PDF sample of Teacher`s Edition 2 + Worksheet

The New Circus
SUBJECT
Culture and People
READING SKILL
Finding main ideas and details
TEXT TYPE
Content-based passage
Finding main ideas and details
Main ideas are the most important ideas in a passage. They are the messages the writer
wants to communicate about the topic. There is a main idea for the whole passage and for
each paragraph within the passage. Titles, headings and pictures can help you find the main
ideas quickly. Main ideas can be stated (written out in the passage) or unstated (implied or
suggested).
Details support the main ideas and are found in the sentences that make up the paragraphs.
They help you understand and appreciate the main ideas by giving you information, such as
facts, examples, names or reasons.
Creating an outline is a good way to help students understand how details support main
ideas. First, have students read a passage. Then have them write the main idea of the entire
passage, followed by the main idea of each paragraph. Next, have students write two details
from each paragraph next to the main ideas. Finally, have them write new headings for each
paragraph and a new title for the passage.
Alternatively, prepare an outline for a passage that includes a title, headings and details.
Cut up the outline to separate each element and then have students put the outline back
together again.
Answers for Unit 1 Worksheet (p. 13)
1. The Shrine Circus is one of the largest fund-raising events sponsored by the Shriners. (a)
2. There are lots of things to see at the circus. (c)
3. Circus-goers can participate in the circus. (d)
8
The New Circus
Th
What can you see at a circus?
Discuss your answers.
Finding main ideas and details
Main ideas are the most important ideas in a passage. Details give us different kinds of
information to support the main ideas.
Circle the main idea and underline two supporting details.
When you think
hink of a circus, perhaps you think
of big tents, funny clowns, acrobats, elephants
and brave lion-tamers. Well, Cirque du Soleil
(French for “Circus of the Sun”) is a different
kind of circus. Cirque du Soleil brings together
traditional circus acts and new, creative
performances. It does not use any animals.
The main idea is how Cirque du Soleil
a does not use animals.
b is French for “Circus of the Sun.”
c is a differ
ff ent kind of circus.
ffer
9
9
2
Read the passage.
A Different Kind of Circus
When yo
you think of a circus,, perhap
pe aps yo
you think
of big tents, funny clowns, acrobats, elephants
and brave
e lion-tamers.
li
Well, Cirque du Soleil
(French for “Circus of the Sun”) is a differ
diff ent
kind of circus. Cirque du Soleil combines
traditional circus acts and new, creative
perfor
rf mances.
rfor
es. It does not use any animals. It
uses ideas from street perfor
rf mances and
rfor
diff ent kinds of music and dance. People call
differ
Cirque du Soleil the “new circus.”
Beginnings
Cirque du Soleil was started in 1984 in Quebec, Canada,
by two street perfor
rf mers. It began with a very simple
rfor
dream.
m. A group of young perfor
rf mers got together to
rfor
amuse
e people,
pe
see the world and have fun doing it. The
circus quickly became famous for its creativity,
ty, colorful
ty
rf
rful
costumes
es and
an exciting perfor
rf mances.
rfor
Touring Shows
Cirque du Soleil has created many shows that travel all
over the world. Their first show,
ow Saltimbanco,, celebrated
ow,
ce
lif Alegría
life.
rí is about hope. Quidam is set in the
ría
imaginary world of a sad and lonely girl. Dralion
Dr
is
about eastern and western ways of life. There is even a
show that tells the story of The Beatles, called LOVE.
Answer the questions.
10
10
1
What does “Cirque du Soleil” mean? Circus of the Sun.
2
When was Cirque du Soleil started? 1984.
3
What is Alegría
í about? Hope.
ía
Write the main idea. Then circle the detail that does not support the main idea.
rque du Soleil is a different
diff
fferent kind of circus.
Paragraph 1: Cirque
a Cirque du Soleil uses traditional acts and new perfor
rf mances.
rfor
b Cirque du Soleil is French for “Circus of the Sun.”
c Cirque du Soleil does not use any animals in its shows.
d People call Cirque du Soleil the “new circus.”
rque du Soleil began.
gan.
Paragraph 2: How Cirque
a Cirque du Soleil was started in 1984 in Quebec, Canada.
b Cirque du Soleil began with a group of young perfor
rf mers.
rfor
c Cirque du Soleil uses colorful
rf costumes and exciting perfor
rful
rf mances.
rfor
d Cirque du Soleil began with a very simple dream.
ff
fferent
Cirque
rque du Soleil shows.
show
Paragraph 3: The different
a You can see Cirque du Soleil shows all over the world.
b Cirque du Soleil’s first show celebrated life.
c Dralio
Dr
n is about eastern and western ways of life.
TTitles,
itles, h
d There is a show about The Beatles.
Match the word with its definition.
1 amuse
a n
clothes that make you look like someone else
2 brave
b n
a show of acting, dancing or singing
3 celebrate
c n
a wish to do, be or have something
4 combine
ad showing no fear in a dangerous situation
d adj
5 costume
e adj
ad following old methods or ideas
6 dream
f
rf mance
rfor
7 perfor
g v
to mix things together
8 traditional
h v
to show that something is important by doing
something special
v
to make someone laugh or smile
11
11
3
Read about Dralion .
Dr
Dralio
n by Cirque du Soleil
il is an in
interesting
combination of eastern and western circus acts.
It combines traditional Asian acts with its own
modern creativity and color. Even the name “Dralion”
shows this mix of East and West. People from both
eastern and western countries enjoy Dralio
Dr
n!
4
Listen and complete the paragraph.
Dr
Dralio
n’s mix of (1)
n’s
performances
rf
rformances
from th
the East
acts
and West is great to see. There are (2)
like “bamboo poles” and “hoop diving,” as well as
clowns and juggling. The name of the
(3)
show
is actually a combinat
ation of
“dragon” from the East and “(4)
lion
from the West. Dralio
Dr
n is very (5)
popular
popula
over Asia, North (6)
America
”
all
and
d Europe.
Eu
Work with a classmate. Combine details that are similar from Activities G and H
above.
Dr
Dralio
n by Cirque du Soleil is an
interesting combination of
eastern and western circus acts.
12
12
Yes, its mix of perfor
rf mances
from the East and West is
great to see.
Unit 1 Worksheet
Name:
Class:
Date:
The Shrine Circus
The Shrine Circus celebrated its 90th year in 2006. This traveling circus, seen by millions of
children and adults, is one of the largest events sponsored by the Shriners to raise money for the
poor. The Shriners is a charity group best known for its children’s hospitals. Founded in 1872, it
has about 450,000 members throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama.
In the circus you will see Russian acrobats, wacky clowns and performers of strength and
balance. There are comedians, people walking the tightrope and trapeze performers. The magic
show is popular with both children and adults. But probably the most famous acts are the
animal shows. The lion and tiger show is one of the most loved. There are also acrobats riding
horses and doing gymnastics.
There are so many amazing things for circus-goers to watch and see, but they can be involved in
the circus as well. They can buy souvenirs, ride elephants and have their pictures taken with the
exotic animals. All money earned goes to charity.
Write the main idea. Then circle the detail that does not support it.
1
Paragraph 1:
a The Shriners has about 450,000 members.
b The Shrine Circus is sponsored by the Shriners.
c
Millions of people watch the Shrine Circus.
d The event raises money for the poor.
2
Paragraph 2:
a lion and tiger act
b acrobatics
c
children and adults
d magic show
3
Paragraph 3:
a buying souvenirs
b taking pictures with animals
c
riding elephants
d seeing amazing things
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© Pearson Education Asia Limited 2007
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