It is one of the most annoying words in the English language and it seems there is no escaping it. The word "huh?”is in worldwide use, a study found.
Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include "huh?", or something that sounds very like it. They said that while the study may sound silly. The word is an absolutely necessary part of speech. Without it and similar words, it would be impossible to show that we haven't heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings.
But while other words used in the same context, such as “sorry” or “what”, vary widely across languages, “huh?” remains unchanged.
The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world, including Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, and an Australian Aboriginal language, as well as Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Mandarin Chinese.
They analyzed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like “huh?” and were used to request that whatever had just been said be repeated. All contained a version of “huh?”. The word was also found in another 21 languages. While there were subtle differences in each country, all sounded basically the same.
This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing. For instance, the Japanese for dog is “inu”, while the French is “chien”.It is thought that
languages around the world have developed their own version of “huh?” because the sound is quick and simple to form, as well as being easily understood.
The researchers, said that it might seem unimportant to carry out scientific research into a word like “huh?” but in fact this little word is an essential tool in human communication. They also have an answer for those who claim that “huh?” isn't a word. They say that it qualifies because of the small differences in its pronunciation in different languages. It also can be considered a word because it's something we learn to say, rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make.
1.According to researchers, the word “huh?” is very important in speech because of .
A. its stable meaning in language development.
B. its important function in communication
C. its simple and easy sound and spelling
D. its popularity in every language
2.What is the natural response if you hear the lady you're speaking to say "huh?"?
A. You should ask her to repeat what she says before that.
B. You should apologize to her for speaking in a low voice.
C. You should invite her to share her different views politely.
D. You should try to repeat what you've just said in a clearer way.
3.The main method used in the research of "huh?”was .
A. interviewing language experts in universities.
B. talking with people from ten different countries.
C. analyzing the recorded conversations in different languages.
D. comparing different words with the same meaning in different languages.
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To inform readers about research on the worldwide used word "huh?"
B. To argue that “huh?” is the most important word in every language
C. To entertain readers by relating similar idioms in different languages
D. To instruct readers of the differences of "huh?”in different languages
The National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum is a word-renowned cultural attraction that draws thousands of visitors each year. This institution examines the civil rights struggles faced by both our city and our nation throughout the history.
The Lorraine Motel:
Today the National civil rights Museum is partially housed in the Lorraine Motel’s history, however is a short and sad one. It opened in 1925 and was originally a “white” establishment. By the end of World War II, however, the motel had become minority-owned. It was for this reason that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed at the Lorraine when he visited Memphis in 1968.Dr.King was assassinated on the balcony of his hotel room on April 4th of that year. Following his death, the motel struggled to remain in business. By 1982,the Lorraine Motel went into foreclosure(抵押品赎回权).
Saving the Lorraine:
With the future of the Lorraine Motel uncertain, a group of local citizens formed the Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation for the only purpose of saving the motel. The group raised money, solicited donations, took out a loan, and partnered Lucky Heart Cosmetics to purchase the motel for $144, 000 when it was up for auction. With the help of the city of Memphis, Shelby County, and the state of Tennessee, enough money was then raised to plan, design, and build what would eventually become the National Civil Rights Museum.
The Birth of the National Civil Rights Museum:
In 1987, construction began in a civil rights center housed within the Lorraine Motel. The center was intended to help its visitors better understand the events of the American Civil Rights Movement. In 1991,the museum opened its doors to the public. Ten years later, the ground was broken again for a multi-million-dollar expansion that would add 12,800 square feet space. The expansion would also connect the museum to the Young and Morrow Building and the Main Street Rooming House where James Earl Ray purportedly fired the shot that killed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Exhibits: The exhibits at the National Civil Rights Museum illustrate chapters of the fight for civil rights in our country in order to promote better understanding of the struggles involved. Included in the exhibits are photographs, newspaper accounts, and three-dimensional scenes depicting civil rights events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Lunch Counter Sit-Ins.
1.The underlined word “assassinated” (in Paragraph 2) probably means .
A. arrested. B. murdered.
C. assisted. D. accompanied.
2.It can be inferred from the third paragraph that .
A. Lucky Hearts Cosmetics tried to build the museum
B. the government was against the plan of the motel
C. the motel was sold in order to raise more money
D. the local people found a memorial foundation to save the motel
3.What probably happened to the National Civil Rights Museum in 2001?
