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【Words】Unit 1promise to tell someone that one will definitely do somethingstraight one after another in a seriesdespite in spite ofSeoul the capital city of South Koreashuttle a train, bus or plane that travels regularly between two placesresort a place where people go on holiday or during vacationscramble to push or compete with othersslope the side of a hill or mountainfloodlight to light a place brightly using strong lampssuit a set of clothes made from the same fabricski a long piece of wood used for sliding down a hill covered in snowinstructor a person who teaches a skill or sportgentle not steep or sharpsideways to, towards or from the sidepoint to aim (something)tip the pointed end of somethingcross to pass one thing over anothersuccess a good resultdefinitely certainlynevertheless despite something just mentionedathletics sports involving racing, jumping or throwing on a track, road or fieldathlete a person who competes in sportscompete to take part in contest or sportparticipate to be involved or take part incombine to put together (two or more different things)event a race or competition in a sports programmehurdling a race that involves running and jumping over barriersshort-put a sport where people throw a heavy, metal ball as far as they candiscus a sport where people throw a round, flat object made of metal as far as they can javelin a sport where people throw a long, pointed stick as far as they canmarathon a running race usually about 42 km in lengthendurance the ability to do something difficult or painful for a long timerequire to make (someone do something)competition a contest, sport or racecategory a group of things with similar featuresdecathlon a sporting event taking place over two days, in which athletes compete in ten sportsall-round with a wide range of skills or abilitiesphysical related to the bodymotto a short phrase that express the beliefs or goals of a groupdesire a strong wish for somethinghumanity people in generalsoar to fly or rise high in the air quickly and smoothlyUnit 2tutorial connected with the work of a private teacher or a private school that prepares studentsfor examsfee an amount of money one pays for a professional servicereasonable fair, not too expensivetutor a private teacherqualified having passed the exams or completed the training necessary to do a particular jobsincere honest, realconfidence a belief in one’s own or another person’s ability to do something and be successful cheat to trick or deceive (someone)attend to go to (an event, meeting or class), to go regularly (to a place)supplementary extra or additionalcomic a magazine for children that tells stories through picturesvideo a recording of films or television programmes, moving images on a TV or computer screenarcade a place where one can pay to play games on machinesrecommendation a suggestion as to the best thing to doenroll to arrange for yourself or someone else to officially join a course,school, etcdetective a person employed to find out information about someone or somethingfactor one of several thing causing or influencing somethingsolution a way of successful dealing with a problempace the speed at which something is doneconvenient useful, easy or quickdegree the qualification receives by a student who has successfully completed a university or college coursecareer a series of jobs one holds in the same field of work over time, usually with increased responsibilityinterest to make one feel interested; to attract the attention ofcorrespondence the letters one sends and receives; the activity of writing lettersaudio connected with sound that is recordeddisc a thin, flat circular object, especially one used to record and play sound or video for a CD or DVD playermail the post; the system for sending and receiving letterscomplain an opinion or explanation about somethinge-learning the activity of study using computer software or the internetsoftware the programs used to operate a computerInternet a communications network connecting computers to each other around the worldfreedom the state of being able to do what one wantsself-discipline the ability to make oneself do something difficult or unpleasantachievement a thing someone has successfully doneUnit 3fashion the popular style of clothes and hair at a particular timefashionable following a style that is popular at a particular timeillustrate to make (something) clearer by using examplesobject a thing that can be seen or touchedblouse a woman’s shirtextravagant spending more money than seems necessaryafford to have enough money to buy (something)contest a competition where people try to win somethingsight a famous place often visited by touristsappreciate to recognize the good qualities of (someone or something)cool [informal]something very fashionabletrainers [pl.]shoes worn informally or for sportsruin to destroy something or make it lose all valueblonde (of hair )tallow or goldenwig artificial hair worn on the head to cover someone’s own hair or a place that is bald affect to influencebeaver a kind of animal with a flat tail and strong teethfur animal hairextinct (of a type of animal or plant, etc.) no longer in existencesaying a well-known statement that expresses something believed as wise and trueuniform a special set of clothes that identify members of a group or organizationelementary (in America) a primary school; a school for children between six and twelveMaryland a state on the East Coast of the USAreduce to make less or smaller in size, quantity, etc.programme a plan of things to be donepromote to help something happen or developlink to connect two things togethergang a group of young people that spend time together and often cause trouble or fight withother groupsdecrease to make less or smallerpeer a person of the same age or social status as another personpressure the act