UNIT 9

Section ALow on Cash? Try Paris for a Holiday!

I Background Information

Something about air-courier

Be a Courier—Cheap flights, minimal effort• Remember those James Bond or Mission

Impossible plots in which someone smuggles the microfilm and gets a bullet in the head for his trouble? Not a pretty image, but one that might shape our view of couriers.

• If you're a true budget traveler, you must rid yourself of this stereotype. Becoming a courier can save you hundreds of dollars when flying overseas--and it's all completely legal.

Courier Pros

• It's usually cheaper to deliver a small shipment via air carrier than it is to pay an air cargo bill. But by international law, any baggage on a commercial flight must be checked with a passenger. Most airline baggage drifts through customs with little or no delay. With air cargo, it can take days. Are you beginning to see why a large portion of small overseas shipments move with couriers?

• Courier companies simply provide willing travelers to accompany items overseas. Nothing is hidden from authorities, and there is nothing secretive about the arrangements. The courier is "paid" with a greatly discounted airline ticket.

• Your responsibilities as a courier are limited: show up at the airport on time, and meet a representative at the destination airport. Once through customs/immigration, your obligation is finished.

II Language Points

1. low: adj. near or at the end of a supply or measure• My car is low on gas.• We are low on funds.2. except for: apart from; with the exception of • Everyone was late, except for Jack.• I don’t know any French, except for a few words.3. carry-on bag: bag that can be easily carried along4. courier: n. [C] a person or company that is employed to

carry messages or other papers• A new courier office was opened yesterday.• She sent the pictures to the news agency by courier.

5. in/by contrast: when a contrast is made 对比之下

• In contrast, our use of oil has increased greatly.• In contrast to her, he received warm greetings

from the company.6. negative: adj.

1) without any useful of helpful qualities• He left the city, which showed his negative

attitude toward it.2) Saying or meaning “no”

• He gave a negative answer to my request.

7. flexible: adj.1) that can change or be changed to be suitable

for new needs• The government carries out a flexible foreign

policy.2) That can bend or be bent easily

• We can use flexible cable in this project.8. regard: n.

1) [U] (in phrases like in this regard, with regard to) connection or relation

• What do you have to say with regard to this point?

• The company is quite satisfactory in this regard.

2) (pl.) good wishes• If you should see Mr. Allen, give him my

regards. vi. 1) consider in the stated way• Life is regarded as a play; everyone has a role

in it. 2) show respect for • You should regard your parents’ wishes.

Text B

Mystery customers Are Everywhere

Language points

1. mystery: n.1) [U] a strange secret nature or quality

a mystery guest 神秘嘉宾 This book tells us stories full of mystery.

2) [C] something which cannot be explained or understood Who has taken the book still remains a mystery.2. dumpster: n. [C] a large metal container used for waste The old woman threw trash into the dumpster.3. trash: n.

1) [U] (rubbish, BrE) things or material of no use that will be or have been thrown away

They carted away some large piles of trash.

2) [U] something worthless that does not deserve serious attention; nonsense

The girl wrote some trash while the teacher was lecturing.4. act as: be, perform as He’ll act as my interpreter. A trained dog can act as a guide to a blind person.5. constant: adj.

1) continually happening or repeated He is under constant attack in the newspaper.

2) Fixed or unchanging His hard work is a constant inspiration to us all. Nothing is constant. 没有永恒不变的东西

6. fun and games: playful tricks This is not an occasion for fun and games. The twin brothers were having fun and games as

soon as their mother went out.7. in the field: campaigning or working, especially

away from one’s laboratory, headquarters, etc. 现场；上阵；参加比赛

She will be in the field for long jump. Experience in the field is a requirement for this job.8. take/make mental notes: fix something in the mind

to remember it I took mental notes of what he said.

9. stand for: 1) be a sign for short form of; represent; mean

Yellow roses stand for friendship.2) (usually in questions and negatives) allow to continue;

accept without complaining I wont stand for any more of her bad manners.10. speed: n. 1) [U] quickness of movement or action More haste, less speed. 欲速则不达 He took a course on speed-reading last term.

2) [C;U] a rate of movement calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken

The old man was reading at a very slow speed.

v. 1) (speeded or sped) go, pass, or take quickly The holidays sped by and soon it was time to go

back to school. 2) (up) (cause to) move, go, or happen faster It is necessary to speed up and finish the work

earlier. 11. stick to: act according to or keep to something;

not stop He always sticks to his word. 说话算数

12. take on: start to employ The company is beginning to take on new workers. He was taken on as a taxi driver.

13. fit in with: (cause to) match or agree; harmonize His idea fit in with our teachers’. He is new her. It will take time for him to fit in with

his fellow colleagues.

The End

Good-bye