人教版英语高二（下）课文材料原文

人 教 版 新 教 材 高二（下） Unit 11 Scientific achievements A ZHONGGUANCUN Whatever great achievements the future may have in store for China, it is likely that many of them will be born in northwestern Beijing．Zhongguancun, in Beijing’s Haidian District，is the new centre for Chinese science and technology. It is home to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and more than ten famous universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University． Zhongguancun was set up as a special economic zone in the late l990s and quickly became the leader of China’s hi-tech industry．The science centre got started in the early l980s, when Chen Chunxian, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences，opened a private research and development institute．Within the next ten years, more than a hundred scientific and hi-tech companies moved into the area and new hi-tech centres developed around the original Zhongguancun Garden．They all have their own characteristics，but they all share the spirit of creativity and scientific skill that have made Zhongguancun a success． The science park is also home to a growing number of overseas Chinese who have grasped the opportunity to develop their ideas at home．Xiang Yufang is one of those who have returned to China after studying and working abroad．Zhongguancun made it possible for him to follow his dreams and help the country he loves． “I studied abroad because I wanted to see more of the world and work with some of the top scientists in my field．I never felt really comfortable abroad，and I missed everything about China．When I got my master’s degree，I wanted to return home but couldn’t find a company where I could use what I had learnt．I worked abroad for a few years and then I heard about Zhongguancun．I knew it was perfect for me.” Yufang talked to some friends from his university in Beijing and they helped arrange for his return．He left his job in the foreign company and came back to Beijing． “I was so happy．It was wonderful，like a dream come true．I could do the work I wanted to do and do something good for my country at the same time．I will never forget how happy I was when I set foot in China again and was back with my friends and family．” Yufang has been in China for three years now and is doing well．He lives in Beijing and runs a small company based in Zhongguancun together with two friends． Zhongguancun has had a positive effect on business as well as science．Today，there are more than 8,000 hi-tech companies in Zhongguancun．More than half of them are IT companies．The park is home to Chinese computer giants Lenovo and Founder and more than twenty famous international companies．One of the mottos for the park一 “Relying on science, technology and knowledge to increase economic power”— makes it clear that science and business can and must work together to build the future．Another motto helps explain the success of the park: “Encouraging pioneering work and accepting failure.” Great scientific achievements are the results of years of failure，years of trying to create something that has never existed before． The researchers and scientists in Zhongguancun know that they can only reach the top if they are ready to deal with and learn from failure．Not all the new companies can succeed，but the spirit and creativity they represent are more important than money．As Yufang puts it：“We are not making that much money yet，but we are excited about all the new technology and great ideas that are coming to life in Zhongguancun．” Choose the correct answers．There may be more than one correct answer． 1. According to the author, Zhongguancun is home to________________． A. some famous research institutes and universities B. many IT companies C. more and more returned overseas Chinese D. a number of science parks 2. What is NOT true about Zhongguancun? A. It is located in Haidian District, in northwestern Beijing． B. It was set up as a special economic zone in the 1990s． C. Most of its companies are doing IT business． D. It is not a good place for new companies． 3. According to the reading，Xiang Yufang returned to China and opened a company in Zhongguancun because__________________. A. he wanted to see more of the world B. he enjoyed working with the best scientists in his field C. he could enjoy his work and contribute to his country at the same time D. he missed his friends and family 4. According to the graph in the passage，how many of the people who work in Zhongguancun have a master’s degree or above? A. 25,0010 B. 30,000 C. 35,000 D. 180,000 5. How is ‘‘failure’’ understood in Zhongguancun? A. There are fewer failures in Zhongguancun．B. Many of its researchers and scientists will try hard not to fail． C. Failure is a necessary part of being successful． D. The best thing about failure is that you learn every time you fail． B Red hot achievements Chinese history is filled with great achievements in science and technology．Since the early 1990s，China has been enjoying a boom in scientific and technological development．The success is no accident．In 1995，the Chinese government put forward a plan for “rejuvenating the nation by relying on science and education’’ and it has helped Chinese scientists make many breakthroughs．The results are impressive． Exploring space CSA，the Chinese Space Agency，has developed the highly successful Long March rocket series．The rockets are safe and have been used to send satellites into space and to prepare for the nation’s first manned space flight． Solving the mysteries of life China has long been a leader in the field of genetic research aimed at improving agriculture．One of the most important achievements is a new kind of rice which allows farmers to increase production．Over the past twenty years，China also became part of an international research programme which examined the human body．In 2000，Chinese scientists announced that they had completed their part of the international human genome project，proving that Chinese scientists are among the world’s best． E-volution It seems to be love at first byte for China and computers．The Internet is becoming increasingly popular and a new high-speed broadband network was recently started．Chinese computer engineers have also developed the supercomputer Shenwei，one of the world’s fastest computers，and built the Nation’s first humanoid robot． Fighting cancer For the first time ever, scientists have been able to create a chemical element that can fight cancer cells．