Background knowledge:

*A* Probably you have learned the names of “the British Isles” “ Great British” “the United Kingdom” “England” and “the British Commonwealth”, which have roughly the same meaning.

The British Isles refer to the main islands and several thousand small ones as well, which you can see on the map. Great Britain or Britain refers to the larger of the two main islands. But this word “Britain” is often used as a short form for the United Kingdom or you call it the O.k..

England refers simply to the largest of the three countries on the island of Great Britain. The United Kingdom is the name of the state and is the official name of the country.

Finally, the British Commonwealth is the present name for what is left of the British Empire and the rising tide of national liberation movement throughout the world.

*B*Being not far from the sea, London is famous for its fogs(霧). The worst of them happened on December 4, 1952. All movement in the town came to a stop. It was almost impossible to drive or ride in anything. The streets which led into the centre were filled with buses that moved two miles an hour. Soon, however, the traffic was stopped. Being left by their drivers, the buses and cars stood empty in the streets. Many who usually traveled by bus took underground. But there were so many people there that the gates had to be closed. Being caught in the fog, people felt their way along the walls of houses with one hand, which they put out the other in front of them so as not to knock against something or somebody.

At the Opera House they got through the first act(幕) of La Traviata before so much fog had spread(蔓延) into the building that the singers could not see the conductor.

It was a terrible fog, indeed, and as many as 4000 people in London lost their lives.

Words, expressions and sentence patterns:

1. Try to reach agreement on the main points.

① reach agreement on sth .“在某方面取得一致意見，達成協議”

E.g. The two countries didn’t reach agreement on disarmament of nuclear weapons.

② come to/ arrive at/reach/make an agreement with sb. 與某人達成協議

2. consist

consist of 由。。。組成；由。。。構成（=include, be made up of）

e.g. His job consists of helping old people who live alone.

The committee consists of ten members.

consist in (本質)在（于。。。）， 存在（于。。。）

e.g. The beauty of this picture consists in its balance of colours.

注意：consist 不能用進行時態。

3 …island countries have better chances of becoming powerful.

Chance（可能性）+of sth./doing sth; to do sth; that clause

E.g. ① Do we have any chances of winning the game?

②There’s a faint chance that you’ll find him at home.

4。Do island nations have advantages over other countries?

① A have an advantage over B A優于或勝于B, A比B有優勢

E g. In ancient movie, Jackie Chan has an obvious advantage over others.

② have the advantage of sth. 有某種優勢（優點）

eg. I have the advantage of a first-class education.

③ take advantage of 乘機利用某事物

eg. You ought to take advantage of English programs on TV.

5． as well副詞短語“也，還”用于肯定句，相當于too,一般放在句末。

as well as 既…又; 和…一樣也; 不但......而且......(as well as 側重前項，not only…but also…側重后項)

He knows French, and he knows English as well. He gave me money as well as advice(建議).

Lily as well as the boys is from America. (as well as連接兩個主語時，謂語動詞跟前一個主語一致)

= The boys are from America. Lily is from America as well/ too.

= The boys are from America. Lily is also from America. 或. So is Lily.

= Not only The boys but also Lily is from America (not only…but also…采取就近原則)

The boys aren’t from America. Lily isn’t from America, either. 或 Neither/ nor is Lily.

6．of + 抽象名詞=形容詞 of importance = important of value= valuable of interest= interesting

of + great/much + 抽象名詞 = very + 形容詞 of great/ much help = be very helpful

of + no + 抽象名詞 = not + 形容詞 或-less It is of no use . = It is useless.

7．Influence 影響

e.g. The book had a great influence on his life.

It was through his influence that he became interested in American culture.

8. say, tell & speak

say hello /yes/no/sorry/goodbye to sb. say one’s prayer 做禱告

tell a lie, to tell the truth說實話 tell the difference between A and B; tell sth. apart

tell A from B

e.g. Children should be taught how to tell right from wrong.

Time will tell whether I made the right choice or not.

9. lie on the coast 在海岸上

lie off the coast 遠離海岸

e.g. The city lies on the coast.

There is an island off the coast.

10. as many/ much/ early as possible (as one can) 盡可能

Please get up as early as possible tomorrow for the outing.

(=Please get up as early as you can…)

as much/many as 多達… … （表示數目上的比較）

as far as 遠至（到）……

as long as 長達

e.g. The difference between his income and mine can be as much as 1000 yuan at least.

As many as 10,000 people watched the boxing game.

They walked as far as the seashore.

After supper she would sit down by the fire, sometimes for as long as an hour, thinking for her young and happy days.

注： 修飾可數名詞的量詞few及a few , only/just a few (= very few) not/ quite a few (=many), many, a great/ good many

a number of及 a small/ large/huge/ big/ vast/great/good number of，large/huge/ big/ vast/great/good numbers of

修飾不可數名詞的量詞little及a little, only/ just (=very little) , not/ quite a little(=much), much, a great/ good deal of

a small/ large/huge/ big/ vast/great/good amount of，large/huge/ big/ vast/great/ good amounts of

既可修飾可數名詞也可修飾不可數名詞的量詞有：some, any, lots of, a lot of, plenty of,

a small/ large/huge/ big/ vast/great/ good quantity of，large/huge/ big/ vast/great/ good quantities of

a great/ good many of them

11. The idea that English stands for fish & chips, the Speaker Corner and the Tower of London is past.

That 引導同位語從句。

I made a promise that if anyone sent the bag back to me, I would share the money with him or her.

比較同位語從句和定語從句：

Mother made a promise that excited all her children.

