(共24张PPT)
Unit 3 The world of science
Period 3 Developing ideas & Presenting ideas
Developing ideas
1 Read the short introduction to Benjamin Franklin and share any other information you know about him.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Apart from being a successful statesman, he was also well known as a leading American author printer and publisher, successful diplomat, creative scientist and inventor.
2 Read the passage and find out what Franklin’s experiment aimed to prove.
An essay title often contains an explicit or implicit question which your essay should focus on answering. For example, the title“Franklin’s Experiment: How Much is True ” makes it clear what question is being answered within the essay.
Learning to learn
FRANKLIN’S
EXPERIMENT:
How Much ls True
Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment with lightning has introduced generations of children to science. However, new research suggests that the story may be fiction instead of fact.
The well-known story is that the American Founding Father and scientist flew a kite during a storm in 1752. At that time, there was much interest in electricity. People wanted to know if lightning was really produced by electricity or something else. Franklin was one of them. He raised the kite with a piece of string tied to it. A metal key was attached to the string. A flash of lightning hit the kite, and electricity was conducted through the string to the key. Franklin then touched the key with his finger and got an electric shock. This, he said, proved that lightning was a form of electricity.
For many years, schools have taught the story of Franklin’s lightning experiment. More than one generation of schoolchildren has been amazed by his bravery and his scientific approach to looking for the truth. Franklin, along with many other scientists, has inspired us and taught us that scientific experiments are important in order to establish the truth and to contribute towards later scientific discoveries and inventions.
However, neither the story nor the details of the experiment are entirely true. Although it has been proved that Franklin’s experiment took place, more than one scientist has questioned what really happened. The detail about the string and the key is true. But scientists all agree that if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died from the electric shock.
Scientists often question accepted ideas because they want to establish the facts. Some have even questioned the story about the apple that fell on Newton’s head and led him to come up with his theory of gravity. In fact, more than one account suggests that while Newton was certainly inspired by a falling apple, there is no proof that it hit him on the head.
Admittedly, fiction is often more interesting than the truth. People have been more inspired by Franklin’s spirit of scientific exploration than by the facts themselves. But in science, facts should be proved by experiments and research, and we should not always believe everything we read or hear - even if it is a great story.
3 Number the statements to show how people’s attitudes towards Franklin’s experiment have changed.
Franklin’s spirit of scientific exploration is still considered an inspiration.
People are amazed at and inspired by Franklin’s experiment.
Scientists question what really happened in Franklin’s experiment.
3
1
2
Think & share
1 Do you think it matters that Franklin’s experiment might not be true Why
eg No. Because what really matters lies in his bravery to do the experiment.
2 What is your opinion about the statement “... we should not always believe everything we read or hear - even if it is a great story”
eg Sometimes a really great story may not be true, and we need to have critical thinking.
Think & share
3 What qualities do you think a great scientist should have
eg I think a great scientist should be patient, serious, brave, careful, creative and imaginative…
4 In what ways do scientists contribute to society
Firstly, scientific discoveries promote the development of our society. Secondly, the contributions of scientists in medicine extend our life span. Thirdly, scientists have invented a lot of surprising tools that fundamentally improve our living standards.
4 Work in groups. Explain your understanding of the saying “Seeing is believing”, and then give a talk about it. You may use information in the passage as examples.
1 Make notes about your understanding of the saying and list supporting details.
2 Organise your talk following the steps below.
Start your talk by explaining how you understand this saying.
Explain why you think this way. Use the notes you have made to support your ideas.
End your talk by summarising your points.
3 Give your talk to the class.
Writing an experiment report
5 Read the instructions for the experiment and answer the questions.
1 What do you think the results of this experiment will be
2 What can you learn from this experiment
6 Complete the boxes with the information in Activity 5. Do further research if necessary.
Now write a report of the experiment.
7 Share your report with the class.
Presenting ideas
1 Work in groups. Look at the pictures and discuss how these objects have changed over the years.
2 Choose one of the objects in Activity 1 or an object that you use every day. Predict how it will further change over the next 50 years. Make notes about your ideas.
