1、第 1 页 共 83 页2011 高考英语课外阅读材料【每两天一篇阅读+单词学习】Unit One: How to Improve Your Study HabitsTEXTWant to know how to improve your grades without having to spend more time studying? Sounds too good to be true? Well, read on.How to Improve Your Study HabitsPerhaps you are an average student with average intelli
2、gence. You do well enough in school, but you probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily the case, however. You can receive better grades if you want to. Yes, even students of average intelligence can be top students without additional work. Heres how:1. Plan your time ca
3、refully. Make a list of your weekly tasks. Then make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eating, sleeping, meetings, classes, etc. Then decide on good, regular times for studying. Be sure to set aside enough time to complete your normal reading and work assignments. Of c
4、ourse, studying shouldnt occupy all of the free time on the schedule. Its important to set aside time for relaxation, hobbies, and entertainment as well. This weekly schedule may not solve all of your problems, but it will make you more aware of how you spend your time. Furthermore, it will enable y
5、ou to plan your activities so that you have adequate time for both work and play.2. Find a good place to study. Choose one place for your study area. It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be comfortable, and it should not have distractions. When you begin to wor
6、k, you should be able to concentrate on the subject.3. Skim before you read. This means looking over a passage quickly before you begin to read it more carefully. As you preview the material, you get some idea of the content and how it is organized. Later when you begin to read you will recognize le
7、ss important material and you may skip some of these portions. Skimming helps double your reading speed and improves your comprehension as well.4. Make good use of your time in class. Listening to what the teacher says in class means less work later. Sit where you can see and hear well. Take notes t
8、o help you remember what the teacher says.5. Study regularly. Go over your notes as soon as you can after class. Review important points mentioned in class as well as points you remain confused about. Read about these points in your textbook. If you know what the teacher will discuss the next day, s
9、kim and read that material too. This will help you understand the next class. If you review your notes and textbook regularly, the material will become more meaningful and you will remember it longer. Regular review leads to improved performance on test.6. Develop a good attitude about tests. The pu
10、rpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. The world wont end if you dont pass a test, so dont worry excessively about a single test. Tests provide grades, but they also let you know what you need to spend more time studying, and they help make your knowledge permanent.There a
11、re other techniques that might help you with your studying. Only a few have been mentioned here. You will probably discover many others after you have tried these. Talk with your classmates about their study techniques. Share with them some of the techniques you have 第 2 页 共 83 页found to be helpful.
12、 Improving your study habits will improve your grades.NEW WORDS average n. ordinary 普通的；中等的intelligence n. ability to learn and understand 智力necessarily ad. inevitably 必定case n. what has really happened; actual condition 实情 additional a. added 附加的，额外的 n. additionweekly a. done or happening every wee
13、k 每周的；一周一次的 schedule n. timetable 时间表chart n. (sheet of paper with) information written or drawn in the form of a picture 图（表）commit vt. 指定.用于aside ad. to the side 在旁边；到（向）一边 etc (Latin, shortened form for et cetera) and other things 等等 normal a. usual 正常的 reading n. the act or practice of reading 阅
14、读 assignment n. sth. given out as a task ( 布置的)作业occupy n. take up 占用relaxation n. (sth. done for) rest and amusement 休息，娱乐 relax v. hobby n. what one likes to do in ones free time 业余爱好 entertainment n. show, party, etc. that people enjoy 娱乐 entertain vt.solve vt. find an answer to (a problem) 解决（问题
15、）aware a. having knowledge or understanding 知道的；意识到的furthermore ad. moreover; in addition 而且；此外enable vt. make (sb.) able (to do sth.) 使（某人）能（做某事）activity n. sth. (to be) done 活动adequate a. as much as one needs; enough 充分的；足够的distraction n. sth. that draws away the mind or attention 分心（或分散注意力）的事物con
