Astronomy:

the science of the stars

Warming up and reading

Have a look at the universe objects.
How much do you know about the universe?

What are the names of the eight planets that

circle the sun? What is their order from the
sun?
 THE SOLAR SYSTEM

水星 Mercury Jupiter
木星______
金星 Venus 土星 ________
Saturn
Earth
地球 ______ 天王星 _______
Uranus
Mars
火星 ______ 海王星_______
Neptune
Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. It
is the scientific study of celestial(天空的）
objects (such as stars, planets and comets)
and phenomena that originate outside the
Earth’s atmosphere. It is concerned with
the evolution（演化）, physics, chemistry,
as well as the formation and development
of the universe.
 Free Talk
1. How old is the universe?
Several billion years ago.
2. How old is the earth?
Between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years ago.
3. Which were the first creature or plants
on earth?
Very small air-breathing creatures.
Fast reading

Read the passage quickly and find the main

idea.

A brief introduction on how the universe

developed and how life began on the
earth.
Para 1: earth, atmosphere and water

Para 2:
Para 3: life development
Para 4:

Para 5: human beings

Careful reading
Read the passage carefully and analyse its
structure.
A widely accepted theory about the
Para 1:
formation of the universe.
Para 2: The formation of the earth.
Para 3: The importance of water for life.
Para 4: The development of plants and animals
on the earth.

Para 5: The arrival of humans and their impact

on the earth.
 Answer the following questions.
1. What is the original earth’s atmosphere made up of?
2. Why did scientists believe water is fundamental to the
development of life?
3. How did water come into being on the earth?
4. Which kind of life-being first appeared on the earth,
plants or animals? Why?
5. Why were mammals different from all life forms in
the past?
1. What is the original earth’s atmosphere made up
of?
Carbon, nitrogen, water vapour, and other gases.
2. Why did scientist believe water is fundamental to
the development of life?
Because water allowed the earth to dissolve
harmful gases and acids into the oceans and
seas to ensure a following chain reaction, which
made it possible for life to develop.
3. How did water come into being on the earth?
The explosion of the earth produced water vapor,
which turned into water when the earth cooled
down.
4. Which kind of life-being first appeared on the
earth, plants or animals? Why?
At first, small plants began to appear on the surface
of the water, they produced oxygen, which
encouraged the later development of early shellfish
and all sorts of fish.

5. Why were mammals different from all life forms

in the past?
They were different because they produced their
young from within their bodies and produce milk to
feed them.
 Put the order of development of life.
• （10）1 Insects and amphibians appeared.
• （7）2 Dinosaurs appeared.
• （3）3 The earth became a solid ball.
• （8）4 Small plants grew on the water.
• （4）5 Reptiles appeared.
• （9）6 Plants began to grow on dry land.
• （6）7 The earth was a cloud of dust.
• （1）8 Water appeared on the earth.
• （5）9 Shellfish and other fish appeared.
• （2）10 The universe began with a “Big Bang”.
• （12）11 Clever animals with hands and feet appeared.
• （11）12 Mammals appeared.
 Work out the meaning of the new words
and phrases through context.
violent very strong and sudden
in time not late
atmosphere the mass of air surrounding the
Earth
unlike different from
harmful able or likely to do harm
exist to be present in a place or
situation; to live
prevent … from stop … from …
Make sentences with the new words and phrases.
 Post reading

Discuss the following questions.

1. Why was the earth different from the other planets?
Because the water remained on the earth.
2. Why did the plants grow before the animals came?
Because plants provided oxygen for animals to breathe.
3. Why is it wrong to show films with dinosaurs
and people together?
Because dinosaurs died out long before human
beings developed on the earth.
4. There used to be nine planets in the solar system.
Recently scientists have decided that one of them
can no longer be considered a planet. Do you
know the name of it? Do you know why they
removed it?
Its name is Pluto. Scientists now think it is too small
to be called a planet.

5. What problem is caused by human beings?

Global warming.
Let’s review the evolution of life on the
earth.
After the “Big Bang”, the earth was full of
water.
Original(最早的） cells appeared in the ocean.
The cells in the water began to separate.
Marine animals came into being.
Some animals (amphibian & insects) came to
land.
Reptile appeared.
dinosaurs
mammals
Man had evolved from apes.
 Discussion

We are We are
making making
the world the world
better. worse.
What can we do to take care of the earth?
solar energy purify air

plant trees save water

recycle rubbish
 Only if we care will we help;
only if we help shall all be saved!
Whether life will continue on the earth
depends on human beings.
 Homework

1. Collect more information about the

development of life and make a poster with
your group members.
2. Read and retell the passage to learn the
important and difficult language points.