Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
Reading aloud
Read the following sentences aloud, paying special
attention to intonation. The symbol | indicates a
division of tone groups, while ↗ and ↘ nuclear tones.
1. I don’t know whether it was because work at the
office slowed during ↗February | or because
the football season was ↘over.
2. For several ↗days | I had been cutting out valentines
for ↘classmates.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
3. As I grew ↗older, | the gifts gave way to heartshaped boxes filled with my favorite
↗chocolates | and always included a special card
signed “Love, ↘Dad.”
4. If my father knew then that he had been re↗placed,
| he never let it ↘show.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
Cultural information
1. Quote
O Hare Noel (American Writer): As a modern parent, I
know that it’s not how much you give children those
counts, it’s the love and attention you shower on them.
A caring attitude can not only save you a small fortune,
but also even make you feel good about being tightfisted and offering more care than present.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
2. Father
The father is often seen as an authority figure. A
common observation among scholars is that the
authority of the father and of the political leader are
closely intertwined, that there is a symbolic
identification between domestic authority and
national political leadership. The fundamental
common grounds between domestic and national
authority, are the mechanisms of naming (exercise
the authority in someone’s name) and identification.
In a patriarchal society, authority typically uses such
rhetoric of fatherhood and family to implement their
rule and advocate its legitimacy.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
In Western culture patriarchy and authority have
been synonymous. In the 19th century Europe, the idea
was common, among both traditionalist and
revolutionaries, that the authority of the domestic father
should “be made omnipotent in the family so that it
becomes less necessary in the state”. In the second part
of that century, there was an extension of the authority
of the husband over his wife and the authority of the
father over his children, including
“increased demands for absolute
obedience of children to the father”.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
Audiovisual supplements
Watch a video clip and answer the following questions.
1. What did the girls ask their father to do at the table?
They asked their father to do “Mr. Napkin Head”.
2. How is the relationship between the father and his
daughters in the video?
It’s very clear that the father loves his daughters
very much. He has a great patience to meet the
reasonable needs of his daughters. And the girls
extremely love and depend on their father.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Audiovisual supplement
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Graham:
Olivia:
Graham:
Olivia:
Graham:
Olivia:
Graham:
Olivia:
Sophie:
Olivia:
Audiovisual supplement
Oh, hello.
Hello.
Hello.
Going on. Blow on mine.
Aw! Thank you. Excellent timing.
Dad, do Mr. Napkin Head.
No. No, no, no. No Mr. Napkin Head.
Please! Do it.
Do it. Do it, please.
Do it, please. Beg you. Please?
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Graham:
Olivia:
Graham:
Olivia:
Graham:
Audiovisual supplement
Please? Ok, I’ll do it quickly
[kiss Daddy]
Oh, well, thank you for that.
You’re welcome. Now do it.
All right. [sigh] Amanda, can I borrow your
napkin, please?
Amanda: Oh, yes!
Olivia:
Your glasses.
Graham: Pass me those glasses when I need them.
Sophie: Amanda, you’re gonna love this. It’s so funny. I
mean, you’ll fall off your chair. It is so funny.
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Graham:
Audiovisual supplement
Hello. Hello. My name is Mr. Napkin Head.
Hello, children. Who is this? She’s a stranger?
Olivia:
Amanda.
Graham:
And why has she got a funny accent?
Olivia:
Amanda.
Graham:
Yes, but where is she from?
Sophie:
Now smoke!
Olivia:
Go on.
Graham:
[cough] Smoking’s really bad for you.
Everybody: Yeah!
Sophie:
Amanda, guess what. We have a tent in our
playroom. Do you want to see it?
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Graham:
Olivia:
Amanda:
Olivia:
Amanda:
Olivia:
Amanda:
Sophie:
Amanda:
Olivia:
Audiovisual supplement
No, no, no. Amanda … will not crawl into
your tent.
You don’t like tents?
Ah! Ok, this is seriously cool.
Come inside.
Wow!
Lie down.
OK.
Here, Amanda. You can use my pillow.
Thank you!
Lie down!
Reading aloud
Cultural information
Graham:
Olivia:
Graham:
Audiovisual supplement
Can you please stop being so bossy?
Lie down, please. Next to me.
Ok.
Main idea
Structural analysis
Main idea
1. What is the story narrated in the text about?
The text recollects a series of events concerning the
narrator’s father, who showed profound affection for
his daughter by offering her valentines on Valentine’s
Day.
Main idea
Structural analysis
2. Why does the writer focus her accounts and
descriptions on her first recollection of the magic
her father brought to the occasion and on the last card
and gift from him?
Because the first and last gifts her father offered her
are the most impressive and the most unforgettable
ones.
Main idea
Structural analysis
Structural analysis
1. Work out the structure of the text by completing the
table.
Paragraphs
1-2
3-10
Main idea
It gives a brief account of the
narrator’s father and points out the
theme of the text.
It provides a detailed account of
how the father showed profound
affection for his daughter on
Valentine’s Day.
Main idea
Structural analysis
Paragraphs
11-12
Main idea
The narrator tells us how
important it has been to her to
have such a loving father and that
she will never forget her father
and his kindness to her.
Main idea
Structural analysis
2. The author’s recounting of her Valentine’s Day
memories in the second part of the text follows closely
the chronological order. Try to pick out the three
sentences in this part that indicate the progression of
time.
The three sentences that indicate the progression of
time are:
1) My first recollection of the magic he could bring to
Valentine’s Day came when I was six. (Paragraph 3)
Main idea
Structural analysis
2) As I grew older, the gifts gave way to heart-shaped
boxes filled with my favorite chocolates and always
included a special card signed “Love, Dad.”
(Paragraph 5)
3) My mailbox eventually had a rural address, and the
job of hand-delivering candy and cards was
relegated to the U.S. Postal Service. (Paragraph 7)
Detailed reading
My Forever Valentine
The traditional holidays in our house when I was
1
a child were spent timing elaborate meals around
football games. My father tried to make pleasant
chitchat and eat as much as he could during half time.
At Christmas he found time to have a cup or two of
holiday beer and do his holly-shaped bow tie. But he
didn’t truly shine until Valentine’s Day.
Detailed reading
2
I don’t know whether it was because work at the
office slowed during February or because the football
season was over. But Valentine’s Day was the time (my
father chose to show his love for the special people in
his life). Over the years I fondly thought of him as my
“Valentine Man”.
Detailed reading
3 My first recollection of the magic he could bring to
Valentine’s Day came when I was six. For several days I
had been cutting out valentines for my classmates.
Each of us was to decorate a “mailbox” and put it on
our desk for others to give us cards. That box and its
contents ushered in a succession of bittersweet
memories of my entrance into a world of popularity
contests marked by the number of cards received, the
teasing about boyfriends/girlfriends and the tender
care I gave to the card from the cutest boy in class.
Detailed reading
4
That morning at the breakfast table I found a card
and a gift-wrapped package at my chair. The card was
signed “Love, Dad,” and the gift was a ring with a
small piece of red glass to represent my birthstone, a
ruby. There is little difference between red glass and
rubies to a child of six, and I remember wearing that
ring with a pride that all the cards in the world could
not surpass.
Detailed reading
As I grew older, the gifts gave way to heart-shaped
5
boxes filled with my favorite chocolates and always
included a special card signed “Love, Dad.” In those
years my thank-yous became more of a perfunctory
response. The cards seemed less important, and I took
for granted the valentine that would always be there.
Long past the days of having a “mailbox” on my desk, I
had placed my hopes and dreams in receiving cards and
gifts from “significant others,” and “Love, Dad” just
didn’t seem quite enough.
