Unit Two

Smart Cars

Teaching ObjectivesStudents will be able to :understand the main idea and

structure of the textlearn some techniques in expository

writing (definition, quotes, a mixture of facts and opinions, etc.)

grasp the key language points and grammatical structures in the text

Learn how to write resume

Lead-in Activities

I. Getting to know various types of automobiles

Concept Car

概念汽车

Mini Car

迷你轿车

Pickup Car 皮卡

（小型货车 )

Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) 多功能运动车

Off-Road Vehicle 越野车

Sports Car 跑车

Classic Car 老爷车

Smart Car 智能

汽车

Cars in China

Dream machines

June 2nd 2005 BEIJING AND SHANGHAIFrom The Economist print edition

China is not yet an auto-culture in the mould of the United States. But it may only be a matter of time.

A country that once ran on two wheels nowadays depends on four. After the US and Japan, China is the world’s biggest car manufacturer. Car ownership has quadrupled in the past decade, and shows no signs of slowing. In China's bigger cities, the rivers of bicycles once one of the most vivid images of urban China have been replaced with streets jammed with cars, most of them, terrifyingly, in the hands of novice drivers.

Driving or not driving?List as many reasons

as possible to illustrate

why you want to drive

a car.

(Group 1,3,5,6)

List as many reasons as possible to illustrate

why you don’t want to drive a car.

(Group 2,4,6,8)

II. Group Discussion

Each group leader will report your discussion result to the class.

What can we do to solve the problems of our present cars

What are smart cars?

The broad purpose of Smart Cars is to improve current levels of automobile safety, traffic congestion, mobility, and environmental efficiency through the use of advanced technology for automobiles. In others, technology that is simple in theory is used to help cars perform better which benefits people and the environment.

Michio Kaku

Contents

1.Background information

2.Text Organization

3.Language Points

4.Text Analysis

5.Useful Expressions

6.Word Study

7.Writing Strategy

8.Assignment

1. Background information

1.Automobile industry: The automobile industry is one of the most important industries in the world, affecting not only economies but also cultures. It provides jobs for millions of people, generates billions of dollars in worldwide revenues, and provides the basis for a multitude of related service and support industries. Automobiles revolutionized transportation in the 20th century, changing forever the way people live, travel, and do business.

2. Global Positioning System (GPS) Space-based radio-navigation system, consisting of

24 satellites and ground support. GPS provides users

with accurate information about their position and speed,

as well as the time, anywhere in the world and in all

weather conditions.

3. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)

智能运输系统 : Advanced electronics, communications, a

nd computer systems that increase the efficiency and safety of highway transportation. Originally known as Intelligent Vehicle/Highway Systems (IVHS), these technologies can provide real-time information exchange between drivers and the roads, giving rise to the terms “smart cars” and “smart highways”.

Some useful expressions about the road Highway 公路，国道 Expressway 高速公路 Light rail (elevated railway) 轻轨 Outer-ring road 外环路 Inner-ring road 内环路 Elevated road / overpass 高架桥

2. Text Organization

Parts Para. Main Ideas

I 1-3

II 4-9

III 10-12

New technology will have a dramatic impact on cars and highways in the 21st century

With the aid of advanced technology, smart cars will be so designed that they can help eliminate traffic accidents, determine their own precise locations and warn of traffic jams

GPS and “telematics” will make it possible to build smart highways, which will benefit us in more than one way

Understanding the Text

Questions for Part One What will happen to cars and

roads in the 21 century?

Why dose the author say the key to tomorrow’s smart cars will be sensors?

What is the main idea of this part?

Understanding the Text

Questions for Part Two What are the functions of smart

cars?

What is the function of GPS?

What is the main idea of this part?

Understanding the Text

Questions for Part Three What are the prospects of

applications of GPS? What hopes do promoters of the

smart highway have for its future? What are the advantages of smart

highways? What is the main idea of this

part?

