【精品课件教案ppt】 silent springrachel carson.ppt

silent spring rachel carson,silent spring rachel carson,about the author: background / works /comments about the text warm-up questions/ main idea/ structure/ word study/ useful expressions/ sentence paraphrase/ figures of speech in-class discussion answer to the exercises after-class activity,about the author,rachel carson(1907-1964), writer, scientist, and ecologist, was born in springdale, pennsylvania. influenced by her mother, she developed an intense love for nature which she retained till the end of her life. she studied biology and received her ma in zoology from john hopkins university. after graduation, she worked for many years as editor and scientist, and wrote many articles as well as books about conservation, natural resources and above all the wonder and beauty of the living world. carson died in 1964 after a long battle against breast cancer. her witness for the beauty and integrity of life continues to inspire new generations to protect the living world and all its creatures.,rachel carson biologist, writer, ecologist (1907 - 1964),“man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.“ -rachel carson,about the author,running through all her writings is the view that human beings are only one part of nature distinguished primarily by their power to alter it, in some cases, irreversibly.,about the author,in silent spring (1962), she challenged the practices of agricultural scientists and the government and warned the public about the long-term effects of misusing pesticides. when the book first appeared, carson was bitterly attacked by the chemical industry and some people in the government as an alarmist, but she courageously spoke out against those criticisms.,about the author,some forty years ago, she first sounded the alarm. today there is a general consensus that we are facing a very serious ecological problem, and environmental protection has become a worldwide movement. in the history of human civilization, there have always been some individuals like carson who are more far-sighted than the average people, who can sense danger before everybody else does, who will give us a warning before it is too late. these people deserve all our admiration and gratitude.,about the text,warm-up questions do you think the environmental problem is becoming extremely acute in china? can you give some examples? what can we do to protect the environment?,about the text warm-up questions,possible answer yes. it is generally acknowledged that the environmental problem is becoming extremely acute in china. official reports talk about polluted rivers and lakes, frequent acid rains and sand storms, soil erosion, desertification, deforestation, over-fishing, salinization. the list is far from complete.,about the text warm-up questions,possible answer since we are facing a very serious ecological problem, we cannot develop our economy at the expense of our ecosystem. we must aim at a sustainable growth. we must do everything possible to keep our water and air clean; to protect our land and soil; to preserve our forests, river, and lakes, marshland, wilderness; to stop the global warming; and to save the endangered species. we must have a sense of duty or mission.,about the text,main idea the text begins with a full page description of a typical american town, which is extremely beautiful until it is destroyed by chemicals. then the author goes on to explain what she thinks it is that causes the change. her central argument is: human beings are tampering with nature and causing changes that are too many and too quick, so that they cannot adapt to them.,about the text structure,paras 1-6 a town is assaulted by chemicals. paras 7-9 the use of chemicals is responsible for this destruction. (transition) paras 10-14 mans use of chemicals upsets the balance of nature. paras 15-18 why arent pesticides a good solution to the pest problem? paras 19-24 how did the modern insect problem come into being? para 25 conclusion,about the text structure,paras 1-6 a town is assaulted by chemicals. question what changes have been brought about by the evil spell? pay attention to the contrast. general atmosphere: _ color movement sound other phrases,about the text structure,paras 7-9 (transition) the use of chemicals is responsible for this destruction. questions what did carson mean by the “evil spell”? how did the described changes happened?,about the text structure,paras 10-14 mans use of chemicals upsets the balance of nature. questions what is the feature of the relation between organisms and their surroundings? how has man changed the interaction between the two? what best demonstrates mans role in this interaction? can life adapt to changes in environment? if it can, why should we worry about mans change of environment? according to carson, can life on the earth adjust to the changes caused by man? why or why not?,about the text structure,paras. 15-18 why arent pesticides a good solution to the pest problem? question why did carson say the chemical war is never won? they kill indiscriminately, reducing biodiversity. (para 16) they contaminate the entire environment. (para 16) they couldnt solve the pest problem. (para 17) pests can adapt to the chemicals and evolve into super races with resistance to chemicals. resurgence induced by pesticides.,about the text structure,paras 19-24 how did the modern insect problem come into being? questions did carson mean that we should not control the pests? what principle should the measures of pest control follow? what are the causes for the modern pest problem? intensification of agriculture (para 20) invasion of imported species (para 21-23),about the text structure,questions what is the right solution to the pest problem? (para. 24) to take well-informed measures to promote an even balance, control the power of outbreaks of insects and reduce new invasions rather than seeking in