At the meeting, Lily m_______ that her boss really wanted to thank those who helped children in the project.
Maps usually use words and pictures to __________[dɪˈskraɪb] what places are like.
The man asked which bus he would take to the Summer_______[ˈpæləs].
Nowadays, many people in China and Japan are racing against time. They put a lot of value in “being on time”. However, in some countries of the world, people have different opinions on “being on time”.
Germany
Thanks to its industrial past, in Germany you are expected to arrive at least ten minutes earlier for any planned meeting.
In Germany, being on time is risky enough because your hosts will probably already be there waiting, wondering how on earth you could be so stupid. What will you do if anything unexpected happens, like heavy traffic or a sudden rain? So remember to arrive early in Germany.
Saudi Arabia
Some countries care little about time and Saudi Arabia is one of them. It’s because of their long history of desert living where time is not the first thing to think about. It could be that it’s too hot to do anything on time. So don’t expect them to be on time. Moreover, looking at your watch during an event is even considered as bad manners. So don’t get angry with them, either.
Ghana
Most meeting times can be changed, even if an exact time is given, Ghanaians are very relaxed and easygoing. They think that if everyone is late, then no one is late. After all, what can’t be done today can get done tomorrow. If you find it difficult to deal with, prepare to be unhappy. Otherwise, sit back enjoy the ride. Refuse and ignore it.
Russia
Patience is considered a very important quality in Russian culture but being on time is not. When doing business in Russia, do be on time. Otherwise, it will be considered disrespectful. But Russians won’t hold themselves to the same standard. So, again, patience can be key.
How differently people consider “being on time” in different countries. | |
1. | Different opinions on “being on time” |
China and Japan | Both Chinese and Japanese think it valuable to be on time. |
Germany | Hosts expect you to arrive early for any planned meeting because of the influence of their industrial past. You are thought to be stupid 2. you arrive at least ten minutes earlier. |
Saudi Arabia | Time is not the first thing for people living in the desert to consider. Looking at your watch during an event is considered to be 3.. |
Ghana
| Ghanaians think that if everyone is late, then nobody is late. Most meeting times can be changed. You might be unhappy if you can’t 4. it. |
Russia | Be patient in Russia because it’s very important quality in its culture. While doing business in Russia, you should be on time, though Russians are not strict with 5. in it. |
The pencil is a very simple object. However, it took hundreds of people over centuries to make it what it’s like today.
The story of the pencil starts with graphite(石墨). People cut it into small sticks and use them to write or draw. Around 1560, an Italian couple named Simoni and Lyndiana Bemacotti added wood holders to the graphite sticks. However, since the graphite is too soft, the pencils were easy to break. In 1795, in France, Nicolas-Jacques Conte worked out a method of mixing graphite powders with clay(黏土). In this way, people made strong pencil core(铅笔芯). To this day, the method is still used in making pencils.
It was Henry David Thoreau who came up with the grading scale(分级量表) for different hardnesses of pencils. It was graded one through four, and grade two is the proper hardness for general use. The softer the pencil is, the more graphite it has in it, and the darker the line is. The harder the pencil is, the more clay it has, and the lighter the line is. Nowadays, pencils marked 2B are usually used in exams to mark answers. Pencils marked HB are usually used in daily writing. People usually use pencils of different hardness and blackness to draw different parts of a picture.
When pencils were handmade, they were made round. Then an American Joseph Dixon developed machines to make pencils. Later people found out it was easier and less wasteful to make a pencil which has six sides.
There is a pencil for everyone and every pencil has a story. The Blackwing 602 is famous for being used by a lot of writers. And then, you have the Dixon pencil company. It’s what people think of when they think of a pencil and what they most probably will buy when their children are about to write.
In my opinion, there’s nothing that can be done to make the pencil better than it is.
1.Who improved the hardness of pencils?
A.Joseph Dixon. B.Nicolas-Jacques.
C.Henry David Thoreau. D.Simoni and Lyndiana Bemacotti.
2.What can we learn about pencils?
A.Pencils of great hardness are less useful.
B.Their hardness and blackness decide their uses.
C.Round pencils were first made by machines.
D.Pencils with six sides are comfortable to use.
3.What does Paragraph 5 tell us?
A.Pencils are the best writing tool. B.There are many kinds of pencils.
C.The Blackwing 602 is very expensive. D.Dixon pencils are popular with people.
4.What does the underlined word “it” mean in Paragraph 4?
A.The grading scale. B.The story of the pencil.
C.To make the pencil round. D.To make a pencil which has six sides.
5.What’s the text mainly about?
A.The development of pencils. B.The main inventors of pencils.
C.What pencils are made out of. D.Why pencils are widely used.
It was Day 1 of our vacation on Cortes, a beautiful island. “iPhone, iPhone, iPhone,” my son kept moaning. In front of him was a big window facing the blue ocean. And a cool gentle wind was coming in from the door. Clearly, he saw and felt none of it．
Back at home, I’d soon give up and hand the phone over to him after five minutes of listening to this kind of moaning.
But not here. Before we left, I had told my 10-year-old son the rule — no emails, no Facebook, no video games, and no iPhone. We came here to get away from them all. Here we were on our first day and already, he couldn’t stand it.
_______ I walked down the grass road to the beach and looked out to the sea. My 6-year-old daughter and my husband were drawing on pieces of wood. They were doing just fine.
On Day 2, we spent the whole morning digging for shells(贝壳). This time, my son joined us. He collected shellfish and other sea treasures. When we got back to our little wood house, I gave my son a book, and put him on the lovely garden chair. It was almost dinner when he looked up.
The next few days passed in peace.
On Day 6, my son was lying beside me on the beach, watching the sun going down. He was playing with the sand. And there was something shining in his eyes. I realized how time slowed down for both of us. It was exactly what I wanted. Finally, we were able to sit quietly without thinking about screens, phone calls and e-mail.
A week away from all the electronics and life is good.
1.The underlined word “moaning” means ________.
A.呻吟 B.沉默 C.跺脚 D.生气
2.What is the special rule for the writer’s vacation?
A.They couldn’t use their electronics. B.They must keep quiet and stay in the house.
C.They had to spend their vacation on an island. D.They should collect as many shells as possible.
3.Which of the following can be put in “________” in Paragraph 4?
A.I felt really tired and went to bed. B.I closed the door and stayed with him.
C.I just walked outside to leave him alone. D.I gave him his iPhone and let him stay inside.
4.The change of the son’s feelings can be described as ________.
A.angry →surprised→proud B.excited→peaceful→bored
C.worried→angry→hopeful D.bored→peaceful→pleased
5.The best title for the passage can be ________.
A.A Terrible Life on the Island B.A Special iPhone for My Son
C.A Fight between Mother and Son D.A Vacation Away from Electronics
