My Forever Valentine Reading aloud Audiovisual supplements Section One: Pre-reading Activities...

My Forever Valentine

Reading aloud Audiovisual supplements

Section One:Pre-reading Activities

Section Two: Global Reading

Section Four: Consolidation Activities

Section Five: Further Enhancement

I. Reading aloud

Read the following sentences aloud, paying special attention to intonation.

1. I don’t know whether it was because work at the office slowed during February or because the football season was over.

2. Beneath it, scrawled in barely legible handwriting was “Love, Dad.”

Section Three:Detailed Reading

Reading aloud

Audiovisual supplements


II. Audiovisual supplements

Watch the film episode and then answer the following questions.

Question:

Why did Rachel want a $100 in advance?

Film episode: Friends

Answer to the question for reference:

Because she wanted to pay her own ticket to ski in Vail.



My Forever Valentine Section Four: Consolidation Activities


Reading aloud



(Scene: Central Perk, Rachel is confronting her boss, Terry.) Terry, I, I, I know that I haven’t worked here very long, but I was wondering, do you think it would be possible if I got a $100 advance in my salary?An advance?It’s so that I can spend Thanksgiving with my family. See, every year we go skiing in Vail, and normally my father pays for my ticket, but I sort of started the whole independence thing, you know, which is actually why I took this job.Rachel, Rachel, sweetheart. You’re a terrible, terrible waitress. Really, really awful.Ok, I, I hear what you’re saying. I’m with you. Um, but I, but I’m trying really hard. And I think I’m doing better. I really do. Does anybody need coffee? (everyone in the place raises their hand) Oh, look at that.





Rachel:

Terry:Rachel:

Terry:

Rachel:

Reading aloud







■

Text introduction Structural analysis



This is a first person narration about a series of events concerning the narrator’s father, who showed profound love for his daughter — the narrator — by offering her valentines on Valentine’s Day. The article provides a detailed account of how the father showed profound affection for his daughter on Valentine’s Day and tells us how important it has been to her over the years to know that she had such a great father and that she will never forget her father and his kindness to her.

I. Text introduction




Text introduction

Structural analysis


II. Structural analysis

—

—





Paragraphs 3 – 6 an account about how her father gave her a happy Valentine’s Day

Paragraphs 1 – 2 a brief introduction about the relationship between the writer and her father, her father’s hobby, his work, the theme of the text

— Paragraphs 7 – 10 the last valentine from her father

— Paragraphs 11 – 12 the importance of her father to her over the years







The traditional holidays in our house when I was a child were spent timing elaborate meals around football games. My father tried to make pleasant chitchat and eat as much as he could during half time. At Christmas he found time to have a cup or two of holiday beer and do his holly shaped bow tie. But he didn’t truly shine until Valentine’s Day.

I don’t know whether it was because work at the office slowed during February or because the football season was over. But Valentine’s Day was the time my father chose to show his love for the special people in his life. Over the years I fondly thought of him as my “Valentine Man.”








My first recollection of the magic he could bring to Valentine’s Day came when I was six. For several days I had been cutting out valentines for my classmates. Each of us was to decorate a “mailbox” and put it on our desk for others to give us cards. That box and its contents ushered in a succession of bittersweet memories of my entrance into a world of popularity contests marked by the number of cards received, the teasing about boyfriends / girlfriends and the tender care I gave to the card from the cutest boy in class.







That morning at the breakfast table I found a card and a gift-wrapped package at my chair. The card was signed “Love, Dad,” and the gift was a ring with a small piece of red glass to represent my birthstone, a ruby. There is little difference between red glass and rubies to a child of six, and I remember wearing that ring with a pride that all the cards in the world could not surpass.

As I grew older, the gifts gave way to heart shaped boxes filled with my favorite chocolates and always included a special card signed “Love, Dad.” In those years my thank-yous became more of a perfunctory response. The cards seemed less important, and I took for granted the valentine that would always be there. Long past the days of having a “mailbox” on my desk, I had placed my hopes and dreams in receiving cards and gifts from “significant others,” and “Love, Dad” just didn’t seem quite enough.

If my father knew then that he had been replaced, he never let it show. If he sensed any disappointment over valentines that didn’t arrive for me, he just tried that much harder to create a positive atmosphere, giving me an extra hug and doing what he could to make my day a little brighter.







My mailbox eventually had a rural address, and the job of hand delivering candy and cards was relegated to the U.S. Postal Service . Never in ten years was my father’s package late nor was it on the Valentine’s Day eight years ago when I reached into the mailbox to find a card addressed to me in my mother’s handwriting.

It was the kind of card that comes in an inexpensive assortment box sold by a child going door to door to try to earn money for a school project.

It was the kind of card you used to get from a grandmother or an aging aunt or, in this case, a dying father. It was the kind of card that put a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes because you knew the person no longer was able to go out and buy a real valentine. It was a card that signaled this would be the last you would receive from him.







The card had a photograph of tulips on the outside, and on the inside my mother had printed “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Beneath it, scrawled in barely legible handwriting was “Love, Dad.”

His final card remains on my bulletin board today. It’s a reminder of how special fathers can be and how important it has been to me over the years to know that I had a father who continued a tradition of love with a generosity of spirit, simple acts of understanding and an ability to express happiness over the people in his life.

Those things never die, nor does the memory of a man who never stopped being my valentine.













The traditional holidays in our house when I was a child were spent timing elaborate meals around football games. My father tried to make pleasant chitchat and eat as much as he could during half time. At Christmas he found time to have a cup or two of holiday beer and do his holly shaped bow tie. But he didn’t truly shine until Valentine’s Day.

I don’t know whether it was because work at the office slowed during February or because the football season was over. But Valentine’s Day was the time my father chose to show his love for the special people in his life. Over the years I fondly thought of him as my “Valentine Man.”








My first recollection of the magic he could bring to Valentine’s Day came when I was six. For several days I had been cutting out valentines for my classmates. Each of us was to decorate a “mailbox” and put it on our desk for others to give us cards. That box and its contents ushered in a succession of bittersweet memories of my entrance into a world of popularity contests marked by the number of cards received, the teasing about boyfriends / girlfriends and the tender care I gave to the card from the cutest boy in class.







That morning at the breakfast table I found a card and a gift-wrapped package at my chair. The card was signed “Love, Dad,” and the gift was a ring with a small piece of red glass to represent my birthstone, a ruby. There is little difference between red glass and rubies to a child of six, and I remember wearing that ring with a pride that all the cards in the world could not surpass.







As I grew older, the gifts gave way to heart shaped boxes filled with my favorite chocolates and always included a special card signed “Love, Dad.” In those years my thank-yous became more of a perfunctory response. The cards seemed less important, and I took for granted the valentine that would always be there. Long past the days of having a “mailbox” on my desk, I had placed my hopes and dreams in receiving cards and gifts from “significant others,” and “Love, Dad” just didn’t seem quite enough.

If my father knew then that he had been replaced, he never let it show. If he sensed any disappointment over valentines that didn’t arrive for me, he just tried that much harder to create a positive atmosphere, giving me an extra hug and doing what he could to make my day a little brighter.







My mailbox eventually had a rural address, and the job of hand delivering candy and cards was relegated to the U.S. Postal Service . Never in ten years was my father’s package late nor was it on the Valentine’s Day eight years ago when I reached into the mailbox to find a card addressed to me in my mother’s handwriting.

It was the kind of card that comes in an inexpensive assortment box sold by a child going door to door to try to earn money for a school project.

