人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔

人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔xxx公司人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔文件編號：文件日期：修訂次數(shù)：第1.0次更改批準審核制定方案設(shè)計，管理制度Unit1FestivalsaroundtheworldFESTIVALSANDCELEBRATIONSFestivalsandcelebrationsofallkindshavebeenheldeverywheresinceancienttimes.Mostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofcoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Sometimescelebrationswouldbeheldafterhuntershadcaughtanimals.Atthattimepeoplewouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,especiallyduringthecoldwintermonths.Today’sfestivalshavemanyorigins,somereligious,someseasonal,andsomeforspecialpeopleorevents.FestivalsofthedeadSomefestivalsareheldtohonourthedeadortosatisfytheancestors,whomightreturneithertohelportodoharm.FortheJapanesefestivalObon,peopleshouldgotocleangravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheirancestors.Theyalsolightlampsandplaymusicbecausetheythinkthatwillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMexico,peoplecelebratetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peopleeatfoodintheshapeofskullsandcakeswith“bones”onthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.TheWesternholidayHalloweenalsohaditsorigininoldbeliefsaboutthereturnofthespiritsofdeadpeople.Itisnowachildren’sfestival,whentheycandressupandgototheirneighbours’homestoaskforsweets.Iftheneighboursdonotgiveanysweets,thechildrenmightplayatrickonthem.FestivalstoHonourPeopleFestivalscanalsobeheldtohonourfamouspeople.TheDragonBoatFestivalinChinahonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.IntheUSA,ColumbusDayisinmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusintheNewWorld.IndiahasanationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMohandasGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndia’sindependencefromBritain.HarvestFestivalsHarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappyevents.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinterandtheagriculturalworkisover.InEuropeancountries,peoplewillusuallydecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andwillgettogethertohavemeals.Somepeoplemightwinawardsfortheirfarmproduce,likethebiggestwatermelonorthemosthandsomerooster.ChinaandJapanhavemid-autumnfestivalswhenpeopleadmirethemoonandinChinaenjoymoon-cakes.SpringFestivalsThemostenergeticandimportantfestivalsaretheonesthatlookforwardtotheendofwinterandtothecomingofspring.AttheSpringFestivalinChina,peopleeatdumplings,fishandmeatandmaygivechildrenluckymoneyinredpaper.Therearedragondancesandcarnivals,andfamiliescelebratetheLunarNewYeartogether.SomeWesterncountrieshaveveryexcitingcarnivals,whichtakeplacefortydaysbeforeEaster,usuallyinFebruary.Thesecarnivalsmightincludeparades,dancinginthestreetsdayandnight,loudmusicandcolourfulclothingofalkinds.EasterisanimportantreligiousandsocialfestivalforChristiansaroundtheworld.ItcelebratesthereturnofJesusfromthedeadandthecomingofspringandnewlife.Japan’sCherryBlossomFestivalhappensalittlelater.Thecountry,coveredwithcherrytreeflowers,looksasthoughitiscoveredwithpinksnow.Peoplelovetogettogethertoeat,drinkandhavefunwitheachother.Festivalsletusenjoylife,beproudofourcustomsandforgetourworkforalittlewhile.ASADLOVESTORYLIFangwasheart-broken.ItwasValentine’sDayandHuJinhadsaidshewouldmeethimatthecoffeeshopafterwork.Butshedidn’tturnup.Shecouldbewithherfriendsrightnowlaughingathim.Shesaidshewouldbethereatseveno’clock,andhethoughtshewouldkeepherword.Hehadlookedforwardtomeetingherallday,andnowhewasalonewithhisrosesandchocolates,likeafool.Well,hewasnotgoingtoholdhisbreathforhertoapologize.Hewoulddrownhissadnessincoffee.ItwasobviousthatthemanagerofthecoffeeshopwaswaitingforLiFangtoleave-hewipedthetables,thensatdownandturnedontheTV-justwhatLiFangneeded!AsadChinesestoryaboutlostlove.ThegranddaughteroftheGoddessofHeavenvisitedtheearth.HernamewasZhinü,theweavinggirl.WhileshewasonearthshemettheherdboyNiulangandtheyfellinlove.(“JustlikemeandHuJin,”thoughtLiFang.)Theygotmarriedsecretly,andtheywereveryhappy.(“Wecouldbelikethat,”thoughtLiFang.)WhentheGoddessofHeavenknewthathergranddaughterwasmarriedtoahuman,shebecameveryangryandmadetheweavinggirlreturntoHeaven.NiuLangtriedtofollowher,buttheriverofstars,theMilkyWay,stoppedhim.FindingthatZhinüwasheart-broken,hergrandmotherfinallydecidedtoletthecouplecrosstheMilkyWaytomeetonceayear.Magpiesmakeabridgeoftheirwingssothecouplecancrosstherivertomeetontheseventhdayoftheseventhlunarmonth.PeopleinChinahopethattheweatherwillbefineonthatday,becauseifitisraining,itmeansthatZhinüisweepingandthecouplewon’tbeabletomeet.Theannouncersaid,“ThisisthestoryofQiqiaoFestival.Whenforeignershearaboutthestory,theycallitaChineseValentine’sstory.It’safinedaytoday,soIhopeyoucancallallmeettheoneyoulove.”AsLiFangsetoffforhome,hethought,“IguessHuJindoesn’tloveme.I’lljustthrowtheseflowersandchocolatesaway.Idon’twantthemtoremindmeofher.”Sohedid.Ashesadlypassedtheteashoponthecorneronhiswayhome,heheardavoicecallinghim.TherewasHuJinwavingathimandcalling,“WhyareyousolateI’vebeenwaitingforyouforalongtime!AndIhaveagiftforyou!”WhatwouldhedoHehadthrownawayherValentinegifts!Shewouldneverforgivehim.ThiswouldnotbeahappyValentine’sDay!Unit

