Unit3-1Listening

Therearemanyformsoflivesonearth,includinghumanbeings.Lifeexistsinavarietyofconditions.Someformsofliveliveinthewateryenvironment,liketheoceans.Otherformsoflivescanbefoundinverydryareaslikedesserts.However,foranyformoflivetoexist,conditionsmustberight.Whentheconditionsaren’tright,thatformoflivescanextinct.Tobecomeextinctmeanstodieoutcompletely.

Conditionsmustberightforlifetoexist.Millionsofyearsago,therewereformsoflivesthatnolongerexist.Whenconditionchanged,thisformoflifediedout.Oneextinctioneventhappenedabout250millionyearsago.Thisisthelargestextinctioneventofalltime.Manyformsoflivesbecomeextinct.96%ofalllivesintheoceansdiedout.Mostinsectsalsobecameextinct.Thiseventhappenedoveraperiodofseveralmillionyears.Thecausesofthisextinctioneventarestillunknown.Possiblecausesincludelargestvolcaniceruptionsandglobalwarming.Somescientistsbelievethattherewereseveralcauses.Theybelievethataseriesofeventscausedtheextinctions.Scientistsareworkingforbetterunderstandwhatreallyhappened.

Inmoderntimes,wehumanbeingsfacechangingconditions.Forhumanstolive,weneedcleanairandcleanwater.Pollutionisnowagrowingproblemaroundtheworld.Pollutionpoisonstheairandwaterthatwedependon.Pollutedairmakespeoplesickandafraidtogetoutside.Pollutedwaterpoisonsourfoodsupply.Asaresult,weneverknowwhichfoodsaresafetoeat.Humanbeingscanbenotliveinapoisonedenvironment.Therefore,pollutionisamajorthreattoourexistence.

Humansneedtemperaturetobeinacomfortablerange.Tobeinacomfortablerangemeanstobeneithertoohotnortoocold.Withglobalwarming,globaltemperaturesarerising.Asglobaltemperaturesrise,thepolaricecapswillmelt.Asthepolaricecapsmelt,oceanlevelswillrise.Areasofsomecountrieswillsoonbeunderwater.Peoplewouldbeforcedtorelocatedfromfloodedareas.

Innature,evensmallchangescansometimeshavelargeeffects.It’sdifficulttopredictwhat’sgoingtohappen.Theentireecosystemthatwedependonischanging.Someofthesechangingsareirreversible.Irreversiblechangescannotbeundone.Let’shopethehumansaresmartenoughtounderstandhowtheworldischanging.Withmoreunderstanding,wemakebetterchoicesaboutwhattodo.Wecanfacethechallengeofthepollutionsandglobalwarming.Weneedtodothisbeforeit’stoolate.Thisplanetofearthisouronlyhomeandweneedtoprotectit.

Unit3-1vocabulary

Lizard蜥蜴

Mammalsarecoveredbyhairorfur,haveabackboneandwarm-blooded.Allmammalsproducemilkfortheyoung.

Reptilesarecoveredbys,includessnakes,lizardsandturtles.Reptileshaveabackboneandarecold-blooded,whichmeanstheyoftenrelyontheexternalresourcesofheat.

Birdsarecoveredbyfeatherandarewarmblooded.Mostofthebirdscanflyandmanytypesofbirdmigrategreatdistances.

Mostinsectssuchantsandbeeshaveasmall3partsbodywith3pairsoflegs.Someinsects,suchasmosquitoes,spreaddiseasesthatcausethedeathsofmanyhumans.

Unlikeanimals,plantsgettheenergythattheyneedfromthesun.Plantsconvertlightenergyalongwithcarbonandwaterintochemicalenergy.

Scalesandrulersareusedtomeasureweightandlength.Unitsofweightincludeskilogramsandpoundsandunitsoflengthincludescentimetersandinches.

Theseinstrumentsareusedtoobserveverylargeandverysmallobjects.Telescopesareusedbyastronomersandmicroscopesareusedbybiologistsanddoctors.

Theseappliancesareusedinthekitchensofalmosteveryhome.Stovesareusedtoheatfoodandrefrigeratorsareusedtokeepfoodscoolorcold.

