U1A Mo Yan Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature! Mo is the first Chinese who won the prize. When he heard the news，Mo said he never expected to win the prize, as there were so many good writers all over the world. MoYan is the writer's pen name. His real name is Guan Moye.He was born into a farmer's family in Gaomi, Shandong, in February 1955. When he was 12, he dropped out of school and started to work, first in his village and later in a factory. Little Moye enjoyed reading. But at that time,there were only a few books available in his village. He had to try every means to find books to read.With no more books at hand, he started reading a Chinese dictionary. He read it so many times that he found several mistakes in it. In 1976,he joined the army.During that time, he began to study liberature and write stories. His first short story was published in 1981.He became famous in 1987 when his novel Red Sorghum was made into a film by the famous director Zhang Yimou. He also won the 18th Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2011 for his novel Frog. MoYan is a famous writer in the world now.More and more people are becoming interested in his works. U1B Fryderyk Chopin Fryderyk Chopin was a famous pianist and music writer. Today many piano music lovers still listen to his famous works such as Minute Waltz. He was born on March 1, 1810 in a small village in Poland. Everyone in Chopin’s family was a musician. His father played the violin, and his mother and sister played the piano. His family moved to Wa rsaw when Chopin was seven months old. When he was 6 years old, he started to take piano lessons. Soon he played even better than his teacher. At that time, he also started to write music, and began to give concerts when he was only seven! In 1825, when he was 15 years old, people said he was the best pianist in Warsaw. They called him the poet of the piano because his music could touch the hearts of his listeners. In his later years, he enjoyed playing at his apartment for a few friends more than giving big concerts. Chopin became seriously ill when he was only 25 and continued to have bad health into his old age. In his last years, he was very weak but kept on writing music until he died in 1849. The world lost a musical talent, but his spirit continues to live in his works today. U2A Alone among strangers: Dealing with a difficult situation It was Friday night and I could hear loud music and people talking as I walked through the door. My friend saw me and came over. “Hey, Ben! Thanks for coming to my party.” he said. “Thanks for inviting me. It looks like a great party,” I replied. But I had a secret feeling of fear. I realized that I didn’t know anyone there. I moved towards the drinks table and got a drink. Then I nervously stood in a corner, not quite sure what to do. Finally, I turned to the person next to me and introduced myself. “Hi,” I said. “My name’s Ben.” “Hi, I’m Tania,” the person replied shyly. Then there was a long silence as I kept trying to think about what to say next. I felt more and more nervous and other person was looking uncomfortable, too. In the end, all I could say was, “Well, it was nice meeting you.” And I quickly walked away. I felt so embarrassed that I left the party. Ben isn’t the only person that has experienced this situation. Something similar has probably happened to most of us before. It’s natural to feel unsure of ourselves when starting conversations with strangers. A good starting paint is to ask the person questions about himself or herself, or talk about something you both like such as football or pop music. This can make social situations more relaxed. Then you’ll be glad you went to the party. U2B Introduction to “small talk” Small talk is relaxed dialog that helps people pass the time when they meet others. Empty silences often make us feel nervous so this is a way of filling those periods. In English, people often say it “breaks the ice”. You can make small talk when waiting inline at airport or bus stop. Though the things we talk about are not usually important, small talk itself is. It makes others feel relaxed and it passes time nicely. For some, small talk is a common form of communication. Business travelers, for example, always meet new people and usually make small talk before discussing serious business. They might be asked about how they got to the meeting or if their hotel is comfortable. Workers in shops or restaurants also find small talk helpful when they are serving customers. People make small talk in almost every country. What they say may be very different, but the basic rules of small talk are often the same. In most cultures, it is important to smile and keep the conversation light and humorous. Making other people smile can make them feel relaxed. Things we should discuss can also depend on culture. In China, we can ask people if they are married or whether they have children. However, many western people think these are private subject, so they should be avoided. Also, the common Chinese greeting “Have you eaten yet?” would seem strange to an English-speaking person. Therefore, we should usually discuss “safe” subjects like the weather, which is common