of trying to persuade or force someone to do somethingacademic connected with education or studyresistance dislike or opposition to a plan or ideacomplain to say that one is unhappy about somethingindividuality a quality that makes someone different from otherscourt a place where legal trials take place and where things are judgedunlike not probableadopt to accept and use (a new idea or plan)nationwide happening or existing in all parts of a countryUnit 4drive-in a restaurant, a cinema, etc., where one can eat or watch a film without leaving onestand a table or small building in the street where goods are soldCalifornia a state on the West Coast of the USAtidy arranged neatly and with everything in orderimmediately at once, without waitingstaff all the employees or workers at a placeimpress to make (someone) feel respect and likingservice the giving of food or drink to customers; the help to people that a business provides read to have (something) written on itoutlet a shop in a company that sells goods made by that companyexpand to become greater in size or importancelaunch to start (an activity, especially an organized one)branch a local office or shop belonging to a large companyswiftly very quicklyownership the fact of having something that belongs to youdetail the small facts or features of somethingestablish to start or create (an organization that is meant to last a long time)import to bring a product into one country to anotherpack to put (something) into a container so that it can be stored, transported or soldpersonnel the people who work for an organizationbakery a place where bread and cakes are made and soldroll a small, round piece of breadhotpot a hot dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in the oven or on a storeappliance a machine made to do a particular thing around the homerange a variety of thingswell-lit not dark; having much lightoperate to work in a particular wayUnit 5laptop a small computer that can easily be carriedmagic a special, wonderful qualityvirtual of something not real, but made to appear real or existing by the use of computer softwarereality a thing that is actually experienced or seenheadset a device that goes on the head and allows one to hear sounds, see images, or speak to others electronically; headphonesimage a picture of something or someone as seen on a TV or computer screen, in a mirror, or in a photographdata facts or informationenable to make it possible to do (something)distinguish to recognize a differenceobserve to watch (someone or something) carefully over a period of timethrill to excite or please someone very muchhand-feed to give food by handdinosaur an animal that lived millions of years ago, and is now extinctmanufacture to make or produce large amounts of goods, especially using machinerymetal a shiny, solid substance that heat and electricity can travel throughinspect to look at (something) closely in order to check itcritic a person who does not approve of something and talks about its bad qualities concerned worriedpowerful having great power or force; very effectivemedium a way of communicating information to peoplecommit to do something that is a crime or that is wrongexperiment to do a scientific test to gain new knowledgewearable suitable to be wornperformance the act of doing somethingmonitor to watch and check something over a period of time in order to see how it changes or what happensmeasure to find out how many or how much by using instrumentsbeat to make or cause something to make a regular movement or soundperform to do a task or dutycurrently at present; nowequipment the things needed for a particular purpose or activitykeyboard the set of buttons needed for operating a computersleeve the piece of clothing that covers one’s armelectronic (of a device) having or using many small parts that require electricity in order to work remove to take awaypart a piece of machine or structurefabric material made from wool, cotton, silk, etc., used for making clothes, curtains,etc.Unit 6transform to completely change the appearance and the character of something, especially so that it is betterMars the fourth planet from the Sun; the planet nearest Earthinterplanetary_ of something between the planetsMartian of the planet Marsexpedition an organized journey with a purpose, especially to find out about a place that is not well knownconduct to organize and do (an activity)landing the act of bringing an aero-plane or spacecraft to the ground after a journeysign an event, action or fact that shows that something may exist, is happening, or may happen in the furtherspacesuit a special suit that covers the whole body and provides air so that a person can move about and survive in spacegravity the force that attracts objects together and that pulls objects to the ground on Earthsolar related to the Sunorbit the round path an object uses to travel round a planet, star or moonpolar of the North or South Polespray to cover something with very small drops of liquid that are sent through the airreflect to throw back (light, heat, sound, etc.) from a surfaceretain to keep; to continue to holdmelt to make a solid become liquid by adding heatvapour a group of small drops of liquid in the airconvert to change or make something change from one form, purpose, system, etc., to anotheroxygen a gas that is in the air and is necessary for people and animals to livemigrate (of people) to move from one place to live and work in anotherbreathable (of a gas or air) having the quality that people and animals can breathe it and not be harmedinhabitant a person or animal living in a placetransformation a complete change in somethingmanned (of a spacecraft or other transport) being operated by a person or people riding inside of ittie to attach or hold two things together with a string or roperocket a kind of fireworks; the engine that burns fuel to send a