2014人民教育出版社九年级英语教科书课本课文
目录
Unit1 how can we become good learners? .......................................................... 1 Unit 2 I think that mooncakes are delicious! .......................................................... 3 Unit 3 could you please tell me where the restrooms are? ...................................... 4 Unit 4 I used to be afraid of the dark ................................................................... 5 Unit 5 what are the shirts made of? ..................................................................... 6 Unit 6 when was it invented? ............................................................................... 7 Unit 7 Teenagers should be allowed to choose their own clothes ............................ 9 Unit 8 It must belong to Carla ............................................................................ 10 Unit 9 I like music that I can dance to ................................................................ 11 Unit10 you’re supposed to shake hands ............................................................ 12 Unit11 sad movies make me cry......................................................................... 13 Unit 12 life is full of the unexpected ................................................................... 14 Unit13 we are trying to save the earth................................................................ 15 Unit14 I remember meeting all of you in Grade 7 ................................................ 17
Unit1 how can we become good learners?
How I Learned to Learn English
Last year, I did not like my English class. Every class was like a bad dream. The teacher
spoke too quickly. But I was afraid to ask questions because my pronunciation was very bad. So I just hid behind my textbook and never said anything.
Then one day I watched an English movie called Toy Story. I fell in love with this exciting and funny movie! So then I began to watch other English movies as well.Although I could not understand everything the characters said, their body language and the expressions on their faces helped me to get the meaning. I also realized I could get the meaning by listening for just the key words. My pronunciation also improved by listening to the
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interesting conversations in English movies. I discovered that listening to something you are interested in is the secret to language learning. I also learned useful sentences like “It’s a piece of cake” or “It serves you right.” I did not understand these sentences at first. But because I wanted to understand the story, I looked up the words in a dictionary.
Now I really enjoy my English class. I want to learn new words and more grammar. Then I can have a better understanding of English movies.
How Can You Becomea Successful Learner?
Everyone is born with the ability to learn.But whether or not you can do this well depends on your learning habits. Research shows that successful learners have some good habits in common.
Creating an interest in what they learn
Studies show that if you are interested in something, your brain is more active and it is also easier for you to pay attention to it for a long time. Good learners often connect what they need to learn with something they are interested in. For example, if they need to learn English and they like music or sports, they can listen to English songs or watch sports programs in English. This way they will not get bored. Practicing and learning from mistakes
Good learners think about what they are good at and what they need to practice more. Remember, “use it or lose it”! Even if you learn something well, you will forget it unless you use it. Practice makes perfect. Good learners are also not afraid of making mistakes. Alexander Graham Bell did not invent the telephone overnight. He succeeded by trying many times and learning from his mistakes. Developing their study skills
It is not enough to just study hard. You have to know how to study. Good learners find out the best ways to learn well. For example, they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps. Good learners also look for ways to review what they have learned. They may do this by reading their notes every day or by explaining the information to another student. Asking questions
Good learners oft en ask questions during or after class. They even ask each other and try to find out the answers. Knowledge comes from questioning. Learning is a life-long journey because every day brings something new. Everything that you learn becomes a part of you and changes you, so learn wisely and learn well.
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Unit 2 I think that mooncakes are delicious!
Full Moon, Full Feelings
Chinese people have been celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival and enjoying mooncakes for centuries. Mooncakes have the shape of a full moon on mid-autumn night. They carry people’s s wishes to the families they love and miss.
There are many traditional folk stories about this festival. However, most people think that the story of Chang’e is the most touching. Chang’e was Hou Yi’s beautiful wife. After Hou Yi shot down the nine suns, a goddess gave him a magic medicine to thank him. Whoever drank this could live forever, and Hou Yi planned to drink it with Chang’e. However, a bad man, Feng Meng, tried to steal the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. Chang’e refused to give it to him and drank it all. She became very light and flew up to the moon. Hou Yi was so sad that he called out her name to the moon every night. One night, he found that the moon was so bright and round that he could see his wife there. He quickly laid out her favorite fruits and desserts in the garden. How he wished that Chang’e could come back! After this, people started the tradition of admiring the moon and sharing mooncakes with their families.
The Spirit of Christmas
Many would agree that when we think of Christmas, we probably think of gifts, Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But behind all these things lies the true meaning of Christmas: the importance of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this.