in many cultures. People in England often talk about the weather, probably because it changes so much. However, the most important thing is to give the other person a chance to speak and listen to what they have to say. U3A Travel Spotlight: Paris For your next vacation ,why not consider visiting Paris. Paris is the capital of France and is one of the liveliest cities in Europe . It doesn't have any beaches or mountains,but there are still many things to do there. For example,it has less is more 翻译some fantastic sights, including the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the most famous churches in the world. Traveling around Paris by taxi costs a lot of money, but it's usually convenient to take the underground train to most places. In general, though, France is quite an expensive place. One thing that is not expensive in France, however, is the wine! Most people in France have learned English. But many people don't like to speak English,especially in Paris. So unless you speak French yourself, it's best to travel with someone who can translate things for you. U3B I’d love to sail across the Pacific We all dream about things that we would like to do we hope to achieve in the future. But are everybody’s dreams the same Here are some of the findings of a survey about hopes and dreams, in which thousands of students across China took part in it. What are the hopes of teenagers We received several different answers to the question: what would you like to do after finishing your education I t seems some students would like to start work as soon as possible, so that they can help provide better lives for their parents. Other students hope to continue studying after finishing school and to go to university. Although money is important, many teenagers said they want to do jobs they enjoy. According to the survey, the most popular choice of job is computer programming. What are the dreams of teenagers Teenagers have all kinds of dreams. Some are more realistic than others. For example, many students said they would like to be volunteers if Beijing could hold the World Cup, maybe working as translators or tour guides. And quite a few said they dream of going to the moon one day. According to the survey, less realistic dreams are also common, but many students reported that they were willing to work hard to achieve their dreams. Quite a few dream of becoming famous, perhaps famous sports people or singers. Some said they’d like to go on exciting trips; one students said she’d love to sail across the Pacific Ocean. And then there are dreams that are impossible; three students said they’d like to be able to fly! Conclusion It was clear from the survey that teenagers have similar hopes. It seems that most students hope to have a good education and find a good job. On the other hand, students dream of very different things: good things, and even crazy things. It is very important to dream, so hold on your dreams; one day they may just come true. U4A How I Learned to Learn English Last year,I did not like my English class.Every class was like a bad dream.The teacher spoke so quickly that I did not understand her most of the time. I was afraid to ask questions because of my pronunciation . So I just hid behind my textbook and never said anything. Then one day I watched an English movie called Toy Story. I fell in love with this exciting and funny movie! So then I began to watch other English movies as well.Although I could not understand everything the characters said, their body language and the expressions on their faces helped me to get the meaning. I also realized I could get the meaning by listening for just the key words. My pronunciation also improved by listening to the interesting conversations in English movies. I discovered that listening to something interesting is the secret to language learning. I also learned useful sentences like “It’s a piece of cake” or “It serves you right.” I did not understand these sentences at first. But because I wanted to understand the story, I looked up the words in a dictionary. Now I really enjoy my English class. I want to learn new words and more grammar. Then I can have a better understanding of English movies. U4B How Can You Become a Successful Learner? Everyone is born with the ability to learn.But whether or not you can do this well depends on your learning habits.Research shows that successful learners have some good habits in common Creating an interest in what they learn Studies show that if you are interested in something,your brain is more active and it is also easier for you to pay att ention to it for a long time.Good learners oft en connect what they need to learn with something they are interested in.For example,if they need to learn English and they like music or sports,they can listen to English songs or watch sports programs in English.Th is way they will not get bored. Practicing and learning from mistakes Good learners think about what they are good at and what they need to practice more.Remember,“use it or lose it”!Even if you learn something well,you will forget it unless you use it.Practice makes perfect.Good learners are also not afraid of making mistakes.Alexander Graham Bell did not