You can tell when people have a passion for something. Their eyes will _________ when they talk about it. They will _________ hours doing what excites them. My friend Marilyn has a passion for _________ She has developed her talent over the years _________ her love of music.

She would play at parties and church events _________ her passion with everyone. Over the years, many people _________ her and gave her the confidence that led to her producing a CD with a selection of her favorite _________.

Marilyn was in her 60’s when she _________ her first CD. Her voice seemed to _________ as she told me about it. You could hear her passion for music as she described the ____________ of recording the CD. She had ____________ been in a recording studio in her life, but now here she was recording a CD in a professional studio. Her passion brought her ____________.

What is your passion? Have you found it？ Have you developed it? There is nothing like talking about your passion and making it a ____________ . You do something that you have a love for and try to realize it. ____________ Eve Sawyer said, “Never underestimate the power of passion.” If you ____________ have a passion for something, you will ____________ a way to achieve it. Your passion will help you to ____________ the challenges and roadblocks as you start your ____________.

If you are not sure what your ____________ is, think of what makes you jump out of bed in the morning. What is the one thing that you ____________ to do? Find it and do it!

1.A.come up B.light up C.turn up D.wake up

2.A.waste B.save C.lose D.spend

3.A.music B.drawing C.sports D.science

4.A.instead of B.except for C.because of D.as for

5.A.keeping B.including C.hiding D.sharing

6.A.reminded B.encouraged C.requested D.forced

7.A.songs B.hobbies C.parties D.events

8.A.developed B.described C.produced D.sold

9.A.speak B.report C.cry D.dance

10.A.education B.experience C.relationship D.future

11.A.never B.ever C.often D.forever

12.A.fortune B.challenge C.wealth D.success

13.A.wonder B.fact C.reality D.secret

14.A.When B.As C.Though D.After

15.A.truly B.hardly C.slowly D.finally

16.A.cross B.reach C.form D.find

17.A.understand B.recognize C.face D.lose

18.A.adventure B.journey C.arrival D.performance

19.A.passion B.advantage C.chance D.failure

20.A.appear B.agree C.refuse D.love

    As you get older, your memory declines, and constant stress and unhealthy lifestyles can also cause it to decline too soon. Even memory strategies won’t save you if you don’t know how to keep a good memory. 1. The following can be tried.

Exercise regularly

That’s right, we mean physical exercise. Leading a lifestyle spending a lot of time sitting down and not moving can also lead to memory loss. 2. It’s healthy for both your mind and your body.

Play video games

Yes, you heard us. Get on that controller and spend a couple of hours playing your favorite video game.3. A recent study illustrated how these pastimes can help improve the functioning of various memory-associated regions in the brain. But don’t go overboard, too much of a good thing can be bad for you.

Eat your vegetables

This is a no-brainer since it’s a well-known fact eating vegetables can help keep you and your body healthy, and that includes your brain. Various research papers state that fruits and vegetables can help lower oxidative (氧化的) stress in your brain. 4.

Reduce stress level

5. Intense and persistent stress, especially at high levels, can easily impair our memory and disrupt our cognitive skills. You can do this by meditating, taking a walk or by taking mindfulness-based stress reduction methods.

A.It’s sometimes good for your mind.

B.Sharpen your brain with advanced devices.

C.Go ahead and practice whenever possible.

D.So go outside and start working up a good sweat.

E.They as well as help keep healthy brain functions.

F.Slow down, and ease yourself into taking a short rest.

G.Some scientific methods can improve your memory effectively.

    The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created this overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the surfs motion. In the international meteorological field (国际气象界), the 24 solar terms are honored as “the fifth great invention of China”.

The 24 solar terms begins with Start of Spring, followed by Rain Water, Insects Awaken... and ends up with Minor Cold and Major Cold. Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime. Through these four parts, a year is divided into four parts: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

In ancient times this system not only guided agricultural production, instructing farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest, but also directed Chinese folk customs. For example, Winter Solstice was the first one set among 24 terms and later developed into a festival to worship Heaven and ancestors. Every year at Winter Solstice, emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties would go to the temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to worship Heaven, for good weather for their crops, and peace and prosperity for the country.

Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming, but also guide Chinese everyday life. They remind people to adapt to the changes in the seasons through suitable food and cultural rituals (文化仪式). Seasonal customs are still the rage, such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors’ tombs at Qing Ming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter. They have actually became indispensable rituals in Chinese life.

The 24 solar terms is a common cognitive system among Chinese. It reflects the emotional bond, the wisdom and creativity of Chinese, who respect and live in harmony with nature.

1.How were the 24 solar terms created in ancient China?

A.They were set based on the movements of the sun.

B.They were created according to the change of the weather.

C.They were the results of learning from each other.

D.They were gradually developed from the practical experience.

2.What is a common feature of Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox?

A.They were set only for guiding agricultural activities.

B.They both play the role in dividing a day into day and night.

C.They are the days on which the length of a day is longer than night.

D.They both have the same amount of day and night time.

3.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A.Change. B.Fashion.

C.Appreciation. D.Honor.

4.What’s the text mainly about?

A.The reasons for the recognition of the 24 solar terms.

B.The ways to handle the relationship between human and nature.

C.The origin and influence of the 24 solar terms in China.

D.The traditions and customs of the 24 solar terms in ancient China.

    A trip to the theater, museum or art gallery could help you live longer. And the more often you get that culture fix the better, a new study suggests.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that people who engaged in the arts more frequently—every few months or more—had a 31% lower risk of dying early when compared to those who didn’t. Even going to the theater or museum once or twice a year was linked with a 14% lower risk.

“While other health behaviors like smoking, alcohol and exercise are undoubtedly bigger predictors of death rate, these leisure and pleasure activities that people don’t think as a health related activity do support good health and longevity.” said Daisy Fancourt, an associate professor at UCL’s Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health.

