Part I Part II

1
College English Integrated Course 2
Unit Four The Virtual World
Part I Part II Part III Part
IV
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Part I
Pre-Reading Tasks
A Poem
Surfing the Net Task
One The Questions 1. 2. 3
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Part II Text A
Introduction to the Text
p1. After too long on the Net P2.
For the last three years
p3. If I desired, I could
p4. But after a while
p5. What first seemed like
p6. I find myself shyer
p7. At times, I turn on
p8. On line, I find myself p9.
When Im in this state p10. Id
never realized
p11. To restore balance p12.
But sometimes being P13. I click on
the modem
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Language Points
words expressions
sentence explanations
cultural notes
Language Sense Enhancement
Poetry
Quotations
Movie
Humorous story
Web-links
Comprehension
Content questions
Points for Discussion
Text Organization
Language Focus
1.Vocabulary
Dictation
Gaps Filling
Rewriting
Multiple Choice
Usage
Completing
Collocation
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
2. Structure
Rewriting
Sentence Completion
Comprehensive Exercises
Cloze
Translation
Chinese Version of Text A
Part III Text B
Words Phrases to Learn
Comprehension Check
Translation
Language Practice
Mock Debate
Part IV
Essay Writing
Model paper
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Listen to the recording two or three times
SCRIPT
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Script for the Recording
When an idle moment turned up at work people
used to reach for the
newspaper, providing the boss wasnt looking.
Nowadays they are more likely to spend their
spare moments surfing the Internet. Needless to
say, the boss is usually no more happier than
before,
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
thinking that his staff should be looking for
some useful work to do. So what happens to the
surfer who hears the bosss footsteps
approaching? This is the situation the writer of
the poem you are about to hear found himself
in.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Surfing the Internet
Stepping into the lab, I found no one is
inside. So I think Im in the clear Because the
boss is nowhere in sight. I log onto the web and
start to surf And then my hair stands up with
fright.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
The footsteps coming down the hall

Are quickening in pace. There is no time to
exit, No way to save my face. So I press the
power button And relax just a bit.

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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
There is no way he can tell Exactly what I hit.
I act all surprised, Dont know why my machine
died. Simply unpredictable these Computers
are! I cried.

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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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So well get you a new one, A computer that
wont crash he exclaims. Do you think hell
wonder When the new one acts the same?
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Think over the following questions
1. What was the hero doing when his boss came in?
2. How did he act in front of his boss?
3. What can people do on the Internet?
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Answer to the Question

