Unit Eighteen

1. Unit Eighteen The Magic Kingdom for Animals And Plants 神奇的动植物王国

2. The Magic Kingdom for Animals And Plants The Golden Monkey and the Giant Salamander The Chinese Dove Tree “Living Fossils” Metasequoia and the Peach Blossom Fish

3. The area of Three Gorges is one of the places with rich resources of living creatures or plants in Hubei Province. Because of the advantages, such as geographical feature, water system and climate here, there are various （多种）animals and plants ,even many valuable ones dying out in the world. For example, the Golden Monkey, the Lipotes Vexillifer (白鳍豚), the South China Tiger, the White Stork (白鹳 ), the Cowfish (江豚), the Macaque(猕猴 ),the Giant Salamander (大鲵) etc.

4. Especially, Golden Monkeys and Giant Salamanders are rare animals in the world, but they are living in the Three Gorges district. A large number of plants are also reproduced （繁衍）here: the tall and straight Green Pines (青松) ,Pinus Assonianas （马尾松）, Cunninghamia Lanceolatas （杉树）, Cupressus Funebrises （柏树），Ormosia Hosieis （红豆树）as well as colorful flowers. The precious Wild Chrysanthemums （菊花）grow in the source （源头）area of Xiangxi River,

5. and Arrow Bamboo （箭竹）woods exist on the top of Shennongjia Mountain. The Calyx Canthuse (腊梅) is a kind of rare primeval plants in Chexi area. The Metasequoias (水杉), which can be extracted （提练）to cure cancers, are growing luxuriantly （郁郁葱葱）as “Living fossils” (活化石). The Chinese Dove Tree (珙桐) is a kind of very fine timber （木材）. The beautiful area of Three Gorges is a magic kingdom for animals and plants or a unique treasure-house of the Nature.

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7. 神奇的动植物王国 三峡地区是湖北省生物资源密集的地区之一。由于地形、水系、气候等因素的影响，三峡适宜生长多种动植物,甚至有许多濒临灭绝的动物。 例如：金丝猴、白鳍豚、华南虎、白鹳、江豚、猕猴、大鲵等。金丝猴和大鲵这些全世界稀有的动物，在三峡却留有它们的踪迹。还有大量的植物也在此繁衍：挺拔高大的青松、马尾松、杉树、柏树、红豆树等以及五颜六色的花卉。香溪源头珍稀的野生香菊，神农架山顶上的箭竹林；车溪罕见的原始腊梅，还有郁郁葱葱的“活化石”水杉，用它可提炼治癌的药物；珙桐（鸽子树）是一种很好的木材。 美丽的三峡是一个神奇的动物王国，是独特的大自然宝库。 back

8. Passage 1 The Golden Monkey and the Giant Salamander

9. Golden Monkeys are precious animals living in the primevalforest of Shennongjia Mountain. They are unique in the world and in the first grade state protection in our country, the same as pandas treated as national treasures. The Golden Monkey has a name, Golden Hair Beauty, too. It has a blue face and its nose turns up. Though its appearance is not very pretty, its long yellow hair looks like golden silk clothes shining in the sun, which is very beautiful.

10. In order to research the regular life of the golden monkeys and their distribution in Shennongjia Mountain, the Department of Scientific Research in Wuhan University went deep into thick forest to investigate in large extent, and they found thousands of golden monkeys there. As The Three Gorges State Nature Reserve was set up, wild animals, especially the golden monkeys, get an effective protection. Therefore, the species and quantity of the golden monkeys are increasing

11. day by day and they are living in a larger and larger scope.On the first of May, 1987 ，thousands of golden monkeys ran away from the forest, and many people discerned old and young monkeys chasing and jumping in woods. Seeing the pleasant scenery, people felt very relieved. The streams of the Three Gorges area are rich in a kind of precious amphibians with tails---the giant salamanders. They are usually found in water, and their voices sound like baby crying, their four feet look like man’s hands.

12. Usually a giant salamander’s weight is more than five kilograms, and especially, the big giant salamander may weigh twenty-five kilograms with a length of over one meter. The giant salamanders live in rapid and clean streams around the mountains, and hide in the stone caves. They are afraid of light, so they seldom go out in day-- time. At night they would go out to look for food. The flesh of giant salamanders is fresh and rich in protein. It is not only a precious delicacy, but also a rare tonic, which is a valuable drug.

