初中超级课堂

初中超级课堂 Julia's Diary 见到小偷偷东西～我们是明哲保身～还是袖手旁观～还是见义勇为,或许Julia 日记中的办法更适合, Friday, 29 June This morning Paul told me something exciting: his father helped the police catch a robber yesterday! When Paul was waiting for the ferry (轮渡) with his father, he heard some people arguing (争吵) loudly. He looked around and saw two women and a big man shouting at each other. When Paul?s father asked what was going on, one of the women said they were tourists and three young men stole her friend?s purse when they were buying postcards in a bookstore. The other two had run away, but they followed the big man closely. When the ferry arrived, the big man hurried onto the ferry and the two tourists went aboard (上船) after him. Paul was angry. He wanted to go up and help the two women. But his father said he didn?t want to take that ferry. Paul felt even angrier because he father was afraid of the big man and unwilling (不情愿的) to help others! What Paul saw next changed his idea of his father. He father hurried to a nearby ice-cream store and used their phone to dial 110. He reported (汇报) the robbery (盗窃案) to the police and gave some useful details about the robber, the tourists and the ferry. When they got off the next ferry, Paul saw six policemen around the big guy in handcuffs (手铐)... While Paul was telling me the story, he seemed very proud. He said he had a better understanding of his father. Although he looked ordinary (平常的), he was a real hero. In fact, I felt the same about his father. But, what would I do if I was Paul? What would my father do if this happened to him? I?ve never seen him do something brave. Is my father also a hero? (word count: 305) The moon all over the world 中秋节的月饼很美味～但中国人从什么时候开始吃月饼的,另外～玉兔为什么能 跑到广寒宫和嫦娥姐姐做伴,国外有关月亮的民间传说里也有嫦娥吗, >In the Tang Dynasty, Chinese people started making round moon cakes as gifts to their relatives (亲属). The custom became popular in the Song Dynasty. Most Chinese have heard of the story of Chang E and her flight to the moon, but they may not know why there is also a Jade Rabbit (玉兔) in the moon. Here is one of the stories. Three fairies (仙人) changed themselves into poor old men and begged for food from a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to them, but the rabbit had nothing. Seeing that they were still very hungry, he jumped into a fire to offer his own flesh. The fairies were very thankful, so they arranged for him to live in the Moon Palace beside the beautiful and lonely Chang E... Chinese people often talk about Chang E, “the woman in the moon”, while Western people talk about “the man in the moon”! The man in the moon is an old man with a bundle of sticks (柴枝) on his back, sometimes he carries a lantern with a little dog beside him. Many children in the West know about him from the nursery rhyme (儿歌): The man in the moon, Looked out of the moon And this is what he said, “Tis time for all children on the Earth? To think about getting to bed!” In some other countries, people believe the man in the moon keeps the souls of men and animals. In Malaysia (马来西亚), the man in the moon is an old hunchback (驼背人) sitting under an inverted (倒立的) banyan tree (榕树). He is making a fishing line in order to catch everything on earth. There is also a rat which gnaws (啃) through the fishing line and a cat which chases the rat. So long as this goes on, the world is safe, but if the hunchback completes his fishing line, the world will end! The Mid-autumn festival falls on October 6 this year. It will fall on these days the next few years: 2007: September 25 2008: September 14 2009: September 3 2010: September 22 English idioms are interesting 汉语里有趣的成语和习语你已经掌握了很多～英语中的习语也很丰富多彩。好好 研究一下～希望你下次讲英语时也能“出口成章”: Anidiom is a phrase that we can?t understand from the meaning of each word. For example, if an American boy asks his mom what?s for dinner tomorrow, she may say “I?ll play it by ear”, that means she doesn?t have plans for dinner and she will decide later. “Play it by ear” used to mean playing music without using the sheet music (乐谱), but now people often use it when they?re not talking about music! There are many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be much more vivid (生动的) and colorful. Have you ever heard the idiom “He bought the farm?” It means he died. Do you know how it became popular (流行的)? It was first used in World War I. When a soldier died, the government (政府) gave his family enough money to buy a farm. In the early 1930s, people in the US often did not know when or where their next meal was. So as soon as (一旦) they got something in their hand that could be eaten, it would go into their mouth. That was how people began to use the idiom “living hand to mouth” to mean “living a poor life”. And don?t be angry if your English friend says this to you, “Break a leg in your game!” He is wishing you good luck! Hundreds of years ago, people believed in sprites (小妖精). Sprites enjoyed causing trouble. If the sprites heard you ask for something, they would make the opposite (相反的) happen. Tell someone to “break a leg” and the sprites would make something good happen. Aren?t English idioms interesting? And break a leg in your next football match! (word count: 290) How would you like your steak? 各位弟弟妹妹～SSP小编们本周向大家介绍两道经典的西式菜肴:牛排和火鸡。 