Unit 1 Cultural heritage
Reading?and Thinking
FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS
从问题重重到迎刃而解
Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.
社会进步需要经济发展。新旧更替的时代已经带来，在走向未来的过程中，我们不可能将过去的一切都保存下来。在发展与文化遗址保护之间寻找恰当的平衡点，并加以保持，这可能是一项巨大的挑战。
Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.
然而，巨大的挑战有时会带来伟大的解决方案。20世纪50年代，埃及政府打算在尼罗河上新建一座大坝，可以防洪、发电并为该地区更多的农民供水。但是，该提议引发了抗议。因为大坝泄流很可能会损坏许多寺庙，摧毁一批文物，而这些文物是埃及文化遗产的重要组成部分。在听取了研究该问题的科学家以及大坝附近居民的意见后，政府于1959年向联合国求助。
A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.
委员会成立了，旨在减少对埃及建筑物的破坏和防止文物的损失。该委员会要求各部门予以支持，并在国际范围内筹集资金。专家们经过调查研究，多次测试，提出一个保住那些建筑的方案。最终，(埃及政府)签署了一份文件，于1960年开始动工。
The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.
该项目汇集了来自世界各地的政府机构和环保人士。寺庙和其他文化遗址被逐块拆解，运至一个不受河水侵袭的安全地带。1961年，德国工程师搬迁了第一座寺庙。在随后的20年里，成千上万的工程师和工人拯救了22座寺庙和不计其数的文物。五十个国家向该项目捐赠了近8000万美元。
When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.
该项目于1980年完工，它被视为一个巨大的成功。这些国家不仅找到了一条不以牺牲古迹为代价的未来发展之路，而且明白了多个国家合作共创美好未来的可能性。
The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.
如今，阿斯旺水坝工程的精神尚存。也许最好的例子就是联合国教科文组织，该组织开展了一项防止世界各地世界文化遗产消失的计划。如果一个问题对木一个国家来说难度太大，那么国际社会有时可为其提供一个解决方案。
Reading for Writing
PROMOTING CULTURE THROUGH DIGITAL IMAGES
通过数码影像推广文化
Lanzhou, 9 August 2017.?A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are working together to help increase knowledge and appreciation of China’s ancient cultural heritage. They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high-quality digital photographs have been produced since the international project started in 1994.
(2017年8月9日，兰州) 一支由中国及其他国家的研究人员和科学家组成的科研团队，正在通力合作，以加强人们对中国古代文化遗产的认识与鉴赏力。他们正在记录和收集莫高窟文物的数码图像，莫高窟在中国古代历史上是丝绸之路的一个重要站点。1994年该国际项目启动以来，团队已经制作了近50万张高质量的数码照片。
The Mogao Caves have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries. Today, the caves are just as international as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road. Tourists from all over the world visit Dunhuang to see the caves, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has even reproduced a copy of the caves and paintings for people to admire in America.
长期以来，莫高窟一直是多元文化的交汇点，也是许多国家历史文化的一部分。如今，这些洞窟的国际地位可与当年人们在丝绸之路上跋涉的时候相提并论。来自世界各地的游客纷纷造访敦煌、欣赏洞窟；位于洛杉矶的盖蒂博物馆甚至还复制了这些洞窟和壁画的照片，供人们在美国欣赏。
By sharing so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even wider interest around the world in China’s ancient history, culture, and traditions. They also hope to further educate people about the importance of safeguarding historic and cultural relics for future generations to understand and appreciate. As one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding oneself. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”
这些科学家和研究者在网络上分享了大量(有关莫高窟的)电子照片，希望在世界范围内促使人们对中国古代历史和文化习俗产生更广泛的兴趣。他们还希望进一步教育人们认识和保护历史文化遗迹以供后代了解和欣赏的重要性。正如该项目的一位研究人员所解释的：“欣赏本国文化遗产，有助于了解我们自己。欣赏他国文化遗产对于增进国际交流和理解是非常重要的。”
Unit 2 Wildlife protection
Reading and Thinking
A DAY IN THE CLOUDS
在云间度过的一天
The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.