Housetoolslikethese,areusedtobuildorrepairthings.Hammersareusedtopoundinthenailsandscrewdriversareusedtoturnascrew.

Mammalsincludesomeofthemostintelligentanimalsonearth,suchaselephantsandhumanbeings.

Mosquitoescausethedeathofmorehumanthananyotheranimals.

Rulersareusedtomeasurelength

Wecanuseatelescopetoseeobjectsthatarefarway.

Unit3-2vocabulary

Biologyisstudyoflife,includingitsstructureandevolution.Biologystudyhowlifesurvivesandreproduces.

Chemistryisthestudyofmatter,includingthestructureofitsatomsandmolecules.Chemistsstudyhowvarioussubstancesinteractwitheachother.

Astronomyisoneoftheoldestsciences.Astronomersstudythestructureandevolutionoftheuniverse,includingthestudyofstars,planetsandgalaxies.

Geologiesisthestudyofstructureofhistoryoftheearthandotherplanets.Geologiststudydifferenttypesofrocks,earthquakesanddifferentlayersoftheearth.

Mathematicsisthestudyofnumbers,shapes,patternsandchange.Mathematicsisusedbyallotherbranchesofscience.

Herearesometypesofterribleeventsthathurtorkillpeople.Earthquakesarecausebyforcesdeepwithintheearth.Duringearthquakes,manypeopleareoftenkilledbycollapsingbuildingsandbridges.

Floodhappenswhenriversriseandoverflowtheirbanks.Floodwatersdamageordestroymanyhousesandbusinesses.

Firesdestroybuilding,land,andforests.Therearemanycausesforfire,includinglightning.

Inahurricane,highwindsdestroybuildingandsometimescauseflooding.Somehurricaneshavewindsofmorethan200milesanhour.

Caraccidentwhencarcollideordriverslosecontroloftheircars.Oneofthemaincausesofcaraccidentsisdrivingtoofast.

Unit3-2dialogue

What’sinthatbigboxcarriedin?

It’sanewdesk.IjustbroughtandnowIhavetoputittogether.

Doyouneedanyhelp?

No,Idon’tthinkso.

Ijustneedtogetmytools.Ineedascrewdriverandmaybeahammer.

Don’tforgettoreadtheinstructions.

Howwerethingsgoing?

I’vealmostfinished.

Somethingdoesn’tlookrighttome.Therightsideishigherthantheleftside.

Oh,you’reright.ItlookslikeIputacoupleofscrewsintothewrongplaces.

Sonowyouhavetotakeitapart.

Great,andIthoughtIwasalmostfinished.

Itoldyoutoreadtheinstructions.Didyoureadthem?

No,Ididn’treadthem.Ihatetoreadtheinstructions.Ilookedatthembuttheywereconfusing.

Well,thisiswhathappenwhenyoudon’t.Youweretoinpatient.Anyway,whatcanIdotohelpyou?

Couldyougetanotherscrewdriverandhelpmeinscrewsomeofthesescrews?

Ok,butnexttimepleasereadtheinstructions.

Doyoueverlookupattheskyandthinkaboutthelivesintheuniverse?

IdidwhenIwasakid.ButIdon’tdothatverymuchanymore.Whydoyouask?

SometimesIthinkI’mlostinday-to-daydetails.ThenIlookupattheskyandseeabigpicture.Iappreciatethingsmoreeventhelittlethings.

Yousoundthataphilosopherorapoet.IfeltliketoowhenIwasakid.

Don’tyoufeellikethatanymore?

No,Idon’t.infact,Itrynotto.WhenIthinkaboutthingtoodeeply,Igetdepressed.It’sevenabitfrightening.

Really,formeit’sjusttheopposite.Everythingseemslikeawonderfulmiracle.

Doesn’tthatfrightenyouabit?Theuniverseissolargeandwearesosmall.

WhatIrealizeishowlittleweunderstand.Wejustneedtoappreciateourlifeandnotgetlost.

Sometimesbeinglostisn’tsobad.Youknowtheexpression,ignoranceisbliss.

Sure,I’vehearditmanytimes.Tobeignoranceistobehappy.

