英语专业四级听写50篇

英语专业四级听写50篇 前 言

听写在英语专业四级统考中占有15％的比重，是考试的重要组成部分。 说起听写，正在准备和已经参加过英语专业四级考试的同学会说：

\我能明白听写的内容，可写的时候就是跟不上！\短文大意我明白，可是有的语我不会写。这只反映出了问题的两个方面。一是听写速度不够快。二是词汇量不够或词汇掌握得不够准确。这些无疑是影响听写成绩的重要因素。但是，这些不是问题的全部。在从事听写教学及听写问卷过程中，很容易发现学生失分的具体问题：

（1）没听懂，没听好，听写速度跟不上，写出的内容断断续续不连贯，学生因此大量失分；

（2）有的词汇没听懂，拼写不够准确，这导致听写失分； （3）时态错误导致失分； （4）单复数不准确导致失分； （5）没有注意断句或专有名词，句子开头单词或专有名词错误使用大小写导致失分；

（6）没有注意原文冠词的使用，书写时漏掉冠词导 致失分；

（7）没有注意单数第三人称形式导致失分； （8）没有注意单数复数名词的形式导致失分。

上述问题的产生有的是缺乏训练造成的，如书写速度跟不上。有的则是语言基础较差造成的，如听力较差没有完全听懂或没有掌握好词汇。而单复数、大小写、冠词漏写等则多是粗心大意造成的。 听写部分能提高吗？

当然能！而且提高的空间很大。

笔者从事英语专业基础教学与研究，从一开始所带的教学班参加四级考试超过全国院校平均通过率28．2个百分点，超过全国专业外语院校平均通过率12．5个百分点开始，所带的教学班在全国英语专业④级统考中通过率始终ito％，平均成绩、优秀率始终名列前茅。最近一次所带的教学班参加四级统考，又考出了很好的成绩，通过率超过全国院校平均水平26石个百分点，超过全国专业外语院校13．6个百分点，而且在十几个平行班中平均成绩是最高的，优秀人数也是最多的。在四级考试中，听写一项的成绩也不例外，每次均位居第一，本项目满分15分，所带班级平均成绩能够达到14分。

是不是学生基础很好？统计表明，和平行班相比所带班级入学时并不存在什么特别优势。

教学经验表明，听写成功的关键是训练方法和体现训练方法的训练材料。 听写训练过程中无论是老师还是学生都有必要注意以下几点：

二．扭握淤轿肘虚度 大纲要求第一遍用正常速度朗读，即每分钟120个词，第M遍和第三遍用稍慢的速度朗读让学生书写，第四遍用正常速度朗读让学生检查。但是在训练时则不必严格按照规定进行，也可以适当加快速度，这样可以提高学生的适应能力。

2．级叙间愿村周 大纲规定第二、第三遍的间隔为15秒。但在训练时一定要尽可能缩短间隔，这样可以增加学生的紧迫感，有利于书写速度的提高。

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3．坚持虚旬洲综 虽然大纲规定读完句子或分句可以出现停顿间隔，但在训练时最好整句训练，不在或少在分句之后停顿。这样有利于训练学生对整句的理解和记忆，克服听见一词写一词的不良习惯，提高书写的速度。

4．坚并店荫洲弟 四级听写失分很多时候是源于细小的问题。听写训练的检查环节非常重要，学生务必认真检查书写的内容，检查出时态、拼写、单复数、冠词、大小写、单数第三人称等各种失误，反省失误的原因，这样可以促使学生不断总结经验，有针对性地克服缺点，不断进步。

5．所写洲忽 听写训练是一种综合语言训练，它能够训练学生的听力理解能力，它能够暴露学生的语言问题，它能起到巩固语言知识和提高语言技能的作用。学生的时态、冠词、大小写、单复数等语言知识的漏洞在听写中会暴露无遗，学生的听辨技能、拼写技能及组织句子的技能会得到综合训练。因此，增加听写训练量不仅有助于听写成绩的提高，更重要的是它能提高学生的综合语言技能。 在注意方写工整 卷面情况是影响主现测试的因素之一。书写训练过程中一定要注意整洁清晰，从一开始就要训练用圆珠笔或钢笔按要求书写，训练一遍书写整齐工整的能力。

本书是根据四级考核目标，针对四级考试的特点选材的，题材广泛多样；材料是由专业录制人员根据上述的训练原则录制的；每一训练篇目之后都提供了生词的读音、词性、词义以及与词相关的短语或搭配，以便满足学生扩大语汇的需求。本书在附录1提供了听写训练简便易行的评估方法；附录2专门设计了学生训练的自我评估表，全程监控学习过程，增强学生对问题的意识；附录3提供了四级考试大纲对听写的相关规定，便于学生了解考试的要求、目标及形式；附录4提供了提高听写技能的其他一些技巧。

本套训练材料完全是针对英语专业四级听写设计的人篇目的正常朗读到四级要求很高的单句朗读和间隔的把握，这些都是非常讲究的。先进的压缩光盘，庞大的容量使得这套材料得以和读者见面。无论训练量的保证还是训练技巧的体现，本套训练材料在类似的图书材料中都是非常独特的。相信它对提高语言技能和应试听写技能会起到非常积极的作用。虽经过我们的努力，但材料中难免还有疏漏。希望大家批评指正。

编者于大连外

国语学院

2005年1月

CONTENTS

Passage 1 Town and Country life in England Passage 2 A Change in Women's Life

Passage 3 A Popular Pastime of the English People Passage 4 British and American Police Officers Passage 5 living Space

Passage 6 The United Nations Passage 7 Plastic

Passage 8 Display of Goods Passage 9 Albert Einstein Passage 10 Private Cars

Passage 11 A Henpecked Husband and His Wife Passage 12 A Young Man's Promise

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Passage 13 A Kind Neighbor

Passage 14 That Isn't Our Fault Passage 15 A Guide's Answer Passage 16 A Qualified Pilot Passage 17 Living Tilings React Pdssage 18 Flowering Plants

Passage 19 Finding the Direction and Location Passage 20 Waves Passage 21 Soils Passage22 Crisis

Passage 23 America's Worst Surprise

Passage 24 Great Depression in the U.S. Passage 25 A Place of Our Own Passage 26 Travel for Work Passage 27 Intelligence

Passage 28 A Free Dress Every Week Passage 29 Time

Passage 30 Cartoonists Passage 31 Water PoUution Passage 32 Making a Complaint

Passage 33 Where Do the British Live

Passage 34 Will Computers Replace Human Beings Passage 35 Soccer Passage 36 Artists

Passage 37 Professional Sports in the U.S. Passage38 \Passage 39 Don'tGive Up

Passage 40 How High Can You Jump Passage 41 Apology Helps Passage 42 Sleep

Passage 43 Our Concern

Passage 44 Gardening in America Passage 45 The Influence of Life Passage 46 Automobiles Passage 47 House and Home Passage 48 Population Growth Passage49 Natural Resources Passage50 Reading

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1 Town and Country Life in England

There is a big difference between town life and country life in England. In the country, everybody knows everybody else. They know what time you get up, what time you go to bed and what you have for dinner. If you want help, you will always get it and you will be glad to help others.

In a large town like London, however, it can sometimes happen that you have never seen your next door neighbor and you do not know his name or anything about him. People in London are often very lonely. This is because people go to different places in the evenings and at weekends. If you walk through the streets in the centre of London on Sunday, it is like a town without people. One is sorry for old people living on their own .They could die in their homes and would not be discovered for weeks or even months. (154 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: next door n. n．隔壁

the neighbors next他 door隔壁邻居

lonely adj ．孤独的，寂寞的，偏僻的，人迹罕至的 lonely life孤单的生活

a lonely old man一位孤独的老人 a lonely sand一个孤岛

the loneliest night最孤独的夜晚

on (one's) own独自；独立地；通过自己的努力 She lives on her own．她一个人过。

She go the job on her own．她自己找到了这份工作。

He Is now out of colleg6 and on his own．他现在离开了大学并且自己生活。

Passage 2 A Change in Women's Life

The important change in women's life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity, and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to the abilities and interests of each of them. (154 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: life-pattern 生活方式

effect [i'fekt] n. 结果，效果，作用，影响

The old system is still in effect. 旧制度仍然有效。

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Passage 3 A Popular Pastime of the English People

One of the best means of understanding the people of any nation is watching what they do with their non-working time.

