Unit 2

Unit 2

Great minds

Great minds

What do you know about…?

Before you read the article on the next page, answer these questions.

1. What do the words fictions and non-fiction mean?

2. Which of these people are fictional characters and which are real people?

scientist, physicist, theory of relativity,

German-American—Albert Einstein

patients, take care of, war, the Lady with the Lamp—Florence Nightingale

funny, tramp, great actor, British, silent

films—Charlie Chaplin

A Journey to the West, Buddhist monk—the Monkey King

Pisa Galileo

Isaac Newton

Charles Darwin

What do you know about the famous people?

Alexander Graham Bell Ludwig van Beethoven

Leonardo da Vinci Li Bai

What do you know about the famous people?

Guess who the famous geniuses are ：

1. An Italian scientist, used a telescope to observe space, said the Earth revolved round the Sun, dropped objects from the Learning Tower of Pisa.

2. An English scientist, discovered the laws of gravity.

3. The biologist who wrote about evolution.

Charles Darwin

Isaac Newton

Pisa Galileo

4. The inventor of the telephone.

5. A great German composer, wrote nine symphonies.

6. The painter of the Mona Lisa.

7. A great Chinese poet, fond of drinking.

Guess who the famous geniuses are ：

Alexander Graham Bell

Ludwig van Beethoven

Leonardo da Vinci

Li Bai

Look at the pictures, title and the two paragraph quickly and finish the exercises.

Many people regard Albert Einstein(1897-1955) as a genius. His attempt to explain the working of the universe led to the development of nuclear energy.

They left the university, with Einstein driving. A little later, Hans offered to drive. ‘No, my friend,’ laughed Einstein ‘It’s a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Hans.’

Look at the title, pictures, and the first and last paragraphs on the text page. Then do the exercises below.

1. Who are the two geniuses mentioned in the title?

2. What kind of story do you think it will be? Choose

two.

a crime c space travel e fiction g funny

b frightening d sad f sport h non-fiction

Einstein and Hans

Skimming

Do you think this story is true? Read the text below.

This story cannot be true. Although it is about a real historical character, the story is clearly fictional, as it would be impossible in real life. Einstein’s theories are too difficult for a driver to memorize and repeat, and Einstein was so famous that he would have been recognized at different universities. Drivers generally do not listen to lectures, but wait in cars. Furthermore, it would have been unlikely for Einstein to have had the same driver for all his journeys. The story is fictional.

1. Einstein tried to explain the working of this. (2)

2. Einstein said this was his only gift. (1)3. He received many of these from

universities. (1)4. His driver offered to give this for Einstein.

(2)

Scan the story and replace the italicized words below with words from the article.

________________

________

________

the universecuriosity

invitations

the lecture

5. Hans was surrounded by these. (3)

6. Einstein took a seat in this. (2)

7. He asked a question. (2)

8. He answered the question. (1)

9. He drove the car from the university. (1)

professor and students

the audience

A professor

Einstein

Einstein

Know more about Einstein.

When he was a child, Albert Einstein did not like school. The German schools of that time were not pleasant. Students were not allowed to ask questions. Einstein said he felt as if he were in prison. He told his uncle Jacob how much he hated school, especially Maths. His uncle told him to solve Maths problems by pretending to be a policeman. ‘You are looking for someone,’ he said, ‘but you do not know who. Call him X. Find him by using the mathematical tools of algebra[  ældʒibr՝ ə  ]代数学 and geometry[ dʒi ɔmitri  ]՝ 几何学 .

Before reading, answer the questions.

1. What kind of person can be called a genius?2. What do you suppose might happen when two

genius meet?3. What are the people doing in the pictures?4. Who is delivering a speech in Picture Two?5. Is there any difference between Picture One and

Picture Three?6. Why do you think they changed seats?

See whether these statements are true.

For true statements circle T, and for

false statements circle F. write evidence

from eh article in the blanks to support

your answers.

Read and think

1. Many people believe that Einstein was the greatest genius of the 20th century.

___________________________________2. Einstein had he gift of curiosity. ______________________________________3. Einstein was a popular lecturer. _______________________________________ ___________________4. Hans did not enjoy driving Einstein. _____________________________________ __________________

( )

( )

( )

( )

FMany people regard him as a genius.

Einstein said that the only gift he had was curiosity.

He received many invitations to go to universities to explain his theories.

He often said, It’s a pleasure to drive a geniuslike you, Dr Einstein.’

