Optimism and Positive Thinking
Enhance Your Language Awareness
Words in Action
▆ Working with Words and Expressions
1. In the box below are some of the words you have learned in this unit. Complete the following sentences with them. Change the form where necessary. ▆ Answers: 1) positive 2) startled 3) perspective 4) harden 5) shape 6) address 7) crises 8) curse
9) incredible 10) conversely 11) issue 12) response 13) prior 14) rare
15) accomplish
2. In the box below are some of the expressions you have learned in this unit. Do you understand their meanings? Do you know how to use them in the proper context? Now check for yourself by doing the blank-filling exercise. Change the form where necessary.
▆ Answers:
1) get the hang of 2) have lived through 3) makes a difference 4) have no idea 5) concerned with 6) slipped over 7) ran into 8) in reverse 9) mull over
▆ Increasing Your Word Power 1. Decide whether “do”, “make” or “take” is needed to complete each of the following sentences. Change the verb form where necessary. ▆ Answers:
1) does 2) make 3) take 4) do 5) make 6) Take 7) done 8) taken
9) making 10) took
2. In each of the following sentences you are given two confusable words or expressions in brackets. Choose the appropriate one to fill in the blank. You may consult a dictionary if necessary.
▆ Answers:
1) concerned 2) Concerning 3) reject 4) declined 5) unconscious 6) subconscious 7) former 8) preceding 9) raise 10) rise
3. Now match each of the English word in Column A with its Chinese equivalent in Column B. You may consult a dictionary if necessary. ▆ Answers:
1) d 2) j 3) k 4) a 5) b 6) h 7) c 8) f 9) l 10) e 11) g 12) i
GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT
Task 1: When it is used as a conjunction, “as” can mean “when / while”, “though / although”, “since / because”, “in the way / manner that”, etc., and it can also be used in a comparative structure. Study the following sentences and explain the meaning of “as” in each sentence.
▆ Answers for reference:
1) in the way /manner that 2) though / although 3) when 4) since
5) used in a comparison 6) though 7) while
8) in the way that
Task 2: Complete the following sentences after the example by translating the Chinese into English, using “as” as a relative pronoun. ▆ Answers for reference:
1) as you describe / have described / described 2) as concern every one of us 3) As is well known 4) As we all can see
5) as you show / as you have shown for your teacher 6) As is reported / announced in today’s papers
Cloze
Complete the following passage with words chosen from this unit. The initial letter of each is given.
▆ Answers:
1) perspective 2) despair 3) necessity 4) perform 5) Conversely 6) prophecy 7) where 8) as
9) achieve 10) recognize 11) dealt with 12) attitude 13) channels 14) concerned
Translation
Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and expressions given in brackets.
▆ Answers for reference:
1) Only those who have lived through a similar experience can fully appreciate this. / The
only people who can fully appreciate this are those who have lived through a similar experience. 2) Scientists have been hard pressed to figure out how these particles form/ are formed and
interact (with one another).
3) Those who have got the hang of Rubik’s Cube (Magic Cube) can return each face to
consisting of one colour in no time.
4) The individual success of the employees in a team environment results in success for
the company.
5) The war, although successful in military terms, left the economy almost in ruins.
6) He decided to channel his energies into something useful, instead of being glued
to / sitting in front of the TV set all day long.
7) There’s a difference between strength and courage. It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.
8) She was by nature a very affectionate person, always ready to give a helping hand
to others. Theme-Related Writing
Do either of the following two writing tasks. You may draw on some useful ideas and expressions from a variety of sources, such as the two texts in this unit or the Internet.
1) Having read the two passages in this unit, you may have come to a better understanding of life and the times when pessimistic and optimistic thoughts take turns to affect your behaviour. Write a letter of encouragement (of about 150 words) to one of your high school friends who failed in the college entrance examination. Tell him or her about your new understanding of the need to remain optimistic.
2) The writers of the two texts in this unit convey to us the message that we need to look at the positive side of anything that comes to us and that we need to take an optimistic and positive attitude toward life. Write an essay (of about 150 words) to share your
ideas with your classmates. The following hints may be of some help: a. What is meant by “thinking positively”?
b. What is the connection between success and optimism? c. How can we keep an optimistic and positive attitude? ▆ Sample Letter for Task 1: Dear Weihua,
I know you are still feeling upset about your results in the college entrance
examination. I’ve just read an article about how pessimistic and optimistic thoughts can affect our behaviour and I’m now sending you a copy, hoping that it will help you step out of the shadows.
