Making Your Own PredictionsMaking Your Own Predictions Work in groups to predict what kind of Work in groups to predict what kind of

changes will take place in the following changes will take place in the following fieldsfields

1) Medicine1) Medicine 2) Computer technology2) Computer technology 3) Education3) Education

Pre-ReadingPre-Reading Directions: Discuss the following Directions: Discuss the following

questions in pairsquestions in pairs.. 1. Do you feel the changes in our life? 1. Do you feel the changes in our life? What are they?What are they? 2.Do you think the changes in science 2.Do you think the changes in science

andand technology are too fast?technology are too fast? Can you be adaptable to these Can you be adaptable to these

changes? changes? Why?Why?

With the development of science and With the development of science and technology, the world is changing quickly. In technology, the world is changing quickly. In this text the writer presents several examples this text the writer presents several examples of the fast changes of the modern world. In of the fast changes of the modern world. In the space of two or three generations, people the space of two or three generations, people witnessed major advances in medical witnessed major advances in medical research, nuclear energy and space research, nuclear energy and space exploration. Facing the great changes, exploration. Facing the great changes, different people react to them differently. different people react to them differently. Some resist them, the others are eager to Some resist them, the others are eager to accept them. While after the two disastrous accept them. While after the two disastrous world wars, people fear that science will world wars, people fear that science will destroy them. But there is possibility for destroy them. But there is possibility for people to adapt to changes and science will people to adapt to changes and science will serve people will if treated properly. serve people will if treated properly.

Words and PhrasesWords and Phrases

1.adaptable1.adaptable adj.adj. able to change so as to be suitable f able to change so as to be suitable for new needs, different conditions, etc.or new needs, different conditions, etc. 能适应的，可能适应的，可修改的修改的

I’m sure she’ll cope with the changes very well; shI’m sure she’ll cope with the changes very well; she’s very adaptable.e’s very adaptable.

[[ 相关词语相关词语 ] adaptability n.] adaptability n. adapt adapt vtvt. 1) . 1) 使……适应使……适应 (adapt… to …)(adapt… to …) He could not adapt his way of life to the company.He could not adapt his way of life to the company. 2)2) 改造；改编改造；改编（（ adapt…n. …for)adapt…n. …for) The author is going to adapt his old play for The author is going to adapt his old play for television.television. adjustableadjustable 可调节的，可调整的可调节的，可调整的 [[ 同义词、形近词同义词、形近词 ]] ：： adept adept 熟练的；精通的熟练的；精通的

Words and Phrases

2.contradict2.contradict v. v. 1) to be opposite in nature to (another one); disa1) to be opposite in nature to (another one); disa

gree withgree with 同……相矛盾；同……相抵触同……相矛盾；同……相抵触 Your actions contradict what you said.Your actions contradict what you said.2)2) 反驳；否认；顶嘴反驳；否认；顶嘴 It’s difficult to contradict someone politely.It’s difficult to contradict someone politely.【【相关词语相关词语】】 contradiction n. contradiction n. in in ～～ toto 与……相矛盾，与……相违背与……相矛盾，与……相违背3. convert v. 3. convert v. 1) (to, into ) (cause to ) change into another form, 1) (to, into ) (cause to ) change into another form,

substance, or statesubstance, or state(( 常与常与 intointo 连用）转变；变换连用）转变；变换 That building has been converted into a school.That building has been converted into a school.

Foreign money can be converted at Foreign money can be converted at this bank.this bank.2) (from, to) (persuade to) accept a p2) (from, to) (persuade to) accept a p

articular religion, belief, etc.articular religion, belief, etc. 改变改变信仰、党派或意见等信仰、党派或意见等

She managed to convert him to heShe managed to convert him to her belief that life is fair to everyone r belief that life is fair to everyone in this world.in this world.

[[ 相关词语相关词语 ]conversion ]conversion n.n. 变换，转变换，转化 化

convertible adj.convertible adj. 可改的可改的 ,, 自由兑换自由兑换的的

[[ 同义词、相近词同义词、相近词 ] change,transfor] change,transformm

4. lag4. lag 1) 1) v.v. (behind) to move or (behind) to move or develop more slowly (tan others)develop more slowly (tan others)

落后落后 The elder people and children alwThe elder people and children alw

ays lag behind when we go fora ways lag behind when we go fora walk.alk.

She felt frustrated when she laggeShe felt frustrated when she lagged behind her classmates in examd behind her classmates in examss..

