Transcript Document

Unit Eight
Saving Nature. But Only for Man
Teaching Objectives
1) grasp the main idea (we should adopt
a sensible environmentalism) and the
structure of the text (each part containing
a contrast);
2) appreciate the various argumentative
skills employed in the text;
3) master the key language points and
grammatical structures in the text;
Teaching Set-up
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Text A
Pre-reading:
Warm-up activities
Background information
While-reading:
Text organization
Language points
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Post reading:
debate
Useful expressions
Text B
Answers for Reference
Assignments
Warm-up activities
1. Are there any environmental problems
in the area you live? What would you
suggest to solve them?
2. Word-web
Word-web
Work in pairs and categorize the words and phases in the box into the following
three groups.
air pollution, global warming, nuclear contamination, sea level
rising, water pollution, ecocrisis, sewage, flood, noise pollution,
National Tree Planting Day, atmospheric ozone layer, ecosystem,
recycling center, Greenpeace, drought, nuclear pollution, afforest
global warming, sea level rising, ecocrisis, flood,
atmospheric ozone layer, drought, ecosystem
Green house effect
sewage, recycling center, Greenpeace, National
Tree Planting Day, afforest
Pollution types
Environment
Environmental protection
air pollution, nuclear contamination, nuclear
pollution, water pollution, noise pollution
Background information
 Definition of Environment
Environment is the physical surroundings of an
organism (生物，有机物) or organisms, including
biological, physical, and chemical factors. In the case of
human ecology (生态学), it also includes social and
cultural surroundings. Planning, caring for, and
conservation of the human environment, both built and
natural, have become of increasing concern in recent
years. In philosophy, environmentalism stresses the
influence of the physical environment on man’s
development and activities.
Background information
Environmental Protection Organization
1.Green Party
A British political party that aims to protect the environment. It is against
the use of nuclear power and other forms of industry and transport which it
considers harmful. It was formed in 1973 as the Ecology Party, and
changed its name to the Green Party in 1985. Other countries also have
parties that share the same name and ideals.
2Green Peace
A large international pressure group that aims to protect the environment.
Its members are well known for protecting the environment. They often go
out in small boats to stop people from killing whales or throwing poisonous
materials into the sea.
3The Environmental Protection Agency
AU.S. government organization that established rules and standards for
protecting the environment, e.g., against pollution.
While-reading
Text organization
Parts
Main Ideas
Paragraph
s
It is important to distinguish between
environmental necessities and
environmental luxuries and apply the
fundamental principle of sensible
environmentalism.
A sensible environmentalism does not
sentimentalize the earth.
--
One
1—32
Two
32--99
Thre
e
70-85
Man is the master of nature.
Language points
 Difficult sentences:
 Environmental sensitivity is now as required an
attitude in polite society as is, say, belief in
democracy or aversion to nylon.(L1-2)
 Translate this sentence into Chinese:
环境意识，就如同对民主制度的信奉，或对尼龙的厌
恶，已成为当今上流社会一种必备的态度了。
 How important is environmental sensitivity in the
author’s eyes?
It is as peoples’ belief in democracy or their aversion
to nylon.
Difficult sentences
接上页
 Note: a) “as + 形容词副词原级+as” 结构表示一件事物与
另一件事物在某些方面相似，其否定形式为：“not
as/so…as”。这句话表明environmental sensitivity 与
belief in democracy 和aversion to nylon都是required必
须的，即：It is as important as peoples’ belief in
democracy or their aversion to nylon.
 b) 第二个as引导的状语从句在正式文体中为倒装结构。
She is unusually tall, as are both her parents.
Difficult sentences
 But now that everyone has claims to love Mother
earth （L2-3）
Note: now that 引起的从句表示由于新情况的出现而促成某
事发生；它与since的区别在于，它表示一种现在才发生
的情况，而since表示原先已存在的情况。
 Now that you mention it, I do remember the incident. 经
你一提，我想起那件事来了。
 Since he has no money, he can’t buy a new bicycle.
练习参照课后练习p254-255.
Difficult sentences
 Luxuries are those things it would be nice to
have if costless. (L 8-9)
Note: if costless: if those things are costless 这里
是出于简洁的考虑把分词直接加在连接词后面。
在一些状语从句中，如果它的主语与句子的主语
一致，而从句的动词又含有be，从句的主语及be
都可以省略，只保留其后的分词，形容词，名词
或介词短语。例如：
Use it only when necessary.
If necessary, I’ll come at seven.
Difficult sentences
 But you can’t have everything. And if the
choice is between the welfare of reindeer
and reducing oil dependence that gets
people killed in wars, I choose man over
reindeer every time.(L60-63)
What theory does the author want to prove by
saying so?
No matter what happens, man after all is the
most important on the earth.
