Unit 8 Protecting our Environment

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Unit 8 Protecting our Environment

• Text A Saving Nature, but Only for Man

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Objectives

• grasp the main idea and the structure of the text
  (each part containing a contrast)
• appreciate the various argumentative skills
  employed in the text
• master the key language points and grammatical
  structures in the text

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Pre-reading task
Listen to the song Big Yellow Taxi and
answer 1 What kind of paradise is described in
the song? 2 What is the theme of the
song? Answer 1 A rural paradise before it was
spoiled by paved roads, parking lots, buildings,
etc. 2 Protect the environment before it is too
late.
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The stream banks are being eroded because of
improper stabilization!
The man is raking grass clippings and leaves into
plastic bags!
The woman is using fertilizers and pesticides for
gardening improperly!
The man is throwing litter into the street!
The sprinkler is watering the sidewalk!
The car is leaking oil and antifreeze into the
street.
The man is pouring motor oil down the storm drain!
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Words associated with environmental protection
throw away sth useless
-batteries
discard
send out liquid, gas
discharge
-waste water
get rid of , deal with
dispose
-of rubbish
clear lands of forest
dis(af)forest/deforest,vt
??
mobilize
the public to take part in
raise
social consciousness on
????
boost
public awareness of
??????
strengthen
monitoring system
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Pre-reading task

• Words/phrases associated with environmental
• protection
• improperly dispose of, deteriorating environment
• discarded batteries, deforestation,
• leak dangerous substance, discharge into rivers
• boost public awareness of, ecological system
• waste water/sewage treatment plant,
• raise social consciousness on, close down
  factories
• supervise eco-protection, restore blue
  skies/fresh air
• strengthen environment monitoring system
• mobilize the public to take part in the
  volunteer activities

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Text analysis

• What is the main idea of the text?
• (We should adopt a sensible environmentalism.)
• Make the title Saving Nature, but Only for Man
  into a complete sentence.
• (We must protect the earths environment so that
  it can better serve human beings.)

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Text Analysis

• How does the author define sensible
  environmentalism?
• Hint (Para 5)
• A sensible environmentalism, the only kind of
• environmentalism that will win universal public
• support, begins by unashamedly declaring that
• nature is here to serve man. A sensible
• environmentalism is entirely man-centered it
• calls for man to preserve nature, but on the
• grounds of self-preservation.

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Text Organization
(P246 Ex1) Scan the text to find out the central
argument of each part and fill in the supporting
details.

• Part 1 It is important to distinguish between
  __ and __ and apply the fundamental principle
  of ___.
• ( environmental necessities, environ- mental
  luxuries, sensible environ- mentalism.)
• ---------------------------------------------
• details 1) the ozone layerskin cancerplankton

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Text Organization

• 2) the greenhouse effect melting ice
  caps disturbed climate, dried up plains
  empty breadbaskets
• 3) mans self-preservation
• --------------------------------------------------
  -----------
• Part 2 A sensible environmentalism does not
  ___ the earth.
• ( sentimentalize)
• -----------------------------------------------
  --
• details 1) the so-called Gaia theory

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Text Organization

• 2) Protagoras principle
• 3) oil war and the reindeer
• 4) the spotted owl and the livelihood of
  logging families
• -------------------------------------------------
  ---------
• Part 3 Man is the ___ of nature.
• (master)
• -----------------------------------------------
  -
• details 1) mans well-being first
• 2) who should accommodate and how
• 3) humanistic environment

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Language study

• aversion (L2) strong dislike
• The minute he saw his new teacher, he knew
  immediately he disliked her. ?
• He took an immediate to his new teacher.
• He has a natural to insects/cockroaches.
• in the name of (L5) for the reason of,
  using the excuse of
• They launched a war world peace.

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Language Study

• regardless (L9) in spite of everything,
• anyway
• Though his parents disapproved of his marriage,
  he went on with it, anyway. ?
• His parents objected to his marriage, but he
  _______.
• (carried on )
• ????????????
• Everything has been done .

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Language Study

• combat (L11) fight or struggle against
• Doctors are looking for methods to fight against
  SARS/AIDS. ?
• Doctors are still seeking ways to SARS/AIDS.
• Comprehension of empty breadbaskets (L21)
• shortage of food supply because no crops will
  grow in the areas which used to provide a lot of
  food.

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Language Study

• call for (L29) require, demand
• When the country was under the threat of a civil
  war, the President asked his people to be calm
  and self-controlled. ?
• ______ the threat of a civil war, the President
• (Faced with, has ed for self-control and calm.)
• The examination s for a lot of preparation.

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Language Study

• on the grounds of (L29) for the reasons of
• She is charging/accusing the company with/of
  unfair dismissal. ?
• She is suing the company on the grounds of
  unfair dismissal.
• Comprehension of L34-36 Ask hardworking voters
  if they are feeling polite, they will give you a
  shrug.
• shrug lifting the shoulders slightly to show
  indifference, doubt, etc.

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Language Study

• run/go against the grain (L37) be contrary to
  ones desire or feeling
• It really goes to have to go to school on
  National Day.
• The company doesnt want its staff to work
  overtime because it considered it a principle to
  be efficient. ?
• Working overtime goes of the companys
  principle of efficiency.
• of sth. / to do sth.

