Soccer has had a slow start in America. In fact, the majority of schools still have no official soccer teams or coaches. But the blossoming popularity of the game cannot be denied. Thanks to the efforts of some world-famous soccer stars, soccer is soon to have its place in American culture.
Although soccer has enjoyed decades of popularity elsewhere, it was literally ignored in America. Instead, a variation of the game called \obvious advantages of playing soccer instead will soon win even the most avid football enthusiasts.
For one thing, soccer is a much safer game to play than football. No one deliberately tries to knock an opponent down in soccer. In fact, the players are discouraged from even touching each other. Soccer is a game that requires skill and dexterity in controlling the ball. Since no one may use hands to do this, soccer players soon acquire incredible control of their heads, knees, and feet. (171 words) Useful Words and Expressions: slow start slowstsrt缓慢起动 blossom vi．兴旺，发展
literally adv．照字面意义，逐字地 ignore vt.不理睬，忽视
He completely ignored all these facts as though they never existed.他完全无视这一切，好像它们根本存在似的。
She saw him coming but she ignored him.她看见走过来，但装做没看到他。variation n．变更，变化 avid adj．渴望的
avid for adventure渴求冒险
be avid for(paise）渴望（得到表扬） be avid of（money）贪（财） enthusiast n．热心家，狂热者 deliberately adv，故意地 opponent n．对手，反对者 discourage from劝阻 dexterity n．灵巧，机敏
incredible adj．＜口＞难以置信的
Passage 36 Artists
Every artist knows in his heart that he is saying something to the public. Not only does he want to say it well, but he wants it to be something which has not been said before.
What visual artists, like painters, want to say is easy to make out but difficult to explain, because painters translate their experiences into shapes and colors, not words. They seem to feel that a certain selection
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of shapes and colors, out of the countless billions possible, is exceptionally interesting for them and worth showing to us.
Most artists take their shapes and colors from the world of nature and from human bodies in motion and response; their choices indicate that these aspects of the world are worth looking at, that they contain beautiful sights. Contemporary artists might say that they merely choose subjects that provide an interesting pattern, that there is nothing more in it. Yet even they do not choose entirely without reference to the character of their subjects. (166 words)
Useful Words and Expressions: visual artist 视觉艺术家 selection n．选择，挑选
countless」adj．无数的，数不尽的 exceptional adj．例外的，异常的
a man of exceptional talent 具有特殊才能的人 exceptional weather 异常的气候 exceptional promotion破格提升 motion n．运动，动作 response n．响应，反应
call forth no response in sb. 's breast在某人心中不起反应 in response to响应，反应 make no response不回答 indicate vt．显示，象征
contemporary adj．当代的，同时代的 without reference to不论，与……无关
Passage 37 Professional Sports in the U. S.
Professional sports are not only very popular in the United States, but also a big business. The most popular sports are baseball, football and basketball. Each sport has its own season and individual teams have millions of supporters. Professional teams are named for the cities where they are located. For example, the Lakers are in Los Angeles. The strongest supporters of the Lakers are residents of Los Angeles and Southern California. When the Lakers play, many people in Los Angeles
enthusiastically follow the game. When we mention \almost every one knows it has some relationship -with U.S. professional basketball. However, what does it really stand for? N.B.A. is short for the National Basketball Association. The NBA is gaining new fans and supporters around the world. Basketball is another popular American sport. In the U. S., basketball has been called the \pastime\However, football is the most popular professional sport in the U. S.. American football is different from international football, which Americans call \Both games require strength and specialized skills. (171 words) Useful Words and Expressions:
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professional adj．专业的，职业的 professional knowledge专业知识
professional men专家（尤指医生、律师等） a professional singer职业歌唱家 be named for被指定作 resident n．居民
enthusiastically adv.热心地，狂热地 stand for v．代表，象征 be short for是……的简称 association n．协会，联合 pastime n．消遣，娱乐
Swimming Is myhvonte pastime．游泳是我最喜欢的一种娱乐。 specialized专门的
specialize one's studies使研究专门化 specialize in agriculture专攻农业
Passage 38 \
Books which give instructions on how to do things are popular in the United States today. Thousands of these \there are about four thousand books with titles that begin with the words \
