Use our website to improve your English

Study at the right time each day

The first step in getting better in English is to study at the right time each day. Do you wake up early and study when the house is quiet? Or do you like to stay up late and study before you go to sleep? Choose the proper time to study English every week. Make a study plan for each week. Here is an example of using our website in the morning to improve your listening and speaking skills:

Monday: Watch Let's Learn English ; practice the conversation with a friend

Tuesday: Watch English in a Minute; teach the new expressions to family or friends

Wednesday: Watch English at the Movies; write a note to a friend about the expressions Thursday: Watch News Words; write a sentence using the words

Friday: Read or listen to Ask a Teacher or Everyday Grammar ; write three sentences

Find a friend to study together

A good way to learn is to study with a friend or a family member. You can study together at home or on the phone. Some families speak English only at dinner time or watch English videos together.

Set goals

One of the most important steps to learn English is to set goals. Make it something you know you can do in a short time. Here are some examples:

♦I will practice speaking with my friends three times a week.

♦I will write sentences with five new English words every week.

♦I will learn four new idioms in the next month and use them with friends.

1.Which advice is given on learning English?

A.Learning from others. B.Practicing once a week.

C.Turning to parents for help. D.Scheduling proper study time.

2.When can you learn English on the website according to the example?

A.On weekends. B.Every day.

C.On weekdays. D.Every Monday afternoon.

3.What are listed at the end of the text?

A.Some aims for learning English.

B.Some examples of practising English with friends.

C.Three important periods of time for learning English.

D.The most important steps in improving independent learning.

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写 的总词数应为150词左右。

It was late spring when my mom and I were driving through the countryside. Back then I was 13 years old and always felt unhappy with Mom. However, little did I know that this trip was going to be a special one.

A pot of flowers sat in the back seat, whose pleasant smell filled the car. Suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, my mom pulled over（靠边停车）. “What are you doing? "I cried, fearing that the car had broken down and we'd be stuck there, so far from home. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. My mom hopped out of the car, grabbing the flowers from the back seat. “It’ll just be a minute," she called back through the open windows.

Impatiently, I cast my eyes towards the edge of the road before they settled on a little sign showing that it was a nursing home. I looked back to the building, somewhat annoyed, as my mom reappeared empty-handed.

Before she started the car, curiosity drove me to ask, “Do you know someone there?" She shook her head. “Then what did you do with the flowers?" She smiled slightly, “I gave them to the receptionist （前台接待员）.“ What?"  She laughed at my confusion. “I told the receptionist to give the flowers to whoever needed them, especially those who haven't received any in a while.”

I kept silent for a moment. Not long after we went on with our driving, I spoke again, “Did you leave your name? “To this she answered instantly, “No. Leaving flowers there for someone who will appreciate them makes me feel good, which is enough of a thank for me. ”

Suddenly, still thinking about Mom's deeds, I heard something burst loudly. It was our car that broke down! Nothing could be worse, because neither my mom nor I understood how to repair it, and we didn’t know where the garage was. It also seemed impossible to wait for any passer-by（过路人），since we had seen so few along the way.

Paragraph 1:

I let out a sigh while my mum rooted （使……固定）herself against the car worrying about what could be done. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

As we drove along , a flower shop came into sight on the road.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假定你是李华，你的英国笔友Terry在邮件中提到他首次尝试使用筷子，感觉很新奇，希望了解更多筷子知识与文化。请你给他回信。包括以下要点：筷子文化参考：筷子谐音快乐；筷子可传递合作、和谐、平等、和平等内涵 注意：词数：80左右，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    It's common for homeless people to pick up recyclable（可回收利用的）things to sell and make a living. However, it's not so common to see them sit in a restaurant where the average meal costs $ 150. But that’s _______what happened when a man walked into Benvindo, a _______restaurant in Belo Horizonte.

