人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔

(圓滿word版)人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔(圓滿word版)人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔(圓滿word版)人教版高中英語必修三課文電子文檔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.FindingthatZhinwasüheart-broken,hergrandmotherfinallydecidedtoletthecouplecrosstheMilkyWaytomeetonceayear.Magpiesmakeabridgeoftheirwingssothecouplecancrosstherivertomeetontheseventhdayoftheseventhlunarmonth.PeopleinChinahopethattheweatherwillbefineonthatday,becauseifitisraining,itmeansthatZhinisweepingandthecouplewon’tbeabletomeet.Theannouncersaid,“ThisisthestoryofQiqiaoFestival.Whenforeignershearaboutthestory,theycallitaChineseValentine’sstory.It’safinedaytoday,soIhopeyoucancallallmeettheoneyoulove”.AsLiFangsetoffforhome,hethought,“IguessHuJindoesn’tloveme.I’lljustthrowtheseflowersandchocolatesaway.Idon’twantthemtoremindmeofher.”Sohedid.Ashesadlypassedtheteashoponthecorneronhiswayhome,heheardavoicecallinghim.TherewasHuJinwavingathimandcalling,“Whyareyousolate?I’vebeenwaitingforyouforalongtime!AndIhaveagiftforyou!”Whatwouldhedo?HehadthrownawayherValentinegifts!Shewouldneverforgivehim.ThiswouldnotbeahappyValentine’sDay!Unit2HealthyeatingCOMEANDEATHERE(I)WangPengsatinhisemptyrestaurantfeelingveryfrustrated.Ithadbeenaverystrangemorning.Usuallyhegotupearlyandpreparedhismenuofbarbecuedmuttonkebabs,roastpork,stir-friedvegetablesandfriedrice.Thenbylunchtimetheywouldallbesold.Bynowhisrestaurantoughttobefullofpeople.Butnottoday!Whywasthat?Whatcouldhavehappened?Hethoughtofhismutton,beefandbaconcookedinthehottest,finestoil.Hiscolawassugaryandcold,andhisicecreamwasmadeofmilk,creamanddeliciousfruit.“Nothingcouldbebetter,”hethought.SuddenlyhesawhisfriendLiChanghurryingby.“Hello,LaoLi,”hecalled.“Yourusual?”ButLiChangseemednottohear.Whatwasthematter?SomethingterriblemusthavehappenedifLiChangwasnotcomingtoeatinhisrestaurantashealwaysdid.WangPengfollowedLiChangintoanewsmallrestaurant.Hesawasignatthedoor.Tiredofallthatfat?Wanttoloseweight?ComeinsideYongHui'sslimmingrestaurant.Onlyslimmingfoodsservedhere.Makeyourselfthinagain!CuriositydroveWangPenginside.Itwasfullofpeople.Thehostess,averythinlady,cameforward.“Welcome,”shesaid.“MynameisYongHui.I’llhelpyouloseweightandbefitintwoweeksifyoueathereeveryday.”ThenshegaveamenutoWangPeng.Therewerefewchoicesoffoodanddrinkonit:justrice,rawvegetablesservedinvinegar,fruitandwater.WangPengwasamazedatthisandespeciallyattheprices.Itcostmorethanagoodmealinhisrestaurant!Hecouldnotbelievehiseyes.Hethrewdownthemenuandhurriedoutside.Onhiswayhomehethoughtabouthisownmenu.Diditmakepeoplefat?Perhapsheshouldgotothelibraryandfindout.HecouldnothaveYongHuigettingawaywithtellingpeoplelies!Hehadbetterdosomeresearch!AtthelibraryWangPengwassurprisedtofindthathisrestaurantservedfartoomuchfatandYongHui’sfartoolittle.EventhoughhercustomersmightgetthinaftereatingYongHui’sfood,theywerenoteatingenoughenergy-givingfoodtokeepthemfit.Theywouldbecometiredveryquickly.WangPengfeltmorehopefulashedrovebackhome.Perhapswithadiscountandanewsignhecouldwinhiscustomersback.Sohewrote:Wanttofeelfitandenergetic?Comeandeathere!Discountstoday!OurfoodgivesyouenergyalldayThecompetitionbetweenthetworestaurantswason!COMEANDEATHERE(II)Aweeklater,WangPeng’srestaurantwasnearlyfullandhefelthappier.Perhapshewouldbeabletoearnhislivingafterallandnothavetoclosehisrestaurant.Hedidnotlookforwardtobeingindebtbecausehisrestaurantwasnolongerpopular.HesmiledashewelcomedsomecustomerswarmlyatthedoorbutthesmilelefthisfacewhenhesawYongHuiwalkingin.Shedidnotlookhappybutglaredathim.“MayIaskwhatyouweredoinginmyrestauranttheotherday?IthoughtyouwereanewcustomerandnowIknowthatyouonlycametospyonmeandmymenu,”sheshouted.