1、Unit 2 Koalas,A Lead in,How much do you know about the Commonwealth of Australia? Share your ideas with your partners on anything you know about Australia, e.g. geography and climate, environment, states and territories, demographics, culture, etc. As one of the symbols of Australia, how do you like
2、 koalas? Do you know the status quo of koalas in Australia?,7,617,930 km2 Separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas. The Coral Sea is lying off the Queensland coast The Tasman Sea is lying between Australia and New Zealand. The worlds smallest continent and the 6th largest country.,Geography
3、,The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef. Mount Augustus, claimed to be the worlds largest monolith(单块巨石), is located in Western Australia. The Great Dividing Range is Australias most substantial mountain range.,Geography,Geography,The Great Barrier Reef,Great Dividing Range 大分水岭,Geo
4、graphy,Mount Augustus,Climate,Climatic zones in Australia,Equatorial: 赤道的，赤道附近的 Tropical Subtropical Desert Grassland Temperate: 温带的,Environment,The majority of Australias trees are hardwoods, typically eucalyptus(桉树) in less arid regions.In drier regions and deserts, wattles(金合欢树) are the dominant
5、species.,Environment,Kangaroo, koala, wombat, birds-e.g. emu, kookaburra,Wombat(袋熊)Kangaroo,Emu (鸸鹋),Kookaburra (笑翠鸟),States,6 states: New South Wales (NSW) Queensland (QLD) South Australia (SA) Tasmania (TAS) Victoria (VIC) Western Australia (WA),Territories,2 mainland territories: The Australian C
6、apital Territory (ACT)The Northern Territory (NT),Demographics,The indigenous(土著的，当地的) population Aborigines(土著居民),Demographics,Language: Australian English The next most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin (1.7%), Italian (1.5%), Arabic (1.4%), Cantonese (1.3%), Greek (1.3%), and Vietnames
7、e (1.2%),Demographics,Religion: no state religion Roman catholic: 罗马天主教 Anglican: 圣公宗教,Culture,Literature: Patrick White/The Eye of the Storm/the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1973 Music: The Sydney Opera House Cuisine: The first settlers introduced British food to the continent, much of which is now
8、 considered typical Australian food, such as the Sunday roast.,B Watch and discuss,Watch the video and answer the questions on the book according to what you watch.,C Text Study,Para 1a. The koala is so universally popular that it has become a kind of symbol for the country of Australia as well as b
9、eing a very well-known-and loved-animal around the world. But what is it about koalas that attracts so many people, both young and old? The main factor seems to be the fact that koalas are just so incredibly cute! “Theyre nice and furry and cuddly,” says one koala-lover visiting a koala exhibit. “Th
10、ey look like toys,” says another tourist from abroad.,1. Cuddly: adj. something that you could just cuddle with and hug forever. Usually cute, soft and sweet.e.g. He is a small, cuddly man with spectacles.他戴着眼镜，是个令人想拥抱一下的小个子男人。Cuddle: v./n. if you cuddle someone, you put your arms around them and ho
11、ld them close as a way of showing your affection. 拥抱，搂抱,Para 1b. Its certainly easy to agree with these opinions when one looks at the furry gray animals sitting on tree branches, slowly eating eucalyptus leaves. The animals appear to be unbelievably relaxed and usually spend most of their time slee
12、ping in order to conserve their energy.,2. Eucalyptus: a eucalyptus is an evergreen tree, originally from Australia, that is grown to provide wood, gum, and an oil that is used in medicines. 桉树,3. Conserve: (1) Protect sth from harm, loss or change. 保护 e.g. Efforts to conserve the environment someti
13、mes clash with the advancement of technology. 致力环境保护有时和发展技术相矛盾. (2) If you conserve a supply of sth, you use it carefully so that it lasts for a long time. 节省 e.g. He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸.,Para 2. When Europeans first saw koalas, they thought they resem
14、bled bears, and some actually believed they were nears. However, these small creatures are not a species of bear, but rather a type of mammal, called a “marsupial（有袋类哺乳动物）” and have stomach pockets in which mothers carry their young. Bear or not, the koala is truly one of the worlds favorite animals
15、. Another visitor to the koala exhibit may sum it up best when he says, “I would be hard put to find another mammal that is so recognizable internationally and so beloved.” Unfortunately, while koalas may be cute and well-liked, love alone, the expert say, may not be enough to ensure the koalas futu
16、re.,4. Resemble: vt. Be similar to sth/sbe.g. My brother resembles me in looks. 我弟弟和我长得很像。e.g. His nails resemble the ivory keys of the spinet. 他的指甲象白色的琴键一样.,5. Species: a class of plants or animals whose members have the same main characteristics and are able to breed with each other.e.g. Several o
17、ther sub-species of gull are found in the region. 在该地区还发现了海鸥的其他亚种。e.g. Given patience, successful breeding of this species can be achieved. 只要有耐心，是能成功培育出这一品种的。,6. mammal: female mammals give birth to babies rather than laying eggs, and feed their young with milk.e.g. The function of a mammals fur is
