Unit Three Understanding Science

1. Unit Three Understanding Science

2. Part I Before Reading Part II Detailed Reading Part III After Reading Part IV Assignments

3. Before Reading • Stephen Hawking • Brief Introduction to Stephen Hawking • Chronology of Stephen Hawking • Main Achievements of Stephen Hawking

4. 1. Brief Introduction to Stephen Hawking Stephen Hawking (1942~ ): British theoretical physicist and mathematician

5. 2.Chronology of Stephen Hawking --1942 Born in Oxford, England --1958 Entered Oxford University and became especially interested in thermodynamics (热力学), relativity theory, and quantum mechanics (量子力学). --1962 Received a bachelor’s degree in physics and then enrolled as a research student in general relativity at the University of Cambridge.

6. 2.Chronology of Stephen Hawking Oxford University

7. 2.Chronology of Stephen Hawking University of Cambridge

8. 2.Chronology of Stephen Hawking --1966 Earned his Ph.D. degree at the University of Cambridge. Stayed at the University of Cambridge to do post-doctoral research. Diagnosed as having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化). “I am quite often asked: How do you feelabout having ALS? The answer is, not a lot. I try to lead as normal a life as possible,and not thinkaboutmy condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many.”

9. 2.Chronology of Stephen Hawking --1977 Became a professor of physics. --1979 Appointed Lucasian Professor Mathematics at Cambridge, a post once held by Isaac Newton. This is a picture ofStephen, Isaac New-tonand Albert Einstein.

10. 3. Main Achievements singularity BR_Background _ 2.Chronology of Stephen Hawking -3. Main Achievements (A point in space-time at which the space-time curvature（曲率）becomes infinite.) black hole (A region of space-time from which nothing, not even light, can escape. Nothing can escape because gravity is so strong.) A Brief History of Time (One of his books to make his work accessible to the public.)

11. Detailed Reading • Exposition • What is an exposition? • 2. Understanding the Text Structure • 1) Some Questions • 2) Part Division of the Text • 3. Text Reading • 1) Part I • 2) Part II • 3) Part III

12. What is an exposition? ---Exposition is the process of making a statement and then supporting it with evidence. ---In expository writing, the structure of a paragraph is usually similar to that of the text, i.e., the topic sentences are presented in the first or second sentences of a paragraph, followed by supporting details.

13. Q1: Where is it best to divide Part One from Part Two? Hint: Part Two starts from Para. 4.

14. Q2: Where in Part One does Hawking present his view? Hint: in Para.3, “… the public needs to have a basic understanding of science, so that it can make informed decisions and not leave them in the hands of experts.”

15. Q3: Where does Hawking raise a question about how to give the public a basic understanding of science? Hint: the first sentence of Para 4

16. 2). Part Division of the Text GR_2. Part Division of the Text Parts Main Ideas Paras To make informed decisions about change, the public needs a basic understanding of science. 1 1~3 What can be done to educate the public about science. 2 4~6 With an informed public, human civilization will survive. 3 7

17. Public Attitudes toward Science Part I Paras 1~3

18. Frankenstein: A novel (1818) by an English writer (1791-1815). 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, and although it is gentle at first, it later attacks and kills several people close to Frankenstein. Mary Shelley

19. likely: 1.adj. probable An incident likely to lead to war is reported on TV. 电视报导出一可能导致战争的事件。 2. adv. probably I shall very likely be here again next month. Pattern: It is likely that … 很可能 It is highly likely that he will succeed.

20. CF: likely, possible & probable 这些词都有“可能的”意思。 likely系常用词, 指从表面迹象来看很有可能。例如： The likely outcome of the contest varies from moment to moment. possible 指由于有适当的条件和方法, 某事可能发生或做到, 强调客观上有可能, 但常含有实际希望很小的意思。例如： Is it possible to get to the city by train, or must I take a bus? probable语气比 possible强, 指有根据、合情理、值得相信的, 带有大概、很可能的意思。例如： It is probable that he has forgotten our appointment.

