|
Managing Your Emotions 控制你的情绪
What makes me angry? Mostly, I hate when someone tries to make someone else feel bad. I have to admit that once, when I was really angry, I actually called names. I regretted doing this afterwards, but not full heartedly because I think I was provoked in that situation.
The most positive way of dealing with anger is talking about the problem. I talk to someone who listens, or I'll write my thoughts down on paper. Learning how to deal with anger as you're growing up is so important. When you're younger, you might yell, or cry when you're angry, but as you get older, you're expected to handle your emotions much better.
Learning to control your emotion now will prevent you from doing something that you'll regret later on in life!
课文译文
什么事会让我愤怒呢？通常情况下，当有人试图使别人觉得不舒服时，我会非常愤怒。我不得不承认，有一次，在我实在很生气的时候，我确实骂了人。过后，我很后悔那么做，但我不认为全是我的错，因为我觉得在那种情况下，我是被激怒了。
解决愤怒的最积极的方法是把问题说出来。我说给愿意听的人，或者把我的想法写在纸上。在你成长的过程中，学会处理愤怒是非常重要的。小时候，你生气的时候可以大喊大叫或者哭闹，但长大后，你被期望能更好地控制情绪。
现在就学着控制情绪能让你避免做一些可能使你以后遗憾一生的事情。
课文词汇
admit 承认
full heartedly 全心全意地
provoke 激怒
prevent 预防，防止
=========================
A Bus Ride 乘公共汽车
One day I was on a bus. I found an elderly woman standing in front of me. She had a big bag in her hand. "It's a virtue for a young person to help the old,"I said to myself.
When I was standing up to give my seat to the old lady, a young foreigner got up quickly saying, "Please sit down."The old lady thanked him and sat down. She looked very happy.
I was a little embarrassed because I was sitting in the middle of the bus. Suddenly a pregnant woman got onto the bus. I quickly stood up to give up my seat to her. The foreigner smiled at me. He said that he was an Australian, and was a student studying Chinese culture in China.
课文译文
一天，我在一辆公共汽车上。我发现一位年长的妇人站在我的面前，她手里拿了个大包。“帮助老人是年轻人的美德。”我对自己说。
当我正要站起来把自己的座位让给那位老妇人时，一个年轻的外国人很快站了起来，说：“请这里坐。”老妇人谢谢他，然后坐下，她看上去非常高兴。
我有一点尴尬，因为我坐在车厢的中间。突然一个孕妇上了车。我很快地站起来把座位让给了她。那个外国人笑着看着我，他说他是澳大利亚人，正在中国学习中国文化。
课文词汇--virtue 美德
=========================
The Eagle and the Raven 鹰 和 渡 鸦
An eagle was trying to break open a nut in his beak when a raven landed on a branch beside him. The raven eyed the nut hopefully, "You'll never break it like that,"he said. "If I were you I would fly up in the sky as high as I could, then drop the nut onto the rocks. It's the only way you'll get at the kernel."
The eagle flew up into the sky, then let the nut fall down, down, down to the ground. The raven hopped quickly from his branch and seized the nut in his beak. By the time the eagle had found his way back to the right place, all that was left was a broken piece of shell.
课文译文
正当鹰试图弄开它嘴中的坚果时，一只渡鸦停在了他旁边的树干上。渡鸦贪婪地看着坚果，“你这样永远也弄不开它，”他说。“如果我是你，我就会尽我所能，飞向高空，然后让坚果掉在石头上。这是得到果实的唯一办法。”
鹰飞向空中，然后让坚果落下，落下，落到地面。渡鸦飞快地跳离树干，叼住了坚果。当鹰寻旧路折回时，地上只剩下一些破碎的果壳了。
课文词汇--raven 渡鸦 beak 鸟嘴
kernel 果实 hop 单脚跳
==============================
A Young Pioneer 年轻的先驱
Long ago, when the western part of the United States was still a wilderness, a young boy, called Kit, not yet twenty years old, went from his home in the East to learn about the new country. He wanted to know what lay beyond the Rocky Mountains.
Kit's father had taught him to shoot straight, but he learned more about hunting and trapping in the country of the Indians.
