Unit 2 Searching for InformationI. Teaching ObjectivesIn this unit, you will learn how to:1.search for reliable and better source materials for your research2.find your information by scanning and skimming3.identify topic sentences for a general idea in the paragraph4.guess word meaning through context clues and affixes5.read fast by following the organization of the text6.be a critical reader7.take notes effectively8.write a summary for what you have read9.enhance language skills with the help of the reading and listening materials presented in this unit II. Teaching Procedures1 Finding reliable and better sourcesTask 1Answers may vary.Task 2Answers may vary.Task 3Answers may vary.2 Scanning and skimmingTask 11 Artificial intelligence.2 The article may argue for/against the idea that artificial intelligence will replace human jobs in the future.3 The story tells that computerization threatens to replace many white-collar jobs.4 The author is optimistic and may not agree that machines will replace human jobs.5 The specter of automation unemploying us all may have finally arrived.6 But the mass job shrinkage that these observers all expected did not come.7 Yet Americans as a whole were not automated out of work. (Para.8, L1)Yet, through all that, more new jobs appeared. (Para.11, L2)8 Man will not lose jobs because there will always be demands of a new economy.9 The neighbor would prefer to order the shoes from machine-handling factories.10 Saving will lead to spending which in turn will create newer, perhaps better jobs tomorrow.3 Identifying topic sentences for informationTask 11 Pieced together, the topic sentences form a short, coherent paragraph or essay.2 a) Paragraph 2b) Paragraph 11Task 21 Game theory is the science of strategy.（Para.1）2 Games are fundamentally different from decisions made in a neutral environment.（Para.3）3 The essence of a game is the interdependence of player strategies.（Para.4）4 A general principle for a player in a sequential-move game is to look ahead and reason back. （Para.5）5 In contrast to the linear chain of reasoning for sequential games, a game with simultaneous moves involves a logical circle.（Para.7）6 Another way to make threats credible is to employ the adventuresome strategy of brinkmanship—deliberately creating a risk that if other players fail to act as one would like them to, the outcome will be bad for everyone.（Para.17）Task 31 Paragraph 12 Paragraph 5 to 103 Paragraph 12 to 194 Guessing word meaningTask 12 immutable (Para.4, L2): 不变的Context clues: who realized that space is not an immutable stage on which events play out3 trampoline (Para.4, L4): 蹦床，弹床Context clues: responding much as a trampoline does to a jumping child4 malleable (Para.4, L5): 有弹性和延伸性的Context clues: In fact, so malleable is space that, according to the math, the size of the universe necessarily change over time.5 stay put (Para.4, L7): 不动的Context clues: The fabric of space must expand or contact—it can’t stay put.6 flew in the face (Para.5, L4): 敢于违抗Context clues: It flew in the face of the prevailing wisdom.7 stalemate (Para.6, L2): 僵局Context clues: A static situation, like a stalemate in a tug of war8 repulsive (Para.6, L5): 排斥的Context clues: a counterbalancing force would need to provide a repulsive push9 antigravity (Para.7, L2): 排斥力Context clues: antigravity—a gravitational force that pushes instead of pulls10 exodus (Para.8, L3): 大批离开Context clues: And the best explanation for this cosmic exodus came directly.11 supernovae (Para.11, L2): 由于爆炸而突然变亮的星Context clues: distant supernovae—exploding stars so brilliant they can be seen clear acrosscosmos12 garner (Para.13, L5): 获得、得到Context clues: would have garnered him another Nobel Prize13 perplexing (Para.14, L5): 令人不解的Context clues: Perhaps most perplexing of all is a question of quantitative detail.Task 22 unprecedented (Para.1, L1): un-precedented 史无前例的3 self-replicating (Para.1, L6): self-replicating 自我复制的4 diameter (Para.3, L2): dia-meter 直径5 assembler (Para.10, L1): assembl-er 装配器6 contaminant (Para.13, L3): con-taminant 污染物7 non-renewable (Para.13, L6): non-renewable 不可再用的8 foreseeable (Para.14, L2): foresee-able 可预见到的9 exotic (Para.14, L2): exot-ic 非本地，奇异的10 dissipate (Para.14, L6): dis-sipate 消失Task 3Derivatives Affixes or roots Meaning More Words1 multidiscipline multi- many or several Multicolor multistepsmultiform multipurpose2 nanotechnology nano-one of a thousandmillion nanorobot nanomachine nanoscopic nanostructure3 convergence vergcon-incline tojoindivergence vergeconcordconcourse conferate4 construct struct build or make structure reconstructdestruct obstructsubstructure5 manufacture man-,manu-fact by handmakemanuscript manualmanage manipulatefactory facture6 interdisciplinary inter-between or among agroup of things or people interplay interweave interdependent interaction7 insulator insul-protect sth. from insulate insular insularityunpleasant knowledge peninsula8 semiconductor semi-duct- partly but not completelyleadsemiconscious semiofficialsemitropical conductinduct9 microprocessors micro-extremely small microwavemicrocomputermicroscope micrometer 10 simultaneouosly simul-in common simulator simulationsimultaneity simulate11 reverse vers,vert turn obversion inversesubversion convert12 automatical auto Work by oneself;relating to oneself automate autonomous automobile autobiography5 Using the organization of the textTask 1organization paragraphs Introduction Para.1What The definition ofnanotechnology nanotechnology Para.2 nanometer Para.3 nanoscale Para.4How The waynanotechnology worksParas.5-11How The applications ofnanotechnologymedical industry Para.12environment Para.13other fields Para.14 conclusion Para.15Task 