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1、unit 1text apre-reading activitiesfirst listening1. youre about to hear a conversation about winston churchill. before you listen, take a look at the words below. which do you think youre likely to hear when people discuss churchill? then, as you listen to the tape the first time, circle the words y

2、ou hear.prime minister author painter politician world war i romantic fearless serious passionate world war iisecond listeningread the following questions first to prepare yourself to answer them to the best of your ability.2. what was the argument about? which side do you believe?3. what do you kno

3、w about winston churchill as british prime minister? what about his personalitydo you have any impressions of him as a human being?winston churchillhis other lifemary soamesmy father, winston churchill, began his love affair with painting in his 40s, amid disastrous circumstances. as first lord of t

4、he admiralty in 1915, he had been deeply involved in a campaign in the dardanelles that could have shortened the course of a bloody world war. but when the mission failed, with great loss of life, churchill paid the price, both publicly and privately: he was removed from the admiralty and lost his p

5、osition of political influence.overwhelmed by the disaster i thought he would die of grief, said his wife, clementine he retired with his family to hoe farm, a country retreat in surrey. there, as churchill later recalled, the muse of painting came to my rescue!one day when he was wandering in the g

6、arden, he chanced upon his sister-in-law sketching with watercolours. he watched her for a few minutes, then borrowed her brush and tried his hand and the muse worked her magic. from that day forward, winston was in love with painting.delighted with anything that distracted winston from the dark tho

7、ughts that overwhelmed him, clementine rushed off to buy whatever paints and materials she could find. watercolours, oil paints, paper, canvas hoe farm was soon filled with everything a painter could want or need.painting in oils turned out to be winstons great love but the first steps were strangel

8、y difficult. he contemplated the blank whiteness of his first canvas with unaccustomed nervousness. he later recalled:very hesitantly i selected a tube of blue paint, and with infinite precaution made a mark about as big as a bean on the snow-white field. at that moment i heard the sound of a motorc

9、ar in the drive and threw down my brush in a panic. i was even more alarmed when i saw who stepped from the car: the wife of sir john lavery, the celebrated painter who lived nearby.painting! she declared. what fun. but what are you waiting for? let me have the brush the big one. she plunged into th

10、e paints and before i knew it, she had swept several fierce strokes and slashes of blue on the absolutely terrified canvas. anyone could see it could not hit back. i hesitated no more. i seized the largest brush and fell upon my wretched victim with wild fury. i have never felt any fear of a canvas

11、since.lavery, who later tutored churchill in his art, said of his unusual pupils artistic abilities: had he chosen painting instead of politics, he would have been a great master with the brush.in painting, churchill had discovered a companion with whom he was to walk for the greater part of his lif

12、e. painting would be his comfort when, in 1921, the death of his mother was followed two months later by the loss of his and clementines beloved three-year-old daughter, marigold. overcome by grief, winston took refuge at the home of friends in scotland and in his painting. he wrote to clementine: i

13、 went out and painted a beautiful river in the afternoon light with red and golden hills in the background. many loving thoughts. alas, i keep feeling the hurt of marigold.life and love and hope slowly revived. in september 1922 another child was born to clementine and winston: myself. in the same y

14、ear, winston bought chartwell, the beloved home he was to paint in all its different aspects for the next 40 years.my father must have felt a glow of satisfaction when in the mid-1920s he won first prize in a prestigious amateur art exhibition held in london. entries were anonymous, and some of the

15、judges insisted that winstons picture one of his first of chartwell was the work of a professional, not an amateur, and should be disqualified. but in the end, they agreed to rely on the artists honesty and were delighted when they learned that the picture had been painted by churchill.historians ha

16、ve called the decade after 1929, when winston again fell from office, his barren years. politically barren they may have been, as his lonely voice struggled to awaken britain to the menace of hitler, but artistically those years bore abundant fruit: of the 500-odd churchill canvases in existence, ro

