Unit 1 Nature in the balance
Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human activities over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us.
---Friedrich Engels
The Amazon rainforest : a natural treasure
The world we live in is full of natural wonders. The documentary script below describes the Amazon rainforest, which is home to a wide range of wildlife.
Para 1
Welcome to the jungle, a huge sea of green alive with the sounds of animals. This is the Amazon rainforest. As the _______(large) rainforest in the world, it plays a significant role in ___________(maintain) the fine balance of the Earth's ecosystem.
Para 2
The Amazon rainforest crosses into eight countries, __________(include) Brazil and Peru, and one overseas region of France, all on the South American continent. With an area of around 6 million square kilometres, the Amazon rainforest is more than half the size of China. The Amazon River, from _______ the rainforest gets its name, is close to 6,400 kilometres in length--roughly 100 kilometres _______(long) than the Yangtze River. On its journey from the mountains to the ocean, the river supports many different ecosystems. They give this area the richest biodiversity on the Earth: one in ten _______(know) species in the world can be found here.
Para 3
Of the 390,000 plant species known to us, more than 40,000 can _________(find) in
the Amazon. This tall and ancient brazil nut tree produces nuts ____ we can eat; these
water lilies are big enough to lie down on. The forest's different levels support an
unbelievable variety of wildlife. At the bottom, there is a system of roots beneath the ground. Above that is the mass of leaf litter on the dark forest floor. The next level is made up of shorter plants with large leaves. Then there are the towering ancient hardwoods, and finally the tops of the tallest trees many metres above the ground. Each level of the forest _______(form) its own little world, home to different kinds of living things.
Para 4
More than 1,300 species of birds and over 400 species of mammals hide among the jungle's plant life. This jaguar is one example. It has a yellowish-brown coat with black spots. While a ___________(significance)number of jaguars survive here, they are only one element of this forest's food chain. They feed on at least 87 species, including frogs. These frogs, in turn, feed on insects which eat leaves and fruit. ______ a jaguar dies, a tiny army of microorganisms helps break down its body and return the nutrients to the earth.
Para 5
The Amazon rainforest breathes life into the planet by fixing carbon and __________(produce) over 20 per cent of all the Earth's oxygen. Thus, it is often known ___ the“lungs of the planet”. Moreover, the Amazon rainforest is a treasure house of species that can be used for food or medicine. Yet there is one major danger to these irreplaceable plants and animals: us.
Para 6
Over the past 50 years, about 17 per cent of the rainforest ______________ (disappear) due to human activities such as agriculture and cattle farming. As the impact of human activities continues to grow and the list of species in danger of extinction ________(become) longer, we are left with a question: can we afford the damage the“lungs of the planet”
Key words and phrases
1. jungle n. ________ 2. a huge sea of ________________
3. alive with _______ 4. play a significant role in ___________________
5. maintain the fine balance of ____________________
6. ecosystem n. ___________ecologist n. ____________ecotourism n. ___________
7. cross into eight countries ______________
8. overseas region ___________ overseas adj. ______________ adv. _____________
9. continent n. __________ South American continent ____________
10. with an area of _________ square kilometres __________
11. more than+n. ________ more than+adj. _________ more than+num. _________
12. in length ________ at length _______
length n.________ v. _______加长 adj. ______ 长的
13. biodiversity n. ____________
14. species n. _____ known species _________
15. known to us是过去分词短语在做_________, 修饰_______
16. variety n. ________ adj. _______ an unbelievable variety of _________________
17. at the bottom ________ 18. a system of roots _____
19. beneath prep. _________ beneath sth. ___________ be beneath sb. ___________
20. be made up of ________ = consist of
21. towering adj. _________ ______ v. 高耸、屹立；n. 塔
22. living things _____ living adj. ________ live v.___________; adj. __________
23. mammals n. ________ 24. example n. _____ for example ______