A. An extension was added to the museum.
B. Many visitors traveled to the Lorraine Motel.
C. The civil rights center was built.
D. James Earl Ray killed Dr.Martin Luther King,
4.Which of the following can help visitors to know more about the National Civil Rights Museum?
A. The treasures. B. The souvenirs.
C. The items on display. D. The magazines.
Dessi Sieburth's love of birds started about six years ago. Now, he has his own group called Protecting Our Birds.Recently,Dessi,14 years old, chatted with TFK about his work and goals for the future.
TFK:
What is Protecting Our Birds?
DESSI：
Birds are citizens of the world, so they need protection. I basically try to do conservation work to help birds get protected throughout the world. I recently wrote an article about a bird called the bartailed godwit(斑尾）.I interviewed a biologist named Nils Warnock, who had studied the bartailed godwit. He expressed the concern about the threat that the bartailed godwit is facing. I wrote an article about his answers to the questions, which is published on the American Birding Association Website.
TFK:
What impelled you to start this project?
DESSI:
When I was eight years old, our class had to do a woodworking project, so I chose a bird feeder(喂食盒). I didn't like birds at the time. I made the feeder, filled it up with seed, put it in my backyard and then the birds started coming. I got really interested in birds as more came. I later got involved in my local Audubon Society, which is devoted to conserving and restoring natural ecosystems. It really got me into birds and I realized bird populations were declining, and many are becoming endangered quite rapidly. I wanted to help them, so I started the project.
TFK:
What are some future projects you plan to work on?
DESSI：
I live in L.A., where there are a lot of parrots. Most of the parrots' native range is in Mexico, but they’re really declining there because of habitat loss. I want to study the parrots and help them in their native range in Mexico, so they can start increasing again.
TFK:
How can people learn more about Protecting Our Birds and the work you're doing?
DESSI：
I have a website. It's my free website about protecting our birds. There people can learn about what I do and how to help birds.
1.What's Nils Warnock's attitude to the bartailed godwit?
A. Worried. B. Changing.
C. Uncertain. D. Optimistic.
2.When did Dessi start his project “Protecting Our Birds”?
A. After he prepared a feeder for birds.
B. After he interviewed Nils Warnock.
C. After he studied parrots in Mexico.
D. After he joined a local association.
3.What will Dessi probably do next?
A. Write articles about birds in danger.
B. Help parrots losing the natural home.
C. Set up a website to teach how to help birds.
D. Recreate his own conservation organization.
假定你是李华，你通过MSN得知去年在你校的外籍教师Jack Wood回国后在打篮球时摔倒，严重伤了右肩，你很挂念他的伤情并告知他你看到了他的博客(Traveling Along the Old Silk Road China)。请你依据以下内容给他写一封信，内容主要包括：
1．慰问他的伤情；
2．简要评论他的博客；
3．简要告知对他英语教学的感受。
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
Dear Jack Wood,
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Sincerely yours,
Li Hua
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：把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：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改的词。
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。
A woman was in a business trip. She stayed in a big and comfort hotel. But every day, she had lots of meetings to attend to, which made her very tiring. One Saturday afternoon, she decided to sunbathe to relax. So she went to the top of the hotel in her swimsuit and lay down on roof.
After about an hour of sunbathing, she heard someone come up to the roof. It is the manager of the hotel. He said, "Excuse me, Miss, but do you mind sunbathe somewhere else?" "Why?" the woman asked, "I'm on top of the hotel…Everybody can see me!" The man answered, "That's true, and you are lying on the window above the dining room. All of the guest can see you right above them！"
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Vegetarianism（素食主义）is becoming one rising trend in the UK, as more people are deciding not 1.(eat) meat and animal products. Vegetarians are people who don't eat meat, while vegans are people who don't eat or use any animal products at all. These lifestyles 2.(become) more well-known in the UK. 3. are Britons cutting out meat? Many are unhappy about the poor treatment of animals and the effects of meat and fish production 4. the environment. 5.(worry) about food safety and foodborne illnesses, such as mad cow disease, have also played a part. Others choose to change their eating habits in order to become 6. (healthy). According to the Vegetarian Society, a meat-free diet can help reduce 7. risk of certain cancers, as well as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Organic farming is 8. rising trend that is appearing in the UK. Many people are rejecting genetically modified（转基因的）food and want their food to be 9.(organic) produced. Organic farmers use very few or no chemicals. Organic meat 10.(produce) without the use of drugs.
