Lesson 17 A man-made disease 人为的疾病

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What factor helped to spread the disease of myxomatosis?

In the early days of the settlement of Australia, enterprising settlers unwisely introduced the European rabbit. This rabbit had no natural enemies in the Antipodes, so that it multiplied with that promiscuous abandon characteristic of rabbits. It overran a whole continent. It caused devastation by burrowing and by devouring the herbage which might have maintained millions of sheep and cattle. Scientists discovered that

5 this particular variety of rabbit (and apparently no other animal) was susceptible to a fatal virus disease, myxomatosis. By infecting animals and letting them loose in the burrows, local epidemics of this disease could be created. Later it was found that there was a type of mosquito which acted as the carrier of this disease and passed it on to the rabbits. So while the rest of the world was trying to get rid of mosquitoes, Australia was encouraging this one. It effectively spread the disease all over the continent and drastically reduced the rabbit population. It later became apparent that rabbits were developing a degree of resistance to this disease, so that the rabbit population was unlikely to be completely exterminated. There were hopes, however, that the problem of the rabbit would become manageable.

Ironically, Europe, which had bequeathed the rabbit as a pest to Australia, acquired this man-made disease as a pestilence. A French physician decided to get rid of the wild rabbits on his own estate and

15 introduced myxomatosis. It did not, however, remain within the confines of his estate. It spread through France, where wild rabbits are not generally regarded as a pest but as a sport and a useful food supply, and it spread to Britain where wild rabbits are regarded as a pest but where domesticated rabbits, equally susceptible to the disease, are the basis of a profitable fur industry. The question became one of whether Man could control the disease he had invented.

RITCHIE CALDER Science Makes Sense

New words and expressions 生词和短语

settlement (1.1) / ’ setlmənt/ n. 新拓居地

enterprising (l.1) / 'entəpraɪzɪŋ/adj. 有事业心的

settler (1.1) $/$ set $1\mathrm{p}/\mathrm{n}$ . 移居者

Antipodes (1.2) /æn'tɪpədiːz/n. (the~) 新西兰和澳大利亚(英)

promiscuous (1.2) /prə'mɪskjuəs/ adj. 杂乱的

abandon (1.3) $/{2}^{n}$ bændən/ $n$ . 放任,纵情

overrun (1.3)/'əʊvərʌn/v. 蔓延, 泛滥

devastation (1.3) ${I}_{n}$ dev ${\theta }^{\prime }$ ster $\int \theta \mathrm{n}/n$ . 破坏,劫掠

burrow (1.3) $\mu$ barəʊ/ v. 挖、掘

susceptible (1.5) $/s{\partial }^{\prime }$ septɪbəl/ adj. 易受感染的

virus (1.5) /’vaɪərəs/ n. 病毒

myxomatosis (1.6) $/\mathrm{m}$ rksəmə'təʊsɪs $/n$ . 多发性粘液瘤

infect (1.6) /In fekt/v. 传染

epidemic (1.6) $/,{\mathrm}^{\prime }$ demɪk $/n$ . 流行病

mosquito (1.7) $/m{\partial }^{\prime }{ski} : t \rightarrow U/n$ . 蚊虫

carrier (1.7)/’kæriә/n. 带菌者

exterminate (1.11) /Ik'st3ːmɪneɪt/v. 消灭

ironically (1.13)/aI'rɒnɪkli/adv. 具有讽刺意味地

bequeath (1.13) /bi'kwiːð/v. 把 ······ 传给

pest (1.13)/pest/ $n$ . 害虫,有害动物

pestilence (1.14) / pestɪləns/ n. 瘟疫

confine (1.15) $/\mathrm{k} \ni {\mathrm{n}}^{\prime }\mathrm/n$ . 范围

domesticate (1.17) $/\mathrm{d}$ =mestrkert $/v$ . 驯养

Rabbits drinking at a waterhole in Australia

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 so that it multiplied with that promiscuous abandon characteristic of rabbits, 这里 so that 引导的一个结果状语从句,可译成 “因此便以兔子所特有的杂乱交配繁衍后代”。

