Unit Two Sailing Round the World

Teaching Objectives and Contents: Key words and phrases. Learn to use the –before/after + ving; make students learn Francis Chichester’s spirits by learning his experience of sailing around the world in spite of his illnesses.

Warm-up questions 1. What is your greatest dream? 2. Have you ever dreamed of sailing round the world? 3. If you could sail to any place in the world, where would you want to go? Why? 4. If you decided to sail round the world, what would you need to take with you on the boat? (Food, drinking water, light, sunglasses, rope, medicine, telescope, compass, clothes, comb)

Background knowledge 1.Knights and Knighthood Knights were the highest class of fighting men in Europe during the middle ages. There were other classes of fighting men, such as the lowly foot soldiers. But the knights, who fought on horseback, were the aristocrats of the battlefield. The great heroes of the time, both in story and in fact, were knights. By the year 1500 the time of the knights as fighting men was over. Hired foot soldiers replaced the mounted knights. But knighthood did not die out altogether. Today, in Great Britain, knighthood is an honorary award given to outstanding people in recognition of some remarkable work they have done. A man with the rank of knight is called “sir”, and his wife, “Lady”. A woman with the same rank is called “Dame”.

2.Knighthood ceremony The King or Queen takes the sword of the person being honored or borrows one from someone present at the ceremony.The person about to be knighted kneels on one knee and bows his head respectively in front of the King or Queen. The King or Queen touches with the sword first the left shoulder of the person bowing before him or her then the right shoulder and finally the top of the bowed head. While doing this the King or Queen says: “We dub thee Sir___”.

3.Clipper ships Clipper ships were fast sailing vessels used in the China tea trade in the 19th century. The great age of the clippers was from 1845 to 1860.Speed was demanded in the China tea trade and also for the fast delivery of cargoes to San Francisco and Melbourne during the California and Australian gold rushes, Clippers fell out of use as freight rates declined and steam ships provided competition.

4.Sir Francis Drake ( ) An English naval explorer, once the vice-admiral of the British Navy. After several slave trading expeditions to West Africa, he sailed round the globe in He managed to tie down the Spanish Armada( 西班牙无敌舰队 ) in To historians, he is a controversial figure. The British regard him as a national hero while many in other countries think of him as a pirate( 海盗 ).

Key Structures 1).Chichester set off once more in spite of his friends attempts to dissuade him. in spite of : despite 不顾；尽管 +noun/ving Tom went to school in spite of the heavy rain. I can’t help him in spite of loving him. To compare: despite, although despite 为介词，相当于 in spite of ，意为 “ 不管；尽管 ” ，比 in spite of 更正式。 despite 后一般不接 of ，而 in spite of 中的 of 绝对不能 省略。 试比较 Despite poor health, he was always cheerful. In spite of poor health, he was always cheerful. although 为连词，后接句子，相当于 in spite of + 名词（或动名词） 结构。 Although he made great achievements, he remained modest.

2). He had done what he wanted to accomplish. what 可引导各种名词性从句，例如：主语从句、宾语从句、表 语从句等。 What he said is not yet known. 他说了什么尚不清楚。（主语从句） I didn’t hear what he said. 我没听见他说了什么。（宾语从句） The question is what he said. 问题是他说了什么。（表语从句） Notes on What- clause a. what 可看作是本身兼先行词的关系代名词，相当于： the thing(s) that…, all that… b. what 是从句的引导词，放在从句的句首， 它引导的从句应用 正常语序。从句含中文的 “ 的 ” 字结构的含义。

Language Points 1).single-handed: done by oneself __She accomplished the task by her single-handed efforts. solo:adj. adv. 独唱，独奏 chorus 合唱 __play a piano solo a mixed chorus 2).previous adj. Previously adv. __I learnt much in the ~ school. 3).dissuade sb from doing sth persuade sb. to do sth. __They dissuaded her from leaving school, but failed. 4).all by oneself: alone __She was there all by herself.

5).by far: 比... 得多（用于比较级，最高级） __This is by far the better of the two. 6).turn over: __The lamp was turned over, and that was what started the fire 7). come back __The scenes of that party came back to him. 8) Wild horse could not drag "is a common metaphor used to mean that nothing no matter how strong, could make you do something. __Wild horses could not drag the secret from my lips.

9) succeed: succeed in doing sth. :do sth successfully; gain purpose of; reach an aim; do well __We succeeded in overcoming all the difficulties. 10). determined(adj.) with one’s mind firmly made up __He is determined that his child will not lead a poor life. determine (vi.) determination(n.) be determined to do… : have a strong will to do __Were you determined to lead a better life? 11). give up: stop working at or doing sth; stop having or doing; abandon hope for sth. or the attempt to do sth. __His pulse was so weak that the doctor gave him up for dead

12). carry out: do or perform sth.; perform, execute, put into practice; complete or fulfill (one’s promise, plan, etc.) __He didn’t carry out his promise to us. 13). To set off : (1) begin a journey; start __set off for a place (2)cause ( a person) to start some activity __My friend’s enthusiasm set me off collecting stamps. __If he is once set off laughing, he finds it difficult to stop. 14) couldn’t help (doing): can not control over; can not avoid __I can’t help myself. I don’t mean to be so rude.