Unit 1 Fighting with the Forces of Nature

Unit 1Fighting with the Forces of Nature Text A The Icy Defender

Proverbs: • Opportunity knocks at the door only once. • 机不可失，失不再来。 • Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass. • 生活没有目标就像航海没有罗盘。 • Talents come from diligence, and knowledge is gained by accumulation. • 天才来自于勤奋，知识来自于积累。

Everyday English: ----Are you pulling my leg? 你在开玩笑吗？/ 你是在骗我吧？ A: They just discovered gold in my yard! B: You’re pulling my leg! ----Whatever you say. 随便你。/你怎么说都行。 A: I’ve decided to buy a stereo instead of that used car. B: Whatever you say---it’s your money.

New Words • Bleak a. • without anything to make you feel happy or hopeful e.g. a bleak future / prospect The company still hopes to find a buyer, but the future looks bleak. 2. cold and without any pleasant or comfortable features

e.g. a bleak January afternoon The landscape was bleak and bare. • quarter vt. • To cut or divide sth. into four parts e.g. Quarter the tomatoes and place them round the dish. 2. To provide sb. with a place to sleep and eat, esp. soldiers [usu. passive] e.g. Our soldiers are quartered in that region.

stroke n. • an act of hitting e.g. The farmer was struck by a stroke of lightning and killed. The man killed his wife with one stroke of the axe. 2. One of a set of movements in swimming or rowing in which you move your arms or the oar forward and then back e.g. She swam with strong steady strokes. He has not done a stroke of work today.

3. If someone has a stroke, an artery in their brain suddenly bursts or becomes blocked, so that they may die or be unable to use some muscles e.g. She died following a massive stroke. I looked after my father after he had / suffered a stroke. 4. A single movement of a pen or brush when you are writing or painting e.g. A few strokes of her pen brought out his features clearly. Pat crossed out the mistake with a stroke of her pen.

Related phrases: on / at the stroke of seven / nine = at exactly seven o’clock e.g. She arrived home on the stroke of midnight. The bell hammered six strokes. stroke of luck / fortune = sth. lucky that happens to you unexpectedly e.g. In / by a stroke of luck, a suitable organ donor became available.

stroke of genius / inspiration = a very good idea about what to do to solve a problem e.g. It was a stroke of genius to film the movie in Toronto. • stroke V. to pass the hand gently over a surface, usu. Repeatedly 抚摸，轻抚 e.g. He stroked her hair affectionately. She lovingly reached out and stroked the boy’s cheek with the tips of her fingers.

render v. 1. To cause sb. / sth. to be in a specified condition sth. + render + n. + adj. e.g. His stammer rendered him unfit for a teaching job. 2. To give sth. such as a service, a personal opinion, to people render sth. to sb. / render sb. sth e.g. We are ready to render their assistance to them.

Phrases and Expressions • Pride comes before a fall. • in the case of [in case], [in case of] • stand / get / be in the way • be prepared for • a devastating enemy / storm / argument • launch an attack / offensive / counterattack against • mow down

come to the aid of • shortly afterwards • decisive victory • be / become bogged down • supply lines • be faced with • keep one’s army in somewhere • take the gamble of • press on / ahead • meet in fierce battle • by nightfall

retreat to safety • have a clear path to somewhere • an empty victory • a raging fire • bide one’s time • take ill • drag on • by a stroke of luck • at the cost of • scorch the earth • close in on

run out • starve to death • slow down • bring sth. to a halt • turn the tide against • thanks to • head for • be reckoned with • take one’s / a toll

Sentence Structure • In 1941, Adolf Hitler, …, as Russia then was called. (L7—L8) • 本句中as Russia then was called是由as引导的非限制性定语从句，修饰Soviet Union。As用作关系代词时，（1）可以引导非限制性定语从句，代替先行词或整个主句；（2）可以引导限制性定语从句，其先行词的前面通常有such, the same修饰，构成the same…as, such…as结构。

e.g. Sophia was not unconscious, as could be judged from her eyes. She never remembered to have such weariness as she felt now. There was a look of fear in her eyes, such as people have when they are suddenly awakened. You must show my wife the same respect as you show me.

Topics for discussion • Try to describe the natural disasters you have read or heard about. • Hints: Earthquake, flood, typhoon, tornado; raging fire, drought, tsunami(海啸) • The cause of the disaster; whether the disaster can be controlled by human beings; the relationship between man and nature.

Man and Nature ---It is self-evident that man depends on nature for survival and development. Almost everything man possesses derives from nature. It is nature that has shaped man himself and his civilization… ---Ironically, the history of the development of human civilizations is also a history of man’s increasing destruction of nature…

Warm-up Questions: • What does “the icy defender” refer to in the article? • Why can Napoleon occupy Moscow easily? • How many soldiers had been dead when Napoleon came to Paris? • Why did Stalin instruct people to “scorch the earth”? • How long had Leningrad been sieged by Hitler? • What can you learn from the two campaigns?

Summary ---In 1812, Napoleon led his army … ---In 1941, Hitler began an invasion … ---Conclusion: The author quotes two…in both of which…played a decisive role… to illustrate that …

Writing Style ---a historic exposition ---three parts: ---a typical writing style of a newspaper or magazine report ---ways of developing expository para. (from general to particular, from particular to general, from the whole to its parts, from question to answer,

Writing Style from effect to cause / cause to effect, category order, order of comparison or contrast, or order of importance) ---in our text, the paragraphs are developed in … ---The author gives a contrast on two military campaigns and two different Russian tactics.