Detailed reading
If my father knew then that he had been replaced,
he never let it show. If he sensed any disappointment
over valentines that didn’t arrive for me, he just tried
that much harder to create a positive atmosphere,
giving me an extra hug and doing what he could to
make my day a little brighter.
7 My mailbox eventually had a rural address, and the
job of hand-delivering candy and cards was relegated to
the U.S. Postal Service. Never in ten years was my
father’s package late nor was it on the Valentine’s Day
eight years ago when I reached into the mailbox to find
a card addressed to me in my mother’s handwriting.
6
Detailed reading
8 It was the kind of card that comes in an inexpensive
assortment box sold by a child going door to door to try
to earn money for a school project. It was the kind of
card you used to get from a grandmother or an aging
aunt or, in this case, a dying father.
It was the kind of card that put a lump in your
9
throat and tears in your eyes because you knew the
person no longer was able to go out and buy a real
valentine. It was a card that signaled this would be the
last you would receive from him.
10 The card had a photograph of tulips on the outside,
and on the inside my mother had printed “Happy
Valentine’s Day.” Beneath it, scrawled in barely legible
handwriting was “Love, Dad.”
Detailed reading
11 His final card remains on my bulletin board today.
It’s a reminder of how special fathers can be and how
important it has been to me over the years to know
that I had a father who continued a tradition of love
with a generosity of spirit, simple acts of understanding
and an ability to express happiness over the people in
his life.
12 Those things never die, nor does the memory of a
man who never stopped being my valentine.
Detailed reading
time: v.
arrange or set the time at which something happens or
is to happen 为…安排时间 （timing n.时间安排）
e.g. You timed your arrival well; we were just going to
have dinner.
Collocations:
be timed to do sth.
e.g. The train is timed to arrive at 6 o’clock.
be timed for sth.
e.g. The next show is timed for 8 o’clock.
Detailed reading
Comparisons: ill-timed, well-timed, mistime
ill-timed: adj. happening or done at the wrong time
well-timed: adj. happening or done at the most
suitable time
mistime: v. do something at the wrong time or at an
unsuitable time
Detailed reading
elaborate: adj.
Carefully prepared and organized 精心制作的；详尽的
e.g. She made elaborate preparations for the party.
The curtains had an elaborate pattern of flowers.
Collocation: elaborate plan/notes/excuses, etc.
Derivations: elaborate: v.详尽说明，阐述
~~on 对…作详细说明
elaborateness: n.
Translation:
The problem is too elaborate.
这个问题太复杂了。
Detailed reading
fondly: adv.
1) in a way that shows you like someone very much喜爱地
2) in a foolishly hopeful manner愚蠢地，天真的以为，盲目
的相信
e.g. She fondly imagined that she could pass her
examination without working hard.
Comparison:
lovely: adj. beautiful or attractive; friendly and
pleasant
Derivations:
fond: adj.
fondness: n.
Detailed reading
The traditional holidays in our house when I was a child
were spent timing elaborate meals around football
games. ( Paragraph 1)
Explanation:
Some of the traditional holidays in the United States
are Valentine’s Day (February 14); St. Patrick’ Day
(March 17); and Halloween (October 31). In some states,
Arbor Day, Bird Day, and Flag Day are school holidays.
Child Health Day (the first Monday in October) is widely
observed in schools. Many schools and some businesses
close on Good Friday.
Translation:
小时候，我们家的传统节日总是根据足球比赛的时间来准
备精美的饭菜。
Detailed reading
Paragraph 2
Questions
1) What was the narrator’s father? And what was his hobby?
The narrator’s father did office work. He was fond of
watching football matches.
2) Why did the narrator think of her father as her
Valentine Man?
Because her father chose Valentine’s Day to show his
profound affection for her by presenting her with gifts
and showing great care for her on that particular day
for many years in succession until he passed away.
Detailed reading
Paragraph 3
Question
What does “the magic” mentioned in Paragraph 3 refer
to?
“The magic” mentioned in Paragraph 3 refers to
charm added to the day by the wonderful gifts and
the profound affection that the narrator’s father
gave her.
Detailed reading
recollection: n.
memory; the power or action of remembering the past;
something in one’s memory of the past
e.g. I have no recollection of meeting him.
Comparison: recollection, collection
collection: n. a group of things that are put together
Practice:
1) A collection
_________ of empty wine bottles stood on the
back porch.
2) Her recollection
__________ of the events is rather patchy.
Derivation:
recollect: v.
Detailed reading
succession: n.
happening one after another
Collocations:
in succession 连续地，接连地
e.g. She won the championship four times in succession.
a succession of 一连串，一阵
e.g. A succession of visitors came to the door.
Comparisons: succession to the throne, accession to the
throne
succession to the throne: the act of becoming the next
king or queen继承王位
accession to the throne: the act of becoming king or
queen登基
Detailed reading
contest: n.
a struggle to win control or power; a competition, esp.
one judged by a group of specially chosen judges
e.g. Many beautiful girls from the five continents
participated in the Beauty Contest.
Comparison:
match: n. an organized sports event between two
teams or people
Derivations:
contestant: n. someone who competes in a contest
contest: v.
Detailed reading
cute: adj.
1) attractive in an amusing or interesting way
e.g. What a cute little baby!
2) (sometimes derog.) (too) clever; shrewd
e.g. You must approach her carefully, for she is a cute
woman.
Synonyms:
lovely, pleasant
Derivation:
cuteness: n.
Detailed reading
surpass: v.
exceed; go beyond in amount, degree, or quality
e.g. China wants to catch up with and surpass the
developed countries in the world.
Collocation:
surpass expectations/hopes/dreams: be better than you
had expected, hoped, etc.
e.g. Her splendid performances surpassed all our
expectations.
Derivation:
surpassing: adj. much better than that of other
people or things
Detailed reading
Translation:
He surpassed all his rivals.
他比所有的对手都强。
Detailed reading
Paragraph 5
Question
What gifts did the narrator’s father give her as she grew
older?
As she grew older, the narrator’s father gave her such
gifts as heart-shaped boxes filled with her favorite
chocolates, which always included a special card
signed “Love, Dad.”
Detailed reading
give way
1) Be replaced by取代，被替代
e.g. Steam trains gave way to electric trains.
2) agree to do what someone else wants to do, instead
of what you wanted to do 让步，退让
e.g. He is too stubborn to give way.
Comparisons: give away, give in
give in: unwillingly agree to someone’s demands
after they have spent a lot of time arguing with you,
trying to persuade you
e.g. They argued back and forth until finally Buzz gave
in.
Detailed reading
perfunctory: adj.
(of an action) done hastily and without thought,
interest or care敷衍的
e.g. Olivia dismissed him with a perfunctory nod.
Antonym:
discreet: adj. done or said in a careful way
Derivation:
perfunctory: n. someone who is perfunctory
Detailed reading
That box and its contents ushered in a succession of
bittersweet memories of my entrance into a world of
popularity contests marked by the number of cards
received, the teasing about boyfriends/girlfriends and
the tender care I gave to the card from the cutest boy
in class. (Paragraph 3)
Translation:
那个盒子以及里面的东西激起了我一连串既苦涩又甜
美的回忆：令我想起自己是如何涉入到在同学中争宠
的竞赛中去，以收到的情人卡的数量来表现自己的人
气；令我想起男女同学关于男女朋友的相互调侃以及
我对班上最酷的男孩送给我的卡片的钟情。
Detailed reading
As I grew older, the gifts gave way to heart-shaped boxes
filled with my favorite chocolates and always included a
special card signed “Love, Dad. ” (Paragraph 5)
Explanation:
The affectionate message might be carried by a
heart-shaped box of chocolate candies, or by a
bouquet of tulips tied with filmy red ribbon.
