Periods 1 & 2 Warming-up & Reading
Goals:
1. Learn something about volcano through reading.
2. The students can use what they have learned to describe volcanoes.
3. The students realize that human beings can overcome any hardship.
4. The students will improve the ability to solve problems.
Teaching important points:
1.Try to master the useful new words & expressions in this period.
2.Understand the text well.
Teaching difficult points:
1.How to use the new words & expressions correctly.
2.To understand the reading materials of similar topics.
Teaching aids: a computer, a tape recorder & a projector
Teaching procedures
Step 1 Warming up
Q1: What’s the weather like today?
It’s sunny (rainy, windy, etc).
Q2: Do you often care about the weather?
Yes. / No, sometimes.
Q3: How do you hear about it?
On TV. / Over the radio.
Q4: Have you ever heard of typhoon?
Yes, quite often.
Q5: What words can you think of to describe the typhoon weather?
heavy wind (blow hard) storm (show a picture of stormy weather.)
roaring thunder (also roaring forties: part of the Atlantic Ocean, often very stormy, between latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees south.)
Q6: What will you feel in such kind of weather?
frightened, scared, terrible, happy (Ask the students why they feel happy? ---- Because typhoon will often release the drought. What’s more there is enough water, which can be used to make electricity.)
Q7: What about the hurricane? Have you ever heard about it?
It is something like typhoon.
Q8: What about volcano?
Q9: Look at the picture. Find out as much as you can to describe it.
eg. eruption lava
Q10: How is a volcano formed?
1). Show a video about the eruption of a volcano.
2). Show a picture of the boiling water kettle, which means the eruption of a volcano is something like the boiling water from the kettle. That is, the rocks is very, very hot and melted to gas and liquid. And they try to get out like the steam and boiling water.
Q11: Where is the most possible place that a volcano may erupt?
Near the ocean. eg. Fujiyama mountain in Japan.
Q12: Do you know how a volcano works, if you do, describe it?
Rocks from under the earth becomes hotter and hotter and many things erupted from the
volcano, such as:
Gas: vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulphur, etc.
Solid: bits of rock and volcanic ash, etc.
Liquid: lava.
Step 2 Pre reading
1. Show a picture. Ask the students: What can you see in the picture? (The body of the people, exactly, the body of the people in the town of Pompeii in the southern Italy.----show a picture of the relics of the town of Pompeii.)
2. Show another picture. Ask the students to guess what happened in the town of Pompeii? (A volcano erupted suddenly and after 18 hours all were damaged, including the people, animals, plants and the town itself.)
Step 3 While reading
Task 1 Skim the text and answer the following questions.
Q1: What is described in the following passage?
The eruption of the volcano called Mount Vesuvius.
Q2: When and where did it happen?
On the 24th of August in 79 AD in southern Italy.
Q3: Who is the writer of the letter?
Pliny, the younger.
Task 2 Decide whether the following sentences are true or false.
1. A volcano erupted on the 24th of August in 79 BC in southern Italy. F
2. My uncle planned to save his friend’s wife Rectina. F
3. My uncle went to rescue Pompy after saving Rectina. T
4. The flames came from the homes of farmers who had left in a panic with the kitchen fires still on. F
5. They decided to try the open air instead of staying in the house. T
6. It was night when the volcano erupted. F
Task 4 Scan the text & fill in the following form.
Date On the 24th of August in 79 AD in southern Italy. What happened: The eruption of the volcano called Mount Vesuvius.
First A cloud of unusual size & shape rising from a mountain drew my uncle’s attention and he wanted to see it from closer at hand.
Next After receiving a letter from his friend’s wife Rectina, he changed his mind to save her.
Then In spite of the danger, he turned back to rescue his friend Pompy and help calm down the other people.
Finally My uncle wanted to get out of the danger but failed. He was dead.
Task 5 Arrange the following statements according to the right order.