1. Surfing the Internet.

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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Answer to the Question
2. He pretended to be surprised at the computer
which had crashed unexpectedly.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Answer to the Question
3. Communicating with people, shopping, reading,
entertainment, education, working, hacking,
publishing etc.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Text A
Some of us like to live a life in contact with
real things and real people, but others favor a
virtual existence.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
A Virtual Life
Mala Szalavltz
1 After too long on the Net, even a phone
call can be a shock. My boyfriends Liverpool
accent suddenly becomes impossible to interpret
after his easily understood words on screen a
secretary clipped tone seems more rejecting than
Id imagined it would be.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Time itself becomes fluidhours become minutes,
or seconds stretch into days. Weekends, once a
highlight of my week, are now just two ordinary
days. 2 For the last three years, since I
stopped working as a television producer, I have
done much of my work as a telecommuter.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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I submit articles and edit them via email and
communicate with colleagues on Internet mailing
lists. My boyfriend lives in England, so much of
our relationship is also computer-assisted. 3
If I desired, I could stay inside for weeks
without wanting anything. I can order food, and
manage my money, love and work.
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
In fact, at times I have spent as long as three
weeks alone at home, going out only to get mail
and buy newspapers and groceries. I watched most
of the endless snowstorm of 96 on TV. 4 But
after a while, life itself begins to feel unreal.
I start to feel as though Ive become one with my
machines, taking data in, spitting them back out,
just another link in the net.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Others on line report the same symptoms. We
start to feel an aversion to outside forms of
socializing. We have become the Net critics
worst nightmare. 5 What first seemed like a
luxury, crawling from bed to computer, not
worrying about hair, and clothes and face, has
become a form of escape, a lack of discipline.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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And once you start replacing real human contact
with cyber-interaction, coming back out of the
cave can be quite difficult. 6 I find myself
shyer, more cautious, more anxious. Or,
conversely, when suddenly confronted with real
live humans, I get overexcited, speak too much,
interrupt. I constantly worry if I am dressed
appropriately,
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
that perhaps Ive actually forgotten to put on a
skirt and walked outside in the T-shirt and
underwear I sleep and live in. 7 At times, I
turn on the television and just leave it to talk
away in the background, something that Id never
done previously. The voices of the programs are
comforting,
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
but then Im jarred by the commercials.I find
myself sucked in by soap operas, or needing to
keep up with the latest news and the weather.
Dateline, Frontline, Nightline,
CNN, New York 1, every possible angle of every
story over and over and over, even when they are
of no possible use to me. Work moves into the
background. I decide to check my email.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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8 On line, I find myself attacking everyone in
sight. I am bad-tempered, and easily angered. I
find everyone on my mailing list insensitive,
believing that theyve forgotten that there are
