The Phantom of the Opera
Read this short story adapted from the novel The Phantom of the Opera.
The Paris Opera House was a huge building. Beneath the building there was a strange, dark lake. On this lake was an island. On that island, one hundred years ago, lived the Phantom.
At birth he was so ugly that his own mother made him wear a mask. She forced him to leave home while he was still a child. He then spent years wandering the Earth until he found his home on the island. Yet, this monster of a man loved singing, and had a wonderful voice.
The phantom fell in love with Christine, a beautiful young singer at the Opera. He often sang to her late at night, hiding behind a secret wall in her room because he was afraid of letting her see his face. He taught her how to sing and helped her get better roles in the Opera. Christine enjoyed listening to his voice, too.
However, the Phantom wanted Christine for himself. He kidnapped her from the stage in front of the whole audience. Then, he took her down to his secret home on the lake. Only one man was brave enough to follow. He was Raoul, a young man who loved Christine. Raoul tried to rescue Christine, but the Phantom captured him and put him in a prison.
In the Phantom‟s house, Christine pulled off his mask and saw the real man. At first, she was shocked at his horrible face with yellow eyes and no nose, but then she felt sorry about his suffering. She understood how lonely his life had been. She gently kissed his face.
No woman had ever touched the Phantom before. Christine‟s kiss made him cry with joy. He released Raoul, and told him to take Christine to safety. By now, a group of people had reached the Phantom‟s house. They burst in, ready to kill him. At that moment the Phantom disappeared and was never seen again.
S1B Unit 1 More reading
The Concert Hall which moved
Reading this cutting from a city guide for Shanghai to see how one concert hall was kept from destruction.
In April 20003, the Shanghai Concert Hall was lifted into the air, and then moved 66.46 meters away.
The 5,650-tonne building was deigned and built in 1930 by Chinese architects Zhao Shen and Fan Wenzhao. Originally, the building was used for showing films. In 1959, it was changed into a concert hall. Some of the world‟s top musicians, including the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the violinist Isaac Stern, played there.
By 2002, however, the Shanghai Concert Hall faced some difficulties. The building was old and needed repair. Also, an elevated road had been built nearby. The noise of the traffic from the road drowned out the concerts. One way of saving the concert hall was moving it. So, over an eight-day period, workers used machinery to lift the concert hall into the air. They then pushed it along rails to a new location away from the elevated road.
The Shanghai Concert Hall was completely restored after being moved. It was also made larger to seat more people. On 1 October 2004 it reopened with a concert by the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. With new paint and a new location, the charm of the concert hall was brought back to life.
Two Geniuses
Albert Einstein was a very famous scientist in the twentieth century. Read this legend about him in a magazine article.
Many people regard Albert Einstein (1879-1955) as a genius. His attempt to explain the working of the universe led to the development of nuclear energy.
Einstein used to say that the only gift he had was curiosity, but this story about him shows that he also had a sense of humour.
As a young man with a growing reputation, Einstein received many invitations to go to universities to explain his theories at different universities. On these trips his driver was always the same—a man called Hans. Hans often said to him, 'It's a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Dr Einstein. ”
One evening, on their way to a distant university, Einstein said 'I wish I didn't have to give my lecture tonight, Hans. I'm so tired, but I don‟t want to let my audience down.
“You don't need to give the lecture.” said Hans. 'I can give it for you. I've listened to your lecture so many times that I‟ve learnt it by heart. No one knows you at this university, so they won ‟t find out.”
Einstein agreed with Hans, so they changed places. At the university, Hans was guided to a platform, where he stood surrounded by professors and students. Einstein took a seat in the audience, listened to Hans give his lecture perfectly, and joined in the applause at the end.
However, before Hans left the platform, a professor shouted from the audience, “I ‟d like to ask you a difficult question.” He then asked a question so complex that Hans had no idea what he was talking about.
Einstein thought, “Oh no! Now we‟re in trouble.” But Hans just laughed and said, “That ‟s not a difficult question. In fact, it‟s so easy that even my driver knows how to answer it. Hans, please …”
Einstein stood up and answered the question perfectly.
They left the university, with Einstein driving. A little later, Hans offered to drive. “No, my friend, ” said Einstein. “It ‟s a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Hans.”
