Reading课文训练2024-2025学年人教新目标英语九年级全册

九上英语Reading大课文（短文填词） 1. How I Learned to Learn English Last year, I did not like my English class. Every class was _____ a bad dream. The teacher spoke ____ quickly ____ I did not understand her most of the time. I was afraid ______(ask) questions because of my poor pronunciation. I just hid behind my textbook and never said anything. Then one day I watched ____ English movie called Toy Story. I fell in love with this exciting and funny movie! So I began to watch other English movies, too. ______ I could not understand everything the _________(character) said, their body language and the expressions _____ their faces helped me to get the meaning. I also realized I could get the meaning by ______(listen) for just the key words.My pronunciation improved as well by listening to the conversations in English movies. I discovered that listening to something interesting is the secret ____ 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 them ____ in a dictionary. Now I really ______(enjoy) my English class. I want to learn new words and more grammar so that I can have a better understanding of English ______(movie). 2. How Can You Become a Successful Learner? Everyone is born ____ 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 ______(easy) for you to pay attention to it for a long time. Good learners often connect what they need to learn _____ something interesting. For example, if they need to learn English and they like music or sports, they can listen to English songs or watch sports programs ____ English. This 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 will keep ______(practice) what they have learned, and they are not afraid of ______(make) mistakes. Alexander Graham Bell did not invent the telephone overnight. He succeeded _____ trying many times and learning from his mistakes. Developing their study skills It is not enough to just study hard. Good learners know the best way they can study. For example, they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps. They also look for ways to review what they have learned. They _____(might) do this by reading their notes every day or by explaining the information to another student. Asking questions Good learners often ask questions during or after class. They even ask each other and try _____(find) out the answers. Knowledge comes from questioning. _____(learn) is a lifelong 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. 3. Full Moon, Full Feelings Chinese people have been ________(celebrate) the Mid-Autumn Festival and _______(enjoy) mooncakes for centuries.Mooncakes are in the shape of a full moon on the Mid-Autumn night. They carry people’s wishes to the families they love and miss. There are many _______(tradition) folk stories about this festival. However, most people think that the story _____ 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 took this could live forever, and Hou Yi planned ______(take) it with Chang’e. However, a bad man, Pang Meng, tried to steal the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. Chang’e refused to give it ___ him and took 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 _______(quick) laid out her favorite fruits and desserts in the garden. How he wished that Chang’e could come back! After this, people started the tradition of admiring the moon and sharing mooncakes with their families. 4. A Christmas Carol 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 _______(important) of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this. _____ Christmas Carol is a famous short novel written ___ Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. He is _____(mean) and only thinks about _____(his). He doesn’t treat _____(others) nicely. He just cares about whether he can make _____(much) 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 _______(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 ______ 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. Scrooge sees that he is ______(die), but nobody cares. He is so ______(scary) that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is only the next morning—Christmas Day! He decides ______(change) his life and promises ______(be) a better person. He happily celebrates Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats everyone with ______(kind) and warmth, spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true spirit of Christmas! 5. Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World.] A: I wonder where we should go next. H: How about that new ride over there? A: Well ... it looks scary. H: Come on! I promise it’ll be exciting! If you’re scared, just shout or hold my hand. A: You were right! That was fun! I was scared ___ first, but shouting did help. H: See, that wasn’t so bad, right? You never know until you try something. A: Yes, I’m so glad I tried it! H: Do you want to go to Water World now? A: Sure, but I’m getting hungry. Do you know where we can get some good food ______(quick)? H: Of course! I suggest Water City Restaurant in Water World. It serves delicious food. A: Great! Let’s go! [On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.] A: Look! This restaurant looks interesting. The sign says a rock band plays here every evening. H: Why don’t we come back here ____ dinner later? Let’s ask what time the band starts playing. [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.] H: Excuse me, could you tell us when the band starts playing this evening? S: Eight o’clock. The restaurant is always busy at that time, so come a little earlier ______(get) a table. H: OK, thank you! 6. 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 ______(situation). The expressions they use might depend ______ whom they are speaking to or how well they know each other. It is all right ______(ask) your classmates direct questions 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 you please…?” or “May I ask…?” 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 ______(lead) into 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, but…” before asking for help. It might seem more difficult ______(speak) politely than directly. However, it is important to learn how ______(use) the right language in different situations. This will help you communicate better with other people. 7. From Shy Girl to Pop Star ①For 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 ______(sing) to deal with her shyness. As she got better, she dared ______(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. ②I asked Candy how life was different after she became famous. She explained that there are many good things, like ______(be) able ______(travel) and meet new people all the time. “I didn’t use to be popular in school, but now I get ______(ton) of attention everywhere I go.” However, too ______(more) attention can also be a bad thing.“I always have to worry about how I appear ___ 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 ____ me now because there are always guards around me.” ③What does Candy have to say to all those young people who want to become famous? “Well,” she begins ______(slow), “you have to be prepared to give up your normal life. You can never imagine how difficult the road to success ___(be). 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.” 8. 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 _______(causd) any problems, and his family spent a lot of time together.However, things began to change a few years ____. His parents moved _____ the city to look for jobs, and his grandparents came to take care of _______(he). But he missed his parents so much and he often felt lonely and unhappy. Li Wen’s _______(unhappy) began to influence his schoolwork. He became _______(little) interested in studying. Sometimes he was absent from classes and failed his examinations. Finally, Li Wen’s parents made the decision _______(send) him to a boarding school. However, Li Wen was shy and was 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 talk. “It was exactly what I _______(need),” 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 __________(communicate) with their son than they used to.Now Li Wen has really changed. He has _______(become) more outgoing and made some good friends in school. He has even joined the school basketball team and become active in many other _______(active). “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.” 9. The Difficult Search for American Products in the US If you go to another ________(country), what kinds 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 think ________(this) products were made in those countries.However, you could be wrong. Kang Jian is ______ 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 _____ my cousin, but even though most of the toys were American brands, they were made ____ 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 ________(buy) products made in China.“In fact,” he continues, “there were many other things there made in China — footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags are made in China!” Kang Jian thinks it’s great that China is so good at ________(make) these everyday things. However, he hopes that in the future China will also get better at making high-technology products that people can buy in all parts of the world. 