people actually reading their wounding remarks. I
dont realize that Im projecting until after
Ive been embarrassed by someone who politely
points out that Ive attacked her for agreeing
with me.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
9 When Im in this state, I fight my boyfriend
as well, misinterpreting his intentions because
of the lack of emotional cues given by our typed
dialogue. The fight takes hours, because the
system keeps crashing. I say a line, then he
does, then crash! And yet we keep on,
doggedly. 10 Id never realized how important
daily routine is dressing for work, sleeping
normal hours.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Id never thought I relied so much on co-workers
for company. I began to understand why long-term
unemployment can be so damaging, why life without
an externally supported daily plan can lead to
higher rates of drug abuse, crime, suicide. 11
To restore balance to my life, I force myself
back into the real world. I call people, arrange
to meet with the few remaining friends who
havent fled New York City.
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
I try to at least get to the gym, so as to set
apart the weekend from the rest of my week. I
arrange interviews for stories, doctors
appointmentsanything to get me out of the house
and connected with others. 12 But sometimes
being face to face is too much. I see a friend
and her ringing laughter of conversation in the
restaurant, unbearable.
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
I make my excuses and flee. I re-enter my
apartment and run to the computer as though it
were a place of safety. 13 I click on the
modem, the once-annoying sound of the connection
now as pleasant as my favorite tune. I enter my
password. The real world disappears.
End of the Text
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Unit Four The Virtual World
adj. 1.created and existing only in a computer
??? 2. being or acting as what is described, but
not accepted as such in name or officially ????
virtual
e.g. 1. I can visit a virtual store and put what
I want in my basket at the click of a mouse
button. 2.
Our deputy manager is the virtual head of the
business.
Translate
???????,????????????????????
Some people spend too much time escaping from
reality into the virtual world conjured up on
their computer screens.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
Useful Collocations
The most dynamic combining forms/prefixes
for new computer-and Internet-related vocabulary
in English are virtual, cyber-, Net (net-),
Web-(web-), and E-(e-) e.g. virtual life (????),
virtual world (????), virtual
community (????), virtual pet (????)
virtual reality (????), virtual reality (?????)
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Unit Four The Virtual World
Useful Collocations
prefixesnouns e.g. cyber-interaction (????),
cyberculture (????), cybernut (??),
cyberspace(????), cyberpet (????) netwriter
(????????), nethead (??), webmaster (?????), web
page (??), website (??) E-book (????), E-shopper
(?????), e-card (????), e(-)mail (????),
e-journal (????), e-business (????), e-cash
(????), e-commerce (????)
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Unit Four The Virtual World
Useful Collocations
prefixesverbs cybersurf (????), netsurf (????),
websurf (????), email(??????)
Words like cyber, net, etc. cyberian (????),
cyberphobia (?????), cybernaut (????), cyberize
(???), netter(??), Webify (?????)
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Unit Four The Virtual World
Useful Collocations
clipped word cyberdoc (cyber doctor)
???? Netcast (Net broadcast) ???? Netiquette
(Net etiquette) ?? Netizen (Net citizen)
?? Netpreneur (Net entrepreneur) ????? Webcam
(Web camera) ????? Webcasting (Web
broadcasting) ???? Webliography (Web
bibliography)???? Webnomics (Web
economics)???? Webzine (Web magazine)???? e-tail
ing (electronic retailing)???? e-zine
(electronic magazine) ????

