新目标八年级下2014版英语最新教材 - 图文

Section B

1a What activities do you like to do help lower your stress? Order them ［1-8］ with 1 being the most favorite thing you do to lower stress. _______ play sports _______hang out with friends _______ talk to parents or other family members _______ spend time alone _______ play computer games _______ read books _______ watch movies _______ other： 1b Tell your partner about your answers in 1a.

1c Listen and check(√)the problems Wei Ming talks about. _______ My parents give me a lot of pressure about school. _______ I don’t get enough sleep.

_______ I don’t have enough free time. _______ I had a fight with my parents.

_______ I have to compete with my classmates at school.

1d Listen again. What advice does Alice give to Wei Ming? Fill in the blanks. 1.Although you may be _______ with your parents, you should talk to them. Ask them why they give you so much_______ . 2.Life shouldn’t just be about_______ . Free time activities like_______ and hanging out with friends are important, too. 3.You shouldn’t _______ with your classmates to get better grades. You should all be _______ each other to improve.

1e What is your advice for Wei Ming? Tell your partner and say why. A：I think Wei Ming should … B：Why? A：Because …

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2a Check (√) the after-school activities you and your classmates usually do. ____do homework ____go to music lessons (piano, …) ____have after-school lessons (math, …) ____go shopping ____watch movies ____play sports or exercise 2b Read the article and answer the questions.

1. What is the common problem for Chinese and American families? 2. Who gives their opinions about the problem?

Maybe You Should Learn to Relax! Guessing the Meaning

These days, Chinese children are sometimes busier on When reading something for the weekends than weekdays because they to take so first time, do not worry about many after-school classes. Many of them are learning words you do not know. Use the exam skills so that they can get into a good high context to help you guess the school and later a good university. Others are meaning. practicing sports so that they can compete and win.

However, this doesn’t only happen in China. The Taylors are a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy.” On most days after school,” Cathy says, “I take one of my two boys to basketball practice and my daughter to football training. Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities, but I believe these activities are important for my children’s future. I really want them to be successful. ” However, the tired children don’t get home until after 7:00 p.m. They have a quick dinner, and then it’s time for homework.

Linda Miller, a mother of three, knows all about such stress. “In some families, competition starts very young and continues until the kids get older,” she says. “Mothers send their small kids to all kinds of classes. And they are always comparing them with other children. It’s crazy. I don’t think that’s fair. Why don’t they just let their kids be kids? People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.”

Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child’s development. Dr. Alice Green says all these activities can cause a lot of stress for children. “Kids should have time to relax and think for themselves, too. Although it’s normal to want successful children, it’s even more important to have happy children.”

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2c Look at the words in bold in the article. Can you guess their meanings? Try to match them with the meanings below. 1.Keeps on happening _______ 2.Physical exercise and practice of skills _______ 3.Worries about things at home, school or work _______ 4.Usual or common _______ 5.Try to be the best or the first to finish something _______ 6.Getting better or bigger _______ 7.Look for differences and similarities between things _______ 2a Read the article again and answer the questions. 1.Does Cathy Taylor think it’s important for kids to join after-school activities? 2.Does Linda Miller agree with Cathy? What’s her opinion? 3.Does Dr. Green agree with Cathy or Linda? What does she say? 2e Discuss the questions with your partner. 1.What do you think of after-school activities? 2.What should you do to relax? 3a A magazine interviewed some parents about after-school classes for children. Read the opinions below and make notes on your own opinions. Why should children take after-school classes? 1.“After-school classes can help kids get into a good university.” 2.“I want my child to be a successful person.” 3.“It’s good for children to start learning from a young age.”

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Your opinions Agree： Disagree： 3b Write a letter to the magazine to express your opinions on after-school classes for children. Use the following expressions to help you. Try to write two paragraphs. First, say if you agree or disagree. Dear …, I don’t really agree with … because … Although some parents are right about …, I think children should … Then, explain why. In my opinion, it is important for children/parents to … I believe it is better if children/parents … so that … Perhaps children/parents should/could … If children …, they will …

Self Check

1 Fill in the blanks using until, so that or although.

1. You should eat more now _______you won’t be hungry later.

2. _______ you may not like to do chores, you should help your parents around the house. 3. You could save more money you can buy a gift for your friend’s birthday.

4. Kids shouldn’t play computer games_______ late at night. They should rest early.

5. _______ many people like to eat junk food, they should really eat more fruit and vegetables they can be healthy.

2 For each problem, choose the advice you agree with more. Then write your own advice.

1. My best friend and I had a fight, and now she won’t speak to me. A. You should keep trying to talk to her until she talks to you. B. Why don’t you wait a few more days before talking to her?

My advice：________________________________________________________________

2. My friend wants me to go to a party on the weekend, but I want to study for my exams next week.

A. Why don’t you just go to the party? It’ll help you to relax.

B. You should study for the exams because they’re more important than a party.

My advice：________________________________________________________________ 3. My brother watches television while I’m trying to study.

A. Why don’t you tell him to do something quiet when you’re studying? B. You could tell him to turn down the TV.

My advice：________________________________________________________________

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