Introduction of the text:
The name of Michael Dell must be familiar to many young peoples, especially to those who are determined to go in for business. Born in 1965, this wizard boy is able to turn himself into a multibillion-dollar tycoon in a matter of a few years. How does he do it? This text gives us a glimpse of the special qualities of this boy, which have contributed to his dramatic success.
Dell’s success story begins with a brilliant idea. This idea may seem like commonsense today, but Del is the first to hit upon that idea. This is the first secret of his success: to be the first. Success usually belongs to the person who dares to be the first, to be creative and original, and Dell is always bursting with new ideas. Another thing is his ambition. Dell is highly motivated. Even when a teenager he already vows to compete with IBM. It is this goal that gives him the strength and courage to strive so hard. Equally important is his tenacity. He works hard. He never gives up. His success is the result of his toil and sweat. The next point is perhaps his thirst for knowledge. It is true that Dell did not finish school. But that does not mean that he has had no education or that he can succeed without education. He actually studies harder and with a clearer focus. Therefore it would be wrong to conclude from Dell’s story that school education is irrelevant, although it does seem that serious reform has to be carried out to allow a genius to develop his special interests.
The secret of Dell’s success
A. To be the first:
he is the first one to hit upon a brilliant idea, commonsense though. Success usually belongs to the person who dares to be the first, to be creative and original.
B. Ambitious and highly moltivated:
Even when a teenager he already vows to compete with IBM. It is this goal that that gives him the strength and courage to strive so hard.
C. His tenacity:
He works hard, and never gives up. His success is the result of his toil and sweat.
D. His thirst for knowledge:
It is true that Dell did not finish school. But that does not mean that he has had no education or that he can succeed without education. He actually studies harder and with a clearer focus.
Genre of Writing: success story
1. Typical Form of Success Story
One incident/episode occurred in the childhood.
This incident began to change the person’s idea.
He became successful by hard working and good luck.
He donated charity back to the society.
2. … from teenager to a tycoon: repetition of the first sound or letter of a succession of words.
Alliteration (首韵): repetition of the same sound, as a consonant or cluster, at the beginning of two or more stressed syllables; the commencement of two or more words of a word group with the same letter.
come clean 全盘招供
from stem to stern 从船头到船尾
live and learn 活到老学到老
a bolt from the blue 晴天霹雳，意外事件
bag and baggage 完全彻底
safe and sound 安全无恙
toss and turn 辗转反侧
Text Theme
The boy was able to turn himself into a multibillion-dollar tycoon in a matter of a few years.
His success demonstrates the qualities that have contributed to the dramatic success.
The success is the result of his toil and sweat.
Structure of the text
Part 1 (paras.1-3 ):
The author begins the text with an episode to show some qualities for success.
Part 2 (paras.4-28 ):
He boosted into a firm in start-up process and his transitional period.
Part 3 (paras.29-33 ):
The author shows us Dell’s private life, charitable work and Dell’s ideas.
Text Analysis
Part 1 (paras. 1—3)
Question 1: What is the episode in his childhood?
In spite of being teased for not using fishing pole, Dell used a trotline (fishing device to which several hooks could be attached) to get more fish than others had caught all together.
Question 2: What qualities did Dell have?
“Dell sat on the beach, painstakingly putting trotline…”
qualities he shows: careful, ready to do sth. with great effort
He uses trotline different from other common fishing poles
qualities he shows: creative, intelligent, trying to experience new ideas and willing to take risks
He kept working when the family told him “you are wasting time” and teased him
qualities he shows: determined, tenacious and persevering
Part 2 (paras. 4—28)
a) High school year (paras. 8—9)
Question: What did he do to earn $18,000?
He sold subscriptions to the Houston Post.
How did he make it?
He identified his potential consumers the newlyweds
He reached them By copying names and addresses
of newlyweds and storing into computer
Dell made customers buy it Special service by sending
a personalized letter, and offering
a free two-week subscription.
b) University year (paras.10—19): How did Dell start business?
1st stage (paras. 10—11):
He identified the market’s need and boosted into firm.
Consumers wanted low-cost computer custom-made to their needs.
Dealers wanted to sell more computers from their excess inventory.
Dell bought dealers’ surplus stock at cheap price and added features to machines—souped-up models.