Many \a career and how to succeed in it. Many of these books help people to use their free time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies, and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. They prefer books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like plumbing and electrical wiring or on how to redecorate or enlarge a house. Why have \to\books become so popular? Probably because life has become more complex. Today people have far more free time to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve, \with modem life. (173 words) Useful Words and Expressions: step-by-step adj. 按部就班的
give instructions指挥[命令］（做某事） ask for instruction请示 give instruction in讲授
give instructions to do sth．指挥［命令］(做某事） receive in instruction接受教导 electrical wire n.电线
redecorate v．重新装饰，再装饰（装修） complex adj．复杂的，综合的 a complex idea一个复杂的观念 a complex machine一台复杂的机器
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Passage 39 Don t Give Up
If we would ever accomplish anything in life, let us not forget that we must persevere. If we would learn our lessons in school, we must be diligent and not give up whenever we come to anything difficult. We shall find many of our lessons very hard, but let us consider that the harder they are the better they will do to us if we will persevere and learn them thoroughly. But there are some among us who are ready to give up when they come to a hard example in mathematics, and say, \if they feel so. \can't\never does anything worthwhile; but \try\accomplishes wonders. Let us remember that we shall meet with difficulties all through life. They are in the pathway of everyone. If we will only try and keep trying, we shall be sure to conquer and overcome every difficulty we meet. (155 words) Useful Words and Expressions: accomplish vt.完成，实现 accomplish a purpose达到目的
I accompllshed two hours'work before dinner．我在吃饭前完成了两小时的工作。
Wu should accomplish the task within the allotted time．你们必须在规定时间内完成这项任务。 persevere v. 坚持
diligent adj．勤勉的，用功的
The boy is more diligent than anybody else. 这孩子比任何人都勤奋。 He Is diligent in his studies．他学习勤奋。
He's a diligent worker and has often done well in the examinations. 他很勤奋，所以考试常常敢得好成绩。 thoroughly adv．完全地，彻底地
worthwhile adj．值得做的，值得出力的 a worthwhil job值得做的工作 pathway n．路，径
conquer vt．征服克服（困难等） conquer shyness战胜羞怯
conquer bad habits克服不良习惯
I finally conquered my fear of heights. 我终于克服了我的恐高症。
Passage 40 How High Can You Jump?
Fleas trainers have observed a strange habit of fleas while training them. Fleas are trained by putting them in a cardboard box with a top on it. The fleas will jump up and hit the top of the cardboard box over and over and over again. As you watch them jump and hit the lid, something very interesting becomes obvious. The fleas continue to jump, but they are no longer jumping high enough to hit the top.
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When you take off the lid, the fleas continue to jump, but they will not jump out of the box. They will not jump out because they cannot jump out. Why? The reason is simple. They have conditioned themselves to jump just so high. Once they have conditioned themselves to jump just so high, that is all they can do!
Many times, people do the same thing. They restrict themselves and never reach their potential. Just like the fleas, they fail to jump higher, thinking they are doing all they can do. (169 words) Useful Words and Expressions: flea n.跳蚤
cardboard n．纸板 jump up突然起立
jump over a page or wo跳过一两页
jump at[to] a conclusion匆匆作出结论，轻率断定
jump from one topic to another从一个话题跳到另一个话题 jump from job t job盲目地调换工作，见异思迁 jump at the chance急切地抓住机会
He wanted them to jump to it．他希望他们赶快办这件事。 His idea jump with mine．他的意见与我一致。 lid n．盖子
conditioned adj．有条件的，习惯于……的 a conditioned student试读生
become conditioned to the hot weather已适应炎热气候 restrict vt．限制，约束，限定
be estricted within narrow limits限于狭窄的范围内 be restricted in one's movements行动受约束 be restricted by time［law］ 受时间[法律]限制
Discussion at the meeting is restricted to the agenda. 这次会上的讨论只限于议程上的项目。
potential n．潜能，潜力
Passage 41 Apology Helps
It is never easy to admit you are in the wrong. Being human, we all need to know the art of apologizing. Look back with honesty and think how often you have judged roughly, you said unkind things, and pushed yourself ahead at the expense of a friend. Then count the occasions when you indicated clearly and truly that you were sorry, A bit frightening, isn't it? It is frightening because some deep wisdom in us knows that when even a small wrong has been committed, some mysterious moral feeling is disturbed; and it stays out of balance until fault is acknowledged and regret expressed. A heartfelt apology can not only heal a damaged relationship but also make it stronger. If you can think of someone who deserves an apology from you, someone you have wronged, or judged too roughly, or just neglected, do something about it right now. (148 words)
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