在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.Empire 帝国 2.emerging 新兴的 3.distinct 明显的 4.cockney 伦敦腔 5.cosmopolitan 世界性的 6.abbey 修道院 7.cathedral 大教堂 8.Gothic architecture 哥特式建筑 9.vibrant 充满活力的 原文 London The city of London is one of the famous cities in the world. In previous centuries，London was the center of the British Empire. Today，it is one of the most important cities of the emerging European Union. London is located in the southeastern England on the Thames River. The greater London area contains about 12 million people，and the surrounding areas contain several million more. London was the first city in the modern world to have a reached a population of one million people. London is a very old city，and many of its neighborhoods maintain their distinct character. One of the most famous parts of London is the East End，where people speak with an accent known as“cockney”. One of the features of the Cockney accent is that the letter“h”is often not pronounced. London's population is very cosmopolitan. The city contains，in addition to people of English background，large communities of South Asian，Chinese，African，and Caribbean people. Most of these people have their origins in countries that belong to the British Commonwealth of Nations. Many of the most famous buildings in London are located in a small central area. This area contains several huge churches，including Westminster Abbey，where many famous people are buried. Another famous church is St. Paul's Cathedral，which was re-built after the original was destroyed by fire in the year 1665. The House of Parliament are also found in the central London. These building are famous for their Gothic architecture and for the sound of the large clock，known as“Big Ben”. The Tower of London，which was formerly used as a prison，is now a popular tourist attraction. Buckingham Palace，the residence of the royal family，was first opened for public viewing during the 1990s. London is also famous for its many impressive museums，art galleries，and theatres. For example，the British Museum contains priceless objects from all parts of the world. The National Gallery holds a great collection of artistic masterpieces. The Globe Theatre has been re-built to appear as it did during the time of Shakespeare. Despite its age，London remains a vibrant and busy city. Most of the cultural and financial institutions in England are located in London，and the city attract many young people from other parts of England and around the world. Of course，London is popular with tourists who come to see many attractions of this city.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.evicted 驱逐 2.fabric 织物 3.pattern 图案 4.tartan 格子呢 5.heritage 遗产 6.bagpipes 风笛 7.parades 游行 原文 Scotland Scotland is the country that located on the northern part of the island of the Great Britain. The Scottish people are one of the four maintain nationalities of the Britain Isles，together with the English，the Welsh，and the Irish. Scotland and its people have played an important part in the history of the English-speaking world. Scotland can be roughly divided into two main regions. The Lowland areas，in the southern part of the Scotland，contain most of the population and the two main cities，Edinburgh and Glasgow. Most of Scotland's agriculture and industry are located in the Lowland areas. The Highland areas，together with the islands that lie off the coasts of Scotland，are not so heavily populated. The lakes and mountain of the highlands are known for their beautiful scenery. One of the themes of Scottish history is conflict with England. During the Middle Ages，the English and Scottish kings were often at war. Around the year 1300，the Scots repelled some invasions from England. During the 1600s，though，Scotland and England had the same king，and the countries were official joined as“the United Kingdom”in 1701. For people in the highlands of Scotland，the eighteenth centuries was very difficult. Most people worked as farmers on land that was owned by a few wealthy landlords. The landlords decided that they could make more money on the land if they evicted the farmers，so many of the farmers were forced to leave. The highlanders rebelled against the king in 1745，but they were defeated. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries，many people left the highlands of Scotland. They moved to the United States，Canada，Australia，and New Zealand. During the nineteenth century，Scotland was the first country to have the universal public education for children. The country produced a great number of famous scientists and inventors during that time. Scotland is famous for its national costume. This costume includes the“kilt”，which is a knee-length skirt worn by both men and women. The kilt is made from a fabric that contains stripes of different colors and widths，which cross over each other produce a pattern that is called a“tartan”. In the Scottish highlands，group of related families，called“clans”，have their own unique tartan. Another famous part of Scottish heritage is the musical instrument known as the bagpipes. The bagpipes have a distinctive sound that is easily recognized. Bagpipes were original played to intimidate enemies in battle，but today Scottish people play the bagpipes at parades and other celebrations. People of Scottish heritage around the celebrate their heritage on January 25thof each year. This day celebrates the birthday of Bobbie Burns，the famous Scottish poet. People celebrate this day at parties，where people eat a famous Scottish food called haggis. Today，Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom，but some Scottish people would like Scotland to became independent. Whatever Scottish people decide，their country will remain a unique and interesting place.