24个英语话题高中基础篇.doc

1、 Topic 1-Family, Friends and People Around(1)I felt no one cared about me.My mother and father were always busy working,so I was often at home by myself. I felt very lonely.As my parents worked so much,I had to clean the house and do all the shopping by myself. I was only a little happier at school

2、when I was with my classmates and friends,I felt bored all the time and I felt sorry for myself.One day,on my way home from school, I saw a person living in the park. He was wearing dirty and worn-out clothes, and was holding a box in his hands, perhaps to sleep in at night. He gave me a big smile w

3、hen he saw me. He looked as if he was the happiest man in the world. Looking at him, I realized how lucky I really was. I had a roof over my head. I had a comfortable bed. I had enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear. I had good friends at school and above all I had hard-working parents who r

4、eally loved me and cared about me. I felt bad for feeling so sorry for myself. I realized how grateful I was to my parents for all that I had.(2)Sally moved from New York to London. She has made some new friends there. She is writing to Laura, her friend in New York, to tell her about them. Help her

5、 complete her letter using the words in brackets. Change the form where necessary.Dear LauraI want _(thank) you for your last letter. I was very happy when I saw it in my mailbox. Im so glad I have persuaded you_(apologize) to Rachel. Is not it wonderful_(have) good friends? Speaking of friends, Ive

6、 met some nice people here in London and I think we might become close friends. I decided to write rather than_(e-mail) you about my new friends because its always nice_(receive) a letter from someone special.I met Monica when I joined the school badminton team.We got on really well and soon a great

7、 friendship development. She invited me_(go) to her house and_(watch) DVDs. We have been friends ever since.My other friend is Jane. She always lets me_(borrow) her Maths notes. You know I would rather_(visit) the dentist than study algebra and arithmetic! Jane is hard-working and seems _(try) her b

8、est all the time.How are you doing at school?I cant wait_(see) you again.When are you coming to visit me? Why not _(come) to London next Easter? We could go to the amusement park or even to the circus!Take careSally Topic 2-school life（1）We have a radio club in our school . It is great because it is

9、 run by the students for the school. I am lucky as I am one of the hosts.It was started two years ago as CD players were not allowed in school . One day , I just began thinking about music for everyone, so I asked the headmaster if music could be played during break time. He approved the idea, and t

10、wo years later I am the oldest student member of the radio club.Our club is much more than just music. Every morning we tell students about the weather and recent news, plus some special messages that the teachers want us to broadcast.During exam time we have a special programme that tells students

11、the things they should or shouldnt do for preparation. At the end of the school year, many students who are graduating use our club to give message to their close friends and teachers.When parents come to visit the school and talk to the teachers in the evening, we always play songs sung by students

12、, and we also give special messages to inform the parents of events such as outings and school plays.Im graduating soon. I shall miss the radio club, but I know that it will continue without me. (Kate Jones)（2）Our school club Poets of the Nest Generation was started by our English teacher Mr.Owen. W

13、e meet on the last Friday of every month to talk about poems and poets that we like. When we meet, we first select poems that we love. And then read them out loud. We do this in a group and listen to each other talking about poems in our group meetings.When I attended the first meeting, I was requir

14、ed to write a poem and I had to read it out to the group. It was a little scary at first, but everyone was so nice and friendly that I soon stopped worrying. I once read a poem about nature in our school garden. I chose an old tree and circled everyone around it before I read. The group said it was

15、one of the best poem they had heard.(Bob Shaw)Topic 3-healthA Linda is writing in her diary about a debate over medicine and exercise. Help her underline all the linking verbs.12MarchToday I feel worn out. This morning, I took park in a debate about medicine and exercise. Medicine plays an important

16、 role in our lives, but there are still some people who do not like it. They say that most drugs have side effects, and that not all diseases can be cured by medicine. Taking exercise, on the other hand, is always safe.The boy I debated against was very skillful. He made some quite reasonable points

17、 and gave a superb speech. I talked to him after the debate. He seemed tired too. In fact, he doesnt really think medicine is bad, but he believes we should be aware of the problems it can cause.I told him that if we are cautions about using medicine,we can benefit from it.We were both happy with th