2

Healthy

eating

COME

AND

EAT

HERE

(I)

Wang

Peng

sat

in

his

empty

restaurant

feeling

very

frustrated.

It

had

been

a

very

strange

morning.

Usually

he

got

up

early

and

prepared

his

menu

of

barbecued

mutton

kebabs,

roast

pork,

stir-fried

vegetables

and

fried

rice.

Then

by

lunchtime

they

would

all

be

sold.

By

now

his

restaurant

ought

to

be

full

of

people.

But

not

today!

Why

was

that

What

could

have

happened

He

thought

of

his

mutton,

beef

and

bacon

cooked

in

the

hottest,

finest

oil.

His

cola

was

sugary

and

cold,

and

his

ice

cream

was

made

of

milk,

cream

and

delicious

fruit.

“Nothing

could

be

better,”

he

thought.

Suddenly

he

saw

his

friend

Li

Chang

hurrying

by.

“Hello,

Lao

Li,”

he

called.

“Your

usual”

But

Li

Chang

seemed

not

to

hear.

What

was

the

matter

Something

terrible

must

have

happened

if

Li

Chang

was

not

coming

to

eat

in

his

restaurant

as

he

always

did.

Wang

Peng

followed

Li

Chang

into

a

new

small

restaurant.

He

saw

a

sign

at

the

door.Tired

of

all

that

fat

Want

to

lose

weight

Come

inside

Yong

Hui's

slimming

restaurant.

Only

slimming

foods

served

here.

Make

yourself

thin

again!

Curiosity

drove

Wang

Peng

inside.

It

was

full

of

people.

The

hostess,

a

very

thin

lady,

came

forward.

“Welcome,”

she

said.

“My

name

is

Yong

Hui.

I’ll

help

you

lose

weight

and

be

fit

in

two

weeks

if

you

eat

here

every

day.”

Then

she

gave

a

menu

to

Wang

Peng.

There

were

few

choices

of

food

and

drink

on

it:

just

rice,

raw

vegetables

served

in

vinegar,

fruit

and

water.

Wang

Peng

was

amazed

at

this

and

especially

at

the

prices.

It

cost

more

than

a

good

meal

in

his

restaurant!

He

could

not

believe

his

eyes.

He

threw

down

the

menu

and

hurried

outside.

On

his

way

home

he

thought

about

his

own

menu.