Most English men, women and children love growing things, especially flowers. Visitors to England in spring, summer, or autumn are likely to see gardens all the way along the railway lines. There are flowers at the airports and flowers in factory grounds, as well as in gardens along the roads. Each English town has at least one park with beautifully kept flower beds. Public buildings of every kind have brilliant window boxes and sometimes baskets of flowers are hanging on them.

But what the English enjoy most is growing things themselves, If it is impossible to have a garden, then a window box or something growing in a pot will do. Looking at each other's gardens is a popular pastime with the English. (144 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: a means to an end达到目的的方法

by all means务必；无论如何；千方百计地 by any means ［口］用一切可能的方法或手段 by fair means or foul不择手段地 by means of 通过；用；借助于 by no means决不，一点也不

by some means or (other）想个办法；以某种方法 leave no means untried想尽一切办法 not by any means一点也不，绝对不

Passage 4 British and American Police Officers

Real policemen, both in Britain and the U. S., hardly recognize any common points between their lives and what they see on TV---if they ever get home in time.

Some things are almost the same, of course, but the policemen do not think much of them.

The first difference is that a policeman's real life deals with the law. Most of what he learns is the law. He has to know actually what actions are against the law and what facts can be used to prove them in court. He has to know nearly as much law as a lawyer, and what's more, he has to put it into practice on his feet, in the dark and, running down a narrow street after someone he wants to talk to.

Little of his time is spent in talking with beautiful girls or in bravely facing cruel criminals. He will spend most of his working life arranging millions of words on thousands of forms about hundreds of sad, ordinary people who are guilty-or not of stupid, unimportant crimes. (177 words) Useful Words and Expressions: think much of 重视，尊重

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in court 在法庭上

criminal n．罪犯，犯罪者 guilty adj．犯罪的，有罪的

gulty look内疚的神色the guilty party犯罪一方a guilty conscience犯罪感have a guiltyconscience问心有愧；做贼心虚be found gulty被判决有罪be guilty of a crim犯了罪

Passage 5 Living Space

How much living space does a person need? What happens when his space needs are not met? Scientists are doing experiments on rats to try to determine the effects of overcrowded conditions on man. Recent studies have shown that the behaviour of rats is greatly affected by space. If rats have enough living space, they eat well, sleep well and produce their young well. But if their living conditions become too crowded, their behaviour and even their health change obviously. They can not sleep and eat well, and signs of fear and worry become clear. The more crowded they are, the more they tend to bite each other and even kill each other. Thus, for rats, population and violence are directly related. Is this a natural law for human society as well? Is enough space not only satisfactory, but necessary for human survival? These are in teresting questions. (147 words) Useful Words and Expressions: determine V．测定；决心；决意determine the velocity测定速度He determined to go．他决意要去。I am determined to do better than Mike.我决心比迈克做得更好。tend to v. 有某种倾向；有……的趋势He tends to pitch the ball too high．他往往把球掷得过高。People under stress tend to express their full range of potential. 处压力下的人容易发挥自己全部的潜力。survival n.生存We need food and waterfor survival.我们为了生存需要食物和水。

Passage 6 The United Nations

In 1945, representatives of 50 nations met to plan this organization. It was called the United Nations. After the war, many more nations joined. There are two major parts of the United Nations. One is called the General Assembly, m the General Assembly, every member nation is represented and has an equal vote.

The second part is called the Security Council. It has representatives of just 15 nations. Five nations are permanent members: the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and China, The 10 other members are elected every two years by the General Assembly.

The major job of the Security Council is to keep peace in the world. If necessary, it can send troops from member nations to try to stop little wars before they turn into big ones.

It is hard to get the nations of the Security Council to agree on when this is necessary. But they did vote to try to stop wars. (156 words) Useful Words and Expressions:

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Representative n．代表General Assembly联合国大会permanent adj．永久的，持久的permanent address固定地址permanent tooth成人齿a permanent Job 固定职业a permanent commitee常设委员会Security Council n.联合国安全理事会troop n．军队

Passage 7 Plastic

We use plastic wrap to protect our foods. We put our garbage in plastic bags or plastic cans. We sit on plastic chairs, play with plastic toys, drink from plastic cups, and wash our hair with shampoo from plastic bottles!

Plastic does not grow in nature. It is made by mixing certain things together. We call it a produced or manufactured material. Plastic was first made in the 1860s from plants, such as wood and cotton. That plastic was soft and burned easily. The first modern plastics were made in the 1930s. Most clear plastic starts out as thick, black oil. That plastic coating inside a pan begins as natural gas.

Over the years, hundreds of different plastics have been developed. Some are hard and strong. Some are soft and bendable. Some are clear. Some are many-colored. There is a plastic for almost every need. Scientists continue to experiment with plastics. They hope to find even ways to use them! (160 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: Shampoo n．洗发精，洗发香波，洗发manufacture vt．制造，加工manufacture an excuse胡乱编个理由half manufactured半成品（的） a thing of home [foreign] manufacture本国[外国]制品Plastic is an important manufacture.塑料是种重要产品。bendable可弯曲的experiment with用……做实验

Passage 8 Display of Goods

Are supermarkets designed to persuade us to buy more?

Fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed near supermarket entrances. This gives the impression that only healthy food is sold in the shop. Basic foods that everyone buys, like sugar and tea, are not put near each other. They are kept in different aisles so customers are taken past other attractive foods before they find what they want. In this way, shoppers are encouraged to buy products that they do not really need.

Sweets are often placed at children's eye level at the checkout. While parents are waiting to pay, children reach for the sweets and put them in the trolley.

More is bought from a fifteen-foot display of one type of product than from a ten-foot one. Customers also buy more when shelves are full than when they are half empty. They do not like to buy from shelves with few products on them because they feel there is something wrong with those products that are there. (166 words)

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Useful Words and Expressions: aisle n．走廊，过道

roll them in the aisle ［口」使（观众）捧腹大笑 knock them in the aisle 使（观众）捧腹大笑 lay them in the aisle 使（观众）捧腹大笑 rock them in the aisle 使（观众）捧腹大笑

have them rolling in the aisle 使（观众）捧腹大笑 trolley n．手推车

checkout（超级市场等的）收款台

Passage 9 Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. His号father owned a factory that made electrical devices. His mother enjoyed music and books. His parents were Jewish but they did not observe many of the religion's rules. Albert was a quiet child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty learning to read. When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. The child was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction-to the north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers about magnetism and gravity were difficult for the boy to understand. Yet he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something hidden had to be behind things. (143 words) Useful Words and Expressions: device n．装置，设备

leave to (one's) own devices听任某人自行其是，允许某人按自己的意愿做事 She left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon.她允许孩子在下午有一个小时的自由支配时间。compass n．指南针beyond sb.' s compass某人力所不及cast/fetch/take a compass 兜圈子，绕道，转弯抹角keep sth. within compass把某种事物限制在适当的范围内

speak within compass s谨慎小心地说within sb.'s compass某人力所能及的；在某人权力之内的within the compass of在……的范围内magnetism n．磁，磁力

Passage 10 Private Cars

With the increase in the general standard of living, some ordinary Chinese families begin to afford a car. Yet opinions of the development of a private car vary from person to person.

It gives a much greater degree of comfort and mobility. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport, and hence no irritation caused by waiting for buses or taxis. However, others strongly object to developing private cars. They maintain that as more and more cars are produced and run in the street, a large volume of poisonous gas will be given off, polluting the atmosphere and causing actual harm to the health of people.

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Whether private cars should be developed in China is a difficult question to answer, yet the desire for the comfort and independence a private car can bring will not be eliminated. (143 words) Useful Words and Expressions: Mobility n．活动性，机动性 hence ady．因此，从此

seven years hence七年以后

Hence the Play．因而就有了这出戏。

It Is very late；hence you must go to bed．时间已经很晚了，因此你必须睡觉去。

The town was built among the hills, hence the name Hilltown.该城镇修建在群山之中，故取名\山城\。 irritation n．愤怒 volume n．量

elimiimte vt．消除

Passage 10 A Henpecked Husband and His Wife

There was once a large, fat woman who had a small, thin husband. He had a job in a big company and was given his weekly wages every Friday evening. As soon as he got home on Fridays, his wife used to make him give her all his money, and then she used to give him back only enough to buy his lunch in his company every day.