The study looked at a range of economic, health and social factors to try and explain why there is a link between “arts engagement” and living longer, although as an observational study it can’t establish cause. Part of the reason, the study said, comes down to social and economic differences among those who go and don’t go to museums, exhibitions and art galleries.

Wealth, they found, explained about 9% of the association. Cognitive differences, social and civic engagement, mental health, mobility and deprivation also played a role. Things like free time and occupational status made no material difference.

The study says that engaging with the arts can reduce stress and build creativity that allows people to adapt to changing circumstances. It also helps people build social capital—accessing emotional support and information that helps people age more successfully.

Everyone should have the chance to take part in cultural activities and the study added weight to growing concerns about the decline in arts subjects in schools and universities.

1.What are the statistics in Paragraph 2 about?

A.Connection with art.

B.Risk of dying early.

C.Chances of healthy living.

D.Frequency of art engagement.

2.What does Fancourt think of going to the concert?

A.It contributes to living healthier and longer.

B.It can improve peopled cultural awareness.

C.It is a good behavior like smoking or exercise.

D.It offers people opportunities to become artists.

3.What can we infer from the text?

A.People who have more free time enjoy visiting museums.

B.Social status plays an important role in leading a happy life.

C.Everyone taking part in art related activities can live longer.

D.There should be more arts subjects in schools and universities.

4.Why did the researchers carry out the study?

A.To find the cause of building creativity.

B.To promote the mental health of the old.

C.To analyze the link between arts and life.

D.To influence the social behavior of people.

    When Jen Harris was laid off from her job at MPC Computers in Idaho last October, she tweeted the message “just been laid off from MPC”, “By the time I left the parking lot, I had a job offer from a friend that had a Web development company in town, “ she told CNNMoney.

It’s difficult to know how many people are actually finding work this way. But it’s obvious from interviews with job-seekers, employers, coaches and managers that the Twitter phenomenon is fundamentally changing the way people search for jobs.

“A lot of companies aren’t advertising jobs in traditional ways,” says Jason Rivera, a graphic artist who teamed up with other San Francisco Twiners “to lead the pink-slip party (失业聚会) movement” for the networking messes. Rivera says Twitter allows companies to easily “follow” potential candidates online, while giving job hunters a backdoor peek at companies where they may be interested in applying for a job.

“It’s a great way to get up-to-the-minute information about a company and its latest products,” Rivera says, “as well as give you a shot at actually talking to a hiring manager on Twitter，as opposed to having your e-mailed resume end up as the 500th in his in-box. At the same time, Twitter gives managers faster, more efficient ways to get through the mess, and that save them money.”

Paul Mabray knows that firsthand. As a chief strategy officer for Napabased VinTank, a wine industry think tank （智囊团），he used Twitter to spot and then practically “follow’’ the 23-year-old job candidate and gifted Twitter, Ashley Bellview. “We got to learn about her personality, her work ethic and her thought process by the information she’d linked to in her tweets and by how she communicated with other people on Twitter,” Mabray says.

1.Jen Harris is mentioned in the first paragraph to show that ________.

A.Twitter is becoming an important tool for job seekers

B.more people lose their jobs recently

C.it’s easier for IT workers to find jobs

D.there are less jobs than we have expected

2.Twitter can give job hunters a chance to ________.

A.visit the companies

B.learn more about the companies

C.receive training about the computer operation

D.have a face-to-face talk with the managers

3.We can know from the last paragraph that Ashley Bellview ________.

A.has a large circle of online friends

B.proves to be a gifted actress

C.is not experienced in wine making

D.is considered a gifted candidate

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A.The Popularity of Twitter

B.Twitter Helps Find Jobs

C.The Ways People Search for Jobs Are Changing

D.How to Get Jobs on Twitter

★ Spanish River Park

Location: 3001 Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton.

Admission: $16 per vehicle on weekdays, $18 on weekends and major holidays.

Special Comments: About 95 acres, more than a half-mile of beach with lifeguards. No alcohol or pets. Covered shelters and boat docks. 1,680-foot nature path and large playground area.

Food/Dining: Picnic areas with barbecue grills.

Phone: (561)393-7811

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

★ Red Reef Park

Location: 1400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton.

Admission: $16 per vehicle on weekdays, $18 on weekends and major holidays.

Special Comments: Developed beach ( 67 acres) with lifeguards. No alcohol or pets permitted. 680-foot boardwalk along dune (沙丘)line. Offers grills and a small playground area.

Food/Dining: Picnic areas available.

Phone: (561)393-7812

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

★ South Beach Park

Location: 400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton.

Admission: $15 per vehicle on weekdays, $17 on weekends and major holidays.

Special Comments: 1,670 feet of beach, 25 acres, lifeguards, 955 feet of developed beach south of Boca Inlet with lifeguards, lifeguard rescue boat operation.

Food/Dining: Picnic areas available.

Phone: (561)393-7813

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

★ Coconut Cove Water Park

Location: 11200 Park Access Road, Boca Raton.

Admission: Adult $7; Children (4~12) $5; 3 and under free.

Special Comments: The water park offers Sea Monster walk pool, Meandering River, Twin Tubes water slide and a waterfall. No alcohol or pets permitted.

Food/Dining: Concessions .

Phone: (561)274-1140

Restrooms: Restrooms and showers available.

1.If you want to go to South Beach Park, you will phone ________ for its information.

A.(561)393-7811 B.(561)393-7812

C.(561)393-7813 D.(561)274-1140

2.If you want to take up jogging, which park is more suitable for you?

A.Spanish River Park. B.Red Reef Park.

C.South Beach Park. D.Coconut Cove Water Park.

3.If a couple with two children aged four and one child aged two go to visit Coconut Cove Water Park, they should pay ________.

