Unit 12 Fact and fantasy
学习目标
本单元以谈论“科学与幻想”为话题，使学生了解科学与幻想的区别，认识到学习科学的重要性；同时通过对法国科学幻想和冒险小学家儒勒凡尔纳（Jules Verne）及其作品的介绍，激发学生探索宇宙奥秘的兴趣。学习英语构词法。在练习写幻想短文“创造一个类似人类的生物”的实践中，培养书面表达能力，同时拓展学生创造性思维。
单元要点
Word study
1.fantasy 2.league 3.distance 4.ballon 5.fiction 6.servant 7.whale 8.hunter 9.collision 10.permanent 11.guest 12.voyage 13.aboard 14.prisoner 15.gentle 16.marble 17.paraphrase 18.matter 19.phenomena 20.attention 21.labour 22.hesitate 23.butcher 24.curtain 25.lip 1.幻想作品；想象的产物 2.联盟；里格（旧时长度单位） 3.距离 4.气球 5.小说；虚构的事 6.仆人；公务员 7.鲸；巨大的人或事 8.猎人；搜索者9.碰撞；冲突 10.永久的；固定不变的 11.客人；客座教授 12.航海；航空 13.在船（飞机、车）上 14.俘虏；犯人 15.温柔的；有礼貌的 16.大理石 17.意译；释义 18.事情；物质 19.现象；奇迹 20.注意力；留心 21.努力；劳动果实 22.犹豫；踌躇 23.屠夫；买肉者 24.窗帘；幕 25.嘴唇；唇状物
Useful
expressions 1.make a sketch 2.science fiction 3.in the far future 4.come true 5.to make a living 6.lay the foundation 7.sea monster 8.set out to do sth. 9.turn out 10.from that day on 11.begin with… 12.extinct volcano 13.instead of 14.search for 15.dream of 16.throw light upon 17.attract one’s attention 18.slow down 19.in height 20.cut up 1.简单描述；列提纲 2.科幻小说 3.在遥远的未来 4.实现 5.谋生 6.奠定基础 7.海生怪物 8.着手做某事 9.结果是 10.自从那天起 11.以……为开始 12.死火山 13.而不是 14.找寻 15.梦到 16.阐明某事；使某事显得非常清楚 17.引起某人注意 18.使减速慢行 19.在高度上 20.切碎
Sentence
patterns &
Communicative
English 1.Jules spent many years in Paris libraries studying geology, physics and many other subjects.
2.Many of the instruments in his novels will remind the reader of Dr.Benjamin Franklin’s experiments with electricity.
3.By taking the scientific developments of his day one step further, Jules Verne laid the foundation of modern science fiction.
4.He also suggested how inventions could be used in the future to allow man to do things that were considered impossible in his own time.
5.In their efforts to survive, they find themselves on the surface of the monster itself, which turns out to be a submarine.
6.Dressed in diving suits, they walk around in this magic world, lighted by the lamps of the ship.
7.Passing through layers of coal and marble they go deeper and deeper.
8.But I found all that was taught at university very disappointing and decided that I would pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of nature.
9.While unfinished, he was ugly, but now he was a living horror.
10.Under water travel and space travel have many things in common.
Grammar Word-formation
Topics &Writing Write a short passage about man’s great dream of creating life.
语言点讲解
1. The French writer Jules Verne wrote famous books, such as 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in 80 days.法国作家儒勒凡尔纳写了很多著名书籍，比如《海底两万里》和《八十天环游地球》。
（1）Jules Verne 儒勒凡尔纳。法国科学幻想家和冒险小说家。
（2）such as
①like; for example 像；诸如；例如 eg:
Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare.兰花和报春花之类的野花越来越少了。
②everything that凡是 eg:
Such as remains after tax will be yours when I die.我死后全部财产除了交税以外全部给你。
（3）league n.
① former measure of distance (about 3 miles or 4.8 km) 里格（旧时长度单位，约3英里或4.8公里）。 eg:
The horse can run 50 leagues a day. 这匹马一天能跑240公里。
②group of people or countries combined for a particular purpose 联盟；同盟 eg:
The League of Nations is an international organization.国际联盟是一个国际组织。
2. Try the small science quiz below to see if you know any better. 试试下面的科学小测验，看看你是否了解得多些。
any better 更好
any adv. (used with faster, slower, better, etc. , in questions and after if/whether 用于疑问句中，与faster, slower, better等连用；用于if/whether之后)to any degree; at all在任何程度上；丝毫 eg:
I can’t run any faster. 我无法跑得更快了。
Is your father any better? 你父亲有所好转了吗？
3. What is the distance from the earth to the moon? 地球到月球的距离是多少？
(1) distance n. [C, U]
① (amount of) space between two points or places 距离；间距
A good cyclist can cover a distance of over a hundred miles a day.自行车骑得好的人一天可以行驶一百多英里。
②distant place or point 远处；远方 eg:
At a distance of six miles you can’t see much.距离六英里以外的东西很难看清。
(2) at a distance （稍）远处，表示一定的距离，近距离或用以说明具体的距离，其不定冠词a有时可以略去或改用some。 eg:
This picture looks better at a distance. 这幅画远看就好些。
(3) in the distance (far away) 在（较）远处，强调距离之远。 eg:
They were expecting to see in the distance some signs of the enemy.他们期望着发现远处敌人的迹象。
(4) keep sb. at a distance 与某人保持一定距离；不愿与某人亲近 eg:
He always keeps anyone at a distance. 他总是不愿与任何人亲近：
4. How fast does a balloon travel? How about an airplane? How about a space shuttle?
一只气球能走多快？一架飞机呢？还有一架航天飞机呢？
(1)ballon
①n. brightly-coloured rubber bag that is filled with air, used as a child’s toy or a decoration（用作玩具或装饰品的）气球 eg:
They bought their son a lot of balloons yesterday.昨天他们给他们的儿子买了很多气球。
②v. swell out like a balloon 如气球一般膨胀 eg:
Her skirt ballooned in the wind. 她的裙子让风吹得鼓起来了。
③go ballooning 乘气球 eg:
They like to go ballooning at weekends. 他们周末喜欢乘气球玩。
(2)How/What about …？……怎么样？常常用来打听消息或提出建议，征求对方意见，后接名词，代词或动名词。 eg:
How about your mother? Does she feel better today?你妈妈怎么样听？她今天觉得好点儿了吗？
(3)space shuttle-spacecraft designed for repeated use, eg between earth and a space station or the moon 航天飞机；太空穿梭机 eg:
I have never seen a space shuttle. 我从未看见过航天飞机。
知识点讲解
1. Fill in the chart on the next page and make a sketch of the animal as they saw.
填写下一页的图表并按他们看到的动物的样子给那种动物作一个速写。
sketch n.
