新朗讀補(bǔ)充九年級(jí)

九年級(jí)朗讀材料

Unit1P33aHowILearnedtoLearnEnglish

Lastyear,IdidnotlikemyEnglishclass.Everyclasswaslikeabaddream.Theteacherspoketooquickly.ButIwasafraidtoaskquestionsbecausemypronunciationwasverybad.SoIjusthidbehindmytextbookandneversaidanything.

ThenonedayIwatchedanEnglishmoviecalledToyStory.Ifellinlovewiththisexcitingandfunnymovie!SothenIbegantowatchotherEnglishmoviestoo.AlthoughIcouldnotunderstandeverythingthecharacterssaid,theirbodylanguageandtheexpressionsontheirfaceshelpedmetogetthemeaning.IalsorealizedIcouldgetthemeaningbylisteningforjustthekeywords.MypronunciationalsoimprovedbylisteningtotheinterestingconversationsinEnglishmovies.Idiscoveredthatlisteningtosomethingyouareinterestedinisthesecrettolanguagelearning.Ialsolearnedusefulsentenceslike“It’sapieceofcake”or“Itservesyouright.”Ididnotunderstandthesesentencesatfirst.ButbecauseIwantedtounderstandthestory,Ilookedupthewordsinadictionary.

NowIreallyenjoymyEnglishclass.Iwanttolearnnewwordsandmoregrammar.ThenIcanhaveabetterunderstandingofEnglishmovie.

Unit1P62bHowCanYouBecomeaSuccessfulLearner?

Everyoneisbornwiththeabilitytolearn.Butwhetherornotyoucandothiswelldependsonyourlearninghabits.Researchshowsthatsuccessfullearnershavesomegoodhabitsincommon.

Creatinganinterestinwhattheyshowthatifyouareinterestedinsomething,yourbrainismoreactiveanditisalsoeasierforyoutopayattentiontoitforalongtime.Goodlearnersoftenconnectwhattheyneedtolearnwithsomethingtheyareinterestedin.Forexample,iftheyneedtolearnEnglishandtheylikemusicorsports,theycanlistentoEnglishsongsorwatchsportsprogramsinEnglish.Thiswaytheywillnotgetbored.

Practicingandlearningfrommistakes.Goodlearnersthinkaboutwhattheyaregoodatandwhattheyneedtopracticemore.Remember,“useitorloseit”!Evenifyoulearnsomethingwell,youwillforgetitunlessyouuseit.Practicemakesperfect.Goodlearnersarealsonotafraidofmakingmistakes.AlexanderGrahamBelldidnotinventthetelephoneovernight.Hesucceededbytryingmanytimesandlearningfromhismistakes.

Developingtheirstudyisnotenoughtojuststudyhard.Youhavetoknowhowtostudy.Goodlearnersfindoutthebestwaystolearnwell.Forexample,theymaytakenotesbywritingdownkeywordsorbydrawingmindmaps.Goodlearnersalsolookforwaystoreviewwhattheyhavelearned.Theymaydothisbyreadingtheirnoteseverydayorbyexplainingtheinformationtoanotherstudent.

Askinglearnersoftenaskquestionsduringorafterclass.Theyevenaskeachotherandtrytofindouttheanswers.Knowledgecomesfromquestioning.Learningisalife-longjourneybecauseeverydaybringssomethingnew.Everythingthatyoulearnbecomesapartofyouandchangesyou,solearnwiselyandlearnwell.

Unit1P8selfcheck1

Areyoustressedouteachtimeyouhaveatest?Youdon’thavetobeifyoudevelopsmartstudyskills.Remembertotakenotesnotesinclassandreviewthemonyourownorwithfriendsafterclass.Thenwhatyoulearnedbydoingexercises.Trytostudyandinformationbitbybitinsteadofwaitinguntilthelastminutetostudyeverythingatonce.Ifyoupreparewellforatest,thenthere’snothingtoworryabout!

