I. Warm-upWarm-up II. Background InformationBackground Information III. Language Study IV. Text Appreciation
I. Warm-upWarm-up 1. Phrases of Body Language 1. to nod consent 2. to nod one's farewell 3. to nod as a sign of agreement or as a familiar greeting 4. to hold one's head high 5. to shake one's fist 6. to shake one's head
7. to show a V sign 8. to wink at a person 9. to shrug one's shoulders 10. to make a face 11. to crook a finger 12. to thumb one's nose 13. to twiddle one's thumbs 14. thumbs down 15. thumbs up 16. to thumb a lift
2. You’re Watched Nowhere you do, wherever you go, somebody probably has an eye on you. It used to be that you could get in your car and drive off and, if you didn’t want to be found, no one would be able to find you. These days however, we leave a trail wherever we go and, if you know how, you can find almost anyone, anywhere.
If your car has a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, the police can track it wherever it goes, just in case it gets stolen. If you stop to buy gas, you might pay with a Smartcard, which combines the functions of your credit cards, ATM cards, identity card and driver’s license. Every purchase with a Smartcard leaves an instant trail of dates, times and locations, creating a perfect record of where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.
Perhaps you decide to buy a hat to block the cameras (don’t forget to pay cash!). Even then, you’re still easy to find, thanks to the cell phone in your pocket. Based on the signal strength from surrounding transmission antennas, your telephone operator can determine your exact location, even when your phone is turned off. So, for those who value privacy over convenience, the only solution may be to live without cars, telephones, and credit cards. Oh, and don’t forget the hat.
Q uestions for discussion: 1.As the article pointed out, we are surrounded by many modern facilities. Did you ever benefit from any of the system? Tell your classmates. 2.Are the facilities mentioned in the article good or not according to your point of view? 3.Are the facilities a kind of violation of your privacy?
II. Background InformationBackground Information 1. Espionage and related terms 1. spy 2. espionage 3. international spy 4. double agent 5. secret agent 6. secret service 7. special agent 8. intelligence 9. intelligence agency 10. counterintelligence agency 11. spy movies 12. detective stories 1. 间谍 2. 侦察、谍报 3. 国际间谍 4. 双重间谍 5. 秘密特工 6. 特工处 7. 特工 8. 情报 9. 间谍机构 10. 反间谍机构 11. 间谍片 12. 侦探故事
2. FBI and CIA On July 26 in the year 1908, during the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, Attorney General Charles Bonaparte ordered 9 newly hired detectives, 13 civil rights investigators, and 12 accountants to take on investigative assignments in areas such as antitrust, peonage, and land fraud. Ninety-six years later, that small group of 34 investigators has grown into a cadre of over 28,000 employees. The FBI also participated in intelligence collection. Its highly skilled and inventive staff cooperated with engineers, scientists, and cryptographers in other agencies to enable the United States to penetrate and sometimes control the flow of information from the belligerents in the Western Hemisphere. FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
In 1982, following an explosion of terrorist incidents worldwide, FBI efforts were expanded in the three others: foreign counterintelligence, organized crime, and white-collar crime. The FBI solved so many espionage cases during the mid-1980s that the press dubbed 1985 "the year of the spy”. Two events occurred in late 1992 and early 1993 that were to have a major impact on FBI policies and operations. In August 1992, the FBI responded to the shooting death of Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan, who was killed at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, while participating in a surveillance of federal fugitive Randall Weaver. In the course of the standoff, Weaver's wife was accidentally shot and killed by an FBI sniper.
Eight months later, at a remote compound outside Waco, Texas, FBI Agents sought to end a 51-day standoff with members of a heavily armed religious sect who had killed four officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Instead, as Agents watched in horror, the compound burned to the ground from fires lit by members of the sect. Eighty persons, including children, died in the blaze. These two events set the stage for public and congressional inquiries into the FBI's ability to respond to crisis situations. In the new millennium, the FBI stands dedicated to its values and standards ensuring that the FBI effectively carries out its mission.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by U.S. President Truman. CIA was to coordinate the nation’s intelligence activities and correlate, evaluate and disseminate intelligence that affects national security. The CIA is an independent agency, responsible to the President, providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers. The Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) serves as the principal adviser to the President and the National Security Council (NSC) on all matters of foreign intelligence related to national security. CIA (Central Intelligence Administration)
The United States has carried out intelligence activities since the days of George Washington, but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a government-wide basis. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed New York lawyer and war hero, William J. Donovan, to become first the coordinator of information, then, after the US entered World War II become head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in 1942. The OSS—the forerunner to the CIA— had a mandate to collect and analyze strategic information. After World War II, however, the OSS was abolished along with many other war agencies and its functions transferred to the State and War Departments.
