Period 2 Pre-reading, Reading & Comprehending
Teaching Goals:
1. To enable Ss to better understand the theory about the origin of the universe and life on the earth — the “big band” theory.
2. To enable Ss to concern about the future of life on the earth.
Step 1. Pre-reading
Purpose: To arouse Ss’ interest in learning about some relative information about the universe.
1. Show some pictures to the class and encourage Ss to say some information about how life began on the earth. They can say some relative legends, folk tales or scientific theories about the topic.
The solar system is made up of the sun and the objects that orbit it.
The earth’s atmosphere
For reference:
Some ideas about the beginning of the universe:
● Pan Gu turns into a myriad of (各种) things 盘古化生万物
● Pan Gu separates the sky from the earth 盘古开天地
● Nu Wa makes men 女娲造人
Conclusion and Leading-in:
But these ideas are all not the correct and scientific ideas. Do you know the scientific idea of the development of the life on the earth? Then we’d better come to the text.
Step 2. Fast reading
Purpose: To get the gist of the passage.
To correctly understand some information given in the text.
1. Ask Ss to read the text quickly and try to get the main idea of the text.
Suggested Answer:
The main idea of the text is the title — How life began on the earth.
2. Ask Ss to work in pairs and discuss the questions of Ex1 on P27. And then let them check the answers in pairs.
Step 3. Intensive reading
Purpose: to get the students to learn the details of the text.
(1) Answer the questions:
When did the “Big Bang” happen?
What form was the earth the “Big Bang”?
What made up the earth’s atmosphere after the earth exploded?
How did water come into being on the earth?
What was important to the development of fish?
What made possible the rise of mammals on the earth?
Why are mammals different from all life forms in the past?
（2）Fill in the chart about the order of development of life.
Suggested Answers:
① Small plants in water ② Shellfish and all sorts of fish ③ Green plants on land
④ Insects(on land) ⑤ Amphibians(on land and in water) ⑥ forests ⑦ reptiles(on land)
⑧ dinosaurs(on land) ⑨ mammals(on land) ⑩ human beings
Period 3 Learning about Language
Teaching Goals:
1. To get Ss to know how to use new words and phrases.
2. To help Ss to master some new words and expressions.
3. To get Ss to have the knowledge of this grammar point: noun clauses as the subject
Teaching Procedures:
Step 1. Consolidation
Purpose: To consolidate the words and phrases in the text.
1. Ask Ss to work in groups and read the text again, and then finish Ex1 and Ex2 on P28 and check the answers in groups.
2. Ask Ss to keep the words they filled in Ex1 in heart.
3. Ask Ss to finish Ex3 and then let them check each other’s answers.
Step 2. Grammar
Purpose: To get Ss to recognize noun clauses as the subject and to make sure that they can do some simple exercises.
1. Divide Ss into four groups and ask them to finish Ex1 of Discovering Useful Structures on P29. And then let them draw a conclusion about the grammar point. See which group understand it best and have a member of the group present before the class.
2. After the presentation, explain the grammar point for Ss.
3.Let Ss complete Ex2 on page 29 after learning the grammar.
Purpose: To get Ss to understand the usage of noun clauses as the subject.
(1) 主语从句的语序
主语从句要求使用陈述句语序，而非一般疑问句语序。如：
What surprised me most was that the little girl could play the violin so well.
使我感到惊讶的是这个小女孩的小提琴拉得太好了。
How he was successful is still a puzzle.
他是如何成功的仍然是个谜。
(2) 连接词的选用
① that和what的选用
that和what都可引导主语从句。what除起连接作用外，还在名词性从句中充当某些成分可作从句的主语、宾语或表语。而that在名词性从句中不充当任何成分，无词义，只起连接词作用。如：
What he wants is a book. 他想要的是一本书。
That light travels in straight lines is known to all. 众所周知，光线沿直线运行。
② if和whether的选用
引导主语从句，不能用if，只能用whether。如：
Whether we will hold a party in the open air tomorrow depends on the weather.
我们明天是否在户外开晚会要看天气而定。
③ 其它连接代词和副词的选用
根据主语从句的具体意义，正确的选择who, which, when, where, why, how等连接词，这些连接词既有疑问含义，又起连接作用，同时在从句中充当各种成分。如：
When we shall hold our sports meet is not decided.
我们何时举行运动会还没有决定。
Who broke the glass yesterday is not clear.
还不清楚昨天谁打破了玻璃。
Which car you will choose to buy makes no difference.
你决定买哪一辆车都不会有任何区别。
④whatever / whoever的功用
whatever, whoever在主语从句中不含疑问意义。它引导主语从句，并在从句中作主语、宾语、表语等。whatever = anything that; whoever = anyone who。要注意和whatever,whoever引导的让步状语从句的区别。如：
Whoever breaks the law should be punished. （主语从句）（＝Anyone who breaks the law should be punished. ）
Whoever breaks the law, he should be punished. （让步状语从句）（＝No matter who breaks the law, he should be punished.）
(3) it构成的主语从句
① 由连词that引导的主语从句，在大多数情况下会放到句子的后面，而用代词it作形式主语。如：
It is well-known that the earth moves around the sun.
