北师大版 高中英语值得诵读的课文

离2015高考只有50天左右的时间，许多教学专家强调要回归课本。可是高三北师大有11个模块，这么多的课文叫考生从第一课读到最后一课，这显然不太现实。笔者经过多年的教学实践，从北师大版高中英语模块1至模块8课本中遴选出一些课文供广大考生诵读。

为何要诵读课文呢？因为课文是英语专家千挑万选出来的，质量很高，并且课文含有几乎所有考点。以模块1中的一篇课文“A Workaholic”为例，其中有一句话“I am always the first person to get to the office.”。而2015年3月福州市质检英语试题中的第27题

27. Li Na, the first _______ a ranking of world No. 2 in Asia, retired from tennis in September, 2014.

A. to achieve B. achieving C. to have achieved D. achieved

只要考生对课文有印象的话，就会毫不费力地选A答案。

望考生们不要迷惘于各种各样的模拟题，抽出一些时间回归课本吧。诵读课文，获得语感，定能在考试中得心应手，取得高分。

（注：本文末尾谈了跟高考英语书面表达相关的话题，请大家仔细阅读。）

Module 1 Unit 1 Lesson 1 A Perfect Day?

A Couch Potato

Forty-three-year-old Brian Blakey from Birmingham is sitting on his sofa and telling me about his perfect day.

‘When I wake up I don’t get up immediately. I turn on the television and watch the children’s programmes and old movies until about half-past ten. Then I get up, go downstairs and switch on the TV in the living room. For lunch, I have biscuits and a glass of milk, and I watch the news. In the afternoon, I often watch another old film – they’re showing some good ones at the moment. In the evenings, I often watch TV series or sport and the news again. I like the main news at six o’clock. At nine thirty, if there is a good play on BBC 2, I switch over and watch it. Then at night, I watch more films and I usually switch off the TV at about two o’clock. I never watch TV all night.

I watch TV for sixteen or seventeen hours a day. I also do some exercise every day. I take Tina, the dog, for a walk every afternoon. I don’t go far, of course. I walk to the wall outside my house. I always take my portable TV and I sit on the stone wall while the dog walks round in a circle.

Of course, I couldn’t live this lifestyle without a good wife. She’s not here now because she’s working, but she always makes my meals. We haven’t got much money, you know, but we’re happy. Sit down and watch TV. Here’s the remote control. You’ve got the world at your feet. And in your hand. Great! ’

A Workaholic

Thirty-six-year-old Bob Black is sitting at his desk and working his way through his paperwork.

‘I normally wake up about five minutes before my alarm clock goes off. As soon as I hear my alarm clock, I jump out of my bed. It takes me less than fifteen minutes to wash, get changed, have breakfast, leave home and get on a bus.

I am always the first person to get to the office. The mornings are always very busy and the afternoons are even busier! Meetings and phone calls take up a large part of the day. Every minute of the day is filled with urgent matters. By around eight o’clock, I usually find some time to do my own paperwork and answer some personal e-mails.

When I get home at about ten, I look at some documents that I bring back from the office so that I can be ready for the next day’s work. I get to bed around midnight when my wife and children are already asleep.

I seldom have time for fun and other activities with my family. My family complains about it. But I try to work hard so that I can make more money for them. Besides, I get bored if there’s nothing to do. I like being busy. ’

Module 1 Unit 1 Lesson 4 City and Country

Debbie is an accountant in a large company in the centre of London.

I need to be in my office by nine o’clock so I usually get up at seven o’clock. I travel to work on “the tube”. That’s what people call the underground in London. It takes about fifty minutes. Usually, it’s so crowded that I can’t find anywhere to sit. I just stand. I’m always tired before I arrive at work. I don’t like the underground!

I spend all morning checking numbers. Lunch is always simple. I often get a sandwich in a nearby sandwich shop or I just have some biscuits and a cup of coffee. Then in the afternoon, I return to the paperwork in the office.

On Monday nights, I have dance classes, and on Wednesday nights, I go to the gym. I need to do that because I don’t get enough exercise otherwise. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, I have French classes. I work for a French company so I think studying French will help me in my job.

I go to the cinema almost every weekend. Sometimes, if the weather forecast is good, my friends and I drive to the countryside for a weekend break. We like to visit nice, quiet places far away from the city and go walking where there are no shops, crowds or the tube. That fresh air is so good for my lungs. I love it.

Paul lives in a small village in the north of England.

I usually get up at four o’clock every morning when it’s still dark. I live and work on the farm so I don’t need to travel. After a big breakfast in my house, I walk out of the front door and I’m already at work.

There are many things to do on the farm all day. We don’t have the same work hours that office workers in the city have. We do jobs when they need to be done and that could be early in the morning or late at night. I have cows, sheep, pigs and chickens on my farm. I have to make sure they are free of sickness. I also grow wheat and vegetables so there are many things to look after.

In the evening, I like to play with my children. I have two children, a boy and a girl. They are six and eight years old. I also like to study. Right now I am studying Chinese by distance learning. I am very interested in China and it’s my dream to see the Great Wall one day.

I love movies. My wife calls me a “movie fan”. But there isn’t a cinema in my village so I don’t get the chance to go very often. I go about twice a year, usually when I go to London with my family. We take a weekend break there when I am not too busy on the farm. My wife loves looking in the clothes shops and I like all the crowds and the noise. I also like to buy a few cigars. Unfortunately, my wife isn’t as fond of them as I am. My son and daughter love to ride on London’s red buses and they especially love to go on the tube!

Module2 Lesson 1 Modern Heroes National Hero

Yang Liwei returns safely to earth after 21 hours in space

China’s first manned spaceship lifted off at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15th, 2003 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province. The spaceship, called Shenzhou V, was carrying China’s first astronaut, Yang Liwei. Yang, who was a pilot in the army, was chosen from 1,500 other army pilots and started training for his space flight in 1998.

The launch was very successful. “When the spaceship was lifting off, I could really feel the high gravity”, said Yang Liwei. “When the spaceship separated from the rocket, I suddenly got a feeling of soaring into the sky because of the zero gravity.”

During the 21-hour space flight, the Shenzhou V circled the earth 14 times. While the spaceship was circling the earth for the sixth time, Yang Liwei spoke with ground control in Gansu. He was also able to speak with his wife and 8-year-old son. Yang Liwei had several tasks to complete during the flight and only slept in the spaceship for about 3 hours. While he was sleeping, the spaceship circled the earth twice.

When the spaceship was doing its seventh circle, Yang Liwei showed the flags of China and the United Nations, expressing the wishes of the Chinese people to explore and use space peacefully.

At 6:23 a.m. on October 16th, Yang Liwei landed in Inner Mongolia safely. He told reporters later, “The surface of the spaceship was glowing red when it came back into the earth’s atmosphere. When Shenzhou V let out its parachute, I felt the ship was shaking.” As Yang Liwei returned into the earth’s atmosphere, helicopters were flying to where he would land, ready to collect him.

