英语期末考试总结

第一篇：英语期末考试总结

期末考试结束了，成也好，败也罢，都已经过去了，我们现在要做的就是认真总结，积极反思，调适心态，再决将来。

期末考试不仅给我们查找自己不足的机会，还让我们知道自己的真实水平，给我们指明了努力的方向！

一、写作：平时应多积累好句，应用到写作中，这会使作文提高不少分。写的时候还要多加入一些感受，是文章更生动。

二、英语听力：明明告诉自己要专心，可越是这样越发无法将心思全部投入听力当中来，有时候甚至听到下一题的时候，还在回想上一题是否正确，这个毛病必须克服。平时应该多训练才好。

三、完形填空：需要耐心，而我缺乏的就是耐心，专心理解吧。

四、阅读理解：先看题目再读文章，这是初中英语老师教我的，谢谢他，这个方法挺好的。带着问题去边读边找答案。更重要的是，读文章时，不能被打扰，不能中断，不能一心二用，心平气和地做题才好。

五、平时没有养成认真检查的习惯。答完卷之后，没有认真检查试卷，马马虎虎、粗心大意，导致失分严重。

一次考试并不是句号，更不能代表我们全部的实力。我要及时调整自己，为下一次考试做好准备！

第二篇：四年级英语期末考试总结

四年级英语期末考试总结

一、题型特点

本次试卷命题基于教材，紧扣课标，立足全体学生，在试题中体现了趣味化、生活化、任务化、开放性、交际性和应用性等新课程课程概念，绝大多数学生能胜任作为水平考试的英语试题，从中感受英语学习的成功与乐趣。具体说来，本次试题有如下特点：

1、注重基础知识的考查

试卷坚持依据于课本，但又避免对教材中机械的知识进行生搬硬套，对于一些学生必须掌握的基础知识作为重点考查的内容，因为这些语言知识的掌握能更好地为今后的学习打下坚实的基础。

2、突出语言的交际功能

英语作为语言，是一种交际的工具。而小学英语教学根据学生的年龄特点和语言学习的规律，确立以听、说能力的培养为主要目标，读写跟上的原则进行。因此，整个考试加大了对听说能力的考查。

3、寓乐趣于试题中

试卷中配了多幅插图，有很强的趣味性，使考生在做题中自然地排除紧张心理，既开发了智力，检测了知识和能力水平，又获得了英语学习的乐趣。

二、答题分析

1、听力包括给图片排序、单词选择、选择正确的就答句，由浅入深，循序渐进，梯度合理。

（1）给图片排序该题配以插图，内容具有亲和力和活泼性，以人为本。试题前的温馨提示、听力前的美妙音乐，有力缓解了学生的紧张情绪；大量图片的呈现，让整张试卷呈现出活泼感，但是听的不是单纯的单词，而是听对话，根据对话选择有关的图片，学生第一次接触，难度比较大,本题学生失分较多，正确率不高。（2）单词选择旨在考查学生的判断能力及瞬间的听觉反应能力，选项之间有一定的干扰性，但学生对单词掌握得熟练，此题得分不错。

（3）选择正确的应答句考查学生对本册中主要句型的掌握情况，由于平时讲得扎实，夯实了基础，此题难不倒学生。

总之，听力部分学生做得没有以前好，第一题失分较多，从中体现了学生较弱的运用和反映能力。

2、笔试包括单词分类、大小写互换,四会单词默写、单项选择、完成对话和情景对话。

（1）单词分类考察学生对三会单词的掌握情况,他们的早自习经常会读单词卡片,所以这个对他们来说没问题,失分很少。

（2）单词的默写考查学生对单词的掌握情况，平时老师紧扣大纲、课标，学生单词掌握牢固，完成情况良好，稍有不足的是学生对个别单词的运用有所混淆。（3）单项选择巧设机关，启发思维。有些测试试题的设计一改传统的平铺直叙形式，把几方面的知识有机地融合在一起，既有知识的记忆，又有运用基础知识、解决实际问题的能力，学生完成较好。