A Christmas Carol is a famous novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. He is mean and only thinks about himself, and doesn’t treat others nicely. He just cares about whether he can make more money. And he hates Christmas. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge sees the ghost of Jacob Marley, his dead business partner. Marley used to be just like Scrooge, so he was punished after he died. He warns Scrooge to change his ways if he doesn’t want to end up like him. He also tells Scrooge to expect three spirits to visit him.
That night, three ghosts visit Scrooge. First, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back to his childhood and reminds Scrooge of his happier days as a child. Then the second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes him to see how others are spending Christmas this year. Everyone is happy, even poor people. The last one, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, takes him to the future. He sees that he is dead but nobody cares. Scrooge is so scared that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is already the next morning on Christmas Day!
He decides to change his life and promises to be a better person. He happily celebrates
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Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats everyone with kindness and warmth, spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true spirit of Christmas!
Unit 3 could you please tell me where the restrooms are?
Fun Times Park — Always a Fun Time! [Alice and He Wei are in Space World] Alice: I wonder where we should go next. He Wei: How about that new ride over there? Alice: Oh ... it looks pretty scary.
He Wei: Come on! I promise it’ll be fun! If you’re afraid, just shout or hold my hand. [After the ride]
Alice: You were right, that was fun! I was scared at first, but shouting really did help. He Wei: See, that wasn’t so bad, right? You never know until you try something. Alice: Yes, I’m so glad I tried it. Now I know I can do it and it’s actually fun! He Wei: Do you want to go to Water World now?
Alice: Sure, but I’m really hungry. Do you know where we can get some good food quickly? He Wei: Of course! I suggest Water City Restaurant in Water World. It’s a fast food place. It serves delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. Alice: That sounds perfect!
[On their way to Water City Restaurant, Alice and He Wei pass by Uncle Bob’s.]
Alice: Oh, look! This restaurant looks interesting. It seems a rock band plays there every evening.
He Wei: Maybe we can come here for dinner later. Let’s ask what time the band starts. [Alice and He Wei walk up to a staff person at the door.]
He Wei: Excuse me, could you tell us when the band starts playing this evening? Staff : Eight o’clock. It’s always busy, so come a little earlier to get a table. He Wei: OK, thanks!
Could You Please ...?
When you visit a foreign country, it is important to know how to ask for help politely. For example, “Where are the restrooms?” or “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” are similar requests for directions to a place. Both are correct English, but the first one sounds less polite. That is because it is a very direct question. It is not enough to just ask a question correctly. We also need to learn how to be polite by being less direct — or more indirect — when we ask for help.
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In English, as in Chinese, we change the way we speak when we talk with different people. The expressions you use might depend on whom you are speaking to or how well you know them. If you say to your teacher, “When is the school trip?”, this might sound impolite. But if you say, “Excuse me, Mr. West. Do you know when the school trip is?”, this will sound much more polite. However, it is all right to ask direct questions in some situations, like with your classmates.
Usually polite questions are longer and include more language such as “Could you please ...?” or “Can I ask ...?” It sounds more polite to say, “Peter, could you please tell me your e-mail address?” than “Peter, tell me your e-mail address.” Sometimes we even need to spend time leading in to a request. For example, with a stranger on the street, we might first say, “Excuse me, I wonder if you can help me” or “I’m sorry to trouble you, but ...” before asking for help.
It might seem more difficult to speak politely than be direct. However, it is important to learn how to use proper language. This will also help you become better at English, or any other language you wish to speak.
Unit 4 I used to be afraid of the dark
From Shy Girl to Pop Star
For this month’s Young World magazine, I interviewed 19-year-old Asian pop star Candy Wang. Candy told me that she used to be really shy and took up singing to deal with her shyness. As she got better, she dared to sing in front of her class, and then for the whole school. Now she’s not shy anymore and loves singing in front of crowds.
I asked Candy how life was different after she became famous. She explained that there are many good things, like being able to travel and meet new people all the time. “I didn’t use to be popular in school, but now I get tons of attention everywhere I go.” However, too much attention can also be a bad thing. “I always have to worry about how I appear to others and I have to be very careful about what I say or do. And I don’t have much private time anymore. Hanging out with friends is almost impossible for me now because there are always guards around me.”
