Contemporary College English (BOOK I) Comprehensive Reading

1. Contemporary College English(BOOK I)Comprehensive Reading Lesson 8 My Personal Manager Fang Xiaojing

2. ·Teaching Plan of This Lesson1.Object:1)The Ss’ mastery of the author’s background information and the feature of his works;2)The Ss’ mastery of the writing skill.3)The Ss’ understanding of the importance of setting confidence.2.Importance:1)The passage’s structure and writing order.2)The change of the character’s personality.3.Difficulty:1) To have a deep realization of true friendship.2) The students mastery of the writing style.

3. 4.Teaching method:1)Reading-explaining;2)Ss’ group work in discussion . 5.Teaching aid:Multi-media and concerned reference materials.·Concerned background information1.The author:Margaret Goff Clark(玛格丽特·戈夫·克拉克). Margaret Goff Clark is a prolific author. She wrote storiesabout teenagers. Themes: mysteries, science fiction, human relationship and wild animals. Barney and UFO， Barney on Mars The book is a historical fiction about a family helpingslaves escape to Canada.

4. Themes one: mysteries Who Stole Kathy Young?It is about two girls who are cousins named Meg and Kathy. Meg and Kathy both live in Texas. The story is set in summer and Meg and Kathy always the tourists that come for vacation. They saw two tourists that seemed a bit weird to them but didn't really think anything of it until they began to follow them. Next Meg sees Kathy a little further down he road being shoved into a van. Meg automatically thinks it must be those two tourists that they had seen earlier. Police search parties are sent out searching for Kathy but they can't find her.

5. Themes two: science fiction • Barney and UFO • Barney on Mars

6. Theme three: human relationship • This book is a historical fiction about a family helping slaves escape to Canada.

7. Theme four: wild animals The Endangered Florida Panther There is a good mix of high-interest anecdotes about the panther and the people who study and safeguard it, and of facts and photos that present basic information about the species and its ecological role. Habits and habitat are briefly discussed; history focuses on the panther's endangered status and the efforts to protect it.

8. The Threatened Florida Black Bear In this companion book to The Endangered Florida Panther (1993) and The Vanishing Manatee (1990, both Cobblehill), Clark gives basic historical and scientific facts interspersed with eyewitness accounts of the wildlife biologists who study and protect the animals. It is these anecdotes that create a sense of excitement and convey the tragedy of habitat loss that puts various species at risk worldwide. Full-color photographs provide information and a feeling of immediacy and awe. Solidly on the side of wildlife conservation, Clark presents a balanced picture of the bear's relationship with the environment and with humans, discussing conflicts and compromise.

10. ·Discourse Analysis of the textPart I (Paras1-5) General introduction Carlos recommends that she wants to be my personal manager and the author tells us that the first time she and Carlos met and the great different on their height.Part II (Paras 6-11) Main bodyBeing selected as vice-president changed my mind and Carlos try to change my appearance and “I” promised to participate a performance.Part III (Paras 12-14) DistillationThe performance got great success so that “I” gainedconfidence and Carlos became my best friend. The point: Students read the passage and sum the outline

11. · Text Analysis1)  “You sound like a soap commercial, ” I said. (para.1) What does a commercial here refer to?2)  It’s funny you should say that.（para.1）How to understand the modal verb “should” in the sentence? 3) I may be short, but I can promote big things. (para.1)Paraphrase the sentence.4) The first time I saw Carlos I would never have believed he was going to change my life. (para. 2)Explain the use of subjective mood in the sentence.5) My ,you’re tall. (para.2)Explain the word “ my” here.6) I didn’t know why I considered Reed my friend. (Para.3)Explain the phrase “to consider sb.\sth. (to be) sth”.

12. 7)  Maybe just because he was a good two inches taller than I. (para.3) Explain the word “good”.8)That would be the last straw. (Para.3) How to understand the sentence.9)  I came back to earth to see the cocky newcomer standing I front of Mr. McCarthy’s desk.(para. 4)What does “came back to earth” mean?10)Carlos grinned. “ But I need a couple of dictionaries.”  (para.4)Why did Carlos says “I need a couple of dictionaries.”? What kind of person he was?11) “How come?” I kept asking myself. (Para.6)What fraction is omitted in the sentence?

13. 12) So on that perfect October morning, I stopped Carlos and said, point blank, “It doesn’t seem to bother you– being short, I mean.” (Para.7) Did he admit that being short also bothered him very much? How did he deal with this problem? 13) I felt myself turning red. (Para.8) Explain the sentence structure. 14) Four months went by--- four months of being almost a puppet with Carlos pulling the strings. (Para.9) The adverbial of manner is used in the sentence. 15)The night of the play I felt lowest of all. (Para.12) Why did “I” feel lowest ?

14. 16) From then on I let loose and acted for all I was worth.(Para.13) Explain the sentence. 17) Here it was at last --- my chance. But somehow, now that I had the chance, I knew there was something more important than going out with Reed. Why does the author say this? 18) Mobs of my friend crowded around, but I was looking for one person who would tower above the others.(Para.14) Phrase the sentence. What does “who ” here refer to? The point: The Ss are asked to do group work to find the answers for the questions and then show their answers to the class and to be tested.

