New Horizon English Course

1. New Horizon English Course Section ARocketing to Stardom

2. CONTENTS Warming Up Reading Through Exercises Text A Main Idea & Structure Words & Expressions

3. Warming up Activity I Background Information Activity II Spot Dictation

4. National Basketball Association

5. NBA draft refers to a procedure that started in 1947 whereby new or existing sports players are made available for selection or reselection by the teams in a league, usually with the earlier choices being given to the weaker teams during the annual selection process. No. 1 draft pick means the first player selected by a sports team. NBA Draft

6. This team, from Houston, Texas, is one of the NBA’s 30 basketball teams. Houston is the city where the NASA Mission Control Center is located, and hence the name of “Rockets” for the team. It belongs to the Western Conference. Yao Ming has been playing basketball in this team since 2002. Houston Rockets

7. Spot Dictation Directions: The following paragraph is taken from Text A. Listen carefully and fill in the blanks without referring to the original text. Every year when the NBA ______ ends, Yao _____ back to his homeland, where he plays for the Chinese National Team. This mixing of cultures is ______ for Yao. Sport is a universal language and Yao has often been the ________, bringing two very different countries together, and_________ the close ____ between two peoples. season heads typical translator developing ties

8. Reading Through

9. Text A Rocketing to Stardom Today, the world’s best-known basketball player, Yao Ming, is a busy guy on and off the court. There are times when all Yao Ming wants to do on his time off is sleep. The National Basketball Association’s No. 1 draft pick for 2002 has now rocketed to stardom and led a busy life in America, playing center for NBA’s Houston Rockets and spending some 80 nights a year on the road with his teammates. Chinese Text A Para. 1

10. Every year when the NBA season ends, Yao heads back to his homeland, where he plays for the Chinese National Team. This mixing of cultures is typical for Yao. Sport is a universal language and Yao has often been the translator, bringing two very different countries together, and developing the close ties between two peoples. Chinese Text A Para. 2

11. When he was a child, Yao even dreamed of looking forward to playing with the best in the world. Now his skills have allowed that dream to come true. He moves fast and shoots very well. That’s a rare thing in a player so tall. Chinese Text A Para. 3

12. The 7-foot-5 star is now no longer a shy boy when he is in front of cameras and surrounded by reporters. Though at first he was a bit surprised by American culture, language, and food, he has now got used to them and the fast pace of the NBA as well. His English has also greatly improved though he often uses the help of his translator. He speaks English all the time with his teammates. People now are aware that Yao has earned the respect of those he works with. As Rockets’ strength coach says, there is something inside of Yao that makes him work harder and want to do even better. Chinese Text A Para. 4

13. Yao knows well that communicating with his fans is very important to him. So he has set up two of his own websites. One is his official site and the other is his fan club. “I felt it was really important for me to have the websites because it is a way for me to reach out to my fans,” Yao explains. “My goal was to allow fans to talk with me. Even though I have a busy schedule, I want my fans to feel that they can still reach out to me when they want to during the season and the off-season.” Chinese Text A Para. 5& Para. 6

14. Perhaps his right attitude towards the sport and his success in the United States will advance the development of basketball in China and encourage other young players to practice harder in order to realize their own dreams. Text A Para. 7 Chinese

15. 1 There are times when all Yao Ming wants to do on his time off is sleep. Meaning: When Yao Ming does not play basketball off the court, what he wants to do most is sleep. Meaning of the Sentences

16. 2 Every year when the NBA season ends, Yao heads back to his homeland, where he plays for the Chinese National Team. Meaning of the Sentences Meaning: Every year when the NBA basketball playtime finishes, Yao Ming will return to China and play for the Chinese National Team.

17. 3 This mixing of cultures is typical for Yao. Meaning: It is quite usual for Yao to mix American culture and Chinese culture. Meaning of the Sentences

18. 4 That’s a rare thingin a player so tall. Meaning: It is an unusual quality for such a tall player as Yao. Meaning of the Sentences

19. 5 Even though I have a busy schedule, I want my fans to feel that they can still reach out to me when they want to during the season and the off-season.  Meaning: Although I have a very full plan for what I should do every day, I want my fans to feel that they can still contact me whenever they want to whether during the season or not. Meaning of the Sentences

