-.z.Unit1FestivalsaroundtheworldFESTIVALSANDCELEBRATIONSFestivalsandcelebrationsofallkindshavebeenheldeverywheresinceancienttimes.Mostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofcoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Sometimescelebrationswouldbeheldafterhuntershadcaughtanimals.Atthattimepeoplewouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,especiallyduringthecoldwintermonths.Today’sfestivalshavemanyorigins,somereligious,someseasonal,andsomeforspecialpeopleorevents.FestivalsofthedeadSomefestivalsareheldtohonourthedeadortosatisfytheancestors,whomightreturneithertohelportodoharm.FortheJapanesefestivalObon,peopleshouldgotocleangravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheirancestors.Theyalsolightlampsandplaymusicbecausetheythinkthatwillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMe*ico,peoplecelebratetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peopleeatfoodintheshapeofskullsandcakeswith"bones〞onthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.TheWesternholidayHalloweenalsohaditsorigininoldbeliefsaboutthereturnofthespiritsofdeadpeople.Itisnowachildren’sfestival,whentheycandressupandgototheirneighbours’homestoaskforsweets.Iftheneighboursdonotgiveanysweets,thechildrenmightplayatrickonthem.FestivalstoHonourPeopleFestivalscanalsobeheldtohonourfamouspeople.TheDragonBoatFestivalinChinahonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.IntheUSA,ColumbusDayisinmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusintheNewWorld.IndiahasanationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMohandasGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndia’sindependencefromBritain.HarvestFestivalsHarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappyevents.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinterandtheagriculturalworkisover.InEuropeancountries,peoplewillusuallydecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andwillgettogethertohavemeals.Somepeoplemightwinawardsfortheirfarmproduce,likethebiggestwatermelonorthemosthandsomerooster.ChinaandJapanhavemid-autumnfestivalswhenpeopleadmirethemoonandinChinaenjoymoon-cakes.SpringFestivalsThemostenergeticandimportantfestivalsaretheonesthatlookforwardtotheendofwinterandtotheingofspring.AttheSpringFestivalinChina,peopleeatdumplings,fishandmeatandmaygivechildrenluckymoneyinredpaper.Therearedragondancesandcarnivals,andfamiliescelebratetheLunarNewYeartogether.SomeWesterncountrieshaveverye*citingcarnivals,whichtakeplacefortydaysbeforeEaster,usuallyinFebruary.Thesecarnivalsmightincludeparades,dancinginthestreetsdayandnight,loudmusicandcolourfulclothingofalkinds.EasterisanimportantreligiousandsocialfestivalforChristiansaroundtheworld.ItcelebratesthereturnofJesusfromthedeadandtheingofspringandnewlife.Japan’sCherryBlossomFestivalhappensalittlelater.Thecountry,coveredwithcherrytreeflowers,looksasthoughitiscoveredwithpinksnow.Peoplelovetogettogethertoeat,drinkandhavefunwitheachother.Festivalsletusenjoylife,beproudofourcustomsandforgetourworkforalittlewhile.ASADLOVESTORYLIFangwasheart-broken.ItwasValentine’sDayandHuJinhadsaidshewouldmeethimatthecoffeeshopafterwork.Butshedidn’tturnup.Shecouldbewithherfriendsrightnowlaughingathim.Shesaidshewouldbethereatseveno’clock,andhethoughtshewouldkeepherword.Hehadlookedforwardtomeetingherallday,andnowhewasalonewithhisrosesandchocolates,likeafool.Well,hewasnotgoingtoholdhisbreathforhertoapologize.Hewoulddrownhissadnessincoffee.ItwasobviousthatthemanagerofthecoffeeshopwaswaitingforLiFangtoleave-hewipedthetables,thensatdownandturnedontheTV-justwhatLiFangneeded!AsadChinesestoryaboutlostlove.ThegranddaughteroftheGoddessofHeavenvisitedtheearth.HernamewasZhinü,theweavinggirl.WhileshewasonearthshemettheherdboyNiulangandtheyfellinlove.("JustlikemeandHuJin,〞thoughtLiFang.)Theygotmarriedsecretly,andtheywereveryhappy.("Wecouldbelikethat,〞thoughtLiFang.)WhentheGoddessofHeavenknewthathergranddaughterwasmarriedtoahuman,shebecameveryangryandmadetheweavinggirlreturntoHeaven.NiuLangtriedtofollowher,buttheriverofstars,theMilkyWay,stoppedhim.FindingthatZhinüwasheart-broken,hergrandmotherfinallydecidedtoletthecouplecrosstheMilkyWaytomeetonceayear.Magpiesmakeabridgeoftheirwingssothecouplecancrosstherivertomeetontheseventhdayoftheseventhlunarmonth.PeopleinChinahopethattheweatherwillbefineonthatday,becauseifitisraining,itmeansthatZhinüisweepingandthecouplewon’tbeabletomeet.Theannouncersaid,"ThisisthestoryofQiqiaoFestival.Whenforeignershearaboutthestory,theycallitaChineseValentine’sstory.It’safinedaytoday,soIhopeyoucancallallmeettheoneyoulove.〞AsLiFangsetoffforhome,hethought,"IguessHuJindoesn’tloveme.I’lljustthrowtheseflowersandchocolatesaway.Idon’twantthemtoremindmeofher.〞Sohedid.Ashesadlypassedtheteashoponthecorneronhiswayhome,heheardavoicecallinghim.TherewasHuJinwavingathimandcalling,"Whyareyousolate"I’vebeenwaitingforyouforalongtime!AndIhaveagiftforyou!〞Whatwouldhedo"HehadthrownawayherValentinegifts!Shewouldneverforgivehim.ThiswouldnotbeahappyValentine’sDay!Unit2HealthyeatingEANDEATHERE(I)WangPengsatinhisemptyrestaurantfeelingveryfrustrated.Ithadbeenaverystrangemorning.Usuallyhegotupearlyandpreparedhismenuofbarbecuedmuttonkebabs,roastpork,stir-friedvegetablesandfriedrice.Thenbylunchtimetheywouldallbesold.Bynowhisrestaurantoughttobefullofpeople.Butnottoday!Whywasthat"Whatcouldhavehappened"Hethoughtofhismutton,beefandbaconcookedinthehottest,finestoil.Hiscolawassugaryandcold,andhisicecreamwasmadeofmilk,creamanddeliciousfruit."Nothingcouldbebetter,〞hethought.SuddenlyhesawhisfriendLiChanghurryingby."Hello,LaoLi,〞hecalled."Yourusual"〞ButLiChangseemednottohear.Whatwasthematter"SomethingterriblemusthavehappenedifLiChangwasnotingtoeatinhisrestaurantashealwaysdid.WangPengfollowedLiChangintoanewsmallrestaurant.Hesawasignatthedoor.Tiredofallthatfat"Wanttoloseweight"einsideYongHui'sslimmingrestaurant.Onlyslimmingfoodsservedhere.Makeyourselfthinagain!CuriositydroveWangPenginside.Itwasfullofpeople.Thehostess,averythinlady,cameforward."Wele,〞shesaid."MynameisYongHui.I’llhelpyouloseweightandbefitintwoweeksifyoueathereeveryday.