高中英语必修2课文(人教版)

高中英语必修2课文(人教版)高中英语必修2课文(人教版)高中英语必修2课文(人教版)V:1.0精细整理，仅供参考高中英语必修2课文(人教版)日期：20xx年X月高中英语必修2（人教版）

Unit1CulturalrelicsINSEARCHOFTHEAMBER

FrederickWilliamI,theKingofPrussia,couldneverhaveimaginedthathisgreatestgifttotheRussianpeoplewouldhavesuchanamazinghistory.ThisgiftwastheAmberRoom,whichwasgiventhisnamebecauseseveraltonsofamberwereusedtomakeit.Theamberwhichwasselectedhadabeautifulyellow-browncolourlikehoney.Thedesignoftheroomwasinthefancystylepopularinthosedays.Itwasalsoatreasuredecoratedwithgoldandjewels,whichtookthecountry'sbest

Infact,theroomwasnotmadetobeagift.ItwasdesignedforthepalaceofFrederickI.However,thenextKingofPrussia,FrederickWilliamI,towhomtheamberroombelonged,decidednottokeepit.In1716hegaveittoPetertheGreat.Inreturn,theCzarsenthimatroopofhisbestsoldiers.SotheAmberRoombecamepartoftheCzar'swinterpalaceinStPetersburg.Aboutfourmetreslong,theroomservedasasmall

Later,CatherineIIhadtheAmberRoommovedtoapalaceoutsideStPetersburgwhereshespenthersummers.Shetoldherartiststoaddmoredetailstoit.In1770theroomwascompletedthewayshewanted.Almostsixhundredcandleslittheroom,anditsmirrorsandpicturesshonelikegold.Sadly,althoughtheAmber

InSeptember1941,theNaziarmywasnearStPetersburg.Thiswasatimewhenthetwocountrieswereatwar.BeforetheNaziscouldgettothesummerpalace,theRussianswereabletoremovesomefurnitureandsmallartobjectsfromtheAmberRoom.However,someoftheNazissecretlystoletheroomitself.Inlessthantwodays100,000pieceswereputinsidetwenty-sevenwoodenboxes.ThereisnodoubtthattheboxeswerethenputonatrainforKonigsberg,whichwasatthattimeaGermancityontheBalticSea.Afterthat,whathappenedtothe

Recently,theRussiansandGermanshavebuiltanewAmberRoomatthesummerpalace.BystudyingoldphotosoftheformerAmberRoomAFACTORANOPINIONWhatisafactIsitsomethingthatpeoplebelieveNo.Afactisanythingthatcanbeproved.Forexample,itcanbeprovedthatChinahasmorepeoplethananyothercountryintheworld.Thisisafact.ThenwhatisanopinionAnopinioniswhatsomeonebelievesistruebuthasnotbeenproved.Soanopinionisnotgoodevidenceinatrial.Forexample,itisanopinionifyousay“Catsarebetterpetsthandogs”.Itmaybetrue,butitisdifficulttoprove.Somepeoplemaynotagreewiththisopinionbuttheyalsocannotprovethattheyareright.Inatrial,ajudgemustdecidewhicheyewitnessestobelieveandwhichnottobelieve.Thejudgedoesnotconsiderwhateacheyewitnesslookslikeorwherethatpersonlivesorworks.He/sheonlycaresaboutwhethertheeyewitnesshasgiventrueinformation,whichmustbefactsratherthanopinions.Thiskindofinformationiscalledevidence.

