伴你成长---高二新世纪上---第四单元

人教版高二上学期期中考试语文作文（通用38篇）高二上学期期中考试语文作文篇1北京的春天，是极不易把握的。

三月时分，树的枝头上有了绿意，进了四月，迎春及桃花就开了，这景况大约也跟南国的城市相去不远，所不同的是，北京的春天却还脱不尽冬衣。

北京的春天，无雨，而是大风卷起的漫天黄沙。

黄沙弥漫时，只感到昏天暗地，人行走在街道上，满面蒙尘。

这境况，怎么会有人去吟咏“清明时节雨纷纷”呢?在这样的日子走出去，人只是感觉好没面子，头发灰黄，颜面粗糙，表情因黄沙迷眼的缘故而变得古怪。

岂只是诗兴没了，甚而连游兴也全无。

春天，“花”可成了关键词!罢罢罢!总算让我纠正了对北京的春天的坏印象，至少也能体验到大自然所恩赐的美好时光。

要说北京的花，是南方的鲜花所不能想象的，那种激情，是南方的水土无法孕育出来的。

枝头沉睡的花蕾好象都积蓄了一年的力量，要在四五月份一次把美丽炫耀出来，那是一种极其让人难忘的生命力在春天的时候迸发出来从桃李到海棠到梨树，还有香飘十里的槐花……一个接一个，毫不迟疑，毫不客气，尽情地开放着。

每一样都精彩极致，马路旁，乡村里，小道间，都是花的海洋，春天的气息洋溢了整个空间。

我所感叹的是，经过那么凛冽的寒风，那么污染的空气，那么干涸的土地，它们居然还可以开出这么美、这么艳丽的花来!它们居然还可以开得这么兴高采烈、神采飞扬!!它们居然还可以在如此绚烂妩媚中托出更加精巧玲珑、可爱俏丽的果实来它们在沉默中蕴涵的巨大力量一次又一次感动了我。

他们是树，是绿叶，托出美丽的鲜花，丰硕的果实，经过新春、酷暑、金秋、严冬……一年四季，生命在彼此之间的互相依托而圆满着，丰盛着。

有人曾感叹环境的污染使美好的生活被破坏了，在感叹中我却看到那些无声无息默默在污染的空气中依旧不懈地献出美丽鲜花绿叶的树们，它们在做，在努力，在真真正正地改变着，虽然力不从心。

北京的春天，蕴涵着它的两面性，便也为我们提供了一种片面认识的可能性，就想到在人的一生中，我们要片面地看待多少事物呵。

上海新世纪英语高二年级下学期Unit4教材精讲伴你成长高二新世纪（下）Unit4 Moving Stories知识要点2．重点词组新从……来的be fresh from喜欢take to顺便，附带地in passing点睛之笔finishing touch看一眼cast a glance at好像，仿佛as though吃惊地in shock以……为例take…as an example瓦解，崩溃fall apart来来回回，上上下下up and down顺便（或偶然）访问drop by访问，看望come by(时间等)过去，流逝pass by妨碍get in the way脑损伤brain damage很多many a(n)充分地，最大限度地to the fullest起点starting point排队line up看到at the sight of3．重点句型It has been／is+一段时间+since．．．意为：自从……以来已经多久了21/ 1上海新世纪英语高二年级下学期Unit4教材精讲4．重点语法The Structure for Emphasis(2) 强调结构(2)The Auxiliary Verb Do (助动词Do)知识精讲Vocabulary and Patterns1．Swedish n．the language used in Sweden；people from Sweden 瑞典语；瑞典人adj. of or relating to Sweden，the Swedish or their culture 瑞典的；瑞典人的；瑞典语的Sweden n. 瑞典We call people from Sweden Swedish．我们把来自瑞典的人叫瑞典人。

2．equivalent n. [c]something that is essentially equal to another 同等物The word has no equivalent in English．这个单词在英文中没有对应的词语。

初一政治上册知识点归纳第一单元成长的节拍第一课中学时代第一框中学序曲1、为什么说中学生活是我们新的起点？（P3）中学生活把我们带进一个别样的天地：富有挑战的课程，新奇的实验器材，丰富多彩的社团，新校园、新老师、新同学……2、★中学时代的重要性？（P4）①中学时代是人生发展的一个新阶段，可以为我们的一生奠定重要基础。

②中学时代见证着一个人从少年到青年的生命进阶。

（具体表现：（1）随着身心的不断发展，我们开始深入探寻生命的奥秘，满怀好奇地撩开精神世界的面纱；（2）随着自我意识的逐步觉醒，我们开始主动发现和认识自己；（3）随着思维水平和理解能力的不断提高，我们对世界的认识越发具体而深入；（4）随着生活体验的日渐丰富，我们开始自觉磨砺意志和品格，思考生活的意义……）3、★中学生活给了我们哪些成长的礼物？（中学生活带给我们的影响）（P5-P7）总述：中学生活，对我们来说意味着新的机会和可能，也意味着新的目标和挑战。

①中学生活为我们的发展提供了多种机会。

②进入中学，新的目标和要求激发着我们的潜能，激励着我们不断实现自我超越。

③在新的环境中，我们有机会改变自己在父母、老师和同学心目中那些不够完美的形象，重新塑造一个“我”。

4、★中学生活为我们的发展提供了哪些机会？（P6）①集体生活，涵养我们的品格，丰富我们的个性；②新的课程，引领我们探索新的知识领域；③丰富多彩的社团活动，给我们提供发展兴趣的平台；④各种各样的社会实践，为我们打开认识社会之门……5、中学时代我们应塑造一个怎样的“我”？（P7）①越来越有活力，能坚持，有韧劲；②越来越坚强，会合作，能包容；③越来越上进，敢于表达，超越自我。

