原版英语RAZ 教案(Z) Japan.pdf
www.readinga-Visit www.readinga- for thousands of books and materials.LEVELED BOOK ZLEVELED BOOK ZWritten by Nathaniel WilsonJapanA Reading AZ Level Z Leveled BookWord Count:1,505Japan Evaluate:How do Japans location and landforms affect its people?Analyze:Why do you think the Japanese people call their country the“Suns origin”?Discussion Questionswww.readinga-JapanCountries Around the World Level Z Leveled Book Learning AZWritten by Nathaniel WilsonAll rights reserved.www.readinga-Photo Credits:Front cover,back cover:SeanPavonePhoto/iStock/Thinkstock;title page:PL3/iStock/Thinkstock;page 3:Wdeon/D;page 5:Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee/123RF;page 6:whitetag/iStock/Thinkstock;page 7:Tetra Images/Corbis;page 9:egadolfo/iStock Editorial/Thinkstock;page 10(left):Simone Matteo Giuseppe Manzoni/D;page 10(right):Greir11/D;page 12:National Geographic Image Collection/Alamy;page 13:zhekos/iStock/Thinkstock;page 14:Adriana Assemany/iStock/Thinkstock;page 15(main):imageBROKER/Alamy;page 15(inset):asafta/iStock/ThinkstockFront and back cover:Mount Fuji,the highest mountain in Japan,is on the island of Honshu.Title page:Stone lanterns are common in gardens throughout Japan,and were originally used in Shinto shrines.Page 3:Women dance in the Ohara Matsuri Dance Festival in Kagoshima,Japan.Written by Nathaniel WilsonJapanCorrelationLEVEL ZUVN/A50Fountas&PinnellReading RecoveryDRA34Table of ContentsWhere Is It?4People 6Land 8History 10Celebrations 12Food 13Conclusion 14Glossary 16Where Is It?Japan is an archipelago,a string of islands that stretches more than 2,400 km(1,500 mi)just off the east coast of Asia in the Pacific Ocean Japan is smallsmaller than the state of Californiaand includes four main islands along with thousands of smaller islands The countrys closest neighbors are China,North and South Korea,and the Siberian region of Russia The Sea of Japan lies between Japan and Asia,while the East China Sea lies to the southwest of Japan,and the Pacific Ocean lies to the east TokyoRussiaChinaSouth KoreaNorth KoreaJapanJapanASIASEA OF JAPANPACIFIC OCEANJapanYELLOW SEAJapan Level Z56The largest island in the chain is Honshu(HON-shoo),which includes more than 80 percent of Japans population The other primary islands are Hokkaido,Shikoku,and Kyushu The countrys largest cities are on Honshu,with nearly all of them located along the east coastThe capital of Japan is Tokyo(TOH-kee-yoh),also located on Honshu More than thirty-two million people live and work in this sprawling metropolis The citya bustling center for international trade and businessis one of the most populated cities in the worldMillions of people also live in the areas surrounding Tokyo,forming what many call“Greater Tokyo”People typically travel from these surrounding areas into Tokyo on high-speed trains called bullet trains,as well as on slower trains and subways The city is the main transportation hub for Japan It is said that more people pass through the Shinjuku(SHEEN-ju-ku)railway station in Tokyo than any other railway station in the world PeopleAlthough Japan is a small country,it has a population of more than 127 million,with over 90 percent of its people living in urban areas Many people who live in cities work in banks,restaurants,hospitals,and other service industries Others work in factories,producing high-tech electronics such as cell phones,computers,and televisions as well as other products,such as motor vehicles and machines Japan is one of the leading producers of electronics in the world In cities along the coast,some people work in Japans massive fishing industry,which includes one of the largest fleets of fishing ships in the world Because Japans cities are so crowded,many people live in tall apartment buildings In the suburbs surrounding cities,people typically live in houses and smaller apartment buildings When space allows,meticulously groomed Japanese gardens appear beside some homes Bullet trains bring people through Tokyos busiest train station.In Japan,cell phones are called keitai(KAY-i-tie).Japan Level Z78In some Japanese homes,the floors are covered with thick rice-straw mats,called tatami(tah-TAH-mee)It is customary for Japanese people to remove their shoes when entering a home Some Japanese sleep on thin beds called futons(FOO-tahns)that are rolled out on the floor The rooms in some Japanese homes are divided by thin paper or bamboo screens instead of wallsJapanese people observe many different rules for manners,such as for greeting people and serving guests For example,instead of shaking hands when greeting each other,they bow How many times they bow and how deeply they bow depends on the persons social status Japans main language is Japanese,the writing of which is very complex It uses two scripts,known as hiragana and katakana,which each contain about fifty symbols that represent different sounds Japanese also uses kanji,which are borrowed Chinese characters,and even the Latin alphabet we use in English!LandJapan is a rugged country covered with lofty mountains and surrounded by water In fact,most of Japan is mountainous,which is why nearly all of its cities are located in the flat coastal areas The land on some islands is so steep and treacherous that people cannot live there The highest peak is Mount Fuji,a volcano on the southern coast of Honshu Izu ArchipelogoTokyoJapanSEA OF JAPANPACIFIC OCEANJapanese KanjifiremountainrainJapans LandformsShikokuHonshuKyushuKyushuMount FujiHokkaidoHidakaMts.Kyushu Mts.Shikoku Mts.Chugoku Mts.JapaneseAlpsOu Mts.Ryukyu IslandsJapan Level Z910Japan is located in one of the most geologically unstable areas in the world,with more than seventy active volcanoes and one thousand earthquakes annually An earthquake that occurs along the ocean floor can create a giant wave called a tsunami(tsoo-NAH-mee),which means“harbor wave”in JapaneseFast-flowing rivers cascade down the mountains of Japan and into the flat areas These rivers help provide water to the many rice farms throughout the coastal lands Lakes can be found both near the ocean and in volcanic craters called calderas that have gradually filled with rainwaterMonsoons