青坨营中学九年级英语导学案
主备人：习建霞备课组长签字：年级主任（组长）签字：日期：编号：3
编号：gswhywbx3…oo1 文华高中高一英语必修3 Unit5 Canada－“The True North” Period1 Warming up and Reading 导学案(教师版) 编制人：魏秀冬审核人：编制时间：2014年3月3日 学习目标 1.能记住这些单词的发音和拼写 multicultural, scenery, surround, harbor, Canadian, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, beaver, polar, penguin rather than, baggage, scenery, eastward, chat, surround, harbor, measure, aboard, have a gift for, within, manage to do, catch sight of, eagle, acre, urban 2.能说出关于加拿大的一些信息和准确描述文中人物在加拿大旅游的路线以及谈论加拿大和领会文章的主旨。 3.能激发学生了解外国的兴趣和养成学生合作学习的意识。 学习重点难点 1.能说出关于加拿大的一些信息和准确描述文中人物在加拿大旅游的路线以及谈论加拿大和领会文章的主旨。 2能激发学生了解外国的兴趣和养成学生合作学习的意识。 学习方法. 看图法，朗读，精读，快读 学习过程 Warming up: Step1课前预习 Task1读本单元这两部分的单词以及阅读课文把难理解和不会的作上标记，可以请教同学或老师。 Task2根据提供的汉语意思在课文中和查字典找出对应的词汇。 1.测验，问答比赛(n) _______ 2.大臣,部长(n )_______ 首相，丞相(n) _______ 3.文化(n) _________ 文化的(adj)_________ 多种文化的(adj)_________ 4.加拿大(n )_______ 加拿大人(n)_______ 加拿大人的((adj)_______ Step2合作学习(看加拿大的地图和查阅资料,老师展示幻灯片) Task1 Let's have a quiz(做warming up的5个小题on page33) Task2 language points 1.Canada is a multicultural country. 点拨multi- (构词成分) 有很多……的，multicultural adj.多元文化的 翻译：______________________________
高考英语阅读理解专题练习导学案12（含答案解析） Passage Eleven (The Affect of Electricity on Cancer) Can electricity cause cancer? In a society that literally runs on electric power, the very idea seems preposterous. But for more than a decade, a growing band of scientists and journalists has pointed to studies that seem to link exposure to electromagnetic fields with increased risk of leukemia and other malignancies. The implications are unsettling, to say the least, since everyone comes into contact with such fields, which are generated by everything electrical, from power lines and antennas to personal computers and micro-wave ovens. Because evidence on the subject is inconclusive and often contradictory, it has been hard to decide whether concern about the health effects of electricity is legitimate—or the worst kind of paranoia. Now the alarmists have gained some qualified support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the executive summary of a new scientific review, released in draft form late last week, the EPA has put forward what amounts to the most serious government warning to date. The agency tentatively concludes that scientific evidence “suggests a casual link” between extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields—those having very longwave-lengths—and leukemia, lymphoma and brain cancer, While the report falls short of classifying ELF fields as probable carcinogens, it does identify the common 60-hertz magnetic field as “a possible, but not proven, cause of cancer in humans.” The report is no reason to panic—or even to lost sleep. If there is a cancer risk, it is a small one. The evidence is still so controversial that the draft stirred a great deal of debate within the Bush Administration, and the EPA released it over strong objections from the Pentagon and the Whit House. But now no one can deny that the issue must be taken seriously and that much more research is needed. At the heart of the debate is a simple and well-understood physical phenomenon: When an electric current passes through a wire, tit generates an electromagnetic field that exerts forces on surrounding objects, For many years, scientists dismissed any suggestion that such forces might be harmful, primarily because they are so extraordinarily weak. The ELF magnetic field generated by a video terminal measures only a few milligauss, or about one-hundredth the strength of the earth’s own magnetic field, The electric fields surrounding a power line can be as high as 10 kilovolts per meter, but the corresponding field induced in human cells will be only about 1 millivolt per meter. This is far less than the electric fields that the cells themselves generate. How could such minuscule forces pose a health danger? The consensus used to be that they could not, and for decades scientists concentrated on more powerful kinds of radiation, like X-rays, that pack sufficient wallop to