〞ThenshegaveamenutoWangPeng.Therewerefewchoicesoffoodanddrinkonit:justrice,rawvegetablesservedinvinegar,fruitandwater.WangPengwasamazedatthisandespeciallyattheprices.Itcostmorethanagoodmealinhisrestaurant!Hecouldnotbelievehiseyes.Hethrewdownthemenuandhurriedoutside.Onhiswayhomehethoughtabouthisownmenu.Diditmakepeoplefat"Perhapsheshouldgotothelibraryandfindout.HecouldnothaveYongHuigettingawaywithtellingpeoplelies!Hehadbetterdosomeresearch!AtthelibraryWangPengwassurprisedtofindthathisrestaurantservedfartoomuchfatandYongHui’sfartoolittle.EventhoughhercustomersmightgetthinaftereatingYongHui’sfood,theywerenoteatingenoughenergy-givingfoodtokeepthemfit.Theywouldbeetiredveryquickly.WangPengfeltmorehopefulashedrovebackhome.Perhapswithadiscountandanewsignhecouldwinhiscustomersback.Sohewrote:Wanttofeelfitandenergetic"eandeathere!Discountstoday!Ourfoodgivesyouenergyallday!Thepetitionbetweenthetworestaurantswason!EANDEATHERE(II)Aweeklater,WangPeng’’twanttoupsetyou,butIfoundyourmenusolimitedthatIstoppedworryingandstartedadvertisingthebenefitsofmyfood.Whydon’tyousitdownandtryameal"〞YongHuiagreedtostayandsoontheywerebothenjoyingdumplingsandbreastofchickencookedwithgarlic.Whentheywereservedtheicecream,YongHuibegantolookill."Ifeelsickwithallthisfatandheavyfood,〞shesaid,"Imissmyvegetablesandfruit.〞WangPengwasenjoyingasecondplateofdumplingssohesighed."Yes,〞headded,"andIwouldmissmydumplingsandfattypork.Don,tyougettiredquickly"〞"Well,Idohavetorestalot,〞admittedYongHui."Butdon’tyouthinkitwouldbebetterifyouwereabitthinner"I’msureyou’dfeelmuchhealthier.〞Theybegantotalkaboutmenusandbalanceddiets."Accordingtomyresearch,neitheryourrestaurantnormineoffersabalanceddiet,〞e*plainedWangPeng."Idon’tofferenoughfibreandyoudon’tofferenoughbody-buildingandenergy-givingfood.Perhapsweoughttobineourideasandprovideabalancedmenuwithfoodfullofenergyandfibre.〞Sothatiswhattheydid.Theyservedrawvegetableswiththehamburgersandboiledthepotatoesratherthanfriedthem.Theyservedfreshfruitwiththeicecream.Inthiswaytheycutdownthefatandincreasedthefibreinthemeal.TheirbalanceddietsbecamesuchasuccessthatbeforelongWangPengbecameslimmerandYongHuiputonmoreweight.Aftersometimethetwofoundthattheirbusinesscooperationhadturnedintoapersonalone.Finallytheygotmarriedandlivehappilyeverafter.Unit3TheMillionPoundBankNoteTHEMILLIONPOUNDBANKNOTEActI,Scene3NARRATOR:Itisthesummerof1903.Twooldandwealthybrothers,RoderickandOliver,havemadeabet.OliverbelievesthatwithamillionpoundbanknoteamancouldsurviveamonthinLondon.HisbrotherRoderickdoubtsit.Atthismoment,theyseeapennilessyoungmanwanderingonthepavementoutsidetheirhouse.ItisHenryAdams,anAmericanbusinessman,whoislostinLondonanddoesnotknowwhatheshoulddo.RODERICK: Youngman,wouldyoustepinsideamoment,please"HENRY:Who"Me,sir"RODERICK: Yes,you.OLIVER:Throughthefrontdooronyourleft.HENRY:(aservantopensadoor)Thanks.SERVANT: Goodmorning,sir.Wouldyoupleaseein"Permitmetoleadtheway,sir.OLIVER:(Henryenters)Thankyou,James.Thatwillbeall.RODERICK: Howdoyoudo,Mr…er…"HENRY: Adams.HenryAdams.OLIVER: eandsitdown,MrAdams.HENRY: Thankyou.RODERICK: YourareanAmerican"HENRY: That’sright,fromSanFrancisco.RODERICK: HowwelldoyouknowLondon"HENRY: Notatall.It’smyfirsttriphere.RODERICK: Iwonder,MrAdams,ifyoumindusaskingafewquestions"HENRY: Notatall.Gorightahead.RODERICK: Mayweaskwhatyou’redoinginthiscountryandwhatyourplansare"HENRY: Well,Ican’tsaythatIhaveanyplans.I’mhopingtofindwork.Asamatteroffact, IlandedinBritainbyaccident.RODERICK: Howisthatpossible"HENRY: Well,yousee,backhomeIhavemyownboat.Aboutamonthago,Iwassailing outofthebay…(hiseyesstareatwhatisleftofthebrothers’dinneronthetable)OLIVER: Well,goon.HENRY: Oh,yes.Well,towardsnightfallIfoundmyselfcarriedouttoseabyastrongwind. Itwasallmyfault.Ididn’tknowwhetherIcouldsurviveuntilmorning.Thene*t morningI’djustaboutgivenmyselfupforlostwhenIwasspottedbyaship.OLIVER:AnditwastheshipthatbroughtyoutoEngland.HENRY:Yes.ThefactisthatIearnedmypassagebyworkingasanunpaidhand,which accountsformyappearance.IwenttotheAmericanembassytoseekhelp,but…(thebrotherssmileateachother)RODERICK: Well,youmustn’tworryaboutthat.It’sanadvantage.HENRY:I’mafraidIdon’tquitefollowyou,sir.RODERICK: Tellus,MrAdams,whatsortofworkdidyoudoinAmerica"HENRY: Iworkedforaminingpany.Couldyouoffermesomekindofworkhere"RODERICK: Patience,MrAdams.Ifyoudon’tmind,mayIaskhowmuchmoneyyouhave"HENRY: Well,tobehonest,Ihavenone.RODERICK: (happily)Whatluck!Brother,whatluck!(clapshishandstogether)HENRY: Well,itmayseemluckytoyoubutnottome!Onthecontrary,infact.Ifthisis yourideaofsomekindofjoke,Idon’tthinkit’sveryfunny.(Henrystandsupto leave)Nowifyou’lle*cuseme,IthinkI’llbeonmyway.RODERICK: Pleasedon’tgoMrAdams.Youmustn’tthinkwedon’tcareaboutyou.Oliver,give himtheletter.OLIVER:Yes,theletter.(getsitfromadeskandgivesittoHenrylikeagift)Theletter.HENRY:(takingitcarefully)Forme"RODERICK: Foryou.(Henrystartstoopenit)Oh,no,youmustn’topenit.Notyet.Youcan’t openituntiltwoo’clock.HENRY: Oh,thisissilly.RODERICK: Notsilly.There’smoneyinit.(callstotheservant)James"HENRY: Oh,no.Idon’twantyourcharity.Ijustwantanhonestjob.RODERICK: Weknowyou’rehard-working.That’swhywehavegivenyoutheletter.James, showMrAdamsout.OLIVER:Goodluck,MrAdams.HENRY:Well,whydon’tyoue*plainwhatthisisallabout"RODERICK: You’llsoonknow.(looksattheclock)Ine*actlyanhourandahalf.SERVANT: Thisway,sir.RODERICK: MrAdams,notuntil2o’clock.Promise"HENRY: Promise.Goodbye.ActI,Scene4(OutsidearestaurantHenrylooksattheenvelopewithoutopeningitanddecidetogoin.Hesitsdownatatablene*ttothefrontwindow.)OWNER:(seeingHenry’spoorappearance)Thatone’sreserved.Thisway,please.