Lesson 40 Waves 海浪

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What false impression does an ocean wave convey to the observer?

Waves are the children of the struggle between ocean and atmosphere, the ongoing signatures of infinity. Rays from the sun excite and energize the atmosphere of the earth, awakening it to flow, to movement, to rhythm, to life. The wind then speaks the message of the sun to the sea and the sea transmits it on through waves-an ancient, exquisite, powerful message.

These ocean waves are among the earth's most complicated natural phenomena. The basic features include a crest (the highest point of the wave), a trough (the lowest point), a height (the vertical distance from the trough to the crest), a wave length (the horizontal distance between two wave crests), and a period (which is the time it takes a wave crest to travel one wave length).

Although an ocean wave gives the impression of a wall of water moving in your direction, in actuality 10 waves move through the water leaving the water about where it was. If the water was moving with the wave, the ocean and everything on it would be racing in to the shore with obviously catastrophic results.

An ocean wave passing through deep water causes a particle on the surface to move in a roughly circular orbit, drawing the particle first towards the advancing wave, then up into the wave, then forward with it and then—as the wave leaves the particles behind—back to its starting point again.

From both maturity to death, a wave is subject to the same laws as any other 'living' thing. For a time it assumes a miraculous individuality that, in the end, is reabsorbed into the great ocean of life.

The undulating waves of the open sea are generated by three natural causes: wind, earth movements or tremors, and the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. Once waves have been generated, gravity is the force that drives them in a continual attempt to restore the ocean surface to a flat plain.

from World Magazine (BBC Enterprises)

New words and expressions 生词和短语

signature (1.1) /’sɪgnətfə/ $n$ . 签名,标记

infinity (1.1) /In'fInIti/ $n$ . 无穷

ray $\left( {1.2}\right) /\mathrm/n$ . 光线

energize (1.2) $/$ ’enədʒaɪz $/v$ . 给与 $\cdots \cdots$ 能量

rhythm (1.3) /'riðəm/n. 节奏

transmit (1.3) /trænz'mɪt/v. 传送

exquisite (1.4) /Ik'skwɪzɪt/ adj. 高雅的

phenomena (1.5)/f1'nɒmɪnə/(复数)(phenomenon 单数) $n$ . 现象

crest (1.6) $/$ krest/ $n$ . 浪峰

trough (l.6) $/\mathrm/n$ . 波谷

vertical (1.6) /'v3ːtɪkəl/ adj. 垂直的

horizontal (1.7) / hɒrɪ'zɒntl/ adj. 水平的

actuality (1.9) $/\mu$ æktfu $/n$ . 现实

catastrophic (1.11) / kætə'strɒfɪk/ adj. 大灾难的

particle (1.12) $/{}^{\prime }\mathrm{p}\alpha$ ːtɪkəl/ $n$ . 微粒

maturity (1.15) $/\mathrm{m}{\partial }^{\prime }$ tfʊərɪti/ n. 成熟

undulate (1.17) $/{ʌndjʊleɪt}/v$ . 波动,形成波浪

tremor (1.18) / ’tremә/ n. 震颤

gravitational (1.18) $/$ , grævɪ'teɪʃənəl/adj. 地心吸力的

Unit 5 Lesson 40

Waves, a painting by Utagawa Hiroshigi

(1797-1858)

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 back to its starting point again, 又返回出发点。

2 be subject to,受 …… 的支配,服从于 ……。

参考译文

海浪是大海和空气相斗的产物,无限的一种不间断的标志。太阳光刺激了地球的大气层,并给予它能量；阳光使空气开始流动, 产生节奏, 获得生命。然后, 风把太阳的信息带给了大海, 海洋用波浪的形式传递这个信息 ——一个源远流长、高雅而有力的信息。

这些海浪属于地球上最复杂的自然现象。它们的基本特征包括浪峰(波浪的最高点)、波谷(最低点)、浪高 (从波谷到浪峰的垂直距离)、波长 (两个浪峰间的水平距离)和周期 (浪峰走过一个波长所需的时间)。虽然,海浪给人的印象是一堵由水组成的墙向你压过来, 而实际上, 浪从水中移过, 而水则留在原处。如果水和浪一起移动的话,那么大海和海里所有的东西就会向岸边疾涌而来,带来明显的灾难性后果。

穿过深水的海浪使水面上的一个微粒按照一种近乎圆形的轨道移动, 先把微粒拉向前移的海浪, 然后推上波浪,随着波浪移动,然后——当波浪把微粒留在身后时——又回到出发点。

从成熟到消亡, 波浪和其他任何 “活动中” 的东西一样, 都受制于共同的法则。一度它获得非凡的个性, 但最终又被重新融进生命的大洋。

公海上起伏的波浪是由 3 个自然因素构成的:风、地球的运动或震颤和月亮、太阳的引力。一旦波浪形成, 地球引力是持续不断企图使海面复原为平面的力量。

Unit 5 Lesson 40

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 Why isn't a wave a wall of moving water'?

2 What would happen if a wave were actually moving?

3 What is the effect of gravity on the ocean?

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: struggle (1.1); transmits (1.3); features (1.5); racing in to the shore (1.11); catastrophic results (1.11); roughly (1.12); assumes (1.16); undulating (1.17); generated (1.17); force (1.19).

