Unit 8 Protecting Our Environment

Text A Saving Nature, But only for Man

I. Lead-inII. Text AnalysisIII. Language PointsIV. Presentation & Exercises

I. Lead-inBackground Information

Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse effect means the

retention of heat by the lower layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, which, it is believed, will cause a rise in temperature of the Earth and its atmosphere, known as global warming.

Green PeaceA large international pressure group

that aims to protect the environment. Its members are well known for protecting the environment. They often go out in small boats to stop people from killing whales or throwing poisonous materials into the sea.

Discussion 1)Work in pairs and categorize the

words and phases into the following three groups

A. pollution type; B. greenhouse effect

C. environmental protectionair pollution, global warming, nuclear contamination, sea level rising, water pollution,

ecocrisis, sewage, flood, noise pollution, National Tree Planting Day, atmospheric ozone layer, ecosystem, recycling center,

Greenpeace, drought, nuclear pollution, afforest

Air pollution --- nuclear contamination, nuclear pollution, water pollution, noise pollution

Greenhouse effect --- global warming, sea level rising, ecocrisis, flood, atmospheric ozone layer, drought, ecosystem

Environmental protection --- sewage, recycling center, Greenpeace, National Tree Planting Day, afforest

2) Discuss and put forward your suggestions on environmental protection.

II. Text Analysis Part division

Part

Lines Main Idea

1 1 ~ 30

2 31 ~ 69

3 70 ~ 85

It is important to distinguish between environmental necessities and environmental luxuries and apply the fundamental principle

of sensible environmentalism.

A sensible environmentalism does not sentimentalize the earth.

Man is the master of nature.

Comprehension Q & A

For Part I. –Why does the writer think it

necessary to choose among the different proposals concerning environmental protection?

–What are the environmental necessities and what are the environmental luxuries?

Comprehension For Part II. –What’s the Gaia theory? What does

the writer think of it? –What is Protagoras’ principle? For Part III. –According to the author, what

should be the relationship between man and nature?

–When should man, in terms of environmental protection, accommodate? Give examples

3. Argumentative Methods

Contrast: Text Organization Exercise 2.

Concession: Para 8 & 11 Quotation: Para 8 Examples: Para 3 Definition: Para 3 & 5 Cause & Effect: Para 3 & 4 Data: Para 7 & 11

III. Language Points Sentences

Line 1 ~ 2 “Environmental sensitivity is now as

required an attitude in polite society as is, say, belief in democracy or aversion to nylon. “

What does the author mean? Translate this sentence.

环境意识，就如同对民主制度的信奉，或对尼龙的厌恶，已成为当今上流社会一种必备的态度。 环境意识，就如同对民主制度的信奉，或对尼龙的厌恶，已成为当今上流社会一种必备的态度。

2. “Ask hardworking voters to sacrifice in the name of the snail darter, and, if they are feeling polite, they will give you a shrug. ”

Why does the author say that hardworking voters will give you a shrug?

--- Because they are sure that hardworking voters’ interests should be more important than that of the snail darter’s.

如果你要求勤劳的选民为蜗牛、做出牺牲，客气一点的，也就对你耸耸肩而已。

Line 60 ~ 63 “But you can’t have everything. And if the

choice is between the welfare of reindeer and reducing oil dependence that gets people killed in wars, I choose man over reindeer every time. ”

What theory does the author want to improve by saying so?

--- No matter what happens, man after all, is the most important on the earth.

Line 78 ~ 81 “When the threat to man is of a lesser order

… a more moderate accommodation that balances economic against health concerns is in order. ”

How do you understand this sentence? --- If man has to make a choice

between his own well-being and that of nature, he will choose the former rather than the latter.

如果面对的是对于人类较轻的威胁（比如燃煤或燃油发电机排放的污染物，虽然可以致人病死，但对生态系统并无致命损害），那么应该通过权衡经济发展和人类健康作出适当的调整。

如果面对的是对于人类较轻的威胁（比如燃煤或燃油发电机排放的污染物，虽然可以致人病死，但对生态系统并无致命损害），那么应该通过权衡经济发展和人类健康作出适当的调整。

Vocabulary now that: conj. because something

has happened e.g. Now that you mention it, I do

remember. 既然天下雨，比赛就取消吧。 Now that it is raining, the game

might be cancelled.

in the name of: for the reason of; using the excuse of; as the representative of; by the authority of

E.g. 他们为了国家的安全逮捕了他。 --- They arrested him in the name of

the safety of the country. The chairman entertained the

guests in the name of the whole company.

Distinguish: recognize a difference (between)

e.g. He is too young to distinguish

right from wrong. Fingerprints can be used to

distinguish the two suspects.

regardless: in spite of everything; anyway e.g. : We warned them that there wasn't

time to get to the top of the mountain and back before dark, but they went on regardless.

His parents objected to his marriage, but he carried on regardless.

--- 尽管父母反对他的婚姻，他还是结婚了。

on the grounds of/on---grounds: for reasons of

e.g. She is suing the company on the

grounds of unfair dismissal- 由于价格太高，这本书并不好卖。 This book doesn’t sell well on

the grounds of its high price.

vote: express one's choice in favor of (a person, political party, etc.)at an election

pattern: vote on sth.; vote for/against

e.g. If we can't agree with each other

about the plan, let's vote on it. They will vote for George Bush, I

think.

run/go against the grain: be contrary to one’s desire or feeling (followed by of sth./ to do sth.)

It really goes against the grain to have to go to school on National Day.

我是很不愿意向人借钱的。 It goes against the grain for me to

borrow money

work one's way :manage to reach or go through; make efforts to attain one's goal

E.g. Many students work their way

through college by doing part-time jobs.

他们吃力地走出树林。 They worked their way out of the

wood.

come through: experience, survive or overcome (a difficulty, etc.)

e.g. Some of the people working in the

World Trade Center came through the terrorist attacks.

If we cm come through this financial crisis the company's future will be bright.

in part: to some extent; partly e.g. His failure was due in part to his

laziness. Whether you will be sent to Yale

University for further study depends in part on how well you perform in the exam.

CF: ridiculous, foolish & absurd 这三个词都是形容词，都有“愚蠢的”之意。 ridiculous 指做事与常理或常识不符，愚笨得引人发笑或

招人嘲笑。 例如： You look ridiculous in such a dress. 指没有头脑、缺乏常识、违反常理，即愚昧无知的意思 . 例

如： It was foolish of him to take that expensive

house. 指与道理或真理相反，也可以指违反一般常识或经验，而且

违背得很可笑。例如： The idea that the number 13 brings bad luck

is absurd. --- 认为 13 这个数字给人带来厄运的看法是荒唐可笑的。

deny: 1)  refuse to grant or allow pattern: deny sb. sth. e.g. The kid was denied the chance of going

to school. His ex-wife denied him access to his

children. 2)      state sth. is not true pattern: deny sth.; deny that,· deny doing

sth. e.g. --- In court the suspect denied that he

had been involved in the robbery.

concern: 1) thing that is important or interesting to sb. e.g. What are your main concerns as a

college student? It's no concern of mine.(I am not involved in

it) 2) worry, anxiety (followed by for/ about/over/

that) e.g. Our main concern is that students from

underdeveloped areas are not receiving enough education.

There was growing concern over the rise in unemployment.

IV. Presentation and exercises Debate: Group A holds that human beings should

keep the environment intact, including the rivers, forests, underground resources and all habitats of animals.

Group B holds that we should make full use of all the natural resources available, and we should let the people of tomorrow solve their won problems in the future.