Step by Step 3000 第1册 Unit11:Visions of the Future(2)

 　　Part 2. The Times capsule.

　　Keywords. time capsule, future, be passed on.

　　Vocabulary. copper¹, aluminum², stainless³, non-rusting, leakproof, humidity⁴, Zimbabwe.

　　A. Do you know what a time capsule is and what it is for?

　　Listen to the following explanation. Fill in the blankets.

　　Time capsules are special devices⁶ built to protect papers and other objects usually for 100 years.

　　The purpose is to help people in the future understand what is important when the time capsule is closed.

　　The device⁵ is usually made of copper, aluminum or stainless steel.

　　It should be non-rusting, leakproof and durable⁷.

　　Contents to be placed in the time capsule should be conditioned to a low humidity level.

　　Include items that do not require any technology or equipment other than the eye and hand to use and interpret⁸.

　　Today's computer discs⁹ and similar electronic media may not be playable in the future.

　　Finally, the capsule's location should, of course, be dry as well.

　　B. Now listen to a report about a time capsule, supply the missing¹⁰ information.

　　Have you ever thought about what you would save from today to show to people in the future?

　　Some people are thinking about it.

　　They are involved in a project to save objects in a container that is not to be opened until New Year's day, 1000 years from now.

　　The container is a time capsule.

　　The idea for this time capsule came from the people at the New York Times newspaper.

　　So it is called the Times capsule.

　　The papers and objects to be put in it are to help people in the year 3000 understand about life in the world today.

　　First, a container was needed to keep the materials safe.

　　So the newspaper invited 48 architects and designers from around the world to take part in a design competition.

　　An architect from Spain, Santiago Caltravo won.

　　His winning design is a shiny steel container.

　　It has 1.5 cubic meters of space inside.

　　It is shaped like a flower with 8 separate parts.

　　Mr Caltravo says he wanted the container to be beautiful, yet create a feeling of mystery.

　　Some of the things that will be placed in the Times capsule have been chosen.

　　They are been shown along with the Times capsule at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

　　Among the objects are 6 magazines published by the New York Times which described the last 1000 years,

　　a recording¹¹ of the sounds of life in New York City made at 9:09 in the morning of the ninth day of the ninth month of 1999,

　　pictures taken of what some people in New York were doing at that same time,

　　a small container of fresh water from a river in Brazil

　　and an American military medal, a ceremonial chair from Zimbabwe, a beanie baby doll popular with collectors, Marlboro cigarettes.

　　Other things will be chosen to represent life at the present time.

　　Visitors to the museum can use two computers to enter their own suggestions.

　　The objects chosen by a special committee will be placed in the capsule before it is closed in the April.

　　Then the large steel container will be moved to its permanent home, outside the entrance of the Natural History Museum,

　　Although the Times capsule is not to be opened for 1000 years, it should not be forgotten.

　　A guard will be paid to watch over it and remind people of why it is important.

　　The creators of the project hope the guard duty will be passed on from person to person through the next 10 centuries.

　　C. Now listen again, focus on the objects that will be placed in the Times capsule.

　　Supply the missing information with key words.

1 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

2 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

3 stainless   

adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的

参考例句：

• I have a set of stainless knives and forks.我有一套不锈钢刀叉。
• Before the recent political scandal,her reputation had been stainless.在最近的政治丑闻之前，她的名声是无懈可击的。

4 humidity   

n.湿度，潮湿，湿气

参考例句：

• The house is not comfortable tonight ,because of the high humidity.由于湿度高，今晚屋子里不舒服。
• It's difficult to work because of the humidity.由于空气潮湿，工作很困难。

5 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

6 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

7 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

8 interpret   

vt.解释，说明，理解；vi.作口译

参考例句：

• We have to interpret his words in a modern light.我们不得不用现代观点来解释他的话。
• Please interpret the comments of our foreign guest.请把外宾的话翻译一下。

9 discs   

n.圆盘( disc的名词复数 )；唱片；磁盘；背脊骨间的软骨层

参考例句：

• Laser discs can store prodigious amounts of information. 激光磁盘能够贮存大量信息。
• From this master disc, plastic discs are stamped out cheaply. 从这个总盘很便宜地复制出塑料盘。 来自辞典例句

10 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

11 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。