牛津高中英语模块Reingproject课文

7. M2U1. Reading—Boy missing, police puzzledPolice in America have stepped up their search for a fifteen-year-old boy who went missing three days ago in Dover, New Hampshire. This incident has received great interest due to reports of strange lights in the sky and of alien visits around the time the boy disappeared.Justin Foster, a high school student, was last seen Friday night. That evening at 8 . Justin went to play baseball with two friends, who both say Justin went home after the game. Witnesses also say they saw Justin walking towards his house at . Justin 's sister, Kelly, aged nine, says she heard her brother return home at about 11 .‘I was getting ready for bed, ' Kelly said. 'Justin went straight to his room. I didn't see him, but I heard him put on his favorite CD. I went to bed, and was woken up around midnight by a bright light outside my window.'At first, the young girl thought it was the light of the full moon, but then she realized that it was moving and coming closer.'I pulled back the curtains and saw a large spaceship flying outside. It had blue lights all around it, and there were many windows. Standing inside were lots of strange creatures withwhite skin and large black eyes. I was frightened!' Kelly said that the spaceship then moved around to the side of the house, towards her brother's bedroom.' There was a flash of light and I heard Justin shout, and then the UFO just disappeared. I haven't seen Justin since. I'm sure the aliens took him.'Kelly then ran and woke up her mother. However, since Mrs Foster thought that Justin was spending the night with a friend, she assumed that Kelly was having a bad dream, and sent her back to bed. Mrs Foster was working that night on his road construction job, and was not home when these events occurred. When Justin did not show up for lunch the next day, Mrs Foster became worried and told her husband to call the police.Some people in Dover also say that they saw aliens that night. 'It's happened to me!' said Mrs Mavis Wood. 'The aliens took me aboard the UFO so that they could do research on me. Luckily, they returned me home without any injuries. The whole experience was terrible! I haven't been sleeping well since I returned home. I think Justin was taken away by them, too.' When asked about the possibility that Justin was taken by aliens, Detective Sam Peterson, who has taken charge of the case, told journalists, ' Sometimes people make up such amazingstories. There's really no hard evidence that aliens took him. So, while we have not dismissed the idea, we are looking into other possibilities as well. We will not give up until we find out what happened.'8. M2U1. Project—Yeti, Bigfoot and the Wild Man of ShennongjiaFor centuries, people have reported seeing a wild creature in the Himalayas called Yeti. The Yeti is said to be a large, hairy animal that walks an two feet like a human being. People believe that Yetis sometimes come down from the mountains to attack villagers.In 1998, an American mountain climber said that he saw a Yeti on the Chinese side of the Himalayas. 'It walked like a human, but it had thick black fur and was about six feet tall with huge shoulders, very long arms and large hands, 'he said.In 2007, an American TV team saw Yeti tracks 33 centimetres in length in the snow near Mount Qomolangma. They made copies of these tracks and had them examined by a scientist in the USA. He reported that they looked like the tracks of a similar creature, called Bigfoot, which some people believe lives in the forests of the north-west of the USA.Yeti and Bigfoot are similar to a creature known as the Wild Man of Shennongjia. There have been dozens of reports that people have seen a Wild Man in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve in western Hubei Province, China. In one case, a group of engineers ran after the creature, which moved with amazing speed and strength. Large tracks have also been discovered which some people say belong to the Wild Man. Because of these reports and the tracks, there have been several organized searches for this creature, but no strong evidence for existence has ever been found.Dr Grover Krantz, a scientist from Washington State University, studied reports of such strange creatures for many years. He became convinced they exist .He believed that these creatures are linked to a common ancestor, an animal that lived in Asia some 300,000 years ago. In his opinion, this animal made its way to other parts of the world, and continues to survive even today.Scientists hope that the mystery will be solved one day. If such creatures really exist, we might have the chance to see one with our own eyes.9. M2U2. Reading— An adventure in Africa30 JuneDear AihuaHow are you going？Sorry I haven’t written for so long. I’ve been quite busy arranging my holiday with my older brother, Colin. Colin and I plan to spend a few weeks travelling before he goes to university. We’re going to visit so many exciting places and do lots of extraordinary things. We will go to Africa first. I can’t wait! Have you ever been there?We leave London on 15 July, and we’ll be taking a flight to Morocco, in northern Africa. We’re going to ride camels through the Sahara Desert. It’s the biggest desert in the world—about the size of the US! I expect it will be very hot, dry and dusty there. We’ll be travellin g by camel with local guides, camping in tents and sleeping on the ground. I’ve heard that, in the Sahara, there is no shade during the day, and the stars seem especially brilliant on clear nights. I’ll bring a flashlight with me so that I’ll be able to se e in the dark. Altogether, the trip will take six days. That means I’ll have to sit on a camel for almost a week—how uncomfortable! I hope my camel likes me!After the trip by camel, we’re going to travel down the River Nile. We’ll start at Lake Victoria. A little way downthe river from Lake Victoria, the water gets quite rough. So, we’ll go white-water rafting. It’s quite dangerous, but very exciting! You have to wear a helmet and a life jacket for protection, just in case you fall into the water.Then, w e’re going on a trip to see wild animals in Kenya. We’ll live with the local people in their villages, and eat and drink whatever they do, including cow’s blood! Do you think I should drink it?Since we’ll be walking for almost two weeks, I’ll need to buy a large backpack in advance to carry my supplies of food and water. During the day, we’ll walk across the land, following the tracks of wildlife such as elephants, lions and giraffes. We’ll try to get as close as possible to the animals, even though they’r e dangerous, so that we can take some really good photographs. But don’t worry about me. Our guides will have guns with them for defiance—they can use the guns to scare the animals away if they come too near. I really want to see an elephant up close, and Colin wants to see a giraffe.After that, we’ll be moving on to Tanzania, where we’re going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Mountain climbing can be very tiring, and many people feel sick as the atmosphere gets thinner, so Colin and I will make sure that we will get plenty of rest.The African part of our trip will take about four weeks. Afterwards, we’re going to the Himalayas.I’ll send you postcards from all the different places we visit!LoveToby10. M2U2. Project—Shangri-laWould you like the chance to discover a place of mystery and beauty in the south-west of China? If your answer is ‘yes’, consider a trip to Shangri-la !How to get thereStart in the city of Dali and drive north along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway until you reach Zhongdian (Shangri-la), the capital of Diqing. Zhongdian is 659 kilometers away from Kunming, and there are regular flights between the two cities.The world-famous Chinese Shangri-laThe word ‘Shangri-la’ first appeared in a classic novel by James Hilton. Today, Shangri-la has become a common English word meaning heaven on earth. Hilton described a beautiful kingdom where three rivers joined together, steep mountainsreached to the sky, and fields of long grass covered the earth. In this perfect world lived people who had discovered how to stay young forever.Which place could officially take the name of this wonderful land? There were arguments over which tourist spot would win the name of Shangri-la. Many years after the book was published, some people realized that the Shangri-la of the novel was a perfect match for Zhongdian in Yunnan Province, China. In September 1997, the government of Yunnan province announced that Zhongdian was the Shangri-la of Hilton’s story.What you will see in Shangri-laThree mountains, Meili, Baimang and Haba, which are covered with snow, tower over the land. Their snowy mountaintops form a beautiful picture that will leave you at a loss for wordsBelow the mountains, the sunshine reflects on the many lakes, making them shine like diamonds against the rich countryside. Sheep, cattle and horses wander on the green grass, and the surrounding forests are home to many birds and animals. In this peaceful land, people live in perfect harmony with nature, far away from the noise and worry of the outside world.Nature has provided Shangri-la with endless natural treasures, making the land a happy home for the local people.What the weather is likeThe weather changes so quickly that people say you can experience four seasons in one day. The best times to visit Shangri-la are spring and autumn when the temperature is at its mildest.11. M2U3. Reading—The curse of the mummyHoward Carter is one of the most famous explorers the world has ever known. He was brave and loved to visit and explore new places. During his life, he discovered many amazing things.Howard Carter did not go to school, but learnt to draw from his father, who was an artist. He was bright and curious about the world outside his home town. In 1891, at the age of 17, he set sail for Alexandria, Egypt. By the 1920s, he had become an explorer, searching for the tombs of the Egyptian kings. He found several important ones. Inside the tombs, he discovered a great fortune in jewels and gold, along with the preserved bodies of dead kings. These preserved bodies are known as mummies.In 1922, Howard Carter made his most amazing discovery of all, in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. He had received moneyfrom Lord Carnarvon, a British man who was very interested in Egypt. Carter’s team was working at a p lace near the city of Luxor. There, they came across the tomb of King Tutankhamun. It was the most important tomb that had ever been found. ‘The tomb contained more treasure than any of us had ever seen before, as well as the mummy of the king,’ said Carter. ‘After we looked into the tomb, we closed it and hid its entrance. We wanted to study the tomb later when we had more time. Afterwards, all of its contents would go into a museum.’However, not long after the discovery, people in Carter’s team began to fall ill and die. Upon their entering the tomb, Carter’s lucky pet bird, which he had left in Cairo, was awallowed by a snake. Then, a few months after Carter had opened the tomb, Lord Carnarvon, who was also present when the tomb was opened, fell ill with a fever and died in Egypt. At the moment of Carnarnon’s death, the lights went out in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Back in England, his dog died at approximately the same time.George Gould, a friend of Carnarvon’s, went to Egypt after hearing of his strange death. He too visited the tomb, only to catch a high fever the next day. Twelve hours later, he was dead. Carter’s secretary, Richard Bethell, died of heart troublefour months after the tomb was opened. Arthur Mace, another member of the team, also died shortly after the discovery.Within seven years, 21 people who had something to do with the opening of the tomb died. Howard Carter, however, lived on until the age of 65. Some people say the deaths were just coincidence. Others believe that they were in connection with a mummy’s curse, as a punishment for those who enter the resting place of the dead.However, still others believe that there is a scientific explanation. Inside the tombs, there are many viruses. When a tomb is opened, fresh air disturbs the viruses. If breathed in, they can result in illness or even death. Today, when scientists examine mummies, they wear special clothing for protection.What is certain, though, is that ‘the curse of the mummy’ remains a riddle to this day.12. M2U3. Project—Explorer (16 October 2003)What is the most fun you can have in 21 hours and 23 minutes? On 15 October 2003, Yang Liwei answered this question. His voyage in space took him 600,000 kilometres in orbit, around the Earth 14 times, in just over 21 hou rs. It made him China’sfirst astronaut in space. He had worked towards this achievement for many years.Born in 1965, Yang had wanted to fly since he was a young boy. His friends and teachers from Suizhong in the north-east of Liaoning Province have all said that he loved science and technology from a young age. He always had a strong desire to learn how to fly. His dream was encouraged by his parents as well as his older sister and younger brother.In 1983, he joined the army, and went to flight school. He graduated in 1987 and became a pilot. In 1998, he applied to be a member of Project 921, which is now called shenzhou. He was one of the only 14 selected from 1,500 candidates. The team spent the next five years being trained. They not only studied all the subjects required to be an astronaut, but also learnt survival skills and all about how spaceships and rockets are built. Yang scored among the very top in everything the group studied.In September 2003, only three out of the 14 candidates were picked for the Chinese space adventure, and Yang was one of them. He took all kinds of tests to prove he was fit for this important task. Although Yang did not get the best scores on every single test, it was his high scores on the psychologicaltests that finally won him the status of China's first astronaut. Yang was described by his superiors as hard-working and always in control of himself. Because of these qualities, they were optimistic he would be successful.In the end, Yang was indeed a success. His name will go down in history with those of Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard. The people of China can be proud of Yang Liwei, and young people all over the world can look up to him as an example of a man who managed to live his dream.。

《牛津高中英语》模块5R e a d i n g, P r o j e c t课文(总10页)--本页仅作为文档封面，使用时请直接删除即可----内页可以根据需求调整合适字体及大小--31. M5U1. Reading (1)—Secrets and liesDear Annie,I feel betrayed by my friend Hannah. We have been best friends since primary school and spend almost every day with each other. Sometimes, other children say we are no fun because we are both very academic and like to study, but we like it that way. We are both very hard-working and always get good grades at school.On Monday, we had a surprise math quiz. I thought it was quite easy and was not worried about the results. I must have sounded very proud of myself after the quiz, saying how easy it was and how I was sure to get a good grade. The next day after class, my math teacher told me that I had the lowest grade in the class! I felt so ashamed;I must be really stupid to fail a simple math quiz!Afterwards, I pretended to be cheerful, but Hannah sensed something was wrong. We went to wash our hands in the girls’ washroom before lunch and I admitted how badly I had done. I begged her not to tell anyone else, and she said she would keep my secret.However, the next day, I noticed that my classmates were staring at me as I came into math class and, when I went to sit down, I was shocked to find a piece of paper on my desk that said, “Stupid Sarah got a D!” I was so u pset that I felt like crying. I thought that Hannah must have told my classmates about my grade after promising not to. Everyone must have been laughing behind my back!I was so angry that I went straight to Hannah and told her we weren’t going to be friends any more because she couldn’t keep her word. She was really upset and swore that she hadn’t told anyone. However, the only people who see our grades are the teacher and the students that the grades belong to. She said that someone must have been spying on us in the washroom, but I didn't believe her explanation. I don’t think I can ever truly forgive her. Now I’ve lost my best friend. What shall I do?Yours sincerelySarah32. M5U1. Reading (2)—A friendship in troubleDear Annie,My name is Andrew. I am 17 years old and I have a problem. Mybest friend Matthew has stopped talking to me. We have been best friends since childhood and play together in the school football team. Last week, we had an important match against another school. Theother team was superb and we really had to focus. I was determined to win, but Matthew was playing badly. He could not keep pace with the game, and as a result of his careless playing we lost.Afterwards, I got really angry with him, and I told him I thought he was not tr ying hard enough. He got annoyed, saying it wasn’t his fault if he couldn’t play as well as me, and that I shouldn’t talkto him in this manner. Then we both started shouting at each otherand it turned into a horrible argument. He accused me of some really bad things just to hurt me. I feel really guilty because I made some cruel remarks too, but I dislike seeing our team lose. Football is very important to me, but so is our friendship.Since we argued, he hasn’t spoken to me even though we sit nextto eac h other in class. It’s really awkward. He is usually cheerful and outgoing, but he has been really quiet and looks sad. The things he said hurt me too, but he has not apologized to me.Yesterday, I saw him talking to another boy, Peter, and I cannot help wondering if he wants Peter to be his best friend instead of me.I told my brother about the quarrel, but he said Matthew is just too sensitive and perhaps a little bitter because I am really athleticand good at football, and that I had better find another friend. What should I do?Yours trulyAndrew33. M5U1. Project (1)—Teenagers’ friendshipsMy friend, Robert, has a twin sister named Amanda. Though theyget along well, there are some things about Amanda and her friendsthat puzzle Robert. He can't understand how girls can talk for so long. For example, sometimes when he leaves the apartment to play football, Amanda and her friend, Sharon, are sitting on the sofa, talking. When he comes back three and a half hours later, they’restill sitting on the sofa, continuing the same conversation on the same topic. One day Robert was so curious that he asked Amanda what they talked about, but she replied, ‘We’re best friends. We talk about almost everything—film stars, pop songs, recipes,everything!’Boys and girls have different attitudes towards friendship. Friendships between girls are usually anchored in shared feelings and support, but friendships between boys are based on shared activitiesor interests. A boy is likely to be cautious about sharing hisfeeli ngs with his close friends. A girl’s closest friend, however, might be eager to tell her about something that has happened in her life.Many studies worldwide show that girls have more friendships than boys. In fact, many adolescent males cannot name a single best friend. When asked, they usually hesitate before responding, ‘My best friend I can’t think about that. I am busy with my homework, and I have so many different friends that it is hard to choose just one best friend.’Females who have been asked can usually answer the question without pausing, ‘A best friend Of course. We have a lot to sharewith each other. We do a lot of things together such as talking and shopping.’We have to realize: boys share activities, while girls share feelings. The qualities that boys and girls consider important in a friend seem to be the same, regardless of the basis of these friendships. The important thing to remember is that both of them are friendships. We all need friends in our lives.34. M5U1. Project (2)—What friendship means to meWhen deciding what is most important in life, some people choose money, while others choose things like security and comfort. However, for me, the most important thing in life is friendship. I cannot imagine being without it.Friendship means not being alone. Once I was travelling by myself through Beijing on the way to my grandparents’ house. Since my next train left in the evening, I had a day for sightseeing. At first, I didn’t mind being alone, but then I saw all the tourists havin gtheir pictures taken together, and I began feeling sad. I ended up returning to the train station and spending the rest of the day in the waiting room. Life is no fun without a companion to share it with.Friendship means having someone I can rely on. Last year, I left my schoolbag on a trolleybus, and I lost all of my notes for thefinal exam. You can imagine how I panicked. Luckily for me, my best friend Jenny let me copy her notes, and I used them in my revision. Thanks to her help, I was able to pass the exam.Friendship means being committed to others. The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Because I am a friend, I have had tolearn patience and mercy. Once I had a quarrel with Jenny, and she made some cruel comments about me. Even though I was hurt, I forgave her and she later made an apology. Through this incident, both of us have become better people. However, if I had ended our friendship, we would have both learnt nothing.In conclusion, when we are old and look back on our lives, what will we remember Will we remember the things we bought or the places we have been to No, we will remember those whom we loved and those who loved us. We will remember our friends.35. M5U2. Reading— The economy or the environment—must we choose?TV host: James LongSpeakers: Lin Shuiqing, a spokeswoman from the Green SocietyQian Liwei, a business development consultantJames Long: Good morning. Today’s debate question is, “The economy or the environment—must we choose’ With me are Ms Lin Shuiqing, from the Green Society, and Mr Qian Liwei, a business development consultant. We are following our usual schedule for debates. Ms Lin Shuiqing will speak first for three minutes. Mr Qian Liwei will follow, also for three minutes. Then we will open thefloor for discussion. If you have any questions or comments, you can use this time to express them.Lin Shuiqing: Good morning, everyone. First I am talking to you today about the way vast areas of the world are damaged by chemical waste. Many places have been destroyed and many plants and animals have died. This is awful. Factories produce large numbers of harmful chemicals. The waste they create goes into the atmosphere and makes us sick. Other types of waste flow into our water, killing river and sea life.Much sea life is being destroyed by fishing boats as well. These boats catch large numbers of fish without giving them time to lay eggs. This will result in a smaller number of fish left for us to eat in the future.While we damage our environment, we keep producing more and more people who need more land to live on and more food to eat! Theworld’s population has grown by six times what it was in 1800. The figure is now about 7 billion people!It is our duty to try to cut back on production and reduce the number of things we make and buy. The amount of rubbish we produce is turning into a big problem; we need to think more about recycling our waste. It would be good to increase the amount of waste we recycle, and teach people ways of living that do not harm the environment. We may even create more jobs and help our country become more developedat the same time.Thank you.Qian Liwei: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Ms Lin. That was an interesting speech. It is clear that you are very concerned about the present situation of our environment. As a business development consultant, I’m often seen as being against the environment. When people think of factories, they think of clouds of dirty smoke or of pipes pouring chemical waste into rivers. Theythink of greedy businessmen hiding from their responsibilities and only worrying about money. People often have this belief that development is bad for the environment, but this does not have to be true.What I’m here to say is that having worked with many environmental consultants, I know that a healthy environment and development should be possible at the same time.There are many factories and industries which control the amountof pollution they produce, and are very careful to spend money repairing any damage they cause. The people operating these factories are deeply concerned about the environment. We need to stop thinkingof companies and businessmen as the enemy, and give them more credit!Ms Lin suggested we should cut back on the quantity of things we produce in order to save the environment. I don’t agree with herbecause then jobs will be lost. I believe that people are more important than fish and trees.However, I do agree that we should produce more things from materials that have been recycled, and less from raw materials, the supply of which is growing smaller and smaller.What we need are better laws to preserve the environment andstill allow our country to grow. This includes controls on how many trees are cut down and how many fish are caught. This might make wood and seafood more expensive, but paying a higher price for some things is not always bad. Asking around, I find many people willing to pay a little higher price for things that are friendly to the environment.Finally, those factories which pollute the environment should have to pay higher taxes. If you harm the environment, you should have to pay for it to be repaired.Thank you for listening.James Long: Now we will open the floor for discussion…36. M5U2. Project (1)— Protecting the Yangtze RiverAs the third longest river in the world, the health of the Yangtze River has raised concern both in China and abroad. Rapid development and an increase in population have meant that the amount of the water taken from the river is rising, and that the waste being put back into the river has been increasing. This is not good newsfor the people who rely on the Yangtze River for water. Nor is it good news for the wide range of fish and wildlife that live in or along the river.Many people have recognized the importance of protecting the Yangtze River, and organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem. The Green River Organization, for example, educates people on the importance of protecting this great river. Italso watches the river and stops the illegal hunting of animals,which has put the wild animal population in danger.Two special government projects are also under way. The first project, a water and soil conservation project, was set up in 1989. This project resulted in farmers replacing their crops with trees or grass. It has already been a success because it has helped improvethe local environment and the land around the river.The second project includes nature reserves for white-flag dolphins, one of the rarest animals in the world. The number ofwhite-flag dolphins in China has dropped because of pollution in the Yangtze River. The white-flag dolphin was last seen several years ago, though scientists are still hopeful that the animal has survived.We still have a long way to go to solve all the problems inregard to the Yangtze River. However, people have finally realizedthat it is their responsibility to protect this great river. Becauseof this, the situation on the Yangtze River is improving. The efforts of the Chinese government and people to protect this much-loved river will be appreciated for years to come.37. M5U2. Project (2)—Climate change and a low-carbon lifeThere is no doubt that the world climate has been changing in recent years. Many people blame this change on gases such as carbon dioxide. Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide when they breathe. However, many other human activities also let off carbon gases. Anytime something is burnt, carbon is put into the atmosphere. Cars and other vehicles burn petrol in their engines, and electrical power plants most often burn fuels such as coal and oil in order to produce electricity. Therefore, the more petrol and electricity we consume, the more carbon we are letting off.One thing we can all do to help solve this problem is to walk or use a bicycle when possible. Although we produce carbon when we breathe, the carbon we produce is much less than that produced by a car. Of course, there are times when we need to travel long distances. In this case, public transport such as buses and the underground is always a much better choice than a private car or a taxi. If you must drive a car, it is never good to travel alone—you should try to find other people to travel with you.At home, you should use as little energy as possible. Turn offthe lights and anything else electrical when not in use. Since factories use a lot of energy and also let off carbon gases, it is important to recycle as much as possible. In particular, metal products and paper products require a lot of energy to produce, soyou should find ways to use these again without throwing them away.Last but not least, you can plant a tree, because trees absorbthe carbon dioxide in the air to produce oxygen. Planting a smalltree is cheap and easy, and two decades from now, when you look at what will have become a large tree, you will find a sense of satisfaction knowing that you did your part to help solve the problem of climate change.38. M5U3. Reading—The perfect copyScientists have announced that they have cloned the first human embryo. This has caused much debate round the world. On the one hand, some scientists point out that if you clone an embryo, you canproduce valuable human tissues—such as bone or lung tissue—that could be used to save human lives. On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and are afraid that, if mankind toys with nature in this way, we may be on our way to producing areal-life Frankenstein’s monster.Cloning is producing an exact copy of a plant or an animal using its cells. The first mammal to be cloned successfully from an adult cell was Dolly the sheep. She was born in 1996 and died in early 2003, at a much younger age than normal. When she was born, many peoplewere worried that cloning would lead to more diseases in the animal world. However, in general the scientists were praised for their wonderful scientific advance.Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who created Dolly, is shocked that some scientists are now considering cloning human beings. Although he researches cloning, his intention has never been tocreate copies of human. Instead, he thinks research efforts should concentrate on creating new tissues and organs that can be used to cure diseases like cancer. However, some people believe that cloning human embryos with the intention of destroying them shows no respect for human life.Even though human cloning is causing a lot of anxiety, it is good news for Faye Wilson, a 41-year-old saleswoman who cannot have a baby. ‘I am anxious to have a child of my own,’ she says. ‘I don’t want to adopt someone else’s child—If I had the chance, I would have a cloned baby right now.While cloning human embryos is not legal in many countries, some scientists are already pushing ahead with research in order toproduce a cloned human baby. Severino Antinori, an Italian physician, has declared that he wants to be the first to clone a human being.In China, scientists have focused their efforts on cloning animals, as well as cloned tissues to be used in medical treatment. China has succeeded in producing clones of cows and goats, and continues to research ways in which cloning can benefit mankind.(Letter 1) Dear EditorI believe that human cloning is wrong. If we toy with nature , we will have to deal with the consequences. Who knows what could happenHuman life would just become a crop to be harvested or a product for sale.The human race is using up the Earth’s natural wealth. We should be having fewer babies in order to reduce the Earth’s population,not cloning more.I feel sorry for the lady who cannot have a baby, but I wouldlike to point out that there are many children in the world with no parents who would be delighted to have a mother.Pauline Carter(Letter 2) Dear EditorI would like to comment on your article, ‘The perfect copy’. I think the scientific advances mentioned in your article are fantastic!I am in complete agreement with human cloning. After all, scientists have been challenging moral ideas for centuries. Why should we stop them now?On a personal note, cloning would totally transform my life. Seven years ago, my 10-year-old daughter died of heart failure. She was beautiful, cheerful and bright. I miss her every single day. If I had the chance, I would clone her immediately so I that I could bewith her again.Colin Jake39. M5U3. Project (1)— Man and NatureFor a long time, our environment has been damaged because humans have been careless. People have harmed nature through agriculture, fishing, hunting and tourism. We further damage the Earth by building new channels in the sea and factories on the land, and by creating pollution with chemical waste. We will some day destroy the planet we live on if we continue in this way.However, if we focus only on conservation, then people may suffer. Not everything that is best for nature is good for people. Would anyone say that development should be stopped in favor of nature. From the point of view of some people, we are only doing what humanshave always done, using nature to meet our own needs. Other people argue that such thinking may cause a catastrophe, unless we start to look around and understand how a clean environment benefits us all.After decades of destroying nature and using up natural resources, many developed nations are now concerned about saving nature rather than developing or destroying it. However, many poorer nations must focus on meeting the everyday needs of their people. In doing so,they are using up natural resources at a fast pace. They have not yet seen the effects of the careless use of the environment like many wealthy nations have. Often they do not realize that the choices they make are bad for the environment. Should they be blamed fordestroying hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest if it means a better income for their people The developed and developing countries of the world need to work together to make sure that people enjoy healthy and happy lives, without the environment around them suffering.It should not be a question of humans winning and nature losing. Humans can only really win by protecting nature. After all, food hasto be produced in a healthy, natural system, and we all need cleanair to breathe and pure water to drink. It is mankind’sresponsibility to find answers that are good for everyone, and everything.40. M5U3. Project (2)— GM food: hope or danger?In recent years, there has been great progress in the study of genetics. With this progress doors have been opened up totechnologies that never existed before. While many people are excited about these new technologies, these same technologies frighten others. Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food.There are two ways in which a plant or an animal can begenetically modified. First, new material can be inserted into itsDNA to give the plant or animal qualities which it would never havein nature. Second, material can be taken from the DNA of a plant or an animal in order to remove qualities which are not desired.One aim of GM research is to produce food which will make us healthier. So far, this technology has been used to produce plants which are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease. Supporters of GM food argue that GM plants are healthier and have larger harvests. While there has been research in GM animals such as pigs, no GM meat is being sold at present.Many questions have been raised about GM food. No one really knows whether it is safe for animals or humans to eat. Scientists admit that more tests should be done on GM food. Research has been limited to increasing production profits, rather than making surethat GM foods are safe. GM food could therefore be dangerous to eat.There is also a question as to whether GM plants are safe for the environment. Since GM crops are planted outside, they are part of the food chain—insects and other animals eat them or use their products, and these insects and animals will be eaten by yet other animals. No one knows what effects the GM material might have on the food chain.Since no one really knows whether GM food is safe, many countries have hesitated to give permission for the production of GM foods, as they would rather be cautious with this new technology.。

31. M5U1. Reading (1) — Secrets and liesDear Annie,I feel betrayed by my friend Hannah. We have been best friends since primary school andspend almost every day with each other. Sometimes, other children say we are no fun because weare both very academic and like to study, but we like it that way. We are both very hard-workingand always get good grades at school.On Monday, we had a surprise math quiz. I thought it was quite easy and was not worriedabout the results. I must have sounded very proud of myself after the quiz, saying how easy itwas and how I was sure to get a good grade. The next day after class, my math teacher told methat I had the lowest grade in the class! I felt so ashamed; I must be really stupid to fail a simplemath quiz!Afterwards, I pretended to be cheerful, but Hannah sensed something was wrong. We went towash our hands in the girls washroom’ before lunch and I admitted how badly I had done. I beggedher not to tell anyone else, and she said she would keep my secret.However, the next day, I noticed that my classmates were staring at me as I came into mathclass and, when I went to sit down, I was shocked to find a piece of paper on my desk that said,“ Stupid Sarah got a D!” I was so upset that I felt like crying. I thoughtHannahthat must have told myclassmates about my grade after promising not to. Everyone must have been laughing behindmy back!I was so angry that I went straight to Hannah and told her we weren’ t going to be friends an more because she couldn ’keept her word. She was really upset and swore that she hadn ’toldanyone. However, the only people who see our grades are the teacher and the students that thegrades belong to. She said that someone must have been spying on us in the washroom, but Ididn't believe her explanation. I don’I tcanthinkever truly forgive her. Now I’ ve lost my bestfriend. What shall I do?Yours sincerelySarah32. M5U1. Reading (2) — A friendship in troubleDear Annie,My name is Andrew. I am 17 years old and I have a problem. My best friend Matthew hasstopped talking to me. We have been best friends since childhood and play together in the schoolfootball team. Last week, we had an important match against another school. The other teamwas superb and we really had to focus. I was determined to win, but Matthew was playing badly.He could not keep pace with the game, and as a result of his careless playing we lost.Afterwards, I got really angry with him, and I told him I thought he was not trying hardenough. He got annoyed, saying it wasn’ t his fault if he couldn’ t play as well as me, and that Ishouldn ’ t talk to him in this manner. Then we both started shouting at each other and it turned into ahorrible argument. He accused me of some really bad things just to hurt me. I feel really guiltybecause I made some cruel remarks too, but I dislike seeing our team lose. Football is very importantto me, but so is our friendship.Since we argued, he hasn ’ t spoken to me even though we sit next to each other in class. It reallyawkward. He is usually cheerful and outgoing, but he has been really quiet and looks sad.The things he said hurt me too, but he has not apologized to me.Yesterday, I saw him talking to another boy, Peter, and I cannot help wondering if he wantsPeter to be his best friend instead of me. I told my brother about the quarrel, but he said Matthewis just too sensitive and perhaps a little bitter because I am really athletic and good at football, andthat I had better find another friend. What should I do?Yours trulyAndrew33. M5U1. Project (1) — Teenagers ’ friendshipsMy friend, Robert, has a twin sister named Amanda. Though they get along well, there are somethings about Amanda and her friends that puzzle Robert. He can't understand how girls can talk for solong. For example, sometimes when he leaves the apartment to play football, Amanda and her friend,Sharon, are sitting on the sofa, talking. When he comes back three and a half hourslater, they’ re still sitting on the sofa, continuing the same conversation on theames topic. One dayRobert was so curious that he asked Amanda what they talked about, but she replied,‘ We’friends. We talk about almost everything — film stars, pop songs, recipes, everything!’Boys and girls have different attitudes towards friendship. Friendships between girls areusually anchored in shared feelings and support, but friendships between boys are based on sharedactivities or interests. A boy is likely to be cautious about sharing his feelings with his closefriends. A girl ’closest friend, however, might be eager to tell her about something that has happenedin her life.Many studies worldwide show that girls have more friendships than boys. In fact, manyadolescent males cannot name a single best friend. When asked, they usually hesitate beforeresponding,‘ My best friend? I can’ t think about that. I am busy with my homework, and I have so many different friends that it is hard to choose just one best friend.’Females who have been asked can usually answer the question without pausing, ‘ Abest friend?Of course. We have a lot to share with each other. We do a lot of things together such astalking and shopping.’We have to realize: boys share activities, while girls share feelings. The qualities that boysand girls consider important in a friend seem to be the same, regardless of the basis of thesefriendships. The important thing to remember is that both of them are friendships. We all needfriends in our lives.34. M5U1. Project (2) —What friendship means to meWhen deciding what is most important in life, some people choose money, while others choosethings like security and comfort. However, for me, the most important thing in life is friendship. Icannot imagine being without it.Friendship means not being alone. Once I was travelling by myself through Beijing on theway to my grandparents’ house. Since my next train left in the evening, I had a day for sightseeing.At first, I didn ’mindt being alone, but then I saw all the tourists having their pictures taken together,and I began feeling sad. I ended up returning to the train station and spending the rest of the day inthe waiting room. Life is no fun without a companion to share it with.Friendship means having someone I can rely on. Last year, I left my schoolbag on a trolleybus,and I lost all of my notes for the final exam. You can imagine how I panicked. Luckilyfor me, my best friend Jenny let me copy her notes, and I used them in my revision. Thanks to herhelp, I was able to pass the exam.Friendship means being committed to others. The best way to have a friend is to be a friend.Because I am a friend, I have had to learn patience and mercy. Once I had a quarrel with Jenny,and she made some cruel comments about me. Even though I was hurt, I forgave her and she latermade an apology. Through this incident, both of us have become better people. However, if I hadended our friendship, we would have both learnt nothing.In conclusion, when we are old and look back on our lives, what will we remember? Will we remember the things we bought or the places we have been to? No, we will remember those whom we loved and those who loved us. We will remember our friends.35. M5U2. Reading — The economy or the environment —must we choose?TV host: Speakers:James LongLin Shuiqing, a spokeswoman from the Green Society Qian Liwei, a business development consultantJames Long:Good morning.Today ’ sdebate question is,“ The economy or the environment — must we choose?’ With me are Ms Lin Shuiqing, from the Green Society, and MrQian Liwei, a business development consultant. We are following our usual schedule for debates.Ms Lin Shuiqing will speak first for three minutes. Mr Qian Liwei will follow, also for threeminutes. Then we will open the floor for discussion. If you have any questions or comments, youcan use this time to express them.Lin Shuiqing: Good morning, everyone. First I am talking to you today about the way vastareas of the world are damaged by chemical waste. Many places have been destroyed and manyplants and animals have died. This is awful. Factories produce large numbers of harmfulchemicals. The waste they create goes into the atmosphere and makes us sick. Other types ofwaste flow into our water, killing river and sea life.Much sea life is being destroyed by fishing boats as well. These boats catch large numbers offish without giving them time to lay eggs. This will result in a smaller number of fish left for us toeat in the future.While we damage our environment, we keep producing more and more people who needmore land to live on and more food to eat! The world’ s population has grown by six times what it was in 1800. The figure is now about 7 billion people!It is our duty to try to cut back on production and reduce the number of things we make andbuy. The amount of rubbish we produce is turning into a big problem; we need to think moreabout recycling our waste. It would be good to increase the amount of waste we recycle, andteach people ways of living that do not harm the environment. We may even create more jobs andhelp our country become more developed at the same time.Thank you.Qian Liwei: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Ms Lin. That was an interesting speech. It is clear that you are very concerned about the present situation of ourenvironment. As a business development consultant, I ’ moften seen as being against the environment. When people think of factories, they think of clouds of dirty smoke or of pipes pouring chemical waste into rivers. They think of greedy businessmen hiding from their responsibilities and only worrying about money. People often have this belief that development is bad for the environment, but this does not have to be true.What I ’ m here to say isthat having worked with many environmental consultants, I kn ow that a healthy environment and development should be possible at the same time.There are many factories and industries which control the amount of pollution they produce,and are very careful to spend money repairing any damage they cause. The people operating these factories are deeply concerned about the environment. We need to stop thinking of companies and businessmen as the enemy, and give them more credit!Ms Lin suggested we should cut back on the quantity of things we produce in order to savethe environment. I don’ t agree with her because then jobs will be lost. I believe that people are more important than fish and trees.However, I do agree that we should produce more things from materials that have been recycled, and less from raw materials, the supply of which is growing smaller and smaller.What we need are better laws to preserve the environment and still allow our country to grow. This includes controls on how many trees are cut down and how many fish are caught. This mightmake wood and seafood more expensive, but paying a higher price for some things is not always bad. Asking around, I find many people willing to pay a little higher price for things that are friendly to the environment.Finally, those factories which pollute the environment should have to pay higher taxes. If you harm the environment, you should have to pay for it to be repaired.Thank you for listening.James Long: Now we will open the floor for discussion⋯36. M5U2. Project (1) — Protecting the Yangtze RiverAs the third longest river in the world, the health of the Yangtze River has raised concernboth in China and abroad. Rapid development and an increase in population have meant that the amount of the water taken from the river is rising, and that the waste being put back into the riverhas been increasing. This is not good news for the people who rely on the Yangtze River for water. Nor is it good news for the wide range of fish and wildlife that live in or along the river.Many people have recognized the importance of protecting the Yangtze River, and organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem. The Green River Organization, for example, educates people on the importance of protecting this great river. It also watches the river and stops the illegal hunting of animals, which has put the wild animal population in danger.Two special government projects are also under way. The first project, a water and soil conservation project, was set up in 1989. This project resulted in farmers replacing their crops with trees or grass. It has already been a success because it has helped improve the local environment and the land around the river.The second project includes nature reserves for white-flag dolphins, one of the rarest animalsin the world. The number of white-flag dolphins in China has dropped because of pollution in the Yangtze River. The white-flag dolphin was last seen several years ago, though scientists are still hopeful that the animal has survived.We still have a long way to go to solve all the problems in regard to the Yangtze River. However, people have finally realized that it is their responsibility to protect this great river. Because of this, the situation on the Yangtze River is improving. The efforts of the Chinese government and people to protect this much-loved river will be appreciated for years to come.37. M5U2. Project (2) —Climate change and a low-carbon lifeThere is no doubt that the world climate has been changing in recent years. Many people blame this change on gases such as carbon dioxide. Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide when they breathe. However, many other human activities also let off carbon gases. Anytime something is burnt, carbon is put into the atmosphere. Cars and other vehicles burn petrol in their engines, and electrical power plants most often burn fuels such as coal and oil in order to produceelectricity. Therefore, the more petrol and electricity we consume, the more carbon we areletting off.One thing we can all do to help solve this problem is to walk or use a bicycle when possible. Although we produce carbon when we breathe, the carbon we produce is much less than that produced by a car. Of course, there are times when we need to travel long distances. In this case, public transport such as buses and the underground is always a much better choice than a private car or a taxi. If you must drive a car, it is never good to travel alone—you should try to find other people to travel with you.At home, you should use as little energy as possible.Turn off the lights and anything else electrical when not in use. Since factories use a lot of energy and also let off carbon gases, it is important to recycle as much as possible. In particular, metal products and paper products requirea lot of energy to produce, so you should find ways to use these again without throwing them away.Last but not least, you can plant a tree, because trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the airto produce oxygen. Planting a small tree is cheap and easy, and two decades from now, whenyou look at what will have become a large tree, you will find a sense of satisfaction knowing that you did your part to help solve the problem of climate change.38. M5U3. Reading —The perfect copyScientists have announced that they have cloned the first human embryo. This has caused much debate round the world. On the one hand, some scientists point out that if you clone an embryo, you can produce valuable human tissues— such as bone or lung tissue— that could be used to save human lives. On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and are afraid that, if mankind toys with nature in this way, we may be on our way to producing areal-life Frankenstein’ s monster.Cloning is producing an exact copy of a plant or an animal using its cells. The first mammal to be cloned successfully from an adult cell was Dolly the sheep. She was born in 1996 and died in early 2003, at a much younger age than normal. When she was born, many people were worried that cloning would lead to more diseases in the animal world. However, in general the scientists were praised for their wonderful scientific advance.Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who created Dolly, is shocked that some scientists are nowconsidering cloning human beings. Although he researches cloning, his intention has never beento create copies of human. Instead, he thinks research efforts should concentrate on creating newtissues and organs that can be used to cure diseases like cancer. However, some people believethat cloning human embryos with the intention of destroying them shows no respect for humanlife.Even though human cloning is causing a lot of anxiety, it is good news for Faye Wilson, a41-year-old saleswoman who cannot have a baby.‘ I am anxious to have a child of my own,’s says.‘ I don’ t want to adopt someone else If I had’thes chance,child—I would have a cloned babyright now.While cloning human embryos is not legal in many countries, some scientists are alreadypushing ahead with research in order to produce a cloned human baby. Severino Antinori, an Italianphysician, has declared that he wants to be the first to clone a human being.In China, scientists have focused their efforts on cloning animals, as well as cloned tissues tobe used in medical treatment. China has succeeded in producing clones of cows and goats, andcontinues to research ways in which cloning can benefit mankind.(Letter 1) Dear EditorI believe that human cloning is wrong. If we toy with nature , we will have to deal with theconsequences. Who knows what could happen? Human life would just become a crop tobeharvested or a product for sale.The human race is using up the Earth’ s natural wealth. We should be having fewer babies inorder to reduce the Earth’ s population, not cloning. moremany children in the world with no parents who would be delighted to have a mother.Pauline Carter(Letter 2) Dear EditorI would like to comment on your arti cle,‘ The perfect copy’ . I think the scientific advancesmentioned in your article are fantastic! I am in complete agreement with human cloning. After all,scientists have been challenging moral ideas for centuries. Why should we stop them now?On a personal note, cloning would totally transform my life. Seven years ago, my 10-year-old daughter died of heart failure. She was beautiful, cheerful and bright. I miss her every singleday. If I had the chance, I would clone her immediately so I that I could be with her again.Colin Jake39. M5U3. Project (1) — Man and NatureFor a long time, our environment has been damaged because humans have been careless.People have harmed nature through agriculture, fishing, hunting and tourism. We further damage theEarth by building new channels in the sea and factories on the land, and by creating pollution withchemical waste. We will some day destroy the planet we live on if we continue in this way.However, if we focus only on conservation, then people may suffer. Not everything that is bestfor nature is good for people. Would anyone say that development should be stopped in favor ofnature. From the point of view of some people, we are only doing what humans have always done,using nature to meet our own needs. Other people argue that such thinking may cause acatastrophe, unless we start to look around and understand how a clean environment benefits us all.After decades of destroying nature and using up natural resources, many developed nationsare now concerned about saving nature rather than developing or destroying it. However, manypoorer nations must focus on meeting the everyday needs of their people. In doing so, they areusing up natural resources at a fast pace. They have not yet seen the effects of the careless use ofthe environment like many wealthy nations have. Often they do not realize that the choices theymake are bad for the environment. Should they be blamed for destroying hundreds of thousands ofacres of rainforest if it means a better income for their people? The developed and developingcountries of the world need to work together to make sure that people enjoy healthy and happy lives,without the environment around them suffering.It should not be a question of humans winning and nature losing. Humans can only really win byprotecting nature. After all, food has to be produced in a healthy, natural system, and we allneed clean air to breathe and pure water to drink. It is mankind’ s responsibility to find answers that are good for everyone, and everything.40. M5U3. Project (2) — GM food: hope or danger?In recent years, there has been great progress in the study of genetics. With this progress doors have been opened up to technologies that never existed before. While many people are excited about these new technologies, these same technologies frighten others. Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food.There are two ways in which a plant or an animal can be genetically modified. First, new material can be inserted into its DNA to give the plant or animal qualities which it would never have in nature. Second, material can be taken from the DNA of a plant or an animal in order to remove qualities which are not desired.One aim of GM research is to produce food which will make us healthier. So far, this technology has been used to produce plants which are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease. Supporters of GM food argue that GM plants are healthier and have larger harvests. While there has been research in GM animals such as pigs, no GM meat is being sold at present.Many questions have been raised about GM food. No one really knows whether it is safe for animals or humans to eat. Scientists admit that more tests should be done on GM food. Research has been limited to increasing production profits, rather than making sure that GM foods are safe. GM food could therefore be dangerous to eat.There is also a question as to whether GM plants are safe for the environment. Since GM crops are planted outside, they are part of the food chain — insects and other animals eat them or use their products, and these insects and animals will be eaten by yet other animals. No one knows what effects the GM material might have on the food chain.Since no one really knows whether GM food is safe, many countries have hesitated to give permission for the production of GM foods, as they would rather be cautious with this new technology.。

31. M5U1. Reading (1)—Secrets and liesDear Annie,I feel betrayed by my friend Hannah. We have been best friends since primary school and spend almost every day with each other. Sometimes, other children say we are no fun because we are both very academic and like to study, but we like it that way. We are both very hard-working and always get good grades at school.On Monday, we had a surprise math quiz. I thought it was quite easy and was not worried about the results. I must have sounded very proud of myself after the quiz, saying how easy it was and how I was sure to get a good grade. The next day after class, my math teacher told me that I had the lowest grade in the class! I felt so ashamed; I must be really stupid to fail a simple math quiz!Afterwards, I pretended to be cheerful, but Hannah sensed something was wrong. We went to wash our hands in the girls’ washroom before lunch and I admitted how badly I had done. I begged her not to tell anyone else, and she said she would keep my secret.However, the next day, I noticed that my classmates were staring at me as I came into math class and, when I went to sit down, I was shocked to find a piece of paper on my desk that said, “Stupid Sarah got a D!” I was so upset that I felt like crying. I thought that Hannah must have told my classmates about my grade after promising not to. Everyone must have been laughing behind my back!I was so angry that I went straight to Hannah and told her we weren’t going to be friends any more because she couldn’t keep her word. She was really upset and swore that she hadn’t told anyone. However, the only people who see our grades are the teacher and the students that the grades belong to. She said that someone must have been spying on us in the washroom, but I didn't believe her explanation. I don’t think I can ever truly forgive her. Now I’ve lost my best friend. What shall I do?Yours sincerelySarah32. M5U1. Reading (2)—A friendship in troubleDear Annie,My name is Andrew. I am 17 years old and I have a problem. My best friend Matthew has stopped talking to me. We have been best friends since childhood and play together in the schoolfootball team. Last week, we had an important match against another school. The other team was superb and we really had to focus. I was determined to win, but Matthew was playing badly. He could not keep pace with the game, and as a result of his careless playing we lost.Afterwards, I got really angry with him, and I told him I thought he was not trying hard enough. He got annoyed, saying it wasn’t his fault if he couldn’t play as well as me, and that I shouldn’t talk to him in this manner. Then we both started shouting at each other and it turned into a horrible argument. He accused me of some really bad things just to hurt me. I feel really guilty because I made some cruel remarks too, but I dislike seeing our team lose. Football is very important to me, but so is our friendship.Since we argued, he hasn’t spoken to me even though we sit next to each other in class. It’s really awkward. He is usually cheerful and outgoing, but he has been really quiet and looks sad. The things he said hurt me too, but he has not apologized to me.Yesterday, I saw him talking to another boy, Peter, and I cannot help wondering if he wants Peter to be his best friend instead of me. I told my brother about the quarrel, but he said Matthew is just too sensitive and perhaps a little bitter because I am really athletic and good at football, and that I had better find another friend. What should I do?Yours trulyAndrew33. M5U1. Project (1)—Teenagers’ friendshipsMy friend, Robert, has a twin sister named Amanda. Though they get along well, there are some things about Amanda and her friends that puzzle Robert. He can't understand how girls can talk for so long. For example, sometimes when he leaves the apartment to play football, Amanda and her friend, Sharon, are sitting on the sofa, talking. When he comes back three and a half hours later, they’re still sitting on the sofa, continuing the same conversation on the s ame topic. One day Robert was so curious that he asked Amanda what they talked about, but she replied, ‘We’re best friends. We talk about almost everything—film stars, pop songs, recipes, everything!’Boys and girls have different attitudes towards friendship. Friendships between girls are usually anchored in shared feelings and support, but friendships between boys are based on shared activities or interests. A boy is likely to be cautious about sharing his feelings with his closefriends. A girl’s closest friend, however, might be eager to tell her about something that has happened in her life.Many studies worldwide show that girls have more friendships than boys. In fact, many adolescent males cannot name a single best friend. When asked, they usually hesitate before responding, ‘My best friend? I can’t think about that. I am busy with my homework, and I have so many different friends that it is hard to choose just one best friend.’Females who have been asked can usually answer the question without pausi ng, ‘A best friend? Of course. We have a lot to share with each other. We do a lot of things together such as talking and shopping.’We have to realize: boys share activities, while girls share feelings. The qualities that boys and girls consider important in a friend seem to be the same, regardless of the basis of these friendships. The important thing to remember is that both of them are friendships. We all need friends in our lives.34. M5U1. Project (2)—What friendship means to meWhen deciding what is most important in life, some people choose money, while others choose things like security and comfort. However, for me, the most important thing in life is friendship. I cannot imagine being without it.Friendship means not being alone. Once I was travelling by myself through Beijing on the way to my grandparents’ house. Since my next train left in the evening, I had a day for sightseeing. At first, I didn’t mind being alone, but then I saw all the tourists having their pictures taken together, and I began feeling sad. I ended up returning to the train station and spending the rest of the day in the waiting room. Life is no fun without a companion to share it with.Friendship means having someone I can rely on. Last year, I left my schoolbag on a trolleybus, and I lost all of my notes for the final exam. You can imagine how I panicked. Luckily for me, my best friend Jenny let me copy her notes, and I used them in my revision. Thanks to her help, I was able to pass the exam.Friendship means being committed to others. The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Because I am a friend, I have had to learn patience and mercy. Once I had a quarrel with Jenny, and she made some cruel comments about me. Even though I was hurt, I forgave her and she later made an apology. Through this incident, both of us have become better people. However, if I hadended our friendship, we would have both learnt nothing.In conclusion, when we are old and look back on our lives, what will we remember? Will we remember the things we bought or the places we have been to? No, we will remember those whom we loved and those who loved us. We will remember our friends.35. M5U2. Reading— The economy or the environment—must we choose?TV host: James LongSpeakers: Lin Shuiqing, a spokeswoman from the Green SocietyQian Liwei, a business development consultantJames Long: Good morning. Today’s debate question is, “The economy or the environment—must we choose?’ With me are Ms Lin Shuiqing, from the Green Society, and Mr Qian Liwei, a business development consultant. We are following our usual schedule for debates. Ms Lin Shuiqing will speak first for three minutes. Mr Qian Liwei will follow, also for three minutes. Then we will open the floor for discussion. If you have any questions or comments, you can use this time to express them.Lin Shuiqing: Good morning, everyone. First I am talking to you today about the way vast areas of the world are damaged by chemical waste. Many places have been destroyed and many plants and animals have died. This is awful. Factories produce large numbers of harmful chemicals. The waste they create goes into the atmosphere and makes us sick. Other types of waste flow into our water, killing river and sea life.Much sea life is being destroyed by fishing boats as well. These boats catch large numbers of fish without giving them time to lay eggs. This will result in a smaller number of fish left for us to eat in the future.While we damage our environment, we keep producing more and more people who need more land to live on and more food to eat! The world’s population has grown by six times what it was in 1800. The figure is now about 7 billion people!It is our duty to try to cut back on production and reduce the number of things we make and buy. The amount of rubbish we produce is turning into a big problem; we need to think more about recycling our waste. It would be good to increase the amount of waste we recycle, and teach people ways of living that do not harm the environment. We may even create more jobs and help our country become more developed at the same time.Thank you.Qian Liwei: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Ms Lin. That was an interesting speech. It is clear that you are very concerned about the present situation of our environment. As a business development consultant, I’m often seen as being against the environment. When people think of factories, they think of clouds of dirty smoke or of pipes pouring chemical waste into rivers. They think of greedy businessmen hiding from their responsibilities and only worrying about money. People often have this belief that development is bad for the environment, but this does not have to be true.What I’m here to say is that having worked with many environmental consultants, I kn ow that a healthy environment and development should be possible at the same time.There are many factories and industries which control the amount of pollution they produce, and are very careful to spend money repairing any damage they cause. The people operating these factories are deeply concerned about the environment. We need to stop thinking of companies and businessmen as the enemy, and give them more credit!Ms Lin suggested we should cut back on the quantity of things we produce in order to save th e environment. I don’t agree with her because then jobs will be lost. I believe that people are more important than fish and trees.However, I do agree that we should produce more things from materials that have been recycled, and less from raw materials, the supply of which is growing smaller and smaller.What we need are better laws to preserve the environment and still allow our country to grow. This includes controls on how many trees are cut down and how many fish are caught. This might make wood and seafood more expensive, but paying a higher price for some things is not always bad. Asking around, I find many people willing to pay a little higher price for things that are friendly to the environment.Finally, those factories which pollute the environment should have to pay higher taxes. If you harm the environment, you should have to pay for it to be repaired.Thank you for listening.James Long: Now we will open the floor for discussion…36. M5U2. Project (1)— Protecting the Yangtze RiverAs the third longest river in the world, the health of the Yangtze River has raised concern both in China and abroad. Rapid development and an increase in population have meant that the amount of the water taken from the river is rising, and that the waste being put back into the river has been increasing. This is not good news for the people who rely on the Yangtze River for water. Nor is it good news for the wide range of fish and wildlife that live in or along the river.Many people have recognized the importance of protecting the Yangtze River, and organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem. The Green River Organization, for example, educates people on the importance of protecting this great river. It also watches the river and stops the illegal hunting of animals, which has put the wild animal population in danger.Two special government projects are also under way. The first project, a water and soil conservation project, was set up in 1989. This project resulted in farmers replacing their crops with trees or grass. It has already been a success because it has helped improve the local environment and the land around the river.The second project includes nature reserves for white-flag dolphins, one of the rarest animals in the world. The number of white-flag dolphins in China has dropped because of pollution in the Yangtze River. The white-flag dolphin was last seen several years ago, though scientists are still hopeful that the animal has survived.We still have a long way to go to solve all the problems in regard to the Yangtze River. However, people have finally realized that it is their responsibility to protect this great river. Because of this, the situation on the Yangtze River is improving. The efforts of the Chinese government and people to protect this much-loved river will be appreciated for years to come.37. M5U2. Project (2)—Climate change and a low-carbon lifeThere is no doubt that the world climate has been changing in recent years. Many people blame this change on gases such as carbon dioxide. Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide when they breathe. However, many other human activities also let off carbon gases. Anytime something is burnt, carbon is put into the atmosphere. Cars and other vehicles burn petrol in their engines, and electrical power plants most often burn fuels such as coal and oil in order to produceelectricity. Therefore, the more petrol and electricity we consume, the more carbon we are letting off.One thing we can all do to help solve this problem is to walk or use a bicycle when possible. Although we produce carbon when we breathe, the carbon we produce is much less than that produced by a car. Of course, there are times when we need to travel long distances. In this case, public transport such as buses and the underground is always a much better choice than a private car or a taxi. If you must drive a car, it is never good to travel alone—you should try to find other people to travel with you.At home, you should use as little energy as possible. Turn off the lights and anything else electrical when not in use. Since factories use a lot of energy and also let off carbon gases, it is important to recycle as much as possible. In particular, metal products and paper products require a lot of energy to produce, so you should find ways to use these again without throwing them away.Last but not least, you can plant a tree, because trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the air to produce oxygen. Planting a small tree is cheap and easy, and two decades from now, when you look at what will have become a large tree, you will find a sense of satisfaction knowing that you did your part to help solve the problem of climate change.38. M5U3. Reading—The perfect copyScientists have announced that they have cloned the first human embryo. This has caused much debate round the world. On the one hand, some scientists point out that if you clone an embryo, you can produce valuable human tissues—such as bone or lung tissue—that could be used to save human lives. On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and are afraid that, if mankind toys with nature in this way, we may be on our way to producing a real-life Frankenstein’s monster.Cloning is producing an exact copy of a plant or an animal using its cells. The first mammal to be cloned successfully from an adult cell was Dolly the sheep. She was born in 1996 and died in early 2003, at a much younger age than normal. When she was born, many people were worried that cloning would lead to more diseases in the animal world. However, in general the scientists were praised for their wonderful scientific advance.Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who created Dolly, is shocked that some scientists are now considering cloning human beings. Although he researches cloning, his intention has never been to create copies of human. Instead, he thinks research efforts should concentrate on creating new tissues and organs that can be used to cure diseases like cancer. However, some people believe that cloning human embryos with the intention of destroying them shows no respect for human life.Even though human cloning is causing a lot of anxiety, it is good news for Faye Wilson, a 41-year-old saleswoman who cannot have a baby. ‘I am anxious to have a child of my own,’ she says. ‘I don’t want to adopt someone else’s child—If I had the chance, I would have a cloned baby right now.While cloning human embryos is not legal in many countries, some scientists are already pushing ahead with research in order to produce a cloned human baby. Severino Antinori, an Italian physician, has declared that he wants to be the first to clone a human being.In China, scientists have focused their efforts on cloning animals, as well as cloned tissues to be used in medical treatment. China has succeeded in producing clones of cows and goats, and continues to research ways in which cloning can benefit mankind.