INTENSIVE READING 1

Unit 3 The Present

♦ Objectives

1.Skills
1) reading: using context clues for word meanings (Part II)
2) writing: review(combination, contraction and subordination)
2. Vocabulary development----word power
1)receptive words: occasion minor bunch brighten disappointment fold
present current primary efficient endure
2) productive words and phrases: blood is thicker than water; make bigger
efforts; on rare occasions; be proud of; be round the corner ;minor operation;
put on one’s best dress; light the fire; brighten one’s cheeks; a bunch of flowers;
feel a pang of disappointment; tear the envelope open; a bird with a broken wing
3. Grammar: absolute construction; not … until; make

♦ Pre-reading tasks

 Background info.

1. Important birthday in the west

Important birthdays in the West: At 21/18, the age of majority, one becomes
an adult. Usually the family has a big party for the new adult and a major
present—an expensive watch or a car—is given him or her. Any birthday past
70 is celebrated in a special way by family members just because the birthday
person is getting old and may die before another birthday comes round.---a
special day. 100—the centennial birthday—is generally regarded as an unusual
occasion because few people reach it. The centenarian may receive a telegram
or a letter congratulations from prominent political figures. The family will hold
a party attended by surviving friends and relatives. Among other things the
centenarian takes delight in counting great grandchildren and grandchildren at
the party )
2. Traditional birthday celebration in western countries

In the West, it is customary to hold a party in celebration of a person’s birthday.

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INTENSIVE READING 2

The guests will come to the party with birthday presents and say “Happy

Birthday” to the birthday person. The guests then watch him or her open the

presents and he or she thanks them for the presents they have brought. At the

party drinks and food are served. Toward the end of the dinner the lights in the

room are turned off, and someone comes in from another room with a cake on

which are lighted candles, one for each year. At the sight of the cake the guests

begin singing “Happy Birthday to You” and the birthday person makes a wish

before he or she blows out the candles on the cake. It is said that the wish will

come true if all the candles go out in one puff. After that, the cake is cut in

slices usually by the birthday person, one piece for each guest. When the party

comes to an end, the guests wish the birthday person “Happy Birthday” again and

leave.

 Global-reading

1. What is the story about?

(The story is an account of what happens to an old woman on her eightieth

birthday.)

2. What did she expect on her 80th birthday?

(She expected her daughter to come to see her. Or at least to send her a

present.)

3. What did she receive?

(a printed birthday card along with a check.)

4. What did her daughter and her neighbors do on her birthday?

( her neighbor’s kindness is in sharp contrast with her daughter’s indifference)

5. The last line : why did she tear the check into little bit with trembling fingers?

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(She felt disappointed, sad, hurt…. The old lady did not expect much from her

daughter. But what she got was even less than what she expected. She did not

really want a expensive present. The card plus a check symbolizes obligation but

with no sincere feelings. )

6. Line 23: Why did the author repeat “perhaps”?

The description of the lady’s psychological activity. Or her soliloquy. She her

coming. The repetition of “perhaps” and the use of “might” serve to accentuate

the uncertainty she feels.

7. After all, eighty was ….,lived or endured …: An eightieth birthday is special

because not everyone can live so long. It marks the end of a ten-year period you

have lived through or endured, depending on your point of view. Life is usually a

mixture of happiness and sadness; Few people are always happy. You live your life

and you’re happy sometimes and sad sometimes. On the other hand, life can also

be long periods of unhappiness or suffering. Such a life isn’t lived as an enjoyable

experience/ Rather it is endured. Here the author is contrasting these two ways

of looking at life.

8. Line 8-9: The author didn’t mention what kind of work she was doing with the

old people, can you guess?

(May be it was in some charitable undertaking, typical of the wives of prominent

men .)

9. gold medal: (an example of irony. The gold medal seems to tell us that she was a

praiseworthy woman committed to the good of the old and helpless. What she

really cares about is her husband’s social position instead of her own old mother.)

Simple as the story is, it shows us some aspects of the family relationship in

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INTENSIVE READING 4

Western society and gives us an insight into the frustrations lonely old people

suffer. Or it reveals the disappointment and loneliness of the aged when faced

with the insensitivity and selfishness of the young generation..