17、ughly half date from 1930 to 1939.painting remained a joy to churchill to the end of his life. happy are the painters, he had written in his book painting as a pastime, for they shall not be lonely. light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day. and so it was for my

18、father.(776 words)new wordsamidprep.in the middle of, among 在之中* disastrousa. extremely bad; terrible 灾难性的，糟透的lordn. (in britain) title of some officials of very high rank（英）大臣；大人，阁下admiraltyn. (the a)(in britain) government department in charge of the navy （英）海军部campaignn. 1. a series of planned mi

19、litary actions 战役2. a planned series of activities, esp. in politics and business 运动bloodya. 1. very violent, with a lot of wounding and killing 血腥的2. covered with blood 血污的missionn. 1. (usu. military) duty or purpose for which people are sent somewhere 常指军事任务2. 天职，使命privatelyad. 1. not publicly 非公开

20、地2. personally; secretly 在涉及私（个）人方面；秘密地privatea. 1. personal; secret 私（个）人的；秘密的2. not public 非公开的disastern. (a)sudden great misfortune 灾难，天灾；祸患* griefn. a feeling of extreme sadness 悲哀* grievev. suffer from grief or great sadness （为而）悲伤；伤心retreatn. 1. a place into which one can go for peace and safe

21、ty 隐居处2. 撤退；避难vi. move back or leave a center of fighting or other activity 撤退；退避muse, musen. 1. (in greek mythology) one of the nine goddesses of poetry, music, etc. 缪斯（希腊神话中司文艺的九位女神之一）2. a force or person that inspires sb. to write, paint, etc. 创作灵感rescuen. help which gets sb. out of a dangerous o

22、r unpleasant situation 救助；救援vt. 救助；救援sister-in-lawn. sister of ones husband or wife 姑子；姨子；嫂子；弟媳sketchv. make a quick, rough drawing (of sth.) 素描，速写n. 素描，速写watercolo(u)rn. 水彩（颜料）；水彩画magicn. 魔法，法术a. 有魔力的* distractvt. (from) take (ones mind, sb.) off sth. 转移（注意力）; 使转移注意力* canvasn. 1. a piece of strong

23、heavy cloth used for an oil painting 帆布画布2. a completed oil painting 油画* contemplatevt. look at in a serious or quiet way, often for some time （默默地）注视，凝视blanka. 1. without writing, print or other marks 空白的2. expressionless；without understanding 无表情的；茫然的unaccustomeda. not used (to sth.); not usual （对

24、某物）不习惯的；不寻常的accustomeda. regular; usual 惯常的，通常的hesitantlyad. not doing sth. quickly or immediately for ones uncertainty or worry about it 犹豫不决地infinitea. extremely great in degree or amount; without limits or end 无限的；极大的precautionn. 1. carefulness 防备，预防2. an action taken to avoid sth. dangerous or u

25、npleasant 预防措施beann. 豆；蚕豆motorcarn. a car 汽车alarmvt. excite with sudden fear or anxiety 使惊恐；使忧虑n. 1. a sudden feeling of fear or anxiety 惊恐；忧虑2. a warning of danger 警报plungevi. (into, in) 1. rush suddenly and deeply into sth. 投身于2. suddenly fall in a particular direction 纵身投入；一头扎入fiercea. 1. angry,

26、violent and cruel 暴怒的；凶猛的；残酷的2. (of heat, strong feelings) very great 强烈的* slashn. a long sweeping cut or blow 砍；挥击vt. cut with long sweeping forceful strokes；move or force with this kind of cutting movement 砍，砍击；猛挥absolutelyad. completely；without conditions 完全地；绝对地* terrifyvt. fill with terror or f

27、ear 恐吓，使惊吓* wretcheda. very unhappy or unfortunate 不幸的；可怜的victimn. sb. or sth. hurt or killed as a result of other peoples actions, or of illness, bad luck, etc. 牺牲者，受害者；牺牲品* furyn. 1. a wildly excited state (of feeling or activity) 狂热；激烈2. (a state of) very great anger 狂怒artistica. 1. of. concernin

