Unit 1 Cultural heritage

Reading?and Thinking

FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS

從問題重重到迎刃而解

Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.

社會進步需要經(jīng)濟發(fā)展。新舊更替的時代已經(jīng)帶來，在走向未來的過程中，我們不可能將過去的一切都保存下來。在發(fā)展與文化遺址保護之間尋找恰當?shù)钠胶恻c，并加以保持，這可能是一項巨大的挑戰(zhàn)。

Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.

然而，巨大的挑戰(zhàn)有時會帶來偉大的解決方案。20世紀50年代，埃及政府打算在尼羅河上新建一座大壩，可以防洪、發(fā)電并為該地區(qū)更多的農(nóng)民供水。但是，該提議引發(fā)了抗議。因為大壩泄流很可能會損壞許多寺廟，摧毀一批文物，而這些文物是埃及文化遺產(chǎn)的重要組成部分。在聽取了研究該問題的科學家以及大壩附近居民的意見后，政府于1959年向聯(lián)合國求助。

A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.

委員會成立了，旨在減少對埃及建筑物的破壞和防止文物的損失。該委員會要求各部門予以支持，并在國際范圍內(nèi)籌集資金。專家們經(jīng)過調查研究，多次測試，提出一個保住那些建筑的方案。最終，(埃及政府)簽署了一份文件，于1960年開始動工。

The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.

該項目匯集了來自世界各地的政府機構和環(huán)保人士。寺廟和其他文化遺址被逐塊拆解，運至一個不受河水侵襲的安全地帶。1961年，德國工程師搬遷了第一座寺廟。在隨后的20年里，成千上萬的工程師和工人拯救了22座寺廟和不計其數(shù)的文物。五十個國家向該項目捐贈了近8000萬美元。

When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.

該項目于1980年完工，它被視為一個巨大的成功。這些國家不僅找到了一條不以犧牲古跡為代價的未來發(fā)展之路，而且明白了多個國家合作共創(chuàng)美好未來的可能性。

The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.

如今，阿斯旺水壩工程的精神尚存。也許最好的例子就是聯(lián)合國教科文組織，該組織開展了一項防止世界各地世界文化遺產(chǎn)消失的計劃。如果一個問題對木一個國家來說難度太大，那么國際社會有時可為其提供一個解決方案。

Reading for Writing

PROMOTING CULTURE THROUGH DIGITAL IMAGES

通過數(shù)碼影像推廣文化

Lanzhou, 9 August 2017.?A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are working together to help increase knowledge and appreciation of China’s ancient cultural heritage. They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high-quality digital photographs have been produced since the international project started in 1994.

(2017年8月9日，蘭州) 一支由中國及其他國家的研究人員和科學家組成的科研團隊，正在通力合作，以加強人們對中國古代文化遺產(chǎn)的認識與鑒賞力。他們正在記錄和收集莫高窟文物的數(shù)碼圖像，莫高窟在中國古代歷史上是絲綢之路的一個重要站點。1994年該國際項目啟動以來，團隊已經(jīng)制作了近50萬張高質量的數(shù)碼照片。

The Mogao Caves have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries. Today, the caves are just as international as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road. Tourists from all over the world visit Dunhuang to see the caves, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has even reproduced a copy of the caves and paintings for people to admire in America.

長期以來，莫高窟一直是多元文化的交匯點，也是許多國家歷史文化的一部分。如今，這些洞窟的國際地位可與當年人們在絲綢之路上跋涉的時候相提并論。來自世界各地的游客紛紛造訪敦煌、欣賞洞窟；位于洛杉磯的蓋蒂博物館甚至還復制了這些洞窟和壁畫的照片，供人們在美國欣賞。

By sharing so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even wider interest around the world in China’s ancient history, culture, and traditions. They also hope to further educate people about the importance of safeguarding historic and cultural relics for future generations to understand and appreciate. As one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding oneself. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”

這些科學家和研究者在網(wǎng)絡上分享了大量(有關莫高窟的)電子照片，希望在世界范圍內(nèi)促使人們對中國古代歷史和文化習俗產(chǎn)生更廣泛的興趣。他們還希望進一步教育人們認識和保護歷史文化遺跡以供后代了解和欣賞的重要性。正如該項目的一位研究人員所解釋的：“欣賞本國文化遺產(chǎn)，有助于了解我們自己。欣賞他國文化遺產(chǎn)對于增進國際交流和理解是非常重要的?！?/span>

Unit 2 Wildlife protection

Reading and Thinking

A DAY IN THE CLOUDS

在云間度過的一天

The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.