6、我们应怎样度过中学时代？（我们应如何面对中学生活中的各种可能与挑战？）（P7）我们要珍视当下，把握机遇，从点滴做起，为美好明天付出不懈的努力。

第二框少年有梦1、为什么少年要有梦想？（梦想的重要性）（P9）①编织人生梦想，是青少年时期的重要生命主题。

传承优良家风争做新时代好少年征文传承优良家风争做新时代好少年征文（最新8篇）家风，又称门风，是一个家庭或家族多年来形成的传统风气、风格和风尚，承载着一个家庭或家族的生活方式、生活态度、文化氛围、理念、价值观和人生观等，下面小编为大家整理了传承优良家风争做新时代好少年征文，希望大家喜欢！传承优良家风争做新时代好少年征文篇1古往今来，不论是达官贵族还是王侯将相，能世代相传经久不衰的家族，必是有严格的家风家训之家。

自古以，老祖宗教导我们“百善孝为先”。

忠孝传家、勤俭持家、尊老爱幼、明事知礼……这些，是家风家训的永恒主题，家风家训一直都是中国传统文化的一个重要组成部分，好的家风家训，让一代又一代人健康成长，给儿女们无穷的正能量。

家风是什么？家风就是所有的父母在自己家里随时随地用言传身教所传递出来的一份信念。

如何言传声教呢？孝敬长辈，爷爷奶奶家离我们较远，但逢年过节及爷爷奶奶生日爸爸妈妈总会专程带礼物回家陪他们，最近爷爷身体不适住院，爸爸很忙，是妈妈一个人照顾我们全家老小，每天接送我和弟弟上下学，还要陪侍爷爷输液、送饭。

爷爷奶奶很过意不去，说太辛苦妈妈啦，爸爸工作很忙，但进门就会做家务，很体贴妈妈，但妈妈从不说累，总是笑眯眯的，她是我们家的福星，也是我和弟弟最好的榜样。

日常生活中爸爸妈妈还要求我做到起居有节，守时守信，做一个对自己有担当的人；公众场合吃饭要用公筷，在家吃饭要小声交谈，吃多少盛多少，不浪费一粒粮食；零用钱自己保管，平常做家务有奖，但是妈妈要求零用钱不能乱花，要做到勤俭节约从小事做起。

不论在哪儿，遇到长辈先问好，遇事请求时，要谦恭有礼。

家训是什么？家训是老祖宗给我们留的规矩，我们能世代传承并发扬光大。

黎明即起，庭堂内外打扫整洁；到了黄昏查看门户。

一粥一饭，当想着来之不易；凡事先要准备，像没到下雨的时候，要先把房子修补完善，不要「临时抱佛脚」，像到了口渴的时候，才来掘井。

生活上必须节约，聚会在一起吃饭切勿留连忘返。

高二上册作文大全（12篇范文精选）高二上册作文大全篇2月落星移，太阳爬回了天空，又是新的一天。

装饰天空的仍是那无边的湛蓝，点缀天空的仍是连绵的云海。

飞机在云海上掠过，在机舱中，头等舱的人大多读书，经济舱的人大多闲聊。

同样的旅程，却有不同的位置与行为。

是位置影响了行为?还是行为影响了位置?近朱者赤，环境氛围本就具有极强的感染力。

孟母三迁，迁的不就是环境?变的不就是行为?更何况谈笑有鸿儒，不同的位置本就有不同的追求，而有些人的位置也容不得他们去潇洒享乐。

位置影响行为，行为也影响了位置。

孙敬悬梁，苏秦刺骨，欧永叔画地以芦苇，朱翁子挂书与林梢，。

这些人虽生于微末，却出入于帝阍。

他们若无曾经的孤灯夜影，又怎能在以后立身于凤池?而在头等舱中的人不知又有多少曾在经济舱中勤奋苦读。

积硅步以致千里，成功的实力本就在于平时的积累。

发千曲而后晓声，一次次的进步本就会造成最后的蜕变。

腹有诗书气自华，一位有实力的歌手不会因在地铁站遭到了冷漠，也不会回舞台上评委的俗语而被掩盖了光彩。

现在的位置影响到现在的行为，现在的行为影响到以后的位置，那真正影响一切的还是一颗上进的心。

轻抹历史的尘埃，遥望往事多如烟雨的过去，在那渐渐沥沥的雨声中，仿佛又听见了长安城中那一句“士官当作执金吾，娶妻当得阴丽华”的豪情壮志。

透过那斜斜细柳，仿佛又见到了在太师驾前晒肚中学问的七岁孩童。

还曾记得”粉身碎骨浑不怕，要留清白在人间“的于图龙。

还曾记得”封侯非我意，但愿海波平“的戚继光。

这些不都是立志于少年而长青于万古的人物吗?试问那孙敬苏秦如不是自求上进，又怎耐得刻苦的寂寞?那孟轲如不是本就有颗仁爱的心即使三十迁又有何用?那些头等舱的人们如不是本就有所追求又怎会书不离手?圣经上有言”上帝只救自救之人“”你若央求我，我必搭救你“不过如此罢了。

新的日历翻开，天空与飞机仍在，只不过以前坐经济舱的人可能已经坐在了头等舱。

明日尚可待，昨夜已成空。

人虽不能决定现在的位置，却能决定现在的行为。

九年级上册第四单元作文写读书伴我成长九年级上册第四单元作文写读书伴我成长篇1现代的社会，媒体纷繁。

电视，可以轻轻松松地欣赏;广播，可以休闲式地收听;网络，可以海阔天空地漫游;报刊，可以随心所欲地浏览……相比之下，读书，显得有些“沉重”：字要一个个去认，句要一句句去理解，意思要一段段去思索，没有形象画面，没有伴奏音乐，没有旁白点拨，真有点儿“难”!但是，你可要记住：成功，靠的只能是“千方百计”;每一种媒体都要接触，但任何媒体都不能替代书籍，不仅因为它是这一“大家族”的“老祖宗”，更因为它在锻炼思维、培养能力、丰富文化内涵、提高语言文字运用能力等方面有着特殊功能。

我就把书籍当作不可缺少的营养品，看见书就像饥饿的人扑在面包上一样，爱不释手。

爸爸妈妈给我的零花钱，我舍不得花，攒起来买书，星期天上新华书店，是待到关门才依依不舍地离开;每逢生日或者学习上取得一点点进步，爸爸妈妈问我要什么礼物时，我总是不假思索地脱口而出：“书!书!我要书!”在我的房间里，摆放着两只大书柜，那里面全是书，从小小的、薄薄的连环画到大大的、厚厚的百科全书，应有尽有。

