From Abacuses to Rickshaws: Mapping the Evolution of Everyday Objects

任務情報 | Mission Brief

The Good Old Days 🕰️

Emily is visiting her grandfather's restaurant. Marcus is writing a blog about old tools. Let's help them map out how these objects have changed!

Emily 正在參觀爺爺的餐廳，她驚訝地發現「過去的好時光」裡做事的方式有多麼不同。Marcus 也正在寫一篇關於他在影片中看到的舊工具的網誌。讓我們一起幫助他們梳理這些日常用品是如何演變的吧！

武器庫 | Core Arsenal

過去與現在的物品對比：

Maths

Abacus 🧮 Calculator 📱

Transport

Rickshaw 🛺 Private car 🚗

Music

Gramophone 🎺 MP3 player 🎧

Washing

Washboard 🧺 Washing machine 🫧

避坑雷達 | Grammar Radar

Subject + used to + base verb

🚨 高頻易錯點 Warning!

I use to use a rotary dial phone.

表示過去的習慣時，不能用 use to。

✓

I used to use a rotary dial phone.

必須加上 'd'，寫成 used to。

通行證 | Can-Do Goals

學完本課，你能做到：

區分古董物品與現代等效物

Abacus vs. Calculator

描述人們過去的習慣

People used to...

比較不同工具的功能

Washboards vs. Washing machines

🇭🇰

Culture Bit: Old Hong Kong

在早期的香港，人力車 (Rickshaw) 是非常普遍的交通工具。隨著城市發展，它們逐漸被巴士、地鐵和私家車取代。了解這些舊事物，能幫助我們更好地認識這座城市的歷史與變遷！

A Glimpse into the Past

My grandfather watched me do my homework today. He was surprised because I was using a laptop to search for information. He told me that when he was young, he used to go to the library and read many books.

He also worked at a restaurant. In the past, they didn't have air-conditioners. They used paper fans to keep cool. He used an abacus to count the bills. Now, there are air-conditioners and calculators in the restaurant, which are much faster.

Today, we watched some videos in class about how people lived 100 years ago. I saw a man pulling a rickshaw. It looked like very hard work! We also saw a woman using a washboard to scrub her clothes in a wooden tub.

I thought it was amazing how that man could weigh things by placing little weights on the balance scales. However, digital weighing scales are better because they are faster and more accurate.

展開/折疊全文翻譯

今天爺爺看著我做功課。他很驚訝，因為我正在用手提電腦尋找資料。他告訴我，當他年輕的時候，他常常去圖書館看很多書。

他也在一家餐廳工作。過去，他們沒有冷氣機。他們用紙扇來保持涼爽。他用算盤來計算帳單。現在，餐廳裡有冷氣機和計算機，速度快多了。

今天，我們在課堂上看了幾段關於 100 年前人們如何生活的影片。我看到一個男人拉著人力車。這看起來是非常辛苦的工作！我們還看到一個女人在木盆裡用洗衣板搓洗衣服。

我覺得那個男人能透過在天平上放置小砝碼來稱重，真是太神奇了。然而，電子磅更好，因為它們更快、更準確。

Step 1: Sentence Construction

Unscramble the sentence below:
連詞成句：請將下方的單詞重新排列組合成正確的句子。

Step 2: Guided Story

根據課程內容完成短文（共10個空格）。

In the past, life was very different. People (1) use a (2) to listen to music at home. If they wanted to wash their clothes, they used a (3) instead of a (4) . For transport, some people rode in a (5) , which was pulled by a person. Today, we have many modern inventions. Instead of an (6) to do sums, we use a (7) . We are lucky to have (8) to keep us cool in summer instead of just (9) . Technology has changed how we live (10) !

High-Scoring Sample / 高分範文

In the past, life was very different. People used to use a gramophone to listen to music at home. If they wanted to wash their clothes, they used a washboard instead of a washing machine. For transport, some people rode in a rickshaw, which was pulled by a person. Today, we have many modern inventions. Instead of an abacus to do sums, we use a calculator. We are lucky to have air-conditioners to keep us cool in summer instead of just paper fans. Technology has changed how we live today!

Step 3: Look and Write

看圖寫話：描述圖片中物品的演變。

Task: Write a story about how things have changed.

Use the pictures to write 6-8 sentences:
1. What did Grandpa use to do Maths in the past? (Picture 1)
2. What does Emily use now? (Picture 2)
3. How did people travel in the past? Was it hard work? (Picture 3)
4. How do people travel today? (Picture 4)

中文提示 (Hints)

任務：寫一個關於事物如何改變的故事。

根據圖片寫6-8句話：
1. 圖1: 爺爺過去用什麼來算數學？(used to use an abacus)
2. 圖2: Emily 現在用什麼？(uses a calculator)
3. 圖3: 過去人們如何出行？這很辛苦嗎？(used to ride in a rickshaw)
4. 圖4: 今天人們如何出行？(drive a private car)

0 words

High-Scoring Sample / 高分範文

In the past, Grandpa used to use an abacus to do Maths. He could calculate very fast. Today, Emily uses a calculator to solve Maths problems. It is much easier. Transport has also changed. In the old days, people used to ride in a rickshaw. A man had to pull it, which was very hard work. Nowadays, people drive a private car. It is faster and more comfortable.

Step 4: Theme Writing

Task: Write a short paragraph comparing one object from the past with its modern equivalent.

Write at least 60 words and use the grammar pattern used to:
1. Identify the objects (e.g., washboard vs. washing machine).
2. Describe how the antique object was used in the past.
3. Describe how the modern object is used today.
4. State which one you prefer and why.

中文提示 (Hints)

任務：寫一段短文，比較一件過去的物品與現代的等效物品。

至少寫 60 個單詞，並使用 used to 句型：
1. 確定你要比較的物品（例如：洗衣板 vs. 洗衣機）。
2. 描述過去人們如何使用這件古董物品。
3. 描述今天人們如何使用現代物品。
4. 說明你更喜歡哪一個以及原因。

0 / 60 words

High-Scoring Sample / 高分範文

Things have changed a lot over the years. In the past, people used to use a washboard to wash their clothes. They had to scrub the clothes by hand in a wooden tub. It was very tiring and took a long time.

Nowadays, we use a washing machine. We just put the dirty clothes inside, add soap, and press a button. The machine does all the hard work for us. I prefer the washing machine because it is much faster and saves a lot of energy. Modern technology makes our lives much easier!

A Glimpse into the Past

Step 1: Sentence Construction

Step 2: Guided Story

Step 3: Look and Write

Step 4: Theme Writing

學情分析 Learning Analytics