Put the missing words into the blanks.

My biggest problem is that _________. When I was young ,I _______have so ______ time, but these days I ______ early and stay at school all day. Then I _________ home and ______. Before I started high school, I________ a lot of time ______ games with my friends, but I just don’t have time ______. In the evening, I ________ TV or chat with my grandfather, but now I _______ study. I love music, and my father _______ me to concerts. These days, I _________ have time ______ concerts. I _________ and go to bed. I really __________.

I’m too busyUsed to much get up

go right

eat dinner used to spend

playing

anymore used to watchhave to

used to take hardly ever

fordo my homework

miss the old days

2 Look at the pictures and write about Yu Mei.

It seems that Yu Mei has changed a lot. She used to be short when she was younger, but now… she is tall. Yu Mei used to have long hair, but now she has short hair. Yu Mei used to play soccer, but now she plays tennis. Yu Mei used to be very quiet, but now she is very outgoing.

The butterfly

A story of a girl who without father, she had changed a lot during she lived in the country side with her mother.

She met an old man who taught her lots of things and she felt love in her deep heart.

Section 1 Before You Read

PAIRWORK Tell your partner about a time your parents helped you with a problem. Make notes.

1. Liu Qing – didn’t use to study hard at school – got bad grades – father helped him to understand that it was important to do well at school

2. .

Learning Strategy: USING CONTEXT

Always use the information around the word or phrase you don’t understand. You can learn new language in this way, or understand what is necessary to complete a task.

•How old is Martin now?

•What made him change a lot?

•Did Martin’s father use to help him?

•Did he use to give his mother many problems?

•Why did his mother have to work?

•In the end ,what decision did the mother make?

•What changed Martin’s mind?

He used to cause a lot of trouble

Read the passage quickly and there are 5 sentences missing. Put the sentences into the correct place in the reading. Maybe you will meet some new words, don’t be afraid of them, try to guess them.

Section 2 While You Read He used to cause a lot of trouble

Martin Murray is a fifteen-year-old boy. He used to be a

“problem child”, (1) .

He didn’t use to give his mother many problems.

However, after his father’s death a few years ago,

Martin’s life became much more difficult. His mother

couldn’t afford to pay for her child’s education. To do

this, she had to work, and so was not often at home.death n. 死 ; 死亡

afford v. 买得起 ; 负担得起 ( 常与 can 或 be able to 连用 )

but a recent conversation with his mother changed his life

His mother looked after him as well as she could. Unfortunately, Martin still caused problems for himself and his family. He was not interested in studying, and he often got into trouble with the police. Luckily, his mother was very patient, (2) . In the end, she made a difficult decision: to send him to a boy’s boarding school. Martin hated it and used to cause a lot of trouble. One day, he told his teacher he wanted to

leave the school. (3) .

cause v. 造成；使发生

himself pron. ( 反身代词 ) 他自己；他本身patient adj. 有耐性的；忍耐的

and didn’t give up trying to help him

in the end 最后；终于

decision n. 决定；决心 make a decision 下决定；下决心

Even the teacher agreed that Martin was wasting his time

The head teacher said it was necessary to talk with his mother. Martin called his mother, but to his surprise, this phone call changed his life. “It was exactly what I needed,” he said. “My mother helped me to understand how much she had given me. She also told me that even though my father was no longer with us, he was watching me, and would always take pride in everything good I do. (4) . I realize that since my father died, I have been afraid of being alone, and have tried to make my mother pay more attention to me.”head teacher 班主任necessary adj. 必须的；必需的to one’s surprise 令某人惊奇的 ( 是 )…exactly adv. 正；恰恰

even though 即使；纵然；尽管no longer 不再；已不take pride in 对…感到自豪

That’s when I decided to change

attention n. 注意；专心；留心 pay attention to 对…注意 ; 留心

Now Martin has really changed. He has been working hard, and he is now a top student in his class. (5) . His mother’s love helped him to feel good about himself, and as Martin himself says, “It’s very important for parents to be there for their children.”

How was he able to change?

Section 3 After you Read3a Put these sentences into the correct place in the reading.

Missing language Place in reading

How was he able to change?

and didn’t give up trying to help him

That’s when I decided to change

after his father’s death a few days ago

Even the teacher agreed that Martin was

wasting his time

1

2

3

4

5

3b Read the statements below. Circle “TRUE”, “FALSE”, or “DON’T KNOW” according to the reading.

1. Martin is still a bad boy.

2. There wasn’t enough money for the family.

3. Martin finally understand what his problem was.

4. Martin’s father didn’t use to help him.

5. What his mother said didn’t change Martin’s mind.

TRUE FALSE DON’T KNOW

TRUE FALSE DON’T KNOW

TRUE FALSE DON’T KNOW

TRUE FALSE DON’T KNOW

TRUE FALSE DON’T KNOW