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普通高中课程标准实验教科书英语电子课本普通高中课程标准实验教科书英语电子课本 Book 3 Unit 1Festivals around the world B3U1P1-3 FESTIVALSAND CELEBRATIONS Ancient Festivals Festivals and celebrations of all kinds are held everywhere. The most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of the cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn. Other celebrations were held when hunters could catch animals. They would starve if food was difficult to find, so they celebrated when they had food. They lit fires and made music because they thought these festivals would bring a year of plenty. Festivals of the Dead Some festivals are held to honour the dead, or satisfy and please the ancestors, who could return either to help or to do harm. In Japan the festival is called Obon, when people should go to clean the graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors. They light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth. In Mexico they have the Day of the Dead in early November. On this important feast day, people might eat food in shape of skulls, and cakes with “bones” on them. They offer food, flowers and gifts to the dead. The festival of Halloween had its origin as an event in memory of the dead. It is now a childrens festival, when they can go to their neighbours homes and ask for sweets. They dress up and try to frighten people. If they are not given anything, the children might play a trick. Festivals to Honour People Festivals can be held as an honour to famous people or to the gods. One of these is the Dragon Boat Festival in China, which honours the famous ancient poet, Qu Yuan. Another is Columbus Day in the USA, in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America. In India there is a national festival on October 2 to honour Mahatma Gandhi, the leader who helped gain Indias independence from Britain. Harvest Festivals Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events. People are grateful because their food is gathered for the winter ,and because a season of agricultural work is over. In European countries it is the custom to decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and people get together to have meals. Some people might win awards for their animals, flowers, fruits and vegetables, like the biggest watermelon or the most handsome rooster. In China and Japan there are mid-autumn festivals, when people admire the moon and give gift of mooncakes. Spring Festivals The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring. At the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat, and may give children lucky money in the red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and families celebrate the lunar New Year together. In some Western countries there are very exciting carnivals, which take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. They might include parades, dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an important religious and social festival in Christian countries. It celebrates the return of Jesus for Christians and it also celebrates the coming of spring. In Japan, the Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later. The country is covered with cherry tree flowers so that it looks as though it might be covered with pink snow. People love to get together to eat, drink and have fun with each others. Festivals let us enjoy life, be proud of our customs and forget our daily life for a little while. B3U1P4 We think it has always been the custom for people to have festivals. They are a time to enjoy each others company and have fun with our friends. We think that long ago people looked forward to the celebrations. Our ancestors would sit round a fire and cook plenty of meat to eat. Then they would be satisfied with their festival. B3U1P7 ASAD LOVE STORY Li Fang was heart-broken. It was Valentines Day and Hu Jin had said she would meet him at the coffee shop after work. But she didnt turn up. She could be with her friends right now laughing at him. She said she would be there at seven oclock, and he thought she would keep her word. He had looked forward to meeting her all day, and now he was alone with his roses and chocolates, like a fool. Well, he was not going to hold his breath for her apologise. He would drown his sadness in coffee. It was obvious that the manager of the coffee shop was waiting for Li Fang to leavehe wiped the tables, then sat down and turned on the TVjust what Li Fang needed! A sad Chinese story about lost love. The seventh daughter of the Goddess of Heaven visited the earth. Her name was Zhinu, the weaving girl, and she was the most lovely of the daughters. While she was on earth she met the herd boy Niulang and they fell in love. (“Just like me and Hu Jin, ”thought Li Fang.) They got married secretly, and they were very happy. (“We could be like that, ” thought Li Fang.) When the Goddess of Heaven knew that her daughter was married to a human, she became very angry and made the