By Philip Ross
Step I Warm up & Preview:
I. Warming up questions:
1. Why did the author go to the bank one day? 2. What did he see in the bank?
3. Why did the boy have trouble withdrawing his money? 4. What did the author do then?
5. Why did the officer refuse to let the boy withdraw his own money?
6. How do you understand the author’s friend’s attitude toward banks? (Para. 1) What can banks do for us? And what about churches?
7. Are there any differences and similarities between banks and churches? What do you think of the ending of the story? What effect may it bring to the story?
II. Proverb
1. A great society is a society in which men of business think greatly of their functions.
—Alfred North Whitehead
2. Every great man of business has got somewhere a touch of the idealist in him.
—Woodrow Wilson
II. Preview Works: Listening, reading and thinking:
1. Listening: Try to understand the Style; General idea; Pronunciation and spelling;
2. Reading: Try to understand the: Main idea; Structure and logic; Questions on the text; Language and grammar;
3. Thinking: Try to understand the Theme; Concepts; Questions for discussion.
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
Step II Background knowledge:
1. The author: Philip Ross (1939— ) is an American writer based in New York. After working as a newspaper reporter for four years, he turned to freelance (自由职业作家) writing. Many of his articles have appeared in the New Yorker (《纽约人》), Reader’s Digest (《读者文摘》) and New York Times (《纽约时报》). This text is taken from Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric and Reader, 3rd edition published by Prentice Hall, Inc. in 1993 in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
2. Banks:
Banks first emerged in the Middle Ages when people grew tired of carrying around all their gold and began leaving their money with the goldsmith. The Medici family, one of the most prominent banking families in Europe during this time, became quite wealthy from its banking and money lending practices. This 14th-century painting depicts people depositing and withdrawing money in an Italian bank.
Functions performed by banks today have been carried out by individuals, families, or State officials for at least 4,000 years. Clay Tablets dated from about 2000 BC indicate that the Babylonians deposited personal valuables for a service charge of one 60th of their worth. Interest charges on loans ran as high as one third.
The widespread commerce of Rome required a well-developed banking system. Roman authorities set aside the Street of Janus in the Forum for money changers. These individuals not only bought and sold foreign coins; they accepted deposits, made loans, issued bills of exchange and bills of credit (similar to today's checks), and bought mortgages.
3. Cultural Background
Built in the style of ancient Greek temple, the Bank of United States had its headquarters in Philadelphia. It was the nation’s first experiment with central banking.
• With the growth of commerce and trade in Northern Europe, the Netherlands(荷兰)became an international financial center. The Bank of Amsterdam(阿姆斯特丹/荷兰首都) was organized in 1609. A chartered public bank(特许银行)was opened in Sweden(瑞典)in 1656. Bank notes were probably first issued in the 1660s by the Bank of Stockholm(斯德哥尔摩/瑞
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
典首都) in Sweden. It was probably the first financial institution in the world to issue standard-size payable-on-demand(随到随付)bank bills, which eliminated the handling of copper coins.
• The Bank of France was founded in 1800. For most of the 19th century the money markets of Europe were dominated by the House of Rothschild. The house was operated by Rothschild and his oldest son, Amschel Mayer, until its dissolution in 1901. The four other Rothschild sons opened bank branches in Vienna, Austria; Naples(那不勒斯), Italy; London, England; and Paris, France. The London and Paris branches are still in operation.
Step III. Detailed Analysis
I General Analysis:
1. Text Analysis
Plot: a boy’s withdrawal of money from the bank Setting: at the bank
Protagonists(主角): bank officer, the boy and “I” Writing techniques: go to Writing Devices 2. Theme of the story:
Traditionally, poor people and people who sympathize with them have regarded banks as evil, as enemies of the poor. Such suspicions and misgivings obviously still linger on. This article seems to prove that prejudices of people like the author are ungrounded. 3. Structure of the text
Part 1 (para. 1) The attitude of the author’s friend toward bank.
Part 2 (paras. 2-23 ) The boy managed to withdraw money from the bank but
was kindly refused.
Part 3 (paras. 24-32 ) The bank officer cleared the fact.
