In recent years, yoga(瑜珈) has become popular with people for its health. Because of the focus on the physical sides of yoga, like postures and breathing, few people realize that they are taking part in an ancient practice, developing from Indian religion.
Yoga originated in India in the sixth century B. C, when people were trying to answer questions about the nature of the self and the soul. It started as a practice only done by ascetics (僧人). So it was not something that the ordinary people did.
Yoga is not only a physical practice but also a mental practice, designed to reduce the focus on the external (外部), said Whitney Sanford, professor of religious studies. Most people pay much attention to daily existence and as a result, they lead busy lives, while yoga provides people with a technique to cut off their devotion to the external.
Samantha Tam said that practicing yoga improved her flexibility and treated her injuries. “Every time after practicing yoga, I always felt really relaxed and was in a good mood,” she said.
Yoga was probably introduced on a popular level in America in the 1960s and 1970s,when Western people began to show curiosity about other religions. Now most people pursue yoga to relieve stress, and fair numbers of people are simply curious.
1.According to the passage, yoga was originally performed for .
A. its health B. relaxed and healthy life
C. religious reasons D. the need of the soul
2.Yoga is the following EXCEPT .
A. a physical practice B. a mental practice
C. a way of paying attention to the external D. a way of reduing the focus on the external
3.Today, people do yoga for many reasons EXCEPT .
A. to get rid of stress B. to treat injuries
C. to satisfy their curiosity D. to become a hindu(印度人)
When I first entered high school, I knew no one at my school. All my friends, in middle school went to other schools. I wanted to make some new friends. However, I was shy and wasn’t good at making new friends.
On my first day at school, I looked at others who were talking in groups happily. How I wish I were one of them! I guess I was very lucky then. At lunch in the dinning hall, when I was eating at a table alone, a girl came to me. “Excuse me, is this seat taken?” she asked. I immediately shook my head. She smiled and sat down opposite to me. I felt a little awkward and didn't know what to say at all, but I really wanted to communicate with her. It was a good opportunity to make friends, with her. When I looked up, I found she was smiling at me. Her smile calmed me down. “I really like this school. It’s beautiful, but I don't know anyone here. All my friends went to other schools,” said the girl. Hearing her words, I immediately said, “My friends are not here either. Can we be friends?” I was surprised. I couldn't believe I would say something like that, and to my surprise, that girl immediately said “yes”. We both smiled. We became very good friends.
Now it’s the beginning of a new term again. Many students may have no friends at their new schools. If you are also as shy as I used to be, please don’t be afraid to talk to others. You may get a surprise and make a new friend. After all, others want to make new friends, too.
1.We know on her first day at school, the author .
A. only knew a few people at her school
B. hoped she could make some new friends
C. met some old friends at her new school
D. hoped she could go to her old friends schools
2.The underlined word“awkward”in Paragraph 2 is close in meaning to “ ”.
A. bored B. excited
C. embarrassed D. interested
3.What did the girl do after the author asked if they could become friends?
A. She agreed at once.
B. She thought for a long time.
C. She felt a little down.
D. She sat down in no time.
4.What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A. To show that high school is really exciting.
B. To tell us how lucky she was in high school.
C. To encourage shy people to talk to others.
D. To advise us to have a good first day in high school.
Letter One
Dear Editor,
After I finish my homework, I often go online and chat with my friends. Sometimes I play computer games. But my parents hate to see me playing games on the computer. Maybe they have heard too much news about how QQ and computer games harm children. Once I went to a net bar(网吧) to play games after school. But after that I told my parents that I was playing basketball at school. I said so because I didn't want to make them unhappy. I feel bad about it. However, I need to rest for a while by playing computer games after studying for a long time. I really want my parents to understand that. Do foreign parents do the same to their children? Please help me.
Li Ping, Beijing
Letter Two
Dear Li Ping,
I don't think it's strange for parents to keep their children away from anything bad. Foreign parents will do the same as your parents! They may not let their children watch TV for too long a time,or like your parents,they don't want their children to play computer games.
