外研社选修8课文英文版

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1、必修8Module 1Deep SouthAntarctica: the Last ContinentAntarctica is the coldest place on Earth. Its also the driest. With annual rainfall close to zero, Antarctica is technically a desert. Covering about 14 million square kilometers around the South Pole, it is the fifth largest continent in the world.

2、 A high mountain range, the Trans-Antarctic range, runs from east to west, cutting the continent in two. There are volcanoes too, but they are not very active. Antarctica holds 90% of the worlds ice, and most of its fresh water is in a frozen state, of course. 98% of the surface is covered permanent

3、ly in the ice cap. On average it is two kilometers thick, but in some places it reaches a depth of five kilometers. Strong winds driven by gravity blow from the pole to the coastline, while other winds blow round the coast. It is difficult to imagine a more inhospitable place. Yet Antarctica is full

4、 wildlife, which has adapted to its extreme conditions. There are different types of penguins, flying birds, seals, and whales. But the long Antarctic winter night, which lasts for 182 days , as well as the extreme cold and lack of rainfall, means that few types of plants can survive there. Only two

5、 types of flowering plants are found, while there are no trees on the large continent. The rest of the plants are made up of mosses, algae and lichen. Some forms of algae have adapted to grow on ice.Most of the ice has been there for thousands of years. As a result, it has bee a window on the past,

6、and can give researchers lots of useful information. Gases and minerals, in the form of volcanic dust trapped in the ice, can tell us a lot about what the worlds climate was like in past ages. Antarctic rocks are also very important for research. Most of them are meteorites from outer space. One roc

7、k, known as the Alien rock, may contain evidence of extra-terrestrial life.Since most Antarctic rocks are dark in colour, they stand out against the white background and are easy to identify and collect.Antarctica was the last continent to be discovered. But more than two thousand years ago Greek ge

8、ographers believed that there was a large land mass in the south which balanced the land in the north. They called it Anti-Arktikos, or Antarcica: the opposite of Arcitc. When Europeans discovered the continent of America in 15thcentury, the great age of exploration began. However, progress to the S

9、outh ole was slow. Not until the late 18th century did the British explorer James Cook cross the Antarctic Circle, but he never saw land. Then in 1895, a Norwegian called Carstens Borchgrevink became the first man to set foot on the Antarctic mainland. The race to the pole had begun. It was finally

10、reached on 11th December, 1911 by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen.Today scientists from many countries travel to Antarctica to study its resources. A spirit of international friendship has replaced the rivalry that existed between many of the earlier explorers. In 1961, a treaty signed by 12 countries,

11、 including Britain, France, and the USA made Antarctica the worlds biggest nature reserve. The aim of the treaty is to prevent the mercial and military use of the continent. In particular, it aims to keep Antarcticafree from nuclear tests and radioactive waste; to promote international scientific pr

12、ojects; and to end arguments about who owns the land. Today countries representing 80% of the worlds population have signed the treaty. Antarctica has bee perhaps the most successful symbol of mans efforts to work together for progress and peace.How Failure Became SuccessOn 8th August, 1914, 27 men

13、who had replied to an advertisement in The Times boarded a ship leaving for the Antarctic. The name of the ship was the Endurance and the captain was an Irishman called Ernest Shackleton.The aim of the journey was to cross the frozen continent via the South Pole journey of 1,800 miles. Shackleton th

14、ought the journey would last six months.But when land came into sight, the Endurance became trapped in the ice and began to break up. Shackleton and his men watched the Endurance sink into the icy sea. They then headed north, pulling three lifeboats behind them.After six days, bad weather forced the

15、m to give up and the men set up camp on a sheet of ice which began slowly moving across the Antarctic Circle. They survived on the ice for five months. Then, on 16th April, 1915, Shackleton saw land. It was Elephant Island large rock with nothing growing on it, but much better than a floating piece

16、of ice. When they reached the island, Shackleton came up with an idea it was a risk but he would have to take it. He and five men would take one of the lifeboats, and sail 800 miles to South Georgia, where there was a permanent camp. They could then return to rescue the rest of the men.It took Shack