Did

it

make

people

fat

Perhaps

he

should

go

to

the

library

and

find

out.

He

could

not

have

Yong

Hui

getting

away

with

telling

people

lies!

He

had

better

do

some

research!

At

the

library

Wang

Peng

was

surprised

to

find

that

his

restaurant

served

far

too

much

fat

and

Yong

Hui’s

far

too

little.

Even

though

her

customers

might

get

thin

after

eating

Yong

Hui’s

food,

they

were

not

eating

enough

energy-giving

food

to

keep

them

fit.

They

would

become

tired

very

quickly.

Wang

Peng

felt

more

hopeful

as

he

drove

back

home.

Perhaps

with

a

discount

and

a

new

sign

he

could

win

his

customers

back.

So

he

wrote:

Want

to

feel

fit

and

energetic

Come

and

eat

here!

Discounts

today!

Our

food

gives

you

energy

all

day!

The

competition

between

the

two

restaurants

was

on!

COME

AND

EAT

HERE

(II)

A

week

later,

Wang

Peng’s

restaurant

was

nearly

full

and

he

felt

happier.

Perhaps

he

would

be

able

to

earn

his

living

after

all

and

not

have

to

close

his

restaurant.

He

did

not

look

forward

to

being

in

debt

because

his

restaurant

was

no

longer

popular.

He

smiled

as

he

welcomed

some

customers

warmly

at

the

door

but

the

smile

left

his

face

when

he

saw

Yong

Hui

walking

in.

She

did

not

look

happy

but

glared

at

him.

“May

I

ask

what

you

were

doing

in

my

restaurant

the

other

day

I

thought

you

were

a

new

customer

and

now

I

know

that

you

only

came

to

spy

on

me

and

my

menu,”

she

shouted.

“Please

excuse

me,”

he

calmly

explained,

“I

wanted

to

know

where

all

my

customers

had

gone

last

week.

I

followed

one

of

them

and

found

them

in

your

restaurant.

I

don’t

want

to

upset

you,

but

I

found

your

menu

so

limited

that

I

stopped

worrying

and

started

advertising

the

benefits

of

my

food.

Why

don’t

you

sit

down

and

try

a

meal”

Yong

Hui

agreed

to

stay

and

soon

they

were

both

enjoying

dumplings

and

breast

of

chicken

cooked

with

garlic.

When

they

were

served

the

ice

cream,

Yong

Hui

began

to

look

ill.

“I

feel

sick

with

all

this

fat

and

heavy

food,”

she

said,

“I

miss

my

vegetables

and

fruit.”

Wang

Peng

was

enjoying

a

second

plate

of

dumplings

so

he

sighed.

“Yes,”

he

added,

“and

I

would

miss

my

dumplings

and

fatty

pork.

Don,t

you

get

tired

quickly”

“Well,

I

do

have

to

rest

a

lot,”

admitted

Yong

Hui.

“But

don’t

you

think

it

would

be

better

if

you

were

a

bit

thinner

I’m

sure

you’d

feel

much

healthier.”

They

began

to

talk

about

menus

and

balanced

diets.

“According

to

my

research,

neither

your

restaurant

nor

mine

offers

a

balanced

diet,”

explained

Wang

Peng.

“I

don’t

offer

enough

fibre

and

you

don’t

offer

enough

body-building

and

energy-giving

food.

Perhaps

we

ought

to

combine

our

ideas

and

provide

a

balanced

menu

with

food

full

of

energy

and

fibre.”

So

that

is

what

they

did.

They

served

raw

vegetables

with

the

hamburgers

and

boiled

the

potatoes

rather

than

fried

them.

They

served

fresh

fruit

with

the

ice

cream.

In

this

way

they

cut

down

the

fat

and

increased

thefibre

in

the

meal.

Their

balanced

diets

became

such

a

success

that

before

long

Wang

Peng

became

slimmer

and

Yong

Hui

put

on

more

weight.

After

some

time

the

two

found

that

their

business

cooperation

had

turned

into

a

personal

one.

Finally

they

got

married

and

live

happily

ever

after.

