3AtWarwiththePlanet.docx

1、3AtWarwiththePlanetLesson Three At War with the Planet Barry Commner ObjectivesStudents will be able to:1. learn the different laws governing the natural world and the man-made world so as to understand better the nature of the conflict between man and the nature； 2. link what we are facing in reali

2、ty with what is discussed in the essay;3. grasp the characteristics of the essay (its formal choice of words, complicated sentence structure, clear organization and the use of contrast in presenting the argument);4. enlarge their vocabulary by picking up those special terminology employed in the ess

3、ay; 5. conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme of the unit. About the title:Does this title appear striking to you? It is important for an essay, a short story or a novel to have an interesting and inviting title, a title that can arouse readers i

4、nterest and curiosity to read on. For instance, upon seeing this title, one cant help wondering: who is at war with the planet? What kind of war that can be? Is the third world war going to happen? From the guide to reading, we learn that this is the opening chapter of Making Peace with the Planet,

5、a book with a same interesting title by Barry Commoner. From Guide to Reading and note 1, we know that Commoner is a leading environmentalist in the United States. So this essay is about the environmental problems. Lets go right to the text body. General Structure:Part I (Para.1) This is the introdu

6、ctory part in which the author raises the theme that people live in two worlds. Like in lesson one, the author comes to the point right way. Part III (Paras.6-9)The first law of the ecosphere and the law governing the relationship between man-made objects and the surroundingsPart IV (Paras.10-11) th

7、e closed cyclical process of ecosphere and the linear process of technospherePart V (Paras.12-14) the consistent and harmonious nature of the ecosphere as contrasted to the rapid change and variation of the technospherePart VI. (Paras.15-16) comparison between the consequences of failure or the ecos

8、phere and that of the technospherePart VII (Paras.17-21) the danger of taking side in the war of the two worldsPart VIII. (Paras.22-23) Conclusion: the author once again stresses the importance of understanding the interplay of the two worlds and on the basis of this understanding, making it our tas

9、k to find ways to make peace with the planet. Detailed study of the textPart I (Para.1)Para.1 This first sentence has already kept us in suspense. Why do people live in two worlds, what kind of worlds are they, this world and the next? Could we live here and there at the same time?1. According to th

10、e author, what are the two worlds that people live in? The two worlds refer to the natural world and the world of human creation, that is, man-made world.2. What are the differences between these two worlds? How do people think of these two worlds? The natural world is beyond human control. Generall

11、y we think that we are responsible for events of our own world, but not for what occurs in the natural world. Exempt from: free from an obligation, duty or paymente. g. goods exempt from tax The handicapped are exempt from military service.What is the function of the first paragraph?It serves as an

12、introduction. In this part, the author raises the theme that people live in two worlds.Part II (Paras.2-5) in part two, the author explains why the two worlds are at warPara.23. now, on a planetary scale, this division has been breached breach: break, to make a gap in a walls or barrier, etc. This i

13、s a transitional sentence, linking up the following part with the first paragraph. It also leads to further explanation of the interaction between the two worlds. Globally, the division between the two worlds has been broken. They are no longer separated. The implied meaning is what humans do in the

14、 technosphere will have effect on the ecosphere. 4. even droughts, floods, and heat waves may become unwitting acts of man. Both the hole in ozone layer and global warming are consequences of human deeds. They in turn will cause other natural disasters like droughts, floods and heat waves. In this s

15、ense, what people do in the technosphere may unintentionally have adverse effects on the ecosphere. Do you think it a correct statement? If yes, could you give an example of this kind?For example, in order to reclaim land, or to gather firewood, people would cut down trees and bushes, thus causing d

16、eforestation. Without the protection of forests, there will be floods, droughts and landslides. In history, our loess plateau was once covered with thick forest and the soil was fertile. With forest gone, it has turned into a barren landPara.35. Like the Creation, the portending global events are co

17、smic to portend: to be an omen or warning of portending: ominous, threatening global events: refer to events such as the hole in the ozone layer and global warming like the creation of the universe, events that happen on the earth may have vast effects, especially on the relationship between the pla

