新核心大学英语2_Unit_8

Unit 8 Natural DisastersIn this unit you will:1.learn that disasters occur in many forms,and we humans can take measures to prevent them;2.familiarize yourself with the words and expressions related to the theme of the unit;3.learn to use these words and expressions;4.learn news listening strategies concerning the lexical features of news reports;5.practice listening with other non-theme-related audio and video materials;6.learn to use the proper expressions and sentence structures to make complaintsLearning objectives Section I Lecture Section II Science Report Section III Science Report1.Can you name some natural disasters we have every year?2.Can you give an example of one memorable natural disaster that happened in the past?Lead-in questions:Unit 8 Part I Section I Lead-in questionsWord Bankstall/stl/v.使熄火；使失速使熄火；使失速plume/plum/n.羽状物（如烟云羽状物（如烟云,雪尘等）；雪尘等）；火山灰火山灰erupt/rpt/v.爆发爆发geologist/dldst/n.地质学家地质学家US Geological Survey美国地质调查局美国地质调查局hazard/hzd/n.危险；危害物危险；危害物seismic/sazmk/adj.地震的地震的eruption/rpn/n.爆发爆发code/kd/v.编码编码Unit 8 Part I Section I Word BankUnit 8 Part I Section I Word Bankphase/fez/n.阶段阶段lava/lv/n.熔岩；火山岩浆熔岩；火山岩浆avalanche/vln/n.雪崩雪崩debris/debri/n.岩屑；瓦砾岩屑；瓦砾NotesUnit 8 Part I Section I Notes The United States Geological Survey(USGS)It is a scientific agency of the United States government.The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States,its natural resources,and the natural hazards that threaten it.The organization has four major science disciplines,concerning biology,geography,geology,and hydrology.The USGS is a fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility.Task 1 Watch the video clip and then decide whether the following statements are true or false.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section I Task 11.A 1989 volcano eruption caused all four engines of an airplane to stall,which is just one of many severe eruptions recorded in history.2.Researchers are now keeping a close eye on over 70 volcanoes that could possibly erupt.(Nobody has seen anything like it in 9,000 years.)FF_(They are looking at about 170 that could potentially erupt.)3.Google Maps helps the US Geological Surveys volcano hazards program to detect all possible US volcano eruptions.4.Most volcanoes are around the Ring of Fire,which lies along the eastern coast of the America.5.The website launched by the volcano hazards program provides both volcano and earthquake information.TT_Unit 8 Part I Section I Task 1F_(Most of the volcanoes are along the western coast of the US and up through Alaska.)Task 2 Study the volcano-related words below in the left column by matching them with their definitions in the right column.Some of them are used in the video clip.Watch the video clip a second time and then put down the words you have heard.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section I Task 21.crater2.Ring of Fire3.mantle 4.seismic 5.crust a.the part of the Earth that surrounds the central coreb.the outermost layer of rock of which a planet consistsc.the round hole at the top of a volcanod.relating to or caused by an earthquakee.a belt of seismic and volcanic activity roughly surrounding the Pacific OceanUnit 8 Part I Section I Task 26.Lava 7.plate 8.magma 9.eruption 10.plume 11.molten12.dormantf.bursting and explosion of a volcanog.a tall,thin mass of smoke,dust or similar substance,that rises up into the airh.not active or growing,but having the ability to be active at a later timei.hot liquid rock which comes out of the Earth through a volcanoj.each of the several rigid pieces of the earths lithosphere that together make up the earths surfacek.a liquid state of metal or rock caused by extreme heatl.hot liquid rock found just below the surface of the EarthIve heard .Ring of Fire,seismic,lava,eruption,plume_Task 3 Watch the video clip again and then have a group discussion based on the following questions.After the discussion,each group will give a brief report to the class.