Jamie Oliver Bill Gates

7
TED Talks: *

Spreading
Ideas
for a Better World
James Cameron

152
 Adora Svitak

Mini-Challenge
Task 1 : Learning from TED
Task 2: Giving a Talk

Thinking Ahead
1. Watch the video and fill in the chart with
correct statements. Scan and Watch
Good Bad
presentation presentation

(A) Read from paper.

(B) Mute your phone.
(C) Speak loudly and smile.
(D) Look up at the audience every sentence or two.
(E) Use personal stories to connect with the audience.
Bibi Bleekemolen

2. Look at the picture. What is the smartphone user

viewing? What do you know about it?
The smartphone user is viewing.... As far as I know,....

153
 Reading Strategy
Identifying the Topic Sentence
A topic sentence gives the main idea of a paragraph and can generally
express what the paragraph will be about rather than just one of the details.
From the topic sentence, readers can easily find out what issue will be
discussed in the paragraph and catch the point the author wants to make.
Usually the topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph, but in some
cases it is the second or even the last sentence.

Read the text on the next page and underline the topic sentence of each paragraph.

Reading Comprehension
What is the text mainly about?
(A) On average, people can only focus on a speech for ten to twenty
minutes.
(B) There are two main reasons why most TED Talks are about eighteen
minutes long.
(C) The time limit for TED Talks allows speakers to present their key
message to listeners.

154
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

TED
Log in Sign up

Ideas Worth Spreading

Watch Read Attend Participate About Search...

Eighteen Minutes:
The Right Time to Talk
Ever wondered why most TED Talks are about eighteen
minutes long? Two of the reasons behind this are based on brain
science. Firstly, human minds struggle to take in too much at once.
If the info load is too heavy, the audience is more likely to “drop”
and forget everything. Secondly, most people can’t concentrate*
for very long when they’re listening to a talk, even if the topic is
really interesting. The average attention span* is somewhere
between ten and twenty minutes.
TED organizers have found that eighteen minutes seems to
work the best. It is long enough to get important information across 7
and “light” enough for listeners to pick up the facts and ideas
easily, and to remember them. The limited amount of time also
forces speakers to think about and edit their talks very carefully,
and to present only their central or key message.

☺Word Bank concentrate 專心 attention span 注意力持續時間

155
 Reading Selection 課文動畫
課文朗讀

E
Language Highlight 1 veryone has his or her own favorite way of spending
In Paragraph 3, how many free time. Some like to have fun by playing video
celebrities are
games or surfing social networking sites*. Others choose
mentioned? Circle the
cues that help you identify to keep their minds sharp by reading books and newspapers.
these people.
5 Still others, however, seek1 fun as well as knowledge. For

such people, their first choice may be to watch a series2 of

short online videos known as TED Talks.

5 Essential Tips for Preparing a TED Talk

10

Choose your Decide on your What must your

topic message audience remember?
Your topic should be a new A powerful message related to Make sure to introduce one key
and interesting idea that can that topic makes your audience phrase into your talk that you
hold your audience’s attention. clearly know the purpose of want your audience to remember.
your talk.

Present a story Practice!

To prevent your talk from Practice your talk over and over
becoming a list of facts, write until you can say it from memory.
the talk as if it were a story to
make it more engaging.

156
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

The nonprofit foundation3 TED, which stands for Reading Strategy

Technology4, Entertainment, Design, has provided a Identifying the Topic

Sentence
10 platform* for people to share their thoughts since it was
• Underline the topic

established in 1984. The first conference5 was held that sentence of the third
paragraph.
same year, with the slogan* “ideas worth6 spreading.”

During the meeting, each speaker was given eighteen

minutes to present his or her ideas. As TED conferences Note the Details

15 became increasingly7 popular, it was clear to the 1. What may people do if

they want to seek
organizers8 that they should invite thinkers from a both fun and

broader9 range10 of fields11 to come and speak. These knowledge in their

free time?
fields included philosophy12, business, and medicine. In
2. When was the first

2007, the website TED.com was launched13, and many of TED conference held
for speakers to share
20 the speakers’ talks were uploaded* for the public to watch
their ideas?
for free. At present, the collection14 of TED Talk videos is 7
growing week by week, and it has helped spread new ideas

around the world.