九年级上英语导学案目录 Unit 1 How do you study for a test?（7课时） Unit 2 I used to be afraid of the dark.（7课时） Unit 3 Teenagers should be allowed to choose their own clothes（5课时）Unit4What would you do?（6课时） Unit 5 It must belong to Carla (5课时) Review of units 1-5（2课时） 期中复习（2课时） Unit 6 I like music that I can dance to. (5课时) Unit7 Where would you like to visit ?（5课时） Unit8 I‘ll help clean up the city parks.（6课时） Unit 9 When was it invented？（5课时） Unit 10 By the time I got outside , the bus had already left .（5课时）Review of Units 6—10 （2课时） 期末复习(3课时)
Unit 1 How do you study for a test? 本单元主要是学习用How 来询问学习方法，通过互相询问讨论，掌握by的用法，同时找到适合自己的学习方法，找出自己在英语学习中的困难。（共计7时） 第1课时Section A 1a-2c 【学习目标】1掌握新单词flashcard, vocabulary, aloud, pronunciation 2熟练运用how 引起的特殊疑问句及by的用法。 3能够听懂有关学习方法的简短对话。。 【学习重难点】1熟记重点单词短语。2语法：by + 动词ing的用法 3句型How do you study for a test? I study by working with a group. 【学习过程】一课前预习：(教师寄语:预习感知,有备无患。) 1预习生词。根据音标读出单词并了解汉语意思,养成自主学习的习惯。本节课我们要学的单词短语是： 2 朗读Section A 1a-2c，找出下列短语。 制作抽认卡制作词汇表向老师寻求帮助 和朋友练习对话提高口语技能 _______ 练习发音 4.要点导学：（在课本中画出下列句子或短语，并翻译成中文） 导学1 How do you study for a test? I study by listening to tapes. How是用来提问―怎么,怎样‖的疑问词,引导一个特殊疑问句。by加动词的ing形式，表示―通过……方式,方法‖或―借助某种手段‖。跟踪练习(1) How do you study English so well? By lots of books. A. read B. look C. watching D. reading 翻译下面的句子，总结by的用法和含义：1）I have to be in bed by 10 o'clock. 2）There is a tree by the river. 3）You can learn English by working with friend. 4）I go to work by bus. 5) By the way, how do you study for English? 导学2 What about reading aloud to practice pronunciation？ What about …？相当于…？.常用来提出建议,征求意见或询问情况。学过的提建议的句型还有哪些？跟踪练习going boating with us ? aloud / loud/ loudly: 三个词都与"大声"或"响亮"有关。 aloud是副词,侧重于―出声‖ (能让人听见,但声音不一定很大),常用在读书或说话上。通常放在动词之后。如: He read the story aloud to his son.他朗读那篇故事给他儿子听。 loud可作形容词或副词, 侧重于声音响亮, 用作副词时,常与speak, talk, laugh等动词连用,多用于比较级,须放在动词之后。如: She told us to speak a little louder. 她让我们说大声一点。
精选初中九年级英语阅读理解专项练习 1、阅读与表达（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分） 阅读下面短文，在表格内的空白处填入合适的答案（每空一词） Life is short. So live it to the fullest! Love whatever you have to do, thus you will always be able to do what you love and to love what you do. Live each day as if it’s your last! Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present. Be present to enjoy the moment. Each day is a fresh start with chances just waiting to be explored, so what are waiting for? Accept everyone. Enjoy the company(陪伴) of others and show interest in their goodness. Don’t judge(评判) others and treat others as you would like to be treated. Be confident. Focus on(集中) good thoughts and good things will happen. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Blaming yourself won’t help anything. Take action to find the cause of any bad thoughts (fear, anger, doubt, hate…). Cancel out(消除) each one with a good thought:“I am brave!”“I know I can do it!”“I forgive and I do not hate!” You may not be feeling your best at the moment, but you will feel better when you think about good things. Enjoy the environment. Take a break sometimes and go for a walk. Take a fresh look at the clouds, the colours of the sky at sunrise and sunset. Look at the plants, trees and how they move when the wind blows. Look at water how it shakes. This exercise will clear off the dead memories that kill the joy of living. Besides, make a list of everything you’ve dreamed of doing and then make it happen. Dreams aren’t achieved by sitting around and waiting. They are achieved by getting up and working for them! Work hard and make your dreams come true. Work hard and play harder! You can always realize your dreams. If you really want something, find a way to achieve it! Be YOU bravely. Don’t be a shy person! You are who you are! Forget what others think and live your life! Do what you want because life is what you make it, and your life is yours! Nobody
