新世纪大学英语(第二版)综合教程4LectureNotes_U1

新世纪大学英语(第二版)综合教程4Lecture Notes_U1 Electronic Teaching Portfolio Book Four Unit One: Man and Nature Part I Get Started Section A Discussion ▇ Sit in groups of threes or fours and discuss the following questions. 1. Do you think man lives in harmony with nature now? 2. Do you think that man has been destroying nature? Could you give some examples? 3. What do you think we should do to preserve nature? ▇ Answers for reference: 1. A possible answer: No. The present relationship between man and nature is not as harmonious as before. With the population explosion and the development of the economy, serious damage has been done to nature. All this has resulted in such problems as global warming, soil erosion, shortage of fresh water, droughts and sandstorms. Human beings no longer live in harmony with nature. 2. A possible answer: Yes. For example, man has cut down half of the trees that existed 10,000 years ago. The loss of trees has upset the ecosystem and resulted in the extinction of many species. Consequently, nature has lost its balance. Another example is that man has been burning too much fossil fuel for daily use and industrial production, which has caused heavy pollution to our environment. 3. A possible answer: Firstly, we shouldn’t develop our economy at the expense of nature. Secondly, we should take as little as possible from nature and put back into it as much as we can. Thirdly, we should form the habit of saving natural resources. We should be aware that natural resources are not inexhaustible. When we reach the point of no return, there will be nothing left for future generations. Section B Quotes ▇ Study the following quotes about man and nature and discuss in pairs what you can learn from them. Frank Lloyd Wright ⊙ Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. — Frank Lloyd Wright Interpretation: As an architect, Wright emphasizes the importance of loving and studying nature. We should observe nature, take care of it and live in harmony with it. And then we will never feel disappointed with it. About Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959): an American architect and writer. He was the most creative genius of American architecture. Albert Einstein ⊙ Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein Interpretation: As a scientist, Einstein believes that a close study of nature will help us better understand things. About Albert Einstein (1879-1955): US physicist and mathematician, born in Germany, who developed the Theory of Relativity, which completely changed the way that scientists understand space and time. William Hazlitt ⊙ Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — William Hazlitt Interpretation: As a writer, Hazlitt urges us to love and appreciate nature heart and soul. About William Hazlitt (1778-1830): a British writer and critic, known for his essays on many subjects, especially literature. His best-known collection of essays is entitled Table Talk (席间闲谈). John Cage ⊙ The highest purpose is to have no purpose at all. This puts one in accord with nature, in her manner of operation. — John Cage Interpretation: Man’s ideal life is to be integrated into nature, so we should respect nature and follow its laws. About John Cage (1912-1992): a US composer and pianist. In 1951, he organized a group of musicians and engineers to make the first music on magnetic tape. Section C Watching and Discussion Watch the following video clip ―If the world warms by 6 degrees‖ and do the tasks that follow: 插入视频片段： ―If the world warms by 6 degrees.wmv‖ 1. Fill in the missing words according to what you hear from the video clip. become Some of the world’s great cities are If , we’re going to face nothing less than a global wipe out. 2. What do you think are other possible consequences of a warmer climate? (Open.) Script： If the world warms by 6 degrees, from a distance the oceans may appear bright blue, but they are marine wastelands. Deserts march across continents like conquering armies. Natural disasters become common events. Some of the world’s great cities are flooded and abandoned. This could be our world plus 6 degrees. ―Warmings of 6 degrees over longer time periods have been associated with some of the most devastating mass extinctions which have ever taken place, so it’s certainly fair to assume that if temperatures soar by 6 degrees within less than a century, then we’re going to face nothing less than a global wipe out.‖ 6 degrees of warming has been called the Doomsday scenario. Our lives would never be the same again. Part II Listen and Respond Section A Word Bank Section B Task One: Focusing on the Main Ideas ▇ Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences according to the information contained in the listening passage. 1. What is the main idea of the passage? A) The importance of seafood supplies. B) The fish harvest in the North Atlantic. C) The decline in fish supplies in the sea. D) The importance of protecting sea resources. 2. What did people in Europe and America in the 19th century think about marine resources? A) They thought that marine resources were almost exhausted. B) They thought that marine resources were seriously destroyed. C) They thought that marine resources were unlimited. D) They thought that marine resources were endangered. 