Unit 3 Understanding Science

1. Unit 3Understanding Science

2. The choice is up to you! • People must understand that science is inherently neither a potential for good nor for evil. It is a potential to be harnessed by man to do his bidding.

3. ◆the style of Text A: Compare the first 10 lines of both All the Cabbie Had Was a Letter and Attitudes Toward Science.

4. Differences Between Narration and Exposition

5. Structure of the Exposition • 1. Main ideas ↑ ↑ ↑ • 2.① ② ③←supporting material (body) • 3. Conclusion

6. Part One Questions: 1.What is the attitude of some people towards the changes brought about by science and technology? 2. Is it possible to prevent science and technology from further development? Why or Why not? 3. What does the author think we should do about science and technology?

7. Organization of Part 2 ---Mini-exposition • Raises a Question (topic sentence) (What can be done to harness this interest and give the public the scientific background…and genetic engineering?) • Answers the Question (supporting details) Supporting point 1: science education in schools(Para 4) Supporting point 2: replacing equations with words and diagrams (Para 5) Supporting point 3: making use of mass media(Para 6)

8. Skilled writers always concern the transition, and work hard to help their readers move easily through a piece of writing. The old-new contract: each paragraph should contain a seed out of which the next paragraph can grow. The seed in Para1 ? The seedling in Para 2 ? Transition (过渡)

9. Key Language Points attitude n. manner or way one thinks about, behaves toward, or feels toward sb. or sth. 看法，态度 (同viewpoint, opinion) 考点：attitude to/towards 对…的态度 e.g.: 1) The boy has a bad attitude towards his schoolwork. 2) His son's attitude to work made him angry.

10. likely it means something isprobably the case or will probably happen in a particular situation. When functioning as as an adj., the word is often used in the pattern: it is likely that….; be likely to do something. e.g. It is quite likely that the meeting will go on until late. 会议可能继续开下去，开到很晚。 明天我可能很忙。 It is likely to be very busy tomorrow. 考点：当用作副词时，前面通常与most, more than, very ,不能单独使用 e.g.: 1) The price has most likely risen by 20% these days. 2) We will most likely stay home during the Spring Festival.

11. do without manage to survive, continue, or succeed although you do not have sth. you need, want, or usu. have 没有…也行 e.g.: 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. 考点：要将该词组与do with区别开来，后者有两个意思，一个意思是“与…相处”，另一个意思是“容忍”

12. collocation do sway with do up have something to do with have nothing to do with 摆脱 系上,扣上;修理;打扮 和…有关系 和…没有关系

13. minority: n.1)少数派；少数（反：majority）2)少数民族 ①In my class, there are a few students who don’t like this teacher, but they are very much in the minority. ② The new national policy should respect minority rights. 考点：be in a/the minority 居少数；属少数派；a minority of 少数的

14. highly 1) very 非常，高度地，极 e.g. ① He is a highly successful businessman. ② It seems highly likely that she will take the job. 2) to a high level or standard赞许地 e.g. ① Most of the people present at the meeting are highly educated women. ② The officials spoke highly of the athletes who broke the world record. 考点：speak highly of 称赞；赞扬；think highly of 对某人评价很高

15. CF: highly & high“高高地” highly制的是抽象意义上的“高”.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,一般制的是具体意义上的“高”.如 aim high向高处瞄准 search high and low到处寻找

16. 其他类似的例子还有: Closely & close closely细心地,严密地.如 Watch what I do closely.仔细观察我所做的. The prisoners were closely guarded.囚犯被严密看守着. close近地.如 He lives close to the school.他住得离学校很近.

17. put/turn the clock back ---return to a situation that used to exist, usually because the present situation is unpleasant 倒退，开倒车 e.g. 1) The employment bill in which women are not allowed to take jobs will put the clock back fifty years. 2) Forget all about it and look to the future; you can't turn the clock back.

18. cut off 1) 切下，剪下 e.g. He threatened to cut my hair off. 2) 中断供给 e.g. ① Water and electricity supplies in the city have been cut off because of the American air attacks. ② Their phone has been cut off because they haven't paid the bill. 考点：cut sth. off表示切断或切下某物； cut off sth. (often a supply of sth.)表示切断某个供应

19. bring about: make (sth.) happen 引起，导致 Some educators are hoping to bring about major changes in the educational system. Jealousy in a relationship is often brought about by a lack of trust. Collocation bring forth bring forward bring up 产生;提出 提出;提前 教育;养育;提出

20. They proposed that the date of the congress be ___ a few months • The trees in the orchard___many apples • He was well __. • At the meeting the next morning, they ___many problems and discussed them one by one. • Bring forward 2. Bring forth • 3.brought up 4. Brought forth/forward/up

21. moreover: ad. in addition to what has been said; further; besides而且，再者 1) Local people would like a new road. Moreover, there are good economic reasons for building one. 2) She saw that there was a man immediately behind her. Moreover he was observing her strangely.