3 Present your ideas to the class. Use the notes in Activity 2 and the expressions in the box to help you.
Reflection
谢谢观看(共21张PPT)
Unit 3 The world of science
Period 1 Starting out & Understanding ideas
Starting out
1 Read about the inventions from famous novels and choose those that have become a reality.
The third and fourth inventions have become a reality. People nowadays can have video chats with each other via mobile phones and computers connected to the Internet. And many newspapers have offered their readers free digital editions. Furthermore, Live chat rooms make it possible for people to communicate with reporters, statesmen and scientists.
2 Watch the video and answer the questions.
1 Which of the inventions in the video interests you most Why
2 Which of the inventions in the video do you think will become a reality
3 Of all the inventions in the world, which do you think is the most useful Why
Understanding ideas
1 Look at the pictures and talk about how the way we live has changed over time. Discuss the reasons behind these changes.
2 Read the interview and find out what inventions are mentioned.
The New Age of Invention
Interviewer: Good evening, and welcome to Between the Pages. This evening, I’ll be talking to Dr Richard Fairhurst, whose new book The New Age of Invention has just been published. Welcome, Richard!
Richard: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Interviewer: I guess you have been asked about the title of your book before. It suggests that the present day is a new age for inventions, but many people might think that the great age of invention is over.
Richard: Well, that’s an interesting point. There have been golden ages of invention throughout history. Think of the four great inventions in Ancient China: gunpowder, papermaking, printing and the compass. These things changed the world forever. Then there were the great Western inventions: the steam engine, the telephone and the radio. And now, we find ourselves in the great new age of technology.
Interviewer: So are most of the new great inventions tech-based
Richard: A lot, yes. For example, advances in virtual reality and wearable tech, as well as the flexible battery, mean we should soon be seeing further developments. In addition, important advances have been made in medicine and environmental science thanks to increasing computer power.
Interviewer：Can you give us some examples
Richard: Sure. New inventions like 3D printers have been used to make replacement hearts and bone parts. In terms of the environment, it is now possible to create an intelligent walking house. It is capable of using GPS technology to travel to different places, with computing technology controlling its“legs”. What’s more, huge advances in solar technology mean it can be eco-friendly, too.
Interviewer: Impressive stuff! I’ve also been told that you're an inventor yourself. Is that correct
Richard: Yes, I am, but I’m only one member of a big team - most inventors now work as part of big international teams.
Interviewer: I see. So what is it that inspires us to invent things
Richard: Most inventions start with recognising a problem that needs a solution. This was no doubt the reason behind the invention of the wheel in ancient times, which much later developed into the car. Now, reduced energy supplies and environmental pollution have led to more advances in the technology of new energy vehicles. But what remains important is that we have an incredible desire to think and create, and that's the real spirit of invention.
Interviewer: One last question. This is the one everyone really wants to know: will anybody ever invent a time machine
Richard: I think you’ve been watching too many movies! Nothing like this has been invented yet and I’d say. we’re a long way from an invention like that at the moment! But, as they say, “Never say never!”
3 Choose the sentences that describe Dr Fairhurst's opinions.
1 Inventions in Ancient China were better than those in the West.
2 A lot of today's great inventions are tech-based.
3 Today, most inventors prefer working by themselves.
4 The desire to solve problems inspires invention.
5 A time machine will definitely be invented in the future.
4 Complete the mind map with information from the passage.
Ancient China-1__________________________________________
the West-2__________________________________________
gunpowder, paper making, printing and the compass
the steam engine, the telephone and the radio
inventions of the past
inventions of today
virtual reality
wearable tech
3._____________
replacement 4.___________________ made by 3D printers
5.____________________ using GPS, computing technology and 6._______________
the flexible battery
hearts and bone parts
an intelligent walking house
solar technology
inspiration for inventions
recognising 7.______________________________________
8.__________________________________
a problem that needs a solution
an incredible desire to think and create
Think & Share
1 lf you were the interviewer, what other questions would you ask Dr Richard Fairhurst
2 In your opinion, what else inspires people to invent things
谢谢观看(共22张PPT)
Unit 3 The world of science
Period 2 Using language
1 Look at the sentences from the reading passage and answer the questions.
Using language
Present perfect passive
a I guess you have been asked about the title of your book before.
b New inventions like 3D printers have been used to make replacement hearts and bone parts.