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v. 1. understand (sth. said, ordered, or done)
?? 2. give or provide the meaning of , explain ??
interpret
e.g. 1. The students might interpret the new
regulation as a restriction of their rights. 2.
This dream can be interpreted in several
different ways.
Translate
???????????,??????????
No one in the tour group spoke Spanish so we had
to ask the guide to interpret.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. a particular quality or intonation of the
voice
tone
e.g. From the tone of her voice I could tell she
was very angry.
Translate
??,?????,????????????
Suddenly he laughed again, but this time with a
cold, sharp tone.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. (cause to) become longer, wider, etc. without
breaking ??,??
stretch
e.g. My working day stretches from seven in the
morning to eight at night.
Translate
??????????????
The child stretched the rubber band to its full
extent.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. give (sth.) to sb. So that it may be formally
considered (followed by to) ??,??
submit
e.g. 1.You should submit your reports to the
committee. 2. I am going to submit an application
for that job in Microsoft.
Translate
???????????????????
Peter submitted his plans for the new town square
to the local government.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n.electronic mail ???? vt. send an email to
?...??? ??
email
e.g. 1. Young people like to keep in touch with
their friends via email.
2. I
will email you the instant I get the news.
Translate
?????????????,??????????
Shell email me a question so that I can think it
over in advance.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. contact sb. in any way, esp. by speaking to
them, writing to them or calling them (followed
by with) ??,??
communicate
e.g. They have been divorced for years and never
communicated with each other.
Translate
??????????????????
Some young people depend mainly on email to
communicate with each other.
????????,?????????
While he was in prison, he was not allowed to
communicate with the family.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n.state of being connected ??
relationship
e.g. 1. The scientists had a good working
relationship with his American colleagues.
2. He was a person of wide social
relationship.
Translate
??????????????
Whats the relationship between language and
thoughts?
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Unit Four The Virtual World
sometimes ??
at times
e.g. She has been away from her home for about a
year. At times she wishes she had never left.