invent the telephone overnight.He succeeded by trying many times and learning from his mistakes. Developing their study skills It is not enough to just study hard.You have to know how to study.Good learners fi nd out the best ways to learn well.For example,they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps.Good learners also look for ways to review what they have learned.Th ey may do this by reading their notes every day or by explaining the information to another student. Asking questions Good learners oft en ask questions during or aft er class.Th ey even ask each other and try to fi nd out the answers.Knowledge comes from questioning.Learning is a life-long journey because every day brings something new.Everything that you learn becomes a part of you and changes you,so learn wisely and learn well. U5A Full Moon, Full Feelings Chinese people have been celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoying mooncakes for centuries. Mooncakes are in the shape of a full moon on Mid-Autumn night. They carry people’s wishes to the families they love and miss. There are many traditional folk stories about this festival. However, most people think that the story of Chang’e is the most touching. Chang’e was Hou Yi’s beautiful wife. After Hou Yi shot down the nine suns, a goddess gave him magic medicine to thank him. Whoever drank this could live forever, and Hou Yi planned to drink it with Chang’e . However ,a bad man, Feng Meng, tried to steal the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. Chang’e refused to give it to him and drank it all. She became very light and flew up to the moon. Hou Yi was so sad that he called out her name to the moon every night . One night, he found that the moon was so bright and round that he could see his wife there. He quickly laid out her favorite fruits and desserts in the garden. How he wished that Chang’s could come back! After this ,people started the tradition of admiring the moon and sharing mooncakes with their families. U5B The Spirit of Christmas Many would agree that when we think of Christmas, we probably think of gifts, Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But behind all these things lies the true meaning of Christmas: the importance of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this. A Christmas Carol is a famous novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. He is mean and only thinks about himself, and doesn’t treat others nicely. He just cares about whether he can make more money. And he hates Christmas. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge sees the ghost of Jacob Marley, his dead business partner. Marley used to be just like Scrooge, so he was punished after he died. He warns Scrooge to change his ways if he doesn’t want to end up like him. He also tells Scrooge to expect three spirits to visit him. That night, three ghosts visit Scrooge. First, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back to his childhood and reminds Scrooge of his happier days as a child. Then the second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes him to see how others are spending Christmas this year. Everyone is happy, even poor people. The last one, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, takes him to the future. He sees that he is dead but nobody cares. Scrooge is so scared that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is already the next morning on Christmas Day! He decides to change his life and promises to be a better person. He happily celebrates Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats everyone with kindness and warmth, spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true spirit of Christmas! U6A Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World] Alice: I wonder where we should go next. He Wei: How about that new ride over there? Alice: Oh ... it looks pretty scary. He Wei: Come on! I promise it’ll be fun! If you’re afraid, just shout or hold my hand. [After the ride] Alice: You were right, that was fun! I was scared at first, but shouting really did help. He Wei: See, that wasn’t so bad, right? You never know until you try something. Alice: Yes, I’m so glad I tried it. He Wei: Do you want to go to Water World now? Alice: Sure, but I’m really hungry. Do you know where we can get some good food quickly? He Wei: Of course! I suggest Water City Restaurant in Water World. It’s a fast food place. It serves delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. Alice: That sounds perfect! [On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.] Alice: Oh, look! The restaurant looks interesting. It seems a rock band plays there every evening. He Wei: Maybe we can come here for dinner later. Let’s ask what time the band starts. [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.] He Wei: Excuse me, could you tell us when the band starts playing this evening? Staff : Eight o’clock. It’s always busy, so come a little earlier to get a table. He Wei: OK, thanks! U6B Could You Please ...? When you visit a foreign country, it is important to know how to ask for help politely. For example, you may ask “Where are the restrooms?” or “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” These