German celebration (p4)
北京市陈经纶中学 蔡芸
I. Warm up
What do you know about festivals in foreign countries? What are they famous for?

II. Brief reading
Try to get the main idea of each paragraph.
Para 1   introducing the topic
Para 2   the time of the festival
Para 3   the origin of the festival
Para 4   how to celebrate the festival
Para 5   how the festival begins
Para 6   how people dress during the festival

III. Careful reading
Answer the following questions
1.Why was the date of Oktoberfest moved?
Because of Munich’s heavy rainfall.
2.Why did Oktoberfest start?
To honor the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and his wife.
3.Is it just a festival of drinking? Why or why not?
No. It has lots of activities to join in with as part of the celebrations.
4.How does the mayor announce the beginning of the festival?
The mayor of Munich, says, “O zapft is” and puts a tap on the first keg of beer at the traditional opening ceremony by hitting it with a hammer.

IV. Language points
1. THE Oktoberfest festival in Munich, Germany has already kicked off, …
Kick off:  If an event, game or discussion kicks off, or is kicked off, it begins.

2. dressing in such a memorable way is all part of the fun.
Memorable: Worth remembering

3. But then people pointed out that Munich’s heavy rainfall was a poor match for the amount of drinking and fun Oktoberfest is famous for,… (sentence structure and translation)
但是当时人们指出慕尼黑经常下大雨，对于畅快喝酒和狂欢出名的啤酒节来说实在是个不凑巧。

4. it is expected that many will dress traditionally.
类似于it is said/believed that….
= sb. is said to…
e.g.  It is said that he won the game. (he is said to have won the game.
--- many are expected to dress traditionally.

V. Group work
In the “warming up” step, we listed some famous festivals in foreign countries. Can you choose one to write a short passage about for your classmates? Find information on the internet and refer to the structure of this passage.

Famous smile’s secrets (P5)
北京市陈经纶中学 蔡芸
I. Warm up
Are you interested in Western art? Can you list some famous Western works of art and their painters? Why do you think they are famous?
II. Brief reading
T or F
1.The Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile isn’t the only one that Da Vinci created.
2.La Bella Principessa was painted by Da Vinci before the Mona Lisa in the late 15th Century.
3.When viewed indirectly, the mouth of the young lady in the picture clearly turns downwards.
4.Participants agreed that the Mona Lisa and La Bella Principessa looked happier from a distance.
5.But when the eyes were covered, viewers couldn’t spot the smile.

TTFTF

III. Careful reading
1.What is the trick used in the painting La Bella Principessa according to researchers?
Sfumato.

2.When looked from a distance, the Mona Lisa and La Bella Principessa looked ____.
happier

3.The researchers found out that the changing expression was caused by the ____ alone.
mouth

IV. Words study
Match the words and the meanings
1.fascinated
2.master
3.viewpoint
4.technique
5.present…with
6.on purpose
7.spot

A.an artist of consummate skill
B.intensely interested in or attracted by
C.catch sight of
D.a practical method or art applied to some particular task
E.a mental position from which things are viewed
F.with intention; in an intentional manner
G.show or demonstrate something to an interested audience

V. Sentences
1.She doesn’t have a particularly beautiful face, nor does she wear fashionable clothes.
倒装句型之一： 否定词放句首倒装
e.g. I don’t know who finished the job, nor do I care.

2.“Given that Leonardo had mastered the technique and it was used in the Mona Lisa, it is quite possible that he meant to use the effect”...
Given that: provided that, suppose
e.g. Given that they're inexperienced, they've done a good job.

VI. Further thinking
What do you think of this kind of photo? It is called 3D illusion art. How do you think these photos are made?

Chance to change (P6)
北京市陈经纶中学 蔡芸
I. Pre-reading
1.Where did the talk happen ?
In a taxi.

2.What was the theme of the topic?
There is always an opportunity to change your life if you take action to change your life.

3.What did the author think about other people?
Lots of people are in a daily prison.

II. While-reading
1. Why did the driver have difficulties getting another job?
A. He had committed a crime before.          
B. His work was a mess.
C. He was very inexperienced.
D. He did not want to change his job.
2. Why did the driver seem to be surprised upon hearing the author’s words?
A. Because he did not catch what the author said.
B. Because the author did not care that he was a criminal.
C. Because he was going to turn his life around.
D. Because he never thought there could be other choices in life.
3. In the author’s opinion, people who live in a prison of the mind _____.
A. fail to value what is good in their life
B. are imprisoned by their fixed idea of life
C. always try to seek perfection in their life
D. should ask for others’ advice and make changes
4. The author’s purpose in writing this article is to _____.
   A. describe     B. discourage
   C. inspire     D. entertain
ADBC

III. Words practice
Find suitable words from the passage.
to move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle  roll
to make a mess of, destroy, or ruin      mess up 
with firmness and conviction; without compromise   straightforwardly
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money;  occupation 
to set goals, dream of doing sth        set sights 
get down to doing, begin doing sth      get around to

IV. Sentences understanding
1.Once, I met a taxi driver, a man in his late 30s,…
2.We then entered into a spirited discussion and got around to discussing the job environment.
3.This is a prison of the mind.
4.The decision is yours and yours alone.

V. Discussion
Sometimes we take things we do every day for granted. Now, think them over. Are there some things that you want to change? Explain your reasons.