13. Golden Monkeys and Giant Salamanders with other precious living creatures make the area of the Three Gorges more valuable, so people should protect them well. 娃娃鱼 金丝猴

14. Notes: 1. national treasure 国宝 2. day by day 一天天地，逐日。 New Words： primeval a. 原始的 protein n. 蛋白质 quantity n. 数量 rapid a. 湍急 regular n. 规律 amphibian n. 两栖动物 drug n. 药材 delicacy n. 精美的食物 discern v. 目睹 extent n. 范围

15. relieve v. 使宽慰 scope n. 范围 shining a. 发光的 tonic n. 补品 flesh n. 肉 effective a. 有效的 giant salamander n. 大鲵，娃娃鱼 investigate v. 考察 precious a. 珍奇的

16. Exercises: I. Answer the questions: 1. Where do golden monkeys live in? 2. When did thousands of golden monkeys run away from the forest? key 3. Where do giant salamanders live in? 4. What weight is a giant salamander? 5. Why did the Department of Scientific Research in Wuhan University go deep into thick forest to investigate in large extent? key

17. II. Decide the statements true or false: 1. The Golden Monkey has a blue face and its nose turns down. ( ) 2. Many people discerned the monkeys chasing and jumping in the woods. ( ) 3. The Giant Salamanders are afraid of light, so they seldom go out in day-- time. ( ) 4. In the streams of the Three Georges area, there are many precious giant salamanders. ( ) 5. In day--time the giant salamanders would go out to look for food. ( ) key

18. III. Multiple choices: 1. The Golden Monkey is unique, the same as the panda and it is in the first grade state protection in __ . A. Canada B. Japan C. England D. China 2. The Golden monkey has a _______face and its nose turns up. A. red B. orange C. blue D. golden 3. Giant salamanders’ voices sound like _______ crying. A. Cock B. baby C. donkey D. cat 4. At ______ Giant salamanders would go out to look for food. A. morning B. noon C. afternoon D. night 5. The flesh of giant salamander is fresh and rich in _______. A. vitamin B. fat C. protein D. sugar key

19. 美丽的神农架 原始腊梅 back

20. Translation: 金丝猴和大鲵 在神农架原始森林里生活着一种珍贵动物——金丝猴。它同大熊猫一样为我国独有，是我国一级保护动物，被视为“国宝”。金丝猴有“金发美人”之称。它有一张蓝色的面孔，仰鼻朝天。它虽貌不惊人，但有一身金黄色的长毛，如同披一件金色的衣服在太阳的照耀下闪闪发光，十分漂亮。 为了探索金丝猴在神农架的分布和生活规律，武汉大学科研所同神农架林区深入密林进行大规模考察，在那儿发现了数千只金丝猴。

21. 随着三峡国家自然保护区的建立，野生动物尤其是金丝猴得到了有效保护，种群和数量逐渐增多，活动范围越来越大。1987年5月1日数千只猴子从密林窜出，许多人亲眼目睹了大小猴子在树上追逐、跳跃，看到这种欢快场面，人们感到了安慰！随着三峡国家自然保护区的建立，野生动物尤其是金丝猴得到了有效保护，种群和数量逐渐增多，活动范围越来越大。1987年5月1日数千只猴子从密林窜出，许多人亲眼目睹了大小猴子在树上追逐、跳跃，看到这种欢快场面，人们感到了安慰！ 另外，三峡地区的溪河里，盛产一种珍贵的有尾两栖动物——大鲵。它常见于水中，叫声似婴儿啼哭，四足似人手型。 大鲵一般有10多斤重，大的有50斤重，长达3尺以上。大鲵生活在山区湍急清澈的山涧溪流，藏于石缝洞穴里。它怕光，白天很少外出，常于夜晚出来觅食。大鲵肉鲜美，含蛋白质高，不仅是珍贵的佳肴，而且是难得的补品，其药用价值较高。 金丝猴和大鲵等珍稀动物赋予三峡地区更多价值，人们应该好好保护这些动物。 back

22. Passage 2 The Chinese Dove Tree

23. The Chinese Dove Tree, whose scientific is Davidia Involucrata Baill, belongs to a rare plant and is only found in China. The botanists and horticulturists in the world defy the hardship and danger to study the trees, and they entered Shennongjia Mountain to get seeds. The tree grows in the broadleaved forest or mixed green deciduous forest lying 2,000 meters above sea level. The shape of the tree like a circular cone is high. The timber is very hard and beautiful, so it fits for exquisite implements.