Millions of people all over China were watching TV when the spaceship landed safely. When Yang Liwei climbed out of the spaceship, he smiled and waved to the crowds waiting for him. Yang Liwei was happy to be home but he said, “I thought 21 hours was too short to stay in space.”

Module 1 Unit 2 Lesson 4 Superhero Christopher Reeve

“After the accident, Dana was told to say goodbye and people were talking about my funeral.”

Christopher Reeve was born in September, 1952. He was in his first school play when he was eight and he started to act in TV shows and films while he was still in college. He made many successful films and TV shows but he is most famous for his Superman films.

Unfortunately, disaster came in 1995 when he fell from his horse and broke his back. The doctors did not expect him to live. However, he made amazing progress. At first, he couldn’t breathe without a machine, but he learnt to breathe on his own. He would never walk again but he started a new life with great courage.

The second year after his accident, Christopher returned to film making. He also raised a lot of money to promote medical research into back injuries. He made speeches all over the USA about his experiences. This not only drew public attention to research into back injuries but also encouraged a lot of people living with all kinds of problems.

From their home, Christopher and his wife Dana spoke about their life after the accident.

Have you thought of giving up after the accident?

“No. Four days after the injury, I came to understand my situation. My wife Dana and I were in the hospital. The doctor said I was not going to pull through. Dana said: ‘But you’re still you, and I love you.’ And that saved my life. Since that moment I have never thought of giving up. Of course, I’ve had moments of feeling sorry for myself, but I’ve never had any thoughts of committing suicide.”

Did you think that your marriage was so strong?

“Yes, because Dana’s so wonderful. We have always got on really well. Our relationship has always been fantastic.”

How did your parents react to the accident?

“They divorced when I was four. They’ve got closer since the accident.”

How did you get involved with charity work?

“I know a lot of disabled people need my help. This is how I got involved with my charity work to improve the quality of life for all disabled people.”

“With the progress of new medical research, I’m confident that people like me would be able to walk again one day. So you can see, I’m far too busy with living to think of giving up!”

Christopher Reeve died on October 10, 2004. But people all over the world will always remember him as a superhero.

Module 1 Unit 3 Lesson 1 Festivals

Autumn

Every year in September or October, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by the Chinese people all over the world. On this day, the moon is said to be its biggest and brightest. People like to meet in the evening and watch the moon.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is important because it is a special occasion for family. It is also a day for special foods like moon cakes. There are all kinds of moon cakes. Traditional moon cakes are usually made with bean paste, but nowadays, there are many different kinds of moon cakes including fruit, coffee, chocolate and even ice-cream moon cakes.

Winter

The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

There are many stories about how the Lantern Festival started. In one story, lanterns were lit to celebrate the power of light over darkness. In another story, a town was almost destroyed but the light from many lanterns saved it. The story was about a god who wanted to burn down the town. He was fooled when he saw thousands of lanterns. He thought the town was already burning.

In the past, lanterns were usually lit by candles and decorated with pictures of birds, animals and flowers, etc.. Nowadays, most lanterns are made with light bulbs and batteries, and they come in many shapes and sizes. In the north-eastern part of China, there are even ice-lanterns.

The special food for the Lantern Festival is the sweet dumpling. Sweet dumplings are boiled and served in hot water.

Summer

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year. As it is in early summer, it marks the beginning of the hottest season of the year.

The tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival started more than 2,000 years ago. In the old days, dragon boat races were organised only by Chinese people. However, in recent years, people from other cultures have also taken part in the races and enjoyed the fun.

There is a special food for the festival. It is called zongzi, which is sticky rice in fresh bamboo leaves.

Module 2 Unit 4 Cyberspace Lesson 1 Tomorrow’s World

The Future of Cyberspace

Peter Taylor finds out how computers and the Internet are going to affect our lives.

In the last thirty years, the Internet has grown rapidly. In 1983, there were only 200 computers connected to the Internet; now there are around 50 million and this growth is clearly going to continue.

Some experts are pessimistic about the future. One worry is crime in cyberspace. Even now, young hackers can get into the computers of banks and governments. In the future, terrorists may “attack” the world’s computers, cause chaos, and make planes and trains crash.

However, many people are optimistic about the future of the Internet. Already, users can buy books, find out about holiday offers, book tickets, and get all sorts of information from the Internet. “In the next few years,” says Angela Rossetto of Cyberia magazine, “it is clear that we are going to see a huge growth in shopping on the Internet.” She also believes that, in the future, we will get entertainment from the Net and that television will probably disappear. The mail service may also disappear with the increasing use of e-mail.

Some experts see our future in virtual reality – the use of computers with sounds and pictures that make you feel as if you are in a real situation. “Personally, I think virtual reality will become a part of modern life,” says Australian expert Peter Anderson. “I see people living and working in a virtual world. We will work in virtual offices, shop in virtual supermarkets, and we will even study in virtual schools.”

Module 2 Unit 6 Lesson 3 Chinese Paper Art

The Art of Paper

Chen Zijiang is a paper-cutting expert whom I interviewed for my article on Chinese Art. Paper-cutting is something that he learned to do from an early age.

“It is a Chinese folk art with a long history,” Mr Chen told me, “Paper cuts of animals have been found in tombs which date back to the time of the Northern and Southern Dynasty!” He added that by the Southern Song Dynasty, paper-cutting had become an important part of everyday life. “A young farmer who wanted a wife would look at a young woman’s paper-cutting skills before marrying her!” explained Mr Chen, laughing at the look of surprise on my face.

Mr Chen went on to explain that there are three types of paper cuts which people still make today: paper cuts for decoration, for religious purposes and for design patterns.

Paper cuts used for decoration are often seen on windows and gates. They are usually put up during holidays to bring good luck. They are also used on presents. A present for parents whose child has recently been born might show a paper cut of children, for example. Paper cuts which show the Chinese character for double happiness are often used to celebrate weddings.

Paper cuts used for religious purposes are often found in temples. They are also used as offerings to the dead. People to whom the dead person was related would make these offerings on special days and during festivals.

The third kind of paper cuts are those used to make patterns on clothing. They are also sometimes used to decorate jewellery boxes. Dragons are very popular patterns for these designs.

The interview was very useful as I got a lot of interesting information for my article. I was also ready to try out paper-cutting for myself. “See you next week,” I said as I waved goodbye to Mr Chen. I was going to meet him again so that he could help me make my first paper cut!

Module 3 Unit 7 Lesson 1 Viking Voyages to America

The Vikings were the first Europeans to reach America. They achieved this long before Columbus ever set sail.

The Vikings were a group of people whose ancestors came from Scandinavia. They controlled the seas and coasts of Northern Europe between the 8th and 10th centuries AD. By around 900 AD, there were many places in Northern Europe where the Vikings chose to live. In 982 AD, when a man called Eric the Red decided to set sail further west, there were as many as 10,000 Vikings living in Iceland.

According to the old stories of Iceland and Norway, Eric the Red was forced to leave Iceland because he had committed a murder, for which he got into trouble. Eric reached Greenland and discovered that people could live in the place where he landed. He returned to Iceland and told people there about Greenland. He persuaded some people to go back with him to Greenland. Eric set sail once again, this time with 25 ships, of which only 14 made it to Greenland.