vain to suppressing this plant or that animal what is the difference between the natural spreading of species and the man-assisted process? how does this process contribute to the pest problem?,about the text structure,para 25 conclusion questions what is the central argument of the passage? due to his ignorance and lack of concern for the integrity of nature, man has been abusing chemicals, causing irrecoverable harms on environment and people.,about the text structure,questions what is the right thing to do with pesticides implied by carson? have a respect for the integrity of nature; carry our advance investigation of chemicals effect on environment and people; make well-informed, reasonable use of chemicals; promote knowledge of relation of chemicals and ecology,about the text word study,bounds n. n. the accepted or further limits e.g. his energy knows no bounds. crossfire n. 1. n. (military) firing of guns from two or more points so that the bullets, shells, etc cross each other 2. n. (figurative) situation in which two people or groups are arguing, competing, etc and another is unwillingly involved. e.g. thus the chemical war is never won, and all life is caught in its violent crossfire.,about the text word study,resurgence n. n. rising or reviving after destruction, defeat, or disappearance e.g. a sudden resurgence of interest in victorian art resurgent adj. e.g. a resurgent economy resurgent hope, nationalism,about the text word study,spell n. 1. words which when spoken are thought to have magical power, charm e.g. the wizard recited a spell. 2. state or condition caused by the spelling of such words (used esp. in the expressions shown) e.g. be under a spell cast/put s spell on sb some evil spell settled on the community.,about the text word study,build-in adj. adj. included as part of sth and not separated from it e.g. a build-in wardrobe a build-in advantage/ disadvantage of a system nature holds the species within bounds by the build-in checks and balances.,about the text word study,damp v. 1. v. make (sth) damp 2. v. sth (down) (a) reduce (noise, etc) e.g. soft material damps down vibrations. (b) make (sth) less strong; restrain e.g. damp (down) ones spirits, energy, ardor, etc 3. (phr v) damp sth down cause sth to burn more slowly (by adding ash, etc or reducing the flow of air) e.g. we damped the fire down before we went to bed.,about the text word study,sinister adj. 1. adj. suggesting evil, or that sth bad may happen e.g. a sinister motive, action, place 2. adj. suggesting an evil nature e.g. a sinister face sinister looks,deliberate adj. 1. adj. done on purpose; intentional e.g. a deliberate insult, lie, act 2. adj. unhurried; careful e.g. the rapidity of change follows the impetuous pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature.,about the text word study,primary adj. 1. (a) usu. attrib earliest in time or order of development e.g. the disease is still in its primary stage. (b) (also primary) of the lowest or earliest series of geological strata 2. usu. attrib most important, fundamental e.g. the importation of plants is the primary agent in the modern spread of species. e.g. primary rocks,about the text word study,modify v. 1. v. change (sth) slightly, esp. to make it less extreme or to improve it e.g. the union has been forced to modify its position. e.g. the heating system has recently been modified to make it more efficient. 2. v. (grammar) (esp. of an adj. or adv.) limit the sense of (another word),desert v. 1. v. go away from (a place) without intending ever to return e.g. the feeding stations in the backyards were deserted. 2. v. leave (sb) without help or support, abandon e.g. he has become so rude that his friends are deserting him.,about the text word study,suppress v. 1. v. put an end to (sth), esp. by force; crush; prevent sth from growing or developing e.g. suppress an uprising, a revolt, etc suppress this plant or that animal 2. v. (a) (usu. derog) prevent (sth) from being known or seen e.g. suppress the truth from sb (b) prevent (esp. ones feelings) from being expressed e.g. suppress ones anger, amusement, etc,about the text word study,tamper v. v. with sth meddle or interfere with sth; alter sth with authority e.g. radiation is now the unnatural creation of mans tampering with the atom. throb v. 1. v. (with sth) (of the heart, impulse, etc) beat, esp. faster or stronger than usual e.g. her heart was throbbing with excitement. 2. v. (with sth) vibrate or sound with a persistent rhythm e.g. on the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of scores of bird voices there was no sound.,about the text word study,eco- ecological or of ecology e.g. ecology ecologist ecosystem -cide 1.person or thing that kills e.g. insecticide pesticide biocide 2. act of killing sb e.g. suicide genocide particide,about the text useful expressions,in harmony with in a state of peaceful existence and agreement (para 1) in the midst of (infml) among (para 1) white clouds of bloom white clouds that looked like flowers (para 1) to set up a blaze of color to start an impressive and noticeable show of colors (para 1),about the text useful expressions,flood of sth a very large number of things or people that appear at the same time (para 2) e.g. a flood of protests/complaints a flood of immigrants/refugees in floods of tears to pour through/ in, etc to come or go somewhere continuously in large numbers (para 2) to fish the streams to try to catch fish in the streams (para 2) e.g. to walk the wooded slope,about the text useful expressions,feeding station a dish-like container fixed on top of a post where people regularly leave sunflower seeds or the like for passing birds to feed on. feeding stations are generally put up in the backyards. (para 4) to feed on sth (of an animal or a bird) to eat sth,about the text useful expressions,physical form and habits the outward appearance and regular behavior (para 10) to work harm on