综合英语教程4_04_Part3.pptVIP

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Questions for Discussion Do you think it is a science-fiction story? Why or why not? How did Edison find the filament for the light bulb, according to this story? What did Edison realize about his dog Sparky? What is the “secret” that the stranger and Edison kept between them? What happened to Edison’s dog in the end? Why does the author use the expression “shaggy dog” in the title? Unit 4, Book 4 1. Do you think it is a science-fiction story? Why or why not? Unit 4, Book 4 Yes. The elements of science-fiction are A. science; B. technology and invention; C. the future; D. extrapolation; E. scientific methods; F. other places — planets, dimensions, etc., including visitors from outer space; G. catastrophes, natural or manmade. A story with at least three of the above elements is generally perceived to be science fiction; stories with two elements are borderline; stories with one or no elements are not science fiction. 2. How did Edison find the filament for the light bulb, according to this story? A dog told him. 3. What did Edison realize about his dog Sparky? Dogs are far more intelligent than human. Unit 4, Book 4 5. What happened to Edison’s dog in the end? 4. What is the “secret” that the stranger and Edison kept between them? Edison invented an intelligence analyzer which was destroyed by a dog since it found dogs are more intelligent than human beings. It was torn into pieces by other dogs, letting the secret be known. Unit 4, Book 4 6. Why does the author use the expression “shaggy dog” in the title? An open question. Try to air your views about the meanings of the story. Does a story really have to say something true? Vonnegut probably doesn’t mean to prove or explain anything with the story, but just wants to create a funny tale. He may also mean to say something with this funny story, but his meaning is well hidden. Unit 4, Book 4 Culture Information Unit 4, Book 4 (horse, cattle, ranch, beauty, whip, stampede, railro