高中英語教學(xué)：校本教材《高中生英語教學(xué)策略》

Lesson1

Thefatherofourcountry

GeorgeWashingtonwasthefirstpresidentoftheUnitedStates.Peoplecallhimthe

"fatherofourcountry".Heearnedthistitle,orname,becausehespentsomuchofhis

lifeservingtheUnitedStates.

WashingtonwasborninVirginiain1732.Hegrewtobeatall,strongboy.Whenhe

wasateenager,hisolderbrotherLawrencetaughthimhowtosurveyland.When

Washingtonwas17yearsold,hebecamecountysurveyor.WhenLawrencedied,

Washingtontookhisplaceasamajorinthecolonialarmy.Hegatheredtroopsand

preparedthemforbattle.Becausehewasastrongleader,Washingtonwasputincharge

ofallofVirginia'stroops.Forthreeyears,hedefendedVirginia'swesternborder.He

wasalsoaleaderintheSevenYears'War.

In1759Washingtonreturnedhometohisfarm,MountVernon.Hebuiltamillto

crushgrainandanironworkstomakeironproducts.HemaiTiedMarthaCustisand

servedincolonialgovernment.HedidnotlikemanyBritishpolicies,suchastheStamp

Act.Underthislaw,Britaintaxedthecolonieswithoutallowingthemtovote.

WashingtonthoughtthatBritain'srulewasnotgoodforthecolonies.Hebelievedthat

thecoloniesshouldrulethemselves.

TheRevolutionaryWarbetweenthecoloniesandBritainbeganin1775.Atthat

time,WashingtonbecamecommanderinchiefoftheContinentalArmy.Histroopswere

ordinarypeoplewhohadnotbeentrainedtofight.Thenhehadfewsupplies.Hisplan

wastohavepatienceandtobothertheBritishwheneveritwaspossible.Inbattlehe

wouldfirstholdbackhistroops.Thenhewouldleadasurpriseattack.Aftersixyears,

heforcedtheBritishtogiveup.

PeoplethoughtthatWashingtonwasahero.Theywantedhimtobethefirstpresident.

Someevenwantedtomakehimaking.Washingtondidnotwantedtobealeader.He

wantedtogohomeandworkonhisfarm.However,Washingtonknewthatthefirst

presidentcouldhelpplanthefutureofthenewcountry.Tohelpthenewcountryget

started,in1789hetooktheoathofofficetobecomepresident.

Washingtonservedaspresidentforeightyears.Duringthattime,Francewasatwar

withBritain.WashingtonkepttheUnitedStatesoutofthewar.Hebelievedthatthenew

countryneededtimetogrowstrong.Afterhistimeinoffice,hewentbacktoMount

Vernonandfai*medfortherestofhislife.

TaskAOrganizingideas

1.WhatweresomeimportanteventsinGeorgeWashington'slife?Completethe

timelinebelow.Rereadthearticleandlookforimportantevents.Writethedatesonthe

lines.Intheboxbeloweachdate,writedownafactaboutthatdate.Somepartshave

beendoneforyou.

TimelineofGeorgeWashington'slife

1732

1749GeorgeWashingtonbecomecountysurveyor.

1759

1775

1789

1797

2.HowdidthistimelinehelpyouunderstandGeorgeWashington'slife?Writetwoor

moresentencesabouttheeventthatyouthinkwasmostimportanttoWashington.Did

thetimelinehelpyouchoosethisevent?Explainyouranswer*.

TaskBComprehensionskills

RecallingFacts

1.GeorgeWashingtonwas.

a.theking

b.aNavyofficer

c.commanderinchiefoftheContinentalArmy

2.Thecolonieswontheirfreedominawarwith.

a.France

b.Britain

c.NativeAmericans

3.GeorgeWashingtonwasbornin.

a.Britain

b.Virginia

c.NewYork

4.Washington\plantowinthewarwas.

a.toattacktheBritishatsea

b.togathermoretroopsandsupplies

c.tohavepatienceandtobothertheBritish

5.Washingtonservedaspresidentfor.

a.fouryears

b.eightyears

c.twelveyears

Understandingideas

1.PeoplecallWashington"thefatherofourcountry“because.

a.HedidnotliketheStampAct

b.Hecommandedthecolonialarmy.

c.Heledthecolonies9fightU.S.president.