16、centrate (on or upon) vi. pay close attention (to) 全神贯注（于）skim vt. read quickly to get the main ideas (of) 略读preview vt. have a general view of (sth.) beforehand 预习content n. what is written in a book, etc. 内容organize vt. form into a whole 组织later ad. 后来；以后skip vt. pass over 略过portion n. part; share
17、 一部分；一份double v. make or become twice as great or as many （使）增加一倍comprehension n. the act of understanding or ability to understand 理解（力）mention vt. speak or write about (sth.) in a few words 提及confused a. mixed up in ones mind 迷惑的，混淆的 confuse vt.textbook n. a standard book for the study of a subjec
18、t 教科书；课本performance n. achievement 成绩meaningful a. having important meaning or value 富有意义的attitude n. what one thinks about sth. 态度，看法第 3 页 共 83 页purpose n. aim 目的，意图excessively ad. too much 过多地，过分地 excessive a.permanent a. lasting for a long time; never changing 持久的；永久的technique n. way of doing sth
19、. 技巧，方法helpful a. useful; providing help or wiling to help 有益的；给予帮助的，肯帮忙的PHRASES too; in addition 也，还；同样be aware (of) know (sth.); know (what is happening) 知道，意识到concentrate on direct ones attention, efforts, etc. to 全神贯注于look over examine (quickly) 把.看一遍，过目go over review 复习lead to result in 导致Unit
20、Two: Sailing Round the WorldTEXT At sixty-five Francis Chichester set out to sail single-handed round the world. This is the story of that adventure.Sailing Round the WorldBefore he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends several times. He had tried
21、 to fly round the world but failed. That was in 1931.The years passed. He gave up flying and began sailing. He enjoyed it greatly. Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo transatlantic sailing race. His old dream of going round the world came back, but this time he would sail.
22、 His friends and doctors did not think he could do it, as he had lung cancer. But Chichester was determined to carry out his plan. In August, 1963, at the age of nearly sixty-five, an age when many men retire, he began the greatest voyage of his life. Soon, he was away in this new 16-metre boat, Gip
23、sy Moth.Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships. But the clippers had had plenty of crew. Chicheater did it all by himself, even after the main steering device had been damaged by gales. Chichester covered 14, 100 miles before stopping in Sydney, Australia. This w
24、as more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone. He arrived in Australia on 12 December, just 107 days out from England. He received a warm welcome from the Australians and from his family who had flown there to meet him. On shore, Chichester could not walk without help. Everybody
25、 said the same thing: he had done enough; he must not go any further. But he did not listen.After resting in Sydney for a few weeks, Chichester set off once more in spite of his friends attempts to dissuade him. The second half of his voyage was by far the more dangerous part, during which he sailed
26、 round the treacherous Cape Horn.第 4 页 共 83 页On 29 January he left Australia. The mext night, the blackest he had ever known, the sea became so rough that the boat almost turned over. Food, clothes, and broken glass were all mixed together. Fortunately, bed and went to sleep. When he woke up, the se
27、a had become calm the nearest person he could contact by radio, unless there was a ship nearby, Wild be on an island 885 miles away.After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the followiing radio message to London:“ I feel as if I had wakened from a nightmare. Wild horses could not
28、 drag me down to Cape Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again.“Juat before 9 oclock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he aeeived back in England, where a quarter of a million people were waiting to welcome him. Queeh Elizabeth II knigthed him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth I had sailed r
29、ound the world for the first time. The whole voyage from England and back had covered 28, 500 miles. It had taken him nine months , of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he wanted to accomplish.Like many other adventurers, Chichester had experienced fear and conquered it. In doing
30、 so, he had undoubtedly learnt something about himself. Moreover, in the modern age when human beings depend so much on machines, he had given men throughout the world new pride.NEW WORDSsingle-handed a not calm （气候）有暴风雨的；（海）波涛汹涌的fortunately ad. luckily 幸运地；幸亏 fortunate a.contact vt. get in touch wi
31、th 联系，接触第 5 页 共 83 页nearby ad. close by 在附近following a. next; to be mentioned immediately 接着的；下列的waken v. (cause to) wake 唤醒；醒来nightmare n. terrible dream 恶梦drag vt. pull along with great effort 拖，拉sinister a. 凶恶的，邪恶的knight n. 爵士 vt. 封. 为爵士 sword n. 剑，刀 accomplish vt. finish successfully 完成 conquer