曾经有多少次抱着书入眠，也曾有多少次一个人关在家里，静静地沉浸于书的海洋，在那里遨游、徜徉、流连忘返。

读到高兴处，我会情不自禁地手舞足蹈，脸上洋溢着欣喜的神情，绽开舒心的笑容;读到悲伤处，我便为主人公的不幸遭遇而伤心不已，流下同情的眼泪;读到幽默风趣处，我常常禁不住开怀大笑，觉得妙不可言;读到深奥之处，我总要皱起眉头，冥思苦想;读到优美的词句，我会动笔摘录，细细品味。

书既像是一位充满智慧的老人，不断启迪我，又像是一位真诚的朋友，跟我面对面的交谈。

九年级上册第四单元作文写读书伴我成长篇2高尔基曾经说过：“书籍是人类进步的阶梯”。

我从小到大，读过很多书，书就像我形影不离的伙伴，一直陪伴着我。

在我小的时候，妈妈常常给我读我喜欢的故事书，如《格林童话》《幼儿画报》、《灰姑娘》等，每天晚上，我都是在妈妈的读书声中进入梦乡的。

（杭州学军中学2011-2012学年第一学期期末考试字数：255 难易度：A）( A )（体裁：说明文；题材：爱因斯坦的生平介绍）Albert Einstein had a great effect on science and history. An American university president once said that Einstein had made a new outlook, a new view of the universe. It may be some time before the average mind understands fully the identity of time and space and so on—but even ordinary man now understand that the universe is something larger than ever thought before.By 1914 young Einstein had been world-famous. He accepted the offer to become a professor at the Prussian Academy of Science in Berlin. He had few duties, little teaching and unlimited chances for study, but soon his peace and quiet life were broken by World War I.Einstein hated fighting and killing. The great suffering of war affected him deeply, and he sat unhappily in his o ffice doing little. He lost interest in his research. Only when peace came in 1918 was he able to get back to work. In the year following World War I honors were increasingly put on him. He became head of the Kaiser Whihem Institute of Theoretical Physics. But he himself refused the effort to put him in a position far above other people. He was well known for his humble（谦逊的）manners. He often said that his success would certainly have been achieved by others if he had never lived. In 1921 he won the Nobel Prize, and he was honored in Germany until the rise of Nazism when he was driven from Germany because he wasa Jew.61. The main idea of the first paragraph is ______.A. the difficulty of Einstein's thought to othersB. the feeling of an American university president towards EinsteinC. the difference between science and historyD. the change in human thought produced by Einstein62. From the second paragraph, we know Albert Einstein ____.A. enjoyed world popularityB. was the head of a schoolC. was popular with his studentsD. enjoyed studying wars63. Which of the following statements about Einstein is true?A. He achieved more than any other scientists in history.B. Our ideas about the universe differ from one another because of him.C. He kept working until peace c ame in 1918.D. His research practically stopped during the first world war.64. In the years following the First World War, _____.A．Einstei n’s theory was soon accepted even by ordinary peopleB．more and more honors went to EinsteinC．Einstein almost had no chances for his researchD．Einstein was not honored in Germany until the rise of Nazism65. It can be inferred from the third paragraph that _____.A．Albert Einstein was interested in nothing but scienceB．Einstein was forced to serve in the German armyC．Einstein made a lot more breakthroughs in his research after the First World WarD．Einstein was driven out of his motherland for his humble manners【答案】DADBC（可用书目：）（已用书目：）（杭州学军中学2011-2012学年第一学期期末考试字数：306 难易度：A）( B )（体裁：说明文；题材：国际贸易中的误解及解决方法）Successful people in international business understand the cultures of other countries and learn to change their practices in different cultures. They understand the importance of avoiding business decisions based on misconceptions---mistaken ideas.One cause of misconceptions is ethnocentrism, the belief that one’s own culture’s way of doing things is better than th e way of other cultures. It’s ethnocentrism that leads to failure in international business. To avoid ethnocentrism, it’s necessary to study the different elements(组成部分) of culture: language, values and attitudes, and customs and manners.LanguageA knowledge of the local language can help international business people in four ways. First, people can communicates directly. Second, people are usually more open in their communicationwith someone who speaks their language. Third, an understanding of the language allows people to infer meanings that are not said directly. Finally, knowing the language helps people to understand the culture better.____________Values are people’s basic beliefs about the difference between right and wrong, good and bad. An attitude is a way of thinking or acting. Values and attitudes influence international business. For example, many people in the United States believe that chocolate from Switzerland is better than chocolate from other countries, and they buy a lot of it.Customs and MannersCustoms are common social practices. Manners are ways of acting that the society believes are polite. For example, in the United States, it is the custom to have salad (色拉) before the main course at dinner, not after. It’s not acceptable t o talk with food in mouth at table. Failure to understand the customs and manners of other countries will bring difficulty selling their products. Orange juice as a breakfast drink of an American company in France doesn’t sell well because the French don’t usually drink juice with breakfast.66. A knowledge of the local language allows international business people ________.A. to be more open-mindedB. to communicate without outside helpC. to express their thoughts indirectlyD. to have a better idea of their culture67. Which of the following phrases do you think is the best heading of the fourth paragraph?A. Differences between Right and Wrong, Good and BadB. Values and AttitudesC. Chocolates from SwitzerlandD. Values and Manners68. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage ________.A. Sticking to your own culture’s way of doing things is the best policy in internationalbusiness.B. In international business, language plays a more important role than values and attitudes orcustoms and manners.C. Your failure to sell your product to people in some countries probably results from yourfailure to understand their customs and manners.D. There is no doubt that Switzerland produces the best chocolate.69. What would be the best title for the text?A. Misconceptions in Business.B. Basic Beliefs in Business.C. How to Avoid Failures in International Business.D. Successful International Business.70. The author’s purpose of writing this article is to tell people ________.A. how to take a right attitude in businessB. how to avoid misunderstandings in businessC. how to use a local language in businessD. how to act politely and properly in business【答案DBCAD（可用书目：）（已用书目：）（杭州学军中学2011-2012学年第一学期期末考试字数：356 难易度：A）( C )（说明文：全球早生儿现象）Each year millions of babies are born too soon and too small. Premature or preterm births are defined as births at less than thirty-seven weeks.Prematurity is the leading cause of death in newborn babies. More than one-fourth of the four million newborns who die each year around the world were born too early.Preterm babies that survive can suffer a lifetime of serious health conditions. The examples include cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing problems and learning disabilities. Families and communities face emotional, physical and financial costs.Christopher Howson is the vice president for global programs at the March of Dimes, a nonprofit group. His group and the World Health Organization recently published a report called ―The Global and Regional Toll of Preterm Birth.