新编大学基础英语综合教程4教案unit-5

Lesson 1 Hitting the Headlines

Learning Objectives:

1. Discussing newspaper headlines and matching to photos.

2. Matching stories to headlines.

3. Reading news stories for detail.

4. Listening to news reports for detail.

5. Revising & practising passive constructions.

6. Writing and presenting a news report..

Speaking

1. Work in pairs. Look at the sentences (1–5) and discuss these questions.

1) Where do you think they come from?

2) What do you notice about the language used?

(1) Where do you think they come from?

They are all headlines from newspaper stories.

2)What do you notice about the language used?

They use simplified language, e.g. Omitting articles and simplifying tenses. They also use assonance (avalanche agony) and alliteration (Seb the Sailor). Neat, catchy and established phrases (happy ending, perfect alibi) are used to attract the reader.

2. Match the sentences (1–5) to the pictures (a–e).

Reading: Lexical preparation

(1) accuse: v. (accuse sb. of sth.) : to say that sb. has done sth. wrong or is guilty of sth.

e.g. The government was accused of incompetence.

2) charge: v. (charge sb. with sth./ with doing sth.): to accuse sb formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in a court of law

e.g. He was charged with murder.

3) convict: v. [often passive] (convict sb. of sth.): to decide and state officially in a court of law that sb. is guilty of a crime

e.g. He was convicted of fraud.

4) allege: v. [often passive] (formal) to state sth. as a fact but without giving proof (It is alleged that…)

e.g. —It is alleged that he mistreated the prisoners.

—He is alleged to have mistreated the prisoners.

5) chance: [U] the way that some things happen without any cause that you can see or understand (by chance)

e.g. I met her by chance (=without planning to) at the airport.

6) impress: v. (formal) to have a great effect on sth., esp. sb’s mind, imagination, etc. (impress sth. / itself on sth.)

7) catch up with sb. :

①if the police or authorities catch up with sb., they find and punish them after some time

e.g. The law caught up with him years later when he had moved to Spain.

②to reach sb. who is ahead by going faster or reach the same level or standard as sb. who was better or more advanced

e.g. He had to work hard to catch up with the others after missing a term through illness.

8) be / get caught up in sth. : to become involved in sth., especially when you do not want to be

e.g. Innocent passers-by got caught up in the riot.

9) attempt: n. an act of trying to do sth., especially sth. difficult, often with no success

(in an attempt to do)

(make an attempt to do)

Reading

1. Match the first lines of each news story below (a–e) to the full stories (i–v). What do all the first lines have in common?

a) A Mafia hitman who was believed to have been responsible for ...

b) A British climber made an extraordinary journey ...

c) A Japanese man drove his car through a train station ...

d) A man has been jailed for three years ...

e) A 15-year-old boy from Cowes has become the youngest person ...

The first lines introduce the main character, often with a qualifying adjective —mafia, British, etc.

2. Read the news stories and answer these questions.

1) Why did Graham Burdon post the message?

Because he wanted to get in touch with some old school friends.

2) Why is Torre’s perfect alibi such an “original”one?

Because he confessed to having committed another murder on the same day.

3) How did Seb Clover feel when he arrived?

He felt very tired.

2. Read the news stories and answer these questions.

4) How did Saito try to attract the woman’s attention?

By driving dangerously up stairs and along a corridor in a train station.

5) Why was Trevor Jones lucky to have been found by the Romanian family?

Because the village is usually uninhabited in winter.

3. Discuss these questions with a partner.

1) Which stories are the most humorous?

Stories i, ii and iv.

2) Identify any humorous or ironic touches in these texts.

-- he was busy killing / he couldn't possibly have shot (ii);

-- in a bid to get noticed (iv).

4. Translate the following sentences into English.

(1) 他被判处死刑，其犯罪团伙因杀害20人已受到指控。(accuse)

He was sentenced to death. His gang had been accused of killing 20 people.

2)她曾两次被判诈骗罪。(convict of)

She has twice been convicted of fraud.

3)据说他是被迫签署那份文件的。(It’s alleged that ...)

It’s alleged that he had signed the document under pressure.

4) 他们攀登那座山的一切尝试都失败了。(in an attempt to do)

They failed in all their attempts to climb the mountain.

5) 他的话铭刻在我的记忆里。(impress)

His words impressed themselves on my memory.

2. Listen again and find three incorrect facts in each report.

3. Discuss these questions with a partner.

1) Why do you think people might be interested in news

2) Do stories like these appear in the news in your country?

Language Focus: Passive constructions

Practice

1. Complete the newspaper story using an appropriate passive form of the verbs in brackets. Compulsive criminal admits to 589 burglaries

A burglar who was jailed for seven years by a London court on Friday for two break-ins has admitted to nearly 600 more. 1) It was reported (report) that Martin Maloney, 22, had concentrated most of his efforts in the capital where 2) _________________ (say)to have carried out up to three burglaries a day. Maloney was sentenced for two separate burglaries, but 3) ______________(think) to have asked for a further 587 to be taken into consideration.

4)_________________________ (suggest) that Mr Maloney was hoping his confession would persuade the judge to give him a lighter sentence.

2. Translate the following sentences into English.

1) 他被公认为是一位专家。

He is known to be an expert.

2)相信汤姆能在两天内返回。

Tom is believed to come back within two days.

3) 据报道，这条河流已经污染了。

It is reported that the river has been polluted.

