晨读

Lesson1 Power of ArchitectureArchitecture is to be regarded by us with the most serious thought. We may live without her, and worship without her, but we cannot remember without her. How cold is all history, how lifeless all imagery, compared to that which the living nation writes, and the uncorrupted marble bears! --how many pages of doubtful record might we not often spare, for a few stones left one upon another!The ambition of the old Babel builders was well directed for this world: there are but two strong conquerors of the forgetfulness of men: Poetry and Architecture; and the latter in some sort includes the former, and is mightier in its reality: it is well to have, not only what men have thought and felt, but what their hands have handled, and their strength wrought, and their eyes behold, all the days of their life.Lesson2 Parent-children relationship by Bertrand RussellThe value of parental affection to children lies largely in the fact that it is more reliable than any other affection. One’s friends like one for one’s merits, one’s lovers for one’s charms; if the merits or the charms diminish, friends and lovers may vanish. But it is in times of misfortune that parents are most to be relied upon, in illness, and even in disgrace if the parents are of the right sort.We all feel pleasure when we are admired for our merits, but most of us are sufficiently modest at heart to feel that such admiration is precarious. Our parents love us because we are their children and this is an unalterable fact, so that we feel safer with them than with anyone else. In times of success this may seem unimportant, but in times of failure it affords a consolation and a security not to be found elsewhere.Lesson3 The Computer and PrivacyIn the last 20 years, the productivity of the computer has increased over 1,000% . With this kind of technological advance, the possibility of storing more and more information at a central point is growing at a phenomenal rate. But so is the possibility of gaining access to the stored information. And that raises serious questions regarding personal privacy. For some time now, there has been a growing effort in many European count ries to preserve the individual’s privacy in the face of expanding requirements for information by business, government and other organizations.In some countries, legislation has been enacted to protect the individual’s privacy. In others, it is under study. In searching for appropriate legislative guidelines, private and governmental groups have explored many avenues and considered many aspects of the problem. Solutions must be found. And they will call for patient understanding and the best efforts of everyone concerned.Lesson4 This Is Britain“Great Britain” has several different names, “Britain”, “United Kingdom”, or just the “UK”. There are four different countries in the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.Everyone from Britain is British, but only people from England are English. People from Scotland are Scottish, people from Wales are Welsh, and people from Northern Ireland are Irish. Don’t call a Scottish or Welsh person English. He won’t like it!Altogether more than 56 million people live in Britain, in big cities like London, Liverpool and Manchester, and in the open country with lovely hills and woods, quiet rivers, lakes and farmlands.Everyone in Britain speaks English, but in some parts of Scotland and Wales people speak their dialects as well. The Welsh are required by the government to learn Welsh, and you can see road signs in Welsh all over Wales.Everyone speaks English, but they do not all speak it in the same way. A Scottish person has to listen carefully if he wants to understand a Londoner and when a Welsh person speaks, everyone knows at once where he comes from!Many people think that the weather is cold and wet in Britain all year round, but it isn’t! True, it sometimes rains and even snows for days and days, but every year there are weeks of beautiful sunny weather when the British go out to sunbathe in their bikinis.Lesson5 A Lawn That Takes a Long Time To MakeMr. Anderson lives in America, and last year he came to England to visit his father’s hometown. There was a big garden in the town with green grass in the centre. A gardener was watering it, and Mr. Anderson said to him, “Good morning. Is this your garden?”“No,” answered the gardener, “it isn’t mine, but I work here.”“How do people get such a beautiful lawn?” Mr. Anderson asked. “Ours are never as good as this.”The gardener stopped his work and looked at Mr. Anderson. Then he said, “You are from America, aren’t you?”Mr. Anderson answered, “Yes, but my father came from here.”“Well,” the gardener said, “it’s easy to grow lawns like this. Let me tell you how.”Mr. Anderson went into the garden. “My name’s Anderson,” he said to the gardener, “What’s yours?”“My name's Gray,” the gardener answered, “Now about the lawns.”First we sow our seeds; then when the grass appears, we pull all the weeds out; after that, we cut the grass every week. We water it every day when the weather is very dry 5.”