通过本单元的学习，激发我们去探索未知世界的兴趣，培养我们热爱科学，热爱自然的情操；本单元我们还将学会怎样读报刊文章，怎样去作社会调查，怎样作调查问卷，怎样对现有的数据进行分析，从而更好地培养我们运用英语的能力。

【重点词汇讲解】

 1．puzzle n.难题；谜；困惑（只用a puzzle）

  v.（使）迷惑，（使）为难；（使）苦思

  do a word puzzle猜字谜

  be puzzled about/over/at sth.对某事感到困惑／为难

  I’m in a puzzle as to what to do next.

  我不知道下一步该怎么办。

  Lucy looked a little puzzled.

  露茜看起来有一点迷惑不解。

  The woman’s illness puzzled the doctor；he couldn’t find the cause.

  这位妇女的病难住了医生；他找不到病因。

  I’m puzzled what I am going to do with it.

  我不知道该如何处置它。

 2．disappointed adj.失望的

  disappointing adj.令人感到失望的

  disappoint v.使失望

  disappointment n.失望，沮丧，扫兴

  be disappointed at sth. 因……感到失望

  be disappointed that-clause The book really disappointed me.

  这本书真让我感到失望。

  I’m rather disappointed at his absence.

  他不在，令我非常失望。

  I was much disappointed that he should get that post．

  他竟会得到这个职位，令我很失望。

  The whether this summer has been disappointing.

  今年夏天的天气一直让人很失望。

 3．continue v.延伸；继续

  The road continues for a hundred and fifty kilometers.

  这条公路长150千米。

  He continued his work though he was ill.

  He continued to work though he was ill.

  He continued working, though he was ill.

  尽管他生着病，但他继续工作。

  The weather forecast said that the weather would continue to be fine in the coming two or three days.

  天气预报说未来两三天天气将继续保持晴好。

  “We must fight for racial equality，”continued the speaker.

  演讲者又说，“我们必须为争取种族平等而斗争。”

 4．separate v.分隔，（使）分开；区分，区别 adj.分开的，不连续的；隔开的，单独的；

  be separated from与……分开

  The war separated many families.

  战争使许多家庭妻离子散。

  It’s not difficult to separate a butterfly from a moth.

  把蝴蝶和飞蛾分开并不难。

  England is separated from France by the Channel.

  英法两国被英吉利海峡分开。

  My elder brother and I have separate rooms. 

  我哥哥和我有各自的卧室。

 5．base n. 基地v. 把基地设在……；作为……的基础；为某事提供依据

  base something/ oneself on sth.

  be based on

  The base of the monument is made of marble.

  纪念碑的底座是大理石的。

  As a scientist，he always based his theory on facts.

  作为一名科学家，他总是以事实作为他的理论依据。

  The company’s headquarters is based in Paris.

  这家公司的总部设在巴黎。

 6．provide v供应；供给  provider供应者（家庭供养者）

  providing/ provided以……为条件；如果

  provide sth. for sb.= supply sth. for sb.

  provide sb. with sth.= supply sb. with sth.

  The hotel provides good meals.

  那家旅馆供应上好的膳食。

  Our school dining hall provides us with three meals a day.

  = Our school dining hall provides three meals for us a day.

  我们学校餐厅每天供应三顿饭。

  It’s quite, dry these days；we should provide against fire.

  近来天气非常干燥，我们应当防火。

  I don’t mind lending you the book provided that you return it to me next week.

  我可以把书借给你，条件是下周你得还我。

 7．injure v.伤害，损害injury n.伤害，受伤处injured adj.受伤的，受损的

  He injured his leg in an accident.

  他的腿在意外事故中受了伤。

  Those that are not favored will think themselves injured.

  那些未受到宠爱的人会觉得自己受了委屈。

  We want to interview the injured who have been taken to hospital.

  我们想采访那些已被送往医院的伤者。

  When she fell off her bike，her only injury was a twisted ankle.

  当她从自行车上摔下来时，仅扭伤了脚踝。

  比较：injure，hurt和wound

  hurt常指精神上和肉体上的伤害，含有强烈的疼痛。如：

  These words hurt her deeply. 这些话深深地刺痛了她。

  injure着重指健康机能和外貌的伤害或损害。如：

  The man injured his shoulder. 那个人肩膀受了伤。

  wound主要指外界暴力造成创伤。如：

  Many soldiers and officers wounded in that battle.

  在那一仗中许多官兵受了伤。