VR gets more real (P2)
I. Pre-reading
Discuss the following questions with your partner.
2016 is a big year for virtual reality, with VR technology making regular headlines.
1. But what is virtual reality?
2. In which fields do you think VR technology can be applied?

Possible answers:
1. Virtual reality is an artificial environment that is created with software and presented to our senses in such a way that we experience it as if we were really there.
2. There are a wide variety of applications for virtual reality which include: architecture, sport, medicine, the arts, entertainment, etc. The simplest form of virtual reality is a 3-D image that can be explored interactively when sitting at a personal computer.

II. Reading
Read the article quickly and answer the questions below.
1. What do you need if you want to experience virtual reality?
You have to wear a pair of VR goggles connected to your computer.

2. Why does Todd Richmond think VR will stick this time?
Because he thinks that there’s enough computer power and the price will just keep going down.

3. How is VR expected to change our lives?
VR is expected to change various different fields. For example, VR could be used to train pilots and miners before they had to actually risk their lives in highly dangerous working environments, or to treat patients with acrophobia by making them think they were standing on top of a high building. According to Palmer Luckey, inventor of the Oculus VR goggles, if virtual reality is perfect, you’ll be able to simulate everything that a human can experience or imagine experiencing.

4. What are the disadvantages of the current VR technology?
It is still far from perfect. Users report experiencing motion sickness, headaches and other discomfort while wearing VR goggles. Also, while more and more tools are flooding the market, the software that runs VR games and simulators has yet to catch up with all the new advancements.

5. What does Wang Hui think should be the main aim of VR technology when it blends into our lives?
Meeting our basic and practical needs.

III. Language study
Ø Study the following sentences.
1. Just wear a pair of VR goggles connected to your computer and you can experience a lot of things without stepping out of the room.
本句使用了“祈使句+并列连词（and, but等）+陈述句”的句式，此处的祈使句相当于if 引导的条件状语从句，可以改为If you wear a pair of VR goggles connected to your computer, you can experience …。例如：
1) Find ways to praise your children often and you’ll find they will open their hearts to you.
2) Follow your doctor’s advice or your cough will get worse.

2. But surprisingly, it isn’t new technology that has made VR so popular
本句使用了强调句型“It is/was +被强调部分+ that/who+其他成分”，强调主语not new technology。判断一个句子是否是强调句式，可以看去掉构成强调句式的it is/was … that/who ...之后，剩余的部分是否能还原成一个完整的句子。例如本句可以还原成：But surprisingly, new technology hasn’t made VR so popular.

3. If you have perfect virtual reality, where you’ll be able to simulate (模拟) everything that a human can experience or imagine experiencing, it’s hard to imagine where you go from there …
句中第一个where引导非限制性定语从句，修饰先行词virtual reality，从句中还包含一个that引导的定语从句，修饰先行词everything；第二个where引导宾语从句。句意为：如果你拥有完美的虚拟现实，你将能够模拟一个人能经历或者想象能经历的一切，很难预料你能达到哪个（地步）。

Ø Translate the following sentences with the given words.
1. 该中心普通大众可随意进入。(accessible )
The center is easily accessible to the general public.
2. 这完全不是事实。(far from)
This is far from the truth.
3. 她有很多处理这类问题的实践经验。(practical)
She has a lot of practical experience in dealing with these kinds of problems.
4. 该公司正努力为其新产品寻找买主。(product)
The company is struggling to find buyers for its new product.

IV. Post-reading
Further thinking:
If you could experience perfect virtual reality, meaning that you could be able to simulate everything that you wanted to experience, what would you like to experience most?

Famous rabbit hits British coin (P4-5)

I. Warm up
1. What do you know about rabbits?
2. Do you know any famous rabbits from cartoons or comic books?
3. Have you heard of Peter Rabbit?
“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter …”
These famous opening lines of The Tale of Peter Rabbit have enchanted young audiences for over one hundred years. The book features a charming hero, who, going against his mother’s wishes, has adventures (and misadventures) in Mr McGregor’s garden.
Beatrix Potter created a classic with the little blue-coated rabbit who we recognize as both boy and rabbit, wild and civilized, and who has become an icon of childhood since he first hopped out of the pages of a story book and into children’s hearts.