Not long after Eric the Red had landed in Greenland, a man called Biarni set sail from Iceland in search of Eric’s party. Biarni was hoping to join his father who was with Eric, but he was blown off course and found himself in an unknown land, from where he eventually reached Greenland.

In the year 1002, when Eric the Red’s son Leif was planning a trip further west, Biarni was the man with whom Leif discussed his plans. Leif followed Biarni’s directions and sailed to what is believed to be the coast of present-day Canada. He then sailed further south to an island which is now known as Newfoundland.

We know about Eric the Red and Leif’s deeds through stories which were written down centuries later in Norway and Iceland. They are the first records we have of Europeans sailing to the Americas.

Module 3 Unit 8 Lesson 1 Adventure in the Himalayas

Just imagine. You are walking along a mountain path in the Himalayas. You are feeling tired. You are thinking about how far there is to go. Then, suddenly you are there! And the amazing Mount Qomolangma is on the horizon. It looks great. A few minutes later, you arrive at the camp. The food cooking on the fire smells great and while you are having a hot cup of tea, you relax and watch the sun go down. At dinner, the food tastes fantastic. You talk with other people in the group about everything you have seen and done during your day’s hiking. If you are looking for experiences like this, Adventure 2000 is the organisation for you.

A lot of hiking holidays sound exciting, but the reality is often very different. Hiking trips can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, at Adventure 2000 we feel that we understand the needs of hikers. All our guides have several years of experience in leading hiking trips in the Himalayas. They know all the best routes and best places to camp. We also realise that hiking can be hard work and believe that hikers need all our help. As well as the group guide, all teams have cooks and porters. While on a hiking trip, our cooks prepare delicious meals. And our porters carry your luggage, which means that you can simply enjoy the experience.

At Adventure 2000 we also think that good travel arrangements are important. We organise all the flights for you: from London to Beijing, from Beijing to Lhasa and bus travel in Tibet.

Accommodation is in comfortable hotels in Beijing and Lhasa, hostels on the hiking trip, and one-or two-person tents for camping.

There are also special offers for people who don’t want to go straight home afterwards. If you like history, there is a trip to Western China. For people who prefer to spend some time on the coast, we can organise your travel and accommodation too.

This is a Class A hike — you have to be fit. There are walks of 6–8 hours most days, with a maximum altitude of 5,545 metres. Class B and C hikes are easier, so you don’t need to be so fit.

The hike costs £2,500 including all flights and accommodation. Maximum group size is 15 people. Hikes are between October and May.

Module 3 Unit 9 Lesson 1 Return of the white bikes!

People have been enjoying the benefits of cycling in Amsterdam for years. It is a good city for cycling because it is flat and therefore is convenient for bikes. There are also plenty of places for bicycle parking and most streets in the city centre have a bicycle path. Today some people call Amsterdam the “City of Bicycles” because of the convenience for bicycles there.

In the 1960s, a group of cycling fans had an idea. They believed that it would be better for everybody if cars weren’t allowed in the city centre and only bicycles were. They were hopeful that this would help to save energy, reduce pollution and provide free public transport. The group painted hundreds of bicycles white and placed them in lots of neighbourhoods around Amsterdam for people to use. Anyone was allowed to take them and use them for short journeys. Wherever someone finished a journey they would leave the bike there for someone else to use. The problem was that it didn’t work – thieves took all the bicycles within weeks!

However, more than thirty years later, the “white bike” is back in town – this time with a computer chip to record its every move! To take a bicycle, you have to insert a special card. The new “white bike” is not actually white but is an unusual design with bright colours. The bikes are parked at special parking places and people who want to use them have to take them to another special parking place that has enough room.

There is already less traffic in central Amsterdam, because both locals and tourists have been using the white bikes. Indeed, thanks to the good ideas of lots of people, like the cycling fans in the 1960s, many people around the world have been enjoying city centre streets without cars for many years.

Module4 Unit10 Lesson1 A Material World

“Who wants to be a Millionaire? I don't,” says Charles Gray

Angus Deayton interviews ex-millionaire Charles Gray A lot of people are determined to become a millionaire. They spend half their time dreaming up ways of getting rich, and the rest of their time thinking about all the enjoyable things they would do once they got rich. But do all millionaires find the happiness that they thought they would get when they achieve their goals? Some millionaires continue to be concerned about money when they become millionaires. They are hardworking to get all that money. Then they are hardworking to make sure they never lose it!

But there are people who have turned their backs on their millions and found different ways to be happy in their lives. Charles Gray is one example. Sixteen years ago, Charles was a college professor with a huge six-bedroom house and $2 million.

Today he lives in a small dormitory room where there is only second-hand furniture. There are certainly no signs that Charles was a rich man! There is a small garden outside with a few fruit trees. Charles grows some vegetables and a few flowers. He gets his clothes and a lot of other things from charity shops.

But Charles appreciates this change. He was pleased to give up the lifestyle of a rich man. He was tired of being a person who had everything in a world where many people had nothing. He made the choice to give all his money away. And this, he said, brought him happiness. “A few years ago,” says Charles, “I was a millionaire, but was aware there were a lot of hungry people in the world.” Therefore he gave away all his money to charities. When he had two thousand dollars left, he gave away small bank notes in the streets of local poor areas. Did he feel like Father Christmas? “It was a lot of fun,” says Charles.

Charles believes that many people want to earn a lot of money so that they will not have any worries. However, most people never make much money. Charles Gray decided to drop out and has discovered that having only a little money makes you free. Are there any things he misses? “No, I'm much happier now. I wouldn't go back to being rich for anything – no way.”

Module4 Unit10 Lesson 3 Your Money

When less is more

What can you do with 5 yuan? Not a lot, you may think. Well, if buying a bag of candies or cookies doesn't appeal to you, how about buying a tree instead? Yes, a tree along the banks of the Yellow River to be exact.

Every year, approximately 1.6 billion tons of soil flows into the Yellow River, China's second longest river. The soil contains materials to keep the natural balance of the area. Over time, a lot of soil has been removed, which has caused serious erosion of the land along the River. In some areas in Shanxi Province, this has destroyed almost all the land, and has forced many local farmers to move to other areas.

It is a huge job to control Yellow River erosion. Many people believe this kind of work is best done by government or international organisations. You may agree with this point of view. If so, it is time for you to think again.

In fact, it is you who have the most important role to play in stopping Yellow River erosion. Did you know the importance of your 5 yuan? For a start, it can buy you a tree, which will help make soil stay on the land. On land with rich soil, local farmers can grow crops to make a living. With the money they earn from their crops, farmers buy goods or services. This helps to develop local economies.

Still puzzled how your 5 yuan can have so much effect? Well, just take a look at the fact below. Since 1997, a tree-planting programme has changed the Jiuchengong Valley in Inner Mongolia into a green homeland. Visitors from all over the world now come to admire this great achievement. What is more, the success of the programme has greatly improved the lives of the local people. Just think: all this started with 5 yuan!