2.T asks Ss to divide the text:

Part I (1-2 ) The old lady, filled with expectation, got up early on her birthday.

Part II (3-12) The old lady looked forward to something special from her

daughter Myra.

Part III (13-21) The present from Myra turned out to be a printed card plus a

check. The old lady tore the check into little bits

♦ While-reading

1. T asks Ss to look over the text as soon as possible and then lineout“What her

neighbors did for the old lady’s 80th birthday? ”(PPT)

After that , T asks Ss to compare with the daughter’s presents.

2. T explain the details of the text to Ss.

3. T guides Ss to summarize the main idea of this text.

Language Points & Structure

1. make an effort:
--I will make every effort to help you.
--She decided to make one more effort.
2. present
①n. gift for birthday/wedding/Christmas
②adj. at present the present situation Cf:present/absent
③v. submit, introduce

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--The student presented a bunch of flowers to the guest. (present sb. with sth.)
--John was forced to present his resignation letter.
--Allow me to present Mr. Smith.
3. from the second floor flat

flat: BrE

apartment: AmE

In BrE the floor of a building at street level is the ground floor and the floor

above that is the first floor.

英语中，楼房地面与街道相平的楼层叫 ground floor，其上面一层为 frist floor。

In AmE the street-level floor is the first floor and the one above is the

second floor.

美语中，与街道相平的楼层叫 first floor，其上面一层叫 second floor。

BrE AmE
公寓 flat Apartment
信件 post mail
万亿 billion trillion
支票 Cheque Check
秋天 Autumn Fall
人行道 Pavement Sidewalk
电影 Film Movie
电梯 Lift Elevator
铁路 Railway Railroad
出租车 Cab Cab/taxi
地铁 Tube/underground Subway
罐头 Tin Can
节目 Programme Program
荣誉 Honour Honor
轮胎 Tyre Tire
分析 Analyse Analyze
旅行者 Traveller Traveler

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INTENSIVE READING 6

执照 licence license

4. …The little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare
occasions when anything came.
Few letters or parcels came to the old lady. Her daughter Myra seldom wrote

and there is no evidence that she had many relatives or friends who would send

her letters or parcels by post. As a result, it was rare for the old lady to get a

letter or a parcel. But when anything did come by post, the boy would bring it up

for her.

rare:① unusual; not often happening or seen

--a rare sight, visitors 罕见的景象，稀客

--With rare exceptions, he doesn’t appear in public now.

② ( of gases, esp. atmosphere) thin; not dense

--The Tibetans are used to the rare around the Himalayas.

occasion：special event; time when sth. Happens

--Birth, marriage and death are the three important occasions in a person’s life.

--on this /that occasion 此时/彼时

--on one occasion, ie once 一次

--We met on several other occasions.

Collections:

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on occasion 不时；必要时

on the occasion of sth. 在（某件事）的时候

--on the occasion of his daughter’s wedding

Cf: Occasion, Opportunity and Chance all indicate a time when it is possible to do

sth. 三词都表示有可能做某事的时候。

⑴ Occasion suggests that the time is socially suitable for the activity.

Occasion 指社交上从事某活动的合适时机

A wedding is an occasion for celebration.

婚礼是欢庆的时刻。

I’ll speak to him if the occasion arises.

有机会我跟他说说。

⑵ Opportunity and Chance suggest that the necessary physical circumstance for

doing sth are present.

Opportunity & chance 指有做某事所必需的实际环境。

I took the opportunity of visiting my aunt while I was in Beijing.

我利用在北京的机会探望了我的姨妈。

I hope you get a chance to relax.

我希望你有机会放松一下。

⑶ Chance can also indicate a degree of probability。

Chance 还可以指可能性的程度

What are your chance of being promoted?

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你晋升的可能性如何？

⑷ Occasion may refer to the particular time when sth happens

Occasion 可指某事发生的时刻：

I’ve met her on several occasion recently.

我最近见过她好几次。

5. at other times: on other occasions

--Sometimes he is very friendly: at other times he can be very moody.
--She was lack of words at the party, but she was talkative at other times.
Cf. at times: from time to time 有时；不时
at all times: always 随时；不论什么时候；总是，始终
in no time: very soon very quickly
at one time: in the past, once 过去；曾经
6. be sure: know and believe for a fact

sure (of/about sth); sure that… etc.

