Slide1: Unit 9: Part A Space Politics 21st Century College English: Book 3


Slide2: Pre-Reading Activities Language Points Exercises Assignment Unit 9: Part A


Slide3: Pre-Reading Activities You’re going to hear a conversation between two extraterrestrial beings that are monitoring the Earth’s radio broadcasts. As you listen, note down the answers to the following questions by keying in the key words of your answers: What is the destination of the mission that’s just been approved? What is the mission expected to cost? Who lives in that neighborhood? What does the speaker think would be a better use for the money? Check-up


Slide4: What is the destination of the mission that’s just been approved? ____________________________________________ What is the mission expected to cost? ____________________________________________ Who lives in that neighborhood? ____________________________________________ What does the speaker think would be a better use for the money? ____________________________________________ Pre-Reading Activities Mars. At least 35 billion dollars. No one. Buying food Script


Slide5: ET1: Mars — did they say Mars?! ET2: That’s what they said. ET1: What do they want to go there for? No one’s lived in that neighborhood in millennia! ET2: Who knows. ET1: Is 35 billion a lot of money? ET2: It’s pretty much, I think. ET1: Wow. Why don’t they spend it on something that makes sense, like … like food? ET2: Who knows. These people are strange. ET1: They sure are. Who makes these decisions, anyway? ET2: Who knows. Radio: The controversial Mars exploration mission has been approved. The mission, which is expected to cost at least 35 billion dollars, promises to lead to important breakthroughs in our knowledge of the universe. Pre-Reading Activities


Slide6: Intensive Study


Slide7: Space Politics It is expected that the discovery of possible life-forms from the planet Mars will revive public interest in space exploration. But is public support for the international space effort necessary, given that politicians seem determined to press ahead with it anyway? Intensive Study


Slide8: 1 The race to the moon, which was won by the Americans in 1969, was driven almost entirely by politics. The rivalry between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union meant that the two countries were determined to be the first to put a man on the moon. President John F. Kennedy promised that America would win this race and, as one of the most popular presidents in American history, he inspired a nation to think of space exploration as the ultimate test of America’s superiority over her Soviet enemy. Intensive Study


Slide9: 2 America’s success as the first nation to reach the moon, coupled with continuing Cold War rivalry, created much public support for the space programme and Washington was able to fund many more missions. During the 1970s, the moon was visited again, unmanned missions were sent to Mars and, for the first time, man-made craft were put on paths that would take them out of the solar system. Intensive Study


Slide10: 3 But, by the 1980s, public support for space exploration was declining. It faded almost entirely after the Challenger space shuttle disaster of 1986, and the U.S. government was under pressure to scale back its space programme. Politicians reacted by demanding cuts in spending, which put the future of many space missions in doubt. 4 In Russia, funding was also a problem. The end of the Soviet Union meant the country could no longer afford to sustain its space programme. In fact, spending became so tight that there was often not enough money to bring home astronauts working on the country’s Mir space station. Intensive Study


Slide11: 5 But, in the last few years, politicians seem to have changed their attitude to space exploration, even though there is little evidence that the public have. New missions to Mars are planned, and plenty of money is being spent on other extraterrestrial activities. Last year, for instance, the U.S. spent more on space research and development than on any other area of research, except health and the military. Intensive Study


Slide12: 6 And spending is likely to increase in the coming years: currently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning a number of missions to Mars, and it is pressing ahead with the most expensive space-exploration project ever undertaken — the International Space Station. (Three years ago, this project — a collaboration between the U.S., Canada, Russia, Europe and Japan — came within one vote of being canceled by the American House of Representatives.) Intensive Study


Slide13: 7 And the Americans are not the only ones spending huge sums on space exploration. The Europeans, Canadians and Japanese are expected to spend $9 billion on their share of the space station, and Europe has already spent huge sums developing its Ariane rockets, the most recent of which — Ariane 5 — blew up shortly after it was launched. The Russians, too, claim they are committed to supporting the International Space Station — an expense that country seems ill able to afford. Intensive Study


Slide14: 8 So, if there is little public support for space exploration, where does the impetus to fund these activities come from? Promoting the cause of science is one possible answer. But recently there has been considerable controversy over whether projects like the International Space Station have enough scientific value to merit the billions that have been and will be spent on it. Intensive Study