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.amateur 业余 2.anabolic steroids 合成代谢类固醇 3.hormone 激素 4.testosterone 睾酮 5.sprinters 短跑运动员 6.irrtability 易怒 7.acne 痤疮 8.testicles 睾丸 9.menstruation 月经 10.endurance 耐力 11.scandal 丑闻 12.interfere 干涉 13.clot 凝块 14.stroke 中风 15.detect 查明 原文 Drug Use Among Athletes Drug use is a common problem in many sports competitions today. In both professional and amateur sports，many athletes use drugs that are designed to improve athletic performance. The use of these drugs may have harmful effects on the future health of athletes，but they also give an unfair advantage in athletic competitions. Some of the most widely-use-performance-enhancing drugs are called“anabolic steroids”. Anabolic steroids are drugs that are very similar to the male hormone，testosterone. These drugs allow athletes to develop larger and stronger muscles，and to increase the intensity of training. For sports that require strength，power，and speed，the use of steroids can provide advantages. In past years，many sprinters and weightlifters have been found to have used steroids. However，anabolic steroids have many negative side effects. To give just a few example，steroids can cause changes in mood，including irritability and anger，and can also cause skin problems such as acne. In men，steroid use can lead to reduction in the function of the testicles. In women，steroid use can interfere with menstruation. In both men and women，long-term side effects include an increased risk of some forms of cancer. Another wild-used drug is known as EPO. EPO is a hormone that helps to produce red blood cells，which carry oxygen to the muscles. When taken by athletes who compete in sports that require great endurance，EPO may provide an advantage by allowing the athletes to maintain their speed，for a longer time and distance. During 1998，there was a scandal at a famous bicycle race，the Tour de France，when it was found that many of these long-distance cyclists were using EPO to gain an advantage to over their competitors. EPO has side effects. For example，it increases the likelihood of developing blood clots，which increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack. One difficulty in preventing the use of performance-enhancing drugs is that it is not always possible to detect the use of the drugs. Tests have been developed to detect the drugs，but new verities of the drugs are often not detected. Also，athletes who stop using the drugs well before a drug test may avoid being detected. Preventing the use of performance-enhancing drugs in athletes is difficult，but it is important. Most athletes want to compete without artificial substances that provide easy advantages，and they do not want to risk of their health by using these substances. If those athlete are to have a fair chance，it is necessary to prevent other athlete from gaining advantages due to the use of these drugs.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.populous 人口众多的 2.diversity 差异化 3.regions 区域 4.exceed 超过 5.slope 山坡 6.priests 交付 7.suburbs 郊区 8.smog 烟雾 9.trolley car 电车 10.vibrant 充满活力 原文 California By far the most populous state of the United States is California. Located in the southwestern corner of the United States，California is home to a great diversity of natural environments and cultural influences. In the year 2000，over 33 million people lived in California. California's many mountains and valleys produce a wide verity of climates and natural regions. In the interior，southeastern parts of the state are many areas of desert. For example，Death Valley，which is so deep that it is below sea level，is extremely dry. Temperatures in Death Valley sometimes exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Other valleys are more pleasant and hospitable places. In the central valley，many farms grow vast amounts of fruits and vegetables. California also contains many tall，snow-covered mountains. On the slopes of some mountains are forests that have many large trees. Some of the giant redwood trees of California reach heights of 100 meters or more Many of the cities in California have Spanish name. This because many of those cities began as religious missions that were started by Spanish priests. Mexico owned California during the early nineteenth century，but few Mexican people lived there. The United States gained control of California during the 1840s，and the discovery of gold brought many Americans and others to California. Today，California contains some of the largest cities in the United States. Within the greater Los Angeles area，one can find Hollywood，known as the movie capital of the world. Many rich people live in suburbs such as Beverly Hills，and many poor people live in other neighborhoods throughout the city. The Los Angeles area is home to over 15 million people，many of whom have immigrated to the United States from Mexico and from many Asian countries. Los Angeles is a very large city that has spread across a great area. As a consequence，the city has many traffic jams and air pollution，or smog，is sometimes a problem. Further north is the city of San Francisco，one of the most beautiful cities of the United States. The image of the Golden Gate Bridge，which crosses the harbor of San Francisco，is famous around the world. Also famous are the hilly streets of San Francisco and the trolley cars that provide transportation along them. San Francisco's Chinese community is one of the largest in North America，and the cities also contains vibrant artistic and cultural life. San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake in 1906 and was damaged again in 1989. California has always had a special place in the imagination of Americans. This is hardly surprising，given the variety and diversity of this vast state！