18、e outcome of the debate.People stayed silent and listened to us, and applauded at the end. Mum predicts that I will become quite a good public speaker if I continue to take part in debates. I am eager to debate again because today proved very successful!Topic 4-food and drinkA You want to write a le

19、tter to your local supermarket to ask them whether they plan to sell food from cloned animals. Below are two articles about the subject. Underline all the advantages and disadvantages so you can tell the supermarket about them.The taste of things to come Cloning animals for food production is necess

20、ary because we need to raise both the quality and quantity of our food supply to solve the problem of world hunger. Some animals produce more and better meat than n than the meat of ordinary animals. Through cloning, we can thus make sure that we will hother animals. Cloning allows us to keep alive

21、the good qualities of these animals. Since only the best animals are cloned, cloned animals produce tastier meat that offers better nutritioave a reliable supply of high-quality food for years to come.It can only bring troubleThe cloning of animals for food must be stopped. Many people assume that a

22、 clone is an exact copy of another animals. This simply is not accurate-there are differences.For example, cloned animals are not very healthy-they nearly always live brief, painful lives compared with ordinary animals. Milk from a cloned cow is not the same as the milk from the actual cow the clone

23、 was made from. No one can yet explain these differences.Therefore, we cannot confirm that food from cloned animals is really safe for humans to eat.Topic 5-entertainmentA Sophie and Alan both love watching films. They also love to argue about films. They are talking about the famous film, E.T.Sophi

24、e: E.T is one of the biggest money-making films in history. I think its a great films. Alan: I dont think so. But the story is good in some ways. The idea of a friendly alien living in our world and making friends with a group of children is OK.Sophie: So, whatt the problem? The film is more than tw

25、enty years old now and people still love the story.Alan: I just think it is a good film but not a great one. I think that Steven Spielberg made the film because he wanted to make everyone cry! Sophie: Thats OK. Sometime people need to be moved by art. Have you ever read any books by Charles Dickens?

26、 His books are full of poor homeless children. He wrote about these children to make people pity them and to make his readers feel moved.Alan: I dont like to feel that my emotions are being played with. I also think the film is far too long.Sophie: Its only one hour and forty-five minutes long!Alan：

27、 I mean that it feels too long. Its quite exciting at the beginning but at the end of the film I think Steven Spielberg tries too hard to make us love E.T. and the children. Theres too much emotion.Sophie： I dont understand you sometimes. Theres a really exciting park when the kids are on bikes and

28、they fly through the sky to get away from the policeman who are searching for E.T. The special effects are amazing. You have to remember this film was made in the 1980s.Alan： Perhaps youre right. I guess Im just not excited by alien films.Sophie： But E.T. isnt really an alien film. The whole idea is

29、 that E.T.is like us. He needs friendship, love and help. Can you remember the part where E.T. is dying and one of the children is so attached to E.T that he becomes seriously ill too?Alan： Yes, I think I fell asleep at that point. Sophie： Thats not funny!Topic 6-sportsSkill building 3: identifying/

30、selecting relevant information You have to write a report on the history of table tennis around the world. Read the letter below and underline information relevant to your topic. Dear Cheng XiaoHow are you? I an sorry I havent written for a while, since I have been very busy training fou the local t

31、ennis tournament. In your last letter you asked me to tell you something about table tennis.Table tennis, also called ping-pong, is played all around the world and is an Olympic sport. It is played on a table that is 2.74 metres by 1.525 metres and stands 76 centimetres form the ground. The net goes

32、 across the centre of the table is 15.25 centimetres high. It is very similar to playing tennis on a court.The exact origin of table tennis is not known. What we do know is that it began in England in the 1890s. Many people played table tennos because it did not require players to go outdoors. The g

33、ame was popular with foreign visitors too, and soon it spread to much of Europe and Asia.Many players believe table tennis is not only a physical game but a psychological game as well. A frequent technique used by many players is to stare at the people they are playing against to make them feel unco

