Book 3
Unit 3
Leisure Activities
Teaching Aims:
In this unit students are required to :
1) get to know some useful information concerning the topic of the reading passages in
this unit and to know more about English culture;
2) do some preparation activities such as discussion, group work, etc. to practice their
spoken skill and communicative skills;
3) grasp some new words and try to use these words which help them to enrich their
vocabulary;
4)read the in-class reading passage in a limited time and grasp some expressions and
grammatical points in the in-class reading passage to improve their reading
comprehension;
5) do some post-reading exercises and some after-class reading to practice what they have
got to know in class to improve their English comprehensive skills.;
6) translate some typical sentences into Chinese or English by using some expressions
learned in the reading passages to acquire some translating skills and better their
translating abilities.
I. Preparation
1. Proverb
•People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for
illness.
•Wisdom is to the mind what health is to the body.
2. Useful Information
There are some people in society who either have to or want to work all the time.
Most people, however, seek ways to socialize, to relax or to have fun during their
leisure hours. Obviously people’s tastes vary depending on their income and their age.
But in recent years, the home entertainment industry has grown all over the world.
Instead of going out to see a movie or taking a walk in a park, people of all ages
prefer to turn on the television and stay at home. More and more families have tape
recorders, CD players, VCRs and VCDs to add to the variety of leisure activities,
surfing on the Internet or playing computer games.
Despite the rise in home entertainment, there are still many people who enjoy
spending some of their leisure time attending sports events or participating in
competitive sports or other physical activities such as dancing and taiji(shadow
boxing). Exercise not only contributes to good health but also takes the mind away
from worries and troubles.
Concerts, plays and other performances constitute another source of
entertainment outside the home. While some people prefer to be entertained, others
prefer to be the entertainers. They derive great satisfaction in giving others pleasure
1
by making them laugh or by enabling them to lose themselves in the imaginary world
of a play or the relaxing sounds of music.
II. Pre-Reading Activities
Our leisure activities
Step 1
Directions:
1. Make a list of the things you do for fun in your leisure time;
playing tennis/table tennis/ football/ basketball/ cards/computer games/musical
instruments; Going swimming/skating; going to movies; watching VCDs; dancing;
collecting stamps/coins; going to the pub; traveling; listening to music; reading novels;
watching a sports match, going to a concert; going to theaters and museums; going
shopping..
2. Make a list of the things your parents do for fun in their leisure time;
watching TV, going shopping, traveling, bowling, dancing, listening to music, reading
novels, playing mahjong, watching a sports match, going to a concert…
3. Make a list of the things your grandparents do for fun in their leisure time:
Watching TV, bird-raising, growing plants and flowers, drinking tea in the tea house,
traveling, listening to music, reading novels, playing mahjong, watching a sports
match, going to concert…
Step 2
Directions: From the activities above, choose
1) the most active activities:
sports activities, dancing
2) most passive activities:
•Watching TV, listening to music, reading novels, going to the pub, playing cards and
mahjong, drinking tea;
•Then decide on the three most popular activities in China irrespective of(不考虑） age
(in my opinion)
A. playing table tennis
B. playing cards/mahjong
C. watching TV
•Why is cross-talk popular in China?
Cross-talk is very popular in China. You can listen to it everywhere, on the radio, on
TV, etc. I think its popularity mainly lies in its humorous language, the performancers’
quick wits and their funny gesture. Another reason is that the subject of cross-talk is close
to real life so that it resonates with（与…共鸣)the audience. It uses either bitter irony or
funny teasing to amusing people. The most important thing that cross-talk can make one
laugh and think at the same time.
•Talk about your favorite film and explain why you like it so much.
My favorite film is Gone with the Wind. The famous actress and actor Vivian Leigh
and Clark Gable acted as Scarlet and Rhett Butler. Both of them acted very well. The
story was very touching. It happened during the American Civil War. It was about love
and war. I was deeply touched by Starlet’s love for Ashley and Rhett’s love for Scarlet. In
2
both cases the love was unrequited and In both cases the love was unrequited(无报答
的)and hopeless. This was, the most attractive part, because it was tragic. When I
watched the movie I hoped that Scarlet could realize how deeply Rhett loved and repay
his love. I cried when at the end of the movie their daughter, Bonnie , died and Rhett left
Scarlet even though Scarlet had realized how she had loved him without knowing it all
the time. The most tragic thing is that no one can really understand what love is. Scarlet
loved Rhett, but she didn’t know that. She thought she still loved Ashley, so did Rhett.