One day, the small man came home very excited. He hurried into the living-room. His wife was listening to the radio and eating chocolates there.

\

He waited for a few seconds and then added, \on the lottery!\

\is wonderful!\said his wife delightedly. But then she pulled a long face and added angrily, \how could you afford to buy the ticket?\(148 words)

Useful Words and Expressions:

henpecked adj．[口]怕老婆的，妻管严的 living-room 客厅，起居室 lottery n．奖券，彩票

a lottery ticket彩票，奖券 a great lottery 虚无缥缈的事 delightedly adj．喜欢地，高兴地 a delighted look高兴的神情 pull a long face拉下脸来 have a smiling face笑脸

have a face to say that脸皮厚得竟能讲出这种话

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Passage 12 A Young Man's Promise

One day a young man was writing a letter to his have a face to say that girl friend who lived just a few miles away in a nearby town. He was telling her how much he loved her and how wonderful he thought she was. The more he wrote the more poetic he became. Finally, he said that in order to be with her he would suffer the greatest difficulties, he would face the greatest dangers that anyone could imagine. In fact, to spend only one minute with her, he would swim across the widest river, he would enter the deepest forest, and he would fight against the fiercest animals with his bare hands.

He finished the letter, signed his name, and then suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to mention something quite important. So, in a postscript below his name, he added: \the way, I'll be over to see you on Wednesday night, if it doesn't rain.\(154 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: Suffer vt．遭受，经历，忍受

suffer from a headache经受头痛之苦 suffer death丧生

suffer heavy casualties伤亡惨重 suffer from ill health身体不好 fierce．凶猛的，猛烈的

a fierce wolf一头凶猛的恶狼

the fierce glare on his face他那种凶狠的目光 poetic诗情画意的，浪漫的 poetic diction诗般的词句

a poelc romance诗一般浪漫的经历 poetic insight诗人般的洞察力 postscript n．附言，后记

Passage 13 A Kind Neighbor

Mr. and Mrs. Jones' apartment was full of luggage, packages, furniture and boxes. Both of them were very busy when they heard the doorbell ring. Mrs. Jones went to open it and she saw a middle-aged lady outside. The lady said she lived next door. Mrs. Jones invited her to come in and apologized because there was no place for her to sit. \that's OK,\said the lady. \of this city neighbors are not friendly at all. There are some apartment houses where people don't know any of their neighbors, not even the ones next door. But in this building everyone is very friendly with everyone else. We are like one big happy family. I'm sure you'll be very happy here.\Mr. and Mrs. Jones said, \

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apartment. We've lived here for two years. We're moving out tomorrow.\words)

Useful Words and Expressions: luggage n. 行李，皮箱

a piece of luggag 一件行李

check one's luggage寄存行李，打行李票 luggage-rack（火车上的）行李架 excess luggage超重行李

hand luggage手提行李（旅客随身携带） personal luggage 随身（小件）行李 registered luggage托运的行李 package n．包裹，包［ dweller n．居住者，居民 dwell vi．居留；居住

dwell in the country y住在乡下」

dwell in someone's mind留在某人脑海里 dwelli joy沉浸于欢乐之中

Passage 14 That Isn't Our Fault

Mr. and Mrs. Williams got married when he was twenty-three, and she was twenty. Twenty-five years later, they had a big party, and a photographer came and took some photographs of them. Then the photographer gave Mrs. Williams a card and said, \be ready next Wednesday. You can get them from studio.\

\The photographs arrived a week later, but Mrs. Williams was not happy when she saw them. She got into her car and drove to the photographer's studio. She went inside and said angrily, \some photographs of me and my husband last week, but I' m not going to pay for them.\\

\

\think of that before you married him?\Useful Words and Expressions: fault n.过错，缺点，毛病 -Who broke the cup?

-It's my fault, I dropped it. --谁把杯子摔了？

一这是我的过错，我摔的。

That's no fault of his. 这不是他的过错。

The fault lies with me, not with you. 这是我的责任，不是你的责任。 photographer n．摄影师 photograph n. 照片

take a photograph of 拍摄

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studio n．照相室，工作室，画室 art studio 美术工作室

broadcast studio 播出演播室，广播播音室 TV studio电视演播室

film Studio电影制片厂，电视制片演播室 radio studio播音室

Passage 15 A Guide's Answer

In 1861, the Civil War started in the United States between the Northern and the Southern states. The war continued with great bitterness until 1865, when the Northerners were victorious. However, even today, many

Southerners have not forgotten their defeat, or forgiven the Northerners. A few years ago, a party of American tourists were going round one of the battlefields of the Civil War with a guide who came from one of the Southern states. At each place, the guide told the tourists stirring stories about how a few Southern soldiers had conquered powerful forces of Northerners there.

At last, one of the tourists, a lady who came from the North, stopped the guide and said to him, \surely the Northern army must have won at least one victory in the Civil War?\

\(147 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: bitterness n．痛苦，悲伤，强烈的

bitter adj．苦味的，辛酸的，怀恨的；强烈的 a bitter taste苦味 a bitter smile苦笑 bitter tears辛酸的眼泪

bitter remarks刻薄的话，恶毒的话 bitter discipline严格的训练 a bitter argument激烈的争论 victorious adj．获胜的，胜利的 the victorious army获胜的队伍 a victorious cheer胜利的欢呼 forgive vt．原谅，饶恕 party］n．一群人

battlefield n．战场，沙场 stirring adj．激动人心的 a stirring person活跃的人 a stirring speech 动人的演说 conquer vi．征服，战胜 the Civil War南北战争

Passage 16 A Qualified Pilot

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The captain of a small ship had to go along a rocky coast, but he was unfamiliar with it, so he tried to find a qualified pilot to guide him. He went ashore in one of the small ports, and a local fisherman pretended that he was a pilot because he needed some money. The captain took him on board and asked him where to steer the ship.

After half an hour the captain began to suspect that the fisherman did not really know what he was doing and where he was going. \

\answered the fisherman. \know every rock on this part of the coast.\

Suddenly there was a terrible crash from under the ship. At once the fisherman added, \Useful Words and Expressions: Qualified adj. 有资格的

qualify as a doctor取得医生资格 qualify for the vote有选举权

qualify to do sth．使有资格做某事 pilot n．飞行员，领航员，引水员 captain n．船长，机长，队长 ashore adv．向岸地，在岸上地 rocky adj．多岩石的 on board 到船上，在船上

suspect v．怀疑，对…··有所觉察 suspect sb．of a crime怀疑某人犯罪

I suspected her motives.我怀疑她的动机。 crash n．碰撞，撞击声

Passage 17 Living Things React

You and all organisms live in an environment. An environment is made up of everything that surrounds an organism. It can include the air, the water, the soil, and even other organisms.

An organism responds to changes in its environment. When an organism responds to a change, it reacts in certain ways. All living things respond in someway.

Have you ever noticed how plants and insects respond to light? Plants bend toward light. Insects fly toward light.

Living things also respond in other ways. The leaves on some trees respond to a change in season. In autumn, they change colors and then fall off the branches. Animals also respond to a change in season. Squirrels save nuts for the winter. Bears sleep through the winter in a cave.

You respond to your environment in many ways, too. You may shiver if you are cold. What other ways do you respond to changes in your environment? (156 words)

Useful Words and Expressions:

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react vi. 反应，起作用

react against oppression反抗压迫 react on each other相互起作用

Unkindness often reacts on the unkind person.恶人有恶报。 The eye reacts to light.眼睛对光有反应。

The audience reacted readily to his speech.观众对他的讲演立即起了反应。 organism n．生物体，有机体 respond v．作出反应 squirrel n．松鼠

nut n．坚果，难解的问题

a hard [tough] nut to crack棘手之事；难对付的人 a tough nut果断顽强的人；难对付的人，无赖汉 deaf nut注定失败的计划;毫无所得的投机 deaf nut发疯；大发雷霆

He who would eat the nut must fiDt crack the shell．不打碎果壳，就吃不到果仁；不劳则无获。

Passqjge 18

Flowering Plants

What arc the parts of a flower?