Translate
??????,??????????
He feels a little nervous in front of the
strangers.
??????????
She was difficult to understand at times.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
1. absorb (sth.) into the body by breathing or
swallowing ?? 2. understand ??,??
take in
e.g. The earth takes in heat and light from the
sun.
Translate
????????
Fish take in oxygen through their gills.
??????,???????????
She has read some poems, but she could not take
them in.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. (the plural form of datum) information, usu.
in the form of facts or statistics that you can
analyze ??,??
data
e.g. This data is stored on the network and can
be accessed by anybody.
Translate
??????????????
He copied the relevant data out of the
encyclopaedia.
?????????????
The data indicate that our theory is wrong.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
vt. send (liquid, food, etc.) out from the mouth
(used in the patter spit sth. (out)
(/at/on/onto/) sb./sth.) ??
spit
e.g. 1. The baby spat its food out on the table.
2. He took one sip of the wine and spat it
out.
Translate
?????????????
Spitting in the public place can spread disease.
?????????????????
Helen spat out the unpleasant piece of fruit.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
adj., adv. (or online) connected to or
controlled by a computer (net work) ???,???
on line
e.g. 1. Our system is on line to the main
computer. 2. We found that
online education gives us excellent
sources of information, saves our time,
money and it is extremely convenient.
Translate
?????????????????
In my opinion online life in the future is simply
inescapable.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. 1. sign of the existence of sth. bad
?? 2. change in the body that
indicates an illness ??
symptom
e.g. They regard the increase in crime as a
symptom of a more general decline in moral
standards.
Translate
?????????????
High interest rates are a symptom of a weak
economy.
????????????
All the symptoms point to cancer.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. a terrifying dream ??,??
nightmare
e.g. Tom didnt eat fish because it gives him
nightmares.
Translate
???????????
Watching horror films gives me nightmare.
???????????????????
I had a nightmare about falling off the
skyscraper.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
ad. in a way that is opposite to sth. ???
conversely
e.g. 1 buy 100 yen worth of Japanese goods.
Conversely, 100 yen will buy 1 worth of American
goods.
Translate
??????????????????????
You can add the fluid to the powder or
conversely, the powder to the fluid.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
yet at the same time ??,?????
but then
e.g. The failure of Chinas soccer team looks
inevitable. But then, anything can happen in
football.
Translate
?????????????????,??,???????????
Mary performed better than the others in the
final exam but then, she spent much longer on it
than they did.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. have a harsh or an unpleasant effect (used in
the pattern jar sth. jar on sb./sth.) ?????,??
jar
e.g. You shouldnt have too many colors in a
small space as the effect can jar.
Translate
????????????
The childrens screams jar my nerves.
???????????
His manner jars on them.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
(usu. passive) involve (sb.) in an activity, an
argument,etc., usu. against their will (used in
the pattern suck sb. in/into sth. suck in)
?????
suck in
e.g. Some teenagers dont want to get involved
with gangs, but they find themselves getting
sucked in.
Translate
?????????????????
I dont want to get sucked into the debate about
school reform.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
learn about or be aware of (the news, ect.)
move at the same rate as ???????
keep up with
e.g. 1. Carrie likes to keep up with the latest
fashions. 2. He didnt bother to keep up with
the news. His only concern was to study.
Translate
??,?????????, ?????????
The international situation changes so quickly
nowadays that you cannot keep up with it.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
1. visible ???? 2. likely to come soon ??
in sight
e.g. 1. It was early in the morning and there
wasnt anyone in sight on campus.
2. The
end of the economic nightmare is still nowhere in
sight.
Translate
????????,??????????????
As the train pulled into the station my parents
standing on the platform were soon in sight.
??????,?????????
Two months passed, and victory was not yet in
sight.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. thing said or written as a comment ??,??
remark
e.g. His rude remark about my book jarred on me.
Translate
???,?????????????????
The principal of the school made some remarks
about educational reform at the meeting.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
a. 1. of the emotions ???? 2. having emotions
that are easily excited ????
emotional
e.g. 1. She is grateful to him for his emotional
support while she was in trouble.
2. Marie got
very emotional when we parted, and started to cry.
Translate
??????????
It is quit a difficult to handle emotional
problems. .
???????????????
Its said that the Italians are more emotional
than we are.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. anything that serves as a signal about what
to do or say (followed by to/for)??,??
cue
e.g. When he started to talk about the finances,
that was our cue to get up quietly and leave.
Translate
???????,??????????????
When I nod my head, thats your cue to show the
sample to the clients.
??????????????????
Mr. Clintons excitement was the cue for a
campaign.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. A fixed and regular way of doing things
(often adjectival) ????, ????,?? a.?????
routine
e.g. The job is really just a dull series of
fairly routine tasks. I dont think youll take
it.
Translate
???????????????
He established a new routine after retirement.
????,?????????
These questions are asked as a matter of routine.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
depend confidently on, put trust in ????
rely on/upon
e.g. Nowadays we rely increasingly on computers
to control the flow of traffic.
Translate
??????????????
Some children rely heavily on the advice of their
parents.
?????????
You may rely on him to help you.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. wrong or bad use or treatment of sth./sb.
??????
abuse
e.g. The World Health Organization (WHO) has
published a report on drug abuse and addiction.
Translate
?????????????????
The policemen are making an investigation of
child abuse.