Unit3TheMillionPoundBankNoteTHEMILLIONPOUNDBANKNOTEActI,Scene3NARRATOR:Itisthesummerof1903.Twooldandwealthybrothers,RoderickandOliver,havemadeabet.OliverbelievesthatwithamillionpoundbanknoteamancouldsurviveamonthinLondon.HisbrotherRoderickdoubtsit.Atthismoment,theyseeapennilessyoungmanwanderingonthepavementoutsidetheirhouse.ItisHenryAdams,anAmericanbusinessman,whoislostinLondonanddoesnotknowwhatheshoulddo.RODERICK: Youngman,wouldyoustepinsideamoment,pleaseHENRY:WhoMe,sirRODERICK: Yes,you.OLIVER:Throughthefrontdooronyourleft.HENRY:(aservantopensadoor)Thanks.SERVANT: Goodmorning,sir.WouldyoupleasecomeinPermitmetoleadtheway,sir.OLIVER:(Henryenters)Thankyou,James.Thatwillbeall.RODERICK: Howdoyoudo,Mr…er…HENRY: Adams.HenryAdams.OLIVER: Comeandsitdown,MrAdams.HENRY: Thankyou.RODERICK: YourareanAmericanHENRY: That’sright,fromSanFrancisco.RODERICK: HowwelldoyouknowLondonHENRY: Notatall.It’smyfirsttriphere.RODERICK: Iwonder,MrAdams,ifyoumindusaskingafewquestionsHENRY: Notatall.Gorightahead.RODERICK: Mayweaskwhatyou’redoinginthiscountryandwhatyourplansareHENRY: Well,Ican’tsaythatIhaveanyplans.I’mhopingtofindwork.Asamatteroffact, IlandedinBritainbyaccident.RODERICK: HowisthatpossibleHENRY: Well,yousee,backhomeIhavemyownboat.Aboutamonthago,Iwassailing outofthebay…(hiseyesstareatwhatisleftofthebrothers’dinneronthetable)OLIVER: Well,goon.HENRY: Oh,yes.Well,towardsnightfallIfoundmyselfcarriedouttoseabyastrongwind. Itwasallmyfault.Ididn’tknowwhetherIcouldsurviveuntilmorning.Thenext morningI’djustaboutgivenmyselfupforlostwhenIwasspottedbyaship.OLIVER:AnditwastheshipthatbroughtyoutoEngland.HENRY:Yes.ThefactisthatIearnedmypassagebyworkingasanunpaidhand,which accountsformyappearance.IwenttotheAmericanembassytoseekhelp,but… (thebrotherssmileateachother)RODERICK: Well,youmustn’tworryaboutthat.It’sanadvantage.HENRY:I’mafraidIdon’tquitefollowyou,sir.RODERICK: Tellus,MrAdams,whatsortofworkdidyoudoinAmericaHENRY: Iworkedforaminingcompany.CouldyouoffermesomekindofworkhereRODERICK: Patience,MrAdams.Ifyoudon’tmind,mayIaskhowmuchmoneyyouhaveHENRY: Well,tobehonest,Ihavenone.RODERICK: (happily)Whatluck!Brother,whatluck!(clapshishandstogether)HENRY: Well,itmayseemluckytoyoubutnottome!Onthecontrary,infact.Ifthisis yourideaofsomekindofjoke,Idon’tthinkit’sveryfunny.(Henrystandsupto leave)Nowifyou’llexcuseme,IthinkI’llbeonmyway.RODERICK: Pleasedon’tgoMrAdams.Youmustn’tthinkwedon’tcareaboutyou.Oliver,give himtheletter.OLIVER:Yes,theletter.(getsitfromadeskandgivesittoHenrylikeagift)Theletter.HENRY:(takingitcarefully)FormeRODERICK: Foryou.(Henrystartstoopenit)Oh,no,youmustn’topenit.Notyet.Youcan’t openituntiltwoo’clock.HENRY: Oh,thisissilly.RODERICK: Notsilly.There’smoneyinit.(callstotheservant)JamesHENRY: Oh,no.Idon’twantyourcharity.Ijustwantanhonestjob.RODERICK: Weknowyou’rehard-working.That’swhywehavegivenyoutheletter.James, showMrAdamsout.OLIVER:Goodluck,MrAdams.HENRY:Well,whydon’tyouexplainwhatthisisallaboutRODERICK: You’llsoonknow.