（4）完成对话，本题非常直观，同时又给予学生一定的想象空间，避免了单独的语法知识的考查，该题要求不高，但有一定的区分度，学生对单词掌握不够牢固。

（5）情景对话情境的设置贴进学生，贴进生活，具有一定的时代性，学生完成得较理想。

三、改进措施

本次质量监控留给我们的思考的问题很多，现对如何进一步加强教学，提高教学质量提出以下改进措施：

1、狠抓基础，培养能力老师精心备课，认真上课，打好扎实的语言基础，特别是最基本的词汇和常用句型，要反复训练，做到举一反三。在课堂教学中，教师经引导学生进行观察、比较、分析、讨论、归纳总结等，把更多的时间让给学生进行听、说、读、写的语言实践。

2、要适当增加语言的输入量，拓展学生的知识面。

在教师中，不仅要学好书本知识，还要适当增加些听、读材料，加强情景方面的听力训练。

3、做好培优补差教学中注意趣味性，不断激发学生的学习兴趣，同时分层布置作业，让优生更优，后进生迎头赶上，中等生向优生转化，面向全体，全面提高学生的英语水平。

第三篇：三年级英语期末考试总结

三年级英语期末考试总结

三年级本次仍是校内检测，共分为两部分：面试和笔试，面试和笔试各占50分。笔试分为听力和书写两部分。听力占25分，书写部分占25分。考虑到三年级学生初次接触英语，面试题目侧重于考察学生的综合运用语言能力。笔试题目则侧重于考察学生对基础知识的掌握情况，以及本阶段所应具备的英语综合运用能力。英语的学习离不开听、说、读、写，以及好的语言环境。因此，倡导学生熟练掌握基础知识的同时，注重在日常生活中多运用英语，注重语用能力的提高。

三年级实际人数 55 人，参加考试人数 55人，总分 分，平均分为 分，优秀率 85%，及格率100%。根据学生成绩表分析，三年级英语上册课标要求掌握的基础知识和基本技能，90%以上的学生都能掌握。其中对单词和对话的掌握较为牢固。但是对字母的左邻、右舍掌握略微薄弱。个别学生不能迅速说出所给字母的左邻、右舍。

在接下来的教学过程中，一方面，句子的听说认读和运用能力继续提高。课堂上多采用情景教学法和角色扮演,让学生多参与课堂活动，敢于说英语，多说英语。另一方面我应着重培养学生书写习惯的培养。尤其是对26个字母的读、写，注意一些字母的笔顺。26个字母是最基础的，是学生必需掌握的。正确书写，掌握书写方法对于学生学习英语非常重要。课下当然也离不开单选、选答语、根据情境选择合适句子等相关题型的练习。再接再厉，争取将三年级学生基础打得更牢，为四年级做准备。

第四篇：英语期末考试

维多利亚女王 Queen Victoria 伊丽莎白女王 Queen Elizabeth 迪斯尼乐园 Disneyland 天佑女王 God Save the Queen 君主立宪制 constitutional monarchy 星条旗Stars and Stripes 英美的上下议院、众参议院 house of lords house of commons House of Representatives Senate 嘉德勋章 The Most Noble Order of the Garter 印度之星勋章 The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India 执政党 party in power 反对党 Opposition Party 影子内阁 Shadow Cabine 国务卿 Secretary of State 唐宁街 Downing Street 唐人街 Chinatown 圣帕特里克 St.Patrick's Day 圣乔治 St George’s Day 沙夫茨伯里大街 shaftesbury avenue 圣安德鲁 St Andrews 自由女神 Statue of Liberty 英国首相 Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service 西敏寺 Westminster Abbey 圣米迦勒 Michaelis 天主教 Catholic Church 东正教 Orthodox Church 清教 Puritan 新教 Protestantism 杜莎夫人蜡像馆 Madame Tussaud's 圣公会 Anglican Church 华尔街 Wall Street 百老汇 Broadway 帝国大街 Britannia Street 2 伦敦电影节:London Film Festival ABC：American Broadcasting Company（美国广播公司）VOA：Voice of America（美国之音）