空气很稀薄，我们不得不在离开营地的短途徒步旅行中休息多次。在我们的左方，白雪皑皑的群山消失在似乎触手可及的云层中。放眼平原，我们隐约看到一群体形优美的动物。这就是我们来到此地的原因——观察藏羚羊。
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass. I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.
藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上。看着它们在绿色的草地上缓慢移动。我被其美丽所震撼，也想到了它们所处的险境。因其珍贵的羊毛，它们正遭受非法猎杀。
My guide is Zhaxi, a village from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.”
我的导游扎西是一位来自羌塘的村民。他在羌塘国家自然保护区工作。该保护区是西藏西北部动植物的庇护所。对于扎西来说，这片土地是神圣的，保护野生动植物是一种生活方式。“我们不是在试图拯救动物。”他说道，“其实我们是在努力拯救自己。”
The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.
上个世纪八九十年代对于藏羚羊来说是一个悲惨的时代。藏羚羊数量减少了50％以上。猎人们为了谋利而射杀藏羚羊。随着新公路和铁路的修建，它们的栖息地也不断缩小。
In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.
为了使这个物种免遭灭绝，中国政府将其置于国家保护之下。扎西和其他志愿者昼夜守卫着藏羚羊，保护它们免受攻击。新增的桥梁和涵洞，便于藏羚羊自由穿行，防止它们撞上汽车和火车。
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.
这些措施是有效的。藏羚羊的数量已经恢复，2015年6月，藏羚羊从濒危物种名单中删除。然而，政府并没有打算停止这些保护项目，因为对藏羚羊的威胁尚未消失。
In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.
夜晚时分，我喝着茶，仰望星空。心里想起藏羚羊和扎西对我说的那番话。在野生动物保护方面尽管我们正在做大量工作，但是如果我们真的想拯救地球，就必须改变我们自己的生活方式。只有学会与大自然和谐相处，我们才不会成为野生动植物和地球的威胁。
Reading?for Writing
Give Ugly a Chance!
给难看的动物一个机会！
When it comes to wildlife protection, all species—the good, the bad, and the ugly—should be treated equally. Pandas, dolphins, and other cute wildlife are important, but we must pay attention to less cute animals, too. The world needs all kinds—without variety, our planet cannot survive. So if you want the future to be beautiful, you have to give ugly a chance.
谈到野生动物保护，所有的物种——包括好的、坏的和丑的——都应得到平等对待。熊猫、海豚和其他可爱的野生动物固然很重要，但我们也必须关注那些不怎么可爱的动物。世界需要万物——没有多样性，我们的地球就无法生存。因此，如果你想让未来变得美丽，你得给不好看的动物一个机会。
Don’t Make Paper with My Home!
不要用我的家来造纸！
Billions of trees are being cut down every year to make paper for humans. Every tree that is cut down is a part of the habitat of animals such as these koalas. In this way a lot of animal homes are being destroyed! Is it right to make animals homeless so that humans can have more paper?
每年有数十亿棵树木遭到砍伐，以供人类造纸。每一棵被砍伐的树木都是诸如树袋熊等动物栖息地的一部分。砍树造纸摧毁了很多动物的家园！为了让人类有更多的纸张，就让动物无家可归，这样做对吗？
Unit 3 The internet
Reading and Thinking
STRONGER TOGETHER:
HOW WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED
BY THE INTERNET
团结起来力量大：互联网如何改变了我们
Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. We no longer have to wait in line or carry cash around when we go shopping. We can get the most updated information from large 
databases. We can download software, documents, and images whenever we need them. But the Internet has done much more for people than simply make life more convenient. People’s lives have been changed by online communities and social networks.