空氣很稀薄，我們不得不在離開營地的短途徒步旅行中休息多次。在我們的左方，白雪皚皚的群山消失在似乎觸手可及的云層中。放眼平原，我們隱約看到一群體形優(yōu)美的動物。這就是我們來到此地的原因——觀察藏羚羊。

Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass. I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.

藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上?？粗鼈冊诰G色的草地上緩慢移動。我被其美麗所震撼，也想到了它們所處的險境。因其珍貴的羊毛，它們正遭受非法獵殺。

My guide is Zhaxi, a village from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”

我的導游扎西是一位來自羌塘的村民。他在羌塘國家自然保護區(qū)工作。該保護區(qū)是西藏西北部動植物的庇護所。對于扎西來說，這片土地是神圣的，保護野生動植物是一種生活方式?！拔覀儾皇窃谠噲D拯救動物?！彼f道，“其實我們是在努力拯救自己?！?/span>

The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.

上個世紀八九十年代對于藏羚羊來說是一個悲慘的時代。藏羚羊數(shù)量減少了50％以上。獵人們?yōu)榱酥\利而射殺藏羚羊。隨著新公路和鐵路的修建，它們的棲息地也不斷縮小。

In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.

為了使這個物種免遭滅絕，中國政府將其置于國家保護之下。扎西和其他志愿者晝夜守衛(wèi)著藏羚羊，保護它們免受攻擊。新增的橋梁和涵洞，便于藏羚羊自由穿行，防止它們撞上汽車和火車。

The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.

這些措施是有效的。藏羚羊的數(shù)量已經(jīng)恢復，2015年6月，藏羚羊從瀕危物種名單中刪除。然而，政府并沒有打算停止這些保護項目，因為對藏羚羊的威脅尚未消失。

In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.

夜晚時分，我喝著茶，仰望星空。心里想起藏羚羊和扎西對我說的那番話。在野生動物保護方面盡管我們正在做大量工作，但是如果我們真的想拯救地球，就必須改變我們自己的生活方式。只有學會與大自然和諧相處，我們才不會成為野生動植物和地球的威脅。

Reading?for Writing

Give Ugly a Chance!

給難看的動物一個機會！

When it comes to wildlife protection, all species—the good, the bad, and the ugly—should be treated equally. Pandas, dolphins, and other cute wildlife are important, but we must pay attention to less cute animals, too. The world needs all kinds—without variety, our planet cannot survive. So if you want the future to be beautiful, you have to give ugly a chance.

談到野生動物保護，所有的物種——包括好的、壞的和丑的——都應得到平等對待。熊貓、海豚和其他可愛的野生動物固然很重要，但我們也必須關注那些不怎么可愛的動物。世界需要萬物——沒有多樣性，我們的地球就無法生存。因此，如果你想讓未來變得美麗，你得給不好看的動物一個機會。

Don’t Make Paper with My Home!

不要用我的家來造紙！

Billions of trees are being cut down every year to make paper for humans. Every tree that is cut down is a part of the habitat of animals such as these koalas. In this way a lot of animal homes are being destroyed! Is it right to make animals homeless so that humans can have more paper?

每年有數(shù)十億棵樹木遭到砍伐，以供人類造紙。每一棵被砍伐的樹木都是諸如樹袋熊等動物棲息地的一部分。砍樹造紙摧毀了很多動物的家園！為了讓人類有更多的紙張，就讓動物無家可歸，這樣做對嗎？

Unit 3 The internet

Reading and Thinking

STRONGER TOGETHER:

HOW WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED

BY THE INTERNET

團結起來力量大：互聯(lián)網(wǎng)如何改變了我們

Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. We no longer have to wait in line or carry cash around when we go shopping. We can get the most updated information from large databases. We can download software, documents, and images whenever we need them. But the Internet has done much more for people than simply make life more convenient. People’s lives have been changed by online communities and social networks.

