• Wanted: Blue-Collar Workers

• 正确答案：1. D   2. B   3. D   4. B   5. A
• Script:
  1. M: What is a qualified blue-collar worker like in your mind?
  W: Well, many things are important, but, to me, skills come first.
  Q: What does the woman think is the most important quality for blue-collar workers?2. M: Do blue-collar workers have to work many hours every day?
  W: Depends. Some blue-collar workers may have more free time than white-collar workers.
  Q: Is it the case that blue-collar workers’ daily work lasts very long, according to the woman?3. W: I heard someone say your father changed his job months ago. Why is that?
  M: He could no longer tolerate the huge noise of planes.
  Q: Where had the man’s father probably worked before he changed his job?4. W: It’s said that China needs a lot of blue-collar workers today. Is it true?
  M: Exactly.
  Q: What is the problem the woman is concerned about?5. M: Are blue-collar workers paid much less than white-collar workers in Japan?
  W: Probably yes. But sometimes the opposite is true.
  Q: How are blue-collar workers paid in Japan?

B. Fill in the blanks of the following passage according to what you hear.

• 正确答案：1. as well   2. making   3. physically   4. life   5. healthy   6. own   7. succeed   8. money

Text A / Comprhension

1. Pair Work

Complete the following sentences orally according to the text.

1. She is                                              . To her, the biggest problem is                            .

Key: the CEO of Ariel Corporation in Ohio; a lack of skilled workers

2. Because.

Key: the state has suffered from lack of jobs for a generation.

3. Jeff Kirk thinks that kids need to better know that.

Key: much of what they learn in school is not really needed in the workplace

4. They think that the shortage of skilled workers result from.

Key: the decline of vocational education

5. The college has.

Key: recently expanded by 70 welding students and 50 machinists per year
 

B.Main Idea
Read the text again. As you read, underline what you think are the most important ideas. Then, in one or two sentences, write the main idea of the text.
                                                                              .
Key: America is suffering from a lack of skilled workers. People must pay attention to vocational education.
 

Vocabulary Building / Exercises
A. Match each word with their proper Chinese meaning.

B. Fill in each of the following blanks with the proper form of the given words.
1. They fought to liberate (liberation) the black people from slavery.
2. He watched helplessly (help) as the train left without him.
3. Prof. Ding is a very respectable (respect) person.
4. Thomas is an English historian (historical).
5. I spoke to him concerning (concern) his behavior.
6. His room is in a state of confusion (confuse).
7. My mother cooked many tasty (taste) dishes today.
8. Sparing him is a merciful (mercy) act.

Grammar Tips / Exercises
A. Complete the following sentences based on the information given in Chinese.
1. I can walk ten miles (能走十英里路)in an hour.
2. You must tell him (必须告诉他)when you will return.
3. Young people should show respect to the old (应该尊敬老人)at any time.
4. Can we bring cameras (我们是否可以带照相机) with us when we visit the museum?
5. Without his father’s approval he had to give up his travel plan (不得不放弃自己的旅游计划).
B. Each of the following sentences contains ONE mistake. Find it out and correct it.
6. Henry mustn’t be at home because he phoned me from the farm just now. (A, can’t)
A B C D
7. Jack is a bilingual person. He may speak English and Japanese. (C, can)
A B C D
8. Mary can know the answer to the question. I’m not sure. (A, may)
A B C D
9. You mayn’t tell anyone about this — it’s a secret. (A, mustn’t)
A B C D
10. Mother is out, so I must look after the shop. (C, have to)
A B C D

Text B / Comprehension
A. Answer the following questions according to the text.
1. What do “blue-collar” occupations depend on?
Key: “Blue-collar” occupations depend on some kind of skills, plenty of training and technical knowledge.
2. Do “blue-collar” workers make more money than average American workers?
Key: Depending on the industry, these “blue-collar” workers even make much more than the average American worker.
3. Where do plumbers and pipefitters install, maintain and repair pipe systems?
Key: Plumbers and pipefitters install, maintain and repair many different types of pipe systems from those in city water treatment plants to residential, commercial and public buildings.
4. What do people need to do if they want to become subway or streetcar operators?
Key: The people need to pass a physical exam and some other tests if they want to become subway or streetcar operators.
5. Where can commercial and industrial equipment electrical and electronics repairers be trained?
Key: They can train through a one- to two-year community college or vocational school programs or on-the-job training.