2) n. 2) n. 落后的时间 落后的时间 jet lagjet lag 时差感时差感 [[ 同义词、近义词同义词、近义词】】 linger, delaylinger, delay

5. negative5. negative adj.adj. 1) without any active, useful, or h1) without any active, useful, or h

elpful qualities; not constructivelpful qualities; not constructivee

消极的；无用的；无益的消极的；无用的；无益的 Pessimists usually take an negaPessimists usually take an nega

tive attitude towards life.tive attitude towards life. [[ 相关词语相关词语】】 negate negate vt.vt. 否定（存否定（存

在、事实等），使无效在、事实等），使无效 The air pollution of this area coThe air pollution of this area co

uld completely negate our effould completely negate our efforts to expand tourism here.rts to expand tourism here.

这个地区的空气污染彻底否定了这个地区的空气污染彻底否定了我们在这儿开展旅游的努力我们在这儿开展旅游的努力

negation negation n.n. 否认，否定，不存否认，否定，不存在在

negatively negatively adv.adv. 否定地，消极地否定地，消极地 [[ 反义词反义词 ] positive, affirmative] positive, affirmative

6. prosperity6. prosperity n.n. good fortune and success, esp. good fortune and success, esp. in money matters in money matters 富裕；兴旺发达富裕；兴旺发达

Many people pursues happiness and prosperitMany people pursues happiness and prosperity.y.

The prosperity of cities depends on the advanThe prosperity of cities depends on the advance ofce of

science and technology.science and technology. [[ 相关词语相关词语 ]prosper ]prosper vi.vi. 繁荣；成功繁荣；成功 prosperous prosperous adjadj. . 成功的，富裕的，顺利的成功的，富裕的，顺利的 prosperously prosperously adv.adv. 繁荣地，富裕地；顺利地繁荣地，富裕地；顺利地 [[ 同义词同义词 ] boom, success ] boom, success

7. give birth to7. give birth to 1) to be the origin 1) to be the origin of of 引发，产生，发生引发，产生，发生 The invention of compute gaveThe invention of compute gave birth to changes in people’s li birth to changes in people’s life.fe. The Chinese nation has given birth to many nThe Chinese nation has given birth to many n

ational heroes and revolutionary leadersational heroes and revolutionary leaders 2) to produce a child 2) to produce a child 分娩分娩8. have something /somebody in mind8. have something /somebody in mind 心中想着某人或某事心中想着某人或某事 He is a nice guy, but he is not the man that MaHe is a nice guy, but he is not the man that Ma

ry has in mind.ry has in mind. I couldn’t see what she has in mind.I couldn’t see what she has in mind.

9. out of the ordinary: 9. out of the ordinary: 不寻常的不寻常的 In our grandfather’s time it was quite out of In our grandfather’s time it was quite out of

the ordinary for a woman to go to work.the ordinary for a woman to go to work. We’ll be there by six, as long as nothing out We’ll be there by six, as long as nothing out of the ordinary happens.of the ordinary happens. 10. to be exact:10. to be exact: (spoken) used when giving (spoken) used when giving an exact answer, statement, etc.an exact answer, statement, etc. 确切地说确切地说 It’s two o’clock. To be more exact, it is two It’s two o’clock. To be more exact, it is two threethree..

1. The people of the pre-World War I 1. The people of the pre-World War I generation had hardly assimilated the generation had hardly assimilated the inventions of the era before they were attacked inventions of the era before they were attacked by a new batch of even more sophisticated by a new batch of even more sophisticated inventions.inventions. [[ 释义释义 ] Just before the pre-World War I ] Just before the pre-World War I generation got familiar with the inventions of tgeneration got familiar with the inventions of t

hehe day, many more advanced inventions came to day, many more advanced inventions came to them.them. 【汉译】第一次 世界大战前出生的一代人还没【汉译】第一次 世界大战前出生的一代人还没 有来得及掌握那个时代的发明又面临一批更高有来得及掌握那个时代的发明又面临一批更高 级的发明的级的发明的

2.Certain important inventions, lik2.Certain important inventions, like e the telephone, the airplane, the the telephone, the airplane, the automobile, and the radio, had automobile, and the radio, had been invented by 1914, but the been invented by 1914, but the effects of these inventions upon effects of these inventions upon the lives of ordinary citizens were the lives of ordinary citizens were not felt until many year later. not felt until many year later. [[ 释义释义 ] Certain important inventions , such as the telephone, t] Certain important inventions , such as the telephone, t

he he airplane, the automobile and the radio, had been inventedairplane, the automobile and the radio, had been invented before 1914, but the lives of ordinary citizens were affected onlybefore 1914, but the lives of ordinary citizens were affected only after many years.after many years. [[ 汉译汉译 ]] 一些重要的发明如电话、飞机、和收音机早在一些重要的发明如电话、飞机、和收音机早在 19141914 年以前年以前 就已经问世，但直到许多年后普通老百姓才感受到这些发明对他就已经问世，但直到许多年后普通老百姓才感受到这些发明对他 们的生活所产生的影响。们的生活所产生的影响。

3. They can’t wait for the next invention 3. They can’t wait for the next invention to to be available. be available. [ [ 释义释义 ]They are eager to see the new ]They are eager to see the new invention. invention. [ [ 汉译汉译 ] ] 他们急切地期待着下一个新发明的他们急切地期待着下一个新发明的 出现。 出现。 [[ 解析解析 ] can’t wait/can hardly wait to d] can’t wait/can hardly wait to do o something. something. 常用于口语， 表示“渴望做某常用于口语， 表示“渴望做某事”事” 如：如： I can’t to wait to know the result of the interview.I can’t to wait to know the result of the interview.

