第一篇:人教版高中英语必修4课文原文Unit1--5
必修4 Unit 1
A STUDENT OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE
It is 5:45 am and the sun is just rising over Gombe National Park in East Africa.Following Jane's way of studying chimps, our group are all going to visit them in the forest.Jane has studied these families of chimps for many years and helped people understand how much they behave like humans.Watching a family of chimps wake up is our first activity of the day.This means going back to the place where we left the family sleeping in a tree the night before.Everybody sits and waits in the shade of the trees while the family begins to wake up and move off.Then we follow as they wander into the forest.Most of the time, chimps either feed or clean each other as a way of showing love in their family.Jane warns us that our group is going to be very tired and dirty by the afternoon and she is right.However, the evening makes it all worthwhile.We watch the mother chimp and her babies play in the tree.Then we see them go to sleep together in their nest for the night.We realize that the bond between members of a chimp family is as strong as in a human family.Nobody before Jane fully understood chimp behaviour.She spent years observing and recording their daily activities.Since her childhood she had wanted to work with animals in their own environment.However, this was not easy.When she first arrived in Gombe in 1960, it was unusual for a woman to live in the forest.Only after her mother came to help her for the first few months was she allowed to begin her project.Her work changed the way people think about chimps.For example, one important thing she discovered was that chimps hunt and eat meat.Until then everyone had thought chimps ate only fruit and nuts.She actually observed chimps as a group hunting a monkey and then eating it.She also discovered how chimps communicate with each other, and her study of their body language helped her work out their social system.For forty years Jane Goodall has been outspoken about making the rest of the world understand and respect the life of these animals.She has argued that wild animals should be left in the wild and not used for entertainment or advertisements.She has helped to set up special places where they can live safely.She is leading a busy life but she says: “Once I stop, it all comes crowding in and I remember the chimps in laboratories.It's terrible.It affects me when I watch the wild chimps.I say to myself, 'Aren't they lucky?” And then I think about small chimps in cages 1 though they have done nothing wrong.Once you have seen that you can never forget...“
She has achieved everything she wanted to do: working with animals in their own environment, gaining a doctor's degree and showing that women can live in the forest as men can.She inspires those who want to cheer the achievements of women.WHY NOT CARRY ON HER GOOD WORK? I enjoyed English, biology, and chemistry at school, but which one should I choose to study at university? I did not know the answer until one evening when I sat down at the computer to do some research on great women of China.By chance I came across an article about a doctor called Lin Qiaozhi, a specialist in women's diseases.She lived from 1901 to 1983.It seemed that she had been very busy in her chosen career, travelling abroad to study as well as writing books and articles.One of them caught my eye.It was a small book explaining how to cut the death rate from having and caring for babies.She gave some simple rules to follow for keeping babies clean, healthy and free from sickness.Why did she write that? Who were the women that Lin Qiaozhi thought needed this advice? I looked carefully at the text and realized that it was intended for women in the countryside.Perhaps if they had an emergency they could not reach a doctor.Suddenly it hit me how difficult it was for a woman to get medical training at that time.That was a generation when girls' education was always placed second to boys'.Was she so much cleverer than anyone else? Further reading made me realize that it was hard work and determination as well as her gentle nature that got her into medical school.What made her succeed later on was the kindness and consideration she showed to all her patients.There was story after story of how Lin Qiaozhi, tired after a day's work, went late at night to deliver a baby for a poor family who could not pay her.By now I could not wait to find out more about her.I discovered that Lin Qiaozhi had devoted her whole life to her patients and had chosen not to have a family of her own.Instead she made sure that about 50,000 babies were safely delivered.By this time I was very excited.Why not study at medical college like Lin Qiaozhi and carry on her good work? It was still not too late for me to improve my studies, prepare for the university entrance examinations, and….必修4 Unit 2
A PIONEER FOR ALL PEOPLE
Although he is one of China's most famous scientists, Yuan Longping considers himself a farmer, for he works the land to do his research.Indeed, his sunburnt face and arms and his slim, strong body are just like those of millions of Chinese farmers, for whom he has struggled for the past five decades.Dr Yuan Longping grows what is called super hybrid rice.In 1974, he became the first agricultural pioneer in the world to grow rice that has a high output.This special strain of rice makes it possible to produce one-third more of the crop in the same fields.Now more than 60% of the rice produced in China each year is from this hybrid strain.Born into a poor farmer's family in 1930, Dr Yuan graduated from Southwest Agricultural College in 1953.Since then, finding ways to grow more rice has been his life goal.As a young man, he saw the great need for increasing the rice output.At that time, hunger was a disturbing problem in many parts of the countryside.Dr Yuan searched for a way to increase rice harvests without expanding the area of the fields.In 1950, Chinese farmers could produce only fifty million tons of rice.In a recent harvest, however, nearly two hundred million tons of rice was produced.These increased harvests mean that 22% of the world's people are fed from just 7% of the farmland in China.Dr Yuan is now circulating his knowledge in India, Vietnam and many other less developed countries to increase their rice harvests.Thanks to his research, the UN has more tools in the battle to rid the world of hunger.Using his hybrid rice, farmers are producing harvests twice as large as before.Dr Yuan is quite satisfied with his life.However, he doesn't care about being famous.He feels it gives him less freedom to do his research.He would much rather keep time for his hobbles.He enjoys listening to violin music, playing mah-jong, swimming and reading.Spending money on himself or leading a comfortable life also means very little to him.Indeed, he believes that a person with too much money has more rather than fewer troubles.He therefore gives millions of yuan to equip others for their research in agriculture.Just dreaming for things, however, costs nothing.Long ago Dr yuan had a dream about rice plants as tall as sorghum.Each ear of rice was as big as an ear of corn and each grain of rice was as huge as a peanut.Dr Yuan awoke from his dream with the hope of producing a kind of rice 3 that could feed more people.Now, many years later, Dr Yuan has another dream: to export his rice so that it can be grown around the globe.One dream is not always enough, especially for a person who loves and cares for his people.CHEMICAL OR ORGANIC FARMING? Over the past half century, using chemical fertilizers has become very common in farming.Many farmers welcomed them as a great way to stop crop disease and increase production.Recently, however, scientists have been finding that long-term use of these fertilizers can cause damage to the land and, even more dangerous, to people's health.What are some of the problems caused by chemical fertilizers? First, they damage the land by killing the helpful bacteria and pests as well as the harmful ones.Chemicals also stay in the ground and underground water for a long time.This affects crops and, therefore, animals and humans, since chemicals get inside the crops and cannot just be washed off.These chemicals in the food supply build up in people's bodies over time.Many of these chemicals can lead to cancer or other illnesses.In addition, fruit, vegetables and other food grown with chemical fertilizers usually grow too fast to be full of much nutrition.They may look beautiful, but inside there is usually more water than vitamins and minerals.With these discoveries, some farmers and many customers are beginning to turn to organic farming.Organic farming is simply farming without using any chemicals.They focus on keeping their soil rich and free of disease.A healthy soil reduces disease and helps crops grow strong and healthy.Organic farmers, therefore, often prefer using natural waste from animals as fertilizer.They feel that this makes the soil in their fields richer in minerals and so more fertile.This also keeps the air, soil, water and crops free from chemicals.Organic farmers also use many other methods to keep the soil fertile.They often change the kind of crop in each field every few years, for example, growing corn or wheat and then the next year peas or soybeans.Crops such as peas or soybeans put important minerals back into the soil, making it ready for crops such as wheat or corn that need rich and fertile soil.Organic farmers also plant crops to use different levels of soil, for example, planting peanuts that use the ground's surface followed by vegetables that put down deep roots.Some organic farmers prefer planting grass between crops to prevent wind or water from carrying away the soil, and then leaving it in the ground to become a natural fertilizer for the next year's crop.These many different organic farming methods have the same goal: to grow good food and avoid damaging the environment or people's health.必修4 Unit 3
A MASTER OF NONVERBAL HUMOUR
As Victor Hugo once said, ”Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face“, and up to now nobody has been able to do this better than Charlie Chaplin.He brightened the lives of Americans and British through two world wars and the hard years in between.He made people laugh at a time when they felt depressed, so they could feel more content with their lives.Not that Charlie's own life was easy!He was born in a poor family in 1889.His parents were both poor music hall performers.You may find it astonishing that Charlie was taught to sing as soon as he could speak and dance as soon as he could walk.Such training was common in acting families at this time, especially when the family income was often uncertain.Unfortunately his father died, leaving the family even worse off, so Charlie spent his childhood looking after his sick mother and his brother.By his teens, Charlie had, through his humour, become one of the most popular child actors in England.He could mime and act the fool doing ordinary everyday tasks.No one was ever bored watching him-his subtle acting made everything entertaining.As time went by, he began making films.He grew more and more popular as his charming character, the little tramp, became known throughout the world.The tramp, a poor, homeless man with a moustache, wore large trousers, worn-out shoes and a small round black hat.He walked around stilly carrying a walking stick.This character was a social failure but was loved for his optimism and determination to overcome all difficulties.He was the underdog who was kind even when others were unkind to him.How did the little tramp make a sad situation entertaining? Here is an example from one of his most famous films, The Gold Rush.It is the mid-nineteenth century and gold has just been discovered in California.Like so many others, the little tramp and his friend have rushed there in search of gold, but without success.Instead they are hiding in a small hut on the edge of a mountain during a snowstorm with nothing to eat.They are so hungry that they try boiling a pair of leather shoes for their dinner.Charlie first picks out the laces and eats them as if they were 5 spaghetti.Then he cuts off the leather top of the shoe as if it were the finest steak.Finally he tries cutting and chewing the bottom of the shoe.He eats each mouthful with great enjoyment.The acting is so convincing that it makes you believe that it is one of the best meals he has ever tasted!
Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed and produced the films he starred in.In 1972 he was given a special Oscar for his outstanding work in films.He lived in England and the USA but spent his last years in Switzerland, where he was buried in 1977.He is loved and remembered as a great actor who could inspire people with great confidence.ENGLISH JOKES 1 There are thousands of jokes which use ”play on words“ to amuse us.One person asks a question which expects a particular reply.Instead, what he gets is another kind of answer which makes the situation funny.Now read some of these customer and waiter jokes.Can you match the joke with the explanation?
C: What's that fly doing in my soup?
W: Swimming, I think!2
C: What's that?
W: It's bean soup.C: I don't want to know what it's been.I want to know what it is now.3
C: Waiter, will the pancakes be long?
W: No, sir.Round.2
Some jokes are longer and tell a short, funny story.The following is one of those jokes about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Doctor Watson.Read it and decide which of these two kinds of jokes you like better.Give your reasons.Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson went camping in a mountainous area.They were lying in the open air under the stars.Sherlock Holmes looked up at the stars and whispered, ”Watson, when you look at that beautiful sky, what do you think of?“ Watson replied, ”I think of how short life is and how long the universe has lasted.“ ”No, no, Watson!“ Holmes said.”What do you really think of?.“ Watson tried again.”I think of how small I am and how vast the sky is.“ ”Try again, Watson!“ said Holmes.Watson tried a third time.”I think of how cold the universe is and how warm people can be in their beds.“ Holmes said, ”Watson, you fool!You should be thinking that someone has stolen our tent!“
必修4 Unit 4
COMMUNICATION: NO PROBLEM?
Yesterday, another student and I, representing our university's student association, went to the Capital International Airport to meet this year's international students.They were coming to study at Beijing University.We would take them first to their dormitories and then to the student canteen.After half an hour of waiting for their flight to arrive, I saw several young people enter the waiting area looking around curiously.I stood for a minute watching them and then went to greet them.The first person to arrive was Tony Garcia from Colombia, closely followed by Julia Smith from Britain.After I met them and then introduced them to each other, I was very surprised.Tony approached Julia, touched her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek!She stepped back appearing surprised and put up her hands, as if in defence.I guessed that there was probably a major misunderstanding.Then Akira Nagata from Japan came in smiling, together with George Cook from Canada.As they were introduced, George reached his hand out to the Japanese student.Just at that moment, however, Akira bowed so his nose touched George's moving hand.They both apologizednot all members of a culture behave in the same way.In general, though, studying international customs can certainly help avoid difficulties in today's world of cultural crossroads!