Flowers can have male parts and female parts. The female parts make eggs that become seeds. The male parts make pollen. Pollen is a powdery material that is needed by the eggs to make seeds. To make seeds, pollen and eggs must come together. The wind, insects, and birds bring pollen to eggs. Many animals love flowers' bright colors. They also like a sugary liquid in flowers. This is called nectar. While they drink nectar, pollen rubs off on their bodies. As they move, some of this pollen gets delivered to the female flower parts.

Over time, the female parts turn into fruits that contain seeds. Animals often eat the fruits and the seeds pass through their bodies as waste. The animals do not know they are working for the plants by planting seeds as they travel to different places! (147 words) Useful Words and Expressions: flowering adj. 开花的

pollen n．花粉vt．传授花粉给 powdery adj，粉状的

sugary adj.含糖的，甜的 sugary foods甜食

sugary compliments奉承 a sugary smile甜蜜的一笑 nectar n．花蜜，甘露

taste the nectar of success尝成功之甜果 rub v．擦，摩擦

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Passage 19 Finding the Direction and Location

How can you tell which direction? By day, look for the Sun. It is in the east in the morning and the west in the afternoon. At night, use the Big Dipper to help you find the North Star. It would be better to bring a compass because its needle always points north.

How do you know how far you have gone? You could count every step. Each step is about two feet. You'd better wear a pedometer which is a tool that counts steps. If you know where you started, which direction you are heading, and how far you have gone, you can use a good map to figure out exactly where you are.

Today there is a new way for travelers to figure out where they are. It is the GPS. It has 24 satellites that orbit the earth and constantly broadcast their positions. Someday you may carry a small receiver as you hike and use GPS to find out if you are there yet! (167 words) Useful Words and Expressions: dipper n.北斗七星

compsiss n.罗盘，指南针，圆规 v．包围 pedometer n．步数计，步程计

head vt．朝向，前进；为首；率领；主持；领导 head south向南走去

We're heading home.我们正朝着家走。

Where are you heading for？你往哪儿去？

You're heading for an accident if you drink and drive．如果你酒后开车，势必会发生车祸。

Who headed the department？谁主管着这个部门？

His name heads the list for the candidates．他是候选人名单上的第一名。 Tom headed the ball into his own goal．汤姆把球顶进了自己的球门。 figure out v.．合计为，计算出

GPS abbr. Global Position System全球定位系统 orbit n．轨道 vt．绕……轨道而行 receiver n．接收器

Passage 20

Waves

How does light get from the sun to the earth? How does music get from the stage to the audience? They move the same way -in waves!

Light and sound are forms of energy. All waves carry energy, but they may carry it differently. Light and sound travel through different kinds of matter. For example, light waves cannot move through walls, but sound waves can. That is why you can hear people talking in another room even though you cannot see hem. The energy of some waves is destructive. An arthquake produces seismic waves.

Catch a wave. Ask a friend to stand a few feet away from you. Stretch a spring between you. Shake the spring to transfer energy to it. What happens?

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The spring bounces up and down in waves. When the waves reach your friend, they bounce back to you!

Light waves travel 300,000 kilometers (186, 000 miles) per second! They can also travel through a vacuum. That is why light from the sun and distant stars can travel through space to the earth! (175 words) Useful Words and Expressions: matter n．物质；内容；事情 reading matter阅读材料

This is a matter of no account．这是一件无关紧要的事。 I have an urgent matter to atend to．我有一件急事要办。

Passage 21 Soils

There are many different kinds of soils. Different soils have different types of rock and minerals in them. Some soils have more water in them than others. Some soils might have more plant and animal material in them, too. Different kinds of soils are found in different parts of the world. There are several kinds of soils found in the United States. In some areas, the soil has a lot of clay. Other soils are very sandy. Loam is a kind of soil that has a good mixture of clay and sand.

In some places, soil layers are very thick. Lots of plants grow in places with a thick soil layer. In dry and windy places soil layers are much thinner. Layers of soil on mountains are thin because gravity pulls the soil downhill.

The type of soil in a particular place affects what kinds of plants can grow there. (150 words)

Passage 22 Crisis

Life is a contest! Who will win? A bluebird and sparrow both compete for space to build their nests. A fast-growing maple tree and slower-growing dogwood compete for the sunlight they both need. Oil competes with coal and nuclear power as an energy source for electric power plants.

There is a problem. There is a limited amount of space for birds, sunlight for trees, and energy for people! If we do not cut back on our uses of some of our resources, someday they will be gone!

How can we use energy today and know we will have enough to go around in the future? We can choose alternate, or replacement, energy resources. It takes the earth millions of years to create coal, oil, and gas. They are nonrenewable resources.

Solar energy, wind energy and water energy are renewable. What other ways can we conserve our resources? How can we make sure there is always enough to go around? (159 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: bluebird n.北美产的蓝知更鸟 sparrow n．[鸟]麻雀 compete for为……竞争

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maple n．［植］枫，枫木 dogwood n．山茱萸

nuclear power n．核动力

power plant n．发电厂，发电站 alternate n．替换物

replacement n．代替者；替换物

nonrenewable resources不可再生资源 conserve vt．保存，保藏

conserve one's strength 保存力量

conserve our national heritage in the face of bewildering change在面临令人手足无措的改变时，要保护我们的民族遗产

Passage 23

America's Worst Surprise

December 7,1941 was one of the worst days in American history. Nearly all Americans who are old enough to remember that day can still remember what they were doing at the moment they heard \America had been attacked!

Shortly before 2:00 P.M., a radio dispatch came into Washington from Honolulu, Hawaii, \planes had begun an attack on the largest American military base in the Pacific. They first destroyed planes on the ground. Then they bombed the ships in the harbor.

No one had expected the attack. So no one was prepared for it. And it did not take long for the Japanese to do their damage. When the smoke cleared, the Navy counted its losses- Eighteen ships had been sunk or badly damaged. Nearly 150 planes had been destroyed. More than 2,400 Americans had been killed and more than 1, 200 wounded. (157 words) Useful Words and Expressions: dispatch n.派遣，急件 air raid n.空袭 Pearl Harbor珍珠港

Drill n．军事训练，操练

Military adj．军事的，军用的，军人的 military base军事基地

a military bearing 军人的气度 military attire军人的服装 military service兵役

military operations军事行动 bomb n．炸弹Vt．投弹于，轰炸 sink［Sfor」Vi．（使）下沉 sunk sink的过去分词和过去式

Passage 24 Great Depression in the U.S

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In 1929, the bills started to come in. American industry had produced too many goods. Americans could not afford to buy all of them. So factories had to cut down on their production. Many workers lost their jobs. Investors tried to get their money back. But businesses did not have enough money to pay them. Banks tried to get their money back from investors. But the investors could not pay, either. Too many people owed money. And few of them could pay their bills.

During the next few years, business got worse and worse. By 1932, banks all over the country were closing.

People without money could not buy goods, so more businesses closed. More and more people lost their jobs. By 1932, more than 12 million Americans were jobless. Millions more were earning barely enough to live on. The country was in a great depression they had never experienced before. (151 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: bill n．账单，票据

foot the bill otheb 付账；负责 cut down on减少 investor n．投资者 barely adv．仅仅，刚刚 be arely of age刚成年

a barely furniished room陈设简陋的房间

He barely escaped.．他好不容易地才逃了出来。 live on v．继续生活，靠……生活 depression n．沮丧，萧条 Great Depression 大萧条

Passage 25 A Place of Our Own

We are all usually very careful when we buy something for the house. Why? Because we have to live with it for a long time. We paint a room to make it brighter, so we choose the colours carefully.

We buy new curtains in order to match the newly decorated room, so they must be the right colour. We move the furniture round so as to make more space or we buy new furniture---and so on. It is an endless business. Rich or poor, we take time to furnish a room. Perhaps some people buy furniture in order to impress their friends. But most of us just want to enjoy our surroundings. We want to live as comfortably as we can afford to. We spend a large part of our lives at home. We want to make a small comer in the world which we can recognize as our own. (151 words)

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Useful Words and Expressions: curtain n．窗帘，门帘 furniture n．家具，设备

a piece of furniture 一件家具 a lot of furniture许多家具

the furniture of one's pocket钱财

furniture of one's mind 知识，见闻，才能 furnish vt．装备，布置

furnsh a library with books供应图书馆书籍

I will furnish all you need．我愿供给你所需要的一切。 The house is well furnished.这房屋室内布置得很 好。 surroundings n．环境

The house is in beautiful surroundings.．这座房屋四 周的环境优美。

Passage 26 Travel for Work

You can see them in every airport in the world. They are businessmen and women who have to travel for their work.