are similar requests for directions. Both are correct, but the first one sounds less polite. That is because it is a very direct question. It is not enough to just ask a question correctly. We also need to learn how to be polite when we ask for help. Good speakers change the way they speak in different situations. The expressions they use might depend on whom they are speaking to or how well they know each other. It is all right to ask direct questions to your classmates because you know them well. However, if you say to your teacher, “When is the school trip?”, this might sound impolite. But if you say, “Excuse me, Mr. West. Do you know when the school trip is?”, this will sound much more polite. Usually polite questions are longer. They include expressions such as “Could ?” or “May ?” It sounds more polite to say, “Peter, could you please tell me your e-mail address?” than “Peter, tell me your e-mail address.” Sometimes we even need to spend time leading in to a request. For example, we might first say to a stranger, “Excuse me, I wonder if you can help me” or “I’m sorry to trouble you, ” before asking for help. It might seem more difficult to speak politely than directly. However, it is important to learn how to use the right language in different situations. This will help you communicate better with other people. U7A From Shy Girl to Pop Star For this month’s Young World magazine,I interviewed 19-year-old Asian pop star Candy Wang. Candy told me that she used to be really shy and took up singing to deal with her shyness. As she got better, she dared to sing in front of her class, and then for the whole school. Now she’s not shy anymore and loves singing in front of crowds. I asked Candy how life was different after she became famous. She explained that there are many good things, like being able to travel and meet new people all the time. ―I didn’t use to be popular in school, but now I get tons of attention everywhere I go. However, too much attention can also be a bad thing. ―I always have to worry about how I appear to others and I have to be very careful about what I say or do. And I don’t have much private time anymore. Hanging out with friends is almost impossible for me now because there are always guards around me.‖ What does Candy have to say to all those young people who want to become famous? “Well,” she begins slowly, “you have to be prepared to give up your normal life.” You can never imagine how difficult the road to success is. Many times I thought about giving up, but I fought on. You really require a lot of talent and hard work to succeed. Only a very small number of people make it to the top. U7B He Studies Harder Than He Used to Li Wen is a normal 15-year-old boy from the countryside. He works very hard and does well in school. It is hard to believe that he used to have difficulties in school. When he was a little boy, he seldom caused any problems, and his family spent a lot of time together. However, things began to change a few years ago. His parents moved to the city to look for jobs, and his grandparents came to take care of him. But he missed his parents so much and he often felt lonely and unhappy. Li Wen’s unhappiness began to influence his schoolwork. He became less interested in studying. Sometimes he was absent from classes and failed his examinations. Finally, Li Wen’s parents made decision to send him to a boarding school. However, Li Wen was shy and not able to make friends quickly in school. He found life there difficult. One day he told his teacher that he wanted to leave the school. His teacher was worried about him and she called his parents. She advised them to talk with their son in person. So his parents took a 24-hour train and a 5-hour bus ride to get to Li Wen’s school. They had a long walk. “It was exactly what I needed,” he said. “Now I understand that even though they are busy, they are always thinking of me .They take pride in everything good that I do.” After that, Li Wen’s parents had much more communication with their son than they used to. Now Li Wen has really changed .He became more outgoing and made some good friends in school. He even joined the school basketball team and became active in many other act ivies. “I’m much happier now, and I work even harder than I used to. I know my parents love me and they’re always proud of me,” says Li Wen “It’s very important for parents to be there for their children” U8A The Difficult Search for American products in the US If you go to another country, what kind of things would you buy? Would you buy a camera in Japan, some beautiful clothes in France, or a watch in Switzerland? No matter what you may buy, you might probably think those products were made in those countries. However, you could be wrong. Knag Jian is a 17-year-old student from Shanghai. Last year he went to visit his aunt and uncle in San Francisco. He found it interesting that so many products in the local shops were made in China. “I wanted to buy a toy car for my cousin, but even though most of the toys were American brands, they were made in China.” Toys are not the only things made in China. “I wanted to buy a pair of basketball shoes,” he explains. “But I had to visit five or