CNN：Cable News Network（美国有线电视新闻网）

英国首相：David William Donald Cameron（戴维·卡梅伦）副首相：Nick Clegg（尼克・克莱格）美国总统：贝拉克·奥巴马（Barack Obama）美国副总统：约瑟夫·拜登（Joseph Robinette）

澳大利亚 英国女王伊丽莎白二世（Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II）总理：Kevin Rudd 陆克文

加拿大：英国女王伊丽莎白二世（Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II）加拿大总理：史蒂芬·哈珀（Stephen Harper）英国外交大臣：威廉·黑格（William Hague）

美国外交部长及国务卿：希拉里·克林顿Hillary Clinton 澳大利亚外交部长:Julie Bishop(朱莉·毕晓普)加拿大现任外交官：Robert Douglas Nicholson 罗伯特·道格拉斯·尼克尔森 英美单词拼写差异：

1,英语单词中不发音的词尾-me,-ue在美语拼写中被删除.英语拼法 美语拼法

公斤 kilogramme——kilogram 方案 programme——program 目录 catalogue——catalog 对话 dialogue——dialog 序言 prologue——prolog 独白 monologue——monolog 类似的 analogue——analog 2,英语中的以-our结尾的单词,在美语中删去了不发音的字母u.英语拼法 美语拼法

举止、行为 behaviour——behavior 颜色 colour——color 特别喜爱的 favourite——favorite 风味 flavour——flavor 荣誉 honour——onor

劳动 labour——labor 幽默 humour——humor 3,英语中以-re结尾,读音为/e/的单词,在美语中改为-er结尾,读音不变.英语拼法 美语拼法

中心 centre——center

纤维 fibre——fiber 公尺 metre——meter

剧场 theatre——theater 升 litre——liter 4,英语中某些以-ence为结尾的单词,在美语中改为-ense结尾,读音仍为/ns/.英语拼法 美语拼法

防御 defence——defense 犯法行为 offence——offense 执照 licence——license 托词 pretence——pretense 5英语中一些以－ise为结尾的单词，在美语中改为－ize结尾，读音仍这/z/.英语拼法 美语拼法 组织 organise——organize, actualise——actualize 实现 realise——realize

创作 improvise ——improvize 专攻 Specialise——specialize 现代化 modernise——modern ize 受欢迎 Popularise——popularize 6一些以l结尾的单词变形时，美式不双写l;英式双写l 旅游 travelling——traveling 吵架 quarrelling——quarreling 英国大学五种种类： Ancient university Red brick university New university Modern university Open university 英国中学的四种种类：

私立学校（independent school）普通中学（comprehensive school）文法学校（grammar school）学院制中学（academy）三位一体教义：

the union of three persons(Father, Son, and Holy Ghost)in one Godhead, or the threefold personality of the one Divine Being.星座：

白羊座----Aries 金牛座-----Taurus 双子座-----Gemini

巨蟹座----Cancer 狮子座----Leo

处女座----Virgo 天秤座-----Libra 天蝎座----Scorpio 射手座----Sagittarius 山羊座----Capricorn 水瓶座-----Aquarius 双鱼座------Pisces 生肖：

1.Rat 鼠 2.Ox 牛 3.Tiger 虎 4.Rabbit 兔 5.Dragon 龙 6.Snake 蛇 7.Horse 马 8.Goat 羊 9.Monkey 猴 10.Rooster 鸡 11.Dog 狗 12.Boar 猪 希腊罗马诸神：

宙斯(Zeus)天神 赫拉(Hera)天后 雅典娜(Athena)智慧女神，女战神 阿波罗(Apollo)太阳神 潘(Pan)山林之神 维纳斯(Venus）萨坦 Saturn 丘比特(Cupid)美国两大新闻社：

美国联合通讯社 The Associated Press(AP)路透社 Reuters 两大财团：

凯雷集团(CarlyleGroup)与保德信(PrudentialFinancial)两大航空公司：

美国航空(American Airlines)与达美航空(Delta Airlines)第三题 1.贵族头衔

公：duke 候：Marpuis 伯：earl 子：viscount 男：baron 2.祝酒词

Bottoms up 干杯！Prosit!祝妳健康！祝妳成功！Bon appetite 喫好！Slainte 干杯！Down the hatch!干杯！3.英语期刊种类