21 The writer develops his main ideas about global warming mainly through the structure of cause-and-effect.2 The writer illustrates the effects of global warming through the structure of classification.3 The effects are arranged from the most obvious to least obvious, and signal words include: themost prominent effect of global warming; another area affected by global warming; a third type of evidence of global warming.4 Four types. They are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluocarbons.5 Paragraph 11 follows the pattern of problem-and-solution. The signal words are “a common problem that arises is”, “needs to take action now”.6 Reading criticallyTask 1The tone of one’s writing indicates their feelings and attitude toward the topic being discussed. It reveals whether they are being playful or serious, humorous or somber, whether they are angry or tranquil, bitter or confident. Through tone, their attitude toward what they are writing about and their relationship to their readers become clear.Controlling tone is largely a matter of selecting words and sentences, and choosing details so as to serve the purpose of writing well. Now let’s consider the following sentences which you write to tell two facts:The sales of vitamin E have doubled in the past five years. The increase in sales has been helped by the statements from health food enthusiasts and doctors.1 Combined into a single one, sentence 1 is impartial in tone because it doesn’t reveal your attitude. Impartial and toneless sentences are what you want to write if you either have no opinion or want to seem factual and objective, rather than personal and subjective.2 Strong in tone and clear in attitude: sentence 2 reflects your belief that vitamin E sales have surged because of a deceptive and misleading advertisement campaign. If you feel the sentence is too strong, too opinionated, perhaps even biased, you may suggest your feelings instead of stating them directly.3 By using the words—freaks and quack, this version can make your reader sense not only your reservation about the worth of the vitamin but also your contempt of those who promote it. But the tone is so strong that your reader may consider it exaggerated and may even question its truth.4 This version is more suggestive and less explicit, though your attitude is still negative because “faddists” (unlike enthusiasts) are a word with unfavorable associations and because claims “(unlike statements)” encourage the reader to doubt their truth.5 By inserting the detail that only a few doctors make claims for vitamin, the version seems biased as the tone is stronger.6 The phrase “some doctors” implies that there is another group of doctors who have made no claims for the vitamin and who may perhaps reject such claims.7 Th e word “even” suggests your surprise that doctors, who should know better, have made such foolish claims, thus further weakens the support of the doctors without making your statement seem exaggerated or biased.8, 9 Tone not only can be controlled by the choice of words and details but also by the choice of structures. Sentence 8 and 9 make the implied criticism more forceful as the negative words or phrases have been moved to their beginning or end position, the position which is more emphatic for one’s opinion.10, 11, 12 The three sentences are not critical but favorable in tone toward the increased sales ofvitamin E, because “experts” seem more trustworthy than “enthusiasts” and both “reports” and “testimony” carry more weight than mere “statements”.13, 14 The two sentences have a positive tone because the phrase “a number of doctors” sounds more impressive than “a few” or “some doctors”. And “a number of leading doctors” are supposed to be more reliable, though not as reliable as “leading medical authorities”.15, 16, 17 The three sentences are less formal and more personal than the previous sentences as the first-person view “I” is adopted to personalize their tone.18, 19 The two sentences are more informal as the closer relationship between yourself and the reader is established by asking questions.20, 21 By addressing the reader as “you”, the sentences are more informal and personal.22 The informality of your writing will be increased by contractions, slang, and short, simple words instead of longer, more complex ones.Task 21 Text 9 addresses readers with some knowledge of global warming, because the author argues with strong evidence and reasons, quoting experts more frequently and trying to be impartial and impersonal by choosing more exact wording. On the contrary Text 10 talks to general readers, evidenced by using more definitions and easier language such as figurative speech. It is an essay charged with strong emotion.2 Text 10.3 No. Text 9 illustrates the effects of global warming with strong evidence and reasons, showing that the author tries to be objective and impersonal.4 No. These words lack preciseness. Text 9 tries to be more objective, quoting experts more frequently and avoiding showing strong personal emotion.5 Text 9 quotes Roger Revelle, an oceanographer, Jacques Chirac, French president, Al Gore, Vice president of USA, Ross Gelbspan, an author of a book about Earth’s climate change from global warming, Schneider, from the National Center of Atmospheric Research, and Elmer Robinson, the director of Mauna Loa Observatory. The quotation of those experts and authorities make the arguments more convincing.6 The criticism of Text 9 avoids being subjective and personal and resorts to more authorities and cold reasoning, hence it is more objective.7 Text 9. The use of the first-person view and figurative speech is often considered