Упражнения для развития поисковой деятельности при обучении чтению

Упражнения для развития поисковой деятельности

при обучении чтению

Проанализировав учебник по английскому языку О. В. Афанасьевой, И. В. Михеевой «English» для 6 класса [2, с. 235] мы выявили, что в нем содержится недостаточное количество упражнений, направленных на поисковую деятельность учеников при чтении англоязычных текстов. В связи с этим мы предлагаем использовать разработанные нами задания.

Unit 1 WEATHER

THE WEATHER FORECAST

We get wet through when we are caught in a rainstorm without a coat.

Sometimes we put on a sweater and then find that the weather has become hot. We do not always know what weather to expect. On TV and radio there are daily weather forecasts. Sometimes, the forecast is not quite right as the weather is not an easy thing to forecast.

All day and night, weathermen are collecting information from ships, planes, weather stations, and space stations. With the help of this information, they can understand what the weather will be like during the next few days. Although no two days will have exactly the same weather, some types of weather people can forecast.

When a barometer shows high pressure, the weather will be calm. In winter it will be cold and frosty. In summer it usually means misty mornings and hot sunny days. When the barometer shows low pressure, look out for rain and strong winds.

As a result of the weathermen’s work we learn about the weather. This is one of the TV forecasts made by the BBC.

“Good evening and here is the weather forecast for tomorrow. In the north of England it will be a wet day with heavy showers that will move to Northern Wales during the afternoon. The Mildlands will be dry but cloudy. In the south of England the day will be bright and clear with a lot of sunshine but it may be windy in the evening.”

Before reading

Exercise 1: Look at the title of the text. Define the theme of the text. What problem does the author want to show and solve?

Exercise 2: Divide the text into introduction, body and conclusion.

Exercise 3: Read the key words and word combinations of the text. Define the theme of the text. Find other key words and word combinations of the text which make the thematic framework of the text.

While reading

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences below with the information from the text.

1. Sometimes we put on a … and then find that the … has become hot.

2. With the help of this …, they can understand what the … will be like during the … few days.

3. In summer it … means misty mornings and hot … days.

4. This is one of the TV … made … the BBC.

5. In the south of … the day will be bright and clear with a lot of … but it may be … in the evening.”

Exercise 2: Find in the text all word combinations with the noun “weather” and translate them.

Exercise 3: Pick out the equivalents of the following words combinations:

Промокнуть до нитки; без пальто; надеть свитер; погода стала теплой; прогноз погоды; собирать информацию; работа синоптиков; барометр показывает; высокое давление; туманное утро; жаркий солнечный день; низкое давление; прогноз погоды на завтра.

After reading

Exercise 1: What is your opinion about the information given in the text?

Exercise 2: Divide the text into two semantic parts. Explain your choice.

Exercise 3: Write the weather forecast for your city.

Unit 5 ECOLOGY

CLEAN UP THE COUNTRYSIDE SOCIETY

Vicki was coming from her small country school and it was one of the last days of the term. There was sun in the sky and the birds were singing their beautiful songs. Vicki loved the countryside and she had lived there all her life. The weather was so nice that Vicki decided to take a longer way home, to the cottage where she lived. On her way she passed through a little grove where she used to play. Vicki was shocked to see that the grove looked terrible: it was piled with rubbish. Vicki ran all her way back home. She had to do something about this mess. Suddenly she had an idea .She would start her own Clean up the Countryside Society.

When Vicki got home she phoned four of her school friends − Alice, Rosie, Cathy and Jane. They all agreed to meet her at the grove. The girls set to work filling big black plastic bags with rubbish. It was hard work but soon all the rubbish was cleared away and the forest looked beautiful again.

On the next day the society had another meeting. Vicki said, “Today we must watch for rubbish dumpers.” Everyone agreed and soon Rosie and Jane noticed some picnickers. The picnickers were finishing their picnic and they left all their rubbish on the ground. “What are you going to do with all that litter you’ve left?” asked the girls. “I don’t know what you mean,” said a tall man with an American accent. “Just think,” said the girl. “Think about those bits of glass that you have left from your bottles of juice, of all those cola cans and think about how ugly the place will look littered like that.” “The young lady is right,” said a woman with a little hat on. “We just can’t leave this rubbish here.” “That’s right,” said Vicki. “Here take this bag.” “Thank you, girls,” they said, “for helping us understand that the country is a beautiful place and that we must not spoil it.” Then they all got into their American car and drove to the city. Vicki and her friends shouted, “Three cheers for our Society! Hip Hip Hoorah! Hip Hip Hoorah! Hip Hip Hoorah! ”You can imagine how surprised the girls were when the next morning their Science teacher, Mr. Bird, spoke to the class about ecology and the importance of keeping the environment clean. He said that pollution was getting worse and worse which could easily bring us to a global disaster. The result of the environmental crisis was that in many parts of the world humans were beginning to suffer from shortages of food and clean water to survive. But Mr. Bird said there was always hope. People had already learnt some important rules to protect the environment.

