2021年4月9日 星期五

Reading Smart Section 1 Unit 1

 

Section 1---Unit 1

1. Pre-reading

˙What do you think is the most useful object that has ever been invented?

˙If you were an inventor, what would want to invent?

˙What kind of existing problem would your invention solve?

Reading Vocabulary: smartphone; shopping cart; handyman; burr; hide; Swiss Alps; Velcro; copper rivet

 

2. Reading

Everyday Inventions

The Wonder of Human Ingenuity

The modern world is full of useful objects that were invented by someone, from the refrigerator in our kitchens to the smartphones in our pockets. Each invention is an example of the creative power of the human mind. Where do inventors derive their inspiration to create useful things? To find out, here are three inventions that we often use without thinking about their origins. The inspiration behind each of these inventions came from different sources.

1. to take from something

Our first example is the shopping cart. Sylvan Goldman was a grocery store owner. Like most businessmen, he wished that his customers would buy more so that he could make more money. He knew that if they Could carry more merchandise easily as they were shopping, then his sales would go up. While thinking about the problem one night, he had an idea. Working with a local handyman named Fred Young, he designed the first shopping cart. Today, retailers who use shopping carts sell more goods and make more money than those who do not. Without the desire for making money as a motivating force, many inventions would never have been invented.

Nature has also inspired inventors throughout history. This is what happened to inventor Georges de Mestral one day. While hunting with his dog in the Swiss Alps, he noticed how the burrs of certain plants stuck to his clothing and to his dog's fur. After examining them under a microscope, he found they had tiny hooks that could easily attach themselves to the fibers of clothing or animal hide. For the next 10 years, de Mestral searched for the best way to produce and manufacture his idea. The result of his original inspiration was Velcro, which is used in many modern objects, including sportswear, shoes, automobiles, and even space suits.

2. products that people buy and sell

3. a person or business that sells products to the public

4. a thread or threadlike material

Jacob Davis, on the other hand, was a tailor living in California in the 19th century. One of his customers couldn't stop ripping the pockets off of his pants during work. Thinking about ways to make the pants stronger, Davis had the idea of reinforcing the pockets with copper rivets. This simple idea proved very successful. Soon, other tailors began copying his idea, and Davis had to patent his invention. As we can see, the simple need to solve a problem can stimulate inventors to find creative solutions. If you have a favorite pair of jeans that has lasted for years, then you have Davis as one of the people to thank for it.

5. to tear something quickly and forcefully

6. to strengthen or add force to something

7. to get a legal document that allows the exclusive right of making or selling an invention

8. to encourage something to develop

These examples show us that there are at least three possible inspirations for human creativity in the world of inventions---profit, nature, and necessity. The quest for cash has driven commercial success since merchants first began selling their products thousands of years ago. No doubt, the entrepreneurs of the future will continue to breathe new life into the economies of the world with fresh ideas and inventions. How many of their creations will be inspired by natural phenomena? The world's problems require creativity and we can expect ingenious many solutions in the future.

9. a mission, adventure, or pursuit that is often dangerous and/or difficult

10. someone who organizes or runs a business to make money, often in a way that is financially risky

11. cleverly creative, inventive, or original

 