A.$22 B.$19

C.$29 D.$24

假设你是李华，你校的英国交换生Chris暑假要回国。他想要给他的好朋友买些有中国传统文化特色的礼物，希望你能给他些建议。请给他回复一封电子邮件，内容包括：

1. 表示荣幸；

2. 你的建议及理由；

3. 购物安排。

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以便行文连贯；

3.结束语已为你写好。

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best regards,

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：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：在错的词下划一横线，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。

Of all the recreations we enjoyed, a morning walk might be the most rewarding. In city like Chengdu and Hangzhou where can hardly avoid heavy traffic, it’s only in the morning that the roads are not crowded. It is hardly any traffic and one can enjoy the walk. In the morning the nature is at its best. Having a look at leaves of trees and you’ll find pearls of dew (露水) on it. Flowers wave their heads gentle and spread their pleasant smell. A walk in a big park or the bank of a stream is even more refreshing. A 20-minute walk every day gets people to look 5 years young.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Could you be a stunt performer, performing stunts in front of an audience or movie camera? Stunt performers perform aerial acrobatics or dangerous actions for the movies. We enjoy 1. (watch) exciting stunts. But for the stunt performers, performing is the day’s work.

Stunt performers lead a busy and 2. (energy) life. They must be fit and strong. Many start off in martial arts (武术) or gymnastics, where they learn to develop 3. (strong) . Experienced stunt performers learn many extra 4. (skill) such as horse riding, working with explosives, and scuba diving.

Stunt performers work 5. movies or television shows are made. Hollywood 6. (know) as the movie capital of the world. Other places 7. busy movie or television studios include Vancouver in Canada, and Queensland in Australia. They often work on location. Filming in remote places such as deserts, jungles, and mountains 8. (keep) them travel frequently. They working on these jobs are away from home for weeks, or even months.

Stunt work is 9. extreme job. The training is hard and the stunts can be dangerous. But performers enjoy the thrill of their work and push themselves hard to do more stunts. Stunt performers know that their jobs are so risky 10. a slight miscalculation, or a piece of damaged equipment, can cause a bad accident. But they don’t let the risks stop them. Their skills and training usually keep them safe.

What I Regret

At lunchtime, Jimmy, Patrick, Devon, and I began our regular routine of our lunches. I glanced across the busy cafeteria and saw the _________ student, Joel. He was holding his plate and waiting in lines.

Patrick _________ him too. “Why’s the new kid dressed like the headmaster?” he asked. Devon and Jimmy laughed.

“Joel’s cool. He’s in my English and history classes,” I said. However, I kept the _________ that Joel and I had become friends when we worked on a project together. We _________ that we were both enthusiastic readers — something I would never admit to Patrick, Jimmy, and Devon.

I saw that Joel was _________ toward us. “Don’t do it,” I thought, but in seconds he was at our table. My friends raised their eyebrows. Jimmy, Devon and Patrick piled their backpacks on the table and chairs so that there was no _________ left for another person to sit down. Patrick said, “I don’t think we have room.”

This _________ situation froze the air. I could _________ Joel looking at me, but I stared at my _________ as if it contained precious pearls of wisdom instead of rice and beans. After a long, uncomfortable pause, Joel ____________. I ____________ have spoken up for him, but I couldn’t walk away from my three friends, could I?

Joel didn’t speak to me after that ____________ He was soon ____________ around with another group of kids. A few months later, I saw an announcement about Joel being chosen to be president of the class book club. I was ____________ for Joel’s achievements, but I realized I had made a big mistake____________ I said nothing at the lunch table that day. Why was I so ____________ that my friends might find out that I like to read?

As I stared at the announcement, I knew I needed to ____________ to Joel even if he did not want to become my friend again. I was certain that my three friends would not ____________. I was also certain that I ____________ losing them as well. However, I knew that I would lose myself if I did nothing.

As the dismissal bell rang, I gathered up my books, took (a) deep ____________, and went to find Joel.

1.A.good B.new C.lucky D.top

2.A.noticed B.helped C.examined D.called

3.A.words B.ideas C.truth D.promise

4.A.forgot B.argued C.discussed D.discovered

5.A.nodding B.flying C.walking D.driving

6.A.book B.food C.time D.space

7.A.awkward B.dangerous C.pleasant D.comfortable

8.A.taste B.smell C.hear D.feel

9.A.face B.lunch C.backpack D.table

10.A.left B.laughed C.started D.stopped

11.A.need B.should C.would D.must

12.A.greeting B.change C.meeting D.lesson

13.A.turning B.looking C.showing D.hanging

14.A.happy B.sorry C.thankful D.anxious

15.A.if B.until C.when D.where

16.A.confused B.surprised C.excited D.afraid

17.A.adapt B.apologize C.smile D.refer

18.A.refuse B.agree C.mind D.choose

19.A.risked B.permitted C.tried D.suggested

20.A.delight B.silence C.breath D.thought

Letters last forever!

When was the last time you actually wrote a letter? People now mail fewer letters. The trend in mailing less correspondence is likely to continue.

1. Maybe widespread use of e-mail and cheaper long-distance calling make letter writing less appealing. Using newer forms of communication is certainly easier than writing a letter. 2..

Consider how we use the newer forms of communication. Both phone calls and e-mail are quick ways to keep in touch with our friends. 3. However, reading our letters again and again can help us feel close to the people who sent them.

Although letters take longer to write, they are certainly a more memorable way to communicate. 4. Once the ideas are organized, the words need to be written down on paper. The effort to put ideas on a page frequently deepens our thinking. The person who receives our letter gains insights about our beliefs, rather than simply receiving a short response to an e-mail.

Although phone calls and e-mails are important forms of communication, I believe that we should all take the time to master the skill of writing a good letter. True, writing a letter does take more time, but that is the benefit of a letter. By taking more time to compose our thoughts, we become more thoughtful. 5.. We create a meaningful memory that the recipient can return to again and again.

A.Chances are, it has been awhile.

B.In doing so, we create more than just a note.

C.They often save handwritten letters for many years.

