Solar terms stay (P4-5)

浙江金华外国语学校翁冰玫

I. Warming up   

Ø What do you know about the solar terms? 

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed China's “24 Solar Terms” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

II. While reading

1. Read through the article and get some information about the solar terms.

The origin of the solar terms

When  Started in the Spring and Autumn Period;  began properly in the Qin and Han dynasties

Where     in the Yellow River Basin

Formationbased on people’s observations of the sun’s annual movements and its influence on the climate; the calendar divides the year into 24 parts

Useguide agricultural activities

2. Read again, and discuss: What’s the significance of the system of solar terms?

a. It has influenced people’s ways of thinking and codes of conduct;

b. It continues to provide the time frame for everyday life and communal events; traditional solar terms still work in modern farming; people prepare their bodies for climate change;

c. It shows the ideas of respect for nature and harmony between man and nature.

3. Read the last paragraph, and discuss: 

In what ways do the 24 solar terms show the ideas of respect for nature and harmony between man and nature?

III. Post reading

Read more about the 24 solar terms.

(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/24solarterm.html)

  Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year, begins this year on Feb 4 and ends on Feb 18.Start of Spring lifts the curtain of spring. After that, everything becomes green and full of vigor; people clearly see that the daytime is getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. 

  Awakening of Insects falls on Mar 5 and ends on Mar 19 this year. It signals a rise in temperature and increased rainfall. Animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and Earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. 

  Clear and Bright, the fifth solar term, starts this year on Apr 4 and ends on Apr 19. The words "clear" and "bright" describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it a crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring. 

  Start of Summer, the seventh term of the year, begins on May 5 and ends on May 19 this year. It shows the transition of seasons. On this day, the sun's rays reach an angle of 45 degrees to the earth. The temperature will rise quickly during this period, yet in Northern China weather remains mild, not tropical. 

  Major Heat, the 12th solar term of the year, begins this year on July 22 and ends August 6. During Major Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest time of the year. 

  Start of Autumn, the 13th solar term of the year, begins this year on Aug 7 and ends on Aug 20. It is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. A fruitful season is approaching. 

  Start of Winter, the 19th solar term of the year, begins this year on Nov 7 and ends on Nov 21. It is the first solar term of winter, which means winter is coming and crops harvested in autumn should be stored. 

 

New UK banknote causes complaints (P4)

浙江金华外国语学校翁冰玫

I. Pre-reading

What do you know about the money we use every day? 

1. What is it made from?

2. How is it made?

3. How does it come into circulation?

What arguments could money cause after it is issued?

II. While-reading

1. Read and decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1) The petitioners called for the use of the new banknote to be stopped.

2) The new £5 note is the first-ever bill to be made from a polymer.

3) It was the Bank of England that issued the new £5 note.

4) No currency currently in circulation in the UK features women.

Key: 1) F 2) F 3) T 4) F

2. Read again and try to find out: Why were the two petitions about the new fiver created? And what was the result?

The first petition was created because Winston Churchill would replace Elizabeth Fry on the face of the note, resulting in the announcement that Jane Austen would be on the face of £10 note. 

The second petition was launched against the use of tallow in the banknotes, but in vain. 

3. Read the article a third time and answer the question: Who are the representatives of the two sides of the argument? How did they support their views toward the new note? 

RepresentativeViewsReasons

Doug MawThere have to be other ways…No animal products should be used

David SolomonThe new note contains very small amounts of tallowNew note contains fewer drugs; trees are saved; more hygienic 

4. Read the following information and discuss: What’s your attitude toward the two petitions?

Facts about the new £5 note 

a. The new polymer note is 15% smaller than its paper predecessors;

b. It’s more durable, lasting up to two and a half times longer (five years); 

c. It’s more resistant to dirt and moisture;

d. It can survive a spin in the washing machine.

e. This isn’t the first time that Churchill has appeared on currency; he was also on the 1965 crown. 

III. Post-reading

Read the following for fun.

For more than 100 years, English banknotes have been made from cotton paper. Polymer banknotes are made from a very thin, flexible, see-through plastic film, with the design printed on special layers of ink on the front and back.

Because the main material is see-through, the design can include clear spots that are like little windows you can look straight through.

More than 20 countries around the world already use polymer banknotes - they include Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

 

 

Saving my first party (P6)

 

I. Warming up   

Ø How do you usually celebrate your birthday?

Ø Which of your birthdays has been your favorite? Why?

 

II. Fast reading

Read the article and answer the following questions.

1. How did the author decide to celebrate her birthday?

She decided to throw a party for herself. 

 

2. How did the birthday party turn out?

The celebration was supposed to start at 12 noon. But at 4:00 pm, none of her “friends” who had said they were coming had showed up. When she felt depressed, Mr Kenny came and saved her day. 

 

III. Careful reading

Read the article again and decide the following statements are true or false. 

1. The author decided to throw herself a birthday party because she thought she deserved one. 

2. Because of the tight budget, the author couldn’t prepare for the party well enough.

3. The party was delayed by four hours because most of the guests arrived late.

4. Mr Kenny had experienced great challenges in the past few weeks. 

5. Mr Kenny’s appearance at the party gave the author a lot of spiritual support.

 

Key: TFFTT 

 

IV. Language study

Study the following sentences:

1. The expensive cake was melting, the food on the BBQ (烧烤) was burnt beyond recognition.

Beyond recognition: 完全改了模样，无法辨认。 例如：The photo has faded beyond recognition. 

类似表达：

1) beyond description/expression/words无法描述，无法用语言表达

例如：The beauty of the sunset was beyond description/expression.

My appreciation for your sympathy is beyond words.

2) beyond comparison无与伦比，举世无双

The view of the mountains from the window is beyond comparison.

3) beyond control无法控制，失去控制

Because of the strong wind, the forest fire was beyond control.

 

2. He had had so many challenges and difficulties over his past couple of weeks, as had I.

在过去几周中，他经历了许多挑战和困难，而我也同样如此。

语法：句中使用了“as+助动词/情态动词/be动词+主语”的结构，意为“某人也同样如此”。例如：

1) Lily can dance beautifully, as can her sister.

2) Tom is good at basketball, as is his brother James.

 

3. I think that my dad and brother sent him to me in my darkest hour, when I wanted to give up on this mean world.

释义：我想，是父亲和哥哥在我最黑暗的时候，在我对这残忍的世界感到绝望的时候，将他送到我这儿来的。

重点词：give up on sb意思是“对……绝望，对……不抱希望”。例如：He has gotten into trouble many times, but his parents have never given up on him.

语法：句中when用作关系副词，引导非限定性定语从句，修饰前面的先行词my darkest hour。

 

Fill in the blanks with proper words in the box.

confirm     budget    apparently     reflect on       schedule

1. The window had ________ been forced open.

2. I have a flexible ________, so I can meet you at any time.

3. The results of the studies sounded interesting but further data would be needed to ________ the link between color and climate change.

4. Listening to Beethoven's music makes me ________ my life. 

5. The government may have to raise taxes to balance the ________. 

 

Key: 1. apparently2. schedule3. confirm 4. reflect on5. budget