初中进阶 (2298 期20151211) 1 版

From a programmer to a best-seller

Pre-reading

• What kind of movie is your favorite?

Or…

Pre-reading

• Can you list the names of some science fiction movies?

Interstella《星际穿越》 Gravity《地心引力》 The Martian《火星救援》

While reading

• Answer the following questions. 1. How did the critics describe The Martian?

2. Why did Weir almost give up his hope of becoming a professional writer a few years ago?

“Smart, exciting and surprisingly funny.”

Because he failed to get a single publisher excited about his work.

While reading3. What happened after Weir posted his first novel

online?

4. What can you find in Weir’s writing?

5. What is Weir’s second novel Zhek about?

It generated such a buzz that Crown Publishing Group wanted to publish his work, and even Hollywood wanted to make a movie based on his novel.

Research into conditions on Mars, the history of manned spaceflight and botany.

Aliens, faster-than-light travel, etc.

Language study

• Complete each sentence with one word in its correct forms.

1. All of the ______ commented positively on the newly released book.

2. The famous director created another ____________ after his successful movie series.

3. The employees often make claims about their bad working ______.

4. I have to book the air ticket now. Please provide me with the _________ date.

5. We should plant more trees because they can ______ oxygen.

blockbuster generate critic accurate condition

critics

blockbuster

conditions

accurategenerate

After reading• Do you know another science fiction writer

and a novel he/she has written?