Joy of British summer (P4)

河北邯郸一中 王延超

I. Pre-reading

What are the things that you like and don't like about summer?

Like

•Swimming

•Barbecue

•Watermelon

•Ice cream 

•Beaches…

Dislike

•Heat 

•Rain 

•Sweat…

Indeed, for many Chinese people - especially females - the sunshine is too much in summer. 

But not for Britons.

In Britain, sunshine is precious because there is so little of it there. Most British people adore sunshine. 

Here comes an article written by a Briton about summer in his homeland. Before the passage, first watch this video about British summers.

II. Fast Reading

Read the whole text quickly, and try to summarize the main idea of  the passage.

The passage mainly tells us the character of the British climate: mild, wet, not very hot, and quite comfortable.

英国人

喜爱

热浪

一段时间

利用

被...跟随

忍受，容忍

不可预测的

抱怨

吹嘘

Careful Reading

Read the passage carefully, and try to answer the questions below.

1. What are the differences between the attitudes toward summer of Chinese and British people?

Many people in China don’t like to spend a lot of time outdoors in the hottest months of the year, when temperatures can become very high. But Britain, which doesn’t get many sunny days, has a different attitude toward summer. 

Most Britons adore sunshine, and we spend as much time as we can outdoors on sunny days.

2. What is a heat wave? And how do Britons react toward them?

In Britain, a series of two or more days at 25 C and over is usually called a “heat wave”, and the whole country seems to become excited if such weather is reported. News reports and social media become filled with talk about the upcoming good weather.

3. What do Britons do during heat waves?

Britons like to take advantage of good weather – it brings us together. 

For example, adults will drink beer outside pubs, young people will play soccer in the park with their friends, and the smell of barbecue (烤肉) smoke will fill the air, as people throw garden parties with friends and relatives.

4. What normally happens in Britain after a heat wave?

During heat waves – whose temperatures usually don’t get higher than 25 C; quite often, a short period of sunshine is followed by days of cold air and heavy rain. 

T or F

1. Many people in China don’t like to spend a lot of time outdoors in the hottest months of the year, when temperatures can become very high.

2. In Britain, a series of two or more days at 25 C and over is usually called a “heat wave”, and the whole country seems to become sad if such weather is reported. 

3. ... although British summers are generally mild, they can also be unpredictable. 

4. During heat waves – whose temperatures usually don’t get higher than 25 C – people often complain that it is “too hot”, and some even demand to go to work early.

Fill in the blanks using proper conjunction words

Many people in China don’t like to spend a lot of time outdoors in the hottest months of the year, ____ temperatures can become very high. 

Britain, ____doesn’t get many sunny days, has a different attitude toward summer. 

During heat waves – _____temperatures usually don’t get higher than 25 C – people often complain that it is “too hot” .

 …is even trying to introduce a rule ____forbids employers from making their employees work...

Still, _____(即使)Britain cannot boast of the perfect climate, it’s always a lovely place to travel to in the summer. 

III. After Reading

Translate the sentences in the passage.

1.一段时间的美丽天气即将到来，温度随之升到30摄氏度。

A spell of beautiful weather is about to hit us, bringing temperatures of up to 30 C.

2.尽管英国的夏天总体很温和，有时也难以预料。

Although British summers are generally mild, they can also be unpredictable.

3.青少年往往能忍受坏天气，而大人们倾向于抱怨坏天气。

Young people usually put up with bad weather, but adults tend to moan about it.

4.即使英国人不去吹嘘其完美的气候，夏天一直都是人们旅行喜欢的去处。

Even if Britain cannot boast of the perfect climate, it’s always a lovely place to travel to in the summer. 

Fill in the blanks according to the passage.

Many people in China don’t like to spend a lot of time _______in the hottest months of the year, when temperatures can become very high. But Britain, which doesn’t get many sunny days, has a different attitude ______summer. Most Britons adore sunshine, and we spend as much time as we can outdoors on sunny days. For example, adults will drink beer outside pubs, young people will play soccer in the park with their friends, and the smell of ______smoke will fill the air, as people ____ garden parties with friends and relatives. Quite often, a short period of sunshine is followed by days of cold air and heavy rain. During ____ ____– whose temperatures usually don’t get higher than 25 C – people often _______ that it is “too hot”, and some even demand to leave work early. It’s always a lovely place to travel to in the summer. 