10. Beauty in Common Things Each different part of China has its own special ________(form) of traditional art. These usually try ________(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 ________(beautiful). According to ________(China) history, sky lanterns were first used _____ 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 ______(see). They are seen as bright symbols of ________(happy) and good wishes. Paper ________(cut) 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 ________(be) flowers, animals, and things about Chinese history. _______ the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as ________(symbol) of wishes for good luck and a happy new year. Chinese clay art is famous ________ 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 shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After drying, they are ______(fire) at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. It takes several weeks ________(complete) everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty. 11. An Accidental Invention Did you know that tea, the most popular drink in the world (after water), was invented by accident? Many people believe that tea was first drunk ________ 5,000 years ago. It is said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong was _______ first ________(discover) tea as a drink. One day Shen Nong was boiling drinking water over an open fire. Some leaves from a tea plant fell into the water and remained there for some time.It produced a nice smell so he tasted the brown water. It was ________(quite) delicious, and so, one of the world’s favorite ________(drink) was invented. A few thousand ________(year) later, Lu Yu, “the saint of tea”, mentioned Shen Nong in his book Cha Jing. The book describes how tea plants were grown and used to make tea. It also discusses where the finest tea leaves were produced and what kinds of water were used. It is believed that tea was brought to Korea and Japan during the 6th _____ 7th centuries. In England, tea didn’t appear until around 1660, but in less than 100 years, it had become the national drink. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century. This helped ________(spread) the popularity of tea and the tea plant to more places around the world. Even though many people now know about tea culture, the Chinese are without _______(doubt) the ones who best understand the nature of tea. 12. Do You Know When Basketball Was Invented? Basketball is a much-loved and active sport that is ________(enjoy) by many for fun and exercise. It is over 100 years old and is played by more than 100 million people in over 200 countries. It is believed that the first basketball game in history was played ___ December 21, 1891. Then ___ 1936 in Berlin, it became an event at the Olympics. Basketball was invented by a Canadian doctor named James Naismith, who was born in 1861. When he was a college teacher, he was asked ________(think) of a game that could be played in the winter. Dr. Naismith created a game to be played inside on a hard floor. Dr. Naismith divided the ______(man) in his class into two teams and taught them to play his new game. Players on the same team must work together to get the ball in the other team’s basket. At the same time, they need to stop the ________(compete) team from ________(get) the ball into their own basket. Today, the popularity of basketball has risen around the world, with many young people dreaming of becoming ________(famous) players. In China, you can sometimes see people playing basketball in parks, schools and even _______(factory). Basketball has not only become a popular sport to play, but it has also become a popular sport to watch. ________ America’s NBA games are the most famous, the CBA games are becoming ________(popular) in China. The number of foreign players, including Chinese players, in the NBA has increased. There are also more and more foreign players in the CBA. Many young people look up to these basketball heroes and want to become like them. These stars encourage young people to work hard to achieve their dreams. 13. Mom Knows Best When I was a tiny baby ______(cry) all night, my mom sang to me and stayed by my side. When I was tired and hungry, she gave me food and warm arms ________(sleep) in. When I was two running ________ the field, she made sure I was safe and kept me from danger. When I fell and hurt ________(me), she gave ________(me) a hug and lifted me up. When I was seven coughing badly, she said no ice-cream for me. But I talked back ________(loud), “I should be allowed to eat some! Give it _____ me now!” When I was nine watching ________(scared) movies, she said it’d give me awful dreams. But I shouted back angrily, “I should be allowed to watch it! I’m not a baby!” When I was a teen going out ______ friends, she said. “Please be _______(back) by ten!” But I talked back again —“I should not be told what to do! I’m seventeen now!” Now I’m _____ adult, thinking back to those times. I coughed for days after ________(eat) that ice cream. And had scary dreams after watching that film. I was late for school from staying out past ten. I regret ________(talk) back, not ________(listen) to Mom. Mom knows best, and for me she wanted only the best! 14. Should I Be Allowed to Make My Own Decisions? Many teenagers have hobbies. But sometimes these can get in the way of their ________(schoolwork), and parents might worry about their ________(successful) at school. Teenagers often think they should be allowed ________(practice) their hobbies as ________(much) as they want. Do you agree? Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a ________(run) star. He is on his school team and has always wanted to be a ________(profession) runner when he grows up. However, his parents won’t allow ________(him) to train so much. “Of course we want to see him achieve his dreams,” says Mr. Liu. “And we know how much he loves running.My wife and I have supported every one of his races. We have nothing against ________(run)! But we think our son needs ________(think) about other possible jobs. He’s getting older now, so he needs to think about what will happen if he doesn’t end up as a professional runner.” Liu Yu doesn’t really agree. “Well, I think I should be allowed to decide for ________(I),” he says. “My parents have always taught me how important it is to work hard at school and enter university. I understand this, but I’m serious about running. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.” His parents believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evenings ______ they don’t allow him to practice ________(run) at night.“Maybe he thinks it’s too strict or unfair,” says Mrs. Liu. “But we think we’re doing the right thing. He needs to spend more time on his homework because it is difficult to become a professional sports star.” But Liu Yu still ________(agree). “I know my parents care about me. They always talk about what will happen if I don’t succeed. But I will! I’m a quick runner! I think I should be allowed to make this ________(choose) myself. Only then will I have a chance to achieve my dream.” 15. Strange Happenings in My Town We live in a small town and almost everyone ________(know) each other. It used to be very quiet. Nothing much ever happened around here. However, these days, something unusual is happening in our town.Victor, a teacher at my school, is really nervous. When he was interviewed by the town newspaper, he said, “Every night we hear strange ________(noise) outside our window.My wife thinks that it could be an animal, but my friends and I think it must be teenagers having fun. My parents called the ________(policeman), but they couldn’t find anything strange. They think it might be the wind. I don’t think so!” Victor’s next-door neighbor Helen is worried, too. “At first, I thought that it might be a dog, but I couldn’t see a dog or anything else, either. So I guess it can’t be a dog. But then, what could it be?”One woman in ______ area saw something running away, but it was dark so she is not sure. “I think it was too big to be a dog, “she said.” Maybe it was a bear ___ a wolf.” Everyone in our town is feeling uneasy, and everyone has his or her own ideas. There must be something visiting the homes in our neighborhood, but what is it? We have no idea. Most people hope that this animal or person will simply go away, but I do not think that is going ________(happen). The noise-maker is having too much fun creating fear ___ the ________(neighbor). 16. Stonehenge — Can Anyone Explain Why It Is There? Stonehenge, a rock circle, is not only one of ________(Britain) most famous ________(history) places but also one of ________(it) greatest mysteries. Every year it receives more than 750,000 visitors. People like ________(go) to this place especially in June as they want to see ______ sun rising on the longest day of the year. _____ many years, ________(history) believed Stonehenge was a temple where ancient leaders tried ________(communicate) with the gods. However, historian Paul Stoker thinks this can’t be true because Stonehenge was built so many centuries ago. “The leaders arrived in England much later”, he points out. Another popular idea is that Stonehenge might be a kind of calendar. The large stones were put together in a certain way. On ________(midsummer) morning, the sun shines directly into the center _____ the stones.Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent ________(ill) and keep people ________(health). “As you walk there, you can feel the energy from your feet move up your body,” said one visitor. No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for, but most agree that the position of the stones must be for a special purpose. Some think it might be a burial place or a place to honor ancestors. Others think it was built to celebrate a victory over ____ enemy. Stonehenge was built slowly over a long period of ________(time). Most historians believe it must be almost 5,000 years old. One of the greatest mysteries is how it was built because the stones are so big and heavy. In 2001, a group of English volunteers tried to build another Stonehenge, but they couldn’t. “We don’t really know who built Stonehenge,” says Paul Stoker. “And perhaps we might never know , but we do know they must ________(have) been hard-working — and great planners!” 