six stores before finding a pair made in America!” He realized that Americans can hardly avoid buying products made in China. “In fact, “he continues, “there are so many things made in China ---footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags are made in China!” Knag Jian thinks it’s great that China is so good at making these everyday things. However, he wishes that in the future China will also get better at making high-technology products that people can buy in all parts of the world. U8B Beauty in Common Things Each different part of China has its own special forms of traditional art. These usually try to show the things that are important in life such as love, beauty and family,. The most common things, from paper to clay to bamboo, are turned into objects of beauty. According to Chinese history, sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming. He sent them out to ask for help when in trouble. Today, sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations. They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes. Paper cutting has been around for over 1,500 years. Paper cutting sounds very easy but it can be difficult to do. The paper usually red, is folded before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, fish, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year. Chinese clay art is famous because the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are usually cute children or lively characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are carefully shape by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After drying they are fired at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. Finally, materials such as wood or paper are added to make different things. It takes several weeks to complete everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty. | U1A 莫言 中国作家莫言荣获了2012年诺贝尔文学奖！莫言是第一个获得这个奖项的中国人。当听到这个消息，莫言说他从未奢望获得这个奖项，因为世界上有太多优秀的作家了。 莫言是他的笔名，他的真名是管谟业。1955年2月他出生于山东高密市一个农民家庭。12岁那年，他辍学出来工作，开始在村里后来到工厂里。 小时候莫言喜欢读书。但是那时他的村里只有很少的书。他必须要想尽办法读书。手头上没有书可读时，他就看中华字典。因为读过了太多遍，他发现里面有几处错误。 1976年，他参军了。在服役期间，他开始学习文化和开始写书。他的第一部短篇小说出版于1981年。1987年当他的小说《红高粱》被著名导演张艺谋拍成电影后，他出名了。2011年他还以小说《蛙》夺得第18届矛盾文学奖。 现在莫言是世界著名的作家。越来越多的人开始对他的作品感兴趣了。 U1B 弗里德里克·肖邦 弗里德里克·肖邦是一位著名的钢琴家和作曲家。现如今很多钢琴爱好者扔然听他的名著，例如《一分钟圆舞曲》。他于1810年3月1日出生于波兰的一个小村庄。肖邦家里人人都是音乐家。他父亲拉小提琴，母亲和弹钢琴。在肖邦七个月大时，举家搬到了华沙。 在他六岁时，他开始上钢琴课。很快地他甚至比老师弹得都好。当时他也开始作曲，年仅7岁时开始办音乐会。1825年，在他15时，人们说他是华沙最好的钢琴家。他们称它为“钢琴诗人”，因为他的音乐能够触动听者的心灵。 在他最后那几年里，他更喜欢在他的公寓里为几位朋友弹奏，而不是举办大型音乐会。肖邦在年仅25岁时得了重病并且随着年龄的增长，健康状况继续恶化。在他最后的几年里，他的身体非常虚弱，但却坚持作曲，直到1849年病逝。世界失去了一位音乐天才，但是他的精神却留存在了他今天的作品里。 U2A 同陌生人： 处理困难的情境 那是个周五的晚上，我走到大门的时候就听到了喧闹的音乐和人们的说话声。我的朋友看到了我，走了过来。“嗨，本。感谢你来参加我的聚会！”他说。“感谢你邀请我，看来这是一个盛大的晚会。”我回答道。但是内心深处有种害怕的感觉。我意识到在这里我一个人都不认识。我走向饮品桌喝点饮料。然后我局促的站在角落里，不是很清楚要去做什么。 终于我转向我身边的人做自我介绍。“你好，”我说，“我叫本。”“你好，我是塔尼亚，”这个人羞涩地回答。接下来是长时间的沉默，因为我一直考虑接下来该说什么。我感到越来越紧张，另一个人看上去也不舒服。最后，唯一能说的就是，“哦，见到你很高兴。”我快速地走开了。我觉得很尴尬，就离开了聚会。 本不是唯一经历过这种情形的人。可能以前我们大多数人都遇到过类似的事情。在和陌生人开始对话时感到不自信是很自然的。一个好的起点是问对方关于他或她自己的问题。或者谈论你们两人都喜欢的事物，例如，足球或流行音乐。这样能使社交场合更轻松。那么你会很高兴去参加聚会的。 U2B 闲谈 闲谈使人们见面时帮助人们打发时间的轻松对话。寂静经常使我们感到不安全，所以这是一种填满这些时段的方法。用英语来说，人们经常称它为“打破沉默”。在机场火车站排队等候时你可以闲谈。尽管我们通常讨论的事情不重要，闲谈本身却很重要。他使别人感到轻松并舒心地打发时间。 对一些人来说，闲谈是一种常见的交流方式。例如，商务旅行者总是跟一些不熟悉的人见面，在讨论严肃的生意之前通常会闲谈。他们可能会被询问是如何会到达会议现场的或者他们住的宾馆是否舒适。商店或饭店的工作人员在为客户服务时也会发现闲谈有用。 几乎每个国家的人都闲谈。他们说话的内容可能不同，但是闲谈的基本规则是相同的。在大多数文化中，微笑并保持会话轻松幽默是重要的。使别人微笑能够使他们感到轻松。 我们不能讨论的事情也决定于文化。在中国，我们可能会问人们是否已婚或是否有孩子。然而，许多西方人认为这些是私人话题，因此应该被回避。常见的中国式问候“你吃饭了吗？”对说英语的人来说也似乎很奇怪。 因此，我们通常应该讨论像天气等在许多文化传统中常见的“安全的”话题。在英国人们经常讨论天气，可能是因为天气多变。然而，最重要的事情是给别人说话的机会并听他们要说些什么。 U3A 旅游景点：巴黎 你的下一个假期，为什么不考虑去巴黎呢？巴黎是法国的首都，是欧洲最美丽的城市之一，它没有与沙滩和山脉，但仍有很多事情要做。例如，它有一些精彩的景点，包括埃菲尔铁塔和巴黎圣母大教堂，其中最著名的教堂之一。 乘出租车游览巴黎会花费很多钱，但它通常是方便乘地铁去大多数地方。一般来说，虽然，法国是相当昂贵的地方。一个东西在法国不贵，但是，是酒！ 大多数人在法国学习英语。但很多人不喜欢讲英语，特别是在巴黎。所以除非你自己说法语，最好是与一个能为你翻译。 U3B 我很想跨过太平洋 我们都梦想的事情，我们想要做的事情和总磷我们希望在未来实现。但是，每个人的梦想相同的？以下是一些调查的一项调查有关的希望和梦想，其中数千名学生在中国参加了会议。 什么是希望的青少年？ 我们收到了几个不同的答案的问题：你会喜欢做整理后，您的教育？看来有些学生首先要尽快展开工作，以使他们能够帮助提供更好的生活为他们的父母。其他学生希望contince学习结束后学校和去大学。虽然钱是很重要的，许多青少年西亚德他们想要做的工作，他们享受。根据这项调查，最流行的选择工作是计算机编程。 什么是青少年的梦想？ 青少年的各种梦想。有些人更现实一些。例如，许多学生说，他们希望成为志愿者为2008年奥运会，也许工作作为翻译导游。不少说，他们的梦想将在月球的一天。 据调查，不太现实的梦想也很常见，但许多学生报告说，愿意努力实现他们的梦想。不少梦想成为有名的，也许sportspeople或著名歌手。有人说，他们很乐意去令人兴奋的旅行;一名学生说，她很想跨过太平洋。然后还有是不可能的;三名学生说，他们希望能够飞！ 结论 显然，从调查，青少年也有类似的希望。看来，大多数学生希望有一个良好的教育和到一个好工作。另一方面，学生的梦想非常不同的东西：好东西，甚至疯狂的事情。这是非常重要的梦想，所以坚持你的梦想;有一天他们可能会成真。 U4A 我是如何学会学习英语 去年，我不喜欢我的英语课堂。每个班级就像一个糟糕的梦。老师说的太快以至于大多数时候我不能理解她说的话。我害怕问问题，因为我的发音很糟糕。所以我只是把头藏在我的课本里，什么也不说。 然后有一天我看了英文电影“玩具总动员”。我爱上了这个令人兴奋的有趣的电影！然后我开始看英文电影。虽然我不能理解人物所说的一切，他们的身体语言和他们脸上的表情帮我得到他们的意思。我也发现我可以通过听关键词听懂他们说的话。通过听有趣的电影中的英文谈话，我的发音也提高了。我发现，听一些你感兴趣的是学习好一门语言的秘密。我也知道了有用的句子，如“小菜一碟”或“自作自受”。我最初不理解这些句子，但因为我想了解这个故事，我在字典中查词。 现在，我真的很喜欢我的英语课堂。我想学习新的单词和语法。然后，我能在看英语电影时对主人公的话语有一个更好的理解。 U4B 你如何成为一个成功的学习者 每个人生来就有学习的能力.你能否学好它,取决于你的学习习惯.研究表明成功的学习者都有些共同的好习惯. 创造对所学东西的兴趣, 研究表明,如果你对学习的东西感兴趣,你的大脑会更活跃,更容易长时间注意它.好的学习者经常把他们需要学的东西与他们感兴趣的东西联系起来,例如,如果他们需要学习英语,他们喜欢音乐或者运动.他们会听英文歌或看英语体育节目.这是一种让他们感觉不到枯燥的方法. 练习和从错误中学习, 好的学习者会思考他们擅长什么,和什么需要多些练习.记住,使用它否则会丢掉她.即使有些东西你学得很好,除非你使用它,否则就会忘记,熟能生巧」.好的学习者也不怕犯错误.亚历山大·格雷厄姆·贝尔（ Alexander Graham Bell）也不只是一天就发明了电话.他的成功是经过多次的尝试和从错误中学习. 发展他们的学习技巧 仅努力学习是不够的,你必须知道如何学习.好的学习者出最好的学习方法.例如,他们可能会写下关键词或画思维导图来做笔记.好的学习者也会寻复习所学的方法,他们可能会每天都阅读自己的笔记或向另一位同学解释所学来的. 提问. 好的学习者常常在上课期间或下课后提问.