3. Why are the threats to fish more alarming than the threats to animals and birds? A) Because fish is a much needed food resource. B) Because plenty of fish is killed every year. C) Because fish is the only diet for many people. D) Because the sea fisheries are going to be exhausted. 4. How much fish is harvested in the North Atlantic every year? A) 12 billion pounds. B) 12 million pounds. C) 20 billion pounds. D) 20 million pounds. 5. What warning do scientists give in the passage? A) Natural resources will be exhausted within the next few years. B) Fish reserves will be destroyed within the next few years because of excessive fishing. C) People in some parts of the world will face starvation because of the drought. D) People’s demand on fish will decline in some parts of the world. ▇ Key: 1 D 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B Section C Task Two: Zooming In on the Details Listen to the recording again and fill in each of the blanks according to what you have heard. Part III Read and Explore Text A Section A Discovering the Main Ideas Exercise 1: Answer the following questions with the information contained in Text A. 1) Does man tend to become less dependent on nature with the rapid development of society? Why or why not? 2) What does the author think about the present relationship between man and nature? 3) What’s the distinct feature of modern technology according to the passage? 4) What’s the solution to the ecological crisis according to the author? 5) What’s the author’s attitude towards the human transformation of nature? ▇ Answers for reference: 1) No. As society develops, man tends to become less dependent on nature directly, while indirectly his dependence grows. For instance, in this industrial society, it appears that man is relying less on nature for its natural gifts since he can produce what he needs with the help of modern technology. However, man still has to take raw materials from nature for production and, in fact, depends on nature more than ever for such irreplaceable resources as coal, oil, and so on. 2) According to the author, the present relationship between man and nature is not as harmonious as before, as the previous dynamic balance between man and nature and between nature and society as a whole has shown ominous signs of breaking down. It is increasingly difficult to obtain irreplaceable natural resources for the needs of production and to eliminate industrial waste. 3) The distinct feature of modern technology is the increasing abundance of produced and used synthetic goods. With modern technology, man has produced and consumed more synthetic goods than he needs, which has severely polluted nature. 4) According to the author, the solution lies in rational and wise organization of both production itself and care for Mother Nature by all humanity. One of the ways to deal with the crisis is to use natural resources such as solar energy, and the power of winds. 5) The author takes a negative attitude towards human transformation of nature. According to the passage, man’s transformation has brought about fatal destruction to nature. Nature is being exhausted in resources, contaminated by synthetic products, and troubled by ecological imbalance. Exercise 2: Text A can be divided into four parts with the paragraph number(s) of each part provided as follows. Write down the main idea of each part. Paragraph(s) Main Idea II III IV Section B In-depth Study Nature nurtures mankind unselfishly with its rich resources. Yet, man is so carried away in his transformation of nature that he is unaware that it also has limitations and needs constant care. Now worn by the excessive demands of mankind, nature is unable to maintain the ecological balance needed. Humanity is faced with the problem of how to stop, or at least to moderate, the destruction of Mother Nature. Man in the Realm of Nature Alexander Spirkin 1 Human beings live in the realm of nature. They are constantly surrounded by it and interact with it. Man is constantly aware of the influence of nature in the form of the air he breathes, the water he drinks, and the food he eats. We are connected with nature by ―blood‖ ties and we cannot live outside nature. 2 Man is not only a dweller in nature, he also transforms it. Humanity converts nature’s wealth into the means of the cultural, historical life of society. Man has subdued and disciplined electricity and compelled it to serve the interests of society. Not only has man transferred various species of plants and animals to different climatic conditions, he has also changed the shape and climate of his environment and transformed plants and animals. 3 As society develops, man tends to become less dependent on nature directly, while indirectly his dependence grows. Our distant ancestors lived in fear of nature’s destructive forces. Very often they were unable to obtain the merest daily necessities. However, despite their imperfect tools, they worked together stubbornly, collectively, and were able to attain results. Nature was also changed through interaction with man. Forests were destroyed and the area of farmland increased. Nature with its elemental forces was regarded as something hostile to man. The forest, for example, was something wild and frightening and people tried to force it to retreat. This was all done in the name of civilisation, which meant the places where man had made his home, where the earth was cultivated, where the forest had been cut down. 4 But as time goes on mankind becomes increasingly concerned with the question of where and how to obtain irreplaceable natural resources for the needs of production. Science and man’s practical transforming activities have made humanity aware of the enormous geological role played by the industrial transformation of the earth. 