Unit 3 Understanding Science
Text A Public Attitudes toward Science I.Objectives Students will be able to: 1) grasp the main idea and the structure of the text; 2) appreciate the style differences between narrative writing and expository writing; 3) master key language points and grammatical structures in the text 4) conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme of the unit.
II.Cultural Notes 1.Stephen Hawking (1942--): a British scientist who has greatly influenced people’s ideas on the origins of the universe.He has devoted much of his life to probing in the space-time described by general relativity and the singularities where it breaks down.And he’s done most of his work while confined to a wheelchair, brought on by the progreive neurological disease.Hawking is the Lucasian Profeor of Mathematics at Cambridge, a post once held by Isaac Newton.In the late 1960s.Hawking proved that if general relativity is true and the universe is expanding, a singularity must have occurred at the birth of the universe.In 1974 he first recognized a truly remarkable property of black holes, objects from which nothing was supposed to be able to escape.He has written the international bestseller A Brief History of Time, The hook spent more than four years on the London Sunday Times bestseller list — the longest run for any book in history.2.Frankenstein: a novel (1818) by an English writer Mary Shelley (1797-1851).It is the story of a Swi scientist.Dr.Frankenstein, who makes a living creature from pieces of dead bodies.The creature is like a man, but stronger, and although it is gentle at first, it later attacks and kills several people close to Frankenstein.There have been many films based on the story and variations of it: Everybody was dreed up as a ghost, is vampire or Frankenstein’s monster.
3.The Sky at Night: a popular British television program about the stars and planets, broadcast every month by the BBC since 1957.It is well known for the way in which its presenter, Patrick Moore, gives scientific information in an entertaining way.4.Albert Einstein (1879-1955): a physicist, born in Germany, who was poibly the greatest scientist of the 20th century.In 1905 he published his theory of relativity.This led to the equation giving the relationship between ma and energy.E=mc2, which is the basis of atomic energy, Einstein suggested how it could be used for making weapons, but after World War II he spoke publicly against nuclear weapons.By [917.he had become famous all over the world.He was given the
1 Nobel Prize for physics in 1921, When Hitler came to power, Einstein, who was Jewish, went to live in the US, becoming a US citizen in 1940.In 1933 he wrote a book called Why War? with Sigmund Freud.He became a profeor at Princeton University in 1934, and he spent the rest of his life looking, without succe, for a theory that combined those of gravitation and electromagnetism.In 1952 he was offered the presidency of the stale of Israel, but did not accept it.
III.Questions about the text:
1) What makes Hawking’s achievement so remarkable?
(The contrast between the strength of his mind and the weakne of his body.) 2) Please write down on a sheet of paper some of the scientific and technological discoveries that have changed or will change the way people live.T writes down some discovers on the blackboard.----- In what ways do these discoveries change our lives for the better/worse? (An example: TV provides people with quick and easy acce to information, education, entertainment, etc., but it also exposes children to violence, deprives families of time and the will to communicate with each other, etc.) ( TV ―the one-eyed monster‖, which makes us forget what the world was like without it.However, television in itself is neither good or bad.It is the uses to which it is put that determines its value to society.) 3)Sum up: The same scientific and technological discovery can bring us good things and bad things.According to the author, it’s up to us to make changes head towards changing our lives for the better.The same statement by Glenn T.Seaborg P71.
IV.Main idea and text organization
The main idea (to ensure the survival of human civilization, measures must be taken to help the public understand science) :
The article begins with the statement about the immense and irreversible influence of science and technology on human life, which leads to the main argument of the writer that the public need to have a basic understanding of science to avoid uninformed decisions.The writer then points out three ways for educating people: through school education, through replacing equations with words and diagrams and through making use of all popular media, and TV in particular.The article ends with the conclusion that human civilization will survive if the public understand science well.
The structure of the text (introducing a topic, developing the topic with supporting details, )---- introduce the background-----present the view------ solve the problem ------ draw the conclusion Do Text Organization Exercise on P69.
ⅴ.Language Points 1.attitude: the opinions and feelings that you usually have about something;
2 viewpoint, opinion (usually followed by to / towards) e.g.Pete’s attitude towards women really scares me.
His son’s attitude to work made him angry.
Besides: Altitude 海拔 latitude 纬度longitude 经度
2.likely: 1) probable, poible (when functioning as an adjective, the word is often used in the following patterns: it is likely that…, be likely to do sth.) e.g.It is likely that my roommate will win the first-cla scholarship.
