Unit 16

Objectives In this unit students are required to: master the Main language structures practice listening comprehension learn dialogues do some preparation activities such as discussion, group work, pair work to practice their spoken skill and communicative skills grasp some new words and try to use these words which help them to enrich their vocabulary read the in-class reading passages in a limited time and grasp some expressions and grammatical points in the in-class reading passages to improve their reading comprehension do some post-reading exercises in the Workbook to practice what they have got to know in class to practice their spoken skill and communicative skills.

Teaching Tasks and Process Language Structures Dialogue I 1. Warm-up Questions 2. Main Idea 3. Language Points Reading I 1. Warm-up Questions 2. Main Idea 3. Language Points Reading II 1. Warm-up questions 2. Main Idea Exercises / Discussion Assignments

Language Structures The –ed participle used as the object complement in the have something done pattern The infinitive that takes a logical object, which is the subject of the sentence The –ing participle used as the object of the preposition The –ing participle used as the postponed object in the introductory it construction The –ing participle used as the object complement

Dialogue I Going Metric

Warm-up Questions What does the word “metrication” mean? How do the traditional British weighs and measures differ from the traditional Chinese ones? Do you think our way of life will change at all if we go completely metric? Give your reasons.

Main Idea In the conversation, A an English student is discussing the metrication of weights and measures with B, his Chinese friend. They contrast the Chinese and the British weights and measures and reach to a conclusion that it is necessary for China to go metric as soon as possible.

Language Points They baffle me. baffle: puzzle, confuse, bewilder e.g. The Crosswords baffled him completely and he could get only one out of 20. The police thought that there was someone baffling their attempts to find the murderer.

The problem arises because of the parallel use of both the traditional and the newer metric system in many places. parallel: adj. separated by an equal distance at every point; similar e.g. The two railways are parallel here but they meet somewhere 30 miles out of town. These two cases are surprising parallel to / with each other.

For length measurements,… measurement: n. the act or process of measuring; an amount, extent, or size determined by measuring; a system of measures based on a particular standard e.g. The metric system of measurement has brought much convenience to our life. The measurements of this pool are 4 meters by 3 meters.

I hope your reform will keep pace with ours. keep pace with: to change at the same speed or to be carried out at the same speed e.g. The granny was too weak to keep pace with her little grandson. It is a teacher’s responsibility to try to learn more to keep pace with the times.

Reading I Going Metric – Progress Report

Warm-up Questions What is meant by “going metric”? How is the measurement of clothes marked these days? What is the metric unit of mass? What is the metric unit of capacity? What is the metric unit of length? What do you know about the weights and measures formerly used in the U.K. or in the U.S.A.?

Main Idea This article is a report about the metric reform in Britain in 1970’s. It reports some on-going changes that took place in the progress of the metric reform and introduces three short rhymes to the British people for their convenience to remember the new metric system.

Language Points You’ve probably noticed how more and more things in the shops these days have changed over to metric. change over: make a shift in or exchange of; change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy e.g. She decided to study medicine, then became a law teacher, and finally changed over to stage.

For instance, you may have bought some fabrics in metric yourself. fabric: n. any cloth made from yarn or fibres by weaving, knitting, felting, etc; the texture of a cloth; a structure or framework e.g. Our company mainly does business in fabrics exportation, especially that of wool, silk and cotton. The social fabric of a community affects not only the livability of the city but also the city’s potential to foster economic growth.

Reading II How Far Have You Got?

Warm-up Questions What is happening to weights and measures in Britain? Why might life become rather difficult for those who don’t or won’t accept metrication? Is metrication easy to remember if you are ready to use it? Are people forced to go metric? What will happen if you still use non-metric measures as time goes on? Why will you feel uncomfortable and lonely? Is metrication compulsory? Is there any point in starting metrication if no one joins in?

Main Idea This article calls for the British people’s cooperation for the new metric system. It predicts in detail what will happen if an Englishman does not go metric. The writer uses rhetorical devices like humor and hyperbole and thus achieves vividness and impressiveness.

Exercises / Discussion Do some post-reading exercises in groups.

Assignments Do the guided writing and translation in Workbook.