So much to do, so little time. So much information, so little time to read it. In this age there is more information than ever before. There is not enough time to read everything we want to read. However, you can consume more information in shorter time through speed-reading.
The first thing about speed-reading is looking at the word and recognizing it. Don’t say the word in your mind, just look at it and recognize its importance. Later you will recognize clumps of four words or more to increase your speed. This is the first and most important step in speed-reading.
The next step is technique. As with any other skill, speed-reading requires technique. You should first be sitting up straight with your book flat on a horizontal (水平的) surface such as a table or a desk. Next, you should be able to see the entire page. This is necessary if you want to recognize clumps of words. Lastly, you should be focused. It is hard to read with a lot of noise. Find a quiet place to read. This will help your understanding of the text.
You need something to guide your eyes while reading. You should use your finger. Move your finger smoothly across the page. Keep your eyes focused on the words as you recognize them while using your finger as a guide. This will increase your speed.
The third step is practice. Practice makes perfect. Read using different techniques, but make sure you understand what you are reading.
1.From the first paragraph, we know that _______.
A. there is more limited information than ever before
B. conditions ask people to use less time to know more information
C. people can read what they like
D. the less you read, the more time you will spend
2.Which of the following shows the RIGHT time order for speed-reading according to the passage?
a. Ask for more technique.
b. Look at many words and recognize them.
c. Practise more.
A. c, a, b B. c, b, a C. b, a, c D. a, c, b
3.The underlined part “you should be focused” in the third paragraph means that .
A. a person should devote all his attention to reading
B. your feelings will be hurt while reading
C. a person should forget his difficulties while reading
D. you should pay attention to your faults while reading
4.To speed up your reading, you could .
A. use something to guide your eyes
B. say every word out loud
C. know it is necessary to read quickly
D. underline some important words while reading
Mosquitoes have an extraordinary ability to target humans far away and fly straight to their unprotected skin. Regrettably, mosquitoes can do more than cause an itchy(发痒的)wound. Some mosquitoes spread several serious diseases, including Dengue, yellow fever and malaria.
Over one million people worldwide die from these diseases each year. New research now shows how mosquitoes choose who to bite.
Mosquitoes need blood to survive. They are attracted to human skin and breath. They smell the carbon dioxide gas, which all mammals breathe out. This gas is the main way for mosquitoes to know that a warm-blooded creature is nearby.
But mosquitoes also use their eyes and sense of touch. Michael Dickinson is a professor at the California Institute of Technology. His research shows how these small insects, with even smaller brains, use three senses to find a blood meal.
Michael Dickinson’s team used plumes—a material that rises into the air of carbon dioxide gas into a wind tunnel. They then used cameras to record the mosquitoes. The insects followed the plume.
Then, the scientists placed dark objects on the lighter colored floor and walls of the tunnel. Mr Dickinson said, at first, the mosquitoes showed no interest in the objects at all.
“What was quite striking and quite surprising is that the mosquitoes fly back and forth for hours. These are hungry females and they completely ignore the objects on the floor and wall of the tunnel. But the moment they get a hit of CO2, they change their behavior quite obviously and now would become attracted to these little visual blobs (斑点).”
This suggested to the researchers that a mosquito’s sense of smell is more important in the search for food. Once mosquitoes catch a smell of a human or animal, they also follow visual signals.
1.What do mosquitoes mainly use to find their targets?
A. Sense of smell. B. Sense of touch.
C. Sense of sight. D. Smart brains.
2.The first response of the mosquitoes to the objects in the experiment is .
A. to fly to the dark ones
B. to catch and stick to them
C. to take no notice of them
D. to attach themselves to them
3.How can we avoid being attacked by mosquitoes according to the text ?
A. Don’t let them see us.
B. Use dark objects to stop them.
C. Make them fly back and forth for hours.
D. Attract them to objects full of carbon dioxide gas.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. How Do Mosquitoes Survive?
B. Why Do Mosquitoes Need Blood?
C. How Do Mosquitoes Choose to Bite You?
D. Why Do Mosquitoes Attack the Human Being?
You might think Hawaii is only for honeymoons, but there are various family-based activities and attractions.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
What makes this park unique is the opportunity to see an active volcano, Kilauca. Within the park, there is a visitor center, the Jagger Museum, the Volcano House containing a gift shop, a restaurant and a hotel, and the Volcano Art Center Gallery. The park is open every day. The entrance fee is $10 per car.
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park
Visitors can take a self-guided tour that includes ancient sites. There is also a reconstructed temple as well as examples of traditional Hawaiian canoes. The park is open from 6 am to 8 pm during the week and until 11 pm on weekends and holidays. The visitor center is open from 9 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee for the park is $5.
