Unit 6

The Mysterious Gift of the ProdigyThe Mysterious Gift of the Prodigy

Remember sb/sth as…

1. 1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be be remembered asremembered as one of history’s most one of history’s most famous child prodigies.famous child prodigies.

Be remembered asBe remembered as

Be regarded asBe regarded as

Be considered as Be considered as

Tense

2. By the age of eight, he had performed in 2. By the age of eight, he had performed in half the great cities of Europe and was half the great cities of Europe and was about to write his first three symphonies.about to write his first three symphonies.

Tense in the sentence:Tense in the sentence:

1) By the age of eight/by the time…/By 1) By the age of eight/by the time…/By then, + the Past Perfectthen, + the Past Perfect

2) Be about to do sth 2) Be about to do sth

Recognize

3. But the world 3. But the world recognizes him asrecognizes him as one of the one of the finest composers who ever lived.finest composers who ever lived.

Recognize sb/sth as …: be willing to accept Recognize sb/sth as …: be willing to accept sb/sth as valid or genuine; approvesb/sth as valid or genuine; approve

--The world has recognized his works as --The world has recognized his works as works of genius.works of genius.

--He was eventually recognized as the only --He was eventually recognized as the only legal heir to the fortune of that old man.legal heir to the fortune of that old man.

Recognize

--The government finally recognized her --The government finally recognized her efforts in women’s liberation movement.efforts in women’s liberation movement.

--I didn't recognize her yesterday when I met --I didn't recognize her yesterday when I met her on the street.her on the street.

--She recognized that she was not qualified --She recognized that she was not qualified for that post yet.for that post yet.

recognition, recognizable recognition, recognizable

Amaze

4. 4. For centuries, people have been For centuries, people have been amazedamazed by by children of unusual talentchildren of unusual talent

SurpriseSurprise

AmazeAmaze

AstonishAstonish

ShockShock

Take sb aback Take sb aback

Work one’s way

5. 5. John Stuart Mill, the nineteenth century John Stuart Mill, the nineteenth century British philosopher, read Greek at three and British philosopher, read Greek at three and had had worked his wayworked his way through elementary through elementary geometry and algebra and a large body of geometry and algebra and a large body of literature and history by the time he was 12.literature and history by the time he was 12.

Work one’s way through sth

Work one’s way through sth: read or do sth Work one’s way through sth: read or do sth from beginning to endfrom beginning to end

--The board are still working their way --The board are still working their way through the application forms.through the application forms.

--She needs to work her way through all her --She needs to work her way through all her students’ compositions by this weekend.students’ compositions by this weekend.

--You’d better work your way through that --You’d better work your way through that novel so that you can have a better novel so that you can have a better understanding. understanding.

Not always…, bring sth to sth

6. 6. Success has Success has not alwaysnot always brought happiness brought happiness toto prodigies. prodigies.

Partial negation: not always, not all…Partial negation: not always, not all…Bring sth (happiness, sadness, damage, etc) to Bring sth (happiness, sadness, damage, etc) to

sb/sth: cause sth to sb/sthsb/sth: cause sth to sb/sth--Compassionate love doesn't always bring --Compassionate love doesn't always bring

happiness to a couple.happiness to a couple.--Two world wars brought disastrous --Two world wars brought disastrous

influence to human souls. influence to human souls.

A number of, have sth in common

7. 7. A number ofA number of history’s most famous history’s most famous prodigies prodigies had something else in commonhad something else in common……

1) A number of vs. the number of1) A number of vs. the number of

2) Have sth in common: have some 2) Have sth in common: have some similarities similarities

Even though, fascination

8. 8. Even thoughEven though there has been there has been a fascination witha fascination with child prodigies for centuries, there has been child prodigies for centuries, there has been little serious study of them until recently.little serious study of them until recently.

1) Even though/although: in spite of, despite …1) Even though/although: in spite of, despite … --Even though I had apologized many times --Even though I had apologized many times

for that, she just couldn't forgive me.for that, she just couldn't forgive me. --Although I like that job very much, I just --Although I like that job very much, I just

can’t bear so much pressure every day from it. can’t bear so much pressure every day from it.

Fascination

2) 2) A fascination with sth/sb: A fascination with sth/sb:

Fascinate: attract or interest sb greatlyFascinate: attract or interest sb greatly

--The children were fascinated by the toys in --The children were fascinated by the toys in the shop window.the shop window.

--He was fascinated by the beauty of the --He was fascinated by the beauty of the landscape.landscape.

Fascinating, fascination

Fascinating:a fascinating voice/storyFascinating:a fascinating voice/story

Fascination: fascinating quality, process of Fascination: fascinating quality, process of fascinatingfascinating

--Reading novels holds a certain fascination --Reading novels holds a certain fascination for me.for me.

