Happy New Year 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2010

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make. The new year is a time to resolve to follow through on those changes. If you haven’t made any new year’s resolutions, here are ten ideas.

1. Spend more time with family & friends.
2. Fit in fitness.
3. Lose weight.
4. Quit smoking.
5. Enjoy life more. Have more leisure time.
6. Quit drinking.
7. Get out of debt.
8. Help others.
9. Get organized.
10. Learn something new.

VOCABULARY
1. reflect (verb) It’s a time to reflect on what has already happened.
a. give back some money b. review; study c. think over; contemplate

2. resolve (verb) The new year is a time to resolve to do something.
a. to ring a bell b. to solve a problem c. to decide

3. From the short reading above, can you tell me what a New Year’s resolution (noun) is?
4. What does the verb “fit in” mean in #2?
a. be the right size. b. make enough time for c. be comfortable

5. fitness (noun)
a. good health or physical condition
b. happiness
c. able to ride a bicycle

6. What’s the difference between these two words?
lose (verb) [pronounced LOOZ] and loose (adj.) [pronounced LOOS]
Can you write a sentence for each one? YOUR TURN

lose ______________________________________________________________

loose _____________________________________________________________

7. leisure (adj.) [pronounced LEEzhur]
a. for sure; certain b. free time; freedom from work or duty c. tight clothes

8. debt (noun) [pronounced DET]

GRAMMAR

The verb in each of these resolutions is in the form of a command. It comes from the infinitive (base form), but as a command, it is directed to another person.
For example: Spend more time . . . is a command for someone else to spend more time doing something.

In the case of a resolution, it is you, yourself, you are talking to.
You say to yourself: I SHOULD SPEND more time . . .


What is the verb in each of these resolutions? Some are two-word verbs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

CONVERSATION

1. How can you spend more time with your friends and family?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How can you “fit in fitness”?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How can you lose weight (or control your weight)?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4, How can you quit smoking or how can you help someone else quit smoking?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What can you do in your leisure time?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. How can you quit drinking or quit gambling or help someone quit.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How can you get out of debt?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


8. How can you help others?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What can you do to get more organized?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. How can you learn something new?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Talk to your partner and find out two resolutions your partner made.
Write them down.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________


12. Write two resolutions YOU made for 2010.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

White Christmas

BING CROSBY singing in HOLIDAY INN 1941


I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.

VOCABULARY
1. glisten (verb) “tree tops glisten”
a. listen carefully
b. glitter; be shiny
c. stand tall

2. white (adj.) white Christmas
a. snowy
b. for white people
c. pretty

3. What words rhyme?
a. snow rhymes with ______________________
b. listen rhymes with ______________________
c. white rhymes with ____________________________________

4. How do you pronounce these words?
a. dresses b. dishes c. watches d. churches e. boxes
f. buzzes g. garages h. fences i. Christmases
What is the rule? _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

GRAMMAR
1. Make a list of the verbs. Tell what tense and give the infinitive.
Subject verb tense infinitive

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


3. the ones I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.

a. I like Fuji apples. They are the ones I usually buy.
b. The 30 Stockton and the 45 are the busses I take to school, but they are the ones that
are always crowded.
c. I am taking Sally’s Grammar/Listening/Conversation class this semester. It’s the one
I’m going to take next semester, too.
d. I like Kung Fu movies. They are the ones I always go to see.
e. Toyota makes good cars. They are the ones you see everywhere in San Francisco.

YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using the one and the ones.

the one ____________________________________________________________

the ones ____________________________________________________________

4. USED TO (infinitive)
something you did (or was) before but don’t do (or aren’t) any more.

a. I used to smoke, but I don’t do it any more.
b. I used to be a teacher, but now I’m a student.

YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using USED TO and DIDN’T USE TO

used to ____________________________________________________________

didn’t use to ___________________________________________________________________
5. You can wish something good for someone by using
MAY and a VERB:
a. May your days be merry and bright..
b. May all your Christmases be white.
c. May you be happy and healthy in the year to come.
d. May you have a very Happy New Year.