Maybeit’strue.Maybeit’sbestnottothinkorknowtoomuch.

Not,that’snotforme.Iwanttounderstandasmuchaspossible.That’swhyIbecameascientist.

Well,Irespectyourchoicebutit’snotforme.Ifunderstandingispainful,I’drathernotunderstand.

Unit3-3Listening

Harryisonthebusinesstrip.YesterdayhewassupposedtoflyfromSanFranciscotoShanghai.However,thingsdidn’tturnoutthewaytheyaresupposedto.Infact,nothingwentthewayitwassupposedto.Everythingwentwrongandhedidn’tgetonhisflight.Asaresult,hestayedinSanFrancisco.Thefollowingissummarywhathappen.

Yesterdayhegotupatusualandhadbreakfast.Everythingseemedtobefineandhewaslookingforwardtothetrip.Hewasjustabouttocheckoutofhishotelwhenhefeltthepain.Itwasapainonhislowerback.Itwasadormpainatfirst,nottoobad.Sohedidn’tworryaboutitandhecheckedoutthehotel.Thenhegotonashuttlebustotheairport.Abouthalfwaytotheairport,thepaininhisbackstartedtogetworse.Itwasagrowingpainandhewasbeginningtoworry.Soonitwasdifficultforhimtositinhisseat.Thepainwasgettingworse.Hewantedtoliedown.Hestartedtoswearandbreathequickly.Hewasinrealpainthen.Asascaleof1to10,thepainwasan8.

Whenthebusgottotheairport,thebusdriverhelpedhimtogetoff.Itwasdifficultforhimtowalkbuthefinallymadeittotheterminal.Insidetheterminal,hewenttothemen’sbathroom.Hewenttothetoiletbutthatdidn’thelp.Insteadofimproving,hisfeltdizzyandhethrewup.Bynow,hewaswetfromallhissweating.Heknewhecouldn’tgetonhisflight.Heusedhisphonetocallairline.Heexplainedthesituationandcancelledhisreservation.Thenhecalled911foranemergencyhelp.911istheemergencynumbertocallforhelpintheUnitedStates.

Anambulancearrivedabout10minutesafterhecalled.Bythen,hewasinsomuchpainthathecouldbarelywalk.Onceinsidetheambulance,theygavehimoxygentohelphimtobreathe.Butthepainwasstillterrible.Thentheydrovetoahospitalneartheairport.Luckily,thehospitalwasonhishealthplan.Thatmeanshishealthinsuranceissupposedtopayforeverything.MedicalcostsintheUnitedStatesareveryhigh.Whenhearrivedtothehospital,hewastakentotheemergencyroom.Aftersometests,adoctortoldhimhehadakidneystone.Itwasaverysmallstone,butitcausedalotofpain.Itwaspassingthroughasmalltubeinhisbodyfromhiskidneytohisbladder.Thepainwillgoawayonceitgottohisbladder.Untilthenhehadtogetpainmedicinetoreducethepain.Harrydidn’thavetostayinhospitalforverylong.Withthepainmedicine,thepainwentawayveryquickly.Hetookataxibacktohishotelandcheckedinforanothernight.Thenhecalledtheairlineandmadeareservationforanotherflight.Theflightwillleavetomorrow.Untilthen,hewilljustrestinhishotel.Theremaybeagoodmovietowatch.Sowhenyou’retraveling,pleasepreparefortheemergencies.Makesureyouhadamedicalinsurance.Youneverknowwhensomethinglikethiscanhappentoyou.Sobeprepared.

Unit3-3vocabulary

Solarenergyisoneofthecleanestandmostplentifulsourcesofenergy.Solarpowerdependsonsunlight,soincloudyweatheroratnight,nopowergenerated.

Windenergyisnon-pollutingbutit’sonlyusefulinplaceswherethereisalotofwind.Windyturbinesconvertthekineticenergybywindintoamechanicalpower.

Nuclearenergyisefficientanddoesn’tproducecarbongasesaswasteproducts.Thedangerousofnuclearpowerincludeddeadlyradioactivewasteproducts.