Sorts of periodicals Catchall periodicals Commercial periodicals Technical periodicals Special periodicals Entertaining periodicals 4.莎士比亚 Hamlet 哈姆雷特

Romeo and Juliet罗密欧与朱丽叶 As You Like It 皆大欢喜 Much Ado about Nothing无事生非 The Taming of the Shrew驯悍记 4.狄更新

《荒凉山庄》 Bleak House 《艰难时世》

Hard Times 《小杜丽》 Little Dorrit 《美国纪行》American Notes 《圣诞颂歌》A Christmas Carol 5.海明威

《老人与海》The Old Man and the Sea 《岛在湾流中》Islands in the Stream 《伊甸园》The Garden of Eden《曙光示真》True At First Light《在我们的时代里》In Our Time 英国酒吧的种类

Public bar or pub 大众酒吧

Saloon bar 雅座酒吧 private bar 私人酒吧 lounge bar 高級酒吧 Beer garden 啤酒花園 6.剧院的种类（3种）1 State-­owned theatres : Royal Opera House National Theatre 2.Commercial theatres : Apollo Theatre Piccadilly Theatre Lily Theatre 3 Experimental theatres 第四题：

2、英美电影分级： 美国

G级：GENERAL AUDIENCES All ages admitted PG级(PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED Some material may not be suitable for children.)R级 RESTRICTED Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian 英国

U级 GENERAL AUDIENCES All ages admitted PG“级 Parental Guidance UC级 Especially suitable for children to watch 12级 Suitable for more than 12 years old or adult 15级 Suitable for more than 15 years old or adult 18级 Suitable for more than 18 years old or adult 4.3 七宗罪：

傲慢（Pride），嫉妒（Envy），暴怒（Wrath），懒惰（Sloth），贪婪（Greed），饕餮（Gluttony），以及贪欲（Lust）

Pride is the feeling that they have that they are better or more important than other people.Envy is the feeling you have when you wish you could have the same thing or quality that someone else has.Wrath is strong fierce anger especially based on the desire to punish sb for harm done to oneself.Sloth is laziness, especially with regard to work.Greed is the desire to have more of something, such as food or money, than is necessary or fair.Gluttony is the act or habit of eating too much and being greedy.Lust is a feeling of strong sexual desire for someone.4.4英国主要政党 I Republican Party Alexander Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury Federalists Federal Party The Whigs Grand Old Party II Democratic Party Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State Anti-­Federalist Democratic –Republican Party 4.5--英国的桂冠诗人解释：

The word of ”Crown" comes from ancient Greece and Rome, which refers to eminent poet.In the western literary world Laureate is an honour title with a long history.It is an encouraging system issued by the goverment in England.It has an extensive and profound influence on literature and politics.So, reforming the system becomes a must.Therefore, crown is the sign of success , outstanding and honor, About the origin of laurel can be traced back to the Roman era.5.1中西礼仪的理解

The etiquette becomes more and more important in modern daily life.Etiquette is the process and means to show respect to each other in interpersonal relationship by certain, common procedures.Etiquette also can be said to be a person’s external appearance of inward cultivation and quality.People take it as a standard to balance a person’s self-cultivation.There are a lot of differences in the habit of conducts and the ceremony, especially between China and the West.The jokes and the mistakes caused by misunderstanding are not unusual.this shows that the understanding of different etiquette between Chinese and the westerners is absolutely necessary.Along with the constant development of Chinese culture and the western culture, Chinese ritual and the western ritual are fusions.the westerners have accepted the reasonable factors in Chinese culture and other important feelings.Chinese people have gradually accepted the advanced civilization of the western culture and etiquette style.5.2中西方餐饮文化的理解

