1、UNIT 1As we are at the start of the course, this seems a good moment to offer some advice on how to make the task of learning English easier.课程开始之际，就如何使学习英语的任务更容易提出一些建议似乎正当其时。Some Strategies for Learning EnglishLearning English is by no means easy. It takes great diligence and prolonged effort.学习英语绝
2、非易事。它需要刻苦和长期努力。Nevertheless, while you cannot expect to gain a good command of English without sustained hard work, there are various helpful learning strategies you can employ to make the task easier. Here are some of them.虽然不经过持续的刻苦努力便不能期望精通英语，然而还是有各种有用的学习策略可以用来使这一任务变得容易一些。以下便是其中的几种。1. Do not trea
3、t all new words in exactly the same way. Have you ever complained about your memory because you find it simply impossible to memorize all the new words you are learning? But, in fact, it is not your memory that is at fault. If you cram your head with too many new words at a time, some of them are bo
4、und to be crowded out. What you need to do is to deal with new words in different ways according to how frequently they occur in everyday use. While active words demand constant practice and useful words must be committed to memory, words that do not often occur in everyday situations require just a
5、 nodding acquaintance. You will find concentrating on active and useful words the most effective route to enlarging your vocabulary.1. 不要以完全同样的方式对待所有的生词。你可曾因为简直无法记住所学的所有生词而抱怨自己的记忆力太差？其实，责任并不在你的记忆力。如果你一下子把太多的生词塞进头脑，必定有一些生词会被挤出来。你需要做的是根据生词日常使用的频率以不同的方式对待它们。积极词汇需要经常练习，有用的词汇必须牢记，而在日常情况下不常出现的词只需见到时认识即可。你
6、会发现把注意力集中于积极有用的词上是扩大词汇量最有效的途径。2. Watch out for idiomatic ways of saying things. Have you ever wondered why we say, “I am interested in English“, but “I am good at French“? And have you ever asked yourself why native English speakers say, “learn the news or secret“, but “learn of someones success or
7、arrival“? These are all examples of idiomatic usage. In learning English, you must pay attention not only to the meaning of a word, but also to the way native speakers use it in their daily lives.2密切注意地道的表达方式。你可曾纳闷过，为什么我们说“我对英语感兴趣”是“Im interested in English”，而说“我精于法语”则是“Im good at French”？你可曾问过自己，为什
8、么以英语为母语的人说“获悉消息或秘密”是“learn the news or secret”，而“获悉某人的成功或到来”却是“learn of someones success or arrival”？这些都是惯用法的例子。在学习英语时，你不仅必须注意词义，还必须注意以英语为母语的人在日常生活中如何使用它。3. Listen to English every day. Listening to English on a regular basis will not only improve your ear, but will also help you build your speaking
9、 skills. In addition to language tapes especially prepared for your course, you can also listen to English radio broadcasts, watch English TV, and see English movies. The first time you listen to a taped conversation or passage in English, you may not be able to catch a great deal. Try to get its ge
10、neral meaning first and listen to it over and over again. You will find that with each repetition you will get something more.3每天听英语。经常听英语不仅会提高你的听力，而且有助你培养说的技能。除了专为课程准备的语言磁带外，你还可以听英语广播，看英语电视和英语电影。第一次听录好音的英语对话或语段，你也许不能听懂很多。先试着听懂大意，然后再反复地听。你会发现每次重复都会听懂更多的东西。4. Seize opportunities to speak. It is true
11、that there are few situations at school where you have to communicate in English, but you can seek out opportunities to practice speaking the language. Talking with your classmates, for example, can be an easy and enjoyable way to get some practice. Also try to find native speakers on your campus an
