Traveling without a map in different countries，I find out about different “styles” of directions every time I ask “How can I get to the post office?”
Foreign tourists are often confused in Japan because most streets there don’t have name signs：in Japan，people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names．For example，the Japanese will say to travelers，“Go straight down to the corner．Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market．The post office is across from the bus stop．”
People in Los Angeles，the US，have no idea of distance on the map：they measure distance by time，not miles．“How far away is the post office?” you ask．“Oh,” they answer，“it’s about five minutes from here．” You don’t understand completely，“Yes，but how many miles away is it，please?” To this question you won’t get an answer，because most probably they don’t know it themselves．
People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because tourists seldom understand the Greek language．Instead，a Greek will often say,“ Follow me．”Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office．
Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question．What happens in the situation? A New Yorker might say，“Sorry, I have no idea．”But in Yucatan，Mexico，no one answers “I don’t know．” People there believe that “I don’t” is impolite．They usually give an answer，but often a wrong one．So a tourist can get lost very easily in Yucatan!
However，one thing will help you everywhere in the world．It’s body language．
1.Which of the following is probably an example of Japanese directions?
A．“Go south two miles．Turn west and then go another mile．”
B．“Turn right at the hospital and go past a school．”
C．“The post office is about five minutes from here．”
D．“The post office is at Street Kamira．”
2.Why don’t people in Los Angeles give directions in miles?
A．They use landmarks in their directions instead of distance．
B．They prefer to lead you the way．
C．They often have no idea of distance measured by miles．
D．They prefer to use body language．
3.How do Greeks give directions?
A．Using street names
B．Using landmarks
C．Leading people the way
D．Giving people a wrong direction
4.Where is Yucatan?
A．In the USA B．In Japan C．In Greece D．In Mexico
Wanted, Someone for a Kiss
We’re looking for producers to join us in the second of London 100FM. You’ll work on the station’s music programmes. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply(申请) in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss100.
Father Christmas
We’re looking for a very special person preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit.
Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December17 to December24 except Sunday, 10:30—16:00
Excellent pay.
Please contact(联系)the Enterprise Shopping Center, Station Parade, Eastbourne.
Accountants Assistant
When you join the them in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver of for somebody who has office experience.
Wealden District Council
Software Trainer
If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in programme writing. You will be allowed to make our decision, and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of ￡15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历) to Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.
1.Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station?
A. The Enterprise Shopping Centre
B. Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.
C. Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.
D. Wealden District Council.
2.We learn from the ads that the Enterprise Shopping Centre needs a person who ________________.
A is aged between 24 and 40
B. may do some training work
C. can work for about a month
D. should deal with general duties
3.which position is open to recent school graduates?
A. Producer, London Kiss.
B. Father Christmas.
C. Software Trainer
D. Accountants Assistant
Students from Florida International University in Miami walked on water Thursday for a class assignment. To do it，they wore aquatic (水上的)shoes they designed and created.
Alex Quinones was the first to make it to the other side of a 175－foot lake on campus in record time—just over a minute. Quinones，who wore oversized boat－like shoes，also won last year and will receive $ 500.
Students had to wear the aquatic shoes and make it across the lake in order to earn an “A” on the assignment for Architecture Professor Jaime Canaves'Materials and Methods Construction Class.“It's traditional in a school of architecture to do boats out of cardboard for a boat race. I thought our students were a little bit more special than that，” Canaves said.“We decided to do the walk on water event to take it to the next level.”
A total of 79 students competed in the race this year in 41 teams. Only 10 teams failed to cross the lake. Others who fell got back up and made it to the end. The race is open to all students and anyone in the community. The youngest person to ever participate was a 9－year－old girl who competed in place of her mother，while the oldest was a 67－year－old female.
A large crowd on campus joined Canaves as he cheered on the racers. He shouted encouraging words，but also laughed as some unsteadily made their way to the end.
“A part of this is for them to have more understanding of designing and make it work better，” he said. It is also a lesson in life for the students.
“Anything，including walking on water，is possible，if you do the research，test it and go through the design process seriously.
1.Which statement about Alex Quinones is true ?
A. He finished the race in less than a minute.
B. He won the race with the help of 2 boats.
C. He failed the race last year.
D. He set a new record this year.
2.For what purpose did the students take part in the race?
A. To go across the lake to school.
B. To test their balance on the water.
C. To pass Professor Canaves' class.
D. To win the prize money of $ 500.
3.Which of the following is true about the race?
A. The students who fell into the water had to quit.
B. More than 20 teams failed to cross the lake.
C. The students kept silent when the other racers competed.
D. The youngest competitor competed instead of her mother.
4.According to Canaves，this race can help the students .
