2. Unit 12

3. Reading 1 The Green Revolution

4. Pre-reading Questions 1. What does the “Green Revolution” refer to? 2. Why did various writers predict that there would be widespread famine? 3. Name some countries with serious food shortages. 4. What is “miracle rice”?

5. 5. What are some of the factors that caused the famines? 6. What did the World Food Conference held in 1974 do for the world? 7. Can technology alone help to feed the world ’ s people in the future? 8. What did Dr. Borlaug think about technology development in grain production?

6. famine: a very serious lack of food for a great people, causing illness and death.

7. Award, reward & prize

8. Award implies a decision by judges but does not connote overt competition –The Olympic winner received a gold medal as an award. –He received honors and awards from the government for his contribution to agriculture.

9. Reward:refers to sth given in recompense for a good deed or for merit He was presented with a gold watch as a reward for his service.

10. Prize:implies sth won by competition or, often, in a lottery or game of chance Frank won the first prize in the chess tournament.

11. breeder She was one of country ’ s top sheep breeders.

12. sponsor: A large department store is the sponsor of the annual Christmas celebration. The sponsor of the TV play is Ports Garment Company.

13. In regard to the test tomorrow, it is postponed. I will write to you later in regard to this matter. In regard to: about

14. organism: a single living plant, animal, bacterium or virus

15. pathologist: an expert in study of disease, esp. one who examines a dead person’s body, often by cutting it open, to discover how they died

16. humanitarian:  The prisoner has been released for humanitarian reasons  The United Nations is sending humanitarian aid to the areas worst affected by the conflict.

17. yield : n, v --- supply or produce sth as a profit  That tree yields plenty of fruit.  The stock yields 8% interest a year.

18. productive  Talks to end the strike had been very productive. 有 成果的  Farming is a very productive labour. 有收益 的

19. attain : suggests a being goaded on by great ambition to gain an end regarded as beyond the reach of most persons He attained the position of headmaster. The idea of attaining fame and gain is comtemptible. Attain power/ prosperity/ knowledge/ wisdom

20. decisive : 有决定性的，果断的  The year 2001 is the decisive year of my life.  The enemy ’ s lack of inspired leadership was decisive to its defeat.  A decisive person is needed to deal with the situation.

21. Borlaug ’ s pictureBorlaug ’ s picture

22. Reading 2 The Irish Famine

23. Pre-reading Questions 1. When did the Irish famine occur? 2. Are its effects still felt today? 3. Did lots of people suffer during the famine? 4. What does one find it hard to believe?

24. 5. How did the 19 th -century eyes look at the famine? What was thought to be the right thing to do? 6. Would a little more humanity shown by the British government have done any harm? 7. What was the result of the famine? 8. How did the Irish people fell about British after the famine?

25. shape: influence sth, such as a belief, opinion etc and make it develop in a particular way  Mother’s good temper helps to shape a child’s character.  This event shaped his whole life.  A powerful person who can shape events

26. Look back on: in retrospect, recall and think about sth When I look back on those days, I realize I was desperately unhappy.

27. Magnitude: the large size or importance of sth  The professor is the scientist of considerable magnitude.  People had been conscious of the problem before but the event made them aware of its magnitude.

28. Avert:prevent sth from happening 1. Accident can be averted by careful driving. 2. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.

29. In the light of: taking sth into consideration, according to o1. In the light of the change, we must revise the plan. 2. In the light of what you have told me I shall

30. Supreme 1. the highest the Supreme Court the Supreme Commander 2. the most important He treated them with supreme contempt. By supreme effort, he won the race.

31. Undertake: undertaking Do, begin to do, promise that you’ll do sth But it was one of the hardest jobs that I ever undertook. Who will undertake the job of decorating the room. Building one ’ s own house is tremendous undertaking.

32. Laisez-faire: unwillness to get involved in or influence other people ’ s activities. If a government has a policy ot laisez- faire, it doesn ’ t have many laws and rules which control the buying and selling of goods or services. The problems began long before he became headmaster, but they worsened under his laisez-faire attitude.

33. Intervene: to become involved, intentionally in a difficule situation in order to improve it or preventing it from getting.worse. The argument between the two boys became so fierce that Dad had to intervene to tell them to behave. The referee intervened before the players hurt each other. A nation refused the intervene the Vietnam War.

34. 1. emigrate 是指某人离开自己的国 家去另一国家，永久性居住在那里。 He received permission to emigrate to the United States. 2. emigration 指人们移居另一国家 的过程 … the encouragement given to peasant emigration 3. emigrant 移居移居别国的人 Thousands of emigrants boarded the ships for the New World.

35. Despise I despise situation comedies. Honest boys despise lies and liars. Strike-breakers are despised by their workmates.

36. Exploit: exploitation 1. 剥削 The company exploited its workers with long hours and low pay. Exploit child labour 2. 开发， 利用 You must exploit every opportunity to learn new things. Exploit oil under the sea

37. Overthrow: to remove from power They will fight until they overthrow capitalist system. Fascism had lawlessly overthrown the demoncratic government of the country. The overthrow of the dictator was greeted with cheers.

38. Advocate  He advocated, though he did ’ t practice, the prohibition of alcohol.  West German labour unions advocate 35-hour week in order to create more jobs. n. a person who advocates  advocate of capitalism  advocate of free trade

39. Discussion Do you think such an event as “ the Irish Famine ” would take place anywhere in the world today? Why or why not?