单元三综合任务：在城市里解决问题
Chapter Overview and Learning Objectives
This chapter is a cumulative assessment. It introduces no new vocabulary, no new grammar, and no new pronunciation or character systems. Instead, it asks you to bring together everything you have built across Chapters 11 through 14: talking about ability and communication, asking for and giving directions, describing study and work in progress, and handling a health problem with appropriate advice. The tasks below are designed to look and feel like a single connected day in the city, so that you practice moving between these systems the way you would in real communication.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Talk about what you can, cannot, and know how to do using 会/能/可以.
- Ask for and follow directions using 去/来/走/坐 and 从...到....
- Describe an activity in progress and its reason using 在/正在 and 因为...所以.
- Describe a change in condition and give or receive health advice using 了, 应该/要, and 别/不要.
- Combine these systems into one connected spoken exchange and one connected written message.
- Identify your own strengths and remaining problem areas before moving into Unit IV.
Communication Scenario
It is a busy day for 安娜. She is still finishing a work project, needs directions to a new place, and is recovering from being sick last week. Over the course of this chapter, you will help her — and yourself — talk through all three situations.
- You will listen to and read connected exchanges that combine ability, directions, ongoing activity, and health language.
- You will produce your own spoken and written responses without new material to lean on — only what you already control.
- Everything in this chapter recycles Chapters 11 through 14. No new grammar, vocabulary, or characters appear.
Where This Chapter Fits
Chapter 15 closes Unit III. It does not add a new communicative domain. Instead, it checks whether you can coordinate ability, directions, ongoing action with reason, and health/advice language together, the way a real conversation or message would require.
Coming Into This Chapter
Ability and repair language with 会/能/可以 and 怎么 (Ch. 11); directions and movement with 去/来/走/坐 and 从...到... (Ch. 12); ongoing action, expanded 的, accompaniment, and formulaic 因为...所以 (Ch. 13); change-of-state 了, 应该/要, and 别/不要 (Ch. 14).
New in This Chapter
No new grammar, vocabulary, characters, or pronunciation targets. This chapter is assessment and integration only.
Looking Forward
Unit IV begins in Chapter 16 with completed events. It builds directly on the aspect and narration foundations you have already started with change-of-state 了 in this unit.
Cumulative Vocabulary Review
No new vocabulary is introduced in this chapter. The table below reorganizes the productive vocabulary from Chapters 11-14 by communicative function, to help you review before the assessment tasks.
| Function | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Source Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ability & repair | 会 | huì | can, know how to | Ch. 11 |
| 能 | néng | can, to be able to | Ch. 11 | |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | may, can | Ch. 11 | |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how | Ch. 11 | |
| Directions & movement | 去/来 | qù/lái | to go/to come | Ch. 12 |
| 走/坐 | zǒu/zuò | to walk, go/to sit, ride | Ch. 12 | |
| 从...到... | cóng...dào... | from...to... | Ch. 12 | |
| 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | library | Ch. 12 | |
| Ongoing action & work | 在/正在 | zài/zhèngzài | in the middle of (doing) | Ch. 13 |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | work; to work | Ch. 13 | |
| 跟/和 | gēn/hé | with; and | Ch. 13 | |
| 因为...所以... | yīnwèi...suǒyǐ... | because...so... | Ch. 13 | |
| Health & advice | 病了/感冒了 | bìng le / gǎnmào le | got sick/caught a cold | Ch. 14 |
| 应该/要 | yīnggāi/yào | should/need to | Ch. 14 | |
| 别/不要 | bié/búyào | don't | Ch. 14 | |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest | Ch. 14 |
This is a review table, not a new vocabulary list. All items above should already be familiar from Chapters 11-14.
Pronunciation Check
No new sounds or tone rules appear in this chapter. Use the checklist below to confirm control of Unit III's pronunciation targets before continuing.
- Third-tone sandhi in phrases such as 你好 and 我很好.
- Retroflex versus alveolar initials, as in 走 (zǒu) versus 坐 (zuò).
- Level tone pairs, as in 应该 (yīnggāi).
- Neutral-tone syllables, as in 休息 (xiūxi) and 咳嗽 (késou).
- The falling tone and nasal ending of 病 (bìng) compared with the rising glide of 别 (bié).
Say each item above aloud before beginning the listening and speaking tasks.
Grammar Systems Review
No new grammar is introduced in this chapter. The table below summarizes the four systems being assessed together for the first time.
