Background Information discipline concerned with how people throughout history have expressed, confronted, and understood the complexities of the human conditions. It includes such areas of study as 2. Associate degree is awarded to a student after he or she finishes a 2-year study at a junior college in the U. s 3. Education in the United States is usually divided into 4 levels. In general, there are kindergarten or pre-school, elementary, secondary and higher education. The first level is early childhood education. Its purpose is to prepare children for school. The second level is elementary education. Education at this level is divided into 6 or 8 grades. And students can attend all kinds of courses. The third level is secondary education. It is for junior or senior high school students Some students prepare themselves to go to college, while others take vocational or technical courses to prepare for jobs after graduation. There are many institutions of higher education in the U.s. Students at technical institutions can receive an associate degree after finish a 2-year program. Then they can continue their study at a 4-year colleg 4. Social Security is the U.S. government system of benefit payments, especially to retired and disabled people and survivors 5. Richard Wagner is a famous German composer and writer. As a composer, he is well-known for his 13 operas and numerous other compositions. Besides his activity in composition, he wrote an astonishing number of books and articles. The literary spectrum ranges from theories of opera to political programs. He was undoubtedly one of the leading figures of the 19th century.He 6. Oscar Wilde(1854-1900), the son of an eminent Dublin surgeon, was among the outstanding Victorian dramatists. He is renowned for a brilliant series of domestic comedies- Lady Windermere's Fan, A woman of No Importance, and An ldeal husband a.1. following accepted rules of behavior正式的;合乎礼仪的 The letter was in very formal language.这封信使用了非常正式的语言 2. In appearance, by name only形式上的,名义上的 The visitors took only a formal interest in the classroom activities 参观者只是表面上对课堂活动表示兴趣。 c.f. informal forr poll sb on sth:就某事对某人进行民意测验 resident adj.a resident physician: doctor living at a hospital where he is received advanced training住院医生 (idm) in residence: living is a specified place because of one' s work or duties(因工作或职责关 系)驻于某处:eg. Students must remain in residence during term sident居民,定居者, visitor相对; lodger:临时住宿者; inhabitant:居住者,居民 settler:殖民者,侨居新兴国家者Background Information 1.Humanities: In the context of the reading passage, humanities refers to a broad academic discipline concerned with how people throughout history have expressed, confronted, and understood the complexities of the human conditions. It includes such areas of study as Philosophy, Literature, Religion, Art, etc. 2.Associate degree is awarded to a student after he or she finishes a 2-year study at a junior college in the U.S. 3.Education in the United States is usually divided into 4 levels. In general, there are kindergarten or pre-school, elementary, secondary and higher education. The first level is early childhood education. Its purpose is to prepare children for school. The second level is elementary education. Education at this level is divided into 6 or 8 grades. And students can attend all kinds of courses. The third level is secondary education. It is for junior or senior high school students. Some students prepare themselves to go to college, while others take vocational or technical courses to prepare for jobs after graduation. There are many institutions of higher education in the U.S. Students at technical institutions can receive an associate d egree after finish a 2-year program. Then they can continue their study at a 4-year college. 4. Social Security is the U.S. government system of benefit payments, especially to retired and disabled people and survivors. 5.Richard Wagner is a famous German composer and writer. As a composer, he is well- known for his 13 operas and numerous other compositions. Besides his activity in composition, he wrote an astonishing number of books and articles. The literary spectrum ranges from theories of opera to political programs. He was undoubtedly one of the leading figures of the 19th century. He inspired not only musicians and composers but also leaders in many fields. 6. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), the son of an eminent Dublin surgeon, was among the outstanding Victorian dramatists. He is renowned for a brilliant series of domestic comedies- Lady Windermere’s Fan, A woman of No Importance, and An Ideal Husband. New Words formal a. 1. following accepted rules of behavior 正式的；合乎礼仪的 The letter was in very formal language. 这封信使用了非常正式的语言。 2. in appearance; by name only 形式上的，名义上的 The visitors took only a formal interest in the classroom activities. 参观者只是表面上对课堂活动表示兴趣。 c.f. informal ; former , normal poll : survey poll sb on sth: 就某事对某人进行民意测验 resident adj. a. resident physician: doctor living at a hospital where he is received advanced training 住院医生 (idm)in residence: living is a specified place because of one’s work or duties （因工作或职责关 系）驻于某处：e.g. Students must remain in residence during term. resident 居民，定居者, visitor 相对；lodger：临时住宿者；inhabitant：居住者，居民 settler: 殖民者，侨居新兴国家者