5 At present the previous dynamic balance between man and nature and between nature and society as a whole has shown ominous signs of breaking down. The problem of the so-called replaceable resources of the biosphere has become particularly acute. It is getting more and more difficult to satisfy the needs of human beings and society even for such a substance, for example, as fresh water. The problem of eliminating industrial waste is also becoming increasingly complex. 6 Modern technology is distinguished by an ever increasing abundance of produced and used synthetic goods. Hundreds of thousands of synthetic materials are being made. People increasingly cover their bodies from head to foot in nylon and other synthetic, glittering fabrics that are obviously not good for them. Young people may hardly feel this, and they pay more attention to appearance than to health. But they become more aware of this harmful influence as they grow older. 7 As time goes on the synthetic output of production turns into waste, and then substances that in their original form were not very toxic are transformed in the cycle of natural processes into aggressive agents. Today both natural scientists and philosophers are asking themselves the question: Is man’s destruction of the biosphere inevitable? 8 The man-nature relation — the crisis of the ecological situation — is a global problem. Its solution lies in rational and wise organization of both production itself and care for Mother Nature, not just by individuals, enterprises or countries, but by all humanity. One of the ways to deal with the crisis situation in the ―man-nature‖ system is to use such resources as solar energy, the power of winds, the riches of the seas and oceans and other as yet unknown natural forces of the universe. 9 But to return to our theme, the bitter truth is that those human actions which violate the laws of nature, the harmony of the biosphere, threaten to bring disaster and this disaster may turn out to be universal. How apt then are the words of ancient Oriental wisdom: live closer to nature, my friends, and its eternal laws will protect you! ▇ 课文参考译文 人在自然界 亚历山大〃斯伯金 1 人类生活在大自然的王国里。他们时刻被大自然所包围并与之相互影响。人类呼吸的空气、喝下的水和摄入的食物，无一不令人类时刻感知到大自然的影响。我们与大自然血肉相连，离开大自然，我们将无法生存。 2 人类不仅生活在大自然之中，同时也在改变着大自然。人类把自然资源转变为各种文化，社会历史的财富。人类降服并控制了电，迫使它为人类社会的利益服务。人类不仅把各种各 样的动植物转移到不同的气候环境，也改变了他生活环境的地貌和气候并使动植物因之而发生转变。 3 随着社会的发展，人类对大自然的直接依赖越来越少，而间接的依赖却越来越多。我们远古的祖先生活在大自然的威胁及破坏力的恐惧之中，他们常常连基本的生活物资都无法获取。然而，尽管工具不甚完备，他们确能同心协力，顽强工作，并总是有所收获。在与人类的相互作用中，大自然也发生了改变。森林被破坏了，耕地面积增加了。大自然及其威力被看成是和人类敌对的东西。譬如，森林被认为是野性的和令人恐惧的，因此人类便想方设法使其面积缩小。这一切都是打着“文明”的旗号进行的，所谓“文明”，就是人类在哪里建立家园，耕耘土地，哪里的森林就被砍伐。 4 然而，随着岁月的流逝，人类越来越关注的是在何处得到和如何得到生产所需的不可替代的自然资源的问。科学与人类改变大自然的实践活动已经使人类意识到了工业在改变地球的进程中对地质产生的重大影响。 5 目前，人与自然以及自然与社会整体之间过去存在的动态平衡，已呈现崩溃的迹象。生物圈中所谓可替代资源的问题变得极为尖锐。人类和社会的需求，即便是简单得像淡水一样的物质，也变得越来越难以满足。清除工业废物的问题也变得日益复杂。 6 现代技术的特征是生产和使用日益丰富的人工合成产品。人们生产成千上万的人工合成。人们越来越多地用尼龙和其他人造纤维把自己从头到脚地包裹起来，这些绚丽的织物显然对他们无益。年轻人或许很少注意到这一点，他们更关注的是外，而不是健康。但是上了年岁之后，他们就会感受到这种有害的影响。 7 久而久之，这些合成物质转变成废弃物，那些原本毒性不大的物质在自然循环中变为极其有害的物质。自然科学家和哲学家如今都在问自己这样一个问题：人类对生物圈的破坏难道是无法避免的吗？ 8 人与大自然的关系 —— 生态环境的危机 —— 已经成为一个全球性问题。这一问题的解决之道在于理性而明智地协调生产和对大自然的关爱之间的关系，这不仅要依靠个人、企业或者某些国家的力量，而且要依靠全人类的力量。解决人与大自然关系危机的之一，就是使用太阳能、风能，海洋能等资源，以及其他尚不为人所知的宇宙中的自然能。 9 但是，回到我们原先的主题上，令人难以接受的事实是那些违背了自然规律、破坏了生物圈和谐的人类行为将会带来灾难，而这种灾难也许是全球性的。古代东方智者的话讲得真是恰如其分：朋友们，你要是亲近大自然，大自然就会用那永恒不变的规律永远呵护你！ Good Usage （Para. 1） Human beings live in the realm of nature. are surrounded by interact with is aware of in the form of Good Usage (Para. 2) converts nature’s wealth into the means of… subdued and disciplined electricity compelled it to… Not only has man transferred …, he has also… Good Usage (Para. 3) Key Words and Expressions for Text A compel vt. make (a person or thing) do sth. by force, moral persuasion, or orders that must be obeyed 强迫；强求；强使 e.g. 1. I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book. 2. Leonie’s mother was compelled to take in washing to help support her family. 利奥妮的妈妈被迫在家替人洗衣服，以贴补家用。 transfer vt. [(from, to)] move from one place, job, position, etc., to another [常与from或to连用]转移；调动 e.g. 1. How can I transfer money from my bank account to his? 2. Anton was able to transfer from Lavine’s to an American company. 安东成功地从拉文调到了一家美国公司。 CF: move, shift, transfer, remove 这些动词均可表示“从一处移往另一处”之意。 move指从一处到另一外的任何距离的转移。例如： A traffic warden asked him to move his car. shift侧重位置与方向的改变。例如： The entire pile shifted and slid, thumping onto the floor. transfer一般表示转送或移交迁移，尤指交通运输中的换乘或职务的调动等。例如： He likes to transfer from the bus to the Blue Line at 103rd Street in Watts. I was transferred to the book department. remove作“移动”解时，与move可换用，还可指撤职或开除学藉等。例如： As soon as the cake is done, remove it from the oven. The president could only be removed from power once free elections were organised. live in fear of be always afraid of sth./sb. or that sth. bad will happen 终日为……而担心，提心吊胆 e.g. 1. At that time they lived in fear of being arrested by the secret police. 