loadingZooming In: An Integrated English Course
(Book II)
Unit 4 Text A Choose Optimism
I. Teaching Objectives:
1. To make students set optimism attitude toward life.
2. Let students know how to get their bad feeling an outlet. 2. To grasp the key words and phrases.
II. Teaching Content
1. Lead-in activities. (group work and oral practice) 2. Text Organization
3. Language points ( key words, phrases and difficult sentences) 4. Guided Practice (exercises, oral practice and group work) 5. Assignment
III. Teaching Process
1. Warm-up Questions
Is it hard to forgive someone? Why or why not?
Do you have the experience of being forgiven? What is it? 2. Text Organization
Part I (Paras.1-3) It is necessary to choose optimism to shape our outlook and expectations. Part II (Paras.4-7) The author illustrates the effects of negativism through his own experiences. Part III (Paras.8-10) The author suggests that we direct our attention to positive and constructive
thinking rather than to negativism.
3. Language Points
1) shape v.a) influence sth. such as a belief, opinion, etc. and make it develop in a particular way Example:
People’s political beliefs are shaped by what they see in the papers.
It is true that a people’s character is, to a great extent, shaped by the environment they live in. b) make sth. have a particular shape, especially by pressing it Example:
The bird shaped its nest from mud and sticks.
Children shaped the sand into a mound on the beach. 2) ample adj. a) more than enough Example:
There is an ample supply of consumer goods.
The director of the company receives an ample salary.
b) (literary) large in a way that is attractive or pleasant
Example:
He’s got an ample bosom.
3) curse v. a) say or think bad things about sb. or sth. because they have made you angry Example:
He cursed (at) his bad luck.
She cursed him for ruining her life.
b) swear
Example:
Gilbert was cursing under his breath.
n. a) a swear word or words that you say because you are very angry
Example:
He muttered a curse under his breath.
b) sth. that causes trouble, harm, etc.
Example:
Mice are a curse in the country. Gambling is often a curse.
4) perspective n. a) a way of thinking about sth., especially one which is influenced by the type of person you are or by your experiences. Example:
You have the wrong perspective on that situation. He views everything from a political perspective.
b) a sensible way of judging and comparing situations so that you do not
imagine that sth. is more serious than it really is Example:
She was under such stress that she lost all sense of perspective. We must keep a sense of perspective about what he’s done.
5) highlight v. make a problem or subject easy to notice so that people pay attention to it. Example:
The report highlights the problems of the unemployed.
I would like to highlight three challenges in the process of the development of cultural traditions.
n. the most important, interesting, or enjoyable part of sth. such as a holiday,
performance, or sports competition Example:
The highlights of the match will be shown on TV tonight,
David Beckham viewed that season as the highlight of his career
6) odd adj. different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way that you disapprove of or cannot understand Example:
She gets odder as she grows older. We always meet in odd circumstances.
CF: strange, odd, peculiar & curious这些形容词均含有“奇怪的，奇异的，新奇的之意。 strange普通常用词，含义广泛，指陌生新奇的、奇怪的人或物。例如： The doctor thought her strange behavior was caused by stress.
odd通常指不同寻常或者出乎意料之外的人或事物，往往令人困惑或感到奇怪。例如：
He is rather an odd man.
peculiar常指因为觉得陌生或者不熟悉而感到有点奇怪。例如： This food has got a peculiar taste.
curious通常指非常奇特从而能引起人们的好奇心。例如： It is a curious fact that he never works but has plenty of money.
7) reflect: v. a) if a surface reflects light, heat, or sound, it sends back the light, etc. that reaches it; if a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see an image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or water. Example:
Look at the trees reflected in the lake.
The sight of my face reflected in the mirror never pleases me.
Although planets give off no light of their own, they reflect the light from the sun and look like stars at night.
b) show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling
Example:
Her sad looks reflected the thoughts passing through her mind. The increase in crime reflects rising unemployment.
Modern society asks for modern facilities. Modern facilities reflect the modern flavour.
c) think carefully about sth., or to say sth. that you have been thinking about
Example:
I need time to reflect on your offer.
He reflected how difficult it would be to escape. 8) profound adj. a) showing strong, serious feelings Example:
He has a profound sense of guilt.
He opened the door with a profound sigh.
b) showing great knowledge and understanding
Example:
We all consider him to be a profound statesman.
He is good at expressing profound truths in simple language,
The Chinese civilization, extensive and profound, and with a long history behind it, has contributed tremendously to the progress of human civilization. CF: deep & profound这两个形容词都有表示“深的”之意。
deep普通用词，可用于比喻，表示“深刻”、“深奥”、“深谋远虑”等。例如： There is a deep wound in the old tree.
profound语气较强，较为庄重，多指抽象的事物，多用于比喻，含有“极为深刻之意。例如： It is hard for you to grasp such a profound theory.
9) accomplish v. succeed in doing sth., especially after trying very hard Example:
We tried to settle the argument but accomplished nothing. We have accomplished all we set out to do.
CF: accomplish, achieve, fulfill & complete这些动词均含有“完成”之意。
accomplish指经过艰苦的努力之后成功地完成了规定的工作、计划、任务等，侧重达到预期
目的的整个过程。例如：
They accomplished the difficult task assigned to them .
achieve指通过持续的努力而完成或实现某事，特别强调由于非常努力以及克服困难后达到
目的。例如：
They conducted a series of experiments that achieved their purpose
fulfill指达到预定的目标，如计划的完成、职责的履行、诺言的实现、任务的完成等，侧重
于完成心愿或者尽义务的意思。例如：
Brown was a brilliant musician but he had never fulfilled his early promise.
complete指完成一件指派或预定的任务，或完善、完整未完成的部分，一般指经过比较长
的时间以后完成了任务。例如：
The construction work of the new steel plant has already been completed. 10) address v. a) make a formal speech to a large group of people Example:
The governor was invited to address the conference.
b) if you address an envelope, package, etc., you write on it the name and
address of the person you are sending it to. Example:
The letter is addressed to the occupier of the house.
He gave in to curiosity and opened the letter addressed to his wife.
c) (formal) if you address a problem, you start trying to solve it
Example:
We must address ourselves to the problem of drugs among young people. It is time we addressed ourselves to the main item on the agenda.
11) criticize v. express your disapproval of sb. or sth., or to talk about their faults Example:
He was criticized by the committee for failing to report the accident. Ron does nothing but criticize and complain all the time 12) channel v. a) send water through a passage Example:
The river had channeled its way through the soft rock.
b) control or direct people or things to a particular place, work, situation, etc
Example:
We must channel all our energies into the new scheme.
Drugs from government pharmacies were being channeled into illegal drug markets. 13) tackle v. a) try to deal with a difficult problem Example:
We should be together to tackle all the challenges.
Police have launched an initiative to tackle rising crime.
b) talk to sb. in order to deal with a difficult problem
Example:
You’ll have to tackle her parents about her bad behaviour.
When are you going to tackle your brother about that money he owes me?
c) start fighting sb., especially a criminal
Example:
He tackles fearlessly.