哪有北师大版高中英语课文录音下载？（必修1～选修8）
哪有北师大版高中英语课文录音下载？（必修1～选修8）
09-03-21 &
相当全：学习顺利：）
请登录后再发表评论!
相当全： 学习顺利：）
请登录后再发表评论!谁有北师大英语必修一到选修八的MP3，麻烦发给我下，谢谢！【高中英语吧】_百度贴吧
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&签到排名：今日本吧第个签到，本吧因你更精彩，明天继续来努力！
本吧签到人数：0成为超级会员，使用一键签到本月漏签0次！成为超级会员，赠送8张补签卡连续签到：天&&累计签到：天超级会员单次开通12个月以上，赠送连续签到卡3张
关注：131,339贴子：
谁有北师大英语必修一到选修八的MP3，麻烦发给我下，谢谢！收藏
小弟先谢谢您了！
高中英语?中教/外教面对面互动课堂,科学的学习方法.不怕你学不会!网上注册即可获得30天免费课程,
登录百度帐号Unit 1 Lifestyles 1 A Perfect Day?A Couch Potato Forty-three-year-old Brian Blakey from Birmingham is sitting on his sofa and telling me about his perfect day. When I wake up I don?t get up immediately. I turn on the television and watch the children?s programmes and old movies until about half-past ten. Then I get up, go downstairs and switch on the TV in the living room. For lunch, I have biscuits and a glass of milk, and I watch the news. In the afternoon, I often watch another old film C they?re showing some good ones at the moment. In the evenings, I often watch TV series or sport and the news again. I like the main news at six o?clock. At nine thirty, if there is a good play on BBC 2, I switch over and watch it. Then at night, I watch more films and I usually switch off the TV at about two o?clock. I never watch TV all night.I watch TV for sixteen or seventeen hours a day. I also do some exercise every day. I take Tina, the dog, for a walk every afternoon. I don?t go far, of course. I walk to the wall outside my house. I always take my portable TV and I sit on the stone wall while the dog walks round in a circle. Of course, I couldn?t live this lifestyle without a good wife. She?s not here now because she?s working, but she always makes my meals. We haven?t got much money, you know, but we?re happy. Sit down and watch TV. Here?s the remote control. You?ve got the world at your feet. And in your hand. Great! ?A workaholic Thirty-six-year-old Bob Black is sitting at his desk and working his way through his paperwork. I normally wake up about five minutes beforemy alarm clock goes off. As soon as I hear my alarm clock, I jump out of my bed. It takes me less than fifteen minutes to wash, get changed, have breakfast, leave home and get on a bus. I am always the first person to get to the office. The mornings are always very busy and the afternoons are even busier! Meetings and phone calls take up a large part of the day. Every minute of the day is filled with urgent matters. By around eight o?clock, I usually find some time to do my own paperwork and answer some personal e-mails. When I get home at about ten, I look at some documents that I bring back from the office so that I can be ready for the next day?s work. I get to bed around midnight when my wife and children are already asleep. I seldom have time for fun and other activities with my family. My family complains about it. But I try to work hard so that I can make more money for them. Besides, I get bored if there?s nothing to do. I like being busy. ?4 City and Country Debbie is an accountant in a large company in the centre of London. I need to be in my office by nine o?clock so I usually get up at seven o?clock. I travel to work on “the tube”. That?s what people call the underground in London. It takes about fifty minutes. Usually, it?s so crowded that I can?t find anywhere to sit. I just stand. I?m always tired before I arrive at work. I don?t like the underground! I spend all morning checking numbers. Lunch is always simple. I often get a sandwich in a nearby sandwich shop or I just have some biscuits and a cup of coffee. Then in the afternoon, I return to the paperwork in the office. On Monday nights, I have dance classes, and on Wednesday nights, I go to the gym. I need to do that because I don?t get enough exercise otherwise. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, I have French classes. I work for a French companyso I think studying French will help me in my job. I go to the cinema almost every weekend. Sometimes, if the weather forecast is good, my friends and I drive to the countryside for a weekend break. We like to visit nice, quiet places far away from the city and go walking where there are no shops, crowds or the tube. That fresh air is so good for my lungs. I love it. Paul lives in a small village in the north of England. I usually get up at four o?clock every morning when it?s still dark. I live and work on the farm so I don?t need to travel. After a big breakfast in my house, I walk out of the front door and I?m already at work. There are many things to do on the farm all day. We don?t have the same work hours that office workers in the city have. We do jobs when they need to be done and that could be early in the morning or late at night. I have cows, sheep, pigs and chickens on my farm. I have to make sure they are free of sickness. I also grow wheatand vegetables so there are many things to look after. In the evening, I like to play with my children. I have two children, a boy and a girl. They are six and eight years old. I also like to study. Right now I am studying Chinese by distance learning. I am very interested in China and it?s my dream to see the Great Wall one day. I love movies. My wife calls me a “movie fan”. But there isn?t a cinema in my village so I don?t get the chance to go very often. I go about twice a year, usually when I go to London with my family. We take a weekend break there when I am not too busy on the farm. My wife loves looking in the clothes shops and I like all the crowds and the noise. I also like to buy a few cigars. Unfortunately, my wife isn?t as fond of them as I am. My son and daughter love to ride on London?s red buses and they especially love to go on the tube!unit 2 Heroes1 Modern HeroesNational Hero China?s first manned spaceship lifted off at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15th, 2003 in Jiuquan, Gansu Province.The spaceship, called Shenzhou V,was carrying China?s first astronaut,Yang Liwei.Yang, who was a pilot in the army,was chosen from 1,500 other army pilots and started training for his space flight in 1998. The launch was very successful. “When the spaceship was lifting off, I could really feel the high gravity”, said Yang Liwei. “When the spaceship separated from the rocket, I suddenly got a feeling of soaring into the sky because of the zero gravity.” During the 21-hour space flight, the Shenzhou V circled the earth 14 times.While the spaceship was circling the earth for the sixth time,Yang Liwei spoke with ground control in Gansu. He was also able to speak with his wife and 8-year-old son. Yang Liwei had several tasks to complete duringthe flight and only slept in the spaceship for about 3 hours.While he was sleeping, the spaceship circled the earth twice. When the spaceship was doing its seventh circle, Yang Liwei showed the flags of China and the United Nations, expressing the wishes of the Chinese people to explore and use space peacefully. At 6: 23 a.m. on October 16th,Yang Liwei landed in Inner Mongolia safely. He told reporters later, “The surface of the spaceship was glowing red when it came back into the earth?s atmosphere. When Shenzhou V let out its parachute, I felt the ship was shaking.” As Yang Liwei returned into the earth?s atmosphere, helicopters were flying to where he would land, ready to collect him. Millions of people all over China were watching TV when the spaceship landed safely.When Yang Liwei climbed out of the spaceship, he smiled and waved to the crowds waiting for him.Yang Liwei was happy to be home but he said, “I thought 21 hours was too short to stay in space.”3 Sports Stars VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS are sisters. They are also both tennis champions who often have to play each other! Venus is now eleventh in the world, and her younger sister Serena has moved up to third. The two sisters were born in a poor and dangerous area of California. It was full of drugs and violence. In a recent interview, Venus spoke about the time when she and Serena were practising