关于万维网奇妙之处的著述瀚如烟海。讲述互联网如何使我们的生活更加方便的文章数不胜数。当我们去购物时，我们不再需要排队或随身携带现金。我们可以从大型数据库获得最新的信息。我们可以随时下载软件、文档和图片。然而，互联网为人们做的事情还很多，并不仅仅是让生活更加便利。在线社区和社交网络改变了人们的生活。
Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer to keep her company. After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group where she could talk about her problems and get support and 
advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that usually exists between people.
英国伯明翰的一位英语教师简·夏曼尼突然身患重病，被迫辞职。50岁时，她发现自己失业了，困在家里，只有电脑相伴。过了一段时间，她发现上网可以帮助她减轻孤独和无聊。她可以听音乐、看电影、玩游戏和探索世界。她还加入了一个在线群组，在群里她可以谈论自己的问题，并获得他人的支持和建议。她意识到互联网的最大好处之一就是能够消除通常存在于人与人之间的距离感。
She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59-year-old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of himself, his daughter has time to study at university. A 61-year-old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together with two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.
网友给了她很大的启发，她决定成立一个IT俱乐部来教老年人如何使用电脑和互联网。如今，她和朋友们一起组织活动，并募集资金来支付私人教师的工资。许多人得到了俱乐部的帮助。一名59岁的男子学会了如何在线申请工作，并找到了一份不错的工作。现在他工作了，而且可以照顾好自己，他的女儿就有时间上大学了。一位61岁独居妇女与两个朋友一起创办了一家小型网络公司。她不再感到孤独，她的公司也相当成功。
Jan has started taking online classes to learn more about how to use the Internet to make society better. She believes that it is highly important to bridge the digital divide and make sure that everyone has access to the Internet and knows how to use new technology. Her next goal is to start a charity website to raise money for children in poor countries.
简开始参加网络课程，更多地学习关于如何利用互联网让社会变得更加美好。她认为，消除数字鸿沟、确保每个人都能使用互联网并知道如何运用新技术是非常重要的。她的下一个目标是建立一个慈善网站，为贫穷国家的儿童募集资金。
Jan’s life has been greatly improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges,” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me to offer help.”
互联网极大地改善了简的生活。“当你身处逆境时，你会遇到面临相似挑战的人”简说道，“想到别人的处境，我就会受到激励，伸出援助之手。”
Reading?for Writing
Today I thought I’d blog about a question that has been asked many times—how do you stay safe online and avoid bad experiences on the Internet? I’m not an expert, but many years as a blogger have taught me a thing or two.
今天，我想写篇博客谈谈一个多次被问到的问题——如何确保安全上网，避免在互联网上遇到不愉快呢？我不是专家，但多年作为博主的经验教会了我一些东西。
First of all, there’s the golden rule of the Internet: If you see or read something that makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the site immediately. Don’t post comments or click on anything. Second, protect your privacy. Don’t give out your address or phone number. Someone might use the information to steal your identity. Identity theft is a common and serious problem. Third, be polite. Being online is no excuse for being rude, and you don’t want to become a target for a troll or cyberbully. A troll is a person who posts comments or questions in order to stir up trouble online. Trolls often use several false names so that they can stay on a site. A cyberbully uses the Internet to be mean to others. Like a troll, a cyberbully will also write something mean but it is usually directed at particular people. He or she may also post embarrassing photos and information about those people. However, the more polite you are, the less likely it is you will be attacked.
首先，互联网的黄金法则是：如果你看到或读到一些让你反感的内容，立即退出这个网站。不要发表评论，也不要点击任何东西。其次，保护你的隐私。不要透露你的地址或电话号码。有人可能会利用这些信息来窃取你的身份。身份盗窃是一个普遍而严重的问题。第三，要有礼貌。上网并非行为粗鲁的借口，而且你也不想成为网络挑事者或网络恶霸的目标。网络挑事者就是在网上张贴评论或问题以挑起事端的人。为了长期待在一个网站上，网络挑事者经常使用多个假名。网络恶霸利用互联网来欺负别人。就网络挑事者一样，网络恶霸也会写一些恶意的东西，但通常是针对特定的人。网络恶霸也可能在网上发一些让这些人感到尴尬的照片和信息。然而，你越有礼貌，你被攻击的可能性就越小。
Have you had any bad experiences online, or do you have some good advice for staying safe? Post your comments below!