Unit2TheOlympicGamesANINTERVIEWPausanias,whowasaGreekwriterabout2,000yearsago,hascomeonamagicaljourneyonMarch18th2007tofindoutaboutthepresent-dayOlympicGames.HeisnowinterviewingLiYan,avolunteerforthe2008OlympicGames.P:MynameisPausanias.Ilivedinwhatyoucall“AncientGreece”andIusedtowriteabouttheOlympicGamesalongtimeago.I’vecometoyourtimetofindoutaboutthepresent-dayOlympicGamesbecauseIknowthatin2004theywereheldinmyhomeland.MayIaskyousomequestionsaboutthemodernOlympicsL:Goodheavens!HaveyoureallycomefromsolongagoButofcourseyoucanaskanyquestionsyoulike.WhatwouldyouliketoknowP:HowoftendoyouholdyourGamesL:Everyfouryears.TherearetwomainsetsofGames-theWinterandSummerOlympics,andbothareheldeveryfouryearsonaregularbasis.TheWinterOlympicsareusuallyheldtwoyearsbeforetheSummerGames.Onlyathleteswhohavereachedtheagreedstandardfortheireventwillbeadmittedascompetitors.Theymaycomefromanywhereintheworld.P:WinterGamesHowcantherunnersenjoycompetinginwinterAndwhataboutthehorsesL:Ohno!Therearenorunningracesorhorseridingevents.Insteadtherearecompetitionslikeskiingandiceskatingwhichneedsnowandice.That’swhythey’recalledtheWinterOlympics.It’sintheSummerOlympicsthatyouhavetherunningraces,togetherwithswimming,sailingandalltheteamsports.P:Isee.Earlieryousaidthatathletesareinvitedfromallovertheworld.DoyoumeantheGreekworldOurGreekcitiesusedtocompeteagainsteachotherjustforthehonourofwinning.Noothercountriescouldjoinin,norcouldslavesorwomen!L:Nowadaysanycountrycantakepartiftheirathletesaregoodenough.Thereareover250sportsandeachonhasitsownstandard.Womenarenotonlyallowed,butplayaveryimportantroleingymnastics,athletics,teamsportsand…P:Pleasewaitaminute!Allthoseevents,allthosecountriesandevenwomentakingpart!WherearealltheathleteshousedL:ForeachOlympics,aspecialvillageisbuiltforthemtolivein,amainreceptionbuilding,severalstadiumsforcompetitions,andagymnasiumaswell.P:Thatsoundsveryexpensive.DoesanyonewanttohosttheOlympicGamesL:Asamatteroffact,everycountrywantstheopportunity.It’sagreatresponsibilitybutalsoagreathonourtobechosen.There’sasmuchcompetitionamongcountriestohosttheOlympicsastowinOlympicmedals.The2008OlympicswillbeheldinBeijing,China.DidyouknowthatP:Ohyes!Youmustbeveryproud.L:Certainly.Andafterthatthe2012OlympicswillbeheldinLondon.Theyhavealreadystartedplanningforit.AnewvillagefortheathletesandallthestadiumswillbebuilttotheeastofLondon.Newmedalswillbedesignedofcourseand…P:DidyousaymedalsSoeventheolivewreathhasbeenreplaced!Ohdear!DoyoucompeteforprizemoneytooL:No,wedon’t.it’sstillallaboutbeingabletorunfaster,jumphigherandthrowfurther.That’sthemottooftheOlympics,youknow-“Swifter,HigherandStronger.”P:Well,that’sgoodnews.Howinteresting!Thankyousomuchforyourtime.THESTORYOFATLANTA

AtlantawasaGreekprincess.ShewasverybeautifulandcouldrunfasterthananymaninGreece.ButshewasnotallowedtorunandwingloryforherselfintheOlympicGames.Shewassoangrythatshesaidtoherfatherthatshewouldnotmarryanyonewhocouldnotrunfasterthanher.Herfathersaidthatshemustmarry,soAtlantamadeabargainwithhim.Shesaidtohim,"Thesearemyrules.Whenamansayshewantstomarryme,Iwillrunagainsthim.Ifhecannotrunasfastasme,hewillbekilled.Noonewillbepardoned."

ManykingsandprinceswantedtomarryAtlanta,butwhentheyheardofherrulestheyknewitwashopeless.Somanyofthemsadlywenthome,butothersstayedtoruntherace.TherewasamancalledHippomeneswhowasamazedwhenheheardofAtlanta'srules,"Whyarethesemensofoolish"hethought."Whywilltheyletthemselvesbekilledbecausetheycannotrunasfastasthisprincess"However,whenhesawAtlantacomeoutofherhousetorun,Hippomeneschangedhismind."IwillmarryAtlanta-ordie!"hesaid.

Theracestartedandalthoughthemenranveryfast,Atlantaranfaster.AsHippomeneswatchedhethought,"HowcanIrunasfastasAtlanta"HewenttoasktheGreekGoddessofLoveforhelp.Shepromisedtohelphimandgavehimthreegoldenapples.Shesaid,"ThrowanappleinfrontofAtlantawhensheisrunningpast.Whenshestopstopickitup,youwillbeabletorunpastherandwin."HippomenestooktheapplesandwenttotheKing.Hesaid,"IwanttomarryAtlanta."TheKingwassadtoseeanothermandie,butHippomenessaid,"Iwillmarryher-ordie!"Sotheracebegan.

Unit3ComputersWHOAMI

OvertimeIhavebeenchangedquitealot.IbeganasacalculatingmachineinFrancein1642.AlthoughIwasyoungIcouldsimplifydifficultsums.IdevelopedveryslowlyandittooknearlytwohundredyearsbeforeIwasbuiltasananalyticalmachinebyCharlesBabbage.AfterIwasprogrammedbyanoperatorwhousedcardswithholes,Icould"think"logicallyandproduceananswerquickerthananyperson.Atthattimeitwasconsideredatechnologicalrevolutionandthestartofmy"artificialintelligence".In1936myrealfather,AlanTuring,wroteabookabouthowIcouldbemadetoworkasa"universalmachine"tosolveanydifficultmathematicalproblem.Fromthenon,Igrewrapidlybothinsizeandinbrainpower.Bythe1940sIhadgrownaslargeasaroom,andIwonderedifIwouldgrowanylarger.However,thisrealityalsoworriedmydesigners.Astimewentby,Iwasmadesmaller.FirstasaPC(personalcomputer)andthenasalaptop,Ihavebeenusedinofficesandhomessincethe1970s.

