英语课文内容问与答

UnitOne1.Whatdoesthe“theicydefender”referto?Itreferstotheraw,bitter,bleakRussianwinter.2.WhatdidNapoleonexpectwhenheassembledhisarmytoattackRussia?HeexpectedtheconquestofRussiainfiveweeks.3.WhatdidtheRussiansdointhefacetoNapoleon’soffensive?WhatstrategydidtheRussiansadopt?Insteadoffighting,theyretreatedeastward,burningtheircropsandhomesastheywent.TheylettheRussianwinterfightthewarforthemwhiletheybidedtheirtime.4.WhatdidNapoleondiscoverafterheoccupiedMoscow?NapoleondiscoveredthattheoccupationofthecitywasanemptyvictorybecausetheRussiansfledtheircapitalleavinghimalmostnothingatall.5.WhathappenedtoNapoleon’sarmywhenitwasretreatingfromMoscow?TheysufferedheavylossesasaresultoftheextremecoldandtheRussians’hit-and-runattacks.6.WhatdidNapoleondowhenPariswascaptured?Napoleonabdicatedandwentintoexile.7.WhendidHitlerbeginhisinvasionoftheSovietUnion?Whattacticsdidheuse?Howlongdidheexpectthecampaigntolast?HitlerbeganhisinvasionoftheSovietUniononJune22,1941withoutadeclarationofwar.Heexpectedthecampaigntolastnolongerthanthreemonthsbyusingtheso-called“lightningwar”tactics.8.WasStalinpreparedforHitler'sattack?WhatdidhedointhefaceoftheGermaninvasion?No,hewasn’t.HeinstructedtheRussianpeopleto“scorchtheearth”infrontoftheGermaninvaders.9.HowdidthepeopleofLeningradrespondtotheGermanattack？ThepeopleofLeningradrefusedtosurrenderandputupaheroic,stiffresistance.10.WhatsloweddowntheGermanadvanceonMoscow?WhatmadetheGermanoffensivecometoahalt?Anearly,severe,coldwinter,toalargeextent,sloweddowntheGermanadvanceonMoscow.11.WhatwasthesignificanceofthebattleofStalingrad?ThelossofthebattleforStalingradturnedthetideagainstHitler.TheGermanvictorieswereover.12.WhatconclusiondoestheauthordrawfromNapoleon’sandHitler’smilitarycampaigns?Theauthorconcludesthattheelementsofnaturemustbereckonedwithinanymilitarycampaign.Unit21.Howimportantwastheautomobileindustryinthetwentiethcentury?Theautomobileindustryrankedasamongthemostlucrativeandpowerfulindustriesofthetwentiethcentury.2.Whatwillhappentocarsandroadsinthetwenty-firstcentury?Carsandroadswillberevolutionizedinthetwenty-firstcentury.3.Whydoestheauthorsaythekeytotomorrow’s“smartcars”willbesensors?Becauseitissensorsthatwillenablevehiclesandroadstobeabletosee,hear,feel,smell,talk,andact.4.Howwouldsensorshelpreducetrafficfatalities?Sensorscansenseifadriverisdrunkandrefusetostartuptheengine.5.Whatisthefunctionoftheradarshiddeninbumpers?Theradarshiddeninthebumperscanscanfornearbycars.Ifyoumakeaseriousdrivingmistakethecomputerwillsoundanimmediatewarning.6.Howwillasmartcaralertadriverwhofeelsdrowsy?Ifthedriver’seyelidscloseforacertainlengthoftimeandhisorherdrivingbecomeserratic,acomputerinthedashboardcouldalertthedriver.7.Whatmakesitpossibleforsmartcarstodeterminetheirapproximatelocation?GPSmakesitpossibleforsmartcarstodeterminetheirlocationontheearthtowithinaboutahundredfeet.8.WhataretheprospectsforapplicationsofGPS?Withthepriceofmicrochipsdroppingsodrastically,futureapplicationsofGPSarevirtuallylimitless.9.Whatis“telematics”expectedtoachieveinincreasingtheefficiencyandsafetyofhighwaytransportation?Itisexpectedtoputsmartcarsonsmarthighways.10.WhataretrafficengineersdoingonInterstate15closetoSanDiego?TheyareinstallinganMIT-designedsystemwhichwillintroducethe“automateddriver”.11.Whathopesdopromotersofthesmarthighwayhaveforitsfuture?Theyhavegreathopesforitsfuture.By2010,telematicsmaywellbeincorporatedintooneofthemajorhighwaysintheUnitedStates.By2020,telematicscouldbeadoptedinthousandsofmilesofhighwaysintheUnitedStates.12.Whataretheadvantagesofsmarthighways?Smarthighwayscouldbeanenvironmentalboon,savingfuel,reducingtrafficjams,decreasingairpollution,andservingasanalternativetohighwayexpansion.Unit31.Whatisthewriteraccordingtowhatsaysatthebeginningofthetext?Herunsamanufacturingcompany.2.Whatkindofanswersdidhegetfromthecollegegraduatewhowantedajob?Almostallofthemwereno.3.Whatconclusiondidthewriterdrawfromtheyoungapplicant’sanswers?Thisapplicantwasillpreparedforthejobhewasapplyingforandthereforeillqualified.4.Whatisthefirstsuggestionthewritergivestojobapplicants?Preparetowin.5.Whatchangeshavetakenplacewithemployeessincethewriter’scollegedays？