The breakthrough，made by scientists in Shanghai，gives hope to cancer patients all over the world and makes China one of the world leaders in the battle against the deadly disease． C Integrating Skills The ages of man Human achievements come in all shapes and sizes. Knocking two rocks together can be just as important as sending a man to the moon. When ancient humans learnt to use stone tools and make fire, it meant the beginning of modern society. Later discoveries — bronze, iron, steam, electricity, to name a few — continued the development of society and shaped history．So important were these achievements that we often divide human history into time periods named after the latest technology of the time：the Stone Age，the Bronze Age，the Iron Age and so on． In modern times，scientific achievements have continued to drive the development of society．The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the widespread use of electricity and the birth of the steam engine，leading to factories and cities as we know them today．It was also the beginning of public education and the modern branches of science．The twentieth century brought us cars，nuclear power and space exploration，and is sometimes called the “Atomic Age” or the“Space Age”．Recently, he effect of computers and the Internet has given rise to the idea that we are living in the“Information Age”． The connection between science and society is easy to see．Whatever the“age”，each time period is shaped by the latest and most advanced technology．Scientific achievements also lead to new discoveries and inventions．In some cases，new technology makes it possible for scientists to answer questions and solve problems that once were too difficult．With more and better information，scientists can develop new theories，which in turn lead to future scientific achievements．The wheel of scientific development keeps on turning． It takes time for a new technology to enter everyday life．In most cases，the first to use it are governments and businesses．For example，electricity was first used in factories and did not become available to homes until several years later. The same was true for computers and cellphones. In the early days，computers were so large，expensive and difficult to use that only government and industry experts could use them．Soon，however, the technology became cheaper and programmes were developed for people who had little or no training． New technologies also show the role and importance of scientific achievements in society．At first，A new technology is seen as a rare and valuable resource that can strengthen a country and its economy．Later on，scientists and businessmen develop products that can be bought and used by ordinary consumers．At the same time．it becomes easier and cheaper to make the products，which means that more people can afford to buy products using the new technology．The computer chip is perhaps the best example．When it was first developed，a computer chip was very expensive and could only be made by a small group of experts in developed countries．Today, the technology is well known and computer chips are made in factories all over the world． Our ability to understand and use new technologies has also developed over the years. Science has become perhaps the most important field of study and many governments view science and technology as key to the development of a country．Schools and universities pay special“attention to modern technology, both as subjects to study and as tools for teaching．In China, as in most countries，provinces and cities build “technology parks”，such as Zhongguancun，to make sure that companies and customers can benefit from the latest advances in science．By supporting research and development，a government can make new technologies and products available to us faster and at lower cost． We have come a long way since the earliest days of humankind，but new discoveries are as important as ever．Whatever the next“age”may be，it is sure to change our life and the way we understand the world and ourselves． Choose the best answer 1. According to the reading, sending-a man to the moon was _______ making simple stone tools in ancient times． A. more important than B. less important than C. just as important as 2. Electricity and the steam engine led to modern __________________． A. public education B. factories and cities C. science 3. Contemporary society is sometimes called the________________． A. Information Age B. Space Age C. Atomic Age 4. The first users of new technologies are usually _________________． A. ordinary people B. governments and companies C. universities Unit 12 Fact and fantasy A Jules Verne: the Father of Science Fiction Jules Verne was born in 1828，in France．His father sent him to Paris to study law, but instead Verne developed his love for the theatre．To make a living，Verne had to write and sell stories．He spent many hours m Pads libraries studying botany, applied science and many other subjects．He used the latest ideas and technical inventions of his day in his books．Many of the instruments in his novels will remind the reader of Dr Benjamin Franklin’s experiments with electricity．By taking the scientific developments of his day one step further, Jules Verne laid the foundation of modern science fiction．He also suggested how inventions could be used in the future to allow man to do things that were considered impossible m his own time．Jules Verne died in 1905，long before any of his dreams came true． At the beginning of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea，one of Verne’s most famous novels, ships are disappearing all over the world and it is believed to be caused by a sea monster．Dr Aronnax, his servant and a Canadian whale hunter set out to find the monster．After months of searching they find it and in the collision that follows，the three companions are thrown overboard．In their efforts to survive，they find themselves on the surface of the monster itself, which turns out to be a submarine．They are taken on board and Captain Nemo decides not to kill them but make them his permanent guests．From that day on they start planning their escape． Captain Nemo takes Dr Aronnax and his friends on a voyage across the oceans．His submarine，the Nautilus, is an extraordinary ship. The furniture is precious and huge glass windows that can be opened and closed give a view of the underwater world．The ship is also very strong and protected with thick iron plates. Electricity is used for light，heating，power and to defend the ship against attacks．All that is needed for life on board comes from the ocean．The food aboard the Nautilus is all seafood． Dressed in diving suits，Captain Nemo and his guests walk around in this magic world，lighted by the lamps of the ship．