新编英语教程第一册Unit07（在线收听）

Unit 7

DIALOGUE I

On the Wheel

A: I heard about China being a "kingdom of bicycles". Now I know is no exaggeration. Everybody rides a bike here.
B: Yes, for many of us, cycling has become a way of life. Some of my American friends feel kind of alienated from the local people if they go around only in a car instead of on a bike. They often ride a bicycle for a change.
A: Yes, this is exactly what I felt during my first two months here. Well, "Do in China as the Chinese do," I said to myself. I went to a bike-store and bought a five-speed mountain bike. This has become my primary means of transportation in China. I ride it to school, to work, to the beaches and mountains... You find me everywhere on the bike. I'm looking forward to a cycling trip around the country some day.
B: Terrific! Outdoor cycling will make you healthy and strong.
A: Absolutely. I love riding for another reason: to do my bit for the protection of the environment. I hope bicycles will become a preferred means of city transportation in America.
B: It's said that the United States is a country driven by automobile engines, and Americans are a people on the wheel. They don't feel like they are in charge of their lives unless they are in charge of the wheel.
A: That's no exaggeration. American life is, in a way, life on the motor wheel. Wherever you go, you'll see drive-ins, such as drive-in restaurants, drive-in banks, drive-in movies, and even drive-in churches. I believe Americans will have drive-in weddings and divorces soon.
B: Many people here seem to be envious of this bit of the American way of life.
A: I wouldn't consider that a healthy attitude. As a matter of fact, its quite disturbing and scary to realize that we are being reduced to a group of inactive machine-bound dwarfs. You know, more and more Americans are firmly opposed to the advancement of the crashing and smashing motor wheel.
B: You're painting a picture of doomsday.
A: No. I'm serious. I don't mean we should give up automobiles altogether for bicycles. What I'm saying here is that we should discourage the use of private cars as much as possible to save our environment, and ourselves.
B: And to save our children and the future. But I heard city public transport in your country is not very convenient.
A: That's true. Getting around a city on public transport is generally not as easy as it is in most other countries, although a few cities have subways and some kind of bus service. This is one of the reasons why people choose to own a car, and live away from downtown.
B: Talking about staying away from downtown, how about a trip to the seaside for a change?
A: That's exactly what was on my mind.
B: Would you like to go there by bike?
A: You bet.


DIALOGUE II

Dialogue:
Two Chinese teachers (A and B) are sitting in the staff room, chatting with a teacher (C) from Britain.
A: I really hate Shanghai in the summer. It's so hot and the shops are always full of people. We never get any rain, do we?
B: No, but in the spring we do. In fact, we get too much rain then.
C: I really love the summer in England because it's usually quite sunny then.
B: What are the winters like in England?
C: Well, rather cold actually, and in January or February it usually snows.
A: I can't stand Shanghai in the winter, either! It's far too cold.
C: But you don't have any snow, do you?
A: No, even so, it's still cold. I think I'd much prefer to be in Beijing during the winter.
B: I prefer Beijing in the summer to Beijing in the winter. I love the parks in Beijing and I'm very fond of the kind of cooking they do there.
A: Are you? Oh, I'm not, I prefer the kind of food we have in Shanghai.
B: You're going to travel during your vacation, aren't you? Are you going by train or will you fly?
C: Well, I quite enjoy flying, but it's so expensive. Trains are cheaper, but I detest cigarette smoke and the trains are always so smoky.
B: No, I don't like it, either.
A: Don't you? I thought you did! You like smoking, don't you?
B: Well, I did, but I've given up smoking completely. Now I can't bear it.
C: Good! I'm glad to hear it!

READING I

My First Day at School

I was shy and half stiff when in the presence of a crowd, and my first day at the new school made me the laughingstock of the classroom. I was sent to the blackboard to write my name and address; I knew my name and address, knew how to write it, knew how to spell it; but standing at the blackboard with the eyes of the many boys and girls looking at my back made me freeze inside and I was unable to write a single letter.
"Write your name," the teacher called to me.
I lifted the white chalk to the blackboard and, as I was about to write my mind went blank, empty; I could not remember my name, not even the first letter. Somebody giggled and I stiffened.
"Just forget us and write your name and address," the teacher coaxed.
An impulse to write would flash through me, but my hand would refuse to move. The children began to titter and I grew red in the face.
"Don't you know your name?" the teacher asked.
I looked at her and could not answer. The teacher rose and walked to my side, smiling at me to give me confidence. She placed her hand tenderly upon my shoulder.
"What's your name," she asked.
"Richard," I whispered.
"Richard what?"
"Richard Wright."
"Spell it."
I spelled my name in a wild rush of letters, trying desperately to redeem my shyness.
"Spell it slowly so I can hear it," she directed me.
I did.
"Now can you write?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then write it."
Again I turned to the blackboard and lifted my hand to write, then I was blank and void within. I tried very hard to collect my senses but I could remember nothing. A sense of the boys and girls behind me made me forget everything. I realized how completely I was failing and I grew weak and leaned my hot forehead against the cold blackboard. The room burst into a loud and prolonged laugh and my whole body froze.
"You may go back to your seat," the teacher said.
I sat and cursed myself. Why did I always appear so dumb when I was called to perform something in a crowd? I knew how to write as well as any pupil in the classroom, and no doubt I could read better than any of them, and I could talk fluently and expressively when I was sure of myself. Then why did strange faces make me freeze? I sat with my ears and neck burning, hearing the pupils whisper about me, hating myself, hating them.
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