1. He decided to rescue his friend Pompy.
2. Some people watched an unusual cloud rising from a mountain.
3. Rectina begged him to save her.
4. He ordered a boat made ready.
5. Two slaves helped him stand up and immediately he fell down dead.
6. He bathed and had dinner.
7. A rain of rocks was coming down.
2-4-3-1-6-7-5
Task 6 Read the text again and explain what the words in bold refer to.
it: a cloud of unusual size and shape rising from a mountain
the one: the wind
the other: my uncle’s friend Pompy
their: flames
They: scared people
Language points:
1. draw one’s attention to sth. 吸引某人的注意力
eg. She drew my attention to a mistake in the report.
catch one’s attention; focus one’s attention on; pay attention to; give one’s attention to
2. Ash and bits of rock that were burnt black were falling onto the ship now, darker and more, the closer they went.
3. urge 催促, 極力主張; 強(qiáng)烈要求
eg. The U.S.A urged Iraq to give up.
4. Upon arrival: As soon as he arrived 當(dāng)…的時(shí)候; 一… 就…
5. bath n. 洗澡；浴缸
bathe v. 洗澡
6. He looked more asleep than dead.
eg. The pig looks more lovely than stupid.
eg. The boy looks more stupid than angry.
Step 4 Post reading
Task 1 The uncle of the writer was not afraid of what was happening. How do you know? Give three examples that show he had no fear.
1. He wrote a report about all he observed during his trip.
2. Rescued Pompy, calmed down, bathed and had dinner, sleep, etc.
3. Slept after baths and dinner, told the flames came from the homes of farmers who had left in a panic with the kitchen fires still on.
Task 2 Further understanding
1. How does nature form a danger to people in the world and how can science help reduce that threat?
eg. In the summer, with the arrival of typhoon, a rain of storm and flood will come, which will damage a lot of things, including people, animals, and buildings, etc. The factory will also be closed because of it.
Ask the students to think as many examples as they can.
2. What’s the relation between human beings and nature?
We can’t go against nature. We should live in harmony with the nature.
3. What should we do to protect the environment that we live in?
5R policy.
1. Reduce: Reduce the amount of waste by every possible means.
eg. Show a picture of a tree; explain to the students that we must reduce the amount of trees that we cut down.
2. Reuse: Reuse the useful things before getting rid of them.
eg. Show a picture of a coat; explain to the students that when our coat is not suitable for us to wear, we can give it to our brothers, sisters or give it to the Project Hope.
3. Recycle: Recycle the waste things if possible.
eg. Show a picture of a cola can; explain to the students that after drinking the cola, the cans left can be collected together and melt them to make new cans.
4. Recover: Make use of good parts while getting rid of the bad ones.
eg. Show a picture of a watermelon; explain to the students that if part of the watermelon is rotten, we can cut it out and eat the good parts.
5. Repair: Repair the broken things.
eg. Show a picture of a chair; explain to the students that if one leg of a chair is broken, we can repair it and use it again.
Homework:
1. (in the first period)Find out some sentences you enjoy most, & try to recite them as possible as you can.
2. (in the second period) Finish Exercise 2 at Page 77 in SB..
Period 3 Listening(Wb) Speaking & Talking
Goals:
1) Understand the listening text in the workbook.
2) The Ss can express emotion, anxiety and fear properly.
3) Know more about typhoon.
Teaching important points:
To master the useful new words and expressions.
Teaching difficult points:
How to use what the students have learned to describe a nature disaster.
Teaching aids: a computer, a projector & a tape recorder
Step1 Revision
Questions: 1 What kinds of disasters does nature give us?
2 What kinds of disasters does man give us?
Step2 Pre-listening
Page 144,Listening. Look at the picture. Discuss Exercise1 with the students.
Step3 Listening
Play the tape for the students to do Exercises2-4. Then ask: What happened in the typhoon Linda talked about?
Step4 Lead-in
Page74,Speaking.Get the students to read the dialogue to find out the answers to the following questions:
1 What happened in the typhoon?
2 What else do you know will happen in a typhoon?
3 What was people’s emotion?
4 What do you think happens in a hurricane, a volcano, an earthquake, SARS and bird flu?
Step5 Speaking
Give the students some pictures. Get them to make a similar dialogue. Tell their partners whether these things or situations frighten them and explain why. Also, talk about people’s emotion in these situations and how they would behave. Get them to make with the help of the useful expressions.