①rough quickly-made drawing, without many details素描；速写；草图
②make a sketch of … 作一个……的速写 eg:
He was good at making a sketch of face. 他擅长作面部素描。
③short account or description, giving only basic details 简短的陈述或素描
④give a sketch of …概述…… eg:
Please give a sketch of your plans. 请概述一下你的计划。
2. description n. describing; picture in words 描述；描绘
（1）give sb. a brief description of …向某人简要地描述…… eg:
Can you give me a brief description of what has happened?你能向我简要描述一下所发生的事吗？
（2）beyond description 难以描述 eg:
Her beauty is beyond description. 她的美貌难以用语言来描述。
（3）give/make a description of …对……加以描述 eg:
He made a description of the thief.他描述了小偷的模样。
（4）describe v. say what sb./sth. is like; depict sth. in words 描述某人/某事物。常构成describe sb./sth. (to/for sb.) eg:
Words cannot describe the beauty of the scene.那景色之美难以言传。
3. Why does Sam need to know the time? 为什么萨姆需要知道时间？
need的用法小结：
（1）need作情态动词，通常用于疑问句、否定句、条件句、whether/if名词从句或含否定意义的句子中。 eg:
I do not see why we need discuss it further.我看我们没有必要讨论下去了。
That’s all settled. It needn’t be talked about.那已全部解决了，没有必要再讨论了。
（2）need又是实义动词，各种变化和用法与普通实义动词相同。 eg:
①They need a rest after a long walk.长距离行走后他们需要休息一下。
②I need you to work for me, young man! 小伙子，我需要你为我工作！
③I need to consult a dictionary. 我需要查字典。
（3）need接动名词主动形式，表示被动含义，这时动名词和主语之间有动宾关系，need doing可转换为need to be done结构，意思相同。
My hair needs washing badly.(=My hair needs to be washed badly.)我的头发非常需要洗一洗。
The garden needs watering.(= The garden needs to be watered.)花园需要洗水。
4. fiction n.
(1)[C] sth. invented or imagined 虚构之事；捏造的故事 eg:
The film was very good although it was a fiction.这部电影虽属虚构，但很好。
(2)[U] (branch of literature concerned with) stories, novels and romances （作为文学之一分支的）小说 eg:
Truth is often stranger than fiction.事实往往比小说还离奇。
(3)science fiction 科幻小说
5. in the future, in future与in the far future.
(1)in the future意思是“将来，今后的时期”，但不一定就是从今立即开始，而是将来的时间。 eg:
No one can know what will happen in the future.没有人会知道将来会发生什么事。
(2)in future意思是“从今以后”（=from now on）。 eg:
In future, be careful with your pronunciation. 今后要注意你的发音。
(3)in the far future 在遥远的未来 eg:
It is possible for doctors to find a way to keep us young forever in the far future.
在遥远的未来，医生有可能找到一种使我们永远年轻的办法。
6. incomplete adj. not complete不完全的 eg:
The passage below is incomplete. Please fill in the blanks using correct prepositions.
下面的文章是不完整的，请用正确的介词填空。
注：incomplete是在complete前加含否定含义的前缀“in-“构成的，表达与complete相反的含义。
7. work with sb.与work with sth.
(1)work with sb.意为“和某人一道工作” eg:
I like to work with him. 我喜欢和他一块儿工作。
(2)work with sth. 意为“从事……方面的研究工作”，“用……工作” eg:
Professor Wang had worked with bees for many years.王教授多年从事蜜蜂的研究工作。
I would rather work with the bigger brush.我宁愿用那把大一点儿的刷子干活。
8. (1) beat, defeat, win与gain
①beat和defeat属一组同义词，它们的宾语必须是人或一个集体，如a team, a class, an school, an army。defeat尤指在战场上打败敌人；beat是游戏、比赛的专门用词。二者常可换。 eg:
We beat their team by 10 points. 我们赢了他们队十分。
In the end their army was defeat/beaten. 最后他们的部队被击（打）败。
②win和gain属一组同义词。Gain表示获得需要之物，它常跟的宾语有one’s living, experience, strength, time, knowledge, attention, respect, admiration 等；win表示在较强的竞争中取得胜利，它常跟的宾语有game, war, prize, fame, battle等。 eg:
We shall gain experience through practice.我们将通过实践获得经验。
They won the battle but lost many men.他们取得了这次战斗的胜利，但牺牲了很多人。
(2)beat, hit, strike与tap
beat着重“连续性地击打”，如殴打或体罚，也指在游戏、竞赛或战争中击败对方。此外，beat还可用来指心脏的跳动。strike通常表示打一下，打若干下等意思，不一定都是有意的，还可指罢工，（钟）敲响之意。hit指“打中”或“对准……来打”，着重敲打或打击对方的某一点。tap一般是轰轰拍打的意思。 eg:
The wheat was beaten down by the rain. 麦子被雨水打得伏倒了。
The stone hit him on the head.石头击中了他的头部。
It strikes a bug’s back with is forelegs and feelers.它（蚂蚁）用前腿和触角敲打臭虫的背部。
It taps on the other’s head with its feelers, using a kind of telegraph code.
它（蚂蚁）像使用一种电码的方式一样，用触角轻敲对方的头部。
9. Doctors may find a way to keep us young forever.医生可能会找到一种使我们永远保持年轻的办法。
（1）“way”意为“方式，方法”，在其后要用to do或of doing的形式作后置定语。 eg:
Cao chong thought out a way to weigth/of weighing the elephant.曹冲想出了一个称象的办法。
（2）此外，如果way之后跟定语从句，那么这个定语从句用in which或that引导，也可省略。 eg:
This was the way that/in which they solved the problem.这就是他们解决那个问题的办法。
10. believe sb. 与believe in sb.
believe sb.相信某人（所说的话是真的）
believe in sb.信任某人 eg:
I believe him, but I can’t believe in him.我相信他的话是真的，但我不能信任他。
生词和词组
1. bulb n.
①(also light bulb) pear-shaped glass container for the filament of an electric light 电灯泡 eg:
If you have time, please change a bulb.如果你有时间的话，请换个灯泡。
②thick rounded underground stem of certain plants（eg the lily, onion, tulip） sending roots downwards and leaves upwards. 鳞茎；球茎（如百合、洋葱、郁金香的茎） eg:
We cooked onion bulbs for food. 我们烹调洋葱茎作为食物。
③object shaped like a bulb 球状物 eg:
The bulb of this thermometer is broken.这支温度计的球状顶端碎了。
2. foundation n.