Slide15: 9 NASA’s reasons for building the space station are “to develop new materials [and] technologies that will have immediate, practical applications”. However, for such research to be worthwhile, NASA needs private companies to develop (and help pay for) extraterrestrial research. Unfortunately, the cost of sending anything into orbit is so high that most private companies favour improving techniques on Earth. Significantly, NASA has so far not managed to get any substantial private investment to manufacture products in space. Intensive Study


Slide16: 10 The result is that the station seems, at present, to have only one concrete objective: research into how people can live and work safely and efficiently in space. But how important is this research? And can it possibly justify the cost of this huge orbiting laboratory? 11 The only purpose of studying how humans live and work in space would be to prepare for long-term space missions. At present, none are planned, and this seems unlikely to change in the near future. The main reasons for this are the costs. A manned mission to our nearest planetary neighbour Mars, for example, would cost around $400 billion. This is $50 billion more than Russia’s present Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Intensive Study


Slide17: 12 And even if one accepts that this research is important, can it justify building a space station the size of 14 tennis courts, at a cost which is eventually expected to exceed $100 billion? Given the shortage of funds in many other areas of scientific research, it would seem not. 13 So why build it? There are good political reasons for doing so. It will provide work for the thousands of unemployed defence workers who depended on the Cold War for their jobs, and who make up a substantial proportion of voters in both Russia and the U.S. It will also help keep American/Russian ties strong — another reason NASA believes the space station is a good investment. (Critics argue that there are far cheaper ways to keep the U.S. and Russia on good terms.) Intensive Study


Slide18: 14 And then there is the legacy of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall may have fallen, but NASA and the U.S. government still seem to believe in the ideal of one nation’s superiority in space. Indeed, NASA describes the space station as “a powerful symbol of U.S. leadership”. 15 It seems that the world’s politicians are caught in a time-warp. They still believe, as they did in the 1960s, that man must conquer space in order to prove he is master of his surroundings. If only it weren’t so expensive. (1002 words) Intensive Study


Slide19: Text-related information


Slide20: given that — supposing that; considering that Examples: • Many people are holding their money tight, given that the prices of cars would come down. • Given that the cost for college education is so high, he decided to apply for a training program.


Slide21: press ahead/on (with sth.) — continue (doing sth.) in a determined way, knowing that it may take a long time or may be very difficult Examples: • Despite public complaints, the company pressed on with its plan. • The country pressed ahead with its expansion into its neighboring country despite international protest.


Slide22: First Lunar Landing Launched July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 made the first manned lunar landing on July 20. Neil Armstrong was the first out: he stepped on the moon surface at 10:56 pm that day. Dropping the last meter from the ladder, he said: “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” Text-related information


Slide23: John Fitzgerald Kennedy The 35th president of the United States (1961~63), was, at the age of 43, the youngest man ever elected to the presidency. Rich, handsome, elegant, and articulate, he aroused great admiration at home and abroad. His assassination in Dallas, Tex., in November 1963 provoked outrage and widespread mourning. Text-related information


Slide24: couple with — to join or combine with Examples: • Hard work coupled with high pressure caused serious health problems among the employees. • A reputation for quality, coupled with very competitive prices, has make these cars very popular. Make a sentence with the phrase: • ?


Slide25: Washington — the U.S. government Example: • Beijing announced today that the US President would pay a 3-day visit to China next week. Beijing = the Chinese government


Slide26: The Challenger Disaster The 25th flight on the space shuttle Challenger, ended less than two minutes after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986, when a fireball interrupted the craft’s ascent track. This disaster killed the entire crew of seven, including Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher chosen for the flight. Text-related information


Slide27: scale back/down — reduce esp. by a fixed rate Examples: • The company is scaling down its operation in the Middle East. • Imports will have to be scaled down until exports begin to rise again.


Slide28: (put sth.) in doubt — (cause sth. to be) in a condition of uncertainty or at risk Examples: • The future of the project is in doubt because of a lack of money. • The result of the election remained in doubt until the next morning.