Theynowhavetoswitchjobsfrequently.6.Whatexampledoesthewriteruseinsupportofhissecondsuggestion?A90-year-oldtennisplayerwhowantedtoworkonhisweakness—backhandcourt.7.Whatisthewriter’sthirdsuggestionmainlyconcernedwith?Believeinyourself,evenwhennooneelsedoes.8.WhydoesthewritertalkaboutthecabsinNewYorkwhenhegiveshisfourthsuggestion?Becausehewillmentionacabdriverwhoisdifferent.9.Whatwasitaboutthecabdriverthatparticularlyimpressedthewriter?Hiseffortstomakeadifference.10.WhatmadethewritertravelwithhismentorCurtCarlsoninCarlson’sjetandwhathappenedonthedayofdeparture?HewasofferedarideonadaywhenMinnesotawashitwithoneoftheworstsnowstormsinyearsandtheinternationalairporttherewasclosedforthefirsttimeindecades.11.WhywasCurtCarlsonsohappywhentheyweretaxiingdowntherunway?Becausetherewerenotracksleftinthesnow,whichmeanshewasthefirstpersontotakeofffromthere.12.Whatpointdoesthewriterwanttomakebytalkingabouthismentor,CurtCarlson?Carlsonwasexcitedaboutbeingfirst,whichisexactlywhatthewriterrecommendstojobapplicants.Unit41.WhatevidencedoestheauthorproduceinsupportofhisstatementthatAmericaisnotindecline?Americastillattractsmillionsofpeople,andpeoplearen’tattractedtoaplaceindecline.2.WhatthesisdoesPaulKennedyadvanceinhisbookTheRiseandFallofGreatPowers?Whatdoestheauthorthinkofit?AccordingtoPaulKennedy,Americawill,followinghistoricalprecedents,inevitablydecline.Buttheauthordisagrees.3.Whatdoestheauthormeanby“anewPacificcivilization”?Whatdoeshethinkcharacterizesthenewcivilization?ItmeansamixtureofHispanicandAsiancultureslinkedthroughthemostmoderncommunicationtechnologies.Thenewcivilizationischaracterizedbyopennessandpluralism.4.WhydoestheauthormentionLosAngeleswhenheportrayingthenewcivilizationheenvisage?HebelievesLosAngelestobeapremonitionofthenewPacificcivilization.5.InwhatwaydoesthechangeinthecompositionofLA’spopulationanticipatethegeneraltrendinthatofmankind?90percentoftheimmigrantstoLAarefromtheThirdWorld,andatthebeginningofthe21stcentury90percentoftheworld’spopulationswillbedark-skinned.6.WhathasmadethepersonalcomputercompanyinOrangeCountyhighlysuccessful?AfashionoftraditionalThirdWorldcultureswiththemostmodernmentalitiesandtechnologies.7.Whatischaracteristicofthenewrelationshipbetweendevelopmentandunderdevelopment?Cooperationandconstruction.8.WhatisthedifferencebetweentheWesternandnon-Westernconceptsoftime?Accordingtotheauthor,Westerntimeisorganizedbytheclock.Innon-Westernculture,timeisameasurebetweenevents.9.WhowasJoseVasconcelosz?Whatdidhewriteaboutinthebookmentionedinthetext?HewasaMexicanphilosopher.Inhisbookhedreamedofthepossibilitythatinthefuture,allracesontheplanetwouldmergeintoonetypeofman.10.Whatisthecommonaimthatwillharmonizecompetingculturesinaplace?Abetterlivingstandardandthechancetotry.11.InwhatwayisthecombinationofcultureandspaceimportanttoimmigrantstoAmerica?Thecultureallowsonetotrytobesomebody.Spaceissignificantnotonlyinageographicalsense,butalsointhesenseofopportunities,ofsocialmobility.12.Whatdoesapersonfeelifhefailsinastagnantsociety?Why?Thispersonwillbediscouragedandpessimistic,believingthatthefailurewasdeterminedbyfate.Unit51.Doesthenarratorthinkourfirstimpressionsofapersonarealwaysright?Whyorwhynot?No,hedoesn’t.Becausehispersonalexperiencetellshimthisiswrong.2.WhatwasEdwardBurtonbyprofession?Howdidhelook?HewasamerchantandhadbeeninbusinessinJapanformanyyears.Hewasatinylittlefellow,notmuchmorethanfivefeetfourinheight,andveryslender,withwhitehair,areadfacemuchwrinkled