Passage A

2025年10月24日

版权

Passage A

Before Reading

Activity 1

Please read the famous quote below, understand the quote by consulting the reference and then recite it.

The highest good is like water.Water benefits everything by giving without taking or contending.It likes the place others dislike, so it follows closely the divine law.The place should be low, the mind broad, the gifts kind, the speech trustworthy, the rule sound, the deed well-done, the action timely.

— Tao Te Ching translated by Xu Yuanchong

Activity 2

Please enjoy a video clip “UEA Student Union— We Are Students Transforming” which is relevant to the passage we are going to learn.Fill in the blanks while watching.

UEA Student Union—We Are Students Transforming

The union of UEA students is 1) student life at UEA.It is a special organization, and an independent part of the university.It is the heart of UEA.In addition, it’s about students 2) where students 3) through opportunities.The Union help students to solve and prevent problems, and also provides the majority of extracurricular activities and 4) opportunities on campus.The students can learn skills, 5) and become more employable.

*UEA The University of East Anglia东安格利亚大学

Activity 3

Please conduct a survey by completing the questionnaire below.

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Activity 4

Please report to the classmates what the information you get from the video in reference to the following suggested sentence structures.

To introduce:

■ The purpose / aim of this report

■ As requested

■ This survey was carried out / conducted by means of

■ The questionnaire consisted of

■ ...

To generalize:

■ In general

■ Generally

■ On the whole

■ ...

To refer to a fact:

■ The fact is that

■ In fact

■ In practice

■ ...

To conclude/ summarize:

■ In conclusion

■ All things considered

■ To sum up

■ All in all

■ It is not easy to reach any definite conclusions

■ If any conclusions may be drawn from the data

■ It is clear that

■ The survey shows / indicates / demonstrates

■ ...

Play with Words

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Challenge Your Classmates

Before you start to read the passage, please complete the questionnaire below.

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Use this questionnaire to interview your classmates, and then report your f indings in class.

Develop Your Understanding

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Try to f ind answers to the following questions.

1.Why do students need extracurricular activities?

2.What was the author’s suggestion on choosing extracurricular activities?

3.What should you do if you feel stressed over an extracurricular activity?

4.Why should the students sign up for activities they have never done before?

5.What should the students do if their grades start slipping?

Extracurricular Activities in College

All work and no play is not the best philosophy to live by.Extracurricular activities provide students with a much needed break from studies.Non-academic pursuits can even enhance an education if a balance of priorities is clearly kept.Here are a few pointers for choosing activities that will broaden, not burden you in college:

Pick three or four interest areas to become involved in where you can give more of yourself.This is far superior to joining dozens of activities and only getting to be nominally engaged.Make them the things you are most passionate about.Time is too precious in college to waste doing anything you don’t actually love to do.

◆extracurricular / ,ekstrəkə'rɪkjəIə /a.课外的；课程以外的

live by 靠……为生

◆academic / ,ækə'demɪk / a.学术性的

pursuit / pə'sjuːt / n.事业；消遣；追求

★priority / praɪ'ɒrɪtɪ / n.重点；优先考虑的事

pointer / pɒɪntə / n.忠告；点子

broaden / 'brɔːdn / v.（使）变宽；扩展；增长（经验，知识等）

*burden / 'bзːdn / v.加重压于；使背负

★superior / sjuː'pɪərɪə / a.优于的；占优势的

◆nominally / 'nɒmɪnəIɪ / ad.名义上地

◆passionate / 'pæʃənət / a.激情的；狂热的

★precious / 'preʃəs / a.宝贵的；珍贵的

These activities should relax and revitalize you.Under no circumstance should you feel as stressed or pressured over extracurricular activities as you do about your classes.Stop going to any activity that takes more from you than it gives.

Try new things every semester.Investigate all the options and don’t be afraid to sign up for activities you’ve never done before.You may discover a lifetime love or a natural talent for kayaking, weaving, public speaking, or working with handicapped children.If you never try you’ll never know.

Any student who is willing to first honor their commitment to college classes will greatly benefit from extracurricular activities.If grades start slipping, other endeavors may need to be put on hold or dropped altogether.That is why they are called “extra”-curricular activities in the first place.

◆revitalize / riː'vaɪtəIaɪz /v.使复活；使充满活力

under no circumstance无论如何；绝不

★circumstance / 'sзːkəmstəns /n.条件；情况

★investigate / in'vestɪgeɪt /v.调查

◆kayak / kaɪæk / n.皮划艇；v.坐皮划艇航行

◆commitment / kə'mɪtmənt /n.投入；承诺

◆endeavor / ɪn'devə / n.努力；尝试

put on hold 延期；暂停

Check Your Study

Activity 1

Choose the best answers according to the passage.

1.Extracurricular activities can enhance an education if we ______.

A）treasure the precious college time

B）get involved in extracurricular activities

C）get rid of the pressure from extracurricular activities

D）find a balance between study and extracurricular activities

2.The phrase “to be passionate about” in Para.2 probably means ______.

A）to be fully engaged in something

B）to be worried about something

C）to have a strong feeling on something

D）to have an angry feeling on something

3.When feeling stressed or pressured over extracurricular activities you should ______.

A）turn to the academic pursuits

B）investigate the possible options

C）go on taking part in the activities

D）stop going to some activities

4.According to the author, we should choose the extracurricular activities which can______.

A）involve us

B）take our time

C）give us relaxation

D）affect our study

5.In the author’s opinion, extracurricular activities are ______.

A）more interesting than learning

B）less important than learning

C）more important than learning

D）as important as learning

Activity 2

Read the passage quickly, and f ill in the blanks.

Extracurricular Activities in College

Advantages of engaging in extracurricular activities:

A）They provide students with 1）__________________ from studies.

B）They can 2）__________________.

Some pointers for choosing extracurricular activities:

A）Pick 3）__________________ to become involved in.

B）These activities should 4）__________________.

C）5）__________________ every semester.

Activity 3

Read the passage carefully and f ill in the blanks with proper words or phrases.Then try to recite it.

All work and no play is not the best philosophy to 1）___________.Extracurricular activities provide students with a much needed break from studies.Non-academic pursuits can even 2）___________ if a balance of priorities is clearly kept.Here are a few pointers for choosing activities that will 3）___________ you in college:pick three or four interest areas to 4）___________ where you can give more of yourself; these activities should relax and revitalize you; 5）___________ every semester.

Activity 4

Work with your partner according to the clues given below.

It is necessary for college students to participate in extracurricular activities to develop themselves.Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of extracurricular activities.