21世纪大学英语读写教程第二册02

UNIT 2

Text A

Pre-reading Activities
First Listening
Before listening to the tape, have a quick look at the following blanks to prepare yourself to listen for the figures.
1. As you listen to the passage the first time, fill these blanks with the words you hear:
Asians and Asian Americans make up only _____ of the US population, but they come up to ____ of the undergraduates at Harvard, _____ at MIT, ______ at Yale and _____ at Berkeley.
Second Listening
Read the following words first to prepare yourself to answer them to the best of your ability.
Talent effort money concentration ambition intelligence pressure sacrifice discrimination tradition
2. Why are these statistics "amazing"? And what do you think the explanation is?

Why They Excel

Fox Butterfield

Kim-Chi Trinh was just nine when her father used his savings to buy a passage for her on a fishing boat that would carry her from Vietnam. It was a heartbreaking and costly sacrifice for the family, placing Kim-Chi on the small boat, among strangers, in hopes that she would eventually reach the United States, where she would get a good education and enjoy a better life.
It was a hard journey for the little girl, and full of risks. Long before the boat reached safety, the supplies of food and water ran out. When Kim-Chi finally made it to the US, she had to cope with a succession of three foster families. But when she graduated from San Diego\'s Patrick Henry High School in 1988, she had straight A\'s and scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious universities in the country.
"I have to do well," says the 19-year-old, now a second-year student at Cornell University. "I owe it to my parents in Vietnam."
Kim-Chi is part of a wave of bright, highly - motivated Asian - Americans who are suddenly surging into our best colleges. Although Asian - Americans make up only 2.4 percent of the nation\'s population, they constitute 17.1 percent of the undergraduates at Harvard, 18 percent at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 27.3 percent at the University of California at Berkeley.
Why are Asian - Americans doing so well? Are they grinds, as some stereotypes suggest? Do they have higher IQs? Or can we learn a lesson from them about values we have long treasured but may have misplaced — like hard work, the family and education?
Not all Asians are doing equally well; poorly - educated Cambodian refugee children, for instance, often need special help. And many Asian - Americans resent being labeled a "model minority," feeling that this is reverse discrimination by white Americans — a contrast to the laws that excluded most Asian immigrants from the US until 1965, but prejudice nevertheless.
The young Asians\' achievements have led to a series of fascinating studies. Perhaps the most disturbing results come from the research carried out by a University of Michigan psychologist, Harold W. Stevenson, who has compared more than 7,000 students in kindergarten, first grade, third grade and fifth grade in Chicago and Minneapolis with counterparts in Beijing, Taipei and Sendai. On a battery of math tests, the Americans did worst at all grade levels.
Stevenson found no differences in IQ. But if the differences in performance are showing up in kindergarten, it suggests something is happening in the family, even before the children get to school.
It is here that various researchers\' different studies converge: Asian parents are motivating their children better. "The bottom line is, Asian kids work hard," Stevenson says.
The real question, then, is how Asian parents imbue their offspring with this kind of motivation. Stevenson\'s study suggests a critical answer. When asked why they think their children do well, most Asian parents said "hard work." By contrast, American parents said "talent."
"From what I can see," criticizes Stevenson, "we\'ve lost our faith in the idea that we can all get ahead in life through hard work. Instead, Americans now believe that some kids have what it takes and some don\'t. So we start dividing up classes into‘fast learners’and‘slow learners’, whereas the Chinese and Japanese feel all children can succeed in the same curriculum."
This belief in hard work is the first of three main factors contributing to Asian students\' outstanding performance. It springs from Asians\' common heritage of Confucianism, the philosophy of the 5th-century-BC Chinese sage whose teachings have had a profound influence on Chinese society. One of Confucius\'s primary teachings is that through effort, people can perfect themselves.
Confucianism provides another important ingredient in the Asians\' success as well. In Confucian philosophy, the family plays a central role — an orientation that leads people to work for the honor of the family, not just for themselves. One can never repay one\'s parents, and there\'s a sense of obligation or even guilt that is as strong a force among Asians as Protestant philosophy is in the West.
There\'s yet another major factor in this bond between Asian parents and their children. During the 15 years I lived in China, Japan, and Vietnam, I noticed that Asian parents establish a closer physical tie to their infants than most parents in the United States. When I let my baby daughter crawl on the floor, for example, my Chinese friends were horrified and rushed to pick her up. We think this constant attention is old-fashioned or even unhealthy, but for Asians, it\'s highly effective.
Can we learn anything from the Asians? "I\'m not naive enough to think everything in Asia can be transplanted," says Stevenson. But he offered three recommendations.
"To start with," he says, "we need to set higher standards for our kids. We wouldn\'t expect them to become professional athletes without practicing hard."
Second, American parents need to become more committed to their children\'s education, he declares. "Being understanding when a child doesn\'t do well isn\'t enough." Stevenson found that Asian parents spend more time helping their children with homework or writing to their teachers than American parents do.
And, third, our schools could be reorganized in simple but effective ways, says Stevenson. Nearly 90 percent of Chinese youngsters say they actually enjoy school, and 60 percent can\'t wait for school vacations to end. This is a vastly more positive attitude than youngsters in The US express. One reason may be that students in China and Japan typically have a break after each class, helping them to relax and to increase their attention spans.
"I don\'t think Asians are any smarter," says Don Lee, an Asian-American student at Berkeley. "There are brilliant Americans in my chemistry class. But the Asian students work harder. I see a lot of wasted potential among the Americans."
(975 words)

