Unit 4
Why don’ t you talk to
your parents?
Section B
member n.
pressure n.
compete v.
opinion n.
skill n.
typical adj.
football n.
成员；分子
压力
竞争；对抗
意见；想法；看法
技艺；技巧
典型的
（美式）橄榄球；足球
cut out
quick adj.
continue v.
compare v.
compare…with
crazy adj.
push v.
删除；删去
快的；迅速的；时间短暂的
持续；继续存在
比较
比较；对比
不理智的；疯狂的
鞭策；督促；推动
development n.
cause v.
usual adj.
in one’s opinion
perhaps adv.
cathy
taylor
发展；发育；成长
造成；引起
通常的；寻常的
依。。。看
可能；大概；也许
凯西（女名）
泰勒（姓）
Do you often have stress?
How to low your stress?
play sports
Hang out with friends
Talk to parents
Talk to friends
Talk to teacher
Listen to music
Play computer games
Read books
Watch movies
_____ play sports
______hang out with friends
______talk to parents or other family members ______ spend time alone
______ play computer games
______ read books
______ watch movies
1a What activities do you like to do to help lower your stress? Order them [1-8] with 1 being the most favorite thing you do to lower stress.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
what about you?
1c. Listen and check (✓) the problems
Wei Ming talks about.
_________ My parents give me a lot of pressure
about school.
______ I don’t get enough sleep.
______ I don’t have enough free time.
______ I had a fight with my parents.
______ I have to compete with my classmates
at school.
✓
✓
✓
1d. Listen again. What advice does Alice
give to Wei Ming? Fill in the blanks.
1. Although you may be_________ with your parents, you should talk to them. Ask them why they give you so much___________.
2. Life shouldn't just be about ________. Free time activities like_______ and hanging out with friends are important, too.
3. You shouldn't_________ with your classmates to get better grades. You should all be _______each other to improve.
unhappy
pressure
grades
sports
complete
helping
1e. What is your advice for Wei Ming?
Tell your partner and say why.
A: I think Wei Ming should ...
B: Why?
A: Because ...
Pair Work
2a. Check (✓) the after-school activities
you and your classmates usually do.
_______ do homework
_______ have after-school lessons
_______ watch movies
_______ use the Internet
_______ hang out with friends
_______ play sports or exercise
✓
✓
✓
what about you?
2b. Read the article and answer the questions.
1. What is the common problem for Chinese
and American families ?
2. Who gives their opinions about the problem?
Guessing the Meaning
When reading something for the first time, do not worry about words you do not know. Use the context to help you guess the meaning.
Maybe You Should Learn to Relax!

These days, Chinese children are sometimes busier on weekends than weekdays because they have to take so many after-school classes. Many of them are learning exam skills so that they can get into a good high school and later a good university. Others are practicing sports so that they can compete and win. However, this doesn't only happen in China.
The Taylors are a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor's three children is very busy. “On most days after school,” Cathy says, “I take one of my two boys to basketball practice and my daughter to football training. Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities, but I believe these activities are important for my children's future. I really want them to be successful.” However, the
tired children don’t get home until after 7:00 p.m. They have a quick dinner, and then it’s time for homework.

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

Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child's development. Dr. Alice Green says all these activities can cause a lot of stress for children. “Kids should have time to relax and think for themselves, too. Although it’s normal to want successful children,
it’s even more important to
have happy children.”
2c Look at the words in bold in the article.
Can you guess their meanings? Try to
match them with the meanings below.
1. Keeps on happening ______________
2. Physical exercise and practice of skills______
3. Worries about things at home, school or
work_________
4. Usual or common _________
continue
training
stress
typical
5. Try to be the best or the first to finish
something __________
6. Getting better or bigger ___________
7. Looking for differences and similarities
between things __________
complete
development
comparing
2d Read the article again and answer the
questions.
1. Does Cathy Taylor think its important for
kids to join after-school activities?
2. Does Linda Miller agree with Cathy?
What’s her opinion?
3. Does Dr. Green agree with Cathy or Linda?
What does she say?
Group work
1. What do you think of after-school
activities?
2. What should you do to relax?
2e. Discuss the questions with your partner.
3a. A magazine interviewed some parents
about after-school classes for children.
Read the opinions below and make notes
on your own opinions.
In my opinion, I agree …
3b. Write a letter to the magazine to express
your opinions on after-school classes for
children. Use the following expressions to
help you.
Language points
Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities,
but …
此处cut out 是一个短语动词，表示“删除；剪下
或是“停止；戒除”等。再如：
Don’t cut your parents out of your lives.
不要把父母从你的生活中赶出去。
If you cut out the drinking, you’d feel much
healthier.
如果你戒酒，就会觉得身体好很多。
2. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.
人们不该对自己的孩子逼得太紧。
动词push 有“推；推动”， 例如：
Don’t push this poor, you have to pull it open.
别推这扇门，你的把它拉开才行。
本单元中，push 表示“ 使（某人）努力；鞭
策；督促”，其后宾语可以是别人或自己。
e.g. The math teacher really pushes his students.
That’s why they don’t like him that much.
那位数学老师确实对学生鞭策太多了，这就是
他们不那么喜欢他的原因。
Ⅰ. Translate(翻译)
1.人们不该对自己的孩子逼得太紧。
People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.
2. 你为什么不买一块手表呢？
Why don’t you buy a watch?
3.不要把父母从你的生活中赶出去。
Don’t cut your parents out of your lives.
4. 你喜欢和朋友一起闲逛吗？
Would you like to hang out with friends?
Ⅱ. Correct (改错)
1. People shouldn’t push their kids so hardly.
(hard)
2. Why not talking to your parents?
(talk)
3. --How about a book? --Sound good.
(Sounds)
4. How about leave him a note?
(leaving)
problems
I’m very cold.

I have too much
homework.

My clothes are
out of style.

I have a day-off.
suggestions
Why not buy some new clothes?
How about doing
it quickly?
What about going out to play?
Why don’t you close the door?
Ⅲ. Match
Homework
Do you think it’s important for kids to join after- school activities? Why or why not? Discuss with your partner.
Thank You!