大学英语快速阅读

大学英语快速阅读样章：各位同学：我们所编的四本大学英语快速阅读是在上海外语音像出版社，上海外语电子出版社出版的《大学英语快速阅读》的基础上，针对大学三本学生重新编订的一套快速阅读教辅材料。

其难度要略低于原来的一套教材。

本套教材共分四册，文章篇幅分别为：第一二册：300-400词，第三册：400-500词，第四册：1200词。

一二三册每本共十个单元，每单元四篇文章，每篇文章后，有三种形式的快速阅读练习题，即根据文章判断正误，根据课文内容填空，选择最佳答案。

练习题后为注解，将每篇的生词，背景知识加以注解。

最后为keys to the exercises。

第四册为大学英语四级考试的篇幅和题型，分十个单元，每单元10道题，文章题型和长度完全按照四级新题型快速阅读模式。

最后每册均有两个测试，测试为四篇文章，与每单元的阅读形式及题型相同，但无注解。

文章题材可涵盖社会生活，文化教育，体育文艺，历史地理，风俗人情，科普知识等。

Sample one: 第一册到第三册格式How Much Sleep Do We Need?Sleep, as we know, is important to us because it helps restore tired organs and tissues in our body. But how much sleep do we actually need?For most of us, eight hours seems to be about the right amount. Yet we know that there are a great many people who get along perfectly with less sleep, and some who may even need more. A great deal depends on the way we live. But a good general rule to follow is to sleep as long as we have to in order to feel happy and be able to work at our best when we awaken.There are actually different levels of sleep. There is a deep sleep and a shallow sleep. In a shallow sleep, our body does not get the same kind of rest it gets in deep sleep, so that after eight hours of a shallow sleep we may still feel tired. But a short, deep sleep can be very restful.Alexander the Great was able to get a deep sleep whenever he needed it. Once, during the night before an important battle, he remained awake longer than anyone else. Then he wrapped himself in a cloak and lay down on the earth. He slept so deeply that his generals had to wake him three times to give the command to attack!Normally when we go to sleep, our “sleep centre” blocks off nerves so that both our brain and our body go to sleep. One prevents us from wanting to do anything, and the other makes our internal organs and limbs go to sleep. But sometimes only one goes to sleep and the other does not.A very tired soldier can sometimes fall asleep (brain sleep) and keep on marching, because his body is not asleepComprehension ExercisesComplete the following exercises without referring back to the passage you have read.I. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).1. Sleep is important to most of us but some people may get along well without it. ( )2. A shorter period of deep sleep is better than eight hours of shallow sleep. ( )II. Fill if the blanks with the information you obtained from the passage.1. When we go to sleep both our _______ and our _______ fall asleep.2. Our sleep is _______ if we awaken tired ,unhappy and _______ to work at our best.III. Multiple Choices: Choose one correct answer form the following options given below.(略)Notes：1. restore v. 使复原eg: He is now fully restored to health. 他现在完全恢复了健康。

2. organ n. (人体或动植物的)器官eg: the sense organs 感觉器官略。

6. Alexander the Great (公元前356至前323) 亚历山大大帝，古马其顿国王。

Keys to the Exercises:1. F2. T3. brain; body4. shallow; unable5 D 6. A 7. A第四册样章：第四册的文章需小标题。