What does Candy have to say to all those young people who want to become famous? “Well,” she begins slowly, “you have to be prepared to give up your normal life. You can never imagine how difficult the road to success is. Many times I thought about giving up, but I fought on. You really require a lot of talent and hard work to succeed. Only a very small number of people make it to the top.”
He Used to Cause a Lot of Trouble
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Li Wen is a normal 15-year-old boy who works hard in school and gets good grades. It is hard to believe that he used to be a “problem child” until a conversation with his parents influenced his way of thinking. Li Wen lives in the Sichuan countryside. As a small child, he seldom gave his parents any problems, and they were proud of him. However, after his parents moved to Guangzhou to work, the boy’s life became more difficult. He had to move in with his grandmother.
Li Wen began to cause problems for himself and his family. He was no longer interested in studying. He was often absent from classes, and he failed his examinations. Finally, his parents made a decision to send him to a boarding school. Li Wen no longer lived with his grandmother. He studied, ate and slept at the school, and he hated it. There were so many rules, and he used to keep breaking them. One day, he told his teacher he wanted to leave the school. Even the teacher agreed that Li Wen was wasting his time.
The head teacher advised his parents to talk with their son in person. His parents took a 40-hour train ride and a five-hour bus ride to go back to their hometown. To Li Wen’s surprise, their conversation changed his life. “It was exactly what I needed,” he said. “My parents helped me to understand how much they had given me. They also told me that even though they couldn’t be there to take care of me, they were always thinking of me and would take pride in everything good that I did. That’s when I decided to change. I realized that since my parents moved away, I’ve been afraid of being alone, and have tried to make my parents pay more attention to me.”
Now Li Wen has really changed. He has been working hard and is now one of the best students in his class. His parents’ love has made him feel good about himself. “It’s very important for parents to be there for their children,” Li Wen says.
Unit 5 what are the shirts made of?
The Difficult Search for American Goods in the US
If you go to another country, what kinds of things would you buy? Would you buy a camera in Japan, some beautiful clothes in France, or a watch in Switzerland? No matter what you may buy, you might probably think those products were made in those countries. However, you could be wrong. Kang Jian is a 17-year-old student from Shanghai. Last year he went to visit his aunt and uncle in San Francisco. He found it interesting that so many products in the local shops were made in China. “I wanted to buy a toy car for my cousin, but even though most of the toys had American brands, they were made in China.”
Toys are not the only things made in China. “I wanted to buy a pair of basketball shoes,” he explains. “But I had to visit five or six stores before finding a pair made in America!” He realized that Americans can hardly avoid buying products made in China. “In fact,” he
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continues, “there are so many things made in China — footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones. Even American flags are made in China!” Kang Jian thinks it’s great that China is so good at making these everyday things. However, he wishes that in the future China will also get better at making high-technology products that people can buy in all parts of the world.
Beauty in Common Things
Each different part of China has its own special forms of traditional art. These usually try to show the things that are important in life such as love, beauty and family. The most common things, from paper to clay to bamboo, are turned into objects of beauty.
According to Chinese history, sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming. He sent them out to ask for help when in trouble. Today, sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations. They are made of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbols of happiness and good wishes.
Paper cutting has been around for over 1,500 years. Paper cutting sounds very easy but it can be difficult to do. The paper, usually red, is folded before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, fish, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year.
Chinese clay art is famous because the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are usually cute children or lively characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are carefully shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After drying, they are fired at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. Finally, materials such as wood or paper are added to make different things. It takes several weeks to complete everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty.
Unit 6 when was it invented?
An Accidental Invention
Did you know that tea, the most popular drink in the world (after water), was invented by accident? Many people believe that tea was first drunk nearly 5,000 years ago. It is said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong first discovered tea as a drink. One day Shen Nong was boiling drinking water over an open fire. Some leaves from a tea plant fell into the water and remained there for some time. It produced a nice smell so he tasted the brown water anyway. It was quite delicious. In this way, one of the world’s favorite drinks was
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invented.
More than 4,000 years later, Lu Yu, “the saint of tea”, mentioned Shen Nong in his book Cha Jing. The book describes how tea plants were grown and used to make tea. It also discusses where the finest tea leaves were produced and what kinds of water were used. It is believed that tea was brought to Korea and Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries. In England, tea didn’t appear until around 1660, but less than 100 years later, it had become the national drink. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century. This helped to spread the popularity of tea and the tea plant to more places around the world. Even though many people now know about tea culture, the Chinese are without doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea.
