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 (來交換) 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 (精確的) 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 (統帥) 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 (遠征) before the exploration (探險) 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

歸納拓展

reach (out) for伸出手/腳去夠…

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

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

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. 貿易和好奇常常構成人類巨大努力的基礎。對於早期文明的人們來說，世界地圖是一個極大的困惑。馬可波羅的故事激勵了克里斯托弗哥倫布和其他的歐洲探險家去探索能到達遙遠、富饒的亞洲大陸的海上航線。然而，遠在這之前，勇敢的商人是真正的西部海洋的探險者。

① form the foundation for mankind’s greatest endeavor 形成人們努力（探索世界）的基礎

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.

歸納拓展

sb + be puzzled感到疑惑

sth + be puzzling 令人疑惑

sth + puzzle + sb使…疑惑

1. 使迷惑;使爲難,使窘困

What puzzles me is why they didn't show up.令我百思不解的是他們爲什麼沒有出現。

He looked a little puzzled.他看上去有點困惑。

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

2. 苦思而得出[(+out)]

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

We finally puzzled out the meaning of the poem.我們苦苦思索終於理解這首詩的意思。

vi.

1. 感到迷惑[(+at)]

I have been puzzling about this question for weeks now.我對這個問題已冥思苦想了好幾個星期。

2. 苦思,冥思苦想[(+about/over/as to)]

n.

1. (遊戲的)猜謎,智力競賽[C]

2. 難題,謎,難以理解之事[S1]

Her decision was a puzzle to him.她的決定對他來說是個謎。

3. 困惑,迷惑[S]

I'm in a puzzle as to how to cope with the new situation.我不知道該如何應付這新局面。

④ inspire sb to do鼓舞某人做某事

⑤ search

歸納拓展

search spl / sb for sth在…尋找…

search for sth尋找某物

in search of 尋找;尋求

in (one’s / the) search for…尋找…

search sb搜查某人的身體

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 )

歸納拓展

long before和狀語,與完成時態連用

long before + n. /從句 早在…之前

It be (not) long before 很久之後才/不久就….

before long不久以後,與將來時或過去時連用

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. 衆所周知，很早很早以前，非洲就與印度和紅海文明有聯繫。中國的絲綢沿絲綢之路運往印度、中東和羅馬去交換香料和玻璃--這些是在中國根本沒人知道的東西。沿印度洋海岸也有絲綢貿易。錫蘭，憑藉其中心位置，成爲中國商人會見阿拉伯商人和了解最西方國家的地方。因此，漢朝人瞭解非洲並且有書籍描述了紅海和非洲沿岸國家的情況。公元97年，甘英，一位中國大使，從陸路到了東羅馬並且把一位非洲國王所贈的禮物一犀牛角帶回到洛陽。

① It is well known that …衆所周知。這是固定句型。此句可換成：As is well known, …

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

② have contacts with與某人有聯繫

③ find one’s way 設法到達

歸納拓展

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

fight one’s way打出道路 push one’s way 擠出一條路

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.她教他英語，他教她漢語。

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三葉草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.構成with結構:

歸納拓展

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. 在以後的幾百年間，索馬里王國以及非洲沿海的島嶼發展成爲了世界貿易中心，主要經營象牙、香料、犀牛角；貝殼、動物皮毛和糖。這些物品遠銷到阿拉伯國家、埃及、希臘，羅馬、印度、錫蘭和中國的商人手中。

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 發展成爲世界貿易中心

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. 這些阿拉伯人與非洲海岸的接觸爲後來一位中國人和黑人的會談準備了條件。公元751年，中國的旅行家--杜環被阿拉伯軍隊所俘虜。他逃跑了，在經歷了阿拉伯國家的長途跋涉之後，於公元762年乘小船回到祖國。回國後，他寫了《經行記》，講述了中亞、阿拉伯以及非洲國家的情況。

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 ( 常與about /in/ through連用)

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. 在十一世紀，非洲人曾幾次透過海路到達宋朝王宮。這是非洲人開始瞭解中國的一次大發展。在非洲發現的最早的亞洲文化遺產也是從這一時期開始的。一個小青銅獅子塑像已經在尚加的索馬里城發現了，還沒有類似的東西在東非被發現。

