1）In Book One, you learned what to say to express encouragement and how to encourage someone to try something or take risks. Now try to relate what you learned previously to the newer material below.

- There’s no way.

- That won’t work.

- Will never happen.

- It’s a real challenge.

- Easier said than done.

- It’s not easy as it looks.

- That’ll never hold water.

- It doesn’t stand (much of) a chance.

- It’s harder than you think.

- That’s out of the question.

- You’re beating a dead horse.

- You’re spinning your wheels.

- You’re just running around in circles.

- There’s more to it than meets the eye.

- You’re wasting your time/energy/effort.

- I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.

- It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack(干草堆).

2) Play the roles of Alex and Lisa in the following dialogue, paying attention to the underlined expressions.

Alex: Lisa, have you settled on an idea for your project?

Lisa: Not yet. How about you?

Alex: I’d like to design an eco-friendly skyscraper.

Lisa: Wow, that’s really thinking big!

Alex: So it is, so it is. I also like to think different, not just big.

Lisa: But that’s such a huge undertaking! Are you sure you have what it takes? Watch out, something like that is easier said than done. Sorry, but considering your time, I bet there’s no way.

Alex: Hey, are you saying I don’t stand a chance of getting it done?

Lisa: Well, it’ll be a real challenge. Much harder than you think. I’ve never even seen you draw before, let alone jump into being an architect!

Alex: What about “nothing ventured, nothing gained”? Don’t you have any spirit of adventure? How about your project? Don’t you want something exciting? Something grand?

Lisa: Like what?

Alex: I don’t know. Ask yourself what fires you up. C’mon, go all out. Give it a shot!

Lisa: Think big, like you, you mean? And set myself up for a fall? Sorry, Alex, no way!

Alex: Doesn’t have to be that. Just have a go at it. Throw yourself wholeheartedly into what you love. Then you’ll have no regrets, no matter what.

* Give a short oral presentation on the topic below. The following text serves as an example.

Impossible Is Nothing

Solving a practical social problem is sometimes not easy. It can be a real challenge. To find a solution to the problem depends on whether you have an idea. Nothing is impossible, and it’s important that you first have that initial vision. It’s what makes change possible and sets it in motion.

Still, even the best idea may sound nearly impossible at the beginning. In the eyes of others, it may even seem totally useless. Some may say straight to you that your idea is a waste of time and energy. But if you don’t give it a try, how will you ever know if it can work? So have a go at it once you come up with an idea. It may well lead you somewhere.

For example, you want to build an eco-friendly skyscraper. First, think: how can it meet everyone’s energy needs? OK, the plan doesn’t seem to stand a chance at the beginning. But when you explore your creative ideas, impossible is nothing - and nothing is impossible! So let’s open up and free our minds to travel. Never know where we’ll end up.