II Detailed Discussion:
1. passion: a strong feeling or emotion 2. a candy store or a grocery store…
candy store: a store which sells sweet food made o{ sugar or chocolate
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
grocery store: (AmE) a store that sells food and other daily things used in the home;
a supermarket
3. The only difference is that a bank's goods happen to be money which is yours in the first place.
goods: (usually used in plural form) things produced in order to be sold to happen to do/to be: to do/to be sth. by chance Examples:
I happened to know something about medicine, so he could not fool me. She happened to be away, so we did not see her. When the fire broke out, I happened to be passing by.
in the first place: used to introduce a series of points in an argument or to talk about what should have been done. Examples :
a) I didn't go because I didn't have time in the first place. (In the second place, I was not feeling very well.) b) --What did I say wrong?
--You shouldn't have told him in the first place! c) --I didn't know the quality was so poor.
--You shouldn't have bought it in the first place.
4. If banks were required to sell wallets and money belts, they might act less like churches.
The word \"church\" has certain associations. People usually think of it as the spokesman of God, as a powerful organization that controls your life and can interfere in your lives. Therefore the author thinks it is ridiculous for banks to act like churches.
wallet: a small flat case men carry in their pocket, for holding money (\"purse\" is usually for women) money-belt: wallet fastened to the belt
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
5. .... a small, overlighted branch office on the west side. overlighted: too brightly-lit, having too much light 6. I had come to open a checking account.
For the definition of \"checking account\ to open an account: Draw students' attention to some common collocations of \"account\": to open an account, to close an account, to settle an account, etc. 7. .... the only officer on duty was a fortyish black man with short, pressed hair, a pencil mustache, and a . .. suit. fortyish: about forty
The suffix \"-ish\" here means \"approximately\". pressed hair: a kind of hair style, with the hair uncurled
a pencil mustache: a thin mustache looking like a line drawn by a pencil 8. Everything about him suggested a carefully dressed authority:
Everything about him--his clothes, his manner, etc. indicated that he was a carefully dressed man who had an important position and power.
It is important, from the bank's point of view, for its officers to give customers this impression.
9 .... who was wearing a V. necked sweater, khakis, and loafers.
V-necked sweater: a sweater with the opening for the neck shaped like the letter V
Tell students that the suffix \"er\" often refers to things rather than people, e.g. sweater, loafer, can-opener, pain-killer, cooker, boiler, bomber, duster, dish-washer, etc.
10. a kid from a prep school: a kid from a preparatory school
preparatory school: AmE a private school that prepares students for college 11. to hold my attention: to keep my attention
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
Draw students' attention to the collocations of \"attention\": to pay attention, to give attention, to draw attention, to catch attention, to attract attention, to get attention, to have attention, etc. 12. because of…
Ask students to turn \"because of\" into \"because\" in the following sentences: He prefers to live in warm places because of his poor health. She made a terrible mistake because of her ignorance about the law.
Many people there can't even find enough water to drink because of pollution. 13. He was holding a savings account book and wearing an expression of open dismay.
For the definition of \"savings-account\lesson.
wearing an expression of open dismay: looking very worried, disappointed and upset.
14 .... a fourteen-year-old is not allowed to withdraw money...: ..
a fourteen-year-old person is too young to take money out of his account... Drill students in the passive voice \"(not) to be allowed to do sth.\" Ask students to respond to the following questions:
Was the boy allowed to deposit money in the bank? (withdraw money/open an account/close the account)
Why did he come to withdraw money so often? (He was forced to... ) What was the boy advised to do? (be asked to do/be told to do ) 15. \"But that doesn't seem fair\ his voice breaking - with his voice breaking 16. Now if you will excuse me.
This expression is used when one wants to go back to one's work, or to attend to other customers, or just to end the conversation.
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
17. I didn't think twice: I didn't think very carefully (before I said... ) More examples:
Next time you must think twice before you decide.
This will teach her a lesson. Now she will think twice before she borrows money.
18. I was going to open an account…
Pay attention to the tense used here. The sentence means \"I originally planned to open an account, but now I've changed my mind.' 19. Excuse me?
This is used when you disagree with somebody but still want to be polite about it. It means \"But why? I don't understand.\" 20 .... this boy is old enough to deposit his money.
Draw students attention to the use of \"enough\" in this pattern (the position is after the adjective it modifies).
