Unit 5 Tert a PRE-READING TASK Exercise 1 Before reading the passage, try to answer the questions 1. how much do you know about the internet? 2. What do people usually do on the internet' 3. What has made the Internet possible? Modern communication: The laser and Fiber-Optic revolution In April 1995, a young Chinese chemistry student at Beijing University lay dying in a Beijing ospital. She was in a coma, and although her doctors had performed numerous tests, they couldnt discover what was killing her. In desperation, a student friend posted an SOs describing her symptoms to several medical bulletin boards and mailing lists on the Internet. Around the world, doctors who regularly checked these electronic bulletin boards and lists responded In Washington, D. C, Dr John Aldis, a physician with the U.S. Department of State, saw the message from China. Using the Internet, he forwarded the message to colleagues in America Soon an international group of doctors joined the e-mail discussion. a diagnosis emerged - the woman might have been poisoned with thallium, a metal resembling lead. A Beijing laboratory confirmed this diagnosis -the thallium concentration in her body was as much as 1000 times normal. More e-mail communication followed, as treatment was suggested and then adjusted. The woman slowly began to recover. Well over a year later, the international medical community was still keeping tads on her condition through the electronic medium that served her life It's 11: 30 p.m., you're in San Francisco on business, and you want to check for messages at your office in Virginia. First you dial in and get your voice mail. Next you plug your portable computer into the hotel-room telephone jack hit a few keys, and pick up e-mail from a potential client in South Africa, your sister in London, and a business associate in Detroit. Before writing your responses, you do a quick bit of search on the Internet, tracking down the name of the online news group you had mentioned to the man in Detroit and the title of a book you wanted to recommend to your sister. A few more keystrokes and in moments your electronic letters have reached London and Detroit. Then, knowing that the time difference means the next workday has begun in South Africa, you call there without a second thought These stories reflect societys increasing reliance on a system of global communication that can link you equally easily with someone in the next town or halfway around the world. The expanded telephone-line capacity that has allowed the growth of these forms of communication is a recent phenomenon. The United States has enjoyed domestic telephone service for more than a century, but overseas telephone calls were difficult until relatively recently. For a number of years after World War Il, calls to Europe or Asia relied on short-wave radio signals. It sometimes took an operator hours to set up a 3-munite call, and if you got through, the connection was often noisy In 1956, the first transatlantic copper wire cable allowed simul taneous transmission of 36
Unit 5 Text A PRE-READING TASK Exercise 1 Before reading the passage, try to answer the questions. 1. how much do you know about the internet? 2. What do people usually do on the internet? 3. What has made the Internet possible? Modern Communication: The Laser and Fiber-Optic Revolution In April 1995, a young Chinese chemistry student at Beijing University lay dying in a Beijing hospital. She was in a coma, and although her doctors had performed numerous tests, they couldn’t discover what was killing her. In desperation, a student friend posted an SOS describing her symptoms to several medical bulletin boards and mailing lists on the Internet. Around the world, doctors who regularly checked these electronic bulletin boards and lists responded immediately. In Washington, D.C., Dr. John Aldis, a physician with the U.S. Department of State , saw the message from China. Using the Internet, he forwarded the message to colleagues in America. Soon an international group of doctors joined the e-mail discussion. A diagnosis emerged – the woman might have been poisoned with thallium, a metal resembling lead. A Beijing laboratory confirmed this diagnosis – the thallium concentration in her body was as much as 1000 times normal. More e-mail communication followed, as treatment was suggested and then adjusted. The woman slowly began to recover. Well over a year later, the international medical community was still keeping tads on her condition through the electronic medium that served her life. It’s 11:30 p.m., you’re in San Francisco on business, and you want to check for messages at your office in Virginia. First you dial in and get your voice mail. Next you plug your portable computer into the hotel-room telephone jack. hit a few keys, and pick up e-mail from a potential client in South Africa, your sister in London, and a business associate in Detroit. Before writing your responses, you do a quick bit of search on the Internet, tracking down the name of the online news group you had mentioned to the man in Detroit and the title of a book you wanted to recommend to your sister. A few more