Book II Unit 2: Section A
Environmental Protection Throughout the World
By Lv Qin
Teaching Aims
Help students to catch the main idea of the text, to understand the structure of the text, to analyze some difficult sentences, to master the use of some key words and phrases, to do some oral practice about the text.
Teaching Steps
I. Warming up Activities—Pair Work
Discuss with your desk mate about the environmental problems in China, or in your hometown or even in the city you are staying in. If possible, put forward some suggestions.
Suggested discussion outline
1. Existing environmental problems
2. Reasons for those problems
3. Government’s measures and effects
4. Your own suggestions
II. Introductory Questions
1. Can you say something about The Grand Banks?
The Grand Banks was the most abundant (cod) fishing ground in the world at that time.
2. What caused severe environmental disaster in the Amazon area in Brazil and its people?
The Brazil government sought to colonize and develop the Amazon for decades.
3. Why does the author say many rivers, land, and forests in Eastern Europe are now biologically dead?
Because heavy metal from coal mining have contaminated much of the area’s waters.
4. What is the purpose for Costa Rica government to make a series of new environmental laws and create parks and nature preserves?
The government aims at protecting its remaining forests.
5. What kind of measures has Ghana government taken to solve its environmental problems?
Urging local villages to create more shared farmland and sponsoring the growing of cash crops and the plant of trees.
6. Why does Indonesia have a large population base?
Because Indonesians have traditionally favored large families, and their major religion, Islam, frowns on birth control.
7. Why do Canadian fishermen hold protests?
Because about 40,000 fishermen are now unemployed as a result of the fishing bans and loss of their fish supply.
8. Who protests their government’s move to protect the rain forest in Brazil?
Cattle farmers, miners and settlers.
9. What had the tax favors encouraged in Brazil before 1991?
The tax favors had encouraged clearing of the Amazon rain forest.
10. What have the Eastern Europe countries done to solve their environmental problems?
They have set up special funds for environmental cleanups and improving the region’s power plants, besides, some of these countries have signed a treaty to prevent further water contamination.
III. Language Points:
1. concern oneself with: If you concern yourself with something, you give attention because you think that it is important.
A good doctor should always concern himself with the health of his patients.
好的医生应该随时关心病人的健康。
2. regardless of: without worrying about
Regardless of the danger, he climbed the tower. 他不顾危险地爬上了高塔。
Regardless of whether he is right or wrong, we have to obey his decision.
不管他是对是错，我们都得服从他的决定。
3. spring up: suddenly appear or come into existence
New theatres and arts centers sprang up all over the country.
全国各地建起了许多新的剧院和艺术中心。
4. abundant: more than enough
The rivers of the New World were abundant with fish.
美洲大陆的河流里有大量的鱼类。
5. finance: (1) v. provide money for (2) n. management of money
(1) The repairs to the school will be financed by a private company.
学校的修缮费用将由一家私营公司提供。
(2) State finance has also entered into a new stage.
国家财政也已进入了一个新阶段。
6. conflict: (1) n. opposition (2) v. be opposite
(1) It is not surprising that such a view has led to great conflict.
一种观点引起了很大的意见分歧是不足为怪的。
(2) The statements of the two girls conflict. 这两个女孩的陈述不一样。
7. commitment: n. a sure promise that one will do it
I don’t want to get married because I don’t want any commitment.
我不想结婚，因为我不愿承担责任。
commit: v. promise to a certain cause
They called on Western nations to commit more money to the poorest nations.
他们呼吁西方国家把更多的钱投向那些最穷的国家。
8. sponsor: (1) v. support … by giving money, encouragement or other help
(2) n. a person or organization that sponsors sth. or sb.
(1) The football match is sponsored by a big company.
这次足球比赛是由一家大公司赞助的。
(2) Coca-Cola is the sponsor of the yearly Christmas party.
可口可乐公司是一年一度圣诞晚会的主办者。
9. impact: (1) n. strong impression or effect on sb. or sth.
(2) v. leave a powerful effect on a situation or person
(1) The computer has made a great impact on modern life.
计算机对现代生活产生了重大影响。
(2) These accidents will impact our school’s name.
这些事故会影响到我们学校的声誉。
10. frown on: disapprove of
Tom wanted to go to France by himself, but his parents frowned on the idea.
汤姆想自己去法国，但他父母不同意他这个想法。
11. wage: v. start and continue
The government waged a war against crime and disease.
政府向犯罪和疾病开战。
12. convert: v. (1) change one’s belief, attitude
(2) change sth. from one form or use to another
(1)My daughter has converted me to pop music.
