Unit 1 Half a Day

1. Unit 1 Half a Day

2. Teaching procedures: • Ⅰ Warm-up questions • Ⅱ Check on pre-class work • Ⅲ Word study • Ⅳ General understanding of the text • Ⅴ Detailed study of the text • Ⅵ Questions for discussion • Ⅶ Language focus • Ⅷ Exercises

3. ⅠWarm-up questions • 1) Was it hard for you to leave home for the first in your life? • 2) What do you think is the business of university? What do you expect to learn here • 3) What do you think you should do to get the most out of college?

4. Ⅱ Check on pre-class work 1. Questions • 1) What’s the purpose of school, according to the boy’s father? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? • 2)Do you agree with the lady in the story that a school is a home to the children? Why or why not? • 3) What did the boy realize about the school? • 4) What do you think of the changes that had taken place in the outside world during the half day inside the school? Do you think the outside world had changed for the better or for the worse? • 5) Which sentence in the text do you think can be used as a motto for your college years? Please explain.

5. Ⅱ Check on pre-class work • 2. P 8 Preclass work for language Find useful phrases and idioms from the text and list them below. a matter of ahead of at home be convinced be employed be full of be irritated be over and gone for the first time in a daze from time to time be surrounded by in addition for a long time in front (of) in vain in half a day nothing but on one’s own on the corner on the surface be lined with gardens be planted with trees from the first moments

6. Ⅱ Check on pre-class work • 2. P 8 Preclass work for language Find useful verb + noun collocations and expressions from the text and list them below. announce an event begin life border a place change one’s mind clutch one’s hand cover a place cross a street dry one’s tears eat delicious food employ workers face life find no trace of invade a place lift weights lose one’s way play games punish a person reach the house say goodbye scold the child shake the air sing a song take a nap take steps tell a story watch our progress find one’s way somewhere show the various continents

7. Ⅲ Word study 9. perseverance 10. rank 11. resort 12. sort 13. stretch 14. trace 15. vain 1. border 2. cling 3. clutch 4. exertion 5. invade 6. lift 7. observant 8. overlook

8. 1. border • border v. 1. be a border to (sth); be on the border of(sth) • Our garden is bordered on one side by a stream. 我们的花园有一边一小河为界。 • How many countries border Switzerland? • 2. border sth (with sth) :put a border on sth • e.g. a handkerchief bordered with a lace. • 3. border on sth(a) be next to sth; adjoin sth • e.g. The new housing estate borders on the motorway. • (b) (fig) be almost the same as sth; verge on sth • The boy’s reply to his teacher was bordering on rudeness. • Our task borders on the impossible. • borderland 1. 边疆； 2. 中间状态或状况 the border land between sleeping and waking半睡半醒的状态 • borderline1. 边界线；国境线 （fig) the borderline between informal language and slang is hard to define

9. 2. cling • cling v. 1. cling (on) to sb/sth; cling on; cling together: hold on tightly to sb/sth • e.g. survivors clinging to a raft • They clung to each other/clung together as they said goodbye. • Cling on tight!抓紧！ • 2. cling (on) to sth: be unwilling to abandon sth; refuse to give sth up • e.g. cling to a belief, an opinion, a theory • She clung to the belief that she would someday succeed. • 3. cling (to sth): become attached to sth; stick to • e.g. The smell of smoke clings (to one’s clothes) for a long time. • 4. cling to sb/sth: stay close to sb/sth • This ship clung to the coastline. • 5. cling ( to sb)(esp derog)be emotionally dependent on sb; stay close to sb. • Small children cling to their mothers.

10. 3. clutch • clutch v. 1(a) seize (sb/sth) eagerly • e.g. He clutched the rope we threw to him. • (b) hold (sb/sth) tightly in the hand(s) • clutch a baby in one’s arms双臂抱住婴儿 • 2. （idm) clutch at a straw/straws: try to grasp a slight opportunity to escape, rescue sb, etc in desperate circumstances. • 3. (phr v ) clutch at sth: try to seize sth. • He clutched at the branch but couldn’t reach it. • n.1 make a clutch at sth想抓住某事物 • 2.clutches(pl) power or control • be in sb’s clutches在某人的控制下 • fall into the clutches of sb/sth落入某人/某事物的势力范围 • have sb in one’s clutches 把某人控制住 • escape from one’s clutches摆脱某人的控制 • 3. 离合器She released the clutch and the car began to move.