21. do without:manage to survive, continue, or succeed, although you do not have sth. you need I haven’t enough money to buy a car, so I’ll just have to do without. He can’t do without the services of a secretary. Collocation: do away with 摆脱；废除，取消 do up 系上，扣上；修理；打扮 have something to do with 和…有关系 have nothing to do with 和…没有关系

22. highly: adv. 1) very Mr. Smith was a highly successful salesman. 2) to a high degree He speaks very highly of you. 出席这次会议的大部分人是受过高等教育的女性. Most of the people present at themeeting are highly educated women.

23. CF: highly & high这两个词都表示“高高地”。 highly 指的是抽象意义上的“高”。例如： a highly paid official 薪俸优厚的官员 think highly of sb. 器重某人 high用作副词时,一般指的是具体意义上的“高”。例如： aim high 向高处瞄准 search high and low 到处寻找 其他类似的例子还有: closely & close closely 细心地, 严密地。例如： The prisoners were closely guarded.囚犯被严密看守着。 close近地。例如： He lives close to the school.他住得离学校很近。

24. put/turn the clock back:return to a situation that used to exist , usually because the present situation is unpleasant 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.

25. bring about : cause to happen 这是怎么发生的？ What brought it about? Collocation: bring forth 产生；提出 bring forward 提前；提出 bring up 教育；养育；提出

26. bring forth, bring forward, bring up Fill in the blanks with the above words and change the form where necessary. • They proposed that the date of the congress be • a few months. • 2. The trees in the orchard many apples. • 3. He was well . • 4. At the meeting the next morning, they • many problems and discussed them one by one. brought forward bring forth brought up broughtup/forward/forth

27. inquire: 1. vt. ask to be told He inquired (of her) the reason for being late again. 2. vi. seek information by questioning 我打电话询问有关火车时刻的事情。 I rang up to inquire about train times. Collocation: inquire after 问候 求见 inquire for 查究，调查 inquire into

28. CF: inquire, ask & question 这些词都有“问，询问”的意思。 inquire是较正式的书面用词,渴望知道某人或某事的确实情况。例如： He inquired your telephone number. ask是最常用词, 指为了了解某人或某事而提出问题, 请别人解答或向别人打听消息。例如： Excuse me. May I ask you a question? question指对某事不断提出问题，以便了解详细情况。 例如： The suspect was questioned by the police.

29. initiative: n. 1) ability to make decisions and take actionwithout the help of others If you show that you have initiative, you will sooner or later be promoted. The workers are able to solve the problem on their own initiative. 2) used in the phrase “take the initiative”: be the first person to take action to improve a situation orrelationship, esp. when other people are waiting forsb. else to do sth. He took the initiative in organizing a party after his brother’s wedding.

30. rate:n. • value, cost, speed, etc. measured by its relation to some other amount The world’s forests are disappearing at an even faster rate than experts have thought. 出生率是出生数与人口数之比。 The birth rate is the number of births compared to the number of the people. 2) of the (numbered) quality a first-rate performer

31. ensure:vt. make sure; guarantee The new treaty will ensure peace. 我不能确保他能及时到这儿。 I can’t ensure that he will be here in time.

32. informed:adj. knowing things; having all theinformation He’s a well-informed man. 随时告诉我新的发展。 Keep me informed of fresh development.

33. CF: inform, tell & instruct 这些词都有“把某消息或某件事传达给别人”的意思。 inform 向某人传递信息, 特别适用于告知所发生的情况或有关资料（可以用于上级对下级，也可以用于下级对上级的通知）。例如： I have just received a letter from my old school informing me that my former headmaster, Mr. Reginald Page, will be retiring next week. tell 最通用，最不正式。指把某事告诉某人。例如： Glancing at her scornfully, he told her that the dress was sold. instruct 较正式，意为“指示（一般用于上级对下级），通知”。 例如： The editor at once sent the journalist a telegram instructing him to find out the exact number of steps and the height of the wall.