Thesechangesonlybecamepossibleasmymemoryimproved.Firstitwasstoredintubes,thenontransistorsandlateronverysmallchips.AsaresultItotallychangedmyshape.AsIhavegrownolderIhavealsogrownsmaller.Overtimemymemoryhasdevelopedsomuchthat,likeanelephant,IneverforgetanythingIhavebeentold!AndmymemorybecamesolargethatevenIcouldn'tbelieveit!ButIwasalwayssolonelystandingtherebymyself,untilintheearly1960stheygavemeafamilyconnectedbyanetwork.IwasabletosharemyknowledgewithothersthroughtheWorldWideWeb.

Sincethe1970smanynewapplicationshavebeenfoundforme.Ihavebecomeveryimportantincommunication,financeandtrade.Ihavealsobeenputintorobotsandusedtomakemobilephonesaswellashelpwithmedicaloperations.IhaveevenbeenputintospacerocketsandsenttoexploretheMoonandMars.Anyhow,mygoalistoprovidehumanswithalifeofhighquality.IamnowtrulyfilledwithhappinessthatIamadevotedfriendandhelperofthehumanrace!ANDY–THEANDROIDI’mpartofanandroidfootballteam.Aboutonceayearweareallowedtogettogethertoplayagameoffootball.I’masbigasahuman.Infact,Ilooklikeonetoo.OnthefootballteamI’mastrikersoIhavetobeabletorunveryfast.Mycomputerchipshelpmetomoveandthinklikeahuman.Forexample,IhavelearnedtosignaltomyteammatesincomputerlanguagetogivemetheballwhenIamopenandhaveagoodshotforagoal.MyfirstfootballcompetitionwasinNagoya,Japanseveralyearsago.LastyearourteamwenttoSeattle,WashingtonintheUSA.Wewonsecondplace.Personally,Ithinktheteamthatwonfirstplacecheated.Theyhaddevelopedanewtypeofprogramjustbeforethecompetition.Soweneedtoencourageourprogrammertoimproveourintelligencetoo.Wearedeterminedtocreateanevenbettersystem.Inawayourprogrammerislikeourcoach.Sheprogramsuswithallthepossiblemovesshehasseenwhilewatchinghumangames.Thenshepreparesreliablemovestouseifanewsituationarises.InthiswayIcanmakeupnewmovesusingmy“artificialintelligence”.Icouldliketoplayagainstahumanteam,forIhavebeenprogrammedtoactjustlikethem.Afterall,withthehelpofmyelectronicbrainwhichneverforgetsanything,usingmyintelligenceiswhatI’mallabout!

Unit4WildlifeprotectionHOW

DAISY

LEARNED

TO

HELP

WLDLIFE

Daisyhadalwayslongedtohelpendangeredspeciesofwildlife.Onedayshewokeupandfoundaflyingcarpetbyherbed."Wheredoyouwanttogo"itasked.Daisyrespondedimmediately."I'dliketoseesomeendangeredwildlife,"shesaid."PleasetakemetoadistantlandwhereIcanfindtheanimalthatgavefurtomakethissweater."AtoncethecarpetflewawayandtookhertoTibet.ThereDaisysawanantelopelookingsad.Itsaid,"We'rebeingkilledforthewoolbeneathourstomachs.Ourfurisbeingusedtomakesweatersforpeoplelikeyou.Asaresult,wearenowanendangeredspecies."AtthatDaisycried,"I'msorryIdidn'tknowthat.Iwonderwhatisbeingdonetohelpyou.Flyingcarpet,pleaseshowmeaplacewherethere'ssomewildlifeprotection."

TheflyingcarpettravelledsofastthatnextminutetheywereinZimbabwe.Daisyturnedaroundandfoundthatshewasbeingwatchedbyanelephant."Haveyoucometotakemyphoto"itasked.InreliefDaisyburstintolaughter."Don'tlaugh,”saidtheelephant,"Weusedtobeanendangeredspecies.Farmershunteduswithoutmercy.Theysaidwedestroyedtheirfarms,andmoneyfromtouristsonlywenttothelargetourcompanies.Sothegovernmentdecidedtohelp.Theyallowedtouriststohuntonlyacertainnumberofanimalsiftheypaidthefarmers.Nowthefarmersarehappyandournumbersareincreasing.Sogoodthingsarebeingdoneheretosavelocalwildlife."