Amajorsourceofenergycomesfromtheburningoffossilfuelssuchascoalandoil.Whenweburnthefossilfuels,wastegasessuchasCO2areproduced.Fossilfussremainthelargesourcesofenergyfrommostcounties.

Hydropowercomesthekineticenergyoffallingwater.Outputisreliableandcanberegularlytomeetthedemandexceptduringtheperiodofdrought.

HerearedifferenttypesofwordsinEnglish.Wordsthatarenounsandpronounsareusedtorepresentobjects.Anounorapronouncanbeaperson,ananimalorathingincludinganidea.

Verbsareusedtoexpressactionsuchastositdownorstandup.Wealsouseverbstoexpressrelationshipssuchastolovesomeoneortoownsomething.

Weuseadjectivetodescribeobjectssuchasatallbuilding.Adjectiveareusedwithnounorpronounbutnotusedwithverbs.

Weuseadverbtodescribeactionssuchastorunfastortowalkslowly.Adverbsexpressthequalityofanactionsuchashowwellorpoorlysomethingisgone.

Weuseconjunctionstoconnectthingsoractionssuchastoreadandwrite.Conjunctionsincludewordssuchasand,or,because,butandyet.

Damsareexpensivetobuildandaffectwildlifesuchasfish.

Unit3-3dialogue

Hey,I’vegotsomenews,somegoodnewsandsomebadnews.

Ok,givemethebadnewsfirst.

Weweremovingtoanewoffice.

Whenwasthisgoingtohappen?

Weweresupposedtomoveattheendofnextmonth.

Howfarawayisthenewoffice?

Wearenotsureyetbutwewillmeanalongercommuteformostofus.Thenewofficewillprobablybeontheothersideofthecity.

ThecommuteisalreadytoolongformeandI’mnotgoingtochangeflats.Wejustbroughtone.

Anyway.What’sthegoodnews.

Thegoodnewsisthatisgoingtoexpand.Thecompanyisgrowingsowe’regoingtohiremorepeople.

Well,I’vegotsomenewsforyoutoo.

Ihopeit’sgoodnews.

Well,thatdependsonyourpointsofyou.

I’mplanningtostartmyownbusiness.

Why,Ithoughtyouwerehappyworkinghere?

IliketoworkbutI’mnotlearninganythingnew.IthinkIcandobetteronmyown.Iwasplanningtowaitafewmonths.Butnowthattheofficeismoving,I’malreadytomakethechange.

Whyisyourwifethink?

Sheisinfavorofitandshe’llhopeme.She’salreadydesigningawebsite.We’llworkfromhomefirst.

Soyoureallyareseriousaboutthis.Youaretakingabigrisk.

Mostnewbusinessesfail.

Yes,Iknow.ButifIdon’tdoitnow,Iwillneverknowit.

I’mtiredofworkingforothers.

Iknowwhatyoumeet.

Don’ttellanyoneaboutthisok?

It’sstillasecret.

Sure,Iwon’tsayanythingtoanybody.

I’msurethiswillcomewithkindsofsurpriseforanyone.

I’msurechangingofficeswillalsocomewithsurprisestopeople.ThisisexactlywhyIwanttoworkonmyown.Idon’tlikethiskindofsurprises.

You’rerightaboutthat.Whenareyougoingtoletpeopleknow?

I’llmaketheannouncementatthebeginningofnextmonth.

Unit3-4Listening

LeonardoDaVinciisoneofthegreatestgeniusesofalltime.Hewasapainter,anarchitect,anengineerandascientist.HewasborninVinci,Italyin1452.VinciisatownjustoutsideofthegreatItaliancity,Florence.HisnameDaVincimeansaVinci.Leonardo’sfatherwaslawyerandlandownerandhismotherwasapeasant.Leonardo’sparentswerenevermarriedtoeachother.

Leonardolivedwithhismotheruntilhewasaround5yearsold.Whenhewas5,hemovedintothehomeofhisfather.Bythen,hisfatherhadmarrieda16-year-oldgirl.Leonardo’smothermarriedwithotherpersonandmovedtoanothertown.Shehadmanymorechildrenafterthatwithseveralmen.Intheend,Leonardohadmorethan15half-sistersorbrothers.Asayoungman,DaVincididn’tgotoschool.Hewaseducatedathomeatreading,writingandmathematics.Inothersubjects,hewasmostlyself-educated.Hehadaccesstobooksathisfather’shome.Leonardospentalotoftimeoutdoorsanddevelopedastronginterestinnature.Helovedtoobservethingsespeciallybirds.Hewasalsointerestedinthepropertiesofwater.