英语试卷讲评课导学案 ：年级班组英语学科试卷讲评学案 Learning aims : 1. To make clear all the puzzles in the paper and learn to use them freely. 2. To correct the mistakes and solve problems by self-study and cooperation. 3. To learn from your mistakes and others; improve yourself all the time. .课前自主学习，自查与纠错 对照答案，针对自己的错题，找出错误的原因，整理每道题目考察的知识点。 21-25. B D B A A 26-30.D C D D B 31-35.A B B D D 21题 a与the 的用法区别 a表示 the表示 不定冠词和序数词连用，表达的含义是 22题 while作为连词时的用法总结 23题“how do you find”表达的意思是 24题 amazing指，amazed指 news He is at the amazing news. 25题.Contain指 Include 指 常用两种表达方式：including sth/ sb= sb’sth included There are 40 students in the classroom, me There are 40 students in the classroom, me . 26题选择which的原因是 27题本题是一个被动句，可以先还原成主动句 其中to为，类似的结构还有 28题有关句 正要做…这时(发生另一事) 正在…这时(发生另一事) 刚做完…这时(发生另一事) 30题 with pleasure与my pleasure 的区别是 with pleasure my pleasure 31题 could have done 的表达的意义是 must have done表达的意义是 32题 think ...of remind... of let... done wake... up 33题 suggest用法特点
Unit 1 How can we become good learners? 【学习内容】Unit 1 How can we become good learners? Section A 1a-2d ( Period 1 ) 【学习目标】1.掌握重点单词和短语：textbook; conversation; aloud; pronunciation; sentence; patient; study with a group; have conversations with; read aloud; give a report等。 2.学习并掌握含有特殊疑问词“how”的问句以及by+动词ing的用法。 3.通过交流和表达，进一步掌握学习英语的技巧与方法。 学习重点：掌握含有特殊疑问词“how”的问句以及by+动词ing的用法。 【自主学习案】Task 1. 翻译下列短语。 1.study for a test______________________ 2.study with a group____________________ 3.make word card___________________ 4. read textbook______________________ 5.give a report_________________________ 6. word by word______________________ 7.大声朗读_________________________ 8.对话____________________________ 9.练习发音__________________________ Task 2. I study for a test by____________________________________________ I learn English by________________________________________________ 【合作学习案】e g. A: How do you study for s test? / learn English? B：I study for a test / learn English by... ①—How do you study for a test? —I study by working with a group. ②We usually go to school by bike. ③English is spoken by many people. by的意思是“通过……的方式”时，后接；当表示“乘坐”时, 后跟；它还可以表示 , 用于被动语态，引导出动作的发出者。 ( ) 1. He goes to school bike. A. by B. on C. in D. At ( ) 2. — H ow do you study English so well? —By lots of books. A. read B. look C. watching D. reading ( ) 4.—How do you study for a test? —I study_______working with my classmates.
九年级英语阅读理解训练题及答案五(一) Snow fell on the mountain. It snowed and snowed. The snow did not melt（融化）. It became deep and heavy. The snow on the bottom pressed （挤压）together., it became ice. The ice was very wide and thick. It began to move down the mountain. It was like a river of ice. It was a glacier（冰河）. Sometimes the glacier moved only a few inches（英寸） each day. As it moved, it took rocks and dirt with it. It changed the land. In some places, it left hills. In some places, when the glacier melted, it made rivers and lakes. A million years ago, there were many big glaciers. Glaciers covered many parts of the world. The glaciers changed the land. Glaciers are still at work today. A glacier in the north of Canada is cutting a new path（路） down the side of a mountain. This glacier will change the land, too. 1. The snow that fell on the mountain A. became snowman B. melted C. became ice D. turned to rain 2. The word in the story that means a river of ice is __________.
