现代大学英语精读2课件l.ppt

Lesson Two The theme of the text the ideal relationship between humans and wild animals they are fellow creatures on earth, and therefore should treat each other like brothers Human beings and animals Love Companion Valerie Kaye (nee Taylor), Eric Acland, Mabel Acland. London 1955 Born: 2nd. February 1906, Halifax, Yorkshire, England. Died: 16th July 1982, Aylmer, Quebec, Canada Eric was the author of many books, namely: Drums of Niagra; Adventure Westward; Princess Elizabeth; Long Live King George V; House of Windsor, George V to George VI The author Eric Acland Structure of the text The story can be divided into four parts: Part 1 (para1-3): the introduction Part 2 (para4-17): The happy days the boy and Maheegun had together in the short period of less than a year, and how Maheegun returned to the wild where he belonged. Part 3 (para18-40): The reunion of the two when the boys life was endangered by two hungry wolves. Part 4 (para41-44): The brothers returned to the place where they each belonged the boy to his warm home and his loved ones, the wolf to his kind in the wild. Easter The Christian festival of Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The spring festival has its roots in the Jewish Passover(逾越节), which commemorates Israels deliverance from the bondage of Egypt, and in the Christian reinterpretation of its meaning after the crucifixion(磨难) of Jesus. Easter The name Easter is derived from the pagan( 异教徒) spring festival of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eastre, and many folk customs associated with Easter (for example, Easter eggs) are of pagan origin. Easter Easter Day is currently determined as the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21. Words and expressions 1. alert adj. watchful and ready to deal with danger; vigilant e.g. be alert to danger The waitress remained standing, alert to everyones drinking needs. alert vt. e.g. This program often alerts audience to unsuspected ailments. His speech is to alert teachers to their responsibility. Ill alert him about (for) weekend duty. (inform) n. A 24-hour alert on (the) alert for be on full alert go on the alert 2. detain a. to prevent (sb.) from leaving for a certain time e.g. Police detained the man to make further inquiries. b. to delay He was detained by business. n. detention be kept (held/placed) in detention detention centre (mainly Br. E) detention home 3. Clipping doc (doctor) Back: dorm (dormitory), disco (discotheque), memo (memorandum), prof (professor), ad (advertisement) Front: quake (earthquake), copter (helicopter), chute (parachute) Front and back: flu (influenza), fridge (refrigerator), tec (detective) 4. Onomatopoeia (animal cries) tiger: howl ape: gibber dog: bow-wow, woof-woof pigeon: coo mouse: squeak frog: croak bull: bellow cat: mew, purr pig: squeal, grunt hen: cluck bear: growl dogs: bow-wow; woof-woof, bark, yap, yelp growl, bay, snarl puppy: yelp Onomatopoeia monkey: screech gibber chatter, jabber, howl ape: gibber cat: mew, purr, miaow, meow hen: cluck duck: quack geese: cackle, gabble lark: warble eagle: scream frog: croak camel: grunt pig: squeal, grunt fly: buzz bears: growl 5. leap a leap forward/ahead e.g. a new economic leap forward by leaps and bounds: very quickly and successfully The population of China is growing by leaps and bounds a leap in the dark: an action or risk taken without knowing what will happen as a result Look before you leap 6. pace Keep pace with e.g. Price increase failed to keep pace with rising costs. Set the pace: fix the speed; set an example e.g. The coach lets the fastest runner set the pace and the others follow. Stay/stand the pace e.g. He was brought up in the countryside, so its hard for him to stand the pace in the city. pace Put sb. (sth.) through his paces: make someone do sth. in order to show their abilities e.g. The film director spent a whole day in putting the new understudy through his paces. 7. poke e.g. He poked me with his umbrella. The kids sat down and began to poke little holes in the sand. Poke fun at sb.: make fun of sb. Poke ones nose into 8. restless: fidgety be on edge: be nervous be on tenterhooks: be very anxious about the possible outcome have kittens be nervous as a kitten be on pins and needles: very nervous stage fright: anxiety/nervousness felt before appearing in public E.g. I often feel stage fright before I give a lecture, although I have been a teacher for 15 years. 9. stir v. 1) to make or cause a slight movement e.g. The little girl stirred in her sleep. A breeze stirred my hair. 2) to produce (strong feelings) in (someone) e.g. stir interest in sth. stir sb.s sympathy/concern/new thinking stir Stir up e.g. stir up indignation/public concern/controversy n. cause/create a stir: cause public excitement make a great/big stir a political stir an age of stir and change 10. toll take a(its/their) toll: have a bad effect on sb./sth. e.g. Years of hard work and pressure have taken their toll on his health. take a heavy toll e.g. Rising rivers in the South in April took a heavy property toll. The storm took a heavy toll of lambs and calves. toll bar Language points in text 1. Pick vs. pick up pick (cotton, tomatoes, apples, strawberries, etc.): to take flowers, fruit, etc. from the plant or the tree where they are growing pick up 1) to lift, take up by hand, e.g. He immediately picked up the phone and dialed the number of the police. Pick vs. pick up 2) to allow sb. to get into your car and take them somewhere e.g. Because of recent violence, many people no longer pick up hitchhikers. 3) to return to an earlier subject or situation in order to continue it e.g. Lets pick up the conversation after dinner. 2. Serve (only) to do sth. To have a particular effect or result, e.g. Her remark at the press conference served only to worsen the situation. 3. fog to confuse or hide e.g. The diplomats reply served only to fog the issue. 4. Leave Leave+n.+v.-ed/adj./prep.phrase, etc.: to cause to be or to remain in a particular state or position. e.g. The old couple never leave the door unbolted at night. My mother hates to leave the room in a mess. 5. Only to I tried to travel west but only to hit the creek again. Only to do sth. (written) used to mention sth. that happens immediately afterwards, esp. sth. that causes surprise, disappointment, etc. e.g. She told him everything only to find that he cheated her from the very beginning. 6. see+Pattern See (written) to be the time when/the place where an event happens; to witness e.g. The U.S. population has witnessed an incredible rise in the past two decades. 1949 saw the founding of the P.R.C. asas as fat as butte