D.For example, much thought is involved in composing a letter.

E.There are probably many reasons why people mail fewer letters today.

F.I think that the drawback with phone calls is that we can’t save and print them.

G.However, I think that replacing handwritten letters with e-mails or phone calls is a poor choice.

    It is fashionable today to criticize Big Business, and there is one issue on which the many critics agree: CEO pay. We hear that CEOs are paid too much (or too much relative to workers) , or that they control others’ pay, or that their pay is insufficiently related to positive outcomes. But the more likely truth is CEO pay is largely caused by intense competition.

It is true that CEO pay has gone up---top ones may make 300 times the pay of typical workers on average, and since the mid-1970s, CEO pay for large publicly traded American corporations has, by varying estimates, gone up by about 500%. The typical CEO of a top American corporation-from the 350 largest such companies-now makes about $18.9 million a year.

While individual cases of overpayment definitely exist, in general, the determinants of CEO pay are not so mysterious and not so trapped in corruption (腐败). In fact, overall CEO compensation for the top companies rises pretty much in line with the value of those companies on the stock market.

The best model for understanding the growth of CEO pay, though, is that of limited CEO talent in a world where business opportunities for the top firms are growing rapidly. The efforts of Americans highest-earning 1 % have been one of the more dynamic elements of the global economy.

It’s not popular to say, but one reason their pay has gone up so much is that CEOs really have upped their game relative to many other workers in the U. S. economy.

Today’s CEO, at least for major American firms, must have many more skills than simply being able to “run the company.” CEOs must have a good sense of financial markets and maybe even how the company should trade in them. They also need better public relations skills than their predecessors, as the costs of even a minor slipup can cause a bad consequence. Then there’s the fact that large American companies are much more globalized than ever before, with supply chains spread across a larger number of countries. To lead in that system requires knowledge that is fairly incredible.

There is yet another trend: virtually all major American companies are becoming tech companies, one way or another. An agribusiness company, for instance, may focus on R&D in highly IT- intensive areas such as genome sequencing (基因组序列). Similarly, it is hard to do a good job running the Walt Disney Company just by picking good movie scripts and courting stars ； you also need to build a firm capable of creating significant CGI (计算机生成图像) products for cartoon movies at the highest levels of technical sophistication and with many frontier innovations along the way.

On top of all of this, major CEOs still have to do the job they have always done- which includes motivating employees, serving as an internal role model, helping to define and extend a corporate culture, understanding the internal accounting, and presenting budgets and business plans to the board. Good CEOs are some of the world’s most powerful creators and have some of the very deepest skills of understanding.

1.Which of the following has contributed to CEO pay rise?

A.The growth in the number of cooperation

B.The general pay rise with a better economy

C.Increased business opportunities for top firms

D.Close cooperation among leading economics

2.Compared with their predecessors, today’s CEOs are required to ________.

A.foster a stronger sense of teamwork

B.finance more research and development

C.establish closer ties with tech companies

D.operate more globalized companies

3.The meaning of the underlined word “slipup” (line 5, paragraph 4) is close to ________.

A.operation B.success

C.mistake D.promotion

4.The most suitable title for this text would be ________.

A.CEOs Are Not Overpaid B.CEO Pay: Past and Present

C.CEOs’ Challenges of Today D.CEO Traits: Not Easy to Define

That robots, automation, and software can replace people might seem obvious to anyone who’s worked in automotive manufacturing. But MIT business scholars Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee’s claim is more troubling and controversial. They believe that rapid technological change has been destroying jobs faster than it is creating them.

They believe that technology increases productivity and makes societies wealthier, but it became clear to them that the same technologies making many jobs safer, easier, and more productive were also reducing the demand for many types of human workers. Technologies like the Web, artificial intelligence, and big data are automating many routine tasks. Countless traditional white-collar jobs, such as many in the post office and in customer service, have disappeared.

As evidence, Brynjolfsson and McAfee point to a chart on which separate lines represent productivity and total employment in the United States. For years after World War II, the two lines closely tracked each other, with increases in jobs corresponding to increases in productivity. Then, beginning in 2000, the lines diverge; productivity continues to rise steadily, but employment suddenly shrinks. By 2011, a significant gap appears between the two lines, showing economic growth with no parallel increase in job creation.

United States Productivity and Employment

But are these new technologies really responsible for a decade of lackluster (无生气) job growth? David Autor, an economist at MIT who has studied the connections between jobs and technology, doubts that technology could account for such a sudden change in total employment. Moreover, he also doubts that productivity has, in fact, risen steadily in the United States in the past decade. If he’s right, it raises the possibility that poor job growth could be simply a result of a depressed economy. The sudden slowdown in job creation “is a big puzzle,” he says, “but there’s not a lot of evidence that it’s linked to computers.” “To be sure, computer technologies are changing the types of jobs available, but that is very different from saying technology is affecting the total number of jobs,” he adds. “Jobs can change a lot without there being huge changes in employment rates.”

Lawrence Katz, a Harvard economist, says that while technological changes can be painful for workers whose skills no longer match the needs of employers, no historical pattern shows these shifts leading to a net decrease in jobs over an extended period. Still, Katz doesn’t dismiss the notion that there is something different about today’s digital technologies. Though he expects the historical pattern to hold, it is “genuinely a question,” he says. “If technology disrupts enough, who knows what will happen?”

1.Which period on the chart strongly supports McAfee’s claim?

A. 1947—1967.    B. 1985—1987.

C. 1997—2000.    D. 2011—2013.

2.According to David Autor, the change in job growth ________.

A. is not necessarily caused by technology

B. results from a weakening economy

C. has no connection with productivity

D. affects the current types of jobs

3.What is Lawrence Katz’s attitude towards the topic?

A. Optimistic.    B. Defensive.

C. Objective.    D. Disapproving.

4.The main purpose of the passage is to ________.