Kit was always calm in times of danger. He was strong and brave. Most of the Indians liked and respected him for his honesty.
For many years, Kit lived in the West. He taught other white men many things. Probably the most important thing he taught them was how to get along with the Indians.
课文译文
很久以前，美国西部还是一片荒野，一个年轻的男孩，名叫基特，还不满二十岁，从东部的家乡来到这里，要了解这个新的国家。他想知道在落基山脉那边有什么。
基特的父亲教会他瞄准射击，但他在印第安人的村庄里学到了更多的打猎和狩猎的本领。
基特在危险的时刻总是很沉着。他强壮勇敢。大多数印第安人因为他的诚实而喜欢并尊敬他。
基特在西部生活了很多年。他教会其他白人很多东西。也许他教会他们的最重要的东西就是如何与印第安人相处。
课文词汇
wilderness 荒野
pioneer 先锋，先驱
trapping 诱捕
=============================
A Seaside Picnic 海 滩 野 餐
One morning last April, Joan was lying in bed when the telephone rang. It was her friend, Dave, who invited her out for a picnic at the seaside.
Later that day she left her flat and walked to the bus stop to catch the bus. Joan was wearing a T-shirt and skirt as it was quite hot. As she sat on the bus she looked out of the window. The sun was shining. She saw a plane going over a forest and some horses in the fields.
Before long she arrived at the seaside and met Dave. They went down to the beach and had their picnic next to a rock. They had sandwiches and crisps, and Dave painted a picture. They had a lovely day.
课文译文
去年四月的一天早上，当琼还躺在床上时，电话铃响了。电话是她的朋友戴夫打来的，她想邀请琼去海滩野餐。
那天晚些时候，琼离开了公寓，去公共汽车站乘车。因为天气很热，琼穿着Ｔ恤衫和裙子。当她坐在车上时，她看着窗外。阳光明媚。她看到一架飞机飞过一片森林，看到田野里的马。
一会功夫，她就到了海边，碰到了戴夫。他们走下海滩，在一块岩石边野餐。他们一起吃三明治和马铃薯片，戴夫还画了一幅画。他们度过了开心的一天。
课文词汇
flat 公寓 （英国英语）
crisp 油炸马铃薯片
======================
Humour — What Is a Teenager?
幽默——少年是什么样的人？
A teenager is someone who can hear his favourite singer three blocks away but not his mother calling from the next room. a whiz who can operate the latest computer without a lesson but can't make a bed. a connoisseur of two kinds of fine music — loud and very loud.
an enthusiast who has the energy to bike for miles but is usually too tired to dry the dishes.
a romantic who never falls in love more than once a week.
a boy who can sleep till noon on any Saturday and suspects the room needs cleaning.
an original thinker who is positive that his mother was never a teenager.
课文译文
少年是一个隔着三个街区也能听到他最喜欢的歌手的声音但却听不到隔壁房间母亲叫声的人。
一个不用上一节课就可以操作最新电脑的能手，但却不会铺床。
两种音乐的鉴赏家——吵闹的和非常吵闹的音乐。
一个充满热情，精力充沛的人，他可以骑车骑几英里，但却经常因为觉得太累而擦不干碟子。
一个浪漫主义者，他不经常恋爱，一周绝对少于一次。
一个每星期六都要睡到中午，却总是怀疑房间需要打扫的人。
是一个有独创精神的思想家，他断定他的母亲不是从少年时期走过来的。
课文词汇
block 街区
whiz 天才，能手
connoisseur 内行，鉴赏家
enthusiast 热心的人，热情的人
suspect 怀疑
original 新颖的，独创的
|
The Dog and His Shadow 狗和他的影子
It happened that a dog had some meat that he wanted to eat at home. On his way home he met a river. As he looked down, he saw his shadow in the water.
"Just look!"said he to himself. "That dog down there has some meat, too. If I could get it away from him, I would really eat well tonight!"
With this thought, he made a snap at the other dog's meat. And as he did, his own meat fell into the water. So then he had nothing at all.
Then he saw that the other dog had lost his meat, too. "That is as it should be!?thought he. "For I saw him trying to take my meat away from me." By wanting to have everything, he has lost everything he had!