25. survive v. __________ n. 幸存________ n. 幸存者 _________
26. food chain ________ 27. feed on ________ feed v. - fed- fed
28. in turn __________ in return ________
29. tiny adj. ________ a tiny army of microorganisms _______________
30. break down ___________________________ (break-broke-broken)
31. nutrients n. _______ n. 营养 _________ adj. 有营养的 _________
32. breathe life into ... ____________ breathe v. _____ n. _______
33. fix v. __________ fix carbon _______ oxygen n. _____
34. thus adv. ____ (therefore)
35. be known as ___________ be known for ____________
36. a treasure house of species ___________
37. be used for _____; be used to do _______;
be used to doing ________; used to do _________;
38. yet adv. ______________ conj. _____ 39. irreplaceable adj. __________
40. over the past 50 years的意思是_____________，句子要用____________
41. due to _____ 42. cattle farming _____
43. impact n. _____ (= influence = effect ) have an impact on __________
44. extinction n. _____ species in danger of extinction _________
45. afford v. _________
46. damage v. ____ do damage to __________
Extended reading
News that Matter: pollution in Norgate
Para 1
HOST: Good evening and welcome to News that Matters. Our topic today is pollution
in Norgate. ________(join) us in the studio tonight are James Smith, a local resident;
Vincent Brown, senior manager of a local factory; and Julie Archer, chief of the Norgate Environmental Protection Committee. Welcome.
Para 2
Norgate's rapid development has had significant environmental costs. Mr Smith, you __________ (live) in this city for over 20 years. How would you describe the effects of pollution over that time
Para 3
SMITH: It's been awful, really. When I first moved here, the air was fresh, the grass green and the water clear. Then heavy industry factories moved in, and things became ________(entire) different. I don't enjoy outdoor activities any more. The river is dirty and _______(smell). The smog in the air has coloured the sky a smoky grey; it's also given me a cough ____ I can't get rid of. For health and safety reasons alone, heavy industry has to go.
Para 4
HOST: Mr Smith protested against heavy industry. Mr Brown, would you like to respond
Para 5
BROWN: Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, Mr Smith. People tend to connect factories _____ pictures of clouds of dirty smoke and irresponsible businessmen eager to make huge profits. In ________(defend) of the factories, however, I'd like to point out that we also try to control the amount of pollution we produce. I think I speak for all factory managers when I say we're _______(deep)concerned about the environment. We've been taking various measures, including the use of new technologies, _________(reduce) pollution in the production process, even though these measures raise our production costs. I'd also like to draw your attention to the economic benefits factories have brought to Norgate. We've created many jobs for local residents and helped the city's economy grow.
Para 6
HOST: Thank you, Mr Brown. With pollution levels on ____ rise, the Norgate Environmental Protection Committee is searching for ways ________(fight) the problem. Mrs Archer, what are your thoughts on how to deal with pollution
Para 7
ARCHER: Well, our committee has a major role ______(play) in maintaining air and water quality. We have to achieve a balance between environmental protection _____ economic development. We' ve made environmental policies for businesses to observe, like strict clean-up ____________(require). We also work hand in hand with other branches of government to ensure _____ development strategies are followed in an environmentally friendly way. ________, fighting pollution isn't just a task for factories and the government. It has to be a community-wide effort, and everyone can help by following the golden rule: reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, you can save energy by taking the bus or the subway, or using the bike-sharing system.
Para 8
HOST: Thank you, Mrs Archer, and thanks again to all of our guests. A former UN official once said, “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight." The fortunes of our environment and our economy are inseparable. It's our duty _________(protect) the environment while we aim ____ economic development. It's our duty to leave a better, cleaner and healthier planet to our children. It's our duty to build a human community with a _______(share) future.