第1课时Unit 1 Section A 1a-2c 【Le arning objectives】 1 Knowing:flashcard,aloud,pronunciation,skill,voice 2 Habit-forming: How do you study for a test? I study by......... 3 Communicating:Talk about how to study freely 【Important leaning points】 运用by doing 谈论学习方式 【Learning process】 一、自主学习（教师寄语：相信自己，一定能行！） Task1:Talk about how to study for the test 1、完成下列短语 和朋友一起学习制作抽认 卡 看课本制作词汇 表 听磁带向老师寻求帮 助 2、理解下列对话，并利用上面词组练习： A：How do you study for a test? B：I study by working with a group. A：How does Bob study for a test? B：I study by marking flashcards. 3 、听录音，完成1 b Task2: Talk about how to learn English 1、小组练习，利用下列句型谈论怎样学习英语. A：How do you learn English? B：I learn by ...... A：Do you learn by.........? B：Yes,I do. /No, I don't. 2、理解2a、2b中的句子，找出下列短语： 看英文光碟和朋友连交 际 大声读练习发 音 小组学习说的技 能 做.........太难 3、听录音，完成2a、2b 4、根据听力内容，练习上面对话。 5、读听力材料，理解以下知识点：
导学案在初中英语阅读课中的实践 发表时间：2018-03-15T10:21:53.327Z 来源：《中学课程辅导●教学研究》2017年11月上作者：谢艳辉 [导读] 本文将结合笔者自身的做法，就导学案在农村初中英语教学中的实践谈谈自己的看法。 摘要：导学案模式倡导以教师指导为主导，以学生的学为主体，培养学生的自主学习能力，符合农村学生学情。本文将结合笔者自身的做法，就导学案在农村初中英语教学中的实践谈谈自己的看法。 关键词：导学案；英语阅读；实践 一、农村英语课堂中实施导学案的背景 1.学生学情。笔者在教学中发现农村初中生的英语水平参差不齐，有一部分学生在课堂中犹如隐形人一般，上完课之后完全不知道教师所讲授的内容是什么，从而对英语学习失去了兴趣；还有一部分学生英语成绩十分不稳定，他们没有很好的学习方法，对于单词、语法以及课文只能靠死记硬背，对于课前预习和课后复习，他们也常常感到无从下手。 2.《英语课程标准》的要求。《英语课程标准》指出，在课程实施过程中要倡导学生主动参与，乐于探究，培养学生分析解决问题的能力以及交流与合作的能力。因此，在新的教育教学形势下，课改的重点就是要改变以教师单向灌输、学生被动接受的传统教学模式，倡导以学生为本，突出学生的“学”，培养学生的自主学习和合作探究能力的新型课堂教学模式。 二、导学案课堂教学模式对教师的要求 1.集体备课，精心设计导学案。导学案课堂模式要求教师在教学中要把重点放在导学案的编写上。这就要求教师要认真研读课程标准，仔细研究教材文本，认真分析学生的学情，才能设计出符合学生能力水平的导学案。我校英语组在导学案的编写做法如下：开学初教研组分配任务，由各年级组推选出一名骨干教师，给同年级组教师分配任务。每个教师在自己的课题集体备课后，根据相关要求，在相应的时间内编写导学案，而后发到各自年级组内进行修改定案。 2.教师在编写导学案时要注意导学案的有层次性，要把握设计的量与度。一方面，基于学生学习程度的差异性，教师在导学案的编写中所设置的目标和任务要有一定的层次性，使不同层次的学生在各自的学习发展区域内都能够得到有效练习。另一方面，教师在设计导学案的过程中要注意量与度。有的导学案以单纯的练习题形式出现，使得学生完成导学案的过程就是完成一张练习的过程，这完全违反了导学案存在的初衷。 三、导学案在初中英语课堂教学中的实践 导学案的框架大致可以分为四个部分：学习目标，自主预习，合作探究和达标检测。教师根据课程标准、教材内容以及学生的特点来设计符合学生学情的学习目标，再根据目标来设计学生的学习任务。根据本校的教学改革，笔者以阅读课为例谈谈自身的一些做法。 1.课前预习(包括学习目标，预习内容) (1)学习目标。学习目标的设定比较简单，不宜太多，一般在2-3个左右。但是在设置目标的时候要注意:设置的目标要简洁明了，让所有的学生都能够明白要干什么，可操作型要强。 (2)预习内容。新标准英语教材中每个模块都有一个阅读单元，文本涉及的范围很广，有介绍人物，科学天文，动物保护，小说等等。因此，有些学生对于一些文本就会感到犯难，完全看不懂，这是他们经常有的想法。因而，对于课文背景知识的了解是十分重要的。例如新标准英语八上M5 Unit2 It describes the changes in Chinese society 中提到的茶馆这本书，就需要学生去搜集关于作者老舍以及他的作品，还有北京茶馆的一些信息。因此，笔者在导学案中设置了三个问题：“What do you know about Lao She?”, “What are his most famous books and plays?”“What do you know about Beijing Teahouse?”。考虑到他们的英语水平有限，在回答这三个问题时，有些同学可以用中文。除了预习背景知识之外，笔者也设置了关于文章中出现的重点词汇，短语以及一些句型，为理解文章扫除一定的障碍。 2.课中学习(包括阅读理解和语言知识探讨) (1)阅读理解的设计主要包含两个部分：泛读和精读。泛读对学生的要求只是大致的了解文章的意思，不用执着每个字里行间。因而在这一块内容的设计上主要是了解文章大意或者段落大意，有时候根据文本内容进行图片和文字的匹配。例如新标准英语八下M4 Unit2 Healthy living中标题已经很清晰地告诉我们文章主要讲什么，那我们就不需要去问学生段落大意。笔者在这个环节中采取了人物与任务1中的图片匹配的方式。在完成对文章的大致了解之后，一般就是进入精读，即深层次阅读。在这个环节中，笔者一般设计Wh-开头的问题来提问学生，让学生对文本中的一些特定的信息由更深层次的理解。 (2)语言知识探讨。虽然在预习环节已经让学生处理了一点短语和句子，并且教师在阅读理解环节也会引导学生解决一些难点词句，但是任然有一些词句会成为学生的拦路虎。因而，笔者常常会设置一些情境让学生去感知一些重难点词和短语。对于一些难点句子，笔者会呈现多个例句，让学生去比较概括，而后设置一些题目让学生去思考练习。 3.当堂检测 当堂检测的内容一般根据学习目标要求，改编自课文内容，来检测学生是否掌握重难点知识。例如新标准英语八上M4中阅读课中，涉及到许多形容词的原级、比较级和最高级的用法，因此笔者设计了以下题目： (1)The more information, the_________.(good) (2)Taking a plane is the fastest and the___________.(expensive) (3)Taking a coach will not cost as_________(much)as going by train. 4.课后延伸 课后延伸是对学生能力训练一种好的方式，但是由于学生水平不一致，所以不管是课内知识拓展还是课后作业延伸任务设置时，都需要对任务分层次，以满足不同层次学生的需要。 四、反思 通过对导学案的利用，学生感受到了学习更加有目的性和方向性。他们在课堂中不再茫然不知所措，了解一堂课的学习目标是什么，整体课的步伐是怎么样的，极大地提高了教学的效率。此外，导学案的任务都是有层次性的，不同层次的学生的学习需要都能够得到满