It did not take long before President Truman recognized the need for a postwar, centralized intelligence organization. Truman reviewed several plans and soon created a small office Central Intelligence Group (CIG) to screen and evaluate the large amount of information and reports flowing into the White House. The Truman administration later decided this new office didn’t meet all their needs plus it was never fully accepted by the military or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). President Truman also feared another Pearl Harbor and that the Russians would attack the US. To make a fully functional intelligence office, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 establishing the CIA.
3. Discussion 1.In contrast secret agents in Hollywood movies or popular literature, what is the image of the secret agent called Ausable in The Midnight Visitor? Try to describe him. 2. Being a secret agent so far away from the commonly accepted image, what is it that makes Ausable so uncommon?
n. a. the way a person pronounces the words of a language showing which country or which part of a country he comes from b. stress Examples: He speaks with a strong American accent. He speaks English with a foreign accent. He speaks in heavily accented English. a primary accent 1. accent
2. automatic adj. self-regulating Examples: an automatic rifle an automatic washing machine It’s his automatic answer, which is likely to be more reliable.
4. command blink at sb. blink one’s eyes blink away one’s tears: to try to hide tears by blinking blink the fact that…: to refuse to consider; ignore v. to shut and open the eyes quickly Examples: Why are you blinking at me constantly? The little girl blinked away her tears, and stood up quickly.
command v. a. to order b. to control; hold back Examples: The officer commanded his men to fire. The officer commanded that his men (should) fire. You’d better learn to command yourself/ your temper.
commanding adj. powerful and impressive Examples: He said in a commanding tone. He is now in a commanding position.
5. concerning prep. about Examples: This book deals with questions concerning China’s diplomatic policies. The President answered nothing concerning his love affair with a model in the press conference.
6. confounded adj. a. damned; used to show you are annoyed b. confused Examples: You’re a confounded nuisance. A group of confounded customers surrounded the counter.
confound v. a. to damn b. to perplex; puzzle c. to mix; confuse Examples: Confound it! 真讨厌！ Confound you! 去你的！ Her strange behavior confounded everyone in the hall. I was confounded to hear that he had resigned. They confounded Jack with Jimmy. They are twins.
7. disillusioned adj. feeling disappointed and unhappy because sb./sth. is not as good as you thought disillusioned with sb./sth. Examples: Disillusioned Susan decided to forget the man she had loved for many years. He was disillusioned with life in many aspects. Word Formation illusion n. disillusion v./n.
8. explanatory adj. meant to explain Examples: explanatory notes 注释 It’s the President’s explanatory speech.
9. glance v. to take a quick look Examples: She glanced at the watch and continued the reading. A man glanced round the room and stepped back. 1. 尤指以 赞赏、愉快、好奇或饶有兴趣的神态长时间地盯着看， 常常达到出神的地步； 2. “ 盯着瞧 ” ，尤指吃惊、恐惧、愤怒或无礼地瞪大眼睛目不转 睛地看； 3. “ 看一眼 ” ， “ 扫视 ” ，强调匆忙快速的动作过程； 4. “ 瞥见 ” ，强调动作的偶然性和所见到事物的不充分、不全面。 1.gaze (at) 2.stare (at) 3.glance 4.glimpse
10. stiffly adv. without being able to move one’s body Example: The old man bent down stiffly. stiff adj. a. difficult to bend; rigid; not flexible b. thick and hard to stir c. hard; difficult d. severe; tough e. (of a price) too high f. (of a breeze) blowing strongly g. (of an alcoholic drink) strong h. not friendly
Exercise Please give the correct explanation of “stiff” in the following phrases and translate them. a stiff neck stiff manners a stiff drawer a stiff wind a stiff drink a stiff hike a stiff penalty a stiff price a stiff hinge a stiff paste 僵硬的脖子 a. 生硬的态度 h. 很紧的抽屉 a. 强风 f. 烈酒 g. 艰难的跋涉 c. 严厉的惩罚 d. 过高的价格 e. 不易活动的枢纽 a. 很稠的糊 b.
adj. feeling upset and impatient because you cannot control a situation or achieve sth. 11. frustrated Examples: He once got very frustrated in work, but fortunately he had been through that period. She was a frustrated actress. frustrating adj. It is frustrating that she is not good at learning foreign languages.
