Unit One Online EducationPart One Warming-upListening Activity1Directions: Listen to the following dialogues and fill in the blanks with the missing words.Dialogue 1James: Andy, you dont look very well. You dont have sunstroke, do you?Andy: No. Im OK. But its really hot.James: What a scorcher today! Itd be the hottest day weve had so far this summer.Andy: You can say that again! Ive never suffered so much from the heat! James: Its the kind of weather that makes me want to stay inside and do nothing.Andy: Im so glad we have an air-conditioner.James: Me too. I dont know how the people stood it in the old days with only fans and shady trees to keep them cool.Andy: Perhaps its not so hot then.James: Maybe you are right.Dialogue 2Yang: Did you see the weather forecast today?Lily: Yes, whats the problem?Yang: whats the weather like today?Lily: He says its going to be windy. The highest degree is 5 degree Celsius. Its really cold today.Yang: Wont it snow?Lily: He didnt mention any.Yang: Did he say something about tonight?Lily: Yeah, the temperature will probably go down to 8 degrees below zero. Youd better wear a warm and thick coat.Yang: Thats great. Im really looking forward to that. Maybe it will bring us some snow. I like snow very much.2Directions: Listen to the following passage and fill in the blanks with the missing words or phrases.If you are like most people, your intelligence varies from season to season. You are probably a lot sharper in the spring than you are at any other time of the year. Scientists found that cool weather is much more favorable for creative thinking than is summer heat. This does not mean that all people are less intelligent in summer than they are during the rest of the year. It does mean, however, that the mental abilities of large numbers of people tend to be lowest in summer.Spring appears to be the best period of the year for thinking. One reason may be that in the spring mans mental abilities are affected by the same factors that bring about great changes in all nature.Fall is next best season, then winter. As for summer, it seems to be a good time to take a long vacation from thinking.3Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short conversations. At the end of each conversation, question will be asked about what was said. The conversation and question will be spoken only once. After each question there will be a pause. During the pause, you must read the four choices marked A, B, C and D, and decide which is the best answer. 1. CM: Did you watch the news on TV last night?W: I planned to, but I had to write an English composition.Q: What did the woman do last night?2. AM: Rose! Where are you?W: Im in New York. Can you hear me? I need your help.Q: What can we learn from this conversation?3. AM: Would you like to see a menu?W: No, thanks. I already know what I want to order.Q: What is the man?Reading Activity1. D 2. B 3. C 4. D 5.APart Two Reading AA. About the AuthorSelena Larson is a journalist for The Daily Dot in San Francisco covering the intersection of technology, culture and social justice. With a unique background in journalism and communications across the health, education, technology and economic development fields, she aims to tell stories that advocate for the public good and represent diverse voices that often go unheard.B. Warm-up Discussion1. What do you know about online education?2. Why do people choose online education?3. Are there any advantages and disadvantages of online education?C. StructurePart I Paras. 1-4 My experience on online education.Part II Paras. 5-13 The difficulties and problems online education are facing.Part III Paras. 14-16 The objective of online education in the future.D. Detailed Study of the Text1. I watch lectures and complete assignments from the comfort of my couch. (Para. 1) I watch lectures on the Internet and complete the tasks while I sit comfortably on my couch at home. This sentence tells us the convenience of online study. It also shows us it lacks of administration.2. Though I enjoy the subject matter, it has proved challenging to complete the course in time while keeping a work-life balance. (Para. 1) “it” is the form subject of the sentence, and the really subject is “to complete the course in time while keeping a work-life balance”.in time: not late; with enough time to be able to do sth. e.g. I arrived just in time for my flight to London. We will be in time for the six oclock train.3. give up: stop trying to do sth. (Para. 2) e.g. She doesnt give up easily. When life gets hard and you want to give up, remember that life is full of ups and downs.4. In attempting to disrupt traditional education and become a standard of online learning, MOOCs experienced very low retention and completion rat