(课件网) Unit 7 What are the twelve animals Lesson 24 The Chinese Zodiac animals ，is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year cycle. It has wide currency in several East Asian countries besides mainland China and Taiwan. Do you know the12 zodiac animals？ The origin of Chinese Zodiac The Chinese Zodiac came into use in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was first used in our western and northern nomad(游牧民族). It was the combination of animal totems(图腾)and the 12 Earthly Branches(12地支) Han people used to designate years. 12 Earthly Branches(12地支) Zi 子 (Earthly Branch 1)--rat Chou 丑(Earthly Branch 2)--ox Yin 寅(Earthly Branch 3)--tiger Mao 卯(Earthly Branch 4)--rabbit Chen 辰(Earthly Branch 5)--dragon Si 巳(Earthly Branch 6)--snake Wu 午(Earthly Branch 7)--horse Wei 未(Earthly Branch 8)--sheep Shen 申(Earthly Branch 9)--monkey You 酉(Earthly Branch 10)--rooster Xu 戌(Earthly Branch 11)--dog Hai 亥(Earthly Branch 12)--pig Why these animals are arranged in this order It related with the main time that the animals’ activity rules of a day. Rat（Zi，23:00-01:00）———find food ……… Snake（Si，09:00-11:00）———keep warm …….. Pig（Hai，21:00-23:00）———sleep deeply Chinese Zodiac and Personality The twelve animals was divide into six group，and reflect our ancestors’ hope The first group--Rat and Ox Wisdom + hardworking The second group———Tiger and Rabbit Valiancy + careful The third group———Dragon and Snake intrepid + pliable The fourth group———Horse and Sheep Precipitant + Unity The fifth group———Monkey and Rooster Flexible + constant The sixth group———Dog and Pig Loyalty + easygoing Rat A mouse can see only an inch. （鼠目寸光） Ox Cast peals before swine. 对牛弹琴 Some idioms about the animals Tiger Nothing venture, nothing have. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 Rooster Wily rooster has three burrows. 狡兔三窟 Dragon long to see one's son succeed in life 望子成龙 Snake A burnt child dreads the fire. 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳 Horse a horse galloping without a stop 马不停蹄 Sheep a narrow winding trail 羊肠小道 Monkey Among the blind the one-eyed man is king. 山中无老虎，猴子称霸王。 Rooster Even fowls and dogs are not spared. 鸡犬不宁 Dog A dog will leap over a wall in desperation. 狗急跳墙 Pig Envy always shoots at a high mark. 人怕出名猪怕壮 When was Yangyang born He was born in the year of the tiger. When were you born I was born in the year of the … Say together. Which birth-year animal is the first It’s the How often does each animal come around Every twelve years. What are they talking about？ January February March April Let’s talk January 1st New Year’s Day January or February Spring Festival March 12th Tree Planting Day March or April Easter 1 2 3 4 Date Festival January March February April Retell the text and write the sentences on your exercise book. ... ...
