Unit 8 Nature and Nurture新编大学英语第二版第三册教案

Unit 8 Nature and Nurture
Useful Information
“Nature and nurture” is the catchy and rather poetic term used to evoke the two main sources of factors that influence the physical, psychological and intellectual characteristics of any human being. “Nature”, i n this case, means everything a person inherits genetically. Originally, the verb “nurture” was chosen to describe the home environment and the influences parents had on their children. In a broader sense, “nurture” refers to the general social environment which includes such things as family influences, peer influences, and educational experiences.
Which has more influence on us, our genes or our environment? How do people become who they are? These are questions that have intrigued educators, psychologists, and geneticists for decades. Over the years, various experiments and studies have been carried out in an effort to determine the relative importance of heredity and environment. Although it is fairly easy to see how our genetic make-up affects physical characteristics such as hair color, bone structure, and facial features, it is far more difficult to measure the impact of parental behavior on the development of personality, for example.
One of the best-known studies on nature-nurture issues was carried out by scientists at the University of Minnesota. Their research on identical twins raised apart suggests that genes play a major role in shaping both personality and intelligence. Some critics of the Minnesota study feel that the social environments of the twins raised apart were too similar to really make conclusive observations feasible. Ideally, the Minnesota researchers should have had twins raised in different cultures and in totally different social classes.
Other studies have stressed the influence of parental verbal behavior on the intellectual development of children. In other words, the more parents talk with their children, the more they are likely to enhance their children’s communication skills. The same studies also showed that socially and financially deprived working-class families were much less communicative than professional families.
A recent study carried out by the Colorado Adoption Project on a large number of adopted children has shown the preponderance of genetic inheritance with regard to personality and intelligence. Other studies have stressed the importance of factors outside the home, such as neighborhoods and one’s peers.
The debate over the relative importance of genes and environment is likely to continue until additional major discoveries are made in the field of genetics. Perhaps some day, the genes for shyness or for gentleness, for example, will be isolated. For the moment, common sense and personal experience tend to suggest that nature and nurture are both important, each having a greater or lesser effect, depending both on the complexity of the gene and the conditions of the environment.
More for the teachers:
How do you live?
We all live in different worlds. Nobody can claim that their life has been the same as yours. You might be wealthy or poor, a megastar, or an anonymous face in a city of millions. You may have an older brother, be an only child, have mixed race parents, live on the sunny side of the street…or in an iglo o. Your genes make you unique, but so does your life. It is different from every other human life on earth.
Different beginnings
From the moment you were conceived you have been dealing with unique surroundings. You may have had quite a different nine months in the womb compared to that of your brother or sister. Do stressed out mothers-to-be produce agitated babies? A link has been noticed and it’s just one sign that our different experiences count from very early on.…and once you are born then just abou t anything can happen. And almost
everything that occurs during your childhood and adolescence could be having an impact on your health, your career and the relationships you are forming today.
Blame it on the genes?
Your genes in combination with your early experiences of life are having an enormous impact on you. From how many calories you require to maintain your weight to your musical skills and talents, both your inherited genetic code and your environment are playing a part. So how do we know what to blame our genes for? In certain instances it is very clear-cut. Certain diseases are caused by a single gene. If you have a gene for cystic fibrosis there is nothing you can do to cure the disease although much can now be done to relieve the symptoms. Eye Color too is a product of our genes and can be changed only in appearance with contact lenses.
In most cases though, the role our genes are playing and how powerful their influence is is unclear. Your weight, intelligence and personality are influenced by many different genes but also by your environment. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the role our genes play in these very
complicated areas.
Twins Biology
There are two types of twins, the identical twins called monozygotic and the fraternal twins called dizygotic. So the term twins just indicates two children born together. A twin birth occurs every 100 normal births. In all cases of twins there is a genetic predisposition: in some families twin births are particularly frequent.
Identical Twins "monozygotic"
