大学英语精读课文第一册.docx

1、大学英语精读课文第一册大学英语精读课文第一册UNIT 1. How to Improve Your Study HabitsWant to know how to improve your grades without having to spend more time studying? Sounds too good to be true? Well, read on.How to Improve Your Study Habits Perhaps you are an average student with average intelligence. You do well enoug

2、h in school, but you probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily the case, however. You can receive better grades if you want to. Yes, even students of average intelligence can be top students without additional work. Heres how: 1. Plan your time carefully. Make a list of

3、 your weekly tasks. Then make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eating, sleeping, meetings, classes, etc. Then decide on good, regular times for studying. Be sure to set aside enough time to complete your normal reading and work assignments. Of course, studying shouldn

4、t occupy all of the free time on the schedule. Its important to set aside time for relaxation, hobbies, and entertainment as well. This weekly schedule may not solve all of your problems, but it will make you more aware of how you spend your time. Furthermore, it will enable you to plan your activit

5、ies so that you have adequate time for both work and play. 2. Find a good place to study. Choose one place for your study area. It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be comfortable, and it should not have distractions. When you begin to work, you should be able

6、to concentrate on the subject. 3. Skim before you read. This means looking over a passage quickly before you begin to read it more carefully. As you preview the material, you get some idea of the content and how it is organized. Later when you begin to read you will recognize less important material

7、 and you may skip some of these portions. Skimming helps double your reading speed and improves your comprehension as well. 4. Make good use of your time in class. Listening to what the teacher says in class means less work later. Sit where you can see and hear well. Take notes to help you remember

8、what the teacher says. 5. Study regularly. Go over your notes as soon as you can after class. Review important points mentioned in class as well as points you remain confused about. Read about these points in your textbook. If you know what the teacher will discuss the next day, skim and read that m

9、aterial too. This will help you understand the next class. If you review your notes and textbook regularly, the material will become more meaningful and you will remember it longer. Regular review leads to improved performance on test. 6. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is

10、 to show what you have learned about a subject. The world wont end if you dont pass a test, so dont worry excessively about a single test. Tests provide grades, but they also let you know what you need to spend more time studying, and they help make your knowledge permanent. There are other techniqu

11、es that might help you with your studying. Only a few have been mentioned here. You will probably discover many others after you have tried these. Talk with your classmates about their study techniques. Share with them some of the techniques you have found to be helpful. Improving your study habits

12、will improve your grades.UNIT 2. Sailing Round the WorldAt sixty-five Francis Chichester set out to sail single-handed round the world. This is the story of that adventure.Sailing Round the World Before he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends sev

13、eral times. He had tried to fly round the world but failed. That was in 1931. The years passed. He gave up flying and began sailing. He enjoyed it greatly. Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo transatlantic sailing race. His old dream of going round the world came back, but

14、 this time he would sail. His friends and doctors did not think he could do it, as he had lung cancer. But Chichester was determined to carry out his plan. In August, 1963, at the age of nearly sixty-five, an age when many men retire, he began the greatest voyage of his life. Soon, he was away in th

15、is new 16-metre boat, Gipsy Moth. Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships. But the clippers had had plenty of crew. Chicheater did it all by himself, even after the main steering device had been damaged by gales. Chichester covered 14, 100 miles before stopping in

16、 Sydney, Australia. This was more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone. He arrived in Australia on 12 December, just 107 days out from England. He received a warm welcome from the Australians and from his family who had flown there to meet him. On shore, Chichester could not wa

17、lk without help. Everybody said the same thing: he had done enough; he must not go any further. But he did not listen. After resting in Sydney for a few weeks, Chichester set off once more in spite of his friends attempts to dissuade him. The second half of his voyage was by far the more dangerous p

18、art, during which he sailed round the treacherous Cape Horn. On 29 January he left Australia. The next night, the blackest he had ever known, the sea became so rough that the boat almost turned over. Food, clothes, and broken glass were all mixed together. Fortunately, bed and went to sleep. When he

19、 woke up, the sea had become calm the nearest person he could contact by radio, unless there was a ship nearby, Wild be on an island 885 miles away. After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the following radio message to London: I feel as if I had wakened from a nightmare. Wild h

20、orses could not drag me down to Cape Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again. Just before 9 oclock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he arrived back in England, where a quarter of a million people were waiting to welcome him. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth

21、 I had sailed round the world for the first time. The whole voyage from England and back had covered 28, 500 miles. It had taken him nine months, of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he wanted to accomplish. Like many other adventurers, Chichester had experienced fear and conquer

22、ed it. In doing so, he had undoubtedly learnt something about himself. Moreover, in the modern age when human beings depend so much on machines, he had given men throughout the world new pride.UNIT 3. The PresentThey say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us t

23、han others. Everyone was so kind to the old lady on her birthday. Surely her daughter would make an even bigger effort to please he?The Present It was the old ladys birthday. She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street,

24、 and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came. Today she was sure the would be something. Myra wouldnt forget her mothers birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra

25、herself had got a medal for her work the aged. The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved. Enid had never married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school round the corner. One evening, however, Enid said, Ive arranged for Mrs. Morrison

26、to look after you for a few days, Mother. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital-just a minor operation, Ill soon be home. In the morning she went, but never came back-she died on the operating table. Myra came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs. Morrison to come in and light the

27、 fire and give the old lady her breakfast. Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never. The old lady was eight today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps-perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade

28、 lined or endured just as you chose to look at it. Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited-like a child. She would enjoy her day. Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and toda

29、y she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldnt go out to play until the post had come. I

30、 guess youll get lots and lots of presents, he said, I did last were when I was six.What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be lovely. Blues such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a book, a travel book, with pictures,

31、or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate. Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door. Granny, grann

32、y, he shouted, Ive got your post. He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myras writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment. No parcel, Johnnie? No, granny. Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later by parcel post. She must be patient. Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open. Folded in the card was a piece of paper. Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday - Buy yourself something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harol