用美国小学课本学英文(txt+pdf+epub+mobi电子书下载)

作者：李清如

出版社：武汉出版社

格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT

用美国小学课本学英文试读：

不需要语言学家告诉你，你也一定知道，熟练地运用一门外语，最重要的一个方面就是学习并掌握本族人最常用的生动、活泼的习语。汉语中有所谓的基本词汇、基本句型，英语也一样。哪些才是最基本的词汇和句型呢？当然非小学课本莫属了。

可能你已经学了十年英语，但当你拿起美国小学课本的时候，会发现居然有许多单词不认识。或者是每个单词都认识，但不明白这句话的意思。为什么呢？因为一直以来，你学习的英语和美国文化有隔阂，美国人的日常用语你可能根本就没有学到过。

语言是一个民族文化的积淀。既然要学习一门外语，就不能跳过文化这一环节。中西方文明的巨大差异决定了我们必须要花时间了解那些浸入骨髓中的文化因子。你能想象到一个学了十年中文的外国人不知道孔子是谁吗？同样道理，西方人经常谈论的古典音乐、红酒、棒球、桥牌、国际象棋、宗教，你又了解多少呢？如果你不能熟悉某个民族沉淀在语言中的文化心理，你将会永远和他们有隔膜，你所学习的外语也就永远不地道。

为什么你需要用美国小学课本学英语呢？

如果你是在外企工作，相信英语已经很棒了，但你需要亲近美国文化，这样才能更好地融入他们，也就更容易成为一名杰出的领导者。

如果你想让孩子学好英语，自然需要这本书，而且你需要自己首先学习。

一个民族的思维方式，和他们的教育，也就是孩子从小所受到的引导有关。比如，我们常常认为美国的数学教育很落后，学生的计算能力和解题能力不如中国的孩子。可是，你知道吗？美国教材对知识的理解相当全面。他们的课本中涵盖的学科很多，有数学、语文、科学、艺术、生物、化学、体育、宗教等等，比我们小时候用过的教材要全面得多。是早点学会加减乘除重要，还是培养活跃的思维方式重要？你自己会得出结论。

你一定认为学习英语是一件非常枯燥的事情，那就千万不要再让孩子也这么认为了，其实寓教于乐没有你想象的那么难。如果你看过内容琳琅满目，丰富得让人眼花缭乱的美国小学课本，会和我们一样感到既惊喜又遗憾。惊喜的是，课本也可以很好玩很生动，我们可以这样轻松快乐地学习纯正的英语。遗憾的是，我们已经学习的英语，原来是那么不实用。我们无意抨击教育制度，只是请你回想一下自己受到的英语教育，你想让孩子和你一样重蹈覆辙吗？你想什么时候给自己补上这一课呢？

如果你日常工作不需要用到英语，也不需要教孩子学英语，那么，你每天都需要思考问题吧？你有兴趣知道美国人是怎样看待世界的吗？体现美式教育精髓的小学课本，绝对是开卷有益、值得一读的书。

美国小学一般是1～6（有的州是1～8）年级，除了常规的一到五年级，还设有学前班（kindergarten）。他们的课程极富弹性，没有界限明确的学科，所以在本书中你看到的章节是根据内容划分的类别，而不是语文、社会、自然科学等详细的科目。但由于课程的深度和广度会随着年级的增加而逐渐有所拓宽，所以我们为你标注了年级，既帮你了解到每个年龄段的教学目标，也帮你根据自己孩子的学习程度选择适合他们的文章。

只要你对英语感兴趣，那么打开这本书，你就可以体验到完美的美语学习环境，感受地道的实用美语。这不仅可以大大提高你的英语水平，而且有助于你了解美国人的思维和文明，体验真实的美国生活，实现对美国现实社会和文化的真正了解。Part 1Social Life社会生活01The Articles of Confederation邦联条例

During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation. These were meant to give the colonies some sense of a unified government. However, once the thirteen colonies became thirteen states, each one began to act alone in its own best interest. In order for these new states to act together, a new governing document was needed. In September 1786, delegates from Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware met in Annapolis, Maryland. At the Annapolis Convention, these delegates discussed states'rights. Recognizing the need for a stronger central government, they recommended that a convention be held with the purpose of changing the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention of May 1787 was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Delegates from 12 of the 13 states were present. The state of Rhode Island refused to send a delegate because it was afraid of losing its states' rights. For 4 months, the delegates worked behind the closed doors of the statehouse to draft a new document, which would be known later as the Constitution.

