UNIT 1
Global citizen is someone who identifies with being part of an emerging world community and whose actions contribute to building this community's values and practices. Global citizenship believes that humankind is essentially on and each individual has the power to change things. In our interdependent world, global citizenship encourages us to recognize our responsibilities toward each other and learn from each other. Global citizens care about education, disease, poverty, and environmental issues around the world. Today, the forces of global engagement are helping some people identify themselves as global citizens who have a sense of belonging to a world community. This growing global identity in large part is made possible by the forces of modern information, communications and transportation technologies. Global citizenship aims to empower people to lead their own action. Along with the knowledge and values that they have gained from learning about global issues, people need to be equipped with the necessary skills to give themselves the ability and confidence to be pro-active in making a positive difference in the world.
世界公民是指一个人承认自己是新兴的全球社区的一分子，而且其行动对全球社区的价值打造和实践活动有所贡献。世界公民相信人类从本质上来说是一个整体，每个人都有改变事物的能力。在我们这样一个相互依赖的世界中，世界公民意识鼓励我们认识到对彼此的责任，并从对方身上学习。世界公民关心全球的教育、疾病、贫穷和环境问题。在当今，全球合作的力量在使一些人萌发世界公民的意识，让他们拥有对全球社区的归属感。这种不断发展的世界公民意识在很大程度上来讲，要归功于现代信息、通信和交通技术的力量。世界公民意识致力于给予人们力量，让他们付诸行动。世界公民除了要从世界问题中学习知识和价值观，还要拥有必需的技能，使他们拥有能力和自信，积极推动世界的发展。
UNIT 2
The American Dream is a national ethos(精神特质)of the United States. The term is used in many ways, but it essentially is an idea that suggests that anyone in the US can succeed through hard work and has the potential to lead a happy, successful life. Many people have expanded upon or refined the definition to include things such as freedom, fulfillment and meaningful relationships. The idea of an American Dream is older than the US, dating back to the 1600s, when people began to have all sorts of hopes and aspirations for what was a new and largely unexplored continent to European immigrants. And the meaning of the Dream has changed over the course of history, including both personal components and a global vision. But not everybody thinks the American Dream is a positive thing. Some people believe that the structure of society in the US prevents such an idealistic goal for everyone. Critics often point to examples of inequality rooted in class, race, religion and ethnicity that suggest that the American Dream is not attainable for everyone.
美国梦是美利坚合众国的民族精神，该词有各种各样的用法，但其根本含义是，在美国任何人都可以通过努力获得成功，都有可能过上幸福而成功的生活。许多人对美国梦的概念加以拓展和提炼，涵盖了像自由、自我实现和深厚的人际关系等方面的内容。美国梦的思想比美国本身更为久远，可以追溯到17世纪，当时的欧洲移民面对这一新发现的、未经开发的广袤大陆，开始纷纷怀揣希望，追逐梦想，随着历史的发展，美国梦的含义也已改变，既包含了个人元素，也包含了全局视野。但并不是每个人都对美国梦持肯定态度。一些人认为美国的社会结构决定了不是每个人都能拥有这样的理想目标，批评者常常举以实例，揭露植根于阶级、种族、宗教 和民族的不平等现象，指出美国梦并非每个人都可企及。
UNIT 3
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest minds of the Italian Renaissance, is perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. A painter, sculptor, architect, mathematician, engineer, and inventor, he is famous for a wide range of accomplishments. His natural genius, which crossed multiple disciplines, won him the title of"Renaissance Master". Leonardo is renowned primarily as a painter. Among his works, the Mona Lisa is the best known and The Last Supper the most reproduced religious painting of all time. What make Leonardo's drawings unique are mainly his innovative techniques and acute scientific mind. Perhaps only 15 of his paintings have survived, partly because his constant experimentation with new techniques made his total output quite small. Although not a prolific(多产的)painter, Leonardo was a most productive draftsman, keeping journals full of sketches, drawings, and diagrams. These notebooks, often referred to as da Vinci's manuscripts, recorded his inventions, observations, and theories about everything that captured his attention. Leonard's genius made him a pioneer in almost every field of study he undertook. His paintings, together with his notebooks, have contributed significantly to the history of art.
莱奥纳多•达•芬奇是意大利文艺复兴时期最伟大的思想家之一，也许也是迄今最多才多艺的人。他是画家、雕刻家、建筑家、数学家、工程师和发明家，因成就广泛而闻名。他的天赋跨越多个领域，为其赢得了“文艺复兴大师”的称号。莱奥纳多主要作为画家而著名。在其所有作品中，《蒙娜·丽莎》最为有名，而《最后的晚餐》则是历来复制最多的宗教画作。莱奥纳多作品的独特之处主要在于其创新性的技巧和敏锐的科学思维。他的画作大约只有15幅流传了下来，其部分原因是他不断试验新的技巧，所以作品总量很小。莱奥纳多虽然不是多产画家，却是一位最高产的绘图家，他在日记中画满了各种草图、图画和图表。这些笔记通常被称为达 •芬奇手稿，记录了他的各种发明、观察，以及他对自己感兴趣的事物提出的理论。莱奥纳多的天赋使他几乎在涉足的每一领域都成了先驱。他的画作，连同他的笔记，在艺术史上贡献斐然。
UNIT 4
Venice is the world's famous island city in northern Italy. Founded in the 5th century, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice was a major center for commerce and trade, and became an extremely wealthy European city, a leader in political and economic affairs. After several hundred years in power, Venice began to decline in the 15th century. Nowadays, it is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cities and one of the most important tourist destinations in the world. Venice has a rich and diverse architectural style, the most famous of which is the Gothic style. Venice is also known for several important artistic movements in history, especially the Renaissance period. The influence of Venice on the development of architecture and arts has been considerable. Today, it is still playing an important role in contemporary arts and popular cultures. In 1987, Venice was listed as a World Heritage Site. In March 1980, Venice became a sister city of China's Suzhou City.