34、mfortable. Today, players from China, South Korea and Germany among others play leading roles in international table tennis competitions.I hope this information will be of use to you. Good luck with your report.YoursLu FangTopic 7-animalsWritingA When you write about an animal, you usually give a de

35、scription of the animal, including what it looks like, how it acts, where it lives and what it eats. Read the following article and see how the writer describes the gorilla.The gorilla is a rare animal that lives in Africa. Gorillas belong to the great ape family, and are one of mankinds closest rel

36、atives.Gorillas are very big animals. Male gorillas are usually taller and bigger than female gorillas. Male gorillas can reach a height of 1.8m and weight 140-180kg. Female gorillas can reach a height of 1.5m and, on average, weight 90kg.Gorillas are usually black in colour. Their bodies are covere

37、d with black or brown fur. Some gorillas have red hair on their heads. Male gorillas over ten years of age have silver hair on their backs.Gorillas usually walk on all fours. They can recognize each other by their faces and body shapes. They are social animals and live in family group. A typical fam

38、ily includes one adult gorilla, who is the leader of the family, three or four adult females and some young gorillas. Some families can have as many as 50 members while others include only a few members.Gorillas eat many types of leaves, flowers, fruit and some insects. They do not drink water. Gori

39、llas sleep about 13 hours a night and rest for several hours during the day. They usually live to the age of 30-50.Gorillas are quite and shy animals and their only natural enemy is human beings. With the growth of the human population and the development of farming, there is a question as to whethe

40、r gorillas can survive. Thankfully, most countries have passed laws to protect them.Topic 8-travelColin is packing for his adventure holiday. He is thinking to himself.I need to take a tent to sleep in and a sleeping bag to keep warm. I need a life jacket for white-water rafting because the water ma

41、y be very dangerous. I need to take a pan so I can cook my food. I must remember to take some chocolate too. I need to take a parka and boots for trekking in the mountains, and I mustnt forget to take extra clothes to keep warm in the mountains. I think all these should keep me warm and safe. Now ,

42、wheres my chocolate?(2)D1 Complete the below with the correct forms of the words or phrases from the box Enjoy surround such as view fly feed describe so that localDear Mum and Dad,Were having a wonderful time in Australia. Were been told that Australia comes from the Latin word Australia which mean

43、s the southern land. It is on the smallest continent but its the sixth largest country in the world. There is so much to see that it is impossible for me to tell you everything that I have seen. In Sydney we found that many houses were _by big trees and beautiful flowers, which gives them a really g

44、ood_. We also saw many animals that can only be found in Australia _kangaroos and koalas. We even _them by ourselves. It sounds exciting, doesnt it? I wish you were here with me!During the past three days, weve travelled a lot around Sydney. Though I would like to spend more time here, the _guide to

45、ld us that we _to cairns to see coral beds tomorrow. Its said that words cannot _the beauty of the colourful corals, where many different tropical fish live. The famous cartoon film Finding Nemo was set there. Im looking forward to going there! Now everybody is busy packing so that we will not lose

46、time when we set off. This time tomorrow we _the coral beds in cairns. I cant wait!Though I have much more to tell you, I must go to bed now _I can get up early and get to the airport on time. Please send my best wishes to Granny and tell her that I am coming back soon.Love,RobertTopic 9-transportWr

47、iting When we express our opinions, it is important to be organized. We usually give a central idea or argument at the beginning. This argument should be general and clear. After stating the central idea, we give specific reason to support it . Finally, we provide a conclusion. Read the following ar

48、ticle and see how the writer expresses his opinions about the responsibilities of drivers and pedestrians in traffic accidents. Some people in China think that if the driver of a vehicle runs into a pedestrian who has violated traffic rules, the pedestrian is at fault. However, I believe that the dr

49、iver should be held at fault. First, it is unfair for a pedestrian to be badly injured or even killed just because he or she has violated a traffic rule. Both drivers and pedestrians may make mistakes or violate the traffic rules, whether that is their intention or not. However, if there is a traffi