Question 1: How did he boost into a firm?
advertisement: placing the local advertisement.
marketing skills:1.5% off retail price to customers.
Targets:focusing on the businesses, doctors’offices and law firms.
Question 2: What are the qualities he demonstrated?
a good sense of marketing
sensitivity to advertisement
2nd stage (paras. 12—19)
Question 1: What happened during thanksgiving break in his first college year?
His parents asked him to continue his study.
Question 2: What happened over spring recess?
Dell and his parents made a deal. They agreed that Dell dropped out of school.
Result: Dell started selling computers with a vengeance.
a) After univesity years
1st stage (paras. 20—23): start-up process
Question 1: How did Dell run the business?
He rented a one-room office on a monthly lease.
He hired his first employee handling finance and administration.
He sketched advertisement on the back of pizza box.
He specialized in customized computers.
Question 2: How did he keep the business efficient?
He moved to larger quarters and hired more staff.
He delivered goods at cheaper prices by UPS trucks.
He offered unique features that customers need.
He kept inventory and overhead low.
2nd stage (para. 24): Transition
Question 1: What happened to him after he had established the firm?
His manager left the company.
Question 2: How did he handle the crisis?
He learned the accounting basics himself, which later proved invaluable in his career.
Question 3: What were the qualities he demonstrated?
Positive attitude, ready to overcome difficulties.
Optimistic attitude towards the difficulties.
3rd stage (paras. 25—26) Success
Question: What did he do in order to outcompete his rivals?
marketing strategies: purposes:
money-back guarantee to win the trust from the customers
next-day on-site service to show the commitment to the service
24-hour-a-day toll-free line to reduce time in after-sales service and keep close relation with customers
3rd stage (paras. 27—28): Landmark:
Dell quit dealing in souped-up version of other companies’ products, and started designing, assembling and marketing his own.
The scale of his business:
5,500 employees
over $2 billion revenue
subsidiaries in 16 countries
personal fortune betw. $250 million and $ 300 million
Part 3 (paras. 29—33)
Dell’s personal life: He led a quiet and normal life.
He encouraged people to try to achieve their dreams.
a maze of: a large number of things arranged in a complicated and confusing way 混乱的一堆 e.g.
A maze of narrow alleys leads down to the sea.迂回曲折的小径通往海边。
The building is a maze of corridors. 这座建筑的长廊交错，象迷宫一样。
to call it a day: to decide to stop working because you have down enough or because you are tired, etc. 收工，结束一天的工作。E.g.
I’m tired and hungry. Let’s call it a day.
After 40years in politics he thinks it’s time to call it a day.
To call it quits(for the day): to agree to stop doing sth. 同意停止做e.g.
Let’s do one more exercise, and we’ll call it quits for today.
youngster& youth
youngster: a young man 年轻人
youth: the period of time; the young people as a group 青春；青年人
reel in/ out: (= spool) to wind sth on /off a reel 在卷轴上缠绕e.g.
The boy began to reel in the line slowly when he wanted to stop flying the kite.
Reel + adv / prep 蹒跚，摇晃；旋转 e.g.
when she woke up, she found the room reeling.
be imbued with/by: to be filled with or inspired by certain feeling.使充满；灌输e.g.
The Egyptian poor are deeply imbued with the teachings of Islam. 埃及穷人深受伊斯兰教义的影响。
Young people are usually imbued with strong patriotic feelings.
Saleswoman came asking to speak to “Mr. Michael Dell” about his getting a high school equivalency diploma. Obviously the 8-year-old boy had asked this saleswoman about the possibility of buying high school equivalency diploma, not knowing of course that the diploma is not for sales. Dell’s parents naturally were surprised; therefore he had to “explain” to them. （Notice that this little anecdote is not supposed to reflect Dell’s dishonesty. It is meant to show that he was unusual even as a little boy. He couldn’t wait to complete his education.）
With a vengeance: (infml.) even to a greater degree than is normal, expected, or desired变本加厉地；过度地；猛烈地 e.g.
He tried to quit smoking---only for two weeks. Then he started smoking again, with a vengeance.
In some areas, TB（Tuberculosis）is back, and with a vengeance.