‖ CHRISTOPHER HOWSON: ―Frankly the crisis of preterm birth is under-recognized, undercounted, undervalued and under-funded. I mean, this reportshows that thirteen million babies are born every year preterm, and that over a million of those babies die as a result of being born too early.‖And these are just estimates; the true numbers could be even higher. More than eighty-five percent of preterm births happen in Africa and Asia. Africa has the highest rate, with about four million cases each year.Chris Howson says many of the causes of preterm births are related to poverty and weak health-care systems.CHRISTOPHER HOWSON: ―For example, the poor overall health and nutritional status of women. A high burden of infectious diseases. Lack of provision of family planning –allowing a woman to decide when to start and end having children and how to space her children. And also the lack of good prenatal care programs that might identify problems early on in pregnancy.‖Preterm births are a problem not just in the developing world. The combined rate in the United States and Canada is the second highest in the world. Preterm birth rates in the United States have increased thirty-six percent in the last twenty-five years.This has been largely the result of two reasons. One is an increase in pregnancies among women over age thirty-five. The other is an increase in the use of reproductive therapies.71．This passage is mainly about ________.A. the causes of people’s bad health throughout the worldB. how to improve people’s health throughout the worldC. premature or preterm births throughout the worldD. Christopher Howson, vice president for global programs at the March of Dimes72．All of the following are causes of preterm births except ________.A. too many deaths of newborn babiesB. povertyC. Lack of provision of family planningD. the lack of good prenatal care programs73．Which of the following is a true statement according to the passage?A. Preterm birth rates in developing countries are dropping and they are increasing in some developed countries like the US and Canada.B. The increase in pregnancies among women over age thirty-five and the increase in the use of reproductive therapies result in the increase of preterm birth rates.C. Fortunately, many people have already realized the seriousness of the problem of preterm births.D. Preterm births must be a problem for only poor areas because of poverty. 74．Which is the best title for the passage?A. Chris Howson, an Excellent Vice PresidentB. Preterm BirthsC. ―The Global and Regional Toll of Preterm Birth‖D. Emotional, Physical and Financial Costs75. Where can we probably read this article?A. International news reportsB. History and Political PapersC. Science magazinesD. World Trade Guides【答案】CABBC（可用书目：）（已用书目：）2011.1上海高一年级英语期末试卷，说明文，题材：市场，字数：228，A）The market is a concept. If you are growing tomatoes in your backyard for sale you are producing for the market. You might sell some to your neighbor and some to the local manager of the supermarket. But in either case, you are producing for the market. Your efforts are being directed by the market. If people stop buying tomatoes, you will stop producing them.If you take care of a sick person to earn money, you are producing for the market. If your father is a steel worker or a truck driver or a doctor or a grocer, he is producing goods or service for the market.When you spend your income, you are buying things from the market. You may spend money in stores, supermarkets, gas station and restaurants. Still you are buying from the market. When the local grocer hires you to drive the delivery truck, he is buying you in the labor market.The market may be something abstract(抽象的). But for each person or business who is making and selling something, it is very concrete. If nobody buys your tomatoes, it won’t be long before you get the message. The market is telling you something. It is telling you that you are using energies and resources in doing something the market doesn’t want you to do.( ) 54. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?A.Selling and BuyingB.Everything you do is producing for the market.C.What is the market?D.What the market can do for you.( ) 55. All of the following acts are producing for the market except_______.A. working in a bankB. attending a night schoolC. printing a bookD. growing beans for sale( ) 56. You are buying from the market when you ________.A.borrow a book from the library.B.walk to the seaside for a holiday.C.look after your children.D.dine at restaurant.( ) 57. The word ―concrete‖ in the last paragraph may most probably mean______.A. seriousB. importantC. necessaryD. real( ) 58. In what way is the market very concrete for each person or business who is making and selling something?A.It tells you what to produce.B.It provides you with everything you need.C.It tells you how to grow tomatoes.D.It helps you save money.【答案】CBDDA（已用书目：）（可用书目：）。

伴你成长高二新世纪（上）Module Three Unit 5教材精新目标扫描l．复习动词不定式的进行式和完成式的用法。

2．掌握本课的重要单词及用法。

quit，wonder，crazy，thrill，crash，fall，filter，silence，pack，curious，prime，scratch，practically，tremble，wrapping3．熟记本课出现的常见词组。

be crazy about，be thrilled at sth．／to do sth．，come over，show off，head for，turn over, settle down，pick up，without／beyond／out of reach．feed sb．sth．.，feed sth.．to sb．／feed sb．with／on sth．，shoot at4．掌握一些常用的重要句型。

(I)I wonder if／whether 我想知道是否……(2)It was…that…强调句型(3)Sb．could／must have done 情态动词的虚拟语气(4)(It’s)no wonder ……不奇怪．不足为奇5．能力要求。

(1)Describing animals(2)Telling and retelling a story(3)Reporting语言点详解1．不定式的进行式的用法不定式的进行式(to be doing)表示与谓语动词同时发生的动作。

例：The old woman seemed to be enjoying herself常与不定式的进行式连用的动词有：pretend，happen，think，believe，consider，say，seem，appear，report等例：She happened to be doing her homework when her father came back比较：Mr. Wang is said to write a letter to his s6n据说王先生要给他儿子写信。