17. What Do You Feel Like Watching Today? While some people stick to only one kind of _______(movie), I like to watch different kinds _________(depend) on how I feel that day. When I’m down ___ tired, I prefer movies that can cheer me up. Comedies like Men in Black or cartoons like Kung Fu Panda have funny dialog and usually have a happy _______(end). ____ characters may not be perfect, but they try their best ________(solve) their problems. After I watch them, my problems suddenly seem _______(serious) and I feel much better again. _______(Laugh) for two hours is a good way _______(relax)! I don’t watch dramas or documentaries when I’m sad or tired. Dramas like Titanic make me feel even sadder. Documentaries like March of the Penguins which provide plenty of ________(information) about a certain subject can be ________(interest), but when I’m tired I don’t want to think too much. I don’t mind action movies like Spider-Man when I’m too tired ________(think). I can just shut off my brain, sit back and enjoy _______(watch) ___ exciting superhero who always saves the world just in time. _______(one) in a while, I like to watch movies that are scary. They can be fun, but I’m too scared to watch them alone. I always bring a friend who isn’t afraid of these kinds of movies, and it doesn’t feel so scary anymore. 18. Sad but Beautiful Last night one of my Chinese friends took me to a concert ____ Chinese folk music. The piece which was played ___ the erhu especially moved ________(me). The music was ________(stranger) beautiful, but under the ________(beauty) I sensed a strong ________(sad) and pain. The piece had a simple name, Erquan Yingyue(Moon Reflected on Second Spring), but it was one of the most moving pieces of music that I’ve ever heard. The erhu sounded so sad that I almost cried along with it as I listened. Later I looked ____ the history of Erquan Yingyue, and I began to understand the sadness ___ the music. The music was written by Abing, a folk musician who was born in the city of Wuxi in 1893. His mother ________(death) when he was very young.Abing’s father taught him to play many ________(music) instruments, such as the drums, dizi and erhu, and by age 17, Abing was ________(know) for his musical ability. However, after his father died, Abing’s life grew worse. He was very poor. Not only that, he developed a serious ________(ill) and became blind. For several years, he had no ________(home). He lived on the streets and played music ________(make) money. Even after Abing got ________(marry) and had a home again, he continued to sing and play on the streets. He performed in this way ____ many years. Abing’s amazing musical skills made him very popular during his lifetime. By the ______(end) of his life, he could play over 600 pieces of music. Many of these were written by Abing ________(he).It is a pity that only six pieces of music in total were recorded for the future world ________(hear), but his popularity continues to this day. Today, Abing’s ErquanYingyue is a piece which all the great erhu masters play and praise. It has become one of China’s national ________(treasure). Its sad beauty not only paints a picture of Abing’s own life but also makes people recall their deepest wounds from their own sad or ________(pain) experiences. — 1 — 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$ 九上英语Reading大课文（汉译英） 1. How I Learned to Learn English Last year, I did not like my English class. Every class was like a bad dream. 1.老师讲得太快以至于大部分时间我都听不懂. I was afraid to ask questions because of my poor pronunciation. 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 I began to watch other English movies, too. Although I could not understand everything the characters said, their body language and the expressions on their faces helped me to get the meaning. 2.我也意识到我可以听歌只听关键词来理解意思. My pronunciation improved as well by listening to the conversations in English movies. 3.我发现听一些有趣的东西是语言学习的秘诀. 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. 4.但是由于我想要我想要弄明白这个故事，我查阅了一本字典. Now I really enjoy my English class. 5.我想要学习新单词和更多的语法，以便我能更好地理解英文电影. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 2. How Can You Become a Successful Learner? 1.每个人都天生具有学习能力. 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 attention to it for a long time. Good learners often connect what they need to learn with something interesting. 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. This 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. “2.熟能生巧.” 3.好的学习者会不断练习他们所学到的，并且他们不害怕犯错. 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. Good learners know the best way they can study. For example, they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps. 4.他们还寻求方法来复习所学知识. 5.他们可以通过每天看笔记或者向另一名学生解释相关内容来进行复习. Asking questions Good learners often ask questions during or after class. They even ask each other and try to find out the answers. 6.知识源于质疑. Learning is a lifelong journey because every day brings something new. 7.你所学的一切都会成为你的一部分并且改变着你，因此要明智地学习并好好地学习. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 3. Full Moon, Full Feelings Chinese people have been celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoying mooncakes for centuries.1.月饼有着中秋夜满月的形状. 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. 2.无论谁吃下这种仙药便可长生不老，于是后羿打算和嫦娥一起服用. However, a bad man, Pang Meng, tried to steal the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. 3.嫦娥拒绝把药给他并将药全部喝下. She became very light and flew up to the moon. 4.后羿伤心至极，以至于每晚面对月亮呼唤嫦娥的名字. 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. 5.他是多么希望嫦娥能回来呀！ 6.从此，人们开始了与家人一同赏月和分享月饼的传统习俗. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 4. A Christmas Carol 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 short novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. 1.他十分吝啬，只想着自己。他对待其他人也不友善. 2.他只关心自己能否赚到更多的钱，而且他讨厌圣诞节. 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. 3.他告诫斯克鲁奇，如果不想和他落得同样的下场，就应该改变他的行事方式. 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. 4.斯克鲁奇看到自己死了，但是没人在意. 5.他害怕极了，从睡梦中惊醒，发现此时竟是第二天早上——圣诞节! 6.他决心改变自己的人生，承诺去做一个更好的人. 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! 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 5. Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World.] A: 1.我想知道接下来我们应该去哪里. H: How about that new ride over there? A: Well ... it looks scary. H: Come on! I promise it’ll be exciting!2.你如果害怕就喊出来或抓住我的手. A: You were right! That was fun! 3.起初我很害怕，但是大声喊的确很管用. H: See, that wasn’t so bad, right? You never know until you try something. A: Yes, I’m so glad I tried it! H: Do you want to go to Water World now? A: Sure, but I’m getting hungry. Do you know where we can get some good food quickly? H: Of course! I suggest Water City Restaurant in Water World. It serves delicious food. A: Great! Let’s go! [On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.] A: Look! This restaurant looks interesting. 4.牌子上写着每晚都有摇滚乐队在这里出演. H: Why don’t we come back here for dinner later? Let’s ask what time the band starts playing. [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.] H: Excuse me, could you tell us when the band starts playing this evening? S: Eight o’clock. 5.那时餐厅总是很忙，所以早一点儿来以便能找到餐位. H: OK, thank you! 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6. Could You Please…? 1.当你去国外旅游时，知道如何有礼貌地寻求帮助十分重要. For example, you may ask “Where are the restrooms?” or “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” 2.这些是相似的问路请求. 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. 3.优秀的说话者在不同的情境下会改变他们说话的方式. 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 your classmates direct questions 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 you please…?” or “May I ask…?” It sounds more polite to say, “Peter, could you please tell me your e-mail address?” than “Peter, tell me your e-mail address.” 4.有时我们甚至需要花时间来引入一个请求. 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, but…” 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. 5.这将有助于你更好地与别人交流. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 7. From Shy Girl to Pop Star ①For this month’s Young World magazine, I interviewed 19-year-old Asian pop star Candy Wang. 1.坎迪告诉我她过去很害羞，于是开始唱歌来应对她的羞怯. As she got better, she dared to sing in front of her class, and then for the whole school. 2.现在她不再害羞了并且喜欢在观众面前唱歌. ②I 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, 3.但是现在无论我到哪里都受到许多关注.” 4.然而，太多的关注也可能是一件坏事. “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. 5.现在和朋友出去闲逛对我来说几乎是不可能的，因为总是有警卫守在我周围.” ③What 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. 6.你永远无法想象通过成功的路有多么艰难. 7.许多次我都想放弃，但我奋力坚持下来了. You really require a lot of talent and hard work to succeed. Only a very small number of people make it to the top.” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 8. He Studies Harder Than He Used to 1.李文是一个来自农村的15岁的普通男孩. 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. 2.他的父母搬到城里去找工作，他的祖父母来照顾他. 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 the decision to send him to a boarding school. However, Li Wen was shy and was not able to make friends quickly in school. He found life there difficult. 3.有一天，他告诉他的老师他想离开学校. His teacher was worried about him and she called his parents. She advised them to talk with their son in person. 4.于是他的父母坐了24个小时的火车和5个小时的汽车来到了李文的学校. They had a long talk. “It was exactly what I needed,” he said. “5.现在我明白了，尽管他们很忙，但他们一直挂念着我. 6.他们为我做的每一件好事感到自豪.” 7.从那以后，李文的父母与他们的儿子比以前有了更多的交流. Now Li Wen has really changed. He has become more outgoing and made some good friends in school. 8.他甚至加入了学校篮球队，而且积极参与许多其他活动. “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. “9.对父母来说，陪伴在孩子身边是很重要的.” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 8._________________________________________________________________ 9._________________________________________________________________ 9. The Difficult Search for American Products in the US If you go to another country, what kinds of things would you buy? Would you buy a camera in Japan, some beautiful clothes in France, or a watch in Switzerland? 1.无论你可能买什么，你也许认为那些产品都是在那些国家制造的. However, you could be wrong. Kang Jian is a 17-year-old student from Shanghai. Last year he went to visit his aunt and uncle in San Francisco. 2.他发现当地商店的许多产品都是中国制造的，这很有趣. “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. “3.但是我得走五六家商店才能找到一双美国制造的篮球鞋!” He realized that Americans can hardly avoid buying products made in China.