Windows8, apart from Windows95, is the biggest surprise and the only version of Microsoft’s operating system that has been changed from the core（核心）when compared to its former one.
However, a recent study has shown that under 20% of business owners would be willing to upgrade to the new version of Windows. The reason for this remains to be discussed and debated, and we will try to throw light on this research by providing you with some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of Windows8.
Generally speaking, there are a great number of plus sides related to upgrading from Windows7 to Windows8.
Speed—This is the biggest advantage to mention. Boot time has been reported to be up to nine times shorter than that with Windows7.
New passwords—Instead of typing your passwords, Windows8 will let you use gestures on your favorite photos to enter your password. This is not only practical but also extremely cool!
Windows8 experience—Apart from computers, Windows8 will be used on all devices, including smart phones, tablet PCs and so on. Also, owing to the fact that it has been specifically designed with touch screen users in mind, Windows8, besides using keyboard and mouse, will offer a whole new user experience.
However, there are still some disadvantages.
The first one that has to be mentioned is that there is no Start Menu from Windows. Yes, there is no Start button in the lower left corner, and this might be a real puzzle of many Windows users. Also, many users have had a problem to get used to the new interface introduced by Windows8. The biggest problem that is worth noticing is that Windows8 was originally designed for touch screen users, and this may have a bad effect on desktop users who have gotten used to doing everything with the help of their keyboard and mouse.
1.What does “plus sides” in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?
A. Math symbols. B. Strengths.
C. New rules. D. Messages.
2.According to the text the greatest advantage of Windows8 is its ______.
A. complex passwords B. high speed
C. unique experience D. new interface
3.From the text we can learn that Windows8 ______.
A. no longer requires a password
B. was upgraded from windows95
C. will be popular with desktop users
D. can be used on more than computers
4.Many Windows8 users face the problem that ______.
A. Start Menu is hidden in the lower left corner
B. they have to use fingerprints instead of button
C. keyboard and mouse can’t be used any longer
D. they don’t get accustomed to the new interface
It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams, the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life, but manners on the road are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel. It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver’s seat is another matter.
Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most cool-headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarreling and fighting. A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and calm and becomes so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such behaviors of politeness are by no means enough. Many drivers nowadays don’t even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it．
However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who waves to a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may be not able to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they want to.
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings. Unfortunately, modern drivers can’t even learn to drive, let alone master good skills. Years ago, experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-take from all road users. It is time for all of us to take this message to heart．
1.The passage mainly talks about ______.
A. road politeness B. traffic jams
C. good manners D. modern drivers
2.According to the writer, a good driver should ______.
A. beat back when forced to face rude driving
B. be able to recognize politeness when he sees it
C. encourage old ladies to cross the roads whenever they want to
D. join in traffic stream quickly however other people feel
3.The following statements are right EXCEPT that ______.
A. some modern drivers are not good at driving
B. road politeness is good sense as well as good manners
C. it is also right to have a tiger in the driver’s seat
D. a friendly driver should nod or wave thanks in answer to an act of politeness
Do the exercise15 through 25. Give the different forms of the verbs on page50 of your French workbook. Read page12 through 20 of the Shakespeare play, and when you have finished that, don’t forget to fill the missing chemical symbols on the Periodic Table of Elements worksheet.
Homework is a major part of going to class, and it helps students grasp important concepts. Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework less painful.
First, be sure you understand the assignment. Write it down in your notebook or day planner if you need to, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about what is expected. It is much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later at night!
Second, use any extra time you have in school to work on your homework. Many schools have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study or get homework done. It is attractive to hang out with friends during study periods or unscheduled time, but the more work you can get done in school, the less you will have to do at night.
Third, pace yourself. If you don’t finish your homework during school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your time. Most high school students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it is a heavy-homework day and it seems like you have got an assignment on every subject but gym and lunch, you will need to devote more time to homework schedule, especially if you are involved in sports or activities or have an after-school job.
1.The first paragraph is probably ______.
A. examination items
B. a list of homework
C. some teacher training tasks
D. some learning methods
2.What is the author’s attitude towards homework’s effect on students?