(tothewaiter)Takethisgentleman’sorder,Horace.HENRY:(aftersittingdownandputtingtheletteronthetable)I’dlikesomehamandeggsandanicebigsteak.Makeite*trathick.I’dalsolikeacupofcoffeeandapineappledessert.WAITER:Right,sir.I’mafraidit’llcostalargeamountofmoney.HENRY:Iunderstand.Andi’llhavealargeglassofbeer.WAITER:OK.(Thewaiterleavesandsoonreturnswithallthefood.)HOSTESS:Mygoodness!Why,lookathim.Heeatslikeawolf.OWNER:We’llseeifhe’scleverasawolf,eh"HENRY:(havingjustfinishedeverybitoffood)Ah,waiter.(thewaiterreturns)Samethingagain,please.Oh,andanotherbeer.WAITER:Again"Everything"HENRY:Yes,that’sright.(seesthelookonthewaiter’sface)Anythingwrong"WAITER:No,notatall.(totheowner)He’saskedformoreofthesame.OWNER:Well,itiswell-knownthatAmericansliketoeatalot.Well,we’llhavetotakeachance.Goaheadandlethimhaveit.WAITER:(readingthebillafterthemeal)Allright.That’stwoordersofhamandeggs,twoe*trathicksteaks,twolargeglassesofbeer,twocupsofcoffeeandtwodesserts.HENRY:(lookingattheclockonthewall)Wouldyoumindwaitingjustafewminutes"WAITER:(inarudemanner)What’stheretowaitfor"OWNER:Allright,Horace.I’lltakecareofthis.HENRY:(totheowner)Thatwasawonderfulmeal.It’samazinghowmuchpleasureyougetoutofthesimplethingsinlife,especiallyifyoucan’thavethemforawhile.OWNER:Yes,veryinteresting.Nowperhaps,sir,ifyoupayyourbillIcanhelptheothercustomers.HENRY:(lookingattheclockonthewallagain)Well,Iseeit’stwoo’clock.(heopenstheenvelopeandholdsamillionpoundbanknoteinhishands.Henryissurprisedbuttheownerandthewaiterareshocked)I’mverysorry.But…I…Idon’thaveanythingsmaller.OWNER:(stillshockedandnervous)Well,…er…justonemoment.Maggie,look!(thehostessscreams,theothercustomerslookatherandsheputsahandtohermouth)Doyouthinkit’sgenuine"HOSTESS:Oh,dear,Idon’tknow.Isimplydon’tknow.OWNER:Well,IdidhearthattheBankofEnglandhadissuedtwonotesinthisamount…Anyway,Idon’tthinkit’safake.Peoplewouldpaytoomuchattentiontoabanknoteofthisamount.Nothiefwouldwantthattohappen.HOSTESS:Buthe’sinrags!OWNER:Perhapshe’saverystrange,richman.(asifhehasdiscoveredsomethingforthefirsttime)Why,yes!Thatmustbeit!HOSTESS:(hitsherhusband’sarm)Andyouputhiminthebackoftherestaurant!Goandseehimatonce.OWNER:(toHenry)I’msosorry,sir,sosorry,butIcannotchangethisbanknote.HENRY:Butit’sallIhaveonme.OWNER:Oh,please,don’tworry,sir.Doesn’tmatteratall.We’resoverygladthatyouevenenteredourlittleeatingplace.Indeed,sir,Ihopeyou’lleherewheneveryoulike.HENRY:Well,that’sverykindofyou.OWNER:Kind,sir"No,it’skindofyou.Youmustewheneveryouwantandhavewhateveryoulike.Justhavingyousithereisagreathonour!Asforthebill,sir,pleaseforgetit.HENRY:Forgetit"Well…thankyouverymuch.That’sveryniceofyou.OWNER:Oh,it’sforustothankyou,sirandIdo,sir,fromthebottomofmyheart.