(Letter 1) Dear EditorI believe that human cloning is wrong. If we toy with nature , we will have to deal with the consequences. Who knows what could happen? Human life would just become a crop to be harvested or a product for sale.The human race is using up the Earth’s natural wealth. We should be having fewer babies in order to reduce the Earth’s population, not cloning more.I feel sorry for the lady who cannot have a baby, but I would like to point out that there are many children in the world with no parents who would be delighted to have a mother.Pauline Carter(Letter 2) Dear EditorI would like to comment on your arti cle, ‘The perfect copy’. I think the scientific advances mentioned in your article are fantastic! I am in complete agreement with human cloning. After all, scientists have been challenging moral ideas for centuries. Why should we stop them now?On a personal note, cloning would totally transform my life. Seven years ago, my 10-year-old daughter died of heart failure. She was beautiful, cheerful and bright. I miss her every single day. If I had the chance, I would clone her immediately so I that I could be with her again.Colin Jake39. M5U3. Project (1)— Man and NatureFor a long time, our environment has been damaged because humans have been careless. People have harmed nature through agriculture, fishing, hunting and tourism. We further damage the Earth by building new channels in the sea and factories on the land, and by creating pollution with chemical waste. We will some day destroy the planet we live on if we continue in this way.However, if we focus only on conservation, then people may suffer. Not everything that is best for nature is good for people. Would anyone say that development should be stopped in favor of nature. From the point of view of some people, we are only doing what humans have always done, using nature to meet our own needs. Other people argue that such thinking may cause a catastrophe, unless we start to look around and understand how a clean environment benefits us all.After decades of destroying nature and using up natural resources, many developed nations are now concerned about saving nature rather than developing or destroying it. However, many poorer nations must focus on meeting the everyday needs of their people. In doing so, they are using up natural resources at a fast pace. They have not yet seen the effects of the careless use of the environment like many wealthy nations have. Often they do not realize that the choices they make are bad for the environment. Should they be blamed for destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest if it means a better income for their people? The developed and developing countries of the world need to work together to make sure that people enjoy healthy and happy lives, without the environment around them suffering.It should not be a question of humans winning and nature losing. Humans can only really win by protecting nature. After all, food has to be produced in a healthy, natural system, and we all need clean air to breathe and pure water to drink. It is mankind’s responsibility to find answers that are good for everyone, and everything.40. M5U3. Project (2)— GM food: hope or danger?In recent years, there has been great progress in the study of genetics. With this progress doors have been opened up to technologies that never existed before. While many people are excited about these new technologies, these same technologies frighten others. Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food.There are two ways in which a plant or an animal can be genetically modified. First, new material can be inserted into its DNA to give the plant or animal qualities which it would never have in nature. Second, material can be taken from the DNA of a plant or an animal in order to remove qualities which are not desired.One aim of GM research is to produce food which will make us healthier. So far, this technology has been used to produce plants which are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease. Supporters of GM food argue that GM plants are healthier and have larger harvests. While there has been research in GM animals such as pigs, no GM meat is being sold at present.Many questions have been raised about GM food. No one really knows whether it is safe for animals or humans to eat. Scientists admit that more tests should be done on GM food. Research has been limited to increasing production profits, rather than making sure that GM foods are safe. GM food could therefore be dangerous to eat.There is also a question as to whether GM plants are safe for the environment. Since GM crops are planted outside, they are part of the food chain—insects and other animals eat them or use their products, and these insects and animals will be eaten by yet other animals. No one knows what effects the GM material might have on the food chain.Since no one really knows whether GM food is safe, many countries have hesitated to give permission for the production of GM foods, as they would rather be cautious with this new technology.。

31. M5U1. Reading (1)—Secrets and liesDear Annie,I feel betrayed by my friend Hannah. We have been best friends since primary school and spend almost every day with each other. Sometimes, other children say we are no fun because we are both very academic and like to study, but we like it that way. We are both very hard-working and always get good grades at school.On Monday, we had a surprise math quiz. I thought it was quite easy and was not worried about the results. I must have sounded very proud of myself after the quiz, saying how easy it was and how I was sure to get a good grade. The next day after class, my math teacher told me that I had the lowest grade in the class! I felt so ashamed; I must be really stupid to fail a simple math quiz!Afterwards, I pretended to be cheerful, but Hannah sensed something was wrong. We went to wash our hands in the girls‟ washroom before lunch and I admitted how badly I had done. I begged her not to tell anyone else, and she said she would keep my secret.However, the next day, I noticed that my classmates were staring at me as I came into math class and, when I went to sit down, I was shocked to find a piece of paper on my desk that said, “Stupid Sarah got a D!” I was so upset that I felt like crying. I thought that Hannah must have told my classmates about my grade after promising not to. Everyone must have been laughing behind my back!I was so angry that I went straight to Hannah and told her we weren‟t going to be friends any more because she couldn‟t keep her word. She was really upset and swore that she hadn‟t told anyone. However, the only people who see our grades are the teacher and the students that the grades belong to. She said that someone must have been spying on us in the washroom, but I didn't believe her explanation. I don‟t think I can ever truly forgive her. Now I‟ve lost my best friend. What shall I do?Yours sincerelySarah32. M5U1. Reading (2)—A friendship in troubleDear Annie,My name is Andrew. I am 17 years old and I have a problem. My best friend Matthew has stopped talking to me. We have been best friends since childhood and play together in the schoolfootball team. Last week, we had an important match against another school. The other team was superb and we really had to focus. I was determined to win, but Matthew was playing badly. He could not keep pace with the game, and as a result of his careless playing we lost.Afterwards, I got really angry with him, and I told him I thought he was not trying hard enough. He got annoyed, saying it wasn‟t his fault if he couldn‟t play as well as me, and that I shouldn‟t talk to him in this manner. Then we both started shouting at each other and it turned into a horrible argument. He accused me of some really bad things just to hurt me. I feel really guilty because I made some cruel remarks too, but I dislike seeing our team lose. Football is very important to me, but so is our friendship.Since we argued, he hasn‟t spoken to me even though we sit next to each other in class. It‟s really awkward. He is usually cheerful and outgoing, but he has been really quiet and looks sad. The things he said hurt me too, but he has not apologized to me.Yesterday, I saw him talking to another boy, Peter, and I cannot help wondering if he wants Peter to be his best friend instead of me. I told my brother about the quarrel, but he said Matthew is just too sensitive and perhaps a little bitter because I am really athletic and good at football, and that I had better find another friend. What should I do?Yours trulyAndrew33. M5U1. Project (1)—Teenagers’ friendshipsMy friend, Robert, has a twin sister named Amanda. Though they get along well, there are some things about Amanda and her friends that puzzle Robert. He can't understand how girls can talk for so long. For example, sometimes when he leaves the apartment to play football, Amanda and her friend, Sharon, are sitting on the sofa, talking. When he comes back three and a half hours later, they‟re still sitting on the sofa, continuing the same conversation on the s ame topic. One day Robert was so curious that he asked Amanda what they talked about, but she replied, …We‟re best friends. We talk about almost everything—film stars, pop songs, recipes, everything!‟Boys and girls have different attitudes towards friendship. Friendships between girls are usually anchored in shared feelings and support, but friendships between boys are based on shared activities or interests. A boy is likely to be cautious about sharing his feelings with his closefriends. A girl‟s closest friend, however, might be eager to tell her about something that has happened in her life.Many studies worldwide show that girls have more friendships than boys. In fact, many adolescent males cannot name a single best friend. When asked, they usually hesitate before responding, …My best friend? I can‟t think about that. I am busy with my homework, and I have so many different friends that it is hard to choose just one best friend.‟Females who have been asked can usually answer the question without pausi ng, …A best friend? Of course. We have a lot to share with each other. We do a lot of things together such as talking and shopping.‟We have to realize: boys share activities, while girls share feelings. The qualities that boys and girls consider important in a friend seem to be the same, regardless of the basis of these friendships. The important thing to remember is that both of them are friendships. We all need friends in our lives.34. M5U1. Project (2)—What friendship means to meWhen deciding what is most important in life, some people choose money, while others choose things like security and comfort. However, for me, the most important thing in life is friendship. I cannot imagine being without it.Friendship means not being alone. Once I was travelling by myself through Beijing on the way to my grandparents‟ house. Since my next train left in the evening, I had a day for sightseeing. At first, I didn‟t mind being alone, but then I saw all the tourists having their pictures taken together, and I began feeling sad. I ended up returning to the train station and spending the rest of the day in the waiting room. Life is no fun without a companion to share it with.Friendship means having someone I can rely on. Last year, I left my schoolbag on a trolleybus, and I lost all of my notes for the final exam. You can imagine how I panicked. Luckily for me, my best friend Jenny let me copy her notes, and I used them in my revision. Thanks to her help, I was able to pass the exam.Friendship means being committed to others. The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Because I am a friend, I have had to learn patience and mercy. Once I had a quarrel with Jenny, and she made some cruel comments about me. Even though I was hurt, I forgave her and she later made an apology. Through this incident, both of us have become better people. However, if I hadended our friendship, we would have both learnt nothing.In conclusion, when we are old and look back on our lives, what will we remember? Will we remember the things we bought or the places we have been to? No, we will remember those whom we loved and those who loved us. We will remember our friends.35. M5U2. Reading— The economy or the environment—must we choose?TV host: James LongSpeakers: Lin Shuiqing, a spokeswoman from the Green SocietyQian Liwei, a business development consultantJames Long: Good morning. Today‟s debate question is, “The economy or the environment—must we choose?‟ With me are Ms Lin Shuiqing, from the Green Society, and Mr Qian Liwei, a business development consultant. We are following our usual schedule for debates. Ms Lin Shuiqing will speak first for three minutes. Mr Qian Liwei will follow, also for three minutes. Then we will open the floor for discussion. If you have any questions or comments, you can use this time to express them.Lin Shuiqing: Good morning, everyone. First I am talking to you today about the way vast areas of the world are damaged by chemical waste. Many places have been destroyed and many plants and animals have died. This is awful. Factories produce large numbers of harmful chemicals. The waste they create goes into the atmosphere and makes us sick. Other types of waste flow into our water, killing river and sea life.Much sea life is being destroyed by fishing boats as well. These boats catch large numbers of fish without giving them time to lay eggs. This will result in a smaller number of fish left for us to eat in the future.While we damage our environment, we keep producing more and more people who need more land to live on and more food to eat! The world‟s population has grown by six times what it was in 1800. The figure is now about 7 billion people!It is our duty to try to cut back on production and reduce the number of things we make and buy. The amount of rubbish we produce is turning into a big problem; we need to think more about recycling our waste. It would be good to increase the amount of waste we recycle, and teach people ways of living that do not harm the environment. We may even create more jobs and help our country become more developed at the same time.Thank you.Qian Liwei: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Ms Lin. That was an interesting speech. It is clear that you are very concerned about the present situation of our environment. As a business development consultant, I‟m often seen as being against the environment. When people think of factories, they think of clouds of dirty smoke or of pipes pouring chemical waste into rivers. They think of greedy businessmen hiding from their responsibilities and only worrying about money. People often have this belief that development is bad for the environment, but this does not have to be true.What I‟m here to say is that having worked with many environmental consultants, I kn ow that a healthy environment and development should be possible at the same time.There are many factories and industries which control the amount of pollution they produce, and are very careful to spend money repairing any damage they cause. The people operating these factories are deeply concerned about the environment. We need to stop thinking of companies and businessmen as the enemy, and give them more credit!Ms Lin suggested we should cut back on the quantity of things we produce in order to save th e environment. I don‟t agree with her because then jobs will be lost. I believe that people are more important than fish and trees.However, I do agree that we should produce more things from materials that have been recycled, and less from raw materials, the supply of which is growing smaller and smaller.What we need are better laws to preserve the environment and still allow our country to grow. This includes controls on how many trees are cut down and how many fish are caught. This might make wood and seafood more expensive, but paying a higher price for some things is not always bad. Asking around, I find many people willing to pay a little higher price for things that are friendly to the environment.Finally, those factories which pollute the environment should have to pay higher taxes. If you harm the environment, you should have to pay for it to be repaired.Thank you for listening.James Long: Now we will open the floor for discussion…36. M5U2. Project (1)— Protecting the Yangtze RiverAs the third longest river in the world, the health of the Yangtze River has raised concern both in China and abroad. Rapid development and an increase in population have meant that the amount of the water taken from the river is rising, and that the waste being put back into the river has been increasing. This is not good news for the people who rely on the Yangtze River for water. Nor is it good news for the wide range of fish and wildlife that live in or along the river.Many people have recognized the importance of protecting the Yangtze River, and organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem. The Green River Organization, for example, educates people on the importance of protecting this great river. It also watches the river and stops the illegal hunting of animals, which has put the wild animal population in danger.Two special government projects are also under way. The first project, a water and soil conservation project, was set up in 1989. This project resulted in farmers replacing their crops with trees or grass. It has already been a success because it has helped improve the local environment and the land around the river.The second project includes nature reserves for white-flag dolphins, one of the rarest animals in the world. The number of white-flag dolphins in China has dropped because of pollution in the Yangtze River. The white-flag dolphin was last seen several years ago, though scientists are still hopeful that the animal has survived.We still have a long way to go to solve all the problems in regard to the Yangtze River. However, people have finally realized that it is their responsibility to protect this great river. Because of this, the situation on the Yangtze River is improving. The efforts of the Chinese government and people to protect this much-loved river will be appreciated for years to come.37. M5U2. Project (2)—Climate change and a low-carbon lifeThere is no doubt that the world climate has been changing in recent years. Many people blame this change on gases such as carbon dioxide. Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide when they breathe. However, many other human activities also let off carbon gases. Anytime something is burnt, carbon is put into the atmosphere. Cars and other vehicles burn petrol in their engines, and electrical power plants most often burn fuels such as coal and oil in order to produceelectricity. Therefore, the more petrol and electricity we consume, the more carbon we are letting off.One thing we can all do to help solve this problem is to walk or use a bicycle when possible. Although we produce carbon when we breathe, the carbon we produce is much less than that produced by a car. Of course, there are times when we need to travel long distances. In this case, public transport such as buses and the underground is always a much better choice than a private car or a taxi. If you must drive a car, it is never good to travel alone—you should try to find other people to travel with you.At home, you should use as little energy as possible. Turn off the lights and anything else electrical when not in use. Since factories use a lot of energy and also let off carbon gases, it is important to recycle as much as possible. In particular, metal products and paper products require a lot of energy to produce, so you should find ways to use these again without throwing them away.Last but not least, you can plant a tree, because trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the air to produce oxygen. Planting a small tree is cheap and easy, and two decades from now, when you look at what will have become a large tree, you will find a sense of satisfaction knowing that you did your part to help solve the problem of climate change.38. M5U3. Reading—The perfect copyScientists have announced that they have cloned the first human embryo. This has caused much debate round the world. On the one hand, some scientists point out that if you clone an embryo, you can produce valuable human tissues—such as bone or lung tissue—that could be used to save human lives. On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and are afraid that, if mankind toys with nature in this way, we may be on our way to producing a real-life Frankenstein‟s monster.Cloning is producing an exact copy of a plant or an animal using its cells. The first mammal to be cloned successfully from an adult cell was Dolly the sheep. She was born in 1996 and died in early 2003, at a much younger age than normal. When she was born, many people were worried that cloning would lead to more diseases in the animal world. However, in general the scientists were praised for their wonderful scientific advance.Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who created Dolly, is shocked that some scientists are now considering cloning human beings. Although he researches cloning, his intention has never been to create copies of human. Instead, he thinks research efforts should concentrate on creating new tissues and organs that can be used to cure diseases like cancer. However, some people believe that cloning human embryos with the intention of destroying them shows no respect for human life.Even though human cloning is causing a lot of anxiety, it is good news for Faye Wilson, a 41-year-old saleswoman who cannot have a baby. …I am anxious to have a child of my own,‟ she says. …I don‟t want to adopt someone else‟s child—If I had the chance, I would have a cloned baby right now.While cloning human embryos is not legal in many countries, some scientists are already pushing ahead with research in order to produce a cloned human baby. Severino Antinori, an Italian physician, has declared that he wants to be the first to clone a human being.In China, scientists have focused their efforts on cloning animals, as well as cloned tissues to be used in medical treatment. China has succeeded in producing clones of cows and goats, and continues to research ways in which cloning can benefit mankind.(Letter 1) Dear EditorI believe that human cloning is wrong. If we toy with nature , we will have to deal with the consequences. Who knows what could happen? Human life would just become a crop to be harvested or a product for sale.The human race is using up the Earth‟s natural wealth. We should be having fewer babies in order to reduce the Earth‟s population, not cloning more.I feel sorry for the lady who cannot have a baby, but I would like to point out that there are many children in the world with no parents who would be delighted to have a mother.Pauline Carter(Letter 2) Dear EditorI would like to comment on your arti cle, …The perfect copy‟. I think the scientific advances mentioned in your article are fantastic! I am in complete agreement with human cloning. After all, scientists have been challenging moral ideas for centuries. Why should we stop them now?On a personal note, cloning would totally transform my life. Seven years ago, my 10-year-old daughter died of heart failure. She was beautiful, cheerful and bright. I miss her every single day. If I had the chance, I would clone her immediately so I that I could be with her again.Colin Jake39. M5U3. Project (1)— Man and NatureFor a long time, our environment has been damaged because humans have been careless. People have harmed nature through agriculture, fishing, hunting and tourism. We further damage the Earth by building new channels in the sea and factories on the land, and by creating pollution with chemical waste. We will some day destroy the planet we live on if we continue in this way.However, if we focus only on conservation, then people may suffer. Not everything that is best for nature is good for people. Would anyone say that development should be stopped in favor of nature. From the point of view of some people, we are only doing what humans have always done, using nature to meet our own needs. Other people argue that such thinking may cause a catastrophe, unless we start to look around and understand how a clean environment benefits us all.After decades of destroying nature and using up natural resources, many developed nations are now concerned about saving nature rather than developing or destroying it. However, many poorer nations must focus on meeting the everyday needs of their people. In doing so, they are using up natural resources at a fast pace. They have not yet seen the effects of the careless use of the environment like many wealthy nations have. Often they do not realize that the choices they make are bad for the environment. Should they be blamed for destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest if it means a better income for their people? The developed and developing countries of the world need to work together to make sure that people enjoy healthy and happy lives, without the environment around them suffering.It should not be a question of humans winning and nature losing. Humans can only really win by protecting nature. After all, food has to be produced in a healthy, natural system, and we all need clean air to breathe and pure water to drink. It is mankind‟s responsibility to find answers that are good for everyone, and everything.40. M5U3. Project (2)— GM food: hope or danger?In recent years, there has been great progress in the study of genetics. With this progress doors have been opened up to technologies that never existed before. While many people are excited about these new technologies, these same technologies frighten others. Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food.There are two ways in which a plant or an animal can be genetically modified. First, new material can be inserted into its DNA to give the plant or animal qualities which it would never have in nature. Second, material can be taken from the DNA of a plant or an animal in order to remove qualities which are not desired.One aim of GM research is to produce food which will make us healthier. So far, this technology has been used to produce plants which are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease. Supporters of GM food argue that GM plants are healthier and have larger harvests. While there has been research in GM animals such as pigs, no GM meat is being sold at present.Many questions have been raised about GM food. No one really knows whether it is safe for animals or humans to eat. Scientists admit that more tests should be done on GM food. Research has been limited to increasing production profits, rather than making sure that GM foods are safe. GM food could therefore be dangerous to eat.There is also a question as to whether GM plants are safe for the environment. Since GM crops are planted outside, they are part of the food chain—insects and other animals eat them or use their products, and these insects and animals will be eaten by yet other animals. No one knows what effects the GM material might have on the food chain.Since no one really knows whether GM food is safe, many countries have hesitated to give permission for the production of GM foods, as they would rather be cautious with this new technology.。