spacecraft into spaceboom a loud, deep soundconsume to completely destroy (something or someone), especially in a fireexplosion the sudden violent bursting and loud noise of something such as a bomb explodingorbit to travel in a round path round a planet, star or moonmission a flight into spacelunar of or related to the Moon【Expressions】__get____ _straight___ ____A’s______ to get the best marks in all one’s subjects___keep_______ ___one’s_______ ___word_______ to keep a promise___South___ ___Korea___ a country in the north-east of Asia___be_______ __dying____ ___to_______ to want to (do something ) very much__check___ _out_____ to go to a desk at a hotel or airport and tell them one has arrived___in_____ _case____ because of the possibility of something happening____to____ __be___ ___honest__ what I really think is (a phrase used to introduce a sentence) __manage____ __to__ _do_ to succeed in doingsomething difficult_the__ __Olympic __ __Games__ an international sports event that takes place every four years___refer___ ___to__ to describe or speak about___track___ ___event____ a running race_field____ __event__ a sport such as jumping or throwing the javelin in an athletic competition____a______ _____series_____ ____of______ similar events or things that happen one after another____be______ __equal________ ___in_______ to be the same in, or to be of the same degree ____in______ __many________ __ways________ generally speaking___command_______ __of_______ one’s knowledge of and ability to use something_____make_____ ___money______ to earn a profit, to get a lot of money__be____ __forced____ ____to______ (___do_____ _something_) to be made to (do something that one does not want to)___video_______ _arcade________ a place where a person can pay to play video games___as_______ _____a_____ __result________ (___of_____) as a thing caused or produced by something else__be________ __willing________ __to________ (__do______ ___sth._____) to have no reason not to (do something)__describe________… __as_______ to say that someone or something is like_____at_____ __one’s________ _own_________ __pace________ as fast or slow as one can __be________ __convenient________ ___for_______ to be useful, easy or quick to do__correspondence____ __course________ a course of study that one does at home by mail__make________ _comments_________ to give opinions or explanations about something___on____ __one’s___ ____own______ by oneself; receiving no direction or help from others____sense______ ___of_______ _satisfaction ______ a feeling of pride for what one has done _____sense____ ____of______ ___achievement_______ a feeling of fulfillment or pleasure because something has been achieved_bring_________ _along_________ to carry with you___a_____ __piece______ ___of_____ __clothing______ an item that someone wears____be_____ __keen________ ___on_______ to like very much___search_______ __for________ to attempt to find (something)__close________ __down________ (of a business or factory) to stop operating__go_____ _out___ __of____ __style___ to be no longer fashionable___school____ _uniform____ a special set of clothes worn by all the students of a school__public________ _school_________ (in America) a school owned by the government and open for all children to attend without paying a fee___go_______ __against________ to resist___be______ __linked________ __to________ to be connected with (something or someone else)__peer____ ____preasure_ when a child or young person wants or feels forced to be like othersof the same age___car_____ ___park___ an area or a building where people can leave their cars__set________ __up________ to create or start (something)__take___ ___over____ to gain control over (something in place of someone else)____stand______ ___for_______ to be the short form of a word or the symbol for (something);to represent (something)_____as_____ __well________ ____as______ also; in addition to_no ______ ____doubt __ certainly; it must be true___chain__ __store______ a shop that is one of a series of shops owned by the same company____be____ _likely_______ ___to_____ (__do______ _sth._______) to be expected to____of______ _some_________ __kind__of a particular type_convenience_____ ___store_______ a small shop that sells food, newspapers, etc., and often stays open 24 hours a day__thanks_______ __to______ because of_virtual________ ___reality_______ a situation where images created by a computer appear to surround the person looking at them and seem realouch something or ___reach____ ____out______ to stretch out one’s hand or arm in order to tpick it up___distinguish____ __from________ to recognize the difference between two things__get________ ___used_______ ____to______ to become familiar with (something) so that itno longer seems strange__for_____ __sure________ for certain; without doubt__step________ __into________ to enter___before_______ ____long______ within a short time____dream______ ____of______ to think about something one would like to happen_____come_____ ___true_______ to happen; to become reality___the_______ __greenhouse__ ___effect_______ a slow rise in temperature on a planet caused by an increase of gases that trap the heat of the Sun___carbon_______ ___dioxide_______ a gas that is breathed out by people an animals; CO2__ice____ ___cap_______ the ice covering the polar regions of a planet___water___ _vapour____ steam___go_______ __up________ _____to_____ to become higher and reach a certain point__name________ __after________ to give a baby a name first used by someone else; to give something like a boat, aircraft, space mission, etc. a name first used by someone or something else。
