高级综合英语教程1

第2单元课后答案

Unit 2

I. Background to Text 1

biography: an account of a person’s life, usually written by someone else and

published or intended for publication. As a literary form it has become increasingly popular since the second half of the 17th century. It was rare

before. The origins of biography are to be found in the early accounts of monarchs and heroes, for example in the Greek, Celtic and Scandinavian epics and sagas. During the Middle Ages there little biography. But at the renaissance biography, like autobiography—written by oneself acquired considerable interest. The 17th century was the most important period for the development of English biography. Since the 1950s the art of biography has burgeoned, and biography has become a major publishing industry. Scores of new biographies have been written each year. There is a vast quantity of historical and political biography, and majority of those have become prominent in the performing arts and in sports. Literary biography has become immensely popular. Literary biography is usually long and reads like novels. Most of the biographies such as we see in encyclopedia are condensed, recording only the most important events or achievements which the subject is remembered for.

II. Detailed study of the text

1. …“one of the great names in the history of human thought,”… (L.4) one of the great thinkers in human history… 2. grammar school (L.12): formerly a English secondary school emphasizing the

study of academic rather than technical subjects 3. He was considered a poor student (L.13).

He was thought of as a student who did badly in his study. This implies that it was not true since he turned out to be a great scientist. 4. sundial (L.16): an instrument that uses sunlight to tell the time, by the changing

position of the shadow that a vertical arm that casts on a horizontal plate with graded markings 5. He showed no exceptional ability during his college career, and was

graduated in 1665 without any particular distinction. (L.19)

As a college student he did not show any special ability and graduated like anybody else without special honours. 1) exceptional: (adj) unusually good; outstanding 2) distinction: special consideration or honour 6. …as a fellow of Trinity College…

第2单元课后答案

fellow: (BrE) an elected graduate receiving a stipend for a period of research; a member of governing body in some universities

7. fellow (L.25): a member of a learned society

8. …held his seat until Parliament dissolved the following year. (L.29)

He held that position until Parliament was dismissed or dispersed.

1) seat: the right to occupy a seat; a place as a member of an official or controlling body

2) dissolve: (vt.) dismiss, disperse

9. warden (L.30): (BrE) a president or governor of a college, school, youth hostel,

etc. 10. master (L.30): the presiding officer of a livery company, Masonic lodge, etc. 11. Queen Anne knighted Newton in 1705. (L.37) Queen Anne made Newton knight in 1705.

knight: (n.) a man given the title Sir by the king or queen; (vt.) make sb. a knight 12 …and Newton’s did not escape criticism. (L.41)

…and Newton’s theories were criticized just as well like other new scientific theories. escape: avoid (sth. dangerous or unpleasant)

13 plead with(L.42): ask very strongly and seriously and in a begging way, e.g.

The parents pleaded with the kidnapper to release their five-old-son. 14. Biblical chronology (L.47): the study or science of determining the correct order

of the historical events or occurences described in the Bible 15. He showed great generosity to his newphew…(L.48)

He spent a lot of money for the benefit of his nephew and gave large sums of money to… 16. He said of himself shortly before his death,…(L.51) He said about himself.

17. “I do not know what I may appear to the world, …whilst the great ocean of

truth lay all undiscovered before me.” (L.52)

I am not sure what the world may think of me. In my mind, I have been just like one of the boys playing on the seashore and I have been able to find a smoother pebble or prettier shell now and then than the average. Considering what has not been explored or discovered, what I have achieved is just a drop of the ocean. 18. his own work would have been impossible without Newton’s discoveries.

(L.59)

Without Newton’s discoveries, it would have been impossible for Einstein to formulate his theory of relativity.

第2单元课后答案

III. Answers for Text 1 Pre-reading

1, 2, 3 have no definite answers. They are designed to motivate the students or activate their existing knowledge.

Reading

2. 1) Paras.1-5 A great scientist 2) Paras.6-7 A public figure 3) Paras.8-11 Personality 3.

4. No really. Although the article mentions his great contributions: theory of gravitation, invention of calculus, and secrets of light, it fails to depict how he actually worked and how he overcame difficulties to make his achievements and why he was able to accomplish what he had achieved. Instead, the article says much about him as public figure and his personalities.

Post-reading

1. This question is designed for students to give their personal opinion. There is no hard and fast answer.

2. The words related to five aspects of personality are provided to help students prepare their speech. Students choose what they need and leave those they do not want. But they are advised to use as many as possible.

3. Before writing the teacher may organize students to discuss the general components of a good piece of biography: growth, achievement and personality.

第2单元课后答案

An occasional anecdote might make the biography vivid and believable.

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