Time Zones
Our planet, the Earth, is the third planet(行星) from the sun.
It is a beautiful, rotating sphere(球体).
The side facing the Sun is in daylight(白天).
The side facing away from the sun is in darkness(黑暗).
For example, when it’s daytime in the US, it’s nighttime in China.
In fact, there’s a 12-hour time difference(时间差) between Boston and Shanghai.
When it’s midnight in Shanghai, it’s noon in Boston.
Exercise:
1.— Which side of the Earth is in daylight?
— The side facing the Sun is in daylight.
2. — What is the shape of our planet?
— Earth is a beautiful, rotating sphere.
3. For example, when it’s daytime in the US, it’s nighttime in China.
The earth rotates from west to east.
To know which direction(方向) is east or west, watch the Sun.
The Sun travels through the sky from east to west.
The Sun comes up in the east and goes down in the west.
Again, this is because the Earth rotates.
It takes 24 hours for the Earth to make a complete rotation(完整绕一圈).
And that is the length of one day.
Exercise:
1.— What rotates from west to east?
—The Earth rotates from west to east.
2.— How long does it take the Earth to make a complete rotation?
— It takes 24 hours for the Earth to make a complete rotation.
3. To know which direction is east or west, watch the Sun.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Our planet, the Earth, is the third planet from the sun.
2. The Sun travels through the sky from east to west.
3. When it’s midnight in Shanghai, it’s noon in Boston.
4. For example, when it’s daytime in the US, it’s nighttime in China.
5. To know which direction is east or west, watch the Sun.
Because of the Earth’s rotation, the earth is divided into(被划分) time zones.
Some countries, such as the US, have several time zones.
When it’s 10 am in New York, it’s 7 am in San Francisco.
Europe and the US are separated by(由……分割) several time zones.
When it’s 5:00 pm in Paris, it’s 11:00 am in Boston.
So there's a 6-hour difference between Paris and Boston.
One large country, China, has just one time zone for the whole country.
As a result, at the same time(同时), some parts of the country can be dark and other parts can be light.
Exercise:
1.— Why is the Earth divided into time zones?
— The earth is divided into time zones because of the Earth’s rotation .
2.— Which large country has only one time zone?
— China has just one time zone for the whole country.
As you travel around(周游) the Earth, the time changes.
The time of day depends on(取决于，依赖于)your location on the planet.
When you travel east or west, you may cross several time zones.
For example, if you travel from Beijing to Los Angeles, you cross 8 time zones.
That means, when it’s noon on Sunday in China, it’s 8:00 pm on Saturday in Los Angeles.
For travelers, this means it can be very difficult to sleep after a long flight.
The clock may say 8:00 pm, but for your body it’s noon.
This is called jet lag(时差感，飞行时差反应).
Exercise:
1.— What changes as you travel around the earth?
— As you travel around the earth, the time changes.
2.— What happens if you travel east or west?
— When you travel east or west, you may cross several time zones.
3. The time of day depends on your location on the planet.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. The time of day depends on your location on the planet.
2. Some countries, such as the US, have several time zones.
3. Crossing several time zones causes jet lag.
4. Because of the Earth’s rotation, the earth is divided into time zones.
5. When you travel east or west, you may cross several time zones.
Kim's Movie Star Dream
Kim is a popular Korean actress.
She’s 28 years old, slim and beautiful.
She has a large fan club and her movies are very popular.
Everywhere she goes, her fans want her autograph(亲笔签名).
But Kim wants more.
She wants to be popular all over the world.
Exercise:
1.— What does Kim do?
— She is an actress.
2. Everywhere she goes, her fans want her autograph.
Tomorrow is a special day for her.
She’s leaving for Hollywood.
She’s going to Hollywood to meet with some top movie executives(执行主管,高管).
The meeting is scheduled for (定于……举行) the day after tomorrow.
If the meeting goes well(进展顺利), she’ll be in a Hollywood movie.
This is her chance to become a star.
Exercise:
1.— When is she going to meet with executives?
— The meeting is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
2.— What will happen if the meeting goes well?
— If the meeting goes well, she’ll be in a Hollywood movie.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. She wants to be popular all over the world.
2. Tomorrow is a special day for her.
3. She wants to be more popular.
4. The meeting is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
5. She has a large fan club and her movies are very popular.
She met the movie’s director(导演) last year.
He came to Korea and saw her latest movie.
After that he decided to use her in his new movie.
Fortunately(幸运地), Kim’s English is excellent, so she can play the role.
Exercise:
1.— Who did she meet in Korea last year?
— She met the movie’s director last year.
2.— How good is Kim's English?
— Kim’s English is excellent.
3. He came to Korea and saw her latest movie.
The director wants her to play a major role(主角) in the movie.
The movie's story will take place(发生) in the future.
At that time, the world will be a very different place.
Unfortunately(不幸地), much of world will be polluted.
Robots will do much of the work, and only the very rich can have a good life.
Exercise:
1.— When will the movie's story take plae?
— The movie's story will take place in the future.
2.— In the movie, what will do much of the world's work?
— Robots will do much of the work.
3. The movie's story will take place in the future.
The ending of the movie is still a secret.
Even Kim doesn’t know how it will end.
But she hopes it will have a happy ending.
She wants people to have hope for a better future.
Exercise:
1.— What is still a secret?
— The ending of the movie is still a secret.
2.— What kind of ending does Kim want the movie to have?
— She wants the movie to have a happy ending.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. She met the movie’s director last year.
2. The ending of the movie is still a secret.
3. She wants the movie to have a happy ending.
4. Unfortunately, much of world will be polluted.
5. The director wants her to play a major role in the movie.