1 . [课文原文]

“WELCOME，XIE LEI！”BUSINESS STUDENT BUILDING BRIDGES

Six months ago,19­year­old Xie Lei said goodbye to her family and friends and boarded^① a plane for London. It was the first time that she had left China.“I was very excited but also quite nervous. I didn't know what to expect, ” Xie Lei recalled.

Xie Lei is studying for a business qualification at a university in China and has come to our university on a year­long exchange programme. “I chose the exchange programme because I wanted to learn about global business and improve my English. My ambition is to set up a business in China after graduation, ” she explained.

At first, Xie Lei had to adapt to life in a different country. “You have to get used to a whole new life, ” she said. “I had to learn how to use public transport and how to ask for things I didn't know the English names for. When I got lost, I had to ask passers­by for help, but people here speak fast and use words I'm not familiar with. I ask them to repeat themselves a lot!”

Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family, who can help with her adaptation to the new culture.“When I miss home, I feel comforted to have a second family,” Xie Lei said. “When there's something I don't know or understand, I can ask them. They are also keen to learn about China. Laura, the daughter of my host family, wants to study in China in the future. We take turns to cook each evening. They really love my stir­fried tomatoes and eggs! Laura says she always feels hungry when she smells it, so I taught her how to cook it, too.”

Another challenge for Xie Lei is the academic requirements. The first time that she had to write an essay, her tutor explained that she must acknowledge what other people had said if she cited their ideas, but that he mainly wanted to know what she thought! Xie Lei was confused because she thought she knew less than other people. Her tutor advised her to read lots of information in order to form a wise opinion of her own.

Xie Lei also found many courses included students' participation in class as part of the final result. Students need to generate ideas, offer examples, apply concepts, and raise questions, as well as give presentations. At first, Xie Lei had no idea what she should say, but what surprised her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks. “My presentation on traditional Chinese art was a great success, which boosted my confidence,” she said. “I'll use these skills back home for presentations. They'll help me build a strong business in the future.”

Now halfway through her exchange year, Xie Lei feels much more at home in the UK. What seemed strange before now appears quite normal to her. “Engaging in British culture has helped,” she said. “As well as studying hard, I've been involved in social activities. British people are fascinated by our culture and eager to learn more about it, so I'm keen to share my culture with them. While I'm learning about business, I'm also acting as a cultural messenger building a bridge between us.”

We will follow Xie Lei's progress in later editions, but for now, we wish her all the best.

1. What does the text talk about?
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. What's the purpose of the text?
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Xie Lei was very nervous when she left for London because         .

A．she was too young

B．she was a shy girl

C．she didn't know what to expect

D．she didn't know where to go

4. Who have helped Xie Lei most since she came to England?

A．Her classmates and tutors.

B．Her tutors and her family.

C．A host family and her family.

D．Her tutors and host family.

5. According to the passage, we can know that       .

A．idioms are not so difficult to understand

B．all students need one year to prepare their majors

C．foreign tutors admire the autonomous learners

D．it is impossible that you read it from China Daily

6. Which of the following will be talked about?

A．Her study in the UK.

B．Her return to China.

C．Her other challenges in the UK.

D．Her achievements in the UK.

7. .Complete the form according to the text.

Leaving for London	Xie Lei wants to learn about global business and improve her English. Her ________is to set up her own business.
Living in London	The challenge is how to ________the new life.
Studying in London	Another challenge is to get used to the academic requirements, such as how to give________.
At present	She feels much more________in the UK.

8. Analyse and translate the sentences.
①Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family, who can help with her adaptation to the new culture.
_______________________________________________________________________________
②The first time that she had to write an essay, her tutor explained that she must acknowledge what other people had said if she cited their ideas, but that he mainly wanted to know what she thought!
_______________________________________________________________________________
③At first, Xie Lei had no idea what she should say, but what surprised her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks.
_______________________________________________________________________________

2 . 【课文原文】

STRONGER TOGETHER：HOW WE HAVE

BEEN CHANGED BY THE INTERNET

Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. We no longer have to wait in line or carry cash around when we go shopping. We can get the most updated information from large databases. We can download software, documents, and images whenever we need them. But the Internet has done much more for people than simply make life more convenient. People’s lives have been changed by online communities and social networks.

Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer to keep her company. After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group where she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that usually exists between people.

She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59 ­year­ old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of himself, his daughter has time to study at university. A 61­ year­ old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together with two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.

Jan has started taking online classes to learn more about how to use the Internet to make society better. She believes that it is highly important to bridge the digital divide and make sure that everyone has access to the Internet and knows how to use new technology. Her next goal is to start a charity website to raise money for children in poor countries.

Jan’s life has been greatly improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges, ” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me to offer help.”

1. Match the main idea of each paragraph.

A. Jan’s feeling of life. B. The wonders of the World Wide Web. C. Jan was inspired and started an IT club to help older people. D. Jan continued to learn more about the Internet to make society better. E. The reason why Jan began to surf the Internet.

Para. 1________
Para. 2________
Para. 3________
Para. 4________
Para. 5________
2. Why did Jan quit her job?

A．Because she began to hate teaching.

B．Because she had a serious illness.

C．Because she was too old for teaching.

D．Because she wanted to work for the Internet.

3. How did Jan felt about the help from the Internet?

A．Surprised.

B．Disappointed.

C．Puzzled.

D．Satisfied.

4. Why did Jan start an IT club?

A．To help older people use the computer.

B．To help older people find the job.

C．To help jobless people live a happy life.

D．To help her daughter study at university.

5. What is Jan’s next goal?

A．To take online classes.

B．To make society better.

C．To start a website to help poor children.

D．To improve poor people’s life by the Internet.

6. What can we know from Jan’s words in the last Paragraph?

A．She will keep offering help to other people.

B．Thinking about other people’s life makes her tired.

C．Helping others by the Internet is a challenge for her.

D．Her life has been greatly changed by the Internet.

7. Complete the form according to the text.

The Influence of the Internet

It has made our lives ________________.

Example

Jan suddenly developed an illness. By ________________ the Internet, she felt less ________________. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was that ________________.

So she decided to ________________. She also learned ________________, and her next goal is ________________.

Jan’s life ________________.

8. 标出句中含有人物心理感受的词汇。
(1) There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient.
________________________________
(2) After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored.
________________________________
(3) She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet.
________________________________
9. 在课文中找出表示人物心理感受的句子。
(1) ________________________________
(2) ________________________________

4 . 根据汉语提示完成对话。
(Situation: Tom is a music fan. He wants to start a band. One day he meets his good friend Martin.)
Tom: I’m forming a music band.
Martin: Do you already know     1     (如何弹奏乐器)?
Tom: Uh...Yeah! I’ve told you a thousand times that I’m learning to play the drums. Now that I know how to play well,     2     (我想组建一只摇滚乐队).
Martin: Aside from yourself, who are the other members of the band?
Tom: We have a guy who plays guitar, and another who plays bass. Although we still haven’t found anyone to be our singer. You told me that     3     (你有音乐天赋), right?
Martin:     4     (是的，我是一名歌手).
Tom: Perfect. So you can audition this weekend here at my house.
Martin: Great! Wait here? You don’t have enough room for the amplifiers, microphones or even your drums!     5     (顺便问下，你把它们放哪儿) or practice?

5 . 【课文原文】

A DAY IN THE CLOUDS

The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow­covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.

Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass, I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they were in. They were hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.

My guide is Zhaxi, a villager from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”

The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.

In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.

The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.

In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.

1. Match the main idea of each paragraph.

A. We should learn to live in harmony with nature. B. Measures were taken to save this species from extinction. C. Tibetan antelopes are in danger. D. The good effects the measures have had. E. The guide, Zhaxi, and the Changtang National Nature Reserve. F. The bad times for the Tibetan antelope. G. The reason why we visit Tibet.

Para. 1________
Para. 2________
Para. 3________
Para. 4________
Para. 5________
Para. 6________
Para. 7________
2. Why did the writer visit Tibet?

