The English language is changing, and you are responsible! Whether we consider changes in grammar, spelling, pronunciation, or the very vocabulary of the language, you have played your part and continue to do so.
When we first learned basic grammar and spelling, perhaps in elementary school, we might have gotten the impression that these things were sacred. The rules that apply to such things might have been presented as unchanging and unchangeable. While this approach might be beneficial for teaching children, it is far from accurate.
The English language, like many others, is a living, growing, ever-evolving thing. Like it or not, you are involved in this change. These changes take many forms. Grammar and spelling have changed radically over the years and centuries, with the spelling differences in different countries today a reflection of this. While the language of a thousand years ago might be called English, most of us would hardly recognize it today as the same language.
The first involves changes in the pronunciation of words. Many are familiar with the differences between the British and American ways of pronouncing certain words. In addition to these differences, the pronunciation of many words has changed over the years because of how you have decided to pronounce them. For example, consider the word "err." The traditional pronunciation of this word rhymes with the word "her." However in recent years, more and more people have been pronouncing it so that it sounds like "air."
Another change in the language involves the addition and removal of words. The makers of dictionaries decide which words deserve to be officially adopted as part of the English language. Through the centuries, many words have come from other languages. In fact, English has probably done this more than any other language in the world, which is why spelling and pronunciation rules for English have so many exceptions.
Of course many slang words have been just short-lived fads that have died out quickly. Others,though, have been adopted by mainstream society and become respectable, as have many technical terms. So then remember, the next time you repeat the newest expression to hit the street, or make up your own words, you may be contributing to the future of the English language.
1.When we begin to learn English, we think .
A.it is interesting to take up a new language
B.grammar and spelling rules are unchangeable
C.only grown-ups have the ability to affect a language
D.English rules are wrongly presented in fact
2.The pronunciation of words are changing because .
A.people speak in different ways B.the British don’t agree with others
C.people adopted foreign words D.makers of dictionaries created them
3.Which of the following statement about English slang words is True?
A.All the slang words have become standard English.
B.English slang words are popular for a short time.
C.Some slang words have been accepted.
D.English slang words have different meanings actually.
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.You can change the English language.
B.English is changing over years.
C.The British speaks differently from Americans.
D.Foreign words involved in English.
In effect, many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true happiness. They fear the pain inevitably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement, religious commitment and self-improvement.
Ask a bachelor (单身汉) why he resists marriage even though he finds dating less and less satisfying. If he is honest he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment. For commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.
Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night's sleep or a three-day vacation. I don't know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children. But couples who decide not to have children never know the joys of watching a child grow up or of playing with a grandchild.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those who are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.
1.According to the author, a bachelor resists marriage chiefly because _______ .
A.he is unwilling to take family responsibilities
B.he believes that life will be more cheerful if he remains single
C.he finds more fun in dating than in marriage
D.he fears it will put an end to all his fun adventure and excitement
2.Raising children, in the author's opinion, is _______ .
A.a moral duty B.a thankless job
C.a rewarding task D.a source of inevitable pain
3.To understand what true happiness is one must _______ .
A.have as much fun as possible during one's lifetime
B.make every effort to liberate oneself from pain
C.put up with pain under all circumstances
D.be able to distinguish happiness from fun
4.What is the author trying to tell us?
A.Happiness often goes hand in hand with pain.
B.One must know how to make money.
C.It is not important to make commitments.
D.It’s pain that leads to happiness.
The Sahara Festival is a celebration of the very recent past. The three-day event is not fixed to the same dates each year, but generally takes place in November or December. It is well attended by tourists, but even better attended by the locals.
During the opening ceremonies, after the official greetings from the government leaders, people who attend the festival begin to march smartly before the viewing stands, and white camels transport their riders across the sands. Horsemen from different nations display their beautiful clothes and their fine horsemanship. One following another, groups of musicians and dancers from all over the Sahara take their turn to show off their wonderful traditional culture. Groups of men in blue and yellow play horns and beat drums as they dance in different designs. On their knees in the sand, a group of women in long dark dresses dance with their hair: their long, dark, shiny hair is thrown back and forth in the wind to the rhythm of their dance.