13. M3U1. Reading—FogFog warningWhen Polly left home that morning, the city was already covered in a grey mist. At lunch, the radio forecast that the mist would become a thick fog in the afternoon. At four o’clock, Polly left work and stepped out into the fog. She wondered if the buses would still be running.No buses to King StreetOnce out in the street, she walked quickly towards her usual bus stop.‘How far are you going?’ the bus conductor asked her before he took her fare.‘King Street,’ said Polly.‘Sorry, Miss,’ replied the man, ‘the truth is that it is too foggy for the bus to run that far. Take the Underground to Green Park. The weather might be better there and you might be able to get a taxi.’A tall manAs Polly observed the passengers on the train, she had a feeling that she was being watched by a tall man in a dark overcoat. At last the train arrived at Green Park station. While the rest of the passengers were getting out, she glanced at the faces around her. The tall man was nowhere to be seen.FootstepsWhen Polly got to the station entrance, it was empty. Outside, wherever she looked the fog lay like a thick, grey cloud. There was no one in sight. Polly set off towards Park Street. As she walked along the narrow street, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, but by the time she reached the corner of the street, the footsteps were gone. Suddenly Polly felt a rough hand brush her cheek, and she heard a man’s voice in her ear saying ‘Sorry.’ The man moved away. She could feel her heart beating with fear.The helpful strangerThen she heard the sound again - soft footsteps behind her. A minute before, she had wished for someone to come along. Now she wanted to run, but fear held her still. The footsteps seemed close now. Then a man’s voice came out of the darkness. ‘Is anybody there?’Polly hesitated. At last she answered, ‘Hello, I think I’m lost.’A few seconds later, a hand reached out and grasped her arm. Polly found herself staring up at the face of an old man with a beard.‘Maybe I can help you. Which road do you want?’ He asked.‘I live at 86 King Street,’ Poly replied.‘Just take my hand,’ said the man. ‘Come with me. You’ll be all right.’ He took Polly’s hand. ‘Watch out for the step here.’In his other hand the man carried a stick. Polly heard it hit the step. ‘I can remember some terrible fogs, but maybe that was before your time. I can’t see your face, but you sound young. How old are you?’‘Just twenty,’ answered Polly.‘Ah, twenty! A nice age to be! I was young once. Now we’re at the crossroads. Turn left here.’‘I’m quite lost now. Are you sure you know the way?’ Polly was beginning to feel frightened again.‘Of course. You really shouldn’t feel anxious.’ He held her hand more firmly.The grateful helper‘Here we are. King Street.’ He stopped.‘Thank you so much for coming to my aid,’ said Polly in relief. ‘Would you like to come in and rest for a while?’‘It’s very nice of you,’ said the man, ‘but I’ll be off. There may be more people lost today, and I’d like to help them. You see, a fog this bad is rare. It gives me the chance to pay back the help that people give me when it’s sunny. A blind person like me can’t get across the road without help, except in a fog like this.’14. M3U1. Project (1)—Shark attacksThere are nearly 400 different types of sharks, but only about 30 types are known to have attacked human beings. Many people know that the most dangerous shark is the great white shark, mainly because they have seen the movie Jaws. However, two other sharks are also rather dangerous: the tiger shark and the bull shark.Contrary to what many people might assume, evidence shows that sharks seldom attack humans. There are three types of shark attacks. In the main type, the shark attacks you because it mistakes you for a fish, but when it tastes human flesh it decides to give up and swim away. In the second type, the shark pushes you with its nose to find out if you are fit to be eaten, and then bites you if it thinks you are. In the third type, the shark waits for you to swim by, and then attacks you suddenly. The last two types of attack more often result in the death of humans.To reduce the risk of a shark attack, you should follow these suggestions.⏹Do not swim in the dark. Sharks can still see you but you cannot see them.⏹Do not go swimming in the ocean if you have a fresh wound. Sharks can smell bloodover a long distance.⏹Do not wear bright clothing or jewellery, because sharks are attracted to the flash ofcolors and bright objects.⏹Stay in groups, as sharks usually avoid large numbers of people.Recently, shark attacks have been increasing as water sports are becoming more popular. If a shark attacks you, follow the advice below.⏹Keep calm. Do not panic.⏹Hit the shark on the nose with your fist.⏹Stick your finger in the shark's eye.Don't be frightened by sharks: you are 30 times more likely to be hit by lightning than be attacked by a shark.15. M3U1. Project (2)—The wonderful world of pigeonsIt is night. All is quiet. The soldiers are asleep while a guard watches for the enemy. There is a flash, and the sound of guns! They are being attacked! Hundreds of enemy soldiers rush towards them. They are all going to be killed unless they get help. What should they do?An officer writes a short message quickly on a small piece of paper: 'Being attacked! Hurry!' He rolls up the paper and puts it into a small case, and then reaches into a cage and gets a bird. Attaching the message to its leg, he sets the bird loose. It immediately flies into the air and disappears in the dark.Will the bird arrive in time? Will they be saved?Though it may seem hard to believe, the bird the officer uses is the same bird often seen in public parks—the pigeon. Pigeons have a wonderful sense of direction and can find their way home over long distances. Indeed, pigeons have been known to fly home from as far away as 1,800 kilometres. That is why pigeons have been used since ancient times to carry the news or even the mail. However, it was in war that they found their greatest use. During both World War I and II, pigeons were employed by armies to carry messages to and from the front lines, saving the lives of many soldiers and even helping win some important victories.How do pigeons find their way? Pigeons appear to have a compass inside them that tells themwhich way is north. How this compass works remains a mystery. Of course, since a compass alone is not enough to find one's way, they also appear to use their sight and even their sense of smell to tell them which way they should go. Unlike humans, they never get lost and can always find their way home.16. M3U2. Reading—English and its historyAll through history, people from many different countries and cultures have lived together in Britain. The English language is made up of the grammar and vocabulary these people brought to Britain. That is why English has so many difficult rules that confuse people.Old EnglishOld English is very different from the English we speak nowadays .In fact, we would not be able to understand it if we heard it today. Before the middle of the 5th century, people in Britain all spoke a language called Celtic. Then two Germanic groups from the European mainland—the angles and the Saxons—occupied Britain. Old English consisted of a mixture of their languages. (Both the English language and the English people are named after the angles; the word Angle was spelt Engle in old English.) Aside from place names such as London, very few Celtic words became part of old English. At the end of the 9th century, the Vikings, people from Northern European countries such as Denmark and Norway, began to move to Britain. They brought with them their languages, which also mixed with Old English. By the 10th century, Old English had become the official language of England.When we speak English today, we sometimes feel puzzled about which words or phrases to use. This is because English has many words and phrases from different languages, but with similar meanings. For example, the word sick came from a word once used by the Angles and the Saxons, while ill came from a word once used by the Norwegians.Middle EnglishMiddle English is the name given to the English used from around the 12th to the 15th centuries. Many things played a part in the development of this new type of English. The most important contribution was from the Normans, a French-speaking people who defeated England and took control of the country in 1066. However, the Norman Conquest did not affect English as m uch as the Angles and the Saxons’ victory about 600 years earlier, which led to old English replacing Celtic. Even though the Normans spoke French for the entire 250 years they ruledEnglish, French did not replace English as the first language. On the other hand, the English language did borrow many words from French. This resulted in even more words with similar meanings, such as answer(from Old English) and reply(from Old French). It is interesting to learn how the words for animals and meat developed. After the Norman Conquest, many English people worked as servants who raised animals. Therefore, the words we use for most animals raised for food such as cow, sheep and pig, came from Old English. However, the words for the meat of these animals, which was served to the Normans, came from Old French: beef, mutton, pork and bacon.Old French made other contributions to Middle English as well. In Old English, the Germanic way of making words plural was used. For example, they said housen instead of houses, and shoen instead of shoes. After the Normans took control they began using the French way of making plurals, adding an –s to house and shoe. Only a few words kept their Germanic plural forms, such as man/men and child/children.After the Norman Conquest, high-class people spoke French while common people spoke English. However, by the latter half of the 14th century, English had come into widespread use among all classes in England. In 1399, Henry IV became King of England. His mother tongue was English, and he used English for all official events.Modern EnglishModern English appeared during the Renaissance in the 16th century. Because of this, modern English includes many Latin and Greek words. Pronunciation also went through huge changes during this period. Of course, this was not the end of the changes in the English language. The question of whether English will keep on changing in the future is easy to answer. It is certain that this process will continue, and people will keep inventing new words and new ways of saying things.17. M3U2. Project (1)—The development of Chinese charactersThe Chinese language differs from Western languages in that instead of an alphabet, it uses characters which stand for ideas, objects or deeds. Chinese words are formed by putting together different characters. In many cases, a single character can also make up a word. The history of the Chinese language can be examined by looking at how these characters developed.Chinese writing began thousands of years ago. According to an ancient story, a man named Cang Jie invented Chinese writing. One winter day while he was hunting, he saw the tracks ofanimals in the snow and observed that the appearance of each one was different. Then he had the idea that he could use different shapes to represent different objects. The first Chinese characters were drawings of physical objects. Some characters have been simplified and others have been made more difficult over time. However, as a whole, the characters have developed from drawings into standard forms. The character for a mountain was at first three mountaintops together. This became one mountaintop and three lines, and over time turned into the character used nowadays.Not all characters were developed from drawings of objects. Sometimes to express ideas, some characters were made by combining two or more characters together. For example, ‘rest’ was made up of the characters for a man and a tree. The character ‘prisoner’ was formed with a ‘man’ inside a square. Other character s were developed for directions and numbers. It is easy to distinguish their meanings by looking at them, for example, the characters for ‘up’ and ‘down’, which are opposites of each other.Though these kinds of characters indicate meanings, one of their shortcomings is that they do not show how they should be pronounced. Therefore, a method was developed to have one part of a character indicate the meaning and the other suggest the pronunciation. Many Chinese characters used today were made this way.In the 1950s the Chinese government introduced simplified Chinese characters and now they have widespread use in China’s mainland.18. M3U2. Project (2)—The story of BrailleUsually, when we talk about reading, we think of using our eyes to see letters written in ink on paper. However, this is not always true. For example, blind people cannot see, but they can still read books.The man who introduced blind people to reading was Louis Braille (1809-1852). Braille lost his eyesight at the age of three as a result of an injury. When he was ten, he went to a school for the blind in Paris. In those days, books for blind people used paper pressed against metal wire to form letters. Since the metal wire was heavy, each book weighed as much as 100 pounds. The whole system was not convenient for use. Indeed, the school library only had fourteen such books in it.In 1821, a soldier visited the school and showed the students a system for passing messages at night during times of battle. His system used paper with small, raised dots that could be felt with the fingers. Each letter of the alphabet was represented by a different pattern which consistedof twelve dots. The soldiers would drag their fingers over the raised dots to read the message.While the students found the so ldier’s idea interesting, the system was too difficult to be of practical use. However, young Louis Braille took the idea and worked on it. At the age of fifteen, he created a system with patterns of six raised dots representing each letter. ‘Braille’, the system for reading used today by blind people around the world, was thus born.The blind can easily recognize Braille with the fingers. They can also easily write in Braille with a special typewriter. Today, it is the most common system used by blind people for reading and writing, and nearly every language, including Chinese, has its own version of Braille for its people to use.19. M3U3. Reading—Lost civilizationsDay 1,15 JulyI feel lucky to have won a place on this trip. We are in Italy now, and tomorrow we are visiting Pompeii. Next week we are flying to China, and going Loulan, which is known as China's Pompeii in the desert. Both Pompeii and Loulan became lost civilizations long ago.Day 2,16 JulyThis morning we attended a lecture about Pompeii. The city was founded in the 8th century BC. In 89 BC, the Romans took over Pompeii. It then became a rich and busy city. Near the city was a volcano. On 24 August AD 79,the volcano erupted and lava, ash and rocks poured out of it onto the surrounding countryside. It continued to erupt for the next two days. Many people were buried alive, and so was the city. How unfortunate!Day 3,17 JulyToday I saw the ancient Roman city of Pompeii as it was 2,000 years ago. How amazing! The city was forgotten for many years until the 18th century when a farmer discovered a stone with writing on it. People started to dig in the area for treasure, which caused much damage. Thus, in 1860,the area was put under government protection so it could be preserved and studied.When I walked around the city, I saw streets just as they had been, with stepping stones along the road so you did not have to step in the mud on rainy days! I saw several houses which were decorated with wall paintings. I also saw the people who had been buried alive. It turns out that after the ash covered the people who failed to flee the city, their bodies nearly completely broke down and disappeared, leaving empty spaces in the ash. Years later, researchers were able to use these empty spaces to produce true-to-life figures of the people who had died in the disaster. Youcan see them today in Pompeii, in the same places where the people fell. The volcano is still there, but looks very quiet now. It's hard to imagine how this peaceful volcano destroyed the whole city!Day 10,24 JulyFinally, we arrived in Loulan after several days of travelling. This commercial city was busy and wealthy about 2,000 years ago. It was a stopping point on the famous Silk Road between the East and the West. It is believed to have been gradually covered over by sandstorms form AD 200 to AD 400. I am so excited to be here!Day 11,25 JulyA scholar from the local cultural institute, Professor Zhang, told us that around the year 1900 the European explorer Sven Hedin discovered the ruins of the Loulan Kingdom. Sven found the remains of buildings buried beneath the sand, together with a lot of treasures including coins, painted pots, material such as silk, documents and wall paintings. When we went to the city, we saw the city walls, palaces, temples, workshops and towers. We found the ruins most interesting. There was an ancient water system that ran through the middle of the city. The desert was once a green land with huge trees, but they were cut down and that resulted in the city being buried by sand——what a pity!20. M3U3. Project (1)—Ancient Greek statue found in XinjiangResearchers announced the discovery of a small statue in northern Xinjiang, China, recently. The metal statue is of a Greek soldier. When asked how a statue from distant Greece could have appeared in China, researchers explained that no doubt this was a result of Alexander the Great’s influence.Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was the son of a Greek king who defeated many Greek cities in battle. At the age of twenty, Alexander himself became king after his father died. However, many cities rose up against Alexander, so he led an army to take them back. Though his army had only 3,000 troops, he won every battle and many enemy soldiers joined him.In 334 BC, he took his army, now with 42,000 men, into the Middle East and then Egypt, defeating every army that stood in his path. Then he turned his eyes east, and marched all the way to India, finding victory wherever he went. It seemed that nothing could stop him from taking control of the entire world. However, his own army grew tired of endless battles and refused to go any further, so he had to turn back. By the age of thirty, he had already occupied more land than anyone before, and it seemed that more glory was waiting ahead of him. Yet, in 323 BC, he came down with a fever and died. Since he had no son, his generals divided his vast kingdom among themselves.Alexander the Great spread the Greek culture from Europe to Africa and Asia, influencing the world for centuries to come. The statue of the Greek soldier found in northern Xinjiang probably came to China in the 4th century BC as a result of trade. Like many other ancient objects that show a Greek influence, it can now be seen in a museum in Urumqi.21. M3U3. Project (2)—The father of Western philosophyThe world 'philosophy' means 'love of wisdom'. Philosophy can be thought of as a way of looking at the world around us, or of answering the great questions of life, such as 'Why are we here?' and 'What is truth?'The father of Western Philosophy was Socrates (469-399 BC).Socrates was from Athens, in Greece. When he was young, he was a brave soldier. Later, he became a teacher, but he taught for free and earned his salary from being a common worker. Aside from this, we know very little about him. Since he never wrote a book, we also know very little about his philosophy. Yet, Socrates has had a deep influence on Western thought and science.To understand how this can be true, we must understand how Socrates taught. Socrates taught by asking questions. Through this, he challenged his students to develop and explain their own arguments. In many cases, his questions made his students aware of their own errors. Many students got embarrassed and even angry when this happened, while others changed their opinions. Socrates' way of approaching the truth is now called the Socratic Method. The idea of askingquestions until you reach the right answer is the basis of modern philosophy and science.Unfortunately for him, Socrates questioned too much. He always asked challenging questions to everyone he met, upsetting many people in Athens. Finally, some people had had enough of him, so they took him to court for questioning the existence of the Greek gods and for corrupting the young people of Athens. At his trial, he defended himself by asking his judges yet more questions. This just made a bad situation worse. Finally he was put to death by being forced to drink poison. Through his death, Socrates became the hero of all people who search for the truth.。

