Unit 2 Crossing limits

TEACHING GOALS

1. TARGET LANGUAGE

a. key words and phrases: curious, wealthy, in exchange for, central position, ambassador, existence, accurate, exist, ripe, command, renew, expedition

b. key sentences:

Trade and curiosity have often formed the foundation for mankind’s greatest endeavor. (p12)

Over the next few hundred years, the Swahili kingdoms and the islands off the African coast developed into the world’s trading centre for ivory, spices, rhinoceros horns, shells, animal skins and sugar. (p12)

The Arabic contacts to the African coast led to the next meeting between black people and a Chinese. (p12)

In the eleventh century, the Africans made several voyages to the court of the Song Dynasty. (p12)

2. ABILITY GOALS

a. Enable the students to know Chinese contribution to world exploration in the 15th century.

b. Develop students’ ability of basic reading strategies of bottom-up and top-down.

3. Learning ability goals

a. Students will understand the great contribution Zheng He had done to the world, thus they may take these national heroes as example and follow them.

b. By using the strategies of bottom-up and top-down, students will learn to generalize and collect information.

TEACHING IMPORTANT POINTS

The explorers’ great contribution to world trade and economy.

TEACHING DIFFICULT POINTS

Guide the students to pick out the main clue of the passage and the development method of the text.

TEACHING METHODS

Team work learning.

Task-based learning

TEACHING AIDS

TEACHING PROCEDURES & WAYS

STEP I REVISION

Check words and expressions

1. Trade and curiosity (好奇) have often formed the foundation for mankind’s greatest endeavor.

2. Marco Polo’s stories inspired Christopher Columbus and other European explorers to search for sea route to the distant, wealthy (富有的) Asian lands.

3. Silk from China found its way over land along the Silk Road to India, the middle east and Rome, in exchange for (来交换) spices and glass.

4. Ceylon, with its central position (中央位置), was the place where Chinese merchants met with Arab merchants and heard about the westernmost lands.

5. Gan Ying, a Chinese ambassador (大使) went to the east Roman Empire over land.

6. The contacts between China and Africa over the centuries had led to the awareness of each other’s existence (存在).

7. Still no accurate (精确的) maps of the countries around Indian Ocean existed (存在) before Zheng He.

8. By the beginning of 15th century the time was ripe (成熟).

9. Under the command (统帅) of Zheng He, the fleets set sail from the south China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Red Sea.

10. Zheng He renewed (重建) relations with the kingdoms of the East African coast.

11. The fleets made several expeditions (远征) before the exploration (探险) was stopped.

STEP II LEAD-IN

STEP III PRE-READING

Thesis sentence Many great explorers made expeditions across the Indian Ocean long before Columbus, among whom Zheng He was the most prominent.

Main idea (before Zheng He) P2

China had contacts with countries along the Indian Ocean from the early time, and during ancient time explorers had begun to contact with each other.

Main idea (before Zheng He) P3

Between the Han and the early Tang Dynasty, Swahili kingdoms and the islands off the African coast developed into the world trade centre and attracted merchants from the world.

Main idea (before Zheng He) P4

During the Tang Dynasty, Du Huan, who traveled to many lands, wrote the book Record of My Travels.

Main idea P5

In the eleventh century, the Africans made several voyages to the court of the Song Dynasty.

Main idea (after Zheng He) P6

By the beginning of the fifteenth century the time was ripe for a grand meeting.

Main idea P7

In the years between 1405 and 1433, under the command of Zheng He, seven large treasure fleets sailed westwards on voyages of trade and exploration.

Main idea (after Zheng He) P8

Zheng He renewed relations with the kingdoms of the East African coast.

Main idea P9

The fleet made several expeditions before the exploration was stopped.

STEP IV WHILE-READING -- REACHING OUT ACROSS THE OCEAN跨越大洋

① Reach

归纳拓展

reach (out) for伸出手/脚去够…

as far as the eyes can reach就眼力所能及; 极目

within one’s reach = within the reach of sb够得着

reach out拓展，伸出

Please reach me that book.

Not a single word reached my ears.

He reached out his hand for the knife, but it was too far away.

We must reach out to those in need.

Jim reached for a gun but he was stopped.

Trade and curiosity have often formed① the foundation for mankind’s greatest endeavor②. To people of early civilizations, the world map was a great puzzle③. Marco Polo's stories inspired④ Christopher Columbus and other European explorers to search⑤ for sea routes⑥ to the distant, wealth Asian Land. However, long before⑦ that brave merchants were the real explorers of the Western Ocean. 贸易和好奇常常构成人类巨大努力的基础。对于早期文明的人们来说，世界地图是一个极大的困惑。马可波罗的故事激励了克里斯托弗哥伦布和其他的欧洲探险家去探索能到达遥远、富饶的亚洲大陆的海上航线。然而，远在这之前，勇敢的商人是真正的西部海洋的探险者。

① form the foundation for mankind’s greatest endeavor 形成人们努力（探索世界）的基础

② endeavor--formal to try very hard

They endeavored to change society.

