《致用英语综合教程 Unit 4》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《致用英语综合教程 Unit 4（53页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、Telling TalesUnit 4Second editionTelling TalesLanguage in UseReadingProjectLearning to LearnHomeworkWarming-upCulture tipsterWarming-up1. Watch the two videos. Is any differences in their ways of narration? Why?Edge of HeavenLife after PeopleWarming-up2. Do you know what are legends, tales, and myth
2、s? Can you give any examples?BACKBACKReadingReading ComprehensionAfter-reading TasksPre-reading TasksPre-readingThe adjectives below are used to describe the main characterRobby in the story. Study the meaning of these adjectives in a dictionary. musically challengedhopeless inbornpoor wrinkledmagni
3、ficentComprehensionPiano lessons1 I am a former elementary school music teacher from DeMoines, Iowa. Ive always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons something Ive done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability.2 I have taught some talente
4、d students. And, Ive also had my share of what I call “musically challenged” pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mum) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. Comprehension3 I prefer that students (especially boys) begin at an earlier age, which I
5、explained to Robby. But, Robby said that it had always been his mothers dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and, from the beginning, I thought it was a hopeless endeavour. 4 Hard as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic
6、rhythm needed to excel. But, he reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn. Over the months he tried and tried while I listened, felt embarrassed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson hed always say, “My mums going to hear me play so
7、meday.” But, it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability.Comprehension5 I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thou
8、ght about calling him, but assumed, because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching! 6 Several weeks later I mailed to the students homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise R
9、obby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mum had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons, but he was still practising.Comprehension7 “Mis
10、s Hondorf.Ive just got to play!” he insisted. I dont know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right.8 The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friend
11、s and relatives. I put Robby up last in the programme because I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the programme and I could always save his poor performance through my “curtain closer”.Comprehension9 W
12、ell, the recital started off without a slight difficulty. The students had been practising and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was in a mess. “Why didnt he dress up like other students?” I thought. “Why didnt his mother at least make him comb his hair f
13、or this special night?”10 Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozarts Concerto #21 in C Major . I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers danced over the keys. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never
14、 had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age.Comprehension11 After six and a half minutes he ended and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome by emotion and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. “Ive never heard you play like that Robby! Howd you do i
15、t?”12 Through the microphone Robby explained, “Well Miss Hondorf. remember I told you my mum was sick? Well, actually she has cancer and passed away this morning. And well.she was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special.”Comprehension13 There wasnt a dry eye in the house that evening. I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. For it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you dont know why.BACKB