Identical twins are born from the same egg which splits in two after conception. This is a rarer case that occurs in 30% of twins. These twins have identical DNA and, therefore, they are physically almost identical and must be of the same blood group and sex. In this case usually the two fetuses share the same placenta (胎盘) but have different amnions (羊膜). In some cases they can have even a separate placenta or share both the placenta and the amnions, only in this last case malformations such as Siamese twins can occur.
Fraternal Twins "dizygotic"
Fraternal twins are born from two different eggs and develop separately in different amnions and different placentas, sometimes in the same placenta but the amnions are always different; they have different DNA so they can be of different sexes and can have different blood groups. Fraternal twins are more common and occur in about 70% of twins. Fraternal twins are commonly called “false twins,” because from a genetic point of view they are like brothers or sisters, only they are born at the same time.
Part One Preparation
1. Talking about Twins
Samples
1) I knew a set of twins in my class in the middle school. They looked alike and usually dressed alike so we often got them mixed up. They were very close to each other and could exchange their ideas quickly. But they had quite different personalities: one was shy, quiet, and self-conscious while the other was self-confident and optimistic.
2) I think it’s because there aren’t many twins around us. People are always curious about things that they rarely see. Another reason for their curiosity is probably that twins resemble each other, which is very unusual among other people.
3) — They must be proud because they are different from others.
—They may feel happy because they can enjoy each other’s company at home.
— They may feel lonely because it is difficult to make friends with other people.
—They may feel bored and discouraged because every day they will see the mirror image of themselves.
2. Nature, Nurture or Both
1) Nature and nurture: A person can have natural talents, but mastery always takes some effort. You have to try to succeed.
2) Nature: No matter what the hairdo (hair style) is, their hairlines stay the same. This trait is due to the genes that the mother passed on to her son.
3) Nature: There’s nothing wrong with Julie’s nose. Some people have the genes to smell freesia, others don’t.
4) Nurture: Are you wild about mysteries? Adventures? Biographies? Your tastes may be determined by the books that are available in your home or school.
5) Nurture: Somebody’s favorite clothes and color can change as quickly as the cover of a style magazine. You might say it’s due to the JEANS, not the GENES.
6) Nature: Look at their mother’s earlobes. Genes determine whether a person’s earlobes are attached or detached.
7) Nature and nu rture: Your personality isn’t determined only by genes. There are a lot of other factors that make you who you are, such as where you live and the people you meet.
8) Nature and nurture: Practice makes perfect! Melissa earned her position as class champ because she uses her athletic ability and works so hard.
3. What makes us who we are?
1) expected 2) conclude 3) account 4) nurture 5) argues 6) myth 7) predetermin 8)react 9) consequences 10) revolution11) between 12) creature
Part Two Reading-Centered Activities
In-Class Reading
I. Pre-Reading
Sample
The conclusion is not justified because the sets of twins studied shared not only the same genes but also the same environment. The similarities are not due entirely to genes since environment also plays a role.
II. Passage Reading
Words, Phrases and Grammatical Points
1. history (l. 14)
The word is used here as a countable noun, meaning “a recor d of something that has affected someone or been done by them in the past”. We have phrases like medical/employment/career, etc. history.
I feel like a part of my history has been taken away.
2. infancy (l. 19)
The word is often used in its figurative sens e, meaning “the beginning or early period of existence”.
I) Research in this field is still in its infancy.
II) Tourism on the island is still very much in its infancy.
3. remove (l. 25)
The word has several meanings. The major ones are listed below.
1) take away (from a place) or take to another place
I) The paintings were removed to a museum.
II) As soon as the cake is done, remove it from the oven.
2) get rid of
I) Instant publication would have removed suspicion.
II) Doctors have decided to give her an operation to remove a tumor in her stomach.
3) dismiss
I) All senior officers involved in the coup will have to be removed.
II) They made an attempt to remove her from the General Council.
4) removed from: very different
I) What you say is far removed from what you said before.
II) His ideas on foreign policy were far removed from those of the Government.
4. prove (l. 34)
The word here means “turn out to be”.
I) He proved himself (to be) an amusing companion.
II) The task proved to be more difficult tha n we’d expected.
5. ...she had had few educational advantages herself, ... (l. 37～38)
This means that she did not have much education herself or she was not an educated person herself.
The word “advantage”, meaning something that helps someone to be more s uccessful than others, or the state of having this, is often used in the following expressions:
I) Her experience meant that she had a big advantage over her opponent.
II) She took advantage of him even after they were divorced.
III) It would be to your advantage to prepare questions in advance.
IV) I took advantage of the good weather to paint the shed.
6. except, except for (l. 48)
except后面可以接名词、代词、介词短语、不定式或从句，意思为“not including”。