2. One in 10 Californians is unemployed and thousands more live in fear of losing their jobs. 十分之一的加利福尼亚人没有工作，还有数以千计的人成天提心吊胆地害怕失去工作。 retreat vi. [(from, to)] move back or leave a center of fighting or other activity, esp. when forced to do so [常与from或to连用]（尤指被迫地）撤退，退却 e.g. 1. It was so hot outside that even dogs would retreat into the shade. 2. From bouncing confidence she had retreated into self-pity. 她从信心百倍变得自怜自哀。 cut down bring down by cutting 砍倒 e.g. 1. George was trying to cut down a tree with an axe when he was caught by the police. 2. It was difficult to cut the tree down with a knife. 用一把刀很难把这棵树砍倒。 show signs of / show every sign of show that sth. is happening or that sth. is true or exists 显示……的征兆 e.g. 1. After years of decline, agriculture is showing signs of improvement. 2. Horatio and Hamlet saw the king show every sign of fear and anger. 荷瑞修和哈姆雷特看到国王显露出种种害怕、愤怒的迹象。 technology n. [C; U] (a branch of) knowledge dealing with scientific and industrial methods and their practical use in industry; practical science （一门）科技；学；工业技术；应用科学 e.g. 1. We employed an expert to advise us on new technology in the automobile industry. 2. Worldwide, an enormous amount of research effort goes into military technology. 在世界范围内，大量的研究精力都投入到军事技术上。 from head to foot over the whole length of one’s body 从头到脚；全身 e.g. 1. They are protected from head to foot with face masks, caps and white gowns. 2. A passing lorry covered us in mud from head to foot. 一辆经过的卡车溅了我们一身泥。 output n. [C; U] quantity of goods, etc. produced (by a machine, worker, etc.) （机器、工人等的）产量 e.g. 1. The car factory hopes to increase its output by 30% next year. 2. Government statistics show the largest drop in industrial output for ten years. 政府统计数据显示这是10年来工业产量最大幅度的滑坡。 cycle n. a number of related events happening in a regularly repeated order 循环，周而复始 e.g. 1. There seems to be an endless cycle of violence in this troubled part of the world. 2. The figures marked the final low point of the present economic cycle. 这些数据显示了目前经济周期的最低点。 destruction n. [U] the act of destroying or state of being destroyed 破坏；毁灭；消灭；灭亡 e.g. 1. The enemy bombs caused widespread destruction to the city. 2. Some scientific discoveries have been perverted to create weapons of destruction. 某些科学发明被滥用来生产毁灭性武器。 as yet fml [with negatives] until now 〖正式〗［与否定式连用］到目前为止（还没有），至今（仍不） e.g. 1. The extract is taken from an as yet unpublished novel. 2. We have not as yet received a response. 我们还没收到回复。 threaten vt. be a danger or threat to; seem likely (to harm, spoil, ruin, etc.) 威胁到，危及 e.g. 1. Our rainforests are being threatened with destruction, and the consequences will be severe. 2. The unity of our society is threatened by troublesome and restless minorities. 我们社会的团结遭到了一小撮滋扰生事、不安分守己的群体的威胁。 eternal n. lasting forever; without beginning or end 永远的；永恒的 e.g. 1. The possibility of eternal life is a principal belief of many religions. 2. Honesty and diligence should be your eternal mates. (Benjamin Franklin) 诚实与勤勉，应该成为你永久的伙伴。（本杰明·富兰克林） Difficult Sentences for Text A 1. We are connected with nature by ―blood‖ ties and we cannot live outside nature. (Para. 1) Q: Please paraphrase this sentence. A: Nature is the mother to mankind. She nurtures mankind with her rich resources. Without nature, man could not survive at all. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese. A: 我们与大自然血肉相连，离开大自然，我们将无法生存。 2. Nature was also changed through interaction with man. (Para. 3) Q: Please paraphrase this sentence. A: As a result of man’s transformation, nature has changed geographically. Human activities such as cutting down forests, removing mountains and filling up seas and lakes have resulted in the geographical changes of nature. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese. A: 在与人类的相互作用中，大自然也发生了改变。 3. Its solution lies in rational and wise organization of both production itself and care for Mother Nature, not just by individuals, enterprises or countries, but by all humanity. (Para. 8) Q: What is the implied meaning of the italicized part of the sentence? A: To solve the global ecological problem, we must plan our production activities in a rational and sensible manner so as to ensure that economic development is coordinated with environmental protection. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese. A: 这一问题的解决之道在于理性而明智地协调生产和对大自然的关爱之间的关系，这不仅要依靠个人、企业或者某些国家的力量，而且要依靠全人类的力量。 4. How apt then are the words of ancient Oriental wisdom: live closer to nature, my friends, and its eternal laws will protect you! (Para. 9) Q: What is the implied meaning of the italicized part of the sentence? A: If we live in harmony with nature and obey its laws, we can always rely on it for survival. Q: Translate this sentence into Chinese. A: 古代东方智者的话讲得真是恰如其分：朋友们，亲近大自然，大自然就会用那永恒不变的规律永远呵护你！ Extended Questions ▇ Extended questions (Para. 1) Q: Can you find a proper Chinese idiom to indicate the idealized relationship between man and nature? A: A well-known example is ―天人合一‖, which means ―harmony of man with nature‖ or ―man is an integral part of nature.