Unit 6 IS AN ONLY CHILD A LONELY CHILD? Contents A. Text one I. Pre-reading:I. Pre-reading (I) Warm-up questions (II) Background information II. While-reading:

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• Unit 6

IS AN ONLY CHILD A LONELY CHILD?

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• Contents• A. Text one• I. Pre-reading: • (I) Warm-up questions • (II) Background information• II. While-reading: Text Analysis• (I) Structure analysis• (II) Comprehension questions • (III) Language points• (IV) Difficult sentences • III. Post-Reading:• (I) Grammatical items• (II) Translation Exercises• (III) Oral activities• (IV) Writing practice • B. Text two• （ I ） Questions for text comprehension• （ II ） Language points

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A. text one

• I. Pre-reading: • (I) warm-up questions• Do you have brothers or sisters? • If yes, were you happy in childhood? If no,

how did you spend your childhood? Were you lonely?

Pre-reading: (I) warm-up questions

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Chinese struggle with cost of raising children

83 percent of netizens think the cost of rearing children is too high.

In Nanjing: Most ordinary families spend about 100,000 yuan on

their child before he or she reaches university age; Better-off ones can spend 300,000 yuan.A netizen in Beijing: spent 80,000 yuan for his daughter's kindergarten

education ; will spend 132,000 yuan for her primary and middle

school education; another 144,400 yuan for her insurance bills.

Pre-reading: (II) Background information

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• An Example: Chang Li, an English teacher in one of Beijing's key middle schools

• several hundred yuan on vitamins supplements before getting pregnant;

• another 400 yuan on buying radiation protection clothing.

• after her daughter's first birthday: imported milk powder, one to two tins per month, nearly 200 yuan/tin.

• diapers: 100 yuan per bag, 4 bags /month.

• early learning center: 10,000/ year

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• I (P1): Parents’ dilemma and concern

• II (P2-3): Two common arguments against having only one child

• III (P4-5): Figures and facts supporting one child6 the advantages of having a single child.

• IV (P7): Conclusion: no simple answer

II. While-reading: Text Analysis

(I) Structure analysis

While-reading: (I) Structure analysis

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• (II) Comprehension questions • 1) What is the dilemma that many couples are

faced with?• The dilemma that many couples are confronted

with is whether or not they should have a second child. On one hand, they have demanding jobs and limited time and financial resources; on the other hand, they are also very keen to ensure that their only child does not become a lonely child. So they are plunged into this situation in which it is difficult for them to decide what to do.

• 2) What is the concern that weighs heavily on the minds of many couples?

• Many couples are very much concerned about whether an only-child necessarily becomes a lonely child.

While-reading: (II) Comprehension questions

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• 3) What does the writer think of the issue of whether or not to have a second child? (Paragraph 2)

• The writer thinks that the issue is one of the most difficult issues that parents nowadays are confronted with.

• 4) Why does the writer think that an only child necessarily means a lonely child? (Paragraph 2)

• As there are no other children in the family for the child to associate with, he may feel lonely at times, especially during vacations.

• 5) What is the main idea of the third paragraph? (Paragraph 3)

• The third paragraph states and supports another common argument against having just one child: an only-child may be more spoiled than one with siblings.


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• 6) What examples and statistics are given to show that more and more parents have decided to

• have only one child? (Paragraph 4)• In the US, for example, 14 percent of women

between 18 and 34 plan to have just one child, and this percentage is expected to rise. The same trend can be seen in the UK. According to the Family Policy Studies Center, the overall number of British children being born each year has declined. In Japan, the average number of children born per family had declined to 1.42 by 1996, while the latest statistics cite less than one child.

• 7) What is the main idea of Paragraph 5? (Paragraph 5)

• Paragraph 5 supplies two most typical reasons for the steady increase of the number of parents who have chosen to have only one child.


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• 1. dilemma n. a difficult situation• be in a dilemma• I’m in a dilemma about this job offer.• 我不知道是否要接受这份工作。 • The bad weather put us in a dilemma

whether to leave or stay.• Mary is facing the dilemma of

obeying her father or marrying the man she loves.

While-reading: （ III ） Language points

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• the pros and cons: the advantages and disadvantages

• Before we make a decision, we must weigh up the pros and cons.

• After hours’ discussion, everybody at the meeting could see clearly the pros and cons of the proposal.


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concern (c/u) n. a feeling of worry about sth. The healthy growth of a baby is a common concern for new parents

There is growing concern about the effects of pollution on health.A government spokesman expressed concern for the lives of the hostages.