tennis and they had to run and hide as bullets started flying through the air. Finally, in 1991, the sisters and their family moved to a safer area and since then they have never looked back. The sisters? father, Richard, started to train Venus and Serena when they were young children. He has always beenvery strict with his daughters, training them hard to compete against each other. Brandi, the sisters? mother, taught her daughters at home so that they completed their high school while developing their tennis careers. Today, both sisters are studying design at college. They have already expressed a keen interest in working in design after their tennis careers come to an end. The sisters? road to success has been amazing. The first time Venus played in a big event was in 1996. Since then, she has won Wimbledon and the US Open twice. Serena has continued to improve and make fantastic progress. In 1999 and 2002, she won the US Open, and in 2002 and 2003, she was the women?s singles champion at Wimbledon. Has tennis ever caused problems between the sisters? Fortunately, no. “We?ve played each other before and it hasn?t worried us yet!” says Venus. “If she wins,” Serena jokes, “Mama says she has to do the dishes!”4 SuperheroChristopher Reeve Christopher Reeve was born in September, 1952. He was in his first school play when he was eight and he started to act in TV shows and films while he was still in college. He made many successful films and TV shows but he is most famous for his Superman films. Unfortunately, disaster came in 1995 when he fell from his horse and broke his back. The doctors did not expect him to live. However, he made amazing progress. At first, he couldn?t breathe without a machine, but he learnt to breathe on his own. He would never walk again but he started a new life with great courage. The second year after his accident, Christopher returned to film making. He also raised a lot of money to promote medical research into back injuries. He made speeches all over the USA about his experiences. This not only drew public attention to research into back injuries but also encouraged a lot ofpeople living with all kinds of problems. From their home, Christopher and his wife Dana spoke about their life after the accident. Have you thought of giving up after the accident? “No. Four days after the injury, I came to understand my situation. My wife Dana and I were in the hospital. The doctor said I was not going to pull through. Dana said: ?But you?re still you, and I love you.? And that saved my life. Since that moment I have never thought of giving up. Of course, I?ve had moments of feeling sorry for myself, but I?ve never had any thoughts of committing suicide.” Did you think that your marriage was so strong? “Yes, because Dana?s so wonderful. We have always got on really well. Our relationship has always been fantastic.” How did your parents react to the accident? “They divorced when I was four. They?ve got closer since the accident.”How did you get involved with charity work? “I know a lot of disabled people need my help. This is how I got involved with my charity work to improve the quality of life for all disabled people.” “With the progress of new medical research, I?m confident that people like me would be able to walk again one day. So you can see, I?m far too busy with living to think of giving up!” Christopher Reeve died on October 10, 2004. But people all over the world will always remember him as a superhero.unit 3 celebration1 FestivalsAutumn Every year in September or October, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by the Chinese people all over the world. On this day, the moon is said to be its biggest and brightest. People like to meet in the evening and watch the moon. The Mid-Autumn Festival is importantbecause it is a special occasion for family. It is also a day for special foods like moon cakes. There are all kinds of moon cakes. Traditional moon cakes are usually made with bean paste, but nowadays, there are many different kinds of moon cakes including fruit, coffee, chocolate and even ice-cream moon cakes.Winter The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth dayof the first lunar month. It marks the end ofthe Chinese New Year celebrations. There are many stories about how the Lantern Festival started. In one story, lanterns were lit to celebrate the power of light over darkness. In another story, a townwas almost destroyed but the light from many lanterns saved it. The story was about a god who wanted to burn down the town. He was fooled when he saw thousands of lanterns. He thought the town was already burning.In the past, lanterns were usually lit by candles and decorated with pictures of birds, animals and flowers, etc.. Nowadays, most lanterns are made with light bulbs and batteries, and they come in many shapes and sizes. In the north-eastern part of China, there are even ice-lanterns. The special food for the Lantern Festival is the sweet dumpling. Sweet dumplings are boiled and served in hot water.Summer The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year. As it is in early summer, it marks the beginning of the hottest season of the year. The tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival started more than 2,000 years ago. In the old days, dragon boat races were organised only by Chinese people. However, in recent years, people from other cultures have also taken part in the races and enjoyed the fun. There is a special food for the festival. It is called zongzi,which is sticky rice in fresh bamboo leaves.3 Weddings Weddings in Indonesia If a friend gets an invitation to a wedding, you can go with him/her, even if you don?t receive an invitation yourself. ? The times of the wedding ceremony and the reception are both on the invitation. However, you ought not to go to the ceremony because it is only for close family. If you really want to see it, you ought to ask first. Everyone can attend the reception afterwards. ? Nowadays, Indonesian women don?t have to cover their heads, but they usually wear traditional clothes. ? There is a box at the entrance to the reception and you ought to put money into it! But don?t worry, you don?t have to contribute a lot of money. ? And remember C at most wedding receptions you can?t drink alcohol.Greek Weddings On the day of a Greek wedding ceremony, the bridegroom has to ask the bride?s father for his daughter?s hand in marriage. The bridegroom?s best man then goes with the couple to the church, to be married. During the church ceremony, the best man should help put crowns made of flowers on the heads of the bride and bridegroom. A long silk ribbon that links the crowns is a symbol of a long and happy life for the couple. After the ceremony, the guests can attend a wedding reception, which is usually a huge party and can last through the night. There is a lot of eating, drinking and dancing, including the famous Greek circle dance, where everyone joins in. During the reception, guests can throw dishes on the floor and put money on the bride?s wedding dress for good luck.4 Christmas Memories of ChristmasFor me, Christmas always began in the middle of the cold, windy month of November. My sister, Alison, and I sat down in front of the fire and wrote a letter to Father Christmas telling him about all the presents we wanted. We seriously wrote “Father Christmas, the North Pole” on the envelope, before giving them to our mother to post. With December our excitement grew each day C as we opened the new year calendar, Christmas cards arrived in the post, Christmas lights appeared in the streets, and we attended the town carol service. And of course, there was snow everywhere. Enough snow to make snowmen, and to have exciting snowball fights in the school playground. On Christmas Eve, the whole family helped to decorate the house, put up the Christmas tree, the decorations and the balloons. Then, in theafternoon, when Auntie Kathleen and my two cousins arrived, everything was ready. Before we