Vocabulary 词汇

continental ['kɔnti'nentəl]

adj. 大陆的、大陆性的、欧洲大陆的

colony ['kɔləni]

n. 殖民地、聚居地、聚居的同类人、（动植物的）群体、集群

document ['dɔkjumənt]

n. 公文、文件、文献；

vt. 证明、记录、记载

convention [kən'venʃən]

n. （某一职业、政党等的人士召开的）大会、习俗、协议

Practice

Circle the letter of the correct answer for each question.

1．When did the Continental Congress write the Articles of Confederation?

a.before the Declaration of Independence

b.after the Revolutionary War

c.during the Revolutionary War

d.after the Constitution

2．Which state refused to send a delegate to the Constitutional Convention?

a．New York

b．Rhode Island

c．Maryland

d．Georgia

3．City in which the Constitutional Convention was held?

a．Rhode Island

b．Philadelphia

c．Annapolis

d．Maryland

4．Which was NOT a concern of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?

a．to discuss states' rights

b．to create a stronger central government

c．to create a weaker central government

d．to save the Articles of Confederation译文

在美国革命战争期间，大陆会议起草了《邦联条例》。这些条例使殖民地的民众对统一政府有了一定的概念。尽管如此，一旦13个殖民地成为13个州，各个州都只顾自己州的利益。为了使这些州团结一致，就需要一个崭新的政府。在1786年9月，来自马里兰、纽约、新泽西州、维吉尼亚州、宾夕法尼亚州和特拉华州的代表聚集在马里兰的安纳波利斯。在安纳波利斯会议上，代表们就各个州的权利进行了讨论。在建立一个强有力的中央政府的问题上达成一致，他们还建议在此次会议上对《邦联条例》进行修改。

1787年5月，在宾夕法尼亚州费城举行的制宪会议上，有13个州的12位代表出席，罗得岛州因害怕失去州的权利而拒绝参加。在四个月内，代表们在州议会的议场，秘密起草了一份新的文件，这份文件就是后来为大家所熟知的宪法。

练习

在正确的答案前面打勾。

1．大陆会议什么时候起草了邦联条例？

a．在独立宣言之前

b．在革命战争之后

c．在革命战争期间

d．在宪法制定之后

2．哪个州拒绝参加制宪会议？

a．纽约

b．罗得岛

c．马里兰

d．乔治亚州

3．制宪会议在哪个州举办？

a．罗得岛

b．费城

c．安纳波利斯

d．马里兰

4．以下哪项是代表们在制宪会议上不关心的？

a．讨论各个州的权利

b．建立一个强有力的中央政府

c．建立一个无能的中央政府

d．保留邦联条例

1．c

2．b

3．b

4．c02The Three Branches of Government政府的三个部门

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention first designated which powers would be given to the federal government. They needed to decide how these powers would be divided, since they did not want them to all be controlled by one man or group alone. The delegates feared that if any small group was given too much power, the United States would once again be under the rule of another tyrant.

To avoid the threat of tyranny, the group divided the new government into three parts, or branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch.

Legislative Branch: Headed by Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The main task of these two bodies is to make the laws by which our government operates. Its powers include passing laws, originating spending bills (House), impeaching officials (Senate) and approving treaties (Senate).

Executive Branch: Headed by the president. The president carries out federal laws and recommends new ones, directs national defense and foreign policy, and performs ceremonial duties. Powers include administering government, commanding the Armed Forces, dealing with international powers, acting as chief law enforcement office and vetoing laws.

Judicial Branch: Headed by the Supreme Court. Its powers Include interpreting the Constitution, reviewing laws and deciding cases involving states' rights.

