L32 Act 4

Chapter 13: "No Way Out"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Mastery

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国家 (guó jiā) [n] country

发展 (fā zhǎn) [v] to develop; [n] development

经济发展 = economic development

发展中 (fā zhǎn zhōng) [adj] developing

发展中国家 = developing country

发达 (fā dá) [adj] developed; advanced

发达国家 = developed country
中国是发展中国家还是发达国家？

平等 (píng děng) [n] equality; [adj] equal

社会平等 = social equality
男女平等 = gender equality

Lesson

Click for the STORY QUEST

Click for the LEARNING SLIDES

Practice

SPEAK: talk about different countries around the world. Are they developing or developed countries? Do they have social equality? How have they changed, if at all?

WRITE: write about China's economic development since Reform and Opening Up. How has it changed China for the better? How has it changed China for the worse?

READ: read the text below and answer the following questions:

What is the subject of the text?
According to the text, how have Chinese cities developed since Reform and Opening Up, and has this been good or bad for city residents?
How does the text explain Reform and Opening Up's influence on a) the development of local economies, and b) the livability of Chinese cities?

中国的城市越来越不适宜人居，是一个不争的事实，这是对城市过度开发所造成的。

改革开放初，像深圳特区的开发建设，是为了发展工业，特区的规划往往特事特办。这快速推进了当地经济，尤其是产业的发展。当时还没有条件来认真考虑环境协调等问题。有的工业开发区，可能自身环境都考虑不够，但却推动了地方产业的快速发展，因此有它的历史意义。

此后旧城大规模更新改造，使得城市面貌快速改变。多年以来我们一直放弃对旧城区的维护，所以旧城环境衰败、设施陈旧。中国的改造模式也非常落后，开发商看中某块地的经济效益，然后就照着他所希望的模式去彻底改造。

Mastery

DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):

国家，发展，发展中国家，发达国家，平等
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:

中国是发展中国家还是发达国家？
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:

Talk about the [economic] development of different societies.
Compare the development of Mainland China and Taiwan.
TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 14: "What Lies Ahead"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CHINA'S EMERGENCE IN THE WORLD

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习近平 (xí jìn píng) Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China [since 2013]

Xi Jinping is the current President of the People's Republic of China. Since assuming power in 2013, Xi has introduced far-ranging measures to enforce party discipline and to ensure internal unity. In 2018, Forbes ranked Xi as the most powerful and influential person in the world.

融入 (róng rù) [v] to merge into; to meld into; to integrate into

中国的大门打开了，中国融入世界了，这是件好事 China's door has opened, China has integrated into the world, this is a good thing

要不是 (yào bú shì) [conjunction] if it were not for; but for

"要不是 + Condition, Result"
NOTE: This is a spoken Chinese phrase. It's the opposite of the structure "要是," and used in the exact opposite situation.
Examples:
- 1. 要不是丽莎叫天明跟她去看电影，天明完全不进电影院。
- 2. 中国的变化的确很大。在上海的时候，要不是到处都是中文，我还以为是在美国呢。= This is totally different than the China I used to imagine. When we were in Shanghai, If there weren't Chinese characters everywhere, I would have thought I was in America.

*主席* (zhǔ xí) chairman

毛主席 = Chairman Mao
习主席 = Chairman Xi
习近平's official title is technically "中华人民共和国主席 (zhōng huá rén mín gòng hé guó zhǔ xí=Chairman of the PRC)", or "国家主席" for short
This title "国家主席" is translated into English as "President"

Lesson

Click for the STORY QUEST

Click for the LEARNING SLIDES

Practice

TRAIN: write 3 sentences in using the following grammar structure:

要不是

WRITE: write a letter welcoming China into the modern world.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between an elderly Chinese person and a young Chinese person. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!

Argue about China's emergence in the world - is it a good or bad thing?
The elderly person wants China to remain a more traditional (communist) society.
The young (capitalist) person is very excited!

Mastery

DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):

习近平，融入，要不是，*主席*
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:

Translate: When in Shanghai, if it were not for Chinese everywhere, I would still mistakenly believe I was in America.
TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:

中国的大门打开了，中国融入世界了，这是件好事。
这跟我以前想象的中国完全不一样。在上海的时候，要不是到处都是中文，我还以为是在美国呢。
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:

Talk about China's emergence in the world.
Explain who Chiang Kai-Shek is, and his significance.
TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 15: "Hearts Still Beating"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMON PEOPLE

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老百姓 (lǎo bǎi xìng) [n] common people; (ordinary) folk

NOTE: literally "the old hundred surnames" (姓). Chinese has many less surnames in use than English; the top one hundred surnames account for 85% of China's total population.
The expression 老百姓 metaphorically includes all the families of China, thus its meaning of "the common people" or people in general.
这句话的意思，简单地说就 "吃" 是老百姓生活中最重要的事儿。

表哥 (biǎo gē) [n] older male cousin of a different surname

NOTE 1: 表 = relation of a different surname. You can also say 表弟，表妹，表姐，etc.
NOTE 2: Chinese surnames are only passed down through the male line. Therefore, a 表哥 can refer to your maternal cousins. Your mom’s brother's older son, for example. It can also refer to your father's aunt's children.

