资源简介

(共38张PPT)
UNIT 5　Revealing nature
Section Ⅰ　Starting out & Understanding ideas
A Journey of Discovery
The captain of the ship，the Beagle，wanted someone who would “profit① by the opportunity of visiting distant② countries yet little known”．The person who answered the call③ was not the captain's first choice.It was a young man who had left medical school without completing his degree． What's more④，he had recently received a letter from his father predicting that he would be “a disgrace⑤ to yourself and all your family”．Despite all this，his adventures on this ship would lead to⑥ one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time⑦.
who引导定语从句，修饰先行词a young man，定语从句使用了过去完成时。
现在分词短语作定语，修饰a letter。其中that引导宾语从句。
The young man in question⑧，Charles Darwin，was a geologist⑨ and naturalist， fascinated by⑩ rocks，plants and animals．He left England on the ship，the Beagle，in 1831.The journey gave him the chance to study various living things in their natural environments. After Darwin had spent some time in South America，his room on the ship was crowded with samples of the plants and animals he had collected.As he studied these，he asked himself the question：how did different species come to exist ？
过去分词短语作定语。
After引导时间状语从句，句中使用了过去完成时had spent，表示行为先于主句谓语(was crowded with)发生。
At that time，people believed that all species had appeared on Earth at the same time ，and had not changed since .But Darwin began to think differently.He noticed that some species of animals were very similar to each other.Maybe animals evolved as they adapted to their changing environments？It was just an idea，but enough to inspire Darwin to look for more evidence .
When the Beagle reached the Galápagos Islands in 1835，Darwin saw a variety of new species，but it was the birds that interested him the most．Darwin noticed that there was a difference between the finches on
each of the islands.It seemed their beaks had evolved according to what food was available on that particular island.
强调句，结构为“It is/was＋被强调部分＋that/who＋其他部分．”，此处强调了主语the birds。
Darwin suspected that the finches had evolved from a common ancestor ，which had arrived on the islands a long time before．Over time ，it had slowly evolved into many new species.And that was the answer to how new species of plants and animals came to exist：they evolved from earlier ancestors.
that引导宾语从句，作suspected的宾语，其中which引导非限制性定语从句，修饰ancestor。
how引导宾语从句，作介词to的宾语。
It was a completely new idea—a theory of evolution .Darwin explained this theory in his book，On the Origin of Species. It was not published until 1859 and immediately caused a storm .Many people refused to believe that living things ，including humans，had evolved from lower forms of life.They were shocked. But Darwin's scientific studies were so convincing that more and more people started to believe his theory.
“not ...until ...”意为“直到……才……”。
“so ...that ...”意为“如此……以至于……”，引导结果状语从句。
Today，On the Origin of Species is regarded as one of the most important works ever written.It has changed ideas about life on Earth forever.And it all began with the journey on the Beagle.
◆难词注解
①profit v．有益于，对……有好处 n．益处，好处
②distant adj.遥远的
③answer the call 响应号召
④what's more 更重要的是，而且
⑤be a disgrace 是耻辱，是丢脸的事
※disgrace n．丢脸，耻辱
⑥lead to 导致，引起
⑦of all time 有史以来
⑧in question 正被谈论的，讨论中的
⑨geologist n．地质学家
⑩be fascinated by 被……迷住
give sb.the chance to do sth.给某人做某事的机会