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• concerned adj. worried about something

• be concerned about: care about• Everybody is concerned about the future

of his country.• be concerned for: be worried about • Rescuers are concerned for the safety of

two men trapped in the mine.• be concerned that• He’s concerned that he won’t get his

money back.


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• With regard to: concerning• With regard to the nuclear weapon

issue, China is a trustworthy and responsible country.

• With regard to the seminar on English teaching, I suggest it be held on the coming weekend.


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• stigma n. a mark of shame or disgrace; a shameful feeling or reputation

• Your dishonest behavior will leave a stigma on whole family.

• It's a stigma for a middle-aged man to ask for money from his parents.

• Don't you think it a stigma that you, already in your thirties, still have to depend on / live off your parents?


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Associated with: (1) Connected with: White is associated with purity and peace in the West.(2) get on with; make friends withDon't associate with dishonest boys.不要常和不诚实的孩子在一起。

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• Involve: • Include; entail• The job involves regular business trips. • Be involved in: be engaged in; make sb.

experience sth. unpleasant• I suspect that he is more or

less involved in the affair/ scandal.• Generally, those closely involved cannot

see as clearly as those outside.• 大凡天下事，当局者迷，旁观者清。


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• overwhelming: adj. huge, strong• She felt an overwhelming desire to

hug her child.• The flood was overwhelming and

the city was soon drowned. • 洪水来势凶猛 , 很快这个城市就被淹没

了。


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• be equivalent to: have the same or a similar effect as

• Silence is sometimes equivalent to agreement.

• US$80 is equivalent to 400 RMB. • Comparison: be equal to• Three plus two is equal to five

.


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• potential: (u)• (1) n. possibility • She recognized the potential for error in

the method being used.• (2) n. qualities or abilities that may be

developed and lead to future success or usefulness

• Service industry huge potential for growth/ development/ success/ achievement


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• Quality time:the time, esp. working parents

spend together with their child or children 珍贵时光 , 欢乐时光


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• （ IV ） Difficult Sentences• 1. Many single-child parents feel a stigma

associated with their decision to have only one child. (Paragraph 2)

• Paraphrase: Many single-child families have a strong sense of shame in their decision to have only one child.

• Translation: 许多只有一个小孩的父母都为自己只生一个小孩的决定感到羞愧。

•• 2. … this may lead to the child feeling lonely at

times, …? (Paragraph 2):• Explanation: lead to sb. doing sth.: cause sth. to

happen to sb. or cause sb. to do sth.• e.g. His actions could lead to him losing his

job.• Paraphrase: … such a situation will probably result in

the child having a sense of loneliness from time to time, …?

• Translation: 这样一种环境可能经常会让孩子感到孤独。

While-reading: （ IV ） Difficult Sentences

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• 3. Another common argument against having just one child is that an only child may be more spoiled than one with siblings. (Paragraph 3):

• Explanation: spoil: make sb., esp.a child, selfish from having too much attention or prais

• Paraphrase: Another reason some people usually hold against having only one-child is that an only child is more likely to be given too much love and care than one that has brothers and/or sisters.

• Translation: 另外一个常用于反驳只养育一个孩子的理由是：一个孩子获得的溺爱要比那些有兄弟姐妹的孩子多得多。

• 4. respect the give-and-take involved in many relationships (Paragraph 3):

• Paraphrase: realize the importance of cooperation and mutual understanding between themselves and other people in various situations

• Translation: 认识到在各种关系中合作与相互了解的重要性

While-reading: （ IV ） Difficult Sentences

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•III. Post-Reading• (I) Grammatical items:• 1. Simple prepositions and

complex preposition• 2. Conjunctions

III. Post-Reading: (I) Grammatical items

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• 1. Simple prepositions and complex preposition

• 1) The prepositions, such as in, of, at, and to, are all single words. We call them SIMPLE PREPOSITIONS.

• 2) COMPLEX PREPOSITIONS consist of two- or three-word combinations acting as a single unit. Here are some examples: according to, but for, except for, in terms of, in point of, with regard to, in the case of, etc.


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Exercises• Complete the following sentences with the

appropriate complex prepositions listed below.

• regardless of but for in terms of • except for according to in case of • 1. ___________ a few spelling mistakes, it is

on the whole a good composition.• 2. We would have arrived two hours ago

_____________ the traffic jam.• 3. ____________ money, they’re quite rich.• 4. They divided themselves into three

groups _____________ age.• 5. ___________ fire, open this safety door.• 6. ___________ danger, he climbed the tower.