22. inquire ----vt. seek information by questioning; ask (also spelled "enquire") sometimes followed by about or wh-clause) 询问 考点：有时后接about或wh-clause e.g. 1) "Is something wrong?" he inquired. 2) I rang up to inquire about train times. 我打电话询问有关火车时刻的事情. 3) He asked for his key and inquired whether there had been any messages for him.

23. collocation inquire after inquire for inquire into 问候 求见 查究,调查 CF: inquire, ask & question “问,询问” inquire是较正式的书面用词,渴望知道某人或某事的确实情况 He inquired your telephone number. 询问 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 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. The suspect was questioned by the police审讯

24. initiative:n.1) the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for sb. to tell you what to do主动性 考点：have/seize the initiative 掌握主动权，有优先权； on one’s own initiative 主动地； e.g. ① In the negotiation, both sides attempted to seize the initiative. ② When she began the job she showed initiative and was promoted to manager a year later. ③ The workers are able to solve the problems on their own initiative. 2) 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.首创精神 考点：take the initiative 带头，倡导，发起 e.g. 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.

25. rate: n. 1) the speed at which sth. happens over a period of time速度，进度 e.g. The world's forests are disappearing at an even faster rate than experts had thought. 2) a certain amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing比率， e.g. Britain held the record of having the highest divorce rate in Europe. 3) 费，价格e.g. What is the rate for ordinary mail? 考点：at any rate 无论如何；unemployment rate 失业率；mortality rate 死亡率；exchange rate 汇率

26. ensure: make sure 保证，担保，确保（同guarantee, assure） 考点：后面通常接that从句 e.g. ① This new treaty will ensure peace. ② Come early to ensure that you get a seat. 辨析：assure, ensure, guarantee, insurevt.保证，担保

27. assure意为以十分肯定的语气“向…保证（某事一定会发生）、使…相信…是真实的”，隐含解除某人心中疑虑的含义，后面须接人称代词或指人的名词作宾语，宾语后可接something, of something或that从句; ensure意为主语作为动因“确保、保证”某种行为或结果一定会发生，隐含在实际行动上作出担保或进行确保的含义； guarantee表示对产品的质量、服务或义务的实施等“担保”，常带有以某物为抵押的原始意义. insure作“保证、确保”讲相当于ensure ,但不及后者正式，两者可以通用；此外，该词更多作表达纯粹法律上的“给…保险”的专门术语。

28. informed: adj. having or showing knowledge有知识的；了解情况的；明智的 e.g. 1) Science is now enabling us to make more informed choices about how we use common drugs. 2) According to informed sources, he has been enrolled by Harvard University. inform:vt. tell通知 考点：inform sb. of/about sth. 通知某人某事inform sb. that 通知某人…inform sb. 通知某人 1) They informed us of their arrival at Pu dong Airport. 2) Have you informed the police that there's been an accident? 注意：该词较正式，在对话中用tell

29. CF: inform, tell, instruct把某消息或某事传达给别人 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(可用于上级对下级,也可用于下级对上级的通知) I have just received a letter from my old school informing me that my former headmaster will be retiring. tell最通用,最不正式.“告诉” Glancing at her scornfully, he told her that the dress was sold. 他轻蔑地看了她一眼,告诉她说那件衣服卖掉了. instruct较正式“指示(一般用于上级对下级),通知. 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. 编辑立即给这位记者发了一份电报,叫他查明台阶的准确数目以及围墙的高度.

30. at the moment:now, at the present moment此刻，目前(同：now, currently） e.g. 1) I'm rather busy at the moment; could I call you back? 2) At the moment, no one is talking to me.该短语还可写成at this moment/at the present moment. in two minds (about sth.): unable to decide whether or not you want sth. or want to do sth. 同：unsure e.g. I think that she's in two minds about whether to accept his present or not. 考点：该短语还可写成of two minds,后面跟名词时需要带介词about.

31. steady: a. 1) constant平稳的（同:stable, fixed） The government's policies have brought a period of steady economic growth with falling unemployment. There has been a steady improvement in her condition. 2) firm坚定的 -- "That ladder doesn't look very safe." --"Oh well, it is steady as a rock.“ Keep the camera steady while you take a picture. 考点：steady as a rock 稳如磐石；go steady指男女之间明确恋人关系

32. basis: (pl. bases) n. 1) the facts or ideas from which sth. can be developed; foundation 基础 考点：通常用作单数名词，后常接for或of e.g. The research will form the basis of a book. 2) the circumstance that provides a reason for some action or opinion 根据 考点：后常接of 或that从句 e.g. You must stay at home, on the basis of the medical reports we have received.