Slide29: Mir Space Station Mir is the Russian space station launched on Feb. 20, 1986. The name is a Russian word meaning “peace.” Mir has four additional ports for docking, more windows, two private compartments, and a slightly increased interior space. The core of the station is about 17 m (56 ft) long and 4 m (13 ft) wide. Text-related information


Slide30: But, in the last few years, politicians seem to have changed their attitude to space exploration, even though there is little evidence that the public have. Translate the sentence: ? Key: 但是，近年来政治家们似乎改变了他们对于外层空间探索的态度，尽管公众并没有表现出什么改变的迹象。


Slide31: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) NASA is the U.S. government agency responsible for the development of advanced aviation and space technology and for space exploration. It is an independent civilian agency responsible directly to the president. Text-related information


Slide32: Three years ago, this project — a collaboration between the U.S., Canada, Russia, Europe and Japan — came within one vote of being canceled by the American House of Representatives. Translate the sentence: ? Key: 三年前，这项计划—美国、加拿大、俄罗斯、欧洲和日本之间的一项合作—以一票之差险些被美国众议院取消。


Slide33: Ariane Rocket Ariane rockets are designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to give Europe greater independence in the launching of satellites. Its private marketing company, Arianespace, has headquarters in Every, France, and a launch facility at the French Space Center, Kourou, French Guiana. The French space agency is the company’s principal shareholder, along with 36 European aerospace firms and 11 European banks. Text-related information


Slide34: blow up — to explode Examples: • It’s more than shock to see the space shuttle blow up in the sky. The fireworks factory blew up when something went wrong in an electric switch.


Slide35: merit v. — deserve, be worthy of Examples: • The suggestion merits serious consideration • The movie English Patient merits all the prizes it has been awarded.


Slide36: Unfortunately, the cost of sending anything into orbit is so high that most private companies favour improving techniques on Earth. Translate the sentence: ? Key: 遗憾的是，将任何东西送上轨道的费用极高，大多数私营公司都宁可在地球上改进技术。


Slide37: Significantly, NASA has so far not managed to get any substantial private investment to manufacture products in space. Example: • Tourism contributes significantly to the economy of Hainan province. significantly — ad. to an important or considerable degree More to learn


Slide38: Significantly, NASA has so far not managed to get any substantial private investment to manufacture products in space. Examples: By hard study he made a substantial improvement in arithmetic. The first draft of his novel needed a substantial amount of rewriting. substantial — a. large in size, value or importance


Slide39: And can it possibly justify the cost of this huge orbiting laboratory? Translate the sentence: ? Key: 这项研究能够证明这个大型轨道实验室值得花钱去造吗？


Slide40: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The total output of goods and services for final use produced by an economy, by both residents and nonresidents. It does not include payments to the nation's residents on their foreign investments, and it counts only output produced within the country. This measure is now being used more frequently as a means for evaluating the size of the economy. Text-related information


Slide41: Given the shortage of funds in many other areas of scientific research, it would seem not. Paraphrase the sentence: ? Key: — Considering that many other areas of scientific research don’t have enough funds, it seems this research would not justify building that space station.


Slide42: on good/bad/speaking terms — have a good/bad/speaking relationship Examples: • I’ve always been on good terms with my neighbors. • I am not on speaking terms with him at the present time.


Slide43: The Berlin Wall A concrete wall, 4 m (12 ft) high, surrounding West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. In November, 1989 enthusiastic citizens began to demolish whole sections of the wall. East Germany eventually removed the Berlin Wall and reunited with West Germany in 1990, forming the Federal Republic of Germany. Text-related information


Slide44: believe in 1) [~ sth.] to be certain that it exists 2) [~ sb. /sth.] to have the confidence in sb./sth. Examples: Do you believe in ghosts? Not many people believe in the President’s plans to improve economy.


