Americans usually make allowance(宽容) for non-native-speakers who have some trouble understanding English. But they become annoyed when a person pretends to understand but doesn’t really and then creates problems because of misunderstanding what is said. No one wants soap when he asks for soup. So if you don’t understand what is said to you, admit it and politely ask the person to repeat or explain.
Second, it is quite rude to talk with a friend in your native language and leave your American friends standing there feeling stupid because they can’t understand the conversation. The Americans may also feel that you are talking about them or saying something you don’t want them to hear. If you must turn to your native language to explain something to a non-English-speaking friend, at least translate for your American friends so they don’t feel left out.
Learn just a few more polite English expressions, and you’ll be ready to face the world of Americans with confidence. The polite answer to a compliment(赞扬) about your looks or your works is “Thank you.” (A smile and a nod is not enough.) The response to “Thank you.” is, of course, “You’re welcome,” if someone asks “How are you?” don’t give your medical history. Just say “Fine, thanks. How are you?” Finally, what should you say when someone sneezes(打喷嚏)? It may not seem logical, but the correct response is “God bless you.” That’s about all there is to it. Now that you’ve learned this general knowledge of manners, in the U. S. A., you’ve ready to be polite in English. Let’s hope your American friends will be just as polite.
1.In the first paragraph, the underlined word “annoyed” means .
A. rather angry B. very impolite C. quite unfriendly D. fairly pleased
2.The passage is mainly about in the U. S. A.
A. the importance of good manners B. the general knowledge of English
C. the skill in daily conversations D. the good manners in communication
3. When you talk with someone in your native language, your American friend may feel .
A. he should learn the language B. you try to keep some secrets from him
C. you are angry with him D. he becomes a fool
Mobile phones have become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have prevented students from carrying mobile phone during school hours.
Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the school this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas gifts, and more students will want them.
Mary Bluett, an official, said mobile phone use is a distraction(伤心的事) to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat during exams.
She said some schools had tried not to let students use mobile phones at school. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.
Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school. They were easy to lose and were a distraction from studies.
Many people say that they understood why parents would want their children to have mobile phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.
1.Middle schools are prevented from carrying mobile phones .
A. because they often talk with their friends B. when they are free from homework
C. when they are at school D. because they cheat in exams
2.Some children get mobile phones .
A. by telling lies to their parents B. by making trouble in class
C. from their parents and friends D. from some mobile phone users
3.Which of the following statements is true?
A. No school in Australia has done anything about the mobile phone use among students.
B. Teachers don’t allow the students to leave their mobile phones at school offices.
C. Some students had their mobile phones stolen at school.
D. Parents give their children mobile phones for no good reason.
4.It is implied（暗含） in the passage that .
A. students shouldn’t have mobile phones at school except for some special reasons
B. it is impossible to stop students from using mobile phone at school
C. some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t use their phones at school
D. parents should teach their children how to use mobile phones during school hours
One day, Wilson was walking quietly along the road when someone hit him hard on the back of his neck. He looked behind him, and saw a young man whom he had never seen before.
“How dare you hit me like that?” shouted Wilson.
The young man said he had mistaken Wilson for a friend of his and that he thought Wilson was making a lot of noise about nothing.
This insult(侮辱) made Wilson even angrier, of course, and he at once decided to bring the young man before a judge.
Now , the judge who heard the case was a friend of the young man’s father’s, and, although he pretended to be quite fair, he was thinking about what he could do to protect the young man from being punished while at the same time not to be appearing unfair.
Finally he said to Wilson, “I understand your feelings in this matter very well. Would you be satisfied if I let you hit the young man as he hit you?”
Wilson said he would not be. The young man had insulted him and should be properly punished.
“Well, then,” said the judge to the young man, “I order you to pay ten coins to Wilson.”
Ten coins was very little for such a crime, but the young man did not have it with him, so the judge allowed him to go and get it.
Wilson waited for him to return with the money. He waited an hour, and then two hours, while the judge took care of other business.
When it was nearly time for the court to close, Wilson chose a moment when the judge was especially busy, came up quietly and hit him hard on the back of the neck. Then he said to him, “I am sorry, but I can’t wait any longer. When the young man comes back, tell him that I have passed my right to the ten coins on to you.”
1.Why did the young man hit Wilson from behind?
A. Wilson had hit him before. B. He had mistaken Wilson for a friend of his.
C. Wilson was a stranger there. D. Wilson made a lot of noise when he was walking.
2.The judge thought about how to protect the young man because .
A. he thought it a small matter B. as a judge, he should be fair
C. he thought the man too young to be punished D. the young man was his friend’s son
3. According to the passage, while of the following is TRUE?
A. The young man was ordered to hit himself as hard as he had done on Wilson.
B. Wilson was allowed to hit the young man as hard as he had done.
C. Wilson was allowed to do more insulting on the young man.
D. The young man was ordered to hand a lot of money to Wilson.
4.The judge allowed the young man to go home, hoping .