 adventure第三級[名詞] 冒險;冒險活動
 attach第四級[動詞] 裝上,貼上;使附屬
 automobiles第三級[名詞] automobile(汽車) 的複數
 breathe第三級[動詞] 呼吸
 businessmen第二級[名詞] businessman(商人) 的複數
 cart第三級[動詞] 用運貨車裝運; [名詞] 手推車
 carts第三級[動詞] cart(用運貨車裝運) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] cart(手推車) 的複數
 cash第二級[動詞] 兌現; [名詞] 現款
 century第二級[名詞] 一世紀
 cleverly第二級[形容詞] clever(聰明伶俐的) 的衍生的副詞
 clothing第三級[動詞] clothe(給...穿衣;為...提供衣服) 的現在分詞
 clothing第二級[名詞] (總稱)衣服,衣著
 commercial第二級[形容詞] 商業的;商務的; [名詞] 商業廣告
 continue第二級[動詞] 繼續
 copper第四級[形容詞] 紅銅色的; [名詞] 銅
 create第二級[動詞] 創造
 creations第四級[名詞] creation(創造;創作;創立) 的複數
 creative第三級[形容詞] 有創造力(或想像力)的
 creativity第四級[名詞] 創造力
 customers第二級[名詞] customer(顧客) 的複數
 derive第五級[動詞] 取得;衍生出
 designed第二級[動詞] design(設計) 的過去式及過去分詞
 desire第三級[動詞] 渴望;要求;想與...發生性關係; [名詞] 渴望
 develop第二級[動詞] 發展
 document第五級[動詞] 用文件證明; [名詞] 文件;證件
 doubt第二級[動詞] 懷疑; [名詞] 懷疑
 economies第四級[名詞] economy(節約,節省) 的複數
 encourage第二級[動詞] 鼓勵;助長
 entrepreneurs第五級[名詞] entrepreneur(企業家) 的複數
 examining第二級[動詞] examine(檢查;測驗) 的現在分詞
 exclusive第五級[形容詞] 排外的;唯一的;獨家的
 existing第二級[動詞] exist(存在) 的現在分詞
 favorite第二級[形容詞] 最喜愛的; [名詞] 特別喜愛的人(或物)
 fibers第五級[名詞] fiber(纖維) 的複數
 financially第四級[形容詞] financial(財政的;金融的) 的衍生的副詞
 force第二級[動詞] 強迫; [名詞] 力量;暴力
 found第二級[動詞] 建立;建造;鑄造;熔化
 fur第三級[名詞] 軟毛;毛皮製品
 goods第四級[名詞] 商品;貨物
 grocery第三級[名詞] 食品雜貨; 食品雜貨店
 hooks第四級[動詞] hook(用鉤鉤住) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] hook(鉤,掛鉤) 的複數
 human第二級[形容詞] 人類的; [名詞] 人
 hunting第二級[動詞] hunt(追獵) 的現在分詞
 including第二級[動詞] include(包含) 的現在分詞
 including第四級[介系詞] 包括
 inspiration第四級[名詞] 靈感
 inspirations第四級[名詞] inspiration(靈感) 的複數
 inspired第四級[動詞] inspire(鼓舞) 的過去式及過去分詞
 invent第三級[動詞] 發明
 invented第三級[動詞] invent(發明) 的過去式及過去分詞
 invention第四級[名詞] 發明,創造
 inventions第四級[名詞] invention(發明,創造) 的複數
 inventor第三級[名詞] 發明家
 inventors第三級[名詞] inventor(發明家) 的複數
 legal第二級[形容詞] 合法的
 local第二級[形容詞] 本地的; [名詞] 當地居民
 manufacture第四級[動詞] (大量)製造,加工; [名詞] 製品,產品
 material第二級[名詞] 材料,原料
 merchandise第六級[動詞] 買賣;經營; [名詞] 商品;貨物
 merchants第四級[名詞] merchant(商人) 的複數
 microscope第四級[名詞] 顯微鏡
 mission第三級[名詞] 使節團;使命,任務
 motivating第四級[動詞] motivate(給...動機;刺激) 的現在分詞
 natural第二級[形容詞] 天然的
 necessity第三級[名詞] 必需品
 object第二級[動詞] 反對; [名詞] 物件
 objects第二級[動詞] object(反對) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] object(物件) 的複數
 organizes第三級[動詞] organize(使有條理;安排) 的第三人稱單數現在式
 original第三級[形容詞] 最初的,本來的;原始的; [名詞] 原著;原畫;原版
 origins第二級[名詞] origin(起源;由來) 的複數
 owner第二級[名詞] 物主
 patent第五級[形容詞] 專利的; [動詞] 取得...的專利權; [名詞] 專利;專利權
 phenomena第四級[名詞] phenomenon(現象) 的複數
 produce第二級[動詞] 製造;出產; [名詞] 農產品
 products第三級[名詞] product(產品) 的複數
 profit第三級[動詞] 得益,獲益; [名詞] 利潤,盈利;收益
 proved第二級[動詞] prove(證明,證實) 的過去式; [動詞] prove(證明,證實) 的過去分詞
 pursuit第四級[名詞] 追蹤,追擊
 quest第五級[名詞] 追求;探索
 refrigerator第二級[名詞] 電冰箱
 reinforcing第五級[動詞] reinforce(增援;加強;加深) 的現在分詞
 require第二級[動詞] 需要
 result第二級[動詞] 發生,產生;結果;導致; [名詞] 結果
 ripping第五級[動詞] rip(撕;扯) 的現在分詞
 risky第五級[形容詞] 危險的;冒險的
 searched第二級[動詞] search(搜尋;搜查) 的過去式及過去分詞
 solutions第二級[名詞] solution(解答;溶劑) 的複數
 solve第二級[動詞] 解決
 sources第二級[名詞] source(源頭) 的複數
 stimulate第五級[動詞] 刺激;激勵;使興奮;促使
 strengthen第四級[動詞] 加強;增強
 stuck第二級[動詞] stick(黏貼;刺;戮;釘住;插牢;堅持) 的過去式及過去分詞
 success第二級[名詞] 成功
 successful第二級[名詞] success(成功) 的形容詞
 suits第二級[動詞] suit(適合;相稱;彼此協調) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] suit(一套衣服;訴訟) 的複數
 tailor第三級[名詞] 裁縫師
 tailors第三級[名詞] tailor(裁縫師) 的複數
 tear第二級[動詞] 撕; [名詞] 眼淚
 thread第三級[動詞] 穿(針,線等); [名詞] 線
 throughout第二級[副詞] 處處;始終;在所有方面; [介系詞] 遍及
 tiny第二級[形容詞] 微小的
 used第二級[形容詞] 習慣於; 舊的;用舊了的
 vocabulary第三級[名詞] 字彙
 wonder第二級[動詞] 納悶; [名詞] 驚奇;奇觀

