人教版九年级英语课文(全一册)

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Unit1Howcanwebecomegoodlearners?HowILearnedtoLearnEnglish

Lastyear,IdidnotlikemyEnglishclass.Everyclasswaslikeabaddream.Theteacherspoketooquickly.ButIwasafraidtoaskquestionsbecausemypronunciationwasverybad.SoIjusthidbehindmytextbookandneversaidanything.

ThenonedayIwatchedanEnglishmoviecalledToyStory.Ifellinlovewiththisexcitingandfunnymovie!SothenIbegantowatchotherEnglishmoviesaswell.AlthoughIcouldnotunderstandeverythingthecharacterssaid,theirbodylanguageandtheexpressionsontheirfaceshelpedmetogetthemeaning.IalsorealizedIcouldgetthemeaningbylisteningforjustthekeywords.MypronunciationalsoimprovedbylisteningtotheinterestingconversationsinEnglishmovies.Idiscoveredthatlisteningtosomethingyouareinterestedinisthesecrettolanguagelearning.Ialsolearnedusefulsentenceslike“It’sapieceofcake”or“Itservesyouright.”Ididnotunderstandthesesentencesatfirst.ButbecauseIwantedtounderstandthestory,Ilookedupthewordsinadictionary.

NowIreallyenjoymyEnglishclass.Iwanttolearnnewwordsandmoregrammar.

ThenIcanhaveabetterunderstandingofEnglishmovies.

P62b

HowCanYouBecomeaSuccessfulLearner?

Everyoneisbornwiththeabilitytolearn.Butwhetherornotyoucandothiswelldependsonyourlearninghabits.Researchshowsthatsuccessfullearnershavesomegoodhabitsincommon.

Creatinganinterestinwhattheylearn

Studiesshowthatifyouareinterestedinsomething,yourbrainismoreactiveanditisalsoeasierforyoutopayattentiontoitforalongtime.Goodlearnersoftenconnectwhattheyneedtolearnwithsomethingtheyareinterestedin.Forexample,iftheyneedtolearnEnglishandtheylikemusicorsports,theycanlistentoEnglishsongsorwatchsportsprogramsinEnglish.Thiswaytheywillnotgetbored.

Practicingandlearningfrommistakes

Goodlearnersthinkaboutwhattheyaregoodatandwhattheyneedtopracticemore.

Remember,“useitorloseit”!Evenifyoulearnsomethingwell,youwillforgetitunlessyou

useit.Practicemakesperfect.Goodlearnersarealsonotafraidofmakingmistakes.AlexanderGrahamBelldidnotinventthetelephoneovernight.Hesucceededbytryingmanytimesandlearningfromhismistakes.

Developingtheirstudyskills

Itisnotenoughtojuststudyhard.Youhavetoknowhowtostudy.Goodlearnersfindoutthebestwaystolearnwell.Forexample,theymaytakenotesbywritingdownkeywordsorbydrawingmindmaps.Goodlearnersalsolookforwaystoreviewwhattheyhavelearned.Theymaydothisbyreadingtheirnoteseverydayorbyexplainingtheinformationtoanotherstudent.

Askingquestions

Goodlearnersoftenaskquestionsduringorafterclass.Theyevenaskeachotherandtrytofindouttheanswers.Knowledgecomesfromquestioning.Learningisalife-longjourneybecauseeverydaybringssomethingnew.Everythingthatyoulearnbecomesapartofyouandchangesyou,solearnwiselyandlearnwell.

Unit2Ithinkthatmooncakesaredelicious!

P133a

FullMoon,FullFeelings

ChinesepeoplehavebeencelebratingMid-AutumnFestivalandenjoyingmooncakesforcenturies.Mooncakeshavetheshapeofafullmoononmid-autumnnight.Theycarrypeople’swishestothefamiliestheyloveandmiss.

Therearemanytraditionalfolkstoriesaboutthisfestival.However,mostpeoplethinkthatthestoryofChang’eisthemosttouching.Chang’ewasHouYi’sbeautifulwife.AfterHouYishotdowntheninesuns,agoddessgavehimamagicmedicinetothankhim.