众所周知，地球围绕太阳转。
需要注意的是，it作形式主语代替主语从句时，要注意和as引导的定语从句的区别。试比较：
It was reported that the US was under the terrorist attack. （主语从句，有that，无逗号）
As was reported, the US was under the terrorist attack. （定语从句，无that，有逗号）
② 常见用it作形式主语的复合句结构
◆ It is a fact （a good idea / a pity / a shame / no wonder / good news…）that…如：
It’s a pity that you missed the film.
你没有看那部电影真是太遗憾了。
◆ It is necessary （clear / true / strange/ important /wonderful / possible / likely…）that…
需要注意的是，这类主语从句中，谓语动词很多为“（should）＋动词原形”，即要用虚拟语气。如：
It is necessary that you （should）master the computer.
你很有必要掌握电脑。
It is important that a student learn English well.
学生学好英语很重要。
It’s clear that they badly need help.
很明显，他们急需援助。
It is likely that a hurricane will arrive soon.
飓风很可能马上就要到达了。
◆ It is reported （well-known / hoped / thought / expected /said /believed/decided /suggested /order-ed…）that…如：
It is said that he was killed in the earthquake. 据说他在地震中丧生了。
◆ It seems （happened / appears / doesn’t matter / makes no difference / …）that …如：
It seems that they will win the game.
看起来他们好像会赢得这场比赛。
It makes no difference whether he will attend the meeting or not.
他是否会参加会议都无关紧要
(4) 主语从句不可位于句首的五种情况：
① if 引导的主语从句不可居于复合句句首。
② It is said /reported…结构中的主语从句不可提前。例如：
It is said that President Jiang will visit our school next week. √
That President Jiang will visit our school next week is said. ×
③ It happens/occurs…结构中的主语从句不可提前。例如：
It occurred to him that he failed in the examination. √
That he failed in the examination occurred to him. ×
④ It doesn’t matter how/whether …结构中的主语从句不可提前。例如：
It doesn’t matter whether he is wrong or not. √
Whether he is wrong or not doesn’t matter. ×
⑤ 含主语从句的复合句是疑问句时，主语从句不可提前。例如：
Is it likely that it will rain in the evening? √
Is that will rain in the evening likely? ×
3. Practice
Purpose: to get the students to have the knowledge of the grammar through exercise.
(1) Ask Ss to find which of the following sentences are subject clauses.
What he wants is a book.
It is so nice that we can learn this grammar point together.
I’m so glad that I can make friends with you.
This is why he did it.
Do you agree to the suggestion that we (should) have a trip in Tibet?
That he wants a book is certain.
I suggested just now we (should) take part in this competition.
Whether you like him or not doesn’t matter too much.
He doesn’t know whether you can sing it well.
The problem is whether you can sing it well.
The problem whether it is right or wrong has not been decided.
Please tell me who your monitor is.
Suggested Answers:
主语从句是: ① ② ⑥ ⑧, 宾语从句为: ③ ⑦ ⑨ (12),而④ ⑩为表语从句，⑤ (11)为同位语从句。
(2) Ask Ss to choose the best answers to the following sentences.
① ________ makes mistakes must correct them.
A. What B. That C. Whoever D. Whatever
② It worried her a bit ____ her hair was turning grey.
A. while B. that C. if D. for
③ When and why he came here ________ yet.
A. is not known B. are not known C. has not known D. have not been known
④ _____ surprised me most was ____ such a little boy of seven could play the violin so well. A. That...what B. What...that C. That...which D. What...which
The subject of "What is interesting is that I do not even know him." is_______.
A. what B. interesting C. What is interesting D. I
What a pity _____is _____you didn’t arrive by daylight.
A. there, because B. it, that C. he, when D. that, for
⑦ is a fact that English is being accepted as an international language.
A. There B. This C. That D. It
It is important that ______ our education in all available ways.
A. we must develop B. we shall develop C. we would develop D. we should develop
It is necessary that ______ by the end of the week.
A. we got everything ready B. we have got everything ready
C. We get everything ready D. we must get everything ready
It was natural that _______.
A. my pictures would surprise them B. my pictures surprised them
C. my pictures should surprise them D. my pictures would have surprised them
11. __________we can’t get seems better than _______we have.
A. What; what B. What; that C. That; that D. That; what
12. ___________we’ll go camping tomorrow depends on the weather.
A. If B. Whether C. That D. Where
13. It worried her a bit ________her hair was turning grey.
A. while B. that C. if D. for
14. — I drove to Zhuhai for the air show last week.
—Is that ______you had a few days off.
A. why B. when C. what D. where
15. It was a matter of _______ would take the position.
A. who B. whoever C. whom D. whomever
16. It is generally considered unwise to give a child ________ he or she wants.
A. however B. whatever C. whichever D. whenever
17. ________you don’t like him is none of my business.
A. What B. Who C. That D. Whether
18. You can’t imagine ________ when they received these nice Christmas presents.
A. how they were excited B. how excited they were
C. how excited were they D. they were how excited
19. There is no doubt ________.
A. that Mr. Hansen is in good health B. whether is Mr. Hansen healthy
C. if Mr. Hansen's health was returning D. whether Mr. Hansen in health
Suggested Answers:
①～⑤ CBABC ⑥～⑩ BDDCC
11～15 ABBAA 16～19 BCBA
Step 3. Homework
1. Ask Ss to review the new words and phrases.
2. Ask Ss to learn the rules of noun clauses as the subject by heart.