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section I Task 31.Do you know any disasters caused by volcanoes in human history?2.Living next to a volcano can be dangerous.Suppose you were a government official,how would you plan to evacuate people quickly and safely?e.g.Mt.Vesuvius eruption in Italy in the year 79 AD;the city of Pompeii_(open)_Unit 8 Part I Section I Task 33.Around 500 million people in the world live near volcanoes.Are there any benefits to living near volcanoes?Can scientists forecast volcanic eruptions?Volcanoes can be beneficial,not only in improving agriculture or as an energy source like fertile soils,geothermal energy,but also economically in business opportunities and recreation and tourism like mineral resources,industrial products,spas and resorts._Unit 8 Part I Section I Task 3【Script】4.Volcano eruption affects places ten to thousands of miles from an eruption site because of the ejection of volcanic rock fragments,gases,and aerosols(悬浮微悬浮微 粒粒)into the atmosphere.What impact did the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland April,2010 have on people?It caused great chaos over European airspace,resulting in the cancelation of hundreds of European flights.The eruption also caused parts of a massive glacier to melt,leading to severe flooding._ScriptUnit 8 Part I Section I Script In 1989,a plane full of passengers flew into a cloud,which stalled all four engines!Its not theweather to blame,but a volcano!Ash plumes can bring down planes and send entire towns running forcover.“Nobody has seen anything like it in 9,000 years.”Now,theres a new way for emergency managers and the people who live in the shadows of a volcanoto know if danger is on its way.“Were looking at about 170 that could potentially Word Bankreverse/rvs/adj.反向的反向的tsunami/tsunmi/n.海啸海啸tectonic/tektnk/adj.地壳构造上的地壳构造上的displace/dsples/v.（从原来的地方）移开；排（水）（从原来的地方）移开；排（水）shallow/l/adj.浅的浅的friction/frkn/n.摩擦摩擦landfall/lndfl/n.着陆着陆engulf/nlf/n.吞没吞没crest/krest/v.形成浪峰形成浪峰Unit 8 Part I Section II Word Banksurge/sd/v.汹涌汹涌the Indian Ocean印度洋印度洋the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center太平洋海啸警报中心太平洋海啸警报中心Honolulu/hnlulu/n.地名地名,火奴鲁鲁（檀香山）美国火奴鲁鲁（檀香山）美国on-call随叫随到；待命的随叫随到；待命的tremor/trem(r)/n.震动震动alert/lt/v.向向报警；警告报警；警告in the wake of随随之后而来之后而来Unit 8 Part I Section II Word BankNotes1.Indonesia A republic in southeastern Asia including more than 13,000 islands.It achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1945.It is the principal oil producer in the Far East and Pacific regions.2.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center(PTWC)It is one of two tsunami warning centers that are operated by NOAA in the United States.Headquarteredin Ewa Beach,Hawaii,the PTWC is part of an international tsunami warning system(TWS)programand serves as the operational center for TWS of the Unit 8 Part I Section II Notes1.Why has Japan been hit by many tsunamis in history?A.Because it is always hard hit by earthquakes.B.Because it has a long coastline.C.Because it is relatively low-lying in geographic location.D.Because it is situated on the edges of four tectonic plates.Task 1 Watch the video clip and choose the best answers to the following questions.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section II Task 12.How destructive are tsunamis according to the passage?A.They can swallow up a ten-story building.B.They can send out an enormous burst of energy up through the ocean.C.They can create a thunderous roar in the air.D.They can destroy a harbor.3.What happens when a tsunami recedes?A.It slows down.B.It crests and breaks.C.It causes more damage.D.It returns with multiple waves.Unit 8 Part I Section II Task 14.How many people died as a result of the 2004 tsunami in the India Ocean?A.Near 500,000.B.More than 200,000.C.Over 5000.D.Close to 20,000.5.Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center?A.It gives advice to people on how to deal with tsunami ruins.B.It is an organization for scientists to monitor global quakes.C.It is on-call 24 hours a day.D.It prevents any tsunami tragedy happening around the world.Unit 8 Part I Section II Task 11.What is mainly discussed in the video clip?2.What happens when two tectonic plates push together?3.How is a tsunami different from ordinary waves?4.What happens when the first tsunami strike is over?Task 2 Watch the video a second time and then give a short answer to each of the following questions.TaskHow tsunamis occur and their destructive power.It reaches inland without breaking._Unit 8 Part I Section II Task 2An earthquake occurs,displacing enormous quantities of water._Multiple waves will arrive._Task 3 Look at the two pictures and make a two-minute comment on the topic of tsunami disaster.Prepare to answer one or two questions raised by the class or your teacher after your presentation.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section II Task 3Questions:1.What is a tsunami?Tsunamis are giant sea waves.They can be caused(1)by an earthquake that occurs under the ocean,(2)by an underwater landslide,or(3)when a volcano erupts under water.Unlike the regular waves you might see at the beach or during a normal storm,tsunamis dont form on the surface of the water.They build energy as they move water within the ocean,sometimes as much as several miles deep._Unit 8 Part I Section II Task 32.What can you see from the picture?3.How do you know that a tsunami is coming?4.What is the most recent earthquake-related tsunami you have heard of?Huge waves,crowds of people,cars nearby._One sign of a tsunami is when the water level along coastlines changes(either by rising or falling)rapidly.In countries that dont have warning systems for tsunamis,the first thing people might see is stronger waves like the ones in an ordinary storm.These are followed quickly by the big tsunami waves._(Open.)_Unit 8 Part I Section II Task 35.Do you know any countries or areas that are very likely to be hit by tsunamis?6.If you happen to be in a tsunami-hit area,what can you do to keep yourself and others safe?Japan,Indonesia,the Philippines,Chili and,in the United States,Alaska,Hawaii,and the coasts of Washington,Oregon and California are most at risk._Go to a higher ground,avoid going to beaches and keep alert to the local radio or TV news.When natural disasters like earthquakes,tsunamis,floods,and hurricanes occur,people might feel very helpless.But there are increasingly more technological advances that can help us._Unit 8 Part I Section II Task 3【Script】We can set up comprehensive prevention systems to predict upcoming disasters so as to reduce damage to a minimum.Secondly,people in danger zones can learn what risks there are and how to escape possible dangers.Whats more,we need to be equipped with relevant knowledge about nature,such as the causes of the disasters.The more we know about it,the more preventive measures can be taken._ScriptUnit 8 Part I Section II Script The warnings are few,the signs are sudden.The tide goes into reverse.A thunderous roar fills the air.And then,it strikes.And when it is over,nothing is left.A tsunami.The word in Japanese means“harbor wave”.Japan has been hit by many tsunamis in its history as a result of its location.It lies across the edges of four tectonic plates where most earthquakes,the principle cause of tsunamis are born.When two tectonic plates push together,the resulting earthquake sends an enormous burst of energy up through the ocean,displacing enormous quantities of water.Word Bankrumble/rmbl/n.（擂（擂,炮等）隆隆响炮等）隆隆响slope/slp/n.坡坡;斜面斜面lethal/lil/adj.致命的致命的sluff/slf/n.雪泻；小雪崩雪泻；小雪崩slab/slb/n.厚板，平板厚板，平板bound/band/adj.被缚住的被缚住的trigger/tr(r)/v.触发触发,引起引起snowmobiler/snmbil/n.驾雪车者驾雪车者descend/dsend/v.下来下来,下降下降Unit 8 Part I Section III Word Bankslam/slm/v.猛推猛推ultimately/ltmtli/adv.最终地最终地Unit 8 Part I Section III Word Bank1.Avalanches can be _ with their terrifying speed.A.accidental B.unstable C.fatal D.frequent2.Snow slopes of 30 to 45 degrees are considered _.A.too general by skiers B.danger zones for avalanches C.not steep enough to cause avalanches D.perfect foundations for building layers of snowTask 1 Watch the video clip and choose the best answers to the following questions.