Ashley stood in the way of their marriage, like a shadow that couldn’t be waved away. I
also admire Scarlet. I think she is a brave, independent, courageous, and intelligent
woman, though she is selfish and willful(固执的，任性的).
III. Passage-Reading Activities
1. Finishing reading the passage within 16 minutes, and point out the main idea
of the passage.
2. Filling the blanks in the reading comprehension exercises.
3. Language Points
1）to laugh at
A) to laugh at sb/sth: to be amused by; to make fun of 因…嘲笑/讥笑
•Thoughtless children sometimes laugh at beggars and tramps.
•His plan was laughed at by everyone who heard it.
•He hated being laughed at and they laughed gain.
B) to laugh at : to take no notice of; to be careless of 对…一笑了之；觉得没涉么了不
起
•They laughed at their failure.
•to laugh at danger/at his threat/at one’s fears
2）a labor of love: task done for no reward, just one’s own satisfaction 不计报酬的工作，
自己乐意干的事
•I don’t mind arranging the flowers for the church every Sunday, it’s a labor of love.
•I like to help young people and painting their club house was a labor of love.
•Love birds: young) lovers（年轻的）恋人
•Joy is found only in love, life is found only in loving
•Love letter/life/story/song, love sick
•Love is neither bought nor sold.
•True love is giving, not taking
•All true love is founded on esteem.
•Love me little, love me long.
3) to be sensitive to
•to be sensitive to cold/pain/changes in temperature/light/criticism
•a sense of humor/sight/hearing/smell/taste/touch
•a sense of inferiority/ duty/ well-being/ safety /justice /shame / loyalty
4) out of (the) reach (of)无法拿到/联系上/抓到等
•Choose a goal within your reach.
3
•Luxuries are not within the reach of the poor.
•as far as the eye can reach 至地平线，极目
•the reach of the mind 智力之范围
5) to flash sb a smile 给以笑脸
to flash sb a meaning look 给某人使一个眼色
• She flashed him a despairing glance 投以使人失望的目光
• She flashed a sudden smile at him.
• Mother flashed a reassuring smile at the child.
• a flash in the pan 昙花一现的人物一时成功的人
in a flash: soon, suddenly, very quickly 一瞬间 ，突然间
• quick as a flash(of a clever remark) at once 一下子
6) to make fun of sb/sth: to poke fun at; to ridicule; laugh at 取笑，嘲笑，和…开玩笑
• We all make fun of him behind his back, of course.
• They made fun of my mistakes when I tried to speak English.
for fun: for the fun of it; for the fun of the thing; for pleasure; without serious purpose
为了高兴，为了好玩
• I only did it for fun.
• He is learning French for fun.
in fun: in playfulness, without serious or harmful intention
闹着玩，不适当真的，开玩
笑的
• She said it half in fun and half in earnest.
• I am sorry I hid your book; I only did it in fun, I didn’t mean to cause trouble.
funny enough: strange to say ,oddly/strangely/curiously enough 说也奇怪
• I called him three times but funny enough he didn’t answer.
7) to appeal to
A)to appeal to sb: please; attract; interest
• She appeals to me.
• That music is too old-fashioned to appeal to people any longer.
B)to appeal to sb for sth: to make a strong request for help/support/mercy 呼吁，要求
• He appealed to his friend for support.
• The criminal appealed to the judge for mercy.
• The condemned man appealed to the court for mercy.
C)to appeal to: to call on a higher court to change the decision of a lower court 上诉
• to appeal to a higher court
• I intend to appeal to a higher court
8) to lie in: to be found in; to exist in
• The difficulty lies in their great poverty.
• The solution lies in social and political reform.
• The remedy lies in education.
• The causes of the war lie in the greed and incompetence of politicians on both
sides.`
white lie: lie told for convenience/to avoid hurting one’s feelings 善意的谎言
• Lies have short legs.谎言总是站不住脚的。测谎器
• Lies cannot cover up facts.谎言掩盖不了事实。
9) no less +adj
4
no less +adj+ than…quite as…as 和…一样；不亚于
• She is no less active than she used to be.
• a less important question 同样重要的问题
• She is no less beautiful than her sister.
no less than=as many/much as, exactly
• There are no less than fifty killed and wounded.
• Nothing/more less than: just the same as, quite the same, fully equal to; no better
than (sth. bad)完全只是…；完全相同/相等
• It was nothing less than criminal.
• That disease is nothing less than an epidemic.那完全是一种流行病。
• That’s nothing less than a miracle.
10) How come: How did it happen( that )是怎么回事
• How come you got that job at the factory?
• How come you never visit us any more?
• How come you are late?