新世纪英语高二第一学期1. Food in the United StatesMany changes are taking place in food styles in the United States. The United States is traditionally famous for its very solid and unchanging diet, chiefly made up of meat and potatoes. Now people in America have many different choices: ethnic food, health food, and fast food, in addition to the traditional home-cooked meal.Ethnic restaurants and supermarkets are common in the United States. Being a country of immigrants, the United States enjoys a wide variety of ethnic food. Most American cities and towns are filled with restaurants serving international cooking. Many even have ethnic sections: Chinatown, Little Italy, or Germantown. Having vast ethnic choices, Americans can enjoy food from all over the world. Besides sections of cities, there are ethnic regions, which are well-known for certain food because of the people who have settled there. For example, in southern California, there are many Mexican restaurants.Health food became popular when people began to think more seriously about their physical well-being. Health food is fresh, natural, and unprocessed food, which does not contain preservatives to make it last longer or chemicals to make it taste or look better. People who are keen on health food are usua lly vegetarians. They don‟t eat meat, but live on beans, cheese, and eggs.Fast food restaurants are now expanding rapidly all over the country. In the United States, speed is a very important concept. People usually have a short lunch break because they just do not want to waste their time eating. Fast food restaurants are places that take care of hundreds of people in a short time. There is usually very little waiting, and the food is always cheap. Burger and pizza places are just two examples.Americans‟attitude toward food is changing, too. The traditional big breakfast is no longer popular. However, coming to rediscover the social importance of food, Americans find that dinner with family and friends is a very special of enjoying time together. Like so many people in other cultures, many Americans are taking time to relax and enjoy a wider variety of tastes at dinner, even if they still rush through lunch at a hamburger stand.2. The world’s best ethnic foodHow can you travel the world without leaving your own country? Visit an ethnic restaurant! Trying foods from other countries is a great way to experience different cultures. People around the world have unique and creative ways of preparing food. The ingredients they use may surprise you.So what ar e the world‟s best ethnic foods? Everyone has his or her own personal favourites, and so do we. The following are the world‟s three best ethnic foods---other than Chinese food, of course! ITALIAN When you visit an Italian restaurant, order a pasta(意大利面食) dish. The Italians have hundreds of ways of preparing this food. Pastas usually come with flavourful tomato or cream sauces, which give the dishes a powerful, rich flavour. There are also different kinds of cheese. When ordering Italian food, you choose one main dish for yourself. You may, however, order an appetizer to share with everyone at the table.MEXICAN What‟s great about Mexican food? Most of it you can pick up and eat with your hands!One major Mexican food is the tortilla(尤指墨西哥人食用的玉米薄饼). Mexican chefs mold this corn or flour-based material into round, flat shapes. The tortilla then gets filled with ingredients such as cheese, meat, sour cream, beans and other vegetables. Tortilla dishes can be fried, baked or toasted. Don‟t forget to add ho t sauce---Mexican food is great with a bit of spice!INDIAN India is the land of curries and strong flavours. You can smell a good Indian restaurant even before you walk through the door!The eating method of Indian food also takes a bit of getting used to. Peal off some flat fried bread and use this “spoon” to get food from a shared dish. You can finish the meal with Indian-style milk tea.While Chinese food is great, try something new and expand your horizons. After all, variety is the spice of life!3. The global drinkTea, the global drink, is consumed around the world more than any other drink except water. Originating in China, tea has long established itself as the national drink of this country, the nation with the biggest population on earth.A century before the birth of Christ, tea was described in Chinese texts as a health drink that made one live longer. Tea is still being regarded as such. Scientific studies have suggested that drinking five cups of tea a day can be compared to having two servings of vegetables. Both green and black teas are claimed to be effective for preventing cancer, heart disease, and many other deadly disease. There is only one point people need to be aware of when they drink tea---it should not be drunk along with meals. This is because an element contained in tea can interfere with the body‟s absorption of iron.Tea, a popular drink in China and many other countries, is carefully prepared according to local customs. The Chinese put loose tea in teapots, add boiling water, and serve it in teacups. The strong tea from China‟s Fujian Province is drunk in tiny cups before dinner. Lighter teas with jasmine, rose or other flowers, are special to China‟s Changjiang River regions. These are usually served after dinner to help digestion.In England people use teabags and mugs. Many English people, travelling away from home, feel at a loss if their favourite teabags are not available. Afternoon tea in England is still a time-honoured tradition. It‟s a good opportunity for people to s ocialize or discuss business matters, though now more young people prefer a cola.In Japan, a tea ceremony is often held while people are drinking tea. The ceremony, usually held in a teahouse, dates back to the sixteenth century. Guests follow strict rules set up then and the tea used is a powdered green tea. Though still practised today, the tea ceremony may not be as popular as it used to be. Young Japanese tend to favour other drinks.4. CoffeeWhen coffee was first introduced in Europe in the 1600s, there was a great deal of controversy about it. Many doctors said that coffee was a strong poison and should be forbidden. Others, however, insisted it was good to drink coffee. Then, “coffee houses” sprang up everywhere. Today, coffee has become a global d rink and it is consumed by one third of the world‟s population.Tests show that when coffee is given in large doses to animals, it can actually act as a poison. Coffee can also produce negative or even poisonous effects on small children. But for adults whodrink it moderately, it is by no means a poison.Coffee contains caffeine. Most people believed that it is the caffeine that produces all the effects that coffee has on the body. Of course, the other elements in coffee have a role to play.Here are some of the things that happen when people drink coffee. The smell of coffee itself produces stimulating effects in various parts of the body. The blood vessels(血管) in the brain open wider so that the flow is improved, and this removes some of the poisonous substances from the brain. Coffee increases the pulse rate(脉搏), which means it stimulates the heart, and the muscles can thus work harder. Coffee makes the stomach work more actively, which is worthwhile for healthy people, especially when drunk after a heavy meal.Coffee actually produces different effects on the body at different times of the day! The morning coffee, for instance, helps the body get rid of waste products produced during the night. Coffee after lunch helps digestion. Afternoon coffee acts on the muscles and helps us feel less tired. And coffee taken in the