RevisionRevisionListening text on page 81

Part 1

Scientists often look at nature in

order to find new ideas. In ancient

times, Chinese scientists studied how

spiders make silk. Modern scientists

are interested in the spider, too.

Scientists often look at nature in

order to find new ideas. In ancient

times, Chinese scientists studied how

spiders make silk. Modern scientists

are interested in the spider, too.

A spider can make silk that is

much stronger than most man-

made materials. A spider’s silk

doesn’t break easily. Instead of

breaking, it gets longer. Best of all,

the spider produces the silk

without the use of dangerous or

poisonous chemicals.

A spider can make silk that is

much stronger than most man-

made materials. A spider’s silk

doesn’t break easily. Instead of

breaking, it gets longer. Best of all,

the spider produces the silk

without the use of dangerous or

poisonous chemicals.

If we could learn to use the

technique, we might be able to use

the strong silk to make things like

seat belts and wires that hold up

bridges.

If we could learn to use the

technique, we might be able to use

the strong silk to make things like

seat belts and wires that hold up

bridges.Part 2

There are many other examples of

how new technology has been

developed by learning from nature.

There are many other examples of

how new technology has been

developed by learning from nature.

A group of German scientists wanted

to find out why leaves and flowers are

able to stay so clean. They decided to

take a closer look at the white lotus, a

flower that is known for its clean

leaves. At first, the scientists believed

that a very flat leaf would be better at

staying clean.

A group of German scientists wanted

to find out why leaves and flowers are

able to stay so clean. They decided to

take a closer look at the white lotus, a

flower that is known for its clean

leaves. At first, the scientists believed

that a very flat leaf would be better at

staying clean.

However, when they looked

closely at the white lotus, the

scientists saw that the leaf was in

fact covered with tiny hairs and

needles. The needles and hairs

collect the dust that falls on the

leaf so that a raindrop can easily

wash it off.

However, when they looked

closely at the white lotus, the

scientists saw that the leaf was in

fact covered with tiny hairs and

needles. The needles and hairs

collect the dust that falls on the

leaf so that a raindrop can easily

wash it off.

The German scientists used this technique to design a new kind of paint. The new paint could keep houses looking clean for years.

The German scientists used this technique to design a new kind of paint. The new paint could keep houses looking clean for years. Scientists also believe that the butterfly could teach us a way to keep our computers cool. A computer must be kept cool to function well. The fans we use today are not always good enough.

Scientists also believe that the butterfly could teach us a way to keep our computers cool. A computer must be kept cool to function well. The fans we use today are not always good enough.

The butterfly is cold-blooded and must change its body temperature all the time. Scientists have found that there are small parts on its wings that the butterfly uses to change its temperature. If scientists can learn how this is done, it may be possible to use the same method to keep computers from becoming too hot.

The butterfly is cold-blooded and must change its body temperature all the time. Scientists have found that there are small parts on its wings that the butterfly uses to change its temperature. If scientists can learn how this is done, it may be possible to use the same method to keep computers from becoming too hot.

His misfortune

At the age of 21

His attitude

Got married

Dreams come true

Incurable disease

Had no more than 12 months to live

Never give up

ScanningScanning

Results from his disease

Achieve-ments

In the early 1970s became famous

Has to sit in a wheelchair

Speak through a computer

The Big Bang and black holes

A brief History of Time became a bestseller

What should we

learn from Stephen

Hawking?

What should we

learn from Stephen

Hawking?

Attitude is a SMALL thing that makes BIG difference.

Attitude is a SMALL thing that makes BIG difference.

Suggested answers to Pre-reading questionsSuggested answers to Pre-reading questions

1. In order to get a job, he needed a PhD.1. In order to get a job, he needed a PhD.2. In the early 1970s, when Hawking and

American Roger Penrose made new

discovering about the Big Bang and

black holes.

2. In the early 1970s, when Hawking and

American Roger Penrose made new

discovering about the Big Bang and

black holes.3. In 2002, Hawking visited Beijing.3. In 2002, Hawking visited Beijing.

SkimmingSkimming

1.When was Professor Hawking told about his disease? A. Twelve months earlier.B. When he was getting married.C. Two years earlier.D. When he met Jane Wilde.D

2. According to Professor Hawking, science is ____. A. never true B. always changing C. always true

3. A scientific theory is good if ____. A. it is difficult B. it can be tested C. it can predict future events

B

C

Careful reading1.According to Professor

Hawking,

how do people

misunderstand science?

1.According to Professor

Hawking,

how do people

misunderstand science? People often think that science is a

number of facts/rules that never change.

According to Hawking, science is always

People often think that science is a

number of facts/rules that never change.

