精品文檔精品文檔精品文檔精品文檔高中英語(yǔ)必修 2（人教版）Unit1CulturalrelicsINSEARCHOFTHEAMBERROOMFrederickWilliamI,theKingofPrussia,couldneverhaveimaginedthathisgreatestgifttotheRussianpeoplewouldhavesuchanamazinghistory.ThisgiftwastheAmberRoom,whichwasgiventhisnamebecauseseveraltonsofamberwereusedtomakeit.Theamberwhichwasselectedhadabeautifulyellow-browncolourlikehoney.Thedesignoftheroomwasinthefancystylepopularinthosedays.Itwasalsoatreasuredecoratedwithgoldandjewels,whichtookthecountry'sbestartistsabouttenyearstomake.Infact,theroomwasnotmadetobeagift.ItwasdesignedforthepalaceofFrederickI.However,thenextKingofPrussia,FrederickWilliamI,towhomtheamberroombelonged,decidednottokeepit.In1716hegaveittoPetertheGreat.Inreturn,theCzarsenthimatroopofhisbestsoldiers.SotheAmberRoombecamepartoftheCzar'swinterpalaceinStPetersburg.Aboutfourmetreslong,theroomservedasasmallreceptionhallforimportantvisitors.Later,CatherineIIhadtheAmberRoommovedtoapalaceoutsideStPetersburgwhereshespenthersummers.Shetoldherartiststoaddmoredetailstoit.In1770theroomwascompletedthewayshewanted.Almostsixhundredcandleslittheroom,anditsmirrorsandpicturesshonelikegold.Sadly,althoughtheAmberRoomwasconsideredoneofthewondersoftheworld,itisnowmissing.InSeptember1941,theNaziarmywasnearStPetersburg.Thiswasatimewhenthetwocountrieswereatwar.BeforetheNaziscouldgettothesummerpalace,theRussianswereabletoremovesomefurnitureandsmallartobjectsfromtheAmberRoom.However,someoftheNazissecretlystoletheroomitself.Inlessthantwodays100,000pieceswereputinsidetwenty-sevenwoodenboxes.ThereisnodoubtthattheboxeswerethenputonatrainforKonigsberg,whichwasatthattimeaGermancityontheBalticSea.Afterthat,whathappenedtotheAmberRoomremainsamystery.Recently,theRussiansandGermanshavebuiltanewAmberRoomatthesummerpalace.BystudyingoldphotosoftheformerAmberRoom,theyhavemadethenewonelookliketheoldone.In2003itwasreadyforthepeopleofStPetersburgwhentheycelebratedthe300thbirthdayoftheircity.AFACTORANOPINION?Whatisafact?Isitsomethingthatpeoplebelieve?No.Afactisanythingthatcanbeproved.Forexample,itcanbeprovedthatChinahasmorepeoplethananyothercountryintheworld.Thisisafact.Thenwhatisanopinion?Anopinioniswhatsomeonebelievesistruebuthasnotbeenproved.Soanopinionisnotgoodevidenceinatrial.Forexample,itisanopinionifyousay “Catsarebetterpetsthandogs”.Itmaybetrue,butitisdifficulttoprove.Somepeoplemaynotagreewiththisopinionbuttheyalsocannotprovethattheyareright.Inatrial,ajudgemustdecidewhicheyewitnessestobelieveandwhichnottobelieve.Thejudgedoesnotconsiderwhateacheyewitnesslookslikeorwherethatpersonlivesorworks.He/sheonlycaresaboutwhethertheeyewitnesshasgiventrueinformation,whichmustbefactsratherthanopinions.Thiskindofinformationiscalledevidence.Unit2TheOlympicGamesANINTERVIEWPausanias,whowasaGreekwriterabout2,000yearsago,hascomeonamagicaljourneyonMarch18th2007tofindoutaboutthepresent-dayOlympicGames.HeisnowinterviewingLiYan,avolunteerforthe2008OlympicGames.P:MynameisPausanias.Ilivedinwhatyoucall “AncientGreece”andIusedtowriteabouttheOlympicGamesalongtimeago.I ’vecometoyourtimetofindoutaboutthepresent-dayOlympicGamesbecauseIknowthatin2004theywereheldinmyhomeland.MayIaskyousomequestionsaboutthemodernOlympics?L:Goodheavens!Haveyoureallycomefromsolongago?Butofcourseyoucanaskanyquestionsyoulike.Whatwouldyouliketoknow?P:HowoftendoyouholdyourGames?L:Everyfouryears.TherearetwomainsetsofGames-theWinterandSummerOlympics,andbothareheldeveryfouryearsonaregularbasis.TheWinterOlympicsareusuallyheldtwoyearsbeforetheSummerGames.Onlyathleteswhohavereachedtheagreedstandardfortheireventwillbeadmittedascompetitors.Theymaycomefromanywhereintheworld.P:WinterGames?Howcantherunnersenjoycompetinginwinter?Andwhataboutthehorses?L:Ohno!Therearenorunningracesorhorseridingevents.Insteadtherearecompetitionslikeskiingandiceskatingwhichneedsnowandice.That’swhythey’recalledtheWinterOlympics.It ’sintheSummerOlympicsthatyouhavetherunningraces,togetherwithswimming,sailingandalltheteamsports.P:Isee.Earlieryousaidthatathletesareinvitedfromallovertheworld.DoyoumeantheGreekworld?OurGreekcitiesusedtocompeteagainsteachotherjustforthehonourofwinning.Noothercountriescouldjoinin,norcouldslavesorwomen!L:Nowadaysanycountrycantakepartiftheirathletesaregoodenough.Thereareover250sportsandeachonhasitsownstandard.Womenarenotonlyallowed,butplayaveryimportantroleingymnastics,athletics,teamsportsand…P:Pleasewaitaminute!Allthoseevents,allthosecountriesandevenwomentakingpart!Wherearealltheathleteshoused?L:ForeachOlympics,aspecialvillageisbuiltforthemtolivein,amainreceptionbuilding,severalstadiumsforcompetitions,andagymnasiumaswell.P:Thatsoundsveryexpensive.DoesanyonewanttohosttheOlympicGames?L:Asamatteroffact,everycountrywantstheopportunity.It’asgreatresponsibilitybutalsoagreathonourtobechosen.There’sasmuchcompetitionamongcountriestohosttheOlympicsastowinOlympicmedals.The2008OlympicswillbeheldinBeijing,China.Didyouknowthat?P:Ohyes!Youmustbeveryproud.L:Certainly.Andafterthatthe2012OlympicswillbeheldinLondon.Theyhavealreadystartedplanningforit.AnewvillagefortheathletesandallthestadiumswillbebuilttotheeastofLondon.Newmedalswillbedesignedofcourseand…P:Didyousaymedals?Soeventheolivewreathhasbeenreplaced!Ohdear!Doyoucompeteforprizemoneytoo?L:No,wedon’t.it’stsillallaboutbeingabletorunfaster,jumphigherandthrowfurther.That’sthemottooftheOlympics,youkno-w“Swifter,HigherandStronger.”P:Well,that’sgoodnews.Howinteresting!Thankyousomuchforyourtime.THESTORYOFATLANTAAtlantawasaGreekprincess.ShewasverybeautifulandcouldrunfasterthananymaninGreece.ButshewasnotallowedtorunandwingloryforherselfintheOlympicGames.Shewassoangrythatshesaidtoherfatherthatshewouldnotmarryanyonewhocouldnotrunfasterthanher.Herfathersaidthatshemustmarry,soAtlantamadeabargainwithhim.Shesaidtohim,"Thesearemyrules.Whenamansayshewantstomarryme,Iwillrunagainsthim.Ifhecannotrunasfastasme,hewillbekilled.Noonewillbepardoned."ManykingsandprinceswantedtomarryAtlanta,butwhentheyheardofherrulestheyknewitwashopeless.Somanyofthemsadlywenthome,butothersstayedtoruntherace.TherewasamancalledHippomeneswhowasamazedwhenheheardofAtlanta'srules,"Whyarethesemensofoolish?"hethought."Whywilltheyletthemselvesbekilledbecausetheycannotrunasfastasthisprincess?"However,whenhesawAtlantacomeoutofherhousetorun,Hippomeneschangedhismind."IwillmarryAtlanta-ordie!"hesaid.Theracestartedandalthoughthemenranveryfast,Atlantaranfaster.AsHippomeneswatchedhethought,"HowcanIrunasfastasAtlanta?"HewenttoasktheGreekGoddessofLoveforhelp.Shepromisedtohelphimandgavehimthreegoldenapples.Shesaid,"ThrowanappleinfrontofAtlantawhensheisrunningpast.Whenshestopstopickitup,youwillbeabletorunpastherandwin."HippomenestooktheapplesandwenttotheKing.Hesaid,"IwanttomarryAtlanta."TheKingwassadtoseeanothermandie,butHippomenessaid,"Iwillmarryher-ordie!"Sotheracebegan.