1、选择性必修三 Units 1-5AA need for changeOscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio likes to say that he makes his living in made-upworlds. Now DiCaprio, a UN Messenger of Peace, has produced a documentary (纪录片)about avery real concern: climate change. He shot Before the Flood all over the world thistimeplaying
2、 himself.DiCaprio became a climate activist after a 1998 meeting with former U. S. Vice President AlGore, an early advocate for climate change education. The meeting inspired him to launchtheLeonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The foundation has awarded over 60 million dollarstoindividuals and organizatio
3、ns that are working to protect wildlife, native communities, andtheplanet.In the documentary Before the Flood, DiCaprio investigates the impact of climatechangearound the globe. In his introductory speech at the films London premiere (首映),DiCapriosaid, “We wanted to make a film that gave people a se
4、nse of urgency, and that madethemunderstand what particular things are going to solve the problem.” In late 2016,NationalGeographic interviewed DiCaprio about Before the Flood.Q: Who do you hope to reach with the film?DiCaprio: We all have a role to play in saving our planet. This film is meant to e
5、ducate everyone,from global leaders to everyday citizens, on the threat of climate change. Climate change isreal,and it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species. Therearepractical steps we all must take today to speed up the adoption of renewable andclean-energy
6、 technologies across the planet. For the film we interviewed inspiring figures, suchasformer President Obama, who has the ability to affect millions of people.Q: How can an issue like climate change attract more sustained attention?DiCaprio: There is no issue this important because the future of the
7、 planet is at risk. Wehaveno planet B. The energy we focus on solving climate change and the pressure we place ongloballeaders to lead on the question will help create a sustainable and livable environment for thelongterm.Choose the best answer to each of the questions about the interview.1. What wa
8、s DiCaprios main purpose in making Before the Flood?A. To raise money for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.B. To explain in simple terms how the polar ice caps are melting.C. To help people understand and want to solve the problem of climate change.2. When did DiCaprio first become interested in the
9、 issue of climate change?A. After a meeting with an influential politician.B. After watching a documentary about the issue.C. After speaking with people in areas affected by rising sea levels.3. What is special about the people that DiCaprio interviewed?A. They were the first scientists to identify
10、the issue of global warming.B. They all have invented technologies for dealing with rising sea levels.C. They are individuals who can motivate people to fight climate change.4. Which of the following best describes DiCaprios attitude toward the problem?A. He believes that changes in government polic
11、ies are the best way to handle this problem.B. It is a very urgent problem, but if enough people work together, he is optimistic that asolutionis possible.C. He believes that we are in an extremely dangerous situation and is frustrated that we haveleft ittoo late.【Critical Thinking】DiCaprio says tha
12、t climate change is “the most urgent threat facing our entire species.”Doyou agree with his view? Why or why not?BWhen we encounter a stressful or frightening situation, our heart rate increases, ourbreathquickens, and our muscles become tense (绷紧的) these all happen naturally. In fact, formostof his
13、tory, we have assumed that there is a line separating our natural, basic instinct (本能)andour learned behavior. But recent brain research has proved that our brain can change instructureand function throughout our life, depending on our experiences. So would it be possible totrainour brain to control
14、 our “natural responses,” such as to fear?One of the most surprising ways to control our fear response is breathing. Police officers,forexample, use breathing techniques to prepare for crisis situations. These are basically thesameconcepts taught in yoga classes. One version that police officers lea
15、rn works like this: Breatheinfor four counts; hold for four counts; breathe out for four counts; hold for four; start again.Howcould something so simple be so powerful?The breath is one of the few actions that exist in both our somatic nervous system (whichwecan consciously control) and our autonomi
16、c system (which includes our heartbeat andotheractions we cannot easily access). So the breath is a bridge between the two. Byconsciouslyslowing down the breath, we can slow down the instinctive fear response that otherwisetakesover.One scientific study demonstrated how rhythmic breathing can actual
17、ly change thebrain.Sara Lazar, an instructor at Harvard Medical School, scanned the brains of 20 peoplewhomeditate (冥想) for 40 minutes a day. When she compared their brain images with thoseofnonmeditating people of similar ages and backgrounds, she found a significant difference.Themeditators had 5
18、percent thicker brain tissue in the parts of the brain that are usedduringmeditation that is, the parts that handle emotion regulation, attention, and working memory,allof which help control stress.Studies such as those conducted at Harvard suggest that meditators like deep-breathingpolice officers
19、may have found a way for us to evolve (进化) past the basic humanfearresponse. With training, it may be possible to become better prepared for a life-or-deathsituation.Note:somatic nervous system: 躯体神经系统autonomic system: 自主系统Complete the following tasks according to the text.1. Choose the main idea fo
20、r each paragraph.Para. 1 _Para. 2 _Para. 3 _Para. 4 _Para. 5 _A. Learning breathing techniques is one way to control our fear response.B. We have long believed that there is a clear divide between our instincts and our learnedactions,but this may not be the case.C. Researchers have found that some b
21、reathing techniques are able to improve areas of thebrainthat help control stress.D. Consciously controlling our breathing can affect other actions that we have less control over.E. We may be able to train our brain to better deal with life-threatening situations.2. How can we control our fear respo
22、nse by breathe skillfully?_3. What is the difference between the meditators brain and the nonmeditating peoples inthestudy?_4. Decide whether the following statements are opinion (O) or fact (F). We have assumed that there is a line separating our natural, basic instinct and ourlearnedbehavior. () R
23、ecent brain research has proved that our brain can change in structure andfunctionthroughout our life. () One scientific study demonstrated how rhythmic breathing can actually change the brain.() With training, it may be possible to become better prepared for a life-or-death situation. ()答案A.1-4 CAC
24、B【Critical Thinking】 略B.1.Para. 1-BPara. 2-APara. 3-DPara. 4-CPara. 5-E2. Breathe in for four counts; hold for four counts; breathe out for four counts; hold for four;startagain.3. The meditators had thicker brain tissue in the parts of the brain that handle emotionregulation,attention, and working memory, all of which help control stress.4. O F F O
