初三英语时文阅读(6月第一期)基础达标

初三英语时文阅读（6月第一期）基础达标

（材料一）你还记得马丁·路德·金的著名演说《我有一个梦想》吗？

A brief African-American history (II)

1920s：The Harlem Renaissance 哈勒姆文艺复兴

During the 1920s, many African-American artists, poets, writers and musicians moved to Harlem, a section of New York City. They became well-known for their writing, art and music.

1954~1956：Fighting for civil rights 为民权而战

During the 1950s, African-American leaders began to use marches to defeat racist laws. Their efforts are known as the civil rights movement.

1963~1965：March in Washington, D.C. 华盛顿大游行

On August 28, 1963, there was a huge march in Washington, D.C. It attracted more than 200,000 marchers. At the march, Martin Luther King Jr.* delivered his famous“I have a dream”speech. After the march, King and other civil rights leaders met with President John F. Kennedy. In 1964, the

Civil Rights Act (《民权法案》) was signed into law. The law guaranteed

equal rights for African-Americans in employment, voting, and the use of public facilities.

1968：Martin Luther King Jr. is killed 马丁·路德·金遇刺

In 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed in Memphis (美国孟斐斯市). He was 39 years old. Since 1986, the third Monday in January has

been Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The nation honors King’s spirit and the great strides he made toward equality for all Americans.

（材料二）2008年11月4日，这一天将会被载入史册……

A brief African-American history (III)

1972：Taking affirmative action 采取积极行动

In 1972, Congress passed two important laws. They helped increase job opportunities for African-American workers. The laws were called affirmative action laws. They required governments and public institutions to hire more minorities, including African-American and female workers.

1983：Jesse Jackson runs for President 杰西·杰克逊参加总统竞选

In 1983, Jesse Jackson*, a famous civil rights leader, announced his plan to run for President. Jackson ran in 1984 and 1988. Jackson’s two campaigns were important because they showed the key role

African-American people played in national politics.

1995：The Million Man March 一百万人大游行

On October 16, 1995, about 400,000 people, mostly African-American men and boys, participated in the Million Man March. The march was aimed at urging African-American men to be leaders in their communities and to work together to improve life for all African Americans.

2009：Achieving power in government 奥巴马竞选总统成功

November 4, 2008, will be forever remembered as the day change came to the United States. American voters went to the polls and gave Barack Obama a resounding victory. On January 20, 2009, two million people showed up, when Obama officially became the first African-American President of the United States.

（材料三）你能想象一个没有电的世界会怎么样？

Electricity

* What is it?

Electricity is energy. Just like we eat burgers and chocolate to keep us going, machines and gadgets “eat” electricity to keep them going. In our homes, electricity runs the lights, appliances like toasters, televisions, toys

and more. It’s hard to imagine what our life would be without electricity.

However, if electricity is used unsafely, it can create a fire hazard or cause someone to be electrocuted. But why is electricity a danger?

* How does it work?

What is a conductor?

A conductor is a material that electricity can flow through easily. Water is a great conductor. In fact, our bodies are mostly water. It means electricity can also travel easily through us!

The electricity that reaches our homes travels in a circuit. The energy is supplied by power plants. Then the power lines carry electricity to our homes. These lines are great electrical conductors. So it is dangerous to touch them.

*Contact with electricity can cause:

Electric shock: This is when an electrical current passes through the body. Even a small shock can be frightening and painful.

Burns: Electrical currents can burn the skin, nerves, muscles and tissues in the body.

Death: A severe electric shock could cause a problem with your breath and heartbeat, possibly leading to death.

（材料四）谁说富家子弟只能坐吃山空？近日，加拿大一银行便开设了教“富二代”学习理财的课程。

Canadian Bank Teaches Rich Kids How to Stay Rich

Wealth managers at Bank of Montreal (加拿大蒙特利尔银行) kept

hearing the same words from some of Canada’s richest families: Help me! My kids know nothing about money!

Nowadays, the bank gives a one-day seminar to the children of rich families, and teaches the heirs and heiresses how to manage their money.

“Rich parents are very happy to let their children attend the seminar,” said a manager.

Furthermore, the financial crisis has upped appetites for the seminar. It will teach children some key things: how to set goals, balance a budget, and avoid getting swindled. And the code word for the seminar is “discretion.”

However, in fact, many children are forced to attend by their parents who control t he purse strings. For example, a child said, “I love drawing and

playing the guitar, but my father told me that I have to go to this, or he will cut my allowance off.”

（材料五）如今，能说一口流利中文的外国人很多。但是，说到开设中文学习网站，17岁的英国女孩Daisy也许是第一个。

Let’s learn Chinese!

