a prepared mind.
◆wrongly / 'rɒŋIɪ / ad.错误地
★assume / ə'sjuːm / v.认为；假设
be free from 不受……的；没有约束的
beyond expectation 出乎意料, 预料不到地
*beyond / bɪ'jɒnd / prep.超出；除……之外
★expectation / ,ekspek'teɪʃn / n.希望；盼望
in reality 实际上，事实上
*wonder / 'wʌndə / n.奇迹；惊奇v.怀疑；惊奇；想知道
◆mainly / 'meɪnIɪ / ad.主要地; 总体上
get used to 习惯于
*focus / 'fəʊkəs / n.焦点；中心
★reveal / rɪ'viːI / v.显示；揭示
★enhance / ɪn'hɑːns / v.提高；增强
★worthwhile / ,wзːθ'waɪI / a.重要的；值得的
to some extent 在某种程度上
*extent / ɪks'tent / n.程度；限度
◆competence / 'kɒmpɪtəns / n.能力；胜任
*recognize / 'rekəgnaɪz / v.认可；接受
◆curiosity / ,kjʊərɪ'ɒsətɪ / n.好奇心；求知欲
*satisfaction / ,sætɪs'fækʃn / n.满足；满意
only if 只有；只要
Check Your Study
Activity 1
Choose the best answers according to the passage.
1.Before entering college, many students think that college life is ______.
A）especially difficult
B）rather dull
C）completely free from worry
D）the same as they have expected
2.The author is told by the adults around that college life is ______.
A）not easy but difficult
B）both nervous and difficult
C）easy and comfortable
D）serious and nervous
3.According to the author, college life is mainly made up of ______.
A）study and social activities
B）lectures and examinations
C）courses and experiments
D）academic learning and physical training
4.In the author’s opinion, social activities should start from ______.
A）the very beginning of freshman year
B）the end of college education
C）the beginning of sophomore year
D）anytime during college
5.The passage mainly tells us that ______.
A）college life is free from worry
B）college education ensures students better opportunities
C）college education enhances students’ opportunities for better jobs
D）college education is different from high school education
Activity 2
Read the passage quickly, and f ill in the blanks.
My First Year Life in College
The main idea:
My first year in college is not free, but full of 1）_____________.
My college life experience:
Before entering college
The adults around always tell me that college life is free and 2）_____________.
When studying in college
A） My life is mainly made up of two parts— study and 3）_____________.
B） I’m sure that spending time on study is 4）_____________.
What I ’ve gained in college
The chance will just come only if you have a 5）_____________ mind.
Activity 3
Read the passage carefully and f ill in the blanks with proper words or phrases.Then try to recite it.
As we know, college education will 1）______ students’ opportunities for better jobs in the future.So I’m sure that spending time on study is 2）______.3）______, study and some 4）______ should start from the very beginning of freshman year.The Student Union is a good place where one can develop social skills, get his abilities 5）______,have his competence 6）______ and make a lot of friends.
Activity 4
Work with your partner according to the clues given below.
College is regarded as a “bridge” between high school and the real world.Let’s talk about your expectations and first impression of college.
Suggested questions:
■ Why do you decide to study in college?
■ What can college education bring for you?
■ How do you spend your college life?
■ ...
Useful expressions:
■ earn more money
■ open one’s mind
■ change one’s life
■ learn as much as possible
■ develop skills
■ meet the challenges of society
■ prepare for a future career
■ make all-round development
■ ...
Useful sentence paは erns:
■ I will try to grasp the chances at hand.
■ I study in college because I want to change my life.
■ College is a special learning experience for me.
■ College education can help broaden my views.
■ I plan to join the Student Union in my first year.
■ I will take part in various activities to train my abilities.
■ I want to further my study.
■ ...
Further Your Skills
Exercise 1
Match the words in Column A with those in Column B, and then fill in the blanks with proper expressions.Remember that each may be used only once.
1.Only when our country becomes stronger, can we lead a ___________.
2.In summer vacation, many college students choose to take part in all kinds of ____________.
3.If you have a good attitude and a ____________ , you are sure to get a good job.
4.Jackson is very hard-working and he has attended ____________ classes after work every day.
5.In order to get _____________ in the examination, Tom often stays up late these days.
Exercise 2
Fill in each blank with the proper form of the word given in brackets and rewrite the sentence according to the requirement written below.
1.To tell the truth, Jack did not（recognition）_____________ her to be his stepmother.To tell the truth,（被动句）_________________________________________________________.
2.He works hard in order to gain a high level of（competent）_____________ in English.
（he改为they）___________________________________________________________________.
3.In（real）_____________ , college education will provide you with more opportunities for a bright future.
（被动语态)_______________________________________________________________________.
4.When she retired, she looked back on her career with great（satisfy）_____________.
（分词做状语）____________________________________________________________________.
5.Before going to college, have you ever（expect）_____________ what college life will be like?
（you改为she）___________________________________________________________________.
6.Last year, the twin sisters travelled around the world to（pursuit）_____________ their dreams.（将来时）__________________________________________________________.
7.Children have a natural（curious）_____________ about the world around them.
（children改为the scientist）________________________________________________________.
8.The smile on her face made all her efforts（worthy）_____________.
（宾语从句）______________________________________________________________________.
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences by translating the given Chinese into English.
1.I will have enough money to further my study in Japan __________（只要）I can get a better job.
2.Don’t worry.The medicine is _____________（不受……的影响）side effects.
3.The rainforest, _____________（在某种程度上）, is one of the most valuable natural gifts in the world.
4.It is rather difficult to _____________（习惯于）the customs of other countries.
5.It seems as if he knew everything, but _____________（事实上）, he is as stupid as he can be.
6._____________ （众所周知）, morning exercise does good to our health.