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.urban 城市的 2.permanent settlements 永久定居点 3.Jewish 犹太人 4.dramatic skyline 引人注目的天际线 5.architecture 建筑学 6.district 地区 7.headquarters 总部 8.Statue of Liberty 自由女神像 9.bustling 繁忙的 原文 New York City New York City is the largest city in the United States，and one of the largest cities in the world. The city of New York has a population of over seven million people，and the surrounding urban areas bring the total to about twenty million people. However，New York City is not merely a very large city；it is also known as one of the world's leading centers of financial，artistic，and media activities. Compared with most of the great cities of the world，New York is very young. The first permanent settlements were established during the seventeenth century，by settlers from the Netherlands. Those people named their town“New Amsterdam”. Soon，the colony was taken over by English settlers，who re-named the city“New York”. New York grew very quickly，and by the nineteenth century it was the largest city of the United States. New York was usually the place where new immigrants to the United States would arrive. In the nineteenth century，immigrants from Germany and Ireland were numerous in New York. In the early twentieth century，New York City was the home of many Jewish immigrants，and also immigrants from Italy. In addition，many African-American people arrived New York from other parts of the United States，and many persons came to New York form the American territory of Puerto Rico，a Spanish-speaking island in the Caribbean. In more recent decades，immigrants have arrived New York from places all over the world. One of the most famous features of New York City is its dramatic skyline. New York has more tall buildings，called“Skyscrapers”，than any other city in the world. Many of the tallest and most interesting building in New York-including the Woolworth Building，the Chrysler Building，and the Empire State Building were constructed during the early decades of the twentieth century. In addition to these impressive buildings，New York is also known for the huge bridges that join the island of Manhattan to the surrounding areas. The Brooklyn Bridge is the most famous of these remarkable and old bridges. Of course，New York is famous for much more than just its architecture. New York City's financial district，Wall Street，and its theatre district，centered on Broadway，are the most important in the United States. Center Park is one of the world's great urban parks，and the art galleries，museums，and concert halls are among the greatest to be found anywhere. The United Nations has its headquarters in New York City. People around the world recognized the famous Statue of Liberty，which stands on an island in the harbor of New York，and the bustling Time Square ，located in the mid-town Manhattan area. Visitors to New York find it to be an extremely busy，fast-placed city，and are struck by the extremes of wealth and poverty that surround it. Many people love New York City，but even those who would not want to live in New York do agree that it is a very interesting place.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.prosecutors 检察官 2.habeas corpus 人身保护令 3.warrant 许可证 4.detain 扣留 5.Commonwealth 英联邦 6.witness 目击者 7.statement 陈述 8.committed 忠诚的 9.arbitrary invasions 任意入侵 10.tried 被审判 原文 The Rights of the Accused In English-speaking countries，the rights of an accused person are taken very seriously. Over many centuries，laws involved in such a way that people could not be arrested or charged without a very good reason. Of course，every country needs to enforce its laws. This means the police officers are needed，and so are “prosecutors”the lawyers whose job is to make criminal charges against people who break the laws，and to prove those charges are true. However，it is important that people's freedom are not taken away wrongly. People should not be punished unfairly，and people who are accused of crimes must have the opportunity to defend themselves. In some parts of the world，people can be arrested and imprisoned for long periods of time without any criminal charges being made against them. One of the most important principle of justice in English-speaking countries is that a person cannot be held by the police unless that person is charged with a crime. This principle is known by the Latin term“habeas corpus”. According to the idea of habeas corpus，the police are not allowed to detain a person more than a certain period of time(usually twenty-four hours)，unless some charge is made against the person. A judge will order the release of a person who is not charged with a crime. Another important feature of justice systems in most English-speaking countries is that accused individuals have the right to be represented by a lawyer. Most accused people want to hire an expert lawyer. However，even if a person cannot afford to hire a lawyer，the criminal court must provide a lawyer who will represent that person. The lawyer for a accused person is required to defend that person as thoroughly as possible. One of the most important aspects of justice systems in the United States