金版新学案13-14英语(人教版)选修8课件：Unit 1 第1学时

第一学时

Reading and Comprehension

1.What do you know about the United States? The United States of America contains fifty states. The United States is a federal(联邦) republic. Washington is the capital city. At over 3.7 million square miles (over 9.6 million km2) and with over 300 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area and third largest by population. With a gross domestic product (GDP)(国民生产总 值) of over 13 trillion, the U.S. has the largest national economy in the world.

The United States is a welldeveloped country. It precedes(领先于) other countries in the world in economy, science and military(军事) forces. Hollywood films attract millions of viewers in the world. The population of the United States is mostly made up of immigrants who have come from all over the world in different periods. So the United States is also a multicultural country.

2.What do you know about the gold rush in California history?

The Gold Rush was one of the most important events in California history. It brought people from all over the United States and the world in search for gold. By 1849 the gold rush was on. People from all over the United States and the World were rushing to California. People caught “Gold Fever” in the hope of becoming rich. Many gold seekers arrived expecting to find rivers overflowing with gold. Unfortunately, most found riverbanks crowded with miners. In the mid1850s gold was becoming very difficult to find. More people were making fortunes from selling supplies to miners, than the miners themselves.

Task 1 快速阅读课文California,以约30词写出文章的段落大 意。 温馨提示：本文是说明文，介绍了美国最具多元文化 特色、人口最多的加利福尼亚州，并从历史的角度分析其 原因。 ______________________________________________ __________________________

Since the 18th century California has been attracting people from all over the world to seek their fortune there, making it the most multicultural and populous state in the United States.(31 words)

Task 2 仔细阅读课文California,根据课文内容选择正确答案。 1. What's the topic of this text? A. The culture of California. B. The history of California. ( B )

C. The weather of California.D. The history of USA. 2. Which kind of people is not mentioned in this text? ( D ) A. The Spanish C. Native Americans B. Russians D. Maories

3.Which of the following statements is wrong about California? ( C ) A. It is the third largest state in size. B. It has the largest population.

C. It is one of the earliest federal state of the USA.D. It is the most multicultural state.

4.Which of the following is not the result of the native people after the arrival of the Europeans? ( A ) A. More conflicts happened between tribes. B. Most of the survivals were turned into slaves. C. Many died from the brought deseases. D. Many were killed. 5.

When was the film industry well started in this state? ( A ) A. By 1920s. C. Since the 1980s. B. By 1910s. D. Since the 1800s.

Task 3 再次阅读课文，完成表格。 表一： Time 16th century 18th century in 1821 in 1846 Events Spanish 1.____arrived and took their land California was2.________by Spain California became part of 3.________ Mexico gave California to 4.________

1.soldiers 2.ruled 3.Mexico 4.the united states

表二： Stage People Africans Chinese Time 1.________ 1860s Event

Later arrivals

Japanese DenmarkJewish Italians

Early 1900s 3.________4.________ Late 1900s

Moved from Mexico Build 2.______ Farmed Established a town Developed industry Fished and 5.________ 5.made wine

1.1800s 2.the railway 3.1911 4.by 1920s

Task 4 根据课文California,在下文空格中填上恰当的词语，使 文章连贯完整。

California is the third largest state in the USA but has the largest 1.________. It is the most 2.________state in the US. This is not surprising when you know the history of California which has attracted people from nearly every country in the world. No one really knows what time the first 3.________arrived in where we now know as California. The scientists believe that the Native Americans reached Alaska 4.________ means of a land bridge. In the 18th century, California was ruled by Spain. Of the first Spanish to go to California, the 5.________were religious men.

In 1848, gold was discovered in California and the 6.________of becoming rich quickly attracted people from all over the world. In fact,few achieved their dream, but most remained in California to make 7.________ life for themselves. In more recent decades, California became 8.________ to people from Asia, which is believed that before long the 9.________of nationalities will be so great that there will be no 10.________racial or cultural group.

1.population 2.multicultural 3.settlers4.by 5.majority 6.dream 7.a 9.mixture 10.major 8.home

一、请将课文California译成汉语， 然后参考 “译文 助读”自主勘误。

译文助读加利福尼亚 加利福尼亚是美国的第三大州，但都是人口最多的州。 加州与众不同之处在于它也是美国最具多元文化特征的一 个州，它吸引了来自世界各地的人们。这些移民的风俗习 惯以及语言在他们的新家都得以延续。当你了解了加利福 尼亚的历史，你就不会对其文化的多样性感到惊奇了。