Model:
A: Have you been in a situation that frightens you?
B: Yes. It was last summer. I spent my summer vacation in my hometown, a small village in a mountainous district. One day, I went hiking with my cousin. On our way home, we met a cobra.
A: Were you frightened when you saw it?
B: Very! It made my hair stand on end. My cousin was too frightened to move at that time, too. Because we both saw on TV that the poison of a cobra can kill a person easily.
A: What happened next?
B: Fortunately it didn’t see us. We acted just as the TV programme told us. At last, it went by. The distance between the cobra and us was only three metres or so.
A: How terrible!
Step6 Pre-talking
Ask: What do you need to do when you are trapped in a typhoon?
Get the students to read the dialogue at Page144, Talking between Xiaosong and David to find out what Xiaosong suggests in case of typhoon.
Step7 Talking
Get the students to read the roll cards and make similar dialogues.
Step8 Homework
Make a dialogue with your partner about a disaster. It should include the following:
1) What was it like?
2) What happened?
3) What was people’s emotion and what about yours?
4) What safety measures should be taken?
Period 4 Integrating skills(Sb)
Teaching Aims:
1. Learn the text “typhoon” and master the detailed information in it.
2. Learn useful words and expressions
3. Write a passage about how the story will end.
Teaching important points:
1. To train Ss’ reading skills and writing skills
2. To master the usages of the new words and expression of this period.
Teaching difficult points:
1. To write a passage about terrible weather---- typhoon
2. To understand the difficult words, phrases and sentences
Teaching methods:
1. Fast reading and careful reading: to get the Ss to grasp the detailed information
2. Writing practice: to get the Ss to learn how to describe something terrible
3. Pair work or group work: to get the Ss to be active in class
Teaching Aids:
a computer, a projector, a tape recorder ( if the teacher wants )
Teaching procedures:
Step 1 Teaching Revision
1.Check the homework
2.Retell the story ( if the teacher likes )
3.Review the words and expression for talking about weather.
(This activity aims to review the words and motivate the Ss. In this way, the topic will be turned to typhoon.)
Step 2 Lead in
T: In the last few periods, we deal with a letter about volcano. It is a terrible nature disaster. This summer our hometown also experience a terrible disaster----- typhoon, one called Yunan. It caused great damage, isn’t it? Can you describe it? ( Ss: …. )
T: If it happens in USA, what do people call? (A hurricane )
In fact, a typhoon is the same thing as a hurricane except the place where they form. Before we deal with the detailed information, let’s watch a short video to experience the story wind again and here are two questions for you.
1. What does the hurricane bring in?
2. How long will it usually last?
(Ss watch the video and give the answers. If it is necessary, play it twice.)
Step 3 Pre-reading
T: We know typhoons can cause great damage or even deaths. In order to reduce the loss and protect ourselves, we have to learn more about it. Then what else do you know about the typhoon? Tell us what you know, please! First talk with your partner and then tell the whole class what you have discussed.
( pair work for two minutes and then one or two Ss report )
(This activity is to motivate the Ss to talk in English and cooperate well with each other.)
( Then the teacher introduce the background information )
T: Now, Let’s look at the diagram. We’ll know what is typhoon. Typhoon is a kind of tropical cyclone. It’s the atmospheric whirlpool formed on the warm tropical ocean and the area of low pressure. Winds are produced because the pressure of the air is different in different places. Air flows from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure, causing a wind. The low pressure center is the eye of the storm. And tropical cyclone is the general name of tropical depression, tropical storm, severe tropical storm and typhoon or hurricane. In USA, people don’t use the name of severe tropical storm and typhoon. Instead, people use the name---- hurricane. All over the world, people name these tropical cyclones according to their strongest speed of wind. Can you guess how fast a typhoon can move? (Show the form to the Ss)
(Look at the form --- tropical cyclone naming conventions )
(Then the teacher shows the map of the world, ask Ss to tell the difference between typhoon and hurricane.)
Step 4 While reading
Fast reading: skim the passage and try to get the general idea of the text. ( Ss answer the main elements of a story: who, when, where, how)
Careful reading: Ss finish two tasks after reading.