你在网上有过不愉快的经历吗？或者对于安全上网你有什么好建议吗？请在下面发表你的评论！
Boy579:?Last year, we were having problems in our chat room. Mean comments were being posted by someone we didn’t know. I think he or she was only trying to make trouble.
Boy579：?去年，我们的聊天室出了点问题。有我们不认识的人发了一些恶意的评论。我觉得这家伙是想捣乱。
Amy:?A girl at my school had a very bad experience online. A photo of her had been posted online and she was being made fun of. It seemed like a joke at first, but the girl was very upset.
艾米：?我们学校的一个女孩在网上有过一段很糟糕的经历。她的一张照片被传到网上，被人嘲笑了。刚开始虽然像是在开玩笑，但是这个女孩很不开心。
Unit 4 History and traditions
Reading and Thinking
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
名为何物？
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England—many people are confused by what these different names mean. So what is the difference between them, if any? Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
联合王国、大不列颠、英国、英格兰——很多人对这些不同名称的含义感到困惑。如果这些名称有区别的话，那么它们的区别何在？稍微了解一下英国历史，就可以帮助你解开这个谜题。
In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which resulted in the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: “the United Kingdom” or “the UK”. People from the UK are called “British”, which means the UK is also often referred to as Britain or Great Britain.
十六世纪时，邻国威尔士并入英格兰王国。随后，在十八世纪，苏格兰加入了进来，从而诞生了大不列颠王国。十九世纪时，爱尔兰王国加入，一起组成了大不列颠及爱尔兰联合王国。最后，在二十世纪时，爱尔兰南部脱离了联合王国，形成了我们如今所看到的全称：大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。大多数人只是使用简称：“联合王国”。联合王国的人被称为“英国人”，这意味着联合王国也经常被称为英国或大不列颠。
The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!
同属于联合王国的这四个国家在某些领域紧密合作。像拥有相同的货币和国防一样，他们也使用同一面国旗（称为“英国国旗”）。然而，它们之间仍有诸多区别。例如，英格兰、威尔士、苏格兰和北爱尔兰在教育和法律制度上都存在着差异。它们也有各自的传统，比如有自己的国庆节和本国菜肴。它们甚至拥有各自的足球队，参加像“世界杯”之类的赛事！
The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century, left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.
英国历史源远流长、别有趣味，等待你去探索，帮助你进一步了解这个国家及其传统。英国历史上有四个不同民族在不同历史时期执掌这个国家。第一批是罗马人，于公元一世纪进入英国。罗马人的伟大成就在于他们建立城镇和修建道路。之后是盎格鲁—撒克逊人，于公元五世纪到达英国。他们引入了英语的雏形，并改变了人们建造房屋的方式。维京人于公元八世纪到来，留下了许多新的词汇，并给英国境地内的许多地方命名。最后一批是诺曼人。十一世纪著名的黑斯廷斯战役之后，诺曼人征服了英格兰。他们在四处修建城堡，并改革了法律制度。诺曼人是法国人，因此英语中慢慢加入了许多法语单词。
There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable. The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are countless historic sites to explore, and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a fascinating mix of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.