(looksattheclock)Inexactlyanhourandahalf.SERVANT: Thisway,sir.RODERICK: MrAdams,notuntil2o’clock.PromiseHENRY: Promise.Goodbye.ActI,Scene4(OutsidearestaurantHenrylooksattheenvelopewithoutopeningitanddecidetogoin.Hesitsdownatatablenexttothefrontwindow.)OWNER:(seeingHenry’spoorappearance)Thatone’sreserved.Thisway,please.(tothewaiter)Takethisgentleman’sorder,Horace.HENRY:(aftersittingdownandputtingtheletteronthetable)I’dlikesomehamandeggsandanicebigsteak.Makeitextrathick.I’dalsolikeacupofcoffeeandapineappledessert.WAITER:Right,sir.I’mafraidit’llcostalargeamountofmoney.HENRY:Iunderstand.Andi’llhavealargeglassofbeer.WAITER:OK.(Thewaiterleavesandsoonreturnswithallthefood.)HOSTESS:Mygoodness!Why,lookathim.Heeatslikeawolf.OWNER:We’llseeifhe’scleverasawolf,ehHENRY:(havingjustfinishedeverybitoffood)Ah,waiter.(thewaiterreturns)Samethingagain,please.Oh,andanotherbeer.WAITER:AgainEverythingHENRY:Yes,that’sright.(seesthelookonthewaiter’sface)AnythingwrongWAITER:No,notatall.(totheowner)He’saskedformoreofthesame.OWNER:Well,itiswell-knownthatAmericansliketoeatalot.Well,we’llhavetotakeachance.Goaheadandlethimhaveit.WAITER:(readingthebillafterthemeal)Allright.That’stwoordersofhamandeggs,twoextrathicksteaks,twolargeglassesofbeer,twocupsofcoffeeandtwodesserts.HENRY:(lookingattheclockonthewall)WouldyoumindwaitingjustafewminutesWAITER:(inarudemanner)What’stheretowaitforOWNER:Allright,Horace.I’lltakecareofthis.HENRY:(totheowner)Thatwasawonderfulmeal.It’samazinghowmuchpleasureyougetoutofthesimplethingsinlife,especiallyifyoucan’thavethemforawhile.OWNER:Yes,veryinteresting.Nowperhaps,sir,ifyoupayyourbillIcanhelptheothercustomers.HENRY:(lookingattheclockonthewallagain)Well,Iseeit’stwoo’clock.(heopenstheenvelopeandholdsamillionpoundbanknoteinhishands.Henryissurprisedbuttheownerandthewaiterareshocked)I’mverysorry.But…I…Idon’thaveanythingsmaller.OWNER:(stillshockedandnervous)Well,…er…justonemoment.Maggie,look!(thehostessscreams,theothercustomerslookatherandsheputsahandtohermouth)Doyouthinkit’sgenuineHOSTESS:Oh,dear,Idon’tknow.Isimplydon’tknow.OWNER:Well,IdidhearthattheBankofEnglandhadissuedtwonotesinthisamount…Anyway,Idon’tthinkit’safake.Peoplewouldpaytoomuchattentiontoabanknoteofthisamount.Nothiefwouldwantthattohappen.HOSTESS:Buthe’sinrags!OWNER:Perhapshe’saverystrange,richman.(asifhehasdiscoveredsomethingforthefirsttime)Why,yes!Thatmustbeit!HOSTESS:(hitsherhusband’sarm)Andyouputhiminthebackoftherestaurant!Goandseehimatonce.OWNER:(toHenry)I’msosorry,sir,sosorry,butIcannotchangethisbanknote.HENRY:Butit’sallIhaveonme.OWNER:Oh,please,don’tworry,sir.Doesn’tmatteratall.We’resoverygladthatyouevenenteredourlittleeatingplace.Indeed,sir,Ihopeyou’llcomeherewheneveryoulike.HENRY:Well,that’sverykindofyou.OWNER:Kind,sirNo,it’skindofyou.Youmustcomewheneveryouwantandhavewhateveryoulike.Justhavingyousithereisagreathonour!Asforthebill,sir,pleaseforgetit.HENRY:ForgetitWell…thankyouverymuch.That’sveryniceofyou.OWNER:Oh,it’sforustothankyou,sirandIdo,sir,fromthebottomofmyheart.