“Oh,”Mr. Anderson answered, “that’s very interesting, Gray, and how long does it take before the lawn ends up like this? ”The gardener thought for a few moments and then answered, “Oh, about four hundred ye ars.”Lesson6 SchoolsIn America, all children from six to sixteen go to school. They spend six years in “elementary” school, and four or six years in “secondary” or “high” school. School education is free. At the end of every school year, the child takes a test.If he does well, he goes i nto the next grade. If he doesn’t do well, he has to repeat the grade. Some schools have modern teaching equipment, like computers and closed circuit television, but there are also small country schools, with just one classroom. At the end of their time at school, most students get a high school diploma. If they want to go on to college, they take college admission tests.In Britain, all children from five to sixteen go to s chool. They spend six years in “primary”school, and then go on to “secondary” school. In Britain there are “state” schools, which are free,and private schools for which parents pay.Ma ny British private schools are “boarding” schools. The children stay at school all the time, and only come home in the holidays. They usually wear uniforms at all schools.Teaching in both countries is usually quite informal. Students often work together in groups, and go to the teacher only when they need help.Lesson7 UniversitiesNearly half of all Americans go on to college when they graduate from high schools. Some colleges are small, with only a few hundred students, but some of the big state universities are huge, with up to 60,000 students. There are more than 2,600 universities in the USA, and nearly all colleges have both men and women students.You can study many interesting subjects at college, in short or long courses, but if you want to get a degree, you have to study for at least four years. Classes start in September and go on to early June with a break in the middle.In Britain, you can get a degree at university, or in some of the many colleges of further education. There are 42 universities in Britain. There are also many colleges in Britain that teach English as a foreign language. Some have short courses (a few weeks or months), and some have one- or two-year courses.University classes start in September and go on until mid-June with two breaks, one at Christmas, and one at Easter. Most degrees take three years, but some take four.Lesson8 School Life at CollegeThree months have passed since I entered university. I belong to the tennis club, which is great for my health. In the club I have made a lot of friends but, sad to say, I don’t have a girlfriend yet.I am very busy with lessons this first semester. English is a required subject, so I have to get at least a pass. I had a good shot at the questions on the English exam yesterday. I probably scored at least 80 points. However busy I may be with my part-time job and other pastimes, I attend my language classes as often as possible, because if I am absent from more than one-third of the classes, I cannot get the credits whatever the reason may be. I spent much time preparing for Chinese, but the lesson was cancelled today!Tomorrow is the deadline for my physics paper which took me three days to write. I hope to major in science education in the future.Lesson9 OxfordWhat is so special about Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest universities in England? Why do so many students want to study there?Both of these university towns are very beautiful. They have some of the finest architecture in Britain. Some of their colleges, chapels and libraries are three, four or even up to seven hundred years old, and are full of valuable books and precious paintings. Both towns have many lovely gardens, where the students can read and relax in the summer months.Oxford is the older university of the two. The first of its colleges was founded in 1249. The university now has thirty-four colleges and about twelve thousand students, many of them from other countries. There were no women students at Oxford until 1878, when the first wome n’scollege, Lady Margaret Hall, opened. Now, women study at all colleges but one for Monks in training.Oxford is, of course, famous for its first class education as well as its beautiful buildings. It boasts a quiet atmosphere, friendly colleagues, and the four-hundred-year-old Bodleian library, which has over five million books.It is not easy to get a place at Oxford University to study for a degree, but outside the university there are many smaller private colleges which offer less difficult courses and where it is easy to enroll. Most students in these private schools take business, secretarial or English language courses.Lesson10 A Student's Guide to Exam StressAs exam fever heats up, keep your 1 from our health correspondent Dr Barry Lynch.Stress is difficult to define but most of us know it when we experience it. We may have mental symptoms: panic, feeling trapped or overwhelmed. Or there may be physical symptoms: sweating palms, butterflies, headaches, breathlessness or sleeplessness.Stress can 2 overwhelmed and powerless to tackle the very things that are causing the stress in the first place. So make a carefully written plan and the problems will seem less overwhelming. Ticking off each thing as you do it will help you feel there is light 3 the tunnel.When you're writing your revision plan, make sure you 4 —exactly an hour or whatever —before you go back to work. Look forward