He endeavored to climb the mountain.

You must endeavor to do it better.

Please make every endeavor to be early.

③ puzzle vt.

归纳拓展

sb + be puzzled感到疑惑

sth + be puzzling 令人疑惑

sth + puzzle + sb使…疑惑

1. 使迷惑;使为难,使窘困

What puzzles me is why they didn't show up.令我百思不解的是他们为什么没有出现。

He looked a little puzzled.他看上去有点困惑。

His recent behavior puzzles me.他最近的行为使我迷惑不解。

2. 苦思而得出[(+out)]

I could not puzzle out her intentions.我猜不出她的意图。

We finally puzzled out the meaning of the poem.我们苦苦思索终于理解这首诗的意思。

vi.

1. 感到迷惑[(+at)]

I have been puzzling about this question for weeks now.我对这个问题已冥思苦想了好几个星期。

2. 苦思,冥思苦想[(+about/over/as to)]

n.

1. (游戏的)猜谜,智力竞赛[C]

2. 难题,谜,难以理解之事[S1]

Her decision was a puzzle to him.她的决定对他来说是个谜。

3. 困惑,迷惑[S]

I'm in a puzzle as to how to cope with the new situation.我不知道该如何应付这新局面。

④ inspire sb to do鼓舞某人做某事

⑤ search

归纳拓展

search spl / sb for sth在…寻找…

search for sth寻找某物

in search of 寻找;寻求

in (one’s / the) search for…寻找…

search sb搜查某人的身体

The police searched the prisoner to see if he had a gun.

I searched shop after shop for my sister’s birthday present.

The parents searched for their lost boy here and there, but they didn’t find him.

I will make a search for your book.

I looked everywhere in search of my glasses.

⑥ routes--a way from one place to another

What's the best route to Cambridge?

a bus route

If you don't enjoy driving on the main highways, try some of the rural routes.

⑦ long before, before long(= soon )

归纳拓展

long before和状语,与完成时态连用

long before + n. /从句 早在…之前

It be (not) long before 很久之后才/不久就….

before long不久以后,与将来时或过去时连用

There was a lively market long before.

Before long you will understand what I

said is good for you.

I had waited him long before he came.

It won’t be long before you see him again.

It was long before they escaped from the cruel prison.

It is well known that① Africa had contacts with② India and the Red Sea civilizations from the earliest times. Silk from China found its way③ over land along the Silk Road to India, the Middle East and Rome, in exchange④ for spices⑤ and glass, which was not known to China. Silk was also traded along the coasts of the India Ocean. Ceylon, with⑥ its central position, was the place where Chinese merchants met with Arab merchants and heard about the westernmost lands. Thus, people of the Han Dynasty knew about Africa and had books with description of the kingdoms on the African coast and the Red Sea. In 97 AD, Gan Ying, a Chinese ambassador went to the East Roman Empire over land and returned to Luoyang with a present from an African king-- rhinoceros horns. 众所周知，很早很早以前，非洲就与印度和红海文明有联系。中国的丝绸沿丝绸之路运往印度、中东和罗马去交换香料和玻璃--这些是在中国根本没人知道的东西。沿印度洋海岸也有丝绸贸易。锡兰，凭借其中心位置，成为中国商人会见阿拉伯商人和了解最西方国家的地方。因此，汉朝人了解非洲并且有书籍描述了红海和非洲沿岸国家的情况。公元97年，甘英，一位中国大使，从陆路到了东罗马并且把一位非洲国王所赠的礼物一犀牛角带回到洛阳。

① It is well known that …众所周知。这是固定句型。此句可换成：As is well known, …

It is well known that he works hard. = As is well known, he works hard.

② have contacts with与某人有联系

③ find one’s way 设法到达

归纳拓展

feel one’s way摸索着走; 谨慎行事 make one’s way

fight one’s way打出道路 push one’s way 挤出一条路

lose one’s way迷路 all the way

by the way by way of

in a way in no way

in the way

I hope you can find the way home.

She couldn’t find the way out of the building.

The soldiers fought their way through the fierce enemies.

④ exchange

exchange…for in exchange for

I’d like to exchange five apples for five eggs.

Mary exchanged her seat with Ann.

He is giving her French lessons in exchange for his English lessons

She is giving him English lessons in exchange for his teaching her Chinese.她教他英语，他教她汉语。

I gave him a book in exchange for his MP3 player.

