Unit 5 Environment学生用书

Unit 5 Environment and Clean Energy HighlightsReading & TranslatingText A 2009 Earth Day’ Presidential ProclamationText B The Advantages of Electric CarsText C PV systemGrammar StudyThe adverbial ClausePractical WritingResumeLeading inEarth Day is a day to both celebrate the environmental victories of the past and to reflect on the many remaining opportunities for improvement. Whether you celebrate Earth Day by attending a rally（集会）, signing a petition(请愿书) or switching to highly efficient light bulbs, make an effort to be mindful of the original vision for this day: to serve as a national learn-in for the sake of the environment.Pre-reading TasksTask 1 Before reading the passage, name three environmental problems we face withTask 2 Discuss your response with your partner. See what should we do to protect our environmentText A2009 Earth Day Presidential ProclamationU.S. President Obama While-reading TaskTranslate the underlined sentences into Chinese.1 The story of the United States is inextricably tied to our vital natural resources. As we enter a new era filled with challenges and promise, we must protect our land, wildlife, water and air -- the resources that have fueled our growth and prosperity as a Nation and enriched our lives. Doing this not only fulfills a sacred obligation to our children and grandchildren, but also provides an opportunity to stimulate economic growth.2 To achieve these ends, no issue deserves more immediate attention than global warming. Scientists have already observed alarming shifts in the natural world, including thawing permafrost, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels.3 Climate change presents a serious test for humankind, but it also provides an opportunity for great innovation and adaptation. The United States has risen to such challenges before, and Earth Day inspires us to transcend differences among nations so we may lead the world in protecting our planet from this global threat.4 Americans across the country are working hard to help limit the pollutants that cause climate change and reduce their impact on the environment, but we must do more. Individuals and organizations can plant trees, use energy efficient light bulbs, drive fuel efficient cars, hold clean-up drives, and teach young people about environmental preservation. Small changes in our daily lives can have a big impact on our environment. Individuals can walk, bike, and use public transportation; buy products with less packaging; and recycle and reuse paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum more often. American families can also save money by choosing energy efficient products, turning lights off, unplugging appliances, and cutting back on heating and air conditioning.5Government and business alike must also take serious and sustained action to protect our valuable natural inheritance. Through investments in scientific research and development, and the vigorous pursuit of alternative and renewable energy, we can create millions of green jobs that allow us to reduce greenhouse gases and excel in a competitive global economy. My Administration is committed to increasing fuel economy standards and putting more Plug-In Hybrid cars on the road, weatherizing millions of homes, and catalyzing private efforts to build a clean energy future. My Administration is also working to achieve a comprehensive energy and climate policy, one that will lessen our dependence on foreign oil, make the U.S. the global leader in clean energy technology, and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.6 President Theodore Roosevelt emphasized our obligation to future Americans, saying, “of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.” Heeding President Roosevelt’s call, and carrying forward his spirit of de termination, we must commit ourselves to protecting our environment and ensuring the health of our planet so we may share the magnificent blessings of our Earth with our grandchildren.7We do this not only to acknowledge the environment’s central role in the development of our Nation but also to recognize the strong ecological interdependence among nations. History has shown that as we sow, so too shall we reap. Let us rededicate ourselves to a world that provides bountiful harvests for us all not just today, but for many generations to come.8 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2009, as Earth Day. I encourage all citizens to help protect our environment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable world.Barack Obama ,President of the United States of AmericaNew Words★proclaim: /prouˈkleɪm/ v.formal (正式) to say publicly that something is important, is trueor exist宣布，声明proclamation: /ˈprɔkləˈmeɪʃən / n. 1. an official public statement about something that is important公告, 声明（书），宣言 2.「U」the act of stating somethingofficially and publicly宣布，公布，声明◆inextricable /ɪnˈekstrɪk-/ a..formal can’t be separated from each other 分不开的，解不开的fuel /'fjuəl/ vt.stimulate; provide……with power激起; 增加; 给……提供动力★fulfill /fulˈfɪl/ v. 1.achieve the thing that you hoped for, wished for etc履行（诺言），实现（希望）2.fulfill a promise/pledge etc formal to dowhat you said you would do 履行(诺言等);完成(任务等);实现★sacred /ˈseɪkrɪd/ a.. relating to a god or religion神圣的◆obligation /ˈɔblɪˈgeɪʃən/ n. a moral or legal duty to do something义务，责任★stimulate /ˈstɪmjʊleɪt/ v. 1. to encourage or help an activity to begin or develop further刺激2. to encourage someone by making them excited about andinterested in something激励★alarming /əˈlɑːmɪŋ / a. making you feel worried or frightened令人忧虑的，令人警惕的☆shift n.