Unit 3

Science and nature

Project

Having a debate

Are you horrified by some of the scenes? Are you afraid that something similar may happen in the future? What’s your opinion towards the relationship between human beings and nature?

Discussion

Which do you think is more important, man or nature?

How can we deal with the

relationship between human

beings and nature?

Read the passage quickly and summarize the main idea of each paragraph.

Para. 1

Para. 2

Para. 3

Para. 4

Humans have carelessly damaged the environment.

Different attitudes towards the problem.

Both developed and developing countries should work together towards living in harmony with nature.

Humans can only really win by protecting nature.

1. What have people done to nature?

2. If we continue in this way, what might

happen?

They have done a lot to destroy and damage nature.

The planet we live on might be destroyed.

Listen again and answer the questions.

They did a lot to destroy nature by using up natural resources. However, now they are concerned about saving nature.

3. What did developing nations do decades ago? What are they concerned about now?

They are using up natural resources at a fast pace to meet the everyday needs of their people.

4. What are poorer nations doing now? What is their purpose for doing so?

Which is more important, economic development or protecting nature? Why do you think so?

Do you think the problem of humans winning and nature losing can be settled? If so, can you suggest some solutions?

Discussion

How to present your point of view?

1. Fix your point of view.

2. Find more supporting information.

3. Use these expressions to present.

I think / believe that…

From my point of view it seems that…

It seems to me that…

Personally I agree / disagree because…

1. Would anyone say that development should be stopped in favor of nature?

favor 赞同，支持；恩惠，帮助；偏爱They will look with favor on your proposal.

You did me a great favor.

Could you do me a big favor?

A mother shouldn't show too much favor to one of her children.

Language points

in favor of 有利于，赞同

That might be in your favor.

We are in favor of the reform.

I talked to my friend about it, and he’s all in favor of giving up the plan.

When asked about their opinions about the schoolmaster, many teachers would prefer to see him step aside ______ younger men. （ 2011 湖北卷）　 A. in terms of B. in need of

C. in favor of D. in praise of

解析：根据句义 “当在问及对这个学校的校长有什么看法时吗很多老师宁愿他闪到一边去，支持年轻人” 。 in praise of ，表扬；in terms of ，就……而言； in need of ，需要。

C

ask a favor of 拜托某人

do sb. a favor = do a favor for sb. 帮助某人

find favor with a person 受青睐

favor sb. with sth. 对某人施…恩惠

favor 相关短语：

2. From the points of view of some people, we are only doing what humans have always done, using nature to meet our own needs.

meet one’s needs 满足某人的要求

We will buy more computers to meet the needs of the students.

3. Other people argue that such thinking may cause a catastrophe,…argue v. 争辩，辩论，主张argue with sb. about /over sth. 因某事同某人争论argue for / against sth. 为赞成或反对某事而争辩argue that … 主张…argue sb. into / out of doing sth. 说服某人做 / 停止做某事

辨析： argue/debate/quarrel/discuss

argue 指说理、论证，侧重摆事实，试图说服对方，也可能是激烈的交换意见，以以致争吵；

debate 指正式的辩论，交锋 ;

quarrel 指由于对某事不满而生气，同某人争吵，吵架 ;

discuss 讨论，着重指交换意见，不含有说服对方的意思。

4. After decades of destroying nature and using up natural resources, many developed nations are now concerned about saving nature rather than developing or destroying it.

use up 用完，耗尽

Don't use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with.

run out of 和 run out 和 use up 和 be used up 的区别和联系

run out of 后接用光的物品名词，主语则是人或地区run out 一般以物做主语，表示该物已用光 , 以主动形式表示被动意义use up 以人作主语be used up 意义与 run out 相同，它本身就是被动形式，主语只能是物

例句：我们把钱用光了。

We ran out of money.

Our money ran out.

We used up our money.

Our money was used up.

rather than 而不是、而非 ...

The best love for someone is heartful care rather than money.

She enjoys singing rather than dancing.

It is better to express your anger rather than bottle it up.

We will have the meeting in the classroom rather than in the great hall.

5. … it means a better income for their people?

income n. 收入，收益His income is well below the average.

My monthly income was just over 200 pounds.

He needs a high income to support such a large family.

live within / above / beyond one’s income

量入为出 / 入不敷出的生活

6. …, without the environment around them suffering.

without the environment around them suffering “　是 without+ 宾语 + 现在分词”的复合结构，在句中主要用作状语，表示伴随状态

Without anyone noticing, she slipped into the room.

What do you know about GM food?

Genetically modified foods (or GM foods) are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques.

Look at the title “GM food: hope or danger?” and predict what will be talked about in the article.

It will tells us two different opinions about GM food --- some people are for it while other people are against it.

1.What are people’s different attitudes towards the study of genetics?

2. What are the two ways that an animal and a plant can be genetically modified?

Read and answer the questions.

Many people are excited, while others are frightened.

One way is to insert new material into a plant’s or an animal’s DNA to give it new qualities. The other way is to take material out of a plant’s or an animal’s DNA to remove unwanted qualities.

3. What is the one aim of GM research talked about in the article?

4. What has GM technology been done to plants?

The aim is to produce food that can make people healthier.

It has been used to produce plants that are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease. It can also produce plants that have larger harvests.

5. What are the problems about GM food and GM plants?

Two main problems are talked about in this article. One is whether it is safe or dangerous to eat, the other is whether it is safe or dangerous to the environment.

6. What is many countries’ attitude towards GM FOOD? Why do they hold such attitude?

They have hesitated to permit the production of GM food, because they are not sure whether GM food is safe.

1. …, these same technologies frighten others.

frighten vt. 使惊吓；使惊恐He frightened the old man into giving him all the money.

The alarm frightened the burglar away.

frightened adj. 受惊的；害怕的 frightening adj. 令人恐惧的 , 令人害怕的

Language points

 frighten,  scare 均有“惊吓、惊恐”之意。

frighten:  普通用词，使用广泛，指产生突然、短暂的惊慌、恐怖感。

scare:  非正式文体中可与 frighten 换用，但语气较重，侧重人受惊吓后立即停下正在干的事或跑掉。

[ 知识链接 ]

2. Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food.

　　　　 这是一个倒装句，以否定词 nowhere 开头。 Nowhere else will you find such a good book.

Nowhere … truer … 是比较级的形式，表示最高级的意义。 No human being could have passed a happier childhood than I.

3. First, new material can be inserted into its DNA to give the plant ...

insert vt. 插入；嵌入 She inserted the key into the lock.

In the pause he managed to insert a question.

insert n. 插页 ; 夹在报刊中的散页广告 The magazine contains a special insert about holidays abroad.

[ 知识链接 ]

4. Research has been limited to increasing production profits, …

profit 在这里是名词，意思是“利润；收益” There is very little profit in selling newspapers at present.

I want to know the net profit.

He made a profit of fifty thousand US dollars on his house.

We gained a lot of profit from your advice.

profit 还可以作动词，意思是“得益 , 获利；对…有好处” Telling lies won't profit you.

We profit from the work of the specialist.

It will profit you nothing to do that.

[ 知识链接 ]

5. … many countries have hesitated to give permission for the production of GM food, …

permission n. 准许，许可；批准 You were wrong to take the car without permission.

You must ask permission if you want to leave early.

She refused to give her permission.

I dislike having to get his permission for everything I do.

permit v. 允许 , 许可

a debate over GM Food