關于萬維網(wǎng)奇妙之處的著述瀚如煙海。講述互聯(lián)網(wǎng)如何使我們的生活更加方便的文章數(shù)不勝數(shù)。當我們?nèi)ベ徫飼r，我們不再需要排隊或隨身攜帶現(xiàn)金。我們可以從大型數(shù)據(jù)庫獲得最新的信息。我們可以隨時下載軟件、文檔和圖片。然而，互聯(lián)網(wǎng)為人們做的事情還很多，并不僅僅是讓生活更加便利。在線社區(qū)和社交網(wǎng)絡改變了人們的生活。

Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer to keep her company. After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group where she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that usually exists between people.

英國伯明翰的一位英語教師簡·夏曼尼突然身患重病，被迫辭職。50歲時，她發(fā)現(xiàn)自己失業(yè)了，困在家里，只有電腦相伴。過了一段時間，她發(fā)現(xiàn)上網(wǎng)可以幫助她減輕孤獨和無聊。她可以聽音樂、看電影、玩游戲和探索世界。她還加入了一個在線群組，在群里她可以談論自己的問題，并獲得他人的支持和建議。她意識到互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的最大好處之一就是能夠消除通常存在于人與人之間的距離感。

She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59-year-old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of himself, his daughter has time to study at university. A 61-year-old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together with two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.

網(wǎng)友給了她很大的啟發(fā)，她決定成立一個IT俱樂部來教老年人如何使用電腦和互聯(lián)網(wǎng)。如今，她和朋友們一起組織活動，并募集資金來支付私人教師的工資。許多人得到了俱樂部的幫助。一名59歲的男子學會了如何在線申請工作，并找到了一份不錯的工作?，F(xiàn)在他工作了，而且可以照顧好自己，他的女兒就有時間上大學了。一位61歲獨居婦女與兩個朋友一起創(chuàng)辦了一家小型網(wǎng)絡公司。她不再感到孤獨，她的公司也相當成功。

Jan has started taking online classes to learn more about how to use the Internet to make society better. She believes that it is highly important to bridge the digital divide and make sure that everyone has access to the Internet and knows how to use new technology. Her next goal is to start a charity website to raise money for children in poor countries.

簡開始參加網(wǎng)絡課程，更多地學習關于如何利用互聯(lián)網(wǎng)讓社會變得更加美好。她認為，消除數(shù)字鴻溝、確保每個人都能使用互聯(lián)網(wǎng)并知道如何運用新技術是非常重要的。她的下一個目標是建立一個慈善網(wǎng)站，為貧窮國家的兒童募集資金。

Jan’s life has been greatly improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges,” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me to offer help.”

互聯(lián)網(wǎng)極大地改善了簡的生活?！爱斈闵硖幠婢硶r，你會遇到面臨相似挑戰(zhàn)的人”簡說道，“想到別人的處境，我就會受到激勵，伸出援助之手?！?/span>

Reading?for Writing

Today I thought I’d blog about a question that has been asked many times—how do you stay safe online and avoid bad experiences on the Internet? I’m not an expert, but many years as a blogger have taught me a thing or two.

今天，我想寫篇博客談談一個多次被問到的問題——如何確保安全上網(wǎng)，避免在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上遇到不愉快呢？我不是專家，但多年作為博主的經(jīng)驗教會了我一些東西。

First of all, there’s the golden rule of the Internet: If you see or read something that makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the site immediately. Don’t post comments or click on anything. Second, protect your privacy. Don’t give out your address or phone number. Someone might use the information to steal your identity. Identity theft is a common and serious problem. Third, be polite. Being online is no excuse for being rude, and you don’t want to become a target for a troll or cyberbully. A troll is a person who posts comments or questions in order to stir up trouble online. Trolls often use several false names so that they can stay on a site. A cyberbully uses the Internet to be mean to others. Like a troll, a cyberbully will also write something mean but it is usually directed at particular people. He or she may also post embarrassing photos and information about those people. However, the more polite you are, the less likely it is you will be attacked.

