2014-2015学年度第34-35期总第593期

Trying to understand British people’s dry sense of humor (P4-5)

苏州工业园区第二高级中学 周俭芳

I. Lead-in:

A stranger walks past you on a cold, rainy day and says: “Lovely weather, isn’t it?” How do you react?

II. Fast-reading:

P1 (          ): Introduction

P2 (          ): The dry sense of humor of the British

P3 (           ): Conclusion

III. Detailed reading:

1. What are the features of British people’s dry sense of humor?

They often say the opposite of what they mean in order to be funny, and tell jokes in a tone of voice that makes it sound like they are being completely serious.

2. When do the British tell you what they actually think about something?

Often it will take a long time or several beers to get a British person to tell you what they actually think about something and get behind the wall of humorous sarcasm.

3. What should we pay attention to if we want to make friends with the British?

We need to understand their type of humor even if we don’t find it funny.

4. What is one of the characteristics of British humor?

One of the characteristics of British humor is “its strong theme of self-deprecation”.

5. Are the British really always very serious?

No. They just tell jokes in a tone of voice that makes it sound like they are being completely serious. They avoid being serious until it’s absolutely necessary. 

IV. Language study:

1. If the people of Britain are known for having a “stiff upper lip” and not showing emotion, …

The underlined part means _________________________________.

2. We avoid being serious until it’s absolutely necessary.

完全正确absolutely right

完全合理absolutely reasonable

3. Why did he just say such a ridiculous thing?

In your eyes, what would be a ridiculous thing to say?

4. One of the characteristics of British humor is…

One of the characteristics of our school is _______________.

Covering the flowers’ smells (P5)

苏州工业园区第二高级中学 周俭芳

I. Lead-in:

Flowers are really very beautiful in spring. But why aren’t many of us able to smell their fragrance (芳香)?

II. Fast reading:

P1 (          ): Introduction

P2 (          ): The causes and bad effects of reduced fragrance

P3 (           ): a new discovery about bees

III. Detailed reading:

1. Why aren’t many of us able to smell flowers?

Growing levels of air pollution from power plants and automobiles have reduced flower fragrance by up to 90 percent in the US.

2. What are the bad effects of reduced fragrance?

The reduced fragrance makes it difficult for bees and butterflies to find the flowers and feed on their nectar, which is life-threatening for them. It also prevents the pollination of crops, which could endanger agricultural harvests worldwide.

3. What is a new discovery about bees?

Bees seem to have learned to use a combination of their vision and floral odors to locate a flower, which means they may have learned to adapt to the changing world. 

IV. Language study:

1. … are definitely a visual delight.

Can you describe some other visual delights?

2. … may fool the bee’s nose

When was the last time you were fooled? Who fooled you, and how?

3. …may fool the bee’s nose, making their research for flowers all the more difficult.

________________, making learning English all the more difficult for me.

4. … seem to have learned to adapt to the changing world.

If you want to adapt to the fast-paced modern lifestyle, you need to ______________.

Serving the good (P6)

哈尔滨市第一中学校  张婳

I. Pre-reading

How to should you deal with a noisy kid?

II. Reading

1. Why did the author came go to speak with the woman and child at table No 9?

Because people close to that tableTable No. 9 said the woman’s child was being very loud.  

2. What had the author planned to say but he didn’t to them?

He had planned to politely tell her not to let her daughter yell. 

3. What did the author do instead?

Instead, he just told her he hoped their meal was awesome. He high-fived her the daughter and told them that their meal was free. 

4. What lesson did the author learn?

Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t make everyone happy. But it’s always worth it. 

III. Vocabulary

Look at some sentences and try to figure out the meanings of the underlined words.

My day consists of making sure my restaurant runs well. 

1. consist of: 包括

The team consists of five doctors.

=The team is made up of five doctors.

2. run: 运营，经营

The system is running smoothly.

He doesn’t know how to run a business.

I was supposed to politely tell you to please not let your daughter yell. 

3. be supposed to do: 应该

4. yell: 叫喊，大声喊

I don’t know whyhow you reacted in that way.. 

5. react: 反应，作出反应

When the sun comes out, the flowers react by opening up. 

How did he react to your suggestion? 

IV. Structure

Look at the sentences and pay attention to the structure of the sentencestheir structures.

I was thankful that you did say it, though. 

But I do know what it’s like to be a father.

此处助动词do是用来强调谓语

助动词do ,did does强调谓语

用助动词do ,did does放在一般现在时和一般过去时的句子中动词原形前，以强调谓语。例如：

He did tell us all that had happened to him. 他确实把发生的事情都说了。

She does get up early. 她的确常起得很早。

Do be careful next time. 下次务必要小心。

Exercise:

1. 必须提前5分钟到达车站。 

Do arrive at the station five minutes early.

2. 他真的爱踢足球。 

He does like playing soccer.

3. 我确实昨晚看见他了。

I did see him last night.

Answers:

1. Do arrive at the station five minutes early.

2. He does like playing soccer.

3. I did see him last night.

Could you make a sentence like thatCan you try to write your own sentence with that structure?