S2AChapter 1Reading My favorite sportSkiing is my favorite sport, even though I have only skied for four days in my whole life. Last year, my father promised to take me on a holiday if I did well in my exams. When I got straight A’s, Dad said’ ‘How abou t a weekend at the Botanical Gardens? ’However, my mu said, ‘No, you promised a special holiday. I think you ought to keep your word.’ And, despite the expense, he did,M y dream was to see some real snow, so in the Christmas vacation we flew to Seoul, South Korea, and then took a shuttle bus which runs back and forth between Seoul and Muju Resort. As the bus climbed through the mountains, we saw the snow in the trees. I was dying to get out of the bus.No one in my family had ever touched snow before. We were all like little children--- we picked it up, made snowballs, and threw them at each other!Then we checked in at the hotel. Our room overlooked one of the ski slopes. The slope was floodlit, so we watched people skiing until 10 p.m. We could not wait to try it ourselves.The next day we had our first skiing lesson. We rented our ski suits, boots ad skis, and went outside onto the snow. Wearing skis for the first time makes you feel very strange. Suddenly you find you cannot even walk. Our instructor took us onto a gentle slope, and showed us some basic skills. In order to do up a hill, you have to stand sideways, and go up step by step. You must point the tips of your skis together so that you can stop. However, the tips must not cross, or you will fall. You should not ski alone in case you fall and get injured. To be honest, that first lesson was not a great success, and I kept falling down!However, the next day I definitely improved. I only fell over a few times, and I managed to do a few longer runs. I felt pleased with myself, and the instructor congratulated me, so I felt great. Although it was very cold, I spent most of that holiday skiing. It was the most wonderful time of my life.Nevertheless, it was all over too soon. Now I have decided to workpart-time this summer, so I can earn enough money for another super skiing holiday.More reading Faster, Higher, StrongerThe Olympic Games have a long history. The first modern Games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Every four years, athletics from all over the world compete in various sports at the Games. The largest group participates in athletics.‘Athletics’ refers to sports in four areas: track, field, road and combined events. Track events, such as running and hurdling, test a person’s speed. In order to win a track event, a person needs to go faster than everyone else. Field events, however, test how high or far someone can jump in events such as the long jump or high jump. They also test how far someone can throw in events such as the shot-put, discus or javelin. The marathon and race walks are road events. They test endurance. In combined events, athletes are required to compete in a series of competition from each category. The most famous combined event is the decathlon. The decathlon involves ten different athletics events that take place over two days. Since the decathlon involves ten different athletics events that take place over two days. Since the decathlon tests all-around physical ability, the winner of the decathlon is often called ‘the world‘s greatest athlete.’Although all Olympic sports are equal in importance, athletics is, in many ways, the best picture of the Olympic motto ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger”. The desire of humanity to do better---to run faster, to soar higher and to push farther---is what the Olympics are all about.Chapter 2Reading Tutorial centresHelpfulI have been studying at a tutorial centre for two years. The fees are very reasonable, and my command of English has improved greatly since I started.My tutors are all qualified teachers. They are sincere and kind. I have been helped a lot by them.One of my teachers was British. At first, I could not say anything to her. However, later I learnt how to communicate in English with a westerner.I think that the tutorial centre has given me a lot of confidence in using English.I go to sleepI have been attending a tutorial centre for two months. I have been forced to attend by my parents, but I do not think it is useful for me.I am always very tired after school. Sometimes I even sleep during the classes in the evening.Furthermore, the teachers are very boring. They give us a lot of supplementary exercises but they teach us nothing. I usually read comics during class. Sometimes I go to a video arcade instead. I think tutorial centres are uselessWaste of moneyI have studied at a tutorial centre for one year. However, I think that I have been cheated.These tutorial centres are only interested in making money, so they accept too many students for each class. However, they do not want to pay for good teachers. My English teacher was a university student who studied physics, not English!Very often, he could not answer our questions about the use of the language.In my opinion, it is better to spend more time on school work than to waste money at a ‘money-making’ tutorial centre.Good and badI have experienced both good and bad tutorial centres.In my first centre, I was in a very big class. My teacher was an Australian. He just talked about his travels. I could learn nothing from him. I left within a month.Then I ask all my friends for their advice. As a result of their recommendations, I enrolled on a course at another centre.The teachers are excellent here and the classes are small. We have been taught many good techniques for developing our language and studying skills.There are both good and bad tutorial centres, so you must do some detective work before you enroll.However, the most important thing is whether you are willing to learn and to work hard. The key factor is yourself.More reading Independent learningIndependent learning is one solution for those who want to continue their education, nut have no time for it. It is often described as ‘a class of one’, because you work alone. You study at your own pace, at a time