UNIT 2

Are you busy in a week? What do you do after school? have piano lessons study English study math

Section 1 Before You Read What do you usually do after class? I do: I don’t do:

play football

listen to music

What does she do after school? She stays at home and watches TV.

He studies for a test.

Section 1 Before You Read Look up these words in a dictionary. football complain pressure freedom organized pushy compare 查字典是学习的好办法. 但是因为语境的原因, 有时候给你 的意思是错误的. 因此, 最好是用学习字典, 帮助你理解单词 在不同的语境下的意思.

Reading Skills 1. 速读以求理解 2. 带着问题复读 3. 细读解决疑难

Questions Do American and British children do many after-school activities? Are many children under pressure? Do parents these days push their children much harder than before? When does competition between families start?

Section 2 While You Read Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. Their school days are busy enough. After school, though, Cathy takes the two boys from football to basketball. Then she has to take her daughter to piano lessons. The tired children don’t get home until 7 pm. They have a quick supper, and it’s time for homework. 生活对于 Cathy Taylor 的三个孩子来说是 非常忙碌的. 这些疲倦的孩子们要到晚上 7 点才得到家.

Section 2 While You Read The Taylors are like many American and British parents. They take their children from activity to activity, and try to fit as much as possible into their kids’ lives. Doctors say many children are under too much pressure. Teachers complain about teaching tired kids in the classroom. 他们把孩子从一个活动送到另一个活动. 竭尽全力把孩子的生活填满. 在繁重的压力下.

Section 2 While You Read Most children take part in after-school clubs. Activities include sports, language learning, music, and math classes. Pushy parents are nothing new, but now parents seem to push their children a lot more. Parents see other children doing a lot of things, and they feel their own children should do the same. 固执的家长们没有新的变化, 但是更多的家长 把孩子们推向这些压力之下.

Section 2 While You Read Linda Miller, a mother of three in London, knows all about such pressure. “In some families, competition starts from a very young age,” she says. “Mothers send their kids to all other children. It’s crazy. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.” 人们不应该凶狠的把他们的孩子们推向 这种压力下.

Section 2 While You Read Dr Alice Green agrees. She also says that these children may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older. “Parents are trying to plan their kids’ lives for them. When these kids are adults, they might find it difficult to plan things for themselves.” 这些孩子们就会发现当他们长大后要自己 思考问题是多么困难的事. 家长们总是尽力为他们的孩子们计划事情. 但是当孩子们成年后就回发现自己计划事情很 困难.

Section 2 While You Read Parents should learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves. On the one hand, children need organized activities. On the other hand, they also need time and freedom to relax, and they need time to do things by themselves.

1.Why is Cathy Taylor very busy? 2.Why are the children under too much pressure? 3.What does Linda Miller think ? 4.What does Dr Alice Green think?

fit 适合；适应 pressure 压力 complain 抱怨；控诉 include 包括，包含 pushy 一意孤行的 crazy 疯狂的 themselves 他们自己 adult 成年人 organized 有组织的 not…until 直到 … 才 as much as possible 尽可能多 send to 发送到 all kinds of 各种 ; 许多 compare ….with 和 … 比较 on the one hand 在一方面 on the other hand 在另一方面

Read these statements. Is the situation the same in China? 1.American and British children do many after- school activities. 2. Many children are under pressure. 3. Parents these days push their children much harder than before. 4. Competition between families starts at a young age. 5. Children should have free time to relax.

Section 3 After You Read Pressure is a serious problem in today’s world. What should we do to relax. Let’s discuss. Questions: 1.When do you feel under pressure? 2.What should you do to relax?

Maybe you should learn to relax! Check and interview: sports practice the fitness gym language classes music lessons tutoring for school subjects playing computer games

Dear Cathy, Dr Alice Green If you are Dr Alice Green. Give advice to Cathy.

Dear friend, I am very busy all the week. I have to play the piano every day. I do lots of homework from Monday to Saturday. I have to study English on Tuesday and Friday. And I have music classes on Thursday and Sunday. I am very tired. What can I do? Yours, Li Hua

Now, it’s time for me to relax! Thank you and Goodbye!