Slide45: It seems that the world’s politicians are caught in a time-warp. Translate the sentence: ? Key: 全世界的政治家们似乎犯了一种时间错位。


Slide46: Unit 9 • Exercises Comprehension Vocabulary Listening


Slide47: Exercises • Comprehension 《读写教程 III》: Ex. II, p. 264


Slide48: 1. What motivated the U.S. to put so much effort into being the first nation to reach the moon? 2. How did the American public react to the space programme in the 1980s as opposed to the 1970s? How did politicians react to the change in public opinion? Answer the following questions: The rivalry between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. In the 1970s there was a lot of public support for the space programme, but it declined in the 1980s. Politicians reacted by demanding cuts in spending. Exercises • Comprehension


Slide49: 3. What evidence does the author give for his statement that “in the last few years, politicians seem to have changed their attitude to space exploration” (Para. 6)? 4. What nations are involved in the International Space Station? Why is this project controversial? New missions to Mars are planned, and a lot of money is being spent on space projects like the International Space Station. The U.S., Canada, Russia, Europe and Japan; it’s controversial because it isn’t clear that the project will have enough scientific value to make it worthwhile. Exercises • Comprehension


Slide50: 5. Why hasn’t NASA managed to get any substantial private investments in the space-station project? 6. On what grounds does the author question the value of the space station’s “only concrete objective”? Because the cost of sending things into orbit is so high that most companies are more interested in improving techniques that they can use on Earth. The writer notes that research into how people can live and work safely and efficiently in space is only relevant if long-term space missions are being planned (and none are). Exercises • Comprehension


Slide51: 7. What other reasons for pressing on with the project does the author mention? 8. What does the author mean by saying “the world’s politicians are caught in a time-warp” (Para. 16)? It will provide work for thousands of unemployed defence workers who make up a substantial proportion of voters in both Russia and the U.S. It will also help keep American/Russian ties strong. He means that the way they think about space and space programmes appears to be obsolete — more appropriate to the Cold War era than to the modem world. Exercises • Comprehension


Slide52: 《读写教程 III》: Ex. III, p. 265 Exercises • Vocabulary


Slide53: 1. For health reasons the president has decided to ________ his planned visit to Italy. military collaboration cancel impetus immediate orbit concrete rocket Exercises • Vocabulary 2. John Glenn, the first U.S. astronaut to ________ the Earth in 1962, was 77 years old when he returned to space in 1998. III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. cancel orbit


Slide54: 3. This book is the product of several years of ____________ between two leading universities. Exercises • Vocabulary 4. Anger can be a positive force if it provides ________ for change. III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. collaboration impetus military collaboration cancel impetus immediate orbit concrete rocket


Slide55: 5. She’s the only person in her ___________ family who has a college education, although two of her cousins also have degrees. Exercises • Vocabulary 6. There are many theories about where natural satellites came from, but manmade satellites are launched into space by ________. III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. immediate rockets military collaboration cancel impetus immediate orbit concrete rocket


Slide56: 7. I don’t have any ________ plans for the weekend — I was thinking of spending some time with my family or perhaps getting together with some friends. Exercises • Vocabulary 8. According to the U.S. Constitution, the president and Congress share power over ________ affairs: the president commands the armed forces, but only Congress can declare war. III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary. concrete military military collaboration cancel impetus immediate orbit concrete rocket


Slide57: 《读写教程 III》: Ex. IV, p. 266 Exercises • Vocabulary


Slide58: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes as well. Exercises • Vocabulary 1. The Challenger exploded 73 seconds after it was launched. (blow) 1. The Challenger exploded 73 seconds after it was launched. (blow)  The Challenger blew up 73 seconds after it was launched.


Slide59: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes well. Exercises • Vocabulary 2. His untidy appearance, plus the fact that he arrived late for the interview, made a very bad impression. (couple) 2. His untidy appearance, plus the fact that he arrived late for the interview, made a very bad impression. (couple)  His untidy appearance, coupled with the fact that he arrived late for the interview, made a very bad impression.


Slide60: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes well. Exercises • Vocabulary 3. The exploration team included scientists, technical assistants and two journalists. (make) 3. The exploration team included scientists, technical assistants and two journalists. (make)  The exploration team was made up of scientists, technical assistants and two journalists. OR: Scientists, technical assistants and two journalists made up the exploration team.


Slide61: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes well. Exercises • Vocabulary 4. The recession has led many companies to reduce their spending on advertising. (scale) 4. The recession has led many companies to reduce their spending on advertising. (scale)  The recession has led many companies to scale back their spending on advertising.


Slide62: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes well. Exercises • Vocabulary 5. Having friendly relations with your teachers makes student life much more pleasant and rewarding: (terms) 5. Having friendly relations with your teachers makes student life much more pleasant and rewarding: (terms)  Being on good terms with your teachers makes student life much more pleasant and rewarding.


