UNIT 7 The Virtues of Growing Older BACKGROUND

UNIT 7 The Virtues of Growing Older BACKGROUND INFORMATION KEY STRUCTURES AND KEY PHRASES LANGUAGE POTINTS TANSLATION

The Virtues of Growing Older Our society worships youth. Advertisements convince us to buy Grecian Formula and Oil of Olay so we can hide the gray in our hair. Middle-aged folks work out in gyms and jog down the streets, trying to delay the effects of age. Wouldn't any person over thirty gladly sign with the devil just to be young again? Isn't aging an experience to be dreaded? Perhaps it is un-American to say so, but I believe the answer is "No". Being young is often pleasant, but being older has distinct advantages.

When young, you are apt to be obsessed with your appearance. When my brother Dave and I were teens, we worked feverishly to perfect the bodies we had. Dave lifted weights, took megadoses of vitamins, and drank a halfdozen of milk shakes a day in order to turn his wiry adolescent frame into some muscular ideal. And as a teenager, I dieted constantly. No matter what I weighed, though, I was never satisfied with the way I looked. My legs were too heavy, my shoulders too broad, my waist too big. When Dave and I were young, we begged and pleaded for the "right" clothes. If our parents didn't get them for us, we felt our world would fall apart. How could we go to school wearing loose-fitting school blazers when everyone else would be wearing smartly tailored leather jackets?

We would be considered freaks. I often wonder how my parents, and parents in general, manage to tolerate their children during the adolescent years. Now, however, Dave and I are beyond such adolescent agonies. My rounded figure seems fine, and I don't deny myself a slice of pecan pie if I feel in the mood. Dave still works out, but he has actually become fond of his tall, lanky frame. The two of us enjoy wearing fashionable clothes, but we are no longer slaves to style. And women, I'm embarrassed to admit, even more than men, have always seemed to be at the mercy of fashion. Now my clothes are attractive yet easy to wear. We no longer feel anxious about what others will think. As long as we feel good about how we look, we are happy.

Being older is preferable to being younger in another way. Obviously, I still have important choices to make about my life, but I have already made many of the critical decisions that confront those just starting out. I chose the man I wanted to marry. I decided to have children. I elected to return to college to complete my education. But when you are young, major decisions await you at every turn. "What college should I attend? What career should I pursue? Should I have children? " these are just a few of the issues facing young people. It's no wonder that, despite their carefree facade, they are often confused, uncertain, and troubled by all the unknowns in their future.

But the greatest benefit of being forty is knowing who I am. The most unsettling aspect of youth is the uncertainty you feel about your values, goals, and dreams. Being young means wondering what is worth working for. Being young means feeling happy with yourself one day and wishing you were never born the next. It means trying on new selves by taking up with different crowds. It means resenting your parents and their way of life one minute and then feeling you will never be as good or as accomplished as they are. By way of contrast, forty is sanity. I have a surer selfidentity now.

I don't laugh at jokes that I don't think are funny. I can make a speech in front of a town meeting or complain in a store because I am no longer terrified that people will laugh at me; I am no longer anxious that everyone must like me. I no longer blame my parents for my every personality quirk or keep a running score of everything they did wrong raising me. Life has taught me that I, not they, am responsible for who I am. We are all human beings—neither saints nor devils.

Most Americans blindly accept the idea that newer is automatically better. But a human life contradicts this premise. There is a great deal of happiness to be found as we grow older. My own parents, now in their sixties, recently told me that they are happier now than they have ever been. They would not want to be my age. Did this surprise me? At first, yes. Then it gladdened me. Their contentment holds out great promise for me as I move into next—perhaps even better—phase of my life.

Key Structures Key phrases The differences between the singular form and the plural forms of some nouns, e. g. : His method of teaching is based on experience. Mr. Fordham has some curious and novel experiences.

Key Phrases be apt to, turn…into…, fall apart, in general, deny… of, in the mood, be at the mercy of, at every turn, no wonder, by way of contrast

worship v. n. worship the ground sb. treads on worship everything foreign n. places of worship hero worship nature worship a man of worship win [have] worship with worship in one‘s eyes　 拜倒在某人脚下 崇洋媚外 英雄崇拜 对自然的崇拜[热爱] 有身分的人 赢得别人的敬仰 以敬慕的眼光

Oil of Olay Daily Facials

work out vt. vi. (1) to use reasoning or calculation either to discover or understand 解决， 理解，制定 to work out a solution to the equations 解方程 to work out what caused the accident 弄清事故原因 Have you worked out when and where you’ll go for an outing? More

(3)to exercise to improve well-being Hugh works out in the gym two or three times a week. workout n. must work out more to get rid of. . .

