【创新设计】（江苏专用）2016-2017学年高中英语 Unit 3 Back to the past Period One Welcome to the unit Reading讲义 牛津译林版必修3.doc

Unit 3 Back to the past Scientific Assumption：the Real Cause of the Roman Empire Collapsing Climate change could have been responsible for bringing down the Roman Empire，scientists believe. Researchers studied ancient tree growth rings to show links between climate change and major events in human history such as migrations，plague and the rise and fall of empires. They discovered that periods of warm，wet weather coincided with periods of prosperity，while droughts or varying conditions occurred at times of political upheaval such as the demise of the Roman Empire. To match the environmental record with the historical one，researchers looked at more than 7,200 tree fossils from the past 2,500 years. The study，published in the journal Science，said：The rise and fall of past civilizations have been associated with environmental change，mainly due to effects on water supply and agricultural productivity，human health and civil conflict. Wet and warm summers occurred during periods of Roman and Medieval prosperity. Increased climate variability from AD 250 to 600 coincided with the demise of the Western Roman Empire and the turmoil of the Migration Period. Notes 1．plague n．瘟疫 2．coincide v．同时发生 3．upheaval n．剧变 4．demise n．终止，失败 5．turmoil n．动乱 Task 根据上文完成下列各题 1．According to the scientists，what caused the fall of the Roman Empire? Climate change. 2．What do scientists think the summers were like during periods of Roman prosperity? Wet and warm. Period One　Welcome to the unit Reading 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Ⅰ.单词自测 1．civilization n．文明 civilize vt.使文明，使开化 2．lecture n．讲座 3．found vt.创建，兴建 founded(过去式) founded(过去分词) 4．erupt vi.(火山等)爆发 eruption n．爆发，喷发 5．pour vi.涌流，倾泻；vt.倒出(液体) 6．unfortunate adj.不幸的，遗憾的 7．decorate vt.装饰，装潢 decoration n．装饰；装饰品 8．flee vt. vi.逃避，逃跑；迅速离开 fled(过去式) fled(过去分词) 9．researcher n．研究者，调查者 research n．调查，研究；vt.从事……的研究，为……而做研究 10．disaster n．灾难 11．destroy vt.摧毁，毁坏 12．commercial adj.商业的，贸易的 13．wealthy adj.富有的，富裕的 wealth n．财产，财富 14．gradually adv.渐渐地，逐渐地 gradual adj.逐渐的