unit_7_Exploring_Human_Nature

1、Unit 7 Exploring Human NatureBackground InformationHuman nature has been a subject that attracts the attention of scholars across the times and cultures, and there are different assumptions centered on the question whether human beings are intrinsically good or evil in nature. On the Chinese side, C

2、onfucius thinks that humans possess the capacity for perfection, although they must consciously strive to realize it, while Mencius believes that human nature is to tend toward good and right.Confucius (551-479 BC)Mencius (372-289 BC) In contrast, Sigmund Freud, a famous philosopher, and founder of

3、psychoanalytic school of psychology, holds that man is bad, and that all men are innately evil and aggression lies within the human as a part of his nature. Freuds argument is comprised of factually correct statements (for his time). His premises are accepted by many leading psychologists today. How

4、ever, the notion that man is innately evil does not sit well with most optimists.Sigmund Freud (1856 -1939 )The text is adapted from “What is human nature?”, a chapter in An Eternal Career, written by Frank and Lydia Hammer.For more information on the book, surf the following website:http:/www.sacre

5、d-Historically, there are more philosophers, politicians, and writers who have offered their interpretations of human nature.Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, has identified three causes of quarrel in the nature of man: competition (for gain), diffidence/distrust (for safety), and glory (for re

6、putation). Thomas Hobbes(1588-1679)William Shakespeare, in the play Hamlet, shows human nature to be greedy, self-involved and vengeful (報(bào)復(fù)性的).William Shakespeare(1564-1616)Mark Twain portrays the town of Hadley as greedy, hypercritical (過(guò)分苛刻的), and morally vulnerable. Human nature from his viewpoin

7、t embraces two significant factors: socially acquired consciousness about morality, and the greedy, instinctive desire for material wealth.Mark Twain(1835 -1910 )Robert Louis Stevenson, the well-known English novelist, through the story of The Strange Case Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, presents his assum

8、ption of a dual human nature - the good side and evil side exist in everyone. He gives the impression that human nature is a constant battle between good and evil.Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-1894 Now lets explore the text and see what the authors have to say about human natureReading Focus: On Human

9、 Nature Frank and Lydia HammerText organizationTask 1: Skimming and ScanningGo through the text and find the main idea of each part.nPart I Introduction (Para.1) What is human nature?nPart II Body (Paras.2-9) Characteristics of human nature (8 characteristics)nPart III Conclusion (Para.10) Human nat

10、ure can only be understood, not changedTask 2: Go through Part II again and find the 8 characteristics of human nature.nThe basic nature of human beings does not changenNo one wishes his nature to changenHuman nature is ever true to itself, not to systems of faith or educationnThe constancy of human

11、 nature is proverbial(to be contd)(contd)E. Human nature can be studied, controlled and directedF. Mans spirit is perfect, only the personality and the physical body become imperfectG. Mans majesty and nobility are taken for granted. Only behaviors deviated from the normal attract attentionH. Mans i

12、nherent goodness is revealed by his countless acts of heroismDetailed study of the textPara. 1Task 1: Find the useful expressions and use them in a sentence (Sentence making in dialogues) .n(on) the basis of (What is the basis of your health? )The basis of my health is eating the right food and gett

13、ing enough sleep.nbuildupon (How can you win a debate?)Generally we win a debate by building our argument on facts.ntake the shape of (以形式出現(xiàn)/存在)(What happens to a liquid when it is put in a container?)A liquid can take (on) the shape of whatever container it is in. nThroughout (ones) life (Is there

14、anything that you would hold on to throughout your life?)Yes, I would hold on to your friendship throughout my life.Task 2: Answer the content question: What is a persons character built upon?A persons character is built upon his nature (the indestructible matrix).Task 3: Summarize the main idea of

15、this para.in your own words.Human nature is sth upon which your character is built, and sth that youll keep throughout your life.Para. 2Task 1:Sentence making in dialoguesnbe capable of (Why is UFO so called? )UFO is so called because it is Unidentified Flying Object which is not capable of clear ex

16、planation.nmove (驅(qū)使) (What moved him to study music throughout his life?)His deep love of music moved him to do so.nbe swayed by (受左右) (What happens when a person does not have ideas of his own?)Hes easily swayed by other people.nthe pursuit of (What is more important, the pursuit of wealth, or that

17、 of health?)Without a doubt, the pursuit of health is much more important.nthe (whole) world over (What is the same the whole world over?)Its the same the whole world over that everyone has rules he or she has to obey.Task 2: Answer the content question: What can be altered, according to the author?

