大学英语精读第四册 unit 8

1、 Warm-up Discuss the following questions: What do you think of the quality of our environment nowadays? 2. Suppose you have a chance to live underground where environment is comfortable and life is convenient, will you have a try? Why? Unit Eight The New Caves Background Information The Ice Ages Lis

2、ten and answer the questions v1. When did the earliest known ice age occurred? v2. When did the most recent ice age occurred? v3. What were the average temperatures during periods of advancing ice? An ice age is the period in the earths history when moving sheets of ice covered large regions of the

3、worlds land surface. Earth scientists believe that there have been several ice ages. The earliest known ice age occurred about 700 million years ago, and the most recent one, usually referred to as the Ice Age or the Pleistocene Ice Age began about 2 million years ago and continued to 10,000 or 15,0

4、00 years ago. Scientists have learned that Ice Age climates changed from time to time. During periods of advancing ice, average temperatures were probably about 10 to 15 degrees F (about -9 to -12 degrees C). Myths and Legends Directions: Listen to the following paragraph and fill in the missing wor

5、ds. Both myths and legends are stories handed down from earliest times. Although the two words are often used interchangeably, myths are stories about and legends stories about men. Myths embody the beliefs of peoples, and provided a romantic explanation of the wonders of nature when explanations we

6、re lacking. Natural forces were and deified. For example, the Greeks believed that thunder and lightning expressed the of great god Zeus. Legends are stories connected with some period in the history of a people or nation, often containing an of fact. Legends are intended to a hero and tell marvelou

7、s deeds he supposedly performed. traditional_ gods_ primitive_ scientific_ personified_ displeasure_ element_ glorify_ In Chinese folklore, the story of Da Yu who succeeded in the rivers is a legend and the story of ChangE Flying to the Moon is a . taming _ myth_ Part Division of the Text Main Ideas

8、LinesParts 1113 21474 37576 The author puts forward a suggestion that someday we may seek to further increase our comfort and security by building our houses underground. The author gives four advantages of underground life. Living underground may be odd but there are more benefits of it. Questions

9、and Answers Part One Directions: Go through the first part and answer the following questions. 1. 2. 3. 4. Why, according to the author, do human beings often make their homes in caves during the ice ages? Why does the author call our houses caves? Why does the author think his suggestion may seem u

10、nacceptable at first thought? Whats your feeling about underground living? expose to: leave no longer covered or protected from 这株小草经受风吹雨打。这株小草经受风吹雨打。 The little grass is exposed to all kinds of weather. in the open: outdoors; in the open air The air in the open is not fresh at all because the city

11、is seriously polluted. 户外活动对你有好处。户外活动对你有好处。 It will do you good to do exercise in the open. virtually: adv. 虽然她的丈夫是国王，但事实上她才是国家的统治者。虽然她的丈夫是国王，但事实上她才是国家的统治者。 Virtually everyone got a toothache now and then. 1) in fact or practically 2) almost; nearly Virtually she was the ruler of the country, althou

12、gh her husband was the king. someday: adv. at an indefinite time in the future Well succeed someday. 有朝一日我们会成功的。有朝一日我们会成功的。 NB: someday（副词）和 （副词）和 sometime都表示将来某个不确定的时间。都表示将来某个不确定的时间。 Someday, he might win a prize for being an outstanding clerk. Lets meet sometime when your schedule permits. Come so

13、metime. 也许有一天，他会获得优秀职员奖。也许有一天，他会获得优秀职员奖。 请以后再来。请以后再来。 让我们在您让我们在您方便方便的某个时候见面吧。的某个时候见面吧。 add to: increase 焰火为节日的夜晚增光添色。焰火为节日的夜晚增光添色。 Fireworks added to the attraction of the festival night. manmade: adj. produced or caused by men, not natural 有时候人为的灾难比自然灾害更有破坏力。有时候人为的灾难比自然灾害更有破坏力。 Sometimes manmade di

14、sasters are even more destructive than natural ones. Table Completion The authors suggestion We may seek to add further to our comfort and security by building our houses underground. Advantages Paragraph 5 Weather would no longer be important. Paragraphs 67 Local time would no longer be important.