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section III Task 13.90 percent of victims die because _.A.of canon explosives B.of the weather C.they accidentally trigger an avalanche D.of the unstable surface of snow slopes4.Which of the following will NOT trigger an avalanche?A.Yelling and shouting.B.Strong winds.C.Heavy snowfall.D.A sudden change of temperature.5.What should we do to avoid being avalanche victims?A.Do not use snowmobiles when on the slopes.B.Fire explosives to save people trapped in avalanches.C.Increase the number of ski patrols.D.Watch out for warning signs,and learn how to react.Unit 8 Part I Section III Task 1Task 2 Watch the video clip again and then complete the following dialogue.TaskUnit 8 Part I Section III Task 21.With terrifying speed,an avalanche can rumble down the mountain slope burying under a lethal blanket of snow.2.But when layers form weak bounds,any new snow falls on and waits for the right trigger.3.90 percent of avalanche victims die because they or someone with them .4.In most cases,its of a skier or snowmobiler that makes the surface unstable.everything in its path_an unstable foundation_accidentally trigger an avalanche_the sudden weight_Unit 8 Part I Section III Task 25.So pay attention to the weather,look for ,learn what to do because everything can change in just a few seconds.warning signs_【Script】in an emergency_ScriptUnit 8 Part I Section III Script With terrifying speed,an avalanche can rumble down the mountain slope burying everything in its path under a lethal blanket of snow.Each year about 150 people in Europe and North America die from avalanches.Large ones can wipe out forests and erase mountain villages.Avalanches come in many forms,some called“sluff”,consist of sliding loose snow.Others called“slab avalanches”occur when large sections of the snow pack crack off and crash down the slope.As snow falls,it builds up layer upon layer.With Section I News-Lexical Features(2)News-Lexical Features(2)Unit 8 Part II Section I Besides the simple and short words used metaphorically or idiomatically in news reports,some special technical terms or words with special meanings could also get in the way of comprehending a newscast.In news reports,jargon(专业术语专业术语)is often used to discuss a particular profession or group that is difficult for listeners with no prior knowledge about it to understand.e.g.Words in political reports:deadlock,diplomatic immunity,multilateral negotiation,reach consensus,veto powerUnit 8 Part II Section I Words in military reports:biochemical weapon,nuclear weapon,mass destruction weapon,cease fire,anti-terrorism,car-bombing Words in economics reports:fiscal,financial crisis,annual rate,recession,pick-up,plummet,Gross Domestic Product,tax reduction and exemption In news reports,the full names of some frequently-used abbreviations may be spoken only once or may not be given.e.g.WTO World Trade Organization WHO World Health OrganizationUnit 8 Part II Section I UNESCO IOC APEC ASEAN G-7 OPEC In news reports,the names of the capitals,famous buildings or presidents are used to replace the country or its administration in order to present the events in a lively and vivid way.United Nations Educational,Scientific,and Cultural OrganizationInternational Olympic CommitteeAsian Pacific Economic Cooperation(forum)Association of South East Asian NationsGroup of SevenOrganization of Petroleum Exporting CountriesUnit 8 Part II Section Ie.g.1)The White House is examining a range of options to spur a merger between General Motors and Chrysler,a government official said.2)The Francophone Summit offered Sarkozys government an opportunity to protect French as an international language,a status it is steadily losing to English.Listening Skills Rule of Thumb 1 Build up your knowledge of the commonly used vocabulary found in news reports and keep a categorized list of the new words you learn.Unit 8 Part II Section I Rule of Thumb 2 Practice the correct pronunciation of some frequently used