Unit2P113aFullMoon,FullFeelings

ChinesepeoplehavebeencelebratingMid-AutumnFestivalandenjoyingmooncakesforcenturies.Mooncakeshavetheshapeofafullmoononthemid-autumnnight.Theycarrypeople’swishestothefamiliestheyloveandmiss.

Therearemanytraditionalfolkstoriesaboutthisfestival.However,mostpeoplethinkthatthestoryofChang’eisthemosttouching.Chang’ewasHouYi’sbeautifulwife.AfterHouYishotdowntheninesuns,agoddessgavehimamagicmedicinetothankhim.Whoeverdrankthiscouldliveforever,andHouYiplannedtodrinkitwithChang’e.However,abadman,PengMeng,triedtostealthemedicinewhenHouYiwasnothome.Chang’erefusedtogiveittohimanddrankitall.Shebecameverylightandflewuptothemoon.HouYiwassosadthathecalledouthernametothemooneverynight.Onenight,hefoundthatthemoonwassobrightandroundthathecouldseehiswifethere.Hequicklylaidoutherfavoritefruitsanddessertsinthegarden.HowhewishedthatChang’ecouldcomeback!

Afterthis,peoplestartedthetraditionofadmiringthemoonandsharingmooncakeswiththeirfamilies.

Unit2P124b

DearXiaYu,DoyouknowthattherearetwospecialdaysforparentsinAmerica?OneisMother’sDayonthesecondSundayofMayandtheotherisFather’sDayonthethirdSundayofJune.Onthesetwodays,Americanchildrenoftengivegiftstotheirparentsortakethemoutforlunchordinner.Commongiftsareflowersandcardsformothersandshirtsortiesforfathers.IheardthatitisbecomingmoreandmorepopulartocelebrateMother’sDayandFather’sDayinChina.Iwonderifchildrenovertherealsogivesimilargiftstotheirparents.Ibelievethattherearemanywaystoshowourlove.Actually,wedon’thavetospendalotofmoney.Itisalsoagoodideatohelpparentstodosomethinginstead.June

Unit2P142bThespiritofChristmas

ManywouldagreethatwhenwethinkofChristmas,weprobablythinkofgifts,ChristmastreesandSantaClaus.ButbehindallthesethingsliesthetruemeaningofChristmas:theimportanceofsharingandisperhapsthebestexampleofthis.

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!

Unit2P16selfcheck1

ManyWesterncountriescelebrateEaster.ThisholidayisalwaysonaSundaybetweenMarch22ndandApril25th.Itcelebratesthebirthofnewlife.Henslayeggs,givingbirthtolife.Soaneggisasymbolofnewlife.ApopularactivityduringEasteristohideeggsaroundyourhomeorgardenforfriendsorrelativestofind.Thesecanberealeggs,buttheyaremoreoftenchocolateeggs.Notonlydopeoplespreadthemaroundindifferenthidingplacesforanegghunt,buttheyalsogiveoutthesetreatsasgifts.SojustlikeChristmas,Eastercreatesgoodbusinessforsupermarketsandchocolatestores.

Unit3P193aFunTimesPark—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!

Unit3P222b.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.

Unit4P263aFromShyGirltoPopStar

1 Forthismonth’sYoungWorldmagazine,Iinterviewed19-year-oldAsianpopstarCandyWang.Candytoldmethatsheusedtobereallyshyandtookupsingingtodealwithhershyness.Asshegotbetter,shedaredtosinginfrontofherclass,andthenforthewholeschool.Nowshe’snotshyanymoreandlovessinginginfrontofcrowds.

