COLLEGE ENGLISH INTENSIVE READING BOOK 1

Unit One

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDY HABITS

Perhaps you are an average student with average intelligence.You do well enough in school,but you probably think you will never be a top student .This is not necessarily the case,however.You can receive better grades if you want to.Yes,even students of average intelligence can be top students without additional work.Here‘s how:

1.Plan your time carefully,.Make a list of your weekly tasks.Then make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eating,sleeping,meetings,classes,etc. Then decide on good, regular times for studying.Be sure to set aside enough time to complete your normal reading and work assignments.Of course,studying shouldn‘t occupy all of the free time on the schedule.It‘s important to set aside time for relaxation,hobbies,and entertainment as well.This weekly schedule may not solve all of your problems,but it will make you more aware of how you spend your time.Furthermore,it will enable you to plan your activities so that you have adequate time for both work and play.

2.Find a good place to study.Choose one place for your study area.It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library,but it should be comfortable,and it should not have distractions. When you begin to work, you should be able to concentrate on the subject.

3.Skim before you read.This means looking over a passage quickly before you begin to read it more carelly.As you preview the material,you get some idea of the content and how it is organized.Later when you begin to read you will recognize less important material and you may skip some of these portions.Skimming helps double your reading speed and improves your comprehension as well.

4.Make good use of your time in class.Listening to what the teacher says in class means less work later.Sit where you can see and hear well.Take notes to help you remember what the teacher says.

5.Study regularly.Go over your notes as soon as you can after class.Review important points mentioned in class as well as points you remain confused about.Read about these points in your textbook.If you know what the teacher will discuss the next day,skim and read that material too.This will help you understand the next class.If you review your notes and textbook regularly,the material will become more meaningful and you will remember it longer.Regular review leads to improved performance on tests.

6.Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. The world won‘t end if you don‘t pass a test, so don‘t worry excessively about a single test. Tests provide grades, but they also let you know what you need to spend more time studying, and they help make your knowledge permanent.

There are other techniques that might help you with your studying.Only a few have been mentioned here.You will probably discover many others after you have tried these.Talk with your classmates about their study techniques.Share with them some of the techniques you have found to be helpful.Improving your study habits will improve your grades.

Ⅰ.Answer the following questions:

1.Do you think an average student will never become a top student? 2.Why is it important to plan your time carefully?

3.Do you spend all your free time studying?If not,what other things do you do in your spare time?

4.Where do you usually study in the evening?In your bedroom,in your classroom or in the library?Why?

5.What does skimming mean?Why is it important? Can you say something about it from your own experience? 6.How can you make good use of your time in class?

7.Do you think it helpful to take notes while listening to your teacher?Why or why not?

8.Do you think it necessary to write down everything that the teacher says ?What kind of information do you write down?

9.What should you do after class?Why is it important to review your lessons regularly?

10.What is the purpose of a test?

11.Which of the six suggestion in the text do you find the most helpful for you?Give your reasons.

12.Have you any other suggestions to offer to your classmates? Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

Many of you are studying English and you may be wondering why it is so difficult to learn.It is actually not ______ difficult to learn ______ you know some basic facts ______ the language and the culture that _______ reflects. Perhaps the first thing you need ______ know about English is that

______ is made up of several other languages ________ as French,German,Latin,Greek ______ Anglo-Saxon.In addition,there are words _______ Spanish in Ehglish and many American Indian words and names;even some Chinese and Japanese _______ have found their way ________ the English language.This borrowing of words _______ other languages is ________ of the key reasons ________ some of the difficulties that people meet with ________ they are learning English.

Ⅲ.Translate the following sentences into English:

1．他这次考试的失败使他意识到定期复习功课的重要。（make）

His failure in this exam has made him aware of how important it is to review lesson

regularly.

2．请一定不要忘记离家前你父母对你说过的话。

Be sure not to forgot what your parents said to you before you left home.

3．不要为你的儿子过分担心，他已经大了，可以很好地照料自己了。 Do not worry about your son excessively, he can take good care of himself because

of he has grown.

4．这篇文章的目的是告诉学生怎样培养良好的学习习惯。

The purpose of this article is to tell the students how to develop the good study

habit.

5．如果你能充分利用时间，你一定会成为一个优等生。 If you can make full use of time, you must be a top student. 6．略读不仅可以帮助你对将要阅读的东西有所了解，还可以帮助你读得

快些，提高你的阅读理解力。

Skimming not only helps you to get some idea of what you are going to read, but

also helps you read speed and improve your comprehension as well.

7．有些人以为男孩子比女孩子聪明。然而，事实未必如此。

Some of people think boy is clever than girl, this is not necessarily the case ,

however.

8．即使我们失败一百次，天也不会塌下来。只要（as long as）我们不失

云信心，我们终将成功。

Even we failed 100 times, we can get successful as long as we do not loss

confidence.

READING COMPREHENSION

Learning to Read—in College

The Timkens sent their child off to college with a check for $7,000 in tuition and thought that was the end of it.But soon after they received a letter from the dean of studies(教务主任).

―We are happy to announce that we have started a remedial class for college freshmen and strongly advice that your daughter Laura participate in it.If she doesn‘t ,it is our opinion that Laura will not be able to keep up with her studies.The cost will be $250.‖

Timken read the letter. ―I thought Laura could read,‖he said to his wife.

―So did I.I think the problem is she can read,but she does not understand what she reads.‖

―What did they teach her in public school and high school?‖

―I have no idea.but if the college says she needs remedial reading we‘d better see that she get it or $7,000 will be thrown away.‖

A few days later they got another letter from the dean.

―The English Department has informed us that your daughter Laura cannot write.They have suggested that she enroll in (报名参加)the remedial writing class.We started it two years ago when we discovered this was a common problem for most college students.If you agree that Laura should get this special help,please

send a check for $250.‖ Timken was angry now.

―How did she get in college if she can‘t write?‖

Mrs.Timden was much more optimistic about it. ―Laura can write.She just can‘t write complete sentences.‖

―She went to school for 12 years and she can‘t write a sentences?‖Timken said. ―They made an illiterate out of my daughter!‖

―Oh,I believe that‘s a bit strong.I‘m sure,anyway,the college can help her learn to write.After all,it is an institution of higher learning.‖

―So now we have to pay $250 for something they should have taught her in grammar school?‖

―Don‘t you remember what the principal said years ago?It was the school‘s responsibility to make good citizens out of the students,and the parents‘ responsibility to teach the children to read and write.It seems that we‘re the ones who failed.‖

Timken sent in the check,and was not surprised to find another letter waiting for him a week later.

It read: ―We have found that no one in the freshman class can add,multiply,subtract or divide simple sums.We feel it is urgent that this deficiency(缺陷)be corrected early in a student‘s college career.Therefore,we are setting up a special remedial arithmetic course.The fee will be $250.If you do not want your daughter to take this course we cannot guarantee she will graduate.‖

Once again Timken flew into a rage. ―I thought Laura got A‘s in math in high school.‖

Mrs.Timken said, ―That was conceptional math.She never could add or subtract.Don‘t you remember when you complained once about it and Laura‘s teacher told you, ?she can always learn to add and subtract when she gets to college.‘?‖

Ⅰ.Choose the best answer for each of the following questions.You may look at the text if you want to.

1. When the Timkens sent their daughter Laura off to college and paid the tuition,they thought

a. they had done what the parents had to do and they could do nothing more about it.

b. they had paid what they ought to pay and the college would take care of her studies.

c. she had entered the college and would enjoy a successful college career.

d. all of the above.

2. A remedial class is

a. a class for college freshmen

b. a class for those students who are interested in reading or writing.

c. a class for elementary arithmetic study.

d. a class for those students who need special help to keep up their studies. 3. From what the dean says in his second letter we know for sure that

a. Laura is a student in the English Department,majoring in (主休)English writing. b. Laura is very poor in writing and has failed an important examination.

c. Laura is very poor in writing but she is only one of the very many who fail to write well.

d. No college student can write,so that is really a common problem. 4. What is an ―illiterate‖?

a. A person who cannot add,multiply,subtract or divide simple sums b. A person who is unable to read and write.

c. A person who has been to school for 12 years but cannot write a sentence d. A person who has not formed good study habits.

5. When Mrs.Timken said, ―Oh,I believe that‘s a bit strong‖, a. she was blaming her husband for using strong language. b. she thought her husband was exaggerating the fact in a way c. she thought it unnecessary for her husband to get so angry

d. she was not very happy to hear her husband describing her daughter as an

illiterate.

6.‖An institution of higher learning‖refers to a.a college or university in general

b.a college or university of high reputation. c.a college which can produce good writers.

d.a college which is able to correct the students‘ deficiencies in time.

7.The statement ―We‘re the ones who failed‖could be most suitably replaced by a.we failed to cooperate with the school and teachers.

b.we did not keep in good contact with the school and teachers.

c.we neglected our duty as parents to teach our child to read and write. d.we failed to keep in mind what the principal said.

8.What is Mr.Timken‘s attitude toward his daughter‘s need for remedial courses? a. Anger and confusion b. Happiness and joy c. Love and hate d. Disgust.

9.What is Mrs.Timken‘s attitude toward her daughter‘s need for remedial courses? a.Acceptance of the fact that she needs them b.A feeling that she‘s failed Laura somehow. c.A willingness to pay the fees d.All of the above

10.The title ―Learning to Read –in College‖means

a. students who are not good at reading are offered a good chance of learning to

read in college.

b. It is more effective to learn to read in college.

c. It is ironical that a college student still needs to learn to read in college. d. All of the above.

Unit Two

SAILING ROUND THE WORLD

Before he sailed round the world single-handed,Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends several times.He tried to fly round the world but failed.That was in 1931.

The years passed.He gave up flying and began sailing.He enjoyed it greatly.Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo transatlantic sailing race.His old dream of going round the world came back,but this time he would sail.His friends and doctors did not think he could do it,as he had lung cancer.But Chichester was determined to carry out his plan.In August,1966,at the age of nearly sixty-five,an age when many men retire,he began the greatest voyage of his life.Soon,he was away in his new 16-metre boat,Gipsy Moth.

Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships.But the clippers had had plenty of crew.Chichester did it all by himself,even after the main steering device had been damaged by gales.Chichester covered 14,100 miles before stopping in Sydney,Australla.

This was more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone.

He arrived in Australia on 12 December,just 107 days out from England.He received a warm welcome from the Australians and from his family who had flown there to meet him.On shore,Chichester could not walk without help.Everyone said the same thing:he had done enough;he must not go any further.But he did not listen.

After resting in Sydney for a few weeks,Chichester set off once more in spite of his friends‘ attempts to dissuade him.The second half of his voyage was by far the more dangerous part,during which he sailed round the treacherous Cape Horn. On 29 January he left Austrlia.The next night,the blackest he had ever known,the sea became so rough that the boat almost turned over.Food,clothes,and broken glass were all mixed together.Fortunately,the damage to the boat was not too serious.Chichester calmly got into bed and went to sleep.When he woke up,the sea had become calm again.Still,he could not help thinking that if anything should happen,the nearest person he could contact by radio,unless there was a ship nearby,would be on an island 885 miles away.

After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn,Chichester sent the following radio message to London: ―I feel as if I had wakened from a nightmare.Wild horses could not drag me down to Cape Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again.‖ Just before 9 o‘clock on Sunday evening 28 May,1967,he arrived back in England,where a quarter of a million people were waiting to welcome him.Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ knighted him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth I had used almost 400 years earlier to knight Sir Francis Drake after he had sailed round the world for the first time.The whole voyage from England and back had covered

28,500 miles.It had taken him nine nonths,of which the sailing time was 226 days.He had done what he wanted to accomplish.

Like many other adventures,Chichester had experienced fear and conquered it.In doing so,he had undoubtedly learnt something about himself.Moreover,in the modern age when human beings depend so much on machines,he had given men throughout the world new pride. Ⅰ.Answer the following questions:

1. What happened to Francis Chichester in 1931?

2. How old was he when he started his voyage round the world? 3. What was the name of his boat?What was the length of the boat? 4. What route did Chichester follow in sailing round the world? 5. How many miles did he cover on the first half of his voyage? 6. What did his friends in Sydney try to dissuade him from doing?

7. In what way was the second half of his voyage the more dangerous part? 8. What happened to Chichester on the night of January 30? 9. How did Chichester feel after sailing round Cape Horn? 10. How was he received when he arrived back in England?

11. What title is added to his name when a man becomes a knight? 12. How many miles did the second half of the voyage cover? Ⅱ.Tranlate the following sentences into English:

1. 我们英语老师告诉我们，泰山是她爬过的最高的一座山。

Our English teacher tell us , Taishan Mountain is one of the highest what she climbed

2. 胜利登上乔治岛（George Island）后，船长向指挥部（the headquarters）

发了一份无线电报。

After succeed in landing on the George Island, the captain sent a radio message to the headquarters.

3. 他决心继续他的实验，不过这次他将用另一种办法来做。

He was determined to continue his experiment, but this time he will do it another way.

4. 当她读这部小说时，不禁想起了她在农村度过的那五年。

When she read this novel, she couldn‘t help thinking of she spent 5years in countryside

5. 八十年前他就诞生在这间屋子里。（very）

6. 没有良好的学习习惯，就不能在英语上取得很大的进步。

7. 甚至在他的医生告诉他患有肺癌之后，奇切斯特仍不肯放弃环球航行的

宿愿。

Even his doctor told he had lung cancer , Chester would not give up his old dream of sailing round the world.

8. 在当今时代，人们越来越多地依靠计算机来解决各种各样的难题。

In our age, people depend more and more on computer to solve various kinks of difficult problem

Ⅲ.Fill in the missing words:

The voyage began because I was terrified of Cape Horn.If anything terrifies

me,I must _____ it.

I had read terrible things _____about Cape Horn by people who had

succeeced _____ making the passage.All the water ______ South America and the Antarctic is squeezed through this narrow,shallow gap.You get waves 50 feet ______ .

I read a lot of books about the old clipper______ that used to sail ______ the

Horn,and my plan took shape .I would ______ the route of these great sailing vessels ______ England to Auatralia ______ the Cape of Good Hope and then round Cape Horn back _____ English.Not only that,but I would try to equal their average ______ time for these voyages.

As it turned out ,I did not _______ .I made mistakes .I did not go as fast as

they did.But I _____ sail round the world _______ .No one ever done that ______ .It is always satisfying to do _______ that no one else has done. Reading Comprehension

To Swim the English Channel at 58

A little over a year ago I began training to swim the English Channel this this

September.I will be 58 years old then.

My friends thought I had lost my mind;my wife didn‘t think I was crazy but

she was somewhat worried.The question I was asked over and over was this: Why?

When a student reporter at Indiana recently asked me this question,I said,

―First ,let me ask you a question.What are your plans for this summer?‖He replied that he was going to work in a supermarket.I didn‘t have to say more;he understood my point.

A challenge and something of an adventure are welcome whether you are 20

or 58,and preparing to swim the Channel is far better than working in a supermarket,especially when you have a choice.

But why did I decide to swim the Channel at 58?Perhaps I myself can hardly

give a satisfactory answer.

The Channel has always been the greatest challenge to swimmers;a test of

ability,endurance,luck,and even bravery.It is this challenge that attracts about 100 swimmers a year,who are willing to spend time,effort,and money trying it. One fact that adds to my interest is that,if I succeed,I will be the oldest

person ever to swim the Channel.

I don‘t think I‘m a superman.I do think I have at least three things in my

favor:

First ,I am training hard—now swimming 7 and a half miles a day.Prior to

that time I also kept physically fit by training moderately hard.

Second,I am a resolute man.Once I set up a goal,I won‘t give it up easily.And

this swim has long been a goal.I have a feeling I will be mentally ready and

won‘t do as one Channel swimmer did a few years ago.He trained hard for a couple of years ,made the arrangements and even went to England weeks early to train in the Channel before his attempt.The great day came,and he started swimming toward France.After swimming only one hour,he got out of the water and climbed aboard the boat,saying that he suddenly had lost the desire to swim the channel and it no longer meant anything to him.

On the other hand there was the young girl who was attempting to finish her

swim when the ocean got rough.She was having a tough time with the rough and cold water,when her trainer shouted to her from the boat that he thought she should give up and get out of the water.She shouted back, ―I‘m doing the swimming,and I‘ll decide when to get out .‖She made it.

Ⅰ.Choose the best answer for each of the following questions.Turn back to the

text if you want to.

1. The statement ―he understood my point‖could be most suitably replaced by

a. he understood it was difficult for me to give a proper answer.

b. he understood I did not like his question and did not want to answer it. c. he understood what my question implied:setting up a challenging goal

makes life more interesting.

d. he understood I thought little of his plans for that summer. 2. The expression ―prior to that time‖means

a. up to the day when I will really attempt the Channel. b. before I began to swim 7 and a half miles a day. c. before I began to swim d. up to now.

3. ―She made it‖means

a. she succeeded

b. she made a good show of her courage and bravery. c. she proved she was right

d. she set a good example for others to follow.

4. Most likely, the author decided to swim the Channel because he

a. does not fully realize the difficulties involved b. has made a bet that he could do so.

c. wants very much to show off his superhuman ability. d. enjoys challenge.

5. The author would most readily agree with which of the following

statements?

a. Old people lose their sense of adventure

b. Only an unrealistic person would attempt the channel c. Life‘s challenges can be overcome at any age.

d. People should recognize the dangers of physical stress. 6. From this passage we know the author is

a. b. c. d. determined cautious friendly romantic

Unit Three

THE PRESENT

It was the old lady‘s birthday.

She got up early to be ready for the post.from the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street,and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.

Today she was there would be something.Myra wouldn‘t forget her mother‘s birthday,even if she seldom wrote at other times.Of course Myra was busy.Her husband had been made Mayor,and Myra herself had got a medal for her work for the aged.

The old lady was proud of Myra,but Enid was the daughter she loved.Enid had never married,but had seemed content to live with her mother,and teach in a primary school round the corner.

One evening,however,Enid said, ―I‘ve arranged for Mrs.Morrison to look after you for a few days,Mother.Tomorrow I‘ve to go into hospital—just a minor operation.I‘ll soon be home.‖

In the morning she went,but never came back—she died on the operating table.Myra came to the funeral,and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs.Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.

Two years ago that was,and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times,but her husband never.

The old lady was eighty today.She had put on her best dress.Perhaps—perhaps Myra might come.After all,eighty was a special birthday,another decade lived or endured just as you chose to look at it.

Even if Myra did not come,she would send a present.The old lady was sure of that.Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks.She was excited—like a child.She would enjoy her day.

Yesterday Mrs.Morrison had given the flat an extra clean,and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast.Mrs.Grant downstairs had made a cake,and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea.The little boy,Johnnie,had been up with a packet of mints,and said he wouldn‘t go out to play until the post had come.

―I guess you‘ll get lots of presents,‖he said, ―I did last week when I was six.‖

What would she like?A pair of slippers perhaps.Or a new cardigan.A cardigan would be lovely.Blue‘s such a pretty colour.Jim had always liked her in blue.Or a table lamp.Or a book,a travel book,with pictures,or a little clock,with clear black numbers.So many lovely things.

She stood by the window,watching.The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle.Her heart beat fast.Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate. Then clatter,clatter up the stairs.Johnnie knocked at her door. ―Granny,granny,‖he shouted, ―I‘ve got your post.‖

He gave her four envelopes.Three were unsealed cards from old friends.The fourth was sealed,in Myra‘s writing.The old lady felt a pang of disappointment. ―No parcel,Johnnie?‖ ―No,granny.‖

Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post.That was it.It would come later by parcel post.She must be patient.

Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open.Folded in the card was a piece of paper.Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the cheque,Myra and Harold.

The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing.Slowly the old lady stooped to pick it up.Her present,her lovely present.With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.

Ⅰ.Answer the following questions:

1. What was the special occasion?How old was the old lady? 2. Did Myra and her husband often come to see the old lady? 3. What had happened to Enid?