It was the kind of card you used to get from a grandmother or an aging aunt or, in this case, a dying father. It was the kind of card that put a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes because you knew the person no longer was able to go out and buy a real valentine. It was a card that signaled this would be the last you would receive from him.







The card had a photograph of tulips on the outside, and on the inside my mother had printed “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Beneath it, scrawled in barely legible handwriting was “Love, Dad.”

His final card remains on my bulletin board today. It’s a reminder of how special fathers can be and how important it has been to me over the years to know that I had a father who continued a tradition of love with a generosity of spirit, simple acts of understanding and an ability to express happiness over the people in his life.

Those things never die, nor does the memory of a man who never stopped being my valentine.




during half time


Paraphrase：

during the short period of rest between two parts of a game, such as a football match or basketball match

在比赛中场休息时






For several days I had been cutting out valentines for my classmates.




Explanation：Many children make their own valentines from paper doilies, red paper, wallpaper samples, and pictures cut from magazines. Sometimes they buy kits that include everything needed to make valentines. Many children send their largest, fanciest cards to their parents and teachers.

一连几天，我都做送给同学们的情人节卡。





Practice：1）请把那张表沿着虚线剪下来。

2）在辩论中我的对手不断地插嘴。 Please cut down the form along the dotted line.

During the debate my opponent kept cutting in.



Extension：The word cut can be used in many figurative ways meaning stop, reduce, edit, change abruptly, etc.

e.g. cut from the same clothcut across





he never let it show

Paraphrase:

he never revealed his feelings



他从来不表露自己的情感





with a generosity of spirit

Paraphrase：behaving generously towards other people

对他人友善



Explanation：Some adjectives are used in their noun forms to give the sentence a static power.

e.g. He has done me many kindnesses.I can always feel his thoughtfulness in my life.





traditional holidays

Some of the traditional holidays in the United States are Valentine’s Day (February 14); St. Patrick’s Day (March 17); and Halloween (October 31). In some states, Arbor Day, Bird Day, and Flag Day are school holidays. Child Health Day (the first Monday in

October) is widely observed in schools. Many schools and some businesses close on Good Friday.



Explanation：





holiday: a day free from work that one may spend at leisure; a day offleave: the period of time granted by official permission to be absent from work or duty, as that to military or corporate personnelvacation: a period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee (In the United States, it refers to any holiday, while in Britain, only to the national holidays or summer or winter holidays in universities.)



Comparison:

holiday， leave, vacation







Practice：

1) , which is celebrated on November 11, observed in the United States in honor of veterans of the armed services and in commemoration of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.

2) On , which takes place on October 31 in the United States, Canada, and the British Isles, children will go door to door while wearing costumes and begging treats and playing tricks.

3) Americans celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November, while Canadians, on the second Monday of October.

4) comes right after the Christmas when people give their Christmas gifts to the service workers.

Veterans Day____________

Boxing Day___________

Halloween_________

Thanksgiving Day_________________

Please fill in the blanks with the American traditional holidays:





elaborate adj.

full of detail; carefully worked out and with a large number of parts

e.g. She made elaborate preparations for the party.



Derivation:

elaborate v.

Comparison:

elaborate (adj.), complicated, intricate

e.g. The curtains had an elaborate pattern of flowers.





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English by using elaborate (adj.), complicated or intricate:1 ）为了筹款，彼得制订了详尽的计划。

2 ）他似乎有本事把复杂的想法用很简单的话说出来。 3 ）哈里波特小说的情节十分复杂，引人入胜。

Peter worked out an elaborate scheme for raising the money

He seemed able to put complicated thought into simple words.



elaborate: carefully planned and organized in great detailcomplicated: difficult to understand or deal with, because many parts or details are involvedintricate: containing many small parts or details that all work or fit together

Harry Porter fascinates people with intricate plots.

Comparison:





chitchat n.

informal light conversation or gossip

e.g. Father is having chitchat with his son now.



Synonyms :

gossip, chat

e.g. My parents used to make chitchat after supper in winter.







bow tie

a short piece of cloth tied in the shape of a bow that men sometimes wear around their neck

e.g. His girlfriend gave him a bow tie on his birthday.

1) if your eyes shine, or your face shines, you have an expression of happiness

2) to be very good at something





shine v.

e.g. Delight shone in her eyes.

rain or shine take a shine to somebody take the shine off (out of)



Derivation： shine n.

Collocation:







Practice：

Translate the following sentences into English:

1 ）他功课很好，但体育才是他真正的强项。

2）灰姑娘的礼服使姐姐们相形见绌。

A good student as he is, he really shines in sports.

Cinderella’s dress took the shine out of her sisters’.





Valentine’s Day



Valentine’s Day is a special day observed on February 14. On this day, people send greeting cards called valentines to their sweethearts, friends, and members of their families. Many valentines have romantic verses, and others have humorous pictures and sayings. Many say, “Be my valentine.”





football season



The football season lasts from August to May. Millions of people crowd stadiums each football season to watch their favorite teams. Millions of people also watch games on television between college football teams as well as televised competition in the two major professional leagues, the National Football League (NFL) of the United States and the Canadian Football League (CFL).





fondly adv.



1) in a way that shows you like someone very much

2) believing something that is untrue, hoping for something that will probably not happen, etc.

Derivation: fond adj. fondness n.

e.g. She greeted her old friend fondly.

Collocation: be fond of

e.g. She fondly imagined that she could pass her examination without working hard.







Practice：

Translate the following sentences into English:

1 ）溺爱孩子的母亲会把孩子宠坏。

2 ）妈妈怜爱地看着孩子。

A fond mother may spoil her child.

The mother looked at her child fondly.





recollection n.



1) memory

2) the power or action of remembering the past3) something in one’s memory of the past

Comparison: remember, recall, recollect Remember implies having a picture or idea in your mind of people, events, places, etc. from the past.Recollect implies bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered. Recall suggests remembering a particular fact event or situation from the past.

e.g. I have no recollection of meeting him.

Derivation： recollect v.

e.g. Her recollection of the events is rather patchy.







Practice：

Fill in the blanks with remember, recall or recollect:

1) I can that day as though it were yesterday.

2) As near as I can , there can’t be any stores.

3) I can hardly the lyrics of the song because of the time.

remember__________

recollect_________

recall______

to cause something new to start, or to be at the start of something new





usher in

guide, lead, pilot, steer, usherGuide implies taking someone to a place.Lead implies going ahead to show the way and often to keep those that follow under control and in order. Pilot suggests testing a new idea, product, etc. on people to find out whether it will be successful.



e.g. The bombing of Hiroshima ushered in the nuclear age.

Comparison：





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:1）十月革命开创了人类历史的新纪元。

2 ）学生们迎来了新的学期。

The October Revolution ushered in a new era in the history of mankind.

The students ushered in the new semester.



Derivation: usher n. usherette n.

Steer implies an ability to keep to a chosen course and stresses the capacity for maneuvering correctly. Usher implies causing something new to start.

Comparison：





a succession of



e.g. A succession of visitors, including some leaders, came to see Ba Jin, the greatest writer in contemporary China.

by succession in due succession in succession in succession to

a number of people or things following one after another

Collocation:

e.g. The farmers have got in a succession of bumper harvests.

e.g. The Chinese Women Volleyball Team won a succession of victories.





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:

1 ）一大群人来参观博物馆。

2 ）他种的玫瑰花一连三年都得了一等奖。A succession of people came to visit the museum.

He has been awarded first prize for his roses three years in succession.



Derivation: successive adj.





popularity n.



e.g. The President’s popularity is declining day after day.

popular edition popular science popular singerpopular song popular prices

the quality of being well liked, admired, or approved of

Collocation:

e.g. That senior cadre enjoys great popularity among the people.