精品文檔精品文檔Unit3ComputersWHOAMI?OvertimeIhavebeenchangedquitealot.IbeganasacalculatingmachineinFrancein1642.AlthoughIwasyoungIcouldsimplifydifficultsums.IdevelopedveryslowlyandittooknearlytwohundredyearsbeforeIwasbuiltasananalyticalmachinebyCharlesBabbage.AfterIwasprogrammedbyanoperatorwhousedcardswithholes,Icould"think"logicallyandproduceananswerquickerthananyperson.Atthattimeitwasconsideredatechnologicalrevolutionandthestartofmy"artificialintelligence".In1936myrealfather,AlanTuring,wroteabookabouthowIcouldbemadetoworkasa"universalmachine"tosolveanydifficultmathematicalproblem.Fromthenon,Igrewrapidlybothinsizeandinbrainpower.Bythe1940sIhadgrownaslargeasaroom,andIwonderedifIwouldgrowanylarger.However,thisrealityalsoworriedmydesigners.Astimewentby,Iwasmadesmaller.FirstasaPC(personalcomputer)andthenasalaptop,Ihavebeenusedinofficesandhomessincethe1970s.Thesechangesonlybecamepossibleasmymemoryimproved.Firstitwasstoredintubes,thenontransistorsandlateronverysmallchips.AsaresultItotallychangedmyshape.AsIhavegrownolderIhavealsogrownsmaller.Overtimemymemoryhasdevelopedsomuchthat,likeanelephant,IneverforgetanythingIhavebeentold!AndmymemorybecamesolargethatevenIcouldn'tbelieveit!ButIwasalwayssolonelystandingtherebymyself,untilintheearly1960stheygavemeafamilyconnectedbyanetwork.IwasabletosharemyknowledgewithothersthroughtheWorldWideWeb.Sincethe1970smanynewapplicationshavebeenfoundforme.Ihavebecomeveryimportantincommunication,financeandtrade.Ihavealsobeenputintorobotsandusedtomakemobilephonesaswellashelpwithmedicaloperations.IhaveevenbeenputintospacerocketsandsenttoexploretheMoonandMars.Anyhow,mygoalistoprovidehumanswithalifeofhigh精品文檔精品文檔精品文檔精品文檔精品文檔quality.IamnowtrulyfilledwithhappinessthatIamadevotedfriendandhelperofthehumanrace!ANDY-THEANDROIDI’mpartofanandroidfootballteam.Aboutonceayearweareallowedtogettogethertoplayagameoffootball.I’masbigasahumann.fIact,Ilooklikeonetoo.OnthefootballteamIast’rikemrsoIhavetobeabletorunveryfast.Mycomputerchipshelpmetomoveandthinklikeahuman.Forexample,IhavelearnedtosignaltomyteammatesincomputerlanguagetogivemetheballwhenIamopenandhaveagoodshotforagoal.MyfirstfootballcompetitionwasinNagoya,Japanseveralyearsago.LastyearourteamwenttoSeattle,WashingtonintheUSA.Wewonsecondplace.Personally,Ithinktheteamthatwonfirstplacecheated.Theyhaddevelopedanewtypeofprogramjustbeforethecompetition.Soweneedtoencourageourprogrammertoimproveourintelligencetoo.Wearedeterminedtocreateanevenbettersystem.Inawayourprogrammerislikeourcoach.Sheprogramsuswithallthepossiblemovesshehasseenwhilewatchinghumangames.Thenshepreparesreliablemovestouseifanewsituationarises.InthiswayIcanmakeupnewmovesusingmy“artificialintelligence ”.Icouldliketoplayagainstahumanteam,forIhavebeenprogrammedtoactjustlikethem.Afterall,withthehelpofmyelectronicbrainwhichneverforgetsanything,usingmyintelligenceiswhatI’mallabout!Unit4WildlifeprotectionHOWDAISYLEARNEDTOHELPWLDLIFEDaisyhadalwayslongedtohelpendangeredspeciesofwildlife.Onedayshewokeupandfoundaflyingcarpetbyherbed."Wheredoyouwanttogo?"itasked.Daisyrespondedimmediately."I'dliketoseesomeendangeredwildlife,"shesaid."PleasetakemetoadistantlandwhereIcanfindtheanimalthatgavefurtomakethissweater."AtoncethecarpetflewawayandtookhertoTibet.ThereDaisysawanantelopelookingsad.Itsaid,"We'rebeingkilledforthewoolbeneathourstomachs.Ourfurisbeingusedtomakesweatersforpeoplelikeyou.Asaresult,wearenowanendangeredspecies."AtthatDaisycried,"I'msorryIdidn'tknowthat.Iwonderwhatisbeingdonetohelpyou.Flyingcarpet,pleaseshowmeaplacewherethere'ssomewildlifeprotection."TheflyingcarpettravelledsofastthatnextminutetheywereinZimbabwe.Daisyturnedaroundandfoundthatshewasbeingwatchedbyanelephant."Haveyoucometotakemyphoto?"itasked.InreliefDaisyburstintolaughter."Don'tlaugh,”saidtheelephant,"Weusedtobeanendangeredspecies.Farmershunteduswithoutmercy.Theysaidwedestroyedtheirfarms,andmoneyfromtouristsonlywenttothelargetourcompanies.Sothegovernmentdecidedtohelp.Theyallowedtouriststohuntonlyacertainnumberofanimalsiftheypaidthefarmers.Nowthefarmersarehappyandournumbersareincreasing.Sogoodthingsarebeingdoneheretosavelocalwildlife."Daisysmiled."That'sgoodnews.Itshowstheimportanceofwildlifeprotection,butI'dliketohelpastheWWFsuggests."Thecarpetroseagainandalmostatoncetheywereinathickrainforest.Amonkeywatchedthemasitrubbeditself."Whatareyoudoing?"askedDaisy.”I’mprotectingmyselffrommosquitoes,"itreplied."WhenIfindamillipedeinsect,Irubitovermybody.Itcontainsapowerfuldrugwhichaffectsmosquitoes.YoushouldpaymoreattentiontotherainforestwhereIliveandappreciatehowtheanimalslivetogether.Norainforest,noanimals,nodrugs."Daisywasamazed."Flyingcarpet,pleasetakemehomesoIcantellWWFandwecanbeginproducingthisnewdrug.Monkey,pleasecomeandhelp."Themonkeyagreed.Thecarpetflewhome.Astheylanded,thingsbegantodisappear.Twominuteslatereverythinghadgone-themonkey,too.SoDaisywasnotabletomakehernewdrug.Butwhatanexperience!Shehadlearnedsomuch!AndtherewasalwaysWWF…ANIMALEXTINCTIONManyanimalshavedisappearedduringthelonghistoryoftheearth.Themostfamousoftheseanimalsaredinosaurs.Theylivedontheearthtensofmillionsofyearsago,longbeforehumanscameintobeingandtheirfutureseemedsecureatthattime.ThereweremanydifferentkindsofdinosaurandanumberofthemusedtoliveinChina.Theeggsoftwenty-fivespecieshavebeenfoundinXixia,County,Nanyang,HenanProvince.Notlongagoararenewspeciesofbird-likedinosaurwasdiscoveredinChaoyangCounty,LiaoningProvince.Whenscientistsinspectedthebones,theyweresurprisedtofindthatthesedinosaurscouldnotonlyrunliketheothersbutalsoclimbtrees.Theylearnedthisfromthewaytheboneswerejoinedtogether.Dinosaursdiedoutsuddenlyabout65millionyearsago.Somescientiststhinkitcameafteranunexpectedincidentwhenahugerockfromspacehittheearthandputtoomuchdustintotheair.Othersthinktheearthgottoohotforthedinosaurstoliveonanymore.Nobodyknowsforsurewhyandhowdinosaursdisappearedfromtheearthinsuchashorttime.Weknowmanyotherwildplants,animals,insectsandbirdshavediedoutmorerecently.AccordingtoaUNreport,some844animalsandplantshavedisappearedinthelast500years.Thedodoisoneofthem.ItlivedontheIslandofMauritiusandwasaveryfriendlyanimal.Pleaselistentoastoryofthedodoandhowitdisappearedfromtheearth.Unit5MusicTHEBANDTHATWASN'THaveyoueverwantedtobepartofabandasafamoussingerormusician?Haveyoueverdreamedofplayinginfrontofthousandsofpeopleataconcert,atwhicheveryoneisclappingandappreciatingyourmusic?DoyousingkaraokeandpretendyouareafamoussingerlikeSongZuyingorLiuHuan?Tobehonest,alotofpeopleattachgreatimportancetobecomingrichandfamous.Butjusthowdopeopleformaband?Manymusiciansmeetandformabandbecausetheyliketowriteandplaytheirownmusic.Theymaystartasagroupofhigh-schoolstudents,forwhompracticingtheirmusicinsomeone'shouseisthefirststeptofame.Sometimestheymayplaytopassers-byinthestreetorsubwaysothattheycanearnsomeextramoneyforthemselvesortopayfortheirinstruments.Latertheymaygiveperformancesinpubsorclubs,forwhichtheyarepaidincash.Ofcoursetheyhopetomakerecordsinastudioandsellmillionsofcopiestobecomemillionaires!However,therewasonebandthatstartedinadifferentway.ItwascalledtheMonkeesandbeganasaTVshow.Themusiciansweretoplayjokesoneachotheraswellasplaymusic,mostofwhichwasbasedlooselyontheBeatles.TheTVorganizershadplannedtofindfourmusicianswhocouldactaswellassing.Theyputanadvertisementinanewspaperlookingforrockmusicians,buttheycouldonlyfindonewhowasgoodenough.Theyhadtouseactorsfortheotherthreemembersoftheband.Assomeoftheseactorscouldnotsingwellenough,theyhadtorelyonothermusicianstohelpthem.Soduringthebroadcaststheyjustpretendedtosing.Anyhowtheirperformanceswerehumorousenoughtobecopiedbyo