[C] 1. a change in the way people think about something, in the waysomething is done etc转换;转移;转变[(+in)] 2. one of the periodsduring each day or night when workers in a factory, hospital etcare at work轮班;轮班工作时间◆thaw /θɔ:/ v. if ice or snow thaws, or if the sun thaws it, it turns into water (使)融化；(使)变得友善n.融化；缓和◆permafrost /ˈpəːrməfrɔːst/ n..[U] a layer of soil that is always frozen in countries where it is verycold（寒冷国家的）永久冻土★glacier /ˈgleɪʃər/ n. [C] a large mass of ice which moves slowly down a mountain valley冰川★adaptation /ˈædæpˈteɪʃən/n.also a·dap·tion /əˈdæpʃən/ 1. [U] formal the process of changing something to make it suitable for a new situation改造；适应2. [C] a film or television programme that is based on a book or play改编,改写;改写本★inspire / -ˈspaɪr/ v. 1. to encourage someone by making them feel confident andeager to do something 鼓舞，激励2. to make someone have aparticular feeling or react in a particular way使（某人）产生（某种感情或反应；激起◆transcend /trænˈsend/ v.formal to go beyond the usual limits of something超越☆pollutant /pəˈluːtənt/ n. [C] a substance that makes air, water, soil etc dangerously dirty, andis caused by cars, factories etc污染源clean-up /ˈkliːnʌp/ n.[usually singular] a process by which you get rid of dirt or wastefrom a place清洁★preservation /ˈprezəˈveɪʃən/ n. [U] 1.the act of making sure that a situation continues withoutchanging 保护；保持，维持2. the degree to which something hasremained unchanged or unharmed by weather, age etc保养☆ recycle/ˈriːˈsaɪkəl/ v.to put used objects or materials through a special process so thatthey can be used again回收利用，再利用★ unplug /ʌnˈplʌg/ v.(unplugged; unplugging) to disconnect a piece of electricalequipment by pulling its plug out of a socket拔掉插销◆appliance /əˈplaɪəns/ n. [C] a piece of equipment, especially electrical equipment, such as acooker or washing machine, used in people’s homes电器★sustained /səˈsteɪnd/ a.[only before noun]continuing for a long time持久的sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ a.able to continue without causing damage to the environment可持续的★inheritance /ɪnˈherɪtəns/ n. 1. [U and C] money, property etc that you receive from someonewho has died继承的遗产2. [U] ideas, skills, literature etc fromthe past that influence people in the present（正式）（仍对人们有影响的思想、信念、技术、文学等）遗产★vigorous /ˈvɪgərəs/ ing a lot of energy and strength or determination大力的，充满活力的★pursuit /pərˈsuːt/ n. 1. [U] the act of trying to get, achieve, or find something in adetermined way 追求2. [U] the act of chasing or followingsomeone else 追赶，追踪 3. [C usually plural] formal anactivity such as a sport or hobby, which you spend a lot of timedoing花很多时间做的事情；工作；嗜好，消遣；追求★alternative /ɔːlˈtəːr-/ a.[only before noun] an alternative idea, plan etc is different fromthe one you have and can be used instead 可替代的；可供选择的n. [C] something you can choose to do or use instead of somethingelse可供选择的事物renewable / rɪˈnuː-/ a.[usually before noun] renewable energy replaces itself naturally,or is easily replaced because there is a large supply of it可再生的◆excel /ɪkˈsel/ v.(excelled; excelling ) [ not in progressive] to do something verywell, or much better than most people脱颖而出weatherize /ˈweðəraiz/ v.增强…..的保暖性，catalyze /ˈkætəlaiz/ v.change by catalysis or cause to catalyze促进;催化comprehensive/ˈkɔmprɪˈhensɪv/ a.including all the necessary facts, details, or problems that need tobe dealt with ;thorough全面的★administration /ədˈmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/ n.[C] the government of a country at a particular time政府★descendant /dɪˈsendənt/ n.. [C] someone who is related to a person who lived a long time ago, orto a family, group of people etc that existed in the past子孙后代◆heed /hiːd/ v. formal to pay attention to someone’s advice or warning响应magnificent /mægˈnɪfɪsənt/ a.very good or beautiful, and very impressive华丽的, 高尚的, 宏伟的◆ecological /ˈiːkəˈlɔdʒɪkəl/ a.[only before noun] connected with the way plants, animals, andpeople are related to each other and to their environment生态的interdependence /ˈɪntədɪˈpendəns / n.. a situation in which people or things depend on each other相互依赖★sow /səu / v.(sowed ;sown or sowed) to plant or scatter seeds on a piece ofground播种★reap /riːp/ v.to get something, especially something good, as a result of whatyou have done获得，得到dedicate /ˈdedikeit/ v.decide to spend all your time on or put all your efforts into one◆bountiful /ˈbauntɪfəl/ a.more than enough of it大丰收的★virtue [ˈvə:tʃu:] n. 1. a particular good quality in someone’s character美德，德行；2. an advantage that makes something better or more useful thansomething else优点，长处◆vest /vɛst/ v.provide with power and authority 授予，赋予，给予（合法权利或权力）★constitution /ˈkɔnstɪˈtjuːʃən/ n.[C] a set of basic laws and principles that a country ororganization is governed by宪法◆hereby /ˈhɪəˈbaɪ/ adv.as a result of this statement 因此；特此★contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ v. 1. to give money, help, ideas etc. to something that a lot of otherpeople are also involved in捐款；捐献2. [I] to help to makesomething happen贡献,有助于生词量总词数生词率三级词汇（*）四级词汇（★）纲外词（◆）48 613 7.8% 8* 29★15◆Phrases and Expressionsbe tied to 紧紧相连.依靠rise to the occasion/challenge成功应对困难局面∕挑战cut back on 削减, 缩减take action 采取行动be committed to 对某事尽心尽力come before 比……重要short of若无，除…外commit yourself to doing 答应，承诺carry forward推进Plug-In Hybrid 充电式混合动力的by virtue of 由于;凭借contribute to 帮助, 促成, 做贡献vest in [vest sth in sb] 授予，给予Barack Obama 巴拉克·奥巴马Theodore Roosevelt 西奥多·罗斯福，人称老罗斯福，昵称泰迪（Teddy） 1858年10月27日—1919年1月6日），美国军事家、政治家，第26任总统(1901-1909)。