The differences between the Chinese and Western dietary culture are derived from the difference in their ways of thinking and philosophy of life.Because of the differences between Chinese and western cultural traditions, the Chinese and western dietary cultures are different in concept, pattern, and nature.We study these differences and then find out the points that can be digested.First, the Chinese and western diet have the differences that cannot be ignored in concepts.Nobody will deny that the Western diet is a rational concept, regardless of the color of food, incense, flavor and shape, but nutrition must be assured.It cares about the intake of calories, vitamins, protein and so on during a day.The Chinese and Western dietary patterns can be very different, and these differences affect the national character.In China, a celebration, no matter what, there will be only one form, as sitting together, sharing one feast.Banquet uses round table, which has created a unity of form, which is courtesy, comity atmosphere.Differences in the nature of the Chinese and western diet are inosculated with the respective lifestyle and the pace of life.The impact brought about by economic globalization is stronger and deeper than the internationalization.Chinese and Western food culture’s collision and exchange have largely promoted the progress and development of human society to some degree , making the dietary culture become an important part of world culture.By the analysis of the differences between Chinese and western dietary cultures, we can comprehend the respective cultural traditions of China and the west.And we can also improve and create the culture of China.5.3 英美是被同一语言分离的两个国家

Two countries divided by a common language: the use of English & shared history makes people think the two are close, but there are a lot of very real cultural differences.Britain is a traditional European country with long historical tradition continuity, The British tends to be conservative, and behaves like a gentleman.However, The United States is a nation of immigrants, is a young country.So, the Americans dare to innovate and stress emphasis on personal value.We can see that the British are sensitive, restrained, conservative, they tend to be rational rigorous and gentlemanly.By comparison, Americans are warm and cheerful, bold and frank.They are with a spirit of adventure and innovation.In general, British people tend to be calm and quiet, but American people tend to be enthusiastic and active.American people are talkative and easy-going.They are willing to make a friend with a stranger.Secondly, Besides, British people pay little attention to other people and other countries because within their hearts, they look down on the others.American people are risk-takers, they like changes and challenges.They would like to travel around the world to seek opportunities.In their opinion, success relies on personal efforts.They are more independent than British people.5.4美剧在中国受欢迎的原因

Compared to national productions，American TV series have a certain freshness to us.Obviously, the American TV series are much more attractive than TV series in China.First, the structure of them is better because every series can have a chance to improve by getting response from the audience.Second, they cost a large sum of money so that they can give us more beautiful and amazing scenes which will with them make us fall in love.Third, the ideas that American TV series are shown are creative and brave.And the stories they are made are colorful, extensive, and flexible.In addition, the American TV series are popular in China also benefited from the rise of all kinds of new media platforms, the American TV series creative attitude quite strict, a lot of work on the background details of the story can withstand strict scrutiny;the American TV series to be very particular about the quality of the production.And style of national TV series is single, while the Anglo-American TV series style varied, and the special effects is also better.5.5英语在中国流行的原因：

Overall, China's rapid economic development, led to China from young to old may have contact with foreigners, as the most widely used language in the English language is inevitable.Specifically, in the economic globalization today, the people of all ethnic groups between culture, economy constantly and penetration.While in this form under the influence, English learning becomes brook no delay.Only by understanding the other language can understand a culture of the other side, can learn from each other, and even is the use of such language advantage to work hard but his career.Especially now, English country especially the United States dominated the world economy dominant position, this also led to the popularity of English results.Many parents now pay attention to the urine of bilingual teaching.I think this kind of phenomenon is in after a long period of time will exist.The heat should continue.

第五篇：研究生英语期末考试close总结

第一章

The web magazine From the Window contains poetry and literature from well-know writes across the global.There are thoughtful articles analyzing the state of the world we live in.there is even a piece from the Secretary General of United States, Kofi Annan.It may come as some surprise to find out that the editor of the magazine is a 12-year-old girl, Joy Nightingale.From the Window won Joy Nightingale the first prize in the 1999 child net International and wireless awards.These are given annually for the best use of the internet by and for young people.And they highlight one of the most welcoming aspects of the virtual world.Children have taken to the Internet as though they are born surfing.Perhaps there is because adults have had to change their understanding of technology while children simply accept it as natural.Whatever the reason, children can be found building web and E-mailing friends across the world while adults are still asking: Tell me again –where exactly is cyberspace?

