1、Module 3 Now and thenUnit 1 People are healthier todayBettys mum: Its getting late, Betty.Betty: Nearly finished! Im doing a composition: Is life today better or worse than it was 50 years ago?Bettys mum: And what do you think?Betty: I think its better. The most important difference is that people a
2、re healthier today, and they live longer than they did in the past.Bettys mum: Thats true. The advantage is that we know more about medicine today. Were better at preventing illness. But people dont eat as well as in the past, and dont take as much exercise as they did.Betty: I suppose thats because
3、 public transport is much better today.Bettys mum: Yes, I agree. People walk or use their bikes less, and theyre lazier. Faster transport also makes more pollution. And that makes life more dangerous and less healthy.Betty: What about work? People dont have to work as hard as they worked 50 years ag
4、o.Bettys mum: Yes, but no one ever says they have too much free time! I also think schoolchildren today work harder than we ever did.Betty: Yes, but I really want to do my best.Bettys mum: Why dont you ask Mrs. Li downstairs? Shes seen how life has changed.Betty: Thats a good idea. Talking of free t
5、ime, dont forget Im going on the school trip next month, and the theatre visit.Bettys mum: Good! Youll be more relaxed and less nervous before your exams.Unit 2 We werent very rich, but we were happy.Life in the pastMrs. Li is over 70 years old, and has lived in Beijing all her life. I asked her abo
6、ut life today and in the past.Tell me about your parents, brothers and sisters.My parents, my sister and three brothers lived in a small house beside a restaurant. We werent very rich, but we were happy. My sister was the eldest child and she left school when she was only 12 to help my mother at hom
7、e.Families have changed a lot since I was young. They were much bigger in those days. Most of my friend has lots of brothers and sisters. Today most people only have one child!Did your parents have jobs?My father went out to work. He was a factory worker, and he often worked 12 hours a day. My mum w
8、anted to work. She was a teacher before she met my father. Looking after us was a full-time job, so she stayed at home. Today its normal for married women to go out to work, but it was less common in the past. My father had the same job the whole of his working life. These days people change their j
9、obs much more often.What was life like at home?Well, I remember the family meals, three times a day. My mother was always cooking for us. We werent rich but we ate enough. And the food was always freshly cooked my mother never bought ready-made food as people do today, so it was much better for us.
10、And of course we didnt have television, so we played games together and read a lot. I helped my younger brother with his homework in the evenings.Where did you meet your husband?I first met him 60 years ago. I was carrying some heavy bags on my bike and I fell off! He stopped and picked up my bags.
11、My parents liked him, and thought he came from a good family so we got married a year later. I was only 19.These days most couples meet at work, and they just hope their parents will be happy for them if they marry.Has Beijing changed?Yes, there are lots more buildings and so much more traffic! I ca
12、nt believe the number of cars on the streets. But I suppose its the same everywhere. And I walk less these days and take the bus more.And do you think life is better today?Well, I think so. Im healthier than Ive ever been. We live longer and we eat better. One day Ill be talking to your own grandchildren!