Do You Know When Basketball Was Invented?
Basketball is a much-loved and active sport that is enjoyed by many for fun and exercise. It is over 100 years old and is played by more than 100 million people in over 200 countries. In China, you can sometimes see people playing basketball in parks, schools and even in factories.
Basketball was invented by a Canadian doctor named James Naismith, who was born in 1861. When he was at college, his teacher asked the class to think of a game that can be played in the winter. Dr. Naismith created a game to be played inside on a hard floor. Dr. Naismith divided the men in his class into two teams and taught them to play his new game. The purpose of the game is for players to get a ball into the “basket”. Players on the same team must work together to help each other get the ball in the other team’s basket. At the same time, they need to stop the competing team from getting the ball into their own basket.
It is believed that on December 21, 1891, the first basketball game in history was played. Then in 1936 in Berlin, it became an event at the Olympics. Today, the popularity of basketball has risen around the world, with many young people dreaming of becoming famous players. Basketball has not only become a popular sport to play, it has also become a more popular sport to watch. Although America’s NBA games are the most famous, the CBA games are becoming popular in China. The number of foreign players, including Chinese players, in the NBA has increased. And there are also more and more foreign players in the CBA. Many young people look up to these basketball heroes and want to become like them. These stars encourage young people to work hard to achieve their dreams.
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Unit 7 Teenagers should be allowed to choose their own clothes
Mom Knows Best
When I was a tiny baby crying all night, my mom sang to me and stayed by my side. When I was tired and hungry, she gave me food and warm arms to sleep in. When I was two running through the field, she made sure I was safe and kept me from danger. When I fell and hurt myself, she gave me a hug and lifted me up. When I was seven coughing badly, she said no ice-cream for me. But I talked back loudly, “I should be allowed to eat some! Give it to me now!”. When I was nine watching scary movies, she said it’d give me awful dreams. But I shouted back angrily, “I should be allowed to watch it! I’m not a baby!”. When I was a teen going out with friends, she said, “Please be back by ten!”. But I talked back again — “I should not be told what to do! I’m seventeen now!”Now I’ m an adult, thinking back to those times. I coughed for days after eating that ice-cream. And had scary dreams after watching that film. I was late for school from staying out past ten. I regret talking back, not listening to Mom.
Mom knows best, and for me she wanted only the best!
Should I Be Allowed to Make My Own Decisions?
Many teenagers have hobbies. But sometimes these can get in the way of their schoolwork, and parents might worry about their success at school. Teenagers often think they should be allowed to practice their hobbies as much as they want.
Do you agree? Liu Yu, a fifteen-year-old boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is on his school team and has always wanted to be a professional runner when he grows up. However, his parents won’t allow him to train so much. “Of course we want to see him achieve his dreams,” says Mr Liu. “And we know how much he loves running. My wife and I have supported every one of his races. We have nothing against running! But we think our son needs to think about other possible jobs. He’s getting older now, so he needs to think about what will happen if he doesn’t end up a professional runner.”
Liu Yu doesn’t really agree. “Well, I think I should be allowed to decide for myself,”he says. “My parents have always taught me how important it is to work hard at school and enter university. I understand this, but I’m serious about running. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”
His parents believe that Liu Yu should study hard in the evenings so they don’t allow him to practice running at night. “Maybe he thinks it’s too strict or unfair,”says Mrs. Liu. “But we think we’re doing the right thing. He needs to spend more time on his homework because becoming a professional sports star is a difficult dream.”
But Liu Yu still disagrees. “I know my parents care about me. They always talk about what will happen if I don’t succeed. But I will! I’m a quick runner! I think I should be allowed to make this choice myself. Only then will I have a chance to achieve my dream.”
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Unit 8 It must belong to Carla
Strange Happenings in My Town
We live in a small town and almost everyone knows each other. It used to be very quiet and nothing much ever happened around here. However, these days, something unusual is happening in our town. Victor, a teacher at my school, is really nervous. When he was interviewed by the town newspaper, he said, “Every night we hear strange noises outside our window. My wife thinks that it could be an animal, but my friends and I think it must be teenagers having fun. My parents called the policemen, but they couldn’t find anything strange. They think it might be the wind. I don’t think so!”