“In fact,” he continues, “there were many other things there made in China — footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags are made in China!” 4.康健认为中国如此擅长制造这些日常用品很了不起. 5.然而，他希望将来中国也会更擅长制造人们在世界各地都能买到的高科技产品. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 10. Beauty in Common Things 1.中国每个不同的地区都有自己独特的传统艺术形式. These usually try to show the things that are important in life, such as love, beauty and family. 2.最普通的东西，从纸到黏土，再到竹子，都变成了美丽的物品. 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, animals, and things about Chinese history. 3.在春节期间，它们被贴在窗户上、门上和墙上，作为祈求好运和新年快乐的象征. 4.中国的陶土艺术很著名，因为陶土作者虽然很小，但是它们看上去很逼真. The pieces are usually cute children or lively characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are carefully shaped 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. 5.完成这一切需要花费几周的时间. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 11. An Accidental Invention 1.你知道茶这种在世界上最受欢迎的饮品（仅次于水）是偶然被发明的吗？ Many people believe that tea was first drunk about 5,000 years ago. It is said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong was the first to discover tea as a drink. 2.一天，神农正在露天的火上烧喝的水. 3.一些茶树的叶子落入水里并在里面停留了一段时间. It produced a nice smell so he tasted the brown water. It was quite delicious, and so, one of the world’s favorite drinks was invented. A few thousand years later, Lu Yu, “the saint of tea”, mentioned Shen Nong in his book Cha Jing. The book describes how tea plants were grown and used to make tea. It also discusses where the finest tea leaves were produced and what kinds of water were used. 4.人们认为茶是在6世纪和7世纪期间被带到了朝鲜和日本. In England, tea didn’t appear until around 1660, but in less than 100 years, it had become the national drink. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century. 5.这使得茶和茶树的普及扩展到了世界更多的地方. Even though many people now know about tea culture, the Chinese are without doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 12. Do You Know When Basketball Was Invented? 1.篮球是一项备受喜爱并且充满活力的运动，很多人为了娱乐而喜欢它. 2.它有100多年的历史了，有200多个国家的一亿多人打篮球. It is believed that the first basketball game in history was played on December 21, 1891. Then in 1936 in Berlin, it became an event at the Olympics. Basketball was invented by a Canadian doctor named James Naismith, who was born in 1861. When he was a college teacher, he was asked to think of a game that could be played in the winter. 3.奈史密斯博士创造了一种能在室内硬地板上玩的游戏. Dr. Naismith divided the men in his class into two teams and taught them to play his new game. Players on the same team must work together to get the ball in the other team’s basket. 4.同时，他们需要阻止对方把球投进他们自己的篮筐里. 5.如今，随着许多年轻人梦想成为著名的运动员，篮球运动已经在世界范围内普及开来. In China, you can sometimes see people playing basketball in parks, schools and even factories. Basketball has not only become a popular sport to play, but it has also become a popular sport to watch. Although America’s NBA games are the most famous, the CBA games are becoming more popular in China. 6.NBA中的外国运动员数量有所增加，其中包括中国运动员. There are also more and more foreign players in the CBA. Many young people look up to these basketball heroes and want to become like them. 7.这些明星激励着年轻人为实现他们的梦想而努力奋斗. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 13. Mom Knows Best When I was a tiny baby crying all night, 1.我的妈妈给我唱歌并陪伴在我身旁. When I was tired and hungry, she gave me food and warm arms to sleep in. 2.当我两岁在田野上奔跑的时候，她确保我的安全，让我远离危险. 3.当我摔倒的时候，她给我拥抱并将我扶起. When I was seven coughing badly, she said no ice-cream for me. But I talked back loudly, “I should be allowed to eat some! Give it to me now!” When I was nine watching scary movies, she said it’d give me awful dreams. 4.但是我却生气地回嘴：“你应该允许我看！我不是一个小孩了！” 5.当我一个青少年和朋友外出的时候，她说：“请在十点之前回来！” But I talked back again —“I should not be told what to do! I’m seventeen now!” 6.现在我是一个成年人了，回想起那些时光. I coughed for days after eating that ice cream. And had scary dreams after watching that film. 7.因在外待到十点多，我上学迟到了. I regret talking back, not listening to Mom. Mom knows best, and for me she wanted only the best! 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 14. Should I Be Allowed to Make My Own Decisions? Many teenagers have hobbies. 1.但有时候这些业余爱好会妨碍他们的学业，父母可能会担心他们学业的成功. Teenagers often think they should be allowed to practice their hobbies as much as they want. Do you agree? Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is on his school team and has always wanted to be a professional runner when he grows up. 2.然而，他的父母不允许他过多地训练. “Of course we want to see him achieve his dreams,” says Mr. Liu. “And we know how much he loves running.My wife and I have supported every one of his races. 3.我们不反对跑步! But we think our son needs to think about other possible jobs. He’s getting older now, so he needs to think about what will happen if he doesn’t end up as a professional runner.” Liu Yu doesn’t really agree. “Well, I think I should be allowed to decide for myself,” he says. “My parents have always taught me how important it is to work hard at school and enter university. 4.我理解这点，但是对于跑步我是认真的. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.” His parents believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evenings so they don’t allow him to practice running at night.“Maybe he thinks it’s too strict or unfair,” says Mrs. Liu. “But we think we’re doing the right thing. He needs to spend more time on his homework because it is difficult to become a professional sports star.” But Liu Yu still disagrees. “I know my parents care about me. They always talk about what will happen if I don’t succeed. But I will! I’m a quick runner! I think I should be allowed to make this choice myself. 5.只有到那时我才有机会实现我的梦想.” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 15. Strange Happenings in My Town We live in a small town and almost everyone knows each other. It used to be very quiet. 1.这附近未曾发生过什么事. However, these days, something unusual is happening in our town.Victor, a teacher at my school, is really nervous. When he was interviewed by the town newspaper, he said, “Every night we hear strange noises outside our window.2.我的妻子认为它可能是一种动物，但我和我的朋友认为那一定是青少年在玩闹. My parents called the policemen, but they couldn’t find anything strange. They think it might be the wind. I don’t think so!” Victor’s next-door neighbor Helen is worried, too. “3.起初，我认为它可能是一只狗，但我没看见狗也没看见其他任何东西. So I guess it can’t be a dog. But then, what could it be?”One woman in the area saw something running away, but it was dark so she is not sure. “I think it was too big to be a dog, “she said.” Maybe it was a bear or a wolf.” 4.我们镇上的每个人都感到不安，并且每个人都有他或她自己的想法. There must be something visiting the homes in our neighborhood, but what is it? We have no idea.Most people hope that this animal or person will simply go away, but I do not think that is going to happen. 5.这个噪声制造者正对其在社区制造的恐慌乐在其中. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 16. Stonehenge — Can Anyone Explain Why It Is There? Stonehenge, a rock circle, is not only one of Britain’s most famous historical places but also one of its greatest mysteries. Every year it receives more than 750,000 visitors. People like to go to this place especially in June as they want to see the sun rising on the longest day of the year. 1.多年以来，历史学家们认为巨石阵是古代首领试图于神灵沟通的一座庙宇. However, historian Paul Stoker thinks this can’t be true because Stonehenge was built so many centuries ago. “The leaders arrived in England much later”, he points out. 2.另一种流行的观点是巨石阵可能是某种日历. The large stones were put together in a certain way. 3.在仲夏的早晨，太阳直射在这些石头的中央. Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent illness and keep people healthy. “4.当你走到那里，你可以感受到一股力量从你的双脚升到你的身体里,” said one visitor. No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for, but most agree that the position of the stones must be for a special purpose. 5.一些人认为它可能是一个墓地或一个祭奠祖先的地方. Others think it was built to celebrate a victory over an enemy. Stonehenge was built slowly over a long period of time. Most historians believe it must be almost 5,000 years old. 6.最大的谜团之一是它如何建成的，因为那些石头如此巨大和沉重. 7.2001年，一群英国的志愿者试图建造另一个巨石阵，但是他们没能建成. “We don’t really know who built Stonehenge,” says Paul Stoker. “And perhaps we might never know , but we do know they must have been hard-working — and great planners!” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 17. What Do You Feel Like Watching Today? While some people stick to only one kind of movie, I like to watch different kinds depending on how I feel that day. 1.当我心情不好或疲惫时，我更爱看那些能使我高兴起来的电影. Comedies like Men in Black or cartoons like Kung Fu Panda have funny dialog and usually have a happy ending. The characters may not be perfect, but they try their best to solve their problems. 2.我看完（这样的）电影之后，我的问题突然好像没那么严重了，我有感觉好多了. Laughing for two hours is a good way to relax! I don’t watch dramas or documentaries when I’m sad or tired. Dramas like Titanic make me feel even sadder. 3.像《帝企鹅日记》这种提供了大量关于一个特定主题信息的纪录片可能很有趣，Documentaries like March of the Penguins which provide plenty of information about a certain subject can be interesting, but when I’m tired I don’t want to think too much. I don’t mind action movies like Spider-Man when I’m too tired to think. 4.我刚好可以让大脑 休息一下，坐下来欣赏一个令人兴奋、总是能及时拯救世界的超级英雄. Once in a while, I like to watch movies that are scary. They can be fun, but I’m too scared to watch them alone. 5.我总是带上一个不怕（看）这些类型电影的朋友（一起看），这样就不再感到那么恐怖了. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 18. Sad but Beautiful 1.昨晚，我的一位中国朋友带我去听了一场中国民间音乐会. The piece which was played on the erhu especially moved me. The music was strangely beautiful, but under the beauty I sensed a strong sadness and pain. The piece had a simple name, Erquan Yingyue(Moon Reflected on Second Spring), but it was one of the most moving pieces of music that I’ve ever heard. The erhu sounded so sad that I almost cried along with it as I listened. 2.后来我查阅了《二泉映月》的历史，我便开始理解音乐中蕴含的悲伤了. 3.这首乐曲是以为民间音乐家阿炳所写，他于1893年出生在无锡市. His mother died when he was very young.Abing’s father taught him to play many musical instruments, such as the drums, dizi and erhu, and by age 17, Abing was known for his musical ability. However, after his father died, Abing’s life grew worse. He was very poor. 4.