and place convenient for you. These courses can help you get a degree, help your career, or help you learn what interests you.One type of independent learning is the correspondence course, In a correspondence course, a school sends you textbooks, study guides, and materials such as video and audio discs. You communicate with your teacher by mail. Your teacher reads your papers and makes comments, Your marks are recorded by the school before they are mailed back to you.A newer style of independent learning is e-learning. With e-learning, you study using computer software or the Internet. You can learn on your own, or you can enroll on a course. Usually, in an e-learning course, students communicate with their teachers through e-mail. However, some students have been using video recently. This allows the teacher and the students to see and communicate with each other at the same time.Independent learning gives you the freedom to adapt your learning to your lifestyle. However, it requires self-discipline and hard work, so not everyone is successful at it. Those who are successful receive a real sense of achievement and satisfaction.Chapter 3Reading FashionMy topic is ‘Fashion’. Fashion is important to almost all of us. By fashion, we usually mean popular trends in styles of dress. When we do out or to a party, we usually like to wear fashionable clothes. To illustrate my talk, I have brought along five objects.My first object is this blouse. It looks beautiful, doesn’t it? It’s my mos t expensive piece of clothing, and I love it. It cost me $200. It may seem very extravagant, but I could afford it with my own savings. It wasn’t easy for me to earn the money, but when buying clothes, I think the more you spend the better the quality. So you see, fashion is quite important to me.However, I’m not as keen on fashion as my brother Gary. Last summer, he won a free trip to London in a contest. The organizers wanted to show him some famous sights. But he didn’t appreciate old buildings. He just spent all his time searching for the coolest pair of trainers! For him, fashion was more important than culture. These are the trainers he bought.Was it worth a trip to London to buy these? Well, I don’t think so. It was a waste of time and money.Fashion is very big business. Changes in fashion can create or ruin jobs. As an example, I have brought this blonde wig to show you. It belongs to one of my mum’s friends. In the 1960s, these were very fashionable. But a few years later fashions changed, and women wore wigs much less often. Many wig factories closed down, and hundreds of workers lost their jobs, which was terrible!Fashion can affect the natural world, as well. I’m holding an old hat borrowed from a drama company. It’s made of beaver fur. These h ats were very fashionable about 200 years ago. As a result, beavers almost became extinct. Luckily, in the 1850s, these hats went out of style and the beavers were saved.Finally, we should remember the saying,’ never judge a book by its cover.’ Clothes wi ll not make us more or less clever, better or worse, more or less honest. I once saw a movie about Mother Teresa. She spent all her life helping poor people in India, most of whom were dying. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. When she flew to get the award, she wore the same old clothes as usual, and carried all her possessions in a little bag like this, which I bought in a market. This reminds us that fashion is not the most important thing in life.Thank you.More reading Uniform fashion good for young students School uniforms are not part of the traditional way of life in the USA. In 1987, Cherry Hill Elementary, which is in the Maryland, went against tradition by becoming the first public school in the USA to make students wear uniforms. The school did this to reduce trouble caused by the students’ love of fashion. Since this new programme has proved to be a good way to promote safety and discipline, other schools soon followed. By 2000, 12 pert cent of American public schools required school uniforms.The introduction of school uniforms has helped reduce school violence. Much of school violence is linked to the wearing of gang colours, which are the clothes worn by different youth gangs. In schools with youth gangs, the number of fights decreased by 40 per cent after uniforms wre introduced.Uniforms also send a message that students are at school to study, not to play. They reduce peer pressure and create school pride. These things help raise the academic level of the students.Although school uniforms are popular in some areas, this new tren has met strong resistance from many parents, some of whom angrily complain that uniforms keep students from showing their individuality. A few parents have even gone too curt to stop school uniforms from being introduced. For this reason, it is unlikely that uniforms will ever be adopted nationwade.Chapter 4Reading The hamburger businessIn 1954, an American businessman called Ray Kroc was selling milkshake machines. One small drive-in hamburger stand in California bought not one but eight of these expensive machines. Surprised by this Kroc decided to go and visit it.Arriving before the hamburger stand opened, Kroc sat in his car and watched. A team of young people in uniforms appeared and started cleaning the stand and its car park, making everything neat and tidy. When opened for business, the hamburger stand was immediately filled with customers. The staff were cheerful, fast and polite. The food wasexcellent. Impressed by the cleanliness, service and food, Kroc looked up at the name over the hamburger stand. It read, ‘McDonald’s Hamburgers’.Although started six years earlier, in 1948, McDonald’s was still a small business owned by two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald. Kroc suggested that they should set up more outlets, but the brothers were happy with their life and did not want to expand further. However, they did allow Kroc to launch other branches of McDonald’s for them. That was the start of the biggest fat-food company in history.In 1955, Kroc opened his first McDonald’s near Chicago, and many more swiftly followed. In 1959, the 100th McDonald’s was opened. In 1961, Kroc took over complete ownership of the business from the brothers by paying them US $2.7 million.By 1972, a new McDon ald’s was being opened every day, and by 1974 there were over 3,000 restaurants. McDonald’s came to Hong Kong in 1975, and was introduced into Shenzhen in1990. Two years later, the first McDonald’s in Beijing opened with more than 40,000 customers on its first day.Why has McDonald’s been so successful? Back in 1956, McDonald’s adopted the motto ‘Q. S. C. &V.’ These letters stand for’ Quality, Service,Cleanliness and Value’. In all of these areas, McDonald’s pay great attention to detail.For example, afte r years of planning, McDonald’s established its largest ever restaurant in Moscow in1990. To achieve the right quality, potatoes are imported into Russia, and farmers are taught how to farm them properly, as well as how to harvest and pack them.To achieve good service, McDonald’s has one of the best training programmes in the world. It even has seven Hamburger Universities (one in Hong Kong) where top personnel can learn management and customer service skills.By 2005, McDonald’s had over 30,000 outlets in 119 countries and regions. It sells more than 100 hamburgers every second of the day. While it does not yet have a restaurant on the Moon, no doubt a plan is already being made for one.More reading The rise of chain stores in ChinaDuring the last few years, the number of chain stores has greatly increased in big cities in China. Nowadays, within a short walk along abusy street, you are likely to find a chain store of some kind---a fast food restaurant, a bakery or a convenience store.Chain stores hav e become part of people’s daily lives. They may pop into a BreadTalk to buy a sweet roll for breakfast on their way to work. They may visit a Lianhua Supermarket in the evening to buy some food for dinner,\For a birthday, they might celebrate with friends at a Little Sheep Hotpot Restaurant. At the weekend they may go to GoMe Appliances to buy a DVD or MP3 player. Chain stores have become so popular that some people include them as a factor when deciding where to live.Why have chain stores grown so fast in number and influence? Meeting the customers’ needs is the answer. Opened in convenient locations, the stores are usually next door to people’s homes and close to bus stops or underground stations. They offer a wide range of products in a clean, well-lit and relaxing environment. Every store in a chain operates in the same way as the others do. That way, everyone knows what to expect in case they shop there. The prices are reasonable too.It seems that chain stores are a welcome development in China. They are certainly a new force changing people’s way of life.Chapter 5Reading Virtual realityOnly 50 years ago, computers were bigger than people. Today, people can carry their laptops with them anywhere they go. Soon, we may be able to step inside a computer world thanks to the magic of virtual reality. What is virtual reality, or VR? If something is virtual, then it is created by computer technology and appears as if it were real. Virtual reality is a computer system with a special headset. When you put on the headset, you look at two tiny television screens. They are so close to your eyes that your mind will see the image as one picture, and you will believe that you have entered a different world. In many systems, you also wear a special data glove. With this glove you can reach out and touch things in the artificial world.The first VR games, already sold round the world, enable you to drive a sports car, fly a plane, or fight an enemy. In the future, it may be difficult to distinguish the virtual world of the games from the real world outside. However, VR is not just for entertainment. One day, delighted children will be able to learn geography by observing exciting foreign countries without having to leave their classroom. They will be thrilled to learnhistory by visiting the pyramids of Egypt, or by hand-feeding friendly dinosaurs.In addition, business will be able to use VR for many tasks. Cars designed using computers can be tested as virtual machines first, before they are manufactures in metal. Architects will be able to make virtual buildings, which they can walk around and inspect before constructing. VR can help us in hundreds of ways.Despite this, concerned critics have warned that there could be dangers in this powerful new medium. Will we have VR games in which people can commit virtual crimes? After people get used to VR, will they want to return to reality? Will we forget how to live and work with real people? On the other hand, some people think that VR will help us improve the world. By experimenting harmlessly inside a VR world, we will be able to see the dangers we may face in the future. Then we will be able to avoid them in real life.No doubt there will be some problems with VR, as there are with all new inventions. However, one thing is for sure: VR is here to stay. Get ready to step into another world!More reading Wearable technologyDid you know that some technology can be worn?In fact, wearable technology has been around for some time. The first people to experiment with the idea were managers of sports teams. They wanted to know how athletes could use technology to improve their performance. Special vests, created to monitor an athlete’s body, can measure how fast the heart is beating and how hard the athlete isb reathing. Scientists have also developed ‘cooling’ vests to help athletes perform better in difficult conditions, such as hot