Oxford Progressive English

Contents of Oxford Progressive English

2014-06-25T01:11:00.000-07:00

Contents
Oxford Progressive English for Class 1
Oxford Progressive English for Class 2
Oxford Progressive English for Class 3
Oxford Progressive English for Class 4
Oxford Progressive English for Class 5
Oxford Progressive English for Class 6
Oxford Progressive English for Class 7
Oxford Progressive English for Class 8

Natural Disasters

2011-07-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

Reading
Non-Fiction

Egg-Collector's Surprise
The following text describes the experience of a man who was hunting for eagles'eggs in the flood plains of the river Danube, a very large river in Europe. The river floods the surrounding flat plains in the spring but the egg-collector was looking for nests in the tree on the island in the river after the flood had gone.

Read about the egg-collector's experience.

The Egg-Collector's Surprise

Two of my companions made a most unpleasant discovery whilest eagle-nesting on one of these islands. They had climbed many trees without a success, but at last they reached the top branch of a tree from where they could see what looked like a nest at the top.one of the egg-collectors stripped off his coat and climbed further up the tree.when he reached what he thought was the nest,he was astonished to find only a bundle of decaying rags with a shepherd`s crook* sticking out of them.
Holding onto a aside the rags and revealed the skeleton of a man.the bones started to fall on to the ground ,followed by the hirrified egg-collector. He never stopped running until the river separated him from his his ghastly discovery .
*A shepherd 's crook is the stick which shepherds used. It had covered end which could be hooked around a sheep's neck without hurting it.

Finishing the story

2011-07-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Natural Disaster

Finishing the story

The Yellow Emperor's Flood is only the beginning of the story. As a group you are going to talk about how the story will continue.

decide on the rest of the story
give the owl and the tortoise a part to play in the story
give the story an ending which will satisfy your listeners

Unit 1 "Where we live now"

2011-07-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Rreading e-mail
From : sarah to :Riba

subject: Greeting from LONDON

Hello!

I am attaching a photo of big ben,the famous clock on the Houses of parliament in our capital city,London.London is famous for its red double decker buses where you can sit upstairs as well as downstairs, and for its black taxis. Ten million people live in London. we are multicultural city with with people from every corner of the world living here. you can buy and eat food from all over the world in your markets and resturants. we often have popconcert with thousand of people in the audience,and the city has many theatres and cinemas.

Red Star Fish at Flowery Sea Bed

2011-07-02T04:20:00.000-07:00

Choose and use words in sentences - "The Yellow Emperor's Flood"

2011-07-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Choose five of the words which you have found in the text and use them in sentences of your own.
1. Wicked
2. Mortal
3. Torrential
4. Vindictive
5. Quagmires
6. Hollow
7. Flimsy
8. Shivered
9. Disappeared
10. Perplexity

Vocabulary in "The Yellow Emperor's Flood"

2011-07-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Find the words and phrases in the text to match the following definitions:

1. destroying all in its path........................................................all-consuming
2. spiteful.................................................................................vindictive
3. areas of muddy bog.............................................................quagmires
4. dip or depression.................................................................hollow
5. insubstantial and easily destroyed..........................................flimsy
6. rush in a great wave..............................................................surge
7. terrifyingly threatening ...........................................................menacing
8. spoilt by salt..........................................................................brackish
9. completely occupied by worry...............................................distress

Oxford Progressive English for Class 6

2011-07-01T04:25:00.000-07:00

Unit 1: "Where we live now"
Unit 2:
Unit 3
Unit 4 Natural Disasters
i. The Yellow Emperor's Flood
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7
Unit 8
Unit 9
Unit 10
i.

Unit 4: "Natural Disaster"

iii. Yellow Emperor's Flood (Page: 81)

Reading For Understanding - "The Yellow Emperor's Flood"

2011-07-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

Reading for understanding

1. Why did the Yellow Emperor send the flood rains?

Answer:

The Yellow Emperor sent flood rains because the wicked ways of people on earth had made Him angry to the extent that he decided to punish them.