2 IaskedCandyhowlifewasdifferentaftershebecamefamous.Sheexplainedthattherearemanygoodthings,likebeingabletotravelandmeetnewpeopleallthetime.“Ididn’tusetobepopularinschool,butnowIgettonsofattentioneverywhereIgo.”However,toomuchattentioncanalsobeabadthing.“IalwayshavetoworryabouthowIappeartoothersandIhavetobeverycarefulaboutwhatIsayordo.AndIdon’thavemuchprivatetimeanymore.Hangingoutwithfriendsisalmostimpossibleformenowbecausetherearealwaysguardsaroundme.”

3 WhatdoesCandyhavetosaytoallthoseyoungpeoplewhowanttobecomefamous?“Well,”shebeginsslowly,youhavetobepreparedtogiveupyournormallife.Youcanneverimaginehowdifficulttheroadtosuccessis.ManytimesIthoughtaboutgivingup,butIfoughton.Youreallyrequirealotoftalentandhardworktosucceed.Onlyaverysmallnumberofpeoplemakeittothetop.”

Unit4P302bHestudiesharderthanheusedto

LiWenisanormal15-year-oldboywhoworkshardinschoolandgetsgoodgrades.Itishardtobelievethatheusedtobea“problemchild”untilaconversationwithhisparentsinfluencedhiswayofthinking.LiWenlivesintheSichuancountryside.Asasmallchild,heseldomgavehisparentsanyproblems,andtheywereproudofhim.However,thingsbegantochangeafewyearsago,theboy’slifebecamemoredifficult.Hehadtomoveinwithhisgrandmother.

LiWenbegantocauseproblemsforhimselfandhisfamily.Hewasnolongerinterestedinstudying.Hewasoftenabsentfromclasses,andhefailedhisexaminations.Finally,hisparentsmadeadecisiontosendhimtoaboardingschool.LiWennolongerlivedwithhisgrandmother.Hestudied,ateandsleptattheschool,andhehatedit.Thereweresomanyrules,andheusedtokeepbreakingthem.Oneday,hetoldhisteacherhewantedtoleavetheschool.Histeacherwasworriedabouthim.

Theheadteacheradvisedhisparentstotalkwiththeirsoninperson.Hisparentstooka40-hourtrainrideandafive-hourbusridetogobacktotheirhometown.ToLiWen’ssurprise,theirconversationchangedhislife.“ItwasexactlywhatIneeded,”hesaid.“Myparentshelpedmetounderstandhowmuchtheyhadgivenme.Theyalsotoldmethateventhoughtheycouldn’tbetheretotakecareofme,theywerealwaysthinkingofmeandwouldtakeprideineverythinggoodthatIdid.Theyhadalongtalk.Irealizedthatsincemyparentsmovedaway,I’vebeenafraidofbeingalone,andhavetriedtomakemyparentspaymoreattentiontome.”

NowLiWenhasreallychanged.Hehasbeenworkinghardandisnowoneofthebeststudentsinhisclass.Hisparents’lovehasmadehimfeelgoodabouthimself.“It’sveryimportantforparentstobetherefortheirchildren,”saysLiWen.

Unit4P312e

LiWenisa15-year-oldboy.Heworkshardanddoeswellinschool.Itishardtobelievethatheusedtohavedifficultiesinschool.Whenhisparentsmovedtothecitytowork,theycouldnotbeathometotakecareofhim.Sohebecamelessinterestedinstudyingandmissedclasses.Thenhisparentsdecidedtosendhimtoaboardingschool.Hefoundlifetheredifficult.Onedayheaskedhisteachertoleavehimalone.Histeacheradvisedhisparentstotalkwiththeirsoninperson.Thisconversationchangedhislife.Herealizedthathisparentswouldalwayslovehim,andtheywouldbeproudofeverythinggoodthathedid.Nowheismuchhappierandmoreoutgoingthanheusedtobe.

Unit5P353aTheDifficultSearchforAmericanGoodsintheUS

Ifyougotoanothercountry,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.EvenAmericanflagsaremadein

China!”KangJianthinksit’sgreatthatChinaissogoodatmakingtheseeverydaythings.However,hewishesthatinthefutureChinawillalsogetbetteratmakinghigh-technologyproductsthatpeoplecanbuyinallpartsoftheworld.