weaving girl return to Heaven. Niulang tried to follow her, but the river of stars, the Milky Way, stopped him. Finding that Zhinu was heart-broken, her mother finally decided to let the couple cross the Milky Way to meet once a year. This happens when the stars Vega and Altair meet in the Heaven. Magpies make a bridge of their wings so the couple can cross the river to meet on the seventh lunar month. people in China hope that the weather will be fine on that day, because if it is raining, it means that Zhinu is weeping and the couple wont be able to meet. The announcer said, “this is the story of Qiqiaojie. When foreigners hear about the story, they call it a Chinese Valentines story. Its a fine day today, so I hope you can all meet the one you love. As Li Fang set off for home, he thought, “I guess Hu Jin doesnt love me. Ill just throw these flowers and chocolates away. I dont want them to remind me of her.So he did. As he sadly passed the tea shop on the corner on his way home, he heard a voice calling him. There was Hu Jin waving at him and calling, “Why are you so late? Ive been waiting for you for a long time! And I have a gift for you!” What would he do? He had thrown away her Valentine gifts! She would never forgive him. This would not be a happy Valentines Day! B3U1P44 and then whatll happen to us, with no way in the world to earn a living? (at the brothershome , the servant lets them in. The two brother are seated ,waiting ) HENRYGood morning, gentlemen. (Roderick seems very surprised to see Portia ) Portia ,these are the men who helped me . PORTIASo very nice to meet you, kind sirs . ( she gives Oliver a wink of the eye ) RODERICKErPortia ,I- OLIVERWere both glad to hear it , for now we can decide the bet which Roderick and I made .If youve won for me ,you shall have any job as my gift . Have you got the million pound bank-note ? HENRYIve won! Now what do you say , Roderick ? RODERICKI say that Ive lost twenty thousand pounds .I never would have believed it. Why, that is amazing, man! HENRYCome, lets be going now, Portia . OLIVERBut wait, wait! The job, you know .I must give you a job, as I promised. HENRYWell, thank you very much, but I really dont want one now. PORTIAHenry, Im disappointed in you . You didnt thank the gentlemen properly . May I do it for you ? HENRYLet me see you try. (Portia walks over to Roderick and gives him a hug. Then she sits in Olivers lap, puts her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek . Oliver begins laughing.) PORTIAPapa, he says he doesnt want anything else from you . HENRY(shocked)My dear ,is that your papa?! PORTIAHes my stepfather ,and the dearest one that ever was . HENRYOh, my dearest dear sir , I regret what I said . You have got a job open that I want . OLIVERName it. HENRYSon-in law. OLIVERWell , well, well! But youve never had such a job before .How can I be sure you can do it successfully? HENRYTry meoh ,do . I beg of you ! Give me 30or 40 years ,and OLIVEROh ,well ,all right. NARRATORAre Portia and Henry happy ? There are not enough words in the biggest dictionary to describe it . Did the people of London have a good time with this bit of news ? Yes . Portias stepfather took that friendly bank-note back to the Bank of England and cashed . The bank-note was then useless for money but was his wedding gift to the young couple .Yes , the bank-note was worth millions of dollars , but not worth one-tenth as much as how Henry felt about Portia . Book 3 Unit 4 Astronomy: the science of the stars B3U4P25-26 HOW LIFE BEGAN ON THE EARTH After the “Big Bang ”, the earth was just a cloud of energetic dust. What it was to become was a mystery until the dust began to slowly combine into a ball moving around the sun. The problem was that the earth became violent because it was not clear whether the solid shape was to last or not. It exploded loudly with fire and rock, which in time to produce the water vapour, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and other gases, which were to make the earths atmosphere. As the earth cooled down, water began to appear on its surface. Nobody knew that it was going to be different from other planets going round the sun. water had already disappeared from planets like Mars or satellites like the moon, but it stayed on the earth. This is how the earth began to show its special qualities. Many people think this was important for the beginning of life. It allowed the earth to dissolve harmful gases, which had become part of the earths atmosphere, into oceans and seas. That made it possible for life to begin to develop. What scientists think is that the earth was different because of the arrival of small plants growing in the water on its surface. Nobody understood that these plants were the start of many changes. They multiplied and filled the first oceans and seas with oxygen. This encouraged the development of early shellfish and all sorts of fish. Many millions of years later the first green plants began to appear on