Unit 12 Art and literature

READING

显示 原文 　 隐藏 原文 HARRY POTTER 　　Welcome to the world of JK Rowling! It is a world of magic and wonders, a world where anything can happen. Many of the creatures in Rowling’s world are not real, and much of what happens is strange. JK Rowling has written a series of books about Harry Potter, a boy with a scar on his forehead and a secret past. The books are about magic and strange creatures, but they still tell us something about the real world. 　　In the first book about Harry Potter, we meet Harry before he knows anything about magic. Harry seems like a normal boy, but his life is miserable. His parents are dead and he lives with a family that treats him badly. Harry is very unhappy and does not know what to do about his life. His life changes when a bird tells him to go to Hogwarts and become a student of witchcraft and wizardry. 　　Hogwarts is an unusual school where the students learn about magic. But for Harry, the most important lesson is about real life, friendship and how to be brave. Harry learns more than magic at Hogwarts. He makes new friends and learns how important and difficult it is to be a good friend. His friends help him when he is in trouble, but he must also be strong and help them when they need him. Harry also learns to be brave and to do things he used to be afraid of. He learns the truth about his past, a dark secret that will make his life and his choices more difficult. At Hogwarts, Harry also learns about the power of love. The magic, many strange creatures and the adventures Harry comes across at Hogwarts help him understand the real world. 　　Harry has to fight against had wizards and do the right thing. Together with his friends, Harry learns that it is not always easy to do what is right. You must believe in what you do and who you are if you want to succeed in the world－the magical world of Hogwarts and the real one. Where someone is born and what a person looks like is not as important as what he or she grows up to be. Two people may speak different languages, have different habits or even come from two different worlds, but they can still be friends if they share the same goals, hopes and dreams. It is not enough to be strong in heart and mind; we must also believe in ourselves and help others if we want to be happy and live a good life.

Reading and writing

显示 原文 　 隐藏 原文 THE QUESTION 　　Tom stopped. What was that noise? He put his hand on Pete’s shoulder. “Did you hear that?” he whispered. They both listened carefully. The noise seemed to be coming from the room behind the statue in front of them. It sounded like a woman crying. They looked at the statue. It was a strange creature with red eyes－it was almost as if the creature was watching them. Tom suddenly felt cold. He remembered what his father had told him about the secrets of the church. He knew that the church had many secret rooms and that not all of them were safe. If only they could find a way to get to the room, or whatever it was, behind the wall. The statue stood in front of the door and there was no way they could get past it. Tom looked at the statue again. Strange! It looked as if the creature had moved. He was just about to say something when Pete turned around. “Tom,”he said, “I think I know a way in.” “How?”Tom asked. “It says on the statue that anyone who wants to enter the room must answer the question.”“That sounds strange,”said Tom, “What question?”“I don’t know,”Pete said, “but…”He did not have time to finish what he was saying. The statue was moving! A deep voice came from the strange creature, “Listen carefully. You may enter the room if you know the answer to my question.”“What is the question?”Pete asked.“It’s a secret,”the creature said.“A secret?”Pete said,“That’s stupid! How can I give you an answer if the question is a secret?”the creature spoke again,“Come here and I’ll whisper the question in your ear. You will not remember the question tomorrow. If your answer is right, you may enter. If your answer is wrong, well, then you’ll be in trouble.”Pete looked at Tom.“I’ll try,”he said. He walked up to the creature and listened to the question. After a few minutes, he whispered the answer in the creature’s ear. They both waited for something to happen.“Are you sure you gave the right answer?”Tom asked. Pete did not have time to say anything. The statue moved to the side and the door opened up. Tom and Pete looked at each other. Tom was scared, “I guess we have to go in.” They went past the statue and…