Derivation: popular adj. populous adj. populate v.






1) 此人知名度很高，对手不敢攻击他。

2) 杰克身边总有很多朋友，这一点就说明他有多招人喜爱。

The man enjoys such a great popularity that his opponents fear to attack him.

Jack’s popularity is shown by the fact that he always has lots of friends around him.







tease v.



e.g. The grandpa was teasing Clara for her young man.

tease somebody about somethingtease something out

to laugh at someone and make jokes in order to have fun by embarrassing them, either in a friendly way or in an unkind way

Derivation: tease n.

Collocation:






1 ）我叔叔是个特别喜欢开玩笑的人，总拿我们寻开心。

2）你如果老是那样捉弄别人，你就会丧失朋友们的好感。

My uncle was such a big tease that he often make fun of us.

If you always tease others like that, you’ll forfeit the good opinion of your friends.



1) attractive in an amusing or interesting way

2) (sometimes derog.) (too) clever3) shrewd





cute adj.



e.g. What a cute little baby!

Derivation: cutely adv. cuteness n.

e.g. What a cute old house!







wrap v.

e.g. I put the book in a box that I wrapped up in brown paper before I posted it.

to cover something in a material folded around

be wrapped up in take the wraps off (take off the wraps) under wraps wrap up

Collocation:

e.g. The shop assistant offered to wrap the shoes, but I wanted to wear them at once.

Derivation: wrap n. wrapping n. wrapping adj.





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:1 ）这条消息被封锁了三天。

The news was kept under wraps for three days.

They were wrapped up in criminal activities.



2 ）他们涉嫌参与犯罪活动。







represent v.

1) to act or speak officially; to depict, to be a picture of

e.g. The red lines on the map represent railways.

e.g. She represented her fellow-workers at the union meeting.

2) to be a sign of, to symbolize; to have the character of, constitute

e.g. This essay represents a considerable improvement on your recent work.

e.g. This picture represents the death of a great national hero.





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:1）校长不能来开会，由史密斯先生代为出席。

2 ）此项决议表达了绝大部分英国商会人士的观点。

The headmaster could not go to the meeting, so Mr. Smith represented him.

The resolution represents the opinion of the overwhelming majority of British trade unionists.



Derivation: representation n. representative adj.





birthstone n.



Birthstone is a gem associated with a month of the year. According to tradition, a birthstone brings good luck to a person born in its month. Each birthstone also corresponds to a sign of the zodiac. However, the birth dates for each sign do not match the beginning and end of each month.

Extension:

Some names of birthstones:January: garnet 石榴石February: amethyst 紫水晶March Male: bloodstone 男：血石 Female: aquamarine女：蓝绿玉April: diamond 钻石







Extension:

May: emerald 绿宝石June: pearl 珍珠July: ruby 红宝石August Male: sardonyx 男：玛瑙 Female: peridot 女：橄榄石September: sapphire 蓝宝石October: opal 猫眼石November: topaz 黄玉December: turquoise 绿松石





surpass v.

e.g. Her splendid performances surpassed all our expectations.



1) to exceed2) to go beyond in amount, degree, or quality

Comparison：excel, surpass, exceed, transcend, outdoTo excel is to do something very well, or much better than most people.To surpass another is to be superior in performance, quality, or degree. Exceed can refer to being superior as in quality, to be greater than another as in degree or quantity, to go beyond what rules or laws say you are allowed to do.





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:1 ）他的考试成绩比所有人都好。

2 ）这项工作超越了他的能力。He surpassed all the others in the examination.

The work surpassed his skill.



Comparison：

Derivation: surpassing adj.

excel ， surpass ， exceed ， transcend ， outdo，Transcend often implies going beyond the usual limits of something. To outdo is to be better or more successful than someone else at doing something.





give way to



1) to have its place taken by

2) allow oneself to show esp. a feelinge.g. Steam trains gave way to electric trains.

Extension：Some other meanings of “give way”:1) to retreat or withdraw2) to yield the right3) to give up ascendancy or position4) to collapse from or as if from physical pressure5) to yield to urging or demand; give in6) to abandon oneself

e.g. He gave way to tears.





Practice：Translate the following sentences into Chinese, and pay attention to the different meanings of “ give way”:1) The children’s fear grew as day gave way slowly to night.

2) He was so heavy that the ladder gave way under himself.

3) Knowing their team failed to qualify for the final, the soccer fans gave way to hysteria.

天慢慢黑了，孩子们越来越害怕。

他太胖了，梯子都被他压塌了。



听说球队没能获得决赛权，球迷们不由得陷入歇斯底里之中。





heart shaped boxes



The affectionate message might be carried by a heart shaped box of chocolate candies, or by a bouquet of tulips tied with filmy red ribbon.





Practice：Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence with compound words:1) She is a girl with such a light heart that I seldom see her

frowning. 2) The job, which literally breaks people’s back, withered many

candidates.

3) She was puzzled at the news, which brought many thoughts to her brain.

She is such a light-hearted girl that I seldom see her frowning.

The literally back-breaking job withered many candidates.



She was puzzled at the thought-provoking news.





perfunctory adj.

e.g. He gave his girl friend a perfunctory kiss followed by a perfunctory wave.

Derivation: perfunctorily adv.



(of an action) done hastily and without thought, interest or care





Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:1) 接线员接通电话，敷衍了事地打了个招呼。

2) 由于官员受了贿，他草草了了地检查了一下就授予这“ ”家公司信得过企业的称号。

The operator answered the phone with a perfunctory greeting.

Having taken the bribe, the official from the government gave the company a title of “trustworthy enterprise” after a perfunctory inspection.







take (something or somebody) for granted



e.g. I took it for granted that you’d want to come with us, so I bought you a ticket.

1) to accept a fact or situation without questioning its rightness

2) to treat something or somebody with too little attention

Extension:

Other phrases with take:take one’s chance take home to oneselftake ground take place

e.g. He is so busy with his job that he takes his family for granted.







Practice：Translate the following sentences into English and pay special attentions to the phrases with take: 1 ）我们都认真听老师讲，以便深刻理解这些句子的意思。

2 ）改革开放到现在已经二十多年了。

3 ）你的对手的情况我说不准，你能否成功要靠运气了。

We listened to the teacher carefully so as to take home to ourselves the meaning of the sentences.

It has been more than 20 years since the reform and opening up took place.

You have to take your chance as I know little about your opponent.





valentine n.



the person you love and to whom you send a card or gift on Valentine’s Day as a token of love





sense v.



e.g. The horse sensed danger and stopped.

to have a feeling that something exists or is there, without having direct proof

Collocation:

in a sense make sense make sense of

e.g. I could sense her growing irritation, so I got up and left.

e.g. I could sense how unhappy she was feeling after her husband left the family.







Practice：Translate the following sentences into English:1 ）汤姆走进教室，突然间产生了一种厄运即将到来的预感。

2 ）这件事情实在太恐怖了，彻底把我吓倒了。

Walking into the classroom, Tom suddenly had a sense of impending doom.

That was such a horrifying matter that it frightened the sense out of me.

Derivation：sensible adj. sensibility n. sense n.





hug n.



e.g. He gave his girlfriend a hug before he got on the train.

an act of holding somebody tightly in one’s arms, esp. as a sign of love

Collocation

give somebody a big / bear hug hug oneself at





relegate v.



to put into a lower or worse place

e.g. We relegated the old furniture to the children’s room.

Derivation ：relegation n.

e.g. He was relegated to a remote place to do farm work.

e.g. Everyone was surprised when the football team was relegated to the second division.