went to bed, we left some wine and biscuits for Father Christmas and then put our stockings at the end of our beds. We tried to stay awake as long as possible to see Father Christmas but the next thing we knew it was morning. Christmas morning! At the bottom of the bed was the stocking, now full of all kinds of small presents and sweets. Christmas morning was bright and sunny and, after church, my cousin David and I went out into the garden to play with our new presents. Lunch was always late, but what a lunch! A big turkey with all the vegetables followed by Christmas pudding. I like turkey breast the best. I put so much food in my mouth sometimes that it was hard to swallow. We sang Christmas carols happily, laughed at jokes, put on silly paper hats and laughed again. After lunch, the adults slept on the sofas in front of the Queen?s speech on television while we all played cards. Then we had tea, with a huge Christmas cake covered with snowmen. It didn?t seem possible, but we carried oneating. By bedtime all of the children were very tired. As soon as we turned off the light, we all fell into a deep, happy sleep. Unit 4 Cyberspace Warm-up Tapescript 1 Well, that's a very interesting question. It is already possible to make artificial body parts, but it won't be possible for a very long time to make artificial humans that can think or feel in the same way as we do. 2 We know that the planet's climate is changing. The Earth's atmosphere is slowly getting warmer. There is a real danger that the sea level will go up and there will be flooding in different countries in the world. This is already happening in some parts of the world. 3 Well, it may sound surprising. Imagine the situation of two twins C a brother and sister. The sister goes into space and travels at the speed of light for ten years C when she comes back to Earth she is thirty years older than her twin brother! 4 Unfortunately, this is a very real danger for the planet. A new virus could develop that we have no power to stop. It is something we really should be worried about. 1 Tomorrow's World The Future of CyberspacePeter Taylor finds out how computers and the Internet are going to affect our lives. In the last thirty years, the Internet has grown rapidly. In 1983, there were only 200 computers connected to the I now there are around 50 million and this growth is clearly going to continue. Some experts are pessimistic about the future. One worry is crime in cyberspace. Even now, young hackers can get into the computers of banks and governments. In the future, terrorists may &attack& the world's computers, cause chaos, and make planes and trains crash. However, many people are optimistic about the future of the Internet. Already, users can buy books, find out about holiday offers, book tickets, and get all sorts of information from the Internet. &In the next few years,& says Angela Rossetto of Cyberia magazine, &it is clear that we are going to see a huge growth in shopping on the Internet.& She also believes that, in the future, we will get entertainment from the Net and that television will probably disappear. The mail service may also disappear with the increasing use of e-mail. Some experts see our future in virtual reality C the use of computers with sounds and pictures that make you feel as if you are in a real situation. &Personally, I think virtual reality will become a part of modern life,& says Australian expert Peter Anderson. &I see people living and working in a virtual world. We will work in virtual offices, shop in virtual supermarkets, and we will even study in virtual schools.&2 Websites Tapescript Presenter: Welcome to DFuture Now‖. Today we are going to discuss the Internet with Dr Jennifer May from Manchester University. Dr May, how did the Internet begin? Dr May: Well, it's strange but the Internet was started by the military. In the 1960s the Pentagon were worried about communications after a nuclear war. And in 1969 they thought of linking computers into a network so that if one part of the network was destroyed, other parts could continue working. Presenter: And then scientists started to use the network, right? Dr May: Yes, people in universities all over the world began to use the network to share ideas. They used it for work and for fun. In the 1980s, people started calling it the Internet. Presenter: Then it was in the mid-1990s that the Internet really began to grow fast. Dr May: Yes, now the Internet is important for entertainment, e-mail, playing games and getting information. Tapescript Mother: Hello. 973273. Mandy: Hello, Mrs Turner. This is Mandy. Mother: Ah, hello Mandy. How are you?Mandy: Fine thanks. Can I speak to Lucy, please? Mother: Yes, just hang on a second, I'll get her. Mandy: Thanks. Mother: (shouts away from the telephone) Luuucy! Lucy: Hello. Mandy: Hi, Lucy. This is Mandy. What are you up to this weekend? Lucy: Me, nothing. I'm not doing anything this weekend. Why? Mandy: Let's do something. I've printed out the Internet page. Lucy: What's on? Mandy: Just hang on a second … Mandy: On Friday there's a fashion show … Lucy: Sorry? Mandy: There's a fashion show this weekend. Lucy: Oh, good. Why don't we go on Saturday morning? Mandy: Well, I can't … mm … I've got a music lesson on Saturday morning. Do you fancy doing something on Friday night? Lucy: Mmmm. Maybe. Mandy: Well, there's that new Richard Bailey film on at the … er the Colosseum. Would you like to go? Lucy: Yeah, great. I'd love to. Richard's my hero you know.Mandy: Yeah, and mine. Lucy: Mmm. Well, I'd better go now. I've got homework to do. Mandy: OK. Let's meet at 6:30, outside the cinema. Lucy: Right. See you tomorrow. Mandy: See you. 3 Virtual Reality Tom: Hi, Cathy. What are you up to this weekend? Cathy: Don't ask, Tom. I have lots of work to do. If I don't finish my project on the history of the Internet for next Monday's lesson, the science teacher will be angry. What about you? Do you have anything planned for Saturday and Sunday? Tom: It depends on the weather. If it's good, Dad, Mum and I will probably go camping. But we won't go if it rains. Hey, if I stay home, I'll help you with your project if you like. Cathy: Thanks for the offer. Tom, can you suggest any good books for my project? If you tell me some titles, I'll look for them in the library. Tom: Use the library computer. If you go to the Science Museum website, you'll find lots of good information. I'll send you the website address when I get home. Cathy: Thanks. Just think, if we had virtual reality holidays, we wouldn't have any problems with the weather. What's more, we wouldn'thave to spend a long time travelling on planes to get to our holiday destinations. Tom: What do you mean? Cathy: Well, in the future, we'll be able to use modern technology to go anywhere we like. We won't have to go there in the flesh at all! Wouldn't that be great? I feel excited just thinking about it. Tom: I don't understand. Cathy, do you mean we'll use the computer to travel around the world, entering and exiting countries in seconds and visiting all the historical sites? Cathy: That's right! Just imagine never having to pack a suitcase! We would not only be able to travel around the world, but also go to study in any world famous universities we wanted to. Tom: That could be really exciting! But I still find it hard to imagine. You would see it but you couldn't dip your toes in the sea or eat the foods you saw. You would not experience it. Cathy: Well, if they invented virtual reality holidays, I'd go on an around-the-world tour. Tom, what would you like to do if someone gave you the hance? Tom: I don't really know. Personally, I'm more interested in virtual universities than virtual reality holidays. I'd like to go to a world-famous university, like Stanford. But I guess, a virtual university just wouldn't be the same, would it?Cathy: True, but just think you would be able to tudy in such a world-famous university without going out of your room! 4 Virtual Tourism AUCKLAND * New