新世纪课文.docx

1、新世纪课文Jim CorriganJim Corrigan, a well-built man in his late 20s, works in a large hospital. Jim is an X-ray technician. It is his job to develop the many X-ray films that are taken of peoples lungs, stomachs and other body parts.Jim works in a darkroom, a room that is specially equipped for developi

2、ng film. First he removes the film from the lead plates(金属片) that are used to hold it. Then he feeds the film into a developing machine. It takes about 90 seconds for it to develop. The film is then ready to be examined by a doctor.Jims work is important, and both doctors and patients eagerly, often

3、 worriedly, wait for the results of his work. Jim doesnt keep them waiting too long. He is quick and orderly at his job. This would not be unusual except for the fact that Jim Corrigan is blind.“In the beginning it was tricky,” Jim explains, “The film comes in five different sizes. And sometimes I w

4、ould getthem mixed up. But I have never let a mistake get out of the darkroom.” After some time, Jim learned to measure the film by running his fingers over the edges.“I have a system,” explains Jim, “so that I can find things easily in the darkroom. Its a simple system. I just keepmy materials in o

5、rder and put them back in the same place after I use them. I dont have to search for anything.”“Jim is quite capable and can be trusted,” says his boss, “I wouldnt have him working here if he werent. And that brings me to the question of handicapped people. You cant let yourself get upset about them

6、. They want to be treated just like anybody else - and they should be. They dont want you to fell sorry for them.”No one has to feel sorry for Jim Corrigan.5. Starting a conversation with a foreigner in EnglishAs you rode on the bus one day, a foreigner sat down beside you. Finally, here was a perfe

7、ct opportunity for you to practice speaking English with a foreigner, you thought to yourself. But no words came into your head. You were tongue-tied! After 15 minutes, the foreigner got off the bus and you didnt utter a word! “What a shame!” you said to yourself.If you have had such an experience,

8、dont feel bad. Youre not alone. What you need is a lesson in small talk. Here are some tips that will show you how to get started.“HELLO” - A STARTER First, exchange a “Hello” or “Hi” with the foreigner, but at the same time, pay closeattention and see if he feels like chatting. Watch his facial exp

9、ression and body language for cues. Having said his “Hello” or “Hi” in return, does he just stare out of the window or keep reading the book in his hand? Thats the cue for you to stop moving on. Dont force a conversation on someone who wants to be left alone.But what if the person stops whatever he

10、is doing and looks back or smiles at you? These are positive cues, indicating you can keep talking and start a conversation!SMALL TALK - THE MAIN COURSE To start a conversation, you should choose a suitable topic. Then, what are the rules for choosing a suitable topic?Perhaps the most universal topi

11、c of any conversation is the weather. Everyone has an opinion to share about the weather! Dont immediately launch into serious topics like politics or religion. And dont talk about personal matters, either. Stick to familiar subjects of a casual nature such as movies, music, sports, favourite things

12、, or ones likes and dislikes.Small talk flows naturally. Raise open-ended questions rather than yes-no questions to keep the conversation going. Try to find points of connection between you and the person you are chatting with. Offer short comments on what the other person says, and listen attentive

13、ly when what you say is being commented on. If you get such comments as “Thats interesting.”, “I agree.”, or “Me too.” then you know youre on the right track.You can have a lot of fun chatting in English with foreigners. They will, too. Try it! Making small talk can be one of lifes pleasures.6. Neve

14、r too busy for social mannersSo you forgot to answer that party invitation you received. Now, the day has come and gone, and youre feeling guilty because you never told the host you couldnt attend.“Dont allow this oversight(疏忽) to ruin your relationship,” says R. Thomas Boone, a US social psychologi

15、st. “I would show up with a bottle of wine and say, I owe(感激，亏欠) you one. Im really sorry,” Boone says.Send an e-mail, make a phone call or reach out to the host another way. Whatever the method, do it as soon as possible.If guests dont answer the invitations on time, the host cannot possibly plan f

16、or the correct amount of food and drink. This may lead to hundreds or even thousands of dollars of waste.“Everybody has a busy schedule now,” Boone says. If you know you are forgetful when it comes to making phone calls, try emailing your RSVPs as soon as the invitation arrives. RSVP is the short fo

