2021-22学年第12期总第849期（6版）
China’s homegrown heroes (P6)
邯郸市第一中学 Grace

I. Lead-in
•    When it comes to heroes, who do you think of?
•    Watch a video clip to learn about these heroes.
 

II. Pre-reading
•    Predict what the article will talk about according to the title.
China’s homegrown heroes
Some stories about great Chinese people.
•    What’s the style of this article?
micro-biography

III. Read for structure 
•    Part 1: Para 1 (General)        Gu Songfen and Wang Dazhong won China's top science award.
•    Part 2: Paras 2-4 (Details)        Gu Songfen’s achievements
•    Part 3: Paras 5-9 (Details)        Wang Dazhong’s achievements

IV. Scanning
Name    Gu Songfen
    Wang Dazhong

Identity    jet fighter designer
    nuclear energy scientist

Achievement    •    developed China’s first homegrown jet aircraft;
•    advanced the development of a number of major jet fighters.
    •    led the research, design and operation of China's first five-megawatt low temperature nuclear heating reactor and later of its 10-megawatt high temperature gas-cooled reactor.

Influence    •    greatly improved China's air defense capabilities;
•    laid the foundation of its aviation industry.    •    improved the inherent safety of nuclear energy; 
•    paved the way for clean energy;
•    ensured the safe and stable operation of the power grid.

V. While-reading
•    What difficulties did Wang Dazhong face when developing nuclear energy?
After nuclear accidents in Three Mile Island in the US in 1979, and Chernobyl in the Soviet Union in 1986, scientists all over the world have worked hard to ensure that reactors (反应堆) are made "inherently (内在地) safe". It means they do not rely on countermeasures (应对措施) powered by external resources to remain stable.

•    Background information
On March 28, 1979, a partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, released a small amount of radiation, but caused no serious injuries. It was America’s worst commercial nuclear accident.
1979年3月28日，美国宾夕法尼亚州米德尔顿附近的三里岛核电站一核反应堆发生部分性熔毁，释放出少量的辐射但没有造成严重伤害。它是美国最严重的商业性核事故。
 
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, when an explosion at the power plant near the town contaminated a wide area.
今年是切尔诺贝利核灾难35周年。位于切尔诺贝利镇附近的核电站爆炸导致大片地区受到污染。
During the catastrophe, two people died immediately, while 29 more died within weeks. It is estimated thousands more have died from cancers and other illnesses in the ensuing years.
这场核灾难发生后，两人立即丧生，29人在几周内死亡。据估计，还有数千人在事故发生后的多年内死于放射性污染引发的癌症或其他疾病。
 

VI. Post-reading
“They are the stars we should regard as idols.” Do you agree with this? Voice your opinions.

VII. Language study
•    Blank filling 
1. They are jet fighter (战斗机) designer Gu Songfen and nuclear energy scientist Wang Dazhong,  (1)  won China's top science award. 
2. As the head of the aerodynamics (空气动力学的) team in Shenyang, Gu's first task was  (2)                    (develop) the country's first homegrown jet aircraft.   (3)   difficulties, he managed to complete JJ-1, the first jet aircraft    (4)    (design) in China.
3. Gu, 91, started the aerodynamic (空气动力学) design of aircraft,   (5)   advanced the development of a number of major jet fighters.
4. Those aircraft not only greatly improved China’s air defense capabilities (防御能力) but also laid the   (6)   (found) of its aviation (航空) industry.
5. He used key technologies    (7)    (relate) to helium coolant (氦冷却剂).

(1) who
(2) to develop
(3) Despite
(4) designed
(5) which
(6) foundation
(7) related

•    Find useful words and expressions in the text and work out their meanings.
insisted on
advance the development of a number of major jet fighters
defense capabilities
lay the foundation
remain stable
pave the way for

坚持做……
推动了一批重要喷气式战斗机的发展
防御能力
奠定基础
保持稳定
为……铺路，奠定基础