A. show the relation between productivity and job creation

B. discuss the effect of technological advances on employment

C. argue against the wide use of artificial intelligence

D. explain the impact of technologies on productivity

Yasmeen’s Mehndi

Mrs. Cross, Yasmeen’s social study teacher, announced, “Boys and girls, you have been learning about world customs. Be ready to share one of your family’s customs, tomorrow.”

After school, Yasmeen dragged her backpack along, thinking about the day’s homework. “I’m the only Indian student in my class,” she thought, “what will everyone think about my family’s customs?”

At home, Yasmeen was upset. She opened the kitchen door and saw her mother busily crushing henna leaves.

“Ready for the party tonight?” Mother smiled.

Yasmeen shrugged (耸肩). Normally, she’d be excited when her aunts, uncles and cousins came to celebrate the end of the ninth month of the Islamic year. This holy month is observed with prayers and fasting(斋戒)during daylight hours.

Later, Yasmeen explored the house, trying to get an idea for her homework. She found her father’s Koran (古兰经). She turned over the worn pages of her father’s holy book. Maybe I’ll take this to school, she thought. But the Koran isn’t a custom.

Maybe I’ll wear my salwar kameez (沙丽) to school. Wrong! Everybody might laugh at me. Tears filled Yasmeen’s eyes as she tried to figure out what to share.

Yasmeen walked into the kitchen again and watched Mother mix henna powder into a smooth paste, to be used to paint at the party.

That night all the girls in their beautiful salwar kameez gathered around the sofa to have their hands painted with Mehndi.

It was Yasmeen’s turn. Mother drew tiny flower patterns on her hands. Seconds later, “That’s it,” Yasmeen shouted out, “Mehndi!”

“On special Muslim holidays,” Yasmeen explained the next day at school, “it’s an Indian tradition to paint women’s hands with Mehndi designs.” Yasmeen proudly displayed the design on her hands. She also held up a bowl of crushed henna leaves for the class to see and then described how her mother prepared henna paste.

“Could you paint me a Mehndi design?” All her classmates held out their hands.

Yasmeen’s eyes moistened. She had always thought that Mehndi was only something valued in her own country, but now she was far too glad to see this ancient art on hands admired by people from different cultures.

1.Yasmeen was upset at home, because ________.

A.she couldn’t make friends with her classmates

B.she was not invited to the party

C.she had too much homework

D.she didn’t know what to share in her class

2.Yasmeen and her family held the party to ________.

A.celebrate their traditional festival B.get together for a big dinner

C.remember the first day of year D.read her fathers Koran

3.________ is NOT a custom on this special Muslim holiday.

A.Painting a Mehndi design on hands B.Eating a bowl of henna leaves

C.Fasting during daylight hours D.Wearing salwar kameez

4.The author wants to tell us that ________.

A.painting can help people communicate

B.people from different cultures love painting

C.cultural relics can be valued by other cultures

D.different countries celebrate the same festival

Climbing Without Ropes

The popular image of the mountain climber is of a person carefully climbing a steep cliff with a network of safety ropes, but it is not the only kind. Many climbers now enjoy bouldering. It’s more accessible and better for the environment.

Here is an example of a climber addressing a bouldering problem.

Figure 1: The climber has two routes she could take, one to the left and one to the right. The left one appears easier because it has a jug within easy reach, but look what happens if she chooses that direction. She gets stuck on the rock and has to go back down. Sometimes that is even difficult than going up.

Figure 2: The climber takes the one to the right this time. using a foothold and placing her right hand in a crimp, she is able to life herself up and locate other handholds. After only a few moves, she is able to throw her leg over the top of the boulder and pull herself up.

1.According to the passage, bouldering ________.

A.is an indoor sport B.has no safety protection

C.needs maps and equipment D.is a steep cliff climbing

2.Bouldering becomes popular because ________.

A.it challenges the limits B.it costs less

C.it builds minds and bodies D.it is a team game

3.According to the example, the right route is ________.

A.a shortcut B.a dead end

C.tough but to the top D.lined with jugs

语法填空

When you read a story in English, do you read it for the story 1. for the English language?This is a question which is not so 2.(fool) as it may seem, for I find that many students of English pay 3.(much) attention to the story than to the English. For instance, they care for how the mystery in the story 4.(settle)，but can not tell what preposition(介词)5.(use) before a certain word in the speech of a certain character.

Of course, if you want to know the story only, you need not focus 6.the language. But a student of English is different from a student of stories or what is called the general reader.7. you may also have learned from the above，you ought to read not only very 8.(care) but also aloud till you learn the passage by heart and can recite it as if it were your own. On one hand, this will teach you many useful 9. (word) and phrases; on the other hand, it will help you avoid 10.(make) many mistakes in expression.

    The science teacher，Mr.Black，had asked his students to study a particular animal. They were asked to ______ a short report and then make a ______ in class.Some talked about dogs，others about horses，and some chose fish. But the most ______ discovery of all was made by little Sophie.

“I found that _____ are terribly bad- tempered(坏脾气的)，”she said for certain .

Everyone smiled, waiting for her to______. Then Sophie explained, " I spent hours _____ flies. When they flew normally，everything was okay,_____when they found a window they would make a noisy sound. I had always thought they make that noise ____ their wings, but they don't. With my daddy's binoculars(双筒望远镜)，I watched the flies really_______，and saw that ____ they were doing was shouting. They were angry. They______ fly out of the window. Later, a butterfly passing by the window tried to ____ them the top of the window was open, but it had no effect at all. The flies just ____ shouting.”

Mr.Black laughed and explained to the class that the flies’ behaviour had nothing to do with ____. Instead, it was an example of animals having different levels of intelligence（智力）.At the ____ of the class， Mr. Black asked the students to bring a list of animals in order of their intelligence.

What surprised Mr Black was that many parents came to the school to ____ the next day, ____ their children had listed their parents among the least ______animals! This，said the children, was because their parents did ______ but complain.