会/能/可以 + Verb Phrase — ability, capability, or permission (Ch. 11)
你会说中文吗？ Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma? Can you speak Chinese?
从 A 到 B + 走/坐... — describing a route (Ch. 12)
从这儿到图书馆怎么走？ Cóng zhèr dào túshūguǎn zěnme zǒu? How do I get from here to the library?
在/正在 + Verb Phrase，因为...所以... — ongoing action with reason (Ch. 13)
我正在找工作，因为我想搬家。 Wǒ zhèngzài zhǎo gōngzuò, yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng bānjiā. I'm looking for a job right now, because I want to move.
Subject + Description + 了；应该/要 / 别/不要 + Verb Phrase — change of state and advice (Ch. 14)
我病了，我应该多休息，别工作了。 Wǒ bìng le, wǒ yīnggāi duō xiūxi, bié gōngzuò le. I've gotten sick, I should rest more, and I shouldn't work.
These four systems may be combined in the tasks below, but no additional grammar beyond Chapters 11-14 should be required or introduced.
Listening Assessment
Ask a partner, instructor, or fluent speaker to read the passage below aloud twice at a natural pace before answering.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read it aloud yourself, slowly at first, then at a natural pace. Any spoken model should be verified by a fluent Mandarin speaker before being treated as a pronunciation standard.
安娜的一天 — Anna's Day:
安娜今天很忙。她正在写一个工作报告，因为下星期要给老板看。可是她上星期病了，现在还有点儿咳嗽，医生说她应该多休息，别太累了。下午她要去图书馆还书，可是她不知道从公司到图书馆怎么走。她的同事说：「你会开车吗？」安娜说：「我不会开车，可是我可以坐公共汽车去。」同事说：「好，你坐三十路，从这儿到图书馆大概二十分钟。」
听力任务 — Listening task:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 安娜正在做什么？为什么？ (What is Anna doing right now, and why?) | ______ |
| 医生说安娜应该做什么？ (What does the doctor say Anna should do?) | ______ |
| 安娜会不会开车？她怎么去图书馆？ (Can Anna drive? How does she get to the library?) | ______ |
Reading Assessment
Read the short message below and answer the comprehension questions.
理解问题 — Comprehension questions:
- 安娜今天为什么不能跟大卫一起去图书馆？ (Why can't Anna go to the library with David today?)
- 大卫可以怎么去图书馆？ (How can David get to the library?)
- 如果大卫开车去，大概要多长时间？ (If David drives there, about how long will it take?)
Writing Assessment
Write a short message of six to eight sentences to a friend describing a busy day in which you are working on something, need directions to get somewhere, and are recovering from a minor illness. Use only vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1-14.
写作任务 — Writing task: Type your sentences with Pinyin input if possible, or copy/handwrite the characters you have already been assigned for handwriting. Your message must include:
- An ability statement using 会, 能, or 可以.
- A direction or route statement using 从...到... or 去/来/走/坐.
- An ongoing-action statement with a reason using 在/正在 and 因为...所以.
- A change-of-state statement and at least one piece of advice using 了 and 应该/要 or 别/不要.
修改清单 — Editing checklist:
- Each of the four required systems above appears at least once and is used accurately.
- Change-of-state 了 appears at the end of the sentence, not directly after the verb.
- 应该/要 and 别/不要 come directly before the verb phrase.
- The message reads as one connected account of a day, not four disconnected sentences.
- A Chinese period (。) or question mark (？) ends each sentence.
Speaking Assessment
控制性练习 — Controlled practice: guided interview
With a partner, take turns asking and answering: 你会做什么？你现在正在做什么？从这儿到你家怎么走？你最近病了吗？
交际任务 — Communicative task: a busy day role-play
With a partner, role-play a short conversation in which one person describes a busy day — something they are working on, directions they need, and a health problem they are recovering from — while the other person asks follow-up questions and gives advice. Use at least one sentence from each of the four systems reviewed in this chapter.
独立练习 — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your own busy day, including something you can or cannot do, a place you need directions to, an activity you are in the middle of and why, and how you are feeling health-wise.
Culture and Communication
Across many Mandarin-speaking contexts, asking a coworker, classmate, or friend for directions, help finishing a task, or advice about feeling unwell is a routine and expected part of daily interaction rather than an imposition. As with earlier culture notes, comfort with asking for or offering this kind of everyday help varies by relationship, setting, and individual preference, so treat this as a common tendency rather than a fixed rule.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing 会, 能, and 可以: 会 is for learned skills, 能 is for general ability or circumstance, and 可以 is for permission or possibility. Review Chapter 11 if these still feel interchangeable.
