Unit 5 Sources of Information

Key sources of information We can get information by: talking… reading … experiencing …

Information, please

Pre-reading When you are in trouble, what do you think is the best way to ask for help?

Culture Note After receiving a telephone call, some people may say “hello,” some people may say “hi,” some people may say their own first and/or last names, perhaps followed by “here’” or “speaking”, and some people may say their own names followed by “residence” or “office” to indicate which it is. All of these are considered OK. Secretaries are often trained to say either the name of the company or the boss’s name followed by “office”, and then perhaps their own name followed by “here” or “speaking.” Businesses may train their employees to include friendly phrases like “may I help you” or “how may I help you?” in their greetings.

while-reading What was “Information, please?” in the little boy’s mind? “Information ,please” knew the answer to everything

while-reading why did the boy pick up the telephone receiver one day when he was home alone? Because he was hurt by a hammer and there was nobody around, so he tried to get comfort from the telephone

She was kind, patient, and understanding While-reading Judging from the conversations between the little boy and the operator, what kind of person do you think the operator was? She was kind, patient, and understanding

While-reading Why was the author unable to forget his childhood conversations with the operator? Because the operator gave him her kindness, understanding, concern and patience.

While-reading Why did the operator remember the conversation with the child? Because she took a personal interest in him and thought she could help him.

Post-reading Work in pairs and complete the summary with the information from the passage.

personal The author tells us his 1) _______ experience with the telephone 2) _________ to show us that you can never 3) _____________ the impressions you may make on others. when he was young, he 4)_____ his finger with a 5)______ while staying alone at home. It was at this time he received some good advice on the phone from the “Information, please” operator. When her pet bird died, the operator 6) _________ him . For this act of kindness the boy 7) _________ her ____ being so patient, understanding, and kind but also for spending so much of her time on him. Over the years he called her many more times and developed a friendship with her. He later moved away from his hometown but 8) _______ her whenever he returned to visit. Eventually she died, but before dying she left a 9) ________ for him with the new “Information, please” operator so that he would not be so sad and able to remember her with 10) ________________ of how she had influenced his life. Like the bird, she said she’d too have “other worlds to sing in”. operator underestimate hurt hammer comforted appreciated for dialed message fond memories

Language Focus Fill the blanks with the words given below. Change the forms where necessary concern appreciate chip heap amuse suck heal bleed somehow amaze 1 when they arrived there, he lay on the floor, his nose ___________. bleeding somehow 2 I think she is right but ___________ I’m not completely sure. appreciate 3 I’d _______________ it if you would turn the radio down.

4 we were greatly __________ to hear about his sitting on the wet paint. amused 5 Greece’s poor economic performance was a cause for the growing public _________. concern 6 It ________ us to hear that you were leaving. Why not tell us a bit earlier? amazed 7 You needn’t worry about him. This kind of medicine will help to _____ his wound soon heal clipped 8 I’m afraid I’ve ________ a piece out of this saucer. 9 She has got used to ______ milk through a straw though she is only two month old. sucking 10 The old woman had to support her family by washing a ______ of dirty clothes every day though she had suffered a deadly disease. heap

Translate the following sentences into English 1 这些观众一定是错过了看他们的音乐演出，否则他们会给予高度评价的。（must have done， speak highly of） The audience must have missed their musical performance, or they would have spoken highly of it.

Translate the following sentences into English 2 尽管她远在它乡，不知怎么她总能感觉到母亲的深切关怀。（somehow， sense） Somehow she could sense her mother’s deep concern though she was far away from home.

Translate the following sentences into English 3 这位接线员每天从家里到工作地点路上要花两个小时左右。（spend, or so） The operator had to spend two hours or so on her way from her home to the workplace everyday.

Translate the following sentences into English 4 他感激她的同情和理解，因为在当时对他来说意味着很多（appreciate） He appreciated her sympathy and understanding, which meant a lot to him during that time.

Translate the following sentences into English 5 他终于来到电话亭，投入硬币后便开始往巴黎拨打电话（finally, dial） She finally arrived at a telephone booth and put in the coins before dialing Paris.