Over the years, numerous15 celebrities16 have given 3. What was James
Cameron interested in
25 TED Talks and shared valuable insights* with their
when he was little?
audiences17. One was chef * Jamie Oliver*, who presented

his idea of starting a food revolution. Oliver wanted to

improve people’s health by teaching everyone how to

choose and prepare healthy meals. Another was James

157
 30 Cameron*, the director of the movies Aliens* and Avatar*.

Cameron talked about his childhood fascination18 with

science fiction19. He also spoke of how his interest in space,

aliens, and robots eventually led him to make blockbuster*

films. Still another was Bill Gates*, the co-founder* of

35 Microsoft*. It is interesting that Bill Gates didn’t talk about

computers. Instead, he discussed20 the importance and the

methods21 of controlling the spread of diseases like Ebola*.

These are just a few examples of the celebrity speakers

who have left millions feeling inspired through their TED

40 Talks.

Listening to one of these

TED Talks is like standing
on the shoulders of a giant—
you get to see farther and
understand more.

158
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

Listening to one of these TED Talks is like standing on

the shoulders of a giant—you get to see farther and

understand more. You won’t realize just how much you

can learn in eighteen minutes unless you give it a try. In

45 fact, there is a good chance that these talks will broaden

your horizons and even inspire you to try to change the

world.

—Written by Elena Yu

Reading Comprehension
_________ Which of the following information is mentioned neither in the passage nor in the
infographic below?
(A) Suggestions on how to prepare a good TED Talk.
(B) Examples of well-known people who have given TED Talks.
(C) How many TED conferences are held worldwide every year.
(D) The number of people who follow TED Talks on various social media platforms.
7
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS TIPS TO HELP YOU GIVE THE PERFECT
TO WORLD DOMINATION TED TALK
8m
Be Active
7m
Among the most-watched TED
6m Talks, less than 50% of the
5m TED speakers make use of a
4m PowerPoint presentation
3m 679,329 5.16m 7.5m onstage.
followers followers Likes
2m

1m in Choose Your Topics Wisely

Among the videos with more
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook than one million views, the
TED has grown into the most popular most popular topics are
online lecture series in recent years. It happiness, ethics, knowledge,
has also exploded on social media. food, and psychology.

159
 Graphic Organizer
Facts and key details are commonly seen in an informative text. Use the graphic
organizer to review what TED is all about. Fill in the blanks with words or phrases
that you can find in the passage.

TED’s organizers also invite thinkers from a

broader range of fields, including 3
What is TED about?
.
Topic Sentence
The 1 TED uses the slogan “4
TED, which .”
Facts stands for 2

, Each speaker has 5

has provided a platform on average to present his or her ideas.
for people to share their
thoughts since it was
The website TED.com was 6
established in 1984.
in 2007, and the public can watch its
uploaded talks 7 .

TED
Jamie Oliver: a chef
He presented his idea of starting a 9
Who have given .
TED Talks?

Topic Sentence James Cameron: a director

Over the years, He talked about his childhood 10
Key
numerous 8 with science fiction and his interest
Details
have given in space, aliens, and robots.
TED Talks and shared
valuable insights with Bill Gates: the co-founder of Microsoft
their audiences. He talked about the importance and
methods of 11
.

160
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

Comprehension Practice
1. What is the passage mainly about? General Understanding
(A) The secret to making a website popular.
(B) A way for people to learn through online courses.
(C) The influence of modern technology on human society.
(D) An organization aiming to make a difference in the world.

2. Which of the following statements is true about TED Talks? Key Details
(A) TED speakers come from all walks of life.
(B) Each TED Talk lasts more than eighteen minutes.
(C) The first TED Talk conference was held ten years ago.
(D) The speakers are required to talk about only their own fields.