An earthquake is likely to strike the area in a year or two.2) probably (when used as an adverb., the word is often preceded by ―most”, “more than”, or “very”.You don’t use it as an adverb on its own.)
e.g.I’ve very likely have done the same thing in your situation.
It is reported that another sandstorm will very likely come in the next 24 hours.
We will most likely stay home during the Spring Festival.
The price has most likely rise by 20% these days.3.privilege: a special advantage that is given only to one person or group of people.e.g.Don’t forget that using the car is a privilege, not a right.Ladies and gentlemen, I have the great privilege of introducing our speaker for tonight.
Minority be in a /the ~ ; a minority of
4.do without: manage to survive, continue, or succeed although you do not have sth.you need, want, or usually use: e.g.I can’t afford a car, so I gue I’ll just have to do without.
You’ll have to do without your dinner if you don’t get back in time.
As the monitor is not here, we’ll have to do without him.只好让他去了。 Do with : 1) 与--- 相处；2) 容忍
5.highly: 1) very: Highly succeful/ highly skilled
2) to a high level or standard;
e.g.She is a highly educated woman.
The chairman of the department was the most highly paid member of faculty.
To speak / think highly of : to tell other people how good someone is at something or to think they are very good at something.6.brutish and brutal
The former means suitable for animals rather than people or showing strong socially unacceptable feeling 野兽般的，野蛮的eg.eat with brutish enjoyment While the later means ―cruel‖ or showing no human feeling 残忍的，冷酷的eg.brutal war 7.anyway: (used to change the subject of a conversation or to support an idea or argument) anyhow.e.g.---I’ve got a terrible cold.
---Have you? Oh, dear.Anyway, so you’re not going to go away this weekend? He said he didn’t know much about computers but that he’d try and help us anyway.8.put/ turn the clock back: to go back to the ideas or methods tried before instead of doing things in a new or modern way; return to a situation that used to exist,
3 usually because the present situation is unpleasant.e.g.The employment bill in which women are not allowed to take jobs will put the clock back fifty years.Forget all about it and look to the future; you can’t turn the clock back.9.cut off: 1) stop providing (sth) e.g.The electricity company are threatening to cut us off.
The US has cut off aid to PDRK.Their phone has been cut off because they haven’t paid the bill.
2) to separate something by cutting it from the main parts: e.g.She cut off a big piece of meat.
One of his fingers was cut off in the accident.10.bring about: to make something happen: e.g.Computers have brought about many changes in the workplace.Jealousy in a relationship is often brought about by a lack of trust.Some educators are hoping to bring about major changes in the educational system.
11.moreover: formal.A word meaning in addition, use to introduce information that adds to or supports what has previously been said.e.g.The rent is reasonable and, moreover, the location is perfect.She saw that there was a man immediately behind her.Moreover, he was observing her strangely.12.inquire: to ask someone for information ( also spelled ―enquire‖, sometimes followed by about or wh-clause): e.g.―Are you getting married?‖ the television interviewer inquired.
I am writing to inquire about you advertisement in The Times.The waiter inquired whether we would like to sit near the window.He asked for his key and inquired whether there had been any meages for him.inquire into: to ask questions in order to get more information about something: 调查，了解 (the murder, her background) e.g.The investigation will inquire into the exact circumstances of the sale.inquire of sb 向某人询问
inquire about打听 (the weather condition) inquire after问候
eg.I’ll inquire after his health.
inquire for要求见到 eg.He has been inquiring for you at the office.inquiry n.eg.the inquiry office 问讯处•make an inquiry about sth inquiring: adj.Only before noun.
an inquiring look or expreion shows that you want to ask about something cf: ask, inquire, question Ask is the usual verb for questions: ―How are you doing?‖ she asked.That’s a stupid question to ask.Often people use want to know when they are talking about what someone else has asked.He wanted to know where I lived/ the train times.Inquire (or enquire) has the same meaning but is more formal, and is not followed by a noun or pronoun object.At a meeting: May I inquire what the committee proposed to do about this?/ about the effectivene of this police (not …inquire the
4 effectivene of this policy)? To question a person is to ask them a lot of questions, especially officially, and to interrogate suggests that someone is being held by force and asked questions that they are unwillingly to answer, for example by the police or an enemy.13.…and human initiative and inventivene are such that even this wouldn’t succeed: As human initiative and inventivene do exist, even this way to suppre anything new worldwide would fail.such… that: (formal or literary) used to give a reason or explanation for sth.e.g.The nature of the job was such that he felt obliged to tell no one about it.His manner was such that he would offend everyone he met.Initiative: 1) the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for sb.to tell you what to do.首（开）创精神，进取心 e.g.I wish my son would show a bit more initiative.The workers are able to solve the problems on their own initiative. Don’t keep asking me for advice.Use your initiative.