威尼斯是意大利北部一座世界闻名的岛城。威尼斯建立于公元5世纪，在公元10世纪时成为一支重要的海上力量。在中世纪和文艺复兴时期，威尼斯曾是重要的商贸中心，是当时欧洲极为富裕的城市，在政治和经济事务中居领导地位。几百年的兴盛之后，威尼斯在15世纪开始衰落，如今，威尼斯被公认为是全世界最美的城市之一，也是全世界最重要的旅游胜地之一。威尼斯的建筑风格丰富多样，其中最出名的是哥特式风格，威尼斯还因历史上的几次重要的艺术运动而闻名，特别是文艺复兴时期。威尼斯对建筑和艺术的发展影响巨大。至今，威尼斯仍对现代艺术和流行文化的发展起着重要作用。1987年，威尼斯被列入《世界遗产名录》。1980年3月，威尼斯与中国苏州结为“友好城市”。
UNIT 5
The English ceremony of afternoon tea dates back to the 1840s. The tradition evolved out of the rituals and routines that surrounded tea drinking in Britain before that time. Tea was first introduced to England in the late 1650s, but for a long time, it was only consumed by the royal family and the aristocracy due to its high cost. The habit of having afternoon tea did not become established until almost 200 years later. In those days, the British ate only two daily meals:a large breakfast late in the morning and a late dinner around 8 o'clock in the evening. Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, can be credited for creating the tradition of afternoon tea to soothe hunger pangs before supper. She invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at four to five o'clock. The menu included tea and snacks such as dainty cakes and sandwiches. Fine porcelain(瓷器)was used to serve this minor feast. Afternoon tea soon became popular, and is now a symbol of the elegant British way of life. As novelist Henry James wrote, "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.
英式下午茶的仪式可以追溯到19世纪40年代，该传统是由之前英国的茶饮仪式和习惯发展而来的，茶最初在17世纪50年代晚期被引入英国，但由于价格昂贵，所以很长一段时间里，只有皇家和贵族才能享用。直到将近200多年之后，英国人才养成吃下午茶的习惯。在当时，英国人一日两餐：快接近中午时分的丰盛早餐和晚上八点左右的晚餐，据说第七代贝德福德公爵夫人安娜开创了下午茶的传统，以此来缓解晚餐前的饥饿感。她邀请朋友和她一起在下午四五点钟吃下午茶。下午茶中包括茶和一些点心，比如精致的蛋糕及三明治。这些小巧的美食用精美的瓷器盛装，"下午茶很快就流行开来，现在已经成为优雅英国生活方式的一个象征。正如小说家亨利•詹姆斯写道的那样：“人生鲜有比全心全意享用下午茶这一仪式更惬意的时刻了。”
UNIT 6
Homer’s epics are said to be written by an ancient Greek blind poet Homer, who is revered as the greatest of ancient Greek epic poets. The epics include two great works of Greek history: the Iliad and the Odyssey. The two epics are the earliest works of Greek literature, and are among the greatest treasures of the ancient world, regarded by Westerners as the greatest epics in history. They have had an enormous influence on the history of literature and are of great value for the study of history, geography, archeology and folklore. Both the epics are divided into 24 volumes, the Iliad containing 15, 693 lines and the Odyssey 12, 11 lines. The Iliad is the oldest surviving work of Greek literature, which tells the story of the 10-year siege of the city of Troy. The Odyssey mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home after the fall of Troy. Given the concise language, vivid plots and characters, Homer’s epics are great masterpieces of literature and occupy an important position in the world literature history.
《荷马史诗》据传是由古希腊盲诗人荷马创作，他被推崇为古希腊最伟大的史诗诗人。《荷马史诗》由反映希腊历史的两部巨著《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》组成，是希腊文学最早的著作，也是古代世界最伟大的瑰宝之一，被西方人认为是历史上最伟大的史诗。这两部史诗对文学的发展产生了巨大影响，并对研究历史、地理、考古以及民俗具有重大的价值。两部史诗都分为24卷，《伊利亚特》有15, 693行，《奥德赛》有12, 110行。《伊利亚特》是现存希腊文学中最早的著作，讲述的是特洛伊十年围城的故事。《奥德赛》则主要讲述希腊英雄奥德修斯以及他在特洛伊陷落之后回家途中发生的故事。《荷马史诗》以其精炼的语言、生动的情节和人物形象被认为是伟大的文学杰作，在世界文学史上享有重要地位。
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