Leonardo’searlydrawingsarepaintingsdemonstratedararetalent.Hisfatherandhisfather’sfriendsrecognizedhistalentandencouragedhim.Whenhewas15,hewassenttoFlorence.InFlorence,hebecameanapprenticetoafamousmasterpainter.Forthenextfewyears,Leonardoworkedathismaster’sworkshop.Itwasn’tlongbeforehisabilitysurpassedthatofhismaster.SomepeoplesaidthathismasterbecamejealousofLeonardo’sgreattalent.Theysaidthemastervowed(發誓)andneverpaintedagain.In1478,withhisfather’shelp,Leonardosetuphisownworkshop.In1482,heenteredtheserviceofpowerfulmaninthecityofMilan.ThismanwastheDukeofMilan.Forthenextfewyears,Leonardodesignedbuildings,machineriesandweaponsofwar.Weaponswereimportant,becauseItalywasconstantlyatwarduringthisperiod.From1485to1490,Leonardoproduceddesignsforavarietyofweapons.

Inhisnotes,hepredictedthedevelopmentofadvancedweaponssuchassubmarinesandflyingmachines.In1499,theFrenchinvadedItalyandLeonardoleftMilan.Altogether,Leonardospent17yearsinMilan.Duringthisperiod,hespentmuchofhistimestudyingnature.Hedissected(解剖)bodiesbothhumanandanimaltostudyorillustrateanatomy(解剖).hisdetailedillustrationsaremasterpiecesLeonardofilledmanynotebookswithdrawingsandideas.Hewrotebackwardssoheneedamirrortoreadthem.

After15hundred,LeonardospenttimesinanumberofItaliancities.Heworkedveryslowlyandtherangeofinterestswasverywide.Asaresult,Leonardoleftmanypaintingsandprojectsunfinished.Onepaintingthathedidfinish,wastheMonaLisa,oneofworld’smostfamouspaintings.Peoplearestillinterestedinthispainting500yearsafterhepaintedit.Thoughttherearemanytheories,nobodyknowswhothewomaninthepaintingreallywas.

In1516,LeonardoleftItalyforgoodwhentheFrenchKing,Francisthefirst,offeredhimaposition.There,hehadthefreedomanddrawwhateverhewanted.Leonardodiedin1519attheageof67.SomesaidthattheFrenchKing,whohadbecomeaclosefriendwaswithhimwhenhedied.HewasburiedinthechurchwhichwasdestroyedduringtheFrenchrevolution.Theexactlocationofhisremainsisunknown.

Unit3-4vocabulary

Wastewaterandcarbongasesfromfarmanimalarebadfortheenvironment.Animalwastesandotherchemicalsflowintothegroundandpollutewatersupplies.

Exhaustedgasesfromautomobileareamajorcauseforairpollutionandglobalwarming.Asaresult,manycompaniesaretryingtoproducemoreefficientandcleanercars.

Pesticidesandfertilizersareusedbyfarmerstogrowcropssuchasfoodsandvegetables.Thesechemicalspollutewatersupplywhenitflowstothegroundandrivers.

Factorieslikethisone,allowharmfulchemicalstogetintotheairorwater.Companiesneedtotryhardertoprotecttheenvironmentandourhealth.

Nuclearwasteproductsareradioactiveandcanpollutetheenvironmentforthousandsofyears.Theyneedtobesafelytransportedandstoredinthesafeplace.

TheBritishwriter,Jame,wasborninEnglandin1775,1of7children.Shewrotesomeofmostpopularlovestoriesofalltime.

Oneofmostfamousfemalerulersinthehistory,hasaffairwithjandlaterwithMark.Shewasknownforhergreatbeautyandcharmingvoice.

Born1756,Mozartcomposedandperformedsomeofworld’sgreatestclassical