Victor’s next-door neighbor Helen is worried, too. “At first, I thought that it might be a dog, but I couldn’t see a dog, or anything else, either. So I guess it can’t be a dog. But then, what could it be?” One woman in the area saw something running away, but it was dark so she is not sure. “I think it was too big to be a dog,” she said. “Maybe it was a bear or a wolf.”
Everyone in our town is feeling uneasy, and everyone has his or her own ideas. There must be something visiting the homes in our neighborhood, but what is it? We have no idea. Most people hope that this animal or person will simply go away, but I do not think that is going to happen. The noise-maker is having too much fun creating fear in the neighborhood.
Stonehenge — Can Anyone Explain Why It Is There?
Stonehenge, a rock circle, is not only one of Britain’s most famous historical places, but also one of its greatest mysteries. Every year it receives more than 750,000 visitors. Especially in June, people go to this place as they want to see the sun rising on the longest day of the year.
For many years, historians believed Stonehenge was a temple where ancient leaders tried to communicate with the gods. However, historian Paul Stoker thinks this can’t be true because Stonehenge was built so many centuries ago. “The leaders arrived in England much later,” he points out.
Another popular idea is that Stonehenge might be a kind of calendar. The large stones were put together in a certain way. On midsummer’s morning, the sun shines directly into the center of the stones. Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent illness while keeping people healthy. “As you walk there, you can feel the energy from your feet climb up your body,” said one visitor. No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for, but most agree that the position of the stones must be for
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a special purpose. Some think it might be a burial place, or a place to honor ancestors. Others think it was built to celebrate a victory over an enemy.
Stonehenge was built slowly over a long period of time. Most historians believe it must be almost 5,000 years old. One of the greatest mysteries is how it was built because the stones are so big and heavy. In 2001, a group of English volunteers tried to build another Stonehenge, but they couldn’t. “We don’t really know who built Stonehenge,”says Paul Stoker. “And perhaps we might never know, but we do know they must have been hardworking — and great planners!”
Unit 9 I like music that I can dance to
What Do You Feel Like Watching Today?
While some people only stick to one kind of movie, I like to watch different kinds depending on how I feel that day.
When I’m down or tired, I prefer movies that can cheer me up. Comedies like Men in Black or cartoons like Kungfu Panda have funny dialogues and usually have a happy ending. The characters may not be perfect, but they try their best to solve their problems. Aft er watching them, I’m filled with hope again and the problems I have suddenly seem less serious. Laughing for two hours is a good way to relax!
I don’t watch dramas or documentaries when I’m sad or tired. Dramas like Titanic make me feel even sadder. Documentaries like March of the Penguins which provide plenty of information about a certain subject can be interesting, but when I’m tired I don’t want to think too much. I don’t mind action movies like Spider-Man when I’m too tired to think. I can just shut off my brain, sit back and enjoy watching an exciting superhero who always saves the world just in time.
Once in a while, I like to watch movies that are scary, like horror movies or thrillers. Movies like The Ring or The Shining can be fun, but I’m too scared to watch them alone. I always bring a friend who isn’t afraid of these kinds of movies.
Sad but Beautiful
Last night one of my Chinese friends took me to a concert of Chinese folk music. The piece which was played on the erhu especially moved me. The music was strangely beautiful, but under the beauty I sensed a strong sadness and pain. The piece had a simple name, “Moon Reflected on Second Spring”, but was one of the most moving pieces of music that I’ve ever heard. The erhu sounded like it was crying, and I almost cried along with it as I listened. Later I looked up the history of “Moon Reflected on Second Spring”, and I began to understand the sadness in the music.
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The music was written by Abing, a folk musician who was born in the city of Wuxi in 1893. Just one year later, his mother died. Abing’s father taught him to play many musical instruments, such as the drums, dizi and erhu, and by age 17, Abing was known for his musical ability. However, aft er his father died, Abing’s life grew worse. He was very poor, caught a serious illness and became blind. For several years, he had no home. He lived on the streets and played music to make money. Even after Abing got married and had a home again, he continued to sing and play in the city streets. He performed in this way for many years.