U.S. Postal Service



It is an independent agency within the executive department of the United States government, responsible for nationwide postal regulation and delivery. The postal system, formerly known as the Post Office Department, was reorganized as the U.S. Postal Service in 1970.





assortment



Derivation:assort v.

1) mixture2) a group or quantity of mixed things or of various kinds of the same thing

3) collection

e.g. She has an odd assortment of friends.

e.g. This is an assortment of sweets.





Practice：

Translate the following sentences into English:1 ）他总是与和他年龄相仿的人交往。

2 ）自助餐厅里的花样品种超出了我们的想象。He has always assorted with men of his age.

The assortment offered in the buffet is beyond our expectation.



plan, design, scheme, projectplan: something you have decided to dodesign: the art or process of making a drawing of something to show how you will make it or what it will look likescheme: a clever plan, especially to do something that is bad or illegal





project n.



a piece of work that needs effort, skill, and careful planning, esp. over a period of time

e.g. In their geography class, the children are doing a special project on North American Indians.

Comparison :

e.g. The new dam is a major construction project.

e.g. They are able to undertake projects of larger scope and greater complexity.

Fill in the blanks with plan, design, and project in their proper forms:1) The government has launched a to develop the waterfront.2) The insurance companies worked out a to swindle senior citizens of their savings. 3) The experts have had a careful study of the of the industrial park.





Practice：



Derivation:projecting adj.

plan, design, scheme, projectproject: a carefully planned piece of work to get information about something, to build something, to improve something, etc.

project________

scheme_______

plan______

Comparison:





put a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes



to make you feel very sad and shed bitter tears

sign n. signal n.Sign is applicable to any means by which one conveys information without verbal communication.Signal usually applies to a conventional and readily recognizable sign that conveys a command, a direction, or a warning or it may apply to a mechanical device that performs a comparable function.





signal v.



e.g. She was signaling wildly, waving her arms.

to give a signal; to express, warn, or tell (as if) by a signal

Comparison :

e.g. The general signaled to his officers to begin the attack.e.g. Both sides have signaled their willingness to start

negotiations.e.g. The policeman signaled the traffic to move forward slowly.

Derivation: signal n.





Practice：



Fill in the blanks with the word sign or signal:1) He made a to the others to wait while he wrote.

2) All the pedestrians are waiting for a traffic to change

to green.

sign______

signal______





scrawl v.



e.g. He scrawled a few hurried lines on a sheet of paper, put it into an envelope and sent it to me.

write in a careless, hurried, awkward, or unskillful way

Derivation:scrawl n.

scribble, scratch

Synonyms:

e.g. She scrawled a brief note and handed it to her secretary.







Practice：

Translate the following sentences into English:1 ）他在纸的末尾潦草地签了自己的名字。

2 ）小区居民要求物业人员清除墙上乱写的字。

He scrawled his name at the bottom of the page.

The residents asked the management staff to get rid of the wall scrawls.





legible adj.



e.g. His handwriting is barely legible.

(of handwriting or print) that can be read, esp. easily

Antonym:

legibly adv.

illegible (Many adjectives starting with “i” can be turned into their opposite with an “il-” prefix, for example:legal — illegal licit — illicit logic — illogic, etc.

Derivation:

e.g. The manuscripts unearthed from the tomb are no longer legible.







Practice：

Translate the following sentence into English:

新版的字典字更大，更易读。

The new edition of the dictionary is more legible with larger font.





reminder n.



something that remind make you notice, remember or think about something

Collocation:

a reminder slip a gentle reminder







Practice：

Translate the following sentences into English:1 ）上次的失败常常提醒我注意不要骄傲。

2 ）教师在办公室门口挂了一个意见箱，征求学生的意见。

The previous failure is a constant reminder of my conceit.

Students’ advice is solicited through a reminder tray hung outside the teachers’ office.

liberal, generous, bountifulLiberal suggests largeness in the thing or amount given.Generous stresses warmhearted readiness to help people or give them pleasure.Bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting generosity in giving or providing something.





generosity n.



1) the quality of being generous or unselfish

2) the quality of showing readiness to give money, help, kindness, etc.

Comparison:

e.g. Those who are characterized by generosity are invariably popular among people.

e.g. People admire him for his diligence, friendliness, and generosity.

Derivation:generously adv. generous adj.







Practice:

Fill in the blanks with liberal, generous or bountiful:1) The young heiress was so that she gave all her money away in a couple of years.2) It is known to all that Mr. Du Champ had been a backer of the arts.3) Our grandparents tend to be to us, thus, often spoil

us.

bountiful_________

generous________

liberal_______


Vocabulary analysis Grammar exercises

Translation exercises






Vocabulary analysis

I. Word discrimination

II. Word practice

III. Word explanationExercises for integrated skills

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Writing practice




Word discrimination

Group 1: A. elaborate B. conscientious C. careful D. traditional

Explanation:

Elaborate means carefully planned and organized in great detail.

A.

e.g. Jack received as his birthday gift a tapestry with an elaborate lace pattern.

B.

e.g. He was praised as a conscientious worker.

Conscientious means being careful to do everything that is your job or duty to do.

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Writing practice




Word discrimination

Group 1: A. elaborate B. conscientious C. careful D. traditional

Explanation:


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Writing practice

C.

e.g. The Palace Museum has employed a large number of careful art restorers to save those art treasures.

Careful means trying very hard to avoid doing anything wrong or to avoid damaging or losing something.

D.e.g. Here are also people who come to take such courses as Chinese

traditional medicine, painting, calligraphy and photography.

Traditional means of, relating to, or in accordance with tradition.




Explanation:

A.e.g. He produced a poem on his wife’s death.

Make is a general term, which means to cause to exist or happen.B.

e.g. The mobs are thinking of making a commotion.

Group 2: A. produce B. make C. invent D. create


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Produce means to make, write, etc. something to be bought, used or enjoyed by people.





Writing practice Invent means to produce or contrive (something previously unknown) by the use of ingenuity or imagination.

C.

e.g. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.

Create means to cause to exist or bring into being. D.e.g. We’ve created a beautiful new house from an old ruin.



Writing practice


Group 3: A. last B. eventual C. final D. at lastExplanation:

Last applies to what is most recent or nearest to present time.A.e.g. The last time I saw them they were fine.B.

e.g. If prices continue to spiral out of control, it is reasonable to expect the eventual collapse of the stock market.

Something eventual will inevitably happen at the end of a long period of time or after a lot of other things have happened. Exercises for integrated

skills

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C.

e.g. The final episode will be shown tonight.

Something final comes at the end of a series of actions, events, parts of a story, etc.

D.

e.g. At last, he enrolled into an expensive noble school.

At last is used as a temporal adverbial, referring to something that happens after you have been hoping, waiting, or working for it a long time.



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Group 4: A. guide B. usher C. introduce D. display

Guide means to help someone or something to move in a particular direction.

A.

e.g. He guided her firmly towards the sofa.

B.

e.g. He ushered her into the room.

Usher means to get from one place to another, especially by showing them the way.

C.

e.g. I finally found a chance to introduce myself to the gracious lady on the ball.

Introduce means to present (someone) by name to another in order to establish an acquaintance.

D.e.g. One can easily feast his eyes on the items displayed in the

showcase.

Display means to present or hold up to view.

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Group 5: A. aging B. old C. aged D. elderly

Aging means becoming old. A.e.g. aging movie starsB.

e.g. He has already been an old man after 30 years.

Old means having lived or existed for a relatively long time. The word contains a derogative meaning when referring to people.

