2023人教版英语九年级课文原文

2023人民教育出版社九年级英语教科书课本课文目录Unit1howcanwebecomegoodlearners? 1Unit2Ithinkthatmooncakesaredelicious! 2Unit3couldyoupleasetellmewheretherestroomsare? 4Unit4Iusedtobeafraidofthedark 5Unit5whataretheshirtsmadeof? 6Unit6whenwasitinvented? 7Unit7Teenagersshouldbeallowedtochoosetheirownclothes 8Unit8ItmustbelongtoCarla 9Unit9IlikemusicthatIcandanceto 10Unit10you’resupposedtoshakehands 11Unit11sadmoviesmakemecry 13Unit12lifeisfulloftheunexpected 14Unit13wearetryingtosavetheearth 15Unit14IremembermeetingallofyouinGrade7 16Unit1howcanwebecomegoodlearners?HowILearnedtoLearnEnglishLastyear,IdidnotlikemyEnglishclass.Everyclasswaslikeabaddream.Theteacherspoketooquickly.ButIwasafraidtoaskquestionsbecausemypronunciationwasverybad.SoIjusthidbehindmytextbookandneversaidanything.ThenonedayIwatchedanEnglishmoviecalledToyStory.Ifellinlovewiththisexcitingandfunnymovie!SothenIbegantowatchotherEnglishmoviesaswell.AlthoughIcouldnotunderstandeverythingthecharacterssaid,theirbodylanguageandtheexpressionsontheirfaceshelpedmetogetthemeaning.IalsorealizedIcouldgetthemeaningbylisteningforjustthekeywords.MypronunciationalsoimprovedbylisteningtotheinterestingconversationsinEnglishmovies.Idiscoveredthatlisteningtosomethingyouareinterestedinisthesecrettolanguagelearning.Ialsolearnedusefulsentenceslike“It’sapieceofcake”or“Itservesyouright.”Ididnotunderstandthesesentencesatfirst.ButbecauseIwantedtounderstandthestory,Ilookedupthewordsinadictionary.NowIreallyenjoymyEnglishclass.Iwanttolearnnewwordsandmoregrammar.ThenIcanhaveabetterunderstandingofEnglishmovies.HowCanYouBecomeaSuccessfulLearner?Everyoneisbornwiththeabilitytolearn.Butwhetherornotyoucandothiswelldependsonyourlearninghabits.Researchshowsthatsuccessfullearnershavesomegoodhabitsincommon.CreatinganinterestinwhattheylearnStudiesshowthatifyouareinterestedinsomething,yourbrainismoreactiveanditisalsoeasierforyoutopayattentiontoitforalongtime.Goodlearnersoftenconnectwhattheyneedtolearnwithsomethingtheyareinterestedin.Forexample,iftheyneedtolearnEnglishandtheylikemusicorsports,theycanlistentoEnglishsongsorwatchsportsprogramsinEnglish.Thiswaytheywillnotgetbored.PracticingandlearningfrommistakesGoodlearnersthinkaboutwhattheyaregoodatandwhattheyneedtopracticemore.Remember,“useitorloseit”!Evenifyoulearnsomethingwell,youwillforgetitunlessyouuseit.Practicemakesperfect.Goodlearnersarealsonotafraidofmakingmistakes.AlexanderGrahamBelldidnotinventthetelephoneovernight.Hesucceededbytryingmanytimesandlearningfromhismistakes.DevelopingtheirstudyskillsItisnotenoughtojuststudyhard.Youhavetoknowhowtostudy.Goodlearnersfindoutthebestwaystolearnwell.Forexample,theymaytakenotesbywritingdownkeywordsorbydrawingmindmaps.Goodlearnersalsolookforwaystoreviewwhattheyhavelearned.Theymaydothisbyreadingtheirnoteseverydayorbyexplainingtheinformationtoanotherstudent.AskingquestionsGoodlearnersoftenaskquestionsduringorafterclass.Theyevenaskeachotherandtrytofindouttheanswers.Knowledgecomesfromquestioning.Learningisalife-longjourneybecauseeverydaybringssomethingnew.Everythingthatyoulearnbecomesapartofyouandchangesyou,solearnwiselyandlearnwell.Unit2Ithinkthatmooncakesaredelicious!FullMoon,FullFeelingsChinesepeoplehavebeencelebratingMid-AutumnFestivalandenjoyingmooncakesforcenturies.Mooncakeshavetheshapeofafullmoononmid-autumnnight.Theycarrypeople’sswishestothefamiliestheyloveandmiss.Therearemanytraditionalfolkstoriesaboutthisfestival.However,mostpeoplethinkthatthestoryofChang’eisthemosttouching.Chang’ewasHouYi’sbeautifulwife.AfterHouYishotdowntheninesuns,agoddessgavehimamagicmedicinetothankhim.Whoeverdrankthiscouldliveforever,andHouYiplannedtodrinkitwithChang’e.However,abadman,FengMeng,triedtostealthemedicinewhenHouYiwasnothome.Chang’erefusedtogiveittohimanddrankitall.Shebecameverylightandflewuptothemoon.HouYiwassosadthathecalledouthernametothemooneverynight.Onenight,hefoundthatthemoonwassobrightandroundthathecouldseehiswifethere.Hequicklylaidoutherfavoritefruitsanddessertsinthegarden.HowhewishedthatChang’ecouldcomeback!Afterthis,peoplestartedthetraditionofadmiringthemoonandsharingmooncakeswiththeirfamilies.TheSpiritofChristmasManywouldagreethatwhenwethinkofChristmas,weprobablythinkofgifts,ChristmastreesandSantaClaus.ButbehindallthesethingsliesthetruemeaningofChristmas:theimportanceofsharingandgivingloveandjoytopeoplearoundus.ThestoryinAChristmasCarolisperhapsthebestexampleofthis.AChristmasCarolisafamousnovelwrittenbyCharlesDickens.ItisaboutanoldmannamedScroogewhoneverlaughsorsmiles.Heismeanandonlythinksabouthimself,anddoesn’ttreatothersnicely.Hejustcaresaboutwhetherhecanmakemoremoney.AndhehatesChristmas.OneChristmasEve,ScroogeseestheghostofJacobMarley,hisdeadbusinesspartner.MarleyusedtobejustlikeScrooge,sohewaspunishedafterhedied.HewarnsScroogetochangehiswaysifhedoesn’twanttoenduplikehim.HealsotellsScroogetoexpectthreespiritstovisithim.Thatnight,threeghostsvisitScrooge.First,theGhostofChristmasPasttakeshimbacktohischildhoodandremindsScroogeofhishappierdaysasachild.Thenthesecondspirit,theGhostofChristmasPresent,takeshimtoseehowothersarespendingChristmasthisyear.Everyoneishappy,evenpoorpeople.Thelastone,theGhostofChristmasYettoCome,takeshimtothefuture.Heseesthatheisdeadbutnobodycares.ScroogeissoscaredthathewakesupinhisbedandfindsoutitisalreadythenextmorningonChristmasDay!Hedecidestochangehislifeandpromisestobeabetterperson.HehappilycelebratesChristmaswithhisrelatives.Healsogivesgiftstopeopleinneed.Henowtreatseveryonewithkindnessandwarmth,spreadingloveandjoyeverywherehegoes.AndthatisthetruespiritofChristmas!Unit3couldyoupleasetellmewheretherestroomsare?FunTimesPark—AlwaysaFunTime![AliceandHeWeiareinSpaceWorld]Alice:Iwonderwhereweshouldgonext.HeWei:Howaboutthatnewrideoverthere?Alice:Oh...itlooksprettyscary.HeWei:Comeon!Ipromiseit’llbefun!Ifyou’reafraid,justshoutorholdmyhand.[Aftertheride]Alice:Youwereright,thatwasfun!Iwasscaredatfirst,butshoutingreallydidhelp.HeWei:See,thatwasn’tsobad,right?Youneverknowuntilyoutrysomething.Alice:Yes,I’msogladItriedit.NowIknowIcandoitandit’sactuallyfun!HeWei:DoyouwanttogotoWaterWorldnow?Alice:Sure,butI’mreallyhungry.Doyouknowwherewecangetsomegoodfoodquickly?HeWei:Ofcourse!IsuggestWaterCityRestaurantinWaterWorld.It’safastfoodplace.Itservesdelicioushamburgersandhotdogs.Alice:Thatsoundsperfect![OntheirwaytoWaterCityRestaurant,AliceandHeWeipassbyUncleBob’s.]Alice:Oh,look!Thisrestaurantlooksinteresting.Itseemsarockbandplaysthereeveryevening.HeWei:Maybewecancomeherefordinnerlater.Let’saskwhattimethebandstarts.