S1B Unit 2 More reading
The Nobel Prize
Read this leaflet about the Noble Prize.
Alfred Nobel was an inventor born in Sweden. When he died in 1896, he left a lot of money and property. This was then worth about nine million US dollars, and later became the original source of the world-famous Nobel Prize.
Nobel believed that the spread of knowledge would make the world a better place. The yearly-awarded prizes are given to honour those who help mankind. Nobel said that the prizes should honour „the most important discoveries or inventions‟ in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and „the most outstanding works‟ in literature.
Since 1901. the Nobel Prize has been presented to the winners on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel‟s death. At the award ceremony in the Stockholm Concert Hall, the king of Sweden hands each winner a diploma and a medal. The ceremony is followed by a large banquet for about 1,300 people Among the guests of honour are the Nobel Prize winners and their families, the King and the Queen, and many well-known leaders in science and culture. Two
hundred and fifty young students are also honoured with invitations to this grand occasion.
S1B Unit 3
The interesting world of plants
Plants can be much more interesting than you think. Read this transcript from a nature film to find out why.
Water lilies can often be seen in China, with their round leaves, or pads, floating in ponds. In Hangzhou, there is a kind of water lily whose pads are so huge that a person can stand on them. This is a Victoria lily, the largest kind of water lily in the world. Its pads are more than two meters wide and its white or purple flowers can grow as large as 45 centimeters across.
Some flowering plants can also be eaten. The lotus, a near relative of the water lily, is such a plant. It has a long white root, in which there are many holes. In Asian countries, lotus roots and seeds are often cooked and served in meals. In the West, eating lotus roots or seeds is not as popular as it is in Asia.
The banyan tree is an interesting tree with many roots growing down from its branches. It can be found in South China and other parts of Asia. When its roots reach the ground, they plant themselves and grow bark. Eventually they either become part of the original tree trunk or become separate tree trunks. Using this method, banyan trees can cover an enormous area. The world's largest banyan tree, in India, covers an area larger than a football pitch. Even though it is only one tree, it looks like a whole forest!
Speaking of trees, a gingko tree believed to be around 2800 years old was recently discovered in Hebei Province, China. Many gingko trees have been around for more than 1000 years---that is the reason why they are known as 'longevity trees' in China. While gingko trees can live for a long time, they are not even near being the oldest trees. Bristlecone pine trees in America are among the oldest living trees. One bristlecone pine tree in Nevada is over 4600 years Old!
S1B Unit 3 More reading
Learn to care for plants
Read this article from a newspaper to get some new ideas about what plants you can grow this year.
Spring is in the air, so it is time to go outside and do some gardening. Here are three plants which can decorate your home.
Why not grow common white jasmine/ You can raise it as either a bush or a vine. Jasmine vines produce more flowers than jasmine bushes, but they need a frame to grow on. If you grow them on a frame over a path, the path will soon have a cover of whit, sweet-smelling flowers. Jasmine is not just for tea.
Of course, if you like blossoms, do not ignore the Yulan magnolia. These trees can grow to be over 12 meters tall. In early spring, they are covered with white blossoms which are more than 12 centimeters wide. After the blossoms fall off, green leaves cover the trees all summer. In autumn, these leaves change to red and orange before they litter the ground with color. The Yulan magnolia is ideal for cool, moist climates.
If you have no idea what to grow, you could plant a golden ball cactus. You could keep it in your house, or plant it outside where it can grow to be more than 60 centimeters tall. While it prefers the sun, it tolerates temperatures of below zero degrees centigrade.
Unit 4
Friend or Enemy?
Read the excerpt from the play Winston and the Spider to learn about one kind of small creature. The scene begins with Winston and his wife Betty standing in their kitchen. Betty: (jumping in fright, and then shouting) Kill it!
Winston: (calmly ) Certainly not.
Betty: Why? You're not frightened of it, Winston, are you? It's only an insect.
Winston: It isn't an insect, Betty. It ‟s a spider. Actually, spiders are very useful creatures. I
watched a TV programme last night that completely changed my views about spiders.
Do you want to hear about it?
Betty: Not really, (She sighs.) but I suppose you're going to tell me anyway.