11) to have a note of
Some phrase with “note”:
A) Make a note of sth: write sth down so that you can look at it later 记下，写下
• I made a note of her address and phone number.
B) to take/make notes: write notes 记笔记 She sat quietly in the corner making careful
notes.
C) to take note of Pay careful attention to sth
• People were beginning to take note of her talent.
• (in this article Note any quality)特点，口气，暗示，信号
• There was a note of anger in what he said.
• The speaker sounded a note of warning.
• There was a note of self-satisfaction in his speech.
• noted :well-known; famous
• a noted scientist/performer/personage
12) under one’s(very) nose: in a way or place that might be easily found by sb; within
one’s sight 就在某人跟前；当着某人的面
• The pen I thought I had lost was on my desk, right under my nose.
• They made their secret plans under the enemy’s nose(s).
• He was searching for his slippers while they are under his nose all the time.
as plain as the nose in/on your face 一目了然的
• to have a nose for 对…很敏感，很善于发现
• to hold one’s nose in the air 目中无人
• to lead sb by the nose 完全支配某人
• to look down one’s nose at…瞧不起…
13) to think too much of : to have too high opinion of
(not think much of : to have low opinion of )
• He thinks too much of himself.
• I don’t think much of him as a teacher.
to think//praise/speak highly /well of sb/sth: have a good opinion of 赞赏，对…印象好
• He was highly thought of by people.
• I always think well of this man.
5
(the opposite) to think little/badly/poorly of sb /sth:
• to think nothing of :to consider insignificant; to regard as usual or easy 觉得不怎么
样（没什么，不难）
• He thinks nothing of your work.
• He thinks nothing of walking 4 miles to work and back every day.
to think nothing of it 不用谢，不用介意
• “Thank you very much for your help”. “Think nothing of it.”
14) to blame sb for sth
• Don’t blame him for the failure.
to be to blame
• You are not to blame for what happened.
• In this matter he seems to be in no way to blame. 在这件事情上，看来他没有什么责
任。
•
•
only have oneself to blame: one’s problems are his own fault 只能怪自己
If he fails his exams, he’ll only have himself to blame.
IV. Post-Reading Activities
1. Fill in all the blanks in the reading comprehension exercises.
2. Finish the vocabulary exercises on page91 and 92.
3. Make your comments
Directions: Work in groups to discuss the following question.
Do you agree with the following statements? Why or why not?
———People will let you insult them if you make them laugh.
V. Further Development
1. Trying to Be the Most Entertaining Group
Directions: Work in groups to prepare something that will entertain or amuse yiour
classmates, for example: a joke, riddle, song, mime(哑剧), skit(小短剧)，etc. Present
what your group has prepared for your class. Then vote for the most entertaining
group.
2. Racking Your Brains
Directions: Try to solve the following riddles.
1) What animal carries two hills on its back?
2) What goes up but never comes down?
3) What gets wet as it dries?
4) A bird am I and a male,
On my head there is a crown,
With many coins on my tail.
5) the longer it stands, the lower it grows.
6) What’s the best way to catch a fish?
(* The normal order of the line is “I am a bird and a male”.)
3. Writing
Write a composition on either of the following topics. Use at lease 6 words or phrases
in your composition from the list below. Your composition should be n less than 150
words. Remember to write neatly.
1) My Favorite Pastime
6
2) How People Spend Their Leisure Time
relaxation
definitely
in advance
universal
take one’s mind away
entertainment
illusion pursue
limited
appeal to
professional
entertaining
laughter
require
concert
alternative
popularity
attraction
fashion
Sample
How People Spend Their Leisure Time
Many people are often very busy with various things in their work or their home
life so they have no time for entertainment. But this is really bad for one’s health. So
we should make an effort to look for relaxation. A proverb says, “All work and no
play makes Jack a dull boy.”
People in different regions may have different forms of activities. In China one of
the most popular activities is traveling, especially going to the remote areas which are
not seriously polluted. These isolated locations appeal to travelers who want to get
closer to nature because they are tired of stressful city life.
Other people who can afford neither the time nor the money for travel will stay at
home, watching TV, going to the movies or concerts, or inviting some friends to have
a party. Children like to go to the park, play computer games, and participate in sports.
Young women like to go shopping while young men prefer to stay at home, watching
TV and drinking tea.
The popularity of pastimes varies according to age, sex, personality and financial
situations. Whatever one’s pastime is , I’m sure that after it he or she will feel relaxed,
more refreshed and ready to start a new day’s work. Pastimes offer a way to take
one’s mind away from the stresses of everyday life.
7