Task1.Scan the passage and find the answer to the following questions.
1. Where did the ship meet the typhoon?
2. What was the weather at first?
3. Why did the capital say that it looked as if a typhoon was coming on?
4. Where were they when the full force of the hurricane struck the ship?
5. What should they do in such terrible weather?
6. What does the sentence “ Another one like this, and that’s the last of her” mean?
7. Why did the capital strike a match? What did he see?
Task2. Try to explain the difficult sentence in bold in English.
1. It was fine, for there was no wind and the heat was close.
2. Because he observed the barometer fell steadily and he knew that a terrible storm would come soon.
3. When the hurricane struck the ship with full force, they were all on the bridge.
4. They could only move the ship over the high sea and into the very eye of the wind.
5. It was the lowest reading he had ever seen in his life
(If Ss couldn’t understand the sentences, allow them to discuss with their partner.)
Deal with language points after that.
1. on board = in or on ( a ship, an aircraft or public vehicle)
eg. 1) Have the passengers gone on board yet?
2) 一上船， 我總想吐。
As soon as I’m on board I always feel sick.
2. close adj. = lacking fresh or freely moving air
eg. She noticed that the air was very close.
The atmosphere in a steam- heated building is often close
3. dirty adj. = ( of the weather ) rough and unpleasant
4.knock about = knock around ① “ 漫游, 流浪” ② “ ( 狠 )打”
eg. He has knock about all over Europe.
After he graduated from college, Joe knocked about for a year seeing the country before he went to work in his father’s business.
They say he knocks his children about.
5. all of a sudden = suddenly / unexpectedly
eg. 1)All of a sudden, the tyre burst.
2)他轉(zhuǎn)過身來但是忽然跌倒了.
He turned around but fell down all of a sudden.
6. do for sb./ sth. “破壞, 使…失敗.”
eg. 1) The spelling mistake in the exam did for him.
2) 若資金不能在十五天內(nèi)到位，工廠就完了。
The factory will be done for it if capital can’t arrive in fifteen days.
do for “ 設(shè)法弄到” 常用于how , what 開頭的疑問句中.
eg. How did you do for food when you were in the desert?
7. as though = as if
eg.1) I remember the whole thing as if it happened yesterday.
2) She felt as if the girl were a member of her own family.
8. all at once =suddenly and unexpectedly/ at the same time.
9. swear v. = promise or declare formally
Step 4 Post- reading
T: We have dealt with the language points of the text and now let's do some exercises.
Task 1. Fill in the blanks with proper words.
Task2. Ss discuss the end of the story in groups and one reported it to the class.
(The Ss can express their own opinions and communicate properly. They can improve their speaking skills and the ability to do things in English.)
Step 5 Discussion
Extended discussion:
T: We know typhoon can cause great damage to our life. How can we reduce the loss? How can we protect ourselves?
( Ss discuss in pairs or in groups and then report what they discuss. )
Suggested answers :
1. Build strong houses;
2. Forecast correctly;
3. Give efficient first aid;
4.Cut up the branches of the trees;
5.Bury the lines under the ground
T : Every coin has two sides, so does the typhoon. Though the typhoon causes damage, it can have good effects. Can you think of some? good effects:
eg 1. Bring in enough water to release drought
2. Bring in heavy wind which can be used to make electricity.step 6 Homework
1.Oral homework:
Suppose you are a newspaper reporter and are interviewing the capitain. Make up the dialogue.
Think it over: What questions will the journalist ask?
2. Written homework
Write the end of the passage on your exercise book.
Period 5Listening(Wb) Integrating skills & Writing (Wb)
Teaching aims:
1.The Ss can understand the listening text.
2.The Ss can get the general idea of each paragraph.
3.Through reading, the Ss develop some microskills in reading, such as skimming and scanning. What’s more, they can write a composition of similar topic.
4.The Ss can develop in somewhat the ability of autonomy learning, processing information and thinking in English.
5.The Ss have the sense to protect our environment. They share the experience of learning English and have the sense of success in learning English and cooperation.
Teaching important points:
1.Learn the useful words and expressions in this period.