50、c accident between a driver and a pedestrian, usually only the pedestrian suffers harm. Second, pedestrians move much slower than vehicles. Drivers can easily avoid an accident, either by using the brakes or by driving slower. This is not as easy for pedestrians,though. Even running at top speed, a

51、person may not be fast enough to avoid a car. Third,drivers can easily use their horns to warn pedestrians of danger. A driver cannot always expect a pedestrian to get out of the way in time, because sometimes a car is coming so fast that a pedestrian cannot see or hear it. For this reason, drivers

52、have the responsibility to warn pedestrians with their horns before it is too late. Since a pedestrian often risks only his own life, while a car driver is usually risking the lives of others, drivers have a greater responsibility for traffic safety than pedestrians. It is clear,then,that a driver s

53、hould be held at fault if his or her car runs into a pedestrian,even though the pedestrian may have violated the traffic rules.Topic10-interests and hobbiesWriting When we write about an event, we need to state clearly how the event began, how it developed and what it is like now. Read the following

54、 article and see how the writer describes F1 racing.Many people like to watch F1 racing on TV. Do you know what F1 is?F1 racing,or formula one racing, is a type of very fast car racing. There are many different types of car racing, but the most important is F1. The races test the speed of the cars a

55、s well as the skill of the drivers.The origin of F1 dates back over a hundred years. In the early years. cars were heavy and the roads were long. There were often problems. Modern Formula one Grand Prix (Prize) racing began in 1950. The cars that are used in F1 racing today are usually the most mode

56、rn. F1 racing is run by the F1A(International Automobile Federation)and the FOCA(Formula One Constructors Association).A similar event in the USA is indy car racing. Because of indy car racing. F1 is less popular in the US.B Read the following notes and use them to write an article about the paralym

57、pics to put on the display wall of your classroom. You can change the order of the notes.The paralympics are run by the international paralympics committee (IPC) and recognized and supported by the international Olympic Committee(IOC).The paralympics are connected with competitions for people with d

58、isabilities.The first official Cames: Rome, Italy, 1960;400 athletes from 23 nationsThe first Winter paralympics Games:1976The paralympics began in 1948 in England. Dr Ludwig Guttman found that sport was good for his patients.In the 2019 Beijing paralympics Games, Chinese athletes won over 200 medal

59、s, and were first on the medals table.The first national competition between hospitals and clubs took place on the opening day of the 1948 London Olympics.Topic 11-natureNatural ResourcesNature has provided us with many kinds of resources. Almost everything we use in our everyday life comes from Nat

60、ure. The food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the concrete and bricks to build our houses, the materials to make bikes we ride, etc. all come originally from nature.People have been making use of these natural supplies for thousands of years. With the development of technology and t

61、he increase of the population, the amount and range of materials taken has increased. It is estimated that this trend will continue in the years to come.However, natural resources are not inexhaustible. Some resources are already nearly used up. For example, the end of the worlds fuel is already wit

62、hin sight. Such an essential daily item as water is in short supply in many parts of the world. We can no longer thoughtlessly use the many resources provided by Nature. We must learn to conserve what remains.Topic 12-language learningWritingA When we write about unreal situations , we often use if

63、clauses. Read the following passage and see how the author writes about unreal situations.If everyone spoke the same languageIt is said that there are at least 2,500 to 3,000 different language in the world.People who speak different languages do not understand each other. If everyone in the world s

64、poke the same language,the world would be quite different from what it is now.First of all, if everyone spoke the same language, it would be very easy for different nations to communicate and understand each other. No translators or interpreters would be necessary at international meetings, so a lot

65、 of money would be saved.Second, if everyone spoke the same language, people would live in harmony with each other. People who speak different languages often believe in different religions and this often causes people to misunderstand each other and even leads to conflicts or wars. Therefore, there

66、 would be in the world if everyone spoke the same language.Third, if everyone spoke the same language, it would improve cultural and economic exchanges between nations. The difference in language is a great barrier in communication and in international trade, so si everyone spoke the same language,