B. Judge whether each of the following statements is true or false according to the text. Write T if it is true, or F if false.
1. “Blue-collar” jobs are generally paid much less than “white-collar” jobs.
2. Construction and building inspectors learn everything on the job.
3. Police officers can work their way up through experience and skill.
4. To become aircraft mechanics, people must have 8 months of work experience.
5. For plastic machine setters, formal training programs are always necessary
Key: 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. F

Comprehensive Exercises
A. Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences.
1. The boy acted ________ he didn’t know me.
A. so that
B. such as
C. as soon
D. as if
2. Hourly output by workers ________ 1.3% in the first quarter.
A. reduced
B. declined
C. felled
D. slowed
3. There is no reason ________ he should refuse to join us.
A. why
B. because
C. that
D. so that
4. Some of these methods will work, but ________ will not.
A. other
B. the other
C. another
D. others
5. The country is suffering from a ________ of food.
A. lacking
B. zero
C. poverty
D. shortage
6. The ________ between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger in some places.
A. gap
B. difference
C. variation
D. hole
7. There are good opportunities to learn skills ________ the job.
A. in
B. above
C. on
D. at
8. On ________, my mother earns 5000 yuan a month.
A. whole
B. total
C. average
D. balance

B. Fill in the blanks with the words given below.

Many fresh college graduates are complaining nowadays that in today’s (1) labor market they are priced less than vegetables. At the same time, there is a shocking labor (2) shortage in the manufacturing areas in Eastern and Southern China. Actually, there is nothing to be (3) ashamed if you work with your hands. The idea that looks down on an honest day’s work has to be corrected. The change is important for the country to balance its job market and solve the problem of (4) insufficient employment for college graduates. Rising salaries reflect the real value of blue-collar jobs. It is necessary to further promote a (5) skilled labor force. The quality of China’s economy is not built on innovation alone, but also on the (6) quality of its labor.

C. Translate the following sentences into English using the words or phrases you have learned in this unit.
1. 当今中国社会非常缺少蓝领工人。(shortage)
Nowadays, China has a serious shortage of blue-collar workers.
2. 本市蓝领工人的月平均工资在3,000元左右。(average)
The average monthly pay for blue-collar workers is around 3,000 yuan in this city.
3. 杰克是一位富有经验的机械工，当机器出故障时能保持冷静。(break down)
As Jack is an experienced mechanic, he can keep calm when the machine breaks down.
4. 学徒往往是在工作中学习的。(on the job)
Apprentices always learn everything on the job.
5. 许多机械操作如今靠计算机程序来实现。(program)
Many mechanical operations are carried out by the computer programs.
6. 那个水管工的年收入在十万以上。(annual)
The annual income of that plumber is more than $100,000.
7. 这家社区学院在过去的五年中一直在扩大规模。(expand)
This community college has been expanding in the past five years.
8. 安装这台机器需要多人协作。(install)
Installing this machine requires the coordination of many people.

D. Translate the following passage from Text B into Chinese.
Most occupations that can be referred to as “blue-collar” depend on some kind of skills, plenty of training and technical knowledge. Several professions are widely found in today’s workforce, and the most highly-skilled workers will have the best opportunities for work in these occupations. What’s more, the pay for these jobs is almost as much as that for many so-called white collar jobs, and quite often, depending on the industry, these workers even make much more than the average American worker.
Key:
对于大多数可以被称为“蓝领”的职业而言，从业人员需具有一定的技能、接受过培训和拥有相关的技术知识。在今天的就业中，有几个行业深受劳动力大军的欢迎，而技能最高的那些工人将在这些行业中得到最好的工作机会。更重要的是，这些职位的薪酬与所谓的白领职位的薪酬几乎一样多，而且很多时候，视行业而定，这些工人的工资甚至要高于美国工人的平均工资。

Practical Reading and Writing / Exercises
A. Write your answer to each of the following questions.
(1) What gift did Tom give to Jack in Sample 1?
A dictionary.
(2) How is the gift helpful to Jack?
It is very helpful in his work, especially when Jack translates business material.
(3) Where does Yang Zhidong work in Sample 2?
In a company.
(4) What did he do recently?
He paid a visit to Mr. Smith’s company.
(5) What does he think of Mr. Smith?
He thinks that Mr. Smith is very thoughtful.

B. Suppose your uncle/aunt has just given you a bike as a gift for starting at your new school. Write a thank-you letter to him/her.
Sample answer:
圆角矩形: July 5
Dear Uncle/Aunt,
I am so grateful to you for the bike you gave me as a gift for my starting at the new school. I really like it, whose color and design are just right for me. I am sure that it will be very useful and save me a lot of time. I won’t have to get up so early every day!
I hope you will some day come to see me.
Yours，
Peter