According to Hawking, science is always

2. What are the basic steps of the scientific method?

2. What are the basic steps of the scientific method? First, the scientists observe the things

or process they are interested in. Second,

they make a theory to explain what they

have observed. Third, they test the theory

First, the scientists observe the things

or process they are interested in. Second,

they make a theory to explain what they

have observed. Third, they test the theory

changing and many theories are eventua-

lly proven wrong.

to see if matches what they have seen and if it can predict future events.to see if matches what they have seen and if it can predict future events.

3. What is it that Hawking

doesn’t like about his speech

computer?

3. What is it that Hawking

doesn’t like about his speech

computer? Hawking, who is British, doesn’t like it because the speech computer gives him an American accent.

Main idea

Part1 (Paragraph 1-3)

This part tells us about Stephen

Hawking’ s positive attitude towards

life in the face of great difficulties. It is

his positive attitude that helps him

succeed.

Part2 (Paragraph 4-5)

His achievements and his best seller

A Brief History of Time.

Part3 (Paragraph 6)

The basic steps of the scientific

method.

Part 4 (Paragraph 7)

Science (The speech computer)

enables Stephen Hawking to give

lectures all around the world.

ExplanationExplanation

1.There did not seem much point in

working on my PhD --- I did not expect

to survive that long. “point” here means reason, value

( 道理，作用，用途 )

I don’t see the point of waiting for

her, she is probably not coming.

There is no point in arguing further.

There is not much point in

complaining; they never take any

notice.

e. g.

2. Nor did he let the disease stop him

from living the kind of life he had alw

ays dreamt of.

他也没有让疾病阻止自己过梦想的生活。

1) Nor 放在句首，句子要倒装。

I never dreamed of meeting you here.

我绝对未想到在这里遇到你。Little did I dream of succeeding so well.

我做梦也想不到如此圆满的成功

2) dream [ 常与 not, little, never 等连用 ] ( 没有 , 很少 , 决没有 ) 想到

His dream of being a doctor has come

true.

他当医生的愿望实现了。

3) dream n. v 梦，做梦 , 梦见 , 向往 ,

渴望 (of, about)

The girl is a perfect dream.

这个女孩子太美了。

3. Since then, Hawking has continued

to seek answers to questions about

the nature of the universe.

自从那时，霍金一直致力于寻找宇宙本质的答案。

I dreamt about my teacher last night.

昨天夜里我梦见我的老师了。

We sought an answer to the question,

but couldn’t find one.

我们寻求这个问题的答案，可是没能找到。

seek v. （常与 for, after 连用）搜寻，寻 找，寻觅 Nothing seek, nothing find. [ 谚 ] 无所寻则无所获

After seeking out the rude assistant,

she asked for the same dress.

她认出那个粗鲁无礼的售货员之后 ,

她寻找那条同样的裙子。

They are seeking the most reasonable

diet which will do good to their health.

他们在寻找有益于他们健康的最合理的饮食。

He is one of the young graduates see

king after success in life.

他是探所人生成功之路的年轻毕业生之一。

They are seeking for solutions to the c

urrent problems.

他们正在寻找目前问题的解决办法。

4. Finally, the scientists test the theory to

see if it matches what they have seen

and if it can predict future events.

最后 , 科学家们验证这一理论看是否和他们观察到的相匹配，是否能预知未来。

They are equally matched in their kn

owledge of Chinese.

他们在中文的造诣上相等。 This hotel can’t be matched for fri

endliness.

这家旅馆良好的服务态度是无与伦比的。

1) match v. 相配 , 匹配

These shoes do not match ； one is

large and the other is small.

这双鞋不相配，一只大，一只小。

The color of the shirt does not match

that of the coat.

衬衫的颜色与上衣不相配。

I’m ready to match my strength wit

h (against) yours.

我准备和你较量较量。

These two are well matched in strength.

他们俩势均力敌。

2) predict v. 预知 , 预言 , 预报

She predicted that he would marry a doctor. 她预言他将娶一位医生。

The earthquake had been predicted several months before.

这次地震早在几个月前就发布了预报。

It is impossible to predict who will win. 要预测出谁将获胜是不可能的。

Post-readingPost-reading

Suggested answers to Exercise 3 1.We can develop a new kind of

rice

that doesn't need much water.

2.We can change it into a ten-

speed

bicycle.

1.We can develop a new kind of

rice

that doesn't need much water.

2.We can change it into a ten-

speed

bicycle.

3. By examining antiques from

that

period and deducing we can

learn

what life was like.

4. Spending some time on English

every day is better than

spending

a longer time once a week.

3. By examining antiques from

that

period and deducing we can

learn

what life was like.

4. Spending some time on English

every day is better than

spending

a longer time once a week.

Surf on the internet,

find more about

Stephen Hawking

and his contributions

to the world.

Surf on the internet,

find more about

Stephen Hawking

and his contributions

to the world.