Linda: Welcome to the Sunshine Home for Children. I'm Linda.
Amy: Hi, I'm Amy. I have some things for the kids. I've had this magazine for a couple of months. The stories inside may be a bit old, but they're still interesting.
Linda: Great! Many children here love reading.
Amy: And check out these soft toys and board games for younger kids. I've had them since I was a child. There's also a sweater and a dress.
Linda: Perfect! We always need toys and clothes.
Amy: One last thing is a bread maker. My mom's had it for a long time but it still works.
Linda: Thanks so much!
I've had this magazine for a couple of months.（这本杂志我拥有几个月了。）I've had them since I was a child.（我从小就有它们了。）本单元核心语法：现在完成时 + for + 时间段 / since + 时间点，表示动作从过去持续到现在。
for vs since
for + 时间段（for two years）；since + 时间点/从句（since 2020 / since I was a child）。for有多久；since从何时开始。
My children are growing up fast. My daughter is 16 and my boy is already in junior high school. As they get bigger, our house seems to get smaller. So we want to sell some of our things in a yard sale and give the money to a children's home.
As they get bigger, our house seems to get smaller.（随着他们长大，房子似乎变小了。）as = 随着。
We have already cleared out a lot of things from our bedrooms. We have decided to each sell five things that we no longer use. My son was quite sad at first. Although he has not played with his old toys for a long time, he still wanted to keep them. For example, he has owned a train and railway set since his fourth birthday. And he played with it almost every week until he was about seven. And he did not want to lose his toy monkey, either. He slept next to the monkey every night when he was a child. My daughter was more understanding, although she also felt sad to part with certain toys.
He has owned a train and railway set since his fourth birthday.（他从四岁生日起就有一套火车轨道。）have owned + since + 时间点，表示从过去持续至今的状态。
until 时间状语
He played with it almost every week until he was about seven.（他几乎每周都玩，直到七岁左右。）until = 直到。
As for me, I did not want to give up my football shirts, but, to be honest, I have not played for a while now. I am getting older, too!
至于我，我不想放弃我的足球衫，但说实话，我现在已经有一阵子没踢了。我也在变老！
honestto be honestas forfor a while
to be honest 插入语
to be honest, I have not played for a while.（说实话，我已经有一阵子没踢了。）to be honest = 说实话，口语常用插入语。
要点摘要
第一段：孩子长大房子变小，决定庭院出售旧物，钱捐儿童之家。
第二段：儿子不舍旧物——从四岁起的火车轨道和童年玩具猴；女儿更理解但也伤感。
第三段：「我」也不舍得足球衫——但说实话已好久没踢，人也在变老。
Section B 2b (Reading)
Hometown Feelings
家乡情怀
Some people still live in their hometown. However, others may only see it once or twice a year. Nowadays, millions of Chinese leave the countryside to search for work in the cities. Among these is Zhong Wei, a 46-year-old husband and father. He has lived in Wenzhou for the last 13 years. With a hard job in a crayon factory, he doesn't find much time to visit his hometown. "I used to return home at least once a year, but I haven't been back for almost three years now. It's a shame, but I just don't have the time," he says.
nowadayssearchamongcrayonshameregardcountcenturymillions ofsearch forat least
现在完成时 + for + 时间段
He has lived in Wenzhou for the last 13 years.（他在温州已住了13年。）I haven't been back for almost three years.（快三年没回去。）have done + for + 时间段。
Many people like Zhong Wei regard with great interest how their hometowns have changed. Perhaps large hospitals and new roads have appeared. In many places, the government has also built new schools and sent teachers from the cities to help. "I noticed that's true of my hometown," adds Zhong Wei. "Children have learned to read and count at my old primary school since the mid-20th century. But now the buildings are really old. I hear they're going to build a new school there."
regardcountcenturyoppositeespeciallychildhoodconsiderholdaccording to
现在完成时 since + 时间点
Children have learned to read and count at my old primary school since the mid-20th century.（自20世纪中期以来，孩子们就在那里学会了阅读和数数。）have done + since + 时间点。
Zhong Wei thinks such developments are good, and he also knows that his hometown cannot always stay the same. According to Zhong Wei, however, some things will never change. "In my hometown, there was a big old tree opposite the school. It is still there and has become quite a symbol of the place. Most of the children in my time liked to play together under that big tree, especially during the summer holidays. It was such a happy childhood. Our hometown has left many soft and sweet memories in our hearts."