Unit 9 Section A I Background Knowledge 1. Premarital agreements Premarital agreements or prenuptial agreements are binding legal contracts between two people who intend to marry each other 2. Jacqueline Kennedy onassis Born on July 28, 1929, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was first lady of the United States during the administration(1961-1963)of her first husband, John F. Kennedy. She had been a newspaper reporter and photographer before their marriage in 1953. She was riding beside President Kennedy when he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963. In 1968 she arried the greek shipping millionaire Aristotle Onassis 3. Aristotle onassis Born on January 20, 1906, Aristotle Onassis was a Greek shipping millionaire whe accumulated a fortune of more than $500 million. Born of Greek parents in Turkey, he went to Buenos Aires in 1923 and became a telephone operator there. Soon Onassis established a tobacco import business, and by 1930s he bought unused freighters at low prices and by the end of World War ll had amassed great wealth in shipping. After the war he increased his shipping fleet by 4. The American Academy of Marriage Lawyers Its official name is the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers II. Text Analysis 1. Main idea of the text The author gives the reader a detailed exposition of what prenups are, who need prenups what points to be taken care of before signing prenups, and how people evaluate prenup 2. Text structure analysis Part I(Paras. 1-4)Introduction of prenups Para.1 a humorous beginning---some crazy clauses of premarital Para. 2 The real premarital agreement: Most of them are about how financial assets will be divided up if a couple divorces Para. 3 What are prenups and who sign them? (1) Prenuptial agreements---or"prenups"are designed to address the problems of the division of financial assets as they arise (2)Prenups are negotiated by lawyers for the prospective spouses, and signed by the prospective spouses before a marriage ceremony Para. 4 An example of prenups: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis won $26
Unit 9 Section A I. Background Knowledge 1．Premarital agreements Premarital agreements or prenuptial agreements are binding legal contracts between two people who intend to marry each other. 2．Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Born on July 28, 1929, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was first lady of the United States during the administration (1961-1963) of her first husband, John F. Kennedy. She had been a newspaper reporter and photographer before their marriage in 1953. She was riding beside President Kennedy when he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963. In 1968 she married the Greek shipping millionaire Aristotle Onassis. 3．Aristotle Onassis Born on January 20, 1906, Aristotle Onassis was a Greek shipping millionaire who accumulated a fortune of more than $500 million. Born of Greek parents in Turkey, he went to Buenos Aires in 1923 and became a telephone operator there. Soon Onassis established a tobacco import business, and by 1930s he bought unused freighters at low prices and by the end of World War II had amassed great wealth in shipping. After the war he increased his shipping fleet by purchasing surplus wartime freighters. 4．The American Academy of Marriage Lawyers Its official name is the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. II. Text Analysis 1. Main idea of the text The author gives the reader a detailed exposition of what prenups are, who need prenups, what points to be taken care of before signing prenups, and how people evaluate prenups. 2. Text structure analysis Part I(Paras.1— 4) Introduction of prenups Para.1 A humorous beginning---some crazy clauses of premarital agreements. Para.2 The real premarital agreement: Most of them are about how financial assets will be divided up if a couple divorces. Para.3 What are prenups and who sign them? (1) Prenuptial agreements--- or “prenups”—are designed to address the problems of the division of financial assets as they arise. (2) Prenups are negotiated by lawyers for the prospective spouses, and signed by the prospective spouses before a marriage ceremony. Para.4 An example of prenups: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis won $26