①[U] act of founding (an institution, organization, etc.) （机构，组织等的）建立，创立，创办 eg:
He devoted all his energy to the foundation of the university.
他把全部精力都致力于这所大学的创办。
②[C,U] principle, idea or fact on which sth. is based; basis（作为某事的）基本原则、思想或事实；基础 eg:
This success laid the foundation of his career.这次成功为他的事业奠定了基础。
③foundation course 基础课
④ foundation-stone 奠基石
⑤found v.建立，创立
⑥founder n. 建立者；缔造者
3. servant n.
①person who works in sb. else’s household for wages, and often for food and lodging 仆人；佣人 eg:
He had a lot of servants work for him. 他让很多仆人为他工作。
②employee, esp. a faithful and devoted one 雇员（尤指忠心耿耿的）；公务员 eg:
He was a trusted servant of the company. 他是这个公司里的一个可靠雇员。
4. whale
(1)n. any of several types of very large mammal that live in the sea, some of which are hunted for their oil and flesh 鲸 eg:
A whale is not a fish.鲸不是鱼。
(2)have a whale of a time（习语）玩得非常愉快 eg:
The children had a whale of a time at the fairground.孩子们在游乐场玩得很高兴。
(3)v. hunt whales 捕鲸 eg:
They are whaling at sea. 他们正在海上捕鲸。
(4)whaler n.捕鲸；捕鲸的人
5. hunter n. person who hunts 猎人；搜索者；搜寻者 eg:
The hunter lost his way in the forest when he went hunting that day.
那个猎人那天去打猎的时候在森林里迷了路。
6. collision n. [C,U]
①(instance of) one object or person striking against another; (instance of) colliding; crash（物与物或人与人）相撞，碰撞，撞坏
常构成：collision with sb./sth. 与某人/某物相撞
collision between A and B A与B相撞 eg:
The collision between two cars caused 3 deaths. 两车相撞造成三人死亡。
②strong disagreement; conflict or clash of opposing aims, ideas, opinions, etc.抵触；（相反的目的、看法、意见等的）冲突 eg:
Her political activities brought her into collision with the law.她的政治活动触犯了法律。
7. overboard adv.
①over the side of a ship or boat into the water 从船上落（或抛）入水中；在船外 eg:
The sailor jumped overboard into the sea. 那位水手从船上跳入水中。
②go overboard (about sb./sth.) 对（某人/某事）极感兴趣或过分感兴趣 eg:
He goes overboard about ever young woman he meets.他对年轻的女子见一个爱一个。
③throw sth./sb. overboard 抛弃某事物；除掉或不再支持某人 eg:
After heavily losing the election, the party threw their leader overboard.该党惨败落选后罢免了党魁。
8. submarine n. naval vessel that can operate underwater welll as on the surface 潜水艇 eg:
A submarine travels under the surface of the sea.潜水艇在海面下行驶。
9. permanent adj.
①lasting or expected to last for a long time or for ever 永久的；永恒的；长久的；长期的 eg:
She is looking for permanent employment.她正在找固定的工作。
②not likely to change 不大可能改变的 eg:
She wrote down my permanent address. 她写下了我的固定地址。
10. guest
(1)n. person invited to visit one’s house or being entertained at one’s expense宾客；客人 eg:
We are expecting guests this weekend. 我们本周末要来客人。
(2)n. person staying at a hotel, boarding house, etc.住在旅馆、寄宿处等的人；旅客 eg:
This hotel has accommodation for 500 guests.这旅馆能接待500位客人。
(3)客座教授 eg:
Professor Wang, our guest tonight, will give us a speech on DNA.
我们的客座教授王教授，今晚要给我们作一个关于DNA的演讲。
(4)v. appear as a guest on a television or radio programme（在电视或广播节目中）客串 eg:
She often guests on a radio programme.她经常在一个广播节目中客串。
11. voyage (1)n. long journey, esp. by sea or in space 航行；（尤指）航海，航天 eg:
They made a voyage across the Atlantic.他们作了一次横越大西洋的航行。
(2)v. go on a voyage; travel 航行；航海；航天飞行 eg:
A plane crashed down when it voyaged through space.一架飞机作航天飞行时坠毁了。
(3)voyager n. 航行者；航海者；航天者
12. aboard adv. On or into a ship, an aircraft, a train or (esp. U.S.) a bus在船（或飞机、车）上；上船；登机 eg:
We went aboard. 我们上了船。
13. prisoner n.
①person kept in prison, as a punishment or awaiting trial犯人；囚犯 eg:
He was kept as a prisoner.他作为一个囚犯被关了起来。
②person that has been captured被抓起来的人；俘虏；失去自由的人 eg:
You are our prisoner now.你现在是我们的俘虏了。
14. gentle adj. mild; kind; careful; not rough, violent or severe 温和的；慈祥的；小心的；温柔的；文雅的；轻轻的 eg:
I met a gentle old woman yesterday. 我昨天遇到了一个慈祥的老太太。
15. extinct adj. ①(esp. of a type of animal, etc.) no longer in existence（尤指某种动物等）不再存在的；绝种的；灭绝的 eg:
If we continue to destroy the countryside, many more animals will become extinct.
我们若继续破坏乡村环境，将会有更多的动物绝种。
②(fire or hope) ge out（火，希望等）熄灭了的 eg:
The fire was extinct.火灭了。
16. layer [′leI (r)] n. ① thickness of material (esp. one of several) laid over a surface or forming a horizontal division层（尤指数层之一） eg:
Several thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than a thick one.穿几层薄的衣服总比穿一层厚的衣服暖和。
②person who lays sth. on… 铺设者
17. marble
(1)n. types of hard limestone used, when cut and polished, for building and sculpture 大理石 eg:
These steps are made of marble. 这些台阶是大理石建造的。
(2) marbles (pl.) collection of marble sculptures; works of art in marble 大理石雕刻品；大理石艺术品
(3)adj. like marble 像大理石的 eg:
She has marble skin. 她有着大理石般光洁的皮肤。
18. paraphrase
(1)v. express the meaning of (a piece of writing, statement, etc.) in different words, esp. in order to make it easier to understand将（一段文字等）释义或意译（尤指为易于理解） eg:
He paraphrased a speech in colloquial English.他用通俗英语意译了一篇演讲稿。
(2)n. rewording of a piece of writing, statement, etc. , especially in order to make it easier to understand
（对一段文字等的）释义，意义（尤指为易于理解） eg:
The paraphrase of the sonnet is easy to understand.该十四行诗的意译易于理解。
19. definition [U] n. stating the exact meaning (of words, etc.)（词语等的）释义 eg:
Dictionary writers must be skilled in ther art of definition.