课文译文
碰巧狗有一些肉，他想回到家后再吃。回家的路上，他遇到了一条河。当他往河里看时，在水里他看到了他的影子。
“看啊！”他对自己说，“下面的那只狗也有一些肉。如果我能从他那里把肉弄过来，那我今晚就可以美餐一顿了！”
带着这个想法，他朝另一只狗的肉扑去。当他这么做时，他自己的肉掉进了水里。所以他就什么都没有了。
然后，他看到另一只狗的肉也没了。“活该！”他想，“因为我看到他想从我这里抢走我的肉。”
什么都想要，却失去了原来所拥有的！
课文词汇--snap at 抓，咬
==========================
Buying Books on the Internet
网 上 购 书
It's easy to order books from the Internet. There are several companies that ship books to customers in China. Just decide which company you would like to use and type that company's name into the search engine. The company's homepage will appear within a few seconds. Next you can type the name of the author or the title of the book you want to buy in the space provided on the page. If you decide to buy one of the books you will need to give further information such as your address and your credit card number. You will also need to decide how you want to have the book shipped. Finally, all you have to do is wait for the book to arrive in your mailbox.
课文译文
从网上订书是非常方便的。在中国有许多公司可以把书寄到顾客的手里。你要做的只是决定你想使用哪家公司，然后把公司名输入搜索引擎。几秒钟后公司的主页就出现了。接下去你可以在网页提供的地方输入你想买的书的作者名或书名。如果你决定购买其中一本书，你需要进一步提供信息，例如你的住址和信用卡号码。你还需要决定书的邮寄方式。最后，你所需做的就是等待书送到你邮箱里来。
=========================
A Robot Babysitter
看小孩的机器人
In 2005 Japan made a new robot. It can take care of a child. The new robot is called iPapero. It weighs 13.2 pounds, and has a body of 15.2 by 10.3 and by 9.8 inches.
iPapero is a small robot, but it has many special skills. It can recognize and remember up to ten faces and use its eight separate electronic ears to understand human voices even in noisy situations. It also plays games with children when they are unhappy, or sing songs or ask quizzes to entertain the child. If the child is bored, iPapero will change new songs and quizzes so that it doesn't repeat itself. The robot babysitter even has a cell phone to call a parent when the child asks for his mother.
课文译文
2005年，日本制造了一个新的机器人。它会照看小孩。这个新机器人叫做iPapero。它13.2磅重，身体是15.2×10.3×9.8英寸。
iPapero是个小机器人，但它有很多特殊的技能。它能识别和记忆多达十张脸，即使是在吵闹的情况下，它也能用它八只分开的电子耳朵听懂人的声音。当孩子们不高兴时，它还和他们玩游戏、唱歌或猜谜语让他们开心。如果孩子感到无聊了，他会换新的歌和谜语，这样就不会重复。这个照看小孩的机器人甚至还装有移动电话，当孩子找妈妈时，可以用它打电话给父母。
课文词汇
entertain 使快乐
quizzes 猜谜，问答比赛（quiz的复数）
======================= ======
洗 碗 工
Some people have dogs or cats as pets. One woman in New York keeps a monkey as her pet. This monkey can wash dishes. He washes the dishes for the woman every day. He likes to wash dishes and never breaks a dish. Sometimes he washes the same dishes over and over. If the woman tries to stop him, he then gets angry. He begins to throw the dishes in all directions. But this does not happen very often.
The woman's husband is very happy with the monkey. The husband never needs to help his wife wash the dishes. The monkey does all this work. The husband says that he cannot understand how anybody, a person or a monkey, can like to wash dishes so much.
课文译文
有些人的宠物是猫或狗。纽约的一位妇女养了只猴子当宠物。这只猴子会洗碗。他每天为这个妇女洗碗。他喜欢洗并且从未打破过一个碗碟。有时他会一遍遍地清洗同一个碗。如果这个妇女试图阻止，猴子就会发脾气，并开始朝四面八方扔碗碟。但这种情况不常发生。
女人的丈夫非常满意这只猴子。他从不需要帮自己的妻子洗碗。猴子包办了这些活。这个丈夫说他无法理解，不管是谁，人还是猴子，怎么会如此喜欢洗碗呢。
=======================
Charles Chaplin查尔斯·卓别林
One day a small boy called Charles Chaplin was walking along the street in London. It was a cold winter's day in 1900. He wanted to buy some bread, but he didn't have any money. His father had died when he was very young. He and his brother, Sid, had to work to help their sick mother.
