1、Unit 1 Nature in the balanceP2 Building your languageComplete the passage with the correct forms of the words and phrases in the box below.agriculture impact thus due tovariety survive beneath break downThe Amazon rainforest is home to a great (1) _ of plant life; however, its soil is surprisingly p
2、oor in nutrients. In fact, the soil in the region cannot support (2) _ for more than a few years. If a scientist is shown a report listing the nutrients of that soil, he or she will probably think that only desert plants can (3) _ in it! Then why is the soil so poor in nutrients? For one thing, the
3、rainy season has a(n) (4) _ on the soil. varietyagriculturesurviveimpactP5 B1In the rainy season, the water level can rise to more than 12 metres. When the water goes away, it takes away the nutrients in the soil. For another thing, (5) _ the Amazons hot climate, it is difficult for the soil to buil
4、d up enough nutrients. Dead plants and animals (6) _ more quickly. The nutrients are soon taken in by the roots of the plants deep (7) _ the ground. As a result, most of the forests nutrients are locked up in the plants themselves, (8) _ allowing them to grow at an unbelievable speed.agriculture imp
5、act thus due tovariety survive beneath break downdue toare broken downbeneaththusThe documentary script uses some words with negative prefixes. Note the following prefixes and think of more words formed with them. Then fill in the table below with as many words as you can.PrefixesWordsun-unbelievabl
6、edis-disappearin-/im-/il-/ir-irreplaceablenon-non-smoking unlimited, unhappy, unknown, unusual, unreal, unfortunate, unlucky, unkind disagree, disadvantage, dissatisfied, dishonest, disabled invisible, incorrect, inactive, independent, impolite, imbalance, illegal, irregular, irresponsible non-stop,
7、 non-existent, non-profit, non-fictionP5 B2The documentary script compares the size of the Amazon rainforest with that of China, and the length of the Amazon River with that of the Yangtze River. Find these comparisons in the script. P5 B3While the reader may have no idea what a large figure refers
8、to, making comparisons with familiar places or objects will help them gain a better understanding. Learn thisHere are some expressions used to make comparisons: the same size/length as as large/long as more than/larger than/longer than twice/three times as large/long as Think of similar comparisons
9、for the figures below.1. It was reported that in 2011, about 34 million people lived in the Amazon. (population of Canada: about 37 million; population of Shanghai: 24 million)2. From 2001 to 2012, about 177,000 square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest were lost. (size of New Zealand: about 268,00
10、0 km2; size of Jiangsu: 102,600 km2)1. It was reported that in 2011, about 34 million people lived in the Amazon. (population of Canada: about 37 million; population of Shanghai: 24 million)(1) It was reported that in 2011, about 34 million people lived in the Amazon-that is about Canadas total popu
11、lation.(2) It was reported that in 2011, about 34 million people lived in the Amazon-that is 10 million more than the population of Shanghai.Check your answers.2. From 2001 to 2012, about 177,000 square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest were lost. (size of New Zealand: about 268,000 km2; size of Jiangsu: 102,600 km2)(1) From 2001 to 2012, about 177,000 square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest were lost- that is more than half the size of New Zealand.(2) From 2001 to 2012, about 177,000 square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest were lost- that is about twice the size of Jiangsu.