II. Words
pocket    口袋
renowned    有名望的
release   发布，发行
illustrator  插图画家
comfort    安慰
naughty    淘气的
buttons     纽扣
region    地区 

III. Scanning
What is the article mainly about?
It is about a popular storybook rabbit, Peter Rabbit.

IV. Read in detail
1. According to the article, Peter Rabbit ____.
A. was created in 1902 to comfort a sick child
B. is the main character and only appears in The Tale of Peter Rabbit
C. sets a bad example to children because he likes to steal vegetables
D. is a naughty rabbit who is always in trouble and fond of carrots
1. D。第三段主要介绍Peter Rabbit，由… Peter Rabbit is young and naughty …eating as many of Mr McGregor’s carrots as he can … always gets into scrapes … 可得D选项正确。

2. The Peter Rabbit series has been successful for a long time because ____.
A. Peter Rabbit is cute and looks like a young boy
B. the stories are like other stories from Beatrix Potter’s books
C. the series has been translated into 35 languages other than English
D. Peter Rabbit shares things in common with real children
2. D。由第四段The closeness of Peter to real children is, of course, why his books have been so successful. 可得D正确。

3. Which of the following about the Lake District is TRUE according to the last paragraph?
A. It is the only region in UK in which tourists can find the new coins with Peter Rabbit on them.
B. It has tourist attractions such as beautiful lakes and mountains.
C. It is the name for the whole Northwest region of England.
D. The majority of tourists visit this area only because of Peter Rabbit.
3. B。最后一段中… a very beautiful region of lakes and mountains … 可得答案为B。

V. Language points
1. Potter published The Tale of Peter Rabbit in that year after inventing her charming bunny years before to comfort a sick child.
 Comfort 在此处作动词，意思是“安慰，抚慰”。
例如：
Ned put his arm around her, trying to comfort her.
内德搂着她，想安慰她。
Lisa said a lot of kind things to comfort her children.
Lisa说了很多美好的事物来安慰她的孩子们。

2. In the tale he ignores his mother’s orders and sneaks into Mr McGregor’s garden, eating as many of Mr McGregor’s carrots as he can.
 Sneak into意思是“偷溜进入，潜入，混进”。
例如：
If I come home late, I sneak into my house so I don't wake anyone up.
如果我回家晚了，我会静悄悄的进去，不吵醒别人。
The three boys tried to sneak into the principal's office that night.
这三个男孩试图在那晚溜进校长办公室。

3. He always gets into scrapes, whether on his own or with others.
Get into scrapes 陷入困境,惹上麻烦
例如：
He’s so naughty that he can’t help but get into scrapes.
他实在是太淘气了,总是惹上麻烦。

Making me wait (P6)
山东东平高级中学 蔚晓华

I. Warm up 
1. Are you the kind of person who is always late or the kind of person who often arrives on time?
2. What do you usually do while you’re waiting?
3. If you are late, how do you usually explain it?
4. What do you think of people who are always late?

II. Words
damn   adj. 可恶的 该死的
what if    假使……将会怎么样
can’t help oneself   情不自禁
decided upon (on)  决定
on occasion   有时 偶尔
heartbroken  心碎
How come   为什么
punctual    adj. 准时的，守时的
spill    vt. 使溢出，使流出，使摔下
arrogance   n. 自大，傲慢
realistic calculations 实际的计算

III. Scanning
1.What does the author do while waiting for others?
She stares at her shoes a little while longer to pass the time.

2. Is the author always exactly on time?
No. She is always 10 minutes early.

3. In the author’s opinion, why are some people always late?
In the author’s opinion, only carelessness or arrogance can explain the habit of lateness.

IV. Read the article again and choose whether the answers are true or false：
1. The author never waits more than 10 minutes beyond the agreed meeting time. (  F)
2. In the author’s view, if you’ve made others wait that long, you shouldn’t turn up at all. ( T )
3. The author believes people are always late because of carelessness or arrogance. ( T )
4. The author says that being late on purpose really means that you have a big ego. ( T )
5. In the author’s view, there are no perfectly lovely latecomers out there. ( F  )

V. Language points
1.They will be here in a minute, surely. I’ll just stare at my shoes a little while longer to pass the time.
in a minute 马上，立即
例如：The performance will begin in a minute.
stare at 凝视，盯住
例如： When he woke up, he saw many men staring at him.

2. Whoever I’m waiting for clearly lives in a different time zone from me.
Whoever引导的名词性从句做主语
whoever = the people who可以引导让步状语从句也可以引导名词性从句
例如：
Could I speak to whoever is in charge of International Sales, please?
Whoever you are, you must obey the law.

3. I know it’s not fair to hold the first 10 against you, but I just can’t help myself.
cannot help (doing)不禁, 忍不住, 不得不
cannot help but 不能不, 不得不
cannot help oneself 情不自禁; 不能自制 
例如：
I can’t help but be sorry.
Jane, I can’t help feeling that you should stay.
I can’t help but get worried when I see you doing that. 
I shouldn’t call you every day, but I can’t help myself.

4. Being late on purpose really means that you hate the person you are meeting.
Being late on purpose动名词短语做主语
the person you are meeting定语从句省略关系代词whom or that
例如：
Telling lies is not in his nature.
All over the world, communicating in English is very popular.