Unit Eight A Magician at Stretching a Dollar I.Teaching Aims 1.Enlarge the students'vocabulary by leamning the new words and doing the vocabulary exercises. 2.Help the studentsto get the general ideas ofthe article. 3.Help the students know the great love of our parents 4.Help the students to build up their language skills through more exercises on oral practice,phrases and expression,grammar,writing,etc. II.Key and Difficult Points: 1.New Words stretch,approach,somehow,astonish,reveal,slap,acquire,count,snap,breed 2.Phrases in search of.something like.scrape together,rob of,come upon,think over,on cue do well by,hold back 3.Sentences 1.Standing against the wall was a big,black bicycle with balloon tires. 2.I had robbed her of the pleasure of seeing me astonished and delighted on Christmas day. 3....still coming upon it like this made me feel as though I'd struck a blow against her happiness 4.Maybe it would be better to say nothing but appear to be shocked into such deep pleasure that speech had escaped me. 5.he three of us-Doris,my mother,and I-were people bred to hold back emotional expressions of love,but I did something that startled both my mother and me. III.Teaching Methods Discussion,explanation,ask and answer IV.Time:3 periods
Unit Eight A Magician at Stretching a Dollar I. Teaching Aims 1. Enlarge the students’ vocabulary by learning the new words and doing the vocabulary exercises. 2. Help the students to get the general ideas of the article. 3. Help the students know the great love of our parents. 4. Help the students to build up their language skills through more exercises on oral practice, phrases and expression, grammar, writing, etc. II. Key and Difficult Points: 1. New Words stretch, approach, somehow, astonish, reveal, slap, acquire, count, snap, breed 2. Phrases in search of, something like, scrape together, rob of, come upon, think over, on cue, do well by, hold back 3. Sentences 1. Standing against the wall was a big, black bicycle with balloon tires. 2. I had robbed her of the pleasure of seeing me astonished and delighted on Christmas day. 3. …still coming upon it like this made me feel as though I’d struck a blow against her happiness. 4. Maybe it would be better to say nothing but appear to be shocked into such deep pleasure that speech had escaped me. 5. he three of us —Doris, my mother, and I —were people bred to hold back emotional expressions of love, but I did something that startled both my mother and me. III. Teaching Methods Discussion, explanation, ask and answer IV. Time: 3 periods
V.Teaching procedures: Stepl.Introduction 1.Warm-up questions: (1)Doyou celebrate Christmas at home?Why or why not? (2)Have you ever received any presents from your parents at Christmas?If yes,what are they? (3)How doyou spend Christmas at school? (4)Doyou know anything about"white lie"? 2.Background Information (1)Baker,Russell (1925-): He is one of America's notable humorists and political satirists.He first worked as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun from 1947-1954,then joined the New York Times in 1954.In 1962 he began writing his"Observer"column for the New York Times and continued to write that column for 36 years.Baker won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1979,and another in 1983,for the first volume of his autobiography, Growing Up.In addition,he has published more than a dozen other books,including fictions and children's books. (2)Rooney,Mickey(1920-): He is an American actor,singer and dancer.Rooney made his film debut at age six and,from 1927to 1933.starred in over 50 episodes of the comedy series,Mickey McGuire.His roles in The Human Comedy (1943)and National Velvet (1944) confirmed his status as the nation's most popular film star.Rooney established himself as a solid character actor in the postwar period.He has received an Emmy,a Tony and 2 Oscars,appeared in over200 feature film. 3.Introductory Remarks Have you ever told lies in order not to disappoint people you love?In this essay, you are going to read about how a little boy who,having come upon his mother's surprise Christmas gift-a second-hand bicycle,tried hard to contain his pleasure until after Christmas,so that his poor but hardworking mother coul enjoy a moment's laughter seeing the pleasant surprise on her son's face on that big day