Vocabulary 词汇

delegate ['deliɡit]

n. 代表、代表团成员；

　['deliɡeit]

vt. 任命或委派……为代表、托付

tyrant ['taiərənt]

n. 专制统治者、暴君

executive [iɡ'zekjutiv]

n. 主管、高级行政人员、行政部门；

adj. 执行的、行政的

legislative ['ledʒislətiv]

adj. 立法的

judicial [dʒu: 'diʃəl]

adj. 司法的、法庭的、明断的、公正的

originate [ə'ridʒineit]

vi. 起源于、产生；

vt. 创造、开创、发明

impeach [im'pi:tʃ]

vt. 控告（某人）犯罪、弹劾、提出异议

treaty ['tri:ti]

n. 条约、协议、协商

ceremonial ['seri'məunjəl]

adj. 礼仪的、仪式的

enforcement [in'fɔ:smənt]

n. 强制、实施、执行

veto ['vi:təu]

n. 否决权、否认权、行使否决权；

vt. 否决、不同意

interpret [in'tə:prit]

vt. 解释、说明；

vt. & vi. 口译、翻译

Practice

Match the power with the branch that is responsible for it.

1．Interprets the law

2．Performs ceremonial duties

3．Makes the laws

4．Settles states' disputes

5．Directs foreign policy

A．Executive Branch

B．Legislative Branch

C．Judicial Branch译文

参加第一次制宪会议的代表指定了联邦政府的职能，他们需要将政府职能分开，因为他们不想政府仅由一个人或一组人控制。代表们害怕如果任何一个团队的权力过大，美国就将再一次陷入另外一个暴君的统治。

为了避免存在暴君的威胁，代表们把新政府分成三部分或分支：行政，立法和司法。

立法：以国会为首，由众议院和参议院组成。这两个议院的主要任务是制定政府运作的规章制度。权力包括制定法律、审批开支要求（众议院），弹劾官员（参议院）和批准条款（参议院）。

行政：以总统为首。总统执行联邦法律，提出新的法律意见，管理国防部，处理外交事务，代表国家出席公开场合。权力包括管理政府、指挥陆海空三军、指导外交政策、监督法律的实施和对法律有否决权。

司法：以最高法院为首。权力包括诠释宪法、评论法律条款、判决涉及各州权力的案件。

练习

将各部门的职能与以下权力相匹配。03President历史上伟大的总统

George Washington was a leader long before he became our first president. In 1755, at the age of 23, Washington led the Virginian forces to victory in the French and Indian War. However, Washington and the other colonists soon grew tired of British rule. By 1775, Washington became the commander of the Continental Army. His army defeated the British in 1783. George Washington also helped write our new Constitution, making sure the states had a strong role in the government. By 1789, Washington was the most popular man in the United States. He was also tired after serving our country for many years. Still, he knew a new nation needed strong leadership. When George Washington agreed to run for president, everyone voted for him. Washington served two terms as president of the United States. He died two years after his retirement, at his farm in Virginia.

John Adams began his long career as a lawyer in the colony of Massachusetts. A fiery speaker, Adams strongly opposed the unfair taxes that Britain forced on the colonists. He also tried to convince Britain to give the colonies more freedom. He did not succeed. Instead, Adams asked George Washington to organize the Continental Army to fight the British. In 1776, Adams helped write the Declaration of Independence. In 1783, he helped write the Treaty of Paris. This treaty ended the Revolutionary War and created the United States. When Washington became president of the United States in 1789, Adams became the first vice president. However, Adams was not pleased with the office or the appointment. He called the vice presidency "the most insignificant office" ever created. He was elected president in 1797. During his service to his country, John Adams's wife Abigail gave birth to a son. John Quincy. Abigail was not only a president's wife but became the mother of a future president.