They find themselves surrounded by colourful rocks，fishes，seashells and plants，all waving and moving slowly in the blue waters． Readers have wondered about the character of Captain Nemo ever since the book was published. You could say he is someone you will neither like nor dislike．You might think that he is a cruel man because he keeps Aronnax and the others as prisoners and destroys ships. But at other moments you will find him gentle and weak，as when he cries about the lost lives of people drowned in ships that have sunk． Another wonderful story is that of Journey to the Centre of the Earth．The story begins with the discovery of an ancient document in an old book．The document explains how to find a secret road to the centre of the earth．Two men decide to go on this adventure and travel to Iceland，where they enter the earth through a chimney in a dead volcano．Their guide leads them through a narrow passage deep into the earth．Passing through layers of coal and marble they go deeper and deeper．They drink the water from a boiling underground river and after many days they reach a huge lake or underground ocean．Walking along its shores they go through forests of mushrooms and plants that lived on the earth millions of years ago．They build a raft to cross the sea and are attacked by ancient sea creatures．In the end，their raft is drawn into a fast stream and with ever increasing speed they are shot out of a volcano in southern Italy. B The Story Of Dr Frankenstein No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself．Instead of children’s play and adventure，I was driven by a desire to learn．I was not interested in the structure of languages or law．I wanted to learn the secrets of heaven and earth．My father was not scientific，so I had to look for a road without having a map．I entered the search for wisdom and dreamt of finding a wav to cure any disease． I read all the books I could find that threw light upon these matters．I studied maths and physics and the works of many brilliant scientists．At the age of seventeen，my parents sent me to university．However, I found all that was taught at university very disappointing and decided that I would pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers，and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of nature． One of the phenomena that attracted my attention was the structure of the human body and any animal that was alive．I often asked myself where the principle of life came from．After days and nights of incredible labour, I discovered the cause of life and how to create life from dead matter． When I found this amazing power placed within my hands，I hesitated a long time thinking how I should use it．Although I knew how to create life，how to prepare a body for it with all its muscles and organs still remained a difficult job．I doubted at first whether I should try to create a being like myself, or one of simpler organisation．But soon I dreamt of nothing else but the creation of a creature as complete and wonderful as man． It was with these feelings that I began the creation of a human being．As the small size of the parts slowed down my speed，I decided to make the being much larger than man，about eight feet in height．With these ideas，spending some months collecting and arranging materials，I began． Who can imagine the horrors of my secret work? I collected bones from graves and cut up dead bodies．Many of my materials came from butcher shops and hospitals．It was on a night in November that I looked at the result of my work．I collected my instruments around me, with which I would light the flame of life in the dead thing that lay at my feet．It was already one in the morning, and my candle was nearly burnt out，when I saw the dull yellow eyes of the creature open． I looked at the horrible monster that I had created．He opened the curtain of the bed，and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, looked at me．His hair was black and his teeth as white as snow, but his skin was yellow．When his thin black lips opened，nothing came but some strange sounds．While unfinished，he was ugly, but now he was a living horror． C Integrating Skills Mr Cavor’s Flying Machine When I first met Mr Cavor, he was about to finish building the machine in which he planned to travel to the moon．As it had neither wings nor an engine，I was amazed and asked him how his machine could fly．The secret lay in a new material which he had developed．Applied in his machine, it would cut off the earth’s power, which science calls gravity, to keep things on the ground．If Mr Cavor’s machine would be free from the pull of gravity, nothing would keep it from flying off into the sky． I still could not understand how it would work，so I asked him to explain it to me．Cavor said that for many years he had been doing research into materials that could block all kinds of energy in the form of waves. “Energy,” he said, “such as light or heat，X-rays，electricity or gravity, exists in the form of waves that act on bodies at a distance.” Almost all materials block some form of energy．Glass，for example，blocks heat，but it lets light pass through, so that it is useful as a fire screen．Metals，on the other hand，block light，but electrical energy and heat pass through them very well．So far，it sounded like a class of basic physics, and I had no difficulty understanding him． “Gravity passes through all known materials.” he said. “You can use screens of various sorts to cut off the light or heat，or electrical influence of the sun．You can screen things with sheets of metal from radioactivity, but nothing will cut off the gravity of the earth．Yet why there should be nothing is hard to say.” Cavor did not see why such a material，which he called Cavorite，should not exist．He argued that such a material was possible and，under certain conditions，could be made． He explained it to me as follows.” Everybody knows that the air has weight and that it presses on everything on the surface of the earth，no less than fourteen and a half pounds to the square inch．But over a sheet of Cavorite this is not the case，because it blocks the gravity from the earth below it．The next step would be to build a machine in which to apply that great discovery.” Cavor was proud to show me the first model． “It’s like this,” he said. “Nothing above a layer of Cavorite weighs anything，and everything above it goes up into the air．The material itself moves up too and We are going up with it.” “Like Jules Verne’s thing in A Trip to the Moon,” I said，but Cavor did not read any fictio