【高级英语】unit3_culture_student version

Unit Three Culture 1. What can you do?1.1 Background informationTerms Definitions culturecivilizationNeolithicBronze AgeMesopotamia1.2 Word Expansion1.2.1 Word familyn.v.adj. adv.dominaterevolutionregulateadministrativepurifybureaucracy1.2.2 Derivative roots Derivatives liquhabit vivehere2. Lets readCivilizationBetween 4000 and 3000 B.C., significant technological developments began to transform the Neolithic towns. The invention of writing enabled records to be kept, and the use of metals marked a new level of human control over the environment and its resources. Already before 4000 B.C., craftspeople had discovered that metal-bearing rocks could be heated to liquefy metals, which could then be cast in molds to produce tools and weapons that were more useful than stone instruments. Although copper was the first metal to be utilized in producing tools, after 4000 B.C. craftspeople in western Asia discovered that a combination of copper and tin produced bronze, a much harder and more durable metal than copper. Its widespread used has led historians to call the period the Bronze Age; thereafter, from around 3000 to 1200 B.C., bronze was increasingly replaced by iron.At first, Neolithic settlements were hardly more than villages. But as their inhabitants mastered the art of farming, more complex human societies emerged. As wealth increased, these societies began to develop armies and to build walled cities. By the beginning of the Bronze Age, the concentration of larger number of people in the river valleys of Southwest Asia and Egypt was leading to a whole new pattern for human life.As we have seen, early human beings formed small groups that developed a simple culture that enabled them to survive. As human societies grew and developed greater complexity, a new form of human existence called civilization came into being. A civilization is a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements. Historians have identified a number of basic characteristics of civilization, most of which are evident in the Southwest Asian and Egyptian civilizations. These include (1) an urban focus: cities became the centers of political, economic, social, cultural and religious development; (2) a distinct religious structure: the gods were deemed crucial to the communitys success, and professional priestly classes, as stewards of the gods property, regulated relations with the gods; (3) new political and military structures; an organized government bureaucracy arose to meet the administrative demands of the growing population while armies were organized to gain land and power; (4) a new social structure based on economic power; while kings and an upper class of priests, political leaders, and warriors dominated, there also existed large groups of free people (farmers, artisans, craftspeople) and at the very bottom, socially, a class of slaves; (5) the development of writing; kings, priests, merchants, and artisans used writing to keep records; and (6) new forms of significant artistic and intellectual activity, such as monumental architectural structures, usually religious, occupied a prominent place in urban environments. Why early civilizations developed remains difficult to explain. Since civilizations developed independently in India, China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, can general causes be identified that would explain why all of these civilizations emerged? A number of possible explanations of the beginning of civilization have been suggested. A theory of challenge and response maintains that challenges forced human beings to make efforts that resulted in the rise of civilization. Some scholars have adhered to a material explanation. Material forces, such as the growth of food surpluses, made possible the specialization of labor and development of large communities with bureaucratic organization. But the area of the Fertile Crescent, in which Mesopotamian civilization emerged, was not naturally conducive to agriculture. Abundant food could only be produced with a massive human effort to carefully manage the water, an effort that created the need for organization and bureaucratic control and led to civilized cities. Some historians have argued that nonmaterial forces, primarily religious, provided the sense of unity and purpose that made such organized activities possible. Finally, some scholars doubt that we are capable of ever discovering the actual causes of early civilization.2.1 Exercises1. Which of the following is the best definition of a “civilization”?A. Neolithic towns and citiesB. Types of complex culturesC. An agricultural communityD. Large population centers2. The word its in the passage refers to A. copperB. bronzeC. metalD. iron3. According to paragraph 2, what happened as societies become more prosperous?A. More goods are produced.B. Walled cities are built.C. Laws are instituted.D. The size of families increased. 4. The word hardly in the passage is closest in meaning toA. frequentlyB. likelyC. barelyD. obviously5. Why does the author mention “Neolithic settlements” in paragraph 2?A. To give an example of a civilizationB. To explain the invention of writing systemsC. To argue that they should be classified as villagesD. To contrast them with the civilization that evolved6. According to paragraph 3, how was the class system structured?A. An upper class and a lower classB. Slaves, free people and a ruling classC. A king, an army, and slavesD. Intellectuals and uneducated farmers and workers7. Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information.A. Southwest Asian and Egyptian civilizations exhibit the majority of the characteristics identified by historians.B. The characteristics that historians have identified are not found in the Egyptian and Southwest Asian cultures.C. Civilizations in Southwest Asia and Egypt were identified by historians who were studying the characteristics of early culturesD. The identification of most historical civilizations includes either Egypt or Southwest Asia on the list8. The word crucial in the passage is closest in meaning to A. fundamentalB. arbitraryC. disruptiveD. suitable9. The word prominent in the passage is closest in meaning toA. weakB. importantC. smallD. new10. According to paragraph 4, how can the independent development of civilization in different geographic regions be explained?A. Scholars agree that food surpluses encouraged populations to be concentrated in certain area.B. There are several theories that explain the rise of civilization in the ancient world.C. The model of civilization was probably carried from one region to another along trade routes. D. Historians attribute the emergence of early cities at about the same time as a coincidence.11. All of the following are cited as reasons why civilizations developed EXCEPTA. Religious practices unified the population.B. The management of water required organization.C. A major climate change made living in groups necessary.D. Extra food resulted in the expansion of population centers.12. Look at the four squares that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage.Some historians believe they can be established.Where could the sentence best be added?Click on a square to insert the sentence in the passage. 13. Directions: An introduction for a short summary of the passage appears below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that mention the most important points in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the passage or they are minor points from the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Certain qualities appear to define a civilization.Answer Choices. Free citizens who work in professions for pay. Bureaucracies for the government and armies. Libraries to house art and written records. A strategic location near rivers or the sea. Organized religion, writing and art. A densely populated group with a class structure2.2 Words & Expressionswordsv.Definitionsliquefyv. When a gas or solid substanceliquefiesoris liquefied, it changes its form and becomes liquid. (使)液化utilizevt. put into service; use 利用；使用emergevi. come out into view, as from concealment; come out of 出现；显出；暴露evidentadj clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; capable of being seen or noticed 明白的；明显的deemv. keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view 认为；视为bureaucracyn.an administrative system operated by a large number of officials；any organization in which action is obstructed by insistence on unnecessary procedures and red tape 官僚制度；官僚主义，官僚作风priestn.a specially trained person who performs various religious duties and ceremonies for a group of worshippers牧师; 祭司adherevistick firmly; give support to sth. 粘着，附着；坚持，支持surplusn.a quantity much larger than is needed 过量，盈余conduciveadj.likely to produce;helping(an especially desirable result) to happen 导致的， 有益的2.3 All In Onea) Craftspeople had discovered that metal-bearing rocks could be heated to liquefy metals.b) Liquefied metals could then be cast in molds to produce tools and weapons.c) Metal tools and weapons were more useful than stone instruments.Long sentence 1: _ _ _a) By the beginning of the Bronze Age, larger number of people had concentrated in the river valleys of Southwest Asia and Egypt. b) The concentrated people were leading to a whole new pattern for human life.Long sentence 2: _ _ _a) Civilizations developed independently in India, China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt.b) Why did all of these civilizations emerge?c) Can we identify general causes for that?Long sentence 3: _ _ _2.4 Summary 3. Lets Listen3.1 Note-taking 3.2 Exercises1. What topics does the speaker discuss?Click on two answers.A. Causes and effects of the agricultural revolution.B. A change in the design of human settlements.C. The significance of trees in urban spaces.D. Why people prefer living in romantic villages.2. How did early rural villages differ from the cities of today?A. Villages grew organically around features of the land.B. Villages were more likely to inspire landscape painters.C. Villages were designed as perfect rectangular grids.D. Villages provided better economic opportunities.3. What is the “urban forest”?A. The forest surrounding a cityB. A park designed by an architectC. The trees cultivated on farmsD. All of the trees in an urban area.4. Why does the speaker talk about New York City?A. To give an example of an urban park projectB. To recommend places to visit in New YorkC. To describe urban architecture and cultureD. To compare New York to other large cities5. Listen again to part of the lecture. Then answer the questionWhat does the speaker imply about New Yorks Central Park?A. It is the largest urban forest in the world.B. It was the first park to be designed by architects.C. It contains beautiful buildings of steel and stone.D. It contributes to the quality of life in the city.6. What is the speakers opinion of the city?A. The city is better than a traditional village.B. The city is a symbol of human achievement.C. The city is too hard, straight, and unnatural.D. The city is like an organic machine.3.3 Words & Expressionswordsv.Definitionsclusterv. (cause to) gather or grow in one or more clusters (使)群集,集中pasturen. land covered with grass and similar plants, suitable for grazing animals 牧草地,牧场yearnvi. long for or desire渴望,切盼,向往spectacularadj. unusually interesting or grand; attracting excited notice壮观的,雄伟的,引人入胜的rectangularadj. having the shape of a rectangle长方形的；矩形的deterioratevi.become worse 恶化,变坏thicketn.a dense growth of bushes 繁茂处；丛林；草丛psychen.the mind and ones deepest feelings and attitudes 精神；心灵3.4 Summary4. Lets speakYou will read a short passage and then listen to a talk on the same topic. You will then be asked a question about them. After you hear the question, you will have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.CultureCulture consists of the beliefs, values, rituals, texts and symbols of a society. An important element of culture is the rules or norms that regulate behavior and maintain social order. Some norms tell us how we should behave for example, obey authority and treat others with respect. Some norms are traditions or customs, such as clothing styles. Other norms cover matters of morality, such as courtship behavior or showing respect to ancestors. The most essential norms cover activities that are central