67、communication and trade between nations could be done more easily.On the other hand, if everyone spoke the same language, there would also be some disadvantages. All the translators and interpreters would be out of work. Above all, the world would not be as interesting as it is now.Topic 13-musicA J

68、ane interviewed one of the singers in Turandot. Underline the words you could leave out so as to ake the dialogue more concise.Jane: How did you feel taking part in Turandot?Singer： It was a real opportunity for me to be cast. It had always been one of my strongest desires to have a part in Turandot

69、.Jane: How were you hired for the job?Singer： Well, Im a musical performer, but there was a short period when I was not working, and was just collecting unemployment benefits. One day, I saw a poster put up by the production companys Personnel Department. Saying they were looking for singers. I appl

70、ied for the job, and they sent me an invitation to try out for a part in the chorus.Jane: Was it different to try out? Singer： Yes,it was different. They asked me to sing a tune, and at the time I had a sore throat,so I was afraid I wouldnt get the job.Jane: What did you like best about participatin

71、g in Turandot?Singer： The best part was visiting Beijing because the performance was staged in the Forbidden City. It was my first visit to Beijing.Jane: Would you like to visit Beijing again?Singer： Yes,I would like to visit Beijing again.Jane: Well, its been fun taking to you. I thank you for your

72、 time.Singer： Youre welcome.Topic 14-feelings and impressionsA Read Juliaa diary entry and underline all the examples of emphasis.I am so tired. I have just got home from the cinema and finished the laundry. Mum told me to help her with it because she is not a maid. Before I fall asleep. I have to w

73、rite down what happened today.Mary and I had an appointment at the shopping centre at 1 p.m, but it wasnt until 1.30 p.m that she arrived. I didnt have time to get angry with her because we had to run to the cinema in time for the next show. Mary agreed to see the film I picked, although she really

74、wanted to see a musical. The film was such a disappointment. Listening to the formal language all the characters used was really tiresome. Mary said to me, Do think twice next time before you choose a film. im not unhappy about what she said. It is the time wasted on the film that Im unhappy about.

75、Mary and I made an agreement never to see a film like this again. Maybe next time we can see a musical.B Read what Julia is telling Mary. Rewrite the sentences to emphasize the underlined parts.My uncle has just sold a film script to (1.a major Hollywood studio.) It is said the film will be shot lat

76、er this year. Its so fantastic! We all gave him our sincere congratulations. He works part-time as a journalist, but he has wanted to be a novelist or screenwriter (2.for years).A few months ago,(3.a local television channel) bought a TV script from him.it gives me great satisfaction that my uncle i

77、s finally realizing his dream and attaining success.C Mary is asking Julia to repeat what she has told her. Look at Julias answers and help Mary form the question by using the question form of the pattern it +be verb +the part to be emphasized + that clause.1 Mary:_ Julia: A major Hollywood studio.2

78、 Mary:_ Julia: For years.3 Mary:_ Julia: A local television channel.Topic 15-the world and the environmentClimate change and a low-carbon lifeThere is no doubt that the world climate has been changing in recent years. Many people blame this change on gases such as carbon dioxide. Animals and humans

79、produce carbon dioxide when they breathe. However, many other human activities also let off carbon gases. Anytime something is burnt, carbon is out into the atmosphere. Cars and other vehicles burn petrol in their engines, and electrical power plants most often burn fuels such as coal and oil in ord

80、er to produce electricity. Therefore, the more petrol and electricity we consume, the more carbon we are letting off.One thing we can all do to help solve this problem is to walk or use a bicycle when possible. Although we produce carton when we breathe, the carbon we produce is much less than that

81、produced by a car. Of course, there are times when we need to travel long distances. In this case, public transport such as buses and the underground are always much better choices than a private car or a taxi. If you must drive a car, it is never good to travel alone-you should try to find other pe

82、ople to travel with you.At home, you should use as little energy as possible. Thus off the lights and anything else electrical when not in use. Since factories use a lot of energy and also let off carbon gases, it is important to recycle as much as possible. In particular, metal products and paper p

