Issue 299

北京八十中学孟英
山东烟台一中曲君

Dangerous oil spill (P2)

Pre-reading (Discussion)
1. Have you ever heard of the oil spill?
2. Can you tell us something about it?

While reading

Judge true or false.

About 257,000 barrels of oil are going into the sea every day.
The oil spill is putting the animals in danger.
This is the first accident of an oil spill.
Clean teams are trying to take measures to control the problem.
The oil company has succeeded in solving the problem.

Answer the questions:
1. When did the oil spill happen?
2. Why is the oil spill putting dolphins and other sea animals in danger?
3. What will happen if the spill keeps growing?
4. Is the oil spill the first one? Why or why not?
5. How many measures have the US government taken?
6. Have they controlled the spill? How do you know that?

Vocabulary in use
Fill in the blanks with correct forms:

do harm to…, in danger, stop…from…, spend… doing…

1) You are so kind-hearted that you always help me when I am ______.
2) Mary often _____ one hour ____ the piano.
3) We must ____ people from ________ trees.
4) What you did will _________ your health.

Post-reading
What can you learn from the passage?
Have you got any good ideas to solve the problem?

Teens show their lives on camera (P3)

Pre-reading (Discussion)
1. What do you think of windows?
2. What did you see through the windows?

While reading

Judge true or false.

Many people think windows are great.
Hernandez’s father died when she was 15.
Hernandez doesn’t like taking photos because of her father.
Kaholy Maduro was born with shortened arms, so she can’t use a camera.
The teenagers who have special life experiences can take great pictures.

Choose the best answer:
1. Hernandez was _____ when her father jumped from the window and died.
A. 15 years old
B. 16 years old
C. a baby
D. a professional photographer
2. Expanding the Walls asks the teenagers to ______.
A. get special life experiences.
B. win a photo competition.
C. help the handicapped children.
D. take some photos of meaningful things.
3. The program lasts for______.
A. a few weeks
B. a few months
C. several days
D. two years
4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Hernandez like taking photos of apartment windows because she thinks windows are great.
B. Hernandez wants to be a professional photographer and take photos for disabled children.
C. The finest photos will be on show in the museum.
D. Kaholy always look down upon the handicapped children.

It’s never too late to make a difference (P6)

I. Pre-reading (Discussion)
1.This is a story about the meaning of life.
Have you ever had the kind of questions that the cactus in the story asks?
2.The cactus sighed and felt disappointed as he thought himself to be useless for others. Has the cactus found himself useful by the end of the story?

II. While reading
True or False.
1.There are quite a few plants growing in the desert.
2.A cactus growing in the desert isn’t an easy thing.
3.The cactus felt sad because he thought he could do nothing for others.
4.The lizard laughed at the cactus because he thought the cactus was very ugly.
5.Sometimes we admire other people so much that we can not find the advantages of ourselves.

Vocabulary in use
Choose the best answer:
1.The word “sigh” means ____.
A. 抽泣 B.欢唱 C.叹息 D.摇摆
2.I really ____ the way she brings up the children all on her own.
A. assist B. appraise C. adopt D. admire
3. Work hard and don’t talk too much in class or you’ll _____ to pass the exam.
A. stop B. fail C. succeed D. break

III. Post-reading
Someone said each flower had the reason to bloom and grow. After reading this story, can you tell us what is the main point of this story?
Some students may have the same feeling as the cactus in the story, especially when they don’t do well in their studies. Don’t be upset and never give up. Maybe you will be bright some day, for there are many important things you could do in your life besides study.

Bye, middle school (P8)

I. Pre-reading (Discussion)

Do you still remember when you graduated from the primary school? How did you feel then?
Are you looking forward to going to senior middle school? Why or why not?
What would you say to your teachers and classmates when you graduate from junior middle school?

II．While reading
Choose the best answer:
1.Going to high school ____ the beginning of young adulthood.
A. Does       B. means C. starts D. ends
2.The student on duty has the ____ to check that all the doors and windows are locked.
A. ability           B. responsibility
C. character               D. gift
Comprehension check
3. Jack looks so tired. Don’t let him take _____ too much work.
A. In     B. on      C. after       D. off
4. What does the word “ yearbook” mean?
A. A book used throughout one’s middle school years.
B. A book printed once a year.
C. A textbook for middle school students.
D. A textbook for middle school teachers.
5. Which is not mentioned in the middle school graduation ceremonies in the US according to the passage?_____
A. Speeches by the headmaster and top student.
B. Slide shows.
C. Receiving a graduation certificate.
D. Holding a dance party.

6. Which one may be the best title of the passage?____
A. How to get your graduation certificate
B. When you graduate from middle school
C. A new start in high school
D. Graduating from middle school in the US

III. Post-reading
Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage:
Graduating from middle school isn’t as big an _____ as graduating from high school or college, but it’s still an ________. It’s a big change. It’s time to _____ new responsibilities, _____ new subjects, _______ new teachers and _____ new friends.

Key: P2 FTFTF in danger, spends…playing, stop…cutting down, do harm to
P3 TFFFT CDBC
P6 FTTFT CDB
P8 BBBBDD event, achievement, take on, learn, get to know, make