What is the secret of writing a good letter? Here are two main ones. Don’t try to be fancy. Don’t try to impress your reader. You will be successful if you follow these seven Cs.
Clear.Use short, direct sentences.1. Talk as if the reader were right there with you .Above all, don’t use an introduction.
Correct,2. Don’t guess, even for spelling. Refer to your dictionary. If you need to, check a reference book too. Use them as much as you need to.
Complete. Don’t scatter your points.3. This is good organization too.
Courteous. Be friendly rather than overly casual. Present your information nicely even if you are complaining about something . In all letters, treat others as you want them to treat you.
Concise. Make each point as clearly and briefly as you can.
Conversational. This is really the secret of good writing,4. Such a letter has a natural, friendly tone. Let your personality come through naturally.
Considerate.5. Write about what you believe the reader needs or wants to know. Try to be helpful.This will build good feeling toward you.
The seven Cs are about writing letters. But how about school papers? Use the seven Cs. Write as if you are talking to your teacher or professor. You’ll be surprised. You’ll almost instantly become a good writer. And you might even enjoy writing from now on.
A. Just talk to the person.
B. Finish one point completely before going on to the next.
C. Include long sentences in your letter.
D. Make them easy to understand.
E. Writing should not be taken too seriously.
F. Make sure what you say is correct.
G. Think of the readers’ point of view as you write.
In today's world of smart phones and laptops, most people have at least one time-telling thing with them. Since these digital products are so common, is time running out for the 500-year-old watch? According to some consumers, the answer is yes. New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is “an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function. ” Many young adults think so and use their smart phones to tell time. It is said that fewer young people wear watches today than ten years ago. As a result, some people say that the watch industry is at a crossroads.
However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches redeem（挽回）popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s. By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality watch that doesn’t just keep good time. Fifty years ago, watchmakers took pride in their products’ accuracy（精确性）. But in recent years, the watch industry has changed itself into an accessory(配饰) business. And today, the image a watch conveys has become more important than the time it tells.
“Complications” — features that go beyond simple timekeeping — are an important part of a watch’s image. Today’s watches offer lots of features that meet almost any personality. These features include compasses, USB drivers, and even other functions that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!
Creativity also plays a key role in designing today’s watches. For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don’t even look like watches. The company’s popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell time. It looks more like a fashionable bracelet than a watch.
Whether a watch conveys fashion sense, creative talent or a love of sports, consumers want their watches to stand out. Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget（小玩意） in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what’s on their wrists. Will this interest in wrist fashion last? Only time will tell!
1.What can we know from the first paragraph?
A. As most people see, watches are out of fashion.
B. Some people feel that watches have been of no use.
C. The watch industry will close down sooner or later.
D. There are so many choices of watches for teenagers today.
2.According to the passage, what image does a watch convey nowadays?
A. It simply tells time.
B. It attracts many teenagers.
C. It has many functions.
D. It has an impact on creativity and imagination.
3.Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash is mentioned in Paragraph 4 to _________.
A. tell that today’s watches need more creativity
B. advertise Shinshoku watches made by Tokyoflash
C. show why Shinshoku watches are popular
D. make a comparison between watches and bracelets
4.What may be the best title for the passage?
A. Watch Industry Is in a Bad Situation B. Japanese Watches Stand Out
C. Watches Tell More Than Time D. Watches Are Becoming Less Popular
My first week in the United States was a cultural shock. Everything felt new to me, including the style of conversation, the community I lived in and even the type of food people ate.
In our community back home, people eat mutton and chicken. Pork and beef are also common among other communities, but eating beef is taken as an illegal act. Unlike Nepal, eating beef is common in the West where most of the people follow religions other than Hinduism.
Food is just an example. When people move from one part of the world to another, they should adapt（适应）themselves to the new culture. For example, going to the bars or getting drunk is not acceptable in my community, but it is common in the US after a certain age.
I was raised in a traditional Hindu family in Nepal. We have a conservative（保守的，谨慎的）opinion towards marriage. Arranged marriages（包办婚姻）are common in which families decide whether the two should get married. Free love marriages are not allowed and are seldom seen. Same-sex marriage is also considered impossible.
To me, culture is a matter of habit. The culture is so deep-rooted in people’s minds that most people are against changes. It is always easy for them to do what they have been doing throughout their life. It may be difficult for anyone to adapt to a new culture.
