Lesson 94 Future champions

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 tricycles 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 oair.

Summary writing

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.

At a swimming pool in Los Angeles, children are taught to hold their breath under water before they can walk. They begin learning when they are two months old and, in time, they can pick up weights from the bottom of the pool. The game they enjoy most is the tricycle race, which takes place 发生举行 seven feet under water. Some children pedal their tricycles, while others push or pull them, and a few get across通过 without coming up for air.

At a swimming pool in Los Angeles, children who are taught to hold their breath under water before they can walk often begin learning to swim when two months old. Though they can pick up weights from the bottom of the pool, the game they enjoy most is the underwater tricycle race. This takes place seven feet under water and, while some children pedal their tricycles, others push or pull them. A few get across without coming up for air.

Composition

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

1 The children dived into the water---found their tricycles---started off检验标准并获得了

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

    When the underwater tricycle race began, the children dived

into the water. After they found their tricycles which were lined up on the floor of the pool seven feet under water, they started off. They competed against each other to reach the other end of the pool. Most children pedaled their tricycles, but some of them pushed or dragged them.

    Towards the end of the race, a child who came first was pulling his tricycle, but he was so exhausted用尽 that he dropped it at last. The dropped tricycle, however, hindered two others just behind him. The two children struggled to get the tricycle out of the way. Just then, another child was pedaling hard and surpassed胜过 them. But as he was about to 即将 reach the other end and won the race, another child rose to the surface dragging up his tricycle. It was really an exciting and funny race.

Letter writing

Write suitable conclusions which could be used in letters to;

1 A friend who has got a new job.

2 A friend you will be meeting soon.

3 A friend who has been ill.

1 I wish you every success in your new job.

2 I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

3 I hope you will get better soon.

Exercise

Study these examples;

Children can be instructed in swimming…

They do not appear to be reluctant to enter the water.

They are so accustomed to swimming…

The children compete against each other…

Supply the missing words in the following sentences;

1 Many people do not approve赞成 (of) blood sports猎杀.

2 He was found guilty有罪的内疚的 (of) murder and condemned定罪 (to) death.

3 Has it ever occurred想起 (to)you that those twins are quite different (from) each other in many ways在很多方面?

4 I consulted请教 my lawyer (on)the matter and I shall act(on) his advice.

5 It is impossible to prevent阻止 them (from) quarrelling吵架 (with) each other.

6 He is responding (to)对…有反应 treatment 治愈and will soon be cured治愈(of) his illness.

7 Even though he is thirty-five, he lives (with) his mother and is completely dependent (on) her.

8 I tried to reason理论(with) him, but heefuf was very rude (to)me.

9 I am grateful (to) you for being so patient (with) him.

10 He might be good (at) his job, but you can’t rely(on)依靠her.

11 I am thinking (of )looking (for)a new job.

12 If you interfere干扰 (with/in) other people’s affairs事务, you will regret it.

13 Do you believe (in) all that nonsense胡说?

14 It should be obvious (to) you that if you persist (in) bothering 操心麻烦him， he will get angry (with)you.

15 You demand 需要 too much (of)him对他要求太过分: he is not equal (to) 胜任the task工作.

16 Don’t be so sure (of) yourself 有自信心 ?

17 He has provided (for) 供给every emergency 紧急情况非常时刻.

18 I was afraid (of) mentioning提到 it (to) him.

19 Don’t blame责备 him (for) this: I am responsible (for) what has happened.

20 He is so keen (on)对…有兴趣喜爱 learning, you should encourage him (in) efforts努力尝试.

21 Beware(of) 当心people who appear to be enthusiastic热情的(with) 对…表示热心的your success.

22 I appealed (to)向…恳请呼吁him for help.

23 I am sorry (for/about)对…感到遗憾having asked him. I was shocked (at/by)对…感到震惊 his refusal拒绝.

24 Are you interested (in) opera歌剧?

25 Are you aware (of) 意识到知道 the difficulties that lie ahead (of)在… 的前面 you

26 He’s entitled (to)对… 享有权利 a n退休金, but he won’t dream (of) retiring yet.

27 Who is going to pay (for)为…而付钱赔偿the damage赔偿金?

28 This car is inferior (to) 比…差的the one I bought last year.

29 I’m afraid I can’t comment (on) 评论对…提意见your work just yet.

30 She may pride herself (on) her abilities以…为自豪, but she’s not capable (of)能…的，有…能力的bringing up children.

31 We are accustomed (to) bed weather.

32 How can you agree (to／with) such an idea when you are ignorant (of)不知道 the basic 基本的 facts?

33 He confessed (to) 坦白向…承认 me that he had just been converted (to) 皈依 some strange religion宗教。

34 She wanted to borrow the record 档案记录录音 (from) me but she was shy (of) asking.

35 if you fail (in)不及格 this attempt企图尝试, don’t count (on)指望 me for help.

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1 One of these statements 陈述 is true. Which one?

A Children can learn to swim much earlier than is commonly 普通的supposed假设的

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.

A

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 tricycle during the underwater race.

C The children don’t like picking up weights.

D These children will certainly become Olympic champions one day.

B

Structure

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

C note 只有c 有被教的意思。

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

A in spite 尽管

B in spite of the fact that

C in spite of 不顾

D despite不顾

B note：c d 后面跟名词不能跟从句，本句子需要能引导从句的短语。

5 They are accustomed to swimming. They () swimming.

A are used to习惯于

B are used

C used to

D used

a

6 () is the pool? Seven feet.

A How deeply

B How tall

C How high

D What depth

D

7 They complete ().

A against one another

B the one against the other

C each against the other

D against each one

A

Vocabulary

8 They are not reluctant to enter the water. They are ().

A unwilling to

B not ready to

C willing to

D slow to

C

9 The game is popular. ()

A It is common普通的.

B It is well known.著名的

C It is pleasing.

D They like it very much.

D 

10 A tricycle has ().

A three wheels

B two wheels

C four wheels

D one wheel

A

11 Perhaps they will () future champions.

A begin as

B grow up to be

C get into

D happen to be

B

12 Some of us are gasping for air. We are soon ().

A without breath

B breathing

C out of breath上气不接下气

D coughing

C

Sentence structure

Rewrite this sentence, then check your answer against the text.

They are soon accustomed to swimming

It is not long before they are accustomed to swimming.