Tattoos and body piercings（穿孔）have moved up on the trend list in recent years. Around Western schools lots of teens are sporting new holes and “flesh ink”（纹身）. As with all other subjects, the Chinese will surely have to deal with this situation with respect to their children. To get a better view of what has happened in the West, 1et’s sit down and hear what they say.
Tiara from Indiana：
I personally think body piercing is sickening. If there were supposed to be holes in your body，you would have been born with them. I do，however，think that ear piercing is not wrong. There is a difference between ear piercing and belly button piercing. Ear piercing is not nearly as dangerous. I would be sick if someone stuck a needle in my belly button.
Lee from Illinois:
Hi! I live in Illinois. I am 23. I have 12 tattoos and three piercings. I love my tattoos and consider myself an art collector. You would be surprised at who has given me the thumbs up on my art work. People on the street stop me to look at the tattoo on my leg. Most of them don’t know what it is. They just think the work itself is great.
Subotai from California:
I’m not forbidden of self-expression，but when I see high school students getting these piercings, I really wonder. In some cases, the drive is deeper and darker than mere fashion. A friend of mine tried piercing her own tongue with a safety pin. It got infected and she had a tongue the size of a cow’s.
Jackson from Ohio:
I don’t think it is wrong, but when people do it all over the place like their face and everything—I think that’s ridiculous. People who get the big “dragons that cover the whole body—I don’t think that’s necessary.” When I see naked chicks on guys, I think, “You have no respect for women.”
1.Who doesn’t think tattoos and piercings except ear piercing are beautiful？
A．Jackson B．Lee C．Tiara D．Subotai
2.We can conclude that .
A．tattoos and piercings are a new kind of elegant art
B．all the teachers in the West are in favour of tattoos and piercings
C．everything is changeable as time goes on
D．it is necessary to live with different views of beauty
3.The best title for this passage is probably .
A．Body Art or Causing Damage
B．Doing Damage to the Young People’s Bodies
C．Young People’s Different Curiosities
D．The Latest Fashion
Saying “thank you” is probably the first thing most of us learn to do in a foreign language. After all, we’re brought up to be polite, and it is important to make a good impression upon other people — especially across national divides.
So, what exactly are you supposed to say when “thank you” is only the 20th most popular way to express gratitude? According to a recent survey, 19 other ways of expressing appreciation finished ahead of “thank you” in a poll of 3,000 people.
Pollsters(民测调查员) found almost half of those asked preferred the more informal “cheers”, while others liked to use such expressions as “ta”, “great” and “nice one”.
So, just what is the appropriate form of words to express your thanks?
Fortunately, the clue is in the language itself. “Cheers”, despite its popularity, is considered an informal way to say thank you — and this is a definite clue as to when you can best use it.
For instance, when going for a drink with friends, a smile and a “cheers” by way of thanks is not only appropriate to the situation, it is also culturally accurate.
“Ta”, originated from the Danish word “tak”, was the second-most popular expression of thanks, and is also commonly used in informal situations, along with phrases such as “nice one”, and “brilliant”. Interestingly, one word that didn’t make it into the top 20 was “thanks”, Thank you is shorter, more informal cousin.
“Thanks” can be useful, as it is able to bridge the divide between the formality of “thank you” and the downright relaxed “cheers”.
Certain words can double as an expression of thanks as well as delight. Again, the words themselves offer the clue as to when best to use them.
For example, words like “awesome”, “brilliant” and “you star” featured highly in the new poll and they can hint at both your pleasure at someone’s action, as well as serving to express your thanks. If you are on the receiving end of a “new” thank you, you can respond with a simple “no problem”, or “sure”.
Of course, in certain circumstances, a simple wave, nod or smile may be appropriate. For instance, if a car driver slows down to let you cross the road, simply raising your hand in acknowledgement is enough to show that you appreciate the driver’s consideration.
Sometimes, formality is necessary, and “thank you” is still the best choice in such situations. But students should not worry about when exactly to use certain expressions.
Many people in Western countries are worried that good manners are in decline. People are tired of seeing their acts of kindness and service pass without comment. So don’t think your “thank you” is clumsy or awkwardly formal. The chances are, if you said “thank you”, you made someone’s day. You star.
1.We can tell from the results of the poll that __________.
A．people are unconcerned about politeness nowadays.
B．“thank you” remains the best expression of gratitude.
C．there is a variety of expressions of appreciation.
