最新econimic-growth-is-not-prosperity-教师用书.doc

《最新econimic-growth-is-not-prosperity-教师用书.doc》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《最新econimic-growth-is-not-prosperity-教师用书.doc（51页珍藏版）》请在淘文阁 - 分享文档赚钱的网站上搜索。

1、精品资料econimic-growth-is-not-prosperity-教师用书.Unit 8Text AEconomic Growth is a Path to Perdition, Not ProsperityI. Introduction 1 BackgroundThis is an interesting essay. It deals with a concept with which we are only too familiar: GDP. Until recently this has been almost our national obsession. We have

2、 all been united to strive for this goal, the goal of raising our GDP. For decades, it has been the measurement of our achievement, and the steady double-digit growth rate has transformed our country into a world economic power. It has filled us with pride and has earned the admiration and envy and

3、awe of many nations. But now the author of this article tells us that there are already many serious thinkers who believe that this obsession of GDP is wrong. He compares this idea to Charles Darwins theory of evolution at a time when the dominating myth was it was God who created everything.Come to

4、 think of it. GDP as a national goal indeed is a relatively recent turn of events. In our country it happened only as a result of the open and reform policy. And the underlining theory does seem to be sound to a certain degree. Our experience shows that high GDP does equal more profits, more jobs, m

5、ore of everything for our consumption, and more prestige, power, and glory for the nation. But the author of this essay challenges this basic assumption. First, he points out that the obsession of GDP leads to mindless consumerism. It results in the endless churning out of products which are unneces

6、sary and useless (He could have added even harmful). Secondly, he argues that GDP-oriented economy is unsustainable and it has already done great damage to human environment. Thirdly, he refutes the assertion that higher GDP is always a reliable indication of greater wellbeing and happiness. Speakin

7、g as an American, its interesting that the author expresses his belief that this blind worship of GDP is inherently deeply rooted in the capitalist system because that system is dominated by the desire for more profit, for which the rich will leave no stone unturned. The author here is challenging t

8、he very foundation of the American society. Of course, in this essay he has neither the space nor intention to give a detailed analysis, let alone offer a well-conceived solution, but he ends the article on a very optimistic note: The economy is a human construct. Its not an act of God. We made it,

9、we can change it.2 Structure3 Teaching tips1) This essay is written in an argumentative style, lending itself for meaningful discussion or debate. 2) Make sure that we understand the authors views fully first, then try to present fairly the case for the opposite side. Try to imagine what proponents

10、of GDP whom the author contemptuously refers to as free-market cheer-leaders, will say in their defense and also what staunch believers of science and technology might say on this issue.3) Encourage students to think originally and critically. Is the concept of GDP absolutely correct? If not, what a

11、re the problems? Is it completely wrong? If it is, can we strive for increasingly low GDP? If GDP is neither absolutely right nor completely wrong, where do we draw the line? What are the alternatives?4) Use the new insights we may find in this text to analyze the problems we are now confronted with

12、 in our own land. Try to achieve a better understanding of the new ideas or policies that have been developed and formed recentlyII. Detailed discussion of the text1. Economic Growth is a Path to Perdition, Not ProsperityIt means “Economic growth leads to hell, not prosperity”. Note the use of allit

13、eration here (Path, perdition and prosperity all start with the letter “p”).2. feature writer for the New Internationalist magazinefeature: a prominent or extra article or story in a newspaper or periodical 特写the New Internationalist: a magazine that has articles about people in many different count

14、ries, and deals especially with the relationship between rich and poor countries and the unfair or unequal ways in which some people and countries are treated.3. Charles Darwin was a rigorous, meticulous scientist. He spent nearly 20 years honing his analysis before publishing his groundbreaking wor

15、k. Rigorous: Here it means exact, accurate, correct, precise, more or less synonymous with “meticulous:.Hone: to sharpen or to give an edge to a razor on a whetstone; Here it is used figuratively to mean to revise and polish until it is perfect4. Darwins slim volume was what we would call a “game ch

16、anger,” a revolutionary work.Slim: thinWhat we would call: Notice the difference between “what we call” and “so-called”. The latter usually implies some disapproval. A “game changer”: a revolutionary, groundbreaking work; a work that changes the overall views of many scientific fields5. Darwin was s