12、d feel free to talk with them. Perhaps the easiest way to practice speaking is to rehearse aloud, since this can be done at any time, in any place, and without a partner. For instance, you can look at pictures or objects around you and try to describe them in detail. You can also rehearse everyday s
13、ituations. After you have made a purchase in a shop or finished a meal in a restaurant and paid the check, pretend that all this happened in an English-speaking country and try to act it out in English.4抓住机会说。的确，在学校里必须用英语进行交流的场合并不多，但你还是可以找到练习讲英语的机会。例如，跟你的同班同学进行交谈可能就是得到一些练习的一种轻松愉快的方式。还可以找校园里以英语为母语的人跟
14、他们随意交谈。或许练习讲英语最容易的方式是高声朗读，因为这在任何时间，任何地方，不需要搭档就可以做到。例如，你可以看着图片或身边的物件，试着对它们详加描述。你还可以复述日常情景。在商店里购物或在餐馆里吃完饭付过账后，假装这一切都发生在一个讲英语的国家，试着用英语把它表演出来。5. Read widely. It is important to read widely because in our learning environment, reading is the main and most reliable source of language input. When you choos
15、e reading materials, look for things that you find interesting, that you can understand without relying too much on a dictionary. A page a day is a good way to start. As you go on, you will find that you can do more pages a day and handle materials at a higher level of difficulty.5广泛阅读。广泛阅读很重要，因为在我们
16、的学习环境中，阅读是最重要、最可靠的语言输入来源。在选择阅读材料时，要找你认为有趣的、不需要过多依赖词典就能看懂的东西。开始时每天读一页是个好办法。接下去，你就会发现你每天可以读更多页，而且能对付难度更高的材料。6. Write regularly. Writing is a good way to practice what you already know. Apart from compositions assigned by your teacher, you may find your own reasons for writing. A pen pal provides good
17、motivation; you will learn a lot by trying to communicate with someone who shares your interests, but comes from a different culture. Other ways to write regularly include keeping a diary, writing a short story and summarizing the daily news.6经常写。写作是练习你已经学会的东西的好方法。除了老师布置的作文，你还可以找到自己要写的理由。有个笔友可以提供很好的
18、动力；与某个跟你趣味相投但来自不同文化的人进行交流，你会学到很多东西。经常写作的其他方式还有记日记，写小故事或概述每天的新闻。Language learning is a process of accumulation. It pays to absorb as much as you can from reading and listening and then try to put what you have learned into practice through speaking and writing.语言学习是一个积累的过程。从读和听中吸收尽量多的东西，然后再试着把学到的东西通过
19、说和写加以运用，定会大有收益。UNIT 2 At sixty-five Francis Chichester set out to sail single-handed round the world. This is the story of that adventure.弗朗西斯奇切斯特在六十五岁时开始了只身环球航行。本文记述的就是这一冒险故事。Sailing Round the WorldBefore he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends
20、several times. He had tried to fly round the world but failed. That was in 1931.弗朗西斯奇切斯特在独自驾船作环球航行之前，已有好几次让他的朋友们感到吃惊了。他曾试图作环球飞行，但没有成功。那是 1931 年。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 s
21、ailing race. His old dream of going round the world came back, but this time he would sail. 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, 1966, at the age of nearly sixty-five, an age when many men retire,
22、 he began the greatest voyage of his life. Soon, he was away in his new 16-metre boat, Gipsy Moth.好多年过去了。他放弃了飞行，开始航海。他领略到航海的巨大乐趣。奇切斯特在首届横渡大西洋单人航海比赛中夺魁时，已经五十八岁。他周游世界的宿愿重又被唤起，不过这一次他是要驾船环游。由于他患有肺癌，朋友们和医生们都认为他不该去，但奇切斯特决意实施自己的计划。1966 年 8 月，在他快满六十五岁的时候许多人在这个年龄已经退休他开始了一生中最了不起的一次航海。不久，他就驾着那艘 16 米长的新船吉普赛莫思号启