83、roducts require a lot of energy to produce, so you should find ways to use these again without throwing them away.Last but not least, you can plant a tree, because trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the air to produce oxygen. Planting a small tree is cheap and easy, and two decades from now, when yo

84、u look at what will have become a large tree, you will find a sense of satisfaction knowing that you did your part to help solve the problem of climate change.Topic 16-success Victoria Browns qualities for successMy name is Victoria Brown, and last year I was ranked number 59 on a list of the worlds

85、 most successful people, In my opinion, I possess certain qualities that have helped me succeed. The first one is perseverance-this means I never give up, even when things go wrong.However much I get knocked back , I just try again.Another quality I have is ambition,I want to do the best I can.I fee

86、l confident that I can achieve anything if I work hard to make things happen.I am also highly motivated. I always try to be energetic and enthusiastic, even though I may be tired or busy . Energy and enthusiasm make things work and encourage those people working around you. Interpersonal skills are

87、another key to my success.Every day, I make a point of saying hello to all my staff and spending time listening to their ideas and opinions.This means I am a good listener.Organization is also a key aspect of my personality, as is my sense of humor. I now have another ambition in life, which is to h

88、elp others achieve what they want in both their lives and their careers.Topic 17-weatherA horrible earthquakeDirtywater rose inwells andcanals before theearthquake. But no onejudged that an earthquake was coming. Suddenly, everything shook. It seemedas ifthe world wasat an end.Millions ofbrick house

89、s anda number ofdams weredestroyed. Railwaytracks becameuselessbars.Pipes inmines burstand let outsmellysteam. Hugecrackstrappedcyclists everywhere.The next day, thiseventwas theheadlineor maintitleof all newspapers. with thereporters giving anoutlineof thedisaster, the wholenationwasshocked by thed

90、amageand the victimsextreme suffering. people were moved when they read that thesurvivorscomforted each other by saying “congratulations! you survived!”. So they not onlyexpressed their sympathysincerely, but also organized together to help the victimsright away. Theinjured wererescued and the dead

91、were buried. Thefrightened survivors weredug outfrom under theruins and were offeredshelter, fresh water andelectricity. thanks to peoples help, the loss was minimized.Topic 18-custom and cultureCultural differencesMa Li: Hi,everyone. My names Ma Li. I need some help on my homework-its about cultura

92、l differences. Can I sit down and talk to you? Waled: Hi, Ma Li, Im Waled from Brunei.Peter: And Im Perter, from the UK. Nice to meet you.Ma Li: Nice to meet you, too. Can you tell me about some cultural differences you have found?Peter: Waled, why dont you tell her about the British teacher who ope

93、ned the present as soon as he received it at the end-of-term ceremony?Ma Li: Oh, I already know about that one. My American friend Jack did the same thing.Peter: Well, its what we do in the West. Its rude not to open a present when someone gives you one. We like to see how the person reacts. We thin

94、k its strange not to open it! What would be anther cultural difference.let me think. Well, I once went to an acquaintances wedding in Korea and I was very surprised.Ma Li: Why are that?Peter: Well, they had a live hen and a rooster as a part of the wedding ceremony.Ma Li: Live chickens.Peter: Yes. R

95、oosters are supposed to drive bad spirits away from the wedding ceremony, and hens are thought to ensure good luck for the marriage. During the ceremony, the hen laid an egg, and everyone congratulated the new couple because it was considered very lucky.Waled: Thats interesting! In Brunei, at weddin

96、g receptions men and woman have to sit in separate areas-the men with the bridegroom, and the women with the bride. Another difference is that while we serve food, soft drinks, tea and coffee, alcohol is not permitted at the wedding reception-in fact, alcohol is altogether prohibited in Brunei. And

97、you probably wouldt get much sleep if you lived bear where a wedding reception was being held. Thats because we play loud drums to celebrate the wedding for hours afterwards, and sometimes even throughout the night!Peter: Throughout the night?Waled: Yeah, people get used to it.Ma Li: So what other t

98、hings do you do in your country that are difference from other countries, Waled?Waled: Well, you know in many countries people point with their first finger.However, in Brunei that can cause offence, so we use our thumb to point. Its quite funny watching the new foreign teachers trying to adjust to