18、Things that can be altered include peoples customs, manners, dress and habitsTask 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.From ancient times to the present, all over the world, human beings share the same nature, which cannot be changed.Para. 3Task 1: Sentence making in dialoguesns

19、eeas (Make a sentence similar to “Each man sees himself as unique”.)People regard Edith as eccentric because he always wears strange clothes.nas far asis concerned (Are you satisfied with the salary rise?)The salary rise is nothing, as far as inflation is concerned.nbe in order (What is the right th

20、ing to do after someone is offended?)Apologies are in order.nbe mistaken for (What happens to twins very often?)One of the twins is often mistaken for the other.Task 2: Answer the content question: Why is it that one would generally not change place with others?Because each man sees himself as a uni

21、que individual, different from any other.Task 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.No one wishes his nature to change because each man sees himself as unique, different and the hub of the universe.Nowthe rest of the text will be explored in the same way. For each paragraph, teac

22、her and students will interact with each other bymaking sentences in dialogues, with the useful expressions;answering a content question;summarizing the main idea of the paragraph in your own words.Para. 4Task 1: Sentence Making in dialoguesnhave (limited) control overndraw conclusions fromnfit sth

23、into (sth else)使與融為一體nbe true to忠實(shí)于nhold to堅(jiān)持nhave a chance to do sthnunder pressurendisappear from viewnfor a period of timeTask 2: Can you explain the sentence “Each holds to the structure of the mold into which the soul was cast at the time of its individualization”?每個(gè)人在出生時(shí)，就形成了自己的個(gè)性，靈魂也已被鑄造成特定的模

24、式，人性則堅(jiān)守這種模式永不改變（Human nature will hold to this structure）意譯為：一個(gè)人的個(gè)性和他獨(dú)特的天性在出生時(shí)就已經(jīng)形成了，而且不會(huì)改變。Task 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.Human nature is distinct to every man and ever true to itself; It cant be controlled, modified or obliterated by any outside forces.Para. 5Task 1

25、: Sentence Making in dialoguesnas (=since)nto fundamentally change sthnThis is whynto acquire areputationnto re-establish oneself in public confidencento know from experience thatnNor doesTask 2:Which Chinese saying does this para. remind you of?江山易改，本性難移。A fox may grow gray, but never good. Task 3:

26、 Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.It is well known that human nature cannot be fundamentally changed.Para. 6Task 1: Sentence Making in dialoguesnfar from (being perfect)nno use fornWhileTask 2: How can human nature be studied, controlled and directed, according to this para.?Th

27、rough the functions of religious, educational and social institutions. Task 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.Man is actually far from perfect and thats why human nature can be (and should be) studied, controlled and directed through the work of preachers, teachers, humanitar

28、ians, and the like.Para. 7Task 1: Sentence Making in Dialoguesnas: in the way that好比,就像nparticipate innassociation with (be associated with/to)ntake on (a new look) 呈現(xiàn)出(新面貌)nremain untouchedndue tonthe laws of being自然規(guī)律nsothatna far cry from與相去甚遠(yuǎn)Task 2: Why do a mans personality and physical body be

29、come imperfect?Due to ignorance, wrong thinking and violation of the laws of being. Task 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.Mans spirit is perfect, but when it inhabits the human structure, the outer man the personality and the physical body becomes imperfect, because man tend

30、s to desecrate and abuse it (the outer man).Para. 8Task 1: Sentence Making in Dialoguesnbe taken for grantednBe paraded before our eyes展露在我們眼前nOnly whendoes itndeviate from偏離nto pass unnoticednbe singled out (for publicity)Task 2: What attracts attention?Behavior, when it deviates from the normal. T

31、ask 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.Mans majesty and nobility usually go unnoticed because they are taken for granted; only unusual behaviors attract attention because they deviate from the normal.Para. 9Task 1: Sentence Making in Dialoguesnbe revealed bynan act (acts) of (

32、heroism)nread ofnat the peril ofnplunge intonrescue sb from (drowning)ndash into (a burning house)nto move/carry/lead sb to safetynto give bloodnto give ones lifennot onlybutas wellTask 2: How is mans inherent goodness revealed?It is revealed by his countless acts of heroism, unselfishness and sacri

33、fice. Task 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.One more characteristic of human nature is that mans inherent goodness can be revealed when he performs acts of heroism, unselfishness and sacrifice.Para. 10Task 1: Sentence Making in Dialoguesndoes not and cannot (change)nto under

34、stand man as he isTask 2: What is the authors conclusion about human nature?Human nature cannot change, but can be known. Task 3: Summarize the main idea of this para.in your own words.Human nature, with its inherent patterns and laws, cannot be changed, though it can be known and understood.nCritic

