学术英语 社科,Academic English for Social Sciences,1,http:/www.docin.com/sundae_meng,2,http:/www.docin.com/sundae_meng,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,Lead-in Text A Text B Listening Speaking Writing,Unit Contents,3,Lead-in Reading critically: questions for discussion,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,4,Lead-in,Reading critically: questions for discussion,Reading critically:,Every text is written on a purpose, some are supposed to make you believe. It is important to learn to read critically to get the point. One way of training critical reading is to ask yourself the following questions:,Do you agree with the author?,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,What is the author assuming I will agree with?,What is the author trying to prove?,5,Lead-in,Reading critically: questions for discussion,Does the author adequately defend their argument?,What kind of proof do they use?,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,Is there something they leave out that you would put in?,Does putting it in hurt their argument?,6,Lead-in,Reading critically: questions for discussion,Discuss the following questions:,How do you make the decision that you take this course?,What do you consider when you make this decision?,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,7,Text A,Key terms Critical reading and thinking Difficult sentences English language for academic purpose,Specialized vocabulary Collocations Formal and informal English Signpost language,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,8,Text A,Key terms,rational people: 理性人 Those people who systematically and purposefully do the best they can to achieve their objectives, given the available opportunities.,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,marginal change: 边际变化 small incremental adjustments to a plan of action,marginal benefit: 边际效益 the additional benefit from an increase in an activity,9,Text A,Key terms,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,marginal cost: 边际成本 the additional cost from an increase in an activity,marginal decision-making: 边际决策 the additional cost from an increase in an activity,incentive: 激励 something that induces a person to act,10,How People Make Decisions,Economists explanation about decision making: There are rules behind peoples decision-making behaviors.,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,11,Rational people think at the margin.,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,Example 1: standby tickets What a rational airline can do? Situation: Flying a 200-seat plane across the U.S. costs the airline $100,000. Cost of each seat: $500 (Thats to say, never sell a ticket for less than $500.) Suppose: A plane is about to take off with 10 empty seats. A standby passenger will pay $300 for a seat. Question: should the airline sell the ticket?,12,Answer: Yes. Reason: If the plane has empty seat, the cost of adding one more passenger is tiny. Here the marginal cost is merely the cost of something to eat, like peanuts, coco, etc. Conclusion: As long as the standby passenger pays more than the marginal cost, selling the ticket is profitable.,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,13,Example 2: water vs. diamond Why is water so cheap, while diamonds are so expensive?,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,14,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,Conclusion: Rational people think at the margin. (They make decisions by comparing costs and benefits.) Are you a rational person?,15,Example 1: the price of an apple How people respond to incentives? When the price rises: It provides an incentive for buyers to consume less; It provides an incentive for sellers to produce more.,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,Rational people respond to incentives.,16,Example 2: a tax on gasoline How people respond to incentives? Encourage people to drive small, more fuel-efficient cars; carpool take public transportation; live closer to where they work; drive hybrid cars; drive electric cars.,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,17,Example 3: a seat belt law American laws require seat belts as standard equipment on new cars. How a seat belt law alters a drivers cost-benefit calculation (Peltzmans analysis): Seat belts reduce the likelihood of injury or death make accidents less costly drive faster and less carefully a large number of accidents,Text A,Critical reading and thinking,Unit 1 Decision-Making Behaviors in Economic Activities,18,Result: These laws produce both fewer deaths per accid