This is an essay on the problem of lifestyle in our post-industrial modern society.
In modern society, time is money. And we go faster and faster. We are always in a hurry. We are always afraid of legging behind. We take for granted that faster is better. We can't wait. We must satisfy our needs immediately.
But now the author raises the question: Is it wise to keep speeding? Shouldn't we slow down before we speed out of control? Isn't it more important to spend more time than to save time? Is this quick fix society an ideal society?
Clearly the author is not alone in feeling that way in modern times. People seem to have more and more but they are enjoying less and less. She reminds us of the famous Chaplin movie Modern Times, in which workers appear as extensions of machines rather than machines appear as extensions of human beings.
This is perhaps also a philosophical aspect about speed. It is not necessarily a blessing. In fact, more haste may mean less speed, as the proverb goes.
The overall structure of the article:
I. The writer's reflection on the ___________ of Americans after her trip to West Virginia and back home: her country has become a nation in search of the ____________. (paras.1-3)
II. Three features of the quick fix society (paras.4-6)
A. ________________________________________ (para.4)
B. ________________________________________ (para.5)
C. ________________________________________ (para.6)
III. The writer's appeal to her fellow countrymen to return to life in the __________. (paras.7-8)
Think about the following questions. You might be asked to answer some of them when we have the online class through QQ.
How did the author find her trip to West Virginia and back home? Why?
What did the two trips set the author thinking about?
What does the title “Quick Fix Society” mean?
What purpose does the third paragraph serve?
What are the three features of a quick fix society?
What is the principle of deferred gratification according to the author?
What do people tend to do to gratify themselves now?
What does the author mean by “superficially instead of thoroughly”?
What is the function of the three questions at the beginning of para.7?
According to the author, what is the sad truth?
Do you think it is a sad truth?
What does the author propose in the end? Do you agree with her on that?
One more task:
Give your own examples to support the idea “now instead of later”.
Give your own examples to support the idea “faster instead of slower”.
Give your own examples to support the idea “superficially instead of thoroughly”.