28、g art or artists 艺术的；艺术家的2. made with inventive skill or imagination 富有艺术性的companionn. mate; one who associates with or accompanies another 同伴；伴侣beloveda. much loved; darling 深爱的；亲爱的overcomevt. 1. (often pass.) (by, with) (of feelings) take control and influence ones behavior 常被动（感情等）压倒，使受不了2. win a

29、 victory over; defeat 克服；战胜* refugen. (a place that provides) protection or shelter from harm, danger or unhappiness 避难（所）；庇护（所）alasint. a cry expressing grief, sorrow or fear 唉（表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等）* revivev. 1. regain strength, consciousness, life, etc.；bring (sb. or sth.) back to strength, consciousness,

30、life, etc. （使）复苏；（使）重振活力2. become active, popular, or successful again 恢复生机；复兴；重新流行glown. a feeling of warmth or pleasure 热烈vi. emit a soft light 发光amateura. & n. (a person who is) not professional 业余（水平）的（运动员、艺术家等）entryn. 1. a person or thing taking part in a competition, race, etc. 参赛一员2. entrance

31、; the act of entering or the right to enter 进入；进入权* anonymousa. (of a person) with name unknown；(of a letter, painting, etc.) written or created by an unidentified person 名字不详的；匿名的disqualifyvt. make or declare unfit, unsuitable, or unable to do sth. 取消的资格；使不适合；使不能relyvi. (on, upon) 1. have trust or

32、confidence (in) 信任；信赖2. depend with full trust or confidence 依赖* historiann. a person who studies history and/or writes about it 历史学家* barrena. (of land) unproductive （土地等）贫瘠的，荒芜的awakenvt. 1. (to) cause to become conscious of 使意识到2. cause to wake up 唤醒* menacen. a threat or danger 威胁abundanta. plent

33、iful; more than enough 丰富的；充足的abundancen. a great quantity; plenty 丰富；充裕；大量odda. 1. (infml.) (after numbers) a little more than the stated number 常用以构成复合词以上的；出头的2. strange or unusual 奇特的；古怪的3. 奇数的，单数的existencen. the state of existing 存在；实有* pastimen. hobby；sth. done to pass time in a pleasant way 消遣

34、，娱乐phrases and expressionspay the priceexperience sth. unpleasant because one has done sth. wrong, made a mistake, etc. 付出代价come to sb.s rescuehelp sb. when he/she is in danger or difficulty 解救某人，救助某人chance uponmeet by chance; find by chance 偶然碰见；偶然发现try ones handattempt (to do sth.), esp. for the f

35、irst time 尝试plunge intobegin to do sth. suddenly; enter without hesitation 突然或仓促地开始某事；突然冲入before one knows itbefore one has time to consider the course of events 转眼之间，瞬息之间fall uponattack fiercely 猛攻，猛扑take refugeseek protection from danger or unhappiness 避难rely ontrust, or confidently depend on 依赖，依

36、靠fall from officelose a position of authority to which sb. was elected or appointed 离位，下台awaken tocause to become conscious of 使意识到bear fruitproduce successful results 结果实；有成果date fromhave existed since 始自keep sb. companystay with sb. so that he/she is not alone 陪伴某人proper nameswinston churchill温斯顿丘

37、吉尔（18741965，英国保守党政治家、首相19401945，19511955、作家）mary soames玛丽索姆斯first lord of the admiralty（英国）海军大臣dardanelles达达尼尔海峡（位于亚洲小亚细亚半岛同欧洲巴尔干半岛之间）clementine克莱门泰因（女子名）surrey萨里郡（英国英格兰郡名）john lavery约翰莱佛利marigold玛丽戈尔德（女子名）chartwell查特威尔（宅名）adolf. hitler希特勒（18891945，纳粹德国元首）unit 1 text a温斯顿丘吉尔他的另一种生活玛丽索姆斯我的父亲温斯顿丘吉尔是在4