According to the staff, a homeless man_______the waiters at the front door and wanted a meal. He also insisted on paying for it with the money he made by_______ the cans: a single $ 50 bill.

“I thought this was something_______，” said Fontes, a 21-year-old waiter. But he continued providing_______for the man as he served other guests. The man_______an executive（行政）lunch, including a main dish and dessert, which _______$ 121. 80. However, when the man asked for the bill, the restaurant’s owner told Fontes to waive （放弃）the charge. Instead of accepting the free meal, the man politely turned it _______ and insisted on paying.

When it became ________ that the man wasn’t ready to change his ________, the waiter decided to charge him $ 10. Fontes said, “I then had to lie, saying customers could get a(n) ________ on the lunch for there was an ongoing________, because the man had $ 50 and refused to get the $ 40. ”

A customer there took a picture of them and shared it online? saying? “I just ________ a great example of consideration.... ” The photo gained hundreds of ________, praising Fontes and the man. Fontes said he simply wanted to perform an act of kindness for an honest hardworking man.

1.A.precisely B.probably C.illegally D.frequently

2.A.newly-built B.high-end C.self-service D.non-profit

3.A.blamed B.praised C.approached D.urged

4.A.collecting B.breaking C.producing D.preserving

5.A.complex B.plain C.painful D.strange

6.A.service B.information C.comfort D.support

7.A.declined B.prepared C.chose D.recommended

8.A.came to B.went through C.passed down D.jumped at

9.A.up B.down C.off D.on

10.A.significant B.confusing C.disappointing D.apparent

11.A.position B.confusion C.situation D.expectation

12.A.subject B.outline C.discount D.suggestion

13.A.promotion B.custom C.trend D.donation

14.A.heard B.witnessed C.followed D.relayed

15.A.instructions B.references C.warnings D.comments

    We all know that exercise is great for you. But let's be honest.1. Here I am going to share my top reasons for working out.

Exercise can completely change your feeling. When you work out, your body produces endorphins（内啡肽）.2.You will feel better after a workout than you did before it. Next time you're having a bad day, try going for a fast-paced run or taking a spinning class（单车课 程），and the day won't seem so bad after all.

3. Whenever I move to a new city or work, I look for exercise classes, where you can always meet like-minded people. You can support each other during a difficult workout. And you all share a collective feeling of happiness when the hard class finishes!

Exercise makes you feel confident. We all know the physical effects of exercise on our bodies but we don't always talk about the mental effects.4.This new feeling might even help in your work or social life.

Exercise makes you feel strong and fit. Running 30 minutes every day helps you keep healthy and makes you feel a sense of achievement. It's a great feeling doing something you couldn't do before and knowing it's a result of your hard work.

So, next time you're feeling down, put your trainers on and get sweating. It might not be easy in the beginning for most people. 5.

A.Exercise helps you become sociable.

B.Exercise helps you reduce stress and anxiety.

C.That will give you a rush of happiness.

D.You can get to know each other well and make close friends.

E.But I promise you will feel much better once you've finished.

F.Sometimes finding that motivation to work out can be a little difficult.

G.Exercise might give you belief in yourself from being comfortable with your body and appearance.

    Researchers at the University of Scotland have discovered a protein that can influence viruses developing and even can control cancer. Now the fight is on to fully understand how it works in the hope of turning the laboratory research into a treatment.

The protein is called Hira. Technically it is a histone（组蛋白）complex, but it is easier to understand in terms of what it can do. Three years ago Dr Taranjit Singh Rai and colleagues at the Beatson Cancer Institute and Glasgow University reported that Hira could possibly suppress the division of cells that causes cancer. In the course of that research, Dr Rai found out something unusual. In the lab they have established that the Hira protein has a role to play in the anti-viral fight, thus, making it have a fundamental role to play in fighting against cancer.

The trick in using it to fight diseases may lie in increasing Hira levels in our cells. “I think what researchers might be interested in is how we can increase levels of this protein to deal with the viruses better, Dr Rai said.