????????????
Borrowing money is an abuse of friendship.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
vt. bring back to a former condition (used in
the pattern restore sth.restore sb. to sth.) ??
restore
e.g. 1. Law and order will be quickly restored
after the incident. 2. The
deposed king was restored to power.
Translate
???????????????
Doing sports every day restored the old man to
good health.
???????????????
Winning three games restored their confidence.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. prepare or plan (used in the pattern arrange
sth. arrange to do sth arrange for sb./sth. to
do sth.)
arrange
e.g. Lets arrange to have a dinner together some
time before we graduate.
Translate
???????????????????
I have arranged for a taxi to pick us up at 800
a.m.
?????,?????????????
I could arrange for you to come along with us if
you like.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. run away (from) ????
flee
e.g. During the war, thousands upon upon
thousands of Afgans fled the countries.
Translate
??????,????????????
The customers fled from the bank when the alarm
sounded.
??5????????????
Up to five million political refugees have fled
to other countries.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. 1. a meeting at which a journalist asks
sb. questions in order to find out their news 2.
a formal meeting a which sb. applying for a job
is asked questions, as a way of judging how
suitable they are v. ??????
interview
e.g. 1.Radio interviews are generally more
relaxed than television ones.

2. I have been asked to go for an
interview for a project I applied for at
Harvard University.
Translate
????????,??????????????
In an interview with our reporter, the film star
revealed some of his personal affairs.
??????,??????????????
After the press conference, the journalist
interviewed the UN Secretary General.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
n. an arrangement to meet or visit sb.
(followed by with) ??
appointment
e.g. You cant see the president of the
university unless you make an appointment.
Translate
?????????????
I have made an appointment to see my tutor
tomorrow.
???????
He canceled/broke the appointment.
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Unit Four The Virtual World
v. press or release a mouse button rapidly, as
to select an icon (followed by on) ?????
click
e.g. When shopping online, you just click the
mouse and order what you want to buy.
Translate
???????????????
The tourists clicked away at the castle.
?????????
The door clicked shut.
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n. a series of musical notes that is pleasant
and easy to remember ????
tune
e.g. She whistled a happy tune all the way home.
Translate
????????????
He was humming a merry tunes while cooling.
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
Sentence Explanation
Work becomes secondary to me.
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
Sentence Explanation
I type a line on the screen.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Cultural Notes
the Internet an international computer network
for the exchange of information. It was
originally used mainly in the academic and
military worlds but has since become available to
the large and increasing number of people with
personal computers.
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Cultural Notes
Other services, e.g. the World Wide web, are
available through it. The Internet is changing
our lives and a parallel universe is rapidly
emerging online. Today theres scarcely an aspect
of our life that isnt being upended by the
torrent of information available on the hundreds
of millions of sites crowding the Internet, not
to mention its ability to keep us in constant
touch with
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Cultural Notes
each other via electronic mail. The internet is
saving companies billions of dollars in producing
goods and serving the needs of their customers.
Nothing like it has been seen since the beginning
of the Industrial revolution, when power-driven
machines began
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Cultural Notes
producing more in a day than men could turn out
in nearly a year. The Internet and e-commerce are
viewed as a global megatrend along the lines of
the printing press, the telephone, the computer
and the electricity. You would be hard
pressed to name something that isnt available on
the Internet. Consider books, healthcare, movie
tickets, baby clothes,
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Cultural Notes
stocks, real estate, toys and airline tickets
American kids today are so computer savvy that it
virtually ensures the United States will remain
the unchallenged leader in cyberspace for the
foreseeable future. Most kids use computers to
play games and have email chats with friends.
Whats clear is that, whether we like it or not,
the Internet is an ever-growing part of our lives
and there is no turning back.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Cultural Notes
Dateline ???NBC(the national broadcasting
Company)???????? NBC the first of the original
three US national broadcasting companies. It was
established in 1926 by radio corporation of
America as two groups of radio stations. The
first NBC television channel opened in 1940. The
company is now owned by general Electric. Its
main offices are at Rockefeller Center in New
York.
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Cultural Notes
Frontline ???PBS (the Public Broadcasting
Service)?????????? PBS (in the US) a television
system that broadcasts programs to an association
of local stations which use no television
advertisements and do not make a profit. It was
established by the Public Broadcasting Act and is
supported by money from the US Government, large
companies and the public. PBS is known for the
high quality of its program.
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Cultural Notes
Nightline???ABC(the American Broadcasting
Company)?????????? ABC one of the original
three major television networks in America. It
began in 1943 as the Blue network of six radio
stations. ABC is now owned by the Walt Disney
Company.
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NCE-B2
NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
Language Sense Enhancement
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
Happily Addicted to the Web
Doorbell rings, Im not listening, From my
mouth, drool is glistening, Im happyalthough
My parents are
not Happily addicted to the Web.
All night long, I sit clicking, Unaware time is
ticking, Theres beard on my cheek, Same clothes
for a week, Happily addicted to the Web.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
Happily Addicted to the Web
Friends come by they shake me, Saying, Yo,
man! Dont you know tonights senior prom? With
a shrug, I replied, No, man I just discovered
letterman-dot-com! I dont
phone, dont send faxes, Dont go out, dont pay
taxes, Who cares if someday They drag me
away? I, happily addicted to the Web!
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Quotations
Man is still the most extraordinary computer of
all.
John F. Kennedy
A compute will do what you tell it to do, but
that may be much different from what you had in
mind.
Joseph Weizenbaum
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Quotations
A computer does not substitute for judgment any
more than a pencil substitutes for literacy. But
writing without a pencil is no particular
advantage.
Robert S. McMamara
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Read the humorous story for fun. You might need
to look up new words in a dictionary.
Humorous Story
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Humorous Story
An Illinois man left the snow-filled
streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His
wife was on a business trip and was planning to
meet him there the next day. When he reached his
hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email.

