1. Maybe you should learn to relax!
Unit 2
Maybe you should learn to relax!
Zhongshan Middle School

2. After-class activities
play basketball play ping-pong go to the park
read story-books hang out chat with friends
do the reading in the library listen to the radio
have a walk do sports sleep watch CDs
listen to music go to the movies draw pictures
go swimming do some shopping take photos
go to the mountains talk with others
do the homework see animals do chores at home
play computer games watch TV play chess
learn English have dancing classes
ride bikes go to the beach listen to MP4

3. Talk about these activities
1.I often ….
I feel relaxed/ busy/ happy/ tired/ excited.
2. I don’t often ….
I feel ….
3. I want to … more. E.G. I want to do more sports. I want to be healthier.
4. I want to … less. E.G. I want to do less homework. I want to be more relaxed.

4. Are many American and British kids relaxed or under great pressure?
Prediction
Are many American and British kids relaxed or under great pressure?

5. Reading strategy: Look up these words in a dictionary football compare
complain
organized
pushy
pressure
freedom
Reading strategy:
You will learn to use new words better if you use a learner’s dictionary.
A bilingual dictionary sometimes gives the wrong meaning for the situation you want.
查字典是学习的好办法. 但是因为语境的原因,有时候给你的意思是错误的.因此,最好是用学习字典,帮助你理解单词在不同的语境下的意思.

6. pressure
football
complain
compare
pushy
freedom
organized
Dear Connie,
I am very busy all the week. I have to learn to play ________ every day. I do lots of homework from Monday to Saturday. I feel under ________. I ______ about that and I need _______. But my ______ parents don’t listen to me. What should I do?
Yours,
Wang Yang
football
pressure
complain
freedom.
pushy

7. 1.Where does Cathy Taylor’s take her sons and daughter to?
Skim reading: Answer two questions
1.Where does Cathy Taylor’s take
her sons and daughter to?
2. What does Dr. Alice Green say about the children under the pressure?
She takes her sons to from football
to basketball.
She says that they may find it hard to
think for themselves when they are older.

8. Read and answer more questions

9. 1.The Taylors don’t want their children to do anything after class.
Listen and write (T) for true or (F) for wrong.
1.The Taylors don’t want their children to do anything after class.
2. The Taylors’ Children often get home at 5:00 pm. F F
3. Many kids are under too much pressure.
4. Parents don’t think their own children should do a lot of things. T F
5. Linda Miller thinks it’s crazy to push kids so hard.
6. Dr Alice Green says that children only need organized activities. T F

10. True or False
7.Competition between families starts at a young age.
8.Parents shouldn’t learn to give their kids a bit more time.
9.Children should have time to relax.
10. Cathy has two children.
11.After school ,Cathy takes her two boys from basketball to football.
12.Many children are under too muchpressure.
13.children need time to relax.
14.parents should plan everything for their children. T F T F F T T F

11. 1. How is the life for Cathy Taylor’s three kids ?
2. How do the children feel?
3. Why do the parents push their children so hard?
4. Is it good for the kids , if the parents try to plan their kids’ lives for them? Why?
5. What should the parents do?
Life for them is very busy.
They are under too much pressure.
Because they are always comparing them with other children.
No, it isn’t. Because they may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older.
They should learn to give their kids a bit more time. （= a little more time)

12. Read these statements. Is the situation the same in China
Read these statements. Is the situation the same in China?Write down “s “ for the same and “d” for different.
( )American and British children do many after-school activities.
( ) Many children are under pressure.
( ) Parents these days push their children much harder than before.
( ) Competition between families starts at a young age.
( ) Children should have free time to relax.

13. not…until Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children
is very busy. Their school days are busy
enough. After school, though, Cathy takes
the two boys from football to basketball.
Then she has to take her daughter to piano
lessons. The tired children don’t get home
until 7 pm. They have a quick supper, and
it’s time for homework.
not…until

14. The Taylors are like many American
and British parents. They take their children
from activity to activity, and try to fit as
much as possible into their kids’ lives. Doctors
say many children are under too much
pressure. Teachers complain about teaching
tired kids in the classroom.
在繁重的压力下.
他们把孩子从一个活动送到另一个活动. 竭尽全力把孩子的生活填满.

15. Most children take part in after-school
clubs. Activities include sports, language
learning, music, and math classes. Pushy
parents are nothing new, but now parents
seem to push their children a lot more.
Parents see other children doing a lot of
things and they feel their own children
should do the same.
固执的家长们并不少见, 而现在家长们似乎把孩子们逼迫得更加厉害了.

16. Linda Miller, a mother of three in
London, knows all about such pressure.
“In some families, competition starts from
a very young age,” she says. “Mothers send
their kids to all kinds of classes when they are
very young. And they are always comparing
them with other children. It’s crazy.
People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.”
父母不应该把孩子们逼得这样厉害.

