Unit 3 Social Problems In-class Reading Passage 参考译文 挂着朝匙的小孩一笃，笃，有人在家吗？ 1在美国过去的几十年中，生活开支一直在持续上升。食品价格、服装开支、住房开支以 及学费不断增高。母亲们已经不再扮演专职家庭主妇的传统角色，这在一定程度上是出于经 济上的需要，一定程度上也是为了使自己有一种成就感。她们越来越多地在从事着家庭以外 的带薪水的工作。 2这样重大的角色转换影响到整个家庭，尤其是小孩。某些后果是显而易见的。例如，晚 饭时间推迟了。然而，这种转变对感情上的影响更为微妙。母亲们早上带着负疚感离开家， 因为孩子放学回家时她们不能在家等候。她们压抑着负疚心理，因为相信从长远来看这份工 作对大家都有利。她们的收入能够使家庭积攒起孩子的大学学费、全家度一个更长的假期、 买一辆新车，等等。 3孩子们在感情上所受到的影响是很大的。孩子们普遍感到受了伤害，有怨恨情绪。毕竞 有好几个小时他们要独自呆在家里，而他们觉得母亲应该“在那儿”等着他们。他们也许会 需要母亲帮他们完成家庭作业，或是想把一天里的活动说给母亲听。然而十分常见的情况是： 母亲们回到家里己经疲惫不堪，又面临着一个紧迫的任务一做饭。她们的首要任务是为全 家人做晚饭，而不是放松地聊天。 4挂钥匙的孩子们的年龄从6岁到13岁不等。每天他们放学回家，用挂在自己脖子上的钥 匙打开家门。然后就独自呆在安安静静、空空荡荡的房间里。对于某些孩子来说，这是一段 属于他们自己的有所作为的时间，而对于另一些孩子来说则是令人恐惧的、孤独的空虚。为 了安全的原因，许多父母不允许他们的孩子出去玩或是让别的孩子来家玩。因此这些孩子有 一种被隔离的感觉。 5接受采访的挂钥匙的孩子们的反应不同。一些孩子说每天有几个小时让他们独自呆在家 里培养了或者说激发了他们的独立意识和责任感。他们觉得受到了关爱与信任，而且这种感 觉增强了他们的自信心。（挂钥匙的）女孩子们通过观察母亲们如何对付家庭与工作中的难处 而学习了职业母亲的行为榜样。有的孩子说，他们将这一自由自在无人照顾的时间用来提高 自己的体育技能，如打篮球。还有一些孩子则看看书或是练练乐器。所有这些孩子都把他们 放学后的这段自由时间看成是自我发展的机会。这段时间带给了他们积极的、富有成果的宝 贵经历。 6与此相反，也有许多挂钥匙的孩子对于被迫以这种方式生活表现出不快、怨恨以及愤怒。 不少孩子声称他们在幼小的年龄被赋予太多的责任，这是一个令人难以承受的负担。他们还 是小孩，需要母亲的保护、鼓励与关怀。回到一个空荡荡的家令人失望孤独，还经常令人感 到恐惧。他们有种被母亲所遗弃的感觉。毕竟，在他们看来，别的孩子大多数都有一个“正 常”的家，母亲总是“在他们周围”，而自己的母亲则总是不在家。许多孩子整个下午让电视 机开着，天天如此，目的是为了减轻这种被隔离的感觉。还有，电视的声音能给他们带来一 点安慰。他们常常就这样睡着了。 7由于经济上的需要，或是出于要得到自我满足感的坚强决心，或是两者兼而有之，挂钥 匙的孩子这一现象在我们的社会中已变得很普遍。然而无论出于什么样的原因，这已经成为 一个紧迫的、所有的家庭都必须应付的局面。做母亲的应不应该从事全日制工作己不是要提
1 Unit 3 Social Problems In-class Reading Passage 参考译文 挂着钥匙的小孩––––笃，笃，有人在家吗？ 1 在美国过去的几十年中，生活开支一直在持续上升。食品价格、服装开支、住房开支以 及学费不断增高。母亲们已经不再扮演专职家庭主妇的传统角色，这在一定程度上是出于经 济上的需要，一定程度上也是为了使自己有一种成就感。她们越来越多地在从事着家庭以外 的带薪水的工作。 2 这样重大的角色转换影响到整个家庭，尤其是小孩。某些后果是显而易见的。例如，晚 饭时间推迟了。然而，这种转变对感情上的影响更为微妙。母亲们早上带着负疚感离开家， 因为孩子放学回家时她们不能在家等候。她们压抑着负疚心理，因为相信从长远来看这份工 作对大家都有利。她们的收入能够使家庭积攒起孩子的大学学费、全家度一个更长的假期、 买一辆新车，等等。 3 孩子们在感情上所受到的影响是很大的。孩子们普遍感到受了伤害，有怨恨情绪。毕竟 有好几个小时他们要独自呆在家里，而他们觉得母亲应该“在那儿”等着他们。他们也许会 需要母亲帮他们完成家庭作业，或是想把一天里的活动说给母亲听。然而十分常见的情况是： 母亲们回到家里已经疲惫不堪，又面临着一个紧迫的任务––––做饭。她们的首要任务是为全 家人做晚饭，而不是放松地聊天。 4 挂钥匙的孩子们的年龄从 6 岁到 13 岁不等。每天他们放学回家，用挂在自己脖子上的钥 匙打开家门。然后就独自呆在安安静静、空空荡荡的房间里。对于某些孩子来说，这是一段 属于他们自己的有所作为的时间，而对于另一些孩子来说则是令人恐惧的、孤独的空虚。为 了安全的原因，许多父母不允许他们的孩子出去玩或是让别的孩子来家玩。因此这些孩子有 一种被隔离的感觉。 5 接受采访的挂钥匙的孩子们的反应不同。一些孩子说每天有几个小时让他们独自呆在家 里培养了或者说激发了他们的独立意识和责任感。他们觉得受到了关爱与信任，而且这种感 觉增强了他们的自信心。（挂钥匙的）女孩子们通过观察母亲们如何对付家庭与工作中的难处 而学习了职业母亲的行为榜样。有的孩子说，他们将这一自由自在无人照顾的时间用来提高 自己的体育技能，如打篮球。还有一些孩子则看看书或是练练乐器。所有这些孩子都把他们 放学后的这段自由时间看成是自我发展的机会。这段时间带给了他们积极的、富有成果的宝 贵经历。 6 与此相反，也有许多挂钥匙的孩子对于被迫以这种方式生活表现出不快、怨恨以及愤怒。 不少孩子声称他们在幼小的年龄被赋予太多的责任，这是一个令人难以承受的负担。他们还 是小孩，需要母亲的保护、鼓励与关怀。回到一个空荡荡的家令人失望孤独，还经常令人感 到恐惧。他们有种被母亲所遗弃的感觉。毕竟，在他们看来，别的孩子大多数都有一个“正 常”的家，母亲总是“在他们周围”，而自己的母亲则总是不在家。许多孩子整个下午让电视 机开着，天天如此，目的是为了减轻这种被隔离的感觉。还有，电视的声音能给他们带来一 点安慰。他们常常就这样睡着了。 7 由于经济上的需要，或是出于要得到自我满足感的坚强决心，或是两者兼而有之，挂钥 匙的孩子这一现象在我们的社会中已变得很普遍。然而无论出于什么样的原因，这已经成为 一个紧迫的、所有的家庭都必须应付的局面。做母亲的应不应该从事全日制工作已不是要提
出的问题。考虑到这种现象的现实状况，要提出的应是这样一个问题：如何才能制定一个最 佳方案来有效地应对这种局面？ 8明智的做法是：对这种不可避免的变化，家庭的所有成员把自己的感受与担心坦率地说 出来，并予以充分地讨论。要把许多因素都考虑到：孩子的个性与成熟程度，孩子独自在家 的时间长短，居住区周围是否安全，以及出现紧急情况时能否得到救助。首要的是亲子关系 的融洽度。要让孩子们明白父母是爱他们的，这一点非常重要。孩子们感到有人爱护他们， 这会赋予他们一种不可估量的情感力量，去成功地应付生活中出现的种种困难。 After-class Reading Passage 参考译文 挂着钥匙的小孩一笃，笃，有人在家吗？ 1在美国过去的几十年中，生活开支一直在持续上升。食品价格、服装开支、住房开支以 及学费不断增高。母亲们已经不再扮演专职家庭主妇的传统角色，这在一定程度上是出于经 济上的需要，一定程度上也是为了使自己有一种成就感。她们越来越多地在从事着家庭以外 的带薪水的工作。 2这样重大的角色转换影响到整个家庭，尤其是小孩。某些后果是显而易见的。例如，晚 饭时间推迟了。然而，这种转变对感情上的影响更为微妙。母亲们早上带着负疚感离开家， 因为孩子放学回家时她们不能在家等候。她们压抑着负疚心理，因为相信从长远来看这份工 作对大家都有利。她们的收入能够使家庭积攒起孩子的大学学费、全家度一个更长的假期、 买一辆新车，等等。 3孩子们在感情上所受到的影响是很大的。孩子们普遍感到受了伤害，有怨恨情绪。