1、Unit 8: The Merely Very Good,What does the title remind you of?What kind of people is genius?What kind of people is merely very good?,Unit 8 The Merely Very Good,Physics: Oppenheimer vs. Dirac Poetry: Spender vs. AudenTheme: 1. the really good ideas in physics are had only by one person” 2. “But to
2、be more original and profound I think you have to be more focused.”Writing skill: Knitting seemingly scattered anecdotes of various characters into a coherent whole.,The knitting of the anecdotes,1: The 1981 conference and the authors decision2-3: (1925-1927) Earlier life of Oppenheimer and his rela
3、tions with Dirac4: (1981)The authors decision: Spender and Auden5-7: (1956) Spender and Oppenheimer8-9: (1958) Oppenheimer, Dirac and the author10-16: (1981) Meeting with Spender17-20: (1996) Concluding remarks.,Para. 1 The author receives an invitation but does not want to go.,Inclination: n.倾向, 趋势
4、; 意愿, 爱好Repellent: adj 讨厌的，令人厌恶的Honorarium: n.（对习俗或法律上不应取酬的服务的）酬劳（或答谢）Cover: vt. 包括；包含；论及 The review covered everything we learned last term. 这次复习包括上学期我们所学的全部课程。In truth:真实地, 实在,Para. 2-3: Earlier life of Oppenheimer and his relations with Dirac,Elaborate: v.详细描述 The chairman just wanted the facts;
5、You dont need to elaborate on them.“主席只想了解事实,你不必作详细说明。”Fellowship: n. 奖学金Posthumously: adj.死后的, 身后的, 作者死后出版的Sympathetic: adj.有同情心的, 合意的, 赞成的Petition: v.请求, 恳求, 请愿,Para.2-3: Earlier life of Oppenheimer and his relations with Dirac,Enigma: n.谜, 不可思议的东西Devastating: adj.破坏性的In the course of: adv.在.期间Go
6、over well: be well received,Para. 4: The authors decision: Spender and Auden,pit: v.（常与against连用）相斗；抗衡 pit one person against anotherCarry the day: v.得胜Lucrative: adj.有利的Gutsy: adj.勇敢的Lucidity: n.明朗, 清晰, 透明Obsession: n.迷住, 困扰Homosexual: adj.同性恋的Insulate: vt.使绝缘, 隔离Perennial: adj.四季不断的, 终年的, 长期的, 永久的
7、, (植物)多年生的,Para. 5-7: Spender and Oppenheimer,Convertible: n 敞篷车,有活动摺篷的汽车Elongate: v.拉长, (使)伸长, 延长Radiant: adj.发光的, 辐射的, 容光焕发的Ascetic: n.禁欲者, 苦行修道者 adj.修道的, 苦行的Luminescence: n.发冷光Disembodied: adj 无实体的；空洞的；空虚的Security clearance: n.(对参加秘密工作人员等进行的)忠诚调查,Para. 8-9: (1958) Oppenheimer, Dirac and the autho
8、r,Collaboration: n.合作， 合著， 共同研究Clipped: adj. 发音清楚的Preside: v.主持Indelible: adj.去不掉的, 不能拭除的Session:(从事某项活动的)一段时间; 通话;对话(期); 对谈时间,Para. 10-16: (1981) Meeting with Spender,Cobble: （常与together连用）粗制滥造Minuscule: adj.用草写小字写的, 极小的Mediocre: adj.普普通通的Out of sorts: adj.不高兴的Cling to: v.依附, 依靠, 坚持Avatar: n.化身, 天神
9、下凡, 具体化,Para. 10-16: (1981) Meeting with Spender,Every once in a while: adv.偶尔Autopilot: n. 自动驾驶仪Egregious: adj.异乎寻常的, 过分的Call on:要(学生)回答问题,Para. 17-20: (1996) Concluding remarks,Tax preparationLunatic: adj.精神错乱的, 疯狂的, 极端愚蠢的 n.疯子, 狂人, 大傻瓜, 疯人Lunar: adj.月的, 月亮的jog sb.s memory 唤起某人的记忆Nocturne: n.夜曲, 夜景Crotchety: adj.有怪想的, 反复无常的, 想入非非的Persona: n.人, 角色,Para. 17-20: (1996) Concluding remarks,Relegate:降级 relegated to a secondary position 降到次要位置Sweep along 冲走, 掠过, 到过lady-in-waiting n.侍女, 宫女,