So when you have 5 yuan in your pocket next time, think twice about how to use the money. Remember you can use it to buy a tree and create a green future for our motherland, our people and yourself.

Module4 Unit 11 Lesson 4 4 What's in the Papers?

According to a research published by Leeds University yesterday, people don't mind bad language on television as long as it is not used in programmes watched by children.

The study found there was “amazing agreement” about when bad language was serious and when it was not. Even a group of mothers agreed that a certain amount of bad language in the well-known film Pulp Fictionwas “OK” because the dialogue and situation made it “funny”. Some people said they found the use of drugs in the film more worrying than the bad language.

People were asked to comment on scenes from films like Pulp Fiction, TV series like Channel 4's Brooksideand cartoons like South Park. Leeds University concluded that people made a distinction between bad language used in programmes for adults, and those meant for children.

Peter Moore, a writer at the BBC, said, “The result does not surprise us at all. We have always tried to keep bad language away from innocent ears and this is a very important consideration when deciding at what times of day certain programmes are shown.” Susan Bold, director of programmes at ITV, said, “The report gives interesting information about attitudes to bad language on screen. But it doesn't mean that we can increase the amount of bad language used on television.”

More than 30 astronomers on a sightseeing trip to the museum of science had an amazing escape, after their trolleybus crashed into a greengrocer's truck on Park Avenue.

The accident, which took place in Kingston, a town southwest of London, happened because of the fog. The 60-year-old driver of the truck did not know that he was parked in the way of the trolleybus. When the driver finally discovered the trolleybus coming towards him through the fog, he tried to move but his tyres got stuck in the muddy ground. At the last minute, he jumped out of the truck, hurting his ankle, before the trolleybus crashed into the truck, pushing it 20 yards. “I would have been killed if I'd stayed in the truck,” he said afterwards.

A spokesman for the police said, “It's amazing that no one was badly hurt. When we arrived at the scene, we called an ambulance as we saw blood everywhere. We soon realised, however, that the blood was really strawberry juice! The greengrocer's truck had been carrying a load of fresh strawberries.” He praised the bravery of the astronomers who were helped out of the windows of the trolleybus by firemen.

Mum Lillian Derbyshire is going to see her four daughters again — after a 31-year holiday! Shonda (now 38), Shelley (37), Sherri (36) and Shirin (34) went on holiday to America with Lillian's ex-husband — and never came back. Sherri wrote a letter to a local paper asking her mother to contact her. Now Lillian, of West Gorton, Manchester, is making the 3,000-mile journey to California to see her daughters. ‘I can't stop crying with happiness,' she said.

1 Visiting Britain

Dear Aunt Mei,

I can't believe I've been in London for 6 months already! I certainly owe you an apology for not writing more often. I've just been so busy studying and trying to absorb all the new things around me — I think I'm still experiencing culture shock. There is so much here that is different from home. But you'll soon experience it all yourself! I wish your visit wasn't going to be so brief but there's a lot we can do and see in a week. I'm just so glad you can afford to visit me and I refuse to let you pay for anything while you're here!

I don't know what your expectations are of London, but knowing that you've never travelled outside of Asia, I thought I'd tell you a bit about what you can expect to find.

First of all, the food. When I first got here, I was amazed to find that London is such an international city. There are people from all over the world living here and as a result, there are many international restaurants. Do you know that almost every town in Britain has at least one Chinese restaurant? But British people hardly ever eat Chinese food for breakfast. You're going to have to get used to bacon and eggs with a few slices of toast for breakfast over here, Aunt Mei!

And a word of advice. To avoid getting confused about the British tipping system, you need to check your bill to see if a tip is included or not. If it isn't, I suggest leaving 10% of the bill for the waiter or waitress — even a bit more if the service is good. Talking of money — it's really easy to exchange traveller's cheques at banks or hotels so I advise you to get some of those before you come.

I think we should consider staying in the English countryside for a few nights as I know you enjoy hiking. We can wander through the fields and even pick a few mushrooms to have with our breakfast! I have learnt which ones are tasty and safe to eat so we won't risk getting sick! And don't forget a warm coat! It can get pretty cold and foggy in this country.

One last thing, I didn't understand British humour at all when I first got here. The British find the strangest things funny! We're certainly more used to Chinese humour so don't be surprised if you hear laughter when you don't think anything's funny. They're not laughing at you! But even though some British people are quite strange, the majority of them are really friendly and I've made some good friends.

Anyhow, I'd better get back to work. I am so looking forward to your visit, Aunt Mei!

Love Xiaojin

Module 5 Unit 13 People 1 EQ : IQ (这是北大是版高中英语最棒的课文)

Success comes with a high EQ

Most students do an IQ test early in their school career. Even if they never see their results, they feel that their IQ is what determines how well they are going to do in life. When they see other students doing better than them, they usually believe that those students have a higher IQ and that there is nothing they can do to change facts. However, new research into EQ suggests that success is not simply the result of a high IQ.

While your IQ tells you how intelligent you are, your EQ tells you how well you use your intelligence. Professor Salovey, who invented the term EQ, gives the following description: At work, it is IQ that gets you hired but it is EQ that gets you promoted. Supported by his academic research, Professor Salovey suggests that when predicting someone's future success, their character, as measured by EQ tests, might actually matter more than their IQ.

Professor Salovey may be correct. For example, have you ever wondered why some of the smartest students in your class, who you think deserve good grades, sometimes end up failing exams? Perhaps their failure is because of their low EQ. People are often mistaken in thinking that those with high IQs always have high EQs as well. This association can exist, but it is just as possible for someone with a low IQ to have a high EQ or someone with a high IQ to have a low EQ.

It is generally believed that people with high EQs are open to new ideas and have positive attitudes towards life. They are also less likely to be troubled by problems. On the other hand, there is little doubt that people with low EQs often have problems getting on with other people and dealing with difficult situations; thus they have a harder time surviving in life.

People generally believe that a person's IQ is determined by birth. However, most social scientists agree that EQ has a lot to do with education. Some are trying to study the possibility of improving a person's EQ, especially in terms of “people skills”, such as understanding and communication.

Professor Mayer, recognised by many as a leading expert in the study of changes to people's EQs, recently announced the results of a study on senior high school students. When normal students were introduced to students with disabilities, they found that, afterwards, the normal students were more willing to help people with difficulties. They also showed a better understanding of the disabled students' feelings compared to students who had not been involved in the study. There was also an obvious change in the disabled students' attitudes. They became more positive about life and more willing to try new things.

The results of studies such as these show that EQ is as important, if not more important than IQ. To get ahead in the world and lead a happy successful life means getting on with other people and being able to understand and react to situations in the best way possible. This requires a high EQ – the higher the better. And the fact that it might be possible to raise EQs means that schools need to make sure that their students are receiving the education they really need, and know that their futures are not entirely determined by their IQs.