首先，互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的黃金法則是：如果你看到或讀到一些讓你反感的內(nèi)容，立即退出這個網(wǎng)站。不要發(fā)表評論，也不要點擊任何東西。其次，保護你的隱私。不要透露你的地址或電話號碼。有人可能會利用這些信息來竊取你的身份。身份盜竊是一個普遍而嚴重的問題。第三，要有禮貌。上網(wǎng)并非行為粗魯?shù)慕杩?，而且你也不想成為網(wǎng)絡挑事者或網(wǎng)絡惡霸的目標。網(wǎng)絡挑事者就是在網(wǎng)上張貼評論或問題以挑起事端的人。為了長期待在一個網(wǎng)站上，網(wǎng)絡挑事者經(jīng)常使用多個假名。網(wǎng)絡惡霸利用互聯(lián)網(wǎng)來欺負別人。就網(wǎng)絡挑事者一樣，網(wǎng)絡惡霸也會寫一些惡意的東西，但通常是針對特定的人。網(wǎng)絡惡霸也可能在網(wǎng)上發(fā)一些讓這些人感到尷尬的照片和信息。然而，你越有禮貌，你被攻擊的可能性就越小。

Have you had any bad experiences online, or do you have some good advice for staying safe? Post your comments below!

你在網(wǎng)上有過不愉快的經(jīng)歷嗎？或者對于安全上網(wǎng)你有什么好建議嗎？請在下面發(fā)表你的評論！

Boy579:?Last year, we were having problems in our chat room. Mean comments were being posted by someone we didn’t know. I think he or she was only trying to make trouble.

Boy579：?去年，我們的聊天室出了點問題。有我們不認識的人發(fā)了一些惡意的評論。我覺得這家伙是想搗亂。

Amy:?A girl at my school had a very bad experience online. A photo of her had been posted online and she was being made fun of. It seemed like a joke at first, but the girl was very upset.

艾米：?我們學校的一個女孩在網(wǎng)上有過一段很糟糕的經(jīng)歷。她的一張照片被傳到網(wǎng)上，被人嘲笑了。剛開始雖然像是在開玩笑，但是這個女孩很不開心。

Unit 4 History and traditions

Reading and Thinking

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

名為何物？

The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are confused by what these different names mean. So what is the difference between them, if any? Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.

聯(lián)合王國、大不列顛、英國、英格蘭——很多人對這些不同名稱的含義感到困惑。如果這些名稱有區(qū)別的話，那么它們的區(qū)別何在？稍微了解一下英國歷史，就可以幫助你解開這個謎題。

In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which resulted in the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”, which means the UK is also often referred to as Britain or Great Britain.

十六世紀時，鄰國威爾士并入英格蘭王國。隨后，在十八世紀，蘇格蘭加入了進來，從而誕生了大不列顛王國。十九世紀時，愛爾蘭王國加入，一起組成了大不列顛及愛爾蘭聯(lián)合王國。最后，在二十世紀時，愛爾蘭南部脫離了聯(lián)合王國，形成了我們?nèi)缃袼吹降娜Q：大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯(lián)合王國。大多數(shù)人只是使用簡稱：“聯(lián)合王國”。聯(lián)合王國的人被稱為“英國人”，這意味著聯(lián)合王國也經(jīng)常被稱為英國或大不列顛。

The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!

同屬于聯(lián)合王國的這四個國家在某些領域緊密合作。像擁有相同的貨幣和國防一樣，他們也使用同一面國旗（稱為“英國國旗”）。然而，它們之間仍有諸多區(qū)別。例如，英格蘭、威爾士、蘇格蘭和北愛爾蘭在教育和法律制度上都存在著差異。它們也有各自的傳統(tǒng)，比如有自己的國慶節(jié)和本國菜肴。它們甚至擁有各自的足球隊，參加像“世界杯”之類的賽事！

The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century, left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.

英國歷史源遠流長、別有趣味，等待你去探索，幫助你進一步了解這個國家及其傳統(tǒng)。英國歷史上有四個不同民族在不同歷史時期執(zhí)掌這個國家。第一批是羅馬人，于公元一世紀進入英國。羅馬人的偉大成就在于他們建立城鎮(zhèn)和修建道路。之后是盎格魯—撒克遜人，于公元五世紀到達英國。他們引入了英語的雛形，并改變了人們建造房屋的方式。維京人于公元八世紀到來，留下了許多新的詞匯，并給英國境地內(nèi)的許多地方命名。最后一批是諾曼人。十一世紀著名的黑斯廷斯戰(zhàn)役之后，諾曼人征服了英格蘭。他們在四處修建城堡，并改革了法律制度。諾曼人是法國人，因此英語中慢慢加入了許多法語單詞。

There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable. The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are countless historic sites to explore, and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a fascinating mix of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.

