Unit 4 Extraterrestrials

1. Unit 4 Extraterrestrials

2. Objectives • To understand and compare formal and informal speeches. • To grasp the vocabulary related to the topic. • To get familiar to the cultural background and be able to appreciate the humor in Isaac Asimov’s writing.

3. Lead-in Discussion • Have you watched any films about extraterrestrials (e. t.)?

4. Do you think there are creatures of intelligence on other planets? • If you think so, are they threatening or friendly to mankind in your eyes? • Can we share our earth with any alien creatures peacefully?

5. The Watery Place

6. Cultural Notes Isaac Asimov (1920-1992), Russian-born American writer and scientist. He was distinguished biochemist, but is more widely known as the author of many works of science fiction, books on science for non-scientists, and essays on a wide variety of subjects.

7. The Solar System: Includes the Sun, planets, natural satellites and comets Venus: the second major planet in order of distance from the Sun, also known as the evening star or the morning star

8. What is extraterrestrial life?(e. t.) • Life forms that may have evolved on other planets.

9. UFO • unidentified flying object

10. Space exploration • People started to explore space as early as the beginning of the 20th century. Most development are contributed by Soviet Union and USA. • Unmanned flights were first made to some planets in the Solar System. • Then reusable space shuttle are made to carry people . • Soviet Union first set up space station.

11. More recently, space exploration is being extended by the launching of artificial satellites into earth orbit carrying advanced technological packages to further our astronomical knowledge of the wider universe.

12. Text Organization • Para 1—para5 • Para6—para48

13. Language points para2 • pessimist vs optimist • on account of : because of eg. The house isn’t really suitable for an old person on account of all those stairs.

14. para4 • deputy: the second most important person in a particular organization eg. A deputy was appointed in case the manager became ill.

15. para4 • work up: spend time and effort preparing; produce or develop gradually eg. The head of the department asked me to work up some sample compositions and give them to the students.

16. para4 • Income tax a tax paid according to a person’s level of income, with people on higher incomes paying higher rates of tax. It is used by the government to help pay things like health care and education. It is collected in Britain by the Inland Revenue and in the US by the Internal Revanue.

17. para4 • Ranch 牧场 • Fishery 渔场，渔业的 • Farm 农场

18. para6 • the flying saucer • UFO unidentified flying object

19. para6 • saucer (plate) 小托盘

20. para7 • Knock off stop doing something eg. What time do you knock off? 你什么时候下班

21. para7 • hit the sack 睡觉 • Other ‘hit’ related idioms: hit the bottle—经常酗酒 After his wife died, he started to hit the bottle. hit the ceiling/roof—勃然大怒 …he will probably hit the roof for that…

22. para7 • Hit the road 上路 • Hit it off (with sb) 合得来 Give me one more chance. We might hit it off.

23. Para7 • Real steady--constantly • Went over his columns of figures… go over/ examine the columns of figures about his tax

24. para8 • Shooting star (also, falling star) 流星 • Comet 彗星 • Solar system 太阳系 • Galaxy, also the Milk Way 银河

25. para10 • I couldn’t choke or point; I couldn’t even bug my eyes… to choke—to call attention by making noise to point—to indicate with gestures to bug eyes—to hit by sticking out eyes(瞪眼示意)

26. para12 • They had on black shoes and black hats… --They had black shoes and black hats on…

27. para15 • …We have had your people under observation a long time… --we have observed your people for a long time.. Under observation– formal Observe--informal

28. Para 15 • …pronounced each word carefully and all by itself --with each word uttered separately

29. Para 18 • …so spit it out…what’s your trouble… -- informal and folksy expression of ‘speak it out’

30. Para 19 • … adopt your mode of dress and even to assume your appearance… --formal expression …use your manner of dress and even to look like you in appearance…

31. para20 • You could see the light break in on Cameron— You could notice Cameron was beginning to understand what they said.

32. para22 • Blink– shut and open eyes quickly eg. Staring for hours at a computer screen dries out the eyes as people blink less.

33. para22 • I am at your service. -- I am willing to help you.

34. para24 • …but I couldn’t as much as fall down if someone had pushed the chair out from under me… -- but I was so scared that I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t even fall down if someone took my chair away.

35. para25 • Speed is desirable. --(very formal language) We would appreciate if you can do it quickly.

36. para28 • And Cameron really went to pieces… go to pieces– getting very upset and lose control of oneself

37. para33 • I am tired of this garbage, so I’ll count to three… garbage– rubbish; nonsence

38. para37 • I heaved him to the window by his shirt collar. heave– raise; lift

39. Para 38 …he recovered his wits enough… Wit—(also wits) intelligence; quick understanding

40. para39 • Then it took off. take off – leave • …till it was a shooting star again, slowly fading out. fade out – disappear gradually

41. Para 48 • Venus [vi:nəs] 维纳斯, [天]金星 • Venice [venis] 威尼斯(意大利港市)

42. Language Sense Enhancement--Role play reading • This reading activity requires cooperation of 3 people. student A plays the role of the sheriff student B takes the role of the saucerman student C reads the rest

43. Assignment • Read and analyze Text B– Is There Life on Planets Circling Other Stars?