F

T

T

5. Hans had a very good memory. ______________________________6. The audience did not enjoy the lecture given

by Hans. ______________________7. Before they left the university, Einstein and Hans told the audience they had changed places. ___________________________________

( )

( )

( )

He had learnt the lecture by heart.

They applauded at the end.

They left the university with Einstein driving.F

F

T

These headlines about Einstein are too long. Replace the italicized words with a word or expression in the article.

genius nuclear

distant complex

These headlines about Einstein are too long. Replace the italicized words with a word or expression in the article.

lead to

perfectly the universe

curiosity

sense of humour let…down applause guide regard…as reputation attempt offer

Fill in the blanks in the diary entry below with the words and expressions in the box. Change the form of the verbs as necessary.

17 MarchEarlier this evening, my friend _______ me a ticket for alecture given by Dr Yang, so I decided to go. Many people_______ her ___ one of the most intelligent women in the world and she has a _________ for being a great speaker. I had hoped that the lecture would be interesting, and she did not ___ me ______. Her ________ to explain her difficult ideas was a great success. She also has a great _________________ and made many people laugh. Afterwards, she received a lot of __________. She was then ________ round the university.

offered

regard asreputation

downletattempt

sense of humour

applause guided

a The audience applauded.

b Hans left the platform.

c Hans offered to drive.

d Hans offered o give the lecture.

e A professor asked a complex question.

f Einstein was invited to a distant

university.

g Einstein watched the lecture.

h Hans had Einstein left the university.

i Einstein felt very tired.

Read the sentences below about the article. Arrange them in the correct order by numbering them from 1 to 9.

a 5 b 7 c 9 d 3 e 6 f1 g 4 h 8 i 2

Language Points

1. Many people regard Albert Einstein as a genius.

“ 相关词组还有： think of…as…, look on/upon…as…, treat …as…, consider…(as)… 。如：We look on our teachers as our friends.His mother no longer treated him as a child.

2. His attempt to explain the working of the universe led to the development of nuclear energy.

lead to 意思是“导致”，其中 to 是介词，近义词组有：

result in, bring about, cause. 如：Such a mistake could lead to a terrible accident.

regard…as… 把……看作……”，其中 as是介词。

3. As a young man with a growing reputation, Einstein receive many invitations to explain his theories at different universities.

由于声名鹊起，年轻的爱因斯坦接到许多大学的邀请，希望他去阐述他的理论。

a growing reputation “ 越来越高的声誉” , 其中是现在分词作定语。

4. It’s a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Dr Einstein.

句中 it 是形式主语， to drive a genius like you 是真正的主语。如：It is my responsibility to look after the safety of the community. 保卫这个社区的安全是我的责任。

5. I wish I didn’t have to give my lecture tonight.

我真希望今晚不用作讲座。

wish“ 希望”，后面所接的宾语从句，必须有虚拟语气，表示与事实相反。如：

I wish I hadn’t told him about the accident.

真希望我没有把那次事故告诉他。

6. Hans was guided to a platform, where he stood

surrounded by professors and students.

汉斯被领到讲台前，他站在那里，身边围着一群教授和学生。

过去分词 surrounded 在句中作状语，表示伴随状态。如：

The teacher entered the office, followed by some students.

老师走进办公室，后面跟着几个学生。

7. They left the university, with Einstein driving. 他们离开了大学，由爱因斯坦开车。

With Einstein driving 是 with 的复合结构作状语，表示伴随状态。 Einstein 与 drive 是主谓关系，所以 drive 用现在分词形式。如：

With so many fans buying his CD every day, this pop star has earned millions of dollars for his record company.

每天有这么多的歌迷买他的激光唱片，这个流行歌星已经为他所在的唱片公司赚了几百万美元了。

Homework

1. It is a good deed for students ______ ______ the

old across streets.

领老人过街对学生来说是个好事。2. It is a great pleasure ______ _______ the title of

Top Ten.

被授予“ Top Ten” 的称号是个很大的乐事。

According to the sentences, use the proper form of the infinitive to complete the sentences.

to lead

to be

3. The room seems ______ ______ ______ _______

already by others.

房子好像已经被他人打扫过了。4. Don’t pretend ______ ______ ______. I have

known what you were reading.

别假装学习了。我已经知道你刚才在读什么了。5. Remember to remind me ______ ______ some

stamps when in the post office.

当在邮局时，记着提醒我买些邮票。

to have been cleaned

to be studying

to buy