Dr Rai has led an international study and support has come from Cancer Research UK and the results are published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research. But there is a major concern that the research is still limited to the laboratory.

It is going to take some time, probably years, before this work can move out of the lab and into clinics and hospitals. But the researchers are excited Hira will one day be the basis of a new approach in medicine.

1.What does the underlined word “suppress" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A.Motivate. B.Monitor. C.Control. D.Improve.

2.What can be known from the text?

A.Hira has been used in the medical treatment.

B.More studies should be done on Hira.

C.The levels of Hira in cells are unchangeable.

D.Hira can bring about side effects.

3.What is the researchers' attitude to the future of Hira?

A.Cautious. B.Optimistic.

C.Disapproving. D.Doubtful.

4.What's the text mainly about?

A.A new way to use the protein.

B.A new approach to improving the division of cells.

C.A new medicine that can fight diseases.

D.A protein that can stop viruses developing.

Howard Carter Finds King Tut's Tomb

Howard Carter was only 17 years old when he first went to Egypt in 1891. His father was quite successful as a portrait painter in England. Howard had a great deal of artistic talent, but he did not want to become a portrait painter like his father. He wanted adventure. With his father's help, he got a job with an archaeologist who was on his way to Egypt. This was an exciting opportunity for young Howard Carter.

In Egypt, Howard Carter worked as an artist for some of the best Egyptologists（埃及古 物学者）of his time. An Egyptologist is an archaeologist whose focus is learning about ancient Egypt. It was not long before Howard Carter was quite well known among Egyptologists, not only as an artist but also for his knowledge about ancient Egypt and archaeology.

Howard Carter wanted to hunt for King Tut's tomb, but that took men and money. Howard Carter finally got lucky. Lord Carnarvon was a very rich man. Lord Carnarvon allowed Howard Carter to hire 50 men to help him search for Tut's tomb.

In November 1922, by the light of a candle, Howard Carter cut a hole in a secret door. Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter carefully looked through the hole. What they saw through the peephole（窥视孔）） was amazing! They could not believe their eyes! The room was filled with treasures—couches shaped like animals, jeweled chests, vases, statues, and even chariots（二轮战车），all glittering with gold. It took months to move the treasures they found in the first room alone before they could open the doors in that room that led to other rooms! In other rooms, they found the chair King Tut had used as a small child.

The tomb was an incredible discovery, not only for its monetary value but also for its history. Historians learned so much about the people who lived over 3,000 years ago, about their culture and beliefs and daily life, from the objects found in King Tut's tomb. Howard Carter became world famous.

1.What was Howard Carter interested in when he was young?

A.Becoming a portrait painter. B.Taking adventures.

C.Finding valuable jewelry. D.Becoming a famous man.

2.What made Howard Carter famous in Egypt?

A.His father being a successful portrait painter.

B.His gift for art and his rich knowledge about archaeology.

C.Lord Carnarvon's  speaking highly of his adventure.

D.A large amount of gold found by him in Tut's tomb.

3.How old was Howard Carter when he found the King Tut's tomb?

A.17. B.31. C.48. D.50.

4.What's the main idea of the last paragraph?

A.The meaning of finding King Tut's tomb.

B.The process of discovering King Tut's tomb.

C.The history about King Tut.

D.The treasures dug out from King Tut's tomb.

    One of my second graders, Debbie, had been unusually quiet in my Family Living class. When I asked her if something was wrong, she replied, “I don't feel like talking today. I'm sad. My best friend's parents are going to get divorced（离婚的）. Her father moved out of the house. I told her I would share my dad with her, but I know it isn't the same. ”

I was surprised to learn that almost every child in my primary grade Family Living classes seemed to have some personal acquaintance （了解）with divorce—through friends of the family, neighbors, relatives, or much closer to home—their own parents. For many of them, divorce was just a normal part of life. Emily once said, “I want to be a doctor or nurse when I grow up, so after I get married and divorced, I'll be able to support myself. Then there was Billy, who stated, “When my mom gets married again next week, we're all going on a honeymoon.