2) take the initiative: be the first person to take action to improve a situation or relationship, esp, when other people are waiting for sb else to do sth.带头，倡导，发起
e.g.Why don’t take the initiative and arrange a meeting?
Don’t stand around waiting for someone else to take the initiative.
suppre: vt.keep from appearing (the truth / a smile/a yawn/one’s feelings) 隐匿真相、抑制笑容（呵欠）、压抑感情
•suppreion n.镇压，抑制，隐瞒/suppreive a.镇压性的，平定的，抑制的 (cough medicine)/suppreor n.镇压等的事物，（尤）干扰遏止器
14.slow down: become slower, or make sb.or sth.Slower ---- speed up
e.g.It seems likely that the economy will slow down over the next twelve months.Motorist should slow down and take extra care in foggy conditions.My aching knee was beginning to slow me down.The cars slowed down as they paes the bridge.15.rate: 1) the speed at which something happens over a period of time: 速度
e.g.Our money was running out at an alarming rate.Children learn at different rates. the rate of economic growth 2) the number of times something happens or the number of examples of something within a certain period: 比率
e.g.birth/ unemployment/divorce/crime /exchange rate Britain held the record of having the highest divorce rate in Europe.Businees are opening all over the country at a rate of fifty a week.
3) at any rate: spoken used when you are stating one definite fact in a situation that is uncertain or unsatisfactory: 无论如何 e.g.Well, at any rate, we won’t starve?
They have technical problems – at any rate that’s what they told me.
16.ensure: make sure, guarantee, make certain that something will happen (followed by a noun or that-clause): 保证，确保
5 If you ensure (usually insure in American English) that something happens, that means you make certain or make sure (more informal) it does happen: e.g.Please ensure that the lights are switched off before leaving the building.
All the neceary steps had been taken to ensure their safety.His wife ensured that he took all his pills every day.The medicine will ensure you (make certain that you get) a good night’s sleep.The new treaty will ensure peace aure: try to persuade; promise; cause to believe or trust in sb保证，使（某人）相信/确信
If you aure someone of something, you tell them that it is really true or will happen:
~ sb.of sth.
aurance n.e.g.I aured myself that the door was locked
The receptionist aured me that I would not have to wait long.Christianity aures us there is life after death.In some situations aure can be used in this meaning too where the object is reflexive or what is ensured is something such as succe, safety, comfort, etc: e.g.I aured myself of a seat at the front (I made sure I got one).
The band’s latest release has aured their succe in the rock world (= ensured that they will be succeful). reaure: tell firmly and with confidence esp.with the aim of removing doubt 保证；（消除某人的恐惧或疑虑，恢复某人的信心）使确信~ sb.about sth.//~ + that-clause
You reaure someone who is worried by telling them that there is nothing to worry about: e.g.The doctor reaured me that there would be no pain.insure: ~ (against) make a contract that promises to pay in case of accident, damage, lo, injury, death, etc.保险，投保
You may insure something against something bad happening to it by paying money to an insurance company:
the insured 被保险人 the insurant 投保人，付保险费者
the insurer 承保人，保险公司
insurance n.~ police 保险单 e.g.Is the house insured against fire? Julia Robert’s legs are insured for a large amount of money.
It is also poible to insure your life against death, though where something is certain to happen one day the technical British English word is aure. 17.informed: having or showing knowledge: e.g.Science is now enabling us to make more informed choices about how we use common drugs.According to informed sources, he has been enrolled by Harvard University.inform: to tell; give information to (usually in the pattern: inform sb.of/ about sth., inform sb + that-clause’ inform sb.It is a fairly formal word.In conversation you usually use tell.) e.g.They informed us of (about) their arrival at Pudong Airport.(keep sb informed
6 of sth) Please inform us of any change of addre as soon as poible.Have you informed the police that there’s been an accident? ―I just added a little soy sauce,‖ he informed us. inform on / against sb告发某人
18.At the moment, the public is in two minds about science.: Now the public can’t decide whether they need science or not.at the moment: now, at the present moment.e.g.I’m rather busy at the moment; could I call you back?
At the moment, no one is talking to me. At this moment: at this present moment in two minds (about sth.): unsure; unable to decided whether or not you want sth.or want to do sth.( == of two minds ) e.g.I think she’s in two minds about whether to accept his present or not.
