Unit 2

Teaching Aim In this unit students are required to: 1. master the main language structures 2. practice listening comprehension 3. learn dialogues 4. do some preparation activities such as discussion ,group work, pair

work to practice their spoken skill and communicative skills 5. grasp some new words and try to use these words which help them

to enrich their vocabulary 6. read the in-class reading passages in a limited time and grasp some

expressions and grammatical points in the in-class reading passages to improve their reading comprehension

7. do some post-reading exercises in the Workbook to practice what they have got to know in class to improve their four basic skills

Language Structures The nominal clause used as 1. the subject complement introduced by that--- The fact was that John Brown had a car accident. 2. the subject complement introduced by a wh-word--- The scissors are not what I need. 3. the appositive--- Have you heard the news that all English students will

have to pass a proficiency test before they can graduate? 4. the subject introduced by what--- What I told him was that I would find him a good play.

Dialogue I “Friday Evening or Not” Broad questions: 1. What do students usually do on Friday evening? 2. What do you usually do on Friday evening? 3. What are stand-ins in a play? 4. What will happen if a performance is a flop? What is the

best way to avoid a flop?

Main idea

A and B are talking about a four-act English play to celebrate Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. Since it’s the first time for the college to stage such a grand performance, a lot of students are involved in the rehearsal, and they have to sacrifice Friday evening for the rehearsal. B is eventually persuaded to play a role in the drama.

Language Points It’s a four-act play adapted from the novel Good Morning, Hong Ko

ng! adapt: v. to adjust (someone or something, esp oneself) to different

conditions, a new environment, etc; make suitable for new use e.g. We soon adapted ourselves to the new life. Many software companies have adapted programs to the new operat

ing system. The movie was adapted from the bestseller. adaptation / adaption: n. adapter / adaptor: n. adaptable: adj. collocation: adapt sth. for sth. 为某目的或用途改变某事 adapt oneself to sth. 改变自己来适应（环境）

…since China resumed sovereignty over this former British colony in 1997.

resume sovereignty over: resume: v. go on after stopping for a time e.g. China resumed sovereignty over Macao in 1999. sovereignty: n. independent sovereign power Collocation exercise sovereignty 行使主权； acknowledge sovereignty

承认主权； respect sovereignty 尊重主权； yield sovereignty 放弃主权；

Sovereignty will not suffer any infringement. 主权不容侵犯。

I’d certainly feel honored to have a role in the play. honour: n. high respect e.g. It’s a great honour for me to be invited here. I’m greatly honoured to be invited here. Collocation: in honour of: 以…名誉 on sb.’s honour 以…名誉担保 do sb. the honour of 有幸做某事

Friday evening? Don’t count me in then. count sb. in: include sb. ( 反 exclude, count sb. / sth. out) e.g. Don’t count me in for the outing, for I’ll be on vacation at t

hat time. I’m counting on you to help me with the work. 依靠、指

望

But that’s the only time available when we have no classes. available: adj. (of things) that you can get, buy or find; (of p

ersons) free to see or talk to e.g. available resources, available facilities readily / freely / generally available 随时 / 随手 / 一般可

以得到 Further information is available on request. Train tickets were not available right before the lunar New

Year. This was the only room available. Will the manager be available this afternoon? “Can I speak to John?” “Sorry, he isn’t available now.”

Reading I Stunts in the Cinema

Action Films Action films have tremendous impact, continuous high

energy, lots of physical stunts and activity, possibly extended chase scenes, races, rescues, battles, martial arts, mountains and mountaineering, destructive disasters (floods, explosions, natural disasters, fires, etc.) fights, escapes, non-stop motion, spectacular rhythm and pacing and adventurous heroes.

Here are some of the most popular action films: Lord of the Rings; Star Wars; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Apocalypse Now; Saving Private Ryan; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Aliens; The Hero and The Terminator.