Talk to your parents and be honest to them, I think. Tell them what you are doing and why you are doing so to make them understand you. It's never good to do things behind your parents. They aren't fools as you think sometimes! Our parents seem to know what is the best for us.
Remember: to be honest is the best way.
Good luck,
Rebecca
1.From the passage we can learn that Li Ping often ________.
A. talks with his friends on the Internet
B. plays basketball after school
C. plays computer games at home
D. chats online before homework
2.The boy goes online ________.
A. to get news on QQ B. just to have a rest
C. to show he hates study D. to make new friends
3.The underlined sentence in Letter Two means “________”.
A. You must do everything in front of your parents
B. You must always listen to your parents carefully
C. You should not do anything that makes your parents worry about you
D. You should tell your parents what you do before or after doing it
4.The editor thinks ________.
A. children should play computer games in the net bar secretly.
B. playing computer game can be very helpful to children’s studies
C. children should be honest and try to make their parents understand them
D. foreign parents don’t care for their children as much as Chinese parents
Here are four of the best soccer movies, chosen after considering their ratings(排名) from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
Looking for Eric
The 2009 movie is a comedy-drama that shows the friendship between a postman and the former soccer player Eric Cantona, who gives life advice to his fan. Steve Evets played the role of the postman, Eric Bishop, while Cantona played himself.
Shaolin Soccer
The 2001 film is a sports comedy that tells the story of a Shaolin follower who forms a soccer team with his brothers. The whole team gains popularity for the players’ martial arts(武术) skills. Stephen Chow, Ng Man-tat, and Wong Yat-fei played the leading roles of the movie.
The Damned United
The movie, produced in 2009, tells the story of Brian Clough, a coach of the English soccer team, Leeds Untied, in 1974. Michael Sheen starred as manager Clough.
Gregory’s Girl
Being one of the first movies about soccer, Gregory’s Girl tells the story of a teenage couple who fall in love while playing on the same team. It is a comedy movie produced in 1981, which starred John Gordon Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, and Clare Grogan.
1.Who played the role of the soccer player Eric Cantona?
A. Steve Evets. B. Eric Bishop.
C. Eric Cantona. D. Michael Sheen.
2.The players on Shaolin soccer team became popular because of their .
A. gift for soccer B. friendship
C. love stories D. martial arts skills
3.When was the movie telling the story of a soccer coach produced?
A. In 2009. B. In 2001.
C. In 1974. D. In 1981.
4.Which of the following is among the first movies about soccer?
A. Looking for Eric. B. Shaolin Soccer.
C. The Damned United. D. Gregory’s Girl.
Read the passage and fill in the blanks with proper words or the proper forms of the given words.
You must practice your language skills, 1. there is no point learning. There are many different things 2. (do) for each of the four parts of language learning.
Practicing reading does not have to be difficult. If you are learning French, then next time you go to France, buy a lot of 3. (newspaper) and books. Read them — it is as simple as that. If you read with a dictionary next to you, you are able to look up words when you don’t know them and at least follow 4. is said.
Practicing writing does not have to be too tricky. A good test 5. (see) if your writing is making sense is to ask for replies. You could write to tourist information offices asking for brochures about their town, or to hotels asking for details of prices. 6. a reply comes back to you containing the information you requested, you will feel happy as your practice is paying off.
Practicing speaking skills is perhaps the most 7. (interest) experience because you get the chance to interact (互动) with others. Of course, the best way to practice is to visit the country 8. the language is spoken.
The practice of listening skills tends to go hand in hand with speaking. If you are able to do any of the above, such as going on holiday or chatting with a native speaker, then the listening practice will follow 9. (nature). But if not, you can buy or borrow tapes of people speaking the language.
You can also listen to rented DVDs 10. the language with and without subtitles (字幕) to help your learning along.
Choosing the right computer depends on _____ you want to use it for.
A. how B. who
C. what D. that