The music started up again with a vengeance.
heap up: to put a lot of things on top of each other in an untidy way （杂乱地）堆积；堆放
to come/go to grips with: to understand and deal with a difficult problem or situation
了解并应付（难题或局面）e.g.
It’s high time we came to grips with the drug problem.
The first thing they decided to come to grips with was their financial reform.
I have never really got to grips with this new technology.
specialize in: be a specialist in 专门研究，专攻 e.g.
She is a literature major, and specializes in women literature.
I don’t think that it’s a good idea to try to specialize in anything now. we should try to be well-grounded in all the major fields first.
to keep pace with: to move or change as fast as the increasing demand/ or as someone/ sth. else 与…并驾齐驱; 齐头并进; 跟上 e.g.
We must keep pace with the changing times.
It’s getting more and more difficult to keep pace with the rapid development of science and technology.
pan out: happen or develop in a particular way (以某种方式)发生, 进展 e.g.
If I don't pan out as an actor I can still go back to school. (Saul Bellow)如果我不能胜任做一名医生，我仍能够回到学校 (索尔•贝洛)
It depends how things pan out. 那得看事情结果怎样了
edge out: To surpass or beat by a small margin 排挤掉：以微弱优势超过或胜过e.g.
The downhill racer edged her opponent out on the middle stretch.下坡滑雪赛的选手将她的对手慢慢挤出中央跑道.
Edge out the opposing team by one point.
on edge: to be nervous, especially because you are expecting something unpleasant to happen紧张的：高度紧张或不安的；易怒的；惴惴不安；烦躁的 e.g.
I have been on edge ever since I got her letter.
Mary is terribly on edge now that the examinations are approaching.
be credited to: attribute to; owe to把…归功于; 是某事发生的原因e.g.
The victory was largely credited to his wonderful generalship.
She credited her progress to her classmate’s help.
You can’t credit the good harvest to favorable weather conditions only.
Much of their success can be credited to Wilson --- an expert.
soup sth. up: (infml) to improve sth. by making it bigger, more attractive, or more exciting 使增大, 使更有吸引力, 使更刺激 e.g.
Software programs to soup up the office E-mail
The name of Michael Dell must be familiar to many young peoples, especially to those who are determined to go in for business. Born in 1965, this wizard boy is able to turn himself into a multibillion-dollar tycoon in a matter of a few years. How does he do it? This text gives us a glimpse of the special qualities of this boy, which have contributed to his dramatic success.
Dell’s success story begins with a brilliant idea. This idea may seem like commonsense today, but Del is the first to hit upon that idea. This is the first secret of his success: to be the first. Success usually belongs to the person who dares to be the first, to be creative and original, and Dell is always bursting with new ideas. Another thing is his ambition. Dell is highly motivated. Even when a teenager he already vows to compete with IBM. It is this goal that gives him the strength and courage to strive so hard. Equally important is his tenacity. He works hard. He never gives up. His success is the result of his toil and sweat. The next point is perhaps his thirst for knowledge. It is true that Dell did not finish school. But that does not mean that he has had no education or that he can succeed without education. He actually studies harder and with a clearer focus. Therefore it would be wrong to conclude from Dell’s story that school education is irrelevant, although it does seem that serious reform has to be carried out to allow a genius to develop his special interests.
The secret of Dell’s success
A. To be the first:
he is the first one to hit upon a brilliant idea, commonsense though. Success usually belongs to the person who dares to be the first, to be creative and original.
B. Ambitious and highly moltivated:
Even when a teenager he already vows to compete with IBM. It is this goal that that gives him the strength and courage to strive so hard.
C. His tenacity:
He works hard, and never gives up. His success is the result of his toil and sweat.
D. His thirst for knowledge:
It is true that Dell did not finish school. But that does not mean that he has had no education or that he can succeed without education. He actually studies harder and with a clearer focus.
Genre of Writing: success story
1. Typical Form of Success Story
One incident/episode occurred in the childhood.
This incident began to change the person’s idea.
He became successful by hard working and good luck.
He donated charity back to the society.
2. … from teenager to a tycoon: repetition of the first sound or letter of a succession of words.
