One silly question I simply can’t stand is “How do you feel?” Usually the question is asked of a man in action—a man on the go, walking along the streets, or busily working at his desk. So what do you expect him to say? He’ll probably say, “Fine, I’m all right,” but you have put a bug in his ear —maybe now he’s not sure. If you are a good friend, you may have seen something in his face, or his walk that he overlooked that morning. It starts worrying him a little. First thing you know, he looks in a mirror to see if everything is all right, while you go merrily on your way asking someone else, “How do you feel?”
Every question has its time and place. It’s perfectly acceptable, for instance, to ask “How do you feel?” if you’re visiting a close friend in the hospital. But if the fellow is walking on both legs, hurrying to make a train, or sitting at his desk working, it’s no time to ask him that silly question.
When George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer of plays was in his eighties, someone asked him “How do you feel?” Shaw put him in his place. “When you reach my age,” he said, “either you feel all right or you’re dead.”
1.The question “How do you feel?” seems to be correct and suitable when asked of_________.
A. a friend who is ill B. a man working at his desk
C. a person having lost a close friend D. a stranger who looks somewhat worried
2.George Bernard Shaw’s reply in the passage shows his________.
A. cheerfulness B. cleverness C. ability D. politeness
3.The underlined ‘You’ve put a bug in his ear’ in the 1st paragraph means that you’ve _____.
A. made him laugh B. shown concern for him
C. made fun of him D. given him some kind of warning
Experts say that it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock” is the term specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. “There are three stages of culture shock,” say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more.
There are some obvious factors in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems---the telephone, post office, or transportation---may be difficult to work out. The simplest things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their home countries and were successful in their community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity.
They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock gives rises to a feeling of disorientation (迷惘). This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create and escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.
1. When people move to a new country, they _________.
A. will get used to their new surroundings with difficulty
B. have well prepared for the new surroundings
C. will get used to the culture of the country quickly
D. will never be familiar with culture of the country
2.According to the passage, factors that give rise to culture shock include all of the following except __________.
A. language communication B. weather conditions and customs
C. public service systems D. homesickness
3.When people are homesick, they tend to ________.
A. find some people to talk to B. go outside to have a walk
C. visit their friends far away D. stay indoors all the time
4.The writer tells us that the best way to overcome culture shock is to _______.
A. protect ourselves from unfamiliar environment B. develop a strange sense of self-protection
C. get familiar with new culture D. return to our own country
Win a week in England!
You still don’t know what to do this summer? Well, here’s your chance to win a one-week language course in Kent, England! Free4Fun and ETC (English Travel Connections) are giving away two trips to Rochester. This historic city is less than an hour’s drive from London and close to the sea resort of Herne Bay. It is also the home of one of England’s most famous writers, Charles Dickens. The town of Rochester is in Southeast England. Charles Dickens often wrote about it in his books. His home, Gad’s Hill, is there, too. A popular attraction is Rochester Castle, a large Norman fortress（堡垒）. It was built in the 11th century and rebuilt during the 14th century. Other attractions are Rochester Cathedral, which was built during the 13th century, and Dickens Centre. It has got its name in honour of Dickens himself.
The trip to England includes:
* travel by train (via the Eurotunnel) to and from any railway station in Germany
* room and full board with a guest family for one week
* language course in small groups
* two trips to London
* large choice of sports and entertainment
* German-speaking advisors available 24 hours a day
Interested? All you have to do is to answer the following question: When was Charles Dickens born?
So, take the chance and send your answer by 1 May to:
Free4Fun "Rochester"
Free4Fun, 24 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, 2FQ6VJ
fax: 089 / 85 763-103 e-mail: free4fun@netlight.com
The two winners will be contacted directly before 5 May. They will also be announced in the June issue of Free4Fun. Good luck!
For further information, contact:
phone: (03212) 144 43 fax: (03212) 144 42 e-mail: info@etc. com
1.What activities can you participate in during the trip?
A. Working as a language advisor. B. Learning the German language.
C. Traveling by train with a guest family. D. Enjoying sports and entertainment.
2.If you want to win a prize you have to send your answer to .
A. the June issue of Free4fun B. free4fun@netlight. com
C. info@etc. com D. ETC
3.The persons are likely to win the free trip.