姑妈 (gū mā) [n] father's sister

NOTE: Your 姑妈's son would be either a 表弟 or a 表哥, depending on relative age. Your 姑妈's daughter would be either a 表姐 or a 表妹, depending on relative age.
See this link for a complete list of Extended Family Words.
天明的表哥开车去火车站接他们。他们就住在姑妈家。

夫子庙 (fū zǐ miào) [n] Temple of Confucius

Confucius = 孔子 (kǒng zi)
"夫子" = Master; 孔夫子 is Confucius's title; 庙 = temple
那咱们现在就去夫子庙，尝尝南京小吃吧。

Lesson

Click for the STORY QUEST

Click for the LEARNING SLIDES

Practice

FAMILY RESEARCH: check out this cool tool for Chinese family terms. Enter your relationship with a relative and find out what the Chinese word for that person is!

SPEAK: talk about the "common people". Who are they? What do they want? Compare the common people in different countries, such as China and America.

WRITE: you are visiting your 表哥 and 姑妈 in China. Write a letter to your parents, telling them your impressions of the daily lives of the common people.

Mastery

DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):

老百姓，表哥，姑妈，夫子庙
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:

这句话的意思，简单地说就 "吃" 是老百姓生活中最重要的事儿。
天明的表哥开车去火车站接他们。他们就住在姑妈家。
那咱们现在就去夫子庙，尝尝南京小吃吧。
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:

Talk about the common people.
Talk about extended family members (including aunts, uncles, and cousins).
Talk about the Temple of Confucius.
TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 16: "The Last Judgment"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT REVERSING CHANGE

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来不及 (lái bu jí) [verb phrase] too late; not enough time (to do smth)

时间会来不及 = the time will be too late
来不及保留中国特色的传统，太晚了。
张天明和丽莎上个学期末申请到中国学中文，原来以为时间会来不及，没想到学校很快就同意了。

来得及 (lái de jí) [verb phrase] not too late; still have time (to do smth)

NOTE: this is the opposite of "来不及"
有时间，还来得及。

声音 (shēng yīn) [n] sound; voice

什么声音？

脚步 (jiǎo bù) [n] footstep

历史的脚步声 = The sound of the footsteps of history

末 (mò) [n] end

NOTE: often combined with different periods of time in the structure "X + 末." For example, "学期末" = semester's end

期末 (qī mò) [n] end of term [abbreviation]

学期末 (xuē qī mò) [n] end of term; end of semester
期末考试 final exam [i.e. "end of term" exam]

末日 (mò rì) [n] doomsday; Judgement Day

Lesson

Click for the STORY QUEST

Click for the LEARNING SLIDES

Practice

WRITE: write a referendum on the state of traditional Chinese culture, taking either a hopeful or pessimistic point of view.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between an elderly Chinese person and a young Chinese person. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!

Argue about whether or not it's too late to preserve traditional Chinese culture.
The elderly Chinese person thinks this is very important, and radical action is necessary.
The young Chinese person think it's a lost cause... and besides, China has changed for the better.

Mastery

DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):

来得及，来不及，声音，脚步，期末，末日
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:

原来以为时间会来不及，没想到学校很快就同意了。
来不及保留中国特色的传统，太晚了。
A: 我好像听到了一种声音。// B: 什么声音？// A: 历史的脚步声。
世界末日到了！
TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:

What are the "sounds of the footsteps of history"? What does that mean?
Describe the sights and sounds of a major Chinese city.
Discuss the possibilities of preserving traditional Chinese culture.
TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

MINIBOSS #4: ACT 4 REVIEW

Pika, Pika! Can you beat me?

Mastery Challenge 1 (Vocabulary and Grammar):

Take the "Level 32 Miniboss #4: Vocab/Grammar Quiz."
- There are two versions, one for Handwriting and one for Definition.
TARGET: see rubric.

Mastery Challenge 2 (Speaking):

Perform the following conversation tasks:
- Compare and contrast the development of different societies.
- Describe the sights and sounds of a major Chinese city.
- Talk about China's emergence in the world.
- Talk about the common people.
- Discuss the possibilities of preserving traditional China culture.
TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

BONUS CHALLENGES:

GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!

GRAVITY: Play Level 32: Act 4 Gravity to 150,000 points or a #1 score.

A​CT FOUR: ​LAST DAY ON EARTH

Chapter 13: "No Way Out"

Chapter 14: "What Lies Ahead"

Chapter 15: "Hearts Still Beating"

Chapter 16: "The Last Judgment"

MINIBOSS #4: ACT 4 REVIEW

ACT FOUR: LAST DAY ON EARTH