Module 5 Unit 13 Lesson 4 First Impressions

The day that I met my best friend for the first time, I was full of anxiety. I was trying to do some revision for an important oral exam in the local library and people kept disturbing me. I was getting more and more annoyed and of course, the more upset I got, the less I was able to concentrate. The last straw was when I heard someone singing behind me. The singing was so loud that I could even recognise the song! I turned around and glared at the person who was singing. It was a tall girl about the same age as me and she had a big smile on her face. She was standing with a book in her hands near the “English Literature” section. She looked like a literary type and seemed very interested in what she was reading. I glanced at the book’s cover. It was a book of Tennyson’s poems.

The fact that she looked like a sensitive, friendly girl didn’t matter. If anything, it made me even angrier. “How could she be so selfish?” I thought angrily. In fact, I’m surprised there wasn’t steam coming out of my ears!

I picked up my books, glared at her and whispered angrily, “Thanks to your noise, I’ve been unable to study. You’re so selfish!”

I still hate thinking of that moment. Let me tell you the rest of the story though.

Because I left the library in such a hurry, I left my most important textbook behind. It was only when I got home two hours later that I realised I’d forgotten it and there was nothing I could do as the library was closed. I was so upset that I almost cried. Just then, the phone rang. I answered it and a gentle voice introduced the speaker as Jenny and asked if I was Jane. After confirming that I was, Jenny said that she had noticed I’d left my book in the library and as my name was in it, she’d asked a librarian to get my phone number from their files. She said that she didn’t live far away and could bring it around for me if I needed it.

I sighed with relief and agreed to meet her at the convenience store down the road. I was so grateful! Of course you’ve guessed who Jenny was. She was the girl I had shouted at for singing. When I recognised her in the convenience store, I was filled with shame and apologised several times for my rude behaviour. I felt so guilty, but Jenny just laughed and told me she was glad to see that I’d also left my glare in the library! I couldn’t help laughing at this and I invited her back to my apartment for a quick cup of tea.

We got along really well and ever since then we’ve been best friends. We’re very much alike and we tell each other everything. To be honest, I trust her more than anyone else. I often think how lucky I am. If Jenny hadn’t been a kind person who was willing to forgive my shortcomings, I would never have experienced such true friendship.

Module 5 Unit 14 Lesson 3 Nine to Five

The Road to Success

As a child, Wang Junyan never dreamed of becoming a famous person on TV. “I never thought about going on TV because my family didn’t even have one until I was in junior high school!” she explained. Now Wang Junyan is the presenter for Universe TV’s news programmes. I asked her how she had achieved success and she told me that being curious, working hard, and believing in what was true made her the success she is today.

“It was my mother who taught me to be curious. She had a great love of everything in the universe and she taught me to be interested in mankind and nature, everything from plants to insects,” Junyan told me. “We would look in old nests to find birds’ feathers and we would even turn over stones to look at the little creatures there. I loved doing that,” remembered Junyan. She said, “My mother was a strong character. Although there were lots of difficulties to overcome, she never let her problems defeat her. She worked extremely hard to support me through school and during my time at Fudan University in Shanghai. Her attitude towards life will never stop influencing my thoughts and actions.”

After graduating from university, Wang Junyan became a reporter for a local newspaper. She said she chose to be a journalist because it is important that people grasp what is going on around them. I asked her if there was any special moment that made her realise this and she replied that it was after she was asked to inspect an illegal business. Her report helped the people who had been affected and it also helped the government inspect the company and catch the guilty people. “That is when I realised the importance of being a journalist,” said Junyan.

“Writing that report wasn’t easy, but I realised that people needed to know and so I didn’t give up,” Junyan told me. This paid off because she won an award for the report. “I discovered then that as long as I am committed and never give up I will be able to produce high quality reports.”That’s exactly what Wang Junyan has been doing as the face of Universe TV.

I asked Junyan what she liked most about her job and she said that although there wasn’t much glory in a reporter’s existence, she found it interesting and challenging. “I meet a lot of people and go to many different places. I’m never bored with this job!” She added that as a reporter she needed many different skills and was constantly challenged to learn new things. Finally, I asked her if after many years she still felt curious. Smiling brightly, she told me, “Nothing that I learned from my mother has ever left me. Today when I’m looking for stories, I still feel like I’m turning over stones to see what might be hiding beneath!”

Module 5 Unit 14 Lesson 4 Job Trends

Survival of the Fittest

“Between now and the 21st century, citizens of the world’s richest and most advanced nations will find it more and more difficult to keep up with the demand for change. For them, the future will arrive too soon.” So begins Alvin Toffler’s book Future Shock, written back in 1970.

Now people are beginning to pay attention to Toffler’s ideas because the speed of change is becoming increasingly fast. It is sometimes difficult to work out the patterns of change. What should you do? First of all, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and try to get a sense of the good things the future has to offer.

You don’t need to be Einstein to predict the job areas which will be most affected by such change. Jobs in farming, coal mining and heavy industry are decreasing rapidly. On the other hand, the service industry, the media and information technology are booming.

Without doubt, the number of jobs in information technology will multiply. There are currently over 100,000,000 computers in the world and by 2020 there will be 10 times more. Because of this, people who work with computers will be in much greater demand..

There are also many other important changes taking place. First, fewer and fewer people will have a “job for life”. Because of this, workers will have to be more flexible. According to Mark Hastings of the Institute of Management, in the future, people will organise their working life around a variety of jobs, instead of working just for one division or branch of a company.

Similarly, companies will operate in different ways. People will move around to do different jobs, rather than moving up in the company as before. Many more people will work for small, dynamic companies which can respond quickly to changes in the market. Other people will give up working for a boss and start their own businesses. All this means that companies will require people who are flexible and can work on their own. They will also need people who can work together and get on well in a team..

Good communication skills will be extremely important. According to Dr Laurence Lyons of Future Work, women will be envied because they have an advantage in this area. James Traeger, spokesman of a government training organisation, explains that many men will have to be retrained. “It’s not about making men more like women, but helping men to communicate as well.”

Businesses will certainly become more international. English will probably remain the international business language, so don’t bother learning Russian or Spanish. However, understanding other people—their minds, culture and history – will be very important. Above all, a manager will need to feel comfortable working with people from other countries and continents.

New technology is the driving force behind these rapid changes, so don’t get left behind. You don’t need to become a computer expert, but you must consider improving your computer skills. Work with more than one program in case you have to use them at work, and try to read about new technology.

There is no doubt that all this new technology is changing the way we work and offering many other ways of working. Rather than going into an office, a lot of people are connected to the Internet and now work from home. Working like this allows you to live where you want, to continue your studies and to enjoy the comfort of having a lot more free time. However, with all this change, let’s hope that it also helps the people in poor countries where slave labour still happens. For the citizens of these nations, the future can’t arrive soon enough.

Module 5 Unit 15 Learning Lesson 1 Life-long Learning

The Importance of Lifelong Learning

Nowadays, more and more people of various ages and backgrounds are continuing to study to improve themselves. Here’s what they have to say about their life-long learning experience.

Sun Wen – 28 years old

“It’s never too late to learn.” That was the advice I got after I failed my college entrance exam. Now I’m about to graduate from the School of Continuing Education at Qinghua University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering by distance learning. Because of my new qualification, I’m getting promoted at work.