(Theowner,thehostessandthewaiterallbowasHenryleaves.)Unit4Astronomy:thescienceofthestarsHOWLIFEBEGANONTHEEARTHNooneknowsexactlyhowtheearthbegan,asithappenedsolongago.However,accordingtoawidelyacceptedtheory,theuniversebeganwitha“BigBang”thatthrewmatterinalldirections.Afterthat,atomsbegantoformandcombinetocreatestarsandotherbodies.Forseveralbillionyearsafterthe“BigBang”,theearthwasstilljustacloudofdust.Whatitwastobecomewasuncertainuntilbetweenandbillionyearsagowhenthedustsettledintoasolidglobe.Theearthbecamesoviolentthatitwasnotclearwhethertheshapewouldlastornot.Itexplodedloudlywithfireandrock.Theywereintimetoproducecarbondioxide,nitrogen,watervapourandothergases,whichweretomaketheearth’satmosphere.Whatisevenmoreimportantisthatastheearthcooleddown,waterbegantoappearonitssurface.WaterhadalsoappearedonotherplanetslikeMarsbut,unliketheearth,ithaddisappearedlater.Itwasnotimmediatelyobviousthatwaterwastobefundamentaltothedevelopmentoflife.Whatmanyscientistsbelieveisthatthecontinuedpresenceofwaterallowedtheearthtodissolveharmfulgasesandacidsintotheoceansandseas.Thisproducedachainreaction,whichmadeitpossibleforlifetodevelop.Manymillionsofyearslater,thefirstextremelysmallplantsbegantoappearonthesurfaceofthewater.Theymultipliedandfilledtheoceansandseaswithoxygen,whichencouragedthelaterdevelopmentofearlyshellfishandallsortsoffish.Next,greenplantsbegantogrowonland.Theywerefollowedintimebylandanimals.Somewereinsects.Others,calledamphibians,wereabletoliveonlandaswellasinthewater.Laterwhentheplantsgrewintoforests,reptilesappearedforthefirsttime.Theyproducedyounggenerallybylayingeggs.Afterthat,somehugeanimals,calleddinosaurs,developed.Theylaideggstooandexistedontheearthformorethan140millionyears.However,65millionyearsagotheageofthedinosaursended.Whytheysuddenlydisappearedstillremainsamystery.Thisdisappearancemadepossibletheriseofmammalsontheearth.Theseanimalsweredifferentfromalllifeformsinthepast,becausetheygavebirthtoyoungbabyanimalsandproducedmilktofeedthem.Finallyaboutmillionyearsagosomesmallcleveranimals,nowwithhandsandfeet,appearedandspreadallovertheearth.Thustheyhave,intheirturn,becomethemostimportantanimalsontheplanet.Buttheyarenotlookingaftertheearthverywell.Theyareputtingtoomuchcarbondioxideintotheatmosphere,whichpreventsheatfromescapingfromtheearthintospace.Asaresultofthis,manyscientistsbelievetheearthmaybecometoohottoliveon.Sowhetherlifewillcontinueontheearthformillionsofyearstocomewilldependonwhetherthisproblemcanbesolved.AVISITTOTHEMOONLastmonthIwasluckyenoughtohaveachancetomakeatripintospacewithmyfriendLiYanping,anastronomer.Wevisitedthemooninourspaceship!Beforeweleft,LiYanpingexplainedtomethattheforceofgravitywouldchangethreetimesonourjourneyandthatthefirstchangewouldbethemostpowerful.Thenwewereoff.Astherocketroseintotheair,wewerepushedbackintoourseatsbecauseweweretryingtoescapethepulloftheearth’sgravity.Itwassohardthatwecouldnotsayanythingtoeachother.GraduallytheweightlessenedandIwasabletotalktohim.“WhyisthespaceshipnotfallingbacktotheearthOntheearthifIfallfromatreeIwillfalltotheground.”Iasked.