Unit 4 Dealing with AIDS

Introduction

Language points

Text analysis

Detailed reading

Watch a video clip and answer the following questions.

What is the librarian trying to do?

Why does the man sitting in front of Andrew leave the desk?

1.

2.

Audiovisual supplement

He is trying to persuade Andrew into using the private research room.

He thinks that Andrew carries the HIV and he is afraid of the disease.

Librarian:

Andrew: Librarian: Andrew: Librarian:

Andrew: Joe:

Andrew:Librarian:

Figurant:

Sir, this is the supplement. You’re right. There is a section on HIV-related discrimination.Thank you. Thank you very much.We do have a private research room available.I’m fine right here. Thank you.(sigh) Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in the research room?(cough) No. Would it make you more comfortable?Oh … Er … Beckett, how are you doing?Counselor … huh.Whatever, Sir.Excuse me.

Unit 4 Dealing with AIDS

The Red Ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around world AIDS day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

World AIDS Day December 1 AIDS, caused by a virus called HIV (human immune

deficiency virus) is a very serious illness which spreads very fast today. It had been one of the most horrible killers of human beings.

According to UNAIDS （联合国艾滋病规划署） estimates there were 38.6 million adults and 3.2 million children living with HIV at the end of 2002, and during the year 5 million new people became infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35. 95% of the total number of people with HIV live in the developing world. But HIV still remains a threat to people of all ages and nationalities.

route of transmission

intravenous drug use perinatal transmission sexual intercourse blood transfusion

AIDS is caused by HIV virus.

AIDS ： Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Now in the world there is no useful medicine that can cure AIDS, but it spreads only in limited ways. AIDS spread in three basic ways: first, through sexual intercourse; second, through contact with diseased blood; and third from an HIV mother to baby. And people who are intravenous drug users may infect HIV virus too.

• AIDS can affect anyone: male or female, married or single, young or old, rich or poor, in any community in the world, especially in the developing countries, including smaller cities and towns. This makes AIDS a problem for all of us.

What Can We Do?

People should do something to solve the problem and prevent the spreading of AIDS in the world. People can do something in these ways: First, a program should be established to educate citizens about AIDS, letting people know what causes it and how it spreads, so that people can know it clearly and prevent it easily, instead of being afraid of it; Second, increase scientific technology to fight against AIDS; Third, make healthy and civilized social environment, so there will be less sexual intercourse actions, and less drug users.

Although AIDS is very horrible, we shouldn't fear, worry or have prejudices about it, we should confront it and fight against this devil.

Language points

maintain vt.1) to continue to have; to keep in existence, or not allow t

o become less e.g. Mankind have been trying every means to maintain

the balance of nature.人类采用一切手段保持生态平衡。

2) to keep a road, machine, building, etc. in good condition

The roads around the town have been very poorly maintained.

Frank maintains his car very well. 弗兰克把自己的车子保养得很好。

Mr. Smith maintains his son at college. 史密斯先生供养念大学的儿子。

3) to support

4) to express firmly your belief that something is true

He maintains that he once saw a UFO. 他坚持称自己见过飞碟。

Derivation: maintenance n.

• break down• 1. (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because

of fault

e.g. The telephone system has broken down

2. to fail

3. to become bad

e.g. Her health broke down under the pressure of work

4. lose control of one’s feelings

2) to change your ideas, opinions or way of living or working to make them modern

e.g.

Collocation:keep up with 1) If someone or something keeps up with

someone or something else, they do whatever is necessary to stay level or equal with that person or thing.

e.g. He started to walk faster and the children had to run to keep up with him.

Wages are failing to keep up with inflation.

stick it outto continue to the end of a difficult or unpleasant situation

e.g. He hates the job but he’s determined to stick it out because he needs the money.他讨厌那工作——但因为需要钱，只好横下心来干下去。

I know things are difficult at the moment, but if we just stick it out, I’m sure everything will be OK in the end.

• Text analysis

1. What is the theme of the text?

Text analysis

Dealing with AIDS strengthens the bond of friendship and encourages emotional and mature growth.

2. What is the style of the text? Give your reasons.

The style of the narrative is colloquial and simple because many simple words, colloquial expressions and concise sentences are used, which are easy and smooth to read. Colloquial words: about, cried, go, let, so, sure, things Simple or colloquial phrases: blew it off, living life up, feel so bad, had the disease, stuck it out, make it through, etc.

