New Horizon College English Book Ⅲ Unit 6 : Section B Changes in the Balance of Nature

Contents I. Reading skill II. Fast reading. III. Structure of the text. IV. Important Words V. Detailed study of Text VI. Exercises

I. Reading skill -- skimming

1.How to do Skimming ? When reading the newspaper one often skims articles before deciding whether or not to read more carefully. To skim is to read quickly in order to get the general idea of a passage. Skimming requires the reader to note only information and clues which provide an idea of the central theme or topic of a piece of writing. Once you have a general idea about an article you may decide to read the entire selection carefully, or only to scan for specific pieces of information in order to answer questions which have occurred to you.

2.Practice Find out the answers to the questions in section B. Suppose we wants to know WHEN was the Earth formed. To skim for the places for the information in question, we actually just needs to Skimming for the words “the Earth ”and “formed” Key idea: (Para4 -- About 3 million years ago) If we want to know: Where shall I find the information about the formation and development of the Earth? Key idea: To skim for the places for the information in question, the reader actually just needs to read the first sentence of each paragraph in the text. (Para 3, 4, 5, ) After having a brief look at the title of the reading passage and the previous discussion, you might want to know: which section is about the balance of nature? Key idea: You can have the answer by noticing the spacing and reading the headline of section 3 (Para ) backback

II. Fast reading. 1.Things in nature are large or small, new or old, only ____ the measures and the comparisons involved. A. in conflict with B. in agreement with 2.People have brought about enormous changes to the surface of the planet — changes far ____ the interval of time they have occupied it. A. in proportion to B. out of proportion to

3. Human activities can cause or _____ permanent changes in natural systems. A. speed up B. slow down 4. Now that they are _____ the causes of the sickness of our planet, they seek ways to help the Earth, to give back what they take away. A. ignorant of B. aware of back

III. Structure of the text: Part 1(para1 -5) : Perceptions are relative. Part2 (paras.6-10): People try to control rescores. Part3 (paras.11-15): The balance of nature.

IV. Important Words Perception, 1[U, C] awareness of things through the physical senses, esp. sight 感知，知觉 e.g. Drugs can change your perception of reality 毒品能够改变你对现实的感知。 Perceptive adj. 有理解的 Perceptible adj. 可察觉的, 感觉得到的 Perceptual adj. 知觉的, 有知觉的

Primitive adj. 1.of or typical of a very early stage in the development of sth. 原始的，早期的 e.g. Primitive races colonized these islands 2,000 years ago. 2. simple and not sophisticated 简陋的，粗 糙的 e.g. They built a primitive shelter out of tree trunks.

restraint, [U] 1.restraining or being restrained 克制，抑制， 约束 \ e.g. The government appealed for restraint, insisting the crisis could be resolved without the use of force. 2. [C] a thing that restrains or controls 限制 因素，约束措 e.g. The key restraint in holding back the development of the company is lack of space.

Take to 开始 ( 从事 ) e.g.John has taken to drinking too much recently. 最近约翰沉湎于喝酒。 take in 吸收 take after 照顾 take off 起飞 take up 占据 take down 记下 take over 接管 backback

V. Detailed study of Text 1. Perceptions are relative. (Para. 1) Meaning: There are no absolute perceptions. 人的感觉是相对的。 (The awareness of things that people have through the senses, esp. sight, can be varied according to the measures and the comparisons involved.) ．

2. A single tree may seem large compared to a person. (Para. 2) Meaning: Considered in relation to a person, a single tree may seem large. 和人相比，一棵树看起来很大 Compared to/with: in comparison with; e.g. Compared to the place where I grew up, this town is exciting. 与我成长的地方相比，这个镇热闹多了。

3.Life was now flourishing. (Para. 4) 这时生命开始兴旺起来。 flourish: v. 1) grow or develop successfully a flourishing new sports center 非常红火的新的体育中心 2) move sth. in one's hand in order to make people look at it The boy shouted excitedly, flourishing a letter in his mother's face.

4. … it becomes increasingly difficult for the population to survive on the resources of the land. (Para. 8) Meaning: …it is more and more difficult for people to live on the resources of the Earth. e.g. 他对政治越来越感兴趣。 He is increasingly interested in politics.

5. Yet their numbers create a drain on resources that can't be renewed. (Para. 9) Meaning: 而这一小部分却造成了不可再生资源 的流失。 drain: n. sth. that drains, empties or uses up e.g. Working day and night is a great drain on his strength and health. 没日没夜的 工作对他的精力和健康消耗极大。 back

VI. Exercises Finish the exercises on Book 3 Page174 Vocabulary Page175 Rewrite each sentence

The End