Big messaging apps abroad
While WeChat is China's biggest mobile messaging app,there are many equivalent apps in other countries that offer similar features.
WhatsApp (US)
Users: more than 300 million
Platforms: Android,iOS,Windows Phone,BlackBerry
Features: Text chat,push-to-talk,file sharing,location sharing
With more than 300 million active users,WhatsApp is one of WeChat's biggest competitors.Developed by two ex-Yahoo employees in 2009,WhatsApp originally focused on text chat,but on Aug.6 it also started push-to-talk service.It's noted for its accessibility,ease of use and the absence of adverts.The service is free for the first year,after which $0.99 (6.06 yuan) is charged for a one-year subscription.
Kakao Talk (South Korea)
Users: more than 100 million
Platforms: Android,iOS,Windows Phone,BlackBerry and Bada (an operating system developed by Samsung)
Features: Text chat,group chat,push-to-talk,group calls,file sharing
With more than 100 million users in more than 230 countries,Kakao Talk is a multi-platform texting applicbtion that allows users to send and receive messages for free.With Kakao Talk,users can message each other one-on-one or in group chats with unlimited numbers of friends.You can also choose from more than 250 animated emoticons and share them with friends.
Line (Japan)
Users: more than 200 million
Platforms: Android,iOS,Windows Phone,BlackBerry and PC
Features: Text chat,group chat,push-to-talk,file sharing,location sharing,gaming,stickers
Line tops the list of the most downloaded free apps in 52 countries.Apart from text and voice messaging,Line provides its users with more than 250 original stickers and emoticons to buy from its own shop.In the first quarter of 2013 alone,it made $17 million just from stickers.The popular app also allows friends to battle each other in the LINE Game.
1.Compared with the other two apps,which of the following features makes Line stand out?
A.Group mobile games. B.Free emoticons.
C.Free download of the app. D.Text and group chat.
2.Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Users can always send and receive messages for free with WhatsApp.
B.Users can share files with any of the three apps.
C.Kakao Talk frees users from unwanted advertisjments.
D.Line ranks first in the list of the most downloaded apps in 52 countries.
3.In which part of the newspaper may this article be found?
A.Advertisement. B.Economy and Finance.
C.Entertainment. D.Science and Technology.
假定你是李华，美国交换生Linda 交流学习期满，即将回国，来信表示想带一些具有中国特色的工艺品(art craft)给美国的家人和朋友。请回复邮件推荐一至两样并说明推荐理由。
注意:1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Linda,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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。
删减:把多余的词用斜线( \ )划掉。
修改:在错词下面划一横线, 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。
Last Monday, our class hold a speech contest on the theme of thankfulness. Both of us took an active part in it because we were interesting in it. In beginning, our teacher made a speech, appeal to us to be thankful. After that, many participants impressed us on their wonderful performances. They expressed their love and appreciations to their parents, teachers and people who love them. I learned a lot of from this activity. There are many people around us who have helped us great. We should be grateful to them in return for which they have done for us.
I’ve always been attracted by the 1. (beautiful) of Chinese culture and its vast history. When we first arrived in China, my friend Tony and I expected a huge city 2. (fill) with modern buildings, busy streets and a crowded transport system. But we were pleasantly surprised.
The first thing 3. struck us was the space. Yes, Beijing is indeed huge, but its wide streets and green spaces made every area feel less crowded. Tian’anmen Square was the perfect example of this. The Forbidden City was 4. (surprise) clean and well preserved. Everywhere we looked, there were people 5. (tidy) and cleaning, which really left an 6. (impress) of national pride. We 7. (concern) that few people would speak English, even in Beijing. But we found it common for Chinese people to know a few words of English. The most exciting part of our visit was riding around in the sunshine and exploring the city 8. Ofo bikes.
It was great 9. (experience) Beijing’s landmarks in person after admiring 10. for so many years. This was our first visit to China, but certainly not our last.
Herman Travis, 55, lives in Holly Courts, a low-income neighborhood in San Francisco. Every Tuesday, Travis ______ a shopping cart with groceries from a local food bank (食品赈济站). Then he makes home _____ to his elderly and disabled ______. He started doing it in 2007 and when he first ______, people were doubtful. They didn’t welcome it as he had ______. “At first people were ______. They didn’t let me in. However, ______they got to really know me they would just be ______ to see me,” Travis once told me.
I am one of Travis’ neighbors who _____deliveries from him. Like everyone else, I ______ appreciate his help, and love to see the joy. Travis gets out of making his rounds. I’m______with the way he handled himself with the people here. He’s very kind and warm, always smiling, as if he’s ______ a favor for his own family. ______, people are happy when they see him coming, knowing they are treated with ______.
There are people in nearby_______that have been trying to steal Travis for years. They suggest ______ him to go and deliver food for them. But he simply wouldn’t do it for money.
What Travis does for us might be ______things, but he does them with big love. It’s_______ rewarding for himself. And for those of us who receive his ______every week, it is truly______. He’s a modern-day hero.
1.A.finds B.fills C.chooses D.defeats
2.A.deliveries B.projects C.productions D.sales
3.A.relatives B.customers C.neighbors D.colleagues
4.A.approached B.started C.knocked D.reacted
5.A.observed B.intended C.dreamed D.expected
6.A.cautious B.modest C.content D.considerate
7.A.before B.after C.because D.although
8.A.terrified B.confused C.ashamed D.excited
9.A.receive B.reduce C.find D.order
10.A.slightly B.obviously C.really D.exactly
11.A.bored B.disturbed C.attempted D.impressed
12.A.showing B.sharing C.doing D.making
13.A.Therefore B.However C.Otherwise D.Besides
14.A.admiration B.humor C.trust D.respect
15.A.cities B.houses C.neighborhoods D.countries
16.A.requesting B.paying C.expanding D.inspiring
17.A.small B.worthy C.emergent D.particular
18.A.visually B.physically C.spiritually D.occasionally
19.A.contribution B.curiosity C.patience D.kindness
20.A.soul-searching B.heart-warming C.eye-opening D.mind-blowing
Nowadays, many people love to travel. It is very common for people to go on a trip at any time.1. Perhaps, the reason for its present popularity is that more people have come to realize the benefits of traveling.
Traveling provides a good many opportunities for fun, adventure and discovery. When we visit other countries, we gain a better understanding of the people living there. We learn their cultures, history and background. We discover the similarities they have with us. 2. It is interesting to learn from people with different backgrounds.
Traveling helps to enrich our lives. 3. When we visit interesting places, we discover and learn many things. We discover new people, surroundings, plants and animals. If we want to make our travel more exciting and challenging, we can plan our own tour and select the specific places we want to visit.
Traveling is refreshing. It is a psychological necessity, especially for people who have stressful jobs.4. Staying at home during the weekend is not enough to make some people feel relaxed.5.It helps them to handle the stress they experience at work better. After the break , they feel more energetic in their work. For many working adults, regular getaways help them keep their energy and enthusiasm they require for their work. Without these breaks, they may suffer from work burnout.
A.Years of hard work finally pay off.
B.We also get to know their differences from us.
C.It increases our knowledge and widens our vision.
D.Some even consider traveling as part of their lifestyle.
E.In today’s society, many people suffer great stress at work.
F.Taking periodic (定期的) trips produces better results for them.
G.It is indeed a joyful thing to share the experience of a special trip with others.