Zealand a guide Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. It has a population of just under a million people and is located on North Island. This seaside city is an important centre for business and industry. It is also the most exciting city in New Zealand with people of many different cultures living there. The history of the city goes back 650 years when the Maoris settled in the area. European settlement began in 1840 when the British arrived. Auckland was the capital of New Zealand for some time. Later, the capital moved to Wellington, because it was more central. Since 1945, the city of Auckland has grown and it now has large modern suburbs. In 1985, the New Zealand government made the whole country a nuclear-free zone and since then Auckland has been a centre for protest against nuclear testing in Asia Pacific. Famous sights include Mt Eden, one of many large volcanoes, as well as the Auckland Harbour Bridge. At the Parnell Village, you can visit some of the first European homes. In the city, you can enjoy an amazing view from the Sky Tower, which is the city's tallest Tower. You can also see Maori traditional dances at the Auckland Museum.AUCKLAND * New Zealand From anywhere in the city, you can see the sea. Auckland is called &the city of sails& because it has more boats than anywhere else in the world. It has a warm climate with plenty of sunshine ?C the average temperature in January (summer) is 23.4?0D7C and in July (winter) it is 7.8?0D7C. It has some of the best beaches in New Zealand for doing water sports: swimming, diving, fishing, sailing and surfing. It is easy to travel between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand. There are regular international flights, too. However, flights from Europe take over twenty-four hours and are expensive. Communication Workshop Tapescript P: Hello and welcome to this Science Programme. Last week we asked students to tell us their ideas for scientific experiments they would like to do in space. To our surprise, hundreds of our student listeners sent in brilliant ideas. Today, we have invited two students, Wang Wei and Li Tao, to the studio to explain their space experiment to us. W: Well, I was interested in carrying out a small experiment about ants. You know, ants like digging holes. P: Ants in space? How interesting! Li: Yes, but I couldn't really think of a good reason for doing that. P: Mm, well, maybe you could learn about gravity.W: That's what I thought. But then Li Tao had a better idea. P: What was your idea, Li Tao? L: Well, I like silkworms very much. One day, when I was feeding them and watching them eat, I suddenly wondered what would happen if they lived in space. How long would they live? Could they still make silk? What kind of silk would they make? W:I thought that was a great idea too, so we decided to do that. P: Oh, I see. Silkworms are important to China. I think it is very meaningful to find out more about them. L: Yes, you're right. Maybe they'll produce better silk in space. Then we might have better material for clothes. P: Wow, I can't wait to see. Thank you for coming today. If any listeners have any other ideas for space experiments, please don't hesitate to share them with us. Call us on . Thanks for listening.Unit 5 RhythmWarm-up Tapescript 1 You can see the rhythm in the movements of the dancer. The music is European classical music. It is very beautiful and so are the dancers. Russian dancers are famous for their skills in this art form. 2 This kind of music is popular with young people all over the world. The rhythm is fast and exciting, and the music is famous for being very noisy. Usually electric guitars play a big role in this kind of music.3 In this historical art form, traditional music and singing are used to tell a story on stage. The rhythm plays a part in telling the story. It can get faster and louder, or make sudden stops to go with the action. 4 Often this form of dancing is a group activity and so the rhythm is important in keeping the dancers together. They are often seen at festivals with the dancers wearing traditional clothes. 1 Performance AlanisCa True Performer Canadian singer and song writer, Alanis Morissette, is used to being in the public eye. Her most famous album Jagged Little Pill, came out in 1995 when she was only twenty-one years old. It sold 15 million copies and made her world famous. Since then she has made several more albums and she has continued giving great performances on stage. Last Thursday night, hundreds of fans went to the Corn Exchange in Cambridge, England to see Alanis Morissette performing in concert. It was Morissette's first performance in England since her song &Uninvited& won this year's Grammy Award for the best rock song. The 30-year-old singer has a strong fan base in England. There was not an empty seat anywhere in the concert hall at last Thursday's event, although it was an extremely cold night. &Sure it's cold outside, but I hope we'll warm it upin here for you,& Morissette said to the large crowd before she started to play. During the 3-hour concert, Morissette used a lot of material from her award-winning album &Jagged Little Pill&. She also played a few songs from her new album, such as &Everything But ...&, which tells the story of someone looking for love in the wrong places. Morissette gave a creative and powerful performance in another song &Utopia&. Her singing the first part of the song was filled with anger, while the last part expressed love and joy. Although the concert hall was cold and the sound system caused a few problems, the audience could still enjoy the concert. Many people in the crowd were obviously long-time fans and they knew the words and sang along to nearly every song. Throughout the concert, the atmosphere inside the concert hall was extremely exciting. Everyone agreed that they were greatly impressed by Morissette's brilliant music and singing. At the end of the three hours, Morissette showed that she was a true performer, singing a well-known song &Heartache&. She finished the evening with a new song about the life of a superstar. While I watched and listened, I knew that I was seeing the performance of a real superstar. 2 Beijing OperaStudent 2: Professor Shang, the stage design of Beijing Opera is usually very simple. Sometimes, there are just two chairs and a table. How do the performers perform on such a simple stage? Prof. Shang: Well, symbols play a very important role in Beijing Opera. Many body movements can represent actions such as opening a door, climbing a hill, going upstairs or rowing a boat. For example, when a lady is riding in a carriage, the performer actually walks with a flag on each side. Four generals and four soldiers represent an army of thousands. In other words, every action and movement in Beijing Opera is important. Presenter: Well, thank you very much, Professor Shang. We've certainly learned a lot about Beijing Opera today. Tapescript Presenter: Welcome to What's Your Rhythm. In today's programme, we're going to discuss Beijing Opera. But first, we have Professor Shang Xiaoming, to introduce us to the topic. We have also invited to the studio two high school students who want to know more about Beijing Opera. Professor Shang, what is Beijing Opera and when did it start? Prof. Shang: Beijing Opera is a national treasure of China. The art started in the late 18th century and it combines acting, talking, singing, music, dancing and acrobatics. Actors play one of four roles: sheng, dan, chou, clown roles and jing roles with brightly-painted face masks. Each role has its own singing and acting styles.Presenter: Professor Shang, could you tell us something about the style of the music and singing in Beijing Opera? Prof. Shang: Yes, certainly. In the early days, Beijing Opera was most often performed on open-air stages in markets, streets, teahouses or outside temples. The music had to be played loudly and the performers had to sing with sharp voices, in order to be heard over the