99、doing that. Another thing someones house. Many foreigners have trouble getting accustomed to it.Peter: But what is really interesting is that there are sometimes great cultural differences even between native English speaker. I am always amazed at how Americans are so different accents, of course-ou

100、r customs are not always alike.Ma Li: Really?Peter: Yes. For example, I have fond childhood memories of Bonfire Night, but my American friends are not familiar with that particular festival.Ma Li: Well, Im not familiar with it either.Peter: Oh, its a celebration that takes place on November 5th ever

101、y tear. People light large fires outside, and everyone gathers around and has a party. There are plenty of fireworks, and everyone eats hot dogs and other food that can be cooked over the fire. Its great fun. Ma Li: Well, it;s time for me to go. This has been a really interesting chat. I think now I

102、 understand a lot more about different cultures and what is appropriate behaviour. Its really helped me with my homework ! I hope we can talk again soon. After all, learning about cultural differences is a good way to understand more about each other. See you later!Waled: See you!Peter: Right, later

103、!Topic 19-literature and artThe Attic is an enjoyable short story by Virginia Fox. The main character of The Attic is a lovely girl called Cindy.She lives in modern-day London,Cindy has a difficult life and is abused by her ugly stepmother and two greedy stepsisters.She is forced to wear rags and li

104、ve in a small ,dark attic.Finally,she runs away to Ireland,where she opens a chocolate shop and becomes rich.This may seem like just another sweet Cinderella story, but it is certainly not.Cindy is mistaken when she thinks she has escaped her relatives -they follow and Mavis,have come to try to get

105、possession of her fortune.My favorite character in “The Atticis Stuart,who comes to her rescue and adds some comedy to this otherwise dark tale.Virginia Fox writes well.She often uses colors to describe how Cindy is feeling in the story.When Cindy is sad,she is always described in shades of grey:a p

106、ale child with cheeks of grey lay crying in the dark. The color orange is used to described Cindy when she is happy:she wrapped the orange scarf around her hair and smiled to herself.In this story,chocolate is a symbol of happiness and success in Cindys life.This is theme in “The Attic.Virginia Fox

107、has written a modern-day Cinderella story that is fun from start to finish.I think it is an excellent story.Topic 20-education Making friendsOne important thing to remember when trying to get along with others is to compromise.This means that when you and your friend talk about something you do not

108、agree on,one or both of you agree to give up something to find a solution.For example,lets say that you want to go shopping one afternoon,but your friend wants to watch DVDs at home.You and your friend can compromise and agree that you will go shopping for an hour and a half ,and then watch one DVD

109、at home.In this way,both of you can do something you like to do,but you also do something you do not like very much, in order to make the other person happy.When two people make a compromise,they should both be happy in the end.People often disagree with each other .It is sometimes necessary to give

110、 up something you want in order to keep good relations with others.Another important thing to remember when trying to get along with others is to listen.When you listen carefully to others,it shows that you care about them and think that they are important.When someone is talking to you,look at them

111、!Also,pay attention to your friendsfeelings.If a friend is telling you about a difficult problem,ask him,how do you feel about that?Many times,we want to fix our friendsproblems and give them advice,but sometimes our friends do not need advice.They just need someone who will listen to them and under

112、stand their feelings.Finally,it takes time and energy to build good relationships with others.You cannot expect to become good friends with someone soon after you meet them. You also cannot expect to become good friends with someone if you do not spend time with them.Invite friends to do things with

113、 you,such as watching films,going to the park or even cooking.In this way,you can find common interests with others outside of school and work.Topic 21-festival and celebrationOne of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift. Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap .On September 11th, 1958, M

114、um gave birth to Richard. After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, I promised you a gift, and here it is. What an honor! I turned four a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own. I played with it day and night. I sang to it. I told it sto

115、ries. I told it over and over how much I loved it!One morning, however, I found its bed empty. My doll was gone! I cried for it. Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital. It had a fever. For several days, I heard mum and Dad whispering such words as hopeless, pitif

