Film women fight back (P1)

浙江省金华市外国语学校   翁冰玫

I. Warming up   

Free talk: Do you like watching movies? What type of film is your favorite? Why?

Animation 动画片

Musical音乐剧

Comedy喜剧

Tragedy悲剧

Sci-fi科幻片

Action动作片

Horror恐怖片

Swordsmen story武侠片

Detective侦探片

Ethical伦理片

Affectional爱情片

Documentary记录片 

 

II. Pre-reading 

The Award Ceremony of the 89th Oscars was held in Hollywood on Feb 27, 2017

Guess: Look at the facial expressions of the audience, what could have happened?

 

 

When it was announced that the winner of the Best Picture was La La Land, the whole staff was wild with joy, and the three producers were on the stage to make a speech when they suddenly learned that the award was mistakenly announced. It was in fact the movie Moonlight that won the night's big prize. 

    The film Moonlight is the winner of the best picture Academy Award.

    Moonlight is a 2016 American drama film directed by Barry Jenkins. The film presents three stages in the life of the main character. It explores the difficulties he faces with his own identity, and the physical and emotional abuse he receives as a result of it. 

 

This news hit the front page of many papers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

III. While-reading 

•Scan the article, and answer:

   1) What is the article mainly about?

     The article tells about the bias that women are faced with in the film industry and some positive changes of women's position in the film industry.

 

2. Read the article again, and tell whether the statements are true or false.

1) La La Land is the first movie featuring a woman to win the best picture award.   False  

2) Most of the films nominated for the Best Picture this year were produced by a female.   False  

3) Studio bosses are beginning to change their mentality that limits women's choice of projects.   True

4) Ava DuVernay thinks she knows the fantasy novel better than anyone else.   False  

 

3. Read the article carefully, and paraphrase the following sentences.

1) “It's the latent sexism that's the biggest problem.”... “It's there. It's under the skin of everything.”

Sexism is always there, although it’s not always so noticeable.

 

2) Yet Fielder and producers of the year's other best-picture Oscar nominees hope that change is not just on the horizon but already here.

They hope that the positive changes are not just coming soon but have already arrived.

 

3) It's a conscious decision to really question each hire that you make and consciously try to bring people in that don't look like you,” ... “That's how you start to have a ripple effect.”

We should try to get rid of sexual discrimination and give an equal chance to all females in the profession, no matter what they look like. A small act can have a wide effect.

 

IV. Post-reading 

1. Discussion 

What does the headline of the article mean?

Women in the film industry are trying to make their voices heard and their talents seen and acknowledged. 

Other reasonable explanations are also acceptable. 

 

2. Can you list some situations where women are unfairly treated?  What can be done to change the situation? 

 

Extinct animal revival (P5)

天津市第三中学  朱煜

I. Warming up   

Have you ever seen the movie Jurassic Park?

What is it about?

Do you think it’s possible to bring animals back from the dead? 

If so, how would you make it happen? 

By cloning them.

 

Make a guess: match the words with the pictures

 

 

II. Fast reading

Read the article and answer the question below.

What is the aim of the scientists’ research?

Their aim is to produce a hybrid elephant-mammoth embryo. They hope they can make this into a mammophant” some day.

 

Answer the detailed questions.

1. What will become reality according to the writer?

The methods used in the movie to bring animals back from the dead may soon become reality.

 

2. What would a mammophant look like according to the text?

It would look like a normal elephant but also share some mammoth traits, such as small ears, a thick layer of body fat and long hair.

 

3. How do the scientists try to get the new species?

They are attempting to mix mammoth DNA, recovered from frozen samples of the animal found in Siberia, with that of the Asian elephant, which is its closest relative.

 

4. What do critics say about this matter?

Some believe that the media has got carried away with the story, and some even call the story “fake news”.

 

IV. Debate  

Bring back the extinct animals? 

Pros

•It would make Earth more diverse and help humans. 

•It might contribute to the development of scientific fields such as medicine, biology and genetics.

•By reviving extinct animals, we could discover how they lived as well as how they died. This would help us to learn more about how to adapt to changes in our own environment. 

• …

 

Cons

•It might cause trouble for the ecological balance. 

•No one can ensure that cloning these extinct animals is safe for the animals we have today and for human beings.   

•The theory “survival of the fittest” tells us that it’s natural for some animals to die out. We shouldn’t go against nature by trying to bring them back. 

•… 

 

Chance at new start (P6)

山东省烟台第二中学   朱洪图

I. Warming up 

•Do you think ex-offenders (有犯罪前科的人) should be treated equally or differently when looking for jobs? Why?

• One possible answer:  They should be treated equally. First, they have already been punished for their crime. Second, treating them fairly is better for our society. If they can make a living, they are less likely to be offenders. 

 

Read the title and predict what the text talks about?

It may be about a person who got a chance to start a new life.

 

II. Skimming 

Read the text quickly and check if your prediction is correct. 

What is the text mainly about ?

•Mike Miles, an ex-offender, couldn't find a stable job. But with Charlie Crystle’s help, he now has a stable job and leads a happy life.

 

•Read the text again and try to work out the outline of the text.

 

 

Read the article and answer these questions

1. Why did Miles change his occupation frequently?

Because Miles had a criminal record, he was always cut loose when it came time to let staff go.

 

2. What motivated Miles to find a stable job?

He wanted to make living conditions better for his family, especially his daughter.

 

3. Why does Miles think his present job is the best job he’s ever had?

•First of all, in this company he will be treated fairly. And his work involves everything from food production to maintenance, and it pays a livable wage of $15 an hour. 

 

4. In what ways does the food company help ex-offenders?

Beyond providing employment and livable wages, the company also helps employees deal with the many challenges of reentry into society.

 

Decide if these statements are true or false.

•1. Miles was treated fairly in his previous jobs. F

 

•2. Miles became more determined than ever to create a healthy environment for his daughter. T

 

•3. Miles’ story is not common in Lancaster, because Charlie Crystle helps people like him and gives them jobs. F

Because ex-offenders like Miles are usually treated unfairly and they have difficulty finding jobs.

 

•4. According to Crystle, conversations about minimum wage and employment opportunities for everyone except ex-offenders should be started. F

IV. Language points

 

IV. Language points

 

 

Use the words below to complete the sentences.

 stable, temporary, cut (sb) loose, submit, release, practice

•Don't worry, his depression is only ______  - it'll soon pass.

•Many workers will be ______ in the upcoming staff reductions. 

•Photographs  ______ for publication will not be returned. 

•The prisoner was questioned before his ____.

•What is standard  ______ in a situation like this? 

•Ceri has been in a ______relationship with John for many years.

 

Key: temporary, cut loose, submitted, release, practice, stable

 

V. Post-reading

Discussion: 

•The Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2009 is a proposed federal law to amend the federal criminal code (联邦刑法) to allow an individual to file a petition（请求） for expungement (清除) of a record of crime. 

•Do you support this proposition, and why ?