crowds. Slowly, this kind of singing became a special style of Beijing Opera. Student 1: Professor Shang, the costumes in Beijing Opera are often very bright. Why is this? Prof. Shang: That's a good question. As I mentioned just now, Beijing Opera was often performed on open-air stages and the stages were lit only by oil lamps. If the costumes weren't in bright colours, the crowds wouldn't be able to see them clearly. Tapescript 1 Mum: Yes, what is it? … I'm in a bit of a hurry. Li Ming: You know my classmate Yang Pufang. Mum: Is he the boy whose father is a doctor? Li Ming: Yes, that's the one. Well, Pufang's going to have a birthday party this Saturday afternoon. Is it OK if I go?Mum: But your grandpa and grandma are coming to stay with us this weekend. Li Ming: Please Mum. The party's a special occasion and everyone's going to it. Mum: Oh, all right … I'll let you go, but I need you to be back by 8 o'clock the latest. Li Ming: Thanks, Mum. And I was thinking … can I go to the cinema with Pufang on Sunday? There's a really good cartoon showing. Mum: What about your grandpa and grandma? Who's going to help me look after them if you go? Li Ming: Oh, Mum. Please let me go to the cinema. Mum: You can go to Pufang's birthday party but you can't go to the cinema. I'm sorry, but I'm going to need your help this Sunday. That's my final word! Li Ming: OK. 2 Meiling: Excuse me, Miss Wang? Miss Wang: Yes, Meiling. Meiling: Would it be all right if I handed in my project next week? Miss Wang: But you've had an extra week already. Meiling: Well, I've been ill all week and haven't been able to do the work.Miss Wang: Are you better now? Meiling: Yes, much better. Thank you. Miss Wang: OK, you can give me your project first thing on Monday morning. Meiling: Thank you, Miss Wang. There's one more thing. Miss Wang: Yes? Meiling: Could I write up the project in Chinese? Miss Wang: No, I'm afraid you can't. You must use English like all the other students. Meiling: OK. 3 Experiment in Folk Kong goes for folk! The famous classical pianist, Kong Xiangdong, surprised his fans last week by giving a concert combining classical music with Chinese folk music. Kong explained that he tried this because he wanted to create something new. &As a musician, playing the same music in different cities of the world is very boring,& says Kong. He also feels that playing Chinese folk music on the piano can help bring it to the rest of the world. Music has always been part of Kong's world. As his mother was a great music lover, he lived with music from birth. But it wasn't always easy for the young Kong Xiangdong. His mother couldn't buy him a piano until hewas seven. She had to draw piano keys on a piece of paper so that he could learn to play as early as possible. The 5-year-old Kong would practise on the paper piano as his mother clapped the rhythm. He was made to practise the piano so much that, at times, he thought about giving up. However, he didn't quit, and he became a great pianist. In 1986, at the age of 18, he became the youngest prize winner in Moscow's Tchaikovsky International Competition. He went on to win awards in competitions across the world. Because of Kong's talent and hard work, he became famous worldwide. But after years of performing, he felt that in some ways he had lost his identity. This is why he went back to his roots and rediscovered the beauty in Chinese folk music. He began experimenting with different styles and his Dream Tour Concert is the result. Kong's new experiment in Chinese folk music is so important to him that he even changed his appearance. When he arrived at his concert last week, he had shaved off all his hair! Since his music style was new, he decided his hairstyle had to be new too! Whether Kong is changing his appearance or transforming his music, he is a pioneer in music today. The concert last week was such a success that Kong's Dream Tour Concert is expected to run for the next two years in Beijing, Shanghai, and other main cities before going to Paris and New York.4 Let's Dance Ballet Ballet began in Italy and France during the 15th century and is still an important art form in Western culture. Ballet tells a story with music and actions but no words. Another famous Russian ballet is called &Sleeping Beauty&. Many countries have produced ballets, including China. One well-known Chinese ballet is called &The White-haired Girl&. Folk Dance Folk dances are traditional styles of dancing that come from ordinary people. They are usually group dances that are taught from one generation to another. China is famous for many different types of folk dances, including the dragon dance and the lion dance, which are performed during the Spring Festival. ...(2)… Another well-known folk dance is the Yangge, which is often performed on special occasions. In many parts of the country, you can see people of all ages dancing in the street during festivals. They are dressed in beautiful costumes, skipping back and forth to the rhythm of loud drums. People like to watch performances of this unique folk dance. Popular Dance Popular or social dances often come from folk dances, although they are usually popular for only a short time. ...(3)...Until the eighteenth century, social danceswere only held in palaces or the homes of noble families. However, in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, social dancing became more popular. Ballroom dancing, which was a formal dance in a large room, became popular in Europe and North America. Central European folk dances, such as the waltz, changed and became the most popular examples of ballroom dances. In the United States, the mixing of immigrant cultures produced new forms of dance, such as tap dancing. Before the First World War, new ballroom dances came to Europe and America, for example, the Tango and the Cha-Cha. The Argentine Tango was made internationally popular by Carlos Gardel through his songs and films. After the Second World War, African-American rhythm and movements became part of popular social dance. Rock 'n' roll dances were popular during the 1950s. ...(4)... Dancing in couples returned in the 1970s and 1980s with &disco& music. ...(5)... This form of dancing is almost like acrobatics. It began in the poorer parts of large American cities.Unit 6 DesignWarm-up Tapescript 1 I definitely think this one's the best. The woman looks so peaceful. It looks like she's keeping a secret and her eyes are almost watching you. Even though the painting is quite dark, it feels like it is full of light.2 Personally, I think this one is good. It's got very strong lines and you can almost feel the music. And the colours C they're great C they're really bright. I like abstract paintings because you have to use your own imagination to understand what the painter is trying to do. I think … 3 This one's my favourite. It shows war really well C with the dark, dark colours and the terrible pictures. The lines and shapes are square and hard. They show violence and pain. Look at the horse and the mother with her dead child. It's a very frightening painting because … 4 Well, I think this one's the best. I really like the bright colours and the clear lines. I love the colour of the water in the swimming pool. The style's strange C it's realistic, but very simple at the same time. 1 A Matter of Taste Xu Beihong () was important in modern Chinese folk art. During his lifetime, he developed the tradition of combining poetry with painting. Between 1933 and 1940, he held several exhibitions in Asia and Europe to promote Chinese art. Across this painting, named Racing Horse, we can see a horse running at high speed like a missile across the sky. On the left and right side of the painting, Xu cleverly drew in black ink to show the moving hair on the horse's mane and tail. He also used different shades of grey in a creative way to show the sweat along the horse's body. The painting of dark and light colours is a favourite of many art lovers.Qi Baishi () was one of China's greatest painters. He worked with wood during his early youth. Then between 1902 and 1909, he travelled across the country and painted many pictures of scenery. His interest changed later to simple pictures from everyday life, such as vegetables, flowers, birds, and insects. Cabbage is a well-known example of Qi's work. The tiny insect near the cabbage has some red on its back. Its black eyes, which are fixed on the cabbage, show the creature's interest in the vegetable. Qi Baishi's style of painting often leaves the audience guessing and makes them use their imagination. Chen Yifei () was a very successful artist. His soft portraits of beautiful women are very valuable. In 1997, one of his paintings sold for US$503,000. The painting, named Poppy, is a typical example of Chen's style. In the painting, a young woman sits alone and is deep in thought. Her hand holding the fan is elegantly positioned above her knees. To emphasise the woman even more, Chen adds a lot of detail to the fan and the cloth of her dress, and chooses to paint the background behind the woman black. 