2 be susceptible to...,易受 $\cdots \cdots$ 感染的,易受 $\cdots \cdots$ 影响的。

3 let loose, 让乱跑。

4 pass... on to, 把 ..... 传给。

参考译文

在澳大利亚移民初期, 一些有创业精神的移民不明智地把欧洲兔子引进了澳大利亚。这种兔子在澳大利亚及新西兰没有天敌,因此便以兔子所特有的杂乱交配迅猛繁殖起来。整个澳洲兔子成灾。它们在地下打洞,吃掉本可以饲养数百万头牛羊的牧草,给澳洲大陆造成了毁灭性的破坏。科学家们发现,这种特殊品种的兔子(显然不包括别的动物)易患一种叫做“多发性粘液瘤”的致命病毒性疾病。通过让染上此病的动物在洞内乱跑,就可以使这种疾病在一个地区蔓延起来。后来又发现, 有一种蚊子是传播这种疾病的媒介, 能把此病传染给兔子。 因此, 世界上其他地方在设法消灭蚊子的时候, 澳大利亚却在促使这种蚊子大量繁殖。蚊子把这种疾病扩散到整个澳洲大陆, 效果甚佳, 结果兔子的数目大为减少。后来, 明显看出, 兔子对这种疾病已产生了一定程度的免疫力,所以兔子不可能被完全消灭。但是,已有希望解决兔子所带来的问题。

具有讽刺意味的是, 欧洲把这种兔子作为有害动物传给澳洲, 而欧洲自己却染上了这种人为的瘟疫般的疾病。一位法国内科医生决定除掉自己庄园内的野兔子,于是引进了这种多发性粘液瘤疾病。然而,这种疾病并未被局限在他的庄园内,结果在整个法国蔓延开来。野兔在法国一般不被当作有害动物,而被视为打猎取乐的玩物和有用的食物来源。这种疾病又蔓延到了英国。在英国, 野兔被当作有害的动物, 可是家兔是赚钱的毛皮工业的基础,然而家兔同样易感染这种疾病。现在的问题是,人类能否控制住这种人为的疾病。

Unit 3 Lesson 17

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 Why is the rabbit regarded as a serious pest in Australia?

2 Why did it prove impossible to exterminate rabbits completely in Australia?

3 How was myxomatosis introduced to Europe?

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: enterprising (1.1); devastation (1.3); burrowing (1.3); devouring the herbage (1.4); susceptible (1.5); fatal (1.5); epidemics (1.6); drastically reduced (II.9-10); completely exterminated (I.11); bequeathed (I.13); the confines of his estate (1.15); domesticated (1.17).

The paragraph 段落

A Drawing your information from the first paragraph (lines 1-12), write a list of points in note form to answer the following question:

How did the rabbit overrun the continent of Australia, and what steps were taken to exterminate it?

B Read the second paragraph again (lines 13-19). Then, using the list of points given below, reconstruct the paragraph in your own words as far as possible. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise.

1 Australia acquired rabbit from Europe: a pest.

2 Europe acquired from Australia myxomatosis: a pestilence.

3 French physician introduced it-estate.

4 It spread.

5 France: rabbit not a pest; sport; food supply.

6 Britain: rabbit: a pest; tame rabbits: fur industry.

7 Could man control his artificial disease?

C Write a paragraph of about 200 words on one of the following subjects:

1 Pest control.

2 The balance of nature.

Key structures 关键句型

A Put the words in parentheses in their correct position in these sentences. In many cases, more than one position is possible. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 In the early days of the settlement of Australia, enterprising settlers introduced the European rabbit. (unwisely) (II.1-2)

2 It was found that there was a type of mosquito which acted as the carrier of this disease and passed it on to the rabbits. (later) (11.7-8)

3 It spread the disease all over the continent and reduced the rabbit population. (effectively, drastically) (II.9-10)

4 It became apparent that rabbits were developing a degree of resistance to the disease, so that the rabbit population was unlikely to be exterminated. (later, completely) (11.10-11) Unit 3 Lesson 17

5 Europe, which had bequeathed the rabbit as a pest to Australia, acquired this man-made disease as a pestilence. (ironically) (ll.13-14)

B Compare these two uses of so that:

1 This rabbit had no natural enemies in the Antipodes, so that it multiplied with that promiscuous abandon characteristic of rabbits. (II.2-3)

2 I went to Switzerland last winter so that I could do some skiing.

Write two sentences using so that in the ways shown above.