Although Charles was small, his dream was very big. He wanted to be a great man in the world of films, so he worked very hard to become a good dancer and singer.
Thirty years later, this same boy was among the most famous people in the world.
Even if you do not understand English, you can enjoy his films, because no words are used in his films.
课文译文
一天，一个叫卓别林的小男孩在伦敦的大街上走着。那是1900年寒冬的一天。卓别林想买一些面包，但他没有钱。他的父亲在他还很小时就去世了。他和他的兄弟西德必须工作以帮助生病的母亲。
卓别林年纪虽小但他有很大的理想。他想成为电影世界的伟大人物，所以他努力工作，希望成为有名的舞蹈家和歌唱家。
三十年后，这个小男孩成为了世界上最著名的人之一。
即使你不懂英语，你也可以欣赏他的电影，因为他的电影是无声的。
======================
Helping Parents
帮 助 父 母
Parents often get angry because of their trouble in their lives. Let's say that your mother is not happy about her boss. If she doesn't have other ways of expressing her emotions, she might come home and yell at you, scream at your dad, kick at the dog, or even say something mean to you.
Here's how to handle it when an adult in your life has trouble controlling his or her anger: Don't make it worse. Angry people can have trouble thinking clearly, so try not to do or say anything to make things worse. Wait till your parent cools off, then talk to him or her in a calm tone, and try to explain how the anger is affecting you.
课文译文
父母常常因为他们生活中的烦恼而生气。我们举个例子，比如你妈妈对她的上司不满。假如她没有其他方法发泄她的情绪，她就可能回到家冲你大声嚷嚷，对你爸爸大喊大叫，踢家里的狗，或者甚至对你说一些难听的话。
当你身边的大人控制不住他们的怒火时，你应付的方法是：别让情况变得更糟糕。生气的人很难保持思维清晰，所以不要做，也不要说任何会使事情变得更糟的事或话。先等你的父母平静下来，然后再心平气和地和他们谈，并想办法说明他们的怒火是如何影响你的。
课文词汇
cool off 平静下来
tone 语气
affect 影响
===========================
What is Time? （Nursery Rhyme）
时间是什么（童谣一首）
Time is grain for peasants.
Time is wealth for workers.
Time is life for doctors.
Time is victory for soldiers.
Time is knowledge for students.
Time is speed for scientists.
Time is money for businessmen.
Time is everything for all of us.
Therefore, seize the time of today!
==========================
A Small Shop 小 店
Alan Smith and his wife run a small shop in a small town. It sells milk, butter, cheese, eggs and other things. It is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday morning, but it is shut on Sunday afternoon and on Monday.
Alan goes to some farms on Monday and buys their best butter and cheese and eggs from the farmers, but he buys his milk in the town. Alan and his wife also sell a lot of food. One Saturday a woman came into the shop. She bought some eggs and some butter, and then she said to Alan, "your eggs and your butter are dear today. Why are Saturday and Sunday dearer than the other days??Alan smiled and said, "Our food is not dearer on Saturday and Sunday! It is cheaper on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!
课文译文
艾伦·史密斯和妻子在一个小镇上经营一家小店。小店里卖牛奶、黄油、干酪、鸡蛋和其他一些东西。小店星期二、三、四、五、六及星期天上午开业，星期天下午和星期一休息。
星期一，艾伦去一些农场，从农民那里采购质量最好的黄油、干酪和鸡蛋，但牛奶是从镇上采购来的。
艾伦和妻子也出售许多食物。一个星期六，一位妇人来到店里。她买了一些鸡蛋和黄油，然后她对艾伦说：“今天你的鸡蛋和黄油贵了。为什么星期六和星期天的东西要比其他时候贵呢？”
艾伦笑着说：“我们的食物没有在星期六星期天涨价，而是在星期二、三、四、五降价了！”
 |
|
|
|
The Hare and the Tortoise 兔子和乌龟
One day a hare was telling the other animals how fast he could run. "I can beat anyone!"cried he. "Will one of you try a race with me?"