2.Learn to write about a natural disaster.
Teaching difficult points:
1.Know how to use the words and expressions in this period.
2.Know the structure of writing about a natural disaster.
Teaching aids: a tape- recorder a computer & a projector
Teaching procedures
Stage 1 Listening
1.Read the information about the exercises.
2.Listen to the tape and do Exercises 1,2 & 3.
3.Listen again and finish all the questions in this part.
(If necessary, play the tape again.)
Stage 2 Reading
1.Lead-in
Ask the Ss to describe a kind of weather and what people do in such weather.
Today we’ll read some book descriptions about natural disasters and stories that happened in terrible weather.
2.Pre-tasks
Read through the book descriptions and match them with the following book titles.
1. Volcano & Earthquake
2. Under the Volcano: A Novel
3. Disaster! The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906
4. Volcano & Earthquake
5. The Coming Storm: Extreme Weather and Our Terrifying Future
6. Hidden Big Island of Hawaii: Including the Volcanoes National Park
7. Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938
(This activity aims to improve the Ss’ reading ability of skimming and the Ss can get the general idea of each paragraph.)
3.While-tasks
Ask the Ss to read the descriptions carefully again. Divide the whole class into two parts. Each part deals with one of the following two activities:
1. Which books on the list interest you? Give reasons why you might want to read them.
2. Choose one book from the list which you don’t want to read and explain why you think it won’t interest you.
(This activity is to help the Ss develop the ability of scanning and express their own opinions with their own words.)
4.Post-tasks
Group work.
Imagine your teacher asks you to write an essay about human experiences and how people suffer during natural disasters. Which books would you choose to help you write your essay? What information do you think you could use from them?
Stage 3 Writing
1. Brainstorming
What natural disasters do you know?
2. Writing
Divide the class into six groups. Each group discuss a topic and writes a composition together. After they finish the writing, they should do peer-revision. Then the teacher will post the compositions on the wall. Each composition should contain the following parts:
1.How is the disaster formed?
2.What happens when the disaster comes?
3. What is the damage after the disaster?
4.What do people do after that?
5. What lesson have you learn?
(This step tries to develop the Ss’ cooperative ability and writing ability. The Ss look up information in many different ways.)
Stage 4 Homework
Read more passages about natural disasters. They can refer to the following websites:
Period 6 Grammar & Word Study
Goals: 1. Learn and master Grammar: Ellipsis
2. Review the usage of the present participle & past participle.
Teaching Important Points:
1.Learn about Ellipsis of different types.
2.Enable Ss to learn how to choose the present participle & the past participle.
Teaching Difficult Point: How to use Ellipsis to make a sentence brief and clear.
Teaching Aids: a computer & a projector
Procedures:
Step 1: Word Study
1. Check the answer to Exercise 1 at Page 77.
2. The Present participle & the past participle
T: Look at the 2 sentences on the blackboard.
This is a moving story.
The boy is deeply moved by the story.
Can you tell the difference between “moving” & “moved” ?
S: Yes. The present participle “moving” expresses an action that happens around the same time as the main verb with an active meaning while the past participle “moved” expresses an action that is completed with an passive meaning. Am I right?
T: Yes, quite right? Please open your books at Page 78. Look at Ex. 2. Read the sentences and fill in the blanks with the proper forms of the words.
Step 2: Grammar - Ellipsis
T: Look at the 2 sentences on the blackboard.
Upon arrival, my uncle hugged Pompy and (?) tried to give him courage.
Then came a smell of sulphur, and then (?) flames.
Read them and decide which words were left out at each place of the question marks.
S: I think in the 1st sentence the subject “he or my uncle” was left out.
S: In the 2nd sentence I think “came” should be at the place of the question mark.
T: You are right. In modern English there is a tendency to omit or leave out some words in a sentence for the sake of conciseness. The omission is called “Ellipsis”, and a sentence containing such an elliptical sentence. A word or words in a sentence can be omitted only on condition that the omission would not cause the sentence to be understood in more than one way to be unclear meaning or wrong. We must keep in mind that we should not omit words necessary for clearness. Are you clear about that? Now I’d like to some more about “Ellipsis”.
