1、Unit 1 Back to school Reading Realizing your potential Hello, everyone! Welcome to senior high school! Today is the start of a new term, the start of a three-year journey and the start of a promising future. I cant wait to describe to you what senior high school life is like. The path before you lea
2、ds to a world full of challenges: a new environment, new knowledge and new ways of thinking. However, for those of you with a positive mind, opportunity lies in each challenge. When you rise to the challenges, you will have the opportunity to acquire great knowledge and enjoy personal growth. Most i
3、mportantly, your time and effort at senior high school will open the door to your potential. “What is potential?” you may ask. Put simply, potential is your natural ability that can be developed when you try hard enough. Who knows what beautiful works of art you will create, what medical advances yo
4、u will make or what amazing technologies you will develop! The possibilities are endless, and I have confidence in your ability to make a difference to your family, to your community and to your country. Over the next three years, you will discover your potential while you develop as a student and a
5、s a person. To fully realize your potential, it is important for you to make the most of our school resources. Take advantage of your classes, learn from your teachers and classmates, and make use of our school facilities. There are also a lot of school activities for you. Join a club or two, and ta
6、ke an active part in different sports. Of equal importance are good study habits, useful skills and a positive attitude. Carefully plan your study, set clear goals and balance your schoolwork with other activities. As a senior high school student, you must make efforts to improve your communication
7、and problem-solving skills. Last but not least, always look on the bright side and never lose hope, even in difficult situations. In time you will find yourself growing into a well-rounded individual. As Lao-Tzu wisely said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” You need to make
8、 a continuous effort to train your mind and develop your character. Senior high school will help you learn and grow, yet you alone are responsible for realizing your great potential. Be confident, do your best and make us proud! Extended reading School life in the UK Last year, I had the chance to s
9、tudy at a British secondary school as an exchange student. I stayed with a lovely host family and went to school with their son, Daniel. We were both in year ten and we got on well. He is learning Chinese and will come to stay with me this year in China! The British school day begins at 9 a.m. and e
10、nds at 4 p.m. Students usually have to learn nine subjects at secondary school. Every student in the UK must study English, Maths and the Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students can also choose to study other subjects, such as History, Art and Business. The classes are different f
11、rom those in China. Each teacher has their own classroom and the students move around for every lesson. In most of my classes, there were only about 20 students. In the beginning, however, it was still tough for me to remember everyones name! I enjoyed most of the classes, but some of them were quit
12、e challenging. Technology classes were fun. I made a clock to take home. The teacher helped me put the parts together. I like it so much that I still use it as my alarm! I found Maths quite easy and enjoyable because the material was less advanced in the UK than in China. However, learning in Englis
13、h was a great challenge for me. There were a lot of difficult English words, especially in Geography and Biology. Class discussion is very important in the UK, but I could not make much of a contribution because sometimes I wasnt able to express myself clearly in English. Although there was not as m
