当代研究生英语课件Unit 3 The case against man.ppt

BookOne,Unit3,BookOne,Content,Warming-up,Reading,Writing,TextA,TextB,BookOne,Warming-up,BookOne,Questions:1)Inwhatwaysdoeshumanactivityinfluencetheenvironment?Offersomeexamples.2)HaveyouexperiencedthepressureofChinaslargepopulation?Tellaboutyourexperiences.3)ForhowlongdoyouthinkChinashouldinsistitsFamilyPlanningActivity?Why?,Groupdiscussion,BookOne,THECASEAGAINSTMAN(PARTI)IsaacAsimov,BookOne,ReadingTextA,TextStudy,MainIdea,BookOne,TextStudy,BookOne,1Thefirstmistakeistothinkofmankindasathinginitself.Itisnt.Itispartofanintricateweboflife.Andwecantthinkevenoflifeasathinginitself.Itisnt.ItispartoftheintricatestructureofaplanetbathedbyenergyfromtheSun.2TheEarth,inthenearly5billionyearssinceitassumedapproximatelyitspresentform,hasundergoneavastevolution.Whenitfirstcameintobeing,itverylikelylackedwhatwewouldtodaycallanoceanandanatmosphere.Thesewereformedbythegradualoutwardmovementofmaterialasthesolidinteriorsettledtogether.3Norwereocean,atmosphere,andsolidcrustindependentofeachotherafterformation.Thereisinteractionalways:evaporation,condensation,solution,weathering.Farwithinthesolidcrustthereareslow,continuingchanges,too,ofwhichhotsprings,volcanoes,andearthquakesarethemorenoticeablemanifestationshereonthesurface.,Para.1-3,BookOne,Para.4-6,4Between2billionand3billionyearsago,portionsofthesurfacewater,bathedbytheenergeticradiationfromtheSun,developedcomplicatedcompoundsinorganizationsufficientlyversatiletoqualifyaswhatwecall“life”.Lifeformshavebecomemorecomplexandmorevariouseversince.5ButthelifeformsareasmuchpartofthestructureoftheEarthasanyinanimateportionis.Itisallaninseparablepartofawhole.Ifanyanimalisisolatedtotallyfromotherformsoflife,thendeathbystarvationwillsurelyfollow.Ifisolatedfromwater,deathbydehydrationwillfollowevenfaster.Ifisolatedfromair,whetherfreeordissolvedinwater,deathbyasphyxiationwillfollowstillfaster.IfisolatedfromtheSun,animalswillsurviveforatime,butplantswoulddie,andifallplantsdied,allanimalswouldstarve.6Itworksinreverse,too,fortheinanimateportionofEarthisshapedandmoldedbylife.Thenatureoftheatmospherehasbeenchangedbyplantactivity(whichaddstotheairthefreeoxygenitcouldnototherwiseretain).Thesoilisturnedbyearthworms,whileenormousoceanreefsareformedbycoral.,BookOne,Para.7-9,7Theentireplanet,plussolarenergy,isoneenormousintricatelyinterrelatedsystem.Theentireplanetisalifeformmadeupofnonlivingportionsandalargevarietyoflivingportions(asourownbodyismadeupofnonlivingcrystalsinbonesandnonlivingwaterinblood,aswellasofalargevarietyoflivingportions).8Infact,wecanpursuetheanalogy.Amaniscomposedof50trillioncellsofavarietyoftypes,allinterrelatedandinterdependent.Lossofsomeofthosecells,suchasthosemakingupanentireleg,willseriouslyhandicapalltherestoftheorganism:seriousdamagetoarelativelyfewcellsinanorgan,suchastheheartorkidneys,mayendbykillingall50trillion.9Inthesameway,onaplanetaryscale,thechoppingdownofanentireforestmaynotthreatenEarthslifeingeneral,butitwillproduceseriouschangesinthelifeformsoftheregionandeveninthenatureofthewaterrunoffand,therefore,inthedetailsofgeologicalstructure.Aseriousdeclineinthebeepopulationwillaffectthenumbersofthoseplantsthatdependonbeesforfertilization,thenthenumbersofthoseanimalsthatdependonthoseparticularbee-fertilizedplants,andsoon.,BookOne,Para.9-11,10Orconsidercellgrowth.Cellsinthoseorgansthatsufferconstantwearandtearasintheskinorintheintestinallininggrowandmultiplyalllifelong.Othercells,notsoexposed,asinnerveandmuscle,donotmultiplyatallintheadult,underanycircumstances.Stillotherorgans,ordinarilyquiescent,asliverandbone,standreadytogrowifthatisnecessarytoreplacedamage.Whentheproperrepairsaremade,growthstops.11Inamuchlooserandmoreflexibleway,thesameistrueofthe“planetorganism”(whichwestudyinthesciencecalledecology).Ifcougarsgrowtoonumerous,thedeertheyliveonaredecimated,andsomeofthecougarsdieofstarvation,sothattheir“propernumber”isrestored.Iftoomanycougarsdie,thenthedeermultiplywithparticularrapidity,andcougarsmultiplyquicklyinturn,tilltheadditionalpredatorsbringdownthenumberofdeeragain.Barringinterferencefromoutside,theeatersandtheeatenretaintheirpropernumbers,andbotharethebetterforit.(Ifthecougarsareallkilledoff,deerwouldmultiplytothepointwheretheydestroytheplantstheyliveoff,andmorewouldthendieofstarvationthanwouldhavediedofcougars.),BookOne,Para.12-14,12Theneateconomyofgrowthwithinanorganismsuchasahumanbeingissometimesforwhatreason,weknownotdisrupted,andagroupofcellsbeginsgrowingwithoutlimit.Thisisthedreaddiseaseofcancer,andunlessthatgrowinggroupofcellsissomehowstopped,thewildgrowthwillthrowallthebodystructureoutoftrueandendbykillingtheorganismitself.13Inecology,thesamewouldhappenif,forsomereason,oneparticulartypeoforganismbegantomultiplywithoutlimit,killingitscompetitorsandincreasingitsownfoodsupplyattheexpenseofthatofothers.That,too,couldendinthedestructionofthelargersystemmostoralloflifeandevenofcertainaspectsoftheinanimateenvironment.14Andthisisexactlywhatishappeningatthismoment.Forthousandsofyears,thesinglespeciesHomosapiens,towhichyouandIhavethedubioushonorofbelonging,hasbeenincreasinginnumbers.Inthepastcoupleofcenturies,therateofincreasehasitselfincreasedexplosively.,BookOne,Para.15-18,15AtthetimeofJuliusCaesar,whenEarthshumanpopulationisestimatedtohavebeen150million,thatpopulationwasincreasingatsucharatethatitwoulddoublein1000yearsifthatrateremainedsteady.Today,withEarthspopulationestimatedatabout4000million(26timeswhatitwasinCaesarstime),itisincreasingataratewhich,ifsteady,willcauseittodoublein35years.16ThepresentrateofincreaseofEarthsswarminghumanpopulationqualifiesHomosapiensasanecologicalcancer,whichwilldestroytheecologyjustassurelyasanyordinarycancerwoulddestroyanorganism.17Thecure?Justwhatitisforanycancer.Thecancerousgrowthmustsomehowbestopped.18Ofcourse,itwillbe.Ifwedonothingatall,thegrowthwillstop,asacancerousgrowthinamanwillstopifnothingisdone.Themandiesandthecancerdieswithhim.Andanalogously,theecologywilldieandmanwilldiewithit.,BookOne,19Howcanthehumanpopulationexplosionbestopped?Byraisingthedeathrateorbyloweringthebirthrate.Therearenootheralternatives.Thedeathratewillrisespontaneouslyandfinallycatastrophically,ifwedonothingandthatwithinafewdecades.Tomakethebirthratefall,somehow(almostanyhow,infact),issurelypreferable,andthatisthereforethefirstorderofmankindsbusinesstoday.20Failingthis,mankindwouldstandatthebarofabstractjustice(fortheremaybenoposteritytojudge)asthemassmurdereroflifegenerally,hisownincluded,andmassdisrupteroftheintricateplanetarydevelopmentthatmadelifeinitspresentglorypossibleinthefirstplace.,Para.19-20,BookOne,SentenceAnalysis,BookOne,1.Between2billionand3billionyearsago,portionsofthesurfacewater,bathedbytheenergeticradiationfromtheSun,developedcomplicatedcompoundsinorganizationsufficientlyversatiletoqualifyaswhatwecall“life”.(Para.4,Line1-3)versatile:havinggreatdiversityorvariety丰富多变的，多功能的e.g.aversatilenewmachinedevelop:causetogrow形成TheSVOstructureoftheabovesentence:poundsThepartafter“compounds”isitspostmodifier(后置定语),meaning:thesecompoundsweresufficientlyversatileinorganization,somuchsothattheywerequalifiedtobecalled“life”byus.,BookOne,译文：在20亿到30亿年前期间，一部分地球表面的水在太阳能的作用下，形成了结构复杂的化合物，这些化合物灵活多变，足以形成我们称之为“生命”的东西。Thewordingof“develop”intranslation:developedenginetrouble发生故障developaverylargeliftforce产生升力developedapracticallightningrod发明避雷针developedatheoryofmagnetism提出理论developthecapabilities提高能力developedtuberculosis患上结核病developthenaturalsubstances开发资源developthedeposit开采矿床,BookOne,2.Iftoomanycougarsdie,thenthedeermultiplywithparticularrapidity,andcougarsmultiplyquicklyinturn,tilltheadditionalpredatorsbringdownthenumberofdeeragain.