Unit 3 Public Attitudes Toward Science

1. Unit 3Public Attitudes Toward Science

2. About the Author • Stephen Hawking (1942- ): a British scientist who has greatly influenced people’s ideas on the origin of the universe. He has devoted much of his life to probing the space-time described by general relativity and the singularities where it breaks down.

3. And he’s done most of his work while confined to a wheelchair, brought on by the progressive neurological disease. Hawking is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, a post once held by Isaac Newton.

4. 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.

5. The book spent more than four years on the London Sunday Times bestseller list—the longest run for any book in history.

6. Frankenstein A novel (1818) by an English writer Mary Shelley. It is the story of a Swiss scientist, Dr. Frankenstein, who makes a living creature from pieces of dead bodies. The creature is like a man, but stronger,

7. Frankenstein and although it is gentle at first, it later attacks and kills several people close to Frankenstein. There have been films based on the story and variations of it: Everybody was dressed up as a ghost, a vampire or Frankenstein’s monster.

8. Green Parties • There are green parties in North America, Europe, and many other areas in the world. They are political parties whose main concern is to protect the environment.

9. The Ten Key Values of the Greens Social JusticeCommunity-Based EconomicsNonviolenceDecentralisationFuture Focus/SustainabilityFeminismPersonal and Global ResponsibilityRespect for DiversityGrassroots DemocracyEcological Wisdom

10. 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.

11. attitude likelydo without • cut off moreoverinitiative • at the moment in two minds • basisin terms of in the form of • sufficient convey proportion • entertain hence

12. attitude • : manner or way one thinks about, behaves toward, or feels toward sb. or sth. (usu. followed by to/ towards) • Examples: • 1) The boy has a bad attitude towards his schoolwork. • 2) His son's attitude to work made him angry. • 3)像他表现出的这种态度表明对别人关心不够. • Such an attitude as exhibited by him shows a lack of consideration for others. • 4)adopt a violent attitude 采取粗暴的态度 • 5)a broadminded attitude 宽宏大量的态度 • 6)a carefree attitude 无忧无虑的态度

13. likely :adj. probable (When functioning as an adj., the word is often used in the following patterns: it is likely that…, be likely to do sth.) • 1)It is likely that my roommate will win the first-class scholarship. • 2)今年你可能在伦敦吗? • Are you likely to be in London this year? • 3)他很可能会干得很好。 • It is likely that he will do very well.

14. 2. adv. probably (When used as an ad., the word is often preceded by “most”, ”more than”, or “very”. You don’t use it as an adv on it own) • 1) It is reported that another sandstorm will very likely come in the next 24 hours. • 2)我们很可能会迟到。 • We will most likely be late. • # likely, possible, probable • It is likely/possible/probable that… • Sb is likely to…

15. privilege • In countries where there are not many schools education is still a privilege. • 她过着奢侈并享有特权的生活。 She had led a life if luxury and privilege.

16. do without • : manage to survive, continue, or succeed although you do not have sth. you need, want, or usu. have • 1)You’ll have to do without your dinner if you don’t get back in time. • 2)I can’t afford a car, so I guess I’ll have to do without (one). • 3) You’ll have to do without dinner if you don’t get back in time. • 3)do with: what you speed your time doing • She didn’t know what to do with after she retired.

17. risky • Being self-employed is much risky than being a wage-earner. • It’s risky to buy a car without some good advice. • run/take the risk of doing sth. • If you invest in that business, you are running the risk of losing your hard-earned money. 如果在那个生意上投资，你是在冒险赔掉你辛辛苦苦赚来的钱。 • at the risk of • He saved my life at the risk of his own.

18. risk • (v.) sth. or doing sth. • He doesn’t want to risk losing hi job. So he held his tongue instead of pointing out his boss’ mistake. 他不想冒失去工作的风险。因此，他没有指出老板的错误，而是保持缄默。 • Knowing that the lines were tapped, he didn’t risk a phone call.

19. put/turn the clock back • No one could be so powerful as to be able to put the clock back to an earlier age. • The American Government seems determined to turn the clock back to the days of Cold War.

20. cut off : stop providing (sth.) cut off water/electricity 1)由于美国的空袭，这座城市水和电的供应已经切断了。 • Water and electricity supplies in the city have been cut off because of the American air attacks. • 2)因为没有交电话费，他们的电话被切断了。 • Their phone has been cut off because they haven’t paid the bill.

21. cut off • 3)他威胁要剪下我的头发。 • He threatened to cut my hair off. • Our country once cut itself off from the rest of the world. • 4) cut sth. off 表示切断或切下某事物 cut off sth. (often a supply of sth.)表切断某个供应

22. cut away 切掉, 砍掉, 逃走 cut down 砍倒, 胜过, 削减, 删节 cut in 插嘴, 插入, 把...插进 cut on 很快向前走, 赶路 cut out 切掉, 裁剪出, 取代, 停止

23. bring bring about 使发生, 致使 bring on带来; 协助训练, 培养;帮助快速生长或开花 bring back 回忆; 使忆起;使返回, 归还; 带回来; 恢复; 还原 bring before 向...提交讨论 bring forth 引起; 提出;产生; 致使; 造成;结(果); 生产(婴儿) bring in 产生(利益); 赚到;介绍; 引进; 推广; 吸收参加 收割; 收获逮捕; 宣判

24. bring out 揭露; 显示, 解释; 说明; 出版; 演出;使罢工;使免除 带(年轻女子)参加社交活动;使开花;说出; 暴露诱导; 引出 bring up 养育;提出;教养;使突然停止;提升;开赴前线 【律】使到法庭受审 [俗]呕吐 bring off 拯救;经营成功; 完成; 实现;孵;运走 bring on 导致; 引起; 促成; 造成;介绍登场; 培养; 促进(作物等)生长;提出供讨论

25. moreover : in addition to what has been said; further; besides • 1）She saw that there was a man immediately behind her. Moreover he was observing her strangely. • 2)当地群众需要一条新路，而且出于经济的原因也应修一条。 • Local people would like a new road. Moreover, there are good economic reasons for building one. • 3）我很饿，而且天又冷极了。 • I was very hungry; moreover it was an extremely cold day.