英國的歷史文化引人入勝，可學之處比比皆是。研究這個國家的歷史將讓你的英國之旅更加愉快。以首都倫敦為第一站是一個不錯的選擇，因為倫敦是一個古老的港口城市，其歷史可以追溯到羅馬時代。這里有數(shù)不勝數(shù)的歷史遺跡可供游覽，還有許多博物館陳列著來自英國各地的文物。在英國，歷史與現(xiàn)代文化交融，新舊傳統(tǒng)并存。如果留心去觀察，英國的過去和現(xiàn)在都將展示在你的面前，令你嘆為觀止。

Reading?for Writing

BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS

美麗的愛爾蘭及其傳統(tǒng)

Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence on its people and traditions. The country has a long history of producing great writers and poets. Its beautiful countryside excites and inspires all, offering something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald IsIe” and its many green counties is a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions that include music, dancing, and dining. To have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you’re lucky, you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce yourself to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs first-hand.

一直以來，愛爾蘭美麗的鄉(xiāng)村對其人民和傳統(tǒng)產(chǎn)生著深遠的影響。愛爾蘭有著孕育杰出作家和詩人的悠久傳統(tǒng)。美麗的鄉(xiāng)村給人以激情和靈感，滿足各種感官享受。“綠寶石(愛爾蘭)島”風光寧靜秀美，郡縣草木蔥蘢，青山連綿起伏，牛羊點綴其中，堪稱一場名副其實的視覺盛宴。海邊波浪咆哮，海鳥鳴叫，奏響了海岸交響樂。山里寧靜的早晨，感受陽光照在你身上，呼吸著鮮花的芬芳，鳥兒用清晨的歌聲來迎接新的一天的到來。這般美景，造就了愛爾蘭音樂、舞蹈及菜肴等獨有的民間傳統(tǒng)也就不足為奇了。要想體驗這一切，可以去一家鄉(xiāng)村酒吧，喝上一杯葡萄酒或本地的啤酒放松一下。更為美妙的是，可品嘗美味的愛爾蘭傳統(tǒng)燉牛肉。如果運氣好的話，你也許還可以欣賞到傳統(tǒng)的音樂和舞蹈。向友善的當?shù)厝俗鰝€自我介紹，你定能親身體驗當?shù)氐奈幕土曀住?/span>

Unit 5 Music

Reading and Thinking

THE VIRTUAL CHOIR

虛擬合唱團

Imagine having the opportunity to sing together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record themselves while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded onto the Internet, and then they are put together into one video that you can see online—a virtual choir. Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from anywhere—all you need is a video camera and an Internet connection. You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect ordinary people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance to join a local choir. A virtual choir enables them to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the global community. It has proved to be a positive influence on the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, “Music helps me to ... forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.”

想象一下，獨自在家時，你可以與數(shù)百人一起引吭高歌。虛擬合唱團能夠讓你的想象成為現(xiàn)實。虛擬合唱團的成員們把各自的歌唱視頻錄制下來，上傳到互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上，然后這些視頻被合并成一個你可以在線觀看的視頻——虛擬大合唱。任何人，無論身處何地，都可以參加虛擬合唱團——你只需要是一臺攝像機，并且能夠上網(wǎng)。你連錄音棚都不需要。虛擬合唱團將普通人聯(lián)系起來。許多人沒有親密的朋友，也沒有志趣相投的私交，還有許多人沒有機會參加當?shù)氐暮铣獔F。虛擬合唱團讓他們能夠與其他人一起歡歌，成為全球社區(qū)的一部分。事實證明，虛擬合唱團對許多人的生活產(chǎn)生了積極的影響。正如一位虛擬合唱團成員所說：“音樂幫助我……忘記自己的煩惱。音樂，讓我脫胎換骨?！?/span>

The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. Born in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began studying music at the University of Nevada in 1988. He fell in love with Mozart’s classical music when he sang for the university choir. Moved by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.” He graduated from university in 1995, and then received a master’s degree in musical composition from the Juilliard School in New York in 1997. Over the next 10 years, Whitacre’s original compositions began to become quite popular among choirs and singers. This led to the creation of the virtual choir.