1. 簡單句中的省略
1) 省略主語 祈使句中主語通常省略；其它省略主語多限于少數(shù)現(xiàn)成的說法。
(1) (I) Thank you for your help.
(2) (I) See you tomorrow.
(3) (It) Doesn’t matter.
(4) (I) Beg your pardon.
2) 省略主謂或主謂語的一部分
(1) (There is) No smoking .
(2) (Is there) Anything wrong ?
(3) (Will you) Have a smoke ?
(4) What/How (do you think) about a cup of tea ?
(5) Why (do you) not say hello to him ?
3) 省略作賓語的不定式短語，只保留to，但如果該賓語是動(dòng)詞be或完成時(shí)態(tài)，則須在之后加上be或have:
(1) –Are you going there? --Yes, I’d like to (go there).
(2) He didn’t give me the chance, though he had promised to (give me the chance).
(3) –Are you an engineer? --No, but I want to be.
(4) –He hasn’t finished the task yet. --Well, he ought to have.
4) 省略表語
(1) –Are you thirsty? --Yes, I am (thirsty).
(2) His brother isn’t lazy, nor is his sister (lazy).
5) 同時(shí)省略幾個(gè)成分
(1) Let’s meet at the same place as (we met) yesterday.
(2) –-Have you finished your work ?
---(I have) Not (finished my work) yet.
2. 主從復(fù)合句中的省略
1) 主句中有一些乘法被省略
(1) ( I’m ) Sorry to hear you are ill.
(2) ( It’s a ) Pity that he missed such a good chance.
2) 主句中有一些乘法被省略
(1) –Is he coming back tonight? --I think so.
(2) –She must be busy now? --If so, she can’t go with us.
(3) –Is she feeling better today? --I’m afraid not.
(4) –Do you think he will attend the meeting? --I guess not.
這種用法常見的有：How so? Why so? Is that so? I hope so. He said so.及I suppose/believe/hope not.
3. 并列句中的省略
兩個(gè)并列句中，后一個(gè)分句常省略與前一分句中相同的部分。
(1) My father is a doctor and my mother (is) a nurse.
(2) I study at college and my sister (studies) at high school.
(3) When summer comes, the day is getting longer and longer, and the night (is getting) shorter and shorter.
4.其他省略
1) 連詞的that省略
(1) 賓語從句中常省略連詞that，但也有不能省略的情況。
(2) 在定語從句中，that在從句中作賓語時(shí)可省略.另外，凡是進(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)和被動(dòng)語態(tài)的定語從句都可省略關(guān)系代詞和be 動(dòng)詞。
2) 在某些狀語從句中，從句的主語與主句的主語一致時(shí)，可省去“主語+be”部分
(1) When (he was) still a boy of 10, he had to work day and night.
(2) She tried her best though (she was) rather poor in health.
(3) If (you are) asked you may come in.
(4) If (it is) necessary I’ll explain to you again.
3) 不定式符號(hào)to的省略
(1) 并列的不定式可省去后面的 to.
I told him to sit down and wait for a moment.
(2) help 當(dāng)“幫助”講時(shí)，后面的賓語或賓補(bǔ)的不定式符號(hào)to可帶可不帶.
I will help (to) do it for you.
I will help you (to) do it.
（3）介詞but前若有動(dòng)詞do,后面的不定式不帶 to.
The boy did nothing but play.
(4) 某些使役動(dòng)詞（let, make, have）及感官動(dòng)詞（see, watch, hear, notice, observe, feel, look at, listen to等）后面作賓語補(bǔ)足語的不定式一定要省去 to, 但在被動(dòng)語態(tài)中須將to 復(fù)原。
I saw the boy fall from the tree.
The boy was seen to fall from the tree.
The boss made us work 12 hours a day.
We were made to work 12 hours a day.
(5) 主語從句中有動(dòng)詞do,后面作表語的不定式的 to可帶可不帶。
All we can do now is (to) wait.
(6) find 當(dāng)“發(fā)現(xiàn)”講時(shí)，后面作賓語補(bǔ)足語的不定式符號(hào)to可帶可不帶。
We found him (to) work very hard at the experiment.
