TEXT II An Ugly New Footprint in
the Sand
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I. Key Points of the Text
Paragraph 1
come by: come across; discover by chance; pass by
How do you interpret the title of the article “An Ugly
Footprint in the Sand”? Is it related to the “new
footprint” referred to in the second sentence of the
first paragraph?
Paragraph 1
SA: The strange footprint is a symbol of environmental
pollution; and the author’s attitude to this new
intrusion --- one of strong dislikes --- is made clear by
the word “ugly”.
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Paragraph 2
legions of: also a legion of, meaning “a large group
of” or “large groups of”
blight: to infect or spoil with a disease of plants
that results in the drying up and dying of the
diseased parts 使（植物）染上枯萎病; here it
means “pose a threat to the existence of”
delicate: finely made; delightful精美的，精致的
E.g.: porcelains of delicate workmanship 工艺精致
的瓷器
whorl: a ring, especially of leaves on a stem （植
物）轮；（软体动物的）壳阶，螺纹
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goo: sticky material 粘性物质
congeal: to become or cause (a liquid) to become thick or
solid 凝固；冻结
While environmental pollution is often blamed on
population explosion on our globe, Whipple has identified
another cause. What is it? How does he support his
argument?
SA: The need to fuel the technology which mankind has
developed to enable it to survive on this planet. Concrete
examples are given notably in Paragraphs 2, 9, 10, and 11.
Paragraph 4
despoil: to steal from using forces, especially, in time of war;
plunder 抢夺；掠夺
E.g.: despoil somebody of his right 剥夺某人的权利
as it were: as we might say; so to speak 可
以这么说；在某种程度上
 E.g.: He became, as it were, a man without
a country. 在某种程度上，他成了一个无国籍
的人。
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I’m a sort of unpaid adviser, as it were, to
the committee. 可以说，我是委员会的义务
顾问。
 How do you understand the first sentence of
Paragraph 4 “It is still early here”? Is it
echoed or contradicted near the end of the
article?
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SA: Environmental pollution here has just
begun; it is not very serious yet. This is
contradicted by the sentence in Paragraph
11 --- The lesson of our fouled beach is that
we may not even have realized how late it is
already. (continued on the next slide)
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The author’s message is “Don’t you think
that it will be some time before pollution gets
really serious here; when the beach is found
to be fouled, it is already too late to keep
pollution away from the island.”
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Paragraph 5
 How do you justify Whipple’s inclusion of
those paragraphs dealing with man’s
inefficiency in adapting himself to his
environment?
 SA: As man is not so well adapted to his
living environment as, say, a bird, he has to
resort to artificial aids, which have
eventually given rise to pollution.
 Paragraph 9
 belie: give a false idea of; show (hope, etc.)
to be false or mistaken 给人以错觉；掩饰
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E.g.: features that belied the years 掩盖真实年龄的
相貌
His appearance belied his quick mind. 从他的外
貌人们看不出他的机智。
The facts belie your story. 事实证明你的说法谬
误。
His actions belie his words. 他言行不一。
residue: what is left, especially after chemical
treatment 残余物，残渣
E.g.: Residue of pesticides can build up in the soil.
杀虫剂的残余会在土壤中积淀。
use crop residues as fuel 利用农作物的残根做燃
料
residue of the war 战争后遗症
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Paragraph 10
dispense with: to do without or manage to exist
without 免除；无需
obnoxious: very unpleasant or offensive; extremely
disagreeable 使人讨厌的；可憎的
E.g.: an obnoxious habit 招人厌的习惯
The very thought of them was obnoxious to her.
她一想到他们就厌恶。
privy: a toilet, especially an outdoor one 厕所
slick: (of oil) floating on the water
shroud: n. also winding sheet, the cloth for
covering a dead body at burial 裹尸布
v. to cover and hide 遮蔽，覆盖
E.g.: hills shrouded in mist
Paragraph 11
 pinch off: also pinch back, pinch out, to
remove with one’s fingers 掐掉
 E.g.: If you regularly pinch back the dead
flower heads, new ones will grow.
 Is Whipple’s concern about pollution
confined to the island only?
 SA: No. He is concerned about pollution of
mankind’s environment in general.
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II. SA to Questions for Discussion, P. 25,
Student’s Book
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1. The strange footprint is a symbol of
environmental pollution; and the author’s
attitude to this new intrusion --- one of
strong dislikes --- is made clear by the word
“ugly”.
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2. The need to fuel the technology
which mankind has developed to enable it to
survive on this planet. Concrete examples
are given notably in Paragraphs 2, 9, 10,
and 11.
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3. As man is not so well adapted to his living
environment as, say, a bird, he has to resort to
artificial aids, which have eventually given rise to
pollution.
4. Environmental pollution here has just begun; it
is not very serious yet. This is contradicted by the
sentence in Paragraph 11 --- The lesson of our
fouled beach is that we may not even have
realized how late it is already. (continued on the
next slide)
5. No. He is concerned about pollution of
mankind’s environment in general.
6. Open to discussion.