A. he would not return any more B. he could escape from there
C. he would return in two hours D. he would get the money
5.The best title for this passage is .
A. I’ve passed my right on to you B. The judge and Wilson
C. Wilson and the young man D. The young man was set free
It was several years since Adolf Hitler came into power in Germany. And now his army was marching into some parts of Europe. He must be in the prime(顶峰) of his career.
One day Hitler went to an exhibition where the works of school children were on show. He seemed to have great interest in the exhibits—inventions as well as carvings, drawings. After having walked around the hall and examined everything, he said he was ready to meet the young artists. And soon a group of children came into the room to salute(向-----敬礼) him.
“Well, well. You did very good work.” nodded Hitler in satisfaction. “I promise on my honor I’d satisfy you with whatever you want. What’d you wish to be if I were your father?”
“A sailor sailing the sea” one of the boys answered.
“Good. I’ll have you join my navy and some day you will rule the oceans.”(海洋)
“Ask for anything? What’d you wish to be if I were your father?” he asked a second boy.
“A painter as great as Rembruant.”
“Good. You are to be sent to the Fine Art School and surely you will make an even greater painter.”
When Hitler caught sight of a sad-looking boy be frowned(皱眉), then quickly forced a smile, “There my boy, in spite of my point of view towards the Jews(犹太人), I’d do you a favor and your dream will come true. What’d you wish to be if I were your father?”
The boy looked straight at the man.
“An orphan(the child who has no parents).” he murmured.（嘟哝）
1. Hitler promised to satisfy(满足) the children with whatever they want because .
A. he wanted all the children to live a happy life B. he wanted to make a good impression on the children
C. he liked paintings very much D. he liked all the children
2.Hitler frowned when he saw the sad-looking boy because .
A. the boy was recognized to be a Jew B. the boy didn’t come to the front to salute him
C. the boy didn’t want to ask for anything D. the boy was sad-looking
3.Judging by what the boy said we can see that .
A. the boy’s parents had died B. the boy had no brothers or sisters
C. the boy hated Hitler very much D. the boy wanted himself to be an orphan
4.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Hitler wanted to be the father of the children. B. The boy was both clever and courageous(勇敢的).
C. Rembruant was a great painter. D. Hitler did not like Jews.
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which listened every morning. I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving, I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐观主义), but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times”.
My responsibilities(职责) in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.
1. How did the author get to know America?
A. From her relatives. B. From her mother. C. From books and pictures. D. From radio programs.
2. For the first two years in New York, the author . .
A. often lost her way B. did not think about her job
C. studied in three different schools D. got on well with her new friends
3.What can we learn from the author from Paragraph 3 ?
A. She worked as a translator. B. She attended a lot of job interviews.
C. She paid telephone bills for her family . D. She helped her family with her English.
4.The author believes that .
A. her future will be free from troubles . B. it is difficult to learn to become patient.
C. there are more good things than bad things. D. good things will happen if one keeps trying.
Dear Seth,
You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you___36___, I hope you will find something __37__in what I am going to share with you.
Life can be __38__ . There will be people in your life who won’t be very nice. They’ll __39___ you because you are different, 40 for no good reason . You will also face heartbreak and might be __41__ by those you love. I hope you don’t have to face these too much , but such things __42__.
Be open to life anyway. You’ll find cruelty(残忍) and 43 in your journey through life , but don’t let that__44__ you from finding new things . Don’t retreat （退却）from life , and don’t __45__ or wall yourself off . Be open to new things , new experiences ,and new people . You will __46__ many times ,but if you allow that to stop you from trying , you will __47_ many chances . Do remember failure is a stepping stone to __48__.
You will meet many people who will try to do __49__ than you , in school, in college, and at work. They’ll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and so on. . To __50_ , life is a competition.However, I believe life is a __51_. If you always try your best to __52__ others, you are wasting your life . Learn to enjoy your life__53_ and you will make it a journey of __54__ ,of learning and of love.
Finally , know that I love you and always will. You are _55__ a really wonderful journey , and I will always be there for you.
Love
Dad
1.A. grow up B. show up C. cheer up D. give up
2.A. familiar B. valuable C. normal D. interesting
3.A. unkind B. peaceful C. equal D. simple
4.A. look at B. run after C. laugh at D. look after
5.A. if B. but C. so D. or
6.A. hurt B. found C. accepted D. impressed
7.A. matter B. work C. disappear D. happen
8.A. luck B. pain C. difference D. hope
9.A. protect B. encourage C. stop D. choose
10.A. forgive B. struggle C. compete D. hide
11.A. leave B. prepare C. escape D. fail
12.A. enjoy B. try C. miss D. meet
13.A. success B. life C. action D. sorrow
14.A. earlier B. better C. less D. faster
15.A. you B. me C. him D. them
16.A. challenge B. drama C. journey D. dream
17.A. change B. pardon C. follow D. beat
18.A. somewhere B. instead C. afterwards D. though
19.A. cruelty B. danger C. happiness D. quietness
20.A. starting B. destroying C. finishing D. replacing