SHOWING OUR FEELINGS
Body language is one of the most powerful means of communication, often even more powerful than spoken language.People around the world show all kinds of feelings, wishes and attitudes that they might never speak aloud.It is possible to ”read“ others around us, even if they do not intend for us to catch their unspoken communication.Of course, body language can be misread, but many gestures and actions are universal.The most universal facial expression is, of course, the smile – its function is to show happiness and put people at ease.It does not always mean that we are truly happy, however.Smiles around the world can be false, hiding other feelings like anger, fear or worry.There are unhappy smiles, such as when someone ”loses face" and smiles to hide it.However, the general purpose of smiling is to show good feelings.From the time we are babies, we show unhappiness or anger by frowning.In most places around the world, frowning and turning one's back to someone shows anger.Making a fist and shaking it almost always means that someone is angry and threatening another person.There are many ways around the world to show agreement, but nodding the head up and down is used for agreement, almost worldwide.Most people also understand that shaking the head from side to side means disagreement or refusal.How about showing that I am bored? Looking away from people or yawning will, in most cases, make me appear to be uninterested.However, if I turn toward and look at someone or something, people from almost every culture will think that I am interested.If I roll my eyes and turn my head away, I most likely do not believe what I am hearing or do not like it.Being respectful to people is subjective, based on each culture, but in general it is probably not a good idea to give a hug to a boss or teacher.In almost every culture, it is not usually good to stand too close to someone of a higher rank.Standing at a little distance with open hands will show that I am willing to listen.With so many cultural differences between people, it is great to have some similarities in body language.We can often be wrong about each other, so it is an amazing thing that we understand each other as well as we do!
必修4 Unit 5 THEME PARKS — FUN AND MORE THAN FUN
Which theme park would you like to visit? There are various kinds of theme parks, with a different park for almost everything: food, culture, science, cartoons, movies or history.Some parks are famous for having the biggest or longest roller coasters, others for showing the famous sights and sounds of a culture.Whichever and whatever you like, there is a theme park for you!
The theme park you are probably most familiar with is Disneyland.It can be found in several parts of the world.It will bring you into a magical world and make your dreams come true, whether traveling through space, visiting a pirate ship or meeting your favourite fairy tale or Disney cartoon character.As you wander around the fantasy amusement park, you may see Snow White or Mickey Mouse in a parade or on the street.Of course Disneyland also has many exciting rides, from giant swinging ships to terrifying free-fall drops.With all these attractions, no wonder tourism is increasing wherever there is a Disneyland.If you want to have fun and more than fun, come to Disneyland!
Dollywood, in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in the southeastern USA, is one of the most unique theme parks in the world.Dollywood shows and celebrates America's traditional southeastern culture.Although Dollywood has rides, the park's main attraction is its culture.Famous country music groups perform there all year in indoor and outdoor theatres.People come from all over America to see carpenters and other craftsmen make wood, glass and iron objects in the old-fashioned way.Visit the candy shop to try the same kind of candy that American southerners made 150 years ago, or take a ride on the only steam-engine train still working in the southeast USA.You can even see beautiful bald eagles in the world's largest bald eagle preserve.And for those who like rides, Dollywood has one of the best old wooden roller 9 coasters, Thunderhead.It is world-famous for having the most length in the smallest space.Come to Dollywood to have fun learning all about America's historical southeastern culture!
If you want to experience the ancient days and great deeds of English knights and ladies, princes and queens, then England's Camelot Park is the place for you.Every area of the park is modelled after life in the days of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.In one place, you can watch magic shows with Merlin the Wizard.If you want to see fighting with swords or on horseback, then the jousting area is a good place to visit.If you do well there, King Arthur may choose you to fight in the big jousting tournament.Do you like animals? Then visit the farm area, and learn how people in ancient England ran their farms and took care of their animals.To enter a world of fantasy about ancient England, come to Camelot Park!
FUTUROSCOP —EXCITEMENT AND LEARNING
Last week I took a journey deep into space, to the end of the solar system, and was pulled into a black hole.Then I took a trip to Brazil and experienced surviving an airplane crash in the jungle.After that, I joined some divers and went to the bottom of the ocean to see strange blind creatures that have never seen sunlight.For a break, I took part in some car racing and then skied down some of the most difficult mountains in the world.I ended my travels by meeting face to face with a dinosaur, the terrible T-Rex, and survived the experience!
I did all this in one great day at Futuroscope.Opened in 1987, Futuroscope is one of the largest space-age parks in the world.This science and technology-based theme park in France uses the most advanced technology.Its 3-D cinemas and giant movie screens provide brand new experiences of the earth and beyond.Visitors can get close to parts of the world they have never experienced, going to the bottom of the ocean, flying through the jungle or visiting the edges of the solar system.The amazing, up-to-date information together with many opportunities for hands-on learning makes the world come to life in a completely new way for visitors.Learning centres throughout the park let visitors try their own scientific experiments, as well as learn more about space travel, the undersea world and much mote.I bought tickets for myself and my friends at the park's entrance, but tickets are also available online.Futuroscope is not only for individuals, but is also the perfect mix of fun and learning for class outings.Classes or other large groups that let Futuroscope know their plans in advance can get the group admission rate.For anyone coming from out of town, Futuroscope has many excellent hotels nearby, most of which provide a shuttle service to the park.If driving, Futuroscope is within easy reach of the freeway.Plan your trip well before starting, since Futuroscope has so many shows, activities and great souvenir shops that it is difficult to see them all.Come ready to walk a lot-be sure to wear some comfortable sneakers or other walking shoes!
第二篇:高中英语必修2课文及原文
高中英语必修2(人教版)
Unit1 Cultural relics IN SEARCH OF THE AMBER ROOM Frederick William I, the King of Prussia, could never have imagined that his greatest gift to the Russian people would have such an amazing history.This gift was the Amber Room, which was given this name because several tons of amber were used to make it.The amber which was selected had a beautiful yellow-brown colour like honey.The design of the room was in the fancy style popular in those days.It was also a treasure decorated with gold and jewels, which took the country's best artists about ten years to make.In fact, the room was not made to be a gift.It was designed for the palace of Frederick I.However, the next King of Prussia, Frederick William I, to whom the amber room belonged, decided not to keep it.In 1716 he gave it to Peter the Great.In return, the Czar sent him a troop of his best soldiers.So the Amber Room became part of the Czar's winter palace in St Petersburg.About four metres long, the room served as a small reception hall for important visitors.Later, Catherine II had the Amber Room moved to a palace outside St Petersburg where she spent her summers.She told her artists to add more details to it.In 1770 the room was completed the way she wanted.Almost six hundred candles lit the room, and its mirrors and pictures shone like gold.Sadly, although the Amber Room was considered one of the wonders of the world, it is now missing.In September 1941, the Nazi army was near St Petersburg.This was a time when the two countries were at war.Before the Nazis could get to the summer palace, the Russians were able to remove some furniture and small art objects from the Amber Room.However, some of the Nazis secretly stole the room itself.In less than two days 100,000 pieces were put inside twenty-seven wooden boxes.There is no doubt that the boxes were then put on a train for Konigsberg, which was at that time a German city on the Baltic Sea.After that, what happened to the Amber Room remains a mystery.Recently, the Russians and Germans have built a new Amber Room at the summer palace.By studying old photos of the former Amber Room, they have made the new one look like the old one.In 2003 it was ready for the people of St Petersburg when they celebrated the 300th birthday of their city.A FACT OR AN OPINION? What is a fact? Is it something that people believe? No.A fact is anything that can be proved.For example, it can be proved that China has more people than any other country in the world.This is a fact.Then what is an opinion? An opinion is what someone believes is true but has not been proved.So an opinion is not good evidence in a trial.For example, it is an opinion if you say “Cats are better pets than dogs”.It may be true, but it is difficult to prove.Some people may not agree with this opinion but they also cannot prove that they are right.In a trial, a judge must decide which eyewitnesses to believe and which not to believe.The judge does not consider what each eyewitness looks like or where that person lives or works.He/she only cares about whether the eyewitness has given true information, which must be facts rather than opinions.This kind of information is called evidence.第一单元
文化遗产 阅读一 寻找琥珀
普鲁士国王腓特烈·威廉一世从未想过他送个普鲁士人民伟大的礼物会有一点如此惊奇的历史。这个礼物是因为由几吨琥珀制成而命名的琥珀屋。这些被挑选的琥珀都有着像蜂蜜一样漂亮的黄棕色。这间屋的设计是当时最流行的奇特的风 格。这同样是一件花了当时最好的艺术家大约十年用黄金和珠宝修饰制成的宝物。
事实上,这间屋不是制来当礼物的。这是为腓特烈一世的领土而设计的。然而,普鲁士下一任国王同样是琥珀屋的拥有者,腓特烈威廉一世决定不保留琥珀屋。在1716年他把琥珀屋送给了彼得大帝。作为报答,沙皇给了腓特烈一队他最好的士兵。因此琥珀屋成为了沙皇避寒圣地圣彼得堡的一部分。琥珀屋作为一个大概四米长的只为重要访客的小接待处。
后来,叶卡捷琳娜二世把琥珀屋在圣彼得堡之外的一个她避暑的地方。她让她的艺术家加了跟多的细节在里面。在1770年琥珀屋完全成了她想要的样子。接近600只蜡烛在屋内燃烧着,把镜子和图画都照得像金子一样。令人伤心的,虽然被誉为是世界奇迹之一的琥珀屋现在丢失了。
在1941年9月,纳粹军队在圣彼得堡附近。这正是两个国家在交战的时候。在纳粹去到避暑地方之前,俄国人民能够从琥珀屋里搬走一些家具和小的艺术品。然而,一些纳粹神秘的偷走了琥珀屋。至少两天内100000多片琥珀被放进27个木箱里。这些箱子无疑会被放进一艘去往当时德军驻扎的菠萝的海的哥尼斯堡的船上。之后,琥珀屋发生了神马仍然是个迷。
最近,俄国和德国人民在避暑的地方制造了一座新的琥珀屋。通过研究之前的琥珀屋的照片,他们制造了一座新的琥珀屋像旧的那座一样。在2003年它被圣彼得堡的人民用来庆祝这座城市的300岁生日。阅读二
一个事实还是一个观点
神马是事实?是一些人们相信的东西吗?不!事实是可以被证明的任何事。例如,可以证明中国人口比世界上任何其他国家的人口都要多。这是一个事实。那么神马是一个观点?一个观点是人们相信那是真的但还没有被证明的。所以一个观点在一个审判中不是一个好的证据。例如,如果你说“猫是比狗好的宠物”这会是一个观点。这可能是真的,不过很难去证明。一些人可能不同意这个观点不过他们也不能去证明他们是对的。
在一场审批中,一个审判官一定要去决定相信哪个目击者哪个目击者不应该相信。这个审判官不会去考虑每个目击者的长相或人们在哪里居住或工作。他/她 只关心目击者是否会提供真是的信息,信息一定是事实而不是观点。这类的信息被称为证据。
Unit 2 The Olympic Games
AN INTERVIEW Pausanias, who was a Greek writer about 2,000 years ago, has come on a magical journey on March 18th 2007 to find out about the present-day Olympic Games.He is now interviewing Li Yan, a volunteer for the 2008 Olympic Games.P: My name is Pausanias.I lived in what you call “Ancient Greece” and I used to write about the Olympic Games a long time ago.I’ve come to your time to find out about the present-day Olympic Games because I know that in 2004 they were held in my homeland.May I ask you some questions about the modern Olympics? L: Good heavens!Have you really come from so long ago? But of course you can ask any questions you like.What would you like to know? P: How often do you hold your Games? L: Every four years.There are two main sets of Games-the Winter and Summer Olympics, and both are held every four years on a regular basis.The Winter Olympics are usually held two years before the Summer Games.Only athletes who have reached the agreed standard for their event will be admitted as competitors.They may come from anywhere in the world.P: Winter Games? How can the runners enjoy competing in winter? And what about the horses? L: Oh no!There are no running races or horse riding events.Instead there are competitions like skiing and ice skating which need snow and ice.That’s why they’re called the Winter Olympics.It’s in the Summer Olympics that you have the running races, together with swimming, sailing and all the team sports.P: I see.Earlier you said that athletes are invited from all over the world.Do you mean the Greek world? Our Greek cities used to compete against each other just for the honour of winning.No other countries could join in, nor could slaves or women!L: Nowadays any country can take part if their athletes are good enough.There are over 250 sports and each on has its own standard.Women are not only allowed, but play a very important role in gymnastics, athletics, team sports and …
P: Please wait a minute!All those events, all those countries and even women taking part!Where are all the athletes housed? L: For each Olympics, a special village is built for them to live in, a main reception building, several stadiums for competitions, and a gymnasium as well.P: That sounds very expensive.Does anyone want to host the Olympic Games? L: As a matter of fact, every country wants the opportunity.It’s a great responsibility but also a great honour to be chosen.There’s as much competition among countries to host the Olympics as to win Olympic medals.The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing, China.Did you know that? P: Oh yes!You must be very proud.L: Certainly.And after that the 2012 Olympics will be held in London.They have already started planning for it.A new village for the athletes and all the stadiums will be built to the east of London.New medals will be designed of course and …
P: Did you say medals? So even the olive wreath has been replaced!Oh dear!Do you compete for prize money too? L: No, we don’t.it’s still all about being able to run faster, jump higher and throw further.That’s the motto of the Olympics, you know-“Swifter, Higher and Stronger.”