Winston: Spiders are the enemies of insects and the friends of humans. Chinese farmers
realized that years ago. Do you know that in parts of China, in autumn, farmers build
shelters for spiders and put them all over their fields?
Betty: No, I didn‟t know that.
Winston: (ignoring her remarks) The shelters are like little tents. Surviving winter in them, the
spiders emerge healthy and hungry when spring comes. At the same time, millions of
insects arrive to attack the farmers' crops. The spiders fill their empty stomachs, and
the farmers become happy because their fields have been protected.
Betty: So everyone's happy except the insects.
Winston: Right, and now this natural method of pest control is being copied all over the world. Betty: (looking bored) Interesting, but now I must go and...
Winston: (becoming excited ) Wait! There's more. What ‟s stronger than steel, lighter than a
feather and as elastic as a rubber band?
Betty: What?
Winston: It's the silk that spiders make their webs with. Scientists are trying to develop a
material having similar properties. They plan to use it in spacecraft, artificial organs
like hearts, and to make really bullet-proof vests.
Betty: I still think spiders are nasty and should be killed. Their bites are poisonous, aren't
they?
Winston: To insects, yes, but to people, rarely. But even their poison is useful. Doctors think it
might be used to treat brain disorders in humans.'
Betty: That's good news for you, then. (she laughs) But seriously, I get your point, Winston.
We should try to understand things in nature and not destroy them.'
S1B Unit 4 More Reading
The mystery of hibernation
No human has experienced hibernation, and yet many creatures experience it every year. Read the following article from a science magazine to see what hibernation is all about.
What do bears, bats and frogs have in common? They all hibernate. Hibernation is a state often compared to sleep. It often occurs in winter, when a creature does not move for weeks or months continuously. Creatures hibernate to survive the cold weather and the absence of food.
A typical example of a hibernating creature is the bat. When winter comes, bats find a safe place in a cave. Looking like they a dead, they hang upside down. Their pulse and breathing rates
greatly slow down. Their body temperatures drop as well. These things help them save energy during long winters when it is difficult to find food.
Frogs, like many amphibians, also hibernate when it gets cold. After digging deep into the mud at the bottom of a pond, they do not stir again until it is warm. During hibernation, they breathe through their skins, not their mouths.
Another hibernating creature is the bear. In contrast to other creatures, hibernating bears do not appear as though they are dead, but seem as though they are very sleepy. If they are disturbed during hibernation, they can get up very quickly. While hibernating, bears stay in their dens, which are filled with leaves to make their stay more comfortable and warmer. In spring, having awakened, they leave their dens, thin and hungry.
S1B Unit 5
What should I do?
Letters from students asking for advice are published anonymously in a school newspaper as a part of the “counselor’s corner.” Read excerpts from the letters below.
1
One evening last month, I was visiting a close friend in her new high-rise flat when she accidentally knocked a flower pot from her window. It smashed to the ground below, narrowly missing some children at play. On our way out, we stopped to take a look, but no one was hurt, so we said nothing and left for the cinema as planned.
Returning home later that evening, my friend learned that the police had been to the flats and questioned everyone. They had even taken a neighbor‟s son to the police station. After questioning him, they let him go temporarily. Frightened, my friend has said nothing to the police.
Though no one was hurt, I have a guilty conscience and ...
2
Last night, while traveling home on the ground, I saw three tough guys enter my almost empty carriage.
They sat down beside a young boy who was travelling alone and began to tease and bully him. Their behavior was so bad that it made him move to another seat, but that did no good. They just followed him and continued their bullying. The boy was obviously frightened. At this point, I stopped looking and got off at my station, feeling sorry for the boy. I regret not helping him, but not being Superman and hating violence, what could I do? Should I...
3
The checkout assistant at my usual supermarket is always rude and unhelpful. A few days ago, I gave her a fifty pound note to pay for a six-pound purchase, but she was so busy grumbling that she accidentally gave me an extra ten-pound note in my change.
On discovering the error, I went back and tried to tell her. 'Excuse me,' I said. However, before I could continue, she barked, 'Can't you see there's a queue? Go to the end and wait your turn.'