"I will,?said the tortoise.
"You!?laughed the hare. "Oh, oh, how funny!?
"Save your laughing for the end of the race,?said the tortoise.
So a starting line was made, and away they went. The hare ran fast and was soon far ahead, so he sat down to rest. By the time the tortoise came up, the hare was sleeping.
On and on went the tortoise, and when the hare looked up at last, it was too late.
There sat the tortoise by the sign that said: The End.
课文译文
一天，兔子正在向其他动物炫耀他能跑得很快。“我能跑过任何人。”他喊道。
“你们有谁想和我比一比吗？”
“我。”乌龟说。
“你！”兔子笑道，“哦，哦，太滑稽了！”
“留着到比赛结束后笑吧。”乌龟说。
他们划了条起跑线，出发了。兔子跑得飞快，很快就跑到了前面，所以他坐下来休息。等到乌龟赶上来时，他睡着了。
乌龟一直往前走，当兔子最后醒来时，已经太晚了。
乌龟坐在一块牌子旁，上面写着： 终点。
课文词汇
hare 野兔
tortoise 龟，乌龟
============================
“I Have Never Heard You in Carmen”
“我还从未听过你唱卡门”
Mark Twain was once invited by a friend to go to the opera. The friend was very rich. He and his wife had their own box at the theatre. During the opera the friend's wife talked all the time. She also talked rather loudly. She talked so much that it was often difficult for Mark Twain to listen to the opera.
Toward the end of the opera she turned to Mark Twain and said, "Oh, my dear Mark Twain, I do want you to be with us again next Friday night. I'm sure you will like it — the opera will be Carmen."
"Thank you very much,"said Mark Twain. "That will be fine. I have never heard you in Carmen."
课文译文
有一次，一个朋友邀请马克·吐温去看歌剧。这个朋友很有钱。他和他的妻子在剧院有自己的包厢。看歌剧时，朋友的妻子一直在说话。她说话的声音还挺大。她的话那么多，马克·吐温根本听不清歌剧。
歌剧临近结束时，她转而对马克·吐温说：“噢，我亲爱的马克·吐温，我真的想让你再和我们一起度过下周五。我保证你会喜欢的——下周的歌剧是《卡门》。”
“非常感谢，”马克·吐温说。“想来会很好。我还从未听过你唱《卡门》。”
课文词汇
Carmen 《卡门》（歌剧名）
box 包厢
===========================
English in the World
世界上的英语
Some people say that the English language no longer belongs to the English, and it belongs to the world. It is estimated that the number of people who use English exceeds 750 million. Among these, about 350 million are native speakers, while the rest use it as an official language. If we add to this number the people who have acquired the language to some extent, the total is close to one billion.
English plays an increasingly important role in the world as a medium for conducting international business and diplomacy, as well as in science and medicine, the Internet, air and sea communications, international sports events, radio and TV programs, pop songs and movies.
课文译文
有人说英语已不再属于英国人了，它属于全世界。据估计，使用英语的人超过七亿五千万，其中大约有三亿五千万是以英语为母语的人，而其余的人将英语作为官方语言使用。如果我们再加上已经掌握英语到一定程度的人，这个总数将接近十亿。
英语，作为进行国际业务和外交的工具，在世界上起着越来越重要的作用。它还在科学、医药、互联网、空中及海洋通信、国际体育赛事、电台电视节目、流行歌曲及电影中发挥着越来越重要的作用。
课文词汇
exceed 超过
native 本族的，本国的
acquire 掌握
to some extent 达到某种程度
billion 千万
increasingly 越来越多地
medium 工具，手段
conduct 实行，执行
diplomacy 外交
medicine 医药
communication 通信
event 事件
=========================
Making a Kite 做一个风筝
One day, Paula and Richard decided to make a kite. First they went out and found two straight sticks of the same length. They brought them back home and tied them with a piece of string into the shape of a cross. Then they took some string and used it to tie the four ends of the sticks together. Then, they spread some brightly coloured paper over the frame and glued it around the string. They stuck a tail made of paper to one of the corners, and tied a long string to the centre of the kite. On the next windy day, they took the kite to a hill near their house and flew it.
