Unit 8
The Missing Monarchs
I. Warm-up Activities:
1. Study the words on P. 123 and decide
which of them can be applied to a
butterfly.
2. Work in small groups and make a list of
the names of other insects.
II. Key Points in the Text
1. outline
n. 1) a line showing the shape 外形，轮廓
e.g.
an outline of her face in the candlelight
They could see the outline of a large
sailing ship through the mist.
2) Main idea or facts of sth, without details
大纲，概要，提要
an outline of world history / American
literature
Can you give me a brief outline of what
will be discussed at the meeting?
Vt. 1) see or draw the outline of …
显示…的轮廓
He drew a design for the garden, outlining
the position of the flowerbeds and paths.
2) give a general description of the main
ideas of sth. 概述
She outlined the main points of the talk.
2. stain
1) Vt. & Vi. to leave a mark on sth, which
is difficult to remove
沾染，玷污，留下难以清除的污迹
Tomato sauce stains terribly---it is really
difficult to get it out of clothes.
The carpet is ideal for the kitchen because
it doesn’t stain easily.
Coffee and tea can ~ your teeth.
The murderer’s clothes must have been
stained with blood.
N + stained
adj.
e.g. a tear-stained face
a blood-stained blanket
2) to permanently spoil sth, such as one’s
reputation… 损害，玷污 (名誉)
e.g. Several important politicians have
had their reputation stained by this
scandal.
n. a stained place or spot 污迹，污点
e.g. The police found blood stains on the
suspect’s clothes.
He was released without a stain on his
character.
他被无罪释放，名誉没有受到影响。
3. alive adj.
1) having life, not dead, living 活着的
e.g. He is the only man alive who can do
it.
Some old traditions are still alive in rural
regions.
2) full of life, active 活跃的，充满活力的
Although he is old, he’s still very much
alive.
The meeting really came alive when she
stood up to make her speech.
4. flutter
Read the following sentences:
1. The bird fluttered her wings up and
down, hoping to frighten the cat away
from her eggs.
2. The flag fluttered in the wind.
The dead leaves fluttered to the ground.
3. The boy’s heart fluttered with
excitement.
She fluttered her eyelashes at him
4. There was a flutter of wings among the
trees.
5. The news of the Queen’s visit to the
factory put them in/into a flutter.
Meanings of “flutter”:
1. To move (wings) quickly and lightly
振翼，拍打（翅膀）
2. To move by waving quickly or lightly
3. To (cause to) move in a quick irregular
way
(使)快速而不规则地跳动
4. A fluttering movement
5. An excited condition 兴奋，情绪不安
5. fade
1) Vt.& Vi. To lose brightness, color,
strength, freshness, etc.
(使光泽、颜色) 褪去，(使强度)
变弱， (使)枯萎
e.g. Flowers soon fade when they have
been cut.
My blue shirt faded when it was washed.
His youthful energy has faded over the
years.
Exposure to sunlight has faded the carpet.
2) Vi. (away) to disappear or die gradually
逐渐消失
Memories of the homeland faded away
after many years.
The lights and music faded (away) as they
set sail from the harbor.
fade in/up:Vt.& Vi (in film making or
broadcasting) to (cause to) appear or be
heard gradually (使影片中的画面)渐显;
(使影片中的声音) 渐强
e.g. They fade in the closing music as the
hero rides off into the sunset.
当男主角策马向夕阳驰去时， 他们逐渐使
尾声音乐增强。
fade out: Vt.&Vi. (in film making or
broadcasting) to (cause to) disappear or
become silent gradually
(使画面) 渐隐; (使声音) 渐弱
e.g. When he started insulting everyone
during the TV interview, they faded him
out and showed an advertisement.
他在电视采访中开始骂人时，他们把他淡
出，开始播广告了。
6. migrate
1) move from one country or region and
settle in another 移居
2) Move seasonally from one region to
another
迁徙
migration n.
immigrate --- immigration --- immigrant
emigrate --- emigration --- emigrant
7. attach
Vt. 1) fasten in position, fix or connect
系，绑，贴，固定，附着
to attach a photograph to an application
with a staple
She attached a check to the order form
to attach a file to the email
2) join (a group or organization), esp. for a
limited period 使参加，使属于，
to attach oneself to a group
I got lost so I attached myself to another
party of tourists.