How Sled Dogs WorkThey're physical wonders--able to endure extreme conditions for extensive periods of time while running fast and pulling more than their own weight. Sled dogs have been around for generations, and today they remain a large part of a dog driver's life.In Arctic (北极的) regions, some 35 000 years ago, Eskimos' dogs bred with wolves and other dogs. Their offspring were well-adapted to the cold and snow. There's no saying exactly when someone thought to have dogs pull sleds ,but it was well before 1000 B. C. that dog sleds provided a means of transportation and a way to haul goods. In recent years, people looking for unique outings have gone on recreational trips with sled dogs. A number of companies market tourist treks via dog sled for adventure travelers.Dogsled racing in Alaska formally began in 1908, when sled dog owners in Nome, Alaska, held the first All-Alaska Sweepstakes, a 408-mile race from Nome to Candle and back. And in 1973, the inaugural Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race took place on a route covering more than 1 000 miles in Alaska. There are more competitions in many of the continental United States, and some take place on dry land. In addition to endurance races, sled-dog events include sprint races, weight pulls (in which dogs try to pull the most weight) and freight races ( in which dogs try to pull a weighted sled the fastest).Stamina) and StrengthMany breeds of dogs are used to pull sleds, including official American Kennel Club breeds such as the Siberian husky, Malamute and Samoyed. However, many sled dogs are of mixed breed and are called Alaska husky or Eskimo dogs. While some sled dogs may have wolf bloodlines, it's generally not desirable to have a mixture of blood between the two.Sled dogs are bred for their speed and endurance as well as leadership qualities. They are big dogs with thick coats and wide, fiat feet. They sleep with their tails covering their noses to keepwarm. Dogs that weigh around 40 to 45 pounds are the ideal size to pull sleds, but some may weigh as much as 85 pounds.Young dogs that are enthusiastic runners, easy-going and mentally tough are good choices for sled dogs. A dog's gender matters little and both male and female dogs are considered equally.For racing, the most intelligent and fastest dogs are picked to be lead dogs and run in the front of the pack. Behind them run swing dogs, whose job is to direct the team around turns and curves. At the back of the dog team are the wheel dogs or wheelers, who are right in front of the sled and are usually the largest and strongest of the team. The rest of the dogs are known simply as team dogs.Dogs are typically from 2 to 10 years old when they pull sleds. After they retire, they might remain with their owner at a kennel or be adopted as pets by others. Rescue groups for sled dogs take in unwanted dogs and care for them, trying to place them in loving homes.While snowmobiles (also called snow machines), helicopters and airplanes are now often used in place of sled dogs, there are still times when dog transportation is preferred. Harsh weather conditions can make flying hazardous, and certain terrain can be more difficult for snow machines to cross than for dogs. Dogs can be more reliable than man-made machines, they're good companions to have on long treks and they can be cheaper to own than other forms of transportation.Becoming a Sled DogThe number of sled dogs at a typical kennel is around 75, though some might house as few as 20 or as many as 150. Many kennel owners are greedy mushers and compete in dog sled races. They also train other mushers and sell and lease dogs.The training for each team of racing dogs varies by musher ( or whomever is preparing the dogs to race). Conditioning the dogs to nm long distances is vital, and teams may cover 2 000 to 3 000 miles in the course of training leading up to an endurance race. Since training may take place year-round, the dogs sometimes nm on dry land, and sometimes pull all-terrain vehicles.Dog owners start training their dogs to pull sleds at a very young age. When they are a couple of months old, they may be fitted with a harness and collar, just so they get used to wearing them. As they get older, a small object may be attached to the harness to practice pulling weight. Mushers also start teaching the dogs verbal commands. When dogs are ready to train alongside a team, at around 6 to 8 months old, they start by pulling light loads for short distances. Over time, they build up their strength and stamina and are able to go farther and pull more.Sled dogs that are well cared for and loved by their owners are quite friendly and gentle. While they may fight with other dogs, it is rare that a sled dog would be aggressive toward people. Mushers have been quoted as saying that they take better care of their dogs than themselves, and that the dogs eat better than they do. Relationships between dog and musher vary, but most mushers consider their dogs family. Mushers generally follow the reasoning that a dog that's not properly cared for will not perform, so it wouldn't make sense to mistreat dogs.For races such as the Iditarod, veterinarians are on hand to examine dogs, and race rules require proof of certain vaccines and check-ups. Dogs are implanted with microchips to help keep track of them. The International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association is a group of veterinarians who are dedicated to the welfare of sled dogs.Getting Ready for the RaceRacing sled dogs need to eat around 10 000 calories per day. During the Iditarod race, thattranslates to about 2 000 pounds of food for one team for the entire race. Meat is the main ingredient, but they also consume other fats, oils, dry dog foods and vitamin supplements. Dogs eat at each of the more than two dozen checkpoints on the Iditarod route, but they also get snacks every few hours. Gear for dogs includes fabric booties to protect their feet from the elements, and a sled team may go through 2 000 booties during a race.The number of dogs pulling the sled varies by race and by musher. In the Iditarod, there are a maximum of 16 dogs on a team. At the race's start, there must be between 12 and 16 dogs per entrant. At the race's end, at least six dogs must be part of the team that crosses the finish line.The dogs are attached to the sled with a series of lines called rigging. This includes the tow line (or gang line), tug lines and neck lines. Each dog wears a collar and a harness. The tow line connects the dogs to the sled, and a tug line rigs the dogs' harnesses to the tow line. The dogs' collars are attached to the tow line by the neck line. There are no reins, and dogs respond to the musher's vocal commands.A musher says "hike," "let's go," or "all right," to get his or her team going; "easy" to slow down; "gee" to turn right; "haw" to turn left; "come gee" or "come haw" to turn 180 degrees right or left; "straight on" to go straight ahead; and "whoa" to stop.During the Iditarod, teams typically travel in the 5 to 12 miles per hour range and might nm for six or eight hours straight. When dogs fail to work together as a team, or a musher can't properly direct his or her team, the lines can become tangled and cause problems.Comprehension Exercises1. Why are sled dogs said to be physical wonders?（A）Because they are raised by wolves.（B）Because they can stand most severe weather.（C）Because they are fastest runner among Arctic animals.（D）Because they can bear goods like horses do.2. The idea of using dogs to pull sleds began ______.（A）some 35 000 years ago（B） 1 000 years ago（C）before 1 000 B.C.（D）before 19083. What is people's attitude towards a mixture of blood between dogs and wolves?（A）It's not encouraged.（B）It's strongly protested.（C）It's warmly welcomed.（D）It's responded indifferently.4. Where is the position of the wheel dogs in a team?（A）In the front of the team.（B）Behind the lead dogs.（C）In front of the sled. （D）At the side of swing dogs.5. Nowadays sled dogs are still necessary when ______.（A）there are severe weather conditions（B）flying machines are full with passengers（C）snow machines use up power in the Arctic region（D）people need partners during the travel6. What is very important in the long-distance training of dogs?（A）To urge dogs run for 2 000 to 3 000 miles every day.（B）To train the dogs for at least one year.（C）To train the dogs to pull vehicles on dry land.（D）To get the dogs accustomed to running long distances.7. When sled dogs get sufficient care from the owner, they usually ______. （A）fight with other dogs（B）are too heavy to run（C）are friendly and gentle（D）develop reliability on the owner8. According to the race rules, dogs for race must have ______.9. For the entire Iditarod race, a sled dog team has to eat so much as to ______.10. Sled dogs don't use reins, instead, they follow ______.Notes：Keys to the Exercises:。