Fluency(流利) in another language is one of the most important aims of a newcomer to another country. In addition, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.
Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first stage of learning. It usually involves(含包) things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.
To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first stage, This is challenge because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call “culture” is hard to see.
Culture is like an iceberg. Picture in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the tip. You don’t see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep within the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.
When you meet someone from another culture, certain culture differences are obvious: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent. You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You observe new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing on both cheeks as a greeting. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They are visible so they are seen easily and quickly.
The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions(设想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal (言语的) and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from another culture involves becoming aware of the hidden part of culture.
61.What’s the subject of this passage?
A. Learning about culture. B. Language learning.
C. The hidden part of the iceberg. D. Fluency in another language.
62.What is learning about culture?
A. Learning the hidden part of the iceberg, which is underwater.
B. Learning everyday activities and some basic customs.
C. Learning the culture of an iceberg.
D. Learning the visible as well as the hidden differences of culture.
63.What’s the writer’s opinion?
A. Communication styles can be easily seen and learned.
B. Language learning is more important than culture learning.
C. Learning about culture is not easy and may take a long time.
D. People usually learn a culture after a few weeks or months.
64.The underlined phrase “consists of” can be replaced by “______”.
A. lies in B. is made up of C. agrees with D. is different from
65.What conclusion can we draw after reading this passage?
A. Values and beliefs are like the tip of the iceberg.
B. People often become aware of the hidden part of culture.
C. The tip of the iceberg is larger than the hidden part.
D. The hidden part of culture has a great effect on people’s communication styles.
Drunken driving –sometimes called America’s socially accepted form of murder—has become a national epidemic (流行病). Every hour of every day about three Americans on average are killed by drunken drivers,adding up to an incredible 250,000 over the past ten years. A drunken driver is usually referred to as one with 0.10-blood alcohol content or roughly three beer glasses of wine or shots of whisky drunk within two hours. Heavy drinking used to be an acceptable part of the American manly image and judges were lenient in most courts,but the drunken killing has recently caused so many well-publicized tragedies,especially concerning young children,that public opinion is no longer so tolerant.
Twenty states have raised the legal drinking age to 21,reversing a trend in the 1960s to reduce it to 18. After New Jersey lowered it to 18,the number of people killed by 18-20 years old drivers more than doubled,so the state recently upped it back to 21.
Reformers,however,fear raising the drinking age will have little effect unless accompanied by educational programs to help young people to develop ‘responsible attitudes’ about drinking and teach them to resist peer pressure to drink.
Though new laws have led to increased arrests and tests in many areas already,to a marked drop in accidents,some states are also punishing bars for serving customers too many drinks. A bar in Massachusetts was fined for serving six or more double brandies to a customer who was ‘obviously drunk’ and later drove off the road,killing a 9-year-old boy.
As the accidents continue to occur daily in every state,some Americans are even beginning to speak well of the 13 years national prohibition of alcohol that began in 1919,which President Hoover called the ‘noble experiment’. They forgot that legal prohibition didn’t stop drinking,but encouraged political corruption and organized crime. As with the booming drug trade generally,there is no easy solution. Statistics issued in New Jersey suggested that ____________.
A.many drivers were not of legal age. | B.young drivers were often bad drivers. |
C.the level of drinking increased in the 1960s. | D.the legal drinking age should be raised. |
The underlined word ‘lenient’ in the first paragraph means ‘_________’.
A.serious | B.cruel | C.merciful | D.determined |
In America, public opinion about drunken driving has changed because __________.
A. judges are no longer tolerant |
B. new laws are introduced in some states |
C. the increasing number of traffic accidents has got the attention of the public |
D. drivers do not appreciate their manly image any more |
Which of the following best shows the writer’s opinion of drunken driving?
A.It may lead to organized crime. | B.It is difficult to solve this problem. |
C.The new laws can stop heavy drinking. | D.There should be no bars to serve drinks. |
When Gretchen Baxter gets home from work as a New York City book editor, she checks her Blackberry (黑莓手机) at the door. ‘I think we are attached to these devices in a way that is not always positive,’ says Baxter,who’d rather focus at home on her husband and 12-year-old daughter. ‘It’s there and it beckons (召唤). That’s human nature (but)…we kind of get crazy sometimes and we don’t know where it should stop.’