Key words and phrases
1. matter v. ______ n. ______
2. local resident __________ senior manager _________ chief n. _______
3. committee n. ________
4. cost v.______ n. _________________
5. awful adj. _________(=________/_________) adv. __________
6. heavy industry factories ____________
7. entirely adv. ________________ = (___________) adj. _____ 全部的
8. outdoor activity __________ not any more _____
9. smelly adj. ________ v./n. _______
10. colour n. ______ v. ________ adj. _______
11. smoky adj. _______ v./n. ________
12. get rid of ___________
13. alone adv. _____________
14. protest against sth. __________ 15.respond v. ______ n._________
16. tend to do ______ 17. irresponsible adj. ___________ n. _____________
18. be eager to _______ 19. make huge profits ___________ 21. point out _____
20. in defence of _________ defence n. _____ v. _________
22. speak for __________ 23. take various measures ___________________
24. production process _________ process n. ______ v. ___________
25. draw one's attention to ____________
26. economic benefits _________ benefit n. ____ v. ______ adj. __________
27. on the rise ________
28. search for ______
29. thoughts on ___________ thoughts n. __________ ( = ______/________)
30. achieve a balance (between A and B) ______________________
31. make policies _________ 32. work hand in hand _________
33. branches of government _________ branch n. __________
34. development strategy __________ strategy n. _____
35. in an ... way __________ environmentally friendly ______________
36. follow the golden rule _______________ 37. recycle v. _________________
38. bike-sharing system _____________
39. poverty n. ____ adj. _____ ________________
40. one and the same ______
41. fortune n. _______________ adj. __________反 _________
42. inseparable adj. __________ v. _______
43. aim for _________ aim n. _____ v. _____ adj. _______
44. It's one's duty to do sth. __________________
45. a human community with a shared future _____________
4Unit 1 Nature in the balance
Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human activities over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us.
---Friedrich Engels
The Amazon rainforest : a natural treasure
The world we live in is full of natural wonders. The documentary script below describes the Amazon rainforest, which is home to a wide range of wildlife.
Para 1
Welcome to the jungle, a huge sea of green alive with the sounds of animals. This is the Amazon rainforest. As the _largest______(large) rainforest in the world, it plays a significant role in ____maintaining_______(maintain) the fine balance of the Earth's ecosystem.
Para 2
The Amazon rainforest crosses into eight countries, including (include) Brazil and Peru, and one overseas region of France, all on the South American continent. With an area of around 6 million square kilometres, the Amazon rainforest is more than half the size of China. The Amazon River, from which the rainforest gets its name, is close to 6,400 kilometres in length--roughly 100 kilometres length__(long) than the Yangtze River. On its journey from the mountains to the ocean, the river supports many different ecosystems. They give this area the richest biodiversity on the Earth: one in ten known (know) species in the world can be found here.
Para 3
Of the 390,000 plant species known to us, more than 40,000 can be found(find) in
the Amazon. This tall and ancient brazil nut tree produces nuts that we can eat; these
water lilies are big enough to lie down on. The forest's different levels support an
unbelievable variety of wildlife. At the bottom, there is a system of roots beneath the ground. Above that is the mass of leaf litter on the dark forest floor. The next level is made up of shorter plants with large leaves. Then there are the towering ancient hardwoods, and finally the tops of the tallest trees many metres above the ground. Each level of the forest forms(form) its own little world, home to different kinds of living things.
Para 4
More than 1,300 species of birds and over 400 species of mammals hide among the jungle's plant life. This jaguar is one example. It has a yellowish-brown coat with black spots. While a significant(significance)number of jaguars survive here, they are only one element of this forest's food chain. They feed on at least 87 species, including frogs. These frogs, in turn, feed on insects which eat leaves and fruit. When a jaguar dies, a tiny army of microorganisms helps break down its body and return the nutrients to the earth.
Para 5
The Amazon rainforest breathes life into the planet by fixing carbon and producing (produce) over 20 per cent of all the Earth's oxygen. Thus, it is often known as the“lungs of the planet”. Moreover, the Amazon rainforest is a treasure house of species that can be used for food or medicine. Yet there is one major danger to these irreplaceable plants and animals: us.