evening seems to stimulate the mind and the imagination!However, there always two sides to everything. Caffeine is stimulating, so a lot of people avoid drinking coffee at night, which is the time when people want to go to bed instead of feeling stimulated. Furthermore, some people get hooked on coffee because of the caffeine, and that has always been considered negative.5. The Mexican (Adapted from The Mexican Jack London)Rivera was determined to help his people at the cost of his life. he fought against stronger and tougher boxers in the ring to make money for his people. He often lost at the beginning, but he grew more experienced.One day he was engaged in a very tough fight against a champion boxer, Danny. Rivera didn‟t match Danny in height, weight, or skills. And he was not half as popular. However, “The winner takes all!” And Rivera stubbornly asked for all---all he had on his mind was making the money for his people.The fight was going on and on. The whole stadium was cheering for Danny; there were few on Rivera‟s side. However, Rivera survived on blow after another; his excellent defence was frightening.Danny rushed, forcing Rivera to give him a clinch. Was it a trick? Rivera thought to himself. Yes, it was. But Rivera was smart enough to avoid it. He backed and circled away.He pretended to clinch with Danny‟s next rush. Instead, at the last instant, just as their bodies should have come together, Rivera went quickly back. He had fooled him!While Rivera was dancing away, Danny kept challenging him openly. Having run after him for two rounds, Danny found the boy not even daring to come near him. He started to throw all caution to the winds. Rivera was struck again and again. He took blows by the dozen---just to avoid the deadly clinch.In the seventeenth round, Rivera, blown heavily, bent down. His hands dropped helplessly. Danny thought it was his chance---the boy was at his mercy. He decided to strike the deadly blow. But before he could do that, Rivera caught him off his guard and hit him in the mouth. Danny went down. When he rose, Rivera gave him another blow on the neck and jaw. He repeated this three times.Danny did not rise again. The audience shouted for him to stand up. But the miracle did not happen.“Count!” Rivera cried to the referee. When the count was finished, Danny, gathered up by his assistants, was carried to his corner.“Who wins?” Rivera demanded.Unwillingly, the referee caught his gloved hand and held it high up.Rivera, unattended, walked to his corner, where his assistants had not yet placed his stool. He didn‟t care. All he could remember was that he had got the $5000 he needed. “The winner takes all!” What mattered to him was that his people could use the money to buy guns.6. PelePele was born in Brazil in 1940. Like many other Brazilian kids, Pele loved football and often played the game in the streets. He also went to school and did odd jobs to help bring in money for the family. However, what he loved best was to play football in the streets or practise kicking the ball with his father (also a great football player).Pele gained the attention of some coaches, first in the neighbourhood contests and later as he led his team to win the junior league tournament two years in a row. At the age of fourteen, Pele was playing for one of the first professional football teams in Brazil. As Pele became the most popular game everywhere in the world, except for North America. What had begun as a British sport became the favourite sport of people all around the world. Football became a truly international sport.Pele was in the Brazilian team in the World Cup matches of 1958. Before 1958, the Brazilian ream had failed in the finals three times in a row. Some sports writers said the Brazilians, though gifted, had no discipline. In the 1958 finals against Sweden, Pele kicked the winning goal, and he returned home a hero.However, he never forgot his poor fellow men. Pele owned dozens of apartment houses, in which he often allowed poor families to live without paying rent. He bought his mother the home he had promised her when he signed his first professional contract. But the most exciting moment of all was in 1969, when Pele scored his thousandth goal. As football fans stormed onto the field and reporters begged for a speech, all he said was, “Remember the poor children.”Today, Pele is one of the most famous athletes in the world. He retired in 1975. however, soon after that, he decided to play for three years with the New York team. He could not resist the challenge of trying to make football popular in the United States, one of the few countries in the world where football had not become the national sport. In 1977, Pele retired for good at the age of thirteen-seven.7. The OlympicsThe Olympics are the most important international competition in terms of scale, skills, and number of athletes.The games are divided into two parts---the Summer Games and the Winter Games. The two parts are held in such a way that there are two years in between but four years before one is repeated. The Olympics were first celebrated in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece, and were held every four years until 393 AD. Then, they were brought to an end by the Roman emperor. It was not until the 1890s that the world saw the modern summer games. In 1896 the first modern Summer Olympics were held in Greece because that was where the tradition started. After that the Olympics would move to a different city every four years. In 1924, the Winter Olympics were added to the schedule. TheGames were to take place in a separate, colder place. The event was cancelled during World War Ⅰand World War Ⅱfor reasons known to all.Examples of modern Summer Olympic events are track and field events, ball games, diving, gymnastics, swimming. Typical Winter Olympic events are skating and skiing.The Olympic records are the world ones. An Olympic gold medal carries as much weight as, or even more than, any other gold medal won at other international competitions. The skills and determination demonstrated at the Olympics have come to stand for the peak of human physical strength and will power.It was not until the late twentieth century that Chinese athletes began to amaze the world with their excellent performance at the Olympics. Coming out number one many times in the Olympic events, Chinese athletes have brought home one gold medal after another in swimming, diving, gymnastics, weight lifting, and a number of ball games. At the turn of the twenty-first century, the world witnesses Beijing being selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the host city for the 2008 Olympics. This has added a brilliant touch to the picture of modern Chinese sport history.Though once marked as “the Weaklings of East Asia”, the Chinese have always been looking forward to achieving the dream of becoming a sports giant. After continuous efforts for years the dream is gradually coming true, and it is understandable why the Chinese let out cries of joy the night Beijing‟s bid to host the 2008 Olympics was approved!8. Stars from the southThe summer of 2001 saw Australians win the Cycling Tour de France, beat the world at cricket(板球) and rugby, and have a player in the final of the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament for the eighteenth time.Many countries would be amazed at that kind of success. For Australia, it was just a typical sporting summer. At the 2000 Olympics, Australia came fourth in the medals table. That does not sound so great, yet Australia has a population of only 19 million. There are more Olympic medal winners per head of population in Australia