Unit Two
Attitudes to Life
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)commonplace
2)enduring
3)dim
4)command
5)imperfection
6)intensive
7)abandon
8)finite
9)dynamic
10)weaving
11)additional
12)aspirations
13)gratitude
14)integrity
15)faithful
16)committed
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)live on
2)dawned upon
3)live by
4)is invested with
5)hold fast to
6)All too
7)step aside
8)set out
9)to and fro
10)work at
▆ Increasing Your Word Power
1. Study the following usage notes about the words in the box. They are all associated with the meaning of “change”.
▆ Answers:
1)change
2)transform
3)alter
4)convert
5)revise
6)modify
7)vary
8)transcribe
2. You will read three groups of words which are similar in meaning but different in usage. Reflect on the differences in usage between the words in each group and fill in each blank with a proper one. Change the form if necessary.
▆ Answers:
1)tour
2)trip
3)travelling
4)journey
5)select
6)choose
7)pick
8)elect
9)ordinary
10)regular
11)average
12)normal
3.Write out the corresponding verb forms of the following adjectives.
▆ Answers:
1)add
2)beautify
3)contradict
4)deafen
5)differ
6)intensify
7)minimize
8)oppose
9)please
10)prosper
11)radiate
12)relent
13)respect
14)sparkle
15)wonder
16)wither
GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT
Task 1: Write hypothetical sentences based on the given facts.
▆ Answers for reference:
1)My mother would not be worried about me if she knew what my life was like.
2)They would probably allow you to do the job if you were in better health.
3)They wouldn’t work with such enthusiasm if they didn’t know what they were
working for.
4)I would have to look it up in the dictionary if I didn’t know the meaning of the
word.
5)She would understand what we say if she knew Chinese.
6)I would be quite satisfied if you spoke with greater accuracy.
Task 2: Make hypothetical sentences with the given words.
▆ Answers for reference:
1)If we knew where he was, we would try to get in touch with him.
2)If it were not for the expense involved, we would go there by plane.
3)If we were to miss the train, we would have to wait another four hours.
4)If we pooled all our resources, we would have enough money to buy the equipment.
5)If he didn’t have a strong love for the handicapped children, he wouldn’t be
working so tirelessly for them.
Cloze
Complete the following passage with words chosen from this unit. The initial letter of each is given.
▆ Answers:
1)wither
2)sense
3)faithful
4)commit
5)aspirations
6)gratitude
7)dawns
8)accumulated
9)nourishment
10)preoccupied
11)flowers
12)tendered
13)weave
14)elevate
Translation
1.Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and expressions given
in brackets.
▆ Answers for reference:
1)The ambassador to the U.N. was invested with full authority to deal with all the
foreign affairs concerning his country on behalf of his government.
2)All the way on the train I had been preoccupied with the result of the term
examination until the conductor reminded me of the arrival of my destination.
3)Although her husband’s name did not appear on the list of the people who got
killed in the traffic accident, she kept walking to and fro, anxious to see him back home sooner.
4)I was setting out to translate the contract into English when it dawned upon me
that both parties involved were Chinese companies.
5)At the party, people sang and danced with abandon, totally forgetting the troubles
in their lives.
6)With the great aspirations to become an astronaut, Jackson committed himself to the
2-year strenuous constitution training.
7)His paintings, drawing on timeless fairy stories, exemplified the Europeans’ taste
of that period.
8)The bus driver didn’t want to take any responsibility for th e accident and so he
took every means to put the blame on the passengers on board.
9)He not only risked his own life to save the old man from the burning house but made
some room in his own house for him to settle down.
10)From childhood, she tried to live by the teachings of her parents and gradually
accumulated a set of standards of conduct.
2.Translate the following passage into English.
▆ Answers for reference:
What is truth? Truth is the correct reflection of people’s knowledge about the objective world and its laws. Truth makes people full of hope and life full of brilliance and glory. Therefore, many people regard the pursuit of truth as the ultimate goal of their lives. In human history, many people devoted their lives to the pursuit of truth and made outstanding contributions to mankind.
Truth is both absolute and relative. We say that truth is absolute because truth can objectively reflect the essentials of things. However, any truth is but people’s correct understanding of the development of things at a certain stage. Therefore, truth is relative and develops constantly.
Sometimes, the brilliance of truth may dim but it will never die out. For some people, truth may seem beyond their reach. In fact, it is close at hand. We can find truth as long as we keep pursuing it heart and soul.
Theme-Related Writing
Write an essay of no less than 150 words on the topic “Attitudes Towards Life”. Your writing should cover the following points:
1) different attitudes people hold towards life
2) the benefits of holding a positive attitude
3) ways to develop a positive attitude towards life
▇ Sample essay:
Attitudes Towards Life
People hold different attitudes towards life. Some take a positive attitude and they always appreciate the beauty of life with zeal and gratitude. Some take a negative attitude towards life and any slight trouble in life may seem like the end of the world to them.
A positive attitude ensures a happy, successful and healthy life. With a positive attitude, people find it easy to accept challenges and overcome obstacles while maintaining peace of mind. Besides, a positive attitude boosts their self-esteem, lifts their morale and helps them fulfill their commitments both in their career and in their everyday life. Moreover, medical research shows that positive thinking can improve the immune system and strengthen the body’s resistance to diseases.
There are several ways to develop a positive attitude towards life. One needs to think positively, read uplifting stories, hang around with optimistic people, give up jealousy, and participate in meaningful activities. By building a positive attitude towards life, one can enjoy a happy, successful and healthy life. (170 words)