Unit 2I. Background to Text 1biography: an account of a person’s life, usually written by someone else and published or intended for publication. As a literary form it has becomeincreasingly popular since the second half of the 17th century. It was rarebefore. The origins of biography are to be found in the early accounts ofmonarchs and heroes, for example in the Greek, Celtic and Scandinavianepics and sagas. During the Middle Ages there little biography. But at therenaissance biography, like autobiography—written by oneself acquiredconsiderable interest. The 17th century was the most important period for thedevelopment of English biography. Since the 1950s the art of biography hasburgeoned, and biography has become a major publishing industry. Scores ofnew biographies have been written each year. There is a vast quantity ofhistorical and political biography, and majority of those have becomeprominent in the performing arts and in sports. Literary biography hasbecome immensely popular. Literary biography is usually long and readslike novels. Most of the biographies such as we see in encyclopedia arecondensed, recording only the most important events or achievements whichthe subject is remembered for.II. Detailed study of the text1. …“one of the great names in the history of human thought,”… (L.4)one of the great thinkers in human history…2. grammar school (L.12): formerly a English secondary school emphasizing thestudy of academic rather than technical subjects3. He was considered a poor student (L.13).He was thought of as a student who did badly in his study. This implies that it was not true since he turned out to be a great scientist.4. sundial (L.16): an instrument that uses sunlight to tell the time, by the changingposition of the shadow that a vertical arm that casts on a horizontal plate with graded markings5. He showed no exceptional ability during his college career, and wasgraduated in 1665 without any particular distinction. (L.19)As a college student he did not show any special ability and graduated like anybody else without special honours.1) exceptional: (adj) unusually good; outstanding2) distinction: special consideration or honour6.…as a fellow of Trinity College…fellow: (BrE) an elected graduate receiving a stipend for a period of research; a member of governing body in some universities7. fellow (L.25): a member of a learned society8. …held his seat until Parliament dissolved the following year. (L.29)He held that position until Parliament was dismissed or dispersed.1) seat: the right to occupy a seat; a place as a member of an official orcontrolling body2) dissolve: (vt.) dismiss, disperse9. warden (L.30): (BrE) a president or governor of a college, school, youth hostel,etc.10. master (L.30): the presiding officer of a livery company, Masonic lodge, etc.11. Queen Anne knighted Newton in 1705. (L.37)Queen Anne made Newton knight in 1705.knight: (n.) a man given the title Sir by the king or queen; (vt.) make sb. a knight 12 …and Newton’s did not escape criticism. (L.41)…and Newton’s theories were criticized just as well like other new scientific theories.escape: avoid (sth. dangerous or unpleasant)13 plead with(L.42): ask very strongly and seriously and in a begging way, e.g.The parents pleaded with the kidnapper to release their five-old-son.14. Biblical chronology (L.47): the study or science of determining the correct orderof the historical events or occurences described in the Bible15. He showed great generosity to his newphew…(L.48)He spent a lot of money for the benefit of his nephew and gave large sums of money to…16. He said of himself shortly before his death,…(L.51)He said about himself.17. “I do not know what I may appear to the world, …whilst the great ocean oftruth lay a ll undiscovered before me.” (L.52)I am not sure what the world may think of me. In my mind, I have been just likeone of the boys playing on the seashore and I have been able to find a smoother pebble or prettier shell now and then than the average. Considering what has not been explored or discovered, what I have achieved is just a drop of the ocean. 18. his own work would have been impossible without Newton’s discoveries.(L.59)Without Newton’s discoveries, it would have been impossible for Einstein to formulate his theory of relativity.III. Answers for Text 1Skills DevelopmentPre-reading1, 2, 3 have no definite answers. They are designed to motivate the students or activate their existing knowledge.Reading2. 1) Paras.1-5 A great scientist2) Paras.6-7 A public figure3) Paras.8-11 Personality3.4.No really. Although the article mentions his great contributions: theory ofgravitation, invention of calculus, and secrets of light, it fails to depict how he actually worked and how he overcame difficulties to make his achievements and why he was able to accomplish what he had achieved. Instead, the article says much about him as public figure and his personalities.Post-reading1.This question is designed for students to give their personal opinion. There is nohard and fast answer.2.The words related to five aspects of personality are provided to help studentsprepare their speech. Students choose what they need and leave those they do not want. But they are advised to use as many as possible.3. Before writing the teacher may organize students to discuss the generalcomponents of a good piece of biography: growth, achievement and personality.An occasional anecdote might make the biography vivid and believable. Language Development1.2. 1) similar2)different (…with no special honours)3)different (…not able to avoid criticism; shy away implies a person’s attitude,i.e. he is not willing to do sth. or does not want to do it)3. 1) argument: organized way of ex pressing one’s opinion inorder to convincequarrel: angry argument usually lasting a long time2)invent: create for the first timediscover: find out for the first time what exists3) drop: fall of water in the form of dropsdrip: flow of water slowly and in small quantity4) seat: positionchair: something to sit on; used figuratively a position usually of a chairperson5) physicist: specialist in physicsphysician: medical doctorreject: turn down because you do not agree or wantrefuse: deliberately choose not to accept6) fellow: member usually associated with academic researchchap: colloquial expression of man7) thinking: implying the process of reasoningthought: idea4. 1) “a” indicates one of a class2) same as 1)3) the absence of article indicates a position4) same as 3); in Britain there is only one professor in an academic speciality5) same as 3)6) same as 1)7) same as 3)5. 1) have escaped 2) hold…together3) dissolving 4) reject5) knight 6) have escaped6. 她执政几届，推行了一系列政策，给她赢得了“铁娘子”的称号。