Unit 3
The Present
Section I
I. Aims and Demand:
1. Teaching Aims: After learning the story, we should understand the implication of the saying
that blood is thicker than water, and form the habit of respecting the aged in our daily life. 2. Demand:
1) Words: content, minor, bunch, brighten, occasion, arrange, efficient
2) Phrases: on the rare occasions, at other times, arrange for, round the corner, be sure of 3) Structures: even if, too … to, not … until
II. Procedure:
1. Warm-up Questions:
(Students are supposed to finish the questions before the lesson.)
1) How many figures are there mentioned in the text? Can you describe them? 2) What present did the old lady’s neighbors give her on her eightieth birthday?
2. Introductory Remarks
What we are going to study is a story about a birthday present. It is an account of what happens to an old woman on her eightieth birthday. She wishes her daughter would come to see her, though she has doubts about her coming. But she is sure that she will get a present from her daughter anyway. So she waits with eagerness.
Question: Do you know what present does the daughter give her? Does the old lady like it or not?
3. Group discussion (10 minutes)
Why did the old lady feel so hurt when she got the cheque from her daughter?
Conclusion: This story, simple as it is, shows us some aspects of the family relationship in western society and gives us a vivid description of the lonely old people in that part of the world.
4. Oral practice –– story-telling
Tell a story about A Present.
5. New words
1) content a. (n.) the content of the book 内容 the contents of the book 目录 b. (adj.) be content to do sth.
seem content to do sth. (P 48, L11.) be content with sth.
e.g. He is content to live in a small house. 2) minor a minor operation / a minor illness
–– major 主要的，较大的 e.g. The car needs major repairs.
He majors in French. He minors in French.
3) bunch a bunch of flowers/grapes/bananas/keys
a packet of mints/cigarettes a set of furniture
a loaf of bread a pair of slippers
(Study & Practice: P54, Vocabulary III) 4) brighten/waken/shorten/widen
Suffix –en can be added to adjectives to form verbs meaning “make” or “become”. (Study & Practice: P55, Word building IV)
6. Language points
1) make an effort to do sth.
e.g. He made an effort to finish his work.他努力完成自己的工作
I will make every effort to help you. 我将尽力帮助你。 2) from the second floor flat from the ground floor
BrE the ground floor the first floor the second floor …
BrE flat post cheque …
3) on the rare occasions 偶尔 on occasion 偶尔，有时 on the occasion of 在……之际 4) at other times---on other occasions 平时
e.g. If you work hard at other times, you won’t have to worry about the exam. 5) round/around the corner a. 在附近，在拐角处 b. 即将来临，临近
e.g. The hospital is just round the corner.
The National Day is round the corner.
6) arrange for
e.g. I have arranged for a car to pick you up at 9 tomorrow morning. ……
mail check …
AmE apartment
AmE the first floor the second floor the third floor …
Ch 一楼 二楼 三楼
7. Sentences
1) Myra wouldn’t forget her mother’s birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. (even if 引导让步状语从句)
Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. (even if引导条件状语从句) 2) Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work for the aged.
3) Folded in the card was a piece of paper. Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday … 4) Two structures: too…to not…until 8 Homework
Section II Exercise (P53-68)
Section III Listening and Speaking
Unit 7 Apologies
Assignment
