Unit 8 AntarcticaUnit 8 Antarctica Pre-reading activities Background knowledgeBackground knowledge Antarctica: Antarctica: the world’s fifth largest the world’s fifth largest

continent. It’s surrounded by an often continent. It’s surrounded by an often stormy ice-dotted sea known as the stormy ice-dotted sea known as the Antarctic Ocean—which is, in fact, merely Antarctic Ocean—which is, in fact, merely a continuation of the Atlantic, Pacific and a continuation of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Mean temperatures are Indian oceans. Mean temperatures are generally about -88 generally about -88 ℃℃ colder than those in colder than those in an equivalent latitude of the Arctic, thus an equivalent latitude of the Arctic, thus making the Antarctic the coldest region in making the Antarctic the coldest region in the world.the world.

Antarctica differs fundamentally from the Arctic regions. The Arctic is an ocean covered with drifting packed ice and hemmed in by the land masses of Europe, Asia, and North America. The Antarctic is a continent almost as large as Europe and Australia combined.

Argentina set up the first weather station Argentina set up the first weather station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands in 1904. In natural resources, Islands in 1904. In natural resources, Antarctica is considered by scientists to be Antarctica is considered by scientists to be the most worthless of all the continents. the most worthless of all the continents. Traces of minerals, such as nickel, copper, Traces of minerals, such as nickel, copper, iron coal, gold and silver have been found.iron coal, gold and silver have been found.

The earliest explorations of the south polar The earliest explorations of the south polar seas were made in 1772--1775 by a British seas were made in 1772--1775 by a British expedition commanded by Captain James expedition commanded by Captain James Cook. Exploration of the Antarctic Cook. Exploration of the Antarctic intensified in the 1820s and 1830s.intensified in the 1820s and 1830s.

南極洲雷達圖南極洲雷達圖

The Author------Donald Gordon Payne (born January 3, 1924 in London) is an English author.Using James Vance Marshall as a pseudonym, His most famous book is probably Walkabout (1964), first published as The Children and later made into a movie starring Jenny Agutter.Payne has also used Ian Cameron and Donald Gordon as pseudonyms. His publications include The Midnight Sea(1958), The Wind at Morning (1973) and Antarctica: The Last Continent(1974).He lives in Surrey, England, and has four sons and one daughter.

The most famous book by Ian Cameron

When you see the title of the text, what do you anticipate?

The main idea ---why the Antarctic has not been conquered by man so far and how our right of holding of it is questionable even today.

While –reading activitiesWhy human beings have not conquered

the Antarctic even today? The reasons : 1)great isolation from other land 2)hardly any plant or animal life 3)very little rain 4)intense cold 5) howling wind 6) the most tempestuous seas around it

How many parts is the text roughly divided?

This text is a well written expository piece of This text is a well written expository piece of writing about Antarctic. Please work in pairs writing about Antarctic. Please work in pairs and discuss the following two questions:and discuss the following two questions:1. By reading the first and second 1. By reading the first and second paragraphs, what information can we obtain? paragraphs, what information can we obtain? 2. What’s the function of the second 2. What’s the function of the second paragraph?paragraph?

1. The first paragraph presents a general 1. The first paragraph presents a general picture of Antarctic with a great deal of picture of Antarctic with a great deal of concrete data, statistics and facts to concrete data, statistics and facts to make the writing more convincing.make the writing more convincing.

2. The function of the second paragraph lies 2. The function of the second paragraph lies in telling the readers that why Antarctic has in telling the readers that why Antarctic has not been conquered by man so far, and why not been conquered by man so far, and why man’s knowledge to Antarctic is man’s knowledge to Antarctic is comparatively small, so as to arouse readers’ comparatively small, so as to arouse readers’ interest to read the article followed.interest to read the article followed.

A question is posed for the A question is posed for the understanding of the third paragraph:understanding of the third paragraph:

What writing technique is employed to What writing technique is employed to show man’s knowledge to Antarctic is show man’s knowledge to Antarctic is slight?slight?

In order to convince the readers that In order to convince the readers that the differences between the Arctic and the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic in fact outweigh their the Antarctic in fact outweigh their similarities, the writer uses similarities, the writer uses comparison comparison and contrast.and contrast.

Please work in pairs to discuss Please work in pairs to discuss differences between Arctic and differences between Arctic and Antarctic:Antarctic:

Differences between Arctic and Antarctic:Differences between Arctic and Antarctic: 1. Location1. Location Arctic:Arctic: closed surrounded by landmasses; closed surrounded by landmasses; Antarctic: Antarctic: in splendid isolationin splendid isolation 2. Climate 2. Climate Arctic:Arctic: with human beings living there, with human beings living there,

plants and animals survive plants and animals survive Antarctic: Antarctic: no habitation, only mosses and no habitation, only mosses and

lichenslichens

The author further develops his article by using The author further develops his article by using quotations of those who have been to the Antarctic quotations of those who have been to the Antarctic to give more authority to his explanation of the to give more authority to his explanation of the reasons why the differences between the Arctic reasons why the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic outweigh their similarities.and the Antarctic outweigh their similarities.