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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Humorous Story
Unfortunately, when tying her address, he
missed one letter, and his note was directed
instead to an elderly preachers wife whose
husband had passed away only the day before. When
the grieving widow checked her mail, she took one
look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream,
and fell to the floor in a dead faint.
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Humorous Story
At the sound, her family rushed into the room and
saw this note on the screen Dearest Wife, Just
got checked in. everything prepared for your
arrival tomorrow. P.S. Sure is hot down here.
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NCE-B2
The Movie
Enjoy the Movie, Please!
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
Comprehension
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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1. What did the author do three year ago and what
is she doing now? 2. How does the author work
nowadays? 3. How does the author manage her
daily life? 4. What are the symptoms shared by
people who live a virtual life?


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Unit 4 The Virtual World
5. What is the Net critics worst nightmare? 6.
How does the author behave when she is suddenly
confronted with real live humans? 7. How does the
author beave on line? Why? 8. How does vihrtual
life affect her relationship with her boyfriend?
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
9. According to the author, why are co-workers
important to a human being? 10. What does the
author do to restore balance to her life? 11.
Does the author feel happy when she returns to
the real world? Why or why not? 12. What does she
do then?
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Comprehension
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
1. What are the negative and the positive effects
of a virtual life? 2. What is the authors
attitude toward the digital world? Which do you
think she prefers, a virtual life or the real
life? 3. What do you do on your computer
nowadays? How much do you rely on it for company?
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
Text Organization
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NCE-B2
Unit 4 The Virtual World
Contents paragraphs
1. Description of the authors virtual life 2-3
2. How she feels about it after staying on the Net for a while
3. What she does in trying to return to the real world
4. How she feels about the real day-to-day world
1,4-10,13
11
12
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NCE-B2
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NCE-B2
The first paragraph tells about the
consequences of living a virtual life and the
last tells about the authors return to it.
Together, they show us the dilemma people at
present are in Because of modern technology, we
have a choice between a virtual life and real
life, but we find both unsatisfactory. The
author, however, finally has to choose the latter
despite its negative effects.
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NCE-B2
Language Focus
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NCE-B2
Dictation
You are going to hear several words and phrases.
Each will be read three times. Write down the
words according to the dictation.
1
2
5
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
Check Up
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NCE-B2
Dictation
11
12
15
13
14
16
17
18
19
20
Check Up
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NCE-B2
Dictation
21
22
25
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
Check Up
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NCE-B2
Dictation
31
32
35
33
34
36
37
38
39
40
Check Up
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NCE-B2
1
virtual
2
accent
3
interpret
4
stretch
5
submit
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NCE-B2
communicate
6
relationship
7
data
8
symptom
9
nightmare
10
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NCE-B2
interaction
11
conversely
12
appropriately
13
commercial
14
remark
15
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NCE-B2
emotional
16
routine
17
unemployment
18
crime
19
suicide
20
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NCE-B2
restore
21
arrange
22
flee
23
interview
24
appointment
25
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NCE-B2
apartment
26
click
27
annoying
28
connection
29
tune
30
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take in
31
on line
32
keep up with
33
in sight
34
rely
35
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at times
36
suck
37
but then
38
intolerable
39
set apart
40
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NCE-B2
Vocabulary
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
1. He would have preferred his wife not to work,
but __________ he was also proud of what she
did. 2. The leaders agree that to maintain a
friendly ____________ between the two countries
will be in the best interests of both nations. 3.
Things are much cheaper here than in New York,
_________, our average salary is much
smaller. 4.His forgetfulness may be a _________
of brain trouble.
conversely
relationship
but then
symptom
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
5. The small boy started _________ blood and his
mother panicked. 6. These laws are intended to
prevent government officials from ________ their
power. 7. Go to the bathroom and wash your
hands, the nurse told the children in a
commanding _____. 8. Mary, a Harvard Law School
graduate, was a very capable lawyer and our firm
______ her ___ as a partner.
spitting
abusing
tone
take
in
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NCE-B2
9. The article is interesting, but it needs
some____________ before it can be published. 10.
The ability to _____________ with others is a
very important social skill that contributes to
success. 11. Computers in his room are not
connected to the _________. You cant send or
receive email here. 12. When we say that we see
light at the end of the tunnel, we mean that
victory is ________.
editing
communicate
Internet
in sight
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
13. He promised to repay me in three days. But
the days __________ into months and I never got a
cent back from him. 14. Before we can draw
conclusions, we must collect enough ______ and
analyze them scientifically. 15. This is a
one-sided view on the issue. We need to look at
it from all possible _______ before we can form
an objective opinion.
stretched
data
angles
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NCE-B2
Vocabulary
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
1. The poet read and then _______ his poem about
nature.

A) stretched B) interpreted
C) submitted D) remarked 2.
With a little effort I could have _______ my
duties better. A) arranged B) restored C)
qualified D) cultivated
B) interpreted
A) arranged
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NCE-B2
3. After the scandal, he refused to give any
_________ to journalists.
A) data
B) interview
C)
symptom D) option 4. A(n)
_________ medical checkup is advisable at least
once a year.
A) exaggerating
B) exceptional C)
routine D) critical
B) interview

C) routine
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5. I couldnt ________ the lecture at all. It was
too difficult for me.
A) work on B) hand
down C) take in D) put out 6. I find myself
________ to start all over again and recapture
the fun and excitement of my college days.