P: Well, that’s good news.How interesting!Thank you so much for your time.第二单元
奥林匹克运动会 阅读一 一个采访
大约2000年前的一个希腊作者帕萨尼亚斯(P),在2007年3月18日踏上了一段魔幻的旅程去查明关于现代的奥林匹克运动会。他正在采访一个2008年奥林匹克运动会志愿者李岩(L)。P:我是帕萨尼亚斯。我住在你们所说的“古希腊”而且在很久之前我常常写以一些关于奥林匹克运动会的事情。我来到你的时代是为了解关于现代奥林匹克运动会因为我知道2004年奥林匹克运动会会在我家乡举办。我可以问你一些关于现代奥林匹克运动会的问题么? L:真是极为愉快的事!你真的来自那么久远的时代么?不过当然你可以问你想问的问题。你想知道神马?
P:你们多久会举办一次运动会?
L:四年一次。有两种主要的运动会形式--冬季和夏季奥运会,并且在一个有规律的基础上他们都是四年举办一次的。冬季奥运会一般会在夏季奥运会前两年举办。只有达到该项目既定的标准的运动员才会被容许成为竞争者。他们可以来自世界各地。P:冬季奥运会?田径运动员如何在冬季享受比赛?还有马术又怎样?
L:哦不!冬季奥运会没有赛跑和骑马的项目。反而会有一些像滑雪和溜冰这些需要雪和冰的项目。这就是为神马他成为冬季奥运会。只有在夏季奥运会会有你说赛跑,同时还有游泳,帆船运动和所有团队运动。
P:我懂了。之前你说那些运动员都被邀请来自世界各地。你了解希腊世界么?我们希腊城过去互相竞赛只为胜利的荣誉。没有其他的地区可以参加,奴隶和妇女也不可以。L:现在只要他们的运动员够好的话任何国家都可以参加。有超过250种项目并且每一种都有它自己的标准。妇女不仅允许参加比赛,并且她们在体操比赛,竞技比赛,团队比赛和其他各种比赛中都扮演着重要的角色。
P:麻烦稍等一下!所有的这些项目,所有的国民甚至妇女都可以参加!那么这些运动员们居住在哪里?
L:在每一场奥运会前,一座特别的村庄会被建来给他们居住,还有一座主要的接待建筑,几个用来比赛的体育场和一座体育馆等
P:那听起来很贵。有哪个国家会想要举办奥运会么?
L:事实上,每个国家都想要这个机会。这是一个很大的责任同样是一个很大的荣誉如果被挑选到。在国家之间有很多竞争去为举办奥运会就像去赢得奥林匹克奖牌一样。2008年的奥运会将会在北京举行。这你知道么? P:哦是的!你一定非常自豪。
L:当然。之后的2012年奥运会将在伦敦举行。他们早就开始为这个做准备了。一座让运动员居住的村庄和所有的运动场将会被建在东伦敦。当然新的奖牌会被设计......P:你是说奖牌么?所以甚至是橄榄花圈也已经被取代了!哦亲爱的!你们比赛也为了奖金么?
L:不我们不。现在仍然想要跑得更快跳的更高扔得更远。正如你知道的奥运会的格言-“更快更高更强”。
P:好吧,那是个好消息。多么有趣啊!耽搁你的时间,谢谢了。
THE STORY OF ATLANTA Atlanta was a Greek princess.She was very beautiful and could run faster than any man in Greece.But she was not allowed to run and win glory for herself in the Olympic Games.She was so angry that she said to her father that she would not marry anyone who could not run faster than her.Her father said that she must marry, so Atlanta made a bargain with him.She said to him, “These are my rules.When a man says he wants to marry me, I will run against him.If he cannot run as fast as me, he will be killed.No one will be pardoned.” Many kings and princes wanted to marry Atlanta, but when they heard of her rules they knew it was hopeless.So many of them sadly went home, but others stayed to run the race.There was a man called Hippomenes who was amazed when he heard of Atlanta's rules, “Why are these men so foolish?” he thought.“Why will they let themselves be killed because they cannot run as fast as this princess?” However, when he saw Atlanta come out of her house to run, Hippomenes changed his mind.“I will marry Atlantaor die!” So the race began.阅读二
亚特兰大的故事
亚特兰大是一个希腊公主。她很漂亮并且可以跑得比希腊的任何一个男人都快。不过她不被允许在奥运会上跑步去为她自己赢得荣誉。她很生气因此她跟她父亲说她不会嫁任何跑不过她的男人。她父亲说她必须要嫁,所以亚特兰大与她父亲定下一个条件。她对她父亲说,“这是我的原则。如果有男人说想要嫁我,我会跟她赛跑。如果他跑不赢我,他会被杀。没有人能被例外。”
很多国王和王子想要娶亚特兰大,不过当他们听到这个规定的时候他们就知道自己没希望了。所以他们当中的很多人都伤心地回家了,不过其他的人都留着去赛跑。一个叫做希波墨涅斯的男人听到亚特兰大的消息后感到非常惊奇,他想“为神马这些男的都这么愚蠢呢?”“为神马他们会因为跑不过这个公主而让自己被杀呢?”然而,当他看到亚特兰大从她的房子出来跑步的时候,希波墨涅斯改变了他的心意。他说,“我会娶亚特兰大或者死!” 赛跑开始的时候虽然男人们都跑得很快,但是亚特兰大总是会更快。希波墨涅斯边看边想,“我要怎样才能赢过亚特兰大呢?”他去向希腊的爱神求助。爱神答应帮他并给了他三个金苹果。她说,“在亚特兰大跑过你的时候扔一个在亚特兰大面前。当亚特兰大停下来去捡苹果的时候,你就可以跑过她并赢得比赛。”希波墨涅斯拿着苹果并跑去找国王。他说,“我想娶亚特兰大。”国王伤心地看着又一个男人要死,不过希波墨涅斯说,“我会娶她或者死!”然后赛跑开始了。
Unit 3 Computers
WHO AM I? Over time I have been changed quite a lot.I began as a calculating machine in France in 1642.Although I was young I could simplify difficult sums.I developed very slowly and it took nearly two hundred years before I was built as an analytical machine by Charles Babbage.After I was programmed by an operator who used cards with holes, I could “think” logically and produce an answer quicker than any person.At that time it was considered a technological revolution and the start of my “artificial intelligence”.In 1936 my real father, Alan Turing, wrote a book about how I could be made to work as a “universal machine” to solve any difficult mathematical problem.From then on, I grew rapidly both in size and in brainpower.By the 1940s I had grown as large as a room, and I wondered if I would grow any larger.However, this reality also worried my designers.As time went by, I was made smaller.First as a PC(personal computer)and then as a laptop, I have been used in offices and homes since the 1970s.These changes only became possible as my memory improved.First it was stored in tubes, then on transistors and later on very small chips.As a result I totally changed my shape.As I have grown older I have also grown smaller.Over time my memory has developed so much that, like an elephant, I never forget anything I have been told!And my memory became so large that even I couldn't believe it!But I was always so lonely standing there by myself, until in the early 1960s they gave me a family connected by a network.I was able to share my knowledge with others through the World Wide Web.Since the 1970s many new applications have been found for me.I have become very important in communication, finance and trade.I have also been put into robots and used to make mobile phones as well as help with medical operations.I have even been put into space rockets and sent to explore the Moon and Mars.Anyhow, my goal is to provide humans with a life of high quality.I am now truly filled with happiness that I am a devoted friend and helper of the human race!第三单元
电脑 阅读一 我是谁
随着时间的推移我被改变了很多。在1642年的法国,我是作为一个计算机器而开始的。虽然我很年轻我可以简化一些计算题。在我被Charles Babbage改造成分析机器之前我很慢的发展了接近两百年。之后我被一个操作员用带洞的卡调制成了可以合逻辑地思考并且比任何人都快地得出一些问题的答案。那是一个被成为技术改革的时候并且开始了我的人造智能。在1936年我真正的父亲Alan Turing写了一本关于我如何像普遍的机器一样去解决任何困难的数学问题的书。从那起,我在体积和智能方面快速的发展。在1940年我变得像一个房间一样大,并且我想知道我是否还能变得更大。然而,事实也在困扰着我的设计者。随着时间的推移,我被制的更小。首先是个人电脑再到后来的手提电脑,在1970年我已经开始被用在办公室和家里。
这些变化只因为我记忆力的增强。开始记忆被存放于电子管里,然后是晶体管和后来更小的晶片。因此我改变了我的整个外型。随着我慢慢变老我也慢慢的变小。随着时间推移我的记忆力发展的那么快,像头大象,我不会忘记任何我曾被告知的东西!而且我的记忆力变得如此的大以至于我都不敢相信!不过我总是自己那么孤单的站在那里,直到1960年他们通过网络给了我一个家庭关系。我能够通过万维网和其他的电脑分享我的知识。
从1970年起很多新的应用为我而被发明。我在交流,金融和贸易方面变得重要。我同样被放进遥控装置中被用来制造移动电话也帮助医学手术。我已经被放进太空火箭并被送去探测月亮和火星。即使如此,我的目的是为人们提供高质量的生活。我现在充满快乐应为我成为了人类种族中的一个忠心的朋友和帮助者。
ANDY – THE ANDROID I’m part of an android football team.About once a year we are allowed to get together to play a game of football.I’m as big as a human.In fact, I look like one too.On the football team I’m a striker so I have to be able to run very fast.My computer chips help me to move and think like a human.For example, I have learned to signal to my teammates in computer language to give me the ball when I am open and have a good shot for a goal.My first football competition was in Nagoya, Japan several years ago.Last year our team went to Seattle, Washington in the USA.We won second place.Personally, I think the team that won first place cheated.They had developed a new type of program just before the competition.So we need to encourage our programmer to improve our intelligence too.We are determined to create an even better system.In a way our programmer is like our coach.She programs us with all the possible moves she has seen while watching human games.Then she prepares reliable moves to use if a new situation arises.In this way I can make up new moves using my “artificial intelligence”.I could like to play against a human team, for I have been programmed to act just like them.After all, with the help of my electronic brain which never forgets anything, using my intelligence is what I’m all about!