Americans are connected at unprecedented (前所未有的) levels一93% now use cell phones or wireless devices;one third of those are ‘smart phones’ that allow users to browse the Web and check e-mail,among other things. The benefits are obvious: checking messages on the road,staying in touch with friends and family,efficiently using time once spent waiting around. The downside:often,we’re effectively disconnecting from those in the same room.
That's why,despite all the technology that makes communicating easier than ever,2010 was the Year We Stopped Talking to One Another. From texting at dinner to posting on Facebook from work or checking e-mail while on a date,the connectivity revolution is creating a lot of divided attention,not to mention social anxiety. Many analysts say it's time to step back and reassess.
‘What we’re going to see in the future is new opportunities for people to be plugged in and connected like never before,’ says Scott Campbell. ‘It can be a good thing,but I also see new ways the traditional social fabric (社会结构) is getting somewhat torn apart.’
Our days are filled with beeps and pings·----many of which pull us away from tasks at hand or face-to-face conversations. We may feel that the distractions are too much,but we can’t seem to stop posting,texting or surfing.
‘We're going through a period of adjustment and rebalancing,’ says Sherry Turkle and she wants to remind people that technology can be turned off.
‘Our human purposes are to really have connections with people,’ she says. ‘We have to reclaim it. It’s not going to take place by itself.’What can be the best title for the passage?
A.2010: The year technology developed quickly. |
B.2010: The year technology sped up our life pace. |
C.2010: The year technology replaced talking. |
D.2010: The year technology made communicating easier. |
According to Paragraph l,Gretchen Baxter thinks_________.
A.the new technology always influences people’s life in a positive way |
B.the new technology is so tempting that she could even put her daughter and husband behind |
C.it is encouraging to see progress on the new technology every year |
D.people are too dependent on the new technology to let go |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The wide use of mobile devices has nothing to do with the ‘traditional social fabric’. |
B.Mobile devices play a less important part in American life. |
C.Mobile devices create a lot of divided attention and social anxiety. |
D.Many analysts speak highly of the wide popularity of mobile devices. |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Something must be done to get connection with people in reality again· |
B.Using mobile services can help people get connection with each other. |
C.Mobile services have a strong impact on people’s life. |
D.The connection with people can happen naturally. |
DONATE YOUR OLD JEANS AND DO THE PLANET GOOD
What Will Be Done With All This Denim?
All the denim (牛仔布) will be donated to Cotton. From Blue to Green. This denim drive recycled jeans into UltraTouchTM Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, which is used to help build houses in places that have been damaged by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Your jeans will help keep clothes out of landfills, and build houses for families to live in! UltraTouchTM is made of 85% recycled fibers and is an environmentally safe, natural cotton fiber insulation.
It’s a Fact: It takes about 500 pairs of old jeans to insulate one average-size US house.
Here’s How You Can Get Involved!
1.Get a parent’s permission and select as many denim jeans as you like. (Any denim clothing is OK.)
2.The denim must be used and can be any brand.
3.The denim can be any color or size but must have been worn by a human. (no doll clothes!)
4.Jeans must be received by June 30, 2011.
POST A JOB AD—IDEAL FOR CASUAL ADVERTISERS
REGISTER NOW AND POST A JOB AD
All job Advertisements are reviewed and uploaded usually within 24 hours.
Standard Job Advertisement
$65.00 + GST (Goods and Service Tax) =" $" 71.50
Premium Job Advertisement
$80.00 + GST =" $88.00"
No additional costs for all the features below.
Standard Job Ad Features:
---Active for 30 days
---Include your company LOGO
---Update or Edit live ads online anytime
---Access state of your job ad
---Unlimited text to describe your vacancy
(able to insert HTML links—very useful if you want candidate to apply using your own online application on your corporate website)
---Able to copy and paste your active job ad from other job sites including logo and layout
Premium Job Ad Features:
---All the features of a standard Job Ad
---Displayed on top of the main job search page with highlighted colors also within the standard job ads in its highlighted format. For any questions contact us.