20. Main Idea This passage tells you something about a most common sport, the game of basketball, and especially a famous Chinese basketball player, Yao Ming. With great effort, Yao has developed from a shy boy into an international basketball star. He also accelerates the development of basketball both in America and in China. MainIdea & Structure

21. Part I:Para. 1 Part II: Para. 2-6 Part III:Para. 7 Main idea: Yao Ming is busy on and off the court. Main idea:Yao Ming has set an example for young players. Main idea:Yao worked hard and rocketed to stardom. Structure MainIdea & Structure

22. Words & Expressions New Words rocket court draft typical shoot pace aware schedule attitude

23. Words & Expressions Expressions on one’s time off dream of/about come true set up reach out to

24. rocketn. & vi. n. [C] a tube-shaped objectused for traveling into space 火箭 e.g. A rocket hit the house, causing a big fire. vi. move or increase very fast 急速移动，迅速上涨 e.g. The train rocketed through the tunnel. Interest rates rocketed. New words

25. courtn. 【1】[C; U] (a part of) an area specially prepared and marked for various ball games 球场 e.g. Which do you prefer to play tennis on, a grass or a clay court? The ball was off court. 【2】[C; U] a room or building in which law cases can be heard and judged 法院；法庭 e.g. She was prepared to go to court as a witness. New Words

26. draft n. & vt. n.【1】(singular) the process or method of selecting one or more individuals from a group挑选 e.g. The first draft of people for blood donation was completed. 【2】[C] the first rough and incomplete form of something written, drawn or planned 草稿；草图；草案 e.g. The first draft of the will could not be found. vt.select; choose 挑选；抽调 e.g. Some students are drafted to conduct the survey. New Words

27. typical adj. 【1】showing the usual behavior or manner; characteristic 表现出个性特征的；一向如此的 e.g. It was typical of him to get angry about it. 【2】having the usual features or qualities of a particular thing or group 典型的；有代表性的 e.g. This painting is fairly typical of his early work. New Words

28. shoot v. kick or throw a ball so as to win a point in a game 射门；投篮 e.g. 1. When he shot, nobody thought he would miss the hoop. 2.Michael turned and shot the ball, making a 3 pointer in the final second. New Words

29. pace n. 【1】(singular) the speed at which something happens or is done 速度；节奏 e.g. He liked to work at his own pace. 【2】[C] a single step in running or walking, or the distance moved in one step 一步；步子 e.g. She took a pace backwards in horror. New Words

30. aware adj. having knowledge or understanding 意识到的；明白的 e.g. 1. Most smokers are perfectly aware of the dangers of smoking. 2. I gradually became aware that there was someone else in the room. 3. Nowadays everyone is much more environmentally aware. New Words

31. schedule n. 【1】[C] a planned list or order of things to be done, dealt with计划（表）；程序表；进度表 e.g. 1. I have got a very full schedule today. 2. Our production schedule is so tight that we may have to take on extra staff. 【2】timetable 时刻表 e.g. The majority of holiday flights depart and arrive on schedule. New Words

32. attitude n. [C; U] a way of feeling or thinking about sb. or sth. 态度；看法 e.g. 1. Their attitude towards the new policy is to wait and see. 2. As soon as they found out I was a doctor their whole attitude changed. New Words

33. Practice on one’s time off 在某人不需要工作的时候 e.g. When I am on my time off, I usually go shopping. 不上班的时候我常去购物。 他有空就想打牌。 What he wants to do on his time off is playing cards. Expressions

34. Practice e.g. I dreamed of flying last night. 昨夜我梦见我能飞。 dream of/about梦见；梦想 小夫妻俩一直梦想买套属于自己的大房子。 The young couple always dream of buying a large house of their own. Expressions

35. Practice e.g. His dream of breaking the world record finally came true. 他打破世界纪录的梦想终于实现了。 come true 成为现实；实现 她对考试不及格的担心结果变成真的了。 Her worry about the failure in the exam came true. Expressions

36. Practice e.g. The city has set up a special fund for the disabled. 该市为残疾人设立了特殊基金。 set up树立；建立; 准备；安排 1.他建立了一家小型旅游公司。 2.我让秘书给我们准备工作餐。 He set up a small travel business. I’ll get my secretary to set up a working lunch for us. Expressions