than in any other country.What is it that makes Australians a sporting people? This is a question that many people involved in sports have asked themselves over the years.Some of the answers are simple. Sport needs space. Australians have 7.4 million square kilometres of space to play sports in. many other countries are either too crowded or too small to encourage everybody to take part. Besides that, Australia is a warm, dry country. This encourages people to go outdoors to enjoy themselves. Furthermore, since 85 per cent of Australians live near the sea, they learn water sports early; and since sharks swim off the coasts of Australia, they also learn to swim very fast.However, it is not just the environment. The Australian government invests heavily in sports. Instead of just looking for the gifted people and training them, the emphasis is on trying to get everyone to join in. So Australia has a small population, but a large number of sports-loving people to choose from.Other reasons go deep into the history and culture of the country. When the British first found Australia they decided that it would be a great place to send criminals to. Life for the first Australians was very tough, so they had to be independent and develop a will to win just to survive. Yet they also had to be able to trust each other and be willing to help each other out. Inorder countries, coaches train people in mental toughness and team building. In Australia, these qualities are part of the general social environment.Being far away from Europe also meant that Australians were far away from the centres of Western arts and cultures. As a result, sport itself has become a way of cultural expression and part of the Australian nationality. An English football fan wants to see the national team do well, but really cares more about his local club. For an Australian, representing the nation is the most important thing of all. Everything else is just good practice. Being good at sports is part of what it means to be an Australian.9. Why did I quit hunting?Why did I quit hunting?Well, it isn‟t a long story, but I wonder if you will really understand.I used to be crazy about the hunting season. I could hardly wait for those dry, cold mornings, that cup of hot coffee and then the walk over fresh-fallen snow, a fine rifle(步枪) in my hand.There‟s a thrill in hunting, an excitement that comes over you when a deer crashes out of the bush. You are waiting for him with death. After hunting, you also feel great. There‟s the bit of showing off with the boys---the fine head of the deer hung high up on the wall---sure, there‟s a thrill in all of it.There‟s beauty in the woods, too, especially late in the fall. Sometimes you walk among the huge trees, where the sunlight filters through. It‟s quiet and big, with touches of white and g reen and gold. And the silence is like that of a church.It was like that the last time I was in the woods. I was alone, packing a rifle, a thermos(保温瓶) of coffee and three thick sandwiches. I went up into the hills, heading for a well-used deer trail. Sure enough there were fresh tracks in the snow. I turned over a few rocks to clear the snow and settled down behind a little bush. It was pretty cold, but I was dressed for it and didn‟t mind.I sat there for about an hour. It was then that I saw him. A deer, a big beautiful deer! He was off to my left. There was no cover nearer to him than 30 yards. Surely I couldn‟t miss! I waited for him to realize I was there. I waited for him to be shocked and run away. But he fooled me completely. He came towards me! He was curious, I suppose, or maybe he was stupid---how else can you explain it?He was not quite young, but a deer in his prime. He must have known about men and guns. But he came closer, putting one foot before the other, slowly and purposefully. His big eyes never moved from my face. Well, that deer walked right up to where I was sitting. Then he stopped and looked at me!What happened next is hard t o believe, but it‟s true. And it all seemed quite natural. Just as when a friendly puppy comes near you, I reached up and scratched his head, right between the horns. And he liked to be scratched. That big, wild, beautiful deer bent his head like a young horse. In fact, he practically asked for more. I scratched his head and his nose poked at my shoulder. He didn‟t even tremble. I fed him my sandwich! Yes, I know what a deer eats, but that deer ate my sandwich. Well, he finally went his way, down the hill and up the deer trail. Shoot him? Not me. You wouldn‟t have either, not after that. I just watched him go.There‟s very little more to tell. I picked up my thermos and the wrapping for the sandwiches, and started walking back. I was about half way back when I heard two shots, followed by a dull slam a few seconds later. Those two shoots usually mean a kill. I had forgotten there were other huntersthat day.Those hunters would never know they could have scratched his head…10. Jane GoodallIn 1960, the twenty-six-year-old scientist Jane Goodall risked entering the thick bush. She intended to discover how chimpanzees(黑猩猩，缩写为chimp) were like human beings. She found out, instead, how much we are like them. Goodall broke new ground with her active involvement with some chimpanzees. She lived among them, ate and played with them and earned their trust by simply observing how they lived. Before Goodall, most visitors had frightened the chimps back into their rain forests. As a result, very little was actually known about them. Goodall, who insisted on going into the bush alone for longer periods of time, collected more information about apes(类人猿) than all other scientists put together.Born in London to a writer and an engineer with a passion for car racing, Goodall received their daring and imagination---qualities that, along with her curiosity, would serve her well in her future occupation. She was inspired at seven by the stories of Dr Dolittle, the scientist who could talk to animals. And with her stuffed toy chimpanzee by her side, the young girl spent hours studying worms(蠕虫，蚯蚓) in the garden, hens in the henhouse, and whatever insects she could find. After she graduated from high school in 1952, Goodall worked as a secretary at Oxford University. Even then she knew she wanted to go to Africa.In 1957 she was invited to Kenya(肯尼亚) to visit a friend, where she met the world-renowned anthropologist(人类学家) Louis S.B. Leakey. Goodall’s enthusiasm impressed him and he hired her as an assistant. Leakey later recommended her to a two-year research project studying chimpanzees in Gombe(冈贝，位于坦桑尼亚).It was a difficult decision to send a young woman, with neither a college degree nor scientific training, on such a demanding task. Leakey had trust in her, but his colleagues predicted the young woman would fail. Goodall proved them wrong. Goodall tried hard to observe the chimpanzees and to be observed in return. Eventually, the chimps grew to regard “this white-skinned ape” as their friend. Goodall made a number of surprising discoveries.She found that chimps used tools to dig ants out of their hills for food. Goodall found that chimps experience a wide range of emotions like anger and grief as humans do. Her discovery was a significant breakthrough. Among her famous works are: My Friends: the Wild Chimpanzees (1967), and In the Shadow of Man (1971). These, along with her numerous films, TV specials and articles, made her one of the best-known scientists of the 20th century.11. Oceans under threatPeople use oceans for trade, travel, tourism, and recreation. We also take food and resources from oceans. All these activities can have harmful effects on the