Para 6
Over the past 50 years, about 17 per cent of the rainforest has disappeared (disappear) due to human activities such as agriculture and cattle farming. As the impact of human activities continues to grow and the list of species in danger of extinction becomes(become) longer, we are left with a question: can we afford the damage the“lungs of the planet”
Key words and phrases
1. jungle n. 丛林 2. a huge sea of 大量的
3. alive with 充满... 4. play a significant role in _在...扮演着重要的作用
5. maintain the fine balance of 维持...的良好平衡
6. ecosystem n. 生态系统__ ecologist n. 生态学家 ecotourism n. 生态旅游
7. cross into eight countries 横跨八个国家
8. overseas region 海外地区 overseas adj. 外国的；海外的 adv.在国外
9. continent n. 洲 South American continent 南美洲
10. with an area of 占地面积为... square kilometres 平方千米
11. more than+n. 不只是，不仅仅 more than+adj. 非常，及其 more than+num. 不止
12. in length 长度为 at length 最后
length n.长度 v.lengthen 加长 adj. long 长的
13. biodiversity n. 生物多样性
14. species n.物种 known species 已知物种
15. known to us是过去分词短语在做 后置定语, 修饰species
16. variety n. 多样化 adj.various an unbelievable variety of 种类繁多的...
17. at the bottom 在底部 18. a system of roots 根系
19. beneath prep. 在...下方 beneath sth. 低于...
be beneath sb. 有失某人身份
20. be made up of 由...组成 = consist of
21. towering adj. 高耸入云的 tower v. 高耸、屹立；n. 塔
22. living things 生物 living adj. 活着的；在使用的 live v. 生存; adj. 现场直播的
23. mammals n. 哺乳动物 24. example n.例子 for example 例如
25. survive v. 幸存 n. 幸存 survival n. 幸存者 survivor
26. food chain 食物链 27. feed on 以...为食 feed v. - fed- fed
28. in turn 相应地 in return 作为回报
29. tiny adj. 微小的 a tiny army of microorganisms 一小群微生物
30. break down 分解；破碎；奔溃 (break-broke-broken)
31. nutrients n. 营养物 n. 营养 nutrition adj. 有营养的 nutritious
32. breathe life into ... 给...注入活力 breathe v. 呼吸 n. breath
33. fix v. 固定 fix carbon 固碳 oxygen n. 氧气
34. thus adv. 因此(therefore)
35. be known as 被称之为... be known for 因...出名
36. a treasure house of species 物种宝库
37. be used for 被用来...; be used to do 被用来做 ...;
be used to doing 习惯于做某事; used to do 过去常常;
38. yet adv. 仍然，还 conj. 然而 39. irreplaceable adj. 不可替代的
40. over the past 50 years的意思是在过去的50年，句子要用现在完成时
41. due to 由于 42. cattle farming 畜牧业
43. impact n. 影响 (= influence = effect ) have an impact on 对...有影响
44. extinction n. 灭绝 species in danger of extinction 物种灭绝的危险
45. afford v. 承担得起
46. damage v. 损坏 do damage to 对...有害
Extended reading
News that Matter: pollution in Norgate
Para 1
HOST: Good evening and welcome to News that Matters. Our topic today is pollution
in Norgate. Joining (join) us in the studio tonight are James Smith, a local resident;
Vincent Brown, senior manager of a local factory; and Julie Archer, chief of the Norgate Environmental Protection Committee. Welcome.
Para 2
Norgate's rapid development has had significant environmental costs. Mr Smith, you have lived (live) in this city for over 20 years. How would you describe the effects of pollution over that time
Para 3
SMITH: It's been awful, really. When I first moved here, the air was fresh, the grass green and the water clear. Then heavy industry factories moved in, and things became entirely (entire) different. I don't enjoy outdoor activities any more. The river is dirty and smelly(smell). The smog in the air has coloured the sky a smoky grey; it's also given me a cough that I can't get rid of. For health and safety reasons alone, heavy industry has to go.
