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Unit 4 Making the news
Word usage
1. occupation n. 1) job, employment
2) activity that occupies a person’s time; pastime
3) action of occupying
He is a bus driver by occupation.
He was bored for lack of occupation.
The Japanese occupation of Taiwan lasted fifty-one years.
No one is yet in occupation of the house.
2. enthusiasm n. strong feeling of admiration or interest
object of this feeling
The proposal was greeted with great enthusiasm.
One of my enthusiasm is music.
3. assignment n. 1) task or duty that is assigned to sb
2) act of assigning, especially property, rights ect.
She gladly accepted the assignment.
The English assignment is a book report.
He is responsible for the assignment of jobs.
4. influence vt 1) have an effect or influence on sb/sth
n. 2) power to produce an effect; action or nature forces
The influence of climate on crops are self-evident.
Mr. Smith is a man of influence in this town.
I don't want to influence you. You must decide for yourself.
5. professional adj. 1) of or belonging to a profession
2) having or showing the skill or qualities a professional person
a highly professional administrator
He is a professional complainer.
6. assist v. 1) help
2) be present at or take part in sth
We asked him to assist us in designing a new bridge.
He assisted in designing the new bridge.
She refused to assist at the reception for reasons unknown.
7. missing adj. 1) that can’t be found or that is not in its usual place; lost
2) not present
There is a page missing from this book.
Seven of our planes are missing.
They started off at once in search of the missing girl.
8. avoid v. 1) keep oneself away from sb/sth
2) stop sth happening; prevent
I avoided him as much as possible.
They all avoided mentioning that name.
She braked suddenly and avoided an accident.
9. meanwhile adv. in the time between two events; at the same time
In the meanwhile I'll visit an old friend of mine.
Mother went shopping; meanwhile, I cleaned the house.
10. department n. 1) each of several divisions of a government, business, shop, etc.
2) area of activity or knowledge
She's the head of the firm's personnel department.
Don’t ask me about our finances, that’s my wife’s department.
11. accurate adj. 1) free from error
2) careful and exist
The new salesgirl is accurate at figures.
His information was accurate.
12. employ v. 1) to give work to sb
2) make use of sb/sth; occupy time, attention etc.
The mill employs a thousand workers
How do you employ your spare time?
The children employed themselves in painting.
13. polish. V. 1) improve sth by correcting, making small changes
2) cause sth to become smooth and shiny by rubbing
He polished his spectacles with a handkerchief before answering.
The speaker spent several days polishing her lecture.
You should use wax polish on wooden furniture.
Give your shoes a polish.
14. approve v. say or feel that sth is good or acceptable or satisfactory.
The professor does not approve the government's foreign policy
The city council has now approved the scheme for the erection of a new public library.
I'm afraid your parents won't approve of your going there.
15. convenient adj. 1) suited to one’s needs
2) suited nearby; easy to reach
Please come whenever it is convenient to you.
Will it be convenient for you to come?
Useful expressions
1. find out 1) learn sth by study or inquiry
2) discover sb who has done wrong, lied etc.
The police found the murderer out.
Please find out when the train starts.
2. fill in 1) add what is necessary to make sth complete
2) give sb full details about sth
Fill in the blanks with suitable words.
Can you fill me in on what has been happening?
3. be to do sth 1) expressing duty, necessity etc.
2) expressing arrangement or intention
3) expressing destiny
You are to report to the police.
They are to be married.
The book was not to be found.
4. on one’s own 1) alone
2) without help
3) excellent
I can't carry it on my own; it's too heavy.
I’m all on my own today.
When it comes to maths, Mary is on her own.
5. the first time 1) do sth for the first time
2) 引导时间状语
I went to Bejing in 1980 for the first time.
The first time Peter went to Paris, he wasn’t used to living there.
6. concentrate on sth : focus one’s attention, effort etc
We must concentrate our attention on efficiency.
Our population is concentrated in the big cities.
7. tricks of the trade: clever ways known to experts
If you want to start your own car business, you should ask his advice. He knows all the tricks of the trade.
8. look forward to : hope for, long for, expect
They are looking forward to her visit.
I am looking forward to seeing you again.
The day we looked forward to come at last.
9. get absorbed in : get buried in or get devoted to
The old man was utterly absorbed in the book.
Tom does not get absorbed in his business for long.
10. defend …against/from: protect sb/sth from/against harm, guard sb/sth
They defended the city against air attacks.
When the dog attacked me, I defended myself against it with a stick.
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