14、uch homework as I was used to, it was still challenging. Fortunately, my teachers and classmates were always helpful and gave me lots of encouragement.My language skills improved over time. During the hour-long lunchtime, I ate in the school dining hall. There were lots of options including bread an
15、d butter, chicken pie and puddings, but I still missed my mums cooking! After lunch, I often played on the schools huge sports field with Daniel and his friends. Sometimes we just relaxed under a tree or sat on the grass. After school, there were many clubs to join. The one that attracted me most wa
16、s the Rugby Club. We played once a week, and it was really fun. Also, I enjoyed acting in the Theatre Club. I still have photos of myself acting in William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream. Joining clubs was a great way to meet British students and make friends with them. I am glad to have the
17、opportunity to experience this different way of life. I met some great people and learnt a lot about school life in the UK. Daniel and his family were fantastic hosts, and his friends were very nice as well. I cant wait for Daniel to visit China! Unit 1 potential /ptenl/ n. 潜力；可能性 adj. 潜在的，可能的 (2) s
18、enior /sin(r)/ adj. 中学的（招收 11 或 13 岁以上学生） ；级别高的；高级水平的；老年 的 n. 级别（或地位）较高者；较年长的人；高水平运动员 (2) path /p/ n. 道路；小路；成功的途径 (2) challenge /t lnd/ n. & vt. 挑战；质疑 (2) thinking /k/ n. 思维，思想；想法 (2) positive /pztv/ adj. 积极乐观的；良好的，正面的 (2) opportunity /ptjunti/ n. 机会，时机 (2) lie in 存在，在于 (2) rise to 能够处理 (2) acquire
19、/kwa(r)/ vt. 获得，得到 (2) effort /eft/ n. 努力，费力的事；试图 (2) advance /dvns/ n. 进步，进展；前进，行进 vt. & vi. 发展，进步 (3) amazing /mez/ adj. 令人大为惊奇的，令人惊喜的 (3) confidence /knfdns/ n. 信心，信任；把握 (3) make a difference 起作用，有影响 (3) make the most of 充分利用，尽情享受 (3) resource /rss/ n. 资源；资料；谋略 (3) take advantage of 利用 (3) facili
20、ty /fslti/ n. 设施，设备；场所 (3) equal /ikwl/ adj. 相同的，相等的；平等的；相当的，能胜任的 n. 同等的人（物）vt. 与 相等；比得上 (3) attitude /ttjud/ n. 态度，看法 (3) goal /l/ n. 目标；进球得分 (3) balance /blns/ vt. 同等重视； （使）保持平衡；权衡重要性 n. 均衡，平衡；平衡能力 (3) improve /mpruv/ vt. & vi. 改进，改善 (3) last but not least 最后但同样重要的 (3) well-rounded /wel randd/ adj
21、. 全面发展的；面面俱到的 (3) individual /ndvdul/ n. 个人 adj. 单独的，个别的 (3) character /krkt(r)/ n. 品质，性格；特点；人物，角色；文字 (3) responsible /rspnsbl/ adj. 有责任，负责；可靠的 (3) ahead /hed/ adv. （时间、空间）向前；提前 (5) junior /duni(r)/ adj. （学校）为 11 或 13 岁以下儿童设立的；地位（或级别）低的； 青少年的 n. 职位较低者；青少年运动员 (5) forward /fwd/ adv. 向将来；向前；进展，前进 (5) l
22、ook forward to 盼望，期待 (5) independent /ndpendnt/ adj. 自主的，有主见的；自立的 (5) focus /fks/ n. 焦点，重点 vt. & vi. 集中 (6) detail /ditel/ n. 细节；具体情况 (6) as a result of 由于 (6) tip /tp/ n. 指点，实用的提示；尖端；小费 (7) base /bes/ vt. 以为基础（依据）n. 根据；基础；基底；总部，大本营 (7) remind /rmand/ vt. 提醒，使想起 (7) stick to 坚持；固守，维持 (7) proposal /p
23、rpzl/ n. 提议，建议，动议 (9) aim /em/ n. 目的，目标 vi. & vt. 力争做到；目的是；针对 (9) style /stal/ n. 风格；方式；样式 (9) technique /teknik/ n. 技巧，技艺；技能 (9) workshop /wkp/ n. 研讨会，讲习班；车间，作坊 (9) professional /prfenl/ adj. 职业的，专业的；有职业的；娴熟的，精通业务的 n. 专门人 员，专业人士 (9) material /mtril/ n. 材料；素材 adj. 物质的，实际的；客观存在的 (9) poster /pst(r)/ n
24、. 海报； （在网络留言板上）发布消息的人 (9) secondary /sekndri/ adj. 中学的；次要的 (11) exchange /kstend/ n. & vt. 交换；交流；兑换 (11) host /hst/ n. 主人；东道主；主持人 vt. 主办；主持 (11) a.m. /e em/ 上午，午前 (11) p.m. /pi em/ 下午，午后 (11) biology /baldi/ n. 生物学 (11) tough /tf/ adj. 艰难的；严厉的；坚强的；坚固的 (11) alarm /lm/ n. 闹钟；恐慌；警报；警报器 vt. 使惊恐，使害怕 (11) contribution /kntrbjun/ n. 贡献；捐款；捐赠 (11) fortunately /ftntli/ adv. 幸运地，幸亏 (12) over time 随着时间流逝，久而久之 (12) option /pn/ n. 可选择的事物，选择；选修课 (12) butter /bt(r)/ n. 黄油 (12) pudding /pd/ n. 甜点；布丁 (12) attract /tr kt/ vt. 吸引，使喜爱；招引；引起（反应） (12) rugby /rbi/ n. 橄榄球运动 (12) calligraphy /klrfi/ n. 书法，书法艺术 (13)