对了～你的牛排要三分熟、五分熟～还是十分熟, If you eat out in a Western restaurant and order steak, your waitress will ask you this question: “How would you like your steak? Rare, medium, or well-done?” But if you seldom have steak, you may ask: “What?s the difference?” Well, there is a very simple way to tell the difference. You can use your own hand to know. Rare - Your hand is in a relaxed (放松的) state. Press (压) the muscle between your thumb (拇指) and index finger (食指), and it will feel like rare steak. Medium - Stretch out (伸开) your hand. Press the same muscle and it will feel like steak cooked medium. Well-done - hold your fist (拳头) tight, and the thumb muscle will feel like well-done steak. You can also tell the difference by the color of the steak. If the center of the steak is very red and cool, it is rare. If the center looks pink and hot, it?s medium. And if the steak is thoroughly (彻 底地) cooked, then it’s well-done! If you think the first two ways are too difficult, there is still another way. Rare steak feels like your chin (下巴), medium steak feels like the tip of your nose, and well-done steak feels like your forehead! So, how would you like your steak? (word count: 210) Turkey talk Turkey is an important part of American traditional food. Here are some cool facts about the delicious food and the bird it comes from: 1. According to some Americans, the name turkey came from the sound turkeys make when they are afraid -“turk, turk, turk.” 2. Adult turkeys have about 3,500 feathers. The heaviest turkey was raised in England; it weighed 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog! 3. There are over 8,000 turkey farms in the US. 90% of American homes eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day and 50% eat turkey on Christmas. 4. For their first meal on the moon, American astronauts (宇航员) Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin ate roast turkey! 5. Since 1947, an American organization has been giving the American president a live (活的) turkey for Thanksgiving. The president gives a pardon (特赦令) to the bird and it will live the rest of its years on a farm. 6. In 2005, about 256 million turkeys were raised. (word count: 170) A Day in the Life of an American 7th Grader 早晨6点钟被老妈“折磨”醒～文学课上鬼点子多多～中饭吃得津津有味～社会课 上扮演埃及法老 ——美国7年级男生的学校生活跟你的有什么不同, Morning “Another 5 minutes, please, Mum!” I cried as my mum called for me to wake up. As always, a little before 6 a.m., Mum yells (叫) at the top of her voice to get me out of my bed. If I don?t wake up, she will turn on the two lights on the ceiling... So my school day starts about 6:10. After I?m dressed in my uniform, I eat a fast breakfast of cereal (麦片), juice and fruit. Then I feed my pet fish. My dad and I leave the house together, and he gives me a ride to the bus stop. I arrive at school at about 8:30. Literature (文学) class Two weeks ago we read a short story called “Rip Van Winkle”?, about a man who slept for 20 years. Today, we were to write a modern one based on that story. To decide how the man would sleep for 20 years, we discussed (讨论) a lot. I had some cool ideas from watching too much TV: “He was walking on the beach thinking why his wife left him. There, he saw a bottle of magic wine and drank it!” And my group liked my idea. So I was responsible for (负责) telling the class our group’s story. From the smile on Mr. Duff?s fat face, I knew we did a good job. Lunch After Science and PE came the best part: Food! We had chicken nuggets (鸡块), hamburgers, and pizzas with fruit and milk. Social Studies class After Math and Music, we talked about the power of the Egyptian pharaohs (法老). Mrs. Smith asked us what was power. Some said power was the ability to do something others couldn?t do; others said we should ask the boss or manager (经理) of a big company about it. To show us what some pharaohs used their power to do, we had a little role-playing. But before we finished it, the bell rang! We all liked it. Mrs. Smith was the most popular teacher! End of the day I went home at 4:30 p.m. Then I took a shower and turned on the TV. After dinner I spent an hour doing my homework. With a little more TV, I ended my day at 10. (word count: 380) A letter to a pen-friend 听说你有很多朋友～但你有从没见过面的朋友吗,我说的是“笔友”:如果你收到 外国笔友的第一封信～除了兴高采烈～知道回信应该写什么吗, Dear Sidney, Hi! It?s really exciting to hear from you! Thanks for telling me so much about your life, and thanks for the photo. You looked very handsome! I?d also like to be your pen-friend. I was born in Shanghai in May 1992, so we?re the same age. But I?m 1.6 metres tall, a little taller than you! (Don?t feel sad, many boys in my class are shorter than me, too. Just wait a couple of years and you?ll become as tall as me, or even taller! Playing computer games is also my favourite hobby (爱好)! And I’m a smart girl and I never let computer games take up (占据) too much time and affect (影响) my studies. Besides, I’m keen on (喜欢) reading and writing. I?ve written several novels! Although I can?t get them published, I?ll keep writing and someday I?ll become as famous as J. K. Rowling! I have a typical (典型的) Chinese family, which is smaller than yours: my dad, my mum and I. Dad is an architect (建筑师) and Mum is an engineer (工程师). Their jobs seem interesting, but I don’t want to follow their steps and my ambition (志向，愿望) is, as I told you, to become a well-known writer! Four months ago, my grandpa gave me a cute little cat as a birthday present. I love the cat! From now on, I?ll call him Sidney if you like. He is a black and white cat, with two large eyes. He is nine months old and runs around in my room all the time! I enjoy playing with him after school. But my mum isn?t very happy, as she has to feed my cat everyday. But I think taking care of children?s pets is also one of parents? jobs, isn?t it? I’ll enclose (附上) a photo of me and Sidney in the letter, and I hope you like him, too! Tell me more about yourself when you?re free! Have a nice weekend, Sidney! Yours, May (word count: 360) Newcastle upon Tyne 纽卡斯尔联队、泰恩河、林林总总的酒吧、大型购物中心......