Alliteration (首韵): repetition of the same sound, as a consonant or cluster, at the beginning of two or more stressed syllables; the commencement of two or more words of a word group with the same letter.
come clean 全盘招供
from stem to stern 从船头到船尾
live and learn 活到老学到老
a bolt from the blue 晴天霹雳，意外事件
bag and baggage 完全彻底
safe and sound 安全无恙
toss and turn 辗转反侧
Text Theme
The boy was able to turn himself into a multibillion-dollar tycoon in a matter of a few years.
His success demonstrates the qualities that have contributed to the dramatic success.
The success is the result of his toil and sweat.
Structure of the text
Part 1 (paras.1-3 ):
The author begins the text with an episode to show some qualities for success.
Part 2 (paras.4-28 ):
He boosted into a firm in start-up process and his transitional period.
Part 3 (paras.29-33 ):
The author shows us Dell’s private life, charitable work and Dell’s ideas.
Text Analysis
Part 1 (paras. 1—3)
Question 1: What is the episode in his childhood?
In spite of being teased for not using fishing pole, Dell used a trotline (fishing device to which several hooks could be attached) to get more fish than others had caught all together.
Question 2: What qualities did Dell have?
“Dell sat on the beach, painstakingly putting trotline…”
qualities he shows: careful, ready to do sth. with great effort
He uses trotline different from other common fishing poles
qualities he shows: creative, intelligent, trying to experience new ideas and willing to take risks
He kept working when the family told him “you are wasting time” and teased him
qualities he shows: determined, tenacious and persevering
Part 2 (paras. 4—28)
a) High school year (paras. 8—9)
Question: What did he do to earn $18,000?
He sold subscriptions to the Houston Post.
How did he make it?
He identified his potential consumers the newlyweds
He reached them By copying names and addresses
of newlyweds and storing into computer
Dell made customers buy it Special service by sending
a personalized letter, and offering
a free two-week subscription.
b) University year (paras.10—19): How did Dell start business?
1st stage (paras. 10—11):
He identified the market’s need and boosted into firm.
Consumers wanted low-cost computer custom-made to their needs.
Dealers wanted to sell more computers from their excess inventory.
Dell bought dealers’ surplus stock at cheap price and added features to machines—souped-up models.
Question 1: How did he boost into a firm?
advertisement: placing the local advertisement.
marketing skills:1.5% off retail price to customers.
Targets:focusing on the businesses, doctors’offices and law firms.
Question 2: What are the qualities he demonstrated?
a good sense of marketing
sensitivity to advertisement
2nd stage (paras. 12—19)
Question 1: What happened during thanksgiving break in his first college year?
His parents asked him to continue his study.
Question 2: What happened over spring recess?
Dell and his parents made a deal. They agreed that Dell dropped out of school.
Result: Dell started selling computers with a vengeance.
a) After univesity years
1st stage (paras. 20—23): start-up process
Question 1: How did Dell run the business?
He rented a one-room office on a monthly lease.
He hired his first employee handling finance and administration.
He sketched advertisement on the back of pizza box.
He specialized in customized computers.
Question 2: How did he keep the business efficient?
He moved to larger quarters and hired more staff.
He delivered goods at cheaper prices by UPS trucks.
He offered unique features that customers need.
He kept inventory and overhead low.
2nd stage (para. 24): Transition
Question 1: What happened to him after he had established the firm?
His manager left the company.
Question 2: How did he handle the crisis?
He learned the accounting basics himself, which later proved invaluable in his career.
Question 3: What were the qualities he demonstrated?
Positive attitude, ready to overcome difficulties.
Optimistic attitude towards the difficulties.
3rd stage (paras. 25—26) Success
Question: What did he do in order to outcompete his rivals?
marketing strategies: purposes:
money-back guarantee to win the trust from the customers
next-day on-site service to show the commitment to the service
24-hour-a-day toll-free line to reduce time in after-sales service and keep close relation with customers
3rd stage (paras. 27—28): Landmark:
Dell quit dealing in souped-up version of other companies’ products, and started designing, assembling and marketing his own.
The scale of his business:
5,500 employees
over $2 billion revenue
subsidiaries in 16 countries
personal fortune betw. $250 million and $ 300 million
Part 3 (paras. 29—33)
Dell’s personal life: He led a quiet and normal life.