REGISTER NOW AND POST A JOB ADThe denim clothing that you intend to donate ____________.
A.can be either new or second-hand | B.can be of any size or color |
C.must be a certain famous brand | D.can be worn by dolls and humans |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the ad?
A.UltraTouchTM may be the name of a building material. |
B.UltraTouchTM can protect houses from natural disasters. |
C.The deadline of the denim clothing donated is July 20, 2011. |
D.The denim clothing is collected to provide clothes for the homeless. |
Premium Job Ad is different from Standard Job Ad because it ____________.
A.doesn’t need paying additional money | B.can be shown on top of the main job search page |
C.is active for more than 30 days online | D.can be inserted HTML links on your own website. |
Inaugural Address-John F. Kennedy
delivered 20 January 1961
We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.
The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe–the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge—and more…
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
What should friends and foes know?
A.That the United States is powerful. |
B.That a new generation of Americans are responsible for their government. |
C.That the United States is governed by liberals. |
D.That the rights of man come from the hand of God. |
What is Kennedy’s promise to the world?
A.To support liberty. | B.To abolish all forms of human poverty. |
C.To visit each country at least once. | D.To support any friend. |
What should citizens of the world ask of America?
A.How America can help them. |
B.If America plans to invade their country. |
C.What they can do for freedom. |
D.What they can do for America. |
Which of the following statement is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Human beings have the power to put an end to all forms of poverty. |
B.We should remember we are the first revolution. |
C.Our nation has always been committed to human rights. |
D.We should assure the survival and the success of liberty. |
The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s remarkable musical talent was apparent even before most children can sing a simple nursery rhyme. Wolfgang’s older sister Maria Anna (who the family called Nannerl) was learning the clavier, an early keyboard instrument, when her three-year-old brother took an interest in playing. As Nannerl later recalled, Wolfgang “often spent much time at the clavier picking out thirds (三度音), which he was always striking, and his pleasure showed that it sounded good.” Their father Leopold, an assistant concertmaster at the Salzburg Court, recognized his children’s unique gifts and soon devoted himself to their musical education.
Born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27, 1756, Wolfgang had composed his first original work by age five. Leopold planned to take Nannerl and Wolfgang on tour to play before the European courts. Their first venture was to nearby Munich where the children played for Maximillian III Joseph, elector of Bavaria. Leopold soon set his sights on the capital of the Hapsburg Empire, Vienna. On their way to Vienna, the family stopped in Linz, where Wolfgang gave his first public concert. By this time, Wolfgang was not only a skilled harpsichord player, but he had also mastered the violin. The audience at Linz was amazed by the six-year-old, and word of his genius soon traveled to Vienna. In a much attended concert, the Mozart children appeared at the Schonbrunn Palace on October 13, 1762. They completely attracted the emperor and empress.
Following this success, Leopold received a lot of invitations for the children to play, for a fee. Leopold seized the opportunity and booked as many concerts as possible at courts throughout Europe. A concert could last three hours, and the children played at least two per a day. Today, Leopold might be considered the worst kind of stage parent, but at the time, it was not uncommon for prodigies to make extensive concert tours. Even so, it was an exhausting schedule for a child who was just past the age of needing an afternoon nap.
A good title for this passage would be ________.
A.Classical Music in the Eighteenth Century: An Overview. |
B.Stage Parents: A Historical Point of View. |
C.Mozart: The Early Life of a Musical Genius. |
D.Mozart: The Short Career of a Musical Genius. |
What was the consequence of Wolfgang’s first public appearance?
A.He attracted the emperor and empress of Hapsburg. |
B.Word of Wolfgang’s genius spread to the capital. |
C.Leopold set his sights on Vienna. |
D.Invitations for the miracle children to play poured in. |
Each of the following statements about Wolfgang Mozart is directly supported by the passage except ________.
A.Mozart’s father made full use of his children’s talent |
B.Maria Anna was also talented in music |
C.Wolfgang’s childhood was devoted to his musical career |
D.Wolfgang preferred the violin to other instruments |
The word “prodigies” in the last paragraph probably means “________”.
A.unusually talented people | B.strict parents |
C.greatest composers | D.generous people |