34. steady: adj. 1) constant; regular in movement The government’s policieshave brought a period of steady economic growth with falling unemployment. 2) firm Using the razor requires a steady hand.

35. Public Attitudes toward Science Part II Paras 4~6

36. basis:(pl. bases) n. 1) facts or ideas from which sth. can be developed; foundation (usu. used as a singular noun, followed byfororof) What is the basis for your opinion? 2) circumstance that provides a reason for some action or opinion (usu. followed by of orthat-clause) 基于我们售货的预测，我们明年将开始赚钱。 On the basis of our sales forecasts, we may begin to make a profit next year.

37. CF: basis, base & foundation 这些词都有“基础，根基”的意思 basis多用于比喻，指信念、议论等的根据。例如： Charity toward others is the basis of her philosophy. base多用于指有形的或具体的基地或根基，尤指军事或工业方面的基地。例如： We picnicked at the base of the mountain. The lamp stands on a circular base. foundation强调基础的稳固与坚牢。可用于比喻。例如： Those thoughts rocked her assurance to its foundations. The huge lorries shock the house to its foundations.

38. lie in: exist or be found in (sth.) 这部戏剧令人感兴趣的地方在于它提出了一些婚姻方面的问题。 The play’s interest lies in the questions it raises about marriage.

39. in terms of:as regards (sth.); expressed as (sth.) In terms of salary, the job is terrible. 以百分数回答这个问题。 Give the answer in terms of a percentage.

40. tend: 1. vi. be likely to happen or have a particular characteristic or effect Some people tend to get up later at weekends. 物价正在上涨。 Prices are tending upwards. 2. vt. watch over; attend to shepherds tending their flocks tend the sick and wounded

41. precise:adj. 1) exact Our train leaves at about half past ten, or -- to be precise -- 10:33. 2) taking care to be exact and not to make errors 他是个非常谨慎的人。 He is a very precise man.

42. grasp: 1. v. 1) understand This is a concept we in the West find difficult to grasp. 2) seize firmly 贪得无厌的人可能毫无所得。 A man who grasps at too much may lose everything. 2. n. power of grasping 这个作品我看不懂。 This work is beyond my grasp. Success is within her grasp.

43. sufficient: adj. enough 有足够的证据证明他是有罪的。 There was sufficient evidence to prove that he was guilty. $30 should be sufficient for a new pair of shoes.

44. convey:vt. 1. make (ideas, feelings, etc.) known to another 我无法用言语表达我的感情。 I can’t convey my feelings in words. This picture will convey to you some idea of the beauty of the scenery. 这幅画可将那处风景的美丽向你传达一二。 2. take; carry This train conveys both passengers and goods.

45. put across: cause to be understood 他非常善于表达自己的意见。 He’s very good at putting his ideas across.

46. Collocation: put aside 储存（钱、时间）；把…放在一边 put forward 提出（意见、建议） put in 花费，付出（时间、精力等） put off 阻止；推迟 put on 穿上 put out 熄灭 put through 为 … 接通电话 put up with 忍受

47. proportion: n. 1) part of a group or an amount 这个城市的很大一部分人已年过半百。 A large proportion of the city’s population is aged over 50. 2) relation of one thing to another in quantity,size, etc. The proportion of men to women in the medical profession has changed in recent years.

48. Collocation: in proportion to 与…成比例；和…相比 in direct proportion to 与…成正比例 in inverse proportion to 与…成反比例 in proportion 符合比例的 out of proportion 不成比例的

49. fit into:be part of a situation, system, or plan College English videos are designed to fit into the syllabus. The new college courses fit into a national education plan.

50. educate: vt. teach or train 这个男孩只能在工作做完后晚上自修。 The boy had to educate himself in the evening after finishing his work.