Mr. Black had to do a lot of explaining to calm the parents down. However, it also helped some of the parent

_____ that although they weren't stupid,they didn't often behave very intelligently.

1.A.write B.listen C.review D.give

2.A.word B.speech C.performance D.wish

3.A.challenging B.terrible C.interesting D.important

4.A.dogs B.horses C.fish D.flies

5.A.look B.stay C.leave D.continue

6.A.enjoying B.watching C.talking D.thinking

7.A.and B.but C.besides D.since

8.A.on B.for C.with D.about

9.A.closely B.quietly C.quickly D.safely

10.A.how B.when C.why D.what

11.A.couldn't B.shouldn't C.needn't D.mustn't

12.A.ask B.tell C.answer D.call

13.A.took on B.relied on C.kept on D.lived on

14.A.happiness B.anger C.beauty D.shape

15.A.beginning B.middle C.half D.end

16.A.praise B.complain C.doubt D.play

17.A.so B.until C.because D.and

18.A.brave B.humorous C.clever D.kind

19.A.everything B.something C.anything D.nothing

20.A.realise B.think C.wake D.believe

    A teenager needs to have a sense of independence in their life to feel secure（安全的）. To some teenagers independence means a lot to them, and I think that some parents don’t allow their teenagers enough independence.

Independence has something to do with freedom. Some kids are not allowed to go anywhere alone, and the only thing their schedule includes is going to school, coming home, going to sleep, and repeating the process the next day. Parents tend to be afraid that their kids can get hurt if they go outside into the world. But if parents control their kids too much, they may never learn to live on their own. The best way for a teenager to learn lesson is through experience. I think it is beneficial for teenagers to have freedom.

Teenagers’ lack of freedom can also stop them from having good friendship at school. Some might say this is a good thing, because it helps them focus more on their school work. I argue that this can only discourage them not to do their school work. Some parents do not allow their children to be around their friends outside the school, thinking that this will get them into trouble. But I don’t think so. Instead, isn’t this a good reason for parents to get their children a cellphone? Cellphones allow teenagers to stay in touch with their parents, and communicate with friends.

Privacy is another issue between parents and their teenagers. Teenagers tend to enjoy relaxation by themselves in their own room. This also gives them a sense of independence. It often annoys teenagers when their parents enter their room when they are not home. I know that my mom always goes in my room when I’m not home, and this has brought me to the point where I have asked many times to get a lock on my door.

1.What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

A.Kids know how to live independently.

B.Some parents allow their kids no freedom.

C.It benefits teenagers to have freedom.

D.Kids have a dull routine every day

2.In the opinion of the author, ___________.

A.parents should make it easy for kids to communicate with their friends

B.good friendships between kids harm their school work

C.it is unnecessary for a kid to have a cellphone

D.kids should focus on the school work

3.How do teenagers usually feel when their parents enter their rooms in their absence?

A.Disappointed B.Lucky

C.Angry D.Calm

4.The author hopes to have her door locked in order to ______________.

A.keep her father from reading her dairy B.prevent her mother entering her room

C.Protect herself from any harm D.Stop thieves from going in

同义句转化，每空一词

1.Their house is like ours，but ours has a bigger garden.

Their house _______ _______ _______ ours，but ours has a bigger garden.

2.Unlike his younger brother，Tim can keep clam when in danger.

________ ________ his younger brother，Tim can keep clam when in danger.

3.Don’t worry .If anything goes wrong，I’ll take responsibility for it.

Don’t worry .If anything goes wrong，I’ll _______ _______ _______ it.

4.Many students lost in playing computer games will eventually get their future ruined .

Many students ________ ________ playing computer games will eventually get their future ruined .

根据语境及汉语或首字母提示正确拼写单词

1.In his spare time，he loves reading ________________(冒险) stories as entertainment.

2.Last mouth，an_______________（专家）was invited to address the students on the topic of how to relieve stress before examinations.

3.Nowadays in China，you can see few families in which three ____________（代）live together.

4.To look at sea life up close，people have created different kinds of ____________（特别的）equipment.

5.Time ran out before we could get down to the _______________（细节）of the plan.

6.I’m sure the new computer system will meet all your r____________.

7.Jackie looks after his younger sister as if he were an a____________.

8.Born in a very w__________ family，the girl doesn’t need to worry about food and has a lot of beautiful clothes to wear.

重点短语

1.____________建立

2._____________就……做出决定

3._____________对……的介绍

4._____________向……介绍……

5.____________目的是做……

6._____________和……一样

7._____________用……制作……

8._____________扔掉

9._____________成长

10._____________类似于

11._____________不同于

单词与拓展

1.____________n.标语；口号

2.____________adj.特殊的，特别的→____________adv.特别地；专门

3.____________n.要求，规定→____________vt.需要；要求；命令

4.____________adj.引人注目的

5.____________n.(公司或机构的)标识，标志，徽标

6.____________n.具体情况，详情，细节→____________adj.详细的；细致的

7.____________n.郊区，城郊

8.____________adj.成功的→____________adv.成功地→____________n.成功→____________vi.成功

9.____________adj.私人的，个人的

10.____________adj.富有的，富裕的→____________n.财富；财产

阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his backyard in the snow. Bobby didn’t wear boots; or rather, he didn’t own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold.

Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. Try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother’s Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought, “This is useless. Even if I do come up with an idea, I don’t have any money for a gift.”

Wiping tears from his eyes, Bobby started walking down to the street where the shops were. It wasn’t easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to.

Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful but so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer (微光) of the setting sun’s rays reflecting on something on the roadside. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime (一角硬币).

Never before has anyone felt as wealthy as Bobby did at that moment. As he held his newly- found treasure, warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store. His excitement quickly turned cold when salesperson after salesperson told him that he could not buy anything with only a dime.