to produce/bring about harmful effect on (para 11) to find their way into actual use to manage to break into/ enter the market and be sold to farmers (para 14),about the text useful expressions,mans war against nature what a lot of people advocated in the first half of the last century about “conquering nature” (para 15) to apply sth to to put or spread sth on the surface of (para 16) e.g. she never goes out without applying sun cream to/ on her face and neck. to lay down to store for future use (para 16) e.g. it was a good year for apples, and we laid down several cases.,about the text useful expressions,to be caught up in to become involved in, often against your wishes (para 17) an endless spiral a process of never-ending, continuous upward movement (para 17) e.g. if the government doesnt take effective measures, the country is in danger of getting into an inflationary spiral. immune to unable to be harmed or affected because of special qualities in yourself (para 17) e.g. immune to measles immune to criticism,about the text useful expressions,to gear sth to sth to allow (an activity or course of action) to be dependant on or influenced by (a particular fact or condition) (para 20) e.g. production must be geared to public demand. tertiary education must be geared to what society needs. to set the stage for sth to make it possible for sth to happen (para 20) e.g. border clashes between the two countries set the stage for a five-year-long war.,about the text useful expressions,to live on sth to eat a particular type of food to live (para 20) to build up sth to increase, strengthen, develop toward (para 20) to be devoted to sth to be given to; to throw completely (para 20) to be intermingled with sth to be mixed together (para 20) to adapt to to change in such a way that sth/ sb has become suitable for a new situation (para 20),about the text useful expressions,the explosive power of outbreaks and new invasions the power of insects to multiply/ breed in large numbers suddenly and quickly and their power to invade new territories (para 24),about the text useful expressions,subject sb/ sth to sth (written) to make sb/ sth experience, suffer, be affected by sth, usually sth unpleasant (para 25) e.g. diogenes was constantly subjected to ridicule. before launching the new car, they subjected it to severe texts.,about the text useful expressions,darwins principle of the survival of the fittest (para17) in his on the origin of species (1859), darwin developed his theory of evolution. according to his theory, plants and animals that naturally suitable for life in their environment will continue to live and develop, while plants and animals that do not have these qualities gradually disappear. this process is called natural selection. “survival of the fittest” is a quote from “principles of biology” by the english philosopher herbert spencer (1820-1903).,about the text useful expressions,darwins principle of the survival of the fittest (para 17) today the phrase is often used to refer to any situation in which unsuccessful competitors are quickly destroyed or defeated.,about the text sentence paraphrase,in autumn, oak and maple and birch set up a blaze of color that flamed and flickered across a background of pines. (para 1) in autumn, the forest turned the oak, maple, and birch trees yellow, red or brown making a beautiful show of colors against the dark green of pine trees.,about the text sentence paraphrase,considering the whole span of earthly time, the opposite effect, in which life actually modifies its surroundings, has been relatively slight. (para 10) when we think of the long history of life on earth, the degree living things affect their environment has been insignificant as compared with the effect of the environment on plant and animal life. (carson implies that in recent years the human race has affected and spoiled much of its environment.),about the text sentence paraphrase,but it has changed in character. (para 11) but the nature of this power to alter the environment has changed. in the past, to survive humans made use of what nature offered, for example, cutting down trees, damming rivers; now they create things that did not exist, for example, chemicals and unnatural radiation.,about the text sentence paraphrase,lie long in soil, entering into living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death. (para 11) (chemicals) stay in soil for a long time because they dont break down there. they are likely to enter birds and animals in food, and then pass out in waste matter from their bodies, get into the soil and are absorbed by the plants that grow on it. when birds and animals and people eat the plants, these substances again are taken into their bodies. this process goes on and on endlessly, poisoning plant and animal life alike. in short, the chemicals tend to be endlessly recycled in the food chains.,about the text sentence paraphrase,but in the modern world there is no time. (para 12) but in the modern world when mans power to tamper with nature has become so great and he is so eager to change nature for short-term benefits, he does not think of the long-term interest of his own species.,about the text sentence paraphrase,the rapidity of change follows the impetuous pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature. (para 13) man is changing the nature of his world rapidly while nature adjusts to the changes slowly. therefore adjustment can never keep up with change, and a new balance between living things and their environment can hardly be reached. note the antithesis used in this sentence: the rapidity of change vs. the deliberate pace of nature,about the text sentence paraphrase,the chemicals are the synthetic creations of mans inventive mind, having no counterparts in nature. (para 13) nature does not produce such things as chemicals. they are man-made and the result of mans creative power.,about the text sente