牛津上海版高一下12篇课文

1、牛津高一下12篇课文 上大市北 Unit 1 Reading The Phantom of the OperaRead this short story adapted from the novel The Phantom of the Opera. The Paris Opera House was a huge building. Beneath the building there was a strange, dark lake. On this lake was an island. On that island, one hundred years ago, lived the P

2、hantom. At birth he was so ugly that his own mother made him wear a mask. She forced him to leave home while he was still a child. He then spent years wandering the Earth until he found his home on the island. Yet, this monster of a man loved singing, and had a wonderful voice. The phantom fell in l

3、ove with Christine, a beautiful young singer at the Opera. He often sang to her late at night, hiding behind a secret wall in her room because he was afraid of letting her see his face. He taught her how to sing and helped her get better roles in the Opera. Christine enjoyed listening to his voice,

4、too. However, the Phantom wanted Christine for himself. He kidnapped her from the stage in front of the whole audience. Then, he took her down to his secret home on the lake. Only one man was brave enough to follow. He was Raoul, a young man who loved Christine. Raoul tried to rescue Christine, but

5、the Phantom captured him and put him in a prison. In the Phantoms house, Christine pulled off his mask and saw the real man. At first, she was shocked at his horrible face with yellow eyes and no nose, but then she felt sorry about his suffering. She understood how lonely his life had been. She gent

6、ly kissed his face. No woman had ever touched the Phantom before. Christines kiss made him cry with joy. He released Raoul, and told him to take Christine to safety. By now, a group of people had reached the Phantoms house. They burst in, ready to kill him. At that moment the Phantom disappeared and

7、 was never seen again.Unit 1 MR The Concert Hall which moved Reading this cutting from a city guide for Shanghai to see how one concert hall was kept from destruction. In April 2003, the Shanghai Concert Hall was lifted into the air, and then moved 66.46 metres away. The 5,650-tonne building was dei

8、gned and bilt in 1930 by Chinese architects Zhao Shen and Fan Wenzhao. Originally, the building was used for showing films. In 1959, it was changed into a concert hall. Some of the worlds top musicians, including the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the violinist Isaac Stern, played there. By 2002, howev

9、er, the Shanghai Concert Hall faced some difficulties. The building was old and needed repair. Also, an elevated road had been built nearby. The noise of the traffic from the road drowned out the concerts. One way of saving the concert hall was moving it. So, over an eight-day period, workers used m

10、achinery to lift the concert hall into the air. They then pushed it along rails to a new location away from the elevated road. The Shanghai Concert Hall was completely restored after being moved. It was also made larger to seat more people. On 1 October 2004 it reopened with a concert by the British

11、 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. With new paint and a new location, the charm of the concert hall was brought back to life.Unit 2 Reading Two Geniuses Albert Einstein was a very famous scientist in the twentieth century. Read this legend about him in a magazine article. Amany people regard Albert Eins

12、tein (1879-1955) as a genius. His attempt to explain the workings of the universe led to the development of nuclear energy. Einstein used to say that the only gift he had was curiosity, but this story about hm shows that he also had a sense of humour. As a young man with a growing reputation, Einste

13、in received many invitations to explain his theories at different universities. On these trips his driver was always the same - a man called Hans. Hans often said to him, Its a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Dr. Einstein. One evening, on their way to a distant university, Einstein said, I wish

14、 I didnt have to give my lecture tonight, Hans. Im so tired, but I dont ant to let my audience down. You dont have to give the lecture, said Hans. I can give it for you. Ive listened to your lecture so many times that Ive learnt it by heart. No one know you at this university, so they wont find out.

15、 Einstein agreed with Hans, so they changed places. At the university, Hans was guided to a platform, where he stood surrounded by professors and students. Einstein took a seat in the audience, listened to Hans give his lecture perfectly, and joined in the applause at the end. However, before Hans l

16、eft the platform, a professor shouted from the audience, Id like to ask you a difficult question. He then asked a question so complex that Hans had no idea what he was talking about. Einstein thought, Oh no! Now were in trouble. But Hans just laughed and said, Thats not a difficult question. In fact

17、, its so easy that even my driver knows how to answer it. Hans, please Einstein stood up and answered the question perfectly. They left the university, with Einstein driving. A little later, Hans offered to drive. No, my friend, laughed Einstein. Its a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Hans.Unit

18、2 MR The Nobel PrizeRead this leaflet about the Noble PrizeAlfred Nobel was an inventor born in Sweden. When he died in 1896, he left a lot of money and property. This was then worth about nine million US dollars, and later became the original sourceof the world-famous Nobel Prize.Nobel believed tha

19、t the spread of knowledge would make the world a better place. The yearly-awarded prizes are given to honour those who help mankind. Nobel said that the prizes should honour the most important discoveries or inventions in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and the most outstanding works in l

