Making math fairer (P2)
辽宁省沈阳二中 李珊珊

I. Lead-in
Pick out the subjects you’re good at.
Now let's carry out a survey: Put your hand up if you’re good at math or science.

Ø Are boys better at math and science than girls? Why or why not?

You may check the article for some reasons.

II. Skimming
1. What is the article mainly about?
The education gaps in math and science between the sexes, and ways to equalize them.

III. Scanning
Read the article carefully and answer the following questions.
1. What measures were taken by Oxford University and what were their aims?
Female students at Oxford were given 15 minutes more than male students to finish their math and computer science exams in the summer of 2017.
Also, the university's history department allowed its female students to take exams at home in 2017.
The aim of these plans was to close the gap between men and women in the subjects’ exam results.

2. Were these changes welcomed by people?
These changes were welcomed by some people, who saw them as a positive sign.
However, others criticized the decisions, saying they suggest that females are the weaker sex.

IV. Intensive Reading
1. Which of the following might the US Department of Education agree with?
A. Girls are inherently weaker than boys in math and science.
B. Given more resources, girls can do better than boys in math and science.
C. Girls are born without little interest in math and science.
D. Girls’ interest in science is affected by the bias that they are not good at math-based subjects.

2. “The truth is, you probably are a math person, and by thinking otherwise, you are possibly hamstringing your own career.” What does the sentence mean?
Ø “think otherwise” means “think in another way”.
Ø “hamstring” is similar to “ruin”.
（有些女生认为自己不擅长这些科目，那可能是她自己想象出来的。）事实是，很可能你是一个擅长数学的人，但是你（理所当然的）认为自己不是， 那么你可能就阻碍了自己的职业发展。

V. Vocabulary Bank
Guess out the meanings of the colorful phrases.
1. One famous British university is trying to put an end to this theory.
结束

2. Math and computer science are two subjects that have big gaps in terms of grades between men and women.
就……而言

3. Female students are more likely to be affected by “time pressure”.
受影响，受干扰

4. We should give more resources to girls to help them fall in love with math and science.
爱上，喜欢上

Ⅵ. Grammar Focus
... research from the US Department of Education suggested that girls are as good at math-based subjects as boys are.
此句为比较级，由as...as引导。
1. 基础用法： as+形容词或副词原级+as
He is as strong as you.
2. 在否定或疑问句中，可用so...as
He cannot run so/as fast as that.
3. as+形容词+a+名词+as
He is as good a student as you.
4. as+many/much+名词+as
You must carry as much water as you can.
5. 倍数表达法：倍数+as+形容词/副词+as
Your room is twice as big as mine.
　
Ⅶ. Exercises
Translate the sentences into English by using “as...as”
1. 玛丽是和史密斯一样优秀的大夫。
Mary is as excellent a doctor as Smith.

2. 中国的人口是美国人口的4倍。
The population of China is four times as large as that of the US.

1. John plays football ______, if not better than, David.
A. as well    B. as well as   C. so well   D. so well as

2. As I know, he spends at least as much time playing as he _____.
A. writes   B. does writing   C. is writing   D. does write

3. Americans eat ____ vegetables per person today as they did in 1910.
A. more than twice         B. as twice as many
C. twice as many as        D. more than twice as many

Ⅷ. Debate
Are men and women equal these days? Present your reasons.

Ⅸ. Assignment
Write a composition about the class’s debate on whether or not men and women are equal, adding your own opinion of about 120 words.

Phones causing anxiety (P6)
河北邯郸一中  许蕾蕾
I. Warming up  
When your mobile phone is almost out of power, how do you usually feel?
What do you think could cause “low battery anxiety”?

II. Reading
Read the article and answer the following questions.
1. What did LG find from its survey of 2,000 US adults last year?
90 percent of respondents said that they panicked if their battery level reaches 20 percent or lower.

2. According to the Daily Mail, why do people get “low battery anxiety”?
The problem is rooted in the fact that smartphones are now where we store digital memories.

3. What does “range anxiety” mean?
It refers to the concern that a vehicle may not make it to its destination before its power runs out.

4. What are the common symptoms of nomophobia?
1) feeling uncomfortable when access to one’s phone isn’t possible;
2) being unable to turn off your phone;
3) constantly topping up the battery to make sure it never dies.

III. Post-reading
Discussion
What would you do if you were unable to use your smartphone any longer?

IV. Language study
1. According to a survey of 2,000 US adults conducted by the company last year, 90 percent of respondents said that they become panicked if their battery level reaches 20 percent or lower.
• conducted by the company作后置定语，修饰a survey ；that引导宾语从句; if 引导条件状语从句。
panic vt. 使惊慌，使恐慌；n. 惊慌，恐慌
动词变形：第三人称单数形式panics；过去式与过去分词panicked；现在分词 panicking
短语：in a panic在惊慌中；get into a panic 陷入恐慌
• The sound of gunfire panicked the crowd.
• Panicking isn’t going to help the situation.
• He got into a panic that he would forget his lines on stage.
• He was in a panic when he realized how late he was.

2. The underlying reason may be that they keep us connected to the people around us, and if we’re unable to use our phone, we feel like we’re cut off from our social life.
句中that引导表语从句；and为并列连词，连接两个并列的从句；if引导条件状语从句。
cut off (from sb/sth) 使与……隔开，隔离
Many villages have been cut off by the heavy snow.
When his wife died, he cut himself off from other people.
•句意为：潜在的原因可能是它们帮助我们和周围的人保持联系。如果我们不能使用手机，我们就会感觉和社会生活隔绝了。

Translate the following sentences into English with the given words or phrases.
1. 我们在图书馆能上网。(have access to)
We have access to the internet at the library. 

2. 我的耐心已经耗尽了。(run out)
I’ve run out of patience/My patience has run out.

3. 他们几乎完全与外界隔绝了。
They are almost completely cut off from the outside world.

4. 没有理由陷入恐慌。(panic)
There’s no reason to get into a panic.

5. 她的观念深深植根于她的信仰。(root)
Her opinions are deeply rooted in her faith.