Comprehending1 Read the passage carfully and answer the following questions.1 What was Wang Kun and Wang Wei’s idea of a good trip?Their idea was to take a long bike trip.2 Who planned the trip to the Mekong?Wang Wei planned the trip.3 Where is the source of the Mekong and which sea does it enter?The source of the river is in Qinhai Province and it enters the South China Sea.4 What can you see when you travel along the Mekong?You can see the source glacier, rapids, hills, valleys, waterfalls and plains. 5What difficulties did Wang Kun and Wang Wei find about their journey?The journey will begin at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres, where it is hard to breathe and very cold.6 What do you think about Wang Kun and Wang Wei?Wang Kun’s character: enthusiastic, critical, sensibleWang Wei’s character: imaginative, organized, eager, persistent, stubborn, risk-taking2 Look at the following sentences from the text and explain them in your own words.1 She gave me a determined look – the kind that said that she would notchange her mind.She gave me a determined look …This sentence means that she has decided to do something and will not change her ideas.2… my sister does not care about details.… details are not important to my sister. This means that she concentrates on the broad outline of the trip but not the particulars: where they will stay, what they will take with them, etc.3It makes wide bends or meanders through low valleys to the plains where rice grows.A meander is a geographical term to describe the snakelike bends that a river makes as it slows down to flow through valleys to the plains. The sentence means that the Mekong River flows slowly and gently through the valleys and reaches the farming plains.3 An attitude is what a person thinks about something. Write down Wang Wei’s and Wang Kun’s attitude to the trip. Then add your own opinion. Wang Wei’s attitude Positive to the trip. She wants to organise it as it was heridea.Wang Kun’s attitude Less positive to the trip as he wants to organise it andthinks he can do that better than his sister.My attitude It sounds like a wonderful trip and I would love to be ableto do a trip like that myself one day.4 Work in pairs. Imagine that you are Wang Kun and Wang Wei. Choosea paragraph from the passage and use the information to help you make up a dialogue.W ANG WEI: You know, we’ve always wanted to do a long bike trip. Whydon’t we go on one after we graduate form college?W ANG KUN: That’s a good idea. ...Sample dialogue:W ANG WEI: You know, we’ve always wanted to do a long bike trip. Why don’t we go on one after we graduate form college?W ANG KUN: That’s a good idea. But where are we going?W ANG WEI: What about cycling along the Mekong River?W ANG KUN: It sounds interesting, but how do you want to plan it?W ANG WEI: I think we should do it properly. We must find the source of the river and start from there.W ANG KUN: Well, the Mekong River begins in Qinghai Province. That means we’re going to be cycling at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres. W ANG WEI: Oh, I think that’s exciting, don’t you?W ANG KUN: Remember that the air will be hard to breathe and it’ll be very cold.W ANG WEI: That’s going to meke it an interesting experience.W ANG KUN: I wish you weren’t so stubborn. You don’t know where it is but you still insist that you know better than anyone else. Now I know that the proper way is always your way, but have you looked at a map yet?W ANG WEI: No, I haven’t. that’s just a detail!W ANG KUN: OK. I can see by your determined look that you won’tchange your mind.5 Compare the following sentences with different stresses and explain the meaning.EXAMPLE: We were both surprised to learn that half the river is in China.→Not only my sister, but also I was surprised ot learn that.We were both surprised to learn that half the river is in China.→(means we did n’t know this)We were both surprised to learn that half the river is in China.→(means we thought that may be more than half was in China)We were both surprised to learn that half the river is in China.→(means that we didn’t know that half the river is in China)Learning about languageDiscovering useful words and expressions1Find the correct words or expressions from the text for each sentence.1 He is so stubborn that no one can persuade him to do anything.2 A determined person always tries to finish the job, no matter how hard it is.3 My grandpa is fond of fishing and sometimes he fishes all day in the river.4 Liu Xiaoding is a good teacher and cares about his students very much.5 I prefer the red dress to the green one because it fits me better.6The concert went like clockwork because Li Pei had organized it so well.7 I wanted to pay the train fare, but my friend insisted. Finally I gave in.8 She persuaded all of us to cycle to work instead of taking the bus.2 Choose the correct words or phrases to complete the sentences.1 As neither of them would give in, no decision was taken that day.