1、Unit 5 Revealing natureDeveloping ideasattackmovebreathespeakeatstealsleepthink1.Look at the pictures and tick what plants can do.Developing ideas Before reading How aware are plants?This is the central question behind a fascinating new book,What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz,director of the Man
2、na Center for Plant Biosciences at Tel Aviv University(特拉维夫大学).A plant,he argues,can see,smell and feel.It can mount a defense when under siege,and warn its neighbors of trouble on the way.A plant can even be said to have a memory.But does this mean that plants think or that one can speak of a“neuro
3、science”of the flower?Chamovitz answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook.Do plants think?Developing ideas Before reading n The average strawberry has 200 seeds.Its the only fruit that bears its seeds on the outside.草莓平均有200粒种子。它是唯一在外面结种子的水果。n Peaches,pears,apricots,quinces,strawberrie
4、s,and apples are members of the rose family.桃子、梨、杏子、木瓜、草莓和苹果都是蔷薇科的成员。n The difference between nectarines and peaches is that nectarines dont have fuzzy skins.You can graft peach branches onto a nectarine tree or nectarine branches onto a peach tree so you have both types of fruits.油桃和桃子的区别是油桃没有绒毛皮。你
5、可以把桃枝嫁接 到油桃树上，或者把油桃枝嫁接到桃树上，这样你就可以 同时获得两种水果。n Trees are the longest-living organisms on earth.树木是地球上寿命最长的生物。NoImageSome interesting facts about plantsDeveloping ideas Before reading l Around 2,000 different types of plants are used by humans to make food.l There are over 200,000 identified plant spec
6、ies and the list is growing all the time.l Bamboo is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world;it can grow 35 inches in a single day.l Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that grapes were grown to make wine about 8,000 years ago in Mesopotamia (todays Iraq),although the ancient Egyptians were
7、the first to record the process of making wine about 5,000 years ago.Some interesting facts about plantsDeveloping ideas Before reading 2.Read the passage and find out the ways in which plants communicate.Plants can communicate with each other by using chemicals,sound and“wood wide web”.Developing i
8、deas While reading An expository essay(说明文)is a structured academic paper that investigates an idea,provides argumentation,and presents everything in simple language to make the concept clear for everyone.Read for the structure and main ideaThe word“expository”is a derivative of the word“exposition”
9、.As you can already understand from the name,the core task behind an expository essay is to expose information.Simply put,to expose something means to lay something uncover,or discover information in a way to make it understandable for a reader.What is an expository essay?Developing ideas While read
10、ing Para 1Talking plants have long been a thing of myths and legends.Many cultures have stories of talking trees that give advice as well as 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 c
11、an communicate with animals and people.Main idea Talking plants have long been a thing of myths and legends.Developing ideasParagraph 1 is used to introduce the main topic of the passage.While reading Para 2With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy,new research has revealed something am
12、azing:it appears that plants can communicate after all.Main ideaNew research has revealed that plants can communicate.Developing ideasParagraph 2 is used to clearly illustrate the thesis statement.While reading Para 3It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each
13、other.This happens when a plant,say a bean plant,gets attacked by insects.The plant releases 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 start
14、s to release its own,different chemicals.Some of these chemicals drive insects away.Others attract insectsthe 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.Main ide
15、aIt has been known for some time that plants use c h e m i c al s t o communicate with each other.Developing ideasParagraph 3 is Point 1:Using chemicals.While reading Main ideaPlants also use sound to communicate.Para 4More surprisingly,plants also use sound to communicate.People cant hear these sou
16、nds,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 d
17、rought is arriving.Developing ideasParagraph 4 is Point 2:Using sound.While reading Main ideaPlants have a communication system called“wood wide web”in a forest.Para 5Most surprisingly of all,plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest.Scientists call
18、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 woo
19、d 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 attac
20、k other plants.Perhaps one day scientists will learn how to create a“firewall”to help prevent these attacks within the wood wide web.Developing ideasParagraph 5 is Point 3:Using the“wood wide web”.While reading Main ideaScientists are learning more about the secret language of plants.Para 6Scientist