24. Most of the dove trees grow in the Wolong Nature Reserve, and the area is about 70,000 hectares. The tree’s skin is dark grey, and the branches head for the sky. The tree blossoms out in April or May and the flowers are pure white. The leaf is round, as a resting dove, it is so unique. People regard the trees’ bloom as fortune, long life and good harvest. There are many moving stories about the dove tree. In the Han Dynasty, Wang Zhaojun, who lived in Xingshan county , loved the doves very much.

25. And doves were not willing to depart from her when she went to a remote place and was married to Huhanxie Chanyu, the King of Xiongnu, So the doves became a bunch of jade beads hided and carried to the north of the Great Wall by Wang Zhaojun. For a long time, Zhaojun was sad day and night because she missed her countryside very much, so she let the doves carry her letters and fly to her hometown. These doves flew over ninety-- nine rivers, ninety--nine mountains, spending ninety--nine days and nights, and finally reached Zhaojun’s hometown. People were welcoming the doves warmly,

26. unfortunately,the doves were too tired to fly again from the trees,because the mountains were too high and the distance was too far. Finally, they changed into lots of white flowers. From then on, the dove trees’ blooms sent their regards to villagers when summer is coming every year. The Chinese Dove Tree is a relict of palaeotropical flora in the tertiary period as well as a famous ornamental plant in the world. Due to over logging and transplantation, both the number and distribution area of trees are reducing now. If protection measures are not timely taken, the species may be destroyed.

27. Notes: 1. head for =be headed for 朝...而去 2. the north of the Great Wall 塞外 3. sent one’s regards to 问好,问候。 New Words： bead n. 念珠 blossom v. 开花 botanist n. 植物学家 broadleaved n. 阔叶林 bunch n. (一)束，串 circular cone n. 圆锥形 Jade a. 玉 log v. 伐木 ornamental n. 观赏植物 palaeotropical n. 古热带 pure a. 纯的 relict n. 遗迹

28. deciduous a. 每年落叶的 defy v. 蔑视，反抗 exquisite a. 精美 flora n. 植物群 hectare n. 公顷 horticulturist n. 园艺家 implement n. 器材 remote a. 遥远的 scientific n. 学名 seed n. 种子 timely a. 及时的 transplantation n. 转移 willing a. 愿意的

29. Exercises: I. Answer the questions: 1. Where do the dove trees grow? 2. What is the color of the dove flowers? 3. Which dynasty did Wang Zhaojun live in? 4. Why is the number of dove trees reducing? 5. What would happen to the dove trees if the protection measures are not timely taken? key

30. II. Decide the statements true or false: 1. Most of the dove trees grow in Zhangjiajie nature reserve. ( ) 2. The Chinese Dove Tree blossoms out in April or August. ( ) 3. The dove tree fits to make elegant implements. ( ) 4. In the Qing Dynasty, it was said that Wang Zhaojun living in Xingshan loved the doves very much. ( ) 5. The number and distribution area of Chinese dove trees are expending now. ( ) key

31. III. Multiple choices: 1. In order to _____, the botanists and horticulturists enter Shennongjia Mountain. A. get seeds B. travel C. get information D. set up a lab 2. The shape of the dove tree’s leaf is _______. A. oval B. triangle C. round D. square 3. People regard the Chinese dove trees’ blooms as _______. A. bad luck B. fortune C. long life D. fortune, long life and good harvest. key

32. 4. The doves were too tired to fly again from the trees. Finally, they changed into lots of _______. A. butterflies B. red flowers C. big tree D. white flowers 5. The Chinese dove tree is a relict of palaeotropical flora in the tertiary period as well as a famous plant for _______ in the world. A. curing B. researching C. ornamental D. tasting key