12. extend v. a. to continue for a particular distance or a period of time b. to stretch out the body or a limb at full length c. to offer Examples: My boss agreed to extend my stay in HongKong for a few days. The bird extended its wings in flight. The queen extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guest from afar.
13. hesitate v. to be slow in deciding hesitate at/about/over sth. hesitate to do sth. Examples: She is a girl who hesitates at nothing. You can hesitate before replying. Don’t hesitate to tell me if you have any problem.
14. risk v. to put sth. in a situation in which it can be lost, destroyed, or harmed risk+ n./doing Examples: To save that traveler, they had to risk getting caught in the storm. He just wanted to obtain as much money as possible, even risking life.
at risk: to be in danger take a/the risk: to do sth. that involves failure/danger at the risk of : with the possibility of danger, etc. Examples: They didn’t want to put your life at risk. She is too sensible to take a risk when driving. At the risk of being hated, he decided to reject the proposal. He was determined to get there even at the risk of his life.
15. slip v. a. to give sb. sth. quietly and secretly b. to slide accidentally c. to go somewhere quietly and quickly, in order not to be noticed Examples: The thief slipped the watch into his pocket. The little girl slipped (on the ice), but she laughed. A man slipped out by the back door.
16. stammer v. to speak with difficulty, repeating words or sounds because one is nervous or afraid Examples: He was too nervous to stop stammering. The child stammered out a request to his father.
17. start n. sudden movement of surprise, fear, etc. Examples: He sat up with a start. The news gave him a start. Cf. startle v. to give a shock or surprise to She was startled to see that man so pale. What startling news it was that the building caught fire!
18. figure n. a. symbol for a number b. diagram c. human form d. person, esp. person of influence Examples: He has an annual income of six figures. The blackboard is covered with geometrical figures like squares and triangles. I saw a figure approaching in the darkness. Alexander the Great is a great historical figure.
19. swiftly adv. fast; rapidly Examples: She rushed in and then out of the room swiftly. swift-running 急速跑动 a swift reaction 迅速的反应
20. thrill n. a. a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure Examples: a thrill of horror/fear/joy the thrills and spills: excitement caused by taking part in or watching dangerous sports or entertainments. 紧张和刺激 He got his thrills from car racing. b. novel, play or movie that involves an exciting and gripping plot
2. Phrases and Expressions List: 1.check oncheck on 2.deal withdeal with 3.raise the devil with sb.raise the devil with sb 4.stand asidestand aside 5. take chancestake chances
1. check on check (up) on sb.: to investigate one’s behavior, background check (up) on sth.: to examine sth. to discover whether it is true/safe/correct Examples: The police are checking on the man. The police are checking on the fingerprints on file.
2. deal with a. deal with + sb.: to tackle the problem set by sb.; behave towards sb. b. deal with +sth.: to manage/cope with sth.; discuss sth. c. deal with + sb./sth.: to have social/business relations
Examples: a. How would you deal with angry and impolite customers? b. 1) You’d better learn to deal with an awkward situation tactfully. 2) This chapter deals with British literature in the 1980’s. c. 1) I hate dealing with rude people. 2) Our school seldom dealt with companies.
deal in a. to trade in sth. b. to indulge in sth. (derogative) 沉溺于某事（贬义） Examples: The businessman dealt in shoes. She is a woman who always deals in gossip and slander.
3. raise the devil with sb. to behave in an angry and threatening way Examples: She raised hell when she found she had been cheated. He raised the devil with me when I received a call from my ex-boyfriend.
4. stand aside a. to move to one side b. to do nothing c. to withdraw, eg as a candidate in an election Examples: Please stand aside to let me pass. I feel guilty that you have done all the work and I’ve just stood aside. If you stand aside right now, you’ll do a great favor to other applicants.