12. Within the UK for many years now, there have been a growing movement to make the most of its cultural diversity.

make the most of = make the best of充分利用,盡管利用,盡量往里干

e.g.

We have gone one day San Francisco, so we should make the most of the fine weather.

They have made up their minds to make the most of the opportunity.You have only a short holiday, so make the most of it.

13. Between Britain and Ireland , in the Irish Sea, lies the small isle of Man. To the southeast of Britain lie the Channel Islands.

To the southeast of Britain lie the channel islands.

這兩句都是倒裝句。表示地點的介詞短語或者 here, there, in, out, up, down, away, back, now, then等副詞放在句首時，主語是名詞句子要用全部倒裝。此類句子要注意主謂一致，主語在后邊。

14. form the basis for

basis 基礎,基本,根據,主要成分,指討論推斷所依據的根據.

base 基地,基礎,常指工業基地和軍事基地,根據地

What basis do you have for this judgment?

The basis of this drink is orange juice.

on the basis of…

He drew that conclusion on the basis of evidences.

15. in general

generally speaking “一般而言”, 是一種概括性和評注性狀語。

strictly speaking; frankly speaking; broadly speaking; judging from…

16. plus prep. 加上； adj. 正的，加的， 超過的（年齡）；超過標準的。

Two plus two equals five.

This work requires intelligence plus experience.

All the children here are 10 plus.

Her mark was B plus.

17. . approach

n. 靠近，走近，方法，途徑

vt/vi. 走近，靠近，著手（考慮），處理， 因事找或接近（某人）

The approach of winter brings cold weather.冬天臨近使天氣轉冷了。

All approaches were blocked. (道路)

Her presented a new approach.

New Year’s Day is approaching.

We approached the museum.

He approached the approach with caution.

He is rather difficult to approach.

Practice:

1．______catching the sight of policeman, she can’t help shaking with fear because of that terrible experience.

A.On B.By C.At D.For

2．The strange interest that he likes to keep his birdcage______in the daytime has cost him the loss of several rare birds.

A.opened B.opening C.open D.being opened

3．The agreement the two countries have ______is highly praised by the international society.

A.taken B.came to C.arrived D.reached

4．The_______situation of the chess game really _______every member in the game-watching room.

A.confused；confused B.confusing；confused

C.confusing；has been confused D.confused；confeses

5．The opening province which ______ thirteen countries and three coastal citries will quicken its paces of economic development.

A. consists of B.makes up C.is included D.is contained

6．His bad health is a great _______ for him to get a good paid job.

A.advantage B.error C.disadvantage D.fault

ACDBAC

7． To ensure the safety at home, parents should not put the medicine _______ the reach of their children.

A.out of B.away from C.within D.up from

8.Having seized the historical developing opportunity，we Chinese people are _____ all the advantages we have，heading for the goal.

A. trying out best of B.going all out of

C.sparing no effort D.making the best of

9．______ 200 people were killed and 1400 more injured in the terrible bombing of Madrid，capital city of Spain.

A.As much as B.As many as C.As long as D.As far as

10．She thought I was praising her son，________ as a matter of fact，I was scolding him for his bad behaviors at school.

A.while B.therefore C.which D.so that

11．Over-heating development might have bad _______ on the national economy.

A.cause B.influence C.result D.factor

CDBAB

Grammar:

1．______ she couldn’t understand was _____ fever and fewer students showed interest in her lessons.

A.What；why B.That；what C.What；beause D.Why；that

2．Someone in ringing the doorbell.Goand see ______ .

A.who is he B.who he is C.who in it D.who it is

1． These wild flowers are so special I would do _______ I can to save them.

A.whatever B.that C.which D.whichever

4．I drove to Zhuhai for the air show last week .-Is that _______ you had a few days off.

A.why B.when C.what D.where

5．______ has helped to save the drowning girl is world praising.

A.Who B.The one C.Anyone D.whoever

6．______ cause the accident is still a complete mystery.

A.What B.That C.How D.Where

7．It was matter of _______ would take the position.

A.who B.whatever C.whichever D.whenever

8．It is generally considered unwise to give a child _______ he or she wants.

A.however B.whoever C.whichever D.whenever

9．________we’ll go camping tomorrow depends on the weather.

A.If B.Whether C.That D.Where

10．Do you remember_________he came?

Yes, I do, he came by car.

A.how B.when C.that D.if

11．The airplane, which had______ there minutes before, was said to have been hijacked by four hijackers from a certain country.

A.tahen on B.taken away C.taken out D.taken off

12．The fat woman, who is ________a diet, has refused to follow my dvice that she should take more exercise than a diet only.

A.on B.in C.for D.at

13．The handsome young man now ________ decorating the house has been _______ to Maria , a pretty girl from France.

A. engaging in; engaged to B.engaged to; engaged with

C.engaged in ; engaged to D.engaging in ;engaged with

14．All of the flowers now ________ here have developed from those _______ in the forest.

A.raised; once grew B.rising ;once growing C.raised ;once growing D.rising ;once grown

15．_______I am concerned, education is about learning and the more you get, the more equipped for life you are.

A.As far as B.As long as C.As often as D.As soon as

1-5：ADAAD 6-10：ABBBA 11-15：DACCA

單句改錯：

1． Where will they go is to be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting.

2． If they have reached Shanghai is not known yet.

3． The news they had won the game surprised us.

4． They don’t know what they do next.

5． It is known to us all, the earth is smaller than the sun.

6． The reason why he was late for school was because he got up late.

7． This is a fact that English is widely used as an international language.

8． That you need is more practice.