Whoeverdrankthiscouldliveforever,andHouYiplannedtodrinkitwithChang’e.However,abadman,FengMeng,triedtostealthemedicinewhenHouYiwasnothome.Chang’erefusedtogiveittohimanddrankitall.Shebecameverylightandflewuptothemoon.HouYiwassosadthathecalledouthernametothemooneverynight.Onenight,hefoundthatthemoonwassobrightandroundthathecouldseehiswifethere.Hequicklylaidoutherfavoritefruitsanddessertsinthegarden.HowhewishedthatChang’ecouldcomeback!

Afterthis,peoplestartedthetraditionofadmiringthemoonandsharingmooncakeswiththeirfamilies.

P124bDearXiaYu,

DoyouknowthattherearetwospecialdaysforparentsinAmerica?OneisMother’sDayonthesecondSundayofMayandtheotherisFather’sDayonthethirdSundayofJune.Onthesetwodays,Americanchildrenoftengivegiftstotheirparentsortakethemoutforlunchordinner.Commongiftsareflowersandcardsformothersandshirtsortiesforfathers.IheardthatitisbecomingmoreandmorepopulartocelebrateMother’sDayandFather’sDayinChina.Iwonderifchildrenovertherealsogivesimilargiftstotheirparents.Ibelievethattherearemanywaystoshowourlove.Actually,wedon’thavetospendalotofmoney.Itisalsoagoodideatohelpparentstodosomethinginstead.

June

P142b

TheSpiritofChristmas

ManywouldagreethatwhenwethinkofChristmas,weprobablythinkofgifts,ChristmastreesandSantaClaus.ButbehindallthesethingsliesthetruemeaningofChristmas:theimportanceofsharingandisperhapsthebestexampleofthis.

AChristmasCarolisafamousnovelwrittenbyCharlesDickens.ItisaboutanoldmannamedScroogewhoneverlaughsorsmiles.Heismeanandonlythinksabouthimself,anddoesn’ttreatothersnicely.Hejustcaresaboutwhetherhecanmakemoremoney.AndhehatesChristmas.OneChristmasEve,ScroogeseestheghostofJacobMarley,hisdeadbusinesspartner.MarleyusedtobejustlikeScrooge,sohewaspunishedafterhedied.He

warnsScroogetochangehiswaysifhedoesn’twanttoenduplikehim.HealsotellsScrooge

toexpectthreespiritstovisithim.

Thatnight,threeghostsvisitScrooge.First,theGhostofChristmasPasttakeshimbacktohischildhoodandremindsScroogeofhishappierdaysasachild.Thenthesecondspirit,theGhostofChristmasPresent,takeshimtoseehowothersarespendingChristmasthisyear.Everyoneishappy,evenpoorpeople.Thelastone,theGhostofChristmasYettoCome,takeshimtothefuture.Heseesthatheisdeadbutnobodycares.ScroogeissoscaredthathewakesupinhisbedandfindsoutitisalreadythenextmorningonChristmasDay!

Hedecidestochangehislifeandpromisestobeabetterperson.HehappilycelebratesChristmaswithhisrelatives.Healsogivesgiftstopeopleinneed.Henowtreatseveryonewithkindnessandwarmth,spreadingloveandjoyeverywherehegoes.AndthatisthetruespiritofChristmas!

Unit3Couldyoupleasetellmewheretherestroomsare?UNIT3P193a

FunTimesPark—AlwaysaFunTime![AliceandHeWeiareinSpaceWorld]Alice:Iwonderwhereweshouldgonext.HeWei:Howaboutthatnewrideoverthere?Alice:

Oh...itlooksprettyscary.

HeWei:Comeon!Ipromiseit’llbefun!Ifyou’reafraid,justshoutorholdmyhand.

[Aftertheride]

Alice:Youwereright,thatwasfun!Iwasscaredatfirst,butshoutingreallydidhelp.HeWei:See,thatwasn’tsobad,right?Youneverknowuntilyoutrysomething.Alice:Yes,I’msogladItriedit.NowIknowIcandoitandit’sactuallyfun!HeWei:DoyouwanttogotoWaterWorldnow?

Alice:Sure,butI’mreallyhungry.Doyouknowwherewecangetsomegoodfood

quickly?HeWei:Ofcourse!IsuggestWaterCityRestaurantinWaterWorld.It’safast

foodplace.Itservesdelicioushamburgersandhotdogs.