机器人-Andy 我是一个机器人球队的一份子。我们被允许在一齐踢足球大约一年了。我像一个人类一样高大。事实上,我长得也像人类。在球队里我是前锋因此我要跑得非常快。我的电脑芯片帮助我移动并且像人类一样思考。例如,我已经学会了当我要开动去射一个好球的时候用电脑语言向我的队友发信号让他们把球传给我。我的第一场足球比赛是在几年前在日本的名古屋。去年我们球队去了美国华盛顿和西雅图。我们胜利的第二个地方。就我个人观点,我认为我们球队第一次赢的地方是作弊的。他们已经在比赛之前一种新的程序类型。所以我们也要促进我们的程序去提高我们的智能。我们决心要去一种甚至更好的标志。一定程度上说我们的程序就像我们的教练。她训练我们所有在人类比赛中她能看到的所有可能的动作。如果一种新情况出现她会准备可靠的动作去运用。用这种方式我可以用我的“人造只能”去制造新的动作。我能够被编程成像人类一样的表现我就可以真的与一队人类球队去比赛。毕竟,在我不会忘掉任何东西的电子脑袋的帮助下,我的所有就是用我的智能!Unit 4 Wildlife protection
HOW DAISY LEARNED TO HELP WLDLIFE Daisy had always longed to help endangered species of wildlife.One day she woke up and found a flying carpet by her bed.“Where do you want to go?” it asked.Daisy responded immediately.“I'd like to see some endangered wildlife,” she said.“Please take me to a distant land where I can find the animal that gave fur to make this sweater.” At once the carpet flew away and took her to Tibet.There Daisy saw an antelope looking sad.It said, “We're being killed for the wool beneath our stomachs.Our fur is being used to make sweaters for people like you.As a result, we are now an endangered species.” At that Daisy cried, “I'm sorry I didn't know that.I wonder what is being done to help you.Flying carpet, please show me a place where there's some wildlife protection.” The flying carpet travelled so fast that next minute they were in Zimbabwe.Daisy turned around and found that she was being watched by an elephant.“Have you come to take my photo?” it asked.In relief Daisy burst into laughter.“Don't laugh,” said the elephant, ”We used to be an endangered species.Farmers hunted us without mercy.They said we destroyed their farms, and money from tourists only went to the large tour companies.So the government decided to help.They allowed tourists to hunt only a certain number of animals if they paid the farmers.Now the farmers are happy and our numbers are increasing.So good things are being done here to save local wildlife.“ Daisy smiled.”That's good news.It shows the importance of wildlife protection, but I'd like to help as the WWF suggests.“ The carpet rose again and almost at once they were in a thick rainforest.A monkey watched them as it rubbed itself.”What are you doing?“ asked Daisy.” I’m protecting myself from mosquitoes,” it replied.“When I find a millipede insect, I rub it over my body.It contains a powerful drug which affects mosquitoes.You should pay more attention to the rainforest where I live and appreciate how the animals live together.No rainforest, no animals, no drugs.” Daisy was amazed.“Flying carpet, please take me home so I can tell WWF and we can begin producing this new drug.Monkey, please come and help.” The monkey agreed.The carpet flew home.As they landed, things began to disappear.Two minutes later everything had gone-the monkey, too.So Daisy was not able to make her new drug.But what an experience!She had learned so much!And there was always WWF„ 第四单元 阅读一
Daisy如何学习去帮助野生动物
Daisy常常渴望去帮助濒临灭绝的种类的野生动物。一天她醒来发现一个正在飞行的飞毯在她包里。“你想去哪里?”它问。Daisy立刻回答它。“我想去看那些濒临灭绝的动物,”她说。“请带我去那个我可以找到供给皮毛去制造这件毛衣的动物的一个遥远的地方。”飞毯立刻带她飞去了西藏。在那里Daisy看到了一支看起来很伤心的羚羊。它说,“我们被杀是为了我们肚子下的毛。我们的皮毛被人类用来制造像你这样的毛衣。因此,现在我们是一种濒临灭绝的种类。”然后Daisy哭喊着,“我很抱歉我不知道那些。我想知道神马可以被做来帮助你们。飞毯,请带我去一个有一些野生动物保护区的地方。”
飞毯飞得如此的快以至于他们下一分钟就在Zimbabwe。Daisy转来转去然后发现她被一头大象盯着。“你过来跟我照相了么?”它问。Daisy松了口气突然笑起来。“不要笑,”大象说,“我们曾经是濒临灭绝的品种。农民好不仁慈地猎杀我们。他们说我们破坏了他们的天地,和来自那些只游览大工厂的游客的钱。所以政府决定去帮助。他们允许游客给钱农民然后可以去猎杀确定数量的动物。现在农民很高兴而且我们的数量在增加。所以好事情正被做于营救当地的野生动物。”
Daisy微笑了。“那是个好消息。它展示了野生动物保护的重要性,不过我喜欢去帮助像WWF这样的建议。”飞毯再次升起然后几乎同一时间他们在一个阴霾的热带雨林。一支猴子看着他们就像它摩擦它自己。“你在干神马?”Daisy问。“我在保护自己不受蚊子的伤害,”它回答。“当我找到一只千足虫昆虫,我会在我身上摩擦它。它包涵了一种强大的可以影响蚊子的药物。你应该更加注 意那些我居住的热带雨林并好好鉴赏动物们如何居住在一齐。没有雨林,没有动物,没有药物。”
Daisy很惊讶。“飞毯,请带我回家这样我可以联系WWF并开始保护这种新的药物。猴子,请过来帮忙。”那猴子同意了。飞毯飞回家了。当他们降落时,事物开始消失了。两分钟后所有东西都消失了-那只猴子也是。所以Daisy不能去制造她的新药物。不过如此的一段经历!她已经学习了那么多!还有那里的WWF......ANIMAL EXTINCTION Many animals have disappeared during the long history of the earth.The most famous of these animals are dinosaurs.They lived on the earth tens of millions of years ago, long before humans came into being and their future seemed secure at that time.There were many different kinds of dinosaur and a number of them used to live in China.The eggs of twenty-five species have been found in Xixia, County, Nanyang, Henan Province.Not long ago a rare new species of bird-like dinosaur was discovered in Chaoyang County, Liaoning Province.When scientists inspected the bones, they were surprised to find that these dinosaurs could not only run like the others but also climb trees.They learned this from the way the bones were joined together.Dinosaurs died out suddenly about 65 million years ago.Some scientists think it came after an unexpected incident when a huge rock from space hit the earth and put too much dust into the air.Others think the earth got too hot for the dinosaurs to live on any more.Nobody knows for sure why and how dinosaurs disappeared from the earth in such a short time.We know many other wild plants, animals, insects and birds have died out more recently.According to a UN report, some 844 animals and plants have disappeared in the last 500 years.The dodo is one of them.It lived on the Island of Mauritius and was a very friendly animal.Please listen to a story of the dodo and how it disappeared from the earth.Unit 5 Music
THE BAND THAT WASN'T Have you ever wanted to be part of a band as a famous singer or musician? Have you ever dreamed of playing in front of thousands of people at a concert, at which everyone is clapping and appreciating your music? Do you sing karaoke and pretend you are a famous singer like Song Zuying or Liu Huan? To be honest, a lot of people attach great importance to becoming rich and famous.But just how do people form a band? Many musicians meet and form a band because they like to write and play their own music.They may start as a group of high-school students, for whom practicing their music in someone's house is the first step to fame.Sometimes they may play to passers-by in the street or subway so that they can earn some extra money for themselves or to pay for their instruments.Later they may give performances in pubs or clubs, for which they are paid in cash.Of course they hope to make records in a studio and sell millions of copies to become millionaires!However, there was one band that started in a different way.It was called the Monkees and began as a TV show.The musicians were to play jokes on each other as well as play music, most of which was based loosely on the Beatles.The TV organizers had planned to find four musicians who could act as well as sing.They put an advertisement in a newspaper looking for rock musicians, but they could only find one who was good enough.They had to use actors for the other three members of the band.As some of these actors could not sing well enough, they had to rely on other musicians to help them.So during the broadcasts they just pretended to sing.Anyhow their performances were humorous enough to be copied by other groups.They were so popular that their fans formed clubs in order to get more familiar with them.Each week on TV, the Monkees would play and sing songs written by other musicians.However, after a year or so in which they became more serious about their work, the Monkees started to play and sing their own songs like a real band.Then they produced their own records and started touring and playing their own music.In the USA they became even more popular than the Beatles and sold even more records.The band broke up about 1970, but happily they reunited in the mid-1980s.They produced a new record in 1996, with which they celebrated their former time as a real band.并非乐队的乐队
你曾经想过要成为一个乐队里有名的歌手或音乐家吗?你是否曾梦想过在音乐会上面对成千上万的观众演唱,观众欣赏你的歌唱为你鼓掌吗?你唱卡拉OK时是否假装自己就是像宋祖英或刘欢一样著名的歌星吗?说实在的,很多人把名和利看得很重。那么,人们又是怎样一起组成乐队的呢?
许多音乐家聚在一起组成乐队,是因为他们喜欢自己作曲,演奏自己的音乐。他们开始可能是一组中学生,在某个人家里排练音乐是成名的第一步。有时他们可能在街上或地铁里为过路人演奏,这样他们可以为自己或自己要买的乐器多挣一些钱。后来,他们可能在酒吧或者俱乐部里演出,这样他们可以得到现金。当然,他们希望在录音棚里录音,然后卖掉上百万张碟,从而成为百万富翁。
然而,也有一个用不同方式组建起来的乐队。这支乐队叫“门基乐队”,它开始时是以电视节目表演的形式出现的。组成乐队的音乐人演奏音乐,还彼此打趣都笑。这些玩笑和音乐大多都在模仿“甲壳虫”乐队。电视制作人原计划想寻找四位会唱又会表演的乐手。他们在报纸上登了一则广告,想招摇滚乐手,但他们只招到一个满意的。乐队的其他三人只能用演员来代替。
因为这些演员中有些人唱得不是很好,他们不得不依靠队里的其他人帮助。所以在演出的时候他们只是假唱。不管怎样,他们的表演非常幽默以至于其他的乐队也开始模仿。他们非常走红使得歌迷们为了更加熟悉他们而成立了俱乐部。门基乐队每个星期都要在电视上演唱由别的音乐家创作的歌曲。然而,经过大约一年以后,门基乐队逐渐对自己的工作认真起来,他们开始像一支真正的乐队那样演唱自己创作的歌曲。然后他们录制自己的唱片,并且开始巡回表演他们自己的音乐。在美国,他们甚至比“甲壳虫”乐队还要受欢迎,出售的录音专辑还要多。“门基乐队”大约在1970年左右解散,但是令人高兴的是,到80年代中期他们再次聚首。在1996年,他们推出了一张新的专辑,像真正的乐队一样以此来庆祝他们以往的时光。
FREDDY THE FROG(II)Not long after Freddy and the band became famous, they visited Britain on a brief tour.Fans showed their devotion by waiting for hours to get tickets for their concerts.Freddy was now quite confident when he went into a concert hall.He enjoyed singing and all the congratulations afterwards!His most exciting invitation was to perform on a programme called “Top of the Pops.”He had to go to London, wear an expensive suit and give a performance to a TV camera.It felt very strange.But as soon as the programme was over, the telephones which were in the same room started ringing.Everybody was asking when they could see Freddy and his band again.They were truly stars.Then things went wrong.Freddy and his band could not go out anywhere without being followed.Even when they wore sunglasses or beards people recognized them.Fans found them even when they went into the toilet.They tried to hide in the reading rooms of libraries, but it was useless.Someone was always there!Their personal life was regularly discussed by people who did not know them but talked as if they were close friends.At last feeling very upset and sensitive, Freddy and his band to which they were never to return, and went back to the lake.