‖ Q: What does the author imply by the phrase ―blood ties‖ in the last sentence of Paragraph 1? A: ―Blood ties‖ usually refer to the relationship among family members. By using this phrase, the author implies that the connection between man and nature is as inseparable as that of family members. ▇ Extended questions (Para. 2) Q: What do you think are the consequences of man’s transformation of nature? A: On the one hand, man has made great achievements in transforming nature and has benefited a great deal from his efforts. On the other hand, he has robbed nature of its resources and has destroyed it to such an extent that he will have to suffer from the consequences caused by his own efforts. ▇ Extended questions (Para. 3) Q: Can you cite some examples to show man’s indirect dependence on nature as society develops? A: For example, with the development of society man tends to depend less on nature for her ready-made gifts for food and shelter. We now have processed foods and we build houses of different styles. We wear clothes made of synthetic materials. However, we still have to take raw materials from nature for production and we depend on nature more than ever for irreplaceable resources such as coal and oil. ▇ Extended questions (Paras. 4-5) Q: Can you list some irreplaceable natural resources? A: The irreplaceable natural resources are: natural gas, oil, coal, minerals, etc. Q: Do you think it a good thing for a country to develop its industrial production at an ever increasing speed? A: No, I don’t think so. For any country, industrialization is absolutely necessary, but it should not be achieved by upsetting the balance between man and nature. The growth of industrial production should adapt to social development as well as to the preservation and protection of natural resources. Q: How do you think man can get on well with nature? A: To get on well with nature, man should be conscious that the fates of man and nature are bound together. Nature can be man’s friend or enemy, which depends on how man treats nature. Be good to nature, and nature will reward man. Man has left some enduring scars on Mother Earth. What man must do now is to stop his destructive activities and take the initiative to heal Mother Nature. Only by doing so can man live in perfect harmony with nature. Section C Voicing Your Views ▆In our everyday life, we may find lots of instances of nature-unfriendly behaviour. Now work in pairs or groups and fill in the table with some such instances and then offer your suggestions or possible solutions. Share your views with the whole class. Text B Section A KEY WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS Key Words: track n. also tracks, a line or set of marks left by a person, animal, vehicle, etc., that has passed before （人、兽等的）足迹，踪迹，痕迹；（车辆的）轨辙 e.g. Only faint traces of the tiger’s tracks could be seen in the mud. McKee suddenly noticed tire tracks on the bank ahead. bare a. without clothes or covering 赤裸的 e.g. In the deep fall most of the trees are bare and the fields are brown. The bases of the trees were nibbled bare by rabbits. scrape vt. clean or make (a surface) smooth by pulling or pushing an edge firmly across the unwanted material repeatedly 把……刮干净，擦干净 e.g. Shortly after dinner, she scraped the sticky saucepan clean. She went round the car scraping the frost off the windows. tip vt. [(with)] cover the end or point of [常与with连用] 覆盖……的尖端 e.g. The mountain is tipped with snow all (the) year round. It is a walking stick tipped with a metal spike. miracle n. an action done by esp. a holy person that is impossible according to the ordinary laws of nature 奇迹 e.g. The doctors said that her recovery was a miracle. A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway. pile n. [(of)] a tidy collection of objects, esp. when made of a number of things of the same kind placed on top of each other [常与of连用]（由同类东西堆成的）堆，叠，摞 e.g. You’d better arrange the documents in neat piles before the teacher comes in. We sat in Sam’s study, among the piles of books. mass a. [no comp.] of or for a large number, esp. of people [无比较级]许多（人）的，大量的 e.g. Owing to the mass migration, many houses in this area are inhabited only by the elderly. These precise instruments have already gone into mass production. spark n. [(of)] a very small but important bit, esp. of a quality; trace [常与of连用]（尤指某种品格的）丝毫，略微，一点点 e.g. He shows not a spark of enthusiasm in his new job. He hasn’t a spark of generosity in him. thereby ad. fml or law by that means; by doing or saying that 〖正式或法律〗由此，因而，从而；借以 e.g. I found a shortcut through the woods, thereby cutting the journey time in half. Regular exercise strengthens the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. emerge vi. [(from)] come out or appear from inside or from being hidden [常与from连用]（从里面或隐藏处）出现，浮现，露出 e.g. She saw a rabbit emerge from the shrubs across the lawn. The postman emerged from his van soaked to the skin. trigger vt. start or cause (esp. a number of events, often of an undesirable kind, that happen one after the other) 引发，激发（尤指一连串不好的事） e.g. The politicians are wondering what triggered the disturbances in January. The current recession was triggered by a slump in consumer spending. consume vt. fml eat or drink, esp. eagerly or in large amounts 〖正式〗大吃，大喝 e.g. It is said that each of us needs to consume at least 5 liters of water per day. The British consume a vast amount of tea each year. hollow a. having an empty space inside 中空的，空（心）的 e.g. The birds are nesting in a hollow