Reading the passage and list what Ted did throughout the week by filling in the following table: Bought two model planes and two mysteries. Helped mother make a cake. Sunday Cleaned out his room. Set up a yard sale.Saturday Borrowed two books.Friday Finished a painting.Thursday Cleaned some old games and played them with friends. Wednesday Built a house with friends. Cleaned his room. Tuesday Went to bed early. Did nothing.Monday ActivitiesDays

Language points: 1. The Great TV Turn-off (Title) Meaning: A big project of turning off TV for one week. 2. be impressed by (Para. 3): be influenced by 3. what it’s like (Para. 4): this is used in questions to ask about the nature or characteristic of something or someone, meaning “how it feels”. 4. Plenty (Para. 8): quite, very much, to quite a large degree 5. This just seems cruel. (Para. 10): It’s too painful.

6. without being asked (Para. 12): without being told to do so 7. handle (Para. 17): vt. deal with; control 8. besides (Para. 17): prep. As well as; in addition to 9. I might just find something better to do. (Para. 21) Meaning: I would possibly do something more interesting than watching TV. Notice here “might” is used to express possibility.

Try to find out words or sentences which signals change in Ted’s attitude toward watching TV. a). I was not impressed. b). I’d rather find out how long I can take being at the dentist’s, as long as I can watch TV while I am here. c). I watched sadly… d). This just seems cruel. e). Got tired of staring at DO NOT WATCH TV sign. f). I must be going mad. g). I was in the habit of writing in my diary. h). Broke down… i). I don’t think I can handle this any longer! j). I don’t think I’ll turn on the TV today… k). I might just find something better to do.

We can see a) - d) that Ted was strongly against the idea of turning off TV for one week. e) - i) we can see that he is struggling between the idea of watching TV and that of doing something else. j) - k) we can see that he has come to realize that besides TV there is something better to do.

Finish reading the text, please answer the following questions:  How have you been influenced by this story?  Are you still going to watch a lot of TV programs?  Would you spend more time with your family or friends?  Would you read more books?