18、 to insulate the body. 哺乳动物皮毛的功能在于使身体保温.,7. Beloved: a beloved person, thing, or place is one that you feel great affection for.e.g. She longs for the early return of her beloved. 她盼着心上人早日归来.,Para 3a. Deborah Tabart is the executive director for the Australian Koala Foundation and is also an expert
19、of koalas. According to Tabart, the koalas survival prospects are not looking very good. “I can tell you that I believe the koalas future in this country is bleak, very bleak,” she says. The noise of the heavy machines clearing the forests on a local building site seems to reinforce Tabarts predicti
20、on. The development of natural areas in order to make residential and industrial buildings is big business in Australia and around the world. The eucalyptus forests that have always been home to koalas are being increasingly claimed and cleared for housing, farms, and roads.,8. prospect: if theres s
21、ome prospect of sth happening, theres a possibility that it will happene.g. He was underwhelmed by the prospect of meeting the Queen. 即将见到女王并没让他兴奋不已。,9. bleak: with little or no hopee.g. Many predicted a bleak future. 很多人都预测前景暗淡。,10. reinforce: if sth reinforces a feeling, situation, or process, it
22、makes it stronger or more intense.n. reinforcemente.g. Eventually, they had to reinforce the walls with exterior beams. 最终，他们不得不通过增加外梁来对墙体进行加固。e.g. Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。,11. Claim for: require, demand ofe.g. They intend to claim for damages against the three
23、 doctors. 他们打算向那3位医生索要损害赔偿。,Para 3b. This means that the koalas habitat in eastern Australia is being radically reduced in some areas some would even say decimated. The price of progress for human beings seems to be the koalas habitat. Para 4. According to Tarbart, each tree that is lost or cut down
24、 adds more pressure to the already vulnerable state of these animals. Australia has only been settled by people of European background for less than 225 years, but in that time an enormous amount of damage has been done to the natural habitat of these animals. As she walks into a eucalyptus forest,
25、Tabart explains: “Well, this is exactly the sort of habitat that used to be all over Australia. This is prime koala habitat and in the last two hundred years since weve been here, weve cleared about eighty percent of this.”,12. decimate: v. to destroy a very large number of something such as a group
26、 of people or animals.e.g. Silber says the tax rollback would decimate basic services for the needy. 西尔伯说税收的回落可能会大大减少为贫困人口提供的基本服务。,13. Vulnerable: weak, with the result that they are easily hurt physically or emotionally.e.g. Lacking self-confidence and maturity, many teenagers are left feeling very
27、 vulnerable. 许多十几岁的孩子既缺乏自信又不够懂事，所以感情上十分脆弱。,Para 5. It seem, then, that a huge percentage of koala habitat has been eliminated, but thats not the sole difficulty facing the cuddly, furry mammal. The other issue is that the severely reduced koala habitat that remains is not adequately protected by nat
28、ional legislation. While there are some laws protecting koalas, Tabart would say those laws dont enough. “Eighty percent of the koalas in Australia now live on private land,” she says, “so there is absolutely nothing that says that you and I just really cant cut those trees down.”,14. eliminate: rem
29、ove sth completely.e.g. America wants to eliminate tariffs on items such as electronics. 美国打算取消电子产品等的关税。e.g. Credit cards eliminate the need to carry a lot of cash. 有了信用卡就用不着携带很多现金。,15. sole: the sole thing or person of a particular type is the only one of that type.e.g. The sole survivor of the cra
30、sh was an infant. 这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿.,15. legislation: Ulegislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government.e.g. They think that any legislation that involved putting down dogs was wrong. 他们认为任何涉及捕杀狗的立法都是错误的。e.g. 2. The legislation is expected to be passed in the next parliament. 预计这项法案将在下一届议会
31、中通过。,Para 6. The Australian Koala Foundation is responding to this problem by advocating for a National Koala Act. The act, which will effectively protect the remaining eucalyptus forests by law, includes incentives for private landowners to help save the koala. Some consider changes to the legal in
32、frastructure such as this to be the way of the future. It may virtually be the only way that one can ensure the survival of some of the worlds threatened and endangered species.,16. Incentive: sth that makes sb work harder; motivation (v.: motivate)e.g. A little bonus will give the employees an ince
33、ntive to work harder. 一点奖金可以刺激雇员更加努力地工作.,17. infrastructure: the infrastructure of a country, society or organization consists of the basic facilities such as transportation, communications, power supplies, and buildings, which enanle it to function. (国家、社会、组织赖以行使职能的)基础设施e.g. Japanese proprietors ar
34、e erecting a complex infrastructure of political influence throughout America. 日本商人正在美国各地建立复杂的、具有政治影响力的基础结构。,18. virtually: indicating sth is so nearly true that for most purposes it can be regarded as true. 事实上e.g. When they first captured the port, they virtually cleaned out its warehouses. 他们刚占领港
