General Reading
Before Reading
Ⅰ. Warm-up Questions
1. Do you think rich people must be happier than poor people? Why?
2. Watch the video clip “Money Can’t Buy Happiness”.
1) What cannot be bought according to the woman?
(=True love, the moon)
2) What can also happen to wealthy people?
(=Divorces, suicides and murders.)
3. Do you think a poor person can have a life full of riches? How?
4. How would you show your value if you were rich enough?
Ⅱ. English Song — Money, Money, Money
I work all night, I work all day, to pay the ______ (=bills) I have to pay
Ain’t it sad
And still there never seems to be a ______ (=single) penny left for me
That’s too bad
In my ______ (=dreams) I have a plan
If I got me a ______ (=wealthy) man
I wouldn’t have to work at all, I’d ______ (=fool) around and have a ball
Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man’s world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man’s world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It’s a rich man’s world
A man like that is hard to find but I can’t get him ______ (=off) my mind
Ain’t it sad
And if he happens to be ______ (=free) I bet he wouldn’t fancy me
That's too bad
So I must ______ (=leave), I’ll have to go
To Las Vegas or Monaco
And win a ______ (=fortune) in a game, my life will never be the ______ (=same)
Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man’s world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man’s world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It’s a rich man's world
Ⅲ. Who’s Who
Match the person with his name and identity.
Ⅳ. A Debate
Who’s more important to the world?
Directions:
1. Before class, students are asked to collect relevant materials of participation in charity work by Bill Gates or Mother Teresa.
2. In class, students form two camps to debate the following issue: Mother Teresa has no money, but she took care of the poor in Calcutta until her death. Bill Gates gave a lot of money to charity, but he seldom works in the “frontline” with the poor. Does the world need more love like Mother Teresa’s or more money like Bill Gates’?
Ⅴ. Background Information
1. Salvation Army
☆ a Christian charity and social services organization
☆ founded by William Booth and his wife Catherine Booth in London in 1865
☆ got the name because of a popular saying that “The Christian Mission is a volunteer army.”
☆ Nearly 33 million Americans receive help from it annually
2. The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign
Volunteers put a red kettle at a prominent place of public gathering and ring a bell to urge passers-by to drop money into the kettle in the spirit of Christmas.
3. Wal-Mart
Founder | Samuel Moore Walton (Sam Walton) |
Founding time | 1962 |
Characteristics | The largest private employer and the largest grocery retailer in the United States |
Guiding philosophy of the founder | To offer customers a wide selection of goods at a discounted price |
4. Personal Income Tax in the US:
a progressive tax on the taxable income from the federal government of the US
individual
personal income taxes from some state and municipal governments
Global Reading
Ⅰ. Part Division of the Text
Part | Paragraph(s) | Main Ideas |
1 | 1~2 | The writer’s encounter with a boy who raised the question “Are you poor?” |
2 | 3~12 | In search of an answer the writer finds that not having expensive possessions doesn’t make him feel poor mainly because he enjoys life in many other ways. |
3 | 13 | In conclusion, the writer thinks he’s grown to understand more about himself because of the boy’s question. |
Ⅱ. Further Understanding
For Part 1
Table Completion
About the question the author was asked | |
Who asked the question? | A boy. |
What was the question? | Are you poor? |
What was the author’s reply? | Well, I have more than some people, but not as much as others. |
What did the mother do after the question was asked? | She scolded her son. |
For Part 2
Scan and Match
（略）
True or False
1. The author has taken just two vacation trips in the past 35 years. (F)
(=The author has taken just one vacation trips in the past 35 years.)
2. One of his main sources of enjoyment is to talk with many actor friends. (F)
(=One of his main sources of enjoyment is to talk with many interesting writer friends.)
3. The author feels quite natural about not being focused on material goods. (T)
4. Only a small part of people in the world would consider the author’s lifestyle to be affluent. (F)
(=Many people throughout the world would consider the author’s lifestyle to be affluent.)
5. The author has a sense of belonging as he put on the Salvation Army’s red apron. (T)
Questions and Answers
1. How does the author think of attaining the material things?
(=He thinks it is just a passing whim.)
2. When does the author feel rich inside?
(=He feels rich inside when he writes a beautiful line of poetry, or fabricate a funny joke.)
3. How did the author think of the girl before he took her to his apartment?
(=He thought the girl was so special that he could share life with.)
4. What is something that the author feels deeply connected to?
(=People helping people.)
For Part 3
Blank Filling
1. The author has come to understand more about ________ (himself) because of the question over the ________ (four) years from ________ (2003) to _________ (2007).
2. He is most thankful for his ________ (tangible) and _______ (intangible) good fortune.
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