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. 中國和非洲幾個世紀的接觸讓雙方知道了彼此的存在，但當時還沒有精確的地圖描述印度洋周圍的國家。到了15世紀初，召開一次大型會議的時機已經成熟。東非沿岸城市正進入鼎盛時期。而在東方，中國在一個新的朝代的統治下也繁榮起來了。明朝政府擁有一支強大的海軍並且也有發揮這支海軍作用的想法。

① the awareness of each other’s existence意識到彼此的存在

② accurate, correct, exact辨析(inaccurate adj. 不準確的)

均含“正確的”意思。

accurate 表示“準確的”,精確的”,指“透過努力, 使事情達到正確”, 如:

She gave an accurate account of the accident. 她對事故做了準確的描述。

correct 爲一般用語, 指“正確的”, 如:

He gave correct answers to the questions. 他對這些問題提出了正確的答案。

exact 表示“確切的”,“精確無誤的”,指“與事實完全相符”, 如:

His answer is quite exact. 他的回答完全正確。

③ reach the height of power到達了繁盛時期

④ The time was ripe for a grand meeting. 正式往來的時機成熟了。

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. 從1405年到1433年，七艘大型的珠寶商船到西方進行貿易和探險航行。在鄭和的帶領下，這支船隊從中國南海出發，跨越印度洋到達紅海口，然後繼續向南航行，發現了非洲東海岸。

① treasure fleets 商船隊

② sail westwards on voyages of exploration下西洋從事探險

③ command vt., vi.（常與to, that連用）命令；指揮；統率

The officer commanded his men to fire.

He commanded silence. 他命令大家肅靜。

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

博得；贏得

Einstein was really a great man who is able to command everyone's respect. 愛因斯坦確是位偉大的人物,他能博得人人的尊敬。

掌握；控制；對…有支配權to command oneself控制自己

This island country commands immense natural resources. 這個島國有極其豐富的自然資源。

俯視；俯臨 That fort commands the whole valley. 那個碉堡俯視着整個山谷。

n. 命令

command internal（計算機的）內部命令

控制；統率The army is under the king's command. 軍隊由國王直接統率。

under the command of …在……的領導之下

The army is under the command of General Washington.

Bill is in command of the fleet.

司令部；指揮部；司令官 a high command進階司令官（空軍）大隊

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

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. 鄭和恢復了和非洲東海岸國家的聯繫。非洲國王送給明朝皇帝一個皇室的禮物：兩隻長頸鹿。這個精美的禮物和與非洲國家的接觸使中國人對非洲如此好奇，以至於鄭和給那個國王和別的非洲國家送信，邀請他們派大使並在明朝首都--北京開辦大使館。這些非洲國家的領導者很慷慨，他們給明朝皇帝送來了斑馬、長頸鹿、貝殼、大象象牙和犀牛角藥品。作爲往來，明朝皇帝給他們送去了黃金、香料、絲綢和各種別的禮物。這種禮物的交換的象徵意義遠遠重於這些物品本身的價值。透過和這支船隊的貿易，非洲國王開始表示對中國皇帝的友誼。

① renew relations重新確立關係

② send sb. a royal present送某人貴重禮物

③ He sent a message to…, inviting them to send….他發信給…, 邀請他們派…。

指點迷津

當表示打電話、寫信、發電報告訴某人做某事時，常用-ing形式表示伴隨。

send a message to sb. 送信

④ open embassies設立使館

⑤ in return作爲回報

⑥ a symbolic meaning 象徵意義

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. 這支船隊在結束探險之前或許是爲了經濟原因進行了幾次遠征。短期內，中國成爲海上霸主。1433年以後，明朝意識到國內存在着巨大的機遇和挑戰。

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. 自願參加者,志願者[(+for)][(+to-v)]

The volunteers for community service are doing a good job.社區服務的志願者做得很出色。

2. 志願兵,義勇兵

Many Australians fought as volunteers on the Allied side. 許多澳大利亞人作爲志願兵與盟軍一起戰鬥。

vt.

1. 自願(做)[(+to-v)]

They volunteered to repair the house for the old lady. 他們主動提出替老太太修繕房子。

2. 自願提供,自願給予

She volunteered the information. 她自動提供了這一消息。

vi.

1. 自願;自願服務[(+for)]

He volunteered for the hard and unprofitable job. 他自願做這苦差使。

2. 自願當兵[(+for)]

When the war broke out, he volunteered for the Marine Corps. 戰爭爆發時,他自願參加了海軍陸戰隊。