这一切使得纽卡 斯尔市在几年前的评比中～一跃成为英国最宜工作和生活的城市—— There are many cities called Newcastle all over the world, but they are all named after the city of Newcastle in England. Newcastle upon Tyne, often called Newcastle, lies on the north bank of the Tyne (泰恩河), a 100-kilometre-long river. Although it has a population of only about 300,000, Newcastle upon Tyne is one of the l___1___ cities in Northeast England! Let?s learn more about it: 1. Newcastle started as a small town in the first century. It got its name in the 11th century when a new castle (城堡) was built by a famous architect (建筑师). 2. The city became important in England during the 19th century as it had a lot of coal. Even today, English people use “to carry coals to Newcastle” to mean “to do something silly and unnecessary”. 3. At Newcastle?s Central Railway Station, you need coins to buy a ticket. If you buy something to eat at the station, you?ll have to carry the wrappers (包装纸) with you until you get s___2___ else. There are no rubbish bins at the station. 4. Newcastle is famous f___3___ its many pubs, clubs and bars. There, many people’s favourite hobby (爱好) is having something to drink in a bar. 5. As you may know, people in Newcastle are keen on (热衷于) playing or watching football. T___4___ of fans go to St James?Park, the home ground (主场) of Newcastle United (纽卡斯尔 联队), to watch football matches. St James?Park is the second largest football ground in the country. Only Manchester United?s home ground is b___5___ than it. 6. Newcastle has one of Europe?s largest shopping centres. It was built in the 1980s. In 1999 the city was voted as the best city in England to work and live in. Today, one of Newcastle’s ambitions (愿望) is to become one of the best cities in the world! (word count: 320) 8度空间 [Exercises] I. Fill in the blanks with proper words according to the first letter given to you: (Based on “Newcastle upon Tyne”) 1. l_________ 2. s_________ 3. f_________ 4. T_________ 5. b_________ II. Choose the best answer: (Based on “Newcastle upon Tyne”) 6. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage? A. The river Tyne lies in Northeast England. B. Newcastle had another name in the first century. C. Newcastle doesn?t have a large population. D. There are several cities in England called Newcastle. 7. Many people in Newcastle enjoying doing all of the following except ______. A. eating at Central Railway Station B. drinking in pubs C. watching football games in St. James Park D. playing football 8. Newcastle became important in the 19th century because ______. A. it had a lot of coal, which was important to industry B. there were many famous architects in the city C. a lot of people carried coals to the city D. there were many pubs, clubs and bars there 9. People can?t ______ at the Central Railway Station in Newcastle. A. buy something to eat B. buy something to drink C. buy tickets with coins D. put their rubbish in rubbish bins 10. Newcastle built its large shopping centre in the ______ century. A. 19th B. 11th C. 20th D. first III. True or False: (Based on “A typical British family”) 11. Craig was born in Great Britain. 12. Craig?s sister has a mobile phone. 13. Craig and his sister get up at 8 o?clock every morning. 14. Craig often eats his lunch at school. 15. Sometimes Mum buys something for Craig at the local market. IV. Writing (Choose one or more of the following topics and write at least 60 words for each) 1. Do you think Manchester will become one of the best cities in the world? Why? 2. What is your favourite sport? 3. What?s the difference between a typical British family and a Chinese one? 4. Did you do something fun during your summer holidays? 5. Do you know how to become a whiz-kid (神童)? 6. Do you like traditional (传统的) Chinese festivals or Western ones? Why? What do you know about? 英国人除了足球～最爱的体育运动就是橄榄球了。橄榄球和足球有什么渊源,比 尔?