第三篇:人教版高中英语必修1~4课文原文
Book1 Unit 1 Friendship
ANNE'S BEST FRIEND Do you want a friend whom you could tell everything to, like your deepest feelings and thoughts? Or are you afraid that your friend would laugh at you, or would not understand what you are going through? Anne Frank wanted the first kind, so she made her diary her best friend.Anne lived in Amsterdam in the Netherlands during World War II.Her family was Jewish so they had to hide or they would be caught by the German Nazis.She and her family hid away for nearly twenty-five months before they were discovered.During that time the only true friend was her diary.She said, “I don't want to set down a series of facts in a diary as most people do, but I want this diary itself to be my friend, and I shall call my friend Kitty.” Now read how she felt after being in the hiding place since July 1942.Thursday 15th june.1944 Dear kitty.I wonder if it’s because I haven’t been able to be outdoors for so long that I’ve grown so crazy about everything to do with nature.I can well remember that there was a time when a deep blue sky,the song of the birds,moonlight and flowers could never have keep me spellbound.That’s changed since I was here.„For example, one evening when it was so warm, I stayed awake on purpose until half past eleven In order to have a good look at the moon by myself.But as the moon gave far too much light.I didn’t dare open a window.Another time five months ago, I happened to be upstairs at dusk when the window was open.I didn’t go downstairs until the window had to be shut.The dark, rainy evening, the wind, the thundering clouds held me entirely in their power;It was the first time in a year and a half that I’d seen the night face to face„.„Sadly„ I am only able to look at nature through dirty curtains hanging before very dusty windows.It’s no pleasure looking through these any longer because nature is one thing that really must be experienced.Yours.Anne Book1 Unit 2 English around the world
THE ROAD TO MODERN ENGLISH At the end of the 16th century, about five to seven million people spoke English.Nearly all of them lived in England.Later in the next century, people from England made voyages to conquer other parts of the world and because of that, English began to be spoken in many other countries.Today, more people speak English as their first, second or a foreign language than ever before.Native English speakers can understand each other even if they don't speak the same kind of English.Look at this example: British Betty: Would you like to see my flat? American Amy: Yes.I'd like to come up to your apartment.So why has English changed over time? Actually all languages change and develop when cultures meet and communicate with each other.At first the English spoken in England between about AD 450 and 1150 was very different from the English spoken today.It was based more on German than the English we speak at present.Then gradually between about AD 800 and 1150, English became less like German because those who ruled England spoke first Danish and later French.These new settlers enriched the English language and especially its vocabulary.So by the 1600's Shakespeare was able to make use of a wider vocabulary than ever before.In 1620 some British settlers moved to America.Later in the 18th century some British people were taken to Australia too.English began to be spoken in both countries.Finally by the 19th century the language was settled.At that time two big changes in English spelling happened: first Samuel Johnson wrote his dictionary and later Noah Webster wrote The American Dictionary of the English Language.The latter gave a separate identity to American English spelling.English now is also spoken as a foreign or second language in South Asia.For example, India has a very large number of fluent English speakers because Britain ruled India from 1765 to 1947.During that time English became the language for government and education.English is also spoken in Singapore and Malaysia and countries in Africa such as South Africa.Today the number of people learning English in China is increasing rapidly.In fact, China may have the largest number of English learners.Will Chinese English develop its own identity? Only time will tell.Book1 Unit 3 Travel Journal-Reading
JOURNEY DOWN THE MEKONG PART1 THE DREAM AND THE PLAN My name is Wang Kun.Ever since middle school, my sister Wang Wei and I have dreamed about taking a great bike trip.Two years ago she bought an expensive mountain bike and then she persuaded me to buy one.Last year, she visited our cousins, Dao Wei and Yu Hang at their college in Kunming.They are Dai and grew up in western Yunnan Province near the Lancang River, the Chinese part of the river that is called the Mekong River in other countries.Wang Wei soon got them interested in cycling too.After graduating from college, we finally got the chance to take a bike trip.I asked my sister, “Where are we going?” It was my sister who first had the idea to cycle along the entire Mekong River from where it begins to where it ends.Now she is planning our schedule tor the trip.I am fond of my sister but she has one serious shortcoming.She can be really stubborn.Although she didn't know the best way of getting to places, she insisted that she organize the trip properly.Now I know that the proper way is always her way.I kept asking her, “When are we leaving and when are we coming back?” I asked her whether she had looked at a map yet.Of course she hadn't;my sister doesn't care about details.So I told her that the source of the Mekong is in Qinghai Province.She gave me a determined lookthe monkey, too.So Daisy was not able to make her new drug.But what an experience!She had learned so much!And there was always WWF„ Book2 Unit 5 Music
THE BAND THAT WASN'T Have you ever wanted to be part of a band as a famous singer or musician? Have you ever dreamed of playing in front of thousands of people at a concert, at which everyone is clapping and appreciating your music? Do you sing karaoke and pretend you are a famous singer like Song Zuying or Liu Huan? To be honest, a lot of people attach great importance to becoming rich and famous.But just how do people form a band? Many musicians meet and form a band because they like to write and play their own music.They may start as a group of high-school students, for whom practicing their music in someone's house is the first step to fame.Sometimes they may play to passers-by in the street or subway so that they can earn some extra money for themselves or to pay for their instruments.Later they may give performances in pubs or clubs, for which they are paid in cash.Of course they hope to make records in a studio and sell millions of copies to become millionaires!However, there was one band that started in a different way.It was called the Monkees and began as a TV show.The musicians were to play jokes on each other as well as play music, most of which was based loosely on the Beatles.The TV organizers had planned to find four musicians who could act as well as sing.They put an advertisement in a newspaper looking for rock musicians, but they could only find one who was good enough.They had to use actors for the other three members of the band.As some of these actors could not sing well enough, they had to rely on other musicians to help them.So during the broadcasts they just pretended to sing.Anyhow their performances were humorous enough to be copied by other groups.They were so popular that their fans formed clubs in order to get more familiar with them.Each week on TV, the Monkees would play and sing songs written by other musicians.However, after a year or so in which they became more serious about their work, the Monkees started to play and sing their own songs like a real band.Then they produced their own records and started touring and playing their own music.In the USA they became even more popular than the Beatles and sold even more records.The band broke up about 1970, but happily they reunited in the mid-1980s.They produced a new record in 1996, with which they celebrated their former time as a real band Book3 unit1
Festivals and celebrations Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times.Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather,planting in spring and harvest in autumn.Sometimes celebratewould be held after hunters had caught animals.At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find,especially during the cold winter months.Today’s festivals have many origins ,some religious,some seasonal, and some for special people or events.Festivals of the Dead Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors,who might return either to help or to do harm For the Japanese festival.Obon,people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors.They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.In Mexico,people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November.On this impoutant feast day,people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with”bones”on them.They offer food,flowers and gifts to the dead.The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people.It is now a children’s festival,when they can dress up and to to their neighbours’homes to ask for sweets.Ifthe neighbours do not give any sweets,the children might play a trick on them.Festivals to Honour People Festivals can also be held to honour famous people.The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet,Qu Yuan.In the USA Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in New World.India has a national festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi,the leader who helped gain India’s independence from Britain.Harvest Festivals Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events.People are grateful because their food is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over.In European countries,people will usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit,and will get together to have meals.Some people might win awards for their farm produce,like the biggest watermelon or the most handsome rooster.China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals,when people admire the moon and in China,enjoy mooncakes.Spring Festivals The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.At the Spring Festival in China,people eat dumplings,fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper.There are dragon dances and carnivals,and families celebrate the Lunar New Year together.Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,which take place forty days before Easter,usually in February.These carnivals might include parades,dancing in the streets day and night,loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds.Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians aroud the world.It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life.Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later.The country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks as thought it is covered with pink snow.People love to get together to eat , drink and have fun with each other.Festivals let us enjoy life,be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while Book3 UNIT2
COME AND EAT HERE(1)Wang Peng sat in his empty restaurant feeling very frustrated.It had been a very strange morning.Usually he got up early and prepared his menu of barbecued mutton kebabs, roast pork, stir-flied vegetables and fried rice.Then by lunchtime they would all be sold.By now his restaurant ought to be full of people.But not today!Why was that? What could have happened? He thought of his mutton, beef and bacon cooked in the hottest, finest oil.His cola was sugary and cold, and his ice cream was made of milk, cream and delicious fruit.“Nothing could be better,” he thought.Suddenly he saw his friend Li Chang hurrying by.“Hello, Lao Li,” he called.“Your usual?” But Li Chang seemed not to hear.What was the matter? Something terrible must have happened if Li Chang was not coming to eat in his restaurant as he always did.Wang Peng followed Li Chang into a new small restaurant.He saw a sign in the window.Tired of all that fat? Want to lose weight? Come inside Yong Hui’s slimming restaurant.Only slimming foods served here.Make yourself thin again!Curiosity drove Wang Peng inside.It was full of people.The hostess, a very thin lady, came forward.“Welcome,” she said.“My name is Yong Hui.I'll help you lose weight and be fit in two weeks if you eat here every day.” Then she gave a menu to Wang Peng.There were few choices of food and drink on it: just rice, raw vegetables served in vinegar, fruit and water.Wang Peng was amazed at this and especially at the prices.It cost more than a good meal in his restaurant!He could not believe his eyes.He threw down the menu and hurried outside.On his way home he thought about his own menu.Did it make people fat? Perhaps he should go to the library and find out.He could not have Yong Hui getting away with telling people lies!He had better do some research!At the library Wang Peng was surprised to find that his restaurant served far too much fat and Yong Hui’s far too little.Even though her customers might get thin after eating Yong Hui’s food, they were not eating enough energy-giving food to keep them fit.They would become tired very quickly.Wang Peng felt more hopeful as he drove back home.Perhaps with a discount and a new sign he could win his customers back.So he wrote: Want to feel fit and energetic? Come and eat here!Discounts today!Our food gives you energy all day!The competition between the two restaurants was on!Book3 Unit 3
THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE Act I, Scene 3 NARRATOR: It is the summer of 1903.Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick and Oliver, have made a bet.Oliver believes that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month in London.His brother Roderick doubts it.At this moment, they see a penniless young man wandering on the pavement outside their house.It is Henry Adams, an American businessman, who is lost in London and does not know what he should do.RODERICK: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please? HENRY: Who? Me, sir? RODERICK: Yes, you.OLIVER: Through the front door on your left.HENRY:(A servant opens a door)Thanks.SERVANT: Good morning, sir.Would you please come in? Permit me to lead the way, sir.OLIVER:(Henry enters)Thank you, James.That will be all.RODERICK: How do you do, Mr...er...? HENRY: Adams.Henry Adams.OLIVER: Come and sit down, Mr Adams.HENRY: Thank you.RODERICK: You're an American? HENRY: That's right, from San Francisco.RODERICK: How well do you know London? HENRY: Not at all, it's my first trip here.RODERICK: I wonder, Mr Adams, if you'd mind us asking a few questions.HENRY: Not at all.Go right ahead.RODERICK: May we ask what you're doing in this country and what your plans are? HENRY: Well, I can't say that I have any plans.I'm hoping to find work.As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident.OLIVER: How is that possible? HENRY: Well, you see, back home I had my own boat.About a month ago, I was sailing out of the bay...(his eyes stare at what is left of the brother's dinner on table)OLIVER: Well, go on.HENRY: Oh, yes.Well, towards nightfall I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind.It was all my fault.I didn't know whether I could survive until morning.The next morning I'd just about given myself up for lost when I was spotted by a ship.OLIVER: And it was the ship that brought you to England.HENRY: Yes.The fact is that I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand, which accounts for my appearance.I went to the American embassy to seek help, but...(The brothers smile at each other.)RODERICK: Well, you mustn't worry about that.It's an advantage.HENRY: I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.RODERICK: Tell us, Mr Adams, what sort of work did you do in America? HENRY: I worked for a mining company.Could you offer me some kind of work here? RODERICK: Patience, Mr Adams.If you don't mind, may I ask you how much money you have? HENRY: Well, to be honest, I have none.OLIVER:(happily)What luck!Brother, what luck!(claps his hands together)HENRY: Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me!On the contrary, in fact.If this is your idea of some kind of joke, I don't think it's very funny.(Henry stands up to leave)Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll be on my way.RODERICK: Please don't go, Mr Adams~ You mustn't think we don't care about you.Oliver, give him the letter.OLIVER: Yes, the letter.(gets it from a desk and gives it to Henry like a gift)The letter.HENRY:(taking it carefully)For me? RODERICK: For you.(Henry starts to open it)Oh, no, you mustn't open it.Not yet.You can't open it until two o'clock.HENRY: Oh, this is silly.RODERICK: Not silly.There's money in it.(calls to the servant)James? HENRY: Oh, no.I don't want your charity.I just want an honest job.RODERICK: We know you're hard-working.That's why we've given you the letter.James, show Mr Adams out.OLIVER: Good luck, Mr Adams.HENRY: Well, why don't you explain what this is all about? RODERICK: You'll soon know.(looks at the clock)In exactly an hour and a half.SERVANT: This way, sir.RODERICK: Mr Adams, not until 2 o'clock.Promise? HENRY: Promise.Goodbye THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE Act I, Scene 4(Outside a restaurant Henry looks at the envelope without opening it and decides to go in.He sits down at a table next to the front window.)OWNER:(seeing Henry's poor appearance)That one's reserved.This way, please.(to the waiter)Take this gentleman's order, Horace.HENRY:(after sitting down and putting the letter on the table)I'd like some ham and eggs and a nice big steak.Make it extra thick.I'd also like a cup of coffee and a pineapple dessert.WAITER: Right, sir.I'm afraid it'll cost a large amount of money.HENRY: I understand.And I'll have a large glass of beer.WAITER: OK.(The waiter leaves and soon returns with all the food.)HOSTESS: My goodness!Why, look at him.He eats like a wolf.OWNER: We'll see if he's clever as a wolf, eh? HENRY:(having just finished every bit of food)Ah, waiter.(waiter returns)Same thing again, please.Oh, and another beer.WAITER: Again? Everything? HENRY: Yes, that's right.(sees the look on the waiter's face)Anything wrong? WAITER: No, not at all.(to the owner)He's asked for more of the same.OWNER: Well, it is well-known that Americans like to eat a lot.Well, we'll have to take a chance.Go ahead and let him have it.WAITER:(reading the bill after the meal)All right.That's two orders of ham and eggs, two extra thick steaks, two large glasses of beer, two cups of coffee and two desserts.HENRY:(looking at the clock on the wall)Would you mind waiting just a few minutes? WAITER:(in a rude manner)What's there to wait for? OWNER: All right, Horace.I'll take care of this.HENRY:(to owner)That was a wonderful meal.It's amazing how much pleasure you get out of tile simple things in life, especially if you can't have them for a while.OWNER: Yes, very interesting.Now perhaps, sir, if you pay your bill I can help the other customers.HENRY:(looking at the clock on the wall again)Well, I see it's two o'clock.(he opens the envelope and holds a million pound bank note in his hands.Henry is surprised but the owner and waiter are shocked)I'm very sorry.But...I...I don't have anything smaller.OWNER:(still shocked and nervous)Well..er...just one moment.Maggie, look!(the hostess screams, the other customers look at her and she puts a hand to her mouth)Do you think it's genuine? HOSTESS: Oh, dear, I don't know.I simply don't know.OWNER: Well, I did hear that the Bank of England had issued two notes in this amount...Anyway, I don't think it can be a fake.People would pay too much attention to a bank note of this amount.No thief would want that to happen.HOSTESS: But he's in rags!OWNER: Perhaps he's a very strange, rich man.(as if he has discovered something for the first time)Why, yes!That must be it!HOSTESS:(hits her husband's arm)And you put him in the back of the restaurant!Go and see him at once.OWNER:(to Henry)I'm so sorry, sir, so sorry, but I cannot change this bank note.HENRY: But it's all I have on me.OWNER: Oh, please, don't worry, sir.Doesn't matter at all.We're so very glad that you even entered our little eating place.Indeed, sir, I hope you'll come here whenever you like.HENRY: Well, that's very kind of you.OWNER: Kind, sir? No, it's kind of you.You must come whenever you want and have whatever you like.Just having you sit here is a great honour!As for the bill, sir, please forget it.HENRY: Forget it? Well...thank you very much.That's very nice of you.OWNER: Oh, it's for us to thank you, sir and I do, sir, from the bottom of my heart.(The owner, hostess and waiter all bow as Henry leaves.)Book3 Unit 4
HOW LIFE BEGAN ON THE EARTH No one knows exactly how the earth began, as it happened so long ago.However, according to a widely accepted theory, the universe began with a “Big Bang” that threw matter in all directions.After that, atoms began to form and combine to create stars and other bodies.For several billion years after the “Big Bang”, the earth was still just a cloud of dust.What it was to become was uncertain until between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years ago when the dust settled into a solid globe.The earth became so violent that it was not clear whether the shape would last or not.It exploded loudly with fire and rock.They were in time to produce carbon, nitrogen, water vapour and other gases, which were to make the earth's atmosphere.What is even more important is that as the earth cooled down, water began to appear on its surface.Water had also appeared on other planets like Mars but, unlike the earth, it had disappeared later.It was not immediately obvious that water was to be fundamental to the development of life.What many scientists believe is that the continued presence of water allowed the earth to dissolve harmful gases and acids into the oceans and seas.This produced a chain reaction, which made it possible for life to develop.Many millions of years later, the first extremely small plants began to appear on the surface of the water.They multiplied and filled the oceans and seas with oxygen, which encouraged the later development of early shellfish and all sorts of fish.Next, green plants began to grow on land.They were followed in time by land animals.Some were insects.Others, called amphibians, were able to live on land as well as in the water.Later when the plants grew into forests, reptiles appeared for the first time.They produced young enerally by laying eggs.After that, some huge animals, called dinosaurs, developed.They laid eggs too and existed on the earth for more than 140 million years.However, 65 million years ago the age of the dinosaurs ended.Why they suddenly disappeared still remains a mystery.This disappearance made possible the rise of mammals on the earth.These animals were different from all life forms in the past, because they gave birth to young baby animals and produced milk to feed them.Finally about 2.6 million years ago some small clever animals, now with hands and feet, appeared and spread all over the earth.Thus they have, in their turn, become the most important animals on the planet.But they are not looking after the earth very well.They are putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which prevents heat from escaping from the earth into space.As a result of this, many scientists believe the earth may become too hot to live on.So whether life will continue on the earth for millions of years to come will depend on whether this problem can be solved.A VISIT TO THE MOON Last month I was lucky enough to have a chance to make a trip into space with my friend Li Yanping, an astronomer.We visited the moon in our spaceship!Before we left, Li Yanping explained to me that the force of gravity would change three times on our journey and that the first change would be the most powerful.Then we were off.As the rocket rose into the air, we were pushed back into our seats because we were trying to escape the pull of the earth's gravity.It was so hard that we could not say anything to each other.Gradually the weight lessened and I was able to talk to him.“Why is the spaceship not falling back to the earth? On the earth if I fall from a tree I will fall to the ground.” I asked.“We are too far from the earth now to feel its pull,” he explained, “so we feel as if there is no gravity at all.When we get closer to the moon, we shall feel its gravity pulling us, but it will not be as strong a pull as the earth's.” I cheered up immediately and floated weightlessly around in our spaceship cabin watching the earth become smaller and the moon larger.When we got there, I wanted to explore immediately.“Come on,” I said.“If you are right, my mass will be less than on the earth because the moon is smaller and I will be able to move more freely.I might even grow taller if I stay here long enough.I shall certainly weigh less!” I laughed and climbed down the steps from the spaceship.But when I tried to step forward, I found I was carried twice as far as on the earth and fell over.“Oh dear,” I cried, “walking does need a bit of practice now that gravity has changed.” After a while I got the hang of it and we began to enjoy ourselves.Leaving the moon's gravity was not as painful as leaving the earth's.But returning to the earth was very frightening.We watched, amazed as fire broke out on the outside of the spaceship as the earth's gravity increased.Again we were pushed hard into our seats as we came back to land.“That was very exhausting but very exciting too,” I said.“Now I know much more about gravity!Do you think we could visit some stars next time?” “Of course,” he smiled, “which star would you like to go to?” Book3 Unit 5 A TRIP ON “THE TRUE NORTH”
Li Daiyu and her cousin Liu Qian were on a trip to Canada to visit their cousins in Montreal on the Atlantic coast.Rather than take the aeroplane all the way, they decided to fly to Vancouver and then take the train west to east across Canada.The thought that they could cross the whole continent was exciting.Their friend, Danny Lin, was waiting at the airport.He was going to take them and their baggage to catch “The True North”, the cross-Canada train.On the way to the station, he chatted about their trip.“You're going to see some great scenery.Going eastward, you'll pass mountains and thousands of lakes and forests, as well as wide rivers and large cities.Some people have the idea that you can cross Canada in less than five days, but they forget the fact that Canada is 5,500 kilometres from coast to coast.Here in Vancouver, you're in Canada's warmest part.People say it is Canada's most beautiful city, surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean.Skiing in the Rocky Mountains and sailing in the harbour make Vancouver one of Canada's most popular cities to live in.Its population is increasing rapidly.The coast north of Vancouver has some of the oldest and most beautiful forests in the world.It is so wet there that the trees are extremely tall, some measuring over 90 metres.” That afternoon aboard the train, the cousins settled down in their seats.Earlier that day, when they crossed the Rocky Mountains, they managed to catch sight of some mountain goats and even a grizzly bear and an eagle.Their next stop was Calgary, which is famous for the Calgary Stampede.Cowboys from all over the world come to compete in the Stampede.Many of them have a gift for riding wild horses and can win thousands of dollars in prizes.After two days' travel, the girls began to realize that Canada is quite empty.At school, they had learned that most Canadians live within a few hundred kilometres of the USA border, and Canada's population is only slightly over thirty million, but now they were amazed to see such an empty country.They went through a wheat-growing province and saw farms that covered thousands of acres.After dinner, they were back in an urban area, the busy port city of Thunder Bay at the top of the Great Lakes.The girls were surprised at the fact that ocean ships can sail up the Great Lakes.Because of the Great Lakes, they learned, Canada has more fresh water than any other country in the world.In fact, it has one-third of the world's total fresh water, and much of it is in the Great Lakes.That night as they slept, the train rushed across the top of Lake Superior, through the great forests and southward towards Toronto.“THE TURE NORTH”FROM TORONTO TO MONTREAL