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Language Study

• Comprehension of L41-42 It takes, for example, a
  highly selective view of the kindliness of
  nature.
• Translation
• ?????????????????,?????
• to the point of (L38) to a degree that can be
  described as
• To accomplish the task, the employer worked his
  staff exhaustion.

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Language Study

• nothing more than (L40) just the same as
• only
• Dont be scared. It is a nightmare.
• sentimental (L41)
• sensible
• sensitive

Lets not get too ________ about our
relationship. It was very ________ of you to
bring your umbrella. Dont be so ________---I
wasnt criticizing you..
Cf.
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Language Study

• Comprehension of L50 This is a false either/or
  proposition.
• Translation
• ????????????????
• Comprehension of L51 The country does need a
  substantial energy tax to reduce consumption
• substantial large, considerable
• ???????

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Language Study

• come through (L55) experience, survive or
  overcome ( a difficulty, etc.)
• Its a miracle that some of the people working
  in the World Trade Center came the terrorist
  attacks.
• If we can this financial crisis the companys
  future will be bright.

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Language Study

• Comprehension of L59 I like the reindeer as
  much as the next man.
• as much as the next man as much as the
  average person
• Comprehension of L66 But it is no more than
  that.
• But its importance should not be exaggerated.

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Language Study

• accommodate ( L74) adjust, change so that it
  fits with
• I will my plan to yours.
• accommodation (L76) adapting, adjustment
• Mutual is of importance especially to newly
  married couples.
• seek from both sides in the dispute

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Language Study

• sake ( L85) purpose benefit or well-being
• for sb.s/sth.s ------ for Gods/ safetys
• for the of sb./sth. ------- for the of our
  friendship/money
• Oscar Wildes theory of art for arts
• She argues for the of arguing.
• ( i.e. because she likes arguing)
• He changed into old shoes for the of comfort.
• We make concession for the peace.

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Methods of argumentation

• The argumentative methods employed in the text
  are as follows
• Contrast (P247 Ex 2)
• 1) environmental luxuries vs. environmental
  necessities
• 2) sensible environmentalism vs.
• sentimental environmentalism
• 3) man vs. nature

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Methods of argumentation

• Concession
• (Para 8) The country does need a substantial
  energy tax to reduce consumption. But it needs
  more production too.
• (Para 10) I like the reindeer as much as the
  next man. And I would be rather sorry if their
  mating patterns are disturbed. But you cant have
  everything.
• (Para 11) I am no enemy of the owl. If it could
  be preserved at no or little cost, I would agree
  the variety of nature is a good, a high aesthetic
  good. But it is no more than that.

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Methods of argumentation

• Quotation
• Para 8 quotes Protagoras principle Man is the
  measure of all things.
• (Para 3) For example preserving the atmosphere,
  by both protecting the ozone layer and halting
  the greenhouse effect, is an environmental
  necessity.
• (Para 13) The most urgent of mans environment
  ---e.g. atmospheric ozone --- is threatened a
  lesser order (say, the pollutants for coal- and
  oil-fired generators

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Methods of argumentation

• Definition
• (Para 2) The definitions of luxuriesandnecessi
  ties.
• (Para 5) The definition ofsensible
  environmentalism
• Cause and effect
• (Para 3) Ozone reduction causes skin cancer,
  etc.
• (Para 4) Greenhouse effect leads to melting ice
  caps, flooded coastlines, disturbed climate,
  dried up plains and, ultimately, empty
  breadbaskets.

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Methods of argumentation

• Data
• (Para 7) the May storms that killed more than
  125,000 Bengalis and left 10 million homeless.
• (Para 8) Government estimates indicate a nearly
  fifty-fifty chance that under the ANWR lies one
  of the five largest oil fields ever discovered in
  America.
• (Para 11) livelihood for 30,000 logging
  families, I choose family over owl.

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Word-building practice

• Give the noun form of the following words.
• verb noun more examples

propose
proposal
survival, refusal
resist
resistance
assistance
distinct
distinction
interruption
assumption
consume
consumption
preserve
preservation
hesitation,
accommodate
accommodation
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Word-building practice
Give the adjective form of the following words.
noun/verb adj more examples
atmosphere
atmospheric
romantic
urgency
emergent
urgent
universe
universal
magical
athletic
aesthetics
aesthetic
intellectual
spirit
spiritual
responsible
sense
sensible
substance
substantial
financial
select
selective
constructive
speculate
speculative
relative
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Are you a good listener?

• 1 John was not employed by the company ____ his
  age.
• (on the grounds of)
• 2 Success in college ___ much hard work.
• (calls for)
• 3 Many politicians emphasized the importance of
  ___ international terrorism.
• (combating)

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Are you a good listener?

• 4 Let me thank you ___ my parents.
• (in the name of)
• 5 You neednt report to him. He is ___ a clerk.
• (nothing more than)
• 6 The Chinese football team was in trouble at
  the beginning of the match but in the end it
  ___.
• ( came through)

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A brainstorming task---What can we do to protect
our environment?

• Hints
• Dont litter.
• Dont spit.
• 3 Save on water.
• 4 Save on electricity.
• 5 Say no to plastic bags
• when going shopping.
• 6 When dining out,

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Remember to ---

• bring the listening book with you next week
• get prepared for the coming quiz on reading book
  in Week 18.
• See you!