In the past, if someone like me had failed to get into university through the college exam, he would have had no chance of getting a degree. But it’s different now. I decided to give myself a second chance by studying for a degree in the evenings and on weekends while keeping a secure full-time job. Frankly speaking, the last four years have been hard work, but it’s been worth it!

Ms Tang – 45 years old

Three months ago, when my manager told me that I would be laid off, my mind went blank and my heart swelled with anger. In the past, if someone had worked for a company for over 20 years, they would have stayed there until retirement! I suspect that they laid me off because the company was not doing that well but it still brought a lump to my throat and made me want to cry. I felt as if I had done something wrong! I know this isn’t true though. It’s just the status of the job market at the moment.

At first, I enjoyed being a full-time housewife and called myself “CHO” or “chief home officer”. But soon I got bored and decided to do a business course. I have always dreamed of starting my own company.

I have nearly finished the course now and it has been very helpful. I have learnt so many new skills and have already prepared a business plan for setting up my own export company! I think that getting laid off will prove to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

Grandpa Chen – 75 years old

I’m sure you all know the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Well, it’s certainly not true! I’m an old dog, and I’m teaching myself new tricks every day!

It all started a few months ago when postage went up. I’d been sending letters by airmail to my daughter in the US once a week, but, suddenly, it was too expensive. I decided that it was time I became an Internet user. I got my grandson to instruct me on how to email and use the Internet and I really enjoy the speed at which my messages get sent and answered. And aside from emailing, it’s fun to see and talk to my grandchildren in the US on the i-Cam. In the past, if I’d wanted to see them, I would have had to visit them in person.

So many people think that after you retire, all you can do is switch off your brain and bury everything you’ve ever learnt. This is so wrong!

Anyway, it’s time for me to go now. I have to practise the alphabet! I’m doing an English course on the Internet.

Module 5 Unit 15 Lesson 3 Teachers

My Teacher

Graham Lawrence, 29, science author who gives presentations on TV, went to Overton School, 1981-1989.

I haven’t seen Mr Jenkins since I left school but I often think about him. I wasn’t very good at most school subjects. I suppose I was a bit lazy and now I wish I’d done more work, especially in maths. The only thing I can remember from school maths is that the angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees! But when I was 15 and went into Mr Jenkins’ class, I really became interested in a subject for the first time.

Before Mr Jenkins, science had simply been a subject full of strange words to me. I had no idea what an atom was and I didn’t really want to know either! I found it all so boring and difficult. But Mr Jenkins made everything interesting. He used to explain things with lots of practical examples and simplified things that seemed difficult. One day, he took us outside and we built a rocket! I remember that he let me pour some powder into the rocket and then another student lit a flame to set it off. It was great fun.

I know that I wasn’t a willing student and I shouldn’t have been so difficult at school, but it was probably because I lacked confidence in myself. Mr Jenkins made me feel that I could do things. I was interested in astronomy and he asked me to give a presentation to the class. That was really the first time I ever tried to explain science to an audience and now it’s my job! Often when I’m preparing a programme, I think about how Mr Jenkins would have done it. Sometimes I wish I could phone him and ask for his opinion!

My Student

Brian Jenkins, science teacher at Overton School.

Before Graham came into my class, he was very difficult. I had heard stories about his bad behaviour. Once I caught him and a friend seeing who could spit the furthest off the school stage! But when he got interested, he changed. The first day he walked into my class, he was dragging his school bag behind him and looking bored, but as soon as I set up an experiment to show how the human stomach works using acid and an onion, he gave me his full attention. He loved science! He was very bright and should have done much better in all his other subjects. I’ve read a couple of his books and seen him on TV. I always say to my wife, “Oh look, I used to teach him!”

I wish I was as successful with all my students as I was with Graham. It’s difficult teaching nowadays. There are lots of problems and not enough money. The government should have put more money towards science education. And I wish they would decrease the size of classes — it’s not easy doing lessons in laboratories with big groups and it must be even worse in the poorer schools! At least with schools like ours, we have laboratories!

My wife often wishes that I had chosen a job with less stress but I love what I do. The thing about being a teacher is that you have access to children’s minds when they are open and eager to learn. And if what I do as a teacher can help turn a child like Graham into such a successful adult, then I know what I’m doing is worthwhile.

Module 6 Unit 16 Lesson 3 Life Stories

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was a very special girl who needed a superb teacher. By the time she was seven years old, she still couldn’t speak, read or write. This was because Helen couldn’t see or hear. With these severe restrictions on her communication, Helen’s behaviour was often unbearable. She was stubborn and angry, and often broke things when she wasn’t understood.

Anne Sullivan was brought in to help Helen. Anne was a teacher and former student at a school for the blind in Boston. She had had eyesight problems early in life as well so she could relate to Helen’s difficulties. Her first goal was to stop Helen’s troublesome behaviour. Helen would need this valuable preparation in order to learn language. She would also need lots of love. When Anne and Helen first met, Anne gave Helen a big hug.

Helen would have to learn to understand words spelled on her hand. Anne’s technique was simple and straightforward. She would put an object into one of Helen’s hands and spell the word into her other hand. She started with dolls. She would let Helen play with the doll, and then spell the letters “D-O-L-L” into her hand. Helen thought this was a game. She had a precise description of her excitement in her book, The Story of My Life: “Running downstairs to my mother, I held up my hand and made the letters for doll. I did not know that I was spelling a word or even that words existed; I was simply making my fingers go in monkey-like imitation.”

Then one day, Anne took Helen out to the well. Anne put Helen’s hand under the water. As the water flowed over one hand, Anne spelled “w-a-t-e-r” into the other hand. Then suddenly, Helen had a burst of understanding; the movement of the fingers meant the cool water flowing over her hand. This precious knowledge gave her hope and joy. Finally, the world of words was opening up to her.

Now that Helen understood the key to language, she was very eager to learn more and use it as much as she could. Children who can see and hear learn language easily but for Helen, it was a gradual and sometimes painful process. However, the results were amazing.

As Helen’s knowledge and vocabulary expanded, she asked more and more questions. This soon led her to discover more complex words and changed her thinking processes. Trying to learn the word “love” was an experience that she remembered well. This is how she described it in her book, The Story of My Life:

“I remember the morning that I first asked the meaning of the word ‘love’. This was before I knew many words. I had found a few early violets in the garden and brought them to my teacher ... Miss Sullivan put her arm gently round me and spelled into my hand, ‘I love Helen.’ ‘What is love?’ I asked. She drew me closer to her and said, ‘It is here,’ pointing to my heart ... Her words puzzled me very much because I did not then understand anything unless I touched it.”

The meaning of love was still not apparent to Helen but she kept on trying to understand. “I smelt the violets in her hand and asked, half in words, half in signs, a question which meant, ‘Is love the sweetness of flowers?’ ‘No,’ said my teacher.”

