Unit 1 SportsPart AListening StrategyIdentifying Numbers Numbers appear very often in every kind of listening material. The ability to catch the exact numbers spoken in English is an important but difficult skill for a Chinese learner. A good way is to practice over and over again the pronunciation of the numbers, particularly the different ways to say thirteen and thirty, fourteen and forty, etc. It also helps to practice writing down the numbers you hear quickly in numerical forms, without translating them into Chinese. Youre going to hear a passage about Michael Jordan, a retired American professional basketball player. Listen carefully and fill in the blanks with the missing numbers. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He was born on Feb. 1) 17, 2) 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He is 3) 1.98 meters tall and weighs 4) 216 pounds. Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls team for the 5) 1984 season. In the 6) 1986 season he shot 7) 3041 points, the 8) third highest score ever. He was named NBA Slam Dunk Champion (扣篮冠军) in 9) 1987 and won the Most Valuable Player Award in 10) 1988, an honor repeated 11) four times in the next 12) ten years to 13) 1998. Jordan guided his team to win 14) six NBA championships during the 15) 1990s, scoring 16) 45 points during the 17) sixth and last game of the 18) 1998 NBA finals. In 19) 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century. Jordan left the NBA at the beginning of the 1993-1994 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball. Since his baseball game wasnt quite as good as his basketball games, he finally gave it up to rejoin the Bulls in 1995. Yet, after playing for 20) five more years, he once again announced his retirement in 21) 1999. But he returned for two more NBA games in 22) 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards.Part BPre-listening TaskQuestions for DiscussionYou are going to talk about sports. Read the following questions and discuss them with your partner.1. Do you like sports? What is your favorite sport?2. What sports do most young people go in for?3. What sports are suitable for old people?4. Do you like jogging? Why or why not?5. Why do people need to play sports?Demo:2. What sports do most young people go in for? Well, people in different parts of the world may prefer different kinds of sports. For example, many Chinese people play ping-pong or table tennis, and it is considered to be our national sport. Chinese ping-pong players have won numerous championships in world competitions, which boosts the enthusiasm for the game among young people in China. However, in North America, many young people like playing American football and basketball. Almost every teenager has his or her own idol in these games. For example, Michael Jordan has a lot of fans in the US.Additional Question for Discussion What do you know about the Olympic Games?Demo: The Olympic Games are one of the most important international events in the world today. The modern Olympic Games are named for athletic contests held in ancient Greece for almost 12 centuries. They were banned in AD 394 but were revived and made international in 1896. The Winter Games were added in 1924. World War I and World War II forced cancellation of the Olympics in 1916, 1940, and 1944, but they resumed in 1948 and are held every four years. After 1992 the Winter and Summer Games were no longer held within the same calendar year. Winter Games were scheduled for 1994, after only a two-year interval, and every four years thereafter. The Summer Games were scheduled for 1996, and every four years thereafter. Beijing successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics.Language FocusHere are some sentences and structures that you might find useful in discussing the above questions.l I like sports a lot / very much.l I enjoy / am keen on / am fond of playing sports.l I like swimming / jogging / fishing / tennis, etc.l My favorite sport is basketball / volleyball / football, etc.l Young people go in for such sports as running / playing basketball / tennis / football, etc.l Jogging / Walking / Fishing is good for old people.l Jogging is considered a healthy sport for both the young and the old / people of all ages.l Many people begin jogging because they believe it is a very good form of exercise / can make their hearts stronger / can help them lose weight.l Jogging against the cold wind is also a test of ones will power.l Playing sports can help us to relax.l Sitting in a chair all day has made me very lazy.l I can get my figure back if I play a sport.l I can make new friends when I play sports.l People play sports because they want to keep fit / live an active life. l Playing a sport we like is an essential part of our life.Listening TasksWhy Dont You Join Me at the Gym Sometime?Word Bankgym n. a special hall or room with equipment for doing physical exerci