不仅如此，他还患上了一种严重的疾病，并且双目失明. For several years, he had no home. He lived on the streets and played music to make money. Even after Abing got married and had a home again, he continued to sing and play on the streets. He performed in this way for many years. Abing’s amazing musical skills made him very popular during his lifetime. 5.到他临终前，他能够演奏600多首乐曲. Many of these were written by Abing himself.It is a pity that only six pieces of music in total were recorded for the future world to hear, but his popularity continues to this day. Today, Abing’s ErquanYingyue is a piece which all the great erhu masters play and praise. It has become one of China’s national treasures. 6.它的凄美不仅描绘出了阿炳自己的生活，而且也使人们回忆起他们自己悲伤或痛苦的经历中那些最深的创伤. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ — 1 — 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$ 九上英语Reading大课文（原文） 1. 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 poor pronunciation. 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 I began to watch other English movies, too. 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 improved as well by listening to the 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 them up in a dictionary. Now I really enjoy my English class. I want to learn new words and more grammar so that I can have a better understanding of English movies. 2. 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 attention to it for a long time. Good learners often connect what they need to learn with something interesting. 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. This 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 will keep practicing what they have learned, and they are 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. Good learners know the best way they can study. For example, they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps. They also look for ways to review what they have learned. They may do this by reading their notes every day or by explaining the information to another student. Asking questions Good learners often ask questions during or after class. They even ask each other and try to find out the answers. Knowledge comes from questioning. Learning is a lifelong 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. 3. Full Moon, Full Feelings Chinese people have been celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoying mooncakes for centuries.Mooncakes are in the shape of a full moon on the 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 took this could live forever, and Hou Yi planned to take it with Chang’e. However, a bad man, Pang Meng, tried to steal the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. Chang’e refused to give it to him and took 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’e could come back! After this, people started the tradition of admiring the moon and sharing mooncakes with their families. 4. A Christmas Carol 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 short 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. He 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. Scrooge sees that he is dead, but nobody cares. He is so scared that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is only the next morning—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! 5. Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World.] A: I wonder where we should go next. H: How about that new ride over there? A: Well ... it looks scary. H: Come on! I promise it’ll be exciting! If you’re scared, just shout or hold my hand. A: You were right! That was fun! I was scared at first, but shouting did help. H: See, that wasn’t so bad, right? You never know until you try something. A: Yes, I’m so glad I tried it! H: Do you want to go to Water World now? A: Sure, but I’m getting hungry. Do you know where we can get some good food quickly? H: Of course! I suggest Water City Restaurant in Water World. It serves delicious food. A: Great! Let’s go! [On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.] A: Look! This restaurant looks interesting. The sign says a rock band plays here every evening. H: Why don’t we come back here for dinner later? Let’s ask what time the band starts playing. [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.] H: Excuse me, could you tell us when the band starts playing this evening? S: Eight o’clock. The restaurant is always busy at that time, so come a little earlier to get a table. H: OK, thank you! 6. 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 your classmates direct questions 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 you please…?” or “May I ask…?” 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 into 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, but…” 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. 7. From Shy Girl to Pop Star ①For 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. ②I 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.” ③What 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.” 8. 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 the decision to send him to a boarding school. However, Li Wen was shy and was 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 talk. “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 has become more outgoing and made some good friends in school. He has even joined the school basketball team and become active in many other activities. “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.” 9. The Difficult Search for American Products in the US If you go to another country, what kinds 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 think those products were made in those countries.However, you could be wrong. Kang 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 were many other things there made in China — footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags are made in China!” Kang Jian thinks it’s great that China is so good at making these everyday things. However, he hopes that in the future China will also get better at making high-technology products that people can buy in all parts of the world. 10. 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, 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 shaped 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. 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. 11. An Accidental Invention Did you know that tea, the most popular drink in the world (after water), was invented by accident? Many people believe that tea was first drunk about 5,000 years ago. It is said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong was the first to discover tea as a drink. One day Shen Nong was boiling drinking water over an open fire. Some leaves from a tea plant fell into the water and remained there for some time.It produced a nice smell so he tasted the brown water. It was quite delicious, and so, one of the world’s favorite drinks was invented. A few thousand years later, Lu Yu, “the saint of tea”, mentioned Shen Nong in his book Cha Jing. The book describes how tea plants were grown and used to make tea. It also discusses where the finest tea leaves were produced and what kinds of water were used. It is believed that tea was brought to Korea and Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries. In England, tea didn’t appear until around 1660, but in less than 100 years, it had become the national drink. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century. This helped to spread the popularity of tea and the tea plant to more places around the world. Even though many people now know about tea culture, the Chinese are without doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea. 12. Do You Know When Basketball Was Invented? Basketball is a much-loved and active sport that is enjoyed by many for fun and exercise. It is over 100 years old and is played by more than 100 million people in over 200 countries. It is believed that the first basketball game in history was played on December 21, 1891. Then in 1936 in Berlin, it became an event at the Olympics. Basketball was invented by a Canadian doctor named James Naismith, who was born in 1861. When he was a college teacher, he was asked to think of a game that could be played in the winter. Dr. Naismith created a game to be played inside on a hard floor. Dr. Naismith divided the men in his class into two teams and taught them to play his new game. Players on the same team must work together to get the ball in the other team’s basket. At the same time, they need to stop the competing team from getting the ball into their own basket. Today, the popularity of basketball has risen around the world, with many young people dreaming of becoming famous players. In China, you can sometimes see people playing basketball in parks, schools and even factories. Basketball has not only become a popular sport to play, but it has also become a popular sport to watch. Although America’s NBA games are the most famous, the CBA games are becoming more popular in China. The number of foreign players, including Chinese players, in the NBA has increased. There are also more and more foreign players in the CBA. Many young people look up to these basketball heroes and want to become like them. These stars encourage young people to work hard to achieve their dreams. 