Thomas Jefferson led the colonies' fight for freedom, but he was not a soldier. Jefferson was the main author of the two documents that helped form our nation—the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Jefferson strongly believed that the states should have a strong role in the new government of the United States. The main political party at that time, the Federalists, disagreed. So Jefferson formed a new political party, the Democratic-Republicans. Before becoming president, Jefferson was the U.S. ambassador to France. As president, he bought the Louisiana Territory for S15 million, doubling the size of the United States. He then sent the explorers, Lewis and Clark, to explore this large unknown area. Jefferson was a politician, an educator, an architect, an inventor, a pioneer in scientific farming, a musician and a writer. Before and after becoming president, Jefferson contributed to the new nation in lasting ways.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as the greatest president of the United States. As a young man, Lincoln worked in many different jobs, including cutting wood and serving in the military. Even before he became president, Lincoln knew that the country must stay united to become a powerful nation. However, Lincoln's ideas were not shared and he was not a popular candidate. The South viewed Lincoln as an enemy who did not care about their issues. Despite these problems, Lincoln was elected president. Shortly after his inauguration in 1861, the Civil War began. Lincoln guided the country through the Civil War. His Gettysburg Address inspired the weary North to continue fighting for freedom. He also declared freedom for the slaves in the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln lived to see the end of the Civil War with General Robert E. Lee's surrender in 1865. However, Lincoln was assassinated 5 days later at a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Vocabulary 词汇

retirement [ri'taiəmənt]

n. 退休、退职、退役

convince [kən'vins]

vt. 使相信、使明白

insignificant ['ɪnsiɡ'nifikənt]

adj. 无价值的、无意义的、无用的

ambassador [æm'bæsədə]

n. 大使、使节

architect ['ɑ:kitekt]

n. 建筑师、设计师

military ['militəri]

adj. 军事的、军用的、军人的；

n. 军人、武装力量

candidate ['kændidit]

n. 申请求职者、候选人、报考者

inauguration [i'nɔ:ɡju'reiʃən]

n. 就职典礼、开幕式

surrender [sə'rendə]

vt. & vi. 投降；

vt. 放弃、抛弃；

n. 投降、放弃

assassinate [ə'sæsineit]

vt. 暗杀、行刺

Practice

Answer each of the following questions.

1．Adams was George Washington's_______president.

2．Adams helped write the Treaty of_______which ended the Revolutionary War.

3．Adams's wife was named_______.

4．They had a_______who was also elected president.

5．Jefferson was the ambassador to_______.

6．Jefferson sent_______and_______to explore the unknown territory.

7．Jefferson helped write the Bill of_______.

8．_______is the famous statement of Lincoln's.

9．_______surrendered and ended the Civil War?译文

乔治·华盛顿在成为我们第一位总统之前就是一位领导者。1755年，在华盛顿23岁时，他领导弗吉尼亚军队取得了法国和印第安战争的胜利。尽管如此，华盛顿和其他殖民者很快就厌倦了英国的统治。在1755年年底，华盛顿成为了大陆军的司令官，他的军队在1783年打败了英国军队。乔治华盛顿也参与了新宪法的起草，确保各个州在政府中具有重要的作用。到1789年，华盛顿都是美国最受欢迎的人。在为美国尽心尽力很多年以后，华盛顿也感到疲惫了。他依然认为一个民族需要的是一种强有力的领导。当乔治·华盛顿答应竞选总统时，每个人都给他投票，他当了两届的美国总统。在他离任两年后，他就在维吉尼亚的农场去世了。

约翰·亚当斯在殖民地马萨诸塞州开始了他漫长的律师生涯。亚当斯，一位富有激情的演讲者，强烈反对英国政府强压给殖民地的不公平租税。他试图说服英国政府给殖民地人民更多的自由，但是没有成功。亚当斯转而向乔治·华盛顿提出组建大陆军与英国抗争的意见。在1776年，亚当斯参与了独立宣言的起草。1783年，他又参与起草巴黎条约。巴黎条约结束了美国的革命战争，并建立了美利坚合众国。当华盛顿在1789年成为美国总统时，亚当斯成为第一位副总统。尽管如此，亚当斯并不满足于他的职位或是任命，他认为副总统是“最无关紧要的职位”。在1797年，亚当斯被选为总统。在他在职期间，约翰·亚当斯的妻子阿比盖尔生下了一个儿子，叫约翰·昆西。阿比盖尔不仅是总统夫人，还是未来总统的母亲。

