1、Unit 5Period 4Reading新 课 导 入What do you think plants can do?课 堂 学 习1Look at the pictures and tick what plants can do.p attackp breathep eatp sleepp movep speakp stealp thinkNow talk about what else you think the plants can do and give examples.make medicine protectenvironment reduce noise predict th
2、e solar terms Do you think that plants can communicate with each other?If so,how can they do that?The Secret Language of PlantsTalking 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
3、 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.With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy,new research has revealed something amazing:it appears that plants can communicate after
4、all.It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each 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:“Im being attac
5、ked!”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 th
6、is plant warning system,so that we can use it to grow crops without pesticides.More surprisingly,plants also use sound to communicate.People cant 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 o
7、ther 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.Most surprisingly of all,plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest.Scie
8、ntists 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.Us
9、ing 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 poiso
10、ns 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.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 comm
11、unication to be able to“talk”with them ourselves.2Read 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”.SkimmingScanningMatch each paragraph with its main idea and then divide them into three parts.Para.1
12、 A.Plants use chemicals to communicate with each other.Para.2 B.Plants use sound to communicate.Para.3 C.Talking plants have long been a thing of myths and legends.Para.4 D.New research has showed that plants can communicate.Para.5 E.Maybe one day well be able to talk with plants.Para.6 F.Plants use
13、 wood wide web to communicate.Part 1 Para.1-Para.2 Part 2 Para.3-Para.5 Part 3 Para.6 3Organise information from the passage and complete the diagram.Modern research is showing that plants can 1_.Using chemicalsThe plant releases chemicals 2_ that are being eaten.When another plant detects the chemi
14、cals,it starts to 3_.Using soundSome plants make noises 4_.A chilli plant can 5_Some trees make 6_.Using the“Wood wide web”This fungal network links 7_.Plants can 8_ with each other.Plants can 9_ to attack other plants.Maybe one day we will be able to“talk”with plants.Careful readingAnswers:1 commun
15、icate with each other2 from the leaves3 release its own,different chemicals4 with their roots 5 tell if a neighbouring plant is helpful,or unfriendly 6 clicking noises when there is not enough water,indicating drought is arriving7 the roots of different plants to each other 8 share information and e
16、ven food9 steal food from each other,or spread poisonsThink Share1 What figure of speech is being used when the plants are described as calling for help?What is its function?2 What does“wood wide web”mean?3 What do you think are the benefits of studying plant communication?4 What discoveries are des
17、cribed in the two reading passages in this unit and what do their meanings have in common?1 What figure of speech is being used when the plants are described as calling for help?What is its function?2 What does“wood wide web”mean?Personification.It can make descriptions more vivid.“Wood wide web”mea
18、ns an amazing 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.3 What do you think are th
19、e 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?Passage 1 reveals the discovery of evolution and Passage 2 reveals the discovery of communication between plants.They all reflect that there
20、are numerous secrets in nature that remain to be explored.Learning to learnPersonification means giving human characteristics to something that is not human.By using human characteristics to describe an object,animal or even a place,personification can make descriptions more vivid.4Work in groups.Gi
21、ve a talk about communication between living things.1 Read the passage again and talk about how plants communicate.2 Think about and discuss the following ways of communication in the animal world.Bees“dance”to signal to other bees that they have found food.Ants communicate with each other through t