Ⅴ. Teaching procedures: Step1. Introduction 1. Warm-up questions: (1) Do you celebrate Christmas at home? Why or why not? (2) Have you ever received any presents from your parents at Christmas? If yes, what are they? (3) How do you spend Christmas at school? (4) Do you know anything about “white lie”? 2. Background Information (1) Baker, Russell (1925- ): He is one of America’s notable humorists and political satirists. He first worked as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun from 1947-1954, then joined the New York Times in 1954. In 1962 he began writing his “Observer” column for the New York Times and continued to write that column for 36 years. Baker won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1979, and another in 1983, for the first volume of his autobiography, Growing Up. In addition, he has published more than a dozen other books, including fictions and children’s books. (2) Rooney, Mickey (1920- ): He is an American actor, singer and dancer. Rooney made his film debut at age six and, from 1927 to 1933, starred in over 50 episodes of the comedy series, Mickey McGuire. His roles in The Human Comedy (1943) and National Velvet (1944) confirmed his status as the nation’s most popular film star. Rooney established himself as a solid character actor in the postwar period. He has received an Emmy, a Tony and 2 Oscars, appeared in over 200 feature film. 3. Introductory Remarks Have you ever told lies in order not to disappoint people you love? In this essay, you are going to read about how a little boy who, having come upon his mother’s surprise Christmas gift—a second-hand bicycle, tried hard to contain his pleasure until after Christmas, so that his poor but hardworking mother could enjoy a moment’s laughter seeing the pleasant surprise on her son’s face on that big day
However,as it turned out,there was no need for him to pretend at all when Christmas arrived.Feeling of love flowed naturally between mother and son. Step2.Global Reading 1.True or False Questions about the text (1)Doris is a family member. (2)Bicycles at $15 were cheap (3)I was determined not tolet Mother know that I knew her secret (4)I was a movie fan (5)I decided on my best reaction on Christmas upon receiving the gift. (6)Mother put the bicycle under the Christmas tree (7)Mother noticed my disappointment (8)Mother had given the bicycle to someone else. (9)I didn't have to pretend anything upon receiving the bicycle. (10)Mother didn't appreciate my warm response 2.Structure of the text Part I.(para.1-2)I happened to find my Christmas present in my mother's bedroom and was deeply moved. Part II.(para.3-4)Inorder not to make mother know the fact,I tried to compose and test exclamations of delight. Part III.(para.5-10)Mother brought the special present to me and I found feelings of love flowed naturally between us. Step 3 Detailed Study 1.A Magician at Stretching a Dollar stretch:v. a.make or become wideror longer拉长，拽宽 e.g.Youare stretching my patience to the limit