Ask students to complete the following sentences:
She (He, Mr. Li, etc. ) is (not)old (strong, tall, quick, rich, etc.)enough to… 21. And since there doesn't seem to be any question as to whether it's his money .... the bank's so-called policy is . .. ridiculous. ( 1)\" Since\" is used here to give the reason for something. More examples:
Since you already know, let me tell you the whole story. Since you are all here, let's discuss it now.
Since you are so busy, why do you spend so much time watching TV? 2) as to (whether, who, which, etc.): concerning Examples:
I can't decide as to when we should start. It is still unclear as to who this car belongs to.
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
She was uncertain as to why her boss offered her that job. (\"As to\" is quite formal. It can be dropped in the above examples. ) 3) so-called: used when you think the name given is wrong or improper 22. It may seem ridiculous to you, ... but that is the bank's policy and I have no other choice but to follow the rules.
\"May... but...\" is used to show that although one thing is true, something else that seems very different is also true, e.g.
You may be rich, but you can't buy everything. I may be stupid, but I am not as stupid as you think.
You may lead a horse to water, but you can't force it to drink. 23 .... in a voice rising slightly in irritation: ...in a little louder voice which showed that the man was a little annoyed and impatient, ...
24. I have no other choice but to follow the rule.: I can't but act according to the rules. / I can't do it in any other way. / There is nothing else I can do. More examples of \"have no choice/alternative but to...\": He had no choice but to leave the company. She had no choice but to sell the house. We have no choice but to continue our reform.
25. during this exchange: during this exchange of words/during this argument 26. a balance of about $100
\"Balance\" here refers to the amount of money one has in one's bank account. 27. I had my opening: I found a good chance to do or to say something. 28. I moved in for the kill: I began to prepare to kill, destroy or defeat my enemy. The author was using this exaggerated expression for a humorous effect. What he meant was that he thought now he had a strong argument to silence the bank officer.
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
29. HOW do you explain that away?: What can you say to get out of this ridiculous logic?
to explain away: to tell people why you did something or why something happened in order to make it seem less important or not your fault. More examples:
This time, they found it more difficult to explain away the economic failure. Soft law is one thing. But that's not enough to explain away the rising crime rate.
30. I zeroed in on the officer.
Originally, \"to zero in on sb.\" means \"to aim a gun at a target\". The author again uses this exaggerated expression for humor. zero in on sb / sth:
---aim guns, etc. at or find the range of ( a particular target) --- fix attention on sb / sth; focus on sb / sth(sl)
e.g. We should zero in on the key issues for discussion. 31. rear-pocket: a pocket at the back of one's trousers; hip pocket Compare: rear-mirror, rear door; rear hospital 32 .... you really shouldn't have interfered.
The word \"shouldn't\" here is used to express a criticism. More examples:
You shouldn't have been so careless. (You were careless.) I shouldn't have told him. (I told him.)
She shouldn't have taken that job. (She took that job.) 33. Well, it damn well seemed to me then...
\"Damn well\" is used here to emphasize how sure or determined one is about something.
34. And who might that be?
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
This is a humorous way to ask politely for information. But here it is meant to be sarcastic.
35. Look, we're just wasting each other's time.: Look, let's stop talking about this because it is a waste of time. / You are just talking nonsense. I don't want to listen to you any more.
36. some neighborhood bully
A bully is a person who uses his strength or power to frighten or hurt someone who is weaker.
37 .... has been shaking the boy down: ... has been getting money from the boy by using threats.
38. to hand it over: to give it (the money) to that bully
39. too scared to tell anyone: so scared that he didn't tell anyone More examples:
He was too excited to sleep. She was too tired to work. The story is too good to be true. 40. Anyway, the police are on the case…: Anyway, the police are working on the case.
\"Anyway\" is often used in spoken English when you want to change the subject or return to the previous subject, to give additional information, to finish saying something, or to continue without all the details.
41. Not that I ever heard of: I have never beard of such rules.
Not that: 据我所知不是……；或没有……。
III Language Points
1. happen to do: occur by chance, take place
She happened to be out when he called yesterday. happen: ---refer to accidental or unplanned event
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
occur: ---refer to accidental or unplanned event; more formal than happen take place: suggest that an event is/was planned 2. in the first / second…place: ---firstly / secondly…
in my / your… place: ---in my situation or circumstances 3. overlighted: --- having too much light over-: 1)above; outside; across
overcoat overhead overhang overall 2) to excess; too much
overtime overeat over-rich overburden overcharge overweight overstaffed overwhelm 4. fortyish: at about the age of forty
-ish: a).. reddish greenish bluish yellowish darkish brownish b). foolish childish babyish boyish womanish snobbish clownish
c). English Irish Polish Scottish Finnish Spanish Swedish
d). selfish bookish e). fiftyish fortyish
f). publish polish punish accomplish abolish astonish establish 5. mustache: hair on upper lip
beard: hair growing on man’s chin goatee: short pointed beard
6. authority: 1) powers to give orders and make others obey e.g. The leader must be a person of authority.