Before reading

Exercise 1: Read the paragraph one and try to understand it without the dictionary.

Exercise 2: What do you think about this theme in general? Could it be used in making a project e.g. «Ecological problems in my city».

Exercise 3: Have you read any articles on the basis of this theme? Were they fascinating or scientifically vital to you?

While reading

Exercise 1: Find in the text the main argument in favour of the title.

Exercise 2: Find in the text facts which the author considers to be beneficial.

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with correct preposition.

1. Vicki was coming _____ her small country school and it was one ___ the last days of the term.

2. On her way she passed _______ a little grove where she used ___ play.

3. When Vicki got home she phoned four ___ her school friends − Alice, Rosie, Cathy and Jane.

4. The picnickers were finishing their picnic and they left all their rubbish ___ the ground.

5. The result ___ the environmental crisis was that ___ many parts of the world humans were beginning ___ suffer from shortages of food and clean water to survive.

After reading

Exercise 1: Re-arrange the sentences from the text in the right order.

1. He said that pollution was getting worse and worse which could easily bring us to a global disaster.

2. Then they all got into their American car and drove to the city.

3. “What are you going to do with all that litter you’ve left?” asked the girls.

4. On the next day the society had another meeting.

5. They all agreed to meet her at the grove.

6. Vicki was shocked to see that the grove looked terrible: it was piled with rubbish.

7. There was sun in the sky and the birds were singing their beautiful songs.

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences from Russian into English.

1. Птицы пели свои прекрасные песни, и солнце светило на небе.

2. По дороге домой она прошла через маленькую полянку, где она обычно играла.

3. Девочки принялись за работу, заполняя большие черные пакеты мусором.

4. Люди закончили пикник и оставили весь мусор на земле.

5. Результатом экологического кризиса было то, что во многих частях мира люди начали страдать от нехватки продуктов и чистой воды, чтобы выжить.

Exercise 3:

Write an article «Environmental protection».

Unit 19 CONSOLIDATION THREE

AMERICAN FOOD AND DRINK

What is “American” food? The answer is that it is part Italian, part British, part German, part Mexican, part Chinese… When people from other countries came to live in the US, they brought different cooking traditions. Some of them opened restaurants. Today Americans enjoy food from all over the world. Over the years some foreign dishes changed a little. Doughnuts were originally from Holland. In 1847 a young American boy told his mother that her doughnuts were never cooked in the middle. He cut out the centre and his mother cooked them − and they were very tasty!

Maybe the US is most famous for “fast foods”. The first fast food restaurants served hamburgers, but now they serve other kinds of food too. Inside there is often a “salad bar”, where you can help yourself to as much salad as you want.

Americans eat a lot, and when they go to a restaurant, they don’t expect to be hungry afterwards. Most restaurants will put a lot of food on your plate − sometimes it can be too much. But if you can’t finish it all, don’t worry: they will give you a “doggy bag” and you can take it home. Most Americans now have a light breakfast instead of the traditional eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice and coffee. But on weekends there is more time, and a large late breakfast or early lunch is often eaten with family or friends.

Before reading

Exercise 1: Try to understand the underlined words. Check in the dictionary.

Exercise 2: Divide the text into introduction, body and conclusion.

Exercise 3: Have you read any articles on the basis of this theme? Were they fascinating or scientifically vital to you?

While reading

Exercise 1: Read the text again and complete the following sentences.

1. When people from other countries came to live in the US, _________.

2. In 1847 a young American boy told his mother that her doughnuts _____.

3. The first fast food restaurants served hamburgers, _________________ .

4. Most restaurants will put a lot of food on your plate − _______________ .

5. Most Americans now have a light breakfast instead of ______________ .

Exercise 2: Insert articles if necessary.

1. _____ answer is that it is part Italian, part British, part German, part Mexican, part Chinese…

2. Over ____ years some foreign dishes changed ___ little.

3. In 1847 ____ young American boy told his mother that her doughnuts were never cooked in ____ middle.

4. Americans eat ____ lot, and when they go to ____ restaurant, they don’t expect to be hungry afterwards.

5. But on weekends there is more time, and ____ large late breakfast or early lunch is often eaten with family or friends.

Exercise 3: Find in the text those facts which can be used for the annotation.

After reading

Exercise 1: Put the verb in the right form.

1. When people from other countries (come) to live in the US, they (bring) different cooking traditions.

2. Over the years some foreign dishes (change) a little.

3. Maybe the US (to be) most famous for “fast foods”.

4. Most restaurants (put) a lot of food on your plate − sometimes it (can) be too much.

5. Most Americans now (have) a light breakfast instead of the traditional eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice and coffee.

