Unit 3
伦敦地铁是英国的一个快速交通运输系统，服务于大伦敦的大部分地区。地铁系统因其地铁隧道的典型形状也被称为地下管道。伦敦地铁始建于19世纪中期，是世界上最早的地下铁路系统。它的第一段地铁于1863年开始运营。自此，伦敦地铁不断延伸，发展成为一个包括12条线路、275个车站、铁轨总长超过250英里的地铁杰作，其中有45%在地下运行。就路线长度而言，它是世界上第四大地铁系统，也是车站数量最多的地铁系统之一。作为一个走遍伦敦的经济便捷的途径，伦敦地铁一向是每天数百万通勤者以及在节假日游历伦敦的游客的首选。伦敦地铁已成为伦敦的一个国际标志。2013年伦敦举办了各种各样的活动，庆祝地铁运营150周年，纪念这一里程碑。
China’s space industry was launched in 1956. Over the past decades, China’s space industry has created one miracle after another. In 1970 China launched its first man-made earth satellite, ranking China the fifth country in the world to independently develop and launch man-made earth satellites. In 1992 China began to carry out the manned spaceflight program. In 2003 China launched Shenzhou-5, a manned spaceship. The successful launch made China the third country to launch manned spaceships. In 2007 Chang’e-1, the first lunar-orbiting man-made satellite was sent to space. In 2013 Shenzhou-1, the fifth manned spaceship was launched successfully, laying the foundation for building the Chinese Space Station.
Unit 4
作为通过中国游历亚洲的首批欧洲人之一，马可·波罗可能是中国人最熟知的外国商人
和航海家。从1271年到1295年， 他和他的家人游历广泛，遍及欧洲和亚洲。期间，他在中国留居了17年。他的著作《马可·波罗游记》描述了他游历亚洲的旅程，让欧洲人首次全面领略了包括中国、印度和日本在内的远东地区的情况。从他的文字描述中，西方人第一次了解到瓷器、煤炭、火药、印刷术、纸币以及丝绸。在15世纪末和16世纪欧洲发现与征服的大航海时代，马可·波罗所记录的大量新的地理信息得到了广泛使用。在他去世后的这几个世纪里，马可·波罗获得了他在有生之年为曾获得的赞誉。马可·波罗的故事鼓励了其他无数的探险者去踏上征途，发现世界。
Zheng He was the most famous maritime explorer in Chinese history. In 1405 AD, the ruler of the Ming Dynasty sent Zheng He on a voyage to the Western Seas in order to strengthen border defense and develop trade by sea. In the following 28 years, Zheng He led his fleet, made seven voyages to the Western Seas with over 100’000 crew members in total, and visited more than 30 countries and regions. The fleet traveled far into South Asia and West Asia, and made all the way to the continent of Africa. Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas were a great feat in the world’s navigation history. It showed Zheng He’s outstanding navigation and organization talent; meanwhile, it exhibited the national strength and prestige of the Ming Dynasty, and strengthened the relationships between the Ming Dynasty and the overseas countries.
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