million through her prenups with her second husband Aristotle Onassis Part II(Paras. 5-8)Who want prenups? General-specific exposition总分法) Para. 5 Those who will be involved in great economic consequences in a divorce and those who want to remarry. ( Detail 1) Para. 6 Those who have accumulated considerable wealth, have already been stung once, and want to reduce their exposure to future problems. ( Detail 2) Para. 7 Those who want to shield assets to be passed on to children and grandchildren and plan to remarry after a spouse has died. (Detail 3) Para. 8 Those who have, or are in line for, great inherited wealth or family businesses, especially if the future partners have little or nothing at all. Detail 4) Part III(Paras.9-14)What points to be taken care of before signing prenups? General- specific exposition总分法 Para.9 Proper guidelines are necessary; a lawyer is required to write the document; and do not use the same lawyer as your future spouse does. (Detail 1) Para. 10 Do not sign a prenup under pressure. ( Detail 2) Para. 12 Watch out that a dispute of carrying out prenups could happen if a couple decides to divorce while living abroad with different passports.( Detail 3) Para. 14 Have a correct understanding of the nature of prenups: they are business Part Iv(Paras. 15-16) Evaluations of prenups General-specific exposition总分法 Para. 15: Prenups sometimes may help save a couple from a terrible marriage (Detail 1) Para. 16: Prenups sometimes prove to be of no use to some happy marriages ( Detail 2) 3 Exemplification(举例法) (1) To catch the reader's interest, the author begins his article by citing three examples as the craziest clauses of prenups.(Para. 1) Example 1: A future husband wanted to be sure that if his marriage didnt work out, he could keep his treasured ice-cream collection safely stored away in a freezer Example 2: A woman insisted on verifying who would walk the dog Example 3: One man wanted the right to get a divorce if his bride-to-be gained more than 15 pounds once she became his wife (2) Most prenups are about how financial assets will be divided up if a couple divorces. Para. 2 Example: The prenups of the famous make the headlines: lawyers for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis contested the prenuptial agreement between her and aristotle Onassis after his death, reportedly winning $26 million in an out-of-court (3) Never send out wedding invitations until both signatures are on an agreement. (Para. 10) Example 1: But not everyone takes this advice. a classic example is cited by lawy
million through her prenups with her second husband Aristotle Onassis. Part II(Paras.5—8) Who want prenups? (General-specific exposition 总分法 ) Para.5 Those who will be involved in great economic consequences in a divorce and those who want to remarry. (Detail 1) Para.6 Those who have accumulated considerable wealth, have already been stung once, and want to reduce their exposure to future problems. (Detail 2) Para.7 Those who want to shield assets to be passed on to children and grandchildren and plan to remarry after a spouse has died. (Detail 3) Para.8 Those who have, or are in line for, great inherited wealth or family businesses, especially if the future partners have little or nothing at all. (Detail 4) Part III(Paras.9—14) What points to be taken care of before signing prenups? (General-specific exposition 总分法 ) Para.9 Proper guidelines are necessary; a lawyer is required to write the document; and do not use the same lawyer as your future spouse does. (Detail 1) Para.10 Do not sign a prenup under pressure. (Detail 2) Para.12 Watch out that a dispute of carrying out prenups could happen if a couple decides to divorce while living abroad with different passports. (Detail 3) Para.14 Have a correct understanding of the nature of prenups: they are business agreements. (Detail 4) Part IV(Paras.15—16) Evaluations of prenups (General-specific exposition 总分法) Para.15: Prenups sometimes may help save a couple from a terrible marriage. (Detail 1) Para.16: Prenups sometimes prove to be of no use to some happy marriages. (Detail 2) 3. Exemplification (举例法 ) (1) To catch the reader’s interest, the author begins his article by citing three examples as the craziest clauses of prenups. (Para. 1) Example 1: A future husband wanted to be sure that if his marriage didn’t work out, he could keep his treasured ice-cream collection safely stored away in a freezer. Example 2: A woman insisted on verifying who would walk the dog. Example 3: One man wanted the right to get a divorce if his bride-to-be gained more than 15 pounds once she became his wife. (2) Most prenups are about how financial assets will be divided up if a couple divorces. (Para. 2) Example: The prenups of the famous make the headlines: lawyers for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis contested the prenuptial agreement between her and Aristotle Onassis after his death, reportedly winning $26 million in an out-of-court settlement. (Para. 4) (3) Never send out wedding invitations until both signatures are on an agreement. (Para. 10) Example 1: But not everyone takes this advice. A classic example is cited by lawyers: “...” (Para. 11)
Example 2: Another lawyer recalled one awkward episode where.(Para. 11) (4) There may be a dispute of carrying out prenups if a couple lives abroad with different passports. (Para. 12) Example: He gave the folle A wealthy Mr. Ed Smith gets married to Mrs Smith, and they enter into a New York prenuptial contract. They live in England, and then decide to get divorced. English lawyers will say . while Mr. Smith will want it to be an American case... " (Para. 13) 4. Listing(列举法) The author lists three examples to introduce some of the craziest clauses of prenups A future husband wanted to be sure that if his marriage didn't work out, he could keep his treasured ice-cream collection safely stored away in a freezer. A woman insisted on verifying who would walk the dog. One man wanted the right to get a divorce if his bride-to-be gained more than 15 pounds once she became his wife.(Para. 1) 5 Quotation(引言法 The author quotes directly as follows: (1)"It's because divorce has such great economic consequences, and successive marriages have become so common, said a family law lawyer. (Para. 5) (2)They want to make their own arrangements, rather than let a court decide, said..(Para. 6) (3)"Someone may have an estate of sI billion and he may not want a second spouse to get a payment of half a billion. He may want more for his children, "said a lawyer.(Para. 7) (4)"It sheds light on issues which could later widen and result in divorce, said a lawyer ara (5) "Many people sign an agreement, put it in a drawer and never look at it again, " the lawyer added.(Para. 16) 6 Problem- -solution(问题-解决法) (1)Problem: But even when both parties have signed such an agreement, it can be impossible to enforce it in court if proper guidelines have not been followed Solution: A lawyer is required to write the document, for mistakes in language-even a misplaced preposition-can be disastrous. But never, ever, should you use the same lawyer as your future spouse does. ( Para. 9) blem: a prenuptial agreeme ed under Solution: To avoid this, some lawyers will not draw up an agreement once a wedding date has been set. "I figure there's a sword hanging over their head, and that's pressure, they said. Such lawyers counsel their clients never to send out wedding invitations until both signatures are on an agreement. ( Para. 10 III. Language Points Compatible expressions
Example 2: Another lawyer recalled one awkward episode where… (Para. 11) (4) There may be a dispute of carrying out prenups if a couple lives abroad with different passports. (Para. 12) Example: He gave the following example: “A wealthy Mr. Ed Smith gets married to Mrs. Smith, and they enter into a New York prenuptial contract. They live in England, and then decide to get divorced. English lawyers will say…, while Mr. Smith will want it to be an American case…” (Para. 13) 4. Listing (列举法) The author lists three examples to introduce some of the craziest clauses of prenups: A future husband wanted to be sure that if his marriage didn’t work out, he could keep his treasured ice-cream collection safely stored away in a freezer. A woman insisted on verifying who would walk the dog. One