17、leton 17 days to rach South Georgia. Unfortunately he landed on the wrong side of the island, and had to walk 36 hours over mountains to reach the camp. The whale hunters all the camp couldnt believe their eyes when they saw the six men walking down from the mountains.Shackleton kept his promise. Mo

18、re than three months later, he returned to Elephant Island to rescue the crew he had been forced to abandon. He had failed to reach the pole but he had saved the lives of all his men.Wele to the South Poles!South Poles? How many are there?In fact, there are three South Poles: a ceremonial Pole, whic

19、h is on the moving glacier, a geographical or true Pole, and a magnetic Pole which changes its position according to the movement of the Earth.Is it safe?Because the South Pole is a high altitude site, the glare of the sunlight here is very intense. Its also reflected by the snow, so if you go outsi

20、de, remember to wear sunglasses and use suncream. If you dont theres severe risk that youll damage your eyesight or get badly sunburnt.Is it cold?Yes! Be very careful out in the open air! The temperature is between minus 21C in the summer and minus 78C in the winter, and you can bee numb with cold w

21、ithout realizing. Theres heavy frost even on the warmest summer days, and if its quiet you can hear your breath freeze. So if you leave the station, dress warmly and carry dry clothing and a portable radio.Is there anything good about the weather?The air is very pure, and it doesnt snow very much on

22、ly about four millimeters a year. Theres very little wind and the sky is usually clear. Its possibly the calmest place on Earth.Whats it like to live here?Life is quite abnormal.Sunriseand sunset e once every six months, and in the winter the total absence of daylight can be tiresome, and for some,

23、depressing. Were totally isolated except for radio and electronic munications, as no aircraft can fly here for about eight months.Where do we live?The South Pole scientific station is situated on a platform of ice, 3,000-4,000 metres high, but under only a few millimetres of snow. We have a minimum

24、of 28 people living here in the winter and a maximum of 125 in the summer. The living quarters are modest, with few luxuries, but cosy. Theres a fortable dormitory for sleeping, the canteen serve great food, and theres a well-stocked library of DVDs and videos. But showers and laundry are limited, b

25、ecause water is very valuable. We discourage you from smoking except in specific areas. Medical assistance is available in case of an emergency.Any other advice?Remember that conventional equipment doesnt always work as it should do. If you use an electric drill, the power cord will snap. Photograph

26、y is tricky too, as film is fragile and the camera battery doesnt work in the cold.Dont leave any rubbish, and dont forget that the ecology of Antarctica is very delicate, so dont take any souvenirs home with you, and be careful to leave nothing but footprints.Finally, remember that were all visitor

27、s to the South Pole. Itsa privilege, not a right to e to thisextraordinary place.The Travels of Marco PoloThe year is 1271 AD. Imagine a 17-year-old boy from VeniceItaly, well-educated and trained for life as a rich trader. He sets off with his father and uncle on a 25-year journey to mysterious, di

28、stant lands that most people in Europe have never heard of. While on their journey buying and selling spices, silks and jewels, they befriend one of the most powerful men on Earth, Kubla Khan.The boys name was Marco Polo and many years later a book about his travels was published which made him famo

29、us. Marco Polo told his fantastic stories to a writer named Rustichello who wrote them down for him. This man was well-known for his stories and romantic tales of the legendary English King Arthur, but so many people doubted the reliability of his book the Travels of Marco Polo. However, Chinese his

30、torians have found obscure names and facts in the book that could only have been known to someone intimate with the country.Many of Marcos stories were about China and its people. He told stories about the towns, cities and populations in great detail. He described the amazing things he saw in China

31、 such as paper money and black stone that burned . With very little contact between China and the West, it is not surprising that people in a rich powerful place like Venice could not believe his stories, nor in the idea of huge, rich city statesinhabited by millions of people. There could surely be

32、 no parison with Venice?A general myth has grown up around Marco Polo that he introduced such things as spaghetti and ice cream from China to the West. There is no truth to any of these claims and actually they are not mentioned in Marco Polos book.However, Marco Polos book is still a unique insight