32、vt. overcome 征服undoubtedly ad. certainly 无疑地moreover ad. in addition 此外，而且human a. of or concerning people 人们being n. a living thing, esp. a person 生物；人PHRASES not caring about 尽管；虽然by far by a large amount or degree.得多turn over (cause to) fall over, upset （使）翻倒， （使）倾覆can not help can not keep onese
33、lf from 禁不住NAMESFrancis Chichester 弗朗西斯. 奇切斯特Gipsy Moth 吉普赛 . 莫斯Sydney 悉尼（澳大利亚城市）Cape Horn 合恩角（智利）London 伦敦Elizabeth 伊丽莎白（女子名）Drake 德雷克（姓氏）UNIT three: The PresentTEXTThey say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us than others. Everyone was so kind to the old la
34、dy on her birthday. Surely her daughter would make an even bigger effort to please he?第 6 页 共 83 页The PresentIt was the old ladys birthday.She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground
35、floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.Today she was sure the would be something. Myra wouldnt forget her mothers birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work
36、the aged.The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved. Enid had never married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school round the corner.One evening, however, Enid said, “Ive arranged for Mrs. Morrison to look after you for a few days, Moth
37、er. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital-just a minor operation, Ill soon be home.“In the morning she went, but never came back-she died on the operating table. Myra came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs. Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakf
38、ast.Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never.The old lady was eight today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps-perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lined or endured just as you chose to l
39、ook at it.Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited-like a child. She would enjoy her day.Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of ma
40、rigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldnt go out to play until the post had come.“I guess youll get lots and lots of presents
41、,“ he said, “I did last were when I was six.“What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be lovely. Blues such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black num
42、bers. So many lovely things.She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.“Granny, granny,“ he shouted, “Ive got your post.“He g
43、ave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myras writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.“No parcel, Johnnie?“No, granny.“Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later by parcel post. She must be
44、 patient.Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open. Folded in the card was a piece of paper. Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday - Buy yourself something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harold.The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly
45、the old lady stooped to 第 7 页 共 83 页pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.NEW WORDSrelative n. 亲属，亲戚present n. gift 礼物，赠品postman n. 邮递员rare a. not happening often 罕见的；不常发生的occasion n. special time; time when sth. happens 时刻，时机；场合mayor n. chi
46、ef official of a city or town 市长medal n. 奖章aged a. old content a. satisfied; pleased 满意的；高兴的primary a. first; earliest 首要的；最初的arrange vi. make preparations; plan 作安排，筹划minor a. not serious or important 较小的；次要的operate vi. cut the body in order to set right or remove a diseased part 开刀，动手术operating ta
47、ble n. a special table in a hospital, where operations are done 手术台funeral n. 葬礼efficient a. able to plan and work well 效率高的decade n. ten yearsendure vt. bear (pain, suffering, etc.) 忍受，忍耐spot n. a round area that is different from the main surface 点，斑点brighten vt. make bright or brighter 使发光；使发亮che
48、ek n. either side of the face below the eye 面颊extra a. additional 额加的，外加的clean n. cleaningbunch n. things of the same kind that are tied together （一）束， （一）串marigold n. 万寿菊（花）packet n. small parcel box 小包（裹）mint n. 薄荷糖slipper n. 拖鞋cardigan n. （羊毛）开衫clatter n. a number of rapid short knocking sounds 咔嗒声granny n. (colloq. for)grandmotherenvelope n. a paper cover for a letter 信封unsealed a. 未密封的 seal vt. sealed a. 密封的writing n. handwriting 书法；笔迹 pang n. sudden, sharp pain 剧痛disappointment n. sadness because one does not get what one hopes for 失望 disappoint vt.parcel n. 包裹reluctantly ad. unwillin
