Issue 297
北京爱迪外语学校 王海侠
北京八十中学 张娜
Sandstorms blow in (P2)
Pre-reading
1. What happened in the northwest of China last week?
2. Where does a sandstorm usually happen?
3. How can we make sandstorms disappear?

While reading
Fill in the blanks.
1. The sandstorms did great_____ to many plants and houses.
2. "The wind was____ loud ____it woke me up that night and I couldn't fall sleep again," said Li Ying from Inner Mongolia.
3. A sandstorm is a common natural ______.
4. Sandstorms are common in northern China because there are large______ and fewer______.
5. Sandstorms usually happen between ______ and ____ when there are strong winds in the area.
6. Cover your nose and mouth with a ____ that can keep out sand.

Post-reading
Choose the best answer:
1. Which province is not affected by sandstorms?
A. Xinjiang B. Shanxi
C. Qinghai D. Ningxia
2. Which is not true according to the passage?
A. Sandstorms are dangerous.
B. Strong winds blow a lot of sand into the air.
C. People needn't wear cover in the sandstorms.
D. People can't see anything when sandstorms hit.
3. How will you protect yourself if sandstorms happen? Which is not mentioned according to the passage?
A. Wear a thick coat.
B. Wear a mask.
C. Cover your head.
D. Lie down.

Words and expression
Key points
1. be surprised to do sth. 惊讶于做某事
e.g. We are surprised to hear that Tony has gone to the USA.
2. protect…from… 保护…免受…的伤害; 防御
e.g. We should protect our eyes from the sun.
You'd better protect yourself from catching a cold.

My teddy bear brings me comfort (P3)
Warming up [discussion]
1. Who's your best friend?
2. Why do you like him or her?
3. What do you like to do together?

Pre-reading
1. Who's the writer's friend?
2. What are the teddy bear's eyes like?
3. Did the writer travel to lots of places?
4. What does the writer do when she is happy or sad?

While reading
Fill in the blanks.
1. The writer can't see through the teddy bear's furry head and find its _______ hidden in it.
2. The writer will carry the teddy bear ______ and ______ she goes.
3. They were lost together in __________and amazed by the beauty of the snowflakes.
4. When the writer feel homesick, the teddy bear will remind her of her _____ and allow her to ____ peacefully.

True or False.
1. The teddy bear has a lot of wisdom.
2. The teddy bear has thoughts.
3. The writer has been to Las Vegas.
4. The writer was surprised by Niagara Falls.
5. The teddy bear is the writer's listener.
6. The writer's dad said that she was so young that she could play with stuffed animals.

Choose the best answer:
1. Which one is not true about the teddy bear according to the passage?
A. It has no thoughts.
B. It has a furry head.
C. Its eyes are black and round.
D. It can dream and think like people.
2. The writer has been to many interesting places. Which is not mentioned according to the passage?
A. Las Vegas B. New York C. Chicago D. Guelph
3. We can infer that the writer____.
A. doesn't like traveling
B. likes playing with her mom
C. doesn't like walking along the sea
D. likes to tell the teddy bear everything

Key points
1. can't help doing sth. 忍不住做某事
e.g. I couldn't help crying when I saw the film.
2. allow sb. to do sth. 允许某人做某事
e.g. My parents don't allow me to watch TV on school days.
3. remind sb. of … 使某人想起……
e.g. The picture reminds me of my childhood.

Food for thought (P6)

Pre-reading (Discussion)
Are you happy all the time?
How can we be happy?

Reading comprehension
1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. We should go for looks.
B. Wealth won't go away.
C. The happiest people have the best of everything.
D. Love often begins with a smile but ends with a tear.
2. Who may be the happiest people in the writer's opinion?
A. He who is rich and beautiful.
B. He who can go where he wants to go.
C. He who makes the most of everything that comes his way.
D. He who never forgets his past failures.
3. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. When you miss someone, meet them in your dream.
B. We have only one life and we should treasure all the things we have at present.
C. Don't let go of the past failures.
D. Tests, sorrow and hope can all make people happy.

Do the cloze after reading
Fill in the blanks.
1. When the door of happiness closes, another ____. Don't go____ looks or wealth. Go for someone who _____ you smile and who makes your heart smile.
2. Dream what you want to ____; go where you want to go.
3. May you have enough tests to make you _____, enough sorrow to keep you _____ and enough _____ to make you happy.
4. The happiest people may not have the best of ________, just make the most of everything that comes their way. Love begins with a smile, and _____ with a tear.
5. You can't go on until you let go of your _____ failures.

Post-reading
List three things you want to do most in your life.
Can you do some of them now, or from now on? Then go on with your dream!

I love you, Mom (P8)
Pre-reading
Discussion:
1. When is Mother's Day?
2. How do you thank your mother on Mother's Day?

Fast-reading
Some simple questions:
1. Did the writer do something on Mother's Day?
2. When did she write her first poem?
3. What for?
4. Does she still write poems now for Mother's Day?

Comprehension check
1. Why did her mother keep the poem?
A. It's a great poem.
B. It's the best work of the writer.
C. She cares about everything her daughter makes.
D. It's just a habit--she likes collecting things.
2. What did the writer use to do when she was little on Mother's Day?
A. she used to bring her mom lunch in bed.
B. she used to make her a card.
C. she used to tell her stories.
D. she used to ask for kisses and hugs.
3. What did the writer always say to her mother on Mother's Day?
A. "Mother's Day is something special."
B. "You will find a wishing well."
C. "Thank you."
D. "You are the best mom in the whole world."

Read and answer questions.
1. Does the writer see her mother very often?
2. Do the writer and her mother live in the same city or in different countries?
3. How does she celebrate Mother's Day for her mom now?
4. What can we learn from the passage?

Post-reading
1. Think of one thing you can do for your mom on Mother's Day this year.
2. What else can you do to make mom happy?

Key: P2 harm, so…that, disaster, deserts, forests, February, May, mask, BCA
P3 thought, whenever, wherever, New York City, mom, sleep, FFFTTTF, DBD
P6 DCB opens, for, makes, dream, strong, human, hope, everything, ends, past
P8 CBD