(give in / give up)2 I liked the first flat we saw better because it was larger. (like ... better / prefer ... to)3 The task was difficult, but Helen’s determined expression let me know that she would not give up. (stubborn / determined)4 The list of gifts was very long, and we don’t know why, but the most important item, the golden cup, was forgotten. (detail / item)5“How I wish I could make a journey into space and see the stars up close!” cried Sarah. (journey / travel)6When he returned from his successful climb of Mount Qomolongma, Andrew finished his travel journal and gave it to the newspaper. (journal / diary)7 She had only one shortcoming: she was very stubborn. (disadvantage / shortcoming)8The very first time that Joe saw the film “ET”directed by StevenSpielberg, he made up his mind to become a director too.(make up one’s mind / change one’s mind)3 Complete this passage with some of the following words.rapids glacier mountain delta plain valley waterfall bank I really enjoyed my school field trip in geography two months ago. We saw so many beautiful things: a glacier that flowed like a river of ice through a valley that cut the mountains into two parts. We also discovered a river that was falling off the mountain and became a wonderful waterfall. This was even more exciting to see than the rapids where the water seemed to boil. Later we followed the river to a quieter plain and finally into a delta and the sea.Discovering useful structures1Look at the questions in the Warming up again. They are in the present continuous tense but they express future actions. Can you find similar sentences from the reading passage?When are you leaving? Where are you staying?How are you going to ... ? How long are you staying in ... ? When are you arriving in/at ... ? When are you coming back?1 Where are we going?2 When are we leaving and when are we coming back?2 In the following dialogue, a newspaper reporter is interviewing WangWei about her plans for the trip along the Mekong River. However, they are not sure about some of the verb tenses. Please complete their conversation.R: Miss Wang, I hear that you are travelling (travel) along the Mekong River. Have you got everything ready?W: Almost.R: So when are you leaving (leave) ?W: Next Monday.R: How far are you cycling (cycle) each day?W: It’s hard to say. If the weather is fine, I think we’ll be able to ride 75 km a day.R: What about the weather in Qinghai Province?W: The weather forecast is not good so we are taking (take) a large parcel of warm clothes with us.R: Where are you staying (stay) at night?W: Usually in our tent, but sometimes in the villages along the river bank. R: What happens if you have an accident?W: Don’t worry. I had some medical training at my college. Besides, we are taking (take) out insurance to cover any problems.R: Well, it sounds fun. I hope you’ll have a pleasant journey. Thank you for your time.3 You have got some plans for the future. Use the present continuoustense to express your future actions. Give as much information as you can.EXAMPLE: (this evening) I’m going out this evening. /I’m not doing anything this evening. / I don’t know what I’m doing this evening.1 (tomorrow morning)2 (the day after tomorrow)3 (next Saturday evening)4 (next month)Using LanguageReading and discussing1 Read the passage above and discuss these questions in pairs.1 What items are Wang Kun and Wang Wei carrying with them? What do you think they will have to leave behind in Dali? What should they take instead?Wang Kun and Wang Wei are carrying a tent, a cooker and food, pillows, water bottles. In the mountains they wore long wool coats, caps, gloves and trousers. In the plains they changed into T-shirts and shorts.2How does Wang Kun feel about the trip now? What do you think changed his mind?He is starting to like / enjoy it. Seeing how beautiful the land is has changed Wang Kun’s attitude.2 Imagine that in the morning there is a dialogue between Wang Kun and Wang Wei. What do you think they would say before they leave camp? Sample dialogue:WK: Oh, up so early?WW: Early? It’s nearly 9 o’clock!WK: Oops. (Looks at his watch). I guess you’re right.WW: Why were you so tired?WK: Well, I stayed up late last night to watch the stars.WW: That’s nice. They must be pretty.WK: Yes, they were.3 Listen to the tape and mark the rising and falling tone of each sense group and sentences from “To climb the mountains ...” to “... T-shirts and shorts”. Then practise reading it aloud.To climb the mountains was hard work but as we looked around us, we were surprised by the view. We seemed to be able to see for miles. At one point we were so high that we found ourselves cycling throgh clouds. Then we began going down the hills. It was great fun especially as it gradually became much warmer. In the valleys colourful butterflies flew around us and we saw many yaks and sheep eating green grass. At