,andblueeyes.3.WhatstruckthenarratormostaboutEdwardBurton?Why?EdwardBurtonhaddonesomethingthenarratorcouldneverhavebelievedhewould,unlesshehadheardthestoryfromhisownlips.Bothinappearanceandmannerhesuggestedthetypeofcharacteryouwouldnotassociatewithsuchanaction.4.WhowasLennyBurton?HowdidEdwardBurtongettoknowhim?LennnyBurtonwasaremittancemanlivinginJapan.EdwardBurtonusedtoplaybridgewithhim.5.WhatwasEdwardBurton’simpressionofLenny?Inhiseyes,Lennywasnotabadchap,andhelikedhim.6.HowdidLennymanagetosupporthimself?Hegotfromtimetotime,abitofmoneyfromhisfamilyinLondonandmadeabitmorebycard-playing.7.WhydidLennycallathisnamesake’sofficeoneday?Hecalledathisnamesake’sofficetoaskforajob.8.HowdidEdwardrespondtohisrequest?Edwardrefusedhisrequestandhumiliatedhim.9.Howdidtheresponsehelptoshowhimupinhistruecolors?TheresponseshowedthathewasacruelmanbecauseheevenmadefunofLennywhowasdownandoutinsteadofgivinghimhelp.10.WhatideadidEdwardthinkofwhenLennybeggedagainforajob?EdwardaskedLennytoswimfromtheShioyaClubroundthebeaconandlandatthecreekofTarumi.Itwasoverthreemilesandratherdifficult.11.WhydidLennyhesitatebeforeheagreedtodoashewastoldto?Becauseheknewthathewasnotingoodconditionandmightnotmakeit.12.WhenEdwardsetaconditionforofferingajob,washeawareLennywouldbedrowned?Howdoyouknow?Yes.BecauseEdwardsaidthathehadn’tgotavacancyinhisofficewhenhesetthecondition.Unit61.Whatdidweusetoexpectfromtechnology?Weusedtothinkthattechnologywouldmakeourliveseasier.2.Inwhatwayshaveinventionssuchasthemotorcarandtheaircraftbroughtusbenefits?Andwhatabouttheadventofwashingmachines?Inventionssuchasthemotorcarandtheaircrafthaveofferedusunimaginablelevelsofpersonalmobility.Washingmachineshavefreedwomenfromhavingtotoiloverthelaundry.3.Whatnewburdenshastechnologyproducedapartfromcrammingworkintoourleisuretime?Accordingtotheauthor,asidefromfollowingworktospreadintoourleisuretime,technologyhasalsoaddedthenewburdenofdealingwithfaxes,e-mailsandvoicemails.4.Howfastisinformationgeneratedtodayascomparedtoacoupleofcenturiesago?Acoupleofcenturiesago,nearlyalltheworld’saccumulatedlearningcouldbecontainedintheheadsofafewphilosophers.Today,thoseheadscouldnothopetoaccommodatemorethanatinyfractionoftheinformationgeneratedinasingleday.5.WhatisEdwardWilson’spurposeinsubscribingtosixty-oddjournalsandmagazines?Hispurposeistokeephimupwithwhatisgoingoninhisspecializedfield—entomology.6.Whatgivesrisetoourdiscontentwithsuperabundance?Theconfusionofendlesschoicegivesrisetoourdiscontentwithsuperabundance.7.Iseveryonetime-starvedtoday?Whatpercentageofthepopulationissufferingunderthestressesandstrainsoflifetoday?No.Abouthalfthepopulationsissufferingunderthestressesandstrainsoflifetoday.8.Whatisstressenvy,asconceivedbyPaulEdwards?AccordingtoPaulEdwards,lotsofpeoplehaveasensethatifyou’renotstressed,you’renotsucceeding.Thereforeeveryonewantstohavealittlebitofthisstresstoshowthey’reanimportantperson.9.HowmuchfreetimehastheaverageAmericangainedsincethemid-1960s?Howarethegainsdistributedbetweenthesexes?TheaverageAmericanhasgainedfivehoursaweekinfreetimesincethemid-1960s.Thegainsareunevenlydistributedbetweensinglesandworkingcouplesandbetweenthesexes.10.Whatismeantby“thegrowthofthework-lifedebate”?Itismeantthattherearemoreandmoredebatesonhowmanyyearspeopleshouldworkandwhetherlonghoursorshorterhoursworkingpoliciesshouldbeadopted,etc.11.WhatdoesGodbeymeanbysaying“It’sthekidinthecandystore”?HereGodbeymakesacomparison.Thekidinthecandystoreismoreoftenthannotattractedbyawidevarietyofgoodcandiesanddoesn’tknowwhichtochoose.Thisistrueofus,too.Therearesomanygoodthingstodo,butwedon’thaveenoughtimetodothemall.12.Whatremedydoestheauthorofferfortimestress?Theauthorpointsoutthatamoresuccessfulremedymaylieinunderstandingtheproblemratherthanevadingit.Weshouldhave“fewerdesires”and“setboundariesforourselves.”