When they first applied for the job, they may have thought of good food and hotels, huge expense accounts and fashionable cities. Now they hnave to sit in airport lounges, tired and uncomfortable in their smart clothes, listening to the loudspeaker announce \flight to Tokyo, or Berlin, or New York is delayed for another two hours\lucky you are to be able to travel abroad in your work! You can go sightseeing without paying any money by yourself!\They think that my job is like a continual holiday. It is not. There are advantages, of course, and I do think I am lucky, but only because I can go to places I would never visit if I was a tourist. (149 words) Useful Words and Expressions: apply for请求，申请

apply to the consul for a visa向领事申请签证 apply a theory to practice把理论应用于实践 apply a plaster to a wound 给伤口贴上膏药 apply paint to a house油漆房屋 apply one's mind专心于……

We must apply our energies to finding a solution．我们必须全力想出一个解决的办法。

expense n．费用，开支 accounts账目，账号

fashionable adj.时．流行的，时髦的 a fashionable hairdo时髦的女发型

become fashionable for a time风靡一时 lounge n．休闲室 go sightseeing观光

a sightseeing car游览汽车

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a sightseeing party参观团 a sightseeing tour旅游观光

Passage 27 Intelligence

Are some people born clever and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience?

Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus, the limits of a person's intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, held by most experts now, can be supported in a number of ways. As is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people is, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. (154 words) Useful Words and Expressions: Intelligence n．智力，聪明

a boy who shows intellge6nce智力低下的男孩

Use your Intelllignce，and you'll sure to achieve sometning．发挥你的聪明才智，你一定能取得成就。

have secret intelligence of the enemy's plans获得敌方计划的秘密情报。 extent n．广度，程度

to some extent在某种程度上

extent of one's knowledge某人的知识多少 see fullextent ofthe park看到公园的整个范围 a vast extent of land辽阔的土地 unlimited extent无限空间

I agree with you to a certain extent．我在某种程度上同意你。 No one knows the extent of his debts．没有人知道他负债多少。 no amount of怎么（再多）也…··不

Passape 28 A Free Dress Every Week

The temptation to steal is greater than ever before especially in large shops and people are not so honest as they once were.

A detective recently watched a well-dressed woman who always went into a large store on Monday mornings. One Monday, there were fewer people in the shop than usual when the woman came in, so it was easier for the detective to watch her. The woman first bought a few small articles. After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed

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it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. The woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. Believe it or not, the girl \every week! (148 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: temptation n．诱惑，诱惑物

the temptations of a big city大城市的种种诱惑 resist temptation抵制诱惑，不受诱惑

a strong temptation to sb对某人十分强烈的诱惑 article n．物品，商品

an important article of food一种主要食品 article mix 商品组合

articles of daily use日用品 wrap vi.包起来

wrap sth. Up 把…··包起来

arrest vt.逮捕，拘留 n．逮捕，拘留

the arrest of a criminal suspect拘捕一个犯罪嫌疑犯。 a criminal under arrest 一个在押的罪犯

Passage 29 Time

Time is tangible. One can gain time, spend time, waste time, save tame, or even kill time. Common questions in American English reveal this concrete quality as though time were a possession. \you have any time?\\treatment of time as a possession influences the way that time is carefully divided.

Generally, Americans are taught to do one thing at a time and may be uncomfortable when an activity is interrupted. In businesses, the careful scheduling of time and the separation of activities are common practices. Appointment calendars are printed with 15-, 30-, and 60-niinute time slots. The idea that \is a time and place for everything\extends to American social life. Visitors who drop by without prior notice may interrupt their host's personal time. Thus, calling friends on the telephone before visiting them is generally preferred to visitors' dropping by. (157 words) Useful Words and Expressions: tangible adj．切实的 kill time 消磨时间 reveal vt．显示，揭示

possession n．拥有，占有，所有 a man of great possessions富人

In full possession of one's senses神智非常清醒 Personal possions个人财产

How did you get possession of it?你是怎样得到它的？

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He gave up possession Of the house．他放弃了这房子的所有权。

The information in my possession is strictly confidential .我掌握的情报是绝对机密的。

scheduling n．行程安排，时序安排

Passage 30 Cartoonists

In a good cartoon, the artist can tell in a few lines as much as a writer can tell in half a dozen paragraphs. The cartoonist not only tells a story but he also tries to persuade the reader to his way of thinking. He has great influence on public opinion. In a political campaign, he plays an important part. Controversial issues in Congress or at meetings of the United Nations may keep the cartoonist well-supplied with current materials.

A clever cartoonist may cause laughter because he often uses humour in his drawings. If he is sketching a famous person, he takes a prominent feature and exaggerates it. Cartoonists, for instance, like to lengthen an already long nose and to widen an already broad grin. This exaggeration of a person's characteristics is called caricature. The artist uses such exaggeration to put his message across. (144 words) Useful Words and Expressions: cartoonist n．漫画家

campaign n．（政治或商业性）活动 controversial adj．争论的，争议的

a controversial movie一场有争议的电影

a controversial stand on human rights引起争议的人权立场 congress n．（美国等国的）国会，议会 sketch vi．绘略图，素描

prominent adj．卓越的，显著的 prominent tech突出的牙齿 a prominent nose大鼻子

a prominent doctor著名的医生 exaggerate v．夸大，夸张

exaggeration n．夸张，夸大之词 for instance例如

lengthen v．延长，（使）变长 kngthen a dress放长衣服

Summer lengthens（out）into autumn．夏去秋来。

Passage 31 Water Pollution

Water is very important to us. Factories and plants need water for industrial uses and large pieces of farmland need it for irrigation. Without water to drink, people die in a short time.

Today most water sources are so dirty that people must purify water before drinking. Water becomes dirty in many ways: industrial pollution is one of them. With the development of industry, plants and factories pour tons

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of industrial wastes into rivers every day. The rivers have become seriously polluted, and the water is becoming unfit for drinking or irrigation. The same thing has also happened to our seas and oceans. So, the problem of water pollution is almost worldwide.

Scientists of many countries have done a lot of work to stop pollution. The polluted water in some places has become clean and drinkable again. Perhaps one day the people in all towns and cities will be drinking clean water. That day, we believe, is not very far off. (161 words) Useful Words and Expressions: irrigation n．灌溉，冲洗 purify vt.使纯净V.净化

industrial polllltion工业污染验室 agricultural pollution农业污染 air（bome）pollution大气污染 aquatic pollution水污染

atmospheric pollution大气污染 community pollution居民区污染 dust pollution灰尘污染

environment pollution环境污染 food pollution食物［食品」污染 freshwater pollution淡水污染

global air pollution全球性大气污染 groundwater pollution地下水污染 indoor air pollution室内空气污染 infrmation Pollution信息污染 ocean pollution海洋污染 noise pollution噪声污染 nuclear pollution核污染

visual pollution视觉污染be be unfit for 不适于

Passage 32 Making a Complaint

Complaining about faulty goods or bad service is never easy. But if something you have bought is faulty or does not do what was claimed for it, you are not asking for a favour to get it put right. Complaints should be made to a responsible person. Go back to the shop where you bought the goods, taking with you any receipt you may have. In a small store the assistant may also be the owner so you can complain direct. In a chain store, ask the manager. If you telephone, ask the name of the person who handles your enquiry, otherwise you may never find out who dealt with the complaint later. If you do not want to do it in person, write a letter.