17、rm of the French phrase “rpondez sil vous plat”, meaning “Reply, if you please”.The following are some commonly used terms in invitation letters and their meanings. Be sure to know these and answer invitations properly.RSVP, REGRETS ONLY Only guests who cant attend need reply. You need to give a pro

18、per reason why you cant attend.RSVP BY Guests should respond with yes or no by the date indicated on the invitation. Setting a date gives guests a deadline. It is also a deadline for the host to connect guests who havent reply.RSVP BY E-MAIL Guests can respond by e-mail. Unlike phone calls, e-mails

19、can be sent without regard to time of day or location.7. Holidays and festivals in the United KingdomThere are many national holidays in the United Kingdom. Among them, Easter, and Christmas are two of the most famous.EASTER The date of Easter varies each year. It usually falls in March or April. Du

20、ring the Easter holiday, people give each other chocolate Easter eggs. The eggs are opened and eaten on Easter Sunday. On Good Friday (the day before Easter, when Christians observe the day on which Christ died), hot cross buns(复活节前一个星期五吃的十字面包) are sold. They are toasted and eaten with butter. Easte

21、r Monday (the day after Easter) is a Bank Holiday. On that day, banks and other major businesses are closed; people may enjoy a trip to the seaside or watch an exciting sports game, such as football, or horse-racing.CHRISTMAS For most British families, Christmas is certainly the most important holid

22、ay of the year. Families decorate their houses in bright colours. Usually a Christmas tree is placed in the front room, shining with coloured lights and interesting decorations.On the morning of Christmas Day (December 25), many people go to church to celebrate the birth of Christ(耶稣基督). In the afte

23、rnoon, they stay at home and open the gifts that were gathered around the tree. Later, they may watch the Queen appear on television to deliver her traditional Christmas message to the whole country. In the evening, the families sit down to a big goose (sometimes turkey) dinner. They round off the m

24、eal with pudding, a Christmas specialty.Many traditions are connected with Christmas. For children, the most important one is that of receiving gifts. On Christmas Eve (December 24), they usually leave a long stocking hanging by the bed or by the fireplace. They hope that Father Christmas will come

25、down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents. They are usually not disappointed!December 26, Boxing Day, is also a public holiday. This is the time to visit friends or watch football. Studentshave several weeks off school for Christmas.8. How do different cultures around the world

26、 celebrate the New Year?Get ready to say good-bye to the old, hello to the new! Whats the occasion? The coming of the New Year.Many Western cultures measure their days with the solar calendar. Therefore, they observe the coming of New Year on January 1. Cultures in Asia and Middle East use other cal

27、endars, such as the more ancient lunar calendar. They celebrate the New Year at other times.Events and ceremonies vary from country to country. But in each places, New Year celebrations are a big meal.Most world cultures have been celebrating the New Year for centuries. The earliest New Year celebra

28、tions took place during spring or harvest time. With better weather ahead, or plenty of food to eat in winter, people naturally felt like having a party!As the days became longer and as nature renewed itself, people also felt like they could have a new start. Past disappointments could be forgotten.

29、 The New Year could bring better fortune, more opportunities and new challenges. Such universal themes remain the same today.Some cultures have unusual New Year traditions. Italians throw old things out of their windows at midnight, symbolizing the departure of the old. Mexicans fire guns into the a

30、ir to keep away misfortunes.New Year celebrations also involve having fun. Some cultures view the New Year as an opportunity to let off fireworks. In New York Citys Times Square, thousands gather on December 31 to count down the last seconds of the year. A giant silver ball is lowered at the stroke

31、of midnight.London, England, hosts an annual New Years Day parade that draws nearly a million spectators. The largest parade in Europe, it features bands and enormous balloons. These balloons are so huge that they tower over nearby buildings!How will you celebrate the New Year? Think about the theme

32、s you find meaningful during this season. Do you hope for a new start or a chance to turn over a new leaf? whatever the case, we wish you well. Happy New Year!9. Mans four-legged friendThe sun was shining and it was warm. Robin, a shepherd, was lying on the grass, enjoying the beautiful sunshine. His guard, a sheepdog, was standing next to him, looking at the flock of sheep.This is only a scene in a movie, but it does give us a real picture showing mans relationship with dogs. For a long time in history, dogs were not only being raised to work as mans g