Alice:Thatsoundsperfect!

[OntheirwaytoWaterCityRestaurant,AliceandHeWeipassbyUncleBob’s.]

Alice:Oh,look!Thisrestaurantlooksinteresting.Itseemsarockbandplaysthereeveryevening.HeWei:Maybewecancomeherefordinnerlater.Let’saskwhattimethebandstarts.

[AliceandHeWeiwalkuptoastaffpersonatthedoor.]

HeWei:Excuseme,couldyoutelluswhenthebandstartsplayingthisevening?Staff:

Eighto’clock.It’salwaysbusy,socomealittleearliertogetatable.HeWei:OK,thanks!

P222b

CouldYouPlease...?

Whenyouvisitaforeigncountry,itisimportanttoknowhowtoaskforhelppolitely.Forexample,“Wherearetherestrooms?”or“Couldyoupleasetellmewheretherestroomsare?”aresimilarrequestsfordirectionstoaplace.BotharecorrectEnglish,butthefirstonesoundslesspolite.Thatisbecauseitisaverydirectquestion.Itisnotenoughtojustask

aquestioncorrectly.Wealsoneedtolearnhowtobepolitebybeinglessdirect—ormoreindirect—whenweaskforhelp.

InEnglish,asinChinese,wechangethewaywespeakwhenwetalkwithdifferentpeople.Theexpressionsyouusemightdependonwhomyouarespeakingtoorhowwellyouknowthem.Ifyousaytoyourteacher,“Whenistheschooltrip.’’,thismightsoundimpolite.Butifyousay,“Excuseme,Mr.West.Doyouknowwhentheschooltripis?’’,thiswillsoundmuchmorepolite.However,itisallrighttoaskdirectquestionsinsomesituations,likewithyourclassmates.

Usuallypolitequestionsarelongerandincludemorelanguagesuchas“Couldyouplease...?”or“CanIask...?”Itsoundsmorepolitetosay,“Peter,couldyoupleasetellmeyoure-mailaddress?”than“Peter,tellmeyoure-mailaddress.”Sometimesweevenneedtospendtimeleadingintoarequest.Forexample,withastrangeronthestreet,wemightfirstsay,“Excuseme,Iwonderifyoucanhelpme”or“I’msorrytotroubleyou,but...”beforeaskingforhelp.

Itmightseemmoredifficulttospeakpolitelythanbedirect.However,itisimportant

tolearnhowtouseproperlanguage.ThiswillalsohelpyoubecomebetteratEnglish,oranyotherlanguageyouwishtospeak.

Unit4Iusedtobeafraidofthedark.P273a

FromShyGirltoPopStar

Forthismonth’sYoungWorldmagazine,Iinterviewed19-year-oldAsianpopstarCandyWang.Candytoldmethatsheusedtobereallyshyandtookupsingingtodealwithhershyness.Asshegotbetter,shedaredtosinginfrontofherclass,andthenforthewholeschool.Nowshe’snotshyanymoreandlovessinginginfrontofcrowds.

IaskedCandyhowlifewasdifferentaftershebecamefamous.Sheexplainedthattherearemanygoodthings,likebeingabletotravelandmeetnewpeopleallthetime.“Ididn’tusetobepopularinschool,butnowIgettonsofattentioneverywhereIgo.”However,toomuchattentioncanalsobeabadthing.“IalwayshavetoworryabouthowIappeartoothersandIhavetobeverycarefulaboutwhatIsayordo.AndIdon’thavemuchprivatetimeanymore.Hangingoutwithfriendsisalmostimpossibleformenowbecausetherearealwaysguardsaroundme.”

WhatdoesCandyhavetosaytoallthoseyoungpeoplewhowanttobecomefamous?“Well,”shebeginsslowly,“youhavetobepreparedtogiveupyournormallife.Youcanneverimaginehowdifficulttheroadtosuccessis.ManytimesIthoughtaboutgivingup,butIfoughton.Youreallyrequirealotoftalentandhardworktosucceed.Onlyaverysmallnumberofpeoplemakeittothetop.”