to your time off and do something pleasant 5 . Work out little treats and rewards for yourself as you tick off each thing on your plan. The treats can be simple: an ice cream, half an hour listening to your personal stereo, or walking the dog.Easier said than done, I know, but exercise is one of the best ways of relaxing: it's the natural way to deal with adrenaline and similar hormones that are rushing around your body. A walk will help;a quick swim or half an hour of tennis or another game is even better.Don't drink endless cups of tea or coffee: although caffeine is a stimulant it will eventually only make you tenser and nervous.Don't try to go without sleep — sleep is a natural way of relieving stress.Don't be tempted to use alcohol or other drugs to relieve stress. They create more problems than they solve.答案：1. cool with tips2. cause us to feel3. at the end of4. include some time off5. in itLesson11 A DaughterSally was nineteen years old. She had always lived with her parents, but now the time had come for her to go to university in another part of the country. Her mother was a little sad and also afraid because she loved her daughter very much, and she thought, "My little girl will 1 the first time in her life. She won't know anybody. There will be nobody to 2 her, and perhaps she'll have trouble, or will feel low and we won't be there to help her."Sally said goodbye to her father and to her cat, and promised to telephone every week.Then every week Sally 3 and telephoned. Sally was always very happy and never said that shemissed her parents.Then holidays were getting near. That week, when Sally telephoned her parents, she said, "My friends all said that they were very happy to 4 again soon."Sally's mother was very glad. "She must really miss us,' she thought. Then she said, "Did you say that too?""Oh,yes!" Sally answered."We all agreed 5 to speak to our parents on the telephone every week when we're away, but we really miss our pets!"答案：1. be alone for2. look after3. kept her promise4. return home5. that it's easyLesson12 The Government of the United KingdomThe British method of government has developed very slowly 1 . This is perhaps why it can be rather difficult to understand. For example, the Queen is the head of State, but she has no real power.Parliament is the real government of Britain. It has two 'Houses', the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. The 'Lords' are members of the old aristocracy, bishops, lawyers, and retired politicians. They have little power now, but they can suggest new laws and change or delay laws that the House of Commons wants to pass. The House of Commons makes laws, 2 , and decides what taxes the people must pay.The British people choose the 3 of the House of Commons 4 . In each area there are usually two or three main political parties to choose from. The party who gets most members into parliament makes the new government.The Prime Minister is 5 the winning party. Only party members (not the whole British people) choose their leader. The Prime Minister chooses the members of the Cabinet, who are called ministers. Each minister has a special job to do, for example, education, or health, or transport.答案：1. over hundreds of years2. agrees on policy3. 650 members4. every five years5. the leader ofLesson13 A Piece of MeatJoe Biggs was a butcher. His shop was in a village 1 the most beautiful parts of the south of England, and he worked in it for many years while his father was there. Then, his father stopped working in the shop, and Joe had to work harder.One Thursday a woman came into the shop five minutes before closing. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said, "but some people have just phoned me to say that they are going to come to dinner tonight, and I need 2 meat."Joe only had 3 good meat in the shop. He had sold all the others earlier in the day. He took thepiece out and told the woman it is ￡6.50."That piece is too small,"the woman answered. "Haven't you got anything bigger?"Joe went into the room behind his shop, opened the refrigerator, put the piece of meat into it. After a while he 4 again and shut the door of the refrigerator with a lot of noise. Then he brought the piece of meat back to the woman and said, "This piece is bigger and more expensive. It's ￡8.75." "Good," the woman answered with a smile. " 5 , please."答案：1. in one of2. some more3. one piece of4. took it out5. Give me both of themLesson14 The Government of the United StatesWashington, Lincoln, Eisenhower, Kennedy — some of the great names of American history, the names of her presidents.These days, the American President is 1 the most powerful men in the world. He can make war, or peace. He can touch the lives of millions 2 different countries, but the President cannot do just what he wants. The Congress must agree first.In some ways, the United States is like fifty small countries and not 3 . Every state has its own governor, its own police, and its own laws. For example, in some states you can buy an alcoholic drink when you are 18. In others, you must wait until you are 21.The government of the whole country (the 'federal' government) works from Washington, the capital city. This is where Congress is based. Congress has two parts, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. There are 100 members of the Senate (called Senators), two from each state. The President cannot act without the Senate's agreement. The House of Representatives has 4 members. Like the senators, they can make new laws.Americans choose a new President every four years. The election is a great 5 . It is serious business, of course, but the Americans make sure that it is fun too.