高中英语学习材料***鼎尚图文理制作***Unit 4 Astronomy：the science of the stars 课文知识点解析Warming UpDiscuss in pairs which science subjects are part of medicine,biochemistry,geophysics or astronomy.分组讨论哪些科学科目是医学，生物化学，地理学或天文学的一部分。
in pairs=two at a time=in twos一次两个，两个一组e.g.Shoes and slippers are sold in pairs.鞋子都是论双卖的。
注意：in+数词/名词（数词/名词以复数形式）e.g.in threes and fours 三三两两的in groups 成群的思维拓展in在这里表示：以……数量/形式、形状等。
e.g.Tourists queue in thousands to see the tomb. 游客数以千计排着队看陵墓。
Reading1.The problem was that the earth became violent because it was not clearwhether the solid shape was to last or not.这一问题变得越来越不确定，因为这一球体形状是否能够维持尚未明朗。
(1)violent adj. 猛烈的；激烈的；强暴的a violent language 激烈的语言a violent storm 猛烈的风暴a violent 猛攻思维拓展violence n.［U］1.暴力，强暴2.猛烈，剧烈，强烈(2)whether...or not... “是……还是……”在这里是主语从句,它还可以引导宾语从句、表语从句、同位语从句和状语从句。
e.g.I don’t know whether he will agree with me.（宾语）我不知道他是否同意我的观点。
The question is whether he will agree to my proposal.（表语）问题是他是否同意我的建议。
I have no idea whether he can do it or not.（同位语）我不知道他是否能做这件事。
2.It exploded loudly with fire and rock,which were in time to produce the water vapour,carbon dioxide,oxygen,nitrogen and other gases,...球体发生剧烈爆炸，伴有火焰和岩浆，这些最终生成水蒸气、二氧化碳、氧气、氮气及其他气体，……全析提示whether or not 其后还可跟不定式，构成whether to do or not。
e.g.Whether to go there or not is still a question.是否去还是个疑问。
在此结构中，whether 不能用if 替换。
explode v.爆发；爆炸e.g.The bomb fell in a field and exploded.一颗炸弹落在田野上爆炸了。
At last his anger exploded.最后他发火了。
explode with laughter 突然大笑3.As the earth cooled down,water began to appear on its surface.在地球冷却的过程中，其表面开始出现水。
思维拓展explosion n.1.［C & U］爆炸；爆发2.［C］激增；扩大explosive adj.1.爆炸的;爆发的2.极易引起争论的cool vi. & vt. （使）凉快；（使）冷却e.g.The hot water began to cool.热水开始冷却。
Cool the drinks,please; put some ice in them. 请把这些饮料弄凉，在里面放些冰。
思维拓展cool adj.凉的，凉快的；（指人）冷淡的，冷漠的：e.g.She was rather cool towards us.她对我们相当冷淡。
4.What scientists think is that the earth was different because of the arrival of small plants growing in the water on its surface.科学家认为,地球与众不同，是因为生活在水中的一些微小植物来到地球表面。
这是一个复杂句式。
其中what一词引导的是主语从句。
全析提示what在主语从句中充当宾语。
5.They multiplied and filled the first oceans and seas with oxygen.地球上的植物细胞增加并使海洋中富含氧气。
(1)multiply vt.& vi.乘;增多，增加e.g.Multiply 3 by 5.用五来乘三。
Efficiency would be multiplied several times. 效率将提高好几倍。
Rabbits multiply rapidly. 思维拓展multiplication n.1.［C］乘法2.［U］增加，繁殖兔子繁殖得很快。
(2)fill...with 把装满；用……充满e.g.He filled the glass with water. 他把玻璃杯倒满水。
It filled his heart with sadness. 这件事使他心里充满悲伤。
全析提示be filled with 充满；挤满e.g.I am filled with joy.我内心充满着喜悦。
The streets were filled with people.街上挤满了人。
6.This encouraged the development of early shellfish and allsorts of fish.思维拓展这促进了早期贝类、鱼类的进化。
development n.［U］发展;冲洗e.g.With the development of modern agriculture and industry,more and more waste is produced.随着现代农业和工业的发展，越来越多的废物产生了。
develop vt.发展，养成；开发；冲洗（胶卷）e.g.Can you develop this film for us?你能代我们冲洗这个胶卷吗？He is engaged in the development of his business.他正忙于业务发展。
The development of photo films requires a dark room.冲洗照片底片需要暗房。
7.They produced young generally by laying eggs. 思维拓展它们通常为卵生。
generally adv.(1)广泛的，普遍地e.g.The new plan was generally welcomed.新计划受到普遍欢迎。
(2)通常；一般e.g.He is generally on time.他通常不迟到。
generally speaking=in general一般说来e.g.Women,generally speaking,live longer than men. 总的说来，女人比男人长寿。
general adj.1.普遍的；全体的，总的，全面的a general strike总罢工a general election 大选2.泛指的；一般的general knowledge 一般知识3.大体的；笼统的8.They laid eggs too.它们也为卵生。
lay vi.下（蛋），产（卵）ying eggs is her full-time job.产卵是她的专职工作。
The hens don’t lay eggs during this cold weather. 这样冷的天气母鸡是不会下蛋的。
思维拓展lay还有其他含义：1.放，搁lay aside放在一边,搁一搁（暂不解决）2.安排，安置lay the table 摆桌子9.Small clever animals,now with hands and feet,appeared and spread all over the earth.一些灵长类动物，长有手和脚，出现并在世界各地蔓延开来。
spread vi.伸展，延伸；传播,传开；展现e.g.The city spreads for ten miles to the north.这座城市将向北延伸十里。
But the story of the little boy spread quickly.但小英雄的故事很快传开了。
思维拓展extend和spread都有“伸展、延伸”之意，但extend既可用作及物动词又可用作不及物动词，而spread常用作不及物动词。
10.They developed new methods of growing food,hunting and moving around.它们开发出种植食物、狩猎、行走的新方法。
method n.［C］方法，办法e.g.They use modern methods of teaching math.他们用现代教算术的方法。
There is a method in doing anything.做什么事都有方法。
思维拓展method n.［U］规律，秩序e.g.He is a man of method. 他是个有条理的人。
There is method in his madness.他表面疯狂，实则理性。
11.They are putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,which prevents heat from escaping from the earth into space.它们向大气层中释放太多的二氧化碳，使得热量无法散发到太空。
prevent sb./sth.from doing sth.阻止或妨碍某人/某事物e.g.Nobody can prevent us/our getting married.谁也阻止不了我们结婚。