22、ouch,chemical signals,moving their bodies and even using their legs to make sounds.What other ways can you think of?3 Organise your ideas following the steps below.Begin with what living things you have chosen to talk about.Explain how they communicate and give examples.Conclude by explaining what w
23、e have learnt from their behaviour.4 Give a talk to the class about communication between living things.Now talk about how well you contributed to your group discussion and help each other to make improvements.Language points 1.Many cultures have stories of talking trees that give advice as well as
24、warnings to people.许多种文化中都有会说话的树的故事，它们会 给人们建议和警告。(1)that引导定语从句，引导先行词talking trees。(2)as well as 也；和一样；不但而且 a.连接并列成分，如名词、形容词、动词、介词短语等，意为 “和，也；不但而且，既又”。强调的是 as well as前的成分。b.意为“除了还”，相当于besides,in addition to,apart from。后面通常接名词或v.-ing形式，尤其是当其位于句首时。c.表示同级比较，意为“和一样好”，此时well是副词。2.Alexander the Great and M
25、arco Polo were said to have visited such a tree in India.据说亚历山大大帝和马可波罗曾在印度访问过这样一棵树。sb.be said to do=It is said that sb.=people say sb.“据说某人做了某事”e.g.It is said that Darwin is the writer of the book On the Origin of Species.据说Darwin是物种起源一书的作者。3.With us long believing that talking plants are fantasy,ne
26、w research has revealed something amazing:it appears that plants can communicate after all.长期以来，我们一直认为会说话的植物只是幻想，而最新 研究却揭示了一件惊人的事情：植物似乎终究可以交流。(1)with复合结构(with+代词+doing)作状语。此处为“with的复合结构”形式，即“with+名词/代词+非谓语动词”。在此结构中，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）。(2)that talking.的that
27、引导宾语从句。(3)it appears that.似乎，it作形式主语，真正的主语是由that 引导的从句。4.It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each other.人们早就知道植物利用化学物质进行交流。it作形式主语，真正的主语是that引导的从句。5.This happens when a plant,say a bean plant,gets attacked by insects.这种情况发生在植物，比如豆类植物，受到昆虫攻击时。when引导时间状语从句。6.T
28、he plant releases tiny amounts of chemicals from the leaves that are being eaten.这种植物从正被吃掉的叶子中释放出微量的化学物质。(1)tiny amounts of 微量的 a large/small amount of 大/少量的 large/small amounts of 大/少量的 in large amounts 大量地 amount vi.合计，共计 amount to 合计；共计；等同于 (2)that引导定语从句，修饰先行词the leaves.7.This is like a warning,o
29、r a call for help:“Im being attacked!”这就像是一个警告，或者一个求救的电话：“我被攻击了!”call for需要;要求;去接某人 call in顺便拜访;请人来帮忙;电话通知 call off取消 call on/upon呼吁;号召 call out喊叫 call up使想起,使回忆起8.When another bean plant detects the chemicals from its injured neighbour,it starts to release its own,different chemicals.当另一株豆类植物察觉到附近受
30、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。detect v.发现，察觉（尤指不易觉察到的事物）；探测 detect a lie 识破谎言 detect a change 发觉转变 detective n.侦探 detector n.检测器；发现者 detection n.侦查；发现9.Some of these chemicals drive insects away.这些化学物质中的一些可以驱赶昆虫。drive.away 把赶走 drive sb.crazy/mad 把某人逼得发疯/发狂 drive sb.to do sth.迫使某人做某事 drive off 驱车离去；驶去
31、drive into 打入；敲进10.Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system,so that we can use it to grow crops without pesticides.科学家希望能更多地了解这种植物警报系统，从而将其应 用于不用使用农药的农作物的种植。so that引导目的状语从句，意为“以便，为了”。11.A chilli plant can tell if a neighbouring plant is helpful,or unfriendly.辣椒能分辨出邻近的植物是有益的还是不友好
32、的。if引导宾语从句，作tell的宾语。12.Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water,indicating drought is arriving.一些树木在没有足够的水时发出咔哒声，表明干旱即将到来。indicating.为现在分词短语作伴随状语。13.Most surprisingly of all,plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest.最令人惊讶的是，植物有一
33、个惊人的通讯系统，可以 连接森林中几乎所有的植物。(1)that引导定语从句，修饰先行词communication。(2)link v.把联系起来；连接 link up 联合，连接；使结合；使连接 link up with 与联合/汇合/碰头 link.with/to.将和联系或连接起来 be linked to/with 与有关14.It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use.它在某些方面与我们使用的互联网相似。(1)in some ways 在某些方面;在某种程度上 all the way 总是;一直 on the/ones way
34、在路上 by the way 顺便 in a way/in one way/in some way/ways 在某种程度上 in no way 决不 no way 没门,不可能 in the way 挡道;妨碍 make ones way 前进 have a long way to go 有很长的路要走 in this/that way 以方式 (2)we use作定语修饰the Internet。15.While the Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked by cables and satellites,the wood
35、wide web is linked underground by fungi.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。(1)while在此是并列连词，表示对比，意为“对比两件事物，而，然而”。(2)linked by.过去分词短语作定语，修饰名词computers。16.Using the wood wide web,plants can share information and even food with each other.通过树联网，植物可以彼此共享信息甚至食物。Using the wood.为现在分词短语作伴随状语。17.Scienti
36、sts are learning more every day about the secret ways in which plants talk to each other.科学家们每天都在学习更多关于植物相互交谈的秘密方式。in which引导定语从句，修饰先行词ways。课堂总结课堂总结Retelling The Secret Language of PlantsPara.1 Talking plants have long been a thing of myths and legends.Para.2 New research has showed that plants can communicate.Para.3 Plants use chemicals to communicate with each other.Para.4 Plants use sound to communicate.Para.5 Plants use wood wide web to communicate.Para.6 Maybe one day well be able to talk with plants.