3) (a small organization) controlled by a
larger one 附属于
a center for industrial research/high school
attached to Beijing University
4) regard as having (special meaning or
importance) 重视，认为…有重要性
e.g. She attached great importance to
regular exercise.
Vi. (fml) belong to or be connected with..
属于，与…有关连
No blame attaches to him for the accident.
这场事故的责任与他无关。
attached
adj.
be attached to: be fond of or feel a
strong connection with…喜欢，依恋
e.g. I’m deeply/very attached to this old
car.
attachment n.
8. in place
1) in the correct position
在适当的位置上
As soon as all the chairs are in place, we
can let people in.
Use clamps (夹子) to hold the wood in
place.
2) in existence and ready to be used
准备好投入使用
e.g. The new regulations are now in place.
新条例已制定好，可以开始执行了。
We now have safeguards in place against
this sort of fraud.
Antonym: out of place
9. bear
(bore, born)
Vt. have or show a mark or characteristic
具有，带有，显出
e.g. This letter bears no signature.
The room bore the signs of a struggle.
Her cheeks bore traces of tears.
What she says bears no relation to the truth.
He bears no resemblance to his father.
10. indicate Vt.
1) to show the way or the direction of;
point to 指示，指向
e.g. On the wall is an arrow indicating
north.
He indicated the right road by nodding
toward it.
2) to show by means of a sign 表示，标示
He indicated his willingness with a nod of
his head.
Research indicates that men find it easier to
give up smoking than women.
3) to suggest the necessity of …
表明，显示有…的必要
The symptoms indicate immediate surgery.
indication
n. a sign or suggestion
that indicates something 指示，迹象
There is every indication of a change in the
weather.
There are some indications that interest
rates will be raised again.
Can you give me any indication of how I
did in the test?
indicative
a. showing or suggesting
指示的，标示的，暗示…的，象征…的
His presence is indicative of his
willingness to help.
11. serve as/for…
(fml) to be good enough or suitable for (a
purpose) 合适，适用
e.g. This room serves as/for both my
bedroom and the living room.
This incident serves as a reminder of how
dangerous these weapons really are.
12. pay off
pay off: be successful; have positive
results
e.g. All her hard work paid off in the end
and she finally passed the exam.
His efforts finally paid off and he got his
book published.
13. cool off = cool down
1) become cool
变凉
They had a swim to cool off.
2) calm down
We can’t discuss this until you’ve cooled
off.
14. trace
Vt. 1) to find by following the course
跟踪，追踪，
The police are trying to trace the murderer.
The criminal was traced to London.
该罪犯被追寻，终于发现其在伦敦。
2）to find the origins of by finding proof
or by going back in time 追溯，追查
e.g. His family can trace his history to the
10th century.
3) to follow the course, development or
history of … 探求…的轨迹，探索…
的发展，追寻…的历史
His new book traces the beginnings of the
Labor movement.
他的新书探索了劳工运动的起源。
N.
1) (C; U) A mark or sign showing the
former presence or passing of …
踪迹，痕迹，遗迹
Did the police find any trace of the
missing girl?
They have lost all trace of their daughter.
They have disappeared without (a) trace in
the jungle.
2) (C.) A very small amount of sth
微量，痕(迹)量
They found traces of poison in the dead
man’s blood.
他们发现死者的血液里有微量的毒素。
15. watchful
be watchful (for): careful to notice things;
vigilant, alert
警惕的，留心的
e.g. She was watchful for signs of activity
in the empty house.
Keep a watchful eye on the strangers
around.
III. Post-reading activities
1. Work in small groups:
1) Describe some important features of the
monarch butterflies.
2) Describe how the mystery of missing
monarchs was solved.
2. Written work and presentation:
Describe a type of animal that you like or
are familiar with in terms of its appearance,
food, living habit, summer home, winter
home etc.
IV. Read More:
“Animals in Danger”
Key points in the text:
1 be extinct (be on the verge of extinction)
2 wildlife conservation
3 problems arise
4 take the place of …
Discussion questions:
1. What is a habitat? What are some of
wildlife habitats in China?
2. What are the things that my destroy the
habitat?
3. What can we do to save wildlife?