That did it! I left the shop with the ￡10 and a clear conscience. I had meant to correct the error before leaving, but she would not let me. The other hand…
S1B Unit 5 More Reading
A letter from the teacher counsellor
The school counselor wrote a letter to the students who sent her letters this week.
Lincoln High School News 5 May 2007
Dear students,
I am pleased to read your letters. You all seem very honest. However, you hesitated and showed a lack of courage in these unexpected situations. That is way you all have guilty conscience.
The best remedy for a guilty conscience is to make the situation right.
In the case of the flowerpot falling from the window, while the police let the boy go, everyone probably still thinks the boy did it. Making things right means your friend should go to the police and tell the truth. Then she needs to go to the boy and apologize. You must persuade her to do this.
In the case of the three tough guys, you can try contacting the transport police. Maybe they can watch for these guys and stop them before they hurt someone else.
In the case of the rude checkout assistant, the money does not belong to you—it belongs to the supermarket. You need to go to the supermarket manager and return the ￡10.
I regret to say it is not always easy to do the right thing. However, it is not right to let others suffer for our mistakes. Since you all seem to be good students, I know you will do your best.
If you have any questions or need any more advice, do not forget to visit me in my office. Thanks for your letters.
Sincerely
Ms. Robbins, School Counsellor
S1B Unit 6
Points of view
Are TV commercials for children bad or good? Read this opinion article fro a newspaper, followed by cuttings from the Letters to the Edition section, to see both sides.
A. Little Spenders are Big Spenders
The latest target for TV advertisers is Asia's fastest growing consumer group —children. Asian families are getting smaller and wealthier, and Asian children are watching more TV. One estimate says a typical Asian child sees about 10,000 minutes of TV commercials a year.
To get the attention (and the money) of these young viewers, the commercials use child actors. 'Kids can identify with someone from their own age-group,' says one advertiser, 'so the commercials are more effective‟. Of course, child actors earn big money.
'Not everyone is happy to see kids turned into consumers. Some educators believe that the more TV commercials children watch, the more materialistic they become. One Japanese survey asked children, “What do you want most in life?” Twenty per cent said money or possessions.
For these reasons, governments are taking action to protect children. Television authorities for example, would ban an ad if it made children feel inferior because they did not own the advertised product.
B. Bad for Children
With reference to your 'Little Spenders' article, children should not be used as actors in TV commercials. It is illegal for them to work in factories, so why are they allowed to make commercials? Regarding the high salaries, it is bad for children to have too much money.
--Li Yue
C. Silly Toys
Advertising to children is wrong because it makes them ask their parents for money to buy things. In addition, many things advertised, such as toys,are silly and encourage violence. A child buying these toys will learn nothing.
--Zhang Jie
D. Nothing wrong with commercials
I disagree that commercials are bad for children. They cannot be harmful or the government would have banned them long ago. Furthermore, what‟s wrong with children earning money or asking their parents to buy things for them? My final point is that children buy toys to have fun with, not to learn from. This explains why the “Magic Babies” are one of the world‟s best-selling toys, ever.
--Liu Ping, Sunshine Advertising
S1B Unit 6 More reading
Keys to a better life
Read the online article about teaching children how to manage money.
On 26 April 2005, about 7,400 American bankers went back to school again. This time they did not go to learn —they went to teach. Every April since 1997, the American Bankers Association has sponsored Teach Children to Save Days. On that day, bankers across the USA teach over 1.5 million primary and secondary school students how to handle their money.
In the USA, children, especially teenagers, are often big spenders. In 2003, for example, American teenagers spent $175 billion. This is an average of $104 per week per teenager. Few teenagers have any savings. Most typically spend money as fast as they can. Nearly all will continue their spending habits when they grow up.
For this reason, bankers have decided to teach children proper money management while they are still young. They show students how to budget their personal activities and make smart decisions about money. They explain to them how to balance their expenses against their income. They help the students understand their family‟s shopping and household expenses as well. Of course, students are also taught how to invest and save money.
As Benjamin Franklin said,‟ A penny saved is a penny earned‟ Moreover, money saved at interest can increase greatly in value over time. Children, like adults, therefore need to understand the value of saving money. This is what Teach Children to Save Day is all about.
