1、Unit 2 Be sporty, be healthy To learn to describe the changes of the authors interest in tai chi and explain the reasons To form a better understanding of tai chi in terms of its history and the philosophy rooted in Chinese culture To learn some words and expressions What do you know about tai chi?
2、Tai Chi, which originated in Yongnian County, north Chinas Hebei Province, was developed from ancient Chinese philosophies and breathing techniques. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a sophisticated system. Tai Chi combines Taoism with fist positions. The movements are slow and the energy brea
3、ks outward from the inside with every move. View a show of tai chi. Look at the title and the picture, guess what the article is about. Its about a young mens experience in studying tai chi. 本文以本文以时间为主线时间为主线，描述了作者学习太极拳的，描述了作者学习太极拳的 经历与感受，介绍了太极拳的起源、派别、练经历与感受，介绍了太极拳的起源、派别、练 习要点以及其背后蕴含的中华传统文化。文章习要点以及其背
4、后蕴含的中华传统文化。文章 还描述了作者学习太极拳前后生理和心理所发还描述了作者学习太极拳前后生理和心理所发 生的变化。生的变化。 How I began to study tai chi, and its effect on me Tai chis origin and different styles How to practice tai chi The traditional Chinese culture behind it Tai chis positive effects on me (physically and mentally) Read the passage fast
5、and choose the graph that best describe the changes of the authors interest in tai chi. interest time interest time interest time interest time A D C B amazed hesitant in the first few classes after learning the basics my love for tai chi returned bored satisfied interest time Read the passage again
6、, and find adjectives that reflect the authors interest in tai chi in different periods. The word “hesitate”, at the very beginning describes how the author reacted when his friend suggested that they join the Tai Chi Club, because he believed it was for old people. However, after the first few clas
7、ses, he found it “fun and easy”, not like what he had thought before. Then after learning the basics of tai chi in those first few classes, the author found himself “bored and aching” from doing the same moves over and over again. Under the guidance of the coach, he felt “satisfied” because his bala
8、nce and flexibility slowly improved and his love for tai chi returned stronger. After a year, he felt “happier and more confident” because the experience of practicing tai chi has had a positive effect on his everyday life. What was the authors tai chi experience like? The author used to think tai c
9、hi was just for old people, and he hesitated about practising it at first. Gradually, he came to find tai chi more and more interesting and eventually fell in love with it. Furthermore, he began to understand the culture behind tai chi and was able to apply its philosophy to his everyday life. Read
10、paragraph 2 Why was the author interested in tai chi in his first few classes? Because they were fun and easy, and the moves with descriptive names caught his imagination. white crane spreading its wings Golden rooster standing on one leg Do you know any other moves in tai chi with descriptive names
11、? 左右野马分鬃左右野马分鬃 Part the Wild Horses Mane on Both Side 揽雀尾揽雀尾 Grasping sparrow tail 手挥琵琶手挥琵琶 Hold the Lute What are the two different explanations for the origin of tai chi? Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist, was said to have invented tai chi after drawing inspiration from a fight between a snake
12、and a bird. Nowadays people tend to believe that Chen Wangting, a 17th- century master of Chinese martial arts, developed tai chi based on martial arts skills. Some styles of tai chi: Read paragraph 4 and complete the chart. Essence of tai chi Chinese philosophy of (1) _ the unity of (2) _ the pract
13、ice of tai chi aims to maintain the balance in the body through (3) _ (4) _ (5) _ (6) _ breathing in and breathing out yin and yang opposites opposite movements forwards and backwards up and down left and right How do you understand “there is no shadow without light”? Why is it used here? Where ther
14、e is light, there is a shadow. The author uses this example to explain the unity of opposites, which cannot exist without each other. Can you make up more such sentences to explain the unity of opposites? There is no good without evil. There is no fairness without unfairness. There is no white witho
15、ut black. There is no beauty without ugliness. There is no success without failure. How do you understand the unity of opposites? How can you put it into your life? Just as the article says, the unity of opposites cannot exist independent of each other. Opposites are there to keep balance and if bro