23、程出海了。Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships. But the clippers had had plenty of crew. Chichester 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 was m
24、ore than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone.奇切斯特沿着 19 世纪大型三桅帆船的航线航行。不过，三桅帆船拥有众多船员，而奇切斯特却是独个儿扬帆破浪，即使在主要转舵装置被大风刮坏之后仍是这样。奇切斯特一直航行了 14 100 英里，到了澳大利亚的悉尼港才停船靠岸。这段航程比以往单人驾舟航海的最远航程还多一倍多。He arrived in Australia on 12 December, just 107 days out from England. He received a warm welcome from
25、 the Australians and from his family who had flown there to meet him. On shore, Chichester could not walk without help. Everybody said the same thing: he had done enough; he must not go any further. But he did not listen.他于 12 月 12 日抵达澳大利亚，这一天正是他离开英国的第 107 天。他受到澳大利亚人和乘飞机专程前去迎接他的家人们的热烈欢迎。奇切斯特上岸后，得由人搀
26、扶着才能行走。大家众口一词，说他已航行得够远了，不要再继续向前航行了。但他却置若罔闻。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 round the treacherous Cape Horn.在悉尼休息了几周之后，他不顾朋友
27、们的多方劝阻，再次扬帆出航。这后半段航程更为艰险，在此期间，他绕过了险情四伏的合恩角。On 29 January he left Australia. The next 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, the damage to the boat was not too serious. Chic
28、hester calmly got into bed and went to sleep. When he woke up, the sea had become calm again. Still, he could not help thinking that if anything should happen, the nearest person he could contact by radio, unless there was a ship nearby, would be on an island 885 miles away.1 月 29 日他驶离澳大利亚。第二天夜晚这是他所
29、经历过的最黑暗的一个夜晚海面上波涛汹涌，小船几乎被风浪掀翻。食物、衣服、还有碎玻璃，全都混杂在一起了。幸好小船遭到的损坏还不算太严重。奇切斯特镇静地钻进被窝，睡着了。等他醒来时，大海又恢复了平静。然而，他仍禁不住想到，要是果真有什么意外，他能借无线电联系上的人，最近的也要在 885 英里以外的岛上，除非附近哪儿有条轮船。After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the following radio message to London: “I feel as if I had wakened from a nigh
30、tmare. Wild horses could not drag me down to Cape Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again.“奇切斯特成功地绕过合恩角以后，便通过无线电给伦敦发去如下电文：“我觉得好像刚从噩梦中醒来。就是野马也休想再把我拖回到合恩角和那凶险莫测的南大洋去了。”Just before 9 oclock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he arrived back in England, where a quarter of a million people were waiting
31、to welcome him. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth I had used almost 400 years earlier to knight Sir Francis Drake after he had sailed round the world for the first time. The whole voyage from England and back had covered 28,500 miles. It had taken him nine mont
32、hs, of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he wanted to accomplish.1967 年 5 月 28 日，星期天，晚上将近 9 点，他回到了英国。有二十五万人等在那儿欢迎他。伊丽莎白女王二世手持宝剑敕封他为爵士。将近 400年前，伊丽莎白一世也曾手持同一把宝剑，把爵位赐予完成首次环球航行的弗朗西斯德雷克爵士。从英国出发，再回到英国，整个航程长达 28 500 英里。奇切斯特一共花了九个月的时间，其中实际航行时间为 226 天。他终于完成了他想完成的伟业。Like many other adventu
33、rers, Chichester had experienced fear and conquered it. In doing 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.和许多别的冒险家一样，奇切斯特产生过恐惧而又战胜了恐惧。在这一过程中，他无疑对自身有了一些了解。此外，在当今这个人类
34、如此依赖机器的时代，他赋予了全世界的人们以新的自豪感。UNIT 3 They say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us than others. Everyone was so kind to the old lady on her birthday. Surely her daughter would make an even bigger effort to please her?人们说血浓于水，即我们的亲属比别人对我们更重要。老太太生日这天，所有的人都对她那么好。无疑
35、她的女儿将会做出更大的努力使她高兴了？The PresentIt was the old ladys birthday.这天是老太太的生日。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 floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came
