College English Intensive Reading 2

Unit 1

Part I Requirements
After you learn this unit, you should be able to
I answer the following questions:
1. What caused the excitement on the planet Venus?
2. Is there such a place as Manhattan on earth? Where is it if the answer is Yes?
3. What led the Venusian scientists to believe that there is no life on Earth?
4. What, according to Prof. Zog, will add weight to the saucer?
5. Why does Prof. Zog think it impossible to land a flying saucer on Earth without its being smashed?
6. What are the dangers that a Venus Being might have if being sent onto Earth?
7. What is this satirical essay try to tell us?

mmkey.com

8. What is your idea about the environmental protection?
II understand and use the following key words and expressions by yourself:

Key Words

atmosphere compose conclusion conference crash deadly emit extremely feasibility fund hazard indicate originally pollute proceed signal smash survive type unfit
Phrases & Expressions

1. (be) known as 2. name after 3. as to base on/upon 4. for one thing ... for another 5. be composed of 6. as far as...be concerned 7. stick up 8. give off 9. set back

(please refer to the "Words to Drill" part and the hyperlinked blue words in the text on the CD-ROM CEIR2_A)
III explain who or what are the following:
1. the planet of Venus 2. satellite 3. Manhattan 4. concrete 5. astronomer 6. the Earth 7. oxygen 8. Telescope 9. flying saucer 10. press conference 11. skyscraper 1604.cn
(please refer to the hyperlinked red words in the text on the CD-ROM CEIR2_A)
IV understand and paraphrase the following sentences:
1. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.

2. We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing...

3. You see this dark black cloud hovering over the surface of Earth?

4. If all you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?

(please refer to the "Notes to the Text" part on the CD-ROM CEIR2_A)
V understand the structure of the text:
(please refer to the "Organization" part on the CD-ROM CEIR2_A)
VI summarize the whole text:
(please refer to the "Organization" part on the CD-ROM CEIR2_A)
VII translate the text into Chinese:
(please refer to the "Translation" part before each paragraph in the text on the CD-ROM CEIR2_A)
Part II Help

Words to Drill

atmosphere
n . the mixture of gases around the planet; the air; the general impression or
feelings that an event or place gives you 大气，大气层；空气；气氛
---A planet’s atmosphere is the layer of air or other gases around it.
---The atmosphere of the city is polluted.
---The restaurant has a real family atmosphere.
compose
vt. 1) make up, form; 构成，组成
---England, Scotland and Wales compose the island of Great Britain.
---The chemistry teacher asked the pupils what water was composed of. mmkey.net
2) write a piece of (music, a poem or speech) 谱曲; 创作
---Mr. Mozart composed his first symphony (交响曲) in 1764.
---He sometimes composes poems.
conclusion
n. 1) a judgement or decision; the ending or closing part 结论，推论；结尾
---I came to the conclusion that I didn’t really like civil engineering (土木工程).
---What conclusion did you come to?
---I found the conclusion of his book very interesting.
---In conclusion (总之), I’d like to say how much I’ve enjoyed staying here.
2) an agreement or arrangement 协议，议定
---The conclusion of a treaty or business deal is its final conclusion.
conference