C.e.g. The western world has yet to respect the aged members of its

society as the Japanese do.

Aged emphasizes being very old.

D.

e.g. Elderly residents of the city could still recall the construction of the first skyscraper.

One who is elderly is between middle age and old age. It is also used as a euphemistic expression to say that someone is old or becoming old.

The scientist is thinking about a maintaining system of livelihood for astronauts in the outer space.



Writing practice


Group 6: A. continuous B. remaining C. persisting D. maintaining


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Continuous means uninterrupted in time, sequence, substance, or extent.

A.e.g. The brain needs a continuous supply of blood.B.

e.g. A few soldiers stayed after war to clear up the remaining problems.

Remaining is used to describe people or things that one left when the others have gone, been used, or been dealt with.

C.

e.g. The newly-elected president was surprised to notice the persisting hostility within the parliament.

Persisting means the state of holding firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, a state, or an undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks.

D.

e.g.

Maintaining means the state of keeping an existing state continuing in the same way or at the same standard as before.

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Group 7: A. address B. deliver C. send D. signal

Address means to write on an envelope, package, etc. the mane and address of the person you are sending it to.

A.e.g. The mailman address the letter to Birmingham instead of

Buckingham. B.

e.g. Some new books have been delivered to the school.

Deliver means to take goods, letters, packages, etc. to a particular place or person.

C.

e.g. Generally speaking, the officials send the package by parcel post.

Send means to cause to be conveyed by an intermediary to a destination.

D.e.g. They have signaled their willingness to negotiate.

Signal means to relate or make known by signals.

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Group 8: A. caution B. notice C. remainder D. reminder

Caution means close attention or vigilance to minimize risk.A.e.g. The car proceeded over the rickety bridge with caution.

B.

e.g. That detail escaped my notice.

Notice means the act of noting or observing; perception or attention.

C.

e.g. The king ate some of the candy and gave the remainder away

Remainder means something left over after other parts have been taken away.

D.e.g. This note is only a reminder to those who leave the light on.

Reminder means something calling back people’s recollection.

Vocabulary analysis


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1. insist

Other forms of insist: insistent, insistently, insistence, insistency

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of insist.1) The dean’s very that they should finish the papers

in time.

2) The government had to postpone the meeting for another two weeks under the of the environmentalists.

3) The player ran for almost two years to retrieve his conditions.

insistent ________

insistence_________

insistently_________

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2. borrow

Fill in the blanks with the antonyms of the verbs in the brackets in their proper forms .

1) He some money from a money lender. (lend)

2) He a house from an intermediary. (lease)

3) The bank him 100 dollars. (pay)

borrowed _________

rented_______

loaned_______

Vocabulary analysis


3. look

Other phrases with the similar meaning to look upon…as…

1 ）邻居把我儿子视为自己的儿子。My neighbour looked upon our son as his own.

Chinese-English translation

2 ）他总能把一些困难看作是对自己的磨练。He is always able to regard the difficulties as chances to toughen himself up.

3 ）他总把别人的善意当作恶意。He always thinks of the good wills of others as evil ones.

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Never Say Goodbye

Vocabulary analysis


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4. surely

Some verbs are related to sure, including assure, insure, ensure and reassure, all of which mean to make secure or certain. Only assure is used with reference to a person in the sense of “to make the person less worried”. Although ensure and insure are generally interchangeable, only insure is now widely used in American English in the commercial sense of “to guarantee persons or property against risk.” Reassure also means to restore confidence to somebody.

Vocabulary analysis


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4. surely

Fill in the blank with assure, insure, ensure and reassure in their proper forms.1) The captain’s confidence during the storm the

passengers.

2) The conductor us that the train would be on time.

3) It is advisable to your life against accident.

4) If you want to that you get the diploma, you have to work harder and take all these curricula and pass them.

reassured__________

assured_______

insure________

ensure_______

Vocabulary analysis


5. hardly

Some synonyms of hardly: seldom, barely, scarcely

1 ）我几乎听不到演说者的声音。I could hardly hear the speaker.


2 ）天那么黑，我几乎看不见了。It was so dark that I could hardly see.

3 ）雨只下了一会儿，基本没有把地面打湿。It rained for such a short time that it hardly dampened the ground.

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Never Say Goodbye

Vocabulary analysis


6. belong

The noun forms of belong: belonging, belongingness

1 ）刀片是食品加工机的附件。These blades belong to the food processor.


2 ）我希望你什么东西也没忘在旅馆里。I hope you’ve left none of your belongings in the hotel.

3 ）我们希望让孩子在学校有一种归属感。We are trying to building a belongingness into the children when they are at school.

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Never Say Goodbye

Vocabulary analysis


Word explanation

1. time v.

Explanation:

1) The batter timed his swing so as to hit the ball squarely.

击球手计算好他的摇摆度以便正好击中球。

to adjust so that a force is applied or an action occurs at the desired time

2) He timed his speech to last 20 minutes.

他将讲话时间控制在 20 分钟。

Examples:

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3) He timed his journey so that he could arrive before dark.

他精确计算旅行时间，以便能在天黑之前到达。

Vocabulary analysis


2. perfunctory adj.

Explanation:

1) That was certainly a perfunctory “hello” he gave us.

他和我们打招呼时一定心不在焉。

A perfunctory action is done quickly, and is only donebecause people expect it.

2) He gave his face a perfunctory washing.

他草草地洗了把脸。

Examples:

3) He overlooked many weaknesses when he inspected the factory in his perfunctory manner.

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他视察工厂时敷衍了事，对很多缺点视而不见。





Vocabulary analysis


3. signal v.

Explanation:

1) The general signaled to his officers for the attack to begin.

将军举手示意进攻开始。

to make a sound or action in order to give informationto tell someone to do something

司机转弯时应该伸手示意或者亮起指示灯。

Examples:

指挥示意乐队起立。3) The conductor signaled the orchestra to rise.

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2) A driver should signal his intention to turn by putting out his arm or by using his car indicator.





Vocabulary analysis


4. scrawl v. n.

Explanation:

1) The government has allocated a fund to get rid of the scrawl on the wall.

政府已经拨专款清除墙上的涂鸦。

v. to write hastily or illegibly n. untidy, careless writing

2) I could hardly read his scrawl on the notebook.

他笔记本上的字很潦草，我根本看不懂。

Examples:

对绝大多数观点来说，现代艺术不过是在纸上乱涂几笔罢了。

3) To most audience, the modern art is hardly more than a few scrawls on the paper.

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Vocabulary analysis


5. generosity n.

Explanation:

1) I can’t take advantage of his generosity.

他很慷慨，但我不能占他的便宜。

liberality in giving or willingness to give

Examples: Grammar exercises



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2) Young as he is, Tom has the generosity to share his toys with others. 汤姆年纪不大，却很大方，愿意和别人一起玩玩具。

Vocabulary analysis

Grammar exercises



Grammar exercises

I. The use of conditional clauses

II. The difference between adjectives and adverbs

III. The never / nor inversionExercises for integrated skills

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The use of conditional clauses

The clauses of condition are introduced by if, unless [1], in case [2] , even if [3], provided [4], etc. The verb in clauses of condition remains in the present tense when the future tense is used in the main clause. “Will” is never used in “ if- clauses ” except when this word means be willing to do something.

Vocabulary analysis

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Vocabulary analysis

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Unless is used to mean “except on the condition that; except under the circumstances that.”

e.g.My baby sister never cries unless she is hungry.I shall go there tomorrow unless I’m too busy.

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In case is used as a way of being safe from something that might happen or might be true.

e.g.I have to write everything down in case I forget.He always prepared a B plan in case the A plan fails.