British girl Daisy Raffan not only can speak fluent Chinese, but also runs a website to teach kids Chinese.

The 17-year-old girl established the website — https://www.360docs.net/doc/d18515248.html, — on January 26, 2009. She had the brainwave* after her mom took her to lessons to learn the language when she was just five.

On Daisy’s website, kids can log on and tune in to Daisy’s lessons whenever they like, either at home or in the classroom. Each lesson has four different parts:

Language: Kids will learn new words.

Writing: Kids will learn to write new words and numbers.

Culture: In this part, Daisy will tell you something about Chinese culture, such as the people and the food.

Practice: kids can hear, repeat, and then practice the words they’ve learn ed.

Each week, “Kids Chinese Club” will choose its “Stars of the Week” —the kids that have done a good job in the past week.

The website is fun, and it also helps British kids learn Chinese. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown* has already praised Daisy and said that learning Chinese is important for Britain’s future generations.

（材料六）西方有哪些最令人匪夷所思的迷信呢？一起来了解一下吧！

Top 10 Odd Superstitions about Food (I)

Superstitions fill people’s life with innocent fun, but they can also be incredibly odd. Here come five of the oddest superstitions about food.

10. Hollow bread

It was once (and perhaps still is) a superstition. If you find a hole in the bread you cut, it symbolizes a coffin, and means that someone is soon to die. However, nowadays, people seldom cut their own bread, so forget it!

9. Egg shells

This is a very ancient superstition. If you don’t crush the ends of an egg shell after breaking it, a witch can use them to make a boat and sail on the sea to raise storms. Well, don’t try to find out h ow a man might be able to stand in an egg shell.

8. Crossed bread

All loaves of bread must be marked with a sign of the cross before baking. This prevented the devil from sitting on the loaf and cursing the bread. Interestingly, in fact, bread rises much better in the oven when crossed.

7. Salt

It is considered bad if you help another person salt their food — there is even a phrase that evolved from the superstition: “Help to salt, help to sorry.”

6. Tea rituals

It used to be considered bad luck for two people to pour tea from the same pot. In addition, if you left the lid off the teapot while brewing tea, a stranger would visit soon.

（材料七）近日，美国“阿特兰蒂斯”号航天飞机发射升空，机上７名宇航员对哈勃望远镜进行了一系列的修理和维护。

Mission to Hubble

U.S. space shuttle Atlantis(“阿特兰蒂斯”号) lifted off on May 11 with seven astronauts onboard, on a mission to upgrade the 19-year-old Hubble Space Telescope (哈勃太空望远镜). This is NASA’s (美国国家航天局)

fifth trip to Hubble.

The 11-day mission came with a higher risk than usual. Atlantis flew in an unusually high orbit for any space shuttle. Furthermore, space has more litter there. Even if a tiny piece of space junk struck Atlantis, that would cause huge damage to the shuttle.

On May 13, a 10-centimetre piece of space junk passed within a couple miles of the shuttle, just hours after the shuttle grabbed Hubble. On May 14, astronauts conducted the first spacewalk and installed a new camera in Hubble. On May 15, astronauts replaced six gyroscopes. On May 16,

astronauts installed a Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (宇宙起源光谱摄制仪)

for Hubble. It is the most sensitive instrument that has ever flown in space. On May 17, astronauts conducted the fourth spacewalk to repair an imaging device which was used to discover black holes.

The goal of the mission was to keep Hubble running for another five to ten years.

（材料八）当现实加诸于你，无法实现你的梦想，你会不会把梦想束之

高阁，在现实中循规蹈矩呢？

Don’t Let Your Dreams Be Dreams

In the world of pop culture, there is no more unlikely star than Susan Boyle. She has spent almost the last 30 years unemployed, focusing on caring for her mother and singing for her local community. While many people think she is inexperienced, the truth is that Boyle has been practicing and working hard to achieve her dream for years. She has spent much of her time and money trying to get ahead in the very difficult world of music. That she has been able to realize her dream after so long is awesome.

She has become a hero to many, the competition to some, and a figure of fun to others. But not everyone that has an amazing voice can propel them to stardom via a reality television show. Sometimes — most times — achieving your dream comes through hard work. It is important to remember that, even with her talent, Susan Boyle has spent her entire life trying to achieve her goal and reached it at an age when you are supposed to be slowing down, not speeding up.

Many of you will be making decisions in the next few years about which colleges and universities you will apply for. For many people, what you study after you leave high school determines what you will do for most of the rest of your life. You will face pressure to give up on your dreams and focus on

your reality. Instead of giving up, make your dreams a reality. Take what you can from what comes your way and use it to achieve your goals.

