Unit 5 Learning from Nature Developing ideas 课件-2025-2026学年高二英语外研版选择性必修第三册

B6U5 Developing ideas Back to Nature Reading for details What’s the author’s opinions towards Tao’s and Thoreau’s ideas? In today’s modern world, their ideas about living simply and being at ease with nature may take us a step closer to attaining personal well-being and fulfilment. fulfilment: a sense of satisfaction Thinking and sharing 1 Why did it take Tao and Thoreau great courage to walk away from their previous lives? 2 What do you think about living in nature like Tao and Thoreau in modern times? Give your reasons. Tao Yuanming and Henry David Thoreau demonstrated great courage in abandoning their previous lives due to the significant societal, financial, and personal risks involved. For Tao Yuanming, leaving his position as a court official in the Eastern Jin Dynasty meant relinquishing social status, financial stability, and the security of a respected career. In ancient China, government roles were highly coveted and tied to one’s identity and livelihood. By resigning, Tao not only faced material hardship in rural poverty but also defied Confucian ideals of public service, risking societal disapproval. His famous refusal to “bow like a servant for five dou of grain” underscores his moral courage to prioritize integrity and simplicity over comfort and convention. Thoreau, though not in dire financial straits, challenged 19th-century American societal norms that emphasized material success and conformity. His choice to live in isolation at Walden Pond was seen as unconventional, even eccentric. Leaving a “decent quality of life” required courage to embrace self-reliance, endure physical hardships, and withstand potential criticism for rejecting mainstream values. His experiment in deliberate living demanded resilience to prove that a simpler, nature-centered existence could be fulfilling. Both men risked isolation, uncertainty, and societal judgment to pursue authenticity and harmony with nature. Their courage lay in rejecting the familiar to seek personal and philosophical fulfillment, inspiring others to reconsider the true meaning of a purposeful life. Reasons It Could Be Meaningful Escaping Modern Overload: Today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world often leads to burnout and disconnection from self. A simpler, nature-centered lifestyle could reduce stress, foster mindfulness, and restore a sense of balance—much as it did for Tao and Thoreau. Environmental Consciousness: Adopting such a lifestyle aligns with modern sustainability goals. Growing food, minimizing waste, and living off-grid could reduce one’s ecological footprint, addressing urgent issues like climate change and resource depletion. Reclaiming Autonomy: Like Thoreau’s pursuit of self-reliance, modern individuals might find empowerment in detaching from consumerism and corporate dependencies. It challenges the notion that happiness requires constant consumption. Challenges in Modern Context Economic and Legal Barriers: Land ownership, zoning laws, and the cost of rural property make "retreating to nature" inaccessible for many. Unlike Tao’s era, living off the land today often requires financial privilege or navigating bureaucratic hurdles. Social Isolation vs. Connectivity: While Tao and Thoreau found solace in solitude, modern society thrives on connectivity. Completely disconnecting risks alienating individuals from communities, healthcare, education, and emergency services—luxuries neither man fully relinquished in their time. Technological Dependency: Modern life is intertwined with technology (e.g., remote work, digital communication). Completely abandoning it might be impractical, but integrating it mindfully—using solar power or internet for sustainable living—could offer a hybrid approach. Adapting Their Philosophies Today The core lesson from Tao and Thoreau isn’t about literal replication but embracing their principles: Prioritizing simplicity over materialism. Cultivating a deep, respectful relationship with nature. Seeking fulfillment through introspection and intentional living. In practice, this might mean adopting a "middle way"—urban gardening, minimalism, digital detoxes, or eco-conscious travel—rather than total withdrawal. Their courage to reject societal pressures remains relevant, but modern solutions require balancing idealism with pragmatism. Ultimately, living like Tao and Thoreau today is less about replicating their exact paths and more about reinterpreting their values to navigate contemporary complexities. Their legacy challenges us to ask: How can we create spaces for authenticity and harmony with nature within—or alongside—modern life? 3 Thinking and sharing 2 What do you think about living in nature like Tao and Thoreau in modern times? Give your reasons. 