Problem Solving Made Easier Hans Christian von Baeyer

OUTLINE

1. Enrico Fermi

2. Questions

3. Text Type

4. Main Ideas

5. Structural Diagram

6. Text Pattern

7. Language Points

1. Enrico Fermi

Enrico Fermi (29 September 1901 – 28 November 1954) was an Italian-American physicist particularly known for his work on the development of the first nuclear reactor, Chicago Pile-1, and for his contributions to the development of quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics, and statistical mechanics. He was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on induced radioactivity.

Fermi is widely regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 20th century, highly accomplished in both theory and experiment. Along with J. Robert Oppenheimer, he is frequently referred to as "the father of the atomic bomb". He also held several patents related to the use of nuclear power.

2. Comprehension Questions

1.What does the first paragraphs tell about Fermi?

2.What is Fermi’s distinctive style?

3.Can you define a Fermi problem?

4.What was Fermi’s intention in posing the problems?

5.What was the value of Fermi’s style?

6.Is the text a story mainly about Fermi?

3. Text Type

Narration

Description

Exposition

Argumentation

记叙文 a movie描述文 a picture说明文 a lecture议论文 a debate

What is the topic discussed in the passage?

4. Main Ideas

1. Fermi the first to stir after the explosion

2. Fermi’s calculation confirmed

3. Fermi’s genius

4. His distinctive style

5. A Fermi problem

6. Earth’s Circumference

Summarize the main ideas of paragraphs.

4. Main Ideas

7. Piano tuners

8. Assumptions valid

9. Spirit of independence

10. Mowing the lawn

11. Counting the coins

12. The value of Fermi style

Summarize the main ideas of paragraphs.

5. Structural DiagramP

rob

lem

The topic

Introduce

9-11 Spirit of

independence

4 The Talent

5-8 How to develop it

12 The Value

1-3 E. Fermi 3 Genius

2 Calculati

on

1 Explosion

4 Style

7 Tuners

6 Earth

5 Problem

8 Assumpt

ion

11 Coins

10 Lawn

9 Spirit

12 Value

6. Text Pattern

Sequence / timeSpaceCompare-contras

tAdvantage-dis.Cause-effectProblem-solutionTopical （ G-S ）

顺序、时间空间比较 - 对比利弊因果问题 - 解决话题（总分）

7. Language Points

Blast, detonation, quiver, flutter, circumference, rotation, attest, whimsical, delve into, momentous, bolster …

When the problem is broken into sub-problems, each answerable without the help of experts or books, you can come remarkably close to the exact solution.