(Para.11,Line4-5)multiply:increaseinnumberbygivingbirthtooffspring;breed繁殖e.g.Whenanimalshavemorefood,urn:inorderofonefollowinganother依次e.g.Weshookhandsinturnwitheachofthepeopleontheline.bringdown:reduce,injure,capture,orkill减少、打伤、捕获、杀死e.g.Withoneshothebroughtdownthewolf.译文:如果美洲狮死得过多，那么鹿的数量就会迅速得到增长，美洲狮反过来就会迅速繁衍，直到新增加的美洲狮将鹿的数量再一次减少。,BookOne,3.Theneateconomyofgrowthwithinanorganismsuchasahumanbeingissometimesforwhatreason,weknownotdisrupted,andagroupofcellsbeginsgrowingwithoutlimit.(Para.12,Line1-2)Thisisacompoundsentencewithaconj.“and”:Theneateconomy.is.disrupted,andagroupofcellsbeginsgrowing.theneateconomyofgrowth:thebalancedandinterrelateddevelopment(ofanorgan).“economy”means“avoidanceofwaste”;and“neat”means“tidy;ingoodorder,withnothingoutofplace”.disrupt:interruptthe,bringdisorderto扰乱,干扰e.g.Thewardisruptedeconomy.译文:某些有机组织(比如人)内的净增长有时候会受到干扰，有机体中的部分细胞开始无限制地增长这究竟是因为什么原因，我们尚不得而知。,BookOne,4.thewildgrowthwillthrowallthebodystructureoutoftrueandendbykillingtheorganismitself.(Para.12,Line4-5)outoftrue:nothavingtheexactpositionorcorrectshapeorbalance;deformed位置不正；形态不正；不均衡e.g.Theaxleisoutoftrue,thereforetheyhavetofixitagain.Hefoundthattheslantingdoorisoutoftrue.Twoofthepictureshangingonthewallareoutoftrue.译文:疯长的癌细胞将会扰乱整个身体的结构，最终导致有机体本身的死亡。,BookOne,5.Failingthis,mankindwouldstandatthebarofabstractjustice(fortheremaybenoposteritytojudge)asthemassmurdereroflifegenerally,hisownincluded,andmassdisrupteroftheintricateplanetarydevelopmentthatmadelifeinitspresentglorypossibleinthefirstplace.(Para.20)fail:lack;beunsuccessfulin缺乏，失败e.g.Ouryouthneverfailedaninvinciblecourage.thebar:thelawcourtsystem法庭e.g.Johnwasalawyerssonandwasdestinedtospendhiscareerasamemberofthebar.standatthebarof.justice:bepresentatacourtoflawandtried,BookOne,inthefirstplace:originally;atfirst起初，首先e.g.Whydostrikesoccursofrequentlyincoalminesinthefirstplace?Itwasntmyideatogotothatschoolinthefirstplace.Dadshovedmein.译文:如果人类处理不好这一问题，那就会作为大规模杀害生灵（包括杀害自身）的凶手，以及大规模破坏地球错综复杂的进化发展（是这种进化发展最初形成了目前生命的繁荣景象）的罪魁祸首而受到抽象正义法庭的审判因为到那时可能已没有子孙后代来审判他了,BookOne,LanguagePoints,BookOne,adj.containingmanysmallpartsordetailsthatallworkorfittogether错综复杂的近义词complex,complicatede.g.Iwasunabletofindouttheintricatewindingsofthelabyrinth.我无法找出迷宫中扑朔迷离的路线。Thisisanovelwithanintricateplot.这是一本情节错综复杂的小说。intricatepatterns花纹精致的图案anintricateproblem错综复杂的问题anintricateknot复杂难解的结anintricateintrument复杂精细的仪器intricatedirections难懂的使用说明,intricate,BookOne,versatile,adj.goodatdoingalotofdifferentthingsandabletolearnnewskillsquicklyandeasily多才多艺的e.g.averyversatileauthor多才多艺的作家aversatileman多面手Hesaveryversatileperformer;hecanact,sing,dance,andplaythepiano.他是个多才多艺的演员，会演戏，唱歌，跳舞，还会弹钢琴。