I have been using the Internet since I was five years old, when my dad first sat me down in front of a computer and connected me to the World Wide Web.
I’ve always felt like a master of the Internet world. MSN, Gmail, Facebook, My space -- I’ve got it all under control. I thought there was nothing more to it besides checking my e-mail and wasting my time, until I was introduced to electronic commerce(e-commerce): business on the Internet.
Some online businesses are run from one-room home offices. Others have hundreds of employees across the world. Have you ever heard of Amazon.com, Yahoo.com?
My friends often said they got cheap textbooks on Amazon.com, or had a good deal (交易) on Steve Madden shoes that were on sale at SteveMaden.com. Unfortunately for me, I continued my “e-commerceless” Web-surfing, not knowing about all the deals I was missing out on.
That is, of course, until my sister finally sold the idea to me.
“Why are all these packages arriving in the mail for you, Katy?”I asked her one day. Strange envelopes (信封) had been put on our doorstep for weeks now, each one always addressed to my sister; and we all know little sisters should never be getting more mail than their elders!
“Oh, it’s the things I ordered online!” she answered. I watched speechlessly as she opened them. There was no way our parents were letting her spend that much money- online or off!
“How much did all of this cost?”
“Oh, only about $15 in all!”She said excitedly.“Everything on eBay is on sale! It’s a way better than going to the store.”
I felt as if there had been a store right in my backyard that I had never walked into! That week, I ordered a used Spanish textbook for my summer course online for 10 percent of the publishing price. A few days later, I bought an iPod protector and a book or two via the wonderful eBay.com.
1.From the first two paragraphs we can conclude that the writer___________.
A. had no experience using computers
B. had no idea of what e-commerce is
C. only enjoyed checking e-mail on the Internet
D. thought surfing the Internet was a waste of time
2.The writer didn’t find out about e-commerce until___________.
A. he stopped web-surfing
B. he visited a store in his backyard
C. his sister explained the packages she got by mail
D. his friends told him about the online deals they made
3.We can infer from the last paragraph that the writer____________________.
A. never enjoyed shopping that much
B. loves the big store in his backyard
C. feels he is a true master of the Internet
D. has begun to enjoy online shopping
4.What’s the purpose of the article?
A. To tell the readers how he begins online shopping.
B. To do business on the Internet.
C. To make an online shopping advertisement.
D. To advise people not to do online shopping.
Watching TV is a very popular pastime in the UK but what kind of programmes do British people like to watch? Well, the most-watched TV programmes every week are very popular dramas that are usually at least four times every week. They are dramas on one neighborhood that try to ordinary life in the UK --- we these dramas ‘soap operas’ or ‘soaps’.
In the early days of TV, there were often dramas on during the . Back in those days, it was for the husband to go out to work and for the wife to stay at home and the house and the children. Most of these daytime dramas were aimed at entertaining the who would traditionally be at home, probably doing the . Companies selling washing powder would 45 their products at times these dramas were on, and those companies would sponsor (赞助) the drama. As a result, the word “soap” appeared.
So what about the word opera? Well, that’s because these dramas are often an exaggeration (夸大) of real . They are supposed to represent ordinary lives to make them entertaining, lots of dramatic events murders, divorces, affairs etc, happen probably much more than they would in a normal neighbourhood.
Most soap operas these days are in the evening. There are lots of different soaps on in the UK but there are three main ones. ‘Coronation Street’ has been on since 1960. It is supposed to represent working class life. Then there’s“Eastenders’”which in 1985 and“Emmerdale”in the north of England.
1.A. on B. in C. at D. off
2.A. basing B. being based C. are based D. based
3.A. describe B. explain C. imagine D. predict
4.A. read B. say C. call D. think
5.A. day B. noon C. evening D. night
6.A. interesting B. traditional C. unusual D. polite
7.A. look for B. look over C. look out D. look after
8.A. husbands B. elders C. housewives D. children
9.A. washing B. cooking C. reading D. shopping
10.A. buy B. sell C. advertise D. suggest
11.A. until B. when C. before D. after
12.A. some time B. some times C. sometime D. sometimes
13.A. still B. yet C. so D. even
14.A. life B. dream C. place D. word
15.A. and B. but C. so D. or
16.A. for example B. as C. like D. such
17.A. carefully B. quickly C. suddenly D. regularly
18.A. shown B. given C. taken D. made
19.A. humorous B. popular C. sad D. happy
20.A. starts B. had started C. started D. has started
— It’s impossible to live without computers!
— _____ My parents never use computers and they’re living a happy life.
A. Why do you think so? B. I can’t agree more.
C.hat’s wrong with you? D. I am afraid so.
The mother looks upset outside the operating room, whose son _________ on.
A. is being operated B. is operated
C. has been operated D. was operated
_____ the days went on, my memories seemed to get worse.
A. With B. Since C. As D. While
I would appreciate________, to be honest, if goods could be sent as soon as possible.
A. you B. this C. it D. myself