具体应用――四级对比型作文的写法 1. 整体比较的写作模式是 • The objects to be comparedMy preference for Object A over Object B • The advantages of Object APoint1----point 2----point3Disadvantages of Object BPoint 1----point 2----point 3 • ConclusionConcede the disadvantage of AEmphasize its advantages and restate my preference

2. 分项比较的格式是： • The objects to be compared My preference for Object A over Object B Point 1: The advantage of Object A vs. the disadvantage of Object B Point 2: The advantage of Object A vs. the disadvantage of Object B Point 3: The advantage of Object A vs. the disadvantage of Object B • Conclusion

Writing Strategy (1) Cats make better pets thandogs. Dogs are messy, and do not clean themselves up. They eat too much food, requiring too much care. Besides, dogs jump up on people, and knock over furniture. Cats, on the other hand, are clean and tidy. They eat sparingly (节约的), and take care of themselves. Cats are usually well-mannered pets.

Writing Strategy (2) Cats make better pets than dogs. Dogs are messy, and do not clean themselves up. Cats, on the other hand, are clean and tidy. Dogs eat too much, requiring too much care. Cats, however, eat sparingly, and take care of themselves. Dogs jump up on people, and knock over furniture. But cats are usually well-mannered pets.

Writing Strategy I have two good friends. They are quite different in character and yet have something in common. One of them is a jolly fellow and fond of company, and the other is a quiet and rather unsociable sort of chap. The jolly one likes all kinds of games. He is clever, but he doesn't care much for books. The other one, however, likes being alone and loves reading. He never plays games. In spite of all these differences, they are both so kind and sympathetic, so honest and straight-forward, so loyal and true. They are both fine and unselfish fellows. I like them both.

Exercise: • Students are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topicCollege Lectures and Discussion. You should write no less than 120 words and you should base your composition on the outline given in Chinese below:1.大学里教学有讲授式和讨论式两种2.这两种方式有什么长处和不足3.我的看法

对比型作文模版 (1)There is a heated debate over ________. （2）It is commonly accepted that _______. (3) In contrast, others ____. (4) Those who hold the first opinion suggest ________. (5) In their view, ________.(6) However, others think _______. (7) They argue that _______. (8) Considering one after another, I stand on the side of____________. (9) Above all, ________. (10) Further more, _______. (11) Thirdly, _________. (12) Therefore, ____________.

Translation：汉译英 缉私人员所从事的工作是一份庄严而光荣的职业，因为这些勇敢的人们为了保国卫民而缉拿走私犯。而且，由于他们的对手有狡猾、亡命的恶名，他们常常为了完成任务而牺牲个人生命。在侦查走私犯前，他们总要仔细考虑每个细节，以求制订出周密的计划。然而，形势多变，他们有时也得随机应变，自己根据情况做出至关重要的决定。不过对于他们来说，有一件事是可以肯定的，那就是，无论什么困难挡道，他们都会坚持下去，直到将走私犯捉拿归案。

It is a solemn and honorable occupation to be coast guards because those heroic people are engaged in seizing smugglers for the sake of guarding the country and comforting the people. What's more, as their target — smugglers — have a bad reputation of being crafty and desperate men, they often accomplish their tasks at the cost of their own lives. Before searching for the smugglers, they always reckon with every detail to work out complete and thorough plans.

Nevertheless, situation keeps changing. Therefore, sometimes they have to act on their own discretion and make crucial decisions. There is one thing, however, which is certain about them, that is, no matter what stands in their way. they will press on till they finally bring the smugglers to justice.

串词成篇： • in alliance with • launch a campaign • declaration • conquest • caught off guard • instruct • engage • faced with

offensive • regions • crucial • weaken • got bogged down • retreat • render • heroic • decisive • lay siege to • take a gamble

press on • occupation • at the cost of • invasion • bring to a halt • turn the tide against • stand in the way • thanks to • efficient • take a heavy toll

Casualties • stroke of luck • died of • in the case of • limp • raw • minus • drag on

In March 2003, Americans, in alliance with British, launched a campaign against Iraq without a declaration of war. They aimed at the conquest of Iraq. Caught off guard. Saddam instructed the whole nation to engage the enemy army bravely. Faced with the sudden offensive, Iraqi people of different regions could do nothing but take up the weapons at the crucial moment. But owing to a lack of preparation, Iraqi army was soon weakened and got hogged down in the war.

They were forced to retreat from the cities that had been rendered in ruins, with only a few people continuing their heroic resistance. It was thought Iraqi army would have a decisive fight with the allied force in the periphery of the capital. But much to our surprise. Americans laid siege to Baghdad, and some of them who took a gamble shooting here and there met with no forceful resistance. Americans pressed on. In the end they succeeded in the occupation of Baghdad at the cost of over a hundred lives.

In May, Americans decided that the invasion was brought to a halt. However, the sporadic counterattack in Iraq turned the tide against Americans, which stood in the way of the advancing Americans. Thanks to their efficient armor protection, it didn't take a heavy toll. What a stroke of luck it was! Nevertheless, the war caused many casualties in Iraq. Many people had died of starvation or diseases. The disabled survivors had to limp every day to fend for themselves.

In the case of those innocent children, they had to say goodbye to their happy days. It is hard to imagine their life in raw winter when the temperature would probably drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius. How long would the miserable life drag on?

by the way 顺便说说 • by way of 途经 • go out of one’s way to do sth.尽力 • in a way 某种程度上 • in no way 决不 • out of the way 反常的，异常的 • all the way 一直 • give way to sb. 让步 • make one’s way to somewhere 向某地出发

Unit 1 Fighting with the Forces of Nature