1. Unit 2 Smart Cars

2. Text A Smart Cars I Objectives Student will be able to:
understand the main idea and structure of the text;
learn some techniques in expository writing ( definition, quotes, a mixture of facts and opinions, etc.);
master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;
conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme of the unit.

3. II Pre-reading Tasks:

4. Watch the Movie

5. Questions for students :
Ss are given a few minutes to think about, beginning with the sentence:
“ Even if I could afford a car, I may not actually want to drive one because…” Ss are required to give their reasons.
What is your ideal car?

6. III Text Organization

7. Part One
Paras 1-3
New technology will have a dramatic impact on cars and highways in the 21st century.
Part Two
Paras 4-9
With the aid of advanced technology, smart cars will be so designed that they can help eliminate traffic accidents, determine their own precise locations and warn of traffic jams.
Part Three
Paras 10-13
GPS and “ telematics” will make it possible to build smart highways, which will benefit us in more than one way.

8. IV. Words & Expressions

9. turn sth. into / become a reality:
e.g. Her dream of being a college student has turned into a reality.
e.g. Working at home and communicating with fellow workers via their PCs has become a reality for some.

10. lucrative: producing much money; profitable
e.g. We made a lucrative business deal with the American company on rice imports.

11. presently: (esp US) at the present time, now; after a short time; soon
e.g. We presently have no plans to expand our business overseas, but that may well change in the future.
e.g. “Take it easy,” David said. “ You will feel better presently.”

12. manufacture: make goods on a large scale using machinery
e.g. Britain now manufactures approximately 40 per cent of Europe’s desktop computers.

13. eliminate: remove, esp. sb. / sth
eliminate: remove, esp. sb./ sth. that is not wanted or needed; get rid of (used in the patterns: eliminate sth; eliminate sth. from sth.)
e.g. The Chinese government approved a new plan to eliminate illiteracy nationwide by 2006.
e.g. The curriculum ignored the natural interests of children and so eliminated the children’s motivation.
e.g. If you think you may be allergic to a food or drink, eliminate it from your diet.

14. in the air: in the earth’s atmosphere; uncertain, not yet decided
e.g. There is a peculiar smell in the air.
e.g. Our plans are still in the air.

15. start up: begin or begin working, running, happening, etc;
e.g. Peter looked in his mirror and started up the engine.
e.g. Put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car up.

16. alert: warn sb. that there may be danger, trouble, etc
alert: warn sb. that there may be danger, trouble, etc.( used in the patterns: alert sb.; alert sb. to sth.)
e.g. The manager alerted the staff to the crisis facing the company.
e.g. The teacher alerted the students to the danger of swimming in the river.

17. prototype: the first model or design of sth
prototype: the first model or design of sth. from which other forms are copied or developed
e.g. Toyota released its small-car prototype in 1947.

18. get / be stuck in (sth.): be unable to move or to be moved
e.g. I was stuck in the traffic yesterday for about one hour. That’s why I missed the plane.
e.g. I was stuck at home with flu.

19. vibrate: (cause sth. to ) move rapidly and continuously backwards and forwards; shake
e.g. Microwave ovens operate by agitating the water molecules in the food, causing them to vibrate, which produces heat.

20. send out : transmit ( a signal, etc.) by radio waves
e.g. The yacht sent out a distress signal which was picked up by a passing steamer.

21. convert: change from one form or use to another ( followed by into/ to )
e.g. Solar cooking requires a dark pot to absorb the sun’s rays and convert them into heat energy.
e.g. The signal will be converted into digital code.

22. correlate: have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another ( followed by with/ to)
e.g. Obesity correlates with increased risk of stroke.
e.g. A mother’s smoking in pregnancy correlates with low birth weight in her baby.

23. be poised to (do): be ready to take action at any moment
e.g. The automobile company is poised to launch its new advertising campaign.
e.g. It is reported that US forces are poised to attack Iraq.

24. mount: fix (sth. ) in position for use, display or study; put (sth
mount: fix (sth.) in position for use, display or study; put (sth.) into place on a support
e.g. Some automobiles were designed with a transmission mounted on the rear axle.

25. bunch: group together ( both active and passive)
e.g. They bunched together to allow others to squeeze into the crowded elevator.
e.g. The runners were still bunched together on the track.

26. incorporate: make ( sth.) part of a whole
e.g. His newly published book incorporates his earlier essay.
e.g. They laid down a health club incorporating a gym, sauna and steam room.

27. decrease: becom or make sth. smaller or fewer
e.g. A single solar cooker can save a ton of firewood per year and decreases carbon dioxide emissions.

28. expansion: the process of becoming greater in size, extent or importance
e.g. Modern cosmologists (宇宙论者) are continuously calculating the age, density, and rate of expansion of the universe.

29. V. Cultural Background

30. automobile industry:
The automobile industry is one of the most important industries in the world, affecting not only economies but also cultures. Automobiles revolutionized transportation in the 20th century, changing forever the way people live, travel, and do business. The automobile has enabled people to travel and transport goods farther and faster, and has opened wider market areas for business and commerce. Automobile manufacturers are among the largest companies in the world. These corporations are often multinational. These companies often share parts, or use parts made in foreign factories. At the start of the 21st century, the trends of global trade and manufacturing flexibility continue. Computerization continues to be a major part of auto design and manufacture, as do the search for alternative fuels and more efficient automobile designs.

