人教版必修二课文解读
新人教版版必修二Unit 1 P4
Reading and Thinking
FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS
从问题重重到迎刃而解
Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.
如果我们想社会进步，就必须发展经济。新旧更替的时代已经到来，在走向未来的过程中，我们不可能将过去的一切都保存下来。在进步与文化遗址保护之间寻并保持适当的平衡可能是一个巨大的挑战。
Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, an
d supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.
然而，巨大的挑战有时会带来很好的解决方案。20世纪50年代，埃及政府希望在尼罗河上修建一座新的水坝，以控制洪水，发电和向该地区更多的农民供水。但是该提议引发了抗议。大坝中的水很可能会破坏许多寺庙，并破坏埃及文化遗产中重要的文物。在听取了研究这一问题的科学家以及住在大坝附近的居民的意见后，政府于1959年向联合国求助。
A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.
委员会成立了，以减少对埃及建筑的破坏和防止文物的损失。委员会要求各部门捐款，并在国际社会筹集资金。专家们对该问题进行了调查，进行了几次测试，然后就如何保存这些建筑物提出了建议。最后，签署了一份文件，这项工作于1960年开始动工。
The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.
该项目汇集了来自世界各地的政府和环保主义者。寺庙和其他文化遗址被逐一拆除，然后移至安全的地方重新放置，使其远离水源。1961年，德国工程师搬迁了第一座庙宇。在接下来的20年里，成千上万的工程师和工人拯救了22座寺庙和无数的文物。五十个国家为该项目捐款近8000万美元。
When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.
当该项目于1980年完工时，它被认为是巨大的成功。这些国家不仅到了一条不以牺牲古迹为代价的未来发展之路，而且明白了多个国家合作共创美好未来的可能性。
The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from
disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.
如今，阿斯旺水坝工程的精神仍然存在。也许最好的例子就是联合国教科文组织，它开展了一项防止世界各地世界文化遗产消失的计划。如果一个问题对于一个国家而言似乎太困难，那么国际社会有时可以提供解决方案。
新人教版版必修二Unit 1 P8
Reading for Writing
PROMOTING CULTURE THROUGH DIGITAL IMAGES
通过数码影像推广文化
Lanzhou, 9 August 2017. A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are wo rking together to help increase knowledge and appreciation of China’s ancient cultural heritage. They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high-quality digital photographs have been produced since the international project started in 1994.
2017年8月9日，兰州。一组来自中国和其他国家的研究人员和科学家正在共同努力，以增加对中国古代文化遗产的了解和欣赏。他们正在记录和收集来自莫高窟文物的数字图像，莫高窟是中国古代历史上丝绸之路的一个重要站点。自1994年国际项目开始以来，已经制作了近50万张高质量的数码照片。
The Mogao Caves have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries. Today, the caves are just as international as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road. Tourists from all over the world visit Dunhuang to see the caves, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has even reproduced a copy of the caves and paintings for people to admire in America.高中英语课文
莫高窟长期以来一直是不同文化的交汇点，也是许多国家历史的一部分。如今，这些洞穴与人们穿越丝绸之路时一样具有国际性。来自世界各地的游客参观敦煌的洞穴，洛杉矶的盖蒂博物馆甚至还复制了这些洞穴和绘画作品，供美国人欣赏。
By sharing so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even wider interest around the world in China’s ancient history, culture, and traditions. They also hope to further educate people about the importance of safeguarding historic and cultural relics for future generations to understand and appreciate. As one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating
one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding oneself. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”
这些科学家和研究者在网络上分享了大量(有关莫高窟的)电子照片，希望在世界范围内促使人们对中国古代历史和文化习俗产生更广泛的兴趣。他们还希望进一步教育人们认识保护历史文化遗迹以供后代了解和欣赏的重要性。正如该项目的一位研究人员所解释的那样：“欣赏自己的文化遗产对于了解自己非常重要。欣赏其他国家的文化遗产对于国际交流和理解是非常重要的。”
新人教版必修二Unit 2 P16
Reading and Thinking
A DAY IN THE CLOUDS
云中的一天
The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.
空气很稀薄，我们不得不在从营地出发的短途徒步旅行中休息几次。在我们的左边，白雪皑皑的山脉消失在云层中，看上去几乎触手可及。在我们面前的平原上，我们隐约看到一体形优美的动物。这就是为什么我们在这里观察藏羚羊。
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass. I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.
藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上。看着它们在绿的草地上缓慢移动。我被它们的美丽打动了。我还想起了它们所处的危险。因其珍贵的羊毛，它们正遭受非法猎杀。
My guide is Zhaxi, a village from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sac red and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”
我的导游是羌塘的一位村民扎西。他在羌塘国家级自然保护区工作。该保护区是西藏西北地区动植物的庇护所。对于扎西来说，这片土地是神圣的，保护野生动植物是一种生活方式。他说：“我们不是在拯救动物。其实我们是在拯救自己。”
The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.
上个世纪80年代和90年代对于藏羚羊来说是一个糟糕的时期。藏羚羊的数量下降了50％以上。猎人为了赚钱而射杀羚羊。随着新公路和铁路的修建，它们的栖息地变得越来越小。
In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.
为了使这个物种免于灭绝，中国政府将其置于国家保护之下。扎西和其他志愿者昼夜守卫着羚羊，保护它们免受袭击。桥梁和大门的增设，让藏羚羊可以轻松移动，并使它们免受汽车和火车的伤害。
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.
这些措施是有效的。藏羚羊的数量已经恢复，2015年6月，藏羚羊从濒危物种名单中被剔除。但是，由于对藏羚羊的威胁尚未消失，政府并没有打算停止这些保护项目。
In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.
晚上，我喝着茶，看着星星。我想起了藏羚羊和扎西告诉我的。为了保护野生动物，我们已经做了很多工作，但是如果我们真的想拯救地球，就必须改变生活方式。只有学会与大自然和谐相处，我们才不会成为野生动植物和地球的威胁。
新人教版必修二Unit 2 P20
Reading for Writing
Give Ugly a Chance! 给难看的动物一个机会！
When it comes to wildlife protection, all species—the good, the bad, and the ugly—should be treated equally. Pandas, dolphins, and other cute wildlife are important, but we must pay attention to less cut
e animals, too. The world needs all kinds—without variety, our planet cannot survive. So if you want the future to be beautiful, you have to give ugly a chance.
在野生动物保护方面，所有物种——包括好的、坏的和丑的——都应受到平等对待。熊猫、海豚和其他可爱的野生动物很重要，但我们也必须关注那些不那么可爱的动物。世界需要万物，没有多样性，我们的地球就无法生存。所以如果你想让未来变得美丽，你必须给难看的动物一个机会。
Don’t Make Paper with My Home!别用我的家来造纸！
Billions of trees are being cut down every year to make paper for humans. Every tree that is cut down is a part of the habitat of animals such as these koalas. In this way a lot of animal homes are being destroyed! Is it right to make animals homeless so that humans can have more paper?
每年有数十亿棵树被砍伐，以供人类造纸。每一棵被砍倒的树都是这些树袋熊等动物栖息地的一部分。这样，很多动物的家都被摧毁了！让动物无家可归，人类能有更多的纸是对的吗？
新人教版必修二Unit 3 P28
Reading and Thinking
STRONGER TOGETHER:
HOW WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE INTERNET
我们一起更加强大：
我们是如何被互联网改变的
Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. We no longer have to wait in line or carry cash around when we go shopping. We can get the most updated information from large databases. We can download software, documents, and images whenever we need them. But the Internet has done much more for people than simply make life more convenient. People’s lives have been changed by online communities and social networks.
关于万维网奇迹的文章有很多。有无数的文章告诉我们互联网是如何使我们的生活更加方便。当我们去购物时，我们不再需要排队或随身携带现金。我们可以从大型数据库获得最新的信息。我们可以随时下载软件、文档和图像。但互联网为人们带来的不仅仅是简单地让生活更加便利。在线社区和社交网络改变了人们的生活。
Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had
to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer to keep her company. After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group where she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that usually exists between people.
英国伯明翰的一位英语教师简·夏曼尼突然得了重病，因此不得不辞职。50岁时，她发现自己失业了，困在家里，只有电脑相伴。过了一段时间，她发现上网可以帮助她减少孤独和无聊。她可以听音乐、看电影、玩游戏和探索世界。她还加入了一个在线小组，在那里她可以谈论自己的问题，并获得他人的支持和建议。她意识到互联网最大的好处之一是能够消除通常存在于人与人之间的距离感。
She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59-year-old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of himself, his daughter has time to study at university. A 61-year-old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together with two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her compan
y has become quite successful.
网友给了她很大的启发，她决定成立一个IT俱乐部来教老年人如何使用电脑和互联网。