Unit ThreeUnit Three

Why Do We Believe Why Do We Believe That the Earth is That the Earth is

Round?Round?

Background Knowledge:Background Knowledge:

Bernard ShawBernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw(1856-1950), an Irish-born writer, is considered the most significant British dramatist since Shakespeare. In addition to being a prolific playwright, he was also the most trenchant pamphleteer since the Irish-born satirist Jonathan Swift and the most readable music critic and best theater critic of his generation. He was also a great letter writer..

Key point of the article:Key point of the article:

We are more gullible and superstitious today than we were in the Middle Ages.

-- We are more easy to accept beliefs without reasoning by ourselves than the people in the Middle Ages were. Actually people in the Middle Ages were quite gullible and superstitious because they tended to accepted whatever beliefs the churches input.

By this comparison, the readers can have a clear picture of how gullible and superstitious we are now.

remark--to make a comment or an observation

评论或观察

remarked on / upon

• It is rude to remark upon the appearance of other people.

对别人评头论足是粗鲁的。

• As he often remarked, one is never too old to learn.

正如他一向所说的那样，一个人要活到老学到老。

n.--the act of noticing or observing 注意注意或看到的动作

a place worthy of remark. 值得注意的地方

--a casual or brief expression of opinion; a comment.

• Such unkind remark was not called for.

这种不客气的话真不该讲。

cite--to quote as an authority or example;to mention or bring forward as support, illustration, or proof 引证把…作为支持、说明或证明而提及或提出

• The professor cited several instances of insubordinate behavior. 教授引用数个反抗行为的例证。

• They often cite in illustration of it the attractive, but false and deceptive advertisements to which many consumers fall victim. 为说明这一点 , 他们经常举出那些漂亮诱人却是虚假坑人的广告 ,使得不少顾客上当受骗。

•The judicial minister cited the latest crime figures as proof of the need for strengthening of the comprehensive administration of social public order. 司法部长引用最新的犯罪统计数字来证明需要加强社会治安的综合治理。

The average man, says Shaw, can advance not a single reason for thinking that the earth is round.

--Common people can not put forward any reason for thinking that the earth is round.

advance--to put forward; propose or suggest 提议或建议

• He will advance a novel theory during the seminar.

他将在讨论会上提出新奇的理论

• They advanced many reasonable proposals.

他们提出了许多合理化建议。

He merely swallows this theory because there is something about it that appeals to the twentieth-century mentality.

--He merely accepts/takes in this theory because there is something about it that meets the twentieth-century mind.

swallow--to believe without question 轻信毫无疑问地接受

• I swallowed the alibi. 我轻信了这个托辞。

--to take back; retract 彻回；收回

• swallow one’s words. 收回前言

• swallowed the insults and kept on working. 忍受侮辱继续工作

• swallow one's feelings. 压抑情绪

• a building that was swallowed up by fire.

被火焰吞没的建筑

appeal to

--the power of attracting or of arousing interest

• She appeals to me. 我对她感兴趣。

• Does the idea of working for a venture company appeal to you? 你有没有兴趣到合资企业去工作 ?

--an earnest or urgent request, entreaty, or supplication. 呼吁，恳求热切或急切的要求、请求或恳求

•The government is appealing to everyone to save water. 政府呼吁每个人节约用水。 •The victims‘ families of the murder have appealed to the Supreme Court to have a definitive answer. 谋杀案的被害家属已经请求最高法院作确切的答复 .

mentality -- cast or turn of mind 个性或心态

• a vindictive mentality 报复心理

• It's very difficult to understand the mentality of people who say such things. 很难理解讲这种话的人的心理状态。

• the try-your-luck mentality 侥幸心

• a person of low [weak] mentality 低智能的人

• develop the child's mentality 启发儿童的智力

But there’s something in what he says, and the question is worth following up, for the sake of the light it throws on modern knowledge.

--but what Shaw says is somewhat reasonable and is worth our further research for the purpose of what it may reveal about modern knowledge.

follow up – pursue or investigate closely 深入调查研究

•That's an interesting idea, and we'll certainly follow it up.