informal and less serious.8 Text 9, because the author uses more quotations from experts and authorities and less emotional words than Text 10.7 Taking notesTaskTitle: Global Warming and Its EffectsAuthor(s): Nicolas DallevaSource: Main ideas: The essay mainly talks about the effects and causes of global warming.Main findings or ideas: Global warming have negative effects on climate changes, survival of animals, development of plants, people’s health and global economy. There are two major causes for global warming: burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases.8 Writing a summaryTask 1The source material uses a story of identical twins to illustrate the idea that apart from the important role the genes play in the development of an individual, their environmental experience also affects their traits greatly. The summary grasps the idea without details of the story.Task 22 History has demonstrated that technology affects education profoundly. Considering the definition of technology broadly, one may say that prehistoric people used primitive technologies to teach skills to their young.3 Psychology can be divided into several important theories. Behaviourists emphasize the role of environment in shaping one’s behavior, while cognitivists explain behavior by analyzing mental processes. Freudians and humanists are more concerned with exploring behavior through the personality whereas social constructivists connect individual behavior to its social-historic context.Task 3Title: Global Warming and Its EffectsAuthor(s): Nicolas DallevaSource: Summary: According to Nicolas Dalleva, global warming has become a great challenge to human beings, for it not only affects the climate change and leads to the decrease of the number of animals per species, but also affects the agricultural growth. Dalleva believes that the burning offossil fuels is the culprit of global warming because it releases greenhouse gases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The other gases like methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluocarbons are also the causes of the greenhouse effect. In Dalleva’s opinion, despite the worldwide efforts, people do not take the issue seriously and do not realize that global warming will also exerts a negative effect on economy and health. He calls for, therefore, a stronger joint effort to prevent global warming. (134 words)Task 4Lecture 6Since the industrial revolution, people’s private sphere have been separated from their working places. Institutions like offices, factories and schools impose isolation on people who are blocked to their privacy sphere at work or at school. Now people try to break the isolation and seek intimacy with high-tech communication tools like facebook, skype, cell phones and emails. The tools enable people to gain comfort and warmth from close friends or families. (72 words) Lecture 7The Kepler Mission is to search for planets by measuring the starlight, through which we can learn about how stars and planets interact to form their eco-system and whether there exist life in other planets or whether they are suitable for life living. In over two years of its operations, over 1,200 potential new planetary systems have been found around other stars. Apart from that, the Kapler also tries to find the size of a planet and how the distance from its parent star. It also observes the effects of our sun’s magnetic activity. (94 words)Lecture 8Traditionally, doctors treat cancers by attacking individual cells. By identifying separate forms cancer cells without molecule test or gene sequencing, however, we can’t understand how the whole cancer system works. Thus the effect of this method is very limited. After exchanging thoughts with Danny, the speaker came up with a new strategy. That is the combination of atypical drugs, computer modeling and protein analysis. It may become one of the most effective ways to treat cancers. (76 words)Lecture 9Mammography is the most common way to detect breast cancer. However, with the increase of breast density, it would be harder to find cancer through X-ray. Dr. Deborah Rhodes has developed a new tool for tumor detection, which is three times as effective as traditional mammograms. What’s more, it is cheaper than other technology. But her research was rejected for by jo urnals, because it is so cheap that the producers of traditional mammograms won’t be happy to see it. Furthermore, there are also some political forces keeping it from the market. (91 words)Task 5Answers may vary.9 Enhancing your academic languageReading: Text 51 Match the words with their definitions.1 e2 h3 a4 g5 c6 b7 j8 f9 d 10 i2 Complete the following expressions or sentences by using the target words listed below with the help of the Chinese in brackets. Change the form if necessary.1 automation2 occupational3 immigrant4 uplift5 displacement6 hand-crafted7 ranched8 nutritious9 involved 10 assembly 11 yield 12 incredible 13 optimism 14 mob 15 professional 16 labeled 17 analyst 18 surplus 19 harbor 20 columnist 21 virtual 22 revolutionary 23 lace 24 undercut 25 barter26 litigable 27 specter 28 sift 29 pot3 Read the sentences in the box. Pay attention to the parts in bold.Now complete the paragraph by translating the Chinese in brackets. You may refer to the expressions and the sentences patterns listed above.increasingly important role （越来越重要的作用）tasks humans prefer not to do, or are unable to do（那些人类不愿做或不能做的事）and the like（以及诸如此类的事）settle man’s anxieties（解决人类的担忧）Some questions are raised（问题提了出来）4 Translate the following sentences from Text5 into Chinese.1 最近在《纽约时报》上刊登的一篇文章谈到了一种新计算机软件，该软件瞬间就能筛选数以千计的法律文件并寻找到那些可诉讼的条款，为律师们节省了花费在阅读文件上的数百小时。