Try the above sentences with I HOPE. (I hope that + a clause)
aa. I hope your days are (will be) merry and bright.


bb. I hope_______________________________________________________


cc. I hope_________________________________________


dd. I hope _________________________________________


CONVERSATION
1. What are you dreaming of? [day dreaming = fantasy thinking while awake, especially about happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions about the future or reminiscences of the past.




2. Do you celebrate Christmas? If not, are there any holidays when you get together with friends or family and exchange gifts?

To Lie Down

to lie down

lie/lies lay (have/has/had) lain
(am/is/are/was/were) lying



(pres. continuous)
1. The lion and the lamb ____________________ next to each other.



2. (past)
Two dogs _________________________ on the grass.



3. (past)
Yesterday was a beautiful day, so my friend Susan
___________ on her back in the sun.






4. (present)
He always ___________________ on his side when he sleeps.


5. (past continuous)
The baby _____________awake in her crib waiting for her mom to pick her up.


6. (past)
She was so tired when she came home from work that she just
_________________down on the couch and fell asleep.



7. (past)

The protesters got out of their car and ____________ on the ground.

YOUR TURN (Write a sentence using the verb to lie down.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Down by the Riverside

I'm gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside (3)
And study war no more.

CHORUS
I ain’t gonna study no more
Study war no more (2)
I ain’t gonna study no more
Study war no more (2)



Gonna lay down my sword and shield.
Down by the riverside (3)
And study war no more.

CHORUS

I’m gonna walk with the Prince of Peace
Down by the riverside
And study war no more.

CHORUS

The Star-Spangled Banner

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light


What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars


through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts
we watched
were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare,

the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.


Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defense of Fort McHenry”, a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old poet and lawyer, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. The British wanted to take Baltimore, so they attacked Fort McHenry (which was protecting the harbor). At dawn on the 14th, Key noted that the huge American flag, which now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History Museum, was still waving and had not been removed in defeat. The sight inspired him to write the poem

1. What words rhyme in this poem/song?
a. light rhymes with ___________________________________
b. gleaming rhymes with ______________________________
c. glare rhymes with ____________________ and ______________________
c. wave rhymes with ___________________________

2. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?


3. When is dawn? ___________________________________
4. When is twilight? __________________________________
5. What is an “anthem”? ______________________________
6. If peril means danger, what is a “perilous fight”? __________________________________________________________________
7. Who were the American fighting against?
________________________________________________________________
8. When Mr. Key saw the flag still flying after the battle, this was proof that the Americans had not been beaten. PROOF is “any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something.” Can you use the noun “proof” in a sentence?


9. Answer these questions in complete sentences please.
a. What colors are the American flag? ___________________________
b. How many stripes does the flag have? _________________________
c. What do the stripes represent? _______________________________________________________
d. How many stars does the flag have? _________________________
e. What do the stars represent? ________________________________________________________



The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain from June 1812 to the spring of 1815, although the peace treaty ending the war was signed in Europe in December 1814. The main land fighting of the war occurred along the Canadian border, in the Chesapeake Bay region and along the Gulf of Mexico; extensive action also took place at sea.
This conflict was caused mainly by the U.S. resentment of British naval harassment. The British were already at war with France. They seized American ships and took seamen from them, some who were U.S. citizens.
Two days before the declaration of war, Great Britain agreed to repeal the naval laws which were chiefly responsible for the conflict. Speedy communication would have also eliminated the greatest battle, the Battle of New Orleans that occurred 15 days after a peace treaty had been signed.

A Thanksgiving Story

A first-grade teacher asked her class to draw a picture of something they were thankful for. She tried to think of some things that these children from poor neighborhoods could actually be thankful for, but she knew that most of them would draw pictures of turkeys or tables with food. The teacher was taken aback by the picture Douglas handed in -- a simple childishly-drawn hand.


But whose hand? The class wanted to talk about Douglas’s drawing.
“I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food,” said one child.
“I think it’s a farmer’s hand,” said another, “because he raises the turkeys.”
Finally when the others were busy at work, the teacher bent over Douglas’s desk and asked whose hand it was. “It’s your hand, Teacher,” he mumbled.
She recalled that frequently at recess she had taken Douglas by the hand. She often did that with the children, but it really meant a lot to Douglas.
Perhaps this is what Thanksgiving means, not to be thankful for material things but to be thankful for the chance, in whatever small way, to give to others.

