A 17-year-old boy, caught sending text messages in class, was recently sent to the vice principal's office at Millwood High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The vice principal, Steve Gallagher, told the boy he needed to focus on the teacher, not his cellphone. The boy listened politely and nodded, and that's when Mr. Gallagher noticed the student's fingers moving on his lap. He was texting while being scolded for texting!
"It was a subconscious act," said Mr. Gallagher, who took the phone away. "Yong people today are connected socially from the moment they open their eyes in the morning until they close their eyes at night. It's addictive. They can’t simply stop doing that."
Because so many people in their teens and early 20s are in this constant whir of socializing -- accessible to each other every minute of the day via cellphone, instant messaging and social-networking Web sites -- there are a host of new questions that need to be addressed in schools, in the workplace and at home. Chief among them: How much work can "hyper-socializing" students or employees really accomplish if they are holding multiple conversations with friends via text-messaging, or are obsessively checking Facebook? Almost a quarter of today's teens check Facebook more than 10 times a day, according to a 2009 survey by Common Sense Media, a non-profit group that monitors media's impact on families.
Will these young people get rid of this habit once they enter the work force, or will employers come to see texting and "social-network checking" as accepted parts of the workday?
"In past generations, students got in trouble for passing notes in class. Now students are adept at texting with their phones still in their pockets," said 40-year-old Mr. Gallagher, "and they're able to communicate with someone one floor down and three rows over. Students are just fundamentally different today. They will take suspensions rather than give up their phones."When the boy was scolded for texting, _________________.
| A．he was polite and regretful |
| B．he was trying sending another message |
| C．his fingers shouldn’t be put on his lap |
| D．he listened carefully and nodded |
What does the underlined word “subconscious” mean?
| A．dangerous | B．purposeless | C．popular | D．impolite |
What can we learn about the students in their teens and early 20s?
| A．All of them are addicted to using cellphones. |
| B．They will get rid of the habit once they go to work. |
| C．They are greatly different from the past generations. |
| D．Most of them check Facebook more than 10 times a day. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The employers will accept texting at workday. |
| B．The students will give up their phones one day. |
| C．It’s convenient for students to communicate with others with cellphones. |
| D．Facebook is a kind of book students need to read at school. |
Here is a question I have often asked at dinner parties:
You're on an island with only one other person, your best friend. He's dying of cancer. In his final days, he tells you, "I have 100,000 dollars in a bank back home. When I die, make sure my son goes to medical school." Then he dies. But his son is a no-good playboy who has no interest in going to medical school and will waste that money away in a very short time. But your son is entering college, and he is willing to become a doctor. Which one do you give the money to for medical school?
I've asked this question of everyone from the president of a famous university to an ordinary young soldier, and it has never failed to get a discussion going. Everyone has an opinion, most of them different, but all of them correct. Sometimes this one topic lasts the whole evening.Which of the following is TRUE to the passage?
| A．Only the clever people can answer the question rightly. |
| B．Some people refuse to answer such a silly question. |
| C．Everyone at the dinner party seems to be interested in the question. |
| D．Most of the people have the same answer. |
What the writer often says at dinner parties is _______.
| A．not a true story | B．a true story |
| C．a strange story | D．just a joke |
Why does the writer often ask people such a question? Because ______.
| A．he wants to find the answer for a research |
| B．he is interested in such a question |
| C．he likes to make fun of people at parties |
| D．he wants to offer people a topic in which everyone could say something |
Which of the following decisions is most likely NOT correct?
| A．You give the money to your friend's son. |
| B．You give the money to your son for medical school. |
| C．You keep the money for your future medical care. |
| D．You keep the money for your friend's son. |
Part-time Front Desk Position
Kirchoff.Inc, a book development company, is looking for a part-time front desk office worker. This position is perfect for a person who is cheerful, dependable, and pleasant to work with. Also, you should be able to welcome guests, redirect phone call, and take messages. More importantly, you can stay cool under pressure. You are expected to work 5:00--6:00 pm weekdays. You need to fill in some forms if you are interested.
Forms can be collected at
Kirchoff.Inc
866 United Nations Plaza, #525
New York, NY 10037
Important Points to Remember When Swimming
•Wait at least an hour after meals.
•Follow the advice of lifeguards.
•Don’t dive into unknown waters. Always swim in line with the shore.
•Find out at the seaside when and where it is safe to swim.
•Don’t use floating toys on the water. Wind can easily sweep them out to sea.
•Get out of the water if you feel tired or cold. Cold can kill even strong swimmers.
Help Telephone:212-543-5902
Atlantic City Beach Office
______________________
Arrive on time.
Introduce yourself in a polite manner.
Read company materials while you wait.
Have a firm handshake.
Listen.
Use body language to show interest.
Smile and nod to the interviewers.
Ask about the next thing you should do.
Thank the interviewer.
Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to.
For more information, please visit jobweb.com
368 Cooper Square, New York.If you want to work in an office, where can you get the forms to fill in?
| A．jobweb.com |
| B．Atlantic City Beach Office. |
| C．368 Cooper Square, New York, NY |
| D．866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10037. |
According to the above information, what is the right thing to do when you swim?
| A．To keep close to the beach. |
| B．To dive into unknown waters. |
| C．To use floating toys on the water. |
| D．To swim soon after lunch. |
The best title for the last piece of information would be_________.
| A．Tips on Showing Interest in a Job |
| B．Steps to a Successful Interview |
| C．Advice on Introducing Yourself Politely |
| D．Rules of Body Language in an Interview |
Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don’t make unnecessary noise, particularly, at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful, the traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossing(人行横道) and don’t take any chance when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn’t lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally, as regards smoking, it is against law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact the police, who will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to any policeman.The phrase “take any chance” in the passage means .
| A．冒险，碰运气 | B．趁机 |
| C．失去机会 | D．生气 |
Who do you think is most likely to make the speech?
| A．A guide | B．A person who makes the law |
| C．A teacher | D．An English officer |
How many laws are there discussed in the speech?
| A．Three | B．Four | C．Five | D．Six |
The main purpose of this speech is to ________ .
| A．tell people above 18 can smoke and drink there |
| B．declare the different laws of England |
| C．give advice to travelers to the country |
| D．warn people against going to the country |
From the speech we have learnt that __________ .
| A．if you are 18 years of age, you may not buy wine, but your friends can buy it for you here. |
| B．you may not buy cigarettes or tobacco unless you are above 16 years of age. |
| C．because of the left-side traffic rule, you must use pedestrian when crossing the road. |
| D．you can’t make a noise except at night. |
Once a boy came to ask a fisherman how to become cleverer, because his mother always called him “foolish boy”.
“That’s easy,” answered the fisherman. “I know one way to make you become cleverer.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It is said a fish head is good for brain. If you eat one, you’ll become cleverer indeed. Pay only three pounds for one fish head.” The boy paid him three pounds and the fisherman cut off a fish head and handed it to him.
A raw fish head is not good—not even for a hungry boy to eat but the boy ate it up in two gulps.
“Do you feel anything?” asked the fisherman.
“Not in my head,” said the boy.
The boy lay on the ground and thought. “One whole fish costs only two pounds. I have paid him three pounds for the fish head. Why couldn’t I have the whole fish for soup, a head for brain and one pound left over?” He jumped up and shouted at the fisherman. “You thief! You are fooling me!” The fisherman laughed, saying, “The fish head works now, you see.”The boy ate up the raw fish head only in two gulps, because he __________.
| A．enjoyed it | B．wanted to taste it |
| C．took it as a good medicine | D．was a foolish boy |
The boy came to the fisherman in order to __________.
| A．buy a fish head | B．ask the fisherman a question |
| C．buy a whole fish | D．A and C |
The boy paid three pounds. He should have had __________.
| A．a whole fish |
| B．a fish head and one pound back |
| C．a whole fish and one pound back |
| D．a whole fish, a fish head and one pound back |
__________ helped the boy become cleverer.
| A．A good meal | B．The raw fish head |
| C．Nothing | D．What had happened |
A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders (想知道): Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly! there are some differences between British and American English. ‘There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans say “in the hospital!” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “ colour” and “ honour” are British, “color” and “honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.According to this passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that_______.
| A．British people cannot understand him |
| B．American people cannot understand him |
| C．the grammar is too hard for him |
| D．the spelling is too hard for him |
American English and British English are different in ________.
| A．spelling | B．pronunciation |
| C．Grammar | D．all of the above |
What is not mentioned (提及) in the passage?
| A．Whether there are differences between British English and American English. |
| B．Whether British English and American English are one language or two. |
| C．How the differences between British English and American English came about. |
| D．How important the differences are. |
Most ________ say “Do you have a watch?”
| A．British people | B．Americans |
| C．Children | D．Teachers |