IV. Discussion

In between the lines, we can read the author's pride in Britain's climate; do you like the climate in your hometown? Why or why not? (2 mins)

Climate in the whole world is constantly changing. Do you think it is becoming better or worse? What should we do to prepare for climate change? (3 mins)

V. Homework

Based on the previous discussion, try to compose two articles.

One is about the climate in your hometown; the other is about climate change and what we can do towards it.

Compare this passage with The autumn in Beiping (《故都的秋》) ,written by Yu Dafu. What are the similarities and differences between the two?

 

Diet may affect aging (P5)

河北邯郸一中 王延超

I. Warming up

In many Chinese religions and myths, a lot of characters pursue youth or want to forever.  

In Chinese history, numerous emperors tried to find ways to stay young. 

In the Bible, Adam lived for 930 years. He had a son called Seth, who lived for 913 years. 

Today, the dream of staying young may be closer to becoming reality. Read the passage to find out more. 

Recently, scientists from Duke University in the US suggested they have found a way to slow down the aging process. 

II. Fast Reading

Please read the passage, and answer the questions below.

1. What did the researchers from Duke University find? 

A recent study by researchers from Duke University in the US found that cutting one’s daily intake of calories could slow down biological aging, which means you might be able to hang on to your youthful looks a little longer.

2. What did Daniel Belsky and his team do?

To find out, Daniel Belsky and his team examined data from a study by the National Institute on Aging in the US, which involved 220 people. During the two-year study, 145 people in the restriction group cut their calorie intake by 25 percent. Meanwhile, 75 people in the control group maintained their normal diets.

3. What did the study involve?

At the start of the study, the two groups had no difference in biological age. The average participant was 38 years old, with a biological age of 37. However, after each 12-month period, participants in the restriction group saw an increase in biological age by an average of 0.11 years. Meanwhile, those in the control group saw a rise by an average of 0.71 years.

4. What did the researchers learn from the study?

The researchers believe the difference between these groups shows that cutting calories does slow biological aging.

Although they didn’t explain the reason behind this, researchers at Brigham Young University in the US provided an explanation after they carried out a similar study on mice.

They believe fewer calories slow down a mechanism in cells called the ribosome, at least in mice. The mechanism is responsible for making vital proteins in cells, but with fewer calories it slows down, giving it more time to repair itself. 

5. What is the metaphor “car and tire” used to describe?

The ribosome is complex, like a car, and it needs to replace the parts that wear out the fastest from time to time, according to John Price, a biochemistry professor at Brigham Young University.

When tires wear out, you don’t throw the whole car away and buy new ones. It’s easier to replace the tires.

Careful reading

TRUE or FALSE

1. The secret to staying young has already been discovered. 

2. Researchers from Duke University in the US found that adding to one’s daily intake of calories could slow down biological aging. 3. Previous research has shown that calorie restrictions slow aging in worms, flies and mice. 4. During the two-year study, 145 people in the restriction group cut their calorie intake by 20 percent. 5. The ribosome is complex, like a car, and it needs to replace the parts that wear out the fastest from time to time.  

摄取，摄入

别挂电话，坚持

约束，管制

（统计学上的）控制组，对照组

机制，机能

为……负责

复杂的

穿坏，用坏，耗尽

略过，漏过，不做（应做的事）

信号

Please find out the attributive clauses in the passage.

1. ...we may be closer than ever to finding a way that can slow down the aging process.

2. ...cutting one’s daily intake of calories could slow down biological aging, which means you might be able to hang on to your youthful looks a little longer.

3. ...Daniel Belsky and her team examined data from a study by the National Institute on Aging in the US, which involved 220 people.

4. ...it needs to replace the parts that wear out the fastest from time to time,...

5. ...it’s a signal that tells our body and cells how to respond,...

Translate the following sentences into English.

1.尽管这种方法还没有找到，我们可以比以前任何时候都接近找到延缓衰老的方法。

Although it has yet to be discovered, we may be closer than ever to finding a way that can slow down the aging process.

2. 这就意味着你可以保持青春面孔时间更长一些。

This means you might be able to hang on to your youthful looks a little longer.

