ieceiving Presents
In this unit,
you will ...
I
identi$r topics arrd main ideas.
r
identit slronS and weak topic sentences.
I
practise writin8 topic sentences.
I
combine sentences using and and buf,
I
learn how to use commas in sentences with ond
and but.
Tell a parhrer about the last
present you
received.
o
Who gave you
the
present?
.
When
did
they give you the present?
.
What was
the
present? Did you like it?
Read the
paragraph and answer the queslions.
a. What is the topic of the paragraph?
1. celebrating bi hdays
2. the wdter's thmily
3. choosing
presents
b. What is the u,'dter's most impo ant
opinion about the topic?
1. Presents should be old.
2. Presents should be chosen carefully.
3. A photograph is a good birthday present
c.
Why
does the
writer like the photograph?
1. It helps him think about his
father.
2. It wasn't expensive.
3. It
was
a birthday
present.
A BirthdaY
Present
1
Choosing
a
birthday
present for a friend or family member
is fun, but it can be
difficult.
2
The present should be personal and has to be
thoughtful.
3
For example,
the best birthday present I ever got wasn't fancy or expensive.
a
Last
year
my mother
gave
me a
photo8raph
of
my father when he was my age
s
He
is standing with his
mother and faiher
(my
grandparentsl in ftont of
their house, arrd he looks happy,
6
I think of my father every
time I see that photo.
7
It was a
perfect birthday present.
GIVING
AND BECEIVING PRESENTS
13
2
Writing
focus:
Topic
sentences
t.
Look again at the paragraph
on page 13,
A Birthdoy Prcsent Which
sentence is
the topic sentence?
Circle the topic arrd
underline
lhe main idea.
A good
topic sentence
should include either of
the following:
a
one clear topic
weakt
lt's impor+ant
to have
friends,
and
also to do well in school
strong: J don'f fijnk
I will ever have o hetter
friend
than Heather.
a
an opinion or idea about
the topic
weakt I have been
studying kante.
strong:
Studlrng korote has given
me strcngth and
self-confidence.
A good topic
sentence should not
bet
.
too
brood
ftoo
much to \a'rite
about)
weak:
lusfualid is
oIl interesting coDntry.
sirongt On my visit
to Austmlia,I
saw mony unusua) animols.
.
too norrory
[not
enough to write
about / is
just
a fact)
weak:
School stafts at
8-30 a.m
strorr1: Getting
feady
for
school )n the
moming is more difficult than ony
of my classes.
Remember
The topic sentence is
usuolly the first or last sentence,
but ic can be any sentence
in the
paragraph.
Look
at these topic
sentences, Circle ttre topic
ofthe sentence. Underline ttre main
idea.
My sisler is rny
best ftiend.
Snowboarding
is my favourite
winter
sport.
The last
CD I bought changed
my life.
There
are three reasons why
my
mobile phone is usefui.
Reading books,
such as the Hany
Potter stodes,
can help students
improve
their English.
My part-time
job
taught me several
new skills.
Disneyland
was a
great
place for
our
family
holiday.
a.
b.
o.
s.
4
14
GIVING AND BECEIVING
PRESENTS
2
5 tn the following pai$,
circle the number ofthe best topic sentence. Then explain
your
choice to a
partner.
Say why the sentence
you
didn't choose is weak. Use one or more of
drese reasons:
a
It's too brcad.
a
It's too nairow
.
There i6 no main idea
or opinion.
a
There is morc tlan one main idea.
a.
,'1.
Many people in England ar|d
the Ilnitcd stares havc cars.
!2.I
Cat6 are
good
company for their o$'ners.
Thetc is nr) slion,!
()tiniott
'u i,let ttl)t)ul l1t-- loun.: il is too ltourl.
b.
1.
Studying English at secondary school helps
you get
a better
tob.
2. We study English at secondary school.
c. 1. The food and people in
Japan,
Taiwsn, 6nd Korea are very interesting and different,
and so are the buildings.
2. Traditional TaDanese food is different from Koreal food.
d. 1. My grandfather has helped me in many ways.
2. My
grandfather
is 86
years
old,
e. 1. I really like sports,
2. Rugby has taught me many things about life.
l. 1. There
are many environmental
problems
around
tle world.