英国的历史文化引人入胜，可学之处比比皆是。研究这个国家的历史将让你的英国之旅更加愉快。以首都伦敦为第一站是一个不错的选择，因为伦敦是一个古老的港口城市，其历史可以追溯到罗马时代。这里有数不胜数的历史遗迹可供游览，还有许多博物馆陈列着来自英国各地的文物。在英国，历史与现代文化交融，新旧传统并存。如果留心去观察，英国的过去和现在都将展示在你的面前，令你叹为观止。
Reading?for Writing
BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS
美丽的爱尔兰及其传统
Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence on its people and traditions. The country has a long history of producing great writers and poets. Its beautiful countryside excites and inspires all, offering something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald IsIe” and its many green counties is a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions that include music, dancing, and dining. To have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you’re lucky, you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce yourself to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs first-hand.
一直以来，爱尔兰美丽的乡村对其人民和传统产生着深远的影响。爱尔兰有着孕育杰出作家和诗人的悠久传统。美丽的乡村给人以激情和灵感，满足各种感官享受。“绿宝石(爱尔兰)岛”风光宁静秀美，郡县草木葱茏，青山连绵起伏，牛羊点缀其中，堪称一场名副其实的视觉盛宴。海边波浪咆哮，海鸟鸣叫，奏响了海岸交响乐。山里宁静的早晨，感受阳光照在你身上，呼吸着鲜花的芬芳，鸟儿用清晨的歌声来迎接新的一天的到来。这般美景，造就了爱尔兰音乐、舞蹈及菜肴等独有的民间传统也就不足为奇了。要想体验这一切，可以去一家乡村酒吧，喝上一杯葡萄酒或本地的啤酒放松一下。更为美妙的是，可品尝美味的爱尔兰传统炖牛肉。如果运气好的话，你也许还可以欣赏到传统的音乐和舞蹈。向友善的当地人做个自我介绍，你定能亲身体验当地的文化和习俗。
Unit 5 Music
Reading and Thinking
THE VIRTUAL CHOIR
虚拟合唱团
Imagine having the opportunity to sing together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record themselves while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded onto the Internet, and then they are put together into one video that you can see online—a virtual choir. Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from anywhere—all you need is a video camera and an Internet connection. You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect ordinary people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance to join a local choir. A virtual choir enables them to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the global community. It has proved to be a positive influence on the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, “Music helps me to … forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.”
想象一下，独自在家时，你可以与数百人一起引吭高歌。虚拟合唱团能够让你的想象成为现实。虚拟合唱团的成员们把各自的歌唱视频录制下来，上传到互联网上，然后这些视频被合并成一个你可以在线观看的视频——虚拟大合唱。任何人，无论身处何地，都可以参加虚拟合唱团——你只需要是一台摄像机，并且能够上网。你连录音棚都不需要。虚拟合唱团将普通人联系起来。许多人没有亲密的朋友，也没有志趣相投的私交，还有许多人没有机会参加当地的合唱团。虚拟合唱团让他们能够与其他人一起欢歌，成为全球社区的一部分。事实证明，虚拟合唱团对许多人的生活产生了积极的影响。正如一位虚拟合唱团成员所说：“音乐帮助我……忘记自己的烦恼。音乐，让我脱胎换骨。”
The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. Born in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began studying music at the University of Nevada in 1988. He fell in love with Mozart’s classical music when he sang for the university choir. Moved by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.” He graduated from university in 1995, and then received a master’s degree in musical composition from the Juilliard School in New York in 1997. Over the next 10 years, Whitacre’s original compositions began to become quite popular among choirs and singers. This led to the creation of the virtual choir.
虚拟合唱团是屡获殊荣的作曲家兼指挥埃里克·惠塔克的创意。惠塔克于1970年1月2日出生在美国，1988年开始进入内华达大学学习音乐。当大学合唱团期间，他爱上了莫扎特的古典音乐。他被这段音乐打动了，他说：“那种(兴奋的)感觉就如同第一次看见色彩一样。”他于1995年大学毕业，随后于1997年获得纽约茱莉亚音乐学院音乐创作硕士学位。在接下来的十多年里，惠塔克的原创作品深受合唱团和歌手中的欢迎，这促使了虚拟合唱团的创建。
In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works. Inspired, he asked his fans to make videos, which he then joined together into one performance. His first virtual choir, “Lux Aurumque”, had 185 singers from 12 different countries. It has received millions of views on the Internet. Since then, the virtual choir has become a worldwide phenomenon. Whitacre’s next effort was the Virtual Youth Choir for UNICEF, which was first seen on stage on 23 July 2014 in the UK. Altogether, 2,292 young people from 80 countries joined in to sing Whitacre’s song “What If”.
