Unit 1 Can We Help You

eadingDulcie Butler is good at helping people with their problems. If you need advice about 1something difficult in your life, 2

write to her. It can be a big problem or a small one. Dulcie will have some advice for you.

Tip: Find out the characters’problems and the advice given.

1. something difficult difficult 修飾前面的不定詞 something 。此用法亦適用於 anything/everything/ nothing/anybody/someone/anyone等其他不定代名詞。 There is nothing wrong with his car.

2. write 表「寫信」時，有以下幾種用法(1) Write us a letter/Write (a letter) to us as soon as you reach New York. ( 寫信給某人 )(2) Ron wrote (me) that he got a new job last week. ( 寫信告知‧‧‧ )(3) Sam wrote thanking us for the birthday present. ( 寫信以達到某種目的 )

Dear Dulcie, I am fifteen and I have to share aroom with my 1nine-year-old sister. She is very untidy and I have to cleanup her mess all the time. She never2leaves my things alone and keepsopening my drawers and looking ateverything inside.

3Nothing I have is private. Also, I’m not allowed to do 4what I want to do. Mom says I must turn my radio off at night because the noise keeps my sister awake.

What can I do?

Linda

QuestionsQuestions

1. nine-year-old 當形容詞用，修飾 sister 一字。2. leave my things alone(1)此為 S + Vt (leave/keep/find/make) + O + OC

(adj.) 的句型。 (2) leave…alone 在此指「不觸碰」。3. Nothing I have is private.

Nothing 、 something 、 anything 、 everything

等不定代名詞當主詞時， 皆視為單數，其後接單數動詞。 Everything has a price.

4. what I want to do what + S + V 形式所構成的 名詞子句，在此為受詞用法， 另外也可當主 詞用：(1)當作受詞的用法，參考本課句型解析 2 Yo

u can’t take away what you haven’t paid for.(2) 當作主詞時，動詞通常為「第三人稱單數」 What you did was right.

Q1. Whom does Linda share her room with?

She shares her room with her nine-year-old sister.

Q2. What does Linda complain about her sister?

Q3. Why does Linda have to turn her radio

off at night?

Her sister is untidy, and she never leaves Linda's things alone.

Because the noise keeps her sister awake.

Dear Dulcie, I have a problem. My parentsalways talk to me about studying. 1What they want me to do is study, study, andstudy, so I can get into a good college. Iknow schoolwork is very important,but my parents put too much pressureon me. Please 2help me explain to themthat I need some free time.

AdamQuestionsQuestions

1. What they want me to do is study, study, and study....

All they want me to do is study, study, and study....

此為 what 關係代名詞子句為主詞的句型。此句 型中若以不定詞片語為受詞時，多會省略 to另 外 what 可以與 all 互換。

2. 以 help 表示「幫助別人 ( 做 ) 某事」時，用法：

Helen helped her sister (to) take care of the baby. Can you help me with my homework?

Q1.What is the problem with Adam?

Q2.What does Adam ask Dulcie to help him?

His parents always talk to him about studying.

He asks Dulcie to help him explain to his parents that he needs some free time.

Dear , This is a common problem for 1people of your age. 2Try talking to your parents about how you feel. Let them know you respect them. Perhaps you can make a deal with them. 3For example, 4ask them for a day off each week to dowhat you want to do.

Dulcie

QuestionsQuestions

1. people (of) your age 意指「與你同 年齡的人」 ， of 在此可以省略。2. try talking... try + V-ing 表示「嘗試‧‧‧」之意 If you can’t sleep, try taking a hot bath.另外， try + to V 則表示「努力試圖達成某種目的」的意思：

I tried to get up early, so I could get to work on time.

3. for example 意指「例如、比如說」，類似的片語尚有 for instance 。

The farmer raises a lot of animals. For example/For instance, there are 250 cows and 400 chickens on his farm.

4. ask someone for something 向某人要求 They asked John for US$5,000 to repair the car.

Q2.What advice does Dulcie give to Adam?

She advises Adam to talk to his parents and make a deal with them.

Teenagers don't have much free time.

Q1. What is the common problem for teenagers?

Dear ,

1It can’t be easy to share a room

with a messy little nine-year-old. I think2she’s old enough to tidy her own things.