log. Bamboo is light because it is hollow. sweep sb. up pick sb. up in one quick powerful flowing movement 猛地抱起某人 e.g. Realizing that the house was on fire, she swept up the baby and ran out of the house. He swept her up into his arms. cope with deal successfully with a difficult situation 成功地应付，对付 e.g. No matter how complicated the situation was, he could cope with it successfully. I cannot cope with that boy; he is stubborn. tough it out infml get through and defeat a difficult situation by having a strong will〖非正式〗渡过难关，从困难中硬挺过来；坚持到底 e.g. Since we have to tough it out, why not take a positive attitude towards our situation? We didn’t dare think about what might be happening – we were trying to tough it out. search out find out or uncover by searching 找到；找出，查出，搜寻出 e.g. The lawyer searched out some weaknesses and loopholes in the witness’s statement. Traditional Spanish food is delicious and its specialties are worth searching out. up to as far as; to and including 直到……；至多…… e.g. If the service is good, the tip will be up to HK $100 in an especially nice restaurant. Mr Cluley said that keeping anti-virus software up to date would also help to avoid problems. nothing short of (used to add force to a statement) nothing less than 不少于……的；简直（用于加强语气） e.g. Starting from scratch, you have built up such a large steel plant. This is nothing short of a miracle. Nothing short of a world war could tear us away from this line. thaw out (cause to) become not frozen （使）融解，融化，解冻 e.g. The iced water pipe has thawed out due to the rising temperature. Deep-frozen meat needs to be thawed out – preferably overnight before it is cooked. settle in move comfortably into or get used to a new home, job, etc. 迁入新居；习惯于（新的家、工作等） e.g. A long time ago, a great number of English people settled in America and Australia. Shouldn’t people who settle in the UK as residents make an effort to learn English? Section B Difficult Sentences 1. No tracks but my own are stitched into the dusting of fresh snow, white as birch bark, that fell during the night. (Para. 1) Q: Please identify the figures of speech used in this sentence. A: Metaphor (―… are stitched into…‖, walking in the snow is compared to the sewing of clothes) and simile (―white as birch bark‖, the color of snow is compared to that of the birch bark). Q: Please translate this sentence into Chinese. A: 昨夜刚刚下了一场大雪，像白桦树皮那样洁白，白雪皑皑的大地上什么也没有，只有我自己的足迹，仿佛是缝在桦树皮上的一行细密针脚。 2. The sight of flakes parachuting onto the front lawn, which swept you up in December, now just means you have to scrape your car windshield. (Para. 3) Q: Make a sentence with the italicized structure. A: The (very) sight of him makes me sick. Q: What did people use to think about the seasonal change from winter to spring, according to the paragraph? A: According to the paragraph, humans used to be quite ignorant about nature and the change of seasons. It was believed that all living creatures died in winter and simply regenerated when spring came. For example, we used to believe that mice regenerated naturally from rag piles; frogs and turtles climbed out of puddles, spawned by magic spring rains; and birds changed into other animals to get through the frigid months. Q: What can be inferred from the sentence about birds changing into other animals? What is really happening? A: From the sentence, it can be inferred that at one time we humans did not know anything about the workings of nature when the seasons changed. We invented stories about what happened to the animals in winter. For example, we used to believe that birds transformed into animals of other kinds in the winter time, and then changed back into birds when spring came. We now know that many species of birds migrate to warmer climates in winter and return in spring. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 5-7) Q: What are the two basic options open to wildlife to survive winter? A: To survive winter, wildlife has two options: either to leave or tough it out. Q: How do butterflies, reindeers, and gray whales survive winter? A: They all migrate to warmer climates by traveling a tremendously long distance. Q: Do all animals travel a long distance to get through the harsh winter? A: No, some animals make short trips to nearby areas with suitable microclimates, while some others may just stay where they live and go hibernating. Q: What is a microclimate in your opinion? Would you give an example of the existence of a microclimate in our surroundings? A: A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet (for example a garden bed) or as large as many square miles. Microclimates exist, for example, near bodies of water which may cool the local atmosphere, or in heavily urban areas where brick, concrete, and asphalt (沥青) absorb the sun’s energy, heat up, and reradiate that heat to the air. The resulting urban heat island is a kind of microclimate. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 8-9) Q: How do musk oxen cope with cold? A: Musk oxen have developed certain ways to stay warm. They stand with their backs to the icy wind, and when they breathe in the freezing arctic air, they do so slowly so that their nostrils warm it up before they take it in. Q: How do polar bears cope with the cold? A: Polar bears have evolved bodily features to stay warm. Underneath their fur, which has almost 10,000 hairs per square inch, they have layers of fat up to seven inches thick. They also have rough footpads, which stop them from skidding on the ice. Q: What does the author think of the survival of chickadees? A: The author thinks that the survival of chickadees is one of the miracles of nature because they are so small and frail, and yet they can manage to fight against bitter winds that can reach a speed of 40 miles per hour. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 10-12) Q: How do chickadees survive winter? A: First of all, chickadees eat twice as much food during the daytime in winter as in summer, which will be slowly consumed during the cold night. Secondly, in winter, they grow 30 percent more feathers and can fluff them up to trap warm air. Thirdly, when it gets very cold, chickadees drop their body temperatures as much as 20 degrees below the normal 104 so as to slow energy consumption. Q: What does ―a trick‖ in the last sentence in Para. 12 refer to? A: It refers to the way that frogs flood their bloodstreams with glucose to prevent cell damage during hibernation in winter. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 13-15) Q: Why did the author tap the ice on top of a small creek? A: The author hoped that his tap would send a message to the turtles and other animals beneath the frozen creek that were also waiting for spring. He was longing to see all the animals burst back to life with the arrival of spring. Q: How do bears hibernate in winter? A: With the first snow, bears den in hollow logs, caves, shallow holes lined with grass. Sometimes they den up to 9 feet high in the broken-off trunk of ancient trees. Their heart rates also drop to ten beats a minute and they settle in for four to six months. Q: What is the bears’ belief according to the author? A: According to the author, bears firmly believe that spring will return, that the sun will shine again, that the rivers will flow freely once again, and that the flowers will eventually bloom. ▇ Comprehension questions (Paras. 16-18) Q: What do you think is the main idea of the text? A: The main idea of the text is that man, like any other living creature, is closely connected to and significantly affected by Mother Nature, whom we should treat with both respect and awe. The text also tells us that we should study nature, love nature, stay close to nature, and follow its laws. Part IV Optional Classroom Activities 1. The text tells us how some animals survive the cold winter. Complete the following table by listing the animals and the ways and means they have devised to cope with the cold in winter. ■Answers for reference 2. Work in groups and conduct research on any species of wildlife that you are interested in, focusing on how they survive winter. Present your findings to the whole class. Par V Enhance Your Language Awareness Section A Useful Expressions Section B Grammar in Context 现在分词作状语 一、现在分词短语作时间状语： 1．分词动作一发生，谓语动作紧跟着发生，用现在分词的一般式作时间状语，其逻辑主语为句中的主语。常用的动词有：hear, see, arrive, return, get to, look, open, close, leave, turn around, walk等，表示一个极短暂动作。如： Hearing their teacher’s voice, the pupils stopped talking at once. 2．谓语动作发生在分词所表示的动作过程之中，用when / while+现在分词的一般式，分词的逻辑主语为句中的主语。如： Don’t be careless when / while having an exam. ▆ Sample essay My Understanding of Environmental Protection Man and the environment are closely related. Man relies on the environment for water, food and shelter. A harmonious relationship between man and the environment is essential for human survival on the earth. However, man and the environment have never been on such bad terms as they are now. As society develops, man’s transformation of nature has severely polluted his living environment. Deforestation leads to changes in rainfall patterns, causing devastating floods, droughts and sandstorms. The discharge of chemical pollutants endangers our health and the lives of other beings. And mass production has resulted in the shortage of irreplaceable natural resources such as coal and oil. If we take no immediate and effective steps to protect our environment, human beings may be the next species to become extinct. We should do our best to protect our environment by planting more trees, taking care of wildlife, reducing industrial wastes, using renewable energy, and imposing heavy fines on environmentally-unfriendly activities, so as to preserve the environment for future generations. (167 words) Electronic Teaching Portfolio Book Four Unit One: Man and Nature Part I Get Started Section A Discussion ▇ Sit in groups of threes or fours and discuss the following questions. 1. Do you think man lives in harmony with nature now? 2. Do you think that man has been destroying nature? Could you give some examples? 3. What do you think we should do to preserve nature? ▇ Answers for reference: 1. A possible answer: No. The present relationship between man and nature is not as harmonious as before. With the population explosion and the development of the economy, serious damage has been done to nature. All this has resulted in such problems as global warming, soil erosion, shortage of fresh water, droughts and sandstorms. Human beings no longer live in harmony with nature. 