Abing’s amazing musical skills made him very popular during his lifetime. By the end of his life, he could play over 600 pieces of music, many of which he wrote himself. It is a pity that only six pieces of music in total were recorded for the future world to hear, but his popularity continues to this day. Today, Abing’s “Moon Reflected on Second Spring” is a piece which all the great erhu masters play and praise. It has become one of China’s national treasures. It’s sad beauty not only paints a picture of Abing’s own life but also makes people recall their deepest wounds from their own sad or painful experiences.
Unit10 you’re supposed to shake hands
The opinions
Teresa Lopez from Cali, Colombia
Where I’m from, we’re pretty relaxed about time. We don’t like to rush around, so we don’t mind if people are a little late sometimes. If you tell a friend you’re going to their house for dinner, it’s OK if you arrive a bit late. We like to enjoy our time slowly. We value the time we spend with our family and friends in our everyday lives. We oft en just drop by our friends’ homes if we have time. We don’t usually have to make plans to meet our friends. When we see each other, it’s polite for boys to shake hands and for girls to kiss each other on the side of the face. We oft en just walk around the town center, seeing as many of our friends as we can!
Marc LeBlanc from Lausanne, Switzerland
In Switzerland, it’s very important to be on time. We’re the capital of clocks and watches, after all! If someone invites you to meet him or her at noon, then you’re expected to be there at noon. If you’re even 15 minutes late, your friend may get mad. So I make an effort to be on time when I meet my friends. I always leave the house early to avoid heavy traffic. I don’t mind because I think it’s impolite to keep others waiting. Also, we never visit a friend’s house without calling first. We almost always make plans to see friends. We usually plan to do something interesting, or go somewhere together.
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The letter Dear Laura,
Thanks for your message. Yes, I’m having a great time on my student exchange program in France. I was a bit nervous before I arrived here but there was no reason to be. My host family is really nice. Th ey go out of their way to make me feel at home. Th e grandmother knows that I miss Chinese food a lot. So she actually learned how to make Chinese food! She also has a teenage granddaughter about my age. She’s really kind and she always talks to me in French to help me practice. You wouldn’t believe how quickly my French has improved because of that. I’m very comfortable speaking French now. Although I still make lots of mistakes, it doesn’t worry me like it used to. My biggest challenge is learning how to behave at the dinner table. As you can imagine, things are very different from the way they are at home. For example, you’re not supposed to put your bread on your plate. You’re supposed to put it on the table! I thought that was pretty strange at first, but now I’m used to it. Another example is that you’re not supposed to eat anything with your hands except bread, not even fruit. You have to cut it up and eat it with a fork. Another thing is it’s impolite to say that you’re full. If you don’t want any more food, you should just say, “That was delicious.” Also, you’re not supposed to put your elbows on the table. I have to say that I find it difficult to remember everything, but I’m gradually getting used to it. I don’t find French customs so strange anymore. I’ll write again soon and tell you more about my life in France. Hope you’re having a good school year. Yours, Wang Kun
Unit11 sad movies make me cry
How to Be Happy
A long time ago, in a rich and peaceful country, there lived an unhappy king. He slept badly and didn’t feel like eating. His face was always pale as chalk. He often cried for no reason. This made the queen and his people worried.
One day, a doctor was called in to examine the king. But he found nothing wrong with his body. “It’s all in his mind. Neither medicine nor rest can help him. What he needs is the shirt of a happy person to wear. That’ll make him happy.”
The prime minister was called to the palace. But when they explained the king’s situation to him, he said, “Although I have a lot of power, it doesn’t make me happy. I’m always worried about losing my power. Many people are trying to take my position.”
Then, the king’s banker came to the palace. “Oh, I’m afraid I’m not happy either,” he said. I have a lot of wealth, but I’m always worried about losing my money. Someone tries to steal my money every day.”
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Next, the palace singer came to the king’s room. But this is what he said: “It’s true that I’m famous and everyone loves my songs. But I’m not happy because I’m always worried about being followed by others. I cannot be free!”
Finally, the king’s top general was told to go out and find a happy man in three days’ time.
The Winning Team
Peter kept his eyes on the ground and felt a heavy weight on his shoulders as he walked home alone. It was the worst day of his life. His mind would not stop thinking about what happened only just an hour ago on the school soccer field. How could he have missed scoring that goal? He had let his whole team down. His stupid mistake made him angry. His team lost the game because of him. He was really worried that his coach may kick him off the team.