11. 4. exertion • exertion n. (instances of )great effort • incapable of physical exertion体力上不能劳累的 • He failed to lift the suitcase in spite of all his exertions. • Now that she’s 70, she finds the exertions of travelling too great.她年届70，出远门已力不从心了。 • It is no exertion to him to do so.这样做对他而言并不费力。 • make exertions努力,尽力,发奋 • v . exert 1. exert sth( on sb/sth) bring (a quality , skill, pressure, etc) into use; apply sth. • He exerted all his influence to make his parents accept his plan. • Her parents exerted a lot of pressure on her to succeed. • 2. exert oneself:make an effort努力，尽力 • You’ll have to exert yourself more if you want to pass the exam.

12. 5. invade • invade v. go into a country to attack it • We must be prepared at all times to wipe any enemy that may invade. 我们要随时准备歼灭入侵之敌。 • (fig)(esp passive)enter (sth) in large numbers, esp so as to cause damage, crowd into • e.g. Tourists invade Rome in spring. 春天，游客拥入罗马。 • A mind invaded with worries, anxieties, etc.充满烦恼、焦虑等的心境 • 2. interfere· Don't invade the rights of others. 不要侵犯别人的权利。

13. 6. lift lift v. 1. to move something to a highter place, to raise • This case is very heavy; I can't lift it. • Surprised, she lifted her head. • The baby was lifted onto the bed. • The window doesn’t lift. • The airplane lifted from the airport. 2. (of clouds, fog) go up and away • The dense fog began to lift. • The cloud has lifted and we can see the mountains. 3. raise to a higher degree or condition • First we have to lift the level of instruction. • · John's high grade in the test lifted his spirits. • · Lift up your voice. 4. dig up (vegetables); remove plants from the ground • lift potatoes,turnips

14. 6. lift 5. lift sth from sb (a) steal sth • (b) copy(material)from another source without permission She was caught lifting make-up from the supermarket. Many of her dieas were from other authors. n.1. journey in another person's car; a free ride Can you give me a lift to the station?能让我搭个便车去火车站吗？ He gave us a lift to town in his car.他让我们搭他的便车到城里去。 2. an elevator; an apparatus for raising or lowing persons or things from one floor or level to another Shall we go up the stairs or take the lift? Take the lift to the fifth floor. Please ring for the lift. 3. help · He gave me many a lift.他曾几次给我帮助。 I gave him a lift with his lessons.我帮助他做功课。

15. 7. observant • adj. 1. quick at noticing things • e.g. Journalists are trained to be observant. • 2.(fml) careful to observe laws, customs, traditions, etc. • e.g. He is observant of the rules. • observable adj. (usu attrib) • an observable improvement • n.observance (of sth):1.keeping or observing a law,custom, festival, holiday, etc.遵守，奉行 • The observance of school rules • 2. 宗教仪式，传统庆典 • observation action of ovserving • Observatory天文台，气象台

16. 8. overlook • overlookv.1. look down at something from above • My room overlooks the sea. • The castle overlooks the city. • 2. (a) forget, fail to see sth,miss • I overlooked the fact. • I overlooked this mistake in your paper the first time I read it. • (b) not be angry about a bad thing • He decided to overlook her mistake. • I will overlook your late arrival because it is the first time.

17. 9. perseverance • perseverance n.(U) determination to keep trying to do sth. in spite of difficulties. • His perseverance was finally rewarded. • Her perseverance in the face of extreme hardship is admirable. • pesevere vi. [at,in,with] (usu approv) • He persevered in his studies . • She persevered in her efforts to help the poor. • It is difficult, but I’m going to persevere with it. • He was hopeless at English, but his teacher persevered with him. • persevering adj. (attrib) persevering efforts

18. 10. rank • n. 1. a row or line • The students are standing in two separate ranks • 2. the class of an officer in one of the armed forces • What‘s your rank? • He is below me in rank. • In the army, a general is of a higher rank than a captain. • 3. social class · People of all ranks attended the meeting. • vt. arrange in a row or line • Don‘t rank me among such people. • vi. hold a certain grade or position • He ranks high as an author. • Canada ranks fourth among the trading nations of the world.

19. 11. resort resort v.1. resort to sth make use of sth for help; adopt as a means • If other means fail, they will resort to force. • Resort to violence, deception, trickery, etc. 2 (fml). Visit a place frequently • In Harbin many people resort to the bathing beach in hot weather. n.[U] 1. person or sth that is turned to for help • Friends are the best resort in trouble.朋友是困难时最佳的慰藉。 2. [C] place that many people visit for holidays • Da Lian is a seaside resort.大连是海滨休假胜地。 • a health resort疗养地方 • a scenic resort风景区 • seaside resort海滨胜地

20. 12. sort n. 1. [C] group or class of people or things (which are alike in some way); type 2.[C] type of character, person • a good/decent sort好人/正派的人 • He is not a bad sor really. 3. (idm) It takes all sorts to make a world. of a sort / of sorts :of a poor or inferior type a sort of (infml): vague, unexplained or unusual type of sth说不清的，难以解释的 • I have a sort of feeling he wouldn’t come. out of sorts: (infml) (a) feeling unwell • She has been out of sorts since the birth of her baby. (b) in a bad temper; annoyed • He os always out of sorts in the morning. sort of (infml) : to some extent, in some way or other • I sort of thought this might happen. • I feel sort of queasy.