答案：1. one of2. in many3. one large one4. 4355. occasionLesson15 A Way To Catch a ThiefOld Mrs. Robinson was a widow who lived alone 1 . Her son John lived with his wife and child in another street, and he often said to his mother, "You must come and live with us," but she always answered, "No, I'm very happy 2 house, and I don't want to leave it."At eight o'clock one morning the old woman telephoned her son and said, 'Please come to my house.' Then she put the phone down. John said to his wife, "Mother wants me. Perhaps she's ill. I'll go down to have a look." He quickly drove to his mother's house. When the old woman opened the door, her son asked, " 3 , Mother?""Come in,"she answered. "There's a thief in one of my cupboards.""A thief in one of your cupboards?" said John."When did you find him?""I heard noises in a cupboard yesterday evening," she answered."Which one?" John asked 4 . They were in the dining room now."That one," the old woman answered."Why didn't you telephone me then?"John asked."Because it was late, and I didn't want to trouble you," she answered."But the thief hasn't stayed in the cupboard all night, has he?"asked John."Oh, yes, he has,"the old woman answered. "I 5 the door up, and then I went to bed."答案：1. in a small house2. in my little3. What's the matter4. quietly5. nailedLesson 16. British homesBritish homes are usually smaller than american homes. But like americans, all people,young families and american people do not 1 . Many brats love old houses and there are more expensive than 2 . They also love gardening and you will see gardens everywhere you go in towns,villages and 3 .Some are very small with just one tree and a few flowers, others are in normal with plenty of flowers 4 , trees to fed a family. There are 19 million homes in Britain, big homes and small homes, all the colleges and few high rise building, houses and flats. 5 families in britain own their own homes. Million of these, owner occupy houses are the same with two or three bedrooms and bathroom stairs,a sitting room,dinning rooms and kitchen downstairs and small garden at back and front of the house. To pay for their house, home owners borrow money from a building society and pay back a little every month. One third of british population live in rented stays on the homes called counsel houses. Many of these are flats. But some of house is each with small pieces of gardens. Other people rent their homes or gardens from private owners.答案：1. usually live together2. morden ones3. out of country4. and a large of vegetables5. Half ofLesson17 A Tiring PartyMr. Harris and his wife moved to another town, and they met a lot of interesting people. They often 1 or to parties at other people's houses. So Mr. and Mrs. Harris decided to host a big party, too.They chose a date, and then Mrs. Harris began to 2 invitations. One of the sentences in the invitation said,"Mr. and Mrs. Harris would like the pleasure of your company at the party in their residence. The time is between 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.""That isn't very nice, is it?"Mr. Harris said. "You're telling our guests that they must go 3 . So Mrs.Harris just wrote, "The party begins at 6:30 p.m."A lot of guests came, and they all enjoyed their time. In fact, they stayed until midnight when a policeman arrived. He said, "You must stop the party because someone has 4 ."Mr. Harris didn't want to argue with the policeman. All the guests went home quickly. When Mr. and Mrs. Harris were alone again, she asked, "It was a surprise, wasn't it? Who complained about the noise?""I did," Mr. Harris answered 5 .答案：1. went to dinner2. write out3. at 8:304. complained5. in a tired voiceLesson18 MedicineWhat is medicine? And what is health? In different cultures and at different times you would have received varying answers to these questions. In the modern Western medical tradition, the 1 are first to get rid of disease, and then to keep people healthy.In earlier times, Western medicine depended on 2 , folk remedies, and theories going back to the Arab civilizations and beyond that to 3 .True advances in medical care did not take place until the 1800's, and it was not until the 1900's that medicine was able to reduce the high death rates caused by infections.Eastern medicine took a different line. It is believed that the whole body had to be treated in order to keep it healthy and to prevent disease from appearing.Chinese medicine developed from a totally different 4 from science-based Western medicine. It treats the whole body by restoring the balance of forces flowing within it.Now, in the 21st century, Western medicine has begun to accept 5 traditional Eastern medicine. There is growing interest in this and other forms of traditional medicine.答案：1. main objectives2. a muddled mixture of prayer3. the ancient Greeks4. background5. the idea ofLesson19 Don't Forget to Remember!Read the following sets of numbers. It shouldn't take you 1 about ten seconds. 