land. Scientists believe that taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and filling the air with oxygen helped life to develop. Later land animals appeared. Some were insects. Others, called amphibians, were able to live on and as well as in the sea. When the plants grew into forests, reptiles appeared for the first time. They produced young generally by laying eggs. Later, some huge animals, called dinosaurs, developed. They laid eggs too. They became the most important animals on the earth for millions of years. But when they disappeared, mammals became more important. They were the last group of animals and they were different because they produced their young from within their bodies. Small clever animals, now with hands and feet, appeared and spread all over the earth. They developed new methods of growing food, hunting and moving around. As time went by they covered the earth and have become the most important animals on the planet. But they are not taking care of the earth very well. They are putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which prevents heat from escaping from the earth into space. The earth may become too hot for the lives on it. Whether life will continue on the earth for millions of years to come will depend on whether this problem can be solved. B3U4P28 My friend Li Yanping was really very interested in_. He liked to watch changes in the moon, the only natural satellite of the earth through his telescope. One evening he thought he saw a huge comet_ as it hit the moon. The_ of the moon produced a lot of dust that became_ like a large ball. It seemed as if it would multiply and become a new_. Li Yanping thought He was seeing the_ of the universe until he noticed some dirt on his telescope! He was very disappointed. B3U4P30-31 AVISIT TO THE MOON Last month I was lucky enough to have a chance to make a trip into space with my friend Li Yanping, an astronomer. We visited the moon in our spaceship! Before we left ,Li Yanping explained to me that the force of gravity would change three times on our journey and that the first change would be the most powerful. Then we were off. As the rocket rose slowly into the air we began to feel the pull of the earth, which is what we call gravity. At first it pushed us so hard back into our seats that we could not say anything to each other. Gradually the weight lessened and I was able to talk to him. Why is the spaceship not falling back to the earth? On the earth if I fall from a tree I will fall to the ground. I asked. We are too far from the earth now to feel its pull, he explained. So we feel as if there is no gravity at all. When we get closer to the moon, we shall feel its gravity pulling us but it will not be as strong a pull as the earths. I cheered up immediately and floated weightlessly around in our spaceship cabin watching the earth become smaller and the moon larger. When we got there, I wanted to explore immediately. Come on, I said. If you are right, my mass will be less than on the earth because the moon is smaller and I will be able to move more freely. I might even grow taller if I stay here long enough. I shall certainly weigh less! I laughed and climbed down the steps from the spaceship. But when I tried to step forward I found I was carried twice as far as on the earth and fell over. Oh dear, I cried, walking does need a bit of practice now that gravity has changed. After a while I got the hang of it and we began to enjoy ourselves. Leaving the moons gravity was not as painful as leaving the earths. But returning to the earth was very frightening. We watched, amazed as fire broke out on the outside of the spaceship as the earths gravity increased. Again we were pushed hard into our seats as we came back to land. That was very exhausting but very exciting too, I exclaimed. Now I know much more about gravity! Do you think we could visit some stars next time? Of course, he smiled, which star would you like to go to? B3U4P64 Where do we come from “Where do we come from? How did the universe begin? Why is the universe the way is? How will it end? All my life, I have been attracted by the big question that face us, and have tired to find scientific answers to them. If, like me, you have looked at the stars, and tired to make sense of what you see, you will also have started to wonder why the universe exists. The questions are clear and simple. But the answers have always seemed well beyond our reach, until now. “The idea which had grown over two thousand year of observation have had to be revised. In less than a hundred years, we have found a new way think of ourselves. From sitting at the centre of the universe, we now find ourselves moving around an average-sized sun, which is just one of millions of the stars in our own Milky Way galaxy. And our galaxy itself is just one of billions of galaxies, in a universe that is infinite and expanding. But this is far from the end o
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