Difficult sentences
 Nature is our charge. (L71)
Paraphrase this sentence:
We are in charge of nature./ Nature is under
our charge.
Translate this sentence into Chinese:
自然归我们掌管。
Difficult sentences
 And when man has to choose between his
well-being and that of nature, nature will
have to accommodate.(L73-74)
How do you understand this sentence?
If man has to choose between his own wellbeing and that of nature, he will choose his wellbeing but not nature’s.
Difficult sentences
 When the treat to man is of a lesser order (say, the
pollutants from coal-and oil-fired generators that
cause death from disease but not fatal damage to
the ecosystem), a more moderate accommodation
that balances economic against health concerns is
in order (L78-81)
 Translate the sentence into Chinese:如果对人类的威胁
相对较小（如燃煤或燃油发电机排放的使人致病致死，
但对生态系统并不带来致命伤害的污染物），应该权衡
经济发展和人类健康而进行适度调整。
Language points
 Words and phrases
 conflict
 1) vi be in opposition, collision or disagreement 矛盾，冲
突【+with】
 The results of the new research would seem to conflict
with existing theories.
新的研究结果似乎与现存的理论相冲突。
2) n [C, U] (a) struggle; serious disagreement斗争;冲突, 争
执
a conflict of interests利害冲突
Words and phrases
 proposal n. a plan or idea, often a formal or written one,
which is suggested for people to think about and decide
upon 提议，建议 【+ for】【+ to do sth】【其后的that从句
中使用（should+动词原型）】
 a proposal for uniting the two companies
将两公司联合起来的建议 .
 a proposal to offer a discount to regular customers
对经常性的主顾予以折扣优惠的方案
 There was anger at the proposal that a UN
peacekeeping force should be sent to the area.
Words and phrases
 in the name of for the reason of; using the excuse of;
as the representative of; by the authority of以…为由/借口，
以…的名义
 They arrested him in the name of the safety of the
country.
 The president entertained the guests in the name of the
whole company.
Collocation
 call sb. names 谩骂某人 to one’s name 在自己名下，属
于自己所有 by the name of 以…为名，名叫… under the
name of 用…的名字
Words and phrases
 regardless adv in spite of everything; anyway 不论，
不顾
 His parents objected to his marriage, but he carried on
regardless.
CF: regardless & regardless of
regardless 是副词。意为“不管怎样、无论如何”
 We’ll start at dawn, regardless.
regardless of 是介词词组。意为“不顾、不惜、不论”
 Regardless of wind and rain, they continued their
journey.
他们不顾风雨，继续前行。
Words and phrases
 Fill in the blanks with “regardless” or “regardless of”
Regardless of
_________
danger, he climbed the tower.
There may be difficulties but I shall carry on
regardless
_______.
regardless of
I am buying the book, _______
the cost.
Despite the problems, they carried on their
regardless
reform ________.
Words and phrases
 fundamental adj. of the basis of foundation of
sth. 基本的，根本的【+ to】
These two parties have fundamental differences.
Hard work is fundamental to success.
必须苦干才能成功.
A knowledge of economics is fundamental to
any understanding of this problem.
经济知识对于理解这个问题是至关重要的。
Words and phrases
 sensible adj. having or showing common sense;
reasonable 明智的，明理的
 You must be sensible, John. You don’t have any reason to leave me.
你要理智，约翰，你没有任何理由离开我。
CF: sensitive & sentimental
sensitive 意思是“敏感的、灵敏的”
 The stock exchange is sensitive to political disturbance.
证券交易对政治风波很敏感。
sentimental 意思是“感情的”“情绪的”,是相对于理性和实际而言的。
 She is very sentimental about animals. 她对动物很有感情。
Words and phrases
 Fill in the blanks with the above words.
 Most ___________
sensible weight loss programs now recommend a
combination of diet and exercise to slowly take off extra weight.
 Our noses and tongues are ___________
sensitive
to certain chemical
stimuli (刺激物)
sentimental She cried all morning when she heard that
 She is so __________!
her goldfish had died.
sensitive to any sign of rejection or
 Most children are ____________
disapproval from their parents.
 The traffic will be terrible over the Christmas weekend.. Wouldn’t it
be __________
sensible to leave before the traffic gets bad?
 Why are you so ___________
sentimental about that old coat? There is no
point in keeping it just because you were wearing it when you first
met me.
 consequence n. the result or effect of an action or
condition结果，后果
 Such a mistake would perhaps lead to disastrous consequences.
CF: consequence, outcome & result
consequence 指因某些特殊条件或原因而造成的结果，并且意味着坏
的结果。
outcome 往往指竞赛的最后结局。
result 指按常规去做所产生的结果，可指好的或坏的结果。
Collocation
 a person of consequence 举足轻重的人 in consequence 因此，结
果 in consequence of 由于，因为 of little/no consequence 无足轻
重的 take the consequences of 承担…的结果
 on the grounds of/on … grounds for
reasons of 因为；以…为理由
She is suing the company on the grounds of
unfair dismissal.