3 Post-reading

I. Reading Skill: Identifying Topic Sentences

Most paragraphs contain two organizational elements: 1) a topic sentence that summarizes the paragraph's main idea and 2) details that support the main idea. Knowing how to identify these two elements is a critical part of developing good reading skills, and will help you understand the broad theme or message of a text in its entirety. In this unit, we will focus on identifying topic sentences.

A topic sentence is a sentence that tells the reader in a general way what the paragraph is about (i.e., the main idea). It organizes the paragraph and acts as a core from which the paragraph develops. Although the topic sentence is often the first sentence of a paragraph, it can also be found in the middle or at the end.

To identify the topic sentence, just ask yourself "What is this paragraph about?" Continue to ask yourself that question as you read the paragraph until the answer becomes clear. Sometimes you can spot the topic by looking for a word or two that repeat. Here is an example:

In the West, it is considered healthy and sexy to have a nicely tanned body. By contrast, in the East, a fair complexion is essential to looking beautiful. As the Chinese saying goes, "One white complexion hides three flaws." Whether you prefer dark or light skin is your choice, but protecting your skin from harmful UV rays should always be a priority.

In this paragraph, we see that the first sentence cannot be the topic sentence because it does not summarize the entire paragraph. In other words, the paragraph is not entirely about "tanned skin" or the Western concept of beauty and health. The same is true for sentences 2 and 3. Instead, it is from the idea of the last sentence that the first three sentences develop. Therefore, the last sentence is the topic sentence.

 

Test Your Skills

Identify the topic sentences in the article "Everyday Inventions: The Wonder of Human Ingenuity."

1. Paragraph One

Topic Sentence:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Paragraph Two

Topic Sentence:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Paragraph Three

Topic Sentence:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Paragraph Four

Topic Sentence:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

5. Paragraph Five

Topic Sentence:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

 

II. Reading Comprehension:

(   ) 1. Why did sales go up in Sylvan Goldman's grocery store after he began providing shopping carts?

a. Because grocery stores without shopping carts made less money

b. Because he also lowered the prices of his merchandise

c. Because customers liked the shopping cart's innovative design

d. Because customers were able to carry more items to buy

(   ) 2. Which of the following best describes the aim of the author in writing this article?

a. To show three important inventions common to the modern world

b. To highlight important inventors in the history of the world

c. To illustrate sources of human creativity

d. To design new inventions

(   ) 3. According to the article, which invention shows how nature inspires us?

a. The smartphone    b. The shopping cart c. Velcro                    d. Blue jeans

(   ) 4. The author would most likely disagree with which of the following statements?

a. The future does not promise many useful inventions.

b. There are many interesting inventions in the world today.

c. Entrepreneurs often invent things.

d. Nature inspires creativity.