17、ailing into choppy waters. The Church of England had set rigid boundaries, and his thesis was clearly a challenge to the orthodox view.Sailing into choppy waters: coming to a part of the sea that is rough with small waves; used figuratively here meaning entering a dangerous field where you can easil

18、y get into serious troubleSet rigid boundaries: establish strict rules limiting your thinking or action; The Church of England at that time would not allow its members to doubt the Bible. Notice that we also often say: set the rule; set a standard, set a limitorthodox: accepted and obeyed by most pe

19、ople as traditional and correct beliefs and practices (religious, political or economic) 6. The establishment of the time mocked him. There was intense public debate. But Darwin was unflinching.The establishment: See the Notes to the TextMock: scorn or ridicule; making sb or sth look stupid by laugh

20、ing at him/it, mimicking or saying sth unkind; Notice that we often say “mock sb” and “mock at an idea”Intense public debate: Do not mix up “intense” and “tense”. i. Intense: great and extreme e.g.: intense heat; intense cold; intense pain; intense pressure; a) intense competition; intense concentra

21、tion; intense debateii. tense:nervous, anxious, and worried; We often say foe example: a tense meeting, a tense a) situation, a tense atmosphere, a tense silence; tense muscles b) Unflinching: firm, fearless, staunch, undaunted, persistent; It comes from the verb “to flinch” which i. means to sudden

22、ly because you are afraid of being hit or hurt7. Today his core idea that all animals and plants evolve and adapt through natural selection is the bedrock of modern life sciences. Core: When used as a noun, it means the central part of a fruit that contains the seeds, but the word if often used figu

23、ratively. When used a s an adjective, it often means “the most important or basic”, e.g. the core idea, the core belief, the core business, the core responsibility, the core i. subjects, the core curriculum, the core vocabularyBedrock: Used figuratively here, meaning basis, cornerstone or foundation

24、; the ideas and principles ii. on which a belief or system is basedLife sciences: subjects that involve the study of living things (people, animals or plants) and lifeiii. processes such as biology and medicine8. religious fundamentalists and “intelligent design” proponentsintelligent design: the id

25、ea that the world is so well-ordered, it must have been planned or designed by someone with supreme intelligence. If we compare the universe to a beautifully designed watch, then God must be the great watch maker. (See the Notes to the Text for more information.)proponent: advocate; supporter; defen

26、der; apologist the opposite of opponent9. We, too, are trapped in the same sort of false illusion that stymied critical thought Be trapped: to be forced into a position or place from which escape is difficult or impossibleStymie:block the way10. the myth that envelops us is more dangerous and even m

27、ore deeply rooted.Envelop: completely surround (Notice that the last silent letter “e” is dropped when the word “envelope” is converted into the verb form.)11. sustaining myth: everlasting; persistent12. Gross Domestic Product (GDP 国内生产总值/毛值) is what drives government policy worldwide.Gross: includi

28、ng everything (used especially to describe a total amount of money that exists before taxes or other expenses are taken away) i.e. gross income; gross profits; gross weightWorldwide: throughout the world (-wide is an adverb suffix)Compare:i. Nationwide; citywide; countrywide13. The equation has been

29、 drummed into us for so long that its received wisdom. Growth equals prosperity and jobs. Growth equals progress.drum sth into sb: force sth to be learned by sb by repeating it over and over againreceived wisdom: widely accepted (Compare: Received Pronunciation)14. Yet this is a relatively recent tu

30、rn of events. Using the GDP as a tool to measure growth has only been around since the late 1940s when the UN System of National Accounts was developed. a turn of events: something important and surprising has happenedbeen around: has existed e.g.i. Havent you read that book? It has been around for

31、years.the UN System of National Accounts：（From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia）It isii. an international standard system of , published first iii. in 1953 and revised in 1968,1993, and 2008.The aim of UNSNA is to provide an integrated, complete system accounts enabling international comparisons of

32、all significant economic activity.15. For most of human history, economic growth was a mere blip. a mere blip: something that is small or unimportant or that does not last a long time16. As the father of green economics, Herman Daly, points out: “Historically, steady state is the normal condition; g

