1. Reading Skill 1 － facts and opinions (15 minutes) The teacher explain this reading skill to the students:
Facts are usually objective descriptions or statements while opinions are subjective evaluations or predictions from both the characters and the author. In general, facts are directly related to the development of the plot while opinions provide the author’s and characters’ reflections.
Students read the following sample and then answer the questions:
A further difficulty would arise in respect of communication. Water will conduct sound, but it does not transmit words produced by human vocal chords; nor is the human ear adapted to underwater hearing. If the sea-people are to be amphibious, they will want to retain the voices and ears which they have for communication out of water, and may therefore have to develop a new code of signals for their own use in their new environment. Divers use sign-language, but this has awkward limitations, especially bearing in mind the poor visibility of the submarine world.
Questions: Decide whether the following statements are facts, or simply the opinions of the author.
a) Water will conduct sound.
b) If the sea-people are to be amphibious, then they will want to retain their voices and ears. c) Divers use sign language.
2. Reading Skill 2 —thesis (15 minutes)
The teacher explains the steps for finding thesis to the students. Step 1: Skim over the passage to get a general sense.
Step 2: Carefully read the passage and underline the topic sentence or key words that express the implied main idea.
Step 3: Go over what has been underlined and determine the main idea. Students read the following sample and then do the exercises.
If you are planning to buy a television set, the following advertisement would certainly attract your attention: ―Color TV, only $79. Two day sale. Hurry.‖ However, when you go to the store ready to buy, you may discover that the advertised sets are sold out. But the salesman is quick to reassure you that he has another model, a more reliable set which is ―just right for you.‖ It costs $359. This sales tactic is called ―bait and switch.‖ Buyers are baited with a sales offer, and then they are switched to another more costly item. Buying items on sale requires careful consideration of the merchandise and the reasons for the sale. Which of the following best expresses the main idea
a. The customer must be on his guard when purchasing items on sale.
24
b. Color television sets which sell for $79 are sold out quickly.
c. Many stores use the ―bait and switch‖ techniques to attract customers. d. Anyone planning to buy a television set should look for a sale.
This paragraph could be entitled
a. Buying a TV Set b. Buyer Beware c. Closeout Sale d. Sales Tactics 3. Reading Skill 3 －details (15 minutes)
The teacher explains the steps for finding details to the students. Step 1: Read the passage and determine the main idea.
Step 2: Underline important words and ideas and sort out the important details that support the main idea.
Step 3: Find how the paragraph is put together.
Television is addictive. For example, when a set breaks, most families rush to have it repaired, often renting one if the repair process takes longer than a day or two. When ―nothing’s on TV,‖ people experience boredom with their lives, not knowing what to do with themselves. Perhaps the best example of television addiction was an experiment in Germany where 184 volunteers were paid to go without television for a year. At first, most volunteers did well, reporting that they were spending more time with their children, reading, and visiting friends. Then, within a month, tension, restlessness, and quarreling increased. Not one volunteer lasted more than five months without a television set. Once the sets were on again, people lost their anxieties and returned to normal.
Questions: which is the main idea of the passage and which are the supporting details. a) Many people have fallen victims to television addiction.
b) Most families can not go without a TV set even for a couple of days.
c) With no exciting TV programs to entertain them with, people will feel bored to death.
d) An experiment in Germany showed none of the 184 volunteers could last more than five
months without a TV set.
5th Period Speaking
1. Group Discussion: (20 minutes)
You are going to talk about sports. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner(s).
a) Do you like sports? What is your favorite sport? b) What sports do most young people go in for? c) What sports are suitable for old people? d) Do you like jogging? Why or why not?
e) Could you name some ball games? Which one do you like best?
25
f) Why do people need to play sports?
g) What do you know about the Olympic Games?
2. Language Focus (10 minutes)
Students read the following sentences aloud.
I like swimming / jogging / fishing / tennis, etc.
My favorite sport is basketball / volleyball / football, etc.
Young people go in for such sports as running / playing basketball, tennis, football, etc. Jogging / Walking / Fishing is good for old people.
Jogging is considered a healthy sport for both the young and the old / for people of all ages. Many people begin jogging because they believe it is a very good form of exercise / can make their hearts stronger / can help them lose weight.
Jogging against the cold wind is also a test one’s will power. Playing sports can help us to relax.
Sitting in a chair all day has made me very lazy. I can get my figure back if I play a sport.
I could meet some new people when I play sports.
People play sports because they want to keep fit / live an active life. Playing a sport we like is an essential part of our life.
The Olympics are held every four years in a different city in the world. Over 2, 700 years ago the first Olmpics were held in Athens.
The Olympics have become the world’s most important athletic events / a symbol of the sporting friendship of all the people in the world.
3) Discussion: Students work in small groups and discuss the positive effects of doing exercise. (15 minutes)
6th Period
Writing skill
Writing Strategy ----- How to write a personal description
1. Word Categorizing: Students categorize the following words according to the instruction. Put the following adjectives into the right group, according to what they describe. (15 minutes) good-looking blue-eyed well-dressed self-centered clean left-handed bad tempered clean-shaven narrow-minded cheap straight-haired easy-going well-behaved broad-shouldered attractive colorful wrinkled ordinary ugly slim fashionable kind generous warm-hearted cold rude thin dirty mean stubborn strong-willed persistent shy old-dated
26
Character: _________________________________________________________ Face: _____________________________________________________________ Body: _____________________________________________________________ Clothes: _____________________________________________________________
2. Students read the following two samples individually. (10 minutes) My Roommate
It was my first day at college. I got into the dormitory where i was going to live, and looked at door after door for my name. As last I found it. In the room there was already a student making his bed.
After we said ―How do you do‖ to each other, he continued his work, paying no attention to me. ―What a stuck-up fellow‖, I thought. I examined the room. it was not different in the fittings and furnishings from any other room I had seen, but it had been thoroughly cleaned---by my new roommate, no doubt. I looked at him. He was thin, short and dark. His hair was untidy. His dirty clothes, which were made of cheap cloth and tired look were signs of a long journey. The coat was too short and the trousers too loose. The rubber shoes that he wore were unfashionable. He did not look a smart freshman at all. ―A country folk‖, I concluded. The second time he spoke, his accent told me that he was from the south, ―Shall I help you to get pour luggage from the office?‖ I did not refuse since I really needed help. He was quick in movement. He walked out of the room and was soon far ahead of me in the corridor.
―A good guy‖ I said to myself, ―I will make friends with him‖ I hurried and caught up with him. My mother
My mother is a kind and gentle woman. She is always very genteel. She takes care of her children and keeps them all at school. I have two brothers and sisters. So she gets five children in all. She gives us every comfort. We all love her and she loves us also.
My mother has too much to do in bringing us up. As our family is too poor to keep a nurse, my mother has always to do much housework. she gets up very early and sleeps very late every day. She works hard, yet without complaining.
She is also a thrifty and industrious woman. She saves every penny that she can and keeps everything in order. As she has been busy ever since she was young, she looks older than she really is. Her face is wrinkled, her hair becomes silver gray, and some of teeth become movable. But she works hard as ever.
Often she says to us, ―Work while you work, play while you play. If you do not work, you will become lazy and of no use to society.‖ What a piece of good advice this is! We must treasure it up and always keep it in mind.
27