33. Translation: 中 国 鸽 子 树 中国鸽子树，学名珙桐, 属稀有植物，仅产中国。自在中国发现珙桐以来，中外植物学家、园艺家不畏艰险，深入神农架山区求取种子。此树生长于海拔2000米左右的阔叶林或混合绿色落叶林中。树形高大，木材坚硬美丽，宜作精美器具用材。它在卧龙自然保护区居多，分布面积约7万公顷。树皮深灰色，枝向上生长，呈圆锥形。4、5月间开花，花纯白。叶片呈圆形，似白鸽栖息，可谓独特。多少年来，人们把珙桐开花当作吉祥平安，人寿年丰的象征。

34. 有关鸽子树，有许多动人的传说。在汉代，家住兴山的王昭君很喜爱鸽子，她远嫁匈奴时，这群鸽子不愿同她分离，于是变成串串玉珠，藏在昭君身上，被带出塞外。天长日久，昭君日夜思念她的故乡，非常悲伤，于是写信让鸽子带着飞向家乡。这群鸽子越过99道河,翻过99座山，度过99个日夜，才飞回家乡，乡亲们热烈欢迎它们的归来。不幸的是，因山高路远，鸽子疲劳不堪，便落在树上再也飞不起来了，最后变成了许多白花。从此，每逢春夏之交，鸽子树就开花，向昭君故里的父老乡亲问好！ 中国鸽子树是第三纪古热带植物群的遗迹，也是世界著名的观赏植物。但是，由于过多地砍伐和移植，鸽子树的数量和分布正在缩小。如果不及时采取保护措施，稀有的树种将会灭迹！ back

35. 神农架昭君故里 back

36. Passage 3 “Living Fossils” Metasequoia and the Peach Blossom Fish

37. The metasequoia is a famous rare plant. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the botanists discovered a huge tree in Modao Stream of Hubei Province. They thought it was the same plant as the specimen found in the fossils, which was identified as metasequoia by the geologists and the botanists. And the news was really stirring the botany fields in the world and the metasequoia has been called “Living Fossil” plant from then on. As a matter of fact,

38. the metasequoias were living on the northern hemisphere on the Period of Cretaceous, and most of the metasequoias died out in the Ice Age. It is only in the juncture of Hubei Province and Sichuan Province that the trees are living now in small number. In order to strengthen protecting the metasequoia, it is listed as the first-grade state protection plant. In the area of the Three Gorges there is another unique living creature in the world---the Peach Blossom Fish. Actually it is not the fish but a tiny biology whose structure is extremely simple,

39. and its scientific is the Peach Blossom Craspedacusta. They are bright and transparent in three kinds of color, jade white, milky yellow or pink. There is such a beautiful story about the Peach Blossom Fish! It was said that Wang Zhaojun returned to her hometown for missing her parents and villagers before she married Huhanxie Chanyu, permitted by the king of Han (Yuandi). On the leaving day, Zhaojun felt so sad that she played a moving tune with her lute, on the leaving dragon boat. She kept on weeping and her tears spilled on the peach blossoms which were floating on the river.

40. These peach blossoms were dyed with the tears and turned into hundreds of thousands colorful fish. The villagers missed Zhaojun when they saw these living things. They soulfully named the pretty living things Peach Blossom Fish. Since that time, when the peach trees came into bloom every spring, groups of the Peach Blossom Fish would appear in the streams of the Three Gorges area. The special fish swim from a place to another place in the clear water as if they were welcoming Zhaojun. Both the metasequoia as a “Living Fossil” plant and the Peach Blossom Fish with a beautiful story are witnesses to past time and gifts from great nature.

41. Notes: 1. come into bloom 开花 2. as a matter of fact 原来，其实 3. Ice Age 冰河时期 4. the northern hemisphere 北半球 5. 桃花鱼，学术界称之为“桃花水母”，这一种地球上最原始最低等的无脊椎动物，约有15亿年的生存史，是名副其实的“活化石”。为抢救这一濒危物种，中国科学院水生生物研究所等单位多年来致力于桃花鱼异地繁衍生殖的研究，最终选择了秭归的永乐水库、黄家淌水库和茅坪泗溪作为桃花鱼的搬迁地。

42. 6. 秭归一中退休生物教师黄达茂，对桃花水母进行了长达20年的观察和研究。他介绍说，古人以“生于桃花开时，故名之曰桃花鱼。”他研究发现，桃花鱼的五颜六色，与进食有关。 New Words: metasequoia n. 水杉 peach n. 桃子 permit v. 批准 pink a. 粉红的 soulfully ad. 深情地 spill v. 涌出，散落 botany n. 植物学 craspedacusta n. 水母 cretaceous n . 白垩纪 dragon n.龙 dye v. 染色 extremely ad. 极其,非常