A. Opposing. B. Impatient.
C. Approving. D. Concerned.
3.One way to reduce your burden of homework at night is to ______.
A. take part in studying teams
B. appeal for teachers’ aid at any time
C. focus full attention on teachers’ lecture
D. make full use of the time at school
4.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A. Why Students Should Do Homework
B. How to Make Homework Less Work
C. It is High Time Teachers Gave Less Homework
D. Who is to Blame for Children’ s Poor Eyesight
It was unusually quiet in the emergency room on December 25.
I was the nurse on duty that day. I didn’t think there would be any patients, sighing about having to work on Christmas. Just then five bodies showed up at my desk, a pale woman and four small children.
“Are you all sick?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said weakly and lowered her head.
But when it came to descriptions of their problems, things got a little unclear. Two of the children had headaches, but the headaches weren’t accompanied by the normal body language of holding the head or trying to keep it still. Two children had earaches, but only one could tell me which ear was affected. The mother complained of a cough but seemed to work to produce it.
Something was wrong, but I didn’t say anything but explained that it might be a little while before a doctor saw her. She responded, “Take your time; it’s warm here.”
Then I checked the chart after the admitting clerk had finished registering the family. No address—they were homeless. The waiting room was warm.
I looked out at the family gathering close together by the Christmas tree. The little one was pointing at the television and saying something to her mother. The oldest one was looking at something on the Christmas tree.
I went back to the nurses’ station and mentioned we had a homeless family in the waiting room. The nurses, complaining about working on Christmas, began to feel pity for a family just trying to get warm on Christmas. The team went into action, much as we do when there’s a medical emergency. But this one was a Christmas emergency.
We were all offered a free meal in the hospital cafeteria on Christmas Day, so we claimed that meal and prepared a banquet for our Christmas guests. We needed presents. We put together oranges and apples in a basket. We collected from different departments candies, crayons and other things available that could be presents. As seriously as we met the physical needs of the patients that came to us that day, our team worked to meet the needs of a family who just wanted to be warm on Christmas Day.
Later, as the family walked to the door to leave, the four-year old came running back, gave me a hug and whispered, “Thanks for being our angels today.”
1.Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
A. Working on Christmas Day
B. Christmas Day is Coming
C. A Happy Family
D. A Pale Woman and Four Small Children
2.What kind of person do you think the author is?
A. Hardworking and outgoing
B. Serious and careful
C. Hardworking and warmhearted
D. Serious and stubborn
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Something was wrong with one of the children’ s head.
B. The pale woman forgot to write the address.
C. One of the children had a language problem.
D. The whole family pretended to be sick.
4.It can be inferred from the text that ______.
A. The author didn’t think there would be any patients on Christmas Day
B. The woman was uncomfortable when she lowered her head
C. The family appeared in the emergency room on Christmas Eve
D. The woman and four small children were satisfied and grateful
书面表达
假设你叫李华，现在在英国工作，你的朋友陈立写信告诉你他打算赴英留学，想知道初到英国可能会遇到的困难。请你用英语给他写一封回信，信的内容应包括：
1．可能会遇到的困难：语言方面的障碍，饮食的不习惯，想家孤独等；
2．鼓励他并表示愿意帮助他。
注意：1.词数100左右。
2．信的开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。
Dear Chen Li,
I'm glad to hear from you. You asked me about the difficulties you may meet with when you get here in the UK.
Yours，
Li Hua
短文改错
文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。 删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。 增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧）,并在其下面写出该加的词。 修改：在错的词下划一横线,在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1、每处错误及修改均仅限一词。 2、只允许修改10处,多者（从11处起）不计分。
When I began my senior high school years, I had difficulty to learning English. I dared not speak English in public because my poor pronounce. I could not get high marks, but I always used bad grammar. Afraid of be laughed at, I never put up my hand answer questions in class. When my English teacher Miss Li learned about this, she encouraged me and lend me a hand, which helped improving my English. With his help, I became interest in English and finally got high marks. Miss Li, like a shining star, shines on my path to success.