[AliceandHeWeiwalkuptoastaffpersonatthedoor.]HeWei:Excuseme,couldyoutelluswhenthebandstartsplayingthisevening?Staff:Eighto’clock.It’salwaysbusy,socomealittleearliertogetatable.HeWei:OK,thanks!CouldYouPlease...?Whenyouvisitaforeigncountry,itisimportanttoknowhowtoaskforhelppolitely.Forexample,“Wherearetherestrooms?”or“Couldyoupleasetellmewheretherestroomsare?”aresimilarrequestsfordirectionstoaplace.BotharecorrectEnglish,butthefirstonesoundslesspolite.Thatisbecauseitisaverydirectquestion.Itisnotenoughtojustaskaquestioncorrectly.Wealsoneedtolearnhowtobepolitebybeinglessdirect—ormoreindirect—whenweaskforhelp.InEnglish,asinChinese,wechangethewaywespeakwhenwetalkwithdifferentpeople.Theexpressionsyouusemightdependonwhomyouarespeakingtoorhowwellyouknowthem.Ifyousaytoyourteacher,“Whenistheschooltrip?”,thismightsoundimpolite.Butifyousay,“Excuseme,Mr.West.Doyouknowwhentheschooltripis?”,thiswillsoundmuchmorepolite.However,itisallrighttoaskdirectquestionsinsomesituations,likewithyourclassmates.Usuallypolitequestionsarelongerandincludemorelanguagesuchas“Couldyouplease...?”or“CanIask...?”Itsoundsmorepolitetosay,“Peter,couldyoupleasetellmeyoure-mailaddress?”than“Peter,tellmeyoure-mailaddress.”Sometimesweevenneedtospendtimeleadingintoarequest.Forexample,withastrangeronthestreet,wemightfirstsay,“Excuseme,Iwonderifyoucanhelpme”or“I’msorrytotroubleyou,but...”beforeaskingforhelp.Itmightseemmoredifficulttospeakpolitelythanbedirect.However,itisimportanttolearnhowtouseproperlanguage.ThiswillalsohelpyoubecomebetteratEnglish,oranyotherlanguageyouwishtospeak.Unit4IusedtobeafraidofthedarkFromShyGirltoPopStarForthismonth’sYoungWorldmagazine,Iinterviewed19-year-oldAsianpopstarCandyWang.Candytoldmethatsheusedtobereallyshyandtookupsingingtodealwithhershyness.Asshegotbetter,shedaredtosinginfrontofherclass,andthenforthewholeschool.Nowshe’snotshyanymoreandlovessinginginfrontofcrowds.IaskedCandyhowlifewasdifferentaftershebecamefamous.Sheexplainedthattherearemanygoodthings,likebeingabletotravelandmeetnewpeopleallthetime.“Ididn’tusetobepopularinschool,butnowIgettonsofattentioneverywhereIgo.”However,toomuchattentioncanalsobeabadthing.“IalwayshavetoworryabouthowIappeartoothersandIhavetobeverycarefulaboutwhatIsayordo.AndIdon’thavemuchprivatetimeanymore.Hangingoutwithfriendsisalmostimpossibleformenowbecausetherearealwaysguardsaroundme.”WhatdoesCandyhavetosaytoallthoseyoungpeoplewhowanttobecomefamous?