18、net earth and the sun6. The suns powerful influence on the earth is exerted by two forces exert: to use or apply a quality, skill, pressure, etc施加e. g. he exerted all his influence to make them accept his plan.She exerted a lot of pressure on her children to succeed. The sun exerts its powerful infl

19、uence on the earth through two forces.7. Solar energy fuels the energy-requiring processes of life; it creates the planets climate and governs the gradual evolution and the current behavior of its huge and varied population of living things . solar energy fuels the energy-requiring processes of life

20、To fuel: to provide fuel, to give power toThe photosynthesis of plants is a case in point. The current behavior of many animals and plants is the result of climate change over millions of years.8. We have been tampering with this powerful force, unaware, like the Sorcerers apprentice, of the potenti

21、ally disastrous consequences of our action. tamper with sth: to interfere with or alter sth without authority sorcerers apprentice: see note 2. Its an interesting folklore. Why does the author say that we have been behaving like the Sorcerers Apprentice?- Because we have been doing things without kn

22、owing that they may have serious effects on the planet EarthPara.49. We have become accustomed to the now mundane image of the Earth as seen from .is misleading. mundane: commonplace, ordinary swirl: v. (of air, water, etc.) to move or flow with twists and turns and with varying speed. Swirl of sth:

23、 a swirling movement of sth fleecy: of or like the wool coat of a sheep or goat; soft and light10. Even if the global warming catastrophe never materializes, and the ozone hole remains an esoteric, polar phenomenon, already human activity has profoundly altered global conditions in ways that may not

24、 register on the camera esoteric: adj. (fml) likely to be understood only by people with a special knowledge or interest; mysterious, obscure; register: be captured, appear apparent human activity has already greatly changed global conditions in hidden / covert ways that are hard to discoverThe foll

25、owing sentence gives us supporting examples: radioactivity has changed global conditions yet it is hard to capture radioactivity with a camera, right?11. noxious flames of smog blanket over major cities flame: bright light smog: a low-lying, perceptible layer of polluted air blanket: to cover with a

26、 thick layer12. carcinogenic synthetic pesticides have been detested in mothers milk all over the world carcinogenic: causing or producing cancer Tests of mothers milk all over the world show the existence of synthetic pesticide which might cause cancer. This indicates that mothers have eaten food w

27、ith residues of synthetic pesticide.13. great forests haven been cut down, destroying ecological niches and their resident species. niche: (biology) the conditions in which a species can live successfully ecological niches and their resident species: 生态小环境及生活在其中的物种。Para.514. Clearly, we need to unde

28、rstand the interaction between our two worlds: the natural ecosphere, the thin global skin of air, water, and soil and the plants and animals that live in it, and the man-made technosphere- powerful enough to deserve so grandiose a term. -sphere: suffix. (forming ns) a region surrounding a planet, e

29、sp the Earth what is the ecosphere?(生态圈)According to the author, the ecosphere refers to air, water and soil that cover the earth and the plants and animals that live in it.15. the technosphere has become sufficiently large and intense to alter the natural processes that govern the ecosphere Human a

30、ctivities have taken place over such large areas and with such intensity that they have already caused disastrous effects on ecology.16. catastrophically diminishing our ability to provide for basic human needs. Frequent natural disasters (caused by or worsened by human disruption of the ecological

31、system) have reduced our ability to satisfy the needs of people on earth.17. The human attack on the ecosphere has instigated an ecological counterattack. The two worlds are at war. This is the theme of the essay. It sums up the arguments in the previous paragraphs. Instigate: to make sth begin or h

32、appen; initiate; touch off; trigger off; spark offe.g. to instigate a strike / an attack The police have instigated an official inquiry into the incidentPart III (Paras.6-9)This part deals with the firs law of the ecosphere and the law governing the relationship between man-made objects and the surroundingsPara.618. The two spheres in which we live are governed by very different laws. This statem