克林顿和橄榄球又有什么关系, The most popular sport in the UK is football, but a lot of British people like to play rugby, too, especially in Wales and Northern Ireland. Rugby was invented in a funny way. It was invented in the 19th century at Rugby Public School (拉格比公学[位于英格兰中部城市拉格比市内]) in England. One of the pupils, William Webb Ellis, picked up the ball during a game of football in 1823, and instead of kicking it, he ran with it! Early history The ball-carrying play by Ellis spread to several other English public schools, and in 1839 students at Cambridge University gave it a try and they called it “Rugby?s game” as the game was first played in Rugby Public School. In 1848 the first rules of the game were made and rugby soon became famous. By the 1860?s two different types of football had developed — using hands and not using hands. In 1863 supporters of the game using no hands formed the Football Association (协会). And in 1871, 21 clubs, which supported the game using hands, formed a rugby association. In 1895 groups of rugby clubs had a big fight with each other. As a result, they split (分裂) and two forms of rugby have existed ever since: the professional (职业的) game (now called Rugby League [联盟制橄榄球]) with 13 players each team; and the amateur (业余的) Rugby Union (业 余英式橄榄球), with 15 players. The rules are a little bit different, but the basic idea for both is the same. Introduced in the US in 1875, rugby was the precursor (前身) of American football. However, it has never become as popular as it is in Britain. Where is rugby played? Rugby is played in well over 100 different countries, and several million people take an active part in the sport. In 1987, the rugby World Cup matches were first played. Outside Britain, the sport has been popular in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, and Romania. Most European countries now have national rugby teams. The game is also growing in Africa and South America, and it continues to be popular in many other places. Bill Clinton and rugby Is it true that former American President Bill Clinton plays rugby? Yes! Clinton is not very athletic (健壮的), in fact a bit lumpy (笨重的), but he made an excellent second row forward (中排前锋). The Little Rock Rugby club in his home state of Arkansas (阿 肯色州) is trying to make lots of money out of his association (联系) with them. They’re selling T-shirts with the words “We?ve had Bill on our backs, now you can have him on yours!” The windwood family 你对乐队里的乐器家族了解多少,管乐队里的吹奏乐器由木管和铜管组成。现在 就来认识一下形形色色的木管乐器吧。 Flute(长笛) Flute is now a very important part of a band or an orchestra(乐队). Carved (雕刻) of bone about 30,000 years ago and found in a cave in northern France, the instrument had an unknown number of holes at that time. About 5,000 years ago the first real flute, made out of bone, was made. In China around 3,000 years ago, the first flute that you hold sideways (向侧面地) was created. It is also said that the Egyptians had flutes before that. Flutes were once made of wood. In the 1900?s, the first silver flute was made. The flute is a part of a lot of cultures today. In the United States you can see all types of flutes, everything from American Indian to Silver Flutes. Over in England the Irish Flute and the Penny Wistle are played. Piccolo(短笛) There are two basic types of piccolos: metal and wood. Some instruments combine a wood or plastic body with a silver head. Advanced students interested in the piccolo might consider the piccolo which cost about $2000. Wood piccolos are easy to crack (裂开). If you have one, never play it when the temperature is below 65? Fahrenheit(华氏). Because the holes are small, water blocks them often, which may cause wrong notes (音符). Keeping the instrument warm will solve this problem. Never start your day with high C’s (高音C) on the piccolo because it’s so high that your neighbors will call the police! If possible, play the flute before you play the piccolo. The flute and the piccolo are similar in a way. Type Cost Main Use Outdoor Plastic Cheapest Nice sound, Mix between Silver and Wood. Band, almost anything Silver Average High pitch(音调)sound. Marching Band, Symphonic Band Wood Expensive Very rich deep sound. Orchestras Clarinet(单簧管) Clarinet is a woodwind musical instrument. It was invented about 1700 by the German flute maker Johann Christoph Denner as an improvement of a reed pipe (簧管). It is in fact a pipe sounded by a single reed (簧片) that is connected to a mouthpiece (吹口) set in the upper end of the pipe. The lower end looks like a bell. Modern clarinets usually are made of ebony (乌木 的)(sometimes plastic) and have 20 or more side holes to produce different pitches; some are open, to be closed by the player?s fingers, and others are covered by keys. Bassoon(低音管) The bassoon is the lowest sounding member of the woodwind family and is perhaps the most versatile (多能的). Its double reed gives it a rich quality in the lowest notes and a sweet nasal (鼻 音的) sound higher up. Bassoons can be very expressive (有现力的) as solo instruments and their warm vibrato (颤音) enables them to sound human. They are also great for creating rhythmic lines and as bass instruments they help provide support for the whole orchestra. Because of their versatility, bassoons have been used in orchestras for a very long time. There are also a number of larger and smaller bassoons. Saxphone(萨克斯管) The saxophone is best known for its use in jazz and popular music. It was invented as long ago as 1840. A benefit of its use is that in passages when all the woodwind section is playing together, it adds a little harder and clearer outer shell to the sound. Saxophones come in many shapes and sizes. The saxophone is a wind instrument with a reed and the body is made of brass, and so it forms a bridge between the woodwind and brass sections (铜 管乐) of the orchestra. At one time, there were two distinct (明显的) schools of saxophone playing: the classical, and the jazz and the popular. There is less difference between them today and most good sax players are capable of playing in different styles. Super Classroom 1.Don’t