--Are you sure of the facts?

--Jane is reliable ,but I’m not quite sure about Jim.

Cf: ~ of sth [pred 做表语] certain to receive, win, etc sth 一定会获得，赢得…

--You’re sure of a warm welcome.

7. even if : (used as conjs 用 做 连 词 ) in spite of the fact or belief; no matter

wheter 即使；纵然；尽管

--Even if it will take me six weeks, I am determined to finish the job.

--Even if one graduated from college, he should still continue to learn.

--They couldn't, even if they would, get out of trouble by themselves.

即使他们想（摆脱），也无法独立摆脱困难。

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8. make: be or become…through development; turn out to be 演变成；结果是：

--If you train hard, you’ll make a good footballer.

He’ll never make an actor.

9. Paragraph 3 about Myra is an example of irony. Myra had got a medal for her
work for the aged and her husband was made mayor. All this seems to tell us
that
she was a praiseworthy person committed to the good of the old and helpless.
When we examine her action, however, we will come to see the irony of the
situation. Did she really care about old people? In no way. She was so
thoughtless that she did not come to see her own old mother on her birthday, nor
did she call her on the phone. So the apparent meaning of this paragraph is just
the opposite to the intended meaning.
10. content a.

~ to (do sth); ~ (with sth): pleased to (do sth); satisfied to (do sth)

--Are you content with your present salary?

--He is content to remain where he is now.

CF: contented a. showing or feeling content; satisfied

--a contented person, cat, smile, etc

Collections:

to one’s heart content: as much as one wishes 尽情地

11. primary: a.

①earliest in time or order of development(在时间或发展顺序上)初始的，最早的，

开端的，起步阶段的

e.g. in the primary stage of development

② most important; fundamental 首要的；基础性的；根本的

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e.g. The primary reason for advertising is to sell more goods.

Collections:

primary color 原色

primary education 初等教育

primary school (BrE) 小学（AmE grade school, grammar school）

primary election (n.also primary) (美) 初选 the presidential primaries

12. arrange for sb/sth (to do sth) :make sth happen; ensure that sth happens

--I’ve arranged for a car (to meet you at the airport).

--I’ll arrange to be in while you call.

13. minor: a. smaller; less important or serious

--a minor road, eg in the country

--a minor part/role in a play

--minor injuries, burns etc

Cf: major/ minor in 主修/副修

14. operate

①vi. work; be in action

--This machine operates night and day.

②vt. cause (a machine, etc) to make; control; do business; manage or direct

--He operates the lift.

③vi. ~ (on sb) (for sth) perform a surgical operation 动手术

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--The doctor decided to operate ( on her) immediately.

15. efficient a.

① ( of people) able to work well; capable（指人）能胜任的；有能力的

--He’s efficient at his job.他能胜任工作。

② （esp of tools, machines, systems, etc）producing a satisfactory result without

wasting time or energy （尤指工具，机器，系统等）有效力的

--an efficient new filing systerm

Cf: effective: having an effect; producing the intended result 有效的，能产生预期

效果的

--effective measures to reduce unemployment

--The law is no longer effective.

16. L22:After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lived or endured
just as you chose to look at it.
an eightieth birthday is special because not everyone can live so long. It marks
the end of a ten-year period you have lived through or endured, depending on
your point of view.
Life is usually a mixture of happiness and sadness; few people are always happy.
You live your life and you’re happy sometimes and sad sometimes. On the other
hand, life can also be long periods of unhappiness or suffering. Such a life isn’t
lived as an enjoyable experience. Rather it is endured. Here the author is
contrasting these two ways of looking at life.

…another decade lived…..

an absolute construction serving as an adverbial of manner. This is a comment
made by the author, reminding the reader that life can be enjoyment or
suffering and views on life can be different accordingly.
--Having finished his homework, he watched a cartoon film. (分词做状语，主语一致)
--Time permitting, we’ll go on a picnic.
--She recalled (,with) tears welling up in her eyes.
after all: in spite of what has been said, done or expected 毕竟；终究；归根到底

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--So you’ve come after all.