and British Commonwealth is that an accused person must be full informed of any charges made against them. Also，any evidence that will be used to show the accused person's guilt must be shared with that accused person and with that person's lawyer. In this way，accused persons can challenge the truth of any evidence that will be used against them. Similarly，any person who acts as a witness against an accused person can be across-examined by the accused person's lawyer. This means that the statements of a witness can be challenge by the accused person. Another important element of most English-speaking justice systems is that evidence must be obtained fairly. Police officers cannot simply enter a person's home to look for evidence of a crime. They must first have a good reason to believe that a crime has been committed，and they must obtain a permission from a judge to enter the person's property. This permission is called a “search warrant”. Because search warrants are required，people are free from arbitrary invasions of their property by the police. Finally，another important aspect of most English-speaking justice systems is that trails must be held in public，where other citizens can watch the trial. An accused person is not tried secretly. Moreover，as discuss in another passage，the accused person has the right to tried by jury of other free citizens. All of these rules ensure that order can be maintained without taking away the free of innocent people.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.despite adversity 尽管在逆境 2.kidnapped 被绑架 3.intense 强烈的 4.attended 出席 5.rotating 轮换 6.preserve 保存 7.paints 油漆 8.cosmetics 化妆品 9.monument 纪念碑 原文 George Washington Carver George Washington Carver is possible the most famous agricultural scientist of all time. He invented hundreds of products that could be made from crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes，and he changed the methods of farming in the southern United States. The story of George Washington Carver's life is interesting and inspiring，as it shows how some people can achieve success despite adversity. George Washington Carver was born in a small town in the American state of Missouri，in 1864 or 1865. He was named after the first President of the United States. George's parents were slaves. His father was killed in an accident，and his mother was kidnapped and later died. George and his brother was raised by a married couple，the Carvers，who had owned George's mother. George was often sick during his childhood，but he showed an intense interest in nature. The Carvers taught George to read and write，and he became known locally as an expert on plants. Later，the Carvers sent George to a school for African-American children in a nearby town. After his graduation，George Washington Carver continued his education in the state of Iowa. While a student in Iowa，Carver had very little money and had to work at many jobs to afford the costs of his education. However，his knowledge of plants was very impressive，and after receiving his Master's degree，he became a teacher in the college he had attended as a student. Soon，however，Carver moved south to the state of Alabama，where he worked as a teacher and researcher at a college for African-American students. It was here that Carver stayed for the rest of his life，and was here he performed his important agricultural research. One problem for farmers in the southern United States was that the most widespread crops，cotton and tobacco，tended to remove the nutrients from the soil. Carver realized that this problem could be solved ，to some extent，by“rotating”the cotton and tobacco crops with other kinds of crops，such as peanuts and sweet potatoes，which could help preserve the nutrients in the soil. Carver's discoveries made the peanuts，the sweet potatoes，and the soybean very useful to southern farmers. He invented the food product knowns peanut butter，plus hundreds of other products. For example，Carver found ways to produce plastics，ink，cooking oil，paints，and cosmetics from peanuts and other crops. Carver also developed a new variety of cotton. Carver received many awards for his scientific research，but he never interested in fame or fortune. When Carver died，in 1943，the American government made his birthplace a national monument. Today，Carver are still known as a great agricultural scientist.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.revolves 环绕 2.geocentric 地心的 3.philosophers 哲学家 4.heliocentric 日心的 5.Polish astronomer 波兰天文学家 6.demonstrating 论证 7.Catholic 天主教 8.authorities 当局 9.renounced 宣布放弃 10.elliptical 椭圆形 11.oval 卵形的 原文 The Earth Revolves Around the Sun One year is the time required for the earth to travel around the sun. For most years ，however，people did not know that the earth moved around the sun. Instead，people believed that the sun moved around the earth. The old idea that the sun moved around the earth is known as the“geocentric”theory. This idea was first made famous by an ancient Greek scientist，Ptolemy，who lived in Egypt nearly 2000 years ago. Some other Greek Philosophers had suggested that the earth might travel around the sun. However，this idea，which is known as the“heliocentric”theory，was not widely accepted. For centuries，people in Europe did not seriously question Ptolemy's geocentric theory. During the early fifteenth century，however，a Polish astronomer named Nicolaus Copernicus began to think that the heliocentric idea was right，and that the geocentric idea was wrong. Shortly before his death，Copernicus wrote a book that described the mathematical