2. It's important to save the rainforests in South America.
g,
1. I
got
an A on my last maths test
2. I have a secret tecblique for learnilg maths.
GIVING AND RECEIVING PRESENTS 15
2
5
Improve these topic sentences. Circle the topic. Choose a main
idea for each topic and
lvrite a topic sentence. Then share
your new sentences widr a
palbrer
or
small group.
-. :.-
"
.';.-
a. I have a
photo
oI my
girlhiend.
idear .Itri.l2lr91..r.iearitt.r.J.r-.I:c.r:/..1tr.,:,...............
rnnicscnrcn,rc.t''ttt.\.'tt:1t!!....1t..!t!t.i!!.U.t!:.!!:!..t.'.r::.!!:.i:.,:.1..!:!1.:1,1..r.
topic sentence:
d. My ftiend is nice.
idea: .........................
+.hi. canron.o.
e. I learn English at school.
Languoge
focus:
Using
and ond but to
join
sentences
7
work with a partner. Look at these
pairs
of sentences. How
are they similar? How are
they different?
which do you like better, and why?
a. 1. I sent my mother a birthday
card. I called her
2, I sent my mother a birthday card
and called ber.
b. 1. I like getting flowers. I don't like
getting
chocolates.
2. I like
getting flowers, but I don't like
getting
chocolates.
c.
1. I didn't send my brotler a birthday
present.
He didn't
send me one.
2. I didn't send my brotJler a birthday
present, and he didn't 6end
me one.
a
In each case, the sentences
in 2
fow
better
-
that is, they sormd
more fluent and natural.
a
Sentences about the same topic can often
be combined with words
like ond and but.
.
Use ond to
ioin
simr'lor
ideas. In 7a, the wdter did two things
for her mother's
bithday
(sent
a card; called her).
How are the actions in 7c similai?
.
Use 6ut to show contrdsting ideas:
good
/ bad,
easy / difficult,
positive
/ negative.
What is the contast in 7b?
8 Look again at
the paragraph on page 73, A Bitthday Present
Underline the sentences
ioined
by and and buf.
16 GIVING AND
RECEIVING PRESENTS
Same
Holidalr Different Customs
People in the United States and
Japat
celebrate Valentine's
Day on 1
4th
February
However. the holiday is celebrated in different
ways
in cach country. In the U.S., Valentine's
Day is enjoyed by friends and romanticparbrers,
a
-............... in
tapan
usually oily romantic
partnerscelebmtethisdayChocolateisthemostpopulargiftinJapan,b................itis
cor nolri[theU.S.too.However,iniheU.S..otherkhdsofgiftsarealso$velr'c................
many
people
exchange cards. The biggest difference is that i[Japan,
girls
and women
$ve
chocolatetoboysandmen,d................intheU.S.,boysandgirlsgivecadsorsmallgiftsto
all of their friends. Amedcan men and women
give gifts
and cards to eacl other. ln fact,
women usually
get
more expensive
gifts
than melr. I would ]ike t0 be a marr irr
Japall,
c
................ a woman in the
U.S.l
2
9
Complete this paragraph with
ond or buf,
Nole: Don't
begin sentences
with
And or But in academic
wdting. Use In oddidon
or Horrever instead.
GIVING AND RECEIVING
PBESENTS 17
2
Put it togethef
| | Male a quick list
of
presents you
have
given
and received.
Presents
qiven
Presents received
| 2 Choose one
p.esent.
Tell your partrer
about it. Ask and answer
questions
like these,
Presents
Siven
.
Who
did
you give
it to?
.
When
did
you give
it?
.
Why did
you
choose this present?
.
What
did
your
ftiend or family member ttrink of the present you gave?
o
(your
ideas)
Presenta received
.
Who gave
it to
you?
o
When did you receive it?
.
Why
did someone choose that prcsent for you?
o
What did
you
think of the prcsent?
.
(your
ideasl
| 3
On a separate sheet of
paper,
write a topic sentence aboul your present, and then write
sentences with and and buf.
| 4
Exchalge papers with a parhrer.
.
Circle
your pa
ner's topic and underline the main idea.
a
Circle the commas
your partner
used.
.
Talk wit}I your pajtner
and decide if
your
commas iue in ttre dght
places.
| 5 Hand in your
sentences to
your
teacher,
GIVING AND BECEIVING PRESENTS
19