P302b

HeUsedtoCauseaLotofTrouble

LiWenisanormal15-year-oldboywhoworkshardinschoolandgetsgoodgrades.Itishardtobelievethatheusedtobea“problemchild”untilaconversationwithhisparentsinfluencedhiswayofthinking.LiWenlivesintheSichuancountryside.Asasmallchild,heseldomgavehisparentsanyproblems,andtheywereproudofhim.However, ,theboy’slifebecamemoredifficult.Hehadtomoveinwithhisgrandmother.

LiWenbegantocauseproblemsforhimselfandhisfamily.Hewasnolongerinterestedinstudying.Hewasoftenabsentfromclasses,andhefailedhisexaminations.

Finally,hisparentsmadeadecisiontosendhimtoaboardingschool.LiWennolongerlivedwithhisgrandmother.Hestudied,ateandsleptattheschool,andhehatedit.Thereweresomanyrules,andheusedtokeepbreakingthem.Oneday,hetoldhisteacherhewantedtoleavetheschool.

Theheadteacheradvisedhisparentstotalkwiththeirsoninperson.Hisparentstooka40-hourtrainrideandafive-hourbusridetogobacktotheirhometown.ToLiWen’ssurprise,theirconversationchangedhislife.“ItwasexactlywhatIneeded,”hesaid.“Myparentshelpedmetounderstandhowmuchtheyhadgivenme.Theyalsotoldmethateventhoughtheycouldn’tbetheretotakecareofme,theywerealwaysthinkingofmeandwouldtakeprideineverythinggoodthatIdid. .Irealizedthatsincemyparentsmovedaway,I’vebeenafraidofbeingalone,andhavetriedtomakemyparentspaymoreattentiontome.”

.Hehasbeenworkinghardandisnowoneofthebeststudentsinhisclass.Hisparents’lovehasmadehimfeelgoodabouthimself.“It’sveryimportantforparentstobetherefortheirchildren,”LiWensays.

Unit5Whataretheshirtsmadeof?P353a

TheDifficultSearchforAmericanGoodsintheUS

Ifyougotoanothercountry,whatkindsofthingswouldyoubuy?WouldyoubuyacamerainJapan,somebeautifulclothesinFrance,orawatchinSwitzerland?Nomatterwhatyoumaybuy,youmightprobablythinkthoseproductsweremadeinthosecountries.However,youcouldbewrong.KangJianisa17-year-oldstudentfromShanghai.LastyearhewenttovisithisauntanduncleinSanFrancisco.HefounditinterestingthatsomanyproductsinthelocalshopsweremadeinChina.“Iwantedtobuyatoycarformycousin,buteventhoughmostofthetoyshadAmericanbrands,theyweremadeinChina.”

ToysarenottheonlythingsmadeinChina.“Iwantedtobuyapairofbasketballshoes,”heexplains.“ButIhadtovisitfiveorsixstoresbeforefindingapairmadeinAmerica!”HerealizedthatAmericanscanhardlyavoidbuyingproductsmadeinChina.“Infact,”hecontinues,“therearesomanythingsmadeinChina—footballs,handbags,petfood,mobilephones.EvenAmericanflagsaremadeinChina!”KangJianthinksit’sgreatthatChinaissogoodatmakingtheseeverydaythings.However,hewishesthatinthefutureChinawillalsogetbetteratmakinghigh-technologyproductsthatpeoplecanbuyinallpartsoftheworld.

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P382b

BeautyinCommonThings

EachdifferentpartofChinahasitsownspecialformsoftraditionalart.Theseusuallytrytoshowthethingsthatareimportantinlifesuchaslove,beautyandfamily.Themostcommonthings,frompapertoclaytobamboo,areturnedintoobjectsofbeauty.

AccordingtoChinesehistory,skylanternswerefirstusedbyZhugeKongming.Hesentthemouttoaskforhelpwhenintrouble.Today,skylanternsareusedatfestivalsandothercelebrations.Theyaremadeofbambooandcoveredwithpaper.Whenthelanternsarelit,theyslowlyriseintotheairlikesmallhot-airballoonsforalltosee.Theyareseenasbrightsymbolsofhappinessandgoodwishes.

Papercuttinghasbeenaroundforover1,500years.Papercuttingsoundsveryeasybutitcanbedifficulttodo.Thepaper,usuallyred,isfoldedbeforeitiscutwithscissors.Themostcommonpicturesareflowers,fish,animals,andthingsaboutChinesehistory.DuringtheSpringFestival,theyareputonwindows,doorsandwallsassymbolsofwishesforgoodluckandahappynewyear.