--That foreign visitor started to have a --That foreign visitor started to have a fascination for Chinese pottery.fascination for Chinese pottery.

Identify

9. 9. Some surprising common characteristics Some surprising common characteristics have been have been identifiedidentified..

Identify: recognize, consider sth to be Identify: recognize, consider sth to be identical with sth, give support to sbidentical with sth, give support to sb

--She identified the man as the one who stole --She identified the man as the one who stole her purse.her purse.

--One can’t identify happiness with wealth.--One can’t identify happiness with wealth.

Identify

--He refused to identify himself with that --He refused to identify himself with that political party.political party.

--It’s hard to identify with any characters in --It’s hard to identify with any characters in the movie.the movie.

identical, identification identical, identification

Turn off doing sth

10. 10. In school with children their own age they In school with children their own age they may become bored or frustrated, and simply may become bored or frustrated, and simply turn off learningturn off learning completely. completely.

Turn off

Turn off doing sth: stop doing sthTurn off doing sth: stop doing sth

Turn sb off: cause sb to be bored or disgusted Turn sb off: cause sb to be bored or disgusted by sth or not sexually attracted to sbby sth or not sexually attracted to sb

--All that talk about chamber pot at table turned --All that talk about chamber pot at table turned me just off.me just off.

--Bad breath is guaranteed to turn a woman off.--Bad breath is guaranteed to turn a woman off.

Turn sth off: stop the flow of (water, gas, Turn sth off: stop the flow of (water, gas, electricity) or stop a radio, television, etcelectricity) or stop a radio, television, etc

Turn off

Turn on sb: attack sb suddenly and Turn on sb: attack sb suddenly and unexpectedlyunexpectedly

--His normally placid dog turned on him and --His normally placid dog turned on him and bit him in the leg.bit him in the leg.

--Why are you all turning on me? (Blame, --Why are you all turning on me? (Blame, criticize)criticize)

Turn on sth: have sth as its main topicTurn on sth: have sth as its main topicTurn sb on vs. turn sb offTurn sb on vs. turn sb offTurn sth on vs. turn sth off Turn sth on vs. turn sth off

Turn to sb/sth, a sense of belonging

11. 11. Many children, as they enter adolescence, Many children, as they enter adolescence, begin to begin to turn toturn to other teenagers for other teenagers for affection, encouragement, and affection, encouragement, and a sense of a sense of belongingbelonging..

Turn to

Turn to sb/sth: go to sb/sth for help or adviceTurn to sb/sth: go to sb/sth for help or advice

--He has no one he can turn to.--He has no one he can turn to.

--You can turn to the insurance company --You can turn to the insurance company when you suffer from some damages.when you suffer from some damages.

--Who are the ones you would like to turn to --Who are the ones you would like to turn to when you are in trouble?when you are in trouble?

Although, be born with, potential

12. 12. AlthoughAlthough a child may a child may be born withbe born with outstanding genetic outstanding genetic potentialpotential, this potential , this potential will not necessarily develop.will not necessarily develop.

Be born with, potential

1) Be born with…: possess sth from birth; 1) Be born with…: possess sth from birth; innateinnate

--He was born with musical gift.--He was born with musical gift. --She was born to be a great writer.--She was born to be a great writer. --Jenny is a born dancer.--Jenny is a born dancer.2) Potential: (u.n) possibility of being 2) Potential: (u.n) possibility of being

developed or used; qualities that exist and developed or used; qualities that exist and can be developed can be developed

Nourish, nurture

13. 13. Something in the environment must Something in the environment must nourishnourish the potential. In Yani’s case, that the potential. In Yani’s case, that something is probably her father, who gave something is probably her father, who gave up his own career as a painter in order to up his own career as a painter in order to nurturenurture Yani’s talent and growth. Yani’s talent and growth.

Nourish, nurture

1) Nourish1) Nourish2) Nurture: care for and educate; encourage 2) Nurture: care for and educate; encourage

the growth of sth; nourishthe growth of sth; nourish --Children need nurtured by loving parents.--Children need nurtured by loving parents. --The gardener nurtured delicate plants --The gardener nurtured delicate plants

carefully.carefully. --We want to nurture the new project, not --We want to nurture the new project, not

destroy it.destroy it.

(Translate)

14. 14. And although many prodigies enjoy the And although many prodigies enjoy the satisfaction of extraordinary achievement, satisfaction of extraordinary achievement, public praise, and material wealth, even the public praise, and material wealth, even the most successful sometimes question the most successful sometimes question the value of their lives and accomplishments. value of their lives and accomplishments.

Long, confess, acclaimed, mediocre

15. 15. ““I have I have a longinga longing which grows stronger which grows stronger as I get older,” as I get older,” confessconfesses the es the acclaimedacclaimed American concert pianist Eugene Istomin, American concert pianist Eugene Istomin, “to be “to be mediocremediocre.”.”

