Unit 4

Section B

Period 2 (2a-Self Check)

I always feel worried. What should I do?

Maybe you should learn to relax.

How to relax?

do sports

How to relax?

listen to music

How to relax?

talk with your best friend

New Words

opinion n.skill n.

typical adj. football n.

cut outquick adj.

continue v.compare v.

意见；想法；看法技艺；技巧典型的（美式）橄榄球；足球删除；删去快的；迅速的；时间短暂的持续；继续存在比较

compare …with …

crazy adj.

push v.

development n.

cause v.

usual adj.

in one’s opinion

perhaps adv.

比较；对比不理智的；疯狂的鞭策；督促；推动；发展；发育；成长造成；引起通常的；寻常的依……看可能；大概；也许

football compare

pressure

Section 1 Before You Read

Look at the words below, and guess their meanings.

This is a _______.football

He is under great ________.pressure

They are __________their houses.comparing

2a2a Check (√) the after-school activities you and your classmates usually do.

____ do homework ____ use the Internet____ have after-school lessons ____ hang out with friends ____ watch movies____ play sports or exercise

Read the article and answer the questions.

2b2b

1. What is the common problem for Chinese and American families?

The common problem for Chinese and American families is that children have too many after-school activities which cause them to be stressed.

2. Who gives their opinions about the problem?

Cathy Taylor (a mother with three children), Linda Miller (a mother with three children), and Dr. Alice Green (a doctor) give their opinions about the problem.

Read the passage and draw the most important sentences in each paragraph. Try to answer the following questions.

Section 2 While You Read

Questions of the Passage

• 1. Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very ________.

• 2. What after-school activities do children take?

The after-school activities children take are: basketball practice, football training, piano lessons.

busy

• 3. Do Doctors think too much pressure is not good for a child’s development?

Yes, they do.

What will you do if your parents let you have too many classes?

2c2c Look at the words in bold in the article. Can you guess their meanings? Try to match them with the meanings below.

1. Keeps on happening __________2. Physical exercise and practice of skills ___________3. Worries about things at home, school or work ___________4. Usual or common _________

continues

training

stresstypical

5. Try to be the best or the first to finish something __________

6. Getting better or bigger ___________

7. Look for differences and similarities between things ___________

compete

development

comparing

2d2d Read the article again and answer the questions.

Yes, she does. She thinks that after-school activities are good for the children’s future.

1. Does Cathy Taylor think it’s important for kids to join after-school activities?

2. Does Linda Miller agree with Cathy? What’s her opinion?

No, she doesn’t. She doesn’t think that people should push their children so hard, and they should let their kids be kids.

3. Does Dr. Green agree with Cathy or Linda? What does she say?

Dr. Green agrees with Linda. She says that after-school activities can cause a lot of stress for children. She also says that children should have time to relax and think for themselves, and that it’s more important to have happy children than successful children.

Discuss the questions with your partner.

1. What do you think of after-school activities?

2. What should you do to relax?

2e2e

Language points

• the + 姓 + s 夫妇 / 一家人 the Greens 格林夫妇；格林一家 The Smiths is a happy family. The Lis are on holiday. The Zhous live upstairs.

___________ were having supper when I

got there.

我到那儿时特纳一家正在吃晚饭。

The Turners

until prep. 到……为止▶I did my homework until my mother came back from work. 我一直做作业直到妈妈下班回家。until “ 直到……（为止）”，用于肯定句中，与延续性动词连用，表示动作或状态的持续。

I will wait for him ______ he ______ back. A. until; will come B. until; comes C. after; will come D. after; comes

【点拨】选 B 。句意为：我将等到他回来。not. . . until. . . “ 直到……才；不到……不”，常与非延续性动词连用，当主句用一般将来时， until 引导的从句用一般现在时表将来。

• It’s time for sth. （某事发生或应该发生的）时间，时候。

It’s time for lunch. 午餐时间到了。

• send v. 派遣、打发、安排去 send … to …

He sent his son to return the books to the library.

他派他儿子把书还给图书馆。

compare v. 比较

▶And they are always comparing them with other children. 并且他们总是拿他们和其他孩子作比较。

People often compare the life ______ a stage( 舞台 ). A. with B. to C. of D. about

【点拨】选 B 。 compare ... to ... “ 把……比作”，不同事物相比。 Compare ... With ... “ 与……相比较”，相同事物相比。句意为：人们经常把人生比作一个舞台。故选 B 。

push v. 推动；移动

The little boy pushed the door open.