A. understand designing better
B. achieve almost everything
C. work together and unite as one
D. walk on the surface of water
BEIJING — Rising smartphone star Xiaomi is moving upmarket and taking aim at Apple's iPhone. The Chinese maker known for low-priced phones on Thursday unveiled (发布) a new model that Chairman Jun Lei said is comparable to Apple's iPhone 6 but thinner, lighter and much cheaper. The phone starts at 2, 299 yuan ($375), less than half the 5,288 yuan ($ 865) price of an iPhone 6 in China.
Xiaomi, founded in 2010, passed South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. in the second quarter of last year as the best-selling smartphone brand in China by number of phones sold. The company is expanding into India and other developing markets but has yet to announce plans to enter the United States or Europe.
Xiaomi "is a respected brand that already has an Apple-like following" in China, said analyst Brian Blair, who tracks mobile device makers at Rosenblatt Securities. Apple is still a relatively small player in China, selling about 45 million iPhones there last year, Blair estimates, but will continue to grow.
"Apple is very much a premium (高端的) brand," said Blair. "The company that's more at risk is Samsung, which has been losing share in that market."
Privately held (私人控股的) Xiaomi said last year's sales tripled to 61. 1 million phones and revenue (收益) more than doubled to 74. 3 billion yuan ($12.2 billion). The company, based in Beijing, recently completed a round of fundraising from investors that it said valued Xiaomi at $ 45 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable technology brands.
Xiaomi ran into legal trouble in India in December after a court blocked sales while it hears a complaint by Sweden's LM Ericcson that the Chinese company violated its patents（专利）.
In a blog post earlier this month, Lei called the case a "rite of passage" (成年礼) for a young company.
1.Which of the following statements is true?
A. Xiaomi sold more cellphones than Samsung in 2010 in China.
B. Compared to Xiaomi, Apple's iPhone 6 is thinner and lighter.
C. Low-price is Xiaomi's advantage over Apple's iPhones.
D. The company is expanding into the United States or Europe.
2.What can be inferred from the passage according to Brian Blair?
A. More than 45 million iPhones will be sold this year.
B. Xiaomi can beat Apple in the market of China.
C. He thinks Xiaomi is superior to Apple.
D. Samsung will be closed for losing share in the market.
3.How is the 5th paragraph developed?
A. By giving examples.
B. By analyzing cause and effect.
C. By providing data.
D. By making comparisons.
4.What's the attitude of Jun Lei towards the case of Xiaomi in India?
A. Negative. B. Satisfied. C. Positive. D. Doubtful.
书面表达
假如你是学生会负责人，学校将在五月份与美国姊妹学校共同开展文化月活动，校报急需在学校内聘一位同学任英文版的编辑，请你用英文写一则招聘启事，并请感兴趣的同学于4月31日前与学生会联系。主要内容如下：
1.主要工作：
①从英文报刊杂志及互联网上选择有关中西方文化的文章；
②选择与编辑同学们的来稿。
2.应聘要求：
① 乐意奉献出一些业余时间为同学们服务；
② 英文与美术皆好；能熟练使用电脑。
注意：1. 词数100左右, 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数；
2. 可适当加入细节，以使充实、行文连贯，请勿提及真实学校名称。
A Cultural Month activity will be carried out in May between our school and our sister school in the USA.
The Students’ Union
阅读下面短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was severely lame and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. I would feel ashamed at the unwanted attention. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on, nor did he say anything about it.
It was difficult to coordinate(协调) our steps—his pausing, my impatience—and because of that, we didn’t say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you.”
Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and despite bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. A matter of pride.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help. At such times my sisters or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, NY, on a child’s sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would grasp the handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice-free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home.
When I think of it now, I wondered at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to subject himself to such indignity and stress. And at how he did it—without bitterness or complaint.
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know precisely what a “good heart” is. But I know the times I don’t have one myself.
My father has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my unwillingness to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about incident, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”.
At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, “You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you.”
1.What wouldn’t the author like others to see?(No more than 10 words)
_________________________________________________________________________
2.What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “let on” in the first paragraph? (No more than 5 words)
________________________________________________________________________
3.According to the third paragraph, what conclusion can you get about the father’s attitude toward his work? (No more than 8 words)
_________________________________________________________________________
4.Find an example in the passage that shows the father was a man with a “good heart”. (No more than10 words)
_________________________________________________________________________
5.What does the author learn from his father? (No more than 15 words)
_________________________________________________________________________
