英语泛读第四单.pptVIP

Unit 4 Web (II) John Wyndham Further Information on Text-related Details insecticide: a material used to kill insects in all developmental forms. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind the increase in agricultural productivity in the 20th century. Nearly all insecticides have the potential to significantly alter ecosystems; many are toxic (有毒的) to humans; and others are concentrated in the food chain. It is necessary to balance agricultural needs with environmental and health issues when using them. spider bites: Spiders are widely known, and feared by some, for their capability of biting human beings. While most spiders are believed to be harmless to people, some spiders have bites which are known to be medically significant, and which can produce noticeable symptoms in humans. For approximately 200 species in 20 genera, moderate o severe symptoms can result, including necrotic wounds, systemic toxicity, and in some cases, death. Four genera are positively known to have potentially lethal（致命的） bites. spider web: Most spiders produce silken thread to build webs, and some spider silk strands are stronger than steel strands of the same thickness. The spider, after spinning its web, will then wait on, or near, the web for a prey animal to become trapped. The spider can sense the impact and struggle of a prey animal by vibrations(震动) transmitted along the web lines. insect intelligence: Scientific researches show that social insects, those who share resources and reproduce cooperatively, such as bees, ants, and wasps(黄峰) are capable of certain intelligent behavior. Individually, one insect may not be capable of much; collectively, social insects are capable of achieving great things: building and defending a nest, foraging（搜查） for food, taking care of the brood (昆虫等)一次产出的卵), allocating labor, forming bridges, and much