However, as it turned out, there was no need for him to pretend at all when Christmas arrived. Feeling of love flowed naturally between mother and son. Step2. Global Reading 1. True or False Questions about the text (1) Doris is a family member. (2) Bicycles at $15 were cheap. (3) I was determined not to let Mother know that I knew her secret. (4) I was a movie fan. (5) I decided on my best reaction on Christmas upon receiving the gift. (6) Mother put the bicycle under the Christmas tree. (7) Mother noticed my disappointment. (8) Mother had given the bicycle to someone else. (9) I didn’t have to pretend anything upon receiving the bicycle. (10) Mother didn’t appreciate my warm response. 2. Structure of the text Part I. (para.1-2) I happened to find my Christmas present in my mother’s bedroom and was deeply moved. Part II. (para.3-4) In order not to make mother know the fact, I tried to compose and test exclamations of delight. Part III. (para.5-10) Mother brought the special present to me and I found feelings of love flowed naturally between us. Step 3 Detailed Study 1. A Magician at Stretching a Dollar stretch: v. a. make or become wider or longer 拉长，拽宽 e.g. You are stretching my patience to the limit
b.extend延伸，伸长 e.g.The enemy camps stretched for ten miles. CF:extend,lengthen&stretch 这几个词都是动词，都有“伸展”、“延伸”之意 extend 表示时空的延长，一般指延伸到某一预想的位置。还可表示某一范围，如种类、 影响、适用度等的增加。 e.g.Can you extend your visit a few days longer? lengthen 表示时空长度的增加、伸长。 e.g.Ask the tailor to lengthen this skirt stretch 表示在长宽上增加，意思是“延伸”、“伸长”。 e.g.I stretched out my arm to try and reach the ball. 2.That December,with Christmas approaching,she was out at work and Doris was in the kitchen when I let myself into her bedroom one afternoon in search of a safety pin. (1)approach a.come near(er)(to)v.接近，靠近 e.g.The New Year is quickly approaching b.(to a place)path:road n.通路，路径 e.g.The path serves as an approach to the boat house. c.(to a task,problem or situation)means of attaining a goal or purpose n. 式，方法 e.g.We will be exploring different approaches to gathering information. (2)in search of:look for,.seek寻找 e.g.Immigrants came to the US in search of the American Dream. (③)“with Christmas approaching"即“with+n..+v.ing”独立主格结构，充当状语 3.Standing against the wall was a big,black bicycle with balloon tires
b. extend 延伸，伸长 e.g. The enemy camps stretched for ten miles. CF: extend, lengthen & stretch 这几个词都是动词，都有“伸展”、“延伸”之意。 extend 表示时空的延长，一般指延伸到某一预想的位置。还可表示某一范围，如种类、 影响、适用度等的增加。 e.g. Can you extend your visit a few days longer? lengthen 表示时空长度的增加、伸长。 e.g. Ask the tailor to lengthen this skirt. stretch 表示在长宽上增加，意思是“延伸”、“伸长”。 e.g. I stretched out my arm to try and reach the ball. 2. That December, with Christmas approaching, she was out at work and Doris was in the kitchen when I let myself into her bedroom one afternoon in search of a safety pin. (1) approach a. come near(er) (to) v. 接近，靠近 e.g. The New Year is quickly approaching. b. (to a place) path; road n. 通路，路径 e.g. The path serves as an approach to the boat house. c. (to a task, problem or situation) means of attaining a goal or purpose n. 方 式，方法 e.g. We will be exploring different approaches to gathering information. (2) in search of : look for; seek 寻找 e.g. Immigrants came to the US in search of the American Dream. (3) “with Christmas approaching”即 “with+n.+v.ing” 独立主格结构，充当状语 3. Standing against the wall was a big, black bicycle with balloon tires
Notice:此句为倒装句，表语提前，全部倒装.主语部分为"abig,black bicycle with balloon tires'”. 4.Something like $15.Somehow my mother had scraped together enough for a down payment and meant to surprise me with the bicycle on Christmas momning. a)something like:about;approximately大约，大概 e.g.One US dollar currently buys something like 6 RMB. b)somehow::in some way;by one means or another以某种方式 e.g.He expected somehow to discover a woman who would love him c)scrape together.manage to gather money,etc.despite difficulties e.g.She had scraped together enough money for college 5.I had robbed her of the pleasure of seeing me astonished and delighted on Christmas day. (L)rob.…of:deprive..of,take away(sth.)from sb.剥夺，抢劫 e.g.Disease has robbed her ofher memory. (2)astonish:v.surprise greatly使大为惊讶 e.g.I'm astonished at the election result. 