31. M5U1. Reading (1)—Secrets and liesDear Annie,I feel betrayed by my friend Hannah. We have been best friends since primary school and spend almost every day with each other. Sometimes, other children say we are no fun because we are both very academic and like to study, but we like it that way. We are both very hard-working and always get good grades at school.On Monday, we had a surprise math quiz. I thought it was quite easy and was not worried about the results. I must have sounded very proud of myself after the quiz, saying how easy it was and how I was sure to get a good grade. The next day after class, my math teacher told me that I had the lowest grade in the class! I felt so ashamed; I must be really stupid to fail a simple math quiz!Afterwards, I pretended to be cheerful, but Hannah sensed something was wrong. We went to wash our hands in the girls’ washroom before lunch and I admitted how badly I had done. I begged her not to tell anyone else, and she said she would keep my secret.However, the next day, I noticed that my classmates were staring at me as I came into math class and, when I went to sit down, I was shocked to find a piece of paper on my desk that said, “Stupid Sarah got a D!” I was so upset that I felt like crying. I thought that Hannah must have told my classmates about my grade after promising not to. Everyone must have been laughing behind my back!I was so angry that I went straight to Hannah and told her we we ren’t going to be friends any more because she couldn’t keep her word. She was really upset and swore that she hadn’t told anyone. However, the only people who see our grades are the teacher and the students that the grades belong to. She said that someone must have been spying on us in the washroom, but I didn't believe her explanation. I don’t think I can ever truly forgive her. Now I’ve lost my best friend. What shall I do?Yours sincerelySarah32. M5U1. Reading (2)—A friendship in troubleDear Annie,My name is Andrew. I am 17 years old and I have a problem. My best friend Matthew has stopped talking to me. We have been best friends since childhood and play together in the schoolfootball team. Last week, we had an important match against another school. The other team was superb and we really had to focus. I was determined to win, but Matthew was playing badly. He could not keep pace with the game, and as a result of his careless playing we lost.Afterwards, I got really angry with him, and I told him I thought he was not trying hard enough. He got annoyed, saying it wasn’t his fault if he couldn’t play as well as me, and that I shouldn’t talk to him in this manner. Then we both started shouting at each other and it turned into a horrible argument. He accused me of some really bad things just to hurt me. I feel really guilty because I made some cruel remarks too, but I dislike seeing our team lose. Football is very important to me, but so is our friendship.Since we argued, he hasn’t spoken to me even though we sit next to each other in class. It’s really awkward. He is usually cheerful and outgoing, but he has been really quiet and looks sad. The things he said hurt me too, but he has not apologized to me.Yesterday, I saw him talking to another boy, Peter, and I cannot help wondering if he wants Peter to be his best friend instead of me. I told my brother about the quarrel, but he said Matthew is just too sensitive and perhaps a little bitter because I am really athletic and good at football, and that I had better find another friend. What should I do?Yours trulyAndrew33. M5U1. Project (1)—Teenagers’ friendshipsMy friend, Robert, has a twin sister named Amanda. Though they get along well, there are some things about Amanda and her friends that puzzle Robert. He can't understand how girls can talk for so long. For example, sometimes when he leaves the apartment to play football, Amanda and her friend, Sharon, are sitting on the sofa, talking. When he comes back three and a half hours later, they’re still sitting on the sofa, continuing the same conversation on the same topic. One day Robert was so curious that he asked Amanda what they talked about, but she replied, ‘We’re best friends. We talk about almost everything—film stars, pop songs, recipe s, everything!’Boys and girls have different attitudes towards friendship. Friendships between girls are usually anchored in shared feelings and support, but friendships between boys are based on shared activities or interests. A boy is likely to be cautious about sharing his feelings with his closefriends. A girl’s closest friend, however, might be eager to tell her about something that has happened in her life.Many studies worldwide show that girls have more friendships than boys. In fact, many adolescent males cannot name a single best friend. When asked, they usually hesitate before responding, ‘My best friend? I can’t think about that. I am busy with my homework, and I have so many different friends that it is hard to choose just one best friend.’Fe males who have been asked can usually answer the question without pausing, ‘A best friend? Of course. We have a lot to share with each other. We do a lot of things together such as talking and shopping.’We have to realize: boys share activities, while girls share feelings. The qualities that boys and girls consider important in a friend seem to be the same, regardless of the basis of these friendships. The important thing to remember is that both of them are friendships. We all need friends in our lives.34. M5U1. Project (2)—What friendship means to meWhen deciding what is most important in life, some people choose money, while others choose things like security and comfort. However, for me, the most important thing in life is friendship. I cannot imagine being without it.Friendship means not being alone. Once I was travelling by myself through Beijing on the way to my grandparents’ house. Since my next train left in the evening, I had a day for sightseeing. At first, I didn’t mind being alone, but then I saw all the tourists having their pictures taken together, and I began feeling sad. I ended up returning to the train station and spending the rest of the day in the waiting room. Life is no fun without a companion to share it with.Friendship means having someone I can rely on. Last year, I left my schoolbag on a trolleybus, and I lost all of my notes for the final exam. You can imagine how I panicked. Luckily for me, my best friend Jenny let me copy her notes, and I used them in my revision. Thanks to her help, I was able to pass the exam.Friendship means being committed to others. The best way to have a friend is to be a friend. Because I am a friend, I have had to learn patience and mercy. Once I had a quarrel with Jenny, and she made some cruel comments about me. Even though I was hurt, I forgave her and she later made an apology. Through this incident, both of us have become better people. However, if I hadended our friendship, we would have both learnt nothing.In conclusion, when we are old and look back on our lives, what will we remember? Will we remember the things we bought or the places we have been to? No, we will remember those whom we loved and those who loved us. We will remember our friends.35. M5U2. Reading— The economy or the environment—must we choose?TV host: James LongSpeakers: Lin Shuiqing, a spokeswoman from the Green SocietyQian Liwei, a business development consultantJames Long: Good morning. Today’s debate question is, “The economy or the environment—must we choose?’ With me are Ms Lin Shuiqing, from the Green Society, and Mr Qian Liwei, a business development consultant. We are following our usual schedule for debates. Ms Lin Shuiqing will speak first for three minutes. Mr Qian Liwei will follow, also for three minutes. Then we will open the floor for discussion. If you have any questions or comments, you can use this time to express them.Lin Shuiqing: Good morning, everyone. First I am talking to you today about the way vast areas of the world are damaged by chemical waste. Many places have been destroyed and many plants and animals have died. This is awful. Factories produce large numbers of harmful chemicals. The waste they create goes into the atmosphere and makes us sick. Other types of waste flow into our water, killing river and sea life.Much sea life is being destroyed by fishing boats as well. These boats catch large numbers of fish without giving them time to lay eggs. This will result in a smaller number of fish left for us to eat in the future.While we damage our environment, we keep producing more and more people who need more land to live on and more food to eat! The world’s population has grown by six times what it was in 1800. The figure is now about 7 billion people!It is our duty to try to cut back on production and reduce the number of things we make and buy. The amount of rubbish we produce is turning into a big problem; we need to think more about recycling our waste. It would be good to increase the amount of waste we recycle, and teach people ways of living that do not harm the environment. We may even create more jobs and help our country become more developed at the same time.Thank you.Qian Liwei: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, Ms Lin. That was an interesting speech. It is clear that you are very concerned about the present situation of our environment. As a business development consultant, I’m often seen as being against the environment. When people think of factories, they think of clouds of dirty smoke or of pipes pouring chemical waste into rivers. They think of greedy businessmen hiding from their responsibilities and only worrying about money. People often have this belief that development is bad for the environment, but this does not have to be true.What I’m h ere to say is that having worked with many environmental consultants, I know that a healthy environment and development should be possible at the same time.There are many factories and industries which control the amount of pollution they produce, and are very careful to spend money repairing any damage they cause. The people operating these factories are deeply concerned about the environment. We need to stop thinking of companies and businessmen as the enemy, and give them more credit!Ms Lin suggested we should cut back on the quantity of things we produce in order to save the environment. I don’t agree with her because then jobs will be lost. I believe that people are more important than fish and trees.However, I do agree that we should produce more things from materials that have been recycled, and less from raw materials, the supply of which is growing smaller and smaller.What we need are better laws to preserve the environment and still allow our country to grow. This includes controls on how many trees are cut down and how many fish are caught. This might make wood and seafood more expensive, but paying a higher price for some things is not always bad. Asking around, I find many people willing to pay a little higher price for things that are friendly to the environment.Finally, those factories which pollute the environment should have to pay higher taxes. If you harm the environment, you should have to pay for it to be repaired.Thank you for listening.James Long: Now we will open the floor for dis cussion…36. M5U2. Project (1)— Protecting the Yangtze RiverAs the third longest river in the world, the health of the Yangtze River has raised concern both in China and abroad. Rapid development and an increase in population have meant that the amount of the water taken from the river is rising, and that the waste being put back into the river has been increasing. This is not good news for the people who rely on the Yangtze River for water. Nor is it good news for the wide range of fish and wildlife that live in or along the river.Many people have recognized the importance of protecting the Yangtze River, and organizations and projects have been set up to deal with the problem. The Green River Organization, for example, educates people on the importance of protecting this great river. It also watches the river and stops the illegal hunting of animals, which has put the wild animal population in danger.Two special government projects are also under way. The first project, a water and soil conservation project, was set up in 1989. This project resulted in farmers replacing their crops with trees or grass. It has already been a success because it has helped improve the local environment and the land around the river.The second project includes nature reserves for white-flag dolphins, one of the rarest animals in the world. The number of white-flag dolphins in China has dropped because of pollution in the Yangtze River. The white-flag dolphin was last seen several years ago, though scientists are still hopeful that the animal has survived.We still have a long way to go to solve all the problems in regard to the Yangtze River. However, people have finally realized that it is their responsibility to protect this great river. Because of this, the situation on the Yangtze River is improving. The efforts of the Chinese government and people to protect this much-loved river will be appreciated for years to come.37. M5U2. Project (2)—Climate change and a low-carbon lifeThere is no doubt that the world climate has been changing in recent years. Many people blame this change on gases such as carbon dioxide. Animals and humans produce carbon dioxide when they breathe. However, many other human activities also let off carbon gases. Anytime something is burnt, carbon is put into the atmosphere. Cars and other vehicles burn petrol in their engines, and electrical power plants most often burn fuels such as coal and oil in order to produceelectricity. Therefore, the more petrol and electricity we consume, the more carbon we are letting off.One thing we can all do to help solve this problem is to walk or use a bicycle when possible. Although we produce carbon when we breathe, the carbon we produce is much less than that produced by a car. Of course, there are times when we need to travel long distances. In this case, public transport such as buses and the underground is always a much better choice than a private car or a taxi. If you must drive a car, it is never good to travel alone—you should try to find other people to travel with you.At home, you should use as little energy as possible. Turn off the lights and anything else electrical when not in use. Since factories use a lot of energy and also let off carbon gases, it is important to recycle as much as possible. In particular, metal products and paper products require a lot of energy to produce, so you should find ways to use these again without throwing them away.Last but not least, you can plant a tree, because trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the air to produce oxygen. Planting a small tree is cheap and easy, and two decades from now, when you look at what will have become a large tree, you will find a sense of satisfaction knowing that you did your part to help solve the problem of climate change.38. M5U3. Reading—The perfect copyScientists have announced that they have cloned the first human embryo. This has caused much debate round the world. On the one hand, some scientists point out that if you clone an embryo, you can produce valuable human tissues—such as bone or lung tissue—that could be used to save human lives. On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and are afraid that, if mankind toys with nature in this way, we may be on our way to producing a real-life Frankenstein’s monster.Cloning is producing an exact copy of a plant or an animal using its cells. The first mammal to be cloned successfully from an adult cell was Dolly the sheep. She was born in 1996 and died in early 2003, at a much younger age than normal. When she was born, many people were worried that cloning would lead to more diseases in the animal world. However, in general the scientists were praised for their wonderful scientific advance.Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who created Dolly, is shocked that some scientists are now considering cloning human beings. Although he researches cloning, his intention has never been to create copies of human. Instead, he thinks research efforts should concentrate on creating new tissues and organs that can be used to cure diseases like cancer. However, some people believe that cloning human embryos with the intention of destroying them shows no respect for human life.Even though human cloning is causing a lot of anxiety, it is good news for Faye Wilson, a 41-year-old saleswoman who cannot have a baby. ‘I am anxious to have a child of my own,’ she says. ‘I don’t want to adopt someone else’s child—If I had the chance, I would have a cloned baby right now.While cloning human embryos is not legal in many countries, some scientists are already pushing ahead with research in order to produce a cloned human baby. Severino Antinori, an Italian physician, has declared that he wants to be the first to clone a human being.In China, scientists have focused their efforts on cloning animals, as well as cloned tissues to be used in medical treatment. China has succeeded in producing clones of cows and goats, and continues to research ways in which cloning can benefit mankind.(Letter 1) Dear EditorI believe that human cloning is wrong. If we toy with nature , we will have to deal with the consequences. Who knows what could happen? Human life would just become a crop to be harvested or a product for sale.The human race is using up the Earth’s natural wealth. We should be havin g fewer babies in order to reduce the Earth’s population, not cloning more.I feel sorry for the lady who cannot have a baby, but I would like to point out that there are many children in the world with no parents who would be delighted to have a mother.Pauline Carter(Letter 2) Dear EditorI would like to comment on your article, ‘The perfect copy’. I think the scientific advances mentioned in your article are fantastic! I am in complete agreement with human cloning. After all, scientists have been challenging moral ideas for centuries. Why should we stop them now?On a personal note, cloning would totally transform my life. Seven years ago, my 10-year-old daughter died of heart failure. She was beautiful, cheerful and bright. I miss her every single day. If I had the chance, I would clone her immediately so I that I could be with her again.Colin Jake39. M5U3. Project (1)— Man and NatureFor a long time, our environment has been damaged because humans have been careless. People have harmed nature through agriculture, fishing, hunting and tourism. We further damage the Earth by building new channels in the sea and factories on the land, and by creating pollution with chemical waste. We will some day destroy the planet we live on if we continue in this way.However, if we focus only on conservation, then people may suffer. Not everything that is best for nature is good for people. Would anyone say that development should be stopped in favor of nature. From the point of view of some people, we are only doing what humans have always done, using nature to meet our own needs. Other people argue that such thinking may cause a catastrophe, unless we start to look around and understand how a clean environment benefits us all.After decades of destroying nature and using up natural resources, many developed nations are now concerned about saving nature rather than developing or destroying it. However, many poorer nations must focus on meeting the everyday needs of their people. In doing so, they are using up natural resources at a fast pace. They have not yet seen the effects of the careless use of the environment like many wealthy nations have. Often they do not realize that the choices they make are bad for the environment. Should they be blamed for destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest if it means a better income for their people? The developed and developing countries of the world need to work together to make sure that people enjoy healthy and happy lives, without the environment around them suffering.It should not be a question of humans winning and nature losing. Humans can only really win by protecting nature. After all, food has to be produced in a healthy, natural system, and we all need clean air to breathe and pure water to drink. It is mankind’s responsibility to find answers that are good for everyone, and everything.40. M5U3. Project (2)— GM food: hope or danger?In recent years, there has been great progress in the study of genetics. With this progress doors have been opened up to technologies that never existed before. While many people are excited about these new technologies, these same technologies frighten others. Nowhere is this truer than with genetically modified (GM) food.There are two ways in which a plant or an animal can be genetically modified. First, new material can be inserted into its DNA to give the plant or animal qualities which it would never have in nature. Second, material can be taken from the DNA of a plant or an animal in order to remove qualities which are not desired.One aim of GM research is to produce food which will make us healthier. So far, this technology has been used to produce plants which are better able to defend themselves against pests and disease. Supporters of GM food argue that GM plants are healthier and have larger harvests. While there has been research in GM animals such as pigs, no GM meat is being sold at present.Many questions have been raised about GM food. No one really knows whether it is safe for animals or humans to eat. Scientists admit that more tests should be done on GM food. Research has been limited to increasing production profits, rather than making sure that GM foods are safe. GM food could therefore be dangerous to eat.There is also a question as to whether GM plants are safe for the environment. Since GM crops are planted outside, they are part of the food chain—insects and other animals eat them or use their products, and these insects and animals will be eaten by yet other animals. No one knows what effects the GM material might have on the food chain.Since no one really knows whether GM food is safe, many countries have hesitated to give permission for the production of GM foods, as they would rather be cautious with this new technology.。

13. M3U1. Reading—FogFog warningWhen Polly left home that morning, the city was already covered in a grey mist. At lunch, the radio forecast that the mist would become a thick fog in the afternoon. At four o’clock, Polly left work and stepped out into the fog. She wondered if the buses would still be running.No buses to King StreetOnce out in the street, she walked quickly towards her usual bus stop.‘How far are you going?’ the bus conductor asked her before he took her fare.‘King Street,’ said Polly.‘Sorry, Miss,’ replied the man, ‘the truth is that it is too foggy for the bus to run that far. Take the Underground to Green Park. The weather might be better there and you might be able to get a taxi.’A tall manAs Polly observed the passengers on the train, she had a feeling that she was being watched by a tall man in a dark overcoat. At last the train arrived at Green Park station. While the rest of the passengers were getting out, she glanced at the faces around her. The tall man was nowhere to be seen.FootstepsWhen Polly got to the station entrance, it was empty. Outside, wherever she looked the fog lay like a thick, grey cloud. There was no one in sight. Polly set off towards Park Street. As she walked along the narrow street, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, but by the time she reached the corner of the street, the footsteps were gone. Suddenly Polly felt a rough hand brush her cheek, and she heard a man’s voice in her ear saying ‘Sorry.’ The man moved away. She could feel her heart beating with fear.The helpful strangerThen she heard the sound again - soft footsteps behind her. A minute before, she had wished for someone to come along. Now she wanted to run, but fear held her still. The footsteps seemed close now. Then a man’s voice came out of the darkness. ‘Is anybody there?’Polly hesitated. At last she answered, ‘Hello, I think I’m lost.’A few seconds later, a hand reached out and grasped her arm. Polly found herself staring up at the face of an old man with a beard.‘Maybe I can help you. Which road do you want?’ He asked.‘I live at 86 King Street,’ Poly replied.‘Just take my hand,’ said the man. ‘Come with me. You’ll be all right.’ He took Polly’s hand. ‘Watch out for the step here.’In his other hand the man carried a stick. Polly heard it hit the step. ‘I can remember some terrible fogs, but maybe that was before your time. I can’t see your face, but you sound young. How old are you?’‘Just twenty,’ answered Polly.‘Ah, twenty! A nice age to be! I was young once. Now we’re at the crossroads. Turn left here.’‘I’m quite lost now. Are you sure you know the way?’ Polly was beginning to feel frightened again.‘Of course. You really shouldn’t feel anxious.’ He held her hand more firmly.The grateful helper‘Here we are. King Street.’ He stopped.‘Thank you so much for coming to my aid,’ said Polly in relief. ‘Would you like to come in and rest for a while?’‘It’s very nice of you,’ said the man, ‘but I’ll be off. There may be more people lost today, and I’d like to help them. You see, a fog this bad is rare. It gives me the chance to pay back the help that people give me when it’s sunny. A blind person like me can’t get across the road without help, except in a fog like this.’14. M3U1. Project (1)—Shark attacksThere are nearly 400 different types of sharks, but only about 30 types are known to have attacked human beings. Many people know that the most dangerous shark is the great white shark, mainly because they have seen the movie Jaws. However, two other sharks are also rather dangerous: the tiger shark and the bull shark.Contrary to what many people might assume, evidence shows that sharks seldom attack humans. There are three types of shark attacks. In the main type, the shark attacks you because it mistakes you for a fish, but when it tastes human flesh it decides to give up and swim away. In the second type, the shark pushes you with its nose to find out if you are fit to be eaten, and then bites you if it thinks you are. In the third type, the shark waits for you to swim by, and then attacks you suddenly. The last two types of attack more often result in the death of humans.To reduce the risk of a shark attack, you should follow these suggestions.⏹Do not swim in the dark. Sharks can still see you but you cannot see them.⏹Do not go swimming in the ocean if you have a fresh wound. Sharks can smell bloodover a long distance.⏹Do not wear bright clothing or jewellery, because sharks are attracted to the flash ofcolors and bright objects.⏹Stay in groups, as sharks usually avoid large numbers of people.Recently, shark attacks have been increasing as water sports are becoming more popular. If a shark attacks you, follow the advice below.⏹Keep calm. Do not panic.⏹Hit the shark on the nose with your fist.