课文译文
一天，保罗和理查德决定做一个风筝。首先，他们出门找了两根一样长的直木棍。他们把木棍带回家，用一根绳子把它们绑成十字形。然后他们又拿了些绳子，把木棍的四个顶端连在一起。然后，他们把一些颜色鲜艳的纸涂上胶水，粘在风筝的框架上。他们将纸做的尾巴粘在一角，在风筝中间系上一根长绳。在接下来的一个有风的日子里，他们就在家附近的小山上放风筝了。
课文词汇
straight stick 直木棍
tie 系 -----cross 十字
spread 传开 ----stick 粘
========================================
A Barbecue 烧 烤
When I was a child, I once went camping with my family in the summer. We decided to make a barbecue in the valley. So we collected some tree sticks to make a fire. My father asked me if I could try to make a fire. I was glad to take the job. Then I tried to set fire to the wood with a match, but produced only smoke. Then my father said, "That's not the right way. I'll show you how to do it. First use the small pieces of wood because they catch fire easily. Then put the larger ones on top of them."My father helped me make a big fire.
课文译文
当我还是小孩子的时候，一年夏天我们全家去野营。我们决定在山谷中烧烤，所以我们捡来了一些树枝生火。父亲问我愿不愿意尝试着生火，我很高兴地承担了这项任务。我试着用火柴把木头点燃，但结果都是烟。父亲说：“这样做不对。我来教你如何生火。先用小片的木头，因为它们容易点燃，然后把大些的放在它们上面。”父亲帮我点起了旺旺的火。
课文词汇
valley 山谷
stick 枝条
========================================
Detective Work 侦 探 工 作
A bank robber stole a lot of money. He was caught and sent to prison, but the money was never found.
When he came out of prison, they watched him to see what he would do. Here is the detective, reporting to the inspector. "Yes, sir, I found Johnny Armitage. I followed him all around the town, but frankly, I couldn't make anything out of what he bought. Here's the list."
shirt heavy crowbar box of chocolates
shovel heavy hammer bunch of flowers
The inspector said, "Good. That helps me a lot. Do you remember how we watched him helping his neighbour, old Mrs. Judson to cover her backyard with cement?
课文译文
一个盗贼从银行偷了很多钱。他被抓住送到监狱，但是钱没找到。
当他从监狱出来时，他被监视，看他会做什么。这不，侦探正向检察官报告：“是的，先生，我发现了强尼·阿米塔基，我跟着他转遍了全镇，但坦白说，我不能从他买的东西中推断出什么。这里是清单。”
衬衫、大铁撬、一盒巧克力
铁铲、大铁锤、一束花
检察官说：“好，这对我很有帮助。你还记得我们看到他是怎么帮他的邻居，贾德森老太太用水泥铺院子的吗？”
课文词汇
detective 侦探的侦探
inspector 检察官
frankly 坦白地，真诚地
crowbar 铁撬，撬棒
shovel 铲，铁铲
cement 水泥
===========================
Humour — Things Your Mother Wouldn’t Say
幽默——母亲不会说的话
"Be good and I'll buy you a motorcycle for your birthday!
"How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?"
"Don's bother wearing a jacket — it's quite warm out.
"Let me smell that shirt — yeah, it's good for another week.
"I think a cluttered bedroom is a sign of creativity.?
"Yeah, I used to skip school, too.?
"Just leave all the lights on...it makes the house more cheery.
"Could you turn the music up louder so I can enjoy it, too?