obsess vt. [transitive usually passive] if something or someone obsesses you, you think or worry about them all the time and you cannot think about anything else - used to show disapproval 1. be obsessed by/with sth. /sb. A lot of young girls are obsessed by their weight. Jody's been obsessed with some lifeguard for months.

mega combining form 非常; 许多 e. g. He’s megarich. (extremely rich) They are earning megabucks (=a lot oaf money). megaphone 扩音器 Megastar 知名人士 Megastore 大商店

milkshakes Banana-Caramel Milk Shake Chocolate milkshake

Adolescent a. n. a. Adolescent girls/boys 青春期…、青少年 Her remarks/ behaviors are adolescent (= immature) Juvenile青少年; 未成 年 n. =teenager Adolescence =teens His adolescence was not a happy time for him.

Loosefitting Fabulous loose fitting pullover. . . Silk Loose Fitting

School blazer

Pecan pie

lanky a. To be a true Lanky Bird Despite his lanky frame, . . .

　　　critical a critical thinker a critical reading　 a man with a critical eye At the critical instant the critical period an illness at the critical stage 有判断力的思想家 有判断力的阅读 具有批判眼光的人 在这关键时刻 危险期 处于危险期的疾病 More

in critical condition critical moment a critical element of the plan a critical shortage of food a critical attitude a critical decision 病危 紧要关头, 关键时刻 计划中的必要条件 食物严重短缺 爱挑剔的态度 重大的决定

　　　　pursue v. pursue the enemy pursue pleasure pursue a career pursue a discussion pursue one's studies Pursuit n. 追击(踪）敌人 寻欢作乐 从事一种职业 继续讨论 从事研究

acco mplish v. to ~ a purpose/one's object 达到 目的 You should ~ the task within the allotted time. 你们必须在规定时间内完成这项 任务。 to ~ one's mission 完成使命 an accomplished singer an accomplished pianist an accomplished scholar an accomplished lady 技艺高超的歌唱家 有造诣的钢琴家 有成就的学者 才女

virtue 1. moral goodness 道德；美德 a man of high/great virtue traditional virtues Professional virtues 道德高尚的人 传统美德 职业道德 More

2. chastity, purity (女子的） 贞操 3. advantage, benefit 优 点；功效，效力 the ~ in planning ahead the ~s of the market economy There is little ~ in that medicine. 未雨绸缪的好处 市场经济的优越性 那种要的药效甚微。

1. Middle-aged folks work out in gyms and jog down the street, trying to delay the effects of age. : People in their forties do exercises in gyms and run slowly down the street in order to slow down the process of aging.

2. “…gladly sign with the devil just to be young again? ” : Literally, the phrase “sign with the devil” means “to sign a contract with devil so that the devil would make young again”. Metaphorically, the phrase means “ ready to do anything, even to work for the devil just to be young again”.

3. Perhaps it is un-American to say so, …: Perhaps saying so is against the values of the Americans. u What is suggested here is that the questions seem contrary to the values commonly held by most American people. And the American people would do anything possible to delay aging.

4…you are apt to be obsessed with your appearance. : …you are likely to/tend to think/worry about your look all the time. obsessed

5. diet v. n. : Exercise and a well-balanced diet keeps you fit and healthy. He began his diet a week ago. 他在一星期前开始节食。 People who are on a diet mustn't have chocolate. 正在节食的人不能吃巧克力。 to go on a diet

6. …in order to turn his wiry adolescent frame into some muscular ideal. : …so that his teenage thin body could become the fittest and strongest as he expected. frame adolescent

Frame n. Ø Ø the complete structure of one’s body His strength fully realized the idea created by his gigantic frame. 他的体力完全和他那魁梧的身材相称。 A shiver passed through the slight frame of the blind girl. 盲女瘦弱的身躯微微地一颤。

7. Now, however, Dave and I are beyond such adolescent agonies: However, Dave and I no longer suffer from the pains the teenagers do as we are grown ups now.

8. I don’t deny myself a slice of pecan pie if I feel in the mood. : I won’t refrain/restrain from a slice of pecan pie if I feel like it. Pecan pie deny

Deny vt. (1)To refuse to believe; reject denied the rumor 辟谣 (2) To refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disavow. 否认 The three defendants ~ all charges. 三名被告否认所有的指控。 More

（3）To decline to grant or allow; refuse: denied the prisoner food or water 不给犯人食物和水 Her request for time off work was denied. 她请假没有被允许。 Many girls in rural areas are denied of education. （剥夺） No one should be denied a good education. /A good education should not be denied to no one. (拒之门外) More

4）To give a refusal to; turn down or away: 拒绝；回绝： The protesters were determined not to be denied. 抗议者决定不达目的不罢休。 u （5）To restrain (oneself) especially from indulgence in pleasures. 自制; 克制 （自己） I don’t deny myself a bar of chocolate if I feel in the mood. Ø She denied herself to callers. 她谢绝访客。 Ø Ø There is no ~ing (=It’s true) that it is a difficult year for the company.