`中考英语阅读理解专项复习（导学案） 教学目标： 1.了解英语阅读理解的四种题型. 2.掌握不同题型的解题方法和技巧. 3.提升学生阅读理解的能力. 学习重难点： 学习运用阅读理解的方法技巧快速正确地找到答案. 教学过程： Step1 lead-in TFBOYS is a popular Chinese boy band made up of three members.They are Wang Junkai, 14, Wang Yuan, 13, and Yi Yangqianxi, 13.The boys are all junior middle school students. The band name TFBOYS means The Fighting Boys. 1.The band name TFBOYS stands for_________. A. The Fighting Boys B. The Famous Boys C. The Friendly Boys D. The Fat Boys Main types of reading materials: a.People's stories. b.Scientific knowledge. c.News report. d. Ads and application styl e. f.Culture and education. g.Societ and life.） Step2 Reading strategies 阅读理解主要题型: 1.细节理解题（to look for details） 2.词义猜测题（to guess the meaning） 3.推理判断题(to infer a conclusion) 4.主旨要意题(to find out main idea) 阅读理解解题步骤：第一步，略读；第二步，寻读；第三步，复读 1.细节理解题 此类考题一般在文章中都能找到相对应的答案。主要提问方式有： 用What/Who/When/Where/Why/How等提问. ◆From the first （second/third…）paragraph we know that_____. ◆Which of the following isn't mentioned? ◆Which of the following is TRUE/ NOT true ? 解题技巧：快速捕捉信息，尤其是一些事例、数字等，划出相关句子，去进行对照，一般 能从原文中直接找到答案。 2.词义猜测题 此类考题要求考生根据上下文确定某一特定的词或短语的准确含义，常见提问方式有： ◆The word “_____”in the passage probably means________. ◆The underlined word “it”in the passage refers to（指的是）_______. ◆What's the meaning of the underlined word “______”in the passage? 解题技巧：通过阅读单词附近的上下文，断定该词的真正含义。要注意单词本义之外的符合题意的含义。 3.推理判断题 透过表面文字信息推测文字的隐含意思，对文章的发展情节和作者态度、意这类题要求考生图等
Unit 3 English Around the World Topic 2 Some things usually have different meanings in different cultures. Section A 备课人：刘芳第 1 课时 Ⅰ、学习目标：1、学习现在进行时表示将来的用法。 2、了解一些讲英语国家的常见手势语。 3、培养学生开放的视野。辩证地看待语言的多元性。 Ⅱ、学习重点及难点： 1、学习现在进行时表示将来的用法。 2、学习并掌握相关的短语、词组的用法。 III、导学过程 Step 1. 导入。 Step 2. 自学检测：
1、翻译： see sb. off __________ on one’s way to___________ put out ___________ ask for a ride __________ be worried about_____________ 、、 send sb. sth.__________ give sb. a ride ____________ get on ____________ pick up ______________ 2、听1a的对话，找出并画出含有“be+v. ing”结构的句子。 总结：“am/ is/ are+V-ing” 是现在进行时的结构。但表示短暂性动作的动词，通常情况下，用现在进行时表示将来。英语中表示暂时性动作，常用进行时表示将来的动词有come， go， arrive，leave，start，fly，die等。 3、仔细阅读3中的句子，注意动词和时间，选择适当的答案完成句子。 4、句型操练。仿照4中的例子，两人一组编对话，完成4 。 5、听2部分录音，选择正确答案，完成2 。 Step3. 精讲点拨： 1. see sb. off为某人送行如：I’ll see you off this afternoon. 译：_________________