New Words

excel
v. (at) be the beat or better others (at sth.) 胜过他人

savings
n. money saved, esp. in a bank 积蓄；存款

heartbreaking
a. which causes great sorrow 令人悲痛的，令人心碎的

costly
a. expensive, costing a lot of money 代价高昂的；昂贵的

sacrifice
n. loss or giving up of sth. of value, esp. for what is believed to be a good purpose 牺牲
vt. 牺牲

risk
n. (of) a danger；sth. that might have undesirable results 危险；风险
vt. place in a dangerous situation 使遭受危险；冒…的风险

cope
vi. (with) deal successfully (with a difficult situation) （妥善地）应付或处理

succession
n. a series or the act of following one after the other （前后相接的）一系列，一连串；连续

successive
a. following each other closely 接连的，连续的，相继的

*foster
a. 收养孩子的；寄养的
vt. 收养；照料

scholarship
n. 1. 奖学金
2. 学识；学术成就

owe
vt. (to) 1. have sth. (usually sth. good) because of 把…归功于
2. have to pay, for sth. already done or given 欠

owing
a. (to) still to be paid 未付的，欠着的

motivate
vt. (often pass.) 1. provide (sb.) with a (strong) need, purpose or reason for doing sth. [常被动] 激发…的积极性
2. 使有动机

*surge
vi. move, esp. forward, in or like powerful waves （如浪潮般） 汹涌；奔腾
n. （感情等的）洋溢或奔放

constitute
vt. 1. form or make up 形成；构成
2. formally establish or appoint 组建；选派

constitution
n. 1. the act of establishing, making, or setting up；constituting 制定；设立；组成
2. (often cap.) [常大写] 宪法；法规；章程

*constitutional
a. allowed or limited by a political constitution 宪法规定的；合乎宪法的

grind
n. (AmE, often derog.) a student who is always working （美）［常贬义］用功的学生，书呆子
vt. 磨；磨碎

*stereotype
n. a fixed pattern which is believed to represent a type of person or event 固定形式，老套

misplace
vt. 1. lose (sth.),usu. for only a limited time （暂时）丢弃
2. put in an unsuitable or wrong place 把…放错地方

refugee
n. sb. who has been forced to leave their country for political reason or during a war 难民；流亡者

*resent
vt. feel anger and dislike about sth. 对…表示愤恨

label
vt. 1. describe as belonging to a particular kind or class 把…称为；把…列为
2. 加标签于；用标签标明
n. 标签

minority
n. 1. a small part of a population which is different from others in race, religion, etc. 少数民族；少数派
2. the small number or part；less than half 少数

minor
a. 较少的，较小的

*discrimination
n. 1. the practice of unfairly treating sb. or sth. 区别对待；歧视
2. the ability to recognize the difference between two things 识别力；辨别力

reverse discrimination
the making of distinctions in favour of groups considered disadvantaged or underprivileged 逆向歧视，反其道而行之的歧视

*discriminate
v. 1. (against, in favor of) unfairly treat one person or group worse or better than others 有差别地对待
2. see or make a difference between things or people 区别，辨别，区分

contrast
n. (to, with) a strong difference between two people, objects or situations 对比；对照
v. examine (two things) in order to find or show differences 对比；对照

exclude
vt. keep out from a place or an activity 阻止…进入；把…排斥在外

exclusion
n. the act of excluding or fact of being excluded 拒绝；排斥

exclusive
a. (of) not taking into account；without；excluding 不算；不包括；把…排斥在外

exclusively
ad. only；and nothing/no one else 排斥其他地；专有地；单独地

immigrant
n. a person who has come to live in a country from abroad 移民；侨民

prejudice
n. unfair and usually unfavorable feeling or opinion about a group—e.g.a nationality or race 歧视；偏见；成见

series
n. 1. (of) a set or group of things of the same kind or related in some way, coming one after another or in order 系列；连接
2. 丛书；广播（或电视）系列节目

fascinating
a. having great attraction or charm 吸引人的；迷人的

*fascinate
vt. (with) charm powerfully；be very interesting to 强烈地吸引；迷住

disturbing
a. causing worry or fright 令人不安的；令人烦恼的

disturb
vt. 1. break the peace or order of 扰乱；打扰
2. cause to become anxious or upset 使心神不安；使烦恼

*disturbance
n. 1. an act of disturbing or the state of being disturbed 打扰；扰乱
2. sth. that disturbs 造成干扰的事物

kindergarten
n. a school or class for young children, usu. between the ages of four and six 幼儿园

