1、Unit 3 The world of science话题情境激活 科学探索是普通高中英语课程标准中规定的话题之一,是培养学生英语学科核心素养和科学素养的一个重要维度,该话题属于“人与社会”的主题。During the Song Dynasty,the Chinese people further developed the making of the compass,paper,gunpowder,and the art of printing.Together,they are called the four great inventions that China contributed
2、to the world.As early as the Warring States period,the magnetic force of magnetite was discovered,and a sort of instrument was made of magnetite to show directions.This was certainly the earliest compass in the world.During the Han Dynasty,people made a spoon-like compass.A small spoon,made of magne
3、tite,with a very smooth bottom,was placed on a square copper plate.The center of the plate was ground smooth to make it easy for the spoon to move.When the spoon,after it was turned,came to a stop,its handle would point to the south.This form of compass was further improved during the Song Dynasty.P
4、eople made iron needles and rubbed them on a piece of magnetite,so that they would become magnetic.Then one such needle was hung with a thin thread,or put on something light that floated on the water in a bowl.The latter was the compass that was first used in navigation.China was the first country i
5、n the world to use the compass on sea-going ships.Historical records show that in 1099-1102 the compass was used on ships sailing to or from Guangzhou.It was generally believed that paper was first made by a man called Cai Lun in 105 during the Eastern Han Dynasty.However,in recent decades,earlier p
6、aper made during the Western Han Dynasty was unearthed in Xinjiang,Shaanxi and Gansu.So it is reasonable to believe that paper was invented in the Western Han and was improved by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han.In later periods,different materials were used for making paper,and its quality became better
7、and better.The famous Xuanpaper,produced in Xuanzhou,Anhui Province,first appeared in the Tang Dynasty.Its quality was so good that all calligraphers and painters liked to use it.Even today it is still considered the best kind of paper for calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting.During the Song
8、 Dynasty,bamboo began to be used for making paper,and the output of bamboo paper increased rapidly.In 751,during the reign of Tang Xuanzong,the Chinese technique of making paper was introduced to the Arab world,and from there to Europe in 1150.In other words,Europe knew how to make paper about a thousand years later than China.本课结束