Translation:
长大后，我收到的礼物变成了心形的盒子。里面装满
了我最喜欢的巧克力，还随附一张很特别的卡片，上
面写着“我的心肝，爱你的爸爸”。
Detailed reading
He never let it show. (Paragraph 6)
Paraphrase:
He never revealed his feelings.
Detailed reading
Activity: Making sentences
Directions: Use the following words and expressions to
make sentences.
elaborate
surpass
cute
fondly
give way
recollection succession
Detailed reading
Paragraph 7
Question
Why was the job of hand-delivering candy and cards
relegated to the U.S. Postal Service?
Because the narrator settled down in a rural area,
which was far away from where her father lived.
Detailed reading
eventually: adv.
at last; in the end
e.g.
After many attempts she eventually managed to get
promotion.
Comparison:
eventfully: adv. in a way that is full of interesting or
important events
Derivations:
eventual: adj.
eventuality: n. a possible event or result, esp. an
unpleasant one
Detailed reading
deliver: v.
take goods, letters, etc. to people’s houses or places of
work
e.g. Letters are delivered every day.
Collocation: deliver sth. to
e.g. Could you deliver this letter to the accounts
department?
Derivations:
deliverer: n. someone who takes goods, letters, etc. to
people’s houses or places of work
delivery: n. the act of bringing goods, letters, etc. to
the person or place they have been sent to
Detailed reading
relegate: v.
put into a lower or worse place使降位，使降级，贬黜
e.g. He was relegated to a remote place to do farm work.
Comparison:
delegate: v. give part of your power or work to
someone in a lower position 代表，委派，授权
Practice:
delegate .
1) A good manager knows when to ________
relegated .
2) Their football team was _________
Derivation:
relegation: n.
Detailed reading
assortment: n.
a mixture of different things or of various kinds of the
same thing 杂烩，各式各样
e.g. She has an odd assortment of friends.
This is an assortment of sweets.
Synonym:
collection: n. a group of things that are put together
Derivation:
assorted: adj. of various different kinds
assort: v.
Detailed reading
scrawl: v.
write in a careless, hurried, awkward, or unskillful way
e.g. She scrawled a brief note and handed it to her
secretary.
Synonym:
scribble: v. write something quickly and untidily
Practice:
scrawl on the wall.
1) Don’t ______
scribbled his phone number in my address book.
2) I ________
Derivation:
scrawl: n. something written in an untidy careless
way
Detailed reading
legible: adj.
(of handwriting or print) that can be read, esp. easily
e.g. Her handwriting was tiny and barely legible.
Antonym:
illegible
Derivation:
legibility: n.
Detailed reading
Never in ten years was my father’s package late nor
was it on the Valentine’s Day eight years ago when I
reached into the mailbox to find a card addressed to
me in my mother’s handwriting. (Paragraph 7)
Translation:
10年中，我父亲的包裹总是准时寄到，即使在8年前的
情人节，也是如此。那天，我把手伸进邮箱，拿到的
是一张寄给我的卡片，上面是我母亲的笔记。
Detailed reading
It was the kind of card that put a lump in your throat
and teas in your eyes because you knew the person no
longer was to go out and buy a real valentine.
(Paragraph 9)
Translation:
这是张能让人喉咙哽咽、泪水盈眶的贺卡，因为当你
看到它时，你明白这个人再也无法出门给你买情人节
贺卡了。
Detailed reading
Paragraphs 8-10
Question
How did the writer describe the final card she received
from her dying father?
It was an ordinary-looking card, but full of her dying
father's year-long affection for her which could move
the author into tears.
Detailed reading
Paragraphs 11-12
Questions
1) Why does her father’s final card still remain on her
bulletin board today?
It’s a reminder of her father, being special and
important for her years long.
2) Would you please paraphrase the concluding part?
It is something that makes me remember how
particularly great fathers can be and how valuable
and influential it has been to me over the years to
have such a loving father. Those things will always
live in my heart, and the same is true of the memory
with my father on Valentine’s Day.
Detailed reading
reminder: n.
something that reminds you of something that happened
in the past
Collocation:
reminder of sth.
e.g. Her disability remains as a reminder of the war
years.
Comparison:
remembrance: n. a memory that you have of a person
or event
Derivation:
remind: v.
Detailed reading
generosity: n.
willingness to give money, time, etc. in order to help or
please someone
e.g. People admire him for his diligence, friendliness,
and generosity.
Antonym:
miserliness
Derivation:
generous: adj.
Detailed reading
Translation:
His generosity claims our respect.
他的慷慨值得我们尊敬。
以德服人
convince by kindness or generosity
Detailed reading
Activity: Write a love story
Directions: Work in groups of three or four. Write a
love story of no more than 500 words, which is
supposed to happen on Valentine’s Day. You should use
the following words and expressions in your story.
elaborate
cute
eventually
reminder
fondly
recollection
surpass
give way
deliver
scrawl
generosity
succession
perfunctory
legible
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Phrase practice
Word comparison
Synonym / Antonym
Sentence rephrasing
Writing
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
think of as = regard as 认为，把……当作
e.g. Crying is always thought of as the nature of women.
人们总认为哭是女人的天性。
You can’t think of him as a friend but a business
associate.
你不能把他当做朋友，他只是你的生意伙伴。
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
usher in = be the beginning of 引进，开创
e.g. The manager ushered in a series of reform.
经理开创了一系列的改革。
The change of the president ushers in new ideas
and policies.
新总统的上台带来了新的理念和政策。
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
more of = to a greater degree 更
e.g. Piracy is becoming more and more of a problem in
China.
隐私在中国已日益成为一个问题。
He is more of an athlete than his brother.
他比他兄弟更适合当运动员。
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 1
careful: if you are careful, you give serious attention to
what you are doing, in order to avoid harm,
damage, or mistakes
e.g. We had to be very careful not to be seen.
elaborate: containing a lot of careful details or many
detailed parts
e.g. They are making the most elaborate preparations
for the wedding.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 1
conscientious: careful to do everything that it is your
job or duty to do
e.g. A conscientious teacher may feel inclined to take
work home.
conscious: if you are conscious of something, you notice
it or realize that it is happening
e.g. I had to make a conscious effort not to be rude to
him.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 2
create: when someone creates a new product or process,
they invent it or design it
e.g. It is really great for a radio producer to create a
show like this.
produce: to bring something or bring something into
existence
e.g. France produces a great deal of wine for export.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 2
make: to cause an object to exist, for example, by
putting the different parts of it together
e.g. I’m going to show you how to make a box.
invent: if you invent something such as a machine or
process, you are the first person to think of it or
make it
e.g. He invented the first electric clock.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 3
eventually: in the end, especially after a long time or a
lot of effort, problems, etc.
e.g. Although she had been ill for a long time, it still
came as a shock when she eventually died.
lastly: used when telling someone the last thing at the
end of a list or a series of statements
e.g. Lastly, could I ask all of you to keep this
information secret?
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 3
finally: you use “finally” to suggest that something
happens after a long period of time, usually later
than you wanted or expected it to happen
e.g. Finally, after ten hours of negotiations, the
gunman gave himself up.
at last: finally
e.g. I’ve finished my essay at last.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 4
usher: to help someone to get from one place to another,
especially by showing them the way
e.g. He ushered her into the room.
guide: if you guide someone around a city, museum, or
building, you show it to them and explain points of
interest
e.g. There will be guided walks around the site.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 4
introduce: to put something into use, operation or a
place for the first time
e.g.
The smaller 10 pence coin was introduced in
1992.
display: to show something to people, or put it in a place
where people can see it easily
e.g.