This book doesn’t sell well on the grounds of its
high price.
Collocation
fall to the ground （计划）失败；（希望）破灭，
落空 gain ground 前进；有进展 get off the
ground 开始；取得进展 take ground 坚持立场
Words and phrases
 resistance n. opposition 反抗，反抗行动，抵抗力【+ to】
 The bank clerk made no resistance to the robber.
 resist vi
1) oppose抵制，反对
 Conservative politicians resisted the reform plan.
2) force oneself not to yield to or accept 忍住，按捺
 He resisted eating the chocolate cake because it is too
fattening.
他忍住不吃巧克力蛋糕，因为它太容易使人发胖。
Words and phrases
 vote vi express one’s choice in favor of (a person,
political party, etc.) at an election 投票，选举【+on sth.】
【+ for/against】
 If we can’t agree with each other about the plan, let’s
vote on it.
 They will vote for George Bush, I think.
我认为他们会投乔治.布什的票。
Collocation
 vote down 否决 vote in 选出 vote out 投票使（原任者）
落选 vote through 表决通过
 voter : n. someone who votes in an election
Words and phrases
 run/go against the grain be contrary to one’s
desire or feeling 与…格格不入；违反意愿（做某事）
【+ of sth.】【+ to do sth】
It really goes against the grain to have to go to
school on National Day.
真的不愿意国庆节还上学。
It goes against the grain for me to borrow
money.
我真的不愿意借钱。
Words and phrases
 to the point of to a degree that can be described as 达
到…的程度
 To accomplish the task, the employer worked his staff to
the point of exhaustion.
为了完成任务，雇主让工人一直感到筋疲力尽
 His manner was bad to the point of rudeness.
Collocation
 come/ get to the point 谈到正题，讲到关键问题 beside
the point 离题的；不相关的 on the point of 正要…之际
a case in point 恰当的例子 to the point 切题的；切中的
Words and phrases
 excess n. the degree that is more than enough
过度，过量，超过
 There is an excess of supply over demand nowadays.
 Never drink to excess. 喝酒切勿过量。【to excess 过量；
过度】
 Luggage in excess of 100 kg will be charged extra. 【in
excess of 大于；超过】
excessive adj. too much; too great 太多的，过度的
 He is smoking like a chimney. People call him an
excessive smoker.
Words and phrases
 nothing more than nothing but; only; just the
same 只不过，仅仅；无异于
Don’t be scared. It is nothing more than a
nightmare.
You needn’t report to him. He is nothing more
than a clerk.
Collocation
for nothing 不花钱地；徒劳地 nothing less
than 不亚于，不少于 nothing like 完全不像 to
say noting of 更不用说；何况
Words and phrases
 current adj. occurring in or existing at the
present time当前的，现在的
The current economic situation is very different
from that in 1990.
目前的经济形势与1990年区别很大。
In its current states, the house would be worth $
100,000.
The word is no longer in current use.
这个词现在已经不再使用。
Words and phrases
 currency n.
1) the particular type of money used in a country 货币
 counterfeit currency 假币 domestic/national currency 本
国货币 foreign currency 外汇，外币 hard currency 硬通
货 paper currency 纸币
2) the state of being in general acceptance通用，流通
 His ideas enjoyed wide currency during the last century.
 The rumor soon gained currency.
Words and phrases
 work one’s way manage to reach or go through; make efforts
to attain one’s goal 设法抵达（或获得通过）；努力达到目标
 Many students work their way through college by doing part-time
jobs.
 He has come through two world wars.
他身经两次世界大战，劫后余生。
 come through experience, survive or overcome (a difficulty,
etc.) 经历，脱险，度过难关
 If we can come through this financial crisis the company’s future will
be bright.
 He's very ill but doctors expect him to come through.
他病得很重, 但医生预料他能康复.
Words and phrases
 in part to some extent; partly 部分地
 His failure was due in part to his laziness.
 Whether you will be sent to Yale University for further
study depends in part on how well you perform in the
interview.
你是否能去耶鲁大学深造部分取决于你在面试中的表现。
Collocation
 for one’s part 就个人来说，至于本人 for the most part
多半；通常 on the part of sb. 就某人而言；代表某人。
Words and phrases
 ridiculous adj. absurd 荒谬的，可笑的
 It is ridiculous to spend all her salary buying that so-called antique.
CF: ridiculous, foolish & absurd
ridiculous 指做事与常理或常识不符，愚笨得引人发笑或找人嘲笑。
foolish 指没有头脑，缺乏常识，违反常理，即愚昧无知的意思。
 It was foolish of him to take that expensive house.