The next morning the bushes and maple trees outside their windows were red, gold and orange, and there was frost on the ground, confirming that fall had arrived in Canada.Around noon they arrived in Toronto, the biggest and most wealthy city in Canada.They were not leaving for Montreal until later, so they went on a tour of the city.They went up the tall CN Tower and looked across the lake.In the distance, they could see the misty cloud that rose from the great Niagara Falls, which is on the south side of the lake.The water flows into the Niagara River and over the falls on its way to the sea.They saw the covered stadium, home of several famous basketball teams.As they walked north from the harbour area, Li Daiyu said, “Lin Fei, one of my mother's old schoolmates, lives here.I should phone her from a telephone booth.” They met Lin Fei around dusk in downtown Chinatown, one of the three in Toronto.Over dinner at a restaurant called The Pink Pearl, the cousins chatted with Lin Fei, who had moved to Canada many years earlier.“We can get good Cantonese food here,” Lin Fei told them, “because most of the Chinese people here come from South China, especially Hong Kong.It's too bad you can't go as far as Ottawa, Canada's capital.It's approximately four hundred kilometres northeast of Toronto, so it would take too long.” The train left late that night and arrived in Montreal at dawn the next morning.At the station, people everywhere were speaking French.There were signs and ads in French, but some of them had English words in smaller letters.“We don't leave until this evening,” said Liu Qian.“Let's go downtown.Old Montreal is close to the water.” They spent the afternoon in lovely shops and visiting artists in their workplaces beside the water.As they sat in a buffet restaurant looking over the broad St Lawrence River, a young man sat down with them.“Hello, my name is Henri.I'm a student at the university nearby,” he said, “and I was wondering where you are from.” The girls told him they were on a train trip across Canada and that they had only one day in Montreal.“That's too bad,” he said.“Montreal is a city with wonderful restaurants and clubs.Most of us speak both English and French, but the city has French culture and traditions.We love good coffee, good bread and good music.” That night as the train was speeding along the St Lawrence River toward the Gulf of St Lawrence and down to the distant east coast, the cousins dreamed of French restaurants and red maple leaves.Book4 Unit1 A STUDENT OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE
It is 5:45 am and the sun is just rising over Gombe National Park in East Africa.Following Jane's way of studying chimps, our group are all going to visit them in the forest.Jane has studied these families of chimps for many years and helped people understand how much they behave like humans.Watching a family of chimps wake up is our first activity of the day.This means going back to the place where we left the family sleeping in a tree the night before.Everybody sits and waits in the shade of the trees while the family begins to wake up and move off.Then we follow as they wander into the forest.Most of the time, chimps either feed or clean each other as a way of showing love in their family.Jane warns us that our group is going to be very tired and dirty by the afternoon and she is right.However, the evening makes it all worthwhile.We watch the mother chimp and her babies play in the tree.Then we see them go to sleep together in their nest for the night.We realize that the bond between members of a chimp family is as strong as in a human family.Nobody before Jane fully understood chimp behaviour.She spent years observing and recording their daily activities.Since her childhood she had wanted to work with animals in their own environment.However, this was not easy.When she first arrived in Gombe in 1960, it was unusual for a woman to live in the forest.Only after her mother came to help her for the first few months was she allowed to begin her project.Her work changed the way people think about chimps.For example, one important thing she discovered was that chimps hunt and eat meat.Until then everyone had thought chimps ate only fruit and nuts.She actually observed chimps as a group hunting a monkey and then eating it.She also discovered how chimps communicate with each other, and her study of their body language helped her work out their social system.For forty years Jane Goodall has been outspoken about making the rest of the world understand and respect the life of these animals.She has argued that wild animals should be left in the wild and not used for entertainment or advertisements.She has helped to set up special places where they can live safely.She is leading a busy life but she says: “Once I stop, it all comes crowding in and I remember the chimps in laboratories.It's terrible.It affects me when I watch the wild chimps.I say to myself, 'Aren't they lucky?” And then I think about small chimps in cages though they have done nothing wrong.Once you have seen that you can never forget...“ She has achieved everything she wanted to do: working with animals in their own environment, gaining a doctor's degree and showing that women can live in the forest as men can.She inspires those who want to cheer the achievements of women.Book4 Unit2
A PIONEER FOR ALL PEOPLE Although he is one of China's most famous scientists, Yuan Longping considers himself a farmer, for he works the land to do his research.Indeed, his sunburnt face and arms and his slim, strong body are just like those of millions of Chinese farmers, for whom he has struggled for the past five decades.Dr Yuan Longping grows what is called super hybrid rice.In 1974, he became the first agricultural pioneer in the world to grow rice that has a high output.This special strain of rice makes it possible to produce one-third more of the crop in the same fields.Now more than 60% of the rice produced in China each year is from this hybrid strain.Born into a poor farmer's family in 1930, Dr Yuan graduated from Southwest Agricultural College in 1953.Since then, finding ways to grow more rice has been his life goal.As a young man, he saw the great need for increasing the rice output.At that time, hunger was a disturbing problem in many parts of the countryside.Dr Yuan searched for a way to increase rice harvests without expanding the area of the fields.In 1950, Chinese farmers could produce only fifty million tons of rice.In a recent harvest, however, nearly two hundred million tons of rice was produced.These increased harvests mean that 22% of the world's people are fed from just 7% of the farmland in China.Dr Yuan is now circulating his knowledge in India, Vietnam and many other less developed countries to increase their rice harvests.Thanks to his research, the UN has more tools in the battle to rid the world of hunger.Using his hybrid rice, farmers are producing harvests twice as large as before.Dr Yuan is quite satisfied with his life.However, he doesn't care about being famous.He feels it gives him less freedom to do his research.He would much rather keep time for his hobbles.He enjoys listening to violin music, playing mah-jong, swimming and reading.Spending money on himself or leading a comfortable life also means very little to him.Indeed, he believes that a person with too much money has more rather than fewer troubles.He therefore gives millions of yuan to equip others for their research in agriculture.Just dreaming for things, however, costs nothing.Long ago Dr yuan had a dream about rice plants as tall as sorghum.Each ear of rice was as big as an ear of corn and each grain of rice was as huge as a peanut.Dr Yuan awoke from his dream with the hope of producing a kind of rice that could feed more people.Now, many years later, Dr Yuan has another dream: to export his rice so that it can be grown around the globe.One dream is not always enough, especially for a person who loves and cares for his people.Book4 Unit3
A MASTER OF NONVERBAL HUMOUR As Victor Hugo once said, ”Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face", and up to now nobody has been able to do this better than Charlie Chaplin.He brightened the lives of Americans and British through two world wars and the hard years in between.He made people laugh at a time when they felt depressed, so they could feel more content with their lives.Not that Charlie's own life was easy!He was born in a poor family in 1889.His parents were both poor music hall performers.You may find it astonishing that Charlie was taught to sing as soon as he could speak and dance as soon as he could walk.Such training was common in acting families at this time, especially when the family income was often uncertain.Unfortunately his father died, leaving the family even worse off, so Charlie spent his childhood looking after his sick mother and his brother.By his teens, Charlie had, through his humour, become one of the most popular child actors in England.He could mime and act the fool doing ordinary everyday tasks.No one was ever bored watching him-his subtle acting made everything entertaining.As time went by, he began making films.He grew more and more popular as his charming character, the little tramp, became known throughout the world.The tramp, a poor, homeless man with a moustache, wore large trousers, worn-out shoes and a small round black hat.He walked around stilly carrying a walking stick.This character was a social failure but was loved for his optimism and determination to overcome all difficulties.He was the underdog who was kind even when others were unkind to him.How did the little tramp make a sad situation entertaining? Here is an example from one of his most famous films, The Gold Rush.It is the mid-nineteenth century and gold has just been discovered in California.Like so many others, the little tramp and his friend have rushed there in search of gold, but without success.Instead they are hiding in a small hut on the edge of a mountain during a snowstorm with nothing to eat.They are so hungry that they try boiling a pair of leather shoes for their dinner.Charlie first picks out the laces and eats them as if they were spaghetti.Then he cuts off the leather top of the shoe as if it were the finest steak.Finally he tries cutting and chewing the bottom of the shoe.He eats each mouthful with great enjoyment.The acting is so convincing that it makes you believe that it is one of the best meals he has ever tasted!Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed and produced the films he starred in.In 1972 he was given a special Oscar for his outstanding work in films.He lived in England and the USA but spent his last years in Switzerland, where he was buried in 1977.He is loved and remembered as a great actor who could inspire people with great confidence.Book4 Unit4
COMMUNICATION: NO PROBLEM? Yesterday, another student and I, representing our university's student association, went to the Capital International Airport to meet this year's international students.They were coming to study at Beijing University.We would take them first to their dormitories and then to the student canteen.After half an hour of waiting for their flight to arrive, I saw several young people enter the waiting area looking around curiously.I stood for a minute watching them and then went to greet them.The first person to arrive was Tony Garcia from Colombia, closely followed by Julia Smith from Britain.After I met them and then introduced them to each other, I was very surprised.Tony approached Julia, touched her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek!She stepped back appearing surprised and put up her hands, as if in defence.I guessed that there was probably a major misunderstanding.Then Akira Nagata from Japan came in smiling, together with George Cook from Canada.As they were introduced, George reached his hand out to the Japanese student.Just at that moment, however, Akira bowed so his nose touched George's moving hand.They both apologizednot all members of a culture behave in the same way.In general, though, studying international customs can certainly help avoid difficulties in today's world of cultural crossroads!Book4 Unit5 THEME PARKS — FUN AND MORE THAN FUN Which theme park would you like to visit? There are various kinds of theme parks, with a different park for almost everything: food, culture, science, cartoons, movies or history.Some parks are famous for having the biggest or longest roller coasters, others for showing the famous sights and sounds of a culture.Whichever and whatever you like, there is a theme park for you!The theme park you are probably most familiar with is Disneyland.It can be found in several parts of the world.It will bring you into a magical world and make your dreams come true, whether traveling through space, visiting a pirate ship or meeting your favourite fairy tale or Disney cartoon character.As you wander around the fantasy amusement park, you may see Snow White or Mickey Mouse in a parade or on the street.Of course Disneyland also has many exciting rides, from giant swinging ships to terrifying free-fall drops.With all these attractions, no wonder tourism is increasing wherever there is a Disneyland.If you want to have fun and more than fun, come to Disneyland!Dollywood, in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in the southeastern USA, is one of the most unique theme parks in the world.Dollywood shows and celebrates America's traditional southeastern culture.Although Dollywood has rides, the park's main attraction is its culture.Famous country music groups perform there all year in indoor and outdoor theatres.People come from all over America to see carpenters and other craftsmen make wood, glass and iron objects in the old-fashioned way.Visit the candy shop to try the same kind of candy that American southerners made 150 years ago, or take a ride on the only steam-engine train still working in the southeast USA.You can even see beautiful bald eagles in the world's largest bald eagle preserve.And for those who like rides, Dollywood has one of the best old wooden roller coasters, Thunderhead.It is world-famous for having the most length in the smallest space.Come to Dollywood to have fun learning all about America's historical southeastern culture!If you want to experience the ancient days and great deeds of English knights and ladies, princes and queens, then England's Camelot Park is the place for you.Every area of the park is modelled after life in the days of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.In one place, you can watch magic shows with Merlin the Wizard.If you want to see fighting with swords or on horseback, then the jousting area is a good place to visit.If you do well there, King Arthur may choose you to fight in the big jousting tournament.Do you like animals? Then visit the farm area, and learn how people in ancient England ran their farms and took care of their animals.To enter a world of fantasy about ancient England, come to Camelot Park!