All the exam results will be displayed on the
notice board.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 5
aging: someone or something that is aging is becoming
older and less healthy or efficient
e.g. John lives with his aging mother.
old: used to describe or ask about someone’s age
e.g. He’s a couple of years older than me.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 5
aged: very old
e.g. She nurses her aged mother.
elderly: you use “elderly” as a polite way of saying that
someone is old
e.g. Many of those most affected are elderly.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 6
continue: to keep happening, existing or doing something,
or to cause something to so this
e.g. It’s said that the boat went down, but the band
continued to play.
remaining: the remaining people or things are those that
are left when the others have gone, or been
dealt with
e.g. The few remaining guests were in the kitchen.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 6
persist: if something undesirable persists, it continues to
exist
e.g. These problems persisted for much of the decade.
maintain: to continue to have; to keep in existence, or
not allow to become less
e.g. The army has been brought in to maintain order in
the region.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 7
address: if a letter, envelope, or parcel is addressed to
you, your name and address have been written
on it
e.g. Applications should be addressed to: The business
affairs editor.
deliver: to take goods, letters, parcels, etc. to people’s
houses or places of work
e.g. Mail is delivered to our office twice a day.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 7
send: to arrange for something to go or be taken to
another place, especially by post
e.g. Lyn sent some pictures from the wedding.
signal: to show that you intend or are ready to do
something
e.g. The union has signaled that the workers will strike.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 8
reminder: a person or thing which makes you remember a
particular person, event or situation
e.g. This has been a timely reminder of the need for
constant care.
caution: the quality of being very carefully to avoid
danger or risks
e.g. We urged caution.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Group 8
notice: information or a warning given about something
that is going to happen in the future
e.g. The next time you visit, can you give me more
notice?
remainder: the remainder of a group are the things or
people that still remain after the other things
or people have gone or have been dealt with
e.g. Nine people came in and the remainder stayed
outside.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Give synonyms or antonyms of the word underlined in
each sentence in the sense it is used.
1. The traditional holidays in our house when I was a
child were spent timing elaborate meals around
football games.
Synonyms: rich, well-prepared, complicated, complex
2. My father tried to make pleasant chitchat and eat as
much as he could during half time.
Antonyms: unpleasant, displeasing, disagreeable,
bitter, nasty
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
3. I don’t know whether it was because work at the office
slowed during February or because the football season
was over.
Synonyms: slacken, decelerate
4. Over the years I fondly thought of him as my
“Valentine Man.”
Antonyms: coldly, bitterly, hatefully, spitefully
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
5. … the tender care I gave to the card from the cutest
boy in class.
Synonyms: lovely, lovable, attractive
6. I remember wearing that ring with a pride that all the
cards in the world could not surpass.
Antonyms: shame, disgrace, humiliation
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
7. In those years my thank-yous became more of a
perfunctory response.
Synonyms: indifferent, half-hearted, thoughtless
8. I had a father who continued a tradition of love with a
generosity of spirit.
Antonyms: selfishness, greediness, meanness
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Rephrase each of the following sentences with the
word given in brackets.
1. We must have your answer tonight at the latest.
(insist)
We insist on having your answer tonight at the latest.
2. My father is going to lend me his car tonight.
(borrow)
My father is gong to let me borrow his car tonight.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Rephrase each of the following sentences with the
word given in brackets.
3. We see it as a wonderful opportunity. (look)
We look upon it as a wonderful opportunity.
4. You don’t mean to say you want a fifth ice cream,
do you? (surely)
You surely don’t want a fifth ice cream, do you?
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Rephrase each of the following sentences with the
word given in brackets.
5. There is almost nothing in the house to eat tonight.
(hardly)
There is hardly anything in the house to eat tonight.
6. The bank now owns this block of flats. (belong)
This block of flats now belongs to the bank.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Rephrase each of the following sentences with the
word given in brackets.
7. Is it really advisable to freeze this sort of food?
(should)
Should we really freeze this sort of food?
8. There’s no need to telephone me when you arrive.
(bother)
Don’t bother to telephone me when you arrive.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
insist v.
demand sth. should happen
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
坚决要求，坚持
e.g. They insisted that everyone should come to the
meeting.
insist on / upon sth.
e.g. The girl insisted on checking everything herself.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
borrow v.
get temporarily 借，借入
e.g. They are poor but they never borrow money from
others.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
look v.
perceive with attention 看
e.g. Look at the blackboard please.
look upon/on = regard as
e.g. We look upon it as a very promising attempt.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
surely adv.
certainly, definitely 稳当地，无疑地
e.g. I surely need your support and trust.
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
hardly adv.
almost not 几乎不
e.g. The children in the family hardly watch TV.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
belong to:
be owned by 属于
e.g. I think the toy must belong to that girl.
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
should aux.
will, need to 应该，将要
e.g. All kids should be taken good care of.
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
bother to:
(usually used in the negative form) to cause
inconvenience or discomfort to 费心，麻烦……
e.g. It’s no bother to me. And I'll be glad to do it.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Real and unreal conditionals
It + be + … + that
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
With real conditionals, there is a chance that the
condition will be fulfilled; with unreal conditional there
is no such chance.
e.g. If he arrives on time, he will be able to go with us.
(Real condition)
If he had arrived on time, he would have been able
to go with us. (Unreal condition)
If I were (was) you, I would be careful. (Unreal
condition).
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Conditional sentences
conditionals:
have
Oral activities
two
Writing
Listening
clauses.
If clause: present tense
Result clause: future
tense
If you eat too much ice
cream,
you’ll get sick.
Real
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Unreal Conditions — present:
If clause:
simple past
If I had more
time,
If you were
rich,
Result clause: would or could + base
form of verb
I’d do exercises everyday.
you could buy a large house in the
suburbs.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Unreal Conditions — past:
If clause: past
perfect
Result clause: would have + past
participle
If Ronald had
stayed in school,
he would have gotten a better
job.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice:
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
happen (happen) if I press this button?
1. What will
__________
2. If the story hadn’t been true, the newspaper
wouldn’t
have printed (not print) it.
___________________
buy (not buy) things on the installment
3. I wouldn’t
____________
system if I were you.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice:
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
have died
4. If he’d taken his doctor’s advice he wouldn’t
_________________
(not die).
____ (go) on a diet.
5. She’ll lose weight if she goes
believe (not believe) his
6. If I were you, I wouldn’t
_______________
story.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
In a real conditional, when talking about the future, the
verb in the if-clause is in the present tense while that in
the main clause is in the future tense.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
In an unreal conditional, we use “if + past perfect” and
“would + have done” in the main clause when we talk
about something in the past.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
In an unreal conditional, we use a past tense in the ifclause and “would do” in the main clause when we talk
about present or future situations.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Sentences introduced by “It is” or “It was” are often
used to emphasize a specific subject or object. The
introductory clause is then followed by a relative
pronoun. “It + be + … + that” can be used to highlight
the subject, object, adverbial of time, place, manner,
cause.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
e.g. It is Jenny who spends all her money on shoes.
(subject)
It is shoes that Jenny spends all her money
on. (object)
It was in London that he met his first wife. (place)
It was only when he phoned that I realized what
had happened. (time)
It is learning English that I find most enjoyable
nowadays. (gerund action)
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice:
Highlight the underlined parts in the following
sentences using “it + be + … + that.”
1. I put them into the soil the day my first son was born.
It was on the day my first son was born that I put
them into the soil.
2. We reached Istanbul by train.
It was by train that we reached Istanbul.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
3. He’s feeling unwell because he’s been working too
hard.
It is because he’s been working too hard that he’s
feeling unwell.
4. The awful weather drives him crazy.
It is the awful weather that drives him crazy.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
5. We get light and heat from the sun.
It is from the sun that we get light and heat.
6. I understood the true state of affairs not until I had
read your letter.