Para 4
HOST: Mr Smith protested against heavy industry. Mr Brown, would you like to respond
Para 5
BROWN: Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, Mr Smith. People tend to connect factories with pictures of clouds of dirty smoke and irresponsible businessmen eager to make huge profits. In defense (defend) of the factories, however, I'd like to point out that we also try to control the amount of pollution we produce. I think I speak for all factory managers when I say we're deeply (deep)concerned about the environment. We've been taking various measures, including the use of new technologies, to reduce(reduce) pollution in the production process, even though these measures raise our production costs. I'd also like to draw your attention to the economic benefits factories have brought to Norgate. We've created many jobs for local residents and helped the city's economy grow.
Para 6
HOST: Thank you, Mr Brown. With pollution levels on the_ rise, the Norgate Environmental Protection Committee is searching for ways to fight (fight) the problem. Mrs Archer, what are your thoughts on how to deal with pollution
Para 7
ARCHER: Well, our committee has a major role to play (play) in maintaining air and water quality. We have to achieve a balance between environmental protection and economic development. We' ve made environmental policies for businesses to observe, like strict clean-up requirement (require). We also work hand in hand with other branches of government to ensure that development strategies are followed in an environmentally friendly way. However, fighting pollution isn't just a task for factories and the government. It has to be a community-wide effort, and everyone can help by following the golden rule: reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, you can save energy by taking the bus or the subway, or using the bike-sharing system.
Para 8
HOST: Thank you, Mrs Archer, and thanks again to all of our guests. A former UN official once said, “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight." The fortunes of our environment and our economy are inseparable. It's our duty to protect (protect) the environment while we aim for economic development. It's our duty to leave a better, cleaner and healthier planet to our children. It's our duty to build a human community with a shared(share) future.
Key words and phrases
1. matter v. 要紧 n. 问题
2. local resident 当地居民 senior manager 高级经理 chief n. 首席
4. cost v. 价钱为... n. 价钱；成本；代价
5. awful adj.糟糕的 (=terrible/ awesome) adv. awfully
6. heavy industry factories 重工业工厂
7. entirely adv. 完全地 = (completely) adj. entire 全部的
8. outdoor activity 户外活动 not any more 不再
9. smelly adj. 难闻的 v./n. smell
10. colour n. 颜色 v. _给...染色 adj. 彩色的
11. smoky adj. 烟雾弥漫的 v./n. smoke
12. get rid of 摆脱
13. alone adv. 独自；单独
14. protest against sth. 抗议反对 15.respond v. 反应 n. response
16. tend to do 往往会... 17. irresponsible adj. 不负责任的 n. irresponsibility
18. be eager to 渴望做某事 19. make huge profits 取得巨大的利益
21. point out 指出
20. in defence of 为...辩护 defence n. 辩护；防御 v. defend
22. speak for 代表...发言 23. take various measures 采取各种措施
24. production process 生产过程_ process n. 过程_ v. proceed
25. draw one's attention to 把吸引某人的注意力到...
26. economic benefits 经济利益 benefit n.益处 v. 使收益 adj. beneficial
27. on the rise 在上涨
28. search for 寻找
29. thoughts on 对...的想法 thoughts n. 想法；观点 ( = view/opinion)
30. achieve a balance (between A and B) 取得平衡
31. make policies 制定政策 32. work hand in hand 携手努力
33. branches of government 政府部门 branch n. 部门；分支
34. development strategy 发展策略 strategy n. 策略
35. in an ... way 以...方式 environmentally friendly 环境友好
36. follow the golden rule 遵循黄金法则 37. recycle v. 回收利用
38. bike-sharing system共享单车系统
39. poverty n. 贫穷 adj. poor 穷的______
40. one and the same 同一个的
41. fortune n. 财富；运气 adj. fortunate 反 unfortunate___
42. inseparable adj. 不可分离的 v. separate
43. aim for 以...为目标 aim n.目标 v. 瞄准 adj. aimless
44. It's one's duty to do sth. 做某事是某人的责任
45. a human community with a shared future 人类命运共同体
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