Unit5P382bBeautyinCommonThings

EachdifferentpartofChinahasitsownspecialformsoftraditionalart.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.

Unit6P433aAnAccidentalInvention

Didyouknowthattea,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.

Unit6P444c.

ThetelephoneinventedbyAlexanderGrahamBell.Hewasbornin1847.AlexanderworkedontheinventionofthetelephonewithThomasWatson.In1875,Alexanderlearnttosendmusicalnotesthroughaninstrumentsimilartoatelephone.Finally,thetelephonewasinventedin1876.ThefirstsentencethatwassaidonthetelephonebyAlexanderwas“Mr.Watson,comehere;Iwanttoseeyou.”Todaythetelephoneisusedaroundtheworld.

Unit6P451dTheHistoryofPotatoChips

Doyouknowthatpotatochipswereinventedbymistake?PotatochipswereinventedbyacookcalledGeorgeCrum.Theywereinventedin1853.GeorgeCrumcutthepotatoesreally,reallythinandthencookedthemforalongtimeuntiltheywerecrispy.Finallyheputlotsofsaltonthemsotheywerereallysalty.

Unit6P462bDoYouKnowWhenBasketballWasInvented?

Basketballisamuch-lovedandactivesportmorethan100millionpeopleinover200countries.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.

Unit6P48SelfCheck1

Itisoftendifficulttodecideontheinventorofcertaininventions.Thisisbecausesometimesafewpeoplemayinventthingswhicharenearlythesame.It’shardtotellwhocameupwiththefirstidea.Someinventionscanalsoleadtootherinventionsallofasudden.Sosomepeopledoubtwhethertheinventorcameupwiththeideahimselforherself.Theythinkthattheinventorusedsomeoneelse’sideatocreatehisorherinvention.Thatiswhybooksorwebsitesusuallymentionmorethanoneinventorwhengivinginformationaboutinventions.

Unit7P513aMomKnowsBest

WhenIwasatinybabycryingallnight,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!

Unit7P524b

Shouldteenagersbeaskedtomoveoutwhentheystartworking?InmanyWesterncountries,teenagersareallowedtomoveoutatsixteenorseventeen.Theirparentsbelievethattheyshouldbeeducatetotakecareofthemselvesfromayoungage.Thisway,whentheystartworkingtheycanmanagetheirownlives.However,inmostAsiansocieties,thefamilyunitisespeciallystrong.Soitisnotcommonforteenagerstomoveout.Chineseparentsbelievethatitisbetterforchildrentolivewithparentswhocantakecareofthem.Buttheyoungshouldthenlookaftertheirparentsastheygetolder.ThatiswhymanyChineseadultscontinuetolivewiththeirparents.

Unit7P542b

ShouldIBeAllowedtoMakeMyOwnDecisions?

Manyteenagershavehobbies.Butsometimesthesecangetinthewayoftheirschoolwork,andparentsmightworryabouttheirsuccessatschool.Teenagersoftenthinktheyshouldbeallowedtopracticetheirhobbiesasmuchastheywant.Doyouagree?

LiuYu,afifteen-year-oldboyfromShandong,isarunningstar.Heisonhisschoolteamandhasalwayswantedtobeaprofessionalrunnerwhenhegrowsup.However,hisparentswon’tallowhimtotrainsomuch.“Ofcoursewewanttoseehimachievehisdreams,”saysMr.Liu.“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.”

Unit8P593a

Weliveinasmalltownandalmosteveryoneknowseachother.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?”O(jiān)newomanintheareasawsomethingrunningaway,butitwasdarksosheisnotsure.“Ithinkitwastoobigtobeadog,”shesaid.“Maybeitwasabearorawolf.”

Everyoneinourtownisfeelinguneasy,andeveryonehashisorherownideas.Theremustbe