16、ken, an imbalance may occur, which could cause many problems. Two such opposites that I have experienced in my life are success and failure. Instead of seeing them as two separate aspects of my life, I see them as two opposites that rely on each other to form a whole. That means my failure can help
17、me succeed because it teaches me what I need to learn in order to succeed. Read paragraph 5 The benefits brought by practicing tai chi are: sleep better feel happier and more confident relax in mind stay cool in stressful situations Do you think tai chi will get more popular among teenagers? Why or
18、why not? Yes, I think tai chi will definitely become more popular among teenagers, because I believe young people are becoming more aware of the importance of physical and mental health. Tai chi is great because it helps with both. This should make it a good choice for teenagers who want to take up
19、exercise. Also, as a traditional Chinese form of exercise, tai chi will probably get a lot of support from the government, schools and other bodies. hesitate v. to pause before saying or doing sth. because you are nervous or not sure 犹豫犹豫；踌躇；迟疑不；踌躇；迟疑不决决 hesitate to do sth. 迟疑迟疑做某事；不愿做某事做某事；不愿做某事 he
20、sitate about/at/over 对对犹豫不决犹豫不决 hesitate (about) wh-从句从句/ wh-+to do sth. 对对犹豫不决犹豫不决 eg Dont hesitate to contact me if you need any more information. 1. When my friend first suggested that we join the new Tai Chi Club at school I hesitated. 【拓展拓展】 hesitation n. 犹豫；踌躇犹豫；踌躇 without hesitation 毫不犹豫毫不犹豫
21、have no hesitation in doing sth. 毫不犹豫毫不犹豫地做某地做某事事 do sth. without hesitation 毫不犹豫地做某事毫不犹豫地做某事 eg I would have no hesitation in recommending Philip for the position. The boy followed without hesitation. admit v. 1) to say that you have done sth. wrong 承认；招认承认；招认 admit sth. /doing sth. /having done st
22、h. 承认承认某事某事/做做了了某某事事 admit .to be. 承认承认是是 eg Greene admitted causing death by reckless driving. After questioning, he admitted to the murder. 2. I had to admit that I had been wrong about tai chi. 2) to allow sb to enter a public place; to allow sb to join an organization, club etc. 允许允许进入进入；成为；成为中的
23、一员中的一员 admit sb to/into 允许某人进入允许某人进入 be admitted as. 作为作为被被接受接受; as后接表后接表 示成员的名词。示成员的名词。 eg Only ticket-holders will be admitted into the stadium. 【拓展拓展】 admission n. 准许准许进入；承认；入场费进入；承认；入场费 3. Practising tai chi has inspired me to explore the Chinese culture behind it. inspire v. 1) to encourage som
24、eone 激励激励；鼓舞鼓舞 2) to make someone have a particular feeling or react in a particular way 激起，激起，唤起唤起；启示；启示 inspire sb. to do sth 激励激励某人做某人做 inspire sb. with sth. /inspire sth. in sb. eg He inspired many young people to take up the sport. 【拓展拓展】 inspiration n. 启示；启示；灵感灵感；启发灵感的人；启发灵感的人 inspiring adj. 鼓
25、舞人的；吸引人的鼓舞人的；吸引人的 inspired adj. 卓越的；激动人心卓越的；激动人心的的 eg She was an inspiration to all of us. Her inspiring speech yesterday made us encouraged. She was one of the most inspired people Ive met. 4. No wonder some tai chi moves are named after animals no wonder + (that) 从句从句 不足为奇，并不奇怪不足为奇，并不奇怪 该句型是“该句型是“
26、Its no wonder + that从句”的省从句”的省 略形式。略形式。it是形式主语，是形式主语，that从句是真正的主从句是真正的主 语，语，no wonder作表语。作表语。 (Its) no/ little/ small wonder 难怪难怪/并不奇怪并不奇怪/当然当然 eg Its no wonder youre hungry; you didnt have any breakfast. 5. Neither can exist independent of the other; exist vi. to be real or alive 存在存在; 生存生存 exist o
27、n 靠靠生活生活/生存生存 exist in 存在存在于于中中 There exists/existed. 某地某地有有；存在；存在 eg The custom of arranged marriages still exists in many countries. 【注意注意】 exist没有被动语态，也没有进行时。没有被动语态，也没有进行时。 【拓展拓展】 existence n. 存在存在；生存；生存 come into existence 产生产生；成立；开始存在；成立；开始存在 in existence 存在存在 existing adj. (仅用于名词前仅用于名词前)目前的目前的
28、，现存现存的的 eg The organization has been in existence for 25 years. The existing system needs to be changed. 6. Eventually, tai chi brings about a state of physical balance and mental peace. bring about: to cause sth to happen 导致；引起导致；引起 eg Many new changes will be brought about in Chinas industry 【拓展拓展
29、】 bring up 抚养；提出；呕吐抚养；提出；呕吐 bring forward 提出提出 bring back 把把送回；使回想起送回；使回想起 bring down 降低；击倒降低；击倒 bring out 显示显示出来，出版，生产出来，出版，生产 【语境应用语境应用】用用适当的副词填空适当的副词填空。 1. I know it happened, but I cannot bring it _ to my mind. 2. She brought _ her children to be considerate of others. 3. With one shot he brought _ the tiger. 4. Our teacher will bring a new book _ next month. back up down out As is shown in the passage, the authors interest changes with time. If there were a tai chi club in your school, would you join it? Why? Write down your answers.