（材料九）日本的同龄人也有sports day吗？他们会参加哪些运动项目呢？

Sports day for Japanese Kids

All over Japan, kids from kindergarten to high school take part in a sports day every autumn. On this day, sports meetings are held. They are a chance for kids to test their skills and compete with each other in a variety of events. It is also great for the whole family to enjoy a fun time together. This is quite true of elementary school sports meetings. Usually, there are a large number of families coming out to cheer for their kids.

There are two kinds of events — individual and group. A running race is an example of individual events. In group events, including tug-of-war and

ball-tossing games, students are divided into teams. Students usually compete against those in the same grade, but there are also relay races between teams made up of students from all grades.

In some sports meetings, there are also non-competitive events like traditional Japanese dancing. In high schools, students do more than just compete in sports events. Cheerleading contests are often held. Each class makes up its own cheerleading team. And these events add even more energy to this exciting day.

（材料十）今年的5月12日是汶川地震一周年的纪念日，也是我国第

一个防灾减灾日。在汶川地震一周年之际，中国政府发布国家首部“减

灾白皮书”，并将5月12日定为“防灾减灾日”。

China published a white paper on disaster-prevention efforts. It was set to mark the first anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, as well as the

nation’s first “Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day (防灾减灾日),” both

of which fell on May 12.

The 8.0 magnitude quake, with the epicenter in Wenchuan of China’s Sichuan Province, left more than 87,000 people dead and missing, and more than 374,640 injured.

To mark the day, governments across the country have started education campaigns to publicize knowledge on disaster prevention and emergency rescue.

“The earthquake showed we were ill-prep ared for many disasters,” said an official. “We have learned a valuable lesson.”

Since many kinds of disasters frequently hit China, China’s main tasks are to strengthen its ability to prevent them and take rescue and relief. The country has already developed a disaster control and response system. Within five years, every village will have the necessary information to counter disasters in China.

China published a white paper* last Monday on disaster-prevention (防灾) efforts to mark the first anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake as well

as the nation’s first“Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day*.”Both fell on May 12.

The paper

The paper, consisting of more than 16,000 Chinese characters, says, “China is one of the countries that experience the most natural disasters.”

With climate change, economic growth, and urbanization, the work of preventing and responding to natural disasters has become“more serious and complicated.”

“Based on the lessons we learned and problems found in rescue and relief work (抢险救灾工作) for winter storms in South China in early 2008 and the May 12 earthquake, we have made efforts to improve the country’s disaster management system,”said Zou Ming, director of the Disa ster Relief Department under the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部国家减灾中心主任).

The effort

According to the paper, China received nearly 76 billion yuan in cash and relief materials from domestic and foreign donors after the earthquake.

More than 3 million volunteers worked in disaster relief, while 10 million others participated in quake relief activities around the country.

By the end of 2008, about 1% of China’s population volunteered for

quake relief work across China, making it the first large-scale volunteer rescue effort in the country.

The help

The paper also said that China and its people were deeply grateful for the international help they received.

Donations came from more than 170 countries and more than 20 international organizations. Cash donations totaled (合计达) 4.4 billion yuan, and there were large amounts of relief materials sent to China.

Professional rescue and medical teams from Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore came to help. Satellite operators in Japan, Italy, and the United States offered remote-sensing images of the quake-hit areas to China, the paper added.

（材料十一）今年4月，美国威斯康辛州马尼托沃克市(Manitowoc, Wisconsin)第27任市长走马上任。一颗政坛新星—— 22岁的大学生贾斯汀·尼基尔斯(Justin Nickels) ——正在升起。

Justin Nickels: a 22-year-old mayor

“I want to thank you for electing me the youngest mayor Wisconsin has ever seen. I thank you, most importantly, for entrusting me with the opportunity to represent you and lead our city in a new direction!” Justin Nickels, new mayor of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, thanked his voters on his website after he became the 27th mayor of the city.

Justin was born and grew up in Manitowoc. Before he became mayor, he was a grocery store cashier, a high school basketball referee, and a college student. The 22-year-old mayor had a great interest in politics when he was very young. He has served on the City Council since 2005 and worked very hard. In the general mayoral election, he beat 39-year-old Dave Soeldner, a civil engineer and graduate of MIT. Justin’s victory is su re to encourage more young and smart minds to serve society.

“Our young people are going to be our future,” Justin’s mother said after her son became mayor. Maybe that’s also what people of Manitowoc believe.