3. Why does the author say that watching TED Talks is like standing on the
shoulders of a giant? Author’s Purpose
(A) The author believes that TED Talks can help viewers achieve more.
(B) The author wants to show that TED is a well-established organization.
(C) The author hopes that people can learn how to deal with challenges through
TED Talks.
(D) The author is certain that the popularity of TED Talks will keep growing.
7
Think and Reflect
1. If you are going to watch a TED Talk now, what topic will you be most interested in? Why?
Personally, I will be most interested in a talk that deals with.... The reason is that....

2. More and more people nowadays gain new information or take courses online. Why do
they choose to do so through the Internet?
As far as I am concerned, they may choose to gain new information through the Internet
because....
161
 Vocabulary & Phrases 字彙朗讀

Words for Production

1. seek ▲ vt. 尋求；尋找 (sought—sought—seeking) to look for, or pursue
[sik] • Jenny’s father is eager to make more money and is seeking new
ways of growing his business.

2. series n. [C] 系列 a group of similar events or creative works

▲

[`siriz] • Harry Potter is a series of novels that is popular among readers

around the world.

3. foundation n. [C] 基金會 an organization or operation established to provide

▲

[faʊn`deʃən] money for a certain purpose

• Two years ago, Monica set up a foundation aimed at finding a cure
for breast cancer.
n. [C] 基礎
▲

• This course provides a solid foundation in web design. It covers

all the basic skills.
found vt. 創立；建設
▲

[faʊnd] • Google was founded in 1998 by two students at Stanford University.

4. technology n. [U, C] 科技 useful ways in which scientific knowledge is applied

▲

[tɛk`nɑlədʒɪ] • The rapid development in medical technology can help save

millions of patients’ lives.
• Our company is experimenting with new technologies in order to
make better products.
technological adj. 科技的
[ˏtɛknə`lɑdʒɪkḷ] • Technological advances in storing energy have reduced the time
needed to charge electric car batteries.

162
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

5. conference n. [C] 會議；研討會 a large formal meeting in which people gather to

▲
[`kɑnfərəns] talk about important matters
• Clara is attending a conference with two co-workers in Los
Angeles.

6. worth adj. 值得……的 good enough for

▲
[wɝθ] • The restaurant serves excellent French cuisine. It’s worth a try.
adj. 價值……的
▲

• The violin shown in the museum is worth six million dollars.

worth n. [U] 價值；意義
▲

[wɝθ] • Leonard proved his worth to his basketball team by scoring more
than thirty points in the game.
worthy adj. 值得……的
▲

[`wɝðɪ] • The scientific achievements of Einstein are worthy of our respect.

7. increasingly adv. 愈來愈…… more and more

▲

[ɪn`krisɪŋlɪ] • As summer approaches, the days become increasingly warm.

increase vt. vi. 增加
▲

[ɪn`kris] • Over the last twelve months, the bakery has increased the price of
its banana bread by 15%.
• Our global population will continue to increase with time and is
set to reach around ten billion by 2050.
7
increase n. [C, U] 增加
▲

[`ɪnkris] • An increase in average temperatures is causing the snow in this

region to melt earlier than usual.
• According to reports, the number of foreign tourists seeking to
experience a taste of Taiwan seems to be on the increase.

8. organizer n. [C] 組織者；籌辦者 a person who plans or arranges a certain event

▲

[`ɔrgəˏnaɪzɚ] • The main organizer of the parade is a woman who has been
planning weddings and graduation ceremonies for years.

163
 organize vt. 組織；籌辦

▲
[`ɔrgəˏnaɪz] • While organizing Jasmine’s surprise party, her friends managed to
keep all the plans secret from her.

organization n. [C] 組織；機構

▲
[ˏɔrgənə`zeʃən] • Danny is the leader of an international organization that helps
children with rare diseases.

9. broad adj. 廣泛的 covering a wide variety

▲

[brɔd] • Our school provides numerous courses and a broad choice of club
activities for students.
adj. 寬闊的
▲

• We walked down a broad street lined with trees and enjoyed the
cool breeze.
broaden vt. 拓展
▲

[`brɔdṇ] • Reading gives people opportunities to broaden their minds.