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Stick to the facts and keep a copy of what you write. At this stage you should give any receipt numbers, but you should not need to give receipts or other papers to prove you bought the article. (164 words) Useful Words and Expressions: complaint n．申诉；控告；抱怨 faulty adj．有缺点的，不完美的 a faulty reasoning错误的推理 a faulty design不完善的设计方案 claim vt.（根据权利）要求 responsible adj．负责的

give a task to a responsible man把一件工作交给一个可靠的人做 have a responsible post 担任要职

The weather is responsible for the delay．由于天气关系才耽误。 receipt n. 收条，收据 chain store n. 连锁商店 enquiry n.询问

stick to v. 粘住，坚持

at this stage adv. 眼下，暂时 article n. 物品，商品

Passage 33 Where Do the British Live

Nearly everyone in Britain would like to own their own home and, whether they do or not, they are prepared to put time and money into decorating and furnishing it or even making structural alterations to it. Because of the climate and because of the expense involved in going out for the evening, the British spend a lot of time at home and a large part of their social life takes place there.

Young people tend to stay with their families longer these days as

accommodation is expensive but, when they move away to a job or college, there are various options open to them. They can get lodgings with a landlady. This means that they rent a room in someone's house and have breakfast with the family. They can also get a bed-sitting room, that is to say one self-contained room in which they can cook, live and sleep. Alternatively, they can share a rented flat or house with a group of young people, perhaps the most popular option of all. (172 words) Useful Words and Expressions: structural adj. 结构的，建筑的 furnish vt.装备，布置 alteration n．变更，改造 accommodation n．住处，膳宿 option n．选项，选择权

have no option but to（do）除了一一～以外没有他法，只好

Ieave one's optons open不做选择；不表态；不做承诺；留有回旋余地 leave to one's option任意选择

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make one's option进行选择 lodging n．寄宿处，寄宿 bedsit n.卧室兼起居室

bed-sitting卧室兼起居室的

self-contained adj．设备齐全的

alternatively adv．作为选择，二者择一地

Passage 34 Will Computers Replace Human Beings?

We are in the computer age today. The computers are working all kinds of wonders now. They are very useful in automatic control and data processing. At the same time, computers are finding their way into the home. They seem to be so clever and can solve such complicated problems that some people think sooner or later they will replace us. But I do not think that there is such a possibility. My reason is very simple: computers are machines, not humans. And our tasks are far too various and complicated for any one single kind of machine to perform.

Probably the greatest difference between man and computer is that the former can do things of his own while the latter can do nothing without being programmed. In my opinion, computers will remain nothing but an extension of our human brains, no matter how clever and complicated they may become. (150 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: wonder n，奇迹

a nine day's wonder轰动一时（便被遗忘）的事物；昙花一现的新鲜事 A wonder lasts but nine days. [谚]什么事儿都新鲜不了多久。 do [perform, work] wonders创造奇迹，取得惊人成就 lost in wonder惊叹不已

What a wonder！多么令人惊异！真想不到！ automatic adj．自动的

data processing n.资料处理

complicated adj．复杂的，难解的 scone or later adv．迟早 possibility n．可能性

a bare possibility万一的事情

be within [out of] the bounds [range] of possibility 是可能[不可能]的

by any possibility 万一，也许 by some possibility或许

There are several possibilities．有几种可育性。 What are the possibdties？有哪些可能发生的情况？ extension n．延长，扩充

Passage 35 Soccer

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Soccer has had a slow start in America. In fact, the majority of schools still have no official soccer teams or coaches. But the blossoming popularity of the game cannot be denied. Thanks to the efforts of some world-famous soccer stars, soccer is soon to have its place in American culture.

Although soccer has enjoyed decades of popularity elsewhere, it was literally ignored in America. Instead, a variation of the game called \obvious advantages of playing soccer instead will soon win even the most avid football enthusiasts.

For one thing, soccer is a much safer game to play than football. No one deliberately tries to knock an opponent down in soccer. In fact, the players are discouraged from even touching each other. Soccer is a game that requires skill and dexterity in controlling the ball. Since no one may use hands to do this, soccer players soon acquire incredible control of their heads, knees, and feet. (171 words) Useful Words and Expressions: slow start slowstsrt缓慢起动 blossom vi．兴旺，发展

literally adv．照字面意义，逐字地 ignore vt.不理睬，忽视

He completely ignored all these facts as though they never existed.他完全无视这一切，好像它们根本存在似的。

She saw him coming but she ignored him.她看见走过来，但装做没看到他。variation n．变更，变化 avid adj．渴望的

avid for adventure渴求冒险

be avid for(paise）渴望（得到表扬） be avid of（money）贪（财） enthusiast n．热心家，狂热者 deliberately adv，故意地 opponent n．对手，反对者 discourage from劝阻 dexterity n．灵巧，机敏

incredible adj．＜口＞难以置信的

Passage 36 Artists

Every artist knows in his heart that he is saying something to the public. Not only does he want to say it well, but he wants it to be something which has not been said before.

What visual artists, like painters, want to say is easy to make out but difficult to explain, because painters translate their experiences into shapes and colors, not words. They seem to feel that a certain selection

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of shapes and colors, out of the countless billions possible, is exceptionally interesting for them and worth showing to us.

Most artists take their shapes and colors from the world of nature and from human bodies in motion and response; their choices indicate that these aspects of the world are worth looking at, that they contain beautiful sights. Contemporary artists might say that they merely choose subjects that provide an interesting pattern, that there is nothing more in it. Yet even they do not choose entirely without reference to the character of their subjects. (166 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: visual artist 视觉艺术家 selection n．选择，挑选

countless」adj．无数的，数不尽的 exceptional adj．例外的，异常的

a man of exceptional talent 具有特殊才能的人 exceptional weather 异常的气候 exceptional promotion破格提升 motion n．运动，动作 response n．响应，反应

call forth no response in sb. 's breast在某人心中不起反应 in response to响应，反应 make no response不回答 indicate vt．显示，象征

contemporary adj．当代的，同时代的 without reference to不论，与……无关

Passage 37 Professional Sports in the U. S.

Professional sports are not only very popular in the United States, but also a big business. The most popular sports are baseball, football and basketball. Each sport has its own season and individual teams have millions of supporters. Professional teams are named for the cities where they are located. For example, the Lakers are in Los Angeles. The strongest supporters of the Lakers are residents of Los Angeles and Southern California. When the Lakers play, many people in Los Angeles

enthusiastically follow the game. When we mention \almost every one knows it has some relationship -with U.S. professional basketball. However, what does it really stand for? N.B.A. is short for the National Basketball Association. The NBA is gaining new fans and supporters around the world. Basketball is another popular American sport. In the U. S., basketball has been called the \pastime\However, football is the most popular professional sport in the U. S.. American football is different from international football, which Americans call \Both games require strength and specialized skills. (171 words) Useful Words and Expressions:

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professional adj．专业的，职业的 professional knowledge专业知识

professional men专家（尤指医生、律师等） a professional singer职业歌唱家 be named for被指定作 resident n．居民

enthusiastically adv.热心地，狂热地 stand for v．代表，象征 be short for是……的简称 association n．协会，联合 pastime n．消遣，娱乐

Swimming Is myhvonte pastime．游泳是我最喜欢的一种娱乐。 specialized专门的

specialize one's studies使研究专门化 specialize in agriculture专攻农业

Passage 38 \

Books which give instructions on how to do things are popular in the United States today. Thousands of these \there are about four thousand books with titles that begin with the words \

Many \a career and how to succeed in it. Many of these books help people to use their free time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies, and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. They prefer books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like plumbing and electrical wiring or on how to redecorate or enlarge a house. Why have \to\books become so popular? Probably because life has become more complex. Today people have far more free time to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve, \with modem life. (173 words) Useful Words and Expressions: step-by-step adj. 按部就班的

give instructions指挥[命令］（做某事） ask for instruction请示 give instruction in讲授

give instructions to do sth．指挥［命令］(做某事） receive in instruction接受教导 electrical wire n.电线

redecorate v．重新装饰，再装饰（装修） complex adj．复杂的，综合的 a complex idea一个复杂的观念 a complex machine一台复杂的机器

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Passage 39 Don t Give Up

If we would ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere. If we would learn our lessons in school, we must be diligent and not give up whenever we come to anything difficult. We shall find many of our lessons very hard, but let us consider that the harder they are the better they will do to us if we will persevere and learn them thoroughly. But there are some among us who are ready to give up when they come to a hard example in mathematics, and say, \if they feel so. \can't\never does anything worthwhile; but \try\accomplishes wonders. Let us remember that we shall meet with difficulties all through life. They are in the pathway of everyone. If we will only try and keep trying, we shall be sure to conquer and overcome every difficulty we meet. (155 words) Useful Words and Expressions: accomplish vt.完成，实现 accomplish a purpose达到目的

I accompllshed two hours'work before dinner．我在吃饭前完成了两小时的工作。

Wu should accomplish the task within the allotted time．你们必须在规定时间内完成这项任务。 persevere v. 坚持

diligent adj．勤勉的，用功的

The boy is more diligent than anybody else. 这孩子比任何人都勤奋。 He Is diligent in his studies．他学习勤奋。

He's a diligent worker and has often done well in the examinations. 他很勤奋，所以考试常常敢得好成绩。 thoroughly adv．完全地，彻底地

worthwhile adj．值得做的，值得出力的 a worthwhil job值得做的工作 pathway n．路，径

conquer vt．征服克服（困难等） conquer shyness战胜羞怯

conquer bad habits克服不良习惯

I finally conquered my fear of heights. 我终于克服了我的恐高症。

Passage 40 How High Can You Jump?