Helen then felt the warmth of the sun shining on them. She pointed up and asked if that was love. When her teacher said that it wasn’t, she was confused and disappointed. “I thought it strange that my teacher could not show me love.”

The word “think” was also a difficult one for Helen but she had a breakthrough while working on a simple task. She was making necklaces with the help of Miss Sullivan when she noticed that she had made some mistakes. Uncertain about how to fix them, she stopped to think carefully. As she did this, Miss Sullivan touched Helen’s head and spelled the word “think” into her hand. “In a flash I knew that the word was the name of the process that was going on in my head.”

It was the first time Helen had understood such a complex word — a word for something she couldn’t touch. At that moment, her mind returned to the word “love”. As she thought about its meaning again, the sun came out. She pointed to the sun and asked her teacher again if that was love. Anne answered Helen by explaining that love was like the sun and clouds in a way.

“You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain … You cannot touch love either; but you feel the sweetness that it pours into everything. Without love you would not be happy or want to play.” In that vivid moment, Helen finally understood the beautiful truth of the word “love”.

Unit 18 Beauty Lesson 1 What Is Beauty?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

In 1878, when Margaret Wolfe Hungerford wrote “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, she was stating that there was no consistent view on beauty. Standards of beauty change across time and cultural groups.

Traditions and fashions, like society itself, change and adapt with time, so it is reasonable that our ideas of beauty change as well. In 19th-century Europe, women used to wear corsets to achieve a body shape that is no longer considered healthy. Men would wear woollen shawls across their shoulders. It is hard to imagine that they would be seen as attractive in the 21st century. Nowadays, in the Western world, one in every ten people has a tattoo or a form of body art. In the past, some cultures used tattoos as an addition to costumes, to show family associations or to mark criminals so that they could easily be recognised.

In contemporary society, culture remains a major part in determining our ideas of beauty. In some countries, young women follow slimming diets to lose extra kilos in preparation for their wedding day. In other cultures, looking thin for a husband-to-be is not what a woman desires at all — rather, looking a little overweight is considered more attractive.

With the influence of history, society and culture, there are no precise criteria which can be used to judge what is beautiful. Lifelong commitment and, indeed, the survival of society itself rely on people seeing beauty in difference and depth. The human race would soon die out if we could only see beauty within a set of limited criteria.

Physical beauty must also be accompanied by an attraction to something deeper within a person. This particular kind of attraction is found in a wide range of personal qualities, e.g. kindness, warmth, a healthy conscience, etc. Judging the appeal of a person’s inner beauty is much more subjective. It takes more than a casual glance to appreciate and it is much more important than physical beauty.

Beauty, therefore, has more than one dimension. We are influenced by our culture, our biology and our time in history to notice physical beauty quickly and easily, but it is inner beauty that requires us to truly see. Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder.

Module 7 Unit 19 Lesson 1 Get ahead with your English

It was predicted as early as the 1700s that English would one day be the global language and that has proved to be the case in the last few decades. The growth of international companies and the great advances in communications have started the trend for learning English as a foreign language. In today’s world, being able to speak more than one language, including English, is how you stand out and get ahead.

However, learning English as a foreign language is very difficult in the absence of a native language environment. Some respected theories on language acquisition believe that to attain a high level of fluency and accuracy in a foreign language, you need to be surrounded by it. But sadly, the chances that we will all have the opportunity to live in an English-speaking country are small. Therefore, most of us have to rely on what we can learn at school as part of the school curriculum.

Our latest English curriculum encourages teachers to create a rich language environment in the classroom. What this means is that they make sure there is an adequate amount of input in English conveyed to the students through various mediums. This can take the form of reading and listening materials which must be of the highest quality. Quality input ensures quality output, whether it is speaking or writing.

To really get ahead, however, means putting in extra work outside of the classroom. Experts say that just 15 minutes of extra-curricular study a day can really accelerate foreign language learning. Here are what they recommend:

- Setting achievable targets. For example, enlarge your vocabulary by 10 new words every day — five times a week — then revise the words on the weekend. 50 new words a week means 200 new words a month.

- Listening to an English song several times in one week after reading the words.

- Watching the news in your own language and then reading an English newspaper or news website. Knowing the main stories before reading will guarantee greater comprehension when reading in English.

- Watching a favourite DVD, but adjusting the language to English in parts you know well.

- Studying with friends. Test each other and share learning strategies — this makes learning more enjoyable.

- Rewarding yourself. If you reach a target, treat yourself. Inform a friend of your targets so they can help motivate you as well.

These recommendations are easily achieved and are well worth the extra effort. However, putting in those extra 15 minutes a day does take dedication. To stay dedicated, you need to keep in mind why you are learning English. Quite simply, in today’s world, English holds the key to a brighter future and a world of possibilities.

Module 7 Unit 19 Lesson 3 BODY LANGUAGE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

If you saw a father patting his son on the back while smiling happily, what would you think was going on? You would probably think that the father was congratulating his son on doing something well, maybe passing an exam or winning a race. You would know what was going on because you understood the message conveyed by the father’s body language. Across the world, a pat on the back and a smile usually means, “Well done”.

Body language is used every single day by people of different nationalities all over the world. It is a language without words that consists of gestures, facial expressions and body movements that greatly add to — and sometimes even replace — spoken language. Body language is used to communicate both attitudes and feelings from affection to anger just like any other language, but it differs from spoken language as it is not always explicit. Somebody jumping for joy is easy to see while a raised eyebrow conveying doubt is easier to miss.

People often use body language on purpose. Someone who does not know the answer to a question will move their shoulders upwards away from their upper body and then let them fall, meaning “I don’t know”. However, body language can be unconscious as well. A person who is feeling uncomfortable or nervous will often hold their body in a very rigid manner and have a tight look about their mouths. They might also cross their arms and move in an abrupt way resembling a robot more than a human. They might not even realise how they are acting but their body language will tell anyone who cares to look closely enough how they are feeling. Body language can therefore make people’s feelings more transparent as although we can lie with words, it is not as easy to do so with our bodies.

Learning to be aware of your body language can be a very useful tool. For example, in a job interview, you will probably be feeling nervous but you won’t want to appear to be in a state of unrest. You will want to appear calm with as much dignity as possible. Merely by uncrossing your arms, you will look more confident.

Body language can be very useful when people do not share a common spoken language. For example, in foreign countries, it is very easy to purchase something simply by smiling and pointing at what you want. On the other hand, you can also easily show what you don’t like by shaking your head. You can negotiate the price by using your fingers and even ask questions by using your hands to outline the shapes of things you want — although this can cause confusion and a few laughs too!

However, body language can sometimes be ambiguous. Although every culture around the world uses the same gestures and expressions, they use them in different ways. For example, an American tourist at a German hotel might give an “OK” sign by making a circle with his fingers. Unlike in America where this sign means everything is fine, in Germany, this gesture can cause offence. Another example is that in most cultures to nod one’s head means “Yes” and to shake one’s head means “No” while in some cultures the opposite is true!

Regardless of these differences, experts agree that across the globe there is one form of body language that receives universal approval — the smile. Smiling has a high success rate so never be afraid to use it — even when you’re nervous — and especially in foreign countries!

