人教版英語必修6unit1-5課文電子版

1、A SHORT HISTORY OF WESTERN PAINTINGArt is influenced by the customs and faith of a people. Styles in Western art have changed many times. As there are so many different styles of Western art, it would be impossible to describe all of them in such a short text. Consequently, this text will describe o

2、nly the most important ones, starting from the sixth century AD.The Middle Ages (5th to the 15th century AD) During the Middle Ages, the main aim of painters was to represent religious themes. A conventional artist of this period was not interested in showing nature and people as they really were. A

3、 typical picture at this time was full of religious symbols, which created a feeling of respect and love for God. But it was evident that ideas were changing in the 13th century when painters like Giotto di Bondone began to paint religious scenes in a more realistic way.The Renaissance (15th to 16th

4、 century)During the Renaissance, new ideas and values graduallv replaced those held in the Middle Ages. People began to concentrate less on religious themes and adopt a more humanistic attitude to life. At the same time painters returned to classical Roman and Greek ideas about art. They tried to pa

5、int people and nature as they really were. Rich people wanted to possess their own paintings, so they could decorate their superb palaces and great houses. They paid famous artists to paint pictures of themselves, their houses and possessions as well as their activities and achievements. One of the

6、most important discoveries during this period was how to draw things in perspective. This technique was first used by Masaccio in 1428. When people first saw his paintings, they were convinced that they were looking through a hole in a wall at a real scene. If the roles of perspective had not been d

7、iscovered, no one would have been able to paint such realistic pictures. By coincidence, oil paints were also developed at this time, which made the colours used in paintings look richer and deeper. Without the new paints and the new technique, we would not be able to see the many great masterpieces

8、 for which this period is famous.Impressionism (late 19th to early 20th century)In the late 19th century, Europe changed a great deal. from a mostly agricultural society to a mostly industrial one. Many people moved from the countryside to the new cities. There were many new inventions and social ch

9、anges. Naturally, these changes also led to new painting styles. Among the painters who broke away from the traditional style of painting were the Impressionists, who lived and worked in Paris. The Impressionists were the first painters to work outdoors. They were eager to show how light and shadow

10、fell on objects at different times of day. However, because natural light changes so quickly, the Impressionists had to paint quickly. Their paintings were not as detailed as those of earlier painters. At first, many people disliked this style of painting and became very angry about it. They said th

11、at the painters were careless and their paintings were ridiculous.Modern Art (20th century to today)At the time they were created, the Impressionist paintings were controversial, but today they are accepted as the beginning of what we call modem art. This is because the Impressionists encouraged art

12、ists to look at their environment in new ways. There are scores of modern art styles, but without the Impressionists, many of these painting styles might not exist. On the one hand, some modem art is abstract; that is, the painter does not attempt to paint objects as we see them with our eyes, but i

13、nstead concentrates on certain qualities of the object, using colour, line and shape to represent them. On the other hand, some paintings of modern art are so realistic that they look like photographs. These styles are so different. Who can predict what painting styles there will be in the future? T

14、HE BEST OF MANHATTANS ART GALLERIESThe Frick Collection (5th Avenue and E.70th Street)Many art lovers would rather visit this small art gallery than any other in New York. Henry Clay Frick, a rich New Yorker, died in 1919, leaving his house, furniture and art collection to the American people. Frick

15、 had a preference for pre-twentieth century Western paintings, and these are well-represented in this excellent collection. You can also explore Fricks beautiful home and garden which are well worth a Visit.Guggenheim Museum (5th Avenue and 88th Street)This museum owns 5,000 superb modern paintings,

16、 sculptures and drawings. These art works are not all displayed at the same time. The exhibition is always changing. It will appeal to those who love Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. The Guggenheim Museum building is also world-famous. When you walk into gallery, you feel as if you we

17、re inside a fragile, white seashell. The best way to see the paintings is to start from the top floor and walk down to the bottom. There are no stairs just a circular path. The museum also has an excellent restaurant.Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Avenue and 82nd Street)The reputation of this museu

18、m lies in the variety of its art collection. This covers more than 5,000 years of civilization from many parts of the world, including America, Europe, China, Egypt, other African countries and South America. The museum displays more than just the visual delights of art. It introduces you to ancient

19、 ways of living. You can visit an Egyptian temple, a fragrant Ming garden, a typical room in an 18th century French house and many other special exhibitions.Museum of Modern Art (53rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues)It is amazing that so many great works of art from the late 19th century to the

20、21st century are housed in the same museum. The collection of Western art includes paintings by such famous artists as Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse. A few words of warning: the admission price is not cheap and the museum is often very crowded.Whitney Museum of American Art (945 Madison Avenu

21、e, near 75th Street)The Whitney holds an excellent collection of contemporary American painting and sculpture. There are no permanent displays in this museum and exhibitions change all the time. Every two years, the Whitney holds a special exhibition of new art by living artists. The museum also sho

