Photos get interesting (P3)

山东烟台二中   柏钦琳

I. Warming up

Do you like taking pictures of yourself?

Do you prefer to take pictures in a traditional way or in a creative way? Why?

 

II. Reading

Read the article quickly and answer the following questions:

1. Why does Anderson take pictures of himself as the Amazing Spider-Man?

Because he loves superheroes and wants to be everyone’s hero. And he thinks it will make him stand out and help him be himself. 

 

2. What factors have contributed to the popularity of extreme senior portraits?

High school seniors no longer want to graduate with a regular yearbook picture. They want their photos to reflect their true personalities. And they want the photo shoot experience to make them feel like a famous person – or a superhero – for a day. 

In addition, the goal for many seniors – especially the girls – is to end up with an impressive set of pictures to be shared and liked on social media. 

 

3. What are photographers doing in order to satisfy the needs of students?

Photographers are taking note of these new expectations and are trying hard to create unforgettable moments for students. 

 

III. Language study

1. Bemidji high school senior Jaxon Anderson is an awkward teenager who wants to be everyone’s hero. 

重点词：awkward 意为“ 害羞的，局促不安的 ”（Someone who feels awkward behaves in a shy or embarrassed way.）。例如：

He feels awkward with/around strangers. 

语法：句中who引导的定语从句修饰先行词teenager。

 

2. I was struggling with what to do for senior photos and knew this would make me stand out and help me be myself. 

struggle with：try very hard to do, achieve, or deal with sth that is difficult 努力做某事

stand out：be easily seen or noticed; be much better than other similar things or people 显眼，突出

 

3. While most still take a traditional headshot (头像) for Mom and Dad, they want the rest of their photos to reflect their true personalities. 

语法：句中while 引导让步状语从句，while意为“虽然，尽管”。

reflect their true personalities：反映出他们真正的性格

 

4. The goal for many seniors – especially the girls – is to end up with an impressive set of pictures to be shared and liked on social media. 

重点词: end up with 以……结束，a set of 一组。

分析：本句的主干是The goal for many seniors is to end up with an impressive set of pictures。不定式短语to be shared and liked …用作后置定语，修饰pictures 。

 

Useful words and phrases 

Fill in the blanks by using the words or phrases in the text.

1. He didn’t put his heart into studying English so he _________(吃力地进行) his English homework. 

2. The letters _________ (显眼) well against the dark background.

We all want to hear about the _____(最新的) events and happenings at our school.

3. The way John showed me around made my experience in England ________ (难以忘怀的).

Key: struggled with   stood out    latest   unforgettable

 

IV. After reading 

Discussion: 

* As a high school senior, what would you like your senior photos to be like? 

* Do you have any good ideas for taking creative pictures?

Work in groups to discuss possible answers, then share them with your partner. 

 

 

Tai chi helps fitness (P4)

沈阳市第二中学  常虹

Lead-in

Take a look at a video. Tell us which part of the video impressed you most.

http://www.tudou.com/listplay/vvng2RU0KJM/DDqsP_2v5aQ.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While reading

Scanning: 

Read the article and answer the following questions. 

1. Why has tai chi attracted so many fans around the world?

Millions of lovers of tai chi around the world are using the form of martial arts as an important healthcare practice to get control of their health, improve performance, manage stress and slow down the process of getting old.

 

2. Who created tai chi? And how?

According to legend, one day Taoist Zhang Sanfeng saw a bird attacking a snake in the Wudang Mountains in Hubei province. He was inspired by the snake’s defense to create a set of 72 movements that used softness and power from inside to defeat brute force.

 

3. How should tai chi movements be performed?

In every movement, every part of the body must be light, agile and together. The movements should be carried out without breaks. They should be rooted in the feet, released through the legs, directed by the waist and expressed by the fingers.

 

4. What is the advantage of tai chi over sports like football or swimming?

Tai chi can be practiced any time and anywhere without equipment or a gymnasium.

 

Read the article again and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. Tai chi has helped hundreds of young people in London to stay fitter.

2. Tai chi is often linked to the Chinese idea of yin and yang.

3. People only practice tai chi because of its physical benefits.

4. Zhang Sanfeng was inspired by the bird to create a set of 72 movements.

5. Tai chi’s movements are soft but can be powerful.

Key: F T F F T

 

Language focus

Read the following sentence.

It is tai chi that has taught her the value of “going slowly”.

This sentence can be put in another way.

Tai chi has taught her the value of “going slowly”.

What has been left out?

 

强调句：强调句型的构成是：It is (was) + 被强调部分+ that (who) + 句子的其他成分。

被强调的部分放在 It is (was) 之后，其它部分置于that之后。被强调部分可以是主语，宾语，表语或状语。强调的主语如果是人，可以由who代替that。如果把该句型结构还原，应该是一个完整无缺的句子。这也是判断强调句型与其它从句的一种方法。

 

小试牛刀

原句：Tom found my pen in the classroom yesterday.