The Phantom of the Opera
Read this short story adapted from the novel The Phantom of the Opera.
The Paris Opera House was a huge building. Beneath the building there was a strange, dark lake. On this lake was an island. On that island, one hundred years ago, lived the Phantom.
At birth he was so ugly that his own mother made him wear a mask. She forced him to leave home while he was still a child. He then spent years wandering the Earth until he found his home on the island. Yet, this monster of a man loved singing, and had a wonderful voice.
The phantom fell in love with Christine, a beautiful young singer at the Opera. He often sang to her late at night, hiding behind a secret wall in her room because he was afraid of letting her see his face. He taught her how to sing and helped her get better roles in the Opera. Christine enjoyed listening to his voice, too.
However, the Phantom wanted Christine for himself. He kidnapped her from the stage in front of the whole audience. Then, he took her down to his secret home on the lake. Only one man was brave enough to follow. He was Raoul, a young man who loved Christine. Raoul tried to rescue Christine, but the Phantom captured him and put him in a prison.
In the Phantom‟s house, Christine pulled off his mask and saw the real man. At first, she was shocked at his horrible face with yellow eyes and no nose, but then she felt sorry about his suffering. She understood how lonely his life had been. She gently kissed his face.
No woman had ever touched the Phantom before. Christine‟s kiss made him cry with joy. He released Raoul, and told him to take Christine to safety. By now, a group of people had reached the Phantom‟s house. They burst in, ready to kill him. At that moment the Phantom disappeared and was never seen again.
S1B Unit 1 More reading
The Concert Hall which moved
Reading this cutting from a city guide for Shanghai to see how one concert hall was kept from destruction.
In April 20003, the Shanghai Concert Hall was lifted into the air, and then moved 66.46 meters away.
The 5,650-tonne building was deigned and built in 1930 by Chinese architects Zhao Shen and Fan Wenzhao. Originally, the building was used for showing films. In 1959, it was changed into a concert hall. Some of the world‟s top musicians, including the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the violinist Isaac Stern, played there.
By 2002, however, the Shanghai Concert Hall faced some difficulties. The building was old and needed repair. Also, an elevated road had been built nearby. The noise of the traffic from the road drowned out the concerts. One way of saving the concert hall was moving it. So, over an eight-day period, workers used machinery to lift the concert hall into the air. They then pushed it along rails to a new location away from the elevated road.
The Shanghai Concert Hall was completely restored after being moved. It was also made larger to seat more people. On 1 October 2004 it reopened with a concert by the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. With new paint and a new location, the charm of the concert hall was brought back to life.
Two Geniuses
Albert Einstein was a very famous scientist in the twentieth century. Read this legend about him in a magazine article.
Many people regard Albert Einstein (1879-1955) as a genius. His attempt to explain the working of the universe led to the development of nuclear energy.
Einstein used to say that the only gift he had was curiosity, but this story about him shows that he also had a sense of humour.
As a young man with a growing reputation, Einstein received many invitations to go to universities to explain his theories at different universities. On these trips his driver was always the same—a man called Hans. Hans often said to him, 'It's a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Dr Einstein. ”
One evening, on their way to a distant university, Einstein said 'I wish I didn't have to give my lecture tonight, Hans. I'm so tired, but I don‟t want to let my audience down.
“You don't need to give the lecture.” said Hans. 'I can give it for you. I've listened to your lecture so many times that I‟ve learnt it by heart. No one knows you at this university, so they won ‟t find out.”
Einstein agreed with Hans, so they changed places. At the university, Hans was guided to a platform, where he stood surrounded by professors and students. Einstein took a seat in the audience, listened to Hans give his lecture perfectly, and joined in the applause at the end.
However, before Hans left the platform, a professor shouted from the audience, “I ‟d like to ask you a difficult question.” He then asked a question so complex that Hans had no idea what he was talking about.
Einstein thought, “Oh no! Now we‟re in trouble.” But Hans just laughed and said, “That ‟s not a difficult question. In fact, it‟s so easy that even my driver knows how to answer it. Hans, please …”
Einstein stood up and answered the question perfectly.
They left the university, with Einstein driving. A little later, Hans offered to drive. “No, my friend, ” said Einstein. “It ‟s a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Hans.”