It was not until I had read your letter that I understood
the true state of affairs.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
1. 索菲亚委婉地取笑汤姆那顶新帽子，而汤姆不顾情面地
对她的卷发嘲弄了一番。( tease sb. about)
If you tease sb. about something, you make fun of sb.,
esp. by making him believe sth. that is untrue, or you
dig dirt about sb., or mock or joke about sb.
Sophia teased Tom about his new hat mildly, but
Tom teased her curly hair unmercifully.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice：
别的男孩经常拿他的口音取笑。
The other boys used to tease him about his accent.
每当有人对乔的体重开玩笑时。他就勃然发怒。
Whenever anyone teases Joe about his weight, he
sees red.
我们经常取笑约翰的秃头，但他并不见怪。
We often tease John about his bald head but he
takes it in good part.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
2. 他痛哭不已，我设法劝他不要过度悲伤。( give way to)
If you give way to sb. or sth., you move in order to
make room for them.
He kept crying bitterly, and I tried to persuade him
not to give way to grief.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice：
当两辆汽车在路上相遇时，双方司机必须相互礼让通行。
When two cars pass each other, both drivers should
politely give way to each other.
在激烈的竞争下，市场需要往往会让位于竞争需要。
In a highly competitive environment, the needs of the
market usually give way to the need for competition.
暴风雨过后一定是灿烂的阳光。你的暴风雨也会过去。你
的难题终将解决。
Storms always give way to the sun. Your storm will
pass. Your problem will be solved.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
3. 我想当然地认为你想要看这出戏，所以给你买了一张票。
(take for granted)
If you take sth. for granted, you accept without
question or objection; or you use, accept, or treat it
in a careless or indifferent manner.
I took it for granted that you would like to see the
play, so I bought you a ticket.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice：
我们把每个人都应该有受教育的机会视为理所当然。
We take it for granted that everyone should have
the chance of being educated.
他意大利语说得极好，所以我就理所当然地把他当做土生
土长的意大利人。
I took it for granted that he was a native Italian
because he spoke Italian so well.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
4. 当我告诉她那个消息时，不知道为什么自己喉咙哽咽起来。
(a lump in one’s throat)
If there is a lump in your throat, you have a tight or
uncomfortable feeling in the throat, as a reaction to
an emotion.
I don’t know why telling her the news brought a
lump in my throat.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice：
当我看到她受苦时，心里感到特别不好受。
I got a lump in my throat on seeing her suffer.
当我听到她与病魔斗争的故事时，我的喉咙哽咽了。
I felt a lump in my throat on hearing her story of
fighting with the illness.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Dictation
Cloze
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Dictation
You will hear a passage read three times. At the first
reading, you should listen carefully for its general
idea. At the second reading, you are required to write
down the exact words you have just heard (with
proper punctuation). At the third reading, you should
check what you have written down.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Dictation
I believe my father is a talented man. / He is
decisive and efficient in doing things. / By his own
talents and efforts, / he has secured for the family a
good social position / and a comparatively rich life. /
People of all fields come to my house, / and from them I
have gained lots of valuable social experience / and seen
a lot of joys and sorrows of the world. /
But at home he is a harsh parent. / He has high
expectations of me. / When I am idling away my time, / I
can see that it hurts him deeply. / When I am doing
something great, / such as writing a book, / he is more
than excited. / With such a father, / I always remind
myself that I must go on and on, never give up.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE
word you think appropriate.
People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United
States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to
someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day.
____
Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) love
messages which don’t let on who the (2) ______
sender is.
Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3)
_______ they are in Britain, North America or Australia,
whether
must get a thrill
(4) ___
out of their exhibitionism without
(5) letting
______ on who is the secret admirer hidden in the
words of the advertisement. The British newspaper and
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
brigades (6) ____
tend to see themselves or the desired ones
(7) as
__ animals, with bears being the firm favorites.
But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented.
In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) ________
believed
that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband
by noting (9) which
_____ bird she sees first on 14 February.
But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10)
__ . Happy bird-watching! Happy Valentine’s Day!
all
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a word meaning “affectionate” .
People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United
States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to
someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day.
____
Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) love
messages which don’t let on who the (2) ______
sender is.
Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3)
_______ they are in Britain, North America or Australia,
whether
must get a thrill
(4) ___
out of their exhibitionism without
(5) letting
______ on who is the secret admirer hidden in the
words of the advertisement. The British newspaper and
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
the person who sends the message
People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United
States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to
someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day.
____
Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) love
messages which don’t let on who the (2) ______
sender is.
Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3)
_______ they are in Britain, North America or Australia,
whether
must get a thrill
(4) ___
out of their exhibitionism without
(5) letting
______ on who is the secret admirer hidden in the
words of the advertisement. The British newspaper and
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a word to include the all places
mentioned.
People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United
States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to
someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day.
____
Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) love
messages which don’t let on who the (2) ______
sender is.
Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3)
_______ they are in Britain, North America or Australia,
whether
must get a thrill
(4) ___
out of their exhibitionism without
(5) letting
______ on who is the secret admirer hidden in the
words of the advertisement. The British newspaper and
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a preposition meaning “from”.
People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United
States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to
someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day.
____
Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) love
messages which don’t let on who the (2) ______
sender is.
Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3)
_______ they are in Britain, North America or Australia,
whether
must get a thrill
(4) ___
out of their exhibitionism without
(5) letting
______ on who is the secret admirer hidden in the
words of the advertisement. The British newspaper and
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a verb meaning “release”.
People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United
States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to
someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day.
____
Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) love
messages which don’t let on who the (2) ______
sender is.
Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3)
_______ they are in Britain, North America or Australia,
whether
must get a thrill
(4) ___
out of their exhibitionism without
(5) letting
______ on who is the secret admirer hidden in the
words of the advertisement. The British newspaper and
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a verb meaning “incline”.
brigades (6) ____
tend to see themselves or the desired ones
(7) as
__ animals, with bears being the firm favorites.
But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented.
In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) ________
believed
that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband
by noting (9) which
_____ bird she sees first on 14 February.
But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10)
__ . Happy bird-watching! Happy Valentine’s Day!
all
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a preposition meaning “like”.
brigades (6) ____
tend to see themselves or the desired ones
(7) as
__ animals, with bears being the firm favorites.
But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented.
In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) ________
believed
that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband
by noting (9) which
_____ bird she sees first on 14 February.
But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10)
__ . Happy bird-watching! Happy Valentine’s Day!
all
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Here you can use a word meaning “accept as true”.
brigades (6) ____
tend to see themselves or the desired ones
(7) as
__ animals, with bears being the firm favorites.
But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented.
In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) ________
believed
that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband
by noting (9) which
_____ bird she sees first on 14 February.
But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10)
__ . Happy bird-watching! Happy Valentine’s Day!
all
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Which kind of bird it is?
brigades (6) ____
tend to see themselves or the desired ones
(7) as
__ animals, with bears being the firm favorites.
But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented.
In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) ________
believed
that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband
by noting (9) which
_____ bird she sees first on 14 February.
But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10)
__ . Happy bird-watching! Happy Valentine’s Day!
all
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
The sentence is negative, and “not at all” is a regular
collocation.
brigades (6) ____
tend to see themselves or the desired ones
(7) as
__ animals, with bears being the firm favorites.
But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented.