35、al Thinking (P.200)n預(yù)習(xí)Reading More:THE BUM（P204）熟悉課文篇章結(jié)構(gòu)，并就課文的每個(gè)自然段提一問(wèn)題After-class tasks:英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)網(wǎng)站推薦： (普特聽力網(wǎng))nhttp:/ (中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津)Key to ExercisesText ExplorationTask 2 (P.198)1.A 2.D 3.C 4.B 5.A 6.C 7.B 8.BVocabulary in ActionTask 1 (P.201)1.A 2.C 3.B 4.B 5.C 6.A 7.B 8.C 9.A 10.CVocabulary in ActionTask

36、2Step 1partially unfold unselfishness/selfishness imperfectemployee poverbial refinement indestructiblecriminal mistake alteration liarconsiderable traitor philanthropistStep 21.indestructible 2.mistook 3.unselfishness 4.imperfect 5.alteration 6.traitor 7.considerable 8.liar 9.employees 10.unfolds 1

37、1.refinement 12.philanthropist 13.criminal 14.partially 15.proverbialVocabulary in ActionTask 3nSo far as Im concernednshould endeavor to measure whether predetermined goals are being achievednhas been engrossed in conversation with him all night ndraw conclusions from the results of a single survey

38、nHe had no friends nor acquaintancesndid she tell him about the attacknas we had seennthat he had had a family himself(contd)9. the problems you mention are inherent in the system 10. young people conscientious in their work/young people who are conscientious in their work 11. deviated from her cust

39、om12. at the peril of you own life/at your own peril13. taken on a new dimension14. capable of looking after myself15. in much the same way as it was 200 years ago16. rescue the sailors from the sinking ship17. Portugal participated in the war18. due to our ignoranceReading More:THE BUMWilliam Somer

40、set MaughamWilliam Somerset Maugham(1874-1965)Well-known, popular British author, master of short stories. With his keen eye he was able to observe the minute details of life. His many amazing stories revealed the subtleties of human nature that ordinary people have.The text is abridged from Collect

41、ed Short Stories Volume Two (1977)His other works include:The Moon and Sixpence (1919)月亮和六便士 The Trembling of a Leaf (1921)葉的震顫 Collected Short Stories Volume Three毛姆短篇小說(shuō)集(3) Theme of the story: The ruin of a fine manText OrganizationPart I (Paras 1-2)Beginning: Backdrop of the story-The town of Ver

42、o CruzBeing stuck in the town, the author tried to kill time by seeing everything that was to be seen.Part II (Paras 3-9)Observing the bumPart III (Paras 10-11)The recollectionPart IV (Paras 12-14)Ending:Extensive reading of the text:Go through the text, raising a question for each paragraph and giv

43、e an answer to it.Para 1Vera CruzMexico CityQuestion:What happened to the narrator unexpectedly?There was a dock strike which stopped him from going on with his journey.Para. 2What did the narrator spend the morning doing?Looking at the sights of the town of Vera Cruz and watching people coming and

44、going.Para. 3Can you say a few words about the beggar that the narrator caught sight of?nThe beggar was wearing shabby, dirty and smelly clothes, and his legs and arms were but skin and bone-he was probably a bum, who was poor and badly off.Para. 4nWhat was so unusual about this beggar?nHe did not h

45、old out his hand to beg; he just stood on and on, silent and immobile, with wretchedness in his eyes and despair in his attitude.Para. 5nFind a few words that the narrator used to describe the beggar in this paragraph?nTragic, wreck, terrifying, insane.Para. 6nWhy didnt the beggar stop before the na

46、rrators table any more?nBecause he had failed to get anything from the narrator and thought it useless to try again.Para. 7nWhat did the narrator suddenly feel?nHe suddenly felt that he had seen this beggar somewhere before.Para.8nHow did the narrator feel when he was unable to remember the name of

47、the beggar?nHe felt annoyed.Para. 9nWhat made the narrator suddenly remember something about the beggar?nThe cruel resounding whipping that the policeman gave the beggar.Para. 10nSay a few words about the personality of the beggar 20 years before when he was in Rome.nBeing very young (not more than

48、22), he was arrogant, calling everyone else “poor fish” who did not deserve respect, and thats why he was not popular among the young people.Para. 11nWhat had the once arrogant young man been reduced to?nThe once arrogant young man, with high spirit, vitality and full confidence in the future, had now been reduced to a terribly miserable beggar who had complete gone numb to what was happening around him.Para.