man wanted the right to get a divorce if his bride-to-be gained more than 15 pounds once she became his wife. (Para. 1) 5. Quotation （引言法） The author quotes directly as follows: (1) “It’s because divorce has such great economic consequences, and successive marriages have become so common,” said a family law lawyer. (Para. 5) (2) “They want to make their own arrangements, rather than let a court decide,’’said… (Para. 6) (3) “Someone may have an estate of $1 billion and he may not want a second spouse to get a payment of half a billion. He may want more for his children,” said a lawyer. (Para. 7) (4)“It sheds light on issues which could later widen and result in divorce,” said a lawyer. (Para. 15) (5)“Many people sign an agreement, put it in a drawer and never look at it again,” the lawyer added. (Para. 16) 6.Problem-solution (问题---解决法) （1） Problem: But even when both parties have signed such an agreement, it can be impossible to enforce it in court if proper guidelines have not been followed. (Para. 9) Solution: A lawyer is required to write the document, for mistakes in language—even a misplaced preposition—can be disastrous. But never, ever, should you use the same lawyer as your future spouse does. (Para. 9) （2） problem: A prenuptial agreement signed under pressure. (Para. 10) Solution: To avoid this, some lawyers will not draw up an agreement once a wedding date has been set. “I figure there’s a sword hanging over their head, and that’s pressure,” they said. Such lawyers counsel their clients never to send out wedding invitations until both signatures are on an agreement. (Para. 10) III. Language Points Compatible expressions
I to work out (L. 1) 发展很好,证明是成功的 Due to the scientists careful preparation, the space program has worked out quite well 由于科学家们的缜密准备,此次航天计划很成功。 2. to store away /up(L 2) 收起来,储存,储备 The primary task for the college students is to store up enough knowledge for the challenges of the future society 大学生的首要任务是为未来社会的挑战储备足够的知识。 3. to make no mistake about. .(L. 5) 别弄错了;毫无疑问 Make no mistake about your priority at school. You should concentrate on your study instead of traveling from one scenic spot to another 弄清楚你上学的首要任务:你应该把精力集中在学习上而不是整天游山玩水。 4. to be /become common in /among (L 7) 在∷方面普遍,平常 The impact of computer on our daily life becomes more and more common in modern society 在现代社会中,计算机对我们日常生活的影响越来越普遍 5. to be designed /intended to do sth (L 9) 就是用来做某事的 This plan is merely designed to realize China's dream of first manned flight into outer space 这个计划是专门用来实现中国首次飞天梦的。 6. to gain in.. LIl) 得到更多的 More and more material possessions do not suggest that you gain in happiness 越来越多的物质财富不一定表明你得到了更多的幸福 7. to make /hit the headlines(L 16) 成为头条新闻 Such disasters as air crashes, earthquakes and regional blood-shed conflicts often make the headlines in our life 空难、地震和地区流血冲突等灾难常常成为我们生活中头条新闻。 8. to reduce his exposure to future problems L. 26) 减少日后的麻烦 They gave the widest possible exposure to the successful space-flight of Shenzhou 5 他们对神舟5号成功的宇宙飞行做了尽可能广泛的报道。 9 to shield sth(from.)to(L 32) 保护……(免于…使能够… We should try every means to shield our motherland (from foreign aggressions) to develop healthily and prosperously 我们应该用一切办法保护祖国(不受外来侵略),使之能健康繁荣地发展 10. to be passed on/round to(L. 32) His art of doing business is to pass all the increase in costs to the customers 他的经营之道是把成本的增加全部转嫁到顾客身上
1. to work out (L. 1) 发展很好，证明是成功的 Due to the scientists’ careful preparation, the space program has worked out quite well. 由于科学家们的缜密准备, 此次航天计划很成功。 2. to store away / up (L. 2) 收起来，储存，储备 The primary task for the college students is to store up enough knowledge for the challenges of the future society. 大学生的首要任务是为未来社会的挑战储备足够的知识。 3. to make no mistake about… (L. 5) 别弄错了；毫无疑问 Make no mistake about your priority at school. You should concentrate on your study instead of traveling from one scenic spot to another. 弄清楚你上学的首要任务；你应该把精力集中在学习上而不是整天游山玩水。 4. to be / become common in / among (L. 7) 在······方面普遍，平常 The impact of computer on our daily life becomes more and more common in modern society. 在现代社会中，计算机对我们日常生活的影响越来越普遍。 5. to be designed / intended to do sth. (L. 9) 就是用来做某事的 This plan is merely designed to realize China’s dream of first manned flight into outer space. 这个计划是专门用来实现中国首次飞天梦的。 