C Note the form of the verbs in italics in this sentence:

So while the rest of the world was trying to get rid of mosquitoes, Australia was encouraging this one. (II.8-9) Complete the following sentences:

1 While Tom was doing his homework, his sister _____.

2 While my wife was seeing to the evening meal, I _____.

D Supply the missing words in this sentence. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

It spread through France, _____ wild rabbits are not generally regarded as a pest but as a sport and a useful food supply, and it spread to Britain _____ wild rabbits are regarded as a pest but _____ domesticated rabbits, equally susceptible to the disease, are the basis of a profitable fur industry. (II.15-18)

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.

I discovered (I.4) - invented

Captain Cook discovered Antarctica when he was exploring the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Do you have any idea who invented the safety pin?

2 disease (1.5) - decease

Poverty and disease usually go together.

A national crisis was caused by the sudden decease of the President.

3 basis (1.18) - base

What's your basis for making such a decision?

The base of the memorial is engraved with the names of those who died.

4 apparent $\left( {1.10}\right) -$ obvious

It soon became apparent that our opponents were too strong for us.

It was obvious to the parents that Tom was lying.

5 acquired (1.13) - obtained

He has acquired a fearsome reputation.

Further information can be obtained from the information centre.

6 degree (1.10) - rank

To a certain degree, I accept the truth of what you say, even if I disagree with your conclusions. (degree = extent) The campaign to protect the countryside involves people from all degrees of society, not just the landowning classes. (degree $=$ social class)

What rank was your father when he was in the army? (rank = an official position on a scale)

Unit 3 Lesson 17

B Note the use of early in this phrase: in the early days (1.1). Write sentences using the following phrases: in the early hours; in the early years; at an early age.

C Write sentences to illustrate the use of the following verbs: overrun (1.3); overtake; overdo; overlook.

D Compare the use of spread in these two sentences:

1 It (the mosquito) effectively spread the disease all over the continent. (1.9)

2 It (the disease) spread through France. (ll.15-16)

Write two sentences to illustrate these uses of spread.

E Note the spelling of this word: manageable (1.12). Add -able to the following words, retaining or dropping the $e$ where necessary: move; love; peace; knowledge; change; service; believe.

F Note the use of own in this phrase: on his own estate (1.14). Write sentences using the following phrases: my own; on my own; of my own.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 One of the reasons rabbits multiplied so rapidly in Australia is that they _____.

(a) were unwisely introduced by enterprising settlers

(b) breed rapidly

(c) overran the continent

(d) overcame their natural enemies in the Antipodes

2 Scientists found _____ of spreading myxomatosis.

(a) one way

(b) two ways

(c) three ways

(d) a large number of ways

3 The disease was spread right across the continent of Australia largely because _____

(a) of the mosquito

(b) of the rabbit

(c) scientists let infected animals loose in burrows

(d) Australia encouraged diseased rabbits to migrate to other places

4 Myxomatosis, that was a blessing in Australia, proved to be _____ in Europe.

(a) domesticated

(b) a disease

(c) profitable

(d) a curse

Structure 句型

5 This rabbit had no natural enemies in the Antipodes _____ . (1.2)

(a) and as a result it multiplied (b) in order to multiply

(c) so that it might multiply (d) because it multiplied

6 It _____ and caused devastation. (1.3)

(a) burrowing (b) burrowed (c) was burrowing (d) has burrowed

7 _____ were local epidemics created? By infecting animals. (1.6)

(a) Why (b) How (c) Where (d) When

8 It was _____ to create local epidemics of this disease. (II.6-7)

(a) potent (b) able (c) enabled (d) possible

Vocabulary 词汇

9 It caused devastation by _____ the herbage. (ll.3-4)

(a) burrowing into (b) infecting (c) consuming (d) digging

10 By infecting animals and _____ them loose in burrows ... (1.6)

(a) allowing (b) leaving (c) introducing (d) turning

11 The rabbits were able to _____ this disease to a certain extent. (1.10)

(a) react to (b) prevent (c) withstand (d) oppose

12 Australia _____ the rabbit as a pest from Europe. (I.13)

(a) inherited (b) obtained (c) assumed (d) claimed