3. LanguagePara.2 (line 4) The automobile industry ranks as among the most

lucrative and powerful industries of the twentieth century

rank: to have a particular position in a list of people or things that have been put in order of quality or importance

rank as/among = rank as one of e.g. Today's match ranks as one of the most exciting

games that these two have ever played. We rank among the safest countries in the world. Other cities that rank as among the most

expensive are Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.

3. LanguagePara.2(Line 7) Sales of the automobile industry stand at about

a trillion dollars…stand (at) : [linking verb] to be at a particular level

or amount e.g. The death toll for the previous 24 hours stood at 96. 过去 24 小时内的死亡人数为 96 人。 The unemployment rate now stands at 7.3 percent. 目前失业率达到 7 。 3% 。 The score stands at 20 to 1. 比分为 20 比 1 。 The temperature stands at 90 degrees F. 温度计上是 90 华氏度。

3. LanguagePara. 4 (Line 18) Fully half of these fatalities come from drunk drivers.

fully : at least. 至少，足足 e.g. Fully half of the volunteers did not appear. 至少有一半的志愿者未露面 . The civil war lasted fully four years. 内战持续了整整四年。

3. LanguagePara.5 (Line 26)……the computer would sound an immediate

warming.

sound: to produce a sound e.g. The sirens sounded, warning of a

tornado. [sound a warning / alarm] inform people of a

danger e.g. The plan hopes to sound an early

warning to teenagers about the dangers of smoking.

3. LanguagePara.7 (Line 38) While the computer revolution is unlikely to

cure the problems, …

cure: to solve a problem, or improve a bad situation

e.g. Attempts to cure unemployment have so far

failed. cure a cold/ patient — a bad habit 改掉恶习 — an evil 消除罪恶 — an ailing economy 矫正失调的经济

3. LanguagePara.7 (Line 41) ……can locate your car precisely at any moment

and warn of traffic jams. warn: to tell someone that something bad or

dangerous may happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it

[warn somebody about something] e.g. Travelers to Africa are being warned

about the danger of HIV infection.[warn (somebody) of something] e.g. Salmon farmers are warning of the

severe crisis facing the industry.[warn somebody (not) to do something] e.g. I warned you not to walk home alone. Motorists are being warned to avoid the

centre of London this weekend.

Text AnalysisText Analysis Functions brought by Advanced technologyFunctions brought by Advanced technology

eliminate traffic eliminate traffic accidentsaccidents

warn of warn of traffic jamstraffic jams

determine determine car’s precise car’s precise

locationslocations

Paras 4-6Paras 4-6

• drunk electronic sensorsdrunk electronic sensors• driving warning radarsdriving warning radars• sleepy driving monitoring sleepy driving monitoring cameracamera

Para 7Para 7

Paras 8-9Paras 8-9• rotations in the steering rotations in the steering wheel and position on mapwheel and position on map

• time taken for signaltime taken for signal from from satellite to arrivesatellite to arrive

• sensors in cars tuned to sensors in cars tuned to radio signals from radio signals from Navistar for traffic jamsNavistar for traffic jams

Guessing the meaning

Read the text again to provide definitions for “blind spot” (Para. 5) “Global Positioning System” (Para. 7) “atomic clock” (Para. 7) “telematics” (Para. 11) “automated driver” (Para.12)

Guessing the meaning “blind spot”:

“Global Positioning System”:

a blind spot must be a portion of the road behind a car, which a driver can not observe from the rear-view mirror.

it is a service linked with a satellite, with the function of determining your location on the earth to within about a hundred feet.

Guessing the meaning

“atomic clock”:

“telematics”:

“automated driver”:

it vibrates at precise frequency , according to the laws of t the quantum theory.

the branch of information technology which deals with the long-distance transmission of computerized information.

(sentences directly following the term give a detailed explanation.)

Useful Expressions1. 不屑在报纸上提及他们

2. 至少 / 足足半数的死亡

3. 计算机立刻会发出警报

4. 开车最头疼的两件事是迷路和交通阻塞 .

Do not bother to mention them in the newspaper

fully half of the fatalities

The computer would sound an immediate warning.

Two of the most frustrating things about driving a car are getting lost and getting stuck in traffic.