6. to gain in… (L. 11) 得到更多的······ More and more material possessions do not suggest that you gain in happiness. 越来越多的物质财富不一定表明你得到了更多的幸福。 7. to make / hit the headlines (L. 16) 成为头条新闻 Such disasters as air crashes, earthquakes and regional blood-shed conflicts often make the headlines in our life. 空难、地震和地区流血冲突等灾难常常成为我们生活中头条新闻。 8. to reduce his exposure to future problems (L. 26) 减少日后的麻烦 They gave the widest possible exposure to the successful space-flight of Shenzhou 5. 他们对神舟 5 号成功的宇宙飞行做了尽可能广泛的报道。 9. to shield sth. (from… ) to (L. 32) 保护······（免于······）使能够······ We should try every means to shield our motherland (from foreign aggressions) to develop healthily and prosperously. 我们应该用一切办法保护祖国（不受外来侵略），使之能健康繁荣地发展。 10. to be passed on / round to (L. 32) 使······传到······ His art of doing business is to pass all the increase in costs to the customers. 他的经营之道是把成本的增加全部转嫁到顾客身上
Il. to call for(L. 34) 需要,要求:值得 The information age calls for dramatic changes in people's economic and social values 信息时代要求人们的经济和社会价值观有巨大的改变 12. to be in line for(L. 35) 即将获得,很可能得到 As a result of our scientists untiring efforts, our country is in line for a major breakthrough in cross-breeding of rice 由于科学家们的不懈努力,我国即将在杂交水稻育种方面取得重大突破 13. to draw up L. 43) 写出,制定,草拟:停住 It is necessary that we draw up a schedule before we begin our work or study 我们有必要在开始工作或学习前拟定一份日程表/计划书 14 to hang over (L. 44) 悬挂于∷之上 Examinations are like huge rocks hanging over some students heads. They feel overwhelmed with the invisible pressure 考试就好像悬在一些学生头上的巨石。他们被这无形的压力压得喘不过气来 15 to counsel sb. (not) to do sth (L. 44) 建议某人(不要)做某事 owadays, many youngsters are counseled to delay their marriages until they have made some achievements in their careers 现如今,许多年轻人得到的建议是,要在事业上取得了一定的成就之后再结婚。 16. to be stuck under one's nose(L. 47) (某物)被放到面前 This journalist lost his bearings when large sums of money were stuck under his nose 当大笔的金钱放到面前时,这位记者乱了方寸。 17 to argue over/about( L 49) 就/因 There is no point in arguing over such problems as which one comes into being first, an egg or a 对诸如先有蛋还是先有鸡此类问题的争论毫无意义 18 to break out over.(L. 52) a war between the two countries broke out over the energy problem 两国间由于能源问题爆发了战争 19. what matters(to sb. is.(L. 58) (对某人来说)关键是 What matters to a couple is that mind, not money, makes marriage lasting 对夫妻来说重要的一点是,使婚姻长久要靠心灵,而不是靠金钱 20. to have no/little /some/much bearing on.(L. 65) 与…无/几乎没有/有一些/有很大关系 It is true that one's success has some bearing on his intelligence; but diligence counts more to it 一个人的成功固然与他的智慧有关;但勤奋对成功更为重要
11. to call for (L. 34) 需要，要求；值得 The information age calls for dramatic changes in people’s economic and social values. 信息时代要求人们的经济和社会价值观有巨大的改变。 12. to be in line for (L. 35) 即将获得，很可能得到 As a result of our scientists’ untiring efforts, our country is in line for a major breakthrough in cross-breeding of rice. 由于科学家们的不懈努力，我国即将在杂交水稻育种方面取得重大突破。 13. to draw up (L. 43) 写出，制定，草拟；停住 It is necessary that we draw up a schedule before we begin our work or study. 我们有必要在开始工作或学习前拟定一份日程表/计划书。 14. to hang over (L. 44) 悬挂于······之上 Examinations are like huge rocks hanging over some students’ heads. They feel overwhelmed with the invisible pressure. 考试就好像悬在一些学生头上的巨石。他们被这无形的压力压得喘不过气来。 15. to counsel sb. (not) to do sth. (L. 44) 建议某人（不要）做某事 Nowadays, many youngsters are counseled to delay their marriages until they have made some achievements in their careers. 现如今，许多年轻人得到的建议是，要在事业上取得了一定的成就之后再结婚。 16. to be stuck under one’s nose (L. 47) (某物) 被放到面前 This journalist lost his bearings when large sums of money were stuck under his nose. 当大笔的金钱放到面前时，这位记者乱了方寸。 17. to argue over / about ( L. 49) 就 / 因······争吵 There is no point in arguing over such problems as which one comes into being first, an egg or a hen. 对诸如先有蛋还是先有鸡此类问题的争论毫无意义。 18. to break out over… (L. 52) 就 / 由于······ 爆发，产生 A war between the two countries broke out over the energy problem. 两国间由于能源问题爆发了战争。 19. What matters (to sb.) is… (L. 58) (对某人来说) 关键是······ What matters to a couple is that mind, not money, makes marriage lasting. 对夫妻来说重要的一点是，使婚姻长久要靠心灵，而不是靠金钱。 20. to have no / little / some / much bearing on… ( L. 65) 与······无 / 几乎没有 / 有一些 / 有很大关系 It is true that one’s success has some bearing on his intelligence; but diligence counts more to it. 一个人的成功固然与他的智慧有关; 但勤奋对成功更为重要