Unit 4 Inventions：Section 1 Reading课件 -2025-2026学年沪教版八年级上册英语

Think about the following questions. crewed spacecraft hot-air balloon safety bicycle car steam locomotive plane wheel What are these inventions called? Pre-reading wheel hot-air balloon steam locomotive safety bicycle; car plane crewed spacecraft Look and match Pre-reading 1. What do the inventions above have in common? They are all related to ______________. transport 2. Which one do you think is the most important invention and why? I think ... Without ..., we can’t ... Think and say Pre-reading Brainstorming How has the wheel changed the way we live? move easily carry more things make work easier travel faster go farther ... The wheel The wonder of the wheel When the first humans decided to leave their homes over 100,000 years ago in search of new places to live and better sources of food, they did it on foot. Humans continued walking across the globe for the next 94,000 years, until about 6,000 years ago when a number of important changes took place. For instance, in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, people started to ride horses. Although this meant that people could travel further and faster, transporting large amounts of goods was still a difficult job. That all changed, however, a few hundred years later with the invention of the wheel. Who first invented the wheel? We will never know for sure, but the inventors probably first used wheels to make pottery. Later, they realized that they could also use them to transport people and things. They soon attached wheels to horse-pulled vehicles. Farmers were suddenly able to transport their goods to markets far away. This invention increased national and international trade. The wheel changed the way villages, towns and even countries did business with each other, but it wasn’t perfect. The roads were old walking paths. These old paths quickly became extremely difficult to use in wet weather. As a result, the first roads made of stone appeared after the arrival of the wheel. The Romans then invented new road-building techniques. The new roads were very good, and we still use some of them today. The wheel not only changed the way humans move, but it also allowed us to build all types of amazing machines. Windmills, clocks and other machines all use wheels, and the Industrial Revolution depended on the wheel. Even in our digitalized world, we still use wheels in devices such as 3D printers. Without doubt, the wheel is one of the most important inventions of all time. Look at the title and the pictures. Then answer questions 1 & 2. 1. What is the article mainly about? 2. What do you think the word “wonder” in the title means? 3. What type of text is it? Where would we find this type of text? 4. In what order does the writer present the information? While-reading Fast reading Exposition(说明文) Skim through the article. Then answer questions 3 & 4. Sequential arrangement(顺序法) Example Comparison Read and match 1 2 3 4 Improving roads Impact on modern society Increasing trade and business Travelling before the invention of the wheel The wonder of the wheel Para.1 Travelling before the invention of the wheel Para.2 Increasing trade and business Para.3 Improving roads Para.4 Impact on modern society While-reading Detailed reading 1. How did people leave their home in search of new places 100, 000 years ago? 2. How did people in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan travel about 6,000 years ago? 3. What happened to people when they started to ride horses? 4. What happened a few hundred years later? 5. How did people travel before the invention of the wheel? Para.1 Travelling before the invention of the wheel Para.1 100, 000 years ago 6,000 years ago a few hundred years later The wheel was invented. in search of new places to live and better sources of food started to ride horses travel further and faster on foot When the first humans decided to leave their homes over 100,000 years ago in search of new places to live and better sources of food, they did it on foot. Humans continued walking across the globe for the next 94,000 years, until about 6,000 years ago when a number of important changes took place. For instance, in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, people started to ride horses. Although this meant that people could travel further and faster, transporting large amounts of goods was still a difficult job. That all changed, however, a few hundred years later with the invention of the wheel. Para.2 Increasing trade and business 1. What was the wheel probably first used for? 2. What did people later use the wheel for? 3. How did people use the wheel soon after it was invented? 4. What were farmers suddenly able to do thanks to this? 5. What did the invention of the wheel increase? Para.2 first later soon suddenly The invention of the wheel increased trade used wheels to make pottery could use wheels to transport people and thing attached wheels to horse-pulled vehicles transport goods to markets far away Who first invented the wheel? We will never know for sure, but the inventors probably first used wheels to make pottery. Later, they realized that they could also use them to transport people and things. They soon attached wheels to horse-pulled vehicles. Farmers were suddenly able to transport their goods to markets far away. This invention increased national and international trade. 1. How did the wheel change society? 2. What were the old walking paths like? 3. What new invention appeared thanks to the wheel? 4. What did the Romans invent? 