adj.havingmanydifferentuses有多种用途的，万能的e.g.Nylonisaversatilematerial尼龙是一种有多种用途的材料Silliconisahighlyversatilesubstance.硅是一种用途极为广泛的物质。,BookOne,例题:Hewilleasilygetanotherjob;Heisso_.A.productiveB.versatileC.professionalD.progressive句意：他这么多才多艺，会很容易找到另外一份工作的。,B.versatile,BookOne,decimate,vt.todestroyalargepartofsomething大量毁灭近义词：eliminate,annihilatee.g.Thepopulationhasbeendecimatedbydisease.疾病导致大量人的死亡。Studentnumbershavebeendecimatedbycutsingrants.助学金削减后，学生人数大大减少。Thewheatcropwillbedecimatedwithoustrongspringrains.春天如果不下几场大雨麦子可就要毁了。,BookOne,multiply,v.toincreasegreatlyormakesomethingincreasegreatly(使)大大增加e.g.Ourchancesofsuccesshadmultipliedseveraltimesover.我们成功的机会已大大增加。Wemustmultiplyoureffortstoclearupthemystery.我们必须加倍努力来澄清这一神秘的事件。v.todeacalculationinwhichyouaddanumbertoitselfaparticularnumberoftimes乘，使相乘multiplysth.bysth.e.g.3multipliedby4is12.3乘以4等于12。,BookOne,V.tobreed繁殖，增殖近义词：reproduce,procreatee.g.Thebugscaneasilymultiplytogiveanastyboutoffoodpoisoning.这些病菌繁殖迅速，容易引发严重的事物中毒。Rabbitsmultiplyquickly.兔子繁殖很快。,BookOne,dubious,adj.tonotbesurewhethersomethingisgoodortrue不能确定，疑惑近义词：doubtful,dubitablee.g.ImalittlebitdubiousabouttheideaoflendingJimmycar.我有点拿不定注意是不是该把车借给吉姆。Ifeeldubiousaboutwhattodonext.我不知道下一步该怎么办。adj.makingyoudoubtwhethersomeoneorsomethingishonest,safeetc.不大可靠的，令人生疑的e.g.Helookslikeadubiouscharacter.他看起来象是个不大可靠的人。Thisdealsoundshighlydubioustome.这笔交易在我看来十分靠不住。,BookOne,swarm,n.alargegroupofinsects,especiallybees,oranimals,orpeoplemovingtogether(昆虫或动物中的)一大群，(尤指)蜂群，或人群e.g.Thelocustswarmhasdestroyedallthecropsandvegetables.蝗虫群毁坏了所有的庄稼和蔬菜。Swarmsofsightseers蜂拥而来的观光客vi.成群地行进；徘徊e.g.Thechildrencameswarmingin.孩子们蜂拥着进来了。Ashegotofftheplane,reportersswarmedonhim.他一下飞机，记者们蜂拥着向他挤去。Insectsswarmedroundthelamp.小飞虫成群地在灯的周围打转。,BookOne,Vt.tobefullofamovingcrowdofpeopleoranimals挤满(移动的人群或动物)e.g.Passagersswarmedthedeck.乘客挤在甲板上。例题:ManpowerInc.,with560,000workers,istheworldslargesttemporaryemploymentagency.Everymorning,itspeople_intotheofficesandfactories,seekingadaysworkforadayspay.A.swarmB.strideC.separateD.slip,A.swarm,BookOne,spontaneous,adj.happeningordonewithoutbeingplannedororganized自动的，自发的，一时冲动的e.g.Heisspontaneoustoofferhelp.他主动提供帮助。Thecrowdgaveaspontaneouscheerwhentheresultwasannounced.宣布结果时人群立即爆发出一阵欢呼声。aspontaneousmovement无意识的动作aspontaneousanswer脱口而出的答案spontaneousbehavior自然的举止spontaneouscombustion自燃,BookOne,例题:1.Hisofferofhelpwasquite_;hehadntbeentoldtomakeit.A.hesitantB.reluctantC.spontaneousD.individual句意：他提出帮忙完全是自发的，没有人要求他这么做。2.NothingHelensaysisever_.Shealwaysthinkscarefullybeforeshespeaks.