words.Focus on words that may seem similar or confusing to you.Rule of Thumb 3 Familiarize yourself with important names of people and places.Some proper names like“Fiji military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama”,may not be important to remember as a whole,but you should remember military commander.Rule of Thumb 4Give yourself time to get familiar with reporters and their accents.Unit 8 Part II Section I Rule of Thumb 5 Keep up-to-date with whats going on at home and abroad.For practice,you can watch the news in Chinese first for the main news items,which can help prepare you for understanding news reports in English.(US)Federal Reserve(美国美国)联邦储备（美国官方金融机联邦储备（美国官方金融机构，履行中央银行的职能，执行构，履行中央银行的职能，执行美国的货币政策，为银行提供可美国的货币政策，为银行提供可随时调用的全国现金储备机制）随时调用的全国现金储备机制）bond/bnd/n.债券；公债债券；公债fiscal/fskl/adj.财政的；国库的财政的；国库的deficit/defst/n.赤字；亏损赤字；亏损stimulus/stmjls/n.促进因素；刺激物促进因素；刺激物Congress/kres/n.国会，议会国会，议会;代表大会代表大会persist/psst/v.持续存在持续存在quantitative/kwntttv/adj.量化的；定量性的量化的；定量性的Word BankUnit 8 Part II Section I Task 1near-term adj.短期，近期短期，近期induce/ndjus/vt.引起；导致引起；导致complement/kmplment/n.补充；补充物补充；补充物Treasury bond财政部发售的公债财政部发售的公债,美国的长期国美国的长期国库券库券inflation/nflen/n.通货膨胀；通胀率通货膨胀；通胀率deflation/dflen/n.通货紧缩通货紧缩prolong/prl/v.延长延长destabilize/disteblaz/v.使（制度、国家、政府等）使（制度、国家、政府等）动摇；使不安定动摇；使不安定Unit 8 Part II Section I Task 1asset/set/n.资产；财产资产；财产volatile/vltal/adj.易变的易变的the US Labor Department美国劳工部美国劳工部Unit 8 Part II Section I Task 1 US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday defended the Feds recent action to buy more 1)and called on Congress to approve more fiscal stimulus to strengthen the economy.“Without more stimulus,high unemployment could 2).”he said.The Fed on November 3rd announced a$600 billion plan to purchase government bonds,the socalled3),which aroused criticism both internationally and 4).Task 1 Listen to the following news and then fill in the blanks with the exact words you heard.TaskUnit 8 Part II Section I Task 1government bonds_persist for years_second round of quantitative easing(QE2)_domestically_Unit 8 Part II Section I Task 1 Bernanke argued that the Fed itself cannot fix all of the economys problems,aiming to lower public expectations.“There are limits to what can be achieved by the central bank alone,”he said.“5)that combines near-term measures to enhance growth with strong confidence-inducing steps to reduce longer-term structural(budget)6)would be an important complement to the policies of the Federal Reserve.”Bernanke said that the Feds Treasury bond purchases are needed to promote faster job creation and reduce the risk that 7)could turn into deflation.very low inflation_A fiscal program_deficits_Unit 8 Part II Section I Task 1 Deflation is a prolonged and destabilizing drop in prices of goods and services,wages and 8)like stocks or homes.According to the latest data released by the US Labor Department,the US 9)which excluded volatile energy and food prices in October increased only 0.6 percent on a year-on-year basis.The unemployment rate,currently at 9.6 percent,was not expected to 10)soon.the values of assets_core consumer prices_fall significantly_eyewitness/awtns/n.目击者；见证人目击者；见证人blast/blst/n.爆炸爆炸condemn/kndem/vt.谴责；判刑谴责；判刑unabated/nbetd/adj.不衰退的；不减弱的不衰退的；不减弱的revive/rvav/vt.使重生；恢复精神使重生；恢复精神Word BankUnit 8 Part II Section I Task 2Task 2 Listen to the following news and then give a short answer to each of the following questions.TaskUnit 8 Part II Section I Task 21.What is this news report about?A Palestinian suicide bombing in Israel where approximately 30 people were wounded._2.How did the bomber carry out the terror attack?He blew himself up outside a caf._3.Why did Israeli police say that they had been on alert for a new wave of Palestinian attacks?Because of the start of the US-led military offensive against Iraq._Unit 8 Part II Section I Task 3Task 3 Read the following passage after the clip.Pay particular attention to pronunciation and intonation.Task Bernanke said that the Feds Treasury bond purchases are needed to promote faster job creatio