10. range n. [C] 種類；系列 a selection of different things of a certain type

▲

[rendʒ] • A menu above the counter listed a wide range of teas for customers
to choose from.
n. [C] 範圍
▲

• If there is an increase in train ticket prices, it should be in the range

of twenty to fifty dollars.
range vi. 範圍包括……
▲

[rendʒ] • This camp is designed for children who range in age from six to ten.

11. field n. [C] 領域 a specific area of work or study

▲

[fild] • Most of the key speakers at this international conference are

experts in the field of space travel.

12. philosophy n. [U] 哲學 the study of the nature of human life and thoughts
▲

[fə`lɑsəfɪ] • Studying philosophy helped Sarah learn more about herself.

164
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

13. launch vt. 發行 to allow a new product, company, or website to become

▲
[lɔntʃ] available to the public for the first time
• The company will launch their new product in France tomorrow.
vt. 發起；開始從事

▲
• The army launched a surprise attack on the enemy yesterday.

14. collection n. [C] 一堆、群、批……等 a group of things or people

▲

[kə`lɛkʃən] • During the sale at the furniture store, a huge collection of tables
and chairs was on display outside the door.
n. [C] 收�品
▲

• Megan has a large private collection of Spider-Man comic books.

collect vt. 收集；收取
▲

[kə`lɛkt] • We collected water samples from different rivers for our research.

15. numerous adj. 許多的 many; large in number

▲

[`njumərəs] • There are numerous hotels along the coast, so it won’t be hard to
find a place to stay.

16. celebrity n. [C] 名人 a person who is widely known or famous

▲

[sə`lɛbrətɪ] • All the leading characters became international celebrities after

the TV drama was broadcast worldwide.
7
17. audience n. [C] 觀眾；聽眾 a group of people who gather together to listen to a
▲

[`ɔdɪəns] talk or watch a performance

• Though Johnny had never given a speech to an audience of over
two thousand people, he wasn’t nervous at all when speaking on
the stage.

18. fascination n. [U] 著迷 a strong interest in something or someone

▲

[ˏfæsṇ`eʃən] • Tina watched in fascination as the movie went on.

n. usually sing. 吸引力
▲

• Pandas have always held a fascination for Anna, so a trip to the

zoo was well worth it for her.
165
 fascinate vt. 使人著迷；吸引

▲
[`fæsṇˏet] • Amy was absolutely fascinated by the TV talk show; she didn’t
even hear the telephone ring.

19. fiction n. [U] 小說 books or stories that describe imaginary characters and
[`fɪkʃən] ▲ events instead of actual facts
• Pride and Prejudice is one of the most famous examples of
romantic fiction.

20. discuss vt. 探討；闡述 to share detailed opinions or ideas on a topic, either in
▲

[dɪ`skʌs] speech or in writing

• This topic will be discussed in detail in the next chapter.
vt. 討論
▲

• Eva made a decision after discussing her ideas with her friends.
discussion n. [C, U] 討論
▲

[dɪ`skʌʃən] • The couple had a long discussion about the possibility of moving
to a different city. They talked for hours.
• The matter is still under discussion, so everyone has a chance to
voice his or her opinion before we decide.

21. method n. [C] 方式 a specific way to do something or process of doing

▲

[`mɛθəd] something
• Ben adopted an effective method of studying and got good grades
on this exam.

Idioms and Phrases

1. as well as 和；除了……以外 and, in addition to
• Each student will be given a textbook as well as a notebook before the class.

166
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

2. for free 免費 not costing anything

• Ten lucky winners can go to the concert for free. It will not cost a cent!
3. at present 目前；現在 now
• Clive used to like comedies, but at present he’s more interested in horror movies.
4. give...a try 嘗試…… to experience or attempt to do something
• Penny decided to give green tea a try to see how it tasted.
5. broaden one’s horizons 拓展（某人的）視野 to learn more or to open one’s mind,
especially by trying new things or visiting new places
• Hank learned so much during his trip across Europe. It really broadened his horizons.

