Unit 4 Unit 4 ExtraterrestrialsExtraterrestrials

ObjectivesObjectives

To understand and compare formal and To understand and compare formal and informal speeches.informal speeches.

To grasp the vocabulary related to the To grasp the vocabulary related to the topic.topic.

To get familiar to the cultural background To get familiar to the cultural background and be able to appreciate the humor in and be able to appreciate the humor in Isaac Asimov’s writing.Isaac Asimov’s writing.

Lead-in DiscussionLead-in Discussion

Have you watched any films about Have you watched any films about extraterrestrials (e. t.)?extraterrestrials (e. t.)?

Do you think there are creatures of Do you think there are creatures of intelligence on other planets?intelligence on other planets?

If you think so, are they threatening or If you think so, are they threatening or friendly to mankind in your eyes?friendly to mankind in your eyes?

Can we share our earth with any alien Can we share our earth with any alien creatures peacefully?creatures peacefully?

The Watery PlaceThe Watery Place

Cultural NotesCultural Notes

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992),Isaac Asimov (1920-1992),

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

The Solar System:The Solar System:

Includes the Sun, planets, natural satellites Includes the Sun, planets, natural satellites and cometsand comets

Venus: the second major planet in order of Venus: the second major planet in order of distance from the Sun, also known as the distance from the Sun, also known as the evening star or the morning starevening star or the morning star

What is extraterrestrial life?What is extraterrestrial life?(e. t.)(e. t.)

Life forms that may have evolved on other Life forms that may have evolved on other planets.planets.

UFOUFO

unidentified flying objectunidentified flying object

Space explorationSpace explorationPeople started to explore space as early People started to explore space as early as the beginning of the 20th century. Most as the beginning of the 20th century. Most development are contributed by Soviet development are contributed by Soviet Union and USA.Union and USA.

Unmanned flights were first made to some Unmanned flights were first made to some planets in the Solar System.planets in the Solar System.

Then reusable space shuttle are made to Then reusable space shuttle are made to carry people .carry people .

Soviet Union first set up space station.Soviet Union first set up space station.

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

Text OrganizationText Organization

Para 1—para5Para 1—para5

Para6—para48Para6—para48

Language pointsLanguage points

para2para2

pessimist vs optimistpessimist vs optimist

on account ofon account of : because of : because of

eg. The house isn’t really suitable for an oleg. The house isn’t really suitable for an old person on account of all those stairs.d person on account of all those stairs.

para4para4

deputydeputy: the second most important person : the second most important person in a particular organizationin a particular organization

eg. A deputy was appointed in case the meg. A deputy was appointed in case the manager became ill.anager became ill.

para4para4

work up: work up:

spend time and effort preparing; spend time and effort preparing;

produce or develop graduallyproduce or develop gradually

eg. The head of the department asked me eg. The head of the department asked me to work up some sample compositions and to work up some sample compositions and give them to the students.give them to the students.

para4para4

Income taxIncome tax

a tax paid according to a person’s level of ia tax paid according to a person’s level of income, with people on higher incomes payncome, with people on higher incomes paying higher rates of tax. It is used by the going higher rates of tax. It is used by the government to help pay things like health carvernment to help pay things like health care and education. It is collected in Britain by e and education. It is collected in Britain by the Inland Revenue and in the US by the Ithe Inland Revenue and in the US by the Internal Revanue.nternal Revanue.

para4para4

Ranch Ranch 牧场牧场Fishery Fishery 渔场，渔业的渔场，渔业的Farm Farm 农场农场

para6para6

the flying saucerthe flying saucer

UFO unidentified flying objectUFO unidentified flying object

para6para6

saucer (plate) saucer (plate) 小托盘 小托盘

para7para7

Knock off Knock off

stop doing somethingstop doing something

eg. What time do you knock off?eg. What time do you knock off?

你什么时候下班 你什么时候下班

para7para7hit the sack hit the sack 睡觉睡觉Other ‘hit’ related idioms:Other ‘hit’ related idioms:

hit the bottle—hit the bottle— 经常酗酒经常酗酒 After his wife died, he started to hit the bottle.After his wife died, he started to hit the bottle.

hit the ceiling/roof—hit the ceiling/roof— 勃然大怒勃然大怒 ……he will probably hit the roof for that…he will probably hit the roof for that…

para7para7

Hit the road Hit the road 上路上路

Hit it off (with sb) Hit it off (with sb) 合得来合得来 Give me one more chance. We might hit it Give me one more chance. We might hit it

off.off.