13. Mom Knows Best When I was a tiny baby crying all night, my mom sang to me and stayed by my side. When I was tired and hungry, she gave me food and warm arms to sleep in. When I was two running through the field, she made sure I was safe and kept me from danger. When I fell and hurt myself, she gave me a hug and lifted me up. When I was seven coughing badly, she said no ice-cream for me. But I talked back loudly, “I should be allowed to eat some! Give it to me now!” When I was nine watching scary movies, she said it’d give me awful dreams. But I shouted back angrily, “I should be allowed to watch it! I’m not a baby!” When I was a teen going out with friends, she said. “Please be back by ten!” But I talked back again —“I should not be told what to do! I’m seventeen now!” Now I’m an adult, thinking back to those times. I coughed for days after eating that ice cream. And had scary dreams after watching that film. I was late for school from staying out past ten. I regret talking back, not listening to Mom. Mom knows best, and for me she wanted only the best! 14. Should I Be Allowed to Make My Own Decisions? Many teenagers have hobbies. But sometimes these can get in the way of their schoolwork, and parents might worry about their success at school. Teenagers often think they should be allowed to practice their hobbies as much as they want. Do you agree? Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is on his school team and has always wanted to be a professional runner when he grows up. However, his parents won’t allow him to train so much. “Of course we want to see him achieve his dreams,” says Mr. Liu. “And we know how much he loves running.My wife and I have supported every one of his races. We have nothing against running! But we think our son needs to think about other possible jobs. He’s getting older now, so he needs to think about what will happen if he doesn’t end up as a professional runner.” Liu Yu doesn’t really agree. “Well, I think I should be allowed to decide for myself,” he says. “My parents have always taught me how important it is to work hard at school and enter university. I understand this, but I’m serious about running. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.” His parents believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evenings so they don’t allow him to practice running at night.“Maybe he thinks it’s too strict or unfair,” says Mrs. Liu. “But we think we’re doing the right thing. He needs to spend more time on his homework because it is difficult to become a professional sports star.” But Liu Yu still disagrees. “I know my parents care about me. They always talk about what will happen if I don’t succeed. But I will! I’m a quick runner! I think I should be allowed to make this choice myself. Only then will I have a chance to achieve my dream.” 15. Strange Happenings in My Town We live in a small town and almost everyone knows each other. It used to be very quiet. Nothing much ever happened around here. However, these days, something unusual is happening in our town.Victor, a teacher at my school, is really nervous. When he was interviewed by the town newspaper, he said, “Every night we hear strange noises outside our window.My wife thinks that it could be an animal, but my friends and I think it must be teenagers having fun. My parents called the policemen, but they couldn’t find anything strange. They think it might be the wind. I don’t think so!” Victor’s next-door neighbor Helen is worried, too. “At first, I thought that it might be a dog, but I couldn’t see a dog or anything else, either. So I guess it can’t be a dog. But then, what could it be?”One woman in the area saw something running away, but it was dark so she is not sure. “I think it was too big to be a dog, “she said.” Maybe it was a bear or a wolf.” Everyone in our town is feeling uneasy, and everyone has his or her own ideas. There must be something visiting the homes in our neighborhood, but what is it? We have no idea.Most people hope that this animal or person will simply go away, but I do not think that is going to happen. The noise-maker is having too much fun creating fear in the neighborhood. 16. Stonehenge — Can Anyone Explain Why It Is There? Stonehenge, a rock circle, is not only one of Britain’s most famous historical places but also one of its greatest mysteries. Every year it receives more than 750,000 visitors. People like to go to this place especially in June as they want to see the sun rising on the longest day of the year. For many years, historians believed Stonehenge was a temple where ancient leaders tried to communicate with the gods. However, historian Paul Stoker thinks this can’t be true because Stonehenge was built so many centuries ago. “The leaders arrived in England much later”, he points out. Another popular idea is that Stonehenge might be a kind of calendar. The large stones were put together in a certain way. On midsummer’s morning, the sun shines directly into the center of the stones.Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent illness and keep people healthy. “As you walk there, you can feel the energy from your feet move up your body,” said one visitor. No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for, but most agree that the position of the stones must be for a special purpose. Some think it might be a burial place or a place to honor ancestors. Others think it was built to celebrate a victory over an enemy. Stonehenge was built slowly over a long period of time. Most historians believe it must be almost 5,000 years old. One of the greatest mysteries is how it was built because the stones are so big and heavy.In 2001, a group of English volunteers tried to build another Stonehenge, but they couldn’t. “We don’t really know who built Stonehenge,” says Paul Stoker. “And perhaps we might never know , but we do know they must have been hard-working — and great planners!” 17. What Do You Feel Like Watching Today? While some people stick to only one kind of movie, I like to watch different kinds depending on how I feel that day. When I’m down or tired, I prefer movies that can cheer me up. Comedies like Men in Black or cartoons like Kung Fu Panda have funny dialog and usually have a happy ending. The characters may not be perfect, but they try their best to solve their problems. After I watch them, my problems suddenly seem less serious and I feel much better again. Laughing for two hours is a good way to relax! I don’t watch dramas or documentaries when I’m sad or tired. Dramas like Titanic make me feel even sadder. Documentaries like March of the Penguins which provide plenty of information about a certain subject can be interesting, but when I’m tired I don’t want to think too much. I don’t mind action movies like Spider-Man when I’m too tired to think. I can just shut off my brain, sit back and enjoy watching an exciting superhero who always saves the world just in time. Once in a while, I like to watch movies that are scary. They can be fun, but I’m too scared to watch them alone. I always bring a friend who isn’t afraid of these kinds of movies, and it doesn’t feel so scary anymore. 18. Sad but Beautiful Last night one of my Chinese friends took me to a concert of Chinese folk music. The piece which was played on the erhu especially moved me. The music was strangely beautiful, but under the beauty I sensed a strong sadness and pain. The piece had a simple name, Erquan Yingyue(Moon Reflected on Second Spring), but it was one of the most moving pieces of music that I’ve ever heard. The erhu sounded so sad that I almost cried along with it as I listened. Later I looked up the history of Erquan Yingyue, and I began to understand the sadness in the music. The music was written by Abing, a folk musician who was born in the city of Wuxi in 1893. His mother died when he was very young.Abing’s father taught him to play many musical instruments, such as the drums, dizi and erhu, and by age 17, Abing was known for his musical ability. However, after his father died, Abing’s life grew worse. He was very poor. Not only that, he developed a serious illness and became blind. For several years, he had no home. He lived on the streets and played music to make money. Even after Abing got married and had a home again, he continued to sing and play on the streets. He performed in this way for many years. Abing’s amazing musical skills made him very popular during his lifetime. By the end of his life, he could play over 600 pieces of music. Many of these were written by Abing himself.It is a pity that only six pieces of music in total were recorded for the future world to hear, but his popularity continues to this day. Today, Abing’s ErquanYingyue is a piece which all the great erhu masters play and praise. It has become one of China’s national treasures. Its sad beauty not only paints a picture of Abing’s own life but also makes people recall their deepest wounds from their own sad or painful experiences. — 1 — 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$ 九上英语Reading大课文（英译汉） 1. How I Learned to Learn English Last year, I did not like my English class. Every class was like a bad dream. 1.The teacher spoke so quickly that I did not understand her most of the time. I was afraid to ask questions because of my poor pronunciation. 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 I began to watch other English movies, too. Although I could not understand everything the characters said, their body language and the expressions on their faces helped me to get the meaning. 2.I also realized I could get the meaning by listening for just the key words. My pronunciation improved as well by listening to the conversations in English movies. 3.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. 4.But because I wanted to understand the story, I looked them up in a dictionary. Now I really enjoy my English class. 5.I want to learn new words and more grammar so that I can have a better understanding of English movies. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 2. How Can You Become a Successful Learner? 1.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 attention to it for a long time. Good learners often connect what they need to learn with something interesting. 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. This 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. “2.Practice makes perfect.” 