Words for Recognition

1. TED Talks [`tɛd `tɔks] n. TED演講（不同領域的專家以演講形式於TED平台與大眾分享資訊）
2. social networking site [`soʃəl `nɛtwɝkɪŋ saɪt] n. [C] 社交網站
3. platform [`plætˏfɔrm] n. usually sing. （公開表達看法的）機會
4. slogan [`slogən] n. [C] 口號；標語
5. upload [ʌp`lod] vt. 上傳
6. insight [`ɪnˏsaɪt] n. [C] 見解
7. chef [ʃɛf] n. [C] 主廚
8. Jamie Oliver [`dʒemi `ɑləvɚ] n. 傑米•奧利佛
7
9. James Cameron [`dʒemz `kæmərən] n. 詹姆斯•卡麥隆
10. Aliens [`elɪənz] n. 《異形2》
11. Avatar [`ævəˏtɑr] n. 《阿凡達》
12. blockbuster [`blɑkˏbʌstɚ] n. [C] 賣座鉅片
13. Bill Gates [`bɪl `gets] n. 比爾•蓋茲
14. co-founder [`koˏfaʊndɚ] n. [C] 共同創辦人
15. Microsoft [`maɪkrosɔft] n. 微軟
16. Ebola [ɪ`bolə] n. 伊波拉

167
 Sentence Pattern
Honey, I’m sorry to have kept Listen, honey.
you waiting for so long.(1) I’d gotten this
Yes, I do!
for you, but I
Leave me alone!(2) left it at home.(3)
So I went back
and...

在此語境中，句(1) Shrek 對 Fiona「等待太久」而感到抱歉，句 (2) Fiona 想要「獨自一人」，

句 (3) Shrek 發現戒指「留在家裡」，因此使用「keep/leave/find + V-ing/p.p./adj./prep.」的句
型，來帶出該動詞後面受詞的附帶狀態，使語意更完整。

S + keep/leave/find + O + V-ing/p.p./adj./prep…..
1. 此句型用於說明 keep/leave/find 三個動詞後面所接受詞的附帶狀態，表達「使 任由 發
現……處於某種狀態」，使其語意更完整。
2. keep/leave/find 後面須接一個名詞當受詞，受詞後面可接：
(1) 現在分詞：表主動或持續進行的動作
Don’t leave your car running while you fill it with gas.
(2) 過去分詞：表被動或已經完成的動作
I was surprised to find the door unlocked when I got home.
(3) 形容詞：表狀態
It’s so hot in this room. Please keep the windows open.
(4) 介系詞 介系詞片語：表狀態或位置
Hank woke up and found his dog beside his bed.

Examples
1. Others choose to keep their minds sharp by reading books and newspapers. (line 3)
2. These are just a few examples of the celebrity speakers who have left millions feeling
inspired through their TED Talks. (line 38)

168
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

Practice A
Complete the sentences using the sentence pattern above and the words given in
parentheses. The first one has been done for you.
1. I entered the library and found Tina reading a magazine in the chair (find / Tina / read /
magazine / in the chair).
2. Just (leave / the baby / sleep). Don’t wake her up.
3. Sarah always (keep / her room / clean and tidy).
4. When Ron came out of the restaurant, he (find / his car / miss).
5. Watching Sean walk farther and farther away from me
(leave / my heart / empty).
6. With all the lights turned off, we
(find / ourselves / in total darkness).

Practice B
Read Johnny’s diary and complete the sentences using the sentence pattern above
and the words given from A to F. The first one has been done for you.
(A) leave / the water / run / all day long (B) find / the library / close
(C) keep / myself / calm (D) leave / me / alone / at home
(E) find / my wallet / miss (F) leave / me / in great shock and pain

This morning, Mom went out to do some shopping and left me alone at home. She told
1
7
me to stay home and do my homework. But I was so bored that I decided to go to the
library, thinking that I could study more efficiently there. As soon as I got there, I was
surprised to 2 . So I changed my mind and headed to the
theater. While waiting in line to buy a ticket, I saw my girlfriend and my best friend
holding hands right in front of me, which 3 . Though
I felt very angry, I tried hard to 4 . No longer in the mood for the
movie, I left the theater right away and took a bus home. Just when I was about to get off
the bus, I 5 . Luckily, a nice girl gave me a few coins. When
I finally got home, I found the door locked and my keys also missing. So I had to call my
dad to come home and unlock the door for me. When entering the house, we found the
living room floor all wet. Then I realized I had forgot to turn off the faucet and 6
. “Today really was not my day!” I said to myself.
169
 Language in Use
Explore & Discover She has been working so hard. It’s
certain that she’ll get good grades.
Jessie looks upset. It’s clear that
something is worrying her.