5. What were these new roads like? 6. What changes did the invention of the wheel bring about according to Paragraphs 2 & 3? Para.3 Improving roads Para.3 changed the way villages, towns and even countries did business with each other old walking paths first roads made of stone appeared The Romans invented new road-building techniques. quickly became extremely difficult to use in wet weather The new roads were very good, and we still use some of them today. The wheel changed the way villages, towns and even countries did business with each other, but it wasn’t perfect. The roads were old walking paths. These old paths quickly became extremely difficult to use in wet weather. As a result, the first roads made of stone appeared after the arrival of the wheel. The Romans then invented new road-building techniques. The new roads were very good, and we still use some of them today. Para.4 Impact on modern society 1. Besides improving transport, what did the wheel allow people to do? 2. Why was the wheel important during the Industrial Revolution? 3. What kinds of 21st century technology is the wheel used in? 4. Why is the wheel an important invention? Para.4 build all types of amazing machines The Industrial Revolution depended on the wheel. We use wheels in devices such as 3D printers. The wheel not only changed the way humans move, but it also allowed us to build all types of amazing machines. Windmills, clocks and other machines all use wheels, and the Industrial Revolution depended on the wheel. Even in our digitalized world, we still use wheels in devices such as 3D printers. Without doubt, the wheel is one of the most important inventions of all time. Reading Comprehension c d b a 1. Match the headings to the paragraphs with the information from the article. The wonder of the wheel Travelling was hard work (Travelling before the invention of the wheel) A world-changing invention (Increasing trade and business) New roads and faster travel (Improving roads) Wheel are everywhere (Impact on modern society) 100, 000 years ago 6,000 years ago a few hundred years later The wheel was invented. in search of new places to live and better sources of food started to ride horses travel further and faster on foot first later soon suddenly The invention of the wheel increased trade used wheels to make pottery could use wheels to transport people and things attached wheels to horse-pulled vehicles transport goods to markets far away changed the way villages, towns and even countries did business with each other old walking paths first roads made of stone appeared The Romans invented new road-building techniques. quickly became extremely difficult to use in wet weather The new roads very good, and we still use some of them today. build all types amazing machines The Industrial Revolution depended on the wheel. We use wheels in devices such as 3D printers. Give a summary of the article. After-reading 2. Can you think of a different title for the article? 3. What do you think the main purpose of the article is? 1. Look at the title. Why does the writer describe the wheel as a “wonder”? Discuss in groups After-reading A journalist is interviewing a historian about the invention of the wheel. Look at the questions below and role-play the conversation in pairs. Use the information from the article on pages 52 and 53 to help you. When was the wheel invented? What did people probably first use it for? What did they later use the wheel for? How did the wheel affect trade? After-reading Role-play After-reading “If you lived in ancient times, how would you travel? Why? Would you try to invent new ways of travelling? Why or why not? Discuss in groups After-reading Look around you. Can you see any wheels? Where are they? What are they used for? Quick response Self-assessment 评价内容 评分（1-5） 1. 我能读懂有关轮子的神奇之处的科普说明文。 1 2 3 4 5 2. 我能运用“对文本进行标注”的阅读策略，梳理、概括各个段落的段落大意及主要信息。 1 2 3 4 5 3. 我能利用思维导图呈现出的结构化知识，复述课文内容。 1 2 3 4 5 4. 我能表达对伟大发明的观点。 1 2 3 4 5 Homework 基础作业 1. 模仿课文录音的语音、语调，朗读课文。 2. 完成课本第55页练习1、2。 3. 根据思维导图提示和阅读语篇中的词汇，如be able to、not only ... but also ...、as a result、without doubt等，完成短文写作。（50词左右；开头已给出，不计入总词数） Today I want to introduce an invention. The name of it is ______________________ 拓展作业 你觉得轮子是人类历史上最重要的发明之一吗？请撰写一篇 80 词左右的短文，阐述你的理由。 central /9sentrRl/ adj. 在中心的 His flat is located in central London. although /O:l'ðRW/ conj. 虽然；尽管；即使 Although he is very rich, he never eats out. attach /R'tætS/ v. 把……固定；把……附（在……上） Could you help me attach the shelf to the wall? pull /pWl/ v. 拉；拽；扯；拖 They helped the old woman pull the heavy cart up the hill. international /0IntR'næSnRl/ adj. 国际的 The jet plane made international travel much cheaper. international trade 国际贸易 I want to study business in the future, and I would like to learn more about international trade. path /pa:P/ n. 小路；小径 The path through the forest was narrow and hard to walk on. technique /tek'ni:k/ n. 技巧；技艺 To create the artwork, the artist used a unique painting technique. depend /dI9pend/ v. 需要；依靠 As a grown-up, Mike doesn’t want to depend too much on his parents. depend on 依靠；依赖 We shouldn’t depend on our parents for everything. doubt /daWt/ n. 疑惑；疑问 The computer is without doubt one of the most important inventions in the last 100 years. without doubt 毫无疑问 Without doubt, the computer is one of the most useful inventions. on foot 步行 We couldn’t drive there because the road was closed—we had to get there on foot. a number of 几个；若干 A number of people have already signed up for the bike race. take place 发生；进行 The meeting will take place in Room 308 at 2 p.m. tomorrow. for instance 例如；比如 For instance, I like to read books in my free time. large amounts of 大量 Large amounts of money were spent on public service. 3D printer 3D 打印机   I used a 3D printer to make a small toy plane. of all time 自古以来；有史以来 Everyone knows the Great Wall is one of the most amazing wonders of all time. Blues 161418.55 2403.2659 2272.653 2664.4915 1802.4482 2821.2268 3918.3743 1959.1829 2612.2463 2429.3884 3395.923 2220.408 3108.575 2481.6335 2821.2268 2768.9817 2951.8396 4519.193 3317.5554 3317.5554 $$