辞书编纂者必须精于给词语下定义的技巧。
20. misbehave v. behave badly or improperly 行为不端；举止不当 eg:
She misbehaved. 她行为不端。
21. subtitle n. (usu. pl. 通常作复数) (esp. cinema 尤用于电影)
words printed on a film that translate the dialogue of a foreign film, give those of a silent film or (on television) supply dialogue for deaf viewers 字幕 eg:
Without the subtitles I would not understand the film.没有字幕的话我就理解不了这部电影。
22. interchangeable adj. that can be interchanged, esp. without affecting the way in which sth. works 可交换的，可互换的，可交替的（尤指不影响操作的） eg:
The two words are interchangeable. 这两个单词是可互换的。
23. underpants n. short undergarment worn by men and boys covering the lower part of the body（男用）内裤 eg:
He stood there in his underpants. 他只穿内裤站在那儿。
24. study law study 研究；学习；求学。 study law意为“研究法律”，law前不加冠词，类似的用法还有study medicine“研究医学”。 eg:
He wanted to study law. 他想学法律。
25. make a living与make one’s living意为“谋生”，这里的make也可换成earn/gain/get。在表达“靠做……以谋生”之意时，常用短语earn/gain/get/make a/one’s living by doing sth./as a…。 eg:
Before liberation, her grandfather made a/his living by working for a land owner.解放前，她爷爷靠给一个地主干活为生。
26. …allow man to do things … ……允许人类做……, allow可构成以下结构：
allow sb. to do sth.→被动：sb. be allowed to do sth.
allow doing sth.允许做某事 eg:
Mother doesn’t allow me to go out at night. 妈妈不允许我晚上外出。
They didn’t allow smoking here. 这儿不允许吸烟。
类似用法的动词还有：advise, permit, forbid等词。
27. set out与set off
(1)set out意为“出发/启程”，表达“动身去某地”时用“set out for sp.”此时可与“set off for sp.”互换。 eg:
They set out for town at dawn.他们在拂晓动身进城了。
(2)set out to do sth.意为“开始做某事”。 eg:
When everything was ready, the doctor set out to perform the operation.一切准备就绪，医生就开始动起手术来了。
28. on board上船（或飞机、火车、汽车等）；在船上（或飞机上、火车上、汽车上）。 eg:
As soon as we went on board, our ship left the port.我们一上船，船就出港了。
29. from that day on从那天起，“from+时间+on”表示“从……时候起”，如“from then/now/1998 on”表示“从那时/现在/1998年起”之意。可与现在、过去、将来的时态连用。 eg:
From then on she knew she would win. 从那时起她就知道她将取胜。
30. defend … against/from …保护/保卫/防御……抵御/免遭 eg:
The soldiers defended their country against enemies.战士们保卫他们的祖国抵御敌人。
It is the nature of a mother to defend her child from harm.保护自己的孩子不受伤害是一个母亲的天性。
同、近义词辨析
1. electric与electrical
(1)electric电的；用电的；带电的；发电的
an electric current/torch/iron 电流/电筒/电熨斗 eg:
He bought an electric torch yesterday.昨天他买了一个手电筒。
(2)electrical关于电的
electrical engineering电机工程学 eg:
He majored in electrical engineering in the college.他在大学里主修电机工程学。
2. discover, find out与invent
(1)discover指“发现”某种本来存在，而以前未被发现的事物或未为人所知的东西。
(2)find out常用来指“弄明白、搞清楚、查出（某一真相）”，做“发现”讲时，是指发现一种无形而隐藏的东西。
(3)invent表“发明”之意，意思是发明出以前没有的东西，往往是物质性的东西。 eg:
Gilbert discovered electricity, but Edison invented the light bulb.吉伯特发现了电，而爱迪生发明了灯泡。
Think over and you’ll find out that you are wrong.仔细想想，你就会发现你错了。
3. instead与instead of
instead是副词；instead of为介词短语，后接名词，代词，动名词或介词短语，从句等形式。一般情况下，含有instead of的句子可以改写为含有instead的句子。 eg:
He stayed in bed all day instead of going to school.
=He didn’t go to school. Instead, he stayed in bed all day.他没去上学，而是在床上躺了一整天。
I didn’t drink water. I drank juice instead.
=I drank juice instead of water. 我没有喝水，而是喝的果汁。
4. late, lately, latest, later与latter
(1)late指比预料的或正常的时间晚。 eg:
I was late for work again.我上班又迟到了。
(2)lately“近来”，常用于疑问句，否定句，或与only连用或用于as lately as中。肯定句中用recently。 eg:
Have you seen her lately?你最近看到过她吗？
(3)latest adj.“最近的”、“最新的” eg:
Have you got the latest news about him? 你有他最近的消息吗？
(4)later“后来”，“较晚的时候”，也可和段时间连用，表示从过去或将来某一时间起，多长时间以后。 eg:
Later the boy found his mother. 后来那个男孩找到了他妈妈。
(5)latter用来表示两事物之间的顺序，意为“后一个/后者”，与the former（前者）相对。 eg:
Of these two men the former is dead, but the latter is still alive.此二人中前者已死，但后者仍活着。
5. at the beginning与in the beginning
(1)at the beginning通常接of短语，表示“在……初”，“在……开始的时候”，它的反义短语是at the end of。 eg:
Great changes took place at the beginning of the century.在那个世纪初发生了巨大的变化。
(2)in the beginning表示“起初”，“开始的时候”，不与of介词短语连用。但at the beginning偶尔也可单独使用，在意思上与in the beginning区别不大。 eg:
In the beginning nobody took any notice of his words.起初没人理睬他的话。
6. finally, at last与in the end
(1)finally一般指一系列事物或论点按排列的最后一项内容，或用在动词前，表示等了好久才……，没有感情色彩。 eg:
Finally, let’s do some exercises.最后我们来做一些练习吧。
(2)at last往往表示经过一番努力或曲折的过程之后的意思，常常有较浓的感情色彩。 eg:
At last, he got hold of the elephant’s tail. 他最后终于抓住了大象的尾巴。
(3)in the end可与finally和at last通用。 eg:
The war lasted four years before the North won in the end.