be crowded with 挤满；拥塞
sample n．样本
come to exist 开始存在
at the same time 同时
since adv.此后，后来
be similar to 与……相似
evolve v．进化
adapt to 适应
inspire sb.to do sth.激励某人做某事
evidence n．证据，证明
a variety of 各种各样的
finch n．雀科鸣禽
beak n．鸟嘴，喙
according to 按照；根据
available adj.可获得的
suspect v．猜想，怀疑，觉得
ancestor n．(动物的)原种，祖先
over time久而久之；随着时间的推移
the answer to ……的答案
evolution n．进化(论)
origin n．起源；起因
storm n．(感情的)爆发，迸发
refuse to do sth.拒绝做某事
living things 生物
convincing adj.有说服力的；令人信服的
※convince vt.说服；使确信，使信服
be regarded as 被认为；被当作是
begin with 以……开始，从……开始
※同义短语：start with
参考译文
发现之旅
贝格尔号的船长想要招募这样一名船员，这名船员将能“借此机会访问遥远而鲜为人知的国度并从中受益”。然而来应聘的人并不是船长心中的理想人选。来者是个没有完成学位就从医学院辍学的年轻人。而且，他不久前刚收到一封家书，在家书中，父亲预言他将会成为“自己和全家人的耻辱”。尽管如此，他的这次乘船探险之旅将带来有史以来最重要的一项科学发现。
我们提到的这个年轻人就是地质学家和博物学家查尔斯·达尔文，他对岩石和动植物有着浓厚的兴趣。1831年，他搭乘贝格尔号从英格兰启程。这趟旅程给了他研究自然环境中各种生物的契机。在南美洲度过一段时间后，他的船舱里堆满了收集到的动植物样本。当他研究这些样本时，他产生了疑问：这些不同的物种是如何产生的？
当时，人们认为所有的物种都是同时出现在地球上的，并从此再无变化。但达尔文开始有了不同的想法。他注意到，有些不同物种的动物彼此间很相似。也许动物为了适应不断变化的环境会逐渐进化？虽然这只是一个设想，但足够鼓舞达尔文去寻求更多证据。
1835年，当贝格尔号抵达加拉帕戈斯群岛后，达尔文发现了各种各样的新物种，但其中最令他感兴趣的是鸟类。达尔文注意到，在群岛中的每一个小岛上，雀鸟之间有所不同。它们的喙似乎是根据所在岛屿上可觅得的食物进化而来的。
达尔文猜想，这里所有的雀鸟都由共同的祖先进化而来。很久以前，雀鸟的祖先来到这片群岛，随着时间推移，慢慢进化成许多新的种类。于是，关于动植物的新种类是如何产生的这个问题就有了答案：它们是从早期的祖先进化而来的。
这是一个全新的观点——进化论。达尔文在他的《物种起源》一书中对此进行了解释。《物种起源》直到1859年才得以出版，并立即引起轰动。很多人拒绝相信包括人在内的所有生命都是从更低级的生命形式进化而来的。他们对此感到震惊。然而达尔文的科学研究很有说服力，越来越多的人开始相信他的理论。
如今，《物种起源》被认为是迄今为止最重要的著作之一。它彻底改变了人类对于地球上生命的认识。而这一切都开始于贝格尔号的探索之旅。
Section Ⅲ　Developing ideas
The Secret Language of Plants
Talking plants have long been a thing of myths① and legends②.Many cultures have stories of talking trees that give advice as well as③ warnings to people. Alexander the Great and Marco Polo were said to have visited such a tree in India. And in some modern stories，such as the film Avatar，trees can communicate with④ animals and people.
“sb./sth.be said to have done ...”表示“据说某人/某物曾……”
With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy⑤，new research has revealed⑥ something amazing：it appears that plants can communicate after all⑦.
with复合结构(with＋宾语＋宾语补足语)，在句中作状语，本句中宾语us与believe之间是主动关系，用现在分词形式believing作宾语补足语。that引导宾语从句。
It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each other. This happens when a plant，say⑧ a bean plant，gets attacked⑨ by insects.The plant releases⑩ tiny amounts of chemicals from the leaves that are being eaten．This is like a warning，or a call for help：“I'm being attacked！” When another bean plant detects the chemicals from its injured neighbour，it starts to release its own，different chemicals.Some of these chemicals drive insects away .Others attract insects—the wasps ！The wasps kill the insects that are eating the bean plants.Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system， so that we can use it to grow crops without pesticides ．
“It is known that ...”表示“众所周知……”，It是形式主语，that从句是真正的主语。本句中有for some time作时间状语，用现在完成时“It has been known for some time that ...”。
that引导定语从句，修饰the leaves，从句使用了现在进行时的被动语态，表示“正在被……”。
so that引导目的状语从句，表示“以便于……”。
More surprisingly ，plants also use sound to communicate.People can't hear these sounds，but plants are making them.Some plants make noises with their roots .Corn and chilli plants do this.They also “listen” to the noises from other plants.A chilli plant can tell if a neighbouring plant is helpful，or unfriendly. Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water，indicating drought is arriving.