Chineseclayartisfamousbecausetheclaypiecesaresosmallbuttheylookveryreal.

ThepiecesareusuallycutechildrenorlivelycharactersfromaChinesefairytaleorhistoricalstory.Thepiecesarecarefullyshapedbyhandfromaveryspecialkindofclayandthenallowedtoair-dry.Afterdrying,theyarefiredataveryhighheat.Theyarethenpolishedandpainted.Finally,materialssuchaswoodorpaperareaddedtomakedifferentthings.Ittakesseveralweekstocompleteeverything.ThesesmallpiecesofclayartshowthelovethatallChinesepeoplehaveforlifeandbeauty.

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Unit6Whenwasitinvented?P433a

AnAccidentalInvention

Didyouknowthattea,themostpopulardrinkintheworld(afterwater),wasinventedbyaccident?Manypeoplebelievethatteawasfirstdrunknearly5,000yearsago.ItissaidthataChineserulercalledShenNongfirstdiscoveredteaasadrink.OnedayShenNongwasboilingdrinkingwateroveranopenfire.Someleavesfromateaplantfellintothewaterandremainedthereforsometime.Itproducedanicesmellsohetastedthebrownwateranyway.Itwasquitedelicious.Inthisway,oneoftheworld’sfavoritedrinkswasinvented.

Morethan4,000yearslater,LuYu,“thesaintoftea”,mentionedShenNonginhisbookChaJing.Thebookdescribeshowteaplantsweregrownandusedtomaketea.Italsodiscusseswherethefinesttealeaveswereproducedandwhatkindsofwaterwereused.

ItisbelievedthatteawasbroughttoKoreaandJapanduringthe6thand7thcenturies.InEngland,teadidn’tappearuntilaround1660,butlessthan100yearslater,ithadbecomethenationaldrink.TheteatradefromChinatoWesterncountriestookplaceinthe19thcentury.Thishelpedtospreadthepopularityofteaandtheteaplanttomoreplacesaroundtheworld.Eventhoughmanypeoplenowknowaboutteaculture,theChinesearewithoutdoubttheoneswhobestunderstandthenatureoftea.

p462b

DoYouKnowWhenBasketballWasInvented?

Basketballisamuch-lovedandactivesportmorethan100millionpeopleinover200countries.InChina,youcansometimesseepeopleplayingbasketballinparks,schoolsandeveninfactories.

BasketballwasinventedbyaCanadiandoctornamedJamesNaismith,whowasbornin1861.Whenhewasatcollege,histeacheraskedtheclasstothinkofagamethatcanbeplayedinthewinter.Dr.Naismithcreatedagametobeplayedinsideonahardfloor.Dr.

Naismithdividedthemeninhisclassintotwoteamsandtaughtthemtoplayhisnewgame.Thepurposeofthegameisforplayerstogetaballintothe“basket”.Playersonthesameteammustworktogethertohelpeachothergettheballintheotherteam’sbasket.Atthesametime,theyneedtostopthecompetingteamfromgettingtheballintotheirownbasket.

ItisbelievedthatonDecember21,1891,thefirstbasketballgameinhistorywasplayed.Thenin1936inBerlin,itbecameaneventattheOlympics.Today,thepopularityofbasketballhasrisenaroundtheworld,withmanyyoungpeopledreamingofbecomingfamousplayers.Basketballhasnotonlybecomeapopularsporttoplay,ithasalsobecomeamorepopularsporttowatch.

AlthoughAmerica’sNBAgamesarethemostfamous,theCBAgamesarebecomingpopularinChina.Thenumberofforeignplayers,includingChineseplayers,intheNBAhasincreased.AndtherearealsomoreandmoreforeignplayersintheCBA.Manyyoungpeoplelookuptothesebasketballheroesandwanttobecomelikethem.Thesestarsencourageyoungpeopletoworkhardtoachievetheirdreams.