38、0几岁开始迷恋上绘画的，当时他正身处逆境。1915年，作为海军大臣，他深深地卷入了达达尼尔海峡的一场战役。原本那次战役是能够缩短一场血腥的世界大战的，但它却失败了，人员伤亡惨重，为此丘吉尔作为公务员和个人都付出了代价：他被免去了海军部的职务，失去了显赫的政治地位。“我本以为他会因忧伤而死的。”他的妻子克莱门泰因说。被这一不幸压垮的他同家人一起退隐到萨里郡的一个乡间居处-耘锄农场。在那儿，正如丘吉尔日后所回忆的，“绘画女神拯救了我!”一天他正在花园里漫步，正巧碰上他的弟妹在用水彩画素描。他观看了她几分钟，然后借过她的画笔，试了一下身手-于是缪斯女神施展了她的魔法。自那天以后，温斯顿便爱上了绘画。

39、任何能让沉浸在忧思中的温斯顿分心的事情都让克莱门泰因高兴。于是，她赶紧去买来她所能找到的各种颜料和画具。水彩颜料、油画颜料、纸张、帆布画布-很快耘锄农场里便堆满了一个绘画者可能想要或需要的各样东西。画油画最终成了温斯顿的一大爱好-但是最初几步却出奇地艰难。他凝视着他的第一块空白画布，异乎寻常地紧张。他日后回忆道：“我迟疑不决地选了一管蓝色颜料，然后小心翼翼地在雪白的底子上的画上蚕豆般大小的一笔。就在这时，我听到车道上传来一辆汽车的声音，于是惊恐地丢下我的画笔。当我看清是谁从汽车里走出来时，更是惊慌失措。来者正是住在附近的著名画家约翰莱佛利爵士的妻子。“在画画呢!她大声说道。多么有趣。可你还在等

40、什么呢? 把画笔给我-大的那支。她猛地用笔蘸起颜料，还没等我缓过神来，她已经挥笔泼墨在惊恐不已的画布上画下了有力的几道蓝色。谁都看得出画布无法回击。我不再迟疑。我抓起那支最大的画笔，迅猛异常地向我可怜的牺牲品扑了过去。自那以后，我再也不曾害怕过画布。”后来教丘吉尔画画的莱佛利曾经说起过他这位不同寻常的学生的艺术才能：“如果他当初选择的是绘画而不是政治，他定会成为一位驾驭画笔的大师。”在绘画中，丘吉尔发现了一个将陪他走过大半人生的伴侣。1921年，他的母亲去世，两个月后，他又失去了他和克莱门泰因的3岁爱女玛丽戈尔德。那时，绘画是他的慰藉。悲痛欲绝的温斯顿住到了苏格兰朋友们的家中-并在他的绘画中寻

41、得安慰。他写信给克莱门泰因：“我外出画了一条在午后阳光下的美丽的河流，背景是红色和金黄色的山峦。爱怜的思绪油然而生啊，我一直感受到失去玛丽戈尔德的痛楚。”生命、爱和希望慢慢地复苏了。1922年9月，克莱门泰因和温斯顿的另一个孩子出生了：那就是我。同年，温斯顿买下了查特威尔，这是他将在以后40年里画出其所有不同风貌的他所钟爱的家。20世纪20年代中期，我父亲在伦敦举行的一次享有盛名的业余画展中赢得了一等奖，当时他一定颇为得意。参赛作品不署名，所以一些评委坚持认为温斯顿的画-有关查特威尔的第一批画作中的一幅-是一位专业画家而不是一位业余画家的作品，所以应该取消其参赛资格。但最后，他们同意信赖那位艺