4. Whom did the old lady love more,Myra or Enid?Why? 5. Why was the old lady proud of Myra?

6. The old lady lived alone.But do you think she was very lonely?Why or why

not?

7. Who was Jim?Was he still alive?

8. Who was Johnnie?How old was he?What do you think of him? 9. Why did the old lady tear the cheque into pieces?

10. The story tells us that Myra had won a medal for her work with old people.Do

you think she deserved the medal?Do you think she really cared about old people?Why or why not? Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

1.Old age has always been thought of as the worst age to be ;but it is not necessary for ____ old people to be unhappy.With old age should wisdom and the ability _____ help others ___ advice wisely given._____ old can have the joy _____ seeing their children making progress _____ life;______ can watch their grandchildren growing ______ around them;and ,perhaps best of all,they can,if their life has been _____ useful one,feel the happiness_____ having come ______ the battle of life safely and of having reached a time _______they can lie back and rest,leaving others to continue the _______.

2. A Hollywood producer was determined to give his mother a birthday _____ that would be better _______ any his brothers were giving her.He heard about _____ amazing bird which could talk _______ twelve languages and ______ ten famous operas.He immediately _____ the bird and _____ it to his mother.It _____ him $50,000.

The day after her _____ ,he phoned his mother. ―What did you think _____ the bird,Mother?‖he _____ eagerly.His mother _____ , ―Delicious!‖

Ⅲ.Translate the following sentences into English:

1. 那位名演员似乎很乐意在剧中扮演一个闪要角色。 That famous actor seem to content with a minor part in the play 2. 国庆节要到了，咱们把寝室彻底打扫一下吧。 National Day is round the corner, let‘s have a cleaning 3. 他经常看电视，却很少去看电影。 He offen watch TV, but rare to go to cinema.

4. 他们已安排好让我们明天去游览长城，我相信我们在那儿一定会玩得很开

心。

They have arranged for us to visit Great Wall tomorrow, I am sure of we will have a good time there.

5. 老人读完信后失望之极，意用颤抖的双手把它撕得粉碎。

The old lady felt a pang of disappointment after read the letter, she tore it into little bits with trembling fingers.

6. 老两口为他们的孙子感到骄傲，因为他在第二十三届奥运会上获得了三枚金

牌、两枚银牌和一枚铜牌。

A old couple was proud of his grandson, because of he has got 3 gold medal, 2silver medal and one copper medal in the 23th Olympic Games.

7. 即使他的祖母不能来参加他的生日宴会，她也会寄给他一件可爱的生日礼

物。对这一些汤姆深信不疑。

Even if his grandmother can not take part in his birthday, she also will be sent a lovely birthday present. Tom was sure of that. 8. 昨天是玛丽的二十岁生日，她父亲寄给她一双靴子，她母亲为她买了一盒巧

克力粮（chocolates）。而她的男朋友则带给她一束红玫瑰。

Yesterday is Mary‘s 20th birthday, her father sent a pair of boot, her mother sent a packet of chocolate. And her boyfriend sent a bunch of rose to her. Reading Comprehension

The Young And The Old

Someone said to a man, ―Travel and see the world.‖He answered, ―Why should I?people are the same everywhere.They are born..They are babies.They are children.They are adults.They grow old.They die.While they are alive,they have the same emotions.They feel love and hate,happiness and sadness,security and fear,pride and shame,comfort and discomfort.That is why I do not want to travel.I can learn everything here.I‘m going to stay home.‖

The man was right.He was also wrong.People are the same,but people are also different.They all have the same pattern of life—birth,youth,old age,death.But these stages of life have different values in different cultures.Also,while all people have the same emotions,the causes of these emotions are different. A stuation that may bring happiness in one place may not bring happiness in another place.

For example,in many countries old age is a happy time.Young people in these countries show respect to the old people.Young people listen when old people speak because they believe that an old person is a wise person.In that kind of society old

people receive honor,privilege and satisfaction.In Korea,old people are honored and respected.When they are too old to live alone,they live with a son,daughter,or other relatives.When they become sixty-one years old,it is a very happy and important event.There is a big party with many guests.They receive many gifts.This birthday even has a special name.All other birthday are called sing il(born day).The sixty-first birthday is called huan gup(beginning of new life).The sixty-first birthday has a special name because when people reach this time in life,the attitudes of their family and their community change toward them.The younger people call them ―grandfather‖or ―grandmother‖,even if they are not related to them.Their position in life is good because they receive honors and reapect.Everyone looks forward to this time.

In the United States,it is quite different for old people.Most old people do not live with their children or relatives.If they have enough money,they buy houses or apartments in places where other old people live.If they are not healthy and strong enough to live alone,they live in special homes for old people.There,strangers take care of them.For many North Americans,old age is not a happy time.Most North Americans want to stay young.They try to stay thin and they act like young people as long as possible.They even try to speak the language of the young.They do not like to grow old because they will not get honor or respect or attention.Also,business do not want old people to work for them.So,old people usually live alone and they do not have many things to do.Old age can be a sad and lonely time for them.

So we can see that the man who stayed home was wrong.People are different in their customs and their values.There are young people and there are old people in Korea and in North America,but it may be better to be young in North America and old in Korea.

Ⅰ.Choose the best answer to complete the following statements: 1. The man didn‘t want to travel because

a. he was too old and in very poor health. b. he could not speak a foreign language.

c. he thought he could learn everything about life without traveling. d. he prefered to stay home to enjoy his old age. 2. The word ―security‖in the first paragraph might mean

a. safety b. care c. danger d. freedom

3. All over the world people are the same because

a. they have the same habits and customs b. they have the same stages of life c. they have the same emotions d. Both b and c.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

a. People are the same,but people are also different

b. Stages of life have different values in different cultures.

c. All people have the same emotions,such as love and hate,happiness and

sadness.

d. All people feel the same emotions in similar situations 5. In Korea old people are happy because

a. they don‘t have to work any more

b. they can live a quiet and comfortable life c. they can enjoy an honored and respected life. 6. The word ―privilege‖in the third paragraph means

a. special gift b. special rights c. special care

d. special treatment

7. In Korea,the sixty-first birthday is called huan gup,which means

a. beginning of a new stage of life b. special birthday c. sixty-first

d. respected and honored old age.

8. The word ―community‖in the third paragraph may mean

a. friends and relatives b. local authorities

c. people living in the same district d. Both a and b.

9. In the United States,most old people are sad because

a. they want to stay young but can not

b. they have to go on working to support themselves c. they are not respected nor given due attention d. they cannot act like young people any longer. 10. The word ―businesses‖in the fourth paragraph means

a. businessmen b. shops or factories

c. people who are often busy d. shopowners

Unit Four

TURNING OFF TV:A QUIET HOUR

I would like to propose that for sixty to ninety minutes each evening,right after the early evening news,all television broadcasting in the United States be prohibited by law.

Let us take a serious,reasonable look at what the results might be if such a proposal were accepted.Families might use the time for a real family hour.Without the distraction of TV,they might sit around together after dinner and actually talk to one another.It is well known that many of our problems—everything,in fact,from the generation gap to the high divorce rate to some forms of mental illness—are caused at least in part by failure to communicate.We do not tell each other what is disturbing us.The result is emotional difficulty of one kind or another.By using the quiet family hour to discuss our problems,we might get to know each other better,and to like each other better.

On evenings when such talk is unnecessary,families could rediscover more active pastimes.Freed from TV,forced to find their own activities,they might take a ride together to watch the sunset.Or they might take a walk together(remember feet?)and see the neighborhood with fresh,new eyes.

With free time and no TV,children and adults might rediscover reading.There is more entertainment in a good book than in a month of typical television can barely write an English sentence,even at the college level.Writing is often learned from reading.A more literate new generation could be a product of the quiet hour.

A different form of reading might also be alone,as it was in the past:reading aloud.Few pastimes bring a family closer together than gathering around and listening to mother or father read a good story.The quiet hour could become the story hour.When the quiet hour ends,the TV networks might even be forced to come up with better shows in order to get us back from our newly discovered activities.

At first glance,the idea of an hour without TV seems radical.What will parents do without the electronic baby—sitter?How will we spend the time?But it is not radical at all.It has been only twenty-five years since television came to control American free time.Those of us thirty-five and older can remember childhoods without television,spent partly with radio—which at least involved the listener‘s imagination—but also with reading,learning,talking,playing games,inventing new activities.It wasn‘t that difficult.Honest.The truth is we had a ball. Ⅰ.Choose the best answer for each of the following:

1. The failure to talk to each other causes all of the following except

a. the high divorce rate b. a real family hour c. the generation gap

d. some forms of mental illness 2. If we turned off TV for an hour,

a. we would not have any problems b. there would be a higher divorce rate c. families could take a ride together d. we could go to bed much earlier. 3. According to the author,

a. TV is more entertaining than good books b. Good books are as entertaining as TV c. Good books are not so entertaining as TV d. Good books are more entertaining as TV

4. Because young people nowadays don‘t read much,.

a. they find TV very entertaining

b. they have a lot of time for other pastimes c. they have enough time to talk to one another d. even college students can‘t write very well

5. The idea of an hour without TV is not radical because

a. it is only twenty-five years since TV because a favorite pastime of the

Americans

b. TV is an electronic baby-sitter c. We might get better shows

d. Radio involves the listener‘s imagination 6. Life without TV

a. wasn‘t good for children‘s imagination b. used to be very quiet c. used to be a lot of fun d. used to be very difficult

7. The expression ―the electronic baby-sitter‖in the last paragraph means

a.a robot looking after babies b.an electronic doll c.television

d.a toy babies like best

8. What is the main idea of the article?

a. In the past,people didn‘t watch television

b. We should show no television programs for about one hour every evening c. Television improves our lives

d. Some TV programs are not worth watching Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

1. Most people in the United States watch TV,even though they complain about

television sometimes.It‘s great ______ to watch TV,and it‘s easy.You turn _____ the TV,sit ______ in a comfortable chair,and see many ______ things.The people on TV will _____ you laugh and cry.They will inform you and excite you._____ watching TV,you can _____ the latest news from ______ over the world,and you can learn ______new developments in

science,art,literature,and technology.You can watch sports ______ TV.You can watch the Olympics,or a local sports event.Finally,in some places,it is _______ to go to school_____ watching television.There _______ special classes on TV______ high school and college students.A person may get a good _______ at home.These are some of the _____ for watching TV.There are other reasons.