Useful Expressions5. 带来积极的影响

6. 在车辆极多的路段上

7. 对它的未来充满希望

8. 制造业 / 汽车工业 / 旅游业 / 服务业

have positive effect

on heavily trafficked road

have great hopes for its future

manufacturing industry / automobile industry / tourist industry/ serving industry

Useful Expressions 9. 严重低估了威胁生命的重大隐患

10. 导航能力

11. 被编成组

12. 对环境有利的事

13. 计算机革命不可彻底解决这些问题

The life-threatening hazard is grossly underestimated.

navigational capability

be bunched into groups

environmental boon/ (time-saving boon)

The computer revolution is unlikely to cure these problems

Word Study

eliminate

in the air

alert

convert

incorporate

correlate

eliminate: (1) to completely get rid of something that is unne

cessary or unwanted 使不需要 ; 使不可能 [eliminate something/somebody from something] Fatty foods should be eliminated from the diet. Many infectious diseases have been virtually eli

minated. (2) [usually passive] to defeat a team or person in

a competition so that they no longer take part in it 淘汰

Our team was eliminated in the first round.

Some other expressions: eliminate the false and retain the true 去伪

存真 select the superior and eliminate the inferior select the superior and eliminate the inferior

优胜劣汰优胜劣汰 eliminate the need for 消除…的需求 eliminate the possibility 排出… 的可能 eliminate the risk 排除危险 eliminate the problem

in the air (1) prevalent 广泛的；流行的： There was a sense of excitement in the air. (2) to be going to happen very soon 可能发

生 Change is in the air. (3) not yet decided; uncertain 悬而未决 Our plan is still (up) in the air.

on (the) air broadcasting on radio or television off (the) air no longer broadcasting on radio or televisi

on

alert (1) vt. to notify of approaching danger or action; wa

rn: [alert ab. to do sth.] 警告某人做… [alert sb, to sth.] 警告某人注意… The doctor alerted me to the dangers of smoking. The radio alerted the citizens to prepare for the hu

rricane. (2) adj. watchful; quick in thinking; brisk or lively in

action 警觉的 ; 机灵的；活跃的 He is an alert boy. 他是一个机警的孩子。 Parents must be alert to the symptoms of the dise

ase. 家长必须对这种疾病的症状保持警觉。

(3) n. a warning to be ready for possible danger

on alert:: ready to take action to deal with a dangerous situation （对危险的情况）警戒、防备

on full alert / high alert 高度警惕 All our border points are on full alert. on the alert (for / against) : paying attention to

what is happening and read to react quickly if necessary （对事态的发展）时刻关注，提防

Staff have been warned to be on the alter for bombs.

convert: to change something into a different form of thin

g, or to change something so that it can be used for a different purpose or in a different way

convert water into ice. 将水变成冰convert a forest into farmland. 把森林变成耕地convert assets into cash. 把资产转化成现金convert feet into meters. 将英尺换算成公尺convert an old house into a new one 把旧房改成新房convert the building into a school. 把楼房改成学校 convert some Hong Kong dollars into American doll

ars 把港币兑换成美金

incorporate: (1) to deliberately include something as part of

a group, system, plan etc [incorporate something into/in something] We will incorporate your suggestion in the new plan. 我们将把你的建议编到新计划中去。 (2) to include sth. as a part or as a quality The architect has incorporated Egyptian and Renaissance themes in the building's design. Our electrical equipment incorporates all the latest safety features 我们的电器设备具有所有最新的安全特点。

correlate if two or more facts, ideas etc

correlate or if you correlate them, they are closely connected to each other or one causes the other

[correlate with/ to]

Poverty and poor housing correlate with a shorter life expectancy.