2 Great Buildings Tapescript Female: Good evening and welcome to DBuilding Sights‖. Today Ben Smith will describe four of his favourite buildings from around the world.1 The Palace of the Doges, in Venice, is one of the best ancient buildings anywhere in Europe. It was finished in 1498. It has beautiful pink and white marble walls. From St Mark's Square you can see the balcony with statues on either side. 2 The Post Office Savings Bank building in Budapest was built in the early twentieth century. The most beautiful part of the building is the roof C which is green, blue, yellow and brown. On the roof, there are fantastic decorations representing waves, flowers, and angels. Someone asked the architect who designed the building why there are so many interesting things where people could not see them. He replied, DBut the birds will.‖ 3 The ancient castle of Eilean Donan in Scotland is probably one of the most fantastic buildings in the world. It was built in the thirteenth century but was destroyed by the English in 1719. The castle was in ruins for 200 years until it was rebuilt in 1932. It has a large, stone tower and thick stone walls. 4 The Chrysler Building in New York is not the highest skyscraper in New York, but it is one of the most beautiful. This skyscraper was made of new materials: metal, concrete and glass. It was built in the 1930s and has a beautiful metal roof. Tapescript Female: My favourite building's in Scotland. It's an amazing castle called … Eilean Donan. Have you heard of it?Male: No, I don't think so. Female: Well it's er … it's on … on a loch, you know, … a kind of lake. When you get near it, it looks as if it's in the water. It really looks like something from a fairytale, because it's located on a small island and it has a big tower. Male: Mmm. Female: When you walk across the bridge to the island you can see the castle in front of you. It looks really strong, 'cos it's made of a type of stone … you know … grey, and, er … Male: Granite? Female: That's right. And anyway … when you get inside it's sort of strange. And you can look out and see the loch around the castle and the sea. It's really beautiful. Male: Mmmm. Tapescript 1 One very interesting place to visit in London is Hyde Park. 2 In Hyde Park there are some huge trees and broad paths to walk on. 3 The gardens are very beautiful and very neat. 4 They often have bands and parades in Hyde Park. 5 When it is sunny, people sit on the grass in the sun. 6 Many people go walking in Hyde Park to get exercise. 3 Chinese Paper ArtThe Art of Paper Chen Zijiang is a paper-cutting expert whom I interviewed for my article on Chinese Art. Paper-cutting is something that he learned to do from an early age. &It is a Chinese folk art with a long history,& Mr Chen told me, &Paper cuts of animals have been found in tombs which date back to the time of the Northern and Southern Dynasty!& He added that by the Southern Song Dynasty, paper-cutting had become an important part of everyday life. &A young farmer who wanted a wife would look at a young woman's paper-cutting skills before marrying her!& explained Mr Chen, laughing at the look of surprise on my face. Mr Chen went on to explain that there are three types of paper cuts which people still make today: paper cuts for decoration, for religious purposes and for design patterns. Paper cuts used for decoration are often seen on windows and gates. They are usually put up during holidays to bring good luck. They are also used on presents. A present for parents whose child has recently been born might show a paper cut of children, for example. Paper cuts which show the Chinese character for double happiness are often used to celebrate weddings. Paper cuts used for religious purposes are often found in temples. They are also used as offerings to the dead. People to whom the dead personwas related would make these offerings on special days and during festivals. The third kind of paper cuts are those used to make patterns on clothing. They are also sometimes used to decorate jewellery boxes. Dragons are very popular patterns for these designs. The interview was very useful as I got a lot of interesting information for my article. I was also ready to try out papercutting for myself. &See you next week,& I said as I waved goodbye to Mr Chen. I was going to meet him again so that he could help me make my first paper cut! 4 Dream Houses The House on Mango Street We didn't always live on Mango Street. Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor, and before that we lived on Keeler Street. Before Keeler Street it was Paulina Street, and before that I can't remember. But what I remembered most is moving a lot. Each time it seemed there'd be one more of us. By the time we got to Mango Street we were six ?C Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, my sister Nenny and me. The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don't have to pay rent to anybody, or share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and worried about the landlord being angry. But even so, it's not the house we thought we'd get. We had to leave the flat on Loomis quick. There were worms in the wooden walls. Then the waterpipes broke and the landlord wouldn't fix them because the house was too old. He had no mercy so we had to leave fast. We were using the washroom next door and carrying water over. And everything in the flat was damp. That's why Mama and Papa looked for a house, and that's why we moved into the house on Mango Street, far away, on the other side of town. They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours so we wouldn't have to move each year. And our house would have running water and a bathtub and pipes that worked. And inside it would have real stairs, like the houses on TV. And we'd have a basement and at least three washrooms so when we wanted to bathe we wouldn't have to tell everybody. Our house would be white with trees around it, a great big yard and grass growing without a fence. This was the house Papa talked about when he dreamed of being rich and this was the house Mama dreamed up in the stories she told us before we went to bed. But the house on Mango Street is not the way they described it at all. It's small and red with narrow steps in front and windows so small that you'd think they were holding their breath. There is no front yard, only four little trees the city planted on the side of the street. Out back is a small garage for the car we don't own yet and a small yard that looks smaller between the two buildings on either side. There are stairs in the house,but they're ordinary stairs, and the house has only one washroom. Everybody has to share a bedroom with Mama and Papa, Carlos and Kiki, me and Nenny. Communication Workshop Tapescript Female: Hey, Eamon. Male: What? Female: Come and look at this. Male: Mmmmm, yeah. What is it? Female: It's called DSitting Woman‖, by Juan Gris. Male: It looks like a lot of squares to me. Female: Well, look, you can see the face of the woman, here at the top of the picture. And these squares show her dress. And here, at the bottom, you can see the chair. It's a modern painting. It's very interesting. Male: I prefer things that you can see. You know, realistic pictures of people and places. Not all these abstract things. Female: I don't agree with you. The painter uses different shapes and lines. There's movement in the painting. Male: I really don't like it. I prefer realistic paintings myself. I don't like all these abstract paintings. In my opinion, anybody could do it. Even I could paint a picture like that.Female: No, you couldn't. I like abstract paintings. They make you think about things. Male: Well, I'm thinking about a cup of coffee myself. Are you coming? Female: No. I want to see the other paintings. I'll see you in a while. Male: OK. See you later. Unit 7 The Sea Warm-up Tapescript 1 One of the things I like is that it's so silent. It's like another world down there, 20 metres below. And, you know, you can see some really colourful fish. They're beautiful and if you're lucky, you can see some strange creatures. 