15、Paragraphs 89 The ecological structure could be stabilized. Paragraphs 1012 Nature would be closer. Directions: Go over the second part quickly and finish the following table. Part Two Supporting Details for Each Advantage Paragraph 5 Weather would no longer be important. Transportation over local d

16、istance would be simplified. Terrible weather would not trouble the underground. Temperature variation in a day or a year would not exist underground. Energy used for air conditioning could be saved. Damage done to structures and human beings by weather would be diminished. simplify: vt. make easier

17、 or simpler 你的解释对小学生来说太复杂了，尽量简化一些。你的解释对小学生来说太复杂了，尽量简化一些。 Your explanation is too complicated for the pupils; try to simplify it. vary: v. (cause to) be different, change 医生说我的饮食要多样化，不要总吃同样的东西。医生说我的饮食要多样化，不要总吃同样的东西。 My doctor said that I should vary my diet rather than eat the same thing all the time

18、. Collocation: vary from . to .从从到到不等；在不等；在到到之间变动之间变动 vary with随随而变化而变化 vary in sth.在某方面不同在某方面不同 artificial: adj. 桌子上有一些人造花。桌子上有一些人造花。 There were some artificial flowers on the table. 1) manmade 2) not natural or real 在我看来她的演技有点不自然。在我看来她的演技有点不自然。 In my opinion her acting is a bit artificial. Colloca

19、tion: artificial intelligence人工智能人工智能 an artificial leg / eye / hand / tooth 假肢假肢 / 眼眼 / 手手 / 牙牙 artificial satellite人造卫星人造卫星 artificial snow人造雪人造雪 artificial manners矫揉造作的举止矫揉造作的举止 adjust: vt. He adjusted himself very quickly to the heat of the country. 1) change, adapt or conform to new conditions

20、2) bring into a more effective or efficient state 你可以旋转这个旋钮你可以旋转这个旋钮(knob)来调节电视机的颜色。来调节电视机的颜色。 You can adjust the color on the TV by turning this knob. convenience: n. personal comfort or advantage; the quality of being convenient They bought this house for convenience; its near the shops and the ra

21、ilway station. 如果你能在方便的时候给我们回复的话，我们将十分感激。如果你能在方便的时候给我们回复的话，我们将十分感激。 We would be most grateful if you could give us a reply at your earliest convenience. Collocation: suit ones convenience为了某人方便为了某人方便 at your (earliest) convenience在你方便的时候在你方便的时候 for (ones) convenience为了（某人）方便为了（某人）方便 on the stroke: p

22、unctually at the time appointed She goes to work on the stroke of 8 a.m. 他准时到达机场。他准时到达机场。 He arrived at the airport on the stroke. gear: Education should be geared to childrens needs. 1. vt. adjust or adapt so as to make suitable (often used with to) 2. n. the machinery in a vehicle that turns power

23、 from the engine into movement 传动装置，齿轮 教育应适合学生们的需要。教育应适合学生们的需要。 The truck driver changed gear to go up the hill. 卡车司机换档上山坡。卡车司机换档上山坡。 Collocation: change / shift gears换档换档 reverse gears倒档倒档 bottom / low gear低速档低速档 high / top gear高速档高速档 in gear在正常运转中在正常运转中,已挂上齿轮已挂上齿轮 stabilize: v. (cause to) become f

24、irm, steady, or unchanging The government has taken measures to stabilize the economy. 为了稳定经济，政府已经采取措施。为了稳定经济，政府已经采取措施。 to a certain extent: to a certain degree To a certain extent it was my fault that we lost the game. I agree with you to a certain extent, but I still think we should give up that p

25、lan. 我在一定程度上同意你的意见我在一定程度上同意你的意见, 但我还是觉得我们该放弃那个计划。但我还是觉得我们该放弃那个计划。 take up: This table takes up too much space. 这张桌子占去了太多的地方。这张桌子占去了太多的地方。 1. occupy (space, time, attention, etc.) entirely and exclusively 2. engage in He took up art while at school. 他在学校时开始对艺术产生兴趣。他在学校时开始对艺术产生兴趣。 recreation: n. activ

26、ity for pleasure or amazement 踢足球是男孩们放学后通常的娱乐活动。踢足球是男孩们放学后通常的娱乐活动。 Football is the boys usual recreation after school. mind you: please note Mind you! I dont say that it is certain. I have no objection, but mind you, I think it unwise to do so. 请注意，我并没说这是肯定的。请注意，我并没说这是肯定的。 terminal: n. Well pick you

27、 up at the railway terminal. 这些资料将被输入计算机终端。这些资料将被输入计算机终端。 我们将到火车站接你。我们将到火车站接你。 2. a device by which information enters or leaves a computer; one of the points at which you can connect wires 1. a big building where people wait to get onto planes, buses, or ships, or where goods are loaded The data wi