Electricity sales are closely correlated to economic growth.

correlation 相关性• the positive correlation between cigarette

smoking and the incidence of lung cancer; 吸烟与肺癌发病的正比关系• the negative correlation between age and

normal vision. 年龄与正常视力之间的反比关系

Writing StrategyWriting Strategy How to write a resumeHow to write a resume A resume is a concise business-style A resume is a concise business-style

report that displays your job report that displays your job qualifications to a prospective employer. qualifications to a prospective employer. Typically, information is grouped under Typically, information is grouped under six headings. (P69)six headings. (P69)

- Headings - Employment Objective- Education- Employment Experience- Professional Interests- References

How to write a resumeHow to write a resumeSome tips:Some tips: Keep your resume brief and to the point Try to fit your resume on one page. Use two

pages only if your experience is extensive Avoid personal pronouns (don’t use “I”) If you are using the chronological format, list

your most recent experience If you are using the skills format, begin with

your strongest and most relevant experience

Writing Assignment

Situation: You are going to apply for a job as a part-time tutor for computer studies, English or other subjects. You are asked to supply a resume.

Task: Write a resume setting forth relevant facts of yourself.

Time to finish: in one week

Exercise for Unit 2

Directions: For each of the following Directions: For each of the following sentences there are four choices sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE answer that best completes ONE answer that best completes the sentence.the sentence.

1.1. Although he has had no formal Although he has had no formal education, he is one of the _______ education, he is one of the _______ businessmen in the company.businessmen in the company.

A. shrewdestA. shrewdest B. sternest B. sternest

C. nastiestC. nastiest D. alertest D. alertest

A

2. Because Edgar was convinced of the accuracy of this fact, he ______ his opinion.

A. struck at B. strove for C. stuck to D. stood for

3. The sick man was _______ to be operated for detachment of the retina (角膜 ).

A. pointed B. poisoned C. poised D. poked

4. The person who ______ this type of approach for doing research deserves our praise.

A. manufactured B. generated C. originated D. speculated

C

B

C

5. With prices _____ so much, it is difficult for the school to plan a budget.

A. vibrating B. fluctuating C. fluttering D. swinging

6. A lot of old people had difficulty in _______ the old currency into the new.

A. conveying B. converting C. convicting D. conversing

7. The new factory was built for the _______ of European furniture.

A. manifest B. maneuver C. manual D.

manufacture

B

B

D

8. They are considering buying the house before the prices ______.

A. start up B. make up C. cut up D. go up

9. The Indonesian government alerted people _____ the danger of another tsunami.

A. of B. at C. to D. for

10. He made a _____ mistake but refused to admit it.

A. great B. gorgeous C. gigantic D. gross

D

C

D

11. The French pianist who had been praised very highly _______ to be a great disappointment.

A. turned up B. turned in C. turned out D. turned down 12. The establishment of the People’s Republic

of China begins a new _____ in history. A. satellite B. sanction C. episode D. epoch 13. When I said goodbye to her, she _______ the

door. A. saw me at B. set me off C. sent me to D. showed me to

C

D

D

14. Everyone dreams of finding employment with a _______ business.

A. lubricate B. lucrative C. imaginary D.

imaginative

15. Please be careful when you are drinking coffee in case you _____ the new carpet.

A. crash B. pollute C. spot D. stain

16. Illness tends to be _______ with a rise in temperature.

A. complied B. conformed C. correlated D. coincided

B

D

C

17. The government is trying its best to _______ bureaucracy.

A. diminish B. emigrate C. preclude D. eliminate

18. The opposition ______ another attack on the government.

A. molded B. mounted C. mopped D. mourned

19. They are going to _______ the new plan with the old.

A. incorporate B. intrigued C. merge D. unify

D

B

A

20. The date of the dinner party is still __________.

A. on the air B. on airs C. in the air D. in the open

air

21. By moving the radar around slowly in circles, we can ________ the surroundings.

A. explore B. expose C. exploit D. expand

22. These areas rely on agriculture almost ________, having few mineral resources and a minimum of industrial development.

A. frequently B. respectively C. incredibly D. exclusively

C

A

D

23. Both parties promised to ______ the contract to be signed the following day.

A. keep with B. tangle with C. adhere to D. devote to

24. The young man came to the party with a large ____ of red roses in his hand.

A. bump B. bunch C. bulk D. burden

C

B