let anybody break your dream My mother always breaks my dream. I feel very sad and unhappy. One day, I was doing my homework while my mother was surfing on the Internet. I was excited because my good friend had just made a phone call to me. And she said that I might be a singer in the future! What a beautiful dream! She said she felt my voice was moving and bright. And it sounded a little like SHE?s voice. My face flushed red quickly. I was really happy that she could say so. And my ambition is to be a singer too. In addition, I thought about it four years ago. But I?ve never said it to my mother because she doesn?t like it. She wants me to be a flute player! Oh! How boring! After long thought, I raised my head and turned to my mother. I decided to tell my mother the truth—my dream. “Mum…” I said in a soft and hesitating voice. “In your opinion,” I said slowly, “will I become a singer in the future?” “No! No way!” she replied so cold that I stared blankly. “But why”, I asked. “Give up your idea! It?s impossible! You should pay more attention to your studies, not pop music! If you don?t study hard, you will never be an excellent student!” her voice went up, and I was afraid. “But mum, I really want to be a singer! It?s my dream, my friend said my voice was moving and maybe I can do it! I?m not kidding!” I was expecting that my mother could change her mind at once, but I failed. “Oh, come on, my dear! It?s an impossible dream! Give it up!” She didn?t look at me but at the screen, and said the words without any care. My heart was badly hurt, and my dream was also broken. I didn?t want to say any words to her. I felt rather sad. And here, I want to tell all the readers: don?t give up! Have a try is very important! As an ad goes “Impossible is nothing”, I?ll never give up although my mother doesn?t stand on my side, even try to break my dream. In a word, don?t let anybody break your dream, especially those teenagers of my age. It?s your own dream. You can do it! By Ma Xingyun (马星云), Tong Ji Middle School, Shanghai It seems that being a star is the biggest dream students have. 梦想当然不能轻易放弃～but looking through what is behind the stars is more important. 要当明星也并不容易。 Don’t waste me! (The story below happens in 2777, at that time, water is supplied only a few hours a day.) Having been playing basketball with his friends for a long time, Tony came back home. He felt extremely thirsty, so he looked for water everywhere: the kettle—no water, the glass—no water, the tap—still no water. Tony got annoyed. “I know you need me,” a little voice said, “but in order to punish you for wasting me, I don?t appear now.” “Who are you?” Tony asked, with calm on his face but fear in his mind. “I?m water, of course,” the voice said, “I?m very precious, but why do you always waste me?” “I don?t think so. When I turned on the tap, you appeared most of the time?” answered Tony. “Oh, that?s the reason why you always turn on the tap when you brush your teeth and take a shower for 30 minutes. But have you thought about the money you pay for the huge amount of water used everyday? What?s more, in some area, people have no water to drink at all!” “My parents can pay for the bill. As for those unlucky people, it does not matter to me!” answered Tony, coldly. “How can you say so! What an irresponsible boy you are! I won?t come back until you understand how precious I am!” “Oh, no! Please come back!” Tony regretted as soon as the angry water left. But it?s too late. PS: Water is very precious, so every one of us should take the responsibility of water saving, not only for a better life, but also for a good environment which will be given to our generations. By Xu Xiaoyun (许晓韵), Pengpu Middle School, Shanghai What a creative essay given by Xiaoyun! How responsible the girl is! 小作者不仅用新颖的形 , we should 式来表达观点，而且对节水重要性有自己独到的见解。“前人种树，后人乘凉” always remember that! First telephone operators in the US 如今～我们拿起电话可以跟世界各地的朋友通话～但100多年前电话还是“高科 技”的时候～拨通电话却要许许多多接线员的辛勤劳动。人类发展史中的这些无 名英雄不该被遗忘啊—— When American telephone companies first began hiring (雇佣) operators, they chose young boys. But they were wrong. Boys did a great job working in telegraph (电报) offices. But being a telephone operator was difficult. Boys often fought with each other, and were rude to callers. Women operators In 1878, the telephone company in Boston began using women operators. The first woman operator was Emma Nutt. She was hired on September 1st, 1878, along with her sister. Her career lasted 33 years. By 1900, almost all operators were women. In those days, women had few choices. A young woman could get a job as a servant, nurse, or teacher. To be an operator, a woman had to be unmarried, between the ages of 17 and 26. She had to look educated (有教养的), and have arms long enough to reach the top of the tall telephone switchboard (交换台). Low salary and hard job At that time, women were paid less than men. A woman operator earned about $7 per week — a small salary (工资) even in 1900. She worked 10 or 11 hours a day, 6 days a week. And if she got married she had to leave her job. An operator?s main job was to connect the callers? phone lines into the phone lines of the people they wanted to speak to. She often acted as the town?s information source (来源), too. Operators helped spread (传播) important information