Structural analysis

1. How is this narrative story organized?The narrative is organized in the chronological order with the activities and events related in the true story.

2. Work out the structure of the text by completing the table.

Paragraph(s)

Main idea

1

2-4

This paragraph gives the instructive message of the story, and makes clear the specific date when AIDS became known to the writer.

This part provides an account of how the writer came to know the fact that his friend was suffering from AIDS, how he felt, what attitude he adopted, and how others responded to it.

Paragraph(s)

Main idea

5-7

8

This part tells us that the writer maintained an active and positive attitude towards his friend.

This paragraph mentions the specific date that marked the end of David’s life, describes the writer’s feelings towards David’s death, and tells us how the writer keeps his friend’s memory alive.

Detailed Reading

strengthen vt.to make something stronger or more effective, or to become stronger or more effective

e.g. The wind strengthened during the night.夜里风刮得更大了。

They have been strengthening their border defense in preparation for war.他们已加强了边界的防守，作好了战争的准备。

His battle against cancer has strengthened his belief in God.

The accident strengthens the case for better safety measures at fairgrounds.

Detailed reading

bond n.1) a close connection joining two or more people

e.g. Common tastes form a bond between the two men.共同的爱好使两人结为朋友。

In societies with strong family bonds (= relationships), people tend to live longer.

e.g. I invested some money in savings bonds.We entered into a solemn bond.我们缔结了一份正式合约。

2) an official paper given by the government or a company to show that you have lent them money that they will pay back to you at an interest rate that does not change

Detailed reading

mature adj.1) Mature people behave like adults in a way that

shows they are well developed emotionally.

e.g. Oh, grow up! Behave in a more mature way.噢，别那么不懂事了（表现得成熟些吧）！

He’s very mature for his age.

e.g.Upon mature reflection, we find the accused guilty.

Synonym: ripe

2) A mature decision is one which is made after a lot of careful thought.

Detailed reading

Derivation:maturity n.

carefree adj.having no problems or not being worried about

anything

e.g. The music of this song sent her carefree and joyous.这支歌的乐曲使她心旷神怡。

I remember my carefree student days.

Synonym: unworried

Detailed reading

invincible adj.impossible to defeat or prevent from doing what is intended

e.g. Our manager has an invincible will.我们的经理有着坚强的意志。

We have an invincible army.我们有一支不可战胜的军队。

Synonyms:unbeatable, unconquerable

Detailed reading

Derivation:invincibility n.

hang outto spend a lot of time in a place or with someone

e.g. They normally hang out in the pub.他们经常在酒吧里鬼混。

Where have you been hanging out these days?你这些日子里都在什么地方？

She used to hang out with her good friends in the woods.

Detailed reading

confront vt. to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation or persone.g. A soldier often has to confront dangers.

士兵常常要身临险境。

They confronted the prisoner with his accusers.他们让犯人与原告对质。

Comparison:

meet: to experience something e.g.

I’ve never met that kind of problem/system before.

He met his death (= he died) in the icy waters of the South Atlantic.

Detailed reading

Synonyms:face, encounter, meet

meet, encounter, face, confront

encounter: (formal) to meet someone unexpectedly; to meet a difficulty or setback

e.g. On their way home they encountered a woman selling flowers.

One rainy night the policeman had a chance encounter with a gang of smugglers.在一个雨夜，那个警察正巧碰上了一伙走私犯。

Detailed reading

confront: vt. to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation or person bravely

e.g. We must confront future with optimism.

Derivations:

confrontation n. a fight or argumentconfrontational adj.

Detailed reading

face: If you face a problem, or a problem faces you, you have to deal with it.

e.g. This is one of the many problems faced by working mothers.

You’re faced with a very difficult choice there.

Detailed reading

e.g. The new system will be confronted with great difficulties at the start.这种新的制度一开始将会面临很大困难。

Collocation:

be confronted with: face a difficulty or something bad

Our air-conditioner broke down on the hottest day of this year.我们的空调在今年最热的那天坏了。

break down1) to be unable to control your feelings and to start to cry e.g. He broke down and wept when he heard the news.

他听到这个消息时不禁痛哭起来。

e.g. The telephone system has broken down.电话系统失灵了。

2) If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working.