35、口时，把那里的仓库简直抢了个精光。Virtue: 优点、美德、正直的品性等,Para 7. Tabart talks about the potential legislation and what I means for Australia. She reports that its a matter of establishing a piece of legislation that will intervene in the decimation of habitat and provide benefits for the future. However, it must also
36、be one that doesnt deny landowners too much and creates a conservation-friendly understanding about land use. Tabart explains: “We need to have a visionary piece of legislation that says, Look, this is the way it is. Were not telling you that you cant do everything. But if you want something for fut
37、ure generations, youre going to have to make some concessions because you cant keep doing it the way it is.”,19. Intervene in: becoming involved in a situation and try to change it.e.g. The Government is doing nothing to intervene in the crisis. 政府没有采取任何行动对这次危机进行干预。Interfere in/with e.g. Smoking and
38、 drinking interfere with your bodys ability to process oxygen.抽烟与酗酒有碍身体处理氧气的能力。,20. deny: (1) If you deny sb sth that they want or need, you refuse to let them have it. 拒绝给予，剥夺 e.g. I would not want to deny them a harmless pleasure. 我不想剥夺他们这点无伤大雅的乐趣。 (2) When you deny sth, you state that it is not t
39、rue. 否认 e.g. They appeared at court yesterday to deny charges of murder. 他们昨天出庭，否认谋杀的指控。,21. visionary: adj. far-seeing e.g. White was both visionary and rationalist. 怀特既有远见又充满理性。n. A person who is far-seeing e.g. An entrepreneur is more than just a risk taker. He is a visionary. 企业家不仅要能承担风险，还应富于远见。
40、,22. concession: sth that is permitted or given to solve a disagreemente.g. We can not make heavy concession to the matter. 我们在这个问题上不能过于让步.,Para 8a. Tabart often speaks with conservationists, government representatives, and lawyers on behalf of the Koala Foundation. She attempts to convince them tha
41、t, contrary to popular belief, koala legislation does not need to be complex; theres no need for complicated documents that exploit landowners or set governmental limits on land use. She feels that they need a comprehensive habitat protection program, but one that will accommodate landowners needs.
42、In her opinion, a few paradigm shifts regarding conservation as well as revisions to legislation could prove to be the solution.,23. exploit: someone is being treated unfairly by using his work or ideas and giving him very little in return. 利用，剥削e.g. What the media should not do is to exploit people
43、s natural fears. 媒体不应该利用人们天生的恐惧心理。e.g. Cary is hoping to exploit new opportunities in Europe. 卡里希望好好利用欧洲的新机遇。,24. comprehensive: adj. sth that is comprehensive includes everyhing that is needed or relevant. 全面的，综合的 e.g. There are much brighter prospects for a comprehensive settlement than before. 综合
44、性的社区具有比以前更加光明的前景。Comprehend: v. understand. 理解，领会Comprehension: n. the ability to understand sth. 理解力，理解 e.g. They can neither read nor write, nor can they comprehend such concepts. 他们不会读，不会写，也理解不了这样的概念。,25. accommodate: if sth is planned or changed to accommodate a particular situation, it is plann
45、ed or changed so that it takes this situation into account. 使适应e.g. Some animal and plant species cannot accommodate to the rapidly changing conditions. 某些种类的动植物不能适应迅速变化的环境。,Para 8b. But while plans and ideas for the National Koala Act may be submitted in meetings, they are inspired in the forests.
46、By taking groups of conservationists through the forests, Tabart is able to show them exactly what might be lost. “Now this is a spot where koalas usually love. There are some lovely habitat trees just here,” she explains to one group as they walk through the forest.,Para 9. The appeal of the koala
47、and the need to help save its habitat even seems to reach overseas. American conservation lawyers and scientists have come to Australia to share share their experience in helping to save habitats with their Australian colleagues. The United States and Australia may be on opposite sides of the globe,
48、 but people such as Mark Shaffer from a group called Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., have a common desire: they want to save threatened and endangered species.,Para 10. The Defenders of Wildlife are all too familiar with the troubles and concerns that arise from the clearing of land and t
49、he increased development of natural areas. Shaffer explains why he has come. “I think were really here to share our experience,” he says. “I mean, the United States has had a long, long history of its own land-clearing, settlement, and development. And weve got about twelve hundred of our own specie
50、s on our threatened and endangered species list.”,26. arise from: result frome.g. The countrys present difficulties arise from the reduced value of its money. 该国目前的困难起因于其货币的贬值.,Para 11. As the group of lawyers and conservation scientist walk deep into the forest, its easy to see how their shared lov
51、e of nature brings them together. Although the views along the Australian coast are amazingly beautiful, theyve not come here to look at the ocean. Everyone in the group is looking up to the forest canopy, hoping to catch sight of a koala. “Theres one!” says one member of the group excitedly as she smiles, looking up at the gray ball of fur sitting sleepily in a tree.,