那是一个有意义的想法 , 我们一定要进一步予以研究。

for the sake of – for the good of; for the purpose of 为了…的缘故

• For the sake of safety, you must keep all medicines away from children. 为了安全 , 要把所有的药都放在孩子们拿不到的地方。

• for God's sake 看在上帝的份上

• for Christ's sake 看在基督面上，看在老天面上

• for goodness pity's sake 请发发慈悲吧

But there’s something in what he says, and the question is worth following up, for the sake of the light it throws on modern knowledge.

--but what Shaw says is somewhat reasonable and is worth our further research for the purpose of what it may reveal about modern knowledge.

throw light on – something that provides information or clarification 信息，说明提供信息或阐明某事的东西• The article threw some light on the question. 文章对这个问题做了解释

As for the Flat Earth Theory:As for the Flat Earth Theory:

Argument :Argument :

You can see the masts and funnels of invisible ships passing along the horizon.

Counter-argument : Counter-argument :

This phenomenon can only be explained by assuming that the earth’s surface is curved. But it does not follow that the earth is spherical.

As for the Oval Earth Theory:As for the Oval Earth Theory:

Argument 1:Argument 1:

Analogy of the sun and moon.

Counter-argument 1:Counter-argument 1:

• I only know that they are round but don’t know for sure they are spherical.

• I have no reason to convince that the earth must be the same shape as they are.

As for the Oval Earth Theory:As for the Oval Earth Theory:

Argument 2:Argument 2:

The earth’s shadow on the moon is round.

Counter-argument 2:Counter-argument 2:

I don’t know for sure whether the eclipses of the moon are caused by the shadow of the earth.

As for the Oval Earth Theory:As for the Oval Earth Theory:

Argument 3 (queen of trumps):Argument 3 (queen of trumps):

The opinion of the experts.

Counter-argument 3 (king):Counter-argument 3 (king):

Have I tested what the Astronomer Royal?

As for the Oval Earth Theory:As for the Oval Earth Theory:

Argument 4 (my ace):Argument 4 (my ace):

The astronomers can foretell eclipses which suggests that their knowledge of the solar system is sound.

Counter- argument 4:Counter- argument 4:

The ancient Egyptians who didn't have the sound knowledge can also predict eclipses.

As for the Oval Earth Theory:As for the Oval Earth Theory:

Argument 5:Argument 5:

Navigation. By assuming the earth is spherical, people can calculate and then sail around the earth.

Counter-argument 5:Counter-argument 5:

?

Defeated in the minor exchanges, I now play my queen of trumps;

-- Not winning the debate in the first two rounds, I now bring out my strong arguments.

Queen of trumps

King of trumps

Ace of trumps

In certain games, a particular suit is call trumps. (see notes)

I should have to fall back on the expert much earlier…

-- I should have turned to the experts for help…

fall back on(upon) – turn to for support or help;

to rely on 求助于，依赖• You can always fall back on old friends in time of need. 在需要时总是能求助于老朋友们。

--to resort to 再使用• I had to fall back on my savings when I was unemployed. 失业时我不得不动用我的积蓄 .

It does not rest on reasoning or on experiment, but on authority.

rest on--to base or ground 使依赖，建立在…之上以…为基础或根据

• I rested my conclusion on that fact.

我的结论是依据来源建立于那个事实

… as soon as he strays away form his own specialty…

stray--to deviate from a moral, proper, or right course; err; to become diverted from a subject or train of thought; digress. 偏离偏离道德的、恰当的或正确的道路；犯错误 ; 分心偏离一主题或思维；离题

• stray from [off] the right path 偏离正道

• Don‘t stray from the point. 不要离题乱扯。

--to become lost; to wander about without a destination or purpose; roam. 迷路 ; 闲逛没有方向或目的四处游荡；漫游

• She strayed from the road and got lost. 她走离了正路，迷途了。

This is a credulous age, and the burden of knowledge which we now have to carry is partly responsible.

-- This is an age when people tend to believe without questioning. To some extent it is because the knowledge people have now has confined people minds.