details of his theory that the earth revolved，or travelled around the sun. Later astronomers came to agree with Copernicus's view. One of the most famous of these was Galileo，an Italian scientist. Galileo was famous for the demonstrating that light and heavy objects fall at exactly the same speed，unless the object is so light that it is slowed by the air. Galileo was also the first astronomer to used a powerful telescope to observe the sky. He discovered many unknown features of the moon，the sun，and the planets. When Galileo announced that he believed in Copernicus's theory that the earth revolved around the sun，some officials of the Roman Catholic Church were angry. They argued that this theory was against the beliefs of the Church. Some church officials disagreed with this view，but the authorities decided Galileo should be punished by“house arrest”（In other words，Galileo was not allowed to leave his house）. Also，Galileo was forced to made a public statement that renounced his belief in the heliocentric theory. At about the same time that Galileo supported the heliocentric idea，another astronomer did some important work that supported Copernicus's view. This astronomer was Johannes Kepler，who lived in Germany. Kepler used the observations of previous scientists to figure out the motion of the planets around the sun. He realized that the planets did not travel in circular paths，but instead in paths that were elliptical，or oval ，in shape. Kepler's discoveries showed mathematically how the planets would revolve around the sun. Today，everyone knows that the earth moves around the sun，but for a long time，it seemed more reasonable to believe that the sun moved around the earth. We can thank the great scientists of the past who discovered the surprising truth.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.Aborigines 土著人 2.spiritual attachment 精神依恋 3.curved 弧形的 4.boomerang 回力标 5.separate colonies 独立殖民地 原文 Australia：People The first people who lived in Australia were known as the Aborigines. The Aborigines came to Australia by boat more than 40000years ago. They are the first people in the world who are known to have used boat for transportation. Even though many parts of Australia were very inhospitable places，the Aborigines survived. They lived by hunting and gathering throughout the continent，even in desert areas where survival is almost impossible. The Aborigines felt a deep spiritual attachment to the land，and they made many beautiful paintings upon the rocks of many parts of the county. Their most famous invention is a curved hunting stick known as the“boomerang”. The design of the boomerang is remarkable，because it can be thrown in such a way that it will turn around and return to the person who threw it. Until about two hundred years ago，the Aborigines had only a very limited amount of contact with people in the outside world. The next people to migrate to Australia were from the British Isles. Beginning in the late eighteen century，Australia was used for a prison colony，where common criminal and political prisoners were sent from Britain. By the middle of the nineteenth century，many British people moved to Australia voluntarily to begin farms or to search for gold. By the late nineteenth century，Britain stopped sending its prisoners to Australia，but migration continued. After the arrival of the British colonists，the Aborigines population declined sharply. This was partly due to disease，partly due to cruel treatment by settlers，and partly due to the loss of their traditional way of life. Today，the Aboriginal population is growing again，and the Australian government has taken some steps to correct the injustices of the past. The various parts of Australia were governed at first as separate colonies，but in 1901 they joined to form a single country. Australia continue to grow during the twentieth century，and after World War Two it attracted many immigrants from countries in Europe. During the past few decades，many people have moved to Australia from various parts of Asia and from other parts of the world. Today，Australia consists of one territory（the Northern Territory）and six states（Western Australia，South Australia，Tasmania，Victoria，New South Wales，and Queensland）. Tasmania is a small island off the southern coast，and Victoria，New South Wales，and Queensland are found in the eastern part of the country. The two largest cities in Australia are Sydney and Melbourne，both of which are in the southeastern part of the country. Sydney has a beautiful harbor that is one of the largest in the world，and Melbourne has many beautiful parks and gardens. The capital city of the country is Canberra，which is located between Sydney and Melbourne. Other large cities in Australia are Brisbane（in the northeast），Perth（in the southwest），and Adelaide（in the south）.