2) person or group having the power to give orders or take actions
e.g.: The health authority is investigating the matter.
3) person with special knowledge
e.g. She is an authority on phonetics.
7. more than: (colloq.) very; extremely; beyond They were more than willing to help.
Some of the stories were really more than could be believed. more… than…:
The child was more frightened than hurt.
He always seemed old to me, more like a grandfather than a father. no more than: 1)only; just
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
It cost me only $5 to buy the book.
Before long her white sails were no more than a speck upon the waters. 2) the same as
He’s no more able to read Spanish than I am.
8. think twice about / doing sth: ---think carefully before deciding to do sth You should think twice about employing someone you’ve never met. Once bitten, twice shy.
---(saying) after an unpleasant experience one is careful to avoid sth similar Lightning never strike in the same place twice.
---(saying) an unusual event, or one that happens by chance, is not likely to occur again in the exactly the same circumstances or to the same people. 9. as to + whether : concerning / about / regarding who when
I can’t decide as to when we should start.
It’s still unclear as to whom this car belong to. 10. no… but to…:
He had no choice but to sell the house. (do / did/ does) + no… but do: I did nothing but follow the rules. 11. but:
one cannot / couldn’t but do sth: ---(fml) have to I couldn’t but admit that he was right and I was wrong. (negative word) + but + clause: ---without the result that No man is so cruel but he may feel some pity. but for sb / sth: --- without sb / sth
But for the rain, we would have had a nice holiday.
12. move in sth: --- live, be active, pass one’s time, etc. in a particular social group She always moves in the best circles.
move in for sth: --- become active in doing sth I moved in for the kill.
move in on sb / sth: ---converge on sb / sth, esp. in a menacing way The police moved in on the terrorists.
13. zero in on sb / sth:---aim guns, etc. at or find the range of ( a particular target) --- fix attention on sb / sth; focus on sb / sth
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
We should zero in on the key issues for discussion 14. damn: adv. very
damn good / clever / well
IV. Sentence Paraphrase:
1. A church is a place where religious people are given moral lessons. The author and his friend hate banks acting like churches because they think banks should simply give service and have no right to tell people what to do and what not to do.
2. …short,pressed hair, a pencil mustache, and aneatly pressed brown suit. (para. 3)
…uncurled hair, a thin mustache looking like a line drawn by a pencil, and a neat and tidy brown suit…
3. Everything about him suggested a carefully dressed authority. (para. 3)
Everything about him—his clothes, manner, etc. indicated that he was a carefully dressed man who had an important position and power.
4. “But that doesn’t seem fair,” the boy said, his voice breaking. (para. 8) his voice breaking: Absolute construction functions as accompanying manner. 5. Now if you’ll excuse me. (para. 9)
The officer wanted to end the conversation to go back to his work, or to attend to other customers.
6. And since there doesn’t seem to be any question as to whether it’s his money or his account, the bank’s so-called policy is clearly ridiculous. (para. 13) Since:(conj.) Adverbial clause of reason
e.g. Since you can’t answer the question, perhaps we’d better ask someone else. As to: About.
Example: He’s very uncertain as to whether it’s the right job for him.
7. “It may seem ridiculous to you, ” he replied in a voice rising slightly in irritation, “but that is the bank’s policy…” (para. 14)
… he replied in a little louder voice which showed that the man was a little annoyed and impatient…
“rising slightly”: A present participle phrase modifies the noun “voice”.
in irritation: The preposition “in” is used to show the feelings one has when one
does something.
8. I had my opening. (para. 16)
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
I found a good chance to do or say something favorable, or upper hand. 我找到了对职员进行反击的机会。 9. I moved in for the kill. (para. 19) I began to prepare to kill, destroy or defeat my enemy.