我女儿使我喜欢上了流行音乐。
(2) This seat converts easily into a bed. 这椅子可以很容易地改变为一张床。
IV. Expressions
environmental awareness 环保意识
global ecology 全球生态环境
birth control 控制生育
ecological diversity 生物多样性
soil erosion 土壤侵蚀
clear-cut 砍伐殆尽
nature preserves 自然保护区
excessive fishing / over-fishing 过度捕捞
economic development / environmental damage /
undertake new environmental initiatives / abundant fishing ground /
excessive fishing / set strict limits on… / fishing bans / ambitious programs / tropical rain forests /environmental laws / jungle rain forest /
severe environmental disaster / reverse course / tax favors /
forest protection projects / cattle farmer / at a slower pace than before /
The conflict enlarged last year. /
heavy metals from coal mining have contaminated much of the area’s waters. / environmental cleanups / power plant / explosive growth / removal of forests / excessive use of existing farmland / In response, … / cash crops /
regenerate waste land / strengthen the country’s agricultural base /
major religion / wage a massive ad campaign to … / a large population base / convert millions more to the idea of birth control / reach its population targets /
V. Structure Analysis
A Paragraph Following the Problem-Solution Pattern
Outline
Problem: AIDS, spread, fast, among teenagers
Solution: win the war, against AIDS, train youth from 8 to 26, in turn, they teach / spread, anti-knowledge, their peers, …
Result / Evaluation: do better, than, adults
- Assignments
1. Writing
Write a composition about 120 words following the problem-solution pattern.
Topic: Against Forest Decrease in China / (any city)
2. Doing the exercises in the textbook
Book II Unit 2: Section B
Green Spaces in Cities
I．Reading Skills
Finding out word meanings by using context clues:
Context Clue 1: Definition
The harbor is protected by a jetty—a wall built into the water.
Context Clue 2: Restatement
He had a wan look. He was so pale and weak that we thought he was ill.
Context Clue 3: General knowledge
The door was so low that I hit my head on the lintel.
Context Clue 4: Related information
Timken was now angry … Once again he flew into a rage.
Context Clue 5: Examples
Select any of these periodicals: Time, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest or The New Yorker.
Context Clue 6: Comparison
The snow was falling. Big flakes drifted with the wind like feathers.
Context Clue 7: Contrast
Most of us agreed; however, Bill dissented.
II. Language Points
1. vacant: a.
(1) not filled or occupied
The hospital has no vacant beds. 那家医院已没有空床位了。
(2) unfilled, not filled at present
The post of chairman has been vacant for some time.
主席的职位已空缺一段时间了。
(3) showing no interest or activity
His mind seemed completely vacant. 他的脑子里似乎一片空白。
2. option: n. choice
We have no option but to leave the meeting.
除了放弃这次会议，我们没有别的选择。
3. on top of: (1) over or above (2) in addition to
(1) Put the letter on top of that pile of books, where it can be seen easily.
把这封信放在那堆书上面，这样容易看到。
(2) Another 700 jobs are being cut this year, on top of the 2,000 that were lost last year. 除了去年削减的2，000个工作外，今年将再减少700个岗位。
4. literally: ad. exactly
Idioms usually cannot be translated literally into another language.
成语通常不能用另一种语言逐字翻译。
5. pave: v. cover with flat stones or bricks or tar
One lane is closed while the workers are paving the road.
路上的一条车道在工人铺路期间关闭了。
This agreement paves the way for a lasting peace in the region.
这项协议为本地区的持久和平铺平了道路。
6. amateur: a. taking part in an activity for pleasure, not as a job
My sister is an amateur photographer. 我的妹妹是一个业余摄影师。
7. coordinate: v. organize the various people and things involved in an activity to work together to increase effectiveness
If we coordinate our efforts we should be able to solve the problem.
如果我们同心协力，就能解决这个问题。
8. erect: v. build, set up
They plan to erect an office building there.
他们打算在那儿建造一幢办公大楼。
9. up to: as far as, as much as, as many as
Up to two thousand students can hold a party in this hall.
这个大厅可以容纳2，000学生举行聚会。
Everyone works, from the boy who sweeps the floor up to the President.
从扫地的服务生到总统人人都在工作。
10. conservation: n. prevention of loss, waste, damage, destroying
We should pay more attention to the conservation of wildlife.
我们必须更注意野生动物的保护。
Conservation of water is of great importance in desert areas.
节约用水在沙漠地区是非常重要的。
11. characterize: v. be common to
Bright colors characterize his early paintings.
明亮的色彩是他早期绘画的特点。
12. comparable: a. (1) similar (2) meriting being compared
(1)A comparable car would cost much less out of the country.
一辆类似的汽车在国外要便宜多了。
(2) His poems are by no means comparable to Shelley’s.
他写的诗无法与雪莱相比。
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