2. These days I don‘t watch television,but a ______ years ago I ______ to watch

it every night.I was often a _____ tired in the evenings and there are _____ forms of entertainment that demand as _______ effort as television.Unfortunately,there are a large ______ of people in my family;some wanted to see one program_____ others preferred another.I was happy to look at ___ program but the _____ spent a great ___ of time arguing each night and there was ____ way of settling the _____ except by selling the set.______ everyone at home reads instead.

Ⅲ.Translate the following sentences into English:

1. 接受这份工作就得经常在周末上班，但约翰并不在意。（involve） 2. 众所周知，肺癌至少部分地是由于吸烟过多引进的。 3. 很少消遣比给孩子们讲故事更使这位老人开心了。

4. 我提议咱们会后马上去办公室找史斯密教授，邀请他参加我们的英语晚

会。

5. 这个委员会由七人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

6. 教育家们认为，伴随着电视机长大的一代人，在电视机前花的时间太多，

以致没有足够的时间学习了。

7. 我真希望你能拿出一个比这更好的解决办法来。（solution） 8. 乍一看，这幅画并不好，但经过仔细观察，我们才发现它的确是一幅杰作。 Reading Comprehension

A NEW TOY

I was eight years old when our nerghbors across the hall got a television.It was very small and very expensive,but that didn‘t matter.IT WAS WONDERFUL.Everyone in the building came up to the fifth floor to see this latest wonder of the modern world.Some people,the lucky ones,stayed for a while and got to watch a whole program.That was in 1948.

Soon a lot of people got new televisions,but not us.My parents didn‘t like television.They didn‘t think it was good for children.Being a good,docile son,I didn‘t argue with them.But I did secretly watch television—at my friends‘ homes. By 1955 televisions weren‘t so expensive and they were much larger.My parents still thought television wasn‘t good for us,but my sisters insisted.They said we were the only people in the neighborhood who didn‘t have one.All their friends talked about certain programs and actors,but my sisters couldn‘t.Their friends laughed at them,and my sisters felt wretched,very unhappy.

One day,my youghest sister came from school and started to cry.She said she was never going back to school and that life without a television wasn‘t worth

living.She cried and sobbed.My parents‘ usual arguments only made her more inconsolable.Nothing they said made her feel any better.Well,what could they do? The next morning,without telling us,my parents went out and got a new TV.That afternoon an antenna was put on the roof.Suzanne came home from school and ran into the house.

―Where is it?Where is it?‖she cried, ―I know it‘s here.‖she was breathless,and her eyes were shiny with excitement.

―It‘s in the living room,‖my mother said as my sister ran off to look at ,to admire,this beautiful thing called a television.

Later I asked her, ―How did you know the TV was there?‖ She had a wonderful smile on her face.

When we were young our parents allowed us to watch TV two hours a night.Oh,yes.And we couldn‘t watch until our homework was finished.But after a year or two,TV wasn‘t exciting or new anymore.It became just another part of our lives,like shoes or soap.My parents still had fears about TV.We were going to forget how to read,they said.And we were not going to read because watching TV was easier,they said.And TV was going to fill our minds with violence,they said.They said lots of things like that—once a day at least.I disagreed with them.I thought they were old-fashioned,thinking too much of old ways and ideas.

Today,people still argue about the value of TV.Nobody can deny the power if TV.It has an enormous,a very powerful,influence on our lives.On the average,Americans shend 30 hours a week watching TV.Is this influence good or bad?This is an unanswerable question indeed:It is hard enough to measure influence;and it is even harder to decide what is good and what isn‘t.What is good,I suppose,is that many people are concerned about TV‘s influence and that we have the power to change what we don‘t like.

Recently I read an article in the newspaper about the people of Monhegan Island,18 kilometers off the coast of Maine.These people don‘t have electricity,and they decided,once again,that they liked it that way.Only a handful of people live there during the long winter,and they live without electrucity—by choice.Electricity,they think,would make things too easy and spoil their way of life.Maybe the young people wouldn‘t want to go to town dances anymore.Maybe they would be more interested in staying home and watching television.

Ⅰ.If you think a statement is false,make necessary changes to make it a true one.

1. In the late 1940s TV was considered a miracle of the times.

2. When his neighbors bought a TV set,the author wondered why they spent so

much money on such a small toy.

3. The author didn‘t argue with his parents because he knew it was useless to

do so.

4. By the mid-1950s TV had become very popular and nearly all the people in

the neighborhood had one in their home.

5. The author‘s parents bought a TV finally because they didn‘t want their

daughters to be laughed at.

6. On that unforgettable day,Suzanne,the youngest daughter,was so excited that

her eyes were shining with tears.

7. To Suzanne,the most important thing was to be like her friends.

8. The parents allowed their children to watch TV only after they had done

their homework.

9. Later on,TV wasn‘t exciting and new anymore,and became a part of the

children‘s lives,so they lost interest in it.

10. The author‘s parents never changed their minds about television.

11. In the authors opinion,it is meaningless to say whether the influence of TV

is good or bad since we have the power to change what we don‘t like.

12. The author implies that the Monhegan islanders don‘t want electricity—not

even now—because they don‘t want the influence of television to change their way of life.

Unit Five

A MISERABLE,MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas was coming.I wanted a pony.To make sure that my parents understood,I declared that I wanted nothing else.

―Nothing but a pony?‖my father asked. ―Nothing,‖I said.

―Not even a pair of high boots?‖

That was hard.I did want boots,but I stuck to the pony.‖No,not even boots.‖

―Nor candy?There ought tobe something to fill your stocking with,and Santa Claus can‘t put a pony into a stocking.‖

That was true,and he couldn‘t lead a pony down the chimney either.But no. ―All I want is a pony,‖I said. ―If I can‘t have a pony,give me nothing,nothing.‖

On Christmas Eve I hung up my stocking along with my sisters.

The next morning my sisters and I woke up at six.Then we raced downstairs to the fireplace.And there they were,the gifts,all sorts of wonderful things,mixed-up piles of presents.Only my stocking was empty;it hung limp;not a thing in it;and under and around it—nothing.My sisters had knelt down,each by her pile of gifts;they were crying with delight,till they looked up and saw me standing there looking so miserable.They came over to me and felt my stocking:nothing.

I don‘t remember whether I cried at that moment,but my sisters did.They ran with me back to my bed,and there we all cried till I became indignant.That helped some.I got up,dressed,and driving my sisters away,I went out alone into the stable,and there,all by myself,I wept.My mother came out to me and she tried to comfort me.But I wanted no comfort.She left me and went on into the house with sharp words for my father.

My sisters came to me,and I was rude.I ran away from them.I went around to the front of the house,sat down on the steps,and ,the crying over,I ached.I was wronged,I was hurt.And my father must have been hurt,too,a little.I saw him looking out of the window.He was watching me or something for an hour or two,drawing back the curtain so little lest I catch him,but I saw his face,and I think I can see now the anxiety upon it,the worried impatience.

After an hour or two,I caught sight of a man riding a pony down the street,a pony and a brand-new saddle;the most beautiful saddle I ever saw,and it was a boy‘s saddle.And the pony!As he drew near,I saw that the pony was really a small horse,with a black mane and tail,and one white foot and a white star on his forehead.For such a horse as that I would have given anything.

But the man came along,reading the numbers on the houses,and,as my hopes—my impossible hopes—rose,he looked at our door and passed by,he and the pony,and the saddle.Too much,I fell upon the steps and broke into tears.Suddenly I heard a voice.

―Say, kid,‖it said, ―do you know a boy named Lennie Steffens?‖ ―Yes,‖I spluttered through my tears. ―That‘s me.‖

―Well,‖he said, ―then this your horse.I‘ve been looking all over for you and your house.Why don‘t you put your number where it can be seen?‖

―Get down ,‖I said,running out to him.I wanted to ride.He went on saying something about ―ought to have got here at seven o‘clock,but--‖

I hardly heard,I could scarcely wait.I was so happy,so thrilled.I rode off up the street.Such a beautiful pony.And mine!After a while I turned and trotted back to the stable.There was the family,father,mother,sisters,all working for me,all happy.They had been putting in place the tools of my new business:currycomb,brush,pitchfork—everything,and there was hay in the loft.

But that Christmas,which my father had planned so carefully,was it the best or the worst I ever knew?He often asked me that;I never could answer as a boy.I think now that it was both.It covered the whole distance from broken-hearted misery to bursting happiness—too fast.A grown-up could hardly have stood it. Ⅰ.Answer the following questions:

1. What did the boy want as a Christmas present from his parents?

2. Why did his sisters come so cheerful and he so miserable after they got up

that Christmas morning?

3. What was the reaction of his sisters ,his mother and his father when they

found him in a miserable mood?

4. What did the boy see after sitting on the front steps for an hour or two? 5. What made him break into tears?

6. For whom was the man on the pony looking?

7. Why was the man late in delivering the pony to the boy? 8. How did the boy feel when he got his pony?

9. What made Lennie Steffens later think that Christmas was both the best

and the worst he ever knew?

10. Retell the story from the point of view of the father. 11. Do you think the boy a little spoiled?

Support your answer with examples the text.

12. Have you ever experienced anything that first made you miserable and

then very happy?If you have,tell it to the class.

Ⅱ.The whole family objected violently _____ I said that I was going ____ Europe over the Christmas holidays with a college friend of ___ .Mother said that since there was going to be a ___ reunion,I really ought to _____ at home.Although I always enjoyed these occasions,nothing ____ persuade me to change my ______.