*counterpart
n. a person or thing that has the same purpose or does the same job as another in a different system 对应的人（或物）；对手（方)

battery
n. 1. (of) a set or number of things of the same kind occurring in rapid succession 一组；一系列
2. 电池（组）

*converge
vi. (of two or more things) come together towards the same point （在一点上）会合；集中

the bottom line
the basic point 基本要点

imbue
v. (with)(usu. pass.) to fill with (sth., often a strong feeling or opinion) ［常被动］灌输（某种强烈的情感或意见）

*offspring
n. a child or children from particular parents 子女；后代

critical
a. 1. providing a careful judgment of the good and bad qualities of sth. 判断（或评价）审慎的
2. 批判的
3. 关键的

criticize (-cise)
v. 1. make judgments about the good or bad points of 评论
2. judge with disapproval；point out the faults of 批评；指责

criticism
n. unfavorable judgment or expression of disapproval 批评；指责

curriculum
n. the program of study offered in a school, college, etc. 课程，大纲

factor
n. any of the facts, conditions, influences, etc. that act with others to bring about a result 因素，要素

outstanding
a. 1. better than others, very good 杰出的；优秀的
2. easily seen, important 显要的；重要的

*heritage
n. a tradition, custom, or quality which is passed down over many years within a family, social group, or nation and which is thought of as belonging to all its members 继承物，遗产；传统

philosophy
n. 哲学

sage
n. sb., esp. an old man or historical person, known for his wisdom and long experience 圣贤；哲人

primary
a. 1. chief, main 主要的
2. earliest in time or order of development 最初的

ingredient
n. 1. one of the essential parts of a situation 因素；要素
2. 成分

central
a. 1. chief, main, of greatest importance 主要的，最重要的
2. being (at, in, or near) the center （位居）中心的

*orientation
n. a direction or position 取向；方位；定位

*repay
vt. reward；pay back 偿还；回报

obligation
n. sth. that one must do out of a duty or promise 义务；责任

guilt
n. 1. the feelings produced by knowledge or belief that one has done wrong 内疚
2. the fact of having broken a moral rule or official law 罪（行）

bond
n. 1. sth. that unites two or more people, or groups, such as a shared feeling or interest 联结；联系
2. 公债，债券
3. 合约

crawl
vi. & n. 爬（行）

horrify
vt. shock greatly；fill with horror 吓；使感惊骇

unhealthy
a. 1. likely to cause illness or poor health 有碍健康的
2. not very strong or well, often ill 体弱多病的，不结实的，不健康的

*naivea. 1. too willing to believe or trust 轻信的
2. without experience (as of social rules or behaviour), esp. because one is young 幼稚的；天真的

*transplant
vt. move sth. from one place and plant, settle or establish elsewhere 移植；移居

recommendation
n. 1. suggestion, piece of advice 建议
2. 推荐信

vacation
n. (esp. AmE) holiday 假期；休假

vastly
ad. 1. very greatly 非常大地
2. 广阔地

vast
a. 1. very large and wide 广阔的；广大的
2. great in amount 大量的

positive
a. 1. (of people) sure, having no doubt about sth. 无疑问的；确定的
2. certain, beyond any doubt 肯定的
3. (of a statement) direct 正面的

span
n. 1. the length of time over which a stated thing continues or works well 持续时间
2. 跨度；跨距

attention span
a length of time over which one can concentrate 注意力的持续时间

Phrases and Expressions

make it (to) (a place)
succeed in getting (to) (a place) 成功抵达某地

owe to
have (sth. good) because of 把…归功于…

imbue with
(use. pass.) fill (sb), with (sth.), esp. a strong feeling or opinion [常被动] 向…灌输…

by contrast
very differently (from sth. previously mentioned)；on the other hand 对比之下

get ahead
be successful in one\'s career 获得成功；出头

have what it takes
(infml.) have the qualifications necessary for success 具备取得成功的必要条件

spring from
be a product or result of；originate from 发源于；来自

can\'t wait (for sth.)
be excited about and eager (for sth.) 迫不及待，等不及

Proper Names

Fox Butterfield
富克斯·巴特菲尔德

Trinh Kim-Chi
郑金枝（越南人名）

Vietnam
n. 越南

San Diego
圣地亚哥（美国港市，位于加利福尼亚州南部）

Patrick Henry High School
帕特里克·亨利中学

Cornell University
康奈尔大学（美国纽约州一大学）

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
（美国）马萨诸塞州理工学院（或译麻省理工学院）

IQ
intelligence quotient 智商

Cambodian
a. 柬埔寨的

University of Michigan
（美国）密歇根大学

Harold W. Stevenson
哈罗德·W·斯蒂文森

Minneapolis
明尼阿波利斯 （美国明尼苏达州东南部城市）

Taipei
台北（台湾省）

Sendai
仙台（日本本州岛东北岸港市）

Confucianism
n. 孔子学说，儒学

Confucius
孔子

Confucian
n. & a. 孔子（的）；儒学（的）；孔子信徒；儒士

Protestant
n. & a. 新教徒；新教（教徒）的

Lee Don
李·唐