【正文】 been here since last August. There’ s a really big park behind the museum. Many families go there on weekends to let the kids run around and climb the hills. Martin: Nice. Can we check it out? Jenny: Sure. But first, lets have lunch at this restaurant down the street. It’ s been around for as long as I can remember. It serves the best food in town. A: My city is lovely. B: What are some of the special places there? A: Well, there’ s a concert hall there. It’ s been around for at least 20 years. 1d Talk about your town/city with a partner. 1. Why do millions of Chinese leave the countryside every year? 2a Answer the questions before you read. Then read the passage to find out if your answers are the same as in the passage. Millions of Chinese leave the countryside to search for work in the cities. 2. How often do you think these people visit their hometowns? 3. What new buildings does the government usually build in towns and villages? They may only visit their hometowns once or twice a year. Some people even have no time to return home. Large hospitals, new roads, new schools, parks and so on. Using Previous Knowledge We can often guess what a text is about by using what we already know. Answering questions before we read can also help us do this. Some people still live in their hometown. However, others may only see it once or twice a year. Nowadays, millions of Chinese leave the countryside to search for work in the cities. Among these is Zhong Wei, a 46year old Hometown Feelings husband and father. He has lived in Wenzhou for the last 13 years. With a hard job in a crayon factory, he doesn’ t find much time to visit his hometown. “ I used to return home at least once a year, but I haven39。t been back for almost three years now. Its a shame, but I just don’ t have the time,” he says. Many people like Zhong Wei regard with great interest how their hometowns have changed. Perhaps large hospitals and new roads have appeared. In many places, the government has also built new schools and sent teachers from the cities to help. “ I noticed that’ s true of my hometown,” adds Zhong Wei. “ Children have learned to read and count at my old primary school since the mid20th century. But now the buildings are really old. I hear they re going to build a new school there.” Zhong Wei thinks such developments are good, and he also knows that his hometown cannot always stay the same. According to Zhong Wei, however, some things will never change. “ In my hometown, there was a big old tree opposite the school. It is still there and has bee quite a symbol of the place. Most of the children in my time liked to play together under that big tree, especially during the summer holidays. It was such a happy childhood. Our hometown has left many soft and sweet memories in our hearts.” It’ s a shame, but l just don’ t have the time… 實在是遺憾，但我就是沒句吋間 … It’ s a shame. 是一種常見的口語表達(dá)，表示一種不如人愿的情形（ an unhappy situation), 相當(dāng)于漢語中 “真遺憾；多可惜啊” 的意思。 It’ s a shame...之后還可接不定式或由 that引導(dǎo) 的從句。例如： Language points A: I didn’ t have enough money to buy the guitar I wanted。 我沒有足夠的錢，買不了我想要的吉他。 B: It’ s a shame!真是遺憾呀！ It’ s a shame to cover this beautiful table with a tablecloth. 把這張漂亮的桌子用桌布蓋起來真是可惜。 It’ s a shame that you have to leave so soon. 真遺憾你這么快就要走了。 shame還可表示“ (因做錯事而感到的）羞愧；慚愧”， 例如： His face burned with shame. 他的臉因羞愧而發(fā)燙。 2b Find expressions in the passage that have the same meanings as these words and phrases. 1. look for _________ 2. consider _________ 3. across from __________ 4. in one’ s opinion _______________ 5. go back _______ 6. changes _____________ 7. area _____________ search for think opposite according to sb. return developments place 2c Complete the summary with words from the passage. You may need to change the forms of the words. Many Chinese people these days leave their __________ to work in the ________. They usually ____________ to their hometowns one or two times a ______. Zhong Wei hasn’ t been back in close to three years. He has been working in a _________ factory in Wenzhou for the past 13 years. hometowns cities e back year crayon People like him are __________ _ in how their hometowns are changing. New buildings are often built by the ___________ . Zhong Wei thinks these changes are _______because things need to change in order to bee better. But he also thinks some things ___________ change, and his hometown is still the place that holds all his childhood ___________. interested governmentgood will never memories 2d Think of changes that are happening in your town or city today. Which changes are generally good? Which changes could be seen as bad? 1. How long have you had it? 2. How did you get it? Did someone give it to you? Who? 3. Why do you like it so much? Why is it special? 4. Can you say anything more about it? 3a Think about your favorite thing from childhood which you still have. For example, it can be a toy or a book. Then take notes using the questions. 3b Write three paragraphs about your favorite thing. Use your notes in 3a to help you. In the first paragraph, introduce your favorite thing. My favorite thing from childhood is ________. I’ ve had it for/since ________ . __________ gave it to me. In the second paragraph, talk about why it is special. I like ________ so much because_________________ . It’ s special to me because . I think_____________. In the third paragraph. write about a story or memories. ______