D．there are more formal expressions than informal ones.
2.According to the passage, which is an appropriate response to “awesome” or “brilliant”?
A．Thanks. B．Sure. C．Nice one. D．Cheers. .
3.In the last paragraph the author encourages people to .
A．show their gratitude to others. B．behave themselves well.
C．continue their acts of kindness. D．stop worrying about bad manners.
4.Which of the following can serve as the best title of this passage?
A．How to Appear More Polite . B．Ways to Show Gratitude.
C．Never hesitate to Say “Thank You”. D．Good Manners in Decline!
I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast. Others had cokes and candy for lunch, while we had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different than the other kids’. But at least I was not alone in my suffering. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing. We had to wear clean clothes every day. Other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of disgrace because she made our clothes herself, just to save money.
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by 9:00 each night and up at 7:45 the next morning. So while my friends slept, my mother actually had the courage to break Child Labor Law. She made us work. I believed she lay awake all night thinking up mean things to do to us. Through the years, our friends’ report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, however, would merely be content with black marks. None of us was allowed the pleasure of being a dropout.
She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. Using this as a background, I’m now trying to bring up my three children. I’m filled with pride when my children think I am mean because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.
1.Which of the following things did the writer hate to do most?
A．Eating differently from other kids. B．Wearing clean clothes made by mother
C．Going to bed early and getting up early D．Letting mother know where they were
2.It can be inferred from the passage that____________.
A．the writer worked hard and usually got good grades in studies
B．mother was punished for breaking the Labor Law
C．all the other kids studied better than the writer
D．the writer’s family lived a miserable life
3.Which of the following statements is Not true according to the passage ?
A．Mother practiced economy in running her home
B．The writer is very thankful for her mother
C．The writer is severe with her children when bringing them up
D．The wrier has a deep hatred for her mother
4.The passage was written in a way of _________ tone.
A．humorous B．hateful C．ridiculous D．critical
During Christmas break from college, a young man wanted to borrow his father's car to drive to a New Year's Eve __16__ to be held in Vermont. The father was __17__ about the son hitting one of the roadblocks that people set up all over the place on New Year's Eve. The __18__ that was reached was that the son would be allowed to use the car, but he would not drink at all.
So he drove to Vermont, got completely __19__ and attempted to drive home. On the way home he hit a roadblock. He was told to __20__ the car and stand in a line of people that were being given the infamous sobriety (not drunk) __21__. However, the policeman __22__ him out. He was __23__ standing off to the side while the others were __24__ the police officer how well they could walk a __25__ line, etc.
At 7:00 a.m., his father got up to answer the __26__. There were __27__ policemen there. They asked him if he was the __28__ of that red FIAT. He replied, "Yes, I am," One of the policemen asked him if he was driving the car the evening before and he said that his son had been the driver.
When the young man __29__ himself in front of the policemen, he knew he was in some sort of __30__. Upon questioning, he __31__ that he was driving the car, but when asked if he had been __32__, he said, "No!" When the policemen asked if he could see his car, he was unable to remember the __33__. He said that it was in the garage.
And when the four of them walked out to look at the car，instead of looking at the car he had driven the __34__ before, they saw a __35__ car parked there.
1. A．party B．meeting C．concert D．sports meeting
2. A．sure B．worried C．curious D．anxious
3. A．suggestion B．condition C．conclusion D．agreement
4. A．excited B．tired C．drunk D．pleased
5. A．stop B．get out of C．drive D．get into
6. A．punishment B．test C．education D．talk
7. A．gave B．made C．missed D．found
8. A．considered B．required C．suggested D．left
9. A．showing B．explaining C．asking D．telling
10. A．long B．straight C．calm D．direct
11. A．telephone B．call C．doorbell D．question
12. A．two B．many C．four D．one
13. A．manager B．father C．student D．owner
14. A．stood B．found C．put D．took
15. A．trouble B．test C．danger D．accident
16. A．believed B．told C．admitted D．said
17. A．driving B．hurting C．missing D．drinking
18. A．drive B．test C．time D．line
19. A．day B．morning C．afternoon D．night
20. A．similar B．familiar C．police D．damaged
To make a string picture, first draw the outline on a card, then spread the glue _____ you want to attach the string,
A．to which B．on which C．where D．that
One advantage of eating a balanced breakfast is ______ it can keep you energetic throughout the day.
A．when B．how C．that D．whether