毕竞 有好几个小时他们要独自呆在家里，而他们觉得母亲应该“在那儿”等着他们。他们也许会 需要母亲帮他们完成家庭作业，或是想把一天里的活动说给母亲听。然而十分常见的情况是： 母亲们回到家里己经疲惫不堪，又面临着一个紧迫的任务一做饭。她们的首要任务是为全 家人做晚饭，而不是放松地聊天。 4挂钥匙的孩子们的年龄从6岁到13岁不等。每天他们放学回家，用挂在自己脖子上的钥 匙打开家门。然后就独自呆在安安静静、空空荡荡的房间里。对于某些孩子来说，这是一段 属于他们自己的有所作为的时间，而对于另一些孩子来说则是令人恐惧的、孤独的空虚。为 了安全的原因，许多父母不允许他们的孩子出去玩或是让别的孩子来家玩。因此这些孩子有 一种被隔离的感觉。 5接受采访的挂钥匙的孩子们的反应不同。一些孩子说每天有几个小时让他们独自呆在家 里培养了或者说激发了他们的独立意识和责任感。他们觉得受到了关爱与信任，而且这种感 觉增强了他们的自信心。（挂钥匙的）女孩子们通过观察母亲们如何对付家庭与工作中的难处 而学习了职业母亲的行为榜样。有的孩子说，他们将这一自由自在无人照顾的时间用来提高 自己的体育技能，如打篮球。还有一些孩子则看看书或是练练乐器。所有这些孩子都把他们 放学后的这段自由时间看成是自我发展的机会。这段时间带给了他们积极的、富有成果的宝 贵经历。 6与此相反，也有许多挂钥匙的孩子对于被迫以这种方式生活表现出不快、怨恨以及愤怒。 不少孩子声称他们在幼小的年龄被赋予太多的责任，这是一个令人难以承受的负担。他们还 是小孩，需要母亲的保护、鼓励与关怀。回到一个空荡荡的家令人失望孤独，还经常令人感 到恐惧。他们有种被母亲所遗弃的感觉。毕竞，在他们看来，别的孩子大多数都有一个“正
2 出的问题。考虑到这种现象的现实状况，要提出的应是这样一个问题：如何才能制定一个最 佳方案来有效地应对这种局面？ 8 明智的做法是：对这种不可避免的变化，家庭的所有成员把自己的感受与担心坦率地说 出来，并予以充分地讨论。要把许多因素都考虑到：孩子的个性与成熟程度，孩子独自在家 的时间长短，居住区周围是否安全，以及出现紧急情况时能否得到救助。首要的是亲子关系 的融洽度。要让孩子们明白父母是爱他们的，这一点非常重要。孩子们感到有人爱护他们， 这会赋予他们一种不可估量的情感力量，去成功地应付生活中出现的种种困难。 After-class Reading Passage 参考译文 挂着钥匙的小孩––––笃，笃，有人在家吗？ 1 在美国过去的几十年中，生活开支一直在持续上升。食品价格、服装开支、住房开支以 及学费不断增高。母亲们已经不再扮演专职家庭主妇的传统角色，这在一定程度上是出于经 济上的需要，一定程度上也是为了使自己有一种成就感。她们越来越多地在从事着家庭以外 的带薪水的工作。 2 这样重大的角色转换影响到整个家庭，尤其是小孩。某些后果是显而易见的。例如，晚 饭时间推迟了。然而，这种转变对感情上的影响更为微妙。母亲们早上带着负疚感离开家， 因为孩子放学回家时她们不能在家等候。她们压抑着负疚心理，因为相信从长远来看这份工 作对大家都有利。她们的收入能够使家庭积攒起孩子的大学学费、全家度一个更长的假期、 买一辆新车，等等。 3 孩子们在感情上所受到的影响是很大的。孩子们普遍感到受了伤害，有怨恨情绪。毕竟 有好几个小时他们要独自呆在家里，而他们觉得母亲应该“在那儿”等着他们。他们也许会 需要母亲帮他们完成家庭作业，或是想把一天里的活动说给母亲听。然而十分常见的情况是： 母亲们回到家里已经疲惫不堪，又面临着一个紧迫的任务––––做饭。她们的首要任务是为全 家人做晚饭，而不是放松地聊天。 4 挂钥匙的孩子们的年龄从 6 岁到 13 岁不等。每天他们放学回家，用挂在自己脖子上的钥 匙打开家门。然后就独自呆在安安静静、空空荡荡的房间里。对于某些孩子来说，这是一段 属于他们自己的有所作为的时间，而对于另一些孩子来说则是令人恐惧的、孤独的空虚。为 了安全的原因，许多父母不允许他们的孩子出去玩或是让别的孩子来家玩。因此这些孩子有 一种被隔离的感觉。 5 接受采访的挂钥匙的孩子们的反应不同。一些孩子说每天有几个小时让他们独自呆在家 里培养了或者说激发了他们的独立意识和责任感。他们觉得受到了关爱与信任，而且这种感 觉增强了他们的自信心。（挂钥匙的）女孩子们通过观察母亲们如何对付家庭与工作中的难处 而学习了职业母亲的行为榜样。有的孩子说，他们将这一自由自在无人照顾的时间用来提高 自己的体育技能，如打篮球。还有一些孩子则看看书或是练练乐器。所有这些孩子都把他们 放学后的这段自由时间看成是自我发展的机会。这段时间带给了他们积极的、富有成果的宝 贵经历。 6 与此相反，也有许多挂钥匙的孩子对于被迫以这种方式生活表现出不快、怨恨以及愤怒。 不少孩子声称他们在幼小的年龄被赋予太多的责任，这是一个令人难以承受的负担。他们还 是小孩，需要母亲的保护、鼓励与关怀。回到一个空荡荡的家令人失望孤独，还经常令人感 到恐惧。他们有种被母亲所遗弃的感觉。毕竟，在他们看来，别的孩子大多数都有一个“正
常”的家，母亲总是“在他们周围”，而自己的母亲则总是不在家。许多孩子整个下午让电视 机开着，天天如此，目的是为了减轻这种被隔离的感觉。还有，电视的声音能给他们带来一 点安慰。他们常常就这样睡着了。 7由于经济上的需要，或是出于要得到自我满足感的坚强决心，或是两者兼而有之，挂钥 匙的孩子这一现象在我们的社会中己变得很普遍。然而无论出于什么样的原因，这已经成为 一个紧迫的、所有的家庭都必须应付的局面。做母亲的应不应该从事全日制工作己不是要提 出的问题。考虑到这种现象的现实状况，要提出的应是这样一个问题：如何才能制定一个最 佳方案来有效地应对这种局面？ 8明智的做法是：对这种不可避免的变化，家庭的所有成员把自己的感受与担心坦率地说 出来，并予以充分地讨论。要把许多因素都考虑到：孩子的个性与成熟程度，孩子独自在家 的时间长短，居住区周围是否安全，以及出现紧急情况时能否得到救助。首要的是亲子关系 的融洽度。要让孩子们明白父母是爱他们的，这一点非常重要。孩子们感到有人爱护他们， 这会赋予他们一种不可估量的情感力量，去成功地应付生活中出现的种种困难。 课内阅读练习答案 Part One Preparation 1.Describing the Pictures Picture A:A couple is dining at a restaurant.Both of them are smoking But they call and complain to the waiter,saying that those sitting at the other tables are coughing too much and that bothers them.However,they have not realized that actually it is their smoking that has caused those people to cough I have seen many people who behave like this couple.They never take other people's interest into consideration.They are selfish and always ready to find fault with others.They never see their own wrong doings but always make a false counter-charge.They are despised by most other people. Picture B:In this picture I see a strange beggar.While most beggars beg for food or drinks,this guy begs for money in order to buy wines.He wants to try