I’ve offered to paint the kitchen in exchange for a week’s accommodation.(膳宿)

⑤ spices---a type of powder or seed, taken from plants, that you put into food you are cooking to give it a special taste

Pepper 胡椒,cinnamon桂皮,clover三叶草and ginger姜粉 are spices.

Add some spices to the mixture.

His arrival added spice to the party.

interest or excitement that is added to something

Travel adds spice to your life.

⑥ with + n. + prep.构成with结构:

归纳拓展

with + n. / pron. + adj.

with + n. / pron. + adv.

with + n. / pron. + doing

with + n. / pron. + done

with + n. / pron. + to do

He sat there with his eyes closed.

He left the room, with the candle burning on the table.

With a lot of work to do, I can’t go out with you.

Over the next few hundred years, the Swahili kingdoms and the islands off① the African coast developed② into the world’s trading centre for ivory, spices, rhinoceros horns, shells, animal skins and sugar. They were traded to merchants from the Arabic countries, Egypt, Greece, Rom, India, Ceylon and China. 在以后的几百年间，索马里王国以及非洲沿海的岛屿发展成为了世界贸易中心，主要经营象牙、香料、犀牛角；贝壳、动物皮毛和糖。这些物品远销到阿拉伯国家、埃及、希腊，罗马、印度、锡兰和中国的商人手中。

① off

Keep off the grassland !

cut a piece off the loaf

The ship was brown off its course.

② develop into the world’s trading centre 发展成为世界贸易中心

The Arabic contacts to the American coast led to the next meeting between black people and Chinese. In the year 751, the Chinese traveler, Du Huan, was taken prisoner① by the Arabic army. He escaped, and after a long journey wandering② through Arabic countries. 这些阿拉伯人与非洲海岸的接触为后来一位中国人和黑人的会谈准备了条件。公元751年，中国的旅行家--杜环被阿拉伯军队所俘虏。他逃跑了，在经历了阿拉伯国家的长途跋涉之后，于公元762年乘小船回到祖国。回国后，他写了《经行记》，讲述了中亚、阿拉伯以及非洲国家的情况。

① be taken prisoner被抓: someone who is kept in a prison as a legal punishment for a crime or while they are waiting for their trial

Our pilot was taken prisoner .

② wander ( 常与about /in/ through连用)

The children wandered in the woods.

The river wanders through beautiful country.

They wandered up and down the road aimlessly.

His mind wandered back to his college life.

In the eleventh century, the Africans made several voyages to the court of the Song Dynasty. It was a major development that the Americans were reaching out to China. The earliest Asian cultural relic found in Africa also dates from this period. A small bronze statue of a lion has been found in the Swahili town of Shanga. Nothing similar has ever been found in East Africa. 在十一世纪，非洲人曾几次通过海路到达宋朝王宫。这是非洲人开始了解中国的一次大发展。在非洲发现的最早的亚洲文化遗产也是从这一时期开始的。一个小青铜狮子塑像已经在尚加的索马里城发现了，还没有类似的东西在东非被发现。

The contacts between China and Africa over the countries had led to the awareness of each other’s existence①, but still no accurate② maps of the countries around the Indian Ocean existed. By the beginning of the fifteenth century the time was ripe for a grand meeting③. In East Africa the coastal towns were reaching the height of④ their power. In the east, China prospered under a new dynasty. The Ming government had a large navy and the will to use it. 中国和非洲几个世纪的接触让双方知道了彼此的存在，但当时还没有精确的地图描述印度洋周围的国家。到了15世纪初，召开一次大型会议的时机已经成熟。东非沿岸城市正进入鼎盛时期。而在东方，中国在一个新的朝代的统治下也繁荣起来了。明朝政府拥有一支强大的海军并且也有发挥这支海军作用的想法。

① the awareness of each other’s existence意识到彼此的存在

② accurate, correct, exact辨析(inaccurate adj. 不准确的)

均含“正确的”意思。

accurate 表示“准确的”,精确的”,指“通过努力, 使事情达到正确”, 如:

She gave an accurate account of the accident. 她对事故做了准确的描述。

correct 为一般用语, 指“正确的”, 如:

He gave correct answers to the questions. 他对这些问题提出了正确的答案。

exact 表示“确切的”,“精确无误的”,指“与事实完全相符”, 如:

His answer is quite exact. 他的回答完全正确。

③ reach the height of power到达了繁盛时期

④ The time was ripe for a grand meeting. 正式往来的时机成熟了。

In the years between 1405 and 1433, seven large treasure fleets① sailed westwards on voyages of trade and exploration②. Under the command③ of Zheng He, the fleets set sail④ from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Read Sea, and then traveled further south, discovering the eastern coast of Africa. 从1405年到1433年，七艘大型的珠宝商船到西方进行贸易和探险航行。在郑和的带领下，这支船队从中国南海出发，跨越印度洋到达红海口，然后继续向南航行，发现了非洲东海岸。

① treasure fleets 商船队

② sail westwards on voyages of exploration下西洋从事探险

③ command vt., vi.（常与to, that连用）命令；指挥；统率

The officer commanded his men to fire.