33、rowth is an aberration.” Herman Daly (1938-) is an American and professor at the Maryland University. He was Senior Economist in the Environment Department of the , where he helped to develop policy guidelines related to . He is closely associated with theories of a . He is also a recipient of many

34、international awards. He is widely credited with having originated the idea of . steady state: a steady way of living or existenceaberration:something unusual or abnormal17. a constant population and “the lowest feasible flows of matter and energy constant: staying the same, not changinglowest feasi

35、ble: ;lowest possible matter（uncountable）: (physics) the thing that forms physical object and occupies space 物质 18. The latest global economic slump underlines our reliance on growth. What happens when the economy stumbles? Financial markets crash, property values plummet, bankruptcies pile up, unem

36、ployment soars, and social pathologies multiply. underlines: Here: shows the importance of sth; emphasizeproperty values plummet: Property here means a piece of land often with buildings on it that is i. owned by a person (房地产). Plummet means to fall suddenly straight down, especially from a ii. hig

37、h place (Compare: to drop straight down; to plunge; to nosedive; to tumble; to be in free fall)bankruptcies pile up: bankruptcies increase to a point hard to manage unemployment soars: unemployment increases drastically/rises high/shoots up/climbs swiftlysocial pathologies multiply: social diseases

38、increase to a great number19. Thus the resurgence of Keynesian economics. Prime the pump with billions in government funds. Pray that tax breaks and fiscal stimulus will boost investment, production, and jobs.Resurgence: derivative of surge, a growth or increase that occurs after a period without gr

39、owth or i. Increase (For Keynesian economics, see the Notes to the Text)Prime the pump: Originally it means to prepare the pump for use, usually by pouring water into the ii. pump. Here it is used figuratively, meaning to use government investment to boost theiii. economytax breaks: tax reductionsfi

40、scal stimulus: measures taken by the government such as lower interest rates to iv. stimulate/encourage economic developmentboost (investment, production, jobs, etc):increase the force, power or amount of something 20. churning out mountains of consumer goods churn out: (informal and often disapprov

41、ing) produce something, especially something of low i. quality quickly and continuouslymountains of: an expression of exaggeration.21. Spinning: turning round and round repeatedly22. Endless accumulation and expansion is the core of capitalism: It is the core of capitalism because capitalism is driv

42、en not by human beings subsistence needs, but by the search for profit, which is insatiable. Therefore it must endlessly accumulate for increased reinvestment and expanded business. 23. before the recent global meltdownIt refers to the global financial crisis that first started in the United States

43、in 1998 and then spread to the rest of the world. It is now the beginning of the year 2012, but the global financial crisis is far from being over.24. The upshot is that the natural environment, on which human life and the human economy depend, is sidelined Upshot: the final result or outcome of a p

44、rocess or event; Sidelined: removed or kept from active participation as in athletic contests 使不能参加比赛，成为局外人25. but as a realm to be exploited realm: Here, an area of activity, interest or knowledgeto be exploited: to be made use of; to be put to use; to be utilized26. biosphere: the part of the Eart

45、h in which life can exist (Compare: sphere; private sphere; sphere of influence; hemisphere; atmosphere; stratosphere)27. we are fouling the planet with our wastes: foul: pollute; make dirtywastes: materials that are left over or unwanted after things are made, done or used.28. The hard statistics o

46、f ecological decline could fill a library. Hard statistics: statistics that are certain and can be proved 29. Were chewing through massive quantities of both renewable and non-renewable resources at a breakneck speed.chewing through: Normally we say that a mouse chewed through a cord. Here, chewing

47、through implies that we human beings are actually wasting and destroying large quantities of resources30. In 2005, the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a collaborative work of more than 10,000 scientists, found that 60% of “ecosystem services” things like climate regulation, the water cycle, poll

48、ination, global fisheries, natural waste treatment were being degraded or used unsustainably. the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment：The report made by the United Nations to assess the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. From 2001 to 2005, the assessment involved the work of more than 1360 experts worldwide. Their findings provide a state-of-the-art appraisal of the condition and trends in the worlds ecosystem and the services they provide, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably.eco