However, with travel being an unavoidable thing for modern people, one always comes across different cultures. In such cases, one should be respectful and adaptive to the culture other people follow. The world is always a better place to live in when we have spaces for people of all cultures.
1.What does the Nepal law forbid people to eat?
A. Pork. B. Beef.
C. Chicken. D. Mutton.
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Most westerners believe in Hinduism.
B. Getting drunk in Nepal is acceptable.
C. Anyone can enter the bars in the US.
D. The writer came across a cultural shock.
3.Which may be seen most in Nepal?
A. Open marriages. B. Free love marriages.
C. Same-sex marriage. D. Arranged marriages.
4.What is the writer’s attitude to different cultures?
A. Negative. B. Respectful.
C. Conservative. D. Indifferent.
It is not easy to become a doctor in the United States. The first step is getting into a medical college. More than one hundred and twenty American schools offer study programs for people wanting to be doctors.
People can get advice about medical schools from many resources. One of these is the Princeton Review. The publication provides information about colleges, study programs and jobs.
The Princeton Review says the competition to enter medical schools is strong. American medical schools have only about sixteen thousand of openings. But more than thirty-two thousand students may try it. Many of those are women.
Most applicants contact more than one medical school. Some contact many. An important part of the application usually is the Medical College Admission Test which is called MCAT. The Association of American Medical Colleges provides the test by computer. It is offered in the United States and other countries.
The people who want to enter medical schools are rated（评定）on reasoning, physical and biological sciences and an example of writing. Applicants for medical schools need to do well on the MCAT. They also need a good record in their college studies.
Some students work for a year or two in a medical or research job before they attempt to enter a medical school.
1.To enter medical schools is ______.
A. effortless B. not competitive
C. fiercely competitive D. easy
2.Which of the following is NOT true about the Princeton Review?
A. It can give us advice about medical schools.
B. It is a great resource for people who want to become doctors.
C. It can provide us information about study programs.
D. It provides the MCAT test.
3.The underlined word “those” in the third paragraph refers to ______.
A. people who want to be doctors
B. people who want to enter a medical school
C. people who are tested by MCAT
D. doctors in the United States
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. How to be a good doctor in the United States.
B. The importance of the Princeton Review.
C. How to prepare for the MCAT.
D. How to get into a medical school.
With these tips you can finally get a solid night's sleep.
Reserve Your Bed
Get into bed just for sleeping. Avoid working, paying bills, reading, or watching television in bed. If you associate your bed only with sleep, you’ll be more likely to fall asleep.
Watch the Caffeine(咖啡因)
Too much caffeine throughout the day can cause interrupted sleep. Limit yourself to two cups of tea, coffee, or cola, taken at least 6 hours before bedtime.
Tap the Exercise Answer
In a study from Stanford University School of Medicine, a group of 50- to 76-year-olds who had complained of sleep problems began proper exercise for about half an hour four times a week. Compared with a similar group of people who didn’t exercise, the more active group slept an average of one hour more each night, took less time to fall asleep.
Take a Bath
Take a warm bath an hour or two before bed. Your body temperature will slowly drop after you get out of the tub（浴盆）, making you feel tired. Don’t bathe right before bed, however, because it can briefly stimulate you enough to make it hard to fall asleep.
Buy the Right Bed
A bed that’s too soft can cause poor sleep. Replace your mattress(床垫)if it’s more than ten years old, and buy one that’s as firm as you can tolerate but still comfortable.
If 30 minutes go by and you haven’t fallen asleep, don’t lie in bed feeling frustrated. Get up and do something relaxing.
1.Which of the following is the best choice if one wants to have a good sleep?
A. Drinking as much coffee as possible.
B. Taking a warm bath an hour or two before bed.
C. Watching TV in bed before going to sleep.
D. Buying a beautiful and soft bed.
2.Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word in the last paragraph?
A. excited B. tired
C. interested D. encouraged
3.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Take a bath before sleeping B. The importance of a good sleep
C. Tips for a good sleep D. How to buy the best bed
假定你是李华，正在美国交流学习。你的美国老师Amy邀请你下周五下午3点到她的班里为美国小学生上一节课，介绍中国传统艺术——国画。请给她回复一封电子邮件，要点如下：
1. 接受邀请，表示感谢；
2. 国画简介（如艺术地位、绘画内容、著名画家等）；
3. 课前学生需做的绘画用具上的准备。
注意：1. 词数：100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
Dear Amy,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
