A few weeks ago I went on a short vacation with my boyfriend to visit his elder brother who lives about 300 miles away from us. I had never _______ the man before, so I was a bit anxious.
I knew that the fellow had lost his wife several years before, but what I didn’t _______ was that he had nearly completely shut down (完全封闭). Although still _______to work, he was completely unable to look _______the house. _______ of his wife still haunted (萦绕于脑际) him every day.
It is my habit to do my best to help _______ I go. I helped with dishes after a meal and to offer help whenever I was visiting someone, and I _______had the opportunity to do those kinds of things! Probably because I was a _______ to him, this man opened up to me about his wife as he hadn’t to his family and friends. After listening to his story, I _______to make some sense of “her” kitchen as it had been left __________ pretty much since her death. He would enter the kitchen long enough to make something to eat and leave again, __________ the dishes dirty. There were ____________ ornaments (装饰物) around the house that had not been cleaned for many years.
Here was my chance to __________ this man. I spent most of the day __________ and sorting things in the house.
When we finally left, my boyfriend’s brother gave me a very big __________, thanked me, and said that finally he thought he should hire a housekeeper. What a gift it was to be able to assist someone and see the result of my cleaning work!
1.A.met B.liked C.helped D.reminded
2.A.present B.realize C.know D.think
3.A.ready B.able C.glad D.eager
4.A.up B.at C.after D.through
5.A.Changes B.Memories C.Experiences D.Manners
6.A.whenever B.whoever C.wherever D.whichever
7.A.always B.never C.ever D.hardly
8.A.friend B.stranger C.helper D.cleaner
9.A.expected B.forgot C.asked D.offered
10.A.uncovered B.untouched C.unsolved D.unused
11.A.leaving B.making C.noticing D.finding
12.A.expensive B.new C.beautiful D.useless
13.A.help B.show C.instruct D.persuade
14.A.designing B.cleaning C.planning D.buying
15.A.hug B.help C.scold D.house
If you think your vocabulary is weak, a little effort every day over six to nine months can go a long way in improving it. Here are some tips for increasing your vocabulary.
1.. You may be comfortable reading a particular part but make an effort to read different articles on every page. The editorial (社论的) page is highly recommended not only for vocabulary but also for structuring and presenting thoughts. And there are different articles in the newspaper every day.
Make it a habit to read a new book every week. It is not surprising that those who read a lot of books develop good vocabulary. 2.. Make a list of words that are new to you and look up their meanings in the dictionary.
Watching English movies and television shows. It is important for improving English and learning new English words. It’s an interesting way to add the number of your vocabulary. 3..
Use vocabulary cards. Vocabulary cards are used by students who are trying to learn many words in a short time. You can make your own cards by writing the word on one side and the meaning on the other side of a piece of paper. 4..
Use the Internet. The Internet is an unlimited (无限制的) resource for reading material. 5.. You will come across plenty of material to read, which you might find interesting, and important. The Internet will also introduce you to new words. Be sure to look them up in a dictionary.
A. You can consider becoming a member of the local library.
B. Flash cards are a convenient tool to use to learn new words in your free time.
C. You cannot learn English well without enough vocabulary.
D. Pick up a topic of your choice and search for articles about it.
E. You should develop your own way of learning vocabulary.
F. Besides, by doing this you can learn the correct pronunciation as well.
G. Read the newspaper every day.
Learning English as a second language for non-native English speakers is not an easy task. One needs to spend a considerable(相当多的) time before you could speak or write it. There are only two ways to learn the English language or any other language.
The first way is very expensive. If you notice, a person moves to another country and stays there for a couple of years and then goes back to his home non-native speaking country, the person becomes accustomed to speaking English. This is the most effective way of learning to speak and write a language unfamiliar to you.
The learner learns the language because he / she is forced to do so and there is no other language being used. Not to mention that the learner should adapt to the environment. It is all started from listening. This is the process how language is acquired if you will stay long in a foreign country.
The second way is the traditional way of learning English as a second language at school. Obviously, this is cheaper than the first, but it needs a considerable time before you learn the language. Today, there are different language centres offering their services for people to learn the language in your own country. They have all the materials needed because, compared to the first, they’re affordable and reasonable.
Nowadays, learning English as a second language is a global trend. Since the English language is used in most of business transactions (交易) you may need it, too. Otherwise you will not go along with the future trends that will arise.
1.The most effective way of learning a second language is to ______.
A.learn it from native speakers
B.spend a lot of time
C.practice more
D.stay in a speaking country for several days
2.The advantage of the traditional learning way is it ______.
A.needs much time
B.is economical and practical
C.is simple and practical
D.is effective and reasonable
3.Now an affordable way to learn a foreign language is to ______.
A.go to a middle school
B.study at a language centre
C.communicate with more people
D.have a foreign teacher
4.From the passage we learn that ______.