oceans and the creatures that live in them. Overfishing and pollution are the most common problems. Oceans link countries all over the world; seawater circulates around the globe, so what we do in one part of the ocean can affect another.OVERFISHING In parts of the world, fishing boats with huge nets sometimes take too many of the same species of fish from a small area, causing some ocean waters to be overfished. As a result, there are not enough fish left to breed in these areas. This affects other fish in the food chain, and it affects people because there eventually may not be enough fish left to eat. In some parts of theworld, limits have been set for the number of fish to be caught at one time.THREATS TO MARINE LIFE Some species of marine creatures are now rare because too many have been killed for food or sport. Tropical islands and coasts with coral reefs(珊瑚礁) also attract large numbers of tourists every year. Indeed, this helps people develop an understanding of marine life. however, coral and shellfish(水生贝壳类动物) can be destroyed by heavy boats. Divers, who stay under water just for fun or to hunt for souvenirs, are disturbing the natural cycles of marine life.POLLUTION One of the biggest threats to oceans is pollution from industry. Most pollution happens in coastal areas. In fact, many coastal cities and ports are reported to have long been polluted by chemicals and other harmful things from heavy industries. The industries dump these materials into the nearby rivers, which then wash them into the sea. Once they settle on a continental shelf, pollutants pile up. We do not know a great deal about the long-term effects of pollution. However, we do know that the North and Black Seas in Europe have been polluted so much that the marine life is poisoned and may never recover.POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS All countries of the world need to work together to share ocean resources fairly. Laws are to be made and regulations are to be enforced to prevent overfishing and pollution. It is also hard to make people obey laws when our oceans are so vast and difficult to patrol. However, we should all learn to understand how importan t it is to manage the world‟s oceans now and in the future.12. What is forestry?Anyone who travels across the US sees so many forests everywhere that he might well wonder why the Americans have to worry about protecting them. Don‟t they have too many fo rests with so many trees right now?Actually, about a third of all the land area in the US is forestland. Yet, one of the most important things Americans can do for the future of their country is to see that these forests are properly cared for! This is being done in Britain and elsewhere.First, just imagine all the products we obtain from trees. Fruits, nuts, and sugar are only some of the foods. Buildings, tables, and boats come from trees. Also coming from trees are paper and toys---the list is almost endless.Second, forests reduce the danger of damaging floods and help control our water supplies. It is believed that the floods in China in the 1990s were closely related to the illegal cutting down of trees along the banks of the rivers. Under a good forest, there is rich soil, which easily absorbs heavy rains or melting snow. And, of course, our forests provide wonderful vacation spots for millions of people.Having benefited from all that forests provide, mankind has started to take good care of forests. The care of forests is called forestry, which is considered to be one of the many new sciences of our time. In fact, forestry has been practised in some European countries for hundreds of years.In most forests, it is important to harvest trees when they are mature. Otherwise, the old trees would take up space that could be better used for fast-growing younger trees. A large area of mature trees, having been cleared, is replanted by hand or nature. Great care and skill are needed in harvesting and replanting trees to make sure that there will be a good new growth of the right kinds of trees. This is why forestry has now become a science.The country with the largest forest area is Russia. Brazil ranks second, Canada third and theUnited States fourth. Did you know that despite all the efforts to prevent them, about 200,000 forest fires occur each year in the US? And in Australia forest fires break out simply because the weather is too dry. Thus there is still a lot more for us to learn about our forests and our nature.13. Shopping in the StatesI love shopping, even if it is just window-shopping. Shopping in the States is always a pleasant experience. There are different types of shops catering to your particular needs. To buy groceries, you can go to the convenience store, the supermarket or the mass merchandiser (such as Wal-Mart). To buy some clothes and big-ticket items, you can go to the mall or factory outlets. I go to two places most often, the supermarket and the mall.In almost every city or large town, you can find several big chain supermarkets, each with a good number of checkouts. They are one-stop shops since you can buy almost everything there: food, clothes, and medicine---you name it.Installed with automatic checkout lanes, some of these supermarkets have brought real convenience to the customers. Most packaged goods have barcodes and you just scan them on the scanning machine when you check out. Some items, such as vegetables and fruits, do not have barcodes on them. You need to input their label numbers, which can be found on the list glued to the scanning machine. These automatic checkout lanes help the stores reduce their labour cost and increase their efficiency. I was really thrilled the first time I used the automatic checkout lane. Shopping in the supermarket gave me other surprises as well. Once, I picked up two bags of salad at a supermarket. When I scanned them, the screen showed a different price from what was advertised. Out of curiosity, I went to the customer service counter and asked why. The lady who helped me went to the shelf to double-check the price. When she came back, she apologized to me, saying that the supermarket had not scanned the price properly. According to their policy, if the customer discovered a scanning problem, he would get the product for free as a reward for him or a penalty for the supermarket. When I left with the two bags of free salad, I couldn‟t help marveling at the honesty of the clerk.A shopping mall in the States is composed of many individual specialty shops and nationwide chain stores. What impresses me most when shopping at the mall is its return policy. No matter what you buy, shoes, pants or big-ticket items such as a TV or a washing machine, if you find some problems with them or simply do not like them any longer, you can return them within 30 days. You won‟t be challenged at the customer service counter as long as you have your receipt. Of course there are some people who might take advantage of this return policy, especially when they need something for momentary use. That‟s why you can always find a long line of people waiting to return their goods right after Christmas.The saying that “The customer is God!” rings true to me when I shop in the States. Here I feel that the customer is really taken good care of.14. Henry Adam’s shoesHenry Adams left work to go home on the bus as usual. As he walked out of his office, he heard a strange sound coming from his feet. Looking down, he saw that the sole of the right shoe had become partially separated.“I can‟t walk around like this,” he said to himself. So he turned into the Instant Shoe Service Repair Shop, where shoes are being repaired while you wait.。