In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) ________
believed
that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband
by noting (9) which
_____ bird she sees first on 14 February.
But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10)
__ . Happy bird-watching! Happy Valentine’s Day!
all
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Giving a talk
Having a discussion
Writing
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Giving a talk
Imagine that you are the writer’s father, and now
you are seriously ill, knowing that you will not have
long to live. Now try to recall how you have spent all
the Valentine’s Days in your life, especially how you
have shown your love for your daughter on this day
during various stages of her life. You may find the
following outline helpful for your recounting:
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
— When I was young, I was usually very busy with my
office work. I could hardly find time to spend with my
kids. However …
— I still remember the first Valentine gift I gave to my
daughter, when she was six, was a ring …
— As she grew older, the small gifts were replaced by …
Somehow I felt that in her heart I was replaced too …
— When she moved away from home and started a life
of her own, I …
— Now Valentine’s Day is drawing near. This is probably
the last time I will send her a card …
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
A reference for the talk:
— When I was young, I was usually very busy with my
office work. I could hardly find time to spend with my
kids. However, I would choose Valentine’s Day to show
my love for them, especially my daughter. She is so
special and precious to me. I would give her some
lovely gifts as a surprise.
— I still remember the first Valentine gift I gave to my
daughter, when she was six, was a ring with a small
piece of red glass to represent her birthstone, a ruby. I
could see how happy she was, because she always wore
that ring with a pride that all the other gifts in the
world could not surpass.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
— As she grew older, the small gifts were replaced by
heart-shaped boxes filled with her favorite
chocolates. Somehow I felt that in her heart I was
replaced too. I could see she was a little
disappointed because at her age, she really hoped
that the gifts were given by “significant others”.
“Love, Dad” just didn’t seem quite enough.
— When she moved away from home and started a life
of her own, I kept sending Valentine’s cards to her.
The package would come to her on time every year. I
knew she had found “significant others”, but I was
sure she would be happy to receive two Valentine’s
gifts.
—
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
— Now Valentine’s Day is drawing near. This is
probably the last time I will send her a card. I decide
to put my words in the card, saying “Dear little girl,
you are our princess. You are so important and
special to me and your mother. If you need me, I will
always be your “Valentine’s Man.”
—
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Having a discussion
Discuss, in a group of four or five students, the
modern tendency that many young people in China
nowadays seem to be crazy about western holidays and
festivals. Voice your ideas frankly, and then work out a
list of the pros and cons. Let one of you present your
group’s opinions on the issue to the class.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Viewpoints for reference:
— I think celebrating western holidays and festivals is
acceptable. This is an age of cultural exchanges. We
should know the western cultures. Celebrating those
holidays is one way. For example, from the celebration
of Christmas Day and Easter, we learn some western
religions, customs or traditions. On the other hand,
some western holidays are quite humanistic.
Celebrations of holidays such as Mother’s Day and
Thanksgiving Day, which we do not have in China, are
an advocate of showing love and appreciation to the
people who love and help us. Personally speaking, I am
quite supportive of the two days.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
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Writing
Listening
— I worry about the craze. Sometimes people are so crazy
about western holidays and festivals that they ignore or
forget Chinese traditional festivals. Gradually, those
Chinese festivals may vanish. Nowadays, a lot of young
men prefer exchanging gifts at Christmas to paying a
visit to relatives at Spring Festival. Many people
celebrate Valentine’s Day while they totally forget in
China we have the Lover Festival (The Seventh Evening
of the Seventh Moon) which originated from a beautiful
legend. Chinese culture is unique with a long history.
What I hope is, when we show our respect for foreign
cultures, we can still cherish and pass on our own ones.
This is our responsibility.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Stringy sentence
Practice
Writing
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Stringy sentences are sentences in which too many
clauses are connected. Thus, they seem to be endless.
They would be easier to read and understand if they
were broken up into separate clauses. To avoid stringy
sentences,
we
can
combination or phrases.
use
division,
subordination,
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
A. Division
By division, it is to divide the original sentence into
several sentences. Division is employed when the clauses
in the original sentence are of equal importance.
Example:
Stringy:
He went to a law school, and then he joined a law
firm in Miami, and we seldom saw each other anymore.
Revised:
He went to a law school and joined a law firm in
Miami. We seldom saw each other anymore.
[Separate the original sentence into two.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
B. Subordination
By subordination, it is to change some clauses into
subordinate clauses, if they are of less importance.
Example:
Stringy:
Miss Lambert was on a diet, and she was hungry, and
Mr. Pym offered her a piece of cake, and she could not
resist it.
Revised:
Although she was on a diet, Miss Lambert could not
resist the piece of cake that Mr. Pym offered her
because she was hungry.
[Change all the clauses have been changed into
subordinate clauses, except for the second one.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
C. Phrase
Phrases can be used to substitute the clauses in the
original sentence.
Example:
Stringy:
Many students attend classes all morning and they work
all afternoon and then they have to study at night so they
are usually exhausted by the weekend.
Revised:
After attending classes all morning, working all
afternoon, and studying at night, many students are
exhausted by the weekend.
[Substitute the first three clauses with participle
phrases.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
D. Combination
All the techniques mentioned above can be combined
to revise a stringy sentence.
Example:
Stringy:
The rains had been heavy in the spring, and the lake
was filling up, and some of my friends were thinking about
fishing in the stream, and other friends were thinking
about getting out their sailboats.
Revised:
Because the rains had been heavy in the spring and the
lake was filling up, my friends were thinking either about
fishing in the stream or about getting out their sailboats.
[Change the first two clauses into a subordinate clause,
and the last one into a prepositional phrase.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Practice
Improve the following stringy sentences by any method
or combination of methods.
1. We must accept the facts and our enormous energy
requirements, but it is also important not to forget
that attempts to economize on safety provisions in
such hazardous industries result in increased risks,
and these increased risks may result in terrible
tragedy, even in disasters whose consequences
exceed national boundaries, although it is certainly
true that a nuclear power station working safely,
without accident, is ecologically one of the cleanest
of all industrial plants.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Revised:
We must accept the facts and our enormous energy
requirements, but it is also important not to forget that
attempts to economize on safety provisions risks. And
these increased risks may result in terrible tragedy,
even in disasters whose consequences exceed national
boundaries. It is certainly true, however, that a nuclear
power station working safely, without accident, is
ecologically one of the cleanest of all industrial plants.
[The original sentence is divided into three sentences.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
2. Whether it is deceiving yourself or deceiving others,
deception requires much time and energy and
because deception never really achieves anything of
value, it is a great waste of your precious life and
resources, but instead, you’d better put that time
and energy into successfully dealing with the truth,
because after all, you’ll have to deal with it
eventually, and the sooner you begin the more you’ll
be able to accomplish.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Revised:
Whether it is deceiving yourself or deceiving others,
deception requires much time and energy. And
because deception never really achieves anything of
value, it is a great waste of your precious life and
resources. Instead, you’d better put that time and
energy into successfully dealing with the truth. After
all, you’ll have to deal with it eventually, and the
sooner you begin, the more you’ll be able to
accomplish.
[The original sentence is divided into four sentences.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
3. Giving is more than merely offering objects and when
you give, give your time, your attention, your love,
compassion, consideration, patience and respect and
give a part of yourself, and you will not ever lose it,
because that part of you takes on greater influence
and value as it touches other lives beyond your own.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Revised:
Giving is more than merely offering objects. When
you give, give your time, your attention, your love,
compassion, consideration, patience and respect.
Give a part of yourself, and you will not ever lose it.
That part of you takes on greater influence and
value as it touches other lives beyond your own.
[The original sentence is divided into four sentences.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
4. Almost every high school student wants to go to
college, and tension and anxiety build to a ridiculous
point in college candidates, and this spoils their final
year in high school.
Revised:
As almost every high school student wants to go to
college, tension and anxiety build to a ridiculous point
in college candidates, spoiling their final year in high
school.
[The first clause is changed into a subordinate clause
and the last clause into a participle phrase.]
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Valentine’s Day
You are going to hear a short passage about the origin
of Valentine’s Day and how people celebrate it.
A. Listen to Part A first, and supply the missing
information.