Longing, confess, acclaimed, mediocre

1) Longing:1) Longing:2) Confess2) Confessconfessionconfession3)Acclaimed3)Acclaimed acclaim: acknowledge the greatness of acclaim: acknowledge the greatness of

sb/sthsb/sth acclamationacclamation4) Mediocre: not very good, second-rate4) Mediocre: not very good, second-rate mediocritymediocrity

Frame 1: How come you stopped taking…?

--How come you bought an apartment so far --How come you bought an apartment so far from your school?from your school?

--How come they decide to move out so soon?--How come they decide to move out so soon?--How come you don’t like her?--How come you don’t like her?--How come we don’t have some pizza today?--How come we don’t have some pizza today?to ask for an explanation, esp. surprised by:to ask for an explanation, esp. surprised by:--Why did you buy an apartment so far from --Why did you buy an apartment so far from

your school?your school?

Frame 1: How come…? (Informal)

1)--1)--He seems to know the area pretty well.He seems to know the area pretty well. --Oh? How come? (Why does he know it?)--Oh? How come? (Why does he know it?)2)--I won’t be able to go to the party this 2)--I won’t be able to go to the party this

evening?evening? --How come? (Why won’t you…?)--How come? (Why won’t you…?)3)--They can’t finish the task as they 3)--They can’t finish the task as they

promised.promised. --How come? (Why can’t they…?) --How come? (Why can’t they…?)

Frame 2: though, although

1.In most cases, though and although can be 1.In most cases, though and although can be replaced mutually.replaced mutually.

--Though/Although it’s dark, they still --Though/Although it’s dark, they still continued working in the field.continued working in the field.

--Though/Although he knew better that he --Though/Although he knew better that he would fail, he tried his best to win the would fail, he tried his best to win the game.game.

Frame 2: though, although

2.Under such conditions, although can’t 2.Under such conditions, although can’t replace though.replace though.

--Though everyone dislike you, I wouldn't.--Though everyone dislike you, I wouldn't. --Even though she was angry with him, she --Even though she was angry with him, she

managed to control herself.managed to control herself. --Child though he was, he knew everything.--Child though he was, he knew everything. --He may come tonight. I am not sure, --He may come tonight. I am not sure,

though.though.

Frame 3: so, because, since, as, given

1. Because: unknown reason to the hearer1. Because: unknown reason to the hearer --They were late because they were caught --They were late because they were caught

in the traffic jam.in the traffic jam. --We failed not because we hadn’t worked --We failed not because we hadn’t worked

hard enough but because we hadn’t find hard enough but because we hadn’t find the right person.the right person.

2. As/since: known reason to the hearer2. As/since: known reason to the hearer --As/Since everyone is here, let’s begin our --As/Since everyone is here, let’s begin our

meeting.meeting.

Frame 3: because, as, since, so, given

3. So: result3. So: result

--It rained heavily last night so I didn't go to --It rained heavily last night so I didn't go to the party.the party.

--Please work hard so that you can pass the --Please work hard so that you can pass the examination.examination.

Frame 3: because, as, since, so, given

4. Given the fact that…: given (prep. Taking 4. Given the fact that…: given (prep. Taking into account)into account)

--Given the price of the house, she is going --Given the price of the house, she is going to put more money aside each month.to put more money aside each month.

--Given a gloomy economy,you’d better not --Given a gloomy economy,you’d better not invest in that business.invest in that business.

Frame 4: hope vs. wish

““Hope + that clause” indicates a desire relating to Hope + that clause” indicates a desire relating to the past, present or future, while, “wish + that the past, present or future, while, “wish + that clause” expresses regret about the past, present or clause” expresses regret about the past, present or future, usually a subjunctive required in its clause. future, usually a subjunctive required in its clause. Notes: “hope” can be used in the phrase “hope Notes: “hope” can be used in the phrase “hope for…” or “hope to do…”, as “wish” can.for…” or “hope to do…”, as “wish” can.

--She hopes/wishes for a letter from him. --She hopes/wishes for a letter from him.

--He hopes/wishes to be alone for a while.--He hopes/wishes to be alone for a while.

Frame 4: hope vs. wish

——I hope you weren't late.I hope you weren't late.

——I hope you’re ready.I hope you’re ready.

——We hope you will be very happy.We hope you will be very happy.

——I wish I hadn’t gone to that party. (But I went.)I wish I hadn’t gone to that party. (But I went.)

——I wish I could speak French. (But I can’t.)I wish I could speak French. (But I can’t.)

——I wish I were going on holiday next month. (But I I wish I were going on holiday next month. (But I won’t.)won’t.)