to customers, such as election results, storms, and much more. Rural and city operators In 1900, the rural (乡村的) operators’ job was very different from that of the city operators?. The rural operators seldom had any calls as only rich farmers could afford to have a phone set. City operators, on the other hand, sometimes had 600 calls an hour. Like school children, city operators had to ask permission (允许) to go to the bathroom or to get a drink of water. If they arrived a minute late to work, they were sent to sit in a punishment room — a terrible experience (经历) for a young woman. The early telephone operators proved that women had a keen desire (强烈的愿望) and the ability to handle difficult jobs. They paved (铺平) the way for women who wanted to work outside the home, and helped telephone companies establish (树立) a good image (形象). Water pollution 现代社会的人类能给予大自然的实在很少～除了垃圾和排泄物～就是越来越多的 有毒化学物质,而自然界也开始拒绝风调雨顺、天蓝水清。什么时候我们才能在 河边掬起一捧清水畅饮而不用担心生病呢, Water pollution is speeding up (加速) around the world. We use over 75,000 water-polluting chemicals (化学物质) and make about 1,000 new ones each year. When it rains, water runs over the ground and carries oil, dirt and other harmful stuff to the rivers and lakes. So, anything harmful that we use may finally go into our drinking water. Pollution of drinking water is a problem for half of the world?s population. Among the 250 million people who get sick because of water pollution, 5 to 10 million of them die. Water pollution facts In the US 40% of its rivers and 46% of its lakes are too polluted for fishing or swimming. Each year 1.2 trillion (万亿) gallons of dirty sewage (污水) and waste from factories are poured into US rivers and lakes. Asian rivers are the most polluted in the world. They have 20 times more lead (铅) than rivers in developed countries. In 2004, >several of China?s major rivers were tested and half of them weren’t suitable (适合的) for drinking. In Europe, rivers and lakes used for swimming and water sports were also tested between 2004 and 2005, 10% of them were too polluted to be used. Water pollution is not only harmful to people but also to animals. As it is getting more and more serious, nobody on the earth should still relax (休息，放松) and do nothing about it. To prevent water pollution Some of us are used to pouring dirty sewage and harmful chemicals into rivers and lakes, others throw garbage into them. So, many rivers, lakes and seas have become the home of cans, bottles, glass and plastics. It?s time for us to stop doing that. We should also try not to use chemicals. If necessary, use as few as possible. At the same time, we should try to use other ways to kill weeds (杂草) and bugs. For example, we can pull weeds by hand. Pet waste pollutes our water, too. So we need to put pet waste in the garbage. Technology can be used to prevent water pollution. Building sewage treatment plants (污水处理 厂) is a good way of returning water to a river without causing pollution. We can protect our precious (珍贵的) water in only one way: preventing the harmful chemicals from entering our water! To save water 从我做起～人人争当节约用水小专家:如果你的父母还不大有节水意识～那可是 你的错喔: The world is now using 10 times as much water as it did 100 years ago. Scientists say that by 2020 water shortage (短缺) will be a serious world problem. Clean water is precious (珍贵的) and it’s time for all of us to learn to save it! FACT People use more water in the bathroom than any other place in the home. ACTION Turn off the water when you brush your teeth. Keep your showers (淋浴) short as a shower uses 10 to 20 liters (升) of water a minute. This way you?ll save thousands of liters of water a year, and reduce your water bill. FACT A dripping (滴水的) tap can waste 7,600 liters of water a year. A leaky (漏水的) toilet can waste as much as 260 liters of water a day. ACTION Check your water meter (水表) at home. First, turn off all taps and water-using appliances (器具), read the meter, then wait 30 minutes and read it again. If the dial (刻度盘) has moved, there may be something wrong with the toilet or water pipes. Repair them as soon as possible. FACT What people litter (乱扔) on the ground or pour into the drain (排水沟) can pollute the sources of our drinking water. ACTION A lot of money is spent on water treatment (处理), so don’t litter! FACT A large amount of water is used for watering lawns (草坪) and gardens. ACTION Never water your flowers or lawn at the hottest times of the day, or when it?s windy. Try using rain water. Plant flowers or grasses that need little water. These ideas may seem weird (奇怪的), but they are very helpful! To write English poems “SSP英语诗歌培训班”开课～15分钟将你打造成中国90后第一批英语诗人! 不过～要想和莎士比亚、拜伦等“诗坛大腕”相提并论～好像还要等N年:)...... Would you like to write some English poems? OK, then, let?s start! You need to warm up (热身) before you start writing. Here are 2 exercises to warm you up: 1 Pick a word, and think of all the words that rhyme (押韵) with it. For example, carry, bury, marry; or packet, jacket, racket. 