22、ws videos and films by contemporary video artists. Class 2ASeaforth High SchoolRamsay RdSeaforthMrs L KrollPresident, Seaforth High School CouncilPO Box 235, Seaforth12 MayDear Mrs Kroll,Lately our class has become worried about the environment at the back of the school, and we would like to do some

23、thing to make it more attractive. We have done some research and have come up with a plan. With the help of our parents, we can do most of the work ourselves, but we will need a small amount of money for equipment, plants-and paint. I am writing to ask the council for permission to do this work and

24、to ask if the school council could donate $500 towards our project.We would like to turn the empty land at the back of the school into a nature garden. We would plant trees and grasses, make paths through the garden and dig a small pond. We think this would provide a peaceful place for students and

25、teachers to walk in. It would also attract birds, insects and small animals which students could then study in science classes. We would also like to paint the back wall of the school that faces the new garden. Some of our art classes could then paint a huge picture on it. It might be possible to pa

26、int over the wall each year so the next classes can make a new picture.Lastly, we would like to paint all the rubbish bins. At the moment they look old and the paint is coming off. If we paint them in bright, attractive colours, students might be more likely to use them. We think our plan would grea

27、tly improve the back of the school and everyone in the schoolwould benefit. We have already asked our parents and they have promised to donate one weekend of their time to help us complete the project.We hope you will give us permission for this worthwhile project and will be able to donate the $500

28、 we need. When we have finished the work, we hope the council will join us in a celebration morning tea so that the whole school can thank you.Yours sincerely,Jo Ryan (Class president)A FEW SIMPLE FORMS OF ENGLISH POEMSThere are various reasons why people write poetry. Some poems tell a story or des

29、cribe something in a way that will give the reader a strong impression. Others try to convey certain emotions. Poets use many different forms of poetry to express themselves. In this text, however, we will look at a few of the simpler forms.Some of the first poetry a young child learns in English is

30、 nursery rhymes. These rhymes like the one on the right (A) are still a common type of childrens poetry. The language is concrete but imaginative, and they delight small children because they rhyme, have strong rhythm and a lot of repetition. The poems may not make sense and even seem contradictory,

31、 but they are easy to learn and recite. By playing with the words in nursery rhymes, children learn about language.A Hush, little baby, dont say a word, Papas going to buy you a mockingbird. If that mockingbird wont sing, Papas going to buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring turns to brass, Pa

32、pas going to buy you a looking-glass. If that looking-glass gets broke, Papas going to buy you a billy-goat. If that billy-goat runs away, Papas going to buy you another today. One of the simplest kinds of poems are those like B and C that list things. List poems have a flexible line length and repe

33、ated phrases which give both a pattern and a rhythm to the poem. Some rhyme (like B) while others do not (like C).B I saw a fish-portal all on fireI saw a fish-pond all on fire, I saw a house bow to a squire, I saw a person twelve-feet high, I saw a cottage in the sky, I saw a balloon made of lead,

34、I saw a coffin drop down dead, I saw two sparrows run a race, I saw two horses making lace, I saw g girl just like a cat, I saw a kitten wear a hat, I saw a man who saw these too, And said though strange they all were true.C Our first football match We would have won . if Jack had scored that goal,

35、if wed had just a few more minutes, if we had trained harder, if Ben had passed the ball to Joe, if wed had thousands of fans screaming, if I hadnt taken my eye off the ball, if we hadnt stayed up so late the night before, if we hadnt taken it easy, if we hadnt run out of energy. We would have won .

36、 if wed been better! Another simple form of poem that students can easily write is the cinquain, a poem made up of five lines. With these, students can convey a strong picture in just a few words. Look at the examples (D and E) on the top of the next page. E Summer Sleepy, salty Drying, drooping, dr

37、eadingWeek in, week out Endless D Brother Beautiful, athletic Teasing, shouting, laughingFriend and enemy too Mine F A fallen blossom Is coming back to the branch. Look, a butterfly!G Snow having melted, The whole village is brimful Of happy children. (by Issa) (by Moritake) Haiku is a Japanese form

38、 of poetry that is made up of 17 syllables. It is not a traditional form of English poetry, but is very popular with English writers. It is easy to write and, like the cinquain , can give a clear picture and create a special feeling using the minimum of words. The two haiku poems (F and G) above are

39、 translations from the Japanese. H Where she awaits her husband On and on the river flows. Never looking back,Transformed into stone.Day by day upon the mountain top,wind and rain revolve.Should the traveller return,this stone would utter speech.(by Wang Jian) Did you know that English speakers also

40、 enjoy other forms of Asian poetry - Tang poems from China in particular? A lot of Tang poetry has been translated into English. This Tang poem (H) is a translation from the Chinese. With so many different forms of poetry to choose from, students may eventually want to write poems of their own. It i