6....still coming upon it like this made me feel as though I'd struck a blow against her happiness. ()come upon::find or meet by chance偶然发现或遇见 e.g.I came upon the novel yet again in another bookstore and felt compelled to buy (2)Grammar:asif/though引导方式状语从句，表示“似乎.，好像.”，从句谓 语动词常用虚拟语气。 e.g.You look as if you were ill. When she came in form the storm,she looked as if she had a shower with her clothes on. 7.I backed out,put the key back in its hiding place,and thought over what to do. think over.consider further(before reaching a decision,etc.方reflect upon认真考虑 e.g.I've thought it over,and I've come to a decision 8.I must do nothing.absolutely nothing,to reveal the slightest hint of my terrible
Notice: 此句为倒装句，表语提前，全部倒装. 主语部分为 “a big, black bicycle with balloon tires”. 4. Something like $15. Somehow my mother had scraped together enough for a down payment and meant to surprise me with the bicycle on Christmas morning. a) something like: about; approximately 大约，大概 e.g. One US dollar currently buys something like 6 RMB. b) somehow: in some way; by one means or another 以某种方式 e.g. He expected somehow to discover a woman who would love him. c) scrape together: manage to gather money, etc. despite difficulties 积攒 e.g. She had scraped together enough money for college. 5. I had robbed her of the pleasure of seeing me astonished and delighted on Christmas day. (1) rob…of: deprive…of; take away (sth.)from sb. 剥夺，抢劫 e.g. Disease has robbed her of her memory. (2) astonish: v. surprise greatly 使大为惊讶 e.g. I’m astonished at the election result. 6. …still coming upon it like this made me feel as though I’d struck a blow against her happiness. (1) come upon: find or meet by chance 偶然发现或遇见 e.g. I came upon the novel yet again in another bookstore and felt compelled to buy it. (2) Grammar: as if/ though 引导方式状语从句，表示“似乎…，好像…”，从句谓 语动词常用虚拟语气。 e.g. You look as if you were ill. When she came in form the storm, she looked as if she had a shower with her clothes on. 7. I backed out, put the key back in its hiding place, and thought over what to do. think over: consider further ( before reaching a decision, etc.); reflect upon 认真考虑 e.g. I’ve thought it over, and I’ve come to a decision. 8. I must do nothing, absolutely nothing, to reveal the slightest hint of my terrible
knowledge. reveal:V.make known;allow or cause to be seen;.display泄露，使显露 e.g.The director revealed his new movie plot to the press 9.Maybe it would be better to say nothing but appear to be shocked into such deep pleasure that speech had escaped me. (1)..speech had escaped me.:I was unable to speak. (2)such(a/an)Ha.+n..that clause如此.以至于 so+a.+(a/an)+n...that clause 10.I doubted I could cry on cue,so I began thinking about other expressions of speechless amazement. on cue:at exactly the right or expected moment恰好在这时候 e.g.The boy appeared on cue. 11....handsslapped firmly against both cheeks to keep the jaw from falling off. slap v.strike with the palm ofthe hand;smack(用手掌)打，拍 e.g.She slapped him across the left side of his face,breaking his eyeglasses. n.quick blow with the palm of the hand or with sth.flat(用手掌)打，拍 e.g.The coach gave him a slap on the back for coming in first 在表达用手掌拍打某人某个身体部位时，要用介词o。 slap sb.on the face/on the cheek /on the back 12.These and more I practiced for several days without acquiring confidence in any ofthem. acquire:gain by skill or ability,by one's own efforts or behavior习得，获得 e.g.Developing countries have toacquire advanced technology from abroad. CF:get,gain,obtain&acquire 这几个词都是动词，都有“得到”、“获得”之意： get 是最普通的用语，可指通过任何方式的获得，多用于口语中。 I'll get you aticket. gain