She’s
worried
about the
exam
tomorrow. I hope so.

Part A
Each of the following sentences has a statement following an adjective that
describes how certain this statement is. Circle the adjective and underline the
statement. The first one has been done for you.
1. It is possible that we will win the championship.
2. It is impossible that the sun could rise in the west someday.
3. It is obvious that drunk driving should be punished more strictly.

Part B
Each of the following sentences has a statement following an adjective that
expresses an opinion or comments on this statement. Circle the adjective and
underline the statement. The first one has been done for you.
1. It was too bad that the concert was canceled because of the typhoon.
2. It is surprising that Vincent is involved in this murder case.
3. It is strange that Leo doesn’t know anything about his best friend’s marriage.

170
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

Examples
1. It was clear to the organizers that they should invite thinkers from a broader range of
fields to come and speak. (line 15)
2. It is interesting that Bill Gates didn’t talk about computers. Instead, he discussed the
importance and the methods of controlling the spread of diseases like Ebola. (line 35)

Apply & Practice

Step 1 : The teacher divides the class into six groups and assigns each group one
sentence from Part A below as the group’s argument.
Step 2: Each group finds two sentences from Part B as the supporting details for the
argument and uses these sentences to form a complete short paragraph.
Step 3: Each group assigns a member to read the paragraph to the whole class.

Part A

1. It is unfair that women don’t have the same rights as men do.
2. It is true that smartphones have become an essential part of our lives.
3. It is too bad that so many people don’t take the time to cook for themselves. 7
4. It is possible that humans might one day live on other planets.
5. It is obvious that human activity is the main cause of climate change.
6. It is doubtful that drinking milk is healthy for humans.

171
 Part B

1. What’s more, it’s better for the environment because takeaway bags, boxes,
and utensils are not needed.
2. While milk does contain some important vitamins and minerals, it is not
natural for humans to consume the milk of another animal.
3. Living on other planets might even become essential for the survival of the
human race if we continue to destroy the Earth’s environment.
4. If they have the same job, they should also earn the same wage.
5. Most scientists agree that greenhouse gases such as this are the main cause
of global warming.
6. Their practical uses are almost endless: sending instant messages, making
reservations, finding one’s way, and checking the weather, just to name a
few.
7. Humans are the only species that has created CO2-emitting cars, machines,
and factories.
8. Cooking food at home is not only healthier but also cheaper.
9. However, one study shows that in the US, a woman working full-time is
paid seventy-nine cents for every dollar that a man working in the same
position is paid.
10. Few people nowadays can imagine leaving home without their
smartphones.
11. Some governments, such as that of Canada, have even removed dairy
products from their list of recommended foods and drinks.
12. In fact, NASA already has plans to send humans to Mars in the near future.

172
 Lesson 7 TED Talks: Spreading Ideas for a Better World

Listening Strategy Scan and Listen

Vocabulary Preview
Listen and repeat.

1. secret 2. success 3. passion 4. achieve

Match the words with their meanings.

1. secret 2. success 3. passion 4. achieve
(A) to reach or attain a goal (C) strong enthusiasm for something
(B) the accomplishment of an aim (D) something that is kept hidden from others

Listening Strategy
Listening for Examples
Speakers often give examples to make their ideas clearer and easier to understand.
Recognizing when examples are about to be given will improve your comprehension.
Words or phrases that indicate examples include: for instance, for example, a good
example is, like, and such as.

Listen for the Gist

Listen and check the secrets of success you have heard.
7
□ Passion. □ Hard work. □ Money. □ Practice. □ Luck. □ Magic.

Listen for Details

Listen again and match.
1. Be passionate about what you do.
2. Work hard at what you do.
3. Be good at what you do.
(A) Alex Garden.
(B) Rupert Murdoch.
(C) Carol Coletta.

173