2.Fromthearticle,youcanconcludethatWashington.

a.wantedpower

b.wasnotpopular

c.putservicetohiscountryabovehisownneeds

3.YoucanalsoconcludethatWashington.

a.hadmanyskills.

b.didnotliketofarm.

c.wasagreatmilitaryleaderbutknewlittleaboutgovernment.

4.Washingtonacceptedthejobofpresidentbecause.

a.Nooneelsewould.

b.Hehadwanteditforalongtime.

c.Thenewcountryneededhisleadership.

5.Whilehewaspresident,WashingtonkeptUnitedStatesoutofwarbecause

a.Hewastiredoffighting.

b.Thenewcountryneededtogrowandplanforfuture.

c.Hedidnothavethemoneytopaytroopstofight.

TaskCReadingstrategies

1.RecognizingWordsinContext

Findthewordborderinthearticle.Onedefinitionbelowisclosesttothemeaningof

thatword.Onedefinitionhastheoppositeornearlytheoppositemeaning.The

remainingdefinitionhasameaningthathasnothingtodowiththeword.Labelthe

definitionsCforclosest,Oforoppositeornearlyopposite,andUforunrelated.

a.theouteredgeofanarea

b.agroupofbuildings

c.thecenterofanarea

2.DistinguishingFactfromOpinion

Twoofthestatementsbelowpresentfacts,whichcanbeproved.Theotherstatementis

anopinion,whichexpressessomeone'sthoughtsorbeliefs.LabelthestatementsFfor

factandOforopinion.

a.GeorgeWashingtonwasthegreatestU.S.president.

b.GeorgeWashingtonwantedtoendBritain9sruleofthecolonies.

c.GeorgeWashingtonownedafarm.

3.MakingcorrectInferences

Twoofthestatementsarecorrectinferences,orreasonableguesses,thatarebasedon

informationinthearticle.Theotherstatementisanincorrectinference.Labelthe

statementsCfbrcorrectinferenceandIfbrincorrectinference.

a.WashingtonwasaleaderintheRevolutionaryWar.

b.Washingtonjoinedthearmyonlybecausehisbrotherdied.

c.WashingtonhasaspecialplaceinU.S.history.

4.Understandingmainideas

Oneofthestatementsbelowexpressesthemainideaofthearticle.Anotherstatementis

toogeneral,ortoobroad.Theotherexplainsonlypartofthearticle;itistoonarrow.

LabelthestatementsMformainidea,Bfortoobroad,andNfbrtoonarrow.

a.WashingtonwasoneofthepresidentsoftheUnitedStates.

b.Washingtonledthecoloniestofreedomandbecamethefirstpresident.

c.WashingtondidnotliketheStampAct.

5.RespondingtotheArticle

Completethefollowingsentenceinyourownwords:

Beforereading“TheFatherofOurCountry^,Ialreadyknew

TaskDExpandingVocabulary

Content-AreaWords

Readeachitemcarefully.Writeonthelinethewordorphrasethatbestcompleteseach

sentence.

1.PeoplewholivedintheBritaincolonieshadto.

followBritishrulesworkasfarmersvisitBritain

2.AmericanfoughttheRevolutionaryWarto.

winfreedomfromBritainuseweaponspasstheStampAct

3.Thepresidentofacompanyhasofthepowertomake

decisions.

verylittlesomemost

4.Thenewtakesofficeatthebeginningoftheyear.

soccerplayermayorneighborhood

5.Anoathisathatapersonmakes.

promisestorytool

AcademicEnglish

Inthearticle“TheFatherofOurCountry”,youlearnedthatsurveyisaverbthatmeans

“toexamineforacertainpurpose”.Surveycanalsobeanounthatmeans“astudyof

people'sopinionsaboutatopic",asinthefollowingsentence.

Ididasurveytofindouthowstudentsfeltaboutthenewlibrary.

Completethesentencebelow.

