精品高中英语Module 6 the world's cultural heritage.docx

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1、外研版选修七M6英语课文Module 6Reading and Vocabulary Part 1The Amazing Caves of ZhoukoudianZhoukoudian is a small village about 50 kilometres south-west of Beijing. In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered some prehistoric human bones there which changed Chinas knowledge of its history. They came from an unkno

2、wn species of man and were the first evidence of primitive human life in China thousands of years ago. The remains were . three teeth!In 1929, a complete skull was also discovered. Eventually, archaeologists found almost 200 items, including six skulls and more than 150 teeth. These discoveries prov

3、ed the existence of a human species who lived in the area between 700,000 and 200,000 years ago.Four sites where Beijing Man and his relations lived were discovered on the northern face of Dragon Bone Hill (Longgushan). They lived in the limestone caves in the area.However, the life span of Beijing

4、Man was short. About 70% of the people probably died before the age of 14. Fewer than 5% lived to the age of 50. Even so, they were quite sophisticated. Ashes were found alongside the fossils which showed they used fire for cooking food and also for light, warmth and protection from wild beasts. Thi

5、s is the earliest evidence of the use of fire anywhere in the world. They also made tools of bones and sharpened stones. Unfortunately, when Japan invaded China in 1937, excavations at the Beijing Man Site stopped and most of the fossils disappeared, including a Beijing Man skull. They have never be

6、en found. After the Peoples Republic of China was established in 1949, the work started again and Zhoukoudian became an important tourist attraction.Zhoukoudian was listed as a world heritage site in December 1987. It has not only given us important information about prehistoric Asian societies, but

7、 also has provided amazing evidence about the process of evolution.Read Part 1 of the passage and find:1. the first thing that was found at Zhoukoudian 2. the number of items that were eventually found 3. the number of places where Beijing Man lived 4. the percentage of people who lived to the age o

8、f 50 5. the reason why work on the site stopped 6. when the site became a world heritage siteReading and writing Read the passage and answer the questions.1. Whats the difference between tangible and intangible world heritage? 2. Can you give an example of oral heritage? 3. What kind of people are l

9、iving human treasures? 4. What makes a language endangered? 5. Give an example of traditional music that is thought to be part of an intangible cultural heritage.At the Suzhou conference in June 2004, one of the delegates praised Chinas work on heritage sites, China has done excellent work in protec

10、ting world heritage, both tangible and intangible. Tangible cultural heritage includes museums and monumentsthings you can see and touch. But what is intangible cultural heritage? Intangible cultural heritage, which is also called living cultural heritage, consists of the following features:1 Oral H

11、eritageThis includes languages, spoken literature, music, dance, games, customs and knowledge of traditional craftwork. It also includes the cultural places where popular and traditional cultural activities take place (for example, sites for story-telling and festivals, etc.).2 Living Human Treasure

12、sLiving human treasures are people who have the knowledge and skills required for the cultural traditions of their society.3 Endangered LanguagesEndangered languages are languages spoken by only a few people and languages which are not taught to new inhabitants of the region. For example, there are

13、nearly 60 languages in Australia which are endangered, or are disappearing.4 Traditional Music of the WorldMusical traditions around the world form part of the intangible heritage of mankind in the same way as monuments and natural sites. For example, Kunqu opera, was founded before the Ming Dynasty

14、 (13681644) in Kunshan, near Suzhou. UNESCO added Kunqu to its intangible heritage list in 2001.Reading Practice Chinese Cultural Heritage Bid for UNESCOTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the Mid-Autumn Festival could be listed on the directory of world intangible cultural heritage if a bid to U

15、NESCO is successful.They could join the Chinese arts of Guqin Music and Kunqu Opera as world intangible heritages.UNESCO has 47 items on the world heritage list, including Chinese Kunqu Opera and Guqin Music. Every two years the directory is enlarged by giving each country the chance to recommend on

16、e candidate.No discrimination is made against countries which make regular bids, so although the process is long, there is a strong possibility that TCM and the Mid-Autumn Festival will be accepted. While the bid is going through, the state government allocates funds for each items protection.The ap

17、plication for TCM would highlight the fact that traditional Chinese medicine is a culture that has existed for thousands of years. If TCM is accepted on the UNESCO list, doctors and practitioners would advocate both its advantages and its legal status abroad. The theories and experiences of old TCM

18、practitioners would continue to be collected, and treatment would be extended into other areas of medicine, such as research into the AIDS virus and malaria. But some people feel that there needs to be a compromise between the term heritage which suggests something old-fashioned, and the fact that T

19、CM is still developing as a medical science.Mid-Autumn celebrations reflect Chinese cultural traditions. With more than 50 million Chinese living and working overseas, the Mid-Autumn Festival reminds them of their Chinese origins and would help to unite Chinese people all over the world. Plans for a

20、 seminar of experts on the festival have been announced, which will recommend symbolic ambassadors to promote the bid.Other examples of Chinas intangible cultural heritage include the ancient art of Shaolin kung fu, the worlds longest epic poem of Tibetan King Gesser, and Chen-style Tai Chi.UNESCOs

21、agenda for the worlds tangible and intangible heritage is also to act as a warning system for sites which are at the mercy of redevelopment, pollution or even the effects of tourism, and cultural activities which are in danger. UNESCO undertakes to take sites off the World Heritage list if their pre

22、sent state is threatened by an absence of protection.Getting accepted on the list is the result not simply of a subjective recommendation by interested groups, but of cultural diplomacy by governments and a thorough understanding of the bureaucratic system of UNESCO. In return, UNESCO recognises the

23、 autonomy of provincial, federal and state cultural organisations, but offers support and guidance when requested.Read the passage and answer the questions.1. Which items will be included in a bid to be added to the UNESCO list? 2. Which are other examples of Chinas intangible cultural heritage?Cult

24、ural Corner Read the passage and answer the questions.1. How does the Living Treasures Program work? 2. Do you think its a good idea? 3. Have you heard of a similar program in China?Santa Fes Living TreasuresThe Living Treasures Program originated in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the USA in 1984 and has n

25、ow spread to dozens of other communities across the country.It started when a Santa Fe organisation called the Network for the Common Good was established. The idea was to celebrate the lives of members of the older generation. Older people are easily forgotten or ignored in a country like the USA,

26、said Robin Rodar, one of the organisers. Youth and new things seem more important to a lot of people.This isnt the way with other cultures. In New Mexico, older people from Hispanic and native American cultures preserve their traditions and languages. The extended family is important and grandparent

27、s are respected. This is also true in Asian cultures. In fact, the Santa Fe organisers got the idea for the Living Treasures Program from a Japanese tradition of honouring folk artists.Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the program honours three older New Mexicans. They are asked to give a long int

28、erviewan oral historywhich is taped and preserved at the Santa Fe Public Library. A photographer spends a day with each living treasure and the photographs are also displayed at the library.Then there is a ceremony to which the whole town is invited. Everyone meets at the Museum of International Fol

29、k Art. Friends and neighbours of the living treasures tell stories. After everyone else has spoken, the living treasures give a speech. Its just amazing, said Robin Rodars husband, Sam. The ceremony holds the community together.The living treasures are honoured for their achievements in many differe

30、nt areas of life. It might be in their working life: medicine, education, the environment, architecture, literature and journalism; and it might be because of their contribution to the cultural and social life of the area: art, music, theatre, farming, sport, etc.; or it might be because they have such good stories to tell about the old days.