5. take chances to behave riskily Example: Don’t take your chances when driving a car.
take a chance (on sth.): to take a risk Example: He left home and decided to take a chance on pursuing a career in acting. take one’s chance: to benefit as much as possible from one’s opportunities Example: If you want to work in a creative field, you should learn to take your chance.
3. Word Building List: 1.compound nounscompound nouns 2.compound adjectivescompound adjectives 3.compound adjectives formed from phrasescompound adjectives formed from phrases
3. compound adjectives formed from phrases Examples: They kept a round-the-clock watch on the house. The police made an on-the-spot inspection. Jack is of the look-before-you-leap sort. He told the whole story in a matter-of-fact tone. I’ll cherish those never-to-be-forgotten days. You will see a paper…come to me in the next- last-step of its journey into official hands.
IV. Text Appreciation I. Text AnalysisText Analysis 1. General AnalysisGeneral Analysis 2. StructureStructure 3. Further DiscussionFurther Discussion II. Sentence paraphraseSentence paraphrase
Plot: Ausable appears helpless, but he gets rid of his deadly enemy without lifting a finger. Setting: a French hotel room Protagonists: Ausable, Fowler, Max and a waiter
Structure of the text Part 1 (paras. 1-5 ) about: Part 2 (paras. 6-16 ) about: Part 3 (paras. 17-26 ) about: Who Ausable is. & why Fowler wants to see him. The unexpected visit of Ausable’s adversary Max. How Ausable outwits Max and makes him jump on the “balcony”.
Further discussion about the story Questions …come to me in the next-to-last step of its journey into official hands. (para. 5) What is meant by this sentence? Where would this important paper probably go from Ausable? I am going to raise the devil with the management this time; … (para. 11) What does the word “management” refer to here?
Stage 1: Text Glimpse What was Fowler’s first impression of Ausable? How did Fowler get his first thrilling experience of the day? How did Ausable deal with the situation? How did Ausable finally outwit Max?
Stage 2: Making character sketches: physical appearance; how the person acts, talks, thinks and deals with persons.
Stage 3: Group Activities Retell the text in your own words. Find words and phrases that can sum up your impressions of Ausable. Try to turn the passage into a little play and act it out.
Sentence Paraphrase Ausable was, for one thing, fat… Though he spoke French and German passably, he had never altogether lost the New England accent he had brought to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. (para. 2) for one reason (why Fowler was disappointed) Ausable was, for one reason, fat… His French and German were not very good, but acceptable. Although he had been in Paris for twenty years, he never lost the American accent.
…a sloppy fat man who, instead of having messages slipped into his hand by dark-eyed beauties, gets only an ordinary telephone call making an appointment in his room. (para. 4) put into one’s hand quietly, secretly and quickly (old-fashioned) women who are very beautiful …an untidy fat man just has an ordinary phone call agreeing to meet somebody later in his room. There are no other imagined things as a beautiful lady with dark eyes putting a slip of message secretly into his hand.
Examples: He slipped some money into the official’s hand. She slipped a piece of paper under the door. We won’t let him slip through our fingers.
The fat man chuckled to himself as he unlocked the door of his room and stood as aside to let his frustrated guest enter. (para. 4) when; while feeling discouraged or dissatisfied the opposite of the action “to lock” The fat man laughed to himself when he opened the door of his room and gave way to his dissatisfied guest. The “ed” –adjective is used as attribute in this sentence.
For halfway across the room, a small automatic pistol in his hand, stood a man. (para. 6) In the middle of the room, there was a man with a small automatic pistol in his hand.
… you gave me quite a start. (para. 8) You frightened me. / You surprised me.
It might have saved me some trouble had I known about it. (para. 12) subjunctive mood If I had known about it, I would not have spent so much effort.
Examples: Had she taken that train, she might have been killed, too. Had I met him, I would have recognized him. She would not have died had she had some money.
I wish I knew how you learned about the report, … (para. 15) subjunctive mood I want to know how you succeeded in finding out the report, but I have no idea.
Examples: I wish I knew. I wish I could. I wish I were 20 years younger. I wish I were you. I wish he were still alive.
Keeping his body twisted so that his gun still covered the fat man and his guest, … (para. 22) The “ed” –adjective is used as object complement in this sentence. He twisted his body in order to point his gun right at the fat man and his guest.
Examples of different meanings of “cover”: I’ll blow up that bridge. You cover me. The enemy guns covered the whole city. It was no longer safe to stay.