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Even if is used to indicate that although something may happen or may be true, it will not change a situation.

e.g.He still deserves respect even if he fails.The parents have to be tough with the kid even if they love him.

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Provided can be replaced by providing or if.

e.g.You may keep the book a further week provided (that) no one else requires it.The manager will pay the bonus provided the job is completed on time.

°

1. Match the conditions with the results and make up conditional sentences with the same tense in both the conditional clause and the main clause.

Vocabulary analysis

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Practice


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Conditions Results

lower the temperature of water to 0 ℃ you gain timefly west I stay at homeit rains it vaporizeswater boils it freezes

If you lower the temperature of water to 0 C, it freezes.If you fly west, you gain time.If it rains, I will stay at home.If water boils, it vaporizes.

Answer:

Vocabulary analysis

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2. Put the verbs in the correct form.


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1. Oil floats if you (pour) it on water.pour

2. Provided the traffic isn’t too bad, I (pick) you up from work.

will pick_________

______

3. I expect I (go) away if I can spare the time.will / shall go_____________

4. The law needs to be revised if justice (do). is to be done___________

5. If that (be) Mary, why didn’t she stop and say hello?was_____

Vocabulary analysis

Grammar exercises



The difference between adjectives and adverbs


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Generally speaking, an adjective is used to modify a noun while an adverb is employed to modify an adjective, a verb or a sentence. Most adverbs are marked with –ly suffix. However, some words that are ended with –ly are actually adjectives and should be used properly.

Vocabulary analysis

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PracticeChoose the correct form.


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1. Still water runs (deep, deeply).deep

Explanation:

Here run is a link verb which has to be followed by an adjective to be the predicative.

2. You can speak (free, freely) in front of him. He knows everything.

freely_______

Explanation:

Freely is an adverb used to describe used to modify the verb speak.

______

Vocabulary analysis

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3. Bill was (right, rightly) punished for his naughtiness. rightly

Explanation:

Rightly is an adverb used to modify the verb punish.

4. Without preliminaries, he came (direct, directly) to the point.

direct_______

Explanation:

Direct here is an adverb showing the attitude and resolution of the verb come.

_______

5. To make such a portrait is (clean, cleanly) impossible.

Explanation:

Here clean is an informal intensifier of impossible.

clean_______

Vocabulary analysis

Grammar exercises



The never / nor inversion


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In formal contexts, the negative words like [1] never or [2] nor are placed at the beginning of the sentence to emphasize the attitude while the auxiliary verbs should be placed in front of the subjects to form an inversion.

Vocabulary analysis

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e.g.Never in my life have I heard or seen such a thing.Never in a day was I so tired.

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e.g.He cannot find anyone now, nor does he expect to find anyone in the future.Jane will never compromise with Bill, nor will Bill compromise with Jane.

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Making sentences with the given words, using never or nor to introduce an inversion.

Practice

1. will, we, never, the knee, to bow, fascismNever will we bow the knee to fascism.____________________________________________

2. they, never, should, she, how much, suffered, had, know

Never should they know how much she had suffered.______________________________________________

3. never, again, nor, he, write, he, to apologize, went, didHe never went again, nor did he write to apologize.____________________________________________

4. I, I, care, don’t, know, do, nor

I don’t know, nor do I care.____________________________________________

Vocabulary analysis

Grammar exercises



Translation exercisesTranslate each of the following sentences into English, using the word or phrase given in the bracket. Inflect the word or phrase where necessary.1. 索菲娅婉转地取笑汤姆那顶新帽子，而汤姆则不顾情面地就

她的卷发戏弄了她一番。 (tease somebody about)

“Tease” means to make fun of somebody or mock playfully. “About” is often followed by a noun to indicate the objectives. “Unmercifully” can also be replaced by “relentlessly” or “inexorably”. “But” is a conjunction used to show the strong contrast in their attitudes.

Sophia teased Tom about his new hat mildly, but Tom teased her about her curly hair unmercifully.


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Notes ：

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1 ）晚会上，所有的客人都用俏皮话取笑约翰。

2 ）你不应该取笑你的小妹妹。

3 ）他很胖，别的孩子都取笑他。

Everyone on the party teased John with jest.

You should not tease your little sister.

All the boys tease him as he is very fat.


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Decorate means to make something look more attractive by putting something pretty on it.

The walls of her bedroom and living room are all decorated with pictures of pop stars and film stars.


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2. 她卧室和起居室的墙上贴满了流行歌星和电影明星的照片。(decorate)





Notes：

Vocabulary analysis

Grammar exercises




1）玛丽一家正在装饰房子过新年。

2）为了迎接奥运会，街道上都装饰了旗子。Mary’s family is decorating their house for New Year.

The streets are decorated with flags for the Olympics. Exercises for integrated skills

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3. 他喜出望外，因为他取得了非凡的成就，超过了为自己

确定的目标。 (surpass)

Surpass means to do something better than you have ever done before.

He was overjoyed because he had attained remarkable achievements which surpassed the goal he had set for himself.


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Notes：

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1) 结果比他们所期望的要好。 2) 中国运动员在比赛中的表现远远超过了赛前的预期。

The result surpassed their hopes.


The performance of Chinese athletes in the game surpassed the boldest expectation.

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“Take for granted” means to believe that something is true without making sure.

I took it for granted that you would want to see the play, so I bought you a ticket.

4. 我想当然地认为你要看这出戏，所以给你买了一张票。 (take for granted)


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Notes：

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1) 约翰想当然地认为这份邀请中应该包括他的妻子。

2) 老师不能想当然地认为学生一定会每天做作业。John took it for granted that the invitation should include his wife.

The teacher should never take it for granted that students would do their homework every day.

People in countries as far apart as Japan, the United States, Australia and France send Valentine cards to someone they fancy on 14 February, St. Valentine’s Day. Most cards are romantic and express secret (1) messages which don’t let on who the

(2) is.

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Fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE word you think appropriate.

love____sender______

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Senders of newspaper messages, no matter (3) they are in Britain, north America or Australia, must get a thrill (4) of their exhibitionism without (5) on who is the secret admirer hidden in the words of the advertisement. The British newspaper ad brigades (6) to see themselves or the desired ones (7) animals, with bears being the firm favorites. But fleas, toads, bugs and mice are well represented. In parts of the English countryside it is still (8) that a girl can tell the occupation of her future husband by noting (9) bird she sees first on 14 February. But if it’s a woodpecker, she will find no man at (10) . Happy birdwatching! Happy Valentine’s Day!

whether________out______

as____

letting ______

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tend______

believed________

which_______all_____

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Explanation:“Love” should be used as Valentine’s Day is an occasion to show people’s admiration and adoration.

love

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Explanation:The answer “sender” is made through the observation of the “the” before the blank, which indicates a noun or a doer should be followed. Generally, “-er” is attached to the end of a verb to make a doer of a certain action. Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule.

sender

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Explanation:The answer whether is made through noticing “no matter”, which means regardless of.

whether

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Explanation:Here out of is used to refer to some feelings derived from a certain action.

out

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Explanation:Let on means to tell someone something you have been keeping secret.

letting

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Explanation:If something tends to happen, it happens often and is likely to happen again.

tend

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Explanation:The collocation of see somebody as something has the same meaning as regard somebody as something, think of somebody as something or consider somebody (as) something.

as

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Explanation:“It is believed that…”is a sentence opener used to introduce an objective statement so as to underlie the authority of the sentence. Other words with similar use are:It is expected that …It is informed that …It is reported that …

believed

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Explanation:Which means what particular one or ones of a number of things or people.

which

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Explanation:At all is often used together with “not”, meaning in any way or to any extent.

all

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Oral activities


Oral activities

I. Role play. Imagine yourself to be the author, and describe your “Valentine Man” and valentine collections.

Exercises for integrated skills II. Form two groups. One is to defend the idea stated in the

following topic; the other is to challenge it. Air your views as clearly as possible. Valentine’s Day is customary to western culture, but contradicts the Chinese convention.