Detailed reading

e.g.

3) to collapse, fail to function or operate

affect vt. to have an influence on someone or something, or to cause them to changee.g. Both buildings were badly affected by the fire.

The divorce affected every aspect of her life.

It’s a disease which affects mainly older people.

Comparison:

affect: It usually refers to something produces negative effect on somebody.

Detailed reading

Synonym: influence

affect, influence

make senseto be reasonable or logical or comprehensible

e.g. Does it make sense to let children play with matches?让小孩玩火柴有意义吗？

His argument does not make sense.他的争论没有意义。

Detailed reading

handle vt.to deal with, have responsibility for, or be in charge of e.g. He’s not a very good teacher — he doesn’t know

how to handle children.他不是一个好的老师 —— 他不懂得如何对待孩子。

An officer must know how to handle his men.当军官的应懂得怎样统率士兵。

I thought he handled the situation very well.

Some people are brilliant with computers, but have no idea how to handle (= behave with) other people.

Detailed reading

Synonyms: cope with, deal with

stick it outto continue to the end of a difficult or unpleasant situation

e.g. He hates the job but he’s determined to stick it out because he needs the money.他讨厌那工作——但因为需要钱，只好横下心来干下去。

I know things are difficult at the moment, but if we just stick it out, I’m sure everything will be OK in the end.

blame vt.to say or think that someone or something did something wrong or is responsible for something bad happening e.g. The driver was not to blame for the accident.

这次事故不能怪司机。

Synonyms:condemn, accuse, find fault with

Collocations:

blame sb. for sth./ doing sth.: find fault with; censure 指责blame sth. on sb.: place responsibility for sth. 把…… 归咎于……

for one’s sake / for the sake ofin order to help or bring advantage to someone

e.g. Don’t inconvenience yourself for my sake.请不必为我麻烦。

Please do it, for David’s sake.

Their parents only stayed together for the sake of the children.

do sb. goodto benefit sb. e.g.Exercise will do you good.

运动对你会有好处的。

Eat more fruit — it will do you good.多吃水果，这对你有好处。

A week’s vacation will do you a lot of good. 休假一周对你有很多益处。

e.g. Smoking does harm to your health. 吸烟对你的身体有害。

Being exposed to sunlight for much time will do harm to one’s skin.

Antonym:

do harm to sb.: to be harmful to sb.

bedridden adj.confined to bed (by illness)

e.g.I have to stay where I am. From now on I’m bedridden. I’m under doctor’s orders.我要留在这里，从现在开始我要遵循医嘱卧床休息。

deal with1) to take action in order to achieve something or in

order to solve a problem

e.g. How do you intend to deal with this problem?

I think we should work out a strategy to deal with this situation.我想我们应该制订出一项行动计划，来应对这种情况。

e.g. Her new film deals with the relationship between a woman and her sick daughter.

The author has tried to deal with (= write about) a very difficult subject.

2) to be about or be on the subject of something

in a wayto a certain extent, but not entirely; in a sense

e.g. The article is well written in a way.从某种程度上来说，这篇文章写得不错。

Comparison:

in a way: in a sensein no way: not at all, not in the leastin the way: being an obstacle

Synonyms: to certain degree, to some extent

in a way, in no way, in the way

hold into conceal; to hold back; to keep from being perceived by others

e.g. Shannon became quiet, holding in her hurt and resentment.香农安静了下来，压抑着自己的伤心和怨恨。

I felt an irresistible desire to hold in my own for a moment the hand Jeffrey Aspern had pressed 我感到一种抑制不住的欲望，想亲手握一下杰弗里·阿斯彭曾紧握过的手。

Synonyms:keep in, constrain

grateful adj.showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person e.g. This is Teachers’ Day and a time to be grateful to

all teachers. This profession deserves the special recognition and respect. 时逢教师节，是向所有教师表达谢意的日子。这个职业值得受到特别的重视和尊重。

I am grateful for all your past kindness 承蒙关照，万分感激。

Synonyms: thankful, appreciative

Antonym: ungrateful

keep sth. aliveto cause sth. to remain living; to make sth. continue to exist

e.g. After years of sophistication, she still kept the old memory of her childhood alive.在经历了多年的坎坷后，她对孩提时的时光仍然记忆犹新。

Many local traditions are still kept alive in the place.

Synonyms:survive, remain