2 It's great fun, really exciting. I can sometimes go quite fast when there is a good wind. I go to the beach in my home town in England, and the only problem is that the water's freezing! I've been to Turkey twice, and there you can do it all day. 3 I grew up at the seaside, so it has been my only sport for a long time. I do it almost every day, even on the days when it is cold and wet. I love it. You're free, you know, you just forget about everything when you're out at sea, you know what I mean? But it can be frightening when the weather is bad.4 I started when I was a kid. Sometimes I don't catch anything but it doesn't matter. It's really relaxing, just being there. You forget about all your worries. And when you feel something on the end of the line, well, it's great.1 The Spirit of Explorers Viking Voyages to America The Vikings were the first Europeans to reach America. They achieved this long before Columbus ever set sail. The Vikings were a group of people whose ancestors came from Scandinavia. They controlled the seas and coasts of Northern Europe between the 8th and 10th centuries AD. By around 900 AD, there were many places in Northern Europe where the Vikings chose to live. In 982 AD, when a man called Eric the Red decided to set sail further west, there were as many as 10,000 Vikings living in Iceland. According to the old stories of Iceland and Norway, Eric the Red was forced to leave Iceland because he had committed a murder, for which he got into trouble. Eric reached Greenland and discovered that people could live in the place where he landed. He returned to Iceland and told people there about Greenland. He persuaded some people to go back with him to Greenland. Eric set sail once again, this time with 25 ships, of which only 14 made it to Greenland. Not long after Eric the Red had landed inGreenland, a man called Biarni set sail from Iceland in search of Eric's party. Biarni was hoping to join his father who was with Eric, but he was blown off course and found himself in an unknown land, from where he eventually reached Greenland. In the year 1002, when Eric the Red's son Leif was planning a trip further west, Biarni was the man with whom Leif discussed his plans. Leif followed Biarni's directions and sailed to what is believed to be the coast of present-day Canada. He then sailed further south to an island which is now known as Newfoundland. We know about Eric the Red and Leif's deeds through stories which were written down centuries later in Norway and Iceland. They are the first records we have of Europeans sailing to the Americas.2 Protecting the Sea Tapescript Fang Zhou is asking Zhi Hong about her science project. FZ: Hey, Zhi Hong, what did you do for your science project? ZH: I did something about protecting the sea. FZ: Protecting the sea from what? ZH: Well, first there's pollution. That's a big problem. And second, there's over-fishing. FZ: What's over-fishing?ZH: That's when people fish too much and the number of fish falls too low. Some fish may disappear altogether. FZ: Really? ZH: Yes, now there are too many fishermen fishing in the same place. FZ: Do you mean that there are more fishermen now than there were before? ZH: Yes, there are many more. And fishermen today have better technology so they can catch more fish than before. FZ: So there are more fishermen catching more fish? ZH: Well, they hope to catch more fish, but there are less fish to catch, so they simply can't. FZ: That's bad. ZH: Yes, and pollution is very bad, too. FZ: What causes pollution? ZH: All sorts: chemicals, plastic, rubbish, most of them come from industrial and agricultural waste. FZ: It sounds like a big problem. ZH: Yes, it is a big problem. FZ: How have these two problems been handled? ZH: Well, some government departments are trying to deal with the situation.FZ: Are they? ZH: Yes, some look for ways to reduce pollution, some keep a record of levels of pollution, other departments are responsible for finding, you know, where it comes from and punishing people who have broken the law by causing pollution. Of course, often it's quite difficult to find who's responsible for pollution. FZ: Yes, I suppose it must be. What about over-fishing? What can be done about that? ZH: Well, the government tries to control the number of fish that people can catch. In the worst areas they ban fishing completely for a few months at a time so that the fish numbers can grow again. They also try to help people to get other kinds of jobs so there are less people trying to make a living from fishing. FZ: Mm, that's a good idea. ZH: Let's hope it works! Tapescript 1 Female: I had a fantastic holiday in Egypt. Male: Yes? (showing interest) 2 Female: The hotel was really fantastic. There were two swimming pools, a huge lake with windsurfing, tennis courts ... Male: Mm, were there? (interested)3 Female: I went on a boat with a glass bottom looking at the amazing multi-coloured fish. Male: Mm, did you really? (interested) 4 Female: Here is a photo of my family outside the hotel. Male: Mm. (not interested) 5 Female: And this is a photo from our bedroom window. Male: Yes? (totally uninterested) 6 Female: This is me by the swimming pool. Male: Really? (bored) 7 Female: This is a photo of our boat trip. There's a shark. Male: Mm. (mild interest) 8 Female: And this is when one of the passengers fell into the water and almost died. Male: Mm. (very interested)3 The Sea World UNDER WATER WORLD The Best place to See Sea Creatures Polar World We have polar bears and a real iceberg too! You can only see a small part of it above the water. It's three times as big underwater. Watch theacrobatic seals at feeding time. Meet our less energetic but more friendly penguins. You'll love them! Ocean Floor See some of the most beautiful coral and the most unusual fish in the world. Watch some fish Dflying‖ through the water. They are less colourful than some other fish but they move beautifully. Sea Theatre See our intelligent dolphins. There are fantastic shows every two hours. Discovery Pool Especially for younger children. They can touch crabs and other smaller creatures. They can be educated about daily life on the beach in this exciting area. Virtual Reality Voyage Our most up-to-date attraction. Come with us on a Dvirtual reality‖ trip to the ocean floor and see some of the strangest fish in the world. ? Noisiest Fish. Some fish can produce sounds almost twice as loud as your speaking voice! You certainly won't find a noisier fish. ? Prettiest Fish. Some fish attract other fish with a light on their body C and then eat them! They have a huge mouth and can eat fish as big as themselves.Watch out! ? Tiniest Fish. Look carefully for the tiniest fish in the world. It is not as big as a fly in your house! ? Swim with dolphins and face an attack by the most dangerous