(   ) 5. Copper rivets were invented to solve which of the following problems?

a. Burrs constantly sticking to clothing

b. Weak pant pockets

c. Too many tailors in California

d. Expensive patent fees

III. Vocabulary: Circle the word that does not belong in each group based on the meaning of the words.

1. ingenious               creative                      original                      equal

2. clothing                 fiber                          leather                       rivets

3. rip                         mend                         tear                            break

4. products                goods                        customers                                  merchandise

5. profit                     quest                         mission                      adventure

6. motivate                depress                      encourage                  stimulate

7. organizer               entrepreneur              businessperson          researcher

8. reinforce                strengthen                 emphasize                 invent

9. offer                      receive                       acquire                      derive

10. design                  invention                   patent                        creation

 according第五級[動詞] accord((與...)一致;調解) 的現在分詞
 acquire第四級[動詞] 取得;獲得
 adventure第三級[名詞] 冒險;冒險活動
 aim第二級[動詞] 瞄準,對準; [名詞] 目標,目的
 article第二級[名詞] 文章;報導;論文;物件;條款
 author第二級[動詞] 開創,發起;著作,編寫; [名詞] 作者;作家
 based第二級[動詞] base(以...為基地) 的過去式及過去分詞
 beauty第二級[名詞] 美貌;美人
 broad第二級[形容詞] 寬廣的
 cart第三級[動詞] 用運貨車裝運; [名詞] 手推車
 carts第三級[動詞] cart(用運貨車裝運) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] cart(手推車) 的複數
 clothing第三級[動詞] clothe(給...穿衣;為...提供衣服) 的現在分詞
 clothing第二級[名詞] (總稱)衣服,衣著
 complexion第六級[名詞] 面色;膚色
 comprehension第五級[名詞] 理解;理解力
 concept第四級[名詞] 概念,觀念
 considered第二級[動詞] consider(考慮) 的過去式及過去分詞
 constantly第三級[形容詞] constant(固定的,不變的) 的衍生的副詞
 contain第二級[動詞] 包含;容納
 continue第二級[動詞] 繼續
 contrast第四級[動詞] 使對比,使對照; [名詞] 對比,對照
 copper第四級[形容詞] 紅銅色的; [名詞] 銅
 core第五級[名詞] 果核;精髓;要義
 creation第四級[名詞] 創造;創作;創立
 creative第三級[形容詞] 有創造力(或想像力)的
 creativity第四級[名詞] 創造力
 critical第四級[形容詞] 緊要的,關鍵性的,危急的
 customers第二級[名詞] customer(顧客) 的複數
 depress第五級[動詞] 使沮喪
 derive第五級[動詞] 取得;衍生出
 describes第二級[動詞] describe(描述) 的第三人稱單數現在式
 design第二級[動詞] 設計; [名詞] 圖案;設計
 details第二級[動詞] detail(詳述,詳細說明) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] detail(細節;詳情) 的複數
 develop第二級[動詞] 發展
 developing第二級[動詞] develop(發展) 的現在分詞
 develops第二級[動詞] develop(發展) 的第三人稱單數現在式
 disagree第二級[動詞] 不一致,不符
 elements第三級[名詞] element(要素,成分) 的複數
 emphasize第二級[動詞] 強調
 encourage第二級[動詞] 鼓勵;助長
 entire第二級[形容詞] 全部的,整個的
 entirely第二級[形容詞] entire(全部的,整個的) 的衍生的副詞
 entrepreneur第五級[名詞] 企業家