S1B Unit 2 More reading
The Nobel Prize
Read this leaflet about the Noble Prize.
Alfred Nobel was an inventor born in Sweden. When he died in 1896, he left a lot of money and property. This was then worth about nine million US dollars, and later became the original source of the world-famous Nobel Prize.
Nobel believed that the spread of knowledge would make the world a better place. The yearly-awarded prizes are given to honour those who help mankind. Nobel said that the prizes should honour „the most important discoveries or inventions‟ in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and „the most outstanding works‟ in literature.
Since 1901. the Nobel Prize has been presented to the winners on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel‟s death. At the award ceremony in the Stockholm Concert Hall, the king of Sweden hands each winner a diploma and a medal. The ceremony is followed by a large banquet for about 1,300 people Among the guests of honour are the Nobel Prize winners and their families, the King and the Queen, and many well-known leaders in science and culture. Two
hundred and fifty young students are also honoured with invitations to this grand occasion.
S1B Unit 3
The interesting world of plants
Plants can be much more interesting than you think. Read this transcript from a nature film to find out why.
Water lilies can often be seen in China, with their round leaves, or pads, floating in ponds. In Hangzhou, there is a kind of water lily whose pads are so huge that a person can stand on them. This is a Victoria lily, the largest kind of water lily in the world. Its pads are more than two meters wide and its white or purple flowers can grow as large as 45 centimeters across.
Some flowering plants can also be eaten. The lotus, a near relative of the water lily, is such a plant. It has a long white root, in which there are many holes. In Asian countries, lotus roots and seeds are often cooked and served in meals. In the West, eating lotus roots or seeds is not as popular as it is in Asia.
The banyan tree is an interesting tree with many roots growing down from its branches. It can be found in South China and other parts of Asia. When its roots reach the ground, they plant themselves and grow bark. Eventually they either become part of the original tree trunk or become separate tree trunks. Using this method, banyan trees can cover an enormous area. The world's largest banyan tree, in India, covers an area larger than a football pitch. Even though it is only one tree, it looks like a whole forest!
Speaking of trees, a gingko tree believed to be around 2800 years old was recently discovered in Hebei Province, China. Many gingko trees have been around for more than 1000 years---that is the reason why they are known as 'longevity trees' in China. While gingko trees can live for a long time, they are not even near being the oldest trees. Bristlecone pine trees in America are among the oldest living trees. One bristlecone pine tree in Nevada is over 4600 years Old!
S1B Unit 3 More reading
Learn to care for plants
Read this article from a newspaper to get some new ideas about what plants you can grow this year.
Spring is in the air, so it is time to go outside and do some gardening. Here are three plants which can decorate your home.
Why not grow common white jasmine/ You can raise it as either a bush or a vine. Jasmine vines produce more flowers than jasmine bushes, but they need a frame to grow on. If you grow them on a frame over a path, the path will soon have a cover of whit, sweet-smelling flowers. Jasmine is not just for tea.
Of course, if you like blossoms, do not ignore the Yulan magnolia. These trees can grow to be over 12 meters tall. In early spring, they are covered with white blossoms which are more than 12 centimeters wide. After the blossoms fall off, green leaves cover the trees all summer. In autumn, these leaves change to red and orange before they litter the ground with color. The Yulan magnolia is ideal for cool, moist climates.
If you have no idea what to grow, you could plant a golden ball cactus. You could keep it in your house, or plant it outside where it can grow to be more than 60 centimeters tall. While it prefers the sun, it tolerates temperatures of below zero degrees centigrade.
Unit 4
Friend or Enemy?
Read the excerpt from the play Winston and the Spider to learn about one kind of small creature. The scene begins with Winston and his wife Betty standing in their kitchen. Betty: (jumping in fright, and then shouting) Kill it!
Winston: (calmly ) Certainly not.
Betty: Why? You're not frightened of it, Winston, are you? It's only an insect.
Winston: It isn't an insect, Betty. It ‟s a spider. Actually, spiders are very useful creatures. I
watched a TV programme last night that completely changed my views about spiders.
Do you want to hear about it?
Betty: Not really, (She sighs.) but I suppose you're going to tell me anyway.
