Unit 2

• crinkly: adj. having many thin folds or wrinkles; curly e.g. The pages of the book are yellow and crinkly as a result of long age. → Derivation: crinkle vt./ n. • be supposed to: 1) to have to; to have a duty or a responsibility to ① They were supposed to be here an hour ago. 他们应该在一小时以前到达这里。
• Part
Two: It tells us a conversation
between the two leading characters, Margie and Tommy, running through most of it.
• Part e: It tells us something
The settings for science fiction are often contrary to known reality, but most science fiction relies on a considerable degree of suspension of disbelief ( 怀 疑 暂 停 ), which is facilitated ( 使 便 利 ， 有 助 于 ) in the reader's mind by potential scientific explanations or solutions to various fictional elements. Science fiction elements include:
Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative (供选 择的 ) possible worlds or futures. It is similar to, but differs from fantasy (幻 想作品) in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated ( 假 定 的 ) laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation (推断，思考).
about the schoolroom, and the mechanical teacher, Margie’s
thoughts. It also reveals indirectly how children in the distant future dislike school with a mechanical
teacher only and how they wish to
have human teachers teaching them.
V. Detailed Analysis
Part 1: Para. 1
1. When did the story happen? 2. What did Margie write in her
A time setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological (考古学的) record. A spatial ( 空 间 的 ) setting or scenes in outer space (e.g. spaceflight), on other worlds, or on subterranean (地下的) earth.
diary on the night of May 17,
2157?
July 21st, 2013 Thursday
Diary
Thursday, July 21st, 2013
Sunny
On the way to the classroom, beautiful scenery jumped into my sight. On both sides of the road stood plenty of trees, green and tall. When raising my head, I got a view of many lovely birds flying freely in the blue sky.
II. Background Information
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible ( 貌似真实的 ) (or at least non-supernatural) content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, parallel universes, aliens ( 外 星 人 ), and paranormal ( 超 自 然 的 ) abilities. Exploring the consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction, making it a “literature of ideas”.
Characters that include aliens, mutants ( 突 变 体 ), androids ( 机 器 人 ), or humanoid (类人的) robots. Technology that is futuristic (e.g. ray guns, teleportation ( 电 子 传 输 ) machines, humanoid computers). Scientific principles that are new or that contradict known laws of nature, for example time travel, wormholes ( 时空中假象的结构，连接两个 不 同 时 空 的 狭 窄 隧 道 ), or faster-thanlight travel.
Other universes or dimensions and travel between them.
III. Main Idea of the Text
The text tells us that Margie, a girl who is aged 11 in 2157, always _____ hates school because her teacher is a _________ mechanical one and she has to learn at regular hours and homework and test papers into a put her _____________________ slot in the _______. machine It also tells us how envious she is of the children who studied ______ together, experienced _______, great fun and had ______ human teachers about two hundred years earlier.
VI. Exercises
VII. Summary and Homework
I. Pre-reading Questions
1. Obviously our fathers or their fathers were taught differently from the way we are taught. And without doubt people in the future will be taught still differently. Can you imagine how they will be taught? 2. With the ever increasingly rapid development of science and technology, what will future schools be like in your opinion?
→ Synonym: lead
Part 2: Para. 2-30
1. What is the conversation concerned with? A very old book about the old kind of school with human teachers that existed about two centuries ago. 2. Why does Margie hate school? Because learning with the help of a machine teacher is both boring and full of pressure.
Then I was lost in thought.
•
head. vt. 1) to be at the front or top of something ① The chapter was headed My Early Life. 这一章的标题是“我早年的生活”。 ② The Queen ’ s carriage headed the procession. 2) t o b e i n c h a r g e o f a g r o u p o r organization She heads one of Britain’s leading travel firms. 她是英国一家主要的旅游公司的领导人。