4 Developing ideas language points Smart Expressions para.1 para.2 para.3 be polar opposites 对自然强烈的尊重 一位具有影响力的人物 让生活发生巨大改变 为了 与自然再度连接 feel conflicted over life at court quit the service…for good in return for work the land 成功做到 从……中获得乐趣 反对 好的生活质量 在……的边缘 迥然不同 an intense respect for nature an influential figure make dramatic transformations to their lives in order to reconnect with nature 对朝廷生活感到困惑 永久辞去……工作 作为对……的回报 耕耘土地 succeed in doing be opposed to a decent quality of life on the edge of adj. confused about what to do or choose because you have strong but opposing feelings 矛盾不知所措的 6 Smart Expressions para.3 para.4 para.5 para.6 专注于 ……的原因 从……中撤出 换言之 家养动物 与……相反 be critical of 顺从；安于 ……需要十足的勇气 安静而沉思的生活 与自然自在相处 让我们离……更进一步 获得个人的幸福与满足 focus on the reason for… withdraw from… in other words,… domestic animals in contrast to 对……的批判 resign oneself to (doing) sth. It takes considerable courage to do… quiet and reflective lives be at ease with nature take us a step closer to… attain personal well-being and fulfilment 7 figure the latest trade/sales/unemployment figures a leading figure in the music industry I'm watching my figure. The results are illustrated in figure 3.  We couldn't figure her out. 我一直注意保持身材。 图表 数字 人物 弄明白；想清楚；计算出 intense (1) very great; very strong 很大的；十分强烈的 intense interest/pleasure/desire/anger  (2) serious and often involving a lot of action in a short period of time 激烈的 intense competition 激烈的竞争 It was a period of intense activity. 那是活动激烈的时期。  (3)having or showing very strong feelings, opinions or thoughts about sb/sth 有强烈感情（或意见、想法）的；热切的 an intense look 热切的神情 He's very intense about everything. 他对一切都很热心。 critical Tom's parents were highly critical of the host.  Your decision is critical to our future. One of the victims of the fire remains in a critical condition. Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking instead of accepting opinions without questioning them.  危险的 有判断力的；判断审慎的 批评的 极重要的；关键的 Translation Para. 1: Superficially, these two men, whose lives were separated in time by nearly 1,500 years, were polar opposites. 从表面上看，这两个人相差了1500年，迥然不同。 superficial adj. a. seeing only what is obvious, not thoroughly 粗略的，浅薄的 eg. a superficial analysis b. only affecting the surface and therefore not serious 表层的 eg. superficial burns c. not concerned with anything serious or important and lacking any depth of understanding or feeling 肤浅的 = shallow Translation Para.2: From his poetry, we can learn that although his life was arduous /ˈɑːdjuəs/ , he succeeded in finding contentment in its simplicity and in drawing pleasure from nature. 从他的诗歌中，我们可以了解到，虽然他的生活是艰苦的，但他成功地在简朴中找到满足，从自然中获得乐趣 (para.2)。 Para.3: I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately to front only the essential facts of life. 我走进森林，因为我希望自由从容地生活，只面对生活的基本事实。 Translation Para.4: 他描写的平静祥和的生活，与压抑的官场生活形成鲜明的对比，是对压抑的官场生活的批判。 The calm and peaceful life he wrote about is in contrast to and critical of the depressive court life. Para. 5 梭罗的写作意在使人们信服，动物和植物就像我们人类一样都有生存和繁荣的权力。 （2 versions） Thoreau’s writing aimed to convince people that animals and plants had right to live and prosper, as we do. Thoreau’s writing aimed to convince people of the fact that animals and plants had right to live and prosper, as we do. Translation Para. 5: 他全身心投入到观察自然现象中，并在日记中详细记录了自己的发现。（2 versions） Devoting himself to observations of natural phenomena, he recorded his detailed findings in his journals. Devoted to observations of natural phenomena, he recorded his detailed findings in his journals. Para 6: 他们的选择使他们过上了静谧的、深思的、物质欲望极低的生活。 Their choices led them to quiet and reflective lives with fewer material desires. thinking deeply about things sending back light or heat typical of a particular situation or thing Ellipsis (省略) Thoreau’s writing aimed to convince people that animals and plants had right to live and prosper, as we do. It takes considerable courage to reject the easy and familiar and instead try to live closer to nature, as both Tao and Thoreau did. 课后作业 X3-Unit 5 单元同步检测题【检测】 $