“Well,”shebeginsslowly,“youhavetobepreparedtogiveupyournormallife.Youcanneverimaginehowdifficulttheroadtosuccessis.ManytimesIthoughtaboutgivingup,butIfoughton.Youreallyrequirealotoftalentandhardworktosucceed.Onlyaverysmallnumberofpeoplemakeittothetop.”HeUsedtoCauseaLotofTroubleLiWenisanormal15-year-oldboywhoworkshardinschoolandgetsgoodgrades.Itishardtobelievethatheusedtobea“problemchild”untilaconversationwithhisparentsinfluencedhiswayofthinking.LiWenlivesintheSichuancountryside.Asasmallchild,heseldomgavehisparentsanyproblems,andtheywereproudofhim.However,afterhisparentsmovedtoGuangzhoutowork,theboy’slifebecamemoredifficult.Hehadtomoveinwithhisgrandmother.LiWenbegantocauseproblemsforhimselfandhisfamily.Hewasnolongerinterestedinstudying.Hewasoftenabsentfromclasses,andhefailedhisexaminations.Finally,hisparentsmadeadecisiontosendhimtoaboardingschool.LiWennolongerlivedwithhisgrandmother.Hestudied,ateandsleptattheschool,andhehatedit.Thereweresomanyrules,andheusedtokeepbreakingthem.Oneday,hetoldhisteacherhewantedtoleavetheschool.EventheteacheragreedthatLiWenwaswastinghistime.Theheadteacheradvisedhisparentstotalkwiththeirsoninperson.Hisparentstooka40-hourtrainrideandafive-hourbusridetogobacktotheirhometown.ToLiWen’ssurprise,theirconversationchangedhislife.“ItwasexactlywhatIneeded,”hesaid.“Myparentshelpedmetounderstandhowmuchtheyhadgivenme.Theyalsotoldmethateventhoughtheycouldn’tbetheretotakecareofme,theywerealwaysthinkingofmeandwouldtakeprideineverythinggoodthatIdid.That’swhenIdecidedtochange.Irealizedthatsincemyparentsmovedaway,I’vebeenafraidofbeingalone,andhavetriedtomakemyparentspaymoreattentiontome.”NowLiWenhasreallychanged.Hehasbeenworkinghardandisnowoneofthebeststudentsinhisclass.Hisparents’lovehasmadehimfeelgoodabouthimself.“It’sveryimportantforparentstobetherefortheirchildren,”LiWensays.Unit5whataretheshirtsmadeof?TheDifficultSearchforAmericanGoodsintheUSIfyougotoanothercountry,whatkindsofthingswouldyoubuy?WouldyoubuyacamerainJapan,somebeautifulclothesinFrance,orawatchinSwitzerland?Nomatterwhatyoumaybuy,youmightprobablythinkthoseproductsweremadeinthosecountries.However,youcouldbewrong.KangJianisa17-year-oldstudentfromShanghai.LastyearhewenttovisithisauntanduncleinSanFrancisco.HefounditinterestingthatsomanyproductsinthelocalshopsweremadeinChina.“Iwantedtobuyatoycarformycousin,buteventhoughmostofthetoyshadAmericanbrands,theyweremadeinChina.”ToysarenottheonlythingsmadeinChina.“Iwantedtobuyapairofbasketballshoes,”heexplains.“ButIhadtovisitfiveorsixstoresbeforefindingapairmadeinAmerica!”HerealizedthatAmericanscanhardlyavoidbuyingproductsmadeinChina.“Infact,”hecontinues,“therearesomanythingsmadeinChina—footballs,handbags,petfood,mobilephones.EvenAmericanflagsaremadeinChina!”KangJianthinksit’sgreatthatChinaissogoodatmakingtheseeverydaythings.However,hewishesthatinthefutureChinawillalsogetbetteratmakinghigh-technologyproductsthatpeoplecanbuyinallpartsoftheworld.BeautyinCommonThingsEachdifferentpartofChinahasitsownspecialformsoftraditionalart.Theseusuallytrytoshowthethingsthatareimportantinlifesuchaslove,beautyandfamily.Themostcommonthings,frompapertoclaytobamboo,areturnedintoobjectsofbeauty.AccordingtoChinesehistory,skylanternswerefirstusedbyZhugeKongming.Hesentthemouttoaskforhelpwhenintrouble.Today,skylanternsareusedatfestivalsandothercelebrations.Theyaremadeofbambooandcoveredwithpaper.Whenthelanternsarelit,theyslowlyriseintotheairlikesmallhot-airballoonsforalltosee.Theyareseenasbrightsymbolsofhappinessandgoodwishes.Papercuttinghasbeenaroundforover1,500years.Papercuttingsoundsveryeasybutitcanbedifficulttodo.Thepaper,usuallyred,isfoldedbeforeitiscutwithscissors.Themostcommonpicturesareflowers,fish,animals,andthingsaboutChinesehistory.DuringtheSpringFestival,theyareputonwindows,doorsandwallsassymbolsofwishesforgoodluckandahappynewyear.Chineseclayartisfamousbecausetheclaypiecesaresosmallbuttheylookveryreal.ThepiecesareusuallycutechildrenorlivelycharactersfromaChinesefairytaleorhistoricalstory.Thepiecesarecarefullyshapedbyhandfromaveryspecialkindofclayandthenallowedtoair-dry.Afterdrying,theyarefiredataveryhighheat.Theyarethenpolishedandpainted.Finally,materialssuchaswoodorpaperareaddedtomakedifferentthings.Ittakesseveralweekstocompleteeverything.ThesesmallpiecesofclayartshowthelovethatallChinesepeoplehaveforlifeandbeauty.Unit6whenwasitinvented?AnAccidentalInventionDidyouknowthattea,themostpopulardrinkintheworld(afterwater),wasinventedbyaccident?Manypeoplebelievethatteawasfirstdrunknearly5,000yearsago.ItissaidthataChineserulercalledShenNongfirstdiscoveredteaasadrink.OnedayShenNongwasboilingdrinkingwateroveranopenfire.Someleavesfromateaplantfellintothewaterandremainedthereforsometime.Itproducedanicesmellsohetastedthebrownwateranyway.Itwasquitedelicious.Inthisway,oneoftheworld’sfavoritedrinkswasinvented.Morethan4,000yearslater,LuYu,“thesaintoftea”,mentionedShenNonginhisbookChaJing.Thebookdescribeshowteaplantsweregrownandusedtomaketea.Italsodiscusseswherethefinesttealeaveswereproducedandwhatkindsofwaterwereused.ItisbelievedthatteawasbroughttoKoreaandJapanduringthe6thand7thcenturies.InEngland,teadidn’tappearuntilaround1660,butlessthan100yearslater,ithadbecomethenationaldrink.TheteatradefromChinatoWesterncountriestookplaceinthe19thcentury.Thishelpedtospreadthepopularityofteaandtheteaplanttomoreplacesaroundtheworld.Eventhoughmanypeoplenowknowaboutteaculture,theChinesearewithoutdoubttheoneswhobestunderstandthenatureoftea.DoYouKnowWhenBasketballWasInvented?Basketballisamuch-lovedandactivesportthatisenjoyedbymanyforfunandexercise.Itisover100yearsoldandisplayedbymorethan100millionpeopleinover200countries.InChina,youcansometimesseepeopleplayingbasketballinparks,schoolsandeveninfactories.BasketballwasinventedbyaCanadiandoctornamedJamesNaismith,whowasbornin1861.Whenhewasatcollege,histeacheraskedtheclasstothinkofagamethatcanbeplayedinthewinter.Dr.Naismithcreatedagametobeplayedinsideonahardfloor.Dr.Naismithdividedthemeninhisclassintotwoteamsandtaughtthemtoplayhisnewgame.Thepurposeofthegameisforplayerstogetaballintothe“basket”.Playersonthesameteammustworktogethertohelpeachothergettheballintheotherteam’sbasket.Atthesametime,theyneedtostopthecompetingteamfromgettingtheballintotheirownbasket.ItisbelievedthatonDecember21,1891,thefirstbasketballgameinhistorywasplayed.Thenin1936inBerlin,itbecameaneventattheOlympics.Today,thepopularityofbasketballhasrisenaroundtheworld,withmanyyoungpeopledreamingofbecomingfamousplayers.Basketballhasnotonlybecomeapopularsporttoplay,ithasalsobecomeamorepopularsporttowatch.AlthoughAmerica’sNBAgamesarethemostfamous,theCBAgamesarebecomingpopularinChina.Thenumberofforeignplayers,includingChineseplayers,intheNBAhasincreased.AndtherearealsomoreandmoreforeignplayersintheCBA.Manyyoungpeoplelookuptothesebasketballheroesandwanttobecomelikethem.Thesestarsencourageyoungpeopletoworkhardtoachievetheirdreams.Unit7TeenagersshouldbeallowedtochoosetheirownclothesMomKnowsBestWhenIwasatinybabycryingallnight,mymomsangtomeandstayedbymyside.WhenIwastiredandhungry,shegavemefoodandwarmarmstosleepin.WhenIwastworunningthroughthefield,shemadesureIwassafeandkeptmefromdanger.WhenIfellandhurtmyself,shegavemeahugandliftedmeup.WhenIwassevencoughingbadly,shesaidnoice-creamforme.ButItalkedbackloudly,“Ishouldbeallowedtoeatsome!Giveittomenow!”.WhenIwasninewatchingscarymovies,shesaidit’dgivemeawfuldreams.ButIshoutedbackangrily,“Ishouldbeallowedtowatchit!I’mnotababy!”.WhenIwasateengoingoutwithfriends,shesaid,“Pleasebebackbyten!”.ButItalkedbackagain—“Ishouldnotbetoldwhattodo!I’mseventeennow!”NowI’manadult,thinkingbacktothosetimes.Icoughedfordaysaftereatingthatice-cream.Andhadscarydreamsafterwatchingthatfilm.Iwaslateforschoolfromstayingoutpastten.Iregrettalkingback,notlisteningtoMom.Momknowsbest,andformeshewantedonlythebest!ShouldIBeAllowedtoMakeMyOwnDecisions?Manyteenagershavehobbies.Butsometimesthesecangetinthewayoftheirschoolwork,andparentsmightworryabouttheirsuccessatschool.Teenagersoftenthinktheyshouldbeallowedtopracticetheirhobbiesasmuchastheywant.Doyouagree?LiuYu,afifteen-year-oldboyfromShandong,isarunningstar.Heisonhisschoolteamandhasalwayswantedtobeaprofessionalrunnerwhenhegrowsup.However,hisparentswon’tallowhimtotrainsomuch.“Ofcoursewewanttoseehimachievehisdreams,”saysMrLiu.“Andweknowhowmuchhelovesrunning.MywifeandIhavesupportedeveryoneofhisraces.Wehavenothingagainstrunning!Butwethinkoursonneedstothinkaboutotherpossiblejobs.He’sgettingoldernow,soheneedstothinkaboutwhatwillhappenifhedoesn’tendupaprofessionalrunner.”LiuYudoesn’treallyagree.“Well,IthinkIshouldbeallowedtodecideformyself,”hesays.“Myparentshavealwaystaughtmehowimportantitistoworkhardatschoolandenteruniversity.Iunderstandthis,butI’mseriousaboutrunning.It’stheonlythingI’veeverwantedtodo.”HisparentsbelievethatLiuYushouldstudyhardintheeveningssotheydon’tallowhimtopracticerunningatnight.“Maybehethinksit’stoostrictorunfair,”saysMrs.Liu.“Butwethinkwe’redoingtherightthing.Heneedstospendmoretimeonhishomeworkbecausebecomingaprofessionalsportsstarisadifficultdream.”ButLiuYustilldisagrees.“Iknowmyparentscareaboutme.TheyalwaystalkaboutwhatwillhappenifIdon’tsucceed.ButIwill!I’maquickrunner!IthinkIshouldbeallowedtomakethischoicemyself.OnlythenwillIhaveachancetoachievemydream.”Unit8ItmustbelongtoCarlaStrangeHappeningsinMyTownWeliveinasmalltownandalmosteveryoneknowseachother.Itusedtobeveryquietandnothingmucheverhappenedaroundhere.However,thesedays,somethingunusualishappeninginourtown.Victor,ateacheratmyschool,isreallynervous.Whenhewasinterviewedbythetownnewspaper,hesaid,“Everynightwehearstrangenoisesoutsideourwindow.Mywifethinksthatitcouldbeananimal,butmyfriendsandIthinkitmustbeteenagershavingfun.Myparentscalledthepolicemen,buttheycouldn’tfindanythingstrange.Theythinkitmightbethewind.Idon’tthinkso!”Victor’snext-doorneighborHelenisworried,too.