Of course there is growing concern about the fact that children can travel far away from parental supervision in cyberspace.In response, many parents have installed software packages which prevent access to violent or pornographic web.Children are taking a more positive line.The web is a gateway to a world of education and entertainment.The rapid growth in Internet culture has led analysts to speculate that society will soon be divided between the “information rich” and “information poor”.For child net it is especially important that children at the margins of society through poverty or disability have the chance to take their place as equal citizens in the virtual world.第五章

It is an astonishing fact that there are laws of nature, rules that summarize conveniently-not just qualitatively but quantitatively-how the word works.We might imagine a universe in which there are no such laws, in which the 1080 elementary particles that make up a universe like our own behave with utter and uncompromising abandon.To understand such a universe we would need a brain at least as massive as the universe.It seems unlikely that such a universe could have life and intelligence, because beings and brains require some degree of internal stability and order.But even if in a much more random universe there were such beings with an intelligence much greater than our own, there could not be much knowledge, passion or joy.Fortunately for us, we live in a universe that has at least important parts that are knowable.Our common-sense experience and our evolutionary history have prepared us to understand something of the workaday world.When we go into other realms, however, common sense and ordinary intuition turn out to be highly unreliable guides.It is stunning that as we go close to the speed of light, our mass increases indefinitely, we shrink toward zero thickness in the direction of motion, and time for us comes as near to stopping as we would like.Many people think that this is silly, and every week or two I get a letter from someone who complains to me about it.But it is virtually certain consequence not just of experiment but also of Albert Einstein‟s brilliant analysis of space and time called the Theory of Relatively.It does not matter that these effects seem unreasonable to us.We are not in the habit of traveling close to the speed of light.The testimony of our common sense is suspect at high velocities.The idea that the world places restrictions on what humans might do is frustrating.Why shouldn‟t we be able to have intermediate rotational positions? Why can‟t we travel faster than the speed of light? But so far as we can tell, this is the way the universe is constructed.Such prohibitions not only press us toward a little humility;they also make the world more knowable.When 1988 began,East Africa should have been at its most beautiful:normally the short rainy season ends in December , the rivers subside , and the country sparkles;farmers raise crops , animals graze , tourists go on safaris.But this year was different.The rains were heavy and long.The water spread out for miles in places in Kenya and Somalia , cutting off village and forcing herders to ctowd with their livestock onto a few patches of dry land.Things quickly turned ugly.Camels , cows , sheep , and goats all started dying of violent fevers.Some people , too，began to get sick.Some went temporarily blind ；others began bleeding uncontrollably.The disease was Rift Valley fever，caused by an obscure mosquito borne virus.It pops up every few years in Africa when standing water encourages mosquito eggs to hatch--this year‟s huge floods brought a spectacular outbreak.According to official estimates , at least 89，000 people caught the disease.Two hundred died，but then the disease is not usually fatal to humans.Animal losses，however，were almost certainly vast--owners reported losing up to 90 percent of their herds.Yet catastrophic as the East African floods were，they had to jostle for the world„s attention with other cases of strange weather---with unusual occurrences of droughts，fires，rains，cold snaps，and heat waves.Every year brings its own grab bag of such anomalies，but this year many of them could be linked to a phenomenon in the empty expanses of the equatorial Pacific--a change in the ocean currents and winds that began in the early months of 1997 and that altered weather patterns around the world.The change in the weather was , of course , the work of E1 Nino.By the end of 1997 , E1 Nino had already become a celebrity of sorts.In 1998, however , E1 Nino's effects on the world came into full flower.It helped make the year the hottest ever recorded.In addition to Rift Valley fever , E1 Nino has been linked to an upsurge in diseases ranging from choler to malaria to dengue fever ,in Kenya , Cambodia , Peru ,and other countries scattered around the globe.第七章

