【单词】
here we go 我们这就看看
central [ˈsentrəl] adj.中心的；中间的
according to 根据，按照，据……所说
magical [ˈmædʒɪkl] adj.神奇的；迷人的
height [haɪt] n.高度，身高
sailing boat 帆船
northeast ['nɔ:θ'i:st] adj.东北的
sheep [ʃi:p] n.羊，绵羊
hat [hæt] n.帽子
keep [ki:p] (kept, kept) v.使保持（某种状态），记录，存储（信息）
keep... away... 使……远离
fly [flaɪ] n.苍蝇
scissors [ˈsɪzəz] n.[复数]剪刀
cut... off... 把……从……上剪掉
wool [wʊl] n.羊毛
diary [ˈdaɪəri] n.日记，日记簿
keep a diary 写日记
hate [heɪt] v.憎恨，讨厌
ant [ænt] n.蚂蚁
brush [brʌʃ] v.（用刷子）刷
brush... off 把……刷掉
at the time 那时，在那段时间
be surprised at 对……感到惊奇
period [ˈpɪəriəd] n.阶段，时期
spirit [ˈspɪrɪt] n.精灵，神灵，精神
relationship [rɪˈleɪʃnʃɪp] n.关系
relative [ˈrelətɪv] n.亲戚
ham [hæm] n.火腿
salad ['sæləd] n.色拉
grape [greɪp] n.葡萄
surf [sɜ:f ] v.冲浪
kangaroo [ˌkæŋgəˈru: ] n.袋鼠
riding [ˈraɪdɪŋ] n.骑马（运动）
lazy [ˈleɪzi] adj.懒惰的，懒散的
ride [raɪd] n.骑马，乘车
【课文】
Unit 1
Activity 1
Mr Jackson: OK, homework. Has everyone decided which country you’d like to visit? Tony?
Tony: Yes, the country that I’ve chosen is Australia.
Mr Jackson: Good, and what is Australia famous for?
Tony: Well, the Olympic Games in 2000 were held in Sydney. Er, but that’s all.
Mr Jackson: Well, in the centre of the country is a huge rock called Ayers Rock. And something else to see is the Great Barrier Reef. Did you know Australia is the largest English-speaking country in the southern part of the world?
Tony: No.
Mr Jackson: OK. For homework, you must all choose a country that you’d like to visit. I’d like you to imagine you’re there, and you’re writing a letter to your parents back home.
Activity 3
Tony: Dad, I need your help. My teacher asked us to choose a country we want to visit, imagine we were there, and write a letter to our parents back home. I've chosen Australia. How can I do it?
Dad: Don't worry. I have some photos that I took in Australia last year. They may help you. Here we go. This is a rock called Ayers Rock, in central Australia. According to the local people, it's a special and magical place.
Tony: Oh, it looks huge. What's its height?
Dad: 348 metres. And this is the Sydney Opera House. It's like a huge sailing boat with water on three sides. And this one is the Great Barrier Reef.
Tony: Does it lie off the northeast coast of Australia?
Dad: Yes, it's over 2,600 kilometres long. It's a great natural wonder. And here are some photos of my Australian friends. They're sheep farmers. They wear special hats that keep the flies away. The scissors that they're holding are used to cut the wool off the sheep. Do you know that many Australians came from Britain?
Tony: Yes, of course! That's why they speak English. Did you keep a diary while you were there?
Dad: Yes, and you can read it.
Tony: That's great! And what didn't you like about Australia?
Dad: I hated the ants that were all over the place. I had to brush them off my clothes, especially my trousers!
Tony: Ants on your trousers! That's really funny!
Dad: It wasn't funny at the time!
Unit 2
Activity 2
Dear Mum and Dad,
I am writing this letter to you from the centre of Australia. At the moment, we are staying near Ayers Rock. On the first day, we took a plane tour over the rock, and I was surprised at how big it was: 3.6 kilometres long and 348 metres high! During different periods of the day, the colours of the rock turn dark blue, purple, yellow and red. Ayers Rock is a centre of local Aboriginal culture. The Aborigines are the people that have lived in Australia from the earliest times, and their ancient stories describe the spirits that created the world.
The Australians have a close relationship with the British. Many have British relatives, and they are like us in many ways. The foods that Australians like most are ham and beef with lots of salad. They also grow grapes and other fruits. They love all sports, but the game that they like most is Australian football. Because most Australians live near the coast, they also love going to the beach for swimming and surfing or just lying in the sun.
Although it is December, it is summer over here. The sun is very bright, and near the coast the countryside is very green. There are lots of sheep in the fields and on the hills, but the middle of the country has no trees or grass, just rocks and sand... And kangaroos!
Australians speak English, but in their own way. For example, when they say "G'day" and "No worries", they mean "Hello" and "Don't worry about it. It's not a problem!"
On the second day, we went horse riding. The horse that I rode was lazy. So I was left far behind the others. But I enjoyed the slow and relaxing ride.
Later this evening, we are taking the plane back to Sydney and coming home. It has been a wonderful trip.
Love,
Tony
Unit 3
Activity 6
Girl: Do you want to see my photos?
Boy: What photos?
Girl: The photos that I took in Australia.
Boy: Oh, yes, I’d love to see them.
Girl: Well, here I am in a zoo near Brisbane.
Boy: What’s the strange animal that you’re holding?
Girl: It’s a special Australian bear called a koala bear. It’s a lovely little animal that lives in trees.
Boy: It’s so cute!
Girl: Yes! And this photo was taken in the outback, a wild area that most people want to visit after the main tourist sights, because it’s so different from anywhere else.
Boy: It’s just sand and rocks, isn’t it?
Girl: Yes, it’s the driest and loneliest place that I’ve ever been to. Look — there’s nothing around, as far as you can see... And this is the hotel that I stayed in at the Great Barrier Reef.
Boy: It looks wonderful — right on the beach!
Girl: Yes, it was amazing.
Boy: Did you take this photo underwater?
Girl: Yes, with a special camera that I borrowed from my uncle.
Boy: It must have been a wonderful sight, all those fish...
Girl: It was probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.