She can hardly wait to see her parents.She can hardly wait to see her parents. 4. Will we, as a species, survive the revolutions that we have4. Will we, as a species, survive the revolutions that we have begun.begun. [[ 释义释义 ] Will we, as human beings can continue to live after ] Will we, as human beings can continue to live after we ourselves started the revolutions?we ourselves started the revolutions? [[ 汉译汉译 ] ] 作为一个物种，我们人类能否在我们自己发动的这种作为一个物种，我们人类能否在我们自己发动的这种 变革中幸存下来呢？变革中幸存下来呢？

5. Despite all the problems of the modern world,however, mo5. Despite all the problems of the modern world,however, most st people would not choose to live in any of the less scientific people would not choose to live in any of the less scientific ages that have precede ours. ages that have precede ours. [ [ 释义释义 ] In spite of all the problems of the modern world, ] In spite of all the problems of the modern world, however, most people were not willing to live in any of the however, most people were not willing to live in any of the previous ages that have preceded ours. previous ages that have preceded ours. [ [ 汉译汉译 ] ] 尽管当今世界存在着种种问题，大多数人都不会愿意生尽管当今世界存在着种种问题，大多数人都不会愿意生活活 在我们之前的任何一个科学欠发达的时代。 在我们之前的任何一个科学欠发达的时代。 [[ 解析解析 ]precede vt. 1) (]precede vt. 1) ( 在时间、顺序上）领先于……在时间、顺序上）领先于…… ,,比……先比……先来来 She precedes the other students to reach the top of the hill.She precedes the other students to reach the top of the hill. 2) 2) （在地位、重要性方面）比……高，胜过（在地位、重要性方面）比……高，胜过 The needs of the community must The needs of the community must

precede individual requirements.precede individual requirements.

1) The fast change of the modern world 1) The fast change of the modern world (Para.1-2)(Para.1-2) ExamplesExamples A) People born just before World War I A) People born just before World War I experienced the invention of automobilesexperienced the invention of automobiles and airplanes and the disappearance of and airplanes and the disappearance of the iceman and the blacksmith.the iceman and the blacksmith. B) Working people can become obsolete B) Working people can become obsolete because their occupations vanish in the because their occupations vanish in the in the middle of their livesin the middle of their lives C) Knowledge increases geometrically.C) Knowledge increases geometrically. D) The Atomic Age began in 1945, followedD) The Atomic Age began in 1945, followed quickly by the Space Age.quickly by the Space Age.

2) People’s reaction to changes. (Para. 3 – 5)2) People’s reaction to changes. (Para. 3 – 5) A) When the change is too fast, people resist it. (Para. 3)A) When the change is too fast, people resist it. (Para. 3) B) People react differently to changes. (Para.4)B) People react differently to changes. (Para.4) C) There’s a limit to people’s ability to adapt. (Para. 5)C) There’s a limit to people’s ability to adapt. (Para. 5) 3) Science and man (Para. 6 -7)3) Science and man (Para. 6 -7) A) There’s often a great lag between scientific discovery A) There’s often a great lag between scientific discovery and cultural acceptance. (Para. 6)and cultural acceptance. (Para. 6) B) The nature of Science (Para. 7)B) The nature of Science (Para. 7) 4) The Possibility for people to adapt to changes. (Para.8 – 11)4) The Possibility for people to adapt to changes. (Para.8 – 11) A) People’s great potential to accept technical innovations. A) People’s great potential to accept technical innovations. (Para. 8)(Para. 8)

B) People’s ability to make agricultural miracles. ( Para. 9)B) People’s ability to make agricultural miracles. ( Para. 9) C) Science can serve people well if treated properly. (Para. 10)C) Science can serve people well if treated properly. (Para. 10) D) People’s unwillingness to live in any less scientific ages.D) People’s unwillingness to live in any less scientific ages. (Para. 11) (Para. 11)

1) Why Darwin’s theory is still rejected by 1) Why Darwin’s theory is still rejected by many many

people?people? 2) Why does the article say that the 2) Why does the article say that the

future will future will be more revolutionary than the past?be more revolutionary than the past? 3)What does the sentence “ it didn’t work 3)What does the sentence “ it didn’t work

out out that way” mean?that way” mean? 4)What is the author’s attitude towards 4)What is the author’s attitude towards

modernmodern science?science?