Winston: Spiders are the enemies of insects and the friends of humans. Chinese farmers
realized that years ago. Do you know that in parts of China, in autumn, farmers build
shelters for spiders and put them all over their fields?
Betty: No, I didn‟t know that.
Winston: (ignoring her remarks) The shelters are like little tents. Surviving winter in them, the
spiders emerge healthy and hungry when spring comes. At the same time, millions of
insects arrive to attack the farmers' crops. The spiders fill their empty stomachs, and
the farmers become happy because their fields have been protected.
Betty: So everyone's happy except the insects.
Winston: Right, and now this natural method of pest control is being copied all over the world. Betty: (looking bored) Interesting, but now I must go and...
Winston: (becoming excited ) Wait! There's more. What ‟s stronger than steel, lighter than a
feather and as elastic as a rubber band?
Betty: What?
Winston: It's the silk that spiders make their webs with. Scientists are trying to develop a
material having similar properties. They plan to use it in spacecraft, artificial organs
like hearts, and to make really bullet-proof vests.
Betty: I still think spiders are nasty and should be killed. Their bites are poisonous, aren't
they?
Winston: To insects, yes, but to people, rarely. But even their poison is useful. Doctors think it
might be used to treat brain disorders in humans.'
Betty: That's good news for you, then. (she laughs) But seriously, I get your point, Winston.
We should try to understand things in nature and not destroy them.'
S1B Unit 4 More Reading
The mystery of hibernation
No human has experienced hibernation, and yet many creatures experience it every year. Read the following article from a science magazine to see what hibernation is all about.
What do bears, bats and frogs have in common? They all hibernate. Hibernation is a state often compared to sleep. It often occurs in winter, when a creature does not move for weeks or months continuously. Creatures hibernate to survive the cold weather and the absence of food.
A typical example of a hibernating creature is the bat. When winter comes, bats find a safe place in a cave. Looking like they a dead, they hang upside down. Their pulse and breathing rates
greatly slow down. Their body temperatures drop as well. These things help them save energy during long winters when it is difficult to find food.
Frogs, like many amphibians, also hibernate when it gets cold. After digging deep into the mud at the bottom of a pond, they do not stir again until it is warm. During hibernation, they breathe through their skins, not their mouths.
Another hibernating creature is the bear. In contrast to other creatures, hibernating bears do not appear as though they are dead, but seem as though they are very sleepy. If they are disturbed during hibernation, they can get up very quickly. While hibernating, bears stay in their dens, which are filled with leaves to make their stay more comfortable and warmer. In spring, having awakened, they leave their dens, thin and hungry.
S1B Unit 5
What should I do?
Letters from students asking for advice are published anonymously in a school newspaper as a part of the “counselor’s corner.” Read excerpts from the letters below.
1
One evening last month, I was visiting a close friend in her new high-rise flat when she accidentally knocked a flower pot from her window. It smashed to the ground below, narrowly missing some children at play. On our way out, we stopped to take a look, but no one was hurt, so we said nothing and left for the cinema as planned.
Returning home later that evening, my friend learned that the police had been to the flats and questioned everyone. They had even taken a neighbor‟s son to the police station. After questioning him, they let him go temporarily. Frightened, my friend has said nothing to the police.
Though no one was hurt, I have a guilty conscience and ...
2
Last night, while traveling home on the ground, I saw three tough guys enter my almost empty carriage.
They sat down beside a young boy who was travelling alone and began to tease and bully him. Their behavior was so bad that it made him move to another seat, but that did no good. They just followed him and continued their bullying. The boy was obviously frightened. At this point, I stopped looking and got off at my station, feeling sorry for the boy. I regret not helping him, but not being Superman and hating violence, what could I do? Should I...
3
The checkout assistant at my usual supermarket is always rude and unhelpful. A few days ago, I gave her a fifty pound note to pay for a six-pound purchase, but she was so busy grumbling that she accidentally gave me an extra ten-pound note in my change.
On discovering the error, I went back and tried to tell her. 'Excuse me,' I said. However, before I could continue, she barked, 'Can't you see there's a queue? Go to the end and wait your turn.'