17. Dr Alice Green agrees. She also says
that these children may find it hard to think
for themselves when they are older. “Parents
are trying to plan their kids’ lives for them.
When these kids are adults, they might find
it difficult to plan things for themselves.”
这些孩子们就会发现当他们长大后要自己
思考问题是多么困难的事.
家长们总是尽力为他们的孩子们计划事情.
但是当孩子们成年后就回发现自己计划事情是多么困难.

18. Parents should learn to give their kids a bit
学会做某事
Parents should learn to give their kids a bit
more time to themselves. On the one hand,
children need organized activities. On the
other hand, they also need time and freedom
to relax, and they need time to do things by
themselves.
一方面…另一方面…
通过某人自己

19. Answer the following questions after reading the text.
1.What do you think of the life of Cathy Taylor’s three children’s?
Their life is very busy.
Descript their life using the words given.
busy enough, from football to basketball, piano lessons, don’t get home, until, have a quick supper, homework.
Their school days are busy enough.
After school, Taylor takes the two boys from football to basketball and takes the daughter to piano lessons.
The tired children don’t get home until 7 pm.
After they have a quick supper, it’s time for them to do their homework.
2.What do doctors think children’s problems are?
Doctor think children are under too much pressure.
3. What do teachers complain about?
Teachers complain about teaching tired kids in the classroom.

20. 4. What starts in families when the children are very young?
Competition starts between children from a very young age in some families.
5. What is the result of taking the children from activities to activities?
Dr. Alice thinks that these children may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older.
6. What should parents do in this situation? Why?
Parents should learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves.
On the one hand, children need organized activities.
On the other hand, they also need time and freedom to relax, and they need time to do things by themselves.

21. Fill in the blanks to complete the passage without reading the books.is
Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children_____ verybusy.Afterschool,though,Cathy______the two boys _____ footbal____basketball.
Then she has to take her daughter to piano _______. The _____ children ______ get home _______ 7pm. They have ___ quick supper,and _____ time ____ homework.
takes to
from
lessons
tired
don't a
until
it's
for

22. The British activities fit much possible under too much pressure about
____ Taylors are like many American and __________ parents. They take their children from ____________ to activities, and try to ______ as _________ as _________ into their kid’s lives. Doctors say many children are _______ ________ ________ ________ . Teachers __________ _______ ________ tired kids in the classroom.
The
British
activities
fit
much
possible
under
too
much
pressure
about
teaching
complain

23. take part in include learning nothing Pushy but seem a lot more push
Most children _________________ after-class clubs. Activities ________ sports, language ___________, music,and math classes. ________ parents are ________ new, _______ now parents _______ to _____ their children _________________. Parents see other children _______ a lot of things, and they _______ their ______ children should do the _______.
take part in
include
learning
nothing
Pushy
but
seem
a lot more
push
doing
feel
own
same

24. of about knows pressure competition starts send all kinds of when
Linda, a mother _____ three in London, ______ all ______ such ________. “In some families _____________ ________ from a very young age,” she says. “Mothers _____ their kids to ________________ classes ______ they are very young. And they are always _________ them with other children. It’s _______. People _______ push their kids so _______. of
about
knows
pressure
competition
starts
send
all kinds of
when
comparing
shouldn't
crazy
hard

25. that agrees find it to think themselves older plan kid's adults for it
Dr. Alice ______. She also says _______ these children may ______ ______ hard ___________ for their _________ when they are _______. “Parents are trying to ______ their _______ lives for them. When these kids are ________, they might find ____ difficult _____ plan things ______ themselves.” Parents should _______ to give their kids ___ __________ time to themselves. On the one ______, children need ____________ activities. ______ ______ _____ _______, they also _______ time and _________ to _________, and they need time to do things ________ ____.
agrees
find it
to think
themselves
older
plan
kid's
adults
for it to
learn
a bit more
organized
hand
On the other hand
need
freedom
relax
by themselves

26. Discuss the following expressions.
在字典中查找…… look up…in a dictionary
1.after-class activities 课外活动
2.busy enough 足够忙碌
把……从……带到…… take sb from … to …
3. not…until… 直到……才……
4. have a quick supper=have supper quickly
匆匆吃过晚饭
5. It’s time (for sb.) to do sth.
=It’s time (for sb. ) for sth （某人）该……了。
6.as +形容词/副词（原级）+ possible 尽可能……地
7.fit…into… 找到（时间）做某事
8. be/ feel under pressure （感到）有压力
9. complain about sth./ doing sth. 抱怨（做）某事
向…抱怨某事 complain to sb about sth

