资源简介

Reading for writing
The river of life below the earth
Teaching Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Understand and use key vocabulary (e.g., survive, climate, water shortage, underground canals, protect) to describe an ancient irrigation system.
Recognize the karez system as a brilliant example of ancient Chinese engineering and wisdom in living in harmony with nature.
Analyze the author's use of vivid expressions (e.g., similes) and evaluate the ongoing value of ancient technology in the modern world.
Develop reading skills for gist and specific details (skimming and scanning).
Look at the pictures and answer the questions. Use the wordsand expression to help you.
1 What's the environment like?
2 How does the system work?
The environment is hot, dry, with a desert landscape. lt has very low rainfall and extreme heat.
The system includes wells and underground canals. Water from mountains falls into the wells , and then runs underground in the canals. This keeps the water cool and safe from the desert heat, providing water for people to survive and grow plants in this difficult climate.
Based on the picture (with “wells”, “underground” and “A river of life below the earth”) and the passage about Turpan’s karez system, which statement is correct?
A. The “wells” in the picture are used to store rainwater (which is rich in Turpan).
B. “A river of life below the earth” describes the underground canals of the karez system.
C. The “underground” part of the system is built to keep water warm in winter.
1 You probably remember the Flaming Mountains from Journey to the
West.But do you know where the real Flaming Mountains are? They are
in Turpan, in the east of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
2 It's known as one of the hottest areas in the world. The desert sand
can be as hot as 80°C in mid-summer. That's enough to make your feet
burn! It may sound crazy, but the locals can cook an egg on the desert
sand. Rainfall in Turpan is only 16 mm a year. It is one of the driest
places in China. How do people survive in such a terrible climate? The
secret lies in the ancient karez system.
火焰山
《西游记》
在。。得东边
新疆维吾尔族自治区东部的土鲁番
one of the hottest areas：世界上最热的地区之一 one of+可数名词复数
在仲夏
burn（v. 发烫） burnt/burned（过去式 / 分词）
降雨量
存在
恶劣的天气
坎儿井系统
3 The karez system in Turpan includes more than 1,000 wells. They appear every
20-30 metres. Some of them are 100 metres deep! Under these wells are large
underground canals. Water from the mountains falls into the wells. It then runs
underground in the canals. It is kept cool and safe from the desert heat. There are
over 5,000 km of underground canals in the area. That's nearly as long as the
Yellow River! Thanks to the karez system, people can grow plants for food in this
difficult environment.And amazingly, all of this was completed with only hand
tools! No wonder it's among the top three projects of ancient China.
坎儿井系统
超过；less than
地下河
1.fall asleep 睡着
2.fall into 落入;陷入
3.fall behind 跟不上
4.fall in love with 爱上
5.fall down掉落;(计划等)失败6.fall off 从...掉下来
超过
as+adj./adv.原级+as
感谢
be completed with
以......完成;用.......竣工
between..and"在......之间"，通常指两者之间
among"在......中间"，通常指三者及三者以上
4Today, the area faces a water shortage. There is less water from
the mountains, lower rainfall and a large increase in water use.
Although modern technology is solving some problems, the karez
system still plays an important role. Now, more and more young
people are taking action to protect it. The centuries-old water
system will surely be carried into the future.
水资源缺乏
更低的降水量
play an important role
意为"起重要作用"
take action to do sth.采取行动做某事
protect...from 保护。。免受。。
Matching
1.Journey to the West □ A. 手工工具
2.be known as □ B. 面临缺水
3.underground canals □ C. 《西游记》
4.hand tools □ D. 被称为
5.face a water shortage □ E. 地下渠道
6.take action to do □ F. 采取行动做某事
The real Flaming Mountains are in ____ __, which is in the east of ______.
The desert sand in Turpan can reach ______ in mid-summer, and the annual rainfall is only ______.
The karez system has over ______ wells and ______ of underground canals (almost as long as the Yellow River).
The karez system was built with ______, so it’s one of the ______ of ancient China.
Gap filling
Turpan
the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
80℃
16 mm.
1,000
over 5,000 km
only hand tools
top three projects
Choose the best answer
1.Why can people cook an egg on the desert sand in Turpan?
A. Because the sand is clean. B. Because the sand is very hot.
C. Because the locals are good at cooking.
2.What’s the function of the karez system?
A. To keep water cool and safe from heat.
B. To make the desert more beautiful.
C. To provide places for people to rest.
3.What problem does Turpan face today?