- Placing 从...到... incorrectly: both the starting point and the destination must appear in order: 从公司到图书馆, not reversed.
- Dropping 正在 or the reason clause: when describing an activity in progress, keep the reason connected with 因为...所以... rather than leaving it as an unconnected extra sentence.
- Misplacing change-of-state 了 or 别/不要: remember that sentence-final 了 goes at the end of the sentence, and 别/不要 come directly before the verb phrase, as in Chapter 14.
Chapter Review
部分 A — 理解 (Comprehension)
1. Based on the listening passage, answer in English:
- What is Anna working on, and why does it matter this week?
- What transportation option does her coworker suggest, and how long will it take?
部分 B — 语法 (Grammar)
1. Fill in the blank with 会/能/可以, 从...到..., 正在, or 应该/别:
- 你___说中文吗？ (Do you know how to speak Chinese?)
- ___这儿___图书馆很近。 (From here to the library is very close.)
- 他___写报告，因为老板明天要看。 (He is in the middle of writing a report, because the boss needs to see it tomorrow.)
- 你___多休息，___工作了。 (You should rest more; don't work.)
部分 C — 阅读 (Reading)
1. Return to the message above and answer:
- 安娜和大卫什么时候一起去图书馆？ (When will Anna and David go to the library together?)
部分 D — 写作 (Writing)
1. Write your six-to-eight-sentence message, following the Writing Assessment steps above.
部分 E — 口语 (Speaking)
1. Complete the guided interview and the busy-day role-play with a partner or recording.
Unit III Recognition Check
Say each of the following aloud and confirm accurate tones: 你会说中文吗, 从这儿到图书馆怎么走, 我正在找工作, 我病了，应该多休息. If any of these feel uncertain, review Chapters 11-14 before moving on to Unit IV.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 15 Performance Task
在城市里解决问题 — Solving Problems in the City
Complete the following four connected tasks in order, combining all four Unit III systems into one coherent performance.
- Listen to the passage about Anna's day and complete the listening table above.
- Read the message about the library plan and answer the comprehension questions.
- Write your own connected message, following the Writing Assessment steps and editing checklist.
- Speak through the guided interview and the busy-day role-play with a partner, recording, or instructor.
Unit III Rubric
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Ability | 会/能/可以 is used accurately to describe skill, capability, or permission. |
| Directions | 从...到... and movement verbs are used to describe a clear, followable route. |
| Ongoing action and reason | 在/正在 and 因为...所以 connect an activity to its reason naturally. |
| Change of state and advice | Sentence-final 了, 应该/要, and 别/不要 are used correctly and appropriately. |
| Integration | The four systems are combined into one coherent spoken and written performance, not four isolated sentences. |
| Pronunciation | Tone accuracy, tone sandhi, and neutral-tone syllables from Unit III are produced with reasonable, intelligible accuracy. |
| Literacy | Scheduled characters from Chapters 11-14 are recognized, typed, and handwritten within the assigned burden. |
Answer Key
Listening
- Anna is writing a work report right now, because she needs to show it to her boss next week.
- The doctor said she should rest more and not tire herself out too much.
- Anna cannot drive; she plans to take the bus (route 30), which takes about twenty minutes from the company to the library.
Reading — Comprehension
- Anna can't go because she is still coughing and the doctor said she should rest at home.
- David can walk, take a bus, or drive to the library.
- If David drives, it should take about ten minutes.
Chapter Review — 部分 B
- (a) 会 (b) 从...到 (c) 正在 (d) 应该...别
Reading — 部分 C
Anna and David plan to go to the library together tomorrow.
Unit III Recognition Check — Correct answers
你会说中文吗 (nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma); 从这儿到图书馆怎么走 (cóng zhèr dào túshūguǎn zěnme zǒu); 我正在找工作 (wǒ zhèngzài zhǎo gōngzuò); 我病了，应该多休息 (wǒ bìng le, yīnggāi duō xiūxi).
Looking Ahead
现在你会做什么 — What you can do now
You have completed Unit III. You can now talk about ability, ask for and follow directions, describe an ongoing activity and its reason, and describe a change in condition along with appropriate advice — and you can combine all four of these systems into one connected conversation or message.