这场战争持续了四年，最后北方取得了胜利。（但in the end可预卜未来。）
知识点讲解
1. Jules spent many hours in Paris libraries studying geology, physics and many other subjects.
儒勒在巴黎图书馆花费很长时间研究地质学，物理学和许多其他的学科。
spend“花费”，常用于下面的结构：
spend money/time on sth./(in) doing sth. 在某事/做某事方面花费钱/时间
eg: He does not spend much time on his homework.他在做作业上花费不了多少时间。
注意区别spend与take。
Take的用法是：It takes/took/will take sb. Some time to do sth.“做某事花费某人多少时间” eg:
It took him two hours to finish the work. 完成这份工作花费了他两个小时。
2. Many of the instruments in his novels will remind the reader of Dr Benjamin Franklin’s experiments with electricity. 他小说里所提到的许多设备会让读者想起本杰明富兰克林用电做的实验。
remind提醒；使想起；可构成以下结构：
(1)remind sb. of sth./sb. 使某人想起某事/某人 eg:
Please remind me to answer that letter.请提醒我回复那封信。
(2)remind sb. of sth./sb. 使某人想起某事/某人 eg:
He reminds me of his brother. 他使我想起他哥哥。
(3)remind sb. that从句。 提醒某人某事 eg:
He reminded me that I didn’t finish my work.他提醒了我，说我没完成自己的工作。
3. By taking the scientific developments of his day on step further, Jules Verne laid the foundation of modern science fiction. 通过将他所处时代的科学发展向前推进一步，儒勒凡尔纳奠定了现代科幻小说的基础。
by在本句是介词，说明手段或方式，可译作“通过，用，以，由于”等，其后常跟名词或动词-ing形式。 eg:
This pair of shoes is made by hand. 这双鞋是手工做的。
By helping them we are helping to save ourselves. 帮助他们就等于救了我们自己。
注意by表达这种含义时与with和in的区别；表示使用有形的工具或器官时要用with，其后的名词前一般应用冠词。使用某种语言，表示用墨水、颜色、颜料等“原料”或“材料”都用in，且名词前不用冠词。 eg:
It is my practice（习惯） to do my writing with a pencil. 我习惯用铅笔写。
Can you sing this song in English? 你能用英语唱这首歌吗？
It is impolite to write a letter in red ink. 用红墨水写信是不礼貌的。
4. In their efforts to survive, they find themselves on the surface of the monster itself, which turns out to be a submarine. 在他们努力求生时，发现自己就在怪兽身体的表面上，结果怪兽竟然是一艘潜水艇。
(1)这里的which引导一个非限制性定语从句，修饰先行词the monster itself。
(2)in their efforts中的in表示“正在进行的动作或状态”。 eg:
He is always in action.他总是在行动中。
W seem to be in agreement on the matter.在这件事上我们的意见看来是一致的。
(3)turn out to be“结果是……”，“最后情况是……” eg:
Though it looked like rain this morning, it has turned out to be a fine day.尽管今早看起来要下雨，最后却是晴天。
The meeting turned out to be very successful. 结果那个会议很成功。
5. They are taken on board and Captain Nemo decides not to kill them but makes them his permanent guests.
他们被带到了艇上。尼莫船长决定不杀死他们而是使他们成为他永久的客人。
(1)decide to do sth. 决定做某事；decide not to do sth.决定不做某事 eg:
We decided not to go abroad for the time being. 我们决定暂时不出国了。
(2)not…but…“不是……而是……”，连接两个并列成分，如连接两个并列宾语，两个并列表语或两个并列主语等。注意当not…but…连接两个并列主语时，句子的谓语动词要采用就近一致的原则，即与but后的主语保持一致。 eg:
He can speak not Chinese but Japanese.他不会讲汉语会讲日语。
He is not a poet but a writer. 他不是诗人而是作家。
Not I but he is fond of football. 不是我而是他喜欢足球。
(3)…makes them his permanent guests中的his permanent guests用来作them的补足语。
6. The furniture is precious and huge glass windows that can be opened and closed give a view of the underwater world. 摆设很精致，巨大的玻璃窗可以打开或关上，让人看到水下世界。
(1)这里的that引导一个定语从句(that can be opened and closed)用于修饰先行词huge glass windows.
(2)a view of …“……的景色”或“看；眺望；观察”之意。 eg:
There’s a view of the river from my windows.在我的窗前可看到河上风光。
If you stand here you’ll get a better view of the procession.如果你站在这里，就可以更清楚地看到游行队伍。
7. All that is needed for life on board comes from the ocean.艇上所有生活所需全部来自于海洋。
That is needed for life on board是定语从句，修饰先行词all。
注：（1）当先行词是不定代词all, everything, few, little, much, something, anything, nothing等时，宾语从句只能由that引导。 eg:
The boy handed in everything that he had picked up in the street to the police. 那个男孩把他在大街上捡到的一切东西都交给了警察。
（2）all that=what eg:
All that the said was true.=What he said was true.他所说的一切都是真的。
8. Dressed in diving suits, they walk around in this magic world, lighted by the lamps of the ship. 他们穿着潜水衣，在船上灯的照射下在这个魔幻世界中四处走动。
(1)dress ①vt. “给某人穿衣服”用于“dress sb.”结构中。dress oneself意为“给自己穿衣服”；be dressed in意为“穿着……”。 The gentleman is dressed in a modern coat.那位先生穿着一件很新潮的衣服。
②vi. “穿着/打扮”之意 eg:
She dressed well. 她穿得很好。
(2)walk around四处走动 eg:
He walked around in the room. 他在房间里走来走去。
9. (1)They find themselves surrounded by colorful rocks, fishes, shells and plants, all waving and moving slowly in the blue waters. 他们发现自己被彩色的岩石、鱼、贝壳和植物包围着，这些东西在蓝色的海域中慢慢地摇曳移动着。
(2)But at other moments you will find him gentle and weak, when he cries about the lost lives of people drowned in ships that have sunk. 但是在其他时刻，当他为了那些随着沉船一起被淹死的人而哭泣时，你又会发现他温柔又脆弱。
上面两句中的find themselves surrounded和find him gentle and weak都是find的常见用法。这里surrounded是过去分词，gentle和weak是形容词，它们都用来做宾补。find的此种用法可归纳为：find+sb./sth.+adj./介词短语/doing/done/adv./n. 。 eg:
I found the ground covered with snow when I opened the door.当我打开门的时候我发现地面铺满了雪。
When he came in, he found a thief stealing his money.他进来的时候，他发现一个小偷天在偷他的钱。
10. Passing through layers of coal and marble they go deeper and deeper. 穿过煤层和大理石层他们走得越来越深了。
deeper and deeper越来越深
这种“比较级+and+比较级”结构表达“越来越……”之意。 eg:
summer comes, the weather is hotter and hotter.夏天已经到了，天气越来越热了。
典型病句诊断
1.病句：We are not allowed playing with fire.