Date of observance: February
14th
____________
“Valentines”:
romantic card decorated with hearts,
_______________
flowers or
a ____________
_____
birds
chocolate candies
a heart-shaped
___________ box of ________________
of flowers tied with red
ribbon
a bouquet
_________
________________
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Messages:
Be ___________
My Valentine
Be _____________
My Sweetheart
Be ________
My Lover
Will __________________
you be my valentine?
Signatures:
anonymous
_________
Guess who
Symbols:
Cupid — Roman God
of Love
__________
arrow of love
_____
heart
Writing
Listening
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
B. Now listen to Part B, and fill in the blanks with what
you hear.
It is from the Christians that we get
the stories
_____________
about Valentine’s Day that most people have come
to
_______
believe
Christian priest whose
_______ . One story is about a
_______________
name was “Valentine.” He lived around
250 AD . At
_____________
that time the Roman Emperor Claudius refused
to allow
______________
any Roman soldiers to
get married for any reason
_____________
to
whatsoever. So many Roman soldiers turned
__________
Christianity
__________ .Together with their girls, they came to
married secretly in a Christian way.
Valentine to be
_________________
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
in prison by
Later Valentine was _________
discovered and put
___________
the Roman Emperor. One tradition says that he __________
wrote notes
to his friends by ________________
marking on leaves and then
throwing them out the window of his prison. The
________________
leaves were ________________
shaped like a heart .
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Valentine’s Day
Part A
February 14th is a complicated but interesting
holiday. First of all, Valentine’s Day is not a holiday from
work. No one gets a day off. On Valentine’s Day people
usually send romantic cards to someone they love. The
cards are called valentines. They are very colorful, often
decorated with hearts, flowers or birds, and have
humorous or sentimental verses printed inside. The basic
message of the verse is always “Be My Valentine,” “Be
My Sweetheart” or “Be My Lover.” Besides cards, a
valentine could also be a heart-shaped box of chocolate
candies, or a bouquet of flowers tied with red ribbon.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
But in whatever form, the message is always the same —
“Will you be my valentine?” A valentine may be
anonymous, or sometimes signed “Guess who.” The
person receiving it has to guess who sent it. This can
lead to interesting speculation. And that’s half the fun
of valentines.
One of the symbols of St. Valentine’s Day is the
Roman God of Love, called Cupid. Cupid is often printed
on the card, a winged naked infant, poised to shoot his
arrow into a heart. He would shoot an arrow of love into
a person’s heart to make the person fall in love
immediately, maybe with the first person to come along.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Sometimes one arrow would go through two hearts,
holding them together. So on February 14th not only do
we have a picture of the Christian St. Valentine but we
also have pictures of the non-Christian Cupid, the
Roman God of Love.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Part B
It is from the Christians that we get the stories
about Valentine’s Day that most people have come to
believe. One story is about a Christian priest whose
name was “Valentine.” He lived around 250 AD. At that
time the Roman Emperor Claudius refused to allow any
Roman soldiers to get married for any reason
whatsoever. So many Roman soldiers turned to
Christianity. Together with their girls, they came to
Valentine to be married secretly in a Christian way.
Vocabulary
Grammar
Translation
Integrated skills
Oral activities
Writing
Listening
Later Valentine was discovered and put in prison by the
Roman Emperor. One tradition says that he wrote notes
to his friends by marking on leaves and then throwing
them out the window of his prison. The leaves were
shaped like a heart.
There are many favorite lyrics of Valentine’s Day.
Here is one of them: Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in
love with you. Let me hear you whisper, that you love
me, too. Keep the love light shining, in your eyes so
true. Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you.
Text II
Memorable quotes
Lead-in Questions
Text
Questions for discussion
Text II
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Lead-in Questions
1. Have you ever been confined by illness? What does it
feel like?
2. What kind of support does a patient with incurable
disease need?
Text II
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MAKE TODAY COUNT
Orville E. Kelly
1 Soon after the first chemotherapy treatment, I asked
Wanda to help me clean up the studio. The desk, the
bookcases, and the typewriter were deep in dust, but we
finally managed to make the room spotless. I hadn’t
written anyting for a long while. Now I began to write
again. One of my first pieces was about a Christmas I
remembered. I was seven years old, it was during the
Great Depression, and we were living on a run-down
farm. In times as hard as those, I didn’t think I would get
any presents. A blizzard had developed on Christmas Eve,
Text II
Memorable quotes
and I had snuggled into a featherbed to keep warm,
praying that I would get just a little something for
Christmas. When I woke the next morning and went
downstairs, I found a decorated Christmas tree in the
front room, and underneath it, a pair of lace-up boots, a
red fire engine, and a sack of candy.
2 “I have seen many other snowfalls,” I wrote, “but for
some reason I always remember that night when the
blizzard came on Christmas Eve. Whenever I see the snow
coming down and hear the wind begin to howl, I
remember a dream that came true.”
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Memorable quotes
Burlington
3 I submitted the story to the local
newspaper — the Hawk Eye — for a winter writing contest
and received a first prize for it. That was my first
Christmas present of the year. And others came, too.
Wanda and I had only a little money, although we had
been able to make ends meet with the Social Security
disability payments and Veterans Administration checks
we had been receiving. But Christmas 1973 turned out to
be one of the warmest our family ever had, thanks to the
generosity of a few friends, particularly those at the
factory where Wanda had worked. We received cash,
Text II
Memorable quotes
hams,
turkeys, and countless boxes of candy. Wanda
bought a few presents for the children.
Most important,
the entire family was together.
4 The day after Christmas, I decided it was time for me
to write about the struggles of a cancer patient. Before I
knew that I had cancer, I had thought of it as similar to
leprosy — a disease that rotted people slowly — and
visibly away. Life with cancer didn’t have to be that way,
and I wanted people to know this. Of course, I didn’t have
all the answers, but I wanted to show that cancer could
be approached with openness, and that dying people did
Text II
Memorable quotes
have something to live for. Although I had read about all
the money being spent on cancer research, I had heard
very little about the emotional rehabilitation of cancer
patients and their families. The void was obvious. No
matter how the problem of cancer is handled in a family,
all the members of the family are bound to be affected
in some way.
5 I spent two days writing and editing the piece. “Once,”
I wrote in it, “I asked how there could be a God who
would let so many terrible things happen. Now I ask
myself how I can doubt the existence of God ... when I
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Memorable quotes
hear a child’s laughter on a summer evening, or see
around me the miracle of life itself. I realize this is life
and I am part of it. I know there has to be a God. When I
think to myself how lucky I was to have such an
understanding person as my wife, Wanda, I know good
things happen. When someone does a kind thing for me, I
know this is all part of this miracle of living. ”
6 “On Christmas a Burlington woman called to tell me
her husband had been told recently he had lung cancer.
She wanted to know if I would come to their house and
talk to him. He felt he would like to just sit down and talk
to someone with the same problems he had.”
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7 “The thought came to me that there should be some
kind of organization of people with incurable diseases.
These people could help each other, and I am going to
work on this ...”
8 I sent the story to the Hawk Eye, and the editors
decided to use it in the Sunday, January 6 edition. The
story was carried on Page 2, along with a picture of me
looking out from our back
porch and another of me
taking my pills. The day the story appeared, I received
several telephone calls from other cancer patients, telling
me how strongly they supported my idea of forming an
organization. So I arranged for a gathering at the local
Text II
Memorable quotes
Elks Club on January 25. With the help of a little publicity
from the local newspaper, eighteen cancer patients and
members of their families, including Wanda and me, met
that night in the upstairs meeting room.