27. 10.. take part in 参加（活动）
11.after-class clubs 课外俱乐部
12. push sb. hard 给某人（大的）压力
13. see sb. doing sth. 看见某人正在做某事
14. a mother of three children
一个三个孩子的妈妈
15. know （much/ little) about… (非常/不）了解
16.compare …with… 比较……和……
17.find it + adj. to do sth. 觉得做某事……
18. on the one hand…, on the other hand….
一方面……, 另一方面……。
19.organized activities 有组织的活动

28. Useful expressions 在字典中查找…… look up…in a dictionary
与…打架 have a fight with sb
与…比较 compare with
向…抱怨某事 complain to sb about sth
处于(太多的)压力之下 be under (too much) pressure
买不同的衣服 get different clothes
把……从……带到…… take sb from … to …
直到……才…… not…until…
尽可能多地充实到孩子们的生活中来
fit as much as possible into their kids lives
屡见不鲜 nothing new
厉害地强迫某人 push sb hard
总是在做某事 be always doing
计划做某事 plan to do
一方面……另一方面……on the one hand …on the other hand…
从很小的年龄开始 start from a very young age
独自 by oneself

29. 重难点句型讲解 1.as …as possible结构中的possible 可以换为sb. can。
2.find it + adj. + to do sth.= sb. find (that) it’s + adj. to do sth 此结构中的find可换为think,feel。
e.g. =.
3.be always doing sth. 总是做某事。 表示说话人的一种情绪，或赞扬或批评。 .
You should do your homework as carefully as possible/ you can.
I find that it’s interesting to learn English.
I find it interesting to learn English
He is always sleeping in class.
She is always helping others.

30. Exercises Translate the sentences into English by filing the blanks.
1.我们该上课了。
______ _______ _______ our class.
It’s time ______ us ______ begin our class.
2.他足够大，可以自己穿衣服了。
He’s ____ _______ to _______ himself.
He’s ______ old _______ he ______ get dressed by _______.
3.它们老是抱怨有太多的作业。
They are always ________ _______ _______ too much homework.
4.别把自己的孩子与别人的孩子比较。
Don’t ___________ your _________ kids with ____________.
It's time for
for to
old enough
dress
that
himself so
can
complaining about having
own
others'
compare

31. 5.我们发现学好英语不容易。
We ________ _______ not easy _______ _______ English well.
We find that ______ hard _______ _________ English well.
6.你应该尽可能经常地读英语。
You should try to read English _______ _________ _________ __________.
You should read English as often as ______ _________.
7.现在的父母给孩子的压力比以前大得多。
Parents these days _________ their children __________ _________ than before.
8.它们的压力太大了。
They __________ _____________ ___________ much ______________.
to learn
find it
to learn
it's
as often
as possible
you can
much
push
harder
are/ feel
under
too
pressure

32. 1. busy(adj.) enough / enough time(n.)
2. take sb. to do / take sb. to sw
She has to take her daughter to piano lessons.
3. It’s time for sth. = It’s time to do sth.
It’s time for class. = It’s time to have a class.
It’s time for homework. = It’s time to do homework.
4. as …as possible 尽某人可能地…
= as … as sb. can/could
You should run as fast as possible (you can).
She asked questions as many as possible.(she could)
5. fit into sth. 抽空安排

33. 6. complain about sth. / doing sth. / sb.
Don’t always complain about others.
She complained about paying so much for the meal.
7. take part in (活动,比赛) / join (团体，组织)
8. seem + adj. ( It seems possible.)
seem to do (Parents seem to push …)
The boy seems very shy.
He seems to learn English well.
9. a lot more / a bit more time
much/ a little = a bit / a lot +比较级

34. 10. know all about sth./sb.
know a lot/ a little / little/ much / nothing about…
11. send sb. to sw 送某人到某地
Not all the families are able to send their children to college.
12. all kinds of / many kinds of / a kind of
13. compare A with B 把A和B进行比较
compare A to B 把A比做B
14. find it hard to think for themselves
find it difficult to plan things for themselves
find it + adj. to do sth. 发现做某事…

35. No matter how much pressure we have, we should learn to relax !
What we learn from the passage?
No matter how much pressure we have, we should learn to relax !

36. Questions 1. When do you feel under pressure?
When we are going to have a test.
When the teachers tell us the results.
When we have too much homework.
Before I take part in the competitions.
When I did something wrong.
The teacher is going to talk to me.
My parents always argue.
I have bad grades.

37. 2.What should you do to relax?
listen to music.
talk with my friends.
cry my heart out.
tell some jokes for fun.
hang out with my friends.
stay in my room alone.
surf the Internet.

38. Homework
1.Please write a letter to Cathy Taylor. Give her advice about what she should do with her children.(P17 3c)
2.Read the reading text more carefully, try to understand all the important ponits