本句中现在分词clicking作noises的前置定语，现在分词indicating后面接省略引导词that的宾语从句，作伴随状语。
Most surprisingly of all，plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest. Scientists call this system the “wood wide web”．It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use.While the Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked by cables and satellites，the wood wide web is linked underground by fungi .This fungal network links the roots of different plants to each other. Using the wood wide web，plants can share information and even food with each other.For example，some pine trees can send food to smaller pine trees to help them grow.But just like our own
Internet，the wood wide web has its own version of “cybercrime ”．Plants can steal food from each other，or spread poisons to attack other plants.Perhaps one day scientists will learn how to create a “firewall” to help prevent these attacks within the wood wide web．
动词call后常跟双宾语，构成call sb.sth.，意为“称/叫……为……”。
现在分词短语作方式状语。
“how＋不定式to create”作动词learn的宾语。
Scientists are learning more every day about the secret ways in which plants talk to each other．Who knows？Maybe one day we will know enough about plant communication to be able to “talk” with them ourselves.
way作先行词且在宾语从句中作状语时，定语从句往往由in which/that引导，还可以省略关系词。
◆难词注解
①myth n．(古代的)神话
②legend n．传说，传奇(故事)
③as well as 也；和……一样
④communicate with sb.与某人交流
⑤fantasy n．幻想，想象
⑥reveal v．揭示，揭露，透露
⑦after all 终究；毕竟
⑧say vt.比方说
⑨get attacked 被攻击/袭击
⑩release v．释放，放出
tiny amounts of 微量的
detect v．发现，察觉(尤指不易觉察到的事物)
drive ...away赶走……
wasp n．黄蜂
pesticide n．杀虫剂，农药
surprisingly adv.使人吃惊地，出人意料地
root n．根
chilli n．辣椒
tell v．识别，辨别
neighbouring adj.邻近的，附近的
indicate v．表明，显示
link v．把……联系起来；连接
※link ...to/with ...把……和……连接/联系起来
in some ways 在某些方面
be similar to ...与……相似
cable n．电缆
fungus n．真菌(复数fungi)
fungal adj.真菌的
version n．版本
cybercrime n．网络犯罪
steal ...from ...从…… 偷 ……
spread v．传播，流传
one day 有朝一日
参考译文
植物密语
会说话的植物一直是神话传说中的一大元素。许多文化都有会说话的树的故事，会说话的树给予人们忠告和警示。据说亚历山大大帝和马可·波罗曾在印度遇到过这样一棵会说话的树。在诸如电影《阿凡达》等一些现代故事中，树可以与人类和动物沟通交流。
我们一直认为会说话的植物只存在于幻想之中，但新研究有了令人惊奇的发现：植物间似乎确实可以交流。
人们早就知道植物可以利用化学物质进行交流。当一株植物——比如豆科植物——被昆虫袭击时，就会发生这种情况。正遭受啃食的叶子会释放出微量的化学物质。这像是警示，抑或求救：“我被攻击了！”当另一株豆类植物察觉到附近受伤同伴释放的化学物质时，它自身便开始释放不同的化学物质。其中一些化学物质能驱赶昆虫，而另一些则会吸引另一种昆虫——黄蜂！黄蜂会杀死那些啃食豆类植物的昆虫。科学家希望能进一步了解这种植物警报系统，这样我们就可以利用它种植不用使用农药的农作物。
更不可思议的是，植物也能用声音交流。虽然人类听不到，但植物确实正在发出声音。有些植物通过根部发出声响，比如玉米和辣椒。它们还能“听见”其他植物发出的声响。由此，辣椒可以知道自己附近的植物是敌是友。还有些树木在水分不足时会发出咔嗒声，以示干旱就要来了。
然而最令人惊奇的是，植物拥有一套神奇的信息交流系统，几乎可以连接起一片森林中所有的植物。科学家们称之为“树联网”。在某种程度上，它很像人类使用的互联网。互联网是通过电缆和卫星连接的全球计算机网络，而树联网则是在地下通过真菌连接而成
的。这个真菌网络将不同植物的根彼此连接。通过树联网，植物可以互相分享信息甚至是食物。比如，某些松树会通过真菌网络向松树幼苗输送养分，帮助幼苗生长。但是，像互联网一样，树联网也会发生“网络犯罪”。植物会偷取同伴的养分，或散播有毒物质攻击其他植物。也许未来某一天，科学家会学会如何设计一堵“防火墙”来阻止树联网中的这些攻击。
科学家们每天都在了解更多关于植物相互交流的秘密方式。谁知道呢？说不定哪一天，我们就能足够了解植物沟通的知识，从而亲自和植物“聊天”了。

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