诊断：We are not allowed to play with fire.
点拨：把句中的playing改为to play。本句使用的是allow sb. to do sth.的被动语态，应该是sb. be allowed to do sth.
2.病句：He has set out to Beijing.
诊断：He has set out for Beijing.
点拨：把句中的to改为for。“动身去某地”用“set out for sp.”是固定搭配。
3.病句：This machine has an electric fault.
诊断：This machine has an electrical fault.
点拨：把句中的electric改为electrical。Electric是“用电的/带电的/发电的/电的”之意，而electrical表达“有关于电的”之意。根据本句之意，应表达“有关电的毛病”，所以要把electric改为electrical。
4.病句：Columbus found out America.
诊断：Columbus discovered America.
点拨：found out表示“弄明白，搞清楚”之意。而“哥伦布发现了美洲”很明显应是发现本来就存在而以前未能发现的美洲，应用discover表达这种含义。
5.病句：We’ll have a party in the open air instead in the house.
诊断：We’ll have a party in the open air instead of in the house.
点拨：instead是副词，而介词短语instead of后面才能跟介词短语。若用instead，上句可改为：We won’t have a party in the house. Instead we will have it ni the open air.。
6.病句：What have you been doing latest?
诊断：What have you been doing lately?
点拨：“latest”是adj. ，表达“最新的；最近的”之意，而句中需要一个副词表达“最近”之意。
7.病句：I took 3 hours doing my homework.
诊断：I spent 3 hours doing my homework.
点拨：spend表“花费”之意，其结构是“sb. spend(s)/spent/will spend some time on sth./(in) doing sth.”。而take当“花费”讲时，结构是“It take/took/will take sb. some to do sth.”。
8.病句：These old pictures reminded me my childhood.
诊断：These old pictures reminded me of my childhood.
点拨：remind不能跟双宾语，即不能构成remind sb. sth.结构，表达“提醒某人某事”时要用“remind sb. of sth.”结构。
9.病句：What have you done by the old things?
诊断：What have you done with the old things?
点拨：by之后加手段或方式，with之后加有形的工具或器官。The old things是工具，所以用with。其次，do with还有“处理”，“放置”之意。
10.病句：All which she did made us very surprised.
诊断：All that she did made us very surprised.
点拨：当先行词为不定代词时，定语从句应由that引导，不能用which。all为不定代词。其他的不定代词如everything, something, little, much等也符合这种用法。
单元语法知识归纳：构词
在英语中，词的构成方法主要有三种，即合成、转化和派生。
1.合成法：把两个或两个以上独立的词合成一个新词的方法叫合成法，也叫合词法。
（1）合成名词highway 公路
（2）合成形容词hand-made 手工制作的 good-looking相貌好看的 dark-blue 深蓝
（3）合成动词ill-treat 虐待 mass-produce 大规模生产 safe guard 保卫
（4）合成副词however 然而 downstairs 在楼下
（5）合成代词 anybody nobody something
2.转化法：转化是指词由一种词类转化为另一种词类。
（1）动词转化为名词
常用give, take, have, make等动词与其搭配构成动词词组，表示一个动作。 eg:
give a smile 微笑 give a tick 踢 take a seat 就座
take a bath 洗澡 have a swim 游泳 have a talk谈话 make a wish 许愿
（2）形容词转化为副词
How long is the road？那条路有多条？（形容词）
How long have you been working there? 你在那里工作了多久？（副词）
（3）形容词转化为动词 eg:
The storm slowed down to half its speed. 风暴速度减慢了一半。
The girls gradually quieted down. 女孩子们慢慢安静了下来了。
（4）名词转化为动词 eg:
The hall can seat two thousand people.大厅能坐2000人。
The passengers have booked their plane ticket.旅客们已经订了飞机票。
（5）形容词转化为名词
Something has gone wrong with the tool.工具出了点毛病。（形容词）
Little children didn’t know the difference between right and wrong.小孩子不能辨别是非。（名词）
3.派生法
派生是由词根加词缀（前缀、后缀）构成新词。除少数前缀外，前缀一般只改变词的意义，不改变词性；后缀一般只改变词性，不引起词义的变化。
前 缀 例 词
a-构成形容词、副词 Alive（活着的）, abroad（在国外）, alone
dis-（否定） discourage, disagree
en-（使可能） enrich, enable(使成为可能)，endanger
in-(ill, im-, ir-)（不，非） invisible(看不见), illogical（不合逻辑的）, impossible, irregular（不规则的）
inter-（相互，之间） international, interchange
mis-（误） mislay, misunderstand（误会）,mislead（误导）
re-（重复，再） recycle（循环）,remarry, rewrite
tele-（远程） telephone, telegraph, telecommunications（电信）
un-（不），non-（不，非） unfair, unknown, noon-conductor（非导体）
后 缀 例 词
名
词 -er……者 foreigner, traveler, speaker, reader
-ese……地方的人 Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese
-ian 精通……的人，……地方的人 musician, technician（技术员）， African, Asian
-ist 专业人员 pianist, physicist, scientist, violiinist
-ment性质，状态 movement（运动）, development, encouragement
-ness性质，状态 illness, shyness, sadness, business
-or器具，……者 tractor, visitor, professor, actor
名
词 -tion表示动作、过程、结果 ageneration（世代），suggestion, invention, action
形
容
词
practical（实用的）,international, final
American, Italian, Australian
southern, northern, eastern
helpful, useful, harmful
reasonable, capable, eatable
foolish, British, English selfish
active, native（本族的）,expensive, adoptive
windy, sleepy, healthy, sunny
careless, selfless（无私心的）,harmless, useless
动
词 -fy使……化 simplify（简化）, terrify（恐吓）, satisfy
-ize使……成为 realize（实现）, organize, stabilize, modernize
副
词 -ly表示方式、程度 badly, truly, angrily, suddenly
-ward(s)表示方向 toward(s), backward, outward(s)（向外）
数
词 -teen十 fourteen, eighteen, thirteen
-ty整十位数 forty, fifty, eighty, twenty
-th序数词 twelfth, twentieth, fourth
知识记忆
1.collision n.碰撞，冲突
a head-on collision正面冲突或相撞
He was killed in a car collision.他在一次汽车相撞中死亡。
His car had a collision with a bus.他的车与公交车相撞了。
A collision with Parliament could ruin the government’s plans.与议会的冲突可能会破坏政府的计划。
be in collision (with)/come into collision (with)(与……)冲突，相撞，发生矛盾
The two ships came into collision.那两只船相撞了。
People with revolutionary ideas may find themselves in collision with the forces of the law.
