Lesson 94 Future champions 未来的冠军

 

First listen and then answer the question.

听录音，然后回答以下问题。

What kind of race do the children compete in?

Experiments have proved that children can be instructed in swimming at a very early age. At a special swimming pool in Los Angeles, children become expert at holding their breath under water even before they can walk. Babies of two months old do not appear to be reluctant to enter the water. It is not long before they are so accustomed to swimming that they can pick up weights from the floor of the pool. A game that is very popular with these young swimmers is the underwater tricycle race. Tricycles are lined up on the floor of the pool seven feet under water. The children compete against each other to reach the other end of the pool. Many pedal their tricycles, but most of them prefer to push or drag them. Some children can cover the whole length of the pool without coming up for breath even once. Whether they will ever become future Olympic champions, only time will tell. Meanwhile, they should encourage those among us who cannot swim five yards before they are gasping for air.

New words and expressions生词和短语

instruct(1.1)/in'str)kt/v.指导，传授

tricycle(1.8)/'traisik+l/n. 三轮车

Los Angeles(11.2-3)/l%s-'$nDNil+s/洛杉矶

compete( 1. 9)/k+m'pi:t/v. 比赛，对抗

reluctant(1.5)/ri'l)kt+nt/adj. 勉强的，不愿意的

yard(1.13)/j%:d/n. 码

weight( 1. 6)/weit/n.重物

gasp(1.13)/g%:sp/v. 喘气

underwater(1.8)/?)nd+'w&:t+/adj. 水下的

Notes on the text 课文注释

1  hold their breath，屏住呼吸。

2  be popular  with…,深受……的欢迎，为……所喜爱。

3  compete against,与……竞争，与抗衡。

4  come up for breath,升上水面换气。

5  Whether they will ever become future  Olympic  champions,only time will tell.他们将来是否能成为奥林匹克的冠军，这只能由时间来作出回答。以whether引导的从句是tell的宾语，把宾语放在句首是为了强调。

参考译文

实验证明，儿童在很小的时候就可以开始学习游泳。在洛杉矶的一个特设的游泳池里，孩子们甚至在还没有学会走路时就已经能熟练地在水下屏住呼吸了。两个月的婴儿并未显得不愿意入水。他们很快便适应了游泳，以致能捡起池底的物品。这些幼小的游泳运动员非常喜爱的一种游戏是水下三轮车比赛。三轮车并排放在7英尺深的游泳池底上。孩子们比赛看谁先到达游泳池的另一端。很多孩子用脚蹬车，但多数孩子更愿意推或是拉着三轮车。有些孩子能够跑完游泳池的全长而不用露出水面换气。他们将来是否能成为奥林匹克的冠军，这只能由时间来作出回答。与此同时，他们对我们中的那些游不了5码就已喘不过气来的人应该是种鼓舞。

Summary writing摘要写作

In not more than 80 words, describe what goes on at the children's swimming pool in Los Angeles. Write two different paragraphs using the points and connections given below.

用不超过BO个单词的篇幅，描述一下在洛杉矶的儿童游泳池正在进行的试验，用以下要点和连词写出两段不同的文字。

Composition作文

Imagine witnessing the sort of underwater tricycle race described in the passage. Write two paragraphs in about 150 words using the ideas given below:

假设你亲眼看见了课文中所讲的水下三轮车比赛。按以下思路写两段文宇，字数为150左右：

1  The children dived into the water ---- found their tricycles ---- started off.

2  A child was pulling his tricycle ---- dropped it ---- hindered two others ---- got it out of the way ---- another child was pedalling hard ---- won the race ---- rose to surface dragging up his tricycle.