The local and visiting Italian dogs are anxious to run after hares. The crowd is on its feet for the camel races. Camels and riders run far into the distance, and then return to the finish Line in front of the cheering people.
Towards the evening, there comes the grand finale of the opening day, an extremely exciting horserace. All the riders run very fast on horseback. Some riders hang off the side of their saddles（马鞍）. Some even ride upside down—their legs and feet straight up in the air—all at full speed. Others rush down the course together, men arm in arm, on different horses. On and on they went. So fast and so wonderful!
1.The Sahara Festival is a festival which _____.
A.has a very long history in North Africa
B.is held in the same place on the same day
C.is attended mainly by the people in the Sahara
D.is celebrated mostly by travelers from different countries
2.Before the races begin, _____ take part in the activities during the opening ceremonies.
A.musicians, dancers, horses and hares
B.camel riders, musicians, dogs and hares
C.horsemen, dancers, camels and dogs
D.musicians, officials, camels and horses
3.The underlined word “finale” in the fourth paragraph most probably means the _____ of the opening day.
A.first part B.last part C.middle D.whole
4.This passage mainly tells readers _____.
A.how animals race on the first and the last days of the Sahara Festival
B.how people celebrate during the three-day Sahara Festival
C.what takes place at the closing ceremonies of the Sahara Festival
D.what happens on the opening day of the Sahara Festival
Riding School:
You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. on Saturdays). There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country. You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. ~ 8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396-6754 Fax: (412) 396-6752
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage Sailing qualification. You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid. Have fun with other course members afterwards in the club room. There are 10 weekly two-hour lessons.
Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.~ 8:00 p.m.
Phone:( 412)396-6644 Fax: (412) 396-6644
Diving Centre:
Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners. There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely. You only need a swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6:30p.m.~ 8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412)396-6312 Fax: (412) 396-6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems. Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours: 24 hours from Monday to Sunday
Phone: ( 412)396-6649 Fax: (412) 396-6648
Water-sports club:
We use a two-kilometre length of river for speedboat racing, and water-skiing. A beginners’ course consists of ten 20-minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.~ 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (412)396-6899 Fax: (412) 396-6890
1.If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous, you should join_______ .
A.Sailing Club B.Riding School
C.Water-sports Club D.Diving Centre
2.If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax________ .
A.(412) 396-6752 B.(412) 396-6706
C.(412) 396-6648 D.(412) 396- 6876
3.If you want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate in the end, you can go to_______ .
A.Sailing Club B.Diving Centre
C.Water-sports Club D.Riding School
假如你是李华，你校今天邀请了某大学的外籍教师Brown先生给高一的学生就如何提高英语阅读能力进行了一次演讲，请根据以下内容给你的朋友王鹏介绍这次活动。
1. Brown先生用简单的英语为我们讲课，不懂之处他反复解释, 有时用卡片展示一些内容；
2. 你就如何克服生词障碍提出了问题；
3. 同学们懂得了基本的阅读方法，决心扩大阅读面，提升英语水平。
注意:1. 字数:100-120。 2. 信的开头结尾已给，不计入总词数。
Dear Wang Peng,
I am extremely glad to offer you some information about the speech
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes,
Your sincerely
Li Hua.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的内容(不多于3个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone, which can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the texts. The more, 1. better. It can improve my language skills and also can help me to get good grades.
Before you start reading, ask 2.(you) why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main 3.(reason), pleasure or knowledge. Clearing about your reading purpose can not only help you choose the books you really need to read, but also remind you why reading the book is of great 4.(important) to you, so you will decide 5.(read) and finish the book faster.
No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy 6. you read. Your friends may tell you the books they are interested 7., but those books might not be the ones you enjoy. Whenever you realize that you aren’t enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.
It is true to read the books that 8.(borrow) from libraries 9.(fast) than those I buy. The reason is that I don’t need to return those books I buy. Having a reading goal 10.(help) you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day. Before you read each book, you should know what time you need to complete this book by.
