一 寸 光 阴 不 可 轻Unit 6-Conversation 1Janet: What are you reading, Kate? Kate:Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Do you know it? Janet: Ive heard of it, yes, but Ive never read it. Its a 19th century childrens story, isnt it? Kate: Thats right. Its very famous. Its set in Oxford. It starts with this young girl sitting on a river bank. The interesting thing is, the author, Lewis Carroll, he was an Oxford professor and he used to have tea with the girls family on this river bank. Janet: Oh, thats fascinating! Ill put it into my diary. Kate: Is that what youre writing? I know youve been keeping a diary all the year. Janet: Its been a great year. Ive had such a good time so lucky to have Mark and Kate as friends. Feel Ive been doing well with work. Much happier about asking questions in tutorials. Janet: My screens gone dark. Mark: Youre using the battery, remember. Its run out, obviously. Janet: It cant be the battery. Its still charged. Oh no its still black. Oh dear, I hope its nothing serious. I havent backed anything up recently. Kate: Thats not like you, Janet. Janet: I know, but I lost my memory stick. I really should have backed things up. How stupid of me not to do that! Supposing Ive lost everything! Mark: Let me take a look. The power is still on. And also the operating system still seems to be working . I think it has to be the graphics card . But maybe thats not the problem . Janet: If only Id backed things up! Kate: Relax, Janet! Well take it to the computer shop this afternoon. Im sure itll be OK. Janet: I hope so.Unit 6-Conversation 2 Janet: Tell me about Alice in Wonderland. Kate: I tell you what, Ill read it to you. Kate: Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and having nothing to do: Once or twice, she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, and what is the use of a book, thought Alice, without pictures or conversation? So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid) . Janet: Kate, Mark, where are you going? Youve got my laptop! Kate: Its all right, Janet, were taking it to the computer shop. Well be back soon. Mark: Its not like Janet to forget to back up her work. Kate: She should have been more careful. Janet: It was stupid of me, I know! Stupid, stupid! Janet: Oh! It was a dream! What a relief! Kate: You were talking in your sleep. Janet: What was I saying? Kate: Stupid, stupid. Mark: Ive sorted out your computer. Janet: Have you? Oh, thank goodness! What was the problem? Mark: It was the graphics card, as I predicted . Janet: Is that what it was! Im so relieved! Thanks, Mark. Kate: Hes great, isnt he? Janet: Yes. So are you, Kate. Kate: Youre such a good friend.Unit 6-Outside viewComputers are a very important part of our lives. They tell us about delays to transport. They drive trains, analyze evidence and control buildings. Did you know that 60 per cent of homes in Britain have got a PC (a personal computer)? For many young people, playing computer games is their favorite way of spending spare time. Computers are a very important part of most areas of life in Britain-libraries, the police and in school. But they are becoming more important in our homes as well. Theyll even control the way we live-in “smart homes” or computer-controlled houses. The smart home is now a real possibility. It will become very common. A central computer will adjust the temperature, act as a burglar alarm and switch on lights, ready for you to come back home. And of course you will be able to give new instructions to the computer from your mobile phone. So if your plans change, your home will react to match. Many homes have got lots of televisions and several computers. The smart home will provide TV and Internet sockets in every room, so youll be able to do what you want whenever you want. If the temperature outside changes, the smart home will adjust the temperature levels inside. The computer will also close the blinds when it gets dark or to stop so much sun from entering a room. And if you want to eat when you get home, the computer will turn the oven on for you! Are computers taking over our lives? In a survey, 44 per cent of young people between 11 and 16 said their PC was a trusted friend. Twenty per cent said they were happier at their computer than spending time with family or friends. Another survey found that people in Britain spend so much time on the phone, texting and reading emails that they no longer have time for conversation. What do you think about that?Unit 6-Listening inNews ReportUS Scientists have announced the discovery of gravitational waves, which are tiny waves produced by massive objects moving very quickly. Two black holes produced the wav