31. Global Positioning System (GPS): space-based radio-navigation system, consisting of 24 satellites and ground support. GPS provides users with accurate information about their position and velocity, as well as the time, anywhere in the world and in all weather conditions. GPS determines location by computing the difference between the time that a signal is sent and the time it is received. GPS applications continue to grow in land, sea, air, and space navigation. Emerging technologies will enable GPS to determine not only the position of a vehicle but also its altitude.

32. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): advanced electronics, communications, and computer systems that increase the efficiency and safety of highway transportation.

33. VI. Analysis of Language Points & Structures:

34. e.g. “…to within about a hundred feet.” (Lines 43-44)
“The automobile industry ranks as among the most lucrative and powerful industries of the twentieth century.” (Lines 4-5)
the use of “double prepositions”:（二重介词的使用）：“double prepositions” usually consist of two prepositions, such as from under, from behind, until after, except in etc.
e.g. “…to within about a hundred feet.” (Lines 43-44)
e.g. The naughty boy suddenly emerged from behind the door, frightening his little sister into screaming.

35. “…change lanes when there is a car in your ‘blind spot’
“…change lanes when there is a car in your ‘blind spot’.” (Lines 26-27)
“blind spot” refers to a portion of the road behind a car, which a driver can not observe from the rear-view mirror.

36. “…The monotonous, almost hypnotic process of staring at the center divider for long hours is a grossly underestimated, life-threatening hazard.” (Lines 31-33)
- monotonous：dull
- hypnotic: of or producing hypnosis or a similar condition 催眠的
the center divider 为道路上的“中央分道带”；
grossly: extremely
hazard: danger
长时间的紧盯着中央分道带这一单调得几乎能使你昏昏欲睡的过程是被人们严重低估的威胁生命的隐患。

37. “…to eliminate this, a tiny camera hidden in the dashboard can be trained on a driver’s face and eyes.” ( Lines 33-34)
为消除这种隐患，藏在仪表板下的一个微型摄像头正好可以对准司机的脸和眼睛。
train: to focus on or aim at (a goal, mark, or target) : [ usually followed by prep. on]
e.g. She trained her camera on the caged panda.
她把照相机对准笼子里的大熊猫。

38. “…They make it possible to determine your location on the earth to within about a hundred feet.” (Lines 43-44)
Pay attention to the structure: “ v.+ it + adj. + to do”
e.g. The parents felt it necessary to blame the child for his misbehavior.
e.g. The foreign students find it hard to learn Chinese in a short period of time.

39. “… Each satellite contains four ‘atomic clock’” (Line 46)
“Atomic clock” vibrates at a precise frequency, according to the laws of the quantum theory.

40. “GPS is actually but part of a larger movement, called ‘telematics’” (Line 52)
“telematics”: The prefix “tele-“ means “distant”, the suffix “-matics” may be the end part of “informatics”. So “telematics” means the branch of information technology which deals with the long-distance transmission of computerized information.

41. “…traffic engineers are installing an MIT-designed system which will introduce the ‘automated driver.’’ (Lines 58-59)
“automated driver”: We can find the detailed explanation from the text－ “ The plan calls for computers, aided by thousands of three-inch magnetic spikes buried in the highway, to take complete control of the driving of cars on heavily trafficked roads. Cars will be bunched into groups of ten to twelve vehicles, only six feet apart, traveling in unison, and controlled by computer.”

42. “…Cars will be bunched into groups of ten to twelve vehicles, only six feet apart, traveling in unison, and controlled by computer.” (Lines 61-63)
汽车会按10-12辆分组，车距仅6英尺， 在计算机的控制下一齐行驶。
bunch: v. group together
be bunched into groups: 被分成几组
in unison：1) in complete agreement; harmonizing exactly；2) At the same time; at once. 完全同意；完全协调; 在同一时刻；立刻
e.g. The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.
各国政府一致行动起来与恐怖主义做斗争。

43. VII. Post-reading Tasks:

44. T asks Ss to write a list of the features of smart cars as mentioned in the text.
1) Smart cars can see, hear, feel, smell, talk, and act;
2) They can eliminate most car accidents;
3) They can alert the police and provide precise location if stolen;
4) They can monitor one’s driving and the driving conditions nearby;
5) They can alert the driver who feels drowsy;
6) They can locate your car precisely and warn of traffic jams.

45. Summary of the Text:
The car, and the roads it on, will be in the 21st century. Advanced will enable smart cars to help traffic accidents, determine their own precise and warn of traffic With the of GPS and “telematics”, it will be possible to smart highways, thus human beings in more than one way.

46. The car, and the roads it travels on, will be revolutionized in the 21st century. Advanced technology will enable smart cars to help eliminate traffic accidents, determine their own precise locations and warn of traffic jams. With the aid of GPS and “telematics”, it will be possible to build smart highways, thus benefiting human beings in more than one way.

47. Quotations:

48. Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.
－ Elwyn Brooks White
The car has become an article of dress with out which we feel uncertain, unclad, and incomplete.
－ Marshall Mcluhan

49. The real problem is not whether machines think, but whether men do.
－B.F. Skinner
If there is technological advance without social advance, there is, almost automatically, an increase in human misery.
－ Michael Harrinqton

50. T guides Ss through some after-text exercises
5. T Asks Ss to write an essay entitled My Ideal Smart Cars after class.
6. Divide Ss into groups and hold a discussion based on their essays in class.
7. T checks on Ss’ home reading (Text B).
8. T asks Ss to prepare for the next unit

51. Thanks