Do you have a lucky number? What is it? Many people have a special number that they hope will bring them good luck.
In Chinese culture, some numbers are believed to be lucky or unlucky based on the Chinese word that the number sounds similar to.
For example, the word for the number 8 sounds similar to the word for “making a fortune(发财)”. So, people consider it a very lucky number. Some people will even spend a lot of money to have 8s in their phone numbers or vehicle license plate (车牌照) numbers. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics began at 8:08 p.m. on August 8, 2008.
The number 9 is also a lucky number because of its connection to the emperors of China. There were nine dragons on emperors’ robes (龙袍) and Chinese myth held that the dragon has nine children. The number 9 also stands for “long lasting”. That’s why a man always proposes to（向---求婚）a woman with 99 or 999 roses.
So what’s a “bad luck” number in China? It might be 4. Many Chinese people see 4 as a “bad luck” number because it sounds similar to the character for “death”.
Because of this, many buildings skip(跨过) the fourth floor, and simply call it the fifth floor. In Hong Kong, some buildings even skip all floors numbered with 4, such as, 4, 14, 24, 34 and all 40-49 floors. Some buildings also skip the 13th floor, as this is considered an unlucky number in many Christian countries. As a result, a building whose highest floor is 50 may have only 35 physical floors.
1.What makes Chinese people believe a number is lucky or unlucky?
A. the shape of the number
B. the sound of the number in Chinese
C. the history of the numbers
D. the sound of the number in English
2.Chinese people regard the number 9 as______?
A. becoming beautiful B. living a long life
C. making a fortune D. living a happy life
3.From the passage, we know that_______.
A. Many Chinese people don’t like the number 4.
B. all people have the same lucky number
C. the number 9 is lucky because it means “wealth”
D. the number 8 is a lucky number for foreigners
4.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A. Meanings of different unlucky numbers.
B. Meaning of different lucky numbers.
C. Lucky or unlucky numbers in Western culture.
D. Lucky or unlucky numbers in Chinese culture.
Many years ago, I had my first chance to visit Russia. “Russians are a very polite people,” I had been told before my arrival. One of my friends explained that a gentleman will pour the lemonade(柠檬水) for the ladies and show other good manners.
Toward the end of my three-week trip, I was invited by my Russian friend Nicolai Vasilevich and his wife Yulya out to dinner. At the end of a wonderful meal, Yulya asked if I would like a banana. I politely declined (婉谢) and thanked her, and explained I was most satisfied（满意的） with the meal. But my mind was racing: “What should I do? Should I offer her a banana though they are as close to her as they are to me? What is the polite thing to do?”
“Would you like a banana?” I asked Yulya.
“Yes,” she smiled, but didn’t try to take any of the three bananas in the fruit basket.
“Which one would you like?” I asked again.
“That one,” she pointed at one of the bananas. So thinking about Russian politeness, I picked the banana Yulya had pointed at. Then I peeled it half way and handed it to her. Smiles on Yulya’s and Nicolai’s faces told me I had done the right thing. After this experience, I spent much time letting the world know that in Russia, the polite thing was to peel bananas for ladies.
However, sometime during my third trip I learned I was wrong.
“Oh no, David,” a Russian politely corrected me. “In Russia, when a man peels a banana for a lady, it means he has a romantic（浪漫的）interest in her. ” How embarrassed (尴尬) I felt.
So to communicate properly with people of different cultures, we should watch carefully how people of the same culture communicate with each other. Besides, don’t be afraid to ask questions about their culture.
1.Before his first visit to Russia, the writer learned Russian gentlemen are polite to ___.
A. foreigners B. strangers
C. friends D. women
2.The underlined word “peeled” in paragraph 6 means “_______”.
A. took the skin off something
B. put something back
C. made something clean
D. cut something in two
3.Which of the following seems to be true according to the passage?
A. The writer’s third trip lasted about three weeks.
B. Russian gentlemen never peel bananas for ladies.
C. The writer tried to follow Russians’ behavior in Russia.
D. Yulya was pleased with the writer’s behavior but Nicolai wasn’t.
4.The writer wrote the passage mainly to ______.