Summary 摘要

Drawing your information from the last three paragraphs of the passage ('Although an ocean wave ... flat plain.'), write a summary of what a wave is and does. Do not write more than 80 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.

Composition 作文

A The passage is a mixture of poetic writing and scientific writing. Choose one of these styles, poetic or scientific and write a list of ideas in note form about the ocean.

B Drawing on your list of ideas, write a composition of about 400 words.

Key structures 关键句型

A Supply the correct verb forms. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 Waves are the children of the struggle between ocean and atmosphere, the ongoing signatures of infinity. Rays from the sun excite and energize the atmosphere of the earth, awakening it to flow, to movement, to rhythm, to life. The wind then _____ (speak) the message of the sun to the sea and the sea _____ (transmit) it on through waves - an ancient, exquisite, powerful message. (ll.1-4)

2 Although an ocean wave _____ (give) the impression of a wall of water moving in your direction, in actuality waves _____ (move) through the water leaving the water about where it was. (ll.9-10)

3 An ocean wave passing through deep water _____ (cause) a particle on the surface to move in a roughly circular orbit, drawing the particle first towards the advancing wave, then up into the wave, then forward with it and then - as the wave _____ (leave) the particles behind - back to its starting point again. (ll.12-14)

B Supply the missing prepositions. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 Waves are the children of the struggle _____ ocean and atmosphere. Rays _____ the sun excite and energize the atmosphere ... the earth, awakening it to flow, _____ movement, _____ rhythm, _____ life. The wind then speaks the message _____ the sun_____ the sea and the sea transmits it on _____ waves - an ancient, exquisite, powerful message. (II.1-4)

2 Although an ocean wave gives the impression _____ a wall _____ water moving _____ your direction. actuality waves move _____ the water leaving the water about where it was. If the Unit 5 Lesson 40 water was moving _____ the wave, the ocean and everything _____ it would be racing in _____ the shore with obviously catastrophic results. (11.9-11)

3 An ocean wave passing _____ deep water causes a particle _____ the surface to move _____ a roughly circular orbit, drawing the particle first _____ the advancing wave, then up_____ the wave, then forward _____ it and then --- as the wave leaves the particles behind --- back _____ its starting point again. (ll.11-14)

Special difficulties 难点

A Phenomena (1.5) is the irregular plural of phenomenon. Give the plurals of the following nouns (sometimes a noun has two plural forms): index, automaton, appendix, alumnus, stratum, analysis, criterion.

B Note the use of other in this sentence:

From both maturity to death, a wave is subject to the same laws as any other 'living' thing. (1.15)

Supply other, the other, the others, or others in these sentences:

1 I think we ought to hurry so that we catch up with _____

2 You've seen my best pictures. _____ aren't worth looking at.

3 I'm taking two novels on holiday. One is by Jane Austen. _____ is by Charles Dickens.

4 Some people enjoy watching football; _____ don't.

5 You should be more considerate of _____ people.

C Death (1.15) is the noun from the verb die. Give the noun forms derived from the following verbs: excite.

---

live, move, assume, generate, restore.

---

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 How many essential characteristics can be discerned in waves?

(a) Two.

(b) Three.

(c) Four.

(d) Five.

2 A wave is described as _____ .

(a) a wall of moving water

(b) the energy of the sun

(c) a motion through water

(d) an ancient powerful message

3 As a wave moves forward, it _____ .

(a) carries everything with it

(b) leads to catastrophic results

(c) advances and then retreats

(d) leaves behind the water that it disturbed

Unit 5 Lesson 40

4 As far as gravity is concerned, the ideal condition in the sea is _____.

(a) a totally level surface

(b) rising and falling

(c) constant motion

(d) leaving particles behind

Structure 句型

5 These ocean waves are _____ the earth's most complicated phenomena. (I.5)

(a) considered (b) between (c) one of (d) several of

6 The basic features _____ of a crest ... (II.5-6)

(a) consist (b) consisting (c) have consisted (d) are consisting

7 An ocean wave _____ give the impression of a wall of water, but in actuality ... (1.9)

(a) must (b) has to (c) should (d) may

8 _____ of undulating waves is caused by wind, earth movement, and gravity. (II.17-18)

(a) A generation (b) Generations (c) Generation (d) The generation

Vocabulary 词汇

9 Waves are the _____ signatures of infinity. (1.1)

(a) going on (b) carrying on (c) moving forward (d) continuing

10 Although an ocean wave _____ the impression of a wall of water ... (1.9)

(a) creates (b) receives (c) demands (d) contributes

11 It would be racing to the shore with obviously catastrophic _____ . (1.11)

(a) loss (b) damage (c) causes (d) consequences

12 Gravity is the force that drives them in _____ attempt to restore the ocean surface. (II.18-19)

(a) an unceasing (b) a constant but intermittent

(c) a fluctuating (d) a desperate

Unit 6 INSTRUCTIONS TO THE STUDENT

Content

This unit consists of eight passages followed by exercises on Comprehension, Vocabulary, Summary, Composition, Key structures, Special difficulties and Multiple choice questions.

Aim

To provide more advanced practice in Summary and Composition.

How to work

1 Read each passage carefully two or three times.

2 Answer the questions in the order in which they are given.

Summary and Composition

Carry out the instructions given in the introduction to Unit 5.