33、 for its age. Most importantly it was a great influence for many future travelers. Christopher Columbus left behind a well-worn copy that he read as inspiration on his own voyages to America.Module 2 The RenaissanceThe RenaissanceFor many people, the Renaissance means 14th to 16th century Italy, and

34、 the developments in art and architecture, music and literature which took place there all that time. But there is one work which, perhaps more than any other, expresses the spirit of the Renaissance: the Mona Lisa. It is believed to be the best example of a new lifelike style of painting that amaze

35、d people when it was first used. Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the years 1503-1506, the Mona Lisa is a mysterious masterpiece. People want to know who Mona Lisa is, and why she is smiling. Even if people do not know much about the Renaissance, they have heard of this painting.But the Renaissance i

36、s, of course, more than just Mona Lisa. Renaissance is a French word which means rebirth and it first appeared in English in the 19th century. The word was used to describe a period in European history which began with the arrival of the first Europeans in America, and age of exploration, and the be

37、ginning of the modern world. It was as if Europe was waking up after the long sleep of the Middle Ages. From Italy, the ideas of the Renaissance rapidly spread northwards to France, Germany, England, and the rest of Europe. Trade with other parts of the world meant thatEurope was getting richer, too

38、. This meant that people had money to spend on the arts; and it became easier for artists to find people who could afford to buy their works or employ them. Leonardo worked for important people such as the Duke of Milan, and, towards the end of his life, the King of France. Renaissance artists found

39、 new ideas for their work in classical Greece and Rome. But they looked forward, too, by opening new frontiers in the arts. Painters discovered how to use perspective and the effects of light; posers put different voices together and created polyphony many voices; architects preferred designing buil

40、dings with more light which contrasted with the heaviness of the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages.The sense of exploration which motiveated the artists went had in hand with a new type of philosophy. After centuries of accepting a medieval world view in which human life was considered of little

41、value pared with the greatness of God, philosophers began asking questions like What is a person? or Why am I here? For the first time, they put people, not religion, at the centre of the universe.The Renaissance was a time of scientific invention, too. Leonardo, as well as being one of the greatest

42、 painters the world has ever known, was also a skilled inventor. Wherever he went, he carried a notebook around with him, in which he wrote down his ideas. They included detailed drawings of the human body, plans for engineers to build canals and bridges, and astonishing drawings of machines which w

43、ere not to be built until hundreds of years later, such as aeroplanes, parachutes, submarines and tanks. Towards the end of his life he was employed by the King of France to do scientific research, and he did not have a lot of time for painting.In short, Leonardo was an extraordinary genius, an exam

44、ple of what has been described as Renaissance man: someone interested in everything and with many different talents. But even if his only contribution to history had been the Mona Lisa, it would have been genius enough for all time.ThursdayWe arrived on the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland and

45、 took a train to Amsterdam Central Station. It was only a short ride. Its not easy to find your way around the town. A lot of the roads follow the canals which arent straight but are shaped like horseshoes. So you can walk along a street for half an hour of so and end up five minutes from where you

46、started. However, most people dont walk there are three million bikes in town and a good bus and tram system. There are boats, too. About half of them are for tourists, the others are houseboats with people living on them. We spent the whole day walking. Tomorrow were going to rent bikes.FridayWe sp

47、ent today looking at houses. The architecture is astonishing, quite different from other European countries weve been to. The houses are tall and thin, and many of them have a fantastically ornate Renaissance appearance. In the Middle Ages the houses were made of wood. Then, at the end of the 15th c

48、entury there was a huge fire and about three quarters of the town was destroyed. After that, houses were made of brick. Unlike other places in Europe, where house owners were taxed on the size of their windows, here the taxes depended on the width of the house so they kept them narrow, but built the

49、m tall. Well, thats what Claire says, and she read it in the guidebook.SaturdayWe visited the Van Gogh Museum, instead of the more famous Rijksmuseum. It was astonishing. I hadnt really looked at any of Van Goghs paintings before. He seems to have re-invented the art. It doesnt matter whether he is