“Pleaseexcuseme,”hecalmlyexplained,“Iwantedtoknowwhereallmycustomershadgonelastweek.Ifollowedoneofthemandfoundtheminyourrestaurant.Idon’twanttoupsetyou,butIfoundyourmenusolimitedthatIstoppedworryingandstartedadvertisingthebenefitsofmyfood.Whydon’tyousitdownandtryameal?”YongHuiagreedtostayandsoontheywerebothenjoyingdumplingsandbreastofchickencookedwithgarlic.Whentheywereservedtheicecream,YongHuibegantolookill.“Ifeelsickwithallthisfatandheavyfood,”shesaid,“Imissmyvegetablesandfruit”.WangPengwasenjoyingasecondplateofdumplingssohesighed“.Yes,”headded,“andIwouldmissmydumplingsandfattypork.Don,tyougettiredquickly?”“Well,Idohavetorestalot,”admittedYongHui.“Butdon’tyouthinkitwouldbebetterifyouwereabitthinner?I’msureyou’dfeelmuchhealthier.”Theybegantotalkaboutmenusandbalanceddiets“.Accordingtomyresearch,neitheryourrestaurantnormineoffersabalanceddiet,”explainedWangPeng.“Idon’tofferenoughfibreandyoudon’tofferenoughbody-buildingandenergy-givingfood.Perhapsweoughttocombineourideasandprovideabalancedmenuwithfoodfullofenergyandfibre”.Sothatiswhattheydid.Theyservedrawvegetableswiththehamburgersandboiledthepotatoesratherthanfriedthem.Theyservedfreshfruitwiththeicecream.Inthiswaytheycutdownthefatandincreasedthefibreinthemeal.TheirbalanceddietsbecamesuchasuccessthatbeforelongWangPengbecameslimmerandYongHuiputonmoreweight.Aftersometimethetwofoundthattheirbusinesscooperationhadturnedintoapersonalone.Finallytheygotmarriedandlivehappilyeverafter.Unit3TheMillionPoundBankNoteTHEMILLIONPOUNDBANKNOTEActI,Scene3NARRATOR:Itisthesummerof1903.Twooldandwealthybrothers,RoderickandOliver,havemadeabet.OliverbelievesthatwithamillionpoundbanknoteamancouldsurviveamonthinLondon.HisbrotherRoderickdoubtsit.Atthismoment,theyseeapennilessyoungmanwanderingonthepavementoutsidetheirhouse.ItisHenryAdams,anAmericanbusinessman,whoislostinLondonanddoesnotknowwhatheshoulddo.RODERICK:Youngman,wouldyoustepinsideamoment,please?HENRY:Who?Me,sir?RODERICK:Yes,you.OLIVER:Throughthefrontdooronyourleft.HENRY:(aservantopensadoor)Thanks.SERVANT:Goodmorning,sir.Wouldyoupleasecomein?Permitmetoleadtheway,sir.OLIVER:(Henryenters)Thankyou,James.Thatwillbeall.RODERICK:Howdoyoudo,Mr?er??HENRY:Adams.HenryAdams.OLIVER:Comeandsitdown,MrAdams.HENRY:Thankyou.RODERICK:YourareanAmerican?HENRY:That’sright,fromSanFrancisco.RODERICK:HowwelldoyouknowLondon?HENRY:Notatall.It’smyfirsttriphere.RODERICK:Iwonder,MrAdams,ifyoumindusaskingafewquestions?HENRY:Notatall.Gorightahead.RODERICK:Mayweaskwhatyou’redoinginthiscountryandwhatyourplansare?HENRY:Well,Ican’tsaythatIhaveanyplans.I’mhopingtofindwork.Asamatteroffact,IlandedinBritainbyaccident.RODERICK:Howisthatpossible?HENRY:Well,yousee,backhomeIhavemyownboat.Aboutamonthago,Iwassailingoutofthebay?(hiseyesstareatwhatisleftofthebrothers’dinneronthetable)OLIVER:Well,goon.HENRY:Oh,yes.Well,towardsnightfallIfoundmyselfcarriedouttoseabyastrongwind.Itwasallmyfault.Ididn’tknowwhetherIcouldsurviveuntilmorning.ThenextmorningI’djustaboutgivenmyselfupforlostwhenIwasspottedbyaship.OLIVER:AnditwastheshipthatbroughtyoutoEngland.HENRY:Yes.ThefactisthatIearnedmypassagebyworkingasanunpaidhand,whichaccountsformyappearance.IwenttotheAmericanembassytoseekhelp,but?(thebrotherssmileateachother)RODERICK:Well,youmustn’tworryaboutthat.It’sanadvantage.HENRY:I’mafraidIdon’tquitefollowyou,sir.RODERICK:Tellus,MrAdams,whatsortofworkdidyoudoinAmerica?HENRY:Iworkedforaminingcompany.Couldyouoffermesomekindofworkhere?RODERICK:Patience,MrAdams.Ifyoudon’tmind,mayIaskhowmuchmoneyyouhave?HENRY:Well,tobehonest,Ihavenone.RODERICK:(happily)Whatluck!Brother,whatluck!(clapshishandstogether)HENRY:Well,itmayseemluckytoyoubutnottome!Onthecontrary,infact.Ifthisisyourideaofsomekindofjoke,Idon’tthinkit’sveryfunny.