all the 596,704 wines existing in this world.He said he already tasted 38,279 wines out of that number. Suppose he tries one kind of wine one day,it would have taken him more than 100 years to come so far.He is really an ambitious man However,if he has the ambition to try all the existing wines,he should work hard and make money himself instead of begging for other people's money to enjoy what life can offer.There are some people like this beggar these days.They want to enjoy life,but not based on their own hard work or effort.They want a free lunch and many of them live on borrowed money.I don't think this is a good attitude towards life.Everyone should work hard to make a good living. Picture C:I see a court with a judge,a defendant and probably a lawyer in the picture.What is strange about this picture is that I find a tip pot,which is usually placed in a restaurant for waiters or waitress.They get tips for their excellent services to their customers. Waiters or waitresses who get generous tips will provide even better service to customers.However,a court is a place for people to seek justice and fairness.It 3
3 常”的家，母亲总是“在他们周围”，而自己的母亲则总是不在家。许多孩子整个下午让电视 机开着，天天如此，目的是为了减轻这种被隔离的感觉。还有，电视的声音能给他们带来一 点安慰。他们常常就这样睡着了。 7 由于经济上的需要，或是出于要得到自我满足感的坚强决心，或是两者兼而有之，挂钥 匙的孩子这一现象在我们的社会中已变得很普遍。然而无论出于什么样的原因，这已经成为 一个紧迫的、所有的家庭都必须应付的局面。做母亲的应不应该从事全日制工作已不是要提 出的问题。考虑到这种现象的现实状况，要提出的应是这样一个问题：如何才能制定一个最 佳方案来有效地应对这种局面？ 8 明智的做法是：对这种不可避免的变化，家庭的所有成员把自己的感受与担心坦率地说 出来，并予以充分地讨论。要把许多因素都考虑到：孩子的个性与成熟程度，孩子独自在家 的时间长短，居住区周围是否安全，以及出现紧急情况时能否得到救助。首要的是亲子关系 的融洽度。要让孩子们明白父母是爱他们的，这一点非常重要。孩子们感到有人爱护他们， 这会赋予他们一种不可估量的情感力量，去成功地应付生活中出现的种种困难。 课内阅读练习答案 Part One Preparation 1. Describing the Pictures Picture A：A couple is dining at a restaurant. Both of them are smoking. But they call and complain to the waiter, saying that those sitting at the other tables are coughing too much and that bothers them. However, they have not realized that actually it is their smoking that has caused those people to cough. I have seen many people who behave like this couple. They never take other people’s interest into consideration. They are selfish and always ready to find fault with others. They never see their own wrong doings but always make a false counter-charge. They are despised by most other people. Picture B: In this picture I see a strange beggar. While most beggars beg for food or drinks, this guy begs for money in order to buy wines. He wants to try all the 596,704 wines existing in this world. He said he already tasted 38,279 wines out of that number. Suppose he tries one kind of wine one day, it would have taken him more than 100 years to come so far. He is really an ambitious man. However, if he has the ambition to try all the existing wines, he should work hard and make money himself instead of begging for other people’s money to enjoy what life can offer. There are some people like this beggar these days. They want to enjoy life, but not based on their own hard work or effort. They want a free lunch and many of them live on borrowed money. I don’t think this is a good attitude towards life. Everyone should work hard to make a good living. Picture C: I see a court with a judge, a defendant and probably a lawyer in the picture. What is strange about this picture is that I find a tip pot, which is usually placed in a restaurant for waiters or waitress. They get tips for their excellent services to their customers. Waiters or waitresses who get generous tips will provide even better service to customers. However, a court is a place for people to seek justice and fairness. It