他们还互相提问来出答案.知识来自疑问.学习是一场生命旅行,因为每天都有新的事物,你所学的一切将成为你的一部分,改变你,所以学习要学得明智、学得好. U5A 满月,满满的情感 中国人庆祝中秋节和吃月饼的习俗已经有几百年了.月饼有着中秋之夜里满月的的形状,它包含着人们对家庭的爱和思念. 关于这个节日,有许多民间的故事.然而,大多数人认为其中有关嫦娥的是最感人的.嫦娥是后羿的美丽妻子,在后羿射下9个太阳后,一个女神给了他一种魔药表示感谢.无论是谁喝了它都将获得永生,而且后羿准备和嫦娥一起喝了它.可是一个坏人,逢蒙,试图在后羿不在家的时候去偷药.嫦娥不肯给他喝,于是就自己一个人喝完了.她开始变得特别轻,居然飞到了月亮上面.后羿非常伤心以至于他每天晚上对对着月亮大声呼唤她的名字. 一天晚上,他发现月亮又亮又圆,并且看到了他的妻子在那里.他很快的在花园准备了把她最喜欢的水果和甜点.他是多么希望嫦娥能回来啊! 在这之后,人们开始了赏月并且与家人分享月饼的习俗. U5B 圣诞精神 许多人并不否认，在想到圣诞节时，我们可能会想到礼物、圣诞树和圣诞老人。但是隐藏在这一切背后的是圣诞节的真谛：与我们身边的人们分享和奉献爱心与快乐的重要性。《圣诞颂歌》中的故事也许是这种意义的典范。 《圣诞颂歌》是查尔斯·狄更斯写的小著名短篇小说。故事的主人公是一个名叫斯克鲁奇（Scrooge，守财奴）的老汉，他从来不笑。他吝啬自私，从不与人为善。他只关心能否挣到更多的钱，并且厌恶圣诞节。在一个平安夜，斯克鲁奇看到了他那死去的合伙人雅克布·马利的幽灵。马利过去曾经就像斯克鲁奇一样，因此他在死后受到了惩罚。他告诫斯克鲁奇，如果不想落得与他同样的下场，就得改弦更张。他还告诉斯克鲁奇,将会有三个幽灵来拜访他。 当天夜晚，三个幽灵拜访了斯克鲁奇。首先，“过去之灵”带他回到了童年时代，让斯克鲁奇回忆起他孩提时代的欢乐时光。第二位是“现在之灵”，带他看了看其他人今年是怎样过圣诞节的。每个人甚至穷人都很幸福。最后一位是“未来之灵”，将他带到了将来。他看到他死了，但是无人在意。斯克鲁奇痛彻心扉，在床上惊醒，发现已经是圣诞节的第二天早上了！ 他决定改变人生，发誓做个更好的人。他开心地与亲戚们一起庆祝圣诞节，并给有需要的人赠送礼物。他现在无论走到哪里，都用善良和热情待人，传播爱心与欢乐。这才是圣诞节的真谛！ U6A 欢乐时光公园――总是那么有趣! (爱丽丝和何伟在太空世界里) 爱丽丝:我不知道我们下面应该去哪里。 何伟:去那边走走怎么样? 爱丽丝:哦?那边看起来很吓人啊。 何伟:来吧!我保证会非常有趣的!如果你害怕了,就大喊或者握住我的手。 (游玩过后) 爱丽丝:你是对的,那很有趣!起初我真的很害怕,但大喊过后真的有所帮助。 何伟:看到了吧,并没有那么糟糕,对吧！在尝试之前，你永远不会有深刻的了解。 爱丽丝:是的,我很高兴我尝试了一下； 何伟:你想去水世界吗？ 爱丽丝:当然,但是我真的饿了；你知道在哪里我们能便捷地到好吃的? 何伟:当然!我推荐水上世界的“水上城市餐厅”。它主营快餐。它供应美味的汉堡和热狗。 爱丽丝:这听起来太棒了! (在去“水上城市餐厅”的路上,爱丽丝和何伟路过了鲍勃叔叔的餐厅。) 爱丽丝:噢,瞧!这家餐馆看起来很有趣。看起来，每天晚上都有摇滚乐队在演奏。 何伟：以后也许我们可以来这里吃晚餐。让我们问问演奏什么时间开始。 （爱丽丝和何伟走向门口的一个店员。） 何伟:劳驾,你能告诉我们今天晚上乐队开始演奏的时间吗? 店员：啊?： 8点钟。这里总是很挤,所以来早一点，占个桌子。 何伟:好吧,谢谢! U6B 请问你能够··· 当你去外国旅游时，知道如何礼貌地寻求帮助是重要的。例如，“洗手间在哪里?”或“请你告诉我洗手间在哪里好吗？是去一个地方怎么走( direction方向)的类似请求二者都是正确的，但第一句听起来较不礼貌。那是因为它是一个很直接的问题。只是正确地问一个问题是不够的。当我们寻求帮助的时候，我们也需要学习如何更有礼貌。 当与不同的人在不同的情况下交谈时，讲英语很棒的人会改变他们说话的方式。他们所使用的表达方式可能取决于他们和谁说话或他们对彼此的熟悉程度。在有些情况下是可以直接提问的，比如和你的同学。然而，如果你对你的老师说，“学校旅行是在什么时候?"，这也许听起来很不礼貌。但是如果你说“打扰一下，维斯特先生。你知道学校旅行是在什么时候吗?"，这听起来会更礼貌。 有礼貌的问题通常更长一些，而且包括像“Could you please. . . 或“Can I ask _ ?”之类的表达方式说“彼得，请你告诉我你的的地址好吗?”比“彼得，告诉我你的地址。”听起来更有礼貌。有时，我们甚至需要花些时间来导入一个请求。例如，在我们向街上的陌生人寻求帮助之前，我们可能首先说，“打扰一下，我想知道你是否可以帮助我。”或者“我很抱歉打扰你，但是.... 似乎有礼貌地说话比直接表达可能更困难。然而，学习如何使用恰当的语言是重要的。这也将有助于你更精通英语，或其他任何一种你想说的语言。 U7A 从害羞女孩到明星 为了这个月的《年轻世界》杂志，我采访了 19 岁的亚洲明星坎迪·王。坎迪告诉我她过去非常害羞，于是开始唱歌来对付她的羞怯。当她变得更好一些时，她敢于在全班同学面前唱歌，然后为全校唱歌。现在她不再羞怯了，并且很喜欢在观众面前唱歌。 我问坎迪在她成名之后生活有怎样的不同。 她解释说有很多好的事情， 如总是能够旅游和认识新朋友。“我过去在学校里不受欢迎，但是现在我去哪里都受到极大关注。”然而，太多的关注也可能是一件坏事。“我总是不得不为怎样出现在别人面前而担忧，并且我必须注意我 说的话和我所做的事。还有我不再有很多私人的时间。现在对我来说和朋友们一起闲逛几乎是不可能的，因为在我的周围总是有警卫。 ” 坎迪必须对所有的想出名的那些年轻人说些什么呢?“好，”她开始慢慢地说， “你必须准备好放弃你的正常生活。你永远无法想象通往成功的路是多么困难。许多次我考虑放弃，但我继续战斗。你真的需要很多才艺和努力工作才能取得成功。只有很少一部分人做到最好。 ” U7B 他现在比从前更努力学习 李文是一个普通的来至农村的 15 岁男孩。他学习非常努力，在学校表现很好。 很难相信他过去在学校有困难。 当他是个小男孩的时候，很少惹些麻烦,他的家 人花了很多时间在一起。然而事情开始在几年前发生改变。他的父母亲搬到城 市寻工作，他的爷爷奶奶来照顾他。但他非常想念他的父母亲，他经常感觉 孤独ˎ 不幸福。 李文的不快乐开始影响他的学业。他对学习不那么感兴趣。有时他旷课，考试 不及格。最后李文的父母亲下决心送他去 寄宿学校。然而李文很害羞，不能够 迅速地在学校交朋友。他发现那儿的生活恨困难。一天他告诉老师他想要离开 学校老师担忧他。她给他的父母打电话。她建议 他们亲自和他们的儿子谈谈。 因此他的父母亲乘坐了 24 小时的火车ˎ 5 小时的公交车到达李文的学校。 现在李文真的改变了。这确实是我所需要的。他说现在我明白即使他们很忙， 他们总是想着我。他们对我所做的每一件好事感到自豪。 在那之后，李文的父母亲和他们的儿子比他们过去有更多的沟通。他们有了一 次长谈。他变得更外向在学校交一些好朋友。他甚至加入了学校篮球队，变得 在许多其它的活动中很 活跃。我现在更快乐了，比过去我甚至更努力。我知道 我的父母亲爱我，他们总是以我为自豪 。李文说对父母亲来说重要的是陪伴在 他们的 孩子（身边） U8A 在美国很难到美国商品 如果你去另一个国家，你会买什么种类的东西呢？你会在日本买相机，法国买一些漂亮的衣服，还是在瑞士买手表呢？无论你可能买什么，你都会认为那些东西就是在那些国家制造的。但是，你错了。康健是一个17岁的上海学生。去年他去旧金山拜访了他的叔叔和阿姨。他发现当地的商品是中国制造的很有趣。“我想给我们的表弟买一个玩具车，即使大多数玩具是美国牌子，但他们却是中国制造。 玩具不是唯一一个中国制造的东西。他解释说：“我想说买一双篮球鞋”“但是我必须在到一双美国制造之前要逛五到六个商店。他意识到美国人几乎不能避免买中国制造的商品。事实上，他继续说道“这里有许多中国制造的东西-足球，手提包，宠物食品，手机。甚至美国的国旗也是中国制造！康健认为中国善于制造这些日用品非常好。但是，他希望中国在将来，世界各地的人民也能买到中国制造的高科技产品。 U8B 普通事物中的美 中国的每个地方都有它自己独特的传统艺术形式。这些试图展示的事物在生活中是重要的，比如说爱，美和家庭。最普通的东西，从纸，黏土到竹子都转变成了美的物体。 根据中国历史，孔明灯最开始是诸葛孔明使用的。在危险的时候，他把孔明灯放出去是为了请求帮助。今天，孔明灯被用在节日上或其它的庆祝活动。它们是用竹子制成并且被纸覆盖。当孔明灯被点燃的时候，正如我们看到的，它们会像热气球一样缓慢升上天空。它们被看作是幸福和美好祝愿的光明象征。 剪纸大约已经有1500多年了。剪纸听起来非常简单但是做起来却非常困难。纸材料通常是红的，在用剪刀剪之前先要折叠。最普遍的图案是花，鱼，动物和关于中国历史的事物。在春节的时候，他们被贴在窗户上，门上和墙上，作为好运和新年快乐的象征。 中国黏土艺术很著名，是因为黏土作品很小但是看起来却很逼真。作品通常是可爱的小孩或者是来自中国神话故事和历史故事的生动人物角。作品是来自一种特殊的黏土精细手工定型而成，然后晾干。干了之后，它们会以一种高温烧制。然后磨光上。最后，像木材和纸材料的加入转变成不同的物品。要花几周时间完成所有。这些小的黏土艺术作品展示出所有中国人对生活和美的热爱。 | U1A Mo Yan Chinese writer Mo Yan ______(win) the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature! Mo ______(be) the first Chinese who ______(win) the prize. When he ______(hear) the news，Mo ______(say) he never ______(expect) ______(win) the prize, as there ______(be) so many good writers all over the world. MoYan ______(be) the writer's pen name. His real name ______(be) Guan Moye. He ______(be) born into a farmer's family in Gaomi, Shandong,in February 1955. When he ______(be) 12, he ______(drop) out of school and ______(start)______(work), first in his village and later in a factory. Little Moye ______(enjoy)______(read). But at that time,there___(be) only a few books available in his village. He______(have to)_____(try) every means______(find) books______(read). With no more books at hand,he______(start)______(read) a Chinese dictionary. He______(read) it so many times that he______(find) several mistakes in it. In 1976, he______ (join) the army. During that time, he ______ (begin)______(study) liberature and______(write) stories. His first short story______(publish) in 1981. He______(become) famous in 1987 when his novel Red Sorghum______(make) into a film by the famous director Zhang Yimou. He also______(win) the 18th Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2011 for his novel Frog. MoYan ______(be) a famous writer in the world now. More and more people______(become) interested in his works. U2A Alone among strangers: Dealing with a difficult situation It______(be) Friday night and I could______(hear) loud music and people talking as I______(walk) through the door. My friend ______ (see) me and______(come) over. “Hey, Ben!