Unit7Teenagersshouldbeallowedtochoosetheirownclothes.P513a

MomKnowsBest

WhenIwasatinybabycryingallnight,mymomsangtomeandstayedbymysideWhenIwastiredandhungry,shegavemefoodandwarmarmstosleepin.WhenIwastworunningthroughthefield,shemadesureIwassafeandkeptmefromdangerWhenIfellandhurtmyself,shegavemeahugandliftedmeupWhenIwassevencoughingbadly,shesaidnoice-creamforme

ButItalkedbackloudly,“Ishouldbeallowedtoeatsome!Giveittomenow!”

WhenIwasninewatchingscarymovies,shesaidit’dgivemeawfuldreamsButIshoutedbackangrily,“Ishouldbeallowedtowatchit!I’mnotababy!”WhenIwasateengoingoutwithfriends,shesaid,“Pleasebebackbyten!”ButItalkedbackagain—“Ishouldnotbetoldwhattodo!I’mseventeennow!”NowI’manadult,thinkingbacktothosetimesIcoughedfordaysaftereatingthatice-creamAndhadscarydreamsafterwatchingthatfilmIwaslateforschoolfromstayingoutpasttenIregrettalkingback,notlisteningtoMom

Momknowsbest,andformeshewantedonlythebest!

P524b

Shouldteenagers (ask)tomoveoutwhentheystartworking?InmanyWesterncountries,teenagers (allow)tomoveoutatsixteenorseventeen.Theirparentsbelievethatthey

should (educate)totakecareofthemselvesfromayoungage.Thisway,whenthey (start)workingtheycanmanagetheirownlives.However,inmostAsiansocieties,thefamilyunitisespeciallystrong.Soitisnotcommonforteenagersto (move)out.Chineseparentsbelievethatitisbetterforchildrentolivewithparentswhocan (take)careofthem.Buttheyoungshouldthenlookaftertheirparentsasthey

getolder.ThatiswhymanyChineseadults (continue)tolivewiththeirparents.

P542b

ShouldIBeAllowedtoMakeMyOwnDecisions?

Manyteenagershavehobbies.Butsometimesthesecangetinthewayoftheirschoolwork,andparentsmightworryabouttheirsuccessatschool.Teenagersoftenthinktheyshouldbeallowedtopracticetheirhobbiesasmuchastheywant.Doyouagree?

LiuYu,afifteen-year-oldboyfromShandong,isarunningstar.Heisonhisschoolteamandhasalwayswantedtobeaprofessionalrunnerwhenhegrowsup.However,hisparentswon’tallowhimtotrainsomuch.“Ofcoursewewanttoseehimachievehisdreams,”saysMr.Liu.“Andweknowhowmuchhelovesrunning.

MywifeandIhavesupportedeveryoneofhisraces.Wehavenothingagainstrunning!

Butwethinkoursonneedstothinkaboutotherpossiblejobs.He’sgettingoldernow,sohe

needstothinkaboutwhatwillhappenifhedoesn’tendupaprofessionalrunner.”

LiuYudoesn’treallyagree.“Well,IthinkIshouldbeallowedtodecideformyself,”hesays.“Myparentshavealwaystaughtmehowimportantitistoworkhardatschoolandenteruniversity.Iunderstandthis,butI’mseriousaboutrunning.It’stheonlythingI’veeverwantedtodo.”

HisparentsbelievethatLiuYushouldstudyhardintheeveningssotheydon’tallowhimtopracticerunningatnight.“Maybehethinksit’stoostrictorunfair,”saysMrs.Liu.“Butwethinkwe’redoingtherightthing.Heneedstospendmoretimeonhishomeworkbecausebecomingaprofessionalsportsstarisadifficultdream.”

ButLiuYustilldisagrees.“Iknowmyparentscareaboutme.TheyalwaystalkaboutwhatwillhappenifIdon’tsucceed.ButIwill!I’maquickrunner!IthinkIshouldbeallowedtomakethischoicemyself.OnlythenwillIhaveachancetoachievemydream.”

Unit8ItmustbelongtoCarla.P593a

Weliveinasmalltownandalmosteveryoneknowseachother.Itusedtobeveryquietandnothingmucheverhappenedaroundhere.However,thesedays,somethingunusualishappeninginourtown.Victor,ateacheratmyschool,isreallynervous.Whenhewasinterviewedbythetownnewspaper,hesaid,“Everynightwehearstrangenoisesoutsideourwindow.Mywifethinksthatitcouldbeananimal,butmyfriendsandIthinkitmustbeteenagershavingfun.Myparentscalledthepolicemen,buttheycouldn’tfindanythingstrange.Theythinkitmightbethewind.Idon’tthinkso!”

