Unit 2 The universal language

Teaching aims:

　　After this lesson, students will be able to know meaning of some of the words and phrases and how to use them.

Teaching procedures:

Ask students questions about the opera Turandot, mainly focusing on the main aspects of the play.

1. Where does the story happen?

2. Who are the main characters?

3. What is Calaf like?

4. What is Turandot like?

5. How does Turandot's father find the deaths of many men?

6. What happens when Calaf recites the answers to Turandot's questions correctly?

1. Some of the world's opera singers were cast in this production, and many great Chinese musicians also participated.

Cast-to choose which people will act particular parts in a play, film etc.

Peter was expected to be cast alongside Douglas in the new film.

2. He liked East Asia very much and also wrote Madam Butterfly, which is set in Japan.

be set in-if a film, play, story etc. is set in a particular place or period, the action takes place there

The novel is set in France.

3. Those who cannot answer all three riddles, however, will be condemned to death.

be condemned to death-to give someone a severe punishment after deciding they are guilty of a crime

　He was found guilty and condemned to death.

4. This means that few men would dare to ask for her hand in marriage.

　ask for one's hand in marriage-ask sb. to get married

　After they fell in love with each other for nine years, John asked for Mary's hand in marriage.

5. However, although he would like to, he cannot break his promise and must allow Turandot to do as she wishes.

　break one's promise-not keep one's promise

　The government failed to keep its promise of lower taxes.

　= The government broke its promise.

　Have you ever broken your promise? When was that?

6-7. Shortly afterwards, another prince, Calaf, falls in love with Turandot at first sight and decides to solve the riddles so that he can marry her.