keystrokes and in moments your electronic letters have reached London and Detroit. Then, knowing that the time difference means the next workday has begun in South Africa, you call there without a second thought. These stories reflect society’s increasing reliance on a system of global communication that can link you equally easily with someone in the next town or halfway around the world. The expanded telephone-line capacity that has allowed the growth of these forms of communication is a recent phenomenon. The United States has enjoyed domestic telephone service for more than a century, but overseas telephone calls were difficult until relatively recently. For a number of years after World War II, calls to Europe or Asia relied on short-wave radio signals. It sometimes took an operator hours to set up a 3-munite call, and if you got through, the connection was often noisy. In 1956, the first transatlantic copper wire cable allowed simultaneous transmission of 36
elephone conversations a cause for celebration then, a small number today. other cables followed; by the early 1960s, overseas telephone calls had reached 5 million per year. Then came satellite communication in the middle 1960s, and by 1980, the telephone system carried some 200 million overseas calls per year. But as demands on the telecommunication system continued to increase, the limitations of current technology became apparent. Then, in 1988, the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable was laid, and the "information superhighway" was on its way to becoming reality Optical fibers form the backbone of the global telecommunication system today. These emarkable strands of glass-each thinner than a human hair, yet stronger, length for length, than steel were designed to carry the vast amounts of data that can be transmitted via a relatively new form of light -tightly focused laser beams. Together, lasers and optical fibers have dramatically increased the capacity of the international telephone system. a typical fiber-optic cable made up of 100 or more such fibers can carry more than 40,000 voice channels. With equally striking improvements in computing the new communication technology has fueled the exponential growth of the phenomenon known as the Internet New Words laser n 激光 fiber n 纤维 optic(al)a 光的,光学的 coma n state of long unnatural deep unconsciousness caused by poisoning,etc.昏厥(状态) SOS n an international signal calling for help, used esp. by ships in trouble 求救信号 a change in body or mind which shows disease or disorder ER bulletin n a short public usu. official notice公告,告示 Internet n 因特网;国际互联网络;网际网 physician n a doctor,esp. one who treats diseases with medicine内科医生 forward y to send; to send forward to a new address寄;转寄 colleague n a fellow worker, esp. in a profession同事 e-mall n electronic mail电子邮件 lent which is the result of di 诊断 emerge 1 to come or appear显现;出现 thallium n resemble y to look or be like像,类似 铅 插上,塞,堵 that can be carried or moved, quite small and light手提式的,便携 式的,轻便的 client n a person who pays a professional person, esp. a lawyer, for help or advice, customer委托人,客户,顾客 a person connected with another,esp. in work合伙人,同事 1. to friends or as partners in business结交,联合 2. to connect in ones mind联想
telephone conversations – a cause for celebration then, a small number today. Other cables followed; by the early 1960s, overseas telephone calls had reached 5 million per year. Then came satellite communication in the middle 1960s, and by 1980, the telephone system carried some 200 million overseas calls per year. But as demands on the telecommunication system continued to increase, the limitations of current technology became apparent. Then, in 1988, the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable was laid, and the “information superhighway” was on its way to becoming reality. Optical fibers form the backbone of the global telecommunication system today. These remarkable strands of glass – each thinner than a human hair, yet stronger, length for length, than steel – were designed to carry the vast amounts of data that can be transmitted via a relatively new form of light – tightly focused laser beams. Together, lasers and optical fibers have dramatically increased the capacity of the international telephone system. A typical fiber-optic cable made up of 100 or more such fibers can carry more than 40,000 voice channels. With equally striking improvements in computing, the new communication technology has fueled the exponential growth of the phenomenon known as the Internet. New Words laser n. 激光 fiber n. 纤维 optic(al) a. 光的，光学的 coma n.. state of long unnatural deep unconsciousness caused by disease, poisoning, etc. 昏厥（状态） SOS n. an international signal calling for help, used esp. by ships in trouble 求救信号 symptom n. a change in body or mind which shows disease or disorder 症状 bulletin n. a short public usu. official notice 公告，告示 Internet n. 因特网；国际互联网络；网际网 physician n. a doctor, esp. one who treats diseases with medicine 内科医生 forward v. to send; to send forward to a new address 寄；转寄 colleague n. a fellow worker, esp. in a profession 同事 e-mail n. electronic mail 电子邮件 diagnosis n. a statement which is the result of diagnosing 诊断 emerge v. to come or appear 显现；出现 thallium n. 铊 resemble v. to look or be like 像，类似 lead n. 铅 plug v. 插上，塞，堵 portable a. that can be carried or moved; quite small and light 手提式的，便携 式的，轻便的 client n. a person who pays a professional person, esp. a lawyer, for help or advice; customer 委托人，客户，顾客 associate n. a person connected with another, esp. in work 合伙人，同事 v. 1. to join as friends or as partners in business 结交，联合 2. to connect in one’s mind 联想