Exercise 2: Read the text and define whether the given statements are true or false.

1. When people from other countries came to live in the US, they didn’t bring different cooking traditions.

2. Today Americans don’t enjoy food from all over the world.

3. Doughnuts were originally from Holland.

4. Maybe the US is most famous for “fast foods”.

5. Most restaurants won’t put a lot of food on your plate.

Exercise 3: Write the recipe of your favorite dish.

Unit 20 GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLOOK

THE UNKNOWN SOUTHERN LAND

Even in medieval times there were stories about a large continent in the Southern Hemisphere. But Europeans had never seen it. They wondered what it was like and whether it was inhabited. They called this land terra australis incognita, or «the unknown southern land» - Australia. 

Nowadays when people speak of Australia they can mean 3 things: Australia as 1) a continent 2) an island 3) an independent country. Australia is the world's largest island and its smallest continent. Asia is the continent nearest to Australia in the north. The icy shores of Antarctica lie in the south. New Zealand is to the east. To the west of Australia stretches the vast Indian Ocean. In the east the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean.

Australia is a land of striking difference. In the center of the continent and in the west more than 50% of the land is desert – dry and uninhabited. There are 3 deserts there – the Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert and the Gibson Desert, situated between them. Naturally very few people live there. Most of them live on narrow coasts of the east and south-east. Main cities, where people live among tall office buildings, automobile plants and busy factories, are also situated there. 

In the north-east tropical forests cover the coasts. In the mountains of south-east the snow lies for seven month of the year. 

Australia is divided into six states and two territories. 

New South Wales is Australia's leading state. Most people live along the east coast, and most of them are in Sydney. Sydney is also the largest city in Australia. 

In Victoria most people live in the south. Melbourne is the capital of the state and the largest city. Sheep and wheat are the main products here. Citrus, fruits, grapes, peaches, and apricots are grown along the Murray River. 

Queensland is Australia’s 2nd largest state. Brisbane, its capital, is situated on the east coast. Queensland has long sandy beaches. Its coast is a popular place for holiday-makers. The climate along the east coast is hot and humid. It is the tropical corner of Australia. Bananas and other tropical fruits are grown here. Most of the land in the south is too dry for farming. Some of Australia’s most unproductive desert lands occupy the bigger part of the state. 

The state of Western Australia is dry and inhospitable except the south- western corner of the state. Nearly al of the state’s farms, sheep stations and fruit gardens are situated here. The rest of the state is dry desert land with very few towns or lonely cattle stations. 

South Australia is the 3rd largest state. Most of the South Australia’s people, farms and industry are situated in the south-eastern part of the state. Adelaide is the capital and the largest city. Most of the South Australia is too dry for farming. Farming very much depends on irrigation or underground water. Some of Australia’s most unproductive deserts lands occupy the greater part of the state. Wheat and fruit are grown along the lower part of the Murray River. 

Tasmania, the island state, is sometimes called the apple isle because it produces most Australia’s apples. Tasmania is one of the few places in Australia that have enough rain all year. Tasmania is Australia’s leading produce of pears and berries of different kinds. Potatoes are also grown in some areas. 

Northern Territory is the least populated and least developed part of Australia. Crocodiles still live in some of swamps along the coast. Darwin is its capital and the largest settlement in the north. Alice Springs, generally called Alice or the Alice, is the only town in the south. 

The capital of Australia is Canberra. The city doesn’t belong to any state. It is situated in the Australian Capital Territory, which occupies an area of 2,432 square kilometers.

Before reading

Exercise 1: Read the text and find out the words which mean geographical names.

Exercise 2: Read the title and say what the text will be about.

Exercise 3: Make the chain of main facts in which reference words would be connected.

While reading

Exercise 1: What other title can be used for the text?

Exercise 2: Read the text and divide it into parts. Give each a title.

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences below with the information from the text.

1. Australia is the world's largest _______ and its smallest _______.

2. Australia is divided into ______ states and ______ territories.

3. The state of ____________ is dry and inhospitable except the south-western corner of the state.

4. _________, the island state, is sometimes called the apple isle because it produces most Australia’s apples.

5. _________ Territory is the least populated and least developed part of Australia.

After reading

Exercise 1: Ask questions to the text.

Exercise 2: Read the text and define whether the given statements are true or false.

1. Asia is the continent nearest to Australia in the west

2. In Victoria most people live in the south.

3. Some of Australia’s most productive deserts lands occupy the greater part of the state.

4. Tasmania, the island state, is sometimes called the orange isle.

5. The capital of Australia is Canberra.

Exercise 3: Retell the text.