8769352901438419864052 , there are people who can read these numbers as quick as a flash and remember them for the rest of their lives. They have 'photographic' memories that can see something and3 forever — like a camera captures something forever on film. Scientists think that about one person in ' has this remarkable power to remember.A 23-year-old American university student made her mark by being able to read poems in foreign languages she had never studied. She could also recite the poems later 4 . She explained that shecould 'see' the pages in her mind. To prove this, she could even say the poems backwards.After months of experiments with the girl, two scientists prepared a special test. They made a huge 'chessboard' with 10,000 black and white squares put down in a haphazard fashion. The girl studied the giant board for only a few minutes. Months later, she could still 5 of all the squares perfectly!答案：1. more than2. Believe it or not3. store it in their minds4. without any help5. describe the positionLesson20 Time OffWorking hours are shorter, holidays are longer, and people have 1 now than ever before. What do they do with it?In both Britain and America, people watch TV for many hours every week. In America there is 2 . Many cities have twenty or more channels, sometimes going for twenty-four hours a day. In Britain there are four channels, but many people now have satellite or digital TV, offering hundreds more. Many well-off Americans have a 'camper' or 'trailer' which they can use for weekends away. Some have holiday houses in the country, and spend as much time as possible on 3 like fishing and water-skiing.Fewer British people have caravans or second homes, but many have gardens, where they spend a lot of their free time. Home owners often 4 round the house. They paint, put wallpaper, build cupboards and even make furniture. There are a lot of DIY (Do It Yourself) shops all over the country selling everything they need.For some, time off means music and dancing. In London and New York, one or two new discos open every week. Some close again 5 , but some, like Tramp in London, go on, and on, and on ... 答案：1. more time off2. a very big choice3. outside activities4. take time doing jobs5. after a night or twoLesson21 Women and the IT IndustryThe computer industry should offer 1 for the employment of women. Unfortunately it doesn't, both because the computer industry's managers are too stupid to employ them, and because women have been 2 by the idea that jobs involve being a slave to an inhuman computer screen. Computing should attract women: it is clean, 3 where the best results are obtained by intelligence applied in co-operative work-groups. All large computer sites run around the clock, which provides for flexible working hours; indeed, much IT work can be done from home. Because of the pace at which the industry advances, staffs need 4 , which should make it easier for women to be retrained and re-employed if they 5 have a family.Nor does computing have any of the entrenched working practices which might keep women out. It does not have 100 year-old demarcation lines. The workforce is expanding, not contracting.Hiring women ought to be easy.Under the circumstances it is almost unbelievable that the number of women being taken in to the computing industry is declining.答案：1. ideal conditions2. put off3. light work4. regular skills updates5. take time out toLesson22 Riding a BikeMr. Holland drove to work in a car every day. When he was forty, he was fat and very soft, and he did not wish to get 1 every year.One day one of his friends said to him, 'Would you like to be 2 , Fred?''Of course I would,' Mr. Holland answered.'Well,' his friend said, 'stop going to your office by car, and 3 .'Mr. Holland had not ridden a bicycle for many years. 'It's very dangerous to ride a bicycle again at your age,' his wife said.But he bought a bicycle for his birthday and practiced riding every evening. He hoped that it would help him get thinner, and he got 4 from practice.Then he began to go to his office on his bicycle. Sometimes all the cars stopped at a red light, and he went past them to the front because his bicycle was small. He was very happy.Yesterday he stopped at a red light, and a man 5 behind him on another bicycle. He stopped too and asked Mr. Holland, 'Have the police taken your driving license away too?'答案：1. fatter and softer2. thinner3. get a bicycle4. a lot of pleasure5. came upLesson23 The Exercise CrazeEverybody's doing it, old and young, men and women. They're 1 , dancing, jumping up and down, bending and stretching. Exercise is in fashion. Everybody wants to be fit, feel good, look slim, and stay young.It started with jogging. Millions of Americans put on their new colored sports shoes and 2 jogging suits and ran through the parks or along the streets for half an hour a day.Then the joggers got the marathon craze. Popular marathons are now held everywhere. Lots of people want to see if they can run 42 kms and do it faster than everyone else. The big city marathons, in London and New York, are important 3 . Television cameras and newspapers report them in detail. Some remarkable people take part in the marathons: seventy-five-year-old grandfathers and nine-year-old grandchildren, and even invalids in wheelchairs.。