1.Thesurveyprovedthatmostpeopledidnotlike.

Nowusethewordsurveyinasentenceofyourown.

2..

Youalsolearnedthatpoliciesmeans“rulesthatguidetheactionsofpeople”.Policies

canalsomean“plansthatpeoplebuytoprotecttheirhealthorthethingstheyown”,as

inthefollowingsentence.

Peoplebuyinsurancepoliciestohelpthempaytheirhospitalbills.

Completethesentencebelow.

3.Peopleshouldlookatmanypolicieswhentheyshopfbr.

Nowusethewordpoliciesintwosentencesofyourown.

4.

5.__________________________________________________________________

6.__________________________________________________________________

Lesson2

TheNativeAmericans5Canoes

Longago,NorthAmericahadmanythickforests.Itwasdifficultforpeopletotravel

throughtheseforestsbecausetherewerenoroads.However,peoplewereabletotravel

onthemanylakes,riversandstreamsofNorthAmerica.Treessuchaspine,spruce,

cedar,andbirch,grewonthebanksofthesewaterways.Birchtreeshavewhiteorgray

barkthatpeelsoffthetreesinsheets.EarlyNativeAmericansusedthebarktobuild

boatscalledbirchbarkcanoes.

Insomepartsofariver,thewatermovesveryfastoverrocksandpiecesoffallen

trees.Thiscreatesrapids,orrushing,difficultwater.Rapidsmaypushboatsintorocks

thatsmashboatstopieces.Acanoeissmallandlight.Apersoncanportage,orcarry,a

canoearoundrapidsorfromonestreamtoanother.

Acanoehasanarrowbodyandroundedsides.Thesidesarewidestinthemiddle.

Theycometogetheratthebow(thefrontofaboat)andatthestem(thebackofaboat).

Peopleuseoars,orpaddles,topushandsteerthecanoethroughthewater.

Tomakeabirchbarkcanoe,NativeAmericanspeeledsheetsofbarkfrombirchtrees.

Thentheylaidthesheetsonaflatpieceofground.Nextthebuildersbentwoodpieces

intotheshapeofthecanoetomakeitsupperedges,calledgunwales.Theylaidthe

gunwaleframeontopofthebarksheetsandwrappedtheedgesofthebarkaroundthe

frame.Theyweigheddownthebirchbarkwithrocksandpoundedwoodenstakesinto

thegroundaroundthegunwales.Thestakeshelpedshapethecanoeasthebuildersputit

together.Thenthebuildersaddedpiecesofbarktothegunwalestoraisethemtothe

correctheight.

Thebuildersusedspruceroottosewthebarksheetstogetheralongtheiredges.They

filledtheholesinthesewededgeswithanimalfatandstickytreejuice,suchaspine

gumandspruceresin,orsap.Thismadethecanoewatertight,whichmeansthatwater

couldnotenterthecanoe.Thebuilderslinedtheinsideofthecanoewiththinsheetsof

cedar.Theycutribs,orstrips,ofcedarandbentthemtotheshapeofthecanoe.The

cedarribsheldthelininginplace.

NativeAmericanssometimescarvedananimalshapeontheoutsideofafinished

canoe.Thisanimalwasoftenasymbolforatribe.Amanandawomanusuallyworked

aspartnerstobuildabirchbarkcanoe.Itusuallytooktwoweeksfortwopeopleto

buildacanoe.

TaskAOrganizingideas

1.HowdidNativeAmericansbuildbirchbarkcanoes?Completethechartbelow.In

theboxes,listthestepsthatpeoplefollowedtomakeacanoe.Usethearticletofind

information.Someboxeshavebeendoneforyou.

Peelsheetsofbarkfrombirchbarktreesandlaythemflatontheground.

Weighdownthebirchbarkwithrocks,andpoundinstakesaroundthecanoe.

Sewthebarksheetstogether,andfillinholestomakethecanoewatertight.

2.Whatdidyoulearnbycompletingthischart?Writetwoormoresentencesaboutwhy

itisimportanttolistthestepsinorder.Didthecharthelpyouunderstandthearticle?

Explainyouranswer.