A) want B) wanted
C) wanting D) to want
C) take in
C) wanting
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NCE-B2
7. He wanted to make his living in the arts
rather than in the ________ world.
A) virtual
B) commercial C) appropriate
D) emotional 8. Your _________ with other people
is an indispensable part of your college life.
A.
relationship B) interaction C) connection D)
treatment
B) commercial
B) interaction
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Vocabulary
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smoking cigarettes jars on me
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
getting
sucked in by the fascinating plot of a science
fiction film
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
has arranged for a technician
from the computer store to check and repair it
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
fled their country to avoid
military service (Or fled to other
countries to avoid military service)
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restore peoples confidence in it
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NCE-B2
Vocabulary
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
1. The traditional school will never go away, but
__________ classroom is playing more and more
important role. Obviously, __________ student
________ the computer. To be successful, he must
the class and the computer.
the virtual
the online
relies on
(keep up with, virtual, rely, online)
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To get started, he must have his computer hooked
up to the Internet through a phone line and
modem. To be successful, he must ____________ the
class and complete all work on time. Once he gets
behind, it is almost impossible to catch up
(keep up with, virtual, rely, online)
keep up with
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
2. When the economy slows down, the worst
__________ for an employee is losing his job. In
addition to money problems, _____________ stress
is hard to bear. Hunting for a job is now he
daily _______ of many workers like Henry Smith.
He filled out applications and writes resumes
nightmare
the emotional
routine
(arrange, appointment, submit, interview,
emotional, nightmare, routine)
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and _______ them to various companies, expecting
____________ but in times of rising unemployment,
even job interviews are hard to get. He takes
great care not to miss ______ _____________ for
if he missed it, it would be all but impossible
to ___________ another one. (arrange,
appointment, submit, interview, emotional,
nightmare, routine)
submit
an interview
any
appointment
arrange for
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
3. The dot.com bubble has burst. Venture
capitalists have become cautious in putting more
money into the IT industry and small investors
are taking their _____, said the chairman in his
concluding speech. It is clear from these
_________ that the ever-optimistic economist has
changed ________ . ( tune, remark, cue)
cue
remarks
his tune
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Vocabulary
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Unit 4 The Virtual World

• We walked all the way here.
• Private cars are not allowed on the university
  grounds.
• They are taking a vacation in Florida.

We came here all the way on foot.
Private cars are not allowed on campus.
They are on vacation in Florida.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World

• 4. Marys telephone conversation with her friend
  has lasted for an hour.
• Dont worry, Lucy is never late.
• 6. Industrial demand on fuel is increasing.

Mary has been talking to her friends on the
telephone for an hour.
Dont worry, Lucy is always on time.
Industrial demand on fuel is on the rise.
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Vocabulary
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
Now complete the following sentences by using
one of the above adjectives and see if you
understand their meanings correctly.
themselves
1. For a person who cannot speak a word of
English, life in the United States is _______
to imagine. 2. Even with the help of a
dictionary, this sentence is _________ to
understand.
hard
difficult
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3. Even for a beginner, this task is not
__________ to fulfill. 4. During the press
conference, reporters posed a number of questions
which are ______ to answer. 5. Many Cines
students find the r sound in the English
language______ to pronounce. 6. I like these
tunes. They are merry and ______ to remember.
impossible
tough
hard
easy
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
NCE-B2
Structure
1. Rewrite the italicized parts in the
following sentences after the model
Model They are not
useful to me. They are of no
(possible) use to me.
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Unit 4 The Virtual World

• Anyone who has talked with him will see Mark is a
  remarkably intelligent person.
• Anyone who has talked with him will see Mark
  is ___________________________
• ____________ .
• 2. The book is not valuable to one who is not
  familiar with the subject.
• The book is ___________ to one who is not
  familiar with the subject.

a person of remarkable
intelligence
of no value
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
3. She is a wealthy woman. She never has to worry
about money. She is ___________________ .
She never has to worry about money. 4. In
todays job market, basic skills in computer
science and foreign languages are very important.
In todays job market, basic skills in
computer science and foreign languages are
___________________ .
a woman of wealth
of great importance
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NCE-B2
Structure
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Unit 4 The Virtual World
Assuming (that) this painting really is
a Picasso
1. _____________________________________
_________, how much do you think its worth?
(painting, really, a Picasso). 2.
______________________________________,
where are we going to get the money? (proposal,
accept)
Assuming (that) the proposal is accepted
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3. All we have to do is to explain the problem to
her, _____________________________________
________. ( of course, she, prepared, listen) 4.
_______________________________________
___________________, I doubt theyll take any
notice. (even, smokers, do see, health warnings)
assuming, of course, that shes prepared to
listen
Even assuming (that) the smokers do see the
health warnings
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U