想革命的人会发现他们自己与法律的势力水火不相容。
2.permanent adj.永久的，固定的，长期不变的
permanent peace 长久的和平
a permanent job 固定的职业
The drug may cause permanent brain damage.这种药可能会引起永久性的脑部伤害。
This is my permanent address.这是我的固定居所。
After doing odd jobs for a week, he got a permanent job.做了一个星期的零工后，他找到了一份固定工作。
3.voyage n.航海，航行
The ship set out on a long voyage.那艘船出发进行长途航行。
The voyage to England took seven days.这次去英国的航行时间是七天。
We made a voyage to Australia.我们航行到了澳大利亚。
He is now on the voyage home.他正在返航途中。
David went on a voyage around the world.大卫作了环游世界的航行。
When I give up work I shall make/take a long sea voyage.我离职后要作一次长途航海旅行。
4.aboard adv.在船(飞机、车)上，上船，上飞机
All aboard! 各位请上船(飞机、车)!
Welcome aboard! 欢迎大家乘船(飞机、车)!
All 257 aboard died in the airliner crash.那次飞机失事中，机上的257名乘客全部遇难。
We got aboard though the boat was crowded.虽然船上很拥挤，我们还是上了船。
He came running along and climbed aboard just as the train was to pull out.
就在火车即将开动时，他跑过来了并爬上了火车。
5.gentle adj.温和的，温柔的，有礼貌的，文雅的
Mothers are always gentle with their children.母亲对待孩子总是温柔体贴。
My new teacher is both gentle and encouraging toward me.我的新老师对我既温和又鼓励。
Mary is very gentle; she never talks roughly.玛丽很文雅，她从来不说粗话。
She was small, and gentle in her voice and movements.她小巧玲珑，声音温柔，动作文雅。
She gave the baby a gentle pat on the back.她在小孩的背上轻轻地拍了一下。
6.throw light on/upon使……显得非常清楚
The modern scientific development has thrown light on this question.现代科学的发展已使这个问题明朗化。
Can you throw any light on the problem? 你能把这个问题阐述清楚吗？
The information throws light upon the mystery of Dr Bake.这个信息可以解开贝克医生之迷。
7.matter n.事情，问题[C]；物质，内容[U]
a private matter 私事
the matter under discussion 讨论中的问题
Political matters interest him greatly.他对政治问题深感兴趣。
It’s no laughing matter.这不是开玩笑的事。
The world is made up of matter.世界是由物质组成的。
Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid and gas.物质以三种形态存在，即固体、液体和气体。
The matter in your essay is excellent.你文章的内容写得很好。
8.phenomena n.[pl.]现象，奇迹(单数形式是phenomenon)
Rain and snow are phenomena of the weather.下雨和下雪是天气现象。
The phenomena were observed by astronomers throughout the world.全世界的天文学家都观测到了这种现象。
That’s a natural phenomenon.那是一种自然现象。
An eclipse is an interesting phenomenon.日食是很有趣的现象。
Beethoven was a phenomenon among musicians.贝多芬是音乐家中的奇才。
A child who can play the piano at the age of two would be called a phenomenon.两岁就能弹钢琴的小孩可称为奇才。
9.labour n.努力；劳动，劳动果实
mental labour 脑力劳动 physical labour 体力劳动
Workers are paid for their labour.工人以劳动获得报酬。
His new book is the product of some three years’ labour.这本新书是他大约三年努力的成果。
It is labour to read the Bible through.读完圣经是件相当吃力的工作。
10.hesitate vi.犹豫，迟疑，踌躇
She hesitated before picking up the phone.她在拿起听筒前犹豫了一下。
She’s still hesitating about sending her son to college.她对于要不要送儿子进大学一事仍然犹豫不决。
We seldom hesitate about where to stay in Paris.去巴黎要住哪儿，我们很少有拿不定主意的情况。
Don’t hesitate to tell me if you have any requests.如果你有什么要求，请告诉我，不要犹豫。
I hesitate to ask you, but will you recommend me for the post?
向你提要求真不好意思，请你推荐我去担任那项职务好吗？
hesitation n.犹豫，踌躇
without hesitation毫不犹豫
I had no hesitation in telling the truth.我毫不迟疑地说出了实情。
发散思维
1.distance n.距离
当询问距离是多少时，要用what提问。
What’s the distance to London? 到伦敦的距离是多少？
distance的修饰语常用some,good,great,long,short等。
It’s a good distance away.离得很远。
The villagers have to walk a long distance to get water.村民们要走很远去取水。
distance常构成下列短语：
within walking distance“在步行可及的地方，几步之遥”
The park is within (easy) walking distance of my house.公园离我家只有几步之遥。
My parents live within walking distance of me.我父母住在我家附近。
at/from a distance (of)“从远处”
This picture looks better at a distance.从远处看，这张画更好看。
Now and then he stepped back to look at his work from a distance.他不时地退后几步从远处看一看他的作品。
One can see the ancient ruins at/from a distance of 20 miles.人们从20英里之处就能看到这个古迹。
in the distance“在远处，远方的”
A ship could be seen in the distance.可以看到远方有一艘船。
I made out three figures moving in the distance.我看到远处有三个黑影在活动。
keep sb.at a distance “与某人保持一段距离，不很亲密”
Mr.Smith is kind to the workers in his store, but after work he keeps them at a distance.
史密斯先生对他商店的工人很好，但下班后却与他们不很亲密。
It was difficult to get to know her because she always kept everyone at a distance.
很难搞懂她，因为她总是与人保持一定的距离。
2.attention n.注意力，注意，留心，关心
It is difficult to hold the students’ attention for more than an hour.
要让学生们持续集中注意力达一个小时以上，真是很难。
This matter requires our close attention.这件事我们必须密切注意。
He drew attention to the rising unemployment.失业率日渐升高引起了他的注意。
We listened with attention to what he said.我们倾听他所说的话。
My grandfather is over eighty and needs a lot of attention.我的祖父年过八十，需要经常照顾。
The patient needed immediate attention.这位病人需要立即治疗。
常构成的短语：
pay/give attention to 注意 attract/catch/draw/get one’s attention 吸引某人的注意
focus one’s attention on 集中注意力于 devote one’s attention to 专心于
turn one’s attention to 将注意力转向
背景知识
Jules Verne
Jules Verne(1828~1905),French writer and pioneer of science fiction,whose best known works today are Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea(1870)and Around the World in Eighty Days(1873).