I) We disagreed on nothing, except method.
II) Everyone except me got an invitation.
III) He rarely went anywhere except to his office.
IV) It had no effect except to make him angry.
V) He never came except when he was in trouble.
except for除了表示“not including”以外，还可以表示“if it were not for, but for” (要不是……)。

I) We had a very pleasant time, except for the weather.
II) Except for her lack of experience she would be an ideal person for the job.
7. “As an advertisement f or a college education the contrast between these two twins should be quite effective.” (l. 54～55)
The differences between the twins in their behavior were associated with the different education they had received. Helen had received a good education while Gladys was not well educated. As a result, Helen was more confident and graceful than Gladys. So the contrast between the twins can serve as an effective advertisement for a college education.
III. Post-Reading
Reading Comprehension
1. Understanding the Organization of the Text
1) Introduction (Para.1)
No characteristic is caused exclusively by either environment or genes.
2) Research on the relative effects of heredity and environment (Para.2-8).
A. Studies on identical twins raised together (Para.2)
Findings: They are remarkably alike in both appearance and behavior.
Implication: Individuals with the same genes, when raised in the same environment, will respond to it in much the same way.
Part Three Further Development
1. Enriching Your Word Power
1) B 2) A 3) A 4) A 5) B 6) C 7) B 8) B 9) A 10) C 11) B 12) A 13) B 14) C
2. What do you know?
1) C
DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid (de-oxy-ri-bo-nu-cle-ic acid). DNA is a chemical in every cell of your body. It is shaped like a long, twisted ladder. This shape is called a double helix.
2) C
DNA is found in all living things, including you! This amazing chemical tells each cell what to do and determines what an organism will look like.
3) C
Scientists are still debating how nature and nurture work together to make you who you are, but most agree that both play a role.
4) B
Scientists used to think that humans had about 100,000 genes. Recently, it was discovered that we have about 30,000. We carry two copies of every gene, one copy from each parent.
5) C
Many things, such as what you eat, can affect how tall you’ll grow. Even if you have talent, making art takes practice. But eye color is a trait passed on through genes.
6) B
Before Dolly, scientists used different techniques to clone animals. Dolly was the first animal to be cloned from a cell of an adult mammal.
7) C
Believe it or not, humans and chimps have a lot of DNA in common! But as you can see, even small differences in genetic codes can make big differences in what an organism looks like.
8) B
You can’t tell by looking at a fruit fly and a human, but they have a lot of similar DNA. In fact, scientists study the fruit fly genes to help advance medical knowledge.
9) B
The human genome has a lot of DNA that carries no information and is not active genetically. It’s still a mystery to scientists why this DNA is there and what it does.
10) C
Although they can have very different personalities, identical twins are often difficult to tell apart physically. But the fingerprints of each are unique.
3. Relating Your Own Experience
Samples:
1) Both my parents were occupied with working so I was raised by my grandparents. They were kind to me. They talked to me a lot, especially my grandmother. They told me about their personal experiences, and what it was like when they were young and when my parents were children.
2) They told me many stories and most of them were famous legends. The story that impressed me most was about a courageous orphan. Every day, he would go out to cultivate his land. One day when he came home, he found a delicious meal on the table. This happened several times. In order to find out who was cooking for him, the young
man hid behind the door. He discovered that it was the oyster fairy who had been sent to take care of him. From then on, the good fairy and the orphan lived happily together.
3) Yes, but I also enjoyed doing things with them. While doing things with them, we not only talked a lot, I also learned a lot of practical skills.
4) I think it helped to cultivate my morality. I am honest and hardworking. I think they made me strong and courageous.
4. Case Study
5. Solving Teresa’s Dilemma
Sample
1) -- YES because the company needs to get the information about its clients so as to charge accordingly. The major concern of any company is profits and every effort should be made to maximize the profits.
-- NO because a genetic test is something private and each individual has the right to personal privacy. Even if a client has had the test, he/she has the right not to tell the company the result, especially if it means higher insurance premiums. To learn from the company who wants to maximize its profits, individuals should try to minimize their payments.
2) – YES because the company should try to do everything possible to get as much information about its clients as possible, otherwise the company may suffer great loss. If
the client refuses to take the test, it may mean either that he/she has some problem which might bring loss to the company or that he/she is uncooperative, the company may refuse to have him/her as its client.
-- NO because each individual has the right to decide whether he/she wants to take a certain test, especially a genetic test which is often considered something private. There is also the cost of a test. If the insurance company insists that its potential client do a genetic test, the company has to pay the cost.
3) –I think Teresa should charge people with the gene more because, due to his predisposition to alcoholism, the probability for him to have an accident is higher. Fully aware of the accidents involving illegal alcohol levels and as a director of the company, Teresa has to consider the risk that her company is running and she has to try her best to minimize the loss to her company. On the other hand, she sh ouldn’t charge those without the gene less because a traffic accident doesn’t always have to do with alcohol. So she shouldn’t lower the charge.
4) -- I think Teresa should charge James the normal insurance price because James never drinks. His predisposition to alcoholism is something genetic and is not his own fault. He didn’t choose the genes and he should not be held responsible for something out of his control. Furthermore, due to his predisposition to alcoholism, he’s more likely to have an accident which might take away his life, so, to some extent, he is a victim of his genes. How can a victim be penalized?
And If James was 25, Teresa should charge him more because the risk for the company is higher since young people have more activities and drive more, and they tend to be more emotional than older people.
6. Which has a stronger influence, heredity or environment?
Part Four Writing and Translation
1. Translation Practice
在全球范围内实行计划生育的困难之一在于各国政府对人口控制的态度各不相同，取决于一个国家的工业发展水平以及可利用的食物和原材料。