A.learning foreign languages is easy
B.there are more than five ways to learn foreign languages
C.family environment is very helpful for learning foreign languages
D.learning a foreign language is good for your future career
On Christmas Eve─the night before Christmas Day─children all over Britain put a stocking at the end of their beds before they go to sleep. Their parents usually tell them that Father Christmas will come during the night.
Father Christmas is very kind and hearted. He gets to the top of each house and climbs down the chimney into the fireplace. He fills each of the stockings with Christmas presents.
Of course, Father Christmas isn't real. In Jim and Kate's house, "Father Christmas" is really Mr Green. Mr Green doesn't climb down the chimney. He waits until the children are asleep. Then he quietly goes into their bedrooms and fills their stockings with small presents. When they were very young, Mr Green sometimes wore a red coat. But he doesn't do that now. The children are no longer young, and they know who "Father Christmas" really is. But they still put their stockings at the end of their beds.
1.Christmas Eve is __________.
A.the night of Christmas Day B.the evening of Christmas Day
C.Christmas Day D.the night before Christmas Day
2.Father Christmas often puts presents ________.
A.into children's hats B.into children's stockings
C.under children's beds D.into children's shoes
3.When the children are older, they __________.
A.know that Father Christmas is real
B.ask their mother to fill their stockings with presents
C.know that Father Christmas is really their father
D.know that Father Christmas is really their friend
4.Father Christmas comes into the house through the ________.
A.chimney B.back door
C.front door D.window.
Mr Brown was going away for a week. Before he left, he said to his son, "if anyone asks for me, you can tell him that your father has been out for doing something, and will be back in a week, then be sure to ask him to sit down for a cup of tea.""OK, Dad," said his son. But he was afraid his son couldn't remember this, he wrote these words down on a piece of paper and gave it to him. His son put it into his small pocket, took it out and looked at it every now and then.
Four days passed, but no one came to see his father. The boy thought that there was no man to come and that the piece of paper was of no more use for him, so he burnt it that evening.
The next afternoon, someone knocked at the door. The boy opened it. A man was standing at the door and said, "Where is your father?" The boy put his hand into his pocket at once and looked for the piece of paper. He could not find it. He suddenly remembered he had burnt it, so he shouted, "No more."The man was very surprised. He asked, "No more? I met your father last week. When did it happen?"
"Burnt yesterday evening."
1.Mr Brown told his son that _____.
A.he would be away from home for four days
B.he would be back in seven days
C.he would be back in a month
D.he liked a cup of tea
2.Mr Brown wrote the words down on ________.
A.the wall B.the door C.a piece of paper D.his son's pocket
3.A man came to visit the boy's father on ________.
A.the second day B.the third day C.the fourth day D.the fifth day
4.What was burnt? ___________.
A.The piece of paper B.Mr Smith C.The visitor D.The boy
The best Restaurants for Dinner in Niagara Falls
Oban Inn
The Oban Inn has a storied history that has made it one of the most popular hotels and restaurants in the area. After a big fire over 20 years ago, the entire place was rebuilt with particular attention paid to the historic details.
Dinners have the choices of sitting in one of the three superb dining rooms including a fireside retiring room, a sun-room overlooking an English garden, or a more private historic room.
Cost: $23~$45 per person
Tel: 020 0813 5080
Wine on Third
With a lot of praise ranking Wine on Third as one of the best places to eat in the area, there is a reason to check out both sides. The restaurant is only about a five-minute walk from Niagara Falls State Park. Its pizzas are a local favorite and a great deal.
Cost: $20~$45 per person
Tel: 014 5382 3328
The Rainbow Room
Head chef Massimo Capra not only brings talent to his dishes, but also plenty of personality. The classically trained chef makes sure to keep things local. The food isn’t the only draw of course. With sweeping views of the Falls through the floor to ceiling windows, the Rainbow Room offers some of the best views in town.
Cost: $25~$35 per person
Tel: 014 5860 1465
Tide and Vine Oyster Company
You’d imagine that the seafood in Niagara Falls has to be out of this world, you’d be surprised to hear that tasty sea food is hard to come by. And it’s the only place that offers a raw bar in the sea.
Cost: $35~$55 per person
Tel: 090 0086 0087
1.What can we know about Oban Inn?
A.It was built 20 years ago.
B.It’s famous for its scenery.
C.It’s one of the most popular hotels and restaurants.
D.Its retiring room overlooks a garden.
2.If you are interested in the local pizza, you should call_______.
A.020 0813 5080 B.090 0086 0087
C.014 5860 1465 D.014 5382 3328
3.Who will be most likely to visit the Rainbow Room?
A.People who prefer pizzas.
B.People who want a sun-room.
C.People who love the sea food.
D.People who enjoy the Falls.