influence Japans climate by causing high winds that can be wet and stormy or dry Temperatures throughout Japan typically vary widely,with a cooler climate in the north and a warmer climate in the south Japans wide temperature range is similar to the temperature range along the east coast of the United States Japans rainy season in the fall also brings the threat of typhoonsHistoryThe Japanese call their country Nippon,or“Suns origin,”because they once believed that Japan was the first place on which the Suns rays shone The country is also called“Land of the Rising Sun”The Japanese civilization is thousands of years old,and was heavily influenced by its Asian neighbors to the west This influence can be seen in various ways,including in its crops Some historians think the Japanese gained knowledge of growing rice from the Chinese thousands of years ago In addition,the religion of Buddhism spread from Korea to Japan in the sixth century However,Japan has also developed its own unique traditions and customs Shinto is one of Japans main religions,and many people observe both Shinto and Buddhist customs Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples can be found throughout the country Shinto shrineBuddhist templeIshinomaki(ih-SHIH-noh-MAH-kee),a city in northeastern Honshu,was devastated by a tsunami in 2011.Japan Level Z1112Japans history is rife with conflict over both land and power However,the emperor of Japan has come from the same family,the Yamato dynasty,for more than two thousand years It is the oldest continuous monarchy in the worldIn the twelfth century,a Japanese warrior seized control of the country He was the first shogun,or military king For centuries,Japan was ruled by the shoguns The shoguns continued to allow the imperial family to serve as emperors even though they had scant power This time of the shogunates was also the time of the samurai(SA-muh-rye),fierce warriors who followed a strict code of honor The samurai were also known as skilled fighters During this era,Japan operated under a system of feudalism in which lords owned areas of land and wielded power over the people living on the land These peasants had to work for the lord in order to live there In the nineteenth century,Japan became a democracy in which people elected leaders to the Japanese parliament,called the Diet Japan still has an emperor today,but since the end of World War II his duties have been ceremonial,not politicalCelebrationsIn Japan,people celebrate many holidays and festivals throughout the year Among these holidays are ones that celebrate the rice planting,harvest,and the good health of children,and others that honor their ancestors One of the most important holidays in Japan is the weeklong celebration that leads up to New Years Day on January 1 During this week,its a common Japanese practice to clean the house and pay any debts People also send good luck cards to each other,and children receive special New Years toys On New Years Day,people often dress in traditional kimonos,eat specially prepared foods,and visit a nearby shrine to pray for good luck for the coming year Another important celebration is the Lantern Festival,called Obon Held in the summer,Obon allows the Japanese to honor their ancestors During the festival,lanterns or candles are lit and set on rivers and lakes to float slowly awayDuring Obon,lanterns and candles are thought to guide the souls of ancestors back to their resting places.Japan Level Z1314FoodRice is an important part of the Japanese diet It is sometimes served in small round cakes,called mochi(MOH-chee),as a snack Japanese people also rely heavily on the surrounding ocean for food and incorporate fish and other seafood into many meals In cities,sushi(SOO-shee)and sashimi(sah-SHEE-mee),both made with raw fish,are popular fast food choicesMany Japanese believe that food should look just as good as it tastes Meals are typically served as several different small dishes,including soups and sometimes noodles Like their Chinese neighbors,the Japanese usually eat with chopsticks,which are long,thin utensils made of woodThe Japanese follow many rules when preparing and presenting certain types of food For example,one traditional ceremony is centered around serving tea and includes a highly organized and elegant process This tea ceremony is usually held in a special room created just for that purposeConclusionJapan is a small island country covered with mountains,yet it includes crowded,bustling cities filled with high-tech industries The land shakes with earthquakes,volcanoes erupt,and typhoons rage,but Japans people continue to thrive Over thousands of years,the Japanese have learned to make the most of the land and waters around them They grow tons of rice in small areas They harvest large amounts of fish and seafood from the ocean,tooTimeless traditions and customs mingle with cutting-edge technology,making Japan a place that embraces two worldsthe ancient and the modern Modern buildings crowd around the edges of the Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo.Sushi often consists of a sticky rice mixture rolled around raw fish and vegetables to make a roll.Japan Level Z1516JapanPopulation:127,250,000Land:364,485 sq km(226,480 sq.mi.)Capital City:TokyoPrimary Language:JapanesePrimary Religions:Shintoism,BuddhismCurrency:YenGlossaryBuddhism(n.)a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama in ancient India(p 10)kimonos(n.)Japanese robes or gowns,often used for formal occasions(p 12)metropolis(n.)a very large or important city(p 5)monsoons(n.)seasonal storms that can bring heavy rain to areas(p 9)Shinto(n.)a traditional religion of Japan in which people worship various gods of nature(p 10)shogun(n.)a military ruler in ancient Japan(p 11)shrines(n.)places that are considered special or holy as tributes to a person or a god(p 10)tsunami(n.)a large,destructive ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake,landslide,or volcanic eruption(p 9)typhoons(n.)strong,spinning storms with heavy rain and high winds that occur near the Indian or western Pacific Oceans(p 9)Source:Central Intelligence Agency(July 2014),World BankJapan Level Z