Questions Who are stuntmen and what do they do? How are action scenes made in films? What has to be done to make stunts look real on the

screen? What is a “blood” pellet? How can an actor crash through a door or window

without getting hurt? What measures have to be taken to protect the life of

a stuntman? What types of stunts have been forbidden in today’s

film production? What is expected of an all-rounder?

Main idea The article is an informative analysis of the various

stunts usually employed by filmmakers in shooting the film to make the actions more thrilling and lifelike. The stuntmen and stunts are involved in fights, bullet firing, air rifles, and other dangerous stunts like explosives, fire stunts, horse-riding, high falls and climbing on aeroplanes.

The paragraphs are organized into a clear-cut three parts: the introduction in the first paragraph, the conclusion in the last paragraph and the body specifying different stunts.

Language Points Stunts in the Cinema stunt: n. a dangerous and difficult action that somebody does to entert

ain people, especially as part of a movie; something that is done in order to attract people’s attention

e.g. Jackie Chan did all his own stunts, so he has got injured for many tim

es. a stunt pilot / a stunt rider 特技飞行员 / 特技骑手 a publicity stunt 宣传噱头 stuntman: n. a person whose job is to do dangerous things in place of

an actor in a movie e.g. When you enjoy the movie, don’t forget those stuntmen behind the sc

ene. Acting as a stuntman is rather dangerous.

They work out their movements before the scene is filmed and they mime the fights.

mime: v. to pretend to sing a song that is actually being sung by somebody else on a record, tape, etc.;

to act or tell a story moving your body and face but without speaking

e.g. The band was miming to a backing tape. 模拟演奏 All of the players have to mime the title of a movie, play or drama. He mimed gnawing a chicken bone. n. the use of movements of your hands or body and facial expressio

ns to tell a story e.g. The performance tonight consists of dance, music and mime.

But they can still be badly injured if there is any delay in putting out the flames.

put out: to stop something from burning or shining; to take something out of your house and leave it; to place something where it will be used

e.g. to put out a candle / cigarette / light Firefighters soon arrived and put the fire out. Put the garbage out when you leave, please. Have you put out clean towels for the visitors?

Some stunts have now been banned. ban: v. to forbid something officially; to forbid somebody to do someth

ing e.g. Fireworks used to be banned in urban areas during the Spring Festival h

olidays. Chemical weapons are banned internationally. He has been banned from leaving Germany while the government is inv

estigated. She was banned from driving for three months. n. a ban (on something): an official rule that says that something is not

allowed e.g. There is to be a total ban on smoking in the building. to impose / lift a ban 颁布 / 解除禁令

To be an all-rounder, you would have to learn boxing, judo, karate and wrestling.

all-rounder: n. (BrE) a person who has many different skills and abilities

e.g. He is really an all-rounder. He can sing, dance, paint, play many mu

sical instruments and play all kinds of ball games well. The parents are eager to make their child an all-rounder. all-round or (AmE) all-around: adj. including many different subject

s; (of a person) with a wide range of skills or abilities e.g. The country is pursuing an al-round education. She is a good all-round player.

Reading II Soap Opera Soap Opera A serialized television or radio drama usually following a regular set of

characters through various domestic or sentimental situations. Originally it was sponsored by soap manufacturers.

Questions

Why do many people all over the

world watch soap operas on television? What differences are there between

cheap soap operas and soap operas with big stars and produced at high costs?

How many main types of characters are there in soap operas? What are they? Describe each of them.

Structure Analysis This article is a brief introduction of soap opera as to its popularity,

production as well as the main types. The first four paragraphs tell us about the popularity and production of

soap opera, and the rest gives an analysis of the three main types of soap opera.

Note-writing

a note of an invitation In such a note one should states: the occasion for the invitation; the reason for in

viting the addressee (optional); the exact time and place; and the hope of having the invitation accepted/ of receiving an answer.

Post-Reading Activities

Group work: discuss “A friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed”

Practice all the exercises in Workbook from 15 to 21