Unit Three The Present

Teaching Objectives and Contents: 1. Key words and phrases. 2. To guide the students to make clear the character and regularity of English learning; make them develop an autonomic study and have a good and effective study habits.

Warm-up questions 1. How do people celebrate their birthdays in China? How about birthdays in Western countries? 2. When you get old, would you choose to live with your children and grandchildren or to live alone? Give your reasons. 3. Have you had a birthday party before? Where did you have it? ( At home, in the restaurant or in the park?) 4. How are you going to have your birthday at college? ( Spend much money on it, invite a lot classmates?) 5. Who knows your mother’s birthday?

Background Knowledge 1.Important birthdays in the West At 18, the age of majority one becomes an adult. Usually the family has a big party for the new adult and a major present--an expensive watch or a car is given to him. The present, of course, varies from family to family. Any birthday past 70 is celebrated in a special way by family members just because the birthday person is getting old and may die before another birthday comes round. There is a saying "It's rare to have one's 70 in his life". And then, 100--the centennial birthday--is generally regarded as an unusual occasion because few people reach it. The centenarian may even receive a telegram or a letter of congratulations form prominent political figures, such as the Prime Minister and the Queen if the anniversary is celebrated in Britain. At the party attended by relatives and surviving friends as well, the centenarian takes delight in counting great grandchildren and grandchildren among other things.

2.Traditional birthday celebration in Western countries In the West, it is customary to hold a party in celebration of a person's birthday.The guests will come to the party with birthday presents and say "Happy Birthday " to the birthday person. The guests then watch him open the presents and he thanks them for the presents they've brought. At the party drinks and food are served. Toward the end of the dinner the lights in the room are turned off, and someone comes in from another room with a cake on which are lighted candles, one for each year. At the sight of the cake,the guests begin singing "Happy Birthday to You", and the birthday person makes a wish before blowing out the candles on the cake. It's said that the wish will come true if all the candles go out in one puff. After that, the cake is cut in slices usually by the birthday person, one piece for each guest. When the party comes to an end, the guests wish the birthday person "Happy Birthday" again and leave

Key Structures 1). The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn’t go out to play until the post had come. “Until” is similar to “till” ， but “until” is more formal than “till”, which is usually used in spoken English. Please note: It is (was) not until…that … It was not until 6 that they arrived. “Not until+ 谓语 + 主语 …” Not until the meeting had begun did she arrive. 2). Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. too…to It’s too good to be true. 。 The box is too heavy for me to carry.

Language Points 1). occasion :a time when sth. happens on...occasion (the prevailing /certain /any /the whole/many /most ) ___We met on several other occasions. on rare occasions/in... case/in...situation /under...circumstances 2). be content to do...be glad /pleased to do..... be content with... content n. __The newcomer is content with the roommates. 3).arrange for sb. to do: make plan for sb. to do.... __I can’t arrange for everything. 4). efficient adj. inefficient __There must be a more efficient way. Similar: effective adj. To get what we have expected __The law is not yet effective. To compare: sufficient, enough, adequate

5).be reluctant to do: be unwilling to do... __ to leave with reluctance 6). primary : adj. (1) earliest in time or order of development __in the primary stage of development (2) most important, fundamental; main __The primary concern of people is economic growth, isn’t it? 7).be round the corner : (1) nearby, very near in distance or time __Good times are just round the corner. (2) at the exact place __He lives just round the corner.

8). to pick up (1) take hold of and lift sb./sth.; lift up __Pick up the box by the handle. (2) get sb. in a car __I'll pick you up downstairs. 9).make an effort to do.../make efforts to do: try hard to do... __I believe that he will make every effort to help you. 10).bring up: (1) bring sth. upstairs __Will you please bring up the umbrella? (2) to care for and educate during childhood; rear __The girl was brought up by her aunt.

11).make sb.+: elect sb. a position __The committee made him manager. __He was made our monitor. __They made Professor Smith Chairman of the English Department. 12).choose to do... decide to do / prefer to do __I chose to go by train. __He chose that we should attend the meeting. Choose from __These samples are for you to choose from. 13).be in blue: dressed in blue in + colour __Who's the tall girl in yellow? __the woman in black __the man in white