2009年，惠塔克收到了一个女孩演唱他创作的一部作品的视频。受此启发，惠塔克邀请歌迷们录制视频，然后他把这些视频拼接成一场演出。他创办的首个虚拟合唱团“金色之光”拥有来自12个不同国家的185位歌手。该合唱团在互联网上的点击量已超过百万次。自此，虚拟合唱团风靡全球。惠塔克的第二个壮举是打造联合国儿童基金会“虚拟青年合唱团”，该团于2014年7月23日在英国首次登台亮相，总共有来自80个国家的2292名青年参与演唱惠塔克的歌曲《假如》。
The virtual choir is a wonderful way for people around the world to sing with one voice and thus make the world a better place.
虚拟合唱团提供一种绝妙的方式，让世界各地的人们能够同声歌唱，世界因此变得更加美好。
Reading?for Writing
Good morning, my name is Sarah Williams. It’s an honour to be here and to share with you the story of how music has had an impact on my life.
早上好！我叫莎拉·威廉姆斯。很荣幸来到这里与大家分享音乐是如何影响我的人生的。
Have you ever faced a time when things looked dark and you had no hope at all? Two years ago, I was told I had a serious disease which was difficult to cure. My body ached all the time and thus I thought I didn’t have much longer to live. I was very afraid and I felt so alone and discouraged. Then one day, I had to go through a two-hour medical treatment. The doctor wanted me to relax, so he had me listen to some music, and one of the songs was “Happy”. The song made me feel so much better that from then on I began to listen to music all the time. John A. Logan said, “Music is the medicine of the mind.” And it’s true. Music helped me recover.
你是否曾经经历过黯淡无光、万念俱灰的一段时光？两年前，我得知我患了一种很难治愈的严重疾病，全身一直疼痛，我以为觉得自己活不了多久了。我很害怕，我感到十分孤独、沮丧。后来有一天，我需要去接受两个小时的治疗。医生想要我放松，就让我听了一些音乐，其中一首歌是《快乐》。听着这首歌，让我感觉好多了；从此以后，我开始一直听音乐。约翰·A·洛根曾说过：“音乐是心灵的良药。”的确如此，音乐帮助我康复了。
Music gave me happiness. When I listened to music, it made my spirits fly like a kite in the wind. Music gave me strength and brought me relief. It was the rock I leant on to become strong and to get through those hard times. Moreover, music gave me hope and a sense of satisfaction. It became my best friend. It spoke words of encouragement to the deepest part of my being.
音乐给我带来了快乐。当我听音乐时，音乐让我的心情放飞，像风中的风筝。音乐给了我力量，也让我得到解脱。音乐是岩石，让我倚靠，变得坚强，度过那些艰难的岁月。不仅如此，音乐还给了我希望和满足感。音乐成了我最好的朋友。音乐让我的内心深受鼓舞。
Of course, I hope none of you have to go through the same kind of suffering that I did. At the same time, we all go through various periods when we feel sad or alone. During those times, music can help you in the same way that it helped me. I hope all of you will somehow begin to treasure music and make it a part of your life.
当然，我希望你们不要经历和我一样的痛苦。同时，我们都会经历各种悲伤或孤独的时期。在那时，音乐可以帮助你，就像它曾经帮助我一样。我希望大家能以某种方式都能开始珍惜音乐，并让它融入到你们的生活。