A week before ___ ,my friend and I flew to Madrid and then traveled ____ train through Spain,France and Germany._____ Christmas Eve we arrived in a small town ___ southern Germany and were amazed to ___ so much activity in the town.The streets were crowded ______ people,and the shops were full of all ___ of interesting things.We walked around ___ hours and then just before midnight we went to ____

to Christmas songs __ by children around the brightly lit tree in the main square.We returned ______ our hotel late that night,looking forward __ the next day when we planned to have Christmas dinner _____ the best restaurant in town._____ ,in the morning the streets were deserted.To make matters worse,everything was closed upright—even the ____ .We searched in vain______ hours and finally had to return ___ our hotel _____ unhappy and lonely.Our Christmas ―feast‖ was a sack of fruit _____my friend had happened to buy the day _____.Our thoughts sadly turned to home ___ at that moment,our families must ______ been wishing us a ―______ Christmas‖!

Reading Comprehension

An English Christmas

Christmas Day,December 25th,celebrates the birth of Christ,and is thus the greatest of Christian festivals.However,many people feel that the religious meaning of Christmas is diminished by the commercialisation(商业化) of it.

As Christmas draws near, the big shops stay open long after dark,and get more and more crowded.Everyone is buying Christmas presents for friends and relations.

The home is decorated with colourful paper chains,leaves of holly and mistletoe(槲寄生),and attractive greeting cards received through the post from friends.In the corner there may be a Christams tree with its branches decorated with shinning ornaments such as coloured lights and glass balls,and sometimes hung with gifts.

On Christmas Eve,it is said,Father Christmas,also called Santa Claus,brings presents but only to good children.He knows just what every child wants,and he brings it all in a great sack.On Christmas Eve,when the children are asleep,he comes silently down the chimney and leaves the presents near their beds.

Christmas Eve comes at last.When the children go to bed they often hang up a large stocking or a pillow-case to receive the presents. ―Now go off to sleep quickly,‖says the mother, ―because he won‘t come until you‘re asleep!‖But they are too excited to sleep and are not even drowsy.So they just pretend to sleep,hoping to catch a glimpse of Father Chriatmas.Meanwhile,unknown to them,mother and father are busy filling stockings and pillow-cases with presents in the next room.When they are sure the children are really asleep,the parents creep like robbers into their bedroom and leave the presents near their beds.

The next morning it is Christmas.The children wake up with shouts of ―He‘s come!‖and immediately start opening all their parcels.The grown-ups,less excitable,save their own presents till breakfast time.After breakfast,many people go to church;but the children will be playing with their new toys,and the mother will probably be preparing the Christmas dinner.This includes poultry for the main course (e.g.chicken,turkey,duck,goose),salads,breads,and vegetables,and features a variety of desserts,for example,pies,puddings,and ice cream.

In the afternoon many families listen to the Queen broadcasting to the Common-wealth.In the evening,after a huge tea,often including a big Christmas

cake covered with a frosting as sweet as candy and as smooth as pudding,the family will probably sit round the fire eating nuts,sweets and fruit,talking or watching television,or playing party games.

Everybody likes to be happy and full of goodwill at Christmas time.The great writer Charles Dickens loved Christmas,and described its merriness and warm-heartedness in books like A Chriatmas Carol,with drawing-room scenes of blazing log fires,while the December snow outside makde all the country white.This is why people today talk of a ―good,old-fashioned Christmas‖,and why many hope oit will be a ―white‖one—but it seldom is,for snow is a rarity in December.

The theatre plays its part during the Christmas season by putting on special shows for children.The circus is another thing that parents may very well take their children to see as a Christmas treat.Lions and tigers have been patiently trained to leap through the air and even the more docile beasts like elephants and horses do astonishing tricks.

So the children usually count the weeks,then the days,to Christmas.And almost everyone enjoys the happiness of Christmas.

Unit Six

SAM ADAMS,INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER

If you ask my mother how I happened to become an industrial engineer,she‘ll tell you that have always been one.

She means that I have always wanted everything to be well organized and neat.When I was still in elementary school,I liked to keep my socks in the upper left-hand drawer of my bureau,my underwear in the upper right drawer,shirts in the middle drawer,and pants,neatly folded,in the bottom drawer.

In fact,I was the efficiency expert for the whole family.I used to organize my father‘s tools,my mother‘s kitchen utensils,my sister‘s boy-friends.

I needed to be efficient.I wanted to be well organized.For me,there was a place for everything and everything was always in its place.These qualities gave me a good foundation for a career in industrial engineering.

Unfortunately,I was also a bit bossy and I wasn‘t a very good listener.You‘ll see what I mean when I tell you about the first project I ever did after I finished my bachelor‘s degree at the university.

After graduation I returned home to my small town in Indiana.I didn‘t have a job yet.Mr.Hobbs,a friend of my father‘s,owned a small shirt factory in town.Within the past five years it had grown from twenty to eighty workers.Mr.Hobbs was worried that this plant was getting too big and inefficient,so he asked me to come in on a short-term basis as a consultant.

I went to the plant and spent about a week looking around and making notes.I was really amazed at what I saw.

Most curious of all,there was no quality control whatsoever.No one inspected the final product of the factory.As a result some of the shirts that were put in boxes for shipment were missing one or two buttons,the collar,even a sleeve sometimes!

The working conditions were poor.The tables where the workers sat were very high and uncomfortable.Except for a half hour at lunchtime,there were no breaks in the day to relieve the boring work.There was no music.The walls of the workrooms were a dull gray color.I was amazed that the workers hadn‘t gone on strike.

Furthermore,the work flow was irregular.There was one especially absent-minded young man in the assembly line who sewed on buttons.After a while I recognized him as ―Big Jim,‖who used to sit behind me in math class in high school.He was very slow and all the shirts were held up at his position.Workers beyond him in line on his shift had to wait with nothing to do;therefore,a great deal of time and efficiency were lost as Big Jim daydreamed while he worked.All week I wondered why he wasn‘t fired.

After I made observations for a week,Mr.Hobbs asked me for an oral report of my findings.I covered my major points by telling him the following:

―If you have a quality control inspection,you will greatly improve your finished product.

―If the assembly line is redesigned,a smooth work flow can be achieved and time and energy can be saved.

―If you decrease the height of the worktables,the mahcine operators will work more comfortably.

―If the management provides pleasant background music and beautifies the dull setting,the factory will be much more productive.

―If the workers have a fifteen-minute coffee break in the morning and afternoon,they will be more efficient.

If excellent work results in frequent pay increases or promotions,the works will have greater incentive to produce.

Mr.Hobbs thanked me for this report and told me he would talk over my suggestions with his brother,the co-owner and manager of the factory. ―We‘re interested in progress here,‖he said. ―We want to keep up with the times.‖ He also gave me a check for $100 and a box of shirts with his compliments. Ⅰ.Answer the following questions:

1. In what ways was Sam an efficiency expert as a boy?

2. What qualities did Sam possess which gave him a good foundation for a career

in industrial engineering?

3. Who was Mr.Hobbs?Why did he want Sam‘s advice? 4. What did Sam do during his week in the shirt factory?

5. Why were sleeveless shirts sometimes sent from the factory? 6. Why did Sam want to change the height of the worktables? 7. What did Sam suggest to make the work less boring?

8. Who was ―Big Jim‖?Why was Sam surprised that he wasn‘t fired? 9. Why did Sam want to have the assembly line redesigned?

10. Do you agree with Sam that coffee breaks are important for factory workers?

Why or why not?

11. Sum up in your own words the working cinditions in the shirt factory and the

cures suggested by Sam for the problems.

12. Do you consider yourself an efficient person?In what ways are you efficiet?In

what ways are you inefficient? Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

When our children were born,my wife Nancy gave up her job to look after them.A year ago,Nancy and I decided to change _____ .Nancy was beginning to get ______ at home all day.I was working hard at the time,____ I didn't enjoy my job.Most of _____ ,I hated travelling to work in the _____ hour every day.I thought Nancy was ___ lucky one;she ______ organize her day ___ her own way—she didn‘t have a boss ______ her what to do.But I didn‘t think ______ exchanging roles with her ___ she applied for a job.She got the job,at a salary higher than ___ .It seemed sensible for her to ______ it and for me to _____ at

home.

At first I really enjoyed ______ at home and ______ with the children.I now understand my children better through ___ so much time with them.But I must admit,I do find housework very______ .Most of my friends are ______ work all day,so I often don‘t have ______ adult conversation with anyone until ______ comes home!

But on the whole,I think we made the ___ decision.I have learned a lot,and _____ has my wife.For the first time I appreciate ______ women do at home and I can understand some of their ______.

Unit Seven

THE SAMPLER

In a certain store where they sell puddings,a number of these delicious things are laid out in a row during the Christmas season.Here you may select the one which is most to your taste,and you are even allowed to sample them before coming to a decision.

I have often wondered whether some people,who had no intention of making a purchase,would take advantage of this privilege.One day I asked this question of the shop girl,and I learned it was indeed the case.

―Now there‘s one old gentleman,for instance,‖she told me, ―he comes here almost every week and samples each one of the puddings,though he never buys anything,and I suspect he never will.I remember him from last year and the year before that,too.Well,let him come if he wants it,and welcome to it.And what‘s more,I hope there are a lot more stores where he can go and get his share.He looks as if he needed it all right,and I suppose they can afford it.‖

She was still speaking when an elderly gentleman limped up to the counter and began looking closely at the row of puddings with great interest.

―Why ,that‘s the very gentleman I‘ve been telling you about,‖whispered the shop girl. ―Just watch him now.‖And then turning to him: ―would you like to sample them,sir?Here‘s a spoon for you to use.‖

The elderly gentleman,who was poorly but neatly dressed,accepted the spoon and began eagerly to sample one after another of the puddings,only breaking off occasionally to wipe his red eyes with a large torn handkerchief. ―This is quite good.‖

―This is not bad either,but a little too heavy.‖

All the time it was quite evident that he sincerely believed that he might eventually buy one of these puddings,and I am positive that he did not for a moment feel that he was in any way cheating the store.Poor old chap!Probably he had come down in the world and this sampling was all that was left him from the time when he could afford to come and select his favorite pudding.