50、doing a portrait of a landscape hes a genius. In the last 70 days of his life before he short himself he produced 70 paintings, and I reckon theyre almost all masterpieces. Yet in all his life Van Gogh only ever sold one painting! We must have spent three hours in that museum. When we came out I tol

51、d Claire I thought Van Gogh was the greatest painter in history. She reminded me that we were leaving for Paris tomorrow, where we were going to see the most famous painting in the world The puzzle of the Mona LisaThe Mona Lisa is the subject of many stories, but there is one anecdote which remains

52、a puzzle. Is the painting in the Louvre the authentic work by Leonardo da Vinci or just a copy?The story began one day in 1911 when someone noticed the Mona Lisa was missing. A spokesman said, The burglar left the antique frame and the glass behind. He must have gone through the basement to the main

53、 courtyard. A passerby saw a man with a moustache, carrying a parcel under his arm, dash over the street crossing, along to the crossroads. He then fled down a sideroad. Were appealing to anyone who saw the suspect to contact us.So we stole the Mona Lisa? And why? News about the loss of the Mona Lis

54、a was circulated in all the French newspapers, and there was a widespread search for the burglar all over the country. He police said, we dont think the burglar was working alone. Were seeking a gang of criminals.Two years later, a man with a moustache went to an art dealer in Florence in Italy and

55、made a tentative attempt to sell the Mona Lisa. The art dealer checked it, agreed it was authentic and then called the police.Why did the burglar, Vincenzo Perugia, wait so long? Perugia had stolen the Mona Lisa on behalf of the chief organizer of the crime, Eduardo de Valifierno. But Perugia made a

56、 fundamental mistake. He trusted da Valfierno to pay him for tha painting. The drawback for Perugia was that de Valfierno didnt in fact need the painting, only the news of the theft. De Valfierno made six superb copies and sold them, claiming that each one was the authentic stolen painting. Of cours

57、e, the fact that there were six substitutes was confidential. The six buyers didnt know about the other paintings. Whats more, de Valfierno didnt need to pay his debt to Perugia. After two years, Perugia got tired of waiting to be paid, and tried to sell the painting. When the real Mona Lisa turned

58、up in Florence, de Valfierno simply told his buyers that it was merely a copy.The oute of the story is that Perugia got the blame for the crime and went to prison. De Valfierno remained at liberty for the rest of his life.But there is still a puzzle. There were a number of precise copies of the Mona

59、 Lisa painted by gifted students of Leonardo da Vinci. Part of the paintings fascination is whether the one in the Louvre was authentic even before it was stolen. And if Perugia stole a copy who has the authentic Mona Lisa?PrintingPrinting is the process of making many copies of a single document us

60、ing movable characters or letters. In China, printing was known as early as in the 7th century, during the Tang Dynasty; in Europe, it was an important part of the Renaissance. Printing answered a need because people were thirsty for knowledge.Before printing was invented, copies of a manuscript had

61、 to be made by hand, usually on animal skins. This was a difficult task that could take many years, and which made books very expensive. Printing made it possible to produce more copies in a few weeks than could have been produced in a lifetime written out by hand.It is believed that a German, Johan

62、n Gutenberg, made the first printing press in Europe. He adapted it from the machines farmers used to squeeze oil from olives. It used paper, which was more suitable for printing than animal skins. Paper, like printing, had been invented much earlier in China and it had found its way to Europe, via

63、southeast Asia and then India. By the 10th century AD, paper was being produced in Baghdad. The first paper mill in Europe was built at the end of the 12th century.The first book that Gutenberg produced was a Bible. But as the ideas of the Renaissance developed, so did the demand for the Greek and L

64、atin classics, which had been largely ignored for up to 2,000 years. People also wanted books in their own languages. The invention of printing meant that this desire could be satisfied.Soon there were printing presses all over northern Europe. In 1476 William Caxton set up his own press in London,

65、and England became one of the most important centres of the printing industry. This spread of printed books led to a renewed passion for artistic expression. Without the development of the printing press, the Renaissance may never have happened. Without inexpensive printing to make books available to a large section of society, the son of John Shakespeare, a government official in rural England in the mid-1500s, may never have been inspired to take up writing as a profession