九年级英语阅读理解训练题及答案五 (一 Snow fell on the mountain. It snowed and snowed. The snow did not melt(融化. It became deep and heavy. The snow on the bottom pressed (挤压together., it became ice. The ice was very wide and thick. It began to move down the mountain. It was like a river of ice. It was a glacier(冰河. Sometimes the glacier moved only a few inches(英寸each day. As it moved, it took rocks and dirt with it. It changed the land. In some places, it left hills. In some places, when the glacier melted, it made rivers and lakes. A million years ago, there were many big glaciers. Glaciers covered many parts of the world. The glaciers changed the land. Glaciers are still at work today. A glacier in the north of Canada is cutting a new path (路down the side of a mountain. This glacier will change the land, too. 1. The snow that fell on the mountain A. became snowman B. melted C. became ice D. turned to rain 2. The word in the story that means a river of ice is __________.
2012高考英语：阅读理解课堂练学案（10） Passage Six (Equality of opportunity in the twentieth Century Has Not Destroyed the Class System) These days we hear a lot of nonsense about the ‘great classless society’. The idea that the twentieth century is the age of the common man has become one of the great clichés of our time. The same old arguments are put forward in evidence. Here are some of them: monarchy as a system of government has been completely discredited. The monarchies that survive have been deprived of all political power. Inherited wealth has been savagely reduced by taxation and, in time, the great fortunes will disappear altogether. In a number of countries the victory has been complete. The people rule; the great millennium has become a political reality. But has it? Close examination doesn’t bear out the claim. It is a fallacy to suppose that all men are equal and that society will be leveled out if you provide everybody with the same educational opportunities. (It is debatable whether you can ever provide everyone with the same educational opportunities, but that is another question.) The fact is that nature dispenses brains and ability with a total disregard for the principle of equality. The old rules of the jungle, ‘survival of the fittest’, and ‘might is right’ are still with us. The spread of education has destroyed the old class system and created a new one. Rewards are based on merit. For ‘aristocracy’ read ‘meritocracy’; in other respects, society remains unaltered: the class syst em is rigidly maintained. Genuine ability, animal cunning, skill, the knack of seizing opportunities, all bring material rewards. And what is the first thing people do when they become rich? They use their wealth to secure the best possible opportunit ies for their children, to give them ‘a good start in life’. For all the lip service we pay to the idea of equality, we do not consider this wrong in the western world. Private schools which offer unfair advantages over state schools are not banned because one of the principles in a democracy is that people should be free to choose how they will educate their children. In this way, the new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent: an able child from a wealthy home can succeed far more rapidly than his poorer counterpart. Wealth is also used indiscriminately to further political ends. It would be almost impossible to become the leader of a democracy without massive financial backing. Money is as powerful a weapon as ever it was.