3.Good learners will keep practicing what they have learned, and they are 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. Good learners know the best way they can study. For example, they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps. 4.They also look for ways to review what they have learned. 5.They may do this by reading their notes every day or by explaining the information to another student. Asking questions Good learners often ask questions during or after class. They even ask each other and try to find out the answers. 6.Knowledge comes from questioning. Learning is a lifelong journey because every day brings something new. 7.Everything that you learn becomes a part of you and changes you, so learn wisely and learn well. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 3. Full Moon, Full Feelings Chinese people have been celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoying mooncakes for centuries.1.Mooncakes are in the shape of a full moon on the 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. 2.Whoever took this could live forever, and Hou Yi planned to take it with Chang’e. However, a bad man, Pang Meng, tried to steal the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. 3.Chang’e refused to give it to him and took it all. She became very light and flew up to the moon. 4.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. 5.How he wished that Chang’e could come back! 6.After this, people started the tradition of admiring the moon and sharing mooncakes with their families. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 4. A Christmas Carol 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 short novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. 1.He is mean and only thinks about himself. He doesn’t treat others nicely. 2.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. 3.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. 4.Scrooge sees that he is dead, but nobody cares. 5.He is so scared that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is only the next morning—Christmas Day! 6.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! 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 5. Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World.] A: 1.I wonder where we should go next. H: How about that new ride over there? A: Well ... it looks scary. H: Come on! I promise it’ll be exciting!2.If you’re scared, just shout or hold my hand. A: You were right! That was fun! 3.I was scared at first, but shouting did help. H: See, that wasn’t so bad, right? You never know until you try something. A: Yes, I’m so glad I tried it! H: Do you want to go to Water World now? A: Sure, but I’m getting hungry. Do you know where we can get some good food quickly? H: Of course! I suggest Water City Restaurant in Water World. It serves delicious food. A: Great! Let’s go! [On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.] A: Look! This restaurant looks interesting. 4.The sign says a rock band plays here every evening. H: Why don’t we come back here for dinner later? Let’s ask what time the band starts playing. [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.] H: Excuse me, could you tell us when the band starts playing this evening? S: Eight o’clock. 5.The restaurant is always busy at that time, so come a little earlier to get a table. H: OK, thank you! 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6. Could You Please…? 1.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?” 2.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. 3.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 your classmates direct questions 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 you please…?” or “May I ask…?” It sounds more polite to say, “Peter, could you please tell me your e-mail address?” than “Peter, tell me your e-mail address.” 4.Sometimes we even need to spend time leading into 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, but…” 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. 5.This will help you communicate better with other people. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 7. From Shy Girl to Pop Star ①For this month’s Young World magazine, I interviewed 19-year-old Asian pop star Candy Wang. 1.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. 2.Now she’s not shy anymore and loves singing in front of crowds. ②I 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, 3.but now I get tons of attention everywhere I go.” 4.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. 5.Hanging out with friends is almost impossible for me now because there are always guards around me.” ③What 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. 6.You can never imagine how difficult the road to success is. 7.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.” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 8. He Studies Harder Than He Used to 1.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. 2.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 the decision to send him to a boarding school. However, Li Wen was shy and was not able to make friends quickly in school. He found life there difficult. 3.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. 4.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 talk. “It was exactly what I needed,” he said. “5.Now I understand that even though they are busy,they are always thinking of me. 6.They take pride in everything good that I do.” 7.After that, Li Wen’s parents had much more communication with their son than they used to. Now Li Wen has really changed. He has become more outgoing and made some good friends in school. 8.He has even joined the school basketball team and become active in many other activities. “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. “9.It’s very important for parents to be there for their children.” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 8._________________________________________________________________ 9._________________________________________________________________ 9. The Difficult Search for American Products in the US If you go to another country, what kinds of things would you buy? Would you buy a camera in Japan, some beautiful clothes in France, or a watch in Switzerland? 1.No matter what you may buy, you might think those products were made in those countries. However, you could be wrong. Kang Jian is a 17-year-old student from Shanghai. Last year he went to visit his aunt and uncle in San Francisco. 2.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. “3.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 were many other things there made in China — footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags are made in China!” 4.Kang Jian thinks it’s great that China is so good at making these everyday things. 5.However, he hopes that in the future China will also get better at making high-technology products that people can buy in all parts of the world. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 10. Beauty in Common Things 1.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. 2.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, animals, and things about Chinese history. 3.During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year. 4.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 shaped 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. 5.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. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 11. An Accidental Invention 1.Did you know that tea, the most popular drink in the world (after water), was invented by accident? Many people believe that tea was first drunk about 5,000 years ago. It is said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong was the first to discover tea as a drink. 2.One day Shen Nong was boiling drinking water over an open fire. 3.Some leaves from a tea plant fell into the water and remained there for some time. It produced a nice smell so he tasted the brown water. It was quite delicious, and so, one of the world’s favorite drinks was invented. A few thousand years later, Lu Yu, “the saint of tea”, mentioned Shen Nong in his book Cha Jing. The book describes how tea plants were grown and used to make tea. It also discusses where the finest tea leaves were produced and what kinds of water were used. 4.It is believed that tea was brought to Korea and Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries. In England, tea didn’t appear until around 1660, but in less than 100 years, it had become the national drink. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century. 5.This helped to spread the popularity of tea and the tea plant to more places around the world. Even though many people now know about tea culture, the Chinese are without doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 12. Do You Know When Basketball Was Invented? 1.Basketball is a much-loved and active sport that is enjoyed by many for fun and exercise. 2.It is over 100 years old and is played by more than 100 million people in over 200 countries. It is believed that the first basketball game in history was played on December 21, 1891. Then in 1936 in Berlin, it became an event at the Olympics. Basketball was invented by a Canadian doctor named James Naismith, who was born in 1861. When he was a college teacher, he was asked to think of a game that could be played in the winter. 3.Dr. Naismith created a game to be played inside on a hard floor. Dr. Naismith divided the men in his class into two teams and taught them to play his new game. Players on the same team must work together to get the ball in the other team’s basket. 4.At the same time, they need to stop the competing team from getting the ball into their own basket. 5.Today, the popularity of basketball has risen around the world, with many young people dreaming of becoming famous players. In China, you can sometimes see people playing basketball in parks, schools and even factories. Basketball has not only become a popular sport to play, but it has also become a popular sport to watch. Although America’s NBA games are the most famous, the CBA games are becoming more popular in China. 