weather. Furthermore, an American company is currently researching clothes for soldiers to help them run faster, jump higher and lift heavier equipment.Before long, we will have technology in our everyday clothing. A computer hidden in a coat could be operated by a keyboard on one of the sleeves.Electronic sunglasses could show us maps of where we are standing and point us in the direction that we want to go. Our clothes could also monitor our bodies. They could tell us when we need to eat certain foods, take medicine or rest in order to stay healthy.There is only one problem with clothes like these: They may be difficult to wash. Electricity and water do not mix! You could remove theelectronic parts before washing, but putting them back in again could take hours. Designers are now building small wires into the fabric of the clothing to solve this problem.These clothes could appear in shops any day now. Soon, we could all be wearing electronic clothes.Chapter 6Reading Transforming MarsEver since the beginning of history, people have dreamt of interplanetary travel. For centuries, these dreams have always remained dreams. However, scientists now want to make these dreams come true. They are planning to transform Mars so that humans can live there. Within 30 years, the first people will land on Mars and, by the year 2185, we will have established cities.In many ways, Mars is the planet most similar to Earth. A Martian day lasts about 24 1/2 hours (although a year has 687 days). While there is no water, there is a lot of ice in the two polar ice caps. The average temperature is -60℃.The plan involves changing Mars so that it becomes more like Earth. This means using the ‘greenhouse effect’ (which we are trying to stop on Earth). The suggested programme would have five main stages.Stage 1 (AD 2030-2045).The first expedition arrives on Mars, after a journey by spacecraft of about six months. The members construct underground buildings, conduct experiments, look for good sites for future landings, and also check for signs of life. They can survive only as long as they wear spacesuits, because 95 per cent of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. Nonetheless, the low gravity (one-third of Earth’s) means they can move around easily.Stage 2 (AD 2045-2095)More expeditions arrive. Huge mirrors are put in orbit round Mars to heat the polar ice caps. The ice caps are sprayed black, so that they do not reflect the heat away. Chemicals are released into the air. As a result, the atmosphere becomes thicker and retains more of the Sun’s heat. If the greenhouse effect can be started, the ice caps will melt, releasing water vapour, and the temperature will rise to -40℃.Stage 3 (AD 2095-2130)Next, plants are introduced from Earth. If these plants can survive on Mars, carbon dioxide can be converted into oxygen. The first clouds appear, and the sky slowly turns from pink to blue. The temperature goes to -15℃.Stage 4 (AD 2130-2145)The warming continues, melting more ice. Rivers and small oceans are made. More people migrate from Earth and construct towns. Forests of trees are planted. Mars is looking greener. The temperature is 0℃.Stage 5 (AD 2145-2185)Mars is getting more like Earth. The amount of oxygen in the air rises, and the air becomes breathable. The inhabitants can go outside without spacesuits. The temperature reaches 10℃.(Since Mars is 228 million kilometers from the Sun, it can never be as warm as Earth) Cities, farms and industries are built all over Mars. The transformation is complete.More reading Chinese manned space flightsChinese people have always dreamt of flying to space. Around AD 1500, a man named Wan Hu made the first attempt at space flight. He sat down in his chair, tried 47 rockets to it, and then lit them. There was a big boom.-! When the smoke cleared, Wan Hu was gone. The people watching might have thought that he was successful. However, we know now that his rockets were not powerful enough to send him into space. He most likely was consumed in the explosion.Jumping ahead nearly 500 years, in 1992 China began its manned space programme, leading to the space flight of Yang Liwei, China’s first astronaut, in Shenzhou 5 on 15 October 2003. China became the third country, after the USA and Russia, to send a man into space. Yang Liwei spent only about 21hours in space. This time was beaten by China’s next manned space flight, Shenzhou 6, which began on 12 October 2005.On this flight, Chinese astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng spent five days orbiting Earth.In the future, China plans to have its own manned space station orbiting Earth. China is also developing a programme, named Chang’e after the story of a beautiful young girl who floated to the Moon, of missions leading to a lunar station. Chinese scientists are already researching on the idea of sending women into space. If China sends a woman to the Moon, the story of Chang’e will no longer be so difficult to believ e。
U1 Sporting events词汇讲解1. promise v. to tell someone that one will definitely do something 答应；许诺e.g. Since you have promised to do it, you should do it.既然你已经许诺过了，你就该说到做到。
【必背】promise somebody something／promise something to somebody向某人承诺某事；答应给某人某物promise to do something答应做某事e.g. They promised to finish the work next week．他们承诺下周完成工作。
promise that…答应或保证…e.g.1. They promised that all the books would be returned by Friday．他们保证所有的书籍会在周五之前归还。
【拓展】(1) promise n. 许诺；诺言；保证e.g. We received many promises of help．许多人答应帮助我们。
【必背】make a promise 做出允诺keep a promise遵守诺言fulfill a promise实现诺言carry out a promise履行诺言break a promise违背诺言(2)promise V．预示e.g. It promises to be fine tomorrow．明天有望是个好天气。
Heavy snow promises a harvest．瑞雪兆丰年。
(3)promising ad／．有前途的；有希望的e.g. The results of the first experiment are not very promising．第一次实验的结果不容乐观。
After-school activities. unit 1. Sporting events. Reading. A. What do you know about...?