______(Thank) for ______(come) to my party.” he______(say). “______(Thank) for ______(invite) me. It______(look) like a great party,” I______(reply). But I______(have) a secret feeling of fear. I______(realize) that I didn’t______(know) anyone there. I______(move) towards the drinks table and______(get) a drink. Then I nervously______(stand) in a corner, not quite sure what______(do). Finally, I______(turn) to the person next to me and______(introduce) myself. “Hi,” I______(say). “My name’s Ben.” “Hi, I’m Tania,” the person______(reply) shyly. Then there______(be) a long silence as I _______(keep)______(try)______(think) about what ______ (say) next. I_______(feel) more and more nervous and other person ______ (look) uncomfortable, too. In the end, all I could______(say) ______(be), “Well, it_______(be) nice ______ (meet) you.” And I quickly_______(walk) away. I______(feel) so embarrassed that I______(leave) the party. Ben_______(be) not the only person that______(experience) this situation. Something similar probably______(happen) to most of us before. It______(be) natural______(feel) unsure of ourselves when ______(start) conversations with strangers. A good starting paint ______(be)______(ask) the person questions about himself or herself, or_______(talk) about something you both______(like) such as football or pop music. This can______(make) social situations more relaxed. Then you’ll______(be) glad you______(go) to the party. U3A Travel Spotlight: Paris For your next vacation ,why not______(consider)______(visit) Paris. Paris______(be) the capital of France and______(be) one of the liveliest cities in Europe .It______(not have) any beaches or mountains,but there______(be) still many things______(do) there. For example,it ______(have) some fantastic sights,______(include) the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral,one of the most famous churches in the world. ______(Travel) around Paris by taxi______(cost) a lot of money,but it______(be) usually convenient______(take) the underground train to most places. In general, though, France______(be) quite an expensive place. One thing that______(be) not expensive in France, however, ______(be) the wine! Most people in France______(learn) English. But many people ______(not like)______(speak) English, especially in Paris. So unless you______(speak) French yourself, it______(be) best ______( travel) with someone who______(translate) things for you. U4A How I Learned to Learn English Last year, I______(not like) my English class. Every class ______(be) like a bad dream. The teacher______(speak) so quickly that I ______ (not understand) her most of the time. I______(be) afraid ______(ask) questions because of pronunciation. So I just______(hide) behind my textbook and never______(say) anything. Then one day I______(watch) an English movie______(call) Toy Story. I______(fall) in love with this exciting and funny movie! So then I_____(begin)______(watch) other English movies as well. Although I could not______(understand) everything the characters______(say), their body language and the expressions on their faces______(help) me______(get) the meaning. I also______(realize) I could______(get) the meaning by______(listen) for just the key words. My pronunciation also______(improve) by ______(listen) to the interesting conversations in English movies. I ______(discover) that______(listen) to something interesting ______ (be) the secret to language learning. I also______(learn) useful sentences like “It______(be) a piece of cake” or “It______(serve) you right.” I______(not understand) these sentences at first. But because I ______(want)______(understand) the story, I______(look) up the words in a dictionary. Now I really______(enjoy) my English class. I______ (want) ______(learn) new words and more grammar. Then I can______(have) a better understanding of English movies. U5A Full Moon, Full Feelings Chinese people______(celebrate) Mid-Autumn Festival and ______ (enjoy) mooncakes for centuries. Mooncakes______(be) in the shape of a full moon on Mid-Autumn night. They______(carry) people’s wishes to the families they______(love) and______(miss). There______(be) many traditional folk stories about this festival. However, most people______(think) that the story of Chang’e ______(be) the most touching. Chang’e______(be) Hou Yi’s beautiful wife. After Hou Yi______(shoot) down the nine suns, a goddess ______(give) him magic medicine______ (thank) him. Whoever ______(drink) this______(live) forever, and Hou Yi______ (plan) ______(drink) it with Chang’e . However ,a bad man, Feng Meng, ______(try)______(steal) the medicine when Hou Yi ______(be) not home. Chang’e______(refuse)______(give) it to him and ______ (drink) it all. She______(become) very light and ______ (fly) up to the moon. Hou