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Model version


Defense:

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I am of the opinion that Valentine’s Day can be celebrated in China despite its origin as a western festival. We know the festival symbolizes a celebration of the power and magic of love, which has no border. In a time of globalization, a custom, regardless of its origin, or even the meaning it carries in old times, should be accepted as long as it features the positive. Besides, the festival, which is often misunderstood by some of us as solely for the young lovers, contains a broader significance of love shown to everyone. In light of this, we can learn much from the occasion as we, deriving from our from our traditional culture, are, more often than not,

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reluctant to show our affection, especially to the ones we love. Children, in particular, being the princes or princesses of the household, are so self-centered that they may take their parents’ unconditioned love for granted. The festival, with its popularity, provides people with an opportunity of the appreciation of other’s love and the expression of our own. There is no denial that the celebration of the festival may nurture some

extravagance among the young people. The disadvantage, which can be improved through proper instruction from teachers and parents, never eclipses the festival’s value. Taking all these into

consideration, I believe that the Valentine’s Day can be incorporated into the calendar and be celebrated as a public holiday in China.

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I am strongly opposed to the idea of Chinese people celebrating Valentine’s Day. The opposition, far from a lop-sided conventionalism, is based on the following reasons: for one thing, it seems we can, rather than domesticating western festivals, make full use of the traditional Chinese festivals. The “Qi-qiao Jie”, or the Double 7 festival, has long been remembered as an occasion for the everlasting relationship and faithfulness between people who love each other. Backed with its charming story and rich cultural contents, the festival is capable of being developed into a national holiday endowed with much greater cultural significance.

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Opposition:

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Writing practice

Additional information

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Coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions: The words and, but and or are called coordinating conjunctions. Subordinating conjunctions can also be used to combine short sentences into longer sentences. But subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses which make the relationship between groups of words much clearer.

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Some of the most common subordinating conjunctions are the following:after, as long as, if, since, because, in case, in order that, as, before, once, as if, every time, till, provided (that), so that, now that, until, while, though, although, unless, when, etc.

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Fill in each of the blanks in the following passage with a logical connector.

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Have you ever seen a movie in which a building was burned down or a bridge was destroyed? Have you seen films in which a train crashed or a ship sank into the ocean? (1) so, you may have wondered how these things could happen without harming the people in the film.

The man who knows the answer is the “special-effects” man. He has one of the most important jobs in the film industry. He may be ordered to create a flood or to make a battlefield explode. (2)

he may also be asked to create a special effect which is much less exciting, (3) just as important to the success of the film.

If____

But_____though_______

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In a sense for one movie there was a big glass bowl filled with water in which small fish were swimming. The director of the movie wanted the fish to stop swimming suddenly while they seemed to stare at an actor. (4) the director wanted the fish to stop staring and swim away. (5) fish can’t be ordered to do anything. It was a problem.

The special-effects man thought about this problem for a long time. The result was an idea for controlling the fish with a harmless use of electricity. (6) he applied electricity to the fish bowl, causing the fish to be absolutely still. Then he rapidly reduced the amount of electricity, allowing the fish to swim away. (7) he got the humorous effect that the director wanted.

(8) in other parts of movie making, there are those who have developed particular skill in creating certain kinds of effects. Jim White, who has been a special-effects man for thirty-two years, is best known for work with ships and airplanes.

Then_____But____

As_____

First______

Thus_____


Explanation: If here is used to introduce an adverbial clause of condition.

If






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Explanation:But here is used as a compound conjunction to show the transition or a contrast of the meaning.

But






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Explanation:Though is used as a conjunction to introduce a cause which is considered less important.

though






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Explanation:Then is used to indicate a subsequent occurrence.

Then






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Explanation:But here is used as a coordinating conjunction to introduce the transition or a contrast of the meaning.

But






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Explanation:First is used to introduce the initial action of a series of movements.

First






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Explanation:Thus is used to refer to the logical result of a certain matter.

Thus






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Explanation:As here means like, suggesting a similarity between two things.

As






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Explanation:Then is used to indicate a subsequent occurrence.

Then






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Listening exercisesValentine’s Day






A. Listen to Part A first, and supply the missing information. Date of observance: “Valentines”: a decorated with a box of a tied with Messages: Be Be Be Will

February 14th______________

you be my valentine__________________?

romantic card_____________ hearts, flowers or birds____________________heart-shaped____________ chocolate candies________________bouquet of flowers ________________ red ribbon__________

My Valentine____________My Sweetheart______________My Lover__________

■

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Signatures:anonymous Symbols:Cupid — Roman of loveheart

Guess who__________

God of Love___________arrow______

script

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B. Now listen to Part B, and fill in the blanks with what you hear on the tape.






It is from the Christians that we about Valentine’s Day that most people have . One story is about whose name was “Valentine.” He lived . At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius any Roman soldiers for any reason whatsoever. So many Roman soldiers . Together with their girls, they came to Valentine to in a Christian way. Later Valentine was and by the Roman Emperor. One tradition says that he wrote notes to his friends by and then the window of his prison. The leaves were .

get the stories _____________come to believe______________

a Christian priest________________

refused to allow______________ to get married _____________

turned to Christianity_____________________be married secretly__________________

discovered__________ put in prison______________

marking on leaves________________ throwing them out_________________shaped like a heart_________________

script

around250 AD

_______________

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Part AFebruary 14th is a complicated but interesting holiday. First of all,

Valentine’s Day is not a holiday from work. No one gets a day off. On Valentine’s Day people usually send romantic cards to someone they love. The cards are called “valentines.” They are very colorful, often decorated with hearts, flowers or birds, and have humorous or sentimental verses printed inside. The basic message of the verse is always “Be My Valentine,” “Be My Sweetheart” or “Be My Lover.” Besides cards, a Valentine could also be a heart-shaped box of chocolate candies, or a bouquet of flowers tied with red ribbon. But in whatever form, the message is always the same — “Will you be my valentine?” A valentine may be anonymous, or sometimes signed “Guess who.” The person receiving it has to guess who sent it. This can lead to interesting speculation. And that’s half the fun of valentines.

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Valentine’s Day






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One of the symbols of St. Valentine’s Day is the Roman God of Love, called Cupid. Cupid is often printed on the card, a winged naked infant, poised to shoot his arrow into a heart. He would shoot an arrow of love into a person’s heart to make the person fall in love immediately, maybe with the first person to come along. Sometimes one arrow would go through two hearts, holding them together. So on February 14th not only do we have a picture of the Christian St. Valentine but we also have pictures of the non-Christian Cupid, the Roman God of Love.

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Part BIt is from the Christians that we get the stories about

Valentine’s Day that most people have come to believe. One story is about a Christian priest whose name was “Valentine.” He lived around 250 AD. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius refused to allow any Roman soldiers to get married for any reason whatsoever. So many Roman soldiers turned to Christianity. Together with their girls, they came to Valentine to be married secretly in a Christian way. Later Valentine was discovered and put in prison by the Roman Emperor. One tradition says that he wrote notes to his friends by marking on leaves and then throwing them out the window of his prison. The leaves were shaped like a heart.