虽然托马斯·杰斐逊领导了为自由而战的殖民地战争，他却不是一名军人。杰斐逊是帮助我们组成我们国家的两部文件——独立宣言和人权法案的主要起草人。杰斐逊坚持每个州在新美国政府中都要起到很重要的作用，那时主要的政治党派联邦党并不赞成他的想法。所以，杰斐逊组建了一个新的党派，民主共和党。在成为总统之前，杰斐逊是美国驻法国大使。当上总统以后，他用1.5亿美元买下了路易斯安那州，使美国领土扩大了一倍。接着他派出了探险者刘易斯和克拉克去开发这片土地。杰斐逊是位政治家、教育家、建筑师、发明家、科学农业的先驱、音乐家还有作家。在成为总统前后，杰斐逊都以一种持久的方式对新国家做出自己的贡献。

亚伯拉罕·林肯被认为是美国历史上最伟大的总统。林肯年轻时做过很多的工作，包括木工和在军中服役。甚至在他成为总统之前，林肯就认为美国应该团结一致才能变得强大。尽管如此，林肯的观点并不被认同，而且他也不是一位受欢迎的候选人。南方种植园主视林肯为敌人，认为他没有顾及他们的利益。尽管存在这么多的问题，林肯还是当选为总统。在1861年他就职典礼后不久，南北战争爆发。林肯带领国民度过南北战争，他在盖茨堡的演讲鼓舞了已疲倦的北方民众，激励他们为自由而战。他也在解放宣言中规定了奴隶是自由的。林肯有生之年，看到了南北战争结束，叛军司令罗伯特·李于1865年投降。但是，在南方军队投降5天后，林肯在华盛顿福特剧院观看《美国表兄》演出时遇刺身亡。

练习

用适当的词填空。

1．亚当斯是乔治·华盛顿的_______总统。

2．亚当斯是_______条约的起草人之一，这部条约结束了美国的革命战争。

3．亚当斯的妻子名叫_______。

4．他们有一个当总统的_______。

5．杰斐逊是驻_______的大使。

6．杰斐逊派_______和_______去开发新领土。

7．杰斐逊是_______法案起草人之一。

8．林肯最有名的观点是_______。

9．_______的投降结束了南北战争。

1．vice

2．Paris

3．Abigail

4．son

5．France

6．Lewis,Clark

7．Rights

8．"the country must stay united to become a powerful nation."

9．Robert E.Lee04Pollution我们身边的环境污染

Today was Saturday. Lynn and Ron had looked forward to today. Mother will take them going somewhere to look out over the city. Mother and the children crossed the busy street. As they started to enter the bank, mother looked up. "See the elevator. It is going up on the outside of the bank, that is a glass elevator," said mother. "We will go up over twenty floors."

"Look this way," said Mother. "If the air is clear, you might be able to see the electric plant near our house."

The elevator began to move off the ground.

"Look," said Ron. "What is all that dirty smoke in the air?"

"That's smog," said Mother. "Sometimes we call it pollution. It is called smog because it is smoke and fog together."

"Where does the smog come from?"asked Ron. "I don't see anything burning."

"Smog in the air comes from many things," said Mother. "See all those cars and trucks? All of them burn fuel that puts gases in the air. Sometimes there is no wind to blow the gases away. If there is a layer of warm air over cool air, it makes smog. It is not good to breathe air with smog. Sometimes it makes people sick."

"I have heard the word pollution," said Lynn. "But I thought it was trash."

"Pollution can be caused by many things," said mother. "On the way home we can talk about kinds of pollution."

The family kept talking about pollution as they went home. They talked about how a clean environment would help living things stay healthy. Then they started talking about ways they could help to keep the environment clean.

"You are right, Lynn. Trash is pollution. Think about all the garbage our family throws away. Each city throes away some trash that could be used again," said mother.

"Our church is collecting newspapers and old cans," said Ron. "They take it someplace where they make it into new cans and paper."

"Making old things into mew things is called recycling," said mother. "Many old things can be used again."

As the family got near their home, they heard a loud noise.

"I hear something," said Ron.

"I think it is a fire engine," said Lynn.

"I'll turn down the radio. I can't hear," said mother.

"I see a flashing light," said Ron.