As soon as he walked through the door, his father asked, “What’s wrong, son?” Peter’s feelings were written all over his face. “I lost the game,” Peter replied. Then he went into his room without another word. Ten minutes later, Peter heard his father knocking on his bedroom door. He opened the door to let him in.
“Look, Peter. I don’t know what happened. But whatever it was, don’t be too hard on yourself.”
“I lost the game, Dad. I failed my team. They’ll probably never let me play again.”
“Soccer is about team effort. You’re not the only reason your team lost. If you have a good team, you should support each other. Besides, winning or losing is only half the game. The other half is learning how to communicate with your teammates and learning from your mistakes.”
Peter didn’t say anything but what his father said made him think carefully.
The next day, Peter went to soccer practice with courage rather than fear in his heart.
“Hey, guys,” he said to his teammates. “I’m really sorry about yesterday. We were so close to winning that game. But I think if we continue to pull together, we’re going to win the next one.”
To his surprise and relief, his teammates all nodded in agreement.
“Yeah,” they said, “don’t worry about it. It’s never just one person’s fault. We should think about how we can do better next time.”
Peter smiled. It made him feel lucky to know that he was on a winning team.
Unit 12 life is full of the unexpected
In May 2001, I found a job in New York at the World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001, I arrived at my building at around 8:30 a.m. I was about to go up when I decided to get a coffee first. I went to my favorite coffee place even though it was two blocks east from my
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office. As I was waiting in line with other office workers, I heard a loud sound. Before I could join the others outside to see what was going on, the first plane had already hit my office building. We stared in disbelief at the black smoke rising above the burning building. I felt lucky to be alive.
Almost 10 years later, I woke up at 10:00 a.m. on February 21, 2011 and realized that my alarm never went off . I jumped out of bed and went straight to the airport. But by the time I got to the airport, my plane to New Zealand had already taken off . “This is the first holiday I’ve taken in a year, and I miss my plane. What bad luck!” I thought to myself. The other planes were full so I had to wait till the next day. The next morning, I heard about the earthquake in New Zealand the day before. My bad luck had unexpectedly turned into a good thing.
April Fool’s Day is a celebration that takes place in different countries around the world. It happens on April 1st every year and is a day when many people play all kinds of tricks and jokes on each other. One April Fool’s Day, a reporter in England announced that there would be no more spaghetti because the spaghetti farmers in Italy had stopped growing spaghetti. Many people ran to their local supermarkets to buy as much spaghetti as they could. By the time people realized that the story was a hoax, all of the spaghetti across the country had been sold out. Another famous trick in England was when a TV show reported the discovery of special water. They said this water would help people lose weight and that one customer had already lost a lot of weight in just four months. By the end of the day, more than 10,000 people had phoned the TV station to find out how to get this water.
Many April Fool’s jokes may end up being not very funny. A famous TV star once invited his girlfriend onto his show on April Fool’s Day. He asked her to marry him. The lady was so happy because she really wanted to get married. However, when she said “yes”, he replied, “April Fool!” That little joke didn’t have a very happy ending. The TV star lost both his girlfriend and his show.
One of the world’s most famous tricks, however, happened in October rather than April. In that month in 1938, actor Orson Welles announced on his radio program that aliens from Mars had landed on the earth. He described where they had landed and told how they were moving across the United States. Welles made it sound so real that hundreds of people believed the story, and fear spread across the whole country. By the time police officers announced that the story was a hoax, thousands of people had left their homes.
Unit13 we are trying to save the earth
Restaurant Science
Restaurant owners have to know how to make food. They also have to know how to make
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money .Here are some things they’ve learned from scientific studies. The color red makes people hungry. Red also makes customers eat faster. Many fast food restaurants, therefore, have red furniture or walls. Soft colors like pink and light blue make people relaxed, so they spend more time eating their meals. Soft lighting makes people look good, but it makes food look bad. Loud music may be nice at first, but it soon makes people want to leave. Hard seats also make customers want to eat quickly and leave. Hard seats also make customers want to eat quickly and leave. Many restaurants, especially fast food restaurants, use this knowledge to make customers eat faster. Customers only sit for about 20 minutes before they leave. Because customers don’t stay very long, small restaurant can serve many serve many people every day.