--Don't blame him for breaking that vase; after all he is a child.

endure :

① vi.& vt. suffer or undergo patiently

--I cannot endure listening to that any longer.

--I can't endure to see/seeing children suffer.

② vi. last ; continue in existence

--These traditions have endured throughout the ages.

--fame that will endure for ever

17. choose [no passive 不 用 于 被 动 语 态 ]decide (to do one thing rather than

another)决定（做一事而不做另一事）；prefer to

--We chose to go by train

--The writer chooses to remain anonymous.

15.spot

n. ①mark in different in color from what it is on

e.g. a white shirt with red spots

②particular place or area

e.g. a nice picnic spot

a well-known beauty spot

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v. (-tt-) discover; pick out (one person or thing from many)

e.g. I can’t spot the difference between them.

She spotted just her friend in the crowd.

16. excited: a. feeling or showing excitement 兴奋的；激动的

e.g. The excited children forgot to take the presents to the party.

exciting a. causing great interest or enthusiasm

e.g. an exciting piece of work

an exciting story

17. extra a. more than or beyond what is usual, expected or necessary; additional

e.g. extra pay for extra work

18. I did last week when I was six

The word “did” is used here as a substitute verb for “got lots, and lots of

presents” to avoid repetition

e.g. It is polite to listen to people carefully, and he usually does.

She said she’d help me and she did.

19.So many lovely things.

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There were so many nice things the old woman wanted to have, but she would

be very pleased to get any kind of birthday present from her daughter.

20. Then clatter, clatter up the stairs.

There came the clattering sound of the boy’s feet (or Then came the quick

noisy footsteps) up the stairs.

This suggests that the old lady was listening for the boy’s footsteps in her

room, eagerly and attentively.

21. pang n. (usu pl) a sudden sharp mental or emotional pain

e.g. a pang of sadness

a pang of remorse

22. disappoint vt. fail to fulfil the hope of ( a person)

e.g. Don’t disappoint me by being late again,

I’ve often been disappointed in love, ie not been loved in return by sb I have

loved.

23. That was it.

That was the reason why the parcel had not come yet.

24. reluctantly ad. Unwillingly

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e.g. After much thought, we reluctantly agreed.

The children turned off the TV reluctantly.

25. pick up: take hold of and lift sb/sth

e.g. I pick up your bag by mistake.

He pick up the book from the floor.

26. tremble vi. ~ with sth :shake

e.g. We were trembling with excitement.

The old man’s hand trembled when he signed his name.

27. not… until…(P58,Ss’book)

e.g. He did not go to bed until midnight.

= He went to bed only after midnight.

☆ 这类句型也可以跟倒装句和强调句(It is …that…)并用。但这个时候，not 必须紧接

在 until 之前，构成 not until…

e.g. Not until we lose it do we realize the preciousness of health.

= It is not until we lose it that we realize the preciousness of health.

= Only after we have lose it do we realize the preciousness of health.

♦ Post-reading

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INTENSIVE READING 16

1. Summarized the main idea of this text.

It was the old lady’s birthday. She got up early to be ready for the post . She was

sure her daughter would not forgot her mother’s birthday, even if she seldom

wrote at other time .After all, eighty was a special birthday.

However, her daughter sent her a check instead of a gift. She was so

disappointed that she tore it into little bits with trembling fingers.

2. Group discussion

1) T tells Ss the topic: why did the old lady feel so hurt when she got the cheque

from her daughter?

2) Ss are divided into 6/7 groups to talk about this topic.

3) After a 10-minute discussion, representatives from different groups will

report to the class what they think about the question.

4) T will sum up Ss’ opinions and give his or her reasons for the old lady’s hurt

feelings.

※ A cheque is impersonal. The daughter did not take time to consider her

mother’s favorite things. She didn’t consider her mother’s psychological need

on this day. She was so insensitive to her possible reaction to a “present”. The

card plus cheque symbolizes obligation but wit no sincere feelings.

3. Review the useful expressions of this unit.

4. T assigns the homework of this unit (3&4,III,P54)

5. Working together the exercise and doing some related listening.

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