Slide63: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes well. Exercises • Vocabulary 6. Despite strong opposition from environmental-protection groups, the Brazilian government has persisted in its efforts to exploit rain forest resources. (press) 6. Despite strong opposition from environmental-protection groups, the Brazilian government has persisted in its efforts to exploit rain forest resources. (press)  Despite strong opposition from environmental-protection groups, the Brazilian government has pressed ahead with its efforts to exploit rain forest resources.


Slide64: IV. Rewrite the sentences below so that they use the words given in the parentheses but keep the original meaning. Be sure to make any other necessary changes well. Exercises • Vocabulary 7. If a key member of the team collapses from exhaustion, it will make the entire project uncertain. (doubt) 7. If a key member of the team collapses from exhaustion, it will make the entire project uncertain. (doubt)  If a key member of the team collapses from exhaustion, it will put the entire project in doubt.


Slide65: Listening 《听说教程 III》 Part 2.2, p. 114


Slide66: Listening Directions: Listen to the following conversation twice and then answer some questions. 1st listening


Slide67: Exercises • Listening TV Announcer: ... The controversial Mars exploration mission has been approved. The mission, which is expected to cost at least 35 billion dollars, promises to lead to important breakthroughs in our knowledge of the universe. M: Great! High time! W: 1)_______________? Where in the world is all that money going to come from? M: Hey, we pay taxes anyway! I’m glad if they spend the money on something as interesting as space exploration. W Right ... problems like poverty and disease and hunger 2)___________________________ flying to Mars for no reason. M: 3)_________________________ to explore other planets and add to our knowledge of the universe? To “seek out new life and new civilizations … to boldly go where no one has gone before”? W: 4)____________________________. But every new space mission means less money for education, less money for health care, less money to solve the problems we have here on Earth. M: But the answers to a lot of our problems may be out there in space somewhere! If we can colonize other planets or contact extraterrestrial beings, it will change the world! W: Right, 5)________________________________________ ______________________What makes you so sure these extraterrestrials will be friendly? 2nd listening


Slide68: Check-up Exercises • Listening TV Announcer: ... The controversial Mars exploration mission has been approved. The mission, which is expected to cost at least 35 billion dollars, promises to lead to important breakthroughs in our knowledge of the universe. M: Great! High time! W: 1)_______________? Where in the world is all that money going to come from? M: Hey, we pay taxes anyway! I’m glad if they spend the money on something as interesting as space exploration. W Right ... problems like poverty and disease and hunger 2)___________________________ flying to Mars for no reason. M: 3)_________________________ to explore other planets and add to our knowledge of the universe? To “seek out new life and new civilizations … to boldly go where no one has gone before”? W: 4)____________________________. But every new space mission means less money for education, less money for health care, less money to solve the problems we have here on Earth. M: But the answers to a lot of our problems may be out there in space somewhere! If we can colonize other planets or contact extraterrestrial beings, it will change the world! W: Right, 5)________________________________________ ______________________What makes you so sure these extraterrestrials will be friendly?


Slide69: TV Announcer: ... The controversial Mars exploration mission has been approved. The mission, which is expected to cost at least 35 billion dollars, promises to lead to important breakthroughs in our knowledge of the universe. M: Great! High time! W: 1)_______________? Where in the world is all that money going to come from? M: Hey, we pay taxes anyway! I’m glad if they spend the money on something as interesting as space exploration. W Right ... problems like poverty and disease and hunger 2)____________________________ flying to Mars for no reason. Are you joking aren’t nearly as “interesting” as Exercises • Listening


Slide70: M: 3)_________________________ to explore other planets and add to our knowledge of the universe? To “seek out new life and new civilizations … to boldly go where no one has gone before”? W: 4)______________________________. But every new space mission means less money for education, less money for health care, less money to solve the problems we have here on Earth. M: But the answers to a lot of our problems may be out there in space somewhere! If we can colonize other planets or contact extraterrestrial beings, it will change the world! W: Right, 5)________________________________________ ____________. What makes you so sure these extraterrestrials will be friendly? But don’t you think it’s cool Sure it’s cool, if we could afford it Exercises • Listening