“Wearetoofarfromtheearthnowtofeelitspull,”heexplained,“sowefeelasifnogravityatall.Whenwegetclosertothemoon,weshallfeelitsgravitypullingus,butitwillnotbeasstrongapullastheearth’s.”Icheeredupimmediatelyandfloatedweightlesslyaroundinourspaceshipcabinwatchingtheearthbecomesmallerandthemoonlarger.Whenwegotthere,Iwantedtoexploreimmediately.“Comeon,”Isaid.“Ifyouareright,myweightwillbelessthanontheearthbecausethemoonissmallerandIwillbeabletomovemorefreely.ImightevengrowtallerifIstayherelongenough.Ishallcertainlyweighless!”Ilaughedandclimbeddownthestepsfromthespaceship.ButwhenItriedtostepforward.IfoundIwascarriedtwiceasfarasontheearthandfellover.“Ohdear,”Icried,“walkingdoesneedabitofpracticenowthatgravityhaschanged.”AfterawhileIgotthehangofitandwebegantoenjoyourselves.Leavingthemoon’sgravitywasnotaspainfulasleavingtheearth’s.Butreturningtotheearthwasveryfrightening.Wewatched,amazedasfirebrokeoutontheoutsideofthespaceshipastheearth’sgravityincreased.Againwewerepushedhardintoourseatsaswecamebacktoland.“Thatwasveryexhaustingbutveryexcitingtoo,”Isaid.“NowIknowmuchmoreaboutgravity!Doyouthinkwecouldvisitsomestarsnexttime”“Ofcourse,”hesmiled,“whichstarwouldyouliketogoto”Unit5CANADA-“THETRUENORTH”ATRIPON“THETRUENORTH”LiDaiyuandhercousinLiuQianwereonatriptoCanadatovisittheircousinsinMontrealontheAtlanticcoast.Ratherthantaketheaeroplanealltheway,theydecidedtoflytoVancouverandthentakethetrainfromwesttoeastacrossCanada.Thethoughtthattheycouldcrossthewholecontinentwasexciting.Theirfriend,DannyLin,waswaitingattheairport.Hewasgoingtotakethemandtheirbaggagetocatch“TheTrueNorth”,thecross-Canadatrain.Onthewaytothestation,hechattedabouttheirtrip.“You’regoingtoseesomegreatscenery.Goingeastward,you’llpassmountainsandthousandsoflakesandforests,aswellaswideriversandlargecities.SomepeoplehavetheideathatyoucancrossCanadainlessthanfivedays,buttheyforgetthefactthatCanadais5,500kilometresfromcoasttocoast.HereinVancouver,you’reinCanada’swarmestpart.PeoplesayitisCanada’smostpopularcitiestolivein.Itspopulationisincreasingrapidly.ThecoastnorthofVancouverhassomeoftheoldestandmostbeautifulforestsintheworld.Itissowettherethatthetreesareextremelytall,somemeasuringover90metres.”Thatafternoonaboardthetrain,thecousinssettleddownintheirseats.Earlierthatday,whentheycrossedtheRockyMountains,theymanagedtocatchsightofsomemountaingoatsandevenagrizzlybearandaneagle.TheirnextstopwasCalgary,whichisfamousfortheCalgaryStampede.CowboysfromallovertheworldcometocompeteintheStampede.Manyofthemhaveagiftforridingwildhorsesandcanwinthousandsofdollarsinprizes.Aftertwodays’travel,thegirlsbegantorealizethatCanadaisquiteempty.Atschool,theyhadlearnedthatmostCanadianslivewithinafewhundredkilometresoftheUSAborder,andCanada’spopulationisonlyslightlyoverthirtymillion,butnowtheywereamazedtoseesuchanemptycountry.Theywentthroughawheat-growingprovinceandsawfarmsthatcoveredthousandsofacres.Afterdinner,theywerebackinanurbanarea,thebusyportcityofThunderBayatthetopoftheGreatLakes.ThegirlsweresurprisedatthefactthatoceanshipscansailuptheGreatLakes.BecauseoftheGreatLakes,theylearned,Canadahasmorefresh