4) 据说他找到一份好工作。

It is said that he has got a good job.

5) 人们相信这里的生活会得到改善。

It is believed that life here will be improved.

Writing：A news report

1.Work in pairs. Choose one of the other two newspaper stories on pages 61–62 and write a radio report about it. Include two incorrect facts in your report. Remember to use passive constructions where appropriate.

2. Work with another pair. Read your radio reports to each other. As you listen, try to identify the two incorrect facts.

Lesson 2 News to Me

Learning Objectives:

1. Learning expressions for using the internet.

2. Listening to people talking about blogs.

3. Discussing opinions about journalism.

4. Revising ways of expressing preferences about the present, the future and the past.

5. Reading a website about blogging.

6. Discussing blogs.

7. Writing a blog posting.

Vocabulary: Using the Internet

1. Match the two parts of these expressions. You can make more than one combination with some of the verbs.

2. Work in pairs. How often do you do each of these things?

3. What other combinations can you think of with the verbs in Exercise 1.

install an anti-virus program,

download a song ...

-- download a file/a song; -- update a file/software;

-- install a new program;

-- e-mail your contacts …

Listening & Speaking

1. Work in pairs. Discuss these questions.

1) How important is it to keep up with the news? Why?

2) How do you find out about the news (TV, Internet, etc.)?

3) How has the way news is reported changed in recent years?

2. Listen to Kath and Phil talking about blogs and answer the questions.

According to Kath, how have blogs changed in recent years?

They have changed from being online diaries to being almost like small-scale private news agencies.

2) Who is more in favour of traditional journalism?

Phil.

3) What are Kath and Phil ’s jobs?

Kath is a doctor and Phil is a journalist.

3. Listen again and say if the following opinions are expressed by Kath (K) or Phil (P).

(1) It is better to read the views of people with first-hand experience of events. K

2) Journalists do not always present the truth in news stories. K

3) It ’s preferable to read a report by a professional journalist than one by an amateur. P

4) The true facts about an event should be freely available to everyone. K

5) The majority of people cannot write very well. P

6) Blogs might help journalists decide what to write about. K

4. Work in pairs. Do you agree with these statements? Why? / Why not?

(1) It is better to read the views of people with first-hand experience of events.

2) Journalists do not always present the truth in news stories.

3) It ’s preferable to read a report by a professional journalist than one by an amateur.

4) The true facts about an event should be freely available to everyone.

5) The majority of people cannot write very well.

6) Blogs might help journalists decide what to write about.

TAKEAW AY ENGLISH: Talking about preferences

1. Match the beginnings (1–5) and endings (a –e) of these extracts from Kath and Phil ’s conversation.

(a) a paper than waste time reading something of no interest to anyone (4)

b) mention this conversation to any of them (5)

c) read something written by a trained and experienced journalist (1)

d) if you could read eye-witness reports all the time? (2)

e) be treated by you or by someone with no training ...? (3)

2. Listen to three conversations in which people express preferences. What preferences do the people have in each case?

1) Woman would prefer to try Japanese food.

2) Woman would prefer to go to the cinema.

3) Woman would prefer it if man went out with her.

3. Listen again. Which of the highlighted expressions (1–5) in Exercise 1 do you hear? Number them in the order in which you hear them.

1) I ’d rather ...

4) I ’d sooner buy...

2) Wouldn ’t you prefer it ...

5) I ’ d rather you didn ’t

...

(3) Would [they] rather ...

4. Work in pairs. Invent similar conversations in which you each express your preferences for the following situations.

1) Going out for dinner this evening.

2) Having a day out next weekend.

3) Going on holiday next summer.

4) Decorating your classroom.

Reading & Speaking

1. Work in pairs. Answer the following questions.

1) Do you read, or have you ever read, any blogs? What do you like / dislike about them?

2) What determines how successful or popular a blog is? Make a list of factors.

2. Read the article and check if any of the factors you listed in question 2 are mentioned?

3. Read the article again and match the statements to the blogs.

Which blog ...

1) is more serious than it appears to be at first? (2)

2) often expresses more controversial opinions than other blogs in the same field? (3)

3) became very successful in spite of receiving a negative response initially? (1)

4) provides its founder with sufficient income to live on? (4)

5) does not agree with punishing people who download music or films for personal use?

(2)

6) changed the relationship between the media and the web? (1)

4. Work in pairs. Discuss these questions.

1) Why has each blog been so influential?

2) Which of the blogs, if any, would you most like to read? Why?

5. Translate the following sentences into English.

1) 该足球队已晋升为甲级队。(promote)

The football team was promoted to the first division.

2) 现代人对离婚和再婚看得很开。(have a liberal attitude)

Modern people have a liberal attitude to divorce and remarriage.

3) 下雨天我读侦探小说消遣。(amuse)

I amuse myself by reading detective stories on a rainy day.

4) 她的幽默感把他强烈地吸引住了。(appeal)

Her sense of humor appealed to him enormously.

5) 这座城市已经成为世界上最具影响力的城市之一。(influential)

This city has become one of the most influential cities in the world.

Writing: A blog posting

1. Work in pairs. Imagine you are going to start a blog and write a posting for it. Discuss these questions and make notes.

1) What is your blog about?

2) What is it called?

3) What kind of people is it aimed at?

4) How will you make the posting interesting or influential?

5) What information and opinions will you include?