在一个发展中国家，急剧增加的人口对食物、空间以及自然资源造成极大的压力，那么政府会不计后果，首先关心的就是限制人口。

在一个高度工业化的国家，问题可能会更加复杂。

出生率降低会导致失业，因为降低了的出生率会使制造品市场萎缩。

当人口对住房的压力减小时，房价会降低，建筑业就会因此疲软。

面临这样一些考虑，发展中国家的政府可能会希望本国的人口呈渐长趋势，而不是保持稳定或下降。

2. Writing
Sample 1
I both benefit and suffer much from heredity. A short stout figure, an introverted personality, and unimaginative but rational mind: all of these traits come from the genes passed on to me. But family, schools, and society work together to shape what I am today.
My parents are both sport lovers, which makes me fond of physical exercises and turns my big frame into a strong body. My honest parents punish me severely whenever I lie or make empty promises, thus I’ve learned the importance of personal integrity. At school I’ve learned to help others, to care for others and also to improve my reasoning and understanding skills. Learning about various positive and negative examples of behavior from the media and other sources of information, I have set my own moral standards regarding what to do and what not to do, what to like and what to hate.
Environment can change a person completely no matter where he was born and what he inherited from his parents. I always believe that a person can succeed in doing anything he feels interested in. Your environment provides all sorts of opportunities and the things necessary for your personal pursuit and achievement. (199 words)
Sample 2
Which has had more influence on you, heredity or environment? This is a difficult question to answer.
First, let us examine the influence of heredity. All m y classmates call me “Fat Yu” because I am fat. My father is also fat, so I can’t help connecting my fatness with his! Although I can’t be absolutely sure that it comes from my father, I do think that I probably have a gene which he passed on to me and which determines my body build or shape. I have studied genetics for a long time and more and more facts prove that there is a gene which controls the accumulation of fat in your body. So now I am convinced that I got a “fat” gene from my father.
Aside from that gene, my father gave me many excellent qualities. For example, I think I am good at abstract thinking. My father is an engineer and he often tells me that he was very good at Math and Physics at middle school and college. So thanks to these genes of his I got into this university.
However, I have many other characteristics, which may come from the environment I grew up in. For example, my father and mother are conservative and traditional. They lack a spirit of adventure and they have a hard time understanding many of the new things in China today. I, on the contrary, have the desire to explore and I hope I can become a pioneer of reform. I often have many original thoughts and ideas and I live in an era full of great changes. All these changes in my environment whet my appetite for exploration.
In conclusion, I think both heredity and environment have influenced me greatly. Heredity created me, but my environment has improved me. (300 words)。