Amidst the crowd of happy,prosperous looking Christmas shoppers,the little black figure of the old man seemed pitiful and out of place,and in a burst of benevolence,I went up to him and said:

―Pardon me,sir,will you do me a favor?Let me purchase you one of these puddings.It would give me such pleasure.‖

He jumped back as if he had been stung,and the blood rushed into his wrinkled face.

―Excuse me,‖he said,with more dignity than I would have thought possible considering his appearance, ―I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing you.Undoubtedly you have mistaken me for someone else.‖And with a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in loud voice, ―Kindly pack me up this

one here.I will take it with me.He pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.

The girl took down the pudding from its stand and started to make a parcel of it,while he pulled out a worn little black pocketbook and began counting out shillings and pennies on to the counter.To save his ―honour‖he had been forced into a purchase which he could not possibly afford.How I longed for the power to unsay my tactless words!It was too late though,and I felt that the kindest thing I could do now would be walk away.

―You pay at the desk,‖ the shop girl was telling him,but he did not seem to understand and kept trying to put the coins into her hand.And that was the last I saw or heard of the old man.Now he can never go there to sample puddings any more.

Ⅰ.Answer the following questions:

1. When and where did the story take place?

2. What privilege did the store give its customers?

3. From which sentence can we infer that the narrator was a curious person? 4. What was the shop girl‘s attitude towards the old man? 5. How did the Christmas shoppers look?

6. What is meant by ―as if he had been stung‖?

7. How did the old man respond to the narrator‘s offer?

8. How did the narrator feel when he realized that because of his offer,the old

man had been forced into a purchase he could not afford?

9. In what country did the story take place?From what words can we infer the

answer?

10. Why did the old man buy one of the largest and most expensive of the

puddings?

11. What do you think of the old man?the shop girl?the narrator?

Analyze the personality of each.Be sure to find words and phrases in the text to support your analysis. Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

Joe was going into his usual bar before lunch when he saw a poorly _____ man fishing ______ a small pool of rain-water about five centimetres _______ outside it.

Joe Stopped and watched the man __ a few minutes.He saw that most of the people who passed __ him believed he ______ be rather mad.

Joe pitied the man,___ after a few minutes he went _____ to him and said_______ ―Hullo,would you ______ to come into the bar and __ a drink with me?‖

The fisherman was delighted to ____ his offer,and the two men went into the bar _____. Joe bought the fisherman _____ few drinks,and finally said to him, ―You‘ve _____ fishing outside here,______ you? How many did you manage to ____ this morning,if I may ask?‖

―You are the eighth,‖the _______ answered mirrily. Ⅲ.Translate the following sentences into English:

1．萨姆买不起他极想要的那种照相机（camera）,因为那相机太贵了。 2．整个上午他都在忙于写那篇故事，只是偶尔停下来喝杯茶。 3．他是个富人家的儿子，不过看上去已经家道中落了。

4．为了不失面子，他被迫向朋友们借了一大笔钱买了一台彩色电视机。 5．王教授，请你赏光来参加我们星期六的英语晚会好吗？ 6．看外表他一点也不象是个八十多岁的老人。 7．他们肯定没打算把他培养成一名工程师，我猜想他们永远也不会这样做。 8．我怀疑这家工厂什么质量控制也没有。经过一周的观察，我发现情况果

真如此。

Reading Comprehension

THE LOST GOLD PIECE

After the First World War,a small group of veterans returned to the village in France.Most of them managed to get along quite well,but one-Francois Lebeau,who had been gassed and never recovered his strength-was unable to work regularly.In time he became poverty-stricken.Yet he was too proud to accept charity from the people in the village.

1. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

a. Several soldiers survived the First World War and returned to their home

village.

b. Most of the veterans from the First World War returned to their native

place and could work and live well.

c. Francois Lebeau,a survivor of the First World War,suffered from the loss

of ability to work and thus lived in poverty.

d. Francois Lebeau was such a proud person that he would not live on

charity.

Once each year the veterans held a reunion dinnner.On one of these occasions they met in the home of Jules Grandin,who had made a good deal of money and had grown fat and pompous.Grandin produced a curiosity(古董)—a large coin on whose age,rarity and value he dwelt at some length.Each man examined it with interest as it pased around the long table.All,however,had drunk wine freely and the room was resounded with noisy talk,so that the gold piece was soon forgotten.Later,when Grandin remembered it and asked for it,the coin was missing.

2. Which statement best expresses the main idea?

a.A yearly reunion dinner was held in the home of Jules Grandin,a rich and showy person.

b.All veterans had a jolly good time at the yearly reunion dinner held in the spacious home of Jules Grandin.

c.Jules Grandin,the rich and self-important host,showed the guests a valuable gold coin at a yearly reunion dinner.

e. At a yearly reunion dinner,Jules Grandin the host showed the guests a

valuable gold piece and then the coin suddenly disappeared.

Instantly there arose a hubbub of questions and dinials.Finally the village attorney(律师)suggested everyone be searched,to which all agreed—except Lebeau.His companions looked at him with surprise. ―You refuse,then?‖asked Grandin.

Lebeau flushed. ―Yes,‖he said, ―I cannot allow it.‖

―Do you realize,‖asked the owner of the gold piece, ―what your refusal implies?‖

―I did not steal the gold piece,and I will not submit to a search,‖Lebeau answered.

3. Complete the following statement:

A general search was suggested and agreed to,but Francois Lebeau________.

One by one,the rest of the group turned out their pockets.When the coin failed to appear,attention was focused once more on poor Lebeau.

―surely you will not persist in your refusal?‖the attorney demanded.Lebeau made no reply.Grandin stalked(高视阔步地走)out of the room in anger.No one addressed another word to Lebeau and,amid the pitying stares of his friends.he walked out with the hangdog(自觉有罪的)air of a prisoner and returned to his home.

4. Which statement indicates the main idea of this part?

When Lebeau still refused to be searched,

a. the host Grandin left the room angrily and contemptuously.

b. all those present were certain that it was Lebeau who stole the gold coin. c. no one spoke to Lebeau though most of them felt pity for him. d. He had to leave humbly like a real criminal.

From that day,Lebeau was a disgraced man.People averted their eyes when they met him.He grew poorer,and when his wife died not long afterward no one knew or cared whether it was from want or shame. 5. Complete the following statement:

After this event,Lebeau was held in contempt and his wife________.

A few years later,when the incident had become almost legendary,Grandin made some alterations（变动）in his house.A workman found the gold coin,buried in dirt between the planks（板条）of the floor in the room where the reunion had been held.

Pompous though he was,Grandin was a just man and now that he had proof that Lebeau was innocent he was quick to make amends.Hurrying to Lebeau‘s humble home,he told him of the amazing discovery of the coin and apologized for having suspected him.

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable words to complete the statement:

A few years later,the coin _____ as suddenly as it had disappeared,and Lebeau______.

―But ,‖he concluded, ―you knew that the gold piece was not on your person—why did you not allow yourself to be searched?‖

Lebeau,shabby,old before his time,looked at Grandin blankly. ―Because I was a thief,‖he said brokenly. ―For weeks my family and I had not had enough to eat—and my pockets were full of food that I had taken from the table to carry home to my wife and hungry children.‖ 7. Answer the question:

Why did Lebeau not allow himself to be searched? ____________________________________.

Unit Eight

YOU GO YOUR WAY,I‘LL GO MINE

The messenger got off his bicycle in front of the house of Mrs.Rosa Sandoval.He went to the door and knocked gently.He knew almost immediately that someone was inside the house.He could not hear anything,but he was sure the knock was bringing someone to the door and he was most eager to see who this person would be—this woman named Rosa Sandoval who was now to hear of murder in the world and to feel it in herself.The door was not a long time opening,but there was no hurry in the way it moved on its hinges.The movement of the door was as if,whoever she was,she had nothing in the world to fear.Then the door was open,and there she was.

To Homer the Mexican woman was beautiful.He could see that she had been patient all her life,so that now,after years of it,her lips were set in a gentle and saintly smile.But like all people who never receive telegrams the appearance of a messenger at the front door is full of terrible implications.Homer knew that Mrs.Rosa Sandoval was shocked to see him.Her first word was the first word of all surprise.She said ―Oh,‖as if instead of a messenger she had thought of opening the door to someone she had known a long time and would be pleased to sit down with.Before she spoke again she studied Homer‘s eyes and Homer knew that she knew the message was not a welcome one. ―You have a telegram?‖she said.

It wasn‘t Homer‘s fault.His work was to deliver telegrams.Even so,it seemed to him that he was part of the whole mistake.He felt awkward and almost as if he alone were responsible for what had happened.At the same time he wanted to come right out and say, ―I‘m only a messenger,Mrs.Sandoval.I‘m very sorry I must bring you a telegram like this,but it is only because it is my work to do so.‖ ―Who is it for?‖the Mexican woman said.

―Mrs.Rosa Sandoval,1129 G Street,‖Homer said.He extended the telegram to the Mexican woman,but she would not touch it. ―Are you Mrs.Sandoval?‖Homer said.

―Please,‖the woman said, ―Please come in.I cannot read English.I am Mexican.I read only La Prensa which comes from Mexico City.‖She paused a moment and looked at the boy standing awkwardly as near the door as he could be and still be inside the house.

―Please,‖she said, ―what does the telegram say?‖

―Mrs.Sandoval,‖the messenger said, ―the telegram says--- ‖

But now the womn interrupted him. ―But you must open the telegram and read it to me,‖she said. ―you have not opened it.‖

―Yes,ma‘am,‖Homer said as if he were speaking to a school teacher who had just corrected him.

He opened the telegram with nervous fingers.The Mexican woman stooped to

pick up the torn envelope,and tried to smooth it out.As she did so she said, ―Who sent the telegram—my son Juan Domingo?‖

―No,ma‘ma.‖Homer said. ―The telegram is from the War Department.‖

―War Department?‖Homer said swiftly,your son is dead.Maybe it‘s a mistake.Everybody makes a mistake,Mrs.Sandoval.Maybe it wasn‘t your son.Maybe it was somebody else.The telegram says it was Juan Domingo.But maybe the telegram is wrong.‖

The Mexican woman pretended not to hear.