As the fire engine passed, Mother said, "We have noise pollution, too. Remember yesterday when Dad was using the saw, the dog was barking, and you had on the radio? All of those things together made a lot of noise. When people work in noisy places for a few years, it hurts their hearing."

One man made some animals listen to loud music. One ear of each animal was covered. The other ear was not. Then he tested the hearing in both ears. He found the animals had lost some hearing in the ear that was not covered. Some young people who play loud music have the hearing of old people.

Loud noises do other things. Sometimes people who work in noisy places have poor hearing and more accidents.

A law was passed that says people should get rid of noise wherever they can. Some machines don't have to be so noisy. Sometimes people think that a noisy machine has more power. That statement is not true.

Mother explained again how important it is to use earth in a wise and careful way. When we pollute, we are just being selfish. We may be making others sick and causing them extra work. As children of God we should think of God and others.

Vocabulary 词汇

elevator ['eliveitə]

n. 电梯、升降机

electric [i'lektrik]

adj. 电动的、电的、使人震惊的

smog [smɔɡ]

n. 烟雾

fog [fɔɡ]

n. 雾；

vt. 雾气笼罩、使迷惑；

vt. & vi. 模糊不清

fuel [fjuəl]

n. 燃料、燃烧剂；

vt. 给……加燃料、激起；

vi. 补充燃料

gas [ɡæs]

n. 气体、煤气、汽油、毒气、空谈、有趣的事；

vt. 使……吸入毒气；

vi. 吹牛

layer ['leiə]

n. 层、层次

trash [træʃ]

n. 拙劣的材料（作品）、垃圾、废物、没出息的人；

vt. 捣坏、弄脏

garbage ['ɡɑ: bidʒ]

n. 〈美〉垃圾、废物；〈口〉废话

recycling [ri: 'saikliŋ]

n. 再循环

flashing ['flæʃiŋ]

n. 闪光、防水板、遮雨板

get rid of 除掉、去掉

selfish ['selfiʃ]

adj. 自私的、利己的

Practice

1．When water, air, or ground is not clean, we call it_______.

2．Lynn and Ron were looking at the city from a glass_______.

3．The dirty air Ron saw was called_______.

4．Smog is smoke and_______.

5．When people work in very noisy places for a few years, it hurts their_______.

6．Some young people who like loud music have the_______of old people.

7．A law was passed that say you should get rid of as much_______as possible.

8．Some people think a noisy machine has more_______.译文

今天是星期六，琳和罗恩一直在期待今天，妈妈要带他们到某个地方去观察这个城市。妈妈和孩子们穿过繁忙的街道，当他们即将进入银行时，妈妈抬起头来：“看电梯，它在银行外面上升。这是一个玻璃电梯，我们将会到20楼。”“看这边，”妈妈说：“如果空气很干净，你们可以看到电厂附近我们的房子。”

电梯开始离开地面。“你看，”罗恩说：“空气中那些脏的烟是什么呢？”“这是烟雾，”妈妈说：“有时候，我们称为污染。它被称为烟雾，是因为烟和雾在一起。”“这些烟雾从何而来呢？”罗恩问道：“我没看到任何东西燃烧。”“空气中的烟雾有许多来源。”妈妈说：“看到这些轿车和卡车了吗？这些车辆燃烧燃料，排放气体到空气中。有时候没有风来吹散这些烟雾，如果有一层暖空气在冷空气上面，就会产生烟雾。呼吸带有烟雾的空气是不好的，有时候它会使人们生病。”“我听到过污染这个词。”琳说，“但我以为它是垃圾。”“污染可能由许多因素引起。”妈妈说：“回家的路上，我们可以谈论各种污染。”

回家的路上，这家人一直在谈论污染。他们谈到了一个清洁的环境怎样有利于生物的健康，然后他们开始讨论怎样做可以有助于保持环境清洁。“你说得对，琳。垃圾是污染。想想我们家扔出去的所有垃圾吧。每个城市都会丢弃一些可以再次被使用的垃圾。”妈妈说。“我们的教堂收集报纸和旧罐，”罗恩说：“他们把这些垃圾带到某个地方，在那里可以让它们变成新的罐和纸。”“把旧东西变为新东西称为回收。”母亲说：“有许多旧东西可以再次使用。”