III. Post-Reading: (I) Grammatical exercise

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• Keys:• 1. Except for• (“Except for” means “not including”. It is used to

show that a general statement made in the main part of the sentence is not completely true.)

• 2. but for• (“But for” means “except for the effects of”.)• 3. In terms of• (“In terms of” means “in the circumstance of”.)• 4. according to• (“According to” means “as determined by”.)• 5. In case of• (“In case of” means “if there should happen to

be”.)• 6. Regardless of• (“Regardless of” means “in spite of”.)


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• 2. Conjunctions• Conjunctions are used to express a connection between

words. There are two types of conjunctions. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (or simply COORDINATORS) connect elements of equal syntactic status.

• e. g. Paul and David • I play tennis but I don't play well. • meat or fish • On the other hand, SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (or

SUBORDINATORS) connect elements of unequal syntactic status.

• e.g. I left early because I had an interview the next day.

• I'll be home at nine if I can get a taxi.


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• Exercises• In each sentence, insert an appropriate conjunction

from the list below.• whenever where as because • since although or else wherever•

1. Many exam candidates lose marks simply __________ they do not read the questions properly.

• 2. Bill works __________ foreman at Whiting’s Corporation.

• 3. ________ the sun was shining, he went out wearing a coat.

• 4. ________ I hear that tune, it makes me think of my former classmates.

• 5. Take your passport with you ____________ you go. • 6. It’s a long time ________ I last heard from Albert. • 7. Plant your fig-tree _________ there is plenty of

sunshine. • 8. Take your medicine regularly __________ you won’t

get well.


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• Keys:• 1. because • 2. as (“As” means “in the capacity of”

while “like” means “in the manner of.”)• 3. Although• 4. Whenever • 5. wherever• 6. since (“Since” introduces a past date,

moment, event, a point of time while “for” introduces a period of time.)

• 7. where• 8. or else


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• （ II ） Translation Exercises• 1. 让她感到为难的是，要不要把丈夫得了不治之症的

真相告诉他。 (dilemma) • The dilemma she is facing is whether to tell

her husband the truth about his fatal disease.• 2. 你都三十几岁了还在啃老，难道不觉得羞耻吗？

（ stigma)• Don’t you think it a sort of stigma that you,

already in your thirties, still have to depend on your old parents?.

• 3. 全世界几乎所有的政府都十分关注这个金融问题。• (be concerned about ）• Almost all the governments in the world are ve

ry much concerned about the financial issue.

III. Post-Reading: （ II ） Translation Exercises

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• 4. 至于英语教学研讨会，我建议在本周末召开。（ with regard to ）

• With regard to the seminar on English teaching, suggest that it （ should ） be held on the coming weekend.

• 5. 要不要出国进修就完全由你自己决定吧。（ whether or not)

• Whether to go abroad for further education or not is entirely up to you.

• 6. 只要一颗火星就能在充满煤气的房间里引起爆炸。

• Just a single spark can lead to an explosion in a room filled with gas.

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• 7. 7. 无论政府作了多少努力，房价几乎没有下降。无论政府作了多少努力，房价几乎没有下降。(decline)(decline)

• No matter what efforts the government has No matter what efforts the government has made, the price for housing has barely declined. made, the price for housing has barely declined.

• 8. 8. 为了通过“托福”考试，他把业余时间的每分每秒几为了通过“托福”考试，他把业余时间的每分每秒几乎全花在学习英语上了。（乎全花在学习英语上了。（ devote…todevote…to ））

• In order to pass TOEFL, he has devoted almost In order to pass TOEFL, he has devoted almost every minute if his spare time to English studies.every minute if his spare time to English studies.

• 9. 凭借他的表演潜力，那个小伙子有可能成为娱乐界的超级明星。（ potential n.)

• With his acting potential, the young man is likely to be a superstar in the field of entertainment.


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• 10. 人们相信，兄弟姐妹之间的妒忌多见于有钱人家，而不是贫穷人家。 (Sibling jealousy)

• It is believed that sibling jealousy exists more in a rich family than a poor one


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• (III) Oral activities

• A Debate• Directions: Work in pairs and have a

debate on the pros and cons of having a second child. You should use the following words and expressions in your debate.

• dilemma demanding be keen to be concerned about sibling overwhelming

• elect to prime equivalent arise jealousy self-esteem unique spouse

III. Post-Reading: （ III ） Oral activities

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(IV) WritingWrite a short essay on the following

topic in about 150 words.• Do you agree or disagree with the

following statement:• Children should play and study

rather than learn how to do household chores.