2 Pick an object — a pencil, a tomato, your teacher — anything. Then write down everything you notice about it. Are you ready? Then it?s time to write. Look at the following two poems. Use them to get started, and add as many stanzas (小节) as you like. Poem 1 My Dog When I woke up one morning, My dog was beside my head. I asked, “What are you doing?” He looked at me and said... Tip: In this poem, Line 1 rhymes with Line 3 (morning, doing), and Line 2 rhymes with Line 4 (head, said). If you wish, you may change the word “morning” to “afternoon”, or “day”. You may also change the word “was” to “sat”,“barked”, or any other verb you like. Poem 2 Fruit Juice Almost every Thursday afternoon, I eat fruit juice with a spoon. Every evening after eight o?clock, I eat fruit juice with my brother Lock. Tip: Line 1 and Line 2 rhyme with each other, and Line 3 and Line 4 rhyme. You can have a lot of fun writing about other ways to eat fruit juice. You can also eat fish, bananas, or potato chips. Rewrite it When you finish writing your poem, it?s time to begin rewriting (改写)! Rewriting is more important because good poems don’t come out at the first time. Rewrite your poem at least once. Some writers rewrite theirs 4 or 5 times! And don?t hurry. Poems can take several days, a week, or a month, to finish. And how will you know when your poem is done (完成)? The poem will tell you know when it?s done. It?s just like being full when you eat. Sometimes if you take one more bite (一口可吃下的 食物;吞，咬), you get a stomachache. If you don?t take that extra bite, you?ll feel great. It?s the same with poems — you’ll know when it feels terribly (非常) right. More tips Carry a notebook and write down your ideas immediately. Write first about the things closest to you — yourself, or your family, friends, and pets. It?s much easier than writing about things you know little about. Try writing 2 or 3 different poems about the same subject. Do you have pocket money? 你是不是觉得零花钱不够用～常常面临“破产”的危险,别慌～看看别的国家中学 生每周有多少零花钱～学学他们怎么挣零花钱吧—— Students all around the world think it great to have some money in their pocket. But how much do they get? In the US, a little pre-school (学龄前的) kid may get a dollar or two, but older children get more. A lot of American parents give pocket money to their children, but their children have to do chores (家务活). In Britain, kids in primary school get 4 or 5 pounds each week. When they enter middle school, they get about 9 pounds. American kids and pocket money Most American children think having pocket money will help them to understand money better. Here?s what some of them say: I have to do 10 chores a week to get pocket money. — Jacob I get $20 twice a month. I put $5 in the bank and spend $15 on new stuff that I need. — Katty We save half of our pocket money every week. — Nathan, Sam I get $10 a week for doing chores. I don?t get it if I don?t do the chores. — Amy I don?t save too much. I spend a lot when I go shopping. — Amber We put our pocket money in the bank, and spend our birthday and Christmas money. — Sam, Tess British children and pocket money In London, children get 10 pounds every week, children in Scotland (苏格兰) get 8 pounds, and children in Wales (威尔士) get the most, about 13.5 pounds! Also, British boys get a little more pocket money than girls. Like kids in the US, British children do chores to earn their pocket money. That?s why British children know a lot about spending money. 7% of them spend less than ,1 each week, 22% spend between ,1 and ,5, and 20% spend over ,5 each week. Why do they buy with their money? Most of them spend it on sweets, crisps (薯片) and chocolate. Is it good to have pocket money? Some parents may ask the question, the answer is: Of course yes! If children have some pocket money, they can learn to find out what things cost, save money for things that they want. There are lots of good lessons to learn: If you spend it all at once, there is no money until your next “pay day” (发薪日). If you bought the wrong thing, you’ll be more sensible (明智的) next time. If you borrow money, you have to pay it back. The History of Electricity 各位同学～当你看电视、听CD、开空调、用电脑......的时候～有没有想过为 我们发现电～并使上述一切成为可能的科学家们呢,SSP小编这次绝对是“电力 十足”～“电你没商量”: Electricity didn?t begin when Benjamin Franklin flew his kite during a rainstorm， nor did it begin when people first used light bulbs. Electricity has always been around although it?s invisible (看不见的)～ Scientists have worked with electricity for thousands of years. We?ve all heard of the famous ones such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison， but many other important inventors have been buried (埋葬) in history. William Gilbert Back in ancient Greece， scientists began to study electricity. Over 2，000 years later in 1600， English scientist William Gilbert first used the word „electric? in a report. Alessandro Volta In 1786， an Italian professor found that when he touched a dead frog’s leg with a knife， the leg started to shake～ In 1792， another Italian scientist， Alessandro Volta， gave the correct explanation (解释): the two different metals — the steel knife and the tin (锡) plate where the frog was lying — made the leg shake. Volta also invented the first electric battery (电池). He showed that electricity could be made to travel from one place to another by wire. His discovery was so important that the unit of electrical potential (电位)， the volt (伏特)，was named after him. Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan In the late 19th century， British scientist Joseph Swan and American inventor Thomas Edison set up a company to produce the first filament lamp (装有灯丝的灯). Before that， Edison invented a DC generator (直流发电机) and used it to provide electricity to light his lab. Later he lighted the first New York street with electric lamps in September 1882～ James Watt When Edison?s generator was connected (联结) with James Watt’s steam engine (蒸汽机)， it became possible to produce a lot of electricity at last～ Scottish inventor Watt was born in 1736. His name was given to the electric unit of power， the watt (瓦特). Andre Ampere Andre Ampere， a French scientist， spent most of his time and energy studying electricity. He was the first to explain the electro-dynamic theory (电动力理论). As you can see， his name is used for the unit of electric current (电流)， the ampere (安培). Indoor Air Pollution “我们到外面去呼吸呼吸新鲜空气吧:”——还别说～这句话真有道理～有时候～ 室内空气污染也很可怕: When people talk about air pollution, they usually think of smog (烟雾), acid rain (酸雨), and other forms of outdoor air pollution. But did you know that air pollution also exists inside homes, offices, hotels and other buildings? The air in your home can be 2 to 100 times more polluted than the air outdoors! In fact, some American doctors say that 50% of illnesses have something to do with polluted indoor air. 1. A closer look at indoor air pollution A lot of pollution is created by indoor activities, such as smoking and cooking. As most people spend about 80-90% of their time inside buildings, it is important to take indoor air pollution seriously, too. Scientists are now conducting (进行) a great deal of research on pollution at labs and universities. Some of them believe more people suffer from the effects (影响) of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution. There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Smoke, cooking and heating appliances (设备), building materials, paints, carpet, and furniture (家具) are the main causes of it. 2. The danger of indoor and outdoor air pollution Air pollution influences (影响) our health in many ways. Young children and the old often suffer more from air pollution. People with health problems may also suffer more when the air is polluted. Indoor air pollution can harm people?s eyes, nose and throat. Air pollution, both indoor and outdoor, can also lead to (造成) lung cancer, heart disease, and even harm to the brain! In the great London fog in 1952, 4,000 people died in a few days because of air pollution! It is said that half a million young kids and women die each year in India because of indoor air pollution! 3. To reduce indoor air pollution There?re many ways to reduce indoor air pollution. Here are some of them and see if you can help: ??Increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors and open your windows for 15 to 30 minutes each day. ??Turn off all the lights and fans when you don?t need them. ??Share your room with others when the air conditioner is running (运转). ??Don’t smoke and try to stop your family members and relatives from smoking. People who smoke are going to have trouble breathing and even die someday. If you?re smart, don?t ever start. ??Environment-friendly products (对环境友好的产品), such as water-based paints (水性涂料) pollute less and work just as well. (word count: 421) A Letter from a Tree 看一看一棵树写给我们人类的“情”书～想一想我们到底该怎么办～才能有一个空 气清新、绿树成荫的健康世界。 Dear human beings， Hi～ I hesitated (犹豫) a lot before writing this letter. All I want to do is to ask you to have a look at your life. But I?m not sure whether or not you?ll pay attention to me. I’m a pretty old tree now: I’m 80 years old. So I’ve seen much of the world. We’ve lived on Earth with you for thousands of years. Each day we release (释放) oxygen and remove harmful gas so that you have pure (纯净的) air， we cool the air so that you don’t have to run your air conditioners all the time， we help prevent the Earth’s soil from being washed away， and above all (最重要的是)， we give all kinds of fruits， nuts， beans as well as wood to you. We like the world， we like you human beings， and we would do anything for you. But you’ ve never been interested in us， and you hardly know anything about us. For example， did you know how amazing we are, Did you know that， just like you， we trees are communicating with one another all the time, And a tree can warn (警告) its neighbors of danger if insects attack it, And some of us pass nutrients (养分) and water around by joining our roots together underground, I suppose (猜测) you didn?t. We are now in great danger because of you. You are， in fact， destroying (毁坏) us at a terrible speed. You are burning and cutting down millions of us each year， but you’re not planting enough. For every tree being planted today， 30 trees are being cut down. What would you do if all of us died, Perhaps you would die， too. Without us， you wouldn’t get the ingredients (成分) for some of your important medicines， you wouldn’t have enough material for buildings， furniture， paper products， and your cities would look ugly. Moreover， air pollution and noise pollution would become more and more serious， and your life would turn nasty (不舒 服的)... Well， the list could go on forever， but I think I should stop. The best thing for you to do now is to stop your bad practices(行为). Please stop destroying us and start protecting the environment (环境)， because we are the best fighters against pollution and we are your best friends～ I wish all the best for you， and good luck～ Your friend， An old tree