9. And women, I’m embarrassed to admit, even more than men, have always seemed to be at the mercy of fashion. : I’m sorry to admit that women are less capable than men of resisting the temptation of fashion. /…compared with men, women are more likely to be controlled/led by fashion. At the mercy of

to be (left) at the mercy of (sb. /sth. ): the thing or person has complete power over you 在. . . 的掌握之中, 完全受. . . 支配, 任. . . 摆布 Poor people are increasingly at the mercy of money-lenders. (受放债人摆布) They could do nothing but to be left at the mercy of the storm.

preferable more desirable or worthy than another; preferred: Coffee is preferable to tea, I think. 我认为咖啡比茶更好. Surely a diplomatic solution is ~ to war.

10. It’s no wonder that, despite their carefree façade, they are often confused, uncertain, and troubled by all the unknowns in their future. : Small wonder/It’s not surprising that, though they look free of worries, they are often puzzled, unsure, and bothered by all the potential/possible problems in the future.

11. resent: to be angry about and to dislike being forced to accept (sth or sb. annoying) Ø She ~s her fathers new wife. Ø He ~s having to explain his work to other people.

14. self-identity: recognition of one’s potential and quality as an individual, esp. in relation to social context: Caring can become the defining characteristic of women’s self-identity. 体贴能够成为女人自我定位的一个确定性 特征

15…. or keep a running score of everything they did wrong raising me. : constantly remind myself of all the unhappy things my parents did to me in the process of bringing me up. running: adj. continuous; continuing Ø You’ve been late three days ~(=for three continuous days, without a day of not being late between them) Ø

hold out 给予, 提供; 支持, 继续; 坚持; 忍耐 (= hang on, hold on) (1)to offer ( a possibility, solution, hope etc. ) The proposals hold out a real prospect for settling the dispute. 这些建议提出了能解决争端的真正希望。 He seems to hold out no hope of succeeding. 他好象对成功不抱有希望。 “How long will our fresh water supplies hold out ? ”captain asked. 船长问道: “我们的淡水还能支持多久? ”

tolerable 1. bearable, even though it is unpleasant or painful The pain is severe but tolerable. 2. fairly good and reasonably satisfactory, but not of the highest quality or standard be in tolerable health 身体还算健康 Prepared a tolerable dinner. 准备了凑合的晚餐。

The phases and social roles, of the modern American lifecycle can be summarized as follows: Childhood (pueritia, age 0 -20). Social role: growth (receiving nurture, acquiring values). Young Adulthood (iuventus, age 2141). Social role: vitality (serving institutions, testing values). More

Midlife (virilitas, age 42 -62). Social role: power (managing institutions, applying values). Elderhood (senectus, age 63 -83). Social role: leadership (leading institutions, transferring values). Late Elderhood (age 84+). Social role: dependence (receiving comfort from institutions, remembering values).

1. They were all staring at me; honestly, I had never felt so embarrassed in my life. / I had never felt so embarrassed in my life when they were all staring at me, to be honest/frank/to tell you the truth. 2. Before you make the right choice, you need a lot more information. More

3. The party failed to convince the majority of the voters that it was capable of governing the country 4. She denied herself ice-cream to keep/stay slim. /She refrained from icecream in order to keep/maintain a slim figure. More

5. Recently he has taken up with two bad guys/kids/boys, which makes his parents really angry/which really annoys his parents. 6. Have you read those newspaper reports? They totally contradict each other. More

7. It’s possible to continue working beyond the retirement age in a number of professions/occupations. 8. He would sing his favorite song when he was/is in the mood.

Agony n. Great physical ore mental pain= anguish, torment In agony/in agonies He writhed in agony. 他疼得直打滚。 The agony and despair were gone. 苦痛和绝望却已经不存在了。 They went through the agonies of war and famine. 他们经历了战争和饥荒的痛苦。 More

Experience & experiences Experience (uncountable noun): Ø Military experience Ø Experience of working with the disabled Ø Personal experience Ø the experience of fear More

Ø Ø Ø (countable noun) something that happens to someone or something that one does: The funeral was a painful experience. What did you learn or gain from your part-time experiences? 过去从事临时 作，你学到了什么？ Childhood experiences often play a big part in shaping one's character. 童年经历对一个人的性格的形成往往起重要作用。 TEXT STUDY