1 . 【课本原文】

A Love of Gardening

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” These words come from the author of the book The Secret Garden, first published in 1911. At that time, only the very rich in Britain had gardens. Very soon after this, homes with gardens began to be built. This is what started the British love of gardening！Today, millions of Brits like to say that they have “green fingers”, with around half the population spending their free time gardening.

For many people in the UK, their garden is their own private world. Each spring, children plant sunflowers and wait to see which one is the tallest. Expert gardeners know just the right corner for roses, and others spend hours trying to grow perfect vegetables to enter into competitions. And while many Brits like nothing better than spending their Sunday cutting the grass, some are happy just to sit under the branches of the trees and enjoy the beauty of the world around them.

But in cities, limited space has led to people looking for new solutions. Those without outside space can rent small pieces of land on which to grow things. Today, there are over 4,000 people in London waiting for such pieces of land. One recent idea has been to turn rooftops and walls into private gardens. These gardens have helped make the cities greener and improve air quality.

As well as being good for the environment, gardening is also good for the soul. What other free-time activity allows you to be at one with nature and create more beautiful living things? And if you’re in any doubt about this, take a moment to reflect on this line from The Secret Garden: “Where you tend a rose... A thistle cannot grow.”

1. What inspires a lot of Brits to create their own private gardens?

A．Their hobby for gardens.

B．Publishing of The Secret Garden.

C．The call of the government.

D．Release of working pressure.

2. Why do so many people like gardening in the UK?

A．They would like to enjoy their own private life.

B．They would like to enjoy their own flowers and perfect vegetables.

C．They all want to protect the environment.

D．They would like to share their happy time with others.

3. What does it show when Brits rent small pieces of land outside?

A．They are very competitive.

B．They want to have their own private space.

C．Gardening can provide a quiet environment for people.

D．Greening in Britain is already on the rise.

4. What is this text mainly about?

A．Great changes in London.

B．A love of gardening.

C．The importance of gardening.

D．The use of spare time.

2 . 课文语法填空

As one of the main factors that have made it possible for ancient Chinese civilization     1     (develop) all the way through into modern times, the Chinese writing system began with symbols     2     (carve) on animal shells and bones which are called longgu. By the Shang Dynasty, these symbols had become a well-developed writing system. Over the years, it developed into different forms because that was a time     3     the Chinese people were divided geographically,     4     (lead) to many varieties of dialects and characters.     5     (final), Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven major states into one unified country, where the Chinese writing system began to develop     6     one direction.

The Chinese writing system is of great     7     (important) in uniting the Chinese people and culture. It has also become an important means by which China’s present     8     (connect) with its past. Chinese characters have developed as an art form called Chinese calligraphy. Being an important part of Chinese culture, it attracts     9     increasing number of international students who are beginning to appreciate China’s culture and history through this     10     (amaze) language.

3 . [课本原文]

FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS

Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.

Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.

A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.

The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.

When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.

The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.

1. Read the text again and answer the questions.
①Why did the Egyptian government want to attempt the building of the dam?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
②How were the temples and other cultural sites saved?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
③How long did it take to complete the project?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Complete the timeline with the information from the text.
The project starts.
The temples and cultural relics are being rescued.
The project is completed.
The first temple is moved.
The government asks the UN for help.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Complete the news report with the correct forms of the words in the box. Then suggest a suitable title.

development          progress          proposal          preserve          temple damage          heritage          establish          prevent

Cairo, 16 March, 1956

In a speech today, a scientist gave her view on the new________. She said that________ is important and our area needs economic________ as well. But she added, "We should not accept the project if it puts our cultural________ in danger. We must protect the________ and make sure that no________ is done." Before she ended her speech, the scientist suggested that we need to________ a committee of experts to________ the cultural heritage and________ it from being harmed.

4. Discuss one or more of the questions below in groups.
①What were the solutions to the problem of building the Aswan Dam?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
②A lot of money was spent to protect the temples. Do you think it was worthwhile? Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
③Why do you think so many countries contributed funds and offered help to the Egyptian project?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

4 . WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FESTIVALS?

Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.

Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime— the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.

Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.

Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialised, others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.

Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.

1. 语篇结构

(1)________ (2)________ (3)________ (4)________
2. Which of the following is the common spirit of all festivals?

A．Enjoying a peaceful life.	B．Showing respect.
C．Honouring ancestors.	D．Sharing happiness.

3. When did the harvest festival take place in ancient Egypt?

A．In spring.

B．In summer.

C．In autumn.

D．In winter.

4. What change can we experience during the Spring Festival?

A．No one believes there exist evil spirits.

B．Many celebrations are held abroad.

C．People pay more attention to their environment.

D．People have ignored the traditional customs.

5 . [课本原文]

FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS

Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.

Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.

A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.

The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.

When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.

The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.

1. Read the text and then find out what this passage is mainly about. 阅读课文并弄清楚这篇文章主要是关于什么的。
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Go through the passage and answer these questions. 通读文章并回答这些问题。
①From the first paragraph what can be a big challenge?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
②Which government planned to build a new dam?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
③Which organisation was built to limit the damage to cultural relics?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
④When was the project finished?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Fill in the blanks in the form below. 填写下表中的空白处。

Time	Events
In the 1950s	The Egyptian government wanted to build a new ________ across the Nile, but the ________ led to ________.
In 1959	After listening to the ________ and citizens, the government turned to the United Nations for help.
In 1960	Experts ________ the issue, ________several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be ________. Finally, a ________ was signed, and the work began.
In 1961	German engineers took down the first temple piece by piece, and then ________ it and put back together again in a safe place.
The following 20 years	Thousands of engineers and workers ________ 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries ________ nearly $80 million to the project.
In 1980	When the project ended, it was considered a great ________.

4. 课文结构图。

________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________