第四篇:高中英语必修四 unit2 课文原文
A PIONEER FOR ALL PEOPLE Although he is one of China's most famous scientists, Yuan Longping considers himself a farmer, for he works the land to do his research.Indeed, his sunburnt face and arms and his slim, strong body are just like those of millions of Chinese farmers, for whom he has struggled for the past five decades.Dr Yuan Longping grows what is called super hybrid rice.In 1974, he became the first agricultural pioneer in the world to grow rice that has a high output.This special strain of rice makes it possible to produce one-third more of the crop in the same fields.Now more than 60% of the rice produced in China each year is from this hybrid strain.Born into a poor farmer's family in 1930, Dr Yuan graduated from Southwest Agricultural College in 1953.Since then, finding ways to grow more rice has been his life goal.As a young man, he saw the great need for increasing the rice output.At that time, hunger was a disturbing problem in many parts of the countryside.Dr Yuan searched for a way to increase rice harvests without expanding the area of the fields.In 1950, Chinese farmers could produce only fifty million tons of rice.In a recent harvest, however, nearly two hundred million tons of rice was produced.These increased harvests mean that 22% of the world's people are fed from just 7% of the farmland in China.Dr Yuan is now circulating his knowledge in India, Vietnam and many other less developed countries to increase their rice harvests.Thanks to his research, the UN has more tools in the battle to rid the world of hunger.Using his hybrid rice, farmers are producing harvests twice as large as before.Dr Yuan is quite satisfied with his life.However, he doesn't care about being famous.He feels it gives him less freedom to do his research.He would much rather keep time for his hobbles.He enjoys listening to violin music, playing mah-jong, swimming and reading.Spending money on himself or leading a comfortable life also means very little to him.Indeed, he believes that a person with too much money has more rather than fewer troubles.He therefore gives millions of yuan to equip others for their research in agriculture.Just dreaming for things, however, costs nothing.Long ago Dr yuan had a dream about rice plants as tall as sorghum.Each ear of rice was as big as an ear of corn and each grain of rice was as huge as a peanut.Dr Yuan awoke from his dream with the hope of producing a kind of rice that could feed more people.Now, many years later, Dr Yuan has another dream: to export his rice so that it can be grown around the globe.One dream is not always enough, especially for a person who loves and cares for his people.CHEMICAL OR ORGANIC FARMING?
Over the past half century, using chemical fertilizers has become very common in farming.Many farmers welcomed them as a great way to stop crop disease and increase production.Recently, however, scientists have been finding that long-term use of these fertilizers can cause damage to the land and, even more dangerous, to people's health.What are some of the problems caused by chemical fertilizers? First, they damage the land by killing the helpful bacteria and pests as well as the harmful ones.Chemicals also stay in the ground and underground water for a long time.This affects crops and, therefore, animals and humans, since chemicals get inside the crops and cannot just be washed off.These chemicals in the food supply build up in people's bodies over time.Many of these chemicals can lead to cancer or other illnesses.In addition, fruit, vegetables and other food grown with chemical fertilizers usually grow too fast to be full of much nutrition.They may look beautiful, but inside there is usually more water than vitamins and minerals.With these discoveries, some farmers and many customers are beginning to turn to organic farming.Organic farming is simply farming without using any chemicals.They focus on keeping their soil rich and free of disease.A healthy soil reduces disease and helps crops grow strong and healthy.Organic farmers, therefore, often prefer using natural waste from animals as fertilizer.They feel that this makes the soil in their fields richer in minerals and so more fertile.This also keeps the air, soil, water and crops free from chemicals.Organic farmers also use many other methods to keep the soil fertile.They often change the kind of crop in each field every few years, for example, growing corn or wheat and then the next year peas or soybeans.Crops such as peas or soybeans put important minerals back into the soil, making it ready for crops such as wheat or corn that need rich and fertile soil.Organic farmers also plant crops to use different levels of soil, for example, planting peanuts that use the ground's surface followed by vegetables that put down deep roots.Some organic farmers prefer planting grass between crops to prevent wind or water from carrying away the soil, and then leaving it in the ground to become a natural fertilizer for the next year's crop.These many different organic farming methods have the same goal: to grow good food and avoid damaging the environment or people's health.
第五篇:高中英语必修一module1-6课文原文
Module 1
My First Day at Senior High My Name is Li Kang.I live in Shijiazhuang, a city not far from Beijing.It is the capital city of Hebei Province.Today is my first day at Senior High school and I'm writing down my thoughts about it.My new school is very good and I can see why.The teachers are very enthusiastic and friendly and the classrooms are amazing.Every room has a computer with a special screen, almost as big as a cinema screen.The teachers write on the computer, and their words appear on the screen behind them.The screens also show photographs, text and information from websites.They're brilliant!The English class is really interesting.The teacher is a very enthusiastic woman called Ms Shen.We're using a new textbook and Ms Shen's method of teaching is nothing like that of the teachers at my Junior High school.She thinks that reading comprehension is important, but we speak a lot in class, too.And we have fun.I don't think I will be bored in Ms Shen's class!Today we introduced ourselves to each other.We did this in groups.Some students were embarrassed at first but everyone was very friendly and it was really nice.Ms Shen gave us instructions and then we worked by ourselves.Ms Shen wants to help us improve our spelling and handwriting.We do this in a fun way, with spelling games and other activities.I like her attitude very much, and the behaviour of the other students shows that they like her, too.There are sixty-five students in my class--more than my previous class in Junior High.Forty-nine of them are girls.In other words, there are three times as many girls as boys.They say that girls are usually more hard-working than boys, but in this class, everyone is hard-working.For our homework tonight, we have to write a description of the street where we live.I'm looking forward to doing it!
Module 2
My New Teachers They say that first impressions are very important.My first impression of Mrs Li was that she was nervous and shy.I think perhaps she was, as it was her first lesson with us.But now, after two weeks, the class really likes working with her.She's kind and patient, and she explains English grammar so clearly that even I can understand it!–She avoids making you feel stupid.I've always hated making mistakes or pronouncing a word incorrectly when I speak English, but Mrs Li just smiles, so that you don't feel completely stupid.I think maybe she goes a bit too slowly for the faster students, but for me it's wonderful.I feel I'm going to make progress with her.I'd guess that Mrs Chen is almost sixty.She's very strict—we don't dare to say a word unless she asks us to.She's also very serious and doesn't smile much.When she asks you to do something, you do it immediately.There are a few students in our class who keep coming to class late but they're always on time for Mrs Chen's lessons.Some of our class don't like her, but most of us really appreciate her because her teaching is so well organised and clear.And a few students even admit liking her.During scientific experiments, she explains exactly what is happening and as a result my work is improving.Physics will never be my favourite lesson, but I think that I'll do well in the exam with Mrs Chen teaching me.Mr Wu's only been teaching us for two weeks and he's already very popular.I think this is because he really enjoys teaching Chinese literature—he loves it, in fact.He's got so much energy, this is one class you do not fall asleep in.He's about 28, I think, and is rather good—looking.He talks loudly and fast, and waves his hands about a lot when he gets excited.He's really amusing and tells jokes when he thinks we're getting bored.Even things like compositions and summaries are fun with Mr.Wu.I respect him a lot.Module 3
My First Ride on a Train My name is Alice Thompson.I come from Sydney, Australia and I'm 18 years old.Recently I had my first ride on a long-distance train.And what a ride!A friend and I travelled on the famous Ghan train.We got on in Sydney and we got off in Alice Springs, right in the middle of Australia, more than four thousand kilometres away.We spent two days and nights on the train.The train was wonderful and the food was great.We ate great meals cooked by experts!For the first few hundred kilometres of the journey, the scenery was very colourful.There were fields and the soil was dark red.After that, it was desert.The sun shone, there was no wind and there were no clouds in the sky.Suddenly, it looked like a place from another time.We saw abandoned farms which were built more than a hundred years ago.The train was comfortable and the people were nice.During the day, I sat and looked out of the window, and sometimes talked to other passengers.I read books and listened to my Chinese cassettes(I'm studying Chinese at school).One night, at about midnight, I watched the night sky for about an hour.The stars shone like diamonds.Why is the train called the Ghan? A long time ago, Australians needed a way to travel to the middle of the country.They tried riding horses, but the horses didn't like the hot weather and sand.A hundred and fifty years ago, they brought some camels from Afghanistan.Ghan is short for Afghanistan.Camels were much better than horses for travelling a long distance.For many years, trained camels carried food and other supplies, and returned with wool and other products.The Afghans and their camels did this until the 1920s.Then the government built a new railway line, so they didn't need the camels any more.In 1925, they passed a law which allowed people to shoot the animals if theywere a problem.In 1935, the police in a town shot 153 camels in one day.Module 4
A Lively City(XL—Xiao Lli JM--John Martin)XL:It’s great to see you again, john.JM:It’s great to see you!It’s been six years since we last saw each other,you know.And this is the first time I’ve visited your hometown.XL:Yes ,I’m so glad you could come.JM:You know ,I have seen quite a lot of china and I’ve visited some beautiful cities ,but this is one of the most attractive places I’ve been to.It’s so lively, and everyone seems so friendly.XL:Yes ,it’s one of the most intreresting cities on the coast,everyone says so.I feel very fortunate living here.And I love living by the seaside.JM:You live in the northwest of Xiamen ,is that right?
XL:Yes ,that’s right.JM:What’s the climate like?
XL:Pretty hot and wet in the summer,but it can be quite cold in the winter.JM:Sounds Ok to me.There are a lot of tourists around.Don’t they bother you?
XL:Yes, they can be a nuisance in the summer because there are so many of them.JM:Oh, look at that huge apartement block!
XL:Yes, they’re just completed it.The rent for an apartment there is very high.JM:I believe you!This area’s so modern!
XL:Yes, this is the business district.They’ve put up a lot high-rise buildings recently.And there are some great shopping malls.See,we’re just passing one now.My wife’s just bought a beautiful dress from one of the shops there.JM:Maybe I could buy a few presents there.XL:I’ll take you there tomorrow.Now we’re leaving the business district and approaching the harbour.We’re ehtering the western district, the most intererting part of the city.It’s got some really pretty parks…..JM:It seems lovely.Is that Gulangyu Island,just across the water?
XL:Yes, it is.It’s a gorgeous island with some really intereting architecture.JM:So they tell me.Do you think we could stop and walk aroud for a while ?
XL:Yes, I was just going to do that.We can park over there.A friend’s told me about a nice little fish restaurant near here.Shall we go there for lunch ?
JM:That sounds great.I’m starving!
Module 6
The Internet is the biggest source of information in the world, and it's accessible through a computer.It consists of millions of pages of data.In 1969, DARPA, a U.S.defence organisation, developed a way for all their computers to “talk” to each ot-her through the telephone.They created a network of computers called DARPANET.For fifteen years, only the U.S.army could use this system of communication.Then in 1984, the U.S.National Science Foundation(NSF)started the NSFNET network.It then became possible for universities to use the system as well.NSFNET became known as the Inter-Network, or “Internet”.The World Wide Web(the web)is a computer network that allows computer users to access information from millions of websites via the Internet.At the moment, about 80 percent of web traffic is in English, but this percentage is going down.By 2020, much web traffic could be in Chinese.The World Wide Web was invented in 1991 by an English scientist, Tim Berners-Lee.Berners-Lee built his first computer while he was at university using an old television!He came up with the idea of the World Wide Web in 1989 while he was working in Switzerland.Berners-Lee made it possible for everyone to use the Internet, not just universities and the army.He designed the first “web browser”, which allowed computer users to access documents from other computers.From that moment on, the web and the Internet grew.Within five years, the number of Internet users rose from 600 000 to 40 million.The Internet has created thousands of millionaires, but Berners-Lee is not one of them.Everyone in the world can access the Internet using his World Wide Web system.He now works as a lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.Module 5
A Simple Scientific Experiment Below is a description of a simple scientific experiment.It shows us how iron reacts with air and with water.Aim: To find out iron rusts(a)in dry air;(b)in water that has no air in it(air-free water);(c)in ordinary water.Apparatus:3 clean iron nails;test tubes;test tube holder;cotton wool;oil;Bunsen burner.Iron in dry air Method
Method(1)Half-fill a test tube with water and two or three clean nails.(1)Put some iron nails at the bottom of a test tube.(2)Leave the tube for one week.(2)Push some cotton wool down the tube.Result(3)Leave the tube for one week.The nails rust in the tube with ordinary water.Result Conclusion After one week,the nails have not rusted.Iron rusts in ordinary water.Conclusion Iron does not rust in dry air.Iron in ordinary water Iron in air-free water Method
(1)Half-fill a test tube with water.(2)Boil the water for three minutes.(This makes
sure there is no air in the water.)
(3)Put two or three clean nails in the water.(4)Add some oil to the water.This will keep air out of the water.(5)Leave the tube for one week.Result The nails do not rust in the tube with air-free water.Conclusion Iron does not rust in air-free water.