Period 6 Listening and Reading Task
Teaching aims
1．Learn about robots and robots in the fight against landmines.
2．Help students to learn how robots are helping human beings in clearing landmines.
Teaching procedures
Step 1 Lead－in
Present the pictures on Page 54 and ask students to tell what each robot does.(Students are encouraged to speak out their opinions freely.)
Step 2 Listening
1．Listen to the interview and number the pictures in the order that you hear about them.
Keys：
4,2,1,3.
2．Listen to the interview again and fill in as much of the table as you can.Share your answers with a partner.Listen once or twice more to check your answers.
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Robot |
What is the robot？ |
What can the robot do？ |
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1 |
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2 |
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[来源:学#科#网] |
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3 |
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4 |
[来源:学科网] |
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Suggested answers：
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Robot |
What is the robot？ |
What can the robot do？ |
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1 |
Vacuum cleaner |
It can move from room to room cleaning your house.You can program it so that it cleans when you are away and you can control what it's doing from your computer at the office. |
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2 |
Personal robot called “PaPeRo” |
It understands 650 phrases，speaks more than 3000 words.It can recognize different people.It can check your email.It can help children do research on the Internet for their homework，talk to them about their day at school and play games. |
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3 |
Tiny helicopter |
It will be used to fly into dangerous areas.For example，it can fly into a house that's been destroyed by an earthquake and check if anyone's insi |
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4 |
Walking chair |
It helps people who can't walk to go up and down stairs. |
Step 3 Reading task
1．As we know，Robots are designed and built to do a task that is dangerous，uncomfortable，or repetitive for humans.Today we are going to read a magazine article about landmines.
First，ask students to read this piece of news about landmines.
Three decades of war in Cambodia have left scars in many forms throughout the country.Unfortunately，one of the most lasting legacies of the conflicts continues to claim new victims daily.Landmines，laid by the Khmer Rouge，the Heng Samrin and Hun Sen regimes，the Vietnamese，the KPNLF，and the Sihanou
2．Next，present the students some mine signs and remind students that in spite of so many warning signs，there are still many victims as the pictures show.
(In spite of so many warning signs，there are still many victims.Look at the following pictures.)
3．Ask students to glance through the text quickly and answer the following questions in Exercise 1 on Page 58.
(1)What is the main topic of this article？Which part of the text tells you that?
(2)Who wrote the article?
(3)What do the three pictures show you?
(4)Where is research being done on robots that can find landmines?
(5)In which two countries might the robots be used?
Suggested answers：
(1)The main topic is the role of robots in the fight against landmines.The title tells us that.
(2)Natasha Wesley.
(3)Someone using a metal detector to find landmines；the robot that can find landmines；some people who have lost their legs because of landmines.
(4)Chiba University (Japan)．
(5)
4．Work in groups to write questions for these answers in Exercise 2.Check your work with your partner.
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Question |
Answer |
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1 |
26 000 people. |
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2 |
One p |
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3 |
For decades after wars have ended. |
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4 |
100 million. |
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5 |
60 countries. |
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6 |
100 000. |
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7 |
2 000 000. |
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8 |
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9 |
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10 |
6. |
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11 |
1997. |
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12 |
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Suggested answers：
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Question |
Answer |
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1.How many people are killed or injured by landmines every year？ |
26 000 people. |
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2.How often is someone killed or injured by a landmine？ |
One person every 20 minutes. |
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3.For how long do landmines keep causing damage？ |
For decades after wars have ended. |
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4.How many landmines are buried just beneath the surface of the g |
100 million. |
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5.In how many countries are landmines buried？ |
60 countries. |
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6.How many landmines are removed every year？[来源:Zxxk.Com] |
100 000. |
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7.How many landmines are buried in the ground every year？ |
2 |
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8.How big is the robot that can find landmines？ |
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9.How much does it weigh？ |
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10.How many legs has it got？ |
6. |
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11.When was an arrangement to stop the manufacture and use of landmines signed？ |
1997. |
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12.How many countries signed the agreement to stop the manufacture and use of landmines？ |
122 countries. |
5.Read the article again carefully and look at each paragraph in turn.Underline the sentence which sets out the main idea of that paragraph.Then fill in the table below.
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Paragraph |
Main idea |
Supporting details |
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1 |
Introduction：the d |
26 000 people killed or badly injured each year； |
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100 million buried in 60 countries； |
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Most victims are innocent people； |
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2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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5 |
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Suggested answers：
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Paragraph |
Main idea |
Supporting details |
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1 |
Introduction：the damage landmines cause |
·26 000 people killed or badly injured each year ·100 million buried in 60 countries ·Most victims are innocent people |
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2 |
The problem of landmines |
·Each year 100 000 removed ·Each year 2 000 000 buried ·Difficult and dangerous to remove |
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3 |
Robots can help find |
·Much safer in the hunt for landmines ·Faster at f ·Research at |
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4 |
Robots can find plastic mines |
·Experimental robots in production ·To use radar to locate mines ·To identify types of mines[来源:学|科|网Z|X|X|K] |
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5 |
World opinions turned against landmines in the 1990s |
·Agreement in Ottawa，Canada to stop the manufacture and use of landmines ·Still a lot of work to be done |
Step 4 Discussion
1．First，ask students to read the following materials.
From the text we've learned how serious the situation is.Many lives are put into danger.So we must do something to improve the situation.As we know，the US hasn't yet committed to the Mine Ban Treaty.I hope you will write a letter of suggestion to the president of the US.You may refer to the text
2．Encourage students to write a letter of suggestion to the president of the US，for the US hasn't yet committed to the Mine Ban Treaty.In the letter you will suggest the US should stop manufacturing landmines and spend more money on solutions to clearing landmines，for example developing new robots to remove the landmines.
You can refer to the following material：
Producing one landmine costs $3，yet once in the ground it can cost more than $1000 to find and destroy，according to the ICBL.
Over 80 per cent of the 15 000 to 20 000 landmine victims each year are civilians，and at least one in five are children，according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)．The deadly legacy of landmines far outlasts the conflicts that gave rise to them.Among the most contaminated countries are Iraq，Cambodia，Afghanistan，Colombia，and Angola. If time is limited，ask students to finish it after class.
Step 5 Homework
Finish writing the letter to the president of the
A sample：
Dear Mr.President，
I read in the newspaper that the
1．Landmines kill or badly injure around 26 000 people every year.There are about 100 million landmines buried just beneath the surface of the ground in 60 countries.Among the most contaminated countries are Iraq，Cambodia，Afghanistan，Colombia，and Angola.I think this is one reason why people in these countries hate the
2．Producing one landmine costs $3，yet once in the ground it can cost more than $1000 to find and destroy，according to the ICBL.So stop manufacturing landmines and spend more money on finding solutions to clearing the landmines.As you know，your country has designed the most advanced robots.Why not use your advanced technology and spend more money on designing some robots to clear the landmines.If so，it will benefit the whole world.People all over the world will think highly of you and your country.You and your country will become more influential.Japan has set a good example.They have developed robots that can be used to clear landmines.I hope your government will follow Japan's example.
Thank you for reading the letter.I hope you will consider my suggestions.I believe you also hope the whole world will enjoy peace.Let's work together and make a peaceful world.
Yours sincerely，
Sun Cheng