creature in the sea C the great white shark!4 Sea Stories It may seem strange, but at that moment, when we were on the edge of the whirlpool, I felt calmer than when we were moving towards it. We went round and round, nearer and nearer to the horrible edge of the whirlpool. Suddenly, we went over the edge. I thought my life was over. But moment after moment passed, and I was still safe. The boat was on the inside of the huge whirlpool and we were going round in circles at great speed. I saw clearly that there were other objects in the whirlpool C trees and barrels. I noticed that the heavier objects went down more quickly than the smaller, lighter ones. So I tied myself to a barrel to help me float. I tried to make my brother understand, but he was terrified and stayed in the heavy boat. Without waiting, I dived into the sea to try and escape. About three years ago, something terrible happened to me. Those six hours of terror have broken my body and soul. You think I am a very old man C but I am not. It took less than a single day to change my hair fromblack to white. One day, my two brothers and I were coming back from the islands, our boat full of fish. All at once, the sky was covered with dark clouds and in less than a minute we were in a terrible storm. An enormous wave covered our boat and my younger brother fell into the sea. Our boat survived, and I was trying to recover when my elder brother put his mouth close to my ear, and screamed out the terrifying word DWhirlpool!‖ With the wind and waves we were going in the direction of the whirlpool, and nothing could save us! As you can see, I did escape. I will bring my story quickly to a conclusion. Some time after I left the boat, with my brother in it, it sank into the bottom of the whirlpool. Soon afterwards, the whirlpool became less violent. Then the sky was clear, the wind calmer and the moon was shining. I was still tied to the barrel and the waves soon carried me to an area where the other fishermen were. In the end, a boat picked me up. I was very tired. The fishermen were my old friends, but they were unable to recognize me. When I told them my story, they did not believe it. Now I have told you, and I cannot expect you to believe me more than the fishermen did. (Adapted from A Descent into the Maelstrom by Edgar Allan Poe) Communication Workshop TapescriptSpeaker: I'm totally against the plan. I think it will be a disaster for the local area. For one thing, it will be terrible for fishing in the area. The oil factory will pollute the sea and we won't be able to fish. It's difficult now, but this will be the end of the fishing industry. It would be much better if we put more money into the fishing industry. For example, we need money to build new fishing boats.Unit 8 AdventureWarm-up Tapescript 1 Boy 1: I've been interested in ancient Egypt since I was small. There's something exciting about the country. I've got lots of books on Egypt and a couple of videos. Of course, I'd really love to go there. I've always dreamed of seeing the Pyramids. They look really great in photos. 2 Girl 1: I just love airplanes. I don't know why, but for me they're really exciting. I've been on planes lots of times and it always feels great, especially when you take off! It'd be great to be able to fly one. That's my dream C to fly! 3 Boy 2: I like watching travel programmes on television. There was a good series last year. The presenter went round the world visiting all the major capitals. I'd love to do that, you know, go to places like Paris, Sydney, Beijing. It would be a great experience. 4 Girl 2: I've always loved water, you know. The first time I got into a canoe was when I was about eight. But my dream is to go down theAmazon. It wouldn't be easy, but I think it'd be a real challenge. And just think of all the things you would see C the rain forest, the wildlife, small villages.1 Adventure Holidays Just imagine. You are walking along a mountain path in the Himalayas. You are feeling tired. You are thinking about how far there is to go. Then, suddenly you are there! And the amazing Mount Qomolangma is on the horizon. It looks great. A few minutes later, you arrive at the camp. The food cooking on the fire smells great and while you are having a hot cup of tea, you relax and watch the sun go down. At dinner, the food tastes fantastic. You talk with other people in the group about everything you have seen and done during your day's hiking. If you are looking for experiences like this, Adventure 2000 is the organisation for you. A lot of hiking holidays sound exciting, but the reality is often very different. Hiking trips can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. However, at Adventure 2000 we feel that we understand the needs of hikers. All our guides have several years of experience in leading hiking trips in the Himalayas. They know all the best routes and best places to camp. We also realise that hiking can be hard work and believe that hikers need all our help. As well as the group guide, all teams have cooksand porters. While on a hiking trip, our cooks prepare delicious meals. And our porters carry your luggage, which means that you can simply enjoy the experience. At Adventure 2000 we also think that good travel arrangements are important. We organise all the flights for you: from London to Beijing, from Beijing to Lhasa and bus travel in Tibet. Accommodation is in comfortable hotels in Beijing and Lhasa, hostels on the hiking trip, and one-or two-person tents for camping. There are also special offers for people who don't want to go straight home afterwards. If you like history, there is a trip to Western China. For people who prefer to spend some time on the coast, we can organise your travel and accommodation too. This is a Class A hike ― you have to be fit. There are walks of 6C8 hours most days, with a maximum altitude of 5,545 metres. Class B and C hikes are easier, so you don't need to be so fit. The hike costs ? 2,500 including all flights and accommodation. Maximum group size is 15 people. Hikes are between October and May.2 Comparing Cultures American football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. It's a very physical game and the players wear helmets and specialprotective clothes. Baseball is a popular summer sport and there are two major leagues. Basketball is the thir and top basketball players can earn millions of dollars. Football, or soccer, is only a minority sport in the USA, though the national team has qualified for World Cups recently. In Britain the most popular sport in winter is definitely football and some clubs like Manchester United are famous all over the world. Rugby is another popular winter sport. Like American football, it is very physical and can be quite dangerous but the players don't wear any protective clothing. In the summer, cricket is the main sport. Very few countries outside Britain play it―only old colonies like India, Pakistan, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. Cricket is a very complicated game―it's very slow, and games can take up to five days! adventure in the himalayas Extreme Sports Tapescript Presenter: …and now we're going to take a look at extreme sports. What exactly are they? How dangerous are they? What makes people risk their lives to do them? Michelle is going to tell us all about them.Michelle: Speed, excitement, danger. You can find all these in the various extreme sports that have become popular in the last ten years or so. Take bungee jumping. You jump off a bridge, like this one I'm standing on now, and you fall and fall, and then, just before you hit the ground or water, a rope pulls you back. Other extreme sports appear just as crazy. Look at this. In sky surfing you jump out of an airplane and use a board to Dsurf‖ the air, doing gymnastics in mid-air! Amazing. And extreme sports on land can be just as dangerous. Winter sports have always had an element of danger. The new winter sports are even more dangerous. For example snowboard}