I. VOCABULARY (words and idioms)
1. thankful (adj.) be thankful for
a. careful
b. grateful
c. doubtful

2. be taken aback by ( aback = adv.) The teacher was taken aback by the picture.
a. be shocked or surprised
b. be taken away
c. be happy

3. childish (adj) He acted in a childish way. She has a childish voice.
It was a childishly-drawn picture. (adv.)
a. like an adult
b. foolish
c. lacking in maturity; characteristic of a child

4. at work (adverbial phrase) Everybody in the class was hard at work.
a. doing the school assignment
b. in the office
c. doing homework

5. bent over (past tense of bend verb) The teacher bent over Douglas’s desk.
a. stood up straight
b. looked at
c.. curved or crooked posture

6. mumbled (verb) When he talked, he mumbled.
a. spoke in a loud voice
b. talked in a low and indistinct voice
c. yelled

7. frequently (adverb) Frequently at recess, she had taken Douglas by the hand.
a. not often
b. very often
c. always

8. at recess (adverbial phrase) Frequently at recess, she had taken Douglas by the hand.
a. not often
b. very often
c. always

9. by the hand (adverb) Frequently at recess, she had taken Douglas by the hand.
a. played with him on the playground
b. took him home
c. held his hand

10. material things (adverb) I am not thankful for material things; I am thankful for things you can’t touch.
a. mountains
b. physical objects that can be bought with money
c. thoughts



Look at the two-word verbs (phrasals) used in the story.
1. be thankful for Be thankful for the chance to give to others.
YOUR TURN (Talk about yourself.)
___________________________________________________________
2. think of She tried to think of things (that) the children could draw.
YOUR TURN
___________________________________________________________
3. handed in Douglas handed in a simple drawing.
YOUR TURN
___________________________________________________________
4. be taken aback by (something) I was taken aback by his nasty remark.
[something that is startling enough to make us jump back in surprise]
YOUR TURN
___________________________________________________________


II. GRAMMAR
1. WHOSE
possessive adjective requesting a person for an answer
(DO NOT CONFUSE THIS with Who is? Who's))
As a question . . . WHOSE noun ?
Whose hand? God’s hand.
Whose book is this? It’s my (her, his, your, our, their) book.
(It’s) Sally’s book.
I know whose book this is. Whose is it?
I went to a house whose owners were from China.
YOUR TURN
a. Please ask a question using WHOSE.
______________________________________________________
b. Please use WHOSE answer your question.
______________________________________________________

Possessives: possessive nouns
singular The student’s books are at her house.
plural Three students’ books are on my desk.
also These men’s jackets are on sale for $100.

Possessive proper nouns (capital letter)
Douglas’s hand was funny-looking. (Charles’s car, Mr. Jones’s car)
Safeway’s managers are very helpful.
Walgreen’s [store] is open from 8-11p.m.
YOUR TURN
a. Please write one sentence using a singular possessive noun.
_____________________________________________________________
b. Please write one sentence using a plural possessive noun.
_____________________________________________________________
c. Please write one sentence using a proper possessive noun.
_____________________________________________________________
to raise (transitive verb S V O You need an object with this ver.
raise /s raised raised

Examples with objects.
a. I raised my hand.
b. She was too weak to raise her head.
c. The janitor raises the flag every morning.
d. I have raised three children.
e. My boss raised my pay.
f. The chicken farmer raises chickens.
YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using RAISE.

_____________________________________________________________________




III. CONVERSATION
What are you thankful for? Talk with your partner and share your thoughts. Then write the answer to this question.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THINK ABOUT THIS:
Let us stand up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little; and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick; and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

Take a Risk or Not

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil. The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me. I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”

And so she grew.

The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts. What if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child might pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”

And so she waited.

A yard hen, scratching around in the early spring ground for food, found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

The moral of the story is this:
Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.


VOCABULARY
Look at the word and see if you can tell the meaning from the context.
Choose a, b, or c.
1. risk (noun) She took a risk and put her money in the stock market.
a. the possibility of loss or injury or other negative occurrence
b. a lot of money
c. a lot of power
2. fertile (adj.) We can plant our seeds in the fertile soil.
a. hard
b. capable of growing, reproducing, and developing
c. soft
3. roots (noun) The tree’s roots went deep into the earth.
a. branches on a tree
b. special food
c. underground portion of a plant
4. soil (noun) She planted the seeds in the soil.
a. the top layer of the earth’s surface supporting plant life
b. oil
c. dirty laundry
5. thrust (verb) He thrust a dagger into the man’s back.
He thrust his way into the crowd.
a. to throw away
b. to run
c. to push forcibly; shove; put or drive with force
5. sprouts (noun) The plant’s sprouts are just becoming visible.
a. shoots or buds of a plant
b. roots of a plant
c. flowers of a plant

6. crust (noun) Scientists are studying the earth’s crust.
a. a volcano
b. the outer layer of the earth
c. part of a pie
7. unfurl (verb) The flag unfurled as it hung on the pole.
a. unroll, unfold, or spread out
b. unnecessary
c. underneath
8. tender (adj.) The flower had tender buds.
a. hard or tough
b. young
c. soft or delicate
9. buds (noun)
a. a small projection on a plant
b. the roots of a plant
c. the flowers on a plant
10. banners (noun) She was carrying a banner in the parade.
a. songs
b. flags or cloths with a logo, symbol or message on them
c. poems
11. blessing (noun) The child was a blessing to her parents.
a. something that contributes to happiness or well-being
b. kissing
c. running
12. dew (noun) There was dew on the leaves.
a. a sweet drink
b. water droplets
c. soda
13. petals (noun) The dew fell on the petals.
a. beautiful pictures
b. the place for your feet on a bicycle
c. one of the often brightly colored parts of a flower
14. encounter (verb) I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark.
a. find
b. lose
c. eat
15. delicate (adj.) That plant has delicate sprouts.
a. strong
b. dainty
c. simple
16. blossoms (noun) The flower opened its blossoms.
a. stems
b. balloons
c. the flowers of the plant
17. scratching around (adj.) A yard hen scratching around for food ate the seed.
a. jumping
b. looking for
c. itching
18. promptly (adverb) The hen promptly ate the seed.
a. slowly
b. quickly
c. finally


GRAMMAR
1. to lay (transitive verb S V O )
I lay We lay past tense: laid
You lay You lay past participle: laid
He/She/It lays They lay
Examples: Present: The hen lays 2 eggs every other day. She never lays just one egg.
S V O S V O
Past Tense: Yesterday the hen laid 3 eggs.
S V O
I think I laid my keys on the table this morning, but now I can’t find them.
S V O
Present Perfect Tense: She has never laid a brown egg (in her whole life).
S v V O
Name some things that you often lay (put) on the table. (your keys, jacket, books, _______
A. Write a sentence using lay (in the present tense). _________, _________, _______
______________________________________________________________________
B. Write a sentence using laid (past tense)
______________________________________________________________________

2. WANT TO + (verb)
A. What does the first seed want to do?
He wants 1. to grow. 4. ______________
2. ______________ 5. _______________
3. ______________ 6. _______________
B. What do you want to do? or What do you want to be? Tell me three things.
1. I want __________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________

3. IF + present tense, main clause WILL/WON’T or (CAN/CAN’T)+ base verb form Examples: If I eat too much, I will get fat.
If I don’t eat nutritious food, I won’t be healthy.
A. The second seed had real fears about the future. Read about those fears again.
Write me two sentences using IF + present tense, telling me about your present condition and how it will affect your future.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
COMPREHENSION and CONVERSATION
Talk to your partner and then write your answers.
1. This story is an imaginary conversation between ________________________ .
2. What did the first seed do? and What did the second seed do?
___________________________________________________________________
3. In the end, what happened to the second seed?
___________________________________________________________________
4. What is your opinion about taking risks?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________