Dolphin Twilight Camp at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
The camp, for children aged from 5 to 12, consists of four hours of fun including dolphin playtime, a pirate treasure hunt, a picnic dinner and a twilight camp T-shirt. The admission price is $120 for the first child and $105 for each additional one.
The Parker Ranch (大牧场)
Here visitors can learn about the history and culture of one of the largest cattle ranches in the United States. To see the ranch itself, take the 45-minute carriage tour. Tickets to the carriage tour are $15 for adults and $12 for children under 12. The museum fee is $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children.
Sea Turtles at Punalu’u Beach Park
Punalu’u Beach Park is famous for its beautiful black sand beach. Green Sea Turtles, an endangered species, inhabit this beach and Hawksbill Turtles, another endangered species, sometimes nest here as well. Swim, relax and enjoy island life, without any charge.
1.What do the first two attractions have in common?
A. A museum. B. A visitor center.
C. An active volcano D. A reconstructed temple.
2.Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?
A. You are forbidden to take a guide tour in the Historic Park.
B. You should pay 240 dollars for two children for the twilight camp.
C. The major activity in the Parker Ranch is to learn how to raise cattle.
D. You can take the carriage tour to have a good view in the Parker Ranch.
3.If you don’t want to spend any money in your trip, you can visit_______.
A. the Parker Ranch
B. the Hilton Vaikoloa Village
C.Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
D. Punalu’u Beach Park
4.What is the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To introduce some popular activities and sites in Hawaii.
B. To share the exciting experience in Hawaii.
C. To show people the importance of visiting Hawaii.
D. To introduce some camping activities in Hawaii.
Uncle Tom gave little Vicki Black a birthday gift one week before her birthday. He told her not to open it until her birthday. She knew her mother wouldn't tolerate any disrespect to the kind man who helped them out after Vicki's father passed away. Besides, Vicki didn't want to get Uncle Tom angry. But little Vicki didn't want to just hold it and guess what was in it. After all, she looked forward to his coming to show her interesting things, like how to turn an old sock into a doll.
All the day, Vicki couldn't stop thinking about the gift. While her teacher was giving a lecture, Vicki sat still in her seat, drawing paper dolls inside the box. When school was done, she raced home. Walking into the room, again, she shook the present, but she heard nothing. Holding her breath, she opened the box and looked inside. Seconds later, she cried. When Mrs Black saw the box, she said angrily, "Didn't I tell you to leave it alone?"
Vicki sobbed (抽泣) and said, "Mommy, you don't understand."
"Don't cry to me. You have missed everything now, just because you couldn't wait," Mrs Black accused. "What will Uncle Tom think now?"
"Uncle Tom gave me nothing," Vicki cried and handed the empty box to her mother. "He played a trick on me."
Mrs Black said doubtfully, "Uncle Tom is not like that. You must have dropped it."
Vicki kept crying. Only a rapid knock on the door made the house quiet. It was Uncle Tom. He looked at the empty box. "You have already done it? I told you to wait for your birthday."
"You didn't give me a gift." Fresh tears filled her eyes.
"I try to give you something. I know your birthday is a special day. I tell myself to give you something valuable to last your whole life. I think hard and get an idea to give you an important lesson. If you open it on birthday, I see you learn. Then I will make a big party to celebrate, Maybe next year you listen, and then you will understand the gift better."
Vicki's cheeks flushed (发红).
1.We can learn from the text that Vicki .
A. often received gifts from her father
B. expected Uncle Tom to give her something expensive
C. was sad because of her father’s death
D. liked and respected Uncle Tom
2.What kink of person is Uncle Tom?
A. Thoughtful B. Humorous C. Mysterious D. Funny
3.What did Uncle Tom want to teach Vicki?
A. How to respect others
B. The meaning of gifts
C. How to deal with gifts
D. The value of a promise
书面表达
假如你是中学生李华，你收到正在学习汉语的美国笔友Peter的电子邮件，说他在汉语学习中遇到了困难，感到非常着急。请根据以下要点给他回信并提出建议，帮他来解决这方面的困难。
1.不要担忧，要有信心。
2.给自己更多练习汉语的机会。
3.让自己浸泡在汉语的环境当中。
要求：1.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。 2.词数：100词左右。
3. 邮件的开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Peter,
I have received your letter.
Yours,
Li Hua
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文， 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加: 在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除: 把多余的词用斜线( \ )划掉。
修改: 在错词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意: 1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I've learned from the newspaper that your company is looking for receptionist. I’m very interesting in the job and I’d like to apply to the position.
First of all, allow me to introduce myself. I had just graduated from high school and taken the University Entrance Examination. I want to find out a part-time job this summer. I'm 18 year old and have a good command of English, especial in terms of speaking and listening. In fact, I once won the first prize in the English speech competition hold in our school. Besides, I'm quite easy-going but therefore very popular among my classmates.
I sincerely hope you can give us a chance. I’m looking forward to your early reply.
