Using Language

Using Language -

• Reading & Writing

About Copernicus

• Do you know what is the center of the solar system?

• Can you name the nine planets in the solar system?

Mercury Mars

Venus Earth

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto

Mnemonics ( 记忆术 )

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

My Very Easy Method: Just Set Up Nine Planets.

Can you use a good method to memorize them ?

Nicolaus CopernicusNicolaus Copernicus born: in Poland in 1473

died : May 24, 1543

He was one of the first scientists to use mathematical observations to collect information. He believed the sun is the center of the universe and the earth and other planets went around it.

Skim the text and draw the two theories of the universe with the following pictures.

Sun earth

Before Copernicus’ theory Showing Copernicus’ theory

Reading and drawing

Sun earth

Before Copernicus’ theory Showing Copernicus’ theory

Sun earthearth

Sun

Showing Copernicus’ theory

A diagram showing the solar system with the earth at its centre

A diagram showing the solar system with the sun at its centre

Before Copernicus’

theory

Caref

ul

readi

ng

Read the text carefully, then answer these questions

Because the powerful Christian Church would have punished him for even suggesting such an idea

(2) What was his theory about? (Para 1) All his mathematical calculations led to the same conclusion: that the earth was not the centre of the solar system. Only if you put the sun there did the movements of the other

planets in the sky make sense.

Why could he not tell about his theory? (Para 1)

(3) What had the astronomers noticed in the sky? (Para 2)

They had noticed that some planets in the sky seemed to stop, move backward and then go forward in a loop. Others appeared brighter at times and less bright at others.

(4) When did Copernicus complete his theory? (Para 3)

Between 1510 and 1514 he worked on it,

gradually improving his theory until he felt it

was complete.

(5) How did he explain changes in the movement of the planets and in the brightness of the stars? When did he publish his idea? (Para 4) He placed a fixed sun at the centre of the

solar system with the planets going round it and only the moon still going round the earth. He also suggested that the earth was spinning as it went round it and this explain changes in the movement of the planets and in the brightness of the stars.

. He published it as he lay dying in 1543

(6) Why do people think that there is a direct link between his ideas and the work of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking?

Because his theory is now the base on which all our ideas of the universe are built. His theory replaced the Christian idea of gravity which said things fell to earth because God created the earth as the centre of the universe, He showed this was obviously wrong.

1) 表示对过去的某种情况进行猜测 , 或本来要做某事却因某种原因未做成 , 通常用来说明某一情况，但不象 should 或 ought to 那样含有责备之意。如：

◆ Yet he could not tell anyone about his theory as the powerful Christian Church would have punished him for even suggesting such an idea.

I guess the poet would have been about 20 when she wrote her first poem.

Another worker wouldn’t have acted like that.

needn’t have + 过去分词，表示做了不必做的事，相当于，译为“其实没必要… …”

should have + 过去分词，表示应该做某事但实际上未做，译为“本应该… …”

should not have + 过去分词，表示本不应 该做某事但实际上做了，译为“本不应该……”

2) 相关知识总结：

If you were Nicolaus

Copernicus, would y

ou have hidden your

theory for so many y

ears?

◆ As a scientist, one should be brave. But Copernicus was afraid of being attacked by the Christian Church. So he had hidden his theory for so many years. What do you think of this? Agree:1.He was cautious. if he had published his ideas, he would have been killed just as Bruno who was burned to death because his theory was against the Christian Church.2.Every time when a new idea appears, there are always rejections. It’s normal. Scientists should have patience to spread their truth.3.It made no sense for him to publish his theory in a hurry.He was just cautious not coward. He should protect himself first.

Disagree:

1.Copernicus was very coward. He should speak out his discovery and let the world know the truth earlier.2.Science can never advance unless people have the courage of their beliefs.3.As a scientist, you must have the courage to publish your findings. No matter how people oppose them, time will show if your ideas are right or wrong.

Write a short letter asking

Copernicus (not) to publish

his ideas so everyone can

read them

Persuasive writing (Please refer to P8 Learning Tip)

Now writing a short letter asking Copernicus to publish his ideas so everyone can read them.

First you need to collect your ideas. For example:

•He believes his new theory is true.

•There are problems with the present theory.

•He has done many years of observations to prove his new theory is true.

•Science can’t develop unless people publish their ideas.

•Time will show if his theory is true or not.

Here is a plan:

Beginning: Tell Copernicus who you are and why you want him to publish his ideas.

Paragraph 1: Reason 1 and evidence.

Paragraph 2: Reason 2 and evidence.

Summing up: Ask him to think again about publishing his ideas.

One possible version:

Dear Nicolaus Copernicus,

I am a student studying astronomy and I would very much like to read your new theory about the solar system. I hope you will publish it for several reasons.

I understand the problems with the present theory. The way the planets move is not what you would expect if the earth was the centre of the universe. It is also odd that the brightness of some stars seems to change. So I agree with you that we need a new theory.

I know your observations have been very carefully carried out over many years. Now you must have the courage to publish them. Science can never advance unless people have the courage of their beliefs. I know you worry about what will happen if you publish your new theory. No matter how people oppose it, time will show if your ideas are right or wrong.

So I hope you will feel you can publish your new theory.

Yours sincerely,

Zhang Hua