Naturally, failing the college entrance examination can be very depressing, yet if you continue to dwell on the past, you will never be able to pick yourself up and focus on what is more important for now and the future. Life is full of trials and anyone may suffer setbacks. We must take an optimistic attitude towards the things we have to deal with. Optimism and positive thinking are powerful forces. Good things do come true if we picture them often. Please do have confidence in your potential. Just work hard and prepare for another chance.
You will make it.
Yours, Janet
(152 words)
▆ Sample Essay for Task 2:
Thinking positively means allowing your mind to be filled with optimistic feelings, and always hoping for the best though still aware of the difficulties that might be involved.
The human mind is powerful; thoughts of optimism and pessimism can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Though it might seem impossible to some, positive thinking and success actually have a cause-and-result relationship. The reason is that a person with positive thinking will always broadcast goodwill and confidence and that kind of radiating attitude will take a hold on everybody.
Gradually, people’s attitude will shift towards more trust and respect. This not only opens up more opportunities for the individual, but it also feeds back emotionally, and the cycle continues.
Though the shaping of a positive or negative personality often happens subconsciously, it is possible to control such processes consciously. A person can try visualizing favourable situations, whether it is remembering a contest won as a child or imagining getting that job offer so long sought after. Over time circumstances will change accordingly. (169 words)
Unit Three
The Road to Success
Enhance Your Language Awareness
Words in Action
Working with Words and Expressions
3. In the box below are some of the words you have learnt in this unit. Complete the following sentences with them. Change the form where necessary. ▆ Answers:
a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k) l) m) n) o) favourable discouraged consented neglect crept
sufficient traced somewhat refresh worthy prospects resolved remarked undergo rewarded
4. In the box below are some of the words you have learned in this unit. Do you know how to use them in the proper context? Now check for yourself by doing the blank-filling exercise. Change the form where necessary.
▆ Answers:
16) pack up 17) many a
18) stays the course 19) put to the test 20) flooding in 21) came across 22) come up with 23) plunged ... into
▆ Increasing Your Word Power
1. Listed in the box below are some unit nouns. Discuss their meanings and then complete the following table by filling in the appropriate unit noun. The same unit noun may be used for more than once. Consult a dictionary if necessary.
▆ Answers: a slice of bread a particle of rock a bunch of keys a bar of soap a can of orange juice a sheet of glass an item of business an article of furniture a slice of meat a particle of dust a can of beer a bar of chocolate an article of luggage a bunch of flowers a sheet of paper an item of expense 2. Words such as respectful, respectable and respective may cause confusion because they are similar either in meaning or in spelling. To communicate effectively, we need to pay special attention to such confusable words.
▆ Answers:
1) neglected 2) neglectful 3) colourful 4) coloured 5) rough 6) tough 7) worth
8) worthy 9) favourable 10) favourite 11) respectful 12) respectable 13) respective 14) considerate 15) considerable 3. Word Building
Match each of the English word in Column A with its Chinese meaning in Column B. You may consult a dictionary if necessary.
▆ Answers:
1) d. 2) i 3) l 4) a 5) k 6) o 7) p 8) b
9) m 10) n 11) e 12) c 13) f 14) g 15) h 16) j
Grammar in context
1. Study the following sentences that appear in this unit, paying special attention to the subordinate clauses and connectives. Reflect on their grammatical function and then do the task that follows.
Task: Fill in the blanks in the following sentences by choosing proper connectives from the box below. ▆ Answers for reference:
1) what 2) whether 3) whose 4) whoever 5) what 6) where 7) how 8) which 9) that 10) that
2．Study the following sentences that appear in this unit, paying special attention to “the preposition + relative pronoun” structure. Reflect on their uses and then do the following task.
Task: Complete the following sentences using a preposition and a relative pronoun. ▆ Answers for reference:
1） of which 2) for which 3) in which 4) in whom 5) of which 6) to which 7) for which 8) at which
Cloze
Complete the following passage with words and phrases chosen from Text A. The initial letter of each target word is given.
▆ Answers:
1) for 2) aware 3) affair 4) prospects 5) storage 6) matter 7) plunged 8) break
9) offered 10) dancing 11) cleared 12) welled 13) stick 14) sacrifices 15) published
Translation
1. Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and expressions given in brackets.