(2005年1月六级真题50题)A.simultaneousB.homogenousC.spontaneousD.rigorous句意：海伦的话很少是自发的，她总是经过深思熟虑才开口。,C.spontaneous,C.spontaneous,BookOne,catastrophe,n.aterribleeventinwhichthereisalotofdestructionormanypeopleareinjuredordie毁灭性大灾难e.g.thecatastropheofaworldwideconflict世界性冲突的大灾难。Theoilspillthreatensanunparalleledecologicalcatastrophe.漏油事故造成一场前所未有的生态大灾难。n.aneventorsituationwhichisextremelybadforthepeopleinvolved麻烦，困境，不利的局面e.g.Itisaminorcatastrophe,isntit?只是个小灾难，对吧?Ifthecontractiscancelled,itwillbeacatastropheforeveryoneconcerned.合同如果取消，将对各方面都不利。,BookOne,UsefulExpression,BookOne,comeintobeing,bebornorcomeintoexistence形成，产生同义词：cometolife,comeaboute.g.Anewrulewillsooncomeintobeing.一个新规则很快就要出台了。Acarcomesintobeingthroughaseriesofcomplexoperations.汽车经过一连串的复杂作业程序而制成。Whendidtheworldcomeintobeing?世界是什么时候形成的？,BookOne,becomposedof,tobeformedfromagroupofsubstancesorparts由组成e.g.Wateriscomposedofhydrogenandoxygen.水由氢和氧组成。Theboardshallbecomposedofeightdirectors.Eachdirectorshallbeappointedorrecalledbyhisownside.董事会由八名董事组成，各方的董事将由各方自行任命或罢免。TheHKSARsexecutiveauthoritiesandlegislatureshallbecomposedofpermanentresidentsofHongKong.香港特别行政区的行政机关和立法机关由香港永久性居民组成。,BookOne,wearandtear,decreaseinvalueofanassetduetoobsolescenceoruse磨损，消耗近义词：depreciatione.g.Thestaircarpetgetsalotofwearandtearandwillsoonneedreplacing.铺在楼梯上的地毯磨损得很厉害，因而很快就要更换。Theinsurancepolicydoesnotcoverdamagecausedbynormalwearandtear.保险单内容不包括正常使用所导致的损坏。Thisclothisdesignedtostanduptoalotofwearandtear.这种布料十分耐用。,BookOne,bringdown,1.toflyanaircraftdowntothegroundandstop使得飞机降落e.g.HebroughttheCessnadowninahay-meadowbytheriver.他把那架塞斯纳小型飞机降落在河边的牧草场。Thepilotbroughthiscrippledplanedowninafield.驾驶员把失灵的飞机降落在田地里。2.tomoveyourarmoraweapon,tooletc.quicklydownwards放下，使向下e.g.Hebroughtdowntheaxewithathud.他砰的一声用斧子砍了下去。3.toshootataplane,birdoranimal;sothatitfallsontheground射下，打落e.g.Abomberhadbeenbroughtdownbyanti-aircraftfire.一架轰炸机被高射炮火击落。,BookOne,4.bringdownthegovernment/presidentetc.推翻政府，总统等e.g.Thescandalmaybringdownthegovernment.这一丑闻可能导致政府垮台。5.toknocksomeoneoverinagameoffootball,rugbyetc.(比赛中)被撞倒e.g.Klinsmannwasbroughtdownontheedgeofthearea.克林斯曼在球场边缘被撞倒了。,BookOne,live,liveon:靠吃生活e.g.Atthattime,welivedonwildfruit.那段时间我们靠吃野果为生。livefor:为而生活；盼望e.g.Aftershediedhehadnothingtolivefor.她去世後,他便没有了生活目标。liveoff:以为食料；靠过日子e.g.Inordertoliveoffagarden,youpracticallyhavetoliveinit.为了靠果园生活，你得住进里边去。liveout:不住宿在工作或学习的地方；e.g.Idoubtifshellliveoutthewinter.我看她活不过今年冬季。liveupto:遵守，符合，不辜负(期望)e.g.Wewillneverfailtoliveuptowhatourparentsexpectofus.我们决不辜负我们的父母对我们的期望。,BookOne,turn,turnaway:回绝，拒绝e.g.Somerefugeeswereturnedaway.Thereweretoomanyhungrymouthstofeedalready.