Sometimes parents fight about the kids," said Kimberly. “My parents are divorced and my mom keeps pulling on one of my arms and my dad pulls the other. ” How sad, I thought, that a child would feel like her parents were actually pulling her apart because they each wanted more of her than the other should. “I hate that my parents are divorced! exclaimed Greg. “It's all my fault, too. I bite my nails too much. ”

Lori tried to look at things from a more positive perspective. “Your mother and father got mad at each other, but it doesn't mean they got mad at you," said Lori. “Lori is right," I said. Sometimes a husband and wife realize that they no longer love each other and decide it will be best for the whole family if they don't live together anymore. But that doesn't mean they stop loving their children, and it certainly doesn't mean that it is the children's fault!

“Maybe your mom and dad will change their minds and get undevoured,” Eric told Greg. “Then you can all be together again. ” Greg shook his head. “No, that won't happen. ” And then, with a thoughtful expression on his face, he said, “You know something? Divorce is like a cake. You cut it in half and it's separated forever. ”

1.Why did Debbie feel sad?

A.Debbie’s best friend’s parents were going to get divorced.

B.Debbie’s parents were getting divorced.

C.Her father moved out of the house.

D.She didn't want to share her dad with others.

2.What can we learn from Paragraph 4?

A.It's the children's fault that leads to parents' divorce.

B.It's acceptable for parents to get divorced if they don't love each other.

C.Parents usually get mad at the kid when they get mad with each other.

D.Parents usually ignore their children when they plan to get divorced.

3.According to the text, what is the author?

A.A teacher. B.An officer. C.A writer. D.A doctor.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A.Say Goodbye to Divorces B.Married or Divorced

C.Whose Fault for a Divorce D.Divorce's influence on children

New Zealand Car Rental

Customers who demand superior service and value hire Apex rental cars. With a wide section of over 15 different types of vehicles including small economical cars, medium-sized and full-size sedans（轿车），station wagons（旅行车），4WDs and people movers as well as 14 conveniently located branches throughout New Zealand, you can be sure to find a vehicle that is perfect for your travel needs.

Guaranteed No Hidden Costs

When you hire a car from Apex Car Rentals, there are no hidden surprises. All rates include GST（消费税），comprehensive insurance and unlimited kilometers. Apex also offers a very affordable Collision Damage Waiver upgrade option which allows customers to reduce their legal responsibility for paying money for damage in the event of an accident to $ 0.

With Apex there are no hidden costs, guaranteed：

* No extra charges for one-way hires and free airport/hotel transfers

* No booking or administration fees

* No credit card processing fees

* No extra driver fees

* No surcharges for seniors and drivers under 25

* No hidden fees； all rates include GST, insurance and unlimited kilometers

Free Ferry Tickets

Crossing Cook Strait? Your vehicle ferry ticket could be free, and Apex can help you book passenger tickets. Check vehicle availability for more information.

Apex Car Rental Optional Extras

Winter Extras

1.Which of the following is an advantage of Apex Car Rentals?

A.It values private cars for free.

B.It has 15 branches in New Zealand.

C.It has more than 15 types of vehicles.

D.It has a wide section of payment methods.

2.On what condition will you be charged extra fees?

A.Hiring a driver. B.Purchasing insurance.

C.Paying by credit card. D.Renting a child seat.

3.What can we learn from the text?

A.Apex can’t help you book passenger tickets.

B.You needn't pay to rent Ski and snowboard racks or snow chains.

C.There are extra charges for one-way hires and airport/hotel transfers.

D.Customers can pay no money for damage due to their legal responsibility.

目前，新冠病毒（COVID-19）仍然是个大问题，全世界的科学家都在寻找它的解决办法。（非限定性定语从句）(汉译英)