21、s 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.Developing ideasParagraph 6 is used as a conclusion and a restatement.While reading Part 1:Introduction
22、and thesis statementPara.1-2:Plants can communicate.Part 2:BodyPara.3-5:Plants have various ways to communicate.Part 3:ConclusionPara.6:Scientists are learning more about the language of plants.Developing ideasOrganization of the passage While reading Using chemicals*The plant releases chemicals _ t
23、hat are being eaten.*When another plant detects the chemicals,it starts to _.from the leaves release its own,different chemicalsUsing sound*Some plants make noises _.*A chilli plant can _.*Some trees make _ _.with their roots tell if a neighbouring plant is helpful,or unfriendly clicking noisesto in
24、dicate droughts comingUsing the“wood wide web”*This fungal network links _ _.*Plants can _ with each other.*Plants can _ to attack other plants.the rootsof different plants to each othershare information steal food from each other Developing ideasModern research is showing that plants can _.Maybe on
25、e day we will be able to“talk”with municate with each other3.Organise information from the passage and complete the diagram.and even food or spread poisons While reading Developing ideas1.What figure of speech is being used when the plants are described as calling for help?What is its function?2.Wha
26、t does“wood wide web”mean?3.What do you think are the benefits of studying plant communication?4.What discoveries are described in the two reading passages in this unit and what do their meanings have in common?Think sharePersonification.It can make descriptions more vivid.“Wood wide web”means an am
27、azing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest.It is linked underground by fungi and 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.Passage 1 reveals the discovery of
28、 evolution and Passage 2 reveals the discovery of communication between plants.They all reflect that there are numerous secrets in nature that remain to be explored.Learning to learn Personification means giving human characteristics to something that is not human.By using human characteristics to d
29、escribe an object,animal or even a place,personification can make descriptions more vivid.While reading 1.Talking plants have long been a thing of myths and legends.Talking plants即“会说话的树”，talking 为现在分词作定语，它与所修饰的名词之间存在逻辑上的主谓关系，可以替换成一个定语从句，即Plants that talk。【拓展】单个分词作定语时，通常放在被修饰的名词之前；分词短语作定语时，放在被修饰的名词之
30、后。现在分词作前置定语，通常表示正在进行的主动动作，也可以表示主动但不是正在进行的动作。过去分词作前置定语，通常表示被动，且有时有已完成的含义。Developing ideas After reading key words and expressions【例句】A falling body is accelerated by the attraction of the earth.（单个分词，前置）The cinema standing across the street was set up last year.（分词短语，后置）The injured man was rushed to
31、the hospital.（单个分词，前置）Most of the young men invited to the party were Jacks classmates.（分词短语，后置）a sleeping child,a falling star（主动，正在进行）a promising child,a walking dictionary（主动，但不是正在进行）fried eggs,boiled water（被动完成）Developing ideas1.Talking plants have long been a thing of myths and legends.After re
32、ading key words and expressions 2.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 with animals and people.【例句】据说 Darwin是物种起源一书的作者。Darwin is said to be the writer of the book On the Origin of Sp
33、ecies.=It is said that Darwin is the writer of the book On the Origin of Species.=People say(that)Darwin is the writer of the book On the Origin of Species.sb be said to do sth结构的含义和用法：sb be said to do sth=It is said that sb do sth=people say(that)sb do sth“据说某人做了某事”。Developing ideas After reading k
34、ey words and expressions 3.With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy,new research has revealed something amazing:it appears that plants can communicate after all.With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy复合结构在句中作状语，说明背景。现在分词believing和前面的代词是逻辑上的主谓关系，表示主动。【拓展】在“with+名词/代词+非谓语动
35、词”复合结构中，非谓语动词可以是不定式（多指动作尚未发生）、动词-ing形式（多指动作正在进行）、动词-ed形式（与前面的名词构成被动关系）。Developing ideas【例句】With Tim guiding us,we had no difficulty in finding the destination.由于Tim的引导，我们毫不费力地找到了目的地。With no one to talk to,John felt miserable.没有人可以倾诉，约翰感到很难受。With the problem settled,he felt relieved.问题解决了，他如释重负。After
36、 reading key words and expressions 4.This happens when a plant,say a bean plant,gets attacked by insects.Developing ideassay在这里意为“认为；假定，比方说”。【拓展】常用的表达还有：lets say(that)和just say(that)。【例句】If we put out,say,twenty chairs,would that be enough?如果我们搬出去，比方说二十把椅子，够不够？Lets say your plan fails,then what?假设说你
37、的计划失败，那怎么办？Just say you won the lottery what would you do?假定你中了彩票你打算做什么？After reading key words and expressions 5.When another bean plant detects the chemicals from its injured neighbour,it starts to release its own,different chemicals.Developing ideasdetect v.发现，察觉（尤指不易察觉到的事物）detection n.察觉，发现；侦查de
38、tectable adj.可觉察的；可发现的；可查出的【例句】The tests are designed to detect the disease early.这些检查旨在早期查出疾病。Many problems,however,escape detection.然而许多问题却未被察觉。The noise is barely detectable by the human ear.这种噪音人的耳朵几乎是察觉不到的。After reading key words and expressions 6.Scientists call this system the“wood wide web”.