1 What has happened to “you” in sentence (a)
2 Who has used new inventions to make replacement hearts and bone parts in sentence (b)
Compare them with the following sentences and answer the questions.
c I guess someone has asked you about the title of your book before.
d People have used new inventions like 3D printers to make
replacement hearts and bone parts.
3 What is the difference between the two groups of sentences
4 Why does the author choose to use the passive form instead of the active form in the reading passage
Now look for more sentences with the present perfect passive in the reading passage.
2 Rewrite the underlined parts using the present perfect passive.
Within the next 80 years, our lives may be changed beyond recognition by 3D printing. It has already affected many things in our lives, right down to the food we eat. For instance, some restaurants in London have served 3D-printed hamburgers to customers. But perhaps the most significant success that people have achieved to date is in medicine. They have made human body parts, including a beating heart, with 3D printing technology. And it is not just humans who are benefiting - in Brazil, people have given a new 3D-printed shell to a turtle injured in a forest fire!
3 lmagine you are Dr Moore. Look at the pictures and tell the police about the damage and loss to your lab. Use the present perfect passive where appropriate.
Careers in science
4 Look at the pictures and answer the questions.
1 What do you know about these careers
2 What famous scientists can you name in these fields
Words about different careers in science can be formed by adding -er, -ist or -ian at the end of the words about subjects, eg biology - biologist.
Learning to learn
5 Complete the introductions about different scientists with the words in Activity 4. Pay attention to the language that describes their careers.
Guo Shoujing (1231-1316) was a famous Chinese 1_______________of the Yuan Dynasty. He invented twelve new instruments to study stars and planets. He also developed a calendar which is as accurate as the Gregorian calendar. A mountain on the Moon and a minor planet are named after him.
astronomer
British 2____________Charles Darwin (1809-1882) is best known for his work On the Origin of Species, in which he explains changes in species due to natural selection. His ideas deeply influence our understanding of the relationship between humans and nature.
biologist
Li Daoyuan (ca 466-527) was a famous writer and 3_____________ of the Northern Wei Dynasty. He did field research across China and studied more than a thousand rivers and streams, along with the landscape, history and culture of the surrounding areas.
geographer
Marie Curie (1867-1934) was a world-famous 4___________，and was first awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903 for her extraordinary work on radioactivity. She was also regarded as a brilliant 5 ___________， and was again awarded the Nobel Prize in 1911 for the isolation of pure radium.
chemist
physicist
Chen Jingrun (1933-1996) was one of the world’s leading 6______________. His work on Chen’s Theorem made an important advance towards proving Goldbach’s Conjecture, the greatest unsolved problem in number theory.
6 Work in pairs. Think about other careers in science and discuss what interests you most.
I’m interested in the work of a(n)... because…
mathematician
Invention stories
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour.
The majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and above. It is recognised as the most common mental disease among older people, and the number of sufferers is growing. Currently, there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but scientists are researching ways to improve the quality of life for people living with the disease.
7 Listen to the conversation and number the pictures in the correct order.
c b d a e
8 Listen again and complete the notes.
What is it
Who was it invented by
It’s 1_______________________________________
____________________.
It was invented by 2_________________________
called Kenneth.
a pair of socks designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease
a student form New York
Who inspired the invention
3__________________, who has Alzheimer's.
How does it work
4__________________ is sent to a mobile phone like an alarm when the person with it 5____________________.
His grandfather
A warning
gets out of bed
Now talk about how the speakers describe the story behind an invention. Listen again if necessary.
9 Work in pairs. Act out the conversation about the invention of the telephone.
Student A：Turn to Page 106.
Student B：Turn to Page 110.
10 Work in pairs. Choose another story of an invention you know and have a similar conversation.
Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions, such as surprise, shock, joy, emphasis and excitement. These are usually formed with what or how, and in written form usually end with an exclamation mark.
Learning to learn
谢谢观看