Para7Para7

Real steady--constantlyReal steady--constantly

Went over his columns of figures…Went over his columns of figures…

go over/ examine the columns of figures go over/ examine the columns of figures about his taxabout his tax

para8para8

Shooting star (also, falling star) Shooting star (also, falling star) 流星流星Comet Comet 彗星彗星Solar system Solar system 太阳系太阳系Galaxy, also the Milk Way Galaxy, also the Milk Way 银河银河

para10para10

I couldn’t choke or point; I couldn’t even buI couldn’t choke or point; I couldn’t even bug my eyes…g my eyes…

to choke—to call attention by making noise to choke—to call attention by making noise

to point—to indicate with gesturesto point—to indicate with gestures

to bug eyes—to hit by sticking out eyes(to bug eyes—to hit by sticking out eyes( 瞪瞪眼示意眼示意 ))

para12para12

They had on black shoes and black hats…They had on black shoes and black hats…

--They had black shoes and black hats on…--They had black shoes and black hats on…

para15para15

……We have had your people under We have had your people under observation a long time…observation a long time…

--we have observed your people for a long --we have observed your people for a long time..time..

Under observation– formal Under observation– formal

Observe--informalObserve--informal

Para 15Para 15

… …pronounced each word carefully and pronounced each word carefully and all all by itselfby itself

--with each word uttered separately --with each word uttered separately

Para 18Para 18

……so so spit it out…spit it out…what’s your trouble…what’s your trouble…

-- informal and folksy expression of ‘speak it -- informal and folksy expression of ‘speak it out’out’

Para 19Para 19

… … adopt your mode of dress and even to adopt your mode of dress and even to assume your appearance…assume your appearance…

--formal expression--formal expression

……use your manner of dress and even to use your manner of dress and even to look like you in appearance…look like you in appearance…

para20para20

You could see the light break in on You could see the light break in on Cameron—Cameron—

You could notice Cameron was beginning You could notice Cameron was beginning to understand what they said.to understand what they said.

para22para22

Blink– shut and open eyes quicklyBlink– shut and open eyes quickly

eg. Staring for hours at a computer screen eg. Staring for hours at a computer screen dries out the eyes as people blink less.dries out the eyes as people blink less.

para22para22

I am at your service.I am at your service.

-- I am willing to help you.-- I am willing to help you.

para24para24

……but I couldn’t as much as fall down if but I couldn’t as much as fall down if someone had pushed the chair out from someone had pushed the chair out from under me…under me…

-- but I was so scared that I couldn’t do -- but I was so scared that I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t even fall down if anything, couldn’t even fall down if someone took my chair away.someone took my chair away.

para25para25

Speed is desirable.Speed is desirable.

--(very formal language) We would --(very formal language) We would appreciate if you can do it quickly.appreciate if you can do it quickly.

para28para28

And Cameron really went to pieces…And Cameron really went to pieces…

go to pieces– getting very upset and lose go to pieces– getting very upset and lose control of oneselfcontrol of oneself

para33para33

I am tired of this garbage, so I’ll count to thI am tired of this garbage, so I’ll count to three…ree…

garbage– rubbish; nonsencegarbage– rubbish; nonsence

para37para37

I heaved him to the window by his shirt I heaved him to the window by his shirt collar.collar.

heave– raise; liftheave– raise; lift

Para 38Para 38

… …he recovered his wits enough…he recovered his wits enough…

Wit—(also wits) intelligence; quick Wit—(also wits) intelligence; quick understandingunderstanding

para39para39

Then it took off. Then it took off.

take off – leave take off – leave

… …till it was a shooting star again, slowly till it was a shooting star again, slowly fading out.fading out.

fade out – disappear graduallyfade out – disappear gradually

Para 48Para 48

Venus [vi:nVenus [vi:nəəs] s] 维纳斯维纳斯 , [, [ 天天 ]] 金星金星

Venice Venice [venis] [venis] 威尼斯威尼斯 (( 意大利港市意大利港市 ))

Language Sense EnhancementLanguage Sense Enhancement--Role play reading--Role play reading

This reading activity requires cooperation This reading activity requires cooperation of 3 people. of 3 people.

student A plays the role of the sheriffstudent A plays the role of the sheriff

student B takes the role of the saucermanstudent B takes the role of the saucerman

student C reads the rest student C reads the rest

Assignment Assignment

Read and analyze Text B– Is There Life Read and analyze Text B– Is There Life on Planets Circling Other Stars?on Planets Circling Other Stars?