39、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.Developing ideaswood wide web 源于互联网词汇 world wide web。注意作者的造词手法：作者运用wood wide web，在形式和功能上将两者巧妙地联系起来，从而帮助学生进一步了解这种神奇
40、的植物信息网络。语言生动，比喻恰当，贴近生活。After reading key words and expressions 7.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.Developing ideasfungus n.真菌（注
41、意其复数形式为：fungi）fungal adj.真菌的【例句】A fungus is a plant that has no flowers,leaves,or green colouring,such as a mushroom or a toadstool.真菌是一种没有花、叶子或绿色的植物，比如蘑菇或毒蕈。Fungal diversity did not correspond with bacterial diversity.真菌的多样性与细菌的多样性并不一致。After reading key words and expressions Developing ideasWriting
42、 an observational journal Read the observational journal and answer the questions.1.How were the daffodil bulbs planted?2.In what environment did the leaves grow?3.What do the flowers look like?Week 1The daffodil bulbs have been planted side by side in soil,with the pointed ends facing up.Water has
43、been added and the container was put in a cool,dark place.The bulbs are being watered regularly.Week 3A single stem has sprouted from each of the bulbs.On each stem are two leaves,which are long and narrow with a waxy texture.The container has been moved to a sunny,but cool place.Week 6The stems hav
44、e grown to around 20 centimetres tall and each has produced a single flower.The flowers are yellow and white,and shaped like trumpets.They were planted side by side in soil,with the pointed ends facing up.The leaves grew in a sunny,but cool place.The flowers are yellow and white,and shaped like trum
45、pets.NoImageDeveloping ideasWriting an observational journal Work in pairs and look at the pictures and talk about how the sunflowers grow.Then write an observational journal about the sunflowers.NoImage1 JuneCovered with 1-2 cm of moist soil,the sunflower seed takes a few days to come up after bein
46、g planted.Water has been added regularly and the hard seed coat softens in the damp soil to allow the first root to pierce downwards and the first leaves to push to the soil surface.Developing ideasWork in pairs and look at the pictures and talk about how the sunflowers grow.Then write an observatio
47、nal journal about the sunflowers.Writing an observational journal 6 JulyThe root continues to grow downwards.The single stem grows hollow and smooth,revealing large spade-shaped leaves from the growing tip.Gradually,the plants growing tip reveals the first hints of development of the flower bud.The
48、plant stem becomes more woody.Developing ideasWork in pairs and look at the pictures and talk about how the sunflowers grow.Then write an observational journal about the sunflowers.Writing an observational journal 26 JulyAbout three weeks after the flower bud first becomes visible at the tip of the
49、sunflower stem,it enlarges and begins to reveal a flattened disc.Over the course of one week,the yellow ray florets,the disc florets bloom across the core of the sunflower blossom.It is yellow,looking beautiful.Developing ideasWork in pairs and look at the pictures and talk about how the sunflowers
50、grow.Then write an observational journal about the sunflowers.Writing an observational journal Give a talk about communication between living things.Organise your ideas following the steps below.Begin with what living things you have chosen to talk about.Explain how they communicate and give example
