Unit 18　New Zealand

(show the following on the screen.)
1.it was getting dark.
2.it is april 1st today.
3.it rains a lot in new zealand.
4.it is some 3 500 kilometres from polynesia to new zealand.
5.it is a good thing that new zealand helps the maori to keep their own language and culture.
6.it is quite normal that uncles and aunts live with the family for a long time.
7.it is interesting to visit new zealand.
t:who can try the first sentence?
s1:i can try.in the first sentence,“it”is used to refer to“time.”
t:yes,you're right.let's go on.the second one,li xiao,you try,please.
s2:here“it”is used to talk about“date”.
t:very good.the third one.can you try,wang fang?
s3:yes,i think“it”here is used to refer to “weather”.
t:ok.do you know what“it”refers to in the fourth sentence?
s3:yes.“it”refers to“distance”.
t:quite right.please sit down.let's look at the fifth one.who'd like to translate the sentence into chinese?
s4:i'd like to.新西蘭人幫助毛利人保持他們自己的語言和文化是件好事。
t:good.can you tell us the use of“it”in the sentence?
s4:sorry,i don't know.
t:it doesn't matter.sit down,please.who knows?
s5:i'll try.i guess“it”is used to refer to“that-clause”.
t:well done.you're quite right.can you try next sentence?
s5:yes.“it”is also used to stand for“that-clause”.
t:very good.the last one.who can try?
s6:let me try.i think “it”is used in the subject position to stand for“the infinitive”.its chinese meaning is:“參觀新西蘭是有趣的。”
t:quite right.from the sentences above,we can sum up the use of “it”.impersonal“it”can be used to talk about time,date,distance or weather.(write them on the bb.)besides,“it”can be used in the subject position to stand for an infinitive or a clause.from the sentences 5,6 and 7,we can learn the following sentence structure:it is/was +adj./n.+infinitive/clause.(write it on the bb.)now,who can use the sentence structure to make some sentences?
s7:let me try.it is impassible for so few people to do so much work in a single day.
s8:it is very important to follow the rules.
s9:it is true that he accepted the invitation.
(teacher writes the students' sentences on the bb.)
t:very good.now,open your books and turn to page 30.let's do ex.1.first do it by yourselves,and then check your answers with your partners.at last,i'll ask some of you to read out your sentences.before you do it,you may look at example first.are you clear?
ss:yes.
t:ok.you're given a few minutes to do it.please begin.(a few minutes later.)have you finished?
ss:yes.
(teacher asks some students to read out their sentences.)