Letter writing书信写作

Write suitable conclusions which could be used in letters to:

为给以下人写的信写出恰当的结束语：

1  A friend who has got a new job.

2  A friend you will be meeting soon.

3  A friend who has been ill.

Key structures关键句型

Review KS22, 46, 70复习第  22， 46， 70 课关键句型

Exercise练习

Study these examples:

细读以下例子：

Children can be instructed in swimming … (11.1-2)

Children become expert at holding their breath … (11.3-4)

They do not appear to be reluctant to enter the water. (11.4-5)

They are so accustomed to swimming …(11.5-6)

The children compete against each other … (11.9-10)

Supply the missing words in the following sentences:

填空：

1  Many people do not approve____ blood sports.

2  He was found guilty____ murder and condemned____ death.

3  Has it ever occurred____ you that those twins are quite different____ each other in many ways?

4  I consulted my lawyer____ the matter and I shall act____ his advice.

5  It is impossible to prevent them____ quarrelling ____each other.

6  He is responding____ treatment and will soon be cured____ his illness.

7  Even though he is thirty-five, he lives____ his mother and is completely dependent____ her.

8  I tried to reason____ him, but he was very rude____ me.

9  I am grateful____ you for being so patient____ him.

10  He might be good____ his job, but you can't rely ____ him.

11  I am thinking____ looking____  a new job.

12  If you interfere____ other people's affairs, you will regret it.

13  Do you believe ____ all that nonsense?

14  It should be obvious ____ you that if you persist____ bothering him, he will get angry____ you.

15  You demand too much____ him; he is not really equal ____ the task.

16  Don't be so sure____ yourself!

17  He has provided____ every emergency.

18  I was afraid ____ mentioning it____ him.

19  Don't blame him ____ this; I am responsible ____ what has happened.

20  He is so keen____ learning, you should encourage him ____ his efforts.

21  Beware ____ people who appear to be enthusiastic ____ your success.

22  I appealed____ him for help.

23  I am sorry ____ having asked him. I was shocked ____ his refusal.

24  Are you interested ____ opera?

25  Are you aware ____ the difficulties that lie ahead ____ you?

26  He's entitled____ a pension, but he won't dream ____ retiring yet.

27  Who is going to pay____ the damage?

28  This car is inferior____ the one I bought last year.

29  I'm afraid I can't comment____ your work just yet.

30  She may pride herself ____ her abilities, but she's not capable____  bringing up children.

31  We are accustomed ____ bad weather.

32  How can you agree ____ such an idea when you are ignorant ____ the basic facts?

33  He confessed____ me that he had just been converted____  some strange religion.

34  She wanted to borrow  the record____  me but she was shy____  asking.

35  If you fail  ____ this attempt, don't count____  me for help.

Multiple choice questions多项选择题

Comprehension理解

1  One of these statements is true. Which one?

(a) Children can learn to swim much earlier than is commonly supposed.

(b) Babies are unwilling to enter the water.

(c) All Los Angeles children learn to swim when they are very young.

(d) Children can only learn to swim after they have learnt to walk.

2  One of these statements is true. Which one?

(a) None of the children can cover the length of the pool without coming up for air.

(b) Not all the children ride their tricycles during the underwater race.

(c) The children don't like picking up weights.

(d) These children will certainly become Olympic champions one day.

Structure句型

3  Children can be instructed in swimming. They can be____ .

(a) learnt to swim

(b) learnt swimming

(c) taught how to swim

(d) learnt how to swim

4  They can be instructed in swimming ____ they are very young.

(a) in spite

(b) in spite of the fact that

(c) in spite of

(d) despite

5  They are accustomed to swimming. They ____ swimming.

(a) are used to

(b) are used

(c) used to

(d) used

6  ____  is the pool? Seven feet.

(a) How deeply

(b) How tall

(c) How high

(d) What depth

7  They compete____ .

(a) against one another

(b) the one against the other

(c) each against the other

(d) against each one

Vocabulary词汇

8  They are not reluctant to enter the water. They are ____.

(a) unwilling to

(b) not ready to 

(c) willing to 

(d) slow to

9  The game is popular ____.

(a) It is common.

(b) It is well known. 

(c) It is pleasing. 

(d) They like it very much.

10  A tricycle has ____.

(a) three wheels

(b) two wheels 

(c) four wheels 

(d) one wheel

11  Perhaps they will____ future champions. 

(a) begin as

(b) grow up to be 

(c) get into 

(d) happen to be

12  Some of us are gasping for air. We are soon ____.

(a) without breath

(b) breathing 

(c) out of breath 

(d) coughing

Sentence structure句子结构

Rewrite this sentence, then check your answer against the text.改写以下句子，然后对照课文第5-6行，核对你的答案。

They are soon accustomed to swimming.

It is not long ________________________________________.