Curriculum focus
Character building: loving our country
Learning strategies: making an outline of the passage

Pre-reading:

1. Prediction: What do you think of when we mention history?
2. Discussion: Someone says history is combined by two words "his story". This is to say, history is full of "his" story. History is created by men not by women. What do you think of this idea? Do you agree or not? Please give your reasons.
3. Do you know the meaning of the underlined word or phrases about history?
   1) The Catholic Church plays an important role throughout Polish history.
   2) Willy Brandt made history by visiting Democratic Republic of Germany in 1970.
   3) Bradley will go down in history as Los Angeles' longest serving mayor.
   4) He had a history of drinking.
   5) He couldn't get a new job because of his medical history.
   6) We met at college; the rest is history.
   Key: 1) past events, esp. when considered as a whole
   2) be important in the development of the world or of a particular society
   3) be remembered because of the particular actions or events
   4) sth happened in the past
   5) a set of facts known about the past
   6) everyone knows about it.
   

While reading:

　1. Make an outline of the passage:
　　
　Key: What is the news about?
　Taiwan's government has proposed a change to their history textbooks in 2006 to separate the island's history from the rest of China and create a stronger Taiwan identity.
　Reason for the move:
　To create a stronger Taiwanese identity
　Details about the move:
　 1. Chinese history will be taught as part of international history.
　2. The founding of the Republic of China (ROC) in 1911 by Sun Yat-sen will be in the new international history book.
　Opinion:
　1.China's spokesman: It is an attempt to make their education support Taiwan's independence.
　2. Headmaster in Taipei: The new outline will confuse students' understanding of history and cause difficulties for teachers.
　3. A student in Taipei: It's ridiculous.
　4. Chairman of Kuomingtang Party: It will worsen cross-Straits relations.

Post-reading:

1. Please find the words or phrases in the passage, which have the same meaning as the following underlined parts.
   1) It's very possible that we are seeing a movement to end the connection of the two parts of the country.
   2) Does the law deal with a case like that?
   3) They failed in all their efforts to climb the mountain.
   4) We were stopped in the middle of our conversation.
   5) The patient's condition became worse during the night.
   Key: separate ( ?-from?-); cover; attempt; cut off; worsened
2. Please fill the blanks with the above words or phrases:
   1) The police had prevented the situation______.
   2) His lecture ______ the subject thoroughly.
   3) If you don't pay your gas bill soon you may________.
   4) My early _______ at learning to drive were unsuccessful.
   5) Since I _______ from my husband, I have gone a long way.
   Key: worsening；covered； be cut off ；attempts；separated
3. Do a survey among your class:
   What is your opinion about Taiwan distancing the island's history from the mainland?