―Oh,do not be afraid,‖she said. ―Come inside.Come inside.I will bring you candy.‖She took the boy‘s arm and brought him to the table at the center of the room and there she made him sit.

―All boys like candy,‖she said. ―I will bring you candy.‖She went into another room and soon returned with an old chocolate candy box.She opened the box at the table and in it Homer saw a strange kind of candy. ―Here,‖she said. ―Eat this candy.All boys like candy.‖

Homer took a piece of the candy from the box,put it into his mouth,and tried to chew.

―You would not bring me a bad telegram,‖she said. ―You are a good boy—like my little Juanito when he was a little boy.Eat another piece.‖

Homer sat chewing the dry-candy while the Mexican woman talked. ―It is our own candy,‖she said, ―from cactus.I made it for my Juanito when he come home,but you eat it.You are my boy,too.‖

Now suddenly she began to sob,holding herself in as if weeping were a disgrace.Homer wanted to get up and run,but he knew he would stay.He even thought he might stay the rest of his life.He just didn‘t know what else to do to try to make the woman less unhappy,and if she had asked him to take the place of her son,he would not have been able to refuse,because he would not have known how.He got to his feet,as if by standing he meant to begin correcting what could not be corrected and then he knew the foolishness of this intention and became more awkward than ever.In his heart he was saying over and over again, ―What can I do?What the hell can I do?I‘m only the messenger.‖ Ⅰ.Choose the best answer for each of the following

1.When Homer knocked at the door to Mrs.Rosa Sandoval‘s house

a. he knew that no one was at home.

b. he was eager to see who Mrs.Sandoval was.

c. he didn‘t know anything about the contents of the telegram. d. he lost his sense of hearing momentarily.

2.Homer felt ___ about delivering the telegram to Mrs.Sandoval.

a.awkward b.blameless c.angry d.happy 3. Mrs.Sandoval

a. didn‘t have any idea what was in the telegram. b. knew that the message was not a welcome one.

c. was expecting good news in the telegram. d. knew that the telegram was from his son.

4. Before he opened the telegram,Homer

a. didn‘t know what news was in it b. wondered what news was in it c. knew that news was in it

d. didn‘t care what news was in it

5. Homer read the telegram to Mrs.Sandoval because

a. he wanted to

b. she couldn‘t read English

c. she was crying and couldn‘t read it d. it was his duty as a messenger to do so

6. Mrs.Sandoval was ______ Homer because of the news in the telegram

a.angry with b.sorry for c.afraid of d.fond of

7. Homer knew he would stay with Mrs.Sandoval awhile because

a. it was his duty to do so

b. she didn‘t want him to leave c. he wanted to be her son

d. he wanted to make her less unhappy

8. Mrs.Sandoval pretended not to hear when Homer read her the telegram.This

was because

a. when the truth is too painful,people tend to disbelieve it b. her mind simply rejected it as impossible

c. she wanted to give Homer a piece of her own candy first d. she wanted Homer to read the telegram once again

Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

A big battle was going on during the First World War.Guns _____ firing,and shells and bullets were flying about _____ .After ___ hour of this,one of the soldiers decided ______ the fighting was getting too _____ for him,so he _____ the front line and began to go away_____ the battle.After he had walked __ an hour,he saw an officer coming ___ him.The officer __ him and said, ―Where are you going?‖

―I‘m trying to get as far away as ___ from the battle that‘s going __ behind us,sir,‖the soldier answered.

―Do you know____ I am?‖the officer said to him ______. ―I‘m your cimmanding officer.‖

The soldier was very ______ when he heard this and said, ―My God,I didn‘t ______ that I was so far back already!‖

Ⅲ.Translate the following sentences into English: 1．她弯下腰捡起手帕，在桌子上把它弄平。

2．这不是约翰的过错，他从一开始就反对这项计划。

3．她停顿了一会，用一块小手帕擦了擦嘴，然后又继续给我们讲衬衫厂里发

生的事情。

4．亚当斯先生发现他十三岁的儿子正从他的皮夹子里偷钱大为震惊。 5．“请不要打断我，”亚当斯先生对妻子说：“我正在跟汤姆谈他刚才做的事

情。

6．我怎么能为他讲的话负责呢？

7．当有人问她那件事是怎么发生的时候，她假装一无所知。

8．他努力控制住自己的感情，假装没有听见那个令人悲痛的消息。 Reading Comprehension

Read the following paragraph and answer the questions after it.

It was the use of the telescope,of course,that opened the modern age of astronomy and made possible the growth of all our current theories.Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe tried to answer some questions about the solar system,but it was Galileo who made the first use of the telescope to observe the heavens close up.Born in 1554,Galileo added greatly to our knowledge of the stars before he died in 1642.By means of his telescope he discovered moons in orbit around Jupiter .Although he saw only four,scientists after him discovered eight more moons.Galileo also discovered that the planet Venus did not always appear the same size.It was his wise use of the tolescope that helped him understand this important fact:that the sun,and not the earth,is the center of the planets. 1. What it the main idea of the main paragraph?

2. In this paragraph we may find the following facts or details,of which some are

important and some are not very important.Please circle those you think important.

a. Kepler and Brahe answered questions about the solar system. b. Galileo was born in 1554 and died in 1642. c. He discovered moons around Jupiter.

d. He came to understand that the earth is not the center of the stars‘ system. 3. How did Galileo learn that the earth is not the center of the stars‘ system. 4. How many moons does Jupiter have?

5. Galileo‘s major contribution to our knowledge of the planets was

a. his invention of the telescope b. his study of Brahe Kepler

c. his observations about Jupiter and Venus.

d. his understanding that planets go round the sun

Thank You,M‘am

She was a large woman,walking alone,carrying a large purse about eleven o‘clock at night.A boy ran up behind her and tried to take her purse.The strap broke,and the boy lost his balance under the unexpected weight.He fell on his back.The woman turned around and kicked him,reached down,picked the boy up by his shirt,and shook him until his teeth rattled.Then she said, ―Pick up my pocketbook,boy,and give it here.‖

She still held him tightly.But she bent down far enough so that he could pick

up her purse.Then she said, ―Now aren‘t you ashamed of yourself?‖ ―Yes,m‘am,‖the boy said weakly.

―If I turn you loose,will you run?‖asked the woman. ―Yes,m‘am.‖

―Then I won‘t.Your face is dirty.Don‘t you have anyone at home to tell you to wash your face?‖She asked. ―No,m‘am.‖

―It will get washed tonight,‖she said,starting up the street,dragging the frightened boy behind her.

The woman said, ―You ought to be my son.I‘d teach you right from wrong Right now I will at least see that you wash your face.Hungry?‖ ―No,m‘am.Just turn me loose.‖

―Was I bothering you when I turned that corner?‖asked the woman. ―No,m‘am.‖

―But you put yourself in contact with me.That contact is not going to end fast Sir,you‘ll remember Mrs.Luella Bates Washington Jones.‖

The boy‘s face became sweaty,and he began to struggle.Mrs.Jones stopped jerked him around in front of her,put a half-nelson about his neck and continued to drag him up street.At her door she dragged the boy inside,down a hal and into a large kitchenette-furnished room at the rear of the house.She turned on the light and left the door open.

She said, ―What‘s your name?‖ ―Roger,‖

―Then,Roger,you go to that sink and wash your face,‖said the woman as she turned him loose at last.Roger looked at the door—at the woman—at the door—and went to the sink.

―Are you going to take me to jail?‖asked the boy,bending over the sink.

―Not with that face.I wouldn‘t take you anywhere,‖said the woman. ―Here I am trying to get home to eat,and you try to take my pocketbook.Maybe you haven‘t had your supper either.Have you?‖

―There‘s nobody home at my house,?said the boy.

―Then we‘ll eat,‖said the woman. ―I believe you‘re hungry—or you‘ve been hungry—to try to steal my pocketbook.‖

―I want a pair of blue suede shoes,‖said the boy.

―Well,you didn‘t have to steal,‖said Mrs.Jones. ―You could have asked me.‖ ―M‘am?‖The boy looked at her.There was a long silence.The door was open.He would dash down the hall.

The woman was sitting on the bed.After a while she said, ―I was young once and I wanted things I couldn‘t get.‖There was another long pause.The boy‘s mouth opened and he frowned. ―You thought I was going to say,but I didn‘t steal people‘s pocketbooks.Well,I wasn‘t going to say that.‖Pause.Silence. ―I‘ve done things too,which I would not tell you,son.Everybody‘s got something in

common.Sit down while I fix us something to eat.You might run that comb through your hair so you look nice.‖

In another corner of the room behind a screen was a gas ring and refrigerator.Mrs.Jones got up and went behind the screen.She didn‘t watch the boy,nor did she watch her purse.which she had left behind her on the bed.But the boy took care to sit where she could easily see him out of the corner of her eye if she wanted to.

Later,when they had finished eating,she said, ―Take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes.I need to rest now,but from now on I hope you behave yourself.‖

She led the way to the front door and opened it. ―Good night.Behave yourself,boy,‖she said.

The boy wanted to say something other than ―Thank you,m‘am‖but he couldn‘t even say that,although his lips moved as he looked up at the large woman in the doorway.Then she shut the door.

1. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

a. This story took place late at night

b. A boy tried to steal a large purse from a big strong woman c. The big woman knocked the boy down and kicked him d. The woman told the boy to pick up the purse for her

2. Rearrange the following sentences according to the sequence of action in the

story.

a. Roger washed his face

b. Mrs.Jones dragged Roger down the street c. Mrs.Jones asked Roger his name d. Mrs.Jones took Roger to her room

3. Mrs.Jones refused to let go of the boy because

a. she wanted to get his face washed

b. she wanted to punish him for trying to take her purse c. she wanted to get him to mend his ways(改过自新)

d. she intended to take him to jail,though she changed her mend later. 4. When the boy asked Mrs.Jones if she would send him to jail

a. she told him plainly that she would not

b. she said she would ,unless he got his face washed

c. she said she would,but not until he got his face washed d. she said she would not ,but he had to get his face washed 5. Roger tried to steal Mrs.Jones‘ purse because

a. he wanted to buy some shoes b. he was an experienced criminal

c. his parents needed some money badly d. he wanted to buy some food

6. Mrs.Jones told the boy that when she was young

a. she had never stolen anything b. she had been in jail

c. she had done something bad d. she had things common toall

7. Mrs.Jones left her purse on the bed when she went to cook,because

a. she simply forgot all about it b. she was trying to punish Roger c. she was trying to trap Roger

d. she wanted Roger to know she trusted him 8. Roger chose to sit where she could easily see him

a. because he was afraid to make her angry b. because he did not want to be mistrust

c. because she could concentrate on her cooking d. for no reason at all 9. When they finished eating

a. Mrs.Jones gave the boy some money to buy shoes b. Mrs.Jones told the boy not to steal again

c. Mrs.Jones led the boy to the front door and said good-bye to him d. All of the above 10. Roger

a. wanted to say anything but ―Thanks‖to Mrs.Jones b. wanted to say more than ―Thanks‖ to Mrs.Jones c. just left after saying ―Thank you,m‘am.‖

d. moved his lips and murmured his ―Thanks‖to Mrs.Jones 11. Mrs.Jones was

a. rough and unkind

b. seemingly rough and unkind c. a woman with a heart of gold d. Both b and c

Unit Nine

THE MOST POWERFUL COMPUTER IN THE UNIVERSE

Man still has a lot to learn about the most powerful and complex part of his body—the brain.

In ancient times men did not think that the brain was the centre of mental activity.Aristotle the philosopher of ancient Greece thought that the mind was based in the heart.It was not until 18th century that man realized that the whole of the brain was involved in the workings of the mind.

During the 19th century scientists found that when certain parts of the brain were damaged men lost the ability to do certain things.And so,people thought that each part of the brain controlled a different activity.But modern research has found that this is not so.It is not easy to say exactly what each part of the brain does.

In the past 50 years there has been a great increase in the amount of research being done on the brain.Chemists and biologists have found that the way the brain works is far more complicated than they had thought.In fact many people believe that we are only now really starting to learn the truth about how the human brain works.The more scientists find out,the more questions they are unable to answer.For instance,chemists have found that over 100,000 chemical reactions take place in the brain every second.Mathematicians who have tried to use computers to copy the way the brain works have found that even using the latest electronic equipment they would have to build a computer which weighed over 10,000 kilos.Some recent research also suggests that we remember everything that happens to us.We may not be able to recall this information,but it is all stored in our brains.

Scientists hope that if we can discover how the brain works,the better use we will be able to put it to.For example,how do we learn language?Man differs most from all the other animals in his ability to learn and use language but we still do not know exactly how this is done.Some children learn to speak and read and write when they are very young compared to average children.But scientists are not sure why this happens.They are trying to find out whether there is something about the way we teach language to children which in fact prevents children from learning sooner. Earlier scientists thought that during a man‘s lifetime the power of his brain decreased.But it is now thought that this is not so.As long as the brain is given plenty of exercise it keeps its power.It has been found that an old person who has always been mentally active has a quicker mind than a young person who has done only physical work.It is now thought that the more work we give our brains,the more work they are able to do.

Other people now believe that we use only 1% of our brains‘ full potential.They say that the only limit on the power of the brain is the limit of what we think is possible.This is probably because of the way we are taught as children.When we first start learning to use our minds we are not taught what to do,for example,to remember certain facts,but we are not taught how our memory works,and how to

make the best use of it.We are told to make notes but we are not taught how our brains accept information and which is the best way to organise the information we want our brains to accept.

This century man has made many discoveries about the universe—the world outside himself.But he has also started to look into the workings of that other universe which is inside himself—the human brain.

Ⅰ.Tell whether each of the following statements is true or false according to the text:

1. In ancient times it was believed that it was the heart that did the thinking for

man.

2. Modern research has found that each part of the brain is responsible for

different mental or physical activity.

3. The way we are taught to do things and to organize information may be very

different from how our actually accepts information.Hence our way may not be the best.

4. The brain will not decrease in its power to function as long as it is given

plenty of work to do.

5. Because of a great increase in the amount of brain research,scientists have

answered most of their questions about the workings of the mind.

6. A person keeps in mind everything that happens to him.Yet it is still possible

for him not to be able to recall something that‘s stored in his memory.

7. Note—making is the best way to organize the information we want our brains

to accept.

8. If we know how the human brain learns to use language,perhaps we may be

able to find a better way to teach language. Ⅱ.Fill in the missing words:

1. You probably know there are two sides to the brain,the left and the right.According ______ one theory,the right side deals _____ the senses(wht we see,_____,feel and smell).It‘s the creative,imaginative ___ .The left side is concerned _____ logic.It analyses information and puts _____ in order.It‘s the ?educated‘___ of the brain.

Scientists believe that our brains will _____ at least 75% more effectively if _____ sides are exercised.In fact,in some schools,experiments ______ been done using a 50%-50% syllabus.That is ,a syllabus _____ deas 50% with logic and 50% with creative skills and therefore exercises ____ sides of the brain.The results of students _____ were working from such a syllabus were __ better than the results of students ____ from the more traditional syllabus which concentrates ____ more ?logical‘items _____ therefore only exercises the left side of the brain,without much attention _____ the right side.

2. Most forgetting takes place immediately after learning.An hour ___ studying or learning something new,more than 50% ___ been forgotten.After one month 80% ___ been forgotten and so on.

This shows that review is very _____.If you ____ new material you have learnt,you remember much more.It‘s important to review newly learnt material a little and often.It‘s also necessary to _____ frequent breaks.We best remember _____ we learn at the beginning of a learning period and at the point ___ we stop.After the break,it‘s necessary to review _____ was learnt ______ the break—and then to ___ learning the new material.

Other experiments _____ shown that the brain needs time to ?digest‘what has been learnt.The time necessary _____ this is 5to 10 minutes.After a break of this time the memory will ___ absorbed what it has __ learnt,and more will be remembered.During this break it is important to _____ the right side of the brain,because the left side is used during a learning period.Therefore you __ relax in some way.Listening to ___ , breathing in fresh __ ,and looking at a picture,are all ways of using the other ___ of the brain. Ⅲ.Translate the following sentences into English:

1. 人们普遍认为，用脑越多，智力就越活跃。

2. 直到二十世纪初人们才学会怎样防止这种疾病的蔓延。

3. 这位古希腊哲学家似乎能够用简单的文字表达复杂的思想。 4. 过去人们以为人脑的每一部分都控制着一种不同的活动，但是现代的研究已发现事实并非如此。

5. 我们就这个问题进行了一番非常热烈的讨论，然而要确切地说出每个人讲了些什么却不容易。

6. 在过去二十年中，对于癌的起因的研究在数量上有了很大的增长。 7. 他的态度表明，他对周围正在发生的事情并不真正感兴趣。

8. 科学家们一致认为更好地了解人脑将有助于人们充分利用其无限的潜力。

Reading Comprehension Perception

Have you ever thought about how you see things? How do you know how big something is?

Why do you notice some objects and not others?

1. There are questions which psychologists have been studying for many

years.They try to understand the way that people interpret what they see.For example,if you look out of your window perhaps you can see a tree on the horizon.Your eyes tell you that the tree is about one centimetre tall.But you know that is not true.Your knowledge about the world tells you that the tree is much bigger.Perhaps this seems simple but it is something we have to learn when we are children.If we didn‘t learn this we would find life very difficult.

2. Now let‘s look at an interesting example with colours.If you own a blue

car,you know it is true,even if it is bright sunlight,in darkness or under a yellow street light.Your eyes tell you that it changes colour in these different situations,but your brain knows better.You have leant that cars

don‘t change colour all time,and so your brain interprets the information your eyes give you.

3. Psychologists have found that people learn to understand and interpret

what they see easily.One psychologist tried an experiment on himself.He put on a special pair of glasses.When he looked through them everything he looked at seemed to be upside-down.Try and imagine how that feels.At first,if he saw something on a high shelf,he bent down to pick it up because his eyes told him that the object was near the floor.But in a few weeks,he learnt to understand the strange,new world he saw.He lived normally without walking into things.

4. Sometimes,however,we make mistakes.Look at the Necker Cube(内克尔

立方体)below.Is the shaded part of the cube at the back or at the front?

The Necker Cube

Now look at it for a few minutes.Does the shaded part seem to move?This is an example of a visual illusion.The Necker Cube shows us that when we see an object,we make the best interpretation of it that we can.But sometimes we are wrong.

5. The way we see things is therefore more complicated than we imagine.Our

eyes give us information all the time.But our brains decide what is important to us.For example,if you walk down a crowded street,you will see many faces.But you will probably not really notice them.But if you see someone you know,you will notice him immediately.From this example we can see that your brain chooses the visual information which is useful to you,and rejects the information which it does not need.The way your brain interprets that information depends on the knowledge you have about the world.And all this happens in less than a second.

Ⅰ.If you think a statement is false,make necessary changes to make it true.

1. When you catch sight of an object in the fair distance,you know

immediately from experience that it must be much bigger than it looks. 2. If you know the colour of any object,you won’t find it changes colour

in any circumstances,because your brain keeps telling you what colour

it is.

3. Your eyes send off “signals”constantly and your brain accepts them

and explains their meaning in its unique way.

4. When the psychologist put on a special pair of glasses,he found

everything had changed either in size or in position.

5. But in a few weeks the psychologist found everything had turned back

into its normal state.

6. Our eyes may make mistakes,causing optical illusions,but our brain

never will-it can always make a sound judgment.

7. We cannot always avoid having a visual illusion because things we are

more complicated than we think.

8. Our brain accepts or rejects the information our eyes provide

according to our actual needs.

9. The three questions raised at the beginning of the text are related

to the relationship between visual information and mental interpretation.

10. From the text we may infer that “perception”means “awareness

through senses(sense of sight,for example)of external(外部的)objicts”

ⅡWrite down the topic sentence of each paragraph in the blank space after the text