look at the pictures on this page and discuss the questions below.
1.what are these sports? 2.which of these sports are popular in your city?why? 3.what adjtctives would you use to describe these sports and people? 4.which sports do you like or dislike?why?
B. Skimming. Look at the heading and the first paragraph of the essay, and then answer these questions.
1. How much skiing experience does the writer have? 2. What does the writer probably do? 3 . What does the writer think of skiing? 4. Who took her on this skiing holiday?
C. Scanning. Scan this essay quickly and answer these questions. 1. What kind of marks did she get in her exams? 2. What are the names of the two places in South Korea? 3. Until what time did they watch people skiing? 4. What happens when you cross the tips of your skis? 5. How will she earn money to go skiing again? Unit 1.
上海外语教育出版社小学二年级英语第一学期教案ItisJennyspuzzle4It is Jenny's puzzle.【教学目标】1．能理解课文大意，能够初步运用以下句型及其答语进行简单交际。
This is a present for you.Thank you.It is a puzzle.Whose puzzle is it?It is Jenny's puzzle.It's a horse.No, it is not. It is an elephant.2．能够听、说、读、写四会单词：an/book/for/horse/mummy/picture/pig/present/puzzle/tha nk/whose/you 3．能够正确朗读课文，表演对话。
【教学重难点】重点：1．单词的认读。
2．功能句的理解。
难点：1．an/book/for/horse/mummy/picture/pig/present/puzzle/ thank/whose/you 2．句型：能够理解句型的Whose ... is it? It's XX's ...以及This is ... for...含义。
Whose puzzle is it?It is Jenny's puzzle.【课时安排】2课时【教学准备】多媒体，图片【第一课时】Step 1 Warming upT: Today, is Jenny's birthday. Her mother give her a great present.Let's have a look.Step 2 Presentation1. M: Look, this is a present.To learn the word “present”M: This is a present for you.J: Thank you mummy.Practice dialogue: This is ____ for you. Thank you.J: Let's have a look. Oh, it's a puzzle.To learn the word “puzzle, horse, pig, elephant”.T: There are many friends in Jenny's house. Whose puzzle is it?Ss: It is Jenny's puzzle.2. Listen to the tape. Ask and answer.Who's the present for?What's the present?Whosepuzzle is it?Is it a horse?3. Listen to the tape and look at the P9 to find out the answers.4. Open your books. Read after the tape.5. Read it by yourself.6. Whole class read it.7. Act out.Step 3 Summary and homework Train gameRead the words one by one.【作业布置】1．Listen to the radio.2．Review the new words and sentences.This is a present for you.Thank you.It is a puzzle.Whose puzzle is it?It is Jenny's puzzle.It's a horse.No, it is not. It is an elephant.【第二课时】Step 1 Warming up GreetingStep 2 Revision1．Have Students look at the first picture.2．Point to the pictures. Model the dialog.3．Repeat with the second picture. T: Listen and repeat.4．After enough practice, encourage Students to act out the dialog in pairs. Step 3 PresentationGogo structure.T: Listen to the sentences in the table, then read after it.T: Do you find the sentence pattern? Can you find the rules here?Find the rules.Step 4 Drill1．Practice the sentences in pairs.Read together.2．Let's act say and write.3．Divide the class intogroups. Play the role game.【作业布置】1．Listen to the tape of the text．2．Read the text3．Review the new words.【板书设计】。
