High 2 · Reading series
Lesson 35 · The Habit That Did Not Fit Everyone
Audio track 35
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Our class poster said, “Everyone should walk to school.” We wanted to encourage exercise and reduce traffic near the gate. A classmate who lived far away read it and asked whether the sentence included her. She took two trains and cared for her younger brother before leaving home.
We had turned a helpful idea for some students into a rule for everyone. We interviewed classmates about distance, safety, weather, and family schedules. The replies showed different possibilities: walking one safe part of the route, using public transport, or simply making time to move during the day.
We changed the poster to ask, “What active choice is realistic for your journey?” We also requested a safer crossing near the station, because a personal habit depends partly on the place where it happens.
The new message was less forceful but more honest. Advice can be useful without fitting every life. Asking about circumstances helped us support change rather than judge people who could not follow our first slogan.
Sentence practice
Play any sentence in Dicvo’s Jenny English voice. Before playing all, choose how many times each sentence plays. A practice pause about as long as the sentence follows each play, including before the next sentence. The complete reading remains above.
Choose a sentence to begin.
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Our class poster said, “Everyone should walk to school.”
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We wanted to encourage exercise and reduce traffic near the gate.
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A classmate who lived far away read it and asked whether the sentence included her.
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She took two trains and cared for her younger brother before leaving home.
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We had turned a helpful idea for some students into a rule for everyone.
-
We interviewed classmates about distance, safety, weather, and family schedules.
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The replies showed different possibilities: walking one safe part of the route, using public transport, or simply making time to move during the day.
-
We changed the poster to ask, “What active choice is realistic for your journey?”
-
We also requested a safer crossing near the station, because a personal habit depends partly on the place where it happens.
-
The new message was less forceful but more honest.
-
Advice can be useful without fitting every life.
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Asking about circumstances helped us support change rather than judge people who could not follow our first slogan.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
班级海报写着：‘每个人都应该步行上学。’我们想鼓励运动，也想减少校门附近的车流。一位住得很远的同学读后问：‘这句话也包括我吗？’她得坐两趟火车，出门前还要照顾弟弟。
我们把对部分学生有帮助的主意，写成了适用于所有人的规定。于是，我们采访同学，问他们的距离、安全、天气和家庭安排。答案显示不同的可能：走一段安全路程、乘公共交通，或在一天里另找活动身体的时间。
我们把海报改为提问：‘你的通学路上，什么积极的选择切实可行？’我们还请学校改善车站附近的一处过街点，因为个人习惯也取决于它发生的环境。
新文字没有原先那么强硬，却更诚实。建议可以有用，却不必适合每个人。询问具体情况，让我们更能支持改变，而不是责备无法遵循第一句口号的人。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- encourage
- 鼓励；原海报想促进行走。
- traffic
- 车流；校门口希望减少。
- included
- 包含；远处同学质疑是否考虑到自己。
- possibilities
- 可能性；不同人可选方式不同。
- realistic
- 切实可行的；取决于实际通学路线。
- requested
- 请求；希望过街处更安全。
- depends
- 取决于；习惯也受环境影响。
- forceful
- 强硬的；原口号语气过于绝对。
- circumstances
- 情况；先了解个人条件。
- slogan
- 口号；改写后更能兼顾差异。
Background notes (Chinese)
健康建议要考虑距离、照护责任和通行安全。班级将绝对化口号改为开放的问题，并提出改善道路条件的请求。