26. inquiring • inquire v. • He sent me on the mission of inquiring about the trains to London. • We must inquire further into the matter. • The police stopped me to inquire my name. • Inquiring: • Without an inquiring mind, one cannot be a creative scientist. 一个人如果不善于探究求索，他是不可能成为有发明创造的科学家。

27. suppress • to suppress human rights • to suppress information • After Mary finished making her unfavorable comment on his ability, Jim’s eyes were no longer mild but glittered with suppressed anger.

28. initiative • What makes you think that he lacks initiative? 你怎么会认为他缺少首创精神？ • on one’s own initiative • In the absence of my commanding officer, I acted on my own initiative. 在没有指挥官的情况下，我自己做主。

29. :the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for sb. to tell you what to do • 1）I wish my son would show a bit more initiative. • 2)他没有主动性。 • He’s got no initiative. • *used in the phrase “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.

30. take the initiative • He has taken the initiative to improve relations with her. • It is up to country to take the initiative in banning nuclear weapons. • 1) Why don’t you take the initiative and arrange a meeting? • 2) Don’t stand around waiting for someone else to take the initiative. • 3)他们采取了主动。 • They took the initiative.

31. at the moment • :now,(= at this moment, at the present moment) • 1) I’m rather busy at the moment; could I call you back? • 2）目前没人和我说话。 • At the moment, no one is talking to me. • for a moment/ in a moment /the moment • E.g Please let me know the moment he comes.

32. in two minds (about sth.): • unable to decide whether or not you want sth. or want to do sth • 1) 对于她是否接受他的礼物，我认为她有些犹豫不决。 • I think she’s in two minds about whether to accept his present or not.

33. harness • A good leader should know how to harness the talents of his subordinates to a common end. 一个好的领导应知道如何把下属的才能用于一个共同的目标。

34. 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) • 1) The research will form the basis of a book. • 2)你根据什么下这种判断的？ • What basis do you have for this judgment? • The committee itself appeared to be in two minds over the issue. • I was in two minds about leaving Shanghai: my friends were there, but the job abroad was a good one.

35. basis 2. • the circumstance that provides a reason for some action or opinion ( usu. follow by of or that-clause) • 1) You must stay at home, on the basis of the medical reports we have received. • 2) Students are able, on the basis of experience, to choose which subjects to specialize in. • 3) On the basis that recognizing the problem is halfway to a solution, we should pay much attention to his comments.

36. by rote • It is really not clever of him to copy his teacher by rote. • He is speaking his lines by rote. 他在背台词。

37. in terms of • 1. : as regards (sth.); expressed as (sth.) • 1)In terms of salary, the job is terrible. • 2) 他对任何事都是从钱的角度考虑的。 • He thinks of everything in terms of money. • 3) In terms of salary, the job is terrible. • 4) In terms of customer satisfaction, the policy can’t be criticized. • 5) The figures are expressed in terms of percentage.

38. 2. having the shape of • 1) 这条小巷呈“S”形。 • The lane was in the form of a big “S”. • 2) The trees were laid out in the form of the figure eight. 3. existing in a particular form • 1) They received a benefit in the form of a tax reduction.

39. grasp • Applied mathematics was beyond the grasp of most of her students. • She has a good grasp of the English language.

40. sufficient • : as much as is needed, enough(often followed by for or to +infinitive) • 1)没有足够的证据证明他有罪。 • There was not sufficient evidence to prove that he was guilty. • 2)There is sufficient food for everyone. 3）我们以存有足够的旅行费了。 We have saved money sufficient for the trip.

41. convey • : make(ideas, feelings, etc.) known to another • 1)Words cannot convey how delighted I am that you’ll come and spend the weekend with us. • 2)你如果看到汤姆,一定记着代我向他表达我的歉意。 • If you see Tom, do remember to convey my apologies to her. • convey • 3) Their bright eyes and smiling faces conveyed the impression that they were very excited.

42. put across • The speaker doesn’t know how to put his ideas across to his listeners. • The government needs to put across the message that the economy is starting to recover.

43. proportion • : 1. a part of a group or an amount (usu. singular) • 1) 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) • 1) The proportion of men to women in the medical profession has changed in recent years.

44. entertain • 1. give pleasure to • 1) Children’s television programs not only entertain but also teach. • 2) He entertained his friends with stories from his childhood. • 2. have as a guest • 1) According to the school regulations, women students are not allowed to entertain men in their rooms. • 2) 我丈夫正在厨房里，今晚我们要招待Smiths一家。 • My husband is in the kitchen; we are entertaining the Smiths this evening. • The villagers entertained us to barbecue.

45. hence • 1. as a result, therefore • 1)我母亲一人在家，我现在必须回去了。 • My mother is by herself; hence I must go home now. • 2. from this time • 1) I don’t know where I will be six months hence. • 2)一周后我将到美国。 • A week hence I shall be in the United States.

46. alien n. 外国人; 侨民; 外地人; 外族人, 外来种; adj. 外国的, 相异的, 不同, 背道而驰 （常与to连用）与…相反的；与…不同的 an alien concept 迥异的观念 It is alien to the school discipline. 这是违反学校纪律的。 Their ideas are quite alien to our own. 他们的想法跟我们的截然不同。