大学21世纪英语 Unit 6.docx

1、大学21世纪英语 Unit 6Unit 6 Book 2Text A A Brief History of Stephen HawkingWarm-up Activity Stephen Hawking is the most famous living scientist that has ever been. Hawking has been dubbed “Einsteins heir,” “the greatest genius of the late 20th century,” “the finest mind alive,” and one journalist even bes

2、towed upon him the illustrious title of “Master of the Universe.” Before getting down to the text,1. ask the students what they know about Stephen Hawking;2. write on the blackboard what theyve mentioned;3. piece together the information they give;4. then read the passage below about Stephen Hawking

3、 to the students, and ask them to answer the questions that follow to check their comprehension; and5. present the text when they have got a general idea about Stephen Hawking. Over the past 25 years, Stephen Hawking has greatly expanded overall contemplation and understanding of our vast universe.

4、His ground-breaking theories on black holes and the origin and workings of the universe have often proven themselves to be revolutionary in their content. Throughout the swift advancement of Stephen Hawkings career and fame, his private life has endured great trouble. At the age of 21,Hawking was in

5、formed that he had the crippling disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), often referred to as motor neuron disease. This meant that for the remainder of his life, he would be forced to depend upon a wheelchair in order to retain his mobility. Somehow, Stephen Hawkingmanaged to not only endure t

6、his hardship, but also rise above it and continue to follow his scientific research with zest. Some people speculate that the ALS actually aided the young scientist in pursuing his career to the fullest because it allowed him to release the responsibilities of everyday life, giving him the freedom t

7、o focus solely on his research.Questions: 1. What has Stephen Hawking been working on for the past 25 years?(He has been working on black holes and the origin and workings of the universe.)2. What kind of trouble has he endured in his private life?(He has suffered from the crippling disease ALS (amy

8、otrophic lateral sclerosis), often referred to as motor neuron disease.)3. How has he retained his mobility since he got ALS? (He has depended on a wheelchair.)4. How does Stephen Hawking face his hardship? (He manages to endure it and continues his research with zest.)5. Why do some people say that

9、 the ALS has actually helped him in pursuing his career? (Because it has allowed him to be free from the responsibilitiesof everyday life and given him more freedom to focus on his research.)Pre-Reading ActivitiesInstructions for Teachers: Preteach essential new vocabulary. Tell the students theyre

10、going to hear a tape about Steven Hawking, the scientist and author. As they listen the first time, they should underline the sections of the paragraph below that differ from what they hear on the tape. The tape could be listened to twice in class.(NB: Where there are differences in meaning, the inf

11、ormation in the printed passage is correct: Hawking lost his voice in 1985; and he communicated by raising his eyebrows. The computer was invented by an American; it lets him construct sentences at a rate of about 15 words per minute; and he jokes that it gives him an American accent.)First Listenin

12、g1. The differences the students should underline are: Steven Hawking, the well-known scientist and author, lost his ability to speak in 1983. Already confined to a wheelchair, unable to move more than a few muscles, he lost his voice and this left him able to communicate only by raising his fingers

13、. Then an Australian computer programmer came to Hawkings rescue by designing a vocalizing computer specially for him. With its help, Hawking can construct sentences at a speed of about 50 words per minute, by selecting words from a computer screen and then clicking a device that says the sentences

14、for him. Hawking likes the computer, saying: “The only trouble is that it gives me an Australian accent.”Second Listening:1. Both of these are open questions with no “correct” answers.Listening Passage Steven Hawking, the well-known scientist and author, lost his ability to speak in 1983. Already co

15、nfined to a wheelchair, unable to move more than a few muscles, he lost his voice and this left him able to communicate only by raising his fingers. Then an Australian computer programmer came to Hawkings rescue by designing a vocalizing computer specially for him. With its help, Hawking can constru

16、ct sentences at a speed of about 50 words per minute, by selecting words from a computer screen and then clicking a device that says the sentences for him. Hawking likes the computer, saying: “The only trouble is that it gives me an Australian accent.”Language Points1. Stephen Hawking & A Brief Hist