Save the sharks
Many have heard of the shark fin soup. This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in southern China. But do you realize that you are killing the whole shark each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup?
When people catch sharks, they cut off their fins and throw the shark back to the ocean. This is not only cruel, but also harmful to the environment. Without a fin, a shark can no longer swim and slowly dies. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in the ocean’s ecosystem. If their numbers drop too low, it will bring danger to all ocean life. Many believe that sharks can never be endangered because they are the strongest in their food chain. But in fact, around 70 million sharks are caught and traded in this industry every year. The numbers of the same kinds of sharks have fallen by over 90 percent in the last 20 to 30 years.
Environmental protection groups around the world, such as WildAid and the WWF, are teaching the public about the “finning”. They have even asked governments to develop laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown that shark fins are good for health, so why eat them? Help save the sharks!
Rethink, reuse, recycle!
Do you often throw away things you don’t need anymore? Have you ever thought about how these things can actually be put to good use? Nothing is a waste if you have creative mind.
You have probably never heard of Amy Hayes, but she is the most unusual woman. She lives in a house in the UK that she built herself out of rubbish.
The windows and doors came from old buildings around her town that were pulled down. The top of the house is an old boat turned upside down. And the gate in front of the house is made of rocks and old glass bottles. Amy recently won a prize from the Help Save Our Society. The president said,” Amy is an inspiration to us all.”
Amy isn’t the only one who is good at recycling. Jessica Wong from Hong Kong uses the old clothes that people don’t wear anymore to make bags. She has been doing this for a few years now. She opened a small shop where she sells her bags, and she has also set up a
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website to sell them online. She especially likes to use old jeans to make handbags. Her bags are cute and useful. “I plan to write a new book about new ways to use old clothes,” she said.” I hope people can read my book and enjoy it!”
Wang Tao set up a small business in Shanghai four years ago. He is known for using iron and other materials from old cars to make beautiful art pieces. Some are large pieces that look like animals or humans, and some smaller things that you can put at home. The more popular works can even be seen in art shops around the city. Wang Tao hopes to set up a “metal art” theme park to show people the importance of environmental protection. Not only can the art bring happiness to others, but it also shows that even cold, hard iron can be brought back to life with a little creativity.
Unit14 I remember meeting all of you in Grade 7
Looking back at these past three years Preparing for art festivals I remember many things And making a great big mess Trying to be on time for morning readings Having fun at New Year’s parties Running when the lunch bell rings Wishing everyone the best I remember the excitement We have learned a different Of the school sports day each year language The many long hours of training That is from a foreign land Pride of overcoming fear English brings many challenges We work hard to understand I remember starting day one The shyest in my whole class And now it’s time to graduate Never speaking to anyone We will leave our lovely school And thinking I would not pass I can’t believe it’s been three years I’m trying to keep my cool Then slowly I made some new friends But it’s difficult not to cry To remember forever I’ll miss the school trees and flowers
Helping each other with homework And our kind and caring teachers Getting better together Wonderful memories of ours
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for coming today to attend the graduation ceremony at No. 3 Junior High School. First of all, I’d like to congratulate all the students who are here today. I remember meeting all of you when you were just starting Grade 7 at this school. You were all so full of energy and thirsty for knowledge. And yes, some of you were a little difficult to deal with! But today I see a room full of talented young adults who are full of hope for the future. You’ve all grown up so much and I’m so proud of you.
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Although you’ve all worked very hard over the last three years, none of you could have succeeded by yourselves. Along the way, I’m sure many people have helped and supported you. I’d like you to remember to thank all of these important people in your lives----your parents, your teachers, your friends. Please consider what they’ve done for you and what they mean to you. Never fail to be thankful to the people around you.
Lastly, the end of junior high school is the beginning of a new life. I don’t need to tell you that life in senior high school will be harder and that you have many difficult tasks ahead of you. You’ll make mistakes along the way, but the key is to learn from your mistakes and never give up. But along with difficulties, there will also be many exciting things waiting for you. Behind each door you open are chances to learn new things and you have the abilities to make your own choices. Choose wisely and be responsible for your decisions and actions. Although you have to go your separate ways now, I wish that in a few years’ time, you’ll come back to visit our school. As you set out on your new journey, you shouldn’t forget where you came from. The future is yours. Good luck and hope to see you again soon sometime!
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