42、术家的诚实，而在得知那幅画为丘吉尔所作时他们都很高兴。史学家们一直把1929年温斯顿再次被免职后的10年称为他无所作为的十年。也许政治上那些年(他)的确毫无作为，因为他一个人大声疾呼，想要唤醒英国人认识到来自希特勒的威胁，然而响应者寥寥无几。但在艺术上，那些年却硕果累累：现存的500多幅丘吉尔的油画中，约有一半作于1930年至1939年之间。绘画始终是丘吉尔的一种乐趣，直到他生命的结束。“画家是幸福的，”他在他的作为一种消遣的绘画一书中写道，“因为他们不会孤独。光线与色彩，宁静与希望，将终日伴随着他们。”对我的父亲来说也是这样。unit 2text apre-reading activitie

43、sfirst listeningbefore listening to the tape, have a quick look at the following blanks to prepare yourself to listen for the figures.1. as you listen to the passage the first time, fill these blanks with the words you hear:asians and asian americans make up only _ of the us population, but they com

44、e up to _ of the undergraduates at harvard, _ at mit, _ at yale and _ at berkeley.second listeningread the following words first to prepare yourself to answer them to the best of your ability.talent effort money concentration ambition intelligence pressure sacrifice discrimination tradition2. why ar

45、e these statistics amazing? and what do you think the explanation is?why they excelfox butterfieldkim-chi trinh was just nine when her father used his savings to buy a passage for her on a fishing boat that would carry her from vietnam. it was a heartbreaking and costly sacrifice for the family, pla

46、cing kim-chi on the small boat, among strangers, in hopes that she would eventually reach the united states, where she would get a good education and enjoy a better life.it was a hard journey for the little girl, and full of risks. long before the boat reached safety, the supplies of food and water

47、ran out. when kim-chi finally made it to the us, she had to cope with a succession of three foster families. but when she graduated from san diegos patrick henry high school in 1988, she had straight as and scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious universities in the country.i have to do

48、 well, says the 19-year-old, now a second-year student at cornell university. i owe it to my parents in vietnam.kim-chi is part of a wave of bright, highly - motivated asian - americans who are suddenly surging into our best colleges. although asian - americans make up only 2.4 percent of the nation

49、s population, they constitute 17.1 percent of the undergraduates at harvard, 18 percent at the massachusetts institute of technology and 27.3 percent at the university of california at berkeley.why are asian - americans doing so well? are they grinds, as some stereotypes suggest? do they have higher

50、 iqs? or can we learn a lesson from them about values we have long treasured but may have misplaced like hard work, the family and education?not all asians are doing equally well; poorly - educated cambodian refugee children, for instance, often need special help. and many asian - americans resent b

51、eing labeled a model minority, feeling that this is reverse discrimination by white americans a contrast to the laws that excluded most asian immigrants from the us until 1965, but prejudice nevertheless.the young asians achievements have led to a series of fascinating studies. perhaps the most dist

52、urbing results come from the research carried out by a university of michigan psychologist, harold w. stevenson, who has compared more than 7,000 students in kindergarten, first grade, third grade and fifth grade in chicago and minneapolis with counterparts in beijing, taipei and sendai. on a batter

53、y of math tests, the americans did worst at all grade levels.stevenson found no differences in iq. but if the differences in performance are showing up in kindergarten, it suggests something is happening in the family, even before the children get to school.it is here that various researchers differ

54、ent studies converge: asian parents are motivating their children better. the bottom line is, asian kids work hard, stevenson says.the real question, then, is how asian parents imbue their offspring with this kind of motivation. stevensons study suggests a critical answer. when asked why they think

55、their children do well, most asian parents said hard work. by contrast, american parents said talent.from what i can see, criticizes stevenson, weve lost our faith in the idea that we can all get ahead in life through hard work. instead, americans now believe that some kids have what it takes and so

56、me dont. so we start dividing up classes intofast learnersandslow learners, whereas the chinese and japanese feel all children can succeed in the same curriculum.this belief in hard work is the first of three main factors contributing to asian students outstanding performance. it springs from asians common heritage of confucianism, the philosophy of the 5th-century-bc chinese sage whose teachings have