He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother’s Christmas gift. The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten-cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby’s shoulder, saying, “You just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.”

The sound of the door closing as the last customer left pulled Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid.

注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2. 应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；

3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph1:

Eventually the shop owner came out and moved to the counter.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph2:

With the bunch of beautiful roses in his hands, Bobby backed off and then turned and ran.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假如你是李华， 学校最近要组织一次英语演讲比赛， 主题为“垃圾分类益处多”， 请你根据此话题写一篇演讲稿。 要点如下：

1. 你的观点；2. 你的建议。

注意：1. 词数80左右

2. 可以适当增加细节， 以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：垃圾分类  garbage classification

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

单词填空

1.I refuse to lie about it; it’s against my p________.

2.If you u________ to do something, you promise that you will do it.

3.He was then arrested and charged with p_______ an offensive weapon.

4.We should a ________ our research in atomic power generation and speed up the building of atomic power plants.

5.One cannot help being old but one can r_______ being aged.

6.The play, whose style is rigidly formal, is __________ (典型的）of the period.

7.The party has always had a cautious and ___________(怀疑的）attitude towards Europe.

8.The children were dressed in _______. (破衣服）

9.Chris likes music and has a large collection of __________(音乐专辑）.

10.We can only hope the court is __________(怜悯的）.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

There are several reasons why school uniforms are good idea. First of all, uniforms help the school look smart. The students feel that they belong to a particular group. When every pupil in the school wears the uniform, nobody 1.(have) to worry about fashion(时尚). Everybody wears 2. same style of clothes. Uniforms can be useful in unexpected ways. A school in Ireland has introduced an interesting new uniform. On the edge of the jacket, there is a piece of cloth 3. gives off light in the dark. When the children are walking or 4.(cycle) to school on dark mornings, car drivers can 5.(easy) see them.

But can uniforms help improve school standards? The answer 6. this question is not clear. One study in America found that students’ grades 7.(improve) a little after the school introduced uniforms. But some students didn’t want 8.(wear) the uniform. Other American studies showed no 9.(connect) between uniforms and school performance.

School uniforms are 10.(tradition) in Britain, but some schools are starting to get rid of them. Some very good schools don’t have a uniform policy. However, uniforms are still popular. Pupils at about 90 percent of British secondary schools wear uniforms.

    Moving into a new home in a new neighborhood is an exciting experience. Of course, you want to make sure that you become an acceptable and valuable part of your neighborhood  . the easiest way to accomplish this is to make sure you conduct yourself as a good neighbor should. 1.

Perhaps one of the most important things you can do as a good neighbor is to keep your property(房产) neat, clean, and in good repair. 2. By choosing to keep the outside of the home in great shape, you will help to improve the look and feel of the area.

Second, take the overall appearance of the neighborhood seriously,. When going for a walk. Take a small garbage bag. 3. This small act will let your neighbors know that you care about the area.

4. If a neighbor is going to be out of town, offer to collect mail and newspapers. If a neighbor suffers an illness, offer to do the grocery shopping . Let them know you are there to help in any way this acceptable, while still respecting the privacy of your neighbor.

5. By following the basic rules of respecting others, taking care of what belongs to you, and taking pride in the appearance of the neighborhood in general, you will quickly become a good neighbor that everyone appreciate.

A.In general, keep an eye on their property while they are gone.

B.A good neighbor is also one who likes to help out in small ways.

C.Being a good neighbor is more or less about considerate behavior.

D.Sometimes neighbors may go to the supermarket together to do shopping.

E.Should you come across waste paper thrown out of a passing car, pick it up.

F.People tend to lake pride in keeping everything in their street fresh and inviting.

G.Here are a few tips to help you win over everyone in the neighborhood quickly

    Two things changed my life:  my mother and a white plastic bike basket. I have thought long and hard about it and it’s true. I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a silly bicycle accessory into a life lesson I carry with me today.

My mother and father were united in their way of raising children, but it mostly fell to my mother to actually carry it out. Looking back, I honestly don’t know how she did it. Managing the family budget must have been a very hard task., but she made it look effortless. If we complained about not having what another kid did, we’d hear something like, “I don’t care what so –and –so got for his birthday, you are not getting a TV in your room a car for your birthday a lsvish sweet 16 party.” We had to earn our allowance by doing chores around the house. I can still remember how long it took to polish the legs of our coffee table.My brothers can no doubt remember hours spent cleaning the house .Like the two little girls growing up at the White House,we made our own beds (no one left the house until that was done)and picked up after ourselves.We had to keep track of our belongings ,and if something was lost ,it was not replaced.

It was summer and ,one day ,my mother drove me to the bike shop to get a tire fixed---and there it was in the window, White, shiny, plastic and decorated with flowers ,the basket winked at me and I knew ----I knew---I had to have it.

“It’s beautiful,” my mother said when I pointed it out to her,”What a neat basket.”

I tried to hold off at first ,I played it cool for a short while. But then I guess I couldn’t at and it any longer:“Mom, please can I please ,please get it? I ‘ll do extra chores for as long as you say, I’ll do anything ,but I need that basket,I love that basket.Please ,Mom .Please?”

I was desperate.

“You know,” she said ,gently rubbing my back while we both stared at what I believes was the coolest thing ever,” If you save up you could buy this yourself.”

“By the time I make enough it’ll be gone!”

“Maybe Roger here could hold it for you,” she smiled at Roger ,the bike guy.

“He can’t hold it for that long ,Mom .Someone else will buy it .Please, Mom,Please?”

“There might be another way,” she said.

And so our paying plan unfolded. My mother bought the beautiful basket and put it safely in some hiding place I couldn’t find. Each week I eagerly counted my growing saving increased by extra work here and there (washing the car ,helping my mother make dinner, delivering or collecting things on my bike that already looked naked without the basket in front).And then ,weeks later ,I counted ,re-counted and jumped for joy. Oh ,happy day ! I made it! I finally had the exact amount we’d agreed upon….