III. Post-Reading: (IV) Writing

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sample:

• In the past in America, children were valuable workers. For example, they helped on the farm or in the family business in order to bring in money. Just a couple of generations later, attitudes have changed. Now children are hardly expected to work at all. Modern children often don't even do household chores. This is sad, because I think that they are missing something if they don't help out at home. Sharing in household tasks benefits children of all ages.


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• First of all, household tasks build skills. Very young children learn motor skills and classification skills when they pick up their toys and put them away. Talking about how to do things helps them learn to analyze situations. Older children learn skills they'll need as an adult. Cleaning and cooking may seem dull, but knowing how to do them well makes life a lot easier. How many young adults leave for college unable to do their own laundry or cook anything besides a frozen microwave dinner? It's amazingly common.


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• When everyone in a family helps out, the family is happier. Nowadays it's common for both parents to work. When they come home, they have more work to do. Life is stressful and there's no time for fun. By sharing household tasks, everyone gains. Children can help their parents with simple tasks such as picking up their own rooms, putting away their own laundry, starting dinner occasionally, or taking care of younger siblings. Then the family can relax together, and parents won't feel like servants to their "couch potato" （整天躺著看电视的人） offspring.


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• The most important thing children learn from helping with household tasks is responsibility. Handling everyday tasks teaches organization and time management skills. Children learn that chores have to be completed before they can play, or before? They get their allowances. Children who understand that effort pays off will be more successful later in life.

• Kids should not work all the time. A happy life needs balance. But if they can successfully handle tasks at home, they will handle life better too. They will know the satisfaction of doing a good job, be involved in family life, and become more confident and responsible adults.


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B. Text two• (I) Questions for text comprehension• 1. What was the traditional view on the

roles of men and women?• 2. What does Walkingshaw’s case imply

about the problem with children?• 3. What are society’s changing views of the

role of men play in relation to childcare?• 4. According to the passage, what do

children need most from their fathers?• 5. What can we conclude from the passage

about the father’s role in child rearing?

Text two: (I) Questions for text comprehension

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• Key to Questions for discussion• 1. Traditionally, Western civilization viewed a woman as

a wife and mother whose place should be in the home and a man the sole wage-earner of the family.

• 2. Many women decide to get jobs because of financial need or to achieve freedom from women’s traditional roles of child rearing and housework. So many families no longer have an adult at home during the day, and the demand for childcare has risen.

• 3. People are re-thinking men’s values and their role in family life. They should be more active in the care of children and the home.

• 4. What kids need most from their father is probably his simple presence with the live and time for children. Mutual trust and unconditional love are still the keys to successful child rearing.

• 5. (Open to discussion.)

Text two: (I) Questions for text comprehension

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• (II) Language points • 1. ... the paperwork would be “too

messy”… (Paragraph 1): • … switching to part-time hours• would involve tasks such as filling in forms,

keeping files up to date, or writing reports and letters which are complicated and unpleasant to deal with …

• 2. ... Walkingshaw sued on the grounds of sex discrimination. (Paragraph 1):

• … Walkingshaw took legal action against the company for treating him differently because of prejudice.

Text two: (II) Language points

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3. The ruling is believed to be the first of its kind, and demonstrates just how much views on parental roles have changed over the years. (Paragraph 1):

This official decision is said to be the first case of its category, and shows how greatly opinions of parental roles have altered in recent years. Attention should be paid to that fact that the word much in the sentence is not an adjective modifying the noun views, but an adverb in the meaning of a great deal modifying the verb changed.


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• 4. National Fatherhood Initiative (Paragraph 5):

• The National Fatherhood Initiative is a US-based non-profit, non-partisan organization that aims to improve the well-being of children through the promotion of responsible fatherhood. It was launched on 7th March, 1994 by Don Eberly, a former George H.W. Bush advisor and civil society scholar and Wade F. Horn, a child psychologist.


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• The movement also calls for the creation of a new image of fatherhood, one that goes

• beyond the traditional view of the father solely as provider, and also includes the equally crucial roles of nurturer, moral example, disciplinarian, and teacher. (Paragraph 5):

• According to the movement, the traditional view on the role of the father should change. He should support his family, devote his time to child rearing, set an example for his children, discipline them and teach them knowledge and skills.

Documents

Unit 6 IS AN ONLY CHILD A LONELY CHILD? Contents A. Text one I. Pre-reading:I. Pre-reading (I) Warm-up questions (II) Background information II. While-reading: