Unit 3 Why Do We Believe That the Earth Is Round

Unit 3Unit 3Why Do We Believe That the Earth Is Why Do We Believe That the Earth Is

RoundRoundWarm-Up Activity: Warm-Up Activity: Can you prove that theCan you prove that the earth is round? Go ahead earth is round? Go ahead and try! Will you rely on your senses or willand try! Will you rely on your senses or willyou have to draw on the opinions of you have to draw on the opinions of

experts?experts?

Back Ground InformationBack Ground Information

• George Bernard Shaw:• George Bernard Shaw • (1856-1950), Irish playwright, critic and novelist, is widely considered the greatest British dramatist since Shakespeare, and the greatest British satirist since Swift.

• Shaw’s plays often ridicule governmental or social hypocrisies of mock the conventions of polite society. In the long prefaces to the printed editions he aired his views on all sorts of subjects. In 1925 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Among his most famous plays are Widowers’ Houses. Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Arms and the Man, Man and Superman, Major Barbara, Pygmalion and Saint Joan.

• The Round Earth Theory • In the Sixth century B.C., • The Greek Philosopher • Pythagoras ( 毕达哥拉斯） Believed • that the earth was a sphere because he• considered this the most perfect of shapes, not fr

om any scientific considerations.

• In the fourth century B.C.,• both Plato and Aristotle • believed that the earth• was spherical. (Plato) 　　　　 (Aristotle)

• Plato, like Pythagoras, accepted this shape because it is the most perfect, but Aristotle relied more strongly on the evidence of the senses: the earth’s shadow, during a lunar eclipse, is round.

In 1521, the Portuguese navigator Magellan’s voyage around the world proved that the earth was round.

　　　　 ( 麦哲伦航船复制品）　　　　　　　　　（麦哲伦环球航线图）

• The Flat Earth Theory• During the Middle Ages, clergymen

denounced the spherical theory of the earth and a flat disc with Jerusalem at the center was the only orthodox concept

• The Real Shape of the Earth• Strictly speaking, the earth is not perfectly

round. It is slightly flattened at the poles and has a bulge (an outward swelling) at the equator ( an imaginary line around the earth exactly halfway between the poles). In recent years, scientists have learned that there is another very small bulge at the North Pole. They say, therefore, that the earth is somewhat pear-shaped.

• Eclipses• In Astronomy the word “eclipse” is used to

describe two different things: an eclipse of the sun or an eclipse of the moon. An eclipse of the sun is called a solar eclipse. It occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun. As seen from various points on the earth, the moon blocks out the sun.

• (Solar Eclipse Explanation) (Solar Eclipse Captured)

• Lunar Eclipse• An eclipse of the moon is called a lunar

eclipse. It occurs when the full moon passes behind the earth into the earth’s shadow. Within the shadow the moon is no longer directly lighted by the sun.

• Explanation Lunar Eclipses

Language PointsLanguage Points

• 1. Or Other • (used with someone, something, somehow,

somewhere, someday, sometime, etc. to show that one is not certain)

• Eg1: I shall be coming again someday or other.• Eg2: I’ve read the story before in some book or

other.• Eg3: Somehow or other, John managed to get a

well-paid job in the bank

2. Superstitious2. Superstitious

• Superstitious: believing in superstition• Eg1: Tom is very superstitious and believes

the number 13 brings bad luck.• Eg2: Many people have a superstitious fear

of the dark

3. Cite3. Cite

• Cite: give or mention as an example (esp. by quoting from a book to support an argument, etc. )

• Eg1: The lawyer cited a previous case to support his argument.

• Eg2: Can you cite another example like this one?

4. Widespread4. Widespread

• Widespread: found in many places; covering a wide area.

• Eg1: Personal computers are in widespread use now even in many underdeveloped countries.

• Eg2: The problem of air pollution has attracted widespread attention.

5. Advance5. Advance

• Advance: put or bring forward• Eg1: In the 19th century, the new theory of the

origin of life advanced by Darwin raised a storm of debate in England and other parts of the world.

• Eg2: Mary is too shy to advance her opinion at the meeting.

• 6. He merely swallows this theory: He accepts this theory without question or

suspicion.• 7. Because there is something about it

that appeals to the 20th century mentality:

As it has a quality that attracts the contemporary mind. It is accepted because we are willing to base much of our knowledge of the world on whatever experts tell us rather than rely on the evidence of our own senses.

• Appeal to: • Be attractive or interesting to

• Eg1: The idea of studying abroad appeals to many young people.

• Eg2: The magazine is intended to appeal to professional women in their 30s and 40s.

8. Exaggerate:8. Exaggerate:

• Exaggerate: represent (sth.) as larger, worse, more important, etc, than it really is; overstate.

• Eg1: People don’t believe what he says because he is always exaggerating.

• Eg2: Tom exaggerated the dangers of the trip in order to keep her from going.

• 9. There is something in what he says:• There is some truth in what he says.• Something in/ to: some truth or value in• Eg1: There is something is/ to what you say: I

will take your advice.• Eg2: they had to concede that there was

something in his teaching methods.

• 10. ..and the questions is worth following up: and the question is worth discussing/ further

• Follow up: pursue or investigate closely; find out more about

• Eg1: They followed up the matter until they got results.

• Eg2: The editor of the newspaper thinks that his story is worth following up.

11. For the Sake of :11. For the Sake of :

• For the sake of : for the good or advantage of , for the purpose of, because of

• Eg1: The pretty actress married an old millionaire for the sake of money.

• Eg2: My father used to be a “chain smoker” but now he has given up smoking for the sake of

his health.

12. Throw light on:12. Throw light on:

• Throw light on: give new information about something; make (a situation) clearer; explain.

• Eg1: This newspaper article throws some/much/a clear light on the situation in the Middle East.

• Eg2: His diary throws light on life in England in the 17th century.

13. Refute13. Refute

• Refute: prove (sb.) to be mistaken or (a statement) to be untrue

• Eg1: How would you refute the theory that the earth is flat?

• Eg2: The best way to refute the accusation of laziness is to work hard.

14. Horizon:14. Horizon:

• Horizon: The line far away where the land or sea seems to meet the sky.

• Eg1: The sun had already sunk below the horizon.

• Eg2: Suddenly the sailors saw a ship far away on the horizon.

15.Phenomenon:15.Phenomenon:

• Phenomenon: (pl. phenomena) sth. that happens or exists, esp. sth. that is studied because it is not understood.

• Eg1: The booklet gives scientific explanations to many natural phenomena.

• Eg2: Snow in April is not an unusual phenomenon in Inner Mongolia.

• 16. But it does not follow that the earth is spherical:

• but it is not therefore necessarily true that the earth is spherical. Or: but you cannot reason from this that the earth is spherical.

17. Follow:17. Follow:

• Follow: be or happen as a necessary effect or result

• Eg1: He is a good writer, but it does not follow that he is a good speaker.

• Eg2: Because he is a competent engineer, it does not follow that he will make a successful factory director.

• 18. The first card I can play: • the first point I can make to support my

argument.• This figure of speech is often used by someone

presenting an argument point by point• 19. The analogy of the sun and moon: • the act of comparing the earth to the sun and the

moon.

20. Cast:20. Cast:

• Cast: send (light, shadow, etc) on a surface.• Eg1: The candle cast a flickering light on the

wall.• Eg2: The tall tree casts a long shadow across

the lawn in the late afternoon.

• 21. Defeated in the minor exchange: Defeated in the two less important rounds of

debate.

• 22. Cover: (in card games) to play a higher card than ( the

card played by the other party)

23. Statement:23. Statement:

• Statement: a written or spoken declaration, esp. of a formal kind.

• Eg1: They need more facts to back up their statement.

• Eg2: His statement is vague and no one can be sure what it means.

24. Bring out:24. Bring out:

• Bring out: show, produce• Eg1: Suddenly the man brought out a gun

and threatened the taxi-driver with it.• Eg2: As I brought the handkerchief out of my

pocket, several other objects fell out.

25. Justify:25. Justify:

• Justify: give a good reason for; show to be just, right or reasonable

• Eg1: He tried to justify his neglect to his duties on grounds of ill health.

• Eg2: He is fully justified in refusing your request• Eg3: Do you think you are justified in treating

your old mother like that?

• 26. Then bang goes my ace:… then I lose my ace If you say bang goes something, you mean it

suddenly becomes obvious that it cannot now succeed or be achieved.

Eg1: The dog has eaten my food---bang goes my dinner!

Eg2: I have broken my leg, so bang goes playing football.

• 27. I believe that finishes the Oval Earth man:

• I believe this last argument of mine completely defeats the Oval Earth man.

• Finish: overcome completely, kill• Eg1: my answer finished him.• Eg2: The Watergate scandal finished Nixon’s

political career.

• 28. My reasons for thinking that the earth is round are rather precarious ones:

• My reasons for thinking that the earth is round are not well-grounded. Here the author admits that the evidence he provides is not enough to establish his beliefs beyond any doubt.

29. Exceptionally:29. Exceptionally:

• Exceptionally: unusually• Eg1: He is an exceptionally talented player in

NBA history.• Eg2: You have defended your position

exceptionally well.

• 30. Fall back on: • Fall back on: turn to help, use, when all

else has failed.• Eg1: He is a man to fall back on in an

emergency.• Eg2: If this plan fails, there are other plans

we can fall back on.

31. Rest on31. Rest on

• Rest on: rely on, be based on• Eg1: Bernard Shaw’s fame rests more on his

plays than on his novels.• Eg2: Columbus’s decision to sail west to reach

the East rested on his belief that the earth was round.

32. Authority32. Authority

• Authority: power over the opinions of others.• Eg1: Kings used to have absolute authority

over their subjects.• Eg2:Prof. Smith has international authority or

influence in the field of theoretical physics.

33. Stray (away) from33. Stray (away) from

• Stray (away) from: wander away from; leave (a subject)

• Eg1: His sheep strayed away from his own fields to a neighbor’s.

• Eg2: You’ re straying away from the subject again; do please keep to the point.

34. Bother:34. Bother:

• Bother: take trouble; trouble oneself.• Eg1: Don’t bother about my breakfast. I’ m not

hungry in the least.• Eg2: After writing an article, he never bothers to

go over it again.• Eg3: On her mother’s 80th birthday, Myra would

not even bother to buy her a gift.

35. Outline35. Outline

• Outline: give a short account or description

• Eg1: At the press conference the president outlined his peace plan for the Middle East.

• Eg2: We all listened carefully as Jim outlined his reasons.

36. Press36. Press

• Press: demand or ask continuously; urge strongly.

• Eg1: He looked very ill that morning and all his classmates pressed him to go and see the doctor at once.

• Eg2: All the children pressed the teacher to continue her manner.

• 37. In a way Shaw is right: To a certain degree Shaw is right.

In a way: to a certain degree; in a certain but limited manner.

Eg1: In a way I agree with you, but I think you could have presented your argument in a much better way.

Eg2: He considered himself a great manager, and in a way he is justified.

• 38. This is a credulous age, and the burden of knowledge which we now have to carry is partly responsible:

• This is an age in which people tend to believe whatever they are told, and one reason for this is that now we have inherited so much knowledge.

39. Credulous39. Credulous

• Credulous: believing too easily in sth.• Eg1: Only a credulous person would believe you

r stories.• Eg2: Credulous people are easily fooled and ofte

n swindled. ----pay attention to the difference between the w

ords “credulous” and “credible”

40. Burden:40. Burden: • Burden: heavy load sb. has to carry; sth. di

fficult to bear.• Eg1: The old woman doesn’t want to be a

burden on anyone.• Eg2: Ann was tired of the burden of looking

after so many children.

Word Building KnowledgeWord Building Knowledge• 1. The suffix –let is added to nouns to form other nouns,

meaning a) little: booklet=a little book; b) things worn as a band on: armlet= a band worn around the arm. Now give definitions of the following words:

• Anklet:• (a band worn around the ankle) • Brooklet:• (a little brook) • Starlet:• (a little star)• Streamlet:• (a little stream)

• Some nouns in English have corresponding adjectives that are derived from Latin. Now some adjectives have been given, please write down the corresponding nouns in English.

• lunar solar• nocturnal annual• mental dental • oral aural• ocular nasal• paternal maternal