Why don’t you and your mother 3show

her how to put her things away neatly?

Perhaps you could 4 get a box with a5 lock and key to lock your very special

things away. If you have the right kind

of radio and enough money, you could

buy some earphones for it.

Then your little sister won’t be

disturbed 6at night. Finally, 7don’t

forget that when little sisters 8grow up,

they can become good friends with

their older sisters.

Dulcie

QuestionsQuestions

1. It can’t be easy to share a room with a messy little nine-year-old.

Sharing a room with a messy little nine-year-old can’t be easy.

To share a room with a messy little nine-year-old can’t be easy.

(1) It 為虛主詞，代表後面的不定詞 片語 (to share a room...) 。(2) can’t 此為「不可能」之意，為加強語氣 A boy can’t grow 5 inches within one day!

2. be + adj. + enough to VHe is tall enough to play on the basketball team.

3. ... show her how to put her things away neatly.

how 引導名詞片語，當動詞 show 的受詞。

4. get a box with a lock and key

get a box which/that has a lock and key

5. lock...away 將‧‧‧上鎖保管好 (= lock...up)

When you are not at home, you’d better lock your jewelry away/up.

6. at night 在夜間 7. don’t forget that... 記得 = remember that...

Don’t forget that I’m waiting outside.

Remember that I’m waiting outside.

8. grow up 長大 I want to be a teacher when I grow up. Mr. Lin grew up in Tainan and moved to Taipei when he was 18 years old. 另外， bring up 為「將‧‧‧撫養長

大」的意思。例： The widow brought up four children by herself.

Q1: What does Dulcie advise to deal with a messy nine-year-old sister?

Q2:What advice does Dulcie give to Linda to have privacy?

Q3:What can Linda do to enjoy listening to the radio at night?

She advises Linda to show her sister how to put her things away neatly.

She advises Linda to get a box with a lock and key to lock her special things away.

She can buy earphones.

Post- eading Reading Comprehension

I. Write down Linda’s and Adam’s problems and find out Dulcie’s advice for them.

Problem Dulcie’s Advice

Linda

   

Adam

   

sharing a room with her little sister

Teach her little sister how to tidy up her own things; put things in a box with a lock; use earphones

not having enough free time

have a talk with his parents and make a deal with them

II. Choose the correct answer to the following statement.

( ) The reading is mainly about .

(A) making plans

(B) getting attention

(C) complaining about one’s life

(D) asking for and giving advice

D

(A)… is nine years old.

(B)…gives people advice.

(C)… always talk to him about studying.(D)…complains about having her own room(E)…hopes to have more time

III. Match the items on the left with those on the right based on the reading.

1. Dulcie...

2. Linda...

3. Linda’s sister...

4. Adam...

5. Adam’s parents...

Topics for Discussion

Topics for Discussion

I. What do you think about Dulcie’s

advice? What advice would you give

Linda and Adam?

II. People of your age usually have some

common problems. List as many

problems as you can. What are the top

five problems in your class? What

advice would you give about them?

Basically, I agree with Dulcie’s advice,but I also have my own solutions to Linda’s and Adam’s problems. I have the following alternative solutions forLinda:(1) She could talk to her sister first. If she is nice to her sister, I believe her sister will be nice to her, too.

(2) She could talk to her parents to see if it is possible to have her own bedroom.(3) She could teach her sister to clean the bedroom. If her sister does it right, she could give her little gifts or candies to encourage her.

As for Adam, I think he should:

(1) show his parents that he can do very

well without their pressure;

(2) concentrate more while studying and

work harder than before;

(3) discuss with his parents and make a

schedule that includes study hours

and free time;

(4) talk to his parents and tell them that

he has grown up, and that he will

take responsibility for his own future.

I hope my advice will be helpful for

Linda and Adam.

Problems Adviceshaving too much homework

doing homeworkduring the recess instead of taking all of it home

not having enough free time

learning to organize time better

not having enough money

looking for a part-time job

not being treated as an adult

trying to be more responsible

Problems Advicesbeing overweight eating less and exercising more

being too short playing basketball

having trouble communicating with parents

trying to be more patient and understanding

not using time well making a daily schedule