2. Who was Kung-kung and what part did he play in the Yellow Emperor's plans?
Ans: Kung-kung was a merciless and spiteful Spirit of Water who was assigned the duty of bringing torrential flood rains by the Yellow Emperor so as to punish the sinful people on earth.

3. What effect did the flood rains have on the peoples homes?

Answer:

Ans: The flood rains had a worst effect on the people's homes and their lives. All their homes were filled with muddy water and holes had appeared in the thatches of their huts. They were no more worth living.
4. Describe in detail some of the ways in which the desperate people fought to escape the floods?

Answer:

When the people discerned that the flood was not going to recede they turned desperate and hopeless. Some made nests in the highest branches of trees, some ran towards hills They wanted to go anywhere to save themselves.

5. What you have learnt about Kun?

Answer:

We have learnt that the people knew Kun in the form of a white horse. He was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor. He was the only spirit who took pity on the human beings and wanted to save them from the all-consuming flood. So he pleaded with his grandfather but his request not accepted due to which he left the royal comfort.

6. How did the owl know that something was causing Kun distress, and how do you know that something is also wrong with the owl and the tortoise.

Answer:

The owl might have judged him by his appearances that he was in distress. Kun belonged to royal life and the owl could not expect him in such a hopeless condition.

Text and Notes of "The Yellow Emperor's Flood"

2011-06-25T01:17:00.000-07:00

In ancient times China knew the wrath of Heaven in the form of a terrible, all-consuming flood. For long the yellow Emperor Ruler of Heaven have been caused sorrow and anger by the wicked ways of men on earth. At last, he came to feel that only the severest punishment would succeed in the bringing mortal world back to its senses, and as the instrument of His punishment He chose to send down endless torrential flood rains. The cruel and vindictive spirit of water, Kung-kung was placed in charge. Kung-kung carried out his duties without mercy.

First the rain pinned the people in their houses, making it impossible to go out into the fields. Paths turned into quagmires, pools formed in every hollow. Soon, whatever was not under shelter was soaked through and rotted: stacks of grains, piles of fodder, all were useless after a few days of the rain. Holes appeared in the flimsy thatches of huts, and the people shivered and moaned with cold and hunger.

Then, one after another, the river broke their banks. The dwellers in the plains and valleys, and all who lived by lake or seashore, saw waters surge towards them or slowly rise at their feet. Many went no further than the roof of their hut before the waters overtook them. The rest made for the hill, there to seek shelter and caves dug out of the wind-blown soil. Some even copied the birds and made raw nests for themselves at the topmost branches of the trees - anything, anywhere to reach a height to be out of reach of the swirling, menacing waters. Carts and chariots no longer had any value. Everyone wanted a boat, and the boat builders worked day and night. Everyman became a fisherman, for meat was no longer to be had. Every woman searched all day for a tree with leaves or bark on it that her family could eat. And all there was to drink, no that the well and streams had disappeared, was the brackish, muddy of the flood itself.

Terrible indeed was the wrath of the yellow Emperor. But there was one spirit who looked down on the world of the men and was moved to pity by their plight. This was Kun, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, a spirit known to men in the form of white horse. Kun could not bear to stand idly by and watch such suffering. But when he pleaded with Ruler of Heaven, his grand father to withdraw the flood of His anger, his plea was refused: the punishment was not yet complete. Kun left the imperial presence and stood wrapped in distress and perplexity.

As he stood their, at a loss, he saw two curious creatures making their way towards him. One was an owl and one was a black tortoise, and they were helping one another along. What problem is causing you such distress great spirit asked the owl. I am filled with pity for the suffering replied Kun. And yet I do not know how their world is to be freed from the great flood.

Reading for understanding
Vocabulary (Matching)
Choose and use words in sentences