3. 所以研究人员想知道它是否在人类身上有同样的效果。

So researchers wondered if it could have the same effect on people. 

4. 同时，控制组75%的人维持正常的饮食。

Meanwhile, 75 people in the control group maintained their normal diets.

5.当轮胎用坏了，你不会扔掉整辆车买一个新车。换一个轮胎更简单。

When tires wear out, you don’t throw the whole car away and buy new ones. It’s easier to replace the tires 

Try to identify the different meanings of “wonder” in these sentences: 

1. Researchers wondered if it could have the same effect on people. _____ 

2. No wonder my brother wasn't feeling well. ____

3. A few moments of relaxation can work wonders. ____________ 

4. We all wonder at your strength. ________

5. The Great Wall in China is an ancient wonder. ____

6. I wonder about my future. _________

Fill in the blanks according to the passage.

1. For many years, humans have tried to find the secret to ____ young. (stay)

2. Calorie ________ slow aging in worms, flies and mice. (restrict)

3. The two groups had no _______ in biological age. (different)

4. They carried out a similar study on _____. (mouse)

5. They believe fewer calories slow down a ________ in cells. (mechanical)

Please try to paraphrase the passage with your deskmate.

One possible version:

A recent study by researchers from Duke University in the US found that cutting one’s daily intake of calories could slow down biological aging, which means you might be able to hang on to your youthful looks a little longer. To find out, Daniel Belsky and her team examined data from a study by the National Institute on Aging in the US, which involved 220 people. The researchers believe the difference between these groups shows that cutting calories does slow biological aging. They believe fewer calories slow down a mechanism in cells called the ribosome, at least in mice. The mechanism is responsible for making vital proteins in cells, but with fewer calories it slows down, giving it more time to repair itself. But this doesn’t mean that people who want to look younger should start skipping meals, especially given the study’s early stage. 

III. Discussion 

If technology could make human beings live forever, what would the world be like? What problems might arise? 

This Chinese man was said to have lived for 256 years.

IV. Homework

1. Take down the useful words and phrases in your exercise book.

2. Find out more clauses in the passage.

3. Try to write a passage about what the world would be like if everyone could live for a long time.

 

Take every chance (P6)

哈尔滨市第一中学 张婳

I. Pre-reading

What’s your dream university? Do you think going to a top university is necessary for your success? What are the factors that are important to your success?  

II. Reading

Read the article and answer the following questions. 

1. According to the author, what is important in our lives? 

Take every opportunity given to you and do something with it.

2. What opportunity was the author’s daughter given in the 7th and 8th grades? 

Her middle school teacher gave her financial support for her to compete in the National History Day competition.

3. How did the author perform in the competition? What did she get from this experience?  

The first time, she made it to the state finals. The second time, she didn’t place. But through the competition, she realized she had a passion for filmmaking. 

4. How can we get opportunities in life? Why? 

We can get opportunities in life by working hard. Because people in power will always notice if you work harder than everyone else. 

5. Besides working hard, what else is important if you want a good career? 

Attention to detail and good manners. 

III. Structure

Observe the following sentences from the article:

•What I tell my daughter about college, and about life generally, is this: …

•What matters is whether you take every opportunity given to you and do something with it.

•It really doesn‘t matter where you start out in life.   

主语从句

•主语从句在句中作主语，它的位置与陈述句基本结构中的主语相同。主语从句放在句首，句子常常显得比较笨重，因此常把它移至句子末尾，而用it作形式主语。

•引导主语从句的有连词that, whether;疑问代词who, what, which;疑问副词when, where, how, why等。

•Complete the following sentences: 

•（她已经成为了好学生）is known to us all.

   That she has become a good student is known to us all.

•(明天我们是否去野营) depends on the weather.

   Whether we will go camping tomorrow depends on the weather.

•(现在我们非常需要的) is more practice.

   What we need badly is more practice.

•（无论谁来）will be welcome.

   Whoever comes will be welcome.

•It hasn’t been decided yet （我们去哪讨论）.

   It hasn’t been  decided yet where we’ll have the discussion.

IV. Post-reading

Discussion: 

What can you learn from this article? Will you think twice about your dream university? What are the things you will consider when you choose the right university for you? Do you have other plans for your future?