Fleas trainers have observed a strange habit of fleas while training them. Fleas are trained by putting them in a cardboard box with a top on it. The fleas will jump up and hit the top of the cardboard box over and over and over again. As you watch them jump and hit the lid, something very interesting becomes obvious. The fleas continue to jump, but they are no longer jumping high enough to hit the top.

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When you take off the lid, the fleas continue to jump, but they will not jump out of the box. They will not jump out because they cannot jump out. Why? The reason is simple. They have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high, that is all they can do!

Many times, people do the same thing. They restrict themselves and never reach their potential. Just like the fleas, they fail to jump higher, thinking they are doing all they can do. (169 words) Useful Words and Expressions: flea n.跳蚤

cardboard n．纸板 jump up突然起立

jump over a page or wo跳过一两页

jump at[to] a conclusion匆匆作出结论，轻率断定

jump from one topic to another从一个话题跳到另一个话题 jump from job t job盲目地调换工作，见异思迁 jump at the chance急切地抓住机会

He wanted them to jump to it．他希望他们赶快办这件事。 His idea jump with mine．他的意见与我一致。 lid n．盖子

conditioned adj．有条件的，习惯于……的 a conditioned student试读生

become conditioned to the hot weather已适应炎热气候 restrict vt．限制，约束，限定

be estricted within narrow limits限于狭窄的范围内 be restricted in one's movements行动受约束 be restricted by time［law］ 受时间[法律]限制

Discussion at the meeting is restricted to the agenda. 这次会上的讨论只限于议程上的项目。

potential n．潜能，潜力

Passage 41 Apology Helps

It is never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how often you have judged roughly, you said unkind things, and pushed yourself ahead at the expense of a friend. Then count the occasions when you indicated clearly and truly that you were sorry, A bit frightening, isn't it? It is frightening because some deep wisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is disturbed; and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and regret expressed. A heartfelt apology can not only heal a damaged relationship but also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or judged too roughly, or just neglected, do something about it right now. (148 words)

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Useful Words and Expressions: be in the wrong 错误，理亏 look back v. 回顾，追忆 push ahead 抓紧进行

at the expense of 归……付费，在损害……的情况下 mysterious adj．神秘的

moral adj．道德（上）的，精神的 moral principles道德原则 moral standards道德标准 a moral lesson公民道德课

a moral obligation道义上的责任 a moral victory精神上的胜利 moral support 精神支持 disturbed adj．扰乱的

stay out of不参与……，置身于……之外 heartfelt adj．衷心的，真心真意的

She gave him her heartfelt thanks.她向他表示衷心的感谢。 roughly adv．概略地，粗糙地

Passage 42Sleep

Why is it so difficult to fall asleep when you are overtired? There is no one answer that applied to every individual. It is possible to feel \physically and still be unable to fall asleep, because while your bocdy may be exhausted, you do not feel sleepy. It is not so easy to simply \off\

Lack of sleep complicates matters even more. Experts say adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night to function properly. When you get less sleep than that on consecutive three nights, you begin to accrue four \debt\As sleep debt increases your body experiences a stress response. Now a vicious cycle has been created: You experience the feeling of being more and more tired, but your body is increasingly stimulated. \sleeping\for more hours on weekends is only a temporary solution. There is no substitute for getting a good night's sleep on a regular basis. (158 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: ovcrtire vt. 使过度疲劳 apply to将……应用于

exhausted adj．耗尽的，疲惫的 complicate v．（使）变复杂

function vi．（器官等）活动，运行 consecutive adj．连续的，联贯的 accrue vi．自然增加，产生 vicious adj．恶的，不道德的 vicious cycle 恶性循环

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a vicious companion一个坏朋友

a vicious textbook 错误百出的教科书 vicious criticism恶意的批评 viciou reasonng错误的推理

a vicious headache 剧烈的头痛幻 stimulate v．刺激，激励

substitute for代替……，替换……

Passage 43 Our Concern

The histoly of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings. To a large extent, the physical form and the habits of the earth's vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Only in the present century has one species of man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world. The rapidity of change follows the pace of man rather than the pace of nature. Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man's tampering with the atom. The chemicals are the creations of man's inventive mind, having no counterparts in nature.

We have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals into the hands of persons largely ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons, without their consent and often without their knowledge. We have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern. (170 words) Useful Words and Expressions: interaction n. 交互作用，交感

vesetation n．［植］植被，（总称）植物、草木 mold vt．浇铸，塑造 species n．种类

rapidity n．速度，迅速 alter v．改变

radiation n．放射，放射物 unnatural adj．不自然的 tamper with损害，影响 atom n．原子

inventive adj．善于创造的，发明的 counterpart n．配对物 poisonous adj．有毒的 biologically adv．生物学上 potent adj．有力的，有效的 ignorant of 不懂，不知道 consent n．同意，赞成

Passage 44 Gardening in America

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Believe or not, 43,000,000 Americans are gardening. That is about one in six. Gardeners, of course, come in many varieties. Not surprisingly, most of them are people who live in the suburbs, and enjoy planting flowers, or maybe a small vegetable garden.

The average age of gardeners in America is about 45 years old; they usually fall somewhere in the middle class. But the fastest growing groups are city dwellers. Urban residents are finding ways of gardening even in their crowded areas. Many go to large public gardens, as a place designed by the city for garden, and you can actually ranch your own plot. Still other people use their balconies or roof tops, wherever they can find the space to plant small patches of green. (126 words) Useful Words and Expressions: suburb n..市郊，郊区

Living in the suburbs you may suffer a little discomfort.住在乡下，你会感到不方便。

dweller n．居住者，居民

dwell in the country住在乡下

dwell in sb.'s mind 留在某人脑海里

She dwells too much upon her past．她过于详细地叙述她的过去。 urban 城市的，市内的 urban districts市区 urban telephone城市电话

the urban population城市人口 ranch v．经营牧场 plot n．小块土地

a garden plot一小块花园 balcony n．阳台 patch n．小块地

Passage 45 The Influence of Life

In the early times when human beings hunted and gathered food, they were not in control of their environment. They could only interact with their surroundings as the other lower animals did.

When they learned to make fire, however, they became capable of altering their environment. To provide themselves with fuel, they cut down trees. They also burned clearings in forests to increase the growth of grass and to provide a greater grazing area for the wild animals that human beings fed upon. This development led to farming and the domestication of animals. Fire provided the means for cooking plants which had previously been inedible. Only when the process of meeting the basic need for food reached a certain level was it possible for humans to follow other pursuits such as setting up families, forming societies and founding cities. (139 words) Useful Words and Expressions: interact with与……相合

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cut down v. 砍倒

cut down a tree with an axe用斧头把树砍倒 cut down on smoking减少抽烟 clearing n．空旷地

grazing n．放牧，牧草domestication n．驯养，驯服previously adv．先前，以前inedible adj，不适于食用的，不能吃的pursuit n．追击scholastic pursuit学术探讨「研究」；做学问pursut of profit追逐利润In one's pursut of happiness 追求幸福Hell-fo-rleather pursuit全力追击，拼命追赶set up v．设立

Passage 46 Automobiles

It is impossible to say that any one man invented the automobile. Many individuals living and working in different countries and at different times contributed to its development. Many of the discoveries that went into the creation of the automobile were small in themselves. But together they were important. Here are two examples.