21. 13. stretch vt. 1. make longer or wider • Perhaps they‘ll fit you if you stretch them. • Can‘t you stretch it? 2. hold out; put out; extend • What are you stretching your neck for?Can‘t you see well? • He stretched out his arm and took down a book. • He got out of bed and stretched himself. 3. lay or knock (a person) flat • A blow on the jaw stretched him (out) on the floor. 4. extend between two points;draw tight • Stretch a tennis net, please. 5. strain; extend beyond the proper limits • He stretches the law to suit his purpose. vi. have elastic properties; extend; lie spread out • Rubber bands stretch. • The fields stretched as far as the eye could see.

22. 13. stretch • n. 1 pushing one's arms and legs out as far as one can • a stretch of the arm伸出手臂 • He got up with a stretch and a yawn.他起来后伸伸懒腰，打个呵欠。 • 2. unbroken period of time • a four-hour stretch连续四小时 • 3. piece of land • a stretch of country (forestland, water, etc.)一片地（林地，汪洋） • a stretch of the imagination幻想；想入非非； • long stretches of moorland大片大片的沼泽地

23. 14. trace n. mark or sign that shows where someone or something has been • They couldn’t find any trace of the lost children. • They disappeared without leaving a trace. • Sorrow has left its traces on her face. • No trace remains. • traces of rabbits on the snow v. 1.search for and find someone or something • The police have traced the stolen car. • The custom traces to a very early origin. 这风俗由来很古。 • trace an animal to its lair 追踪动物至其巢穴 • be traced back to the Tang Dynasty 可追溯到唐代 • trace one‘s family back 追溯某人的家世

24. 15. vain • adj.1. having too high an opinion of one’s looks, abilities, etc.; conceited自负的 • She is vain about her beauty. • 2.[attrib] having no value or significance无价值的，无意义的 • vain promises, triumphs, pleasures • 3. [usu. attrib] useless, futile • a vain attempt • in the vain hope of persuading him • 4. (idm) in vain (a) with no result; uselessly • Try in vain to sleep • (b) fruitless or useless • All our work was in vain.

25. Ⅳ General understanding of the text Structure of the text The text can be roughly divided into three parts. • Ⅰ The narrator’s unwillingness to go to school.(paras. 1-7) • Ⅱ The narrator’s experience at school.(paras.8-16) • Ⅲ The changes the narrator found after school.(paras.17-20)

26. Ⅴ Detailed study of the text PartⅠ The narrator’s unwillingness to go to school(paras.1-7) • A. He was unwilling to go to school.(paras.1-3) • B. His father told him the purpose and importance of school.(paras.4-7)

27. PartⅠ The narrator’s unwillingness to go to school(paras.1-7) • Questions: • 1. Please find out the evidence from the text that the boy was unwilling to go to school. • 2. Why does the boy feel so reluctant to go to school? What are his chief misgivings? • 3. What does the boy see along the street on the way to school? What purpose do these descriptions serve? • 4. How was the boy’s relationship with his mother and father respectively? • 5. What was the boy’s first impression of school? Is he favorably impressed?

28. Language points: 1. I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. (para. 1) alongside: side by side, next to clutching his right hand: present participle used to modify the main verb “walked”, showing the manner in which the narrator walked. More examples from the text: My mother stood at the window watching our progress… (para. 2) I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. (para. 2) “I’m not punishing you,” he said, laughing. (para. 4) The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. (para. 17)

29. 2. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time. (para. 1) What does “they” refer to? Here “they” refers to the narrator’s new clothes. What does the narrator imply by using “to be thrown into school”? Here the expression “to be thrown into school” is used to show that the little boy in the story didn’t want to go to school. He was forced by his father to do so.

30. 3. My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. (para. 2) What does “progress” mean here? Here “our progress” means our slow and difficult movement towards school9My mother was anxious to know how my father would get me to go.) What kind of help could his mother offer? He expected his mother would stop his father taking him to school to talk to his father so that he would change his mind about sending him to school. What does the sentence tell us about the boy’s relationships with his parents? It seems that the boy was closer to his mother.