虛擬合唱團是屢獲殊榮的作曲家兼指揮埃里克·惠塔克的創(chuàng)意?；菟擞?970年1月2日出生在美國，1988年開始進入內(nèi)華達大學學習音樂。當大學合唱團期間，他愛上了莫扎特的古典音樂。他被這段音樂打動了，他說：“那種(興奮的)感覺就如同第一次看見色彩一樣?！彼?995年大學畢業(yè)，隨后于1997年獲得紐約茱莉亞音樂學院音樂創(chuàng)作碩士學位。在接下來的十多年里，惠塔克的原創(chuàng)作品深受合唱團和歌手中的歡迎，這促使了虛擬合唱團的創(chuàng)建。

In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works. Inspired, he asked his fans to make videos, which he then joined together into one performance. His first virtual choir, “Lux Aurumque”, had 185 singers from 12 different countries. It has received millions of views on the Internet. Since then, the virtual choir has become a worldwide phenomenon. Whitacre’s next effort was the Virtual Youth Choir for UNICEF, which was first seen on stage on 23 July 2014 in the UK. Altogether, 2,292 young people from 80 countries joined in to sing Whitacre’s song “What If”.

2009年，惠塔克收到了一個女孩演唱他創(chuàng)作的一部作品的視頻。受此啟發(fā)，惠塔克邀請歌迷們錄制視頻，然后他把這些視頻拼接成一場演出。他創(chuàng)辦的首個虛擬合唱團“金色之光”擁有來自12個不同國家的185位歌手。該合唱團在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上的點擊量已超過百萬次。自此，虛擬合唱團風靡全球。惠塔克的第二個壯舉是打造聯(lián)合國兒童基金會“虛擬青年合唱團”，該團于2014年7月23日在英國首次登臺亮相，總共有來自80個國家的2292名青年參與演唱惠塔克的歌曲《假如》。

The virtual choir is a wonderful way for people around the world to sing with one voice and thus make the world a better place.

虛擬合唱團提供一種絕妙的方式，讓世界各地的人們能夠同聲歌唱，世界因此變得更加美好。

Reading?for Writing

Good morning, my name is Sarah Williams. It’s an honour to be here and to share with you the story of how music has had an impact on my life.

早上好！我叫莎拉·威廉姆斯。很榮幸來到這里與大家分享音樂是如何影響我的人生的。

Have you ever faced a time when things looked dark and you had no hope at all? Two years ago, I was told I had a serious disease which was difficult to cure. My body ached all the time and thus I thought I didn’t have much longer to live. I was very afraid and I felt so alone and discouraged. Then one day, I had to go through a two-hour medical treatment. The doctor wanted me to relax, so he had me listen to some music, and one of the songs was “Happy”. The song made me feel so much better that from then on I began to listen to music all the time. John A. Logan said, “Music is the medicine of the mind.” And it’s true. Music helped me recover.

你是否曾經(jīng)經(jīng)歷過黯淡無光、萬念俱灰的一段時光？兩年前，我得知我患了一種很難治愈的嚴重疾病，全身一直疼痛，我以為覺得自己活不了多久了。我很害怕，我感到十分孤獨、沮喪。后來有一天，我需要去接受兩個小時的治療。醫(yī)生想要我放松，就讓我聽了一些音樂，其中一首歌是《快樂》。聽著這首歌，讓我感覺好多了；從此以后，我開始一直聽音樂。約翰·A·洛根曾說過：“音樂是心靈的良藥?！钡拇_如此，音樂幫助我康復了。

Music gave me happiness. When I listened to music, it made my spirits fly like a kite in the wind. Music gave me strength and brought me relief. It was the rock I leant on to become strong and to get through those hard times. Moreover, music gave me hope and a sense of satisfaction. It became my best friend. It spoke words of encouragement to the deepest part of my being.

音樂給我?guī)砹丝鞓?。當我聽音樂時，音樂讓我的心情放飛，像風中的風箏。音樂給了我力量，也讓我得到解脫。音樂是巖石，讓我倚靠，變得堅強，度過那些艱難的歲月。不僅如此，音樂還給了我希望和滿足感。音樂成了我最好的朋友。音樂讓我的內(nèi)心深受鼓舞。

Of course, I hope none of you have to go through the same kind of suffering that I did. At the same time, we all go through various periods when we feel sad or alone. During those times, music can help you in the same way that it helped me. I hope all of you will somehow begin to treasure music and make it a part of your life.

當然，我希望你們不要經(jīng)歷和我一樣的痛苦。同時，我們都會經(jīng)歷各種悲傷或孤獨的時期。在那時，音樂可以幫助你，就像它曾經(jīng)幫助我一樣。我希望大家能以某種方式都能開始珍惜音樂，并讓它融入到你們的生活。