（材料十二）毕业时节再次来临，美国的高中生们早在几个月前就开始为这一人生重大转折做准备—迎接一场盛大的毕业舞会(prom)。

The High School Prom

Graduation is a huge milestone and an event worth celebrating. In the United States, high school students celebrate their graduation with a“prom.”

A prom is a formal dance of high school senior students. It is a kind of a ceremony in the life of a teenager when he/she crosses over the threshold into early adulthood.

Prom clothing

Since the prom is a formal event, students attach great importance to what they wear. Boys usually dress in black tuxedos. Girls traditionally wear formal gowns or dresses. They usually purchase their prom gowns months in advance from specialized local shops, and more recently, internet

retailers (网络零售商).

Prom king & queen

A prom king and queen are students elected from a group of candidates

to be prom “royalty (王室).”The honor is usually given by fellow students

casting votes. Being elected a prom king or queen is not about being just another good-looking face in the crowd. Usually, kings and queens are involved in a number of activities including sports, extracurricular clubs, and other activities that get them noticed by their peers, which can lead to many votes.

Prom costs

A prom can end up being quite expensive. The boys have the cost of renting the tuxedo and shoes, the prom ticket, their seat in the limo and their share of pictures*. The girls usually pay more because their prom dresses can cost as much as hundreds of dollars, and they have a few additional expenses like the cost of getting her hair and nails done.

Thi s year’s prom season has come in the midst of the economic crisis. But few students are going to give up the party that caps off their high school experience. “Frugal”has thus become the theme for this year’s prom preparation. Many students are searching for bargains and spending less in other parts of their life. Some girls are even sewing their own prom dresses.

（材料十三）读名著吧，让自己更聪明。

Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics

Nowadays people are fond of bestsellers. It seems that no one is reading the classics. But actually the heritage of humanity could be very helpful to us. By reading the classics to improve your mind, you can give yourself an advantage.

1. Bigger vocabulary

When reading the classics，you’ll come across many words that are no

long er commonly used. Why learn words most people don’t use? Classics help you gain a bigger vocabulary. Having a bigger vocabulary is like having a tool box with more tools. You’ll be able to communicate with precision and higher intelligence.

2. Improved writing ability

Reading the classics is the easiest way to improve your writing. While reading, you learn the grammar and style of the author. After reading, your thoughts would probably begin to mirror the writer’s style. At least, it helps you form clear sentences.

3. Improved speaking ability

Becoming a better speaker follows becoming a better writer, as both are caused by becoming a better thinker. Studying works of genius will teach you to express yourself with clarity and style. By improving your command of the language, you’ll become more persuasive, sound more intelligent, and enjoy an advantage over less persuasive people.

4. Fresh ideas

Isn’t it strange that the best sources for new ideas are writers who’ve been dead for centuries? It makes sense when you consider this: Everyone you know is reading the same popular blogs and bestselling books. The result is people think in almost the same way. No wonder it’s difficult to sound creative! Look to the classics for inspiration. You will find fresh subjects.

5. Clear mind

The classics have been tried and tested and deemed valuable for the general culture—the way in which people live their lives. Classics tell us how people lived their lives. They tell us how we can live better and safer now, and guide us to avoid dangers, overcome difficulties, and survive disasters in the future. They lift their readers out of narrowness into a wider vision of humanity. In a word, they lead the readers into a clear perception of the fullness and complexity of reality.

（材料十四）梦想无限，人生无限！

It’s Never Too Late to Dream

A couple of weeks ago, an older lady named Susan Boyle* got up on a stage and made her dream come true. On the one hand, she was a plump, unattractive woman with gnarled hair who got laughed at during her introduction speech to the audience. On the other hand, she had an honest personality and a tremendously beautiful voice that wowed the crowd and judges. Her performance brought her instant fame and made her childhood dream a reality.

As a woman just shy of fifty years old, Susan Boyle inspired people of all ages to realize that dreams can come true whether you are old or young. What makes a life fulfilling has to do with the dreams we have and our courage to pursue them, no matter what. One of the best examples I can share has to do with a woman who began college at the age of eighty-seven. She said that she had always dreamed of having a college education, so she started taking classes to earn her degree.

The little old lady excelled at her college courses and was a favorite amongst her classmates. At the year’s end, she was asked to give a speech at a closing banquet. She had the following words of wisdom: “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. You have to laugh and find humor every day and you’ve got to dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.” She then told her audience to always actively pursue their dreams because “the elderly usually don’t have regrets for what they did, but rather for things t hat they didn’t do.”

As these two women have taught us, anyone can have a dream, but it takes courage to pursue it. Make sure you actively pursue what you desire most; otherwise you may regret it later in life.