(Theowner,thehostessandthewaiterallbowasHenryleaves.)Unit4Astronomy:thescienceofthestarsHOWLIFEBEGANONTHEEARTHNooneknowse*actlyhowtheearthbegan,asithappenedsolongago.However,accordingtoawidelyacceptedtheory,theuniversebeganwitha"BigBang〞thatthrewmatterinalldirections.Afterthat,atomsbegantoformandbinetocreatestarsandotherbodies.Forseveralbillionyearsafterthe"BigBang〞,theearthwasstilljustacloudofdust.Whatitwastobeewasuncertainuntilbetween4.5and3.8billionyearsagowhenthedustsettledintoasolidglobe.Theearthbecamesoviolentthatitwasnotclearwhethertheshapewouldlastornot.Ite*plodedloudlywithfireandrock.Theywereintimetoproducecarbondio*ide,nitrogen,watervapourandothergases,whichweretomaketheearth’satmosphere.Whatisevenmoreimportantisthatastheearthcooleddown,waterbegantoappearonitssurface.WaterhadalsoappearedonotherplanetslikeMarsbut,unliketheearth,ithaddisappearedlater.Itwasnotimmediatelyobviousthatwaterwastobefundamentaltothedevelopmentoflife.Whatmanyscientistsbelieveisthatthecontinuedpresenceofwaterallowedtheearthtodissolveharmfulgasesandacidsintotheoceansandseas.Thisproducedachainreaction,whichmadeitpossibleforlifetodevelop.Manymillionsofyearslater,thefirste*tremelysmallplantsbegantoappearonthesurfaceofthewater.Theymultipliedandfilledtheoceansandseaswitho*ygen,whichencouragedthelaterdevelopmentofearlyshellfishandallsortsoffish.Ne*t,greenplantsbegantogrowonland.Theywerefollowedintimebylandanimals.Somewereinsects.Others,calledamphibians,wereabletoliveonlandaswellasinthewater.Laterwhentheplantsgrewintoforests,reptilesappearedforthefirsttime.Theyproducedyounggenerallybylayingeggs.Afterthat,somehugeanimals,calleddinosaurs,developed.Theylaideggstooande*istedontheearthformorethan140millionyears.However,65millionyearsagotheageofthedinosaursended.Whytheysuddenlydisappearedstillremainsamystery.Thisdisappearancemadepossibletheriseofmammalsontheearth.Theseanimalsweredifferentfromalllifeformsinthepast,becausetheygavebirthtoyoungbabyanimalsandproducedmilktofeedthem.Finallyabout2.6millionyearsagosomesmallcleveranimals,nowwithhandsandfeet,appearedandspreadallovertheearth.Thustheyhave,intheirturn,beethemostimportantanimalsontheplanet.Buttheyarenotlookingaftertheearthverywell.Theyareputtingtoomuchcarbondio*ideintotheatmosphere,whichpreventsheatfromescapingfromtheearthintospace.Asaresultofthis,manyscientistsbelievetheearthmaybeetoohottoliveon.Sowhetherlifewillcontinueontheearthformillionsofyearstoewilldependonwhetherthisproblemcanbesolved.AVISITTOTHEMOONLastmonthIwasluckyenoughtohaveachancetomakeatripintospacewithmyfriendLiYanping,anastronomer.Wevisitedthemooninourspaceship!Beforeweleft,LiYanpinge*plainedtomethattheforceofgravitywouldchangethreetimesonourjourneyandthatthefirstchangewouldbethemostpowerful.Thenwewereoff.Astherocketroseintotheair,wewerepushedbackintoourseatsbecauseweweretryingtoescapethepulloftheearth’sgravity.Itwassohardthatwecouldnotsayanythingtoeachother.GraduallytheweightlessenedandIwasabletotalktohim."Whyisthespaceshipnotfallingbacktotheearth"OntheearthifIfallfromatreeIwillfalltotheground.〞Iasked."Wearetoofarfromtheearthnowtofeelitspull,〞hee*plained,"sowefeelasifnogravityatall.Whenwegetclosertothemoon,weshallfeelitsgravitypullingus,butitwillnotbeasstrongapullastheearth’s.