41、s easier than you might think and certainly worth a try! IVE SAVED THE SUMMERIve saved the summerAnd I give it all to youTo hold on winter morningsWhen the snow is new. Ive saved some sunlightIf you should ever need A place away from darkness Where your mind can feed. And for myself Ive kept your sm

42、ile When you were but nineteen, Till youre older youll not know What brave young smiles can mean. I know no answers To help you on your way The answers lie somewhere At the bottom of the day. But if youve a need for love Ill give you all l own It might help you down the road Till youve found your ow

43、n. (by Rod McKuen) A spring morningA I awake light-hearted this morning of spring ,Everywhere round me the singing of birds-But now I remember the night, the storm, And I wonder how many blossoms were broken.(by meng haoran) B Hungrily the cat consumes the fish;Hungrily I close my eyes and make a wi

44、sh; Hungrily the boy runs to the roads end; Hungrily the driver takes the next bend.Hungrily the young man loves life at sea; Hungrily the beautiful girl looks at me; Hungrily the seal dives down into the deep; Hungrily I fall into bed and sleep.C If you were the only girl in the world and I were th

45、e only boy!Nothing else would matter in the world todayWe could go on loving in the same old way!A garden of Eden just made for twoWith nothing to mar our joyI would say such wonderful things to you There would be such wonderful things to de If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only

46、 boy!(by Clifford Grey)D sunshine lovely, cheerful warming, welcoming, calming I sing with you BrightnessE First autumn morning:The mirror I stare into shows my fathers face. (by Kijo Murakami)ADVICE FROM GRANDADDear James, It is a beautiful day here and I am sitting under the big tree at the end of

47、 the garden. I have just returned from a long bike ride to an old castle. It seems amazing that at my age I am still fit enough to cycle 20 kilometres in an afternoon. Its my birthday in two weeks time and Ill be 82 years old! I think my long and active life must be due to the healthy life I live.Th

48、is brings me to the real reason for my letter, my dear grandson. Your mother tells me that you started smoking some time ago and now you are finding it difficult to give it up. Believe me, I know how easy it is to begin smoking and how tough it is to stop. You see, during adolescence I also smoked a

49、nd became addicted to cigarettes.By the way, did you know that this is because you become addicted in three different ways? First, you can become physically addicted to nicotine, which is one of the hundreds of chemicals in cigarettes. This means that after a while your body becomes accustomed to ha

50、ving nicotine in it. So when the drug leaves your body, you get withdrawal symptoms. I remember feeling bad-tempered and sometimes even in pain. Secondly, you become addicted through habit. As you know, if you do the same thing over and over again, you begin to do it automatically. Lastly, you can b

51、ecome mentally addicted. I believed I was happier and more relaxed after having a cigarette, so I began to think that I could only feel good when I smoked. I was addicted in all three ways, so it was very difficult to quit. But I did finally manage.When I was young, I didnt know much about the harmf

52、ul effects of smoking. I didnt know, for example, that it could do terrible damage to your heart and lungs or that it was more difficult for smoking couples to become pregnant. I certainly didnt know their babies may have a smaller birth weight or even be abnormal in some way. Neither did I know tha

53、t my cigarette smoke could affect the health of non-smokers. However, what I did know was that my girlfriend thought I smelt terrible. She said my breath and clothes smelt, and that the ends of my fingers were turning yellow. She told me that she wouldnt go out with me again unless I stopped! I also

54、 noticed that I became breathless quickly, and that I wasnt enjoying sport as much. When I was taken off the school football team because I was unfit, I knew it was time to quit smoking.I am sending you some advice I found on the Internet. It might help you to stop and strengthen your resolve. I do

55、hope so because I want you to live as long and healthy a life as I have. Love fromGrandadHow can you stop smoking?It is not easy to stop smoking, but millions have managed to quit and so can you. Here are a few suggestions.l Prepare yourself. Decide on a day to quit. Dont choose a day that you know

56、is going to be stressful, such as the day of an exam. Make a list of all the benefits you will get from stopping smoking. Then throw away your last packet of cigarettes.l Be determined. Every time you feel like smoking a cigarette, remind yourself that you are a non-smoker. Reread the list of benefi

57、ts you wrote earlier.l Break the habit. Instead of smoking a cigarette, do something else. Go for a walk, clean your teeth, drink some water, clean the house; in fact, do anything to keep your mind and especially your hands busy.l Relax. If you start to feel nervous or stressed, do not reach for a c

58、igarette. Try some deep breathing instead. Do some relaxation exercises every time you feel stressed.l Get help if you need it. Arrange to stop smoking with a friend so you can talk about your problem, or join a stop-smoking group. If you feel desperate, you might like to talk to a doctor or chemist about something to help you, like nicotine chewing gum.l Keep trying. Do not be disappointed if you have to try several