Reading the passage and list what Ted did throughout the week by filling in the following

table:

Bought two model planes and two mysteries. Helped mother make a cake.

Sunday

Cleaned out his room. Set up a yard sale.Saturday

Borrowed two books.Friday

Finished a painting.Thursday

Cleaned some old games and played them with friends.

Wednesday

Built a house with friends. Cleaned his room.Tuesday

Went to bed early. Did nothing.Monday

ActivitiesDays

Language points:

1. The Great TV Turn-off (Title) Meaning: A big project of turning off TV for one

week.2. be impressed by (Para. 3): be influenced by3. what it’s like (Para. 4): this is used in questions

to ask about the nature or characteristic of something or someone, meaning “how it feels”.

4. Plenty (Para. 8): quite, very much, to quite a large degree

5. This just seems cruel. (Para. 10): It’s too painful.

6. without being asked (Para. 12): without being told to do so

7. handle (Para. 17): vt. deal with; control8. besides (Para. 17): prep. As well as; in ad

dition to9. I might just find something better to do. (P

ara. 21) Meaning: I would possibly do something

more interesting than watching TV. Notice here “might” is used to express pos

sibility.

Try to find out words or sentences which signals change in Ted’s attitude toward watching TV.

a). I was not impressed.b). I’d rather find out how long I can take being at the

dentist’s, as long as I can watch TV while I am here.c). I watched sadly…d). This just seems cruel.e). Got tired of staring at DO NOT WATCH TV sign.f). I must be going mad.g). I was in the habit of writing in my diary.h). Broke down…i). I don’t think I can handle this any longer!j). I don’t think I’ll turn on the TV today…k). I might just find something better to do.

We can see

a) - d) that Ted was strongly against the

idea of turning off TV for one week. e) - i) we can see that he is struggling

between the idea of watching TV

and that of doing something else.

j) - k) we can see that he has come to

realize that besides TV there is

something better to do.

Finish reading the text, please answer the following questions:

How have you been influenced by this story?

Are you still going to watch a lot of TV programs?

Would you spend more time with your family or friends?

Would you read more books?