但如果是不定式 to be，則不能省略。
She found him to be dishonest.
4) 連詞if在部分虛擬條件句中可省略，但后面的語序有變化。
(1) Had they time, they would certainly come and help us.
(2) Were I you, I would do the work better.
(3) Should there be a flood, what should we do?
5) 主句和從句各有一些成分省略。
The sooner (you do it), the better (it will be).
Step 3: Homework
Finish all the exercises about “Ellipsis” in your book.
附錄一 背景資料 (Background knowledge)
1 ．Volcanoes
There are thousands of volcanoes allover the world. What makes volcanoes? What happens?
The inside of the earth is very hot. Because it is very，very hot，the rock has melted like ice. It has become liquid，like water. It is always boiling，like water in a kettle. If you have seen a kettle boiling，you know that the steam and boiling water try to get out. The very hot melted rock inside the earth also tries to get out. Usually it cannot because the outside of the earth is too thick and strong.
But in some places the outside of the earth is thin and weak. Sometimes a crack（a small opening）appears. The hot melted rock ．which we call“l(fā)ava”，pushes up through the crack and bursts through. Steam and gas shoot up into the air and the hot melted lava pours out. Big pieces of rock may be thrown high into the air.
After a while the volcano becomes quiet again. The melted lava becomes hard. Later the same thing happens again and again. Each time more hot lava pours out on top of the cold lava and then becomes hard. In this way a kind of mountain is built up，with a hole down the middle. Perhaps the volcano will then be quiet and no more lava will burst out. Perhaps it will start again hundreds of years later.
Although there are thousands of volcanoes in the world，most of them are dead. On1y about 500 sometimes start to throw out lava again. A famous volcano which is now dead is Mount Fujiyama in Japan. It is covered with snow in winter.
Vesuvius is the name of a very famous volcano in Italy. It first came to life many，many years ago. It was quiet for hundreds of years. Then in the year 79 it suddenly burst. A great cloud of smoke shot up into the sky with great burning rocks．which fell all around. Hot lava poured down its sides. About 3 000 people were killed.
This has happened again many times since that year. Sometimes no damage was caused，or only little damage. But there was serious damage in the years 472，1631，1794，1861，1872 and 1906.You can see that a volcano can stay alive for many years. In 1906 part of the top of the mountain fell off. There was also serious damage in 1914 but there has not been any since that year.
2 ．What Is a Tornado?
What exactly is a tornado? The general picture is familiar enough. The phenomenon usually occurs on a hot sticky day with south winds and an ominous sky. From the base of a thunderhead，a funnel-shaped cloud extends a violently twisting spout toward the earth. As it sucks in matter in its path，the twister may turn black, brown, or occasionally (over snow) even white. The moving cloud shows an almost continuous display of sheet lightning. It lurches along in a meandering path, usually northeastward, at 25 to 40 miles per hour. Sometimes it picks up its finger from the earth for a short distance and then plants it down again. The funnel is very slender: its wake of violence averages about 400 yards wide. As the tornado 'approaches, it is heralded by a roar as of hundreds of jet planes or thousands of railroad cars. Its path is a path of total destruction. Buildings literally explode as they are sucked in by the tornado's low-pressure vortex(where the pressure drop is as much as 10 percent) and by its powerful whirling winds (estimated at up to 500 miles per hour). The tornado's lifetime is as brief as it is violent. Within a few tens of miles (average: about 16 miles), it spends its force and suddenly disappears.
3.Earthquakes
Earthquake is a sudden, violent shaking of the earth's surface. It's a kind of crustal movement form of expression.
Earthquake is regarded as one of the most damaging forces known to man: since records began to be written down, it has been estimated that earthquake-related fatalities have been numbered in the millions, and that earthquake-related destruction has been beyond count.
The great majority of all earthquakes occur in two specific geographic areas. One such area surrounds the Pacific Ocean and its contiguous land masses. The other extends from the East India to the Atlas Mountains, including the Himalayas, Iran, Turkey, and the Alpine regions. It is in these two great belts or zones that ninety percent of all earthquakes take place. The text refers to two of the strongest quakes in San Francisco. As to our country. a large number of earthquakes happened in North China and Northwest China. The powerful earthquake of Tangshan hap- pened in the city of Tangshan, Hebei Province on July 28th，1976，which caused more than 240 000 deaths and the whole city was destroyed.