〞Icheeredupimmediatelyandfloatedweightlesslyaroundinourspaceshipcabinwatchingtheearthbeesmallerandthemoonlarger.Whenwegotthere,Iwantedtoe*ploreimmediately."eon,〞Isaid."Ifyouareright,myweightwillbelessthanontheearthbecausethemoonissmallerandIwillbeabletomovemorefreely.ImightevengrowtallerifIstayherelongenough.Ishallcertainlyweighless!〞Ilaughedandclimbeddownthestepsfromthespaceship.ButwhenItriedtostepforward.IfoundIwascarriedtwiceasfarasontheearthandfellover."Ohdear,〞Icried,"walkingdoesneedabitofpracticenowthatgravityhaschanged.〞AfterawhileIgotthehangofitandwebegantoenjoyourselves.Leavingthemoon’sgravitywasnotaspainfulasleavingtheearth’s.Butreturningtotheearthwasveryfrightening.Wewatched,amazedasfirebrokeoutontheoutsideofthespaceshipastheearth’sgravityincreased.Againwewerepushedhardintoourseatsaswecamebacktoland."Thatwasverye*haustingbutverye*citingtoo,〞Isaid."NowIknowmuchmoreaboutgravity!Doyouthinkwecouldvisitsomestarsne*ttime"〞"Ofcourse,〞hesmiled,"whichstarwouldyouliketogoto"〞Unit5CANADA-"THETRUENORTH〞ATRIPON"THETRUENORTH〞LiDaiyuandhercousinLiuQianwereonatriptoCanadatovisittheircousinsinMontrealontheAtlanticcoast.Ratherthantaketheaeroplanealltheway,theydecidedtoflytoVancouverandthentakethetrainfromwesttoeastacrossCanada.Thethoughtthattheycouldcrossthewholecontinentwase*citing.Theirfriend,DannyLin,waswaitingattheairport.Hewasgoingtotakethemandtheirbaggagetocatch"TheTrueNorth〞,thecross-Canadatrain.Onthewaytothestation,hechattedabouttheirtrip."You’regoingtoseesomegreatscenery.Goingeastward,you’llpassmountainsandthousandsoflakesandforests,aswellaswideriversandlargecities.SomepeoplehavetheideathatyoucancrossCanadainlessthanfivedays,buttheyforgetthefactthatCanadais5,500kilometresfromcoasttocoast.HereinVancouver,you’reinCanada’swarmestpart.PeoplesayitisCanada’smostpopularcitiestolivein.Itspopulationisincreasingrapidly.ThecoastnorthofVancouverhassomeoftheoldestandmostbeautifulforestsintheworld.Itissowettherethatthetreesaree*tremelytall,somemeasuringover90metres.〞Thatafternoonaboardthetrain,thecousinssettleddownintheirseats.Earlierthatday,whentheycrossedtheRockyMountains,theymanagedtocatchsightofsomemountaingoatsandevenagrizzlybearandaneagle.Theirne*tstopwasCalgary,whichisfamousfortheCalgaryStampede.CowboysfromallovertheworldetopeteintheStampede.Manyofthemhaveagiftforridingwildhorsesandcanwinthousandsofdollarsinprizes.Aftertwodays’travel,thegirlsbegantorealizethatCanadaisquiteempty.Atschool,theyhadlearnedthatmostCanadianslivewithinafewhundredkilometresoftheUSAborder,andCanada’spopulationisonlyslightlyoverthirtymillion,butnowtheywereamazedtoseesuchanemptycountry.Theywentthroughawheat-growingprovinceandsawfarmsthatcoveredthousandsofacres.Afterdinner,theywerebackinanurbanarea,thebusyportcityofThunderBayatthetopoftheGreatLakes.ThegirlsweresurprisedatthefactthatoceanshipscansailuptheGreatLakes.BecauseoftheGreatLakes,theylearned,Canadahasmorefreshwaterthananyothercountryintheworld.Infact,ithasone-thirdoftheworld’stotalfreshwater,andmuchofitisintheGreatLakes.Thatnightas