TaskBComprehensionskills

RecallingFacts

1.Rapidsoccurinplaceswhere.

a.tworiversmeet.

b.ariverflowsintoalake.

c.ariverrushesoverobjects.

2.Sheetsofwhiteorgraybarkpeeloff

a.pinetrees

b.birchtrees

c.sprucetrees

3.lbmoveacanoefromonestreamtoanother,peoplemay.

a.sternit.

b.portageit.

c.gunwaleit.

4.NativeAmericanssewedsheetsofbirchofbarktogetherwith.

a.pinegum

b.cedarribs

c.spruceroot

5.Twopartnerswereabletobuildabirchbarkcanoeinabout.

a.twoweeks

b.threeweeks

c.sevenweeks

Understandingideas

1.Comparedwithwalkingthroughforests,canoetravelwas.

a.faster

b.slower

c.moredangerous

2.Fromthearticle,youcanconcludethatbirchbarkcanoeswere

a.wideatbothends.

b.shapedthesamewayatbothends.

c.widerinthebackthaninthefront.

3.Youcanalsoconcludethatpeopleusedbirchbarkinordertomake

canoes_________________

a.fast.

b.whiteorgrayincolor

c.strongandlightweight.

4.NativeAmericansoftencarvedanimalshapesontheircanoes

a.toshowwhoownedthem.

b.tomakechildrenlaugh.

c.topracticeworkingwithwood.

5.Themainideaofthearticleisthat.

a.travelthroughforestswasonceaproblem.

b.NativeAmericanspeeledbarkfrombirchtrees.

c.earlyNativeAmericansmadebirchbarkcanoes.

TaskCReadingstrategies

1.RecognizingWordsinContext

Findthewordwatertightinthearticle.Onedefinitionisclosesttothemeaningofthat

word.Onedefinitionhastheoppositeornearlytheoppositemeaning.Theremaining

definitionhasameaningthathasnothingtodowiththeword.LabelthedefinitionsC

forclosest,Ofbroppositeornearlyopposite,andUfbrunrelated.

a.abletokeepwaterfromleakinginorout

b.abletoallowwatertopassthrougheasily

c.abletoholdmanypeople

2.DistinguishingFactfromOpinion

Twoofthestatementsbelowpresentfacts,whichcanbeproved.Theotherstatementis

anopinion,whichexpressessomeone'sthoughtsorbeliefs.LabelthestatementsFfbr

factandOforopinion.

a.NativeAmericansmadebirchbarkcanoesfromtrees.

b.Canoesareanexcitingwaytotravel.

c.Peoplesometimescarrycanoesfromonestreamtoanother.

3.MakingcorrectInferences

Twoofthestatementsarecorrectinferences,orreasonableguesses,thatarebasedon

informationinthearticle.Theotherstatementisanincorrectinference.Labelthe

statementsCforcorrectinferenceandIforincorrectinference.

a.NativeAmericansdidnottravelthroughforests.

b.CanoeswereimportanttomanyNativeAmericans.

c.NativeAmericansusednaturalmaterialstobuildthings.

4.RespondingtotheArticle

Completethefollowingsentenceinyourownwords:

Reading“TheNativeAmericans'Canoes^^mademewanttolearnmore

about

because

TaskDExpandingVocabulary

Content-AreaWords

Crossoutonewordineachrowthatisnotrelatedtothewordindarktype.

1.barkwoodcoveringpeelclothing

2.sheetsthinflatpointedwide

3.NativeAmericansbuilderssoldierscanoescarvers

4.canoespaddleboatroadwater

5.symbolpictureideasleepanimal

AcademicEnglish

Inthearticle“TheNativeAmericans9Canoes”,youlearnedthatcreatesmeans“makes”

or“causestoexist".Createscanalsomean"producesfromone'sownthoughtsor

imaginationJasinthefollowingsentence.

Samcreatessillypoemstomakehisfriendslaugh.

Completethesentencebelow.

1.Theauthorcreates.

Nowusethewordcreatesinasentenceofyourown.

2.