punishes the guilty and releases the innocent.If judges start to take tips,I doubt that there will be any more justice.People will no longer be treated equally and truth will not be valued.Judgment will not be made based on facts,but on how big the tip is. What an evil place！ Picture D:In this picture I see two men behind bars.One is telling his fellow prisoner that he did not commit the crimes that he had been accused of committing.His mistake was that he stole the identity of a guy who had committed those crimes.The police took him for that guy and put him in jail.They actually got the wrong person.And he was innocent.Was he really innocent?I don't think so.He was a thief,and he was not innocent at all.However,he received a heavier punishment than he deserved.So that was an irony.The guy stole another person's identity and in a sense he inherited his crimes as well.So never take other people's stuff,whatever it is.No one can escape punishment. 2.Interview time-the most intolerable behavior(s)in public places --I have interviewed 5 classmates,two girls and three boys.I asked each of them to list three intolerable behaviors in public places.Three of them said speaking loudly in the library was the most intolerable behavior.Library is a quiet place for students to read and do their homework.If someone speaks loudly,most of them feel interrupted and disturbed.It is hard for them to concentrate on their studies any longer.Other intolerable behaviors include knocks at a dormitory door at midnight asking about homework due the next day,someone not taking bath for a long time,letting pets pee everywhere,smoking,wearing clothes that cover very little of the body, being late for classes,banging doors,and making big noises while eating. --I asked 6 students what they thought were the most intolerable behaviors in public places.It seems that public display of love(kissing in public places and video talk with boyfriends in dorm)ranks the first It makes those who have no boyfriend or girlfriend feel pathetic about themselves and it also makes roommates unable to concentrate on studies.Other intolerable behaviors are playing computer games in the dormitory,riding bicycles in the wrong direction,spitting,taking off one's shoes,picking flowers from a park,shaking legs,pretending to understand others,leaving dirty clothes in the bathroom for days,doing morning exercises before 6 o'clock,jumping the queue, and letting young children pee or poo on street 3.Conference on Social Problems Chinese delegate:I think the biggest social problem in China is its large population.Many other problems arise from this,such as high housing price and the decline of natural resources.These days,food safety seems to be the biggest concern of ordinary people.Some food producers who look for big profits are using unnecessary chemicals in food production to improve the appearance and taste while reducing the cost of their products.These chemicals may be poisonous or even fatal to their consumers.At the same time,the environment is being seriously polluted in some areas. Japanese delegate:The unstable political system and frequent change of prime ministers is one of the most serious social problems in Japan.Natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis have also caused serious loss of people's lives and great damage to properties as well as the country's economic development.Being an island country,Japan lacks natural resources and is heavily 4