We’re in two minds whether to sell the house or not.19.steady: 1) constant e.g.The government’s policies have brought a period of steady economic growth with falling unemployment.There has been a steady improvement in her condition.She has been making ~ progre ever since she entered the school.2) firm, stale, fixed 稳的，平稳的
e.g.That ladder doesn’t look very safe.--- Oh well, it is steady as a rock.稳如磐石
Keep the camera steady while you take a picture.20.It is also an important element behind support for the Green parties.: The public’s distrust of science is also an important factor that leading to support for the political parties whose main concern is to protect the environment.21.audience: 1) a group of people who watch and listen to sb.speaking or performing in public (used as a collective countable noun).e.g.The audience began clapping and cheering as soon as the film star appeared on the stage. The concert had an ~ of 5,000.The singer called for a member of the audience to join him on stage.2) the people who read a writer’s books (used as a collective countable noun, usu.Singular) e.g.His second book will attract a narrower audience, mainly teachers and college students. The book has a large ~.His book reached an even wider audience when it was filmed for television.22.basis: (pl.bases) 1) the facts or ideas from which sth, can be developed; foundation (usu.Used as a singular noun, followed by for or of ) e.g.The video will provide a basis for cla discuion.The research will form the basis of a book.2) the circumstance that provides a reason for some action or opinion ( usu.Followed by of or that-clause) e.g.Students are able, on the basis of experience, to choose which subjects to
7 specialize in.On the basis that recognizing the problem is halfway to a solution, we should pay much attention to his comments.You must stay at home, on the basis of the medical reports we have received.23.lie in: exist or be found in sth.e.g.His skill lies in his ability to communicate quite complicated ideas.The play’s interest lies in the questions it raises about marriage.Happine lies in contentment.24.But in schools science is often presented in a dry and uninteresting manner.: But in schools science is often taught in a dull and uninteresting way.25.in terms of: as regards (sth); expreed as (sth.); with respect to; in relation to e.g.In terms of salary, the job is terrible. He thinks everything in terms of money.In terms of customer satisfaction, the policy can’t be criticized.The figures are expreed in terms of a percentage.26.brief: 1) using few words; concise e.g.The teacher of English told the students to write a brief description of a typical problem they had recently met with.Patrick gave a brief summary of the last night’s events.2) lasting or taking a short time e.g.This time their visit to Beijing is brief.My brother once made a brief appearance on television.27.accurate: exact 表示―准确的‖,精确的‖,指―通过努力, 使事情达到正确‖
e.g.On the whole the program provided an accurate picture of the effect of AIDS.
You were pretty accurate in your calculations.Are you sure that your clock is accurate? 28.Maybe I would have sold twice as many copies without it.: If my popular book had not included Einstein’s equation, maybe I would have sold twice as many copies.29.tend: vi.(1)be likely to happen or have a particular characteristic or effect; be liable to 易于，往往会 （2）incline 趋向，倾向 e.g.Some people tend to get up later at weekends.Most people tend to ignore this potential problem.Teachers tend to give low scores to naughty students. Vt.Look after , attend 照顾，护理 e.g.The nurse gently tended the patient’s cuts.Tend to sb.招待某人
Besides: attend （1）参加，出席； （2）照料，看管，关心 intend 想要，打算， 计划 30.in the form of: 1) having the shape of e.g.The lane was in the form of a big ―s‖.
The trees were laid out in the form of the figure eight.2) existing in a particular form e.g.They received a benefit in the form of a tax reduction.31.precise: exact精确的，正确的如在实行、实施或数量上很准确的；精确的或准确的 e.g.We will never know the precise details of his death.
8 The precise location of the air crash was established yesterday.32.grasp: vt./ n.(1) hold, seize;抓紧，抓牢 (2)understand, comprehend理解，领会 e.g.He ~d me by the arm and dragged me to the window.抓住某人身体的某个部位
I think I managed to ~ the main points of the lecture. Applied mathematics was beyond the grasp of most of her students.(beyond one’s ~)某人的力量达不到
She has a good grasp of the English language.（unit two text B）
33.sufficient: as much as is needed, enough , adequate, enough (often followed by for or to + infinitive) e.g.---Can you lend me some money for the journey? ---Yes, will $100 be sufficient? There was not sufficient evidence to prove that he was guilty.His income is sufficient to keep him comfortable.There is sufficient food for everyone.Word choice: adequate, sufficient, enough, good enough, satisfactory, (will) do Adequate and sufficient are both more formal than enough, but all three can be used to talk about quantity: e.g.Will you have enough/ sufficient / adequate money for the trip? However, adequate often sounds a little negative, suggesting that the amount is only just enough. e.g. The water supply here is adequate/ sufficient.If you want to say that the quality of something is enough, you use good enough or satisfactory: Satisfactory is a more formal word.
e.g.I’m afraid your work isn’t good enough/ satisfactory.
