(共25张PPT)
Unit 5
Unit 5 A delicate world
It as an empty object
To learn the use of “it” as an empty object
To learn to describe the changes using “it” as an empty object
Look at the sentences and answer the questions. Sentences (a) and (c) are from the reading passage.
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a No visitor would think it surprising that the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
b No visitor would think that the island being a UNESCO World Heritage Site is surprising.
c Experts felt it necessary to come up with a plan to remove all the rabbits from the island.
d Experts felt to come up with a plan to remove all the rabbits from the island was necessary.
1. What does “it” refer to in sentences (a) and (c)
a No visitor would think it surprising that the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
c Experts felt it necessary to come up with a plan to remove all the rabbits from the island.
It refers to that clause in sentence (a) and an infinitive in sentence (c).
“It” in sentence (a) refers to “the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site”.
“It” in sentence (c) refers to “to come up with a plan to remove all the rabbits from the island.”
2. What is the difference between the sentences in each group
When the object of a sentence is a that-clause (b) or an infinitive (d), we sometimes use “it” as an empty object and put the real object later to keep balance. For example, sentence (a) uses “it” as the empty object of “think”, referring to the real object: “the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site”. Sentence (b) uses that-clause as the object of “think”.
Now look for more sentences with this structure in the reading passage, and summarise its use in your own words.
This incident made it clear that the rat, mouse and rabbit problem needed solving once and for all.
…but we humans owe it to the island to give it a happy ending.
it 作形式宾语的常见情况归纳如下：
1. it代替不定式短语。常用于：
think/ find/ feel/ consider/ make/ regard... it + adj./n. + to do
I find it pleasant to work with him.
They felt it difficult to finish the work in such a short time.
She thinks it her duty to help him.
All these noises made it impossible for me to go on with the work.
2. it代替v.-ing只限于少数句型。
consider/think/find... it + good/ use/ worthwhile... + doing...
The professor considers it no good reading without understanding.
Do you consider it any use arguing with him
I don’t think it worthwhile going to such a place.
3. it代替宾语从句(that有时候可以省略)。
think/find/make... it + n./adj. + Object Clause...
We all thought it a pity that the conference was cancelled.
They kept it quiet that he was dead.
He hasn’t make it clear when he is coming back.
it 作形式宾语还有几种特殊情况，归纳如下：
动词+ it + that从句，常见于put, have, take等动词后。
e.g. I take it that he will finish the task by himself.
动词+ it + when/if从句，常见于appreciate, enjoy, like, prefer等动词之后。
e.g. We really appreciate it if you could do us a favour.
e.g. *We owe it to you that we are still alive.
*I took it for granted that they were not coming.
动词 + it +介词短语 + that从句，常见于owe it to sb, take it for granted等结构中。
动词+介词+ it + that从句，常见于look to, depend on, insist on, stick to, answer for等结构中。
e.g. *She insisted on it that she was innocent.
*You may depend on it that he will help you.
e.g. *He made it known to everyone that he was right.
*They haven’t made it known where they are to hold the conference.
动词+ it +过去分词+从句。
Rewrite the underlined parts using it as an empty object.
The red-eared slider, a species of freshwater turtle, is native to the Southern United States and Northern Mexico. Due to its cute appearance, many people think keeping this turtle as a pet is a good idea.
many people think it a good idea to keep this turtle as a pet.
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Recent years have seen more and more pet sliders escaping or being released from homes, and some owners believe to release them into the wild is no big issue.
believe it no big issue to release them into the wild
These days, people have found to release these turtles into the wild is a threat to other species.
people have found it a threat to other species to release these turtles into the wild
Experts consider owners keeping their pets in an enclosed area important, and anyone unable to keep their pets should take them to an appropriate animal shelter.
Experts consider it important for owners to keep their pets in an enclosed area
Located in Chengde City, Hebei Province, Saihanba (塞罕坝) sits 450 kilometers to the north of Beijing. The place is covered with snow seven months a year. It used to be a freezing, barren desert plagued by sandstorms. However, it has been turned into the world’s largest human-made forest that covers an area of nearly 75,000 hectares. Thus, it is called a “green miracle.”
What do you know about Saihanba (塞罕坝)
Here is a video to get more about this green miracle.
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Look at the pictures of the Saihanba National Forest Park and describe its changes using it as an empty object where appropriate. You may refer to the words and expressions in the table for help.
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nouns / adjectives to do / that
breakthrough impossible likely unrealistic ... grow
investigate
plant trees
transform
...
I think it a breakthrough to transform a desert into a forest...
The workers would think it unrealistic to plant trees in the desert when they first came to Saihanba.
用it作形式宾语翻译下列句子。
1. 我认为采取行动阻止濒危动物的灭绝是我们的职责。
2. 在环境保护工作中，蠕虫的重要性经常被忽视，我们觉得这很奇怪。
I consider it our responsibility to take action to prevent the extinction of endangered animals.
We find it very strange that the importance of worms is often overlooked in environmental protection work.
3. 最近我养成了每天睡前阅读的习惯。
4. 去年，我想把我的亚马逊之旅写成书。
Recently I made it a habit to read before going to bed every day.
Last year, I had it in mind to write a book on my journey to Amazon.
Describe how a place you know has changed using it as an empty object where appropriate.
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