this point we had to change our caps, coats, gloves and trousers for T-shirts and shorts.To climb the mountains was hard↘work∣but as we looked↗around us, we were surprised by the view. || We seemed to be able to see for ↘miles. || At one ↗point we were so ↘high ∣that we found ourselves cycling throgh ↘clouds. || Then we began going down the ↘hills. || It was great ↘fun especially as it gradually became much↘warmer. || In the valleys ∣colourful butterflies flew ↗around us ∣and we saw many yaks and sheep eating green ↘grass. || At this ↗point ∣we had to change our ↗caps, ↗coats, gloves and trousers for T-shirts and ↘shorts.Listening and speaking1 Before you listen, read the exercises below and try to predict what the listening is about.2 Listen to the tape and tick the statement which tells the main idea of the dialogue.LISTENING TEXTJOURNEY DOWN THE MEKONGPart 3 CHATTING WITH A GIRLThe next day the travellers see a girl (G) walking along the road. Wang Kun (WK) speaks to her.WK: Hello!G: Hello! Are you travellers?WK: Yes. We’re travelling along the Mekong River. We’ve been allthrough China and now we’re going to follow the river through Laos. G: I’m Laotian. The Mekong’s our most important river. Did you know that it appears on our national flag?WK: Really?G: Yes. We use the river for washing, fishing and transporting things around the country. We’d be lost without it. It’s better than a road.WK: Well, no wonder I’ve seen boats going up and down –they’er transporting goods and people.G: Yeah. We call it “the sea of Laos” although we’re not near the sea. It’s because the water is sa useful to us sa the sea.WK: How interesting! In Tibet the river’s called “the water of the rocks”. Both names tell us a lot about the river, don’t they?G: Yes, they do. Watch out for the temples, caves and a waterfall along the river.WK: Wow! Can we sleep by the river?G: Yes, of course you can. There are many small villages along the river. You can stay there if you wish.WK: Thanks a lot.1 A girl from Laos told Wang Kun about how Laotians use the Mekong River.2A girl told Wang Kun about what they would see along the Mekong River.3 A girl from Laos told Wang kun about how important and beautiful the Mekong is.A( ) B( ) C( √)A is only partly correct because the girl also mentions the Laotian name for the Mekong River and how the Laotians use it.B is only partly correct because other information about the importance of the river and its Laotian name was also mentioned.3 Listen again and complete the passage below.The Mekong is the most important river in Laos. It even appears on the national flag of the country. Laotian people use the river for washing, fishing and transporting goods and people around the country. They call the Mekong “the sea of Laos”, but it Tibet people call it “the water of the rocks”. If you follow the river in Laos, you can visit temples, caves and a waterfall. At night, you can sleep in some small villages by the river.4 What else would you expect Wang Kun and the girl to talk about? Get into pairs and continue the dialogue between them. Use the following expressions to end your conversation.Have a nice/good time. Have a nice/good trip. Take care.Have fun. Good luck on your journey. Write to me.Say hello to ... give my love/best wishes to ... best wishes. Sample dialogue:WK: What’s the food like in Laos?G: It’s delicious. There are many fish dishes and a special fish soup. The fisher-men catch the fish and then cook it. You should try that.WK: I love to try new food. What will we see along the riverbank?G: Well there are thick forests and mountains in the north of Laos and many interesting plants, birds and animals in the south of Laos. It’s so beautiful by the river that the scenery will take your breath away.WK: That sounds wonderful. I cannot wait to get going. Thank you for telling us so many things. Take care.G: Have a nice time on your journey. Keep in touch and write to me of you have time. Goodbye.WK: I will. Goodbye.WritingImagine that you are a friend of Wang Kun. Write a short email asking about Laos.·In pairs brainstorm some questions.EXAMPLE:What is the food like in Laos? What do you think of the country? ·Choose two or three questions and use each sa a new paragraph.How was your trip?What did you do when ...?Have you met ...?When did you get back?What kind of things did you see?Could you give me more details about ...?Could you tell me about ...?Sample writing:My dear brave Wang Kun,How are you these days? I keep wondering how you feel about your trip. Are you enjoying it? I hope that you are. Are you in Cambodia yet? When you get to Phnom Penh, tell me about the Buddhist temples there. When are you coming back? I am so looking forward to hearing about all your adventures. Please send some photos with your next letter! Well, have fun and don’t forget to write to me!Say “Hello” to Wang Wei for me.Good luck on your journey.Take care!Your friend forever,Hu Lin。