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SectionFour_L_script3

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There are many favorite lyrics of Valentine’s Day. Here is one of them: Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you. Let me hear you whisper, that you love me, too. Keep the love light shining, in your eyes so true. Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you.

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Lead-in questions Supplementary reading



Lead-in questions

1.

2.

Have you had any serious illness or been hospitalized? If so, what was your feeling at that time?Do you categorize yourself into the optimistic people in times of adversity?

Memorable quotes





Soon after the first chemotherapy treatment, I asked Wanda to help me clean up the studio. The desk, the bookcases, and the typewriter were deep in dust, but we finally managed to make the room spotless. I hadn’t written anything for a long while. Now I began to write again. One of my first pieces was about a Christmas I remembered. I was seven years old, it was during the Great Depression, and we were living on a rundown farm. In times as hard as those, I didn’t think I would get any presents. A blizzard had developed on Christmas Eve, and I had snuggled into a featherbed to keep warm, praying that I would get just a little something for Christmas. When I woke the next morning and went downstairs, I found a decorated Christmas tree in the front room, and underneath it, a pair of lace-up boots, a red fire engine, and a sack of candy.

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Supplementary reading



Memorable quotes

Make Today Count Orville E. Kelly





“I have seen many other snowfalls,” I wrote, “but for some reason I always remember that night when the blizzard came on Christmas Eve. Whenever I see the snow coming down and hear the wind begin to howl, I remember a dream that came true.”

I submitted the story to the local Burlington newspaper — the Hawk-Eye — for a winter writing contest and received a first prize for it. That was my first Christmas present of the year. And others came, too. Wanda and I had only a little money, although we had been able to make ends meet with the Social Security disability payments and Veterans Administration checks we had been receiving. But Christmas 1973 turned out to be one of the warmest our family ever had, thanks to the generosity of a few friends, particularly those at the factory where Wanda had worked. We received cash, hams, turkeys, and countless boxes of candy. Wanda bought a few presents for the children. Most important, the entire family was together.

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Lead-in questions



The day after Christmas, I decided it was time for me to write about the struggles of a cancer patient. Before I knew that I had cancer, I had thought of it as similar to leprosy — a disease that rotted people slowly — and visibly — away. Life with cancer didn’t have to be that way, and I wanted people to know this. Of course, I didn’t have all the answers, but I wanted to show that cancer could be approached with openness, and that dying people did have something to live for. Although I had read about all the money being spent on cancer research, I had heard very little about the emotional rehabilitation of cancer patients and their families. The void was obvious. No matter how the problem of cancer is handled in a family, all the members of the family are bound to be affected in some way.

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Lead-in questions



I spent two days writing and editing the piece. “Once,” I wrote in it, “I asked how there could be a God who would let so many terrible things happen. Now I ask myself how I can doubt the existence of God ... when I hear a child’s laughter on a summer evening, or see around me the miracle of life itself. I realize this is life and I am part of it. I know there has to be a God. When I think to myself how lucky I was to have such an understanding person as my wife, Wanda, I know good things happen. When someone does a kind thing for me, I know this is all part of this miracle of living.”

“On Christmas a Burlington woman called to tell me her husband had been told recently he had lung cancer. She wanted to know if I would come to their house and talk to him. He felt he would like to just sit down and talk to someone with the same problems he had.”

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“The thought came to me that there should be some kind of organization of people with incurable diseases. These people could help each other, and I am going to work on this ...”

I sent the story to the Hawk-Eye, and the editors decided to use it in the Sunday, January 6, edition. The story was carried on page 2, along with a picture of me looking out from our back porch and another of me taking my pills. The day the story appeared, I received several telephone calls from other cancer patients, telling me how strongly they supported my idea of forming an organization. So I arranged for a gathering at the local Elks Club on January 25. With the help of a little publicity from the local newspaper, eighteen cancer patients and members of their families, including Wanda and me, met that night in the upstairs meeting room.

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Lead-in questions



One of the first things I told the group was that I didn’t think we were there to cry on one another’s shoulders. We weren’t there to find out who was the most seriously ill. We were there to share our mutual problems and to try to work them out so that we could live as close to normal lives as possible. We went around the table introducing ourselves and telling our stories as a way to break the ice. After some discussion, we decided we should try to get together once a month to talk with one another and to listen to speakers who could help us face our illnesses.

Several days before the meeting, it occurred to me that if we were going to start a group, we ought to have a name. I had three suggestions: Live Each Day Fully; Live for Today; or Make Today Count.

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When I put the suggestions to a vote, the other seventeen hands were raised in support of my choice.

The vote was for Make Today Count.

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Lead-in questions



Great Depression It was the worst and longest economic collapse in the history of the modern industrial world, lasting from the end of 1929 until the early 1940s. Beginning in the United States, the depression spread to most of the world’s industrial countries. The Great Depression saw rapid declines in the production and sale of goods and a sudden, severe rise in unemployment. Businesses and banks closed their doors, people lost their jobs, homes, and savings, and many depended on charity to survive.

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Lead-in questions



Christmas Eve It is 24 December, the day before Christmas Day, when all preparations for Christmas are complete and when almost everyone starts a holiday of several days. It is a traditional time for parties, and many work places, including shops and banks, close earlier than usual. In the late evening, many people go to a church service, and children, on going to bed, traditionally hang up an old sock at the head of their bed for Santa Claus to fill with presents during the night. This role is actually played by the child’s parents.

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Christmas tree The Christmas tree had its origin in Germany. German immigrants took the Christmas tree to other parts of Europe and to the United States and Canada, where it soon became a popular tradition. It is now the centre of interest at most Christmas celebrations. Decorating the tree is part of the Christmas festivities.Memorable quotes






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Social Security public programs designed to provide income and services to individuals in the event of retirement, sickness, disability, death, or unemployment

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Burlington city in northwestern Vermont, located on Lake Champlain

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Veterans Administration It was an independent government agency established in 1930 to administer national benefits for veterans. It was replaced by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989.

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Lead-in questions



turkeys A traditional midday meal (Christmas dinner) is eaten on Christmas Day. It usually includes roast turkey and Christmas pudding with mince pies, and is accompanied by wine. Roast turkey is stuffed with a bread dressing to absorb the tasty juices as it roasts.

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Lead-in questions

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Questions for discussion:1.

2.

3.

4.

What can we infer from the author’s description of a Christmas about the damaging effect of the Great Depression on American farmers?What memories of childhood comes alive again whenever the author sees the snow coming down?What were the main criticisms directed against the government concerning cancer research?According to the author what psychological problems may a cancer patient face?






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Answers to the questions for reference:

1.

2

3.

4.

The Great Depression was devastating to American farmers and their families. Many people lacked adequate food, shelter, and clothing.Afflicted by the Great Depression, his family lived in poverty. On Christmas Eve, he prayed that he would get just a little present for Christmas and his dream came true the next morning.All the money was spent on cancer research, and equal attention was not paid to the emotional rehabilitation of cancer patients and their families.Depression and persistent anxiety. He may have low self-esteem, a sense of hopelessness about the future, and a lack of interest in people and activities once found pleasurable.

Lead-in questions


Memorable quotes



Memorable quotes

We are all born for love, … It is the principle of existence and its only end.

— Benjamin Disraeli





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Memorable quotes







Oh my luve’s like a red, red rose,That’s newly sprung in June;Oh my luve’s like the melodie,That’s sweetly played in tune.

—Robert Burns

My Forever Valentine Reading aloud Audiovisual supplements Section One: Pre-reading Activities...

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Transcript of My Forever Valentine Reading aloud Audiovisual supplements Section One: Pre-reading Activities...