2. A possible answer: Yes. For example, man has cut down half of the trees that existed 10,000 years ago. The loss of trees has upset the ecosystem and resulted in the extinction of many species. Consequently, nature has lost its balance. Another example is that man has been burning too much fossil fuel for daily use and industrial production, which has caused heavy pollution to our environment. 3. A possible answer: Firstly, we shouldn’t develop our economy at the expense of nature. Secondly, we should take as little as possible from nature and put back into it as much as we can. Thirdly, we should form the habit of saving natural resources. We should be aware that natural resources are not inexhaustible. When we reach the point of no return, there will be nothing left for future generations. Section B Quotes ▇ Study the following quotes about man and nature and discuss in pairs what you can learn from them. Frank Lloyd Wright ⊙ Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. — Frank Lloyd Wright Interpretation: As an architect, Wright emphasizes the importance of loving and studying nature. We should observe nature, take care of it and live in harmony with it. And then we will never feel disappointed with it. About Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959): an American architect and writer. He was the most creative genius of American architecture. Albert Einstein ⊙ Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein Interpretation: As a scientist, Einstein believes that a close study of nature will help us better understand things. About Albert Einstein (1879-1955): US physicist and mathematician, born in Germany, who developed the Theory of Relativity, which completely changed the way that scientists understand space and time. William Hazlitt ⊙ Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. — William Hazlitt Interpretation: As a writer, Hazlitt urges us to love and appreciate nature heart and soul. About William Hazlitt (1778-1830): a British writer and critic, known for his essays on many subjects, especially literature. His best-known collection of essays is entitled Table Talk (席间闲谈). John Cage ⊙ The highest purpose is to have no purpose at all. This puts one in accord with nature, in her manner of operation. — John Cage Interpretation: Man’s ideal life is to be integrated into nature, so we should respect nature and follow its laws. About John Cage (1912-1992): a US composer and pianist. In 1951, he organized a group of musicians and engineers to make the first music on magnetic tape. Section C Watching and Discussion Watch the following video clip ―If the world warms by 6 degrees‖ and do the tasks that follow: 插入视频片段： ―If the world warms by 6 degrees.wmv‖ 1. Fill in the missing words according to what you hear from the video clip. become Some of the world’s great cities are If , we’re going to face nothing less than a global wipe out. 2. What do you think are other possible consequences of a warmer climate? (Open.) Script： If the world warms by 6 degrees, from a distance the oceans may appear bright blue, but they are marine wastelands. Deserts march across continents like conquering armies. Natural disasters become common events. Some of the world’s great cities are flooded and abandoned. This could be our world plus 6 degrees. ―Warmings of 6 degrees over longer time periods have been associated with some of the most devastating mass extinctions which have ever taken place, so it’s certainly fair to assume that if temperatures soar by 6 degrees within less than a century, then we’re going to face nothing less than a global wipe out.‖ 6 degrees of warming has been called the Doomsday scenario. Our lives would never be the same again. Part II Listen and Respond Section A Word Bank Section B Task One: Focusing on the Main Ideas ▇ Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences according to the information contained in the listening passage. 1. What is the main idea of the passage? A) The importance of seafood supplies. B) The fish harvest in the North Atlantic. C) The decline in fish supplies in the sea. D) The importance of protecting sea resources. 2. What did people in Europe and America in the 19th century think about marine resources? A) They thought that marine resources were almost exhausted. B) They thought that marine resources were seriously destroyed. C) They thought that marine resources were unlimited. D) They thought that marine resources were endangered. 3. Why are the threats to fish more alarming than the threats to animals and birds? A) Because fish is a much needed food resource. B) Because plenty of fish is killed every year. C) Because fish is the only diet for many people. D) Because the sea fisheries are going to be exhausted. 4. How much fish is harvested in the North Atlantic every year? A) 12 billion pounds. B) 12 million pounds. C) 20 billion pounds. D) 20 million pounds. 5. What warning do scientists give in the passage? A) Natural resources will be exhausted within the next few years. B) Fish reserves will be destroyed within the next few years because of excessive fishing. C) People in some parts of the world will face starvation because of the drought. D) People’s demand on fish will decline in some parts of the world. ▇ Key: 1 D 2 C 3 A 4 C 5 B Section C Task Two: Zooming In on the Details Listen to the recording again and fill in each of the blanks according to what you have heard.