unit 4 a red light for scofflaws

Unit 4 A Red Light for Scofflaws

scoff v. ①laugh at a person or idea ②eat something very quickly scofflaw n. one who habitually violates the law or fails to answer court. 藐视法律者；传 唤不到庭者 Are scofflaws found in our society?

Some Relevant Information 1. outlaw litter: unlawful strewing (a place)with rubbish. 2. illicit noise: very loud noise which is not permitted. 3. motorized anarchy: disorder or chaos created by motorists 4. pot smoker: marijuana addict

5. joint: cigarette containing marijuana. 6. fare beater: one who evades paying the fare on a public vehicle. 'beat' is U.S. slang,meaning 'cheat, swindle'. 7. toss-up: the tossing-up of a coin to deside something by its fall. 8. mortal peril: danger that causes or is liable to cause death.

9. rear-end: (U.S)collide or cause (one's vehicle)to collide with the rear-end(back part of a vehicle)of another vehicle. 10. Prohibition: the forbidding by law of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks in the U.S.A from 1920 to 1933.

Language Points 1. a matter of course--a usual event; something natural理所当然的事情 eg: when I go out of the house, I lock the door as a matter of course. 2. abound in--have in large numbers or in great quantities eg: On the whole Arab countries abound in oil deposit.

3. be exempt from--be free of a duty, service, payment,etc. eg. He is exempt from military service because of his poor health.

4. convert--v. has different meanings in different contexts. Paul converted(changed his religious belief)to Catholicism at 20. Sam was converted(was persuaded to change his belief)to the socialist cause when he was at university.

Before going abroad, he converted (changed)some of his money into U.S.currency. The old-fashioned houses have been converted(changed)to modern apartments.

5. flagrant--(of an action considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously offensive eg: Flagrant violation of the law should be severely punished.

6. scandal--(an action or event that causes)a public feeling of shock and strong moral disapproval. There may be scandals of different kinds, e.g. financial/political/bribery scandals.

7. poses less risk to others--presents not so much danger to others pose(vt.)--present or constitute (a problem, difficulty, or danger) e.g. Air pollution poses a threat to the city dwellers.

8. hazardous--dangerous,esp. to people's health or safety e.g. The steep staircase is hazardous to both the aged and childern. 9. range from...to...--vary between specified limits e.g. The age of the Ph.D. candidates ranges from 25 to 48.

10. jam v. --fill with people,cars,etc., so that movements is difficult e.g. Lots of people jammed the main street in the city. jam n.--a mass of people or things pressed so close together that movement is difficult or impossible, e.g. traffic jam

11. wane--(of a condition, attitude, emotion, etc.)weaken;become weaker or less, often disappearing completely in the end e.g. The moon waxes (grows larger) and wanes every month.

12. pervasive---tending to spead through every part of sth.,widespread e.g. The television exerts a pervasive influence in modern society. 13. skirt--avoid (a difficult subject that ought to be dealt with) e.g. Come to the main issue, and don't skirt around it.