他买下那座价格昂贵的房子真是太傻了。
absurd 指与道理或真理相反，也可以指违反一般常识或经验，而且违
背得很可笑。
 The idea that the number 13 brings bad luck is absurd.
认为13这个数字给人带来厄运的看法是荒唐可笑的。
Words and phrases
 deny vt.
1) refuse to allow or grant 拒绝
I was denied the chance of going to university.
His ex-wife denied him access to his children.
他的前妻拒绝他接近他的孩子。
2) state sth. is not true【+ sth】【+ that-clause】
【+ doing sth】否认
Can you deny the truth of his statement?
Everybody denied having ever seen him.
Words and phrases
 distinction n. (distinct adj. )
1) difference 【+ between】区别，差别
 It is hard to draw a distinction between popular and
serious literature.
 There is no distinction between courage and bravery.
2) the quality of being unusual, esp. of being unusually
good 优秀，杰出
 He passed the examination with distinction.
他以优异成绩通过考试。
 He was regarded as a singer of distinction.
Note: 形近词 extinction n. 消失，废止，灭绝 the
extinction of dinosaurs 恐龙的灭绝
Words and phrases
 threat n. a danger that sht. Unpleasant might happen to
sb. 威胁，恐吓【+ to/from/of/against】
 There have been death threats against the witnesses.
 Threats are being made on his life.
有人正对他的生命进行威胁。
 threaten vt. make a threat or threats against sb
 The strikers were threatened with dismissal if they did
not return to work.
罢工者威胁说，如果他们不复工，就会被解雇。
 The hijackers threatened to kill all the passengers if their
demands were not met.
Words and phrases
 concern
1)n. a) thing that is important or interesting to sb. 关心，关怀
 What are your main concerns as a college student?
作为一名大学生，你主要关注什么？
b) worry, anxiety 【+for/about/over/that-clause】忧虑，挂念
 There was growing concern over the rise in unemployment.
2)vt a) be about; have effects on 与…有关，涉及
 The energy problem concerns us all.
b) to care about, or worry about 关注，担心
 The boy’s poor health concerned his parents.
这孩子健康不佳使他的父母担忧。
Post Reading
 Debate
Ten students are chosen out of the class to be
“congressmen”. They differ greatly as to whether the oil
should be drilled in ANWR, with half of them for the
proposal and the other half against it. Each congressman
should prepare a short speech, argue with the opposite
side and answer the questions raised by the jury. Sitting in
the jury are the remainders in the class. They should
evaluate the congressmen’s performance and vote for the
final decision accordingly.
Post Reading
 Useful expressions:
1. 环境意识
2. 对尼龙的厌恶
3. 以……的名义
4. 对于环境的奢侈追求
5. 对于环境的必需要求
6. 运用规则
7. 基本原理
8. 理智环境保护论
9. 遏止温室效应
10. 食物链
environmental sensitivity
aversion to nylon
in the name of
environmental luxuries
environmental necessities
apply a rule
fundamental principle
sensible environmentalism
halt the greenhouse effect
food chain
Proverbs and quotations
 1. The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, American president
一个破坏它自己土地的国家，毁灭的也就是它本身。
-- 美国总统 富兰克林•罗斯福
2. Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.
-- William Wordsworth, British poet
大自然永远不会背叛爱她的那颗心。
-- 英国诗人 威廉姆•华尔华斯
 3. Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.
-- Francis Bacon, British philosopher
想支配大自然，就必须遵守大自然的规律。
-- 英国哲学家 弗朗西斯•培根
4. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
-- Shakespeare, British poet and playwright
自然界的一个轻轻触摸，就使得整个世界都有了亲情。
-- 英国诗人，剧作家 莎士比亚
Text B An Ugly New Footprint in the Sand
 Answers for Reference






1．The strange footprint is a symbol of environmental
pollution; and the author’s attitude
to this new intrusion—one of the strong dislikes—is
made clear by the word“ugly”．
2．The need to fuel the technology which mankind has
developed to enable it to survive on
this planet．Concrete examples are given notably in
paras．2，9，10，and 11．
3．As man is not SO well adapted to his living
environment as，say，a bird，he has to resort
to artificiaI aids，which have eventually given rise to
pollution．
Answers for Reference
 4．Environmental pollution here has just begun；
it is not very serious yet．
 This is contradicted by the sentence in
para．11———The lesson of our fouled beach is
that we may not even have realized how late it is
already．The author’s message is“Don’t you think
that it will be some time before pollution gets really
serious here；when the beach is found to be
fouled，it is already too late to keep pollution
away from the island．”

5．No．He is concerned about pollution of
mankind’s environment in general．
Assignment
Write an composition entitled “My thoughts on
Environmental Protection”, paying attention to the
persuasive techniques in your writing.