Unit Two Attitudes to Life Enhance Your Language Awareness Words in Action Working with Words and Expressions 1 In the box below are some of the words you have learned in this unit Complete the following sentences with them Change the form where necessary Answers 1 commonplace 2 enduring 3 dim 4 command 5 imperfection 6 intensive 7 abandon 8 finite 9 dynamic 10 weaving 11 additional 12 aspirations 13 gratitude 14 integrity 15 faithful 16 committed 2 In the box below are some of the expressions you have learned in this unit Do you understand their meanings Do you know how to use them in the proper context Now check for yourself by doing the blank filling exercise Change the form where necessary Answers 1 live on 2 dawned upon 3 live by 4 is invested with 5 hold fast to 6 All too 7 step aside 8 set out 9 to and fro 10 work at Increasing Your Word Power 1 Study the following usage notes about the words in the box They are all associated with the meaning of change Answers 1 change 2 transform 3 alter 4 convert 5 revise 6 modify 7 vary 8 transcribe 2 You will read three groups of words which are similar in meaning but different in usage Reflect on the differences in usage between the words in each group and fill in each blank with a proper one Change the form if necessary Answers 1 tour 2 trip 3 travelling 4 journey 5 select 6 choose 7 pick 8 elect 9 ordinary 10 regular 11 average 12 normal 3 Write out the corresponding verb forms of the following adjectives Answers 1 add 2 beautify 3 contradict 4 deafen 5 differ 6 intensify 7 minimize 8 oppose 9 please 10 prosper 11 radiate 12 relent 13 respect 14 sparkle 15 wonder 16 wither GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT Task 1 Write hypothetical sentences based on the given facts Answers for reference 1 My mother would not be worried about me if she knew what my life was like 2 They would probably allow you to do the job if you were in better health 3 They wouldn t work with such enthusiasm if they didn t know what they were working for 4 I would have to look it up in the dictionary if I didn t know the meaning of the word 5 She would understand what we say if she knew Chinese 6 I would be quite satisfied if you spoke with greater accuracy Task 2 Make hypothetical sentences with the given words Answers for reference 1 If we knew where he was we would try to get in touch with him 2 If it were not for the expense involved we would go there by plane 3 If we were to miss the train we would have to wait another four hours 4 If we pooled all our resources we would have enough money to buy the equipment 5 If he didn t have a strong love for the handicapped children he wouldn t be working so tirelessly for them Cloze Complete the following passage with words chosen from this unit The initial letter of each is given Answers 1 wither 2 sense 3 faithful 4 commit 5 aspirations 6 gratitude 7 dawns 8 accumulated 9 nourishment 10 preoccupied 11 flowers 12 tendered 13 weave 14 elevate Translation 1 Translate the following sentences into English using the words and expressions given in brackets Answers for reference 1 The ambassador to the U N was invested with full authority to deal with all the foreign affairs concerning his country on behalf of his government 2 All the way on the train I had been preoccupied with the result of the term examination until the conductor reminded me of the arrival of my destination 3 Although her husband s name did not appear on the list of the people who got killed in the traffic accident she kept walking to and fro anxious to see him back home sooner 4 I was setting out to translate the contract into English when it dawned upon me that both parties involved were Chinese companies 5 At the party people sang and danced with abandon totally forgetting the troubles in their lives 6 With the great aspirations to become an astronaut Jackson committed himself to the 2 year strenuous constitution training 7 His paintings drawing on timeless fairy stories exemplified the Europeans taste of that period 8 The bus driver didn t want to take any responsibility for the accident and so he took every means to put the blame on the passengers on board 9 He not only risked his own life to save the old man from the burning house but made some room in his own house for him to settle down 10 From childhood she tried to live by the teachings of her parents and gradually accumulated a set of standards of conduct 2 Translate the following passage into English Answers for reference What is truth Truth is the correct reflection of people s knowledge about the objective world and its laws Truth makes people full of hope and life full of brilliance and glory Therefore many people regard the pursuit of truth as the ultimate goal of their lives In human history many people devoted their lives to the pursuit of truth and made outstanding contributions to mankind Truth is both absolute and relative We say that truth is absolute because truth can objectively reflect the essentials of things However any truth is but people s correct understanding of the development of things at a certain stage Therefore truth is relative and develops constantly Sometimes the brilliance of truth may dim but it will never die out For some people truth may seem beyond their reach In fact it is close at hand We can find truth as long as we keep pursuing it heart and soul Theme Related Writing Write an essay of no less than 150 words on the topic Attitudes Towards Life Your writing should cover the following points 1 different attitudes people hold towards life 2 the benefits of holding a positive attitude 3 ways to develop a positive attitude towards life Sample essay Attitudes Towards Life People hold different attitudes towards life Some take a positive attitude and they always appreciate the beauty of life with zeal and gratitude Some take a negative attitude towards life and any slight trouble in life may seem like the end of the world to them A positive attitude ensures a happy successful and healthy life With a positive attitude people find it easy to accept challenges and overcome obstacles while maintaining peace of mind Besides a positive attitude boosts their self esteem lifts their morale and helps them fulfill their commitments both in their career and in their everyday life Moreover medical research shows that positive thinking can improve the immune system and strengthen the body s resistance to diseases There are several ways to develop a positive attitude towards life One needs to think positively read uplifting stories hang around with optimistic people give up jealousy and participate in meaningful activities By building a positive attitude towards life one can enjoy a happy successful and healthy life 170 words