Unit 5 Languages Around the World
Period 2 Reading and Thinking
Warming-up
Enjoy a video and discuss the following questions.
(1) Why written Chinese was qualified as the perfect universal written language?
(2) Why written Chinese might not be a universal writing system?
(3) How did the universal writing system develop in the history of China?
Pre-reading
Reading skill:
The title tells the topic of the article.
What do you know about the title and the subtitle?
Journey down the Mekong
the dream and the plan
The subtitle tells the focus of the article.
Pre-reading
Activity 1:
Read the title and find the topic and focus of the passage. Then predict what the passage will be about.
{5C22544A-7EE6-4342-B048-85BDC9FD1C3A}The Chinese writing system: connecting the past and the present
Topic
Focus
The Chinese writing system
Connecting the past and the present
The passage will be about how the Chinese writing system connect the past and the present.
Pre-reading
According to the title, can you guess how the text is organized?
the past
the present
Chinese writing system
The text is organized in time order.
connect
While-reading
At the beginning, several thousand years ago
By the Shang Dynasty,
Over the years,
In the Qin Dynasty,
In modern times,
Today,
Activity 2:
Scan the text to find the words and phrases that describe a time.
At the beginning, several thousand _______
Russia _______
Germany ______
Spain _________
Canada ________
India __________
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
Over the years
In the Qin Dynasty
In the modern times
Today
While-reading
At the
beginning
1. What did written Chinese begin as?
2. When did it begin?
3. Where was it written?
4. What were written and how were they written?
It began as a picture-based language.
It began several thousand years ago.
It was written on animal bones and shells called longgu.
Symbols were written by carving.
Summary:
Several thousand years ago,?written Chinese?began as______________________
carved on_______________________________________________.
picture-based symbols
animal bones and shells which are called longgu
Read each of those important times carefully and answer the questions. Then
fill in the summary of each important time.
While-reading
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
What happened to the symbols by the Shang Dynasty?
It had become a well-developed writing system.
Summary:
By the?Shang Dynasty,?the symbols?had become
______________________________________.?
a well-developed writing system
Read each of those important times carefully and answer the questions. Then
fill in the summary of each important time.
While-reading
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
Over the years
How did the system develop over the years? Why did it develop?
It developed into different forms. Because people then were divided geographically, which results in the different dialects and characters.
Summary:
Over the years, the system?developed into _________________
because peoplelived in different parts of the country, leading to _____________________________.?
many different forms
different dialects and characters
Read each of those important times carefully and answer the questions. Then
fill in the summary of each important time.
While-reading
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
Over the years
In the Qin Dynasty
1. What did Emperor Qinshihuang do?
He united the seven major states into one unified country where the Chinese the Chinese writing system was to be unified.
2. How did written Chinese unify Chinese people divided by geography and dialects?
It allowed Chinese people, no matter where they lived or what dialect they had, to communicate with each other.
Summary:
In the Qin Dynasty,?the Chinese writing system?began to develop________________??
because?Emperor Qinshihuang?_____________________________.
in one direction
united the seven major states
Read each of those important times carefully and answer the questions. Then
fill in the summary of each important time.
While-reading
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
Over the years
In the Qin Dynasty
1. How was the ancient writing system developed in modern times?
It has developed into an art form, known as Chinese calligraphy.
In the modern times
2. How does written Chinese connect Chinese people today with those of the past?
Chinese people today can read and understand classic works from ancient times.
Summary:
In modern times, ancient writing form has been seen as_____________, known as
_____________________.
an art form
Chinese calligraphy
Read each of those important times carefully and answer the questions. Then
fill in the summary of each important time.
While-reading
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
Over the years
In the Qin Dynasty
In the modern times
Today
How are the Chinese characters today?
They have been more popular among international students.
Summary:
Today, as China plays a greater role in___________, Chinese characters have been
___________ among the_____________.
global affairs
more popular
international students
Read each of those important times carefully and answer the questions. Then
fill in the summary of each important time.
Post-reading
1. Retell the short history of Chinese writing system based on the timeline.
At the
beginning
By the Shang Dynasty
Over the years
In the Qin Dynasty
In the modern times
Today
What happened/Event
Time
Post-reading
Discussion:
According to the writer, the Chinese writing system is one factor that has helped the Chinese language and culture survive. What do you think are some of the other factors?
Assignment
Write a passage about the history of the development of the Chinese writing system.
Notes—The Chinese Writing System
1. It dates back several thousand years to the use of longgu-animal bones and shells on which symbols were carved by ancient Chinese people.
在这里,on which symbols were carved by ancient Chinese people为定语从句,修饰
定先行词longgu-animal bones and shells。此定语从句由介词+关系代词(on which)
导,on which定语从句中充当地点状语,等于where。
e.g. This is the factory in which I worked ten years ago.
这是我十年前工作过的工厂。
date back to为固定搭配,意为“追溯到…,从…开始”在句中做谓语时,要用一般现
在时态,没有进行时和被动语态形式。
e.g. The church dates back to the 13th century.
这座教堂从13世纪就开始有了。
Notes—The Chinese Writing System
2. Over the years, the system developed into different forms, as it was a time when people were divided geographically, leading to many varieties of dialects and characters.
在这里,when people were divided geographically为定语从句,修饰限定先行词time。
此定语从句由关系代词when引导,when在定语从句中充当时间状语。
e.g. The days when we used foreign oil were gone.
我国使用洋油的历史一去不复返了。
句中leading to many varieties of dialects and characters为结果状语。
e.g. A terrible earthquake happened in China in 2008, causing thousands of deaths.
2008年中国发生了一场可怕的地震,造成了成千上万人的死亡。
Notes—The Chinese Writing System
3. Even today, no matter where Chinese people live or what dialect they speak, they can all still communicate in writing.
本句是一个复合句。no matter where 在句中引导让步状语从句,表示“无论何地
不管什么地方”可替换为wherever。另外,no matter还可以与when/how/what/who
疑问词连用,引导让步状语从句,相当于whenever/however/whatever/whoever。
e.g. Whichever/ No matter which book you borrow, you must return it in a week.
你无论借哪本书,都必须一周内归还。
whenever/however/whatever/whoever除引导让步状语从句外,还可以引导主语从句和宾语从句,此时不能与no matter when/how/what/who互换。
e.g. Only when we match our words with our actions can we make a difference in whatever/ anything that we hope to accomplish.
只有我们言行一致才能对我们希望完成的事情产生影响。
Goodbye!