⏹Stick your finger in the shark's eye.Don't be frightened by sharks: you are 30 times more likely to be hit by lightning than be attacked by a shark.15. M3U1. Project (2)—The wonderful world of pigeonsIt is night. All is quiet. The soldiers are asleep while a guard watches for the enemy. There is a flash, and the sound of guns! They are being attacked! Hundreds of enemy soldiers rush towards them. They are all going to be killed unless they get help. What should they do?An officer writes a short message quickly on a small piece of paper: 'Being attacked! Hurry!' He rolls up the paper and puts it into a small case, and then reaches into a cage and gets a bird. Attaching the message to its leg, he sets the bird loose. It immediately flies into the air and disappears in the dark.Will the bird arrive in time? Will they be saved?Though it may seem hard to believe, the bird the officer uses is the same bird often seen in public parks—the pigeon. Pigeons have a wonderful sense of direction and can find their way home over long distances. Indeed, pigeons have been known to fly home from as far away as 1,800 kilometres. That is why pigeons have been used since ancient times to carry the news or even the mail. However, it was in war that they found their greatest use. During both World War I and II, pigeons were employed by armies to carry messages to and from the front lines, saving the lives of many soldiers and even helping win some important victories.How do pigeons find their way? Pigeons appear to have a compass inside them that tells themwhich way is north. How this compass works remains a mystery. Of course, since a compass alone is not enough to find one's way, they also appear to use their sight and even their sense of smell to tell them which way they should go. Unlike humans, they never get lost and can always find their way home.16. M3U2. Reading—English and its historyAll through history, people from many different countries and cultures have lived together in Britain. The English language is made up of the grammar and vocabulary these people brought to Britain. That is why English has so many difficult rules that confuse people.Old EnglishOld English is very different from the English we speak nowadays .In fact, we would not be able to understand it if we heard it today. Before the middle of the 5th century, people in Britain all spoke a language called Celtic. Then two Germanic groups from the European mainland—the angles and the Saxons—occupied Britain. Old English consisted of a mixture of their languages. (Both the English language and the English people are named after the angles; the word Angle was spelt Engle in old English.) Aside from place names such as London, very few Celtic words became part of old English. At the end of the 9th century, the Vikings, people from Northern European countries such as Denmark and Norway, began to move to Britain. They brought with them their languages, which also mixed with Old English. By the 10th century, Old English had become the official language of England.When we speak English today, we sometimes feel puzzled about which words or phrases to use. This is because English has many words and phrases from different languages, but with similar meanings. For example, the word sick came from a word once used by the Angles and the Saxons, while ill came from a word once used by the Norwegians.Middle EnglishMiddle English is the name given to the English used from around the 12th to the 15th centuries. Many things played a part in the development of this new type of English. The most important contribution was from the Normans, a French-speaking people who defeated England and took control of the country in 1066. However, the Norman Conquest did not affect English as m uch as the Angles and the Saxons’ victory about 600 years earlier, which led to old English replacing Celtic. Even though the Normans spoke French for the entire 250 years they ruledEnglish, French did not replace English as the first language. On the other hand, the English language did borrow many words from French. This resulted in even more words with similar meanings, such as answer(from Old English) and reply(from Old French). It is interesting to learn how the words for animals and meat developed. After the Norman Conquest, many English people worked as servants who raised animals. Therefore, the words we use for most animals raised for food such as cow, sheep and pig, came from Old English. However, the words for the meat of these animals, which was served to the Normans, came from Old French: beef, mutton, pork and bacon.Old French made other contributions to Middle English as well. In Old English, the Germanic way of making words plural was used. For example, they said housen instead of houses, and shoen instead of shoes. After the Normans took control they began using the French way of making plurals, adding an –s to house and shoe. Only a few words kept their Germanic plural forms, such as man/men and child/children.After the Norman Conquest, high-class people spoke French while common people spoke English. However, by the latter half of the 14th century, English had come into widespread use among all classes in England. In 1399, Henry IV became King of England. His mother tongue was English, and he used English for all official events.Modern EnglishModern English appeared during the Renaissance in the 16th century. Because of this, modern English includes many Latin and Greek words. Pronunciation also went through huge changes during this period. Of course, this was not the end of the changes in the English language. The question of whether English will keep on changing in the future is easy to answer. It is certain that this process will continue, and people will keep inventing new words and new ways of saying things.17. M3U2. Project (1)—The development of Chinese charactersThe Chinese language differs from Western languages in that instead of an alphabet, it uses characters which stand for ideas, objects or deeds. Chinese words are formed by putting together different characters. In many cases, a single character can also make up a word. The history of the Chinese language can be examined by looking at how these characters developed.Chinese writing began thousands of years ago. According to an ancient story, a man named Cang Jie invented Chinese writing. One winter day while he was hunting, he saw the tracks ofanimals in the snow and observed that the appearance of each one was different. Then he had the idea that he could use different shapes to represent different objects. The first Chinese characters were drawings of physical objects. Some characters have been simplified and others have been made more difficult over time. However, as a whole, the characters have developed from drawings into standard forms. The character for a mountain was at first three mountaintops together. This became one mountaintop and three lines, and over time turned into the character used nowadays.Not all characters were developed from drawings of objects. Sometimes to express ideas, some characters were made by combining two or more characters together. For example, ‘rest’ was made up of the characters for a man and a tree. The character ‘prisoner’ was formed with a ‘man’ inside a square. Other character s were developed for directions and numbers. It is easy to distinguish their meanings by looking at them, for example, the characters for ‘up’ and ‘down’, which are opposites of each other.Though these kinds of characters indicate meanings, one of their shortcomings is that they do not show how they should be pronounced. Therefore, a method was developed to have one part of a character indicate the meaning and the other suggest the pronunciation. Many Chinese characters used today were made this way.In the 1950s the Chinese government introduced simplified Chinese characters and now they have widespread use in China’s mainland.18. M3U2. Project (2)—The story of BrailleUsually, when we talk about reading, we think of using our eyes to see letters written in ink on paper. However, this is not always true. For example, blind people cannot see, but they can still read books.The man who introduced blind people to reading was Louis Braille (1809-1852). Braille lost his eyesight at the age of three as a result of an injury. When he was ten, he went to a school for the blind in Paris. In those days, books for blind people used paper pressed against metal wire to form letters. Since the metal wire was heavy, each book weighed as much as 100 pounds. The whole system was not convenient for use. Indeed, the school library only had fourteen such books in it.In 1821, a soldier visited the school and showed the students a system for passing messages at night during times of battle. His system used paper with small, raised dots that could be felt with the fingers. Each letter of the alphabet was represented by a different pattern which consistedof twelve dots. The soldiers would drag their fingers over the raised dots to read the message.While the students found the so ldier’s idea interesting, the system was too difficult to be of practical use. However, young Louis Braille took the idea and worked on it. At the age of fifteen, he created a system with patterns of six raised dots representing each letter. ‘Braille’, the system for reading used today by blind people around the world, was thus born.The blind can easily recognize Braille with the fingers. They can also easily write in Braille with a special typewriter. Today, it is the most common system used by blind people for reading and writing, and nearly every language, including Chinese, has its own version of Braille for its people to use.19. M3U3. Reading—Lost civilizationsDay 1,15 JulyI feel lucky to have won a place on this trip. We are in Italy now, and tomorrow we are visiting Pompeii. Next week we are flying to China, and going Loulan, which is known as China's Pompeii in the desert. Both Pompeii and Loulan became lost civilizations long ago.Day 2,16 JulyThis morning we attended a lecture about Pompeii. The city was founded in the 8th century BC. In 89 BC, the Romans took over Pompeii. It then became a rich and busy city. Near the city was a volcano. On 24 August AD 79,the volcano erupted and lava, ash and rocks poured out of it onto the surrounding countryside. It continued to erupt for the next two days. Many people were buried alive, and so was the city. How unfortunate!Day 3,17 JulyToday I saw the ancient Roman city of Pompeii as it was 2,000 years ago. How amazing! The city was forgotten for many years until the 18th century when a farmer discovered a stone with writing on it. People started to dig in the area for treasure, which caused much damage. Thus, in 1860,the area was put under government protection so it could be preserved and studied.When I walked around the city, I saw streets just as they had been, with stepping stones along the road so you did not have to step in the mud on rainy days! I saw several houses which were decorated with wall paintings. I also saw the people who had been buried alive. It turns out that after the ash covered the people who failed to flee the city, their bodies nearly completely broke down and disappeared, leaving empty spaces in the ash. Years later, researchers were able to use these empty spaces to produce true-to-life figures of the people who had died in the disaster. Youcan see them today in Pompeii, in the same places where the people fell. The volcano is still there, but looks very quiet now. It's hard to imagine how this peaceful volcano destroyed the whole city!Day 10,24 JulyFinally, we arrived in Loulan after several days of travelling. This commercial city was busy and wealthy about 2,000 years ago. It was a stopping point on the famous Silk Road between the East and the West. It is believed to have been gradually covered over by sandstorms form AD 200 to AD 400. I am so excited to be here!Day 11,25 JulyA scholar from the local cultural institute, Professor Zhang, told us that around the year 1900 the European explorer Sven Hedin discovered the ruins of the Loulan Kingdom. Sven found the remains of buildings buried beneath the sand, together with a lot of treasures including coins, painted pots, material such as silk, documents and wall paintings. When we went to the city, we saw the city walls, palaces, temples, workshops and towers. We found the ruins most interesting. There was an ancient water system that ran through the middle of the city. The desert was once a green land with huge trees, but they were cut down and that resulted in the city being buried by sand——what a pity!20. M3U3. Project (1)—Ancient Greek statue found in XinjiangResearchers announced the discovery of a small statue in northern Xinjiang, China, recently. The metal statue is of a Greek soldier. When asked how a statue from distant Greece could have appeared in China, researchers explained that no doubt this was a result of Alexander the Great’s influence.Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was the son of a Greek king who defeated many Greek cities in battle. At the age of twenty, Alexander himself became king after his father died. However, many cities rose up against Alexander, so he led an army to take them back. Though his army had only 3,000 troops, he won every battle and many enemy soldiers joined him.In 334 BC, he took his army, now with 42,000 men, into the Middle East and then Egypt, defeating every army that stood in his path. Then he turned his eyes east, and marched all the way to India, finding victory wherever he went. It seemed that nothing could stop him from taking control of the entire world. However, his own army grew tired of endless battles and refused to go any further, so he had to turn back. By the age of thirty, he had already occupied more land thananyone before, and it seemed that more glory was waiting ahead of him. Yet, in 323 BC, he came down with a fever and died. Since he had no son, his generals divided his vast kingdom among themselves.Alexander the Great spread the Greek culture from Europe to Africa and Asia, influencing the world for centuries to come. The statue of the Greek soldier found in northern Xinjiang probably came to China in the 4th century BC as a result of trade. Like many other ancient objects that show a Greek influence, it can now be seen in a museum in Urumqi.21. M3U3. Project (2)—The father of Western philosophyThe world 'philosophy' means 'love of wisdom'. Philosophy can be thought of as a way of looking at the world around us, or of answering the great questions of life, such as 'Why are we here?' and 'What is truth?'The father of Western Philosophy was Socrates (469-399 BC).Socrates was from Athens, in Greece. When he was young, he was a brave soldier. Later, he became a teacher, but he taught for free and earned his salary from being a common worker. Aside from this, we know very little about him. Since he never wrote a book, we also know very little about his philosophy. Yet, Socrates has had a deep influence on Western thought and science.To understand how this can be true, we must understand how Socrates taught. Socrates taught by asking questions. Through this, he challenged his students to develop and explain their own arguments. In many cases, his questions made his students aware of their own errors. Many students got embarrassed and even angry when this happened, while others changed their opinions. Socrates' way of approaching the truth is now called the Socratic Method. The idea of asking questions until you reach the right answer is the basis of modern philosophy and science.Unfortunately for him, Socrates questioned too much. He always asked challenging questions to everyone he met, upsetting many people in Athens. Finally, some people had had enough of him, so they took him to court for questioning the existence of the Greek gods and for corrupting the young people of Athens. At his trial, he defended himself by asking his judges yet more questions. This just made a bad situation worse. Finally he was put to death by being forced to drink poison. Through his death, Socrates became the hero of all people who search for the truth.。

7. M2U1. Reading—Boy missing, police puzzledPolice in America have stepped up their search for a fifteen-year-old boy who went missing three days ago in Dover, New Hampshire. This incident has received great interest due to reports of strange lights in the sky and of alien visits around the time the boy disappeared.Justin Foster, a high school student, was last seen Friday night. That evening at 8 p.m. Justin went to play baseball with two friends, who both say Justin went home after the game. Witnesses also say they saw Justin walking towards his house at 10.45 p.m. Justin 's sister, Kelly, aged nine, says she heard her brother return home at about 11 p.m.‘I was getting ready for bed, ' Kelly said. 'Justin went straight to his room. I didn't see him, but I heard him put on his favorite CD. I went to bed, and was woken up around midnight by a bright light outside my window.'At first, the young girl thought it was the light of the full moon, but then she realized that it was moving and coming closer.'I pulled back the curtains and saw a large spaceship flying outside. It had blue lights all around it, and there were many windows. Standing inside were lots of strange creatures with white skin and large black eyes. I was frightened!'Kelly said that the spaceship then moved around to the side of the house, towards her brother's bedroom.' There was a flash of light and I heard Justin shout, and then the UFO just disappeared. I haven't seen Justin since. I'm sure the aliens took him.'Kelly then ran and woke up her mother. However, since Mrs Foster thought that Justin was spending the night with a friend, she assumed that Kelly was having a bad dream, and sent her back to bed. Mrs Foster was working that night on his road construction job, and was not home when these events occurred. When Justin did not show up for lunch the next day, Mrs Foster became worried and told her husband to call the police.Some people in Dover also say that they saw aliens that night. 'It's happened to me!' said Mrs Mavis Wood. 'The aliens took me aboard the UFO so that they could do research on me. Luckily, they returned me home without any injuries. The whole experience was terrible! I haven't been sleeping well since I returned home. I think Justin was taken away by them, too.' When asked about the possibility that Justin was taken by aliens, Detective Sam Peterson, who has taken charge of the case, told journalists, ' Sometimes people make up such amazing stories. There's really no hard evidence that aliens took him. So, while we have not dismissed the idea, we are looking into other possibilities as well. We will not give up until we find out what happened.'8. M2U1. Project—Yeti, Bigfoot and the Wild Man of ShennongjiaFor centuries, people have reported seeing a wild creature in the Himalayas called Yeti. The Yeti is said to be a large, hairy animal that walks an two feet like a human being. People believe that Yetis sometimes come down from the mountains to attack villagers.In 1998, an American mountain climber said that he saw a Yeti on the Chinese side of the Himalayas. 'It walked like a human, but it had thick black fur and was about six feet tall with huge shoulders, very long arms and large hands, 'he said.In 2007, an American TV team saw Yeti tracks 33 centimetres in length in the snow near Mount Qomolangma. They made copies of these tracks and had them examined by a scientist in the USA. He reported that they looked like the tracks of a similar creature, called Bigfoot, which some people believe lives in the forests of the north-west of the USA.Yeti and Bigfoot are similar to a creature known as the Wild Man of Shennongjia. There have been dozens of reports that people have seen a Wild Man in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve in western Hubei Province, China. In one case, a group of engineers ran after the creature, whichmoved with amazing speed and strength. Large tracks have also been discovered which some people say belong to the Wild Man. Because of these reports and the tracks, there have been several organized searches for this creature, but no strong evidence for existence has ever been found.Dr Grover Krantz, a scientist from Washington State University, studied reports of such strange creatures for many years. He became convinced they exist .He believed that these creatures are linked to a common ancestor, an animal that lived in Asia some 300,000 years ago. In his opinion, this animal made its way to other parts of the world, and continues to survive even today.Scientists hope that the mystery will be solved one day. If such creatures really exist, we might have the chance to see one with our own eyes.9. M2U2. Reading— An adventure in Africa30 JuneDear AihuaHow are you going？Sorry I haven’t written for so long. I’ve been quite busy arranging my holiday with my older brother, Colin. Colin and I plan to spend a few weeks travelling before he goes to university. We’re going to visit so many exciting places and do lots of extraordinary things. We will go to Africa first. I can’t wait! Have you ever been there?We le ave London on 15 July, and we’ll be taking a flight to Morocco, in northern Africa. We’re going to ride camels through the Sahara Desert. It’s the biggest desert in the world—about the size of the US! I expect it will be very hot, dry and dusty there. We’l l be travelling by camel with local guides, camping in tents and sleeping on the ground. I’ve heard that, in the Sahara, there is no shade during the day, and the stars seem especially brilliant on clear nights. I’ll bring a flashlight with me so that I’ll be able to see in the dark. Altogether, the trip willtake six days. That means I’ll have to sit on a camel for almost a week—how uncomfortable! I hope my camel likes me!After the trip by camel, we’re going to travel down the River Nile. We’ll start at L ake Victoria.A little way down the river from Lake Victoria, the water gets quite rough. So, we’ll go white-water rafting. It’s quite dangerous, but very exciting! You have to wear a helmet and a life jacket for protection, just in case you fall into the water.Then, we’re going on a trip to see wild animals in Kenya. We’ll live with the local people in their villages, and eat and drink whatever they do, including cow’s blood! Do you think I should drink it?Since we’ll be walking for almost two weeks, I’l l need to buy a large backpack in advance to carry my supplies of food and water. During the day, we’ll walk across the land, following the tracks of wildlife such as elephants, lions and giraffes. We’ll try to get as close as possible to the animals, even though they’re dangerous, so that we can take some really good photographs. But don’t worry about me. Our guides will have guns with them for defiance—they can use the guns to scare the animals away if they come too near. I really want to see an elephant up close, and Colin wants to see a giraffe.After that, we’ll be moving on to Tanzania, where we’re going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Mountain climbing can be very tiring, and many people feel sick as the atmosphere gets thinner, so Colin and I will make sure that we will get plenty of rest. The African part of our trip will take about four weeks. Afterwards, we’re going to the Himalayas.I’ll send you postcards from all the different places we visit!LoveToby10. M2U2. Project—Shangri-laWould you like the chance to discover a place of mystery and beauty in the south-west of China? If your answer is ‘yes’, consider a trip to Shangri-la !How to get thereStart in the city of Dali and drive north along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway until you reach Zhongdian (Shangri-la), the capital of Diqing. Zhongdian is 659 kilometers away from Kunming, and there are regular flights between the two cities.The world-famous Chinese Shangri-laThe word ‘Shangri-la’ first appeared in a classic novel by James Hilton. Today, S hangri-la has become a common English word meaning heaven on earth. Hilton described a beautiful kingdom where three rivers joined together, steep mountains reached to the sky, and fields of long grass covered the earth. In this perfect world lived people who had discovered how to stay young forever.Which place could officially take the name of this wonderful land? There were arguments over which tourist spot would win the name of Shangri-la. Many years after the book was published, some people realized that the Shangri-la of the novel was a perfect match for Zhongdian in Yunnan Province, China. In September 1997, the government of Yunnan province announced that Zhongdian was the Shangri-la of Hilton’s story.What you will see in Shangri-laThree mountains, Meili, Baimang and Haba, which are covered with snow, tower over the land. Their snowy mountaintops form a beautiful picture that will leave you at a loss for words Below the mountains, the sunshine reflects on the many lakes, making them shine like diamonds against the rich countryside. Sheep, cattle and horses wander on the green grass, andthe surrounding forests are home to many birds and animals. In this peaceful land, people live in perfect harmony with nature, far away from the noise and worry of the outside world.Nature has provided Shangri-la with endless natural treasures, making the land a happy home for the local people.What the weather is likeThe weather changes so quickly that people say you can experience four seasons in one day. The best times to visit Shangri-la are spring and autumn when the temperature is at its mildest.11. M2U3. Reading—The curse of the mummyHoward Carter is one of the most famous explorers the world has ever known. He was brave and loved to visit and explore new places. During his life, he discovered many amazing things.Howard Carter did not go to school, but learnt to draw from his father, who was an artist. He was bright and curious about the world outside his home town. In 1891, at the age of 17, he set sail for Alexandria, Egypt. By the 1920s, he had become an explorer, searching for the tombs of the Egyptian kings. He found