43. fossil n. 化石 identify v. 认定 juncture a. 交界处 lute n. 琵琶 stir v. 轰动 strengthen v. 加强， 巩固 transparent a. 透明的 华南虎 水 杉

44. Exercises: I. Answer the questions: 1. When did the botanists discover the metasequoia? 2. Where were the metasequoias living on the Period of Cretaceous? 3. What is the Peach Blossom Fish ’s scientific? 4. How many colors do the Peach Blossom Fish have? 5. Why is the metasequoia listed as the first-grade state protection plant? key

45. II. Decide the statements true or false: 1. During the Liberation War, the botanists discovered a huge tree——metasequoia in Modao stream of Hubei Province. ( ) 2. As a matter of fact, the metasequoias were living on the northern hemisphere on the Period of Cretaceous. ( ) 3. There are metasequoias in great number now in the juncture of Hubei Province and Sichuan Province. ( ) 4. The craspedacustas are bright and transparent in jade white, milk yellow or pink. ( ) 5. When the peach trees came into bloom every spring, groups of the Peach Blossom Fish would disappear in the streams of the Three Gorges area. ( ) key

46. III. Multiple choices: 1. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the botanists discovered _______in Modao Stream of Hubei Province. A. metasequoias B. a mummy C. the Great Wall D. pine trees 2. They thought it was the same plant as the specimen found in the fossils, which was identified as metasequoia by the geologists and the botanists. And the news was really stirring the _______ fields in the world. A. the education B. the medicine C. the botany D. the costume key

47. 3. The craspedacusta is not the fish but _______whose structure is extremely simple. A. nice rose B. a tiny biology C. a big animal D. an ordinary plant 4. The craspedacusta are bright and transparent in jade white, milky yellow or ______. A. pink B. blue C. purple D. green 5. These peach blossoms weredyed with the tears and turned into hundreds of thousands colorful fish, and Zhaojun soulfully named the pretty living things Peach Blossom _______. A. Tree B. pear flower C. Fish D. necklace key

48. Translation: 活化石:水杉和桃花鱼 水杉是著名的稀有植物。在抗日战争时期，植物学家在湖北磨刀溪发现了一棵巨树---水杉。根据对标本的研究，确认它就是在化石中被地质学家和植物学家认知的古植物。这些引起了全世界植物学界的轰动，水杉从此被称为“活化石”植物。原来水杉在地质中生代白垩纪时期曾分布北半球，冰河时代绝大多数水杉灭亡，仅在湖北和四川交界地区残留至今。为了保护这珍贵稀有树种，水杉被列为国家一级保护植物。

49. 在三峡地区还拥有世上独一无二的生物---桃花鱼。其实它不是鱼，而是一种构造极其简单的小生物，学名叫桃花水母。它们晶莹透明，有玉白、乳黄、粉红三种。有关桃花鱼还有一段美丽的故事呢！ 相传在王昭君出塞和亲之前被汉元帝准许返回家乡探望父母、乡亲。别去那天昭君登上龙舟用琵琶弹起了哀婉动人的曲子，泪水洒落在漂浮于溪水中的桃花上。这些沾满昭君泪水的桃花后来变成了成千上万五颜六色的小鱼，乡亲们看到这些象桃花的鱼，就想起了昭君离开的情景，便给它们取了一个美丽的名字---桃花鱼。从此每年桃花盛开的季节，三峡地区的溪河里就会出现成群的桃花鱼，他们在清澈的水中游来游去好像呼唤昭君的归来。 有“活化石”美名的水杉和有美丽传说的桃花鱼都是时光的见证，是大自然的恩赐。 back

50. Key (Unit Eighteen) Passage 1 I. 1. In Shennongjia Mountain. 2. On the First of May, 1987. 3. In the streams of Three Georges area. 4. Usually a giant salamander’s weight is more than five kilograms, and especially, the weight of a big giant salamander is twenty-five kilograms. 5. In order to research the regularlife of the golden monkeys and their distribution in Shennongjia Mountain. II. 1.F 2.T 3.T 4.T 5.F III. 1.D 2.C 3.B 4.D 5.C back back back back