17、ory of Time Stephen Hawking is an English theoretical physicist, whose work has greatly advanced understanding of space-time and its singularities. His main work has been on quantum mechanics and “black holes”, which he conducted can emit thermal radiation at a steady rate. Born in Oxford, England,

18、on Jan. 8, 1942, he went to study physics at University College, Oxford, in 1959. He received his Ph.D. in 1966. While a graduate student at Cambridge, he developed a progressive disabling neuromuscular disease that limits movement and speech. Confined to a wheelchair, unable to write and with sever

19、ely impaired speech, he has carried out his mathematical calculations mentally and communicated them in a developed form. In addition to well over 100 research papers in scholarly journals, Hawking wrote one technical book, The Large Structure of Space-Time (with George Ellis). In 1988 he published

20、a popular book, A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, which set records on the best-seller lists in England and America. A movie based on the book was released in 1992. His life and work are a notable triumph over severe physical disability.2. (L1) He has been proclaimed “the fi

21、nest mind alive” Paraphrase:He has been declared the most intelligent man who is living today proclaim v. 1). to make (esp.) something of national importance) known publicly; declare officially A. proclaim + object The country proclaimed its independence in 1978. The Government proclaimed a state of

22、 emergency. B. proclaim + that clause The governor proclaimed that he would first tackle the unemployment problem. C. proclaim + object + (to be) They proclaimed her (to be) the rightful owner of the land. 2). to show clearly; be an outward sign of A. proclaim + object Her face proclaimed her deep d

23、isappointment B. proclaim + that clause His pronunciation proclaimed that he was an American. C. proclaim + object + (to be) His actions proclaimed him (to be) a man of strong determination.mind: n a person who thinks, esp. one with a good brain and the ability to lead, to control, etc.The best mind

24、s (=the cleverest people) in the country are trying to find a way out of its difficulties.alive: adj. (predicative) having life; living The doctors are trying every possible means to keep him alive. It is reported that more than forty people were burned alive in yesterdays fire. be alive with sth.:

25、be covered with or full of (living things) Beijing is a big city alive with tourists. His eyes are alive with hope. be alive to sth.: having full knowledge of He was alive to the danger of the work. Cf. living: adj. (This word can be used as attributive to refer to people who are still alive.) A liv

26、ing language is a language that is always changing. I have no living relatives in my hometown. live: adj. (This word can be used as attributive to refer to animals, plants or things.) Its a live fish. Only a few live trees were left after the fire. After the typhoon people were warned that many live

27、 wires (many wires carrying electricity) were down. In English there are some adjectives which can only be used as predicative, such as adrift（飘浮着的,飘流着的）， afloat (浮着的, 飘浮着的), aghast （吃惊的,吓得打哆嗦的）, akin（有血亲关系的， 同族的）, alight, (点亮着的，闪着光彩的，喜气洋洋的）, alike, alone, ashamed, asleep, averse（讨厌的,反对的） awake, awa

28、re content, drunk, lit, upset, etc.3. (L2-3) Einsteins heir heir: n. the person who will inherit their money, property, or title when they die Cf. heiress: n. a woman who will inherit their money, property, or a title4. (L3) far and wide (also far and near) everywhere; over a great distance or a lar

29、ge areaThe couple looked far and wide for the missing diamond ring.People came far and wide to see the circus. Since he retired, he has traveled far and wide.5. (L5-8) His gift for revealing the mysteries of the universe in a style that non-scientists can enjoy made Hawking an instant celebrity and

30、his book a bestseller in both Britain and America. Paraphrase: His ability to explain the complexities of the universe in a way that the average non-professional readers can understand and appreciate soon made him well known and his book best-selling in both Britain and America. instant: adj. happen

31、ing at once celebrity: n. a famous person bestseller: n. anything, especially a book, that has a large sale6. (L8-9) It has earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for Paraphrase: It has been carried in the Guinness Book of Records (for its success). earn: v. get (something that one deserves)

32、 because of ones qualities; deserve He has earned a place I history. She earned the promotion from a salesgirl to a sales manager. After that, She earned a reputation for honesty.Guinness Book of Records: In 1955, Norris and his twin brother Ross edited the first Guinness Book of World Records. The book was first designed to record the then extremes in, on and beyond the Earthnotably in human performance and