knowledge. reveal: v. make known; allow or cause to be seen; display 泄露，使显露 e.g. The director revealed his new movie plot to the press. 9. Maybe it would be better to say nothing but appear to be shocked into such deep pleasure that speech had escaped me. (1) …speech had escaped me.: I was unable to speak. (2) such (a/an)+a.+n.…that clause 如此…以至于 so+a.+(a/an) +n…that clause 10. I doubted I could cry on cue, so I began thinking about other expressions of speechless amazement. on cue: at exactly the right or expected moment 恰好在这时候 e.g. The boy appeared on cue. 11. …hands slapped firmly against both cheeks to keep the jaw from falling off; slap v. strike with the palm of the hand; smack （用手掌）打，拍 e.g. She slapped him across the left side of his face, breaking his eyeglasses. n. quick blow with the palm of the hand or with sth. flat （用手掌）打，拍 e.g. The coach gave him a slap on the back for coming in first. 在表达用手掌拍打某人某个身体部位时，要用介词 on。 slap sb. on the face / on the cheek / on the back 12. These and more I practiced for several days without acquiring confidence in any of them. acquire: gain by skill or ability, by one’s own efforts or behavior 习得，获得 e.g. Developing countries have to acquire advanced technology from abroad. CF: get, gain, obtain & acquire 这几个词都是动词，都有“得到”、“获得”之意。 get 是最普通的用语，可指通过任何方式的获得，多用于口语中。 I’ll get you a ticket. gain
多指在竞争中获得，所得的东西往往是有用的或是所期待的。 I hope you will gain the victory this time. obtain 是书面语，指靠他人或自己努力而得到，强调结果或目的 By this method,we obtained a good result. acquire 指通过自己的努力或行为而获得某种东西。这种东西一经获得，即变为永久的所 有物。 We should try to acquire good habits. 13.I must have looked disappointed. Notice::此句是对过去肯定的推测，否定推测为can't have done 14."It looks like Santa Claus didn't dotoo well by you this year,Buddy," (I)do well by:treat(sb)wel对（某人）好 (2)Meaning:It seems that Santa Claus has not been very generous to you this year 15."It's the thought that counts,".. a)count:v.be important or valuable,matter e.g.First impression really count. b)Meaning:What's important is that you cared enough to buy me a present,not the present itself..(贵在心意。) 16.snap:v.break with a sharp crack;open or close with a sudden sharp sound:say or speak sharply(使咔嚓)断裂，（使啪地）打开，关上，厉声说 e.g.The lock snapped shut. The boat crashed into the pier twice before the rope snapped. 17.The three of us -Doris,my mother,and I-were people bred to hold back emotional expressions of love,but I did something that startled both my mothe and me. a)breed:train;educate,bring up培有，使养成 e.g.A television announcer with a well-bred voice was reading the news. b)hold back
多指在竞争中获得，所得的东西往往是有用的或是所期待的。 I hope you will gain the victory this time. obtain 是书面语，指靠他人或自己努力而得到，强调结果或目的 By this method, we obtained a good result. acquire 指通过自己的努力或行为而获得某种东西。这种东西一经获得，即变为永久的所 有物。 We should try to acquire good habits. 13. I must have looked disappointed. Notice: 此句是对过去肯定的推测，否定推测为 can’t have done. 14. “It looks like Santa Claus didn’t do too well by you this year, Buddy,” … (1) do well by: treat (sb) well 对（某人）好 (2)Meaning: It seems that Santa Claus has not been very generous to you this year… 15. “It’s the thought that counts,”… a) count: v. be important or valuable, matter 重要 e.g. First impression really count. b) Meaning: What’s important is that you cared enough to buy me a present, not the present itself. …（贵在心意。） 16. snap: v. break with a sharp crack; open or close with a sudden sharp sound; say or speak sharply （使咔嚓）断裂，（使啪地）打开，关上，厉声说 e.g. The lock snapped shut. The boat crashed into the pier twice before the rope snapped. 17. The three of us —Doris, my mother, and I —were people bred to hold back emotional expressions of love, but I did something that startled both my mother and me. a) breed: train; educate; bring up 培育，使养成 e.g. A television announcer with a well-bred voice was reading the news. b) hold back