I have always disliked being a man, The whole idea of manhood in America is pitiful, a little like having to wear an ill-fitting coat for one‟s entire life.Even the expression “Be a man!” strikes me as insulting and abusive.It means: Be stupid, be unfeeling, obedient and soldierly, and stop thinking.Man means“manly”-how can one think“about men”without considering the terrible ambition of manliness? And yet it is part of every man‟s life.It is a hideous and crippling lie;it not only insists on difference and connives at superiority,It is also by its very nature destructive-emotionally damaging and socially harmful.The youth who is subverted, as most are, into believing in the masculine ideal is effectively separated from women –it is the most savage tribal logic and he spends the rest of his life finding women a riddle and a nuisance.Of course, there is a female version of this male affliction.It begins with mothers encouraging little girls to say(to other adults), “ Doyou like my new dress?” In a sense, Girls are traditionally urged to please adults with a kind of coquettishness, while boys are enjoined to behave like monkeys toward each other.The-9-year-old coquette proceeds to become womanish in a subtle power game in which she learns to be sexually indispensable, socially decorative and always alert to a man‟s sense of inadequacy.Femininity-being ladylike –implies needing a man as witness and seducer;but masculinity celebrates the exclusive company of men.That is why it is so grotesque;and that is also why there is no manliness without inadequacy –because it denies men the natural friendship of women.It is very hard to imagine any concept of manliness that does not belittle women, and it begins very early.At an age when I wanted to meet girls –let‟s say the treacherous years of 13 to 16-I was told to take up a sport , get more fresh air, join the Boy Scouts, and I was urged not to read so much

Late next century, when scholars are scripting the definitive history of the PC,these last few years of high-octane growth may actually be depicted as the Dark Ages.Historians will marvel at how we toiled in front of monolithic ,beige BUBs(big ugly boxes),suffering under the oppressive glare of cathode-ray tubes while our legs scraped against the 30-pound towers beneath our desks.They may also mark 1999 as the start of the PC renaissance ,when manufacturers finally started to get it :This holiday season, computer shoppers will enjoy unprecedented variety in shapes, sizes and colors-and not just in Apple‟s groundbreaking line of translucent iMacs and iBooks.Nearly every major PC maker now has innovative desktop designs on the way to market,from hourglass-sculpted towers to flat-panel displays with all the processing innards packed into the base.Among industrial designers,who still think the PC has a long way before you‟ll want to display it on your mantle ,the only question is ,what took so long? “The PC industry has ridiculed design for a long time,”says Hartmut Esslinger ,founder of Frog Design.“They have not respected their customers and have underestimated their desires.”

PC makers are finally catching on-and it‟s partly out of desperation.Manufacturers used to sell computer by trumpeting their techno bells and whistles,like processor speed and memory.But since ever-faster chips have given us more power on the desktop than we could ever possibly use, computer makers have been competing on price-a strategy that has dropped most units below $1000 and slashed profits.Last week IBM limped from the battlefield ,announcing it would pull its lagging Aptiva line from store shelves and sell it only on the web.Competing only on price “made an industry shakeout inevitable”, says Nick Donatiello,president of the marketing-research firm Odyssey.第九章

A symbol is not the same thing as a sign;that is a fact that psychologists and philosophers often overlook.All intelligent animals use signs,So do we.To them as well as to us sounds and smells and motions are signs of good ,danger ,the presence of other beings,or of rain or storm..Furthermore some animals not only attend to signs but also produce them for the benefits of others.Dogs bark at the door to be let in;rabbits thump to call each other;the cooing of doves and the growl of wolf are unequivocal signs of feelings and intention to be reckoned with by other creatures.We use signs just as animals do,though with considerably more elaboration.We stop at red lights and go on green;we answer calls and bells,watch the sky for coming storms,read trouble or promise or anger in each other’s eyes.That is animal intelligence raised to the human level.Those of us who are dog lovers can probably all tell wonderful stories of how high our dogs have sometimes risen in the scale of clever sign interpretation and sign using.A sign is anything that announces the existence or the imminence of some events,the presence of a thing or a person ,or a changes in the state of affairs.There are signs of the weather ,signs of danger,signs of danger ,signs of future good or evil,signs of what the past expected in experience.It is always a part of the situation to which it refers ,though the reference may be remote in space and time.A symbol differs from a sign in that it dose not announce the presence of the object,the being ,condition,but merely brings this thing to mind.A sign cause us to or act in face of the signified,whereas a symbol causes us to think about the thing symbolized.A sign is always embedded in reality,but a symbol may be divorced from reality althogether.It may refer to a mere idea,or a dream.