36、.为了静心等候邮件，她一早就起床了。邮差打马路那头过来的时候，她从三楼的公寓套间里一眼就可以看到。她难得有信，偶尔有邮件寄来，总是由住在底楼的小男孩给她送上来。Today she was sure there 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 f
37、or her work for the aged.她相信今天肯定会有东西来。迈拉尽管在别的时候绝少写信，可母亲的生日她是不会忘记的。当然，迈拉很忙。她丈夫当上了市长，迈拉自己也由于悉心为老年人工作而获得一枚奖章。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.老太太颇以迈
38、拉自豪，但她真心疼爱的女儿却是伊妮德。伊妮德始终没结婚，但她似乎以跟老母同住，并任教于附近的一所小学而心满意足。One evening, however, Enid said, “Ive arranged for Mrs. Morrison to look after you for a few days, Mother. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital just a minor operation. Ill soon be home.“然而一天傍晚，伊妮德却说：“妈妈，我已安排让莫里森太太来照顾你几天。明天我要去住院只是动个小手术。我很快会回家来的。”
39、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 breakfast.第二天早上她去了，却再也没有回来她死在了手术台上。迈拉来参加了葬礼，并以她特有的干练方式，安排莫里森太太来家生火，并为老太太准备早餐。Two years a
40、go that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never.那是两年以前的事了，打那以后，迈拉来看过她母亲三次，可她丈夫却一次也没来过。The old lady was eighty today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lived or endure
41、d just as you chose to look at it.今天是老太太的八十寿辰。她穿上了她最好的衣裙。也许也许迈拉会来的吧。不管怎么说，八十大寿毕竟非同一般你又活了十年，或者说又熬过了十年，是活是熬，全在于你怎么看了。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.即便迈拉
42、不来，她也会寄礼物来的。老太太对这点是拿得准的。脸颊上的两片红晕，使她满脸生辉。她心情激动激动得像个小孩。她的这个生日一定会过得很快活。Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down t
43、here 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.昨天，莫里森太太把这套公寓房间额外打扫了一遍。今天来准备早餐时还带来一张生日卡和一束万寿菊。楼下的格兰特太太特地做了一只蛋糕，下午老太太要下楼到她家去吃茶点。小男孩约翰尼也上楼来过，送来了一盒薄荷糖，还说要等她邮件来了以后再出去玩。“I guess youll get lots and lots of presents,“ he s
44、aid. “I did last week when I was six. “我猜你准会收到好多好多礼物，”他说。“上个礼拜我六岁生日，就收到好多好多。”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 li
45、ttle clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.她想要样什么礼物呢？也许是一双拖鞋，或者是一件新的羊毛开衫。要真是一件羊毛开衫那就太好了，蓝盈盈的，那颜色该多么漂亮。过去吉姆就总喜欢她穿蓝的。再不就是一盏台灯，或者一本书，一本带照片的游记；一只小钟也行，钟面带醒目黑色数字的小钟。让人喜欢的东西可真多。She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnn
46、ie had seen him too and ran to the gate.她站在窗口张望着。邮差骑着自行车过了拐角。她心跳加快了。约翰尼也看到了邮差，立即向大门口跑去。Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.接着，楼梯上传来“得得得”的脚步声。约翰尼敲了敲她的门。“Granny, granny,“ he shouted, “Ive got your post.“奶奶，奶奶，”他叫着说，“我拿到你的信了。”He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed
47、cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myras writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.他交给她四封信。三封没封口，是老朋友寄来的生日卡。第四封是封口的，上面的字迹出自于迈拉之手。失望的痛楚攫住了老太太的心头。“No parcel, Johnnie?“没有包裹吗，约翰尼？”“No, granny.“没有，奶奶。”Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would co
48、me later by parcel post. She must be patient.也许是包裹太大了，没有随信件邮班同来。对了，准是这个缘故。待会儿会有包裹邮班送来的。她一定要有耐心。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
49、and Harold.她几乎是带着几分勉强之意撕开了信封。只见生日卡里夹着一张折叠起来的纸。卡上印有“生日快乐”的字样，下面写着一句附言拿这张支票给自己买样称心的东西吧迈拉和哈罗德。The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady stooped to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.支票像只断了翅膀的小鸟似的飘落到地板上。老太太慢慢地弯下腰，把支票从地上捡了起来。她的礼物，她的可爱的礼物！她用颤抖的手指把支票撕了个粉碎。UNIT4Many people in the United States spend most of their free time watching television. Certainly, there are many worthwhile programs on television, including news, educational p
