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外刊精读与练习(教案) The origin of the New Year's resolution

教案设计 05-10 英语外刊精读与练习(教案)

Task 1 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. True or False? New Year is associated with starting fresh.
True. If the New Year means anything, it means starting with a clean slate and turning over a new leaf.
2. What did the Babylonians believe good behaviour during Akitu would bless them with?
They believed it would bless them with good favour for the year ahead.
3. What distinguishing physical feature does the Roman god Janus have?
Janus has two faces - one looking to the past and the other facing forward to the future.
4. In what way are contemporary people much like the Babylonians and Romans?
We seek to reaffirm the best parts of ourselves, while leaving the dross behind.
5. Which phrasal verb used in the article means 'remove problems or find solutions'?
“Iron out”. “The idea of using the New Year to iron out our flaws and improve ourselves is not a new one.”

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。
1. A person who is genuinely sorry can be forgiven for their ______. Just say sorry!
A. resolution           B. vow           C. pledge            D. transgression
2. Please ______ from smoking within hospital grounds.
A. refrain              B. reaffirm       C. reflect            D. review
3. Young man, I suggest you go to your room and ______ on your bad behaviour!
A. celebrate           B. reflect          C. swear            D. pledge
4. If you give me one more chance, I promise I'll ______.
A. clean slate        B. turn over a new leaf       C. take an oath        D. self-improvement
5. Thank you all for coming to my wedding. It's a ______ of our love for each other.
A. improve           B. celebration        C. oath            D. review

Task 3 语法填空
Happy New Year! For many in the UK, if the New Year means anything, it means _1_____________ (start) with a clean slate and turning over a new leaf. And _2_________ (do) this, many of us make New Year's resolutions – a list of ways that we intend to improve _3__________ (us) in the year ahead. We reflect on our past transgressions and resolve not to do them again. Refraining from _4__________ (smoke) is ever popular, as is a vow to take up more exercise or spend more time _5______ family. But where does the idea of a New Year's resolution come from?
The answer might lie 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylonia, according to History.com. The Babylonians are believed to be the first _6__________ (hold) recorded celebrations for the New Year. The 12-day-long celebration, Akitu, allowed them not only to reaffirm their _7___________ (loyal) to the king, or crown a new one, but also to pledge to the gods to pay their debts and return _8___________ (borrow) objects. For their “good behavior”, they believed the gods would bestow favour upon them for the year to come. If not, there would be divine consequences!
The Romans too had similar traditions. New Year's Day was a time _9________ senators would swear they had upheld the laws and city leaders and soldiers would take an oath of loyalty to the emperor._10_____________ (incidental), the month of January, is named _11_________ the Roman god Janus. He is the god of beginnings, transitions and time, among other things and is depicted as having two faces – one _12_____________ (look) to the past and the other facing forward to the future.
The Romans may be long gone, but their legacy lives on. Come the turn of the year, our eyes turn inwards. We look at self-improvement, review our past mistakes, confess our wrongdoings, seek atonement and try to _13__________ (sharp) up in general. Ultimately, much like the Babylonians and Romans, we seek to reaffirm the best parts of ourselves, while leaving the dross behind.
Whether you're looking at a quick behavioural tweak, or a huge personality overhaul, you're taking part in a tradition _14__________ goes back centuries. I wish you all the best sticking to your resolutions. Happy New Year!

1, starting   2, to do   3, ourselves    4, smoking   5, with   6, to hold   7, loyalty   8, borrowed
9, when   10, Incidentally   11, after   12, looking    13, sharpen    14, that / which  

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