book3 Unit8 Section B.pptVIP

Background Knowledge Nicolaus Copernicus Galaxy Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 –1543) was the first astronomer to formulate a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology, which displaced the Earth from the center of the universe. Copernicus book, On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres, is often regarded as the starting point of modern astronomy. His work stimulated further scientific investigations, becoming a landmark in the history of science that is often referred to as the Copernican Revolution. A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter.The name is from the Greek root galaxias, meaning milky, a reference to the Milky Way galaxy. Reading Skills Reading Between the Lines (II) It is important to understand the author’s ideas which are not written from the context. Example 1 Mark Twain had once been shut in a cowshed because of his advising a squire (乡绅) not to ruin literature. Later the squire requested him to give some advice on his new book. After dipping into it, Mark Twain rushed to the cowshed. The squire asked, “Where are you going?” “To the cowshed”, answered Mark Twain. The meaning between the lines is that Mark Twain meant the new book was rubbish and it really ruined literature. He did not say that the squire ruined literature but his action meant it. After Mark Twain read the squire’s first book, he asked the squire not to ruin literature by writing such a book and the squire shut him in a cowshed. Then Mark Twain read the squire’s new book. After reading it, he didn’t say anything but rush to the cowshed because he knew the squire would shut him in the cowshed again. Example 2 In an article named Exotic Bouquet a teacher described his students in this way: Whe