Lesson3

HowtheU.S.MintMakesCoins

ThemainpurposeoftheU.S.Mintistomakecoinsforcirculationinbusinessand

trade.However,themintalsoproducesspecialcoins.Forexample,themintmakes

uncirculatedcoinset,orsetsofcoinsthatnoonehaseverused.Italsomakesproofsets.

11polishesthesesetsandsealstheminplastic.Italsomakescommemorativecoinsthat

honorU.S.historyandculture.Whenpeoplebuycommemorativecoins,themintgives

partofthemoneyfromthesesalestogoodcauses.Peoplewhoownanyofthesespecial

coinsmayspendthem,butmostpeoplejustcollectthem.

TheU.S.MintusesfourmintstomakecoinsintheUnitedStates.Thesemintsarein

Philadelphia,Pennsylvania;Denver,Colorado;SanFrancisco,California;andWest

Point,NewYork.Eachofthesemintsproducesspecialcoins.ThePhiladelphiaand

Denvermintsalsomakecoinsforcirculation.

Themintsmakesixkindsofregularcoins.Thesixkindsarethepenny,thenickel,the

dime,thequarter,thehalf-dollar,andthedollarcoin.Portraitsappearononesideof

mostcoins.TheportraitsusuallyshowfacesofU.S.presidents.However,somedollar

coinshaveportraitsoffamousU.S.women.All50statesnowhavetheirownquarters

too.Eachstatequarterhasadifferentdesignonthebacktohonorthatstate.

Themintsmakecoinsfromblacks,ormetalcirclesthataretherightsizeand

thicknessforthecoins.Blanksarealsocalledplanchets.Themintsbuyblankstomake

pennies,buttheymaketheirownnickelblanks.Tomakepennyandnickelblanks,coin

makersmeltmetalstogether.Themetalsformsamixturecalledanalloy.Thencoin

makespourtheliquidalloyintomolds.Themoldsshapethemetalintoblockscalled

ingots.Nextcoinmakersrollouttheingotsintostrips.Thentheycutblanksfromthe

strips.Dimes,quarter,half-dollars,anddollarcoinsallhaveacoppercore.Analloy

coversthiscore.Apersoncanlookattheedgeofacointoseeitscore.

Tomakecoinsfromblanks,workersfirstsoftenandcleantheblanks.Thentheyroll

theedgestomakethemthicker.Finally,theystampdesignsoneachside.Theyalsoadd

ridgesaroundtheedgesofdimes,quarters,half-dollars,anddollarcoins.Workerscheck

thefinishedcoins,countthem,andputthemintobags.Theyalsochecktheweightof

eachbag.ThemintsshipthecoinstotheFederalReservebanks.Thenthecoinsgoto

otherbanksandintocirculation.

TaskAOrganizingideas

Howdomintsmakenewnickels?Completethechartbelow.Intheboxes,listthe

stepsthatmintsfollowtomakenewnickels.Usethearticletofindinformation.The

firstwordineachboxisaclue.Someboxeshavebeendoneforyou.

Melt:Meltmetalstogethertoformanalloy.

Pour:

Shape:Shapethemetalwiththemoldsintoblockscalledingots.

Roll:

Cut:Cutblanksfromthestripes.

Clean:

Roll:

Stamp:Stampdesignsoneachsideoftheblanks.

Check:

Whatdidyoulearnbycompletingthischart?Writetwoormoresentencesabouthow

mintsmakecoins.Didthecharthelpyouunderstandthearticle?Explainyouranswer.

TaskBComprehensionskills

RecallingFacts

1.ThemainpurposeoftheU.S.Mintis.

a.toraisemoneyforgoodcauses.

b.tomakecoinsforbusinessandtrade.

c.tomakespecialcoinstohonorfamouspeople.