当一家人快到家时，他们听到了一声巨响。“我听到了什么。”罗恩说。“我认为那是一辆消防车。”琳说。“我来关掉收音机，我没有听到。”妈妈说。“我看到了一道闪光。”罗恩说。

消防车过去之后，妈妈说：“还有噪音污染。还记得昨天吗？爸爸在使用锯，狗在叫，你们在听广播，所有这些声音混在一起形成了很大的噪音。当人们在嘈杂的地方工作几年之后，听力会受到伤害。”

一个人做了这样一个试验：他让一些动物听声音非常大的音乐，每只动物的一只耳朵被堵上，另一只耳朵则没有。然后，他测试这些动物两只耳朵的听力。结果他发现，这些动物没有被堵上的耳朵失去了部分听力。一些喜欢玩吵闹音乐的年轻人，听力水平如同老年人。

噪音还会带来其他影响。有时候，那些在嘈杂环境工作的人们，会有很差的听力和更多的意外事故。

我们已经通过了一项法律，规定人们应该在任何地方都要尽力摆脱噪音。某些机器原本不必那么吵的。只是有时人们认为一个噪音大的机器有更强的功率，这种观点是不正确的。

妈妈又一次解释了合理谨慎地利用地球是多么重要。当制造污染时，我们是自私的，我们会让其他人生病，给他们带来额外的工作。

练习

1．当水、空气或者地面不干净时，我们叫它_______。

2．琳和罗恩从一个玻璃_______中观察这个城市。

3．罗恩看到的脏空气叫做_______。

4．烟雾是烟和_______。

5．当人们在非常嘈杂的环境中工作几年之后，会伤害他们的_______。

6．一些喜欢听大声音乐的年轻人有着老年人的_______。

7．我们已经通过了一项让人们摆脱尽可能多_______的法律。

8．一些人认为噪声大的机器_______更强。

1．pollution 污染

2．elevator 电梯

3．smog 烟雾

4．fog 雾

5．hearing 听力

6．hearing 听力

7．noise 噪音

8．power 功率05Communication in Modern Times近代通讯方式

Men have thought of new ways to communicate with each other at all times. They have learned to talk over long distances. Writing is no longer done only by hand. Pictures and sounds can be sent over air waves and even to and from space.

Writing

The work of making parchment and writing it by hand made a book very hard to get in days gone by. What a big step forward it was when paper and print were made. First paper was made from cloth. Today most paper is made of wood pulp. But the most important invention was the printing press. The printing press had movable pieces of print that could be set up as a page for a book. With ink rolled over the print and paper pressed onto it, a whole page was made at one time. Many pages could be made easily before the next page of print was set up. The writing did not have to be done by hand each time. After a long time, books became common and did not cost so much. Today, huge presses make newspapers every day. Just about everyone can read the news and know what is happening in the world.

Being able to send messages by mail is another big step in communication. A person can write a letter, put a stamp on it, and send it.

Anywhere in the world, at first letters were carried by horses and riders. This way was called the Pony Express. Today most mail travels by airplane and truck.

Telephone

People still talk to other people. As man found out more about his world, he used what he learned to communicate from distances.

Over 100 years ago the telegraph was invented. The telegraph was a way of sending messages over wires. Samuel Morse made up an alphabet of dots and dashes known as the Morse Code. These long and short signals were sent great distances over wires.

The next step was made by Alexander Graham Bell. He believed voices could be sent along a wire, too. After a lot of thought and work, Bell invented the telephone. Today we can talk to someone hundreds of miles away using the telephone.

Radio and television

The time came when men decided that sound could be sent without wires. They learned that voices and music could be sent through the air and picked up by a special receiver. This invention was first called the wireless. Today we call it the radio. People used the radio for fun by listening to music and stories. They also listened to the news.

The next invention sent pictures through the air. The receiver for the pictures was the television. The first television was in black and white. Now color televisions often are used. Soon some telephones will have small televisions so you can see the person you are talking to.

Satellites and computers

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