33. CF: basis, base&foundation “基础,根基” basis多用于比喻,指信念,议论等的根据 Charity toward others is the basis of her philosophy. 慈善待人是她人生观的基点. 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 We picnicked at the base of the mountain. 我们在山脚下野餐 The lamp stands on a circular base. 落地灯由圆形底座支撑.

34. foundation强调基础的稳固与坚牢.可用于比喻 Those thoughts rocked her assurance to its foundation. 那些想法从根本上动摇了她的信念. The huge lorries shock the house to its foundations. 大卡车驶过连屋基都震动了.

35. lie in: exist or be found in sth.在于 e.g. 1) His skill lies in his ability to communicate quite complicated ideas. 2) The play's interest lies in the questions it raises about marriage. in terms of:as regards (sth.); expressed as (sth.)从…方面（或角度）来说；按照，根据（同：with respect to, in relation to） e.g. 1) In terms of salary, the job is terrible.. 2) The figures are expressed in terms of a percentage.

36. brief: a. 1) using few words; concise简洁的 e.g. ① The teacher of English told the students to write a brief description of a typical problem they had recently met with. ② Patrick gave a brief summary of the last night's events. 2) lasting or taking a short time短暂的 e.g. ① This time their visit to Beijing is brief. ② My brother once made a brief appearance on television.

37. accurate: a. exact精确的，准确无误的 考点：be accurate in (doing )sth.（做）某事很准确 e.g. 1) On the whole the program provided an accurate picture of the effect of AIDS. 2) You were pretty accurate in your calculations 3) She is always accurate in her use of language.

38. tend: vi. be likely to happen or have a particular characteristic or effect易于，往往会 e.g. 1) Some people tend to get up later at weekends. 2) The old couple tend to buy cheap processed foods like canned chicken. 3) The school bus tends to be early on Monday mornings. vt. look after 照管，护理 e.g. The nurse gently tended the patient’s cuts.

39. in the form of: 1) having the shape of成…的形状 e.g. ① The lane was in the form of a big "S". ② The trees were laid out in the form of the figure eight. 2) existing in a particular form 以…的形式 e.g. ① They received a benefit in the form of a tax reduction.

40. precise 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.

41. sufficient a. as much as is needed, enough 足够的，充分的 考点：后面常接for或to do 注意：该词无比较级 e.g. 1) -- "Can you lend me some money for the journey?" --"Yes, will $100 be sufficient?" 2) There was not sufficient evidence to prove that he was guilty. 3) His income is sufficient to keep him comfortable. 4)There is sufficient food for everyone.

42. grasp v. 1. Understand 理解 掌握 This is a concept we find difficult to grasp 2. Seize firmly 抓住 The drowning man grasped the rope A man who grasps at too much may lose everything. 贪得无厌的人可能毫无所得 n. Power of grasping This work is beyond my grasp 这个作品我看不懂 Success is within her grasp成功唾手可得

43. convey:vt. make (ideas, feelings, etc.) known to another传达，表达 考点：convey sth. 表达convey to sb. that…向某人表达… e.g. 1) Their bright eyes and smiling faces conveyed the impression that they were very excited. 2) Words cannot convey how delighted I am that you'll come and spend the weekend with us.

44. put across: cause to be understood解释清楚，使被理解（同：get across） e.g.1) He is good at putting his ideas across 他非常善于表达自己的意见. 2) The government needs to put across the message that the economy is starting to recover. 考点：put across相当于及物动词，多用于sb. puts sth. across中

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

46. proportion n. relation of one thing to another in quantity, size, etc. e.g. What is the proportion of men to women in the population? in proportion/out of proportion成/不成比例 in proportion to…与..成比例 in direct/inverse proportion (to…)与…成正/反比 【真题】 1. We do not always find visible happiness in _____ to visible virtue.(CET-4,1995,1) A. portion B. prospect C. proportion D.property 2. When carbon is added to iron in proper ______ the result is steel. (CET-4, 2004,6) A. rates B.thickness C.proportions D. densities

47. collocation in proportion to in direct/inverse proportion to in/out of proportion 与…成比例;和…相比 与…成正/反比例 符合/不成比例的

48. fit into: be part of a situation, system, or plan适合；符合；属于 e.g. 1) The new college courses fit into a national education plan. 2) College English videos are designed to fit into the syllabus.

49. entertain:vt. 1) give pleasure to给…以欢乐 e.g.① Children's television programs not only entertain but also teach. ② we were all entertained by his tricks. 我们都对他的戏法感兴趣. 2) have as a guest招待 e.g. ① According to the school regulations, women students are not allowed to entertain men in their rooms. ② My husband is in the kitchen; we are entertaining the Smiths this evening.

50. hence: ad. 1) as a result, therefore因此 (a formal use, followed by a clause/noun group/a./ad./prepositional phrase) 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 2000s. Hence a new set of policy actions will be required soon..