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.hemisphere 半球 2.remote 遥远的 3.outback 内陆 4.ranched 牧场 5.harsh 恶劣的 6.thick lush vegetation 茂密的植被 7.exotic 异国风情的 8.coral 珊瑚 9.reef 暗礁 10.barrier 障碍 11.category 类别 12.marsupial 有袋动物 13.pouch 育儿袋 14.hopping 跳跃 15.eucalyptus 桉树 原文 Australia：Nature Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent. Located in the southern hemisphere，between the Pacific and Indian Oceans，Australia is also one of the largest countries in the world. Despite its vast size，Australia does not have a large population. In the year 2000，there were about 19 million people in Australia. Most Australians live within a short distance of the ocean，because much of the interior of Australia is extremely dry. The remote areas of Australia，known as the“outback”，contains several sandy，rocky deserts. Some parts of the outback receive somewhat rainfall，and can support some grassy vegetables. In these areas，there are many ranches or farms，where sheep and cattle are raised. Although the outback of Australia is a harsh place，some parts of it are quite beautiful. In the middle of the Australia continent，a large red rock known as Uluru stands in the deserts. It is nearly 350 meters tall and is nearly 10 kilometers around. Tourists come from all over the world to see this huge and beautiful rock in the middle of a flat desert. In contrast to the dry interior areas，the northern coast of Australia receive a great deal of rainfall. This area is covered in thick，lush vegetation，with tropic rainforests whose exotic trees and flowers are found nowhere else in the world. Off the north-east coast of the continent，a large coral reef known as the Great Barrier Reef if found. A coral reef is a structure that consists of the bodies of small underwater animal called coral，whose dead bodies created this unusual structure beneath the surface of the water. The reef and the underwater life surrounding it are especially beautiful. Australia was separated from the rest of the world for millions of years. As a result，many of the plants and animals species in Australia are very different those in other parts of the world. For example，many of the animals in Australia belong to a special category called the“marsupials”. Marsupials are mammals，but they are a special kind of mammal，because they give birth to offspring that are not yet well developed. In many marsupials，the offspring continue to develop，after being born，inside a pocket or“pouch”on the mother's body. The most famous marsupial is the kangaroo. Kangaroos can travel at great speeds by hopping on their hind legs and using their large tails for balance. The kangaroo is a rather large animal，with the large individuals sometimes weighing 90 kilograms. Another famous marsupial is the koala. This animal sometimes is called a koala bear，because it looks somewhat like a small bear. The koala lives in branches of trees called eucalyptus trees. Koala eats the leaves of eucalyptus trees. Of course，Australia also has people. We will discuss the people of Australia in the next passage. Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent. Located in the southern hemisphere，between the Pacific and Indian Oceans，Australia is also one of the largest countries in the world. Despite its vast size，Australia does not have a large population. In the year 2000，there were about 19 million people in Australia. Most Australians live within a short distance of the ocean，because much of the interior of Australia is extremely dry. The remote areas of Australia，known as the“outback”，contains several sandy，rocky deserts. Some parts of the outback receive somewhat rainfall，and can support some grassy vegetables. In these areas，there are many ranches or farms，where sheep and cattle are raised. Although the outback of Australia is a harsh place，some parts of it are quite beautiful. In the middle of the Australia continent，a large red rock known as Uluru stands in the deserts. It is nearly 350 meters tall and is nearly 10 kilometers around. Tourists come from all over the world to see this huge and beautiful rock in the middle of a flat desert. In contrast to the dry interior areas，the northern coast of Australia receive a great deal of rainfall. This area is covered in thick，lush vegetation，with tropic rainforests whose exotic trees and flowers are found nowhere else in the world. Off the north-east coast of the continent，a large coral reef known as the Great Barrier Reef if found. A coral reef is a structure that consists of the bodies of small underwater animal called coral，whose dead bodies created this unusual structure beneath the surface of the water. The reef and the underwater life surrounding it are especially beautiful. Australia was separated from the rest of the world for millions of years. As a result，many of the plants and animals species in Australia are very different those in other parts of the world. For example，many of the animals in Australia belong to a special category called the“marsupials”. Marsupials are mammals，but they are a special kind of mammal，because they give birth to offspring that are not yet well developed. In many marsupials，the offspring continue to develop，after being born，inside a pocket or“pouch”on the mother's body. The most famous marsupial is the kangaroo. Kangaroos can travel at great speeds by hopping on their hind legs and using their large tails for balance. The kangaroo is a rather large animal，with the large individuals sometimes weighing 90 kilograms. Another famous marsupial is the koala. This animal sometimes is called a koala bear，because it looks somewhat like a small bear. The koala lives in branches of trees called eucalyptus trees. Koala eats the leaves of eucalyptus trees. Of course，Australia also has people. We will discuss the people of Australia in the next passage.