6.The number of foreign players, including Chinese players, in the NBA has increased. There are also more and more foreign players in the CBA. Many young people look up to these basketball heroes and want to become like them. 7.These stars encourage young people to work hard to achieve their dreams. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 13. Mom Knows Best When I was a tiny baby crying all night, 1.my mom sang to me and stayed by my side. When I was tired and hungry, she gave me food and warm arms to sleep in. 2.When I was two running through the field, she made sure I was safe and kept me from danger. 3.When I fell and hurt myself, she gave me a hug and lifted me up. When I was seven coughing badly, she said no ice-cream for me. But I talked back loudly, “I should be allowed to eat some! Give it to me now!” When I was nine watching scary movies, she said it’d give me awful dreams. 4.But I shouted back angrily, “I should be allowed to watch it! I’m not a baby!” 5.When I was a teen going out with friends, she said. “Please be back by ten!” But I talked back again —“I should not be told what to do! I’m seventeen now!” 6.Now I’m an adult, thinking back to those times. I coughed for days after eating that ice cream. And had scary dreams after watching that film. 7.I was late for school from staying out past ten. I regret talking back, not listening to Mom. Mom knows best, and for me she wanted only the best! 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 14. Should I Be Allowed to Make My Own Decisions? Many teenagers have hobbies. 1.But sometimes these can get in the way of their schoolwork, and parents might worry about their success at school. Teenagers often think they should be allowed to practice their hobbies as much as they want. Do you agree? Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is on his school team and has always wanted to be a professional runner when he grows up. 2.However, his parents won’t allow him to train so much. “Of course we want to see him achieve his dreams,” says Mr. Liu. “And we know how much he loves running.My wife and I have supported every one of his races. 3.We have nothing against running! But we think our son needs to think about other possible jobs. He’s getting older now, so he needs to think about what will happen if he doesn’t end up as a professional runner.” Liu Yu doesn’t really agree. “Well, I think I should be allowed to decide for myself,” he says. “My parents have always taught me how important it is to work hard at school and enter university. 4.I understand this, but I’m serious about running. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.” His parents believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evenings so they don’t allow him to practice running at night.“Maybe he thinks it’s too strict or unfair,” says Mrs. Liu. “But we think we’re doing the right thing. He needs to spend more time on his homework because it is difficult to become a professional sports star.” But Liu Yu still disagrees. “I know my parents care about me. They always talk about what will happen if I don’t succeed. But I will! I’m a quick runner! I think I should be allowed to make this choice myself. 5.Only then will I have a chance to achieve my dream.” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 15. Strange Happenings in My Town We live in a small town and almost everyone knows each other. It used to be very quiet. 1.Nothing much ever happened around here. However, these days, something unusual is happening in our town.Victor, a teacher at my school, is really nervous. When he was interviewed by the town newspaper, he said, “Every night we hear strange noises outside our window.2.My wife thinks that it could be an animal, but my friends and I think it must be teenagers having fun. My parents called the policemen, but they couldn’t find anything strange. They think it might be the wind. I don’t think so!” Victor’s next-door neighbor Helen is worried, too. “3.At first, I thought that it might be a dog, but I couldn’t see a dog or anything else, either. So I guess it can’t be a dog. But then, what could it be?”One woman in the area saw something running away, but it was dark so she is not sure. “I think it was too big to be a dog, “she said.” Maybe it was a bear or a wolf.” 4.Everyone in our town is feeling uneasy, and everyone has his or her own ideas. There must be something visiting the homes in our neighborhood, but what is it? We have no idea.Most people hope that this animal or person will simply go away, but I do not think that is going to happen. 5.The noise-maker is having too much fun creating fear in the neighborhood. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 16. Stonehenge — Can Anyone Explain Why It Is There? Stonehenge, a rock circle, is not only one of Britain’s most famous historical places but also one of its greatest mysteries. Every year it receives more than 750,000 visitors. People like to go to this place especially in June as they want to see the sun rising on the longest day of the year. 1.For many years, historians believed Stonehenge was a temple where ancient leaders tried to communicate with the gods. However, historian Paul Stoker thinks this can’t be true because Stonehenge was built so many centuries ago. “The leaders arrived in England much later”, he points out. 2.Another popular idea is that Stonehenge might be a kind of calendar. The large stones were put together in a certain way. 3.On midsummer’s morning, the sun shines directly into the center of the stones. Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent illness and keep people healthy. “4.As you walk there, you can feel the energy from your feet move up your body,” said one visitor. No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for, but most agree that the position of the stones must be for a special purpose. 5.Some think it might be a burial place or a place to honor ancestors. Others think it was built to celebrate a victory over an enemy. Stonehenge was built slowly over a long period of time. Most historians believe it must be almost 5,000 years old. 6.One of the greatest mysteries is how it was built because the stones are so big and heavy. 7.In 2001, a group of English volunteers tried to build another Stonehenge, but they couldn’t. “We don’t really know who built Stonehenge,” says Paul Stoker. “And perhaps we might never know , but we do know they must have been hard-working — and great planners!” 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ 7._________________________________________________________________ 17. What Do You Feel Like Watching Today? While some people stick to only one kind of movie, I like to watch different kinds depending on how I feel that day. 1.When I’m down or tired, I prefer movies that can cheer me up. Comedies like Men in Black or cartoons like Kung Fu Panda have funny dialog and usually have a happy ending. The characters may not be perfect, but they try their best to solve their problems. 2.After I watch them, my problems suddenly seem less serious and I feel much better again. Laughing for two hours is a good way to relax! I don’t watch dramas or documentaries when I’m sad or tired. Dramas like Titanic make me feel even sadder. 3.Documentaries like March of the Penguins which provide plenty of information about a certain subject can be interesting, but when I’m tired I don’t want to think too much. I don’t mind action movies like Spider-Man when I’m too tired to think. 4.I can just shut off my brain, sit back and enjoy watching an exciting superhero who always saves the world just in time. Once in a while, I like to watch movies that are scary. They can be fun, but I’m too scared to watch them alone. 5.I always bring a friend who isn’t afraid of these kinds of movies, and it doesn’t feel so scary anymore. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 18. Sad but Beautiful 1.Last night one of my Chinese friends took me to a concert of Chinese folk music. The piece which was played on the erhu especially moved me. The music was strangely beautiful, but under the beauty I sensed a strong sadness and pain. The piece had a simple name, Erquan Yingyue(Moon Reflected on Second Spring), but it was one of the most moving pieces of music that I’ve ever heard. The erhu sounded so sad that I almost cried along with it as I listened. 2.Later I looked up the history of Erquan Yingyue, and I began to understand the sadness in the music. 3.The music was written by Abing, a folk musician who was born in the city of Wuxi in 1893. His mother died when he was very young.Abing’s father taught him to play many musical instruments, such as the drums, dizi and erhu, and by age 17, Abing was known for his musical ability. However, after his father died, Abing’s life grew worse. He was very poor. 4.Not only that, he developed a serious illness and became blind. For several years, he had no home. He lived on the streets and played music to make money. Even after Abing got married and had a home again, he continued to sing and play on the streets. He performed in this way for many years. Abing’s amazing musical skills made him very popular during his lifetime. 5.By the end of his life, he could play over 600 pieces of music. Many of these were written by Abing himself.It is a pity that only six pieces of music in total were recorded for the future world to hear, but his popularity continues to this day. Today, Abing’s ErquanYingyue is a piece which all the great erhu masters play and praise. It has become one of China’s national treasures. 6.Its sad beauty not only paints a picture of Abing’s own life but also makes people recall their deepest wounds from their own sad or painful experiences. 1._________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________ 6._________________________________________________________________ — 1 — 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$