20、iterature.Since 1901. the Nobel Prize has been presented to the winners on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobels death. At the award ceremony in the Stockholm Concert Hall, the king of Sweden hands each winner a diploma and a medal. The ceremony is followed by a large banquet for about 1,300

21、 peopoel Among the guests of honour are the Nobel Prize winners and their families, the King and the Queen, and many well-known leaders in science and culture. Two hundred and fifty young students are also honoured with invitations to this grand occasion.Unit 3 Reading The interesting world of plant

22、s Plants can be much more interesting than youn think. Read this transcript from a nature film to find out why. Water lilies can often be seen in China, with their round leaves, or pads, floating in ponds. In Hangzhou, there is a kind of water lily whose pads are so huge that a person can stand on t

23、hem. This is a Victoria lily, the largest kind of water lily in the world. Its pads are more than two metres wide and its white or purple flowers can grow as large as 45 centimetres across. Some flowering plants can also be eaten. The lotus, a near relative of the water lily, is such a plant. It has

24、 a long white root, in which there are many holes. In Asian countries, lotus roots and seeds are often cooked and served in meals. In the West, eating lotus roots or seeds is not as popular as it is in Asia. The banyan tree is an interesting tree with many roots growing down from its branches. It ca

25、n be found in South China and other parts of Asia. When its roots reach the ground, they plant themselves and grow bark. Eventually they either become part of the original tree trunk or become separate tree trunks. Using this methid, banyan trees can cover an enormous area. The worlds largest banyan

26、 tree, in India, covers an area larger than a football pitch. Even though it is only one tree, it looks like a whole forest! Speaking of trees, a gingko tree believed to be around 3,800 years old was recently discovered in Hebei Province, China. Many gingko trees have been around for more than 3,000

27、 years - that is the reason why they are known as longevity trees in China. While gingko trees can live for a long time, they are not even near being the oldest trees. Bristlecone pine trees in America are among the oldest living trees. One bristlecone pine tree in Nevada is over 4,600 years old!Uni

28、t 3 MR Learn to care for plants Read this article from a newspaper to get some new ideas about what plants you can grow this year. Spring is in the air, so it is time to go outside and do some gardening. Here are three plants which can decorate your home. Why not grow commone white jasmine/ You can

29、raise it as either a bush or a vine. Jasmine vines produce more flowers than jasmine bushes, but they need a frame to grow on. If you grow them on a frame over a path, the path will soon have a cover of whit, sweet-smelling flowers. Jasmine is not just for tea. Of course, if you like blossoms, do no

30、t ignore the Yulan magnolia. These trees can grow to be over 12 metres tall. In early spring, they are covered with white blossoms which are more than 12 centimetres wide. After the blossoms fall off, green leaves cover the trees all summer. In autumn, these leaves change to red and orange before th

31、ey litter the ground with colour. The Yulan magnolia is ideal for cool, moist climates. If you have no idea what to grow, you could plant a golden ball cactus. You could keep it in your house, or plant it outside where it can grow to be more than 60 centimetres tall. While it prefers the sun, it tol

32、erates temperatures of below zero degrees centigrade.Unit 4 Reading Friend or enemy? Reading this excerpt from the play Winston and the Spider to learn about one kind of small creature. The scene begins with Winston and his wife Betty standing in their kitchen.Betty: (jumping in fright, and then sho

33、uting)Kill it!Winston: (calmly) Certainly not.Betty: Why? Youre not frightened of it, Winston, are you? Its only an insect.Winston: It isnt an insect, Betty. Its a spider. Actually, spiders are very useful creatures. I watched a TV prgramme last night that completely changed my view about spiders. D

34、o you want to hear about it?Betty: Not really. (She sighs.) but I suppose youre going to tell me anyway.Winston: Spiders are the enemies of insects and the friends of humans. Chinese farmers realized that years ago. Do you know that in parts of China, in autumn, farmers build shelters for spiders an

35、d put them all over their fields?Betty: No. I didnt know that.Winston: (ignoring her remarks) The shelters are like little tents. Surviving winter in them, the spiders emerge healthy and hungry when spring comes. At the same time, millions of insects arrive to attack the farmers crops. The spiders f

36、ill their empty stomachs, and the farmers become happy because their fields have been protected.Betty: So everyone is hapy except the insects.Winston: Right, and now this natural method of pest control is being copied all over the world.Betty: (looking bored) Interesting, but now I must go andWinsto

37、n: (becoming excited) Wait! Theres more. Whats stronger than steel, lighter than a feather and as elastic as a rubber band?Betty: What?Winston: Its the silk the spiders make their webs with. Scientists are trying to develop a material having similar properties. They plan to use it in spacecraft, art

38、ificial organs like hearts, and to make really bulletproof vests.Betty: I still think spiders are nasty and should be killed. Their bites are dangerous, arent they?Winston: To insects, yes, but to people, rarely. But even their poison is useful. Doctors think it might be used to treat brain disorder

39、s in humans.Betty: Thatt good news for you, then. (She laughs.) But seriously, I get your point, Winston. We should try to understand things in nature and not destroy them. Unit 4 MR The mystery of hibernation No human has ever experienced hibernatin, and yet many creatures experience it every year.