4 punishes the guilty and releases the innocent. If judges start to take tips, I doubt that there will be any more justice. People will no longer be treated equally and truth will not be valued. Judgment will not be made based on facts, but on how big the tip is. What an evil place! Picture D: In this picture I see two men behind bars. One is telling his fellow prisoner that he did not commit the crimes that he had been accused of committing. His mistake was that he stole the identity of a guy who had committed those crimes. The police took him for that guy and put him in jail. They actually got the wrong person. And he was innocent. Was he really innocent? I don’t think so. He was a thief, and he was not innocent at all. However, he received a heavier punishment than he deserved. So that was an irony. The guy stole another person’s identity and in a sense he inherited his crimes as well. So never take other people’s stuff, whatever it is. No one can escape punishment. 2. Interview time—the most intolerable behavior(s) in public places --I have interviewed 5 classmates, two girls and three boys. I asked each of them to list three intolerable behaviors in public places. Three of them said speaking loudly in the library was the most intolerable behavior. Library is a quiet place for students to read and do their homework. If someone speaks loudly, most of them feel interrupted and disturbed. It is hard for them to concentrate on their studies any longer. Other intolerable behaviors include knocks at a dormitory door at midnight asking about homework due the next day, someone not taking bath for a long time, letting pets pee everywhere, smoking, wearing clothes that cover very little of the body, being late for classes, banging doors, and making big noises while eating. --I asked 6 students what they thought were the most intolerable behaviors in public places. It seems that public display of love (kissing in public places and video talk with boyfriends in dorm) ranks the first. It makes those who have no boyfriend or girlfriend feel pathetic about themselves and it also makes roommates unable to concentrate on studies. Other intolerable behaviors are playing computer games in the dormitory, riding bicycles in the wrong direction, spitting, taking off one’s shoes, picking flowers from a park, shaking legs, pretending to understand others, leaving dirty clothes in the bathroom for days, doing morning exercises before 6 o’clock, jumping the queue, and letting young children pee or poo on street 3. Conference on Social Problems Chinese delegate: I think the biggest social problem in China is its large population. Many other problems arise from this, such as high housing price and the decline of natural resources. These days, food safety seems to be the biggest concern of ordinary people. Some food producers who look for big profits are using unnecessary chemicals in food production to improve the appearance and taste while reducing the cost of their products. These chemicals may be poisonous or even fatal to their consumers. At the same time, the environment is being seriously polluted in some areas. Japanese delegate: The unstable political system and frequent change of prime ministers is one of the most serious social problems in Japan. Natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis have also caused serious loss of people’s lives and great damage to properties as well as the country’s economic development. Being an island country, Japan lacks natural resources and is heavily