A. who know the birth date of Charles Dickens B. who are attracted by Rochester Castle
C. who are contacted and announced by Free4Fun and ETC
D. who know more about Charles Dickens’ works
4.This ad was probably designed to target .
A. Italians B. Europeans C. Germans D. Americans
One hot night last July, when our new baby wouldn’t or couldn’t sleep, I tried everything I could think of: a warm bottle, songs gentle rocking. Nothing would settle him. Guessing that I had a long night ahead of me, I brought a portable TV into his room, figuring that watching the late movie was as good a way as any to kill of the hours till dawn. To my surprise, as soon as the TV lit up, the baby quieted right down, and his little eyes focused brightly on the tube. Not to waste an opportunity for sleep, I then tiptoed out of the room, leaving him to watch the actors celebrate John Bellushi's forty-fifth birthday.
My wife and I heard none of the baby that night, and the next morning when I went into his room, I found him still watching TV himself.
I found in my baby's behavior a symbol of the new generation. My wife and I had given him some books to examine, but he merely spit upon them. When we read to him, he did not feel comfortable. And so it is in the schools. We find that our students don't read and they look down upon reading and scold those of us who teach it. All they want to do is watch TV. After this experience with the baby, however, I have reached a conclusion: “Let them watch it!” If television is that much more attractive to children than books, why should we fight about it? Let them watch it all they want!
1.Why did the author bring a TV set into his son's room?
A. To make his son keep quiet. B. To spend the night by watching TV programs.
C. In order not to let his son feel lonely. D. To make his son go to sleep as soon as possible.
2.The baby's reaction to the TV program was _______ for the writer.
A. unexpected B. encouraging C. exciting D. calm
3.From this passage we know that the author is probably .
A. a doctor B. a reporter C. an editor D. a teacher
4.According to the passage, which is true of the school children?
A. They prefer reading to watching TV.
B. They like watching TV after school.
C. They would rather watch TV than read books.
D. They like their teachers who teach them reading.
In a national spelling contest in America，an 11-year-old girl was asked to spell a certain word. But with her 36 voice the judges were not sure whether she spelled the word with the letter A or E. They talked it over and 37 decided to simply ask her what she had said. By now, the girl knew she had 38 the word. But instead of lying，she told the truth that she had said the 39 letter—so she lost the contest.
As the girl walked off the 40 ，the entire audience stood to their feet clapping to applaud her
41 . Later，dozens of newspaper reporters wrote about this 11-year-old girl’s honesty，even when it 42 her the contest. But the fact is that she 43 the biggest contest that day: the contest of her 44 .
Probably the biggest test of our character and honesty is that we would do if we knew we would never get 45 .This young girl could easily have 46 and nobody would have known it but herself. But that’s just it: She would know she did wrong. It’s been said, “If you 47 , you make yourself cheap.” This young girl was strong and smart enough to prize her own 48 and character more than the prize from a spelling 49 . Her respect for herself was more important than any 50 others might give her for winning a contest. She knew she would have to live with herself and the 51 she made in that moment will have long-lasting influence.
It’s so true that the choices you make today 52 what you are tomorrow. Our children will 53 our behaviour much more than our advice. So if we want them to 54 to be honest，we must show them the way by being honest ourselves. Remember，our kids are 55 what we do and how we live even when we don’t think they see or know.
1.A. high B. sweet C. tough D. soft
2.A. finally B. kindly C. secretly D. totally
3.A. forgotten B. mispronounced C. misspelled D. lost
4.A. correct B. wrong C. different D. same
5.A. stage B. studio C. test D. classroom
6.A. bravery B. honesty C. courage D. cleverness
7.A. cancelled B. cost C. offered D. wasted
8.A. achieved B. broke C. won D. defeated
9.A. reputation B. knowledge C. 1ife D. character
10.A. paid B. awarded C. caught D. reported
11.A. escaped B. 1ied C. changed D. answered
12.A. accept B. fight C. cheat D. insist
13.A. conscience B. feeling C. diligence D. modesty
14.A. contest B. champion C. judger D. expert
15.A. sense B. pride C. respect D. awareness
16.A. plan B. conclusion C. discovery D. choice
17.A. make B. change C. keep D. create
18.A. give B. take C. follow D. set
19.A. grow up B. bring up C. take up D. come up
20.A. recording B. inspecting C. correcting D. watching
Have you checked all the CDs _______ to the mountainous area next week?
A. sent B. to be sent C. sending D. being sent