Nowadays scientists know a little about earthquakes and they still cannot stop these disasters from happening. However，they can warn people who live in these areas by prediction, in advance to take precautions against such disasters. A worldwide earthquake warning network is already in operation at present and is expected to make earthquake prediction several years ahead of time.
4.5R Policy
It’s important to learn about protecting our environment. Here is a 5R policy for us to consider:
1.Reduce:
If you want to reduce waste, you should use things wisely. Millions of trees are being cut down to make paper. If everyone uses a little paper carelessly and throws it away, before long we would not have any trees left. Other things are also being wasted, and people don’t really know what to do with the large quantities of rubbish produced in large cities, therefore, t is necessary to reduce the amount of waste by every possible means.
2.Reuse:
You should always think of reusing the usable things before getting rid of them. Give your clothes you do not use or the ones which are too small to the poor. Within a family, you may pass on such clothes to younger brothers or sisters. If you wish, you can use buttons and something else to make dolls or toys for your baby brother or sister.
3.Recycle:
Bottles, cans and paper can easily be recycled. By doing so we save lots of time and money. For example, coke coca cola cans are sent to a factory, where they are smashed flat and melted and metal sheets are made for new coke cans.
4.Recover:
When you buy a box of apples, there might be a few which are highly rotten. You have two choices: one is to throw the whole apples away, or you could cut off the rotten parts and use the good parts. In this way, you are recovering the eatable parts of food.
5.Repair
If one of the legs of your table is broken, you can have it repaired instead of throwing the table away. If you want to change for better furniture, it is better for you to sell the old things or give them to other people who can use them after doing some repair.
It is true the North America is throe away society, but the time has come to change our way of life so that we can protect our environment. Every one of us should take an active part in it.
1.Which of the following is true?
A. We’ll have no resources of nature unless we can deal with the large quantities of rubbish.
B. Recycling is the best way to save materials.
C. If we waste less, we can save more resources of nature.
D. More things are wasted in developed countries than in developing countries.
2.The “reuse” policy mainly requires us_____.
A. To make full use of our things
B. To give our things to those who want them
C To use our things again and again
D. Not to get rid of our things
3._____ can be recycled.
A. Only hard things
B. Lots of things
C. Few soft things
D. All things
4.We can infer that the writer of this passage may live in_____.
A. Europe
B. Asia
C. Australia
D. America
Keys: 1.C 2.A 3.B 4.D
附錄三：Are you ready for a hurricane?
Having A Test
Are you Ready for a hurricane?
1. Know What Hurricane WATCH and WARNING Mean
WATCH: Hurricane conditions are possible in the specified (特定的) area of the WATCH, usually within 36 hours.
WARNING: Hurricane conditions are expected in the specified area of the WARNING, usually within 24 hours.
2. Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan
Identify(確定) ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate(撤離，疏散). Choose several places-a friend’s home in another town, a hotel, or a shelter.
Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map of your locality(位置). You may need to take alternative(可選擇的) or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or blocked(阻斷).
Listen to Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
3. Prepare for a Disaster Supplies Kit Including the following Items
First aid kit(工具包) and essential medications(藥物).
Ganned food and can opener.
At least three gallons of water per person.
Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries(電池).
Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you’ll need a professional to turn them back on.)
4. Know What to Do When a Hurricane WATCH Is Issued(發(fā)布)
Listen to local radio or TV stations for up-to-date storm information.
Prepare to bring inside any useful things that can be picked up by the wind.
Prepare to cover all windows of your home.
Fill your car’s gas tank.
Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.
5. Know What to Do When a Hurricane WARNING Issued
Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
Complete preparation activities.
If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows. Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way.
6. Know What to Do After a Hurricane Is Over
Keep listening to local radio or TV stations for instructions.
If you evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is safe to do so.
Inspect your home for damage.
Use flashlights in the dark; do not use candles.