dependent on imports. Russian delegate:Russia is facing many social problems,terrorism being the most serious of all. This can be traced back to the breakup of the former Soviet Union.When it was broken up,different nationalities experienced pain and conflicts.Since the privatization of the previously state-owned properties,a big gap has been created between the rich and the poor.Some people don't trust the government any longer.Due to the extreme cold weather in winter,many Russian men are addicted to alcohol and some of them die young leaving a larger female population.The total population of our country is,as a result,decreasing. Indian delegate:In India the biggest social problems are overpopulation,talent loss and poor infrastructure.India has a second largest population in the world next only to China,but unlike China,we don't have a family planning policy,so the population is continuously increasing.A large part of the population lives in poverty and is unable to receive proper education.What's more,we use too much of the natural resources and environment pollution is getting even worse.In India,we worship certain animals like cows.They are allowed to wander on the streets,leading to frequent traffic jam and cow waste on the streets. USA delegate:We are currently experiencing the most severe economic recession in our history.It is partly caused by the international weakened financial system,but even more by the careless policies of many of our largest banks and commercial companies,and by irresponsible handling of financial matters by individuals and families.The unemployment rate in the US remains high,but is slowly improving.We have a high crime rate,including several campus shootings,and many of our metropolitan areas are unsafe much of the time.Our health care system is undergoing a reform but there is so much disagreement between the two main political parties that little progress has been made to date.Ordinary people have difficulty paying for the high cost of medical coverage,and economically deprived people have very limited medical coverage.We have overused and poorly handled many of our natural resources.The worst of all,we claim to have the best medical care in the world,but in reality it adequately covers only the higher and middle income portions of our population.All of the above have contributed to rather pessimistic feeling by many of our citizens. We also have disagreement on the global warming and other programs related to energy use, including the fact that we have been very dependent upon petroleum purchase from some Middle East countries with whom we have serious political differences,including the role of atomic energy and related atomic bombs and missiles Part Two Reading-Centered Activities Pre-Reading Case study:What would you do? To the teacher: You may: 1)Prompt (if necessary)the students to think about practical issues like child-care,location of the school,location of the apartment,work place,etc. 2)Encourage the students to justify why both parents(or just one)accept the jobs. Samples 1)It depends.If I were the wife,I would persuade my husband to accept the job.As for me,before 5