15. · Theme of the story1. Nowadays, people find it’s difficult to make true friends due to various reasons, but some are against this view, they think that finding friends is an easier job that than before as there are some of modern medias to connect different people.2. What do you think is the true friendship?3. Does a good friend can change one’s life?4. How to find a good friend? Which one is more important in making friends, money or emotion?The point: These are open-ended brainstorming problems. The Ss can answer them in many different ways, however, they must have their own proofs no matter how strange/odd/absurd their answers are.

16. · Cultural notes: The last straw: It comes from the saying “It is last straw that breaks the camel’s back.” It refers to a trouble that follows other troubles, making one unable to bear one’s load. eg. The hotel was expensive, the room small, the food poor, and the bad weather was the last straw. Hay和straw都可以解释为草。但是，它们之间是有区别的。Hay是专门为做饲料而种 草，而straw就是一般的稻草。美国农民有时也用稻草喂牲口，但是总比不上饲料那 好。 大家都知道，骆驼是非常强壮的动物，一般来说，一只骆驼可以驮五百公斤重的 西。但是，要是你不断往它背上加东西的话，这只骆驼到了一定程度就会达到它所能 受的饱和点，那怕再多加一根稻草也会使它承受不了而垮台。这就是我们今天要给大 介绍的第一个俗语：the straw that breaks the camel's back。The straw that breaks the camel‘s back，意思就是：那根压断了骆驼背的稻草。现在，人们经常把它省略 the last straw.

17. · Writing skills (Style of writing)1. The story was written in the inverted order. It first showsthe most attractive scene that Carlos wants to be the author’s personal manager, which causes all readers are concerned about what may happened next. 2. The second part is the main body of the story, it describe the details of the plot of the two friends’ acquaintance, experiences and being good friends.3. The end of the story implies what is a true friend.4. The passage breaks the ordinary writing order and gives the readers an unusual narration.

18. Type of writing记叙的顺序一般可分为顺叙、倒叙、插叙、补叙。1.顺叙是写记叙文最常用、最基本的方法，一般是指按照事件发展的时间先后次序来叙述。采用这种方法，能使文章的层次同事件发展的过程基本一致，容易把事件记叙得有头有尾，脉络清晰。2.倒叙，是根据表达的需要，把事件的结局或某个最突出的片断提在前边叙述，然后再从事件的开头按原来的发展顺序进行叙述。倒叙能造成悬念，增强文章的吸引力，使文章引人入胜。3.插叙，是在叙述中心事件的过程中，为了帮助展开情节或刻画人物，暂时中断叙述的线索，插入一段与主要情节相关的内容，然后再接着叙述原来的内容。4.补叙，也叫追叙，是行文中用三两句话或一小段话对前边说的人或事作一些简单的补充交代。补叙通常是中心事件的有机组成部分，文章的关键之处。没有补叙，故事情节上就会出现漏洞，令人不解。

19. · Language points (words and expressions)1.Set phrases to come back to earth, point blank, brain wave, the lead part, no way, a laughing stock, to go through with sth., to let loose, tower above, tear into, go by, run into, a good two inches., dig up sth.,2.Grammatical points1) now that: once, if eg. Now that you are college students, you should work hard.2) how gerunds are used in the sentences.3) the use of modals in different language context. 3.word formation1) suffix: -ness, to change an adj. into a noun2) suffix: -ible ,-able, usually used to change a noun. into an adj.

20. 4.Paraphrase1). — “I may be short, but I can promote big things.” (para1)—Like me.[Meaning] When Carlos said big things, he meant important businesses. But Karen deliberately interpreted Carlos’ meaning as “things large in size”, which indicated that she lacked self-confidence.2). Which is how little Carlos Herrera took me and turnedme into… Well —(para1)[Meaning] That is how this little guy Carlos took me as his client and turn me into…well let me start from the very beginning.

21. 3). I had my arms full of books and I was tearing into the classroom when I ran into something solid . (para 2)[Meaning] With my arms full of books, I was entering the classroom in an excited and careless way, and at this time I hit myself on something solid.4). Carlos grinned. “But I need a couple of dictionaries.”(para4) [Meaning] Carlos said that because he was too short and he needed some thick dictionaries to sit on. He was making fun of his own height.5). Sure, it bothers me, being knee-high to a flea. (Para.7)[Meaning] Being knee-high to a flea: just a very small child, extremely short.

22. 6). When I realized I was going to have to spend my life in this undersized skin, I just decided to make the best of it and concentrate on being myself. (Para.7) [Meaning] When Irealized I would remain smaller than Average people, I had no other alternative but to face the Reality and devote myself to developing my ability and personality. 7). The night of the play I felt lowest of all. (Para.12) [Meaning] The night when the play was to be put on, I was extremely unhappy.