2.Thenumberofmintsthatmakecoinsis.

a.two

b.four

c.three

3.Themintsthatmakecoinsforcirculationarein.

a.PhiladelphiaandDenver

b.WestPointandNewYork

c.SanFranciscoandWestPoint

4.Blanksarealsocalled.

a.ingots

b.alloys

c.planchets

5.Afterthemintsmakecoins,theyshipthemto.

a.localbanks

b.theFederalReservebanks

c.storesalloverthecountry

Understandingideas

1.AcointhathonorstheOlympicsisprobablya.

a.proofcoin

b.regularcoin

c.commemorativecoin

2.Fromthearticle,youcanconcludethat,totelladimefromapennywitheyesclosed,

apersonshould>

a.feeltheedgesofthecoin

b.layeachcoinonaflatsurface

c.trytopickupthecoinswithamagnet

3.Youcanalsoconcludethataquarterwouldcomefromthe.

a.WestPointmint

b.SanFranciscomint

c.DenverorPhiladelphiamint

4.Atastore,apersonwouldnotbeabletospenda.

a.nickelblank

b.statequailer

c.proofhalf-dollar

5.Themintprobablyweigheachbagofcoinstomakesurethat.

a.thecorrectkindofcoinisineachbag

b.eachbaghasthecorrectnumberofcoins

c.eachbagcontainsactualcoinsandnotblanks

TaskCReadingstrategies

1.RecognizingWordsinContext

Findthewordridgesinthearticle.Onedefinitionbelowisclosesttothemeaningof

thatword.Onedefinitionhastheoppositeornearlytheoppositemeaning.The

remainingdefinitionhasameaningthathasnothingtodowiththeword.Labelthe

definitionsCforclosest,Oforoppositeornearlyopposite,andUforunrelated.

a.raisedlines

b.smoothsections

c.colors

2.DistinguishingFactfromOpinion

Twoofthestatementsbelowpresentfacts,whichcanbeproved.Theotherstatementis

anopinion,whichexpressessomeone'sthoughtsorbeliefs.LabelthestatementsFfor

factandOforopinion.

a.Allcoinsaremadefromblanks.

b.Makingcoinsishardwork.

c.Eachstatehasitsownquarter.

3.MakingcorrectInferences

Twoofthestatementsarecorrectinferences,orreasonableguesses,thatarebasedon

informationinthearticle.Theotherstatementisanincorrectinference.Labelthe

statementsCforcorrectinferenceandIforincorrectinference.

a.Peoplewhoseportraitsappearoncoinsai*eimportantinU.S.history.

b.Manypeopleliketocollectcoins.

c.Statequartersareworthmorethanregularquarters.

4.Understandingmainideas

Oneofthestatementsbelowexpressesthemainideaofthearticle.Anotherstatementis

toogeneral,ortoobroad.Theotherexplainsonlypartofthearticle;itistoonarrow.

LabelthestatementsMformainidea,Bfortoobroad,andNfortoonarrow.

a.TheU.S.Minthasaprocesstomakespecialcoinsandcoinsforcirculation.

b.FourmintsmakecoinsintheUnitedStates.

c.TheU.S.MintmakescoinsforpeopletouseintheUnitedStates.

5.RespondingtotheArticle

Completethefollowingsentenceinyourownwords:

Fromreading“HowtheU.S.MintMakesCoins”,Ihavelearned

TaskDExpandingVocabulary

Content-AreaWords

Completeeachsentencewithawordfromthebox.Writethemissingwordontheline.

circulationcoremolds

portraitsproof

1.Theseshowthatallofthesistershaveblueeyes.

2.Mayapouredthewaterintoroundbeforeshefrozeit.

3.1turnedonthefantogetbetterairinmyroom.

4.TheofEarthcontainshot,liquidmetals.

5.1foundmistakesontheforthecoverpageoftheyearbook.

AcademicEnglish

Inthearticle"HowtheU.S.MintMakesCoins”,youlearnedthatculturemeans

"beliefsandhabitscommontoagroupofpeople”.Culturecanalsomean"knowledge

oftheartsJor“goodtasteandmanners"，asinthefollowingsentence.

Hiscollectionofgoodbooksshowsthatheisamanofculture.

Completethesentencebelow.

1.Anitabelievesthatpeoplehavecultureifthey.

Nowusethewordcultureinasentenceofyourown.

Lesson4

FarmingToday

IntheUnitedStatestoday,farmsarebecominglargerinsizebutfewerinnumber.In

colonialAmerica,mostpeoplelivedonfarms.Nowlessthan2percentofthepeoplein

theUnitedStatesliveonfarms.

