Welcome back to class

1. Welcome back to class

2. About me • Chinese name: • English name: • E-mail:

3. About the textbook • There are ten units in this book • Each unit: about 5-6 periods • Exercises: Most of the exercises after the text will be done after the class by yourself and I just check the answers in class.

4. Requirements for the class • Don’t be late ---- Do be on time. • Don’t talk ---- Do talk • Don’t sleep ----Do sleep. • Don’t play ---- Do play.

5. Self - introduction • Name: • P. of B.: • Hobby:

6. Is There Life on Earth?

7. Information related to the text • Art Buchwald • 1925-, American newspaper columnist; Specializing in political and social satire, his columns appear in about 500 newspapers. He was awarded the Pulitzer prize for commentary in 1982.

8. Manhattan

13. Venus The second planet from the sun in the solar system. It is the brightest object in our sky, after the sun and moon.

14. Solar System

16. Warm up Activity • Try to explain the following expressions: • 1)   the Venus Institute of Technology the Venus Evening Star Venus Beings The Grubstart Zilches • 2)  earth's surface in the area of Manhattan the Consolidated Edison Belt something that looks like a river metal particles stalagmite projections granite formations

17. Two points must be clear:It is a science fiction, the setting of the story is on the planet Venus. • It is written from the “Venusians" point of view that whether there is life on earth or not.

18. Explanation of the TextIt is a humorous essay. But after reading it you will surely find that the author is most serious in writing it.

19. Paragraph One: • There was great excitement on the planet of Venus this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.

20. 1.  For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth,… • Para: The Venusian scientists succeeded in launching the first satellite to the planet Earth, and it has been sending back not only photographs but also a lot of information.

21. manage : succeed in accomplishing or handling, esp. with an effort • E.g. He managed to unlock the door. / He tried to unlock the door, but failed. • “How did you manage to persuade him to come?” “I tried, but failed.”

22. 2.  Satellite

23. 3 …and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since. • as well as: (not only…but also…) • e.g.  The book tells about Lu Xun' s life as well as about his writings.这本书不仅谈了鲁迅的作品，而且还谈了他的生平。

24. 4 ever since: from then till now; continually afterward • e.g.  ——We have come to know each other ever since we were in our childhood. ——She has been living in Beijing ever since 1980.

25. Paragraph Meaning: 本周金星上群情激动异常。金星上的科学家首次把一颗卫星成功地送上了地球，此后卫星便不断地发回信号和照片。

26. Paragraph Two: • The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Pro. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20,000 light years ago)

27. 1.  …an area known as Manhattan… • known as: generally recognized；called • e.g.  ——He is known as a successful film director. —— Wu Shu, known as Chinese Gongfu, is very popular now.

28. 2.  …named after the great Venusian astronomer Pro. Manhattan, … • be named after: 以……名字命名e.g.  ——The eldest son in the family was named Geoge after his grandpa. ——Washington D.C. was named after the first president George Washington.

29. 3.  Astronomer

30. 4.  Telescope

31. Paragraph Meaning: • 卫星对准发射的地方叫曼哈顿（是以金星上伟大的天文学家曼哈顿教授命名的，在两万光年之前该教授用望远镜首次发现了这个地区）。

32. Paragraph Three • Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to the feasibility of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology

33. as to: with regard to 至于 • e.g.    ——As to that job, I haven‘t decided whether I will take it or not。 ——I don't know anything as to the others. 至于其他，我一无所知。

34. FlyingSaucer

35. Paragraph Meaning: • 由于天气条件极为有利，信号极为清晰，金星科学家们从而获得了有关载人飞碟能否在地球上着陆的宝贵资料。于是，在金星理工学院举行了一次记者招待会。

36. Paragraph Four: • “We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing,” Porf. Zog said, “that there is no life on Earth.” • Para: We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing, …: We have drawn the conclusion from last week's satellite landing…

37. 1.  come to a / the conclusion: reach or draw a / the conclusion • e.g.  What conclusion did youcome to?I have come to the conclusion that such a plan will not work. • draw reach      a / the conclusion (that) 得出结论come to • bring…to   a conclusion 使……结束

38. 2 based on last week's satellite landing, • base…on: build or found…on; use…as a basis for • e.g.  ——We should always base our opinions on facts. ——The book is based on something that really happened.

39. Paragraph Meaning: • “根据上周发射的卫星所提供的资料，我们已经得出结论,”佐格教授说，“地球上没有生命。

40. Paragraph Five and Six: “How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked. • “For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.”

41. 1.  for one thing…(for another): first…(second) • e.g.  For one thing, I think you're stupid, for another, I don't like you.

42. 2. be composed of: be made up of • e.g. What is water composed of?Our English class is composed of several administrative classes of students in different departments.

43. Paragraph Meaning: • “您这是怎么知道的呢？”《金星晚报》的记者问。 • “首先，曼哈顿地区的地球表面均由坚固的混凝土构成，什么东西也无法生长。另外，大气层中充满了一氧化碳和其他致命的气体，任何人呼吸了这种空气都不能幸存下来。”

44. Paragraph Seven, Eight, and Nine: • “What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?” • “这对我们的飞碟计划来说又意味着什么呢？” • as far as…be concerned: as for ——As far as the color is concerned, I prefer this suit to that one. ——As far as English is concerned, he is the first in our class.

45. “We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than we originally planned.” • “这意味着我们必须随身携带我们所需要的氧气，这样以来，飞碟就要比我们原先计划的重得多。

46. originally: at very beginning •  e.g.  I live here now, but I wonder who lived here originally? 我现在住在这儿，但是我想知道最初是谁住在这儿的？ • The novel originally came from a true love affair.这本小说原先是从一个真实的爱情故事发展而来的。

47. “Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studies?” “在你们的研究中有没有发现其他什么危险呢？” • hazard: danger ——a hazard to health 对健康有危害 ——There are many hazards in a journey across Africa. 穿越非洲的旅行有许多危险。

48. Paragraph Ten: You see this dark black cloud hovering over the surface of Earth? “Take a look at this photo. We call this the Consolidated Edison Belt. We don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have to make further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”

49. You see this dark black cloud hovering over the surface of Earth? • Para: : Have you found this dark black cloud hanging over the surface of Earth?

50. hover: vi. 盘旋；翱翔；守留在近处 • e.g.  Some birds hover when they look for animals to kill on the ground. 有些鸟在扑杀地上的动物时，它们（在空中）盘旋。 • The criminal is hovering between life and death. (喻)这犯罪分子在生死之间徘徊。