Adequate can be used to talk about both quality and quantity together, especially with uncountable nouns.For example, if you ask: Is the food adequate? You might be asking whether there is enough in amount or whether it is good enough.However, with a plural countable noun the quality meaning is more likely: adequate resources/ training /support, etc In spoken English people often use do (but not in progreive forms) to talk about something being enough in either of these days: ―Do you have enough money?‖ ―It should do‖ (= it should be enough).It’s not much but it’ll have to do.
34.convey: (1)make (ideas, feelings, etc) known to another; carry, deliver, transmit (2)transport 运送，输送
e.g.Their bright eyes and smiling faces conveyed the impreion that they were very excited.~ my apologies to her
Words cannot convey how delighted I am that you’ll come and spend the weekend with us.The goods are usually ~ed by sea.
During the conference the speaker tried to _____ his feeling concerning the urgency of a favorable decision.(cet6 , 1996,6) A good teacher must know how to ___ his ideas.(cet 6, 1993,6) 35.put acro: cause to be understood/ get acro e.g.Good teachers are the ones who are able to put things acro well.The government needs to put acro the meage that the economy is starting to recover.36.proportion: 1) a part of a group or an amount (usu.singular)
9 e.g.A large proportion of the city’s population is aged over 50.
2) the relationship between the amounts, numbers, or sizes of different things that go together to form a whole (usu.singular) e.g.The proportion of men to women in the medical profeion has changed in recent years.A large proportion of the dolphins in that area will eventually die because of the water pollution.37.Only television can reach a truly ma audience.: Unlike popular books and magazine articles, television science programs have a really large audience.38.fit into: be part of a situation, system, or plan e.g.The new college courses fit into a national education plan.College English videos are designed to fit into the syllabus.39.educate: teach or train e.g.How can our children be educated if schools are not properly funded? The organization launched a campaign to educate teenagers about the dangers of smoking.40.entertain: 1) give pleasure to e.g.Children’s television programs not only entertain but also teach.He entertained his friends with stories from his childhood 2) have as a guest e.g.According to the school regulations, women students are not allowed to entertain men in their rooms.My husband is in the kitchen; we are entertaining the Smiths this evening.41.… hence the sick joke that…：… therefore the sick joke spreads that… sick joke: sick jokes deal with death and suffering in a cruel and unpleasant way hence: 1) as a result, therefore, (a formal use, followed by a clause/noun group/a./ad./prepositional phrase); accordingly e.g.He’s an extremely private person; hence his reluctance to give interviews.It was a steep and difficult route and hence not too popular with walkers.
The trade imbalance is likely to rise again in the 2003.Hence a new set of policy actions will be required soon.
A better working environment improves people’s performance, and hence productivity.2) from this time 今后，从此
e.g.I don’t know where I will be six months hence.
The annual conferences will be held in Shanghai seven months hence.42.contact: get in touch with e.g.Feel free to contact me if you need my help.I will contact the Tourist Information Bureau for further details. Ⅵ.核心句型
① nor + 情态动词/助动词 + S ② Such that ③ As + be + p.p.
10 ④ 倍数+ as much/ many as
Ⅶ Text analysis (writing strategy) This text is the first piece of expository writing in our textbook series; therefore it is important to note the style differences between narration and exposition（说明文）.Expository writings usually employ longer paragraphs in which there are longer and more involved sentences.Simply glance over the first page of Text A, Unit 2 and the first page of Text A, Unit 3, and you will see the latter is more closely packed than the former.For the purpose of objectivity, third-person narration is often adopted in exposition.Meanwhile, sentences in the paive voice appear regularly.
A typical piece of expository writing begins with a statement of opinion, then goes on to give supporting details.In this text, an opinion is advanced in Para.3, i.e., the public need education in science so as to make informed decisions on their own fate.In the following paragraphs the author details the ways to educate the public.In the last paragraph a conclusion is supplied-human civilization will survive if the public understand science well.Interestingly, if we look closer at Part II of this text, we will find it to be a mini-exposition, its topic being how to educate the public in science.Afterwards three concrete solutions are proposed.They are: science education in schools, replacing equations with words and diagrams, and making use of popular media such as newspapers, magazines and above all TV.
