Nowadays, people frequently use the word "awesome" to show their compliment, even to replace the words like "great" and "thank you". But in fact, it is kind of weird to get such a respond in some cases. In this TED speech, Comedian Jill Shargaa will talk about "what is truly awesome" to appeal to people not to overuse this word. She sounds a hilarious call for us to save the word "awesome" for things that truly inspire awe.
1. reverence n. 崇敬；尊严；敬礼。例如：
·We stand together now in mutual support and in reverence for the dead. 出于相互支持和对逝者的敬意，我们现在站到了一起。
2. mundane adj. 世俗的，平凡的。例如：
·It's an attitude that turns the mundane into something more interesting and exciting. 正是一种态度使单调平凡的工作变得更加有趣和刺激。
3. schmuck n. 笨人
4. schlep vt. 搬运；携带；拖曳；缓慢费力地行进。例如：
·Schlepping your own bags and equipment is exhausting. 搬运你自己的包袱和设备真是累死人.
5. iodized vt. 用碘处理，使碘化；使含有碘，加碘
6. amphibious adj. (生物) 两栖的，水陆两用的；具有双重性的。例如：
amphibious operation / force / assault两栖行动 / 部队 / 攻击
7. pollinate vt. 对...授粉。例如：
flowers pollinated by bees 由蜜蜂授粉的花
8. iconic 图标的，形象的。例如：
·What iconic brands come to mind when you look around your space? 看看你周围的空间，你会想到哪些标志性品牌呢？
TASK 2：TOPIC PREVIEW
Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1. When will you use the word "awesome"?
2. Could you illustrate some other words to express your admiration or wonder?
·VIEWING
TASK 3: INFORMATION GAP
Read the following table. Then watch the video clip and complete the table according to the information you hear.
10 truly awesome things.
Example | Reasons |
The wheel | If you had to (1) ________everything on your back, it would be easier to (2) _______this home. |
The Great Pyramids | The Great Pyramids were the (3) ____ (4) _____structure in the world for 4000 years. Pharaoh had his (5) ______move millions of blocks to erect a big freaking headstone. |
The Grand Canyon | It’s almost (6) ________ years old. |
Photography | Louis Daguerre invented photography in (7) ______. Now You can (8) _____ your smartphone and take a shot. It’s easier than (9) _____ the image to copper plates with iodized silver. |
D-Day | The Allied invasion of Normandy is the largest (10) _______invasion in the world history. |
Honeybee | If the (11) _______ aren’t pollinated, we can’t grow food, and we are all going to (12) _______. |
Landing on the moon | One small (13) _____ for a man, one (14) _________ leap for awesome. |
Woodstock | Rolling Stone Magazine said this changed the history of (15) ___. Jimi Hendrix's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was the most (16) __________. |
Sharks | Sharks are at the top of the (17) ________. They have (18) ________ rows of teeth that grow in their jaw, and move forward like a (19) __________. |
The Internet | It was born in 1982, and instantly took over (20) ________. |
TASK 4:
Read the following statements. Then watch the speech again and check (√) the TRUE Statement(s).
□1. The frequent overuse of the word "awesome" has now replaced the words like "Great" and
"Oh, my God".
□2. The Allied invasion of Normandy took place on July 6, 1944.
□3. We should thank the honeybees because they help provide the food.
□4. Wright Brothers took off from Kitty Hawk sixty-six years after Apollo 11 landing on the
moon.
□5. Some sharks can lose 3,000 teeth in their lifetime.
◇AFTER VIEWING
TASK 5: DISCUSSION
In recent years, the word "teacher" has been abused as a title in a broader field. Especially in some variety shows, the hosts and the honored guests would like to call each other "teachers", though some of them are just pop singers, actors, and comedians, etc. Do you think the title "teacher" can be used in this way? Why or why not?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS
◇BEFORE VIEWING
TASK 2:
1. When I am very excited with something I will say "awesome". And When I want to express my surprise or wonder about something, I will use the word "awesome".
2. There are lots of different expressions which can be used to show our admiration or wonder, such as great, wonderful, fantastic, marvelous, and OMG, etc.
◇VIEWING
TASK 3:
(1) schlep
(2) roll
(3) tallest
(4) man-made
(5) slaves
(6) 80 million
(7)1829
(8) whip out
(9) exposing
(10) amphibious
(11) crops
(12) die
(13) step
(14) giant
(15) rock and roll
(16) iconic
(17) food chain
(18) multiple
(19) conveyor belt
(20) global communication
TASK 4:
□1. (The frequent overuse of the word "awesome" has now replaced the words like "Great" and "Thank you".)
□2. (The Allied invasion of Normandy took place on June 6, 1944.)
✓ 3.
□4. (Apollo 11 landed on the moon sixty-six years after Wright Brothers took off from Kitty Hawk)
□5. (Some sharks can lose 30,000 teeth in their lifetime.)