Yi______(be) so sad that he______(call) out her name to the moon every night . One night, he______(find) that the moon_____(be) so bright and round that he______(see) his wife there. He quickly______(lay) out her favorite fruits and desserts in the garden. How he______(wish) that Chang’s______(come) back! After this , people______(start) the tradition of______(admire) the moon and______(share) mooncakes with their families. U6A Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World] Alice: I______(wonder) where we should______(go) next. He Wei: How about that new ride over there? Alice: Oh ... It______(look) pretty scary. He Wei: ______(come) on! I______(promise) it’ll______(be) fun! If you______(are) afraid, just_____(shout) or______(hold) my hand. [After the ride] Alice: You______(be) right, that______(be) fun! I______(be) scared at first, but______(shout) really_______(help). He Wei: _______(see), that______(be not) so bad, right? You never _______(know) until you______(try) something. Alice: Yes, I_____(am) so glad I______(try) it. He Wei: Do you______(want)______(go) to Water World now? Alice: Sure, but I______(be) really hungry. Do you______(know) where we can______(get) some good food quickly? He Wei: Of course! I______(suggest) Water City Restaurant in Water World. It______(be) a fast food place. It______(serve) delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. Alice: That______(sound) perfect! [On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.] Alice: Oh,______(look)! This restaurant______(look) interesting. It______(seem) a rock band______(play) there every evening. He Wei: Maybe we can______(come) here for dinner later. Let’s______(ask) what time the band______(start). [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.] He Wei:______(excuse) me, could you_____(tell) us when the band ______(start)______(play) this evening? Staff : Eight o’clock. It______(be) always busy, so______(come) a little earlier______(get) a table. He Wei: OK,______(thank)! U7A From Shy Girl to Pop Star For this month’s Young World magazine,I______(interview) 19-year-old Asian pop star Candy Wang. Candy______(tell) me that she______(use to) really shy and______(take up) ______(sing) ______(deal with) her shyness. As she______(get)better, she ______(dare)______(sing) in front of her class, and then for the whole school. Now she______(be) not shy anymore and ______ (love)______(sing) in front of crowds. I______(ask)Candy how life______(be)different after she ______ (become) famous. She______(explain) that there______(be)many good things, like______(be able)______(travel)and______(meet) new people all the time. ―I didn’t______(use to) popular in school, but now I______(get) tons of attention everywhere I______(go). However, too much attention can also______(be) a bad thing. ―I always______(have to)______(worry) about how I______(appear) to others and I______(have to) very careful about what I ______ (say) or______(do). And I don’t______(have) much private time anymore. ______(hang out)with friends______(be) almost impossible for me now because there______(be) always guards around me. What does Candy______(have to)______(say) to all those young people who______(want)______(become) famous? “Well,” she ______(begin) slowly, “you______(have to) prepared______(give up) your normal life.” You can never______(imagine) how difficult the road to success______(be). Many times I______(think about) ______ (give up), but I______(fight on). You really______(require) a lot of talent and hard work______(succeed). Only a very small number of people______(make) it to the top. U8A The Difficult Search for American products in the US If you______(go to) another country, what kind of things would you______(buy)? Would you______(buy) a camera in Japan, some beautiful clothes in France, or a watch in Switzerland? No matter what you may______(buy), you might probably______(think) those products______(make) in those countries. However, you could ______ (be) wrong. Kang Jian______(be) a 17-year-old student from Shanghai. Last year he______(go)______(visit) his aunt and uncle in San Francisco. He______(find) it interesting that so many products in the local shops______(make) in China. “I ______(want)______(buy) a toy car for my cousin, but even though most of the toys______(be) American brands, they______(make) in China.” Toys______(be) not the only things______(make) in China. “I ______ (want)______(buy) a pair of basketball shoes,” he______(explain). “But I_____(have to)______(visit) five or six stores before ______ (find) a pair______(make) in America!” He ______(realize) that Americans can hardly______(avoid)______(buy) products ______(make) in China. “In fact, “he______(continue), “there ______(be) so many things______(make) in China ---footballs, handbags , pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags ______ (make) in China!” Kang Jian ______(think) it______(be) great that China_____(be) so good at______(make) these everyday things. However, he______(wish) that in the future China will also _______ (get) better at______(make) high-technology products that people can______(buy) in all parts of the world. | |
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