a.keep secret or to oneself隐瞒 e.g It is really hard to hold back the tears b.hinder the progress of妨碍进展 e.g.Intemet-illiterate parents hold back kids. c.control or restrain抑制，控制 e.g.She managed to hold back her anger. (3)“bred to hold back emotional expressions of love”过去分词短语做后置定 语，相当于“who are bred to hold back emotional expressions oflove,” 18....don't carry on about it. Meaning:Don't make a fuss over it. 19.Still,I knew that she was as happy as I was to see her so happy. a)Grammar:“she was as happy as I was to see her so happy..”此句是由as.…as 引导的比较状语从句，意为“和.一样.”。as.…s中间用原级。第一个 s是副词，后接形容词或副词；第二个是连词，后接句子。 b)Meaning:不过，我还是知道她很高兴，就像我看到她那么高兴我也高 兴一样。 Step 4 Summary 1.Important words and phrases 2.Main idea of the text The text mainly tells us a story about love between mother and son.In order to make her son delighted on Christmas Day,the mother scrapes together enough money to buy a second-hand bike and manages to make her son surprised at the present.On the other hand,the author loves his mother,too.He sees the present by chance before Christmas day.It will rob the mother of the pleasure of seeing him astonished and delighted on Christmas day.In order not to make mother know the fact,he tries many ways to cover the fact.Of course,as it tumed out,there was no need for him to pretend at all when Christmas arrived.Feeling of love flowed naturally between mother and son. Step5 Homework 1.Master the expressions and important sentences in the text
a. keep secret or to oneself 隐瞒 e.g. It is really hard to hold back the tears. b. hinder the progress of 妨碍进展 e.g. Internet-illiterate parents hold back kids. c. control or restrain 抑制，控制 e.g. She managed to hold back her anger. (3) “bred to hold back emotional expressions of love” 过去分词短语做后置定 语，相当于 “who are bred to hold back emotional expressions of love.” 18. …don’t carry on about it. Meaning: Don’t make a fuss over it. 19. Still, I knew that she was as happy as I was to see her so happy. a) Grammar: “she was as happy as I was to see her so happy.” 此句是由 as…as 引导的比较状语从句，意为“和…一样…”。as…as 中间用原级。第一个 as 是副词，后接形容词或副词；第二个是连词，后接句子。 b) Meaning: 不过，我还是知道她很高兴， 就像我看到她那么高兴我也高 兴一样。 Step 4 Summary 1. Important words and phrases 2. Main idea of the text The text mainly tells us a story about love between mother and son. In order to make her son delighted on Christmas Day, the mother scrapes together enough money to buy a second-hand bike and manages to make her son surprised at the present. On the other hand, the author loves his mother, too. He sees the present by chance before Christmas day. It will rob the mother of the pleasure of seeing him astonished and delighted on Christmas day. In order not to make mother know the fact, he tries many ways to cover the fact. Of course, as it turned out, there was no need for him to pretend at all when Christmas arrived. Feeling of love flowed naturally between mother and son. Step5 Homework 1. Master the expressions and important sentences in the text
2.Review the text and finish the exercises on P188-197. 3.Learn the text in"Reading Activity"by yourself. 4.Write a paragraph of 120 words or so about love between you and your parents VI.References 1.College English Intensive Reading I,Zhai Xiangjun(ed.),Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2006 2.College English Intensive Reading I,(Teacher's Book),Zhang Zengjian(ed.), Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2006. 3.Oxford Advanced Learner's English-Chinese Dictionary (6th edition),Oxford university press The Commercial Press,2004. 4.马静主编大学英语语法重点、疑点、考点点津（第二版），上海：华东理工 大学出版社，2005
2. Review the text and finish the exercises on P188-197. 3. Learn the text in “Reading Activity” by yourself. 4. Write a paragraph of 120 words or so about love between you and your parents. VI. References 1. College English Intensive Reading I, Zhai Xiangjun(ed.), Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2006. 2. College English Intensive Reading I, (Teacher’s Book), Zhang Zengjian(ed.), Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2006. 3. Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary（6 th edition）, Oxford university press﹠The Commercial Press, 2004. 4. 马静 主编 大学英语语法重点、疑点、考点点津（第二版）.上海：华东理工 大学出版社，2005