40、 Read the following article from a science magazine to see what hibernation is all about. What do bears, bats and frogs have in common? They all hibernate. Hibernation is a state often compared to sleep. It usually occrus in winter, when a creature does not move for weeks or months continuously. Cre

41、atures hibernate to survive the cold weather and the absence of food. A typical example of a hibernating creature is the bat. When winter comes, bats find a safe place in a cave. Looking like they are dead, they hang upside down. Their pulse and breathing rates greatly slow down. Their body temperat

42、ures drop as well. These things help them save energy during long winters when it is difficult to find food. Frogs, like many amphibians, also hibernate when it gets cold. After digging deep into the mud at the bottom of a pond, they do not stir again until it is warm. During hibernation, they breat

43、he through their skins, not their mouths. Another hibernating creature is the bear. In contrast to other creatures, hibernating bears do not appear as though they are dead, but seem as though they are very sleepy. If they are disturbed during hibernation, they can get up very quickly. While hibernat

44、ing, bears stay in their dens, which are filled with leaves to make their stay more comfortable and warmer. In spring, having awakened, they leave their dens, thin and hungry.Unit 5 Reading What should I do? Letters from students asking for advice are published anonymously in a school newspaper as a

45、 part of the Counsellors Corner. Read excerpts from the letters below. On evening last month, I was visiting a close friend in her new high-rise flat when she accidentally knocked a flowerpot from her window. It smashed to the ground below, narrowly missing some children at lay. On our way out, we s

46、topped to take a look, but now one was hurt, so we said nothing and left for the cinema as planned. Returning home later that evening, my friend learnt that the police had been to the flats and questioned everyone. They had even taken a neighbours son to the police station. After questioning him, th

47、ey let him go temporarily. Frightened, my friend has said nothing to the police. Though no one was hurt, I have a guilty conscience and Last night, while travelling home on the underground, I saw three tough guys enter my almost empty carriage. They sat down beside a young boy who was travelling alo

48、ne and began to tease and tully him. Their behavious was so bad that it made him move to another seat, but that did no good. They just followed him and continued their bullying. The boy was obviously frightened. At this point, I stopped looking and got off at my station, feeling sorry for the boy. I

49、 regret not helping him, but not being Superman and hating violence, what could I do? Should I The checkout assistant at my usual supermarket is always rude and unhelpful. A few days ago, I gave her a fifty-pound note to pay for a six-pound purchase, but she was so busy grumbling that she accidental

50、ly gave me an extra ten-pound note in my change. On discovering the error, I went back and tried to tell her. Excuse me , I said. However, before I could continue, she barked, Cant you see theres a queue? Go to the end and wait your turn. That did it ! I left the shop with the 10 and a clear conscie

51、nce. I had meant to correct the error before leaving, but she would not let me. On the other handUnit 5 MR A letter from the school counsellor The school counsellor wrote a letter of reply to the students who sent her letters this week.Lincoln High School News 5 May 2007 Counsellors Corner Dear stud

52、ents I am pleased to read your letters. You all seem very honest. However, you hesitated and showed a lack of courage in these unexpected situations. That is why you all have guilty consciences. The best remedy for a guilty conscience is to make the situation right. In the case of the flowerpot fall

53、ing from the window, while the police let the boy go, everyone probably still thinks the boy did it. Making things right means your friend should go to the police and tell them the truth. Then she needs to go to the boy and apologize. You must persuade her to do this. In the case of the three tough

54、guys, you can try contacting the transport police. Maybe they can watch for these guys and stop them before they hur someone else. In the case of the rude checkout assistant, the money does not belong to you - it belongs to the supermarket. You need to go to the supermarket manager and return the 10

55、.I regret to say it is not always easy to do the right thing. However, it is not right to let others suffer for our mistakes. Since you all seem to be good students, I know you will do your best.If you have any questions or need any more advice, do not forget to visit me in my office.Thanks for your

56、 letters.Sincerely yours, Ms Robbins, School CounsellorUnit 6 Reading Points of viewAre TV commercials for children bad or good? Read this opinion article from a newspaper, followed by cuttings from the Letters to the Editor section, to see both sides.A Little Spenders are Big SpendersThe latest tar

57、get for TV commercials is Asias fastest growing consmer group - children. Asian families are getting smaller and wealthier, and Asian children are watching more TV. One estimate says a typical Asian child sees more than 10,000 minutes of TV commercials a year.To get the attention (and the money) of

58、these young viewers, commercials use child actors. Kids can identify with someone from their own age group, says one advertiser, so the commercials are more effective. Of course, child actors earn big money.Not everyone is happy to se kids turned into consumers. Some educators believe that the more TV commercials children watch, the more materialistic they become. One Japanese survey asked children, What do you w