课文译文
“你表现好，我就给你买辆摩托车作为生日礼物！”
“你怎么能够坐得这么远看电视呢？”
“不用麻烦再穿夹克衫了——外面很暖和。”
“让我闻闻这件衬衫——好，还可以再穿一个星期。”
“我觉得乱七八糟的卧室也是创造力的表现。”
“好，我以前也逃过课。”
“就让所有的灯都开着吧……这样的房间更令人愉快。”
“你可以把音乐开得再响一点吗？这样我也可以欣赏它。”
课文词汇
on earth 究竟 cluttered 混乱的
sign 预兆，表现 creativity 创造力
skip 跳 cheery 愉快的
 |
Learning English in England
在英国学英语
I came to England last summer. I have been in England for eleven months. I am going to finish my studies in England soon, and will leave for China next month.
At first it was very difficult for me to communicate with other people in English. Now I can speak English much better, and even understand English television, because I have studied hard and my teachers and classmates have helped me a lot.
I have lots of English friends now. Some of them have even invited me for dinner at their houses. They are interested to learn about China and Chinese people. Every time they ask me a lot of questions, I realize how little I know about my own country.
课文译文
去年夏天，我来到英国。现在我在英国已经待了十一个月了。我将很快结束在英国的学习，下个月我就将回中国了。
一开始，我觉得很难用英语和别人交流。现在我英语说得好多了，甚至可以看懂英语电视，这是因为我学习很努力，老师和同学对我的帮助也很大。
现在我有许多英国朋友。一些朋友甚至邀请我去他们家吃饭。他们对中国和中国人很感兴趣。每当他们问我许多问题时，我才意识到自己对祖国的了解是如此之少。
===========================
A Friend
朋 友
When you read an English book, you often come across new words. You might try to guess what the words mean from the words you know, but when you cannot guess the meanings of new words at all, what should you do?
You have a good friend then. From him you can learn what a word means, how to pronounce a word, how to use a word, and so on. This friend can always be with you, and you can always ask him to help you. Do you know who this friend is?
It is a dictionary. You can learn some important things about words from it, so you must know how to use it.
课文译文
当你读英语书时，你经常会碰到新单词。你可能试着从你知道的词中猜这些词的意思，但是当你无法猜出这些词的意思时，你该怎么办呢？
这时你有一个好朋友。从他那里你可以学到单词的意思、发音及用法等。这个朋友可以经常伴你左右，你可以经常请他帮忙。你知道这个朋友是谁吗？
他就是字典。你可以从他那里学习有关词汇的众多重要知识，所以你必须学会如何使用字典。
课文词汇
come across 碰到
===========================
濒 危 动 物 Animals in Danger
Some of the animals and birds in the rainforest, such as monkeys and woodpeckers, live in the treetops. They are always swinging and flying from one tree to another looking for food among the leaves and branches. They even sleep in the treetops so they do not have to come down to the ground.
Have you heard that such animals and birds in the rainforests are in danger? Because people are cutting down so many trees in the forests, the animals are losing their homes. Do you know the reasons for it? Yes, people want wood, paper and land. As a result many animals and plants are dying. Some forests are so badly damaged that they become deserts.
课文译文
一些雨林中的动物和鸟类生活在树顶上，例如猴子和啄木鸟。它们总是从一棵树荡到或飞到另一棵树上，在树叶和树枝间寻找食物。它们甚至在树顶睡觉，所以它们不用到地面上来。
你知道吗？雨林中的这些动物正处于危险中。因为人们砍伐了森林中的许多树，动物们失去了家园。你知道人们砍树的原因吗？是的，人们需要木材、纸和土地。所以，许多动物和植物正在消亡。一些森林遭到了严重的破坏，变成了沙漠。
课文词汇
rainforest 雨林
woodpecker 啄木鸟
treetop 树顶
swing 摇荡
leaves 树叶（leaf的复数形式）
branch 树枝
desert 沙漠
==========================
A Joke— “I stand corrected”
笑话——“我诚恳认错”
I have this friend who always seemed to lean slightly to the left all the time. It used to bother me, so I suggested he see a doctor, and have his legs checked out. For years, he refused and told me I was crazy, but last week, he finally went. Sure enough, the doctor discovered his left leg was a quarter inch shorter than his right. A quick bit of surgery later, he was cured, and both legs are exactly the same length now, and he no longer leans. "So,"I said, "You didn't believe me when I told you a doctor could fix your leg.?He just looked at me and said, "I stand corrected.
