Text Organization

1.

Parts       Paragraphs                 Main Ideas

Part One    Paras 1 -5    It is high time to honor the heroes who helped liberate slaves by

forging the Underground Railroad in the early civil-rights struggles in America.

Part Two       Paras 6 -23 By citing examples the author praises the exploits of civil-rights heroes who helped slaves travel the Underground Railroad to freedom.

2.  

Story 1: (Paras 6 -10) After winning his own freedom from slavery, John Parker helped other slaves to escape north to Canada and freedom.

Story 2: (Paras 11 -15) Supported by a strong religious conviction, the white man Levi Coffin helped black slaves to escape at huge risk to himself.

Story 3: (Paras 16 -23) By traveling the Underground Railroad, Josiah Henson reached his destination and became free at last.

Language Sense Enhancement

1.  

1) mission   2) courageous

3) forged    4) escape routes

5) liberate   6) authorized

7) honor    8) scheduled

9) exploits     10) intent on

Vocabulary

I. 1. 1) decades      2) historic    

3) imposed      4) religious    

5) slender       6) web    

7) bade    8) site      

9) on the side         10) authorized      

11) terminal          12) make the best of    

2. 1) went through  2) stood up for

3) laid down   4) take on

5) let …down   6) draw on

7) fall into   8) pass for

3.   1) The Europeans are fully confident that the Americans will not be able to justify their measures to protect the struggling American steel industry.

2)  Clinton is, in the eyes of Joe Klein, staff writer of the New Yorker and author of The Natural, the most talented politician of his generation and the most compelling.

3) There's not much you can do if people are really intent on destroying themselves with drugs.

4)  A different experience of the world could forge a completely different approach to life.

5) It is our conviction that cloning of human beings is bound to cause many ethical and social problems in the long run.

4.   1) As for the protection of these endangered species, many countries do not compel fishermen to report accidental capture of small cetaceans (鲸目动物) in their nets, so significant catches may go unnoticed for years. To deal with this problem, animal protectionists have forged an international alliance (联盟). On the other hand they have urged the United Nations to lay down more specific laws to save these animals.

2)   It was reported that food supplies would soon run out and most of the victims of the earthquake would starve to death. At huge risk, a group of volunteers from the Red Cross took on the mission to transport food, clothes and medicine to the most seriously hit areas. Shortly after they got there, they sent back the message that tents were also in great need to shelter the survivors.

3) A rally was going to be held in honor of the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln who abolished slavery in 1863 and liberated the slaves in the South. In the eyes of many African-Americans who suffered a lot from racial discrimination, Lincoln was America's greatest president thanks to his outstanding exploits. (racial, abolish, in the eyes of )

II. Words with Multiple Meanings

1. I’ll tell you in a minute how I have attained the genuine sense of belonging in America , but first let me hear about your French trip.

2. Most McDonald's look almost the same on the outside, but actually there are about 16 different basic designs.

3. Loaning money from the banks is but one of the methods we can use to get through a financial crisis.

4. This second-hand car has been nothing but trouble; it's always breaking down.

5. In your résumé you've mentioned everything but one vital point.

6. Our technicians have discovered a simple but effective solution to the problem.

7. I am sorry, but I think you shouldn't have lingered on over coffee and missed the last bus.

8. The bankruptcy of the company was not caused by evil, but by simple ignorance.

III. Usage

1. lonely

2. friendly

3. weekly; monthly

4. lovely

5.  cowardly

6.  kindly/saintly

7.  lively

8. motherly

Comprehensive Exercises

I. Cloze

1.

      1) forged   2) stand up

  3) compelled  4) convictions

      5) mission   6) abolish

      7) intent on   8) risk

      9) In the eyes of     10) threats

2.

1) assistance   2) involved

  3) estimated   4) coincidence

5) emerged   6) referred

7) numerous   8) stationed

9) concern     10) capture

II. Translation

1.

1)  Though greatly affected by the consequences of the global financial crisis, we are still confident that we can face up to the challenge and overcome the crisis.

2)  Under threat of constant sand storms, we were compelled to leave our cherished village and move to the new settlement.

3)  According to a recent online survey, a lot of consumers say they may be motivated to consider buying products shown in TV commercials.

4)  Having spotted a truck driver dumping contaminated waste alongside the river, the old man reported to the police at once.

5)  Some scientists hold to the firm conviction that people will come to like genetically modified crops someday since they can increase yields and help combat hunger and disease in the developing world.

2.

Shortly after he achieved freedom Henson became intent on assisting fugitive slaves. He secretly returned to the United States from Canada several times to help others to travel the Underground Railroad to freedom. Once some slave catchers closed in on the escaping slaves and Henson when they were on the run. He disguised them and successfully avoided capture. Later he built a small settlement in Dresden, Canada for escaped slaves, setting up a chapel and a school. He held to the conviction that slavery would be abolished, and the day was bound to come when racial discrimination no longer existed.