Module8 Unit 22 Environmental Protection1 Global Warming

Can we take the heat?

In the last few decades, scientists have reached consensus and reported that human beings are causing changes in the Earth's climate – something previously seen as beyond our control. They claim that in the last 50 years, gases pumped into the Earth's atmosphere by the factories and vehicles have been speeding up the process of global warming and affecting our climate. Looking ahead, scientists believe that global warming could be one of the biggest environmental problems facing the 21st century. But what exactly is global warming, why is it seen as a danger, and how is it relevant to our lives?

Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature that, in turn, leads to climate change. Scientists found that the temperature of the Earth is controlled by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which trap heat from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere. Without these naturally occurring gases, the sun's rays would bounce back into space leaving the Earth cold and impossible to live on. When the presence of these gases in the atmosphere increase, however, more heat is trapped and the Earth's temperature rises.

Over the last 100 years, the global average temperature has increased by 1ЎF and many experts insist that the blame for this global warming can mostly be pinned on human activities. As a result of increased industry, agriculture, the cutting down of forests, the increase in transport and the burning of fuels, nearly 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere every year for every one of the Earth's 6 billion people. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen by more than 30% in the last 250 years with half of this increase occurring since 1960. Given this data, it seems that the link between human activities and rising global temperatures is not merely a coincidence.

A temperature increase of 1ЎF may not sound like a lot, but if we continue to produce carbon dioxide and other gases in such huge quantities, we are condemning life on Earth and should expect severe consequences. Recent reports warned that global warming will cause terrible climate changes including more frequent flooding, heat waves and droughts. Serious diseases will spread and industries that rely on nature such as fishing will be badly affected.

Increased temperatures will also cause the polar ice to melt, raising sea levels and flooding many islands and cities. How can we stop these disasters from happening?

Governments all over the world have a responsibility to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide which their countries are producing. If less carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere, global warming will slow down. This is no easy task, however, and some governments, for example, the USA's federal government, express reservations about whether global warming is really caused by human activities.

Many people believe that they are simply not prepared to sacrifice the amount of money they make from industry to save the Earth. But why wait around for governments to take action? Experts advocate that each person play their part. They suggest making small changes like taking public transport, recycling, using low-flow shower heads, and buying light bulbs that use less energy. Even simple things like using recycled paper or switching off the lights when you leave a room can help. If we add up all these small changes made by everyone worldwide, they won't be such small changes. They could be the changes that save our future. After all, there's no substitute for our Earth. It's all we've got to live on.

Modul8 Unit24 Lesson1 Consumer Society

Spend, Spend, Spend

Many of us in developed societies are trapped in a spending circle. We work hard so that we can earn more money. When we have more money, we spend more and because we spend more, we have to work even harder. Sometimes we try to deposit a little or change our money into different countries' currencies in the hope that we can make even more money. But strangely enough, the more money we earn, the less often we see it. Instead, we start putting our signatures on credit cards and spending money we don't even have. Besides, we're all taxpayers so the more we earn the more tax we have to pay to those who govern us. Thus, the circle goes round and round and gets more and more complicated.

In this spending circle, on the one hand, we accumulate possessions but never feel like we have enough. On the other hand, we work towards the ownership of bigger and better houses and cars and never have time to enjoy them. Instead, they feel like a burden because every month we have to hand over most of the money we earn to pay for them. And the result of all this? Not increased happiness, but stress and less free time to be ourselves and enjoy being with our friends and families.

Surely we're still better off than those who wear rags and sleep on the streets or in vacant buildings, but there is a growing resistance to this consumer society which is especially affecting the youth of today with their computers, i-pods, designer clothes and mobile phones. Protest groups are insisting that some of our money be given to the third world. Trade unions demand that the government shorten the working week. They are also suggesting that people should share work and thus reduce unemployment.

If laws such as these came into being, a huge adjustment would be required and there would certainly be diverse reactions. But many feel it would be worth it.

As a society, it's high time that we took these issues more seriously.We should insist that advertising is more controlled, especially advertising aimed at children.We should also make sure that there are better ways for young people to use their free time apart from spending money. On a personal level, we ought to visit the shops less and worry less about image.

Above all, we should remember that “being” and “doing” are much more important than “having”.

2014年福建高考英语书面表达有新的变化。以下是2014年福建高考英语书面表达试题。

如何理解“成功”，不同的人有不同的看法。请认真阅读下面的引语( quotation)，按要求用英语写一篇短文。

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

- Sir Winston, Churchill

内容要求：

1．你对该引语的理解：

2．你的相关经历：

3．恰当的结尾。

注意：

1．短文开头已给出，不计人总词数：

2．文中不能出现考生的具体信息：

3．词数：120左右。

This quotation from Winston Churchill tells us that__________________________

基于这种变化，笔者特别选择了英国培根的“On study”供大家欣赏，里面的名言警句随便抽取一句话都可以成为一个高考考题。在文章的末尾，笔者还特别附上王佐良先生的精彩译文，供大家参考。

On study 培根著 王佐良译

Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business.

For expert and execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best form those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar.

They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation.

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading market a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he hadneed have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not.

Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abound studies in Morse. Nay there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the schoolmen; for they are cymene sectors. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.

论读书 培根

读书足以怡情，足以傅彩，足以长才。其怡情也，最见于独处幽居之时；其傅彩也，最见于高谈阔论之中；其长才也，最见于处世判事之际。

练达之士虽能分别处理细事或一一判别枝节，然纵观统筹，全局策划，则舍好学深思者莫属。读书费时过多易惰，文采藻饰太盛则矫，全凭条文断事乃学究故态。

读书补天然之不足，经验又补读书之不足，盖天生才干犹如自然花草，读书然后知如何修剪移接，而书中所示，如不以经验范之，则又大而无当。

有一技之长者鄙读书，无知者羡读书，唯明智之士用读书，然书并不以用处告人，用书之智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。

读书时不可存心诘难读者，不可尽信书上所言，亦不可只为寻章摘句，而应推敲细思。书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。换言之，有只需读其部分者，有只须大体涉猎者，少数则须全读，读时须全神贯注，孜孜不倦。书亦可请人代读，取其所作摘要，但只限题材较次或价值不高者，否则书经提炼犹如水经蒸馏，淡而无味。

读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。因此不常做笔记者须记忆力特强，不常讨论者须天生聪颖，不常读书者须欺世有术，始能无知而显有知。

读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻，伦理学使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩；凡有所学，皆成性格。

人之才智但有滞碍，无不可读适当之书使之顺畅，一如身体百病，皆可借相宜之运动除之。滚球利睾肾，射箭利胸肺，慢步利肠胃，骑术利头脑，诸如此类。如智力不集中，可令读数学，盖演题需全神贯注，稍有分散即须重演；如不能辩异，可令读经院哲学，盖是辈皆吹毛求疵之人；如不善求同，不善以一物阐证另一物，可令读律师之案卷。如 此头脑中凡有缺陷，皆有特药可医。