Rainfall: Rainfall: less than 5 centimetres a yearless than 5 centimetres a year Warmth: Warmth: the coldest place on earth, the coldest place on earth, -88 -88 ℃℃ Degree of stillness: Degree of stillness: steel bar likely to shatter liksteel bar likely to shatter lik

e glass, mercury freezes into a solid metal, fish ie glass, mercury freezes into a solid metal, fish is frozen so solid that it has to be cut with a saw s frozen so solid that it has to be cut with a saw

Wind: Wind: main and most cruel characteristic is winmain and most cruel characteristic is windd

Please work in group of three or four Please work in group of three or four to write down in phrases as many to write down in phrases as many reasons as you can find from the text reasons as you can find from the text why Antarctic is uninhabited and why why Antarctic is uninhabited and why our knowledge about Antarctic is so our knowledge about Antarctic is so slight.slight.

Language points1.Seen from space…: When our planet is seen from space…-ed participle can be used as an adverbial to denote time, cause, condition or attending circumstances.e.g. Placed in a freezer, water quickly becomes ice.Confined to bed, Peter was not allowed to go downstairs.

Given better attention and care, these small animals would not have fallen prey to the carnivores.

. let alone: certainly not, not to mention(This is a conjunction used after a negative clause)e.g. My brother can’t do fractions, let alone work out this complicated geometry problem. Englishmen themselves, let alone foreigners, are often uncertain about what is slang and what isn’t.

As regards ------concerning or connected with sb./sth.e.g. I have little information as regards his past.As regards the second point in your letter…. injurious to sb./sth.------harmful or likely to cause injurye.g. Smoking is injurious to the health.

set foot on / in: go, visit e.g. The invention of spacecraft has made it possible for the man to set foot on the moon. slight: small; not serious or important e.g. a slight error a slight headache She takes offence at the slightest thing.

outweigh: be greater in importance than e.g. The advantages of the new scheme outweigh the disadvantages. More words that are combined in this way. outnumber, outdo, outperform be inclined to: be likely to, tend to e.g. With a poor constitution, he is inclined to get tired easily.Some people are inclined to jump to hasty conclusions. We are inclined to think that he is opposed to the plan

by far: by a large amount or degree … 得多，最…（与比较级或最高级连用） e.g. It will be by far the most urgent issue of the age. The new seaport will by far be the most advanced coal wharf in this area.

small wonder = no / little wonder,it is small wonder: it is not / hardly surprising 不足为奇 e.g. • Most young people like to follow thefashion. Small wonder that her 16-year-ol

d daughter is so fashion-conscious.

• Small wonder he has taken ill. He had been overworking for years.

Development and organization This text is a well-written expository piece of writing about 24Antarctica—why it has not been conquered by man so far and how our “tenure “ of it is questionable even today. The writer’s purpose is to inform and explain for a general audience, so the vocabulary is not very specialized.

There are some striking features which are worthy of notice and imitation. 1.The writer uses the technique of stating the central the

me at the beginning of the text to arouse the reader’s interest and presents a striking description of Antarctica—the subject under discussion. This introduction serves the purpose of setting limits and suggesting what will be said about the subject. The writer does not, however, use only exposition. By turning to description and narration for aid, he enfolds before our mind’s eye the “most spectacular natural phenomenon” on earth—the ice sheet of Antarctica which “radiates light like a great lantern across the bottom of the world.”

2.He supports his view with a great deal of concrete data, statistics and facts to make his writing more convincing.3.He throws new light upon two things by showing how hey are alike and yet very different. In order to convince the reader that the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic in fact outweigh their similarities, the writer uses comparison and contrast—with facts which at the same time support his claim that our knowledge about Antarctica is still comparatively slight. Facts are presented clearly and in a way which makes themeasily understandable.

4. The writer directly quotes those who have been to the Antarctic to given more authority to his explanation of the reasons why the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic outweight their similarities.5. The writer provides us with a striking conclusion . After he has listed all the reasons to support and evidence for his point, another reason for not being able to conquer the Antarctic suddenly appears, which is likely to leave a deep Impression on the reader. In this way the writer successfully ties the text together neatly , giving a final sense of unity.6. He also uses parallel structures as an effective way of describing what life in the Antarctic is like. This gives a subtle poetic quality and rhythm to this part of his essay.

Post-reading activitiesAnswer the following questions.1.According to the writer, will the ice sheet of Antarctica one day melt?2.Why does the writer say that Antarctica is in fact our planet’s largest and most spectacular natural Phenomenon?3.What does the write mean by “a degree of stillness”?4.What are the similarities and differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic?5.Why does the writer say that “even today man’s tenure of it is unsure”?6.What does the writer mean by “North of the Arctic Circle, tens of thousands of families live in comfort all the year round;…”?

Words should remember.Words should remember. Latin origin(singular)Latin origin(singular) bacterium bacterium curriculumcurriculum mediummedium Greek origin (singulaGreek origin (singula

r)r) AnalysisAnalysis basisbasis crisiscrisis thesisthesis

Latin origin (pluralLatin origin (plural )) bacteriabacteria curriculacurricula mediamedia Greek origin (plural)Greek origin (plural) analysesanalyses basesbases crisescrises thesestheses