He commanded silence. 他命令大家肃静。

He commanded that everyone make the best of the chance of senior three.

博得；赢得

Einstein was really a great man who is able to command everyone's respect. 爱因斯坦确是位伟大的人物,他能博得人人的尊敬。

掌握；控制；对…有支配权to command oneself控制自己

This island country commands immense natural resources. 这个岛国有极其丰富的自然资源。

俯视；俯临 That fort commands the whole valley. 那个碉堡俯视着整个山谷。

n. 命令

command internal（计算机的）内部命令

控制；统率The army is under the king's command. 军队由国王直接统率。

under the command of …在……的领导之下

The army is under the command of General Washington.

Bill is in command of the fleet.

司令部；指挥部；司令官 a high command高级司令官（空军）大队

运用能力；掌握 She has a good command of the French language. 她精通法语。

④ set sail (to / from / for) 起航

Zheng He renewed relations①with the kingdoms of the East African coast. The African king sent the Ming emperor a royal present②; two giraffes. The wonderful gift and the contact with the black court so excited China’s curiosity about Africa that Zhang He sent a message③ to the king and to other African states, inviting them to send ambassadors, and open embassies④ in the new Ming capital, Beijing. The response of the African rulers was very generous; They sent the emperor zebras, giraffes, shells, elephant ivory and rhinoceros-horn medicine. In return⑤, the Ming court sent gold, spices, silk, and various other presents. The exchange of goods had a symbolic meaning⑥ far more important than the value of the goods themselves. By trading with the fleet the African kings were showing their friendship to the emperor of China. 郑和恢复了和非洲东海岸国家的联系。非洲国王送给明朝皇帝一个皇室的礼物：两只长颈鹿。这个精美的礼物和与非洲国家的接触使中国人对非洲如此好奇，以至于郑和给那个国王和别的非洲国家送信，邀请他们派大使并在明朝首都--北京开办大使馆。这些非洲国家的领导者很慷慨，他们给明朝皇帝送来了斑马、长颈鹿、贝壳、大象象牙和犀牛角药品。作为往来，明朝皇帝给他们送去了黄金、香料、丝绸和各种别的礼物。这种礼物的交换的象征意义远远重于这些物品本身的价值。通过和这支船队的贸易，非洲国王开始表示对中国皇帝的友谊。

① renew relations重新确立关系

② send sb. a royal present送某人贵重礼物

③ He sent a message to…, inviting them to send….他发信给…, 邀请他们派…。

指点迷津

当表示打电话、写信、发电报告诉某人做某事时，常用-ing形式表示伴随。

send a message to sb. 送信

④ open embassies设立使馆

⑤ in return作为回报

⑥ a symbolic meaning 象征意义

The fleet made several expeditions before the exploration was stopped, probably for economic reasons. For a short time, China had ruled the seas. After 1433, the Ming court realised its greatest challenges and opportunities to be at home. 这支船队在结束探险之前或许是为了经济原因进行了几次远征。短期内，中国成为海上霸主。1433年以后，明朝意识到国内存在着巨大的机遇和挑战。

STEP V POST READING

STEP VI LANGUAGE STUDY

2 Choose some from Exercise 1 and use their proper from to complete the following sentences.

1 Starting this year, an even greater number of volunteers① will continue to making the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing a success.

① volunteer n.[C]1. 自愿参加者,志愿者[(+for)][(+to-v)]

The volunteers for community service are doing a good job.社区服务的志愿者做得很出色。

2. 志愿兵,义勇兵

Many Australians fought as volunteers on the Allied side. 许多澳大利亚人作为志愿兵与盟军一起战斗。

vt.

1. 自愿(做)[(+to-v)]

They volunteered to repair the house for the old lady. 他们主动提出替老太太修缮房子。

2. 自愿提供,自愿给予

She volunteered the information. 她自动提供了这一消息。

vi.

1. 自愿;自愿服务[(+for)]

He volunteered for the hard and unprofitable job. 他自愿做这苦差使。

2. 自愿当兵[(+for)]

When the war broke out, he volunteered for the Marine Corps. 战争爆发时,他自愿参加了海军陆战队。