(Henrystandsuptoleave)Nowifyou’llexcuseme,IthinkI’llbeonmyway.RODERICK:Pleasedon’tgoMrAdams.Youmustn’tthinkwedon’tcareaboutyou.Oliver,givehimtheletter.OLIVER:Yes,theletter.(getsitfromadeskandgivesittoHenrylikeagift)Theletter.HENRY:(takingitcarefully)Forme?RODERICK:Foryou.(Henrystartstoopenit)Oh,no,youmustn’topenit.Notyet.Youcan’topenituntiltwoo’clock.HENRY:Oh,thisissilly.RODERICK:Notsilly.There’smoneyinit.(callstotheservant)James?HENRY:Oh,no.Idon’twantyourcharity.Ijustwantanhonestjob.RODERICK:Weknowyou’rehard-working.That’swhywehavegivenyoutheletter.James,showMrAdamsout.OLIVER:Goodluck,MrAdams.HENRY:Well,whydon’tyouexplainwhatthisisallabout?RODERICK:You’llsoonknow.(looksattheclock)Inexactlyanhourandahalf.SERVANT:RODERICK:HENRY:ActI,Scene4

Thisway,sir.MrAdams,notuntil2o’clock.Promise?Promise.Goodbye.(OutsidearestaurantHenrylooksattheenvelopewithoutopeningitanddecidetogoin.Hesitsdownatatablenexttothefrontwindow.)OWNER:(seeingHenry’spoorappearance)Thatone’sreserved.Thisway,please.(tothewaiter)Takethisgentleman’sorder,Horace.HENRY:(aftersittingdownandputtingtheletteronthetable)I’dlikesomehamandeggsandanicebigsteak.Makeitextrathick.’dIalsolikeacupofcoffeeandapineappledessert.WAITER:Right,sir.I’mafraidit’llcostalargeamountofmoney.HENRY:Iunderstand.Andi’llhavealargeglassofbeer.WAITER:OK.(Thewaiterleavesandsoonreturnswithallthefood.)HOSTESS:Mygoodness!Why,lookathim.Heeatslikeawolf.OWNER:We’llseeifhe’scleverasawolf,eh?HENRY:(havingjustfinishedeverybitoffood)Ah,waiter.(thewaiterreturns)Samethingagain,please.Oh,andanotherbeer.WAITER:Again?Everything?HENRY:Yes,that’sright.(seesthelookonthewaiter’sface)Anythingwrong?WAITER:No,notatall.(totheowner)He’saskedformoreofthesame.OWNER:Well,itiswell-knownthatAmericansliketoeatalot.Well,we’llhavetotakeachance.Goaheadandlethimhaveit.WAITER:(readingthebillafterthemeal)Allright.That’stwoordersofhamandeggs,twoextrathicksteaks,twolargeglassesofbeer,twocupsofcoffeeandtwodesserts.HENRY:(lookingattheclockonthewall)Wouldyoumindwaitingjustafewminutes?WAITER:(inarudemanner)What’stheretowaitfor?OWNER: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’sgenuine?HOSTESS: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,sir?No,it’skindofyou.Youmustcomewheneveryouwantandhavewhateveryoulike.Justhavingyousithereisagreathonour!Asforthebill,sir,pleaseforgetit.HENRY:Forgetit?Well?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.Whatitwastobecomewasuncertainuntilbetween4.5and3.8billionyearsagowhenthedustsettledintoasolidglobe.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.Finallyabout2.6millionyearsagosomesmallcleveranimals,nowwithhandsandfeet,appearedandspreadallovertheearth.Thustheyhave,intheirturn,becomethemostimportantanimalsontheplanet.Buttheyarenotlookingaftertheearthverywell.Theyareputtingtoomuchcarbondioxideintotheatmosphere,whichpreventsheatfromescapingfromtheearthintospace.Asaresultofthis,manyscientistsbelievetheearthmaybecometoohottoliveon.Sowhetherlifewillcontinueontheearthformillionsofyearstocomewilldependonwhetherthisproblemcanbesolved.AVISITTOTHEMOONLastmonthIwasluckyenoughtohaveachancetomakeatripintospacewithmyfriendLiYanping,anastronomer.Wevisitedthemooninourspaceship!Beforeweleft,LiYanpingexplainedtomethattheforceofgravitywouldchangethreetimesonourjourneyandthatthefirstchangewouldbethemostpowerful.Thenwewereoff.Astherocketroseintotheair,wewerepushedbackintoourseatsbecauseweweretryingtoescapethepulloftheearth’sgravity.Itwassohardthatwecouldnotsayanythingtoeachother.GraduallytheweightlessenedandIwasabletotalktohim.“Whyisthespaceshipnotfallingbacktotheearth?OntheearthifIfallfromatreeIwillfalltotheground.”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,Canadahasmorefreshwaterthananyotherco