several important ones. Inside the tombs, he discovered a great fortune in jewels and gold, along with the preserved bodies of dead kings. These preserved bodies are known as mummies.In 1922, Howard Carter made his most amazing discovery of all, in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. He had received money from Lord Carnarvon, a British man who was very interested in Egypt. Carter’s team was working at a place near the city of Luxor. There, they came across the tomb of King Tutankhamun. It was the most important tomb that had ever been found. ‘The tomb contained more treasure than any of us had ever seen before, as well as the mummy of the kin g,’ said Carter. ‘After we looked into the tomb, we closed it and hid its entrance. We wantedto study the tomb later when we had more time. Afterwards, all of its contents would go into a museum.’However, not long after the discovery, people in Carter’s team began to fall ill and die. Upon their entering the tomb, Carter’s lucky pet bird, which he had left in Cairo, was awallowed by a snake. Then, a few months after Carter had opened the tomb, Lord Carnarvon, who was also present when the tomb was opened, fell ill with a fever and died in Egypt. At the moment of Carnarnon’s death, the lights went out in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Back in England, his dog died at approximately the same time.George Gould, a friend of Carnarvon’s, went to Egypt after heari ng of his strange death. He too visited the tomb, only to catch a high fever the next day. Twelve hours later, he was dead. Carter’s secretary, Richard Bethell, died of heart trouble four months after the tomb was opened. Arthur Mace, another member of the team, also died shortly after the discovery.Within seven years, 21 people who had something to do with the opening of the tomb died. Howard Carter, however, lived on until the age of 65. Some people say the deaths were just coincidence. Others believe th at they were in connection with a mummy’s curse, as a punishment for those who enter the resting place of the dead.However, still others believe that there is a scientific explanation. Inside the tombs, there are many viruses. When a tomb is opened, fresh air disturbs the viruses. If breathed in, they can result in illness or even death. Today, when scientists examine mummies, they wear special clothing for protection.What is certain, though, is that ‘the curse of the mummy’ remains a riddle to this day.12. M2U3. Project—Explorer (16 October 2003)What is the most fun you can have in 21 hours and 23 minutes? On 15 October 2003, Yang Liwei answered this question. His voyage in space took him 600,000 kilometres in orbit, around the Earth 14 times, in ju st over 21 hours. It made him China’s first astronaut in space. He had worked towards this achievement for many years.Born in 1965, Yang had wanted to fly since he was a young boy. His friends and teachers from Suizhong in the north-east of Liaoning Province have all said that he loved science and technology from a young age. He always had a strong desire to learn how to fly. His dream was encouraged by his parents as well as his older sister and younger brother.In 1983, he joined the army, and went to flight school. He graduated in 1987 and became a pilot. In 1998, he applied to be a member of Project 921, which is now called s he nz ho u. He was one of the only 14 selected from 1,500 candidates. The team spent the next five years being trained. They not only studied all the subjects required to be an astronaut, but also learnt survival skills and all about how spaceships and rockets are built. Yang scored among the very top in everything the group studied.In September 2003, only three out of the 14 candidates were picked for the Chinese space adventure, and Yang was one of them. He took all kinds of tests to prove he was fit for this important task. Although Yang did not get the best scores on every single test, it was his high scores on the psychological tests that finally won him the status of China's first astronaut. Yang was described by his superiors as hard-working and always in control of himself. Because of these qualities, they were optimistic he would be successful.In the end, Yang was indeed a success. His name will go down in history with those of Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard. The people of China can be proud of Yang Liwei, and young people all over the world can look up to him as an example of a man who managed to live his dream.。

《牛津高中英语》模块3-R e a d i n g--P r o j e c t课文13. M3U1. Reading—FogFog warningWhen Polly left home that morning, the city was already covered in a grey mist. At lunch, the radio forecast that the mist would become a thick fog in the afternoon. At four o’clock, Pol ly left work and stepped out into the fog. She wondered if the buses would still be running.No buses to King StreetOnce out in the street, she walked quickly towards her usual bus stop.‘How far are you going?’ the bus conductor asked her before he took her fare.‘King Street,’ said Polly.‘Sorry, Miss,’ replied the man, ‘the truth is that it is too foggy for the bus to run that far. Take the Underground to Green Park. The weather might be better there and you might be able to get a taxi.’A tall manAs Polly observed the passengers on the train, she had a feeling that she was being watched by a tall man in a dark overcoat. At last the train arrived at Green Park station. While the rest of the passengers were getting out, she glanced at the faces around her. The tall man was nowhere to be seen.FootstepsWhen Polly got to the station entrance, it was empty. Outside, wherever she looked the fog lay like a thick, grey cloud. There was no one in sight. Polly set off towards Park Street. As she walked along the narrow street, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, but by the time she reached the corner of the street, the footsteps were gone. Suddenly Polly felt a rough hand brush her cheek, and she heard a man’s voice in her ear saying ‘Sorry.’ The man m oved away. She could feel her heart beating with fear.The helpful strangerThen she heard the sound again - soft footsteps behind her. A minute before, she had wished for someone to come along. Now she wanted to run, but fear held her still. The footsteps seemed close now. Then a man’s voice came out of the darkness. ‘Is anybody there?’Polly hesitated. At last she answered, ‘Hello, I think I’m lost.’A few seconds later, a hand reached out and grasped her arm. Polly found herself staring up at the face of an old man with a beard.‘Maybe I can help you. Which road do you want?’ He asked.‘I live at 86 King Street,’ Poly replied.‘Just take my hand,’ said the man. ‘Come with me. You’ll be all right.’ He took Polly’s hand. ‘Watch out for the step here.’In hi s other hand the man carried a stick. Polly heard it hit the step. ‘I can remember some terrible fogs, but maybe that was before your time. I can’t see your face, but you sound young. How old are you?’‘Just twenty,’ answered Polly.‘Ah, twenty! A nice age to be! I was young once. Now we’re at the crossroads. Turn left here.’‘I’m quite lost now. Are you sure you know the way?’ Polly was beginning to feel frightened again.‘Of course. You really shouldn’t feel anxious.’ He held her hand more firmly.The grateful helper‘Here we are. King Street.’ He stopped.‘Thank you so much for coming to my aid,’ said Polly in relief. ‘Would you like to come in and rest for a while?’‘It’s very nice of you,’ said the man, ‘but I’ll be off. There may be more people lost to day, and I’d like to help them. You see, a fog this bad is rare. It gives me the chance to pay back the help that people give me when it’s sunny. A blind person like me can’t get across the road without help, except in a fog like this.’14. M3U1. Project (1)—Shark attacksThere are nearly 400 different types of sharks, but only about 30 types are known to have attacked human beings. Many people know that the most dangerous shark is the great white shark, mainly because they have seen the movie Jaws. However, two other sharks are also rather dangerous: the tiger shark and the bull shark.Contrary to what many people might assume, evidence shows that sharks seldom attack humans. There are three types of shark attacks. In the main type, the shark attacks you because it mistakes you for a fish, but when it tastes human flesh it decides to give up and swim away. In the second type, the shark pushes you with itsnose to find out if you are fit to be eaten, and then bites you if it thinks you are. In thethird type, the shark waits for you to swim by, and then attacks you suddenly. The lasttwo types of attack more often result in the death of humans.To reduce the risk of a shark attack, you should follow these suggestions.⏹Do not swim in the dark. Sharks can still see you but you cannot see them.⏹Do not go swimming in the ocean if you have a fresh wound. Sharks cansmell blood over a long distance.⏹Do not wear bright clothing or jewellery, because sharks are attracted to theflash of colors and bright objects.⏹Stay in groups, as sharks usually avoid large numbers of people.Recently, shark attacks have been increasing as water sports are becoming more popular. If a shark attacks you, follow the advice below.⏹Keep calm. Do not panic.⏹Hit the shark on the nose with your fist.⏹Stick your finger in the shark's eye.Don't be frightened by sharks: you are 30 times more likely to be hit by lightningthan be attacked by a shark.15. M3U1. Project (2)—The wonderful world of pigeonsIt is night. All is quiet. The soldiers are asleep while a guard watches for theenemy. There is a flash, and the sound of guns! They are being attacked! Hundreds of enemy soldiers rush towards them. They are all going to be killed unless they get help. What should they do?An officer writes a short message quickly on a small piece of paper: 'Beingattacked! Hurry!'He rolls up the paper and puts it into a small case, and then reaches into a cageand gets a bird. Attaching the message to its leg, he sets the bird loose. It immediatelyflies into the air and disappears in the dark.Will the bird arrive in time? Will they be saved?Though it may seem hard to believe, the bird the officer uses is the same birdoften seen in public parks—the pigeon. Pigeons have a wonderful sense of directionand can find their way home over long distances. Indeed, pigeons have been known to fly home from as far away as 1,800 kilometres. That is why pigeons have been used since ancient times to carry the news or even the mail. However, it was in war that they found their greatest use. During both World War I and II, pigeons were employed by armies to carry messages to and from the front lines, saving the lives of many soldiers and even helping win some important victories.How do pigeons find their way? Pigeons appear to have a compass inside them that tells them which way is north. How this compass works remains a mystery. Of course, since a compass alone is not enough to find one's way, they also appear to use their sight and even their sense of smell to tell them which way they should go. Unlike humans, they never get lost and can always find their way home.16. M3U2. Reading—English and its historyAll through history, people from many different countries and cultures have lived together in Britain. The English language is made up of the grammar and vocabulary these people brought to Britain. That is why English has so many difficult rules that confuse people.Old EnglishOld English is very different from the English we speak nowadays .In fact, we would not be able to understand it if we heard it today. Before the middle of the 5th century, people in Britain all spoke a language called Celtic. Then two Germanic groups from the European mainland—the angles and the Saxons—occupied Britain. Old English consisted of a mixture of their languages. (Both the English language and the English people are named after the angles; the word Angle was spelt Engle in old English.) Aside from place names such as London, very few Celtic words became part of old English. At the end of the 9th century, the Vikings, people from Northern European countries such as Denmark and Norway, began to move to Britain. They brought with them their languages, which also mixed with Old English. By the 10th century, Old English had become the official language of England.When we speak English today, we sometimes feel puzzled about which words or phrases to use. This is because English has many words and phrases from differentlanguages, but with similar meanings. For example, the word sick came from a word once used by the Angles and the Saxons, while ill came from a word once used by the Norwegians.Middle EnglishMiddle English is the name given to the English used from around the 12th to the 15th centuries. Many things played a part in the development of this new type of English. The most important contribution was from the Normans, a French-speaking people who defeated England and took control of the country in 1066. However, the Norman Conquest did not affect English as much as the Angles and the Saxons’ victory about 600 years earlier, which led to old English replacing Celtic. Even though the Normans spoke French for the entire 250 years they ruled English, French did not replace English as the first language. On the other hand, the English language did borrow many words from French. This resulted in even more words with similar meanings, such as answer (from Old English) and reply (from Old French). It is interesting to learn how the words for animals and meat developed. After the Norman Conquest, many English people worked as servants who raised animals. Therefore, the words we use for most animals raised for food such as cow, sheep and pig, came from Old English. However, the words for the meat of these animals, which was served to the Normans, came from Old French: beef, mutton, pork and bacon.Old French made other contributions to Middle English as well. In Old English, the Germanic way of making words plural was used. For example, they said housen instead of houses, and shoen instead of shoes. After the Normans took control they began using the French way of making plurals, adding an –s to house and shoe. Only a few words kept their Germanic plural forms, such as man/men and child/children.After the Norman Conquest, high-class people spoke French while common people spoke English. However, by the latter half of the 14th century, English had come into widespread use among all classes in England. In 1399, Henry IV became King of England. His mother tongue was English, and he used English for all official events.Modern EnglishModern English appeared during the Renaissance in the 16th century. Because of this, modern English includes many Latin and Greek words. Pronunciation also wentthrough huge changes during this period. Of course, this was not the end of the changes in the English language. The question of whether English will keep on changing in the future is easy to answer. It is certain that this process will continue, and people will keep inventing new words and new ways of saying things.17. M3U2. Project (1)—The development of Chinese charactersThe Chinese language differs from Western languages in that instead of an alphabet, it uses characters which stand for ideas, objects or deeds. Chinese words are formed by putting together different characters. In many cases, a single character can also make up a word. The history of the Chinese language can be examined by looking at how these characters developed.Chinese writing began thousands of years ago. According to an ancient story, a man named Cang Jie invented Chinese writing. One winter day while he was hunting, he saw the tracks of animals in the snow and observed that the appearance of each one was different. Then he had the idea that he could use different shapes to represent different objects. The first Chinese characters were drawings of physical objects. Some characters have been simplified and others have been made more difficult over time. However, as a whole, the characters have developed from drawings into standard forms. The character for a mountain was at first three mountaintops together. This became one mountaintop and three lines, and over time turned into the character used nowadays.Not all characters were developed from drawings of objects. Sometimes to express ideas, some characters were made by combining two or more characters together. For example, ‘rest’ was made up of the characters for a man and a tree. The character ‘prisoner’ was formed with a ‘man’ inside a square. Other characters were developed for directions and numbers. It is easy to distinguish their meanings by looking at them, for example, the characters for ‘up’ and ‘down’, which are opposites of each other.Though these kinds of characters indicate meanings, one of their shortcomings is that they do not show how they should be pronounced. Therefore, a method was developed to have one part of a character indicate the meaning and the other suggest the pronunciation. Many Chinese characters used today were made this way.In the 1950s the Chinese government introduced simplified Chinese characters and now they have widespread use in China’s mainland.18. M3U2. Project (2)—The story of BrailleUsually, when we talk about reading, we think of using our eyes to see letters written in ink on paper. However, this is not always true. For example, blind people cannot see, but they can still read books.The man who introduced blind people to reading was Louis Braille (1809-1852). Braille lost his eyesight at the age of three as a result of an injury. When he was ten, he went to a school for the blind in Paris. In those days, books for blind people used paper pressed against metal wire to form letters. Since the metal wire was heavy, each book weighed as much as 100 pounds. The whole system was not convenient for use. Indeed, the school library only had fourteen such books in it.In 1821, a soldier visited the school and showed the students a system for passing messages at night during times of battle. His system used paper with small, raised dots that could be felt with the fingers. Each letter of the alphabet was represented by a different pattern which consisted of twelve dots. The soldiers would drag their fingers over the raised dots to read the message.While the students found the soldier’s idea interesting, the system was too difficult to be of practical use. However, young Louis Braille took the idea and worked on it. At the age of fifteen, he created a system with patterns of six raised dots repr esenting each letter. ‘Braille’, the system for reading used today by blind people around the world, was thus born.The blind can easily recognize Braille with the fingers. They can also easily write in Braille with a special typewriter. Today, it is the most common system used by blind people for reading and writing, and nearly every language, including Chinese, has its own version of Braille for its people to use.19. M3U3. Reading—Lost civilizationsDay 1,15 JulyI feel lucky to have won a place on this trip. We are in Italy now, and tomorrow we are visiting Pompeii. Next week we are flying to China, and going Loulan, whichis known as China's Pompeii in the desert. Both Pompeii and Loulan became lost civilizations long ago.Day 2,16 JulyThis morning we attended a lecture about Pompeii. The city was founded in the 8th century BC. In 89 BC, the Romans took over Pompeii. It then became a rich and busy city. Near the city was a volcano. On 24 August AD 79,the volcano erupted and lava, ash and rocks poured out of it onto the surrounding countryside. It continued to erupt for the next two days. Many people were buried alive, and so was the city. How unfortunate!Day 3,17 JulyToday I saw the ancient Roman city of Pompeii as it was 2,000 years ago. How amazing! The city was forgotten for many years until the 18th century when a farmer discovered a stone with writing on it. People started to dig in the area for treasure, which caused much damage. Thus, in 1860,the area was put under government protection so it could be preserved and studied.When I walked around the city, I saw streets just as they had been, with stepping stones along the road so you did not have to step in the mud on rainy days! I saw several houses which were decorated with wall paintings. I also saw the people who had been buried alive. It turns out that after the ash covered the people who failed to flee the city, their bodies nearly completely broke down and disappeared, leaving empty spaces in the ash. Years later, researchers were able to use these empty spaces to produce true-to-life figures of the people who had died in the disaster. You can see them today in Pompeii, in the same places where the people fell. The volcano is still there, but looks very quiet now. It's hard to imagine how this peaceful volcano destroyed the whole city!Day 10,24 JulyFinally, we arrived in Loulan after several days of travelling. This commercial city was busy and wealthy about 2,000 years ago. It was a stopping point on the famous Silk Road between the East and the West. It is believed to have been gradually covered over by sandstorms form AD 200 to AD 400. I am so excited to be here!Day 11,25 JulyA scholar from the local cultural institute, Professor Zhang, told us that around the year 1900 the European explorer Sven Hedin discovered the ruins of the Loulan Kingdom. Sven found the remains of buildings buried beneath the sand, together with a lot of treasures including coins, painted pots, material such as silk, documents and wall paintings. When we went to the city, we saw the city walls, palaces, temples, workshops and towers. We found the ruins most interesting. There was an ancient water system that ran through the middle of the city. The desert was once a green land with huge trees, but they were cut down and that resulted in the city being buried by sand——what a pity!20. M3U3. Project (1)—Ancient Greek statue found in XinjiangResearchers announced the discovery of a small statue in northern Xinjiang, China, recently. The metal statue is of a Greek soldier. When asked how a statue from distant Greece could have appeared in China, researchers explained that no doubt this was a result of Alexander the Great’s influence.Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was the son of a Greek king who defeated many Greek cities in battle. At the age of twenty, Alexander himself became king after his father died. However, many cities rose up against Alexander, so he led an army to take them back. Though his army had only 3,000 troops, he won every battle and many enemy soldiers joined him.In 334 BC, he took his army, now with 42,000 men, into the Middle East and then Egypt, defeating every army that stood in his path. Then he turned his eyes east, and marched all the way to India, finding victory wherever he went. It seemed that nothing could stop him from taking control of the entire world. However, his own army grew tired of endless battles and refused to go any further, so he had to turn back. By the age of thirty, he had already occupied more land than anyone before, and it seemed that more glory was waiting ahead of him. Yet, in 323 BC, he came down with a fever and died. Since he had no son, his generals divided his vast kingdom among themselves.Alexander the Great spread the Greek culture from Europe to Africa and Asia, influencing the world for centuries to come. The statue of the Greek soldier found innorthern Xinjiang probably came to China in the 4th century BC as a result of trade. Like many other ancient objects that show a Greek influence, it can now be seen in a museum in Urumqi.21. M3U3. Project (2)—The father of Western philosophyThe world 'philosophy' means 'love of wisdom'. Philosophy can be thought of as a way of looking at the world around us, or of answering the great questions of life, such as 'Why are we here?' and 'What is truth?'The father of Western Philosophy was Socrates (469-399 BC).Socrates was from Athens, in Greece. When he was young, he was a brave soldier. Later, he became a teacher, but he taught for free and earned his salary from being a common worker. Aside from this, we know very little about him. Since he never wrote a book, we also know very little about his philosophy. Yet, Socrates has had a deep influence on Western thought and science.To understand how this can be true, we must understand how Socrates taught. Socrates taught by asking questions. Through this, he challenged his students to develop and explain their own arguments. In many cases, his questions made his students aware of their own errors. Many students got embarrassed and even angry when this happened, while others changed their opinions. Socrates' way of approaching the truth is now called the Socratic Method. The idea of asking questions until you reach the right answer is the basis of modern philosophy and science.Unfortunately for him, Socrates questioned too much. He always asked challenging questions to everyone he met, upsetting many people in Athens. Finally, some people had had enough of him, so they took him to court for questioning the existence of the Greek gods and for corrupting the young people of Athens. At his trial, he defended himself by asking his judges yet more questions. This just made a bad situation worse. Finally he was put to death by being forced to drink poison. Through his death, Socrates became the hero of all people who search for the truth.。