116、ul, and dying, which sounded ominous.Christmas was coming, dont expect any presents this year, Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room. If your baby brother lives, thatll be Christmas enough. Id never seen him cry before.The phone rang early on Christmas morning. Dad jumped out of

117、bed to answer it. From my bedroom I heard him say, What? Hes all right? He hung up and shouted upstairs. The hospital said we can bring Richard home!Thank god! I heard Mum cry.From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car. I had never seen them so happy. And I was also full of j

118、oy. What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home. I ran downstairs. My socks still hung there flat. But I knew they were not empty; they were filled with love!Topic 22-famous peopleExplorerWhat is the most fun you can have in 21 hours and 23 minutes?On 15 October 2019,Yang Liwei answered this qu

119、estion,His journey into space took him 600,000 kilometers in orbit,around the earth 14 times, in just over 21 hours.It made him Chinas first astronaut and the 241st person in space.He has worked towards this achievement for years.Born in1965,Yang has wanted to fly since he was a young boy.His friend

120、s and teachers from Suizhong Country in north-eastern Liaoning Province have all said that he loved science and technology from a young age,He always talked of wanting to learn how to fly.His dream was encouraged by his parents as well as his older sister and younger brother.He joined the army in 19

121、83,and went to university at the No.8 Aviation college.In 1987 he graduated and become a fighter pilot.In 2019 he was chosen as a member of Project 921,which is now called Shenzhou.He was one of the only 14 picked from 1,500 candidates,The team spent the next five years being trained.They not only s

122、tudied all the subjects required to be an astronaut but also learned survival skills and all about how spaceships and rockets are built.Yang scored among the very top in everything the group studied.In September 2019,only three out of the 14 candidates were picked for the Chinese space adventure,and

123、 Yang was one of them ,He took all kinds of tests to prove he was qualified for this important task .Although Yang did not actually get the best scores on every single test ,it was his high scores on the psychological tests that finally won him his position as Chinas first astronaut.Yang was describ

124、ed by his commanders as hard working and always in control of himself.Because of these qualities,his commanders were sure he would be successful.In the end,Yang was indeed successful.His name will go down in history with those of Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard,the first Russian and American astronaut

125、s.The people of China can be proud of Yang Liwei and young people all over the world can look up to him as an example of a man who managed to live his dream. Topic 23-plan My thoughts on my futureYesterday,I read an article in a magazine about jobs.It really made me think about the different_ availa

126、ble to me.My father is a _ ,which means he spends all of his time handling and selling food and goods used in the home.This job seems a bit plan,so I dont really fancy it.I had thought that I could get a glamorous job and become a model.It is true that models are _ .However,the article shows that th

127、ere are disadvantages to his job, such as traveling long distances and always being on a diet. I hate hard work and love to eat,so I guess this is not _ to me .Unless I finish school,I may have to work as a _ in a local clothing shop ,or maybe a receptionist.They sound so boring and plain! I would n

128、ot enjoy spending my days dealing with customers or businessmen.Does the world really need more salesgirls or receptionists？I guess I need to continue my studies to avoid such a career.The one thing that I am good at is arithmetic, so maybe I need to find a _ that helps the world and that requires m

129、aths.I read a story about Albert Einstein, and how he just sat and thought all day.Since this is what I like to do most ,I have decided to become a physicist like him.Who knows,maybe I can make some great discoveries and become a hero to mankind!Topic 24-science and technologyMan has been interested

130、 in robots for quite some time .Scientists are always inventing new and better robots,which will play an important role in our future lives,First,smarter robots will help us with the housework .They will take over jobs such as preparing meals ,washing dishes,and sweeping the floor,so that we will ha

131、ve more free time to have fun.Second,robots will help us with our work.They will do all the heavy dangerous work,and help out in hospital,schools and offices.Third, robots will be our friends.Whenever we feel sad ,lonely or upset,we can have a chat with a robot.Robots will not only be good listeners but they will also offer us good advice.In conclusion,robots will be more and more intelligent and will benefit us in many ways.