23. · Discussion & Ss Presentation1. How did Carlos change Karen’s life?2. Have you ever had similar problem? How did you handle those problem? Do you consider it important to help young people deal with personal problem? Discuss with your partners.3. Have you experienced lacking of confidence and how did you deal with it and what about the result?Directions:The Ss discuss in groups in 10 minutes, and then put forward the result of the discussion to the whole class to be tested.

24. Homework 1. Dramatize the story. 2. Write a story.

25. Exercise Ⅰ.Cloze One supermarket in Tokyo has managed to solve the problems of shoplifting, ___1by cashiers, and long lines of customers waiting at cash registers. It is Japan's advanced computer technology that has come ___2 with the answers. Shoppers at an OK supermarket on the outskirts of the city now push a cart ___3 a plastic card chained to it and buy from glass cases where the goods are on display. The plastic card has magnetic number imprinted on it. Each customer carries his or her own card, which is ___4 at the entrance. While shopping, the customer pushes the card into a slot beside ___5 items are wanted and pushes a button or two. The glass covered vending machines are connected to a computer that ___6 the price of every item in the store.

26. prices of every purchase are added up automatically. When she has finished shopping, the customer hands her card to a cashier who ___7 it to the register. A second later the total pops out. Shoplifting is physically impossible. Once you touch a commodity the computer remembers it ___8 you hide it or even if you eat it on the spot. A cashier at the OK supermarket is now able to work 15 times faster than her ___9 at a conventional supermarket. Only two cashiers, __10, are required at the store, which sells 2,500 separate items. One man is enough to keep the vending machines filled, because of the stock for a certain commodity is_11 to run out, a red lamp in the computer room__12 him.

27. But there are disadvantages too: a customer cannot change his or her mind ___13 a purchase. Once ___14, the item Cannot be put back. The customer must go through a cashier with it first and get a refund later. There are also no ___15 vegetables or fish on sale-everything is Prepackaged 1.A. mistakes B. made C. done D. proble 2. A. together B. up C. along D. on 3. A. with B. without C. carrying D. under 4. A. collected B. filled C. sent D. shown 5. A. those B. what C.the number D. whichever 6. A. shouts B. raises C. knows D. puts

28. 7. A. opens B. feeds C. reads D. connects 8. A. except B. in spite of C. no matter how D. the way 9. A. friend B. colleague C. company D. neighbour 10. A. for instance B. still C. later D. however 11. A. not yet B. about C. at least D. ready 12. A. warns B. sees C. watches D. protects 13. A. at B. making C. throughout D. about 14. A. brought B. handling C. moving D. touched 15. A. frozen B. stale C. fresh D. cooked 参考答案: 1. A 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. D 6. C 7. B 8. C 9. B 10. A 11. B 12. A 13. A 14. D 15. C

29. Ⅱ.Skimming (ADC) Text 1 This letter is written by a______. A. prospective salesperson  B. high school student   C. publisher   D. manager  28 Beach Road, Newtown. March 20th, 2000 The Manager, Royal Publishers, P.O.Box 446 Newtown. Dear Sir, I am 18 years old, and I graduated from Newtown High School last October. At high school my main subjects were English, business studies, history, athletics and science. I would be very interested in working as a salesman. I am very interested in books, and I have always been interested in the publishing business. I enjoy meetingand talking to people.I enclose two letters of reference,

30. a photograph, and my school academic record. I would be available for an interview at any time. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,  Jack Eastwood TEXT 2  2. The general idea of the passage is that______. A. doctors can produce magic B. medicine has magic power C. modern medicine can cure all illnesses D. a healthy mind is also a cure for illness   For more than five thousand years Chinese doctors have used needles to fight illness. This kind of medicine is called acupuncture. The doctor studies the sick person carefully. Then he puts needles into that person's body at the right places for his illness. Chinese

31. doctors believe that they can control the body's natural forces in this way. At first, doctors in the West thought that this was just another kind of magic. Recently, however, they have found out that it is possible to cure many illnesses like this because the needles help the body to produce its own "medicines". In this way the body cures itself. Nowadays doctors can do a lot of wonderful things. They can use thousands of medicines. They can give you pills and injections. They can even give you mechanical legs or a new heart. Sometimes modern medicine works like magic. But there are still a lot of illnesses that drugs and machines cannot cure completely. Medicine is not only a science; it is an art, too. And in the art of medicine, the mind is very important. You will not have a healthy Body unless you have a healthy mind.

32. TEXT 3 3. Who will best fit the vacancy described in the ad? A receptionist with secondary school education. B. A typist with three years of working experience. C. A young college graduate with a management degree. D. A middle aged clerk with some working knowledge of computers.  SITUATIONS VACANT  Administration trainee, We have a vacancy for a trainee in our head office.Main duties will be office work with some reception and telephone work. Training will be given in the use of a computer. The successful applicant will have college level education in business related subjects and will be able to work with a minimum of supervision. Typing skills essential. age range preferably 21-24. Good working conditions. Please apply in writing, stating age, qualifications, and other relevant information to: Administration Manager, STARTEX OIL. P.O.Box 355,Westport.