 entrepreneurs第五級[名詞] entrepreneur(企業家) 的複數
 equal第二級[形容詞] 相等的; 平等的; [動詞] 等於; [名詞] 相等的事物;相等的數量
 essential第四級[形容詞] 必要的;實質的; [名詞] 要素,要點;本質,實質
 fair第二級[形容詞] 公平的;美好的; [副詞] 公平地,公正地;正面地; [名詞] 商品展覽會
 fees第二級[名詞] fee(費用) 的複數
 fiber第五級[名詞] 纖維
 flaws第六級[動詞] flaw(使破裂;使有缺陷) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] flaw(缺點;瑕疵;裂隙) 的複數
 focus第二級[動詞] 集中; [名詞] 焦點
 following第二級[形容詞] 接著的,其次的;下面的; [介系詞] 在...以後; [名詞] 一批追隨者;下列事物(或人員)
 found第二級[動詞] 建立;建造;鑄造;熔化
 general第二級[形容詞] 普遍的; [名詞] 將軍
 goods第四級[名詞] 商品;貨物
 grocery第三級[名詞] 食品雜貨; 食品雜貨店
 harmful第三級[形容詞] 有害的
 highlight第五級[動詞] 用強光照射;使顯著;使突出; [名詞] 強光(效果);最精彩的部分
 human第二級[形容詞] 人類的; [名詞] 人
 identify第四級[動詞] 確認;識別
 identifying第四級[動詞] identify(確認;識別) 的現在分詞
 illustrate第四級[動詞] (用圖,實例等)說明
 innovative第五級[形容詞] 創新的
 inspires第四級[動詞] inspire(鼓舞) 的第三人稱單數現在式
 instead第二級[副詞] 反而,卻
 invent第三級[動詞] 發明
 invented第三級[動詞] invent(發明) 的過去式及過去分詞
 invention第四級[名詞] 發明,創造
 inventions第四級[名詞] invention(發明,創造) 的複數
 inventors第三級[名詞] inventor(發明家) 的複數
 leather第三級[名詞] 皮革
 likely第二級[形容詞] 有可能的; [副詞] 很可能
 lowered第二級[動詞] lower(放下,降下;放低;減低;減弱) 的過去式及過去分詞
 meaning第二級[名詞] 意義
 mend第三級[動詞] 修理,修補
 merchandise第六級[動詞] 買賣;經營; [名詞] 商品;貨物
 message第二級[名詞] 消息;音信
 mission第三級[名詞] 使節團;使命,任務
 motivate第四級[動詞] 給...動機;刺激
 offer第二級[動詞] 提供; [名詞] 提供,提議;出價;報價
 organizer第六級[名詞] 組織者;萬用記事本
 organizes第三級[動詞] organize(使有條理;安排) 的第三人稱單數現在式
 original第三級[形容詞] 最初的,本來的;原始的; [名詞] 原著;原畫;原版
 paragraph第四級[名詞] (文章的)段,節
 paragraphs第四級[名詞] paragraph((文章的)段,節) 的複數
 patent第五級[形容詞] 專利的; [動詞] 取得...的專利權; [名詞] 專利;專利權
 post第二級[動詞] 郵寄;登入(分類帳等);發表; [名詞] 郵件;柱;樁;崗位;站;交易所
 prefer第二級[動詞] 更喜歡
 priority第四級[名詞] 在先;重點;優先權
 products第三級[名詞] product(產品) 的複數
 profit第三級[動詞] 得益,獲益; [名詞] 利潤,盈利;收益
 promise第二級[動詞] 答應; [名詞] 承諾,諾言;希望,前途
 protecting第二級[動詞] protect(保護) 的現在分詞
 providing第二級[動詞] provide(供應) 的現在分詞
 quest第五級[名詞] 追求;探索
 rays第三級[名詞] ray(光線;輻射線) 的複數
 receive第二級[動詞] 收到
 reinforce第五級[動詞] 增援;加強;加深
 researcher第四級[名詞] 研究員;調查者
 rip第五級[動詞] 撕;扯; [名詞] 裂口
 sexy第三級[形容詞] 性感的
 skill第二級[名詞] 技能
 skills第二級[名詞] skill(技能) 的複數
 skin第二級[名詞] 皮膚
 solve第二級[動詞] 解決
 sources第二級[名詞] source(源頭) 的複數
 spot第二級[動詞] 沾污;察出; [名詞] 斑點;場所
 statements第二級[名詞] statement(陳述,說明;結單) 的複數
 sticking第二級[動詞] stick(黏貼;刺;戮;釘住;插牢;堅持) 的現在分詞
 stimulate第五級[動詞] 刺激;激勵;使興奮;促使
 strengthen第四級[動詞] 加強;增強
 summarize第四級[動詞] 總結,概述,概括
 summarizes第四級[動詞] summarize(總結,概述,概括) 的第三人稱單數現在式
 support第二級[動詞] 支持; [名詞] 支持
 tailors第三級[名詞] tailor(裁縫師) 的複數
 tanned第六級[動詞] tan(曬成棕褐色;鞣(皮)) 的過去式及過去分詞
 tear第二級[動詞] 撕; [名詞] 眼淚
 text第二級[名詞] 正文,本文
 theme第四級[名詞] 主題思想;題材;主題曲
 therefore第二級[副詞] 因此
 true第二級[形容詞] 真實的;正確的; [動詞] 配準,擺正; [副詞] 準確地;真實地
 unit第二級[名詞] 單位;單元;組件
 vocabulary第三級[名詞] 字彙
 western第二級[形容詞] 西方的; [名詞] 西部地區的人
 wonder第二級[動詞] 納悶; [名詞] 驚奇;奇觀

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