Manyreasonsexplainwhyfewerpeopleliveonfarmstoday.Onereasonisthat

peoplestartedtobuildmanyfactories.Thenpeoplemovedfromfarmstocitiesbecause

theycouldgetjobsinthefactories.Anotherreasonisthatmachinescannowdothe

workofmanypeople.OneofthefirstfarmmachineswastheMcCormickreaper.It

allowedpeopletocutandcollectwheatwithlesshumanlaborMorefarmmachines

followed.Theycoulddobiggerjobswithfewerworkers.Athirdreasonisthatfarmers

cannowgrowmorefoodthanpeopleneedperacrethaneverbefore.Improvedkindsof

cropsandbetterfarmingmethodsmakethispossible.

Farmershavemovedintoworldtrade.Farmersgrowmorefoodthanpeopleneedin

theUnitedStates.Theysellsomeoftheirproductsoverseas.However,theymustsell

thefoodatpricesthatallowthemtocompeteintheworldmarket.Largefarmscan

producemorefoodatalowercost.Thisisbecausetheycanpaylowerpricesforinputs,

whicharethingssuchasseed,fertilizer,andothercropsupplies.Also,largefarmsuse

thenewestfarmmachinesinordertogrowcropsonmoreacres.Togetmoreacresof

land,largefarmsmayrentlandorbuyfarmsthatgooutofbusiness.Afarmof4,000

acresactuallymaybemanysmallfarmsspreadoverseveralcounties.

Smallandmedium-sizefarmscannotcompetewithlargefarmsintheworldmarket.

Inthepast20years,manymedium-sizefarmshavedisappeared.Peoplehaveeither

madethefarmsbiggerorsoldthem.Butthenumberofsmallfarmshasstayedaboutthe

same.Smallfarmssurvivebecausethefarmershaveotherwaystoearnmoney.They

mayworkotherjobssothattheycantakecareoftheirfarmsduringtheirfreetime.

Theychoosetofarmeventhoughprofitsarenothigh.Smallfarmshavefoundtheir

ownmarkets.Theymayspecializeinorganicmilkorfancyjams.Someselltheirfood

directlytothepublicinsteadofinstores.Theymayhavearoadsidestand,apetting

farm,agiftshop,oramillthatproducesapplecider.Sometimesseveralsmallfarms

jointogethertoworkasiftheywereonelargefarm.Theymayformagroupcalleda

cooperativetobuyfarmmachinery.Theymaybuyinputsinlargeamountstogetlower

prices.Somesmallfarmsmayformalagercompany.About99percentofallU.S.farms

arestillownedbyfamilies,whetherthefarmsaresmall,medium,orlarge.

TaskAOrganizingideas

Howaresmallfarmsabletosurvive?Completethewebbelow.Ineachcircle,write

downonewaythatasmallfarmmayincreaseitsprofits.Usethearticletofind

information.Onecirclehasbeendoneforyou.Inthesquare,writedownoneexample

ofwhatsmallfarmsdoforacommunity.

Wayssmallfarms

increaseprofits

Doyouthinkthatpeopleshouldbuyfoodfromlargeorsmallfarms?Writetwoormore

sentencestoexplainyouranswer.Howdidcompletingthewebaffectyouranswer?

TaskBComprehensionskills

RecallingFacts

1.OfthepeopleintheUnitedStatestoday,peoplewholiveonfarmsmakeup

a.lessthan2percent.

b.about5percent.

c.morethan15percent.

2.Todayfarmerscangrowmorefoodperacrebecause.

a.factorieshavegrown.

b.theycanhiremoreworkers.

c.cropsandfarmingmethodshaveimproved.

3.Inputarethingssuchas.

a.seedandfertilizer

b.opinionsfromfarmers

c.improvedkindsofcrops

4.Togetmoreland,largefarmsmay.

a.rentland

b.buylandoverseas

c.takelandfromcities

5.Onereasonthatsmallfarmshavesurvivedisthatthey.

a.nowrentmoreland

b.havefoundtheirownmarke