Days later the unthinkable happened. A neighborhood girl I’d played with millions of times appeared with the exact same basket fixed to her shiny ,new bike that already had all the bells and whistles. I rode hard and fast home to tell my mother about this disaster. This horrible turn of events.

And then came the lesson . I’ve taken with me through my life:” Honey, Your basket is extra-special,” Mom said, gently wiping away my hot tears.” Your basket is special because you paid for it yourself.”

1.What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?

A.The children enjoyed doing housework.

B.The author came from s well-off family

C.The mother raised her children in an unusual way

D.The children were fond of the US president’s daughters.

2.When the author saw the basket in the window, she         .

A.fell in love with it B.stared at her mother

C.recognized it at once D.went up to the bike guy

3.Why did the author say many “please” to her mother?

A.She longed to do extra work. B.She was eager to have the basket.

C.She felt tired after standing too long. D.She wanted to be polite to her mother.

4.By using“naked” (Paragraph 12),the author seems to stress that the basket was

A.something she could afford B.something important to her

C.something impossible to get D.something she could do without

5.To the author, it seemed to be a horrible turn of events that

A.something spoiled her paying plan

B.the basket cost more than she had saved

C.a neighborhood girl had bought a new bike

D.someone else had got a basket of the same kind

6.What is the life lesson the author learned from her mother?

A.Save money for a rainy day B.Good advice is beyond all price.

C.Earn your bread with your sweat D.God helps those who help themselves

Hacking our senses to boost learning power

Some schools are pumping music, noises and pleasant smells into the classroom to see if it improves exam results. Could it work? Why do songs stick in our heads? What does your school smell like? Is it noisy or peaceful?

It might not seem important, but a growing body of research suggests that smells and sounds can have an impact on learning, performance and creativity. Indeed, some head teachers have recently taken to broadcasting noises and pumping smells into their schools to see whether it can boost grades. Is there anything in it? And if so, what are the implications for the way we work and study?

There is certainly some well-established research to suggest that some noises can have a harmful effect on learning. Numerous studies over the past 15 years have found that children attending schools under the flight paths of large airports fall behind in their exam results. Bridget Shield, a professor of acoustics (声学) at London South Bank University, and Julie Dockrell, from the Institute of Education, have been conducting studies on the effects of all sorts of noises, such as traffic and sirens (汽笛), as well as noise generated by the children themselves. When they recreated those particular sounds in an experimental setting while children completed various learning tasks, they found a significant negative effect on exam scores.

“Everything points to a bad impact of the noise on children’s performance, in numeracy, in literacy, and in spelling,” says Shield. The noise seemed to have an especially harmful effect on children with special needs.

Whether background sounds are beneficial or not seems to depend on what kind of noise it is — and the volume. In a series of studies published last year, Ravi Mehta from the College of Business at Illinois and his colleagues tested people’s creativity while exposed to a soundtrack made up of background noises — such as coffee-shop chatter and construction-site drilling — at different volumes. They found that people were more creative when the background noises were played at a medium level than when volume was low. Loud background noise, however, damaged their creativity.

Many teachers all over the world already play music to students in class. Many are inspired by the belief that hearing music can boost IQ in later tasks, the so-called Mozart effect. While the evidence actually suggests it’s hard to say classical music boosts brainpower, researchers do think pleasant sounds before a task can sometimes lift your mood and help you perform well, says Perham, who has done his own studies on the phenomenon. The key appears to be that you enjoy what you’re hearing. ‘If you like the music or you like the sound — even listening to a Stephen King novel — then you do better. It doesn’t matter about the music,’ he says.

So, it seems that schools that choose to prevent disturbing noises and create positive soundscapes could enhance the learning of their students, so long as they make careful choices. Yet this isn’t the only sense being used to affect learning. Special educational needs students at Sydenham high school in London are being encouraged to revise different subjects in the presence of different smells — grapefruit scents for maths, lavender for French and spearmint for history.

1.The four questions in the first paragraph are meant to ________.

A.create some sense of humour to please the readers

B.provide the most frequently asked questions in schools nowadays

C.hold the readers’ attention and arouse their curiosity to go on reading

D.declare the purpose of the article: to try to offer key to those questions

2.What does the conclusion of the studies of noise conducted by Bridget Shield and Julie Dockrell suggest?

A.Peaceful music plays an active role in students’ learning.

B.Not all noises have a negative impact on children’s performance.

C.We should create for school children a more peaceful environment.

D.Children with special needs might be exposed to some particular sounds.

3.Ravi Mehta’s experiment indicates that ________.

A.students’ creativity improves in a quiet environment

B.we may play some Mozart music while students are learning

C.a proper volume of background noises does improve creativity

D.noise of coffee-shop chatter is better than that of construction-site drilling

4.Towards the positive impact of appropriate background sound and smell on students’ learning and creativity, the author’s attitude is ________.

A.ambiguous B.doubtful

C.negative D.supportive

5.Which of the following is most likely to follow up the research findings?

A.Experts’ research into other senses that can improve students’ grades.

B.More successful examples of boosting learning power by using music.

C.Suggestions for pumping lots of pleasant smells into school campuses.

D.Debates on whether noises can really have positive effect on students’ performance.

    Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.

In Brazil

Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours — there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.

In Singapore

Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.

In the United Arab Emirates

In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.

In Switzerland

The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.

1.The passage is mainly about _____________.

A.communication types

B.the workplace atmosphere

C.customs and social manners

D.living conditions and standards

2.Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?

A.They put efficiency in the first place.

B.They dislike face-to-face communication.

C.They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible.

D.They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank.

3.In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?

A.When greeting seniors.

B.When meeting the host alone.

C.When attending a presentation.

D.When dining with business partners.

4.In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?

A.In Brazil. B.In Singapore.

C.In the United Arab Emirate. D.In Switzerland.