28、ll be fed into a computer terminal. Collocation: a(n) airline / bus terminal 航空终点站航空终点站 / 公共汽车总站公共汽车总站 shipping terminal航运基地；码头仓库航运基地；码头仓库 a freight terminal货运终点站货运终点站 the positive / negative terminal正正 / 负端；正极负端；正极 / 负极接线柱负极接线柱 occupation: n. He has no fixed occupation and can hardly keep body and

29、soul together. 他没有固定的职业，几乎不能维持生活。他没有固定的职业，几乎不能维持生活。 2. holding or possessing 1. a job; employment She was born in France during the German occupation. Collocation: lose ones occupation失业失业 a fixed / regular occupation固定职业固定职业 a main occupation本职本职 a military occupation军事占领军事占领 by occupation以以为职业为职业

30、in occupation of (a place)占领（某地）占领（某地） under the occupation of sb.在某人的占领下在某人的占领下 elaborate: She gave us an elaborate description of her new house. 她向我们详细描述了她的新房子。她向我们详细描述了她的新房子。 2. vi. give more details or information 1. adj. worked out with great care; complicated; full of detail The chairman just

31、wanted the facts. You dont need to elaborate on them. 主席只想了解事实主席只想了解事实, 你不必作详细说明。你不必作详细说明。 derive from: come from; obtain from We derive great pleasure from our studies. Thousands of English words derive from Latin. 我们从学习中得到很大的乐趣。我们从学习中得到很大的乐趣。 turn over: 1) bring the bottom to the top or vice versa

32、; rotate, cycle （使）翻转 2) think about; consider 仔细考虑 3) transfer to another; give the control of sth. to sb. 移交 Match the definition above with the meaning of this phrase in the following sentences. His father had been turning the idea over in his mind for some time. The thief was turned over to the

33、police. My stomach turned over. She turned over the problem in her mind. He has turned over his business to his brother. ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) restrict: vt. keep or confine within limits Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 市内车速每小时不得超过市内车速每小时不得超过30英里。英里。 Brainstorming Give more advantages

34、 of underground living the author hasnt said. Part Three For reference: 1. Clean, filtered air is one of them. The city of London has one of the most serious smog problems in the world. 2. You can escape the ever-present threat of traffic accidents on the citys busy streets. 3. The convenience of ge

35、tting around: youre usually next to, or even in , a subway station. the ice ages in the open for comfort and security at first thought the realm of evil spirits and the dead volcanic eruption noxious gases temperature variation 冰河时代冰河时代 在户外在户外 为了舒适和安全为了舒适和安全 乍一想来乍一想来 魔鬼与亡灵的世界魔鬼与亡灵的世界 火山爆发火山爆发 毒气毒气 气

36、温变化气温变化 Useful Expressions open surface the rhythm of human life 露天露天 生活节奏生活节奏 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. vary from person to person 12. artificial light 13. suit ones convenience 14. on eight-hour shift 15. a freely mobile world 16. mind you 因人而异因人而异 人工照明人工照明 根据人的需要根据人的需要 8 8小时轮班小时轮班 自由流动的社

37、会自由流动的社会 请注意请注意 17. the burrowing animals 18. at ecological stability 19. limited greenery 20. under ecologically healthier conditions 穴居动物穴居动物 生态平衡生态平衡 有限的绿色草木有限的绿色草木 在更为健康的生态环境下在更为健康的生态环境下 Spot Dictation Directions: Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks with the words or phrases you have ju

38、st heard. The Desert Cave Hotel allows you to experience dug-out , underground shops, bar and opal (蛋白石蛋白石) display areas all within sandstone (沙岩沙岩) surrounds in the heart of Coober Pedy. above and underground we also offer dining and convention . Visitors can stay underground, , above ground rooms

39、 are also . Sleeping underground is . Quiet, cool, dark and airy (通风的通风的) . Most visitors say that sleeping underground gives them the best nights sleep they have ever had. The hotel offers visitors the best to experience Coober Pedy dugout living. In 1989, the Desert Cave Hotel won both the South A

40、ustralian and for Tourism Development. The Desert Cave Hotel again won the South Australian Tourism Award for national standard accommodation in 1990 and 1991. style living_ As well as_ accommodation _facilities_ or if they prefer _ available_a unique experience _ the rooms are spacious with high ceilings _ opportunity _ _ National Tourism Awards _ Homework: Write a composition on My Favorite Lifestyle. Discussion and Debate Directions: As