5 dependent on imports. Russian delegate: Russia is facing many social problems, terrorism being the most serious of all. This can be traced back to the breakup of the former Soviet Union. When it was broken up, different nationalities experienced pain and conflicts. Since the privatization of the previously state-owned properties, a big gap has been created between the rich and the poor. Some people don’t trust the government any longer. Due to the extreme cold weather in winter, many Russian men are addicted to alcohol and some of them die young, leaving a larger female population. The total population of our country is, as a result, decreasing. Indian delegate: In India the biggest social problems are overpopulation, talent loss and poor infrastructure. India has a second largest population in the world next only to China, but unlike China, we don’t have a family planning policy, so the population is continuously increasing. A large part of the population lives in poverty and is unable to receive proper education. What’s more, we use too much of the natural resources and environment pollution is getting even worse. In India, we worship certain animals like cows. They are allowed to wander on the streets, leading to frequent traffic jam and cow waste on the streets. USA delegate: We are currently experiencing the most severe economic recession in our history. It is partly caused by the international weakened financial system, but even more by the careless policies of many of our largest banks and commercial companies, and by irresponsible handling of financial matters by individuals and families. The unemployment rate in the US remains high, but is slowly improving. We have a high crime rate, including several campus shootings, and many of our metropolitan areas are unsafe much of the time. Our health care system is undergoing a reform but there is so much disagreement between the two main political parties that little progress has been made to date. Ordinary people have difficulty paying for the high cost of medical coverage, and economically deprived people have very limited medical coverage. We have overused and poorly handled many of our natural resources. The worst of all, we claim to have the best medical care in the world, but in reality it adequately covers only the higher and middle income portions of our population. All of the above have contributed to rather pessimistic feeling by many of our citizens. We also have disagreement on the global warming and other programs related to energy use, including the fact that we have been very dependent upon petroleum purchase from some Middle East countries with whom we have serious political differences, including the role of atomic energy and related atomic bombs and missiles. Part Two Reading-Centered Activities Pre-Reading Case study: What would you do? To the teacher: You may: 1) Prompt (if necessary) the students to think about practical issues like child-care, location of the school, location of the apartment, work place, etc. 2) Encourage the students to justify why both parents (or just one) accept the jobs. Samples 1) It depends. If I were the wife, I would persuade my husband to accept the job. As for me, before