强调主语：

It was Tom that found my pen in the classroom yesterday.

强调宾语：

It was my pen that Tom found in the classroom yesterday.

强调地点状语：

It was in the classroom that Tom found my pen yesterday.

强调时间状语：

It was yesterday that Tom found my pen in the classroom.

 

Language work

Translate the following sentences.

Millions of lovers of tai chi around the world are using the form of martial arts as an important healthcare practice to get control of their health, improve performance, manage stress and slow down the process of getting old.

数以百万的来自全世界的太极拳爱好者们把这种武术形式当做一种重要的保健方式来掌控自己的健康，改善身体机能，控制压力和延缓衰老进程。

 

And learning to do it correctly gives us a practical way to achieve such things as balance, motor control and rhythm of movement.

太极拳提供了实用的方法来训练平衡性、协调性和节奏感。

 

Post-reading

Performance:

What else do Chinese people like to do to keep fit besides tai chi? Can you perform some examples for your classmates?

 

Homework

Search the internet to find a video about tai chi. Learn 3-4 movements.

 

 

 

No longer afraid to fly (P6)

山东省烟台第二中学   赵娟

Lead-in

Question for discussion:

Are you afraid of flying? If so, how do you try to get rid of your fear?

 

While reading

Scanning: 

Read the article and answer the following questions. 

1. Why did the author want to change? 

Her treatment for breast cancer (乳腺癌) made her realize she had not been a doer in the way she wanted to be, so she wanted to make a change.

 

2. Why did the author choose to fly to London with her family?

To celebrate life, she wanted to give her family and herself a trip to another continent during  the break between chemo (化疗) and radiation (放疗).

 

3. What did the author think of flying this time? And how did she feel about her trip to London?

The author’s flight on British Airways was her best ever. She planned a different adventure every day and her kids learned and loved every minute.

 

4. What had stopped her from having such a good trip before?

Life and work had gotten in the way.

 

5. What did she realize through going on this trip?

She had thoroughly enjoyed family learning by living, but nothing beat knowing that her kids loved and felt grateful for the trip. One day, she believes they might realize that sometimes, the best adventures come after surviving your greatest fears.

我尽情享受在生活中与家人一起学习，但没有什么比得知孩子们喜欢并感激这次旅行更让人开心的了。

nothing beats ... 的意思是“没有什么比得上…….”。

例如：You’ll find that nothing beats holding the hand of your child as he or she takes his or her first steps. 

与nothing 相关的表达：

nothing but       只有，仅仅

nothing like       根本不像，完全不像

have nothing to do with  与… …无关

 

Reading for more details

1. Was the author afraid of flying before this trip? Why?

She had been afraid of flying since she worked in news and covered many plane crashes (and had her own horrific experience).

cover = be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism

 

2. What did the author think of flying this time? Was she afraid of flying this time? Why?

Her flight on British Airways was her best ever.

“I don’t know if ________ the size of the plane, the _______ of the seats, the TVs or the family friendliness ______ made the time fly by for me. Or because the pilots _________ to explain the maps and weather patterns and ________. That certainly helped, or was it possible that chemo ______ this fear too?”

è It was _____________________ that helped her get rid of the fear and thus guaranteed her a good trip. 

Key: it was, comfort, that, took extra time, calm me down, cured, the author’s attitude toward flying

 

Grammar focus

When you look in the mirror without hair, you do your best to get through your day as though it were a day before you discovered your lump (肿瘤).

释义：当你看着镜子中没有头发的自己，你会尽自己最大努力来过好每一天，就像你发现肿瘤前那样。

As though it were … 表示对现在的虚拟，让每一天都像你发现肿瘤前时一样，事实却相反，已经发现肿瘤了。

 

在状语从句中，as if /though + Clause  现在：过去时

                                  过去：过去完成时 

She loves the baby as if it were her own son.

It felt as if it were spring.

I remembered the whole thing as if it had happened the day before.

 

Language focus

Fill in the blanks.

1. I have always ________ myself __ a doer (行动者). In work, I definitely was and continue_____.

2. When you look in the mirror without hair, you do your best to _________ your day as though it ____ a day before you discovered your lump (肿瘤).

3. This time, the pilots ___________ explain the maps and weather patterns and _____ me ______.

4. My boys may now know ______ about English castles and palaces and Winston Churchill ____ they do about sports. 

5. I had wanted to do a trip like this for years. Life and work had___________. 

6. ______ (尽管) life and work, we had finally done it. I planned this ______ trip during chemo and will plan the next one during radiation.

Key: 1. thought of; as; to be  2. get through; were  3. took extra time to; calm; down  4. as much; as  5. gotten in the way  6. Despite; incredible

 

Post-reading

Discussion:

Do you have a particular fear of anything? What have you done to avoid facing it or try to overcome it?

Social anxiety disorder社交恐惧症

Claustrophobia密闭恐惧

Demophobia人群恐惧症

Fear of heights恐高症