A. show us how polite Russian people are
B. tell us his funny experience in Russia
C. ask us to care about cultural differences
D. remind us what we should do in Russia
This is a letter from a pet dog to his master(主人).
“Dear master, when you took me away from my mum, it was snowing heavily. You kept me in your arms, and that made me feel very warm and comfortable. I’ve been with you for about a year so far, but I’m afraid you don’t know me quite well, so I decide to write this letter to you.
I’ll live for ten to fifteen years before leaving this world. I enjoy every moment being with you. So I’m always sad when I stay away from you.
Please give me time to understand what you want me to do. Don’t lock me up if you are angry with me. Don’t leave me alone all the time. You have your work and your friends. But I only have you.
Talk to me sometimes. Although I don’t understand your words, I can tell from your voice whether you are happy or sad. Please don’t treat me badly when you are unhappy. Remember that: however you treat me, I will never forget it. And if you treat me terribly, it will have a bad influence on me for a long time.
Before you hit me, remember that I have sharp teeth that could easily hurt you, but that I choose not to. You are my master, I can never hurt you.
Take care of me when I get old. You will grow old, too.
One day I might leave you forever. However, everything will be easy for me if you are there. Please keep in mind: I love you, always.”
1.How long will the pet dog live?
A. 5-10 years. B. 10-15 years.
C. 15-20 years. D.5-15 years
2.The pet dog will never forget______.
A. its master’s voice
B. its master’s words
C. how its master treats it
D. its master’s name
3.The underlined word “sharp” means “_____” in Chinese.
A. 轮廓鲜明的 B. 敏锐的 C. 锋利的 D. 闪亮的
4.Reading the passage, we can feel the deep love that______.
A. the pet dog shows to his parents
B. the master shows to the pet dog
C. humans show to animals
D. the pet dog shows to its master
A big umbrella
Nancy: I saw seven girls in one umbrella and none of them got wet.
Taney: Oh, that must be a very big umbrella.
Nancy: No, it wasn’t raining.
A good boy
Little Robert asked his mother for two cents（美分）.
“What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?”
“I gave it to a poor old woman,” he answered.
“You’re a good boy,” said the mother proudly. “Here are two more cents. But why are you so interested in the old woman?”
“She is the one who sells candies.”
Break a mirror
“What are you so happy about, Jason?” Lisa asked the 98-year-old man.
“I broke a mirror,” he replied.
“But that means seven years of bad luck.”
“I know,” he said happily. “Isn’t it wonderful? I can live for another seven years.”
1.The three passages above are all ______.
A. jokes B. notices C. news D. letters
2.The seven girls didn’t get wet because _______.
A. the umbrella was big enough
B. the seven girls wore raincoats
C. it wasn’t raining at all
D. it wasn’t a heavy rain
3.Little Robert spent the money _______.
A. helping the poor old lady
B. buying candies for himself
C. helping his mom
D. buying gifts for his mom
4._______ broke the mirror.
A. Nancy B. Lisa C. Robert D. Jason
完形填空
How do you imagine the future? Will life in the future be better, worse or the same as now? What do you think of the future?
People _________ that life will probably be very different in 2050. First of all, planes will be very large so flying will be very cheap. Everyone will have a small car. Fuel will be new and clean, but expensive. We will _________ robots everywhere. And space planes will take us around the world _________two hours. Homes will be warm in winter and cool in summer, so they will be very comfortable. We will use the sun _________ our homes. Computers will be very small so they will be very _________ . People will do many things on the Internet.
At that time, water will become one of our most _________ problems. In many places, farmers will be in great need of water to _________ fruit and vegetables.
By 2050, we will able to help blind and deaf people see again and _________ again. At that time, our life will become better and better.
1.A. think B. disagree C. plan D. worry
2.A. make B. see C. watch D. move
3.A. in B. after C. for D. at
4.A. heats B. to heat C. heating D. heated
5.A. heavy B. new C. long D. light
6.A. pleasant B. possible C. serious D. interesting
7.A. sell B. check C. buy D. grow
8.A. walk B. hear C. sleep D. run
Alice, do you know tomorrow?
A. what will we do B. when we will leave here
C. where they went D. how will they go there