online a directly connected to or controlled by a computer联机的 1. to speak(to someone)in favor of; praise (as being good for a purpose)推荐,介绍 2. to advise or suggest劝告,建议 keystroke n 击键,按键 reflect v 1. to expres; give an idea of反映,表现 2. to throw back(light, sound, heat, or an image)RAf reliance pendence, trust依靠,信任 global a of or concerning the whole earth, involving or relating to all the parts or aspects of a situation全球的,全世界的,全部的 1. of the house, home or family家庭的 2. not foreign国内的 overseas a. ad to, at or in somewhere across the sea; foreign外国的;海外 short-wave n wave of less than60 meters in length短波 transatlantic a crossing or on the other side of the atlantic ocean横跨大西洋的 大西洋彼岸的 happening or done at the same time同时的,同时发生的 transmit v to send out electric signals, messages,etc.发射,传输,传送 transmission n 发射,传输,传送 satellite n 1. a man-made object intended to move around the earth, moon, etc me purpose人造卫星 2. a heavenly body moving around another one卫星 telecommunication n 电信:远距离通讯 limitation n a fact which limits the power of sb. or sth限制,局限 elonging to the present time当前的,现在的 apparent a 1. easily seen or understood; plain显然的 表面的 superhighway n 超级高速公路 现实,事实 脊椎,支柱 strand n a single piece of thread股,缕 vast a great in size or amount巨大的;巨额的 ( datum的复数)资料,数据 via prep. by means of; through fuel v& n exponential a Phrases and Expressions keep tabs(a tab)oI second thought(s)
online a. directly connected to or controlled by a computer 联机的 recommend v. 1. to speak (to someone) in favor of; praise (as being good for a purpose) 推荐，介绍 2. to advise or suggest 劝告，建议 keystroke n. 击键，按键 reflect v. 1. to express; give an idea of 反映，表现 2. to throw back (light, sound, heat, or an image) 反射 reliance n. dependence; trust 依靠，信任 global a. of or concerning the whole earth; involving or relating to all the parts or aspects of a situation 全球的，全世界的，全部的 domestic a. 1. of the house, home or family 家庭的 2. not foreign 国内的 overseas a.& ad. to, at or in somewhere across the sea; foreign 外国的；海外 short-wave n. wave of less than 60 meters in length 短波 transatlantic a. crossing or on the other side of the Atlantic ocean 横跨大西洋的， 大西洋彼岸的 simultaneous a. happening or done at the same time 同时的，同时发生的 transmit v. to send out electric signals, messages, etc. 发射，传输，传送 transmission n. 发射，传输，传送 satellite n. 1. a man-made object intended to move around the earth, moon, etc. for some purpose 人造卫星 2. a heavenly body moving around another one 卫星 telecommunication n. 电信；远距离通讯 limitation n. a fact which limits the power of sb. or sth.限制，局限 current a. belonging to the present time 当前的，现在的 apparent a. 1. easily seen or understood; plain 显然的 2. seeming 表面的 superhighway n. 超级高速公路 reality n. 现实，事实 backbone n. 脊椎，支柱 strand n. a single piece of thread 股，缕 vast a. great in size or amount 巨大的；巨额的 data n. ( datum 的复数 )资料，数据 via prep. by means of; through beam n. compute n. fuel v.& n. exponential a. Phrases and Expressions keep tabs (a tab) on on business track down second thought(s) rely on
get through Proper Name Washington, D. C the U.S. Department of State San francisco Detroit AFTER-READING TASK Reading Comprehe Exercise 2 Choose the best answer according to the passage 1. The first two paragraphs tell us a true story of A. international cooperation via the Internet B. how dangerous thallium can be humans C. how one can get help from the Internet D. the girls recovery from thallium poisoning 2. The third paragraph tells us another story that illustrates A. a modern businessmans typical workday B. more functions of the modern communication system C. the time difference between San Francisco and South africa the way business is do 3. The information superhighway came into existence because of A copper wire cables B satellite communication C optical fibers D laser and optical fibers 4. The highly efficient modern communication system began A. over a century ago B in the middle 1960s C. in the late 1980s in the year 1980 5. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage? A. It's optical fibers and lasers that have made the information superhighway possible B. People can communicate with each other more quickly now on the Internet C. It has taken quite a long time for the Internet to come into existence D. If one is seriously ill, he can always get help via the modern communication system Exercise 3 Decide whether the statement are True or False 1. Dr John Aldis had to go to Beijing with his colleagues to confirm their diagnosis 2. The present telephone line can carry information in the form of sound only 3. Geographical distance is no longer a problem in terms of modern communication. 4. The copper wire cable, though it's capacity is limited, has lots of advantages over short-wave 5. The modern communication technology consists of optical fibers, lasers and computers Exercise 4 Give short answers to the questions 1. Why did the student friend send messages on the Internet? 2. By what means did the group of doctors discuss the girl students case? 3. What made it possible for you" to get in touch with others when"you' were in San