小男孩把门推开了。

themselves prop. ( 反身代词 ) 他们 ; ( 她们、它们 ) 自己 They want to spend the evening by themselves.

by oneself 靠自己 One should not live by oneself alone.

absent oneself 缺席 beside oneself 失常 ; 若狂of oneself 独自 ; 自发地 in spite of oneself 不知不觉地be oneself 身心自在，怡然自得be pleased with oneself 自满come to oneself 苏醒过来 ; 醒悟过来 ; 恢复理性for oneself 为自己 ; 代表自己 ; 独力地 ; 亲自地

More expressions

3a3a Read the opinions below and make notes on your own opinions.

Why should children take after-school classes?

1. “After-school classes can help kids get into a good university.”

2. “I want my child to be a successful person.”

3. “It’s good for children to start learning from a young age.”

Your opinionsAgree:

After-school classes are good for the children’s future. They can help children get into good schools and universities. Some of these classes help children get better grades at school. Better grades help children feel good about themselves.

Some classes help children learn important skills not taught at school. These skills may actually help children relax, e.g. playing a sport or playing a musical instrument. People learn better at a younger age. Children have more time than adults, so they should learn as much as they can before they get too busy to learn new things.

Your opinionsDisagree:

After-school classes take away the children’s free time. Children have no time to relax and just do nothing. Children may be so busy they have no time to absorb and apply what they have been taught. Some children are made to learn skills they are not interested in.

These classes cause the children to be stressed.

These classes take away the children’s childhood.

3b3b

Write a letter to the magazine to express your opinions on after-school classes for children. Use the following expressions to help you.

Dear Sir or Madam, I don’t really agree with what parents are saying about after-school classes because they only seem to think that getting their children into good schools or having successful children. Although some parents are right about the importance of learning at a young age, I think children should be allowed to be children and have a carefree childhood.

In my opinion, it is important for parents not to push their children too hard. I believe it is better if parents try to really understand their children’s interests and abilities first so that they will not make their children take classes that are not suitable for them. Perhaps parents could let their children decide for themselves if they want to have any after-school classes. If children are allowed to take the classes

they choose for themselves, they will benefit more from these classes. They will grow up to be not only successful in their own way but happy too. Yours truly, Weisong

11 Fill in the blanks using until, so that or although.

1. You should eat more now ________ you won’t be hungry later.2. ________ you may not like to do

chores, you should help your parents around the house.

so that

Although

3. You should save more money ________ you can buy a gift for your friend’s birthday.4. Kids shouldn’t play computer games ___________ late at night. They should rest early.5. ___________ many people like to eat junk food, they should really eat more fruit and vegetables _________ they can be healthy.

so that

until

so that

Although

22 For each problem, choose the advice you agree with more. Then write your own advice.

1. My best friend and I had a fight, and now she won’t speak to me.A: You should keep trying to talk to her until she talks to you. B: Why don’t you wait a few more days before talking to her?My advice: __________________________You should look for a chance to

say sorry to her.

2. My friend wants me to go to a party on the weekend, but I want to study for my exams next week.A: Why don’t you just go to the party? It’ll help you to relax. B: You should study for the exams because they’re more important than a party.My advice: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why don’t you try to study as much as you can these few days before you decide whether or not go to the party this weekend?

3. My brother watches television while I’m trying to study.A: Why don’t you tell him to do something quiet when you’re studying?B: You could tell him to turn down the TV.My advice: __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Perhaps you could study somewhere in your house where you can’t hear the TV.

Useful Expressions

Please enjoy the pain which is unable to avoid. 请享受无法回避的痛苦。

Difficult circumstances serve as a textbook of life for people. 坎坷是人们的生活教科书。

Strength alone knows conflict, weakness is below even defeat, and is born vanquished. -- Swetchine 强者才懂得斗争；弱者甚至失败都 资格，而是生来 被征服的。 -- 斯威特切尼

1. Copy and read new words three times. ( )☆2. Do the related exercises in workbook.

( )☆☆3. Write a passage with your problems. ( )☆☆☆