Mixture of Fact and Opinion

As we learned in Book 1, Book2, and Book 3, it is

very important to tell the difference between facts

and the writer’s opinions  during the course of reading.  But more often, writers mix facts and opinions

even within the same sentence. 

Opinion?

fact?

Have a review at the corresponding knowledge mentioned in Unit 2, Book 1, Unit 3 and Unit 8, Book2, and Unit 2, Book 3.

Examples:

       The Mixture of Fact and Opinion

1. Certainly middle-class audiences did; the working-
     class audiences were more likely to clap for a 
    character who revolted against authority, using his
    wicked little cane to trip it up, or aiming the heel of

    his boot for a well-placed kick at its broad rear.

“    ” (opinion)   “     ” (fact)

2. It’s a relief to know that life eventually gave  
        Charlie Chaplin the stable happiness it had
        earlier denied him. 

But this one is basically factual because Chaplin did get married in his 50’s as his last marriage.

Text Structure

Text Structure Analysis

General idea:

Agatha Muthoni Mbogo —

Ran for mayor of Embu, Kenya, and won.

Became a symbol of the increasingly powerful political force women have become in Kenya and across Africa.

Beginning of Ms. Mbogo’s dream:

Time and Event —

In 1992; running for the Embu Council

Her difficulties and the obstacles —

little money;

no political experience;

ridiculous questions about her personal life;

misunderstanding among the town’s women;

deeply held cultural traditions;

Background of her election —

Many women had not been taught the basics of political participation;

Some political activity among Kenyan Women;

Men still have the upper hand, and no Kenya woman has ever held a cabinet post.

Ms. Mbogo’s road to success:

Winning her council seat

Declining a spot on a so-called “a woman’s committee” and joining the town planning committee

Challenging Embu’s mayor and winning with 7 to 6 votes

Comments on her and her winning: 

Her achievement —

Donor groups are now funding projects in Embu in earnest — for new market, a 200-bed section for new-mothers, a dormitory-style home …

Comments —

Warmly welcomed by the men of Embu;

liked by most people of Embu; a refreshing change …

Sentence Structure

Paraphrase

Translation

1. … many of whom initially were unwilling to vote
   for her. (L13)

I. Sentences Structure

e.g.

She has a lot of books.  She hasn’t read most of them.

She has a lot of books, most of which she hasn’t read.

More sentences to practice: 

They’ve got three cars.  They never use two of these cars.

He tried on three jackets.  None of these jackets fitted him.

2. But after independence, leaders jealous to protect  
   their power shut them out of politics, a situation
   repeated across the continent. (L32)

主语: leaders jealous to protect their power

a situation … 作为补充说明成分

II. Paraphrase

1. … because she was voted in by her colleagues on  
    the District Council, all men. (L4)

… because as a female candidate on the District Council, she was made mayor by her male colleagues through the election.

2.  Education of African women has become a top
    priority for political activists. (L20)

One of the major tasks of political activists is to teach African women about basic political knowledge.

3. Today, men still have the upper hand. (L35)

Today, men are still holding the positions of control in politics.

4. They give us so many promises, but they don’t
    deliver the goods. (L68)

They have promised us a lot, but they never keep their promises.

III. Translation

1. For the thousands of women in this farming area
   two hours northeast of Nairobi, Ms. Mbogo
   suddenly became a symbol of the increasingly
   powerful political force women have become in

   Kenya and across Africa. (L5)

翻译长句的时候，可以拆分成若干短句来译。

恩布市是一个位于内罗毕东北部的农业地区，距内罗毕需两个小时的车程。在肯尼亚乃至整个非洲，妇女的政治力量日益壮大。 对于生活在此地的数千妇女来说，Mbogo成了这种力量的标志。

2. Ms. Mbogo has not met with the kinds of abuse

   that other female politicians have been subjected

   to, however. (L50)

但Mbogo并没有像其他女政治家那样受到攻击。

be subjected to:  be forced to experience

Word Using

Word Using

Word Using

Word Using

Word Using

Word Using

Word Using

Word Using

1. run for (L2)

to compete in a race for elected office

其他与run有关的词组：

run after 追赶，追逐

run away 逃跑，离开

run into 偶然碰到，遭遇，陷入

run out 用光，耗尽

run short of 缺乏，不足

in a long run 从长期看

etc.

Running for Governor

e.g.

2. launch (L8)

v.  ① to star, to initiate;

    ② to introduce to the public or to a market;

    ③ to send a ship into the water or a rocket,  
      etc into the sky

① The enemy launched an attack at  midnight.

② The company decided to launch the new perfume on the internet.

③ That country launched another rocket.

e.g.

3. priority (L20)

n. ① sth. that is most important or that

      you must do before anything else;

   ②优先权

get, have, take priority

give sb./sth. priority

Collocation

You must decide what your priorities are. 

e.g.

4. sack (L25)

n. a large bag

辨析

get/give a sack

get/give the sack

① He finally got the sack after being
   late again and again.

    他最终因为不断的迟到而被解雇了。

e.g.

② Give me a sack of potatoes.

      给我一袋土豆。

5. have the upper hand (L35)

to have the advantage or control over sb.

At half time, the Italian team seemed to have the upper hand.

Translation

Key

上半场结束时似乎是意大利队占上风。

6. against that background (L38)

with sth. in the background

这个爱情故事是在内战的背景下展开的。

Translation

Key

The love story unfolds against a   background of civil war.

7. witness (L55)

Can you describe an accident you witness?

① v. see sth. happen on the spot

Question:

② n. a person who sees sth.
      happen on the spot

Group Discussion

Based on the studies in the text, discuss the following topic:

What are the key factors

    towards great success?

 

点这里下载 → 电信高速下载地址
点这里下载 → 网通高速下载地址