31. 4. a street lined with gardens …(para. 2) a street where there are gardens … along both sides lined with…: past participle phrase used here to modify “a street”. It can be regarded as a relative clause cut short, eg. a novel (that was) written by Charles Dickens personal computers (that are) made in China

32. 5. Why school?” I asked my father. “What have I done?” (para. 3) “Why do I have to go to school? I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong to be punished like this.” elliptical question & rhetorical question More examples: 1) --Headmaster: We want you to go and tell the boy’s parents the news. --teacher: Why me? 2) --Father: We’ll go to Tianjin this weekend. --Son: What for?( Why this weekend?/Why Tianjin?)

33. 6. It’s a place that makes useful men out of boys. (para. 4) to make…(out) of sb/sth: to make sb/sth become More examples: • The army made a man of him. • Hardships help make a man (out) of a boy. • I don’t think you can make a football star (out) of Johnny.

34. 7. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building. (para. 5) There is no good to be had in doing sth. It is no good/use doing sth. I didn’t think it was useful to take me away from home and put me into that building with high walls.

35. 8. … we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls. (para. 6) vast and full of boys and girls: adjective phrase as an attributive modifier More examples: It’s something important to my family. Can you recommend some books easy for freshmen to read?

36. PartⅡ The narrator’s experience at school.(8-16) • A. He began to like school: friends, sweethearts and activities.(paras.8-14) • B. He found unpleasant things, too: school work, rivalries, fighting, and physical punishment.(para. 15) • C. He realized what lay ahead of him: exertion, struggle and perseverance.(para. 16)

37. PartⅡ The narrator’s experience at school.(8-16) Questions for comprehension • 1.How does the boy find school life? • 2.Do you consider the boy a good student? • 3. Why does the boy say that they have to be observant and patient?

38. Language points 1. I did not know what to say.(para.11) • Question word + to do: often used as the object of certain verbs More examples: Faced with so many books I didn’t know which to choose. Would you please tell me how to get to the national Library?

39. 2. to burst into tears(para.11) • to suddenly start to cry • burst into (sth): to begin to do (sth) suddenly • More examples: • The boys burst into laughter. • His family busrt into song. • The car burst into fire/flame(s). • The audience burst into applause.

40. 3. A lady came along, followed by a group of men. (para. 13) followed by a group of men: an adverbial modifier of manner eg. ( combine, give, guide) ____ by the teachers, all the students are studying very hard. ____ enough time, I’ll complete the job in time. ____ with practice, theory may be learned easily.

41. 4. We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard. (para. 13) • We were made to stand in different places to form regular lines or shapes in the big courtyard.

42. 5. … from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood. (para. 13) … on one side of the courtyard was a building with a long wood-roofed balcony on each floor where we could be seen. • Or … from the balcony on each floor of the building people could see the pattern into which we formed.

43. 6. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around.(para. 14) What we did at school wasn’t just playing and wasting time doing nothing useful. all: completely a matter of sth.: a situation that involves sth. to fool around: to waste time instead of doing sth. that you should be doing Learning is a matter of seeing much, suffering much and studying much.

44. 7. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred, or give rise to fighting.(para.15) • When two or more boys fell in love with the same girl, it might cause the boys to suffer, or to hate each other, or to fight. • bring about sth: to make sth happen • More examples: • Science has brought about many changes in our lives. • The war brought about great human suffering. • give rise to: (formal) to cause or to produce sth • More examples: • Poor living conditions give rise to many diseases. • His absence from social events has given rise to rumors about his health.

45. 8. In addition, the time for changing one’s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. (para. 16) There is no question (of doing): there is no possibility Besides, it was impossible for us to quit school and return to the good old days when we stayed home playing and fooling around all day. Our childhood was gone, never to come back.

46. 9. Those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves.(para. 16) to present itself/ themselves: (formal) to appear, happen If there came opportunities, capable students would seize them to achieve success and happiness.

47. Part Ⅲ The changes the narrator found after school.(17-20) • A. He didn’t find his father waiting for him at the gate and the street had changed.(para. 17) • B. He couldn’t find his way home.(para. 18) • C. He found himslef an old man.

48. Part Ⅲ The changes the narrator found after school.(17-20) Questions for comprehension 1. When do you first notice that the narator is no longer the small boy? 2. Why is it that the boy cannot find his way home? 3. How does he like the changes in the street? How do you know?

49. Language points 1.How did these hills of rubbish find their way to cover its sides?(para. 17) How did the street come to be covered with so much rubbish on both sides? Where did they come from? to find one’s way: to arrive or get to a place

50. 2.… here and there stood conjurers showing off their tricks, or making snakes appear from baskets. (para. 17) an inverted sentence Conjurers stood everywhere. They were showing off their tricks or making snakes appear from baskets. More examples: In no case should we waste our time. There goes the bell. Away hurried the customers.