Jules Gabriel Verne was born on February 8,1828,in Nantes,France.His parents were of a seafaring tradition,a factor which influenced his writings.As a boy,Jules Verne ran off to be a cabin boy on a merchant ship,but he was caught and returned to his parents.In 1847 Jules was sent to study law in Paris.While there,however,his passion for the theatre grew.Later in 1850,Jules Verne’s first play was published.His father was outraged when he heard that Jules was not going to continue law,so he discontinued the money he was giving him to pay for his expenses in Paris.This forced Verne to make money by selling his stories.
After spending many hours in Paris libraries studying geology,engineering,and astronomy, Jules Verne published his first novel Five Weeks in a Balloon(1863).Soon he started writing novels such as Journey to the Center of the Earth(1864),From the Earth to the Moon(1866),and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea(1873).
Because of the popularity of these and other novels,Jules Verne became a very rich man.In 1876,he bought a large yacht and sailed around Europe.His last novel The Invasion of the Sea appeared in 1905.
Jules Verne died in the city of Amines on March 24,1905.
课文译文
儒勒凡尔纳：科幻小说的鼻祖
儒勒凡尔纳在1828年出生于法国。他的父亲送他去巴黎学习法律，但儒勒却对戏剧产生了热爱。为了谋生，儒勒不得不从事写作并卖掉自己的作品。凡尔纳花了好多时间在巴黎图书馆研究地质学、物理学和其他学科。在他的书中他应用了他那个时代最新的理念和科学发明。他小说中出现的好多工具都会使读者想起本杰明富兰克林有名的关于电的实验。通过把他那个年代的科学发展再往前推一步，儒勒凡尔纳奠定了现代科幻小说的基础。他还提出发明在将来会得到怎么样的应用，而这些用法在他那个年代是被认为不可能的。儒勒凡尔纳死于1905年，远远早于他任何一个梦想的实现。
在《海底两万里》这本书的一开始,那是他的一部有名的小说,世界各地的船只突然失踪,而且这被认为是一只大海怪造成的。艾瑞纳克斯博士，他的仆人以及一位加拿大的捕鲸者开始去寻找那个怪物。在好几个月的搜寻之后,他们终于找到了它。在随后的搏斗中他们三个人被扔进水中。在他们挣扎求生当中，他们发现自己在一个怪物的表面上，而那怪物其实是一艘潜水艇。他们被带上船，尼莫船长不打算杀掉他们,相反却和他们结成永久的朋友。从那天起,他们就计划逃离。
尼莫船长带着他们在海洋里航行。诺特拉斯是一只非凡的船。里面的家具非常的珍贵。大大的窗户可以打开也可以关闭,这使我们能欣赏到海底世界。这只船还非常结实，外面被厚厚的铁板保护着。船上所需要的一切都来自于海洋。电被用来照明,取暖,提供动力和使船抵御外来袭击。
身穿潜水衣，被船的灯光照明，他们行走在这个魔幻世界里。他们发现自己被五彩的岩石、各种各样的鱼、贝类和海底植物所包围。这些海底生物在碧蓝的海水中摇曳和慢慢移动。
自从这本书一出版，读者们就对尼莫船长的性格感到扑朔迷离。你很难说喜不喜欢他。你或许认为他是一个残酷的人，因为他不仅把艾瑞纳克斯和其他人囚禁起来，还破坏船只。然而在其他时候，比如说当他为在沉船中溺死的人哭泣的时候，你又会认为他很温柔和脆弱。
另外一部精彩小说是《地心探险记》。这部小说是以一部古书里的古老文献的发现为开始的。他向人们解释了怎样发现去地心的路。两位男子决心去冰岛冒险，在那里他们通过一个死活山口走进了地底。他们的导游带着他们穿越一个狭长的通道来到了地下。经过一个煤层和大理石层，他们已经走得越来越深了。他们喝地下河流的沸腾的水。几天过后，他们来到了地下湖和地下海洋。沿着它们的岸边走，他们穿越了一个大森林，里面的蘑菇和植物已经在地球上生存了几百万年了。为了穿越海洋，他们造了一个小筏子但是在海上还是受到了古代海怪的袭击。最后，他们的小筏子被卷入了急流。伴随着越来越高的速度和温度，他们被位于意大利南部的火山口喷出。
弗兰肯斯坦的故事
没有人会比我有一个更加快乐的童年。不同于其他孩子的玩耍和冒险，我有一种强烈的求知欲。我对于语言结构和法律一点都不感兴趣。我想知道地球和天空的奥秘。我的父亲没有科学方面的专业知识，所以我必须在没有人指点迷津的基础上自己去寻找出路。我开始寻求智慧，并梦想找到治愈我疾病的办法。
我阅读了所有有关这件事的书籍。我研究了数学和物理还有其他知识渊博的作者的书。在我17岁的时候，我的父母送我上了大学。但是我发现大学里所教的东西非常地令人失望。因而我决定开创一种新的方法，探索未知的力量，并把大自然最为神奇的秘密揭示给世人。
一个吸引我注意力的现象是人类的身体构造，和任何活着的动物的身体构造。我经常问自己，生命的法则是来自于哪里呢？在无数个日日夜夜的极辛苦劳碌中，我发现了人类的起源和怎样从死去的物质中创造新生命。
当我发现我手中拥有这样神奇的力量之后，我犹豫了好久究竟应怎样用它。尽管我知道怎样创造生命，怎样为这个生命准备好它的肌肉和器官，这仍然是一项困难的工作。一开始我还犹豫是否要创造一个像我一样的人，或者只是几个简单的器官。但是很快我便什么也不想，只想创造一个像人一样完整和神奇的生物。
正是怀着这些情感我开始了我创造人的过程。由于人的身体的各部分过小延误了我的速度，我决定把这个人的尺寸做的比平常人更大一些:高有八尺。在这种想法的引导下，花了好几个月搜集和整理材料，我才真正开始。
谁能想到我这项秘密工作的恐怖？我从坟墓里搜集死人的骨头，并把死人的尸体切开。我的好多工具都是来自于肉铺和医院。是在一个11月份的夜晚，我看到了我工作的结果。我把我的器具放在我的身旁，用这些器具，我可以使我脚底下的这个死了的生物复活。直到第二天一早，我的蜡烛快熄灭的时候。我才看到那个生物睁开他那黄色污浊的眼睛。
我看着我创造的这个怪物。它揭开了床单，而且它的眼睛，如果能被称之为眼睛的话，看着我。他的头发很黑，牙齿像雪一样白，但是皮肤焦黄。当它的薄薄的黑色嘴唇张开的时候，只有一些怪异的声音发出。当他还没被完工的时候它就够丑陋的了，而现在它就是一个活生生的活着的梦魇。