课文译文
我有一个朋友，他似乎总是微微向左倾斜。这个问题曾经非常困扰我，所以我建议他去看医生，检查一下他的腿。几年来，他总是不听我的建议，还说我不正常，但是上星期，他终于去看了医生。果真，医生发现他的左腿比右腿短四分之一英寸。一个很快的小手术后，他康复了，现在他的两条腿完全一样长了，他也不再倾斜了。“你看，”我说，“那时我告诉你医生可以治好你的腿时你还不相信我呢。”他看着我说：“我认错了。”
课文词汇
lean 倾斜
slightly 轻微地
check out 检查
quarter 四分之一
fix 治愈
stand corrected 认错
==========================
Perfect Match 绝 配
A rich woman is so proud of a valuable antique vase that she decides to have her bedroom painted the same colour as the vase. Several painters try to mix the colour right, but none comes close enough to satisfy the woman.
Eventually, a painter comes. He is confident that he can mix the proper colour. The woman is pleased with the result, and the painter becomes famous.
Years later, he retires and turns the business over to his son. "Dad,"asks the son, "there's something I've got to know. How did you get those walls to match the vase so perfectly?"
"Son,"the father replies, "I painted the vase."
课文译文
一个有钱的妇人感到非常骄傲，因为她有一只值钱的古董花瓶，她决定把她的卧室漆成和花瓶一样的颜色。好几个油漆匠试图调出正确的颜色，但是没有一个人调出的颜色能让妇人满意。
最后，来了一个油漆匠。他很有信心可以调出合适的颜色。果然妇人对最终的效果感到满意，漆匠也因此成名。
几年后，漆匠退休了，他把生意交给了儿子。“爸爸，”儿子问，“有件事我想知道。你是如何调配出和花瓶一样的颜色的？”
“儿子，”父亲回答，“我把花瓶也一起漆了。”
课文词汇
valuable 值钱的
eventually 最终
========================================
Dogs
狗
People often say that a dog is man's best friend. Over thousands of years, man has taught his dogs to do many kinds of work besides guarding the home. For example, sheepdogs are famous for their ability to control a flock of hundreds of sheep.
Dogs have been used to aid disabled people for centuries. A guide dog can lead its blind owner. Nowadays, dogs can be taught to turn on light switches, open refrigerator doors and dial the telephone for their disabled owners. For the majority of people, however, dogs are simply pets and friends for both young and old members of the family.
课文译文
人们总是说狗是人类最好的朋友。几千年来，除了看家外，人类还教会了狗去做许多其他的事，例如，牧羊犬就因其可以控制数百只羊的羊群而出名。
狗用来帮助残疾人已有好几个世纪了。导盲犬可以为盲主人引路。现在，人们还教狗为残疾主人打开电灯、开冰箱和拨电话。然而，对于大多数人来说，狗只是家里老人和孩子们的宠物和朋友。
课文词汇
guard 看守，看护
sheepdog 牧羊犬
flock 群
guide dog 导盲犬
dial 拨
majority 大多数
========================================
An Embarrassing Show 一次令人难堪的展览
The day of the school science fair had finally arrived, and Lisa was both nervous and excited. She couldn't wait to show off her volcano model at the fair. She might even win the first prize!
As Lisa was setting up her volcano, she noticed her friend Alex's project on the table next to hers. Weeks ago, Alex had asked her for help in creating a model of the solar system, and Lisa was glad to help. He never told her he was going to enter it in the Science Fair! His model was painted beautifully in different colours. Finally Alex got the first place and Lisa felt very embarrassed.
课文译文
学校的科学展览日终于到来了，丽莎既紧张又兴奋。她等不及要在展览会上炫耀她的火山模型。她甚至有可能赢得第一名！
正当丽莎组装她的火山时，她注意到旁边桌子上她朋友亚历克斯的设计。几星期前，亚历克斯曾请她帮助他创作一个太阳系的模型，丽莎很乐意地帮助了他。可他从没告诉过她他打算拿它参加科学展览！他的模型色彩鲜艳。最终亚历克斯获得了第一名，丽莎觉得很难堪！
课文词汇
solar system 太阳系
embarrassed 觉得难堪的
|
|
|
|