He encouraged people to try to achieve their dreams.
a maze of: a large number of things arranged in a complicated and confusing way 混乱的一堆 e.g.
A maze of narrow alleys leads down to the sea.迂回曲折的小径通往海边。
The building is a maze of corridors. 这座建筑的长廊交错，象迷宫一样。
to call it a day: to decide to stop working because you have down enough or because you are tired, etc. 收工，结束一天的工作。E.g.
I’m tired and hungry. Let’s call it a day.
After 40years in politics he thinks it’s time to call it a day.
To call it quits(for the day): to agree to stop doing sth. 同意停止做e.g.
Let’s do one more exercise, and we’ll call it quits for today.
youngster& youth
youngster: a young man 年轻人
youth: the period of time; the young people as a group 青春；青年人
reel in/ out: (= spool) to wind sth on /off a reel 在卷轴上缠绕e.g.
The boy began to reel in the line slowly when he wanted to stop flying the kite.
Reel + adv / prep 蹒跚，摇晃；旋转 e.g.
when she woke up, she found the room reeling.
be imbued with/by: to be filled with or inspired by certain feeling.使充满；灌输e.g.
The Egyptian poor are deeply imbued with the teachings of Islam. 埃及穷人深受伊斯兰教义的影响。
Young people are usually imbued with strong patriotic feelings.
Saleswoman came asking to speak to “Mr. Michael Dell” about his getting a high school equivalency diploma. Obviously the 8-year-old boy had asked this saleswoman about the possibility of buying high school equivalency diploma, not knowing of course that the diploma is not for sales. Dell’s parents naturally were surprised; therefore he had to “explain” to them. （Notice that this little anecdote is not supposed to reflect Dell’s dishonesty. It is meant to show that he was unusual even as a little boy. He couldn’t wait to complete his education.）
With a vengeance: (infml.) even to a greater degree than is normal, expected, or desired变本加厉地；过度地；猛烈地 e.g.
He tried to quit smoking---only for two weeks. Then he started smoking again, with a vengeance.
In some areas, TB（Tuberculosis）is back, and with a vengeance.
The music started up again with a vengeance.
heap up: to put a lot of things on top of each other in an untidy way （杂乱地）堆积；堆放
to come/go to grips with: to understand and deal with a difficult problem or situation
了解并应付（难题或局面）e.g.
It’s high time we came to grips with the drug problem.
The first thing they decided to come to grips with was their financial reform.
I have never really got to grips with this new technology.
specialize in: be a specialist in 专门研究，专攻 e.g.
She is a literature major, and specializes in women literature.
I don’t think that it’s a good idea to try to specialize in anything now. we should try to be well-grounded in all the major fields first.
to keep pace with: to move or change as fast as the increasing demand/ or as someone/ sth. else 与…并驾齐驱; 齐头并进; 跟上 e.g.
We must keep pace with the changing times.
It’s getting more and more difficult to keep pace with the rapid development of science and technology.
pan out: happen or develop in a particular way (以某种方式)发生, 进展 e.g.
If I don't pan out as an actor I can still go back to school. (Saul Bellow)如果我不能胜任做一名医生，我仍能够回到学校 (索尔•贝洛)
It depends how things pan out. 那得看事情结果怎样了
edge out: To surpass or beat by a small margin 排挤掉：以微弱优势超过或胜过e.g.
The downhill racer edged her opponent out on the middle stretch.下坡滑雪赛的选手将她的对手慢慢挤出中央跑道.
Edge out the opposing team by one point.
on edge: to be nervous, especially because you are expecting something unpleasant to happen紧张的：高度紧张或不安的；易怒的；惴惴不安；烦躁的 e.g.
I have been on edge ever since I got her letter.
Mary is terribly on edge now that the examinations are approaching.
be credited to: attribute to; owe to把…归功于; 是某事发生的原因e.g.
The victory was largely credited to his wonderful generalship.
She credited her progress to her classmate’s help.
You can’t credit the good harvest to favorable weather conditions only.
Much of their success can be credited to Wilson --- an expert.
soup sth. up: (infml) to improve sth. by making it bigger, more attractive, or more exciting 使增大, 使更有吸引力, 使更刺激 e.g.
Software programs to soup up the office E-mail
Nice but I wanted answers to the textbook questions
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