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.stereos 立体音响 2.improvisation 即兴创作 3.syncopation 切分音 4.spontaneously 自发地 5.modified 修改 6.pattern 模式 7.uneven 不规律的 8.derived 起源 9.incorporated 包含 10.rhythm节奏 11.cornet 角 12.comprising 包括 13.blended 混合 原文 Jazz One of the most popular forms of music is known as jazz. Each year，hundreds of thousands of people attend jazz concerts and festivals in cities around the world. Jazz music，both old and new，is played on the radio and on home stereos. Two of the most important features of jazz music are“improvisation”and“syncopation”. Improvisation means that music is created spontaneously by the musician during a performance. In other words，the musician modifies some existing music in a new and interesting way. Syncopation means that the regular pattern found in music may be broken up with new accents and uneven patterns being created. The features of improvisation and syncopation are difficult to use with skill，and require great creativity on the part of the musician. Jazz music originated in the southern United States，during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was based on African-American music that was derived in part from rhythms in western Africa. The earliest musicians were influenced by a music style known as“ragtime”which was popular during the late nineteenth century. Jazz music incorporated some aspects of a related kind of music called the“blues”. By the beginning of the twentieth century，a fully developed form of jazz was being played in New Orleans，a city in the southern United States. Jazz musicians played instruments such as the trumpet，saxophone，cornet，and piano. Jazz soon became popular and played on the riverboats that travelled along the Mississippi River. Some jazz musicians moved north to the city of Chicago，and young musicians in the city developed some new forms of jazz music. By the 1920s and 1930s，jazz was popular in many parts of the United States，and some musicians began forming some large bands，comprising many musicians and many different instruments. This began the period known as the“big band”era when a popular form of jazz known as“swing”music was played. During the 1940s and 1950s，other form of jazz，known as“bop”and“cool”jazz were developed. Some people preferred these newer kind of jazz，but others preferred the older varieties. By the 1960s，some jazz musicians began to experiment with different kinds of musical instruments and with other kinds of music. Some musicians incorporated musical styles from other parts of the world，or combined jazz with rock music，and today some musicians have blended jazz with rap music. However，some people prefer the more traditional forms of jazz music. Of course，most of the great jazz musicians of the early twentieth century-people such as Louis Armstrong，Duke Ellington，Count Basie，Dizzy Gillespie，and Billie Holiday-are no longer alive. However，many great jazz musicians are still alive，and many young musicians have continued this form of music. People will continue to enjoy jazz music for a long time to come.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.recommended 推荐 2.beaks 鸟嘴 3.bark 树皮 4.thick 厚的 5.offspring 后代 6.controversial 有争议的 原文 Charles Darwin Charles Darwin made what might be the most important scientific discovery of all time-the theory of evolution by natural selection. It was Darwin who first understood how it was that plants and animals evolved over time to produce new and different species. At first，this theory faced much opposition，but since that time it has been supported by evidence from many areas of science. Darwin was born in a small town in England in 1809. When he was a young man，he went to university，first to study medicine，and later to study religion. However，Darwin found his schoolwork to be very boring. Instead，he preferred outdoor activities，and was very interested in nature. While Darwin was at university，the British navy was planning to send one of its ships，called the Beagle，on a voyage of exploration. As part of the voyage，the ship needed a naturalist，who could study the various plants and animals that might be found. Darwin was recommended for this job by one of his professors，who had been impress by Darwin. Darwin was chosen as the naturalist of the Beagle，and the ship left England in 1831. The ship's voyage took Darwin around the world，and he observed many species of plants and animals on his trip. In one place near South America，Known as Galapagos Islands，Darwin observed many unusual species of birds. Several of these birds seemed close related to each other，but they differed in interesting ways. For example，some birds had long beaks that could reach insects hidden in the bark of trees，but other birds had thick beaks that could break open the shells of nuts. What Darwin realized was that certain characteristics could help an animal（or a plant）to survive and reproduce. Individuals that lacked those characteristics could be more likely to die without reproducing. Over many generations，the useful characteristics would then become more and more common and the surviving individuals passed the characteristics on to their offspring. Eventually，after many generations，the changes would be so great that a new species would exist. In this way，a single species would divide into two and more new ones. This was called the“process of evolution by natural selection”. When Darwin returned to England，he studied plants and animals in more detail. After much research，he began writing a book about his theory of evolution by natural selection. When the book，the Origin of Species，was published in 1859，it was very popular and very controversial. During the next twenty years，Darwin continued his scientific research，and he wrote several more books. By the time of his death，in 1882，many biologists had realized that Darwin had made one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time. For the first time，scientists could understand the origin of many different species of plants and animals.