That did it! I left the shop with the ￡10 and a clear conscience. I had meant to correct the error before leaving, but she would not let me. The other hand…
S1B Unit 5 More Reading
A letter from the teacher counsellor
The school counselor wrote a letter to the students who sent her letters this week.
Lincoln High School News 5 May 2007
Dear students,
I am pleased to read your letters. You all seem very honest. However, you hesitated and showed a lack of courage in these unexpected situations. That is way you all have guilty conscience.
The best remedy for a guilty conscience is to make the situation right.
In the case of the flowerpot falling from the window, while the police let the boy go, everyone probably still thinks the boy did it. Making things right means your friend should go to the police and tell the truth. Then she needs to go to the boy and apologize. You must persuade her to do this.
In the case of the three tough guys, you can try contacting the transport police. Maybe they can watch for these guys and stop them before they hurt someone else.
In the case of the rude checkout assistant, the money does not belong to you—it belongs to the supermarket. You need to go to the supermarket manager and return the ￡10.
I regret to say it is not always easy to do the right thing. However, it is not right to let others suffer for our mistakes. Since you all seem to be good students, I know you will do your best.
If you have any questions or need any more advice, do not forget to visit me in my office. Thanks for your letters.
Sincerely
Ms. Robbins, School Counsellor
S1B Unit 6
Points of view
Are TV commercials for children bad or good? Read this opinion article fro a newspaper, followed by cuttings from the Letters to the Edition section, to see both sides.
A. Little Spenders are Big Spenders
The latest target for TV advertisers is Asia's fastest growing consumer group —children. Asian families are getting smaller and wealthier, and Asian children are watching more TV. One estimate says a typical Asian child sees about 10,000 minutes of TV commercials a year.
To get the attention (and the money) of these young viewers, the commercials use child actors. 'Kids can identify with someone from their own age-group,' says one advertiser, 'so the commercials are more effective‟. Of course, child actors earn big money.
'Not everyone is happy to see kids turned into consumers. Some educators believe that the more TV commercials children watch, the more materialistic they become. One Japanese survey asked children, “What do you want most in life?” Twenty per cent said money or possessions.
For these reasons, governments are taking action to protect children. Television authorities for example, would ban an ad if it made children feel inferior because they did not own the advertised product.
B. Bad for Children
With reference to your 'Little Spenders' article, children should not be used as actors in TV commercials. It is illegal for them to work in factories, so why are they allowed to make commercials? Regarding the high salaries, it is bad for children to have too much money.
--Li Yue
C. Silly Toys
Advertising to children is wrong because it makes them ask their parents for money to buy things. In addition, many things advertised, such as toys,are silly and encourage violence. A child buying these toys will learn nothing.
--Zhang Jie
D. Nothing wrong with commercials
I disagree that commercials are bad for children. They cannot be harmful or the government would have banned them long ago. Furthermore, what‟s wrong with children earning money or asking their parents to buy things for them? My final point is that children buy toys to have fun with, not to learn from. This explains why the “Magic Babies” are one of the world‟s best-selling toys, ever.
--Liu Ping, Sunshine Advertising
S1B Unit 6 More reading
Keys to a better life
Read the online article about teaching children how to manage money.
On 26 April 2005, about 7,400 American bankers went back to school again. This time they did not go to learn —they went to teach. Every April since 1997, the American Bankers Association has sponsored Teach Children to Save Days. On that day, bankers across the USA teach over 1.5 million primary and secondary school students how to handle their money.
In the USA, children, especially teenagers, are often big spenders. In 2003, for example, American teenagers spent $175 billion. This is an average of $104 per week per teenager. Few teenagers have any savings. Most typically spend money as fast as they can. Nearly all will continue their spending habits when they grow up.
For this reason, bankers have decided to teach children proper money management while they are still young. They show students how to budget their personal activities and make smart decisions about money. They explain to them how to balance their expenses against their income. They help the students understand their family‟s shopping and household expenses as well. Of course, students are also taught how to invest and save money.
As Benjamin Franklin said,‟ A penny saved is a penny earned‟ Moreover, money saved at interest can increase greatly in value over time. Children, like adults, therefore need to understand the value of saving money. This is what Teach Children to Save Day is all about.