一些难民们被打发走了，因为需要提供食物的饥民太多了。turnback:折回,折转,改变方向e.g.Turnbacktopagesix,please.请翻回到第六页。turnin:上床睡觉；交还，上交e.g.Iwanttoturninearlytonightandgetagoodnightsrest.今晚我要早睡，好好地休息一夜。turnout:制造，生产；结果，原来是e.g.Ifthedayturnsoutwet,wemayhavetochangeourplans.万一下雨的话，我们估计得改变计划。,BookOne,attheexpenseof,1.Involvingtheridiculeofsb.Else;involvingacut,lossorreductionmadesomewhereelse嘲讽别人；在别处遭受伤害、损失或削减e.g.Dontyouknowtheyrelaughingattheexpenseofyourparents?你难道不知道人家在拿你父母取笑吗？Nowtheministerhopestoencouragefixedcapticalinvestmentattheexpenseofconsumerspending.现在部长希望以削减消费性开销鼓励固定资本投资。2.withthelossofsth.以（损害）为代价；丧失e.g.Highproductionratesareoftenachievedattheexpenseofqualityofwork.高产率往往是以牺牲产品质量为代价的。Ithasachievedspeedattheexpenseofaccuracy.获得了速度但丧失了精确性。,BookOne,TextTranslation,BookOne,译文,状告人类1第一个错误是把人看作是某种独立的事物。其实并不是。人是复杂的生命网络系统中的一部分。我们甚至不能将生命本身视为某种独立的事物。它确实不是。生命是一颗沐浴着太阳能的行星上的复杂结构的一部分。2地球自从呈目前的形状近50亿年以来，已经历了一场巨大的演变。在形成的初期，地球上很可能没有我们今天称之为海洋和大气层之类的东西。当地球的内部固体紧压在一起时，物质的逐渐向外运动就形成了海洋和大气层。3地球形成之后，海洋、大气层以及坚固的地壳之间也并非相互独立。它们之间总有相互作用：蒸发，凝结，溶解，风化，等等。在坚固的地壳内很深之处也有不断的缓慢变化，其中温泉、火山、以及地震是在地球表面上较为引人注目的地质运动。,BookOne,4在20亿到30亿年前期间，一部分地球表面的水在太阳能的作用下，形成了结构复杂的化合物，这些化合物灵活多变，足以形成我们称之为“生命”的东西。生命形式从那时起就变得更为复杂，更为丰富多彩。5但是生命形式和地球上许多无生命的部分一样，是地球结构中的一部分。它是整个地球体系中不可分割的一部分。如果把任何动物与其他的生物形式完全隔离开，那么该动物肯定要饿死。要是没有水，由于脱水很快就会死亡。要是没有空气，不论是充分的空气还是溶于水的空气，动物会因窒息死得更快。要是没有太阳，动物可能会存活一段时间，但是植物会枯死，如果所有植物枯死，那么所有的动物将会饿死。6反过来情况也一样。地球的无机世界是由生命造就成形的。大气层的性质已经被植物活动所改变（植物活动给空气增添了大量的游离氧气，而这是通过其他方式所不能获取的）。蚯蚓翻松土壤，珊瑚形成一个个巨大的海礁。,BookOne,7整个地球，加上太阳能，形成了一个错综复杂、相互联系的巨大系统。整个星球是一种由无机部分和各种各样的有机生命构成的生命形式(正如我们自己身体那样，既是由各种各样的有机部分构成，又是由骨骼中的无机晶体和血液中的无机水分所构成)。8事实上，我们可以将上述类推继续进行下去。人是由各种类型的细胞构成的，这些细胞多达50万亿，它们之间相互联系，相互依赖。如果丧失某些细胞，比如说失去构成整条腿的那些细胞，将会严重影响有机体的其余部分；如果某一器官(如心脏或肾)中较少的细胞受到严重损害，可能会最终导致所有50万亿细胞的死亡。9同样，从全地球的规模考虑，砍掉一整片森林不会在总体上对地球生命构成威胁，但是这样做会对该地区的生态形式造成严重的影响，甚至会造成水的流失，因此引起地质结构的细微变化。蜜蜂数量的大量减少将影响依赖蜜蜂授粉的那些植物的数量，然后又影响到靠蜜蜂授粉的植物生存的动物的数量，依此类推。,BookOne,10还可以以细胞的生长为例。不断受到磨损的器官的细胞（如皮肤、肠内壁）自始至终都在不断发育、增长。另外一些较为隐蔽的细胞，如神经细胞、肌肉细胞，在成年之后再也不会增长。还有一些器官，通常为肝脏和骨骼之类的静止器官，在需要替换受损部位的时候随时可以生长。当完成适当的修复任务以后，便停止生长。11同样，“行星有机体”(这正是我们在生态学中研究的)也是如此，只不过是按照一种较为松散、更加灵活的方式运行罢了。如果美洲狮的数量太多，它们赖以生存的鹿就会被过度捕杀，一些美洲狮就会饿死。这样一来，美洲狮就恢复到一个“适当的数量”。如果美洲狮死得过多，那么鹿的数量就会迅速得到增长，美洲狮反过来就会迅速繁衍，直到新增加的美洲狮将鹿的数量再一次减少。如果排除外界的干扰，食肉动物和被吃动物都保持一个适当的数量，这样对双方都有好处。(如果美洲狮被斩尽杀绝，鹿肯定会大量繁衍，直到吃光它们赖以生存的植物。这样，更多的鹿会饿死，而不是葬身狮腹。),BookOne,12某些有机组织(比如人)内的净增长有时候会受到干扰，有机体中的部分细胞开始无限制地增长这究竟是因为什么原因，我们尚不得而知。这就是令人生畏的癌症。除非以某种方式阻止癌细胞日益增长，否则疯长的癌细胞将会扰乱整个身体的结构，最终导致有机体本身的死亡。13在生态学领域，如果出于某种原因，一种有机体开始无限度地不断繁衍，消灭竞争对手，以毁掉其他物类的食物为代价来增加自己的食物，那么将会发生同样的情况。这也可能会导致更大的生物体系的毁灭绝大部分或所有生命，甚至无生命环境中的某些方面。14这就是此时此刻正在发生的事。数千年来，人类这惟一的种群在数量上一直