的环境，减少污染和浪费，培养环保意识。
? 人类在不断发展的历程中，取得了辉煌的成绩，但是也给自然环境带来了灾
难，提醒我们反思：发展不能以破坏自然为代价，应该与自然保持和谐。 参考教法 ? 导入问题：
Should we move on to the problem of environmental protection? Why? What methods do you think we should take to protect the environment? Is it late to solve the environmental problems?
Language points in the Text
1. physical a. connected with the body
e.g. Playing basketball is a form of physical exercise. 打篮球是体育活动的一种形式。
The doctor gave me a physical examination this morning. 今天上午医生给我做了体检。
2. alter v. to change, or to make someone or something change e.g. Has she altered her mind? 她改变主意了吗？
The tailor altered the coat to make it shorter. 裁缝把大衣改短了。
3. transform v. to completely change the appearance, form, or character of
something or someone
e.g. Increased population has transformed the landscape. 增长的人口改变了地貌。
The situation has been greatly transformed. 形势已经大大好转。 4. modify v. to make small changes to something in order to improve it
e.g. We have to modify our plan a little bit. 我们不得不对计划稍加修改。
He has modified his demands. 他已降低了他的要求。
5. drain v. to make the water or liquid in something flow away: e.g. Luckily the water drained away in time. 幸好水及时排掉了。
It seemed that his life was draining away. 他的生命似乎在枯竭。
6. beneficial a. having a good effect
e.g. Cycling is highly beneficial to health and the environment.
骑车对健康和环境非常有益。
It would be beneficial to keep up with the developments in Asia. 跟上亚洲的发展步伐会很有益处。
7. pressing a. needing to be discussed or dealt with very soon e.g. Poverty is a more pressing problem than pollution. 贫困是一个比污染更加紧迫的一个问题。
Pressing business matters prevented him from taking a holiday. 紧迫的事务使他没法休假。
8. negative a. harmful, unpleasant, or not wanted
e.g. He gave me a negative answer. 他给了我一个否定的答案。
Their criticism was not negative. 他们的批评并不是负面的。
课文翻译
人与环境
人类有史以来不断改变环境，以改善自己的生活方式。人类借助科技工具改变了地球的许多自然特征，将林地和草原改造成为农田，使江河变成湖泊和水库，用于灌溉或用于水力发电。人类还通过给沼泽地排水、凿石劈山、修建公路和铁路等方式，改变了地球的面貌。
然而，人类改变自然环境并不总是带来有益的结果。如今，空气和水的污染
给地球的健康造成了越来越严重的危害。每天机动车辆的排气管排出成千上万吨废气。工厂释放的烟雾污染了工业区和周围乡村的空气。水污染同样有害，海洋的整个生态平衡正在受到破坏，工业废水已经使许多河流的生物死亡。
现在，环境保护比以往任何时候都更为紧迫。我们知道，对环境的大规模破
坏已经带来了负面影响，甚至咄咄逼人地威胁到人类的生存。对这些问题漠不关心将意味着自我毁灭。因此，应采取有效措施并通过法律来保护环境。不然的话，人类势必遭受因其不关心生存环境而引起的严重后果之苦。 Exercises
Task 1 Read the text again and answer the following questions.
1. Why has man changed the physical environment in history?
They have changed the physical environment in history because they want to
improve the way of life.
2. Can you give some examples of altering physical features of the earth?
Transform wood lands and prairies into farms; make rivers into lakes and
reservoirs for irrigation purposes or hydroelectric power. 3. What causes the pollution of the air and water?
Gases from the exhausts of motor vehicles, smoke and pollution from factories.
4. How do you think of “Indifference to these problems will mean committing suicide”?
If we don’t care about the problems, the environment will be worse and worse,
such as no clean air and water, no healthy food, people can not live in such a terrible environment.
5. What should we do to improve the environment on campus?
Reduce wastes on campus. For example, eat up food in canteen, turn off the lights
when leaving classroom, recycle used books, etc.
Task 2 Find the right definition in Column B that matches the words in Column A.
1. j 6.i
2.f 7.d
3.h 8.e
4.a 9.g
5.b 10.c
Task 3 Fill in the blanks with the given words. Change the form where necessary.
1. Poverty is a more pressing problem than pollution in Africa. 2. Survivors of the crash were rescued by helicopter. 3. The new credit cards will be of great benefit to our customers. 4. James was hit in the mouth as he struggled with the burglars. 5. We must conserve our woodlands for future generations. 6. Her face hadn't altered much over the years. 7. His character seems to have undergone a complete transformation since his
marriage.
8. The feedback will be used to modify the course for next year. 9. You may be physically and mentally exhausted after a long flight. 10. They thought his behavior was abnormal. Task 4 Fill in the blanks according to the following passage.
Green living is a great way to create a more eco-friendly environment. People can take some actions to preserve the environment. The use of organic cotton, which is on the rise for both eco-friendly shops and fashion designers. You help reduce the amount of trees that are unnecessarily chopped down by using products made from recycled paper. Vegetarianism, it can help contribute to the environment by helping reduce global warming and food shortage.
Task 5 Translate the following sentences into English or Chinese.
1. He cut through a forest to get to school.
2. Science has brought about many changes in our lives. 3. Most of the big cities in the world suffer from traffic jam. 4. Millions of people in Africa every year struggle for food.
5. 中国的环境问题变得越来越糟糕，已经到了一个刻不容缓的地步。
高速发展把大片的国土变成了不毛之地。报告指出，只有32%的工业废料被正确处理。现在中国已经出现了数百万的环境难民。
Reading Practice Passage One
1.B
2.A
3.D
4.B
5.A
Passage Two
Choose from below an appropriate Chinese to match each equivalent in the passage.
回收的材料 室外温度 按揭贷款 净化污水
recycled materials outdoor temperature mortgage payment purified sewage utility bills Earthship
environmentally friendly way heating control
tire or dirt-filled-can construction eco-friendly building methods
物业管理费 地球之船
环保的途径 暖气控制
轮胎或泥土填埋建设 生态型建筑法
Practical Writing
Letters of Showing Apology
设计思路
? 道歉信是写信人因私人或业务关系在情感、态度、利益等方面使对方感到不
满或造成损失，因此主动向对方写信道歉。具体通过“概述、重要句型介绍、例文学习、写作实践”四个步骤让学生掌握道歉信的写作。 参考教法
? 注意要点：开门见山写出道歉的原因，并真切地表达歉意，同时要写出对对
方造成伤害或损失的弥补措施，在信的最后可再次表示歉意； ? 格式主要有两种： 1）齐头式（Blocked Form )
齐头式，又被称做“封闭式”、“平头式”、“并列式”等。这种格式要求信头、收信人地址、日期、称谓、正文(包括每段起始句)、结尾礼词、署名等各部分均需上下对齐。这种形式便于打印，因此多用于商务书信。美国人以及加拿大人习惯采用此种格式。