我准备用有利的证据来驳倒银行职员。
(The author was using this exaggerated expression for a humorous effect. What he
meant was that he thought now he had a strong argument to silence the bank officer.)
(作者用这种夸张的表达方式制造了一种幽默的效果。) 10. I zeroed in on the officer. (para. 20) I’m going to have a strong argument to silence the bank officer. 我把矛头指向职员。
11. You’re really getting cheated. (para. 22) “To get cheated” is another way of saying “to be cheated” with emphasis on the action rather than the state. It is common in informal English. Notice that the sentence is in the present continuous passive.
12. … you really shouldn’t have interfered. (para. 24)
shouldn’t have: ought not have. (It expresses a criticism.)
13. Well, it dame well seemed to me that he needed someone to represent his
interests. (para. 25)
dame well : very sure or determined (when someone says so) 14. And who might that be? (para. 27) This is a humorous way to ask politely for information. But here it is meant to be sarcastic.
15. Look, … we’re just wasting each other’s time. (para. 29)
Look, let’s stop talking about this because it is a waste of time./You are just
talking nonsense. I don’t want to listen to you any more. 16. … has been shaking this boy down… (para. 30)
… has been getting money from the boy by using threats… 17. Anyway, the police are on the case… (para. 30) Anyway, the police are working on the case…
(“Anyway” is often used in spoken English when you want to change the
subject or return to the previous subject, to give additional information, to finish saying something, or to continue without all the details.)
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
V. Writing Devices
1. Hyperbole夸张：
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which conscious exaggeration is used without the intent of literal persuasion. It may be used to heighten effect, or to produce comic effect. e.g.
I could sleep for a year. This book weighs a ton.
His eyes fell on the page, but his mind was a million miles away. I am thirsty to death for the book.
Shakespeare is universally well known. 燕山雪花大如席，片片吹落轩辕台。 — 李白《北风行》
小小大同县，三爿豆腐店，城里打屁股，城外听得见。 — 徐孝鱼《盗墓者的足迹》 2. Find the sentences contain hyperbole in the passage. 3. Rewrite the following sentences by using “Hyperbole”. 1) Thanks a lot. Thanks a million. 2) I’m very hungry.
I’m so hungry that I can eat a horse.
3) He is very eloquent.( 雄辩的, 有口才的) His eloquence would split rocks.
4) Wisdom is more important than books.
An ounce of wisdom is worth a million tons of books. 5) They laughed heartily.
They almost died laughing. Or:
They roared into laughter up to the roof.
Step IV. In--Class Discussion
Questions:
1. How do you understand the author’s friend’s attitude toward banks? The author’s friend hates banks, saying that they act like churches. 2) What can banks do for us? And what about churches?
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
Banks keep, land and issue money as well as offer many other financial services such as deposits, loans, exchange, savings, etc.. They also help to regulate the economy with changes in interest rate in money supply.
Churches represent Almighty God; lt has right to tell people what to do and what not to do.
3) Are there any differences and similarities between banks and churches? They are ordinary stores. But a bank’s goods happen to be money.
4) What do you think of the ending of the story? What effect may it bring to the story?
The ending of the story is unexpected. It may bring the story interesting. This article seems to prove that the prejudices of people like the author are ungrounded.
StepIV. Quiz
1. 判断下列夸张句各采用了什么手法。 选项： A 利用数词 B 利用极端概念
C 利用形容词和副词
D 利用形容词和副词的最高级 E 利用介词短语 F 利用名词
并用各种手法造一句话。
1. Don’t let the chance slip through fingers. E 2. Shakespeare is universally well known. B 3. I will love you till the seas gone dry, the rocks melt with the sun. B 4. The cost mounted to astronomical figures. C 5. Only one in one thousand may have narrow escape from air crash. A 6. They cried to high heaven for a timely rainfall. F 7. I am thirsty to death for the book. B
2. Language Skills Practice:
用 “happen to do, in the first place, over-lighted, authority, more than, think twice about, as to whether, no…but to, one cannot but do, move in sth,. zero in on sth, damn”等词汇和短语编一故事。
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
3. Writing:
“School Bully” always happens in many schools. Analyze the possible causes that give rise to this phenomenon, and offer some feasible recommendations.
4. Dramatize the story and act it out.
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Lesson 4 The Boy and the Bank Officer
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