9 One of the first things I told the group was that I
didn’t think we were there to cry on one another’s
shoulders. We weren’t there to find out who was the most
seriously ill. We were there to share our mutual problems
and to try to work them out so that we could live as close
to normal lives as possible. We went around the table
introducing ourselves and telling our stories as a
Text II
Memorable quotes
way to
break the ice. After some discussion, we
decided we should try to get together once a month to
talk with one another and to listen to speakers who
could help us face our illnesses.
10 Several days before the meeting, it occurred to me
that if we were going to start a group, we ought to have
a name. I had three suggestions: Live Each Day Fully;
Live for Today; or Make Today Count.
11 When I put the suggestions to a vote, the other
seventeen hands were raised in support of my choice.
12 The vote was for Make Today Count.
Text II
Memorable quotes
Make Today Count (Title): We should live each day with
a gentleness, a vigor, and a keenness of appreciation.
Text II
Memorable quotes
chemotherapy treatment (Paragraph 1): treatment of
disease with drugs that directly poison the disease
organism. Chemotherapy most often refers to cancer
treatment, where powerful drugs with potentially severe
side effects are used to eliminate or contain the spread
of tumors.
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Memorable quotes
Great Depression (Paragraph 1): the worst and longest
economic collapse in the history of the modern industrial
world, lasting from the end of 1929 until the early 1940s.
Beginning in the United States, the depression spread to
most of the world’s industrial countries. The Great
Depression saw rapid declines in the production and sale
of goods and a sudden, severe rise in unemployment.
Businesses and banks closed their doors, people lost
their jobs, homes, and savings, and many depended on
charity to survive.
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Memorable quotes
Christmas Eve (Paragraph 1): 24 December, the day
before Christmas Day, when all preparations for
Christmas are complete and when almost everyone
starts a holiday of several days. It is a traditional time
for parties, and many workplaces, including shops and
banks, close earlier than usual. In the late evening,
many people go to a church service, and children, on
going to bed, traditionally hang up an old sock at the
head of their bed for Santa Claus to fill with presents
during the night. This role is actually played by the
child’s parents.
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Memorable quotes
Christmas tree (Paragraph 1): The Christmas tree had
its origin in Germany. German immigrants took the
Christmas tree to other parts of Europe and to the
United States and Canada, where it soon became a
popular tradition. It is now the centre of interest at
most Christmas celebrations. Decorating the tree is
part of the Christmas festivities.
Text II
Memorable quotes
Burlington (Paragraph 3): a city in northwestern Vermont,
located on Lake Champlain
Text II
Memorable quotes
make ends meet (Paragraph 3): have just enough money
to buy what one needs
e.g. Since Mike lost his job, we can hardly make ends
meet.
Text II
Memorable quotes
Social Security (Paragraph 3): public programs designed
to provide income and services to individuals in the
event of retirement, sickness, disability, death, or
unemployment
Text II
Memorable quotes
Veterans Administration (Paragraph 3): an independent
government agency established in 1930 to administer
national benefits for veterans. It was replaced by the
Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989.
Text II
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turkeys (Paragraph 3): A traditional midday meal
(Christmas dinner) is eaten on Christmas Day. It
usually includes roast turkey and Christmas pudding
with mince pies, and is accompanied by wine. Roast
turkey is stuffed with a bread dressing to absorb the
tasty juices as it roasts.
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Most important, the entire family was together.
(Paragraph 3): Christmas in the United States is a family
festival. “Going home for Christmas” is a cherished
custom and no distance seems too great if it enables
one to join the family circle for the holiday. Parents
welcome home their children and grandchildren and
often open their doors to friends and strangers.
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Memorable quotes
leprosy (Paragraph 4): a tropical disease that mainly
affects the skin and nerves, and can cause tissue change.
Leprosy (麻风病) is transmitted following close personal
contact and has a long incubation period. It can now be
cured if treated with a combination of drugs.
Text II
Memorable quotes
emotional rehabilitation (Paragraph 4): helping sb. to
live a healthy, useful, or active life again after they
have been seriously ill
Text II
Memorable quotes
are bound to (Paragraph 4): are certain or extremely
likely to
e.g. In a group as big as this, you are bound to get
occasional disagreements.
Text II
Memorable quotes
porch (Paragraph 8): an open area with a floor and a
roof, often made of wood, fixed to the side of a house
on the ground floor
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break the ice (Paragraph 9): make people who have just
met each other less nervous and more willing to talk,
for example at a party or meeting
e.g. Sharon tried to break the ice by suggesting that
we all play a game.
Text II
Memorable quotes
..., it occurred to me that ... (Paragraph 10): ..., it
suddenly came into my mind that ...
e.g. It suddenly occurred to me that we could use a
computer to do the job.
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Memorable quotes
Questions for discussion
1. What can we infer from the author’s description of a
Christmas about the damaging effect of the Great
Depression on American farmers?
The Great Depression was devastating to American
farmers and their families. Many people lacked
adequate food, shelter, and clothing.
Text II
Memorable quotes
Questions for discussion
2. What memories of childhood come alive again
whenever the author sees the snow coming down?
Afflicted by the Great Depression, his family lived in
poverty. On Christmas Eve, he prayed that he would
get just a little present for Christmas and his dream
came true the next morning.
Text II
Memorable quotes
Questions for discussion
3. What do we know about the author and his family life?
He had served in the armed forces. He or his wife was
a disabled person. They lived mainly on the money
received from the government.
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Memorable quotes
Questions for discussion
4. What did the author think of cancer before he knew
that he had cancer?
He viewed cancer with great horror. He thought of it
as a very serious infectious disease in which the flesh
and nerves were gradually destroyed.
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Memorable quotes
Questions for discussion
5. What were the main criticisms directed against the
government concerning cancer research?
All the money was spent on cancer research, but
insufficient attention was paid to the emotional
rehabilitation of cancer patients and their families.
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Questions for discussion
6. According to the author, what psychological problems
may a cancer patient face?
Depression and persistent anxiety. He may have low
self-esteem, a sense of hopelessness about the future,
and a lack of interest in people and activities once
found pleasurable.
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Questions for discussion
7. What was the author’s intent in writing about the
struggles of a cancer patient?
He wanted to instill positive attitudes in a cancer
patient and hoped that the story would serve as an
inspiration for all people with incurable diseases.
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Memorable quotes
Questions for discussion
8. What did he suggest people with incurable diseases
should do to mitigate their own problems?
They should share their mutual problems, help each
other and take part in community life on an equal
level with others.
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Memorable Quotes
Read “Red Red Rose” and analyze the rhetoric devices
used in the poem.
Guidance: “Red Red Rose” is a love poem written to be
sung. The speaker presents two similes, the first
comparing his love to a rose and the second comparing
his love to a melody. The speaker also uses repetition
to echo his sentiments — my luve’s like in Lines 1 and 3;
that’s newly and that's sweetly (pronoun, verb, and
adverb combinations) in Lines 2 and 4.
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Memorable Quotes
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) was a British Prime
Minister, parliamentarian, Conservative statesman and
literary figure.
Robert Burns (1759–1796) was a Scottish poet and a
lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of
Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide.
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Memorable quotes
Memorable Quotes
1. We are all born for love, … It is the
principle of existence and its only end.
— Benjamin Disraeli
We are all born to love, … We live by love and for love
only.
principle: a rule or standard especially of a good behavior
e.g. Confucius suggested one of the principles for the
conduct of life: “Do not do to others what you
would not want others to do to you.”
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Memorable quotes
2. Oh my luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June;
Oh my luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.
— Robert Burns
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Memorable quotes
The lady I love is so fresh and beautiful just like a red
rose beginning to blossom in June. She is as sweet and
pleasant as the melodies played properly.
in/ out of tune: to be/not be singing or playing the
correct musical notes to sound good
e.g. My guitar doesn’t play in tune; I would find
someone to scale it.
Notation (type here)