A．To go camping alone.	B．To enjoy snow­covered mountains.
C．To watch Tibetan antelopes.	D．To meet a villager from Changtang.

3. Why are Tibetan antelopes being illegally hunted?

A．For their valuable meat.	B．For their valuable fur.
C．For their habitats.	D．For their bones.

4. What can we learn about Zhaxi?

A．He is the writer’s close friend.	B．He is one of the local people.
C．He is a visitor from China.	D．He often hunts the wildlife.

5. What do you think of the government’s measures?

A．They are very effective.	B．They should be stopped.
C．They are too hard to carry out.	D．They are not enough.

6. What type is the text?

A．A report.	B．A travel journal.
C．An advertisement.	D．A short story.

7. Complete the form according to the text.

antelopes	what I see and hear	Far away on the plain, I can ________ a herd of graceful animals. I am ________ by their beauty, which also ________ me of the danger they are in. They are ________ for their valuable fur. So a nature reserve was set up, serving as a ________ for the animals.
	situation in the past	There were bad times in the 1980sand 1990s. The population dropped by more than 50%. Hunters shot them for ________. Their habitats were becoming smaller ________ railways and roads were built.
	the effect of the measures	The measures were ________. The antelope population has recovered. The government doesn’t want to stop the protection of it though it was ________ from the ________ species list as the threats to them haven’t disappeared.

8. 标出句中含有环境描写的词汇。
(1) The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp.
________________________________
(2) To our left, snow­covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch.
________________________________
(3) On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals.
________________________________
(4) Watching them move slowly across the green grass, I’m struck by their beauty.
________________________________
9. 在课文中找出表示环境描写的句子。
(1) ________________________________
(2) ________________________________

6 . 【课文原文】

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. Match the main idea of each paragraph.

A. People can learn a lot from Aswan Dam project. B. The project was successful. C. The Egyptian government met a problem. D. Keeping a balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites is a challenge. E. The project united the global community. F. A committee was established to solve the problem.

Para. 1_______
Para. 2_______
Para. 3_______
Para. 4_______
Para. 5_______
Para. 6_______
2. What’s the challenge we are facing now?

A．How to improve society rapidly.

B．How to preserve everything from the past.

C．How to keep balance between the past and the progress.

D．How to find great solutions to the progress of society.

3. Why was the proposal of building a new dam protested in Egypt?

A．Because the Egyptian government wanted to control floods.

B．Because it would probably destroy cultural relics.

C．Because it would do great damage to the Nile.

D．Because it would affect citizens near the dam greatly.

4. How were the temples and other cultural sites saved?

A．By moving them to safety.

B．By taking them down.

C．By asking for contributions.

D．By investigating the issue.

5. How long did it take to complete the new dam?

A．Over 20 years.	B．More than 30 years.
C．Less than 20 years.	D．Exactly 20 years.

6. Where can we find such an article?

A．In a guidebook.	B．In an encyclopedia.
C．In a history novel.	D．In a theme park advertisement.

7. Complete the form according to the text.

FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS	a big ____	the new→economic ____→progress
		the old→everything from the past→protection
		the key→how to keep the right balance
	challenges lead to ____	a challenge: building a new dam	____ the local people
			likely damage temples and destroy cultural relics
		preparation	turn to the UN
			establish a ____
			ask for contributions
			sign a document
		procedure	take down piece by piece
			move and put back together
		solution	find a path a combine progress and ____
			work together to build a better tomorrow
	the ___ of the Aswan Dam	preventing world cultural heritage sites from ____
		the global community

8. 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. (标出句中含有人物的行为动作的词汇)
________________________________________________
9. 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. (标出句中含有人物的行为动作的词汇)
________________________________________________
10. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. (标出句中含有人物的行为动作的词汇)
________________________________________________
11. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. (标出句中含有人物的行为动作的词汇)
________________________________________________
12. 在课文中找出表示人物的行为动作的句子。
________________________________________________