A. Too much rain. B. A water shortage. C. Too many wells.
Choose
the
best
answer
1.Why is the karez system important for Turpan?
2.What are young people doing to protect the karez system now?
It helps store and carry water (from mountains) to keep it cool and safe from desert heat, so people can grow food and survive in the dry, hot climate.
More and more young people are taking action to protect the karez system.
感受/海浪
Mind-map
Turpan’s Survival Secret: Karez System
Advantage 1: ______
Advantage 2: ______
Current problem: ______
Protection action: ______
Keeps water cool and safe from desert heat
Helps people grow food in the dry climate
Turpan faces a water shortage (less mountain water, lower rainfall, more water use)
Young people are taking action to protect the karez system
Answer the questions.
1 What can you tell about Turpanfrom"cook an egg on the desertsand"?
2 What can you tell from "nearly as long as the Yellow River"?
3 Why does the writer use these expressions?
Turpan is very hot in mid-summer.
The underground canals of the karez system in Turpan are verylong. Their length is close to that of the Yellow River, showing the large-scale of the system.
To vividly showTurpan's hot climate and the grand scale of the karez system, and help readers better understand the characteristics of the area and the project.
Think and share
1 What fact from the passage do youfind the most interesting? Why?
2 With modern technology, do you think it is still necessary to keep the karez system? Why or why not?
Learning to think for question 2
It's important to compare advantages and disadvantages of an ancient technology. In this way, we can make reasonable decisions about its usage in modern society.
The most interesting fact is that locals can cook eggs on Turpan’s desert sand (since the sand hits 80℃ in summer). It’s a fun, vivid way to show how extremely hot the area is.
Yes.
It still helps supply water for Turpan (which faces water shortages).
It’s a precious ancient cultural heritage.
It’s a sustainable, low-cost water system that modern tech can’t fully replace.
3.Complete the table with the words and expressions from the passage.
About the area
Turpan is one of the1 in the world.
The desert sand there can be 80°C in mid-summer.
It has a terrible2 for people to survive.
How the karez system works
There are more than 1,000 3 appearing every 20-30 metres.
Under the wells are large4 canals.
Water falls into the 5 and stays cool in the canals.
History and importance
The system was built with only hand tools.
It's among the6 of ancient China.
History and importance
The area is facing a(n)7 .
Young people are taking action to 8 the karez system.
hottest areas
climate
wells
underground
wells
top three projects
water shortage
protect
Writing
Step 1
Think of one example of people changing nature. Do research and find some interesting facts.
Step 2
Write your passage with the help of the chart.
Introduce the topic.
Opening
What is the system/ idea of changing nature?
Where is it?
When did it start?
The Kubuqi Desert restoration project (people turn a dry desert into green land).
In Inner Mongolia, north China.
In the 1980s.
Body
Further explain the system / idea.
What are some amazing facts?
How does the system/idea work?
Over 30% of the desert is now green land; it has 100+ new plants and animals.
Locals plant drought-resistant licorice to fix sand; they build solar farms (panels block sand, and grass grows under them). This model helps people earn money (sell licorice, work in solar farms).
Share the importance of the system / idea and summarise your thought.
Ending
How important is it?
Will people keep it in the future?
It stops sandstorms, protects the environment, and improves locals’ lives.
Yes — it’s a great model for “humans and nature living well together”, and other deserts can learn from it.
Step 3
Check. Did you:
clearly explain how the system/idea works?
use the words and expressions from the reading passage?
give your opinion about changing nature?
Step 4
Share your passage with the class.
Example
One great example of people changing nature is the Kubuqi Desert restoration project in China. It is in Inner Mongolia (north China) and started in the 1980s. At that time, Kubuqi was a large, dry desert with serious sandstorms.
There are cool facts about this project: Now, more than 30% of the desert has become green land, and over 100 kinds of plants and animals live here (they left the desert before). The system works in smart ways: People plant licorice (a plant that can live without much water) to stop sand from moving. They also build solar farms on sandy land — the solar panels keep sand from blowing, and grass can grow under them. This way, people stop sandstorms and make money .
This project is very important. It stops sandstorms from hitting nearby cities, helps the environment, and makes local people’s lives better. In the future, people will definitely keep this system. It is a successful model of “humans and nature working together”, and other deserts around the world can use this idea too.
Thank you!

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