37. Practice e.g. She told the students her cell phone number, so that they could reach out to her whenever needed. 她把自己的手机号码给了学生，以便他们在需要时可以联系她。 reach out to与……联络（联系） 1.顾客们可以用这个号码与他联系。 2.如果要联系，这是我的电话。 The customers can reach out to him by this phone number. Here’s my phone number, in case you need to reach out to me. Expressions

38. Using the Right Word Exercises • WorkingwithExpressions • Focusing on Sentence Structure • Translating • Using Topic-related Terms • Basic Writing Skills

39. Choose the best item to complete each of the following sentences. 1. Her parents ________ her to cook and even paid her to make dinner twice a week. A. discouraged B. encouraged C. couraged D. promised 2. The country is experiencing fast ____ in science and technology. A. moving B. speed C. development D. making B C Using the Right Word

40. A 3. When his team arrived on _____, there was a loud cheer. A. court B. floor C. place D. ground 4. The Chinese government has set up Dragon Boat Festival as a(n) ________ holiday. A. long B. spring C. official D. universal 5. The boy said he was quite _____ that he had made a careless mistake. A. known B. aware C. knowing D. understanding 6. When the car suddenly stopped, many passengers were pushed ________. A. around B. back C. aside D. forward C B D Using the Right Word

41. A 7. His new book _________ to the top as the bestseller. A. rocketed B. raised C. stayed D. arrived 8. She doesn’t have the ________ to move that table alone. A. schedule B. strength C. teammate D. attitude B Using the Right Word

42. Fill in each of the blanks in the following sentences with a suitable preposition or adverb. 1. Coaches like those players who have a very positive attitude _________ the sport they are in. 2. When he is _____ the court, he plays cards with his teammates sometimes. 3. There are times when all she wants to do ____ her time off is go shopping. 4. For over a century every small boy dreamed ___________ becoming a pilot. towards off on of/about Working with Expressions

43. in 5. It was so black you could not see a hand _____ front of your face. 6. He walked like an old man trying to get used ______ new glasses. 7. People use more than words when they communicate _______ each other. 8. We have to reach _______ to parents and help them to understand homework, to give them the tools to do the job. to with out Working with Expressions

44. Rewrite the following sentences after the models, using • the expression “look forward to”. Model 1: Yao has said that he hopes to play with the best in the world. Key: Yao has said that he is looking forward to playing with the best in the world. Model 2: He hopes he can visit her in Beijing. Key:He is looking forward to visiting her in Beijing. Focusing on Sentence Structure

45. 1. He says he really wants to have a new bicycle as his birthday present. • 2. Mother is expecting good news from her son. • 3. She hopes she can help the poor in the West after graduation. He says he islooking forward to a new bicycle as his birthday present. Motheris looking forward to good news from her son. She islooking forward to helping the poor in the West after graduation. Focusing on Sentence Structure

46. B. Combine the following pairs of sentences after the model, using the expression “even though”. Model 1: I have a busy schedule. Yet I still want my fans to feel that they can still reach out to me when they want to during the season and the off-season. Key: Even though I have a busy schedule, I want my fans to feel that they can still reach out to me when they want to during the season and the off-season. Focusing on Sentence Structure

47. You have won the first place. • There is still much to learn. • 2. The man has become rich. • He is still leading a very simple life. • 3. Peter knew it was dangerous. • Yet he still went on with the experiment. Even though you have won the first place, there is still much to learn. Even though the man has become rich, he is still leading a very simple life. Peter went on with the experiment even though he knew it was dangerous. Focusing on Sentence Structure

48. A. Translate the following into English. 2. 球迷们都围着他要签名。 (surround) The football fans surrounded him and asked for his signature. 1. 人们期望看到有更多的优秀球员到国外去打篮球。(look forward to) People look forward to seeing more excellent players play basketball abroad. Translating

49. 她没有足够的力气来推开这扇门。 (strength) • She doesn’t have enough strength to push this door open. • 你应该意识到担心是无济于事的，你该做点什么才行。 (aware) • You should be aware that it is no use worrying; you need to do something about it. Translating

50. B. Translate the following into Chinese. 1. There are times when all Yao Ming wants to do on his time off is sleep. 往往一有空，姚明想做的就是睡觉。 2. Sport is a universal language and Yao has often been the translator, bringing two very different countries together, and developing the close ties between two peoples. 体育是一种全球性的语言，而姚明常常就是个翻译，他把两个很不相同的国家联系在一起，加深两国人民的友好往来。 Translating