◇AFTER VIEWING
TASK 5:
Yes, the title "teacher" here is just used to show respect. When we can't find a suitable title for the respected person, we can choose the title "teacher". Don't take it seriously.
No, not everyone can be called a teacher. The teacher is a sacred occupation. The teacher could propagate the doctrine, impart professional knowledge, and resolve doubts (Han Yu). So the title "teacher" can only be used to call the people in educational field or the authorities in some other fields.
_______________________________________________
附件：TRANSCRIPT
0:12
How many times have you used the word "awesome" today? Once? Twice? Seventeen times? Do you remember what you were describing when you used the word? No, I didn't think so, because it's come down to this, people: You're using the word incorrectly, and tonight I hope to show you how to put the "awe" back in "awesome."
0:32
Recently, I was dining at an outdoor cafe, and the server came up to our table, and asked us if we had dined there before, and I said, "Yes, yes, we have." And she said, "Awesome." And I thought, "Really? Awesome or just merely good that we decided to visit your restaurant again?"
0:53
The other day, one of my coworkers asked me if I could save that file as a PDF, and I said, "Well, of course," and he said, "Awesome." Seriously, can saving anything as a PDF be awesome?
1:10
Sadly, the frequent overuse of the word "awesome" has now replaced words like "great" and "thank you." So Webster's dictionary defines the word "awesome" as fear mingled with admiration or reverence, a feeling produced by something majestic. Now, with that in mind, was your Quiznos sandwich awesome? How about that parking space? Was that awesome? Or that game the other day? Was that awesome? The answer is no, no and no. A sandwich can be delicious, that parking space can be nearby, and that game can be a blowout, but not everything can be awesome. (Laughter)
1:55
So when you use the word "awesome" to describe the most mundane of things, you're taking away the very power of the word. This author says, "Snowy days or finding money in your pants is awesome." (Laughter) Um, no, it is not, and we need to raise the bar for this poor schmuck. (Laughter)
2:18
So in other words, if you have everything, you value nothing. It's a lot like drinking from a firehose like this jackass right here. There's no dynamic, there's no highs or lows, if everything is awesome.
2:33
Ladies and gentlemen, here are 10 things that are truly awesome.
2:37
Imagine, if you will, having to schlep everything on your back. Wouldn't this be easier for me if I could roll this home? Yes, so I think I'll invent the wheel. The wheel, ladies and gentlemen. Is the wheel awesome? Say it with me. Yes, the wheel is awesome!
2:56
The Great Pyramids were the tallest man-made structure in the world for 4,000 years. Pharaoh had his slaves move millions of blocks just to this site to erect a big freaking headstone. Were the Great Pyramids awesome? Yes, the pyramids were awesome.
3:14
The Grand Canyon. Come on. It's almost 80 million years old. Is the Grand Canyon awesome? Yes, the Grand Canyon is.
3:22
Louis Daguerre invented photography in 1829, and earlier today, when you whipped out your smartphone and you took a shot of your awesome sandwich, and you know who you are - (Laughter) - wasn't that easier than exposing the image to copper plates coated with iodized silver? I mean, come on. Is photography awesome? Yes, photography is awesome.
3:46
D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allied invasion of Normandy, the largest amphibious invasion in world history. Was D-Day awesome? Yes, it was awesome.
3:58
Did you eat food today? Did you eat? Then you can thank the honeybee, that's the one, because if crops aren't pollinated, we can't grow food, and then we're all going to die. It's just like that. But it's not like a flower can just get up and have sex with another flower, although that would be awesome. (Laughter) Bees are awesome. Are you kidding me?
4:22
Landing on the moon! Come on! Apollo 11. Are you kidding me? Sixty-six years after the Wright Brothers took off from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Neil Armstrong was 240,000 miles away. That's like from here to the moon. (Laughter) That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for awesome! You're damn right, it was.
4:49
Woodstock, 1969: Rolling Stone Magazine said this changed the history of rock and roll. Tickets were only 24 dollars back then. You can't even buy a freaking t-shirt for that now. Jimi Hendrix's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was the most iconic. Was Woodstock awesome? Yes, it was awesome.
5:10
Sharks! They're at the top of the food chain. Sharks have multiple rows of teeth that grow in their jaw and they move forward like a conveyor belt. Some sharks can lose 30,000 teeth in their lifetime. Does awesome inspire fear? Oh, hell yeah, sharks are awesome!
5:30
The Internet was born in 1982 and it instantly took over global communication, and later tonight, when all these PowerPoints are uplifted to the Internet so that a guy in Siberia can get drunk and watch this crap, the Internet is awesome.
5:49
And finally, finally some of you can't wait to come up and tell me how awesome my PowerPoint was. I will save you the time. It was not awesome, but it was true, and I hope it was entertaining, and out of all the audiences I've ever had, y'all are the most recent. Thank you and good night.
6:07
(Applause)