Unit 1
2. Why does the writer think that his life in the country is of the self-reliant type and satisfying?
Because they grow nearly all of their fruits and vegetables. They have enough eggs, honey and wood. On the other hand, they are very close to nature and can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Besides, they can go skiing and skating in winter.
7. What does the writer have to do in order to write his stories?
He has to crawl into black-bear dens for Sports Illustrated, hitch up dogsled racing teams for Smithsonian magazine, check out the Lake Champlain “monster” for Science Digest, and canoe through the Boundary Waters wilderness area of Minnesota for Destinations.
9. How do the writer and his family manage to live on a comparatively low income in the country?
They cut back their expenses without appreciably lowering their standards of living. For example: they patronize local restaurants instead of more expensive places in the city. They still attend the opera and ballet but only a few times a year. They eat less meat, drink cheaper wine and see fewer movies.
10. What does the writer think are the special qualities necessary for
leading a life the way they do?
A tolerance for solitude and lots of energy.
Unit 2
3. What was the Underground Railroad? Who forged it?
The Underground Railroad was a secret web of escape routes and safe house through which slaves in large numbers, with the help of lots of courageous people, fled to the North and obtained freedom.
9. What difficulties did the slaves have in travelling the Underground Railroad to freedom?
They had to travel hundreds of miles through unknown country with no road sign and few maps, usually under cover of night.
10. Why did many slaves go to Canada?
Because slavery had been abolished there in 1833, and Canadian authorities encouraged the runways to settle their virgin land.
12. What help did the Hensons receive on the way to safety and freedom?
In Cincinnati the members of the Underground Railroad provided for their
welfare, and set them thirty miles on their way by wagon. In Buffalo, N.Y. a friendly captain gave Henson a dollar and arranged for a boat, which carried them to Canada.
Unit 3
3. What has taken the place of the era when people could safely keep their front door unlocked?
It has been replaced by an era when people employ various security devices at home./It has been replaces by an atmosphere of fear and distrust.
6. What does the author think is the new atmosphere of American life?
The atmosphere of fear and distrust
12. According to the author, what may be the legacy we remember best when we recall this era?
We may have locked the evils out, but in so doing we have locked ourselves in.
Unit 5
10. How did the writer feel when he read the replies from his father, the Rev. Nelson and his grandmother? Why?
His reading of their letters left him not only astonished but more humbled than before, because they all thanked him rather than saying they would forgive him for not having previously thanked them.
12. What did the writer wish for all people when another Thanksgiving was drawing near?
The writer wished for all people the common sense to achieve world peace, and find the good and praise it.
Unit 6
10. What effect did the last leaf produce on Johnsy?
It rekindled her will to live. And she realized that it was a sin to want to die.
12. Did Behrman finish his masterpiece eventually? Explain.
Yes, he finished his masterpiece eventually. It was his fine painting of the last leaf, the painting the saved Johnsy.
Unit1
1. Do you think parents’ love for their children is the greatest love in the world?
Yes, I do. Because parents' love for their child is selfless and no bond is stronger than that between parent and child.
2.Is there a generation gap between you and your parents? How do you resolve your differences?
I guess there is a generation gap between my father and I, because my father and I seem to disagree on almost everything, but we never let our arguments hurt our feelings for each other.
Unit2
1. What is coincidence? Give an example to illustrate it.
Coincidence refers to the phenomenon in which two or more events which are similar or related happen to take place at the same time or place
5. What can coincidences do? Are they mostly beneficial or harmful?
Some people believe coincidences can reveal relationships between events, human beings and natural phenomena that are not obvious to them. Coincidences have nothing to do with good luck or bad luck/ have no power to predict future events.
Unit3
1. What do you think of marriage? Do you think a happy marriage is the most important thing in your life?
I consider a happy marriage a very important part in my life, and I guess both men and women will think so.
2. Do you think differences between husband and wife are unavoidable? If you do, could you suggest some ways for them to deal with the problem?
Each individual is unique and differences between husband and wife are therefore unavoidable/ a rule rather than an exception. It is very important for husband and wife to show appreciation of each other/ to talk and get to know what his or her partner expects
3. Have you heard of marriage agreements? Do you think a couple should sign a marriage agreement before getting married?
I think a written marriage agreement shows how much you and your partner are going to respect each other’s needs and expectations/ promises a harmonious relationship in a married life.
Unit4
1. What does stress mean?
Stress is a state of worry due to pressure caused by the problems of living,
such as too much work or study, heavy responsibilities, quickened pace of life, etc.
1. Do you think there is something positive about stress? Why or why not?
Sometimes a certain amount of stress is good. It can stimulate us and increase our level of alertness.
Unit 5
1. What should be the concerns of the 21st century youth?
As the youth of the 21st century, we should work together to make the world a place where people can live in peace, having decent shelter and clean water, healthy and educated and protected from violence, abuse and exploitation.
4. What qualities do you value most in a young person?
Youth is the golden age of a person’s life.
Compassion, sensitivity, commitment and being a team player are qualities I value most in a young man.
Unit6
1. Which season do you like best? Why?
I like Summer best, because Summer is so green, you can see a whole green sea of grass and leaves.
Unit9
1. What should be the major concerns of a business company?
The primary concern of a business is to make profit. As the saying goes, the business of a business is business.
Unit10
1.
How do you define humor?
Humors refers to something that is funny/amusing/comical. Humor is a sign of intelligence. It refers to the ability to see, appreciate, or express what is amusing or comical
6. How can a person acquire a sense of humor?
We can build our sense of humor by increasing our exposure to literature, such as comedies and novels/ reading joke books/ collecting amusing stories and anecdotes about famous people/ keeping a journal of funny events we have experienced or heard about.
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Unit12
1. What is euro? What did political leader hope to achieve by creating the euro?
The euro is the new money/ the single currency adopted first by 12 countries in the European Union. It is hoped that the launching of the euro will give a strong boost to trade within the euro zone.
