Competing from Your Birth to the Grave

Structure1. Competition is an instinct that controls our

behavior in many parts of our daily lives.

2. As soon as a win seems guaranteed , our brains stimulate the production of chemicals which give our bodies a rush of energy and pleasure. It’s the pleasant effects of these chemicals that drive us to keep competing and trying to win.

3. Most of people can still remember small failures even though they may have happened a long time ago. That is because our brains often remind us of the pain of failure to help us avoid making the same mistakes again.

4. Competition can even start before birth. When it is almost time for a baby to be born, the baby will begin competing with its mother.

5. Soon after birth, siblings begin competing. These early instincts can effect one’s personality later in life.

6. After millions of years of evolution’ our instincts still influence how we think and act. Our brains have trained us to be winners. That is what continues to drive us to improve ourselves and our world.

Eyes on Phrases• P.64Line 3- to get an edge over sb-• At the stock exchange, traders work tirelessly to get an edge

over the others. • EX: The basketball player continuously practices to get an edge

over the others on the ground.• 那個籃球選手不斷練習 ,以求在球場上上能鶴立雞群

• Line 14& 19- even though• Even though human beings have changed in many ways

since then, the same basic instincts for competition remain.• EX: He still unceasingly practice , even though he lost the

competition.•   雖然他輸了這場比賽 ,但他仍不斷的練習

Line20-to remind sb of sth- That is because our brains often remind us of the pain of failure to help us avoid making the same mistakes again. EX:His success remind us to insist on ourselves dream.                     他的成功提醒我們要堅持自己的夢想

line 23-to compete with sb- when it is almost time for a baby to be born, the baby will begin competing with its mother.

EX:He likes to compete with the others, because it can let him progress.                       他喜歡和他人競爭因為這會讓他進步

p.65 line 2-to compete for- for instance, if a toddler sees his mother playing with his older brother, he will start competing for his mother’s attention. EX:He practiced hard to compete for good grade.                他努力練習以爭取好成績 Line 7- to tend to do sth- First-born children tend to play by the rules, while younger siblings are usually more rebellious. EX:He tends to play basketball, but his brother tend to play baseball.                 他喜歡玩籃球但他的哥哥喜歡打棒球 Line 7- to play by the rules – First-born children tend to play by the rules, while younger siblings are usually more rebellious. EX: No matter what to do, you must to play by the rules.              無論做什麼事你們都得照規定來

Good uses

•in order to 為了要…Students study in order to score as high as possible on their exams.(p.64 line 6)in order to+V. = so as to + V. ( 這兩者可以簡化成 to + V. ; 兩者為一差別是 so as to 不能放句首 )

Ex. In order to lose ten pounds in a week, she ate only fruits and vegetables.( 她為了在一週內瘦十磅 , 她只吃水果和蔬菜 )

•As soon as 一…就…As soon as a win seems guaranteed , our brains stimulate the production of chemicals which give our bodies a rush of energy and pleasure. (p.64 line16) As soon as + 子句 =the minute / the instant / instantly / immediately + 子句=Upon / On + N / Ving , S + V

EX. As soon as she heard the bad news , she burst into tears.( 她一聽到這個壞消息就哭出來了 )

•When / While + 子句 ( 當…的時候 )When it is almost time for a baby to be born, the baby will begin competing with its mother.While 和 when 都表示 " 當 ..."while 強調某個動作持續進行中 ,when 則強調某動作在某時刻發生“When / While + 子句” 如果主詞和主要子句主詞相同時 ,主詞可省略 , 保留 Ving 或 p.p.

Ex. When I was doing the dishes, my brother was playing video games.( 當我洗碗的時候 , 我弟弟在玩電玩 )

• A 1. What first caused humans to develop competitiveness(競爭力 )• (A) The need to survive. (P64,Line13,14)• (B) The imbalance of brain chemicals.• (C) The pleasure of winning.• (D) the pain of making mistakes.• B 2. According to the passage, which statement is FALSE?• (A) The drive(慾望 ,衝動 ) to win dominates(掌控 ,支配 ) our • lives.(P64,Line18)• (B) Brain mechanisms(構造 ) keep us from being too aggressive• (衝動的 ).• (C) The fear of failure is good for us.(P64,Line19~22) • (D) Humans are competitive by nature. (P65,Line11,12)

Reading Questions

• C 3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a • result of human competitiveness?• (A) The pains(疼痛 ) of childbirth.(P64,Line25,26)• (B) A baby’s crying.(P65,Line 5)• (C) The personality of a mother.• (D) The personality of a younger child.(P65,Line 6)• C 4. From the last sentence, we can infer(推斷 ) that • the writer thinks the instinct(本能 ) for competition is • ˍˍˍ to human beings.(P65,Line13,14)• (A) useless(無幫助的 ) (B) harmful(有害的 )• (C) beneficial(有益的 ) (D) unique(獨一無二的 )

Reading Questions

   歌曲介紹Joe Brooks- superman

自從16歳聽到Derrin Nauendorf(德林諾因多夫 )在南安普敦布魯克的表演後Joe開始回家自學吉他 .寫歌並把歌曲放上MySpace供人欣賞當時的他還未與任何唱片公司簽約爾後他放上很多不同的歌曲在網路上的點越率也就越來越高了

畢業於蒙巴頓中學及巴頓佩弗里爾學院的他更近一步在巴斯大學體育研究院讀書一直到他真正專心於他的音樂創作2010/4才發表的最新單曲Superman就是這時候創作出來的在MySpace上點閱率將近100萬次在Youtube上則有145多萬次的瀏覽

This is JOE BROOKS

There are no words To paint a picture of you, girl Your eyes, those curves It's like you're from some other world You walk my way Oh God, it's so frustrating So while I disappear when you come near It makes me feel so small while I blow my lines Most every time, like I got no chance at all If I could be a superman I'd fly you to the stars and back again 'Cause every time you touch my hand And feel my powers running through your veins But I can only write this song And tell you that I'm not that strong 'Cause I'm no superman I hope you like me as I am

It ain't no lie I have to tell you how I feel Each time I try It gets a little more unreal You walk my way Oh God, it's so frustrating so while I disappear When you come near, it makes me feel so small If I could reach your mind Girl, would I find any trace of me at all If I could be a superman I'd fly you to the stars and back again 'Cause every time you touch my hand And feel my powers running through your veins

But I can only write this song And tell you that I'm not that strong 'Cause I'm no superman I hope you like me as I am If I could be a superman I'd fly you to the stars and back again 'Cause every time you touch my hand And feel my powers running through your veins But I can only write this song And tell you that I'm not that strong 'Cause I'm no superman I hope you like me as I am