Daisysmiled."That'sgoodnews.Itshowstheimportanceofwildlifeprotection,butI'dliketohelpastheWWFsuggests."Thecarpetroseagainandalmostatoncetheywereinathickrainforest.Amonkeywatchedthemasitrubbeditself."Whatareyoudoing"askedDaisy.”I’mprotectingmyselffrommosquitoes,"itreplied."WhenIfindamillipedeinsect,Irubitovermybody.Itcontainsapowerfuldrugwhichaffectsmosquitoes.YoushouldpaymoreattentiontotherainforestwhereIliveandappreciatehowtheanimalslivetogether.Norainforest,noanimals,nodrugs."Daisywasamazed."Flyingcarpet,pleasetakemehomesoIcantellWWFandwecanbeginproducingthisnewdrug.Monkey,pleasecomeandhelp."Themonkeyagreed.Thecarpetflewhome.Astheylanded,thingsbegantodisappear.Twominuteslatereverythinghadgone-themonkey,too.SoDaisywasnotabletomakehernewdrug.Butwhatanexperience!Shehadlearnedsomuch!AndtherewasalwaysWWF…ANIMALEXTINCTIONManyanimalshavedisappearedduringthelonghistoryoftheearth.Themostfamousoftheseanimalsaredinosaurs.Theylivedontheearthtensofmillionsofyearsago,longbeforehumanscameintobeingandtheirfutureseemedsecureatthattime.ThereweremanydifferentkindsofdinosaurandanumberofthemusedtoliveinChina.Theeggsoftwenty-fivespecieshavebeenfoundinXixia,County,Nanyang,HenanProvince.Notlongagoararenewspeciesofbird-likedinosaurwasdiscoveredinChaoyangCounty,LiaoningProvince.Whenscientistsinspectedthebones,theyweresurprisedtofindthatthesedinosaurscouldnotonlyrunliketheothersbutalsoclimbtrees.Theylearnedthisfromthewaytheboneswerejoinedtogether.Dinosaursdiedoutsuddenlyabout65millionyearsago.Somescientiststhinkitcameafteranunexpectedincidentwhenahugerockfromspacehittheearthandputtoomuchdustintotheair.Othersthinktheearthgottoohotforthedinosaurstoliveonanymore.Nobodyknowsforsurewhyandhowdinosaursdisappearedfromtheearthinsuchashorttime.Weknowmanyotherwildplants,animals,insectsandbirdshavediedoutmorerecently.AccordingtoaUNreport,some844animalsandplantshavedisappearedinthelast500years.Thedodoisoneofthem.ItlivedontheIslandofMauritiusandwasaveryfriendlyanimal.Pleaselistentoastoryofthedodoandhowitdisappearedfromtheearth.

Unit5MusicTHEBANDTHATWASN'T

HaveyoueverwantedtobepartofabandasafamoussingerormusicianHaveyoueverdreamedofplayinginfrontofthousandsofpeopleataconcert,atwhicheveryoneisclappingandappreciatingyourmusicDoyousingkaraokeandpretendyouareafamoussingerlikeSongZuyingorLiuHuanTobehonest,alotofpeopleattachgreatimportancetobecomingrichandfamous.Butjusthowdopeopleformaband

Manymusiciansmeetandformabandbecausetheyliketowriteandplaytheirownmusic.Theymaystartasagroupofhigh-schoolstudents,forwhompracticingtheirmusicinsomeone'shouseisthefirststeptofame.Sometimestheymayplaytopassers-byinthestreetorsubwaysothattheycanearnsomeextramoneyforthemselvesortopayfortheirinstruments.Latertheymaygiveperformancesinpubsorclubs,forwhichtheyarepaidincash.Ofcoursetheyhopetomakerecordsinastudioandsellmillionsofcopiestobecomemillionaires!

However,therewasonebandthatstartedinadifferentway.ItwascalledtheMonkeesandbeganasaTVshow.Themusiciansweretoplayjokesoneachotheraswellasplaymusic,mostofwhichwasbasedlooselyontheBeatles.TheTVorganizershadplannedtofindfourmusicianswhocouldactaswellassing.Theyputanadvertisementinanewspaperlookingforrockmusicians,buttheycouldonlyfindonewhowasgoodenough.Theyhadtouseactorsfortheotherthreemembersoftheband.Assomeoftheseactorscouldnotsingwellenough,theyhadtorelyonothermusicianstohelpthem.Soduringthebroadcaststheyjustpretendedtosing.Anyhowtheirperformanceswerehumorousenoughtobecopiedbyothergroups.Theywereso