Victor’snext-doorneighborHelenisworried,too.“Atfirst,Ithoughtthatitmightbeadog,butIcouldn’tseeadog,oranythingelse,either.SoIguessitcan’tbeadog.Butthen,whatcoulditbe?”Onewomanintheareasawsomethingrunningaway,butitwasdarksosheisnotsure.“Ithinkitwastoobigtobeadog,”shesaid.“Maybeitwasabearorawolf.”

Everyoneinourtownisfeelinguneasy,andeveryonehashisorherownideas.Theremustbesomethingvisitingthehomesinourneighborhood,butwhatisit?Wehavenoidea.Mostpeoplehopethatthisanimalorpersonwillsimplygoaway,butIdonotthinkthatisgoingtohappen.Thenoise-makerishavingtoomuchfuncreatingfearintheneighborhood.

P622b

Stonehenge—CanAnyoneExplainWhyItIsThere?

Stonehenge,arockcircle,isnotonlyoneofBritain’smostfamoushistoricalplaces,but

alsooneofitsgreatestmysteries.Everyyearitreceivesmorethan750,000visitors.EspeciallyinJune,peoplegotothisplaceastheywanttoseethesunrisingonthelongestdayoftheyear.

Formanyyears,historiansbelievedStonehengewasatemplewhereancientleaderstriedtocommunicatewiththegods.However,historianPaulStokerthinksthiscan’tbetruebecauseStonehengewasbuiltsomanycenturiesago.“TheleadersarrivedinEnglandmuchlater,”hepointsout.

AnotherpopularideaisthatStonehengemightbeakindofcalendar.Thelargestoneswereputtogetherinacertainway.Onmidsummer’smorning,thesunshinesdirectlyintothecenterofthestones.Otherpeoplebelievethestoneshaveamedicalpurpose.Theythinkthestonescanpreventillnesswhilekeepingpeoplehealthy.“Asyouwalkthere,youcanfeeltheenergyfromyourfeetclimbupyourbody,”saidonevisitor.NooneissurewhatStonehengewasusedfor,butmostagreethatthepositionofthestonesmustbeforaspecialpurpose.Somethinkitmightbeaburialplace,oraplacetohonorancestors.Othersthinkitwasbuilttocelebrateavictoryoveranenemy.Stonehengewasbuiltslowlyoveralongperiodoftime.Mosthistoriansbelieveitmustbealmost5,000yearsold.Oneofthegreatestmysteriesishowitwasbuiltbecausethestonesaresobigandheavy.In2001,agroupofEnglishvolunteerstriedtobuildanotherStonehenge,buttheycouldn’t.“Wedon’treallyknowwhobuiltStonehenge,”saysPaulStoker.“Andperhapswemightneverknow,butwedoknowtheymusthavebeenhardworking—andgreatplanners!”

Unit9IlikemusicthatIcandanceto.P673a

WhatDoYouFeelLikeWatchingToday?

Whilesomepeopleonlysticktoonekindofmovie,IliketowatchdifferentkindsdependingonhowIfeelthatday.

WhenI’mdownortired,Iprefermoviesthatcancheermeup.ComedieslikeMeninBlackorcartoonslikeKungfuPandahavefunnydialoguesandusuallyhaveahappyending.Thecharactersmaynotbeperfect,buttheytrytheirbesttosolvetheirproblems.Afterwatchingthem,I’mfilledwithhopeagainandtheproblemsIhavesuddenlyseemlessserious.Laughingfortwohoursisagoodwaytorelax!

Idon’twatchdramasordocumentarieswhenI’msadortired.DramaslikeTitanic

makemefeeleven

sadder.DocumentarieslikeMarchofthePenguinswhichprovideplentyofinformationaboutacertainsubjectcanbeinteresting,butwhenI’mtiredIdon’twanttothinktoomuch.Idon’tmindactionmovieslikeSpider-ManwhenI’mtootiredtothink.Icanjustshutoffmybrain,sitbackandenjoywatchinganexcitingsuperherowhoalwayssavestheworldjustintime.

Onceinawhile,Iliketowatchmoviesthatarescary,likehorrorm