“Atfirst,Ithoughtthatitmightbeadog,butIcouldn’tseeadog,oranythingelse,either.SoIguessitcan’tbeadog.Butthen,whatcoulditbe?”Onewomanintheareasawsomethingrunningaway,butitwasdarksosheisnotsure.“Ithinkitwastoobigtobeadog,”shesaid.“Maybeitwasabearorawolf.”Everyoneinourtownisfeelinguneasy,andeveryonehashisorherownideas.Theremustbesomethingvisitingthehomesinourneighborhood,butwhatisit?Wehavenoidea.Mostpeoplehopethatthisanimalorpersonwillsimplygoaway,butIdonotthinkthatisgoingtohappen.Thenoise-makerishavingtoomuchfuncreatingfearintheneighborhood.Stonehenge—CanAnyoneExplainWhyItIsThere?Stonehenge,arockcircle,isnotonlyoneofBritain’smostfamoushistoricalplaces,butalsooneofitsgreatestmysteries.Everyyearitreceivesmorethan750,000visitors.EspeciallyinJune,peoplegotothisplaceastheywanttoseethesunrisingonthelongestdayoftheyear.Formanyyears,historiansbelievedStonehengewasatemplewhereancientleaderstriedtocommunicatewiththegods.However,historianPaulStokerthinksthiscan’tbetruebecauseStonehengewasbuiltsomanycenturiesago.“TheleadersarrivedinEnglandmuchlater,”hepointsout.AnotherpopularideaisthatStonehengemightbeakindofcalendar.Thelargestoneswereputtogetherinacertainway.Onmidsummer’smorning,thesunshinesdirectlyintothecenterofthestones.Otherpeoplebelievethestoneshaveamedicalpurpose.Theythinkthestonescanpreventillnesswhilekeepingpeoplehealthy.“Asyouwalkthere,youcanfeeltheenergyfromyourfeetclimbupyourbody,”saidonevisitor.NooneissurewhatStonehengewasusedfor,butmostagreethatthepositionofthestonesmustbeforaspecialpurpose.Somethinkitmightbeaburialplace,oraplacetohonorancestors.Othersthinkitwasbuilttocelebrateavictoryoveranenemy.Stonehengewasbuiltslowlyoveralongperiodoftime.Mosthistoriansbelieveitmustbealmost5,000yearsold.Oneofthegreatestmysteriesishowitwasbuiltbecausethestonesaresobigandheavy.In2001,agroupofEnglishvolunteerstriedtobuildanotherStonehenge,buttheycouldn’t.“Wedon’treallyknowwhobuiltStonehenge,”saysPaulStoker.“Andperhapswemightneverknow,butwedoknowtheymusthavebeenhardworking—andgreatplanners!”Unit9IlikemusicthatIcandancetoWhatDoYouFeelLikeWatchingToday?Whilesomepeopleonlysticktoonekindofmovie,IliketowatchdifferentkindsdependingonhowIfeelthatday.WhenI’mdownortired,Iprefermoviesthatcancheermeup.ComedieslikeMeninBlackorcartoonslikeKungfuPandahavefunnydialoguesandusuallyhaveahappyending.Thecharactersmaynotbeperfect,buttheytrytheirbesttosolvetheirproblems.Afterwatchingthem,I’mfilledwithhopeagainandtheproblemsIhavesuddenlyseemlessserious.Laughingfortwohoursisagoodwaytorelax!Idon’twatchdramasordocumentarieswhenI’msadortired.DramaslikeTitanicmakemefeelevensadder.DocumentarieslikeMarchofthePenguinswhichprovideplentyofinformationaboutacertainsubjectcanbeinteresting,butwhenI’mtiredIdon’twanttothinktoomuch.Idon’tmindactionmovieslikeSpider-ManwhenI’mtootiredtothink.Icanjustshutoffmybrain,sitbackandenjoywatchinganexcitingsuperherowhoalwayssavestheworldjustintime.Onceinawhile,Iliketowatchmoviesthatarescary,likehorrormoviesorthrillers.MovieslikeTheRingorTheShiningcanbefun,butI’mtooscaredtowatchthemal