%unheard of in those days. According to automobile historians, this was the first practical use of mechanical power to move a vehicle. After its first run, the machine reportedly burned up while the inventor and his friends were celebrating its success at a pub.

Henry Ford is considered the father of modem automobile mass production. His famous Model-T car, because of its low price, made it possible to produce cars on a large scale and his efforts made it accessible to ordinary people. (152 words) Useful Words and Expressions:automomile n. ＜主美＞汽车(=＜英＞motor car, car＝contribute to v. 捐献，贡献contribute to me Red Cross向红十字会捐献contribute to a literary journal向文学杂志投稿Drink contributed to his ruin．酗酒促使他毁灭。She seldom contributes to the discussion．她在讨论中很少发言。carriage n．马车，客车historian n．历史学家，史家vehicle n．交通工具，车辆reportedly adv. 据传说，据传闻pub n．酒馆，客栈mass production n.大规模生产on a large scale大规模地accessible adj．易接近的，可到达的accessible t与……接近

Passage 47 House and Home

\

\and \both refer to places where people live. However, there is a difference between them. \is often referred to as the place that we live in with our families. Sadly, in our society, people can hardly distinguish a home from a house because they often see no difference between them. This confusion can be traced back to the indifference between family members. Therefore, we can say that love is an important factor in a home. A home is a shelter, not only for our bodies but also for our minds. Whenever we are depressed, we can go home for comfort. Everyone in the family will

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do his best to take care of each other and share their happiness as well as sorrow. Without love, a home is merely a house where loneliness is all that can be found. And a house can never be a home unless there is love. (163 words)

Useful Words and Expressions: refer to v. 提到，指的是refer a question to an expert非曲直把问题提交给专家（处理）refer sb. to the dictionary 叫某人去查字典He referred his success to the good teaching he had. 他把他的成功归于以前所受的良好教育。distinguish v．区别，辨别distinguish between silk and rayon 分清丝和人造丝People who cannot distinguish between colours are said to becolour-blind．不能分辨颜色的人被称为色盲。confusion n．混乱，混淆trace back to v. 追溯到trace one's family back追溯某人家世trace a rumour to its source 追查谣言的根源indifference n．不关心depressed adj．沮丧的，降低的

Passage 48 Population Growth

It is well-known that there has been a drastic increase in world population. But it is probably less well-known that the extinction rate of wildlife species is experiencing a parallel trend.

Take the United States for instance. In 1990, U.S. population reached an unprecedented level of 250 million, which is approximately 250 times of that of 1800. On the other hand, wildlife species are disappearing from the country at an alarming rate. By 1900, about 70 wildlife species would never be seen in U. S. We are fully justified in declaring that the explosive population growth has had an adverse effect on the survival of wildlife species and will be a constant threat to the wildlife resources if no immediate actions are taken. Nothing has ever equaled the magnitude and speed with which the human spedes is altering the physical and chemical world. It has been demolishing the environment we are living in. (152 words) Useful Words and Expressions: drastic adj.激烈的take drastic measures采取果断措施「激烈手段」a drastic debate激烈的辩论make drastic change 做彻底的改变species n．种类extinction n．消失，消灭Paralell adj．平行的，相同的，类似的trend n．倾向，趋势unprecedented adj．空前的approximately adv．近似地，大约justify v．证明……是正当的explosive adj．爆炸（性）的magnitude n．大小，数量，量级alter v．改变The weather alters almost daily．天气几乎天天变化。demolish vt．毁坏，破坏

Passage 49 Natural Resources

Through the changes in the ways of making a living in a family over several generations, the cartoon aims at sounding a warning against man's wasteful use of natural resources and emphasizing the urgent need to preserve these resources.

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Ever since man appeared on the earth, man's survival has been heavily dependent on nature. Almost everything we use in our everyday life comes from nature, ranging from the food we eat, the water we drink, to the wood which is turned into furniture. With the development of technology and population growth, the amount and range of materials used has increased at an alarming rate.

However, natural resources are not inexhaustible. Some reserves are already on the brink of exhaustion and there is no hope of replacing them. The widespread water shortage is an example in point. If man continued to squander natural resources with no thought for the future, the whole world would be in a mess. (157 words) Useful Words and Expressions:

make a living 谋生earn [gain, get, make] one's living 谋生eke out a living勉强维持生活high living 奢侈阔绰的生活scrape a living勉强够维持生活scrounge a living靠乞讨过日子aim at v. 瞄准，针对aim high胸怀大志；力争上游take aim (at)）瞄准warning n．警告，预告give sb. warning 预先通知某人（特指解雇、辞职、退租等）ake warning有所警戒［惕］warning wodS告诫之言alarming adj．使人惊动的，令人担忧的be in a mess乱七八糟，处境狼狈

Passage 50 Reading

Nowadays few of us read books after we leave school.

This is rather disturbing, for one should know that books are no less necessary to one's mental life than fresh air is to one's physical life. From good reading we can derive companionship, experience and instruction. A good book is our faithful friend. It can increase our contentment when we are cheerful and happy, and lessen our pain when we are sad or lonely. Books can also offer us a wide range of experience. Few of us can travel far firom home or live long over 100, but all of us can live many lives through the pages of books. What's more, reading books can increase our intellectual ability, broaden our minds and make us wise. With the coming of TV, books are no longer read as widely as they once were. However, nothing can replace the role that books play in our lives. (154 words)

Useful Words and Expressions:

leave school 离校，中学毕业disturbing adj．使人不安的，烦扰的mental adj．精神的，智力的mental powers智力mental illness精神病mental Patient精神病患者Don't listen to him； he's mental．别听他的，他是个疯子。derive vt．得自，得到derive a conclusion from facts从事实推出结论companionship n．侣伴，交谊 contentment n．满意intellectual 智力的an intellectual book知性的书an intellectual problem需要动脑子解决的问题 an intellectual person 知识分子

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Ever since man appeared on the earth, man's survival has been heavily dependent on nature. Almost everything we use in our everyday life comes from nature, ranging from the food we eat, the water we drink, to the wood which is turned into furniture. With the development of technology and population growth, the amount and range of materials used has increased at an alarming rate.

However, natural resources are not inexhaustible. Some reserves are already on the brink of exhaustion and there is no hope of replacing them. The widespread water shortage is an example in point. If man continued to squander natural resources with no thought for the future, the whole world would be in a mess. (157 words) Useful Words and Expressions:

make a living 谋生earn [gain, get, make] one's living 谋生eke out a living勉强维持生活high living 奢侈阔绰的生活scrape a living勉强够维持生活scrounge a living靠乞讨过日子aim at v. 瞄准，针对aim high胸怀大志；力争上游take aim (at)）瞄准warning n．警告，预告give sb. warning 预先通知某人（特指解雇、辞职、退租等）ake warning有所警戒［惕］warning wodS告诫之言alarming adj．使人惊动的，令人担忧的be in a mess乱七八糟，处境狼狈

Passage 50 Reading

Nowadays few of us read books after we leave school.

This is rather disturbing, for one should know that books are no less necessary to one's mental life than fresh air is to one's physical life. From good reading we can derive companionship, experience and instruction. A good book is our faithful friend. It can increase our contentment when we are cheerful and happy, and lessen our pain when we are sad or lonely. Books can also offer us a wide range of experience. Few of us can travel far firom home or live long over 100, but all of us can live many lives through the pages of books. What's more, reading books can increase our intellectual ability, broaden our minds and make us wise. With the coming of TV, books are no longer read as widely as they once were. However, nothing can replace the role that books play in our lives. (154 words)

Useful Words and Expressions:

leave school 离校，中学毕业disturbing adj．使人不安的，烦扰的mental adj．精神的，智力的mental powers智力mental illness精神病mental Patient精神病患者Don't listen to him； he's mental．别听他的，他是个疯子。derive vt．得自，得到derive a conclusion from facts从事实推出结论companionship n．侣伴，交谊 contentment n．满意intellectual 智力的an intellectual book知性的书an intellectual problem需要动脑子解决的问题 an intellectual person 知识分子

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