set up get through Proper Name Washington, D.C. the U.S. Department of State San Francisco Detroit AFTER-READING TASK Reading Comprehension Exercise 2 Choose the best answer according to the passage. 1. The first two paragraphs tell us a true story of ___________. A. international cooperation via the Internet B. how dangerous thallium can be humans C. how one can get help from the Internet D. the girls recovery from thallium poisoning 2. The third paragraph tells us another story that illustrates ____________. A. a modern businessman’s typical workday B. more functions of the modern communication system C. the time difference between San Francisco and South Africa D. the way business is done in the modern society 3. The information superhighway came into existence because of ____________. A. copper wire cables B. satellite communication C. optical fibers D. laser and optical fibers 4. The highly efficient modern communication system began _____________. A. over a century ago B. in the middle 1960s C. in the late 1980s D. in the year 1980 5. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage? A. It’s optical fibers and lasers that have made the information superhighway possible. B. People can communicate with each other more quickly now on the Internet. C. It has taken quite a long time for the Internet to come into existence. D. If one is seriously ill, he can always get help via the modern communication system. Exercise 3 Decide whether the statement are True or False 1. Dr John Aldis had to go to Beijing with his colleagues to confirm their diagnosis. 2. The present telephone line can carry information in the form of sound only. 3. Geographical distance is no longer a problem in terms of modern communication. 4. The copper wire cable, though it’s capacity is limited, has lots of advantages over short-wave radio signals. 5. The modern communication technology consists of optical fibers, lasers and computers. Exercise 4 Give short answers to the questions 1. Why did the student friend send messages on the Internet? 2. By what means did the group of doctors discuss the girl student’s case? 3. What made it possible for “you” to get in touch with others when “you” were in San
Francisco on business? 5. What has helped increase the capacity of today's telephone system in addition to optical Exercise 5 Choose the definition from column b that best matches the word in column a numerous a. make certain b happening at the same time emerge by means confirm 5. potential e. many 6. recommend f 7. domestic g. not foreign 8. simultaneous h. advise or suggest 9. ap j easily seen or understood Exercise 6 Translate the expressions into Chinese or English 1. in desperation in despair 变得绝望 2. as much as 1000 times normal 1000 times more than normal 高达正常的10倍 比正常高出10倍 3. without a second thought on second thought 再考虑一下此事 4. halfway around the world go halfway meet someone halfway meet trouble halfway 5. on it's way to becoming reality 逐渐痊愈 on the way to get perfect on the way to the airport 在回家的路上 6. length for length tit for tat an eye for an eye 以牙还牙 Exercise 7 Fill in the blanks with the given words. Change the form if necessary
Francisco on business? 4. What are optical fibers made up of? 5. What has helped increase the capacity of today’s telephone system in addition to optical fibers? Exercise 5 Choose the definition from column B that best matches the word in column A. A B 1. numerous a. make certain 2. respond b. happening at the same time 3. emerge c. by means of 4. confirm d. existing in possibility 5. potential e. many 6. recommend f. answer 7. domestic g. not foreign 8. simultaneous h. advise or suggest 9. apparent i. Appear 10. via j. easily seen or understood Exercise 6 Translate the expressions into Chinese or English. 1. in desperation ______________________ in despair ______________________ _________________ 变得绝望 2. as much as 1000 times normal ______________________ 1000 times more than normal _______________________ ________________________ 高达正常的 10 倍 ________________________ 比正常高出 10 倍 3. without a second thought _______________________ on second thought ________________________ ________________________ 再考虑一下此事 4. halfway around the world ________________________ go halfway ________________________ meet someone halfway _________________________ meet trouble halfway ________________________ 5. on it’s way to becoming reality ________________________ ________________________ 逐渐痊愈 on the way to get perfect ________________________ on the way to the airport ________________________ ________________________ 在回家的路上 6. length for length ________________________ tit for tat ________________________ an eye for an eye ________________________ ________________________ 以牙还牙 Exercise 7 Fill in the blanks with the given words. Change the form if necessary