▆ Answers for reference:
1) Rumour has it that his new book is based on a true story about a family in a small
Tennessee town.
2) He teaches in a middle school, but he does some translation work on the side to bring
in extra cash / money.
3) It’s good to be confident (about yourself), but there’s a difference between
(self-)confidence and conceit.
4) Only those who stick it out can achieve success. Those who give up halfway will never
realize their dreams.
5) A true hero possesses / has courage, a noble purpose and a willingness to make
sacrifices.
6) Anyone who picks up this novel and reads the first paragraph will be hard pressed
to put it down.
7) In a sense, life is like swimming; if you keep holding on to the sides of the pool,
you (will) never learn.
8) The future of a nation depends in a large measure upon the quality of education and
training.
Theme-Related Writing
1) Write a narrative essay (of about 150 words) about your pursuit of a dream or someone’s experiences in making his / her dream come true. Sample essay
Li Hui, my friend in high school, was born into a worker’s family. She began to dream of becoming a cartoon artist from her childhood. To her disappointment, her parents strongly opposed her career choice, because the cost of her education would be too high for the poor family, and they were worried about the job opportunities for a cartoon artist. However, Li Hui would not change her mind. She worked hard to perfect her skills and searched persistently for ways to realise her dream. Just before she finished high school, the chance came: a famous art school was holding a cartoon drawing competition. The first three winners would be given a scholarship to study cartoon drawing at the school. Li Hui told herself not to let the chance slip through her fingers. She readily participated and won the second place. She is now studying there and I feel certain that her dream will come true. (156 words)
2) People may have different opinions about the key factors for success. Write a short essay (of about 150 words) and share your opinions with your classmates. Sample essay:
In my opinion, before a person becomes successful, he or she should fully understand the basic elements of success: competence, determination and optimism.
For a person to succeed, he or she has to face great competition and excel in his or her chosen career. The person needs to demonstrate and prove his or her competence in dealing with problems. Without competence, the person can neither stand out among the crowd nor attract the attention of those who hold the keys to the doors of opportunity and advancement.
Yet ability alone cannot guarantee success. Often enough, things do not go the way we have planned and failure is unavoidable no matter how intelligent or capable we may be. In such cases one needs to remain firm and optimistic, always believing that hard work will eventually pay off. If the person gives up halfway, success will never knock at the door. (149 words)
Enhance Your Language Awareness
Words in Action ▇ Working with Words and Expressions
1. In the boxes below are some of the words you have learned in this unit. Complete the following sentences with the words given. Change the form where necessary.
■Answers:
1) objective 2) current 3) adopt 4) exhibit 5) capture 6) integrated
7) outstanding 8) strategies 9) convince 10) striving/strive 11) diagnosed 12) side 13) spaced 14) thick 15) painful
16) eventually 17) fascinating 18) confidence 19)label 20) creations
2. In the boxes below are some of the expressions you have learned in this unit. Do you understand their meanings? Do you know how to use them in the proper context? Now check for yourself by doing the blank-filling exercise. Change the form where necessary.
■Answers:
1) at rest
2) dropped out 3) drying out 4) drop in
5) dawned on 6) falls away 7) drowned out 8) on the sidelines 9) falling out
10) start over 11) lose faith 12) sign off
▆ Increasing Your Word Power Fill in each blank in the following sentences with a proper preposition given in the box. ▆ Answers: 1) with 2) to 3) with 4) on 5) at 6) with
7) from 8) beyond 9) from 10) on 11) for
12）to 1. Study the use of but in different contexts and then do the task that follows. ▆ Answers for reference:
1) What can we do but sit and wait for a passing car to bring us to a city nearby?
2) He lied to the court not just once, but on several occasions.
3) “Gone with the Wind” was/is a great movie, but it was/is a little long. 4) I had/have no choice but to accept the challenge.
5) The situation looked/looks desperate, but they didn’t/don’t want to give up.
6） But for these interruptions, the meeting would have finished earlier. 7） Who else but John would have played a trick like that?
8） She was the best singer in China at that time. I could not but admire her.
9） The machines we bought were cheap, but they went quite well.
10）Because he had/has a sore throat he was/is unable to swallow anything but liquids. 2. Word Building
Match each of the English words in Column A with its Chinese meaning in Column B. You may consult a dictionary if necessary. ▆ Answers:
1) j 2) k 3) g 4) h 5) i 6) b 7) n 8) l 9) f 10) c 11) m 12) d 13) a 14) e
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